Class Notes

Jalen Alexander is living in Brooklyn, New York, and celebrated five years at MDRC, a leading policy- research think tank, in May. Jalen also serves as the president of Social Policy Workers United (SPWU), the staff union at MDRC. The nearly 200-person unit represents researchers, IT staff, and administrative staff across the organization. On August 15, SPWU voted to ratify their first contract after over two years of bargaining. Jalen’s excited to have a bit of extra time to reconnect now that the contract fight is over. “Please reach out if you’re in NYC!”

InMayof this year, Julia “Jay” Benedith earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Sustainability from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. In August, she got engaged to her longtime partner, Representative Benjamin Williams (D.C. State Board of Education). What a wonderful summer!

Julius Bjornson writes, “I recently released some live videos with my group, Earl & Thor. One is an adaptation of the classic Jean Ritchie song, Jubilee, and the other is a contemporary Appalachian tune. They can both be seen on our website: www.earlandthor.com.”

Ella Dawson celebrated the publication of her first novel in June. But How Are You, Really is a coming-of-age story about an anxious millennial who attends her five-year college reunion. All similarities to Wesleyan are purely coincidental! Her favorite moment from the book tour was doing a sold-out event at Kansas City’s romance bookstore with Gabe Rosenberg ’16, who lovingly roasted her as only a college best friend can. She’s grateful to all of the Wes alums who have supported the book and helped spread the word!

Adam Freed gives a quick update: “I got married on June 1 in Santa Cruz, California! My wife is not a Wes alum (we met in graduate school at the University of Michigan), so I don’t know if this is still newsworthy, but figured I’d pass this along.”

Jana Heaton will be officiating Frank Fineis ’13 and Alyssa Bonneau’swedding in October. Jana askes that you “let her know in advance if you have any objections. Thank you.” She also adds that “the wife and I recently had a baby. She’s very cute but incredibly short. I guess a normal size for a baby. But babies are super short and nobody’s talking about it.”

Two new chapbooks by Joshua Krugman,Unexpected Breakfast and If Something Good Happens, I’ll Be There Soon, are now out from Paradise Copies, and an essay about Bread & Puppet Theater’s play, The Hope Principle: Citizens’ Shame and Hope in the Time of Genocide (2024), is forthcoming in the fall 2024 issue of The Drama Review. 

Haley Weaver has left NYC, where she spent eight years working as a book editor for “Big Five” publishers Simon & Schuster and Hachette Book Group, and has started her own editorial business, Woven Word Editorial, in beautifully rainy Seattle. When not busy helping prospective authors land literary agents or finessing manuscripts to be self-published, she has been enjoying getting more into Seattle’s coffee culture and exploring the city with fellow Wes alum and seasoned Seattleite, Anya Morgan.

Please write to your class secretary.

Greetings from the Class of 2012!

Please enjoy the following updates from your classmates:

Laura Bliss writes, “In May, I was part of a team of journalists at Bloomberg News named finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting for a series of stories about global water profiteering by private interests. https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/staff-bloomberg”

Lennox Byer writes, “I just finished medical training at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where, over the past 10 years, I completed medical school, residency, and a neurohospitalist fellowship. I am going to continue to live in San Francisco with my partner (also of nearly 10 years), Raul, and our 2.5-year-old corgi, named Tiramisu. I will continue at UCSF where my appointment is assistant professor of neurology. I primarily take care of patients admitted to the hospital with neurologic problems but also pursue some clinical research and health services research related to the care of underserved and LGBTQAI+ peoples.”

Han Hsien Liew writes, “I got a fellowship to be at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton for fall 2024 to finish writing my book on medieval Islamic political thought.”

BJ Lillis writes, “I finished my PhD in Colonial American history this summer and am moving to Worcester, Massachusetts, in September to start a postdoc at the American Antiquarian Society. Looking forward to being back in New England!”

Casey Reed is living in LA with her tiny dog, Frankie, working in sports and entertainment marketing with an emphasis on representing historically underserved audiences. You can check out the highlights from some of her favorite culture-driven efforts here: bit.ly/caseyreed.

Last winter, Casey was selected to represent Team USA Dodgeball and the Mixed (co-ed) Cloth Team at the first-ever North American and Caribbean Dodgeball Championships, where she won her first gold medal with the national team. In August, recovering from an ACL surgery, she joined the coaching staff with Team USA at the World Dodgeball Federation Championships in Graz, Austria, bringing home four medals across six divisions.  

Say “hello!”: caseyreed.hi@gmail.com 

Lucas Turner-Owens writes, “At the start of the year I moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to join the venture capital firm Building Ventures, where I’m investing in start-ups addressing climate change and the built environment. If you’re in Massachusetts/New England give me a shout!”

Thanks to those who contributed and feel free to pass along notes at any time!

Hi Class of 2011,

Lots of exciting news!

Sara Quinn writes, “I had a baby in April, Angelo Rain Kylstra-Quinn. He is the best. My wife, Marijke, and I are loving being parents. I just returned to work as a reading specialist at a middle school in Atlanta. Sending love to everybody!”

Jeffrey Breau completed his MDiv degree at Harvard Divinity School in May and is now program lead for psychedelics and spirituality at Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions. 

Sam Backer just moved from Brooklyn/Baltimore to Bangor, where he is starting as an assistant professor of history at the University of Maine.

Donovan Arthen reports, “This year my wife and I welcomed our new son into our family— Avenn was born last January. I have also become the interim executive director of Orion Magazine.”

Darien Combs contributes, “I am a licensed bilingual psychologist in Denver, Colorado, and I have a private practice providing therapy, consultations, and immigration evaluations. I welcomed my daughter to the world in March of 2024. :)”

Laura Heath-Stout writes, “My book, Identity, Oppression, and Diversity in Archaeology: Career Arcs, is coming out from Routledge this October 31.”

This past May, Bulaong (Ramiz) completed her educational leadership and policy studies doctorate from the University of Kansas. Since then, she has been working as a consultant and organizing with the Connecticut Palestine Solidarity Coalition to push for divestment and redirect state funds into more social service programs for our local communities here in Connecticut. 

Max Slater and his wife, Megan, are raising three fun and wild kids in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Raising three kids under the age of six has given Max much joy and many gray hairs. When he is not spending time with his own family, Max practices family law. In the words of the great legal scholar Vin Diesel, “You never turn your back on family.”

Kara Perez recently moved back to Massachusetts after 12 years below the Mason-Dixon Line. Her first book, Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Create a Better Future for All, will be published on November 27, 2024.

Thanks for all the great updates!

Allie

Greetings Wesleyan community! Please enjoy the following updates from the Class of 2010:

Hallie (Coffin-Gould) Morris is working in clinical trials services for Thermo Fisher and marveling at how quickly her little boys are growing up. 

In July Kiran Sheffrin DeVore was recognized as part of Law360’s 2024 “Rising Stars” series as one of the top tax attorneys in the nation under the age of 40.

Big congrats to Peter Hull, who welcomed son, Silas, in July. Peter is living in Providence, Rhode Island, with his two partners and dog, teaching economics at Brown University.

Maya Odim is working as a poet in Chicago, writing, choreographing, and performing poetry. Maya adds: “Since graduation I’ve self-published two books, Planets, Gourds, and Traveling Staffs and Places Where We Can Imagine, and I’m working on a third (while also looking for a publisher). Along with my work as a poet, I also work as an educator, as a poet in residence with the Chicago Poetry Center (hosting bilingual Spanish-English workshops), and a lecturer in the Theater and Performance Studies Department at the University of Chicago, teaching a class called, Thinking and Moving / Moving and Thinking.”

Dan Bloom and wife, Laura, welcomed their second child in February—Jory Bloom. Dan, Laura, Halle, and Jory still live in Seattle and can’t wait to see everyone at our 15th Reunion next spring!

Jennifer Michtavy contributes that “I have recently become a creative AI technologist and am working with a tech start-up that has created the world’s first live AI experience that will be hitting a major USA museum in the next few months.” You can find more here: 
https://www.nbr.co.nz/tech/kiwi-creatives-supply-gen-ai-hallucinations-to-major-us-museum/

Please write to your class secretary.

Ruby Corbyn-Ross just moved to Charlottesville to attend UVA for grad school for a career shift to speech language pathology. She tells us, “I’ll miss New Orleans, but I’m excited to be back on the East Coast for the next two years. I’d love to see any WesFolk passing through!”

Uly Cubeta (they/she) writes, “My spouse, Jez Cubeta ’10 (them/they), and I are proud of our oldest child, Alina, graduating high school and starting college this fall. It’s been a roller coaster, but we are so happy the judge granted our adoption petition all those years ago.”

I’m thrilled to announce that Amanda Krentzman has agreed to step in as co-secretary to assist me in compiling class notes in the future. Amanda writes:

“Hi Wes ’08! Hope all of you have been great! A little about me . . . I was an econ major at Wes. Outside of that, one of my favorite classes I took was Hazardous Earth, which was all about the natural disasters that could take place at any time. I also loved dance, and I studied abroad in Madrid. After school, I moved out to LA to pursue a career in TV. I have met and continue to meet so many incredible Wesleyan alumni through the entertainment business. I am a TV producer and have worked on shows including Jane the Virgin, Dark, The Rain, Club de Cuervos, and many more. I have been one of the Wesleyan West Coast Alumni chairs for many years and would love to catch up with any of you to hear how you are!”

Please feel free to reach out to either of us with any updates!

Greeting classmates! We have a few updates from the Class of ’07.

Victoria Mair has an exciting professional update. She says, “I launched my own law firm in May, Santoro & Gray, with two of my longtime law partners, Jessica Gray and Brad Henry. We are located on Dartmouth Street in Boston, Massachusetts.”

Scout James would like classmates to know that they are currently writing and performing sketch comedy in Los Angeles at The Groundlings in their Sunday Company every weekend.

Frani Geiger Rollins shared that she is the new co-chair of the Communications Studies and Theatre Department and program director for Mercer Theatre at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She adds, “I received tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2022, the day after the birth of my second kid.”

Greeting classmates! We have a few updates from the Class of ’07.

Victoria Mair has an exciting professional update. She says, “I launched my own law firm in May, Santoro & Gray, with two of my longtime law partners, Jessica Gray and Brad Henry. We are located on Dartmouth Street in Boston, Massachusetts.”

Scout James would like classmates to know that they are currently writing and performing sketch comedy in Los Angeles at The Groundlings in their Sunday Company every weekend.

Frani Geiger Rollins shared that she is the new co-chair of the Communications Studies and Theatre Department and program director for Mercer Theatre at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She adds, “I received tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2022, the day after the birth of my second kid.”

Nina Eichacker and Johann Patlak (and their two kids and cat) are living happily in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Nina just received tenure at the University of Rhode Island, and Johann is still working at Rhode Island Hospital and training med students and residents that go through the program there. They periodically get to see nearby Wes alums, including John Wesley, Adina Bricklin Kieft, and Tracy Honhart, and would love to see more WesKids. If you find yourself in the Ocean State, please reach out!

Daniel Dykes spent much of the winter and spring of 2024 in Peru, where he took advanced Spanish classes and visited many ancient archaeological sites. He also took Portuguese classes in São Paulo and spent a month in Wales this summer taking an intensive third-year Welsh course at Aberystwyth University. He continues to be co-chair of the Alumni Council of the Williams-Mystic Coastal and Ocean Studies Program and historian of the Harvard Law School Parody and Drama Society Alumni Network. He is enjoying hiking in New England and catching up on his extensive reading list.

Keitaro Nakamoto shares, “I am currently working as an acute care surgeon and assistant professor of surgery for Medstar Health/Georgetown University School of Medicine. They gave me teacher of the year this year! I am moving back home to Japan at the end of the year and going to be working as vice chief for surgery at Tokyo Bay Medical Center.” 

Sarah Gillooly writes, “After 15 years in the classroom and coaching softball here in Florida, I made the transition, and I am the assistant principal and athletic director at Jensen Beach High School. I spent my 40th coaching my team to a district championship after a weekend celebrating at Disney with friends!”

Zach Strassburger does Americans with Disabilities Act compliance for the City of Philadelphia and would love to connect with other municipal attorneys or disability rights folks. Zach received the 2024 DEI award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association for their work, including creating a guide to inclusive legal writing. The guide can be accessed at https://www.phila.gov/documents/inclusive-language-guide/.

In March, Brian Lewis and Samantha DuPont celebrated their “birthweekiversary”—40th birthdays and their 18-year anniversary—in Bend, Oregon, along with Owen (Wes ’37) and Will (Wes ’43). They are excited to announce that they are card-carrying members of the last Blockbuster on the planet. They moved to PDX in 2020 and have enjoyed reconnecting with Thomas “Mr. T” Phillips, and they are eager to meet up with other Wes folk in the area! 

Saad Handoo shares, “Things are lovely in the Handoo household. We celebrated our summer going to London and seeing Kevin McDonald when out there. We also ate loads of delicious food at Burrough Market and visited the Cotswolds in the countryside.”

John Wesley writes, “An all-Wesleyan UK premier league football adventure was planned last fall to celebrate incoming 40th birthdays with old friends Kevin Lohela, Patrick Garrity, Willie Gould, and me. Highlights included a stop at historic Goodison Park in Liverpool to see Everton F.C. (miraculously) win a match, 3–0. A few Beatles songs were sung post-match and also the Wes fight song. Best to all!” 

Mel McCrea is an associate marriage and family therapist with Blue Oak Therapy Center, offering in-person services in Berkeley and telehealth throughout California. Her website is: https://www.mel-mccrea-therapy.com/.

Hayley Stokar had an eventful summer—after being granted tenure in June for her position on the social work faculty at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., she and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Honora, in August. Parents and big sister, Clarissa, are quite smitten. 

Sarah (Perry) Wilson is in her seventh year of leading fundraising for Workers Center for Racial Justice, a Black-led organization focused on community organizing, leadership development, policy advocacy, and voter engagement. Right now she’s busy raising funds for WCRJ’s program of voter mobilization work in Wisconsin and Illinois— the largest of its kind in the Midwest—to ensure strong Black voter turnout in the November elections. You can learn more about WCRJ online.  

Jane (Maxson) Hendrickson, Erin (Reding) Glaser,and Kate McCrery have enjoyed TWO birthday hangouts this calendar year! Erin lives outside of Philadelphia and has been asked to serve as a board member on her daughter Ivy’s wheelchair basketball team, which she has accepted! Kate moved from New Orleans to Brooklyn in 2021 and works as the director of marketing at Right to Start and is the founder of Rhinebeck Ventures. Jane lives in northeast Connecticut and welcomed her fourth (!) child, Rose, this May.

That’s all folks!! Please send updates anytime and we will make sure to include them in future issues! 

Marcus Bach Armas remains in Miami but has transitioned into public service after more than a decade as a senior executive with the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. After a successful election in 2022, Marcus now serves as a Miami-Dade County Court judge and is currently assigned to the criminal division. Despite this career change, Marcus continues to serve as founding board member of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, which has raised more than $76 million for cancer research in South Florida since its inception in 2010 and is now the largest charitable fundraiser in the NFL. 

Kate Greathead says, “I dream I’m back at Wesleyan maybe once every two weeks, and I’m always a little sad when I wake up. My second novel, The Book of George, [published] on October 8. It’s about a guy who goes to a fictional Wesleyan and his life afterward. Maybe you’ll recognize yourself in it? Just kidding, it’s (almost) all made up.”

After spending a decade and a half in the South (New Orleans and North Carolina), Bay Love now lives back home in Maine with his partner, Chloe, and a half-time, shared-custody Chihuahua. Bay has been heavily invested in building an organization called The Groundwater Institute, devoted to combining the traditions of social and racial justice movements with power business and strategy consulting. Generally worried of the state of the larger world, but content with his immediate one, he’s loved (re)connecting with more and more amazing Wes colleagues through work and life—and is looking forward to more of it.

Jeremy May writes, “I’ve been living in Oakland, California, for the past seven years and am raising two boys, Magnus (nine) and Solomon (six). When I’m not working as an oral surgeon, I enjoy gardening, skateboarding, and spending time with family!”

Laura McMillan lives in New Haven, Connecticut, in walking distance of several alum friends and directs the communications and marketing team at an environmental nonprofit. She spends time on three small nieces, one grouchy cat, four dozen houseplants, and her podcast, $2 Creature Feature, in its third season of collaborative storytelling. She’s still riding the high of last year’s 40th-birthday trip to Arizona with Karen Courtheoux, Hillary Rubesin, Caitlin Swain-McSurely, and Cory Simon-Nobes, and seeing the eclipse with Matthew Montesano, plus Lauren Kirchner ’03, John Cusick, Adam Read-Brown, Daniella Schmidt, and Evan Simko-Bednarski!

Jeremy Paul and Faye Hargate (Bowdoin ’04) welcomed their first son, Elwyn Archimedes Hargate Paul, into the world in November 2023. The whole family is doing great in Cleveland. Professionally, Jeremy recently became the resident technical director with Dobama Theatre, in addition to still being the executive artistic director of Maelstrom Collaborative Arts and part-time faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music, which is a long way to say he doesn’t have employer-provided health care. 

Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky recently caught up with Rich Gibbons ’87, president of SpeakInc, when Rich booked Smiley to keynote the Greater Public’s Public Media Development and Marketing Conference in San Diego. Adam is the author of Friendship in the Age of Loneliness and a top keynote speaker on workplace culture, belonging, and the future of work. Rich has been a speaking agent for over three decades and is the past president of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB). Despite graduating from Wesleyan just a few years apart, Rich and Smiley loved chatting about all things public speaking, NPR, and Foss Hill.  

Jesse Phillippi is now living in London, where she recently finished directing, dramaturging, and co-producing the musical comedy cabaret A Stan Is Born! The show previewed at Soho Theatre before a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August and then to Camden People’s Theatre at the end of September 2024.

Leland Smith pandemic-moved to Denton, Texas, to be closer to in-laws. He has a 10-acre farm with horses, chickens, and sheep, and two boys to (eventually) help mow it. He is still working on USAID programs and moved to a new firm where he now gets to work with Nora Connor ’07.