Class Notes

Class of 2011,

It’s that time of year again! Thanks for everyone’s contributions. Read below to see what our classmates are up to.

Becky Eidelman contributes, “Todd Rosenthal ’10 and I welcomed our son Felix Rosenthal to the world almost a year ago. He was born March 25, 2022.”

Cheryl Chitty Tan is fundraising for The Monster in the Mirror, a musical she wrote lyrics for that gets staged this May in Singapore. She’s thinking about trying out a bigger acting market. She was in the first episode of season three of Westworld and wants to hang out with the Wes mafia.

Allison Klion said that Kapish Singla forecasted she would close her art gallery and become a housewife. She is now raising a one-year-old in the suburbs but is not in New Jersey as predicted—her husband is from Morris County though. She awaits the oracle’s next prophecy.

Phoebe (née Stonebraker) Kilmoon was recently hired as a features contributor at The Onion. Also here’s an update on her previous update: She didn’t move to LA. Instead, she and her husband, James (né McCarthy) Kilmoon, bought a house in Jersey. But they currently live in Atlanta where they are filming James’s movie. Phoebe is expecting another baby in May and is very happy and tired.

Devon Hopkins writes, “I’m starting a new job as the chief marketing officer for Raftr, a private online community platform for higher education and nonprofits. I’ve been spending my time between Santa Monica, California, and Lake Arrowhead, California, where my partner and I have a little cabin in the mountains that we Airbnb to friends and family. I’ve also been enjoyed playing League of Legends: Wild Rift with fellow alumni Seth Halpern ’09, Christian Hoyos, and Anthony Smith.”

Thanks everyone!

Best,

Allie

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

In our first of three baby updates: Woody Redpath and Eliza Newman welcomed baby number two this past October, this time a little girl: Bayley!

Kait Halibozek’s small company is turning four in June! Based in Los Angeles, she works with independent filmmakers to develop and execute social impact and grassroots marketing campaigns. Her recent clients include the award-winning Lyme disease documentary, The Quiet Epidemic (codirected/produced by Lindsay Keys ’11 and produced by Daria Lombroso ’11), [a] narrative-musical romance film, The Brink Of (directed by Patrick Meaney ’07), and the streaming educational program Brain Info Live, which she codeveloped at the start of the pandemic with her clients at BrightFocus Foundation. You can learn more by visiting her website: www.khalibozekconsulting.com.

Michael Pernick reports: “I’m overjoyed to share that on February 10, my wife Elizabeth Phillips and I welcomed our daughter Annette (‘Annie’) June Pernick. Annie is already proudly rocking some great Wesleyan onesies.”

Sam Schilit completed her laboratory genetics and genomics fellowship at Harvard last June. Since then, she has focused on reproductive genetic testing including preconception carrier screening and noninvasive prenatal screening in her current position as assistant laboratory director of women’s health at Myriad Genetics. In November, Sam and husband Jeremy Rosenweig welcomed their daughter, Reese Schilit Rosenweig. Sam adds that “life as a family of four (with big brother Henry) is exhausting and wonderful!” 

Phil Singleton shares that “I’ve written and published my debut novel! Daybreaker follows the crew of the titular spaceship as it uses the gravity of a man-made black hole to ‘tow’ the Earth to a new star after our sun unexpectedly went supernova.” Phil’s book is available for purchase as an eBook or paperback at Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daybreaker-phil-singleton/1142936745?ean=9798823184458) or on Kindle at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/DAYBREAKER-Book-1-Phil-Singleton-ebook/dp/B0BX4SBBZK/).

Evan Perkoski contributes: “I recently published my first book with Oxford University Press titled Divided Not Conquered: How Rebels Fracture and Splinters Behave. It looks at how armed groups like Al-Qaeda, the IRA, and the Islamic State sometimes break apart and form new organizations. It’s available at all major bookstores, but since it’s written mainly for researchers and policymakers, don’t expect any sort of Tom Clancy intrigue.”

Finally, it is with great sadness that I report the September 2022 passing of our classmate Miguel Ramirez. Miguel was a proud Wesleyan alum and dear friend to many of us. A wonderful digital memorial can be found here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/new-york-ny/miguel-ramirez-10942106.

Thanks as always to those who contributed and, as always, feel free to pass along notes anytime to DavidALayne@gmail.com.

Ally writes for this issue.

Where in the world is Ben Roberts? He writes, “I’ve been residing in Stamford, Connecticut, the last two years but will be moving back to Tampa, Florida, with my youngest brother Graham in May. I’ve been leading the road warrior life, splitting my time between the USA, Philippines, Colombia, and India, while building and scaling outsourced offshore/nearshore teams. I’m in the Philippines as we speak and headed to Africa next month to begin scouting locations for the next new business in Nairobi, Kenya. When I’m not working, I’m training for the Head of the Charles Regatta WeScrew alumni event this fall. Look forward to reconnecting with fellow Wes alums at the 15-year reunion!”

Speaking of globe-trotting, guten Tag from Alex Footman.Alex is living in Berlin with his wife, daughter, dog, and two self-proclaimed “bad knees.” You can tune into world news for Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle if you want to see our classmate in action.

“Hello!” from Sophie Reagan, who will always be Sophie PC in my heart. She writes, “I am still living in Washington, D.C., with my husband, daughter, and dog. I am loving life at Deloitte— not something I would have ever seen for myself as an English major—all the more so since making the change to be a chief of staff as part of our Government & Public Service Practice. In TV-watching news, I am still recovering from last week’s Vanderpump Rules scandal, and I have truly appreciated everyone’s well wishes during this fraught time.”

Happy second wedding anniversary to Kate Gavriel!She was married during the pandemic in 2021 and asked whether celebrating her second anniversary was newsworthy. I think so!!!

Christian Skorik writes,“I currently live in the Boston area with my partner and I manage a small sales team for a Canadian biotech company called STEMCELL Technologies. My days are pretty routine and I would welcome a chance to connect with any Wes alums that happen to be close by/in town for a visit. So, let this be a beacon to such folks! Reach out and I will give you a tour of my city’s excellent breweries.”

Bryan Wieland and wife Nicole welcomed their second child, the beautiful Scarlett Wieland, in mid-March. Welcome to the world, Scarlett!

Evan Coleman has a new position as a litigation attorney with U.S. Department of the Interior. He and his wife and their 2-year-old son, Reece, are getting ready to welcome a little girl next month. She will be named Robyn.

Effective September 2022, Arielle Linsky, PhD,accepted a position as assistant professor of psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine. She works as a clinical psychologist providing treatment for children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety and related disorders (among other things).

Ben Smyser has been elected to counsel at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP, focusing on corporate finance. He currently lives in Pelham, New York with his lovely wife Elanor and two wonderful daughters, Naomi and Hazel.

Nicole Gray is living her “best” (i.e., best given some unfortunate circumstances in 2022) life in Los Angeles. She is currently working as a social scientist for the FDA Center for Tobacco Products. She will soon be adopting two cats.

Emma Komlos-Hrobsky writes, “I had a baby! My husband and I welcomed our daughter, Paloma Lyra Hicks, in July. She charms us with her passion for her toes, acrobatic rolling, and what may be the world’s most perfect belly button. I returned to my job as senior editor at Poets & Writers Magazine in January and do my best to not ask my coworkers if they’re getting cranky and need a nap.”

Sally Rosen Phillips is working as a vice president of creative at This Machine Filmworks, a production company founded by director R. J. Cutler. Her work focuses on development of documentaries. In September, Sally and her husband Eric welcomed their first baby, Hope. Along with their Lagotto Romagnolo, Enzo, the family resides in Los Angeles and enjoys weekly Thai food delivery from Pa Ord Noodles. Thanks to Thai Gardens’ introduction many years ago, pad see ew remains a staple of the order.

It has been an amazing 12 months for Patrick and Andrea Senat. They got married in New York City and gave birth to Malcolm Barack Senat.

Correction: In the last issue I wrote that  “Maya (Bass) Bery” welcomed her first child. Maya Bass and Maya Bery are two different individuals. My apology to them both and a hearty congratulations to Maya Bery on her first child!

Greetings classmates! Megan Kretz Harrington here with your 2007 class update. As I write, I’m looking at two feet of snow, but hopefully by the time you read this you’re enjoying warmer temperatures and a good start to your summer.

A bit of news from our classmates:

Himanshu “Heems” Suri is working on a new album! Patrick Meaney is also making moves in the music and art world. He wrote and directed the indie music romance film The Brink Of, which will be released by 1091 this summer. Recent Wes grad Olivia Crowell ’21 acted in the film and worked as a PA on set.

Dawid Wiacek writes, “I’ve been tending to my ailing dog who recently turned 13. He’s still got his pep and obsession with treats, so that’s a good sign. Also, I’m going to be a first-time uncle, so that’s exciting. On the work front, this spring I’m celebrating my fourth anniversary of formal ‘solopreneurship’ as the founder of Career Fixer LLC, and 16 total years as a career and executive coach of helping folks navigate career pivots, layoffs, difficult conversations at work, and everything in between. I don’t want to sound like I’m selling anything, and if any fellow Wes grads want to casually chat, I’m always happy to lend an ear, gratis. I got off Instagram some years ago and I’m resisting TikTok, but you can find me on LinkedIn. I continue to volunteer as an occasional mentor and career advisor for Wesleyan students, and I encourage my fellow alums to do the same—your experience and even just you lending an ear once or twice a year carries more weight and impact than you know!”

As always, if you have news (big or small!), please send it to your class secretaries.

Please send news and updates to classnotes@wesleyan.edu.

Please write your class secretary.

Please write to your class secretaries.

After 15 years in Boston, Samantha (Gillombardo) Larson and her family relocated to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, in July 2021. Samantha started a home organizing business in Holliston in 2018 and has recently reopened in Shaker Heights! In March 2021, she, Emily Teitsworth, and their families reunited in southern Arizona for a visit punctuated by hiking, swimming, admiring Saguaro cacti, and consuming record-breaking amounts of guacamole. It was perfect.

John Graham lives with his family in Tbilisi. They welcomed a third child, Ilian Diasamidze-Graham, into the family. John is running a tourism company featuring hiking and cultural tours in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, and Ethiopia; www.JohnGrahamTours.com.

While she still tries to think of herself as a New Yorker, Coe Will Hoeksema is back in her hometown of Hartford after living in Brooklyn for 17 years. She left her NYC architectural marketing job and joined a tech firm based out of San Francisco that focuses on knowledge management for architecture firms. She and her husband Craig work remotely and spend their limited free time fixing up their 115-year-old house and chasing after their three sons, Owen Calder (7), Luca Sinclair (5), and Eliot Wilder (2). She welcomes Wes friends to reach out if you’re ever passing through Hartford, there’s plenty of room for guests!

After two-and-a-half years of training, Ariana Mufson recently earned her AASECT certification (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) as a sex therapist and is proud to add CST (certified sex therapist) to her credentials. She works as a psychotherapist in private practice out of Newton and Brookline, Massachusetts.

Please write to your class secretary or send news to classnotes@wesleyan.edu.