Finally received a note from one of our classmates. Harry Collins reports that he is “still on this side of the ground at 95.” Sadly, his wife, Peg, died eight years ago, after 66 wonderful years together. He and a friend started an astronomy club at Sun City 20 years ago, and it continues today, with two monthly meetings and telescopic viewings at Blue Canyon in California. He stays busy with bridge and sends his best wishes to old friends.
Sad news from Kristin Kellom Damon ’84, daughter of Richard “Dick” B. Kellom, that he passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 95. Dick was an avid skier well into his 80s, pursuing daily runs down the slopes of Mount Sunapee. He skied as a student in Middletown in an era when more snow fell than now. He retired in 1995 after 40 years of teaching chemistry and biology at Mount Hermon, while coaching the ski team. He was an officer in the U.S. Navy serving in Europe, when he got the offer from Mount Hermon and changed course to start what would be a long and successful career as a teacher and coach.
My wife, Barbara, and daughter, Ellen ’82, and I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful performance of Camp! at the Caveat, a cabaret-comedy theater, located deep under Clinton Street in NYC. Camp! is an original musical directed by my granddaughter, Eliza Bender ’25, and co-written with Sarah Linsly ’24. The show was originally presented at Wesleyan in April 2024 and many of the original cast members appeared in the New York production, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all attendees.
On a personal note, I had a pacemaker installed several months ago and pleased to be still working full time, walking to and from the office, ballroom dancing, and working with a trainer at the gym.
Barbara and I, together with Ellen, her husband, Sam Bender ’82, and Eliza, recently visited our granddaughter Maddie (Yale ’20) in Honolulu. Maddie is an executive producer of a daily show at Hawaii Public Radio, a member station of National Public Radio. Maddie is a science writer and lives in Honolulu with her fiancé, Teddy Brokaw, who is completing a second federal court clerkship, first with a district court and now an appellate court. They met at Yale while he was in law school and she was completing a master’s degree at the Yale School of Public Health. While flying on Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu to Maui, I was pleasantly surprised, while reading the airline magazine, Hana Hou!,to see an article, “The Grim Creeper,” written by Maddie! It was about a tiny caterpillar that adapts to life by camouflaging itself in fly legs, ant heads, and other grisly detritus from the spider’s graveyard.
Barney Kathan sent some news: “I have completed 11 years in a memoir-writing class, and the group is now meeting in my house twice a month. [Last] August, my caregiver and I celebrated 12 years together, and we are still speaking to each other! I have been in the hospital four times this year [2025], the first because of a fracture in the pelvic region and the last for a surgical procedure. I hope to come to Wesleyan for my 75th Reunion in May.”
Charlie Selig checked in: “I am still alive and kicking with a hospital visit, etc., here and there. Glad to see our football wins. Best to all Wes friends from the past.”
Finally, some of you may have missed the notification of Chuck Exley’s passing last year, on April 17, 2025. His obituary stated, “Timing is apparently not everything: Despite being born in 1929 as the Great Depression brought the country to its knees, Charles E. Exley Jr. went on to live a life full of accomplishment, friendship, and love.” After graduating from Columbia Business School in 1954, Chuck spent decades working for the Burroughs Corporation, which was followed by a 17-year career at NCR; he served in executive leadership roles for both companies. He also served on numerous boards and was a supporter of many charities. Chuck “was a lifelong supporter of Wesleyan, and his many contributions include the endowment of the Exley Science Center. His honors from Wesleyan include the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1976 and a Doctor of Laws degree in 1991.”
We are sorry to report the passing of former class secretary George “Bud” Dorsey. Bud instructed his family to submit his final class note after his death, and this is what he wrote: “George K. (Bud) Dorsey, died on January 23, 2026, at the age of 96. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and received his degree with honors and distinction in French. He was a lieutenant in the navy during the Korean conflict. He retired in 1991 as vice-chairman of Argus Research Corporation, an investment research firm founded by his father in 1934. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Margie Dennler Dorsey, daughters Liane (Yale ’78) and Cindy ’81, son Alan ’83, nine grandchildren, including Elizabeth ’12 and Emily ’14, and two great-grandchildren.” Cindy adds that her dad was “a caring person, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and good friend, who will be dearly missed.”
Barbara Birney ’76 shared this in her class note about her dad, Bob Birney: “It’s been fun to spend time with my dad . . . filling in details for a biography that I’m writing. He is 100 years old and resides in Williamsburg, Virginia. I asked him a question that I suspect no one has asked since he graduated. I asked him who recommended in 1946 that he go to Wesleyan. After some casting around, he tentatively called up the name of a boyhood friend. I called the alumni office to find out if a Willard Lockwood (’46) had ever graduated from Wesleyan. For sure, Willard went to Wesleyan on the Thorndike Prize and graduated in 1946. (Both Will and Dad graduated Phi Beta Kappa.) From his airbase in England, Dad wrote a letter to Will, congratulating him and reassuring him that his doubts about being able to find a job were unfounded.” Barbara says that Bob is now in a nursing home, the Williamsburg Landing, “but the mind is as sharp as ever.”
While Bob StepnoMA ’83,MALS ’88, did not get to his double reunion in June, the former Hartford Courant education editor and journalism professor did invoke his Wesleyan studies while marking the 10th anniversary of his retirement from southwestern Virginia’s Radford University.
Bob, who once studied with ethnomusicologists Mark Slobin and David McAllester, gave a public lecture/concert at Radford’s university library, titled Dr. Bob’s Four-String Obession, playing and discussing a dozen mandolin and ukulele-family instruments. He did not bring his five-string banjo but reminisced about playing it as part of his last journalism lecture in 2013.
Since retirement, he has collected 13 ribbons (one of them blue) at old-time music conventions in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, playing various instruments, and reported considerable “pandemic woodshedding” in the past three years on his first fiddle, acquired at age 70. Radford’s mayor, David Horton, attended and live streamed part of the modest event.
For those who might remember Bob, he received his MA in anthropology and music and performed in the Clean and Sober String Band with classmates. Bob went on to write for magazines, get his PhD from the schools of journalism and information science at UNC Chapel Hill, and taught at several colleges before retiring from Radford.
Welcome to your section of the Class Notes! If you have any updates to share, please email classnotes@wesleyan.edu. And, if any of you would like to become your Class of ’25 secretary, please reach out. It’s a commitment of twice a year and a great way to keep in touch with classmates as you launch into your lives post Wes.
I’m so delighted to share with you all the lovely notes from our peers. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since we graduated. Whether you’ve moved to a new city, started grad school, or are still figuring out what post-Wes life looks like, it’s heartening to see that there are still threads connecting us all.
Briana Rodriguez-Castillowrites from Denver, where she’s been working as a substitute teacher and speech and debate coach. This summer she’s starting a dual master’s program in public health and social work at Columbia University, while her husband begins law school at the University of San Diego. Running all the way from high school, the two married shortly after graduation in a joyful celebration that also doubled as a mini-Wes reunion. Congratulations!
A group photo with fellow Wes alums and student at Briana’s wedding reception. From left to right: Zain Punjwani ’26, Rebecca (Becca) Dowd, Tessa Ury ’22, Carlotta (Lottie) Gidal, Briana Rodriguez-Castillo, Harry Bagenstos ’22, and Akaash Kapoor ’24.
Quin’s Marshall
Quin Steinmetz is based in Chicago, taking classes part time to prepare for a biomedical visualization program at University of Illinois Chicago. In addition to being a caregiver for elderly and physically disabled patients, Quin has also recently adopted a “super cute but pesky” cat named Marshall, who always brings over his feather wand toy each night as a gift.
Justin Nguyen is soaking in the culture and charm of Baltimore. He’s been exploring the city’s diverse and walkable neighborhoods, visiting arts and historical sites, and sampling standout eats—his must-try list includes Ekiben, Charmery, and Cypriana. Reflecting on his time away from Wes, Justin writes: “I’ve grown to appreciate the moments we spend at this present stage of our life. I hope that here, and in the future, I’m working toward a better future—one that positively impacts everyone around me. Take care.”
Dr. Silkfingers Will See You Now, an original musical written and coproduced by Scarlett Long, premiered at the Summer 2025 One-Act Festival in New York City. The queer, time-bending musical follows “Charlotte,” a spiraling college student who escaped into a surreal Victorian clinic, where she was diagnosed with hysteria and treated by the enigmatic masc lesbian physician, Dr. Silkfingers. The production featured Wesleyan alums and current students in the cast and creative team, including April Schwartz ’24, Noah King ’25, Liang Liang ’26, Kiera Moran ’24, Emma Bella Bass-Lawrence ’24, and Orlando Osgood ’26. “It felt like a mini-Wes reunion every rehearsal,” Scarlett said. “The show wouldn’t have happened without this brilliant crew.”
A photo from the musical, featuring Scarlett Long and Dr. Silkfingers.
A heartfelt reflection from Andrew Carroll, on behalf of the Rock Lobster Crew, a group of 20 alums from the Class of 2023 who recently reunited at Cape Cod: “When I first got the email about sending in a class note, I wasn’t sure I’d write anything. Nothing I could think of felt like an accurate reflection of what life has really been like two years postgraduation. But then the stars aligned [after the reunion].
“What I realized—maybe not even until I got home—is that every single one of us is in a completely different stage of life. Some of us love our jobs, some of us don’t, and some have even changed careers. Some are heading to med school, others are still in school—but all of us are just figuring it out as we go. Maybe that’s the whole point.
“What mattered most that weekend was that we made the time to be together. People traveled from all over the East Coast just for a few days, and once we were all in the same place, nothing else really mattered—just the joy of being in each other’s company, some cold drinks, and games on the beach.
“Everyone’s on their own path, but we can still carve out moments to reconnect—sharing stories about the ‘good old days’ and all the great things going on in our lives today. I think that’s the beauty of life.
“I can’t speak for everyone in the photo, and I’ll probably send this around and get a few laughs—some might even tell me not to submit it. But I’m willing to bet that 20 years from now, we’ll look at the photo (and maybe this note) and remember that weekend on the Cape. We’ll remember what it felt like to be young, uncertain about the future, and surrounded by the people who knew us before we had any idea what life after college would be like.”
The Rock Lobster Crew forming a human pyramid during their reunion at Cape Cod this summer. From the top row, left to right: Leah Ewers, Daniella Milovanov, Liv Lai, Audrey Lavey; Kate Balicki, Lois Schwartz, Danielle Slazas, Grace Devanny, Erin Trotta, Gil Horst, Diana Schwartz, Caroline Simpson; Kellen Fitzgerald, Mike Dunderdale, Harry LeGoullon, Andrew Carroll, Liam Devanny, Jake Lundberg, Sam Keenan, and Andrew Pratt.
At last, from me (Arthur Chen): Over the past year, I’ve worked on farms across Australia on working holiday, met people from all over the world, and, most recently, have been pursuing my culinary interests. I’m currently based in Melbourne, working at a super hip and delicious spot called Very Good Falafel, which really does live up to the name.
Like many of you have shared, it feels strange to realize it’s been two years since we graduated. Being away from those precious college days feels surreal and distant at times, but I also see how we’re growing into ourselves. Maybe we still don’t quite know what we’re doing, but we’ve come to appreciate the richness of experiencing so many different lifestyles and learning to embrace the unknown as part of the process of self-discovery.
Reading all your updates has been deeply meaningful. It reminds me that even though we’re scattered across the world—living different lives, chasing different dreams—we’re still connected in subtle but powerful ways. That’s the Wesleyan experience. It stays with us, even after we’ve moved on. Thank you to everyone who submitted an update—keep them coming!
The Class of 2022, as always, is making big moves and embarking on sensational adventures.
First up, we’ve got some wonderful news in the arts world from one of our class members!
This year, Esmé Maria Ng began a new position as the company management fellow at Wicked Broadway. They also brought Area D, a Palestinian pop musical, to Ars Nova for the 2025 ANT Fest, where it played to a sold-out house. You can stream the show here: https://supra.arsnovanyc.com/. They’ve also continued their playwriting practice and were selected for the Moxie Incubator this year, which culminated in a public presentation of their play, i know why iris chang died, at IRT Theater in September. Their short play, THE JADE RABBIT IS CRASHING OUT OVER EL*N M*SK, was also featured in two LGBTQ+ centered festivals—Cosmic Cherry Festival and T4T Theater Fest. Later this year, Esmé will return to Breaking the Binary Theatre Company in a new position as line producer at the fourth annual Breaking the Binary Theater Festival. You can always find out more about what Esmé’s up to by checking their website: https://www.esmemariang.com/ or their Instagram: @esmemariang.
Next up, we’ve got an exciting move coming up for a member of Wesleyan’s most phenomenal class.
After three years in New York working in mergers and acquisitions consulting for NERA, Thompson Knuth will be moving to Stockholm! He’ll be looking to continue his career in data analytics across a wide range of fields and reports already receiving some great advice from Wes alums in Sweden.
Last, but not least, we’ve got some stellar academia-related updates!
After completing three years of educational advocacy work for students in foster care at the New York Foundling nonprofit, Sela Adegbile will be pursuing her JD at the University of Michigan Law School this fall and is excited to move to Ann Arbor, where she aims to further develop her advocacy skills on behalf of young people.
Keanu Bryan will be starting graduate school this coming spring, pursuing her master’s in public health with a concentration in community health sciences.
And while William Woodhams “regrets not going to more Sunday Argus meetings,” he reports “that everything has a way of working out,” as he will be starting his second year at Berkeley Journalism School this fall.
Hyped to be y’all’s new class secretary and can’t wait to hear more updates on what everyone’s up to! A bit of info about me: I was an English and government major at Wesleyan with a REES minor, and I’m now working as a paralegal in Washington, D.C.
And while we are all extremely fortunate to be moving forward with our lives postgraduation, I’m very sorry to report the devastating news that Belle Brown died by suicide in March of this year. If you knew Belle and would like to send in a remembrance for our next class note, reach out. Also, if you or a loved one is in need of support, call or text 988. You can find more resources at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention.
Langston Morrison recently graduated from Fordham Law School with a concentration in international, foreign, and comparative law. Langston is also the vice president of a nonprofit called Abóbë Cultural Institute and Learning Center; is a certified human rights consultant with the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights; and is the author of a book on language learning called The Economics of Language Learning. Since graduating from law school, he has been studying for the bar exam and will go onto practicing law at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City, Missouri.
Andrei Pinkus writes, “In 2024–2025, I traveled to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, and New Zealand. I earned my PADI Divemaster certification in Koh Tao, Thailand, and made unforgettable friends and memories along the way. Now, I’m settled back into the D.C. area working in the environmental field, so reach out to me at andrei.pinkus@gmail.com if you want to connect or grab a bite!”
Andrei taking a dive
Kaya Gayon Yang decided to move to Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, where she will be a grade four homeroom teacher at English School Mongolia. If anyone visits Mongolia, please let Kaya know! Kaya can be reached by gyang01@wesleyan.edu.
As for me, I graduated from University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in May. I will be moving to New York City to start a career in litigation. Please let me know if you are around. I am always happy to catch up with Wes alumni.
Thank you for reading! May you stay well and enjoy the rest of 2025.
Saam Niami currently lives in New York and works as an arts and culture writer for publications such as The New York Times,New York Magazine, and Interview Magazine. Last year he founded Ward Gallery, a curatorial project dedicated to young New York artists, from emerging to museum represented, across all mediums.
From Luke Forsthoefel: “After five great years in Boston, I’m moving out to the Bay Area with my partner, Ava, and our cat, Aflie! I will be starting business school at Stanford GSB in September 2025 as a member of the Class of 2027, while Ava will continue her data science job in tech. We are both very excited about moving to California and this new chapter ahead. I’m always excited to connect with Wes alums, so let me know if you’re in the area!”
Emmy Hughes received her PhD in planetary geology in June from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. She’ll stay on at Georgia Tech for the next year or so, working on Mars analogue science! Congrats, Emmy!
From Huiqin Hu: “Five years after graduating, I’ve lived in New York City, San Francisco, Nairobi, [and] Bali. And I’m currently studying Taiji and Qigong in Wudang Mountain, China.”
Sawyer Tennant just graduated from Boston University with an MFA in creative writing (fiction), where he was awarded a Leslie D. Epstein Global Fellowship to write abroad in Istanbul this fall. Congrats, Sawyer!
Lars Babbott-Ward is now the proud dad to a bearded dragon named Banjo and an axolotl named Silly. Teaching elementary music, hosting open mics, and coaching high school rowing has been filling most of their days with laughter and community. “Sending love to all and show up where you can for each other.” <3
Happy five-years postgrad to all, and thank you to those who submitted updates! I am still chugging along in Chicago, enjoying all the Midwest has to offer. Roll cards and let me know if you’re ever in town!
