CLASS OF 1989 | 2026| FALL ISSUE

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Good people of the Class of 1989, we yodeled for updates and you answered. Thank you. Here’s the latest on y’all:

Amy Redfield reports that after four amazing years in Lisbon, she and family (husband and the best dog ever, Josie) are moving to the US. Cedar Falls, Iowa, will be their new home.

Sending love to all is former class secretary David Milch, who is very happy to share that he just began a new position as director of programs for International House in New York City. I-House is a residential community for graduate students from across the globe and country, who live together in an intentional community and develop respect, empathy, and moral courage across differences. It’s official, after 20-plus years he’s embracing calling himself a higher ed professional. He’s still living in Harlem with his 17-year-old (!) kid and thinking about college and post–high school planning for her. Time flies!!!

Jeffrey Harkness sends a hearty hello from Vermont where he bought a farm, planted an orchard and gardens, built a barn, and raised chickens! He has been “homesteading” in Vermont for the last 20-plus years. In his own words: “Quite a contrast to the go-go-go mode of the high-tech world in San Francisco, where it all started and which seems like a lifetime ago. (I guess it was.) With the kids officially through college and settled in NYC, a new sense of freedom is upon my wife and me. We’ve been lucky to spend much more time in New York these last couple years, as well as getting out of town frequently during the winter months. It’s a great contrast to the slow life here in Vermont! It’s now seed-starting season here—the season that comes right after mud season.” All this goodness, and Jeffrey’s communications agency HARK has survived the AI onslaught so far. But he’s thinking that maybe it’s time to go “whole hog” on that farm life. He’s visited with Josh Feldman in Oakland and even checked in on Marc Lefkowitz over in Denmark. On that note, Jeffrey adds: “If anyone wants to talk about which foreign country to ride out the next three years of the administration in, let me know! I’m ready!” (Get at him, y’all!)

We also heard from Greg Johnson who is a medical doctor, teleradiologist (go ahead and look that up—I had to!), having graduated from Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, New York, magna cum laude, in 1994. He completed his residency at Johns Hopkins and was chief resident his final year. Meanwhile, publishing nine peer-reviewed radiology articles during his residency. (So cool!) He also joined the US Air Force, where he served as chief of chest imaging and assistant chief of breast imaging at David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base in California. While on staff there, he was elected Teacher of the Year by the Department of Radiology Residents. After four years of active duty, he was honorably discharged with a Meritorious Service Award from military service, rank of major. (HUGE thanks for your service, friend. So proud!) Greg now works in his own radiology private practice and has been contracted by Vision Radiology since 2006, where he has have served as chief of Outpatient Chest Imaging Services. He’s also an entrepreneur, having owned several small businesses (beauty salon, barbershop, restaurant). Also had time to become a black belt in Brazilian jiujitsu and publish a book about achieving your goals and overcoming adversity called Mind, Body, Resilience.

Lila Polur Wrubel wrote in that after having an exciting solo photography exhibit in fall 2025, she went to Wesleyan for parent’s weekend to see her daughter, Annie ’28.

David Greene and Rachel Greene ’93 report that their news is daughter Eden is a student at Wes (Class of 2029) and that she inherited a vintage Zonker Harris Day T-shirt for her birthday. Adding, “We also finally had an excuse to go to Homecoming and were surprised to find that tailgating is now a thing and that the food is way better than the MoCon era.”

After more than 20 years at The Minnesota Star Tribune, and more than 30 years in daily journalism, James Shiffer “left the paychecks behind and entered the next phase of my career at the beginning of 2026. I am at work on a new book about American swamps, with the aim of rescuing their reputation from years of abuse from politicians, land developers, and Hollywood scriptwriters. This will involve extensive travel to the bayous, marshes, and backwaters of the southeastern United States. I’m already receiving expert guidance from Dan White ’89 on how to immerse oneself in hostile natural environments and write about it afterward.”

Dave Keller has been busy touring this past year—99 shows in 20 states and three countries.  Also released a new album (his 11th!), La Brea, with all original songs in November 2025. 

He did a five-week tour around the US, and he also just celebrated 12 years together with his partner, Katie. They live in Vermont. And his daughters are now both in their 20s: Havvah graduated Bard and is now living in Brooklyn; Idalee finished acting school in Manhattan and starts at Hamilton College this fall. Dave says he’s just trying to appreciate life’s wonders in the middle of all its craziness. 

To each of you, hang in there.

And in case anyone (else) is counting. . . We collectively turn 40 years post Wes in 2029. Yahtzee! Do we get an award?! I think we should. But I don’t make the rules. LOL. Anyhoo, if the years are really adding up, it means we’re still here. So, be here because life is, in fact, better with you all in it.

Talk soon.

M & J