Tag: 2016

I hope you are all well!

Please see updates from our classmates:

Zach Larabee is enjoying his new home in Springfield, Massachusetts, with Betsy, his fiancée, and their dog Roxy. When they’re not working their day jobs in the restaurant tech industry, they’re out enjoying the food and beverage scene of New England, or bartending at a local restaurant. If anyone wants to give or get any recommendations for amazing restaurants in New England, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Zach’s excited to spend his summer weekends exploring the golf courses around western Massachusetts and continue to beat Cameron Rahbar ’15 by only a few strokes during their monthly golf outings. They’re excited to celebrate a few upcoming Wesleyan weddings with loved ones and friends this summer and fall, as well as plan their own wedding in the near future!

Sarah Mi, Melissa Leung, Chiara Wabl, Kellyn Maves, Martin Malabanan, Giselle Torres, Taran Carr, Dacheng Zhao ’18, and Deborah Mi ’14 traveled to Puerto Rico to celebrate my wedding in my hometown of Ponce back in February! We even took a walking tour of the historic area of Ponce, led by Melina Aguilar ’10, through her tourism company, Isla Caribe. From Sarah: “It was an amazing time reuniting with old friends and a reminder that our alcohol tolerance is not what it used to be…!”

I am also excited to announce that I matched to residency in ophthalmology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque—which I found out about during the cocktail hour at my wedding! Please let me know if you are out there and would like to connect or have any advice or recommendations—they will be greatly appreciated. I can’t wait to spend (at least) the next four years in the Southwest, closer now to several Wes friends on the West Coast.

Stay well!

Mariam

Hello all!

Please see updates from our classmates:

Clara Leonard is now a lawyer! She graduated NYU Law, started her full-time job, and passed the bar exam. Massive congratulations on such a big accomplishment!

Maria Massad graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with her MBA in December, and is moving from Chicago to Washington, D.C., where she and her husband will be starting an exciting new chapter together. Maria is looking to expand her network and make new friends in the area, so please get in touch with her if you’re interested in meeting!

Jackie Freed is taking a sabbatical from real estate to manage re_ grocery’s Mar Vista shop, and work on her podcast, Emergency Protocol! She still lives in Venice with her dog, Nala.

Regen Routman and Nick Silva ’15 got married on November 11, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. 🙂 They had lots of Wesleyan friends in attendance, mostly from 2015 but a few from our year including Mara Woods-Robinson, Willie Zabar, and Joe Edmonds.

Tahreem Wasti (née Khalied) has been advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, and recently signed the alumni petition demanding that Wesleyan divest from companies profiting off Israeli occupation and apartheid.

As for me, I’m working on my rank list for ophthalmology residency, and getting last minute wedding planning done before the big day in February. I also recently saw Sarah Mi and Chiara Wabl for a fun weekend in Cancun.

Hope you’re all doing well,

Mariam

I hope you are all well! 🙂

Please see updates from our classmates:

After six years living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Matthew Stein has moved to NYC to start a new job as an enigmatologist (yes, that’s real!).

Sadichchha Adhikari is in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, happily living in her new apartment and is glad to be closer to her parents in NYC. As an added perk, she loves being near Wesleyan pals and sees them on a regular basis. She’s also always looking for food/drink/travel recs in and around NYC, so hit her up if you have any!

Tim Israel went to Topgolf in San Jose with Jack Reuter and played Splendor with Emerson Obus recently. Also took a big hike with them and Ella Geismar. All Wesleyan people. Let’s go!

Emily Greenspan has been working as a college counselor and teacher since 2016 (some of her students have been accepted to Wes!) and recently started her own company, Aspire Counseling & Tutoring. She is pursuing her MFA in nonfiction creative writing at Ashland University. She writes about how scuba diving became a balm for her anxiety and about her identity as a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. You can check out her website: emilygreenspan.com.

What up what up what up?!? Melissa Leung has left Cambrizzy (Cambridge, Massachusetts) for Cali and made a trek to San Diego to visit her parents, Sarah Mi and Taran Carr, and her furry siblings, Remington ’38 and Rosie ’40. She may perhaps find herself tethered to the sunny chill vibes but that’s still to be determined.

Caroline Shadle married Rob Hansen on August 19 at First Unitarian Church in Chicago. Rebecca Brill, Jordan Friedland, Eury German, Greg Goldstone, Joanna Paul ’18, and Lily Taylor shared readings as part of the ceremony and Professor Patricia Beaman, Sara Ben-Ezra, Maya Berkman, Helen Handelman, and Miranda Orbach ’15 were all there to celebrate. There was a lot of dancing.

I have been busy with research and completing my application to ophthalmology residency. Interviews are coming up, so if anyone has any tips/pointers/advice send them my way! I can’t wait to know what next year will look like.

Stay well!

Mariam

Hello friends!

I’m happy to report the following updates from the Class of 2016.

Kota Uno moved to the fertile Aizu region in Fukushima three years ago and joined the largest traditional, regenerative organic farm in Japan. They grow the rice as incredibly nourishing superfood and do the ecoservice at the same time. From Kota: “Swing by when you are in Japan!”

Also in Japan, Kotaro Aoki founded a nonprofit educational organization, KOTOWARI. He has been inspired by his undergraduate studies of philosophy at Wesleyan University, as well as his three years studying yoga and meditation in the Himalayas, to bring unique and powerful methods of exploring the self and the world to today’s Japanese youth. KOTOWARI provides transformative educational experiences for high school, university, and graduate students as well as young professionals in Japan. Since 2021, KOTOWARI has been offering programs annually. Last year KOTOWARI was recognized as a pioneer in the field of education and was awarded a grant from the Mitsubishi Mirai Foundation.

Olivia Glick will be receiving her MBA from USC Marshall School of Business along with fellow Wes alum Danielle Pruitt ’15. Olivia was student body president at USC Marshall and will be heading off to Ernst and Young after she graduates to do management consulting. Danielle was the Business of Entertainment president and will be going to YouTube on the marketing team after she graduates.

Gla aka Gla4 aka Lena Meyerson is living in Providence and Central Connecticut, working on their of arts in teaching and on various film projects. They are hoping to reinvigorate clo$et, master’s their band with G. Foley. They invite you to say hi to them on Instagram, @kissytunnel.

Tahreem Wasti (née Khalied) has settled back in Middletown, Connecticut, with her husband and two children. She works at Yale as a program coordinator and is also in the process of getting her MBA in business analytics. Since she is in Middletown, she keeps in touch with some of her Wesleyan professors. From Tahreem: “My daughters and I regularly pass by the campus and they know this is where mama went to school . . . maybe (hopefully) they choose the same when their time comes!”

Dropping at the end of March (March 31) under his artist moniker, ENYE, Christian Nuñez’s third rap project RAPSTARTAPEZ is an exploration and experimentation of different genres and sounds. Inspired by the uptown, New York City soundscapes that raised him, this Spanglish mixtape breaks away from traditional hip-hop/reggaeton, entering a more underground, experimental subgenre.

Follow ENYE’s creative journey via his Instagram, @newyorkenye. All music streaming links included in his bio.

Sarah Mi and Taran Carr are living in San Diego and soaking up the sun. They have a guest room for Wes peeps to come through!

I recently visited Sarah and Taran and we had a great time eating our way through San Diego. I am still dreaming of the burritos. . . .  I came back to Atlanta in time to catch the Wesleyan Spirits concert and alumni event, which brought me right back to my time at Wes and how I would never miss one of their shows. Incredible to think it’s been over five years since we graduated. I am hoping this period of medical school can also pass by as quickly because it’s been the hardest yet while I balance clinical rotations, research, studying for the boards, and thinking about applying to residency! I do appreciate all my Wes friends who’ve gone through the process and have helped me immensely along the way. <3

Stay well,

Mariam

Hello Class of 2016! I’m happy to report the following updates from our classmates:

Deren Ertas has been pursuing her PhD at Harvard University in history and Middle Eastern Studies since 2019. She is working on a dissertation that deals with the history of mining in the Southeastern Taurus Mountains from the 18th century onward. This year, she became a Fulbright-Hays Fellow, which will bring her to Turkey, France, and Germany throughout 2023. She would be happy to connect with other alumni who live in these places!

Gari Francois is in an expansive and healing chapter of her life. She has been traveling the United States for the past year, hosting community gatherings and workshop/dialogue spaces and getting to experience different ways of living in America. She is currently back in NYC, but soon to be in Miami, Florida, for the winter. She does not enjoy the cold—LOL. Recently, she landed a role she had always asked for but never thought would come to fruition; she is a care coach for a virtual IOP provider, where she gets to serve and support kids in their journey toward mental wellness, which she describes as really fulfilling and gratifying work. She is also looking to begin her studies as a death doula in 2023. She is also currently brainstorming/creating in person gathering spaces that invite participants to engage in experiential learning and somatic healing.

Ellen Paik and Melissa Leung are enjoying their blissful grad school vacation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, over hot pot dinner followed by bottles of wine. Since it is cold AF, Melissa does seek snuggles from Ben Romero when he returns from the woods of New Hampshire and Ulysses Estrada ’17, who is her neighbor! She has yet to cuddle with Chase Knowles but is hopeful they will meet soon after this update publishes.

Kellyn Maves and Sarah Mi are surviving intern year and were able to have a little reunion in San Diego when Kellyn went to visit Sarah on a coinciding weekend off. Kellyn also recently cut down a Christmas tree and just finished decorating it!

As for me, I am busy with medical school but have to say this has been the best year yet with exploring all these different specialties and departments. Most exciting is that I have decided to apply to ophthalmology next year, so if anyone has any advice or words of wisdom as I embark on that journey, they will be well received!

I hope for a great start to the year!

Stay well,

Mariam

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer of 2022! I’m very excited to present what the members of the class of 2016 have been up to since the last issue:

Jordan Farber is a passionate environmentalist currently working at an environmental consulting firm in the site remediation center. He is concurrently enrolled in the Energy Policy and Climate program at Johns Hopkins University, with the intent to pursue a career in climate change consulting. He is also the voice of “Lawrence the Owl” in a newly released children’s animated special.

Ellen Paik is a dual-degree MBA/MPA candidate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Kennedy School. She is studying real estate/urban policy and is excited to continue exploring the ways that inequities throughout our society may be addressed by reimagining the built environment.

Alton Wang graduated from the UCLA School of Law with a JD and earned the Equal Justice Works fellowship. He was elected in June 2022 to serve as a trustee for the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, representing his hometowns of Arcadia and Temple City.

Alexis Fineman is a climate advocate and currently moonlights as the mayor of San Anselmo, where she is working on all things at the intersection of climate change and local government. She’s also working on bringing progressive policies and programs forward. Her day job is focused on climate change and sustainability education in K–12 education. If you are thinking about getting involved in climate work or advocacy, please reach out—it’s all hands-on deck!

Since 2019, Matthew Stein has been a full-time puzzle designer, creating puzzle hunts, alternate reality games, and escape rooms. He also writes about immersive gaming for Room Escape Artist. On the music front, he released a new album of Yiddish art song called Kosmopolitn with his klezmer trio Baymele and Tsvey Brider; and they had an album release tour through California and New England (including a show in Brooklyn where he was delighted to see many Wes classmates)! He’ll also be playing violin in the San Francisco production of Indecent this fall.

Linsin Smith has graduated with a PhD in genetics from University of Chicago this July!

Melissa Leung finally made her return to a city where spices are bountifully found on menus (TYJ). But she will long for the woods where her friends include bears, moose, and Eric Jones. 😉 Best of luck to Lara Peng ’15 who will begin her MBA also at Tuck in the Dartmouth woods. Back in the city of Cambridge, Xian Hui Ang ’15 journeyed from Kuala Lumpur to Melissa (!) and to fall equally and madly in love with the Dedham, Massachusetts, Costco and all of their Asian selections. Nothing like chilling with peeps from the past such as the magnificent KADA aka Kate Davis to go on reflective journeys through both the cringe and delights!

Sarah Mi and Taran Carr have moved to sunny San Diego for Sarah’s residency in pediatrics at UCSD. They are enjoying being pet parents to their puppy Rosie and cat Remy. Taran continues to live that nice work-from-home life and has been consistently rock climbing. Hit him up if you want to rock climb with him in SD!

Tabs Gillombardo moved to Philly and is still figuring out how to use “jawn” in a sentence. She is a Levy Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Her career interest is in challenging state-sanctioned violence by advocating for incarcerated people and reproductive justice. Tabs has loved hanging and learning with Sam Rudovsky and Lizzie Shackney ’17!

Since this spring, I have been running around Atlanta through all the different Emory hospitals during my clinical year in med school. I have also loved almost every rotation I’ve been on so far, so deciding on a career path will be a tough decision to make by the end of this year, all while planning my wedding.

Stay well and keep in touch!

I want to introduce myself as the new class secretary for the Class of 2016! It has been wonderful to read everyone’s updates for these past six (!) years as Wesleyan alums. You all have kept busy with your amazing projects, adventures, and accomplishments—I look forward to collecting and sharing these memories from you all.

Without further ado, here are some updates from our classmates:

Madeline James is currently working toward her PhD in history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received a 12-month research fellowship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD, or the German Academic Exchange Service) for this academic year to conduct archival research in Germany for her dissertation. She has been living in Berlin, Germany, since September, and will be visiting several other German cities for archival research through the spring and summer of 2022.

Alexis Fineman is doing everything in her power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She is currently moonlighting as the mayor of San Anselmo, working to build capacity and will for local climate policies and actions. She chairs a countywide committee of elected officials focused on climate action and is a member of her local Sunrise chapter. By day, she works in K–12 climate and sustainability education, after having spent the last few years as a classroom teacher.

Eury German will be a visiting assistant professor of dance at Wesleyan University. He has started a tutoring company with fellow Wesleyan 2016 graduate, Cecilia Cereijido-Bloche.

Melissa Leung has finally learned how to drive with the cool confidence and impatience of a New York pigeon. You can catch her riding dirty in the upper valley where snowbanks, deer, and bears are plenty. There is a co-op here, but it can never beat the one and only bread table she shared with Patrick Bailey. Ben Romero and Melissa also got to dance their hearts out to Whitney and many more divas! From Melissa: “Friends, come join us in the grad school life—please feel free to hit me up if you have questions! It truly is LIT to be a nerd again and have a flexible schedule to accommodate random midday shenanigans.”

Cornelia Channing joined The New York Times Company as an editorial assistant. Before joining the Times, she was a copy editor at New York magazine, where she worked on a number of ambitious stories including an investigation into allegations of abuse in former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office, and was the editor of the magazine’s weekly crossword puzzle.

Johnny LaZebnik co-wrote an episode for the iconic show, The Simpsons, entitled “Portrait of a Lackey on Fire.” The episode is nominated for a Writers Guild of America award and received a feature in The New Yorker.

 Sadichchha Adhikari graduated with her MBA from Georgetown University last year and is pursuing a (very predictable, post-MBA) consulting path. She also wrote and published a book, Beautiful People: Women of Color Decentralizing Innovation in Beauty, and is using her experience and background from this book to start a nail polish brand with one of her Georgetown friends, coming in summer 2022! She’s also probably moving back to NYC this summer. Lots of changes!

Ani Acopian has been named to the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 List for social media.

As for my own update: Sarah Mi came to visit Mariam Torres for the weekend, and they randomly decided to just “take a look around the animal shelter.” Mariam ended up adopting her new kitten, Penelope. She has been the best companion during Step 1 studying!

 

Editor’s note: We’re looking for a new class secretary! If you are interested, please email: classnotes@wesleyan.edu.