I am thrilled to share that for the second consecutive year, The Wall Street Journal has ranked Albion College as the #1 liberal arts college in Michigan. This year, we were also recognized as providing the best overall student experience and social mobility of graduates among all institutions in the state—private or public.
These accolades reflect our commitment to providing an exceptional education and underscore the significant impact an Albion degree has on our graduates’ futures. It’s rewarding to see rating organizations like The Wall Street Journal affirm the value of an Albion education, illustrating how our students not only thrive during their time here but also achieve greater earning potential after graduation.
Maintaining this margin of excellence, however, requires much more from all of us. This is especially true now during this period of dramatic population shifts in our recruiting territories, price pressures, and increased competition in the higher education sector.
To be sure, there are considerable challenges ahead for Albion but the opportunities to advance our mission in meaningful and transformative ways are abundant.
As part of our Pathway Forward plan, faculty and staff have been working diligently on steps to serve our student population more effectively, make experiential learning guaranteed and required for all, deliver our top-ranked programs in new and innovative ways, invest in student-centered spaces, and reduce long-standing deficits.
We are tackling challenges and realizing our potential through transparent conversations, with a respect for shared governance and with an eye toward external and market trends while honoring our track record of changing lives through experiences based in the liberal arts and sciences.
As you will see in the following pages, we have made tremendous progress on creating an innovative and sustainable future for Albion. We must create a future path that is based in excellence and an enhanced student experience, while being less dependent on unrestricted endowment to support our operations.
Recent indicators of success include:
• A 1.9 percent improvement in retention of the first-year cohort — our most significant improvement in six years.
• A 3 percent improvement in the discount rate for the incoming Class of 2028.
• A significant increase in the number of alumni donors last year — 200 additional alumni gave to Albion.
In this report, you’ll find a comprehensive overview of our 2023-24 financials as
well as additional quick facts, statistics, and news items about our people and programs. We also outline some of the challenges we are tackling together as a campus community and highlight our progress across a variety of initiatives underway to meet our mission.
In the pages that follow, we share some of the facility upgrades that occurred on campus during the past year in many ways thanks to donor and partner support, our faculty’s work to innovate the curriculum and ensure greater pass rates across STEM gateway courses, and institution-wide efforts to improve student retention and success. We’ll share details of a new partnership with CREDO’s “Moving the Needle” cohort that is catalyzing our retention and success efforts as well as news of a recent gift from Gail Snyder Hetler ’68 that will aid us as we implement critical programs for future generations of Britons.
Thank you for your ongoing engagement with Albion and your continued dedication to our mission. We are committed to responsible stewardship, assuring you that your support is well-invested in the future of our students and this great institution.
I encourage you, and ask you, to be part of the future we’ll build together.
College
Albion
Budget at a Glance
Albion is, and always has been, a tuition-dependent school. We receive approximately 70 percent of our revenue from tuition, fees, room, and board. The remaining 30 percent comes from gifts, grants, interest from our endowment, and auxiliary fees like summer camps and conferences. The bulk of our operating revenues go directly to support salaries and benefits for our employees and to fund programmatic needs in departments across the college.
Fundraising
While endowment performance grew at a rate of 8.6 percent in fiscal year 2024, the total value of Albion’s endowment declined to $145,333,914 to address short-term operational needs as we work through the Pathway Forward plan, while adhering to donor restrictions. Gifts to the Annual Fund and restricted gifts amounted to a total of $4.7M. The planned giving pipeline includes a total of 574 documented and undocumented gifts totaling $81,479,246.69.
Revenues
Operating Expenses
Year 2024 Gifts and Grants
Student Retention and Persistence
Summer Bridge: A year of
remarkable
growth and impact
Albion College has taken significant strides to provide targeted onboarding to improve retention rates and enhance the college-going identity of firstyear students through its Summer Bridge program, which has expanded dramatically in just one year.
Targeted support from a U.S. Department of Education’s Title III: Strengthening Institutions grant is helping Albion expand its institutional capacity to serve the unique needs of students with lower high school GPAs, high financial need, and geographical barriers, as well as first-generation college students and those from historically underrepresented racial backgrounds, including Black and Latinx students.
A key aim of the program is to foster a sense of belonging among new students and help participants build meaningful connections with faculty, staff, peers, and success resources early.
A year of transformation
In 2024, the Summer Bridge program welcomed 53 students, a substantial increase from the pilot year, which enrolled just eight participants. This year's program included 36 percent firstgeneration students, 62 percent with high
financial need, 34 percent from over 100 miles away, 53 percent with lower than average high school GPAs, and 51 percent who identify as historically marginalized.
The format of the program evolved from a one-week college primer to a four-week experience that included innovative courses that emphasized applied learning, fun group outings and events, academic workshops and panels, introductions to student-support resources, group work and study sessions, and wellness activities.
Goals and accomplishments
The program is designed to equip participants with essential skills and experiences, providing over 60 hours of instruction and various workshops focused on academic skills, financial literacy, and personal development. Students had the option to select from courses that included An Introduction to Anthropology, Earth Resources & Environment, Local Advocacy and Activism, and Arts Integrated Learning, as well as TRiO programs on college writing, college success, and college wellness. Bridge participants engaged in one unit of course work, with an average of 11 students per class. Notably, students who participated in this year’s Bridge averaged a remarkable 3.71 GPA. Students participated in six academic
skill-building sessions, four “Sunday Scaries” workshops designed to alleviate anxiety about the upcoming semester, and several off-campus trips that allowed them to explore nearby organizations and engage in community activities. These experiences not only familiarize students with the collegiate environment but also lay the groundwork for meaningful relationships and work to develop a sense of belonging. Underscoring the program’s effectiveness in addressing the anxieties that often accompany the transition to college, Caitlin Mohr ’28, a first-generation college student and Bridge participant, said, “Overall, I feel like the Summer Bridge program better prepared me for college. As someone who had no idea what to expect, the program helped ease my fears.”
Building connections and community
The involvement of faculty, staff, and student-peer mentors is another cornerstone of the program. With 36 staff members and 10 peer mentors actively engaging with students, participants received robust support tailored to their unique needs.
This collaborative environment not only enhances academic readiness but also fosters a culture of encouragement and shared success. According to Bridge participant Masen Smith ’28, “The Summer Bridge program was very fun and prepared me effectively for the real semester, without Summer Bridge I more than likely would not have all the friends I’ve made.”
The program emphasizes community building among participants. Through various social activities—ranging from ice cream socials and movie nights to team-building exercises like cornhole and mindfulness meditation—students forge friendships that extend into their college careers. Makayla Frost ’25, a peer mentor for Bridge, observed, “The students benefited by getting to understand and get comfortable with everything campus has to offer and make amazing connections with their peers.”
Outcomes and assessment
While retention and graduation rates serve as key indicators of success, the program also assesses the development of noncognitive strengths among participants. These strengths, which include academic engagement, self-efficacy, and social comfort, are crucial for long-term academic success.
A Student Strengths Inventory administered before and after the program revealed that 70 percent of participants experienced an increase in three or more non-cognitive strengths. Notably, the area of social comfort saw significant improvement, indicating that students felt more at ease in social situations—a crucial factor in their overall college experience. In terms of retention, the results are promising. Last year, 100 percent of the participants from the pilot year returned for their second year. This year, while the final retention rates are still forthcoming, the increased number of students and their positive feedback signal a bright future for the program.
Looking ahead
As the Summer Bridge program continues to evolve, staff are committed to addressing areas where improvements are needed. For example, the assessment indicated a decline in students’ educational commitment and resiliency, prompting plans for more activities focused on these areas next summer. By integrating discussions about the value of a liberal arts education and potential career paths, the program seeks to reinforce the importance of their academic pursuits.
The growth and success of Albion College’s Summer Bridge program highlights the institution’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. With continued support and development, the program promises to be an essential part of the Albion experience, ensuring that all students have the tools they need to succeed.
Campus community comes together to support studentsuccess initiatives
Retention, persistence to graduation, and overall student success are at the center of Albion College’s mission.
A five-year, $2.2 million Title III: Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the Department of Education is helping the college build capacity to serve its students by providing funds to hire staff, improve and strengthen academic quality and advising, support the development and implementation of studentsuccess programs, and establish systems of high-quality data collection, analysis, and distribution for informed institutional decision-making.
(Right) Summer Bridge students present their culminating projects for campus. (Bottom) Summer Bridge students tour campus and learn about important resources and community-building spaces.
Albion launches partnership with CREDO’s "Moving the Needle" studentretention cohort
Over the past few years, Albion has initiated a variety of approaches to advance student success. While we have experienced some wins in retention and continue to graduate alumni who are making a positive impact in the world, we are taking steps to ensure that greater numbers of our students will realize these goals.”
— President Wayne Webster
This summer, Albion College kicked off a five-year engagement in a best-in-class retention initiative called "Moving the Needle (MTN)" with CREDO – a firm that specializes in helping small, independent colleges graduate a greater number of current students. The unique approach of MTN galvanizes the full campus community to identify, further develop, and implement the most impactful practices and solutions that help Albion and its students thrive.
The campus community gathered together in September to receive an early update from our CREDO “Moving the Needle” team on their work through the course of the summer and what lies ahead. Teams of faculty and staff, led by Provost Lisa Lewis and Assistant Vice President for Student Development Kelly Finn, are working closely with the CREDO team on key phases of the partnership targeting clearance, intervention, and first-year advising strategies.
CLEARANCE
To establish and refine the approach, systems, and practices to increase the number of students “cleared” (i.e., have satisfied all campus requirements for continuous matriculation) prior to the first day of class every semester.
INTERVENTION
To establish and improve the strategies, systems, and structures necessary for a proactive, responsive, and holistic approach to students in need.
FIRST-YEAR ADVISING
To ensure a first-year advising experience that provides proactive engagement and support, facilitates a meaningful relationship between a student and their assigned academic advisor(s), and equips students with an easy-to-navigate ecosystem for academic planning, pathways, and post-graduation success.
Both the process and outcomes of this partnership seek to bring about positive changes to student retention and success, with a goal to increase overall student retention by at least five percent at the conclusion of the partnership. Focused efforts include further integrating campus partnerships, programs, and services; building an inclusive infrastructure of practices and approaches to ensure the scalability and replicability of our work across all student populations; and ensuring that our campus community continues to place students at the center of our decision-making.
One of the many benefits of working with CREDO is the opportunity Albion has to connect with other campuses who are also focused on improving student success and retention through the MTN collaborative.
Broadening minority participation and retention in STEM disciplines
Whether it’s attracting minority applicants into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines or retaining them once enrolled, these have proven to be difficult tasks for colleges and universities across the country.
Albion College is no different.
“The retention number of all students in the STEM areas has been dropping in recent years,” noted Vanessa McCaffrey, Albion’s assistant provost and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “As the demographics of Albion College have changed and the number of students of color have dramatically increased over the past ten years, the problem with retention in STEM has become even more noticeable.”
Albion is attempting to address the issue in several ways. Perhaps the most prominent way has been using Title III funds to send STEM faculty and administrators to workshops conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) TIDES Institute, which are designed to help STEM faculty and administrators understand the root causes of minority group underrepresentation and how they can address them. About 20 Albion faculty members have attended the summer workshops.
“It is a chance to reflect on the unique barriers and problems that the Albion College STEM departments face when it comes to retention and persistence of minority groups,” McCaffrey said. “During the three-day workshop, we heard from experts in belonging–but not
just belonging as it relates to the STEM fields. It was a broader exploration and deep dive into the root causes of racism in higher education.”
Darren Mason, a professor in Albion’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, attended the TIDES conference in both 2023 and 2024. He said the conferences were quite valuable in helping him learn strategies to help minority STEM students succeed at Albion.
“In addition to general presentations about various forms of racism and their impact on the lives and learning experiences of marginalized communities, each year groups of STEM faculty members from Albion were able to work 1-on-1 with an expert facilitator provided by the conference,” Mason said. “This person directly helped the Albion faculty focus their efforts to identify their own personal biases, list college-wide and discipline-specific challenges to student success/retention, and formulate specific strategies to improve both circumstances at the college.”
He said a common theme during the TIDES discussions was the need to normalize for students the acts of “getting help” and “talking science” on a daily basis.
“Speaking for myself as a first-gen student, I essentially lived at [the extrahour office hours] in college, constantly asking my professors for help, guidance, and support,” Mason said. “But I had to really work at getting such support. It should not be that hard. Getting help should be the norm and not stigmatized.”
“These discussions led to a variety of ideas, with one immediate, visible, and concrete outcome being the creation this semester of group STEM student hours for all students at Albion,” he said. “This new service, which occurs in the Science Atrium every Monday from 2 to 3 p.m., is staffed by a collection of STEM faculty including myself, a very friendly emotional support animal (an adorable dog), and snacks. The goal is to create a visible-and-welcoming environment where students feel comfortable hanging out and talking about anything – life, food, fun, homework, life plans, etc. –with faculty and each other.”
In addition to workshop attendance, Albion recently conducted a climate survey in STEM to gauge student levels of feeling valued and supported.
(Top) Sign for STEM Student Hour posted outside the Science Complex. (Bottom) Students are greeted by Brita, the therapy dog, as they arrive to a STEM Student Hour session. Photo taken by Professor of Biology Sheila Lyons-Sobaski.
Academic Innovation
Making a global impact, one learning experience at a time
Experiential learning doesn’t simply make Albion College students more attractive to potential employers–it also instills a passion in students for what may become their lifelong pursuits.
You don’t have to look far to find Albion students, who through their experiential learning experiences, are making an impact locally and globally.
Senior Aishat Fagun ’25 spent 10 weeks this summer at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine’s Hackam Laboratory for Pediatric Surgical, Translational, and Regenerative Medicine in Baltimore.
She completed a project looking at pregnant mice, maternal stressors, and the rates of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among their offspring. NEC is a life-threatening condition affecting thousands of premature infants born each year in the U.S.
More specifically, Fagun injected several mice mid-pregnancy with a bacterial infection, then examined their offspring a week after birth for signs of NEC.
“My research has significantly advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of NEC,” Fagun said. “Given my interest in infant diseases and mortality rates, I found the work being done here particularly compelling.”
A first-generation college student with a keen interest in a healthcare career, Fagun credits the chemistry and biochemistry department, along with the Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine, with preparing her for success in programs like JHU’s.
This summer, Daniel Jeremiah ’26, a biochemistry major and biology minor from Kaduna, Nigeria, worked alongside Professor of Chemistry Cliff Harris on a Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity project which seeks to synthesize enantiomeric amino alcohols using a catalyst.
For someone who is always curious about how things work, Jeremiah finds that biochemistry lets you explore that curiosity and provides more knowledge about what makes the world function at a very infinitesimal level.
“I believe that by actively participating in research at Albion College, I am setting the tone for my future career and hence developing a voice which I will use to speak during the application process,” Jeremiah said.
Jeremiah has become a master at maximizing his time out of class by setting up his experiments for the day and letting them run overnight if need be, taking data, evaluating, and making adjustments, or repeating the experiment, if necessary. His ability to stay organized allows him to pursue a variety of individual and college projects that are setting him on the path to a career as a biochemist.
Senior Riley McKinney ’25, an economics and management major, spent much of her summer at the Kent County Health Department (KCHD), learning the impact that local government and local nonprofits have on public health.
“When people think about public health, they’re often just thinking about the Centers for Disease Control and things that affect the public on a large scale,” McKinney said. “I have become more well-versed in applying health care to needs on a more local scale.”
As part of the KCHD’s Center for Community Health Strategies (CCHS) team, McKinney helped the county apply local scale to nearly 700,000 residents. To achieve this goal, the CCHS works with an increasing number of nonprofit organizations serving diverse sections of the community.
“I have worked with amazing people and community connectors that are a part of the Grand Rapids LGBT, Healthcare Consortium, Disability Advocates of West Michigan, Hispanic Center of Grand Rapids, and A Glimpse of Africa,” McKinney said. “These organizations all utilize KCHD for resources such as brochures, testing kits, clinic services, and education. Working with them has opened my eyes and sparked my interest in nonprofit organizations as well as providing care at much more than just a broad lens and calling it into the specific needs that certain groups are faced with.”
Psychology major Dallas Wilson ’25 spent his summer at the Animal Behavior Center (ABC) in Lambertville, Michigan, where, among other things, he helped three ring-tailed lemurs learn to paint.
“It can get a bit messy as they aren’t so concerned about being neat, but it is truly amazing to see them engage with painting,” he said. “These animals are intelligent and cognitively advanced so they need to receive mental stimulation. It is also important for any species of animal under human care to know that they are safe and can trust their caretakers.”
Before his internship, Wilson did a study on animal cognition with professor Tammy Jechura, who in turn introduced Wilson to ABC founder Lara Joseph. ABC teaches and supports veterinarians, zookeepers, and individual pet owners learning positive methods for modifying animal behaviors.
Wilson said the summer experience helped him broaden his view of psychology.
“My courses at Albion did not specifically emphasize animal psychology, yet I’ve still been able to apply my knowledge to this job in ways I would never have considered,” Wilson said. “In a vaster perspective, this has shown me just how complicated and yet interlinked, psychology truly is. We are all individual beings mentally, but we are also related, even across different species.”
Moving toward an EL-for-All requirement of Albion College students
Whether it’s recognition from prestigious publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Princeton Review, or students and alumni recounting their valuable experiences, Albion College is consistently praised for the experiential learning (EL) opportunities it facilitates.
Many students already take advantage of EL opportunities. Even so, Albion College is laying the groundwork for an EL-for-All requirement. As such, President Wayne Webster charged Albion’s Academic Vision Task Force (AVTF) with outlining the necessary first steps toward that goal.
AVTF members met throughout the summer and focused their work on short-term deliverables, including refining the college’s definition of EL; creating an organizing typology for the EL opportunities offered; and creating a set of guiding principles and action
items for continued work on an EL-for-All requirement. The task force released its report to faculty and staff members at the beginning of the school year.
In explaining why experiential learning for all is needed, the report stated: “At the heart of Albion College’s mission and vision lies the assurance that all Albion College students receive equitable educational opportunities that prepare them for lives of purpose characterized by meaningful careers and responsible leadership, with local and global impact and that immerse them in the creation and processing of knowledge so that they may become skilled architects of societal change, active citizens, and future leaders.”
Redefining experiential learning
Although the AVTF felt the college’s definition of experiential learning was
useful, it sought to refine it to bring it more in line with the college’s mission and the definitions of EL used by the Association for Experiential Education and the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
The task force’s proposed updated definition is “Experiential learning purposefully engages students in hands-on learning supported by focused reflection in order to apply knowledge, develop professional readiness, clarify interests and values, and collaborate meaningfully with local and/or global communities.”
Organizing experiential learning
The task force noted that while Albion College offers a significant number of EL opportunities, it doesn’t possess or use a common language when referring to these opportunities.
“This makes it incredibly difficult to organize, let alone keep track of student data,” the report stated. “In much the same way that research in a particular disciplinary area requires organization to
Build Albion Fellows program celebrates 10 years of impact
Albion College students and graduates gathered in October to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Build Albion Fellows (BAF) program, which has positively impacted Albion youth and made a lasting positive impact in the greater Albion community. The BAF program offers a competitive, four-year scholarship to selected students in exchange for their community service efforts.
Each fellow contributes hundreds of service hours to Albion, forms lasting
bonds, and earns a degree. “I didn’t officially choose Albion until I auditioned for the faculty,” said alum Jontaj Wallace ’20. “They knew me by name, and I felt much more comfortable. I realized I could have an impact here.”
Fellows engage in professional development, experiential learning, and complete 10 hours of service weekly at their community-site placements. They also attend national conferences and activities related to service learning. Every fellow completes a senior capstone presentation in collaboration with a community partner, focusing on a local area of need.
“One of the biggest things I see coming out of Build Albion Fellows is this continuous love for Albion,” said Cassidy Porter ’23. “It allowed me to continue working in this community. I’m now a community-brand ambassador, representing the good things happening in Albion. I don’t think I would be where I am without the Build Albion Fellows.”
Each year, up to 10 students from Albion are selected as fellows. Applicants must be residents of Albion, meet admissions criteria, show community involvement, and apply as first-year students. These fellows contribute to meaningful change in their community.
move a field forward in a more systematic, intentional manner, it is vitally important that we develop an Albion-specific EL typology in order to more clearly assess and communicate our students’ unique and powerful experiences.”
The task force worked to compile a complete list of currently available, curricularly-focused EL opportunities and their corresponding definitions. It then organized the list based on the expected level of learning required of students by each opportunity, noting whether or not the opportunity would be credit-bearing.
AVTF members include co-chairs Megan Hill, associate professor, communication studies and Albion College Provost Lisa Lewis; Lauren Brown, associate professor, English; Demian Cho, assistant professor, physics; Jacob Hagan, outreach, engagement and instruction librarian; Jocelyn McWhirter, professor, religious studies; Brad Rabquer, professor, biology and faculty director of the Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine; and Craig Streu, professor, biochemistry.
Guiding principles for developing EL-for-All
Much work remains to transition to an EL-for-All requirement. The Academic Vision Task Force offered the following guiding principles for the college's ongoing efforts.
• EL should be available for all students
• EL should incentivize enrollment and encourage retention
• Reflection needs to be an integral part of EL in order for students to get the most out of their experience; students should be able to articulate the professional competencies they’ve learned
• The Core should create in students a desire and appetite for higher-order EL opportunities
• The college should devise an equivalency or accounting
method that equates non-credit bearing experiences to a 1-unit (~4 credits) experience in the interest of improving access to EL
• Intentionality is needed for building EL skills in early curricular work (e.g., first year seminars or other courses)
• Where necessary, the college should place resources and expand policy in a way that recognizes the labor of producing, maintaining, supervising, and assessing the various forms of EL (e.g., teaching credit, staffing at Career and Internship Center, tenure and promotion considerations)
• The college should encourage transparency and collaboration among academic departments in developing and sharing EL opportunities
Class of 2028 Profile
385 New Students
11 Countries Represented
358 First-Time, First-Year Students
28 International Students
Business Psychology Education
Pre-Medicine Exercise Science
3.4
Average GPA
Pre-Veterinary
Top Areas of Interest
13 States Represented
69% From Michigan
10+
234 Athletes
27 New Transfer Students
130 First Gen
11
New Build Albion Fellows
FUN FACT:
Due to alumni connections, we were able to get three transfer students from Wells College in New York, which announced its closure last spring.
Prospective transfer students currently enrolled in the Jackson College Launch Pad to Albion College program, established in May 2024. 2025 WSJ/College
IN MICHIGAN Liberal Arts College Social Mobility Student Experience
Brits by the Numbers 2023-24
Total Enrollment By Academic Year
n Full-Time Students n Part-Time Students
Total Student Population
Fall total: 1354
Most Popular Programs
2023-24
Kinesiology - Exercise Science
Biology
Psychology
Business
Biochemistry
Communication Studies
Finance
Political Science
Computer Science
History
Marketing
Economics & Management
Sports Communication
Art
Educational Studies
Theatre
Sociology
Mathematics
English
Environmental Studies
International Students
Students total: 57
Countries total: 21
Afghanistan - 1
Australia - 1
Brazil - 1
Canada - 2
Costa Rica - 1
France - 2
Ghana - 4
Haiti - 1
India - 4
Italy - 2
Kenya - 7
Kyrgyzstan - 3
Mongolia - 17
Netherlands - 1
Nigeria - 4
Pakistan - 1
Romania - 1
Spain - 1
Sudan - 1
Viet Nam - 1
Virgin Islands - 1
Endowed scholarship recipients
Endowed scholarships help Albion College to offer our excellent educational experience at an affordable price for most families. Here are just a handful of bright and high-achieving students who have benefited from the generosity of Albion donors.
P250 Leadership Scholarship
Initiated by the Student Senate in 1971, the Project 250 award is a competitive scholarship that “recognizes campus leaders who have made significant contributions to life at Albion College.” Lyn Healy ’72 was president of Student Senate at the time, and the above quoted statement are her words.
Tre’sure Lott ’25
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
Majors: English (Creative Writing) and Communication Studies
“Through my involvement in AC Drip, I’ve learned the ins and outs of promoting social events and orchestrating seamless gatherings. It's been a hands-on education in event management, from developing captivating marketing strategies to coordinating logistics behind the scenes. Working with the Pleiad has been an invaluable opportunity to refine my journalistic skills and expand my network. As a member, I've delved into the art of storytelling and honed my ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and endeavors. Engaging with the Black Student Alliance and participating in the People of Color Conference has been transformative. These experiences have deepened my understanding of different cultures and perspectives, fostering empathy and cultural competency crucial for effective leadership in our increasingly diverse world.”
Murray ’56 and Jean Penzotti Swindell ’58 Scholarship One of Albion College’s transformational scholarships ($1,000,000+), Murray ’56 and Jean Penzotti Swindell ’58 established this scholarship to help make Albion College accessible to a diverse group of bright difference-makers.
Adah Bertling ’27
Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa
Major: Computer Science
“This scholarship will help alleviate my financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies and extracurricular activities. As a first-generation Latina student, this gift has granted me the ability to pursue an education that before I believed was unattainable. As of right now, I am a sophomore here majoring in computer science. I am currently involved in the OLA Club, working alongside my fellow Latinx peers to make Albion College a welcoming environment for people of color to speak confidently in what is right now a predominantly white institution. I am also a part of the Horticulture Club in order to improve the environment around Albion and Albion College. The community between the students and professors here is unlike any other college or institution I’ve ever seen. I truly do love it here. I am very excited to achieve my goals while attending Albion College.”
Roy and Mae Harrison Karro ’31 Scholarship
Established by Roy and Mae Harrison Karro ’31 (also the benefactors who made the “Mae” Residential Village possible), the Karro Scholarship supports premed students in their third or fourth years at Albion.
Sebastian Aheimer ’25
Hometown: Northville, Michigan
Major: Kinesiology (pre-med)
Minor: Biochemistry
“Apart from my studies, I am a member of the Men’s Lacrosse team. During my freshman year, I unfortunately tore my ACL. I would make the argument that tearing my ACL was one of the best things to happen in my life as it led to switching my major and developing my passion for medicine. That is how I started my path of one day hopefully working as a sports medicine physician, possibly with a professional sports team. I thoroughly enjoy not only my kinesiology classes, but also the chemistry, physics, and biology required for medical school. In my free time, I work as an EMT to gain hands-on experience and knowledge for working in the medical field. Becoming a first responder has definitely taught me a lot about myself, as well as becoming more compassionate, understanding, and willing to put in difficult work for those in my community. Through my experiences so far as an EMT, I have developed an interest and have started learning ASL to communicate more effectively with a society I believe is not represented well enough in the medical field.”
Ernst
and Young Scholarship
Established by the Ernst and Young Foundation to recognize Timothy Cash ’68 and Kevin Asher ’86, the Ernst and Young Scholarship is awarded to accounting students who are juniors or seniors.
Garret Draper ’26
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio
Major: Accounting-CPA emphasis Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program
“I am currently in my third year, and on track to graduate this spring. I am studying accounting with the hope of receiving my CPA upon graduation. At Albion, I participate on the baseball team as well as being a part of the Accounting Society and Finance Club. We are planning a trip to Chicago with the Finance Club. I have enjoyed getting to know the great campus Albion has to offer while making memories with my friends and classmates. When I first visited Albion, I fell in love with the campus. I felt like I was welcomed by everyone at the school, which is something I did not feel at different universities. Once classes started, I greatly appreciated the small classes and getting to know my professors on an individual level. I have made connections with my professors that I feel I can connect with on a daily basis. Albion will forever be my second home and I am glad I chose this great college.”
Philanthropy
Renovations underway at historic Kresge Gymnasium
Thanks to a $1 million gift from Joe ’82 and Julie Serra, renovations began this summer at Albion College’s historic Kresge Gymnasium—home to men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s wrestling.
The Serra’s gift is funding upgrades to the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, helping with lobby and lounge renovations, and adding new bleachers and signage throughout the Kresge Gymnasium facility. Much of this work is set to begin in spring.
Additionally, in collaboration with another gift from a generous donor, a portion of the Serra gift funded the new training room in the Dow Serra Center.
“The remarkable generosity of Joe and Julie continues to help us provide Albion’s students with contemporary spaces they need to thrive in competition
and grow in community,” Albion College President Wayne Webster said. “I’m particularly excited about what their most recent gift for Kresge means to our efforts to grow engagement and enhance the experience of all Britons and fans alike.”
Kresge Gymnasium is Michigan’s oldest active intercollegiate athletic facility. Built in 1925, Kresge was one of the first on-campus facilities for indoor sports among Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) members. Its first event was on Jan. 8, 1926, when Albion defeated Olivet in a men’s basketball contest, 30-21.
Long-time supporters of Albion College, the Serras in 2019 provided a lead gift to fund the Serra Fitness Center in the Dow Serra Center.
“Julie and I are true believers in Albion College,” Joe Serra said. “Our continued
support is an investment not only in the future of the college but the overall belief in its direction under President Webster. Supporting Kresge makes it extra special because of our relationship with coach Mike Turner and the living legacy he created in the building.”
Joe Serra is chairman of Serra Automotive, a $4 billion company that began with a single automobile dealership in Grand Blanc in 1973 under Joe’s father, Albert. It is one of the top 10 privately held retail automotive groups in the country, with dealerships and automotive franchises in seven states. Joe is the recipient of the General Motors “Dealer of the Year Award,” an award that he has earned for several years. Additionally, he has also served as the president of the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association, president of the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association, and chairman of the North American International Auto Show.
Serra played basketball for Turner, and was co-captain of the 1981 MIAA championship team. He played three seasons for the Britons and earned his degree in economics and management in 1982. He earned a certificate in strategic marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Joe is also a 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, a past trustee of Albion College, and a brother of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. Julie is a graduate of Michigan State University but visited Joe so much that she feels like she graduated from Albion College too.
“We benefited greatly from Albion and we hope our gift allows the next generation of Albion students to benefit as well,” she said.
Early design rendering
Alumna gives $120,000 to endow retention and persistence programming
Albion College made quite an impression on Gail Snyder Hetler ’68. Hetler now hopes to have a lasting impact on future generations of Britons.
Hetler donated $120,000 in October to sustain student retention and success programming created as part of the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program by establishing The Mae Ola Dunklin Student Empowerment Fund. Dunklin is a college trustee, long-time Albion educator, and former director of the Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development. She was instrumental in the development of Albion’s Maymester teacher-training program, which was eventually renamed Maemester in Dunklin’s honor. She and Hetler have been friends since 2008.
“We connected immediately as fellow teachers with the common goal of providing students with the best education possible,” Hetler recalled. “At the time, for both of us, this meant preparing upcoming teachers to be able to go beyond their content skills so they connect with all students, are open to different ways of learning, actively engage students in learning, and make a difference in students’ lives.
“Over the years, Mae Ola and I have stayed in touch each time I’m back on campus and I have continued to be impressed with everything she is doing to support the success of future teachers and their students,” Hetler said. “Maymester, which has become
‘Maemester’ in her honor, is an ongoing impressive example of her dedication to empowering all students.”
As part of Albion’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program funded by a federal grant, the Department of Education will match Hetler’s donation to provide an endowment totalling $240,000 in support of ongoing annual programmatic needs.
“Gail’s generous and dedicated commitment to providing all students at Albion College with supportive resources to enhance the educational experience is reflective in her successful career as an educator, mentor, and national leader for academic excellence in the classroom and the community,” Albion College Director of Philanthropy Jon Hankins ’95, said. “She embraces the college’s values rooted in a love of learning, while sustaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and learner-centered environment. The relationship she built years ago with Mae Ola Dunklin inspired her to give back through the lens of these shared values.”
Hetler graduated from Albion College in 1968 with a degree in French, English, and Secondary Education. She earned her master’s degree in education from California State University, East Bay in 1975. A National Board certified teacher, Hetler is a retired high school French instructor from El Cerrito High School, West Contra Costa, California. From 2009 to 2013, she was the site director of East Bay World Language Project at the University of California, Berkeley.
This is not the first time she has provided philanthropic support to further educational efforts at Albion. In 2004, Gail and her husband, Robert (Bob) Hetler ’64, established the Gail Snyder Hetler ’68 Endowed Education Scholarship for a worthy and deserving student who is a member of the Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development.
Hetler said this latest gift is drawn from funds she inherited from her parents, Helen Moberg Snyder and H. Miles Snyder, who were strong advocates for education.
“The opportunity to provide the gift to establish The Mae Ola Dunklin Student Empowerment Fund is an ideal way that I can honor and recognize Mae Ola for her dedication to teach, inspire, and build a future for all students as well as to fulfill a goal of my parents,” Hetler said.
President Wayne Webster, Bob Dunklin, Trustee Mae Ola Dunklin, Gail Snyder Hetler '68, and Director of Philanthropy John Hankins '95 connected over dinner during Homecoming to celebrate Hetler's transformational gift.
Student-Centered Spaces
Generous donor gifts and strategic use of existing capital funds allowed Albion College to make noteworthy renovations and enhancements to several student-centered spaces throughout fiscal year 2024. These projects are aimed at improving overall student satisfaction by creating spaces and opportunities for engagement, communitybuilding, and beyond.
Additional upgrades, not pictured here, include enhancements to classroom technology, accessible building entrances, fascia repairs, exterior and interior painting, landscaping, and new furniture.
Kresge Gymnasium
Phase I renovation of a multiphase $1 million project was completed in Kresge Gymnasium over the summer, including fresh ceiling paint and air conditioning. This project is made possible thanks to a gift from Julie and Joe Serra ’82.
Qdoba
A limited-menu Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurant was added to offerings in the Eat Shop on the second floor of the Kellogg Center.
Belonging Lounge
A new Belonging Lounge, designed to foster community, connection, and inclusion, was introduced in the former S.E.E. space located on the second floor of the Kellogg Center across from the Eat Shop.
Grinds - Starbucks
The college introduced a “We proudly serve Starbucks®” program to the Grinds Café in Stockwell Library and additional seating and prep area.
Bridge
The popular Bridge study space in Stockwell Library received upgraded paint, furnishings, and lighting over Winter Break. This renovation was made possible thanks to a gift from the Nancy A. Finton ’75 Trust, as facilitated by Nancy's daughter, LeAnne Rumler.
Motion Lab
The opening of the new motion lab, enables Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Ahalee Farrow and her students to observe and measure human motion as part of coursework and in support of faculty-student research projects.
Wesley Hall Lounge
Wesley Hall, the first home for many Albion students, received a renovated front lounge that includes new paint, lighting fixtures, flooring, and flexible furnishings. This renovation was made possible thanks to lead gifts from David ’67 and Jo Lutz Miller ’69 and Becky ’73 and Roger Tuuk.
Training Room
The Training Room in the Dow Recreation and Wellness Center was opened in fall 2024 and includes a state-ofthe-art soak tub, and modern office spaces. The newly renovated space was made possible thanks to lead gifts from Joe ’82 and Julie Serra and Tim ’91 and Jen Darbee Wyman ’90.
Alumni Engagement
FURSCA highlighted at virtual alumni event
On March 28, Britons gathered from across the country for an Albion Everywhere webinar featuring NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow and Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA) alum Hannah Pankratz ’14. FURSCA Director Elizabeth Palmer ’10 and participating students Donna Avina ’24 and Kevie Lamour ’25 made remarks at the virtual discussion as well.
Pankratz is an example of the program’s life-changing impact; as a geology student at Albion, Pankratz’s FURSCA project was in the agricultural field. She
utilized satellites and remote sensing to collect data from corn and soybeans. Remote sensing, Pankratz said, still plays a role in her work today.
“Doing FURSCA doesn’t mean you have to pursue a career in research or something related to your project, but it’s a great foundation for experiential learning,” Pankratz said. “It definitely taught me patience, how to work with a mentor, and it closed the deal for me that I really did want to be doing research for a career.”
While she enjoyed presenting her own work, Pankratz said what she was most excited about was hearing from current students.
“It was really interesting to hear how students’ FURSCA projects might inspire what their next steps will be,” Pankratz
said. “It was good to see that FURSCA is even stronger now and is still supporting students like it did when I went to Albion 10 years ago.”
Donations make the continuation of FURSCA possible, allowing Albion students to immerse themselves in experiential, transformative projects year after year.
“FURSCA is not a process where there is a clear beginning, middle, or end. I remember as a student being frustrated by that, but that’s the whole point. It’s about discovery and having a community to support you–not only your advisor, but the whole program,” Pankratz said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been very grateful to Albion and the donors who support that program.”
Alumni hosted 43 Albion Everywhere gatherings in March, celebrating 189 years since the founding of Albion College.
Seven alumni were recognized with alumni awards at the spring ceremony, joining over 340 alumni who have received the Distinguished Alumni Award, Young Alumni Award, or James L. Curtis Alumni Leadership Award.
ALUMNI DONORS GAVE
OVER
($2,067,116.58)
In FY24, we received 200 more donations from alumni than in FY23
$200: The median annual gift from alumni donors
Alumni donations to scholarships: $600,000
Individual gifts of $100 or less had a collective impact of over $75,000
Senior Class Gift 2024 raised $3,000.50, allowing the Cutler Center Cap and Gown Rental to purchase 43 additional caps and gowns for future graduating seniors. A total of 94 seniors participated and 70 received cords.
Eighty alumni proudly served as class representatives for presidential installation
On April 18, an academic procession of nearly 200 individuals opened the Installation Ceremony of Albion College’s 18th President, Dr. Wayne P. Webster. Among them were 80 Albion College alumni representing class years from 1959 to 2023.
The tradition of inviting alumni class representatives to walk in the processional shows symbolic support from alumni to the new president. It honors the rich history of Albion and celebrates our alumni and their points of connection to each other. For those who served as class representatives, the honor had different meanings. For some, it was the actualization of a long-held dream.
“When I was first here as a student, seeing everyone in what I call the ‘Harry Potter robes,’ I knew I wanted to be a part of that,” Mark Anthony Arceno ’10 said. “The fact that I have a Ph.D. and was able to be there in my own robes, to be among
them, that was a great full circle moment and a great highlight as well.”
For others, being back on campus was a reminder of what it means to be an Albion College Briton. On the evening before installation, class representatives were invited to a dinner in Upper Baldwin, where they connected with one another, heard remarks from President Webster, and witnessed a showcase of students put on by Campus Life, referred to as the Student Stroll.
“To see students from Greek life, or athletics, or any other campus organization show up as their authentic selves to meet us alumni was so special,” Karen Revenaugh ’87 said. “That’s what this place has always done: It has always encouraged students to embrace who they are and where they come from, and I thought the Student Stroll and installation as a whole was a really beautiful dedication to that commitment.”
Dennis Cawthorne '62 processes with fellow class representatives at the start of the Installation Ceremony.
Around the Rock
Albion jumps to 54th on WSJ/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges Ranking
Albion College ranks 54th among public and private colleges and universities, up from 68th last year, in the 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings released in September by The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse. Albion continues to rank first among all liberal arts colleges in Michigan and second among private institutions in the state.
“These rankings reaffirm the value our Albion College community places on delivering an affordable and transformational education that is rich in experiential learning, personal attention, and positive results,” Albion College President Wayne Webster said. “When our students step foot onto campus,
we are committed to doing all we can to help them find their home here among friends and supportive faculty and staff who put them and their ambitions first.”
Albion also received accolades for enhancing students’ social mobility upon graduation, minimizing out-of-pocket costs to attend, boosting graduates’ salaries beyond what they would be expected to earn regardless of the college they attend, and providing students a great overall experience during their time on campus.
In Michigan, Albion ranks first among all private and public colleges and universities for social mobility and student experience, sixth for salary impact, and 10th for best value. Among liberal arts colleges in the state, Albion ranks first in every category.
Nationally, Albion ranks 15th for social mobility, 46th for student experience, 125th for salary impact, and 183rd for best value.
Albion College named to Princeton Review’s ‘Best 390 Colleges’ list
Albion stands out for its commitment to personalized education and its supportive community, according to The Princeton Review’s recently released rankings of the nation’s top colleges. Basing its assessment on student feedback, Princeton Review said this personalized approach was a significant factor in Albion’s overall ranking in the magazine’s 2025 “Best 390 Colleges” and “Best in the Midwest” lists.
Princeton Review reported students consistently praise the college for its intimate class sizes and dedicated professors. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, Albion offers a closeknit educational setting where faculty members are accessible and genuinely invested in their students’ success. As one student noted, “the professors at Albion are incredibly approachable and always willing to help. They really care about our academic and personal growth.”
Also noted on Albion’s Princeton Review profile is its emphasis on experiential learning. Princeton Review said students have the opportunity to engage in various hands-on experiences, including internships, research projects, and study-abroad programs. The latest assessment further included praise for Albion’s vibrant campus life, with extracurricular activities and organizations fostering hundreds of supportive communities.
Lastly, Albion was included among Princeton Review’s “Green Colleges” and “Everyone plays intramural sports” lists.
Faculty promotions
The following faculty members received promotions and/or tenure this year:
Danit Brown, now professor of English. Her 2008 short story collection Ask for a Convertible was included on “Best Book” lists by the Washington Post and Barnes & Noble. Brown has served as English department chair since 2015, and has taught creative writing at Albion since 2005.
Lauren Brown received tenure and was promoted to associate professor of English. A member of Albion’s faculty since 2019, Brown teaches 20th- and 21stcentury American literature, with a scholarship and teaching focus on BiPOC authors.
Nancy Demerdash received tenure and a promotion to associate professor of art history. Demerdash joined Albion’s faculty in 2018 as its first specialist in modern and contemporary art of the Middle East and Africa.
Katey Price received tenure and a promotion to associate professor of communication studies. Price has been a member of Albion’s faculty since 2015. A health communication researcher, Price has recently conducted research involving caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients and older adult women participating in a weight-training program.
Krista Quesenberry received tenure and was promoted to associate professor of English. Originally hired in 2018 to advise the Albion College Pleiad, Quesenberry teaches journalism and other professional writing courses, and recently helped establish a graphic medicine collection for the college library.
Albion College receives Native American Heritage Fund grant
Albion College was one of 10 Michigan entities to receive grants from the Native American Heritage Fund (NAHF), which in August awarded more than $484,000 to support community projects, academic-programming updates, mascot changeovers, and other initiatives honoring
Native American culture and history.
Albion received $35,000 to create a culturally appropriate exhibit and site co-management plan at the Whitehouse Nature Center.
Since 2020, Albion College’s anthropology & sociology, and biology departments have partnered with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) to explore Michigan's wild rice (mnomen) ecosystems.
Together, they developed a course on wild rice archaeology and created a tool (wigwasmkek) blending traditional ecological knowledge with Western biology field methods. The partnership also delves into Albion’s Anishinabe history, including a 1,000-year-old ancestral site at the college’s Whitehouse Nature Center and documents related to Native American students from the 19th century.
This new project seeks to deepen the partnership by creating a culturally appropriate exhibit and site co-management plan. Housed at the Whitehouse Nature Center, the exhibit will highlight that Albion’s history is intertwined with Anishinabe heritage and emphasize that restoring relationships can help restore the land.
Biology professor wins research fellowship
Abigail Cahill, an associate professor in Albion College’s Biology Department, is among the inaugural recipients of the Norman G. Pauling Research Fellowship for Early-Career Scholars awarded by the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
The awards recognize and support outstanding scholars whose work exemplifies the critical role of the liberal arts and sciences as a public good. Each of the four recipients will receive a $20,000 fellowship to further their research and contribute to the broader conversation on the value of a liberal arts and sciences education.
Cahill was recognized for her project titled “Mnomen (wild rice) and Mussels: Integrating Multiple Perspectives to Study River Ecosystems.” Her research focuses on the ecological and cultural significance of wild rice (mnomen) in the Great Lakes region, integrating scientific and indigenous knowledge to explore the health of aquatic ecosystems, particularly the relationships between wild rice and freshwater mussels.
“I am excited and honored to receive this award from Phi Beta Kappa to support part of the collaboration between Albion faculty, students, and staff, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi,” Cahill said. “We’re hoping to deepen our understanding of how mnomen and invertebrates create a community in the Kalamazoo River, and I am looking forward to using this funding to continue this work with Albion students.”
Art professor earns NCAArts fellowship
Ashley Feagin, associate professor and chair of art and art history, has been awarded an Emerging Arts Administration Fellowship by the National Council of Arts Administrators (NCAArts). The prestigious award seeks to provide resources and mentorship opportunities for budding arts administrators.
Through the fellowship, Feagin will receive a one-year council membership, free admission to NCAArt’s annual conference at Interlochen Center for the Arts, and be paired with a distinguished arts administrator who will serve as mentor for the year.
“I am looking forward to attending the NCAA conference in north Michigan and joining a network of arts administrators through this fellowship, who will empower me to navigate curricular changes effectively and advance our department’s goals,” Feagin said.
Feagin joined the faculty at Albion in 2013, after earning her MFA in photography at Louisiana Tech University. At Albion, she has taught classes in photography, digital imaging, video, computer art, and the cultural significance of pop music. Her artwork explores queer identity, queer family through photographs, installations, performances, and collaborations.
Provost Lisa Lewis and Professor Allison Harnish accepting Albion's grant check from representatives from representatives of the Native American Heritage Fund.
New members join Board of Trustees and Alumni Board
New board of trustee members
Brad Coulter ’82, is president and CEO of the nonprofit Matrix Human Services, whose 450 employees provide Head Start pre-k education, teen counseling, workforce training, housing counseling, and financial literacy education throughout Detroit. A certified turnaround professional and non-profit and government accounting and federal funding expert, Brad is an Albion College Distinguished Alumnus and was recently named a Notable Executive in DEI by Crain’s Detroit. He lives in Birmingham.
Justin Huttenlocher ’23, got his job as technology risk consultant at Ernst and Young through his Albion internship in that position. At Albion he was a member of the Gerstacker Institute, Delta Sigma Phi, and the men’s soccer and swimming and diving teams. He also spent one summer as an Albion College/Community Collaborative (AC3) Fellow and participated in the International Entrepreneurship course with French students and professors. He lives in Shelby Township.
Rodney Mitchell ’24, holds the position of patient care coordinator at McLaren Hospital as he prepares to apply to both medical school and MBA programs. Along with studying psychology, cell and molecular biology, and neuroscience at Albion, Rodney was a member of
the Wilson Institute for Medicine, the Brown Honors Program, Student Senate, and men’s basketball. He lives in Saginaw.
Karen Pifer ’91, is a partner with Honigman, where she leads their Real Estate Transactions Group, along with serving on the firm’s executive committee and board of directors. Her clientele, located across the country, ranges from large public companies to small business owners, landlords, and tenants. She lives in Bingham Farms.
Keith Roberts ’81, is a retired CFO, who worked primarily with manufacturing entities in southwest Michigan. A former member of Albion’s Gerstacker Institute and track and field team, Keith has been named a Distinguished Alumnus and a member of the Albion Athletic Hall of Fame. A former member of Albion’s Alumni Board, Keith lives in Augusta.
Jessica Thomas ’03, directs the Bureau of Local Government and School Services with the Michigan Department of Treasury, whose work focuses on the accounting and auditing of financial activity within the state’s municipalities and school districts. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the mother of Tyra Thomas-Spratley ’20. Jessica lives in Birmingham.
New alumni board members
Meaghan Walters Cole ’09, is the experiential programs manager for the School of Business Administration at
Oakland University. A member of Kappa Alpha Theta and the Gerstacker Institute, Meaghan was an active volunteer with Harrington Elementary and Albion churches. She lives in Lake Orion.
Jordan Herron ’16, is a project manager for Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. While scoring more than 1,000 points as a member of Albion men’s basketball team, Jordan also helped lead the Black Student Alliance, was a Smooth Transitions mentor, and a student employee with Admission. He lives in Chicago.
Grant Juth ’15, is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services. At Albion, Grant was a member of Albion men’s soccer, Sigma Chi, and the Student Athlete Advisory Council, and served as the Pleiad’s digital marketing coordinator. He lives in Bloomfield Hills.
Liz Vogel ’04, recently became the first woman to serve as city manager for Traverse City. A member of Kappa Delta, Liz also participated in FURSCA and Student Senate. She currently divides her time between Traverse City and Grosse Pointe.
Lisa Carion Zimmerman ’87, has spent 34 years serving as principal, vice principal, and teacher for Detroit Country Day School. A Kappa Alpha Theta, Lisa served on Panhellenic Council as a student and currently is a member of the KAT Advisory Board. She lives in Rochester Hills.
