Io Triumphe! Winter 2025

Io Triumphe!

8 The student at the center of the Zeta Tau Alpha incident reflects on it

12 Remembering the only Briton to compete in the Olympics

15 Duke Ellington’s memorable performance with our choir Celebrating trailblazers and trailblazing moments in Albion’s history

Managing on an Amazon scale

Andrew Renner ’25 was hoping for a summer internship which would provide a glimpse into the fastpaced environment of a corporate giant. He got that and more during his internship at Amazon.

Identifying the roots of

transphobic behaviors

Katherine Faglie ’25 is conducting a study examining whether people with more secure attachment styles tend to be less transphobic.

Helping corporate America

battle climate change

Tanya Jagdish ’22 works with corporate clients to evaluate and mitigate risks related to climate change.

Using big data to fight crime

Trevor McAleenan ’02 was part of a team which recovered more than $3 billion in stolen bitcoins.

From small-town Albion

to the Big Apple

Kate Walsh’s ’88 journalism career has taken her many places. These days, she’s at the helm of Hour Detroit

On the Cover: Cecelia Williams-Roberson ’69 reflects on her time at Albion College, as well as the Zeta Tau Alpha incident which gained national attention. She’s now retired after many years in education. Photo credit: Phil Stein

Io Triumphe!

WINTER 2025

VOLUME LXXXIX, NO. 1

EDITOR

Mark Lowery

DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR

Katherine Hibbs

PHOTOGRAPHER

William Leung

CONTRIBUTORS

Melissa Anderson

Makeba Bantu ’25

Ty’Nayia George ’25

Elizabeth Palmer ’10

Jordan Revenaugh ’21

Jake Weber

ADDRESS UPDATES

Office of Institutional Advancement 611 E Porter St. Albion, MI 49224 albion.edu/alumni

Please send class notes and other personal updates to classnotes@albion.edu. CONTACT THE EDITOR communications@albion.edu

Io Triumphe! is published in the winter and summer by Albion College. Opinions expressed in the publication may not reflect those of the College or Alumni Association. Photo and text copyright Albion College, all rights reserved.

ALBION COLLEGE MISSION

Albion College prepares students for lives of purpose characterized by meaningful careers and responsible leadership, with local and global impact. We are committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and learner-centered environment where all students feel that they belong. We cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and a love of learning rooted in the liberal arts tradition and academic excellence.

STAY CONNECTED @ALBIONCOLLEGE

Letter from the President

Throughout our history, trailblazing people and pivotal moments have defined who we are as an institution and inspired us to leave Albion a little better for the next generation.

From researchers creating new knowledge in our classrooms and labs to students exploring equality, and first-generation college students courageously forging their own paths, these stories surround us—if only we take the time to see them. They are examples of experiences outside of the classroom that complement the academic experience and prepare our students for lives of meaning and purpose.

I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of alumni during my 18 months as president. A common thread among them is the innate ability to see what’s possible. Our students share this quality. They are curious, ambitious, and deeply engaged.

This issue delves into some of the past pioneers and current changemakers shaping the next chapter of Albion’s history.

Trailblazers like Lee Bartlett ’29 exemplify Albion’s legacy of excellence and resilience. Hailing from Hillsdale, Michigan, Bartlett discovered his passion for the javelin at Albion and

became one of the world’s top javelin throwers. Competing in three Olympic Games (1928, 1932, and 1936), he took what he learned at Albion to a global stage and demonstrated the focus and determination that define Britons to this day.

Albion’s history also highlights moments of social change. Cecelia Williams ’69, a sophomore basketball player from North Carolina, physical education major, became a trailblazer for equity in 1967 when she joined Zeta Tau Alpha, challenging the national organization’s resistance to integration. Her courage, supported by the Albion community, exemplifies the strength and unity to stand for justice.

Current students like Andrew Renner ’25 continue Albion’s legacy of meaningful impact. The senior from Brighton, Michigan, spent his summer interning at Amazon’s FTW3 facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Not only did Renner oversee more than 100 employees as a seasonal employee, he was charged with analyzing data in real time to help the internet juggernaut reach real operational goals.

Albion has also created transformative experiences on the global stage. In 1966, Duke Ellington brought his groundbreaking Sacred Concerts to

campus in collaboration with the Albion College Student Choir. For choir members like Dennis Moore ’70 and Bruce Tobin ’70, the performance was more than an extraordinary musical event; it embodied Albion’s spirit of stepping beyond comfort zones and embracing excellence in partnership.

These stories remind us that the heart of Albion lies in its people and our commitment to connecting students with experiences that elevate their aspirations and expand their opportunities.

Go Brits!

President

Hannah Arledge ’26

Hometown: Fowlerville, Michigan

Major: Psychological Science, Human Service concentration

Memberships: Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service, Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program, Women’s wrestling captain; ranked 14th nationally in 2024

When Hannah is not hitting the mats or spending quality time with the people who make her day go by more smoothly, she can be found looking for more ways to make an impact at Albion.

“Any time we get to spend together is special and holds a very dear place in my heart,” Hannah said of her wrestling teammates. “Being surrounded by friends and teammates cheering me on is an incredible feeling. I honestly don’t think I’d experience that anywhere else.”

What would be a perfect day on campus?

“Waking up at a decent time, getting breakfast, and seeing all the activity on campus is something I really enjoy. Everyone is doing their own thing, heading to class, and I know there’s so much more to happen as the day unfolds.”

What is your favorite genre of music?

“It depends on the day. I’m a really big rap fan but I can also get down to musicals like Hamilton.”

Do you have any hidden talents?

“I can rap.”

What motto have you lived by?

“Process over outcome.”

What has been your best accomplishment?

“Receiving the Pillar Award (presented to one male and one female wrestler each year). It stands for everything about being a student athlete and what Albion wrestling is. This includes having high character, strong academics, loving to compete, and being about the Albion spirit.”

Favorite sports team?

“I just like watching wrestling.”

What is your favorite show right now?

“Grey’s Anatomy, but it’s only good up to Season 15, then you have to start replaying.”

Albion 24/7

The 2023-24 Albion College AmeriCorps program celebrated a remarkable year, strengthening campus and community partnerships. With all member slots filled and performance goals exceeded, the program showcased its growing effectiveness. Highlights included the launch of Tech Savvy Seniors, an initiative that seeks to improve digital literacy for older adults, and the introduction of Community Corps, a flexible volunteer program for busy students who are able to volunteer between two and five hours per week at AmeriCorps sites.

The following data points showcase the program’s impact on the Albion community and its emphasis on fostering leadership, equity, and sustainability among student participants.

Successful Recruitment

Application numbers to AmeriCorps grew steadily, with 67 applicants in 2023-24 compared with 22 applicants in 2020-21.

14,324.25

community service hours contributed by 10 community and nine campus partners.

AmeriCorps members engaged 267 unique volunteers from campus and the community, contributing 1,478 hours of additional service.

“As we look ahead, we are excited to build on the successes of this year while implementing new strategies that will further strengthen our impact,” Albion College AmeriCorps Director Lindsey Knowlden said.

TECH SAVVY SENIORS PROGRAM

Focused on improving digital literacy for older adults, this initiative blends academic learning with hands-on community engagement, impacting underserved populations.

Expanded Partnerships

Added three new partners, including Harrington Elementary and Habitat for Humanity, while maintaining relationships with 12 existing organizations.

students received academic and social-emotional support from 22 AmeriCorps members.

Improved Retention

Rates: Overall retention improved to 86.2%, up from 83.3% in the prior year. Retention of volunteer participants had a marked improvement, with only 10.25% non-completion in 2023-24.

Rock the Block Initiative

Over 60 volunteers supported improvements at 13 homes through collaboration with Habitat for Humanity and local organizations.

students enrolled in service terms in 2023-24, a 198.6% growth in slots filled over four years.

with MERCEDES PACE ’19

Mercedes Pace ’19 returned to Albion College in 2024 to coach the cheerleading team— a program to which she belonged as a student. From theatre major to cheerleader, she shares her favorite memories, experiences as a coach, and dreams for the future of Albion cheer.

Io Triumphe!: Where on campus did you make the most memories as a student?

Pace: As a theatre major, I spent countless hours in Herrick Theatre—rehearsing, building sets, designing costumes, and soaking up everything I could from amazing professors like Zach Fischer, Joel Klain, and Stephanie Henderson. My friends and I often hung out in the green room for game nights, movie nights, and even painting and decorating the

space. There are lots of happy memories there.

What’s one change on campus that made you feel old?

My first day back as cheer coach, I went to print some papers in the library and ended up completely lost. There used to be computers right when you walked in, and when they weren’t there I just kind of froze. I then headed to Ferguson to the computer lab on the ground floor which is now the eSports lab! That definitely made me feel a little bit old.

How did growing up in Albion influence your decision to attend and coach here?

I was lucky to be in the first class of the Build Albion Fellows, which definitely shaped my college choice. At first, I didn’t want to go to college in my hometown, but Albion’s campus and atmosphere won me over.

In your opinion, how does cheerleading impact the college spirit?

Cheerleading is a very powerful tool that connects the crowd and the field. Cheerleaders bridge that gap and heighten the school spirit through our cheers.

Do you miss being on the sidelines, or do you prefer coaching?

I was a cheerleader from 6th grade through college; it’s part of who I am. However, coaching has its own rewards. I’ve got an amazing group of girls who make me laugh, work hard, and keep me inspired. Teaching and watching them grow is something special.

What’s something you do as a coach that might surprise people?

Being a cheerleader means a lot of things, but mostly it means leading the school and crowd in spirit and support. One of my personal favorite ways to do that is bridging the gap between everyone involved with the game; the band, the crowd, and the football team. We had a social event with the marching band where we had snacks and games, we had a “bring a friend to practice day” where we taught some cheers and cheer games. The cheer team also decorated the locker room for the men’s football team for homecoming. I enjoy doing things like this with the team because it makes the cheerleaders more personable and approachable.

If you could plan a dream performance for your cheer team, what would it look like?

Honestly? This is any performance where everyone’s having a blast—the cheer team, the crowd, all in sync and feeding off each other’s energy. And, of course, cheering our team to victory.

Trailblazers and trailblazing moments

have characterized Albion College’s rich, nearly 200-year history, ranging from the tremendous courage of an African American sorority pledge and her sisters, a special, one-night collaboration with the legendary Duke Ellington, or the Albion athlete who reached Olympic heights.

Our history of trailblazing, however, did not end with those events. Our students, faculty and staff, and alumni continue to make an impact throughout the world.

Reflections from the Zeta Tau Alpha incident

It seemed like a no-brainer. A sophomore who had graduated from high school in New Baltimore, Michigan, Cecelia Williams played clarinet in the Albion College Band as well as playing on the women’s volleyball, basketball, and softball teams. She was a member of the Women’s Athletic Association and Student Senate. Why wouldn’t any sorority want her?

That question was complicated because Williams is African American, and it was 1967 in America–three years after the passage of the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination in the U.S. based on race, color, sex, or national origin.

The Zeta Tau Alpha chapter on Albion’s campus did want her. Williams, in fact, became president of its pledge class that year. However, outlawing discrimination is one thing; keeping it from repeatedly rearing its ugly head is another.

Citing pledging irregularities related to Williams, the national office of Zeta Tau Alpha placed the local chapter on

probation after learning it had extended membership to an African American.

The nine months following Williams’ pledging (see timeline) became a trailblazing period in Albion College’s history. Williams’ sorority sisters, the college administration and faculty, as well as its alumni board, rallied behind her. Albion College chose to disassociate itself from the national Zeta organization, bought its property, and the former Zeta Tau Alpha chapter eventually reorganized at Albion under another name.

The incident attracted national media attention, including from the New York Times, particularly because Lynda Bird Johnson (the oldest daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson) was a Zeta. Nearly 60 years after the incident, Williams (now Williams-Roberson) 77, recently reflected on the episode and her time at Albion College.

Io Triumphe!: Why did you choose Albion College?

Williams-Roberson: “I grew up as a military (Air Force) brat,” so I changed schools a lot by the time I graduated from high school. Almost always the schools I attended were predominantly white. At my high school in New Baltimore, Michigan, I got advice from a guidance

counselor about choosing a college. She said, “We are not going to consider any of the black schools, because the worst white school is better than the best black school.” So, we were not considering Howard or Hampton or any of the HBCUs. We looked at Albion and Kalamazoo. I knew I didn’t want to go to a huge school. So, that’s how I ended up at Albion. And I felt welcomed at Albion and felt very comfortable there.

Io Triumphe!: How were you connected with the students who invited you to pledge?

Williams-Roberson: I was a student that had a major in health, physical education, and recreation. I played in the band; I played bridge with the white students in the Eat Shop, bid whist with the Black students in the union, and played whatever sport was in season. I made friends in all those areas. I also worked as a waitress in “Susie” so I was known throughout the dorm.

Io Triumphe!: So, you would’ve just been someone who was pretty well known on campus because you were involved in so many things?

Williams-Roberson: I was friends with a lot of people. And what happened was, when I went through rush, I found

a lot of my friends in the Zeta House. I really didn’t understand sororities, and I thought it was too expensive for me at that time. My family had no experience with sororities, so I didn’t understand what I was getting into. In fact, during my freshman year, my dad was transferred to Turkey, and my parents actually wanted me to transfer to North Carolina Central to be near my aunt and uncle. And so I did a big thing and said, “No, I’m not changing.” I said to them, “You don’t have to worry

about giving me money.” I was working part-time jobs, and I figured, “I’ve got this covered.” But I didn’t have it covered to pay for all these extra activities.

Io Triumphe!: Did you have any other reservations about pledging?

Williams-Roberson: Not until I found out that they were being asked about Black people by the national group. “Were there Black people going through rush? Are any of them invited back to the next party?” Then I knew that there was going to be trouble during the invitations to the next round of parties.

Io Triumphe!: Once you got this inkling that there may be a problem coming from the national, where did your mind go?

Williams-Roberson: I realized that one of President Lyndon Johnson’s daughters was a member of the sorority, and I figured that they wouldn’t want to cause a big stink about admitting me.

I don’t think any of us realized how insistent the opposition from the national organization would be. I certainly didn’t know. If I had known my history, I probably would’ve said, “No, it’s not going

1967 Zeta Tau Alpha Timeline

February

Sophomore Cecelia Williams, an African American student from New Baltimore, Michigan, becomes president of the 1967 pledge class of the Albion College chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

April

The chapter is placed on probation by the national office of Zeta Tau Alpha for pledging irregularities related to Williams. The probation was scheduled to last until September 1968, stopping pledging for two years.

November

to work” because of where the national headquarters was located, and the reputation of that area of the country.

Zeta’s national headquarters is located in Farmville, Virginia, and Farmville is the county seat of Prince Edward County, Virginia. Do you know about the history of Prince Edward County? Moton High School of Farmville, Virginia, was one of five cases that had been bundled with four other schools in Brown vs. Board of Education, the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case that ordered states to integrate their public schools. Rather than integrate, Prince Edward County chose to close its schools. They remained closed for five years. They opened private schools for white kids, but there were no schools for Black kids in Prince Edward County for five years.

Part of the problem is that none of us were taught Black history, so I was not aware of what had gone on in Prince Edward County, or even of my father’s history as a Tuskegee Airman.

Io Triumphe!: You didn’t know your father was a Tuskegee Airman?

Williams-Roberson: While we were growing up, he didn’t talk about his

Albion College President Louis Norris issues an ultimatum to the national office of Zeta Tau Alpha–either rescind the probation or lose its chapter on campus.

After the national office of Zeta Tau Alpha refuses to rescind probation, Albion College disaffiliates with the national sorority.

experience in World War II. I didn’t connect that he was a Tuskegee Airman until the Lawrence Fishburne movie came out in 1995. And when I saw the movie and heard him talking about it, I went, “What?” And I asked him, “Were you a Tuskegee Airman? He said, “Yeah.” He really didn’t talk about his military experience until after his tour in Vietnam.

Io Triumphe!: Were you encouraged by the support of the Albion community, the sorority, the president and the alumni?

Williams-Roberson: It felt like support, but it also felt like, just keep things very quiet. Don’t make waves; we’ll support you, but we’re not really pushing racial integration, was the feeling that we got from the college. It felt like we were out there as a group fighting the battle by ourselves. And I’ve always gotten the feeling that the college had a mission, but it was a very quiet mission leading up to what the mission is today about having the college population reflect the country’s makeup.

Io Triumphe!: You felt like the episode was hush-hush?

Williams-Roberson: I came back for my 30th reunion. And I came back with

Albion’s faculty unanimously support the administration’s decision to cut ties with Zeta Tau Alpha.

a friend who was a member of the Zetas. And we noticed that the Zeta House was the meeting house for the Black Student Alliance. And so my friend and I went in and just talked to the people. The Black students didn’t realize that they were in the Zeta House. They didn’t know anything about me or about the situation. When we went back for the 50th reunion, we noticed the name had changed again to Welton House.

Io Triumphe!: What happened during the 50th reunion?

Williams-Roberson: There was a group of alumni who’d come back for the 50th reunion and people were doing walks downtown and on different excursions. But there was a group that just stayed in a room and talked with Marsha Green Whitehouse about the things that were going on at the college and changes. So, the question was brought up about what had happened to the Zetas. And I said that they were gone because of me. And another person that was in that group, there were maybe 20 people in the room, said, “Why don’t you just be quiet?” And I said, “Whoa.” I explained that Dr. [Louis] Norris had declared that Zeta Tau Alpha would not be allowed to exist on campus unless the entire pledge class was

The disbanded Zeta Tau Alpha chapter reorganizes as Phi Alpha Epsilon.

December

Albion’s Alumni Board of Directors endorses the college’s decision to sever ties with Zeta Tau Alpha.

allowed to go active. The national told the chapter that I could not go active, so the sorority went local.

Io Triumphe!: What was the biggest lesson you learned from this incident?

Williams-Roberson: The biggest lesson for me was that I should have known my history. And because all of my experience was in situations where I was the only or one of a very few Black folks, I realized that we all have been lied to about Black history and how Black people should be regarded. And that means that everybody needs to learn that Black folks’ history didn’t start with slavery. That we’ve got to go back further and realize that Africa was the beginning. That’s what I’ve come away with, but it took me over 70 years to figure that out.

After graduating from Albion College, Williams-Roberson earned a master’s degree from the City University of New York as a member of The Urban Teacher Corps. She also studied at New York University. Williams-Roberson taught more than 30 years in the New York City Public Schools before retiring. She also started the Softball Division of the Harlem Little League and also served on its board of directors. She lives in New York City.

Albion College purchases the Zeta Tau Alpha House from the national sorority for $5,500.

The Pleiad publishes a statement from Zeta Tau Alpha National President Gustave Weck stating the probation of the Albion College chapter was not racially motivated.

Albion College’s lone Olympic representative

Before he ever stepped foot on Albion College’s campus, Lee Bartlett ’29 had already proven himself an exceptional athlete.

Having starred in football, baseball, and track and field, Bartlett earned nine varsity letters before graduating from Union City (Michigan) High School in 1925. Sometime between competing in high school track and field and arriving at Albion, Bartlett picked up a long, slender piece of wood and began concentrating on another track event–the javelin.

Before his time at Albion was done, Bartlett would not only become one of the best collegiate javelin throwers, but one of the best javelin throwers in the world. The trailblazer from Hillsdale, Michigan, would compete in three Olympics (1928, 1932, 1936) and remains the only Briton athlete to compete in an Olympic Games.

At Albion, Bartlett dominated the competition. Twice, he was named captain of the track team. He won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic

Association (MIAA) javelin championship four consecutive years. In 1928, he set a MIAA Field Day record with a mark that would stand for more than four decades.

As a college athlete, Bartlett wasn’t just gaining attention on the regional college scene. During his junior year, Bartlett won the 1928 NCAA championship in the javelin throw and established a new record (216 feet, 7 inches). That same year, he won second place in the javelin throw at the U.S. Open (AAU) Championships.

However, the biggest honor that year came when Bartlett (while still an Albion College student) participated on the 1928 Olympic Team. He finished in 16th place.

Bartlett would compete in the next two Olympics as well. At the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he earned fifth place in the javelin throw. Four years later, at the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, Bartlett finished fourteenth.

Bartlett documented his Olympic experience in letters sent to his parents, photos he took, and keepsakes he

collected. His daughter, Cheryl Proctor, has a treasure trove of items from her father’s travels. She is part of the Union City Society of Historic Preservation.

“Thursday we dock at Hamburg [Germany] and take the special, streamlined train to Berlin to the Olympic Village,” he wrote in a letter to his parents while crossing the ocean. “I have stood it pretty well except the first day. The ship was pretty tippy and it made my head swim. I guess I got used to it.”

Once in the Olympic Village, Bartlett provided a bit more insight about the athletes’ routines leading up to their events. “All we eat is spinach, beans, meat and potatoes. No pie or cake or jello,” Bartlett wrote in a letter dated Aug. 10, 1936. “You can’t buy a soda in the city. Nobody likes them so they don’t sell them.”

“We certainly have eaten some awfully big meals since we’ve been here,” he wrote. “I’ll bet I’ve gained ten pounds. You can’t exercise too much. The more you exercise, the more you want to eat.”

He also seemed taken with all the attention the 1936 games attracted. His scrapbook contains photos of teammates

with German boxer Max Schmeling and with Olympic legend Jesse Owens.

“[Adolf] Hitler was a spectator every morning and afternoon,” Bartlett wrote in another letter. “I sat quite close to him yesterday, but I didn’t have my camera.”

The letters also indicate he cherished his time at Albion College and never forgot his campus mates.

“The head coach from Indiana is from Albion and an Army man who is coaching the pistol team is from Albion,” Bartlett wrote in another letter. “We are going to send the alumni head a special item on the trip.”

Bartlett hung up his javelin in the early 1940s. He then spent three decades teaching and coaching; at Marlette and Union City, from 1935-1942; and from 1942-1972 in Dearborn, Michigan.

In 1989, Bartlett was posthumously inducted into the Albion College Hall of Fame. He was one of Union City High School’s inaugural members of its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2022, Union City honored Bartlett by erecting signs at North Broadway, South Broadway, St. Joseph, Division, and Coldwater streets.

Lee Bartlett ’29 (1907-1972)

Major: Chemistry

Campus involvement: Sigma Chi fraternity, Chemistry Club, Track, “A” Club, Band

While at Albion, Bartlett learned javelin for the first time when he joined the track team in 1926. He was the fourtime MIAA javelin champion and held the position of track team captain twice. His record at the 1928 MIAA Field Day was not broken until 1969. He was posthumously inducted into Albion’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. Lee Bartlett is the only Albion College athlete to compete at the Olympic Games.

He competed in javelin at the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympics, and placed 16th, 5th, and 12th, respectively.

Remembering Duke Ellington’s visit

to Albion College

In the spring of 1966, jazz legend Duke Ellington found himself in the quaint town of Albion, Michigan. In his renaissance, Ellington was exploring the cross-section between jazz Christian liturgy in a series of performances known as “The Sacred Concerts.”

Prior to Ellington’s arrival in Albion, he performed Sacred Concerts at churches in New York, San Francisco, and England. This was the first-and-only Sacred Concert performance on a college campus, and Ellington didn’t do it alone; all 85 members of the Albion College Student Choir were invited to perform alongside him.

“I mean, that was a really big deal to me. That, hey, these guys are treating us like equals here. They need us for the performance,” said Bruce Tobin ’70, a member of the choir at the time of Ellington’s visit. “They’re not looking down on us, and they’re thanking us for helping them. That was a big deal as an 18-year-old.”

“The significance of that performance, now that I think about it, was typical of what Albion did for its students,” Dennis Moore ’70 added. “It said, ‘Get outside your comfort zone, and do something better than you think you can do.’”

That’s exactly what sophomore Kaen Patton ’27 decided to do this past summer.

For Patton, taking on a Foundation for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (FURSCA) project doubled as a chance to document the history of Albion College itself–starting with Ellington’s historic, trailblazing visit to campus.

Examining Albion College’s distinguished past

The idea for the project started when Choir Director Clayton Parr ’80 found a binder belonging to former Choir Director David Strickler. In it, he discovered a collection of old concert programs, including the one from when Ellington came to campus–complete with his signature scrawled across the front.

“It’s been a FURSCA project in search of a student to do it for a number of years,” Parr said. “I could’ve written something about Ellington and done the research, but that’s not the point, right? The point is to get students involved and for them to know that Albion College has a distinguished past.”

Ultimately, it was Patton, a music major with a minor in fine arts from Fenton, who stepped up to complete the project. Once Patton started her research, it didn’t take long for her to see what Parr was talking about.

“We have so many famous–and even some infamous–people who have come here to speak or perform or just share their knowledge with the campus, and students don’t always know that,” Patton said. “[President Barack] Obama spoke here. There have been a ton of performances here, too. Three Doors Down is a huge one. It’s just interesting, these pieces of Albion’s history that aren’t really talked about.”

That was truly the mission of Patton’s project: To talk, and to record the stories of alumni who participated in a way that hadn’t been done before. She started by collecting the names of alumni who were present for or participated in the performance. From there, she reached out to those alumni to hear their stories.

“Getting the inside scoop and hearing this all firsthand from actual people who performed with him on stage and got to talk to him was so cool,” Patton said. “I felt a little starstruck for a minute.”

She wasn’t alone in that feeling. Robert Moore ’68 told Patton, “There was an atmosphere that there were celebrities here. They were bringing us something to open our horizons, to open our eyes to something new, musically and culturally.”

Dianne Murray-Pratt ’68 echoed a similar sentiment. “We were just absolutely

amazed. I can’t speak for others, but this was the first time I had seen a big name entertainer live, and the level of professionalism I witnessed that night has carried through with me. I measure other performances by that standard. I thought it was very significant.”

The significance of the performance was underscored by all of the alumni who spoke with Patton. Despite Ellington’s visit being inarguably notable, Patton says it wasn’t unique for the college.

“Albion’s vision for its students has always been to get those hands-on experiences,” Patton said. “That’s what Dave Strickler was trying to do too. His entire goal for the choir was to bring in different performers and different artists to campus so that students could experience new types of music and learn about other cultures. He wanted students to have a wider range of knowledge about music and experience with it during their time at Albion College.”

Experiential learning was the cornerstone of Ellington’s visit to campus; Strickler’s commitment to exposing students to different types of music developed them as musicians, as students, and–ultimately–as people. Exposing the choir and the Albion community to one of the greatest composers of his time was just one example.

Revisiting Albion College’s history, Patton said, can help us see what it has always done well. It can reignite students’ passions when they see what’s possible here, and it can remind alumni that their alma mater will always hold onto the memories they left behind.

“I think it’s important to remember everything that Albion has done for us,” Patton said. “The memories and pieces of our history that made Albion so great in the past, holding onto that can help bring up the morale of the students. It tugs at the heartstrings a bit.”

“There’s a story of musical history to be told, and there’s a part of Albion’s history to be chronicled,” Parr added. “This is a spotlight on a significant part of Albion’s past as we turn an eye toward the future.”

Future implications

Since stepping on campus last summer, President Wayne Webster has made it clear that the accessibility and expansion of experiential learning at Albion College will be a priority for the institution during his tenure. Ellington’s performance alongside the Albion College Choir nearly 60 years ago is proof that experiential learning has long been a hallmark of the Albion College experience.

Strickler’s legacy in the music department is a microcosm of what exists on a larger scale throughout the college, and Ellington’s visit speaks to that. Choir members who sang alongside Ellington and performance attendees alike continue to be impacted by that experience to this day. And, Parr said, there are even implications for current students.

“Strickler’s passion was recognized and supported by alumni, and we now have the David Strickler Concert Endowment

Series. We have an endowed concert series, and the person who gets to decide how that endowment is spent is the choir director, so that’s really kind of nice,” Parr said with a smile.

Since taking over as choir director in 2012, the endowment has allowed Parr to expose choir students to a diverse range of music. Most recently, a folk group from the Republic of Georgia came to campus this past September.

“It’s easy for students to just deal with the circumstances that are around them while they’re here and not really think about how this place got to where it is,” Parr said. “But we want them to think about that, because then when they’re alumni, they’ll think about what this place can become.”

We cannot move forward without revisiting where we’ve been, Parr and Patton agreed, and that is how we honor the legacies of people like Ellington and Strickler.

Patton said that she is thinking about how she can take what she learned from this project and pay it forward for the greater good of Albion. She plans to present the full story of the Ellington visit at the annual Elkin R. Isaac Student Research Symposium in April 2025, but she doesn’t necessarily see that as the end of the road.

“I want to do more research. Dr. Parr and I haven’t talked much more about if we’ll be doing projects similar to this in the future, but I think all of the artists that Dave Strickler brought to campus deserve to be recognized,” Patton said. “I think this might be a good launching point to get started on that.”

To support experiential learning or the Albion College music department, please visit albion.edu/givenow.

SCAN TO WATCH VIDEO

Managing on an Amazon Scale

Andrew Renner ’25 was hoping for a summer internship which would provide a glimpse into the fast-paced environment of a corporate giant. He got that and more during his 10-week internship at Amazon’s FTW3 facility in Fort Worth, Texas, the world’s largest shoe warehouse with more than 10 million pairs of shoes.

“I worked as an area manager intern, overseeing 110-plus employees on the inbound side of all goods,” said Renner, a Brighton, Michigan, native. “I created an intern project to save over $1.3 million per year in labor hours.”

During his Amazon internship, Renner learned how products are brought into a warehouse and shipped once ordered. He also learned data analysis and how it impacts everyday operations at Amazon.

“I was able to use data to make labor moves, make decisions for future success, and understand metrics for achieving daily goals,” he said. “As time progressed, I was able to obtain an understanding of the data and even create formulas to track it more efficiently.”

But make no mistake about it, the internship wasn’t solely about receiving, shipping, and deploying manpower.

“With over 1,000 people staffed at FTW3, meeting as many people and learning their names came slowly, but setting a time each day to know their names and something about them made

working alongside everyone much more accessible,” Renner said. “Coming in, my head spun with all the information I needed to learn. Then, by Week 10, I was leading the meetings, creating projects to increase efficiency, and making analytical decisions for the company’s betterment, which was astounding.”

Renner said the Albion College management courses he’s completed (especially those taught by Professor Vicki Baker) helped prepare him for his Amazon internship, as did other endeavors at the college.

“Whether it was being on the leadership council for the baseball team, president of SAAC, or working in admissions as a tour guide and scheduler, these all taught me different lessons that allowed me to gain the trust and earn the respect of the managers and associates at Amazon because I had leadership experience beforehand.”

Andrew Renner ’25, is an economics and management and communications major with a minor in data analytics. He plays baseball, and is on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He’s also served as an admission’s tour guide.

Identifying the roots of transphobic behaviors

Katherine Faglie ’25 always took pride in growing up in a community and surrounding herself with friends who seemed empathetic to marginalized groups. That faith in her surroundings was shaken a bit when a trans girl joined her younger sister’s flag football team.

“The girls [on the team] didn’t accept her. They would call her ‘the it’ behind her back, and there was a parent that pulled their child out of the sport because there was a trans girl participating,” Faglie recalled. “And this was really disheartening to hear because it was my community, and I thought I grew up in an accepting community.”

An Albion College student by that time, Faglie became interested in using her senior thesis project to understand predictors of transphobia better. Instead of further exploring well-known predictors of transphobia, like religion

and political ideology, Faglie was interested in examining attachment styles and how they might be related to transphobia. Her curiosity may lead to new insight regarding transphobia.

What role do attachment styles play in attitudes toward trans people?

There is no documented answer to that question. However, Faglie is in the midst of research she hopes will provide an answer. Faglie is conducting a study examining whether people with more secure attachment styles tend to be less transphobic.

Her theory is that people who’ve developed a secure attachment style are likely to be more trusting in general. This, in turn, may be related to less prejudice toward trans people specifically, given that previous research suggests negative attitudes towards trans people often center around

feelings of distrust or the notion that trans people are deceptive in some way.

Her study will assess the extent to which any potential trans prejudice-attachment style relationships may be mediated by trust. Faglie has already collected data from more than 100 Albion students and she is now beginning to collect data more widely online.

“Kate’s research is a small-but-important step toward better understanding the sorts of factors that may contribute to trans prejudice,” explained Eric Hill, associate professor in Albion’s Psychological Science Department. “While attachment styles and trust have been studied as predictors of other types of prejudice, Kate’s study will be the first we are aware of to examine how they might be related to attitudes toward the transgender community specifically.”

The research may provide other helpful insights for Faglie.

“I really want to be a school psychologist,” she said. “Working with kids is, to me, very rewarding and I want to create a safe space for students. I think understanding the types of prejudices that exist in our world is very valuable when trying to create connections with students and trying to find ways to help them.”

Kate Faglie is a senior majoring in psychological science and Spanish. Faglie is an Albion College AmeriCorps member working with Math Corps to create a math tutoring program for Harrington Elementary School. She is also a member of Psi Chi, the honor society in psychology, and Mortar Board. Faglie has received awards such as Albion’s Scholastic Achievement Award from Phi Beta Kappa and the Kristen D. Metalonis ’99 Memorial Endowed Scholarship. She has also been a member of the Albion College Dean’s List since 2021.

Helping corporate America battle climate change

“I’ve definitely crafted my elevator speech,” Tanya Jagdish ’22 explained with a laugh. “I need it because when I tell people what I do, they say ‘What the heck is that?’”

“That” is Jagdish’s work as a climate change and sustainability consultant for accounting giant Ernst & Young (EY). Based in the company’s Denver office since graduating from Albion, Jagdish specifically works to help clients evaluate and mitigate risks related to climate change.

Jagdish said historic heat waves and stronger hurricanes are widely understood for their immediate impacts on individual lives and communities. These changing weather patterns likewise carry new threats to a wide range of businesses.

For example, Jagdish notes that stronger hurricanes mean more flooding, in areas where businesses never imagined their factories, warehouses, computer servers, and cell towers would be at risk. Stronger storms may cause more disruption in infrastructure and shipping, in turn affecting manufacturers, workers, and retail customers.

Planning for future climate changerelated issues is no longer an option, nor is it easy, and that’s where Jagdish comes in. “Our clients are looking at how climate change can affect operations in 2050,” she said. “We have climate models that provide this data but that doesn’t tell you and your company what you need to do

with it. We have clients who paid other firms for a climate risk analysis, but don’t know how to apply that data within their long-term business plan.”

She added, “I help explain to the client what that data means for them and what they can do about it.”

An international student from India, Jagdish studied biology, math, and environmental science at Albion while working at the Whitehouse Nature Center and completing a carbon emissions survey for the college. Passionate about research and hands-on problem solving, she watched classmates tackle corporate internship and consulting projects, knowing they weren’t for her.

“I kind of accidentally got this job,” she said, explaining that math professor Darren Mason introduced her to EY consulting partner Mike Juchno ’93 thinking her math skills might be of interest to his Michiganbased team. Instead, Juchno saw Jagdish’s sustainability-focused work and suggested she look into EY’s new forays into that field.

Two years later, Jagdish has a clearer understanding of how the private sector can be a sustainability ally. “When I was a student, the conversation would be centered around ‘Why don’t companies just reduce emissions?’--but it’s a lot more complicated than that,” she said.

For example, Jagdish points out that many industries that we depend on, such as steel and concrete, are inextricably

reliant on plastics. “They genuinely can’t go to net-zero emissions because they’re so dependent on the plastics industry. A lot of the input for producing steel comes from the oil and plastic industries. You can’t move them into a new direction because there’s no new direction that is scalable and cost-effective. It’s really important to understand that solutions aren’t as simple.”

But there are solutions, and sometimes, they turn into wins. Jagdish noted that one of EY’s multibillion-dollar clients, based in Texas, was reluctant to explore electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations for customers, whom they believed were most interested in supporting the state’s petroleum industry.

“They didn’t think their customers were asking for EV stations now, but we were able to show them a likely future demand for EV chargers. We showed them how installing EV chargers would actually result in more store revenue in the long term,” she said. “Now, we have leadership support from the company. The leadership is investing in EV charging stations at approximately 300 locations across the country and plans to slowly expand year-on-year. In addition, they have decided to conduct more targeted research on customer behavior related to EV charging to further optimize revenue. I feel that our work has been instrumental in helping them make a more informed-and-strategic decision, one that they might not have considered without the insights we provided.”

Much of Jagdish’s work is devoted to helping clients better understand their bottom line, but she also incorporates the environmental justice issues that were part of her Albion education. This includes her courses in anthropology, environmental science, and an honors class focused on Creoles in the United States.

“Justice is something I’m really passionate about, and it has to be part of explaining ‘So what?’ to clients. How will people

being driven out of their homes affect your customer profile? Why should you be concerned about that? Those perspectives can be really helpful in understanding the social and environmental impacts of business decisions, allowing clients to see the bigger picture.”

Looking into her own future, Jagdish is still interested in hands-on industry work and a return to academia, where she might pursue her research interest into climate

change and human migration patterns.

“I think I’ll probably come back to the private sector at some point, because that’s where we need to see real change and we need people to work on it from the inside,” she said.

SCAN TO WATCH VIDEO

Using big data to fight crime

In 2012, 50,000 bitcoin, a measurable percentage of the world supply at the time, was stolen from a cryptocurrency repository on the dark web. Approximately six years later, Trevor McAleenan ’02 was the IRS special agent who got the case when, ironically, the suspected thief reported a home burglary to the local police.

McAleenan and his team (federal law enforcement and private-sector experts) eventually uncovered the thief’s ties to the stolen bitcoin. They got their man, along with a $3 billion forfeiture of the bitcoin to the U.S. government.

“No one came forward to claim it,” McAleenan said. “In the original Silk Road case, the district court concluded that all funds passing through Silk Road’s bitcoin-based payment system were involved in the money laundering offense. The bitcoin-based system promoted and facilitated illegal transactions on Silk Road and concealed the proceeds of those transactions. It also concealed the identities of and locations of users.”

McAleenan’s work as an IRS criminal investigator utilizes a wide spectrum of resources to track down criminals around the globe. McAleenan is affiliated with the IRS’ Los Angeles office, one of just two IRS units focused on cybercrimes. The two cybercrimes units are on opposite sides of the country, but their cases, like cyberspace itself, aren’t limited by geography, and McAleenan’s work can take him anywhere.

It’s the rare month for McAleenan that doesn’t have a few out-of-state trips, investigating his own cases or assisting other agents, agencies, and governments with training and investigations. In recent years, McAleenan led a team of Treasury agencies in assisting the Republic of Seychelles as it developed virtual currency regulation and licensing laws. He also presented to Europol at The Hague and the G7 High Tech Crime Sector Group in Rome on his investigations, digital assets, and cybercrimes.

Jet-setting aside, McAleenan points out that much of his work takes place in front of a screen, turning mountains of data into usable information. He’s an expert now, but it didn’t come naturally. “I had to study extremely hard in my statistics class at Albion,” he recalled with a smile, crediting Professor Emeritus Paul Anderson for his dedication in teaching McAleenan.

Despite that rough introduction, McAleenan is now a fan when it comes to big data and its use in fighting crime. Cryptocurrency, he notes, has layers of security and anonymity. But to their detriment, most criminals don’t limit their online activity to those anonymous spaces.

“Software collects many data points on everyday activities such as financial records, then I go in and look at connections,” he explained. “I look at how an IP address can be captured by an online shopping account and how the subject was in the location of the IP address and might be playing a

video game while on their phone while they shopped online. Maybe they used that IP address somehow to do something illegal. You get all these data points and then it’s a matter of finding the patterns.”

McAleenan’s new focus, criminal activity in the metaverse, comes with an equally new type of challenge. “I definitely do get motion sickness sometimes,” he said, noting the job hazard of fighting crime in a virtual reality headset. “There’s a disconnect between how slowly things move in virtual reality, and how fast your

eyes perceive motion. Most people can’t handle this discrepancy for more than 15 minutes without getting discombobulated and dizzy.”

Nonetheless, there’s crime in the metaverse, everything from classic con games to rug pulls.

“People might be selling items involving a taxable transaction, like tickets to a virtual concert, or virtual clothing designed for avatars,” he explained. “There’s a lot of currency changing hands;

it can potentially be traced to traditional bank transactions, all the way to gamespecific tokens that can later be cashed out at various currency exchanges. People may be trying to profit from that and if they are, it’s potentially taxable.”

And if you’re looking for trouble, McAleenan noted, it’s not hard to find in the metaverse. “A conversation in the metaverse is just as public or private as the same conversation on a real street, but some people talk like no one else is listening,” he said.

In the real world, the job of an IRS criminal investigator is not for the faint of heart. McAleenan’s work week is a minimum of 50 hours, three of which can be spent in the gym. He puts on his ballistic vest several times each year to execute search-and-arrest warrants sweeping residences or businesses.

And while his job is focused on catching criminals, McAleenan is mindful of their, and everyone else’s, safety. He’s scheduled search warrants during school hours (to ensure children would be out of the house) and even brought a dog toy to help keep an elderly golden retriever out of the way of a search team.

“Our job is to serve the American public, not endanger it,” he said. “At the end of the day, when executing a search or arrest warrant the first goal is to make sure that everyone goes home safe. We think about the physical risk issues for law enforcement, subjects, and bystanders.”

An economics and management major who never owned a cell phone while in Albion, McAleenan is the quintessential example of an alumnus doing a job that didn’t even exist when he was in college. Nonetheless, he credits his Albion experiences with preparing him to excel in that exact job.

“Overall my education and time at Albion were very influential in where I’ve gone and what I’ve done. Having the ability to meet people like Doug Goering [late emeritus professor of art] and Charles Crupi [late emeritus professor of English], having the opportunity to be part of Greek life and football and lacrosse was important to me,” he said. “I had to work on many different things every day and apply myself to each thing. That’s kind of what I do for a living now.”

Around The Rock

Albion College named top liberal arts college in Michigan

Albion College obtained the highest ranking of liberal arts schools in Michigan and second in the Midwest on the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking.

Physics Department awarded $200,000 grant

TEAM-UP Together Expanding eXpertise, Championing Excellence and Leadership (TU-T EXCEL) has awarded Albion College’s Physics Department a $200,000 grant to foster inclusion in physics and astronomy.

Albion was ranked 54 among all colleges nationwide. Augustana College was the top liberal arts college in the Midwest. DePauw University and Kalamazoo College followed Albion in the liberal arts schools in the Midwest category.

“These rankings affirm Albion College’s distinctive approach to higher education—a focus on experiential learning, personalized mentorship, and a commitment to social mobility,” Albion College President Wayne Webster said. “At Albion, we empower students to achieve both academic excellence and real-world success on our campus and beyond, equipping them with the skills and experiences that make a transformative impact.”

The rankings measure how well each college sets graduates up for financial success.

TEAM-UP Together is a collaboration of the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Astronomical Society, the American Institute of Physics, the American Physical Society, and the Society of Physics Students. It aims to drive systemic change in the physical sciences community and increase successful outcomes for Black and African American students pursuing physics and astronomy undergraduate degrees.

TU-T EXCEL said it was inspired by the Physics Department’s project, titled Albion College: Belonging, Resilience, Retention, and Identity Through Robotics (AC BRRIT Robotics), which expands the education and support of students. Its focus on African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy will serve as a model of success for the wider community.

“Your department’s commitment to nurturing historically underserved undergraduate students

and producing successful strategies that can be replicated in other institutions is highly aligned with the overarching goals of the TU-T program,” the award letter stated. “We are excited to support your work and look forward to spotlighting the transformative and positive outcomes your initiatives will create for students facing the starkest barriers in physics and astronomy.”

Demian Cho, assistant professor in the Physics Department and lead of AC BRRIT Robotics, said the grant will support the department’s efforts to increase the number of African American students earning degrees in physics and astronomy.

Spanish professor earns Cornell fellowship

The Cornell Society for the Humanities has awarded a fellowship to Albion College Associate Professor of Spanish Elizabeth Barrios.

During the year-long fellowship, Barrios will conduct interdisciplinary research aligned with the theme “scale.”

“During my time at Cornell, I will be working on my second book, Plastic Environmentalisms: Petrocultures and Climate Denial in Latin America, which examines how oil

companies in Venezuela, Colombia, and Perú use environmental aesthetics to perpetuate climate denial and resist post-carbon transitions,” Barrios said.

“The project stems from my interest in how aesthetic representations of nature shape perceptions of environmental issues,” she said. “I was struck by how oil companies use art, museum sponsorships, and public relations campaigns to greenwash their practices, constructing a misleading vision of environmental responsibility.”

Barrios said the project will provide fresh material and perspectives for her courses in Latin American and environmental studies.

Professor’s book examines female body standards

How do women succeed in a neoliberal society?

In her recently released book Embodying Normalcy: Women’s Work in Neoliberal Times (Lexington Books), Lucia Soriano contends some U.S. women treat their bodies as projects that must be transformed every day in order to succeed in our society.

Soriano, assistant professor of ethnic studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Albion College, provides

WALL STREET JOURNAL/COLLEGE PULSE 2025 Best Colleges in campus diversity, student experience, and graduate outcomes.

LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE IN MICHIGAN #2 in the Midwest!

four case studies that draw on gender studies, media studies, disability studies, and American studies to illustrate the roadmap some women follow in an effort to achieve success.

Soriano makes her case by using TLC reality shows, lifestyle and beauty influencers, Brazilian butt-lift TikToks, and celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

NAACP honors Albion College professor

The Albion chapter of the NAACP recently presented Albion College Professor Patricia Franzen with its prestigious Community Service Award.

The award was presented to Franzen during a ceremony on Oct. 19. Franzen is co-chair and professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Albion College, and a founder and leader at the Albion Community Gardens.

NAACP President Robert Dunklin said the award recognizes Franzen’s dedication to the community and community gardening, which for years has provided fresh produce to share throughout the community. Dunklin said Franzen also is a great supporter of the chapter and volunteers whenever called upon.

Albion alum named Michigan principal of the year

Albion College alum Adam Lancto ’08 was named Michigan’s 2025-26 High School Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

Lancto is principal at Grandville High School, where he has been employed by the district for his entire 16-year career in education.

“Adam’s commitment to collaborative leadership, innovation and personalized student support is truly inspiring,” MASSP Executive Director Wendy Zdeb said. “He has dedicated himself to fostering an environment where both students and staff thrive, making him a standout leader in a field of exceptional nominees.”

Lancto is credited with spearheading the development of Professional Learning Communities and championed the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system, known as GRIT.

He said he was humbled and grateful for the recognition. “I was very surprised by the honor and thankful to those that nominated me. As educators we do not do the job

Fall Albion Athletics Highlights

FOOTBALL: Trevor Smith, Michael Pruchnic, and Jayth Joseph were all named to the MIAA First Team while Luke Lovell, Dilon Denison, Mitchell Abrams, and Connor Davey were recognized on the MIAA Second Team.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Kelsi Green was named to the MIAA Second Team.

MEN’S SOCCER: Brett Swaton and Esteban Mercado were named to the MIAA Second Team.

VOLLEYBALL: Women’s volleyball advanced to the MIAA Semifinals again this season. Paige Williamson and Carly Frank were named to the MIAA Second Team while Kayda Herrick was named MIAA Freshman of the Year.

CROSS COUNTRY: Olivia DeGraff finished 14th overall, setting a personal best and earning MIAA AllConference honors.

HALL OF FAME: Nine individuals were inducted into the Albion Athletics Hall of Fame. They are Michelle Hind Songco ’02, volleyball; Paul Lewis ’14, cross country, swimming and diving, track and field; DJ Rehberg ’96, football; Craig Rundle ’74, football; Travis Rundle ’02, football; Troy Rundle ’05, football; Rebekah Schultz Reiff, ’01, cross country, track and field; Kristin Slamer-de St. Aubin ’07, volleyball; and Laurie Vance ’03, soccer.

ACADEMICS: Three hundred and six studentathletes achieved a 3.5 GPA or better during the spring 2024 semester. In addition, 91 studentathletes achieved a 4.0 GPA.

DISTINGUISHED ALUM: Avery Campbell ’24, was named a Top 30 finalist for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Avery was a standout on the women’s soccer and track teams and was honored at the NCAA Convention in January in Nashville, Tennessee.

for the recognition, but it was truly overwhelming to read what the students and staff who nominated me wrote,” Lancto said. “While I am very appreciative of the award, I do want to make sure I recognize all of those who have supported me and mentored me throughout my career.”

Lancto is Michigan’s nominee for the national High School Principal of the Year Award, which will be announced in July.

Albion College Investment Club connects with alumni in the Windy City

This fall, the Albion College Investment Club embarked on an exciting trip to Chicago, immersing themselves in the heart of the financial world. The visit was a unique opportunity for students to explore career paths and deepen their understanding of the finance industry. Highlights included tours of the Chicago Board of Trade and meetings with Albion alumni who have made their mark in finance.

Through these interactions, students gained invaluable insights into investment strategies, trading, and the

dynamics of the financial markets. Alumni shared their professional journeys, offering guidance and inspiration to the next generation of financial leaders.

Albion College to offer free Kaplan test prep, skills-development courses

Through a partnership with global educational services provider Kaplan, Albion College has become the first school to offer students, faculty, staff, and alumni free skills-development courses and test prep for graduatelevel admissions exams.

The offerings include the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT. Additionally, students, faculty, staff, and alumni will be able to take courses ranging from career readiness to data literacy free of charge.

For more information and to get started, visit albion.edu/ kaplan. Alumni will need an Albion email to access the free tools.

Campus retention efforts hit early wins

Campus retention efforts, supported by a new five-year partnership with CREDO’s “Moving the Needle” program, are achieving early success thanks to the collaborative work of faculty and staff members who are focusing on clearance, advising, and intervention initiatives. Their

combined efforts led to 93 percent of first-year students being registered for spring classes by early December.

Highlights include significant updates to Albion’s registration holds policies and processes, improved communication and support for advisors, and a focus on career and major exploration in first-year experiences.

A new stoplight survey, with a 100% faculty completion rate, paved the way for early connections with students, while interventions addressing advising holds have been highly effective.

Looking ahead, the teams are preparing to launch an early alert system in spring 2025 and continuing to refine processes for fall 2025, including updates to the English placement process and the development of a new advising model.

Conferences, presentations, recognitions

Abigail Cahill (biology) spent three months (AprilJune) working as an invited researcher at the University of Montpellier in France, supported by a travel fellowship from the university. Her research project was learning how to use a cuttingedge haplotagging technique to study invasive populations of blue crabs.

Nicolle Zellner (physics) was invited by NASA to be on a panel discussing the complexity of life detection and planetary protection at the Planetary Exploration Science Technology Symposium at NASA Glenn Research Center in October.

Marcy Sacks (history) was named to the Organization of American Historians’ Distinguished Lecturer list.

Ji Hyun Kim (music) was appointed Chamber Music Festival and competition program director of the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association Board.

Heather Betz (kinesiology) was appointed to the American College of Sports Medicine Ethics Committee for a three-year term beginning in fall of 2024.

Drew Christopher (psychology) was elected president of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. Drew will serve as president-elect during the 2025 calendar year, as president during 2026, and as past president during 2027.

Zhen Li (economics and management) presented a paper titled “Is Quantum Computing the Bitcoin Terminator?” at the 30th Americas Conference on Information Systems in August.

Avery Campbell honored as NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 honoree In Memoriam

Albion College alumna Avery Campbell ’24 was recognized as one of the Top 30 honorees for the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year Award during the NCAA Convention in Nashville in January.

Selected from a record 627 nominees nationwide across all NCAA divisions, this prestigious honor celebrates Campbell’s extraordinary achievements in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership during her time at Albion.

The Waterford, Michigan, native excelled as a dualsport athlete, competing in soccer as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. Campbell’s athletic career reached historic heights, earning multiple First Team All-American honors, being named MIAA Track Athlete of the Year, and achieving

Academic All-American status. At the 2023 Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, she not only secured All-American honors in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes but was also awarded the NCAA Elite 90 award for having the highest GPA among championship participants.

“When I committed to Albion, never in a million years did I think this is where I’d be today,” Campbell said. “I’ll be forever grateful that the Brits believed in me and continue to believe in me.”

Campbell graduated in May 2024 with a 4.0 GPA in biochemistry and received one of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. She is now a Biomedical Sciences PhD student at the University of Michigan.

Jeff Carrier, professor emeritus of biology and former vice president for academic affairs, Jan. 1, 2025, age 78. Despite living 600 miles from the nearest ocean, Carrier conducted research on sharks that attracted international attention and launched similar careers for Albion students. Carrier used video technology to make significant discoveries into nurse shark behavior, research that was featured by both the National Geographic Society and the Discovery Channel. He wrote and edited numerous textbooks on sharks, one of which won an American Library Association Choice Award. Carrier also served as “Voice of the Britons,” announcing home football games for some 30 years, and is among a small handful of faculty members in Albion’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Toward the end of his career, Carrier served as provost and vice president of academic affairs. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 27 years, two stepsons, and four grandchildren.

David Hogberg, professor emeritus of psychological science, July 8, 2024, in Albion, age 87. Seven years after joining Albion’s faculty in 1966, Hogberg convinced his SUNY Buffalo thesis adviser, Bill Hayes, to do the same; the two were colleagues for 25 years. A behavioral psychologist specializing in learning and memory, Hogberg established the psychology practicum program, convincing dozens of agencies and institutions to develop what was often their first experiential programs for undergraduates. Working with the Michigan State Board of Education, Hogberg helped develop state standards for certifying high school psychology course instructors, and also helped develop and teach courses for those wishing to teach AP psychology. David was one of 26 psychologists who worked with Educational Testing Service to develop and then grade its first AP psychology national exam. He is survived by his wife, Pat, children Daniel ’85, and Sarah Hogberg Navarro ’88, and four grandchildren including Grace Forster ’21, and Anders Forster ’25.

A gathering spot for both the science-focused and the curious drop ins

Biochemistry Professor Craig Streu ’04 is very, very excited about experiential learning –for a pretty incredible reason.

“We routinely initiate cuttingedge research ideas, although the better the idea, the more likely we are to eventually be run down and passed by industrial or graduate labs,” he said of his research group who refer to themselves as the “Streu Crew.” “Very early on I had to make peace with the idea that the chief outcome of our research is creative, inquisitive, and independent graduates, probably not new technologies.”

With the number of Streu Crew alumni approaching 100, it’s no surprise that they include doctors, pharmacists, and

always be a mix of research geeks, future health care professionals, and students who just embrace the rigor and intensity of the experience, and he’s fine with it.

“Students join the research lab because they think it’s fun and interesting, but they value the space to be creative and independent and may also like the idea of contributing to medicine—even if it’s not in the long-term plan,” he said. “What I value most about the work we do, and what seems to be most misunderstood about it, is that it is at its core a creative-and-team endeavor. We design molecules that no one has likely ever imagined and have certainly never been made before in the history

“Trekking to campus through snow or on holidays to fill the NMR with liquid nitrogen so it doesn’t overheat and turn into a $400,000 paperweight – this is emblematic of our unique challenges.”

—Craig Streu ’04, on being a biochemistry professor at a small liberal arts college

researchers. What is surprising is Streu’s claim that many of his former students aren’t in medicine or research careers –and that most of them joined his lab with no interest in a science-focused profession.

As an Albion alumnus, Streu understands that his lab will

of the world and create new pathways to make them–together.”

As much as Streu is devoted to his lab, he also relishes his classroom work, often focused on guest presenters and case studies. “Each course is a bit different, but

it is always a delicate balance between specific skills they will be expected to know after Albion and the big picture ideas they’ll need to grow into leaders and informed citizens,” he explained.

As for his office — 3D-printed proteins and DNA models aside, the space might be hard to identify as belonging to a biochemist. “I have laser tag guns we bought in during pandemic to be together while social distancing, one very special Dr. Atom comic book signed by former research students, items from medical history and the history of Albion that I use in classes, and art from former students,” he said.

And 20 years after he graduated, Streu still shows his Briton pride with a huge Albion “A” wall.

“I’m a huge Albion fan,” he said. “Our students are amazing and

talented in all sorts of ways, only some of which come through in the classroom. My teaching is heavily influenced by things I have learned from some amazing coaches, and as much fun as it is to teach and coach, sometimes I love to just be a fan.”

Streu is principal investigator for a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant recently awarded to Albion College to support further development of experientiallearning opportunities. He joined Albion’s faculty in 2015 and he can’t imagine doing anything else. He is currently the director of EPIIC Faculty Fellows and his work with undergraduates has been featured in the academic journal ASBMB Today and was the subject of an invited talk at the 2024 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s National Meeting.

Albion College’s Homecoming 2024, held Oct. 4-5, 2024, was a vibrant celebration, packed with exciting events and proud Briton spirit.

Hundreds of Albion alumni returned to campus to celebrate milestone reunions at various locations on and off-campus.

Class of 1964 and Golden Brits

Class of 2004

Class of 2014

Class of 1974

Class of 1999

Class of 1984

Class News

David West ’63 published his first mystery/thriller, “A Time To Kill, A Time To Heal.” The book is available at bookstore. dorrancepublishing.com and soon will be through B&N and Amazon as well. David previously worked on the development and evaluation of human vaccines. He and Betty, his wife of 63 years, live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

1968

George Uetz ’68 was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. George is professor emeritus of biology at the University of Cincinnati.

John Milton Freud ’68 was a coauthor and photographer for the book, “Replenishing Our Hills,” published in 2024, by Texas A&M University Press. It chronicles the history and movement leaders of the Texas Hill County Lands. The book can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.

Susan Garlinghouse Kuhn ’68 was recently nominated for Oakland County Treasurer. She previously served as the Oakland County Commissioner for eight years, and ten years as a precinct delegate in Troy.

1970

Dennis Moore ’70 retired in August after seven years as an interpretive ranger at River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe. He worked in public affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit for 22 years and began volunteering in 2017, eventually joining River

Raisin’s permanent staff. Dennis plans to volunteer more with Albion College and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

1971

Dennis Pollard ’71 has recently retired as a lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature at the University of Michigan. Dennis played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Lecturer’s Employment Organization at the university.

1974

Mary Jo Truesdale ’74 is retiring from her 27-year career with Sheldon High School in Sacramento, California. As head softball coach, Mary Jo led the Huskies to nine section titles, 17 league championships, and 26 playoff appearances.

1978

Ron Vanderlinden ’78 received the 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Football Coaches Association during its 2025 convention in January. Ron was a two-time All-MIAA honoree for Albion before embarking on a 43-year career in a variety of positions, including four years as University of Maryland head coach. He contributed to a national championship for the University of Colorado, two Big 10 championships for Northwestern University, and a Mountain West Conference division title for the Air Force Academy.

1979

David Lucas ’79 was honored as the grand marshal for the Battle Creek Central High School Homecoming Parade in September. He was a National Merit Scholar and a member of back-to-back conference championship football teams. David is an attorney and shareholder at VanderVoort, Christ, & Fisher, P.C., in Battle Creek.

1983

Jill Berquist ’83 is teaching high school English at Graceville School in Graceville, Florida. Jill aims to create safe, supportive spaces for student growth.

1988

Ken ’87 and Amy Leverenz Kish ’88 are the owners of Floor Coverings International of Metro Detroit, specializing in high-quality home flooring. After careers in the automotive industry and accounting, they launched the business in 2022 and have seen strong growth, surpassing sales targets. They have been married for 33 years.

1989

Stephen Germic ’89 was recently appointed provost and vice president of student academic affairs at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Stephen held the same position at Aquinas College, and before that he was provost at Rocky Mountain College in Montana.

Kathy LeGray Risch ’89 recently appeared on the Trending: Pet Food Podcast, where she had

a conversation about pet food purchasing processes and future pet food innovations. Kathy is the senior vice president at Acosta Group in St. Louis, Missouri. She specializes in research, analytics, and consumer product innovation. The 64th episode of the podcast aired on June, 26 2024, and can be found on your favorite podcast platform, soundcloud, or on petfoodindustry.com.

David Walsworth ’89 was named 2024 Family Physician of the Year by the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. He serves as associate chair for clinical affairs at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and holds multiple leadership roles, including chair of the Michigan State Medical Society Board of Directors Reference Committee on Health Care Delivery, and delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates. David is also active on the Ingham County Medical Society Board, the Education Advisory Panel of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Okemos Community Church Board of Trustees.

1990

Katilyn DiMaria ’90 is in her second month as assistant county attorney for Green County in Iowa. She also currently works in private practice in Des Moines.

Skot Welch ’90 was named a Notable Leader of 2024 by Crain’s Grand Rapids. He is the principal and founder of Global Bridgebuilders, a firm focusing on organizational development,

cultural transformation and inclusion, with clients in seven countries.

Ken George ’90 recently joined Hope College as assistant head coach for the men’s basketball team. He previously coached boys basketball at the high school level for three decades, and was a point guard for the Britons during his time at Albion College.

1993

Erin Wakefield Holmes ’93 was featured in the August 2024 issue of Mosaic, the alumni magazine for Sacred Heart Major Seminary. The profile details Erin’s journey to complete a master’s degree in theology, which she accomplished in 2024.

1995

Josh Cassada ’95 retired in October after 11 years as a NASA astronaut. His career highlights include service as a flight engineer on Expedition 68 and as pilot of the SpaceX Crew5 mission. Josh spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station and completed three spacewalks, totaling more than 21 hours.

Chuck Rantala ’95 was honored as 2024 Exemplary Principal in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Hohokam Elementary School principal began his career in education at Scottsdale Unified School District in 1995.

Jon Husby ’95 was featured in a Forbes article discussing strategies for recently increasing STEM career exposure for female students. He currently serves as

the CEO of ADAC Automotive, a high-tech manufacturing company, and is chair of the Automotive Hall of Fame.

1996

Jared Wood ’96 appeared on the podcast Oakland County Moms to share his expertise on sports psychology and its benefits for children and youth sports programs. Jared is a sports psychologist with Treeside Psychological Services in Lake Orion. The podcast can be accessed at oaklandcountymoms.com/ category/health/.

John Kuinij ’96 recently published a memoir titled “Crush It.” It is a true, inspirational story of rescue, perseverance, and recovery, following his lifealtering hunting accident in December 2019. The book can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadCrushIt.com.

Willie Lewis ’96 was recently appointed principal of Cascades Elementary School in Jackson. He has extensive experience in educational leadership and previously served as a grade-level principal at Jackson High School.

Bethany Newland Passick ’96 along with Christie Gantzer Hamel ’99, Emily Pucker ’04, Shannon Grizzel ’07, and Madison Pscheidl ’10, reunited this past summer at the Phi Mu National Convention. They continue to serve Phi Mu as chapter advisor and alumna chapter president and in area officer roles.

Build a legacy. Refer a student to Albion. Did you know that children, grandchildren, and siblings of Albion College graduates can earn an additional $3,000 per year in scholarship money for being referred by you? Learn more at albion.edu/scholarships

Gary McClain ’96 recently published “The Power of Closure: Why We Want It, How We Get It, and When to Walk Away.” Gary is a patient advocate, therapist, and author who works with clients facing chronic and catastrophic medical diagnoses. His book can be purchased on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Megan Cappel DeWindt ’96 has been appointed as the new Bay View Association executive director.

1997

Jeffrey Schroder ’97 recently joined Plunkett Cooney, one of the oldest and largest law firms in Michigan. He previously served as the assistant attorney general/senior attorney for the Healthcare Fraud Division for the state of Michigan.

1998

Janine Wall Jacob ’98 has been appointed co-commissioner of accounts overseeing estates and trusts for Patrick County, Virginia. She has been in private law practice since 2001, opening her own office in 2017. Janine also serves as a substitute judge in the general district court and juvenile and domestic relations district court. She resides in Martinsville, Virginia, with her husband, Robert, and their two sons.

2000

Cory Scherer ’00 was recently named director of academic affairs at Pennsylvania State University-Schuylkill, after serving as an interim director since July 2023. He has

concurrently been appointed as interim chancellor.

Rebecca Little ’00 recently appeared on The Max Loves Midland Show podcast to discuss her book on reproductive care and pregnancy loss. Rebecca is the co-author of “I’m Sorry for My Loss.” The podcast can be found on YouTube, and the book on Amazon, and Bookshop.org

2001

Sean Sarsfield ’01 joined accounting-advisory firm HKA. He is a forensic accountant who has specialized in criminal investigation, litigation support, and expert witness services. Sean is based in Houston, Texas.

Laurel Weinman Whalen ’01 recently accepted the position of faculty representative for Wayne State University’s athletics program. She is an associate professor of teaching and the program director for the sport management and administration programs, while also serving as manager for the Building Healthy Communities program at Wayne State.

Taline Hagopian Chalian ’01 was named queen of the 2024 Armenian Youth Foundation (AYF) Olympics, held in Detroit. Taline has garnered 74 career points, and has won multiple medals in the pentathlon and relays. Taline continues to serve AYF as an advisor in New Jersey.

2002

Lewis Cardenas ’02 recently published an essay in the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers International Educator magazine, reflecting on a memorable experience from his time as a member of Albion’s Admission staff. His piece was included in the December 2024 issue of the magazine and can be seen at nafsa.org/ie-magazine/. Lewis continues to serve as a manager for South Asia with the U.S. Department of State’s Regional Educational Advisory program.

Sarah Hepinstall Rundle ’02 is serving as assistant director for student success with Albion’s Cutler Center.

Christopher Zinger ’02 has been appointed technical director and scenic designer for the Theatre Department at Hillsdale College. He is pursuing an MFA in scenic design at the University of Idaho. Christopher’s first project at Hillsdale will be designing the set for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

2003

Eric Van Ness ’03 was recently honored by Marquis Who’s Who for his expertise in financial services. Eric is a distinguished financial advisor with Waddell & Reed in Lisle, Illinois.

2004

Harvey Steele ’04 joined Houston, Texas,-based CAZ investments as director of capital formations.

2006

Nicholas Clements, Zack Dagneau, Spencer Dawson, Daniel Harris, Dan Painter, Jeff Jia, and Jordan Troisi, all ’06, continue to celebrate the group friendship that began in 2002. Rhonda Vander Zwaag ’11 (married to Nicholas) describes the friendship as “one of the purest Albion stories I know.”

Patrick Schefsky ’06 was recently featured in the Max Loves Midland podcast. Patrick talks about the intersections of his work as a lawyer at Poznack Dyer Kanar Schefsky Thompson, PLC, and his theatrical pursuits. The episode can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music, Season 1 Episode 6.

Lisa Winchell-Caldwell ’06 recently began serving as director of the Anna Howard Shaw Center for gender equity and victim advocacy at Albion College.

2007

Sarah Slamer ’07 was recently recognized as one of the top 10 female athletes in Battle Creek Central High School history. A three-sport standout in volleyball, swimming, and softball, she helped lead the Bearcat softball team to a record-breaking season and earned All-City honors three times. Sarah played softball and volleyball at Albion, setting a kills record in volleyball and earning Hall of Fame recognition.

Jason Swank ’07 was recently appointed as the deputy chief

We hope to connect with you during one or more of our Albion Everywhere gatherings in cities across the U.S. in March! Learn more and find a city near you by scanning the QR code.

of the Bureau of Marijuana Licensing for Arizona’s Department of Health Services.

Derek Tracy ’07 was announced as new head baseball coach for Lumen Christi High School in Jackson.

Matthew Lutz ’07 was named to the Independent Community Bankers of America 40 Under 40 Community Bank Leaders list. He serves as the senior vice president and chief financial officer at First National Bank & Trust in Iron Mountain.

Meagan Burton-Krieger ’07 was named to Women We Admire, Top 50 Women Leaders of Indianapolis of 2024. Before her recent move to a senior leadership position with Georgia Tech University, Meagan spent many years at Butler University, serving as lead development officer for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, chief of staff to the president, and director of donor relations.

2008

Nick Shelton ’08 received a 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Brandywine High School in Niles. This award recognizes outstanding alumni for contributions to their community and professional achievements. Nick was recognized for significant leadership as the youngest mayor in Niles history.

2009

Lisa Anderson ’09 was honored as a finalist for a 2024 Reuters Sustainability Award at a ceremony held in London, England. As healthcare product stewardship and regulatory senior specialist for DuPont Liveo HealthcareSolutions, Lisa implemented a recycling program for scrap silicone, reducing the company’s landfill use by 90%. She lives in Cadillac.

Casey Dexter ’09 was recently promoted to dean of undergraduate experiences at

APRIL 10-12

Purple & Gold Weekend is a time for Britons to gather on campus and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our students and alumni, as well as the experiences at Albion College that have shaped our personal and professional growth. Scan the QR code to learn more.

Berry College. He previously served two years as the interim dean of academic services.

2010

Ken Campbell ’10 recently expanded Campbell’s Market Basket to include a café serving soups, sandwiches, and desserts. Ken opened the store in East Lansing in 2019 to provide residents a place to find fresh, locally sourced groceries.

Emily Magyar Copeland ’10 is finishing her first season as assistant coach for Briton swimming and diving.

2011

Andrew Kercher ’11 recently joined WGRT Radio in Port Huron as the new host of “Limelight.” The station’s popular show highlights the people who influence culture, commerce, and community, in the Bluewater area. Andrew is a professional historian with a passion for storytelling, and the founder of Andrew Kercher Lectures & Tours.

2012

Casey Hoffman ’12 is one of a handful of lawyers nationwide awarded a scholarship to study at the internationally ranked Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law. When not studying, he continues to serve as both mayor of Menominee and a substitute teacher with Menominee Area Community Schools.

2013

Jake ’13 and Rachael Restum Schisler ’12 were featured in the Zeeland Record, and 13 On Your Side News program for raising six toddlers. They had their twins in 2020, and then quadruplets in 2022. The two met while on

the swim team at Albion, and currently live in Zeeland.

Adam Akeel ’13 was recently honored by Marquis Who’s Who for his expertise in legal services. Adam has been an attorney at Akeel & Valentine, PLC since 2016.

2014

Christina Khim ’14 was recently appointed as the new director of the Burma Center in Springfield. She is the third leader for the center and hopes to foster partnerships to enhance equity and opportunity for Burmese residents and build relationships within the community.

2016

Rhiki Swinton ’16 plays power forward with the Kalamazoo Blaze, a brand-new, semi-pro women’s basketball team. At Albion, Rhiki played basketball and ran track and field.

2017

Kyle O’Grady ’17 was recently named to the Forty Under Forty list by Traverse City Business News. O’Grady is a real estate professional with Re/Max Bayshore and O’Grady Development.

2019

Mercedes Pace ’19 completed her first season as head coach for Albion’s cheer team.

2021

Madison Partak ’21 was recently named to the Forty Under Forty list by Traverse City Business News. Partak is a recruitment manager for Cherry Republic, overseeing staffing for 10 locations in Michigan.

2022

Skylyr Zink ’22 recently appeared on The Max Loves Midland Show podcast. In the episode, Skylyr discussed the challenges of supporting students in rural communities, the importance of bridging the gap between urban and rural education, and his role in helping students pursue postsecondary opportunities. The episode is available on YouTube.

2023

Alexis Robinson ’23 returned to Albion as an assistant coach for women’s lacrosse.

2024

James Bloomfield ’24 joined Briton football as an assistant coach.

Jadlyn Riley ’24 joined Albion’s Community Living staff as area coordinator for Seaton and Whitehouse Halls.

Jenna Schienke ’24 became the first Albion student recipient of the MIAA’s Tom Renner Award for her exceptional work for Albion’s Sports Information office. Jenna was also the 2023 MIAA Senior Sportswoman of the Year in volleyball. The Renner Award recognized her work managing gobrits.com, coordinating live stream broadcasts, and organizing major events like the studentathlete awards ceremony.

NEWS FOR CLASS NOTES

Please send us your news about promotions, honors, appointments, marriages, births/adoptions, travels, and hobbies. Notes will be accepted through September 30, 2025 for the next issue. Send to: Editor, Io Triumphe!, Office of Marketing and Communications, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224; send via e-mail to classnotes@albion.edu; or use the convenient online form at albion.edu/ classnotes. Be sure to include your full name, class year, address (postal and e-mail), and telephone number along with your message.

Weddings

Paulette Stenzel ’72 to Bruce Magur on June 22, 2024, in Fennville. Paulette works parttime leading the non-profit microfinance organization Spartan Global Development Fund. Professor emerita of international business law and sustainability, Paulette is also the director of MSU’s education abroad program business, culture, and sustainability in Merida, Mexico.

Eddie Visco ’04 to Erin Schultz ’05, June 29, 2024, in Marshall. Alumni in the wedding party included Loan Portlance Barbera ’05, David Barry ’04, James Cottone ’03, Kjersti DeVries Lockhart ’05, Jessica Gole Michniacki ’04, Ryan Phillips ’04, and Sara Galante Wheeler ’08.

Jacqueline Chung ’13 to Rory O’Donnell on June 22, 2024, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire (England). Albion alumni in attendance included twin sister Kristen ’13, Brian Wu ’14, and Lewis Cardenas ’02. The couple lives in Hamilton, New Zealand, where Jacqueline practices respiratory medicine.

Jessica DeWaters ’13 to Austin Funk, April 29, 2023. The couple lives in Jackson.

Olivia Wardle ’14 to Eric Corrado, Dec. 28, 2023, at the Detroit Athletic Club. The wedding party included matron of honor Scarlett Smith French ’13, and bridesmaids Amanda Layne Peterson ’14, and Mikaela Falsetti White ’16.

Morgan Benham ’17 to Hayden Hudson on June 15, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas. Albion alumni in attendance included matron of honor Ami Milligan Bowen ’17, bridesmaid Kelly Wright ’17,

usher Parker Bowen ’19, and guests Mike Dussel ’17, Stephanie Thurner ’17, Rachel Zawodny Fridenberg ’18, and Ryan Lowe ’19. Morgan works as an athletic trainer in Wichita. The couple live in Wichita with their dog, Maverick.

John Calhoun ’19 to Erin Dunlop ’19, on Aug. 3rd, 2024, in Williamston. The wedding party included Best Man Sam Calhoun ’21, groomsmen Alex Miller ’18, and Glenn Knight ’19, and bridesmen Nick Merucci ’18, and Miro Dunham ’19. Other alumni and friends in attendance were Stephanie Clements-Morgan ’01, Nicholas Clements ’06, Rhonda VanderZwaag ’11, Max Tech ’17, Michael Varney ’17, Andrew Alltop ’18, Zach Baguzis ’18, Jacob Terberg ’18, David Zobl ’18, Till Cook ’19, Josilyn Eichorn ’19, Robert Hacker ’19, Will Hardy ’19, Griselda Iniguez ’19, Kassidy Knight ’19, Noah Pappas ’19, JP Rosenburg ’19, Max Rosenburg ’19, Joshua Sannes ’19, Sarah Brittan ’20, Kierra Bush ’20, Tyler Eyster ’20, Trevor Hill ’20, Aliera Konett ’20, Olivia Maleckas ’20, Nikki Murray ’20, Kody Smith ’20, Jessica Sysak ’20, Carlton Williams ’20, Hunter Penrod ’21, Parker Schanen ’21, Jim Takeshita ’21, Samantha Brand ’22, Skylyr Zink ’22, Marketing and Communications Writer Jake Weber, Registrar Drew Dunham, History department secretary Ellen Wilch, and earth and environment professor Thom Wilch. John and Erin live in Bowling Green, Ohio, with their dog Stormy. John works as a hydrogeologist at Verdantas LLC in Toledo, and Erin works as an academic advisor and planner at Bowling Green State University.

Natalie Purcell ’20 to Austin Carr ’20, Sept. 14, 2024. Natalie is a

registered dental hygienist and Austin is a mechanical engineer. They reside in Troy.

Jake Huttenlocher ’21 to Elizabeth Cavataio ’22, on Oct. 11, 2024 in Detroit. The wedding party included Justin Huttenlocher ’23, Tyler and Megan Harvey Kimbrell both ’20, Stephen Hegenauer ’20, Leonard Ciemniecki ’20, Maclean Robertson ’20, Soterios Michalos ’21, Natalie Seifert ’20, Emily Merucci ’22, Ashley Ketchum ’22. Other alumni in attendance were Paige Mellema ’20, David Adams ’20, Evan Wonner ’21, Lexie Seidel ’21, Connor Robertson ’22, Nicholas ’18,

and Kaitlind Hooper Smith ’20, Jared Jones ’21, Drew Fogel ’22, Samantha Swingewood ’22, Courtney Swingewood ’22, Colton Rydlewski ’21, Andrew Jonna ’22, Allison Dasky ’21, Kirk Myers ’22, Mackenzie Davies ’22, Mary Ann Egnatuk ’76, Emma Henninges ’23, Sarah Griffiths ’23, Amani LopezDunlap ’23, Nathaniel Cobb ’23, Brett Gurzell ’23, Bryn Cavanaugh ’24, Katherine Flynn ’24, Sage Gettings ’24, Kayla Sharp ’21, Anthony Hopkins ’22, Richard Huttenlocher ’81, Martha Huttenlocher Manting ’87, David Zimmerman ’63, and Chris ’86, and Missy Zimmerman Tuck ’87.

Baby Britons

Jamie May on Dec. 8, 2023, to Katie Spencer Lisko ’09 and her husband Jason. Jamie joins Bennett (4). Katie currently works as an industrial athletic trainer for Briotix Health in Morris, Illinois. They live in Bradley, Illinois.

Zoey Francis on June 21, 2024, to Michael and Bridget Kmetz Rock both ’10. Zoey joins big sisters Quinn (8) and Ellie (5). The family lives in Berkley.

Ezra Nolan on Feb. 19, 2024, to Lainey Rubin Safran ’12, and her husband, Jake. Lainey is a clinical director with Akoya Behavioral Health in the Metro Detroit Area. The family resides in West Bloomfield.

Ava Louise on June 4, 2024, to Trevor ’13, and Amanda Layne Peterson ’14. Baby joins big sister, Ella Rae (3). The family lives in Rockford.

Archer, on May 29, 2024, to Charlie ’13 and Emily Nemeth

Rubin ’12. Archer joins big brother Gunnar (6) and big sister Isabelle (4). Proud grandmother is Susan Thompson Rubin ’72. Charlie is a senior solutions consultant at Thomson Reuters and Emily is an administrative director for a medical billing and consulting company. The family resides in Saline.

Jackson Lee on Sept. 24, 2024, to Mitch ’14, and Cassie Vince Klingler ’20. Jackson joins big sister Haley.

Maggie Louise on Nov. 7, 2024, to Craig Kreger Jr. ’15 and his wife, Patty. Proud relatives include uncle Chase Kreger ’12, grandparents Craig Sr. ’90, and Renee Kreger, staff associate director of the Brown Honors Program and FURSCA, and great uncle and aunt Jim ’87, and Jean Juett Bandy ’88. The family lives in Everett, Washington.

Thomas Raymond on Aug. 9, 2024, to Kiana Thomas ‘19 and Nick Bis. He joins big sister Ellie.

Obituaries

Alyce Johnson Chickering ’44, May 29, 2024, in Warren, Ohio. At Albion, Alyce joined Alpha Xi Delta and met her future husband Donald ’42, son of then biology professor A. Merton Chickering. The couple made their home in Warren, where Alyce was a member of the Trumbull County Medical Auxiliary, an original volunteer for Trumbull Mobile Meals, a member of the AXD Alumnae Chapter, and a bowler for 20 years with a church league. Alyce and Donald are survived by their two children, two granddaughters, and three greatgranddaughters.

Jack Buck ’47, Nov. 18, 2023.

A family physician, Jack delivered hundreds of Ionia’s current residents during his 44year career. An avid golfer, he belonged to two central Michigan country clubs and three times hit a hole in one, including on the famous St. Andrews course in Scotland. Jack and his late Albion sweetheart Eva Carter Buck ’47 are survived by four children including Michael Buck ’70 and Marilyn Buck Wheeler ’79, 12 grandchildren including Patrick ’15, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Robert Bollman ’53, July 26, 2024, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A graduate of Northwestern Law School, Robert spent 40 years practicing law in Illinois. He is survived by his son, two siblings including Carol Bollman Ellis ’57, four grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren.

Loren Humphrey ’53, June 22, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri. A surgeon who also obtained a Ph.D. in immunology, Loren served as chair of surgery at the University of Kansas Medical

Center and Oral Roberts School of Medicine. His pioneering work treating cancer with immunotherapy led to honors that included the Kansas Scientist of the Year award, the Shabbanou award for distinction in cancer research, and teaching awards from the University of Missouri, where he was professor of surgery. In retirement, Loren published books on genealogy and Missouri history, taught Sunday School, and enjoyed painting. He is survived by four children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

David Gray ’54, Aug. 31, 2024. A Sigma Chi at Albion, David served two years in the U.S. Army before beginning his career with American Seating Company. He later managed the office of Foremost Home brokers in Grand Rapids and with his late wife Carolyn built the Harbor House Bed & Breakfast in South Haven. David is survived by two children including Lynne Gray Dorman ’81, and one grandchild.

Murray Swindell ’56, Sept. 2, 2024. Murray and his late Albion sweetheart Jean Penzotti Swindell ’58, eventually made their home in Massachusetts, where Murray worked in senior management at Polaroid before opening Acuity Management. Murray and Jean were married for 65 years and during that time established a Penzotti Family Scholarship and the Murray and Jean Swindell Student Impact Scholarship at Albion, which supports several students annually. They are survived by three children including Murray ’80, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and Jean’s siblings Sally Penzotti Boeschenstein ’60, and James ’69.

Rick Chavarry ’58, Sept. 23, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. With service in both South Korea and Vietnam, Rick spent 28 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel Army chaplain. Rick held positions in the 82nd Airborne Division, 8th Infantry Division, and 5th Special Forces Group, earning awards that included a Senior Parachute Badge and a Bronze Star. In retirement, Rick served as associate pastor of his local church. He is survived by Terri, his wife of 27 years, and two children.

John Downs ’58, June 19, 2024. An oral/maxillofacial surgeon who trained in the U.S., England, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, John graduated from both dental and medical school in order to assist children needing complex surgeries. He held academic appointments at two Pittsburgh-based colleges and at Michigan State University, where he was a professor of maxillofacial surgery in the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Human Medicine. At MSU, he also cofounded the Division of Sports Medicine and was medical director for the Center for Study of Elite Athletes. After 22 years as team physician for the MSU Hockey Team, the Outstanding Defensive Player Award was named in his honor. He held the rank of captain Marine Corps/U.S. Navy Reserves after serving 20 years, helping to train special operations personnel and directing medical operations responding to natural disasters in Bangladesh, Haiti, and the Philippines. John is survived by June, his wife of 57 years, two children, and four grandchildren.

Peter Carmody ’64, Aug. 27, 2024. A Sigma Chi at Albion, Peter went on to a 35-year career as a family physician in L’Anse. He also served as chief of staff of the Baraga County Memorial

Hospital, and as director of the Winkler Nursing Home (Bayside Village). Peter cherished the life of a rural physician, where he was also the ER doctor, the general surgeon, and the local OB/Gyn who delivered even his own four children. He was predeceased by his Delta Zeta sweetheart Pat Riopelle Carmody ’64, and is survived by their four children and nine grandchildren.

Judy Homchis Shoskey ’64, Oct. 18, 2024, in Traverse City. Judy studied psychology and sociology at Albion College and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was predeceased by parents John and Marie Kuhn Homchis both ’40. Judy is survived by her Albion sweetheart Bill ’63, three daughters including Amy Shoskey ’88 and Karie Shoskey Lambert ’90, and three grandchildren.

Robert Fraile ’66, June 17, 2024. A member of Delta Sigma Phi, Bob was also devoted to the Albion College Concert Choir. He was a partner with Hammond, Baker, and Kralick in Adrian before his 26-year career with UAW GM Legal Services. Bob was an active community member in Adrian and Grand Blanc, where he often sang the national anthem and served as announcer at swim meets, and was active in civic theater and choral groups. Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ann, three daughters including Molly Fraile ’99 and Marcia Fraile ’02, one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.

Gary Friggens ’67, July 26, 2024, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Gary graduated with high honors in mathematics and physics, earning membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Pi Sigma physics honorary. He was employed by the U. S. Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies at the

Morgantown Energy Technology Center from 1969 to 1995, retiring as a division director. Starting in 2006, he spent a decade as a research specialist with Morgantown’s Aull Center for Local History and Genealogy Research. Gary is survived by his son Brian, brother Thomas ’71, and nephews Christopher ’98 (married to Debra Haan Friggens ’99), and Michael ’02.

William and Donna Meyers Kitzmmiller, both ’66, Sept. 28, 2024, in Grand Haven. Following their graduation, Bill served in Vietnam, then embarked on a 30year career with the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, retiring with the rank of sergeant. Donna spent her career at Grand Haven Area Public Schools, serving at Ferry Elementary, Central Elementary, and Mary A. White Elementary. The Kitzmillers were married for 54 years.

Mary “Tina” Sarchet Lane ’69, July 13, 2024. Beyond a short career teaching French and English in Royal Oak, Tina spent her life in Traverse City, where she was active in numerous Presbyterian Church activities. Her zest for learning led Tina to take up the hammer dulcimer and earn her registered nurse credential, and to start a French language group for adults. She is survived by John ’69, her Albion sweetheart and husband of 53 years, two sons, and four grandsons.

David DeCou ’70, July 2, 2024, in Paw Paw. A member of Albion’s basketball and track and field teams, David also pledged Sigma Nu. He taught four generations of students during a 46-year career with the Marcellus Community Schools. Commemorating his work as a teacher, coach, and athletic director the district named David to its Athletic Hall of Fame and named the Marcellus High School track in his honor in 2023. David was

also inducted into the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024. He is survived by Charlene, his wife of 50 years, their two children including Jonathan ’08, seven grandchildren, and sister Janice DeCou Potter ’62.

Carl Hall ’70, May 31, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky. At Albion, Carl did field work with biology professor Clara Dixon before returning in the 1980s as an assistant professor of biology. He became a lifelong mentor to Jennifer Miller Hill ’89 now a biology professor at Ball State University. Carl eventually went on to do industry-based genetics research and epidemiology. Carl is survived by his wife, Diane, and two brothers.

Thomas Rowell ’71, July 24, 2024. A member of Delta Sigma Phi at Albion, Tom spent four decades in the automotive industry. He coached youth baseball and was a scout leader. Tom is survived by Bella, his wife of 53 years, two children including Kristen Rowell ’96, three grandchildren and sister Madelon Rowell ’64.

Bill Stokes ’72, July 8, 2024. A geology major at Albion, Bill had careers as a petroleum geologist, adjunct professor at Saginaw Valley State University and a teacher and football coach at Heritage High School in Saginaw. He was active for decades with music and theatre groups in Traverse City and Midland, and was the rare duplicate bridge life master who also enjoyed hosting social bridge games open to the community. He is survived by Peg, his wife of nearly 50 years, and their two children and grandchildren.

Julie Richardson Wolf ’85, Dec. 22, 2023. Julie spent nearly 40 years teaching high school biology, chemistry, and environmental science in Farmington and Tawas City. She is

survived by her husband Thomas, two sons, one grandchild, her mother, and six siblings, including Kathy Richardson Paschka ’85, and Lee Anne Richardson ’91.

David Johnston ’96, July 21, 2024. A member of Albion’s football team, David left Michigan to pursue a 25-year career in the turnaround-and-restructuring market. Retiring in 2023, he focused on mentoring and working with civic organizations in Denver, North Carolina. David is survived by Jen, his wife of 24 years, their four children, and his parents.

Clark Dawood ’98, Aug. 30, 2024, in Albion. A SOAR orientation leader, resident assistant, and Lux Fiat recipient while a student, Clark returned to Albion in 2022 as director of community living. As CL director, Clark increased compensation for student community assistants, implemented professional housing software, and led his office’s transition to post-COVID operations. In April, he took on the position of director of philanthropy with institutional advancement. Clark volunteered to help organize the college’s first honoring ceremony for LGBTQ+ graduating seniors, an event that has now been renamed the Dawood Lavender Ceremony. He is survived by his father Zhair “Bobby” Dawood and a sister.

Scott Dunn ’09, Oct. 27, 2024, in Harbor Springs. He began his career working at the MSU Federal Credit Union, followed by 10 years with JP Morgan Chase, most recently as a forensic underwriter. Scott is survived by his parents Bruce and Nancy Scully Dunn both ’77.

Ashley Lynn VanValkenburg Nisbett ’12, Oct. 24, 2023. After starting her education career in Battle Creek Public Schools, she became a beloved teacher for a decade at Port Huron Northern

High School. Ashley is survived by her husband of 15 years, Ryan, and their son Ivan Lionel.

FRIENDS

Dave Carey, former chemistry and biochemistry department chemical hygiene officer, July 18, 2024. Dave spent time as a private sector chemist before a 19year career supporting Albion’s chemistry and biochemistry students and faculty. He is survived by his significant other, Mary, and five siblings.

Elaine Lohrke, former administrative assistant for Student Affairs (now Student Development), July 12, 2024. She spent more than 25 years at Albion College before joining the staff of S.A.F.E. Place in Battle Creek as a coordinator of services for domestic abuse survivors. She was recognized for a 60-year membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and was an active supporter of 4H. Elaine is survived by two children, five grandchildren, and 10 greatgrandchildren.

Jean Ryland Taylor, June 23, 2024. Jean moved to Albion in 1964 with her husband Larry, who founded Albion’s Geology (now Earth and Environment) Department that same year. She worked as the college’s assistant director of media relations and as director of college relations before embarking on a career as reporter, photographer, and city editor of the Albion Evening Recorder. She simultaneously volunteered for and led organizations including Albion/Homer United Way, the Albion Volunteer Service Organization, Albion Community Foundation, the Albion School Board, and Albion Community Theater. A member of Albion’s Zoning Board for 24 years. She is survived by Larry, her husband of nearly 69 years, two sons and two grandchildren.

HABEN SWABEN

Io Triumphe! Io Triumphe! Haben swaben rebecca le animor…

Taking its name from the second line of Albion’s beloved “Io Triumphe!” cheer, Haben Swaben seeks to brighten the focus on alumni and students through sharing diverse memories of common bonds. In this issue, we ask alumni to reflect on memorable student assignments, projects, or academic papers.

A RESPITE FROM WORLD EVENTS

“One of the projects I remember distinctly has actually more to do with what was happening in the world while I was working on this project. I was taking a visual arts drawing class during the fall semester of my sophomore year in 2001. On Tuesday, Sept 11, 2001 (9/11), my only scheduled class was this three-hour drawing class in the afternoon. My roommate and I watched the horrific events unfold on our tiny dorm television all morning, and I then went to my drawing class. We were working on a pencil drawing of a wooden chair that was placed in the center of the room for everyone to draw from their vantage point. While it felt odd to go about working on a drawing when such a somber monumental day in history was unfolding, it calmed my nerves and helped me focus. I was not an art major, but I took an art class nearly every semester in college because it was a good outlet for me, and that day it really was just that.”

—Carolyn (Wilson) Killewald ’04

AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY

A PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER

A STANDARD-SETTING ASSIGNMENT

“I not only remember but retain a copy of this assignment: A Deconstructive Analysis of Angela Carter’s ‘The Scarlet House.’ It’s a paper I wrote for Mary Collar’s literary theory course, and it remains the single piece of writing I’m most proud of. (Yes, more than the dissertation I wrote for my PhD!) Dr. Collar’s course was notoriously difficult, and her standards for writing were incredibly high. The assignment is so meaningful to me in part because it was a triumph to earn a high grade in such a challenging class, but more importantly because it pushed me to read and think and write at a level I previously didn’t know I could attain.”

—Angela Zito ’09

“I did a directed study called The Forgotten Burials during the spring semester of my junior year. The thesis paper for this class was an investigative research paper on the burials of soldiers in British fur trade forts in the United States, specifically the burials at Fort Michilimackinac. There is no cemetery at that fort, and I did research on other forts and burial practices of both the British military and Native Americans at the time to try and figure out where the cemetery or burial grounds might have been. It was a really fun project, and because it was a directed study, I was able to explore and really dig into my passion for the topic. In the end, I had a few hypotheses about where the burial grounds might have been located, but it is still a mystery!”

—Miro Dunham ’19

“While this was a bit more than a paper or a project, one accomplishment I will always remember and take pride in from my time as an Albion College student was performing my senior voice recital. As a general music major, I was not required to complete a recital at all, but it was something I wanted to do! I performed four sets of music by Heggie, Schubert, Mozart, and Goldrich & Heisler, respectively. I can still picture my family and friends, and my voice teacher, Dr. Maureen Balke, in the audience of Goodrich Chapel listening to me sing. The music was challenging, but I feel like I rose to the occasion. I will always be proud of myself for that performance!”

—Elizabeth Palmer ’10

THE GPA KILLER

“My most memorable class is one I’ve experienced many, many times while sleeping. It is the class I forgot I was taking, requiring a textbook I never purchased or read, and sessions I never attended. Now, in my nightmares, I am scurrying, totally unprepared, to take the final in a classroom I can’t find.”

—Jim Whitehouse ’69

ALBION

From small-town Albion to the Big Apple

Kate Walsh ’88 didn’t know what she wanted to do with her career as a first-year student at Albion College. She did, however, know what she didn’t want to do.

“I really didn’t want to be a journalist,” said Walsh, whose career has since taken her from Daytime Digest Magazine to Soap Opera Weekly to InTouch Weekly; She now serves as Editor-in-Chief of Hour Detroit “I was very shy and did not want to call attention to myself. I could not imagine being an onair person or having to go into a war-torn country.”

Her professors were inclined to show her a different side of the field. Knowing she had a real talent for writing, Walsh’s academic advisor (an English professor and supervisor for The Pleiad) was adamant that she would be a perfect fit for the paper. Her theatre professor agreed.

“We were talking about career options, and I said, I could be a journalist if I could just do movie reviews and pop culture,” Walsh said. “And he said, ‘Maybe you should do that for The Pleiad.’”

At the time, the Royal Oak native already had an impressive resume of campus involvements. A member of Kappa Delta, she also played softball, served as a SOAR leader and a resident assistant in Wesley Hall, and worked on a radio show for WLBN. But she was beginning to realize that she might have a spot in the newsroom as well–specifically in the features section.

A career made in New

York

As much as she loved writing reviews, Walsh wondered what it might be like to be on the production side of TV. Her junior year, she pursued an internship through the New York Arts Program working on an up-and-coming TV show.

“It was called Made in New York,” Walsh said. “That was a fun, crazy, half-hour talk show. Everybody you see on late night TV now was on this show. The producer went on to work for David Letterman.”

The show was scrapped just six weeks later, leaving Walsh without an internship. Given the timeline, her program

didn’t have many placements left, so she decided to call the producers of her favorite show: All My Children.

Sure enough, they were in need of an intern.

“I went back to my advisor and said, I know you have a few things available, but I would really like to do this instead, and he said, ‘Well, we don’t have any connections,’” Walsh recalled with a laugh. “I said, Oh, don’t worry: I already checked with them.”

She spent the remainder of the summer delivering fan mail, reading scripts, and working alongside the writers of the soap opera she admired most.

In the fall, Walsh returned to Albion for her senior year; she was getting ready to graduate and knew she wanted to move back to New York, but by May, she still hadn’t found a job.

“I was in Albion spring of ‘88 not knowing what I wanted to do,” Walsh said. “Then, in June, I was back in New York working for a magazine. I didn’t think that was going to happen in a month.”

The magazine was Daytime Digest, and it was the start of an exciting chapter for Walsh. “That was a crazy place to work. You never knew who you might see in the elevator.”

She went on to interview stars like Susan Lucci and Halle Berry, and athletes like Chris Evert and Magic Johnson. During her time with InTouch Magazine, she attended a Christmas party where she danced alongside will.i.am and Janet Jackson as Kanye West performed.

At InTouch, Walsh also braved the hardship of the 2008 recession; watching many of her coworkers lose their jobs as the magazine made cuts was one of the toughest points of her career. “Knowing someone would be losing their job was really hard,” Walsh said. “I hadn’t had to do that before.”

From InTouch, Walsh moved into positions with Today Media, first working for Westchester Magazine and later Hudson Valley Magazine. In those positions, Walsh recalled taking press trips to Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas, staying in some of the best hotels in the world.

Then, in July of 2021, after 31 years of living out her dreams in New York City, Walsh decided it was time to come back home.

Moving back to Michigan

“I just realized how short life is,” said Walsh, attributing the move to the COVID-19 pandemic. “My siblings are all in Michigan or Chicago, and so are their kids. They see each other all the time. I always

wanted that, so I decided I was going to find a job in Detroit. And the very next day, a job opened up at Hour Detroit.”

When she’s not attending galas, ceremonies, or restaurant openings for the magazine, Walsh enjoys spending time with her three children, often outdoors playing pickleball or tennis, or exploring local gems like the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Walsh also loves to visit towns in Michigan she’s never been to before. “I’ll drive there on a Saturday morning and visit a local coffee shop and talk to the owner. I really like to connect with people and hear their stories, whether it’s for the magazine or not.”

Among the stories she loves to hear are those that originate in Albion. Being back in Michigan, Walsh said, has

helped her reconnect with the Albion community.

“It’s funny, the Albion connection,” Walsh said.

“Albion is such a small community, but over the years, it grows. People remember the close knit groups of friends and relationships with professors and the community itself, so you see someone is from Albion, and there’s just an instant bond.”

611 East Porter Street Albion, MI 49224

Educating women at Albion College

Throughout the history of the institution, Albion has always been a co-educational institution. Even under several institutional name changes–women have always been included and (at least on some level) part of the conversation.

The Wesleyan Seminary at Albion operated under that institutional name from 1841 until 1850, when the college added the Albion Female Collegiate Institute as a branch of the seminary. This was an institute of general learning, but women were allowed to continue as students of the seminary. Sarah Maynard, whose diploma is in the Albion College Archives, was in the second class of women to complete her education from the Albion Female Collegiate Institute.

In 1857, former acts were amended and superseded which led to another name change. The institution became known as the Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Albion. Previously only an educational institution, it became a degree-granting institution for women, but not men.

Photos from the Albion College archives