The Colorado College Bulletin - Summer 2022

NSO student leader Audra Burrall ’23 (left) greets students, families, and guests during the walk to the arena for President Richardson’s welcome during New Student Orientation on Aug. 20, 2022. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

Bulletin | Summer 2022

General Series 612, Bulletin Series 518 A publication for alumni, parents, and friends.

REACH OUT TO THE BULLETIN

We’d like to hear from you! The Colorado College Bulletin is distributed to alumni, parents, and friends, and seeks to portray the people, experiences, and topics that best reflect a CC education. We welcome your comments, feedback, items of interest, class notes, letters to the editor, story suggestions, etc.

Send to: bulletin@coloradocollege.edu , or Bulletin/Communications, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3294

CC Connections: Have you unexpectedly encountered a fellow Tiger somewhere in the world? Let us know!

Class notes, obituaries, weddings and celebrations, births and adoptions: Information submitted should be for the current or previous year only. Please send digital photos (JPGs at 300 dpi and minimum of 3.5 x 5 inches) or prints at a similar size. Information should include the location, date, and circumstance, and people in the photo should be identified from left to right.

For information: (719) 389-6603

Bulletin, You’ve Changed ...

Maybe you’ve noticed, we’ve made some changes to the Colorado College Bulletin. We have given it a sharper focus on aspects that make CC unique, a fresh look, and more compact size, and added new features so you can immerse yourself in the CC experience, stay connected with fellow Tigers, and engage with the college in meaningful ways.

To make the Bulletin more readable, we’ve increased the font size in response to readers who found it difficult to read the type in our new design. Thanks to everyone who reached out to let us know. We’d like to hear your thoughts: bulletin@coloradocollege.edu

Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing

Todd Woodward

Assistant Vice President Communications

Stephanie Wurtz

Production & Editing

Jen Kulier

Brenda Gillen

Photographer &

Lonnie Timmons

Graphic

Owen

Copy Editing

Helen Richardson Rhonda Van Pelt

Contributing Writers

Jessi Burns ’06

Esteban Candelaria ’21

Jerry Cross ’91

Julia Fennell ’23

Brenda Gillen

Jen Kulier

Margaret Liu ’77

Paul Liu ’81

Caryn Maconi

Doug McPherson

Felix Sanchez ’93

Anna Squires ’17

Jane Turnis

I think I wrote to you before that I am dis appointed that all emphasis on scholarly accomplishments seems to have disap peared. The Bulletin that arrived recently took me less than five minutes to read and it went immediately into the recycle bin. It was not worth even five minutes. I see that members of my age group have a simi lar reaction. I would remind CC that old alumni are your donor base.

SHARON L SMITH ’67

Yes, Colorado College has created some pushback with its recent over-emphasis on solely diverse leadership rather than on academic excellence. Imagine the reaction to a Bulletin cover and articles showcasing all white leaders! The college’s clearly preferential pursuit of BIPOC without backing it up with qualifications for those positions strongly defeats the mission statement of a well-rounded and best-candidate approach, and actually serves only to separate different ethnic groups even more rather than unify them as a cohesive body.

I wanted to congratulate Lonnie Timmons III on the portraits he made for the recent Bulletin. That’s a huge amount of work, and completed beautifully. I know from 15 years as University of Colorado-Boulder’s photographer how hard it is even to schedule such a busy group of people, but he seems to have put each at ease and at their best. Needless to say, the portraits anchor an important story of CC’s success in bring ing together a strong and diverse group of leaders. Congratulations, on that accom plishment as well.

KEN ABBOTT ’80

I was at CC with Susan Allison, whose letter you published in the latest Bulletin, and am a retired typographer. It’s my opinion that 9-point type is still too small to invite reading. I used to read every word in the Bulletin, but no longer.

JANET SIMS ’66, ’73

THE COLORADO COLLEGE BULLETIN (122-860) is published four times per calendar year by Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3294. PERIODICALS postage paid at Colorado Springs 80901-9998 and at additional offices.

The Bulletin also is available online at coloradocollege.edu/ bulletin . To stop receiving a printed copy, email bulletin@ coloradocollege.edu and let us know.

POSTMASTER: Please send ADDRESS CHANGES to Colorado College Bulletin, Alumni Records, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3294.

CHRISTOPHER A. JONES ’83

Editor’s note: We’ve increased the font size to 9.5 in response to readers. Let us know what you think: bulletin@coloradocollege.edu

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

When I first learned about Colorado College, I was drawn to it because its values matched my own. This is the college that boldly and courageously chose to teach differently when we adopted the Block Plan 52 years ago, created the first college antiracism commitment, and was the first in the region and eighth in North America to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020.

That creativity and dedication continue today. Teaching and learn ing on the Block Plan is not easy, and it’s not for everyone, but it is transformational, and our graduates are proof. They integrate infor mation and innovate quickly. They apply their broad-minded liberal arts education to make the world a better place, using their special CC brand of knowledge, compassion, skills, and creativity.

After a year of getting to know this distinctive college and the many remarkable people here who are driven by a sense of purpose and possibility, I am even more excited for Colorado College and what we can do to help create a more just world.

Could there be a more important time for Colorado College and CC graduates? We’re living in a world facing existential threats and challenges, including climate change; systemic racism; political po larization; and equity gaps. If there was ever a time to ignite our CC students’ potential for problem solving and dedication to creating a better world, this is it.

So, how do we get there?

Increasing and enhancing access

We are committed to increasing access to the remarkable education we offer at CC, but we must do more. Enhancing access not only means expanding who attends CC but also ensuring every student is able to take advantage of all the curricular and co-curricular oppor tunities we offer.

Crucial and courageous dialogue

Igniting our students’ potential and creating a more just world also demands we listen to and learn from one another. This dialogue is vital to our democracy, and it’s the essence of a liberal arts education.

We live in a world where people are “canceled,” vilified, shouted down, and scared to express their points of view. CC should be a

place where crucial conversations about the most important issues facing our world occur, where this dialogue is normal and expected. We need to foster an environment where different viewpoints are shared, challenged, critiqued, and debated.

Our people

Our students, staff, and faculty are our greatest assets. As a com munity last year, we openly discussed our campus climate and culture and said we must co-create an environment in which we take better care of ourselves and each other. CC should be one of the best colleges to work for in the country, where we trust, respect, and encourage one another while simultaneously holding each other accountable to the high standards we set for ourselves.

Visibility for CC and our students

Our distinctive education teaches students to integrate new knowl edge quickly. They can master things in three-and-a-half weeks that take other students an entire semester. The world should know about them. Our graduates should be highly sought after no matter what their major is or what they choose to do after they graduate. We will shine a light on the college and our students so that Colora do College is no longer a hidden gem, and our graduates have every opportunity to achieve lives of meaning.

I am grateful for the many ideas shared over the last year and the opportunity to move toward these goals. With our unique ways of doing and thinking, there isn’t a college better equipped to address the challenges facing our world today.

Together, we will build on our unique strengths, and CC will be a model for what a liberal arts education in the 21st century should be.

I’m honored and proud to work alongside you as we ignite our stu dents’ potential and create a more just world.

Sincerely, L. Song Richardson President

LONNIE TIMMONS III

CC Names Three New Trustees

By Jen Kulier

Colorado College has named three new members to the Board of Trustees following its June 2022 meeting: Lilly Chen ’19; Jena Graber Hausmann ’93; and Vicente Blas-Taijeron ’24. The trust ees began their terms on July 1.

“The Board of Trustees is thrilled to welcome Lilly Chen, Vicente Blas-Taijeron, and Jena Graber Hausmann,” says Jeff Keller ’91, board chair. “We are so fortunate to have so many talented, qualified alums and students who have such a strong desire to serve their school. I look forward to serving with all of them.”

Lilly Chen ’19, who will serve as the young alumni trustee, is the CEO of Contenda, a technical content marketing startup based in Philadelphia. During her time at Colorado College, Chen majored in mathematical economics, co-founded the school’s Esports team, and received several acco lades, including the Ray Werner Prize for most outstanding thesis. Since her graduation, Chen has worked as a software engineer at multiple companies, including Facebook Reality Labs.

Jena Graber Hausmann ’93, who was elected to the alumni trustee position this year, has served as the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Colorado since 2015. Hausmann majored in political science, and in 2019, she received an honorary Ph.D. from Colorado College. She serves on several boards, including the Children’s Hospital Association of America, the American Hospital Association Region 8, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Vicente Blas-Taijeron ’24, who will serve as the student trustee, is a feminist and gender studies major and race, ethnicity, and migration studies minor. He is a diversity, equity, and inclusion lead for the Student Government Association and a fellow for the Chaplain’s Office. Blas-Taijeron was one of six Colorado College students this year to be selected for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Outgoing trustees Kishen Mangat ’96, Phil Swan ’84, student trustee Gaby Jadotte ’22, and young alumni trustee Onyx Bengston ’18 ended their terms on June 30.

TOP: Lilly Chen at Commencement on May 19, 2019. Photo by Vivian Nguyen ’20. MIDDLE: Jena Graber Hausmann ’93 at Opening Convo cation on Aug. 27, 2018. Photo by Jennifer Coombes. BOTTOM: Photo courtesy Vicente Blas-Taijeron ’24

Welcome, Class of 2026

By Julia Fennell ’23

Colorado College welcomes 553 incom ing members of the Class of 2026 and 31 transfer students. The Class of 2026 was selected from 11,026 applicants, a record-number, and had an admittance rate of a little over 11 percent.

Twenty-five percent of the Class of 2026 identify as students of color. There are 41 dual citizens.

Student and Alumni Awards

The incoming class comes from 47 states and 15 countries. Seventeen percent of the class are from Colorado, 24 percent are from the Northeast, 16 percent are from the Midwest, 24 percent are from the West, and 15 percent are from the South.

The Class of 2026 includes musicians, athletes, entrepreneurs, activists, and scientists. One student was part of Andrew Yang’s mayoral campaign, while another canvassed for Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign.

The incoming class contains competitive horseback riders, ski racers, and a white water guide. One student interned at the ACLU and another student traveled to Israel to teach lacrosse to kids.

The Class of 2026 speaks 31 languages. The 31 transfer students are coming from 28 universities and colleges, and are between the ages of 18 and 21, with an average age of 20.

It was a banner year for Colorado College students and alumni receiving various awards! Individuals representing a variety of disciplines and departments were widely recognized for their academic excellence. Here are a few of the CC folks we congratulate:

• Autumn Rivera ’04, MAT ’05 was a finalist for the Science and Math Teachers Award

• Grace Andrews ’22 garnered a Teach for America position

• Six CC students were awarded Gilman Scholarships, a record number

• Claire McCallum ’22 won a Fulbright and will go to Germany

• Grace Evans ’22 will go to Greenland to teach English on a Fulbright

• Nick Cleveland-Stout ’22 won a Fulbright and will go to Brazil

• Kate Barnes ’19 received a Fulbright to study in Hungary

• Alanna Jackson ’23 won the Newman Civic Fellowship

• Rana Abdu ’22 and Aleesa Chua ’22 were recognized by the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program

• Maddi Schink ’23 won a Truman Scholarship

• Maddi Schink ’23 and Fer Juarez Duran Jr. ’23 received a grant from the Davis Projects for Peace program

• Judy Lynne Fisher ’20 earned a Fulbright award and will conduct research in support of her dissertation

• Samuel Frykholm ’24 spent the summer studying the Turkish lan guage through the Critical Languages Scholarship

To read more of their stories, as well as others’, go to https://2cc.co/awards

LONNIE TIMMONS

Mike Edmonds Announces His Retirement

After a 30+ year career at the college, Mike Edmonds, senior vice president, will retire in May 2023.

Edmonds changed the landscape of Colorado College, illustrating the power of inclusive leadership. He is the first Black leader to have served as president in the college’s history and has been integral to advanc ing the college’s institutional initiatives, including the college’s commitment to antiracism, creating greater access for students, and the partnership with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He served and mentored countless students through his many years leading Student Life.

“I have seen my students become parents and their children become my students,” Edmonds says. “That’s been a remarkable blessing. One of my favorite R&B singers, Dorothy Moore, said it best: ‘Ain’t it funny how time slips away.’”

In celebration of Edmonds’ career and the impact he has made on CC, the college has established the Mike Edmonds Legacy Fund to provide resources for future generations of students of all backgrounds and allow access to all CC has to offer. CC Trustees Susie Burghart ’77, Phil Swan ’84, and Amy Shackelford Louis ’84 each have given $500,000 to launch the Mike Edmonds Legacy Fund.

Edmonds was inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame, as well as the Gold Key Society at Emory University. He also received the Delores Taylor Arthur award from the Holy Cross School in New Orleans and the Martin Luther King Award from James Logan Forensics in California. Two campus spaces are named in Edmonds’ par ents’ honor, a first floor classroom in Tutt Library called the Frank Jr. and Hattie Mae Edmonds Experimental Classroom and the Hattie Mae balcony at Cornerstone Arts Center.

Edmonds hails from Clarksville, Tennessee, and holds a bachelor of arts, master’s, and Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi, where he serves on the Liberal Arts Board and sits on the Ole Miss Campaign Steering Committee. He also completed a post-grad uate institute at Harvard University and is a gradu ate of the Center for Creative Leadership. Until his retirement, Edmonds will continue to oversee the Fine Arts Center and work on external partnerships and relations critical to Colorado College.

To support this fund, visit https://2cc.co/edmondslegacy

CC President L. Song Richardson, Juanita Stroud Martin, and Mike Edmonds after the unveiling of the signage at Ed Robson Arena for Kelly Dolphus Stroud ’31. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

During the CC class, The Future and Sustainability of Local News, students traveled to Crestone, Colorado, and stayed at the college’s Baca campus. While there, they met with staff of The Crestone Eagle, read archives of area newspapers at the local museum, interviewed residents about where they get their local news and information, and met with a public official to talk about the efficacy of a potential sales tax grant to support local journalism.

Throughout their intensive course, students studied the various causes of a broken business model in the local news industry nationwide that has led to fewer reporters, slimmer coverage, and disappearing local news outlets. (Among the reasons: advertising migrated online to tech companies like Facebook and Google; hedge funds bought newspapers and laid off report ers to maximize profits for sharehold ers.) Students also studied potential solutions for these problems, hearing from some innovators in Colorado and

across North America who are working on the crisis facing local news.

They also learned that owners of at least 44 local news organizations in Colorado are nearing retirement age or could soon leave the business. A key question is whether those publishers will have a sustainable succession plan or simply fold up shop.

Sierra Romero ’22 and Sabrina Brewer ’22 embarked on a new internship program at CC’s Journalism Institute to learn how The Crestone Eagle operates, to help write the news, and to work on the paper’s digital operation while staying at the Baca campus.

Jennifer Eytcheson, The Eagle’s intern program manager for this collabora tion, showed the students how a news paper’s publishing cycle works, helped them get started with interviews for the articles they were writing, set up a tour of the Mountain Mail printing company, and took them onsite to take

photos for their articles. Two of their articles appeared this summer, the first one covering potential local impacts of a Live Nation Seven Peaks festival that expects 20,000 visitors to Villa Grove in September. In the June issue, they published a compelling take on the preservation of the Sand Dunes National Park.

Corey Hutchins, interim director of the Colorado College Journalism Institute, taught the class, and he and Drew Cavin, CC director of field study, organized the new internship program and are work ing on keeping it sustainable through out the year with future students.

Colorado College Students Intern at The Crestone Eagle

Top: Colorado College students intern at The Cres tone Eagle. Bottom: From left, Sierra Romero ’22 and Sabrina Brewer ’22. Photos courtesy of Corey Hutchins.

Colorado College Celebrates THE CLASS OF 2022

CC honored the Class of 2022 on Sunday, May 22, in Ed Robson Arena on the snowy (!) CC campus. Dr. Margaret A. Liu ’77, Colorado native and renowned leader in the fields of vaccines, gene deliv ery, and cancer immunotherapy, delivered the Commencement address.

Five hundred Bachelor of Arts degrees were awarded at the ceremony, which concluded CC’s 148th academic year; 13 Master of Arts in Teaching degrees were also awarded.

The Class of 2022 has 71 graduating varsity athletes, three Fulbright winners, and two National Science Foundation award winners.

In addition, the graduating class includes a Japan Exchange and Teaching Program recipient and two Princeton in Africa Fellowship finalists. Plus, more than 70 seniors have presented research at summer research symposiums at CC and in other forums.

PHOTOS BY LONNIE TIMMONS III

Stroud Scholars Preview Life at CC During Summer Experience

By Caryn Maconi

More than 60 students from 18 Pikes Peak region high schools got a taste of life on the CC campus in July during the Stroud Scholars summer experience.

The Stroud Scholars program honors the legacy of siblings Kelley Dolphus Stroud ’31 and Effie Stroud Frazier ’31, two of the earliest African American students to graduate from CC. As part of the college’s antiracism commitment and access and affordability focus, the program prepares talented local high schoolers for selective college envi ronments through academic preparation, mentorship, and guidance navigating the college admissions process — culminating with admission to CC.

To be accepted into the program, students must be intellectually curious and growthminded, with the potential to thrive in rigorous academic settings if given the oppor tunity. Students may be the first in their families to graduate from college, and many come from a low-income family, self-identify as students of color or another socially marginalized identity, or attend an underresourced high school.

Stroud Scholars take part in a three-week residential experience for three consecutive summers, starting after their freshman year of high school. Living on the CC campus on weekdays, they take immersive quantitative reasoning and writing courses co-taught by CC faculty and local high school teachers. This year, six of the 12 Stroud instructors are CC alumni.

Students also choose from various adjunct courses to learn new skills and discover their interests — including CPR and first aid, computer science, urban agriculture, health and wellness, pottery, and a leadership class called Changemaker 101.

On the weekends, participants may go home or stay on campus, where they enjoy guided activities like rock climbing, bike riding, a wellness expo, and a field-day-style sports competition.

Students also spend time learning how to navigate the college admissions and financial aid processes — and as they progress through the program, they build a foundation to thrive in college as they hone their aspirations and connect with supportive peers and mentors.

“My family immigrated here, and I would be the first to graduate from college. So, I have always had that dream to go to college and graduate and make my family proud,” said Kennia Vidal, a rising senior from Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs. “The Stroud Scholars program helps you see what the next steps are. My school doesn’t offer much of that, so this program really helps me have that college insight.”

The first summer session, in 2020, was held virtually in a condensed timeframe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the residential experience took place in-person for the first time, and in 2022, the program welcomed three cohorts of students (rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors) to campus.

Knowledge and skills gained during the summer experience are then supported and furthered through a series of academic-year programs.

Students who successfully complete the pro gram gain admission to CC with a financial aid package that enables them to attend — but going to CC is not a requirement. Rather, the goal is for participants to feel prepared to thrive at a selective college or university, so they can intentionally choose the path that best fits their goals.

Many students, however, feel connected to CC after experiencing the classroom environ ment and building relationships at the college for the last three years.

“I want to go somewhere that’s super inclu sive, but I also just like CC as a college and the way that they teach. It’s a lot more one-onone, and classes are smaller,” said Jordan Barker, a rising senior at Fountain-Ft. Carson High School in Fountain, Colorado. “And getting to experience the community here has been so eye-opening. It makes me want to participate more in my community — to stay and expand my horizons here, because this is my home.”

To learn more about the Stroud Scholars, or to support the program financially, visit www.coloradocollege.edu/stroudscholars.

Area high school students attend the Stroud Scholar library orientation on July 11, 2022. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

CC Recognizes Outstanding Athletes at Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

By Jerry Cross

In a stunning ceremony at Ed Robson Arena, five individuals and one team were inducted into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame on April 30.

Julian Boggs ’08 (men’s cross country/ track and field), Martina Holan ’98 (wom en’s soccer), Heather McGuire ’94 (vol leyball), Brett Sterling ’06 (hockey), Dr. Thomas Mahony ’67 (team physician) and the 1973 football team were enshrined as the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

For the first time since 2006, the Hall of Fame event was held on the CC campus. Utilizing the school’s new multi-purpose building, nearly 300 people attended.

Boggs is Colorado College’s only fivetime All-American, earning the honor three times in cross country and twice in track. He finished third at the 2006 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships and placed second and fifth, respectively, in the 5K at the 2006 and ’07 DIII National Track and Field Meet.

Holan is ranked No. 2 on CC’s career lists with 107 points and 45 goals. She also is tied for No. 7 with 17 assists and owns a share of the school record with four hat tricks. She competed for Canada

in the 2007 World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics.

McGuire was named a Division III AllAmerican in 1993, as well as a two-time Academic All-American in ’93 and ’94. She is the school’s career leader for total blocks (558) and block solos (279) and No. 2 in program history with 279 block assists.

Sterling is one of CC’s most recognizable hockey players, earning All-American and Academic All-American honors in 2005 and ’06. He finished second in the nation in scoring during the 2004-05 season with 63 points and was a “Hobey Hat Trick” finalist that year.

Mahony served as the chief athletic team physician for the CC Athletics Department from 1978-2010. He was a two-sport athlete at CC, playing football and baseball.

The 1973 football team posted a 9-1 record, the most wins in one season in program history, and allowed just 10 points per game. Loaded with under classmen (25 freshmen, 15 sophomores, and just nine seniors), the team out scored their opponents 242-104 and recorded a pair of shutouts that season.

Colorado College Department of Athletics Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Title IX

On June 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon signed Title IX into law. It states:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from partic ipation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Several key moments have influenced women’s sports at Colorado College starting with a “Shower in Protest” by female students in 1973 demanding locker room space for women in El Pomar Sports Center. Other historical moments include:

• Laura Golden served as women’s basket ball coach (1975-81) and co-director of athletics.

• Susan Ashley was the first female faculty athletic representative (1989).

• Julie Soriero served as the first female director of athletics (2000-01 interim; full time 2003-07).

• Women’s soccer became a varsity sport in 1978.

• Vice President/Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine (since 2019) has brought a championship culture to Colorado College.

WATCH: A video highlighting the his tory of women’s athletics at Colorado College at www.CCTigers.com

Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony at Ed Robson Arena on April 30, 2022. Photo by Jeff Kearney.

CHARLIE LENGAL

Tuning In: CC Music Scene Inspires Alum to Create Label

By Doug McPherson

Sure, on the surface, an English degree may not seem ideal for a budding entrepreneur in the music business, but it’s working for Jason Edelstein ’18.

Beyond the classroom, Edelstein’s life was filled with music: Making it (he had a band), listening to it (he’d attend live performances), and falling in love with it.

When he describes the aura of campus as he recalls it, you can hear that love in his voice.

“CC was one of the most exciting scenes for music I’ve seen to this day — nothing else like it,” Edelstein says. “There were eight houses that had shows with fantastic student bands. There were 35 bands that played regularly — that’s a lot from a college with 2,000 people.”

He also felt support for his own music. His band played at CC and raised enough money to fund a tour of the East Coast. “Having that support from the college was foundational for me to continue to play,” he says.

He remembers spending a lot of time in the Music Department, which housed a new recording studio where he learned the finer points of music production.

And all that time spent in Armstrong Hall as an English major studying and creating fic tional characters has helped Edelstein with the branding of his label and artists.

“Music fans today desire a more three-di mensional product; it’s not just about the record, it’s about the band that made it. We’re working directly with our artists to discover and elucidate captivating sto ries and engage their audiences in the full dimensionality of their brand.”

The real problem he soon found after graduating and moving to Denver, Colorado, was that the city had throngs of good bands, but their music wasn’t getting heard beyond the state’s borders.

To help those bands, Edelstein and his business partner, Andrea Hoang, started The Salt Lick Records in 2021. The label includes a professional studio, sound engineering, cinematography, and a monthly online con cert series called “Songs from the Pond” that showcases the music.

“The label was born out of my own experi ence after college, releasing my own music

during the pandemic, sending it out into the void and not breaking through the small bubble,” Edelstein says. “We’ve now offi cially signed some bands and we’re creating content and filming promos and videos. I’m excited about where we can take them.”

And in a full circle effort, he wants to bring some of his artists to the CC campus.

“I’d like to see how we can help students revitalize the campus’s music scene. I think that would be a lot of fun.”

Learn more at thesaltlickdenver.com.

Photo courtesy Jason Edelstein/The Salt Lick Records

The Inauguration of CC’s 14th President

L. Song Richardson: Ignite Students’ Potential and Create a More Just World

By Jane Turnis Photos by Lonnie Timmons III

In all of her roles – civil-rights lawyer, criminal-defense lawyer, death-pen alty lawyer, teacher, and scholar – L. Song Richardson has “always been willing to stand alone for what is just and what is right, even when — or especially when — it’s difficult,” she said at her Aug. 29 inaugu ration as Colorado College’s 14th president.

Richardson, who began her presidency in July 2021, was drawn to CC because of its bold and courageous drive to live out values that match her own.

“We are a place that thinks differently,” she said. “We dream big, and we do difficult things.”

She noted three monumental things that Colorado College has achieved:

• Created the Block Plan 52 years ago –not because it’s easy, but because it is a transformational way to teach and learn

• Initiated the first college antiracism commitment five years ago, before the killing of George Floyd sparked a national reckoning on race

• In 2020 became the first higher educa tion institution in the Rocky Mountain region and the eighth in North America to reach carbon neutrality

Now more than ever, she said, when faced with great challenges such as climate change, systemic racism, political polariza tion, and equity gaps, the world needs bold, courageous, and values-driven Colorado College and its graduates.

In her first year President Richardson immersed herself in hearing the thoughts of students, faculty, staff, alumni, high er-education leaders, and community members. At her inauguration she shared her vision for CC to build on its legacy to “ignite our students’ potential and create a more just world.”

The event, held at the Fine Arts Center theatre and also livestreamed, was attended by former presidents Kathryn Mohrman and Richard F. Celeste, as well as former acting presidents, presidents from other institutions, alumni, faculty, staff, students, community leaders, and family and close friends of President Richardson.

In his welcome, CC Board of Trustees Chair Jeff Keller ’91 P ’23 noted, “During the search for our 14th president, Song impressed me and all of us so much with how she talked about the college’s values, and our anti racism commitment, our desire to ensure the liberal arts’ relevancy into the 21st century. She is strong, she is committed, and she understands fully that higher education needs forthright leadership and vision for

these times. That’s why she believes in us, and we in her.”

Ashley Cornelius, poet laureate for the Pikes Peak region, wrote and presented the inaugural poem with themes of inclusion, social justice, promise, and a sense of change. In her introduction she noted that Richardson is the first woman of color to be president at CC.

“That is a legacy that is lifechanging, that is monumental. Where someone who looks like me, who looks like our community, is leading the charge for this incredible insti tution,” Cornelius said.

In her inaugural address, President Richardson shared her broad goals for Colorado College.

Visibility

After four years on the Block Plan, CC graduates have a “superpower” because they can integrate information, innovate, and achieve more quickly and nimbly than others, she said.

“The world needs to know about them,” she said. “They think differently, they learn differently, and they can do anything they set their minds to.”

Richardson pledged to raise awareness of the college and said, “We will no longer be a hidden gem.”

L. Song Richardson’s Timeline

Grows up on U.S. Army bases, and wins first place in nine major piano competi tions, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition

Earns her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College and her Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School

Works in the legal field as Assistant Counsel, Capital Punishment/Criminal Justice Project at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc.

Is Assistant Public Defender, Racial Justice Project, The Defender Association

Becomes partner at Schroeter Goldmark & Bender

Works in academia as Visiting, Assistant, and Associate Professor, DePaul University College of Law

Is Associate Professor, American University, Washington College of Law

Is Professor, University of Iowa College of Law

Becomes Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine School of Law

Joins the board of the “Who We Are Project,” a chronicle of racism in America

Garners the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association Legacy Award for extraor dinary impact in the legal community

Becomes Colorado College’s 14th president

“When I first started my company, I didn’t know if people wanted my product. You have to iterate on that product. We locked ourselves into a Block Plan, where we would build a feature for three-and-a-half weeks; then take a week off. I realized the Block Plan has taught me a lot about resilience and how to learn. My learning curve is so much more exponential than my peers, just by the nature of having gone through those iterative measures.”

LILLY CHEN ’19, Colorado College Board of Trustees member

“What excites me most about President Richardson’s vision is her ability to foster hard conversations among the campus community on topics of community engagement and becoming an antiracist institution. Greater access and opportunity mean we are casting a wide net for who we invite into this community, but it also means we’re not trying to have those people fit into our current definition of the community. We need to change and broaden what it means to be Colorado College and make space for a diverse commu nity of faculty, staff, students.”

MURPHY BRASUEL ’96, P’20, associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Colorado College

Courageous Conversations

“I want CC to be a place where crucial conversations about the most important issues facing our world occur,” she said. “A place where different opinions are welcomed and challenged and debated, a place where we can explore our beliefs, change other people’s minds, or more importantly, change our own.”

Access CC access programs including Colorado Pledge, Bridge Scholars, and Stroud Scholars are making good progress, but the college must do more, Richardson said.

“CC is committed to not only expanding access to who comes here but also ensur ing once our students are here that they have the opportunity to take advantage of everything we offer here regardless of their financial means,” she said.

Workplace Excellence

“Our people are the greatest asset we have,” Richardson said. “I am committed to ensur ing that Colorado College becomes a best college to work for in the country.”

Inauguration festivities began with a BIPOC Presidents’ Roundtable for staff and faculty. Sonya Malunda, president of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Vincent D. Rougeau, president of College of the Holy Cross, and President Richardson discussed the liberal arts, antiracism, lead ership, and the impact of “first” presidents of color (Richardson is the first woman of color to lead CC; Senior Vice President Mike Edmonds, as acting co-president before her, was the college’s first president of color). CC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Ryan Haygood ’97 moderated the conversation.

On Sunday, Aug. 28, community members got a whirlwind taste of CC. Faculty taught “speed seminars” on current topics, such as how the Federal Reserve sets interest rates, the implications of Colorado River water shortages, heredity and diseases, the Ukraine war, and personal storytelling. Community members enjoyed art exhibits at the Fine Arts Center, tried hands-on art activities at Bemis School of Art, climbed the Ritt Kellogg Climbing Wall, took sports clinics, and skated at Ed Robson Arena.

President Richardson’s love of music (she is a classically trained pianist who performed twice with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and won numerous major piano competi tions) was underscored in the festivities.

At the inauguration ceremony, musical performances were presented by Shove

TOP: President Richardson visited the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College as part of the inauguration on Aug. 29, 2022. BOTTOM LEFT: Jaiel Mitchell ‘18 sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the Inauguration of L. Song Richardson on Aug. 29. BOTTOM RIGHT: The inaugural fanfare, “Jubilation,” was composed by Professor of Music Ofer Ben-Amots and performed by (left to right) Benjamin Paille, Susan Grace and Ricky Sweu on Aug. 29.

Project 2024 Looks Forward to an Even Better Colorado College

By Brenda Gillen

Susan Ashley, professor emerita of History and recent chair of the Department of Economics and Business, has coordinated Colorado College’s Project 2024 since Fall 2021. The effort aims to engage the campus community in determining CC’s future. In its first year, more than 560 faculty, staff, and students participated.

“Project 2024 is a bottom-up process of thinking about the future inspired by the initiative launched in 1968 at the college, which led to the establishment of the Block Plan,” says Ashley. “The goal is to give everybody a chance to participate in conversations around these two questions: How can we do what we do better? Which of six challenges experts say face higher education in the United States today, and in the near future, should CC worry about?”

Among the pressing issues facing higher education are:

• Finances/financial model

• Changing demographics

• Access to higher education

• Digital knowledge

• Relevance of higher education

• Institutional complacency

The pandemic wasn’t a planned subject of conversation, but Ashley says COVID haunted almost every discussion.

“We had oriented the discussions toward future possibilities, but people often talked more about the present and focused on problems. When asked about how we can do what we do better, they thought largely in terms of their personal experience. And I think that had a great deal to do with the fact that for over a year people lacked the usual opportunities for interacting with others on campus. It was as if in asking them about the future of the college, they talked about the trunk of the elephant, as if it were the entire beast,” says Ashley.

The steering committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, spent a block synthesizing what they’d heard. They dis cerned one common thread: the desire for connection and three main areas for action:

1. learning in and beyond the classroom

2. structures and interactions

3. policies, programs, and norms

These, in turn, include more specific targets for attention.

Year Two begins with campus-wide dis cussions of the best ways to translate last year’s talks into action, keeping in mind what community most cares about, our people. While Ashley says nothing is off the table, even changing the Block Plan, the things that make Colorado College a vital institution will remain. “Some things hav en’t changed in 50 years,” says Ashley. “We have a dedicated staff, a faculty who are innovative in the classroom and who relish teaching, and lively, inquisitive students.”

Read more at https://2cc.co/project2024

“Though I didn’t grow up knowing any law yers, my transformative experience at Colorado College inspired and prepared me to become one. For too many, however, Colorado College, and the world-class liberal arts education it offers, is one of America’s best kept secrets. Growing up in Denver, I didn’t learn about Colorado College until late in my senior year in high school. I almost missed this opportunity—and I often think about those who have. That’s why President Song Richardson’s vision for substantially raising the profile of Colorado College is so necessary and compelling. Her leadership will provide access to a new generation of students like me from Denver, Pueblo and across the country. I couldn’t be more excited to work with her.”

RYAN HAYGOOD ’97 CC Board of Trustees vice-chair

Memorial Chapel organist Eric Wicks, singer Chidera Ikpeamarom ’22, Pianist and Lecturer/ Artist-in-Residence and Associate Chair of the Department of Music Susan Grace, and singer Jaiel Mitchell ’18. The inaugural fanfare, “Jubilation,” was composed by Professor of Music Ofer Ben-Amots and performed by Grace, Benjamin Paille on trumpet, and Ricky Sweum on baritone saxophone.

On the afternoon of inauguration day, the campus community enjoyed ice cream on Tava Quad and danced to music by student bands Tenderheart and Sallie and the Swamp Goblins. The events were capped off that eve ning with a live documentary performance of “A Thousand Thoughts” by the Kronos Quartet and Sam Green.

The following day William D. “Bro” Adams ’72 spoke at a faculty lunch about the importance of the liberal arts and connections between disciplines. His book “Getting Ready” encourages drawing from the pandemic’s lessons about science, history, culture, and technol ogy — as well as harsh truths about politics, systemic racism, economic inequality, and the fragile nature of democracy — to prepare students for work, civic participation, and meaningful lives.

The inauguration events brought together academics, the arts, thoughtful discourse, and aspiration. Participants explored the promise of a liberal arts education at Colorado College, and of guiding students to find their potential and innovate on the greatest issues of our time.

CC has proven that it is impactful and val ues-driven, and that fits the 14th president of Colorado College perfectly.

“I have always been willing to stand alone for what is right and just,” President Richardson said in closing her inaugural address. “But now I don’t have to, because I found CC.”

LEFT: President Richardson performs the oath of office with CC Board of Trustees Chair Jeff Keller ’91, P’23, during the Inauguration on Aug. 29. TOP: President Richardson with her mother after the inauguration.

‘Arte Mestiza’

By Esteban Candelaria ’21

rte Mestiza” is crumbling.

Many walk by the once-vibrant, 200-foot long monument to Chicano/a/x muralism without noticing it. Some who do only stop to remark on how it’s seen better days. Fewer still know the mural’s actually part of the collection of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. It’d be hard to blame them.

“Arte Mestiza” was painted by Emanuel Martinez, a towering figure in the art form, and Chicano/a/x community members in the 1980s. It was donated to the museum by the Hispanic Arts Council, as a gift from the community.

“The content of the mural is very significant to our culture, our heritage, our people,” Martinez says. “It tells a story about our contributions to the arts.”

But in the over three decades that it’s haunted the parking lot of the FAC, the acrylic epic has been left to pollution and the elements with little to no care, Martinez says.

“Frankly, I don’t know of any care that they have done … in the last 35 years or so — not even so much as pressure washing it,” he said. “It’s a shame for an institution … to be so negligent of one of their — I think it’s a collection piece, maybe they still don’t see (it) that way, but that’s the way they accepted it.”

Michael Christiano, who joined the FAC as director of visual arts and museum in Fall 2021, says that as a public, outdoor work of art, “Arte Mestiza” requires a “different level of care.” Nevertheless, he says the mural is a “critical work of art for the collection.”

“This is a project that’s been too long neglected, and it’s very much a priority for us,” he says. “I can’t really speak to what hap pened prior, but my understanding is that there was not sufficient attention paid to the upkeep of this mural, and that’s not accept able practice for us going forward at all.”

Christiano says the museum is looking into getting a conservator to assess it and come up with recommendations for better protection, like metal flashing for weath erproofing, better drainage, and guards to keep people from parking too close or from snow being piled up against the wall.

That’d be the first step in a multi-year conservation effort that would eventu ally bring Martinez back for “communi ty-driven restoration,” he says. That effort would partly be paid for with the FAC’s

“A

An Artist and a Museum Director Say CC FAC’s Backyard Mural Needs More Care

LEFT: “Arte Mestiza” mural artist Emanuel Martinez on Aug. 9, 2022. RIGHT: Nancy Rios works in collaboration with Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project, the FAC, and the artist to restore and conserve the mural on Aug. 9, 2022. Photos by Lonnie Timmons III

operating budget, possibly alongside grants the FAC is pursuing to help fund the cause.

A conservator hasn’t been found yet, Christiano says, but the FAC hopes to get that phase done this fall.

“Arte Mestiza’s” decline is emblematic of a larger picture, one of a dwindling number of Chicano/a/x murals because of neglect and erasure, says Martinez’s daughter, Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project Director Lucha Martinez de Luna.

“It’s very representative of overall how … (Chicano/a/x) murals have been disre garded and not considered of any type of cultural or artistic value,” she says.

But recently, Chicano/a/x murals have got ten some of the attention they need.

In May, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized Colorado’s Chicano/ a/x murals on its annual list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places.

Martinez de Luna says that’ll bring both the awareness she’s fought a years-long fight for and the possibility of grants to protect the murals.

It was the first time murals have been on the list, CMCP Education Director Nancy Ríos says.

Ríos is also program director of CC’s Mobile Arts Program and has taught courses at the college over the years. As a Hulbert-Mellon Faculty Scholar she began researching “Arte Mestiza” in 2019. She said the FAC’s talked about taking care of the mural, but it’s pulled in many directions.

“It just doesn’t get the concerted effort it really needs,” she says.

Martinez, who says he’s frustrated despite the promises, thinks the work just needs to move faster.

“There should be some urgency here — do it while I’m alive … in a few months, I’m going to be 75 years old. I’m not going to paint murals all my life,” he says. “What it might involve is just us doing it ourselves … that may be the last resort, and the only way it’s going to get done.”

TOP: Photo by Lonnie Timmons III on Aug. 9, 2022. BOTTOM: Historic photos of the mural during its creation in the 1980s.

AAC Student Leadership Scholars Announced

The Colorado College Alumni Association Council (AAC) created and supports the loan-reducing Colorado College Alumni Association Student Leadership Scholarship, designed to recognize student leaders on campus and encourage them to stay involved with CC after graduation.

Recipients of this award are well-rounded students with strong leadership qualities and a broad outreach among their class mates, the school, and the community.

Congratulations to our 2022-23 awardees!

Reign Commodore

Major:

Minor:

Libby Lazzara

Major: Psychology

Minor: Studio Art Portland, OR

Cormac McCrimmon

Major: History Hometown: Denver, CO

Alumni Leaders Meet for AAC Spring Forum

In April, members of the Colorado College Alumni Association Council visited campus for AAC Spring Forum, where they shared ideas for how to rec ognize outstanding alumni and current students, increase access to a CC educa tion, and encourage alumni to engage and participate in the life of the college. Visit www.coloradocollege.edu/alumni or email alumni@coloradocollege.edu to learn more about the AAC and find out how to get involved!

See You There! Homecoming and Family Weekend, Oct. 7-9

Colorado College’s combined Homecoming and Family Weekend is right around the corner! Visit www.coloradocollege.edu/hcfw to view the lineup of gatherings and activities for alumni, current students, parents and families, faculty, and staff to reconnect and celebrate the CC spirit. Signature events include: a Friday night hockey pre-game tailgate party; Tiger Talk presentations featuring CC faculty, alumni, and students; athletic events and musical perfor mances; Homecoming and Family Weekend Convocation and the presentation of Alumni Association Awards; affinity group receptions; a community picnic and farewell brunch; skating in Ed Robson Arena, a regional connections gathering for families; and special events for reunion classes.

Introducing the 2022 Alumni Association Award Recipients

Each year, the Colorado College Alumni Association Council recognizes the contributions of distinguished alumni, faculty members, and staff to the better ment of society and to the enhancement of the college and its mission. In 2022, the college honors the following individuals with Alumni Association awards, to be presented at Homecoming and Family Weekend Convocation:

Louis T. Benezet Award David Helms ’65

Lloyd E. Worner Award Ian Griffis

Gresham Riley Award Brian Young (In Memoriam)

Spirit of Adventure Award

Ted Coons ’51 and Sheldon Kerr ’07

For more information about each award and bios for all 2022 recipients, visit coloradocollege.edu/alumniawards

2022 Reunion Class Gift Projects

60th – Classes of 1961, 1962, and 1963

Classes of 1961, 1962, and 1963

60th Reunion Endowed Scholarship

50th – Class of 1972

Class of 1972 State of the Rockies Student Research Fellowship

45th – Class of 1977

Stroud Scholars Program Fund

40th – Class of 1981

Career Center Professional Development

40th - Class of 1982

Colorado College Mental Health Awareness Fund

35th – Class of 1987

Annual Fund for Financial Aid

30th – Class of 1992

Class of 1992 Endowed Scholarship

Make an Impact with Reunion Giving

Reunions are a time to reconnect with friends, relive memories, and experience CC today. When you and classmates come together, you can also make an impact for CC students by participating in your class’s reunion class gift project.

Class gift projects are selected by the class volunteer reunion committees. Committee members discuss what topics and areas of the college their class valued most while at CC, as well as what is most meaningful and important to them now. The project is different for every class.

Contribute to your class gift project at coloradocollege.edu/reunions

Summer Send-Offs are Back!

Over the summer, the Office of Alumni & Family Relations revived these informal events that connect incoming students and their families with the wider CC commu nity. Check out photos from all nine events at coloradocollege.edu/alumni. Stay tuned for 2023 dates and locations! ORADO COLLEGE

25th – Class of 1997

Annual Fund for Financial Aid

20th – Class of 2002

Colorado College Mutual Aid Fund

15th – Class of 2007

Annual Fund

10th – Class of 2012 Colorado College Mutual Aid Fund

5th – Class of 2017

Scholarship for Students of Color

Young Alumni

Classes of 2018-2022

Antiracism at Colorado College Fund

Planning to attend? Register by Sept. 25 at www.coloradocollege.edu/hcfw Onsite registration is also available for an additional charge.

1975 1965 Tony Visconsi and Gary Peterson celebrated their 51st year skiing together since meeting at CC. Previous classmates in the group were Dick Schulte ’75 and Arja Adair ’74. The others in the group have been skiing annually with them for more than 40 years. Standing, from left: Michael Stern P’16, Dominic Visconsi ’81, and Gary Peterson ’75. Seated, from left: John Watson P’08, Darrell Brown P’06, and Tony Visconsi ’75

1972 1979 Jim Fergus received the 2022 Frank Waters Award from the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs on June 18, 2022. Jim is an international best-selling author whose books include “One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd,” which won the 1999 Fiction of the Year Award from the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association. He divides his time between southern Arizona and France, where he also is a best-selling author.

1976

Kelvin Taketa was announced as the new chair of the Feeding America National Board of Directors. He took the reins of the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization on July 1, 2022. Kelvin earned his juris doctor degree from the University of California and eventually served as president and CEO of the Hawai’i Community Foundation for 19 years. He also helped found, and served as executive director of, the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and has been named one of the 50 most powerful and influential people in the nonprofit sector.

Carol “Annie” Petsonk was confirmed as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s assistant secre tary for aviation and international affairs in June 2022. She previously served with the Department of Justice, the United Nations, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Annie, a recognized expert on international aviation and climate change, gradu ated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in biology, earned her juris doctor from Harvard Law School in 1984, and received an honorary doctor of science degree from CC in 2004.

1980

Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democratic state senator in Lincoln, Nebraska, will run for the 1st Congressional District in November 2022.

Patty graduated from CC with a bachelor’s in political science before earning her juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law. She and her husband, Loel, are partners in a law firm, and Patty has worked for criminal justice reform and helped establish Indigenous People’s Day in Nebraska.

Members of the Class of ’65 got together in Oakland, California. From left: Peter Richards, Bud Gelini, Sue Richards, and Bob Goldman

1982

Mark Reedy ’82 and Kevin McClintock ’83 put down their rackets for a break from playing doubles on Maui, and taking on all challengers.

1987

Liz Moodie McGuffee, who earned her bachelor’s in political economy at CC, graduated with a master’s in nonprofit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania on May 16, 2022. Her very proud mother, Carol Gayle, was there to support Liz.

Shawn Benner was named interim dean of the College of Innovation and Design at Boise State University in March 2022. Shawn received his bachelor of arts in geology from CC, master of science from the University of Montana, and his doctorate, focused on hydrogeology, geochemistry, and microbiology, from the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

1988

Cheney Receives Profile in Courage Award

By Rhonda Van Pelt

Liz Cheney ’88 used the critical thinking skills she learned as a political science major in her role as vice chairwoman of the select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

For that, she received a Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

The Republican congresswoman from Wyoming was recog nized for being one of the few in her party to call foul on former President Trump’s claims of a stolen election. After voting for his impeachment, she withstood the torrent of criticism from her fellow conservatives and death threats from citizens loyal to Trump.

Her insistent calls for a peaceful transfer of power cost her a leadership position in the GOP caucus and her seat as Wyoming U.S. representative. The award citation mentions that Cheney “remains a consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy.”

When she accepted the award on May 22, 2022, Cheney spoke of her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, then 22 years old, listening to President Kennedy speak in Laramie, Wyoming, in September 1963. She spoke about how that speech influenced him and, in turn, formed her resolve to serve her country.

Among Cheney’s closing remarks: that “courage and clarity and grit” would win the battle.

1991

Glenn Dooley was appointed interim chief financial officer of CBD Global Sciences Inc. in April 2022. He is also a company director and the chief operating officer, and co-founded subsidiaries of Global NV. Glenn is co-founder/ co-owner, broker and operations manager of MAC5 Mortgage Inc. He earned a bachelor of arts in biology at CC.

1991

Nate “Chief Rocka” Warren is hard at work on his pod cast, Breakup Gaming Society, and passed 57 episodes in May 2022. The Colorado-based podcast — touted as “America’s least responsi ble board game podcast” — is devoted to board games, booze, and hip hop.

Amanda Carey was named the new president of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association in February 2022 after a nationwide search. She has been involved with NICA since 2015, previously serving as a coach and executive with various cycling and trail advocacy programs. Amanda, a champion professional mountain bike and cyclocross racer, is based in Victor, Idaho.

Nathan Swanson, a lawyer with Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry in St. Louis, saw “himself” in the NBC miniseries “The Thing About Pam,” broadcast in March and April 2022. He served on the defense team for a man wrongly convicted of killing his wife. Nathan received his bachelor’s degree in history from CC and his master’s from King’s College, London, before graduating from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

1992 Gillian Munson was appointed chief financial officer of Vimeo Inc., the company announced in April 2022. Her experience includes serving as CFO of XO Group Inc., the parent company of The Knot Inc., and as executive director and senior equity analyst at Morgan Stanley.

Joseph Moreno earned his doctorate in language, literacy, and sociocultural studies from the University of New Mexico in May 2022. His dissertation was titled, “We Are So Much Alike, but Nobody Wants to Admit It: Reactions to a Critical Bernalillo Nuevomexicano Language and Culture Curriculum.”

Christopher Benz ’07 and Kimber Felton ’91 celebrated passing the tough, month-long wilderness emer gency medical technician course through the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming.

2007 Lindsay McQuiston has been hired as assistant principal at Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Washington. She was assistant principal at Prairie High School in Vancouver, Washington, where she began teaching math in 2012. Lindsay has also taught in Puerto Rico, Spain, and Oregon. She received her Master of Arts in teaching secondary mathematics from CC.

Erika Gebhardt, managing partner and owner at GEM Family Law, was named a winner in the Denver Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40 Awards program. She graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and is one of the leading experts on children’s legal issues in the state of Colorado.

Joanie Choremi’s 2011 classmates helped her celebrate her wedding to Ben Goldfarb at the Coral Beach and Tennis Club in Bermuda on June 11, 2022. Standing, from left: Jamie Mauk, Charlotte Hardie, Paige Conklin Pepper, Natch Quinn, Joanie, Ben Cronin, Hannah Thompson, Dru Davis, and Carola Lovering Crane. Kneeling, from left: Sam Barnard, Maggie Seay, Claire Preston, Amelia Russo, and Julia Livick.

2012 Capt. Michael Wolff received the Distinguished Flying Cross at a May 25, 2022, ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. Despite losing two of four engines in a midair collision with a Marine Corps jet in 2020, Michael safely landed his KC-130J tanker in a field with the help of six crew members and his co-pilot.

Basil Kincaid, who graduated with a con centration in studio art, displayed his work at Miami’s Mindy Solomon Gallery in May 2022. The exhibit, “All in One Feeling,” was Basil’s first solo show. He moved to Ghana in 2020 and worked with embroiderers there to complete the sculptural fabric forms he designed. In 2014-15, he was the first recipient of the Arts Connect International artist in residence program.

Four CC alumni ran into each other on the summit of Mount St. Helens, Washington, in Spring 2022. They skied down together and had a blast. From left: Jed Doane ’14. Mike Curran ’13, Nicki Naylor ’13, and Amos Adams ’15

2016

Vanessa Voller, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and College of Education and Human Development, has been awarded a Fulbright grant for the 2022-2023 academic year. She will study sexuality educa tion and adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in rural municipalities in Bolivia and Costa Rica. This builds on her undergraduate thesis work with Eric Carter, sociology professor, and Kris Stanec, education fellow. Vanessa plans to attend medical school and practice in Latin America.

2016

Abby Mietchen Allen and her husband, Luke, welcomed Sophie Louise on May 12, 2022. The Allens, including big brother Will, live in Salt Lake City.

Judy Lynne Fisher, who majored in Feminist & Gender Studies at CC, won a Fulbright Award. The doctoral student in the American Studies program at Purdue University is researching her dissertation, “German Indianthusiasm and Settler Colonialism: German Perceptions of ‘Indians.’” Her work with Dr. Santiago Ivan Guerra, director and associate professor of Southwest Studies, and participation in “Hidden Spaces, Hidden Narratives: Intersectionality Studies in Berlin” inspired her project.

CooXooEii Black, who was on the Creative Writing-Poetry track while earning his bachelor’s in English, has won the Rattle Chapbook Contest for Poetry. He will receive $5,000 for his collection, titled “The Morning You Saw a Train of Stars Streaking Across the Sky,” to be published in winter 2022. Black is pursuing an MFA in creative writing at the University of Memphis and is poetry lead editor for The Pinch Journal.

2021

Parker Kerth was profiled on the AgeGrouper website in April 2022, talking about his determination to skip the party scene while at CC to avoid a family predis position toward alcohol abuse. Instead, he commit ted to endurance sports; currently, he focuses on triath lon and is thinking about turning professional.

2022 Isabel Hicks has joined the Bozeman Daily Chronicle to write about the future of agriculture in southwest Montana. Isabel, who graduated with a degree in envi ronmental studies, is a Report for America corps member. The national service program of The GroundTruth Project, a nonprofit journalism organization, places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Obituaries

Geraldine Patterson passed away April 20, 2022, surrounded by her loving family, which included five children and six grandchil dren. The Colorado Springs native pledged Gamma Phi Beta while at CC. Gerry was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed yoga, travel, and the mountains.

Marguerite Rueter Wagar died April 6, 2022. She attended CC for two years, and married John Wagar in 1946. Marguerite volunteered at Penrose Community Hospital in Colorado Springs for 33 years. She is survived by two sons and two granddaughters. Her husband and one son preceded her in death.

Peggy Sinclair Allen passed away April 22, 2022, in Ordway, Colorado. Peggy’s love of children and teaching led her to a degree in primary education at CC, where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma. She and her husband, Eelan, raised four daughters and retired in 1980 so they could travel. Peggy is survived by two daughters, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

Lois Schiager Ekeren Rand died May 24, 2022, in Apple Valley, Minnesota. She earned her bachelor’s in music and became minister of music at First Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Lois also was a teacher, writer, and music conductor, and legislative rep resentative for the Illinois Education Association. In 2004, the AmericaNorway Heritage Fund named her Norwegian American of the Year. Survivors include her daughter, son, and nine grandchildren.

Dr. Bert Duane Johnson died May 8, 2022, in Los Gatos, California. At 17, he lied about his age to join the Navy during World War II; he was in flight school when the war ended. Bert graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine and established a women’s medical clinic. He was the first head of obstetrics/gynecology at Good Samaritan Hospital and, after retiring, returned to Stanford as a professor. Bert is survived by four children, six grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Phyllis Raymond Krenn passed away May 23, 2022, in Haverhill, Massachusetts. A member of Phi

Beta Kappa, she earned a bachelor’s in chemistry before receiving her master’s in physical chemistry at the University of Michigan, where she was also a teaching fellow. Phyllis taught high school chemistry before joining GTE Sylvania as an engineer in the technical assistance labs. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; survivors include three daughters and one son.

Thomas Wilcoxon Dickson passed away unexpectedly Jan. 3, 2022, in Santa Barbara, California. At CC, he pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Tom and Pat, his wife of 63 years, loved to camp in their RV, fishing for trout in streams as they traveled. He is also survived by three chil dren and three grandchildren.

Vera Lewis Marine died March 21, 2022, in Altadena, California. She met her future husband, James Buchanan Marine, during a social event at her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house. Vera remained active in sorority leadership roles throughout her life. She and Jim married in 1948 and moved to Scarsdale, New York, where they started their family. Survivors include daughters Julia Leshay ’77 and Helen Law ’88.

Barbra Harvey Esden Barnes died May 8, 2022, in Phoenix. Barbra married John Esden in 1952, but after he died just seven months later, she returned to CC to finish her degree in English. She found love again with Duane Barnes and they had four children. Barbra was a force of nature, with a quick wit and strong convictions. Survivors include her son, Bruce Barnes ’79; and her grand daughter, Quinn de la Concepcion ’12.

Frederic Froelicher passed away Feb. 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, Fred attended CC on the G.I. Bill. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at CC, then a master’s from Shippensburg State College in Pennsylvania. He is sur vived by his wife, Mary Froelicher; five children; and grandchildren including Kathryn Reichard ’12.

Howard Chapin Shaw Jr. passed away May 26, 2022, in Colorado Springs. After graduating with his bachelor’s in English, Chip was in the life insurance business for 41 years. Among other honors, he earned the Colorado Springs Life Underwriters Distinguished Service

Award in 1989. Chip also served as director of the Pikes Peak Boys and Girls Club and with Crossfire Ministries. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Shaw; two sons and their mother; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Charles McCormack died April 28, 2022, in Sebastopol, California. He studied political science, earn ing his bachelor’s from CC and a master’s from the University of California, Los Angeles. After retiring as a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Chuck worked in municipal administration. He loved music, hosting friends and family at the home he designed and built, and traveling the world with Inga, his wife of 50 years.

James Clarence Braye died Dec. 21, 2021, in Wilmington, North Carolina. After earning his bache lor’s in education at CC, Jim received a master’s in counseling at Virginia State University. He studied voice and sang in choirs throughout his life. Jim retired as a lieutenant colonel after 20 years in the U.S. Army. Survivors include Lydia, his wife of 69 years; three children; several grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his sons, Michael Braye ’75 and Roderick Braye.

Charles Hobden died April 22, 2022, in Colorado Springs, where he was born. He earned his bachelor’s in psychology and became a teacher in Colorado Springs, the Denver area, and California’s Bay area. Charles loved kayaking, biking, and hiking, and took generations of students on field trips into the mountains. He was deeply commit ted to his faith. Charles is survived by two children; five grandchildren; and four siblings.

Georgiann Thomas Rapp passed away May 11, 2022, in Lexington, Nebraska. She graduated from CC with a bachelor’s in education and, in 1986, earned her master’s in spe cial education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Georgiann and her husband, Robert, moved to a ranch southeast of Colorado Springs, where she taught in a one-room school and helped raise cattle. She is survived by two chil dren; three grandchildren; and the many students she loved during her 40-plus years of teaching.

Anthony Gabriel Johnson passed away April 28, 2022, in Fort Collins, Colorado. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in education. Anthony was an elementary school teacher for 30 years in Colorado Springs School District 11. He was preceded in death by his wife, Aleta.

Nancy Booth Barber died April 28, 2022, in Springfield, Illinois. For many years, she worked in the insurance and finance fields before retiring from Davis Financial Group. Nancy was an active volunteer, loving mother, and devoted grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; and is survived by two children and two grandchildren.

Robert W. Pickard passed away Oct. 9, 2021, surrounded by family in Bonita Springs, Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree in geology and business, and went on to a career in the life insurance industry; he was nationally recognized for his achievements. Bob is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 44 years; one son; four daughters; and 14 grandchildren.

Dale McNeal died May 8, 2022, in Stockton, California, where he taught botany at the University of the Pacific from 1969 until retiring in 2002. Dale received his master’s in forestry from Syracuse University and his doctorate in bot any at Washington State University. He was internationally known for discovery of three new species in the genus Allium, and was one of the first scientists allowed into the Soviet Union during the Cold War. He is survived by his wife, Arlene.

Connie Windle Strasburger died Feb. 12, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona. She earned her bachelor’s in English and pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma. Connie was married to Ron Strasburger ’62, who survives, for more than 59 years. They had three children and nine grandchil dren. Connie will be remembered for being the consummate hostess, her grace, playfulness, endearing stubbornness, creativity, strength, inquisitive mind, and sharp mem ory, but most of all, for her love.

John “Hank” Van Arsdale passed away May 27, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. He pledged Phi Delta Theta at CC. Hank was a busi nessman and a commissioner for USA Volleyball’s Heart of America Region. He was president of the Armour Fields Homes Association Board at the time of his death. Survivors include Bernie, his wife of almost 58 years; two children; and five grandchildren.

Samuel Arentz III passed away on April 5, 2022. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and attended graduate school at The Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, earning his engi neering degree. Most of Sam’s career was spent as an independent con sultant, evaluating and managing mineral properties. He and his fam ily established the Arentz Center for Student Success at UNR to honor his father and grandfather and Sam cre ated the Arentz Family Scholarship for Junior or Senior Year Science Majors at CC. He was honored as one of the Distinguished Alumni of the Year by the College of Science, Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering in October 2013. Sam is survived by his son, Chris; his daughter, Kit; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and four siblings, including Dr. Susan Arentz Matthies ’64. His wife, Trudie, and son, Cary, preceded him in death.

Mary Ann Bishop Heagerty passed away May 1, 2022, after a coura geous battle with cancer. Mary Ann earned her bachelor’s in sociology at CC and became a public school teacher and volunteer tutor. She enjoyed nature walks and put her heart and soul into being a home maker. Survivors include her hus band, Daniel; two sons; and a sister.

Gordon McNutt passed away peacefully May 24, 2022, after fight ing multiple myeloma and conges tive heart failure. He pledged Kappa Sigma at CC before completing his business degree at the University of Austin. “Gordo” earned his mas ter’s in business administration at Northwestern University and had a successful real estate career. Survivors include Kay Martin McNutt, his wife of more than 38 years; two children; and extended family throughout the country.

David Bull passed on April 17, 2022, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. After

earning a degree in sociology at CC, he served in the Vietnam War; he earned medals including the Purple Heart. Through the ups and downs of life, David always made it a good time. He is survived by two children; three grandchildren; and his loyal partner, Patricia Tefft.

Adolph Otterstein III passed peacefully at home on April 23, 2022. Ottie played football for the Tigers and was Kappa Sigma president while earning his bach elor’s in business. He returned to Pueblo, Colorado, to lead the family business, Otterstein & Co. Coors Distributorship. Ottie was an active advocate for the arts and the community for many years. He is survived by his wife, Karen; two daughters; and six grandchildren.

Leslie Baird died June 5, 2021, of a heart attack on a tennis court near his Colorado Springs home. Les earned a bachelor’s degree in art, then master’s degrees in drama and dance. He enjoyed couch-surfing and had done so in more than 50 countries. Les is survived by his longtime part ner, Sue Lauther; and his daughter, stepmother, and two sisters. His father, J. Julius Baird, was the CC organ instructor from 1954 to 1983.

Eliot Field died May 26, 2022, at his home on a hilltop in Dresden, Maine. After earning his psychology degree at CC, he studied law at the Boston University School of Law. There, he met Catherine “Taffy” Fisher and they married in 1973. Eliot served as attorney for several Maine cities before going into private practice and sharing his legal expertise through volunteer work. He is survived by his wife; two children; his sisters; and a gaggle of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Richard Forrest lost his life Jan. 11, 2022, at a Colorado Springs hos pital. He graduated with a double major in theology and geology, and earned a master’s in geology. Rich was an active geologist in many states and in South America. He and his first wife, Jan, raised elk on a ranch in Del Norte, Colorado. Rich is survived by his wife, Sandy; two daughters; two stepdaughters; and four grandchildren.

Richard Kendrick passed away Dec. 5, 2021, in Easton, Pennsylvania, after a long illness. His mother, Ruth Ford Kendrick, taught math at CC

and his father, Richard Sr., headed the CC physical plant. Dick earned his bachelor’s degree in economics, but pursued theatre after gradua tion. He met Polly Mikkelson while earning his master’s in theatre at the University of Northern Colorado; they married and began working in the CC Drama Department in 1974. He was an assistant professor and she was a costume designer.

James Campbell Price passed away April 18, 2022. He earned his bache lor’s in business administration and received his master’s and doctor ate in education at Wichita State University. Jim graduated from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at CC and retired from the Army as a brigadier general. He taught math for 34 years in Kansas. Jim’s survivors include his son, Justin Campbell Price ’00.

Dr. Bruce Neumann passed away Oct. 13, 2021, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He completed medical school at the University of Minnesota and became board-cer tified in emergency and family medicine. His entire medical career was spent in his beloved Colorado mountains. Bruce is survived by his wife, Kat; and his sister, Barbara Neumann Saint-Amour ’73.

John Geocaris bid farewell on March 23, 2022, at his home in Denver. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science, then earned his juris doctor from the University of Denver and practiced law in the city. After guiding his family business in Chicago to great success, John semi-retired and consulted with young entrepreneurs to empower them to impact the world. He is survived by his wife, Monica; two children; and two granddaughters.

Cynthia Swanson died May 1, 2022, at her Florida home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. After attending CC, Cynthia graduated from the University of Minnesota. Her college courses in computer programming and statistics led to a long career analyzing media and market research data. Cynthia and her significant other, Paul Kurzeka, loved to see the world. Survivors also include two children and three grandchildren.

Carol deBerniere Whitaker passed peacefully at her Denver home on May 19, 2022, after

battling pancreatic cancer. She earned her bachelor’s in econom ics before receiving a master’s in business administration at the University of Chicago. Carol helped pave the way for other women working in the male-dominated field of investment banking and was an acclaimed artist, downhill skier, and a Cordon Bleu-certified cook.

Michael Scott Dilger passed away peacefully Feb. 11, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and was a retired health care executive and generous community member. He is survived by his wife, Suzete de Souza Dilger ’77; two children; four grandchil dren; and many nieces and nephews.

Kelly Dean Kirks died unex pectedly Feb. 8, 2022, at home in Dolores, Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s in business admin istration at CC, where he played soccer, and worked as a mechanical engineer for more than 20 years. Survivors include his son, Max; and a sister and brother.

Mary Louise Burns passed away June 16, 2022, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s. After she and her husband, Joseph, raised their children, she earned her bachelor’s in religion at CC. Mary Lou loved late-night laughfests and adventures with her family. Survivors include five children; 19 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

James Spencer Grossman died May 30, 2022, on his way to one of his most beloved places: the South Fork of Idaho’s Salmon River. Jim was an outdoorsman, photographer, conservationist, philanthropist, town-founding visionary, teacher, father, son, brother, and husband. Above all, he was a man with a ton of heart who inspired everyone to be more open and free every day. Survivors include his wife, Shannon; his children, Buey and Saba; and their mother, Pirie.

Hank Bedingfield died on the CC campus on May 20, 2022. He was a rugby-playing philosophy major who engaged others in what brought him joy. He worked on the Catalyst and Leviathan, and belonged to Kappa Sigma and the Carnivore Club. Hank cared deeply

for the people in his life and they cared deeply for him. He is survived by his parents, Ellen Slipp and Jerry Bedingfield; his brother, William; and his sister, Tess.

Daniel Cortes died April 28, 2022, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was majoring in music and religion and was named a Bonner Fellow in 2018. He will be remembered for his warm smile, brilliant mind, and devotion to social justice. Daniel dreamed of sharing his poetry and music with the world. His sister Daisy has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise donations for Daniel’s favorite causes.

In Memoriam

Jean Ann Criswell Krebs Youngman passed away May 20, 2022, with family at her bedside. She was an administrative assis tant in the Registrar’s Office for 33 years. Jean is survived by three children, including Karen Krebs Bedee ’84; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Aaron James Peterson, grounds operation specialist in Facilities and former groundskeeper, died April 23, 2022. During his seven years at CC, Aaron’s dedication and pride in his work was evident, and he instilled that in his younger colleagues. Survivors include his wife, Mariah; daughters Aanya Peterson-Parker and Avayah Smith; and his mother, Kimberley Reese of Campus Activities.

Jeff Watters, a Facilities groundskeeper, died at home April 16, 2022, of stage 4 cancer. He served the CC community for 25 years and knew every inch of the campus. He savored sunrises on Shove Chapel and captured them through photog raphy. His wife, Gillian Chadwick, predeceased him in 2016; his son, Leif Chadwick, survives.

Merril Boruchin Spielman died Jan. 3, 2022, after a brief illness. She was a CC Campus Safety officer from 2019 to 2021. She was dedicated to her work and created a culture of safety. Merril retired from Colorado Springs School District 11 after 30 years of teaching. She was deeply rooted in Colorado, but indulged her curious spirit with world travel and teaching English overseas. She is survived by her daughter, Shira Spielman.

Board of Trustees member Frieda Ekotto ’86 on April 9, 2022 in Tutt Alumni House.

Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

UNTOLD STORIES

FRIEDA EKOTTO ’86

By Anna Squires ’17

Frieda Ekotto ’86 was the first African woman to graduate from Colorado College. She is an intellectual force in French and Francophone studies; a renowned novelist; and a literary critic. She heads the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan, and she speaks and has pub lished in four different languages. But it wasn’t always this way.

Ekotto, who was born in Cameroon and grew up in Switzerland, was a citizen of the world by her late teens. She moved from Europe to the U.S. to attend high school as a nontraditional student, where she meant to learn English. But her studies weren’t going well and she felt lost. Then, while ski ing, she met two CC professors — Harvey and Marcelle Rabbin — who asked her to apply to Colorado College. They helped her with the application to earn a fellowship, and Ekotto enrolled in classes in 1983.

Ekotto grew up surrounded by books, art, and music, which were all the tools she needed to express herself. But when she began her career at CC, she faced a deep and abiding challenge: to learn English fast enough to keep up with her coursework. She says it was Harvey and Marcelle who helped her to stay the course. The Rabbins took her under their wing, treating her like a surrogate daughter. Marcelle, who was born in France, taught Ekotto in both French and English. When Ekotto grew overwhelmed, she would walk to their house down the street and knock on the

door. They would walk the dog together or eat dinner. The Rabbins were lifelines, making sure she was cared for each day. Above all, Harvey stressed, was the need for Ekotto to discover her voice: to find the language to speak about her own self.

After graduating in 1986, Ekotto went on to earn a Ph.D. in French and Comparative Literature from the University of Minnesota. She then began teaching in 1994 at the University of Michigan. Throughout a sto ried career spanning academic and creative works, she has never left the university. In 2014, she became the first African woman to lead the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, and was awarded a Collegiate Professorship, one of the highest faculty honors given by the university.

Both her academic and fiction writing are indelibly shaped by her upbringing. Ekotto’s scholarly works examine issues of race and inequality, as well as film and literature in the Francophone world. Many of Ekotto’s novels focus on gender and sexuality in sub-Saharan Africa. Language, identity, and expression are throughlines in her work. Whether in fictional or academic writing, Ekotto says she is fascinated by the power that language has to confine or liberate how a person can express their self through lan guage or be denied that expression.

Harvey and Marcelle retired to France, and Ekotto stayed in touch with them, often walking through Paris with Harvey as they discussed her career. His mentorship, too,

has left an indelible mark on her life. Today, as she teaches students, Ekotto passes on Harvey’s most important lesson. She asks them to find their own voice: their contribution to the discourse, and their unique ability to create a better and more peaceful world.

In 2023, Ekotto will embark on a new adventure. She will become the president of the Modern Language Association of America, a leading advocate for strength ening the study and teaching of languages and literature, where she will serve a oneyear term. She continues to travel, making her home across the world, and to offer the same mentorship Harvey Rabbin gave her to her students.

Above all, Ekotto says she hopes to give back to Colorado College, the institution that shaped her — that taught her courage, humility, and how to speak her own truth into the world, no matter which language she chooses.

Margaret & Paul Liu

Siblings Margaret Liu ’77 and Paul Liu ’81 interviewed each other while at Colorado College for the 2022 Commencement cere mony, where Margaret served as Commencement speaker. Margaret, a Boettcher Scholar who majored in chemistry, attended Harvard Medical School and consults for several global health organizations, including the World Health Organization. Her pioneering research, starting 30 years ago, earned her the title, “the mother of DNA vaccines.”

Paul Liu serves as chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Lifespan, the major hospital system for Brown University, and as a full professor of surgery there. After graduating from Colorado College with a degree in mathematics, Paul went on to study philosophy and physiology at the University College Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. He then attended Harvard Medical School and spent nine years training in general, plastic, and reconstructive surgery.

MARGARET LIU, AS INTERVIEWED BY PAUL LIU

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

The fragmentation of society.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO VISIT? The moon or Mars.

WHAT TALENT DO YOU HAVE THAT FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT? An incredible sense of smell.

WHAT DID IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AT THE 2022 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY? Super honored, but also terrified.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS YEAR’S GRADUATES?

Everyone usually talks about dreaming big and the focus is on accomplishing a lot. I realized how it’s really a lot of little, small things. Daily decisions, small actions, being snippy at somebody or being kind, that, in fact, really are what our legacies are.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BLOCK BREAK?

One block break, several of us were staying at a place with horses, and we each had our own. It was like a dream because you could gallop the horses and you took care of them, and we were in this beautiful scenery. I’m not much of a horse rider, but I could ride well enough that it was one of the most awesome experiences because of the sense of freedom and the animals and being out in nature.

PAUL LIU, AS INTERVIEWED BY MARGARET LIU

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT? Being a husband and a dad.

WHICH PERSON, LIVING OR DEAD, DO YOU ADMIRE MOST? Jesus Christ

WHAT’S A HARD LESSON YOU LEARNED AS A STUDENT ATTENDING CC?

You are no longer the best at stuff. You are going to really have to apply yourself in order to learn here.

WHAT DO YOU THINK CC DOES BEST?

It prepares students for life in the real world. It prepares you to think and to apply principles of learning across a wide spectrum of opportunities, and to tailor those, to take hold of them, and to have the confidence to apply them for your particular area.

YOU WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE CC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AS THE 2016 BENEZET AWARD WINNER. WHAT DOES THAT HONOR MEAN TO YOU?

It was incredibly meaningful to me to feel that somehow something I had done warranted recognition on behalf of this school that is such a great place, prepared us well for our future careers. But then to say, “Hey, they’d like to give you this award thing,” it was very significant. I was very touched. It was incredibly meaningful for me.

Margaret Liu ’77 and Paul Liu ’81 interview each other on May 22, 2022. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

WHEN WE COME TOGETHER…

… OUR COLLECTIVE GENEROSITY HELPS CC STUDENTS THRIVE

At Colorado College, students are surrounded by a network of support from the moment they arrive on campus. From friends and classmates who look out for each other, to staff focused on student wellbeing; from faculty who inspire and engage, to alumni who offer connections and mentorship. It takes a community to help our students thrive.

You are an important part of this community. When you give to the Annual Fund, you help ensure all students have access to the unique opportunities and experiences the Block Plan makes possible — and you equip CC with the resources to innovate while remaining completely one-of-a-kind.

Your gift supports…

ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY

Ensuring that promising students of all socio economic backgrounds have the opportunity to attend CC — and once here, have the resources to maximize their CC experience

FACULTY SUPPORT AND STUDENT-FACULTY RESEARCH

Attracting and retaining world-class professors, funding academic department projects, and supporting collaborative research and field study for faculty and students

STUDENT SUCCESS AND WELLBEING

Staff and programs that help students develop holistically in and outside of the classroom, including academic and career support, community-building, counseling, and mental health resources

Thank you for being a part of our community, and for considering a gift to the Annual Fund. Visit coloradocollege.edu/give to make an impact on CC students today.

Introduction to Multi-Ethnic Literature class with English Professor Aline Lo is held on Tava Quad on Sept. 27, 2021. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

End Scene

Eden Eaves ’22 connects with Jimmy, an off-the-track thoroughbred horse who raced for about six years, during Assistant Professor and Director of the Italian Program Amanda Minervini’s summer session course on an Equine-Guided Experience on Aug. 8, 2022. The goal of the experience is to teach students gen eral focus and awareness. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III