Menlo College Magazine: Winter 2024

A Hands-On Educational Experience in a Global Community

WINTER 2024

The People of Our Menlo Community Bring Many Perspectives to Campus

Menlo as a Global Community The heart of this issue is the touching, thought-provoking stories that students and faculty have told us about awakening to the international community and reflecting on their own roots.

As we developed this issue, we looked at the ways our students and faculty see themselves as global citizens in a fast-changing world that has the potential for great destruction and great good. Through surveys and interviews, we asked them how they see themselves participating in a world where they can just as easily talk to someone in Cyprus or Oslo as they can email a neighbor in Palo Alto.

What we learned is that members of the Menlo Community are wonderful storytellers. They have described the confusions and delights of meeting people very different from themselves. In the article “Students as Global Citizens,” Alan Cruz ’26 says, “When I’m with my teammates it always baffles me to note the striking similarities in forms of conversation and fluctuations of the voice to emphasize, question, and challenge. On the men’s soccer team we have people from Switzerland, Norway, Mexican heritage, and English, even a couple of Americans.”

Read more student views in “Study Abroad, A Two-Way Street” (page 17) and hear from our alumni, such as Amr M. Khashoggi ’77 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who explains that meeting people from all over the world “enabled me in later life to move in and out of these cultures with comfort and ease.”

Knowing where we’re going often requires a deep understanding of where we’re from. We asked students about their hometowns and they told us about the ways they have come to understand their origins by rubbing shoulders with people who grew up in very different circumstances, from Lahaina to Hong Kong to foster homes in Kentucky.

At the opening ceremony of the Public Speaking Center in September 2023 (see page 19), the founding donor of the center, John Pritzker ’76, emphasized that in a world of many distractions, speakers must engage an audience with their authentic selves. A member of the audience reflected, “Storytelling can humanize the speaker, making them more approachable and trustworthy in the eyes of the audience.”

In this issue, we offer dozens of speakers who are approachable and will speak their truths in a difficult, sometimes bewildering, beautiful world.

—Chief Editor Pamela Gullard and Senior Editor Jeffrey Erickson, Ph.D. Facing page from top left: Rufus K. Pappy, Leshi Chen, Paolo Nogoy, Malia Johnson, Kylie Hosea, Jalen Arceo, Lakiba Pittman, George Retelas, Dheryl Guerrero-Sy, Nenotte Aminata Seck, Theo Lefin Anaya, Cristine Rabago, Jennifer Pfaefflin, Dima Leshchinskii, Jessica Loi, Luca Benseghir, Brian Velazquez Arrendondo, Livia Harper, Richard Kiel, LaShonda Kennedy.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Pamela Gullard SENIOR EDITOR Jeffrey Erickson, Ph.D. ASSISTANT EDITOR Tricia Soto

M E N LO CO LLEG E M AG A ZI N E | W I NTE R 2024

In this issue on the theme of Menlo as a global community, we have asked students, faculty and alumni about the ways they have developed their place on our diverse campus and in the world.

They have responded with profound, funny, and insightful stories about meeting different people and learning from them.

The AI Conversation Continues 2 Letters to the Editor 3 AI and Psychology 4 Governments Respond to AIs

Student Life 25 OAKtoberFest 2023!

30 Menlo Trades Best 33 Interns Experience Careers

Your Place as a Global Citizen 1 Message from President Weiner 5 Inclusive Global Learning 7 You Can Hear Diversity 11 No Place Like Home 15 Lāhainā Grown 17 Studying Abroad 23 International Alumni

Alumni 21 41

Family Ties Menlo Style In Memoriam

Athletics 35 36 37 39

NCAA! New Tennis Courts Soccer Team at Nationals!

Fall 2023 Sports

Faculty and Classroom 13 When You are an Oak 19 Public Speaking Center 27 Faculty News 31 First Graduate Program 32 Anne Linvill Retires Left: Registration Day

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR George Retelas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jocylen Ashton Erik Bakke Drew Barton Zack Bryant Devin Carr Leshi Chen ’24 Jeffrey Erickson Ratbek Erkinbekov ’24 Nalani Kai Kirkman ’26 Jessica Nguyen Sonia Tahereh Saheb Christopher Simpson Mary-Ann Swan ’25 Goolrukh A. Vakil Steven Weiner DESIGN Marsha Gilbert PHOTOGRAPHY Brian Byllesby/OaksSports.com Crystal Cebedo ’20 Melisa Ibrahimovic ’25 Paolo Nogoy ’21 SeungHyun Park ’25 George Retelas PRESIDENT OF MENLO COLLEGE Steven Weiner CHAIR OF THE BOARD Micah Ka-ne ’91 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Thomas (Tom) Byers Alma Clayton-Pedersen Howard (Howie) Dallmar ‘74 James (Jim) Davlin Chris Garrett ‘94 Joe Hurd David Irmer, Sr. ’58 Kathryn (Kathy) Jackson Helene Kim Jordan Long ’09 Larry Lopez ’84 Roxane Marenberg Zoanne Nelson Colin O‘Malley Aaron Santillan ‘03 Roger Smith Fran Schulz ’85 Benjamin (Ben) Wagner EMERITI TRUSTEES Andrea (Andy) Cunningham John Henry Felix ’49 Julie Filizetti J. Michael (Mike) Gullard Charles (Chop) Keenan III ’66 T. Geir Ramleth ’87

Menlo College Magazine, published by the Menlo College Office of the President, brings news of the College and its community to alumni, parents, and friends. 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton, California 94027-4301 Tele: 800-55MENLO, editor@menlo.edu, www.menlo.edu

From the President The last issue of our magazine featured the independent and sometimes opposing perspectives of students and faculty on the artificial intelligence revolution. In this issue, we celebrate the fact that our College has so many different voices discussing the issues of the day.

We are a multi-cultural campus with a global reach, a quality that gives us enormous strength.

Mark Twain said that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” Travel can indeed be a powerful tool for broadening perspectives, but it’s not the only way to achieve that goal. Meaningful interactions and curiosity can also contribute to building tolerance and understanding, and we set the stage for that at Menlo College by drawing people to our campus who come from around the globe, from all walks of life.

This year, Menlo students represent 44 different countries and 22 different states in the U.S. Every one of our 840 students brings a unique set of life experiences to our community. For some, those experiences include exposure to a wealth of cultural and ethnic diversity; the experience of others may be typified by ethnic homogeneity. Navigating a culturally diverse environment is not always easy—whatever your background, whatever your age—but the process offers invaluable lessons about ourselves, about foreign affairs, and it even brings new holidays and new cuisines to campus.

I learned the truth of that as a college student myself.

My most enlightening relationships were those I had with friends from Portugal, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and elsewhere. They gave me insights about the cultural history and politics of their countries, and perhaps most intriguing to a perpetually hungry college student, their cuisines! Many weekends, several of us would crowd into Seth’s Ford station wagon or George’s Saab to drive from Boston to Truro, a small town on Cape Cod that, along with nearby Provincetown, was one of the first places where Portuguese immigrants settled in the U.S. We would crowd into the seaside cottage owned by a relative of my friend from Portugal, where I was exposed to bacalhau, sardinhas, and pastel de nata. In my junior year, I shared an apartment with my friend from Hong Kong, whose mother sent him monthly care packages of dried food items. I marveled at the shapes of the dried 1 WINTER 2024

seafood and dried mushrooms, most of which were completely unrecognizable to me.

Those experiences took place decades ago, but they instilled in me the value of being a student of cultural and ethnic diversity. I treasure all that I’ve learned from Menlo students and alumni from around the world.

Thanks to the tolerant tutelage of those from Hawai’i and neighboring Pacific Islands, I can even say ono grinds (delicious food) and a hui hou (until we meet again). I particularly like that last phrase, as it holds such wonderful promise.

The 20th century educator and author Stephen Covey said that “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”

The question we at the College invariably pose to prospective students and employees alike is, “Can you picture your future here, among such a diverse community?” I responded positively to that question when it was first posed to me eleven years ago, and if asked that question today, there would be no doubt in my mind. Yes. Steven Weiner President

Letters to the

EDITOR

In the last issue of Menlo College Magazine, “ChatGPT, Social Media, and Me,” we looked at the artificial intelligence revolution sweeping through every field and asked professors, students and others how it affected them. The response to that issue was overwhelming.

One Menlo College Board member expressed his eagerness to learn more about AI, saying, “This is a BIG subject, and one I, unfortunately, have little knowledge of. What I read is what I know, but that will change as the AI world begins to encroach upon my analog life.”

Many thanked our editorial team for tackling the subject of AI so early in the revolution. Laura Koo, Chief Advancement Officer, remarked, “This particular edition was a huge hit at the Town of Atherton Centennial last Sunday. As soon as folks heard about the focus on AI and digital media their eyes lit up. Before we knew it, our Menlo College booth ran out of issues!”

Many thanks to all who responded, especially David J. Sperry SBA ’61, who wrote: I’ve now just finished reading our Menlo Magazine Summer 2023 edition—truly great! And it didn’t take me hours to read—just DAYS of fun in-depth analysis—back & forth noting all the numerous Menlo pictures/stories.

First the humorous cover. How I remember those “I am not a Robot” verifications I had to make.

Re: AI, the current and so serious theme of this edition. Many thanks to ALL of the Menlo faculty for providing their commentary on the subject. And also thanks go out to the critical Menlo students’ take on AI. In the past few weeks I too have been thinking of the good/bad repercussions for me and my kids, and grandkids of AI and social media now in the news. Very timely.

Your two in-depth written presentations, first on the current state of Menlo regarding ChatGPT today, and then on your Commencement Day reflections, were truly noteworthy. Many thanks.

So much for me to think about, such as the telling stories from Menlo professors—one from professor Dinkar Jain, former head of AI for Facebook, in his discussion with Menlo Magazine editor Pamela Gullard about the future of AI, another about ChatGPT by Jonathan Reichental, and another about how to encrypt your email by Michael Habeeb.

I enjoyed the article on social media by Jeffrey Erickson, and “Which is Art?” by Erik Bakke, and the ChatGPT survey from Tricia Soto and students, plus some interesting responses to Biz School Dean Sidaoui and Dean Michelson from the Menlo faculty about ChatGPT. Well done!

David J. Sperry ’61 Sacramento, CA

And the “I’m not a Robot” Contents page was outstanding.

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In the Summer 2023 issue of Menlo College Magazine, we explored the impact of ChatGPT and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms on our students and faculty. Many thanks to all our readers who responded with their thoughts about how this AI revolution is changing the ways we live, study, and do business.

We are pleased to offer more reflections from two of our faculty members looking at AI in their fields, Dr. Goolrukh Vakil and Dr. Sonia Tahereh Saheb. May the conversation continue . . . .

In Psychology, AI is Here to Stay—Should It?

By Goolrukh A. Vakil, PhD, Assistant Professor, Psychology Artificial Intelligence (AI) is galloping forward in all professions and some are hailing it as a potential panacea for humanity. AI makes therapy more accessible and less expensive and several models are already in the market. What are the pros and cons of its use in psychotherapy?

Besides a variety of formats such as couple and family therapy, psychotherapy can be divided into two branches: psychoanalytic or “talk therapy” and its many branches collectively called psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The former originated from Freudian concepts that deal with inner “conflicts” and past trauma. Change comes from a client’s insight due to the therapist’s indirect interventions. Therapy may take years, must be tailored to an individual personality, and is highly nuanced in therapist-client interaction. On the other hand, CBT offers a “behavioral” technique focusing on the here-and-now in changing the client’s thinking and behavior with specific homework instructed by the therapist. It is time-limited and, because the results are experimentally measurable, is favored as more credible by insurance companies and many clients.

It is apparent that an AI algorithm could answer patient questions, ostensibly effectively, in CBT. However, we could question if there is a place for AI in psychodynamic therapy where it has been shown that success is in the human connection (“therapeutic alliance”) between therapist and client. Active research is in progress on continued use of AI for delivering all models of psychotherapy. In the forefront is the use of AI to help answer client questions in-between sessions (reducing therapist time and providing superficial solutions that may work for some issues and personalities).

Zara Abrams, in “Ready or not, AI is here” (Monitor on Psychology, 54(5), pp 48-53), suggests research on the following questions.

Who is programming the software that enables AI to answer a client? What are the safeguards against bias in that programming?

Do clients fully understand that they are interfacing with a robot? Overall, how can good AI psychology programs be created considering the lack of context during AI-client interactions, the lack of real-life experience from a live therapist, and the inability of a robot to catch human nuances?

I am reminded of clients who are comforted by just a bit of personal support and understanding during a suicidal ideation inbetween sessions. In the final analysis: Can a therapist risk giving up this nuanced and delicate job to an AI algorithm? And one can imagine the nightmare if there is political intervention legalizing when or how AI can be used.

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Governments Respond to AI

By Sonia Tahereh Saheb, PhD., Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems

As governments begin producing their individual AI policies, some nations have concentrated on the ethical implications of AI. My team and I analyzed these policies, identifying six main themes: Principles For AI to fulfill its potential and develop responsibly, governance structures are needed to ensure accountability, transparency, safety, and the protection of human values.

Personal data protection Important considerations include informed consent, data protection, and online safety when using personal information and algorithms. To abide by GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) principles for data controllers, or ensure that explicit consent is freely given depending on an individual’s capacity, proper protocols need to be established. This is especially critical when vulnerable groups like children are involved.

Governmental The use of algorithms and automation in human decisionmaking, especially in contexts with legal or social implications, is a critical challenge. While machine assistance can be practical and help reduce biases when criteria are clear, there are concerns about accountability, bias, and inconsistent outputs perpetuating societal discrimination if not implemented carefully. New frameworks must oversee automated decision-systems and address issues such as “automation bias”.

Governance and monitoring Whether focusing on private sector responsibilities to avoid harmful targeting or misuse of customer information, conducting thorough risk assessments of high-impact applications, or enabling meaningful civil society engagement, we need proper safeguards to ensure responsible use of data, assessment of risks, and public participation regarding AI systems.

Procedural These issues ensure that privacy and human rights are built into systems from the ground up through approaches like “ethical by design,” establish proper roles and accountability of data controllers in processing personal information, and cultivate an ethical workforce with the skills to minimize AI risks through education reform. A holistic strategy is needed to develop AI responsibly across its entire lifecycle.

Epistemological To build inclusive and fair AI, training data should be diverse, non-biased, and representative of populations. However, inherent biases are difficult to quantify and mitigate.

All nations have looked at data models and training data, informed consent, high risk assessment, and impact analysis. Otherwise, nations have tended to focus on areas of particular interest to them. Canadian government publications, for example, have primarily addressed transparency, bias and accountability, human autonomy and social justice, design privacy, common goods and democratic values. The UK has largely focused on children’s internet safety and the responsibilities of the private sector. The US primarily discusses algorithmic law enforcement and the ethical use of talent, though it also joins with Germany, Australia, and Belgium on the matter of autonomous vehicle safety. The APAC (Asia-Pacific) nations have concentrated on responsible AI systems, explainable artificial intelligence, and machine assistance in human decision making. The majority of European nations have handled data-related issues such as obtaining informed consent and control over processing individuals’ personal data. Obviously, AI has, and will continue to have, vast and wide-ranging impacts on humans and governments.

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Our Menlo

Community

Global Learning Enriches Us All

By Erik Bakke, Executive Director of International Student Services

A quarter of Menlo College’s student body is now international. While that number is expected to rise, three quarters of our students still come from the United States. Keeping this rich diversity in mind, the office of International Student Services (ISS) has increasingly dedicated ourselves to helping all Menlo students through a series of integrated, inclusive programs that create opportunities for Global Experiential Learning.

In September 2023, the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages (UISFL) program of the US Department of Education awarded Menlo College (and its partner Foothill College) multi-year funding to expand our study abroad program, increase support for language study, and provide more opportunities for traditionally underserved students to study internationally and to study international business at Menlo. The combined total of the three-year award from the Department of Education is $525,867, with Menlo College receiving 59% of the funds and Foothill College receiving 41%. Each institution provides matching expenditures.

Beyond creating memorable experiences and providing students with usable skills for the future, programs like study abroad have direct impacts on students’ success at Menlo and on the success of the college. NAFSA: Association of International Educators notes that study abroad improves grade point averages, completion, retention, and transfer rates as well as employability and career skills. This impact is even more pronounced for minority and at-risk students.

Concrete initiatives include expanding the study abroad program and developing and realizing a study abroad course as well as a study abroad certificate or badge program. One important part of the program design is to lower barriers for students facing economic need, so some students will receive housing scholarships to help cover the cost of their study abroad, whether they are engaged in a semester-length program or participating in short-term international study, as with Menlo’s Academic Global Immersion Program.

Not all cross-cultural enrichment activities require travel. Menlo students will also receive scholarships to engage in foreign language study. This aligns with Foothill College’s UISFL grant award funded objective of aligning their language programs in Japanese and Spanish with Campus Abroad and Study Abroad Programs and the language learning needs of Menlo Students. A related initiative is to create and develop a pathway from Foothill to Menlo for students to pursue a B.S. in Business/International Business.

Menlo College as a whole looks to increase engagement across cultures and bridge cultural differences (both domestic and international) with the goal of creating a stronger Menlo student. This means capitalizing on the many opportunities for engagement and inclusivity waiting to be realized right on the Menlo campus. Whereas the benefits of travel are clear, hosting international students on campus enhances the intellectual and cultural environment for domestic students who interact with them, as noted in a Duke University study. These students graduate with a richer world view and set of life skills.

For Menlo, Global Experiential Learning starts at home.

Pictured: Aaron Alvarado ’24, Jared Ambrosio ’25, Lilliana Chisler, Admissions Counselor.

Photographer: Crystal Cebedo ’20 5 WINTER 2024

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Our Menlo

You Can Hear Our Diversity

Community Our small campus has a global outreach, with students from 44 different countries, opportunities for studying abroad (see the article on page 17), and friendships that span the world and last a lifetime. We at the magazine asked students how this global atmosphere affected them, whether they were new to the U.S. or grew up in nearby Palo Alto. Their answers show a profound sense of shared humanity.

Alan Cruz Gomez ’26

When I’m with my teammates it always baffles me to note the striking similarities in forms of conversation and fluctuations of the voice to emphasize, question, and challenge. On the men’s soccer team we have people from Switzerland, Norway, Mexican heritage, and English, even a couple of Americans. When the Swiss are conversing, they use very similar expressions and sharp changes in their tones, just like Spanish speakers do. When we banter it feels like we are all pages ripped from the same book, translated into a vast array of vernacular.

Although there are a lot of differences, there are striking similarities that unite us. When I interact with people from Italy on campus and attempt to speak my broken Italian, I manage to draw their attention because of how Mexican and Italian cultures intertwine. The love for family, the importance of a proper family meal, the religious views, and the way we are raised, whether we come from the impoverished sides of the country or the more affluent cities.

Reese Hallo ’25

I think the biggest thing I have learned is that people from other countries see and view us how we view them. When I first got here I instantly made a friend with someone else on my soccer team. She had roommates who were from different countries and I soon befriended them as well. One was from Vienna and one from Germany. It started with me saying that they had nice accents and they’d tell me “I don’t have an accent, you do,” and I realized that both were true. I have an accent, they have an accent, everyone has an accent to someone else.

“When we banter it feels like we are all pages ripped from the same book...”

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CJ (Christian) Luevano ’27

I had the advantage of engaging with people from different ethnic backgrounds because I grew up in a multicultural region of San Diego. I’ve learned to value the diversity of my Mexican background even more as a result of sitting next to people with various perspectives and life experiences. It’s amazing to observe how different viewpoints may illuminate my own traditions and culture in fresh ways. I’ve been able to share the beauty and complexity of my own heritage with my classmates, which has been special.

Benjamin Fish ’24

“I have an accent, they have an accent, everyone has an accent to someone else.”

I have learned that people may come from an infinite amount of backgrounds, but everyone has a different point of view that you can learn from. It may be someone in the dining hall from Sweden who tells you about the delicacies of their home or someone you see in the library telling you about the history of their hometown in France.

Member of the Global Community is a very strong title. For an American man, raised in a very traditional area of the United States, it’s a title I don’t take lightly. Someone with my background may not have the experiences or traditions that many others have. My view of being a member is that I will always try to understand others’ viewpoints and traditions with open ears and an open mind.

Benjamin Amlicke ’24

The one thing at Menlo that I don’t find as much elsewhere is the variety of languages spoken. Each time I sit in the dining hall and listen I hear English, French, German, Mandarin, Korean, and I have picked up on the language, like learning how to pronounce ä, ö, and ü, in German from a friend in my Queer Identities class.

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Our Menlo

Community

Rethinking Student Support Spaces @ Menlo College

By Christopher Simpson, Executive Director of Advising and Retention

9 WINTER 2024

We are building a community where support and collaboration are central.

As we all keep finding our way in a world still feeling the ripples of the global pandemic, it’s becoming crystal clear how crucial it is for higher education to drive change. At Menlo College we’ve got a keen eye on the future, understanding that true success is more than just hitting the books. It’s about shaping well-rounded individuals, ready to tackle the complexities of life. This is what Menlo’s entrepreneurial spirit is all about – setting the stage for tomorrow, and I’m committed to being part of that effort.

Recently, a student hit the nail on the head when they shared with me that “Something feels so deliciously different about Menlo now.” The pandemic, tough as it was, showed us how resilient and adaptable our community can be, and it’s been a real push for us to innovate. That’s exactly the vibe I’m going for. When advising students, we’re ramping up our game in providing holistic support – think mental health resources and student success coaching that take students beyond the four walls of a classroom. We focus on each person, not just as a student, but as an individual on their own unique journey.

With my team, we’ve rolled out student success coaching and peer advising, creating a space where students can team up and chase their dreams of graduating and living life to the fullest. We are building a community where support and collaboration are central.

In planning our student support spaces on campus, we’re thinking outside the box. We’re designing flexible areas where students can hang out and where we can get our administrative tasks done efficiently. We’re creating a campus that’s not just functional, but also welcoming and adaptive.

Here’s something cool we’re doing: shining a light on special interest topics and niche skills in analytics, even outside a student’s major. We want to spark curiosity in our students, getting them excited about courses that aren’t just graduation requirements, but gateways to broader learning and skills. And let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: the economy isn’t looking too hot in the news, and social media isn’t helping. But we’re tackling this head-on, connecting students with majors and classes that build up their skills, not just prepping them for a specific career out of fear. We’re all about equipping our students for a range of possibilities, focusing on being adaptable and resilient in an ever-changing world.

Looking forward, my colleagues and I are buzzing with excitement about what’s to come, and we’re also keeping our eyes open for challenges. Higher education is like a river – always moving, always changing. We’re committed to staying nimble and innovative to meet the needs of our community. We’re calling on our alumni and wider community to join hands with us. Your support – whether it’s mentorship, stopping by to say hello, donations, or just staying in touch – means the world.

As we move forward, we’ve got plans to launch new student initiatives focusing on solving real-world problems, ramp up our staff training to better support student needs, and forge stronger ties with local organizations for more hands-on learning experiences.

Sure, there will be hurdles, especially in making sure everyone gets equal access to these resources and balancing the latest tech with personal interactions. But with our strong community spirit and a knack for innovation, Menlo College is ready to lead the charge in shaping the future of higher education.

Photographer: George Retelas

Around-the-Clock Mental Health Services

College has many ups and downs. Menlo students who need to talk to someone in the middle of the night, or any time, may call TimelyCare, a free 24/7 online support app (students may go directly to timelycare.com/ menlocollege or download the TimelyCare app from the app store to register with their Menlo College email address). Students may start visits from any web-enabled device –smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop – anywhere in the United States.

Menlo’s Mental Health Counselor Vannesa Jimenez is available as well.

Students can connect directly with Jimenez to schedule an appointment at vannesa.jimenez@menlo.edu or (650) 543-3850.

Counselor Jimenez says, “Mental well-being is vital to student success here at Menlo. When something is off or is negatively impacting students’ ability to study, eat, sleep, work, maintain positive relationships, they should check in with someone. When it starts to impact their way of living or day-to-day functioning, they should consider taking action. Students have a choice to see me or connect with other mental health services. If they don’t know where to start, I advise them to stop by my office in Student Affairs so I can provide consultation along with resources and support.”

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Our Menlo

Community

No Place Like Home

We carry our hometowns with us wherever we go, especially when we leave our childhood and come to college. Menlo College celebrates the ways students from different places reach out to each other on campus. In September 2023, the Student Government Association, International Students Services, and the Public Speaking Center sponsored a storytelling event for students to tell us about their hometowns. Here are two of those stories.

Mary-Ann Swan ’25

Over 200,000 children enter the United States foster care system each year.

At age 13, I became one. I still am one, since I was never adopted.

When children can no longer live with their families, states send them to live with relatives or unrelated foster parents.

That’s the definition of foster care you’ll find on the child welfare page, but to a foster youth it means something totally different. To me, the foster care system means being moved from home to home without knowing the people you will live with, while having to see a social worker every month.

My hometown is Frankfort, Kentucky, but I can’t see myself going back anytime soon. I was abruptly moved out of my cousin’s home, where I went to school every day, to go live with my three siblings in a home where we did not know the parents. All due to the choices my mother and father made.

I lived in eight different homes, never had a room to myself, and lost clothing, valuables, and friends every time I had to move. At 16 the system even forced me to return to the violence and instability of my family of origin.

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I’ve had some help along the way, sometimes from other family members. The one who helped me the most was my foster parent in Santa Barbara. She helped me get my life together, especially when I met my first foster sister.

Most everyone I know has a home to go to where they have their own beds and good home-cooked meals. When I do go visit my family 6 hours away, I have to stay in a house that has 5 dogs, 2 babies, and 6 adults. It’s a struggle to try and add myself to a house with so many people already living there.

Only 4% of foster children get a four-year degree. Only 6% get into a two-year college. For me, the only sibling attending a four-year private school, I am taking on a sense of responsibility that my parents never could. I feel this way because I am the oldest female and because I have always had to take care of my siblings. That is what home feels like to me. Taking caring of the people I love while having the time to relax and get away from my studies. Not everyone gets to leave Menlo campus during breaks, but they still know where home is. I don’t. I say I don’t know where home is because home isn’t a place. For me, home is a feeling.

Ratbek Erkinbekov ’23

I’m from Kazakhstan, a mountainous country in Central Asia, the ninth-largest country in the world. The Silk Road ran through it, linking East and West for 1,500 years.

I grew up poor in a very nice family, living with my parents and five siblings in a studio apartment. As I was growing, my parents were also growing in their life, ultimately sending me to an all-male boarding school where all we could do was study and play sports. No phones, no women, nothing. We couldn’t even leave the school grounds. So I studied intensive English and Turkish, working really hard so I could go and study abroad, something only 10% of us could do.

Making it to the U.S. is especially difficult. I first came here in 2017, when we came for the Project Sustainability Environmental Olympiad, which was held in New York at Oswego State University. We had made a robot that could see by itself and we programmed it to remotely take the trash to the place where a sign says Trash. But our project was lost in transit, so we had to travel to many different stores to collect all the parts we needed. Then we programmed the project the whole night and we had to present it at 10AM. We came in third and got to travel to MIT, Harvard, Yale, and Columbia.

That’s when I decided I wanted to come here and study.

When I was working in the fields during my childhood, I never dreamed that I’d be going to school in Silicon Valley. It’s been a hard process, but one thing that I’ve learned is that the more grateful you are, the more you get. So far it’s worked out even better than I imagined.

Photographer: George Retelas MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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What it Means to be an Oak

By Devin Carr, Dean of Student Affairs

13 WINTER 2024

In September, Dean of Student Affairs Devin Carr addressed incoming students as part of the new pinning ceremony. We excerpt that address here.

From the moment you arrived on campus, you embarked on a path of discovery, growth, and transformation. You’ve navigated the complexities of your schedule and connected with faculty, staff, and fellow students. You’ve demonstrated a commitment to learning, a spirit of community, and an unwavering enthusiasm that reaffirms our belief in the bright future you are destined to create.

The pin that you receive today is a symbol of your connection to Menlo’s legacy of excellence, innovation, and community. It embodies the values we hold dear: a thirst for knowledge, a dedication to service, and an aspiration to make a meaningful impact in the world. We give you this acorn pin to welcome you as a Menlo Oak. Within its shell lies a world of potential waiting to unfold. It is a humble beginning that holds within it the promise of greatness, a silent testament to the extraordinary transformations that can emerge from the simplest of origins.

Much like the acorn’s journey from a small seed to a majestic oak tree, our own paths are marked by a similar route of growth and realization. It teaches us not to underestimate the power of potential, for within it resides the energy to shape destinies and forge new paths.

As we stand in awe of the acorn’s ability to evolve into a striking tree, we must remind ourselves that the limits of our potential are often self-imposed. Just as the acorn does not question its innate ability to become a mighty oak, we too should embrace our inherent capacities and nurture our dreams without doubt or hesitation.

As the acorn changes form, it develops roots that dig deep into the soil, grounding itself in the very essence of life, reminding us of the importance of anchoring ourselves in the present moment, embracing our roots, and cultivating a connection with the people around us.

The acorn’s journey is not without its challenges. It must endure the elements and withstand many storms. These tests mirror our own struggles and trials on the path of self-discovery. Through these hardships we build strength, resilience, and an unwavering spirit.

Once the acorn morphs into a sapling, it stretches towards the sky, embracing the light. Its pursuit of light symbolizes our yearning for knowledge, our quest to uncover the depths of our own consciousness, and our need to connect with the greater whole.

The acorn’s transformation is a journey of patience, persistence, and resilience. It is a testament to the beauty of consistent effort and a steady focus on growth. Our potential unfolds when we channel our energies towards our goals and remain resolute even in the face of challenges.

So, let this ceremony mark the beginning of a new chapter – one that is filled with exploration, challenges that foster growth, and accomplishments that exceed your own expectations. May your time here be marked by meaningful relationships, deep insights, and a sense of belonging that becomes a lasting part of who you are.

Crystal Cebedo ’20

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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Lāhainā Grown

By Nalani Kai Kirkman ’25

Our worldview radiates from our hometown, all the small interactions in the place where our consciousness dawned. But what if that hometown was suddenly destroyed? Nalani Kai Kirkman ’25 brings us right into the middle of that question.

15 WINTER 2024

W

hen I got the news of a fire in Lāhainā I was in Maui for summer break.

As I was upcountry in Makawao, over an hour away, I didn’t think anything of it because we have fires all the time. Little did I know, I would never see Lāhainā ever again.

My parents called me from California, telling me to go back to Lāhainā because my dogs Nori (pitbull) and Bruno (toy poodle) were at our house and they wanted me to check on them. Online reports said that the roads were open so I started to drive back to our house. When I got into Lāhainā, the winds were absolutely insane and there were cars everywhere.

The roads were still blocked and all I could see was black smoke. All I could smell was the fire, which was moving very fast over the hill where my home was. I was on and off the phone with my parents because I didn’t know what to do. I went into fight-or-flight. I drove as close as I could to the fire before the cops closed the roads. I was about a half mile away from my home and the car was blocked from going any further. So I got out of my car and almost blew away because the winds were so strong and the door of my car almost swung off when I opened it. I was going to run to my house because my dogs were there. I stood in bewilderment for 60 seconds, barely able to stand up, and saw someone in the distance get slammed to the ground by debris. I was wearing slippers (flip-flops) and realized I wouldn’t survive even the run to the house, let alone what would await me when I got there.

Lāhainā was all I’ve ever known. The summer after high school I started working at Breakwall Beach in the center of town, where every day I got to teach people how to surf. After teaching lessons were through, I got to go surf again and jam out on the beach with friends till the sun went down, then repeat it every day.

It’s almost impossible to get bored of it. During my time at Menlo I would hustle in my wrestling program and stay committed to my academics with a focus in Business Management, but when summer would roll around the seas of Maui would call me and I could always recharge my soul at home for the following school year. Maui is so healing. People always help each other up no matter the circumstances and continue to show aloha day by day. That’s one thing that makes Maui so special.

I jumped back into the car to avoid debris and flying rocks. All I could hear was the wind and rocks pummeling my car around me. I Facetimed my parents to show them a hellish landscape through the car window. I could hear my father sobbing once he could see it. My dad said to drive to the beach till the fire was out, and if the fire got too close, to jump in the water. I grew up swimming and knew those waters like a second home, but I also knew that the fire I was feeling around me was consuming my home and the town around it. I made the decision to take the Bypass and leave, even as so many locals were still trying to go in. I was one of the only ones leaving. I was driving over power lines and had to pull branches out of the road to clear it so I could get out, while others coming the other direction were driving into it. I felt like the odd one out, but I was the lucky one. I’m thankful I survived, but I was heartbroken and sobbing the whole drive back, saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” to Nori and Bruno.

Two weeks later I started my junior year at Menlo College. All that remained back home was ash, and I mourned the friends that didn’t make it out along with a community that would still be missing, and a hometown that will never be the same. Every street I had memories on is all gone. Everything is burned to ash. Homes, cars, jobs, people, animals. Everything that shouldn’t have happened, unfortunately happened to our poor town. Lāhainā won’t ever be the same but at least locals are now standing up for what should be rebuilt and not what the government wants to do with it. What should have never been taken from the land in the first place. Maui will always come together to fight for what is right. We have been forever and won’t ever stop. People say it’s the heart-chakra of the world, and I believe it.

Nalani sings “Lāhainā Grown”

With backing by my new dog, Irie, who lives with me in my dorm, I’ve recorded a cover of a song called “Lāhainā Grown” to represent my hometown. Performing music has been a healing experience for me, and although my hometown is gone, I will continue to stay on the positive side of things. I hope you are able to feel the love and light through the spirit of song. To watch the music video, search YouTube for Nalani Sings Menlo College.

Photographer: George Retelas

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

16

Studying Abroad:

A Round-Trip Ticket to a New Life

By Jessica Nguyen, International Student Advocate The Study Abroad and Exchange programs encourage all Menlo students to study overseas and invite international students to come study at Menlo College. This is an opportunity for all students to bring home a deeper cultural understanding and fresh perspectives. Students can travel to France, Japan, or Spain and study for a semester or year at our partner institutions, or short term in over 20 countries. We also offer dual-degree programs in conjunction with the Centre d’Études Franco-Américain de Management (CEFAM) in France for both CEFAM and Menlo students. There is also a dual-degree program at Menlo College for Alain University students of the United Arab Emirates.

Two of the four students featured here are domestic American students who studied in Spain and Japan. Two are international students who have studied, not only at Menlo, but at multiple institutions in the United States. Exhibiting qualities we want all Menlo students to have, these four travelers note their increased empathy and respect for other cultures.

Hong Kong native Stan Chang ’26 majors in entrepreneurship and innovation.

I moved to America five years ago when I started high school in Boston. When my friend Iris took me and my family on a school tour, I felt that Menlo was the perfect place for me. I’ve enjoyed the diverse community here at Menlo and would encourage my fellow students to study abroad. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about different cultures, make friends, and become more independent.

17 WINTER 2024

Jessica Valdez ‘24 studied at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid in Fall 2022.

Throughout my time in Spain, I navigated language barriers, embraced unfamiliar traditions, and gained invaluable cultural experiences. I made many mistakes as I attempted to assimilate into the culture, but the challenges I faced were as enriching as they were rewarding, and they fostered a newfound appreciation for cultural diversity. One evening, when I first arrived in Spain, I decided to go out for dinner at 5 p.m. Although this may seem like a regular activity in the States, to my surprise the vibrant streets were eerily quiet, and most restaurants were shuttered. A few hours and a siesta later, I embarked on my second attempt to find a place to eat, only to discover that all of the restaurants I found online were fully booked for dinner...at midnight. This initial experience was just the beginning of a series of cultural adjustments. I learned to savor the late-night dining culture, a custom that has now become one of my cherished experiences. Here’s a travel tip: if you happen to come across eggs in the refrigerated section at the market, there’s a good chance they are hard-boiled.

Kyrgyzstan native Ratbek Erkinbekov ’24 studied at colleges in Seattle and Florida before coming to Menlo to complete his bachelor’s degree.

Each college has shown me a unique facet of American culture, dispelling the misconception that it’s uniform across the country. Menlo, in particular, has been instrumental in shaping me into a better person. The coaches emphasize high standards in all aspects of life, and I’ve grown immensely through their guidance. Beyond that, I’ve gained lifelong friends, mentors, older siblings, and a sense of belonging. Menlo College’s diverse community genuinely cares about each other’s success. The American dream is real, and Menlo College is a place where it can come true for students like me from middle-class families in Central Asia.

Alex Santillan ’25 tudied at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, outside Osaka.

I returned from Japan with a very open way of thinking. Everyone in the Kansai Gaidai exchange was open to new ideas and suggestions. I quickly learned that everyone has a different view of how to do things the right way and that everyone’s ideas can be brought together to make the best solution. Students not only gain a better understanding of how others think, but also why. I took a negotiation class where I learned that the first thing I should do is sit down and put myself in the shoes of the person on the opposite side, then clear up misunderstandings that might occur.

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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Public Speaking Center Opens with Sage Advice for Future Leaders 19 WINTER 2024

At the opening ceremony of the Public Speaking Center in September 2023, Neal Rubin, Professor in Residence, introduced the founding donor of the center, John Pritzker ’76, with this axiom: “Great leaders communicate and great communicators lead.” The audience quickly learned why John Pritzker, founder of the Geolo Capital private equity investment group and executive director of the Pritzker Family Fund, is a great leader.

With charismatic humor, Pritzker shared advice with Tatum Hoshino ’25 and Guillermo Juarez ’24 while the audience observed his ability to deliver wisdom gleaned from his own experiences. He emphasized that even in front of a large audience the key is to be yourself.

One listener later echoed his advice, “Don’t try to force yourself to sound like someone else.”

Pritzker’s words resonated with the students, faculty, and other members of the Menlo College community in the audience. Afterward, students shared other nuggets they took away from the uplifting ceremony:

1. Be prepared:

“Being authentic and humorous must be backed up by authentic confidence. The way to achieve this is to have proper preparation for the speech itself, but also to manage the topic being discussed or presented with expertise.”

2. Calm your inner critic:

“No one is judging you; they are there to listen to what you have to say.” “ Putting myself in the mindset that I’ll be conversing with the class makes me feel much more at ease and readily prepared to at least fake a high level of confidence.”

3. Use stories: “Storytelling can humanize the speaker, making them more approachable and trustworthy in the eyes of the audience. In practice, I plan to invest more time in crafting and practicing stories that align with my speech topics.”

4. Understand technique:

“The speakers paused to gather their thoughts, breathe, and formulate what they would say, which is something that I can use even when speaking in everyday interaction.”

5. Be authentic:

“This reminds me to stay true to myself and to portray a message that I believe in, and I believe in authenticity in every aspect of my life. Cutting corners and being untrue to yourself and others will only make things worse.”

Top: John Pritzker ’76; Below: Professor Neal Rubin, Justin Flannery ’25, Tatum Hoshino ’25, John Pritzker ’76, Guillermo Juarez ’24.

Photographer: Crystal Cebedo ’20

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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Family Ties, Menlo Style In October 2023, Alexander Santillan ’25 conducted a wide-ranging interview with his father Aaron Santillan ’03, a member of the Menlo College Board of Trustees. They discussed the College as a hub for international opportunities and as a central place for two generations of the Santillan family.

21 WINTER 2024

Alex (son): So what’s it like to be back?

Aaron (father): I love it. I love to come here. I love to see the new buildings. I come very often because I come to every basketball game I can.

Alex: When was the first time you brought me here?

Aaron: I want to say October of 2003. You were about six months old. That season was starting, so it was time to come and support Menlo College.

Alex: So I was practically born here.

Aaron: Yes. Alex: What brought you to Menlo in the first place?

Aaron: My roommate in Mexico, Ricardo Marentez, is also an alumnus here. His dad, who was a basketball coach, recommended this school. I came for a basketball tryout and did well. One of my advocates was Earle Chiles, who was a trustee at the time and a very good friend of mine later. That’s why you are Alexander Earle Santillan.

Alex: What was one of your best memories playing basketball for us as a student-athlete?

Aaron: My teammates. We argued, we fought, we liked each other, we played pranks on each other, but everybody was great and made sure that you went to both classes and parties. My time here was awesome. Fantastic teachers.

Everybody roots for you. And your mom, your little brother, myself, all in the family are very proud of you and we’re very happy that you’re here.

Alex: I actually don’t want to leave, although I do like the study abroad program. The moment I got here, I knew I was going to go to Japan.

Aaron: I think traveling and just going outside of your environment is great. Your generation is living in a Silicon Valley bubble. You need to see other things. For me, Menlo was my study abroad. For you, born here, studying abroad is the best thing you can do. It changes you. It changes your life, it changes how you treat others. It also shows you how fortunate you are. The fact that you have teachers who support and encourage you makes it so much better.

Alex: I was in Japan for a year and did the two-week Dubai trip as well.

The main things I took away from all these trips are, one, I learned that business abroad works vastly different from how we do it here. Two, I learned about cultures, realizing how other people think and how their culture has really shaped their perspective of the world.

I spent a ton of time talking to both international students and local students from Japan. And it’s really opened my eyes to different ways of doing things. There are different methods of thinking. And if you are able to take the best of everything, you can create your own perspective that basically encompasses everything.

Aaron: It will make you better. That’s a fact.

Photographer: George Retelas MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

22

Thoughts from International Alumni

Over many decades, our small campus has developed enduring connections that span the world. Longtime friendships and business relationships have flourished.

This semester, our students come from 44 different countries and, continuing yet another tradition, many of our faculty were born outside the U.S. or have spent significant time abroad. Our geographic diversity adds to the richness of the Menlo experience for faculty, staff, and students alike.

Two of our alumni, whose graduations are separated by almost half a century, recently spoke to us about the enduring value of maintaining Menlo’s ties to the global community.

“The rich international student population definitely made my experience unforgettable, and every faculty member I had the privilege to meet brought their personal cultural experiences to the classroom. At Menlo, I learned that no matter where someone is from and how different their language, culture or views might be, you can form connections and friendships. Those experiences and friendships are something money can’t buy. The world is small, and coming to Menlo really showed me that. Best wishes and kind regards from Cyprus!”

-Edin Ibrahimović ’23, hometown Vienna, Austria

I was exposed to many students from all over the world, learning of their cultures, traditions, religions, and family life.

“When I was at Menlo, I formed P.A.L.M.S with several other students, which stood for Pan Asian League of Menlo Students. Members came from all over Asia, from Saudi Arabia to Singapore, and everywhere in between. Our “godfather” was Professor Patrick Tobin (RIP), and our parties were all inspirational. Students researched historic figures and came to the party dressed like them. I was also exposed to travel during the breaks. My wife and I married at Menlo in 1975. She was born in Guyana, I met her in England, and she then joined Menlo. We’ve been married ever since. Being an international student, I was exposed to many students from all over the world, learning of their cultures, traditions, religions, and family life. It enabled me in later life to move in and out of these cultures with comfort and ease.”

Amr M. Khashoggi ’77, hometown Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 23 WINTER 2024

STUDENT LIFE High School Students See the Inner Workings of Silicon Valley The Silicon Valley Immersion (SVI) summer program at Menlo College is a dynamic experience that immerses high school juniors and seniors, as well as first and second-year college/university students, into the heart of Silicon Valley’s innovative ecosystem. This intensive three-week program combines in-class instruction with company visits (Google, Tesla, and Microsoft, for example) and cultural events, offering a comprehensive exposure to the latest technologies and business practices. Photographer: George Retelas

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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OAKtoberFest 2023!

Alumni Renew Friendships and Meet Future Alumni

25 WINTER 2024

Ten years after its launch as the principal homecoming event for the Menlo College community, OAKtoberFest 2023 was another lively celebration on our campus. Participating alumni spanned exactly half a century, from as far back as 1974 to as recently as 2023.

They kicked off the day at the President’s OAKtoberFest Brunch. From there, it was on to the quad, where student talent was on display, including individual performers, the Menlo Dance Club, and lu’au dancers. Student and alumni games spanned the entire day, well into the evening—including decisive victories by our women’s volleyball team (3-1), our women’s soccer team (3-0), and our men’s soccer team (9-0!). Throughout, attendees had plenty to eat and drink, including an array of Devil’s Canyon beer provided by Chris Garrett ’94, and six food trucks that offered everything from sushi to burritos to cookies. In all, more than 2,000 alumni, students, faculty and other members of the College community came together for the fun.

Recalling his time as an Oak, Wood Wong ’74 said, “Menlo always brings back good memories. The faculty, especially Judge Russell and Dean Frank Tims of the SBA, were two who gave me a lot of care when I Save the date for next year: was a student. I lived in every dorm in Menlo, October 19, 2024! other than the newest one constructed a few years ago. All these will be with me forever.”

Photographer: Crystal Cebedo ’20s

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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FACULTY NEWS At the invitation of Senior Adjunct Professor Emma Gordon, Executive Director of Internships and Career Services Jocylen Ashton presented at the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Northern & Central California Group annual conference. Her talk was entitled “By Design: Internships and The Value of College-Employer Partnerships.”

Assistant Professor of Finance and Real Estate Faten Ben Bouheni was the recipient of the 2023 summer fellowship at the Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford. While there, she explored the intersection of education and technology, examining how emerging technologies can be leveraged to create more engaging and effective learning experiences for students.

Assistant Professor Faten Ben Bouheni, Associate Professor of Finance Manish Tewari, and Vice President for Academic Affairs/ Dean School of Business Mouwafac Sidaoui co-authored “An Econometric Understanding of Fintech and Operating Performance,” which was published in Review of Accounting and Finance.

Professor Emerita of Marketing Stephanie Dellande co-authored a new practitioner-aimed article entitled “People of Color Get So Used to Discrimination in Stores They Don’t Always Notice Bad Customer Service,” which was published in The Conversation. The article explores how “...people from underrepresented ethnic and racial groups tend to rate poor customer service less negatively than white people do.” The article was subsequently republished by The Good Men Project and Yahoo! News.

Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship Fabian Eggers hosted the 36th Global Research Conference on Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Hamburg, Germany. The annual event fosters scholarly research at the intersection of marketing and entrepreneurship, drawing respected researchers worldwide. This year’s conference theme was “Technology and Transformative Change” and the participants from 50 countries shared insights on teaching innovations and technology’s impact.

Associate Professor of Marketing Lan Jiang’s co-authored research “When Likes for Consumption Sharing on Social Media is Less Appealing: Impact of Ideal Social Self-Congruity on Consumer’s Behavioral Intention” was selected as the best-in-track paper for Digital and Social Media Marketing at the 2023 American Marketing Association Summer Academic Conference.

Professor of Finance Dima Leshchinskii (left) provided expert commentary to LawFirm.com on navigating bankruptcy. Also, his insightful interview on choosing a new car insurance provider was featured on MoneyGeek. Separately, he contributed expert insights to their newly released debt consolidation guide.

27 WINTER 2024

Associate Professor of English and Digital Humanities Lisa Mendelman became the new faculty advisor for the Alpha Chi Honor Society. She was also asked to present the talk “Green Skinned Goddesses: Chlorosis and the Shapeshifting Modern Girl in Science and Literature” at the Science Studies Colloquium at the University of California, San Diego.

Mendelman also guest-edited a special issue of American Literary History, “Diagnosing America: The Literatures of Mental Health in the United States.” The publication can be found online and includes an introduction by Mendelman as well as a co-authored article.

Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Political Science Melissa Michelson’s paper, “The Political Consequences of Racialized Ethnic Identities,” recently published in Political Research Quarterly, delves into how Latinos who consider Latino to be a distinct race engage politically. She shared her insights on the significance of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s presence and voting influence within the Democratic party on ABC7, and provided commentary on California’s Assembly Speaker in The Mercury News. Michelson also participated in a roundtable organized by the American Political Science Association’s Institute for Civically Engaged Research and spoke at the Future of California Elections conference in Sacramento, where she participated in a panel discussing “Digital Immigrants and Election Technology.” Additionally, she addressed the Menlo Park Library as part of their “United Against Hate Week,” coinciding with the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Lecturer Lakiba Pittman (right) spoke at the Compassion 2.0 Conference, addressing “Compassion in a Divided World” alongside Silicon Valley business leaders. In her role as a Bay Area LEAD fellow, she completed a group capstone project on Homelessness/Houselessness in the Bay Area. She also conducted a workshop for employees of the LifeMoves organization, focusing on “Compassion During Difficult Times.” Additionally, she led a workshop for the Stanford Medicine Mid-Peninsula Pediatric Advocacy Coalition on “Cultivating Compassion During Difficult Times.” Her contributions reflect a commitment to addressing societal challenges and promoting compassion.

Assistant Professor of English Melissa Eriko Poulsen presented her paper “Children of the Yellow Peril: Depicting Mixed Race Asians Amid Anti-Asian Hate” at the Association of Asian American Studies annual conference. Her paper examined the portrayal of multiracial daughters in Fu Manchu texts. Poulsen also chaired two panels on Asian American literary and cultural studies.

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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FACULTY NEWS Associate Professor of Sports Management and Business Analytics Sean Pradhan had two research projects published and four others accepted for presentation. “Using Experiments in Sport Consumer Behavior Research: A Review and Directions for Future Research,” was published in Sport Marketing Quarterly. Co-written with colleagues from the NASA Ames Research Center, “Sex Differences in Perceptions of Sleep Inertia Following Nighttime Awakenings,” can be found in SLEEP Advances.

Director of Sports Marketing and Communication Ally Salzwedel was featured in the College Sports Communicators April Newsletter under the column “The Life” as the NAIA representative.

Director of the Real Estate Center and Professor-in-Residence of Real Estate Sarahann Shapiro was elected to be the President of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) California for 2024, where she will serve and advocate for the Commercial Real Estate industry.

VP for Academic Affairs/Dean of the School of Business Mouwafac Sidaoui was asked to serve on the New Deans Affinity Group Steering Committee for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. He also spoke with Sky News Arabia on the significance of university rankings.

President Steven Weiner was asked to serve as a board member of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Established in 1993, Joint Venture provides analysis and action on issues affecting the Silicon Valley economy and quality of life.

Facing page from left to right: Jan Zuazo ’24, Professor Faten Ben Bouheni, Andrew Salamon ’24, Karla Martinez Mora ’25, Javier Banson ’24, Professor Manish Tewari.

Photographer: George Retelas.

29 WINTER 2024

Menlo College Trades Best The 2023 Bloomberg Stock Trading Competition attracted more than 2,000 teams from 38 different countries. Over a 45-day period, each team traded a virtual million-dollar portfolio to vie for the highest fund performance. When the results were announced in November 2023, everyone learned that Menlo College had fielded a team few could beat: Andrew Salamon ’24, who served as team captain, Javier Banson ’24, Karla Martinez Mora ’25, and Jan Zuazo ’24. Professors Faten Ben Bouheni and Manish Tewari advised the student team. Menlo’s team received first place in California, third place in all of North American, and seventh place globally! As Professor Tewari observed, “This shows Menlo College students’ ability to compete with the best in the world.”

Reflecting their cohesiveness, the team collaborated to produce a joint statement: “We are immensely proud of our achievement of placing 7th in the world in the Bloomberg Trading Competition. That result is a testament to our dedication, strategic acumen, and teamwork. We extend our deepest gratitude to Menlo College for the opportunity to participate in this prestigious challenge, and to Professors Manish and Faten for their invaluable mentorship. Their guidance was instrumental to our success. In addition to serving to hone our skills, this experience has strengthened our resolve to excel in future endeavors.”

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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FACULTY NEWS Menlo’s First Graduate Program:

Off and Running!

By Zack Bryant, PhD, MASPP Director and Assistant Professor of Psychology

Menlo’s inaugural Master’s program in Sport and Performance Psychology (MASPP) is off to a tremendous start. Our initial cohort has nine graduate students, and we are already receiving interest and applications from students who want to be part of our next cohort this coming fall. As we grow, we expect to have only incrementally larger class sizes to ensure that our students receive dedicated attention in seminar-style classes.

If you were one of our MASPP grad students, what might a day in your life look like? To answer that, I’ll lean on the experience of this semester’s MASPP students, all of whom are involved with Menlo’s varsity teams. Early morning, you’ll wake up to participate in one of the team’s workouts, helping to enhance athletes’ mental and physical health. In the classroom later in the day, you’ll work through the theoretical underpinnings of performance psychology while developing strategies for implementing that knowledge in applied settings.

You’ll stretch your mind and absorb new knowledge.

More specifically, I’d like to highlight the voice of one of our graduate students, Nick Moisant. Nick played four years of college baseball, finishing up his journey at Cal State Los Angeles. He is currently an associate director for a youth travel baseball program and works with the pitchers at Menlo for his graduate assistantship. He says “the MASPP program is challenging, thought-provoking, and exciting.

Continued support and guidance from professors, along with the group cohesion that our cohort has built has made for an enjoyable experience so far. It’s evident that faculty cares a great deal about the continued success of our program, and I’m honored to be a part of the first MASPP cohort in Menlo College history.”

It is this personal approach to student success that the faculty and administration take such great pride in. While there are a variety of Master’s programs like this across the country, this is one of the few where students are at the forefront and the Menlo difference can truly be felt. If you’re looking to take your coaching or consulting to the next level, consider applying for Fall 2024. I plan to keep the Menlo community updated with exciting news as we continue with our journey.

For more information about the program, see the article “Menlo’s First Graduate Program: Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology” in the Summer 2023 issue of Menlo College Magazine.

Photo by Brian Byllesby/OaksSports.com

31 WINTER 2024

Bowman Stalwart Anne Linvill Retires

By Emily Stambaugh, Dean of Library Services For 16 years, she was one of the first people anyone saw as they walked in the doors of Bowman Library. In October we said farewell to Anne Linvill, who retired following a distinguished career as librarian and valued member of the Menlo community.

An extremely talented librarian, Anne played a crucial part in Menlo College’s success, providing library instruction, reference and outreach services and, during the pandemic, serving as Interim Dean.

She always maintained an unwavering dedication to students and their academic success.

Anne began her career at Menlo College in 2007 as a part-time librarian and was quickly promoted to Access Services Manager. Over the years, she served as a trusted mentor, teaching partner, and academic guide to many students and faculty.

As a member of the faculty senate, Anne helped faculty design research projects, integrating content, technologies and information skills into the research process. She helped shape the College’s academic programs, bringing expertise in pedagogy, information discovery, and access to various iterations of curriculum design in many disciplines. She served consecutive terms on the faculty senate’s Curriculum Committee, acting as its chair for three semesters. Her areas of research and expertise include open access journal publishing, information literacy theory and practice, and library instructional collaboration.

Among the great accolades a librarian can receive in their career is an acknowledgement in an author’s published work, and Anne received numerous such honors from both students and faculty. Over the years she collaborated with the writing center, academic success center, student affairs, student clubs, and other campus groups.

A person of many talents, languages, and lived experiences in global education, she created outreach programs and high-interest events that engaged students and our diverse academic community. In all of her practice, Anne demonstrated the values and ethics of librarianship, including an unwavering commitment to privacy, intellectual freedom, and information literacy. Anne’s commitment and leadership has enriched us all. She will be greatly missed.

MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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INTERNSHIPS

A Foot in the Door

By Jocylen Ashton, Executive Director of Internships and Career Services

I

nternships are important. They help students understand their field, clarify (or sometimes pivot) their career goals, and provide valuable real-world work experience, giving students a competitive edge at securing their first job after graduation.

Many students arrive at Menlo facing social capital inequities: 99% receive financial aid 31% are first-generation college students 24% are from other countries For these students, internships can be even more important, but finding an internship might not be enough. That’s one reason Internships and Career Services (ICS) offers two courses, the Internship Program and Curricular Practical Training, designed to help students assess their career readiness, reflect on their career goals, and document how they are applying knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a professional environment.

The Menlo internship program, launched in 2014 under the leadership of Angela Schmiede, VP for Student Success and Strategic Planning, remains a best-in-class experiential learning program, already completed by nearly 1,000 students. In recognition of the internship program’s impactful design, the California Internship & Work Experience Association (CIWEA) awarded Menlo College the

“I’ve been having such a great time doing the type of work I enjoy. Talking with clients, understanding their workflow, and pitching ideas to improve it brings me a lot of fulfillment.” —Andrew Salaman ’24, Analytics & Sales Intern (Bloomberg – SF) 33

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2019 Outstanding College Work Experience and Internship Program Award. The ICS office remains focused on the growth of this program, emphasizing growing employer participation and supporting Menlo students with career readiness programming.

This year, ICS has introduced career pathway milestones to aid students in building career skills and a strong personal career brand, setting a specific recruiting strategy, and identifying clear career goals around the experience they desire for their internship. ICS has incorporated milestones to help students with every component of their career tool kit, ensuring they have the necessary branded job search components. Students can grow and develop through skill workshops on resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and key job search technology. Students can also participate in mock interviews with representatives from industry and receive 1:1 coaching. ICS is also launching an employer education component for participating employer mentors, helping employer mentors support students’ skill development around core employability competencies, as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. ICS also offers tips on sharing developmental feedback to help interns grow and learn.

Menlo’s commitment to building career readiness pathways to support student success is growing to meet the needs of our changing student demographics. If you or your organization is interested in providing an internship or supporting ICS career pathways programs, please contact us at careerservices@menlo.edu.

“This internship has helped me realize that I am a greater asset to a team than I thought.

I was consistently trusted to do things I would normally be doubtful about.”

—Maria Gonzalez, Recreational Intern (City of Menlo Park)

That “Professional” Look

Since 2019, George Retelas, our resident photgrapher and Director of Media Marketing, has been helping Menlo students look as professional as possible. George provides amazing portraits, that students can post to their social media accounts, add to resumes and enter the job market with a smile.

Left: Aliya Hunter ’25; right: Thomas O’Connor ’24.

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NCAA! Look What’s Happening Here:

By Drew Barton, Sports Information and Operations Coordinator The 2023 season was arguably the greatest in the history of Menlo Athletics, with individual national champions and the most wins in department history. Now, all eyes turn towards the next great accomplishment for Menlo Athletics: transitioning to the NCAA Division II in the fall of 2024!

The official announcement of Menlo’s acceptance into the NCAA last August generated over 38,000 social media impressions.

Joining the NCAA brings with it a wide variety of advantages and new-found excitement for the future of Menlo Athletics. The NCAA is the premier collegiate athletic brand in the country, synonymous with the highest level of athletic competition available to college athletes.

In joining the NCAA PacWest Conference, Menlo will increase the number of local competitions – and rivalries. Within just a few hours of campus, Menlo will be able to compete against fellow Division II programs such as San Francisco State, Chico State, Academy of Art and Dominican University. PacWest members include Hawai’i-based schools Chaminade, Hawai’i Hilo, and Hawai’i Pacific. For much of our 96-year history, Menlo has educated students who call Hawai’i home, and the prospect of taking Menlo competition to the Aloha State offers opportunities to reinforce and grow our school’s long-standing connections.

There is no shortage of excitement that comes with this transition. Yet, one thing remains clear, our coaches, administrators and student-athletes are ready to make sure that the Oaks remain a top tier athletic department!

Taking the Lead in a Different Direction

Following the conclusion of the season, women’s volleyball head coach Denise Sheldon (second from left) stepped down from her coaching role in order to accept a leadership position at the College as the Executive Director of Operations. During her seven-year tenure as Menlo’s head coach, Sheldon garnered accolades, wins, and memorable moments, including a record 22 wins in a single season (2017), and leading the Oaks to their first GSAC regular season title in program history (2019). Expressing her gratitude for the support of the Menlo College community, Coach Sheldon said, “To the incredible women who have worn the Menlo jersey, I want to express my deepest gratitude. I am excited to look forward to the continued success of this remarkable group of women on and off the court as you become the leaders of tomorrow, make your mark in NCAA Division II, and earn a PacWest Championship in 2024!” Photos by Brian Byllesby/OaksSports.com

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Rebuilt Tennis Courts for Winning Team The new Cartan Tennis facility opened this fall for the second season of Menlo College tennis under Head Coach Benjamin Cabell. Cabell said, “The new surface, fencing, and windscreens give us one of the best tennis facilities in our athletic conference, and make a great home for the Oaks. Making this happen will help grow Menlo College Tennis into a championship program. We would like to thank everyone who made this possible, especially Keith Spataro, Vice President for Enrollment and Athletics, and the Trustee Emeritus who was a major, if anonymous, contributor to the project. We can’t wait to play our first home match this coming February.”

The new courts are supporting my game to the utmost; they stay unobtrusive in the background, provide me with a soft touch, and create a great atmosphere. They enhance the overall experience and inspire peak performance on the court.

-Jennifer Pfaefflin ‘27 Photographer: George Retelas MENLO COLLEGE MAGAZINE 36

ATHLETICS

Making Menlo Proud Men’s soccer has been part of Menlo College from the get go. Four years after the 1927 founding of the College, two of the inductees to the Hall of Fame were men’s soccer players. Many records accumulated over all those decades were shattered this year, though, when for the first time, the team advanced to the National Championship, where they fell by one point in the second round to the #3-ranked team in the country. That loss was only the second game the team lost all season. Appropriately enough, the conference named Men’s Soccer Coach Keith Lambert as Coach of the Year.

Pictured: Antonio Jimenez ’24.

Photo by Brian Byllesby/OaksSports.com

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ATHLETICS Other fall sports were not far behind. After an eight-match winning streak, women’s volleyball advanced all the way to the final conference championship round, where they forced the #1 seed to five sets (the first time that opponent had been forced to play all five sets all year); women’s soccer also advanced to the conference finals, only to lose to the #1 seed team; men’s cross country took 5th place; and women’s cross country took 6th place.

At the end of the season, 24 student-athletes, representing every one of the fall teams, were recognized as NAIA Daktronics ScholarAthletes. That honor reflects academic, as well as athletic success.

Photos by Brian Byllesby/OaksSports.com

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In Memoriam Stanley “Stan” William Sperling ’57 (1935-2023) Born in Massachusetts, Stan graduated from Menlo College in 1957. After Menlo, he joined the US Navy, achieving the rank of lieutenant. Upon finishing his service, Stan enjoyed a long and successful career in motion picture theaters as a film buyer and exhibitor, first in Las Vegas and then the San Francisco Bay area.

A tennis player and an avid golfer, Stan made many great memories and treasured friends at his home, clubs, and around the country, which supplied him with endless tales of good times that he never tired of re-telling. Always the favorite guest at any social gathering, his gift for telling stories, jokes and re-counting fond memories will be remembered and treasured by all who knew and loved him. Stan passed away peacefully in Palm Desert, California at the age of 87.

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Lawrence McCully “Cully” Judd III ’64 (1944-2023) Cully passed on the island of Oahu where he made his home. A Menlo grad like his father Lawrence McCully Judd, Jr. ’39, Cully also pursued his studies at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

In the early 1970s, Cully revolutionized Hawaii’s solar energy industry. Starting in his garage, he laid the foundation for InterIsland Solar Supply, a one-stop destination for solar thermal and photovoltaic energy solutions. Recognizing the vital role of policy in the energy sector, he was instrumental in establishing the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, which still exists today.

Cully then acquired SunEarth, the nation’s largest flat plate collector manufacturer. He was extraordinarily proud that he transitioned his firm to an ESOP before his retirement, and shared those reflections in 2019 while attending the annual Hawai’i Send-Off event for first-year Menlo College students in Honolulu.

Cully’s legacy is one of innovation, love, and an unrelenting dedication to a sustainable future for the people and land of Hawaii.

The memory of Cully and his larger-than-life personality will forever remain in our hearts.

We also remember...

Gordon Beaton ’60: 1937-2023 Chet Bergfeld ’65: 1947-2023 Robert Bergtholdt ’68: 1948-2023 Robert Currie ’60: 1940-2023

Thomas James “Jim” Phillips ’77 (1954-2023) Jim’s life was marked by extraordinary achievements and lasting impact. An Eagle Scout at Woodside High School, Jim graduated from Menlo College in 1977, where he was an officer of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity.

Jim went on to dedicate 28 years to Hewlett-Packard, primarily as their Business Development Manager, and later contributed his expertise to the Superior Court of San Mateo County until his well-deserved retirement in 2021.

Known for his humor and warmth, Jim’s world revolved around family, and he delighted in hosting gatherings with friends and loved ones. An avid sports enthusiast, Jim found joy in every season, whether on the slopes of Lake Tahoe, waterskiing on the Delta, or cheering for the San Jose Sharks. He passed away at the age of 69 in Sunnyvale, CA after battling lymphoma. His kindness and compassion will be forever remembered.

Brady Myers ’77: 1958-2023 Matthew Rundel ’87: 1967-2023 Jeffrey Werrell ’02: 1967-2023 Compiled by Leshi Chen ’25

Peter “Pete” N. Patman ’55 (1935-2023) Educated at Menlo College and the University of Southern California, Pete was also a US Army veteran. In his professional life, he excelled in the family business, the Patman Meat Company. Most notably, he helped to create the beloved “Spicy Dog” found at Dodger Stadium and supplied hot dogs for all of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics venues.

Peter was also a recognizable figure in the golf and yachting communities. Serving as president of the Southern California Golf Association and the California Golf Association, he also volunteered at his yacht club and two yachting associations.

In the hearts of those privileged to know him, Peter Patman will be forever remembered for his love, leadership, and passionate contributions to the community.

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SAVE THE DATE!

Lū’au April 27, 2024

Come to campus for the dancing, music, and more!