Kenyon Class of 1995 Fall Class Letter

Dear Classmates,

For some reason I often get that Burl Ives song “Silver and Gold” from the old stop-motion holiday special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer stuck in my head (that, and “If I Only Had a Brain” from The Wizard of Oz, but I’m not going there now). It’s probably because I teach the arts to children and they love art provocations with bright, shiny objects. The reflection of light is an inherently attractive and distracting thing, causing one to pause and wonder. To be able to be in person at school with our littlest citizens has been a reminder of how important community is, and also how important it is to pause and wonder. The Girl Scouts still sing “Make new friends, but keep the old - one is silver and the other gold.” Indeed, our preschool’s focus this year was to slow down and create community, specifically a community of learners, and anything else we succeeded at was a bonus. Silver linings!

Lately it seems like good news is in short supply: we continue to be faced with difficult challenges in our lives, are called to simultaneously engage in these important struggles and to distance and isolate ourselves from one another — it’s an exhausting dichotomy. So as I write this class letter, and start to make a list of the many positive updates I have to share with you, I feel a welcome sense of gratitude for our beloved Kenyon College. Even during the most challenging of years, Kenyon has remained a point of connection for its community of learners, a bright spot reflecting light, a place to pause and wonder.

In-person instruction just wrapped up on The Hill for the approximately 950 first-years, sophomores and international students who studied on campus this fall, numbers intentionally kept low so no one would share a room. (Yes, it took a pandemic for a freshman to score a North Campus apartment for one.) The College developed clear COVID-related policies and protocols that included regular testing for those on campus and the implementation of the “Kenyon College Commitment,” a personal pledge developed in cooperation with the student council that emphasized the well-being of the entire community. Life on campus looked a bit different as Kenyon adapted its many facilities to ensure safe access to dining, athletics, research and more.

In addition to the adaptations for on-campus instruction, juniors, seniors, and members of the faculty discovered new ways to learn and teach remotely. (Yes, it took a pandemic to make sweatpants acceptable classroom attire for students and professors.) Check out our new faculty notes section to hear how your favorite faculty members dealt with the shift to Zoom classes, virtual office hours and online assignments.

Our alumni community has shifted to meet the challenges of 2020 with an equal degree of innovation — organizing and attending virtual events, talks and seminars, (have you joined the book club yet?), connecting with current students and new graduates as volunteer mentors, and giving back during June’s record-breaking online giving challenge Kenyon Together (Thank you! Thank you! And thank you!) Yes, it was heartbreaking to see Reunion Weekend 2020 postponed, but we’ve shifted our focus to Reunion Weekend 2021. Planning is underway and, if conditions allow, and, if our Virtual 25th Reunion last spring is any indicator of turnout and enthusiasm for what I’m calling our “Re-Reunion”, this reunion weekend could be the biggest alumni gathering in Kenyon history! We’ll be sharing more details in the months to come, as all alumni will be invited back for the festivities! (A Pandemonium of Peeps in tents!?!? )

(Now I’m humming “Make new friends, but keep the old….”)

Yes, good things continue to happen at Kenyon, and that is why I support it year after year with a gift to the Kenyon Fund — to help keep the good news coming. I give to bolster the student emergency assistance fund, which helped dozens of students get home when the spring semester unexpectedly went virtual. I give to make it possible for the College to award more in financial aid this year, when many families’ budgets are strained. And I give to help fund new scholarships like the Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship and the Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students, which was announced just last month along with the renaming of the Kenyon Athletic Center to honor Emeritus Trustee William E. Lowry Jr. ’56 H’99. Look below for full details on this exciting piece of Kenyon news!

During challenging times like these, alumni support is more critical than ever. Join me in making your gift to the Kenyon Fund at gift.kenyon.edu to ensure good things continue to happen on the Hill this year, and in the years to come.

Many thanks and wishes for good health. Be in touch with one another, struggle well, and keep alert for silver linings.

Yours Sincerely,

Emma Mead Melo

P.S. Scroll down to read our fall class notes.

Introducing the Lowry Center & Scholarship

William E. Lowry Jr. ’56 H’99 was the first Black student in the nation initiated into Beta Theta Pi, was student body president and captained the football, basketball and baseball teams. He went on to serve in many volunteer roles at Kenyon, including as trustee. In honor of Bill’s accomplishments and impact at Kenyon, the Board of Trustees decided to rename the Kenyon Athletic Center in his honor.

Recognizing his legacy, Board Vice Chair Joseph E. Lipscomb ’87 has created an endowed scholarship in Bill’s name to help bring more underrepresented students to Kenyon. Anyone can make a gift to the annual fund portion of this scholarship, or one of many other scholarships at Kenyon, and provide an immediate benefit to a current student.

Support currents students now with a gift to scholarships

Despite a challenging year, the College remains committed to continuing to meet 100% of students’ increased demonstrated need, with donor support. Every dollar you give goes directly to support students this academic year.

Consider giving today in support of:

Hannah More Scholarship for first generation students
Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship for female students
Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students
Pope Memorial Annual Scholarship for students from urban Ohio public school

And, of course, you can make a gift to the Kenyon Fund’s scholarships and financial aid designation, which supports the education of every single Kenyon student.

Make a Gift

Upcoming Virtual Events for Alumni

You're invited to join us this winter at these free events for alumni.

Alumni Town Halls with President Decatur
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. ET and Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. ET
Five-week mini class with Professor Emerita Pam Jensen
"Democracy & Education: An Introduction to Rousseau's Emile"
Tuesdays, Jan. 5 – Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. ET
A Celebration of Kenyon Green Initiatives (two-part series)
Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET

Visit kenyon.edu/alumnievents to register and view our full alumni event calendar.

Class of 1995 Fall Notes

Mike Epstein: For 21 years I have run business continuity programs. With over 800 incidents managed or overseen globally, I've dealt with disruptions from hurricanes/typhoons and earthquakes to active shooters and vehicles used as door openers. I've drilled responses to natural and man-made disasters of so many types. Covid has been my Frankenstein combination of Super Bowl and Tour-de-France. Intense and fast moving at first, and then grinding and relentless. Through it all, Mary Mason has been that smiling face when I come up from my basement workspace, or when she comes downstairs with the latest outrageous political news. This fall we celebrate 28 years since our first official "date" at the Phi Kap holiday formal. Kenyon gave me the intellectual tools I rely upon every day to help steer my company through this pandemic even as we deal with hurricanes, attacks on media and take huge steps in changing our business. I may not get all the sleep I want these days. I may lament the loss of a long weekend on the Hill for a football game and catch-up with an old teammate or fraternity brother, but I also know reason, perseverance and persistence have held me in good stead to date. Take care all, support your neighbors and we'll get through this. I want a Pirates Cove Cookie.

Julia Garland (Eisinger): Will Morrison Garland '94 and I are hanging in in NYC. It has been a strange, strange time. We added to our little family this summer, getting a service dog for our son. So far, it has been hugely beneficial. And now we have an adorable muppet. (Dog, not son. Though the son is getting pretty hairy too.) We count ourselves fortunate to have enough income, our good health, and to have been through enough difficult times that our support network is strong and we know how to handle anxiety. Being a public school teacher here in Brooklyn has been challenging to say the least. The inequities my students face are obvious and painful. To anyone with a steady job- please, before you renovate your home or upgrade your WFH computer, make a donation to a food bank.

Katharine (Rucker) Sears: In August I joined my squadron, Patrol Squadron SIX TWO (VP-62), on deployment in Kadena, Japan. Due to the time difference and lack of normal home life responsibilities, cleaning, cooking, child rearing, etc. I've been able to join the weekly Kenyon women of class year '95 video chat. It's been great chatting with Alexa O'Brien, Natasha Stillman, Hilary Koch, Heide Schaffner, and Shelley Wharton. These ladies are incredible and kept me sane during 18 days of ROM (restriction of movement) after my arrival in Japan when I was confined to a barracks room ensuring I did not have Covid.

In other news, on 1 October 2020 I assumed Command of VP-62, becoming the 37th Commanding Officer of the squadron. The squadron is made up of approximately 350 sailors and is part of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force. Due to Covid the Change of Command ceremony was conducted virtually with the former Commanding Officer at the squadron's home location in Jacksonville, FL and me deployed in Japan. The virtual nature did allow guests to take part without having to travel and both Nancy (Johnson) Lapke and Heide Schaffner were able to dial in.

I hope everyone in our class is doing alright during this crazy year. If you're coming to Jacksonville, FL let me know and we can have a physically distanced, but in person meet up.

David Hicks: Covid has provided plenty of disruptions and challenges. Alex is the least affected, as he is still on track to graduate from King in May, and will get married in June. Daniel's freshman year at Rhodes has started online, and we are hoping for an on campus experience in January. Stephen and Luke have been going on a hybrid model for middle and high school, but that should change soon. In more important news, Stephen has officially obtained his drivers' license, which means another increase in car insurance (and consider yourself warned if you happen to drive through East Tennessee).

Emma Melo (Mead): What do you do during a global pandemic, local and national civic upheaval, a disaster of a Presidential election, and all while opening a preschool school under ever-changing and conflicting regulations and mandates? Why, you MOVE, that's what! New address to come once I finish getting the paint and plaster out of my hair and fingernails.

David Bouman: My wife and I moved back to DC last summer after a couple fun and interesting years in Kyiv, Ukraine. We are both still working for the State Department. An energetic puppy joined the family just before COVID and is turning into my running and mountain biking partner. Giles Roblyer '96, his son, and I saw a bear while backpacking in West Virginia in May. In July I caught up with Ben ’98 and Laurie ’98 Douglass and Amy Danner Mooney '98 the day they finished a bike ride (aka “bike packing”) from Gambier to Alexandria, Virginia. We road tripped to the Pacific Northwest for a few weeks of remote work and got to see Brian and Kendra Binge, Shannon Wilkinson and Laura Baker Wilkinson ‘99, Neil Butler, and their families. It was a decent socially-distant summer. Hope everyone is doing well, staying healthy.

Beth Worrall Newsom: Here in Colorado, our family went camping over the summer, which we haven’t done in years. This fall our daughter started her senior year of high school, which isn’t the senior year anyone envisioned. She’s in the process of applying to go to college in musical theatre, which involves auditioning, and all auditioning will be remote this year. My husband and I continue to work from home and both of our companies have said this will happen at least through the end of this year. I’ve taken up lap swimming at 5am as a way to get through this difficult time. Stay safe, all!!

Alex Dashe: Hey everyone - I'm enjoying life down here in always sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. There doesn't seem to be many of us Kenyonites here in the Southwest - other than our own state Poet Laureate Grant Wiggins. It was great catching up with the roommate crew with Grant, Dan Matt Voorhees, and George Stone recently. Also - the guy who runs the pool at the JCC was apparently born in Gambier a long time ago! Anyway - my life as a health care administrator (also known as physician therapist) is continuing in full force - as we work to keep our system strong post COVID. Also my wife and kids are doing great - my youngest two girls (8 and 10) are in school down here and my oldest son is now a sophomore up at University of Wisconsin-Madison. If anyone makes their way down to the Valley of the Sun this winter, send me a shout out! alexdashe@gmail.com.

Scott Krell: Winter '96 and I are surviving 2020 as best we can with our 4 kids all at home. The eldest 2 are working on college on-line while the younger 2 are schooling remotely. I continue to ride my bike as often as possible, racking up 2000+ miles so far this year. Hope everyone is staying healthy!

Hilary Koch (Wood): This may be the first time I've ever contributed to class notes! I've recently enjoyed reconnecting with some Kenyon College women through Zoom meetings, organized by Alexa O'Brien and Natasha Carrasco. I married my Kenyon College sweetheart Arne Koch after graduation. We live in Maine and have two boys (both now teens). I taught for many years, but I left teaching to be the primary caregiver for our youngest son, who has hydrocephalus and type 1 diabetes. I also became a caregiver for my grandfather, who lived with us until he passed in July. After teaching, I joined an international open-source medical project and built my son an artificial pancreas system, which has effectively managed his diabetes for almost four years. My advocacy for his health concerns led me to advocate at the state level for legislation aimed at making healthcare and prescription drugs more accessible and affordable. I am now running for state senate and I am in the final push to Election Day!

Matt Leaf: Like everyone, Heather (Steiner) and I have been adjusting to working in the age of Covid. My digital work with middle and high schoolers makes much more logical sense than her work with kids under the age of 3! She continues to be awesome at what she does, despite the obstacle of working through a screen. Much of my work these days is focused on developing Restorative Practices in school, the Social/Emotional Learning of our students, and continuing our work of being an Anti-Racist school. Our oldest started his freshman year at UVM Honors College (Sorry, Kenyon, he wanted to attend a big school). I'm just sorry he doesn't get to experience things like an Orientation Ice Cream Social due to the pandemic. Hope everyone is doing well and that we can connect on the Hill for our belated 25th soon!

Brett Brownscombe: Enjoying the start of fall in White Salmon, WA ... picking pears, exploring the forest and rivers, and sharing workspace from home. I moved here from Portland with my wife Emily a few years back and it's been great. My work with the National Policy Consensus Center (Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University) has been home-bound since March, a virtual workplace reality I don't see changing anytime soon. I'm just fine with averting the commute. It gives me more time with our almost two-year-old twins. They are amazing, and in the midst of any exhaustion, I just tell myself they'll keep me young (sweet little lies)!

Read notes from the Class of 1994 and the Class of 1996.

New this year! Read notes from faculty.

Support Kenyon

If you missed the chance to share your news for this letter, you can submit a class note at any time via class.letters@kenyon.edu.

Class Listing

Kenyon is grateful to the following donors for their generous support of the College, including the Kenyon Fund, during the 2019-20 fiscal year. An asterisk (*) indicates a donor is a member of the Henry J. Abraham Society for loyal and consecutive giving. An obelisk (†) indicates an individual who is deceased. Please note that as of July 1, 2019 Kenyon’s annual giving societies have changed. Visit kenyon.edu/societies for more information.

1995

Annual Fund Total: $133,109

Class Participation: 32.61%

President's Society

Donors of $50,000 or more

D. Matthew Voorhees*

Philander Chase Society

Donors of $10,000 to $24,999

Sarah R. Kane*

Colby J. Penzone*

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

Christopher W. Nicholson*

Katharine B. Sears*

Nicholas A. Zumberge*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Carla R. Ainsworth MD*

Mark H. Ainsworth*

Jennifer Anderson Marcellana*

Rachel E. Balkcom*

Nicole A. Barna

Tana Barton Haas*

David Bee

Edward B. Bierhaus*

Atieno Bird

David J. Bouman*

Christina E. Boyer*

Sarah Brewster*

S. Peter Brooks*

Brett E. Brownscombe

Neil A. Butler*

Matthew C. Cashen

Akilah H. Clarke*

Courtney Cochrane*

Kate Comerford Doherty*

Natalia V. Connolly

Margaret E. Darrow Williams*

Alexander M. Dashe

Michelle Helena Denk*

Aimee S. DeYoung

Jesse N. Dougherty*

Andrew W. Eaton

Edison L. Ellenberger*

Rosanne J. Erdal

Abigail C. Fairbridge

Meghan Feinstein*

Mariko Finn

Candace L. Frost

Julia Z. Garland

David R. Genest*

Jonathan M. Gibbons*

Eben G. R. Gillette*

Kenneth Gimbel-Sherr

Daniel S. Goldberg

David H. Goldstein*

Michael O. Gotthelf

Beth M. Greenwood*

Brandi Gribble Mathers*

Andrew M. Guilbert

Sara E. Hallor

Jamie C. Harless

Jennifer K. Heaton Phillips

Thomas J. Herbst*

Julie Hill Barton

Jessica M. Hnatysko*

Angelique J. Holmes

Elisa B. Hooper*

Sarah E. H. Hopp*

Greg Hotsenpiller*

Kathy Hotsenpiller*

Laura J. Kearns*

Helene Keery

Hyun S. Kim*

T. Andrew Kingston*

Christopher R. Kirkman

Conan H.W. Kisor*

Joseph M. Kist MD*

Heather L. Knape

Arne Koch

Hilary D. Koch

Anthony D. Koliha*

Marc M. Lacuesta

Nancy J. Lapke*

Diana Lawrence Genest*

Heather M. Leaf

Matthew R. Leaf

Anne Marie Levy*

Kfir B. Levy*

Stuart D. Luman*

Ryan B. McCormick

Patricia L. McGinnis

Molly McWhorter

Emma Melo P'25*

Timothy R. Miller*

Kristin A. Misso

Ricardo D. Moreno M.D.*

Julian M. Murchison

Elizabeth E. Newsom*

Kevin P. Nichols

Christopher J. Noonan*

Thomas R. Oakes*

Seth W. Peter*

Theavy Pich

Scott E. Pickett*

Jill E. Pollack*

Margaret N. Reeves*

Kathryn G. Riecks

Daniel D. Roush*

Anmol Satiani*

Marie A. Schmukal*

Emily D. Shapiro*

Gwyneth K. Shaw

Richard W. Shrake III

Mark C. Simmons

Suzanne S. Sklar McCarthy

Gerard D. Solis*

Gregory V. Stark

Karl Peter Stevens

George W. Stone*

Katy A. Strzepek

Andrew T. Stuebner*

Elizabeth Swartz Khan*

Andrew K. Tada

Alex E. Tetlak*

Adam F. Tucker

Brian M. Vannoni*

Grant G. Wiggins*

Benjamin B. Williams*

Meredith J. Winters Weiss

John M. Zolidis

George Wharton Mariott Society

These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made other planned gifts.

Mariah Mitchell Davis

Sarah R. Kane

Kenyon College
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Kenyon Class of 1995 Fall Class Letter

Introducing the Lowry Center & Scholarship

Upcoming Virtual Events for Alumni

Class Agents

Class of 1995 Fall Notes

Class Listing