From Jen E. Carter, “I’m excited about my next novel launching on March 19: Rivals by Jennifer Lane. It’s a sports romance between coaches at Ohio State and Michigan. But the next rivalry I need to explore is between Kenyon and Denny-do!”
Nancy Alspach reports, “This past year has been a challenging one to say the least. Working as a school psychologist in K-12 education has for sure resulted in the most unique and challenging school year yet. My mom passed away in May, which also added to pandemic living stress. On a positive note, my dad celebrated his 96th birthday and continues to do well.”
Sarah Gimbel-Sherr emailed to let us know that, “Kenny Gimbel-Sherr ’95 and I are doing well. Hunkered down in Seattle, both still at UW in Seattle. We both work in the global health space as faculty members (Kenny in the Dept of Global Health and me in Nursing). We both manage multiple international studies from a distance through COVID19. Now I have a new local project within healthcare services at the Juvenile Detention Center in Seattle which is exciting (and so much closer than Mozambique and Peru). We are thrilled that our eldest daughter Lola ’25 will start at Kenyon College in the fall! Lots of evenings and weekends spent vaccinating these days which is a welcome respite from the work of the past year. Be safe, mask up!”
From Kevin Kropf, “Not sure I've shared this before, but I earned my doctorate in educational leadership with a higher education focus in May of 2019. I'm now in my fifth year as the Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. What's brought me joy in this unusual year are the many books I've read (over 30 in the past year) and a new tradition; Saturday night candlelight dinners complete with questions like what was hard for you this week, what helped and what brought you joy.”
Peter Meilaender offered this update – “At the end of 2020, I was appointed one of two new co-editors of the Journal of Austrian Studies, official journal of the Austrian Studies Association. I have also been named Director of Houghton College's new Center for Global Humanities.”
Edward Curtis let us know, “I have been busy making a documentary and writing a book about Arab Indianapolis (ArabIndianapolis.Com).”
From Anne Merriman Wells, “I am still living in Westport CT. My oldest is a sophomore at Northwestern University and is going back next week after studying remotely from home for a year. My middle daughter is waiting to hear from colleges and my youngest just got her driver's license. I am still running the international nonprofit Unite The World With Africa Foundation and recently launched a food program, sourcing organic staple food crops from small scale farmers across East Africa to provide them a secure market at fair prices while also providing nutritious food to low-income communities — all year along — at reduced costs. Post Covid I will be leading tours again — from adventure travel and climbs of Mt Kilimanjaro to service trips and even luxury safaris. If anyone is interested in joining me and Unite in Africa, let me know.”
Michael Butz shared this update. “This past year was the most anxiety filled, exhausting and difficult of my entire career. It was also the most rewarding as I manage infection control for my company, higher education and healthcare delivery, of over 600 students and employees. No internal transmission and an over 90% vaccination opt-in rate. Suddenly all those years of monitoring doctors for handwashing paid off! Ha. My loved ones managed to survive Covid, but my heart breaks for the millions affected by the death of someone they love - an inconceivable collective loss. I am humbled by the global response of humans to make the vaccine and get it into arms as quickly as we have. Grateful for my Kenyon friends who helped sustain me this year. May we all continue being safe, smart and respectful and we will get through this.”
Dan Lerner emailed to say, “Teaching my NYU classes virtually has been incredibly meaningful during these challenging times. Other bright spots during the past several months include my first in-person hang with Jon Mannion, a (post-COVID test) ski weekend with Jamie Rantanen, too much laughter on Zoom with Jen Jakubowski and seeing my son Julian make his big screen debut in the Netflix film Yes Day (thank you for all the Kenyon love!) -- I highly recommend all four activities!”
From Kelley Wilder, “Dear All - As the last year has gone by in all its chaos and sometimes monotony, I have been thinking of our time at Kenyon quite a lot. I hope you're all finding some solace in the slowly arriving spring, and that your families and friends have sustained you in this difficult time. Here in Leicester (UK) where we have rarely left lockdown for the last year, last spring's disrupted plans to visit Gambier for Coach Gomez's retirement seem a distant memory. Oddly the more distant memories of walking middle path seem that much closer by comparison. All very best to you - on whatever island you may have found yourself.”
And from Allison Slevin McCormick, “I was re-elected in November 2020 to a second four-year term on the Village Council for the Village of Key Biscayne, FL.”
