Kate Blanchard
After 15 years (and some deep pandemic soul-searching) I am leaving my position as a religious studies professor at Alma College. When our son graduates from high school we plan to relocate to the Twin Cities, where I will look for my next act--likely NOT in higher education. I hope to see some fellow alums out that way when the time comes!
Alden Senior
We've been staying safe and keeping ourselves entertained with virtual wine tastings, dinners, and get togethers with friends. Kristen '91, the kids, and I have done all the pandemic activities from baking and puzzles to home remodeling. It's been great having Ben home from Syracuse for the year, but he's ready to go back. Amelia will hopefully be going off to college next year. That will leave Topher to entertain us (or us to entertain him). Looking forward to getting back out to our favorite restaurants that have managed to weather the storm and do some traveling later this year. Ben's even working on a new film he wants to shoot this summer. Hope springs eternal!
Fred Drogula
I'm still teaching at Ohio University in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, and I also run an institute at the university promoting the teaching of the Humanities. I live on a small farm with my wife and kids, where we breed Connemara ponies and German Shepherds, and where I spent a recent sabbatical working on my next book on early Rome. I just learned that my second book, on the irascible Cato the Younger, is about to be released in paperback, so hopefully people will be interested in learning about this strange-yet-famous man!
Guy Tino
As I write this, big milestones for various members of the Tino family are inching closer. Jill is in the final semester of her master's degree in education from Western Connecticut State University, and her student teaching assignment is at my hometown K-8 school, twenty minutes from our house. Anna is sorting through opportunities from a number of colleges - her top picks are Eastern Connecticut, University of New Hampshire and Monmouth, and she's looking to major in music or psychology. After discovering a love of running long distances during the early days of the pandemic when the travel lacrosse season dematerialized, Christopher joined the high school cross-country team and wound up in the top 10 as a freshman; he's now gearing up for outdoor track. As for me, I have a new parent company after twenty-plus years with Nielsen. Early last year, following the retirement of SoundScan, the sale of the music division to Media Rights Capital officially closed. MRC is best known as the film and television studio responsible for House Of Cards, Ozark, Knives Out, and The Lovebirds, among other titles. They already owned Billboard, which has published our data since 1991, so it was a logical return to the fold for the data group. Midway through 2020, Penske Media Group entered into a joint venture with MRC, which then brought Rolling Stone and its separate series of charts into our world. While we see how that all shakes out, I'm still training clients on our Music Connect product and troubleshooting issues which arise. I'm also gearing up for a rapidly-expanding schedule of summer gigs at various venues around the area. Working from home has given me the chance to vastly improve my skills as a short-order chef for our remote learners. If you're ever passing through Brookfield, feel free to swing by for breakfast!
Meredith Harper Bonham
After six years as the VP for Student Affairs at Kenyon, and 28 years in higher ed administration (am I really that old?!), I will be making a career pivot to the private sector. In May I will be hanging up my academic regalia in order to join the executive search consulting firm BeecherHill as a managing director. Not only does the change allow our family to remain in the Columbus area, it also provides us with ready access to Gambier so we may continue to attend athletics and cultural events, and indulge in burgers from the VI.
Kate Evans Smith
Like you, I am so relieved to have 2020 behind us, but 2021 didn't provide the relief I was hoping for -- until last week, when I received dose #1 of the Pfizer vaccine. I am not a fan of shots, but I happily signed up as soon as it was available to me in the state of KY where I live. Who knew that attorneys are considered "essential workers"? One bright spot of 2020 is that it brought me back in touch with some of my favorite Kenyon Ladies - Frouwkje Gilkey Pagani, Ann Kelley Wood, and Kara Berghold Passaro. What a treat to be re-connected with them. They are as dynamite as ever. I think longingly of the carefree lives we were privileged to enjoy during our time in Gambier. I regret that current students have had their college experience interrupted by COVID. Hard to imagine sliding into a bench in Peirce Hall to enjoy a meal with your table mates separated by plastic dividers. My own college student was able to return to her college campus apartment at the end of January (at U of Michigan where she is a sophomore), but she has no in-person classes and stays closely tied to her apartment pod. I look forward to having a reunion to celebrate with you all in the not-too-distant future. Until then, take care of yourselves, stay healthy, and enjoy the arrival of spring wherever you are.
Sara Joyce Corley
Steve Corley and I will travel to Gambier in August to drop off our middle daughter, Nell ’25, who starts at Kenyon. Our oldest daughter Mae will also start at Davidson College in NC after a gap year and youngest, Bea, is at home for 2 more years. Excited to be more connected to Kenyon again. Loving transition to working remotely, and Steve still refs lacrosse and coaches cross country in his spare time.
