| Kenyon Class of 1988 Fall Class Letter
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| Dear Class of 1988,
Kenyon couldn’t be more Kenyon than it is in the fall! Cool breezes to balance out the afternoon sun, crunchy leaves blanketing everything in autumn colors and an endless supply of friendly faces to greet you along Middle Path.
I haven’t been back to campus for a while, but am hoping to visit soon to see the Chalmers Library (supposedly there is a disco ball-esque skylight feature). All four classes are studying together again in Gambier (with a bonus first-year cohort finishing a semester in Copenhagen). And plans are taking shape for Reunion 2022 on the Hill. (Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 27. All alumni are invited to attend!)
In other exciting campus news, the College just shared its new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024 and beyond. You will be pleased to see it includes core elements like developing a computer science program informed by the liberal arts; enrolling, retaining and graduating a student body that is representative of the talent and diversity of our nation and the world; implementing a holistic approach to health and wellness, with an emphasis on mental health; and expanding its commitment to environmental responsibility.
You have also likely heard the announcement of the Kenyon Access Initiative which will bring more high-achieving students to Kenyon thanks to a $25 million matching grant from the Schuler Education Foundation. Any amount we give through this Kenyon Access Initiative will be matched 1:1 and will go to a new scholarship for students from families with limited means and those ineligible for government aid — up to $25 million.
I could go on for pages about these two pieces of Kenyon news, but lucky for you, I don’t have to. Scroll on to learn more about Kenyon’s strategic plan and the Kenyon Access Initiative (and how they fit into our 2024 bicentennial celebration).
As you read about what’s in store for Kenyon’s future, I hope you’ll consider supporting today’s students with a gift to the Kenyon Fund and (if you have the ability) making an additional gift to the Kenyon Access Initiative that has the potential to bring 50 additional talented students to Kenyon each year.
Kenyon couldn’t be Kenyon without involved and supportive alumni like us. As the bicentennial draws closer, I challenge each of you to do a little more than you have in the past to help make Kenyon the special place it is. This could mean becoming an alumni volunteer, attending a College event, submitting a class note or setting up a recurring monthly gift.
Thank you!
Pattie Rossman Skrha
P.S. Is Kenyon already in your will? Let the College know about your planned giving by emailing daleiden1@kenyon.edu.
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| There's a lot happening at Kenyon today.
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We want you to be a part of it.
The Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial campaign is about building a strong foundation for Kenyon’s third century by growing our endowment and strengthening alumni connections. Get involved by:
Staying connected to Kenyon
You may only be a Kenyon student for four years, but you’re a member of our alumni community for life. The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement strives to make it easy — and fun — to stay connected. GET INVOLVED
Making a gift
Gifts of all sizes add up: every year, gifts of $100 or less to the Kenyon Fund total more than $250,000. Also, every dollar given to the Kenyon Access Initiative between now and June 2026 will be matched and used to create permanent new scholarship funds to enroll exceptional students with limited resources and those who are ineligible for government aid. MAKE A GIFT
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| Upcoming Events for Alumni
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Save the date for these upcoming events for alumni taking place online and on the Hill.
- Kenyon Women Giving Back
The quarterly event series continues on Tuesday, March 22 via Zoom.
- Kenyon Together
The 36-hour online giving challenge kicks off Tuesday, April 12.
- Reunion Weekend
All alumni are invited to join us on the Hill May 27–29.
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Class AgentsClass agents are your connection to campus. If you would like to learn more about becoming a class agent, contact Molly Gutridge at gutridge1@kenyon.edu.
• Sue Byrne Wooster
• cdavid cottrill
• Beth Miyashiro Vivio
• Tom Morris
• Pattie Rossman Skrha
• Dan Rudmann
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Jessica Brown
I recently moved to the great city of Denver, Colorado for a thrilling Director position with the Aurora Public Schools. I will be part of launching a Visual and Performing Arts Magnet K-12 School in 2022. There is an incredible amount of creativity in the community and the Denver metro area. I recently met up with Sally Quillin Wagner ’86 for lunch who told me about the Van Morrison concert so I quickly purchased tickets. If any Kenyon folks want to meet up please reach out. Doing lots of running, yoga, hiking and hopefully snowboarding.
I have also been connecting with Doug Gertner and had a mini reunion of sorts with the women of Mather dorm! Pictured from left to right - Tory Wright Morton, Jessica Brown, Suzanne Grant MacKenzie, and Camilla Mellon Eagan.
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Jodi Campbell
First, it has been such a treat to have monthly Zoom calls with Jean Bayless Albrecht, Noel Chappelear Rodgers, Shelley Rankin, Diana Olinger, Margaret White Bellefuil, and Kevin Dehan. :) As for me, my daughter, Rachel, graduated from Furman University in May 2020 with a degree in Econ/Public Health. For the second half of 2020 [COVID be damned!], she and I enjoyed traveling across the USA in a 15' A-Liner travel trailer. We covered over 10,000 miles, 25 states, and 15 national parks. :) Got to visit with Margaret White Bellefuil in Seattle. The second half of our adventure year involved a 3-month stay in Costa Rica, scuba diving every week. Since our return in May 2021, Rachel has moved to DC for her first job (and where I had a great visit with Diana Olinger), and I have relocated to Greenville, SC. I still own my kitchen store, Cook on Bay, in Beaufort, SC - and thanks to some fabulous employees, I was able to enjoy a fabulous year with my daughter! Who knows where the road will take me next!?
Peyton Chapman
Hello from Portland, Oregon. I can't imagine people haven't been hearing about Portland and Oregon the last few years as we've been in the news for everything from BLM protests (beautiful and not the cause of vandalism/conflict) to the "worst air quality in the world" during the 2020 fires, and the recent decision by Newberg School District (45 minutes outside of Portland) to ban Pride and BLM posters I am still serving as an urban principal for a large comprehensive high school in downtown Portland and our students walk out and testify regularly in support of climate justice, racial justice, and to elevate awareness around houselessness, mental health, trauma, and addiction issues, as well as the intersectionality of race, gender and sexual orientation inequities. They want, deserve and need a stronger commitment to our shared humanity. I am both incredibly proud of them and fearful for our and their children's futures.
On a personal note, my daughter Halle left NYC and spent the last 15 months building a house in the Catskills woods as her Covid project. She is a badass and using her artist and welding skills as the general contractor. She bought the plans for $599 on the internet. My sons Alden and Everett are now in their senior and junior years at my high school. Our oldest is looking at rural Division 3 colleges on the east coast to hopefully play soccer, and our junior enjoys skateboarding, doing flips off bridges into rivers, and will only consider California colleges if he doesn't make his first million on Snap or IG before he graduates from high school. (I knew no fear until I had children.) If you are ever in Portland please reach out to connect, I'd love to grab a StumpTown coffee or glass of pinot. My husband Aubrey is an urban artist/small farm manager and we enjoy hosting sunset views. We would love to share the best of Portland, Oregon with you. Peace, good health and cheers to all!
Mark Eberman
Just as COVID was starting to take hold, I opened a guitar building/repair business called Mars Guitars. Amazingly, it gained traction in spite of all the shutdowns and has continued to do well. It's the best job I've ever had, by far, except for you know, not making any money. Still, it's awesome. If you're in the DC area and need a fretted instrument repaired or upgraded, check me out at marsguitars.com. If you're from the class of '88 or thereabouts, let me know and I'll give you an "I knew you when" discount!
Juliette Engelbert Stuard
Life is still very busy, but in a much different way. After several years of juggling multiple part time jobs, I have returned to the standard 40 hours a week in an office. I've cut back to only 1 additional part time job plus some periodic editing work--and a dog who wants to walk a lot! I'm still outside Cincinnati where I've been for 20 years in a house too big for me and my dog, but I love my neighborhood and people who live nearby so I'm not planning to downsize any time soon. Let me know if you are in the area and need a place to stay!
Bruce Gerber
Jim Hinkle '87, Kent Wellington, Ted Stewart, Bret Frye, David Mitchell, Bruce Gerber, and Darryl Shankle '89 traveled to Huntington, West Virginia in September to watch the son of Nelson Morris play for East Carolina against Marshall. We enjoyed the ECU come from behind upset victory and catching up with each other. Mark Day made the trip the next morning to meet us for breakfast. Good times!
Melissa Henderson Koenig
Working from home last year allowed me lots of time (since I no longer had a commute) to spend mushing with my now almost 4 year old husky - Rollo. We were even able to attend a few races (dog sports lend themselves to pandemic activities as you naturally social distance and are outdoors) in Michigan. My husband blames me for all the snow we got in the Chicagoland area this past winter as I purchased a sled! Now that I am back in the office I will miss going skiing/sledding/biking/carting at lunch.
Tara Jones
It was a busy, busy summer in my garden. We harvested and processed pears (dried), apples (dried and cider), elderberries (dried and shrub), aronia berries (dried and shrub), goumi berries (dried), black currants (dried), grapes (dried and juice) and a variety of medicinal plants. The most recent project was helping to install a drip irrigation system which was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my summer and made me wonder whether it might be time for a career change.
Another highlight was floating down a stretch of the Willamette River on a camping air mattress. Long story behind that one. Short version is that it was a sweet way to spend a sunny summer afternoon.
A couple weeks ago I started an eight-week on-line class called The Work 101 based on The Work by Byron Katie. If you are looking for a tool to get yourself back on track emotionally when you find yourself going off the rails, I would highly recommend both this "technique" and this course.
Lastly, a moment of motherly pride. My daughter Sophia who will be completing her BA in materials science (with a minor in Physics) winter term, has been offered a job in the spring as a graduate assistant in the department of nuclear engineering at Oregon State University while she pursues her masters.
Jerry McEntee
First, I hope everyone is doing well during these unique times. Lynn and I are still ensconced in Chicago having fun raising the twins. I am still working on the financing of Broadway and touring productions so I’m ecstatic to have Broadway and theaters across the world reopened. I enjoy keeping in touch with fellow classmates Seth Harris and Marc Royce who enjoy scaring me by sharing teenager stories.
Amy Miller Keane
I'm in my 27th year of teaching bilingual elementary school. I am currently a dyslexia interventionist in Austin ISD, working with small groups of struggling readers. It's great to be teaching in person again, despite the risks. Everyone is wearing masks, thank goodness. My husband Peter is still working at Etsy as a programmer, and is making music. He has a new album out called Blues Ballads Cowboy Songs. Our son Eamonn is now in 10th grade. He enjoys school and excels in Math and English. He is also in year 3 of Japanese. He seems to have inherited the music gene from my husband and plays piano, electric guitar and fiddle.
Beth Miyashiro Vivio
Life is good and very busy! In May we moved into a new home (still in St. Pete, Florida) and then had back to back graduations all in the same week. It's fun to have another Kenyon Alum in the family! Carter ’21 has successfully launched and is teaching Spanish at a boarding school in Virginia. Our younger son Anthony, who could not be convinced to attend Kenyon, is happily settled in as a freshman at Purdue University where he is studying Industrial Design. I had visions of so much more time on my hands once we had an empty nest, but between work and volunteer gigs, the days are very full. We have enjoyed recent trips to see our kids and we spent some time out in Park City, Utah to escape the Florida heat. I continue to enjoy frequent communication with James Sokol ’87, and fellow classmates Edward Ball and Brad Koogler.
Nina Oldenquist
With vaccination and remote work has come a measure of freedom. I was fortunate to spend a long weekend in Florida this summer with Lori (Hughett) Harrison, Sarah (Fox) Call, Tom Gallucio, Tom Richardson, Mandy (Burwell) Young, Doug Thompson, Joe Shrum, and Captain Don Dowd. I also get to see Seth Harris whenever I'm in Ohio and have had outdoor adventures in NY, VT, and MA with Monica De Lorme ’89 and Molly Gunther ’89.
Pattie Rossman Skrha
While traveling in northern Michigan this past summer with my daughter and fiancé, I reached out to Becky DeVries, whom I haven’t seen since graduation! She and her husband, Dave, met us for breakfast. So fun to reconnect!
Speaking of connecting, I just spent time in Chicago with the New Apartments A-3 gang: Laurie Ewers Polite, Lynne Schneebeck, Jill Tibbe, Susan Lind Quigley and Susie Brown. We took a cool architectural river boat tour, saw a bit of Hyde Park, and just generally laughed our way through the weekend.
Jennifer Roberts Keller
After moving from the professional PR world to being a professor nearly 20 years ago, I finally completed my doctoral degree! I received my Ed.D. in Innovation and Leadership from ASU in May. It was a long process but we never stop learning. I continue to serve as an associate professor and chair of the journalism department at Western Washington University. I was grateful after the past year to get to catch up with Anne Chamberlain this summer in Seattle as well. And I got to catch up with some K '80s folks in Bellingham too. Hoping after these long months of being, as my dean says, "stuck in a whirlpool where everything keeps changing but we go nowhere," to actually moving forward and returning to a more "normal" life on campus.
Paul Singer
With wife Molly working in Europe for four months this summer, I took the opportunity to fill the apartment with sawdust, building a new work-from-home desk and display shelves for my dozen (or so) manual typewriters out of steel pipe and antique cherry wood. Provide a land address - you might get a letter! psingernews@gmail.com
Shelley Swank-Anderson
Hello All! Hope this finds everyone well. Kevin and I have been married 25 years this year! Our eldest child, Kiele ’21, just graduated from Kenyon in May and is "adulting" in Ohio, though we reside in Peoria, Il. We miss her! (Editor’s note: Kiele was a Falkenstine Award winner, which recognizes outstanding scholar-athletes who best display the distinguished characteristics of both leadership and integrity – congratulations!). Her sister, Leah ’23, is a third year ....AKA junior. She plays soccer for Kenyon and protects the goal! Our youngest and tallest, Scott, is a
junior in high school and plays soccer and tennis. He might like to play at Kenyon, since everyone else in the family was a student athlete there...we'll see. We are all doing well and are getting ready to hunker down and endure another Midwestern winter...UGH!
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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.
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Kenyon is grateful to the following donors for their generous support of the College, including the Kenyon Fund, during the 2020-21 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.
1988
Annual Fund Total: $72,117
Class Participation: 26.0%
Kokosing Society
Donors of $25,000 to $49,999
Jonathan Ennis P'23*
Philander Chase Society
Donors of $10,000 to $24,999
Aileen C. Hefferren H'12*
Dennis P. Mulvihill
Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
Anonymous
J. Edward Ball*
Jean Bayless Albrecht*
Susanna M. Brown*
Paul L. Clark*
Meredith Moore*
Suzanne M. Eldridge Packer*
Amy Heasley Williams P'16 '19*
Beth Miyashiro Vivio P'21*
Lorna M. Weir*
Katharine Weiss Abbott P'21*
Timothy J. Whealon
Kenyon Society
Donors of $1,000 to $2,499
David A. Chapin*
Courtenay C. Corrigan*
Barry M. Gisser*
Kirsten T. Miller
Paul Schnee*
Jonathan P. Wright, M.D.*
Donors of $1 to $999
Leland A. Alper*
Kevin J. Anderson P'23 '21*
Paul C. Bingaman*
Catherine S. Bowles*
F. Kirk Bowles MD*
Kelly M. Bridges
Jessica Brown*
Jane R. Burrill Santiago
Susan M. Byrne Wooster P'22*
Robin J. Caiola
Sarah F. Call*
James A. Cooper*
Katherine B. Davis Lentz P'21
M. Rebecca DeVries
Teresa R. Fish*
Louis R. Freese III*
Bruce A. Gerber*
Jennifer L. Gray MD P'24*
Brad Gregg
E. Larson Gunness
Christopher Hammett*
Peter O. Harper
Michael C. Helmstetter
Mark D. Henry P'20*
Kristen Hess Jilek*
Tim Holmes
Melissa J. Koenig*
Justin Lee, V*
William P. Lentz P'21
Catherine R. Lentz P'20*
Alexandra M. Lytle
Anne B. Manella*
Stephen M. Manella*
Boyce F. Martin III*
Andrew G. McCabe*
G. Stephen McCrocklin*
Christopher A. McElvein
Nina D. McGinley
Morgan Millard*
Amy Miller Keane*
Barbara Misener
Mason W. Morjikian
Thomas E. Morris*
Asita Obeyesekere
Diana K. Olinger*
Stephen M. Ozcomert
David J. Paradise
Lauren E. Polite*
Susan L. Quigley P'16*
Jeffrey A. Richards
Michel F. Robert
Christie D. Root*
Elizabeth B. Ross*
Patricia Rossman Skrha*
Maria-Teresa Samwick
Lynne A. Schneebeck*
David K. Scott*
Paul Singer*
Elizabeth Smith Schmitz*
Tamsin Smith*
Kirsten A. Stadheim*
Juliette E. Stuard
P. Kelly Surrick
Shelley G. Swank-Anderson
P'23 '21*
Bruce M. Szabo Jr.*
Annie Kay Taylor*
Laura Jill Tibbe, MD
Katherine A. Towson*
Franklin E. Tuttle P'22*
Lisa Volpe McCabe*
Kent Wellington*
Anthony E. Ziselberger
George Wharton Mariott Society
These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made other planned gifts.
Jonathan R. Ehret
Amanda Foster Spahr
Peter B. Gudaitis
Aileen C. Hefferren
Susan L. Quigley P'16
Christie D. Root
Becky Walker Scheibe
Laura J. Tibbe
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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