| Class of 2004 Spring Class Letter
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| Dear classmates,
It’s officially Reunion month on the Hill! Even though this year isn’t a milestone reunion year for us, all alumni are welcome back for Reunion Weekend this year (and in the future!) and the fact that alumni are FINALLY able to reunite on campus again after two years of virtual gatherings is something worth celebrating. The sense of isolation that has accompanied the past two years has been challenging to navigate, but having the support of you all, my Kenyon family, has continued to brighten the darkest parts of this pandemic for me — thank you!
Last fall, I hope you heard about (and perhaps supported!) the new Kenyon Access Initiative. We are eight months into our five-year partnership with the Schuler Education Foundation to increase access to Kenyon for exceptional students with limited resources. Our extended Kenyon community has enthusiastically responded by making more than 1,113 gifts to support this unique initiative, helping to create new scholarships that will be awarded to students we are enrolling now. In further great news, applications this year hit another record, up 14% over last year.
Hopefully you saw the news from President Sean Decatur this winter that, in response to calls from students as we approach our Bicentennial, he agreed the time had come to look beyond Lords and Ladies. Thanks to all of you who have submitted suggestions or other feedback for the process to consider a new athletics moniker. This letter was finalized before the results were known, but you can visit kenyon.edu/moniker to learn the latest.
This spring, the College continued its commitment to integrating environmental stewardship into its curriculum, campus operations and campus culture. One exciting way this is happening is that Kenyon is refraining from new commitments in specialized private investment funds that focus on fossil fuels — expecting that less than 1% of Kenyon’s endowment portfolio will be invested in fossil fuels by 2030. This news and more was shared in Kenyon’s new quarterly Green Newsletter. If you don’t already receive it, I encourage you to sign up for it at bit.ly/Green-Kenyon.
As summer approaches, Kenyon is preparing to welcome several groups of alumni back to campus. First, more than 100 members of the Class of 2020 and their families have registered to attend their belated Commencement taking place on the Hill May 22. On May 26, the Classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972 will be kicking off Reunion Weekend a day early with special 50th Reunion programming. And then, as you know, all alumni are welcome back to campus May 27-29 for what promises to be the biggest alumni gathering in the College’s history! If you aren’t able to make it back for Reunion this year, I hope you’ll plan to attend one soon.
All of the excitement and achievement at Kenyon today can be traced, in part, back to our support. Kenyon relies on our gifts to the Kenyon Fund to support every aspect of students’ experience today, from seminars to scholarships. I hope you’ll join me in making a gift today. We know first-hand how a Kenyon education can impact one’s future — not just professionally, but personally. When we support Kenyon’s current and future students, we help make a Kenyon family like ours a possibility for many more.
Thank you! Jen Judson
P.S. Scroll down to view the 2004 class notes!
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There's still time to join the celebration!
Why limit the fun to April 30, 2022? Here are a few ways you can get in a Gambier state of mind any day of the year:
Give 43022
Because Kenyon is at the heart of 43022, we held our annual giving challenge April 29-30. There's still time to support sustainability, scholarships, athletics and all the elements that make Kenyon, Kenyon. MAKE A GIFT
Buy exclusive 43022 merch
While supplies last, the Bookstore is still selling 43022 shirts, totes and water vessels that include a built-in gift to the Kenyon Fund to support today’s Kenyon students. START SHOPPING
Send Reunion greetings to 43022
Can't make it back to the Hill this year? Record a video greeting to be played on campus for your fellow alumni during Reunion Weekend 2022. RECORD A MESSAGE
Build a 43022 community near you
Attend a regional event or plan one yourself. The Alumni Office can help you organize an event for alumni, families and friends of the College in your region — complete with 43022 swag! PLAN AN EVENT
Connect with 43022 from afar
It's easy — and fun — to stay connected to Kenyon from wherever you are. The Alumni Office organizes virtual events for alumni that range from class-specific gatherings, professional development panels, topical conversations and more. BROWSE UPCOMING EVENTS
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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.
- Virtual Alumni Town Hall
Our Reunion Town Hall with President Decatur will take place Thursday, May 12 via Zoom.
- Reunion Weekend
All alumni are invited to join us on the Hill May 27–29.
- Homecoming Weekend
Join us for athletic competitions, festivities and alumni volunteer meetings on the Hill Sept. 23-25.
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Class AgentsClass agents are your connection to campus. To learn about becoming one, contactAssociate Director of Annual Giving Isabelle Rivers-McCue via email.
• Mara Bernstein
• Chris Greene
• Annie Higby Ellsworth
• Jen Judson
• Merritt Kanan
• Garrick Vance
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Class of 2004 Spring Notes
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In Memoriam: Remembering our classmate Peter Horan
Peter A. Horan, age 40, died at his home in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, January 9, 2022. Peter was an adjunct Professor of English at Long Island University. He was a gifted writer and photographer of New York images. He was involved in many causes promoting justice and equality. Recently, he volunteered at a New York food pantry. He loved music and would eagerly learn to play many musical instruments. He loved to ride his bike and clocked 4,000 miles in the last 18 months. He was a gentle soul with compassion and love for those around him. Peter was born in Cincinnati, the son of Christy and Terry Horan. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in 2000, Kenyon College in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in English. He earned a master’s degree in Teaching from Hunter College in New York. Peter is also survived by his six siblings, Kelly, Ryan (Lindsay), Caitlin Leppert (Brian), Mollie McHugh (Mike), Brooke, Cary and his five nieces and one nephew. Peter was famously known by his nieces and nephew as Uncle Happy.
Xander Piper, Liza Lubell, Robert Northrup ‘05, Marisa Zupan-Ciccone ‘06, Brendan Sullivan, and Billy Callis ‘06, attended the funeral in Cincinnati. They spent the weekend together looking through old Kenyon photos, watching videos of student antics, telling stories that made each other laugh and cry, and remembered their dear friend together.
Class Notes
Amy Bukszpan writes, “Greetings from sunny south Florida! A recent call from my freshman year roommate Grace Van Cleave reminded me of how much I miss my Kenyon relations not to mention Grace's bubbly and infectious personality. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Behavior Analysis (focusing on compassionate care in applied behavior analysis) while balancing a full-time position as Director of Professional Development and Ethics for a national, behavioral health company and assorted faculty positions for Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. In addition to work, I've fallen in love with ultra-marathon running and have completed five foot races of 100 miles or more. I'm currently bridging my love for ultrarunning with my studies in behavior analysis as I take on a research study analyzing and evaluating predictions for race DNFs (Do Not Finish) in ultramarathons, particularly the Barkley's Marathon. Missing those fall walks down Middle Path, but I love my little beach cottage where I share space with my rescue pittie Mia and husband Brett...come visit!”
PJ Bumsted writes that he and his family -- Elysia-Marie [wife], Eva [daughter] and Buddy [son]) -- bought a house and have lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for nearly two years (since April 2020). They’ve enjoyed experiencing Old Town Fredericksburg and the surrounding historic battlefield sites. They had a rather eventful beginning to 2022 with over 12” of snow and a lot of downed tree limbs on January 3rd! Whenever possible, either in-person or virtually, he hangs out with fellow ‘04 alum Dan Alper.
Michael Delay says after completing a PhD in biophysics at Columbia University, he now runs a media group called Demystifying Science with his wife Anastasia. Check out their podcast and YouTube channels for illuminating analysis of nature and society! He also makes records and continues to perform under the name Shilo Delay.
AJ Franz says he, Erin ’06, and the kids have loved living in San Diego, California, for the past six years, but it is time to move on! In April he starts the training pipeline to take command of the fast attack submarine USS JEFFERSON CITY SSN 759 based at the tropical paradise of Guam! He’ll be in DC through June, so hit him up! Or come visit Guam starting in January 2023!
Emily (Ruffing) Herman says she and her husband Derrick Herman are living in the same small town in central Ohio where Emily grew up. Derrick, a pulmonary critical care physician at The Ohio State University, has spent the last two years battling COVID-19 on the front lines. The demand on ICU staff has been tremendous and they are cautiously optimistic that the pandemic is beginning to show signs of improvement. Emily has homeschooled their three boys (ages 10, 7, and 5) while continuing to work part time as a family practice nurse practitioner. Emily's cousin was recently accepted to the Kenyon class of 2026 so they are excited to hopefully get to spend more time on campus visiting her this coming year!
Ashley James and Elton Hartney James are currently located in Atlanta, where Elton worked as the Lighting Console Programmer on last year’s Hawkeye, and is now on to something new but he won’t tell you what it is yet. He had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand in 2020 to work on the Blue People Movie sequels - it's all very secretive. In the past two years, Ashley began creating large-scale chalk art, as well as small-scale cookie art, which has accidentally grown into a small business. They just took their kids, Lily and Alice, on their first camping trip and everyone agreed that it was an excellent adventure, despite the temperature falling to 28 degrees on the first night.
Jen Judson was honored to be elected as the 115th president of the National Press Club, the world's leading organization for journalists. She is the 15th woman to serve as the club's president and the first millennial! She took over in January and has hit the ground running working to promote a free press and continuing to give important voices a platform to make news, most recently hosting a press conference for Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. and the Catholic Archbishop for Ukraine. She is also still working as a full-time journalist covering land warfare at Defense News and accepted a media fellowship at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies this year. Her husband Jim is holding down the fort with her two boys (Frankie, 3, and Teddy, 1) during her year-long tenure at the press club and is doing an amazing job.
Leeman (Tarpley) Kessler writes that returning to Gambier in 2015 was an unexpected surprise but becoming mayor in 2020 as the pandemic hit was even more of a shock. “It's been a privilege to serve this community alongside Rachel and to see how this village and the college have worked together to weather all the disruptions of the last few years and plan for a better future.”
Jules Kinkel writes, “Still alive.”
Jillian Levine-Sisson and her husband, Scott, just bought their first house (or, as her father calls it, a hole in the ground that you throw money into never to be seen again) in Silver Spring, Maryland. They look forward to the completion of their Victorian Oddities themed Study… the Steampunk Dining Room and their Powder Room dedicated to Prince. They also celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in November. Given the fact that they are now living in a home with more than one toilet for the first time in their relationship, they are hopeful they will at least make it to fifteen.
James Moro says he has taken on a remote IT role for a Bay Area company, Xantrion Inc, and he has welcomed a new Anatolian Shepherd puppy into his life (he’s currently 19 weeks old, and 75lbs!). He has been paying close attention to the war in Ukraine and hoping we don’t see WWIII in our lifetime. “Slava Ukraini!”
Taryn Myers recently got notification that she will be promoted to Full Professor of Psychology at Virginia Wesleyan University.
Harrison Rivers lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and continues to write for both television and the stage. His play THIS BITTER EARTH was recently staged at InterAct in Philadelphia and TheatreWorks in Hartford. Upcoming productions include WE ARE CONTINUOUS at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and THE BANDAGED PLACE at Roundabout in New York City.
Adam Selhorst says during the pandemic he has taken on a new role as Associate Provost of Online & Blended Learning with West Coast University in San Diego and he and his wife Krista have welcomed their first born son, Xavier, into the world.
Alex Simpson lives in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Washington DC with his wife Carter and two daughters, Rosalie and Townsend with a third on the way this summer. He said he is looking forward to transitioning to zone from man-to-man defense. He works for the Senate Commerce Committee, Aviation Subcommittee.
Mary Thuell received a promotion in March 2022 to Commercial Counsel and Deal Desk Manager at Quorum - she's happy to have transitioned to in-house corporate practice with a SaaS company. She continues to enjoy living in Washington DC, now within a short walk of her office at Thomas Circle.
Grace Van Cleave writes, “In November 2021, I announced my candidacy for the Iowa Senate. I am running a campaign in a strongly Democratic district focusing on reproductive, social, and economic justice. I had no idea how much I would like running for office. I am working away with fundraising and door knocking until my primary on June 7th. The best part of running for office has been reconnecting with so many of my Kenyon classmates. I am humbled by the overwhelming support I have received from the Class of 2004 and other alums. Being able to connect with so many of you has truly been one of the most special parts of this experience. For the record, we are doing amazing things! Not to mention, it's been super helpful. In a health care question during an endorsement interview this week (which I did earn), I used information I picked up from talking to John Tisdale and Erin Hayward! Lauren Bierman Waller knit me an Iowa beanie and mittens in Paul Wellstone green. Not to mention, so many of you have been extremely, extremely generous. It means the world to me to have your support, and I will never forget it. For more information about my campaign, go to www.graceforiowa.com.”
Pam Waldman writes, after a challenging pandemic year, her family made the move from NYC to Richmond, VA last June and is absolutely loving the slower speed, friendly people and easy access to both beaches and mountains alike. She has also revamped her career and is now running Sales Enablement for the Americas at a data science company – which she says is “surprisingly really fun and interesting! Who knew?!” If anyone is in the Richmond area, she would love to connect!
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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 kenyon.edu/class-note-form.
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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