Farm Folk

Set aside the stereotype of the farmer as a man wearing overalls and a straw hat, perched atop a tractor by a cornfield. More than ever, farming attracts a varied lot — including a number of Kenyon alumni.

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Plate & Palette

Delving into the history of design and material culture, a journalist-scholar discovers the humble dinner dish as an object of art.

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Creating the Campus

After a decade of intense construction, Kenyon’s master plan gets a remodel of its own.

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Also In This Edition

The night before classes started in August, a 500-foot table covered with white linens was set up along Middle Path for a picnic of locally grown and sourced foods for students, faculty, staff and the Knox County community.

Ascension Hall overlooks Middle Path as autumn leaves begin to fall.

Student Life

Tactile Education

With BrailleNote and some creative help, a sight-impaired student makes the most of Kenyon.

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Alumni News

Bookend Love

Kenyon couple champion mysteries and authors at their Ann Arbor bookstore.

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Ice Escapade

With a little help from the Lords football team, President Sean Decatur answered an Ice Bucket Challenge from Adam Weinberg, the president of Denison University. The challenge, a viral phenomenon launched to raise money for research into ALS, required a reply within 24 hours, a challenge to three others, and a shower of ice water. The Lords broke from their first practice at McBride Field to oblige the president with a blast of ice water—followed by full-throated cheers.

Alumni News

Flight Time

Katharine Sears '95 finds satisfaction specializing in airplane weapons and sensor systems.

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Treasures in Glass

For the College’s limited edition book on the literary windows of the Great Hall in Peirce Hall, Professor of English Jennifer Clarvoe wrote about “Song of the Open Road,” Walt Whitman’s celebration of American character and freedom.

Armed with Confidence

Lords football coach Chris Monfiletto took a .500 record into his third season: "Our only expectation for our team is that we approach each day armed with the confidence of having used adversity as an opportunity for improvement. If we can empower the leaders on the team to hold themselves accountable for recognizing these growth factors, then our small successes will snowball and enable our players to do some special things."

Hip to be Square

Math ruled at the Independence Day parade in Gambier.

Professor of Math Judy Holdener marshaled a dozen Summer Science Scholars, who created a balloon sculpture of a Sierpinski tetrahedron, a three-dimensional fractal. Holdener has for years hoped to enter a “float” in the parade, and this year was spurred on by math major Robin Belton ’16.

Class Notes

Recent Class Notes
’73

David J. Snell and his wife left South Carolina for Seattle, where he serves as deputy regional flight surgeon for the FAA Northwest and Mountain Region, covering seven states, 90,000 pilots and 1,500 air traffic controllers. “Not much in the way of flying — only a desk,” David observes, “but more than enough angst from controllers and pilots. Now in the position to certify senior airline pilots that I flew with in the USAF, back in the day when we both had the rank of captain. We’ll miss the ongoing company and tales from J. Scott Douglas and Debra, permanent residents of Hilton Head Island.”

’89

“I just returned from a weekend on Gambier Island attending Alumni Council meetings. As always, I connected with so many fabulous people across generations. The highlight — aside from tequila shots at the VI — was a networking session with students and alums. My insecurities led me to wonder what I have to offer in terms of career advice. But speaking with students, I was reminded how terrifying it is to be graduating from college and figuring out what’s next. When I told them it’s OK not to know, it’s OK to change your mind, I could literally see their shoulders relax and a wave of relief sweep over their faces. Of course my mommy instincts kicked in, and I wanted to hug them all and make them soup. It was also awesome to see my daughter, Shea C. Wilt ’25! When not on campus, I’m happily living life in Kirkland, Washington, with my husband and son. I love my job with the King County Library System, and I see my BFF Abbe Jacobson Kopf as often as I can!”

— Kyla K. Carlson
’81

“Afforded more time during lockdown, I stepped into a new endeavor as a booking agent, working with five artists from the U.S. and Canada, hunting and securing them gigs and routing concert tours nationally. It’s fun, a nice complement to my ongoing role as a DJ on community radio and presenter of house concerts, and recalls the days as concert chair of the Kenyon Social Committee.”

— Douglas Gertner, Denver

Past Editions