alumni

K Honors Outstanding Alumni

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Each year during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend in October, Kalamazoo College recognizes several outstanding alumni who bring honor and distinction to the institution through their accomplishments, service and achievements. The award recipients, through their personal and professional accomplishments, represent the lasting value of K.

The Alumni Association distributed its awards for 2024 on Friday, October 18. The citations and the alumni receiving them included:

Steven Yeun ’05, the Distinguished Achievement Award. The honor recognizes alumni who achieve distinction in their professional fields. National or international recognition indicating a continuing or enduring level of achievement is desirable. Yeun, an Academy Award Best Actor nominee, will reunite with Director Bong Joon Ho for Mickey 17, a highly anticipated 2025 film also featuring Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo and Toni Colette. He also will star next year alongside Kristen Stewart in Love Me, a sci-fi romance.

In 2024, Yeun earned Golden Globe, Emmy, Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild Awards as an actor and executive producer in the Netflix series BEEF. Earlier in his career, Yeun starred as Ricky “Jupe” Park in the Jordan Peele film Nope (2022); as Jacob in the movie Minari (2021); as Ben in the movie Burning (2018); and as Glenn Rhee in the TV show The Walking Dead.

At K, Yeun majored in psychology, took theatre classes and participated in Monkapult, a student organization focusing on improv.

Outstanding Alumni Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun ’05

Gene Bissell ’76, the Distinguished Service Award. The honor recognizes individuals who have made exceptional volunteer contributions to Kalamazoo College. Bissell—a political science major, student government treasurer, yearbook committee member and resident advisor at K—spent most of his 34-year career at two companies, AmeriGas and BOC Gases. He worked at several levels, from management trainee to executive, in locations throughout the U.S.

In 2000, he was appointed president and CEO at AmeriGas, the largest propane company in the country. In retirement, he has continued to serve on several boards of directors; most important to him, however, were his 15 years on the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees, from 2004–19, including serving as the first chair of the Audit Committee, as chair of the Finance Committee for seven years, and on two capital campaign committees.

He and his wife, Joann, established two endowments at K, one to support students from outside Michigan and the other to support students on study abroad. They have also donated funds to establish the Bissell Theater.

Outstanding Alumni Gene Bissell
Gene Bissell ’76

Alex Morgan ’11, the Young Alumni Award. The citation is distributed to chosen K alumni within 15 years of their graduation for outstanding achievement; personal growth in their career; or outstanding professional, civic and cultural service.

After earning a master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee and serving Teach for America, Morgan moved to Evanston, Illinois. He worked there for Rep. Brad Schneider’s re-election campaign and organized for the Sierra Club, where he helped close several coal-fired power plants.

In 2015, Morgan—a political science major at K—teamed up with a colleague from the Schneider campaign to start the Progressive Turnout Project, an organization focused on rallying Democrats to vote. The Project has become the largest voter contact organization in the country outside of the collective efforts of the DNC and state parties.

Outstanding alumni Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan ’11

Kim Sullivan Aldrich ’80, the Weimer K. Hicks Award. This award honors a current or retired employee who has provided long-term support to the College programs or activities beyond the call of duty, or who has provided excellent service in the performance of their job, making a significant contribution to the College in ways that have advanced the goals of the Alumni Association.

Aldrich began her career at K as a gift and data systems processor. Two years later, she was promoted to assistant director of management information systems, and in 1988, she advanced to director of development operations and records. By 2006, she had taken on the role of director of alumni engagement, a position she held until her recent retirement.

At the time of her retirement, Aldrich was the longest-tenured employee among those actively working at the College. She served on search committees for the men’s and women’s head basketball coaches, she was staff liaison to the Alumni Association Engagement Board and the Emeriti Club Leadership Council, and her service earned her the College’s LuxEsto Award (2020) and the Honorary Hornet Award (2024).

Outstanding alumni Kim Aldrich
Kim Aldrich ’80

The Emeriti Club of Kalamazoo College is an alumni organization for members of classes that graduated at least 50 years ago. The organization honored two of its members on Saturday, October 19, with the annual Citation of Merit Award. The recipients have demonstrated their affection for the College through loyalty, service, financial support and their involvement in K’s activities and programs. This year’s honorees were:

Jim Cameron ’69, a Chelsea, Michigan, native. Cameron taught Michigan and U.S. history at Saline High School after earning two master’s degrees in health, recreation and physical education, and social studies at Eastern Michigan University.

Cameron has received accolades for service in education including the Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year Award (2010), Hall of Fame honors at Saline Area Schools (2019), the Leadership Award by the Michigan Department of Education (2019) and the Historical Society of Michigan’s (HSM) History Hero Award (2023).

He wrote the books Voices Over the Valley: An Oral History of Saline Valley Farms, earning HSM’s Award of Merit in 2005; and Immigration to Saline and Michigan (1995). He co-authored The Meredith Bixby Marionettes, An Oral History (2024) and As Long as There Are Ships on the Great Lakes, An Oral History (2024), with his late wife, Marcia (Buchmueller) Cameron ’70.

Outstanding alumni Jim Cameron
Jim Cameron ’69

Gwen Fountain ’68, a native of Hart, Michigan. Fountain earned a fellowship, a master’s degree and a doctoral degree from the University of Michigan before teaching economics for two years at Eastern Michigan University, two years at the University of the Philippines and 24 years at Butler University. From 2000-02, she served Butler as interim president.

Later, she was the director of investments at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Fountain served in various positions and on boards for the Indiana Association for the Hearing Impaired, Butler Preschool for the Gifted and Talented, SPARCS for Learning Inc., Orchard Country Day School, Indianapolis Public Schools, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Project Leadership Service and others including the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees from 2000–21.

Outstanding alumni Gwen Fountain
Gwen Fountain ’68
Brant Haverdink Hall of Fame
Brant Haverdink ’02
Christopher Manning
Christopher Manning ’12
Jillian McLaughlin
Jillian McLaughlin ’10

The Athletic Hall of Fame honors alumni and teams who attained distinction at K as athletes, coaches or individuals closely associated with athletics. This year’s honorees on Friday, October 18, included five individual athletes, three men’s tennis teams and three football teams:

  • Brant Haverdink ’02, football. All-MIAA First Team (2000, 2001); MIAA Defensive MVP (2001); Academic All-American (2001); All-American Third Team (2001).
  • Christopher Manning ’12, swimming and diving. All-MIAA (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012); MIAA MVP (2011, 2012); 13-time All-American; nine-time MIAA champion in individual events; nine-time MIAA champion in relay events; set five school records; member of two MIAA championship teams and four teams finishing in the top 13 in the nation.
  • Jillian McLaughlin ’10, women’s cross country. All-MIAA First Team (2006, 2008, 2009); All-Region (2007 –09); NCAA Division III Championships qualifier (2008, 2009); GLCA Championships winner (2006); U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Award (2009).
  • Stacey Nastase Lambert ’02, women’s soccer. All-MIAA First Team (1998–2001); All-Region Third Team (1998–2001); only player in school history to earn All-Region all four years; scored 16 career goals with eight assists as a defender; member of two MIAA championship teams.
  • Beau Wangtrakuldee ’10, women’s tennis. All-MIAA First Team (2007–10); MIAA Co-MVP (2007); 53-22 career singles record; 57-20 career doubles record; member of 2007 MIAA championship team.
  • 1898 Football Team. First undefeated team in school history (7-0), MIAA champions.
  • 1916 Football Team. Second undefeated team in school history (7-0), MIAA champions.
  • 1936 Football Team. Third undefeated team in school history (7-0-1), MIAA champions.
  • 1995 Men’s Tennis Team. MIAA champions; third at NCAA Division III championships; 21-7 overall record, 6-0 MIAA record.
  • 1996 Men’s Tennis Team. MIAA champions; third at NCAA Division III championships; 23-5 overall record, 6-0 MIAA record.
  • 1998 Men’s Tennis Team. MIAA champions; third at NCAA Division III Championships; 21-8 overall record, 6-0 MIAA record.
Stacey Nastase Lambert ’02
wangtrakuldee_cm_0876
Beau Wangtrakuldee ’10
1898 Kalamazoo College football team
1898 Kalamazoo College football team
1916 Kalamazoo College football team
1916 Kalamazoo College football team
1936 Kalamazoo College football team
1936 Kalamazoo College football team
1995 Kalamazoo College men's tennis team
1995 Kalamazoo College men’s tennis team
1996 Kalamazoo College men's tennis team
1996 Kalamazoo College men’s tennis team
1998 Kalamazoo College men's tennis team
1998 Kalamazoo College men’s tennis team

Kalamazoo College Invites Alumni to Share Career Experiences in National Survey

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Kalamazoo College will soon be reaching out to thousands of alumni about their career preparation at K and their subsequent career pathways.

The College has partnered with Lightcast, a global leader in labor market data, to conduct the National Alumni Career Mobility Survey (NACM), which will be open from October 15 through December 15, 2024. Alumni will receive an email with a personalized invitation and link to participate. While the sender will say Kalamazoo College, the sender address will say kalamazoo@qumailserver.com. Don’t worry, it’s not spam—it’s safe to open and respond!

The project is being led by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) and the Division of Advancement.

“We know our graduates go on to be successful in a variety of industries, and many credit K for helping them get their start,” said Valerie Miller, director of the CCPD. “We want to capture that bigger picture with quantitative data and find out what we are doing well and what we can do better to advance future K students’ career-readiness.”

The survey, which will take around 10 minutes to complete, is completely confidential. Data is shared with the College in aggregate and will be benchmarked with data from graduating peers across the nation.

Retirees may notice that the tool asks questions about a graduate’s “current” job. Would-be participants may reflect on their most salient or recent career experiences as they answer these questions.

“This survey is a really important tool to help us understand the career pathways of our alumni and improve how K prepares our students for future success,” said Alumni Engagement Director Suzanne Lepley. “These insights will also help us demonstrate the impact of a K education to prospective students and their families.  

“Alumni sometimes ask about ways to give back to the College that can have an impact but don’t require a huge time commitment or a monetary contribution. Sharing your insights through the NACM survey is a great way to support current and future students, and it only takes a few minutes.”

Alumni who did not receive an email can also access the survey through this survey link through December 15.

Graphic says National Alumni Career Mobility Survey Powered by Lightcast

About Lightcast

  • Lightcast provides trusted global labor market data, analytics, and expert guidance that empowers communities, corporations, and learning providers to make informed decisions and navigate the increasingly complex world of work. With a database of more than one billion job postings and career profiles, our team provides best-in-class customer service with robust data, clear analysis, and expert guidance on skills, jobs and opportunities.  
  • Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India. The company is backed by global private equity leader KKR. For more, visit www.lightcast.io. 

Alumna, Theatre Company Bring ‘Will You Miss Me?’ to K

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A Detroit-based experimental theatre company, co-directed by Kalamazoo College alumna Liza Bielby ’02, will present its newest project, a critically acclaimed play billed as a funeral for whiteness, this month in the Olmsted Room at Mandelle Hall. 

Will You Miss Me? layers traditional Appalachian songs with family secrets, ancient Welsh mythology, brutal comedy, and rituals—both inherited and invented—to push audiences to examine the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and grieve the selves that have been forgotten.  

When a haunting song echoes, a weary traveler is drawn into a funeral service for one of many white workers who moved from Appalachia to Detroit in the past century. But as the funeral unfolds, the mourners are confronted by their pasts, their ancestors, and helpful and malicious spirits. Their confusion forces them to question whether they even knew the man they’re mourning and whether he existed at all. 

The Hinterlands troupe will provide two performances of Will You Miss Me? at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 28, and 2 p.m. Sunday, September 29. Attendees will be admitted free thanks to sponsorships from the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership; K’s philosophy, critical ethnic studies, theatre and music departments; and the Office of Student Involvement. No reservations are necessary, but seating will be limited. 

Bielby is a former Fulbright Scholar; a student of the Sichuan Chuanju Academy, now Sichuan Vocational College of Art; a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre; a board member of the Bangla School of Music; and a professor of movement at Wayne State University’s Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance. Bielby, Jenna Kirk, Richard Newman and Maddy Rager are performers in the show with direction from Bielby and Newman. Kirk and Bielby serve as scenic designers. Livia Chesley—who acted in the original performance—designed the show’s masks and puppets with assistance from Monty Eztcorn. 

Will You Miss Me? premiered in 2022 with outdoor versions of the piece performed at Spread Art in Detroit; Tympanum in Warren, Michigan; and Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, Massachusetts. In 2023, the piece was presented at Play House in Detroit and at Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, through Goodyear Arts with lecture-performance versions shown at the University of Michigan Flint and Teatro Libre in Bogotá, Colombia. 

“It hit me on a body level, a gut level, and it sent me into a kind of reverie that I haven’t felt from a piece in a long time,” said Zak Rose of Slate Magazine. “I was haunted by it, not just on my drive home, but I woke up the next day thinking about it. I kept talking about it and l couldn’t get back to my life before buying a ticket to go see it again the following week.” 

For more information on Will You Miss Me? and the Hinterlands company, visit thehinterlands.org. 

Will You Miss Me at Double Edge 2, Photo by Milena Dabova
 Actors Richard Newman, Livia Chesley, Jenna Kirk as Remy and Liza Bielby ’02 perform a remixed European bear ritual midway through “Will You Miss Me?” Photo by Milena Dabova.
Will You Miss Me at Spread Art 2 Photo by Paul Biundo
Kirk and Newman take on ancient spirits as a funeral dissolves into a forgotten ritual in “Will You Miss Me?” Photo by Paul Biundo.
Will You Miss Me at Tympanum, film still by Adam Sekuler
Newman, Kirk and Bielby perform in “Will You Miss Me?” Film still by Adam Sekuler.

Q-and-A with Director of Admission Shannon Milan ’16

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Shannon Milan ’16 returned to Kalamazoo College this month to serve as its director of admission. In this role, she collaborates with colleagues to shape strategies and long-term goals for the College’s enrollment while making personal connections and demonstrating a passion for student success and engagement. 

Shannon formerly served the College as an admission counselor and assistant director of admission from 2019–2022. She’s back after working for Portage Public Schools as a school psychologist. Recently, we sat down with Shannon to talk about her background and goals for admission at K. 

Question: How did you get involved in college admissions as a profession? Tell us about your career path and why you have decided to return to K. 

Answer: After graduating from Kalamazoo College with a degree in psychology, I pursued a master’s degree in school psychology at Grand Valley State University, eager to delve deeper into educational psychology. Upon completing my graduate studies, I was drawn to an exciting opportunity in admissions at Kalamazoo College. The prospect of returning to my alma mater and contributing to the college community was incredibly appealing. 

During my initial tenure in admissions, I relished the chance to work with students from around the globe, helping them discover the unique opportunities Kalamazoo College offers. This experience was both rewarding and transformative, allowing me to witness firsthand the impact Kalamazoo College has on students. 

Seeking new challenges, I transitioned to a role as a school psychologist at a public high school. While I deeply valued the work and the relationships I built with students, Kalamazoo College remained close to my heart. The institution that had significantly shaped my own educational journey continued to inspire me. 

Portrait of Director of Admission Shannon Milan '16
Director of Admission Shannon Milan ’16

When the opportunity arose to return to Kalamazoo College as the director of admission, I knew I had to seize it. The chance to come back to the place that had such a profound effect on my life and to give back by supporting and guiding future students was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I am excited to, once again, be part of the Kalamazoo College community and to play a role in helping students find their own paths to success, just as Kalamazoo College did for me. 

Q: What made K special for you as a student and now as an admission professional? 

A: As a first-generation, non-traditional student, I was amazed at how I was instantly brought into the fold and accepted for the person and learner I was and would become. From my first visit to the campus to the day I graduated, I was surrounded by staff and faculty who guided and supported me in every part of my journey at K. I will never forget my classmates and the faculty at K. Still, more importantly, I will never forget the way they made me feel—welcomed and accepted.  

Now, as the director of admission, having taken a non-traditional career path, I am delighted to find that the same tight-knit community that embraced me as a student has warmly welcomed me back as a colleague. The sense of belonging and acceptance I experienced as a student is just as strong today, reaffirming the enduring, supportive spirit of Kalamazoo College. 

Q: What are your goals, short term and long term, for the Office of Admission? 

A: This is a great question! I’ve been very excited to dive into goal-setting, and it’s wonderful to have an opportunity to narrow down my short-term and long-term goals. Short-term, my priorities include building relationships both on and off campus. This will help me gain a deeper understanding of our stakeholders and the current processes and challenges they face. Additionally, I aim to streamline operations and reassess our procedures to identify areas where we can enhance efficiency and achieve better outcomes. Another key focus will be on team development, including professional growth opportunities. I’m particularly excited about our upcoming fall retreat on September 10th, which will be a significant step in this direction! 

Long-term, my goals include strengthening our culture of data-driven decision-making and exploring ways to expand it further. I also plan to build on the strong foundation that has already been laid to elevate Kalamazoo College’s profile, both nationally and internationally. This will involve strategic marketing and showcasing our students’ success stories. 

Q: How do you like to connect with prospective students? What’s your approach? 

A: I’m naturally curious and passionate about learning the stories of others. When working with prospective students, I always begin by asking questions to understand their interests, goals, and concerns. This is one of my favorite parts of the job—I’m continually inspired by the young adults I get to meet and engage with. Building trust and maintaining transparency are essential to me in these connections. I believe in being honest about both the challenges and the benefits of attending Kalamazoo College, ensuring that students have a clear and accurate picture of what life at K could be like.  

Q: On a personal note, what are three things people might be surprised to learn about you? 

A: After I graduated from Kalamazoo College, I had the joy of welcoming two nieces and a nephew to follow in my footsteps: Emiliana Renuart ’20, Maeve Crothers ’23, and August (Gus) Crothers ’26. In addition to my nieces and nephew, my brother-in-law, Justin Danzy, also graduated from K in ’16—fun fact: we both graduated in the same year! My great-uncle Norm Erway and great-aunt Wilma Fechter, who were both members of the Class of 1944, were married in Stetson Chapel. 

My grandparents, Serafino “Gus” Gesmundo and Midge Gesmundo, met in the circus as trapeze artists, and together, as “The Flying Gesmundos,” they traveled the world. 

Inspired by my grandparents, my husband and I attended a two-day trapeze school event together. It was incredibly fun, but I have to admit—I’m not sure the talent for flying through the air was passed down!

K Alumnus Earns Distinguished Teacher Honors

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Kalamazoo College alumnus Sean Smith ’08, a chemistry teacher at Pritzker College Prep, is one of seven serving the network of Noble Schools in Chicago to be admitted into its Distinguished Teacher program this year. 

According to a Noble Schools news release, the program rewards network teachers who have achieved exceptional accomplishments with students in their careers. For the honor, Smith will receive an additional $10,000 on top of his base salary each year for the duration of employment as a teacher at Noble; opportunities to engage in professional development specific to Distinguished Teachers; opportunities to participate in network-wide decisions; and a chance to help select future Distinguished Teachers. 

“Being named a Distinguished Teacher was a nice way to recognize the time, energy and work that I’ve put into my craft of teaching high school chemistry, as well as the expertise I’ve gained over the last 16 years of teaching,” Smith said. “With teaching, there’s no day-to-day recognition of the extra time we put in on the weekends or after school brainstorming lessons, setting up labs, grading or the million other things on our minds, so it’s nice to have the extra recognition for the outcomes that all of these little things produce.” 

While working toward his Bachelor of Arts in biology at K, Smith worked as a YMCA summer camp counselor and waterfront director at Camp Torenta in his hometown of Cadillac, Michigan. The roles inspired him to consider a career in teaching. 

By his senior year, Smith was working in a biochemistry lab at K to conduct research on disulfide bonds. Since graduating, Smith has acquired a Master of Science Education from Lehman College in New York while working with the New York City Teaching Fellows to instruct high-need subjects to the city’s students. Smith additionally served as a science instructional coach at EPIC Academy in Chicago before starting his career at Pritzker College Prep.  

Teacher Sean Smith
Sean Smith ’08

“Many of us remember our favorite teachers far into adulthood,” Noble Schools CEO Constance Jones said. “Educators who make a difference in their classrooms make a pivotal difference in their students’ lives, and it is important that we recognize this kind of devotion. It is my honor to welcome this new cohort of outstanding educators into the program and thank them for the abundance of passion, love and dedication that they bring with them to the job each and every day.” 

Smith added, “Teaching is constantly challenging, surprising and rewarding. The things that I love about teaching vary on a daily basis because there are so many different aspects to it as a job. It is never boring, and there are always unsolved puzzles and challenges that require creative solutions. I also appreciate the unpredictability and surprises that come from teaching students who have their own unique ideas, questions and quirks. The exact same lesson or lab could produce different data, conclusions or questions based on what students are bringing into the classroom.” 

Suzanne Lepley Named Next Director of Alumni Engagement

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Kalamazoo College is pleased to announce that Suzanne Lepley has been named the next director of alumni engagement, effective July 1. She succeeds Kim Aldrich ’80, who will be retiring in June after more than 40 years at the College, 17 of those in the Office of Alumni Engagement.

Lepley will be an integral member of the senior Advancement team responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive engagement strategy that deepens alumni involvement, nurturing and strengthening their connection to the College. In this role, she will also lead the Office of Alumni Engagement and provide guidance, counsel and support to the College’s Alumni Association Engagement Board (AAEB) and other volunteer alumni groups.

Lepley currently serves as the dean of admission at K, where she has played a key collaborative role in shaping strategies and long-term goals for the College’s enrollment. As a member of the Admission team for 26 years, Lepley has recruited thousands of students to K, making personal connections and demonstrating a passion for student success and engagement.

“Suzanne’s deep institutional knowledge, as well as the many relationships she has built across the K community, will enable her to provide excellent support to our alumni base. Most of the students she has recruited during her time at K are now alumni, and I’m excited she’ll be able to continue cultivating relationships with them that will build lifelong connections to the College,” said Vice President for Advancement Karen Isble.

“I am incredibly excited to be able to continue to serve the K community in a meaningful and impactful position that will allow me to reconnect with so many alumni,” Lepley said. “I look forward to hearing their stories and helping them find opportunities to engage with the College and with our amazing students.”

Lepley holds a B.A. in political science from Western Michigan University and has served on numerous professional and community boards and committees, including Colleges that Change Lives, the Michigan College Access Network, Ministry with Community, Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center selection committee and the Bread and Roses Alternative Childcare Center.

A profile on Kim Aldrich celebrating her retirement will appear in the Fall issue of LuxEsto.

New Director of Alumni Engagement Suzanne Lepley
As the director of Alumni Engagement, Suzanne Lepley will plan and implement a comprehensive engagement strategy that deepens alumni involvement, nurturing and strengthening their connection to the College.

Fulbright Chooses K Adviser to Mentor Colleagues Nationwide

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Fulbright is honoring a key individual at Kalamazoo College when it comes to referring students to the federal program’s international immersion opportunities. 

Jessica Fowle ’00—K’s director of grants, fellowships and research—was selected to be part of the inaugural Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA) Mentors Cohort. As an FPA mentor, Fowle is one of 20 from around the country who will provide virtual training and information sessions, presentations at the Forum for Education Abroad, and personal advice to new Fulbright program advisers who are looking to structure applicant support and recruitment at their own institutions. 

Fulbright is the federal government’s flagship for international exchange. It allows graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to teach English, perform research or study abroad for one academic year. 

“The mission of the Fulbright program makes it one of the competitive postgraduate fellowships that seeks a variety of people, without a minimum GPA for applicants, while laying some foundations to make access feasible,” Fowle said. “FPAs are the liaisons between the Fulbright program and the Fulbright student applicants.” 

Fulbright grant recipients are chosen for their own merit and leadership potential, but there’s certainly data to back up the value of Fowle’s counsel to those who apply, making her insight and experiences valuable to professional counterparts who seek to do the same. For example, K has been a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producer in six of the last seven years; the College had a total of 11 representatives abroad this year; 12 current applicants are semifinalists for awards that will be announced this spring and summer; and K has been the only college in Michigan to earn Top Producer distinction in the bachelor’s institution category in the past two years. 

“I’m a lover of storytelling and I get to do that with students, alumni and faculty on their applications for grants and applications for fellowships like Fulbright,” she said. “They reflect on what they want from the opportunity, and I help foster some reflection that strategically highlights what pieces of their stories are the most compelling. 

“I love the opportunity to transfer my experience working with students into a different format of the story of Fulbright. It’s really exciting to have a seat at the table and meet the folks at the Fulbright Program who are thinking about what they want to do on the national level. We’re asking, ‘What’s the story of Fulbright?’ and ‘How are we incorporating that story to keep federal funding and help FPAs understand their institution’s storytelling?’ It’s fun for me.” 

Fulbright Adviser Jessical Fowle
Kalamazoo College Director of Grants, Fellowships and Research Jessica Fowle ’00 is one of 20 professionals from around the country who will provide virtual training and information sessions, presentations at the Forum for Education Abroad, and advice to new Fulbright program advisers at other institutions.
Fulbright Adviser Mentors
Fowle (front row, fourth from right) is grateful for an opportunity to network with her fellow Fulbright Program advisers.

The fact that Fowle is an office of one at K makes connecting with colleagues in addition to Fulbright officials appealing, and she appreciates the recognition this opportunity presents, as mentors have reputations for successful program growth. 

“I like building things, so the opportunity to help other FPAs build a successful program is intriguing,” Fowle said. “I’m kind of the ‘small liberal arts college’ representative. There are folks from HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and community colleges. They want Fulbright grantees to represent all of America. Historically, as with many selective fellowships, selectees primarily are white students from the coasts, so they want to expand the applicant pool to include all of the country’s identity and geographic representation.” 

Fowle has been part of K’s staff in various roles for more than 20 years—nearly five as director of grants, fellowships and research—and the advice she has to offer students is applicable to any post-college experience they wish to pursue.  

“The universal quality of each Fulbright experience is this genuine desire and curiosity about a new culture and community, so it’s important to pursue opportunities in college that build those skills of getting to know a new community and understanding cultural dynamics,” Fowle said. “For our K students, that shows up by taking full advantage of things like the Center for Civic Engagement and the interdisciplinary components of K’s curriculum. My advice would be that they dig into how the topics that come up in language classes can intersect with issues that come up in other academic departments. They should see how their peers major in a million different things while taking advantage of study abroad, study away and Senior Integrated Projects. Build that curiosity, that critical thinking and the flexibility to be uncomfortable, because those are things that not only the Fulbright program looks for, but employers, as well.” 

Kalamazoo College Trustees Elect New Board Chair

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The Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees has unanimously elected Jody Clark ’80 to become chair of the Board effective July 1, 2024. She succeeds Si Johnson ’78 who has served as chair since 2019.

A retired commercial real estate executive, Clark has been a member of the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees since 2014 and currently serves as vice chair. She has served on the Buildings and Grounds, Compensation, Finance, Investment, and Executive Committees in various leadership roles.

“Jody has a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to Kalamazoo College,” said K President Jorge G. Gonzalez. “As an alumna and a longtime trustee, she deeply understands the College’s mission and is well-positioned to help guide the institution through its next chapter.”

“I’m honored and humbled to accept the role of chair of the Board,” said Clark. “I am excited to collaborate with the Board of Trustees, President Gonzalez and the entire college community in guiding our institution toward continued success and impact for generations to come.”

Portrait of Board of Trustees Chair Jody Clark
Jody Clark ’80, a retired commercial real estate executive, has been elected chair of the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees.
Portrait of S. Si Johnson
Si Johnson ’78, a retired Stryker executive, had served in the role since 2019.

A retired Stryker executive, Johnson has served on Kalamazoo College’s Board of Trustees since 1996. During Johnson’s tenure as Board chair, the College has executed its five-year strategic plan, Advancing Kalamazoo College, embarked on The Brighter Light Campaign, the institution’s largest fundraising campaign to date with a goal of $190 million, and navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Si has been an engaged and dedicated leader throughout his time on the Board,” said Gonzalez. “He served as Board Chair during one of the most disruptive and difficult global events in recent history, and his leadership assisted K in continuing to meet its strategic objectives, despite the challenges. I am deeply grateful for his support and service.”

Heeding the Call of the Wildlife

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World Wildlife Day, observed annually on March 3, underscores the critical role of wildlife veterinarians in global conservation efforts as professionals like Maddie Chilcote ’17 work to ensure the health and survival of wild species, supporting both biodiversity and ecosystem preservation.

Many people think of household pets like cats and dogs when they think of veterinary medicine, yet it’s a whole other animal for Kalamazoo College alumna Maddie Chilcote ’17.

Chilcote is a wildlife and conservation medicine intern at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), a nonprofit teaching hospital and visitor education center in Sanibel, Florida, dedicated to saving wildlife through veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine.

Wildlife and conservation medicine intern Maddie Chilcote at a lake
Kalamazoo College alumna Maddie Chilcote ’17 is a wildlife and conservation medicine intern at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) cares for more than 6,000 sick, injured and orphaned wildlife patients from more than 200 species a year.
Wildlife doctor Maddie Chilcote performing surgery
Chilcote performs surgery to remove dead tissue on a mottled duck.
Wildlife doctor's photo shows healing on a treated mottled duck
The mottled duck Chilcote treated at CROW began growing new feathers and healthy tissue three weeks after surgery.

Each year, CROW cares for more than 6,000 sick, injured and orphaned wildlife patients from more than 200 species—varying from tortoises to bald eagles—while offering educational fellowships and externship programs for undergraduate students and visiting veterinary students, and internship programs for veterinarian graduates like Chilcote, a Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate. In addition to clinical duties, CROW interns work closely with staff from all departments in the hospital to gain a better understanding of the rehabilitation process, participate in research and conservation projects, and help teach students, staff and volunteers.

“Anthropogenic threats are the primary reason patients present to the hospital—whether they have been hit by a car, stuck in a glue trap, suffering from toxins such as rodenticides or harmful algal blooms, or reaping the consequences of habitat destruction.” Chilcote said. “If students want to be a part of the organizations that are the One Health and climate change first responders, I would encourage them to get involved in wildlife rehabilitation and medicine.”

Chilcote began to realize her potential career path in fourth grade in her hometown of Rochester Hills, Michigan, when she gave a speech in school about her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

“I don’t know what inspired me at that age, probably just love for my pet cat, hearing about the conservation work my uncle was involved in, seeing animals on TV and going to the zoo,” she said.

That dream shifted slightly when she job shadowed in high school and the appeal of clinical care lost some of its luster. Chilcote said she considered pursuing research over clinical work when she began taking classes such as animal behavior, animal development, vertebrate biology and symbiosis from influential faculty members such as Biology Lab Director Anne Engh and Associate Professor of Biology Amanda Wollenberg at K, where she also minored in German and played women’s soccer.

Her Senior Integrated Project (SIP) at Binder Park Zoo focused on the stereotypic pacing behaviors of three American black bear siblings while introducing food-based and environmental enrichment, sealing her career interest in wildlife. Soon after, she found an internship at the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick, Maine, where she began embracing the idea of attending Michigan State to study veterinary medicine.

At Michigan State, Chilcote used elective opportunities to spend time at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network in California, the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the California Wildlife Center, The Georgia Aquarium, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife before fulfilling an internship—similar to a residency for students of human medicine—at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital near Boston.

The mottled duck was brought back to health after surgery.
The mottled duck patient was released at Gator Lake at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.

At VCA, Chilcote helped pets on an emergency room floor while also rotating through specialties such as neurology, dermatology, internal medicine and surgery. But because she still hoped for experience in wildlife medicine, she re-entered the internship match program and ended up at CROW, where one of her most satisfying experiences involved saving a mottled duck over one Thanksgiving weekend.

“A lot of my colleagues were out of town visiting family and this patient presented with a scabbed and necrotic wound that extended the length of its neck and further down its right side,” Chilcote said. “Although this is not a wound we regularly see, and it may look like an immediate euthanasia given the extent of the wound, I felt inspired to try to treat this patient. After a couple of days of supportive care that included intravenous fluids, antibiotics, pain medications, and an appropriate refeeding plan, this patient was ready for an anesthetized procedure for debridement and wound care.”

After a successful surgery, daily bandage changes, wound dressings and nurturing healthy tissue at CROW, a partnering facility finished the duck’s rehabilitation with outdoor care and conditioning.

“They collaborated with us again a couple weeks later and we released him together,” Chilcote said. “It was remarkable. He flew just above the water along the length of a small lake at a nature preserve. It was a good full-circle moment to see what saying yes and trying something new can lead to. Knowing that I had primary responsibility of that case and could see it all the way through was a big milestone for me.”

With her CROW internship winding down, Chilcote is hoping to intern again to further her veterinary skills—perhaps in Nebraska, California or Minnesota—when Match Day comes around again next week. She has applied to sites in each of those states, eyeing additional internship opportunities, perhaps at a wildlife center near you.

“I’m especially looking to further my orthopedic experience,” Chilcote said. “We’ve pinned a handful of fractures in birds this year, but our caseload and therefore surgical case load has been down since Hurricane Ian. I want to feel a little bit further along in those skills before trying to find a staff position where I may be the only veterinarian there and have to make decisions and do procedures like that primarily on my own.Because Michigan is so near and dear to me, my 20-, 30- or 40-year plan is to eventually get back to Michigan, partner with local businesses, and design and build a wildlife teaching hospital of my own.”

Alumni Honor Complex Systems Studies Professor

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A longtime Kalamazoo College professor with connections around the world is being honored by five alumni from the Class of 2009 with a fund in his name that will help support a field of study for years to come.

Péter Erdi was hired as the Henry Luce Professor of Complex Systems Studies in 2002 when the College received a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. K’s efforts to attain the grant were driven by a small but vocal group of students who were mathematically skilled and interested in applying their skills to social problems through quantitative models. Ever since, Erdi has influenced many deeply curious alumni, including Brad Flaugher, Jerrod Howlett, Trevor Jones, Elliot Paquette and Griffin Drutchas, who are the five benefactors initiating the Interdisciplinary Fund for Complex Systems Studies in Erdi’s name.

Flaugher, who works in software development for startup companies, double majored in computer science and economics at K. He met Erdi in his first year on campus when he took Computational Neuroscience—a study of the mathematical models, computational algorithms and simulation methods that contribute to an understanding of neural mechanisms—before taking all the classes Erdi offered.

“There were so few of us in his classes—I think in my year we had only three or four computer science majors—that he took all of us under his wing,” Flaugher said. “He got us jobs in his lab with funding. All of us except Jerrod had gone to Hungary to work with him at his lab in Budapest. All of us were studying artificial intelligence back in 2006 and 2007, which was amazing. We were super close to him. He wrote all of us recommendation letters for graduate school. He did everything he could for us and taught us the hottest topic in the world 10 years before we needed it.”

Flaugher was attending an event in Philadelphia last March when President Jorge G. Gonzalez shared examples of how alumni were endowing funds in honor of their favorite or most influential professors. That led Flaugher to rally support from his classmates and recognize Erdi in complex systems studies.

“I talk to Dr. Erdi pretty regularly and I want to keep the interdisciplinary spirit of what he does alive,” Flaugher said. “I think it’s a great fit for a liberal arts institution, and when I was at K, I got not only job skills thanks to him, I got jobs-of-the-future skills.”

Henry Luce Professor of Complex Systems Péter Erdi presents in front of a large audience with visuals beside him and tall windows behind him
Henry Luce Professor of Complex Systems Péter Erdi presented at the Brain Bar, a technology and music conference in Budapest, while wearing a T-shirt that says “OK, Boomer” as a way to connect with a younger audience. He is being honored by five alumni from the Class of 2009 with a fund for Kalamazoo College in his name.
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Erdi receives applause from Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez while presenting his lecture for receiving the 2018 Florence J. Lucasse Fellowship for Excellence in Scholarship.

Erdi received the 2018 Florence J. Lucasse Fellowship for Excellence in Scholarship, the highest award bestowed by K’s faculty, which honors the recipient’s contributions in creative work, research and publication. He has dozens of publications from his time at K, including two books since 2019, Ranking: The Hidden Rules of the Social Game We All Play and Repair: When and How to Improve Broken Objects, Ourselves and Our Society, which have received international acclaim. He also recently finished another book due out soon, Feedback Control: How to Destroy or Save the World and has served the University of Michigan as a visiting professor and scholar.

Complex systems studies can be described as an examination of how a system’s parts contribute to its collective behaviors, and how the system interacts and forms relationships with its environment. Erdi added that complex systems theory finds connections among seemingly very different phenomena. For example:

  • The onset of epilepsy, an earthquake eruption and a stock market crash are different occurrences, but all three are abrupt, extreme events. Complex systems theory looks at the predictability of these events, and interestingly, there are algorithms for predicting the probability of earthquakes that also can be adopted by brokers to estimate stock prices.
  • When we look at the spreading of viruses, ideas and opinions, we can examine all three through similar mathematical models.
  • Network theory offers methods that can help us understand the structure and dynamics of topics as varied as the human brain, interacting social groups, food chains in specific ecosystems, financial networks and more.

With a program such as complex systems studies being rare at a small college, it has been difficult to efficiently increase its offerings over the years; Erdi remains the program’s sole representative at K despite its interdisciplinary nature, with applications in fields such as physics, computer science and psychology. The fund in Erdi’s name, however—thanks to Flaugher, Drutchas, Jones, Howlett and Paquette getting it off the ground—will ensure the professor’s legacy lives on after his retirement.

Despite the deeply analytical nature of his field, Erdi is also known for his sense of humor. For example, in September 2022, when he spoke at the Brain Bar, a technology and music conference in Budapest, he donned a red T-shirt with the words “OK, Boomer” on it while presenting to and connecting with a young audience. Also, when he was recently asked how he would like to be remembered at K in years after his retirement, he said: “Péter was an interesting character on the campus with his terrible ‘Hunglish’ accent. It looks like he managed to motivate some students.”

In all sincerity, however, Erdi was grateful to hear from Flaugher and his fellow alumni regarding the Interdisciplinary Fund for Complex Systems Studies.

“I knew that I had influenced several students intellectually,” he said. “Maybe five per year is a good estimation, so about a hundred may positively remember my name when they reflect on their college education. Still, the mail from Brad, and then the correspondence with Elliot, Griffin, Jerrod and Trevor, and the establishment of the Fund were wonderful surprises, and I am humbled to have this Fund while I am still active.”