Mike Soenen ’92 joined Valor in 2015 and serves as a co-head of its operations group, focusing on active management of portfolio companies in conjunction with existing management teams.
Mike Soenen ’92 joined Valor in 2015 and serves as a co-head of its operations group, focusing on active management of portfolio companies in conjunction with existing management teams. His additional responsibilities include investment prospect generation, investment structuring and execution and due diligence of potential acquisitions. Mike serves as a member of Valor’s Investment Committee and as a director of Manduka, one of Valor’s portfolio companies.
Before joining Valor, Mike served as a senior advisor and co-investor in numerous private-equity transactions. Previously, Mike served as chairman, chief executive officer and president of FTD Group Inc., a leading provider of floral and specialty gift products. FTD Group Inc. was a private-equity transaction led by Leonard Green & Partners.
Mike previously held positions as president and chief operating officer of FTD Inc., president and CEO of FTD.com, and vice president of marketing of FTD Inc. Before FTD Inc., Mike worked at Perry Capital LLC and Salomon Brothers Inc. Mike also served on the Board of Directors of Rewards Network Inc., Youbet.com and OptionsXpress.
He currently serves on the board of All Weather Inc. and Motorsport Aftermarket Group. In 2011, he was named a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from Kalamazoo College.
Mike is scheduled to speak during the following sessions of Career Summit 2018:
Dinner and Opening Plenary, 6 p.m. April 6
Start-Up 101: From Dream to Successful Venture, 10 a.m. April 7
Building a Company: How Founders Launch and Grow Companies, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Mentoring Matters: What You Gain from Trusted Advisers, 11:30 a.m. April 7
Charting Your Course: How to Make the Most of the Career Summit, 1:30 p.m. April 7
Other Scheduled Speakers
Bill Duane ’94, retired superintendent of well-being, Google
Registration for Career Summit 2018 is now closed. Students who are interested in attending but have not registered are welcome to stop by the registration table in the Hicks Student Center atrium before the session they would like to attend. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits, especially on Saturday. See the Career Summit schedule online by clicking on ‘Agenda.’
A distinguished group of alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 at the Hicks Student Center for Life after K. Kris Davidson, the owner of Kris Davidson Photography, continues our series of features highlighting our speakers for the event. To learn more, visit our Career Summit 2018 news story.
Kris Davidson
Business Owner at Kris Davidson Photography
Kris Davidson, the owner of Kris Davidson Photography, will be one of the featured speakers April 6 and 7 at Kalamazoo College’s Career Summit.
Kris Davidson is originally from Sweden, having spent the first half of her childhood in the Scandinavian Arctic and the second half in Texas. As an immigrant, she gained a love for different cultures that fuels her ongoing work as a photographer. In her personal work, she investigates the nuanced question of what it means to become and be an American, with an eye to the role of reconstructive memory as it gives shape to individual identity in a larger American cultural landscape.
Before becoming a photographer full time, Kris worked as a marketing/branding professional for eight years in the San Francisco Bay Area on the corporate and agency sides, a great career incarnation that continually informs her work as a visual storyteller. Her specialties include travel/lifestyle, documentary and portraiture. She has collaborated with various editorial and commercial clients including National Geographic Traveler, Lonely Planet Traveller (UK), Kimpton Hotels, Ford, the Institute for Shipboard Education and many others. Kris is also a faculty member at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, teaching in the BFA and MFA programs.
Kris has a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Loyola University in New Orleans and a Master’s Degree of Fine Arts from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
She is scheduled to speak during the following sessions of Career Summit 2018:
Roadblocks and Potholes: Surmounting Inevitable Challenges, 8:30 a.m. April 7
Start-Up 101: From Dream to Successful Venture, 10 a.m. April 7
Building a Company: How Founders Launch and Grow Companies, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Serendipity: Making the Most of Unexpected Opportunities, 11:30 a.m. April 7
Other Scheduled Speakers
Bill Duane ’94, retired superintendent of well-being, Google
Registration for Career Summit 2018 is now closed. Students who are interested in attending but have not registered are welcome to stop by the registration table in the Hicks Student Center atrium before the session they would like to attend. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits, especially on Saturday. See the Career Summit schedule online by clicking on ‘Agenda.’
A distinguished group of alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 for Life after K. Janete Perez, the co-founder of Present, continues our series of features highlighting our speakers for the event. To learn more, visit our Career Summit 2018 news story.
Janete Perez
Co-Founder at Present
Janete Perez is passionate about creating spaces for women to connect, support each other and have impactful, meaningful conversations. Hear from her at Career Summit 2018.
As a co-founder of Present, Janete Perez focuses on bringing Present to the masses and, overall, on the strategy for the company. She leads a team of rock star engineers and marketing mavens. Janete is passionate about creating spaces for women to connect, support each other and have impactful, meaningful conversations.
Before founding Present, Janete spent her career working at some of the world’s top technology companies. Most recently, she worked as a product manager for Messenger’s growth team at Facebook. Before Facebook, she was a senior product manager at Zynga, where she led teams across various verticals including analytics, machine learning and mobile. Janete also spent five years at Microsoft helping to advance projects within the Visual Studio team for Microsoft Expression.
Janete incorporates experiences in her career and applies the same dedication and motivation to her community involvement, volunteering and mentoring. She continues to help promote women’s right and advocates for diversity and inclusion in tech to drive innovation for our growing diverse communities. Janete is an active mentor for Sequoia’s Ascent program, which promotes inclusion of more women in the tech field. Janete also currently serves as co-lead for the Women’s March San Francisco Chapter, which is part of a national movement to unify and empower everyone who stands for human rights. She leads the technology and community programming committees and played a large part in organizing the second Women’s March “Hear Our Vote” this past January. During her free time, you’ll find Janete hiking, doing yoga and enjoying the outdoors. The most inspirational woman in her life? Her hard-working, single mother, who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico when Janete was 3 years old.
Janete is a first-generation college student and earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Brown University. She is scheduled to speak during the following sessions of Career Summit 2018:
Thriving as a Woman in the Workplace, 10 a.m. April 7
Social Entrepreneurship: Finding Solutions to Community Problems, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Serendipity: Making the Most of Unexpected Opportunities, 11:30 a.m. April 7
Charting Your Course: How to Make the Most of the Career Summit, 1:30 p.m. April 7
Other Scheduled Speakers
Bill Duane ’94, retired superintendent of well-being, Google
Registration for Career Summit 2018 is now closed. Students who are interested in attending but have not registered are welcome to stop by the registration table in the Hicks Student Center atrium before the session they would like to attend. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits, especially on Saturday. See the Career Summit schedule online by clicking on ‘Agenda.’
A distinguished group of alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 for Life after K. Esperanza Cantú ’11, a project leader in the Data Planning and Evaluation Division at the Detroit Health Department, continues our series of features highlighting our speakers for the event. To learn more, visit our Career Summit 2018 news story.
Esperanza Cantú ’11
Esperanza Cantú has held various working and volunteer positions in fundraising, mentorship and coalition-building for health equity since moving to Michigan.
Project Leader, Data Planning and Evaluation Division at Detroit Health Department
Originally from Monte Alto, Tex., Esperanza Cantú has held various working and volunteer positions in fundraising, mentorship and coalition-building for health equity since moving to Michigan. In 2016, Esperanza transitioned to the Detroit Health Department, where she currently serves as a project leader in the Data, Planning and Evaluation Division. In her current role, she is coordinating a communitywide strategic planning process for health; efforts will result in a community health assessment and five-year community health improvement plan for the city of Detroit.
In 2016, Esperanza also accepted an appointment from Gov. Rick Snyder to serve on the statewide Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan. She serves as chair of the Finance Committee, and will build capacity to reduce inequities in state resources and services to the Hispanic and Latino community.
In her spare time, Esperanza enjoys spending time with her husband Micah Smith ’10, traveling to the Rio Grande Valley to visit family and running. Esperanza earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Kalamazoo College, where she participated in the student groups Latinx Student Organization and el Movimento Estudiantíl Chicano y Chicana de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A). She received her Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health.
Esperanza is scheduled to speak during the following sessions of Career Summit 2018:
Roadblocks and Potholes, 8:30 a.m. April 7
Thriving as a Woman in the Workplace, 10 a.m. April 7
Tips for Bringing Your Identity to Work, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Crafting a Whole Life: How Work Fits with Family, Community, Self-Care and Fun, 11:30 a.m. April 7
Other Scheduled Speakers
Bill Duane ’94, retired superintendent of well-being, Google
Registration for Career Summit 2018 is now closed. Walk-ins will be accepted if space becomes available.
A distinguished group of alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 for Life after K. All students are welcome, regardless of their major, and are encouraged to attend. David Rust, a former director of operations strategy at Lyft, continues our series of features highlighting our speakers for the event. To learn more, visit our Career Summit 2018 news story.
David Rust
David Rust launched Lyft’s first markets and helped write the playbook for its national expansion. He will be one of the featured speakers April 6 and 7 at Kalamazoo College’s Career Summit 2018.
Former Director of Operations Strategy, Lyft
David Rust is an experienced operator who has helped scale some of the fastest-growing marketplace businesses, including Lyft. David joined Lyft in February 2013 as the 25th employee and helped drive the company’s growth nationally to an $11 billion-plus valuation.
Early in his four-year tenure at the company, David launched Lyft’s first markets and helped write the playbook for national expansion. David then went on to launch Lyft’s internal strategy team and drove key initiatives including Lyft’s self-driving car pilots and partnership with General Motors.
Prior to Lyft, David led marketing and city expansion for one of the early pioneers in the car-sharing industry, Wheelz.
David graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and enjoys making time to invest in his side passions, whether they be playing salsa music or backpacking in the California outdoors.
David is scheduled to speak during the following sessions of Career Summit 2018:
Dinner and Opening Plenary, 6 p.m. April 6
Mentoring Matters: What You Gain from Trusted Advisers, 10 a.m. April 7
Social Entrepreneurship: Finding Solutions to Community Problems, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Crafting a Whole Life: How Work Fits with Family, Community, Self-Care and Fun, 11:30 a.m. April 7
Other Scheduled Speakers
Bill Duane ’94, retired superintendent of well-being, Google
Registration for Career Summit 2018 is now closed. Students who are interested in attending but have not registered are welcome to stop by the registration table in the Hicks Student Center atrium before the session they would like to attend. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits, especially on Saturday. See the Career Summit schedule online by clicking on ‘Agenda.’
A distinguished group of alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 for Life after K. Carolyn DeWitt ’04, the president and executive director of Rock the Vote, is the third in a series of features that will highlight our speakers for the event. To learn more, visit our Career Summit 2018 news story.
Carolyn DeWitt ’04
President, Executive Director at Rock the Vote
Carolyn DeWitt ’04, a passionate and lifelong champion of the democratic process in the U.S. and abroad, has a diverse background in government, politics, international development, education and in the financial sector.
A passionate and lifelong champion of the democratic process in the U.S. and abroad, Carolyn DeWitt ’04 has a diverse background in government, politics, international development, education and in the financial sector.
It was during her time in South Africa, meeting with parties critical to the collapse of the apartheid system and the subsequent building of a democratic state, that Carolyn witnessed the power of youth movements. Convinced of the absolute necessity of a health democracy for marginalized groups, she continued on to work in Kenya, participating on the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission during an election year. Carolyn also served as senior international advisor to a youth political movement and potential presidential candidate in Madagascar.
Back home in the U.S., on the national political stage, Carolyn coordinated satellite media booking operations at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, training teams of volunteers and staffs and coordinating surrogate media appearances alongside DNC and Obama for America staff. On the local government level, Carolyn has worked as chief of staff at the Office of Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis, and as deputy campaign manager and finance director for the 25th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.
Shortly after relocating to Washington, D.C., Carolyn took up the position of director of special projects for a thriving start-up that sought to leverage technology to provide clinical services to persons with special education and development needs in less-developed countries. She has also provided services for therapists working in DC public schools. For the 2014 election cycle, Carolyn served as chief of staff at Pivot, a political communications firm.
Carolyn studied international and African studies, political science, psychology and women’s studies and earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and international and area studies from Kalamazoo College. She sits on the board of Coworker.org.
Carolyn is scheduled to speak during the following sessions of Career Summit 2018:
Dinner and Opening Plenary, 6 p.m. April 6
Thriving as a Woman in the Workplace, 10 a.m. April 7
Social Entrepreneurship: Finding Solutions to Community Problems, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Crafting a Whole Life: How Work Fits with Family, Community, Self-Care and Fun, 11:30 a.m. April 7
Other Scheduled Speakers
Bill Duane ’94, retired superintendent of well-being, Google
Registration for Career Summit 2018 is now closed. Students who are interested in attending but have not registered are welcome to stop by the registration table in the Hicks Student Center atrium before the session they would like to attend. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits, especially on Saturday. See the Career Summit schedule online by clicking on ‘Agenda.’
A distinguished group of alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 for Life after K. Bill Duane ’94 is the first in a series of features that will highlight our speakers for the event. To learn more, visit our Career Summit 2018 news story.
Bill Duane ’94
Retired Superintendent of Well-Being at Google
At Google, Bill Duane and his team created worldwide programs to move the needle on well-being at the individual, team and organizational level.
Bill Duane works at the intersection of individual resilience and organizational effectiveness, particularly in innovative and/or chaotic environments. As an engineering executive for Google earlier in his career, Bill was responsible for worldwide production engineering for Gmail, G Suite and WebSearch Infrastructure, leading a team of 130 people across five countries.
Though an amazing, interesting and rewarding ride, it also contained more burnout than was OK, which sparked a curiosity about how burnout worked. As he investigated burnout, Bill discovered a deep interest in the biological, psychological and interpersonal mechanisms of happiness, effectiveness and well-being which led him to create the role of Google’s Superintendent of Well-Being. At Google, he and his team created worldwide programs to move the needle on well-being at the individual, team and organizational level, partnering with various teams in the Google ecosystem to make it part of the culture.
After 12 years at Google and 25 years in corporate environments, he is taking his expertise to a more diverse set of individuals and organizations. Bill earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Kalamazoo College.
Bill is scheduled to speak in these Career Summit sessions:
Dinner and Opening Plenary, 6 p.m. April 6
Mentoring Matters: What You Gain from Trusted Advisers, 10 a.m. April 7
Tips for Bringing Your Identity to Work, 10:45 a.m. April 7
Serendipity: Making the Most of Unexpected Opportunities, 11:30 a.m. April 7.
A distinguished group of K alumni will join Silicon Valley executives and venture capitalists for Kalamazoo College’s Career Summit 2018. The event is two days of practical preparation April 6 and 7 for Life after K. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend this special event.
Kriti Singh ’17 attended Kalamazoo College’s Career Summit last year. “As a senior who will soon transition into the workplace, it was inspiring for me to hear that your career is a lot more than your first job,” she said about her experience at the event.
Through interactive break-out sessions, themed panel discussions and networking opportunities, students of all majors will gain priceless information about the global job market.
Led by Brad O’Neill ’93, creator of K to the Bay and the CEO and co-founder of Depot Global Inc., this exclusive opportunity to connect with industry leaders takes place at K so as many students as possible may participate.
Confirmed speakers for Career Summit 2018 include:
Testifying to the enduring value of the K-Plan, renowned former U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen ’73 told Kalamazoo College students in a campus visit that “it made me who I am.”
Students were invited to meet retired Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen ’73 on Monday, Feb. 19, and hear him talk about how his K experience helped him forge an exemplary career in public service and law. That career included engineering the “Grand Bargain,” which brought Detroit out of bankruptcy and paved the way for Motown’s rebirth.
“I’m a real product of the K-Plan,” said the recently retired judge, who presided over the Detroit-based U.S. Eastern District of Michigan and handled cases that included the city’s 2013 bankruptcy, the largest of its kind in U.S. history.
He came to the College to play tennis, he said, and had a vague idea about becoming a doctor. However, a familiar nemesis of many a would-be medical student — “two words,” Rosen said. “Organic chemistry” — dissuaded him from pursuing that field. He said his academic adviser pushed him toward political science, often a path to law school, and the K-Plan did the rest.
In a question-and-answer session with a student audience in the Olmsted Room at Mandelle Hall, Rosen recalled as particularly influential a history course that introduced him to the “roller coaster” career of Winston Churchill, the late wartime British prime minister who remains one of his heroes. He also cited philosophy courses that taught him the finer points of reasoning and writing; the challenge of participating in experiential learning opportunities that included working in the office of then-Michigan Gov. William Milliken; and study abroad in Sweden.
“I spent as many (terms) off campus as I did on campus,” he said, adding that experiences such as being a student teacher in an inner-city Philadelphia school challenged him to develop his self-reliance and fostered in him a sense of independence.
“You become confident in your ability to reason through things on your own,” he said. “I think if I had gone to a school that had a traditional program and a cookie-cutter curriculum I probably would have come out of it a different person than I am today.”
During his day at K, Rosen also spoke to a philosophy of law class led by Max Cherem ’04, the Marlene Crandell Francis assistant professor of philosophy; met with faculty; visited with the men’s tennis team as he praised K’s program as fostering “true student athletes;” and dined with President Jorge G. Gonzalez and Suzie (Martin) Gonzalez ’83.
Now beginning a new career as a high-level mediator with Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Rosen served as a judge on the U.S. District Court in Detroit from 1990 to 2017 and was chief judge from 2009 to 2015. He long provided internships in his chambers to K students and graduates and received the Kalamazoo College Alumni Association’sDistinguished Achievement Award in 2014.
Already widely known on campus for their invaluable contributions to the community, 25 seniors have been honored with Kalamazoo College Senior Leadership Recognition Awards. They include talented athletes, outstanding students, dedicated resident assistants, members of the President’s Student Ambassadors and leaders of student organizations. In many cases, they fall into more than one of these categories. Senior leadership nominations came from faculty, coaches and staff throughout the College.
Senior Leadership Award winners Friday were (front row, from left) Sean Peterkin, Elyse Tuennerman, Erin Butler, Emily Good, Lia Williams and Sep’tisha Riley; (second row, from left) Cindy Xiao, Sivhaun Sera, Hannah Berger, Laetitia Ndiaye and Skyler Norgaard; (third row, from left) Leah Finelli, Khusbu Patel, Danielle Simon, Mary Burnett and Alexandrea Ambs; and (back row, from left) Andre Grayson, David Vanderkloot, Emily Kozal and Griffin Hamel. Not pictured: Elan Dantus, Alexandria Oswalt, Benjamin Rivera, Rumsha Sajid and Kiavanne Williams.
“Kalamazoo College students are, by definition, outstanding,” said President Jorge G. Gonzalez, who hosted the senior leadership awards dinner Friday for the honored students and their parents. “To be chosen for a Senior Leadership Recognition Award is to achieve a superlative distinction.”
Here are the senior leadership honorees and statements from their nominators:
Alexandrea Ambs (nominated for a senior leadership award by Jay Daniels ’13, swimming and diving coach)
“Lexi is a great teammate and leader … Almost everyone younger than her on the team were hosted by Lexi or she played a role in them choosing to swim at K … Always leads the team by positive example and has been committed.”
Hannah Berger (nominated by the Rev. Elizabeth Candido ’00, chaplain and director of Religious and Spiritual Life)
“I’ve watched Hannah grow and develop into someone who is articulate, confident and able to work across difference to bring about a great result. … She is an ego-less, diligent servant leader who moves the job forward.”
Mary Burnett (nominated by Ashley Knapp, Residential Life area coordinator)
“Mary has worn many hats as an RA, peer leader, orientation program assistant, Index writer and more. … She truly cares for her community invests in developing fellow students and creating a positive experience for all.”
Erin Butler (nominated by Sandy Dugal, associate director, Kalamazoo College Fund)
“Erin has been a president’s student ambassador since her sophomore year. … She has been actively involved in issues of student representation and student voice. …She strives to make K a richer community where everyone has a voice.”
Elan Dantus (nominated by Mark Riley ’82, men’s tennis coach)
“Elan is a co-captain of our tennis program and a two-time first-team All-MIAA selection. … Also a departmental student adviser and has earned many academic awards. … Kind, thoughtful and successful on and off the court.”
Leah Finelli (nominated by Knapp)
“Leah serves as a senior resident assistant and is an exemplary role model who has always been considered a go-to person. …There is no one I know better who lives their life in such a way that I believe exhibits enlightened leadership.”
Emily Good (nominated by Candido)
“Emily has been a dedicated participant and volunteer in Religious and Spiritual Life all four years and now is an intern. …I never hesitate to leave her in charge of a program, meeting or group. … Diligent, responsible and thorough.”
Andre Grayson (nominated by Amy MacMillan, L. Lee Stryker professor of business management)
“Andre is in the top 5 to 10 percent of students I have taught. … He stands out for internal drive, analytical skills and the ability to get people to see things from a different perspective. … He has an inner fire that drives him to go above and beyond.”
Griffin Hamel (nominated by MacMillan)
“Griffin has really stepped up as a leader in the classroom who takes initiative. …In any project he will work hard and dig in extensively to learn and share credit with those around him. … He remains positive even after tough feedback.”
Emily Kozal (nominated by Katie Miller, assistant athletic director and women’s basketball coach; and Dugal)
“Emily is a dedicated leader in the classroom, on the court, in the community and as a President’s Student Ambassador. … A force on the basketball team and in the MIAA. … Amazing role model, brings a tremendous work ethic.”
Laetitia Ndiaye (nominated by Brittany Lemke, Residential Life area coordinator)
“Laetitia has done wonderful work in the K community as a senior RA, as well as in Model UN, Latinx Student Organization and Kalama-Africa. … She is a fun, energetic, caring, inspiring and extremely kind person who takes great pride in her work.”
Skyler Norgaard (nominated by Riley)
“Skyler has been a responsible, independent and motivated person as he leads our team. … As a co-captain, he is positive, respectful and an excellent listener while also challenging his teammates with his thoughtful intellect.”
Alex Oswalt (nominated by Mark Murphy, women’s tennis head coach)
“Alex is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached. … Highly accomplished academically. … As a captain, she is a great communicator. … Upon graduation she will be sorely missed for her leadership, humility, kindness and heart.”
Khusbu Patel (nominated by Bruce Mills, professor of English; and Alison Geist, Teresa Denton, Moises Hernandez ’17, Emily Kowey ’17 and Paulette Rieger, Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement)
“Khusbu possesses exceptional abilities to convene, guide and enrich fellow students, classrooms and/or civic engagement settings. … Biology major involved in Sisters in Science as well as on the Frisbee team and Frelon.”
Sean Peterkin (nominated by Lemke)
“Sean is a senior RA and such a motivating, goal seeking and respectful individual. … He pays attention to detail, always has a smile and never stops trying his best. …Everyone around him, including me, learns so much from him.”
Sep’Tisha Riley (nominated by Geist, Denton, Hernandez, Kowey and Rieger)
“Sep’Tisha has demonstrated leadership, deep dedication and skill as she has worked to promote educational equity and youth empowerment … also a student worker for the Registrar’s Office and very active in the Theatre Department.”
Benjamin Rivera (nominated by Amy Newday, director, Writing Center)
“Ben serves as a mentor for my students and has inspired them with his work at the Lillian Anderson Arboretum. … He dedicates himself to following his passions, sharing those passions generously and quietly making a difference in his community.”
Rumsha Sajid (nominated by Marin Heinritz ’99, assistant professor of English and journalism; and Geist, Denton, Hernandez, Kowey and Rieger)
“Rumsha is one who has made an impact since day one and not only grown exponentially since then, but has also catalyzed the growth and education of everyone around her…passion for social justice and civic engagement.”
Sivhaun Sera (nominated by Dugal)
“Sivhaun is a president’s student ambassador and a ball of energy. … She is a founding member of the computer science leadership team and serves as a TA and a departmental student adviser. … She is mature beyond her years.”
Danielle Simon (nominated by Miller)
“Dani is one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. …This amazing work ethic allows her to succeed and have a positive impact in the classroom, on the basketball team and in the community. …She always strives for excellence.”
Elyse Tuennerman (nominated by Dugal)
“Elyse is warm, poised and authentic. … Her leadership is evident on campus and in the broader community. … Co-editor-in-chief of The Index, a tour guide for Admission, peer leader and active in the Student Funding Board.”
David Vanderkloot (nominated by Deia Sportel, academic office coordinator)
“David is dependable, efficient, responsible and has a great positive attitude. … He is well liked by his peers and highly respected by the faculty. … Serves as a Departmental Student Adviser and a valuable source of assistance for students.”
Kiavanne Williams (nominated by Aman Luthra, assistant professor of anthropology and sociology; and Knapp)
“Kiavanne was among the brightest and highest performing students in my class. … Very impressive SIP research that I have encouraged Kiavanne to publish. … An incredibly mindful and compassionate senior RA who cares deeply.”
Lia Williams (nominated by Dugal)
“Lia is highly involved as a presidential student ambassador and also as a career associate, psychology research and teaching assistant, and interfaith student leader. …Outstanding ability to relate to differing perspectives.”
Cindy Xiao (nominated by Lemke)
“Cindy is such an intelligent, dedicated, respectful and jovial individual. … As a senior RA, she is full of energy, has a positive disposition and is always willing to help. …Her drive and incredible talent are powerful forces to her success.”