Acclaimed for his former role on AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” Steven S. Yeun ’05 was among four honorees Friday, Oct. 20, as Kalamazoo College presented its 2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Athletic Hall of Fame inductions also were held in the ceremony at Dalton Theatre at Light Fine Arts.
Distinguished Alumni Awards honoree Steven Yeun ’05 is acclaimed for his former role on AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” He was among four honorees Friday, Oct. 20.
The recipients and their awards were:
William DeGrado ’77, Distinguished Achievement Award. DeGrado is a professor in the department of pharmaceutical chemistry and an investigator at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California San Francisco.
Phillip C. Carra ’69, Distinguished Service Award. Carra is a partner in Apjohn Group, a life science start-up consultancy in Kalamazoo; former corporate vice president for public relations at the Upjohn Co.; an emeritus trustee of the College; and a leader in numerous civic organizations. His award was presented in absentia.
Yeun, Young Alumni Award. A fan favorite as Glenn Rhee on “The Walking Dead,” Yeun, whose award was presented in absentia, has since gone on to play roles in feature films including “Okja” and “Mayhem.”
Gail Griffin, Weimer K. Hicks Award. An author, poet and essayist, Griffin was chair of three departments (English, Theatre and Classics), founding director of Women’s Studies and director of Teaching Development during her 1977-2013 tenure at K. This is the latest of her numerous K honors.
Congratulations to the following Kalamazoo College students, who received awards during the Senior Awards Ceremony on June 10, 2017, in Stetson Chapel. The awards include all academic divisions, prestigious scholarships, and special non-departmental awards. Again, congratulations to all graduates and members of the Class of 2017.
FINE ARTS DIVISION
Art and Art History
THE LILIA CHEN AWARD IN ART, awarded to students in their junior or senior year who distinguish themselves through their work in ceramics, sculpture, or painting, and who exhibit strong progress in their understanding of art. Kelan Gill Madeline Clair Lawson Kelsi Levine Giovanni Lo Grasso Helena Maija Marnauzs Harrison Thomas Parkes Christa Scheck Jie Xu
THE GEORGE EATON ERRINGTON PRIZE, awarded to an outstanding senior art major. Gabriela E. Latta Malikah Q. Mahone
THE MICHAEL WASKOWSKY PRIZE, awarded to an outstanding junior or senior art major. Erin Brown Rachel Catherine Selina
Music
The LILLIAN PRINGLE BALDAUF PRIZE IN MUSIC, awarded to an outstanding music student. John Bowman Valentin Frank Gabrielle Holme-Miller Vethania Stavropoulos
THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AWARD, given by the Music Department of the College for outstanding contributions to the musical life on campus, for achievement in performance areas, and for academic achievement. John Bowman Alexis Diana Diller Johanna Drentlaw Rachel Elizabeth Fadler Hannah Lehker Daniel Moore Cody Mosblech Eric S. Thornburg Camila Trefftz Myles Truss Olivia Marguerite Weaver Lindsay Worthington
THE FAN E. SHERWOOD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded for outstanding progress and ability on the violin, viola, cello or bass. Siwook Hwang Hannah L. Kim
THE MARGARET UPTON PRIZE IN MUSIC, awarded each year to a student designated by the Music Department Faculty as having made significant achievement in music. Thaddeus Martin Buttrey
Theatre Arts
THE RUTH SCOTT CHENERY AWARD, given to a graduating senior who has excelled academically in theatre and who plans to continue the study of theatre arts following graduation. Thaddeus Martin Buttrey Monica Johnson Kyle Lampar Sarah Levett Lindsay Worthington
THE COOPER AWARD IN FINE ARTS, for a junior or senior showing excellence in a piece of creative work in a theatre arts class: film, acting, design, stagecraft, puppetry, speech. Madison Louise Donoho
THE IRMGARD KOWATZKI THEATRE AWARD, awarded to the senior who has excelled both in academic areas and in theatrical productions during the four years at the College. Sarah Levett
THE SHERWOOD PRIZE IN FINE ARTS, given for the best oral presentation in a speech-oriented class. Quincy Isaiah Crosby
THE CHARLES TULLY DESIGN AWARD, given annually to a senior who has achieved excellence in some aspect of theatre design. Lindsay Worthington
FOREIGN LANGUAGES DIVISION
Chinese
THE CHINESE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recognizes seniors who have excelled in the study of the Chinese language and China-related subjects on campus and abroad in China. Dejah Crystal Marlon Gonzalez Amanda Johnson Natalie A. Schmitt Katherine Wynne
Classics
THE CLARA H. BUCKLEY PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN LATIN, awarded to an outstanding student of the language of the Romans. Brittany Jones
THE DEPARTMENTAL PRIZE IN GREEK Danielle Marie Gin
THE PROVOST’S PRIZE IN CLASSICS, awarded to that student who writes the best essay on a classical subject. Danielle Marie Gin Brittany Jones
German
THE JOE FUGATE SENIOR GERMAN AWARD, awarded to a senior for excellence in German. Frances Mary Heldt
Japanese
THE JAPANESE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, COLLEGE CHAPTER, is awarded in recognition of the student’s achievement in their study of the Japanese language and for their overall academic excellence. Corrin Elise Davis Alexis Diana Diller John Mihalik Fowler Anh P. Lam Bailee M. Lotus Elinor Ruth Rubin-McGregor Christa Scheck Ke Sheng Carolyn Elizabeth Topper
Romance Languages
THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE PRIZE IN FRENCH, awarded for excellence in French by an advanced student. Maribel Blas-Rangel Elijah Wickline
THE SENIOR SPANISH AWARD, given by the Department of Romance Languages for outstanding achievement in Spanish. Cory Gyulveszi Caroline Elena Sulich
HUMANITIES DIVISION
American Studies
THE DAVID STRAUSS PRIZE IN AMERICAN STUDIES, awarded for the best paper written by a graduating senior in his or her junior or senior year in any field of American Studies. Jessica Paige Hansen
English
THE GRIFFIN PRIZE, awarded to the senior English major who, like Professor Gail Griffin, demonstrates an exceptional ability to bridge his/her analytical and creative work in the English department. Alyse Michelle Guenther Rachel Williams
THE ELWOOD H. AND ELIZABETH H. SCHNEIDER PRIZE, awarded for outstanding and creative work in English done by a student who is not an English major. Danielle Marie Gin
THE MARY CLIFFORD STETSON PRIZE, awarded for excellence in English essay writing by a senior. Sara McKinney
Sarah Schmitt
THE DWIGHT AND LEOLA STOCKER PRIZE, awarded for excellence in English writing: prose or poetry. Erin Elizabeth Bensinger Serena Li Bonarski Jon R. Jerow Caroline Marie Peterson
History
THE JAMES BIRD BALCH PRIZE, for the showing academic excellence in American History. Frances Mary Heldt
THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AWARD, given for outstanding work in the major. Claudia Quinn Greening Frances Mary Heldt
Philosophy
THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY PRIZE, awarded for excellence in any year’s work in philosophy. James Michael Reuter
THE HODGE PRIZE IN PHILOSOPHY, awarded to that member of the graduating class who has the highest standing in the field. Jon R. Jerow Caroline Marie Peterson
Religion
THE MARION H. DUNSMORE MEMORIAL PRIZE IN RELIGION, awarded to a graduating senior for excellence in the major. Hannah Nicole Cooperrider Danielle Purkey Dakota Lynn Trinka Natalie Cristina Vázquez
NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION
Biology
THE H. LEWIS BATTS PRIZE, awarded to the senior who has done the most to support the activities of the Biology Department and to further the spirit of collegiality among students and faculty in the Department. Suma J. Alzouhayli
THE DIEBOLD SCHOLAR AWARD, given to one or more seniors in recognition of excellence in the oral or poster presentation of the SIP at the Diebold Symposium. Lucy Merrill Theresa Marie Shuryan Sarah Caroline Smith Cameron Werner Katherine Wynne
THE ROBERT BZDYL PRIZE IN MARINE BIOLOGY, awarded to one or more students with demonstrated interest and ability in marine biology or related fields. Na Young Kim
THE WILLIAM E. PRAEGER PRIZE, established by the faculty in the Biology Department and awarded to the most outstanding senior major in Biology, based on academic achievement in the discipline. Kathleen George Katherine Wynne
Chemistry
THE ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry, to an undergraduate student planning on pursuing graduate studies in chemistry. Collin Joseph Steen
THE ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry, to an undergraduate student planning on pursuing graduate studies in chemistry. Sonam Shrestha
THE ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, sponsored by the American Chemical Society and subcommittee for the Division of Organic Chemistry, to an undergraduate student who displays significant aptitude for a career in organic chemistry. Rachel Elizabeth Fadler
THE ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, sponsored by the American Chemical Society and subcommittee for the Division of Physical Chemistry, to an undergraduate student who displays significant aptitude for a career in organic chemistry. Eric S. Thornburg
THE OUTSTANDING CHEMISTRY STUDENT FROM KALAMAZOO COLLEGE, sponsored by the Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society and is given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated leadership in the chemistry department and plans to pursue graduate studies in chemistry. Sarah Glass
THE KURT KAUFMAN FELLOW, given annually to seniors who receive Honors in the Senior Individualized Project (SIP) conducted with faculty in the Chemistry Department. Suma J. Alzouhayli Sarah Glass Eric S. Thornburg Myles Truss
THE LEMUEL F. SMITH AWARD, given to a student majoring in chemistry pursuing the American Chemical Society approved curriculum and having at the end of the junior year the highest average standing in courses taken in chemistry, physics,and mathematics. Collin Joseph Steen
Mathematics and Computer Science
THE CLARKE BENEDICT WILLIAMS PRIZE, awarded to that member of the graduating class who has the best record in mathematics and the allied sciences. Jill Denise Antonishen Yicong Guo
Physics
THE JOHN WESLEY HORNBECK PRIZE, awarded to a senior with the highest achievement for the year’s work in advanced physics toward a major. Jill Denise Antonishen Michelle Sugimoto
PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION
THE GEORGE ACKER AWARD awarded annually to a male athlete who in his participation gave all, never quit, with good spirit supported others unselfishly, and whose example was inspirational. Andrew Marten Bremer
THE HORNET ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AWARD, for a graduating senior who has most successfully combined high scholarship with athletic prowess. Brent Yelton
THE MARY LONG BURCH AWARD, for a senior woman who has manifested interest in sports activities and excelled in scholarship. Grace Fitzgerald Smith
THE C. W. “OPIE” DAVIS AWARD, awarded to the outstanding senior male athlete. Branden Metzler
THE KNOECHEL FAMILY AWARD, awarded to a senior male and a senior female member of the swim teams in recognition of demonstrated excellence in both intercollegiate swimming and academic performance. Stuart Murch Colleen Elizabeth Orwin
THE TISH LOVELESS AWARD, given by the Department of Physical Education to the outstanding senior female athlete. Colleen Elizabeth Orwin
THE CATHERINE A. SMITH PRIZE IN WOMEN’S ATHLETICS, awarded to a woman athlete who in her participation gave all, never quit, with good spirit supported others unselfishly, and whose example was inspirational. Suzanne Miller Grace Fitzgerald Smith
SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION
Anthropology and Sociology
THE RAYMOND L. HIGHTOWER AWARD, given to a graduating senior for excellence in and commitment to the disciplines of sociology and anthropology and leadership in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology. Emily Levy Chenxi “Abby” Lu Yaneli Soriano Santiago
Economics and Business
THE WILLIAM G. HOWARD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded to a senior for excellence in academic work in an economics or business major. Shanice Buys Kyle Hernández Amanda Johnson
THE PROVOST PRIZE IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS, awarded to a senior for excellence in academic work in a business major. Eric Castle De Witt Philip Ritchie Aidan M. Tank
THE ROBERT AND KAREN RHOA PRIZE IN BUSINESS Quinton E. Colwell Brett Garwood
THE ROBERT AND KAREN RHOA PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING SIP IN BUSINESS Amanda Crouch
Political Science
THE E. BRUCE BAXTER MEMORIAL AWARD, awarded to a senior showing outstanding development in the field of political science. Melissa Erikson
THE WILLIAM G. HOWARD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded for excellence in a year’s work in political science. Erica Marie Vanneste
THE EUGENE P. STERMER AWARD IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Alivia Combe DuQuet Gunyeop Lee
Psychology
THE MARSHALL HALLOCK BRENNER PRIZE awarded to an outstanding student for excellence in the field of psychology. Kyle Hernández
THE XARIFA GREENQUIST MEMORIAL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT AWARD, given in recognition of distinctive service to students and faculty in psychology by a student assistant. Janelle Brittany Grant Janay Ruth Johnson Ashley Vail Schmidt Caroline Elena Sulich Matthew Jacob Zhiss
THE RICHARD D. KLEIN AWARDS IN PSYCHOLOGY Maribel Blas-Rangel (Senior Award) Sarah Jayne Bragg (Senior Award) Francisco Lopez Jr. (Senior Impact Award) Landen Skinner (Senior Impact Award)
THE DONALD W. VAN LIERE PRIZES IN PSYCHOLOGY Daniella Y. Glymin (Coursework) Rachel Lifton (Coursework) Mackenzie Norman (Coursework) Ashley Vail Schmidt (Coursework) Caroline Elena Sulich (Coursework) Camila Trefftz (Coursework) Kaela Van Til (Coursework) Sarah Jayne Bragg (Research) Hannah Kim (Research) Paris N. Weisman (Research)
Women, Gender and Sexuality
THE CATHERINE A. SMITH PRIZE IN HUMAN RIGHTS, awarded to a senior who has been active on campus in promoting human rights, furthering progressive social and cultural change, and combating violence, repression, and bigotry. Danielle Purkey
THE LUCINDA HINSDALE STONE PRIZE, awarded to a student whose scholarship, research or creative work in women’s studies, in the form of a SIP or other academic work, is most impressive. Audrey J. Negro
COLLEGE AWARDS
THE ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA MARIA LEONARD SENIOR BOOK AWARD, given to the Alpha Lambda Delta member graduating with the highest GPA. Grace Fitzgerald Smith
THE GORDON BEAUMONT MEMORIAL AWARD, awarded to the deserving student who displays qualities of selflessness, humanitarian concern, and willingness to help others, as exemplified in the life of Gordon Beaumont. Sarah Jayne Bragg Mireya Guzmán-Ortíz
THE HENRY AND INEZ BROWN AWARD is awarded in recognition of outstanding participation in the College community. Sidney Katherine Wall
THE VIRGINIA HINKELMAN MEMORIAL AWARD is awarded to a deserving student who displays a deep concern for the well-being of children, as demonstrated through career goals in the field of child welfare. Moises Hernandez
THE BABETTE TRADER CAMPUS CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP AWARD, awarded to that member of the graduating class, who has most successfully combined campus citizenship and leadership with scholarship. Grace Fitzgerald Smith Yaneli Soriano Santiago
THE MAYNARD OWEN WILLIAMS MEMORIAL AWARD, for the best student entry in the form of an essay, poetry, paintings, sketches, photographs, or films derived from Study Abroad. Jack Clark Hannah Nicole Cooperrider Alyse Michelle Guenther Anh P. Lam Sarah Jean Schmitt Camille Rose Wood Lindsay Worthington Samantha Young
THE LARRY BELL SCHOLARSHIP Award Marian Jayne Strauss
The Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement recognizes THE HAM SCHOLARS, who work through community partnerships to empower girls and young women to lead and advocate. Sarah Jayne Bragg
THE MOSES KIMBALL SCHOLARSHIP Award Francisco Lopez Jr.
The Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service-Learning recognizes LAPLANTE STUDENT SCHOLARS who have shown outstanding dedication to civic engagement and who design and lead community programs that promote a more just, equitable and sustainable world. Moises Hernandez Annalise Elizabeth Robinson Caitlyn Whitcomb
The Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement recognizes the VIBBERT SCHOLARS, students who honor and exemplify the life and spirit of Stephanie Vibbert–scholar, activist, poet, feminist and artist–by leading programs that promote equity and justice through the arts and feminist organizing. Emily Kowey
THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION AWARD is awarded to students who have provided key elements of leadership in their organizations, athletic teams, academic departments, employment, and the wider Kalamazoo community. Students were nominated by faculty and staff members in January. Seniors eligible for this award also had to meet a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average requirement and be in good academic and social standing at the College. Suma J. Alzouhayli Riley M. Boyd Sarah Jayne Bragg Allie J. Brodsky Thaddeus Martin Buttrey Liz Clevenger Sabrina Esha Dass Eric Castle De Witt Dana Theresa DeVito Nate Donovan Erin DuRoss Kayla Dziadzio Melissa Erikson Sarah Glass Ellie Simon Goldman Marlon Gonzalez Moises Hernandez Gabrielle Holme-Miller Allia V. M. Howard Emily Kowey Emily Levy Chenxi “Abby” Lu Leland Harrison Rene Merrill Branden Metzler Suzanne Miller Colleen Elizabeth Orwin Lauren A. Perlaki Douglas S. Robinett Jacob Scott David Jordan Smith Grace Fitzgerald Smith Katie Sorensen Anhtu Vu Sidney Katherine Wall Lindsay Worthington
The Peace Corps announced today that Kalamazoo College ranks No. 13 among small schools on the agency’s 2017 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. There are 10 Hornets currently volunteering worldwide. In 2016, Kalamazoo College ranked No. 14.
Britta Seifert ’12 (left) volunteered with the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan for 27 months.
“Peace Corps service is an unparalleled leadership opportunity that enables college and university alumni to use the creative-thinking skills they developed in school to make an impact in communities around the world,” Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley said. “Many college graduates view the Peace Corps as a launching pad for their careers because volunteers return home with the cultural competency and entrepreneurial spirit sought after in most fields.”
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 247 Kalamazoo College alumni have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers. Three Michigan schools rank as Top Colleges this year, making Michigan among 11 states and the District of Columbia with at least three ranked schools.
Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining, hands-on experience that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to a community overseas and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
Joy Campbell’s experience at Kalamazoo College motivated her to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco.
Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their experience, volunteers gain a cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy.
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. View the complete 2017 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category and find an interactive map that shows where alumni from each college and university are serving.
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 225,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov.
Kalamazoo College students are collaborating with Planned Parenthood of Southwest Michigan on a theatre performance that will raise awareness about reproductive health in Kalamazoo County. “Pro-Voice: Reproductive Justice Monologues,” will stage on Sunday, February 26, at 5 p.m., and on Monday, February 27, at 7 p.m. Both performances will occur in the Connable Recital Hall of the Light Fine Arts Building on K’s campus. The events are open to the public. For tickets, contact in person Brenda Westra (in the Department of Psychology office suite in Olds-Upton). Tickets are $10; all proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood.
Project collaborators include Planned Parenthood, Kalamazoo College’s Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement, Professor Karyn Boatwright’s “Feminist Psychology of Women” class and Professor Alison Geist’s “Contemporary Issues in Public Health” course.
The “Pro-Voice” monologues will be performed by K students, based on interviews students in the aforementioned classes conducted with local people whose stories illuminate the importance of Planned Parenthood’s services to the community. The performances, which were devised and directed by K senior Lindsay Worthington, also incorporate interviews of policymakers and service providers regarding maternal and child health in Kalamazoo County.
“The events will do more than raise awareness of reproductive health issues,” said senior psychology major Ashley Schmidt. “It also will be an act of empowerment. We hope this performance highlights how important it is to raise the voices of those often ignored. We can make a difference when we work together.”
Kalamazoo College faculty, staff and students are invited to an Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan Meeting on Tuesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. That meeting is one of 12 neighborhood gatherings being organized by the city. Each meeting focuses on a specific neighborhood and provides an opportunity for participants to share input on where they live, work or play. The hands-on activities and small discussion groups that characterize these open-house style meetings allow participants describe the improvements they’d like to see and the priority of projects they consider optimal. Some of the topics for the Kalamazoo College/West Main Hill neighborhood meeting will be: pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; vehicular management (including on-street parking and traffic calming; M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue at M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue Lovell Street. Questions on this meeting or the Imagine Kalamazoo process can be sent to Christina (Dudek) Anderson ’98.
About 75 people from 17 private liberal arts higher-education institutions and 11 nations met Oct. 23-25 at Kalamazoo College for a civic engagement conference. “Civic Engagement and the Liberal Arts: Local Practice, Global Impact,” an Institute of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance, was hosted by the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement (CCE).
Faculty, staff, students and representatives of community-based organizations presented workshops, panel discussions and case studies to share innovative courses, programs and approaches that promote global citizenship and social justice in their communities and around the world.
Civic engagement conference participants connected and vowed to work across institutions and nations to address the world’s most pressing problems. Representatives came from the American University of Nigeria, American University of Beirut, Ashesi College University in Ghana, Foreman Christian College University in Pakistan, Lingnan University in Hong Kong, American University of Paris, American University of Greece, American University of Bulgaria, FLAME University in India, and ACODE in Kampala, Uganda; as well as seven liberal arts colleges in the in the U.S.
Civic engagement encompasses endeavors from voting to volunteering with community organizations to social justice activism and advocacy. It includes course-based and co-curricular experiences in which students work beside and learn from members of local communities to address complex social issues, building a foundation for active and informed engagement in democratic processes and social change.
The CCE, established in 2001, connects Kalamazoo College faculty and students with more than 50 community-based organizations, schools and the City of Kalamazoo through student-led programming and service-learning courses across the curriculum. It promotes food justice, educational and health equity, neurodiversity, adult literacy, juvenile justice, women’s and girls’ empowerment, neighborhood vitality and more.
A partnership focused on adult literacy is part of K’s Center for Civic Engagement
On October 23-25 Kalamazoo College will host the Global Liberal Arts Alliance (GLAA) Institute on Civic Engagement. The institute is titled “Civic Engagement and the Liberal Arts: Local Practice, Global Impact,” and its Sunday evening (October 23) keynote address, “Seeking Refuge from Boko Haram: How a University Responded to a Humanitarian Crisis in Northeast Nigeria,” is free and open to the public. The talk will occur at 7 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. The lecture will be delivered by Margee Ensign, president of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa. Adamawa is one of the three northeastern Nigerian states still under a state of emergency as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. Ensign also leads the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API), a local Yola-based response to the escalating violence, which has successfully promoted peace in the area through education, empowerment and community development. Under Dr. Ensign, API is also currently undertaking humanitarian relief work in the region and providing food aid to more than 100,000 internally displaced people sheltering with family members in Yola. Dr. Ensign has been internationally recognized for her pioneering work at AUN.
The GLAA Institute on Civic Engagement gathers representatives (students, faculty, staff, and community partners ) from 21 countries. “The most pressing problems we face are interconnected and global in nature,” said Alison Geist, director of The Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement at Kalamazoo College. “As liberal arts institutions, our missions and strengths position us as leaders for social change in our communities and around the world. This gathering brings together educators, students, activists and scholars whose commitment to the common good spans disciplines, differences and the globe. We have much to learn from one another.”
Civic engagement encompasses endeavors from voting to volunteering with community organizations to social justice activism and advocacy. It includes course-based and co-curricular experiences in which students work beside and learn from members of local communities to address complex social issues, building a foundation for active and informed engagement in democratic processes and social change. When combined with purposeful reflection and theoretical understanding, these opportunities enable students to gain civic, academic, and personal knowledge, and develop important skills.
Civic engagement and community-based learning—the notion of learning in and with communities—“is essential in college,” says Geist, “if we want all of our students to flourish by living in and contributing to equitable, sustainable, and just communities.”
Sasha Issenberg, a leading author and journalist on American politics, will deliver the 2016 William Weber Lecture in Government and Society. The lecture, “The Victory Lab 2016: A Report from the Campaign Trail,” will take place on Tuesday, September 27, at 8 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room, and it is free and open to the public.
Issenberg is the author of three books, including The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns. He covered the 2012 election as a columnist for Slate and the 2008 election as a national political reporter in the Washington bureau of The Boston Globe. His work has appeared in New York magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and George.
For the book The Victory Lab (dubbed by POLITICO as the “Moneyball for politics”) Issenberg went on the campaign trail and uncovered the hidden story of the analytical revolution upending the way political campaigns are run. Renegade thinkers are crashing the gates of a venerable American institution, shoving aside its so-called wise men and replacing them with a radical new data-driven order. In the 2016 Weber Lecture, Issenberg will discuss what he’s seeing in the current race and how it compares to past campaigns.
The William Weber Lecture in Government and Society was founded by Bill Weber, a 1939 graduate of Kalamazoo College. Past lecturers have included David Broder, Frances Moore Lappe, E.J. Dionne, Jeane Bethke Elshtain, William Greider, Ernesto Cortes Jr., John Esposito, Benjamin Ginsberg, Frances Fox Piven, Spencer Overton, Tamara Draut, Van Jones and Joan Mandelle.
K students (l-r) Morgan Mahdavi ’14, Chelsey Shannon ’14, Isabelle Ciaramitaro ’16, and Jordan Earnest ’14 with some of their SMART Girls.
Each Friday afternoon during the fall, winter, and spring quarters of the 2013-14 academic year, five Kalamazoo College female students have met with 16 Kalamazoo area preteen girls in a mentoring program focused on themes of identity, self-awareness, and self-worth.
Every Friday afternoon. For two hours. No exceptions.
“Consistency is most important in our mentor role,” said Jordan Applebaum Earnest ’14. “The girls know to expect us every Friday for the school year.”
The K women meet with the SMART Girls (ages 9-12) at the Boys and Girls Club to discuss themes of identity, self-awareness, and self-worth. Another team of K women also mentors a Teen SMART Girls program at the Club. Both groups of mentors meet regularly on their own to plan lessons for the girls and hold structured reflections about their own mentoring experiences.
“Over the course of the year, our lessons, activities, discussions, and writing exercises with the girls have placed a strong emphasis on healthy relationships, self-care, and emotional processing,” said Jordan. “The girls have come to recognize their own strengths and they have developed more confidence, determination, and positive energy.”
“We have, too,” said Jordan.
Jordan is a Civic Engagement Scholar through the “Mary Jane” Center and serves as director of the SMART Girls program. Hers is a funded position paid through a grant to the Center by former City of Kalamazoo Mayor Caroline Ham. The other K students are volunteers.
During the Friday May 2 downtown Kalamazoo Art Hop, K mentors and SMART Girls will host “Who We Are,” a photographic exhibit meant to demonstrate the inner strengths that each SMART Girl believes she possesses. Each SMART Girl served as art director for her own photo, choosing the props and poses that Georgina Graff ’16 captured with her camera.
“The photos represent who the SMART Girls want to grow up to be,” said Jordan. “They demonstrate qualities such as trustworthiness, intelligence, health, and creativity—all chosen by the girls themselves.”
Kalamazoo College SMART Girls mentors and mentees will host the Art Hop reception from 6-7:30 p.m. at Edison Place, 1350 Portage St., in the Washington Square/Edison neighborhood. The exhibit was curated with the help of Jessica Mancino from the Boys and Girls Club, and funded through a generous grant from Linda DeRose Primavera ’77.
Alison Geist, director of the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement, received the 2013 Spirit of Health Equity Award from Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services. The award recognizes her “ongoing commitment and dedication to health equity in the Kalamazoo community.” In addition to her work with the CCE (formerly the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service-Learning), Geist teaches a course in public health at K and co-administers the College′s Community and Global Health concentration. She received the award at the First Annual Summit on Health Equity in Kalamazoo. Congrats, Alison!
Kalamazoo College students are collaborating with Planned Parenthood of Southwest Michigan on a theatre performance that will raise awareness about reproductive health in Kalamazoo County. “Pro-Voice: Reproductive Justice Monologues,” will stage on Sunday, February 26, at 5 p.m., and on Monday, February 27, at 7 p.m. Both performances will occur in the Connable Recital Hall of the Light Fine Arts Building on K’s campus. The events are open to the public. For tickets, contact in person Brenda Westra (in the Department of Psychology office suite in Olds-Upton). Tickets are $10; all proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood.
Kalamazoo College faculty, staff and students are invited to an Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan Meeting on Tuesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. That meeting is one of 12 neighborhood gatherings being organized by the city. Each meeting focuses on a specific neighborhood and provides an opportunity for participants to share input on where they live, work or play. The hands-on activities and small discussion groups that characterize these open-house style meetings allow participants describe the improvements they’d like to see and the priority of projects they consider optimal. Some of the topics for the Kalamazoo College/West Main Hill neighborhood meeting will be: pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; vehicular management (including on-street parking and traffic calming; M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue at M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue Lovell Street. Questions on this meeting or the Imagine Kalamazoo process can be sent to 
About 75 people from 17 private liberal arts higher-education institutions and 11 nations met Oct. 23-25 at Kalamazoo College for a civic engagement conference. “Civic Engagement and the Liberal Arts: Local Practice, Global Impact,” an Institute of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance, was hosted by the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker 
