From milestones that shape campus life to national recognition that underscores Kalamazoo College’s academic excellence, 2025 was a year of momentum and meaning at K. The stories that resonated most reflect a community investing in its future—through new facilities, enduring traditions, global engagement and partnerships that strengthen both the campus and the city. Here’s a look back at the College’s top 10 stories of 2025 and the people, programs and progress behind them.
10. Local Grants Help the Arboretum Bloom
K appreciates the community support that helps the College keep its Lillian Anderson Arboretum open to the community. Local foundations have contributed more than $100,000 in grant support for projects and physical improvements at the Arb over the past two years.
Collaboration and partnership with the Consumers Energy Foundation, ENNA Foundation, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Kalamazoo Rotary Club and Seminary Hill Sustainability Internship as well as Stryker and Zoetis through the Kalamazoo Nature Center have enabled entrance trail upgrades, a new welcome sign, installation of a new well, replacement of the Batts Pond bridge, continuation of pollinator habitat research, a three-year sheep-grazing research project, and development of a land-management plan.
9. K Retains Familiar Place on Fulbright Top Producers List
College-bound students interested in global experiences should take a close look at K considering its latest honors from the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship academic exchange program. Since the 2019–20 cycle, K has earned Fulbright’s Top Producer recognition six times among baccalaureate schools while producing 32 U.S. Student Fulbrighters.
8. New Student Travel Fund Honors Beloved Professor
In 2025, 28 sophomores signed up as Spanish majors at Declaration of Major Day. More than 975 Kalamazoo College students have studied in Spain, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica since 2012. Engagement with Spanish language and cultures is clearly strong, and a new fund in honor of former faculty member Margarita Costero Campos supports students who carry that torch forward.
Campos taught at K from 1988 to 1997 and passed away in May 2024 at 92 years old. Her family later established the Margarita Costero Campos Student Travel Award. The fund will assist academically dedicated students with travel to Spanish-speaking countries for purposes including research, conference presentations, internships and study abroad, with preference given to students who major or minor in Spanish.
7. Hub Designed for K Fuels Alumni, Student Connections
Kalamazoo College brought its tight-knit community even closer together in 2025 with the launch of KConnect, a new social media site designed exclusively for students, faculty, staff and alumni. This LinkedIn-style platform provides a professional space to build connections, seek career advice and share opportunities with fellow Hornets.
6. K Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Kalamazoo Promise
Twenty years after the Kalamazoo Promise transformed access to higher education, its impact is powerfully felt at Kalamazoo College. Since K joined the Promise in 2015, more than 230 Promise scholars have enrolled at K—bringing their talents, aspirations and stories to a campus committed to supporting their success.
5. After 40 Years, Change Ringing Remains Sound at K
Amid the hum of campus events, you might hear a sound of distinction at K. The tower of Stetson Chapel houses a set of eight English change ringing bells, one of only a few dozen towers of its kind in North America. For many students, faculty, staff and alumni, the bells are more than a treasured College artifact. And for more than 40 years, they have been woven into the fabric of daily life.
4. K Earns High Marks in Three National Publications
Kalamazoo College is again drawing national attention for its quality in higher education with three national publications—Forbes, Washington Monthly and Money—ranking the institution among the top colleges and universities in the country.
3. Princeton Review Rates K Among Best Values
When prospective families weigh the return on investment of a college education, they can rest assured that Kalamazoo College provides one of the best values in the U.S., according to the Princeton Review.
For the fourth consecutive year, the education services company has included K on its Best Value Colleges list, placing the institution among the top 209 in the country for 2025 regardless of size, location or private/public status. K is one of just five Michigan institutions overall and two private institutions to receive the honor.
2. Kalamazoo College President Announces 2026 Retirement
Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez announced in April that he will retire from his position at the end of his contract on June 30, 2026, after 10 years leading the institution. In his time at K, Gonzalez has overseen strategic planning efforts designed to enrich curricular and co-curricular experiences, foster an inclusive and supportive campus for all, strengthen financial and enrollment sustainability and modernize K’s historic campus.
1. K Begins Building Two New Residence Halls
K announced in April that it was launching plans to build new residence halls on its historic campus, a step that reflects the College’s long-term commitment to enhancing student life and academic experiences as detailed in its latest campus master plan.
The new residence halls are part of an effort to meet a growing need for affordable, sustainable on-campus housing as off-campus housing costs continue to increase. The growing popularity of an already strong study abroad program also is prompting a demand for on-campus housing each midyear as students return from overseas.
Construction on the project along West Main Street in Kalamazoo began in May. The halls currently are scheduled for occupancy in fall 2027.
