Category: Alumni

From Fulbrights to Films, Alumni Achieved Excellence in 2025

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From award-winning filmmakers and scientists tracking migratory birds to alumni shaping public policy, professional sports and global education, Kalamazoo College graduates made headlines in 2025 for work that reflects the breadth of a K education and its impact on the world. This year’s top alumni stories highlight achievements rooted in creativity, curiosity and service, demonstrating how K alumni continue to lead, innovate and open doors for others long after Commencement. Here are the top 10 features as determined by your clicks. 

10. Alumnus Honored for Innovative Opera Grand Rapids Film 

Cody Colvin ’18 was honored in February with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Best Independent Producer award, which recognizes the best public television program in the state by an independent producer. Colvin shares the honor with fellow producers Emilee Syrewicze and Phil Lane for their work on Stinney: An American Execution, a cinematic capture of Opera Grand Rapids’ groundbreaking world premiere. 

Colvin served as director, producer and co-executive producer on the project, which tells the harrowing true story of George Stinney Jr., a 14-year-old Black boy who, in 1944, became the youngest person ever legally executed in the U.S. after being wrongfully convicted of the murder of two white girls in South Carolina. 

Daniel Sampson plays George Stinney Sr.
Daniel Sampson plays George Stinney Sr. in “Stinney: An American Execution.”

9. Alumni Tout Digital Release of Grassland 

Three Kalamazoo College alumni with ties to the film Grassland celebrated the drama’s digital release on Apple TV+ in 2025. The movie stars Quincy Isaiah ’17, best known for his role as Magic Johnson in HBO Max’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, with Adam Edery ’19 contributing as a producer and Shon Powell ’18 as consulting producer. 

Grassland aims to shed light on modern marijuana incarceration issues. After festival premieres and a private screening at K’s Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, the project continues to spark conversation and advocacy, with its team partnering with organizations such as the Last Prisoner Project to drive real-world policy changes. 

Top alumni stories: Quincy Isaiah and Adam Edery at the Festival Playhouse before screening Grassland
Actor Quincy Isaiah ’17 (left) and Producer Adam Edery ’19 returned to Kalamazoo College to screen their independent film titled “Grassland” in 2023. The film was released digitally this past January.

8. Alumnus Wants Study Abroad to Change Lives in Oklahoma 

A growing study abroad program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University is drawing rave reviews from students thanks in part to K alumnus Kyle Lincoln ’10, who serves as an associate professor of history and study abroad director at the institution. 

Lincoln, influenced by his own study abroad experience in Rome through K, has helped develop opportunities for full-semester, half-semester and summer-term programs offered through exchange partnerships, federally-funded programs, special fellowships offered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and competitive programs for foreign language study. He said he brings to SEOSU the same belief that was instilled in him at K: that immersive, global experiences should be encouraged and accessible to all students, not just a privileged few. 

Top alumni stories: Kyle Lincoln takes Southeast Oklahoma State students on study abroad
Kyle Lincoln ’10 (third from right) is a study abroad director and associate professor at Southeast Oklahoma State University.

7. Fulbright, Language Fellows Draw Global Spotlight 

Eleven recent K graduates are pursuing their passions around the world as Fulbright scholars and teaching assistants, while continuing a rich tradition of post-grad international learning and service. Erik Danielson ’25, Alex Nam ’25, Leo McGreevy ’25, Stacy Escobar ’21 and Joseph Horsfield ’25 are Fulbright scholars in the U.S. Student Program. Fuzail Ahmed ’25, Maya Hester ’25, Sierra Hieshetter ’25 and Alexa Wonacott ’25 are serving the Spanish government through teaching assistantships and the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) of Spain. Madeline Hollander ’25 and McKenna Lee Wasmer ’25 are fulfilling government teaching assistantships through NALCAP in France. 

Top Alumni Stories: Fulbright Scholar Alex Nam
Alex Nam ’25 is one of five Kalamazoo College alumni abroad in the 2025-26 academic year while serving the Fulbright U.S. Student Program as an English teaching assistant in Austria. He is pictured during his study abroad experience in Germany.

6. Alumna Finds Where Birds of a Feather Flock Together 

Sarah Rockwell ’02—a senior research biologist with the Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) in Ashland, Oregon—followed the incredible journeys of two varieties of migratory birds including one that was found through her research to fly from Oregon to Brazil and back. 

Rockwell joined collaborators from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey and Cape Arago Audubon to work after dusk with purple martin bird colonies along the Oregon coast and at Fern Ridge Reservoir. Separately, she worked with KBO Director of Conservation Jaime Stephens to study Oregon vesper sparrows. 

With both species, Rockwell and her collaborators made harnesses equipped with GPS tags that the birds could comfortably wear like a backpack with loops going around their legs. Rockwell then waited almost a year for the birds to complete their round-trip migrations so GPS devices could be collected for data retrieval. Their efforts to protect the birds by finding what threats they might face during their migrations have proven successful. 

Top alumni stories: Two scientists wear headlamps while working with birds at night
KBO Senior Research Biologist Sarah Rockwell ’02 (left) works with birds alongside Field Technician Sam Webb on a boat at the Fern Ridge Reservoir.

5. Alumna Equips the Fight Against Parkinson’s Disease 

Nicole Polinski ’12 is among the people playing important roles in the fight against Parkinson’s disease at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), headquartered in New York City. She ensures that industry and academic researchers have access to the biology tools—called reagents—and preclinical models that they need for performing biology and chemistry experiments that could provide more methods for the condition’s diagnosis and treatment.  

Top Alumni Stories: Nicole Polinski of the Michael J Fox Foundation
Nicole Polinski ’12 is a director of research resources at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

4. Chance Encounter with Alumni Opens Student’s Doors to K 

A chance meeting at Kalamazoo House in September 2023 between the Hesslers (Nancy ’68 and Jan ’65) and Lily Toohey ’26 started like many K stories as the proud alumni were praising their alma mater, encouraging the unsure student to apply.  

They exchanged numbers, and when Toohey let the Hesslers know that she had been accepted and offered an excellent scholarship, the couple promised per-term financial support that would cover the rest of her tuition. 

Toohey arrived at K with an associate’s degree in business and went on to pair her business major with an art minor. Through study away in the New York Arts Program, she completed two photography internships, including behind-the-scenes work at New York Fashion Week, coming away with a new focus on fashion marketing photography. 

“You know, my parents took a chance on me,” Nancy said. “I asked my dad once, when I wanted to thank my parents, ‘What can I do?’ He said, ‘Pay it forward.’ …Lily is doing amazing things and making the most of the opportunity. If I can be part of that, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the very least I could do. It’s up to those of us who can and who have benefited from K’s education to support young people in experiencing it, too.” 

Portrait of Lily Toohey
When Nancy Hessler ’68 met Lily Toohey ’26, she saw a drive in Toohey along with aspirations that align with K’s values.

3. K Honors Alumni, Friends During Homecoming 

Each year during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, K recognizes alumni whose accomplishments, service and achievements bring honor and distinction to the College and represent the lasting value of a K education. In 2025, David Strauss received the Weimer K. Hicks Award, Susan Stuck Thoms ’70 and David Thoms ’70 received the Distinguished Service Award, Quincy Isaiah earned the Young Alumni Award, and Lila Lazarus ’84 received the Distinguished Achievement Award.  

David and Susan Thoms
David ’70 and Susan Thoms ’70 received the Distinguished Service Award at K’s Homecoming this year.

2. Alumnus Conquers Curveball to Work in Major League Baseball 

If you’re familiar with the 2011 movie Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, you might have a ballpark idea of what Thomas Bentley ’25 now does as an analyst for the Minnesota Twins. Although Hill’s character is fictional, he represents an amalgamation of everyone who serves a Major League Baseball team in pro personnel. Bentley performs similar work by evaluating statistics to determine how the Twins might improve their organization by making trades with other teams.  

Last spring, Bentley joined alumni such as Jordan Wiley ’19 and Samantha Moss ’23 by working in Major League Baseball roles within two years of Commencement. Another young alum, Jack Clark ’17, is the manager of MLB draft operations and has worked in professional baseball since 2020. And like theirs, Bentley’s position is ideal for someone who has been a baseball fan since childhood. 

Minnesota Twins graphic says, "Welcome to the team, Thomas Bentley, analyst, baseball operations"
Thomas Bentley ’25 joined alumni such as Jordan Wiley ’19 and Samantha Moss ’23 by working in Major League Baseball roles within two years of their Commencement. Bentley was hired as an analyst in Baseball Operations, making his input vital in the trades the Minnesota Twins pursue.

1. Local Roots, Dream Job Grow from Civic Engagement Internship 

When Olivia DiGiulio ’25 arrived at K, Michigan was new to her. She was a Portland, Oregon, native with a budding interest in civic engagement and a curiosity regarding how policy could shape communities. Just four years later, she is growing local roots and works in what has become an ideal full-time role in youth advocacy. 

The bridge between those two points was a Community Building Internship (CBI) through the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). In summer 2024, DiGiulio was placed with the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network (KYD), a nonprofit that supports after-school and summer programs across the city. And today, she works as a policy and advocacy coordinator at the Michigan After-School Partnership (MASP), a statewide organization that does for Michigan what KYD does for Kalamazoo by supporting out-of-school programs, advocating for funding and pushing for systemic change. 

“Truly, this is my dream job,” DiGiulio said. “I have to pinch myself that I get to do this work. And it all started with that summer internship.” 

Top Alumni stories: Olivia DiGiulio
Olivia DiGiulio ’25 turned an internship at Kalamazoo Youth Development Network into a dream career with the Michigan After-School Partnership.

K Honors Alumni, Friends During Homecoming

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Each year during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Kalamazoo College recognizes alumni whose accomplishments, service and achievements bring honor and distinction to the College and represent the lasting value of a K education. 

The Alumni Association presented its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday, October 3, recognizing the following honorees: 

  • David Strauss, the Weimer K. Hicks Award. This award honors a current or retired employee who has provided long-term support to College programs or activities beyond the call of duty while offering excellent service in the performance of their job. After teaching at K, he worked to establish an endowed scholarship that honors his retired colleague, David Barclay. Two College awards bear his name, the David Strauss Prize in American Studies and the Strauss/Wickstrom Senior Integrated Project Endowment.
  • Susan Stuckey Thoms ’70 and David Thoms ’70, the Distinguished Service Award. The honor recognizes individuals who have made exceptional volunteer contributions to Kalamazoo College. Susan practiced ophthalmology, first in private practice, and later as a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. David practiced law for 44 years, and his work was honored with numerous professional accolades. David was a College trustee for five years; Susan continues her service into her eighth year as a member of Women’s Council. Both have long assisted students with career advice and served as mentors in law and medicine.
  • Quincy Isaiah ’17, Young Alumni Award. The citation awards a K alum—within 15 years of their graduation—for outstanding achievement; personal growth in their career; or outstanding professional, civic and cultural service. Isaiah is an actor who earned a Rising Star Award for his portrayal of Magic Johnson in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on HBO Max. More recently, he played the role of Brandon—a character struggling to move forward after a mistake he made as a child—in Grassland. The 2023 film attempts to change society’s views about marijuana-incarceration policies. 
  • Lila Lazarus ’84, Distinguished Achievement Award. The honor recognizes alumni who achieve distinction in their professional fields. Lazarus has worked in journalism and health communication for more than 39 years. She received the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter. She is the founder and owner of Lila Productions LLC.
Alumni Award recipient David-Strauss
David Strauss
Alumni Award recipient Lila Lazarus
Lila Lazarus
Alumni Award recipient Quincy Isaiah
Quincy Isaiah
Alumni Award recipients David and Susan Thoms
David and Susan Thoms
1990 Men's Tennis Team
1990 men’s tennis team
1993 volleyball team
1993 volleyball team

Five individuals, a men’s tennis team, a volleyball team and three men’s basketball teams were also inducted into the College’s Athletics Hall of Fame during the Distinguished Alumni Awards. They were:

Eve Halderson
Eve Halderson
Dan Harding
Dan Harding
Kyle Harding
Jeanne Hess
Tim Ullrey
Tim Ullrey

On Saturday, October 4, the College’s Emeriti Club honored two alumni with its annual Citation of Merit Award. They were:

  • Carl Bekofske ’64. Bekofske has practiced law in Flint for more than four decades. He is also a Chapter Thirteen trustee for Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston and Shiawassee counties and serves as a Genesee County public administrator.
  • Sally Padley ’62. In 1972, Padley began a decades-long career as an educator with Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University’s Academic and Talented Youth Program.

‘Grand Bargain’ Judge Slated to Deliver Flesche Lecture

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Kalamazoo College will welcome back distinguished alumnus Gerald Rosen ’73 as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Donald C. Flesche Lecture. The event, “The Grand Bargain: Lessons from the Detroit Bankruptcy,” will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, in the Olmsted Room of Mandelle Hall. The lecture will be free and open to the public, and a livestream will be available for those unable to attend.

Rosen, a retired federal judge for the Eastern District of Michigan and former chief judge of the court, is best known for his role in Detroit’s historic bankruptcy case. His leadership in crafting the “Grand Bargain” helped the city exit bankruptcy in 2014 while protecting the pensions of thousands of retirees and preserving the Detroit Institute of Arts’ world-renowned collection.

Rosen also spoke at K in the 2015 Weber Lecture and was interviewed as a guest at an event for students in 2018. After earning his law degree at George Washington University, Rosen went on to a distinguished career in private practice before being appointed to the federal bench in 1989. During nearly three decades as a judge, including seven years as chief judge, he presided over landmark cases involving terrorism, constitutional questions and civil rights.

Rosen returns to campus as his story is reaching new audiences. His 2024 book, Grand Bargain: The Inside Story of Detroit’s Dramatic Journey from Bankruptcy to Rebirth, provides a behind-the-scenes account of how city officials, state leaders, philanthropists and creditors came together to negotiate a solution once thought impossible. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has described Rosen as “a very important figure in Detroit’s history” whose “daring leadership, wisdom and diplomacy” helped set the stage for the city’s recovery. Rosen discussed the book in a January interview with WMUK 102.1. He and his book also will be spotlighted in the fall edition of Lux Esto.

The annual Flesche Lecture honors Donald C. Flesche, a longtime professor of political science at Kalamazoo College, who influenced generations of students—including Rosen himself. While studying at K, Rosen majored in political science and took courses with Flesche that helped shape his career in law and public service.

Cover of Grand Bargain Book
Retired judge and author Gerald Rosen ’73 will visit Kalamazoo College on September 24 to deliver the annual Flesche Lecture. A livestream will be available.

Hub Designed for K Fuels Alumni, Student Connections

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Register for KConnect

Kalamazoo College is bringing its tight-knit community even closer together with the launch of 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 K Hornets.

KConnect, designed through the platform AlumniFire, grew out of a desire to strengthen the K network and build relationships. Through it, alumni have options to share one-time advice or serve as ongoing advisors as they control how often they want students to contact them. They also can review students’ resumes, provide interview tips and join a community for fresh ideas, collaboration and partnerships. Students then can explore career paths through conversations with alumni in their prospective fields, get tips on searching for jobs and professional life, set up virtual conversations and in-person meetups, build confidence by networking in a low-pressure space and help fellow students by sharing personal experiences.

KConnect Screenshot shows connections and where they're from
In KConnect, alumni can share one-time advice or serve as ongoing advisors to students as they control how often they want students to contact them. It’s also a place where alumni can make connections with former classmates.

“Alumni reach out to us often and say, ‘I don’t want to just wait for students to find me on LinkedIn. I want to have career conversations with students because I navigated a difficult situation with my career, and I don’t want other students to have to go through that,’” CCPD Director Valerie Miller said. “If we can direct alumni to this platform, they can say exactly what they want to offer students, and students can find them more quickly.”

Although K alumni and students have always been proud of having strong connections, the new platform offers a digital home for those interactions to flourish. KConnect ensures that students won’t need a LinkedIn Premium account or an appointment with a career coach to reach out to alumni. And because K alumni sign up for it specifically to provide mentoring and more, students know that the alumni want to be contacted. It’s also a great tool for alumni to connect with old friends, contact each other with career questions, and post about their businesses in the business directory.

CCPD Associate Director Rachel Wood added that the platform provides students with a tool to prepare for their careers sooner in their years at K.

“We used to see students engaging a little bit with career stuff their first year, and a little more their sophomore year before doing so heavily into their senior year,” Wood said. “We want to help students approach that differently. We think of KConnect as a great place for sophomores to have those career conversations earlier at K, around the time that they’re making decisions about their majors. It’s not that a major equals what someone does in their career, but if they want to go into finance, for example, they’re going to want to have an internship in that field, so they’re going to want to make connections with folks that work in finance earlier on. Students can do that in KConnect.”

The platform also can empower K students who normally wouldn’t network by giving them an opportunity to do so easily and quickly.

“We have students who come to K with great professional networks, and potentially, the skill to log into KConnect and know exactly what to do with it,” Wood said. “But for those who are new to networking, this platform comes with us doing work on the back end to teach students how to use it, as they all will receive access to it. That elevates what you get from being a K student and it opens doors for people who might not have a professional network coming into K.”

Miller and Wood credit CCPD Assistant Director for Experiential Opportunities Richard Sylvester with doing much of the behind-the-scenes work to select a platform, test it with stakeholders and ensure that it meets the needs of students and alumni.

“One of the biggest initial challenges was selecting the right platform—one that would not only meet the current needs of students and alumni but also scale with us as we grow,” Sylvester said. “We didn’t take that decision lightly. We explored and evaluated several options and AlumniFire stood out as the partner best aligned with our goals and vision for students.”

From start to finish, the process of building KConnect took about seven or eight months, which Sylvester said speaks to the care the CCPD took to set it up right. The result is an exciting and easy-to-use platform. In fact, once they’re registered, participants won’t even have to log in to the platform to use it should they choose only to exchange messages. They can receive email alerts when they get messages and simply reply to them while automatically replying to the message on KConnect at the same time.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni can find instructions for KConnect and register for it through the CCPD website. Registering is possible with a kzoo.edu email address or, for alumni, with a personal email address.

“A platform like KConnect, which will eventually serve hundreds, if not thousands, of alumni and students, needs broad support and trust across campus,” Sylvester said. “We knew this tool had the potential to address a long-standing challenge: reducing the friction that often exists in connecting students with alumni for mentorship, networking, career exploration and experiential learning opportunities like internships and job shadows. Because of the platform’s potential impact, we invested time in meeting with people, demoing the platform, listening to feedback and concerns, and making sure everyone felt confident in the direction we were heading.”

As the platform continues to grow, the CCPD hopes it will serve as an example of the power of a liberal arts community that fosters relationships, sparks collaboration and ensures that Hornets always are buzzing with opportunities to share with each other thanks to having shared experiences as students.

“I often tell the story that I went to a large university and, despite the massive size of my network, I don’t have the network that K grads have because there just isn’t the same kind of alumni affinity for my university,” Miller said. “Here, if somebody says, ‘I did this on the Quad or at Red Square,’ everybody knows what that means. There’s a recognition and a connection that students can share with alumni before they even meet.”

The CCPD won’t measure its success with KConnect by the number of users it has, even though Sylvester admits he would love to see thousands of people using it over time. It’s more about fulfilling a deeper promise of what it means to be a student or alum in the K community.

“When someone chooses K, they’re not just choosing a school, they’re joining a community that cares about them,” Sylvester said. “It’s a community that’s invested in their success during their four years on campus and through the rest of their lives. Just by creating a profile and being willing to offer a bit of your wisdom, your story or your perspective, you will help create a rich, supportive network for students and fellow alumni. That’s how we build the kind of community we all want to be a part of one connection at a time.”

K Alumnus Wants Study Abroad to Change Lives in Oklahoma

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More students at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SEOSU) have applied for passports and are prepared to see the world thanks in part to a Kalamazoo College alumnus inspired by his own study abroad experiences.

Kyle Lincoln ’10 is an associate professor of history at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas, Texas. He also has been appointed the university’s study abroad director. The university last year had just 14 out of more than 6,000 enrolled students participating in study abroad, but the number overall is trending higher under Lincoln’s watch.

“I can remember starting to talk about going on study abroad when I was a first-year student at K, and now I can talk to our students to plant the idea with them,” Lincoln said. “Someone else then sits near our students in class while saying something like, ‘When I was in Vienna, something amazing happened.’ That’s when students pull the trigger and decide to go. Horizontal marketing like that is pretty powerful for us. And to me, it’s gratifying to know the number of students participating in study abroad here is growing. If we can get it up to about 10% participation, that would be a legacy number for me.”

SEOSU primarily serves students from a 12-county area in the state, all of which consistently rank among the 50 counties in the country with the lowest average household incomes. Additionally, approximately 46% of SEOSU’s students identify as students of color, including about 28% who identify as Native American. Despite these long odds, Southeastern excels in supporting its students through their graduation date and beyond, and consistently ranks in the top 10 universities in the country in graduating Native American students. When Lincoln arrived, there were few opportunities for students to pursue international immersion. Many students come from high-financial-need backgrounds and historically underserved communities, where optional educational opportunities like study abroad were not commonly seen as accessible.

A fledgling study abroad program began about 10 years prior to Lincoln’s arrival, when the honors program director at SEOSU decided that her students needed to see more of the world through short-term study abroad opportunities. Other students were invited along, yet participation stayed low. Lincoln, though, had gained experience leading study abroad programs while teaching at Webster University during graduate school, and he told officials at his new institution that he could dedicate himself to furthering its international immersion efforts.

Lincoln has since helped develop opportunities for full-semester, half-semester and summer-term programs offered through exchange partnerships, federally-funded programs, special fellowships offered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and competitive programs for foreign language study. But much of that development started almost by accident.

“The person who was planning to lead a program to Greece my first year at Southeastern ended up leaving the university,” Lincoln said. “I couldn’t say no when the honors director asked if I wanted to go. From there, we’ve been adding more faculty-led trips. We’ve gone to Belize and Guatemala, and we’re getting ready to go to Spain next year. We went to Iceland this last spring, too. Right now, we have five full-semester programs. I have a proposal on our president’s desk to add about 20 sites in 13 or 14 countries within the next year. That’s a pretty substantial increase in the programs we would be offering, especially for a school that doesn’t really have a dedicated study abroad office except for me.”

Lincoln, who is originally from Ionia, Michigan, said he visited K during high school when Steven Cairns ’93, Ionia’s AP history teacher, encouraged him to do so. The College’s brick-lined streets and trees, which reminded him of home, ultimately helped him decide to attend. As a K student, he took Latin classes and began learning Greek in classics department courses before spending a term abroad in Rome.

He has modeled some of SEOSU’s study abroad structure on his experience at K.

“I remember doing the background work to apply for graduate school and looking at my transcript,” he said. “I noticed I didn’t have separate transcripts from K and from studying abroad. I didn’t think about that for a long time, but it stuck in the back of my head, and we now do something similar at Southeastern. All the students that enroll in study abroad for semester or summer-term programs, enroll in classes that have a prefix of ‘Intl,’ which is international studies with me. Then, as the course codes fluctuate based on what classes they’re taking somewhere else, they stay enrolled at Southeastern despite being at Webster’s campus in Athens or the Universidad Nebrija campus in Madrid. From a practical perspective, that lets them stay on course to graduate. It also keeps enrollment verification for the state of Oklahoma, tribal funders, regional funders, philanthropic organizations or regional scholarships.”

Kyle Lincoln takes Southeast Oklahoma State students on study abroad
Kyle Lincoln ’10 (third from right) is a study abroad director and associate professor of history at Southeast Oklahoma State University. Lincoln has helped develop opportunities for full-semester, half-semester and summer-term programs at his institution.
Kyle Lincoln on study abroad in Rome
As a Kalamazoo College student, Lincoln took Latin classes and began learning Greek in classics department courses before spending a term abroad in Rome.
Kyle Lincoln with students on study abroad
Lincoln’s own study abroad experience at K meant so much to him that he now takes SEOSU students to places such as Belize and Guatemala.

Such a practice helps students maintain their access to university services, too.

“It makes the advising part easy for me, and it also means that the students can, for example, stay in contact with campus health services if they need to because they’re still enrolled with us,” Lincoln said. “They haven’t just gone to another university and enrolled in classes there. One study abroad director horror story I have that had a happy ending: I had a student whose appendix burst while she was in Geneva. Having that happen 4,000 miles from home is scary, but she called me and the campus directors, which allowed us to get some paperwork started. Her biggest complaint by the end? Why was the hospital food in Geneva better than cafeteria food at home!”

As a result, she made a full recovery without any out-of-pocket costs and still benefited from her study abroad experience. Lincoln said it puts students’ minds at ease when they know something about what they can expect and that their school has experience with what to do in emergencies.

The biggest challenge ahead is now building a lasting study abroad culture at SEOSU, which traditionally had students saying, “People like us don’t do that; that’s a rich-kid thing or an East Coast thing.” Lincoln brings to the institution the same belief that was instilled in him at K: that immersive, global experiences should be encouraged and accessible to all students, not just a privileged few.

“The financial challenges are often real for our students, yet building a lasting culture of study abroad at Southeastern has been the bigger challenge,” Lincoln said. “I will tell my students that they go with people they don’t know yet, but I do know them, and we can trust them. There might even be real opportunities abroad they can’t get at our campus or maybe we don’t have the faculty that can give them the variety that they want in their education. There’s also a transformative power in being in the place where something is happening.”

And so far, student feedback after study abroad has been encouraging, indicating the school is ready to ramp up participation.

“At this point, we’re seeing a 100% success rate,” he said. “One hundred percent of the students who go come back and ask questions like, ‘Can I go again? How do I do this forever? Can you tell me what programs for graduate school focus on international education? Is there a way to live abroad and get a master’s degree?’

“I want to make sure my students see study abroad as an opportunity that’s more accessible than they might think and a chance to do something life changing. I want it not to be a question of whether they can go, but when.”

Portrait of Kyle Lincoln
Lincoln previously led study abroad experiences as a graduate student at Webster University after graduating from K.

Alumni Host Students for Job Shadows, Networking in New York

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Over spring break, 10 first-generation students from Kalamazoo College traded the familiar routines of campus life for the fast-paced energy of New York City, where they spent five days job shadowing across a range of industries and opportunities in finance, education, theater, media and nonprofit work.

Thanks to K to NYC—a new Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) initiative organized by Assistant Director Alejandro Alaniz— students met alumni and got a firsthand look at how a K liberal arts degree can lead to diverse career paths.

Before traveling, students participated in sessions with the CCPD to prepare for their experiences, helping them research their alumni hosts and companies, develop strong career-conversation questions, and practice professional communication strategies. Then, Alaniz said, the trek provided a transformative experience that allowed students to step into spaces they might have once felt unsure about while walking away with a sense of confidence, direction and belonging.

“For many, it was their first time in New York City, their first job shadow, and their first professional conversation outside the classroom, and yet they showed up—asking thoughtful questions, sharing their stories, and embracing every moment of growth,” Alaniz said.

The student cohort, consisting mostly of first- and second-year students, included Jay Hernandez ’28, who said he leapt at the opportunity to go the moment he saw the first email about it.

“I love traveling and being in a real work environment because it fascinates me to see how people function in a day of work,” he said. “I also had never been to New York City before, which made it even more appealing to me, a first-generation student from Texas who has never known a big city like New York.”

For the job shadow itself, Hernandez met Kriti Singh ’17, who works as an associate with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a nonprofit that works like a think tank while transforming global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a clean, prosperous and zero-carbon future.

“It surpassed my expectations by tenfold,” Hernandez said. “This trip was so enlightening, and I was so thankful, because not only did I gain in-person experience from a real job shadow, but we also had free time to explore the richness of the city and experience things on our own. It felt like we were doing everything with how much we enjoyed it. It was a good bonding experience with new people as well. All the alumni gave me foresight on important skills and taught me truly how valuable networking is. With that and the advice they gave me, I understand better what to look for in jobs and what those jobs are looking for in me.”

Students meet with alumni for job shadows and networking in New York City
“This experience wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity and support of our alumni,” said Center for Career and Professional Development Alejandro Alaniz (far left). “Their willingness to open their workplaces, share their journeys, and encourage our students is what made this trek so meaningful.
Students visit New York City for job shadows and networking
“This trip was so enlightening, and I was so thankful, because not only did I gain in-person experience from a real job shadow, but we also had free time to explore the richness of the city and experience things on our own,” said Jay Hernandez ’28 of his experience in New York. “It felt like we were doing everything with how much we enjoyed it.”

In her role, Singh examines two- and three-wheel road vehicles, and how cities can develop infrastructure to increase access to transportation while adopting energy-efficient options. She said she took advantage of CCPD programs during her time at K and desired an opportunity to give back to the College.

“I did a couple of career treks including K’s first to New York, which then was called K to the Big Apple,” Singh said. “I think K prepared me well for the outside world through those experiences and more. There were classes I took that I could talk about in interviews that helped me get a job. K taught me to be flexible and willing to learn new things in quality classes with amazing professors. I think going to a small school, where professors knew my name, was important for me. I still value that today.”

Hernandez’s goals and Singh’s role weren’t a perfect match, because Hernandez hopes to work in finance rather than the nonprofit sector after earning his degree. However, Singh said there were still important lessons to learn in their time together.

“I understood that he might come out thinking, ‘This is not what I want to do,’” Singh said. “But I think it’s good to have depth and breadth regarding a variety of experiences. My goal was to give him exposure into this field. I also gave him some readings on my own work and I thought of other alumni he could connect with, whether they’re in New York or not. I wanted him to learn how to network because that was something I really benefited from.”

Amanda Johnson ’17 also wanted to give back, having benefited from three internships arranged at least in part through the CCPD during her time as a K student: working on the Raise the Wage Campaign for Michigan United, an internship with former K trustee Amy Courter at Youngsoft Inc. and a summer away at the U.S. Senate. She now works as a director at Waterfall Asset Management, where she trades residential mortgage-backed securities.

Johnson hosted one student for a job shadow and all 10 along with four other alumni for a dinner meeting in her office that night.

“I thought the questions they asked alumni were very thoughtful and showed maturity beyond their age,” Johnson said. “I recommended the students pursue a variety of career exposure opportunities at and through K. Bite size opportunities such as the experience in NYC will allow the students to learn their career preferences. Learning you don’t like something in a short term setting like a job shadow, externship or internship is incredibly useful for crafting a fulfilling, enjoyable career. I think this trip was a great experience for the students to add to their career exploration.”

As the students returned to campus, energized and inspired, their stories became fuel for Alaniz and the CCPD to expand the program going forward. In follow-up reports, Ash Rodriguez ’27 said, “This experience showed me that being first-gen doesn’t mean I have to play small. I’ve learned that I belong in professional spaces—and I want to take up space.”

Liuba Silva ’27 reflected, “Shadowing my alum taught me that career paths can be unpredictable, but that’s okay. I don’t need to have it all figured out right now—I just need to stay open and keep building relationships.”

And Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta ’28 said, “I used to think networking was about being polished and perfect. But during this trip, I learned that being genuinely curious and asking honest questions can be just as powerful.”

“This experience wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity and support of our alumni,” Alaniz said. “Their willingness to open their workplaces, share their journeys, and encourage our students is what made this trek so meaningful. The connections formed are proof that the Kalamazoo College network is not only strong, it’s deeply invested in the next generation of leaders. As I reflect, I’m already thinking about what’s next: more opportunities for career exploration, more spaces for first-generation students to thrive, and more stories of transformation waiting to unfold.”

Alumnus Conquers Curveball to Work in Major League Baseball

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Three months before Thomas Bentley ’25 graduated from Kalamazoo College, he secured his full-time dream job. He even started that role remotely while going through his last term, and he since has moved to a new state. But his favorite part of his new pursuits so far might surprise you.

“At the moment, my favorite part is when I take my lunch break,” he said. “I go sit on the balcony of the fourth floor and I eat my lunch overlooking a Major League Baseball field. That experience is tough to beat.”

The field Bentley observes is Target Field in Minneapolis, and since spring break this year, he has served the Minnesota Twins as an analyst in the Pro Personnel Department of Baseball Operations. He joins alumni such as Jordan Wiley ’19 and Samantha Moss ’23 by working in Major League Baseball roles within two years of Commencement. Another young alum, Jack Clark ’17, is the manager of MLB draft operations and has worked in professional baseball since 2020. And like theirs, Bentley’s position is ideal for someone who has been a baseball fan since childhood.

“I’m grateful that I found a job in the sport that I always wanted to be a part of in some capacity or another,” he said. “I think a lot of people would think it’s a cool job and that’s definitely not lost on me. That’s a piece of the gratitude that I weigh in terms of how things have turned out.”

Minnesota Twins graphic says, "Welcome to the team, Thomas Bentley, analyst, baseball operations"
Thomas Bentley ’25 joins alumni such as Jordan Wiley ’19 and Samantha Moss ’23 by working in Major League Baseball roles within two years of their Commencement. The Minnesota Twins hired Bentley as an analyst in Baseball Operations, making his input vital toward any trades the Twins might pursue this season.

If you’re familiar with the 2011 movie Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, you might have a ballpark idea of what Bentley is doing for the Twins. Although Hill’s character is fictional, he represents an amalgamation of everyone who serves a Major League Baseball team in pro personnel. Bentley performs similar work by evaluating statistics to determine how the Twins might improve their organization by making trades with other teams. As a result, if the Twins pull a deal at or before the July 31 trade deadline this year, it’s possible that his work will have influenced it.

“It’s like I’m doing homework all the time for a test that I might or might not have with the trade deadline coming up,” Bentley said. “Obviously, some of that homework will come into play, but my job is to understand Major League Baseball prospects really well and go to a meeting with pre-existing knowledge on those players.”

Bentley grew up in White Lake, Michigan, where K baseball coach Mike Ott recruited him as a pitcher. As a student, he was familiar with K’s academic reputation, making it an easy choice for his education and athletics goals.

Late in high school, however, Bentley faced a problem that came out of left field when he experienced what athletes sometimes call a dead arm. The condition would sound ominous for anyone, but it’s especially concerning for a baseball pitcher who might lose much of his velocity and control as a result of the problem.

A dead arm can be indicative of any one of many issues. For Bentley, it was a sign of a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury that requires Tommy John surgery. With the procedure, named after the pitcher who was one of its early successes in 1974, a surgeon grafts and attaches a ligament from a different part of the patient’s body or a cadaver to replace the UCL.

After a year of treatment and recovery, patients usually can return to their sports. Bentley, though, while attempting his recovery, had a couple of setbacks, and his elbow never fully healed. That curveball meant he would lose his entire senior season in high school, and his college baseball career ended before it even began.

Thankfully, Bentley kept his eye on the ball and K remained his destination for college as it led him toward a series of opportunities and a job, starting with Ott allowing him to be a director of data analytics for the Hornets.

“Coach Ott gave me a lot of freedom to test my ideas and let me use the baseball team as a sandbox of sorts,” Bentley said. “I was doing a bunch of projects for them, managing some systems for them on an ad hoc basis, and I learned how to create reports. They weren’t very good at the time, but it was a good starting point for me.”

Bentley said he wasn’t the best student for his first year and a half at K. In fact, he had hoped to declare a physics major during his sophomore year, but his grades cost him that opportunity. Regardless, he found a home in the economics department when its faculty went to bat for him.

“When I transitioned into economics, the department was awesome, and all the professors there were super welcoming and helpful,” Bentley said. “I have nothing but good things to say about them. They helped me rehabilitate my academics. [Associate Professor of Economics Julia] Cartwright especially pushed me, harder than I think most professors did, to pull my stuff together and be a good student.”

Bentley didn’t study abroad largely because he garnered an internship with Driveline Baseball, a data-driven player-development organization in Seattle. He also obtained on-campus work with the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) as a career advisor, a job that helped him develop his own skills while assisting his peers.

“That career-advisor job was something I didn’t think I was going to like, but I wanted to get an on-campus job, and I ended up loving it,” Bentley said. “My bosses and co-workers there were great, and I learned more about my own career than I thought I was going to. I greatly improved my career-finding skills while working in that department.”

These combined educational experiences wound up making his high school injury feel like a blessing in disguise.

“My parents and I sometimes talk about the UCL tear because it seems like it might have been the best thing that ever happened to me,” Bentley said. “Realistically, the Tommy John surgery is a big reason why I got a great job with the Minnesota Twins. All the pieces kind of came together.”

And since, from the drive to work on a Monday through his last duties on a Friday, Bentley has relished his opportunities with the Twins. Entering the All-Star Break, Minnesota sits in second place in the American League Central, making the team one to watch—possibly as a buyer or a seller—in the trade market, so think of Bentley if they make a deal. 

“Admittedly, I try to understate how cool I think my job is most of the time,” he said. “But coming into work every day has been really exciting. The drive is pretty standard, until I’m right outside the stadium. When I park and use my ID to get into a Major League Baseball stadium, that’s when it clicks: I was hoping I would one day work in baseball and I’m already doing exactly that. It’s a surreal feeling because I was a high-schooler just four years ago, setting this exact goal. It’s an amazing experience.”

Chance Encounter with Alumni Opens Student’s Doors to K

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It was a leap of faith for both of them.

Lily Toohey ’26 had an associate’s degree in business, an innkeeping job in Kalamazoo, and a strong desire to pursue more education challenged by financial constraints.

Nancy (Loebe) Hessler ’68, along with her husband, Jan Hessler ’65, had a comfortable retirement, deep pride in Kalamazoo College, and a commitment to pay forward the opportunities they were given.

Their chance meeting at Kalamazoo House in September 2023, where the Hesslers were staying during K’s Homecoming and Toohey was checking on guests at breakfast, started like many K stories: The proud alumni praising their alma mater, encouraging the unsure student to apply. Nancy Hessler, however, took it a step further.

“She said, ‘You should apply. If you get in, I’ll sponsor you,’” Toohey said. “And I was like, ‘You met me yesterday. What do you mean?’ But the way that she talked about it, she had so much pride that she went there and really talked highly about it. And I think in a spiritual sense, I felt like there were a lot of signs pointing to it being the direction I needed to follow.”

For Hessler’s part, she saw a drive in Toohey and aspirations in line with K’s values.

“It was so clear to me, oddly enough, so suddenly, that it was what we should do,” Hessler said. “Jan and I were given by our parents enough of a start line to do well. We both had good, solid, steady professional employment [Jan as a researcher with Argonne National Laboratory and Nancy as a Moraine Valley Community College librarian], and we were raised conservatively financially. You live within your means, and you prepare for the future, so we were positioned by the time I met this young lady, whom I consider something of a wonder at this point, to offer this.”

They exchanged contact information, and despite lingering uncertainty, Toohey decided to apply to K and see what happened. When she let Hessler know that she had been accepted and offered an excellent scholarship, Hessler promised per-term financial support that would cover the rest of her tuition.

“I would have hated to see someone like Lily, who clearly wanted very much to go to college, be denied that on the basis of finances,” Hessler said. “I would wish, in a perfect world, that it didn’t happen to any student with the ambition and drive to want to better themselves through a good education beyond high school. That’s not the world I live in, but by taking this action, I managed to make a strike on the good side of things.”

Portrait of Lily Toohey - alumni chance encounter
When Nancy Hessler ’68 met Lily Toohey ’26, she saw a strong drive in Toohey along with aspirations that align with Kalamazoo College’s values. When Toohey later let Hessler know that she had been accepted to K, Hessler promised per-term financial support from her and her husband, Jan ’65, that would cover the remaining cost of her education after a scholarship.

The Hesslers have long been financial supporters of Kalamazoo College, including the Kalamazoo College Fund, inspired in part by Nancy’s parents, who were determined to offer their daughter higher education.

“I’ve always been stressed about the money aspect,” Toohey said. “I always wanted more education, but I had gone to community college because it was just too expensive. Having the financial support has been such a weight off my shoulders.” 

Although readjusting to student life as a transfer mid-academic year in winter term 2024 while still working presented challenges, not having to worry about the cost allowed Toohey to focus on school.

“Nancy has been so incredibly supportive of everything that I want to do,” Toohey said. “She’s all about doing something, and if you don’t like it, change your mind and try again. She’s been supportive of my photography and wanting to study away and all these things. So having that has been like I’m doing it all for Nancy. When it gets hard, it’s for Nancy.”

For example, Toohey originally planned to major in business, minor in French and study abroad in France. Then, as a dormant interest in photography came back to life, she changed her minor to studio art and study abroad became study away through the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) New York Arts Program.

Hessler encouraged her every step of the way, and in January 2025, Toohey flew to New York City. In the New York Arts program, students participate weekly in a seminar to learn about, read on and discuss the arts in New York and art world careers. In addition, each participant is placed in an internship with a professional artist.

“Oh, she was so excited when she got the internship, and I was so excited for her, because I remember the excitement I had trying something out,” Hessler said, reminiscing about her own K-Plan. In addition to enjoying classes in a range of subjects and ending up with a major in French and minors in German, economics and religion, Hessler credits experiences such as studying abroad in Caen, France, and an off-campus work study program with developing independence and supporting the transition from child to fully functioning adult.

In New York, Toohey learned from three photographers as she completed a photography internship with a business owner who shoots mainly in studio, a mentorship with an event and fashion photographer, and an additional internship with a fashion photographer who works with brands. Through those experiences, Toohey conducted studio shoots, took behind-the-scenes images of New York Fashion Week and spent days on location for branding shoots.

She learned, practiced and broadened her photography and business interests, coming away with a new focus on fashion marketing photography. The program capstone is a personal project, and Toohey’s included seven photography shoots and curation of an exhibit on the duality of womanhood.

“When I presented my work, one of my friends got really emotional, and he was tearing up, talking about my work, and my advisor said that he can’t wait to see the big things that I do,” Toohey said. “Getting those comments from people felt like, ‘OK, people are seeing it,’ and also, I was proud of myself. I never thought I’d be creating work like I created in New York.” 

The New York Arts Program built Toohey’s confidence and reminded her of the importance of creating. Back on campus for spring term, she threw herself into a photography class project involving fashion shoots based on personification of her favorite beverages. She’s been thinking about opportunities she may want to pursue, including a partnership with a local vintage store or internships in Grand Rapids or Chicago.

“I want to move to New York after graduation,” Toohey said. “I fell in love with it; I literally got a New York City tattoo. The program helped me learn that I truly loved the city, and that I could make it work, and it built my photography skills and the confidence to go for it and make mistakes.”

“I’m very grateful for the way this has all worked out,” Toohey said. “I’m so incredibly grateful for the Hesslers and everything they’ve done for me.”

Was it a gamble for Toohey and for the Hesslers? Sure. Has that leap of faith paid off? Absolutely.

“You know, my parents took a chance on me,” Hessler said. “There is no guarantee in life that a student or any person will make the most of what they’ve been offered. I asked my dad once, when I wanted to thank my parents, ‘What can I do?’ He said, ‘Pay it forward.’ As it happens, I made a choice not to have children. So, OK, this is paying it forward. That’s what I’m trying to do. There was no guarantee, but boy, did we pick a winner. Lily is doing amazing things and making the most of the opportunity. If I can be part of that, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the very least I could do. It’s up to those of us who can and who have benefited from K’s education to support young people in experiencing it, too.”

Fulbright, Language Fellows Draw Global Spotlight

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Eleven recent graduates are pursuing their passions around the world during the 2025–26 academic year. As Fulbright scholars and teaching assistants, they’re continuing a rich tradition of post-grad international learning and service—and carrying Kalamazoo College’s spirit of exploration around the globe.

Fulbright

Erik Danielson ’25, Alex Nam ’25, Leo McGreevy ’25, Stacy Escobar ’21 and Joseph Horsfield ’25 are Fulbright scholars in the U.S. Student Program.

In partnership with more than 140 countries, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the federal government’s flagship for international educational exchange as it offers opportunities in graduate study, conducting research and teaching English abroad. K has earned recognition as a top producer of Fulbright students for six consecutive years. Graduating seniors apply through their educational institution. Alumni apply as scholars through their institution or as at-large candidates. As a nod to their academic merit and leadership potential, Danielson, Nam and McGreevy will serve Fulbright in Austria; Escobar will travel to Guatemala; and Horsfield will go to Ireland.

Danielson, Nam, McGreevy and Escobar will work as English teaching assistants (ETAs). In their roles, they will serve as teachers and cultural ambassadors while promoting an understanding of the U.S. and its culture, learning about their host country, and engaging with their communities.

Horsfield will attend the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and begin a Ph.D. program that has been offered to only two U.S. students each year since 2019. The opportunity, based in Dublin, encourages scientists to develop innovative research projects related to cancer; neurological and psychiatric disorders; population health and health services; biomaterials, medical devices and pharmaceutical sciences; surgical science and practice; or vascular biology. Fulbright will cover the first year of Horsfield’s educational costs and RCSI will cover the last three.

NALCAP

Fuzail Ahmed ’25, Maya Hester ’25, Sierra Hieshetter ’25 and Alexa Wonacott ’25 have received Spanish government teaching assistantships through the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) of Spain. And Madeline Hollander ’25 and McKenna Lee Wasmer ’25 will fulfill government teaching assistantships through NALCAP in France.

The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain, located in Washington, D.C., promotes the NALCAP opportunities in Spain, seeking diverse educational outreach and long-lasting ties between American and Spanish citizens. France Education International maintains the program for France with a desire to cooperate globally in education along with technical and vocational training while supporting the teaching of French around the world.

Both programs have similar structures with Hollander, Wasmer, Ahmed, Hester, Hieshetter and Wonacott each expecting to be abroad for seven to eight months beginning in October. Afterward, the participants may apply for renewal.

NALCAP recipients receive a monthly stipend and medical insurance for 12–16 hours of assistant teaching per week depending on their program. They make their own housing arrangements and are encouraged to immerse themselves in the language and culture of their host countries while sharing the language and culture of the United States with the students they teach.

Fulbright Scholar Alex Nam in C
Alex Nam ’25 will be one of five Kalamazoo College alumni abroad in the 2025–26 academic year while serving the Fulbright U.S. Student Program as an English teaching assistant in Austria. He is pictured during his study abroad experience in Regensburg, Germany.
Alexa Wonacott on study abroad in Spain
Alexa Wonacott ’25 will return to Spain this year thanks to the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program. She will be an English teaching assistant through a program offered by the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain.

“I’m proud of the Kalamazoo College students and alumni who seek opportunities like these because they support international cooperation on issues that are shared around the world,” Center for International Programs Executive Director Margaret Wiedenhoeft said. “Each honoree is an example of the curiosity, courage and global perspective we aim to cultivate in K representatives throughout their lives. The fellowships are not just awards. They’re opportunities to engage deeply with the world, seek challenges in new environments, and grow academically and personally. Their success reflects the strength of our programs and the passion our students bring to global learning.”