Category: Alumni

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 Hall-of-Famer 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.”

Spring Break Job Shadows Enlighten Students, Benefit Hosts

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While some students spent spring break relaxing on beaches, several Kalamazoo College students took a different route, immersing themselves in the professional world through a new job-shadowing initiative.

K in the Zoo, organized through the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), connected students with alumni and local businesses in professions ranging from lab science to education, and project management to marketing. For many participants—such as Anna Phyo ’27—it offered a rare, hands-on glimpse into the day-to-day life of a potential future career.

“I’m really grateful I had this opportunity through the CCPD and I hope they do it again for more students,” Phyo said. “I believe it was beneficial, not only to the students who participated, but the companies as well because everyone got to talk with talented people. Spring break was a great time to do it, too. I didn’t have any other plans, and as an international student, I didn’t have time to go back to my home country, so it was good to learn something, engage with the recruiting process, and begin to create a career.”

Phyo, an international student from Myanmar, majors in computer science and business and minors in Japanese while working as a student assistant for the Information Systems Help Desk. One of her supervisors at the Help Desk sent her a link with information about K in the Zoo and encouraged her to apply for it.

A student job shadows with four alumni at SalesPage
Haziel Cerroblanco ’28 (from left) is among the Kalamazoo College students who took advantage of spring break in March to job shadow at local businesses. As a bonus, his experience at SalesPage Technologies allowed him to network with four K alumni: Ana Evans ’02, Ranjeet Ghorpade ’15, Jasmin Murillo ’22 and Trevor Hunsanger ’22.
Student job shadows at a preschool with two Kalamazoo College alumnae
Emily Perez ’28 (right) Perez observed substitute teacher Mason Bower ’09 (left) and program director/lead teacher Debbie Long ’89 (middle) at Calvary Kids Co-Op Preschool in Mattawan, Michigan.
Student on job shadowing experience with a Greenleaf Hospital Group employee
Anna Phyo ’27 (right) job shadows with Greenleaf Hospitality Group Recruiting Manager Meg Brake during Phyo’s job-shadowing experience. Phyo will have an internship this summer in Traverse CIty, Michigan, thanks in part to some advice she received during her visit to GHG.
Student job shadows with Kalamazoo College alumnus at Sleeping Giant Capital
Alumnus Doug Lepisto ’04, a co-founder of Sleeping Giant Capital, met Schareene Romero ’27 to share firsthand career experiences and a practical understanding of his role in business with her during a job-shadowing opportunity.

After the CCPD compared students’ interests with volunteering employers, Phyo was matched with Greenleaf Hospitality Group (GHG) at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo. It led to a full day for her that included meeting with managers from recruiting, hotel operations, event sales and services, technology services, marketing and human resources.

“I had never known much about the hospitality industry before this,” Phyo said. “I talked with a lot of managers, so I got detailed information about how they operate. The impressive thing is that the people are very friendly. That’s how I learned how important people are for their company. They say, ‘employees first,’ and then the employees, as a result, treat the customer well.”

During the shadowing, GHG Service Desk Engineer Alex Peterson suggested that Phyo take an online course on essential Google Cloud infrastructure. The lessons have helped Phyo secure a summer internship at Hagerty, an automotive lifestyle and insurance company, in Traverse City, Michigan. Plus, the shadowing experience overall has taught Phyo that she would like to be a technical support professional for GHG.

“As a student, I love that they’re very close by, being located downtown,” Phyo said. “And after graduation, I don’t want to have to move to another state because I have friends and a host family here. I love the company, their culture, and their inclusive, collaborative and positive environment.”

Alex Quesada ’25, a double major in business and psychology, visited another major Kalamazoo-area employer. Stryker is a global leader in medical technologies, devices and equipment. He said it was a no-brainer to participate in K in the Zoo.

“It’s not easy to try to have career conversations with people you don’t know,” he said. “You might try to email someone or try messaging them on LinkedIn. And yes, you’re building your network that way, but that can be intimidating. Doing these job shadows lessens the idea that you might be faced with rejection. An experience like this makes career exploration more exciting. I see a lot of the people who work in the CCPD because I work in the Center for International Programs and we share an office. I see a lot of their faculty and staff, so I trust them, and they made it super easy.”

At Stryker, he met Andrea Fleckenstein ’15, an experienced project manager, who shared her background and discussed her career path after K. Ultimately, Quesada decided that project management isn’t what he wants to pursue in his career, but he found the experience to be beneficial, especially for the opportunity to talk with a K alumna.

“With my current job search, one of my anxieties is that my degree is not super specialized,” he said. “With Andrea, I could ask how she leverages her liberal arts skills to enter the real world and the job market as someone with a broad degree. It helped to hear that Andrea said she didn’t major in business; she majored in French and political science, and now does project management for Stryker. It was reassuring to ask, ‘How did you do it?’ and ‘How did you end up here?’ She kept saying that it’s because K teaches you how to think and ask good questions.”

 Many alumni hosts said they benefited from similar career networking experiences as students and were happy to pay it forward to current students.

“I know that when I was in school, I had the opportunity to talk with and be guided by those that had come before me, so I wanted to make sure that I was providing the same opportunity to current students,” said Christina Anderson, Kalamazoo’s city planner and deputy director of community planning and economic development. Anderson welcomed Anne Galin ’26 to her office, spending the day with her while attending public meetings.

“I was so appreciative that she just dove right in,” Anderson said. “She figured out what needed to be done and where I needed help, and she had the ability to participate in the discussion. She had no qualms about it and got right to the work of the night, which was discussing the city’s strategic vision goals. She took the initiative to ask us a lot of questions.”

Anderson also provided Galin with some advice.

“We talked about taking future opportunities and how not liking them can be as valuable as loving them,” Anderson said. “Crossing things off is just as important as understanding what you want to do. We talked about staying involved, whether it’s with the City of Kalamazoo or other organizations, and to keep up with what the city is doing as a way to integrate yourself into your community. When you’re here as a student nine to 10 months out of the year, make the city a better place for yourself and all the students who will come after you. Ask how you can positively shape your community.”

The city’s chief operating officer also is a K alumna and a current assistant cross-country coach, so she feels a strong connection to the College.

“My roots run deep with K, and as an individual who benefited significantly from service learning and my experiences there, I’m deeply committed to helping students expand their career horizons and understand more about the real world by giving them a chance to experience local government as I see it every day,” said Laura Lam ’99, whose husband, Daniel Lam ’98, also attended K.

She welcomed Hollis Masterson ’26, who majors in political science and history.

“The opportunity presented itself and I had that initial question of, ‘Am I too busy?’ I then thought no matter how busy I was, interacting with students would inspire me, too,” Lam said.

To cater an experience to Masterson based on his interests, Lam connected him with Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess—a K professor emerita and former volleyball coach—for a conversation about what it’s like to be an elected official in Kalamazoo; Anderson because she spent some time on Capitol Hill in D.C.; and City Clerk Scott Borling along with Deputy City Clerk Shelby Moss, who are responsible for hosting elections.

“I can’t tell you how impressed I was with Hollis’ preparedness,” Lam said. “I believe I set the bar pretty high for K students, but he came with a longer list of thoughtful questions than I could have possibly imagined. With his eager, thoughtful, helpful questions, there was never a lull in conversation. He asked about the things that interested him and I’m sure he was the same way in the other meetings I planned for him.”

With such positive reviews coming from all sides, K in the Zoo students were more than passive observers. Their meetings were more about engaging in conversations and talking about careers. It proved to be a pilot program that CCPD Associate Director Rachel Wood hopes to replicate for more students in the years ahead.

“I’m so grateful to our incredible hosts and student participants for making the first K in the Zoo such a success,” Wood said. “The energy and insight from both sides made it clear this is something worth growing. These place-based, hands-on experiences are exactly what help students apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real possibilities for life after K. I’m excited to expand the program with more hosts and new opportunities moving forward, especially in partnership with the greater Kalamazoo community and local employers who are eager to support the next generation.”

Alumna Equips the Fight Against Parkinson’s

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A Kalamazoo College alumna is among the people playing important roles in the fight against Parkinson’s disease (PD) at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), headquartered in New York City. 

The foundation, which launched in 2000, says it’s dedicated to finding a cure for PD—a progressive chronic neurological movement disorder—through an aggressive research agenda that also ensures the development of improved therapies for those living with the disease today. As the organization’s director of research resources, Nicole Polinski, Ph.D. ’12 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.

High-quality research tools are vital for successful, reproducible science. MJFF’s Research Tools Program team, including Polinkski, works with the research community to understand the gaps in the research tool space, develop and distribute reagents and models to fill these gaps, and better understand the characteristics of available research tools.

“I think my biggest challenge is to make sure that our limited resources have the biggest impact possible,” Polinski said. “It’s trying to identify what we need as we get suggestions for where we should focus our laboratory-tool development. It’s trying to connect the dots between different things you’re hearing from different folks to make sure that we prioritize and select the programs that have the potential to impact a lot of labs. Figuring out what to prioritize and who to work with on those programs.” 

The early signs of Parkinson’s disease include tremors, often in the hands or fingers; a loss of smell; trouble moving or walking, including stiffness and balance problems; constipation; a reduction of facial expressions; dizziness or fainting; sleeping problems and stooping or hunching over. Polinski said Parkinson’s is diagnosed through such traditional motor systems, but until recently, it’s pathology could only be confirmed at autopsy. As a result, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis is still all too common. 

“The two pathological hallmarks that are confirmed in an autopsy are in the brain,” Polinski said. “One is the presence of a protein that’s normally in the brain, but it starts to clump abnormally with Parkinson’s. It’s the presence of those clumps and then the loss of a specific brain system, which consists of a circuit that deals with movement.” 

Research, though, through MJFF and its partners, is beginning to provide more methods for diagnosis as well as treatment. 

Parkinson's Researcher Nicole Polinski
Nicole Polinski ’12

National Parkinson’s Awareness Month 

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. Organizations such as The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the American Parkinson Disease Association host events and campaigns, provide resources for people living with Parkinson’s, and support research efforts in the fight against the ailment, which afflicts more than 10 million people worldwide including about 1 million in the U.S.

In 2023, an international coalition of scientists led by MJFF discovered a Parkinson’s biomarker—a tool that can detect the earliest biological signs of the disease in living people.

“We need better ways to diagnose it, and I think we’re making good headway,” Polinski said. “There’s now a test with cerebrospinal fluid that can detect those clumps. It’s still not perfect. A lumbar puncture to collect the fluid is not easy. Hopefully, we might be able to use saliva and blood or other bodily fluids that require less invasive procedures in the future.” 

Michael J. Fox is widely known as an actor for his role as Alex P. Keaton on the 1980s situation comedy Family Ties. He later became a movie star with roles in Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, The Secret of My Success and Casualties of War. In 1991, Fox developed a tremor in his pinky finger. He consulted a neurologist and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 29 years old. Still, he found a way to channel that life-changing news into a way to help others. 

“I’ve met Michael a number of times and he came to our all-staff meeting earlier this year for a fireside chat,” Polinski said. “He talked about his experience and where he’s at now. You know how he feels about the work and all that the foundation he established has accomplished. It’s always great to see him. He’s as nice as he is portrayed.” 

In her early years at K, Polinski knew she wanted to major in biology, but no one in her family had a science background, and her exposure to the medical field was primarily through medical doctors. She assumed she would also go to medical school and become a physician herself until she started her Senior Integrated Project (SIP).  

“I ended up doing a summer internship at a spinal cord injury lab at The Ohio State University and I really liked being in the lab,” Polinski said. “After that, I started looking more into graduate schools and went on to get a Ph.D. in neuroscience.” 

Shortly after graduate school at Michigan State University, she began working for The Michael J. Fox Foundation as a research program officer, advancing to associate director and senior associate director before earning her current position. It’s a role she relishes, knowing her work contributes to an important fight. 

“We’re well on our way to improving ways to diagnose Parkinson’s disease with some recent breakthroughs, and we have more diverse therapeutic strategies in testing than ever before,” Polinski said. “On top of that, we’re identifying new pathways to tackle Parkinson’s disease by looking at patient bio samples to better understand the disease at a basic biological level. I’ve been here almost nine years, and no two days ever look the same. It’s a field that is ever evolving, and even within my laboratory tools space, new technologies and targets are popping up that need support with new players in the field. It’s something that’s always changing, and I really enjoy that challenging feature of this work. I never get bored, and I love my job.” 

Alumnus Honored for Innovative Opera Grand Rapids Film

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Carter Dillet portrays George Stinney Jr. for Opera Grand Rapids
Carter Dillet portrays George Stinney Jr. in the Opera Grand Rapids production of “Stinney: An American Execution.”
Daniel Sampson plays George Stinney Sr. for Opera Grand Rapids
Daniel Sampson plays George Stinney Sr. in “Stinney: An American Execution.”
Chasiti Lashay appears in the role of Alma Stinney for Opera Grand Rapids
Chasiti Lashay appears in the role of Alma Stinney during the Opera Grand Rapids production of “Stinney: An American Execution.”

Cody Colvin ’18 has been striking powerful chords at the intersection of opera and media production. This February, he was honored 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. Decades later, in 2014, a South Carolina judge vacated his conviction, citing an egregious lack of due process.

“The film hurts to watch every time,” Colvin said. “It reminds me of how important this story is and why we told it.”

The opera, composed by Frances Pollock with libretto by Tia Price, premiered in 2022. With Colvin as director, the production was transformed into a cinematic experience now streaming nationwide and broadcast across Michigan through Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliates. The film also marks a technical achievement as it’s believed to be the first full-length opera captured entirely on cinema cameras. It features cutting-edge audio with technology from DPA Microphones and Tentacle Sync, mixed in immersive Dolby Surround with nearly 40 channels of recorded sound.

Colvin began conversations about filming Stinney in 2021, when he approached Opera Grand Rapids’ then-chorusmaster about singing in the chorus. That conversation quickly evolved into a production opportunity. OGR Executive Director and Stinney Co-Executive Producer Emilee Syrewicze then brought Colvin and his company, Colvin Theatrical, on board to produce the film.

“After touring with the American Association of Community Theatre in 2021, we were looking for a project we could really sink our teeth into,” Colvin said. “This was that project, technically ambitious and thematically vital.”

Before Colvin’s involvement, Syrewicze had begun preliminary broadcast talks with WGVU, Grand Rapids’ PBS affiliate. Once Colvin joined the team, WGVU escalated the project to PBS national headquarters. Emmy-winning PBS Senior Director of Programming Doug Chang, known for Live from Lincoln Center, worked with Colvin to help refine the film for national release. It now lives on the PBS app and has aired across multiple Michigan regions.

“When we screened it for the first time, the stunned silence in the room was palpable,” Colvin said. “I was able to watch the initial broadcast with the Opera Grand Rapids donors who helped bring the project to life, and their thoughtful and emotional response to the film reaffirmed why we do this work.”

Colvin founded Colvin Theatrical in 2020 during the pandemic, helping theater companies reach audiences far beyond their venues. One early breakthrough came in 2021, when he filmed 11 of the 12 Outstanding Production nominees at the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) Festival, earning international media coverage. In 2023, he launched Colvin Media to expand into broader film, television and advertising projects. Colvin Theatrical now operates under that umbrella.

A classically trained bass-baritone, Colvin nurtured his passion for singing during his time at Kalamazoo College. He made his principal opera debut in 2024 in La Bohème with Opera Grand Rapids, and his next milestone comes this spring with a Carnegie Hall debut.

Colvin to Perform
at Carnegie Hall

Cody Colvin ’18 will make his Carnegie Hall debut at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, performing a solo with the West Michigan Opera Project. The Grand Rapids-based ensemble focuses on educational outreach through concerts, workshops, and master classes. A public sendoff concert is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. RSVP for either event at the West Michigan Opera Project website.

Alyssa Toepfer portrays Jean Binnicker
Alyssa Toepfer portrays Jean Binnicker during the Opera Grand Rapids production of “Stinney: An American Execution.”
Cody Colvin portrait
Cody Colvin ’18, a business and theatre arts double major at K, founded Colvin Theatrical in 2020. In 2023, he launched Colvin Media to expand into broader film, television and advertising projects.

Alumni Tout Digital Release of ‘Grassland’

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A movie with Kalamazoo College ties that seeks to change society’s views on marijuana incarceration policies is now available for pre-purchase and will be available digitally through Apple TV+ beginning Friday, April 18. Grassland stars Quincy Isaiah ’17, an actor known for his role as Magic Johnson in the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Adam Edery ’19 served the movie as a producer and Shon Powell ’18 as a consulting producer.  

“Overall, we’ve gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback on the film, not only on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, but from individuals letting us know how moved they are by it,” Edery said. “The biggest takeaway people seem to have is that they didn’t realize how many people are still incarcerated for cannabis offenses today, and seeing the direct impacts this has on families.” 

Set in 2008 during the Great Recession, the movie follows a single Latina mother whose illegal marijuana business is jeopardized when her son befriends new neighbors, a young white boy and his police officer grandfather. Actors Mía Maestro and Jeff Kober star alongside Isaiah, who plays Brandon, a character who feels stuck with few options for moving on thanks to a mistake he made as a child.  

Grassland had a private screening with guests Edery and Isaiah at K’s Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership in November 2023. The film then had a world premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. It since has played at the Monterrey International Film Festival, the Boise Film Festival, the Pan African Film and at events in Detroit, New York City and Los Angeles with more screenings still to come. 

Executive producer Common, who is also an actor and rapper, will lead an April 25 impact event at Shinola San Francisco, which will include conversations with him, members of the film team and the Last Prisoner Project’s (LPP) director of advocacy. LPP works to free people who are still incarcerated for cannabis offenses. 

“We are using our social impact campaign not only to educate people on the realities of cannabis incarceration today, but also to spur them to take action and provoke change in their communities whether it be calling their congressman to ask for clemency for a local LPP constituent, or moving from buying their cannabis from a national retailer to a local, cannabis-justice driven shop,” Edery said. 

Edery added that he won’t measure the film’s long-term success by the amount of money it makes or the amount of people who purchase it, but rather the amount of change that is driven from it. 

“If we can meaningfully contribute to even one person being freed from prison as a result of efforts correlated with this film, I will consider it a success,” he said. “And that starts with people watching the movie and becoming educated on the issue while also being entertained in the process.” 

Grassland movie poster says "From Executive Producer Common, directed by Sam Friedman and William Bermudez"
Quincy Isaiah ’17 stars in “Grassland,” which is now available for pre-purchase through Apple TV+. Adam Edery ’19 is a producer and Shon Powell ’18 is a consulting producer.
Quincy Isaiah and Adam Edery visit the Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College before a screening of their film titled "Grassland."
Actor Quincy Isaiah ’17 (left) and Producer Adam Edery ’19 returned to Kalamazoo College in November 2023 to screen their independent film titled “Grassland.”

Alumna Finds Where Birds of a Feather Flock Together

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Update: Rockwell’s presentation now is available online.
Click the link and use the password v1R$ErPy to watch it.

A Kalamazoo College alumna will deliver a public virtual presentation through the Redwood Region Audubon Society (RRAS), highlighting 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.

Dr. Sarah Rockwell ’02 works for Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO), a scientific nonprofit research organization in Ashland, Oregon, that focuses on achieving bird and habitat conservation through science, education and partnerships. Rockwell’s program, “To Southern California, Brazil, and Back: First GPS Tracking of Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin Migration,” will be available through Zoom at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, January 16, at rras.org.

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. Equipped with headlamps, they captured adult birds roosting in their nest boxes between about 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. and tagged them with a small GPS device. The next morning, after sleeping in tents, Rockwell and her collaborators observed the tagged birds to ensure their normal behavior, including flying and feeding their nestlings.

Separately, Rockwell worked with KBO Director of Conservation Jaime Stephens to study Oregon vesper sparrows. Together, they set up a mist net near a perching spot in a male’s territory and placed a speaker playing a vesper sparrow song under it. The birds perceived the song as a rival male, often causing them to fly into the net while trying to chase away the false intruder, allowing Rockwell and Stephens to band them.

With both species, Rockwell and her collaborators made harnesses so the birds could comfortably wear the GPS tags 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 they could be collected for data retrieval as GPS tags for birds this small are too lightweight to transmit data, only store it.

Their efforts have proven successful.

“Before this study, we did not know where purple martins from Oregon went during migration and winter,” Rockwell said. “The unique subspecies of the western purple martin is estimated at just 3,500 pairs in the Pacific Northwest states, and it is considered to be of conservation concern. We had the same questions for the Oregon vesper sparrow, another subspecies unique to the Pacific Northwest that is currently under review for listing as threatened or endangered due to its small population size and declining trend. These are the first studies of their kind with these subspecies, tracking them with GPS tags year-round.”

As a student at K, Rockwell participated in the ecology and environment study abroad program in Ecuador. Through that program, she participated in field trips with an ornithologist that helped her and other students spot and identify birds. At the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon, she also participated in a three-week bird survey, spending time in canopy towers counting birds and adding to the inventory at the station.

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. Photo by Daniel Farrar.
Scientist stands in water while retrieving birds in their nesting boxes with a pole
Rockwell retrieves purple martin nest boxes at Fern Ridge Reservoir. Photo by Sam Webb.
An Oregon vesper sparrow perches with a GPS antenna attached to it. Photo by Frank Lospalluto.

“It is hard not to fall in love with tropical rainforest birds like parrots, toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds,” Rockwell said. “When I returned, I took a vertebrate biology class with Dr. Paul Sotherland, which had a substantial bird component. When I found that I also loved learning the birds of Michigan, I took that as a good sign. My first field jobs after college were working with sea turtles and then endemic forest birds on the big island of Hawai’i at Volcanoes National Park. This is where I learned how to mist-net and capture birds. The first time I held a wild bird in my hands, I was hooked.”

Rockwell earned a job with KBO after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland and Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Fast forward 12 years and she’s now working there as a senior research biologist. In her position, she hires and supervises field crews and conducts field work from April-July. That means getting up early and spending a lot of time hiking and studying birds outdoors. The rest of the year, she pursues data management and data analysis using statistical software, writes reports and peer-reviewed publications, seeks grant writing opportunities, and plans for the next field season.

In her upcoming presentation, Rockwell said attendees can expect to see photos and maps from her research, and peek into where western purple martins and Oregon vesper sparrows go during the annual voyages they undertake.

“These first few birds have returned with fascinating information, revealing new discoveries about their incredible journeys, including unexpected lengthy fall stopovers, and for purple martins, winters on the beach in southeastern Brazil,” she said. “Determining the factors that limit population size in a migratory bird species can be challenging. It requires understanding what threats they may face in different parts of the year, and thus, the first step is knowing where they are throughout their annual cycles. A better understanding of overwintering locations and migratory stopover sites used by Oregon vesper sparrows and western purple martins, and potential threats originating during the non-breeding season, are key information gaps needed to target conservation actions.”