Marian Heller ’84 is involved with an art project called “Kokopelli Rising,” part of the Burning Man annual art event that will take place August 27 through September 3 in Black Rock City, Nevada. Marian informed the artists about Katherine Hoover’s flute composition “Kokopelli,” (played by Marian in a live performance). Marian will record the piece for the artists to play on site at the art installation in Nevada. And she will attend as well.
Category: Alumni
Alum Keith Crandall Hired to Direct Computational Biology Institute at George Washington University
Keith Crandall ’87 has been hired by George Washington University to direct its new Computational Biology Institute.
Computational biology combines elements of computer science and biology, and its practitioners develop tools to analyze data generated in researching genetics and genomics, including genetic mapping and DNA sequencing.
Crandall’s research interests have included crustacean biology, biodiversity, and infectious diseases. His B.A. from Kalamazoo College is in biology. At Washington University in St. Louis he earned a Ph.D.in population and evolutionary biology and a master’s degree in statistics. His work at CBI will include an investigation of the impact of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, using gene expression to identify how oil pollutants affect deep sea crustaceans.
“K” Alum Captures Science Research in Polymer Chemistry on YouTube
Nahrain Kamber ’01 is an associate scientist and solutionist at Dow Chemical Company. She describes her scientific journey on YouTube. Today she applies discoveries in polymer chemistry to the creation of new products for people.
Vic Braden Writes “If I’m Only 22, How Come I’m 82?”
Vic Braden ’51 has written his eighth book, If I’m Only 22, How Come I’m 82. He says at his age, it’s likely to be his last book, but reviewer Jack Neworth (10sBalls.com) hopes that will not be the case.
Smokin’ Poets
Thanks, in part, to Kim Grabowski ’12, the Spring issue of the on-line magazine, The Smoking Poet, features a strong K connection. Grabowski was an intern at the magazine and helped compile an issue that features the work of Writer-in-Residence Diane Seuss ’78 as well as current students and alumni.
The alums include Kit Almy ’89, Lauren Moran ’11, Katie Prout ’09, and John Craig ’11. Current students with poems published in the issue are Nick Canu ’12, Cam Stewart ’12, Rebecca Staudemaier ’12, Kate Belew ’15, and Jasmine An ’15. Maggie Jackson ’11 and Amy Newday had nonfiction published in the magazine. Newday coordinates the College’s Writing Center. And Grabowski’s interview with Michigan poet Laura Kasischke appears as well. Kasischke recently won the Rilke Prize, and she will read works from her new collection, Space, In Chains, on campus this April 16. Chief Editor for The Smoking Poet is Zinta Aistars, who worked for Kalamazoo College for many years.
Goodlander to Perform Traditional Balinese Shadow Puppet Performance
Jennifer Goodlander ’97 will perform a traditional Balinese wayang kulit, or shadow puppet performance, Thursday May 17, 5pm, Dungeon Theatre, Light Fine Arts Building. Admission is free and open to the public.
Wayang kulit is an ancient Indonesian art of shadow puppet theatre that combines ritual, lesson, and entertainment. Goodlander manipulates (and gives voice to) intricately carved and hand-painted puppets, each a unique character with a specific role in a given story.
Many of her puppets were created for her by I Wayang Tunjung, the dalang, or puppet master, in Indonesia with whom she has studied extensively. Goodlander recently joined the faculty at Indiana University as an assistant professor of theatre. During her visit to K, she will meet with students in Professor of Theatre Arts Ed Menta’s Asian Theatre Class.
Alum is Finalist in Japanese Language Speech Contest
Kristen Bergh ’09 is the second Kalamazoo College student to become a finalist in the Michigan Japanese Language Speech Contest. The contest has occurred for the past 16 years; Bergh delivered her speech, “Japanization,” on March 31 at the Novi (Michigan) Civic Center.
Student Shines as Peace Corps Volunteer
Megan Barnes ’10 is featured in the March 21, 2012 issue of Harbor Light newspaper, published in her hometown of Harbor Springs, Mich.
Megan is a Peace Corps volunteer in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Working in small communities of 10 to 100 homes, she trains community members to pass along preventive health information to their neighbors and families on topics that range from basic illness and care to more complex skills and issues, such as midwifery, first aid, mental health, and domestic violence.
While at K, Megan studied art history with a concentration in classical civilization. She played tennis for the Hornets, was a member of student commission, and studied abroad in Rome. She also assisted migrant farm workers during her senior year, was a mentor at a local elementary school, and completed a Senior Individualized Project on repatriation of artifacts, following a few months of interning at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
“K” Alum Travels to Japan Following Natural Disasters
Ethan Segal ’90, professor of Japanese history at Michigan State University, made two trips to Japan following the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown that continues to dramatically affect the northeastern part of the country.
Segal earned his B.A. in biology and did his study abroad in Japan (Waseda University in Tokyo). He earned advanced degrees from the University of Washington (M.A.) and Stanford University (Ph.D.). He is currently the 2011-12 Visiting Scholar at the Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies at Harvard University. You can read his impressions from his recent visits to Japan here.
“K” Student and Alumni Earn Alpha Lamda Delta Honor Society Fellowships
Two Kalamazoo College alumni and one current student have combined to earn three of the 23 national fellowships awarded this year by Alpha Lambda Delta honor society for outstanding students who are working towards a graduate or professional degree.
Emma Perry ’08, pursing a graduate degree in English at Boston University, received a $5,000 award. Amel Omari ’09, in the master’s of public health program at the University of Michigan, received a $3,000 award. Matthew DuWaldt ’12 earned a $3,000 award and will attend law school at a yet to be determined institution in the fall. Founded in 1924, Alpha Lambda Delta recognizes students who have succeeded in maintaining a 3.5 or higher GPA and are in the top 20 percent of their class.