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ACS Conference Proves K ‘Punches Above its Weight Class’

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Kalamazoo College students, faculty and alumni attend the American Chemical Society (ACS) Conference
Kalamazoo College students, faculty and alumni attend the American Chemical Society (ACS) Conference. Pictured (from left) are Caden Frost ’26, Will Tocco ’26, Baylor Baldwin ’26, Ellen Robertson ’08, Ava Schwachter ’27, ACS president-elect Christina Bodurow ’79, Associate Professor of Chemistry Blakely Tresca, Bea Putman ’26, Devi DeYoung ’26 and Christopher Aldred ’26.

Will Tocco ’26 joined an elite group this spring as one of just six undergraduates nationwide selected from more than 1,400 nominees to present at the American Chemical Society’s Presidential Symposium in Atlanta. 

Tocco’s selection came through two pathways. He had already been approved to present at a specialized inorganic chemistry symposium at the ACS National Meeting, one of the field’s premier annual gatherings. Separately, because Kalamazoo College offers an ACS-certified degree, the chemistry department was invited to nominate a student for the Presidential Symposium and put Tocco’s name forward. 

“I felt very honored,” Tocco said. “It was a great experience to network, meet people and learn how professionals found their way, because I’m still figuring out what I want my career to look like.” 

Roger F. and Harriet G. Varney Assistant Professor of Chemistry Daniela Arias-Rotondo and Dorothy H. Heyl Professor of Chemistry Regina Stevens-Truss nominated Tocco. For Arias-Rotondo, sending students to conferences is central to her lab’s mission. 

“Every opportunity for students to share their work and practice presenting is valuable,” she said. “Conferences give them the chance to get feedback from experts in the field and expose them to perspectives they may not encounter on campus.” 

One highlight of the experience was a private reception hosted by the ACS president the evening before the symposium, where Tocco mingled with leading scientists and industry professionals. He met a senior scientist from Pfizer, the president of the Goldwater Foundation and the president of the ACS. He also connected with ACS president-elect Christina Bodurow ’79, a K alumna and member of the College’s Board of Trustees. 

Absorbing Light, Moving Electrons 

The opportunity stemmed from research Tocco has been developing in Arias-Rotondo’s lab at the intersection of chemistry and renewable energy. Building on work started by Maxwell Rhames ’25, he has helped develop single-molecule dyes capable of absorbing light and converting it to electricity, an approach with potential applications in next-generation solar panels and hydrogen fuel production. 

“They can be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and then you can burn that hydrogen as a fuel source,” Tocco said. 

Tocco synthesized one such complex and demonstrated that it can move electrons through nearly every step of the energy-transfer process. 

“It can absorb the light and do everything up until the handoff, but it doesn’t want to release the electron,” he said. “A solar panel needs to absorb light and give off electrons.” 

Unlocking that final step by enabling the compound to release its electron and complete the cycle will be the focus of future work in the lab after Tocco graduates. His contributions have already refined procedures for synthesizing key molecules, giving future students a strong foundation to build on. 

“Will is a strong synthetic chemist, and his work is opening the door for new students to join this project and make contributions,” Arias-Rotondo said. “It is impossible to overstate his contributions to our research group, both scientifically and personally. He is always willing to support and encourage others.” 

Tocco’s presentation was well received, particularly at the inorganic symposium as more of the audience was familiar with the topic. Ahead of the conference, he contacted faculty at the University of Notre Dame, where he will begin his doctoral studies this fall, and one professor made a point to attend. 

“He had his own presentation, but he took the time to come see mine,” Tocco said. “That was really inspiring.” 

Tocco also earned an honorable mention for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), a highly competitive award that provides three years of funding for graduate study. Although the honorable mention does not include funding, it is a significant distinction. 

“As an undergrad, getting that honorable mention is big because I’m a year behind most others applying,” he said. He plans to apply again next year as a first-year doctoral student. 

From Math Major to Chemist 

American Chemical Society Conference presenter Will Tocco
Tocco presents his research at the ACS Conference.
American Chemical Society Conference Presenter Devi DeYoung
DeYoung presenting at the ACS Conference.
K Reps in Atlanta for Chemical Conference
K representatives attend the ACS Conference in Atlanta.
Two students, an alumna, a faculty member and the president of ACS
Arias-Rotondo, Bodurow, Frost, Tocco and ACS President Rigoberto Hernandez at the ACS Conference in Atlanta.

Tocco did not arrive at K intending to pursue chemistry. He planned to major in mathematics, entering with dual enrollment calculus credits, before taking General Chemistry I with Arias-Rotondo. 

“I just had so much more fun than I did in any other class,” he said. “Even what some might consider boring felt kind of cool.” 

On the first day of class, Arias-Rotondo—known to her students as Dr. DAR—mentioned her research and invited interested students to speak with her. By the next term, Tocco had joined her lab, where he has worked since. 

“When I first started chemistry, I thought I’d get my bachelor’s degree and find a job,” he said. “But I kept going to conferences, kept learning and realized I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. A lot of that was Dr. DAR’s influence.” 

Tocco also credits Associate Professor of Chemistry Blakely Tresca, who organized a group of graduate student mentors to help K students navigate the demanding GRFP application process. 

“I wouldn’t have started it without his help,” Tocco said. 

The process also strengthened his Senior Integrated Project, as feedback on his grant proposal turned into improvements. 

Tocco’s undergraduate experience also has included a Research Experience for Undergraduates fellowship at Duquesne University and a study abroad term in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He will graduate this spring with a major in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. 

A Lab Community in Atlanta 

Tocco was not the only K student to attend the conference. He was joined by fellow chemistry and biochemistry students Caden Frost ’26, Ava Schwachter ’27, Bea Putman ’26, CJ Aldred ’26, Jack Bungart ’26, Max Plesscher ’26, Baylor Baldwin ’26 and Devi DeYoung ’26, along with Arias-Rotondo and Tresca. The students shared an Airbnb, and the trip became as much a bonding experience as a professional one. 

“We went to the Georgia Aquarium, went to dinner, hung out and watched movies,” Tocco said. “It was a great experience to be professionals and also just spend time together.” 

That blend of close community and high-level research is what Tocco sees as distinctive about K. 

“Kalamazoo College punches above its weight class,” he said. “Our professors are well connected, so if we don’t have an instrument, we know someone who does. I’ve built relationships with all of the chemistry faculty, and that wouldn’t always happen at a larger institution.” 

Arias-Rotondo has seen the impact firsthand. After returning from Atlanta, she led students through a debrief, reflecting on what they learned. 

“Every time we take students to conferences, colleagues from other schools tell me how well our students present,” she said. “We could see the growth that happened in just a few days.” 

Looking ahead, Tocco imagines returning one day to a lab that has continued to evolve. 

“It’ll be exciting to see what others build,” he said. “That’s what makes it special.”

Founders Day Celebrates Faculty, Staff, College’s Anniversary

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Regina Stevens-Truss, the Dorothy H. Heyl Professor of Chemistry, is this year’s recipient of the Lux Esto Award of Excellence as announced today during Kalamazoo College’s Founders Day celebration, marking K’s 193rd year. 

The award recognizes an employee who has served the institution for at least 26 years and has contributed significantly to the campus. The recipient—chosen by a committee with student, faculty and staff representatives—is an employee who exemplifies the spirit of K through selfless dedication and goodwill. President Jorge G. Gonzalez presented Stevens-Truss with the award in his final Founders Day before retiring in June. 

In 2016, Stevens-Truss received K’s highest teaching honor, the Florence J. Lucasse Lectureship for Excellence in Teaching. In 2018, she was named the College’s director of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence grant, awarded to K’s science division. She’s also been a faculty leader for Sisters in Science, a student organization that visits local schools to encourage young women to pursue science; and Sukuma, a peer-based study group for students of color in the sciences.  

“One of my favorite traits of this individual is their integrity and how I consistently see them promote goodwill on campus,” a nominator said about Stevens-Truss. “Our mission at K is to provide enlightened leadership to a richly diverse and increasingly complex world. Through her strong moral principles, gratitude and honesty, she does just what our institution stands for. She never fails to leave a strong, positive impression, and she never fails to foster long-term relationships. Her reputation of being a strong, intelligent, kind, supportive and nurturing person proceeds her.” 

Regina Stevens-Truss and Jorge G. Gonzalez at Founders Day
Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez presents Regina Stevens-Truss, the Dorothy H. Heyl Professor of Chemistry, with the 2026 Lux Esto Award at Founders Day events.

In accordance with Founders Day traditions, two other employees received community awards. Kurt D. Kaufman Associate Professor of Chemistry Dwight Williams was given the Outstanding Advisor Award and Assistant Professor of Theatre Quincy Thomas received the First-Year Advocate Award. 

In 2025, Williams was awarded a three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his work developing new molecules that could help protect brain cells from dying from neurodegenerative diseases. In 2019, he was awarded a Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching grant from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and Course Hero. 

Williams teaches courses including Organic Chemistry I and II, Advanced Organic Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry. His research interests include synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology. 

A student in Williams’ nomination said, “He has played a significant and meaningful role in my time at K. He suggested courses that will be beneficial to me no matter what career path I decide to take. I have always appreciated how he is realistic and honest with me and genuinely cares as much as I do about my future.” 

Dwight Williams and Jorge G. Gonzalez at Founders Day
Gonzalez presents the 2026 Outstanding Advisor Award to Dwight Williams, the Kurt D. Kaufman Associate Professor of Chemistry, during Founders Day events.

At K, Thomas has directed Festival Playhouse productions including The Mountaintop, The Importance of Being Earnest, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Be More Chill. His research centers on subjects including counter-storytelling; Black performativity in American culture; representations of the marginalized in popular culture; comedic and solo performance; and performative writing. 

Thomas teaches courses such as Directing, Theatre History and Playwriting. His courses are informed by his research on issues of cultural marginalization and misrepresentation in the arts, specifically of racial and ethnic minorities, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

One first-year student said in Thomas’ nomination for the award, “I hadn’t known what to expect out of the transition from high school to college, and some parts were definitely rougher than I’d thought they would be. At every moment when I or other cast members stumbled, he was always there. He checked in, listened, directed us to resources and helped us set boundaries. He made rehearsals a safe space and community where we could just breathe and keep going, and I’m so grateful for that. He made it clear that we were more important than the show.” 

Quincy Thomas and President Jorge G. Gonzalez at Founders Day
Gonzalez presents the 2026 Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award to Assistant Professor of Theatre Quincy Thomas.

Gonzalez also recognized the students who served as President’s Student Ambassadors in the 2025–26 academic year. As student leaders, President’s Student Ambassadors serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College with a spirit of inclusion. About 15 students serve as ambassadors in a given academic year. The students selected show strong communication skills; demonstrate leadership through academic life, student life or community service; and maintain a minimum grade-point average. 

The 2025–26 ambassadors have been: 

  • Mckenna Acevedo ’27
  • Randa Alnaas ’27
  • Emiliano Alvarado Rescala ’27
  • Zahra Amini ’26
  • Baylor Baldwin ’26
  • Jaylen Bowles-Swain ’26
  • Gracie Burnham ’27
  • Avery Davis ’28
  • Blake Filkins ’26
  • Landrie Fridsma ’27
  • Grey Gardner ’26
  • James Hauke ’26
  • Jessica Kaplan ’26
  • Ava King ’28
  • Belle Mason ’27
  • Claire Rhames ’27 
  • Amelie Sack ’27 
  • Simon Sawyer ’28
  • Jillian Smith ’27
  • Darius Wright ’28

Beyond the Game Connects Student-Athletes, Alumni for Career Planning

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Students and athletes network during Beyond the Game
Rick Gianino ’78 talks with Maddie Hanulcik ’26 during Beyond the Game.

Editors Note: Carson Williams ’25 wrote this story for College Marketing and Communication.

At a table in the Hornets Suite, Annslee Ware ‘27 leaned into conversation with alumni, asking questions about careers, choices, and what comes next. Like many Kalamazoo College student-athletes nearing graduation, she’s beginning to look beyond the structure of practices and games to a new question taking shape: Who am I beyond the game?

That question brought junior and senior student-athletes together with alumni in March for the Beyond the Game networking event, hosted by Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), and the Office of Alumni Engagement (OAE), in partnership with Kalamazoo College Athletics. The gathering connected students with graduates to discuss post-graduation journeys.

“The goal of Beyond the Game was to create a meaningful space to explore careers of interest, gain advice on navigating life at and after Kalamazoo College, and continue building professional networks,” CCPD Director Valerie Miller said.

About 80 students and 20 alumni attended the event. Many participants said they valued both the opportunity to practice networking and to learn how academic experiences at K translate into careers.

Ware, a women’s lacrosse player double majoring in psychology and business, said the event helped her see new possibilities. She hopes to build a career helping others in the sports realm.

“Connecting with alumni and learning from them are essential to my career journey,” Ware said. “It was fun learning what majors and minors alums had and how they related to their profession.

She left the event looking forward to what her future could be like after K.

“My biggest takeaway was to always be open to any career paths and work hard,” she said. “Openness to experience and a strong work ethic are key when you’re aiming to be successful.”

Director of Athletics Jamie Zorbo speaks to students and alumni during Beyond the Game
Director of Athletics Jamie Zorbo speaks to students and alumni during Beyond the Game.
Students and an alumnus talk during Beyond the Game
Students and an alumnus talk during Beyond the Game.

Jacob Gallimore ‘15 majored in chemistry with a business minor and a biochemistry concentration and was a member of the football team. He is now Vice President of business development at Ansira, a software development company based in St. Louis, Missouri. He returned to campus for the opportunity to help fellow Hornets.

“I know how stressful it was my junior and senior years, beginning to make plans post-graduation,” Gallimore said. “I’m always about networking, and as I progress in my career, I would love to hire some Hornets down the line.”

He enjoyed talking to student-athletes across all sports and was impressed by the number of students who attended and asked pertinent questions about career paths and the job market.

“There is a new challenge current seniors face, entering a rapidly changing job market in the artificial intelligence era, where the number of entry-level roles has decreased in the past few years,” Gallimore said. “However, this reinforces the value of the K-Plan in preparing students to be adaptable and the necessity of the plethora of tools that K provides, including networking events like this one.”

Three students and an alumna talk during Beyond the Game
Students and alumni connect in the Hornets Suite for the Beyond the Game networking event.
A student-athlete and an alumnus talk
About 80 students and 20 alumni attended Beyond the Game.

Miller says feedback from alumni about the event was overwhelmingly positive.

“Among the alumni who completed our survey, 100% said the event was a positive experience and worth their time, and that they felt it was genuinely useful for student-athletes.”

As students like Ware look ahead, events like Beyond the Game offer more than networking. They provide a starting point for imagining a future beyond college and athletics, one conversation at a time.

“At Kalamazoo College, we emphasize the ‘student’ in student-athlete by intentionally creating opportunities like this for career exploration, mentorship and meaningful connection,” Director of Athletics Jamie Zorbo said. “It also serves as a strong reminder of the reach and impact of the K network. Our alumni are deeply invested in giving back, and that support plays a critical role in helping our student-athletes move forward with confidence.”

MiLEAP Grant Strengthens Campus Food Initiatives

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Kalamazoo College is expanding its efforts to support student well-being with a new grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP). 

The approximately $16,000 award will strengthen campus food initiatives, part of what leaders say is a broad commitment to ensuring that students have the resources they need to support their personal and academic success.  

For Liz Candido, College chaplain and director of religious life, the MiLEAP grant represents both recognition and opportunity. 

“We will have a new, larger capacity refrigerator to hold donated meals,” Candido said. “We will also have a new freezer for longer-term storage, giving us many more food options.” 

Those additions will be housed in a 24/7, stigma-free space in the Hicks Student Center, making it easier for students to access food whenever they need it. That’s an important shift for students who juggle demanding academic and extracurricular schedules. 

Candido emphasized that food insecurity on campus isn’t often visible, but that makes it no less real. A survey published in 2025 from The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs found that 41% of college students surveyed experienced food insecurity, underscoring the need for institutions to maintain ecosystems of support, be it for short-term emergencies or practical barriers like busy schedules that prevent students from accessing meals during open hours.

Two Kalamazoo College employees holding meals in front of a fridge that will be replaced thanks to a MiLEAP grant
Assistant Director of Student Activities Haley Mangette (left) organizes the Hungry Hornets program. Chaplain Liz Candido arranged Kalamazoo College’s request for a Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) grant.

 “Not only will this grant give us expanded capacity, it will provide us with funds to let students know about the amazing opportunities that exist on campus,” Candido said.  

Those opportunities include the Hungry Hornets Meals fridge, which stocks to-go meals and containers, made fresh daily and utilizing food that would otherwise be destined for compost; the Hungry Hornets Pantry, a community-based pantry that collects and distributes food throughout the academic year; and the College’s meal-swipe donation program, which allows students to give unused dining swipes to peers.  

“We know our campus is a caring place,” she said. “I believe that increased visibility will result in more swipe donations.” 

The state’s decision to fund K’s efforts reflects years of groundwork already in place. Rather than launching a new initiative from scratch, the College proposed expanding and strengthening existing efforts. 

“We were able to demonstrate not only a commitment to fighting hunger, but an awareness of what hunger looks like on campus,” Candido said. “We aren’t beginning a brand-new program. We are building on what already exists.” 

That foundation includes strong campus partnerships. Dining services provider Parkhurst Dining will continue to donate meals and help monitor the new food-storage equipment, ensuring safety and consistency. 

The grant proposal itself was a collaborative effort, uniting staff from across campus including employees from the Health Center, the Office of Student Involvement, Campus Dining and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. 

“With input from so many places, we had a good overview of what was working on campus and what interventions would be most effective at expanding access to food,” Candido said. 

Beyond the immediate benefits for students, Candido believes the grant sends a broader message about K’s values. 

“I think this grant demonstrates our ongoing commitment to making sure that every K student has access to healthy food in a stigma-free environment,” she said. “We are a community of people who care for one another and look out for one another. That is true in all aspects of our common life together and this grant reflects that value.” 

Soccer Study: Team Dynamics Matter More Than Individual Talent

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Miyani Sonera driving downfield during a Kalamazoo College women's soccer game
For Miyani Sonera ’27, a biology project about soccer was as much about learning the research process as it was about the result. “Getting to design a study, analyze data and see it published, that was incredible,” she said. “It showed me how much there is to explore when you ask the right questions.”

In soccer, chemistry might outweigh star power.

A new study from Kalamazoo College, published in Football Studies, found that a soccer player’s individual ability accounts for only about 11% of performance variation in small-sided games. Their combination with teammates? Roughly double that.

In the study, Associate Professor Santiago Salinas, soccer alumnus Shun Yonehara ’24 and student-athlete Miyani Sonera ’27 ran 78 small-sided matches—three-on-three, men and women, rotating teammates through ever-changing combinations. Because each athlete played with many different teammates, the researchers were able to separate the influence of individual ability from the impact of specific teammate combinations.

The research drew inspiration from an unlikely source in quantitative genetics. “In biology, we often separate the effects of genes and environment to understand why organisms differ,” Salinas said. “We realized we could apply the same idea to soccer. Players are like genotypes, teammates are the environment, and performance is the resulting phenotype.” 

What they found surprised even the researchers. Individual player effects accounted for only about 11% to 12% of the variation in performance, while teammate combinations explained 20% to 23%. The rest, nearly two-thirds, remained unpredictable, likely influenced by opponent dynamics, moment-to-moment decisions, and the inherent randomness of low-scoring games. 

“When you actually see the numbers, it’s eye-opening,” Yonehara said. “I expected teamwork to matter, but I didn’t expect individual impact to be that small.” 

For Yonehara, the research question was personal. A biology major who played soccer throughout his life, he had long felt that games are won in moments that often miss the highlight reels.

“People talk about great teams like they’re just a collection of great individuals,” he said. “But from playing, you know that without cohesion, without players doing the unseen work, the whole thing falls apart.”

The study also compared match performance with traditional skill assessments including passing accuracy, dribbling speed, shooting precision and ball control. Those measures, commonly used in evaluations and tryouts, did not strongly predict how much a player helped their team in games.

“That was a big takeaway for me,” Sonera said. “Being great in isolated drills doesn’t necessarily translate to being effective in real gameplay.”

Sonera, who has loved soccer since childhood, was drawn to the project because it merged science with a sport built on collaboration.

“Soccer demands understanding your teammates,” she said. “That’s part of what makes it beautiful. This research puts numbers behind that idea.”

Shun Yonehara during a rainy Kalamazoo College men's soccer game
Shun Yonehara ’24 currently works as a research assistant for Momoko Yoshimoto, an associate professor at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker, M.D., School of Medicine.
Santiago Salinas, one of five endowed chairs, kneels in a river
Associate Professor of Biology Santiago Salinas traditionally teaches classes such as vertebrate biology and human physiology. His research interests include his work in the K Fish Lab, where he and his student collaborators study the ways fish populations cope with changes in the environment.

In the men’s dataset, the researchers observed that teams made up of complementary roles such as a scorer, a facilitator and a defensive-minded player tended to outperform teams of similar player types. Although that pattern did not appear in the women’s data, Salinas cautioned that the difference might reflect sample size rather than a fundamental distinction.

Together, the results challenge conventional approaches to scouting and performance analysis, which often rely on individual statistics or fixed lineups.

“Our findings suggest that some players make everyone around them better,” Salinas said. “But that kind of impact is hard to see unless players are tested in multiple contexts.”

Sonera hopes coaches take that message seriously.

“I’d like to see coaches think beyond who looks best on their own,” she said. “Building balanced lineups and focusing on how players connect could make a huge difference.”

Yonehara echoed that idea, comparing team building to constructing a well-balanced system rather than collecting stars.

“It’s like building chemistry in a video game or a trading card deck,” he said. “It’s not just about rating, it’s about fit.”

Although the study focused on soccer, the researchers believe the approach could apply broadly across team sports, particularly those that are fluid and fast paced, such as basketball or hockey.

For the research team, the findings support a long-held belief in team sports that what matters is not just who the players are, but how they work together.

Pinkham ’48, Director Emerita of Library and Media Services, Has Died

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Eleanor Pinkham ’48, director emerita of Library and Media Services, died on March 24, 2026. She was 99.  

As a student at Kalamazoo College, Eleanor majored in sociology with minors in music and French and was recognized with the Todd Sociological Prize. She was active on campus as a member of the Eurodelphian Literary Society, the College Singers, and the Gaynor Club women’s singing group, and she served on the student newspaper staff. After graduating in 1948, Eleanor married her classmate, the late James Pinkham ’48. 

Eleanor received a Master of Library Science degree in 1967 from Western Michigan University and attended the Oxford Library Seminar at the University of Oxford, England, in 1985. She began her career at K as circulation supervisor in the Upjohn Library in 1964. Over nearly three decades, she held a series of roles: assistant librarian for public service (1967-70), acting director (1970-71), and library director (1971-82). She was named director of library and media services in 1982, a role she held until her retirement in 1993.  

Her tenure was marked by significant growth and innovation. Under her leadership, the library’s endowment grew by more than $2 million.

Eleanor Pinkham standing next to a computer while sharing how to use it with a student
Eleanor Pinkham ’48 shows a student how to use a computer in 1976.

She helped to bring new technology to campus, spearheading the installation of Kalamazoo’s first online union cataloging system through the Ohio College Library Center and directing the implementation of the College’s first integrated computerized library system. Eleanor also helped curate and grow the rare book collection in the Library’s A.M. Todd Rare Book Room, establishing a series of student-developed exhibits and programs.  

She was an active member of numerous state and national professional organizations, serving on and chairing committees for the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Library Administration and Management Association, the Michigan Library Association, and the Michigan Library Consortium. Among her many honors, Eleanor was named Michigan Librarian of the Year in 1986 and received the Michigan Library Consortium Distinguished Service Award in 1982. In 1993, she was honored with the Weimer K. Hicks Award in appreciation for her leadership and service to Kalamazoo College. She was highly regarded as a role model and caring mentor to students and employees alike.   

A Celebration of Life will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave, East Lansing. A one-hour visitation begins at 11 a.m., followed by a noon service and a reception immediately following. An obituary will appear in the fall issue of LuxEsto. 

Water Policy Speaker, SIPs Highlight Earth Day at K

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A Michigan Environmental Council representative who wants to keep the state’s water clean, filled with wildlife, and available to all Michiganders will speak at Kalamazoo College on Earth Day. 

Reese Dillard, the council’s water policy coordinator, will deliver a keynote titled Relationship Building: A Means to Energize a Political Movement at the 2026 Senior Integrated Project (SIP) Sustainability Symposium. Her talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, 205 Monroe St. Senior presentations will follow at 7:30 p.m.  

Dillard argues that political engagement can be challenging, but affecting change for the sake of the environment is possible through building relationships and making connections. By doing so, Michigan can grow a community of individuals committed to policy that prioritizes environmental success and collaborative government. 

Before joining the environmental council, Dillard worked for Michigan House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski and as a field service technician for a botanical garden and arboretum. She holds a degree in political science from the University of Michigan and has taken coursework in criminal justice and corrections at Siena Heights University. 

SIPs at K are capstone experiences, a lot like a senior thesis. A total of 17 seniors will present their work tied to sustainability including Luke Werner ’26, who looked at history to examine how we can protect the modern-day Great Lakes; and Hailey Yoder ’26, who worked toward coral reef restoration in the Galápagos Islands. 

Together, the students’ projects and Dillard’s keynote reflect a shared goal of turning knowledge into action. The free public event is sponsored by the Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center and K’s environmental studies concentration. 

Portrait of Earth Day speaker Reese Dillard
Reese Dillard, the Michigan Environmental Council’s water policy coordinator, will speak on Earth Day—Wednesday, April 22—at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership.

This Student Looked to the Past to Help Protect the Great Lakes Today

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Student in a hat and jacket holding a fish he caught
Luke Werner ’26 holds a pike.

On summer mornings along the shores of the Great Lakes, Kalamazoo College student Luke Werner ’26 recognizes the rhythm of the water as something almost instinctive, shaped by years of fishing trips, charter boats and stories of salmon runs. And what began as a personal connection to Michigan’s waters became something far more ambitious: a deep historical investigation into how those waters were nearly lost and what their past can teach us about protecting them today. 

Werner spent the past year immersed in archives, government reports and decades-old ecological data to complete his Senior Integrated Project (SIP). Unlike many sustainability-focused projects rooted in biology or environmental science, Werner’s work emerged from the history department—an intentional choice that underscores a central argument of his research: understanding environmental crises requires an understanding of the past. 

His project traces the rise, collapse and partial recovery of fish populations in the Great Lakes, revealing how human decisions over centuries, rather than a single ecological disruption, set the stage for disaster. 

“I wanted to go back and really look at the history of the region,” Werner said. “We tend to latch onto big moments, including the invasions and the tipping points. But the more I learned, the more I realized those were just the final dominoes.” 

A Crisis Centuries in the Making 

Long before invasive species such as sea lampreys and alewives devastated the lakes in the mid-20th century, the ecosystem had already been strained by human impact. Werner points to a gradual shift away from the reciprocal relationship Indigenous communities such as the Anishinaabe had with the land. 

“The crisis wasn’t just caused by these fish showing up,” he said. “It was enabled by hundreds of years of decisions, including overfishing, damming rivers and pollution. We refused to cooperate with the lakes.” 

By the time invasive species entered through shipping routes and canals, native fish populations were already vulnerable. The result was catastrophic as sea lampreys decimated large fish, while alewife numbers escalated. 

“It genuinely became an international crisis,” Werner said. “You had industries collapsing, thousands of jobs lost, and entire ecosystems out of balance.” 

The Man Behind the Salmon 

In the 1950s, Howard Tanner, a fisheries biologist, was at the center of the most pivotal response to that crisis, as his bold proposal helped reshape the Great Lakes. 

Student holding up a fish he caught near the Great Lakes
Werner holds a large mouth bass.

Sustainability SIP Symposium Scheduled 

Kalamazoo College will celebrate Environmental Education Week April 20-24. Events will include the annual Sustainability SIP Symposium on April 22, which is Earth Day, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership. The event will honor more than a dozen students from a variety of majors who pursued themes of climate change, the environment, and sustainability in their research and projects. For more information, watch envirostewardship.kzoo.edu.  

Tanner, who had experience studying salmon in the Western United States, proposed introducing Pacific salmon, specifically coho and Chinook, into the Great Lakes as a biological control for alewives. 

“He knew salmon were strong, cold-water fish that could survive in the lakes,” Werner said. “And more importantly, they prey on alewives.” 

At the time, the idea was far from an assured solution. Introducing another non-native species carried risks, especially in an already unstable ecosystem. But Tanner framed it as a calculated, science-driven intervention. 

“It was a gamble, but it was an intentional one,” Werner said. “That’s the difference. These fish were chosen.” 

Within a year of Tanner’s proposal, hundreds of thousands of salmon were released into the lakes. The alewife populations plummeted, and a new recreational fishing economy took shape. 

“Tanner’s work didn’t just help stabilize the ecosystem,” Werner said. “It created this entire multi-billion-dollar recreational industry that still exists today.” 

A Solution That Requires Constant Attention 

Werner is careful not to describe the salmon introduction as a clean victory. 

“It’s more like it was managed into something sustainable and only with constant effort,” he said. 

Today, fish populations in the Great Lakes are still carefully balanced through a combination of stocking decisions, invasive species control and strict regulations. Too many salmon can deplete alewife populations, which in turn harms the salmon themselves. Too few salmon allow alewives to rebound. 

“It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” Werner said. “They actually have to adjust how many salmon they introduce each year to keep everything in balance.” 

That balancing act extends beyond species management. Werner points to modern environmental protections such as limits on commercial fishing, pollution controls and habitat preservation as direct responses to past failures. 

At one point, Michigan alone had more than 10,000 commercial fishing licenses. Today, that number has dropped to just a few dozen. 

“That’s one of the biggest changes,” he said. “We’ve shifted from this mindset of extraction to something much more intentional.” 

Why History Matters 

For Werner, the most important takeaway from his project isn’t just what happened, but how we understand it. 

“It’s really critical to analyze and reflect on our past,” he said. “We repeat the same mistakes all the time if we don’t.” 

By placing environmental issues in a historical context, his work reveals the complexity behind them, showing that crises are rarely sudden and solutions are rarely simple. 

“Being a history major, it’s impossible for me to take things at face value,” Werner said. “There are always layers—economic, social, political—that shape what happens.” 

That perspective, he argues, is essential for anyone working in sustainability. 

“I wanted to move beyond the big headlines, the big titles, and the simple understanding of history and look at the myriad causes of these issues from the late 1600s through the 1950s,” he said. “Realistically, there were hundreds of different factors that led to this crisis.” 

Looking Ahead 

As Werner considers a future in environmental work—whether with state agencies, conservation groups or fisheries management—his SIP serves as a capstone and a starting point. What began as a personal connection to the Great Lakes has evolved into a deeper understanding of how fragile yet resilient those systems can be. 

“It’s changed how I see the lakes,” he said. “It’s not just about what’s in them, it’s about our relationship with them.” 

As his research clarifies, that relationship—shaped over centuries—will determine how the Great Lakes are sustained for generations to come. 

“If we could get some agreements between governments—even if it’s just state and provincial governments—I think that would be a big boon for the environmental and economic success of the region,” he said. 

Nationally Recognized Activist to Visit Kalamazoo

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Portrait of Sandra Barnhill, activist and author

Activist, author, and attorney Sandra Barnhill, JD will return to Kalamazoo College this month for a series of events, including two open to the public, focused on the balance between advocating for social change and preserving one’s sense of purpose. 

Barnhill will discuss her book, Tough Mind, Tender Heart: Reflections on a Black Woman’s Activist Journey, from 2–4 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Black Arts and Cultural Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 102. 

She will also deliver a keynote address at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in Room 103 of Dewing Hall, 1219 Academy St. Both events, which will feature cultural curator LJ Hollingsworth, and will explore what it means to find one’s voice in a complex world. 

Advance registration is encouraged for the April 18 event to help plan for attendance. Guests may register online and walk-ins are welcome.  

Barnhill is the founder and former CEO of Foreverfamily, formerly Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers, a national nonprofit based in Atlanta that works with children and families impacted by parental incarceration, providing mentoring, leadership development, and advocacy to support long-term stability and opportunity. In 2018, she founded Sandra Barnhill and Associates, a consulting firm focused on advancing social justice and strengthening nonprofit organizations. She was named a Leadership for a Changing World awardee in 2004. Today, she continues that work alongside aspiring and seasoned activists, offering guidance to those navigating the demands of sustained social change. 

Barnhill has long-standing ties to Kalamazoo College. As a founding visiting fellow at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership in 2011, she conducted research on intergenerational mentoring and social justice leadership in activist communities. She also co-facilitated a course titled Social Justice Leadership Fundamentals, sparking the creation of the College’s first Diva Brunch, an empowerment-focused gathering for women of color students. 

Her book chronicles a four-decade career in activism, offering candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of working for social change. It encourages readers to engage in activism at any level and underscores the importance of diverse voices in the pursuit of justice. 

Additional events for students, faculty and staff will be announced through campus communications. The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement and the Intercultural Center have all collaborated on planning Barnhill’s to campus. For more information, contact Canders at Coco.Canders@kzoo.edu.