Category: Students

Comedy, Chaos, Commentary Click in ‘Country Wife’

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Three actors rehearse in costumes for The Country Wife
Bernice Mike ’26 (from left), Mo Silcott ’27 and Grace Helmbolt ’29 rehearse for “The Country Wife.”

A fresh adaptation of a Restoration-era comedy will bring sharp satire, tangled relationships and plenty of laughs when the Festival Playhouse at Kalamazoo College, 129 Thompson St., presents William Wycherly’s The Country Wife. 

Directed by Professor of Theatre Arts Ren Pruis, the production will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14–Saturday, May 16, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. The Thursday performance will include a post-show talkback with cast members and a reception. Tickets are available online at the playhouse’s box office. 

Adapted by Rachel Atkins from the classic comedy, The Country Wife follows three interconnected stories that blend comedy, deception and social commentary while exploring themes of gender expectations, desire and independence. 

Assistant Director Hannah Ulanoski ’26 said K audiences will enjoy the new spin on an old play as it follows Margery Pinchwife, who is trying to escape her overly controlling and jealous husband before he relocates them to the isolated countryside. 

“Our production is based around the idea that the audience is sitting in on a rehearsal, so I think they’ll get a kick out of the mishmash of modern and Restoration-esque costuming and props on stage,” she said. “Compared to the original text, this version is centered more around the women of the town, and in the case of the virtuous ladies, they are shown to have a ton of autonomy.” 

Actor Ben Perry ’28, who portrays Jack Pinchwife, the show offers far more than a traditional comedy. 

“This play is super funny with ridiculous events occurring left and right,” Perry said. “I guarantee you will laugh out loud during multiple moments. This feels like a long episode of a sitcom, where you don’t know what’s going to happen in the next scene, but it’s going to be better than you can imagine.” 

Perry describes his character as an emotionally complicated man whose fear of losing his wife fuels much of the play’s tension. 

“He truly loves his wife but believes there is no other choice but to manipulate those around him,” Perry said. “It’s fun playing the antagonist in a show that has an ensemble of troubled people because I have to stand out in a way that the others can’t.” 

To capture the humor, Perry said he leans into an exaggerated, almost cartoonish style of anger inspired by classic animated characters such as Daffy Duck and Donald Duck. Although this marks Perry’s first appearance in a K production, he brings extensive experience to the role, having performed in approximately 50 shows. He said he appreciates how Festival Playhouse productions balance entertainment and meaningful storytelling. 

“Through this comedy, they are telling another story of empowering women’s voices and choices through laughter and satire,” Perry said. “This is the right amount of silly that keeps audiences entertained scene to scene while also keeping them engaged with the overall story.” 

Both Perry and Ulanoski praised Pruis’ collaborative directing style. 

“She’s very serious about the work she does and brings a sense of professionalism to each rehearsal,” Ulanoski said. “I admire that about her. As a theatre major, there’s a lot to take away from this experience, even if I don’t pursue directing in the future.” 

Perry added that he appreciates how Pruis allows actors to build on the foundation they’re given, which he said is a rare quality in directors. He also loves the welcoming atmosphere created by the cast and crew at the Festival Playhouse. 

“I’m a transfer student from Michigan State and didn’t know many of the people that I was auditioning with,” Perry said. “I could’ve been met with neglect and felt like I was an outsider during this process, but I was quickly welcomed in. If you have been in theatre before, you know that auditions can often feel like a competition against your other castmates. However, this was probably the most pleasant audition process I ever went through, mostly because of the encouragement and conversations I shared with my peers. I am lucky to have this opportunity to perform with these intelligent and fine actors that I share the stage with.” 

Perry and Ulanoski believe audiences will connect with the play’s emotional depth and unpredictability. 

“This feels like a show for anyone to enjoy,” Perry said. “There are common lewd jokes, relationship dramas, and if you stick around long enough, maybe a sword will be used.” 

“The Country Wife is a good play for the Festival Playhouse because it’s honestly really funny, and it feels good to laugh sometimes,” Ulanoski added. “The name of this year’s season is ‘For Your Entertainment’ and this show fits in perfectly.” 

Behind the Curtain: Job Shadow Offers Peek at Symphony Operations

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Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra performs during student's job shadow
Randa Alnaas ’27 observed an orchestra rehearsal ahead of a concert at Miller Auditorium and met with the stage manager. The experience was a highlight of her job shadow given her own experience in stage management at K’s Festival Playhouse.

When Kalamazoo College student Randa Alnaas ’27 walked into the EPIC Center in downtown Kalamazoo, she wasn’t nervous. Instead, she felt curious and ready to learn about what happens behind the scenes of a professional performing arts organization. 

Alnaas, a theatre arts and economics double major, recently completed a one-day job shadow with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) as part of K in the Zoo, a program coordinated through the Career Studio at the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD). The experience offered her a rare look into the administrative, marketing, and operational side of a major arts institution while helping her begin connecting two academic passions that often feel separate in the classroom. 

“I wanted to learn more about the administrative side of the arts,” Alnaas said. “Whether it’s performing music or theater, I’ve always thought about how the business side supports the creative work.” 

Alnaas learned about the opportunity through CCPD communications that highlighted available job shadows across a wide range of industries. Although options included fields such as finance and computer science, the KSO listing immediately stood out. After submitting her application and explaining her interest in arts administration, she was selected and connected with the KSO’s marketing team to arrange her visit. 

From the moment she arrived, Alnaas said the experience felt thoughtfully planned. She received a detailed itinerary outlining who she would meet and what she would do throughout the day. Her visit began with a tour of the KSO offices inside the EPIC Center, which houses multiple arts-related organizations. 

“It was nice to see that kind of creative community all in one building,” she said. “There were music organizations, film offices and so many arts-related jobs all in the same space.” 

Throughout the day, Alnaas had meetings across departments including marketing, fundraising and executive leadership. She learned how audience-focused advertising differs from donor outreach, for example, and gained insight into how orchestras balance ticket pricing, fundraising and long-term sustainability. 

One of the most impactful conversations was with KSO’s interim CEO Jonathan Martin, who shared stories from more than four decades in the industry. 

“He was very passionate and encouraging,” Alnaas said. “We talked about competition in the arts, staying motivated and how important it is to love what you do.” 

Many of those discussions centered on the KSO’s efforts to make orchestral music more inclusive and accessible. As the organization moves beyond its centennial celebration, the orchestra is undergoing a broader rebranding, rethinking its visual identity and outreach strategies to engage younger and more diverse audiences. 

“That was meaningful for me,” Alnaas said. “Seeing an institution recognize its history and actively work to be more inclusive felt really powerful.” 

In the afternoon, Alnaas shifted from the administrative world to the performance side of the organization. She observed an orchestra rehearsal ahead of a concert at Miller Auditorium and met with the stage manager, which was a highlight given her own experience in stage management at K’s Festival Playhouse and through the New York Arts Study Away Program. 

“Even though there’s no script the same way there is in theater, there’s still so much coordination happening to support the musicians,” she said. 

Alnaas noted how different rehearsals looked compared with formal concerts, with musicians dressed casually and working collaboratively. 

“It really humanized the whole process,” she said. 

The experience came full circle when Alnaas attended the concert the next evening using complimentary tickets provided by the KSO. Sitting in the audience, she recognized the people she had met just a day earlier and felt connected to the performance in a new way. 

“I felt like part of their community,” she said. “It changed the way I experience live performances.” 

Alnaas lived in Armenia for two years, where she first fell in love with the performing arts after attending an opera in the capital city of Yerevan. Although she attended several orchestral performances overseas, she said the KSO experience renewed her appreciation for Kalamazoo’s local arts scene. 

Academically, the job shadow helped her bridge economics and theater in ways she hadn’t before. Learning about ticket pricing, budgeting and labor costs made classroom concepts tangible and applicable. 

Although Alnaas said she doesn’t yet have a clearly defined career path, the jobs shadow experience expanded her sense of possibility. That’s exactly what she hopes other students take away from programs like K in the Zoo. 

“Whatever the outcome, you learn more about yourself,” she said. “These opportunities are so valuable, and the CCPD does a great job preparing students and supporting us throughout the process.” 

For Alnaas, job shadowing with the KSO affirmed something she already believed: it’s possible to build a meaningful career doing work you love, especially when education, experience, and curiosity come together. 

“I’m finally connecting my majors,” she said. “Now I’m thinking analytically and creatively about theater, and practically about how economics works in real life.” 

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.”

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.”

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.

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. 

Kindness Empowers Education: Pass it on

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Two women in front of a sign that says Othakarhaka Foundation, Passing on the Kindness
Meghan London ’26 stands with Ida Puliwa Mwango, the founder of the Othakarhaka Foundation, outside the organization’s headquarters in Malawi. 

The first time Meghan London ’26 set foot in Malawi, Africa, she didn’t yet know she would one day build her Senior Integrated Project (SIP) around a nonprofit organization there. But standing in the heat with her family in 2023, watching women pause their work in the fields to greet visitors they were just meeting, she began to understand something she would carry back with her to Kalamazoo College: generosity can thrive even where resources don’t. 

That realization now sits at the heart of London’s work. A double major in anthropology and political science, she has spent the past year documenting the efforts of the Othakarhaka Foundation, a group that helps girls overcome barriers to education. Her project, housed in critical ethnic studies, draws on interviews, field research, and personal experience to tell the stories of young women whose lives have been reshaped by their access to education. 

Secondary school requires fees in Malawi, and in many families, boys are prioritized when resources are limited. Additionally, London quickly learned that the barriers facing girls extend beyond tuition costs. 

“Girls may be expected to take care of relatives or spend hours helping their families by collecting firewood,” London said. “Othakarhaka looks at all of those factors.” 

That holistic approach became a central theme of her research. The organization, for example, plants trees closer to villages so that girls don’t have to travel long distances for firewood. It operates a health clinic, so illness doesn’t derail education. It provides meals, bicycles, and even a library, implementing small interventions that collectively enhance attendance. 

In July 2025, with support from the Center for International Programs, London returned to Malawi for two weeks to conduct her fieldwork. She interviewed about a dozen young women, most between the ages of 18 and 25, all of whom had been connected to Othakarhaka. Their stories, she said, were varied but shared common threads. 

“Some were still in school, some were teen mothers, and many had faced financial barriers,” London said. “But all of them talked about how much the organization helped them continue their education and improve their lives.” 

In Malawi, pregnancy often ends a girl’s formal education. Schools don’t allow pregnant students to attend, and returning after childbirth is rare. Othakarhaka works to change that, advocating for young mothers and helping them reenter school when possible. For London, those interviews were among the most meaningful parts of her project. 

“They were so determined,” she said. “Some wanted to start businesses, some wanted to go into trades like welding, and one wanted to go to law school. Many of them said they wanted to give back by passing on the kindness once they were able to.” 

That phrase “passing on the kindness” is a model for how the Othakarhaka Foundation operates, and it’s embedded into what they aim to do. Program volunteers are encouraged to support others when they can. That creates a cycle of community investment that London found both practical and inspiring. 

“It’s not just about receiving help,” she said. “It’s about becoming someone who can help others.” 

Woman standing next to a table filled with supplies
London inside the Othakarhaka Foundation headquarters while she was in Malawi for her SIP. 
Two women planting a tree
London plants a tree at the headquarters with the help of volunteers. The trees create environmental sustainability and represent the volunteers’ kindness.

About the Othakarhaka Foundation 

The Othakarhaka Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Mulanje, Malawi, dedicated to increasing educational access for girls through a holistic approach that addresses financial, social and logistical barriers. Programs include school-fee sponsorship, a health clinic, a library, a sewing school, tree-planting initiatives, and girls’ empowerment camps. The organization is supported by thousands of volunteers and donors worldwide. Learn more at the Othakarhaka Foundation website or donate to the organization online. 

While in Malawi, London also observed a girls’ empowerment camp hosted by the organization. Dozens of participants gathered to learn arts, music and dance, culminating in a community performance. 

“The goal is for girls to feel like they can accomplish things, that their education matters, and that people care about them,” London said.  

Her work has been guided by Associate Professor of English Shanna Salinas. But London is also quick to credit those on the ground in Malawi, particularly the organization’s founders—Ida Puliwa Mwango and Ted Mt Mwango—for making the experience possible. 

“They were incredibly generous with their time and support,” she said. “They invited me to stay at their house for a week, and they drove me to and from the organization. My project wouldn’t exist without them. They’re inspiring people, especially Ida. She is determined to change the world. I hope I can be a lot like her because she’s doing something meaningful.” 

That perspective is already shaping London’s future. After graduation, she hopes to work in sustainable development, ideally with organizations that take the kind of long-term, community-centered approach she observed in Malawi. 

“I want to create positive change,” she said. “And I think this kind of work, building systems that actually last, is important.” 

For now, her project stands as an academic achievement and a personal turning point with a story of connection that began with a family trip and grew into a deeper commitment to global equity. At its core is a simple idea, carried across continents and communities alike: that kindness, when passed on, can multiply. 

“This shows how valuable education is and how it can really change someone’s life,” London said. “A quality that I really took away from the organization and the work it does is that it encourages those it helps to ‘pass on the kindness’ once they are able to, helping others the way they were helped through volunteering, donations, and other forms of support. My SIP shows that the work Othakarhaka does has been incredibly meaningful for many different individuals.”