Bryn Athyn College Alumni Magazine Summer 2021

DEVIN ZUBER, Ph.D.

Bringing Swedenborgian theology into global conversations about sustainability

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Over the course of this unusual year, Bryn Athyn College has successfully navigated the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel tremendous gratitude for the way our community has risen to the challenge during these unfortunate circumstances. Throughout the changing months, I have witnessed the myriad ways our faculty, staff and students have worked to connect, study, teach, seek, and offer one another support, while adapting to the countless surprises and hurdles of this new era of education.

The change has been substantial. From the first efforts in March of 2020 helping students respond to the lockdown, to researching, purchasing and installing new technologies, to settling on a hyflex model of education, to restructuring fall orientation, to finding creative new ways to keep people feeling connected and cared for, and all the details in between, the College nimbly adjusted to a new way of life and continues to sail forward with confidence into the future.

With fewer students on campus last fall, we were able to offer effective testing and tracing systems, conducting over 100 COVID tests per week. This method enabled us to maintain many in-person classes while keeping virus transmission rates extremely low. We owe a great deal of

this success to the very responsible behavior of the vast majority of our students living both on and off campus. They have shown true care for the neighbor by maintaining physical distancing, wearing their facial coverings, and limiting group gatherings.

Despite the many changes, the College community’s unity, dedication, and cooperation remains steadfast. Looking ahead to the new normal, and even with the various new technological supports, Bryn Athyn College continues to provide an excellent New Church-based education in a close-knit setting.

Our stories in this issue span the gamut from the heights of artistic inspiration to the depths of rigorous scientific inquiry, showing how the divine pervades all aspects of life. We hope that you enjoy this issue, and that it helps showcase the gifts and talents, as well as the support and cohesion of our community and alumni.

Please enjoy,

President Brian Blair

8 It Takes a Village: The COVID-19 Response

As news of the deadly virus rapidly approached campus, the College sprung into action to ensure the safety of the academic community, while continuing to offer a meaningful, high-quality education.

24 We Save the World by Loving it: Alumni Spotlight on Devin Zuber, Ph.D.

As a professor at Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union, Devin Zuber, Ph.D shares how the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg offer profound relevance to the pressing global issues of our time.

4 Behind the Scenes of a COVID Graduation

14 Alumna Helps Book Hundreds of COVID Vaccinations

16 Student Spotlight: Roy Aranovich

18 Student Spotlight: Talia Brown 22 Faculty Spotlight: Kurt Frey 29 Alumni Spotlight: Thando Tshabalala 32 Marketing and Admissions Update 36 Alumni Spotlight: Bronwen Henry 40 Alumni Spotlight: Gillian Mayer

42 Alumni Milestones and In Memoriam

Hannah Dewees (‘20) at the Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony held on November 14, 2020.

Behind The Scenes of a COVID-19 Graduation

By Chandra (Kistner) Hoffman Director of Facility Rentals and Business Development

When faced with hosting a celebration of the class of 2020 in the midst of a pandemic, where respiratory virus transmission means restrictions on gathering, the question was not “How can we do this?” but “How could we not?” Along with the rest of the world, in March of 2020, this class had come back from spring break for what they believed to be their final trimester of college, only to turn around and go home the next day as the campus closed down per Governor Wolf’s orders of lockdown. These students became our unwitting guinea pigs as our IT department and faculty pivoted to complete distance learning in the middle of the class of 2020’s capstone classes, thesis papers and internship placements. In June, like so many graduates around the world, this class received their diplomas not on a stage with handshakes and

hugs in front of family, friends and faculty, but in the mail. Though there had been a virtual celebration, the question was raised almost immediately—how could we honor this unique class in-person?

Safety Considerations

In spite of the pandemic, Bryn Athyn College was one of the few area schools prepared to handle both inperson instruction and outside events effectively in September 2020. Our COVID-19 team met tirelessly and devised a system using regular on-campus testing, strict visitor screening protocols, congregate controls/ mitigation buffers and increased HVAC and virus-specific cleaning to combat the spread of COVID-19. In addition, since returning in September [2020], there has been such an attitude of gratitude for this element of normal. Community compliance with universal

masking, hand-washing and physical distancing has been a non-issue. As a teacher and a parent of a student in the classroom here, I hear how grateful the students are to be able to be learning in person; risky behaviors are policed by peers so that our campus can stay open.

In light of this, and everything we have learned since March, we needed not only to honor our 2020 graduates in a meaningful way, but to make sure that we were looking out for our current community. When we had been so vigilant in creating an effective bubble, how could we invite the graduating class back to campus for a celebration in a way that kept both groups separate and safe?

The Dream Team

The core graduation committee consisted of Dean of Academics Wendy Closterman, Ph.D. (BA ’91), College Office Administrative Assistant Charity Warwick, Director of Network Services Rich Daum (AA ’18), Assistant Professor of Religion Rev. Matthew Genzlinger (BA ’98, MDiv ’01), Assistant Professor of Humanities Suzanne Bernhardt (BS ’81) and Coordinator of Student Activities Jonathan Carr (BA ’18). I was asked to come on in early October to help with event management logistics.

Additionally, we knew we would be working closely with Shiloh Silverman and Creative Director Serena

Sutton, the brother-sister media team tasked with documenting this event live and creating photographic keepsakes and portraits of this unusual day.

Scott Frey and the CPO crew promised to assist with logistics and set up, while Keith Genzlinger (AA ’77), Kenneth Coy, and Lecturer in Music Graham Bier rose to the occasion of providing music in a ceremony typically marked by singing hymns and the traditional songs of the alma mater.

As a committee, we drew on the expertise of Scott Jones, our director of health and wellness, who had worked with me all summer to ensure that we were hosting our first summer with our newest camp partner Future Stars in compliance with changing county guidelines while protecting both the Bryn Athyn community and the camp population. Some of these protocols included universal masking, COVID-19 screening, designated zones, one-way flow and restrictions on activities that typically connotate community, such as embracing, singing and eating together.

We were cautiously optimistic that we could apply the same COVID-19 guidelines to a graduation ceremony without jeopardizing our ability to keep our current community safe. Some of these included: Allow two guests per graduate Create spaced seating arrangements

• Set up a distanced observation area

We learned that when it comes down to it, there is much more that unites us than divides us.

www.brynathyn.edu/2020valedictory.

• Require visitor screenings

• Limit graduate interactions

Offer livestream video

Provide N-95 masks

Narrowing Down the "Where" and "When"

Most past graduates remember a June ceremony in the spacious, vaulted gym of the Asplundh Field House. All health guidance suggested that large indoor gatherings were not a viable option during COVID-19, so the committee posited other possible timelines and venues around campus. One idea was hosting two smaller, back-to-back ceremonies in an open-air tent on the Cairnwood terrace. As “together” seemed to be a critical element, we explored renting a tent for the meadow, or using the brief November time between turf and ice-making and hosting it on the two-sided Jungé Pavilion. Ultimately, we settled on the terrace and meadow of the newest addition to campus—the College Center, recently dedicated at Charter Day 2019—with the Pavilion as our foul weather location.

The committee met online regularly to hammer out specifics and problem-solve. As the day grew closer, we checked in several times a week. We watched

both the weather forecasts and COVID-19 case counts for Montgomery County. Would Governor Wolf issue another lockdown? Would we need to organize an emergency pick-up of the turf in the Jungé Pavilion and shiver through a windy ceremony with freezing rain pounding on the metal roof? Would we be forced to reschedule this event for the third and likely final time?

Graduation Day: November 14, 2020

Although the maple trees that line the paths of the meadow had dropped their leaves, the day dawned unseasonably temperate, with an auspiciously blue sky and a warm breeze from the south. The new eventmarshall, Rev. Matthew Genzlinger, and two of his sons made the trip from Kempton early in the morning to assemble the COVID-spaced chairs for graduates, adding rows in the meadow for their plus-two guests. We worked quickly to organize all of the representative flags, A/V equipment and graduation regalia, organized by the committee and transported by the CPO crew. We made chalk marks and arrows on the brick, as well as signage showing one-way flow and safe spacing both for the graduates, and the faculty, board and honored guests who usually sit on the chancel. The chorale group and Choir Director Graham Bier were safely spaced on the grassy hillside to the east, with Kenneth Coy at his electronic organ and Keith Genzlinger coordinating flawless acoustic presentations of processional, recessional and interludes.

Instead of celebrating with the traditional preceremony dinner, the college gifted the class with their caps and steamed gowns hanging and waiting with an N-95 mask on the patio of the College Center and reusable gel hand warmers embossed with Leo, the BAC mascot.

The providentially warm weather and sparkling sunshine added to the festive fall air as the graduates and their guests arrived and donned their caps and gowns on the College Center patio. Portraits were snapped and elbows bumped from a COVID-19-safe distance as old friends reunited. The drone hummed overhead, capturing footage of everyone hurrying into place, clutching caps against the wind.

Keynote speaker, Director of Glencairn Museum

Zach Brock delivers the class of 2020's valedictory address. To read his speech go to

After multiple postponements, the class of 2020 was able to have an in-person graduation last November.

and former Bryn Athyn College Dean of Students Brian Henderson (AA ’89) challenged the graduates to look within themselves for the fortitude they had found in the past few months to help them navigate the certainty of future interruptions to their path.

In President Blair’s address he said: “COVID became a rallying point despite the inconveniences and interruptions caused during this difficult time.” He charged the audience to let the way this class has responded to adversity be an inspiration for us all.

In his words to his classmates, Valedictorian Zachary Brock of Bryn Athyn, PA shared a quote he considers more valuable than ever now, “If you knew every detail of someone’s life, you couldn’t help but love them.” In light of the physical distance required, the literal masks and the polarization of our nation, Zach’s charge to his classmates was timely and heartfelt, highlighting the way Bryn Athyn College has fostered an environment of beauty in the differences and value of deeper connection:

“In other words, we learned that when it really comes down to it, we are all human and there is much more that unites us than divides us. And by unravelling these details about each other, we have learned that we’re all actually pretty easy to love. Now, we’re all living in a very strange and difficult time marked by a pandemic, political divide, and social reform. Also, we are all six feet apart. It has been harder than ever to connect with both the people we love most, and the people we don’t know well enough to love. For these reasons, it is more important than ever to

truly make an effort to really understand one another and to see the human behind every mask.”

New Church Career Network

to provide career support and opportunities for New Church young adults by connecting them with professionals in their field of interest We are working to build community through professional connections, mentorship, and career development

"Charity itself is acting justly and faithfully in our position and our work " True Christian Religion 422

The New Church Career Network aims

It Takes a Village The College’s COVID-19 Response

With the sudden demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College rose quickly into action, from staff to students to faculty, all doing their part. The enhanced collaboration across departments led to feelings of mutual appreciation and cohesion.

By Sasha Silverman

On Dec 31 2019, while people around the world gathered in close crowds, cheering and toasting to the dawn of a new year, few could have predicted that life would soon change in drastic ways. No one knew that a brand new disease, COVID-19, would soon ripple across the entire planet, extending even to the small campus of Bryn Athyn College, initiating an unprecedented new era of online and hybrid teaching and learning.

While the chaos and loss resulting from this pandemic provided huge challenges for the College, it also highlighted the talent, determination and resilience of our faculty, administration, staff and students. Those from every department — academics, student life, finance, human resources, athletics, IT, health services, and beyond — all came together to keep one another safe, and grow stronger as a community.

The Spring Scramble

The big scramble began in early March of 2020, when the CDC warned of upcoming student sickness and absenteeism. Dean of Academics Wendy Closterman, Ph.D. (BA ’91), who happened to be at LEGOland with her extended family for spring break, soon found herself writing memos to students and faculty from her hotel room desk.

On March 11, classes resumed. Only a day later, the state issued a mandate to close all schools, leaving the College clambering to transition to fully on-

line classes, and to get all students, including international students, safely out of the residence halls in just three days. Wendy reports, “Miraculously, it worked! We had only one day of cancelled classes and a few days later professors began running their classes online.” The new system of “synchronous online learning” meant that teachers and students could login for class at the same time, allowing for continued personal connections.

Despite the success of the rapid switch, the new changes presented significant and ongoing challenges. Faculty could no longer use their offices for teaching, and had to quickly learn how to conduct classes remotely, with no previous training in online instruction. Some students had family members with COVID-19, others lost jobs, still others didn’t have a home to go to, were living with people they didn’t know well, or had to live somewhere without privacy. Many students were essential workers, working at Wawa, or other fast food restaurants, and were contributing to their household income while trying to keep up with online classes.

Through these challenges, the College community rallied. Wendy says, “I would call our spring story a tremendous success. The level of goodwill and dedication was remarkable. People stepped up, adapted, did more, and collaborated across departments.”

Many at the College express appreciation for Wendy’s role in this sudden transition. The head of the philosophy program, Dan Synnestvedt, Ph.D. (BA

Re-Opening Committee

Brian Blair – President

Daniel Allen – Chief Financial Officer

Scott Jones – Director of Health Services

’86), says, “Wendy spent many hours in meetings, gave faculty individual attention, and developed policies to guide the academic side of the college. Her concern and care for the faculty was, and is, deep.”

Technology as the Backbone

With so many events and classes migrating online, the College’s IT department stepped up in a major way. Rich Daum (AA ’18), our director of network services, took the lead in assisting with technological changes and needs, determining how to transition in-person events to online, and designing, buying and implementing new technology in classrooms. College students helped with much of this work.

Rich’s team ended up researching and purchasing over $100,000 worth of technology and services for classrooms. Rich says, “The volume of equipment and boxes to process felt like a Herculean event in and of itself.” Generally, a third-party vendor would take on such a large task, yet the College’s small IT department and student-run help desk successfully accomplished the job over the course of the summer. As Rich says, “I was blown away by how well our student help-desk staff was able to transition to supporting users through only electronic means.”

Wendy Closterman, Ph.D. – Dean of Academics

Richard Daum – Director of Network Services

Suzanne Nelson, ScD. – Dean of Students, Director of Athletics

Renée Rosenfeld – Director of Human Resources

James Kalavik – Director of Public Safety

William Larrousse - Vice President for Enrollment Management

Lelia Howard - Chief Information Officer

Andrew Dibb - Dean of the Theological School

Robin Cooper - Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Jonathan Carr – Director of Student Activities and Multicultural Events

Michael Austin – Director of Residence Life

Dan Synnestvedt, Ph.D. – Philosophy Professor and Interim Head of Faculty

Carol Traveny - Swedenborg Library Director

Scott Frey – CPO

Bill O'Neill - Head Coach, Soccer

From teaching, to socializing, to classroom learning, life was suddenly and drastically different during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Director of Human Resources Renée Rosenfeld agrees, saying, “I believe IT has been the backbone, carrying the heaviest load, in transitioning all of our intense planning into reality. Without the HelpDesk Team, including very professional, patient student workers working resolutely in the shadows, our seemingly-seamless transitions to hybrid and online classes, programs, and activities wouldn’t have been possible.”

Health Services to the Test

The College’s health services department also had a critical role to play. Scott Jones, our director of health services, along with Dean of Students Suzanne Nelson, ScD, RDN (AA ’80), and Head Athletic Trainer Salvatore Capone, collaborated to manage all testing and deal swiftly with the few COVID-19 cases that occurred, while still coordinating care of the student body.

As Scott says, “It became evident that our responsibility was not only to protect our students, but also our staff and faculty, and be good citizens of our wider community. We wanted to be part of the solution, and I think we have been.”

Over the spring and early summer, the team met with those throughout the College administration, venturing all over campus to mitigate the virus’ spread. They spaced out computer terminals, made sure employees had safe spaces, and rearranged flow patterns to avoid crowds. Still, no one knew exactly

what to expect. Scott says, “We had to be prepared for the next bump in the road. We knew things were coming but didn’t know what they were.”

In mid-summer, Scott and Suzanne began determining unknowns such as, “How will we test students to get them back onto campus? What does the procedure look like while they’re on campus? How frequently? Will the testing be effective? Do we have adequate supplies?”

Suzanne, who has a long background in sports medicine, felt well prepared for this challenge. Before coming to the College, Suzanne served as an advisor regarding health-related issues at University of California, Berkeley, as director of the outpatient nutrition clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and as director of clinical trials at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, among other distinguished positions in the field of health science.

She says, “I can’t help but reflect on how providence led me to this place, where I could step in at a time when sports medicine issues were at the forefront. I feel grateful that my background and the opportunities I’ve had allowed me to respond effectively and help move things forward for the College.” Scott says, “By a twist of fate, as well as good planning from administration, we had the right people in place and were prepared to work through this.”

The testing company they chose, out of Cambridge, MA, focused on helping small schools and offering the best pricing, service, computing platform, and lab turn-around time. Scott says, “We were lucky with the company we chose. Some of the other schools didn’t have as much success.”

The team also chose a nasal swab that only goes mid-way up the nose, for ease of use and tolerability for students. And when a less expensive “antigen” test became available, the College switched to this new method.

To respond to and care for sick students, Sal took charge of the testing and tracing processes. Scott and Suzanne also communicated with Michael Austin, director of residence life, to arrange isolation and quarantine.

Overall, the system worked phenomenally well, with a few positive cases that were swiftly attended to, and no one with severe symptoms. With their smooth organization and success, the College’s reputation in the surrounding community began to spread. Scott says, “The county has expressed that they’re very impressed. They look at us in a different way now.” In

The College’s faculty had to pivot to teaching both inperson and online with very little lead time.

fact, Scott says that Bryn Athyn College rose to the top six percent of colleges in terms of how frequently students get tested.

When the College opened for Fall of 2020, the health services team had a full testing area set up in the new fitness center. The students received weekly tests, while staff and faculty were tested bi-weekly. Scott was grateful to find that students rarely missed a test, and if they did, a gentle reminder sufficed.

After testing, the nasal swabs were sent to the Cambridge testing site. If a positive test appeared, the student and all close contacts were notified, and the student was moved to an isolation area. Suzanne and the student life team ensured that the student had meals and other necessities. Suzanne worked closely with Wendy to notify professors, and help students shift quickly to online learning. If a student lived off campus, they received advice about how to quarantine in a way that protected their household.

At first, Scott worried whether students could handle the new set of requirements, especially a possible 14-day quarantine. However, he found that the students actively bought into the process: “The students really stepped up. They have reflected what the College is all about.” Suzanne echoes these sentiments: “We didn’t know how students would respond to all this testing. But they’ve been so grateful that we care so much about their health and safety and that we’ve been doing all this testing to be sure they’re okay. They tell us that other schools are not doing this kind of testing. It’s amazing that our little school is really organized and getting this done.”

Overall, Scott said, “It’s been challenging, but we’ve had the resources and support of the College, the board, the deans, and everyone working together as a team. I can’t say enough about our sense of community at the College and how that showed as we developed our COVID-19 response program.”

The next phase involved distributing the vaccine. Those on the health services team, with help of the College’s director of public safety, Jim Kalavik, submitted a 70-page plan to the county that enabled the College to begin distributing vaccines to the College community.

S’more Fun and Games

While the health team developed safety protocols and testing, big changes were happening in the residence halls and on campus. Michael, along with Jonathan Carr, (BA ’18), coordinator of student activities, were working hard to ensure that students could still have fun.

Over the summer of 2020, Michael and his team prepared the residence halls for reduced occupancy, created student life behavior policies, and, in conjunction with Jennifer (Fors) DeLuca, director of academic advising, moved the orientation program online. Michael says, “The RAs [resident assistants] are some great student leaders and were up for extra hours as we hosted a socially distanced two-day move-in process. I really have a great team that supports one another!”

Michael found the adjustment challenging. This year, for example, residence halls felt emptier, leaving students less inclined to come out of their rooms and

Scott Jones, director of health services, managed regular weekly testing of the students, and bi-weekly testing of facutly and staff.

responsibly socialize. His team has addressed this by prioritizing greater staff-to-student interactions, emphasizing individual conversations, and testing different ideas to help students “create those memories that they so value.”

One such event involved a pop-up ice cream social on the courtyard in September. A socially distanced “S’mores Night” the following weekend was also well-attended, with a spontaneous soccer game, volleyball under the lights on the sand court, and others savoring their pre-packed treat kits while listening to music. Other popular events, such as the “Spicy Food Contest” and cooking classes offered reassurance that despite the pandemic, students could still find time to safely connect and have fun. Michael says, “Between student activities, residence life, and other areas, there is something offered almost every day either virtually or in-person.”

Michael attributes much of this success to the guidance of Suzanne Nelson. He says, “Suzanne was such an awesome supervisor, advocate, and supporter to all of student life. She stayed on top of best practices, got second opinions, adapted as changes approached, and committed herself to the health and safety of our community.”

As Michael adds, “I cannot imagine anyone but Suzanne being able to handle the different priorities all at once. She is truly the glue that keeps us all together. I cannot thank her enough for her selflessness, guidance, and laughs shared over the past few months. I would not have gotten through this difficult time without her!”

Flexing New Mental Muscles

For fall classes, the College chose the “hybrid flexible” (HyFlex) model which combines face-to-face instruction with online learning. Thankfully, the College had already been using a form of the HyFlex system with the new special education graduate program, so they had a template for the new model.

At first, many teachers found it a struggle to keep students engaged in a HyFlex classroom. Managing many screens of different faces, in addition to the faces of students in the classroom rarely comes naturally to even the most talented teachers. As Wendy says, “The cognitive load is enormous. Add mask wearing and social distancing — it’s not like anything anyone has done before.”

Despite the challenges, many students seemed

With events like pumpkin painting contests and succulent potting parties, the students stayed as active and engaged as possible, thanks to Michael Austin, director of residence life.

enthusiastic to be back at school, whether attending in person or remotely. Philosophy professor Marcy Latta, Ph.D., suggests, “My impression is that their gratitude about having the option to come back to school in a mode that works for them eclipses any sense of frustration they might also have about the extra precautionary steps and hurdles occasioned by our new paradigm.” She has found the students’ dedication to learning inspiring. In fact, one of her online students shared that a quote from class made him cry. Marcy says, “Genuine learning not only changes our minds but also stirs our hearts. It is gratifying to know that students can be deeply affected even while learning in a virtual classroom.”

For many of the students, the restrictions of COVID-19 require extra organization, resourcefulness and focus. For example, Haybert Louchie (’22) points out that now he has to schedule so many activities, from tutoring sessions, to COVID-19 tests, to individual athletic practices on the fields. He also finds that online classes provoke a strong temptation to get distracted (why not grab a quick snack?), so he has to work extra hard to stay concentrated in class. He expressed gratitude for teachers such as Assistant Professor of Mathematics Caira (Bevan) Bongers (BA ’00, MA ’15), who keeps the students’ attention, and has always made time to help him outside of class when needed.

Freshman Nicole McCurdy (’24) always opts for in-person classes wherever possible. She says, “Looking at the screen is hard on my eyes, so I was so relieved that I could have a teacher in front of me. When I’m the classroom, I feel like I’m there to learn.” She particularly enjoys her HyFlex classes with biology professor Fredrik “Figge” Bryntesson (BA ’94), who keeps her and her classmates laughing and engaged.

One of Dan Synnestvedt’s philosophy students commented that the pandemic helped him realize the extent to which he is responsible for his own learning — an insight that will surely follow him beyond college.

I Screen, You Screen

Shifting to remote work requires a lot more screens, in every sense of the word. Not only did the College require daily health screenings, but people across the campus came to rely much more heavily on their computer monitors. Faculty, staff, and administration began hosting meetings online through “Microsoft Teams,” a video chat tool similar to Zoom. As CFO

Dan Allen (BA ’78) says, “Communication is good with Teams — we can communicate more effectively than was possible with a simple phone call in the past and there are better opportunities to multi-task when you are in a meeting. But it is just not the same as face-to-face collaboration and learning, and the informal hall conversations are sorely missed.”

Accustomed to daily face-to-face interactions, Renée also found the overnight switch to spending full days alone at her dining room table a significant adjustment. While the change has some perks for her, including fewer interruptions at home, she acknowledges that “some of us feel lonely and isolated working at home without the opportunity to smile, or chat with others while grabbing a coffee in the café, rushing to or from buildings, checking campus mail, or breaking for lunch in the cafeteria.” Although she finds virtual meetings efficient, she says, “I’ll certainly welcome seeing the ‘whole person’ again, and not just a face in a little box on a screen.”

Calm on Campus

The masks, social distancing, and fewer people on campus have added a layer of quietness to the already peaceful town. As Dan Allen explains, “Not only are the buildings eerily quiet where so much energy had existed prior to March 2020, but managing staff in a remote environment is much more difficult. It’s harder to get a feel for how people are doing and where they are struggling or thriving.”

Students also had to adapt to a quieter, more independent life. As Nicole says, “In the halls, we weren’t allowed to have any outside guests — even family couldn’t come see my room. My mom still hasn’t been able to see my room. She helped me move in, but now it isn’t anything what it was like when she left. I really want my family to see where I live, but now photos and videos will have to do.”

Of course, the suddenly quiet campus also means a loss of revenue from the dining hall, residence halls, sports fields, and more, adding significant new costs and challenges. To remedy this, Dan Allen applied for government stimulus grants available through the CARES Act and the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). Dan explains, “This grant will help us through significant loss of student revenues, loss of rental income, costs of keeping the campus safe and provid-

ing for online instruction.” These stimulus programs both require ongoing compliance monitoring and reporting, which Dan has continued to handle.

Many at the College are grateful for Dan’s financial leadership. Scott says, “If you want to put together a good plan, you need the support. Dan Allen is really on top of trying to manage this efficiently and effectively, applying for the necessary grants. He’s a good leader, with a calming presence.”

Silver Linings

Now that the College has been living and working in this “new normal,” some positives have begun to emerge.

For Michael Austin, the pandemic has inspired him to work more collaboratively, while also learning to streamline and digitize his processes. He says, “I now have an electronic form or Teams site for almost everything, and that is fantastic!” Overall, Michael feels hopeful about the future. He says, “The new normal of COVID-19 will challenge us to find new ways to connect more deeply and expand in ways we never imagined. I look forward to seeing how we take all our collective experiences to grow even stronger and more open to new possibilities.”

This new virtual landscape has also quickened the pace of technological advances for the office of human resources. Renée has held several online career workshops with guest speakers, has been able to roll out new online recruitment modules, and has put open enrollment information and benefit-specific programming sessions online.

Of these changes, Renée says, “I’m excited about the possibilities now for the College to launch campus-wide programs with virtual presenters and participants, including alumni, from anywhere in the world, eliminating our need to factor in travel expenses and event logistics. This results in a savings of time, human power, and money — without compromising

event quality.”

Not only have the various parts of the college come together, but the pandemic response has led to more communication and stronger connections with the Academy of the New Church High School and even various nearby colleges. Scott says, “We have a lot of school-to-school support. Our continued discussions with those other schools has helped us get where we are today.”

Quality Leadership Has Been Essential

No matter who you talk to about the College’s COVID-19 response, everyone seems to have a common theme: dynamite teamwork. As Marcy Latta says, “Our entire administration has really shined during this time, selflessly and without hesitation, rising to the nontrivial challenge of formulating and executing

Wa smart and flexible response to COVID-19.”

Many have also expressed their gratitude for the College's solid, committed leadership. Marcy says, “I have been most directly aware of the untold hours of work that Dean Closterman and President Blair have dedicated to guiding the college ... with wise and steadfast leadership.

Dan Allen says, “President Blair has done an excellent job staying ahead of the curve of developments to lead the College’s response to the pandemic. He has stayed connected with his fellow college presidents through the process to discuss strategies and solutions. With his communication team, he has kept the campus well-informed of actions and decisions.”

As Scott Jones says, “I cannot say enough about Suzanne and Wendy. They are the heart of the col-

Alumna Holly Adams Helps Book Hundreds of COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments for the Bryn Athyn Community

hen they were first released, booking COVID-19 vaccines, despite the life-saving implications, could be super tricky. That’s where alumna Holly Adams (BA ’14) and others of the Bryn Athyn Covid-19 immunization volunteer group stepped in, booking over 500 immunizations for the surrounding community, more than 100 of which Holly was able to procure herself.

Late each night, between 11:50 p.m. and 12:45 a.m., Rite Aid opened up their COVID-19 immunization appointments. CVS released them at midnight, and again around 5:00 a.m. In order to help Bryn Athyn Community members, Holly Adams worked with a group of volunteers to make sure these vaccines were as accessible as possible to all who were eligible.

During the first few weeks of booking appointments, Holly and the rest of the volunteer crew had to keep a “pretty weird schedule.” She says, “Some of us

took naps after dinner, then we would wake up for the midnight drop at Rite Aid, go to sleep for a few hours, and get back up to check CVS at 5:00 a.m.”

Over time the team became incredibly efficient, dividing up the nights/ mornings, resulting in hundreds of vaccination appointments. Those helped by this initiative included residents of Cairnwood Village, a local retirement community.

Holly lets us in on how she approached such an impressive feat:

How did you get involved with this project?

The process of booking vaccine appointments has been challenging for many due to limited supply and the difficult online scheduling systems. After struggling myself to book appointments for a few of my family members, I realized that there were going to be people in the community that needed help. I

started by reaching out and offering to schedule appointments for a few of my neighbors, and when a local volunteer, Ingrid Herder, asked if I would be willing to help book appointments for people at Cairnwood Village, I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of the volunteer group she was putting together.

Our goal at the beginning of this process was to get vaccine appointments for everyone who wanted one at Cairnwood Village. After reaching that goal, we moved on to helping educators and people in the Bryn Athyn community who were eligible to be vaccinated in group 1A.

How many appointments have you been able to book?

I booked 160 appointments, while our team has successfully secured appointments for 571 people in the community.

What does the process look like?

Our free time is spent fielding phone

lege. The amount of work on their shoulders was immense, and they really led the charge.” He added, “We also constantly have a focus under Brian’s leadership to improve, to build better facilities and processes.”

Toward a Stronger Future

Certainly, no one could have known that a microscopic virus would soon spread across the globe, to our campus and beyond, leading to hundreds of thousands of businesses closing their doors, essential workers making heroic gestures to work exhausting hours, and millions of people — from senators to educators to students — all hunkering down at home, struggling to conduct their affairs from their living room coffee tables. However, despite the stress, a new closeness has developed at the College, along with a reliance on one another. As Renée says, “It takes a vil-

lage. We’ve all been working tirelessly, together, to transition from in-person to hybrid without losing our College’s values, hallmarks, and strengths.”

Finally, as Suzanne says, “When COVID-19 hit, everyone had to come out of their silos and really create that sense of community and working together. It spills into all areas — from dining and feeding people, to the classrooms, to residence life and beyond. Certainly, it felt daunting but it was a time for everyone to come together, and I think we all became closer as a result. The camaraderie that we have now as a team, I don’t think we’ll ever forget it.”

calls, responding to emails and texts, and checking vaccine finder websites to look for cancellations that we can pick up throughout the day. In the evenings, we divide up our master list and prepare to book appointments. Around 11:30 p.m. we load multiple tabs on various browsers and devices, and input the qualifying information for the people we are hoping to book for. When the appointments start releasing just before midnight, it’s a mad dash to book as many as we can. The online schedulers often have glitches, so we never know how it’s going to go. Some nights we can get through our entire list, while other nights we won’t even book a single appointment.

We also spend time researching and reading about what vaccine each location is carrying, when new locations will be added, what time appointments will drop, and what the latest tips and tricks are for each online scheduler. Every website is slightly different and the system is always changing, so there’s definitely been a lot of trial and error throughout the entire process.

One of my favorite parts of the process

is the thrill of victory. Because appointments are so hard to come by, it’s always exciting when we have a successful day. There was one night where we were able to clear our entire list. I booked twelve appointments, another volunteer Rachel booked nine, and Ingrid was able to get the last three on the list! It was a great team effort, and there were a lot of happy people the next morning. Another evening that comes to mind was the night where our team successfully dropped and picked up three cancelled appointments in a row, which is almost impossible to do! It took careful coordination and fast typing.

What has been the most challenging part of the process?

The odd schedule and lack of sleep. Some nights I’ll be up until 1 or 2 am searching for appointments and cancellations, while other nights we will get through the list by midnight.

What has been the most surprising?

The number of thank you gifts that showed up on my front porch! Our group went into this project with a de-

sire to help the community, and all that we asked for in return was for people to pay it forward. I have been thanked in so many ways, from gifts to thank you cards, to donations made to my softball team at the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools. The response has been truly overwhelming.

What advice would you give someone looking to do a similar vaccine effort in their local community?

I would recommend they gather a good group of volunteers. It has been amazing to get to know all of the volunteers throughout this process. We have a daily group chat, and it’s been really fun to share this experience with them.

How has this effort affected your outlook on the COVID crisis?

It has given me hope for the future. With each vaccine appointment booked, I know we are one step closer to returning to “normal” life again.

My goal is to change the lives of those who cannot afford a place of their own.

ROY AHARONOVICH

Academic Major: Business | Class of 2021

Where did you grow up, and how did that experience help prepare you for where you are today?

I am 24 years old from Rishon Le Zion, Israel. I grew up in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, and at 16, I moved alone to the US to attend school. When I first arrived, I lived with a new family that spoke a different language, and I began an education thousands of miles away from my family. However, I adjusted, and in a few short months, I was able to change my life in a very positive way.

Moving to the US helped me become much more adaptive, learning to figure things out so many things on my own. Without this journey, I wouldn’t be the individual I am today.

How did you find Bryn Athn College, and how has your experience been?

I’d known about Bryn Athyn College for a while since I have family friends in the Huntingdon Valley area. However, the school really caught my attention once it announced having an NCAA hockey team.

Over the past few years at the school, I have had a really good time growing personally and professionally. Coming to a small school, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’ve have found it a huge benefit to be able to have personal relationships with all my professors, to know most of the students on campus, and to network with many successful individuals.

Tell us about your summer internship.

In the summer of 2019, I accepted an internship with PRDC Properties, one of the biggest real estate development companies in Philadelphia. While PRDC was a great place to start, after over a year they “loaned” me to work at DIG Holdings, a smaller development company where I was able to make a bigger impact, working directly under the company’s founder. My responsibilities there focused on three different development projects in Philadelphia. My tasks involved creating and updating financial models, analyzing and underwriting financial transactions, completing performance analysis, and projecting construction budgets.

What was a memorable moment at DIG Holdings?

During my time there, we were working for the approval to build a 59-unit construction project in Port Richmond. A very memorable moment was witnessing the approval of our main project a few weeks after my internship concluded.

What was one of the big takeaways from your internship?

One of the big takeaways is that every opportunity can lead to something. Even though I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave PRDC, my experience with DIG Holdings gave me the hope to start my own real estate career.

What are your hopes and dreams in the area of financial investing? Why do you feel this is an exciting or important vocation?

As far as real estate goes, my main goal is to eventually go fully on my own, offering high quality housing for affordable prices — a concept that Philadelphia truly needs in order to achieve prosperity. Being home during the pandemic gave me time to educate, “sharpen my tools,” and prepare myself in order to begin this journey. During the lockdown, reading became a habit rather than a nightmare for me; I read over 20 different books and listened to daily broadcasts related to real estate, economics and investments. I also applied to MBA programs and continued my internship at PRDC. Over the course of the year, I was fortunate enough to find capital and the opportunity to start my own real estate development company.

Currently, I’m building my own real estate portfolio and working on a few different projects in Philadelphia. This September I plan to start my MBA in Real Estate Development and Management at Drexel University. This is very exciting for me because I’ll be able to change people’s lives while learning along the way. Unfortunately, for many, the idea of living on one’s own may seem difficult, if not impossible. My goal is to be able to change the lives of those who cannot afford a place of their own.

TALIA BROWN

Psychology major Talia Brown (’21) Collaborates with MIT and Harvard Researchers on Google Glass app for Children with Autism.

By Sasha Silverman

During the summer of 2020 as she was heading into her senior year, Talia Brown administered a case study on the use of a Google Glass app for children with autism. She presented her research at the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research international conference.

Remember Google Glass? This promising technology seemed to disappear just as quickly as it showed up on the market. Apparently, the Glass could pick up sensitive information, and therefore wasn’t suitable to the general public. However, the product made a comeback in niche markets after Google partnered with app developers to create software that could go on the Glass. With this brilliant pivot, the Glass could be marketed for specific purposes such as therapy, productivity and education. One such developer, Brain Power LLC, partnered with Google in 2014 to create apps for the Glass that support students with autism.

In early 2019, Bryn Athyn College psychology professor Fernando Cavallo, Ph.D., came across an article in a scientific journal showcasing Brain Power’s research. The article claimed that the Glass offered the “world’s first artificial intelligence intervention for students with autism,” and that when students spent three weeks of wearing the Glass with the app for five to ten minutes, one to two times per day, parents and teachers noticed significant positive changes. Since Fernando had connections with a local middle school (and one that happened to be known as a center of excellence for children diagnosed with autism) he contacted the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Ned Sahin, Ph.D, to learn more. Fernando discovered that Ned not only worked as a professor at Harvard, but served as the founder and CEO of Brain Power. Ned’s team had been granted an office in the Kendall Center, a Cambridge-based hub of worldleading innovation, known for its high concentration of entrepre-

neurial start-ups.

Though Ned was in China at the time, and Fernando in Italy, the two began exchanging ideas over email and eventually determined that Fernando’s team at Bryn Athyn College would carry out an external, independent research study on the effectiveness of the Glass for students with autism. After all, although Brain Power currently had children actively using their glasses in schools throughout Massachusetts, they had conducted all their research internally. Ned expressed openness to whatever the Bryn Athyn team discovered, even if it meant finding no significant changes. Fernando explained, “Dr. Sahin, like a true researcher, said, ‘Data is data and we’ll run with that.’”

New Layers of Neuroscience

As Fernando gradually received support of Brain Power’s review board, as well as the principal, teachers, and parents from the local middle school to utilize the Glass for students with autism, he realized his research project could evolve into something even more sophisticated. Instead of relying simply on automated data from the Glass or reports from teachers and parents, Fernando could offer two additional layers of research. First, he could conduct neuropsychological tests related to various social-cognitive measures such as attention, affect recognition, and facial memory both before and after the intervention. Secondly, he could work with his neurofeedback colleague, Harry Brubaker, to conduct Quantitative Electro Encephalogram (qEEG) tests, which involve putting an electrode-covered cap on a client before and after the intervention to detect changes in brain waves.

In addition to these two new layers of research, Fernando proposed a twist on the qEEG data. Generally, a client’s qEEG “brain maps” from before and after an intervention are compared to other neurotypical brains. However, Fernando proposed using a newly emerging paradigm, “z-builder,” which compares a brain to itself. Developed by one of Harry’s colleagues, this z-builder scale allows for more sensitivity in detecting change, and is useful for students with autism, many of whom, even after an effective intervention, might not show a significant change when compared only to neurotypical clients. Overall, the addition of these new layers of research increased the interest from the Brain Power team, and they agreed to supply Fernando with the Google Glass (normally worth over $1900 with the app included), for free.

Talia Brown Comes Aboard

Hoping to assemble a small-scale research team for the project, Fernando asked the Bryn Athyn College psychology faculty if they knew of a capable student for a research internship. The department unanimously recommended current junior, Talia Brown.

Talia, who had come to the College in 2018, choose Bryn Athyn because of the small class sizes, the proximity to her home in

Bryn Athyn College psychology professor Fernando Cavallo, Ph.D. recruited Talia Brown for a prestigious research opportunity.

Chester County, PA, and the opportunity for closer relationships with professors. Two years in, Talia says, “I can say for sure I was right about the small school size allowing for more connection. I’ve met some really great people here at the College. The professors are very easy to talk to. Even the deans are very invested in everyone, and it’s easy to get a more personal relationship. They will sit with you, and help you.”

According to Fernando, Talia, “immediately volunteered, and was very energetic.” He explained, “Talia operates as if she’s already a grad student. She shows a high level of expertise, efficiency, and ability to take direction, and she can turn that into something concrete.” Interestingly, Talia would later take Fernando’s neuroscience and research courses, but only after first spending months working as his research assistant, learning on-thejob neuroscience, and collecting legitimate, useful, scientific research.

Big Learning Curves

In October of 2019, Fernando and Talia met with the Brain Power team virtually, with Fernando introducing Talia as the research assistant.

Then, since Fernando and Talia expected to launch the intervention at the local middle school, Talia spent time becoming familiar with the teachers and students there, as well as learning how to use the Glass so that she could later explain the various applications to students, and even train the teachers in how to administer the intervention to their students.

Talia would get feedback from students, taking notes about what worked and what didn’t, and send the notes off to the Brain Power team, trouble-shooting any tech issues directly with the researchers there. At one point, when she was having trouble with a pair of the glasses, one of the MIT tech researchers, Aaron Shute, flew down from the Kendall Center to Bryn Athyn to help her. Talia said, “Mr. Shute even brought us a second pair of glasses so that it would hopefully work better and we could actually roll out the intervention.” Through this process, Fernando deeply appreciated Talia’s capable and mature work ethic: “I did not need to hold Talia’s hand, and I couldn’t appreciate that more. She took initiative and capably communicated with Ph.D. level researchers.”

Talia also met with Fernando and Harry (the local qEEG expert) to administer neuropsych tests, score the rating scales, keep records of the students’ brain scans, and organize the data.

Having begun the internship with no knowledge of neuropsychology, Talia expressed gratitude for the support she received along the way. She said, “Dr. Cavallo and Mr. Brubaker were so patient with me, and amazing to work with. They gave me a crash course on the different brain waves, what they mean, the different regions of

the brain, and how to read a scan.” She added, “During that process I learned a lot about what is actually involved in neuropsychological assessments.” Fernando, however, hands the credit right back to Talia: “My colleagues and I have all had the luxury of decades of learning what’s significant and what’s not. Talia has had to step up, read up on the literature, digest a lot of information in a short amount of time, and she did a wonderful job. It’s quite impressive.”

Pilot Study

In November of 2019, Fernando proposed that in order to help Talia get comfortable with the intervention, she first administer a pilot, single-case study with one student. Talia agreed. For this study, the client came to the College with his mother a few times per week for 15-20 minute “playtime” sessions, over a total of four weeks. Each week, he’d put on the glasses, and Talia would sit across from him and engage him in various games and activities developed by the Brain Power team that would purportedly enhance his attention, social skills, and other areas of desired improvement.

For example, Talia might say, “Let’s try the face-to-face app (one of the games on the glasses where arrows direct a student to look in Talia’s eyes.)” Once the student engaged, he would get a visual “reward,” where stars pop up, or a silly hat would appear on Talia’s head. As Fernando explained, “We’re using technology so students with autism will be heads up, not heads down, looking out instead of looking in so much, thereby helping them process more environmental stimuli than they normally would.” Talia kept notes throughout the pilot. In fact, these notes would

During her internship involving Google Glass, Talia says she learned a lot about what is actually involved in neuropsychological assessments.

come in extremely useful when it came time to present the research. As Fernando explained, “Talia was so much of a professional that our ‘dry run’ met the criteria of a proper experimental design. She kept meticulous records. Because of that, we were able to submit her research as a pilot single case study.”

Results of the Pilot Study

Fernando and Talia’s study sought to determine if after a few weeks they actually would find a change in brain wave patterns using the qEEG brain maps and neuropsych tests. Could the Google Glass intervention really be that powerful?

The results from their singlecase study indicated that yes, it may actually be that powerful. In four out of the five areas measured — affect recognition, theory of mindverbal, theory of mind-contextual, memory for faces, and memory for names — both the child’s brain scans and neuropsych tests showed significant improvement. (The fifth measure, memory for names, may not have improved significantly because the student already happened to be very proficient at this rote task.)

Fernando said, “We never expected the brain maps to show these changes after only three and a half weeks. It’s quite remarkable. We’ve worked with children with autism and you rarely see those scores jump up like that.” Then he added, “What’s more fascinating is the level of research information that Talia has been able to process, alongside a team of researchers and doctoral level people, and be able to hold her own, ask questions and contribute.”

COVID-19 Throws a Wrench

From October 2019 to March 2020, Talia and Fernando had been working to compile their findings in or-

der to do the larger study and present their information to the public. They had identified and received parental permission for five students who would be getting the intervention, had completed and scored all the preliminary testing, and had trained the teachers to use the intervention with students. When COVID-19 hit, however, students were no longer in schools, and the research had to be postponed.

Despite the letdown, Talia appreciated the care offered by Bryn Athyn College during this time. She remarked, “Even when we were sent home due to the coronavirus, Dean Nelson personally reached out to check in and ask how I was doing. I thought, ‘Wow, that’s amazing. You never hear about things like that at the larger schools.’”

The single-case study also proved useful to the Brain Power team, as it was the first independent study of their product, as well as the first to offer the neuropsych and the brain-based testing layers. For this reason, Fernando hopes that the College will continue to work with Brain Power in the future (when things go back to normal) for further testing and research.

Talia Presents at the

................... Conference

Fernando and Talia began writing up their results to publish in a scientific journal for behavioral research. In June 2020, when calls came for research presentations for the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research (IOSSBR) conference, Fernando, Harry, and Talia submitted their abstract from the case study, and got accepted. After a couple months of preparation, on August 7, Talia presented her slideshow and research on the final day of the three-day

conference, sharing her work with various other professors, students, and scholars from around the world.

After Talia’s presentation, she opened the floor for questions. The moderator took the first opportunity to speak, asking, “Are you sure you’re an undergraduate student? Because you sound like a grad student to me. In fact, I think you’re 30 seconds away from being a Ph.D. student. Anyone else agree?”

Other participants responded with “absolutely” and “whole-heartedly.” Fernando echoed their feelings, saying, “I couldn’t agree more, and am so proud of her. I’m very grateful to have been invited to this conference because Talia had the opportunity to present her research and findings to a wider audience.”

Future Plans ggggggggggggg

While Talia found the research with Fernando “super rewarding,” she also feels drawn to the counseling side of psychology, and therefore intends to pursue a Psy.D. after graduation. Talia is eager to make a positive difference in others’ lives. She says, “After having been diagnosed a few years ago with depression and Bipolar II, I began to gradually feel better because of support from friendships here at the College, from speaking with the College counselor, and from medication. I want to be able to help those who’ve felt the way I’ve felt.”

Talia presented her research as her senior capstone project and graduated from Bryn Athyn College after only two and a half years here. She says, “I feel incredibly lucky that I got to do this internship here, and to have received so much support.”

Kurt Frey, Ph.D., has been teaching for more than 20 years and has published articles in premiere journals, has given numerous presentations, and is the co-author of Experiments with People: Revelations from Social Psychology. He is currently finishing up a second book: Theories about People: Wisdom from Social Psychology.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

KURT FREY

by Sasha Silverman

At sunset on a temperate evening, you might see one of the College’s silver-haired professors strolling along the paths by the community gardens, looking peaceful and pensive. After exchanging some banter, you may discover that he is none other than Kurt Frey, Ph.D., a previous Yale professor, and author of Experiments with People: Revelations from Social Psychology. Kurt enjoys the spiritual art of “walking prayer” as a way to connect with God. As a lifetime seeker of truth, Kurt feels drawn to the mission of Bryn Athyn College with its

emphasis on civil, moral, and spiritual life, and believes that some inscrutable act of Divine Providence led him, a few years ago, to teach here.

His exploratory path began many years ago as a young, selfproclaimed “Air Force brat,” moving often, living in upstate New York, Texas, North Dakota, and even outside of the continental U.S. in England and Puerto Rico. After high school, Kurt enrolled in University of Pittsburgh, but struggled to maintain his focus. He dropped out of college and re-enrolled three times in various schools, stretching his college career over the course of eight years. Kurt explains, “I was too restless to be in college. I wanted to travel, meet people and experience new things.”

As a young man grappling with various personal and philosophical questions, Kurt had a “peak experience,” defined by the psychologist Abraham Maslow as a kind of rare,

deeply moving, elevating experience that generates a new way of perceiving reality. During a college psychology class, Kurt learned that one’s thoughts may come not only from within one’s own mind, but also from without — from a “collective unconscious” — making the mind, at least partially, an “open system.” This idea, proposed by the psychologist Carl Jung, captivated Kurt, and he recalls, “I knew from that moment on that I wanted to study, teach, and write about psychology.” And he did just that.

After going on to obtain his Ph.D. in social psychology from Purdue University in Indiana in 1993, Kurt became a professor at Yale University where he taught for seven years. He then went on to chair the psychology department at the University of Bridgeport, where he worked and taught for a decade. However, Kurt continued to wrestle with life’s greater questions, and sought meaning in various spiritual

Kurt as a young boy with his family. He says he has always been convinced of the pervasive reality of the spiritual world.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – JOHN 8:32

and religious disciplines.

He pored over the book “Autobiography of a Yogi,” fascinated by the Indian guru’s words of wisdom. He studied a form of silent “mantra meditation,” and spent time in a Buddhist sect that chants “nam-myoho-renge-kyo” as a path to enlightenment and prosperity. He dialogued with Unification Church members, digesting their “Divine Principle” teachings. And, as a result of a drug addiction, he attended hundreds of recovery meetings, which taught him about doing a “fearless moral inventory” on his own beliefs and actions. When exploring evangelical Christianity, Kurt felt especially encouraged by the verses: “Draw near to Him and he will draw near to you” as well as “Know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Kurt says, “I have often reflected on these verses, trying to fathom their deepest meaning.”

Kurt adds, “I have always been convinced of the pervasive reality of the spiritual world.” He resonates with the popular quote that states: “We are not physical beings sometimes having spiritual experiences; rather we are spiritual beings currently having a physical experience.”

Kurt believes that science alone has limitations, and that “it is time for spirituality to be included in psychological insights and methods.” He says, “Science needs to be complemented by the epistemologies of religion, philosophy, and personal experience. These large domains are meant to complement each other, not to compete with or nullify each other.” Kurt anticipates a paradigm shift in this regard in the coming years.

As a result of this deeply spiritual outlook, Kurt adds a fourth, spiritual component to the standard,

three-part bio-psycho-social model of human being. He explains, “While we are alive on earth, all four levels are pertinent, whether we are talking about dreams, mental illness, personal relationships, lifespan development, or anything else. After death, we are no longer biological beings.”

Since coming to Bryn Athyn, Kurt has been reading Swedenborg’s books with gusto, finding many of Swedenborg’s revelations compelling, and Kurt feels he is changing positively as a result. He is especially attracted to what Swedenborg reveals about the regeneration process, the deeper meanings of the Ten Commandments, and a person’s primary loves. Kurt adds, “Swedenborg’s revelations about the mind and spiritual world are fascinating as well.”

In his Psychology and Spirituality course at the College, Kurt enjoys discussing with his students the “spiritual level of analysis,” exploring topics such as extra-sensory perception, hallucinations, dreams, angels, temptations, dying, forgiveness, spiritual development, meditation, prayer, and so many others that represent the spiritual aspect of a person’s life.

As a social psychologist, Kurt feels excited about both the empirical and theoretical aspects of social psychology, often defined as “the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate with one another.” He often tells students that discoveries in the field are less important than the topics and issues about which the field provokes us to think deeply.

Kurt says, “It is a joy to teach here at Bryn Athyn College, and it is especially gratifying to teach students who are intellectually curious and academically motivated. I try to

help students find that curiosity and motivation.”

Kurt has found the College atmosphere “remarkably respectful and cordial.” He explains, “Students are generally very polite with professors, and faculty meetings are wonderfully civil.” Kurt has developed several close friends at the college whom he cherishes. He adds, “I also think the College does an excellent job of embracing all its students.”

As for his hopes, Kurt says, “I hope my students will look at life as fully as possible and entertain the possibility that we are spiritual beings living eternal lives in a spiritual universe.” As for the Psychology program at the College, Kurt anticipates that it will continue striving for academic rigor, honoring the discipline’s roots in science while at the same time realizing that science represents only a single way of knowing what’s true. He says, “I hope the psychology program continues to inspire students to consider broad and deep questions about individual spiritual development, the means for establishing a genuinely peaceful human family, and loving stewardship over God’s creation.”

Since coming to Bryn Athyn, Kurt has been reading Swedenborg and feels he is changing positively. He was baptized into the New Church in January 2019.

We Save the World

By Loving It

BY SASHA SILVERMAN

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT DEVIN ZUBER, PH.D.

On the day of this interview, black smoke billows up from wildfires in Napa Valley. Devin Zuber, Ph.D. (BA ’00) remains in his Northern California home, windows sealed up to shield against the caustic fumes. Just a short jaunt from his house lies the quiet and empty University of California campus, where Devin has worked for a decade as a professor at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley (GTU). Now students log into classes from home, due not only to the pandemic, but to poor air quality.

Since coming to Berkeley in 2011, Devin has witnessed a vast change. Despite the region’s deep roots in modern environmentalism, and serving as home to a myriad of environmental non-profits, the land has lately become a danger zone. Devin says, “We are moving past a tipping point. Here on the coast of California, we feel the uptick as an embodied reality. Every summer it’s another record broken for heat and wildfire size.” In the last five weeks before the interview, for example, California experienced five of the ten largest wildfires ever in state history, all burning at the same time.

In October of 2020, when the hot dry winds swept through Berkeley Hills in a force stronger than they ever had in previous decades, the city issued a message that residents “should plan to stay elsewhere until the extreme fire danger subsides.” Devin, his wife and two young daughters had to grab their pre-packed bags and find shelter for the night.

The flaming timber offers a fitting, though heartbreaking backdrop for the urgency of attention to ecological needs. This cause permeates Devin’s life and work, including his teaching of Emanuel Swedenborg at the GTU. In this worldrenowned hub of religious diversity, Devin has been guiding scholars from all over the world into dialogue and action around spirituality, Swedenborg, and ecological sustainability. Devin says, “I see part of the GTU’s mission to not just talk about Swedenborg in a strictly academic or historical box, but to say why these ideas still matter for our quickly warming planet.”

Devin explains that as many younger people identify as “spiritual but not religious,” Swedenborgian theology holds great relevance with its focus on principles and lived actions over mere labels. Swedenborg’s ideas about correspondences

may also feel relevant to those who experience creation as a gateway to the divine, and, like Swedenborg, find much of their sense of awe and wonder in the beauty of the natural world.

On a practical level, when trying to engage the world’s citizens in combating climate change, Devin believes that a merely head-centered approach lacks motivating power: “It’s a naïve belief that if we stuff the public with enough facts, figures, predictive forecasts, and reasonable information that it will affect policy change. I think the collective change has to come from something deeper. It has to come from within. It has to be a spiritual kind of transformation.”

Setting the Stage

Seeds of Devin’s own spiritual transformation were planted while he was a young boy, growing up in suburban Maryland. One summer, Devin’s mother (Janna Doering Zuber) signed 15-year-old Devin up for a camp run by the Maryland-National State Park and Planning Commission out of Watkins Regional Park. That summer, Devin learned about climate change and global warming. He loved getting to build a raft out of recyclable bottles and sail it down the Patuxent River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The experiences here stoked Devin’s lifelong awe for the earth and the Divine.

Years later, in 1996, Devin chose to attend Bryn Athyn College. There, his classes, teachers and peers would help set the stage for his future as an author, professor, husband, and world-traveler, and even future minister. Looking back, Devin says, “A plan unfolded for me beyond my wildest expectations. I didn’t set out to be here where I am today, but it was set into motion certainly by choosing to attend Bryn Athyn College, and many of my experiences there.”

Devin remembers taking an inaugural course about the Bryn Athyn Cathedral taught by Martha Gyllenhaal, Ph.D. He enjoyed learning about the history of the guilds and craftsmen that worked onsite at the cathedral, and reading articles about objects found onsite. He recalls, “It was exhilarating to learn about the cultural history of a building I’d always taken for granted. I loved connecting it to a much longer tradition of architecture, going back to the medieval times.”

In addition, Devin remarked that the high

ratio of international students at the College helped foster conversations with people from all around the world: “I cherish the global community we experienced at the College.” This appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration laid a foundation for his future career at GTU, one of the world’s largest inter-religious institutions for graduate-level education in theology.

At Bryn Athyn College, Devin met his teacher and mentor, the late Jane Williams Hogan, Ph.D. Devin boarded for a time at Jane’s family home on Alden Road in Bryn Athyn, where he remembers many students coming to join them at her dinner table. He says, “Jane really cared about every individual person. She had an openness to learning, listening, being with others and sharing. She epitomized a kind of hospitality and generosity all too rare these days.”

Working at Glencairn

Possibly one of his most formative experiences while attending the College involved an internship with Glencairn Museum, where he led tours. He says, “It was wonderful learning to adapt to varied groups of people from all over the world, teaching them with the objects in the building.”

After graduation, Devin began working full-time at Glencairn

along with fellow College graduates Eli Echols (BA ’00), and Stuart Farmer (BA ’00). Devin relished the chance to learn history and classical antiquity on the job, as well as “museumology” — the practice of making an effective museum display. He enjoyed collaborating with Professor Wendy Closterman, Ph.D. and artist Jonathan Kline, Ph.D. to set up the Roman gallery, which included everything from writing labels to selecting the green paint that still gleams in the gallery today.

With this unique experience on his resume, Devin applied for and became a summer fellow at the Smithsonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Washington D.C. Not only did Devin enjoy his work there, but it led him to meet another fellow, Suzanne Schwarz, who would become his wife. Overall Devin recalls, “Those English and art history classes, paired with the opportunity to become an intern at Glencairn Museum, laid a track for my later work in grad school and beyond for which I’m forever grateful.” Looking back now, Devin says, “I owe both Glencairn and the College a lot. Bryn Athyn is a very special place.”

A Devastating Wake-up Call

In 2001, Devin began a Ph.D. program at the City University of New York (CUNY) in New York City where he had planned to study philosophy, American studies, and literature. However, when the World Trade Center fell, with Devin teaching only several blocks north of “ground zero,” he experi-

enced a harsh reality check. Larger questions came to his mind, such as “What am I doing with my life? Why does this matter?”

At the time, he had been taking a seminar on American Transcendentalism, studying thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Devin discovered how Swedenborg’s ideas not only fundamentally impacted those writers, but also laid a foundation for much future environmental thought. He decided to focus his dissertation on Swedenborg and the environment. So, in 2005, while starting his dissertation, Devin and Suzanne moved to Germany, where Devin began teaching at the University of Munich and then at the university of Osnabrück. While at Osnabrück, Devin worked with Jane to set up an exchange program between German students and those at the College — an exchange program still in effect today.

After six years of teaching in Germany, the Center for Swedenborgian Studies (then called the Swedenborgian House of Studies) reached out to Devin, seemingly “out of the blue.” They had read some of his dissertation on Swedenborg, and wondered if he’d consider applying for a teaching position. At first Devin felt astonished — did they have the right person? He’d been teaching American studies and literature in secular institutions on the other side of the world. Did he have the credentials to teach divinity students? However, once he had his interview and saw the exciting things happening with the Swedenborgians and with the larger academic community at Berkeley, he felt energized. In 2011 he accepted the job, and moved to Berkeley, where he and Suzanne

Devin and Suzanne listen to Wendy Closterman's presentation at the unveiling of Glencairn Museum's new Roman Gallery, which Devin helped to set up. During the reception afterwards, Devin answers questions.

and their two daughters still live today.

Walking the Walk

Devin now serves as Associate Professor of American Studies, Religion, and Literature, and is Chair of the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies in Religion at the GTU. Nearly a decade into his job there, Devin appreciates the rich context for work around sustainability. He says, “Here we have all the major faith traditions, including Swedenborgians, at the same table, which gives us a robust inter-religious focus in thinking about the problems of our planet. These problems can be solved through moving across cultures and through belief systems, while understanding differences.”

As one of the GTU's forwardlooking initiatives, Sustainability 360 harnesses the inter-religious richness of the GTU by inviting dozens of faith leaders, scholars, and ecological experts from all different religious and secular backgrounds to conferences, lectures, and workshops focused on addressing current environmental concerns. Devin co-leads this initiative with Rita Sherma, Ph.D., who directs the GTU’s Center for Dharma Studies, and who presented their Sustainability 360 initiative at the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions.

In order to bring the initiative alive for students, Devin and Rita have been developing a Religion and Sustainability Studies Certificate which they hope to launch in the Fall of 2021. The training will include experiential-learning journeys, where students connect with the indigenous people of the surrounding Bay Area, while learning about the area’s ecological and

Devin belives that surfing is not just an athletic sport, but a space for contemplative spirituality and environmentalism.

cultural history. Students will then apply the concepts they’ve learned in a capstone project to help the world. Devin explains simply, “We save the world through loving it. Awe and wonder are a part of that.”

A Spiritual Legacy

When choosing to explore a spiritually-based career path, Devin thought of his grandmothers who were “dedicated to helping and transforming people’s lives in a ministerial sort of way.” He explains, “For them, Swedenborg’s writings offered a treasure trove of profound answers to the big questions of life that helped them, and they wanted to help others.” In honor of his maternal ancestors, Devin has decided to follow the path toward ordination with the Swedenborgian Church of North America.

Spirituality on the Surfboard

Despite his busy schedule, Devin carves out his own space of peace and spiritual restoration through surfing on the California coast. “I love being able to go into a zone where there’s no emails, texts, and I can’t be reached. It’s just the horizon, the sea, the air, and makes me open and receptive to the wonder and awe of creation. In its own way, for me, it’s a form of prayer.”

Devin discovered surfing in 2012 soon after coming to California, when a GTU doctoral student

offered Devin a free surf lesson. Though he'd never done more than some East Coast boogie-boarding, Devin got hooked immediately. He explains, “You are immersed in the sublime beauty of the California coast with the mountains that meet the sea and the abundance of rich maritime life here, with shoals, and reefs and islands off the shores of San Francisco. The great whales, the dolphins, the pelicans, the various sharks are awesome and humbling.” He adds, “And there’s nothing like having some humble pie shoot up your nose in the form of salt water when you think you’ve got it and then the wave pushes you forward.”

Not one to overlook the historical roots even of his own hobby, Devin ruminates, “If you look at the history of surfing in California and also among Pacific Islanders and Polynesian communities, you see that it’s not just an athletic sport. It has a rich tradition of contemplative spirituality and environmentalism. It’s not a church in the traditional sense, but as a practice, and a collective of people who do the same thing, which is so cool.”

Healing and New Growth

Recently, researchers at U.C. Berkeley have reached out to Devin and several other GTU colleagues for potential collaboration on a proj-

ect related to the brain under states of wonder and awe. Devin says, “Religions have been working with wonder and awe for millennia and we have a vocabulary for it that can go beyond the limitations of secular psychology.”

This study is one example of the many ways religion can offer aid to a hurting world.

Where religion meets the world

When the smoke clears near his home, Devin can see over to Palo Alto and Mountain View, where the Facebook and Google headquarters lie. He says, “There is so much wealth and money concentrated in the Bay Area, and yet the income disparities are horrendous." He sees people drive Teslas down the freeway to the organic markets on Saturday mornings, passing giant tent encampments covered with hundreds and hundreds of people living out in the open. He says, "Especially

with COVID-19, the unhoused populations have skyrocketed and thousands upon thousands of people are living on the streets.”

Despite the many issues the world currently faces, including wildfires, income disparities, and uncertainties with the pandemic, Devin remains hopeful. He says, “I think we’re at a big crossroads culturally and spiritually here in North America and I’m excited to be in a place whose tagline is ‘Where religion meets the world.’ I am happy to be part of our Center for Swedenborgian Studies and excited about the larger initiatives being implemented here at the GTU.”

Even Devin’s youngest daughter has found a way to do her part. She has a tiny plot of land with raised beds on their family’s balcony. Her carrot plants are almost ready, and she’s excited about that.

DEVIN'S AWARD WINNING BOOK

A Language of Things: Swedenborg and the American Environmental Imagination

At Bryn Athyn College, Devin majored in English Literature with a creative writing emphasis. For his thesis, he penned a southern gothic novella under the tutelage of Amanda Rogers-Petro. Many years later, this experience came full circle with his 2019 monograph, A Language of Things: Swedenborg and the American Environmental Imagination (University of Virginia Press) in which he examines the impact that Emanuel Swedenborg made on American culture, literature, and approaches to nature.

The managing editor from the University of Virginia Press, Ellen Satrom, who offered much feedback on the book, felt drawn to Devin’s work, partly because of the name “Bryn Athyn.” She asked Devin, “Might you know a woman named Amanda Rogers? She was my roommate in college, and I spent time with her family in Bryn Athyn one summer.” Devin now says, “Those moments of serendipity that unfold in hindsight remind me that there’s much more to this world than I think.”

In 2020 Devin was awarded the fourth annual Borsch-Rast Book Prize and Lectureship for his book.

Devin says, “I hope readers might take away an argument for how religion, and aesthetics, can offer up different temporalities, different ways of feeling—affects of wonder, awe, and love—for creation, and that such subjective modes of experience have a critical role to play in rethinking our place in nature. To revision the future with better equity, we need to unearth some of our more radical roots, and understand their capacity for unsettling the present.”

Thando Tshabalala

Creating a Better Future for South Africa

While working in her local South African government for the past decade, Thando Tshabalala has witnessed many good politicians who care about their citizens, as well as much corruption and fraud. She believes that by bringing New Church perspectives into government structures, and thereby into the lives of her fellow South Africans, her country can achieve “real economic and spiritual freedom.”

By Sasha Silverman

In late 2020, a South African politician appeared on television, speaking about COVID-19 lootings in the city of Johannesburg.

Many of his words came from Thando Tshabalala (BA ’02), who had had done the research, talked to the citizens, and created his talking points. Thando, who’s worked in the South African government for the past decade, wants people to feel empowered to get what they need, and to not simply rely on government. However, this is tricky. She says, “Employment is very structural, so if you don’t have skills, there’s no room for you.” This is why Thando feels excited about helping support

a new political movement that focuses on getting youth employed. She says, “Those are the people that are going to run this country soon.”

One of the ways she’s been helping the youth is through her “side hustle” of advising MBA students who feel stuck on the research component of their degrees. She started by helping her own classmates while working on her MBA in 2018, and then word spread. She says, “It’s a lot of effort but it’s all exciting work and I absolutely love it.” Over the past two years, she’s discovered that they’re often not sure what problem they want to solve. She tells them, “What’s so hard? This is your own project. It’s

fantastic. Let’s get excited.” When she lights that spark in them, "they get excited, their work gets going, and they pass.”

Through this service, Thando has learned about oil, steel, money laundering, and much more. She walks the entire journey with the students, and then stays friends with them “because it’s been such a big experience, and we’ve done it together.”

Choosing Bryn Athyn

Born in South Africa, Thando first heard about Bryn Athyn College from Rev. Lawson Smith (BS ’76, BTh ’79) at the church’s annual youth camps. Thando’s grandfather had also been to Bryn Athyn as a pastor for Council of the Clergy meetings, had become familiar with Bryn Athyn College, and asked her to consider going there.

Although she’d also been looking at a school in New York, Thando says, “It wasn’t a hard sell. I was looking forward to studying in America. I’m just so glad that I ended up in the best community ever.”

Thando was 17 when she came to Bryn Athyn for college — her first time ever outside of South Africa. She says, “When I got to Bryn Athyn I just fell in love. I didn’t have to argue my religion with anybody, because so many people believed the same as I did. It was a community of cohesion. It was the best time of my life, going to Bryn Athyn College. I loved all the things I did there, all the roles I played. It was so fun. I felt like I came alive.”

Thando appreciated the care in the classrooms, and the conversations about the Lord. She especially loved her Biology classes with professors Reuben Bell (MDiv ’97),

Ph.D., and the late Sherri Cooper, Ph.D., where the curriculum included spiritual dimensions. She also loved sociology classes with the late Jane Williams-Hogan, Ph.D. (AA ’62) and found that professor Kristin King, Ph.D. “made English come alive.” The religion classes excited her as well.

One of the first people she met at the College was her roommate, Bronwen Henry (BA ’99), and the two became resident assistants together. Thando says, “We would study, talk, dance, cry, and it was beautiful. I’ll never forget Bronwen and the contribution she made to my life just by talking to me."

Thando at times felt sad being so far from her family, so Bronwen brought Thando back to her family’s home in Ohio sometimes for the holidays. Coincidentally, Thando had previously met two of Bronwen’s older brothers, Matt (BA ’99) and Hylton, because they had come to South Africa and had attended the church youth summer camp. She says, “To be with them in their home for Christmas was surreal. Like, wow, life is always coming together in interesting ways.”

In general, Thando felt welcomed by the whole Bryn Athyn community. She says, “I never felt lost or alone in Bryn Athyn.” She explains, “When I came, I was young, naïve, and excited about everything. I practically grew up in Bryn Athyn. The community shaped me, and I was able to let loose and be myself. I really give tribute to Bryn Athyn for the person that I am today.”

Returning to South Africa

She partnered with various New Church congregations in South Africa, asking young people what challenges they were facing. Since employment was an issue, she taught them how to write CVs with the knowledge she’d gained at Bryn Athyn College. She says, “I wanted to share those skills with as many people as I could.”

After three years of this work, traveling to various societies, building structures and organizations, Thando felt that she had built enough momentum that “the organizations could continue on their own and I could look for something else to do.” She says, “I knew that I had so much pleasure when I was working with people to discover their own strengths, skills, and abilities. It gives me so much joy. So, from that time on I always knew that this is where I want to be. I’m a public servant — it’s my calling.”

To apply this passion, Thando began working in government as a consultant for public officials, hoping to develop legislations and policies that could benefit her country. However, she found that those in power were not actively working on the policies themselves, so “how can they implement something they don’t know?” Thando found it frustrating that as soon she’d get momentum going with an

After graduation, Thando wanted to go back and help people in her country, using what she’d learned at Bryn Athyn College. She says, “I’d been exposed to this great education in this great community where we all had a common spiritual foundation, and it was so exciting. I just wanted to bring that to the people here in South Africa.” So, she worked with the late Bishop Alfred Acton, II (AA ’55, MDiv ’64) to help her start a youth organization, which she called, “New Church Young Adults Association of South Africa.”

elected official, they would get voted out, leaving no chance for long-term sustainability. She says, “We need to find a way to create programs and institutions that can outlive any political party. Our government needs to outlive all of us. This is a legacy we’re creating for our future and for our children.”

Goals

After a decade of working with the South African government, Thando decided to apply for a doctorate program, with a research focus on “getting into the minds of African politicians, trying to understand how they reconcile talking to the masses before elections, promising all kinds of things they can’t deliver.”

For her Ph.D. research, Thando has the goal of starting the "African Negotiation Project in South Africa." This project will involve hosting open conversations that allow people to better understand those they are voting into power, and give good candidates a better chance to have their voices heard. Thando says, “It is so important to choose your political leaders, the people you are voting to represent you, and to understand the economics and how it all works. We want to understand the motives of people getting into power so that we know who we can really rely on.”

With this Ph.D. project, Thando hopes to create a platform for genuine and passionate politicians to get voted into power, and to have the time to create lasting change. She believes that “if you put good people in power, who are apolitical and are completely about the people of South Africa, I

think we’ll go far.”

Future Hopes

This year South Africa will have local government elections, and Thando is excited that the new political party will be fair. The Johannesburg mayor has started his own political party, promising a wave of change all over the country. Thando says, “This guy seems genuine, his heart is in the right place, he’s coming into power and I can’t wait to vote him into power.”

Thando has many reasons to care about the future of South Africa. In particular, she wants a good future for her own nine-year-old son Cebelihle, or “Cebo,” meaning “God’s good plan.” Thando is raising Cebo to be an independent thinker and to stand up for what he believes. She has conversations with him where he challenges her, and she enjoys that. She says, “This is good. I’m raising a man here. I’m not raising him to only do what I want him to do. He’s got a lot to teach me and I’m here to learn.”

She’s also sending Cebo to a school with project-based learning, where the kids get to build robots and solve real-world problems. She says, “He’s lit up and he comes home every day excited to tell me what he’s learned.” In addition to the normal subjects of English and math, there’s a strong element of independent learning, letting the

kids explore the internet, doing research, creating projects, and talking to people. She says, “It’s a wonderful way to raise leaders.”

She adds, “I’m so happy he came into my life. He loves soccer and wrestling and is also very musical. He loves playing instruments and is teaching me!”

Trust in Providence

In her work with MBA students, Thando tells them with confidence, “You will finish this, it will get done.” She feels a similar way about the future of her country. She believes it will improve. Throughout her challenges, she remembers a teaching from Swedenborg that “the Lord wants to see heaven from the human race.”

She says, “That’s my entire life. I’m always trying to bring heaven on earth. What a community we could have if all of us were doing our best from our own little space, finding our own joy. We don’t have to be fighting each other for resources. There’s enough abundance for all of us. We can have heaven here on earth. What could be grander than that?”

Thando adds her comments during a conference related to unlocking investment opportunities in Guatung City, South Africa.

Thando and her son Cebelihle, pose for a quick selfie.

Bringing Bryn Athyn to a Changing World

Bryn Athyn College is taking on bold new strategies for growth, while embracing its unique spiritual mission.

BY BIIL LARROUSSE, VP ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

The world of college recruitment has evolved significantly since the mid-1980’s when I started my career. Students’ college choices have become broader, and on average, they apply to many more colleges than we did in my generation. Career paths include many that did not exist when the MTV generation hit campuses. The varied means of communication available today make it much easier—yet in some ways much more difficult— to reach prospective students. For those of you whose relationship with Bryn Athyn College goes back even further, you have witnessed the growth and evolution of this special place.

New Enrollment Strategies

Three-plus decades ago, most of us in higher education would bristle at the crass notions of “marketing” or “selling” our institutions. As educational purists, we believed that the right students would find us if we just mailed a few brochures and attended a handful of college fairs. Very few professionals in college admissions and financial aid had even heard of “enrollment management,” which combines science and intuition to analyze data trends. These trends, both internal and external to the institution, affect the size and composition of the student body. Enrollment management seeks to build strategies that help a college sustain itself, while remaining true to its educational mission. Enrollment management involves philosophy, economics, data analytics, and (yes!) even marketing. At its core, it requires a longer vision toward desired outcomes—alumni who are successful contributors to the world—and not just the size of the

freshman class. Enrollment management, therefore, involves planning for the future of an institution and its students.

Enrollment management also requires a deep understanding of context. Nearly half of American colleges and universities are located in the Northeastern region of the U.S. Yet over the last generation, the states in this region, including Pennsylvania, have seen a steady decline in college-bound high school graduates, a trend that is projected to continue through the next decade.

The 2008 Recession and College Choice

In 2008, the economic downturn shifted many families’ approach to spending—and borrowing—in relation to education. A new kind of consumerism appeared, with people trying harder than ever to find the best place at the most affordable price. Even middle-class families with adequate financial resources began to shop much more carefully, knowing they couldn’t borrow the way they might have done before 2008. Fears about college debt skyrocketed, gaining more fuel from frightening “deep debt” stories circulating in the media. And regardless of their ability—or willingness—to pay, they sought sound returns on their investments.

Bryn Athyn College exists in a crowded, competitive market in the Northeast. To adapt to the new, more cautious educational consumerism, the College had to position itself to highlight our distinctive place in higher education and the value of our uniqueness for the dollar.

Growth by Design

The College’s strategic plan involves growing our enrollment in a thoughtful, careful way, in order to preserve the mission and central features of the College. Since first establishing this goal nearly 15 years ago, we have seen mixed results, but have learned along the way. In 2019, with the guidance of consultants at marketing firm “Truth & Consequences,” the College began a brand study, reflecting on our mission and who we are as an institution, and then developing a marketing plan and recruitment strategy that would embrace the mission and celebrate Bryn Athyn’s unique position among the myriad college choices available in the northeast, even among other faithbased institutions.

Admissions Team

Allen Linnell and I arrived at Bryn Athyn (Allen for the second time) in the late summer of 2019, as consultants charged with examining the College’s admissions practices and developing a plan that would help us to recruit and enroll students who would fit—and benefit from—the College’s mission. While there had been a fair amount of turnover in admissions and financial aid leadership in recent years, a staff of talented and energetic people was already in place. With the addition of two new admissions counselors, we filled a couple of staff vacancies. We organized this team to best tap their talents and began to outline a recruitment plan that would be built upon strategic marketing and included best financial aid practices. Because the admissions, marketing and financial aid staffs collaborated so well and rose to every new challenge, a cohesive enrollment management team was born. In February of 2020, Kimberly Clark, a financial aid professional familiar with private higher education, became our director of financial aid, and I enthusiastically accepted the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management, and Allen became our Director of Recruitment. We then organized a fiveperson marketing team, which brought admissions and recruitment together and allowed the two to operate collaboratively.

Allen Linnell, who has extensive experience in college admissions and recruitment and first worked at Bryn Athyn from 2009 through 2013, established a relationship-building model for recruitment. Ideally, relationships are a central part of many colleges’ recruitment models, but they are labor intensive and not easy to sustain, especially at larger institutions. At Bryn Athyn College, connecting students to a community whose hallmark is facilitating growth through

What Values Are You Living Up To?

We want to get to know you— academically, spiritually, emotionally, everything.

deeper connections allows us to go beyond slogans by bringing that message to life. From the moment a student is identified as a good potential lead, admissions counselors reach out, introduce themselves by name, and build dialogues over the phone, through in-person visits, and by virtual meetings. The year before I came to Bryn Athyn, the College began using a state-of-the-art “relationship management” platform called “Slate,” which gives us the ability to coordinate, track, and analyze our communications with prospective students, including highly personalized electronic, text, and paper communications throughout the admissions and enrollment process.

External partnerships

In the fall of 2019, we partnered with Truth & Consequences to launch the brand study, and then help us develop a marketing strategy around that brand. An effective brand study is intended to bring an institution’s identity into sharp focus, accentuating its unique and marketable features. After visiting campus, studying our mission, and interviewing more than 60 members of the College community, Truth & Consequences immediately affirmed the high value of the College’s New Church philosophy and our position as a faith-based institution, grounded in the

Bryn Athyn College is utilizing our new brand, "Connect More Deeply," in our communications strategy.

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AT BRYN ATHYN COLLEGE

Meet the Team

William Larrousse Vice President for Enrollment Management

Allen Linnell Director of Recruitment

Nicole D’Amico Associate Director of Admissions

Leah Fisher Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing

Vania Loper Admissions Counselor

Felipe Ranjo Admissions Counselor

Serena Sutton Creative Director

Michelle Chapin Website Editor / Marketing Assistant

Sasha Silverman Copy Writer

Kimberly Clark Financial Aid Director

Ashley McCarrey Assistant Director of Financial Aid

teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Specifically, they appreciated the way the College’s mission seeks to develop students academically, physically, and spiritually.

At the same time, we began working with 3 Enrollment (3E), an enrollment strategy company who took our brand to the marketplace, helping the recruitment team to identify prospective students who might be a good fit for the College. 3E uses a multi-platform digital marketing strategy that goes beyond the traditional recruitment models (print and email marketing, integrating web content, social media, search engine optimization, and digital targeting) and measures student engagement to deliver a qualified inquiry pool with whom our admissions recruiters can engage.

Impact of COVID-19

It has been known for some time that students’ college search behaviors have been shifting to the digital world, and that marketing is, in fact, a digital endeavor. However, higher education is notoriously slow to change, and resources are not infinite. With our internal restructuring and our external partners in place, we were well on our way to a new kind of enrollment strategy. Then, COVID. While the pandemic wreaked uncertainty and devastation, it also forced us outside of the traditional methods of recruitment, such as traveling to college fairs and high schools. It caused us to shift our resources and pivot to the digital world. There was no falling back on comfortable old ways. So, over the last year, with a team of people dedicated to the College’s enrollment objectives, a new brand platform, and a marketing plan, we then overhauled our website. Since most students today do their college searches on the internet, the BAC marketing team redesigned our website to capture the attention of and engage the students who arrive there. They also created our own social media strategy designed to prompt students and their influencers to visit the website and engage with the recruiting team. They use web analytics to understand which pages students engage with, so that we can focus our attention on delivering appropriate messaging in the areas that have the greatest impact. The world created by the COVID-19 crisis presented an unusual opportunity to

The College’s strategic plan involves growing our enrollment in a thoughtful, careful way, in order to preserve the mission and central features of the College.

position our recruitment and marketing efforts for the digital world.

Ensuring the “Bryn Athyn Fit”

The spiritual mission of the College is central to the Bryn Athyn experience, so it is important to acquaint prospective students with our story. We tell it throughout the admissions process, from an introductory level for those attracted to faithbased education but less familiar with New Church teachings, to more intimate conversations where admissions counselors speak one-on-one with students about the value of an education that is grounded in Swedenborgian theology. These dialogues, as well as those surrounding the College’s size, location, student life, and academic offerings, go a long way in determining whether or not the College is the right fit for a student.

We are not yet at the conclusion of our first full enrollment cycle, so the results of all of this are still coming in. Still, we have achieved some important milestones. This year, we had the largest pool of inquiries in our history. 3E uses a method of scoring engagements, identifying students who are most engaged with marketing, and allowing our recruiters to zero in on the strongest leads. 3E's strategies also include campaigns that help the admissions team to

convert inquiries to applicants. This joint effort has succeeded in creating a larger, and more qualified applicant pool than ever before. As of this writing, we have 36% more applications than last year and enrollment commitments are ahead of anytime in the last five years. It is worth noting that, as early as as last December, applications were trending higher than in the past five years, while nationally, colleges were reporting declines. There’s still much more to do – this year and beyond.

Speeding up the Application Timeline

At Bryn Athyn students historically have applied later than they would to other colleges. It’s difficult to grow enrollment when you rely on later applications. Shifting the timing to a more traditional college application cycle has improved our ability to achieve our institutional enrollment objectives and to plan as an institution. So, what we’ve done this year positions us to enroll a strong class in the coming year, it also allows us to more efficiently measure our efforts, and to determine what works and what doesn’t.

What's the Point?

Early in my admissions career, a mentor would often say, “We are not in the business of admitting

After conducting an intensive study of the College, Truth & Consequences helped develop a marketing strategy around that brand. To view their Bryn Athyn College portfolio, visit www.welcometruth.com/work/bryn-athyn-college.

freshman; we are in the business of admitting alumni.” I’ve always loved this statement because it puts into perspective what enrollment management is about. Nearly 34 years into my career, what still motivates me each day is helping students find that “right fit,” knowing that I work at an institution I believe in, and with talented people who share that passion. These days, students have so many options, and there’s a “right fit” for everybody. Our job is to

Our coordinated marketing strategies for print and social media are proving to be effective: students are engaging online and applying in record numbers.

help them cut through the noise so that we can show them why Bryn Athyn provides value that no other institution can claim. When we find the students who really match our mission and offerings, and they do enroll, that’s a great feeling. And when they graduate, seeing them fulfill the College’s mission to live useful lives within their families, their communities and the world? That’s priceless.

WANT TO CHANGE THE FUTURE?

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY. Consider making a gift through your will.

Bryn Athyn College can expand its reach with your help. You can help many students for years to come using your will. It’s an easy and flexible way to give a transformational gift to the College. All it takes is a simple addition to your existing documents. To

Creating Art as a Spiritual Practice Bronwen Henry

With paintings of succulent flowers, graceful birch trees, ocean sunrises, tenderly-linked elephants, and luscious blueberries, Bronwen Henry’s art brings color and delight to homes, coffee shops, and institutions around the world. In mid-life, a shocking cancer diagnosis shapes her future career, and gives her a whole new meaning.

By Sasha Silverman

Under the dried acrylic paint of each of her 250-plus creations lies a prayer, scribbled in chalk across the fresh canvas. That’s because Bronwen Henry’s (BA ’99) art aims for more than a visually appealing final product; her process starts with a loving intention, and involves finding joy every step of the way. Bronwen says, “I can say with absolute certainty that I have never made a stroke on any canvas that came from anger or hate.”

Credit for Bronwen’s enthusiastic approach goes partly to her mother, Gillian (Simons) Mayer (BS ’70) who encouraged her children to enjoy the process of making art. Bronwen remembers that as a child, she felt free to create without fear of making a mess. She appreciated how her mom might doodle a silly face on a piece of fruit, or express herself in other whimsical ways. Having three talented older brothers also taught Bronwen that creating had to be for the joy of it, and not about being the "best."

Even in high school, despite being “near the bottom of the skill level” in her art class, Bronwen focused on her own artistic growth.

She remembers watching as a classmate created magnificent paintings, but then in discontent painted over them, wasting countless creations. As a result, Bronwen promised herself that if she ever felt disappointed with a project, she would set it aside and begin a new painting — a practice she still maintains today.

A Career in Spiritual Education

After high school, Bronwen enrolled at Bryn Athyn College. There, she channeled her creativity into both spirituality and education, and especially enjoyed her class on “Teaching of Religion.” To support this path, her College advisor, Soni Werner Ph.D. (AA ’71), helped Bronwen obtain a teaching internship at the Kainon New Church School in South Africa. Bronwen says, “I am a born educator, and I like to inspire others, so I absolutely loved creating worship for the school children there.” After graduating from the College, Bronwen went on to marry Jeremy Henry (BS ’98) and they started a family together. Bronwen also took a job as a program manager with New Church Outreach, creating Swedenborgian-themed content, workshops, and programs for communities worldwide. During this busy time juggling work and family, Bronwen’s art got pushed to the back burner, and she rarely lifted a brush for many years.

A Sudden Cancer Diagnosis

However, one February morning, at 33 years old, a medical scan happened to show the presence of thyroid cancer. Bronwen’s world came to standstill. Would she be sick forever? Would she live to see her children grow up? To attack the cancer, Bronwen would need to ingest a sequence of radioactive iodine pills — ones so virulent they came in sealed protective cases. While taking the pills, Bronwen would have to stay in isolation, lest anyone else suffer from secondary radiation.

Like many moments when life’s doors close, new windows began to open. While planning her week of isolation, Bronwen got an idea that would forever change her life: she would use the time alone

to paint. But not just any little painting. This quarantine painting would be larger than any she’d ever done, echoing the enormity of her situation, like a joyful, ear-plugged, “La–la-la!” to tune out a distant wailing. If cancer sent waves of fear, she would fight back by creating a bigger expression of joy and beauty. During that week in isolation, Bronwen began her first large-scale painting — a plein air painting1 of a tree nearby, using dabs of paint in a mosaic-like style. The joy of this process led Bronwen to continue to paint, long after her cancer had receded.

Inspiring Others

Today, Bronwen continues to incorporate her love of painting with her passion for spirituality and education. She has developed a thriving painting business (www.bronwenmayerhenry.com). Each morning, she wakes up in the dark, slips on her shoes and heads to her newest canvas, nimbly sketches out her underpainting, and then fills in the color, delighting in each step of the process. To help share this joy with others, she has opened a business, Open Heart Studio, which creates offerings for others to step into creativity through painting workshops, weeeked retreats and even a weeklong creativity retreat in Italy.

In February of 2020, exactly seven years after her diagnosis, she released her first book, Radioactive Painting. This book is part memoir, and part spiritual offering, full of meditative reflections. In it she writes, “I want to write my future into this present moment and un-write all my worries. I want to write until I cry, and cry until I can write again…I want to write a new story for you, free from all that holds you back. I want to write my story, and I’ll write you into the center of it.”

To Hold Heartache, and Know Beauty

Soon after the release of her book, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world. Bronwen found the year 2020 clarifying in many ways. She explains, “In an economic crisis, there’s a sense of, ‘What’s the point? Does art even matter right now?’ ” With her children home doing remote learning, she lost much of her space and time to paint, and began to wonder if she was possibly losing her whole art path.

To get through this difficult time, Bronwen found herself returning to her original intentions of creating as a spiritual practice, letting go of achievement-oriented goals. She says, “My new goal is simply showing up. If I am still painting a year from today, I’ll be so proud of myself.”

Through life’s many ups and downs, Bronwen

1 Plein air painting is the act of painting outdoors.

Bronwen’s book is part memoir, part spiritual offering, full of meditative reflections.

Creativity is the opposite of numbing ... It is fully embodying this moment.

continues to return to the canvas. For her, painting is not a way to escape, but an intention to be fully present. She says, “Creativity is the opposite of numbing. It is feeling, seeing, remembering, grieving, hoping. It is fully embodying this moment.”

As an expression of this, she wrote the following during a snowstorm in February of 2021, after hearing news reports of a deep-freeze emergency in Texas.

Before you tell me how beautiful the snow is I remember the people without power, heat, water. Before you tell me how beautiful the snow is I remember the health care workers risking their lives to get to work to care for those who are fragile, to catch babies, to respond to emergencies.

Before you tell me how beautiful the snow is I remember the parents of small children completely overwhelmed by a year of irregular access to childcare.

What is beauty and privilege for some is overwhelm and despair for others.

She followed up the poem with the open admission, “I'm not sure what to do with this. But this was on my heart this morning as I painted. To hold beauty and know heartache. To hold heartache and know beauty. This is my practice at the canvas.”

Today, in addition to showing up continually to the canvas, Bronwen hosts an online course called “Brave Art,” which shows people how to break through creative barriers, using any creative practice. She also works part-time at Interfaith Philadelphia as Director of Curricular Innovation, where she helps develop workshops and trainings for congregations of a wide variety of faith practices. To supplement this work, she has enrolled in a Social Impact Strategy program at University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she continues to work part-time at Bryn Athyn Church, helping to create small group programs and produce community events such as “Finding Hope,” a gathering created to support and inspire those navigating life’s many challenges. Through all her work, whether painting, teaching, writing or speaking, Bronwen seeks to remind anyone who’s experiencing worry, fear or self-doubt to “love anyway.” She gently asks us to “rest in the present moment, just as it is, however much struggle or joy it contains.”

In 2019, Bronwen offered a painting workshop at the College, emphasizing an approach in which the process is more important than the final product, and compliments are forbidden.

Bronwen comes to Bryn Athyn College

Bronwen explains that, for her, painting is an intention to be fully present, rather than an escape.

Gillian Mayer

A Bryn Athyn College Teaching Internship leads to Lifetime Romance

by Sasha Silverman

While reading The Day My Father Died, by Erica Cantley, Gillian (Simons) Mayer (BS ’70) feels a surge of gratitude for her own father, Rev. David Simons (BA ’41, BTh ’48), a previous Bryn Athyn College professor. She says, “In reading Erica’s book, I realized that my father also helped me make a decision that had a huge impact in my life.” David had helped Gillian get an internship at the Kainon New Church school in Durban, South Africa — a choice that would lead her to meet her future husband, Patrick Mayer, and set the course for a career in education. Gillian says, “Maybe he did it because he loved me and thought I would be a natural. I’m grateful for the strength and example he showed of living the life he wanted to live.”

David, who was Principal of Bryn Athyn Church School at the time, had heard of the idea from a South African colleague, Rev. Dan Heinrichs (BA ’54, BTh ’57), Principal of Kainon New Church School. Dan was looking for a teacher from the U.S. to do a kind of “New Church Peace Corps,” and help grow his school. Luckily, Gillian had many things going for her: she not only loved children, but she also had family in South Africa. Her grandmother, Agnes Pemberton Gyllenhaal, lived there, as well as her great-aunt Silvia Pemberton who’d previously taught in the Kainon school for 40 years.

The Adventure Begins Gillian agreed to go. So, after her second year at the College, she boarded an airplane. From England, Gillian flew alone to South Africa. This was a totally new experience for her, and Gillian felt excited. Upon arriving in the Durban airport, the whole Durban New Church society came out to greet and welcome her. She says, “That’s what they did in those days because it was rare to get an American visitor.” Amongst the welcome committee stood her future husband, Patrick. Gillian says, “He knew I’d be coming. When he found out I was going to stay at his house, he told his rugby buddies that he wasn’t going to party with them after the game.”

When she met Patrick, who was a year younger than her (a big deal at the time), she noticed that he had short shorts and long socks, which she didn’t find particularly stylish. Now she says with a grateful laugh, “There’s nothing like having a husband who doesn't care what he wears.”

Patrick knew that Gillian would be shadowing his big sister, Alix, who was already a teacher in the Kainon school. Alix had studied education at Bryn Athyn College, planning to return and teach at the Kainon school. However, Alix had fallen in love in the U.S. with Larkin Smith, so she had returned to South Africa for one year, planning to get married and live in the states. Since Gillian would be taking over for Alix, she went to school with Alix every day and when Alix left to marry Larkin that December, Gillian took over for Alix for the next full year, from January to December, 1968.

Gillian had been invited to stay at a different family’s house each month during the course of her internship, starting with the Mayer’s. However, the Mayer family invited her to stay longer, so she ended up spending three months with them. She loved having meals with Patrick’s family, especially because his French mother was a wonderful cook. She says, “They wined and dined me and I felt very spoiled.”

"Winging It"

During her internship, Gillian taught class one and two (which the kids pronounced “closs”). Each day included worship and plenty of outdoor time in the beautiful

sunny weather. Gillian recalls, “I had a wonderful time, and I loved the students. There was one little girl who learned to read in the first week. Her father was so happy that he gave the school a bunch of books.” Regardless of her success, Gillian found herself improvising much of the time. She says, “We didn’t have many materials. We would mostly create our own worksheets, or just write on the board. I’m not quite sure how I did it.”

Once she decided to take her kids to a “whaling station” on a bluff nearby, imagining it to be a lovely place to observe sea-life. When they arrived, however, it turned out to be drastically different than she’d pictured: “It was the smelliest place I’d ever been. Workers were standing in the middle of a whale, cutting it up with big knives. I had eight kids with me. Everyone was probably horrified!” Despite her newness to the job, Gillian felt very supported. She says, “I can’t remember anyone criticizing me and telling me to do it better. I was winging it. And I feel like the rest of my life I’ve been winging it.”

Falling In Love

Although Patrick and Gillian never officially dated while she was in South Africa, they hung out often together, along with other young people. Gillian says, “He’d sometimes ask his mom if I could come up for the weekend.” After Gillian left to finish school at Bryn Athyn College, she and Patrick continued to write letters. Two years went by and they continued to write back and forth. Gillian says, “I still have some of the letters.”

Through the letters Gillian discovered that since the Kainon school was growing, the society had decided to buy a tract of land in the beautiful Westville suburbs, attracting many young people who wouldn’t have been able to afford living in the city of Durban. Since Patrick loved the church, he offered to help start building the school there. He and his friend Claus Bierman organized everyone for the task. Gillian says, “This was such a wonderful thing he did. From this, I could see how much Patrick loved the church.”

Over time, Gillian became aware that Patrick wanted to marry her. Still, she took her time. She says, “He had become a really good friend. I had a lovely time in South Africa. I loved his family. I knew that he really loved me. But I didn’t want to marry someone just because I loved South Africa and his family.”

After returning to the College, since her time teaching counted as a practicum, Gillian was able to finish her degree in a year and a half. Then she got a job teaching in Mitchelville, Maryland where the pastor,

Rev. Fred Schnarr (BA ’52, BTh ’55), was working hard to start a New Church school with four grades. At the time, there were only 10 kids in the school.

Love the Process, Enjoy the Result

Because of her internship, Gillian felt prepared for the job in Maryland, and stayed there for “an incredible two years.” She says, “I was so thrilled to be at this new school. I had wonderful mentors, including Beth Johns. Gillian used Beth’s system of education, which brought art into the classroom and into all subjects. Gillian says, “It was really rewarding. Beth’s whole philosophy was that art is about the process, not the end product. That was the biggest thing that I learned that I always brought into my teaching, and that’s the philosophy I’ve lived with my whole life.” Many years later, Gillian’s own daughter would benefit greatly from this artistic philosophy. (See previous story on Bronwen Henry).

During this time, Patrick came to attend the College, and would take the train from Bryn Athyn to D.C. to visit Gillian. And, as Gillian says, “the rest is history!” That following March, Patrick proposed, Gillian accepted, and the two got married. After spending four years back in South Africa, Patrick got a job in Cinncinnati, Ohio, where he and Gillian ended up staying for 40 years. There they raised four children: Clifford, Hylton, Matthew, and Bronwen.

Looking back on her marriage to Patrick, Gillian says, “If I knew then what I know now, it would have been a different story. At the time, I was pretty resistant. Poor guy! He’s such a true, good man. And it’s kind of lovely having someone who’s just so in love with you — and it hasn’t stopped.

When reflecting on her children, Gillian is grateful to see that they all pursued their passions and had beautiful families of their own. She says, “They have leapfrogged from Patrick and my humble beginnings. We have a lovely family now and we have been blessed with nine grandchildren.”

Reflecting on her relationship with Patrick, Gillian says, "It’s kind of lovely having someone who’s just so in love with you."

Alumni Milestones

1990s

Sasha Silverman (AA '99) received her Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology from Temple University on May 27, 2020.

2000s

Casey (Schauder) King (AA '03) and husband Jesse welcomed daughter Cameran Heather on September 24, 2020 at 10:15 a.m.

Eliza (Cole) Genzlinger (AA '02) and husband Matthew (BA '98, MDiv '01) celebrated the birth of their daughter Tahlia Katharine on October 8, 2020, weighing 8 lbs.

Charity Warwick and husband Cody Smith welcomed Hazel Smith Warwick on December 14, 2020.

Cheryl (Buss) Cooper (BA '05) and husband Robin (AA '00) welcomed Emelia Grey, born February 4, 2020, who officially became a Cooper on December 15, 2020.

2010s

Ivy (Daum) Synnestvedt (BA '15 and husband Greg (BA '15) welcomed Benjamin “Benji” Kai on February 23, 2020, at 7 lbs 13 oz and 21 inches.

Harriet Baayeh (BS '14) Graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Medical School and earned her license to practice medicine in June 2020. Her YouTube channel "Healthy Looks Good on You" offers natural health and wellness educational videos.

Shane McCurdy (BS ’19) is attending Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Rachel (Buss) Steen (2015) and husband David (BA ’14) welcomed son Caspian Erik Steen, born June 23, 2020 at 9:49 am, 7.12 lbs, 20.5 inches

Kat Gatti (BA ‘13) has been producing Kindred a weekly podcast co-hosted by sisters Kate Coffin and Jenn Asplundh. The first season consists of nine episodes each featuring a special guest interview (including Dr Wallace J Nichols, Nadia Aly, Sterling "Trap King" Davis).

Eden (Zecher) Norfo (BA ’15) and husband Ray (BA ’15) welcomed daughter Kinsley on July 30, 2020.

After going viral on TikTok with her western style tips Morgan Phillips (BA ’19) launched a western clothing boutique in Lancaster, PA on August 24, 2020. www. thebackroadbabe.com.

Tania (Buss) Alden (BA ’14) and husband Micah (BA ’13) welcomed their third child, daughter Simone on October 16, 2020.

Dana Ayers (BA '13) and wife Maria welcomed twin girls Birgitta and Margareta on October 30, 2020.

Sarafina Jackson (BS ’18) and John Reavis welcomed daughter Riley June on November 2, 2020 at 2:34 am at 5 lbs 13 oz and 19.5 inches.

Craig Boyd (BA ’19) and wife Sam welcomed Wyatt Marvin Ray Boyd on November 10, 2019 at 6 lbs 6 oz and 18.5 inches.

Cree Gurney Elder (BA ’14) and husband Arie welcomed daughter Riot Cree Elder on November 11, 2020, at 7 lbs 10.8 oz. and 19 inches long.

In October 2020, Kaitlyn (Brock) McCurdy (BS ’15) became Associate Corporate Counsel at Liberty Healthcare Corporation in Philadelphia, PA.

Hanna (David) Hyatt (BA ’14) and husband Derek welcomed their third child, Ruth Penelope Hyatt, on November 11, 2020. Her older siblings Hugo (4) and Lila (2) are thrilled.

Kendra Elizabeth Knight (BA '09) and Seth Adam Cole were married on December 19, 2020.

Denis Dziekpor (BA ’11) married Alisha Kunwar on February 5, 2021.

Amanda Calamito (BA ’17) was sworn-in to the New Jersey Bar via zoom on December 29, 2020. Officially, Amanda Marie Calamito, Esquire, MBA.

Daya (Sapkota) Zapata (BA '12) and husband Joe (BA '12) welcomed Rohan Levi Zapata on February 27, 2021.

Brennen McCurdy (BA ’19) and Sierra Phillipi (BS ’19) were married May 22, 2021 in Bryn Athyn, PA.

Jamera McNeil (BA '15) completed her Software Engineer Immersive at Adobe Digital Academy on May 3, 2021, and "couldn't be more excited for the future."

2020s

Teryn Rose (2021) and Galen Stevens-King were engaged December 26, 2020.

Julia (Cooper) McCabe (2021) and husband Matthew welcomed Tanner Matthew on March 6, 2021, at 7:56 a.m. 7lbs 3oz, 20 1/4 inches.

FACULTY & STAFF

Academic Advisor Daniela Keenan gave birth on Feb 5, 2020 to a baby boy, Liam Salvatore Keenan. Weighing 7lbs, 15 oz and 21 1/4 inches long.

In Memoriam

Pete Bostock passed into the spiritual world on Sunday, July 5, 2020. He was 88 years old.

Theodore "Ted" Klein, Ph.D. (BA '63), passed into the spiritual world on Saturday, August 8, 2020. He was 79 years old.

Donnette R. Alfelt (AA '51) passed into the spiritual world on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. She was 91 years old.

Robert Hughes Johns (AA '50) passed into the spiritual world on Friday, January 1, 2021. He was 90 years old.

www.brynathyn.edu/alumni or email an update to serena.sutton@brynathyn.edu

Introducing the Bryn Athyn College Young Alumni Advisory Council

Amidst the challenges of finding ways to bring young alumni together over the last year, the eight members of the BAC Young Alumni Advisory Council—led by BAC Alumni Association board members Chloé Kund (BA ’14) and Amy (Dwyer) Glenn (BA ’14)—continued to meet virtually and brainstorm ideas for creating community and bringing young alumni together. For information about upcoming events or ways to get involved, email: amydwyer08@gmail.com.

Michelle (Bedford) White (‘17)

I work for SnapCab's marketing team where I help oversee the team's tasks and functions. I try to keep up with my artistic endeavors by painting every now and then. I set a goal for myself to have an art show this year, but that may be interesting with the continuing pandemic. Fingers Crossed!

Tori Hallstrom (‘15)

I currently work for Montgomery County Detective Bureau as a BCI Investigator and part-time at Towamencin Township Police as a Booking Clerk. During my free time, I like to spend time with my family and FaceTime with my nieces and nephews.

Alair Brock (‘19)

I am a 2nd-year grad student at University of the Sciences in West Philidelphia pursuing my doctorate in physical therapy. I enjoy cooking and recently got my restorative yoga teaching certificate which has been fun!

Amy (Dwyer) Glenn (‘14)

I'm currently living in Bryn Athyn and working as the Educational Programs Manager at Glencairn Museum where I get to do a little bit of all the things I love - teach, create, and learn. Over the last year, my husband Ben and I have loved checking out local hikes on weekends and finding new outdoor eating spots.

Blake McCurdy (‘14)

I am currently pursuing my MBA at Villanova University. I work alongside my dad, Brent McCurdy, managing and expanding the Red Rhino Car Wash brand. We currently have three locations in the Northeastern Philadelphia area. My wife, Kaitlyn, and I are also expecting our first child this coming June.

Amanda Arbakov (‘14)

I am currently a student teacher at Northeast High School. I am finishing up my Master's of Education for biology secondary education at Temple University. I graduate this May. Over the years, I have been a preschool teacher in South Philadelphia. I've moved back to Bucks County, PA with a baby due in June 2021!

Jay Volcy (‘17)

Right now I am working for State Senator Street in Philadelphia, PA as the Deputy Scheduler. The Senator does a lot to help the community and I am proud to serve him and the people of the 3rd Senatorial District.

Chloe Kund (‘14)

I've been working for FeelGood since 2018 and currently serve as Program Director. I led the organization through their recent transition, becoming an official program of The Hunger Project. I was introduced to FeelGood during my freshman year at BAC and I've been involved with the organization ever since!

Senior Network Operations Tech Steve Kitchen and wife Lisa welcomed Jackson William on March 16, 2020 weighing 7lbs 3oz.