Issuu

DePauw

M A G A Z I N E

Fall 2026

INSIDE: Capital Projects Update 9 AI at DePauw 14 Alumni Giving Back 32

Experiences That Matter How DePauw makes learning stick. Story on page 24

FALL 2026

A Bold & Gold Alumni Reunion 2026

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Contents OPENERS 2

President’s Message

Connected with DePauw

DIGEST 6

Athletics

Campus and Community

Published and Produced

FEATURES 12

Photo Feature: Ubben Lecture

AI: DePauw Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence

Campaign Update

Transformative Experiences: Beyond the Classroom

ALUMNI

Come home to DePauw Alumni Reunion Weekend JUNE 4-6, 2027

Alumni Profiles

Class Notes

In Memoriam

Cover: Kinesiology lab Inside cover: Highlights from Alumni Reunion

Weekend 2026. Outside back cover: DePauw welcomed an

outstanding class of 524 students this fall. Photos: All photos by Brittney Cooper, university photographer, unless noted otherwise.

FALL 2026

President’s Message DEAR DEPAUW COMMUNITY, As I previewed this fall’s magazine and reflected on life at DePauw University today, I find myself returning to two timeless qualities: patience and persistence. Both are essential to a university like DePauw that has constantly evolved over the past 190 years while holding fast to its core values and traditions. This fall we welcomed the first class to benefit from the DePauw Promise, an effort years in the making to ensure that a DePauw education is affordable for each admitted student. And we do this while DePauw, along with other colleges and universities, faces significant challenges caused by major demographic shifts in the pool of potential college students and by questions about the value of a college education. On one hand, we are fortunate to have a robust endowment, thanks to the philanthropic contributions of so many DePauw alumni and friends. We also have steadied our enrollment, with one of our larger classes This fall we welcomed the first class to in several years this And historic benefit from the DePauw Promise, an fall. contributions for crucial infrastructure effort years in the making to ensure will make that a DePauw education is affordable updates DePauw competitive going forward. for each admitted student. On the other hand, we also have a structural operational budget deficit as costs to run the university increase and the amount of tuition students are able and willing to pay decreases. Holding these contrasting realities in their proper context requires a lot of us. It requires that we forge ahead with our mission and deliver a compelling academic and student experience, while being proactive and disciplined in our approach to structuring a sustainable budget model. Patience and persistence. These qualities are at work across our 2

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campus. We see updates at the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. We see the Creative School footprint coming into focus with new design labs, a digital creation studio and updates to Moore Theatre. And we see the hard work reflecting community partnerships with our city, as we open the new Cinema on the Square in downtown Greencastle. The new Blackstock Stadium and Athletics Performance Center demonstrates that we are taking a long view of how athletics and wellness not only shape a vibrant student, alumni and local community experience, but also enhance our competitiveness. That long view requires patience while we feel temporary inconveniences during stadium renovation, and it requires persistence as we imagine the exciting future for DePauw athletics and generations of Tigers to come. As we dream, we also should not be afraid to try new things. This year’s Monon Bell game will take place at a neutral site, Scheumann Stadium at Ball State University, while Blackstock is transformed. Even as we step away from our familiar setting for a year, we carry the spirited rivalry and DePauw Tiger pride with us wherever the Bell may ring (and we hope this will be the largest crowd ever to watch a Monon game). We are also reimagining many of our residential spaces. As Mason Hall is being refreshed, making it unavailable for students this academic year, our students keep a close eye on the progress happening in Ubben Quad. While the cranes on campus are an inconvenience, there is great anticipation for how much better the new Mason Hall (followed by a renovation of Lucy in 2027-28) will be for supporting student living and developing close and collaborative relationships with peers. We know that short-term disruption can yield long-term gain when guided by a clear vision for student success. This issue of the magazine offers

DePauw

M A G A Z I N E

several powerful examples of that vision. You will read about the exciting artificial intelligence initiatives at DePauw, blending cutting-edge AI tools with the liberal arts at their most innovative. Along those same lines, you will read about campus perspectives on AI, grounded in ethics, curiosity and the desire to use emerging technologies for the public good. These are reminders that Gold Within does not fade; it adapts. You will also see stories of transformative extracurriculars, what we call “high-impact practices,” that define the DePauw experience. And you will learn more about our ongoing efforts to fully fund DePauw scholarships, ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds can access a life-changing education. Thank you for your patience over this next year as I periodically share updates about the university’s plans to

close our budget deficit. This action is an important step toward sustaining DePauw’s future and the wonderful activities you will read about in this issue of the magazine. Thank you for your persistence in pushing DePauw to be the best version of itself in these most challenging times for higher education. And thank you for your investment of time, talent and treasure that makes this work possible. I hope this magazine invites you to both reminisce about your DePauw days and imagine the future we are building together. With warm regards, Lori S. White President, DePauw University

Fall 2026 Vol. 89 / Issue 1 depauw.edu

STAFF Vice President for Communications and Strategy and Chief of Staff Sarah Steinkamp Senior Director of Communications Bob Weaver ’93 Creative Director Kelly Graves Alumni News Editor Emily Chew ’99 EDITORIAL BOARD Robyn Bowers, director of enrollment marketing strategy; Emily Chew ’99, associate director of strategic communications and donor relations; Brittney Cooper, university photographer; Scott Cooper, project manager; Drew Humphrey ’07, university writer; Amy Kwas ’93, vice president for development and alumni engagement. ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Jackson Whited, social media coordinator and videographer Access a digital version of DePauw Magazine at depauw.edu/magazine. CONTACT Email: communicate@depauw.edu

DePauwUniversity depauwu DePauwUniversity

FALL 2026

CONNECTED WITH DEPAUW

Your recommendation is

GOLD

Since its founding, the university has enrolled some of its most outstanding students with the help of DePauw alumni and friends. If you know a student you think would excel on DePauw’s campus, please let us know by visiting depauw.edu/

recommend or emailing

admission@depauw.edu.

Lorelei Turan ’29 Cincinnati, Ohio

Lorelei Turan is a sophomore considering a double-major of English and history. She is a global studies fellow and stays busy with Pi Beta Phi, campus green initiatives and intramural sports. How did you find DePauw?

My parents, Steve Turan ’94 and Erika Taylor Turan ’96, are DePauw graduates. It was always on my radar, but they encouraged me to conduct my own college search. I liked the application process of reflection, writing essays and going on campus visits. I applied to Denison, DePauw, Kenyon, Miami University and the College of Wooster. I was looking for a liberal arts college that would challenge me, one with a campus where I could count on being known and seeing friendly faces and that was only a few hours from home. From my parents, I saw how much they love DePauw. I love how their faces light up when they talk about their experience. How did you reach your decision?

A campus visit as an accepted student sealed it. It felt like home. A strong merit scholarship and a scholarship from my high school helped. At DePauw, I felt that sense of community. And I like the sense of accountability a place like DePauw fosters. As a student, I imagine my professors at home, preparing their lesson plan, and if I’m not in class, I’ve failed them. It feels disrespectful not to come. I don’t think I would have felt that at a larger school. You were looking for the breadth of liberal arts. How has that played out?

ERIKA TURAN ’96

Lorelei first saw DePauw’s campus on a beautiful fall day in seventh grade. That sets a pretty high bar. When I visited with her during her senior year, I called Steve while Lorelei was off at some activities. Sitting at a bench outside of East College, I was moved to tears thinking about this place that had given us our marriage, our careers and so many friendships – that it could do the same for our daughter is breathtaking.

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In my first year, I’ve taken two English classes, three history classes and an earth science course – it’s exactly what I’d hoped for. My first-year seminar with David Alvarez was a surprise. The seminar title, “Be Yourself,” suggested it would be light and airy, but it was very philosophical and more than I expected. My history classes with Julia Bruggeman, studying the people and politics of Europe and the migration patterns of populations around the world, have been everything. It spans subjects into geography, sociology and other topics. I love her creative teaching style, and she reminds me of my Nonna. My winter term was “One Beautiful Sentence, the Art of the Aphorism,” with Tim Barr. It was about distilling a big idea into one tightly encapsulated nugget. It was actually exhausting work. In the end, I came up with an idea that was something like, “The moment you stop trying to be someone else is the moment you start living.” I wanted to challenge my classmates and reaffirm to myself that, yes, I’m doing what I want to do.

FALL 2026

DEPAUW ATHLETICS

Eight Minutes a Day: Kate Leone ’27 SINCE MAY 2024, KATE LEONE ’27 has maintained a habit of running

at least one mile every day. As a busy student-athlete and an active member of DePauw’s campus community, it hasn’t always been easy for her to find the time – or the motivation – to get it done. But for more than two years and counting, Leone has never missed a day. “It’s just a part of my routine now,” she says. “There have been days that felt like the longest day in my life, and I haven’t wanted to do it. But I’ve never felt worse after a run. Maybe it’s only eight minutes, but during those eight minutes I’m doing something that someone else would have decided was too hard. I’ve accomplished something.” For Leone, this daily determination is a reflection of the attitude she carries into every aspect of her life. No matter what task she finds in front of her, she embodies the motto that has inspired Tigers for generations: DePauw Never Quits. “I know I’m going to finish everything I do, no matter what,” she says. In her daily life, this mindset has driven Leone toward a wellrounded educational experience that includes a major in kinesiology, a minor in psychology and a student assistant role supporting DePauw’s athletic communications. Leone is also a leader among her peers, serving in prominent positions with the WGRE radio station; her sorority, Delta Gamma; and the National Panhellenic Conference. On top of it all, Leone excels as a collegiate athlete and has earned a role as a captain of the women’s lacrosse team. “Everybody on our team is involved in multiple things,” she says. “That’s the DePauw way. It’s a community of driven people who want to be involved, want to make an impact and want to make things better.” Yet Leone has found that, just like her running streak, this level of involvement takes daily commitment and follow-through. Whether through a late-night study session after an exhausting practice or a spring break road game while all her friends are vacationing in Florida, she’s learned that no goal worth chasing ever comes easily. “You have to sacrifice some things as a student-athlete,” says Leone. “You may have friends who get opportunities you don’t, and it can be upsetting. You’re only in college once, and sometimes it might be nice to have some of those experiences. But I love that I get to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself.” THIS FALL, Leone will put her daily streak to the test as she tackles her

biggest running challenge yet: the 2026 Chicago Marathon. But her goal is bigger than simply finishing the race. She’s using the marathon to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation in honor of her father, a prostate cancer survivor. He’s planning to be there to cheer her on – along with several other family members and lacrosse teammates – 30 years after he completed the Chicago Marathon himself.

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

Hall Inductees Announced THE PAGE AND NARDA COTTON ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

welcomed six new members on Sept. 19: • Spud Dick ’10 – football • Ali Murtaugh Harris ’08 – women’s golf • Jennifer Kosinski ’12 – softball • Liz Hamilton Macy ’00 – field hockey • Jim Sandgren ’88 – men’s basketball, baseball • Graham Wellman ’05 – men’s cross country, track and field See more at www.depauwtigers.com.

Individual Excellence Competing at a High Level: Spring Athletics Recap FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL REGULAR SEASON in a

conference loaded with competition, the DePauw baseball team wrapped up its 2026 campaign with an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships. It was the first time since 2017 that DePauw had earned a postseason appearance. The Tigers made the most of it. After arriving in Michigan as the third seed in regional play, DePauw won the opening game against host Adrian College and followed it up with another victory against Webster University. Although the Tigers eventually were eliminated in a rematch against Adrian, they ended the season with an impressive 30-15 record. The one downside of the team’s success was the timing. While the Tigers were battling on the final day of regional play in Michigan, DePauw’s Class of 2026 was gathered on the East College lawn to celebrate the university’s 187th commencement exercises. For the seniors on the baseball team, this meant missing out on the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication. University leaders took immediate action. On the morning after commencement, they organized an impromptu ceremony on the steps of the Emison Building. Seven travel-worn baseball seniors received their diplomas from President Lori White with parents, faculty, staff and coaches in attendance. What the event might have lacked in fanfare it made up for in the unrivaled familial warmth that has characterized the DePauw community for generations.

THE BASEBALL PLAYERS

weren’t the only Tigers making a splash in spring postseason competition. On the golf course, Becky Williams ’26 made her third straight appearance at the NCAA Division III Golf Championships. She finished in 36th place after shooting an 11-over 299, securing second-team All-American honors. Meanwhile, Shelby Stall ’27 and Liberty Scott ’27 represented DePauw at the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Stall finished 11th in the 400-meter dash, and Scott finished ninth in the 100-meter hurdles and 13th in the 400-meter hurdles. Both athletes earned secondteam All-American honors.

BECKY WILLIAMS ’26

LIBERTY SCOTT ’27

SHELBY STALL ’27

FALL 2026

DEPAUW DIGEST

COMMUNITY

ALUMNI

STUDENTS

Retiring at 86: The Indefatigable Donna Grooms

Alumni Awards

Walker Cup and Murad Medal

DONNA GROOMS worked for DePauw Alumni Relations for 33

years. She was the definition of dedication and loyalty, so maybe it was destiny that there would be more to her DePauw story. After initially retiring, she quickly “unretired” and spent the next 22 years as editor of DePauw Magazine’s Class Notes. Now, as a veteran of 55 years with DePauw, she makes her retirement official. “She made it possible for me, my sister, Shadla ’88, and my brother, Travis ’89, to attend DePauw,” said her son, Thomas Grooms ’86. “We are immensely proud of her career and dedication.” Erin Confer-Staggers of Alumni Development said, “Before online registration, Donna masterminded attendee registration and management for Alumni Reunion Weekends. So many generations of alumni were well cared for by Donna. She truly knows and loves our campus community.” ALUMNI

Gift to Archives

WCDS Updates

BOB WELLS ’64 recently

DEPAUW ALUMNI DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT announced

gifted to the DePauw Archives one of the nation’s largest collections of rare and original anti-slavery materials in private hands. Wells’ hope is that students and scholars can engage directly and deeply with voices and ideas that moved him and shaped history. In an interview you can see on our YouTube channel, Wells said, “This collection is now in DePauw’s hands, and that makes me feel really good.”

refined giving levels for the Washington C. DePauw Society, streamlining eight tiers into four to better honor donors and support impact. Recognition now follows a calendar year, beginning with 2026, with new honors presented at the Spring 2027 Society Luncheon. More at www.depauw.edu/alumni.

FIVE ALUMNI RECEIVED HONORS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

during Old Gold Weekend, with recognition that noted their achievements and service to the institution. Old Gold Goblet recipient Sue Ansel ’82 earned recognition for service to the university as a longtime Board of Trustees member and for her illustrious career as an executive in multifamily residential real estate. Young Alumni Award honoree Rachel Hanebutt ’15 has built a career at the intersection of education, technology and youth mental health. She has been an alumni event organizer in multiple locations and returns to campus frequently. Alumni Citation awards went to author and poet Thomas Kneeland ’14, financial services executive Kathleen Leiprandt ’84 and consumer product marketing leader David Manly ’77.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2026 earned

DePauw’s highest senior honors, the Walker Cup and the Murad Medal. Robby Ballentine, a biochemistry major from Crown Point, Ind., received the Walker Cup, awarded to a senior who best exemplifies DePauw tradition and spirit. Eliana Alzate, a creative writing and computer science double major from Cavite, Philippines, received the Murad Medal for outstanding scholarship or artistic mastery. The annual year-end Student Awards Convocation featured a recognition of both award recipients. Their selection reflects exceptional achievement, leadership and impact across campus, connecting them to a distinguished group of past honorees.

LEADERSHIP

Jackson Recognized DIONNE JACKSON was recognized by her alma mater,

Read DePauw Magazine online IF YOU PREFER to read DePauw Magazine online, you can access

digital copies of this and past magazines at depauw.edu/magazine.

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Hendrix College. She received the inaugural Hendrix Women’s Leadership Community Award for exemplifying the ideals of leadership, mentorship and meaningful impact in her profession and communities. Jackson is DePauw’s vice president for inclusive engagement.

CAMPUS

Building Update STUDENTS RETURNED TO CAMPUS, experiencing the fanfare

and excitement each new school year brings. They quickly recognized something else too – campus didn’t sit still in those 12 weeks they were gone. Campus capital projects are moving. Some projects are complete. Some are in the “demo” phase. And others are somewhere in between. An overview:

AFTER CAREFUL PLANNING and coordination with housing

and residence life staff, the university gave the go-ahead to begin updates on Mason Hall and Ubben Quad. Lucy Rowland updates will follow.

Cinema on the Square With a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for Old Gold Weekend, the Cinema on the Square is now officially part of DePauw and Greencastle. This new downtown landmark, connected to the Starbucks next door, features first-run movies and space for events. It will be an asset to Putnam County and to DePauw Creative School’s film and media arts program. ALUMNI

STUDENTS

RIMS Team Impresses FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, a

McDermond Medal Creative School Activity picked up over the summer, with finishing touches made to spaces in the Green Center for the Performing Arts and the Peeler Art Center. Blackstock Stadium and Athletics Performance Center Construction of the new center and the adjacent geothermal energy system began with spring demolition. It is now in full swing while the Tiger football team continues to play its home games, except the Monon Bell Classic, on Nick Mourouzis Field with seating on the east. The Monon Bell Classic will be played at Ball State’s Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind., on Nov. 14, 2026.

SCOTT RASMUSSEN ’86 received the Robert

C. McDermond Medal for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. The award honors his major career achievements, which include launching ESPN and a leading public opinion polling research firm. Scott and his wife, Laura ’86, attended the ceremony, spoke to students and participated in a day of events on campus.

DePauw team achieved a top-three finish in the Spencer-RIMS Global Student Risk Management Challenge. The DePauw team included Ashley Le ’27, Christine Nguyen ’27, Vinh (Kevin) Huynh ’27 and Annie Vu ’27. Zhixin Wu, the Ian M. Rolland Professor of Mathematical Sciences, was the team’s coach. The actuarial science and risk management students represented the only liberal arts college in the top eight, competing against 53 teams from 12 countries.

FALL 2026

DEPAUW DIGEST

NEW DEAN

NEW FACES

WENDY WHITT is the new

GARY LEMON is the interim R. David and Suzanne A. Hoover

Endowed dean of the School of Business and Leadership, with his deanship running through 2028. A respected figure in global finance and liberal arts education, Lemon brings nearly half a century of institutional service and industry expertise to the role. Since arriving at the university in 1976, he has helped build DePauw’s modern business pipeline, shaped generations of students by serving as a professor of economics and strengthened opportunity through his leadership of the McDermond Center and the Management Fellows Program.

“I hope to continue the great work that has already been started to educate young leaders for the challenges and opportunities they will face as they leave the college environment. I also look forward to enhancing our curriculum so our students will be poised and ready to meet the needs of an ever-changing business landscape.” – Gary Lemon

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director of the Eugene S. Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. Whitt brings broad experience in brand marketing, digital media production, podcasting and journalism to DePauw’s hub for student media. She joined the university after a national search to lead the Pulliam Center as it prepares students for careers in today’s evolving media industry.

IDALIA WILMOTH is the

new director of the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Wilmoth is an accomplished scholarpractitioner in student affairs, Africana studies and urban teacher education. She was a clinical professor at Indiana University Indianapolis and champions learning, culturally responsive mentorship and student leadership to advance equity, community engagement and excellence.

Class Notes DON’T FORGET – we rely on your submissions to populate our

Class Notes. Please submit a note about a new job, marriage, award or any other life event to classnotes@depauw.edu.

SOCIAL

@DePauwU

DePauwUniversity

From LinkedIn “I can’t express how grateful I am to DePauw University and President White for showing us this love and support. On a day where both my college and college sports career ended in an instant, DePauw helped lighten the load with a gesture that truly went above and beyond.” – Charlie Hawk ’26 See baseball story, page 7.

PUBLISHED & PRODUCED

FACULTY WORKS

ALUMNI

EUGENE GLORIA,

GIL DURÁN ’98

“The Nerd Reich” is Durán’s New York Times bestselling debut, subtitled, “Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy.”

BILL RASMUSSEN ’54, written with Mike

Soltys “Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN” tells the incredible tale of the cultural fixture he founded with his son, Scott ’86. Rasmussen passed away on August 18. See obituary, page 44.

BARBARA KINGSOLVER ’77

“Partita” is the comingof-age story of a pianist who goes from her family farm, via a college music scholarship, into a world of thrilling knowledge, risky passions and confounding class barriers.

ELISA TURNER ’74

“Miami’s Art Boom: From Local Vision to International Presence” is a collection based on her 20 years of art writing for the Miami Herald.

ROB JOHNSON ’90

PAT PERNICANO ’76

“Overcommunicate” offers lessons for leaders and executives. The book’s fourth chapter features professor Jeff McCall ’76.

“Little Butterfly and Her Daddy: Healing the Pain of War” is Dr. Pernicano’s answer to helping children and families deal with the pain and trauma of war.

professor of English, department chair “Rizal Walks Along Foxgloves” received the Robert Creeley Memorial Award and was a runner-up among 568 entries in the 2026 Marsh Hawk Press poetry book contest.

BETH BENEDIX,

CAROLINE CAROTHERS VOGEL ’98

“As Yourself: The Sacred Work of Embodying Grace” offers an exploration of what it means to love others “as yourself.”

WHAT I’M READING

Bob Weaver ’93, senior director of communications “THE ANTIDOTE” BY KAREN RUSSELL

Read my full notes at depauw.edu/antidote.

professor emerita of world literature and religious studies “The Shape That Matters: Reflections on Life in Memory Care”

ELIZA BROWN, Cassell

Grubb University professor of music and Martha C. Rieth Faculty Fellow “Through the Eyes” is a collaborative composition with music and text by incarcerated women. The recording features former DePauw faculty member Bonnie Whiting singing and speaking.

FALL 2026

DEPAUW DIGEST

Trevor Noah Delivers Ubben Lecture Series Finale

SPEAKING TO A CROWD OF 3,600 in

Neal Fieldhouse on April 30, awardwinning comedian and best-selling author Trevor Noah brought his signature sense of humor to timely questions of personal identity and cultural meaning. His appearance marked the 121st and final event in the Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture Series, a beloved DePauw tradition that has hosted world-renowned speakers since 1986. In a wide-ranging conversation moderated by professors Jeff Dunn and Deepa Prakash, Noah shared anecdotes and insights about growing up in South Africa, his career in the public spotlight and the importance of nurturing curiosity in all areas of life. “Think of every stupid, wrong idea you’ve ever had in your life,” Noah told the attendees. “If you stop having them, you stop learning. That’s why I love learning institutions. I believe these

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buildings, these campuses, are supposed to be the bedrock of stupid ideas and stupid inquiries. The dumbest questions lead us to the most profound answers.” The event served as a bittersweet farewell to 40 years of memories made possible by the generosity of Tim and Sharon Ubben, both of the Class of 1958. “Tim and I never realized this lecture series would receive the level of respect that it has,“ says Sharon Ubben, who has remained involved in the series’ oversight since the passing of her husband in 2021. “It has been a tremendous responsibility, but also a wonderful success story. I think it is important to be involved in the country, to keep abreast of what’s going on and to try to do the best you can do to help. I hope the lectures have done that.” Read more about Trevor Noah’s visit to campus and watch a video about the legacy of the Ubben Lecture Series at depauw.edu/stories.

Top image: Jeff Dunn and Trevor Noah on stage. Above: Sharon Williams Ubben ’58 with Trevor Noah.

Do You Know Ubben Lecture History? Put your knowledge of the Ubben Lecture Series to the test with these trivia questions: 1. Who was the first speaker in the series? 2. Who are the four former U.K. prime ministers who have delivered an Ubben lecture? 3. The lecture series has hosted a former U.S. president, vice president and first lady. Who are they? 4. Which DePauw alum delivered an Ubben lecture after being awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine? 5. Who is the only person to make three separate appearances in the lecture series? 6. What year contained a record 10 Ubben Lecture Series events? 7. Who is the only speaker in the series to have won an Olympic gold medal?

Malala Yousafzai – activist, author and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, 2017

Jane Goodall – primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist and U.N. Messenger of Peace, 2013

Mikhail Gorbachev – former Soviet leader and Nobel laureate, 2005

Benazir Bhutto – former prime minister of Pakistan, 1997

Jesse Jackson – civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, 1992

Condoleezza Rice – educator, author and former U.S. secretary of state, 2019

Answers: 1. Richard Lamm. 2. Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair and David Cameron. 3. Bill Clinton, Dan Quayle ’69 and Barbara Bush. 4. Ferid Murad ’58. 5. William J. Bennett. 6. 1997. 7. Tamika Catchings.

FALL 2026

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

Human-Centered, AI-Informed DePauw’s Institutional Framework for AI

Read a piece on artificial intelligence in higher education, and you will doubtless read college presidents and provosts proclaim their readiness to become an “AI-first” institution. DePauw is moving in a different direction: not AI-first, but humancentered and AI-informed, preparing graduates who can use these tools wisely and are thoughtful enough to know when and how to engage. That difference goes to the core of a liberal arts education. The point is not to build programs around the newest technology or chase every shift in the market. It is to educate people who can think clearly, lead well, adapt as conditions change and use the tools of their time wisely. That is the frame for DePauw’s AI work. Rather than chasing novelty or rebuilding our core, we are affirming our human-centered approach, now AIinformed, that keeps judgment, accountability and relationships at the center.

FALL 2026

We Asked. DePauw Responded.

This spring, DePauw engaged in conversations and group discussions with alumni from around the world and business and civic leaders from across Indiana. We surveyed or interviewed more than 800 prospective students and their families, current students, and faculty and staff about their use patterns, experiences and expectations around AI. What emerged was a clear picture of a campus community already engaging with AI in meaningful but unstructured ways, and doing so with very different levels of confidence. Just as importantly, the results demonstrated areas where people are already experimenting, adapting and infusing AI into their work. The data show enthusiasm and uncertainty, and they point to a deeper challenge: How can the institution provide clear policy, shared frameworks, training and professional development to engage deeply and well? Prospective students and their families are broadly positive about AI, but that optimism comes with a strong expectation that colleges will help students learn how to use it well. Three-quarters of prospective students describe themselves as excited or very excited about AI, and the same portion want hands-on, applied AI experiences rather than courses about AI in the abstract.

Vision Statement Adopted: April 2026

DePauw University is fully committed to thoughtfully incorporating humancentered use of artificial intelligence (AI) as an emerging and evolving part of how we educate, operate and lead in service to our liberal arts mission, creating more space for personal connection. Our graduates will leave DePauw as critical, creative and capable individuals, fully equipped with AI literacy and supported in pursuing AI fluency. The commitment to critical inquiry, ethical reasoning and human connection at the heart of a DePauw education are exactly what it takes to navigate AI wisely. We will employ AI responsibly and transparently across the institution, attending to its financial, social and environmental costs. We also commit to regularly assessing AI, as we do with other elements of our curriculum and operations. This working vision will evolve as technologies change and as debates around the technology’s utility continue to develop. We encourage you to read DePauw’s AI Vision document and considerations in their entirety at www.depauw.edu/about/initiatives/ai-innovation/.

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Their parents and families are equally direct: Half rank AI competency as their top priority for what college should provide, and 81 percent want their student’s institution to teach AI tools in the context of their field of study. In other words, families are not asking whether colleges should engage AI. They are asking how seriously colleges will treat the responsibility of teaching it. Current students tell a more complicated story. Just over half report positive sentiment toward AI. Faculty and staff are already using AI in their work and teaching in ways that reflect initiative and practical need. Seventy-one percent of faculty have incorporated AI into teaching at least minimally,

and about three-quarters of staff use AI at work in their weekly tasks. The message was not that the campus is split between believers and skeptics. It was that DePauw needed a shared vision, framework and education to ensure AI use did not fragment into a thousand individual decisions. The survey clarifies both opportunity and risk. The community expects to use AI, and it expects the institution to help people do so wisely. Meeting that expectation requires more than individual experimentation; it requires a coherent, liberal arts-grounded approach and a set of principles to guide it.

Behind the Vision: Framing AI at DePauw

In April 2026 DePauw adopted “Our Vision of AI” to ensure emerging technology aligns with our liberal arts mission. Crafted through campuswide collaboration, this living framework anchors DePauw’s approach in ethics, critical inquiry and environmental stewardship – safeguarding the human connections, deep thinking and mentorship that are core to our community. As technology evolves, this commitment will continuously adapt alongside our faculty, staff and students.

Definitions

Artificial intelligence (AI): Systems that use machine learning algorithms to generate predictions, recommendations, decisions or content or that act autonomously as agents. AI literacy: The knowledge, skills and ethical grounding to understand what AI systems are, assess their limits and risks and make principled decisions about when to use them and when to refrain. AI fluency: The advanced ability to strategically apply, adapt and interrogate AI across multiple domains and contexts to shape how AI tools are created, evaluated and responsibly deployed by others. Human-centered use of AI: The practice of employing AI to augment human workflows, not replace or diminish distinctly human capacities such as judgment, empathy, creativity and collaboration.

Considerations for Adoption

To guide the practical implementation of our AI Vision, DePauw established core considerations that anchor decisions in our liberal arts values: • Mission First and People Over Process • Ethical Grounding and Academic Freedom • Honesty and Accountability • Access and Inclusion • Thoughtful Experimentation • Environmental Stewardship • An Evolving Commitment Together, these values address issues ranging from safeguarding human connection and faculty authority to weighing the ethical, cognitive and environmental costs of emerging technology. This is a working document that we will revisit regularly – and not the final word. FALL 2026

THE LAUNCH

This fall DePauw launched its AI work, structured around four interconnected areas identified as critical from our surveys and community conversations. Technical infrastructure and tools DePauw is building a curated portfolio of approved enterprise AI tools, each with training, use-case guidance and privacy compliance protocols. A protected sandbox gives faculty, staff and students a place to explore, experiment and build skill. The university is also assessing whether native AI capabilities in existing enterprise systems or tailored tools are the better fit for its needs. The aim is to build an AI-ready foundation that fits the institution’s people and processes. Governance DePauw is developing a unified AI policy framework for academic, operational and administrative use. Faculty and staff governance channels, supported by external legal and policy review, are shaping the framework and embedding it into existing committees and operational structures. The governing principle is direct: AI should not make decisions that belong to people. AI can support analysis. It can improve efficiency. It cannot replace human judgment. Literacy, fluency and ethics The focus is not on producing experts in every tool, but on ensuring that students, faculty and staff can engage AI with confidence, judgment and ethical awareness. The work begins with a campuswide baseline assessment of AI literacy, helping DePauw understand where familiarity, experience and training needs differ across the community. Building on that baseline, the university is developing a shared AI fluency and ethics framework grounded in principles developed by the Prindle Institute for Ethics, giving the campus a common language for understanding the possibilities and limits of these tools. Role-specific training is rolling out through tiered programming for faculty, staff and students,

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supported by an instructional technologist, a visiting scholar in AI ethics and an advanced training fund for more specialized professional development. Faculty AI liaisons, workshops, LinkedIn Learning modules, first-year seminar instruction and AI achievement credentials are extending the work into curricular and co-curricular settings. These resources help the campus learn not only how to use AI, but also how to evaluate it, question it and apply it responsibly in context. Literacy is the foundation. Fluency is the goal. Pedagogy, curriculum and academic research Faculty across DePauw’s three schools are working to identify where AI can improve teaching, deepen scholarly inquiry and expand the kinds of questions students can pursue. Departments will develop AI philosophy statements to help distinguish where AI use is appropriate, where it should be limited and where it can meaningfully enhance learning and research. Faculty AI liaisons will support their colleagues in learning how to use AI productively in the classroom, redesigning courses and assignments and identifying opportunities for AI to strengthen scientific research, creative work and student-faculty inquiry. The aim is not to replace core disciplinary work, but to help faculty use AI thoughtfully in ways that enrich the liberal arts. Work on that front is already appearing in the curriculum. UNIV 290: Topics: Living and Learning With AI, asks what education means in a world where AI models can write, design, create, prove, analyze and plan. CSC 330 and CSC 341 give students direct exposure to AI and machine learning. ENG 395: AI and the Future of Writing, takes up AI’s relationship to creativity and human expression.

Together, these frameworks, tools, guiding principles and courses demonstrate the university’s direction: not one path, but several, and a set of serious questions for the campus to debate and pursue together. A critical issue is whether students will encounter AI within a framework that helps them understand what it is for, where it belongs and where human judgment must remain intact. That is the difference between AI in a liberal arts context and AI elsewhere. DePauw’s approach is unfolding in phases. First we are bringing tools, policies, training and early curricular changes into practice. Next these efforts

will become part of DePauw’s regular operations rather than a separate initiative. The sequencing matters because AI will continue to evolve quickly; the technology will keep changing, but the institution needs to stay grounded in its values, priorities and human-centered mission. That is the heart of the matter. If a university’s job is to help students think, lead and adapt, then AI is not a separate project. It is a test of whether those commitments still hold when the tools change. DePauw’s answer is to keep liberal arts at the center and build outward from there. Humancentered. AI-informed. AI-fluent. That is the work.

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INCREASINGLY Human by Sarah Steinkamp, vice president for communications and strategy and chief of staff

hen Harry Brown, professor of English and co-director of the Environmental Fellows Program, considered artificial intelligence in the context of his new role as Tenzer Family University Professor in Instructional Technology, his reflections on the impact of AI were striking. Brown, a humanist by training and disposition, does not approach AI as simply another tool to adopt or resist. Instead, he sees it as a force prompting higher education to ask what remains distinctly human.

“Among humanists like me, there’s a hopeful view that AI will make the humanities more relevant.” – Harry Brown

At first glance Brown may seem an unlikely figure to help shape DePauw’s future with AI. Known for his deep connection with students, he brings to the conversation not only curiosity but also a clear sense of responsibility. In his new position, he sees an opportunity to advocate for the continued importance of keeping humans (and the humanities) centered, while exploring the ethical, cultural, educational and environmental questions that AI prompts. “Among humanists like me, there’s a hopeful view that AI will make the humanities more relevant, not less,” he says, “because ‘human’ is something it can’t do. AI needs a ‘human in the loop,’ and humanists are naturally suited to that role by virtue of our historical awareness, attentiveness to language and ethical and aesthetic training. “The Tenzer position gives me a platform to advocate for humans and humanities in the loop, to explore AI ethics and what ‘humanistic AI’ might mean and to support sustainable AI adoption on campus and beyond. I’m excited to help guide DePauw through this watershed, and I’m wary about what can go wrong if we veer too far toward 20

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enthusiasm on one side or skepticism on the other.” For Brown, the significance of this moment becomes clearer when placing AI in historical context. In his courses, he situates these changes alongside earlier technological shifts that transformed the way we learn, write and communicate. But he also argues that AI is different in kind, not just degree. Unlike earlier technologies, he suggests, AI reaches closer to human intelligence itself, which is why it raises a more unsettling question: “If it’s not human, what is it if it does what we do, often better than we do it?” For Brown, that thought is exactly what makes this moment so consequential. AI is not simply a tool for completing tasks more efficiently, but one that may force us to change our understanding of what being human really is. “We didn’t think of the smartphone as threatening our souls or becoming conscious, right?” he says. “If it can write novels, make music, make art, solve math conjectures, then we have to figure out what we are and what we can do that it isn’t and can’t do. It can do lots of things that we can’t do, but it can’t successfully simulate the emotional exchange that underlies intellectual communication or information sharing.” The question, as Brown sees it, is not simply what AI can do, but what kind of human experience education should preserve. Pandemic teaching and remote classrooms made clear for many the difference between access to information and the full experience of learning together. In his classroom, Brown protects the social and interpretive space where students can grapple with ambiguity, test ideas and be shaped as thinkers by their peers and their faculty. “Learning is, by essence, social,” he says. “The emotional intelligence involved in teaching and learning, embodiment or worldliness – students need it. They need to feel good about what they’re doing other than just receiving information or expertise.” It can sometimes feel as though humanity is

using AI for everything and that we are already collectively in favor of its rapid expansion. Brown does not see that response in every classroom. In ENG 395: AI and the Future of Writing, a class largely made up of creative writers and journalism students, he encountered a notably resistant reaction. “The majority attitude was, ‘I hate AI, and I hate what it’s doing to my field,’” he says. “But by the end of the semester it was, ‘I still hate AI, but I understand myself better as a writer.’” That reaction matters to Brown because it suggests that students who identify as writers are also pushing back against what can feel like the anti-humanness of tidy, automated work. Increasingly, they seem to be finding a sense of humanness in imperfection, much as anti-AutoTune musicians or anti-Photoshop photographers have insisted on the value of texture, friction and visible process. In practice, Brown’s classroom philosophy places the emphasis on process. Students may use AI to test ideas, follow leads and explore new paths in their learning, but the real learning happens when they slow down, reflect and decide what they themselves think. For Brown, that process of synthesis matters just as much as the finished product. It is also where he has found a surprising source of energy in AI use – not efficiency, but curiosity and whimsy. “We mostly think of AI as a tool, a professional assistant, an efficiency amplifier, but it’s also a toy,” he says. “I like the playful potential of AI. It will indulge, in depth and without judgment, any idiosyncratic or irrational thought experiment or question that passes through my mind, and helps me give it scope, context and expression. This week, I used it to talk through the reasons a particular color of deep metallic red on a car hypnotized me. Obviously, these uses of AI have no practical or professional purpose [for me], but they fostered a curiosity that, I think, is the beginning of all learning.”

That sense of curiosity is central to Brown’s thinking and teaching. He suggests that playfulness can open the door to deeper intellectual work, precisely because it gives the mind room to wander. Playful curiosity might seem unserious, especially when it sends us down rabbit holes or from one question to the next like a child asking “why.” But that mode of wondering has its own seriousness and can open deeper social and scholarly insight. “In this sense, AI has a Socratic dimension, helping me, through playful questions and responses, to know myself in a way that I could not have done through solitary reflection, or even in conversation with another human who didn’t have a working knowledge of the neuroscience of color perception,” Brown says. “We can use it to explore unconscious thought, in the same way that Surrealist artists and writers a century ago used automatic writing and exquisite corpse drawing. In these ways, it’s posthuman in a way that’s fun and not scary. I think the Surrealists would have considered AI an idiot god, knowing everything and nothing at the same time.” For Brown, that paradox is part of the point. AI may be powerful, and it may be increasingly capable, but it is still most useful when it helps sharpen, rather than replace, human thought. In that sense, his view of AI is complex. The task ahead, he suggests, is to remain attentive to what AI can reveal about human creativity, human judgment and the forms of learning that still require one person to help another make meaning. FALL 2026

Bold, Gold & You!

Campaign update

DePauw Promise Sparks Support Commitment inspires alumni, impacts students and families

Philanthropy at DePauw, like the bells of East College, calls both the individual and the collective to action, creating pathways for shared investment in outcomes that demonstrably shape the future of the institution and the lives of current and future students. The launch of the DePauw Promise, a commitment to meeting the full financial need of incoming students is an investment in the next generation of leaders, is central to the Bold, Gold & You! campaign and a rallying point for donors of all sizes. ’65 RALLIES BEHIND THE PROMISE The DePauw Promise commits to students and families that a gap in actual family resources and ability to pay will not be a barrier to opportunity. That commitment resonates, and it has drawn a collective response from alumni and donors. The Class of 1965 exemplified this shared spirit, unifying behind The Promise as the obvious choice for their class philanthropy – a decision that let every member participate in a way, and at a level, that made sense. Ultimately, the group raised $106,300, a number above and beyond the generous class commitment to the Fund for DePauw.

ROUTE ’66 While the Class of 1965 represents the Promise’s earliest investors, they inspired some “fast-followers”. Reflecting on his class’s shared experience, Max Hittle ‘66 says, “It’s been a great ride for us. We wanted to see what we can do to make sure that road is open to others.” That sentiment inspired Hittle and his classmates to mark their 60th reunion with a “Route 66” theme and a collective push to fund scholarships through the DePauw Promise.

“We want to ensure we afford scholarships to as many students as possible who would not otherwise be able to attend DePauw.” – Max Hittle ’66, board of trustees

Whether the commitment comes through individual interest or group investment, meeting students’ full financial need remains a defining priority of this campaign.

“The value of collective giving is that it helps us do what we didn’t think was possible. We can participate in a much larger gift and have a kind of impact that we wouldn’t have thought about if we weren’t doing it with other people.” – Tom Porter ’65

Class of 1966 22

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The Sanger Match Opportunity Steve ’68 and Karen Sanger ’68 want to see the DePauw Promise succeed. That’s why they’ve pledged $10 million to match gifts supporting this initiative dollar for dollar. Inspired by DePauw’s long-term strategy to meet students’ full financial need, the Sangers’ challenge invites the extended DePauw community to join them in transforming students’ lives by expanding access to scholarships and financial aid. Every gift made in

response will unlock additional funding from the Sangers’ match, extending its reach throughout a student’s four years and multiplying its impact. “The Sangers understand from personal experience the impact of a DePauw education,” said President Lori S. White. “Their challenge is a generous and inspiring contribution toward the DePauw Promise and toward our future as a university.”

“The DePauw Promise allows us to truly put students and their families first by removing financial barriers. We are increasing our enrollment and expanding our community of future leaders by ensuring they have the financial support they need to thrive from the very beginning.” – Mary Beth Petrie, vice president for enrollment management

A View of the Collective Effort The contributions of so many alumni is something to celebrate.

There are more than a few contributions that are propelling DePauw toward reaching our scholarship fundraising goal of $150 million. Here is a representative sample of alumni who contribute and serve the university and have been inspired to make recent contributions. These gifts represent $2.4 million and reinforce the DePauw commitment to affordability. • Robert Krouse ’77 and Sally Strauss Krouse ’74 have made a gift to further bolster the existing Robert L. and Sarah Krouse Endowed Scholarship Fund. • Tom O’Neil ’69 made a gift to establish the Thomas O’Neil Family Endowed Scholarship Fund. • Greg Sissel ’94 and Therese Sissel have given in support of the Gregory and Therese Sissel Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Our Campaign

Bold, Gold & You! will unlock DePauw’s full potential through a set of strategic and interdependent funding priorities. n Scholarships – $150 million n Faculty Excellence – $93 million n Robust Student Experience – $172.5 million n Innovative Three-School Framework – $116 million n The Fund for DePauw – $43.5 million

Progress to goal

$417 million raised

Stay in the know

$575 million

Do you want to stay on top of the Bold, Gold & You! campaign? Do you want to know what’s going on in Greencastle next month or the month after? Make sure you are signed up for our alumni e-newsletter. Email us at alumni@depauw.edu.

“Contributions to this campaign help DePauw students thrive and enjoy their own transformative experience. I hope all alumni are inspired by the effort. If you want to know more, please reach out to me at kwcoquillette@ gmail.com.”

– Ken Coquillette ’82, campaign co-chair FALL 2026

Beyond the Classroom DePauw learning stretches outward

young man in Kenya sits among a group of seminomadic Maasai as a freshly butchered goat roasts over an open fire. Another man walks down a bustling city street, surrounded by Taiwan’s unique cultural blend of tradition and technology. A third man kneels on the forest floor with tools spread beside him as he carefully extracts core samples from a tree trunk. And finally, someone lingers in Asbury Hall to chat with his religious studies professor after class about the most recent reading assignment. Can you guess which one is the DePauw student? If you said “all of the above,” you either have a knack for spotting trick questions, or your DePauw IQ is off the charts. Not only are all four DePauw students, they’re the same DePauw student: Tommy Manning ’26. Manning’s experiences are anything but accidental. Throughout its history, DePauw has been an institution that intentionally cultivates educational opportunities like these, strategically placing students in dynamic learning environments. For Manning, these opportunities looked like a semester studying conservation in East Africa, ongoing hands-on research with a professor in the DePauw Nature Park and winter terms learning about global arts in Taiwan and classical traditions 24

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in Rome. For others, it might look like a four-month internship in Chicago, a weekly service initiative with a Putnam County nonprofit or a first-year seminar that sparks an unexpected passion for the field of psychology. The vocabulary of higher education often refers to these opportunities as high-impact practices – educational strategies that promote deep learning and high levels of student engagement. Although specific examples can vary widely, most high-impact practices involve real-world elements that integrate academic knowledge and practical application. In contrast to some traditional stereotypes of the learning process as passive and unidirectional, high-impact practices encourage initiative, collaboration and mentorship. It’s exactly what Manning was hoping to get out of his college experience. As a Lilly scholar, Manning had plenty of educational options available to him, but DePauw stood out for one reason. “I was already thinking about studying abroad in Kenya before DePauw,” he says. “In my conversations with different schools after my Lilly scholarship, DePauw stressed the study abroad opportunities, and that was really attractive to me. I knew that was something I wanted in my education.” The experience didn’t disappoint. After working on the front lines of endangered species conservation

and immersing himself in Indigenous cultures, Manning immediately knew he had encountered a type of learning that would stick with him forever. “The most important thing I’ve done – for my career, for my future – was to get that hands-on experience,” he says. “Now I know this is exactly what I want to do.” To some in the DePauw community, the term “high-impact practices” might be new. But regardless of the vocabulary they use, almost every student and alum has a story that exemplifies the lifechanging impact of these experiences.

STUDY ABROAD

s an international student from Kathmandu, Nepal, Nushla Pradhan ’26 was already studying abroad just by showing up at DePauw. But when she had the chance to spend a semester at Oxford University in England, her world opened up in ways she never could have expected. “I always knew I wanted to study abroad, and Oxford’s independent study approach really excited me,” she says. “Fueling this curiosity is one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself as you are quite literally expanding your horizon by actively learning in a space that you didn’t grow up adapting to.” One of the many highlights she experienced was taking Oxford’s traditional Bodleian Library oath in her primary language. “Taking this solemn oath at one of the oldest libraries in the world in my first language felt like a symbolic moment that officiated my journey at Oxford as a student from Nepal,” she says.

Some of DePauw’s top international offcampus study locations have recently included: Copenhagen, Denmark • Edinburgh, Scotland • Oxford, England • Limerick, Ireland • Prague, Czech Republic • Vienna, Austria • Rome, Italy

An average of students have completed a full semester off campus each year since 2021.

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More than students participated in some form of off-campus study last year.

yson and Kady Clevenger Becker ’04 each spent a semester abroad while they were at DePauw, with Tyson going to Italy and Kady going to England. “It was a formative experience for both of us to be outside our comfort zones. Seeing how much you grow in an environment like that stuck with us. We came back as changed people.” That cross-cultural exposure established a foundation that eventually led them to Shanghai, where they lived with their children from 2021 to 2026 in connection with Tyson’s role as a vice president of General Motors. Living in China led them to become more insatiably curious and globally aware than ever.

For more than years, DePauw students have studied abroad, with the first programs launched in the mid-1930s.

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off-campus programs are currently available to DePauw students.

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WINTER TERM FACULTY Q&A nglish professor Joe Heithaus has led winter term expeditions in Ghana, El Salvador, Costa Rica and New Mexico. This year, he added a new location to that list by partnering with biology professor Kevin Kinney on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. We asked him about the experience.

Q: What were the intended outcomes? My expectation of the students was that they broaden their own understanding of evolution and see for themselves how important it is to preserve and protect biodiversity. I encouraged the students to use their journals not just to record in prose what they were seeing, but to engage by sketching, writing poetry, generating lists and finding creative ways to focus upon and remember all that we were experiencing.

Q: What stands out from your time with the students? We had a haiku contest – a good-natured competition to see who might capture some of our experience in 17 or so syllables. Soon, students who had never written a poem before were deeply engaged not just writing one poem, but many. And they couldn’t wait to share. Q: Why is it worthwhile for undergraduates to encounter such an iconic location? The Galapagos is perhaps the most important place on earth, not just a symbol of biodiversity, but as a protected place that honors nonhuman life in a way one can only fully understand by being there. The preciousness and precarity of nonhuman life is palpable. Q: How does an experience like this shape a student during their time at DePauw and beyond? Winter term is a time to slow down – or maybe to speed up – and see, experience and live in a way very different than we would otherwise. These students can close their eyes for an instant for the rest of their lives and see themselves swimming beside penguins, sea lions, sharks or flightless cormorants. That will not only serve them as they read and learn and live at DePauw, but I hope it will lead them to always make choices that favor the preservation of all species. 26

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WINTER TERM IN JAPAN teeve Nsangou ’25 first encountered Japan during a winter term travel course with professors Hiroko Chiba and Dave Berque. While there, Nsangou was captivated by the Japanese attention to detail and the way the country preserved its cultural heritage while also making remarkable engineering advancements. That experience ignited Nsangou’s curiosity and forged an unexpected relationship with a place he might otherwise never have visited. After multiple return trips, Nsangou most recently completed a yearlong Fulbright fellowship in Japan, where he studied the relationship between music and human emotions using machine learning and kansei (affective) engineering principles.

WINTER TERM ON CAMPUS ot all winter term experiences require a passport and an airplane. Every January students explore new worlds of knowledge without leaving Greencastle. Through intensive on-campus courses, they’re able to dive into a subject that interests them while also engaging with peers in conversation and collaboration. “I appreciated the ways we debated and the ways we talked about things openly and honestly,” says Kam Shiver ’29, a student in Timothy Barr’s recent winter term course on the literary genre of aphorisms. “In one specific discussion we got into some deep topics that are really hard to talk about. But everyone handled it so well. It showed us that when you approach things with an open mindset and kindness – instead of just looking to argue with someone – you can learn a lot.” Outcomes like this are no accident. They’re an essential part of the winter term model and high-impact practices. “This class is organized around a way of processing all the uncertainty of life,” says Barr, assistant professor of communication and theatre. “This is precisely the difference of a liberal arts education: It prepares you not only for your career, but also for your early mornings and difficult nights, your best and worst years.”

SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP: A BONNER SCHOLAR

fter studying biology and global health at DePauw, Margaret Reed ’26 envisions a future working with animals through veterinary medicine. It’s a career she’ll be well prepared for, thanks in large part to the hundreds of hours she’s already spent serving community organizations and accumulating hands-on experience. Throughout her time at DePauw, Reed volunteered at the Putnam County Humane Society as well as the Lakeland Center, a local equine therapy facility. In these roles she led renovation projects, raised funds, built relationships and developed a deep sense of connection to the community members these organizations serve. “I hope my service will leave a mark,” says Reed. “I would definitely say that I am now not just a part of the DePauw community, but I’m also a part of the Greencastle community and Putnam County community.”

SANGER LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE DePauw has long been a leadership incubator, and that legacy is set to continue for years to come, thanks to programs like the Sanger Leadership Initiative. “The Sanger Leadership Initiative helps us be intentional about the core of our mission at DePauw,” says Rebecca Alexander, the program’s director. “It helps us ensure all students have access to extraordinary leadership learning experiences both within and beyond the classroom. We support students to not only practice leadership, but also to better understand and tell the story of how their experiences here are shaping their leadership values, philosophy, approach and vision in unique and unparalleled ways.” Raechel Meyers ’28 is one of the students reaping the benefits of these resources. “The Sanger Leadership Initiative has pushed me out of my comfort zone and toward the version of myself that I hope to become,” says Meyers. “I have a better understanding of what opportunities lie ahead of me as a leader, a young professional and a member of the community that enriches my life.” The Sanger Leadership Initiative invests in student development, facilitates intentional dialogues across campus and sparks new curricular innovation – including three practicum courses recently designed to use the campus as a laboratory for thinking about leadership. Alexander sees these outcomes as a reflection of DePauw’s ongoing culture of engagement. She quotes Karen Sanger ’68, whose support helped launch the initiative, saying, “Our students don’t sit on the sidelines at DePauw.”

A LOCAL VIEW “As a DePauw student, most of my life happened inside the campus bubble – but Greencastle was in that bubble with me, through the neighbors, business owners and townspeople whose lives kept overlapping with mine. It wasn’t until I left after graduation that I realized how much those people had shaped me, and how much I’d already started to belong here. That’s why I came back to build a business and raise my family in Greencastle, and it’s why I tell current students that the community doesn’t stay separate from your college experience – it’s already part of it, whether you see that yet or not.” – Vincent Aguirre ’12, president of Greencastle web design agency Distinct and member of the Greencastle Common Council

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RESEARCH AND CAPSTONES

ot many undergraduate students have the opportunity to take part in groundbreaking cancer research, but Lydia Neven ’27 did. In partnership with Colleen Doçi, Elizabeth P. Allen Distinguished Professor and associate professor of biology, Neven studied how a compound synthesized by DePauw’s chemistry department interacts with cancer cells – a project that could inform future cancer treatment options.

efore Brittany Davis ’20 began her studies at the Indiana University School of Medicine, she built a broad foundation of undergraduate experiences that included service as a STEM guide, a global health internship in Ecuador and the chartering of multiple student organizations. But one of the most important aspects of her DePauw experience was the access to meaningful student research that she enjoyed. “It’s a blessing for sure,” says Davis. “It’s an opportunity that was afforded by DePauw that other universities might not offer. Many people say to me, ‘Wow, you’ve done a lot of research!’ But it was just part of my week. I would go to class, and then I would go to the lab, where I was allowed to jump in and learn a project.” Although Davis wasn’t sure at the time that these research opportunities would lead her to medical school, she now realizes that it was part of a comprehensive process that continues to pay dividends in ways she couldn’t have expected. “Once you’ve left DePauw, every class means something – every extracurricular, even if it seems disjointed and unrelated, it actually shapes your future.”

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mer Hammad ’28, left, spent his summer working with Ryan Rudderham, assistant professor of economics and management and co-director of the Asher Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. Together, they explored the prevalence of self-employment in developing economies. Hammad drew on his computer science background to code the economic model they used, creating important data visualizations for the project.

tudent research – including a research internship overseas – was an integral part of the DePauw experience for Andy Kehr ’09. Now, as an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at DePauw, Kehr is ensuring that a new generation of students has access to the same opportunities. One of his students, Amelia McLaren ’27, is even conducting research in Germany through the same program Kehr was part of as an undergraduate two decades earlier.

“Our primary objective is student engagement; our second is research. That might mean I could get the research done faster by myself as opposed to taking eight weeks longer if I have a student helping out. But that trade-off is the mission of DePauw. That trade-off is why we’re here. It’s what we believe in. It’s what we value. And it’s the reason that particular student came to DePauw in the first place.” –Brian Wright, associate professor of kinesiology

Scan the QR code to see more of Amelia’s story. FALL 2026

HONOR SCHOLAR AND FELLOWS PROGRAMS Regardless of a student’s academic focus or career trajectory, DePauw’s honor scholar and fellows programs provide outlets for deep discovery and connection with others. Honor Scholar: An interdisciplinary space where a student’s curiosity can run free, culminating with the design and completion of an ambitious yearlong project during senior year.

Management Fellows: A comprehensive introduction to the world of leadership, entrepreneurship and business, featuring a semester-long internship during junior year.

Environmental Fellows: A community of students and mentors who seek to understand how environmental and sustainability issues intersect with our world’s most pressing challenges.

Media Fellows: A training ground where students can discover the theory and practice of media in all its forms, from radio and television to journalism and publishing.

Global Studies Fellows: An invitation to integrate any area of study with the global perspective and cross-cultural awareness that will prepare tomorrow’s leaders to thrive in any setting.

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Science Research Fellows: An opportunity to supplement coursework in the sciences with immersive, hands-on experience in the lab in preparation for graduate school or a career in research.

MANAGEMENT FELLOW ALUMNI nvigorating.” That’s the word Tom Kominsky ’03 uses to describe his regular trips back to campus to guest-teach highlevel courses on business and leadership at his alma mater. Kominsky is the chief financial officer at Kenco, one of North America’s largest third-party logistics firms, and for several years he has brought his wealth of real-world experience back to DePauw to share with current students in the Management Fellows Program. “On this visit, we discussed a business strategic framework and talked about it in connection to crucial decisions I had to make just last week,” Kominsky said after a recent class session on campus. “These were decisions that can change the trajectory of our business. In this class, I can lay those scenarios

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MEDIA FELLOW eyton Rohr ’27 isn’t waiting around to pursue her dream of working in sports journalism or communications. As a media fellow at DePauw, she’s already building an extensive portfolio and banking valuable experience. She’s active in D3TV, she writes for The DePauw, and she supports the athletic department by contributing game recaps and feature stories. Rohr’s journey as a media fellow even took her beyond campus, where she spent a semester with the New York Arts Program. There, she worked for New York University athletics communications and as a journalist for a hyperlocal independent newspaper. “Everything I did felt like a real-world extension of the things I’d been learning in class and the studio at DePauw,” says Rohr. “Having worked for both DePauw and NYU athletics, I have a sense for two different environments and realize that I can adapt to whatever someone throws at me.”

out and talk about how we made these decisions. And the students, as undergrads, can engage with what they’ve read and have a strong dialogue about our decisions and strategy and how this MBA-level course material applies.” Kominsky was a management fellow during his time at DePauw, and he embodies the pay-it-forward mentality of the program. In addition to the time he spends in the classroom, Kominsky has also hosted more than a dozen interns, giving him a front row seat to the unique qualities that allow these students to thrive. “The Management Fellows program prepares students to do more than just hit the ground running as an intern,” he says. “They quickly become valued team members, making an impact within just 16 weeks.”

INTERNSHIPS

hen Joey Vehovsky ’27 and Bennett Smith ’27 started their semester-long internships at Founders Mosaic, a small private equity firm based in Indianapolis, they were intimidated by the prospect of working directly with executives around the country. “At first, I was definitely daunted,” says Vehovsky. “I’m a junior in college, and these people have been working in the industry for 20-plus years.” But Vehovsky and Smith quickly learned that their liberal arts education had given them the analytical tools – and, more importantly, the relational skills – to bring value to the portfolio companies they worked with. They also proved themselves to be an instrumental part of the Founders Mosaic team. “Working at a smaller company, you have the ability to make a larger impact,” says Smith. “Becoming more independent is one of the biggest things I’ve gained from this experience.”

ay to day I was doing anything I could to help our 35 endorsees win their campaigns,” says Bella Zollner ’27. She spent her most recent summer in Washington D.C., as a political intern for The First Ask, a political action committee that endorses progressive women running for state office. “I might do opposition research in the morning, cover legislative updates midday and wrap up with donor research before going home,” she says. “I want to work in Democratic campaigns, so this internship was seriously the best opportunity I could have had. I’m not just working on one campaign; I’m helping out 35!” In addition to providing practical, on-the-job experience, Zollner’s internship allowed her to experience life at the epicenter of American politics. “Immersing myself in D.C.’s culture has taught me how to network and speak confidently about my work. I’m grateful to be in a city that so many inspiring people call home.”

“I did four internships, three of which were with DePauw alums. I think back to being 21, living in London, working for Ernst & Young, getting paid and learning all sorts of skills. It’s definitely a cycle, and now my job is to pay it back in the same way those who were before me gave me opportunities that outsized my worth.” – R.J. Talyor ’02, founder of artificial intelligence email marketing company Backstroke and host of DePauw interns

FALL 2026

TIME, TALENT, TESTIMONY, TREASURE

YVONNE WILLIAMS ’09

BUILDER

YVONNE WILLIAMS ’09 builds things – for herself and for others. She’s built a career through dogged persistence and a founder’s mindset. She’s built programs and schools that elevate young students. And as a member of the DePauw Alumni Association Board of Directors, she builds opportunities for meaningful engagement among her peers. That work took shape in 2015, after Williams attended a Coming Together event, a reunion for DePauw alumni of color. The gatherings were inspiring but inconsistent. So when she met with the alumni board in 2020, her committee got to work building something lasting. The result: the Tucker E. Wilson Black Alumni Association. “We wanted a place where alumni of color could honor our peers’ contributions, recognize success and build networks – networks that connect back to the university and back to students,” Williams says. “We believed it could be a model of what any alumni affinity group could look like at DePauw.” A Posse Scholar from New York, Williams credits mentors like Andrea Sununu, the Raymond W. Pence Professor of English and Dean Diane Hightower for believing in her when she questioned herself. Today, as she navigates her first few months as founding chief of staff and operations at a new St. Louis charter school network, she’s still building. “My work on the board is a labor of love,” she says. “I want to build that feeling of belonging at DePauw.” See Yvonne’s full profile at depauw.edu/williams. Photo: Sheldon Botler, Sheldon Botler Photography

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NATE NICHOLS ’05

THE HUMAN SIDE After spending much of his career as a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence, NATE NICHOLS ’05 is now using his platform to advocate for a more human future. “None of us expected AI to work this well,” says Nichols. “At first I thought all of it was interesting, and it continues to be interesting. But I also thought it was harmless, and now that is no longer true at all.” Nichols sees an urgent need for more robust safety measures, and he’s doing his part to make a difference. He regularly partners with the AI Safety Awareness Project to lead workshops at Chicago public libraries, and he’s spoken with leaders from around the world to explore how governments can take action. He’s even brought his insights back to his alma mater by delivering DePauw’s 2026 commencement address as well as a keynote presentation at the Prindle Institute’s 2024 Midwest Ethics Symposium. His advocacy reflects a personal value system that transcends his own career ambitions and motivates him to serve the common good. “I’ve never been interested in technology for its own sake,” he says. “It’s always more about how it impacts people. That’s something I attribute to DePauw, and I think it’s a big part of the liberal arts – taking the human side seriously.” Through it all, Nichols has built a life marked by simplicity, authenticity and a commitment to helping others flourish. “If somebody told me the world is going to blow up from AI in three years, I don’t think I would change much about what I’m doing now,” he says. “It’s definitely not flashy, but I’m more confident now than I’ve been before that this is the life I’m choosing.” See Nate’s full profile at depauw.edu/nichols. Photo provided

FALL 2026

TIME, TALENT, TESTIMONY, TREASURE

JD O’KEANE ’23

STARTING EARLY As a senior analyst at Bank of America with a portfolio of two dozen clients, managing $14 billion in global exposure, JD O’KEANE ’23 has plenty to keep him busy in his own blossoming professional life. But that hasn’t stopped him from carving out time to serve the DePauw community in the few short years since his graduation. In addition to recently completing a three-year term as a young alumni member of DePauw’s Board of Trustees, O’Keane has joined the alumni board of his fraternity, he’s a mentor for the Management Fellows Program, he’s part of the regional alumni council in Chicago, and he helps the admission team by recruiting prospective students. “I view it as my own personal responsibility to give back wherever I can – maybe not monetarily at this stage of my life, but through experience and opportunity,” he says. “My own DePauw experience was made special because alumni were giving back, they were coming to campus, they were meeting with students, they were responding to introductory emails. And I now do the exact same thing.” O’Keane sees these practices as a reflection of DePauw’s identity. He wants to help nurture the spirit of lifelong connection and generosity that has shaped the university for nearly two centuries. “The power of the DePauw education starts with its people, both on and off campus,” says O’Keane. “I am a firm believer in that. So although I am not on campus all the time, I try to give back where I can.” See JD’s full profile at depauw.edu/okeane. Photo provided

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ANNE MORRISSEY ’90

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE “She was so proud of DePauw.” ANNE MORRISSEY ’90 is speaking about her mother, Nancy Crane Heller ’60. Following her mother’s passing, Morrissey established the Nancy Crane Heller Endowed Fund at DePauw in her honor to support language faculty. “In a way, it was in her later years that I really came to understand how much she influenced my curiosity and love of language and how unusual it was for her to do some of the things she did,” says Morrissey. Like her mother, Morrissey attended DePauw and Harvard Business School and spent a portion of her college years studying abroad. These experiences allowed the two to bond over a shared appreciation for the faculty who inspired their love of learning. “This fund supports the faculty who create transformative experiences for students,” Morrissey says. “Faculty development is so powerful because it gives us this multiplier effect. When the faculty is inspired and supported and engaged, there are generations of students that will benefit. I’ve tried to be consistent over the years in terms of giving to DePauw, and this opportunity really resonated with me and felt like a meaningful way to honor my mom while investing in DePauw’s future.” See Anne’s full profile at depauw.edu/morrissey. Photo provided

FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES Class Notes publishes submitted updates about DePauw alumni’s careers, milestones, activities and whereabouts. Send your news to DePauw Magazine, P.O. Box 37, Greencastle, IN 46135-0037. Prefer digital? Fill out a form at depauw.edu/classnotes, scan the QR code or email classnotes@depauw.edu. Space considerations limit our ability to publish photos. Group photos will be considered if you include each person’s name (first, maiden, last), graduation year and information about the gathering. Digital photos must be high-quality JPEGs of at least 300 DPI. Submitted hard copies cannot be returned. Questions? Contact communicate@depauw.edu. Find more alumni news at depauw.edu/ alumni/alumni-e-news or scan the QR code.

The DePauw Office of Alumni Engagement welcomes new members to several alumni boards for 2026-27. Alumni Board: Melissa Reyes Capellan ’03, Crystal Franklin Jameau ’10, Allison Rechter Lechleiter ’04, John Marshall ’93, Stephen Polezonis ’77, Wanda Thruston ’81, Kimberly Svenson Weas ’97 and Brian Zalewski ’93. Cotton Athletics Hall of Fame Board: Derek Empie ’95, JR Foster ’02, Ellen Royse Lavoie ’93, Sarah MordanMcCombs ’03 (interim) and Jonathan Nichols-Pethick (interim). GOLD Alumni Board: Syed “Hamza” Adnan ’22, Corina Bourantas ’19, Brooks Hepp ’19, Kathryn Hopkins ’21, Alexis “Lexie” Manor ’22, Abigail “Abbie” Morris ’22, Alexandra “Alex” Preston ’25, Elisabeth Wilson Rhodes ’17, Emme Rooney ’26, Paige Sanfelippo ’22 and Jaxon Stutz ’23.

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1965 David Callies, University of Hawaii professor emeritus of law, received recognition from the American Bar Association in June in a special tribute edition of the quarterly law review The Urban Lawyer. The honor recognized his mentoring and contributions to property and local government law. 1967 Harold Groves Cooke received the Gold Medal Award from the Greater St. Louis Dental Society in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding service and devotion to the advancement of the profession of dentistry. Cooke continues to practice endodontics two days a week and teach part time at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. 1968 Fred T. Stinson has written a book titled “Off the Record: Navy Special Warfare in Vietnam.” Stinson earned a Bronze Star and two Navy Commendation Medals for his service as a boat officer assigned to a SEAL platoon in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam. He is currently enjoying retirement in Venice, Fla., after 31 years in the petroleum industry. 1972 Allen Molineux had 11 performances of his compositions in the past year. They included four different orchestral works performed by the Lviv National Philharmonic, Oklahoma City University, Indiana Wesleyan University and, most recently, the Baltimore

Philharmonic, where his work was a competition winner. His “Skittish Sketches for Four Clarinets” was one of 40 works chosen from more than 700 submissions for the 2025 Penn State International New-Music Festival. While he has had performances around the world during his more than 50 years of composing, the most far-flung occurred last year in Papua New Guinea. He recently created a YouTube channel featuring audio and video recordings, including the 1971 performance of the DePauw University Orchestra playing his “Concertato,” with Molineux conducting. 1973 Marilyn G. Genther is coauthor of “Destination Europe 1933: Before Everything Changed.” 1974 John Burke, Ph.D., was recently inducted into the Clayton (Mo.) High School Alumni Foundation Hall of Fame. He lives in Wichita, Kansas. Roland “Tom” Rust won the 2026 Best Article Award from the American Marketing Association’s AI Special Interest Group for his 2024 Journal of Marketing lead article, “The Caring Machine: Feeling AI for Customer Care,” co-written with his wife, Ming-Hui Huang. Elisa A. Turner, art critic and art journalist, received a Gold Medal award in the visual arts category from the Florida Book Awards for her book, “Miami’s Art Boom: From Local Vision to International Presence.” The book is based on 20 years of her art writing for the Miami Herald, from 1987 to 2007, with new essays placing this

historical material in context for current times. University Press of Florida published the book in October 2025. She has won numerous awards for her art writing. 1975 Mark Filippell completed the Pan Ohio Hope Ride, a 348-mile, four-day bike ride from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Program, funding the Hope Lodge in Cleveland. (See photo.) Dale Oldis was recently elected commodore of the Shelter Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) in a marine community north of Seattle. Oldis retired to the Pacific Northwest after 32 years of teaching science, serving two years as union chairperson at Glenbard West High School and coaching. He was a wrestler at DePauw. After retiring, Oldis and his wife, Kimberly, a florist, spent two years cruising the Caribbean and Central America on their sailing catamaran before shipping it to the Pacific Northwest, where they cruise the Salish Sea. Oldis gives a great deal of credit to his experience at DePauw for much of the confidence he exhibited in these many roles. (See photo.) Suzanne Schulze Walker is the author of “Help Parents Help Kids: Fight Alcohol and Drug Abuse.” The book provides parents with vital information and is intentionally brief so as not to overwhelm. Parents learn what to do and where to go. With this book, available on Amazon.com, parents can help their kids get started on the road to recovery.

1977 John D. Hennette, D.D.S. retired in September from his Greencastle Pediatric Dentistry office after 43 years of practice. While he was predominantly in a solo private practice, he managed to combine outside interests in organized dentistry. He was a past officer/president in the Indiana Society of Pediatric Dentistry and was the public policy advocate for Indiana to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for many years. He truly enjoyed his profession and enthusiastically encouraged and mentored many high school and DePauw students who were curious or professed a real interest in pursuing dentistry as a career over the decades. David W. Manly received Purdue University’s 2026 Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurship Award. 1979 Barry Nelson won a 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from Purdue University. The award honors people who have distinguished themselves in a way that reflects favorably on Purdue, the engineering profession or society in general. He is a member of the Northwestern University faculty and former chair of the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences Department.

Mark Filippell ’75

Dale Oldis ’75

Alpha Phi reunion. From left to right in the photo: Mary Morris Hamilton ’81, Linda Blessing Soukup ’82, Dorie Bergstrom Ytterberg ’83, Alison Misiorowski Mickelson ’83, Peggy Western Massello ’82, Helen Poorman ’82, Marsha Brown Webster ’81, Julie Ann Mullin Piatka ’82 and Ana Bacallao Harshaw ’82.

1982 Several Alpha Phis gathered for fun and laughter in Dallas in May 2026. This photo was taken by Susan Ansel ’82, Delta Gamma, who also joined in on the weekend event. (See photo.)

Alumni attending Peter Noonan’s ’82 annual holiday concert in St. Louis included (front row) Ted MacDonald ’80, David Poggemeier ’79, Greg Gelzinnis ’84, Jenny Nichol Horsey ’88, Dr. Victoria Cornelius ’78, (back row) Bruce Myrehn ’82, Kim Holycross Myrehn ’83, Peter Noonan ’82, Lynn Woodruff Colburn ’84 and Jim Gilmore ’81. FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

Edmund B. Nightingale has joined General Motors to lead development of a Seattle facility.

Tom Noonan ’84

Pianist Peter Noonan performed his annual holiday concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St Louis. DePauw alumni in the crowd took to the stage for a photo at intermission. In addition to

his investment banking career, Noonan sold more than $1 million of his piano albums during his touring career. Peter may be contacted at Pete@ NoonanConsulting.com. (See photo, page 37.) 1983 Christopher S. Tucker received Hall of Fame honors in athletic training from the state association of Virginia. 1984 David A. Meguschar cofounded Pinnacle Risk Management Consultants.

Members of Lambda Chi Alpha David S. Hathaway ’84, Frank J. Tomecek Jr. ’84, Brian W. Riley ’82 and Gregory L. Schenkel ’84.

Nancy Rehm McCloskey ’85, Tracey Fitzgerald Gionta ’85, Michelle Mace Campbell ’85, Eric Frye ’85 and Sibley Smith Frye ’85 met in Italy.

Tom Noonan, incorrectly listed as deceased in the spring magazine, is a senior financial advisor and associate vice president at Wells Fargo Advisors. He is also the founder and partner of Sangamo Brewing, Restaurant and Museum in Chatham, Illinois. Sangamo has been the host of many Monon Bell Telecast parties over the years. Tom is also an avid storm chaser and photographer. You can see his photos at prairienerd.com. Tom has three children: Davis, 23, Ridgely, 26, and Hanna, 28, and just welcomed his first grandchild, Violet. Tom lives in Girard, Illinois and can be reached at tom.noonan@ coachthis.com. (See photo.) Four members of Lambda Chi Alpha met in Hilton Head, S.C., in April in remembrance of fraternity brother Steve D. Riley, who died Dec. 30, 2024. (See photo.)

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1985

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Dr. Jay Colbert recently accepted the position of Assistant Chief Medical Officer for Franklin Primary Health Center in Mobile, Ala. Franklin

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currently has a network of 20 clinics in a six county area in Southern Alabama. He also recently celebrated his 41st anniversary with his wife, Wendy Pierce Colbert ’86. They have 8 children and 16 grandchildren. Five members of the class of 1985 recently met in Tuscany for six days of biking. (See photo.) 1986 Scott W. Rasmussen received DePauw University’s 2026 Robert C. McDermond Medal for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. 1987 Friends celebrated the incredible life of John Getgey after a courageous battle with cancer, while watching an Indiana University football win over Oregon. Hosted at the Mariemont, Ohio, home of Jon Dill and Nan Dill ’88, and following a visit to the Cincinnati Distillery organized by David Briggs, the group enjoyed Marvin’s GCBs delivered courtesy of Steve Sear. (See photo.) Richard J. Sobieray was named senior vice president and chief operating officer of Temple University. 1990 Robert S. Johnson has published a book titled “Overcommunicate: A Guide for Business Executives and Aspiring Leaders.” 1991 David Singer was inducted into the prestigious Barron’s Hall of Fame, an honor held by only 207 financial advisors

nationwide. This milestone coincides with his 35th year in the financial industry. Singer is a managing director and private wealth advisor at Bank of America/Merrill with the Evelo | Singer | Sullivan | Bruegge Group. 1992 Kyle A. Gamble is CEO of Hubbell Realty Company. 1993 George P. Patterson was featured on SuperLawyers.com. 1995 Alisa Torres DiLorenzo and her husband, Tony, visited Zimbabwe and Zambia, where they spoke at 10 events centered around their bestselling book, “The 6 Pillars of Intimacy.” They had the opportunity to connect with married couples, business leaders and pastors, all seeking stronger, more connected relationships. (See photo.) 1996 Elda Acevedo Estefania published “InterCulturaling.” The book is designed to speak to the millions of people living outside of the culture they were born into and the people living and working right beside them. 1997 Orlando Cela conducted the Arlington, Mass., Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of an original composition by Jeffrey Radcliffe. The work, a musical setting of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” was first performed at DePauw in 1996. Cela has since revised it for full orchestra. (See photo.) Raphaella Palmer-Prange earned her doctorate in higher

Raphaella Palmer-Prange ’97 education leadership on May 12, 2026, from Maryville University St. Louis. Additionally, PalmerPrange was selected as one of 29 higher education professionals nationwide to be selected for the prestigious Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Institute for Leadership and Governance. The Institute is designed for innovative, adaptive leaders who have a passion for higher education, a drive to serve as a college or university president and a commitment to shaping the future of the sector. (See photo.)

Celebration of life of John Getgey ’87. In attendance were Dr. Bill Dillon ’87, James Getgey ’88, Tim Benton ’87, George Norris ’87, Mark Burgess ’88, Brad Pierce ’88, Brad Smith ’88, Geoff Heekin ’87, Amy Getgey ’88 (wife of James), Steve Combs ’87, Sarah Combs ’87, Jim Hand ’88, Pat Del Medico ’88, Jayne Del Medico ’88, Todd Hansen ’87, Sally Dillon ’87, Jeff Gibson ’89 and Jennifer Benton ’88. Also attending but not pictured were John Renken ’87 and Norv Stephens ’86.

1998 DePauw Alumnae and Women’s Foundation of Indiana members gathered in June to meet with Oluwateleayo “Tele” Olubiyi ’28, the current Women’s Foundation OPTIONS Alumnae scholar. The Women’s Foundation of Indiana is an independent, nonpartisan organization that invests in systems change, advocates for women’s rights and builds collective power for women and girls. Central to their mission is the OPTIONS Alumnae scholarship, awarded every four years to a single recipient in the form of a grant for tuition and educational expenses at an Indiana university. This prestigious scholarship supports women

Alisa Torres DiLorenzo ’95 in Zimbabwe.

Orlando Cela ’97, Jeffrey Radcliffe ’97 and David Gilliland ’97. FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

Danica Rodemich Mathes ’98

Dorothea Brown ’06

Danielle Boraz Morrison ’10

Jazzkia Jones ’17

who demonstrate a heartfelt willingness to help others in need as they grow into future leaders. (See photo.)

Paul M. Roeder is chief communications officer of The Walt Disney Company.

Gil Durán’s book,”The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy,” was published by Simon & Schuster. It received a “starred” review in Publishers Weekly.

DePauw Alumnae and Women’s Foundation of Indiana members Sarah Smith Hawkins ‘01, Molly Wilkinson Chavers ‘98, Tele Olubiyi ‘28, Wanda Thruston ‘81, Rebecca Wilhoite Jacklin ‘95 and Nicole Nicholson Wilson ‘99.

Kappa Alpha Theta reunion. Pictured from left: Katherine Reichel Maloof ’14, Paige Fehr Wojda ’14, Lilian Ehrgott Raidt ’14, Sarah Edwards Brennan ’14 and Bailey Anstead Dowd ’14.

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Jodi Noffsinger Hwang received a Rising Star Award from the Journalism Education Association at the National High School Journalism Convention held in Nashville in November 2025. She teaches journalism and advises student media at Los Altos High School in Silicon Valley. Danica Rodemich Mathes was named to Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers” list, which recognizes top counsel advising clients across the entertainment, sports and media industries worldwide. Mathes is a partner at Bell Nunnally in Dallas, Texas, and heads the firm’s Intellectual Property, Entertainment, Advertising and Media practices. She is a trusted advisor to top creatives and global brands navigating entertainment, advertising, intellectual property and digital and traditional media law. (See photo.)

2001 Brendan P. Rodman has been named a partner in the Greenwood Village, Colorado, office of Messner Reeves LLP. Brendan focuses his practice on insurance defense and litigation, bringing more than 20 years of experience representing clients through discovery, trial and appeal. He currently lives in Morrison, Colorado with his wife, Yvonne, sons, Keegan and Banner, and his dog, Buck. 2003 Karen Mullins was named “2025 Distinguished Director of the Year” by the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives at its annual meeting. 2006 Dorothea Brown recently graduated from Duke University with a Master of Science in Nursing for family nurse practitioner. She has accepted the Atrium Health APP Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine in Charlotte, N.C. (See photo.) Clayton A. Clark read from and signed his latest poetry

collection, “Auscultate,” in Indianapolis. Sarah Masterson has edited composer Philippa Schuyler’s “African Suite” and “White Nile Suite,” making them available in print for the first time and for purchase from Forgotten Keys Publishing through J.W. Pepper. Recordings of some of Schuyler’s works performed by Masterson are also available via Centaur Records. Justin L. Remmelts and Frank C. Aba-Onu ’07 interviewed DePauw professors on “The Fiction Podcast.” 2007 Frank C. Aba-Onu and Justin L. Remmelts ’06 interviewed DePauw professors on “The Fiction Podcast.” 2010 Danielle Boraz Morrison is starting a new chapter as an owner and operator of JETSET Pilates Overland Park. (See photo.) 2013 Jaime Diaz has completed a Ph.D. in music composition from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of St Andrews. The study mixed practice-based methods with interviews to examine what it’s like to compose as a Latiné individual through BIPOC psychoanalytic frameworks. The final result included a suggested liberatory compositional method. 2014 Kappa Alpha Thetas from the Class of 2014 reunited in Norris Lake, Tennessee, with their children and potential future Tigers. (See photo.)

Suzanne Spencer Mpistolarides spoke at the Watson Forum in the Pulliam Center at DePauw. 2015 Rachel Hanebutt received the 2026 Hershel D. Thornburg Dissertation Award, which recognizes outstanding scholastic promise in research on adolescence, from the Society for Research in Adolescence. 2016 Zachary Baker ’16 and Evelyn Brosius ’17 were married November 7, 2025, in Indianapolis, Ind. (See photo.) Heather O’Brien Hunt and Matthew P. Hunt ’17 welcomed their third child, Bennett Patrick Hunt, on Feb. 27.

Zachary Baker ’16 and Evelyn Brosius ’17 wedding. DePauw alumni attending included: Matthew Skiba ’16, Xeno Carpenter-New ’16, Samuel Eads ’18, Joshua Levine ’16, Emma Clor ’15, Maria Nguyen ’16, Daniel Burmeister ’16, Zachary Jacobs ’17, Craig Carter ’16, Sarah Fears ’17, Marcus Dozier ’16, Zachary Baker ’16, Evelyn Brosius ’17, Brannon Hamm, Miranda Castle ’17, Kristin Hillman ’17, Eleanor Price ’17, Conner Gordon ’16, Danielle Wenning ’16, Katie (Gozdecki) Morrison ’16, George Morrison ’15. Not pictured but attended: Professor Andrea Sununu.

2017 Jazzkia Jones was accepted into the University of Texas at Austin’s Higher Education and Leadership Policy Ph.D. program beginning this fall. (See photo.) 2018 Zachary L. Taylor returned to campus to teach students about the art and chemistry of photography and alternative photo printing methods. 2019 This was the 10th year in a row 2019 classmates and Sigma Chi fraternity brothers have gathered. (See photo.)

Sigma Chi reunion. From left to right, Grant Potts ‘18, Greg Frauenheim ‘19, Will Freeman ‘19, Ty Hou ‘19, Drew Lumsden ‘19, Elliott Atkinson ‘19 and David Jones ‘19.

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Rebecca L. Kerns received the 2026 Samuel H. Kress Foundation Rome Prize in the ancient studies category. Joseph D. Messick is director of operations for Unity Captive Solutions in Oklahoma. FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

He was featured in Captive Insurance Times. 2020

Sydney E. Strup ’21 and Jacob T. Kough ’20 wedding. DePauw alumni attending included Stephen E. Strup ’84 (father of the bride), Spencer H. Strup ’15 (brother of the bride and groomsman), Thomas D. Strup ’89 (uncle of the bride), Marcia Shooter Strup ’90 (aunt of the bride), Corrine Rusk ’21, Allyson M. Low ’21, Carrie Grumhaus Gaston ’20, Samuel J. Huff ’20 (best man), Tyler Rosen ’20, Emily A. Howard ’22, Sarah M. Ramsey ’20, Michele Jennings Andries ’21, Chase Andries ’22, Nicholas R. Casey ’20, Ty C. Johnson ’20, Andrew J. Tucker ’20, Emily R. Hufnagel ’20, Jalen M. Friendly ’20, Daniel J. Chua ’20, Matthew R. Winter ’20, Caleb I. Baue ’21, Ryan B. Dickinson ’20, Jerry M. Howard ’83, Thomas D. Strup ’89, Michael D. Krauss ’84, Victoria RuedaMarshall ’20, Zachary T. Antisdel ’20 and Andrew R. Gold ’19.

Victor Alfonso co-published the article “Cyanogenesis variation in white clover is decoupled from regional climate and human footprint across a longitudinal gradient” in the journal Evolutionary Ecology with Yangjie Tan ’22 and Philips Akinwole, DePauw associate professor of biology. Hunt Reynolds joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as an associate attorney in the government services and public finance practice group in the Indianapolis office. 2021 Sydney E. Strup and Jacob T. Kough ’20 were married June 14, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. The couple resides in Indianapolis, where Sydney began her urologic residency at Indiana University on June 16, 2025. 2022 Miles Main and Kate Hennessey, who met and fell in love at DePauw, were married on May 23. A total of 28 DePauw alumni were in New Orleans for the happy event! (See photo.)

Miles Main ’22 and Kate Hennessey ’22 wedding. DePauw alumni attending included: Michael Ocasek ’22. Front row, left to right: Rob Batchelder ’90, Leanne Longstreth Batchelder ’89, Christian Smith ’22, Henry Streib ’24, the groom Miles Main ’22, the bride Kate Hennessey ’22, Ellie Margulis ’22, Jenny Noll ’22, Joslyn Fox ’21, Haley Thompson ’20, Sophie Porter ’25. Second Row, left to right: Callaway Bird ’22, Daniel Saltz ’23, Zane Williams ’22, Noah Boyce ’20, Thomas Brelage ’23, Aaron Worley ’21, Cole Martin ’20, Matt Rowley ’25, Jeff Main ’89, Eric Marshall ’89. Top Row, left to right: Chris Bailey ’22, Ford Baker ’23, Ben Lupton ’23, Alex Hlade ’22, Alex Layton ’19, Brennan Jensen ’25.

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Yangjie Tan co-published the article “Cyanogenesis variation in white clover is decoupled

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from regional climate and human footprint across a longitudinal gradient” in the journal Evolutionary Ecology with Victor Alfonso ’20 and Philips Akinwole, DePauw associate professor of biology. Rachel Roscoe and Ian Yorn welcomed their daughter, Camilla Yorn, to the world on Feb. 15, 2026. 2024 Andrew B. Wessman is the associate general manager of men’s basketball at the University of South Florida. 2026 Joey Roland returned to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for a second summer as a business analyst intern, leveraging data analytics to support strategic business decisions across college athletics. This fall, he plans to move to Durham, England, to pursue a master’s degree in management at Durham University Business School while continuing his football career.

IN MEMORIAM DePauw Magazine marks the deaths of alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Obituaries do not include memorial gifts. When reporting a death, please send as much information as you have about the person and their affiliation with DePauw to: classnotes@depauw.edu or Alumni Records DePauw University P.O. Box 37 Greencastle, IN 46135-0037

Corrections William B. Hoenig ’56 and Marybelle Ferguson Hoenig ’56 were incorrectly listed as deceased in the In Memoriam section of the spring 2026 issue of DePauw Magazine. Magazine staff apologize for the error. Barbara Spitler, sister of Mann Spitler III ’70, was incorrectly listed in the spring issue as Class of 1966. Barbara Spitler Framke ’66 is unrelated. Magazine staff apologize for the error. 1945 Emily Leonard Jesse, 103, Chicago, May 15. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She loved swimming, bridge, tennis, gardening and traveling. 1947 June Howe Judd, 99, Glen Ellyn, Ill., March 8. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Jeanne Serfling Simonini, 100, Charlotte, N.C., January 12. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She was a community leader and volunteer. She enjoyed golf, tennis, bridge and watching the Chicago Cubs. 1948 Jacqueline Orr Hutmacher, 99, Fort Wayne, Ind., April 25. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi.

Joyce Cooper Pierce, 100, Oakland, Calif., March 21, 2025. She was a member of Alpha Chi. She was an elementary and high school teacher. She was a community volunteer and enjoyed cooking, playing bridge, knitting, crosscountry skiing and traveling. 1949 Jeana Louden Michalko, 99, April 16. She was a sociology major and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Paul F. Radcliffe, 99, Clifton, N.J., March 8. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He was founder and longtime chief executive officer of Dentistry Today. Survivors include a son, Richard P. Radcliffe ’76. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Oettinger Radcliffe ’47; and a sister, Rosemary Radcliffe Noble ’51. Frank John Vernberg, 96, August 19, 2022. He was a longtime University of South Carolina professor of biological sciences. He was founding director of the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and also founded the marine science program and the School of the Environment, which is now the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment. 1951 George L. Blick, 96, Simsbury, Conn., December 24. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He was an attorney and businessman who enjoyed coin and clock collecting and playing cards. Mary Wheeler Day, 96, Westfield, Ind., January 28. She worked as a personal assistant, a private secretary and an administrative assistant. She was a community volunteer. She

enjoyed cooking and gardening. She was predeceased by her father, C. Paul Wheeler, ’21. Charles R. Ellinwood, 96, Fort Wayne, Ind., October 31. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and a Rector scholar. He was a former member of the DePauw Board of Trustees. He was a United Methodist pastor. Survivors include a son, Steven P. Ellinwood ’81. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susanna Bowers Ellinwood ’52. Alan J. Sward, 97, Cheshire, Conn., February 12. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He was a business administrator. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Collard Sward ’52; and a sister, Barbara Sward Graves ’48. Clara Clifford “Emmy” Wilson, 97, March 5, 2026. She was a 50-year member of P.E.O. 1952 James Ballantyne III, 94, Universal City, Texas, February 4, 2025. He was a member of Delta Chi. He was a business owner. Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Ballantyne Froderman ’86; and son-in-law, Troy B. Froderman ’86. Mary Ellen Johnson Jordan, 89, Overland Park, Kan., October 30, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Jordan ’50, in 2012. They enjoyed playing tennis, traveling and activities with their grandchildren. Arnold B. Mishkin, 95, January 15, 2025. He was a member of Men’s Hall Association. He earned a master’s degree from Wharton School of Business in 1954 and worked in manufacturing, finance and consulting.

W. Kenneth Shanks, 98, Salem, Ind. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and earned a degree in U.S. history and English from DePauw. He was preceded in death by his brother and best friend, Robert T. Shanks ’52. 1953 Owen E. Floyd, 95, Salem, S.C., July 16, 2025. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He worked in computer management. Survivors include his wife, Martha Whitcomb Floyd ’53. Roberta Purcell Rarick, 95, Clarinda, Iowa, July 4. She was a preschool teacher for more than 20 years, as well as a choir member and choir director. She was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Rarick ’51. 1954 Elliot W. Bergfeld, 94, St. Louis, February 19. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a real estate attorney whose hobbies included horses, farming, being in nature and traveling. Sue Birdwell Christensen, 92, Louisville, Ky., September 27, 2025. She was an avid member of the Crescent Hill Library and an animal lover. She is survived by her sister, Helen Birdwell Heath ’56. Lorraine Loomis Cox, 94, Indianapolis, June 2. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and became an elementary school teacher and then a teacher of piano and organ. She was preceded in death by her husband, H. Keith Cox ’55. Joan Falquet Dornbusch, 93, Columbia, S.C., January 21. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a major in English. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde H. Dornbusch ’53. FALL 2026

IN MEMORIAM

Marilyn Holtman Fetters, 93, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 7. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was an avid reader, a community volunteer, an accomplished knitter and a needlepoint enthusiast. Survivors include sons, John D. Fetters ’80 and Jeffery H. Fetters ’83. She was preceded in death by her husband, John D. Fetters ’50.

member of DePauw’s Alumni Board of Directors. He was a certified public accountant, vice president and auditor at Lilly. He enjoyed golfing and gardening. Survivors include a son, John G. Warne ’79. He was predeceased by his wife, Jane Leahy Warne ’54.

William P. Giddings, 93, Tacoma, Wash., May 10. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association and Phi Beta Kappa. He was a Rector scholar and a professor emeritus of chemistry.

Jane Mills Baumgardner, 92, Dayton, Ohio, April 2. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She enjoyed golf, walking, gardening and bridge. She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Barry Baumgardner ’54.

Ronald K. Holmberg, April 24, 2026. He credited the years at DePauw University as life-changing for his career path and his personal life. It was at a collaborative Men’s Hall/TriDelt event near the end of his four years that he met Cynthia Brooks ’56, who became his wife and partner in life. Ron and Cynthia created the Holmberg Scholarship at DePauw and for many years enjoyed supporting DePauw students. Cynthia Brooks Holmberg preceded her husband in death. Charles I. Johnson, 93, Bend, Oregon, February 9, 2026. He was a retired elder in the United Methodist Church. Jane Schwalm Miller, 93, Naples, Fla., February 5. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was a community and church volunteer. Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Miller Crain ’81. Richard A. Warne, 93, Fishers, Ind., April 10. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He was a Rector scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was a former 44

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1955

Barbara Nutt Dirks, Sarasota, Fla., November 17. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She played flute professionally throughout her life. She was preceded in death by a sister, Martha Nutt Dunn ’51. Ruth Doyle Gallop, 92, April 7. Her philanthropic leadership proved pivotal for two major initiatives: the establishment of Naomi Village, an educational hub supporting 500 Kenyan youth, and the HEAL Africa Hospital, which has provided transformative clubfoot corrections for more than 20,000 children across the Congo. She and her late husband, Jim, supported Winter Term in Service at DePauw. Donald A. Johnson, 93, Fountain Hills, Ariz., May 8. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was a Rector scholar. He was a physician. He enjoyed sailing and golf. Richard T. “Dick” Nowling, 92, Plainwell, Mich., January 22. He was an avid golfer and a fixture at the Lake Doster Golf Club beginning in the late 1960s. He cherished the friendships he

Bill Rasmussen ’54, co-founder of the groundbreaking sports network ESPN, passed away at his home on August 18 at the age of 93. Rasmussen was a Rector Scholar and a member of the baseball team, graduating with a major in economics and a minor in history. He served in the U.S. Air Force and received his MBA from Rutgers University. In 1979, Rasmussen co-founded ESPN along with his son Scott ’86. Rasmussen wrote a book about his experience, titled “Sports Junkies Rejoice: The Birth of ESPN,” and in 2025 he was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. At DePauw, he delivered an Ubben Lecture in 2017, served as executive-in-residence at the McDermond Center, received a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for Media and was inducted into the Media Wall of Fame at the Pulliam Center. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Laura Haines Rasmussen ’86. Preceding him in death are his wife, Lois McDonnell Rasmussen ’56 and his brother Robert Rasmussen ’58. made there and wrote a book about the club and the characters that passed through there. 1956 George G. Karas, 92, Phoenix, March 6. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Washington C. DePauw Society. He was professor of psychology and associate dean of the Graduate College at Iowa State University. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Craig Karas ’56; and his sisterin-law, Betty Craig Joseph ’58. Joanne Lohman Dean, 91, Coldwater, Mich., February 19. She was a community volunteer and enjoyed spending time at the lake and gardening and walking. Barbara Jane Granger Garrett, 91, Fishers, Ind., August 14, 2025. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Carol Ackerson Malmgren, 91, Madison, Wis., April 15, 2026.

She loved spending time with her family, reading, and spending time in nature, especially watching the hummingbirds. William T. McMurry, 91, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, March 16. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a commander and began a second career in Navy technology. He was also a community volunteer. Clayton Z. Miller, 92, White Plains, N.Y., April 11. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and was a United Methodist minister. Eleanor Thomas Nash, 91, Wilmette, Ill., January 12. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a real estate company owner who enjoyed golfing, sewing and painting. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael T. Nash ’55; and sisters, Audrey Thomas Pelham ’54 and Ann Thomas Wade ’58.

Cyrus R. “Bo” Nichols, 92, Newman, Ill., April 11. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He was a farmer and a community volunteer who spent time helping teens fight drug and alcohol addiction. He enjoyed golfing and spending time with family. Survivors include a son, George R. Nichols ’81. Edward M. Roob, 91, Northbrook, Ill., March 21. He was a member of Delta Chi. He was a former member of the DePauw Board of Visitors. He had a career in banking and enjoyed golfing, curling and cross-country skiing. Survivors include a brother, Howard M. Roob ’62; a daughter, Katherine Roob Fleschler ’88; a son, E. Mitchell Roob Jr. ’83; granddaughter, Margaux A. Fleschler ’15; daughter-in-law, Sandy Mathys Roob ’83; and son-in-law, Rob Fleschler ’87. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Leske Roob ’57. Caroline A. White, 91, East Granby, Conn., January 4. She was a public school music teacher and, after retirement, worked part time at the East Granby public library for many years. She was a cellist and a community volunteer. 1957 Judith Folk Aikman, 91, Greencastle, Ind., June 5. She devoted her life to education, social work and community health. She was preceded in death by her former husband, Pat Aikman ’57; and her sister, Jean Folk Wahlstrom ’67. Survivors include her son, J. Kevin Aikman ’82. Donald J. Boveri, 90, Notre Dame, Ind., February 15. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and Phi Beta Kappa and was a Rector scholar. He was a businessman and enjoyed golfing.

Robert M. Burleigh, 90, Grand Haven, Mich., January 12. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He was a poet and children’s book author as well as a prolific artist under the name Burleigh Kronquist. He also wrote music and played the piano. Jane Thoma Hammond, 90, Webster Groves, Mo., May 22, 2026. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Patricia Thoma Mallers ’61 and Betty Thoma Weikert ’53. Lester B. Mathieson, 90, Decatur, Ill., March 26. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He was inducted into the DePauw Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991. He was head football coach at Millikin University from 1966 to 1977 and then coached at the University of Cincinnati. He returned to Decatur and founded a family business. Survivors include his wife, Sally Pottle Mathieson ’58. Marilee Lidikay McCallister, 90, Fulton, Mo., April 15. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She taught private voice and piano lessons, was a choir director and taught elementary music. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond E. McCallister ’56. Richard H. Ruedi, 90, Decatur, Ill., January 24. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and played center on the DePauw football team. 1958 Barrett Beer, 89, Kent, Ohio, April 4. He was a Rector scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a member of Delta Chi. He taught history at Kent State University for 38 years and was the author of several books of English history. He enjoyed classical music, time with family

and friends, and a good book. Carolyn Hancock Cleland, 89, Milroy, Ind., May 24. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, a geologist and a gifted harpist. Linda A. Hauser, 89, Little River, S.C., February 19. She was an avid environmental conservationist and enjoyed birding, herpetology and horticulture. Thomas A. Haygood, 89, Denver, January 11. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. He was a physician and enjoyed traveling and growing orchids. Richard P. Hoagland, 89, Bound Brook, N.J., May 1. He served in the U.S. Army and was a beloved music teacher. He was preceded in death by his brother, Peter Hoagland ’56. Albert H. Kishman, 89, Cleveland, February 20. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a small business owner who enjoyed golfing and cooking. He was preceded in death by a sister, Janyce Kishman Wieland ’53; and brother-inlaw, Kenneth Wieland Sr. ’53. Richard W. Morrison, 92, Dallas, December 18. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He operated a funeral home and later was a stock and commodities trader. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georganna Blume Morrison ’58. Julia Kiesselbach Mullican, 88, St. Joseph, Mo., September 30, 2025. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She retired as professor emerita of psychology from Missouri State College and was a member of many professional associations. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading and walking.

Walter Gene Stoppenhagen, 89, Lancaster, Ohio, January 13. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association and was a Rector scholar. He was a professor emeritus at Ohio University and also enjoyed golf and traveling. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Gregg Stoppenhagen ’60. 1959 James D. Bell, 89, Lake Geneva, Wis., January 28. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and a Rector scholar. He was a businessman. Nancy Jameson Edminster, 89, Lansing, Mich., May 15. She was a member of Delta Zeta and played in the concert and marching bands. Gerald H. Gruber, 88, McLean, Va., January 5. He was a Rector scholar and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He was a certified public accountant who enjoyed reading, skiing, tennis and a competitive card game of Hearts. Survivors include a daughter, Ingrid Gruber Atkinson ’90. Richard H. Kraushaar, 86, Mooresville, N.C., November 15, 2023. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and a Rector scholar. He was an attorney. Roger E. Legg, 88, Parkersburg, Pa., February 16. He was a Rector scholar. He was a lawyer and thoroughbred horse enthusiast. Peter L. Roesner, 88, Red Barn, N.J., April 1. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a lawyer and business owner. Lesley Howson Stavola, 88, Buffalo Grove, Ill., May 11. She was a member of Delta Zeta and worked as an event coordinator. FALL 2026

IN MEMORIAM

William R. Wilkes, 86, Raleigh, N.C., December 25. He was an isotope separation specialist. He was a community volunteer and enjoyed reading, classical music, public radio, running and biking. He was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Wilkes Besterfield ’47. 1960 Daniel Sidney Condit, 87, Wilmette, Ill., January 2. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He was an attorney and was committed to pro bono work. Dr. Terry A. Cromwell, 87, Lafayette, La., May 19. He served in the U.S. Navy and was an acclaimed surgeon specializing in reconstructive surgery. His survivors include sons Howard Cromwell ’87 and Tyson Cromwell ’00. Bonnie Tall Gauger, 88, Wheaton, Ill., June 29. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi and was a kindergarten teacher, world traveler, avid reader and patron of the arts. Her husband, Jim Gauger ’60, and her sister, Roberta “Penny” Tall ’62, preceded her in death. Nancy E. Henningsen, 88, Bethesda, Md., April 27. She was an educator and psychotherapist. She loved traveling and was a social activist. Jack R. Lemasters, 86, Maryland Heights, Mo., August 16, 2024. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association and had a career in accounting. R. Joe Noble, 87, Carmel, Ind., March 14. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a Rector scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was an academic cardiologist and writer who published more than 300 papers and books. He enjoyed 46

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travel, tennis, snow skiing, water skiing and gardening. Marlene Josephson Pawlowski, 87, Geneva, Ill., February 21. She was a member of Delta Gamma. She was an elementary school teacher. She was a community volunteer and enjoyed golf, tennis, reading and traveling. Marcia Mead Thomas, 87, Ridgefield, Conn., April 7. She was a member of Delta Gamma. She was a community volunteer and enjoyed quilting, sewing and watercolor painting. She loved travel, museum-going and the study of art history. Survivors include her husband, R. Larry Thomas ’59. She was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth D. Mead ’63. Deborah Duncan Walker, 87, Prairie Village, Kan., April 25. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi and a generous community volunteer. Survivors include a brother, John Duncan ’64. Sandra Ohley Wingate, 87, Saline, Mich., April 4. She had been a bank teller and a purchasing agent. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald L. Wingate ’59. 1961 James E. Barbre, 86, Fort Wayne, Ind., April 8. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He was a radiological technologist and a community volunteer. Survivors include a daughter, Janet Barbre Norton ’85. Richard A. Darfler, 86, Tarpon Springs, Fla., January 25. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a salesman and enjoyed golf and getting to know people. Barbara Godley Dean, 87, Scottsdale, Ariz., October 9, 2025. She was a member of

Alpha Chi Omega. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, Helen Stewart Godley ’28; both were in the nursing program at DePauw. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and spending time with her grandchildren. Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Dean Borgogni ’86. Barbara Babcock Hawes, 86, Fort Collins, Colo., May 20. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega and became an entrepreneur. Her father, Norman N. Babcock ’30, preceded her in death. Richard M. Hobbs, 87, Zionsville, Ind., February 3. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association. He was a Methodist minister and took many mission trips to Ecuador. He was an avid reader, crossword puzzle solver and lifetime learner. Marilyn Rist Yahnke, 86, January 23, 2026. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. David G. Yahnke ’61. She is survived by daughters Karen Yahnke Bump ’87 and Kristin Yahnke ’94. 1962 Susan Dayton Holland, 85, Fort Collins, Colo., January 27. She graduated cum laude and was a nurse. Richard A. Gaugh, 85, Wells, Maine, January 16. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and a former member of the DePauw Alumni Board. He had a career in banking and enjoyed golf, woodworking, investing and current events. Carol Phillippe Kramer, 85, Silver Lake, N.H., March 15. She was a member of Delta Zeta. She was a researcher for Time-Life Books in the 1950s and 1960s.

Later, she was a paramedic. She enjoyed tennis, golf and rowing her boat on Silver Lake. Robert Merriam, 82, Santa Cruz, Calif., October 6, 2019. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. Survivors include a nephew, Kenneth E. Merriam ’83; niece, Joni Merriam ’86; and a greatniece, Lauren K. Simms ’17. He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles E. Merriam ’56. Robert B. Nelson, Johnson City, Tenn., February 13. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He was a Rector scholar. He was a physician as well as an avid reader and a movie and music enthusiast. He enjoyed sailing and traveling. Survivors include a sister, Jacqueline Nelson ’65. William C. Pollock, 85, Brevard, N.C., February 11. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Washington C. DePauw Society. He was a business owner and community volunteer. Survivors include his wife, Jacquelyn Holtgrieve Pollock ’62. William H. Willis, 85, Toledo, Ohio, January 29. He was a physician who enjoyed travel, tennis and photography. 1963 Robert D. Gray, 85, Prospect, Ky., June 2. He was a professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine until his retirement in 2022. His wife, Karen Roessler Gray ’63, preceded him in death. Dr. Stanley Hamilton, Bloomington, Ind., May 27. Survivors include nephews, Dr. Todd Hamilton ’86 and Mark B. Hamilton ’88; and a great nephew, Edward Hamilton ’12. A brother, Donald L. Hamilton ’57, preceded him in death.

Roy K. Hunteman, 84, Richmond, Ind., March 19. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association and Phi Beta Kappa and was a Rector scholar. He was a physician and a community volunteer. Survivors include a son, David K. Hunteman ’97.

David F. Sallee, 83, Albuquerque, N.M., February 3. He served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. After retirement, he was a nursing home administrator and tutored fourth- and fifthgrade students in math.

Dr. Thomas D. Stewart, 84, April 23. He was a member of the tennis team and salutatorian. He was a psychiatrist and professor who enjoyed mentoring students and medical residents.

Jack Steele, 84, Albany, Ga., February 1. He was a Rector scholar. He was professor emeritus of chemistry at Albany State College and wrote numerous papers for scientific journals.

Kathleen Spangler Vashaw, 85, May 17. She was an avid singer and served as a medical librarian at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, for 30 years.

1965

Barbara Owen Volkman, 84, Greenwood, Ind., March 4. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was an organic chemist. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and baking. Survivors include her husband, Joe F. Volkman ’63.

William E. Decker, 81, Jenison, Mich., December 17, 2024. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and a Rector scholar. He was a federal judge and enjoyed fishing and sports.

1964 Linda Howell Adams, 84, Fort Myers, Fla., May 11. She was a member of Delta Gamma. Her survivors include her husband, Charles A. Adams ’64; son, Craig Adams ’90; and daughter, Holly Adams ’92. Allan D. Fink, 84, Vernon Hills, Ill., December 26. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He worked in finance and was a community volunteer who enjoyed golf, bridge and travel. Stephen M. Hedger, 85, Brookfield, Vt., June 5. Throughout his life, he worked for various social-changerelated organizations.

Theodore L. Crouch, 83, Mason, Ohio, April 8. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and a business owner.

John W. Hause, 81, Providence, R.I., January 29. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He worked in sales and marketing. He enjoyed sailing. Susan Priess Norris, 82, Chincoteague Island, Va. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was an ordained priest and a community volunteer. Survivors include a sister, Nancy Priess Heilman ’69. 1966 Richard F. Dennis, 82, Chicago, March 27. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He was an ophthalmologist. He enjoyed biking, skiing, scuba diving and international travel. Dr. Robert “Bud” Jacobs, 82, Lawrence, Kan., February 20. He was a pediatric dentist.

Herbert D. Northcutt Jr., 82, June 30. He was a member of Sigma Chi and served for 30 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Robert L. Sielken, Jr., 81, College Station, Texas, April 25. He was a biostatistician and a thrill seeker who had tried bungee jumping and skydiving. Richard St. Clair, 82, Northfield, Mass., February 4, 2026. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He was an artist, painter and writer. Laurence G. Tidrick, 81, Elk Grove Village, Ill., January 23. He worked as a CPA, IT specialist, stockbroker and social worker for prisoners with substance dependencies. 1967 Robert N. Feldman, 79, Webster Groves, Mo., April 15. He earned a degree in history, worked at WGRE and was a member of DePauw Student Government and Delta Upsilon. David C. Johnson, 80, Richmond, Va., January 5. He had a career in higher education administration. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He was a historian and reader and enjoyed traveling. Survivors include a brother, Kenneth W. Johnson ’63. Wayne “Rick” Presser, 81, Danville, Ky., March 17. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and was a Rector scholar and a community volunteer. William K. Thomas, 81, Robinson, Ill., March 9. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association. He was an attorney and community volunteer. He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard D. Thomas ’69.

1968 Patricia Young Miller, 79, Delray Beach, Fla., February 19. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi and retired as an executive director in human resources. 1969 Neil W. Budelsky, 78, Cincinnati, January 14. He was a member of Sigma Nu and the Washington C. DePauw Society. He had a career as a commercial banker. He and his wife traveled and had adventures on all seven continents. He was a reader of historical and biographical books. Survivors include his wife, Linda Spreen Budelsky ’69; and a brother-in-law, Steven A. Spreen ’64. David K. Deets, 79, Dixon, Ill., May 18. He was a physician and general surgeon and a community volunteer. Richard S. Musser, 79, St. Paul, Minn., June 28. He spent his junior year studying at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. He earned his doctorate of mass communications from Indiana University in 1978 and became a journalism professor. He valued truth-telling and saw journalism as a tool to uphold democracy, challenge authority and give voice to the voiceless. Roy Van Cleave, 78, LaGrange, Ill., April 6. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and the Washington C. DePauw Society. He was a Rector scholar. He practiced corporate and transactional law. L. Stephen Walker, 78, Washington, Ind., April 19. Steve taught high school mathematics in Washington for 41 years while also coaching FALL 2026

IN MEMORIAM

baseball and football. Steve majored in mathematics, joined Sigma Chi and played baseball while at DePauw. Donald E. Ward, 79, Pittsburg, Kan., February 7. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was a Rector scholar. He taught at Pittsburg State University and Ball State University for more than 43 years. He was an author of many textbook chapters and coauthor of two books. He was an avid reader and enjoyed British television and watching sports. Rebecca L. Bearden Welsh, 79, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, June 25. She earned a master’s degree in creative writing, wrote an arts column for the local newspaper and founded a writing workshop in Boothbay. Joseph F. Wilhelm, 79, South Haven, Mich., February 25. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was a television and screenwriter. Later in life, he was ordained as an Episcopal priest and served churches in California. 1970 Beverly A. Stoops, 75, Biddeford, Maine, May 28, 2023. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She was a psychiatric social worker and a medical social worker from 1973 to 1979. She then pursued a career in medicine with a private practice in internal medicine. During the 1970s, she was a musician, entertaining audiences with guitar, banjo and singing. Survivors include a sister, Margery Stoops Gass ’66 and a brother-in-law, Frederick S. Gass ’64. She was preceded in death by her father, Jean T. Stoops ’39; and her mother, Margaret Mobberley Stoops ’40.

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

1971 Beatrice Williams Kemp, 76, San Diego, May 16. She worked for WGRE at DePauw. She attended law school, passed the California bar and enjoyed a 30-year legal career and raised three children with her husband, Michael. A person of many talents, she later opened her own interior design firm. Stephen P. Koob, 75, Corning, N.Y., June 13. He had retired as chief conservator of the Corning Museum of Glass. He was honored in May as one of the “100 Alumni You Should Know” from the DePauw College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Steven Y. Leinicke, 75, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., January 19. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He was an attorney. Survivors include his wife, Shelly Hollis Leinicke ’71; and a brother, Jeffrey A. Leinicke ’65. Gregory L. Manifold, 77, Fort Wayne, Ind., June 6. He was preceded in death by his father, Orrin Manifold ’35; his uncle, Dr. Harold Manifold ’43; and his brother, Roderick Manifold ’69. Elaine Weaver, 76, Sheridan, Ind., January 19. She was a member of the Washington C. DePauw Society. She was a personnel specialist at the Defense Finance Agency for 36 years as well as a church and community volunteer. 1972 Holly Schoenfielder Bloomer, 75, Carlinville, Ill., February 2. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Survivors include her husband, Paul W. Bloomer ’71.

Peggy Carlson Hall, 75, Indianapolis, May 6. She was a community volunteer. She worked in child services and real estate. She enjoyed gardening and book clubs. Survivors include a sister, Susan Carlson Fouts ’70. Peggy J. McClaine, 76, Greencastle, Ind., January 21. She worked at nonprofits and in education. She enjoyed theater, music, art and good food. Survivors include a son, Joseph T. Tennis. Bruce A. Niemi, 76, Louisville, Ky., April 7. Bruce practiced law in the Louisville area. He also served as Assistant Jefferson County prosecutor. His many passions included ice hockey, home renovations, lake life, horse racing and the Kentucky Wildcats. At DePauw, Bruce was a president of Alpha Tau Omega. 1973 Sharon Fradenburgh, 74, Tucson, Ariz., April 22. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was a community volunteer. She enjoyed sewing, reading, working puzzles and spending time in nature. She is survived by her husband, Joseph S. Taylor ’75. Sharon Kay Burns Buell Miller, 83, Brazil, Ind., May 31. She was a teacher and enjoyed playing golf, traveling, reading and cross stitch. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Buell Jr. ’73. Charles K. Williams, 74, Indianapolis, July 2. He owned an accounting business and was a devoted member of Irvington United Methodist Church.

1975 Carol Mongerson Gilley, 73, Fountain Inn, S.C., April 3. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a community volunteer. James K. Horstman, 72, Oregon, Ill., June 26. After a collegiate career that included DePauw, Yale and Washington University in St. Louis, Jim practiced law in the Chicago area until retirement. In retirement, Jim and his wife Peggy moved to Dixon, Illinois, where they enjoyed kayaking, reading, listening to music and volunteering. Steven D. Womack, 73, Mesa, Ariz., January 18. He taught at Indiana colleges and universities. He was a business owner and a published science fiction writer. He was an avid collector of Americana, enjoyed the music of the Beatles and had a deep affection for animals. Survivors include a brother, Thomas L. Womack ’82. 1976 Kathleen Cahill Hanlon, 76, Carmel, Ind., March 22. She taught elementary education. She was a community volunteer. She enjoyed travel and watercolor painting. James C. Potts, 72, Fort Wayne, Ind., December 22. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He practiced general dentistry for 32 years. He enjoyed fishing, canoeing, bicycling and traveling the United States. He was preceded in death by his father, Max S. Potts ’34. 1977 Michael A. Lanning, 72, Noblesville, Ind., June 8. He worked for more than 35 years in the emergency department

of Community Hospital East in Indianapolis. Judith Chew McFarland, 71, Newark, N.J., June 10. Judith was born in Greencastle. After graduating from DePauw, she was a production stage manager in New York City, where she met her husband John McFarland. Together they raised children and had a rich and varied life that took them to Louisville, then Georgia, then back to New York City. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Ellington Chew ’36. 1978 Wayne A. Sayre, 69, Murrells Inlet, S.C., January 28. He was a United Methodist minister. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was an avid reader. He ran numerous marathons, mini-marathons and 10K races. He was preceded in death by a brother, Phillip Sayre ’71. 1979 Linda Summers Everage, 85, Danville, Ind., January 30. She taught high school English and, later, fifth grade. She enjoyed cooking and scrapbooking. 1981 Clifford Stevens, 66, Dallas, August 7. He was an electrical engineer and had been a career planning volunteer for DePauw. 1982 Timothy B. Favero, 66, Waukegan, Ill., March 9. Tim spent his career in the auto industry, where his traits of generosity and service to others were highly valued. He was an avid musician, originally playing bassoon on scholarship at University of Arizona before transferring to DePauw.

1985 B. Eugene Milner, 80, Greencastle, Ind., June 30. He was the executive director of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Survivors include a daughter, Laura Milner Elsbrock ’90. 1987 John J. Getgey III, 60, Milford, Ohio, January 2. John was drawn to serving people – first as a therapist of 25 years and later as a high school religious studies teacher. John played baseball and served as president of Phi Kappa Psi while at DePauw. Survivors include his wife, Amy Gurney Getgey ’87, and his brother, James P. Getgey ’88. 1988 Michael A. Kirkwood, 61, Muncie, Ind., May 13. He relished the role of uncle, was an avid reader and enjoyed fishing, biking, walking and working out. 1990 Jeffrey Rawlins, 58, Indianapolis, May 2. He was a member of Delta Chi and the Stagehands Union Local 194. 1991 David Michael Hunt, 54, Panama City Beach, Fla., March 27, 2023. He spent 25 years in the automotive sales industry before starting a concierge business in Florida in 2019. 1995 Kemp E. Jaycox, 54, April 25. When asked the question of how he wanted to live his life, Jaycox answered simply: love nature. Kemp’s family and the Arc of Appalachia have partnered to install three

chimney swift memorial towers at the trailheads of three Arc of Appalachia Preserves; Big Cola in Hocking Hills, Kamama Prairie, and the Arc’s headquarters, the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. 1996 Nicholas A. Guastaferro, 51, Montgomery, Ohio, February 6, 2025. He was a communication major, worked at WGRE and was a member of Delta Upsilon. David S. Wheeler, 52, Indianapolis, February 24. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He taught U.S. history and coached football. He was a Rams football fan. He enjoyed music, movies, cooking and travel. 1999 Jeremiah F. Elrod, 48, Northbrook, Ill., February 1. He was a member of Delta Chi. He worked in banking. He enjoyed movies, music, cooking and exploring the outdoors. Survivors include his father, Robert G. Elrod ’62; and a brother, Benjamin G. Elrod ’98. 2004 Scott G. Moster, 47, Plainfield, Ind., May 18. He was a member of the DePauw men’s basketball team and was the alumni relations chair for Alpha Tau Omega. He enjoyed camping and going to music festivals. Faculty William “Bill” Cavanaugh, professor emeritus of English, 93, Columbus, Ohio, April 29. He taught at DePauw for 34 years and lived the rich life of a writer and storyteller devoted to his family, friends and faith.

Larry Sutton, professor emeritus of communication arts and sciences, 89, Greencastle, Ind., April 13. Working with his students in the classroom and theater was one of the greatest joys of his life. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Hollister Sutton ’76; his son, Jack Sutton ’81; and his daughter, Cynthia Sutton ’85. Friends Allan K. Cummings, 76, Greencastle, Ind., October 18, 2025. He served 15 years at DePauw as a custodian and groundskeeper. Survivors include son, Paul A. Cummings ’01; daughter-inlaw, Dana Bowen Cummings ’99; and grandson, Paul A. Cummings Jr. ’29. Leonard Di Lillo, 90, Delaware, Ohio, June 7. He served as a vice president and provost at DePauw, where he earned the respect of colleagues through his thoughtful leadership, fairness and commitment to academic excellence. Joe Emerson, 94, Bloomington, Ind., January 9. He was a United Methodist minister who received an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from DePauw and served as a chaplain on a Winter Term in Mission trip to Sierra Leone in the early 1980s. His children, Beth Emerson Mrkvicka ’80 and the late Mark Emerson ’82, graduated from DePauw.

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