Issuu

DePauw

M A G A Z I N E

Spring 2026

INSIDE: Italy Dig 12 Blackstock Announcement 20 Alumni Giving Back 32

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: The Tree of Learning Story on page 22.

SPRING 2026

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

Contents OPENERS 2

President’s Message

Connected with DePauw

DIGEST 6

Athletics

Campus and Community

Published and Produced

FEATURES 12

Italy: Castiglione del Lago

Blackstock Sports Performance Center

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

ALUMNI 32

Alumni Profiles

Campaign Update

Class Notes

In Memoriam

Covers: Front cover: College of Liberal Arts and

Sciences. Back cover: East College at dusk. Inside cover: Men’s soccer at Reavis Stadium Photos: All photos by Brittney Cooper, university photographer, unless noted otherwise.

SPRING 2026

President’s Message

“We have always understood education as both a personal journey and a civic responsibility. The language of our mission has been refined over time, yet its core is remarkably consistent.” DEAR DEPAUW COMMUNITY, This spring is bringing more than fresh flowers and warmer temperatures to campus. It is also bringing cranes and scaffolding, visible signs of transformation positively impacting academic, student and community programs. I am mindful of how these visible signs of transformation reflect renewal and the many big and small changes that move us toward our greater aspirations. Genuine progress at DePauw emerges from sustained effort by people who share a deep belief in what a DePauw education can make possible. Our work remains firmly rooted in a founding mission that has evolved over nearly two centuries to develop the leaders the world needs through an uncommon commitment to the liberal arts. DePauw was founded in 1837 to be “conducted on the most liberal principles, accessible to all religious denominations and designed for the benefit of our citizens in general.” We have always understood education as both a personal journey and a civic responsibility. The language of our mission has been refined over time, yet its core is remarkably consistent. We continue to dedicate ourselves to rigorous intellectual engagement; a connected learning and living 2

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

environment; and the preparation of graduates for lives of meaning and means, in service to communities near and far. The personification of that mission can be found within this magazine. In these pages, I am reminded of the steadfast dedication and creativity of professors like Rebecca Schindler and Pedar Foss (pages 12-19). I am reminded of the dogged determination of Beth Petrie and our admissions staff in our recognition as a “Dream School” (page 9) and of the personal and professional pursuits of our alumni who graciously share their talents with us (pages 32-35). And, of course, I am reminded of engaged students like Jacob Zerull, Robby Ballentine and Sadie Gibson (pages 4-8) who continue to make us proud. On May 6, our community will gather to celebrate the liberal arts, as both the foundation of our history and an essential framework for the future (pages 26-33). That celebration coincides with the momentum of our Bold & Gold 2027 strategic plan, which brings together the strengthening of tradition as well as the evolution of the new. Through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Leadership and the Creative School, we are affirming the power of the liberal arts today and equipping graduates to be

critical, innovative and creative thinkers prepared to adapt to rapidly changing environments and contribute to the greater good. Remaining faithful to a nearly 200‑year‑old founding vision does not mean resisting change. It requires that we continually ask what it means to be a liberal arts college committed to “developing leaders the world needs” and then align our decisions with that answer. As we honor our traditions, build upon our successes and celebrate the liberal arts this month, we do so with confidence that our core mission is still vital to our students and the future. Guided by this steadfast belief, renewed each time we welcome new students in the fall and launch our graduates in the spring, connecting Old Gold across generations, this community will continue to move forward steadily, thoughtfully, together. With warm regards, Lori S. White President, DePauw University

DePauw

M A G A Z I N E

Spring 2026 Vol. 88 / Issue 2 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 Donna Grooms 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 Chris White, Jackson Whited Access a digital version of DePauw Magazine at depauw.edu/magazine. CONTACT Email: communicate@depauw.edu

DePauwUniversity depauwu DePauwUniversity

SPRING 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.

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

Jacob Zerull ’29 Lake Forest, Ill.

What was your college search like? I was heavily considering state schools and looking at which had business programs. We were planning a college trip, and my parents said, ’Why don’t we check out DePauw?’ Brad Simmons ’93 is a close family friend, and we knew it was his alma mater and that he really loved it. He knew my interest in business and when he heard that we were going to check out DePauw he made sure I knew about DePauw’s Management Fellows Program and the School of Business and Leadership. He also made the connection between my high school experience, where I was really involved in a lot of things, and the ability at DePauw to be just as diverse in my interests. I was still a little skeptical because I was coming from a high school of 4,000 students. What changed your mind? I visited campus and that 100 percent moved it to the top of my list. I was a little concerned about the size, but it just impressed me so much. I said to myself, ’This is an incredible campus.’ It exceeded my expectations. One thing I heard that day was, ’love the school that loves you back.’ I felt that at DePauw. I was introduced to the Management Fellows Program and people like Jeffrey Gropp, Sarah Miller, Amanda Dorsett and Steve Fouty. That was influential in my decision, and they are all so helpful now that I’m here, doing exactly what I set out to do. How did the influence of an alum factor into your decision? Mr. Simmons encouraged me to explore DePauw for myself. He had a lot to say, but he didn’t want to push me in my decision-making process. He just listened and found things I could investigate on my visit, like internships and the DePauw network of successful people. My dad pointed out what a great storyteller Mr. Simmons is and how his ’soft skills’ were surely the product of his experience at DePauw. I want to develop that in myself – to be a well-rounded liberal arts student.

BRAD SIMMONS ’93

“Most people know where I went to college. I’m pretty proud of the place. When I heard that Jacob was considering DePauw, I thought it could be a great fit. I knew he could take advantage of all DePauw had to offer. I’ve been more involved with DePauw in the past five or six years, and for me this was another opportunity to connect and get the perspective of a friend, one visiting DePauw for the first time. It will be a pleasure to see the experience through his eyes and to check in with his folks and compare notes.”

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DEPAUW ATHLETICS

Photos: Cardinal Acres Photography / cardinalacresphotography.com. Inset: DePauw Athletics.

ROBBY BALLENTINE ’26 IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER SEASON full of remarkable team

accomplishments – including a 10-2 record, a third-round playoff appearance and a fourth consecutive Monon Bell victory – the DePauw football team celebrated one of the most successful individual seasons in program history during its 2025 campaign. Robby Ballentine ’26, a wide receiver from Crown Point, Ind., spent most of his senior year rewriting the record books and securing his place as one of DePauw’s all-time greats. Not only did he set single-season records for total receptions (92) and total receiving yards (1,314), but his 16 touchdowns also placed him in a tie for second on the all-time list, just behind his own record of 20 from the previous year. En route to these historic accomplishments, Ballentine broke the school record for receiving yards in a game (244), only to top it six weeks later (246) in a game that also saw him tie a school record with 16 receptions. Not surprisingly, Ballentine’s success was widely recognized with a slew of postseason awards. He was the 2025 Mike Gregory Award recipient as the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) offensive player of the year, and he also became a three-time first-team all-NCAC selection. The Associated Press named him to their Division III All-America Football First Team, the American Football Coaches Association selected him to the All-America Second Team and he repeated as a D3football.com All-American, earning a spot on the second team for a second consecutive year. On top of all that, Ballentine was a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player for excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

But perhaps Ballentine’s most prestigious recognition was the distinction of being named as a finalist for the Campbell Trophy. Regarded as college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, the Campbell Trophy honors combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. From over 750 collegiate football programs spanning all NCAA divisions and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, only 16 finalists were selected. Ballentine was the only representative from a Division III school. In addition to receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, all Campbell Trophy finalists were invited to Las Vegas for the 67th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner on December 9. Ballentine excels off the field too. As a biochemistry major, Ballentine has earned an impressive 3.92 GPA over the course of his academic career. He has volunteered as a youth mentor for the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court throughout his college career, and he also serves as the academic chair for Phi Delta Theta. “Robby checks every box for what we strive to be as a DePauw Tiger,” said head football coach Brett Dietz. “He’s humble, focused, hardworking and the ultimate competitor. He sets his priorities, sticks to them and does everything the right way. He’s a great teammate and leader. I couldn’t be more proud of him.” THE HONORS CONTINUE

Ballentine was selected Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year by the College Sports Communicators. He is one of just four athletes so recognized across NCAA Divisions I, II, III and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

There Go Those Tigers: Fall Athletics Highlights FIELD HOCKEY With a record of 12-5 (8-1 NCAC), the DePauw field hockey team claimed a share of the regular season conference championship, alongside co-champions Denison and Ohio Wesleyan. Following the successful season, two Tigers were awarded first-team all-NCAC honors: forward Hailey Nowak ’26, who was named to the squad for her fourth consecutive year, and midfielder Maggie Volpe ’26, who had previously been a second-team choice for her first three seasons.

FOOTBALL For the second consecutive season, the DePauw football team advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. The Tigers earned a first-round bye before going on the road in the round of 32 and defeating perennial powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater in snowy conditions. DePauw eventually fell to Wheaton in the round of 16, finishing 10-2 on the year and bringing the four-year record for the senior class to an unprecedented 40-6 (including four straight victories in the Monon Bell Game). Multiple DePauw players racked up awards and records throughout the season, including wide receiver Robby Ballentine ’26, who received the Mike Gregory Award as the NCAC offensive player of the year, and defensive end Dominic Seibal ’26, who received the Hank Critchfield Award as the NCAC defensive player of the year.

Photo: Abby McGue

MEN’S SOCCER The DePauw men’s soccer team swept both NCAC titles this fall, claiming the program’s first regular season championship since joining the conference in 2011 as well as its second consecutive NCAC tournament championship. The Tigers were led by forward Braden Murphey ’27, defender Harrison Engel ’28 and goalkeeper Sam Ortner ’27, all of whom received first-team all-conference honors. As a result of its conference tournament championship, DePauw received an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship. Following a close loss to University of Chicago, the Tigers finished the season with a record of 12-3-5, including an undefeated home campaign in matches at Reavis Stadium.

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DEPAUW ATHLETICS

Photo: DePauw Athletics

Flowers in the Valley: Sadie Gibson ’26 WHEN SADIE GIBSON ’26 tore her ACL at the end of her junior

season, she was forced to slow down and focus on the simple steps right in front of her. “My life turned into little month-long gaps between checkpoints,” she says. “I was just trying to make it to the next phase of rehab, like, ‘If I pass this one, can I start jumping? And if I pass that one, can I start running?’” For this energetic soccer standout from Clarksville, Tenn., it was a long nine months of gradually working her way back to the sport she loves. But the experience also presented her with an invaluable outlet for growth and self-discovery. “It puts things in perspective when you don’t have something for so long, and then finally you get to have it again. Having fun becomes more of a priority than beating yourself up if you make a bad pass. I now show up with a greater appreciation than I did before. There’s less of a weight.” For Gibson, the recovery process allowed her to reframe her relationship with the expectations she has for herself. She knows she’s not the same player she was before her injury, but she’s learned to celebrate her new strengths as a player while

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

not comparing herself to who she used to be. “Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to impress yourself,” she admits. It’s a lesson that extends well beyond the soccer pitch. With a double major in biochemistry and global health, Gibson intends to pursue a medical career once she graduates from DePauw. Ideally, she’d like to work in an underserved community – a passion that has already led her to help charter a MEDLIFE chapter on campus, geared toward increasing access to healthcare and education in low-income communities. She knows the road toward her goals won’t be easy, but she’s confident in the final outcome. “One of my friends told me in the middle of my rehab that flowers don’t grow on mountaintops; they grow in the valleys,” Gibson says. “That’s always stuck with me. Rough times are going to happen – I’m planning on going into medicine, and I know that is going to challenge me in new ways. But I realize that even though things are hard or painful in the moment, you’re always going to get through it.”

DEPAUW DIGEST

COMMUNITY

CAMPUS

STUDENT

Growing Green & Gold Together

DePauw Named “Dream School”

Zollner Named GLAAD 20 Under 20

DEPAUW WAS SELECTED as

SEMINARY SQUARE

DePauw and the City of Greencastle selected Buckingham Companies as development partner for the Seminary Square mixed-use project. Buckingham Companies is an experienced mixed-use developer with a commitment to fostering community ties and an understanding of the needs of Greencastle and DePauw. Seminary Square is a two-cityblock mixed-use development featuring residential units and commercial space, providing a range of housing options to serve multiple target markets within the community.

TOWN SQUARE CINEMA

Working with RATIO Design architects of Indianapolis, the Cinema Implementation Team completed their site search and announced that the new downtown cinema will be located at 6 E. Washington Street. This is the former location of Eli’s Bookstore, which has been relocated to the Memorial Student Union Building on campus to allow for renovation to begin. Situated next to Starbucks, the cinema will have one screen, seat 100 moviegoers and will include a small private room for special events. The cinema will be an important amenity to Greencastle and will support programming for the Creative School, including film and media arts. The cinema is slated to open in the fall of 2026. The Growing Green and Gold Together initiative builds upon DePauw University’s strong partnerships with the City of Greencastle and local organizations, reflecting a significant investment in the shared future of all community stakeholders.

one of 75 “Dream Schools” in Jeffrey Selingo’s book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You.” Selingo, a leading voice on higher education, cited DePauw’s transformative $200 million gift of 2024, the three-school framework and hallmark curriculum, such as discussion-based first-year seminars. He also pointed to DePauw’s strong graduation rates, robust internship opportunities and commitment to affordability. “Dream School” was an instant bestseller and Selingo has made numerous national media appearances urging families to discover what really matters in college and look for schools with incredible value and rich opportunities. Mary Beth Petrie, vice president for enrollment management, says, “This recognition underscores what students and alumni know: DePauw provides a distinctive environment where innovation, access and personal attention shape lives of accomplishment.”

BELLA ZOLLNER ’27 was

recently named to GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 list for 2025, an honor that recognizes her influential work in LGBTQ advocacy and media. She helps thousands of young people find important resources and a welcoming community through her work managing the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s blog and social media channels. “I feel a responsibility to be part of the change,” she says. “It has always felt very natural to me that if I was facing a problem, I should try to solve it for others; that if something bad was happening, I should try to be part of the reason to fix it.” More on Bella’s story at depauw.edu/about, click “Our Community Stories.”

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.

SPRING 2026

DEPAUW DIGEST

CAMPUS

ALUMNI

Enrollment News

Five Alumni Honored for Their Leadership and Service

THE DEPAUW PROMISE LAUNCHES. DePauw will meet 100

percent of the calculated need for every incoming first-year student. This initiative ensures student access to the full DePauw experience and the opportunities that set it apart.

THIS PAST FALL, DePauw recognized five distinguished alumni

for their achievements and service to the institution. Old Gold Goblet recipient Kathy Patterson Vrabeck ’85 was recognized for her leadership in global business and her longtime service as a DePauw trustee. Young Alumni Award honoree Molly Madden ’18, an attorney and civic leader, leads the Tiger-Led Legal Aid clinic in Putnam County (see page 33). Alumni Citations went to global development leader Judy Edstrom ’70, health care and patient-safety innovator Ann Libka Hendrich ’80 and defense analyst and journalist Reuben F. Johnson ’82. (See more at depauw.edu/stories.)

Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees IN A NOVEMBER CEREMONY at Kresge Auditorium, six

honorees were inducted into the DePauw Athletics Hall of Fame. Inductees included: Courtney Lauer Carlson ’11 (women’s track and field); Tom Downham ’88 (football); Kathy Hesse Driggs ’91 (field hockey); Eric Fruth ’02 (men’s cross country/men’s track and field); Craig Nelson ’80 (men’s soccer) and Bill Wagner (athletics communications).

Grants Support Neurodiverse Students DEPAUW WAS AWARDED two grants totaling $130,000 to increase

support for neurodiverse students on campus. In addition to funding neurodiverse student campus resources, the grants will provide funding for staff and faculty development opportunities. Professor Sharon Crary led the grant process and notes that it was students in her chemistry and biochemistry classes who encouraged her to write the proposals during her sabbatical.

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.

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

From left: Old Gold Goblet recipient Kathy Patterson Vrabeck ’85, DePauw President Dr. Lori S. White and Young Alumni Award honoree Molly Madden ’18.

Grant Focuses on Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education DEPAUW HAS BEEN AWARDED a Phase 1 planning grant

from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. The $125,000 grant will help DePauw explore the ways the university can address various challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) presents for DePauw and its students. Phase 2 includes collaborative opportunities of up to $200 million for institutions to work together and develop new or enhanced strategies to improve students’ educational and professional outcomes in an environment increasingly shaped by AI.

Dr. Daniel Mendoza ’01 gave a TEDx Talk illuminating how preserving dark skies through simple solutions can preserve energy, lower carbon emissions and benefit animal and human health. Mendoza quotes author Craig Childs to remind the audience, saying, “‘A night sky is not the absence of light, it is the presence of the universe.’ Turn down the lights, look up and let the universe shine through.” Mendoza was awarded an honorary doctorate and spoke at DePauw’s 2024 commencement ceremony. SOCIAL

Facebook, Nov 4: “Great company, better people!” Andy Cohen ’02 (Comment from Facebook) Eric Fruth ’02 and Matt DeLeon ’02, co-founders of Columbus Running Company, built more than a store. They built a community. Their DePauw experience helped shape the values and vision that drive their success today. More on Eric and Matt at depauw.edu/stories. @DePauwU

PUBLISHED & PRODUCED

Bob Weaver ’93, senior director of communications

ALUMNI

“NORTH WOODS” BY DANIEL MASON

DAVID BOHMER ’69

Shout out to librarians and independent booksellers for encouraging me to try something new! Like anyone, I have reading habits, often getting into a groove with a particular author, genre or topic and remaining in that groove for weeks, months and even years. And I’m not all that mad about it. I like what I like. However, a bookstore employee at Golden Hour Books recommended this one, “North Woods” by Tiro Daniel Mason, and I am thankful for their suggestion. Dinámicas de la I bought the book and am now reading it indigeneidad en contextos urbanos for a second time. And I think I’m enjoying it as much, if not more, on the second reading. “North Woods” is an inventive and exciting work of fiction. Part of the enjoyment comes from sitting back in wonder and thinking about what it was like to write such a book. Told through intertwining stories centered around a house in Western Massachusetts over several centuries, Mason tells the story of this house through the eyes of the man who built it, his spinster daughters, a bounty hunter, an amorous beetle and others. It’s a novel that includes letters, poetry, public records, memoir, ghosts and myth. I think maybe reading “North Woods” is like experiencing an archaeological dig (see ’Buried No More,’ Page 12). The stories layer on top of each other like strata, with each new story revealing something new about the place, its people or its other inhabitants and how they are all interconnected. “North Woods” put me in a state. I’m going back in. Una exploración arqueológica de Pichincha Occidental, segunda edición Ronald Lippi

El camino de los capos: Memorias de un colono de Nanegal Oseas Espín Zurita Palmitopamba, tierra de yumbos e inkas: Arqueología en un recinto de Nanegal, Ecuador Ronald Lippi Una biografía de los Yumbos Ronald Lippi

Dinámicas de la indigeneidad en contextos urbanos ofrece una mirada innovadora a las formas en que las comunidades indígenas reconfiguran su identidad en entornos urbanos. Centrándose en el barrio de Cotocollao, Quito, Kathy Fine-Dare explora cómo la población yumbo utiliza estrategias culturales que van desde el patrimonio material hasta rituales simbólicos, desafiando las concepciones tradicionales de etnicidad. Con un enfoque claro y profundo, fruto de más de tres décadas de investigación, la autora plantea una pregunta central para la antropología contemporánea: ¿qué significa ser indígena en las ciudades del siglo XXI? Este libro es una contribución clave para comprender las complejidades y desafíos de la indigenidad en un mundo en constante cambio.

Dinámicas de la indigeneidad en contextos urbanos

Alum Gives TEDx Talk

WHAT I’M READING

Kathleen S. Fine-Dare • Traducción de Alexandra Ribadeneira Parducci

ALUMNI

COLECCIÓN Antropología y Arqueología

What are you reading? Would you tell me at bobweaver@depauw.edu?

Historia, actuación y educación en Cotocollao, Quito Kathleen S. Fine-Dare

Traducción de Alexandra Ribadeneira Parducci

“Ford Frick: Baseball’s Third Commissioner and His Four Decades of Shaping the Game,” published by University of Nebraska Press, sheds new light on the career of Frick, Class of 1915, and his many contributions to the game. Bohmer is director emeritus of the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media and Media Fellows Program at DePauw. He will speak and sign books at the Watson Forum on April 14. KATHLEEN S. FINE-DARE ’74

“Indigenous Dynamics in Urban Contexts: history, action and education in Cotocollao, Quito” examines the transformation of an Ecuadoran community, by San Francisco UniversityQuito Press and Abya Yala Press (Salesian Polytechnic University).

Kathleen S. Fine–Dare (Ph. D., Universidad de Illinois, Urbana–Champaign) realizó su investigación doctoral en Cotocollao, estudio que sirvió de base para la publicación de su primer libro con la editorial Abya–Yala. Desde entonces, ha desarrollado una destacada trayectoria académica, impartiendo cátedra en antropología, estudios indígenas y estudios de género en Fort Lewis College, en Durango, Colorado (EE. UU.), y en la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana en Quito. Es autora de numerosos artículos y capítulos de libros, además de haber coeditado las obras Border Crossings: Transnational Americanist Anthropology (en colaboración con S. L. Rubenstein) y The Andean World (junto con L. J. Seligmann). Asimismo, ha publicado los libros Grave Injustice: The American Indian Repatriation Movement and NAGPRA y Urban Mountain Beings.

Actualmente, se desempeña como presidenta de la Junta Directiva de la Asociación de Museos de Mesa Verde, secretaria de la Asociación de Antropólogos Senior y miembro de la Asociación Fulbright de Colorado. Reside en Durango, Colorado, junto a su esposo, el politólogo Dr. Byron Dare.

MARK GADSON ’76

“Just Jazz” is Gadson’s sixtrack collection of original compositions featuring four acclaimed artists in a vibrant exploration of modern jazz. MARY ARDERY ’15

“Level Watch,” Ardery’s debut poetry collection from June Road Press is described as a “nuanced exploration of intoxication and recovery.”

DePauwUniversity

SPRING 2026

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

Buried No More DePauw Duo Uncovers a Town’s History – and Their Students’ Potential

REBECCA SCHINDLER AND PEDAR FOSS arrived in Italy last May optimistic about the season ahead. It was their third summer bringing students to work at Via Belvedere, an archaeological site just outside the town of Castiglione del Lago, and they were eager to build upon the progress they had already made. By the time they hung up their pickaxes and trowels six weeks later, even their most ambitious expectations had been surpassed. Not only did their work uncover fresh insights about the structures buried on the hillside, but it also upended existing narratives about the entire history of the region. It was the type of breakthrough that many archaeologists only dream of – and one that earned a striking headline in the local newspaper: “Archaeological excavations rewrite the history of Castiglione del Lago.”

Left: Excavated section of the Via Belvedere site at Castiglione del Lago. Italy photos and images courtesy of Pedar Foss and Rebecca Schindler. SPRING 2026

A Road Back in Time

Schindler is the scientific director of the Trasimeno Regional Archaeological Project (TRAP), a joint partnership between the Umbra Institute in Perugia and DePauw University. Alongside Foss, her spouse and fellow professor of classical studies at DePauw, she’s learned through 35 years of fieldwork in the Mediterranean that the only predictable aspect of archaeology is unpredictability. “We don’t know what we’re going to find,” says Schindler. “We might speculate about the answers, but until we actually do the work, we’re not going to know. We are truly working with primary data, with data that nobody in the modern world has ever seen before.” That’s why the team came into the most recent season in Italy with a short list of theories and a long list of questions. What they knew for sure was that the site contained two distinct areas – one that resembled a Roman bath complex and another on the terrace just above it, covered in paving stones. Their research to date had generated some informed speculations about what the site might have been used for, but Foss and Schindler knew there were many mysteries left to unravel. “This year we had two really important agenda items,” says Schindler. “We wanted to learn more about a particular room in the bath area. And we wanted to figure out what was happening with this pavement. That led to two big surprises.” Regarding the bath complex, the team was able to open up a semicircular room that proved far more interesting than originally expected. Among their discoveries were several niches that likely would have held statues, a large water basin with marble steps leading into it and the remnants of what may have been a metal fountain. All of this evidence, when paired with the prominent location of the site on the hillside overlooking Lago Trasimeno, led Schindler and Foss to the possibility that this structure was something entirely different from Roman bath complexes 14

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

typically found at residential Roman villas. They now suspect that the Via Belvedere structure was a monumental public bath complex, a unique discovery in the region of Umbria. But perhaps the bigger discovery took place on the nearby terrace as the team explored new sections of the pavement that, according to Schindler, “was driving us crazy because it didn’t look Roman.” As it turns out, it wasn’t. In fact, it predated the Romans by several centuries. Long before Rome ascended to a position of widespread power, the Etruscans enjoyed several centuries of cultural prominence. They occupied an area of Italy that roughly coincides with modernday Tuscany and parts of Umbria, and although there had been some Etruscan artifacts previously unearthed at the Castiglione del Lago site, the relationship between this location and other nearby Etruscan settlements was not well understood. The team’s work is beginning to change that. “We can now confidently say that this is a road dating back to the Etruscan period, as early as the sixth century B.C.E.,” says Schindler. “That pushes the history of this town back at least 500 years earlier than previous evidence.” The most recent data collected by the TRAP team indicates that the paved road led up the hill to a major temple at its crest, designating this site as a place of deep religious significance. “All of the finds from this area suggest that people were making offerings to a deity,” Schindler says. “We just don’t know who the deity is. But if we’re right that this is an Etruscan sanctuary – and we feel like we’re 95 percent there – this would be huge. In this territory of Italy, there’s no other site like this.” There’s still much work left to be done. Schindler and Foss tell their students that for every day they spend in the field, they should expect to need a month for documenting, analyzing and publishing their findings. But it’s clear that what happened on the hillside of Castiglione del Lago last summer will drastically impact the way the region understands and interacts with its past for years to come.

Above: Rocca del Leone. Below left: Map of Lago Trasimeno and the Territory of Castiglione del Lago. Below right: Site plan of the Trasimeno Project excavations at the Via Belvedere site.

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For Schindler, the team’s discoveries are proof of the remarkable power of archaeology. “History isn’t fixed,” she says. “The exciting thing is that every day we’re getting little bits of new data. We always have to be revising our hypotheses.” Yet even as Foss and Schindler’s work transforms our understanding of the past, the most important result might just be the way that it shapes the futures of the students who join them in the field.

Education Beyond the Classroom

When Foss and Schindler joined DePauw’s faculty in 1999, they brought two important assets along with them: a wealth of archaeological field experience and a resolute commitment to handson education. They understood that some of the most potent moments in a student’s learning might not happen within the cozy confines of Asbury Hall, but rather at the bottom of a trench on a hot summer afternoon while covered in several layers of dirt and sweat. Foss found this out for himself as an undergraduate at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. “I was a classics and chemistry major, and I had never been anywhere really,” he says. “The school got involved in a consortium to send students to Crete, and I applied to go over. All I could think about for four months was making sure I was one of the two students selected from Gustavus to go. And I was.” The experience reoriented his entire life. “It was one of those situations where the first day I was on-site, I knew that was what I was going to do. It was literally a bolt of lightning from Zeus, and I don’t think that’s ever gone away.” During their first several years at DePauw, Schindler and Foss brought students with them to do field work in Turkey, where the two of them had already been working since their days as graduate and postdoctoral students. But after that project came to an end in 2005, a sabbatical in Perugia during the 2013-14 academic year 16

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Top left: Rebecca Schindler and Pedar Foss examine a pottery sherd. Bottom left: Pedar Foss and Ana Foutty ’27 set up the GPS equipment.

opened the door to new connections – and new possibilities – in Italy. “We had the opportunity to start a field school,” says Schindler, “meaning an archaeological project that is designed to teach undergraduates the methods, theories and practices of archaeology in the field. It’s experiential education, and it was appealing to us, because we hadn’t had a field school for a while for DePauw students. We were also both at a place where we were looking for a new research project.” The result was the highly collaborative and community-based TRAP initiative. Since its inception, Schindler and Foss have excavated three different sites in the region, including their most recent investigations at Castiglione del Lago. Their team is composed of professional Italian archaeologists and conservators, as well as undergraduate students representing a range of majors from DePauw and other universities in the United States. It’s an ideal environment for students to explore the ins and outs of archaeological work while simultaneously developing interpersonal skills that will serve them in any field they enter. “It’s perfect really,” says Foss. “They have a core group of colleagues they know, but then they get to meet and work with students from a diversity of backgrounds. They all have to find a way to work together, so it’s really good modeling of what might happen out there in the next stage of their lives when they’re done with college.”

A Program for Everyone

For students like Ana Foutty ’27, TRAP represents a milestone of personal development. When she made her first trip to Italy during the summer of 2024, she already knew she loved history and was interested in archaeology. Yet working in the field

pushed her in ways she couldn’t have expected. “It was hard work, but I loved it,” she says. “It made me feel strong. There’s a lot of manual labor, so I felt like I grew physically. And it was also my first time going abroad by myself, so there was a lot of personal growth as well. It showed me that when you put in the time and put in the effort, you’re going to get the result.” Foutty fell in love with the program, and she returned to Castiglione del Lago this past summer to take on an expanded role as an area supervisor. “The first summer taught me hard work. This summer was all about leadership – having to figure out how to work with students from all over and navigate the very important research with Schindler and Foss.” As a history major, Foutty’s experience at the archaeological site has given her an entirely new perspective on everything she’s continuing to learn in the classroom. Yet she jokingly admits how this can have its downsides. “It’s both a blessing and a curse,” she says. “Part of the problem is now I open a medieval textbook, and I’m like, ‘Oh, boring. I just held a 2,000-year-old coin.’” Even if a student’s long-term plans don’t include archaeology, TRAP provides a flexible environment for them to find – or create – their own niche. Schindler and Foss work with students to find out what they’re interested in, and then they carve out roles that allow everyone to achieve new levels of knowledge and skill. One such student is Jimmy Anderson ’26. As a physics major who’s been flying drones with his dad for the last 10 years, Anderson’s career goals have always been more likely to land him in aerospace than archaeology. But while taking a Latin course with Foss during his junior year, he learned something that piqued his interest: the TRAP expedition could benefit from the addition of a skilled drone pilot. This would enhance their ability to secure high-quality aerial imagery for the purpose of creating detailed maps and models of the dig site. Anderson jumped at the opportunity. It was an SPRING 2026

ideal outlet for him to utilize his expertise, while giving him a terrific excuse to spend six weeks living in the beautiful Italian countryside. “You don’t need to be an archaeologist to have a good experience,” he says. Anderson particularly enjoyed the communal nature of the project, which allowed him to build deeper friendships with people he already knew and form new relationships with others he didn’t. “Everyone had different interests, and there were so many different perspectives. But you really get to know each other when you’re working with them in 100-degree heat.” In the end, Anderson came away with a cache of lifelong memories and an expanded imagination for what his future might hold. “It’s given me an insight into a new career path,” he says. “Piloting drones has always been something I’ve been interested in, but I didn’t know I could apply it to something like this.” Foss points out that students like Anderson aren’t the exception when it comes to this kind of research; they’re the norm. “This kind of work is 18

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inherently multidisciplinary. Anybody from any major or any background can get something out of it and contribute something to it.”

Foundations for Success

With so many years invested in mentoring and teaching, it’s no surprise that Schindler and Foss have built a legacy of impact. Many of the students who have accompanied them in the field have gone on to enjoy success at the next stage of their lives, building upon the skills they acquired while working on-site. Rebecca Kerns ’19 is one of them. She’s currently finishing her Ph.D. in classics at the University of Cincinnati, and a crucial part of her journey was the time she spent in Italy with Schindler and Foss over the course of four different seasons. “Each subsequent year, they scaffolded additional skill-building opportunities where I was able to develop my own research toolkit,” says Kerns. By her final year, she collaborated on a faculty-student research grant to develop a

Left: Jade Karas ’25 (right) working with the project conservator, Elena Roscini, to preserve Roman wall plaster.

3D photogrammetric modeling workflow and a digital site museum for the project – invaluable experience that continues to serve her today. “Now that I’m pursuing my own career in archaeology, I still find it very grounding to think back to my time at DePauw,” Kerns says. “Schindler and Foss inspired me from the start and continue to be some of my best mentors in the field. They are models of what I aspire to be.” Jessica Tilley ’17 was part of the first group to travel to Italy in 2015 after the partnership with the Umbra Institute was formed. As a firstgeneration college student, she had experienced homelessness and hunger prior to arriving at DePauw and had never heard of “classics” as a field of study. But after taking courses with both Schindler and Foss, she began to develop an interest that would change her life. “They made the past come alive in a way I didn’t know was possible,” says Tilley. “In various ways, they showed me that regardless of one’s background, there is something to connect to in antiquity. The ancient world is accessible to everyone.” Tilley is now a visiting assistant professor of classics at Centre College, and she also serves as the assistant director of excavations at the Montereggi Project in Italy. Looking back, she recognizes how formative it was to work in the field with Schindler and Foss, and she traces much of her present outlook to the lessons she learned during that first encounter. “It was my first archaeological experience as well as my first time abroad,” Tilley says. “Through their example, they showed me how to be a citizen of the world and how to responsibly navigate life abroad while getting the very most out of the cultural experiences. The field training I received laid a strong foundation for my career as an archaeologist.”

The Value of History

As Schindler and Foss reflect on their groundbreaking work this past summer in Castiglione del Lago – and on the archaeological progress they’ve helped facilitate for over three decades throughout the Mediterranean – they hope their discoveries can serve the people and communities living there. “We’re researchers, so we’re qualified and skilled enough to have interests,” says Schindler. “But I’m very conscientious that ultimately, the site is not mine. It belongs to the community, and in the long term, it’s important for it to be a part of their story.” Toward that end, one key initiative for the TRAP researchers has been the establishment of a new archaeological museum in the town. This would be the first of its kind in the region, offering an accessible way for local residents and visitors to connect to their past. The benefit of that connection is hard to overstate. “In times of uncertainty or stress or conflict, there are lots of useful lessons to learn from these past situations,” says Foss. “Humans aren’t really any different. We may have more powerful, faster and more deadly tools, but the human problems are comparable. Whether it’s social problems, political strife or environmental danger, these things are not new. People have faced them and documented them in the past, and there’s a lot we can learn from their responses. Sometimes if we paid a bit more attention to that wisdom, we might be more humble in how we approach problems today. We might be better listeners and more empathetic collaborators and contributors in our societies.” To the cynic, digging up 2,500-year-old paving stones may seem irrelevant to the complex challenges facing our world in difficult times. But as Foss and Schindler have shown throughout their careers, maybe the answers we need are buried just beneath our feet. SPRING 2026

Home-Field Advantage DePauw hails a new era at Blackstock

This fall, DePauw welcomed a transformative new chapter in Tiger athletics, powered by a landmark $80 million commitment from an anonymous alumnus. The gift – among the largest in DePauw’s history and one of the most significant in NCAA Division III – will fund a new Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center that reshapes how student-athletes train, compete and build community. A NEW HOME FOR TIGER ATHLETICS The 70,000-square-foot complex will include a new stadium, modern locker rooms, versatile team meeting spaces, a cutting-edge weight room and dedicated recovery and sports medicine areas designed to elevate performance and support student-athlete wellness. Social and enrichment spaces will help student-athletes connect, lead and grow, on and off the field. The new stadium will enhance the fan experience for the DePauw and Greencastle communities, with upgraded seating for football and track and field, improved concessions and more accessible amenities. Designed by global sports and entertainment firm Populous, the performance center will be heated and cooled by a 250ton geothermal system, which will significantly reduce emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Demolition of the current Blackstock Stadium is scheduled for August 2026, with the new facility anticipated to open in fall 2028.

DePauw will be busy with multiple capital projects including the cinema, Seminary Square, housing and the Blackstock project. To see pictures and chart the progress of all the capital projects, visit depauw.edu/about/ capital-projects.

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• $80 million anonymous gift, among the largest in DePauw history. • 70,000-square-foot Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center. • 250-ton geothermal system for nextgeneration sustainable operations. • Demolition in August 2026; opening in fall 2028.

“This facility will reflect the passion, purpose and pride that define Tiger traditions.”

– Stevie Baker-Watson, associate vice president for student wellness and Theodore Katula director of athletics and recreational sports Images: Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center renderings courtesy of Populous.

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The Tree of Learning by Chris White, senior professor of English, Creative School special programs

Let’s look at the college of liberal arts and sciences as the original tree standing at the center of the university. This tree, or the collected disciplines associated with a traditional liberal arts and sciences education, is rooted by knowledge gathered over centuries from cultures across the world, and it rises from the belief that knowledge is strengthened by access to other knowledge (the word “liberal” here from the Latin for free or unrestricted). It aims to cultivate a free-thinking individual who can see the world holistically, think critically, ask their own questions and draw their own conclusions.

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THE TREE’S BRANCHES stretch into majors, minors, interdisciplinary programs, fellows programs, study abroad programs, the Creative School and the School of Business and Leadership, all of which, in turn, sprout to produce branches of their own. Both stable and flexible, this majestic tree stretches wide and leafy, flowering every season and bearing abundant fruit: the great diversity of experiences DePauw offers its students. With the thriving heartwood of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at our center, we preserve and expand our knowledge of history; the empathy, cultural intelligence and selfdiscovery we glean from literature and the arts; the centuries of inquiry and methodology that are the foundation for all scientific inventions and discoveries – psychological, chemical, technological, medical, environmental. We maintain access to philosophy’s chronicling of our search for meaning, the essential perspective acquired through political science, the mathematical theories and equations that enable us to solve problems from engineering to finance to data analysis. We continue the exploration of our fellow humans and their ancestors – their development, their behavior, their cultures – gathered through the study of sociology and anthropology. The list goes on, and where there is life, there is evolution. The CLAS adapts to disciplinary and interdisciplinary advances with new courses, cocurricular opportunities and areas of study. Pedagogies become more inclusive and better informed, canons reconfigure, departments and programs expand into developing research areas and incorporate emerging student interests as well as global and technological trends. 24

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Without a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, with its sturdy base and its interwoven network of inquiry, an education can become solely a process through which students acquire a particular set of skills. But that’s another tree altogether, a different species from the one which has grown at the center of DePauw for nearly 200 years, sustaining our students on paths of lifelong learning and uncommon success. “Every discipline has its own vocabulary, its own ways of knowing. We want to give students the space and opportunity to make connections between them,” says Bridget Gourley, dean of the faculty, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Academic disciplines, and the way faculty ask students to connect them, motivate students to continually observe

Left: Funk and Fermentology studying the chemistry of fermentology. Below: Pandemics Past and Present studying the pandemic from an anthropological viewpoint.

how one class informs another. This is a prized and intrinsic outcome of our liberal arts mission. Fellows and interdisciplinary programs, as well as individual classes that draw from different disciplines, take that spirit one step further, creating structures through which students can even more intentionally explore the connective tissue of knowledge. “High-impact learning practices,” Gourley says, “like first-year seminars, winter and May term trips and faculty/ student research opportunities” complete the picture. Students experience the culture, art and cuisine of diverse countries, witness in person what had once been only a photo in a class lecture and engage in hands-on learning that exemplifies the spirit and necessity of collaboration and cross-pollination. FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR First-year seminars are many students’ first experience with the concept that not all college learning is contained within distinct subject areas. Though not every first-year seminar is interdisciplinary, many are. All are tight-knit learning environments centered on discussion and writing, designed to open new areas of interest and allow students to think in new ways. Harry Brown, professor of English and co-director of the Environmental Fellows Program, teaches a first-year seminar called The Magic Circle, Introduction to Ludology, which combines computer science, history, sociology, storytelling, psychology, art and design. Ludology is the study of games and play. “The class asks formal analysis questions like, ‘What makes a game a game?’ ‘What is the difference between games and play?’ ‘Do animals play?’”

Brown explains. “We do historical analysis, following the progression of games over time, looking at how games impact or are impacted by the values of a particular culture. We ask, ‘Where does game design meet storytelling?’” Students are assigned design exercises to implement what they take away from reading and analysis, and over the semester they design a board game, a text-adventure game (interactive fiction, utilizing AI), a prototype for an openworld video game (which draws from the world building of literature or film) and a social game (a non-digital alternate reality or role-play game). Students pitch their ideas as if trying to sell them to a development company and learn about the business of game production, as well. “The gravitational center of the class is ‘fun,’” says Brown. “It’s something everyone has experienced, but what do those experiences have in common? How do you design an experience that is ‘fun’? I had [students from] six countries in my class last fall. Play and fun are universal.” FELLOWS PROGRAMS Fellows programs are unique student opportunities within the CLAS that gather expertise from various disciplines under what might be called umbrella areas. They complement a student’s major rather than replacing it. Carrie Klaus, professor of global French studies, is the current director of the Global Studies Fellows Program. “It’s an open-entry program,” she says. “It requires no interview and is accessible to any interested student. Students choose a regional track – such as Africa, Latin American and the Caribbean, Europe or East Asia and Oceania – and a thematic track – such as sustainability; health and the environment; global STEM; or global commerce, politics SPRING 2026

and international relations. Unlike a lot of global studies programs, at DePauw, students come to the program through the humanities rather than through the social sciences.” It requires a course, for example, in Translating Worlds (such as a world literature, cinema or art history class), as well as a language requirement beyond DePauw’s general education requirement. All global fellows complete a global educational experience, too, such as a semester abroad, summer internship, faculty-student research or a winter or May term abroad. The Honor Scholar Program directed by Rebecca Schindler, professor of classical studies, is another fellows program designed for students and faculty to explore across and beyond traditional disciplines, but it is not defined by any particular content area. “Partly because our world is always changing, our issues and topics evolve with it,” says Schindler. “Standard curriculum is essential, but solutions to problems need people who can think across boundaries. These courses prove that knowledge is fluid. Honor Scholar students are passionate about challenging issues, excited by ideas and critical inquiry.” The Honor Scholar Program is based on inquiry, interdisciplinarity and integration leading to innovative ideas and arguments. The program has its own requirements, but most of its courses are open to all students. One such course is Schindler’s Culture in Context and Conflict that looks at archaeological heritage across disciplines. She explains: “We’re asking questions like, ‘Who are the stakeholders responsible for protecting and preserving cultural heritage across the globe?’ ‘Is art a commodity (looking at sales, 26

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museums and collectors)?’ ‘If you’re not displaying your own cultural heritage, what responsibility do you have to the indigenous?’ We look at international law, too. The black market in antiquities is the third-largest black market in the world after guns and drugs. I’m a field archaeologist. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when those sites are looted.” The class blends politics, economics, museum studies, art history and archaeology, the kind of high-level integrative exploration that is the core of Honor Scholar at DePauw. INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS Interdisciplinary programs, like Africana studies, film and media arts, religious studies, and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, center the idea of integrative learning. They draw professors from various subject areas to supplement core faculty and offer students alternatives to departmental majors and minors. Dave Berque, vice president for academic affairs, explains,

Far left: Anthropology class on East College lawn. Left: English in Meharry Hall. Below: Kinesiology lab.

“Interdisciplinary programs play a key role in helping students learn to explore topics through multiple lenses. Although I am a computer scientist, I periodically co-teach a winter term travel course titled Japanese Culture, Technology and Design. The course is listed in the interdisciplinary Asian Studies Program and leverages the approaches of multiple disciplines to help students gain a more integrative understanding of an important part of the world.” “Interdisciplinary programs are a powerful and important part of the CLAS and a big part of what a liberal arts institution is about: seeing connections across disciplines and, in our case, what’s going on in the world,” says Rachel Goldberg, associate professor of peace and conflict studies and director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program. “One of our program’s aims is to give students the ability to see structures,” Goldberg says. “It’s problematic to try and make sense of the behaviors of groups out of context. You have

to understand the structures behind them – structures like the education system, the media, the justice system, the economic system – which create barriers or advantages for particular groups. With that awareness, we can address issues in a more effective way, challenge entrenched narratives and make new ones.” Goldberg also trains students as mediators through a class called Applied Conflict Analysis and Resolution, a certification highly useful in daily life, as well as one that can move student resumes to the top of the pile. Undergraduate research is a DePauw CLAS signature. Sarah Mordan-McCombs ’03, associate professor of biology, wants to get as many students as possible involved through course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). “Not every student has the time in their schedules for programs like Science Research Fellows or working outside of class,” Mordan-McCombs says. “Integrating research into classwork helps them see what the process of discovery looks like and how textbook content lines up with what real life scientists are trying to answer.” Students in Mordan-McCombs’ molecular biology class are currently testing a potential new chemotherapeutic drug. In an elegant example of interdisciplinarity, Mordan-McCombs’ work comes together with her previous professor, Jeffrey Hansen, professor of chemistry, who synthesizes the drug, which involves designing and making molecules, then gives MordanMcCombs’ class the molecule. Colleen Doci, another associate professor of biology, and Nipun Chopra ’06, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, test the drugs in different cancer cells (breast, head, neck and skin), through a combination of independent SPRING 2026

research and classwork. “The drug is killing the cancer cells,” Mordan-McCombs says. “The next big questions are, ‘How does it work?’ and ‘Can we use it successfully without harming the patient?’” DePauw alum Marina Xie ’19 created a fluorescent dye that links to the drug, so the class can watch where it goes and what it does in the cell. Yet another alum Mishal Ali ’22 is working on computational modeling to determine proteins in the cell with which the drug might interact. “Students are getting to see lots of parts of the process, which would be highly unusual in a larger institution,” concludes Mordan-McCombs. “But collaboration and interdisciplinarity are true to how drug discovery works.” EXTENDED STUDIES Extended studies trips are some of the most impactful experiences our students have at DePauw, so our alums say. Pedar Foss, archaeologist and professor of classical studies, has been leading a winter term course to various sites in Europe every few years with the soccer team since 2011. One such trip took place in Belgium and the Netherlands this past winter term in collaboration with Nipun Chopra. There, DePauw team members trained with coaches at the Netherlands and Belgium national team training headquarters. Off the field, they began with the history and architecture of sport. “The Dutch are famous for their theoretical and practical perceptions of space on the soccer field,” Foss says. “We learned about how human beings perceive, measure and exploit space itself, and not just on a soccer pitch. Space is time.” Coaches from the Royal Dutch Football Center worked directly with students on these theories in a classroom 28

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setting, and students, in turn, took what they learned onto the field. “Meanwhile, we traveled around the Netherlands, looking at Dutch architecture and art to see how space gets expressed and the ways it relates to the same concepts in soccer,” Chopra says. “We looked at places and spaces from the Roman period all the way through the 20th century. “Our students came to understand the neurobiological and physiological ways our brains process space in the world,” Chopra, an expert on head injury in soccer players, explains. “How we judge distances, identify where our own bodies are in space, analyze geometrical relationships and make correct decisions. With the dynamic nature of soccer – and its constantly changing patterns – delays

Left: Media production in PCCM. Below left: Environmental geoscience in New Zealand.

or errors in decision-making often separate top-level players from average ones. We discuss how to optimize that decision-making.” Students integrated these ideas with their playing experience and their travels across the Netherlands, making cultural, artistic, neurological and physical connections all in the context of their sport. “Personally,” Foss adds, “I liken soccer to jazz. Everybody knows the song, but there’s constant improvisation. You’re coming together with 10 other players in synchronicity and harmony to achieve a ‘goal.’” BUSINESS MEETS HUMANITIES The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences informs every aspect of study at DePauw. In fact, faculty and administration approved the School of Business and Leadership with a specific goal in mind: to offer a top-tier business and finance education buttressed by courses that emphasize critical and ethical thinking. Erik Wielenberg, professor of

philosophy, teaches a class called Free Market Capitalism and Human Nature, which asks, ‘What happens when you put humans into a market-driven system?’ The class, among others, counts for DePauw’s Management Fellows Program ethics requirement. “Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations,’ written in 1776, has had a major influence on modern free market capitalism,” Wielenberg says. “Smith envisions a system where everyone is motivated to make as much money as they can, so they specialize in a job they’re good at. The jobs that pay the most produce what people want the most. So, though humans are motivated by self-interest, by producing what consumers want, they end up serving the public interest or common good.” But it turns out actual human beings are far more complex. Economics predictions fail, partly because of this oversimplification of human nature, and the class looks at real-life examples, such as the 2008 housing and economic crisis.

“No economists predicted it,” says Wielenberg. “The model assumes our preferences are fairly stable over time, but psychology research shows that, because we have emotions that quickly come and go, our preferences are, in fact, predictably irrational. Another assumption is that the more people get what they want, the better off they are. But as we can see in an obvious example like addiction, what initially made someone happy can eventually make them unhappy. Evolutionarily, humans were drawn to sweet things for survival, but in the long run, they no longer bring us well-being. Questions about what actually does make people happier brings philosophy into the mix.” Recently, DePauw was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, led by director of the Prindle Institute for Ethics Jeffrey Dunn, called Business Meets Humanities, aimed at bringing together ideas from humanities disciplines to dovetail with business in exciting and innovative ways. It’s one of many steps being taken at DePauw to meet new challenges with the breadth and depth of knowledge across the curriculum. THE TREE that is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows us access to heights we might never have thought reachable, offering vistas we might never have otherwise imagined. It provides beauty when we forget how to look for it, shade when we need shelter, sustenance when we need nourishment; it provides the materials we need to build new things. DePauw is privileged with the enterprise of growing and safeguarding this extraordinary resource poised to fortify and inspire us long into the future.

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

ePauw Development and Alumni Engagement, in partnership with faculty and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences advisory board, created these honors to recognize graduates who have turned their uncommon commitment into an uncommon impact. These awards recognize alumni who carry the “Gold Within” and whose lives demonstrate that a rigorous liberal arts and sciences foundation is powerful preparation for a life of meaning and means. They honor individuals who bridge the gap between theory and practice, demonstrating the adaptability and ethical leadership the world needs today. Find more detail at depauw.edu/alumni/alumni-e-news.

100 Alumni You Should Know

Selecting five Gold Within honorees was a rewarding task. It was a reminder of just how many outstanding alumni we have in our ranks. To see a list of “100 Alumni You Should Know,” visit depauw.edu/alumni/ alumni-e-news.

Photo: Jorg Meyer

HUMANISTIC SPIRIT Recognizes an alum who uses the study of culture, history or philosophy to provide meaning and ethical grounding to contemporary life.

SOCIAL SCIENCE INNOVATION Recognizes an alum who applies the study of human systems and behavior to foster more equitable or efficient societies.

JAMES B. STEWART ’73 Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times columnist

JUDITH EDSTROM ’70 Independent consultant in social development and governance, worked for the World Bank, UNICEF and RTI International

DePauw major: international relations

Celebrating the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Wednesday, May 6 DePauw University Events include: WCDS Luncheon Panel discussion by the Prindle Institute for Ethics’ law, public policy and ethics alumni group Celebration of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences More at depauw.edu/alumni/events. 30

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James B. Stewart is a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist, bestselling author and Bloomberg Professor Emeritus of Business Journalism at Columbia. His “Common Sense” column in The New York Times examines corporate America, Wall Street and power. A former Wall Street Journal reporter and front-page editor, he has received multiple Gerald Loeb Awards and the George Polk Award. His 11 books include DisneyWar, Heart of a Soldier and Den of Thieves, widely regarded as a definitive account of the 1980s insider trading scandals.

DePauw major: comparative literature Judith Edstrom has led development work in more than 30 countries through roles at the World Bank, UNICEF and RTI International/ USAID. With expertise in education, health and community development, she has championed good governance and human development, focusing on accountability through citizen engagement. As World Bank country director in South Africa after Nelson Mandela’s election, she helped transform trust in the Bank. Edstrom holds a master’s in international affairs from Columbia and an honorary doctorate from DePauw, and received the UNANCA Leadership Award and her high school’s Wall of Pride recognition.

2026 Gold Within Alumni Awards

Photo: UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATICAL DISCOVERY Recognizes an alum who demonstrates that the “hard sciences” are a creative endeavor, pushing the boundaries of what is known.

CIVIC LEADERSHIP Recognizes an alum who translates their liberal arts and sciences education into a life of service, affirming that the common good is a central goal of a liberal education.

RISING LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES LEADER Recognizes a graduate of the last decade who exemplifies the rapid adaptability and “ready-for-anything” nature of a liberal arts degree.

ANN LIBKA HENDRICH ’80 Creator of the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model® for patient safety

KAREN KONING ABUZAYD ’63 Commissioner-general for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Near East

SANG TRUONG ’21 Stanford researcher supporting scientific development of safe AI systems

DePauw major: nursing Ann Libka Hendrich is a national expert in nursing, quality and patient safety with more than 30 years of experience in large health care systems. For 16 years, she served as System Chief Nursing/Quality/ Patient Safety Officer for Ascension, a leading nonprofit health system, where she elevated nursing leadership and launched simulation centers for onboarding and professional development. Named a top 50 national patient safety expert and a top 25 woman leader in health care, she has advised major national organizations and joined the U.S. delegation to the United Nations for a global meeting on antimicrobial resistance.

DePauw major: nursing Karen Koning AbuZayd is a longtime United Nations leader and humanitarian. She served as commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, overseeing education, health, social services and microenterprise programs for more than 4 million refugees from her base in Gaza. Previously, she spent 19 years with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, directing major repatriation and emergency operations in Africa, Europe and Geneva, and later serving as regional representative for the United States and the Caribbean. She also lectured in political science and Islamic studies and served on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Syria.

DePauw majors: computational chemistry, computer science, economics Sang Truong is a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at Stanford University who studies how to rigorously evaluate artificial intelligence systems. His research develops statistical and interdisciplinary frameworks to assess reliability, validity and real-world impact, drawing on statistics, machine learning and social science. His work has been presented at leading machine learning conferences, and he collaborates with researchers across academia, industry and public institutions. Truong holds master’s degrees in computer science and statistics from Stanford and credits his DePauw liberal arts education with shaping his interdisciplinary approach and commitment to responsible innovation in technology. SPRING 2026

TIME, TALENT, TESTIMONY, TREASURE

NATE SPANGLE ’ 19

THE VOICE OF INFLUENCE

Talk to NATE SPANGLE ’19 for a few minutes and “media personality” will seem like an obvious career destination. As the founder of Get Indiana, “your ultimate destination for everything related to the Hoosier state,” Spangle promotes the state through podcast episodes, travel guides, social media posts and more while collaborating with the likes of St. Elmo Steakhouse, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and Hoosier Lottery. “Last year, our content drew 80 million views,” Spangle says. “We have 200,000 combined followers across our platforms.” With this reach, Spangle also took time to promote another love – DePauw and the Monon Bell Classic. DePauw President Lori S. White and Wabash President Scott Feller sat down with Spangle in his Get IN. studio for a Bell-week conversation where his followers got an in-depth perspective on the rivalry. It was one of many opportunities Spangle has taken advantage of to introduce his audience to his alma mater. See Nate’s full profile at depauw.edu/spangle.

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MOLLY MADDEN ’ 18

TIGER-LED LEGAL AID MOLLY MADDEN ’18 sees no tension between career excellence and community service. In addition to her role as an attorney at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Indianapolis, Madden co-authors a column in The Indiana Lawyer that highlights pro bono opportunities. She also returns to Putnam County regularly to volunteer at a free legal clinic and connect with DePauw students through Tiger-Led Legal Aid, an organization that allows students to take part in the clinic and shadow attorney consultations. “I’ve always made time for both,” she says. “What’s great about being a lawyer is you can do more than one thing at once. I can do the free legal clinic, which feeds my heart and soul, while also doing really interesting and complex legal work in the mergers and acquisitions space.” Returning to campus has allowed Madden to stay in touch with DePauw students and see their passion on full display. “It’s so inspiring to meet current students,” she says. “They’re energetic, they’re creative. And that’s why you keep going back.” As a leader on the GOLD Alumni Board and the recipient of the 2025 Young Alumni Award, Madden finds joy in using her time and talent to serve other Tigers. “I have DePauw to thank for so many things. How could I not give back?” See Molly’s full profile at depauw.edu/madden.

SPRING 2026

TIME, TALENT, TESTIMONY, TREASURE

MIKE BOGERS ’01

MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS After graduation, Annie John, a friend who worked for the university, invited Bogers to join a new board for Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD). “I said, ‘Why not?’” Bogers says. “That was around 2003, and it was a great experience interacting with about 40 men and women, all from DePauw. Through that experience, I became even more inspired.” A few years later, while driving to his analyst job, Bogers had an idea. “I thought, ‘There are more DePauw grads in Indianapolis than I know. I should do something about that!’” Bogers called some friends, and over dinner,

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they formulated a plan for the Indy Lunch Series. “Initially, it was a GOLD event, and it was a success,” Bogers says. “A few years in, an astute alum, Keith Sims ’97, said, ‘You guys should think about broadening this out.’ We flipped the switch to make it for all grads, and 18 years later, it’s still going strong with nine to 12 lunches each year. It’s filled with great speakers, impactful conversations and it really brings the community together.” See Mike’s full profile at depauw.edu/bogers.

THOM JACKSON ’82

A GENEROUS LIFESTYLE Over the course of his lifetime, Thom Jackson ’82 has been no stranger to professional success. But despite his diverse accomplishments as an executive strategist and leader, Jackson chooses to measure his life by generosity rather than achievement. “I’ve always believed that the value of your life is more than just your career,” he says. “It’s about your responsibility to give generously of your time, talent and resources.” Jackson’s mission-driven mindset was honed as a student at DePauw, where he worked passionately as a community organizer and an advocate for meaningful causes. From there, he has consistently made an impact in every community he’s served, whether by challenging harmful laws, defending the rights of vulnerable neighbors or bringing strategic vision to a struggling charity. “I’ve felt an urgency wherever God has put me,” Jackson says. “I found so many organizations needed leadership, so many needed time and energy to move their initiatives forward. And I have to tell you, sometimes that was more rewarding than a paycheck.” Citing the words of Jesus in Luke 6:38, Jackson reflects on a life that he describes as running over with fulfillment. “I’m really blessed,” he says. “But I feel like part of the blessings in my career came from the fact that I put as much emphasis on giving generously to the communities in which I served as I did on my career. For me, that’s the fundamental basis.” See Thom’s full profile at depauw.edu/jackson. SPRING 2026

Bold, Gold & You!

SCHOLARSHIP – A Bold, Gold & You! Campaign Priority DePauw’s story has been defined by those who believed in the look at how we can give back to the university that already gave power of opportunity. Scholarship endowments have always us so much.” stood at the heart of that story, opening doors for We continue to build on a proud tradition inspired students whose talent, curiosity and leadership by visionary philanthropists like Edward Rector, shape our community. DePauw alumni whose support redefined access to a DePauw “Having understand the lasting impact of their education. Many alumni who once access to a education and many choose to pay it received scholarships now help Tigers merit scholarship forward. begin their own journeys, giving in for a study abroad term “It is a privilege now to be able appreciation for what previous donors in Japan meant so much. to support the students whose made possible in their lives. Friends of Now that we are where we lives continue to be changed by the the university, too, have joined in this experiences they have in this special shared belief: that talent, not financial are, I want to give back place,” said Steve and Karen Sanger ’68. means, should determine who can to see things like this “DePauw is a special place for all of attend. continue at DePauw.” us who have attended,” said Ben Betz By expanding our scholarship – Stephanie Bradburn ’04, adding, “it is also a place that is funded endowments, we will ensure that cost Freed ’10 through the support of alumni. Making it never stands in the way of the best and accessible to more students is absolutely crucial brightest students choosing DePauw. This – we have to be able to take the experience we had commitment is not only a promise to our students, and bring that to generations to come. But without our support, but an investment in our long-term strength and distinction as that’s not going to be possible. It’s a duty for all the alumni to an institution that attracts and nurtures leaders the world needs.

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President Lori S. White, campaign co-chairs Carrie Melind Coquillette ’82 and Ken Coquillette ’82, board chair Greg Sissel ’94 and many others from the DePauw community gathered on the steps of the Memorial Student Union Building to celebrate the public launch of the Bold, Gold & You! campaign.

depauw.edu/alumni/campaign/ Progress to goal

$389 million raised

$575 million

Priorities and Need Five critical funding priorities, designed to build on the exciting changes happening at DePauw, are the foundation of the campaign: n Scholarships: $150 Million

$575 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

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Come home to DePauw Alumni Reunion Weekend June 5-7, 2026*

• Live music and dancing • Cocktails and lawn games • 5K, yoga, campus golf • Vintage movie night • Class dinners and photos • All alumni welcome! • Celebrating the classes of: 2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971, 1966 *Special programming June 4 for the 50th reunion Class of 1976

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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 461350037. 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. 1954 William F. Rasmussen will be inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

1962 Margaret Boe Birns and her son, Nicholas Birns, are the authors of “Agatha Christie Under the Magnifying Glass,” a close reading of 12 novels. 1963 Gary H. Brown is professor emeritus of art at the University of California in Santa Barbara. Four of his artworks are now part of the Getty Museum of Art’s permanent collection. The “AIDS Chronicles” were exhibited June 7-Sept. 28, 2025. Bayard “Bud” Walters was recently honored with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot

Jack M. Hogan and Jay S. Frye ’72 were inducted into the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 30. 1969

1959 Jock McFarlane was recognized recently for his more than 20 years as a volunteer case developer at Centurion, the first organization established to work for the release of the wrongly convicted.

With family and friends, DePauw Class of ’70 members (from left to right) Dick Dean, Laura Landrum, Karen Brown and Don Hancock celebrated Thanksgiving in Tucson, Ariz.

Bayard “Bud” Walters ’63 Award – the Federal Aviation Administration’s highest recognition for pilots who have demonstrated 50 years of safe and dedicated flying. (See photo.) 1965 Tonk Hampton was listed in the “International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs,”and “Who’s Who in America.” He was recently promoted to CEO of Affiliated Educational Consultants, a company in Harwood Heights, Ill. 1967 On Dec. 9, Connie Berry released A Grave Deception, the sixth book in her Kate Hamilton mystery series.

Dave Bohmer wrote the forthcoming University of Nebraska Press title, “Ford Frick: Baseball’s Third Commissioner and His Four Decades of Shaping the Game.” Bohmer is director emeritus of the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media and Media Fellows Program at DePauw University. Ford Frick is a 1915 graduate. (See Published and Produced, page 11.) Jim Tomsic and his former teammates met on Friday evening for dinner and then tailgated at the Monon Bell game. As a group they have been meeting for the last 15+ years to reminisce on earlier game exploits. The tales get bigger and more exciting with each passing year! Those attending the 2025 game included Richard E. Schulte ’69, Mark B. Dinwiddie ’71, William L Crist ’69, John C. Long ’70, Daniel T. Hasbrook ’67, Warren R. Onken ’69, Eric Robertson ’68, Walter “Billy” Pope ’69 and Douglas B. McAlister ’69.

1970 Judith A. Edstrom was honored with the Ambassador Esther Coopersmith Leadership Award by the United Nations Association – National Capital Area. 1971 Scott E. Horan came out of retirement when Eastern High School lost its computer specialist. He has the unique honor of being in two halls of fame (Seneca and Eastern High School), one as a student and one as a teacher. 1972 Richard Eric Pound’s poem “The Mighty Eighth” won Third Prize in the Writers’ Guild of Virginia 2025 Elizabeth Stokes Award Poetry Contest. 1973 James B. Stewart received the Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a reporter and business columnist for The New York Times and author of 11 acclaimed books. 1974 Kathleen S. Fine-Dare is president of the Mesa Verde Museum Association and SPRING 2026

CLASS NOTES

program hosted a capacity crowd with students and faculty from three states and six schools for a global health symposium with four speakers including author John Green. 1975

Mark Holt ’73, Parke Brewer ’75 and Ken Hitchner ’76.

Members of Lambda Chi Alpha who gathered in Florida included Christopher W. Bear ’82, Robert A. Frauenheim ’82, Dave Gislason ’82, Mitchell Gordon ’82, John A. Harcourt ’82, Paul M. Hershberger ’84, Scott A. Hime ’80, Richard J. Hoge ’82, Timothy S. Maloney ’82 and Kenneth D. Randall ’82. secretary of the American Anthropological Association’s Association of Senior Anthropologists. In 2024 she delivered a keynote address to the Ecuadorian Congress of Cultural Anthropology in Quito. (See Published and Produced, page 11.) After a 50-year career in higher education that included coaching, teaching and administration, Larry J. Marfise is retiring as the athletic director at the University of Tampa. He started his career as a graduate assistant at DePauw and coached football and wrestling; moved on to the University of Evansville as a coach and 40

DEPAUW MAGAZINE

educator; then worked at Ohio University, the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Southern University and Saint Mary’s College of California. He took on the role of athletic director at Ferris State University and the University of Tampa. He enjoyed his journey and owes it all to DePauw and former football coaches Tom Mont and Ted Katula. Tumaini Global Health is a notfor-profit foundation that has a number of DePauw alumni board members including Class of 1974 members Thomas Mote, Jeffrey Lewis and Michael Christie. In April Tumaini sponsored and DePauw’s global health

Stan L. Block is a pediatrician and author of “Pediatrics Around the Block.” He transferred to the University of North Carolina after two years at DePauw and in the book talks about the reasons (lack of playing time on the basketball team, a broken heart and a desire for a larger school). He returned for his class’s 50th reunion last June to reunite with his Phi Psi fraternity brothers. While on a bike tour in Colonial Williamsburg, Va., champion Little 5 bike racers Parke Brewer ’75 and Ken Hitchner ’76 reunited with Sigma Nu brother Mark Holt ’73 near his home in Williamsburg for a brisk 35mile ride. Holt still races on the Senior Circuit, where he routinely makes the podium, and coaches some top senior women racers. (See photo.) 1976 Mark Gadson has a new EP titled “Just Jazz.” You can learn about Mark and his music at www.markgadsonmusic.com. (See Published and Produced, page 11.) R. Lee Wilson’s web address was incorrect in the fall magazine. The correct address is www. rleewilson.com. He is a former trustee of DePauw and the author of “Women’s Crusader.” 1979 Frank A. Hoffman was recognized in the 2026 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.”

Mark R. Kelley was named a 2025 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for his many contributions in pediatrics and cancer research. This prestigious honor recognizes his exceptional achievements as an inventor and his significant impact on the innovation ecosystem, economic development and society. 1980 Priscilla Pope-Levison, research professor of practical theology at SMU, published a groundbreaking book on the international scope of a remarkable but largely forgotten women’s movement of Methodist deaconesses. The deaconesses carved out a precarious existence in no man’s land – neither fully clergy nor fully laity – that nonetheless galvanized an international network of Methodist women. “No Man’s Land” is replete with carefully curated archival resources, including vivid vignettes, striking photos and intimate personal diaries. 1982 Kenneth W. Coquillette retired from Goldman Sachs as chairman of the Midwest region for investment banking division and vice chairman of Global Financial Institutions. Six members of the Sigma Chi Class of 1982 traveled to Scotland in May for a week of golf and fun, including to the home of golf, St. Andrews. Those attending included Douglas B. Austin, William J. Butler, Robert O. Cathcart, John J. Dillon III, Jeffery L. Pierson and David A. Stirsman.

Lambda Chi Alpha brothers met in Northern Wisconsin and Florida. Those at Timothy S. Maloney’s Wisconsin cabin included Jerry A. Bryce, Christopher W. Bear, James R. Beyer ’81, Christopher O. Gentry, Mitchell Gordon, Timothy S. Maloney and Kenneth D. Randall. A group met at Bob Frauenheim’s Florida condo in November to enjoy outdoor activities and a Monon Bell victory watch. That group included Bear, Robert A. Frauenheim, Dave Gislason, Mitchell Gordon, John A. Harcourt, Paul M. Hershberger ’84, Scott A. Hime ’80, Richard J. Hoge, Maloney and Randall. (See photo.) Kenneth D. Randall received a Printed Periodicals Award from the Historical Society of Michigan for Midland Log, a periodical published twice a year by the Midland County Historical Society. He is chair of the society’s Midland Log committee. Randall wrote the summer/fall 2025 edition, “A History of the Midland County Courthouse, The Art of a Developing Community,” a 126-page historical account of the area surrounding the Midland, Mich., courthouse. He is a retired attorney and was a history major at DePauw. (See photo.) 1983 Jackie Atkins retired in June from Penn State University. She taught writing, literature, Women’s and Gender Studies and LGBTQ Studies for 36 years at the DuBois campus, where she supported and advised many student organizations, planned campus events and mentored colleagues. Her late husband, Antonio Vallone, taught film, creative writing and literature

at Penn State DuBois until his death in January 2025. Daniel B. Griffith is the author of “Everyday Mediator: Seven Practices for Navigating Conflict,” published on Amazon. He is also president of the Indiana Association of Mediators. Recently retired from Indiana University, he continues to teach part-time at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the IU McKinney School of Law.

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Kenneth D. Randall ’82

Suzanne Shaw retired from Missouri State University after 10-plus years as vice president for marketing and communications. Paul G. Sommer raced in the Chicago River Swim on September 21, which was the first Chicago River swim in nearly a century. The swim celebrated environmental progress and raised funds for ALS research. 1984

Matt Darnall ’85, Mark Smith ’85, Dave Johnson ’85, Jeff Cozad ’86, Jay Stutz ’86, Bret Schoch ’86, Mark Koenig ’86 and Steve Denison ’86.

Frank D. Tigue is the author of two books, “The Power of Faith” and “The Search for Miri.” He attended the 2025 Red Carpet Gala held in Atlanta and hosted by PTWWN TV. At the Awards Gala, he was awarded the 2025 Shining Star Author Award. 1986 Brenda Baker was named co-CEO of the Madison Children’s Museum in Wisconsin. She has more than 35 years experience working at the museum. Matt Darnall ’85, Mark Smith ’85, Dave Johnson ’85, Jeff Cozad ’86, Jay Stutz ’86, Bret Schoch ’86, Mark Koenig

Third Annual SAE Golf outing. Those attending were Jim Alling ’83, Mark Amman ’87, Denzil Bennett ’85, Lance DeNardin ’86, Steve Edwards ’84, David Heyde ’81, Kevin Kellam ’82, Ken Kubat ’78, Nick Lee ’82, Lee McKinley ’83, Chuck Miller ’87, John Miller ’79, Jim Mullin ’83, Bruce Meyer ’79, John Otteson ’84, John Perry ’85, Rick Randell ’79, Bill Sharkey ’81, Bill Smith ’79, Jon Terpstra ’83, Brad Thompson ’86, Ted Ukrop ’87, Brad Voelz ’87, Jeff Waggoner ’79, Tom Weaver ’83, Nick Weyhmueller ’24, Ryan Khosla ’26.

SPRING 2026

CLASS NOTES

analysis to identify and mitigate risk. Thomas was a Sigma Nu during his time at DePauw, a DJ for the campus radio station and a Little 5 rider. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Fla., with his wife Tamara and three daughters. (See photo.)

Thomas Sells ’88

Shenia Footman Suggs ’92

Mike A. Sherman was appointed to Aktis Oncology board of directors. 1990 James P. Burnside was honored nationally as the high school soccer coach of the year.

DePauw alumni who attended the watch party included (Front row, left-right) Christine Barchet McGough ’89, James A. Anast ’90, Andrea Smith Ignelzi ’91, Beth Behrendt Lundy ’91, Pamela Anderson Smith ’90, Holly Olmsted Hickey ’88 and Connor T. Hickey ’27. Back row (left-right) Michele Main Valenzia ’90, Stephen B. Rogers ’90, Rachelle Evans Leonida ’90, Michael R. Weber ’88, Charles D. Mills ’90, David W. O’Brien ’90, Jon D. Lundy ’90, Troy T. Smith ’90, David M. Storhoff ’91 and W. James MacDougall ’91. ’86 and Steve Denison ’86 traveled to Scotland in August for a “bucket list” golf trip that included rounds at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, North Berwick, Muirfield and The Old Course. In a dual match between members of the Class of ’85 and the Class of ’86, it came down to the last putt of the last hole of the last round of the trip when the boys of ’86 sunk a 15 foot downhill bender to win the match (OK, maybe it was 7 feet and straight!). (See photo, page 41.) The third annual SAE golf outing took place in August in Peru, Ind. (See photo.) 42

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1987 Dennis E. Bland was honored with the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Michael A. Carroll Award. 1988 For the second time Thomas Sells has received the Pinnacle Award from Bank of America NA. The award recognizes outstanding performance from the top 3 percent of all employees in the company. He is a business control manager and vice president for the financial center channel. His work involves providing comprehensive thematic

“Such a Fantastic Girl” is Elizabeth Duncan Rich’s second book. As a writer, this year has been very rewarding in terms of output. She says to be on the lookout for a very interesting collaboration between a couple other DPU alums and Rich in 2026. Matthew J. Smith is CEO at St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. 1991 Melissa McCreery Douaire helps people carry the weight of grief. She has been doing deep and compassionate work around grief from death and major life transitions since she started her grief consulting practice. You can visit Melissa’s website at www. wholepersonconversations. com or subscribe to her YouTube channel: @ melissadouaireWPC1. Thomas E. Prothero is semiretired and resides in Fountain Hills, Ariz. After concluding a 20-year executive career with MB Financial Bank in 2019, Tom now serves as a director and chairman of the Audit Committee for Marquette

National Corporation. Tom also provides consulting services to small businesses primarily in the Scottsdale area. Troy Smith and Pamela Anderson Smith ’90 hosted their annual Monon Bell Classic watch party in Lake Zurich, Ill. DePauw alumni came from far and wide to enjoy GCBs and cheese fries as they cheered on the Tigers to another victory over Wabash. (See photo.) 1992 Jennifer Solon Partee joined the law firm of Honigman in the Chicago office as a partner in the labor and employment department. Shenia Footman Suggs is the superintendent of the Indiana Metropolitan school district of Wayne Township. (See photo.) 1993 James A. Rechtin was featured in an extensive interview in Fortune magazine. He is the CEO of Humana. Laura Hesher Whipple is chief communications and brand officer at Teladoc Health. She is also on the board of directors of Face to Face Health & Counseling, a nonprofit that services youth experiencing homelessness. 1996 Ivan Hernandez was appointed assistant vice chancellor of student affairs for Ivy Tech Community College, Lafayette Campus. Terri Bennett Meux is semi-retired after 30 years in public service. She works as an independent consultant facilitating public-private

partnerships to address issues in higher education. She serves on the Indiana TRIO executive board and Sixteen Pearls Foundation. Craig N. Owens was selected as the executive director of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement at Drake University. Owens joined Drake’s English department in 2003 and most recently served as the founding dean of the John Dee Bright College at Drake. (See photo.) David Wolf is the CEO of BSW Wealth Partners, named the #1 Best Place to Work in the US by Outside Magazine and the #1 Best Place to Work in Colorado by ColoradoBiz Magazine. BSW Wealth Partners is a multi-family office and wealth advisory firm managing $2.5 billion for select families from offices in Boulder and Denver. 1998 Drew Powell presented an evening of songs and stories at DePauw in October. 1999 Ryan Danks joined WilmerHale as an antitrust and litigation partner. This follows a 21-year career at the Department of Justice Antitrust Division capped by his service as the senior career lawyer overseeing civil enforcement of the federal antitrust laws. He and Ariel remain in Washington, D.C. (See photo.) 2000 Shannon M. Oltmann is the new associate dean/director of the School of Information Sciences at Wayne State University in Detroit. Author/ editor of two books, she is an internationally recognized

scholar on censorship and freedom of speech. (See photo.) James “Than” Powell was appointed as an intern CEO at Longeveron. 2001 Lisa Goecke Malikow was profiled by The Trade Show News Network. Felix P. Yau and Sam H. Kramer ’20 helped coach Carmel (Ind.) High School boy’s soccer team to the 2025 3A Indiana High School State Championship this past November.

Craig N. Owens ’96

Ryan Danks ’99

Shannon M. Oltmann ’00

Eric Aasen ’02

2002 Eric Aasen is executive editor at Connecticut Public, the NPR and PBS station in Hartford-New Haven. He and his colleagues were recently awarded two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, among the most prestigious honors in journalism, for projects he led, directed and edited: breaking news about deadly flooding in Connecticut, as well as an in-depth project exploring the state’s connections to slavery. Through the years, he has shaped award-winning work that has earned honors from Sigma Delta Chi, Online Journalism Association and Education Writers Association. Eric lives in the Hartford suburbs with his wife and two teenagers, as well as three cats and a dog. His email: ericaasen@hotmail.com. (See photo.) Rebecca E. Tenzer turned a life-altering trauma into a mission to transform mental health and wellness. After surviving a devastating car accident that left her with a brain injury, chronic pain and personal loss, she rebuilt

her life and founded Astute Counseling & Wellness Services in Chicago.

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2003 Justin Knepp is the owner and team president of the Dubois County Bombers Baseball Team who play their games at Historic League Stadium in Huntingburg, Ind., the same stadium used for filming in multiple Hollywood movies, including “A League of Their Own.” Justin was the founder of Indiana On Tap, a craft beer, wine & spirits media, marketing and ticketing company that saw double-digit growth for 10 consecutive years under his leadership. He sold the company in March of 2025. 2005 Lauren Conlon Rosner is a data and project specialist for ADVISA.

Scan to update your alumni contact information. JaMarcus L. Shephard has been named head coach for Oregon State University football. Kitsy Smith Watkins married Hays Watkins. (See photo, page 44.) 2006 David Bausman has joined the Indiana State Department of Agriculture as general counsel. SPRING 2026

CLASS NOTES

Dan Lewallen has been named a partner at the national law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP in the firm’s Indianapolis office. He is a member of the firm’s intellectual property practice. (See photo.) 2008 Kitsy Smith Watkins ’05 and Hays Watkins wedding. DePauw alumni attending included: back row: Jim Gehring ’06, Tony Williams ’05, Andrew Curry ’05, Brady Hart ’05, Jason Schwerdt ’05, Joe Nixon ’02, Laura Kurdys Mahan ’05, James Hamlin ’05, Matt Fleck ’05. Middle row: Becky Elliott Williams ’09, Jen Rogers Scott ’08, Brent Scott ’03, Caitlin Debord Dykhuizen ’05, Anna Vanderbroek ’05, Bethany Brewer Hart ’05, Ali Slipher Todd ’05, Jennifer Ryan Silverstein ’05, Annie Gowland Pucillo ’05, Erin Greenlee Nixon ’05, Kate Nickols ’05, Jack Avery ’05, Scott Smith ’72, Brittany Fowler Nannenga ’05, Nancy Arvay Fowler ’79, David Hafley ’05, Scott Nees ’05. Front row: Hays Watkins, Kitsy Smith Watkins ’05, Kelly Workinger Collier ’05, Kristina Amarantos DeYoung ’05, Linda Evans Smith ’72, Sarah Young Hafley ’05, and Eliza Johnson ’05.

Andrea E. Cofield exhibited selfie and landscape paintings made during the last year at the Galleri Urbane in Dallas. Craig K. Sauers won the James Beard Award for culinary journalism for his article “Want to Make Spirits In Thailand? Good Luck.” Laura Link Zimmerman was elected to the Cedar Rapids Community School District School Board in November of 2025, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (See photo.) 2009 Brynne Peters Behringer has published the book “The Stars That Stay.” It is available on Amazon.

Dan Lewallen ’06

Laura Link Zimmerman ’08

Ian R. Yearwood is principal of Forest Glen Elementary School in Indianapolis. 2010

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Molly Nolden Fohrer ’10

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Paul Cartwright is a physician and participated in a medical mission trip to Ukraine. Their goal was to provide specialized education and provide trauma care. Natalie R. Dreyer is the executive director of Next Stage Arts. Alyssa A. Jewell is associate director at Nickerson, a global branding and PR agency. Molly Nolden Fohrer was promoted to COO at Your

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Money Line. (See photo.) 2011 Michael E. Engle was named eighth head coach in Saginaw Valley State University football history. Tyler G. James covers Notre Dame sports. 2012 Samuel T. Holley-Kline is the author of “In The Shadow of El Tajín: The Political Economy of Archaeology in Modern Mexico.” Sam is an assistant clinical professor in the Honors College of the University of Maryland. He was named a 2023–24 American Council of Learned Societies Fellow. Pete Richard has left the US Air Force after 8 years of service and accepted a position as a project manager in the Intelligence & Security sector at BAE Systems, Inc. Nick Sweeney had a busy year, summiting Mt. Rainier near Seattle and then following in his father’s footsteps (literally), Gerry Sweeney ’74, by completing a marathon in his hometown of San Francisco. Emily Jones Thimling is a physician assistant. She joined the staff at Deaconess Memorial Medical Center. 2013 Ashley Collins Crosland is the founder of Foley Walking Tours. 2014 Samantha Anderson published “High-throughput discovery of transmembrane helix dimers from human singlepass membrane proteins with

TOXGREEN sort-seq,” a journal article in PNAS Nexus. 2015 Katherine Spataro and Nick Nunley were married. (See photo.) 2016 Hanae Weber was the 2025 presenter of Albion College’s Coy James Memorial Lecture in American History. Her talk focused on loyalist refugees who fled the American Revolution, an aspect of Hanae’s ongoing research in the 18thCentury history of the Great Lakes/Western New York. She currently serves as lead public programming coordinator for the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y. 2017 Cody D. Campbell was named to the Orr Fellowship Alumni Advisory Council. 2019 Suzanne Peters and Andrew H. Kus were married March 15. (See photo.)

Andrew Brown ’19 2020 Abigail Hess and Dominic J. Miranda ’19 were married September 9 in Hinsdale, Ill. 2021 Elizabeth “Ellie” Carlson and Maxwell B. Bohrer married May 24 in Minnetonka Beach, Minn. A big group of DePauw grads attended the wedding, including Ellie’s parents, Kris and Lisa Carlson ’93 and their friends. DePauw classes represented included: 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 with Pi Beta Phi members from Ellie’s and Lisa’s classes. Marvin’s delivered! (See photo.)

Katherine Spataro ’15 and Nick Nunley ’ 15 wedding. DePauw alumni attending included: Back Row (Left): DJ Spooner ’15, Nick Freund ’15, Alex Layden ’15, Drew Seaman ’15, Kyle Robbins ’13, Charlie Roberts ’16, Eric Malm ’14, Sam Winkler ’14, Matt Jenkins ’15, David Jenkins ’80. Front Row (Left): Reid Garlock ’13, Katie Petrovich Freund ’13, Lizzie Hineman Spooner ’14, Jamie Catton Garlock ’14, Mary Brody ’14, Katherine Spataro Nunley ’15, Nick Nunley ’15, Kaitlin Pickrel ’15, Frances Jones Winkler ’14, Casandra Brocksmith DeBord ’15, Katharine Funke ’15, Ellie Sheffield Roberts ’16, Amanda Nunley ’18. Not pictured but attended: Andy Spataro ’10, Kristen Irgens ’09, Nancy Nichols ’74.

Andrew Brown is the first ever Advancement Manager at American Piano Awards. “As a piano student during my time at DePauw, I feel so thankful that my college experience prepared me for my dream career. Hoping to make the Tiger Community even stronger!” (See photo.)

Suzanne Peters ’19 and Andrew H. Kus ’19 wedding.

Mary Woods Lopez is the assistant coach for Kansas University women’s swimming and diving.

Elizabeth “Ellie” Carlson and Maxwell B. Bohrer wedding.

Nate Spangle was named to the Orr Fellowship Advisory Board.

SPRING 2026

IN MEMORIAM DePauw Magazine marks the death 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 his or her affiliation with DePauw to: Alumni Records DePauw University P.O. Box 37 Greencastle, IN 46135-0037, or graciemessmer@depauw.edu.

Gamma Delta. She was an elementary school teacher and community volunteer.

1947

Julia Foster Hall, 98, Carmel, Ind., December 1. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. For 25 years she managed The Style Nook, a Merle Norman studio and clothing boutique.

Martha Honan Parr, 100, Zionsville, Ind., July 9. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She was a social worker and a community and church volunteer. 1948 Harriet Stallman Sirotkin, 99, Menomonee Falls, Wis., December 16. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She was a high school English teacher and community volunteer. Alice Plasterer Stickler, 99, Huntington, Ind., July 25. She held many jobs for the United Methodist church. She was an accomplished bubble artist and performed around the country and on late night television programs. She was a community volunteer. She was preceded in death by her father, Eiffel G. Plasterer ’24. 1949 Robert A. Bennett, 100, Nashville, Tenn., September 2. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a Rector scholar. He was a business owner and community volunteer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Meredith Bennett ’49. Alice Barger Bower, 97, New Albany, Ind., November 23. She was a member of Alpha 46

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Beverly Bennett Rosecrance, 97, Rockford, Ill., September 1. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was a community volunteer. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia J. Rosecrance ’71. 1950

Joan Laury Ring, 94, Phoenix, Ariz., February 3, 2023. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Ring McKone. 1951 Thomas V. Fischer, 96, Greenville, S.C., October 13. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a Rector scholar. He was an attorney. Joan Mortrud Joel, 96, Indianapolis, Ind., December 5. She was a teacher. She was a community volunteer. Douglas N. Price, 96, Port Huron, Mich., November 7. He was a member of Delta Chi. He was a stockbroker. He was a community volunteer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Thomas Price ’53. Phyllis Luttell Smith, 96, Ashtabula, Ohio, August 16. She was a member of Delta Zeta. She was a teacher and community volunteer. She was preceded in death by her husband, George J. Smith ’50.

DePauw University grieves the passing of Lee Hamilton ’52, an influential leader who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years and achieved renown in matters of foreign policy and national security. He died at the age of 94 at his home in Bloomington, Ind. During his esteemed career, Hamilton won the trust and respect of his constituents and colleagues on both sides of the political aisle, earning him numerous recognitions, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The New York Times argued that from the beginning of his time in office, “Mr. Hamilton displayed a moderation and independence more common to experienced legislators.” The Times also highlighted his remarkable accomplishments, adding, “Mr. Hamilton in time became head of the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees, a confidant of congressional leaders and the presidents of both parties from Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama, and the author of white papers and books on foreign policy and intelligence matters.” Hamilton studied history at DePauw, where he also played basketball, graduated cum laude and was awarded the prestigious Walker Cup. He was inducted into the DePauw Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, and he delivered commencement addresses in 1971 and 1998, as well as an Ubben Lecture in 2011. The DePauw University community will long remember this exceptional leader and his impact upon DePauw, the state of Indiana and the world. Elaine Braun Stroker, 95, Boynton Beach, Fla, May 11. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. 1952 Isabel Taylor Dewey, 95, Waynesboro, Va., October 9. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was a tour guide in Washington, D.C. She enjoyed reading. She was preceded in death by her sister, Charlotte Taylor Cooney ’52. Norma Brownell Fuller, 98, Sheridan, Wyo., July 15. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She enjoyed art and led tours to world famous art museums around the world. She was a docent at the Bradford Brinton

Museum in Sheridan and gave her final tour at the age of 91. Leland A. Lahr, 95, Collierville, Tenn., July 28. He was a member of Delta Chi. He was a Rector scholar. He retired as professor emeritus from Lawrence Institute of Technology. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Cox Lahr ’52; and stepsons, Jeffrey D. Fontaine ’78 and Gregory P. Fontaine ’83; and stepgrandson, Dirk Fontaine ’20. Marjorie Needham Latzko, 96, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., August 22. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a member of the Chordettes, a female barbershop quartet, which

appeared on many television and radio shows. The group was well-known for their recording of Mr. Sandman. She was active in community organizations and in human services. Herbert A. Miller, 97, Urbandale, Iowa, September 11. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. He worked in sales and was a community volunteer. He enjoyed sailing. 1953 Bruce (William J.) Graham, 93, New Haven, Conn., August 30. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was a film and television producer and writer. He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph W. Graham Class of 1921; his mother, Christine Vickery Graham Class of 1924; and a brother, Jack Graham ’46. Joanne Christensen Hood, 94, Hinsdale, Ill., August 26. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She enjoyed tennis and bridge. She was preceded in death by her husband, David E. Hood ’55, and a sister, Jane Christensen Soper ’57. Thomas W. Olcott, 93, Fayetteville, N.C., August 3. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was a Rector scholar. He was a nuclear chemist. He was preceded in death by his father, Ellsworth L. Olcott, Class of 1916, and a brother, John E. Olcott ’47. Margaret Haefner Palo, 94, Grand Junction, Colo., October 7. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She was a legal secretary. Robert D. Swihart, 93, St. Louis, Mo., March 13. He was a member of Delta Chi and a Rector scholar. He taught law

at the Washington University Law School in St. Louis for more than 30 years. Marcia Terwilliger Adams, 94, Davidson, N.C., December 19. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Beta Kappa. She was a teacher and later worked with older adults in care facilities. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C. Adams ’53. 1954 Carolyn Rudy Brill, 90, Noblesville, Ind., August 12, 2022. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was a registered nurse. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include a sister, Rebecca Rudy Rusling ’63. Nancy Boyd Costin, 93, Indianapolis, Ind., September 4. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include a daughter, Janice Costin Tedrow ’79; a brother, Max L. Boyd ’51; and a nephew, Michael K. Boyd ’77. She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Costin ’53; her father, Guy D. Boyd, Class of 1923; and her mother, Mary LeMaster Boyd, Class of 1923. Donna Payne Hoenes, 92, Spring, Texas, July 22. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry J. Hoenes Jr. ’54; a sister, Nancy Payne Rick ’50; and a brother-in-law, John J. Rick ’50. Marvin Jewell, 93, Grand Rapids, Mich., October 16. He was a Rector scholar and a member of the Men’s Hall Association. He was a physician. He enjoyed sailing and boating. Survivors include daughters, Donna L. Jewell ’84 and Lynn Jewell Palacios ’77; and son-inlaw, Richard A. Palacios ’75.

Frederick C. Reigle, 93, Jackson, Mich., December 30. He was a Rector scholar. He was a physician and made house calls for patients who could not get to his office. He was a community volunteer. Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Reigle Wildt ’75; and a granddaughter, Christina Wildt Britton ’13. 1955 Mary Scircle Kimball, 92, Bloomington, Ill., August 22. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She was a realtor. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur S. Kimball ’55. Caroline Lukens McKemy, 92. Bandon, Ore., December 5. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She was a community volunteer. She was preceded in death by a brother, Norman D. Lukens ’53.

preceded in death by a brother, David R. Sass ’55. Spencer F. Trudgen, 91, Indianapolis, Ind., March 24. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a Rector scholar. He was a physician. Survivors include a sister, Beverly Trudgen Walker ’57; a son, David S. Trudgen ’91; daughters, Anne Trudgen Dillon ’81 and Valerie Trudgen Hooton ’86; a grandson, Robert S. Dillon ’15; a niece, Cynthia D. LeMaster ’82; and a son-in-law, John D. Dillon ’82. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Grosvenor Trudgen ’55. 1956

Nancy Blair Moon, 91, Santa Fe, N.M., August 20. She was a therapist. She was active in civil rights and social justice efforts.

Dollie Bridgewater DuMontelle, 91, Danville, Ind. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include a granddaughter, Caitlyn D. DuMontelle ’22. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul B. DuMontelle ’55.

Mary “Joan” Simmons Reece, 92, Goshen, Ind., November 1. She was a member of Delta Zeta. She taught music and was a church organist and handbell director for more than 60 years. Survivors include a daughter, Catherine Reece Yoder ’83.

Joan Prieb Schultheis, 91, Elmhurst, Ill., January 3. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She taught second and third grade for 32 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard A. Schultheis ’55.

Jack H. Rogers, 91, Carmel, Ind., August 1. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He was an attorney. Survivors include sons, Clark H. Rogers ’85 and Bradley J. Rogers ’83.

Linday B. Smith, 90, Rio Verde, Ariz., August 4. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was a surgeon. He was a community volunteer.

Robert W. Sass, 91, Sausalito, Calif., September 10, 2024. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. He was a member of the Washington C. DePauw Society. He had a 34-year career in publishing. He was

1957 Mary McClure Kopp, 90, Arlington Heights, Ill., September 30. She was a member of Delta Gamma. She was a medical technologist. She was a dedicated letter SPRING 2026

IN MEMORIAM

writer and wrote to her eight grandchildren once a week. Gerald B. Kracke, 89, Lutherville, Md., February 21. He was a member of Delta Chi. He had a career in banking. He was preceded in death by a brother, John L. Kracke ’56. Barbara Granger Garrett Kruse, 91, Fishers, Ind., August 14. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was an administrative assistant. James Van Horne, 90, Palo Alto, Calif., September 1. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He was a member of DePauw’s Board of Trustees and a former member of DePauw’s Board of Visitors. DePauw honored him with an Alumni Citation in 1962 and an honorary degree of science in 1986. He was a professor emeritus of banking and finance at Stanford University. Dwight F. Walton, 90, Arlington Heights, Ill., October 22. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He served as Village Trustee for 20 years. He organized an annual community festival which has continued for 50 years. The festival led to the formation of his company, Fun Fairs and Festivals. He enjoyed fishing in Northern Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife, Lou Ubben Walton ’57. 1958 Edna Dix Crocker, 89, University Park, Md., December 9. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Phi Beta Kappa. She was an elementary and middle school teacher. Survivors include her husband, David A. Crocker ’59. She was preceded in death by a brother, R. Victor Dix ’56; and a cousin, Prudence Dix Hilger ’57. 48

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David E. Dalrymple, 89, Atlanta, Ga., November 7. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was a physician. He enjoyed music and sang in the church choir. Daniel E. Lewis, Jr., 90. Hilton Head Island, S.C., August 27. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was a Rector scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was an attorney. Survivors include his wife, Linda Brainard Lewis ’60; daughter Karen E. Lewis ’91; a granddaughter, Genevieve Lewis Bissonette ’28; a sister Nancy Lewis Haswell Thomason ’63; and a nephew, Stephen A. Haswell ’90. Karen Johnson Spoerl, 88, Sun City Center Fla., May 19. She was a member of Delta Gamma. She was a sculptor. Survivors include her husband, Glenn H. Spoerl ’58; a son, Christopher R. Spoerl ’81; and a sister, Christine Johnson Morgan ’61. She was preceded in death by a sister, Judith Johnson Oberholtzer ’54; and brothersin-law, William H. Oberholzer ’53 and Jerry A. Morgan ’59. Mary Daugherty Thomas, 89, Rockford, Ill., September 26. She was a teacher and director of a childcare center. She was a pastor and active community volunteer. Survivors include her husband, Donald M. Thomas ’55. 1959 Nancy Shumaker Ahrbecker, 88, Carmel, Ind., December 21. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a teacher and later worked in real estate. She was a community volunteer. Angela Gray Doyle, 88, Easton, Conn., July 26. She was an elementary school teacher.

She enjoyed hiking, gardening, walking and time with her family. Jerry J. Evans, 88, Traverse City, Mich., October 21. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He was a Rector scholar. He was a physician. Lynn Clippinger Neff, 87, Wilmington, N.C., July 18. She was a member of Alpha Phi and the Washington C. DePauw Society. She was a teacher, a psychological counselor, a business entrepreneur and a hospitality manager. She was preceded in death by her father, Wilbur C. Clippinger ’24, and her husband, John F. Neff ’59. Rosanne Nelson Watson, 88, Zionville, Ind., July 6. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She was a kindergarten teacher, a substitute teacher and worked in sales. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include a daughter, Cynthia Watson Yingling ’83; a son, Andrew C. Watson ’87; a sister, Virginia Nelson Combs ’62; a brother-in-law, Charles S. Combs ’62; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Watson Menge ’63; and nephews, Stephen N. Combs ’87 and Bradley C. Combs ’90. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles H. Watson ’59. John T. Wilcox, 88, Tuckasegee, N.C., August 11. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was a professor of geology at Western Carolina University. Survivors include his wife, Margot Guessford Wilcox ’62; and a sister, Patricia Wilcox Olivwe ’54. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Wilcox, Class of 1925; his mother, Lois Zimmerman Wilcox, Class of 1925; and a sister, Jean Wilcox Morris ’51.

1960 Bert Anson III, 86, Houston, Texas, November 9. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was a businessman and owned and operated a property development and management company. Survivors include a cousin, Anne Earhart GlennWhite ’58. He was preceded in death by his father, Bert Anson Sr. ’31. Joyce Lawrence Bowen, 87, Plymouth, Ind., October 9. She was a teacher for more than 30 years. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Europe. Michael E Crawley, 87, born in Greencastle, Ind., and died in Collierville, Tenn., December 2. A member of Phi Kappa Psi, Mike served his brothers as an alumni adviser when he retired to Plainfield, Ind., after an AT&T career that took him all over the U.S. Mike is survived by his wife, Eleanor, Kappa Alpha Theta from Purdue ’60, daughter Lisa K. Crawley ’84 and her wife Julie A. Cason ’84, and two more daughters, their spouses, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Frederick C. Feth, 87, Casper, Wyo., December 3. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association. David B. Griffith, 87, Charlotte, N.C., July 8. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a business owner. Survivors include a daughter, Caroline Griffith Myers ’92. Michael C. Hicks, 86, Land O’ Lakes, Fla., July 23. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was a businessman. Philip L. Houston, 85, Columbus, Ind., January 30. He was a member of Phi

Kappa Psi. He was a teacher and high school principal. He was a community and church volunteer. Survivors include daughters Lori Houston Brame ’95, Amy Houston Oler ’96 and Julie C. Houston ’02; a brother, Richard W. Houston ’67; and a nephew, Timothy R. Houston ’00. Linda Link Huff, 85, Scottsdale, Ariz., February 24, 2024. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a teacher, artist and master gardener. Survivors include a son, Matthew L. Huff ’89; a sister, Lucy Link Stack ’65; a daughter-in-law, Kimberly Kane Huff ’89; and a brotherin-law, Jeffery P. Stack ’65. She was preceded in death by her father, Richard M. Link, Class of 1921; an uncle, Paxson R. Link, Class of 1919; and cousins, James C. Link ’46 and Joanna Link Spung ’57. Gloria Reichenbach Hill, 86, Greenwood, Ind., August 16. She was a member of Delta Zeta. She was a school teacher. Survivors include a daughter, Maureen Hill Watson ’86. Marcia Geyer Jepsen, 86, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, February 3. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Sherry Harris Jones, 80, Belmont, Mass., November 16, 2024. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was a special education teacher. Survivors include her husband, Ralph T. Jones ’ 65. Linda Lowder Link, 87, Tucson, Ariz., March 6. She was a nurse and an operating room supervisor. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothea Templeton Lowder ’31; an aunt, Hilda

Templeton Spicer ’44; and an uncle, Harold O. Spicer ’47. Nancy Frederickson Osman, 87, New York City, N.Y., July 3. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a social worker. Helen Lockhart Smiley, 87, Davenport, Iowa, July 11. She was a member of Delta Zeta. She helped establish the women’s athletic program at the University of Iowa. She later served as an assistant athletic director at the University of North Dakota and as athletic director at Western Illinois University. Marilyn Houseman Strakowski, 86, Cincinnati, Ohio, August 11. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was a teacher. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include her husband, Richard A. Strakowski ’61. John C. Weir, 87, Lee, N.H., November 17. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He had a career in the furniture industry. Survivors include a niece, Karen L. Powell ’91, and a great niece, Jamie M. Powell ’15. He was preceded in death by a sister, Paula Weir Powell ’58. 1961 Lucy Brown Sloan, 86, Fort Myers, Fla., October 28. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She was a school teacher and a community volunteer. She was honored by DePauw in 2001 for her extensive community involvement with a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Survivors include a son, Erik D. Sloan ’90; a daughter, Kirstin Sloan Kirschner ’92; and a sister, Mary Brown Kimmel ’69. She

was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Barrow Brown ’36, and an aunt, Alice Barrow Jackson ’27. Barbara Stevenson Clarkson, 86, Greenwood, Ind., December 10. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She was a gifted musician, an accomplished equestrian, an avid reader, a puzzle solver and an excellent cook. Survivors include a daughter, Jennifer Clarkson Soster ’88, and a grandson, Frederick L. Soster ’17. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence W. Clarkson ’60. Marilyn Rist Yahnke passed away on January 23, 2026 at age 86. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. 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 Kennard Baker Bork, 84, Granville, Ohio, July 27. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He was a professor of Geology at Denison University. He was a book author as well as publishing over 85 articles. Survivors include his wife, Katherine Odell Bork ’63. Sandra Ackerson Carlson, 85, Rockford, Ill., July 21. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was a first grade teacher. She was a community volunteer. Survivors include a sister, Carol Ackerson Malmgren ’56. Charles Combs, 85, Carmel, Ind., September 25. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He had a career in banking. He was a community volunteer. Survivors include his wife,

Virginia Nelson Combs ’62; sons, Stephen N. Combs ’87 and Bradley C. Combs ’80; a sister, Ellen Combs Donovan ’61; and a sister-in-law, Sarah Morehead Combs ’87. Karen St. Vincent Erickson, 85, New York City, August 17. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was a writer and author of children’s books. James W. Hardy, 84, Glen Ellyn, Ill., August 8. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. He was a member of the DePauw Athletic Hall of Fame. He worked in sales and management. After retirement he became a substitute teacher. Survivors include his wife, Jean Berg Hardy ’63; a daughter, Deborah Hardy Ruckstaetter ’86; sons, Douglas E. Hardy ’90, David W. Hardy ’91 and Daniel J. Hardy ’96; and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Davis Hardy ’91. Jon P. Larrick, 84, Vero Beach, Fla., August 7. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He founded his own company that developed educational children’s toys. Douglas McLaren, 92, Glen Ellyn, Ill., October 14. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. He was a business owner. He was a community volunteer. Survivors include his wife, Judith Williams McLaren ’62, and a daughter, Kerry L. McLaren ’89. Eleanor Zimmerly Rink, 84, Bloomington, Ind., July 23. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was an elementary school teacher and a community volunteer. She enjoyed Indiana University sporting events. Survivors include her husband, Lawrence SPRING 2026

IN MEMORIAM

D. Rink ’62; a son, Scott L. Rink ’91; and granddaughters, Halley V. Rink ’27 and Sydney E. Rink ’24. She was preceded in death by a sister, Julia Zimmerly Light ’61. Lucinn Thomas Sams, 85, Cumming, Ga., November 8. She was a member of Delta Gamma. She was a community volunteer. 1963 Alice Yant Browning, 85, Athens, Ga., September 10. She was a substitute teacher for almost 30 years. She was a community volunteer. She was an artist and excelled in German folk painting. Carole Henderson Green, 84, Fort Wayne, Ind., September 1. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was a minister at several churches and a hospital chaplain for 24 years. Survivors include a sisters, Judith Henderson Pitts ’66 and Patricia Henderson McCombs ’69. James E. Howie Jr., 84, Missoula, Mont., November 14. He was a member of the Men’s Hall Association. He was a Rector scholar. He was an attorney. James N. Keeney, 85, Ocean Springs, Miss., December 17. He had a career with the United States Air Force. He served for years as an active member at Gulf Coast Archaeological Society. Robert E. Shalhope, 84, Normal, Okla., November 7. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was a historian, teacher and scholar. He retired as professor emeritus from the University of Oklahoma. He authored several books. 50

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Survivors include his wife, Emma Simmons Shalhope ’63. Margaret “Molly” Titus Simon, 84, Westlake, Ohio, December 12. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was an elementary school teacher and a nursing home activities director. 1964 Howard J. Anderson, 83, Eugene, Ore., August 6. He was an attorney and an advocate for victims of child abuse. He traveled nationwide training lawyers, social workers and educators on how to advocate for the most vulnerable. David A. Child, 83, Chicago, Ill., March 7. He was a selfemployed actor and director. He remained an active member of Actor’s Equity until his death. Stanley Moses, 84, Scarborough, Maine, September 21. He worked for 32 years as the assistant community development director for the city of Bangor, Maine. Judith Brown Olson, 83, Fishers, Ind., December 23. She was a member of Alpha Chi. She was a high school and college teacher. She was a business owner and community volunteer. Survivors include a son, Jeffrey D. Olson ’92. Thomas F. Sandblom, 83, Escanaba, Mich., July 29. He was a member of Sigma Nu. He was a business owner. David J. Selman, 83, Arlington Heights, Ill., August 18. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. 1965 Bruce P. Bickner, 82, Sycamore, Ill., October 21. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He

was a Rector scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a former member of DePauw’s Board of Visitors. He was an attorney. Gary D. Bryant, 81, Rio Verde, Ariz., July 29. He was a United Church of Christ minister. John Husted, 82, Bowling Green, Ky., August 26. He was a psychologist and a professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Hilary J. Schneider, 80, San Juan Capistrano, Calif, July 2024. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. He was a businessman. John R. Turner, 82, Indianapolis, Ind., August 7. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a Rector scholar. He was an attorney and a farmer. 1966 Ruth Stadler Holland, 79, Wayzata, Minn., May 2, 2023. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She was an art consultant, designer and a business owner. Survivors include a daughter, Heidi S. Holland ’00. John F. Houlihan, 83, Hermitage, Pa., December 25. He was a professor of physics at Penn State University for more than 40 years. He authored and published numerous research papers on semiconductors and solar cells. Sherry Harris Jones, 80, Belmont, Mass., November 16. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was a special education teacher. Survivors include her husband, Ralph T. Jones ’ 65. Douglas D. Joyce, 81, Celina, Texas, October 12. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He was an attorney and a business

owner. He was preceded in death by his brother, David L. Joyce ’66. George M. Marsh, 81, Birmingham, Mich., August 5. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was a community volunteer. He had a career at Ford Motor Company in finance and purchasing. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry G. Marsh ’31; his mother, Elizabeth Martin Marsh ’33; and a sister, Jean Marsh King ’63. 1968 Ralph W. Jones, 78, Fort Wayne, Ind., September 2. He was a Rector scholar. He was a printer and business owner. Survivors include his wife, Linda Hayden Jones ’75. Robert J. Marshall, 78, Barrington, R.I., August 17. He was a Rector scholar. He had a career in public health with the Rhode Island Department of Health, the US Public Health Service and the National Cancer Institute. He was a teaching faculty member at Brown University. He was a national and international pioneer in the application of social marketing to public health. Thomas W. Miller, 79, Warner Robins, Ga., May 26. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He had a 34 year career in the United States Air Force. 1969 Michael E. Boonstra, 78, Logansport, Ind., October 18. He was an attorney. Anita M. Deckard, 78, DeBary, Fla., May 16. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omicron Pi. She was a mental health therapist.

Charles O. Hershey, 77, Edmond, Okla., June 3. He was a Rector scholar. He was a physician and a professor of medicine at the University of Buffalo. After retirement, he was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden for his 15,360 hours of volunteer service. Ronald A. Hess, 78, Cumming, Ga., August 11. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was a businessman. Peter L. J. Pashler, 78, Amherst, N.Y., November 26. He had a career in collective bargaining and labor relations. 1970 Gerald H. Hoffman, 77, Independence, Ore., November 26, 2024. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a businessman. Mann Spitler III, 77, Valparaiso, Ind., December 10. He was a podiatrist. After retiring from his medical career, he was certified in addiction counseling. He helped raise funds for drug prevention and treatment. He spoke at schools, civic groups, parent groups and any assembly interested in drug prevention. He was a community volunteer. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Childers Spitler ’70, and a sister, Barbara Spitler ’66. David S. White, 80, Murray, Ky., December 23. He was a professor at Murray State University. 1971 Sharilyn Barton Baugh, 78, Danville, Ind., August 7. She was an elementary school

teacher. She enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling.

She was an elementary school teacher.

Mary Ella Brown, 77, Aiken, S.C., July 25. She was an educator, administrator and community leader for more than 40 years.

Jack W. Wiley, 73, Wabash, Ind., November 2. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He was a former member of DePauw’s Board of Visitors. He was a businessman and founder of several companies.

Kimberly Allen Isham, 76, Glenview, Ill., October 14. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She taught special education. Survivors include her husband, Randolph D. Isham ’70. Colin D. Munro, 78, Stamford, Conn., October 19. He was an attorney. 1973 Robert P. Kinsell, 73, Fort Davis, Texas, March 25, 2024. He was an artist and a professor of art. Sara Stienecker Phillips, 88, Lafayette, Ind., August 5. She was an elementary school teacher. She enjoyed golf, travel and winters in Florida. Carla Bauer Rentrop, 74, New York City, November 6. She was a member of Alpha Phi. She was a clinical psychologist. Survivors include a daughter, Emily C. Rentrop ’18. Wave C. Smith, 74, Canton, Conn., September 14. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He was a technical engineer. Suzanne Steubs Thompson, 74, Lafayette, Colo., September 8. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was a chemist and had a second career as a science and math teacher. She was a community volunteer. 1974 Mary Mason Hardy, 94, Martinsville, Ind., October 9.

1975 Tracy J. Ellis, 71, Indianapolis, Ind., July 30. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He was a Rector scholar. He was an accountant. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Smith Ellis ’75. Sandra Jackson Phipps, 80, Brazil, Ind., November 6. She was an English teacher for 36 years. Survivors include her husband, James W. Phipps ’75; and daughters, Julia Phipps Salting ’85 and Audrie Phipps Grimes ’89. 1976 Christine Markstrom Churchill, 70, Fox River Grove, Ill., June 9, 2024. She was a member of Delta Gamma. She was a project manager. Survivors include a sister, Karen Markstrom Seehausen ’73, and a cousin, Kathy Hurley ’75. 1977 Brenda Buescher Young, 70, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 19. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She was a registered nurse and co-owner of Impact Nursing Education. She was preceded in death by her father, Herb Buescher ’39. 1979 Carole Behn Greenawald, 82, Greencastle, Ind., July 22. She spent more than 40 years in public education.

After retiring from teaching, she had a second career in the travel industry. She was an active member of her community. Survivors include daughters, Erika Greenawald Grueninger ’90 and Meredith Greenawald McMahan ’00. 1980 William J. Hoenig, 66, Lomita, Calif., August 1. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He had a career with US Air. Survivors include a sister, Teresa Hoenig David ’80; brother, Steven D. Hoenig ’82; nephew, Jordan B. Hoenig ’14; and nieces, Montana M. Hoenig ’16 and Madison Hoenig Vertin ’11. He was preceded in death by his father, William B. Hoenig ’56, and his mother, Mary Belle Ferguson Hoenig ’56. Donald A. Ricks, 67, Brenham, Texas, October 31. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a salesman. Survivors include a brother, Michael D. Ricks ’78. David L. Skidmore, 67, Indianapolis, Ind., December 30. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a physician certified in internal medicine and anesthesiology. Survivors include a son, Samuel D. Skidmore ’26. 1982 Jonathan K. Fieroh, 65, Vermontville, N.Y., June 25, 2024. He was a fisheries biologist. He was a lifelong outdoor enthusiast. Melissa Martin Rhodes, 64, Indianapolis, Ind., August 31. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She was a special education teacher. She was a community volunteer. SPRING 2026

IN MEMORIAM

Survivors include a daughter, Allison A. Rhodes ’11; a son, Jacob K. Rhodes ’17; and a daughter-in-law, Elisabeth Wilson Rhodes ’17.

Eugene E. O’Reilly, 64, Atlanta, Ga., August 22. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He owned an investment firm.

Thomas M. Schneider, 65, Jacksonville, Fla., April 20. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He worked as corporate counsel for State Farm insurance, general counsel for Wycliffe Bible Translators, and was currently serving as advisor to the CEO & Of Counsel for Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He served as a member of the Fraternity Sorority Political Action Committee. He placed a high value on his Christian faith, his family and community and civic engagement. Survivors include a brother, Scott J. Schneider ’75; and a sister, Holly Schneider Gott ’74.

1987

Roberta Hansen Weliever, 83, Brazil, Ind., August 28. She was a teacher. She was a community volunteer. 1983 Darlene Almstadt Burden, 65, Washington, Mich., September 25. She was a registered nurse and a caregiver. She was gifted at crafting, quilting, sewing, crocheting and music. John V. Crowe IV, Lake Forest, Ill., September 14. He was an avid golfer. Survivors include a sister, Margaret Crowe Mitchell ’86; a brother-in-law, Todd D. Mitchell ’85; and nieces Sarah A. Mitchell ’17 and Margaret A. Mitchell ’13. Lisa A. Greenlee, 64, High Point, N.C., December 6. She worked as a nurse, massage therapist, home health aide and was a community college English professor.

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John J. Getgey III, 60, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 2. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a member of the Washington C. DePauw Society. He was a clinical social worker. Survivors include his wife, Amy Gurney Getgey ’87; a brother, James P. Getgey ’88; and a sister-in-law, Amy Williams Getgey ’90. 1989 Timothy Carmignani, 58, Darien, Ill., July 10. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was a high school and college athlete and an advocate for health and wellness. He extended his love of sports into coaching and guiding young athletes in football and wrestling. Mark B. Willmert, 58, Minneapolis, Minn., March 9. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was a graphic artist. He was a tireless advocate for the sport of curling and held several Minneapolis state club titles. 1993 Melinda Nicholson Leighton, 54, Fishers, Ind., November 28. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was a community volunteer, Survivors include her husband, Erik A. Leighton ’94, and a sister, Laura Nicholson Allison ’87. 2003 John P. Etzel, 44, Celina, Texas, August 8. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He worked in sales.

2016 Olivia N. Traynor, 30, Chicago, Ill., December 25, 2023. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She loved nature walks, music, traveling, the Chicago Blackhawks, cucumbers with ranch dressing and most of all, her life partner, Jim Easterhouse ’15, and her cat Dave. She was a recruiter, a yoga instructor and a trivia night host. FRIENDS Esther Arlene Ford, 91, Greencastle, Ind., October 13. She retired from DePauw in 2000 after 30 years of service supporting four different presidents, including 15 years as executive assistant. Helen Huber Williams, 92, Greencastle, Ind., September 11. She retired from DePauw University in 2007, where she was a cook since 1978.

DePauw’s Board of Trustees, received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from DePauw and served as a chaplain on a Winter Term mission trip to Sierra Leone in the early 80s. Both of his children graduated from DePauw – Beth Emerson Mrkvicka ’80 and Mark Emerson ’82. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Gloria. Edith Bean Welliver, 90, Berryville, Va., August 29. She had a teaching career. She married Glenn E. Welliver, a German professor at DePauw. While living in Greencastle, she was active in the community and in helping her husband with his German literature classes as an assistant. She started the first recycling program in Greencastle. She was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine A. Bean ’76.

Dr. Joe G. Emerson, 95, Bloomington, Ind., a United Methodist minister, served on DePauw mourns the loss of Rick Provine ’67, emeritus dean of libraries. He was a talented artist, a local servant leader and a cherished member of the DePauw community. Rick’s impact at DePauw is felt most strongly through his leadership of the transformational Roy O. West Library renovation. Generations of students, faculty, staff and community members continue to benefit from his commitment to this project. Rick served in numerous leadership roles in his professional life and led a life of devoted community service and rich artistic expression. In addition to serving as a member of the Greencastle Arts Council board and as the president of the Putnam County Museum board, he was also an avid musician and recording artist. Often, his musical contributions served DePauw and Greencastle community members simultaneously.

Remembering Robert G. Bottoms DePauw’s 18th President

obert “Bob” Bottoms was a loyal son of DePauw, our longest-serving president (1986-2008) and one of the most influential leaders in the university’s history. Bottoms guided the university through a season of tremendous growth, establishing DePauw’s reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent liberal arts institutions. Beloved and respected by DePauw and the many communities he touched, Bottoms led with a steady presence characterized by the unique combination of visionary insight and affable charm. During his presidency, Bottoms helped propel DePauw into the 21st century. He formed a partnership with the Posse Foundation to bring diverse students to DePauw from New York City and Chicago. He established a secure

1978 Joins DePauw as vice president for university relations.

1986 Inaugurated as president; his administration centers on diversity reflecting our society, education in the sciences and moral reflection.

financial foundation for the university, with over $550 million of contributions given under his leadership, including the largest gift to date to a liberal arts college in 1999. He brought significant changes to the campus footprint including the establishment of the 520acre DePauw Nature Park. Bottoms was also vital in bringing about the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, which he led following his retirement from the presidency until 2010. As a direct result of his bold and courageous leadership, DePauw became a place where students and faculty from broad cultural, geographical and ideological backgrounds found a home and experienced a welcoming community. In honor of President Bottoms, university bells rang throughout campus on January 29 at 4:58 p.m., with a moment of silence following. See more at depauw.edu/stories.

1996

1999

2003

Enters into partnership with the Posse Foundation.

Accepts a $128 million gift from Philip and Ruth Holton, the largest such gift to a liberal arts college at that time and significantly impacts DePauw scholarship support.

Acquires the land that becomes the 520-acre DePauw Nature Park.

2008 Retires as President of DePauw; becomes its founding director of The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics.

2018 Attends the dedication of the Robert G. Bottoms Alumni and Development Center.

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