Daniel hoffman ‘09 is a peace corps volunteer living on the senegal
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graduation, I have worked with Spanish/English speaking communities as an interpreter in a number of places around the Midwest. The past few years, I have been on a bit of a different path in order to work as an educator and researcher in language education. I completed Illinois State Teacher Licensure in Spanish and also a master of arts degree in Spanish at Northern Illinois University. After a major change of heart from the path that I was on, I decided I wanted to return to what I felt was my calling—helping people communicate. Of course, as a speech and language pathologist, helping people communicate will take on an even deeper meaning than it did before as an interpreter. So, my boyfriend and I (and our cat and dog) will be taking on the Southwestern U.S. for the next three years. With Albuquerque’s annual average of 300 days of sunshine, I don’t anticipate ever wanting to move back to Illinois.” ❯ Rachel Bobinsky Stansfield writes: “As I near the big 3-0, it’s exciting to see where I’ve been since leaving Knox. After living and teaching in New Orleans, I earned my master’s in social administration from Case Western and married husband Mark on the beach where we met. With two dogs, our three-year-old, Liam, and our almost one-year-old, Harper, there is never a dull moment at our home in Chicago! This summer we frequented the beach, pool, and plethora of city-wide festivals. Can’t wait to introduce my
Alumni Travel to Balkans Last fall, Mike Boettcher ’05, Hassan Massoud ’06, and Zachary Stephenson ’06 traveled through the Balkans together, road tripping from Budapest to Dubrovnik and back by way of Sarajevo. Says Zachary, “We only got into one car accident (Hassan was driving—no surprise) though we did accrue a number of Croatian parking tickets.”
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little ones to Knox—just have to find the time!” ❯ Brett Feger told me: “From August 2012 to December 2013, I worked for the Ohio Division of Wildlife Inland Fisheries Research Unit near Columbus, Ohio, on a two-year term grant. In January 2014, I started a new job as a full-time visiting instructor in the biology department at Ave Maria University in Florida. I ran in two 5Ks and am thinking in the next one I should wear an old Knox track jersey!” ❯ From Zachary Stephenson: “In January, Austin Stacey Stephenson ’07 and I took our 18-month-old daughter, Nora, to Knox for the first time while passing through Galesburg. She had a chance to check out the Lincoln Chair and meet a few friends.” ❯ Erika Barrish left her teaching position with her alma mater at the end of the school year to pursue an opportunity with John Muir Charter School. She’s excited to help implement a Career Pathways grant and to have more time for home improvement projects! ❯ From Megan Gamble: “I had my one-year anniversary in Washington D.C. this spring, and I don’t mean to brag, but my life is pretty awesome.” ❯ Karin Kovitvongsa Straehl still lives in Chicago. She got married in September of last year, with several Knox alums as guests: Matt McGinn ’05, Manasi Venkatesh, Emilie Marty Roche ’05, Rachel Spiegel ’05, Nar Ramkissoon, Elliott Bass ’05, Kyle ’05 and Kristina Anderson Alvarez, and Victoria Bures Georgoff. The company she’s worked with since 2011 just raised funding to double in growth. ❯ From Sylvie Davidson: “The news here is of an engagement and a move from Seattle to Nashville. My fiancé (Trevor Wheetman) and I decided to pack up and head to Music City. We’ve been here for six months and are settling in, writing songs and making wonderful new friends! I’d love to hear from any nearby Knoxies!” ❯ Rebecca Meyerson is happily working at a day camp teaching ceramics for the summer and rescued a beautiful cat named Macklemore. ❯ Josh Berry writes: “I got engaged! I somehow convinced a lovely and beautiful woman to spend the rest of her life with me. Her name is Danielle Young. While she is not a Knox alum, she has come to numerous Colorado Knox Club events. We’re looking to get married in April or May 2015. I also switched law firms in March of this year and now am an associate at the Southwest regional law firm, Fennemore Craig, PC. I work in its Denver office and represent healthcare professionals. I also work with start-up companies and am beginning a lobby practice. I just got back from Europe, where I stayed with Huseyin Naci in his London flat. He defended his thesis and will undoubtedly succeed and get his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. It was great to see him and see how well he is doing.” ❯ Peter McKeigue ’04 and Mary Tibbets bought a house in north Austin. They have a spare bedroom, so they invite Knox pals to hit them up for a place to stay if they’re ever in town (so long as they’re not
allergic to cats or dogs). They plan to attend Homecoming this year for PT’s 10-year Reunion. ❯ Kyle Buchman got engaged to Penny Stein ’08. He’s also about to open his first internal medicine practice in Herrin, Illinois. ❯ Sarah Kilch Gaffney shared sad news: “As many of you know, my husband, Steve, passed away in March at the age of 31 after a 4 ½-year battle with brain cancer. We met on Saddleback Mountain in western Maine (where Steve’s ashes will be scattered) while working on the Appalachian Trail together in 2004. We were married there in 2006. Our daughter, Zoe, will be four in January, and I plan to return to nursing school this fall. Thank you to all of my Knox friends, near and far, for your kindness and support over the last few years.” ❯ Genevieve Gamble Nassif and her husband, Nader, moved from New York City to Irvine, California, last summer and are expecting their first child in August. She’s glad to have her old roommate and good friend, Jorja Ackers Cirigliana, close by. ❯ Brian Werner and Lindsay Hoyt got married in Kansas City on a snowy March 1. It was great to have Nate Ewigman, Brian Marienfeld, Steve Yasukawa, and Devin Hogan travel from all around the country to be there. ❯ As for me, I took a new job in fundraising at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Class Correspondent: Megan Rehberg 220 Shroyer Road, Dayton, OH 45419, megan.rehberg@gmail.com
2007 Hello Class of 2007! It seems like a lot of you have been doing your thing and keeping up with each other on Facebook. A couple of updates this time. As always, if you have anything, feel free to send it anytime, and it will be put in with the next round of updates. E-mail or Facebook message us any time. ❯ Farah Ahed got married on January 16, 2014, to Hasan Rahimtoola. She had a great time and the following Knox people came to her wedding: Shayna Olufs ’06, Shabbar Shaikh, Gauher Ahmad ’05, Mauaz Raza ’09, Saba Akram Bilgrami ’08, Sibel Karabeyoglu ’08, Emaad Hassan, and Rafay Khan ’10. Congratulations, Farah! ❯ Ashleigh Honaker Malec completed her fifth year at Lakes Community High School. She and Chris cannot wait to celebrate Sloan Ava Malec’s first birthday! Chris and Ashleigh were honored to be a part of the wedding of Mallory Havens ’06 and Andy Scott, along with Julia Strehlow, Karen Kinderman, Cary Clemente, and Rob Hull. ❯ Jess Drew Odom graduated in May 2013 with her master’s in theatre history, theory, and literature from Indiana University, Bloomington. She made the move back to Chicago soon after and married her partner of five years, Darren Odom, on March 15, 2014. She works for Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development and enjoys married life immensely. ❯ Michael Sales is the coordinator of student life at Thomas