Och Tamale Summer 2025 - University of Redlands

for Alumni & Friends of the University of Redlands

OCH TAMALE

65 years of Salzburg: Shaping generations of global learners

From Trieste to triumph: Redlands business students find purpose abroad

Creating change, one mile at a time: How one professor inspires inmates through running

Beyond the classroom

Bulldogs

dive deep to explore Palau

OCH TAMALE

The “Och Tamale” cheer

Originally called the “Psalm of Collegiate Thanksgiving,” the “Och Tamale” cheer was written by cheerleader C. Merle Waterman ’20 and classmates Walter J. Richards ’21 and Jack Slutsk ’22.

The “Och Tamale” is recited when the Bulldogs score a touchdown, at pep rallies, Homecoming, alumni events, or as a greeting to fellow alumni.

Cover photo by Shane Keena

Letter from the President

In many of my recent conversations with students and faculty, alumni, parents, and community partners, one question keeps coming up: What’s next for higher education?

It’s a timely and important question. Policies at the state and federal level are shifting fast, and those changes affect everything from financial aid and transfer access to how institutions like ours define opportunity and deliver on our promise to students. These aren’t abstract concepts. They have a very real impact on how students navigate college, how families plan for the future, and how we prepare the next generation of leaders.

At Redlands, we’re not just watching these changes unfold; we’re taking an active role in shaping the future of higher education. As part of this commitment, I’ve been deeply involved in advocacy efforts on both coasts to ensure that education equips students to engage meaningfully with the world and influence it for the better.

The theme of this issue is learning beyond the classroom, and nowhere is this more evident than in the ways our students have learned to advocate for themselves and our University. This spring, I traveled to Sacramento to join the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities in advocating for expanded financial aid and stronger transfer pathways, which are key priorities for student success in California. I was joined by Gaby Herrera ’25, a political science and public policy double major whose insight and passion for change have already made an impact on campus. Watching her speak to legislators reminded me of the power of student advocacy.

I saw that same energy and engagement on full display during May Term in Washington, D.C., where I met with students participating in an immersive course on American politics. These students weren’t just studying government, they were fully engaged in it. They visited historic sites, met with community leaders and policymakers, and networked with Redlands alumni who are doing meaningful work in our nation’s capital. It’s a

great example of how learning truly comes to life outside of the classroom.

Similarly, our Office of Community Service Learning (CSL) was one of the first of its kind in the nation for its enduring vision of embedding service learning and engagement deep into our culture and curriculum. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations, our students are conducting internships in roles where they confront real-world challenges while making a meaningful impact. As a result, they develop the habits that lead to lifelong advocacy and leadership. CSL has become a model for institutions around the United States.

And student advocacy has taken center stage on our campus this year, most notably through a powerful, student-led effort to write personal postcards to state and federal legislators. Their messages called for increased funding for financial aid, protections for Federal Work Study, and easier access to the SNAP program. It was a powerful example of how our students turn knowledge into action to make our campus and world a better place. That, after all, is the University of Redlands way.

And, of course, this year marks the 65th anniversary of our Salzburg program, one of the earliest opportunities for Redlands students to take their education global. Since then, generations of Bulldogs have been transformed by their time abroad in Salzburg and many other locations, gaining new perspectives and discovering their place in the world.

Whether in Sacramento, Salzburg, or on Capitol Hill, our students are gaining the tools to shape what comes next, backed by the experiences, perspectives, and preparation they’ve found at Redlands.

Go Bulldogs!

Krista L. Newkirk, J.D.

L–R: President Krista L. Newkirk, Honorary Degree Recipient Steven Jones ’00, and Provost Adrienne McCormick at Commencement

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

OCH TAMALE

President

Krista L. Newkirk

Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer

Kinnari “Kin” Sejpal

Vice President, Advancement

Jed Schwendiman

Senior Director of Communications

Stephanie Johnson

Interim Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations

Jessica Pfahler

Director of Donor Relations & Communications

Sarah Armes Harwood

Editor

Jennifer Dobbs ’17, ’22

Graphic Designer

Michelle Dang ’14

Contributors

Steven Arciniega

Sarah Armes Harwood

Alieu Corr ’20, ’22

Lance Franey

Catherine Garcia ’06

Coco McKown ’04, ’10

Frank Perez

Rachel Roche ’02

Eric Whedbee

Och Tamale is published by the University of Redlands.

LEAD WITH PURPOSE

UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS

CHAMPIONS

ADVOCACY FOR ALL STUDENTS

Ina time marked by rapid policy shifts and heightened challenges for students across the country, University of Redlands has doubled down on advocacy guided by purpose, unity, and unwavering commitment to its core values.

“Our commitment remains clear. We stand as one University, focused on providing clarity and support in uncertain times and acting in alignment with our values. As policies evolve, we will continue to keep the Bulldog community informed and advocate for the resources that sustain our mission.”.”

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— University President Krista L. Newkirk

Through bold leadership and consistent action, Redlands is working to ensure that every student, regardless of background, immigration status, identity, or financial means, has access to a safe, inclusive, and empowering learning environment.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

That commitment to advocacy isn’t just aspirational. It is active and ongoing. Earlier this spring, University of Redlands participated in the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. Representing Redlands, President Krista Newkirk met with members of Congress, Senate staff, and the Department of Education’s new Under Secretary to speak on behalf of students and independent institutions across the nation. Meetings focused on critical priorities such as doubling the Pell Grant, expanding Federal Work Study and Supplemental Educational Opportunity

Grants, improving access to SNAP benefits, supporting fire relief efforts, reducing regulatory red tape, and preserving student loan access.

These initiatives were part of a broader Redlands agenda, shaped through collaboration across campus, from academic and student affairs leadership to faculty and students. While President Newkirk helps amplify these priorities through national leadership roles with NAICU’s Board of Directors and Tax Policy Committee, Redlands’ influence reflects a unified institutional voice.

These visible efforts are reinforced by consistent, behindthe-scenes work. Over the past academic year, President Newkirk has written numerous letters to U.S. Senators, members of Congress, Governor Gavin Newsom, and California legislators to call for increased financial aid, expansion of work-study programs, Cal Grant support, and protections for all students, regardless of background, identity, or immigration status. Students also played a leading role, sending more than 270 handwritten postcards to lawmakers advocating for greater support of higher education. Faculty member Kathryn Tucker helped coordinate an additional student and faculty outreach effort, and the continued outpouring of student voices added critical weight to the message.

At the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Presidents Institute in January, U of R joined other national leaders in addressing today’s most pressing issues in higher education, from federal policy shifts to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Redlands’ advocacy also extended to the state level, with a strong presence at the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) Day in the Capitol. President Newkirk was joined by student Gaby Herrera ’25, who advocated alongside her for AB 402, a bill designed to expand Cal Grant funding and improve transfer pathways for nontraditional students.

The University also reinforced its commitment to accessible education when President Krista Newkirk testified before California’s Senate Education Committee in support of SB 790. The bill would allow California higher education institutions to join the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which streamlines state regulations and expands opportunities for students to access flexible, accredited distance learning. By joining NC-SARA, Redlands can better serve students nationwide, ensuring continuity of education even if life circumstances require a move before they earn their degree.

A COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO EQUITY

At home, the University continues to build a more inclusive campus experience. This year, VP for Student Affairs Sandy Vasquez and VP for Institutional Integrity and Strategic Planning Chris Jennings launched the Access to Higher Education for Every Student Collaborative, a new initiative that brings together faculty and staff from across campus to assess and

strengthen support for students regardless of immigration status. The Collaborative is charged with ensuring Redlands remains a safe and welcoming environment for our diverse community of learners and fulfills its responsibilities under California’s Access to Higher Education for Every Student Act.

“This is our moral duty and our charge,” said Newkirk. “We must do everything we responsibly can to ensure that every student who walks through our doors feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.”

In the same spirit, the University continues to expand support systems for LGBTQIA2S+ students, faculty, and staff through inclusive policies, affirming spaces, and intentional services. These efforts are driven by staff training, student engagement, and cross-campus collaborations that reflect the values of respect and belonging.

DEFENDING ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND GLOBAL LEARNING

In a show of national solidarity, the University of Redlands joined 86 other institutions and educational associations by joining an amicus curiae brief in the case of AAUP v. Rubio, which challenges federal actions targeting international students. The brief, submitted by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, calls for the protection of academic freedom and highlights the vital role international students play in American higher education.

By joining this effort, Redlands reaffirmed its commitment to global learning and student mobility. “The brief underscores how recent efforts targeting international students and other noncitizen campus members have created a climate of fear and uncertainty on U.S. campuses,” it reads. “Left unchecked, this environment will deter international students from choosing U.S. colleges and universities… and ultimately jeopardize the global competitiveness and leadership of American higher education.”

LEADING WITH PURPOSE – TOGETHER

The University has continued to advocate through national coalitions and statements. Redlands joined nearly 200 institutions in signing A Call for Constructive Engagement, a national effort to promote principled dialogue and reject polarization. Redlands also added its name to the Association of Governing Boards’ Community Letter Reaffirming the Independence of Higher Education Governance, defending institutional autonomy in the face of growing political pressures.

Whether in meetings with lawmakers, on advisory councils, or in convening campus-wide letter-writing campaigns, advocacy at Redlands is a shared responsibility.

“Advocating for students and the autonomy of our University is not just our responsibility—it’s the right thing to do,” said Newkirk. “We will continue to lead with purpose, and we will always put our students and our community first.” OT

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Redlands honors Black deans in leadership

By Steven Arciniega

I

n celebration of Black History Month, the University of Redlands hosted a powerful panel discussion spotlighting the leadership journeys of four distinguished Black deans. Black Excellence Showcase: Black Deans in Leadership featured Dean Justin Rose (College of Arts and Sciences), Interim Dean of Students Aaron Burgess, Dean Laurie Garrett-Cobbina (San Francisco Theological Seminary), and former Dean Nicol Howard (School of Education).

The conversation explored the panelists’ paths to leadership, the challenges faced, and the transformative role of representation and mentorship in higher education.

Rose emphasized using his position to create change. “Higher education is both a source of structural injustice but also a potential antidote,” he said. “Any perch that I had in

higher education, I needed to make sure that I was working to responsibly create structural change.”

Burgess shared how his journey has been guided by a commitment to student success. “Every time there was an opportunity for me to engage and grow, I would face that little bit self-doubt that said, ‘I wonder if I can do that—I wonder if that’s for me,’” he said. “You have to set that aside and take the next step because you’re not doing it for yourself. You’re doing it for students who have dreams and aspirations to be something greater than where they are now.”

Howard, who played a key role in founding the Black Student, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Association (BSFSAA), emphasized the power of community in leadership. “Don’t forget about each other,” she said. “Don’t forget about the other people who are sharing leadership spaces with you. Check in on them, support each other, show up for each other, and don’t let their names be forgotten in important spaces that you occupy.”

Garrett-Cobbina closed with a call to follow purpose with courage and intention: “Go toward the things that your soul desires and you will be doing work that feeds your soul. When opportunities come, take them and prepare to do work that inspires your soul.” OT

FRANK PEREZ

FRANK PEREZ

FRANK PEREZ

FRANK PEREZ

Students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered for the annual MLK Peace Walk, honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through quiet reflection and campus unity. Held January 23 as part of MLK Week, the event began at Hunsaker Plaza and concluded at the Labyrinth with music and remarks from campus leaders. The Peace Walk is one of several events during the week that encourages service, solidarity, and action in the spirit of Dr. King.

FROM FIRSTGENERATION TO FIERCE STUDENT ADVOCATE

Sandra Vasquez leads with lived experience, cultural pride, and an unwavering commitment to student success

When Sandra Vasquez stepped into her role as Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Redlands, she brought more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership. She brought her whole self—first-generation college student, cultural advocate, mentor, and tireless champion for students.

Her journey through higher education wasn’t linear or easy. As the first in her family to attend college, Vasquez found her way through grit, the love of her community, and the support of mentors who believed in her. Today, she draws on that personal history to guide her work, advocating especially for those who, like her, are forging new paths.

“I believe students are not only an inspiration,” she said, “but the hope for the transformational impact a Redlands education can have—locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.”

For Vasquez, student affairs is more than a division—it’s a mission. She lights up when students share moments of deep connection, like saying, “This is why I came to Redlands.” Whether it’s the energy of move-in day, the camaraderie of the Och Tamale chant, or the impact of student-led initiatives such as the Bulldog Civic Engagement Collective and Bulldog Beginnings, she sees each experience as an opportunity to build belonging and purpose.

Under her leadership, the Division of Student Affairs has re-established the LiveWell Bulldogs wellness program, launched the inaugural Redlands Student Government, initiated the development of the Commuter Student Center, reimagined New Student Orientation, and created the student experiential learning and wellbeing areas. They have also re-established Intramurals, enhanced student campus life engagement, and established community based partnerships to support student, staff, and faculty with pro bono legal services, in addition to helping develop institutional policies. At the core of her leadership is a belief in the cultural wealth each student brings and a commitment to creating inclusive, student-centered communities.

Her previous leadership roles span institutions including Pitzer College, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Cal State San Bernardino, where she built student success programs and championed equity, wellness, and mental health. She also mentors future higher education leaders and serves on the faculty of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ La Academia de Liderazgo.

Whether she’s hiking, cooking, or singing with Mariachi groups, Vasquez brings the same passion she offers students: a deep belief in purpose, culture, and possibility. OT

FRANK PEREZ

FRANK PEREZ

ERIC WHEDBEE

ERIC WHEDBEE

CELEBRATING STUDENTS’ EXCELLENCE, CULTURE, AND SUSTAINABILITY AT REDLANDS

Five outstanding musicians shine at the 2025 President’s Honor Recital

Since 1983, the President’s Honor Recital has provided a public showcase for the most outstanding performers in the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music. Each year, this diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate students represents the best of the program. The tradition continued this year with five standout performers: Ryan Vickrey ’26, a horn performance major who balances solo and orchestral playing with leadership roles as an residence assistant, intern, and music instructor; saxophonist Madelyn Olsen ’27, who performs with top university ensembles and leads on campus as editor-in-chief of The Redlands Bulldog; Jase Gooden ’26, a bass trombonist and vocalist, is a dual-degree student active in both instrumental and choral groups, while also working as a stage manager and Young Life leader; violinist Luchi Jiang ’26, a master’s student who performs internationally and locally with the Redlands Symphony and recently recorded at Warner Bros. Studios; and pianist Emma Lindeman ’25 who blends her cultural heritage into award-winning performances, teaches privately, and is a dedicated chamber musician and worship pianist. OT

Asian Student Association Night Market

University of Redlands Asian Student Association transformed Chapel Drive into a vibrant celebration of Asian cultures during its annual Night Market, complete with food, crafts, and live performances like lion dancing and Taiko drumming. Launched in 2021, the student-led event has become a beloved campus tradition that highlights community, cultural heritage, and offers an immersive experience that educates and celebrates the richness of Asian identities. OT

Woodbury Project on SURF Garden at Redlands

Woodbury University students, alongside School of Architecture faculty Jeanine Centuori and Todd Erlandson and U of R Community Service Learning Assistant Director Erin Sanborn, installed five wooden pavilions at the Sustainable University of Redlands Farm (SURF) as part of the Woodbury Project on SURF. This first-ofits-kind collaboration between Woodbury and the University of Redlands supports sustainability education through structures including an outdoor classroom, chicken coop, and propagation station, all designed to inspire the Bulldog community toward a greener future. OT

A LASTING LEGACY

Professor Jack Osborn ’69 shaped countless lives over his decades at

TRedlands

he students who successfully completed a Jack Osborn class always left ready to make their mark on the world.

Some went on to launch careers in global business, working at companies like Target Corporation, PIMCO, Burberry and Impossible Foods, while others found their calling conducting research or teaching abroad as Fulbright awardees. For many of them, Osborn—developer of the Global Business program, onetime Hunsaker Chair of Management, and longtime Fulbright advisor—was the key factor in making those dreams come true.

“Jack helped guide me and helped me find new things I didn’t know about and encouraged me to explore things I never would have before,” Kara Babb ‘09, a global business major, said during the 2017 “Forever Yours” campaign.

Osborn, who retired in 2021, died on May 12, and will be remembered as a thoughtful colleague, professor, and mentor. Students always came first, and he worked hard on building meaningful relationships—he once declared that his career at Redlands was “the best thing I’ve ever done.”

He was once in his students’ shoes—Osborn graduated from the University in 1969, earning his bachelor’s degree in international relations. He went on to serve in a number of high-profile roles, including as president and COO of Mitsubishi Consumer Electronics North America and attaché for high technology at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Osborn also received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Master of Laws from Christ’s College at Cambridge University in England.

Redlands then came calling, and in 2001 Osborn became the Hunsaker Chair of Management and began shaping the Global Business program into what it is today, giving majors the opportunity to learn another language and study abroad. “I had no idea that I would return to the very same place that planted the initial seeds of my success,” he said in 2021. “I thought I’d stay only two or three years—the students have drawn me back.”

Osborn relished in becoming a mentor. Dedicated to helping Bulldogs reach their potential, Osborn helmed the University’s successful Fulbright program, shepherding participants through the application process, essay writing, and mock interviews.

“The diversity of the departments our Fulbrights come from, and the work they are, or will be, pursuing, speaks highly of the University and the quality of our students and faculty,” Osborn said in 2009.

The program continues to build upon the foundation he built. Since 2008, the University has been named a Fulbright Top Producer four times, with 28 students receiving the prestigious award.

In addition to being honored for his work with Fulbright candidates, Osborn received other numerous accolades throughout his career, including the University’s first Alumni Career Achievement Award in 1987 and the Outstanding Service Award in 2007. He was also nominated multiple times for U of R Mortar Board Professor of the Year.

At a 2021 event celebrating Osborn’s service, and at the request of Rich and Ginnie Hunsaker, both Class of 1952, the Hunsaker Chair in Management was renamed the Jack Osborn Chair in Management in honor of the impact he made on students and his other extraordinary contributions. President Emeritus James Appleton said with this, Osborn’s name became “forever a part of this University.”

In a message to the community, President Krista Newkirk said, “As we remember Jack, we honor a life lived with purpose, passion, and generosity. He gave his students the gift of global vision, helped elevate Redlands on the world stage, and remained always, a true Bulldog. Together with his wife Kathleen, he warmly welcomed countless students into their home over the years, hosting dinners, lively gatherings, and thoughtful conversations that left a lasting impression on all who attended.”

Memorial donations can be directed to the Jack Osborn Chair of Management via Ericka Smith, assistant vice president for Advancement, at 909-748-8357 or ericka_smith@redlands.edu OT

MICHAEL PATRICK PARTNERS

ON CAMPUS

The University recently celebrated the installation of several endowed chairs and their impactful contributions to scholarship, teaching, and service. This event recognized the exceptional academic achievements and dedication of these educators, whose work exemplifies the University’s commitment to excellence and intellectual leadership. Held in a spirit of pride and gratitude, the ceremony celebrated the enduring impact of faculty whose influence extends far beyond the classroom.

HONORING EXCELLENCE

Wesley Bernardini, Ph.D.

Farquhar Professor of the American Southwest, est. 1988

An archaeologist specializing in the American Southwest, Bernardini has collaborated with the Hopi Tribe for over 20 years. He is the only scholar to receive both the Dissertation Award (2003) and the Scholarly Book Award (2022) from the Society for American Archaeology.

Mousumi De, Ph.D.

Virginia Hunsaker Chair in Distinguished Teaching, est. 1990

De’s work integrates visual arts, technology, and social justice education. She supports STEM access for underrepresented communities and received the 2023 U of R Innovative Teaching Award and the 2019 Dissertation Award in Art Education.

Lawrence W. Gross, Ph.D.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Endowed Chair for Native American Studies, est. 2010

Gross specializes in Native American meditation and storytelling. He is currently writing Heartsitting, a book on Native meditation. He earned the 2023 President’s Award and the Award for Innovative Teaching at U of R.

Hillary Jenkins, Ph.D.

Hedco Chair in Environmental Studies, est. 1991

Jenkins’s research includes hydrology, paleoclimatology, and carbon storage modeling. She received a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service grant for wetland monitoring and multiple teaching awards, including two from Harvard.

Daniel Klooster, Ph.D.

Douglas B. Chaffee and Paulette Marshall Chaffee Endowed Chair of the Department of Environmental Studies, est. 2021

Klooster researches conservation in Latin America and leads GIS expeditions with students. He founded an environmental justice teaching collaborative and has received U of R’s Faculty Global Impact and Innovative Teaching Awards.

Lillian I. Larsen, Ph.D.

Will C. and Effie M. Crawford Professor of Religion, est. 1915

The first woman to hold this chair, Larsen explores ancient and contemporary Christian landscapes. Her research on monastic education has earned her multiple awards, including the 2024 Outstanding Faculty Research Award.

Bryce Ryan, Ph.D.

John Stauffer Director for the Center for Science & Mathematics, est. 2003

Focusing on endocrinology and neurobiology, Ryan studies the effects of pollutants on wildlife and human health. He received U of R’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2012.

David Soulsby, Ph.D.

John Stauffer Endowed Chair in Chemistry, est. 2024

Soulsby teaches organic chemistry and researches new pharmaceutical reactions with undergraduates. He holds a provisional patent for MRI contrast agents and has received multiple teaching awards.

Kathryn Tucker, Ph.D.

John and Linda Seiter Endowed Director of Writing, est. 2005

Tucker specializes in antiracist, inclusive writing pedagogy. She directs the writing program and received the 2017 Teaching Excellence Award from Nevada State College.

Renée Van Vechten, Ph.D.

Fletcher Jones Chair in American Politics, est. 1991

Van Vechten’s expertise spans U.S. institutions and California politics. She received the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the APSA’s Political Science Education Section.

Mara Winick, Ph.D.

Jack Osborn Endowed Chair of Management, est. 1987

Winick leads student consulting teams that serve real-world clients, a rare opportunity in undergraduate education. She also helped launch a mentoring program for first-generation and commuter students. OT

Beyond the Classroom

Students take their learning into the world— through study away, real-world experiences, and hands-on opportunities that reflect what it means to be Relentlessly Redlands

THE WORLD IS THEIR CLASSROOM

How

global travel courses at Redlands are transforming students through culture, confidence, and curiosity.

By Catherine Garcia ’06

Transformative. Fulfilling. Inspiring. Life-changing. School of Business & Society Professor Allison Fraiberg hears these words every time students return from a study away trip. Since 2010, Fraiberg has led 20 travel courses to three continents, and said that along the way, she witnesses “a profoundly beautiful sense of disorientation, as students experience different values and approaches to work, see myriad ways of doing business well, and immerse themselves in unfamiliar cultural landscapes.”

Office of Global Education Director Andrea Muilenburg also sees a shift. “A lot of students come back with a different confidence,” she said. “Some of them have never left the U.S. before and say they can now plan their own trips and they want to keep traveling.”

Every University of Redlands student, across all programs, departments, campuses, and majors, has the opportunity to study away. College of Arts and Sciences students can choose to travel abroad for a semester or during May Term, while those in the School of Education and School of Business & Society are able to participate in shorter faculty-led trips lasting no more than two weeks.

“You can find something that fits you academically and what you’re looking for professionally and personally as well,” Muilenburg said. “I love that each student gets to curate their own journey.”

BULLDOGS DIVE DEEP TO EXPLORE PALAU

By Catherine Garcia ’06

Every May, a dozen University of Redlands students with a passion for marine conservation pack their scuba and snorkeling gear and make the 7,000-mile journey to Palau, an ecological wonderland in Micronesia.

Led by Professor Lei Lani Stelle and her husband, wildlife photographer Shane Keena, this May Term course is a Redlands staple, developed in the early 2000s by the late Professor and Hedco Chair in Environmental Studies Monty Hempel. His vision was for students to see sustainability in action, and intentionally opened the course to all majors.

“He really wanted it to be something students could experience regardless of what they were studying,” Stelle, who went on her first Palau expedition in 2016, said. Hempel asked her if she would like to lead the trips once he retired, and after he passed away in 2019, Stelle felt this was “a legacy I needed to continue.”

The course’s interdisciplinary approach allows students to have an immersive, hands-on experience that connects back to things they are learning in other classes. During their two-and-a-half weeks in Palau, students study the country’s marine ecology, matriarchal society, sustainability efforts, and World War II history, all while exploring its islands and going on hikes and scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking excursions.

“This course truly transformed how I think about marine ecology and conservation,” Brandon Turk ‘25, a human-animal studies major, said. “It was incredibly inspiring to witness firsthand the dedication Palau has to both environmental preservation and maintaining culturally significant practices. Seeing how they integrate ecological care with cultural values broadened my perspective on how conservation can be approached.”

Marissa Dilmeang Spires ’26, a creative writing and psychology major whose mother was born and raised in Palau, saw signing up for the May Term course as a way to further connect with her heritage and learn more about the island. “It opened up a new side of what Palau has to offer, in regard to nature and water,” she said. “We would wake up early and go straight to paddling

tours or meet dive and scuba instructors to get the lay of the land. It was something new every day.”

Palau is “one of the most beautiful places on Earth,” Stelle said, with “so much unique wildlife you often don’t get to see in other places.” Giant clams, dugongs, manta rays, frogfish, and barracudas are just a sampling of the marine life found in the waters of Palau, alongside diverse coral reefs.

Students also see firsthand the effects of climate change and pollution. Everything they do in the water is determined by tides, and “we used to be able to rely on the tide table and know exactly what was going to happen,” Stelle said. Now, the tides are changing, making it harder to plan excursions. Another real-life example is the amount of plastic in the water. During beach clean-ups, students realize “this is not local plastic. We are on a tiny little island in the middle of the Pacific—most of that trash is not locally produced. They see the impact.”

There are always new elements to each trip, and in 2024, Spires’ connection to Palau resulted in two major moments: the students meeting the president of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr., and sharing a traditional Palauan meal with Spires’ extended family in their village. “Palau is still not very well known with a lot of representation,” Spires said. “They felt very proud and humble to serve us.”

When reflecting on their time in Palau, many students describe it as being “life-changing,” Stelle said. Several have gone back for jobs at environmental nonprofits or internships, including Spires, who spent last summer at the Island Times newspaper and wrote articles about the course. Those who have yet to return carry their memories with them and credit the course with changing their outlook on the world.

“Palau was truly unforgettable,” Turk said. “From visiting the capitol in Babeldaob to learning about the enduring history of World War II in Peleliu and the Rock Islands, every moment was impactful. It was a trip that not only broadened my understanding of marine conservation but also deepened my appreciation for the resilience and cultural richness of Palauan life.” OT

DISCOVERING NEW STRENGTHS ABROAD

Jamie

Jovel-Flores ’26 knew she wanted to study away during the Fall 2024 semester, but wasn’t sure where to go. “I closed my eyes and put my finger on a map,” Jovel-Flores said, landing on New Zealand.

She chose the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, and her time there embodied all of the reasons why studying away is such a formative experience for students. Jovel-Flores gained a better understanding of the world, took advantage of networking and academic experiences, and became more independent and resourceful. “I was able to venture out as an adult but still have that safety net,” she said.

Jovel-Flores’ strong academic work impressed her Media and Communications in the International Context professor, who invited her to participate in a research project through the Ukrainian Embassy. She was tasked with studying attitudes toward the Ukraine war in Australia and presented her findings to the U.K. High Commission and Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia.

“This opened up an avenue on something I didn’t know was in my wheelhouse,” she said.

Jovel-Flores is “really proud of everything I was able to accomplish,” she said, and believes the friendships and connections she made in New Zealand “are going to be forever.”

MEMORIES MADE IN A MONTH

Professor Greg Thorson designed his May Term policymaking course in Washington, D.C., so students can network and see the sights. Mornings are dedicated to panel sessions with alumni who discuss their time at the University and lives since graduating. There is a “robust Q+A session,” Thorson said, along with one-on-one time with every guest. In the afternoon, the group tours notable sites like the Supreme Court and Ford’s Theater and often attends dinners hosted by alumni.

“The experience is invaluable,” Thorson said. “Washington, D.C., is much different than Southern California. There is a very strong work ethic there. Policy wonks are everywhere, and many students feel like they ‘belong’ immediately upon arriving.”

Student success is always top of mind, and Thorson has developed very strong relationships with alumni in D.C. and leveraged that to learn about new internships and job opportunities. Typically, about one-third of each class goes on to intern in D.C., independently or through the University’s Tinker Scholar Program.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG THORSON

FIRST PERSON From Trieste to triumph: Redlands business

students find purpose abroad

By Allison Fraiberg

I

t’s a foggy, drizzly Thursday evening in Trieste, Italy. In a cramped Airbnb, laptops and notebooks cover every surface, snack and drink containers are everywhere, and the final thoughts of five students are being distilled and debated. As the faculty supervisor, I have arrived to hear the student team’s presentation run-through. I can feel the nervous energy as I drop my bag on the sofa and settle in. Tomorrow is a big day: the students will deliver their preliminary findings to our client’s organization. No final exams or papers—the challenge is to propose real recommendations and a viable action plan to people who have poured their hearts and souls into their business.

This is the School of Business & Society Global Consultancy, a unique opportunity for students to complete their academic programs beyond the classroom by teaming up on a live consultancy project for a business abroad. Before traveling, we work on team building, understanding the purpose of consulting, delivering business proposal presentations, and crafting professional reports. Then we go live, heading abroad to work on

location with the client for a full week. After the engagement, the student team prepares a full, expanded report for the client.

Students who have completed the global consultancy are clear about the impact of this experience.

Shannon Tweed shared that the consultancy was “the most valuable thing I took away from my time at Redlands. It is the beautiful collision of everything that you’ve learned in your time there, put into practice.”

“We navigated group dynamics in unfamiliar, foreign, highpressure, rapidly changing environments,” explained teammates Laura Krenek and Kristi Krugel, realizing their “recommendations had real business implications, and this was a responsibility we could not take lightly.”

Katie Nabours, who recently returned from her London-based consultancy, summed it up well: “Working with a real business made it essential to provide solutions that are practical, datadriven, and actionable; the international cultural immersion provided a more in-depth and well-rounded educational experience than a traditional class.”

Recent consultancies have taken us to Italy, England, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, and Portugal. Our clients appreciate the hard work and commitment from our student teams, commending the professionalism, care, and insights to projects.

Italian entrepreneur Giulio Centis captures the essence of it all: “To work with the awesome students of Redlands will always be a fundamental step in my growth as an entrepreneur and as a person; I hope it had the same impact for them as for me.”

Learn more at www.redlands.edu/sbs. OT

CREATING CHANGE, ONE MILE AT A TIME

How one professor inspires inmates through running

By Steven Arciniega

When he’s not attending to his duties as Interim Dean of the School of Education, Professor Brian Charest can be found running alongside inmates at the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC), also known as the Norco Prison.

A seasoned marathoner, Charest has been teaching inmates through the Inside Out program, where 10 U of R students come together inside CRC and take a college course with 10 incarcerated students. About four years ago, Charest was asked by one of his CRC students to create a running program. Together with Phil Peng, a Los Angeles County Commissioner, Charest started the Born to Run Club: Learning to Run, Running to Learn, a 13-week class where students explore the intersections of fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and goal setting. This past August, students in the Born to Run Club completed the inaugural CRC 5K.

“I was interested from an equity perspective in doing something that would reach anybody in prison, not just guys who had self-selected to do a college degree while they’re inside,” Charest said, explaining the motivation behind starting the program. In addition to responding to a request for this type of class, Charest—who is also a member of the Los Angelesbased Skid Row Running Club, which uses running as a form of rehabilitation—had the chance to run with the 1000 Mile Club at San Quentin prison.

“I ran with them a couple of times, and I talked to the guys who founded it,” Charest said. “That inspired me to think about how to do this work, but it was really driven by this student (at CRC), Pedro Rivera. Once he asked, I felt that I had to give it a shot.”

In addition to the physical component of the class, students read various books including, Born to Run by Christopher McDougal, Eat and Run by Scott Jurek, and Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.

“We read these books and have heartfelt discussions about what this helps us understand about ourselves, our goals, and where we want to go in our lives,” Charest said. “Most of the guys that go to a facility like Norco are going to get out and the question is, what are they going to do when they get out? Are they going to be better mentally and physically? Are they going to have the support they need to succeed once they leave the prison setting?

“I feel like the more programming we can have like this that helps a guy focus on his physical and mental well-being and do some tough reflection on where they were in their life and where they want to go, the better off we’re going to be as a society,” Charest continued.

The success of the class has been seen on and off the track, with students becoming more physical fit and communicative. The classroom provided an opportunity for Charest’s students to “be vulnerable” in a space that typically doesn’t allow it.

“As a man in prison you’re kind of walking around with a mask on all the time, and you can’t seem or act vulnerable,” Charest said. “Within this classroom space, they feel like they’re able to talk to each other and talk about things that are personal, that they wouldn’t normally do in a group setting. Building that community, building that trust, was really our most fundamental goal for doing the program. The running, in a way, is secondary.”

In looking to the program’s future, Charest sees this type of work as a “prison to school pipeline,” with the School of Education as a hub for those who leave Norco to continue their academic journey. Charest explained that these ideas have been the focus of many conversations with colleagues, particularly around how the University can better serve incarcerated populations. “Our mission is about educational justice, and if we want to walk the walk, we need to think about the most vulnerable populations, the most marginalized people in our society. When our education system pushes people out, that’s where they go—they go to the justice system.

Reflecting on the power of second chances, Charest said the program lets us stand by our values. “A student who was once expelled is now standing in front of me, full of potential and ready to make a positive impact. That’s the kind of transformation we should be working toward.”

Learn more at www.redlands.edu/schoolofeducation. Interested in running with the Born to Run Club? Get in touch with Charest at brian_charest@redlands.edu. OT

FRANK PEREZ

SHORT-TERM TRAVEL, LONG-TERM RESULTS THANK YOU to our generous alumni

who have funded grants to provide Redlands students with a chance to see the world

Alot of work goes into developing a faculty-led course, from designing curriculum to figuring out the logistics of where to stay and which excursions to take. “It’s a balance of what you need to do academically to meet learning objectives while also looking at the cost,” Office of Global Education Director Andrea Muilenburg said. Scholarships are available, along with grants from “very generous alumni” wanting to provide Redlands students with a chance to see the world.

For the working adults in the School of Education and School of Business & Society, short-term travel courses are crafted so they can still participate while minimizing the impact on their job obligations. During their trips, students pick up valuable insights that they can apply immediately upon returning to the office.

“Our global and domestic consultancy courses provide students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained through their academic studies and professional backgrounds to a ‘live’ consulting experience. Undertaking the consultancy with real companies rather than textbook cases requires students to recognize the gravity and significance of their work.”

— Professor Michael MacQueen, School of Business & Society and International Programs Director

Offerings also change with the times. School of Business & Society Professor Allison Fraiberg said her courses now focus on “vital issues such as sustainability, creating positive social impact, and inclusive design.” In May, she led students on a 10-day trip to Spain, studying sustainability projects in business and meeting leaders from the World Sustainable Urban Food Center of Valencia (CEMAS), Impact HUB Barcelona, and the consulting firm Felidarity.

On the other side of the world, School of Education Clinical Mental Health Counseling students from the Counseling in Global Context course visited schools, mental health community agencies, and university counseling training programs in Guatemala, learning about the country’s mental health issues, practices, and policies. This expanded their cultural awareness and sensitivities and enhanced perspectives on addressing global mental health challenges and network building.

“Studying abroad encourages personal growth. It challenges students to step out of their comfort zones, boosts their self-confidence, increases their selfreliance, and allows them to develop cross-cultural competence to work in an increasingly globalized environment. These traits are essential for any counselor as they navigate the often complex landscape of mental health care.”

— Professor Conroy Reynolds, School of Education OT

ROOTED IN VALUES, GROWING WITH PURPOSE

Presidio Graduate School becomes part of Redlands, establishing a new center dedicated to transformative sustainable solutions

Abold new chapter in sustainability leadership is now underway. University of Redlands has officially completed its merger with Presidio Graduate School—a trailblazer in environmentally focused education—culminating in the launch of the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions.

Nestled on the University’s San Francisco Bay Area campus in Marin County, the new center is now a cornerstone of the School of Business & Society and a driving force behind Redlands’ deepening commitment to ethical, systems-based learning. The announcement—made fittingly on April 22, Earth Day—marks an institutional milestone, signaling Redlands’ deepening commitment to equipping students with the knowledge, values, and tools to lead in an increasingly complex and environmentally challenged world.

“This merger represents a bold step forward in advancing our mission to prepare students to lead in a complex, rapidly changing world,” said University President Krista L. Newkirk. “Announcing this on Earth Day has been especially meaningful, as it underscores our shared commitment to environmental responsibility. By bringing Presidio into the Redlands family, we are expanding opportunities for students across disciplines to engage with sustainability in an ethical, future-focused, and systems-driven mindset, all of which are critical foundational elements for those who will lead our future.”

The newly established Presidio Center continues Presidio’s hallmark MBA and MPA programs in sustainable solutions, offered through a hybrid model that combines online learning with lowresidency, in-person sessions at Marin campus.

“This merger is a strategic investment in our shared future and a pivotal moment in our evolution,” University Board of

Trustees Chair Jamison J. Ashby ’82 said. “By uniting Redlands with Presidio’s nationally recognized expertise in sustainability, we are expanding our academic reach and sharpening our focus on industries and sectors where ethical, forward-thinking solutions are essential.”

Amanda Sewell ‘25 knows about the impact Presidio’s MBA program can make. Receiving her graduate degree was never just about the letters after her name, and when she found her academic home at Presidio, “it felt like the perfect intersection,” she said, “of getting an MBA while staying business savvy, but with a focused lens on sustainability and people.”

In 2024, that vision came to life abroad in a Redlands facultyled immersion trip through Italy and Slovenia, where Sewill explored what sustainable business looks like across Europe, from eco-farms and artisanal factories to cutting-edge innovation hubs and even a fully cryptocurrency-powered shopping district. The experience was “transformative,” fueling not just a research paper on ethical agriculture but a renewed sense of what’s possible when compassion and commerce converge.

“I came for a degree and for relationships,” Sewill said. “The bonus? I’m leaving a better person.”

Sewill’s experience is just one example of the kind of real world, values-driven education Presidio has championed for years. Now, that mission is poised to grow even stronger and broaden opportunities for more students, as Redlands plans to build on this foundation by expanding programs, cultivating partnerships, and strengthening its position as a leader in sustainability education.

To learn more, visit redlands.edu/presidio. OT

65 YEARS OF SALZBURG:

SHAPING GENERATIONS OF GLOBAL LEARNERS

SALZBURG IS FOREVER

By Catherine Garcia ’06

Students graduate, professors retire, and fads come and go, but the Salzburg Semester is a University of Redlands staple, its signature study away program that serves as a perpetual reminder of the importance of giving young adults the opportunity to explore the world while building their independence.

“One of the most rewarding experiences was witnessing the transformation of students over the course of their time in Salzburg,” Associate Dean Sara Falkenstien ’96 ’04, the Mozley Endowed Salzburg Director from fall 2014 to spring 2019, said. “Seeing the person who hesitantly walks through the door on day one—filled with excitement, nerves, and anticipation—evolve into someone more open-minded and confident is pretty profound. Being part of that journey, sharing in their discoveries, challenges, and growth, is something that I will always cherish.”

More than 3,000 Redlands students have studied in Salzburg since the program’s launch in the fall of 1960. They live and attend classes together in a nearly 500-year-old building, the Marketenderschlössl, and go on faculty-led excursions to Vienna, Italy, and the Balkans.

This travel “provides some of the most meaningful learning experiences students have while here,” Professor and Mozley Endowed Salzburg Director Katie Baber said. “It’s unique to each student group, but I enjoy seeing the different synergies between the classes in Salzburg, the local guides we encounter, and the students’ own perspectives. It’s not as predictable as whatever we might put in a syllabus, but it’s much more exciting and I think leaves a lasting impact.”

SALZBURG’S

Marketenderschlössl

is a nearly 500-year-old building where Redlands students live and attend classes together

THE EARLY DAYS

It was a completely different world when the first Redlands students, accompanied by Professors Gil Brown and Edwin Gaustad, arrived in Salzburg. To get there, they had to fly to New York, sail across the choppy Atlantic, then take a bus to Austria, stopping in cities along the way. There was no permanent residence at the time, and for years the University rented motels and houses for the groups to live in.

“For most of those students, this was their first trip overseas,” Bill Lowman ‘70, the inaugural Mozley Endowed Salzburg Director from fall 2012 to spring 2014, said. “The semester offered a safe, secure, but adventurous opportunity to engage in European culture, learn a foreign language, travel extensively, and maintain their progress towards graduation with a degree.”

Lowman studied in Salzburg during the fall of 1968, and one of the “common experiences that I had as a student during the Cold War and Vietnam, and that I heard from students later as director, is what an impactful, eye-opening experience it is to learn from European students and faculty how the U.S.A. is viewed in the eyes of others.”

THE SALZBURG STUDENT EXPERIENCE

The moment she arrived in Salzburg, T Pelton felt at ease.

Being from the Seattle area, the cool, crisp air and mountain scenery “kind of reminded me of home,” she said. “What made me even more excited was when we got to the house, and I thought, ‘This is where I get to be living?’ I was ecstatic and felt so lucky to be here.”

Salzburg students are encouraged to explore Europe—once classes are done on Thursday, they can spend the rest of their week traveling—and this appealed to Pelton. Learning how to use the trains to get around was a “big learning curve and confidence booster for me,” she said, and by the end of the semester, she had visited 18 countries.

“Our 11-day trip to the Balkan region ended up being my favorite trip,” Pelton said. “For Sarajevo, I didn’t necessarily have high expectations, but it was one of my favorite cities in all of Europe. Having so much travel time built into the semester was so special and I appreciated being able to make the most of it.”

Living in Salzburg allows students to learn inside and outside of the classroom. That might mean reading about baroque architecture and later viewing churches and cathedrals in

this style, or something more sobering, like studying the Holocaust and then visiting the Mauthausen concentration camp. Lowman found that his own interest in art, music, and architecture “expanded greatly” during his time in Salzburg, and was a “powerful catalyst” in creating his career as an arts administrator and founder of two schools of the arts.

Just like on the Redlands campus, students have access to academic and personal support. “Staff and faculty here also offer a lot of individualized attention—our goal is to help students build and develop their own capacities, whether that’s conquering travel snafus or the eternal struggle that is German grammar,” Baber said.

Within the last decade, the University introduced Salzburg Plus One, a program that lets students spend one semester in Salzburg and a second semester in a different location, for a full academic year abroad. On the flip side, those who want to see Salzburg but are limited on time can sign up for one of two May Term courses offered each spring.

That’s how Eileen Hards ‘06, who was busy during the year with cheerleading and academic commitments, was able to experience Salzburg. Being there for a month was “lifechanging,” she said. “Traveling internationally changes your perspective on the world and opens your eyes to more than just the bubble you live in. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity and still reminisce about the time with friends.”

TEACHING FAR FROM HOME

Students aren’t the only ones able to spend the semester in Salzburg—faculty members can participate too. Professor Trevor Norton spent this spring in Salzburg teaching A Space to Perform, a theater arts course. It is completely different from what he’s used to in Redlands, and not just because he is living, and sometimes traveling, with students.

“When you’re on an abroad program, everything is a learning opportunity,” Norton said. “It’s not just about class time. In that way it’s the perfect realization of what a liberal arts education can be—where everything is connected and everything you experience is something to learn from.”

Professor Fred Rabinowitz and his wife, Janet Rabinowitz, were faculty in residence twice during the early 1990s, and their daughter, Karina, was born in Salzburg during the Fall 1991 semester, giving students another memorable moment during their adventure abroad. “The living environment and group travel made the teaching experience very visceral and exciting,” Fred, who also served as program director from 1999 to 2001, said. “We got to really know all the students well.” It felt more “like a big family than a classroom,” he added. “I believe that the students got a more holistic educational experience that combined the adventure of travel, the novelty of living in a medieval city, and the closeness of relationships with each other than became significant.”

3,000+

Redlands students have studied in Salzburg since the program’s launch in the fall of 1960

JOIN US FOR CELEBRATIONS

→ Alumni trip to Salzburg Sept. 23-28

→ 65th anniversary celebration in October at Homecoming

Share your Salzburg stories and photos at advance.redlands.edu/register/salzburgmemories

STRONG TIES

After 65 years, Salzburg is a part of Redlands and Redlands is a part of Salzburg. Local organizations like Caritas, a nonprofit that helps people with autism, “know our students and our values,” Baber said, and those deep connections serve both sides well.

When students come back to Redlands, they carry parts of Salzburg with them, “whether that’s new friends or a new major—we see both happen,” Baber said. “They return, I hope, with new capabilities and a sense of independence. It is no accident that the strongest reason why students select the Salzburg program is because of what they hear from their peers.”

Nothing is the same as it was in 1960, both on a global scale and in the field of studying abroad, but Salzburg endures, a reminder of the importance of forging connections and bridging cultures.

“We continue to exist because alumni and donors realize the value of this program and support it so fiercely,” Baber said. OT

SINCE THE LAST ISSUE… BULLDOG ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

Nikki Ayers named Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

As the new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Nikki Ayers is ushering in an exciting new chapter for Bulldog Athletics. With an impressive record in athletic administration and a passion for supporting student-athletes’ academic and personal success, Ayers brings a wealth of experience and energy to the role.

In her new position, Ayers will oversee 22 NCAA Division III sports, shaping the strategic direction of Redlands’ athletic programs. She will focus on enhancing the student-athlete experience, supporting academic achievement, and fostering the holistic development of the University’s athletic community.

“I am honored and excited to join the University of Redlands community. Redlands has a rich history of success, both athletically and academically, and I am eager to work alongside the coaches, staff, and student-athletes to build upon that legacy.”

— Nikki Ayers, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

Ayers most recently served as director of athletics at Juniata College in Pennsylvania and previously held leadership roles at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (CMS), where she helped guide the program to four NCAA women’s national championships. Throughout her career, she has earned a stellar reputation for building strong, collaborative relationships across campus and for championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and student-athlete well-being.

“Nikki Ayers is the ideal person to lead our athletic programs into the future,” University President Krista L. Newkirk said. “Her extensive experience in both leadership and athletics, paired with her passion for supporting student-athletes, makes her the perfect fit for our community.”

A former standout student-athlete herself, Ayers holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Juniata College and an M.S. in Leadership from Duquesne University. Her leadership philosophy centers on balancing competitive excellence with academic achievement and personal growth. OT

Redlands makes history with first women’s flag football head coach

Tatum Etchegoyen-Springer leads the way for the women’s flag football team

University of Redlands has welcomed Tatum Etchegoyen-Springer as the inaugural Head Coach for Women’s flag football. This marks a significant milestone for Redlands, making it one of the first four-year colleges in Southern California to add the fast-growing high school sport to its athletics program. With plans to quickly transition from club to varsity status, women’s flag football will soon become the Bulldogs’ 12th women’s sport.

“Joining Bulldog Nation as the first-ever women’s flag football coach is an incredible honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” Etchegoyen-Springer said. “It’s about more than just building a team—it’s about pioneering a movement, creating opportunities, and setting a standard for the future of women’s football. Redlands is stepping up to be a leader in the sport, and I’m excited to be part of that journey. Together, we’re not just playing the game—we’re changing it.”

Etchegoyen-Springer brings direct knowledge and experience to the program, along with a desire to be on the cutting edge of the sport. Since October 2023, she served as the head flag football coach at Edison High School, where she helped to foster the next generation of flag football talent while also sharpening her coaching abilities and overall knowledge of the game. In addition, Etchegoyen-Springer led multiple teams at the Conquer SoCal Flag Football Club,

which is proudly sponsored by the L.A. Chargers. Most notable is her 10 and under team, which won the NFL Raiders Regional Championship in 2024. This position allowed her to work with top-tier athletes, enhance her competitive coaching skills, and develop an extensive network of contacts within the region.

“We are so thrilled to welcome Tatum to the University of Redlands. We are confident that her multifaceted experience and passion for flag football will be instrumental in building a competitive and positive program from the ground up,” said Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Rachel Roche ’02.

Etchegoyen-Springer holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of East London, where she also played football. Her unique combination of coaching experience, leadership style, and understanding of sports development will set her up for success with the Maroon and Grey.

“As the inaugural head coach, Tatum is ready to lay the foundation for this exciting new women’s athletic program that will inspire future student-athletes,” University President Krista L. Newkirk said. “Tatum is committed to developing future leaders by focusing on teamwork, sportsmanship, and excellence both on and off the field.” OT

Redlands Men’s Basketball

Makes history with NCAA run

Despite traveling to the East Coast in back-to-back weeks, the University of Redlands turned its at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament into a historic run. On their way to the Elite 8, the Bulldogs knocked off three ranked opponents, including No. 8 Tufts University (MA) by an overtime score of 95-93 inside of Tufts’ home gym.

Prior to this year, the Bulldog men’s basketball team had qualified for the NCAA Tournament on three other occasions

(1984-85, 2010-11, 2012-13) but had never won the opening-round game. Under longtime head coach Gary Smith ’64, the 1984-85 team lost the first game but bounced back with a victory in the third-place showdown of the NCAA West Regional Championship.

Advancing to the Round of 8 had never been done in Bulldog men’s basketball program history.

“Our group has been resilient all year long. We have faced crazy deficits all season, really from the first couple games of the whole season, down 18, down 20. Our guys are going to make a push,” Head Coach Eric Bridgeland shared in a post-game interview.

“And that is what happened.”

Known for its never-quit mentality, the Redlands men’s basketball team faced a 17-point deficit in the second half of this year’s second-round matchup against Tufts. Their relentless defense kept them within striking distance before a steal led to a three-point play by Omari Ferguson ’26. This was followed by an

Women’s Cross Country Qualifies two

runners for NCAA championship

For the first time since 2014, the University of Redlands qualified two women’s runners for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship. Chloe Bullock ’25 and Eve Mavy ’26 were selected as two of the seven individual qualifiers from Region X. This was Bullock’s third consecutive appearance at the national meet. During the 2022 experience, she became the first women’s All-American in program history by finishing 38th. She is the program’s fastest runner of all-time, setting the school 6K record with a time of 21:25.6, which was two-tenths of a second faster than the previous mark.

“This program has indeed made me a better person,” Bullock said. “I have become a better leader, teammate,

student, and athlete. Our coaches, Mike and Dom, have taught me confidence, selflessness, and passion,” Bullock remarked at the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Women’s Varsity Athletics.

Mavy made her inaugural appearance at the NCAA Championship, which took place in Terra Haute, Indiana, in late November 2024. She finished two slots behind Bullock at the regional championship with a 16th-place time of 21:48.0, which punched their tickets to the national meet while collecting AllRegion recognition.

While competing against the best of Division III, Bullock (150th) and Mavy (212th) represented the Bulldogs with poise, dedication, and pride. OT

off-balanced three from Chozen Amadi ’25 that hit nothing but net to tie it up at the end of regulation.

“We know we’re resilient. Everything we do… it takes patience. We’ve got to take it one play at time,” Ferguson said. Redlands built a five-point lead in overtime and appeared to be on its way to the third round, but Tufts battled to tie it up once again, now with only 10 seconds remaining. With no timeouts to advance the ball, the final play went to Ferguson’s hands, who drove the floor and found the backboard for the game-winning layup. “That was one of the greatest wins I’ve ever been a part of,” Bridgeland added.

Among the postseason awards, Ferguson landed on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) First Team and the D3hoops.com Second Team. Amadi joined him on the Second Team, while Bridgeland was named the D3hoops.com Division III West Region Coach of the Year. OT

Bulldog Men’s Water Polo

Celebrating second national title in three years

With an impressive senior class, the University of Redlands captured its second USA Water Polo Division III National Championship in three years when it edged Chapman University, 14-13. While taking on the familiar foe, the Bulldogs received a boost of energy from the home crowd at the Thompson Aquatic Center.

“We just had to really battle through some ups and downs. We had some players, [including Nicolas Fedotov ’25 and Roberto Barrera ’25,] who really stepped up when we needed it most and made some plays that allowed us to win that game,” Head Coach Ryan Hall ’08 ’16 stated in a post-game interview.

In addition, the Bulldogs hauled in multiple awards, including Hall as the Association of Collegiate Water Polo

Coaches (ACWPC) Division III Coach of the Year and Leo Yuno as the ACWPC Division III Assistant Coach of the Year.

Beyond the stellar coaching staff, the Bulldogs celebrated Barrera as the ACWPC Division III Player of the Year and Fedotov as the Collegiate National Championship MVP.

But the accolades did not stop there, with six Bulldogs earning ACWPC All-America honors. Spencer Clinton ’25 and Max Wagener ’25 earned a spot on the First Team, while Dean Moody ’25 landed on the Second Team. Ron Gvishi ’25 and Fedotov garnered Honorable Mention.

“We really worked hard for this, 108 days to be exact, for this exact moment, so it feels really good for all our hard work to pay off in the end,” Fedotov stated. OT

Bulldog for life

Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez retires with a lasting legacy at Redlands

When Jeff Martinez first stepped on to the Redlands campus as a fresh-faced athletic trainer just out of grad school, he was unaware of how embedded he would become in the life of the University.

“What I didn’t know then was that Redlands would become my home … and my life’s work.”

After 42 years at U of R, 25 of them as Director of Athletics, Martinez retired in May filled with gratitude. “Bulldog Athletics has never been just a job; it has been a way of life for Susan (his wife of 45 years), me and the kids. We feel so fortunate to have been a part of our University and the Redlands community for the past 40-plus years.”

While he may no longer be out on the fields at dawn, Jeff Martinez’s impact—both on campus and in the lives of countless Bulldogs—will continue to inspire. “I’m done being in charge. I’m done making decisions. But I’m not done caring,” Martinez said.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Retirement isn’t about stepping back from U of R, but instead about stepping in—to family, to community, and to the joys of life. His plans include special time with Susan, their children and grandchildren. He was a little misty recalling the question from his grandson asking him why he was retiring. “Because I want to spend more time with you, buddy,” he replied. “What if I could pick you up from school three days a week instead of one? What if I helped coach your baseball team, instead of just being on the sidelines?”

A focus on family is at the forefront of his retirement plans. “I’m just ready to be a more present, undistracted husband, father, and Papa,” he said. But Martinez plans to be around.

“I won’t be sitting in the office, but if they need help taping signs or drying uniforms, they know who to call.”

BULLDOG LEGACY

Martinez was the University’s first women’s golf coach, a professor of physical education, and eventually became assistant and then associate director of athletics before assuming leadership in 2000. Over the years, he has guided 21 (soon to be 22) intercollegiate teams, nearly 50 full-time staff, and countless student-athletes.

Under his leadership, the University maintained exceptional academic performance: 34 percent of studentathletes were recognized as Redlands Scholar-Athletes with GPAs of 3.5 or higher, and every team held a GPA of 3.0-plus for the eighth straight year.

“It takes everyone in our department to make this kind of academic success happen,” he noted. “But it will always be a tremendous source of pride for me.”

Bulldogs also excelled on the field, winning the SCIAC All-Sports Trophy three times during Jeff’s tenure and placing in the top three every year but one. The program expanded meaningfully under his leadership—rosters in all programs increased and the women’s golf (2007) and women’s flag football (2025) programs were added.

Other significant contributions include:

• Oversight of capital projects like the Verdieck Tennis Center, Bulldog Golf Performance Center, Currier Rec Gym, the renovations of Ted Runner stadium and the Fitness Center in 2024, and the installations of “R” Field synthetic surface, Ashel Cunningham All-weather track, lights at Farquhar Field and Thompson Aquatics Center, and Daktronics scoreboards in all venues.

• Served as a member of the NCAA Division III Management Council and NCAA Division III National Championships Committee, including serving as chair of each committee.

• Helping to establish community programs like Redlands Rotary’s “Touch a Truck” and co-chairing the 2015 Special Olympics Host Town Committee, which raised $65,000 in donations.

• Helping to lead the Edwin B. Hales Golf Tournament, which has consistently welcomed back eight decades of alumni and and raised an average of $45,000 annually since 2022.

Recent significant recognitions include:

• Dan Dutcher Meritorious Service Award presented by the NCAA D3 Commissioners

• Richard A. Rasmussen Lifetime Achievement Award presented by NADIIIAA.

• All In Award presented by the Bulldog Student Athlete Advisory Committee

Whether leading major NCAA championship events, overseeing multi-million-dollar facility renovations, or filling water bottles, Martinez’s leadership style has always been about rolling up his sleeves and getting the job done. Yet, his impact is anything but quiet, and his Bulldog spirit will echo through the corners of Currier Gym, the bleachers of Ted Runner Stadium, and the community of Redlands for decades to come. OT

Jeff Martinez U of R Accomplishments

22,000 STUDENTS over the span of his career

MORE THAN 8,600 Redlands games attended

9 ATHLETIC FACILITIES maintaining top-tier spaces for our Bulldogs athletes

MOST PROUD OF THE UNIVERSITY’S ABILITY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE placing top three in SCIAC in the last 25 years (minus one year where we missed it by one point)

314% INCREASE IN SCHOLAR ATHLETES since serving as Director of Athletics

11 YEARS

Bulldogs won the “Smudge Pot Trophy” vs. California Lutheran University

25 YEARS

Bulldog Athletics has finished in the top three SCIAC institutions

6 U OF R PRESIDENTS he’s served under

75+ DEPARTMENT

GATHERINGS

Jeff and Susan have hosted at Casa de Martinez

1 MILLION TIMES he’s said “Go Bulldogs”

300 MAJOR EVENTS, CHAMPIONSHIPS, OR SPECIAL TOURNAMENTS including Host Town for Special Olympics in 2015, NCAA Men’s Golf Championships in 2004 and NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships in 2003

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

WORTH 1,000 WORDS

Celebrating the 2025 Commencements for the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business & Society, and School of Education

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

COCO MCKOWN ’04, ’10

Remembering David Banta ’63 ’65: A legacy of leadership and ethical stewardship

By Sarah Armes Harwood and the Banta Family

David Banta ’63 ’65 passed away peacefully at his home in Newport Beach, California, on Feb. 11. A devoted alumnus, esteemed financial professional, and ethical leadership advocate, Banta leaves behind an enduring legacy at the University of Redlands.

As a soon-to-be high school graduate, Banta first experienced the U of R when his teacher, Jim Lloyd ’48, drove him and fellow students to campus to learn about continuing their education. Banta’s life changed in that moment, and he carried Lloyd’s torch to promote Redlands and create opportunities for others.

In 2005, Banta and his wife, Stephanie ’63, showed their commitment to the University by establishing the Banta Center for Ethical and Purposeful Leadership. Alarmed by a growing disregard for ethics in Corporate America, Banta saw an urgent need to foster ethical decision-making among future business and community leaders.

“Business is a service,” he once wrote in a letter to former University President Jim Appleton. “It is a process of exchange in abundance, motivated by the desire to enhance the life of the consumer. Ethics should be the foundation of a liberal arts education in business, upon which economics, accounting, and management are built.” With this vision in mind, the Banta Center was designed to provide a forum for the examination of ethical challenges across multiple disciplines, including business, education, science, and technology.

The Center has since become an integral part of the University, offering thought-provoking lectures, faculty research initiatives, and community outreach programs. It recognizes student achievements through awards like the Banta Social Impact Award, which promotes values of citizenship, care, and responsibility.

Professor Carlo Carrascoso, director of the Banta Center, recalls Banta as being “not only a generous benefactor, but also

a visionary whose commitment to ethical awareness and moral development left an indelible mark on the lives of countless students throughout the university.”

Banta’s love for Redlands was lifelong. A dedicated supporter, he actively contributed to the University through his involvement in comprehensive campaign committees, reunion planning efforts, and other initiatives aimed at strengthening the Redlands community. His influence was particularly felt during his tenure on the Board of Trustees from 1989 to 2008, during which he helped shape the future of the institution. In recognition of his extraordinary service, the Alumni Association honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in 1997.

David and Stephanie Banta shared over 60 years together, having met as junior high school sweethearts. After an early career as a science teacher, Banta transitioned into finance, eventually founding Banta Asset Management, LP. His business became a family endeavor when his sons, Mark ’89, Michael ’92, and Stephen joined him in 1993. Yet no matter how far his career took him, his devotion to Redlands remained steadfast.

Mark Banta takes great pride in the Center’s impact, saying, “Our family wants to integrate a discussion of ethical issues throughout the University that can cultivate a better understanding for students and the entire community.” Thanks to his father’s vision, Redlands graduates enter the world equipped not only with knowledge but also with a strong moral compass. Mark and his wife, Kimberle ’89 ’91, are committed to continuing David’s legacy at the University.

Banta is survived by his wife, sons, and their families, including seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the future David D. Banta Endowed Scholarship at the University of Redlands. OT

James “Jim” Schroeder ’65 passed away unexpectedly on March 13, 2025. A beloved member of the Redlands community, Jim was a friend to many and a true embodiment of Bulldog spirit. His kindness and unwavering love for the University of Redlands left an indelible mark on our campus and all who knew him.

Jim’s dedication to Redlands spanned decades. He served on the Board of Trustees from 2011 until his passing, working tirelessly to strengthen the University’s future. Alongside his wife and high school sweetheart, Althea (honorary alumna ’23), they became a constant and joyful presence at Redlands.

Passionate about enhancing student life, Jim and Althea supported countless initiatives. Believing every pep band deserves a sousaphone, they made sure the Conservatory of Music had one. They funded air conditioning for Currier Gym during the warmest months, upgraded the fitness center, supported the Coach Jim Verdieck Tennis Center, and led the revitalization of the Bulldog Bench, including establishing the Bulldog Bench Endowed Fund. They also championed the Cheer and Pom teams, ensuring Redlands pride was always on full display.

Jim and Althea’s generosity extended far beyond athletics. They championed academic and global opportunities by funding scholarships for Global Business students, enabling their participation in immersive summer language programs, and supporting counselor visitation programs to strengthen recruitment efforts. They also welcomed prospective students at their home in Denver, CO, hosted alumni events, and regularly traveled to campus to cheer on our athletes.

Jim spent countless hours ensuring that the University had a reliable and affordable energy supply. He led the effort to add the University’s co-generation plant and served on the Energy

In memory of Jim Schroeder ’65: A

champion for Bulldogs & a committed leader

Committee that brought solar power to campus.

Jim’s love for Redlands was rooted in his own student experience. He played on the men’s basketball team and was a member of Kappa Sigma Sigma. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology with an emphasis in geophysics before earning a Master of Science degree in geology from San Diego State University in 1967.

His passion for exploration and problem-solving led to an extraordinary 50-year career in the oil, gas, and energy industries. He began as an exploration geologist and geophysicist with Standard Oil Company of California (now Chevron) before founding and leading several successful energy companies. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of Energy Associates, LLC. Jim was also deeply involved in industry leadership, serving on several boards at various influential energy companies. In recognition of his industry contributions, he was inducted into the Mountain States Hall of Fame in 2009.

Despite his many professional achievements, Jim’s heart always remained at Redlands. He was ever-present at campus events, quick with a warm handshake or a laugh, and always eager to engage with students, faculty, and staff. “Jim was a powerful advocate for students,” said University President Krista L. Newkirk. “The impact of his generosity and leadership is immeasurable.”

We extend our deepest sympathies to Althea and the Schroeder family, including their three children and several grandchildren. Jim’s legacy lives on through them, as well as his brother Jack ’62, sister-in-law Judy ’63, and many extended family members who are also proud members of the Redlands community. A campus service is planned for the fall. At Althea’s request, gifts in Jim’s memory may be made to the Bulldog Bench Fund. OT

L-R: Althea Schroeder, President Krista Newkirk, and Jim Schroeder ’65 at ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Fitness Center in 2024.

FRANK

PEREZ

ALUMNI NEWS

Passings

Passings reflect deaths Feb. 1, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025*

The College

Gene Harper ’45, Dec. 3. 2024.

Ethel Douglas Lawson ’49, Feb. 9, 2024.

Gyle Tague ’49, Aug. 15, 2024. Former Alumni board member. Family members include daughter Gayle Young ’75.

Thelma Jackson Tague ’49, Aug. 2, 2024. Former Alumni board member. Family members include daughter Gayle Young ’75.

Janet Lynes Gall ’50, July 20, 2024. Family members include daughter Katherine Hollander ’82.

Janet Palmer Hatch ’50, June 28, 2024. Cortner Society. Family members include daughters Linda Trimble ’79 and Susan Benson ’83.

Evie Cline Rowland ’51, Dec. 30, 2024.

Family members include sister Mary Knightly ’60.

George Erickson 52 ’54, June 27, 2024.

Family members include daughter Sandra Tanner ’79.

Frances Gilfry ’52, Jan. 2, 2025.

Ruth Cain Bryson ’53, Sept. 9, 2024. Family members include sons Richard Bryson ’78 and Randal Bryson ’81 and granddaughter Alysa Bryson ’03.

Marilyn Gould Turnquist ’53, Feb. 13, 2025. Family members include daughters Lynn Spafford ’76 and Karen Vandenberg ’78.

Bob Edmondson ’55, March 2, 2024. Family members include wife Marilyn Edmondson ’55.

Bill Hoffman ’55, June 2, 2024. Family members include daughter Cynthia Rechelluul-Grossman ’17.

Roger Lockie ’55, Jan. 4, 2025. Family members include wife Barbara Lockie ’58.

Ron Palmer ’55, Sept. 17, 2024.

Caryl Archibald Graham ’57, Sept. 10, 2024. Family members include husband Robert Graham ’56.

James Hynes ’58, Nov. 4, 2024. Family members include son Christian Hynes ’98, brother Daniel Hynes ’58, and sister Marquerite Sandford ’53.

Carol McMillan ’59, Dec. 3, 2024.

Judith Howe Close ’61, Apr. 5, 2024.

Kay Harris Harrington ’63, Oct. 31, 2024.

Robert Morgan ’64, Oct. 23, 2024.

Richard Bramble ’65, Sept. 10, 2024.

Mike Weeks ’66, Feb. 3, 2024. Family members include stepdaughter Tracy Queen ’89.

Jim Golden ’68, March 31, 2024. Family members include brother William Golden ’77.

Steve Bowman ’76, Oct. 13, 2024. Family members include sister Betty Bowman ’72.

Dick Shelbourne ’76, Nov. 15, 2024. Family members include daughter Katelin Shelbourne ’06.

Robert Hauser ’77, Dec. 7, 2024.

Randy Blalock ’80, March 1, 2024. Family members include brother Steven Blalock ’74 and daughter Alexandra Blalock ’15.

John Grant ’82, Nov. 21, 2024. Former Alumni board member.

Steven Briese ’84, May 16, 2024. Family members include sister Deborah Briese ’82.

Ellie O’Brien Abshire ’86. Feb. 9, 2025. Former Alumni board member. Family members include daughter

Susan Holden ’83 and sons Daniel O’Brien ’86 and Robert O’Brien Jr ’81.

Reed Fauver ’94, Nov. 27, 2024.

Morgan Chicarelli ’05, Oct. 7, 2024.

Andy Schroeder ’08, Dec. 14, 2024.

Schools of Business & Society and Education

Dennis Park ’82, Sept. 24, 2024.

John Traver ’77, May 7, 2024. Family members include daughter Catherine Larocca ’93.

Ola West ’78, Oct. 5, 2024.

Maxine Goldman ’82, April. 7, 2024.

Linda Jacobsen ’89, Nov. 9, 2024.

Floral Schnurr Sieradski ’92, Jan. 9, 2025.

Ray McManaman ’81, Oct. 30, 2024.

San Francisco Theological Seminary

Richard Klein ’53, Feb. 3, 2025.

Mark Duntley ’55, May 10, 2024. Family members include son Mark Duntley ’80.

James Martin ’65, Sept. 15, 2024.

John Moyer ’66, Nov. 27, 2024.

Friends

Mary Capps, Nov. 4, 2024. Family members include husband William Capps ’64.

Ann Russell, April 16, 2024. Family members include daughter Julie Bischoff ’89.

Winnie Stephany, Nov. 14, 2024.

David Tong, Jan. 28, 2025.

In Memoriam

Michael Armacost, a distinguished American diplomat, scholar, and public servant, passed away on March 8, 2025. Born on April 15, 1937, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of George H. Armacost, president of University of Redlands, and Verda Gay Armacost.

Armacost earned a B.A. from Carleton College in 1958 and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1965. His career spanned academia, diplomacy, and policy research. He held key government positions, including U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1982-84) and Japan (1989-93), and served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (1984-89). After retiring from diplomatic service, Armacost became president of the Brookings Institution from 1995 to 2002, enhancing its role in policy research. He later joined Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center as a fellow, contributing to academic discourse on international relations until his retirement in 2021.

An accomplished athlete, devoted husband, and beloved father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife, Roberta “Bonny” Armacost, their three children, six grandchildren, and siblings.

Robert “Bob” Erikson ’60 and Jean Wagley Erikson ’61 passed away within days of each other in November. An inseparable pair, the Eriksons were passionate about supporting children and both pursued careers in public education. Jean was an elementary school teacher in Orange County and Bob was a middle school principal in Orange County, later switching to administration, becoming assistant superintendent for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and later assistant superintendent for Perris Union High School District.

The Eriksons were deeply active in their communities. As alumni, each worked on class reunion committees, both with planning and fundraising, and helped host events for the Centennial Campaign and Town & Gown. They also had more than 35 years of participation with Kiwanis, including Bob’s time as district governor of the CaliforniaNevada-Hawaii District of Kiwanis International during the 1995-1996 term and later serving as president of the Yucaipa Valley Kiwanis Club. He and his team were known as the Pink Panther Team, adorned with eye-catching pink blazers.

Professor Lawrence “Larry” Harvill passed away at Plymouth Village in Redlands on Thanksgiving Day. Born in Watts, California, Harvill earned his master’s degree and doctorate from UCLA. He joined University of Redlands in 1964 as an assistant professor of engineering and applied mathematics, later becoming a full professor in 1974. He co-founded the University’s engineering program with Dr. Robert Engel and played a key role in advancing STEM education.

Beyond teaching, Harvill collaborated with companies like Lockheed and IBM but was best known as an administrator. He chaired the Engineering Department (1974–1992), served as vice president for academic affairs (1971–1974), and became the first director of the Stauffer Center for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies.

A visionary in technology, Harvill helped establish the Fletcher Jones Foundation Computer Center in 1984, pioneering the integration of personal computers on campus. His contributions were honored with the opening of the Fletcher Jones Foundation Innovation Center in 2021. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, their six children, and many grandchildren.

Terry Kupfer ’57, a Lifetime Trustee, passed away in January. Born and raised in Redlands, as a student he was deeply involved in campus life, serving as treasurer of the Associated Students, writing for the student newspaper, competing on the swimming and diving team, and joining Omicron Delta Kappa and Alpha Gamma Nu. After earning his degree in economics, he served three years in the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor.

A highly respected certified public accountant, Kupfer dedicated nearly 30 years to Arthur Andersen & Co., specializing in risk management and litigation consulting. His dedication to the University extended beyond his student years, as he served on the Board of Trustees for over 30 years and played an active role in alumni engagement. Kupfer’s love for Redlands was evident in his community service, including leadership roles with the Redlands Alliance Church, Redlands Historical Museum Association, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

Kupfer is survived by wife Sandy, son Kurt, daughter Kym ’92, son-in-law Keith ’91, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his wife Sharon ’57 and his son George. OT

*Only if the notification date is between Oct. 1, 2024 and Feb. 15, 2025.

Class notes

Class Notes reflect submissions from Sept. 30, 2024 to Feb. 21, 2025

The College

1959

Pat Morris ’59, class president, led a program during the 65th reunion of the Class of 1959. The event started with a Friday night dinner in the Valencia Room, which is part of University Hall (the old Commons). The group of 12 shared stories of their time at the U of R, Chapel attendance dress codes, and other stories from their college years. A Saturday lunch in Orton Center drew a larger crowd with a program led by the class president. A few stayed for the school dinner on the Quad and brunch at the President’s home on Sunday morning. A huge thank you to those who made it an awesome reunion. Hmmm, how about a 70th reunion?

Marilyn Kerr Solter ’59 took an 18-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. A highlight of the trip was lunch at the Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu with Ann Brunton Swoish ’59, who lives in Kailua. A reunion after 65 years! A great trip down memory lane for her, as she moved to Honolulu in 1954 and graduated from Punahou School before attending the U of R.

1961

Jack Huneke ’61 and Judith Huneke Hein ’61 (twins), with their spouses Julie and Bill, are enjoying their retirement years by spending more time together. Jack and Julie are involved in wildfire education and mitigation efforts in Yokuts Valley and Miramonte, California. Their efforts include the local Fire Safe council, their Firewise community, and they also staff fire lookouts during fire season in Kings Canyon National Park. Judy and husband Bill enjoy continuing to live in

Berkeley, California, with Cal Sports, Berkeley Repertory, and Berkeley Symphony.

Dominick Petillo ’61 was in band with Judith Hunecke Hein ’61 while at the U of R. Judith played the saxophone and Dominick played the trumpet. Judith and Dominick took a music class, which consisted of how to teach songs to elementary students. They found a poem titled “Secret” in a book at Smiley Library and Dominick composed music to go with it. He presented it to his music class.

1963

John Demmon ’63 and wife Jan drove to Houston, Texas, to spend the holidays with their older son Tommy and wife Athena. While there they drove down to Galveston and spent an afternoon with his cousin Patricia Lauderdale Jakobi ’62, whom he had not seen in over 50 years. On another note, Jan and John celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.

Steve Habner ’63 finished restoring his last automobile: a 1962 Morris Traveler, a real beauty. Steve has another 6 vehicles in various stages of restoration, including a 1961 Bugeyed Sprite and a 1952 MG 70.

Dan King ’63 is proud that second grandson, Nick, was awarded his gold wings to fly jets for the United States Navy. He joins his brother Wyatt, protecting the skies of the world.

Judy Lionelle ’63 has published her second book on birding. She is currently writing and publishing autobiographical stories and is seeking comments from classmates on their experiences.

William Lyman ’63 is living in a small cabin on 20 acres where both daughters and their families live in their own homes. He has four grandkids, four to seven years of age. He continues to love veterinary practice and is now employed three days a week by his daughter and her husband, who graduated 40

years after him from UCD Veterinary School and took over the practice five years ago. Daughter Margaret is an RVT and also works in the practice that he started 44 years ago. Best wishes to all you classmates out there.

1964

Bill Bruns ’64 attended his 60th Reunion, which was a heartwarming success! There were 35 other classmates (plus spouses) celebrating their longevity and camaraderie. As freshmen, who could ever sense that in 2025, our class gift would total $1,086,000, which would have easily paid for tuition and room and board for the entire class in 1960?

John Oliver ’64 and Diana Schmelzer ’64 served as co-chairs for this reunion, with John receiving a special award from the U of R in honor of his “unwavering commitment and Och Tamale spirit.” Senior class president Chuck Wilke ’64 received a Distinguished University Service Award, as he served as a University Trustee from 2013 to 2022 and has been “a generous and loyal philanthropist who helped to establish the Global Business Advisory Board.” John later wrote to his reunion committee members, “This weekend I was incredibly thankful (again) for our exceptional class at Redlands. We were lucky to be at the right place, at the right time and with such a superb group of classmates.”

Don Coursey ’64, Joe Keebler ’64, and Dave Meyers ’64 joined their friend Steven Lincoln for a 10-day hiking adventure in Scotland, where Dave’s parents were born. They hiked about 10 miles a day from inn to inn for four days through the dramatic scenery of the Western Highlands on the most scenic sections of the West Highland Way, a 100-mile walking path, both mellow and strenuous, between Loch Lomond and Ft. William. They also did several more “civilized” walks in and around Edinburgh, where Dave attended graduate school long ago.

Kappa Sigma Sigma fraternity brothers at the Class of ’64 reunion included (L to R) John Oliver ’64, Dick Edwards ’64, Gary Byrne ’64, Barney Martinez ’64, Dave Meyers ’64, Joe Keebler ’64, and Bill Bruns ’64.

Ann Brunton Swoish ’59 and Marilyn Kerr Solter ’59 met for lunch in Honolulu

Jack Iverson ’64 and Suzy Wohlers Iverson ’68 have been working on their travel bucket list. In October, the Iversons with 24 friends and the pastor of their church explored the Steps of Paul, a tour that follows the Apostle Paul’s travels through Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In January, they cruised the Caribbean islands of St. Martin, St. Kitts, Dominica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Their advice is “Do it while you can!”

1965

Trudy Kroening Bronner ’65 has been CFO of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps since 1993. Upon the death of Dr. Bronner, she guided the company onto firm financial footing and sales have increased. Trudy was a junior high school math teacher and while raising her three children also served as the treasurer of 15 volunteer organizations. Trudy currently oversees the management of Dr. Bronner’s Family Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation funded by the profits of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. Trudy received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Redlands in 2006. She has been involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs in the San Diego area and has won many awards for her community service.

Sam Brown ’65 and his wife, Allison Teal, have built a new lake house in Minnesota, where 13 members of their family gathered for Christmas. One day it was -27 degrees— exactly 100 degrees colder than their home in Key West! Their daughter Willa wrote a book, Gentlemen of the Woods, about lumberjacks, coming out in February from University of Minnesota Press. They’re expecting their fifth grandchild in April. They continue in good health.

Gil and Joyce Lynch ’65 have left sunny San Diego and relocated to Gig Harbor, Washington. They are still living with boxes

everywhere, slowly getting essentials unpacked. They decided it was time to follow their daughter and her husband, who retired to Gig Harbor two years ago. They need someone to climb the ladder and change the light bulbs! They have family and several friends in the area, including Randy Young ’66 and Sharon Uzzel Young ’66.

Eileen Beerman Mason ’65 will be heading to Europe this spring. One week in Gdansk, Poland, to visit a former harp student from Costa Rica who plays in the Polish Baltic Philharmonic, and two weeks in Slovenia and Croatia on a private tour with two friends, and another week visiting friends in Germany. Tom Miller’s ’65 life has been focused on the arts, and he is so grateful for the education he received at the U of R, which prepared him for his life in teaching, designing for theatre, co-founding the Mermaid Theatre in Nova Scotia, and then a career as a painter. For the last five years, the focus of his work has been preparing a monograph about Louis de Niverville, 1933-2019, his husband and a great Canadian artist. He also cofounded The Culture Club, a group of senior gay professional men in Toronto. They get together monthly for a cultural event, and to share stories and support. Living in Toronto is a wonderful experience, and he is thankful every day to live in this richly diverse, multicultural city.

Larry Schulz ’65 and wife Sue just returned from a two-week trip to Central America that included visits to Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Belize and Mexico. One highlight was transiting the Panama Canal. They looked for Chinese troops or canal workers but found none, only highly skilled and experienced Panamanians operating a very complex system of locks and waterways. They enjoyed several excursions to rainforests,

tropical gardens, and restored Mayan temple communities. Favorite food: Jamaican jerk chicken with tropical fruit and a rum drink!

Rick West ’65 continues his progress into “retirement,” but he has accepted board positions on several nonprofit organizations addressing issues relating to museums and museum practice, Native cultural and legal rights, and the environment. Given his professional background, he also wants to focus on innovation, change-making, and institution-building and transformation. He and his family enjoyed two special trips together in 2024: swinging through London, Edinburgh, and the Scottish Highlands, and a relaxing week in Hawaii before the holidays.

1966

Jack Cooper ’66 was invited to read his poetry in February by the Eugene Oregon Public Library in conjunction with the Emerald Literary Guild. The library has acquired both of his books, Across My Silence and Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures in Nature

Dave Partie ’66 is currently working as a member of the General Advisory Board for Santa Monica College. He sang Johannes Brahms’ A German Requiem with the Brentwood Palisades Chorale. In November 2024, he sang various works in a Veterans Day concert with SoCAL Chorale. In December 2024, he sang Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Hodie with the Brentwood Palisades Chorale and wrote the libretto for a new Christmas cantata. He is currently looking for a composer to set his words to music.

Bill Willsie ’66 and Monica celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary on Feb. 1. They are looking forward to an extended visit to Monica’s home country (Sweden) later this year, visiting her two brothers and several lifelong girl friends from her childhood.

Patty Kelly Compeau ’65, Normajean Berger Hinders’65, Marcia Perry Mehl ’65, Joann Gardner Baker ’65, Sherry Netzley Engberg ’65, Kathy Terbeck Johnson ’65, Lynn Geary Boyer ’65, Nancy Wheeler Durein ’65, and Robin Linton McKenna ’65 at a pre-reunion lunch. Judy Gundlach Darling ’65 tookthe photo.

(L to R) Don Coursey ’64, Dave Meyers ’64, Joe Keebler ’64 and friend Steven Lincoln hiked 40 miles along the West Highland Way in Scotland in June 2024.

Susan Bannon Chard, Richard Chard ’72, Barbara Chapman ’71, Chris Biddick, and Jean Seyfrit

(L to R) Jimmie Zinn, Kim Eadie, Charlie Eadie, Jane Hanawalt ’70, Sally Bauman Trost ’70, Ken Hunt ’69, Bill Whale Lowman ’70, Mary Nelson Hunt ’70, Jean McMurry Cole ’70, and Brian Cole ’70 on a trip on the Nivernais Canal in Burgundy, France, in October 2024.

Kappa Sigs (L to R) Ron Gault ’69, Bill Bryant ’69, Dick Holmes ’69, Doug Nalle ’69, and Dick Budemz ’69 got together with Jack Marsh ’71 (sitting) last October for golf and reminiscing

“Bobby” Lange ’70 displaying his vintage L-19 Bird Dog

Ann Ratcliff ’72, Kathy Henderson ’72, Linda Wilson Stitt ’72, Kirk Stitt ’72,

Biddick ’71

Olivia Clark ’76 was elected to the Portland City Council in November. She is chair of the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Ray Bozarth, Renee MacLaughlan Bozarth ’79 and Grace Bozarth ’24 at Hakone Ropeway Gondola Station in Hakone, Japan

Ruth Ann Irvin Walker ’79 with grandson Winston

1967

Linda Scott Colley ’67 and Stephen Colley ’72 traveled to Niagara Falls in June 2024 to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Tragically, they lost their Altadena home of 32 years in the Eaton Canyon fire in January. However, they are recovering well and expect to have a new permanent address soon.

1968

Carol Williamson Davies ’68 and Dave Davies ’68 toured France and Eastern Europe in September, beginning and ending in Paris. This trip focused on art history with museum visits in Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest, and Vienna. They also went to Normandy in memory of Carol’s father, who served in World War II as a sergeant in the 745th Tank Battalion that landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day 1944. Continuing to the south of France, they visited the museums, homes, studios, and painting sites of the Impressionist painters. Back in Paris, they visited the D’Orsay, Louvre, and Marmottan, plus took a day trip to Giverny to see Monet’s home.

Susan Bartley Lea ’68 has been playing duplicate bridge at the Carmel Foundation for several years and one day, heard someone talking about the Feast of Lights. It turns out one of her fellow players was Richard Sheere ’49, whose godfather was J. William Jones, the founder of the Feast of Lights. She now greets Richard with “Och Tamale” and he replies “Gazelle Gazump,” which does puzzle their fellow players.

Nancy Bailey Franich ’68 and husband Skip visited the homeland of the Franich ancestors, Croatia, last April. They cruised from Dubrovnik near where Skip’s grandparents were born, north to Opatija and inland to Zagreb with a final stop in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to see nearby Lake Bled, a resort town they visited on their honeymoon 52 years ago.

1969

Bill Bryant ’69, Dick Budenz ’69, Ron Gault ’69, and Dick Holmes ’69 met at Jack Marsh ’71 and Paula O’Donnell Marsh’s ’72 house last October to visit Jack and play some lousy golf. Starting in 1990, this group has met up at least once a year (yep, that’s 35 in a row) to ski or play golf at various locations in North America, often joined by other Redlands alums. To provide a level of gravitas to their less than somber gatherings, the group devotes time each reunion to discuss not only how grateful they are to have gone to the U of R, but also ways to preserve endangered wildlife species.

1970

Lt Col “Bobby” Lange ’70 continues to turn avgas into noise by displaying his vintage L-19 Bird Dog “Cathy Jean” ’71 at airshows—that is when he’s not busy flying C-47s at the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.

1971

Jean Seyfrit Biddick ’71, Barbara Chapman ’71, Ann Ratcliff ’72, Kathy Henderson ’72, Linda Wilson Stitt ’72, Kirk Stitt ’72, and Richard Chard ’72, alums from Anderson Hall, have been getting together in September for 52 years. Most have September birthdays and even some of the spouses who aren’t U of R alums have September birthdays. This past year they met in Sedona, Arizona, and one of their activities was a Pink Jeep Tour.

1976

Rod Bailey ’76 and Mary Cothern Bailey ’76 have been to Austria several times over the last two years to visit with son Kevin Bailey ’09 and family, including their two-year-old grandson, who all live just outside Salzburg. Rod retired in December 2024. He’s keeping busy as a member of four community bands.

Rod MacAlister ’76 and wife Mary have relocated from South Africa to the Washington, D.C., area and are happy to be closer to their son and his family, including first grandchild, and their new law school graduate daughter.

Don McFarland ’76 reports that after fiveand-a-half years years of retirement, he’s finding it to be an agreeable stage of life.

Dana Taylor ’76 is living in the Santa Cruz Mountains near her daughter and grandchildren. She serves as the executive assistant to the president of Spiritual Awakenings International. She continues to write articles and produces meditations for her website on spirituality and health, supernalliving.com.

LeAnn Zunich ’76 ’08 spent 33 days traveling through Africa in 2024—South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco— where she flew in a helicopter over Victoria Falls, took a hot air balloon on safari, and rode a camel to watch the sun set over the Sahara.

1978

Mike Rothmiller ’78 has two new book releases: Prime Witness and True Stories of the Paranormal and Unexplained

1979

Renee MacLaughlan Bozarth ’79 and husband Ray celebrated daughter Grace Bozarth’s ’24 graduation from University of Redlands with an 18-day cruise to Tokyo,

Japan, where they spent time visiting Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Disney, Disney Sea, and visited the Tokyo Dome for a rousing baseball game between the Tokyo Giants and Tokyo Swallows. Renee retired in the summer of 2024 to do more traveling, community service work, and take care of her grandchildren, nine-year-old Elliott and three-year-old Eliza.

Karl Leo ’79 returned to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1987, where he remains. Karl is the chief legal officer and board member for ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest distributor of roofing in America. He also serves as CLO for several affiliates, among other business interests. With his wife Fay, he enjoys raising his 16-year-old son Landon, who stars in football and basketball. The other kids are fully grown. He has no plans to retire because he claims to be having too much fun.

Ruth Ann Irvin Walker ’79 is delighted to finally be a grandma! Winston Henry Walker was born Dec. 26, 2024, in San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico, where his parents live. Proud uncle and aunt are Rusty Walker ’08 and Liddy Price Walker ’08; great uncle Joe Irvin ’80 and aunt Patricia Slavin Irvin ’81; and great uncle Andrew Irvin ’85 JC. They are already prepping his application for the Class of 2042!

Louise Doyle Valente ’79 retired after 37 years heading up Pacific Coast Speech Services, moving to a consulting role. 2025 will be amazing, with plans for trips to Peru, London/Greece, and Mexico. She continues to stay in close contact with her friends Brad Anderson ’78, Gina Griffin Hurlbut ’81 and Brad Hurlbut ’81, Renee MacLaughlan Bozarth ’79, Lisa Russell Pflueger ’80 and Dave Pflueger ’80, and Diane Anderson Hutt ‘81. Tustin has the best Bulldog contingent!

1980

Timothy Lefler’s ’80 book Mabel Normand: The Life and Career of a Hollywood Madcap was added to the Huffington Post’s list “Some of the Best Film Books.”

1981

Dan Lewis ’81 has a new book, Lost: A Biocultural History of Extinction, that has just been bought at an auction by W.W. Norton for publication in 2028. It’s his fifth book, and second trade press book. Meanwhile, his previous book Twelve Trees was named one of the best books of the year by The Economist last year, and as one of the 10 best science books for 2024 by Smithsonian Magazine. He has appeared on dozens of radio stations around the world to talk about the book, which is now in its third printing. Trees trees trees! Onward!

1988

Katie Morris Willis ’88 took her U of R liberal arts degree, as well as her teaching and administrative credentials, also earned at Redlands, in an entirely different direction in July 2004—and this year her business celebrated its 20th anniversary! She opened Inland Empire Gymnastics Academy in her hometown of San Bernardino in July 2004 with three staffers and 45 students. Today enrollment is over 750 students and she employs 25 team members who work tirelessly toward helping to grow happy, healthy, responsible kids and young adults through the amazing sport of gymnastics. While owning a small business was never on her radar, the past 20 years of using her U of R educational background to impact the lives of thousands of children from across the Inland Empire, in a completely new way, has been an incredible adventure.

1990

Keith Perry ’90 spent two weeks in Asheville, North Carolina, supporting post-Hurricane Helene disaster response as a member of the CA-6 Disaster Medical Assistance Team out of Northern California. The team augmented the medical capabilities at the Mission Hospital in Asheville providing medical care to members of the community impacted by the hurricane.

1994

Rebecca Brophy ’94 was hired full time in March 2024 as intuitive surgical-regulatory operations coordinator after working as a temp for the previous four years.

Dr. Eleazar Cruz Eusebio ’94 has founded a collegial support group to assist 100 school psychologists outside of Washington, D.C. He’s been busy raising his two boys as a USSF soccer coach and training for PDGA tournaments.

Cam Truong ’94 married in 2019 and is now back in school at a local community college in Sacramento to explore what would be a suitable second career for her, after retiring early on disability more than 20 years ago.

1995

Henry Herreras ’95 is finishing up his 28th year in education. He is the curriculum coordinator for a charter school in Southern California. He has an amazing 14-year-old daughter. This summer he will be traveling to Barcelona and Paris.

1997

Sonya Zuker ’97 ’02 celebrated one year as the vice president of information technology and institutional effectiveness and chief information officer at Saint Paul College. She

earned her Ed.S. in instructional technology from American College of Education in March 2024 and Ed.D. in executive leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in August 2024.

2001

Jaime Townzen ’01 saw her debut novel, Absorbed , publish on Jan. 6, 2025. While the book is a women’s fiction coming of age story, it is evident that she followed the old adage to “write what you know,” as the story is set in the area of Yucaipa/ Calimesa/Redlands.

2002

2014

Amanda Piercy Westerfield ’14 and husband Grant welcomed baby girl Lily Patricia Piercy to the world. She was born on Dec. 28, 2024.

2016

Jessica Mayuga-Allen ’16 donated stem cells to a stranger battling leukemia. She highly encourages those who are able to join the NMDP donor registry to possibly change someone’s life.

Schools of Education and Business & Society

Ann Kasunich ’96 recently completed her Ph.D. in leadership, research, and policy in the Department of Research, Leadership and Foundations at University of Colorado Springs.

Fritz Nugent ’02 ’06 recently published his first book, Embers of Confidence: How I Trained Three Female Smokejumpers. Much of this non-fiction story occurs in and around the town of Redlands.

2006

Evan Baughfman’s ’06 vampire-comedy play, More Than a Sunburn, was a part of B3 Theater’s Laugh Your Shorts Off Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona. His sci-fi horror play, The Wolfman: 2092, will have its Chicago premiere in April 2025, as part of Otherworld Theatre Company’s Paragon Play Festival. Also, Evan’s short story, Clownaconda, was published in Issue Four of Dark Dead Things magazine.

Eric Gascho ’06 was selected as executive director of the Coalition for Health Funding, the oldest and largest organization dedicated to increased funding for U.S. public health agencies.

Stacy Huston ’06 debuted in a TED Talk titled, “A Hands-On Approach to Remodeling Society,” centered on making the world a more kind and connected place.

Sneha Subramanian ’06 graduated with a master’s in mental health counseling from Northwestern University in 2024. Her good friend William Ruiz ’06 joined her for the graduation ceremony.

2010

Niko Stone ’10 founded a new nonprofit called Prismatic Joy, an advocacy group that supports the LGBTQ+ communities in and around Westminster, Colorado, by way of programming, events, education, and resource sharing.

Diane L. Martin ’08 was recently honored with one of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 23rd annual Women Worth Watching in Leadership Awards. She is a Southern California-based healthcare executive with over 20 years of leadership, strategy, and marketing communications expertise with a deeprooted commitment to driving impact across healthcare, education, and secure digital transformation.

San Francisco Theological Seminary 1960s

Marilyn “Casey” Wells ’65 has moved to Kendal at Oberlin in Ohio, living independently in a Continuing Care Community.

Loren M. Scribner ’66 ’85 was ordained in the First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo, with the service led by Rev. Dr. Henry Kuizenga. While serving as pastor of the Kirk of our Savior in Westland, MI, he earned his Master of Theology from Valparaiso University. He then earned his D.Min. from SFTS while pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, MI. Loren was next called to be the teaching chaplain at Schreiner University from 1988 to his retirement in 2003. Loren has since taught at Marygrove College, Henry Ford College, and University of Detroit Mercy in the Detroit area. He continues to teach theology and Bible courses at the Grosse Ile P.C., where he worships. Loren also serves on the Commission on Preparation for Ministry of the Detroit Presbytery.

John Langfitt ’67 lives in Encino, California. Retired from the Presbyterian Foundation, he chaired the PJC of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii for two terms. Currently a member of San Fernando Presbytery, he

Jaime Townzen’s ’01 debut novel, Absorbed.

Cam Truong ’94 with husband

Kevin Riewthong ’13 and Yesenia Sanchez ’14 married on April 28, 2023.

William Ruiz ’06 at Sneha Subramanian’s ’06 graduation

Kimberly Morris ’13 married Luke Pata in Aliso Viejo, California, on Jan. 24, 2025. Pictured with friends (L to R) Emily Rychel Nadel ’13, Cara Swearingen ’13, Jacque Balderas Cavanagh ’13, DeeDee Nissen Blancarte ’12, Kathleen Porter Dechowitz ’13, Tenni King ’13, Katie Leavens ’13, Christina Cooper-Wilson ’13, and Mallory Frantz Buffington ’13.

Stacy Huston ’06 presents her TED Talk

Fritz Nugent ’02 ’06 with his newly published book, Embers of Confidence

Jessica Mayuga-Allen ’16 donating stem cells

served on its Personnel Committee. He shares the life and ministry of Westwood Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles), where late wife Sandy was an active Elder and they sang in the choir.

Tom Owen-Towle ’67 shares that his wife of 50 years, Carolyn Sheets Owen-Towle, died in 2023. He will be getting remarried this spring to Loretta Wurgel Solsbery. On another front, Tom will be publishing a book later this year titled Living with Purpose and Integrity: A Fresh Perspective on the Ten Commandments. He sends cheers and blessings to all.

Susan Ragland ’67 is now living in New Jersey, where she is president of Animal Rescue Force, a dog and cat rescue. Susan worked as a union rep for the American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees for 22 years.

1970s

Dr. Libby Hovey Boatwright ’72 moved recently to Cupertino, California. She did two mission trips to Peru and San Vicente, Mexico, last year and was just elected moderator for her Presbytery for 2025. She hopes to welcome her fourth grandchild at the end of February. She prays that we are enjoying life, with so many blessings to be grateful for.

Susan Rump Steinbach ’72 edited an anthology of inspired writings by lay leaders at the Unitarian Universalist Church titled The Outline of Our Souls: UU Church of Davis Worship Associate Reflections. This collection springs joyfully from an intentional mentoring process in shared ministry that parish minister Rev. Beth Banks (retired) fostered in the Davis congregation for over 20 years.

Rev. Dr. Vernon Bittner ’73 has a new book, Amazing Grace: A Journey of Self-Discovery, from Wipf and Stock Publishers, including reflection questions for personal selfdiscovery.

Dale Christensen ’73, living in Richmond, Virginia, has retired from a career in addictions treatment and a directorship of hospital treatment unit. This career was fostered by seminary counseling courses and a year of CPE in Berkeley. He is married and is happy to live near two adult children in Washington, D.C.

Judith Donaldson ’73 reports that her first call was Swan Valley, Idaho, the second Hollister, Idaho, then to Owyhee, Nevada on a Native American reservation. She began serving in United Methodist Churches as they were part of a three-point parish including Lamoille, Wells, and Carlin, Nevada, followed by Battle Mountain, Nevada. Judith received a master’s in counseling in 2001 and cared

for her mother from 2001-2003. She is now serving Carlin and Elko United Methodist Churches. Judith recently married after the death of her husband in 2010. She is 80 years old, having permission to work outside the bounds of Nevada Presbytery. Her husband is 62 and a good partner in ministry. Their current efforts include establishing a food pantry in Carlin, Nevada.

Steve Knowles ’75 ’83 just retired a couple of years ago after 45+ years of ministry in seven churches across the western U.S. Steve and wife Florence spend part of the year in Santa Barbara, California, and the other portion of the year in Florence, Oregon.

Marvin W. Acklin ’76 graduated from SFTS, went to Vanderbilt University Department of Religion, and completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology in Atlanta in 1984. He was an assistant professor of psychology at Loyola University of Chicago after his internship at Northwestern University Medical School. Moving to Hawaii in 1988, he was Director of Training at Queen’s Medical Center, then went into full-time independent practice in clinical and forensic psychology. While continuing a full-time practice, Acklin is director of the Rorschach Historiography Research Group and has published over 80 articles and chapters in clinical and forensic psychology.

Stephen Simmons ’77 and Cynthia Leslie Simmons ’77 are enjoying an active retirement after serving churches in Oregon, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, although Steve earned his Ph.D. at University of Chicago and finished his career as theology professor at the Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Currently, Steve serves as an editor for the International Journal of Practical Theology and is the co-author of a book that examined the spiritual lives of 200+ young adults outside the church. Cindy serves as President of the Bethlehem Interfaith Group, which comprises 24 Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Bahá’i congregations and organizations.

Jim Burklo ’79 serves as Executive Director of ProgressiveChristiansUniting.org and ZOE: Progressive Christian Life on Campus, a network of progressive campus ministries. He retired in 2022 after 14 years as Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at University of Southern California. He now serves part-time as the pastor of the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley, California. His latest and seventh book, TENDERLY CALLING: An Invitation to the Way of Jesus, is about progressive Christianity. His weekly blog on progressive faith, “musings”, has a global reach. He and wife Roberta live in Ojai, California and have three children and five grandkids.

1980s

Kent Philpott ’80 attended SFTS while pastor of Church of the Open Door in San Rafael. Kent then served as assistant pastor of Corte Madera Community Church from 1982-85, and became pastor at Miller Avenue Baptist Church of Mill Valley, where he is still pastor. In the early 1970s Kent began the Earthen Vessel Media publishing company, and most of his books are available through Amazon. com. Kent is currently working on OutsideInside-Outside, which offers steps to getting out and staying out of prison, inspired by his 32 years volunteering in cell-to-cell ministry, and as a baseball and football coach at San Quentin prison. Kent’s work also includes TV shows, including The Bible Study; Why We Are Christians; and The ____ and the Pastor, focusing on non-Biblical forms of spirituality.

Tom Murray ’82 just completed publishing a series of books entitled The Draken Saga, which includes Book One: The Summoning and the Scrolls; Book Two: The Scourge; Book Three: Invasion; Book Four: War in Xultan; and Book Five: The Jurrick. This series is similar in genre to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Malcolm McQueen ’83 ’93 retired in February 2024, serving nearly 41 years in ordained ministry. Over these years his calls included Assistant/Associate Pastor at Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church (El Cajon, California, 1983 – 1989); Pastor at Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church (Cortez, Colorado, 1990 – 1995); Pastor at John Calvin Presbyterian Church (San Antonio, Texas,1996 – 2014) and Pastor/Sr. Pastor at The Church at Horseshoe Bay (Horseshoe Bay, TX, 2015 – 2024). In the months since retirement, the McQueens have been 5th Wheeling their way through Colorado, Utah, and California, visiting family and friends while also living into the phrase: “Retired – Under New Management (see grandkids for details).”

Robert J. Thomas ’83 shares that his last retirement was from the Northern California Health Care System (NCHCS) VA Sacramento in 2021. He was blessed to become a Board Certified Chaplain in 2014, and served as the Chief Chaplain at VA Reno, and Clinical Chaplain at Northern California Health Care System. Since retirement he has written The Letter I Never Sent: A Memoir of Resilience, and Seasons of the Heart , a poetry collection published by World Stage Press. He was blessed to pastor four churches, served as a chaplain with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 20 years, and subsequently served 22 years as a Protestant Chaplain with the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Commander. Robert may be contacted at rjtprays@gmail.com.

Joey Lee ’85 retired in January 2024 after 38 years of pastoral and mid-council ministry. He first served as Associate Pastor for English Ministry at First Chinese Presbyterian Church of New York City (1986-1991), then was the organizing pastor for the South Bay Asian American Presbyterian New Church Development in San Jose, California (19911996). He served as Associate Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of San Jose (1996-2017) before being called to serve as Executive Presbyter (2018-2023). He now serves on the Board of Directors for SFTS, the Board of Pensions of the PCUSA, and mostly recently Watsonville Public House, an affiliated non-profit of the Presbytery of San Jose.

John Hasenjaeger ’86, HR, lives in Portland, Oregon, with wife Sharon and their three offspring and families nearby. John and Sharon regard it as a major achievement in life that all the family households still seem to like one another. John is involved with Westminster Presbyterian and continues to enjoy choral singing in two choirs (down from three). John is a regular Senior Auditor at Portland State University, focusing on language study, starting with Classical Greek, then Latin, and German. Spanish is next. John is usually seen riding his e-bike around the city several times a week, enjoying his favorite taquerias.

Theodore Louis Trost ’88 ’89 has been a professor of religious studies at University of Alabama for 27 years. During that time, he pursued visiting sabbatical fellowships with his family at Carlton University in Canada, Leeds University in England, and Edinburgh University in Scotland. While at Edinburgh, Ted published the chapbook Enduring Violence in America concerning, in part, the hymns sung by Christian partisans before and during the Epiphany Uprising in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. He also wrote the book chapter “The Gospel of the Unnamed and the Subversion of Greatness” in the edited volume Essays on Decoloniality, Volume 1 (2024). His partner

of 30 years, Catherine Roach, will continue as Distinguished University Professor in the New College at Alabama after he retires this August.

Richard “Ric” Cavnes Neese ’89 completed his graduate degree at SFTS while serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, Nebraska. Returning to the Pacific coast, he served for 15 years as pastor of Chapel by the Sea PC (1997-2012) in Lincoln City, Oregon, and later as interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Newport, Oregon. He currently serves as president of the Oregon Coast Learning Institute and occasional pulpit supply at several central Oregon coast congregations. He and wife Nancy have celebrated 56 wedding anniversaries and enjoy two daughters and three grandsons.

1990s

Janice M. Lamott Adams ’91 and Samuel B. Adams ’91 are honorably retired and living at the Good Samaritan Village in Loveland, Colorado.

Steven Marsh ’91 retired as a Presbyterian Church (USA) Minister of Word and Sacrament on Dec. 31, 2023, after serving 9+ years at Geneva Presbyterian Church of Laguna Woods, California as Pastor/Head of Staff. Steve and wife Janet have returned to Kansas, where Steven first came in 1997 as Assistant Professor of Religious and Philosophical Studies, Chair of the Department, and Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Formation at Sterling College. He began serving as Interim Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas on Jan. 15, 2024. In addition to his M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary (‘82), one year at Princeton Theological Seminary (19811982), and his D.Min. from SFTS (‘91), Steve completed his MPhil at University of St Andrews (St Mary’s College, 2002).

Barbara D. Rowe ’92 ’04 retired in 2013 from 21 years as Associate Pastor of Westminster

Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, California. She is now loving the life of retirement, volunteering in many ways, especially to help immigrants and to get wise, social justice people elected to public office.

Sahara V. Chea ’93 was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and as a child, survived the Killing Fields of 1975-79. After learning English in a United Nations-sponsored refugee camp (1980-83), he attended high schools in Houston, Texas, and Bakersfield, California, graduating in 1987. He received his B.A. from CSU Bakersfield ’92; M.Div from SFTS ’93; D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary ’05; and Ph.D. from Newburgh Theological Seminary ’21. Ordained as a pastor in 1996, he initiated meaningful community programs such as the Gang Prevention Ministry Outreach in Kern County, California. Chea is pastor at NWBC, First Cambodian Baptist Church in Tacoma, Washington, and chaplain with Tacoma Fire Department.

Jung Il Park ’93 is an M.Div graduate (The 122nd), Matin Dwell Kneeland Preaching Prize winner. He was awarded a Lilly Endowments grant in 2005 and attended the Intensive Course in Theology at Oxford University, and traveled throughout Europe for 45 days. He served churches in Illinois and Washington. He retired and now lives in Orange County, California with his wife of 52 years.

Chuck Booker ’94 just celebrated 30 years of pastoral ordination and will complete 16 years as Pastor of Bethesda (Maryland) Presbyterian Church in June. In his calling, he cites often the work and example of SFTS biblical studies profs Chaney, Coote, Wire, and Waetjen, as well as the late, great Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly of GTU, who taught him the meaning of preaching. Since 2012, Booker’s church hosted Twelve Step clubhouse with 40 weekly meetings serving 100 persons daily.

Bob Gram ’96 recently published his twovolume novel Apocalypses Vols. 1&2 . It interweaves the eschatological hopes of

Jim Burklo ’79 serves part-time as the pastor of the United Church of Christ.

Richard “Ric” Cavnes Neese ’89 at the baptism of their youngest grandson.

Robert J. Thomas ’83 served 22 years as a Chaplain with the U.S. Navy.

the 2nd-century Montanist movement with millenarian expectation attached to the Civil War battle of Fredericksburg. Kirkus Reviews praised the novel, noting that it “is an engrossing and measured novel of wartime.”

Joanne Whitt ’97 ’07 ’19 retired in 2019 as the pastor/head of staff of First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo. Since then, she served in two interim pastor positions. She has been the adjunct professor of preaching at SFTS since 2023. She publishes a nearlyweekly blog, “Solvitur Ambulando,” most often discussing one of the lectionary biblical texts. She is a credentialed spiritual director.

Cornelia Cyss-Carter ’98 ’02 retired from full-time ministry in September 2021, after last serving the congregations of Two Rock and Tomales in Sonoma and Marin counties for more than 15 years. Since July 2022, she has been the half-time pastor at Kenwood Community Church, a UCC congregation in the Sonoma Valley.

2000s

Maricarmen Campos Castro ’00, daughter of an immigrant Hispanic family, was born in Santos, SP, Brazil. She was ordained as Minister of the Word and Sacraments at Presbytery of the Pacific in 2002. She has worked as a teacher, pastor, and hospital and hospice chaplain. She has been a member of the Presbytery of Des Moines, Iowa, since 2017. Maricarmen lives with her family in Waukee, Iowa, and retired in 2024. She completed her Certification of Mindfulness Mentor in 2025 and teaches and practices mindfulness remotely. She can be reached at maricarmenc24@gmail.com.

Tom Harris ’00, after 17 years serving Govans Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto in early 2024. Wife Sasha is now working at Stanford Children’s Hospital as Program Manager for Vascular Access.

Stephen Moon ’02 earned his D.Min. degree from Berkeley School of Theology in 2013 and founded Intercultural Mosaics in 2013, creating a vibrant worshiping community that engages Millennials and Gen Z. It serves 3,150 registered participants, 300 active members, and a digital reach exceeding 50,000. Rooted in radical hospitality and a Third Culture identity, Mosaics has been sponsored by Davis Community Church, with support from the Presbytery of North Central California (NCCP) and the 1001 New Worshiping Communities initiative. Within the presbytery, Stephen has held key leadership roles, including Chair of the Nominating Committee. He currently serves as a Member-At-Large of the NCCP Council and a Synod Commissioner. Stephen and Grace have been together for 40 years, cherishing their journey as proud parents of their accomplished children, Eugene and Erica.

Joseph Dai Nguyen ’02 currently resides in the southern part of Atlanta, Georgia. In 2021, Joseph earned his D.Min. degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He now serves as the Director of Christian Education for the Vietnamese District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) while also leading as the senior pastor of Morrow Vietnamese Alliance Church. Wife Katherine (Hoaithuong) is in her final year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University, diligently working toward completing her degree. Their children Ferrina will enter 8th grade, and Franklin will begin 6th grade at Eagles Landing Christian School in Stockbridge, Georgia. Exciting times are ahead!

Jean Boal ’06 retired in 2015 from six years of church ministry in Weaverville, California, due to the onset of Alzheimer’s with Vascular dementia. Her husband, Jeff Boal, continues to care for her along with a daytime caregiver on weekdays. Jean is still ministering to others, strangers, or friends, with smiles from her lips and eyes. Her heart is the same, but her memory is disappearing.

Bev Brewster ’08 is now honorably retired after 12 years as Pastor of Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo. Bev enjoys teaching bilingual yoga and dance to San Rafael elementary school students. She serves on the Executive Council of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and as Advisor for Faith and Community Engagement to the National Religious Campaign against Torture, working to end solitary confinement.

2010s

Elizabeth Campbell-Maleke ’11 and Raymond Maleke ’11 say hello from Williamstown, West Virginia where they live with children Caleb and Daniel. This August will mark Elizabeth’s 14th year serving in the community, where she pastors both First Presbyterian Church of Williamstown and Waverly-Bethel Presbyterian. She has been grateful to stay connected with

other SFTS alums (Hi Alison Hendley!) and even connected recently with a few of her previous youth group members from Alameda, California in their 20s and 30s. She serves as synod commissioner for the West Virginia Presbytery, continues to learn and develop skills in supporting the needs of those diagnosed with autism at younger ages, and enjoys hiking and traveling with her family.

Alana Ackerson ’13 ’17 is the bestselling author of Creative Humans: How Technology is Transforming Human Nature and Future Possibilities, a book based on her doctoral dissertation and her career as an entrepreneur and investor in Silicon Valley. She continues to work at the intersection of technology and human creativity, advising and investing in frontier innovations.

Stephanie Ryder ’14 is grateful to be serving in her 12th year at Redwoods Presbyterian Church in Larkspur, California. Starting as an intern and music director at Redwoods in 2013, Stephanie was ordained in 2014 as the pastoral associate. She became pastor in 2016. She is grateful to the professors, staff, and students at SFTS who helped lead and guide her!

2020s

Sam Codington ’23, after serving a church in San Diego for six years, has accepted a call to McGregor Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where he will join the church in actively engaging issues of food insecurity, homelessness, and Earth care. Codington’s forthcoming book, Searching for Speech: Preaching in the Ruins of the Anthropocene (Cascade 2025), explores preaching and environmental catastrophe, raising the question, “What can preachers possibly say in the face of such manifold devastations?” The book includes sermons, historically situated theological reflections, and discussion questions. Codington continues to be profoundly grateful for the learning environment and witness of SFTS.

Sam Codington ’23 has accepted a call to McGregor Presbyterian Church.

Stephen Moon ’02 and Grace have been together for 40 years.

CLASS NOTES REPORTERS

1951

Diana Copulos Holmes dvholmes@verizon.net

1958

Stennis and Joanne Waldon stennisjoanne@gmail.com

1959

Marilyn Kerr Solter mjsolter@verizon.net 1961

Judy May Sisk judysisk@sbcglobal.net 1962

Marie Haskell haskellmarie2@gmail.com 1963

Dan King danandlindaking@ montanasky.net

1964

William Bruns wbruns8@gmail.com

1965

Nancy Wheeler Durein dureins@comcast.net

1966

Carol Rice Williams carolwilliams62@gmail.com

1967

Steve Carmichael scarmic264@aol.com

1968

Nancy Bailey Franich MightyLF@aol.com

1969

Becky Campbell Garnett beckycgarnett@gmail.com

1970

Sally Bauman Trost sallybtrost@gmail.com 1971

Teri Allard Grossman terigrossman@gmail.com 1972

Katy Hucklebridge Schneider kathryn.schneider2@gmail.com

1973

Lyndy Barcus Dye pldye@sbcglobal.net

1974

Heather Carmichael Olson quiddity@u.washington.edu

1975

Maureen McElligott mkmcelligott@gmail.com

1976

LeAnn Zunich SmartWomn2@yahoo.com

1977

Mark Myers mmyers@greaterjob.com

1978

David David revdaviddavid@gmail.com

1979

Renee Maclaughlin Bozarth reneemac@sbcglobal.net

1981

Gina Griffin Hurlbut bghurlbut@verizon.net

1982

John Grant (JC) jjgrant@earthlink.net

1983

Nathan Truman truman_nate@yahoo.com

1984

Linda Schulman Uithoven lindau5@yahoo.com

1985

David Enzminger denzminger@winston.com

1987

Cynthia Gonzalez Broadbent broadbentj5c@gmail.com

1988

Tim Altanero timaltanero@gmail.com 1989

Chris Condon condonmanor@mac.com

To volunteer as a class notes reporter or to send contact information updates, please email ochtamale@redlands.edu .

1990

Kelly Mullen Feeney Kelly.Feeney@disney.com

Diana Herweck drdipsyd@yahoo.com 1991–1992

Sue Schroeder shakasue23@yahoo.com 1993

Joseph Richardson Jr. joespeak@gmail.com 1994

Heather Pescosolido Thomas lilfishslo@gmail.com 1995

Ashley Payne Laird alaird@chandlerschool.org 1997

Adrienne Hynek Montgomery amontgomery2000@yahoo.com 1998

Julie Kramer Fingersh julesif@yahoo.com 1999

Stacie McRae Marshall stacie.mcrae@gmail.com 2000

Rebecca Romo Weir rebecca.d.weir@gmail.com 2001

Maggie Brothers brothers.maggie@gmail.com

Kelly McGehee Hons kellyhons@gmail.com 2002

John-Paul Wolf johnpaulwolf@me.com 2003

Brianne Webb Lucero briannelucero03@gmail.com 2004

Stasi Phillips stasiredlands04@gmail.com 2005

Katherine E. Deponty squeeker_kd@yahoo.com

2006

Jocelyn Buzzas Arthun jbuzzas@gmail.com

2007

Annie Freshwater annie.freshwater@gmail.com

2008

Alana Martinez alanamartinez10@gmail.com

2009

Steven Halligan steventhalligan@gmail.com

2010

Samantha Coe Byron samantha.byron88@gmail.com

2011

Timmy Hendrickson timmyhendrickson@gmail.com

2012

Porscha Soto Guillot porscha.guillot@outlook.com

2013

Jacque Balderas Cavanagh jacqueleen.balderas@gmail.com

2014

Alyssa Good alyssaleegood@gmail.com

2015

Samantha Townsend Bundy samanthaptownsend@ gmail.com

2016

Isabella Raymond isabella.a.raymond@gmail.com

2017

Megan Feeney megan.feeney@comcast.net

2018

Emily Dabrow Remsen erdabrow@gmail.com

SFTS: All Classes Rev. Dr. Bear Ride ‘78 ‘91 bear.ride@gmail.com

Retired Faculty and Staff Elaine Brubacher elaine_brubacher@ redlands.edu

REFER A FUTURE BULLDOG

Alumni are U of R’s best ambassadors. We know firsthand the impact of a Redlands education and understand how students will thrive at U of R. Let’s ensure that future generations benefit from the same exceptional opportunities by referring promising future Bulldogs to our beloved University.

If you refer an individual who enrolls at Redlands, you’ll receive a $100 gift card for the Bulldog Bookstore—a thank you for your referral and for being a Bulldog for Life!

For more information, please visit www.redlands.edu/refer

ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND: Alumni from the classes of 2021, 2020, 2019, 2015, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1975, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966, 1965, 1961, 1960, and 1955 returned to campus May 2-4 for a weekend filled with relentless reconnections and reflections.

Creating a Lasting Legacy

The George P. Cortner Heritage Society, named for a man who selflessly served the University for many years, is comprised of exceptional donors who made philanthropic commitments to Redlands in their estate plans. The University is honored to celebrate these most recent individuals who, through their remarkable foresight and generosity, have chosen to make a lasting difference.

If you have included Redlands in your will, trust, or other estate plans, or if you have questions on how to do so, please contact CortnerSociety@redlands.edu or 909-748-8050 so we can properly welcome you into the George P. Cortner Society.

New Members since Summer 2023:

Gordon L. ’71 and Elizabeth A. Hardy ’70 Campbell

William ’74 and Lori Hays ’80 Hatfield

James C. and Paige S. Spee

Ron and Winnie Hansen+ Stephany

Bert ’63 & Barbara ’63+ Marcum

To see the full list of Cortner Society Members, please visit www.redlands.edu/cortnerlist.

Christine “Chris” Benninger ’73 still values what she learned being a mathematics major at a liberal arts college. A second-generation student on her father’s side and first-generation on her mother’s side, she recently reflected on her time as one of only a few women in her math classes and how her education helped her succeed.

“Math is a puzzle—it’s problem-solving, and knowing how to solve difficult puzzles gives you confidence,” she said. “And with a liberal arts education, you also learn how to best work with people when there isn’t a clear answer. At the heart of every organization, it’s just people working together, and that helps no matter where you are.”

Knowing how a STEM degree from Redlands helped her and how important it is to see oneself reflected in a chosen field, Benninger was inspired to help today’s students with a gift to Redlands Extended STEM Orientation Leading Undergraduates to Excellence (RESOLUTE), a no-cost preorientation program empowering underrepresented students in STEM.

“I worry about education being devalued,” Benninger said. “I want to help students pursue unique educational opportunities and I’m happy to help where I can.”

RESOLUTE provides hands-on workshops, learning opportunities, and peer connections to help students succeed. “This program was an impactful first foot into college,” Nijohni Castillo ’28, a member of the inaugural class, said. “STEM majors have some heavy-duty courses, and

Philanthropy and Leadership

Christine Benninger ’73 gives back to students in STEM

By Sarah Armes Harwood

RESOLUTE helped me bond with other students like me so we can go through it together.”

Since graduating from Redlands, Benninger has dedicated her career to service. She earned an MBA from Stanford and began as an auditor at Arthur Andersen & Co., later spending 15 years in managerial roles at Hewlett-Packard, including international positions in Europe. Benninger then spent 17 years as CEO of Humane Society Silicon Valley, where her leadership saved tens of thousands of animals and led to the creation of The Animal Community Center, the first of its kind in the country.

In 2014, she became CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), and has since expanded programs to better serve visually impaired individuals. Under her leadership, GDB introduced orientation and mobility training, a companion dog program for blind children, and advocacy initiatives supporting the visually impaired community. Fundraising has tripled, and a state-of-the-art Puppy Center has been built. In 2021, Benninger was elected to the International Guide Dog Federation Board.

From corporate leadership to nonprofit innovation to philanthropy, Benninger continues to make a lasting impact on the organizations she’s led, for the people and animals she serves, and in the lives of the next generation of STEM students. She lives in San Anselmo, California, where she enjoys cycling, hiking, and traveling, with her beloved dogs Theia, Boone, and Spencer by her side. OT

For information on how you can support Redlands Fund Scholarships, please contact Jessica Pfahler, director of annual giving, at 909-748-8385 or jessica_pfahler@redlands.edu. You can also give directly to support scholarships at www.redlands.edu/givenow.

REDLANDS DREAMERS