Jami Davis, 81-85

After completing my PhD at the University of Wisconsin in 2005, I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to be closer to family. In 2008 I accepted a position at Marin Ventures, an agency where I have worked and provided consultation services since 1990. Now, I'm just completing my first three months as Executive Director. Our founding Executive Director retired and I was selected from a field of 68 candidates to be the second Executive Director for Marin Ventures. You can read more about Marin Ventures at www.marinventures.org.

I think that the liberal arts education I received at IU (BA History) gave me a good foundation for my career. Being able to write well and think critically are key factors to my success. Being involved at Collins in student government and other activities helped me grow and develop. Ultimately, it was just really fun to live at Collins.

Constance Collins

I graduated in June from DePaul University with a Master of Arts degree.

I also have a blog focusing on Social Compliance in the Apparel and Textile Industries: fairtraderjournal.com.

Michael Martone

I have a new book coming out called Four for a Quarter and hope to be back in Bloomington and IU on October 5th for another reading. Cheers!

Jim Goldberg '79

I was an IU grad '79 (BA Music), and have rich memories of life at the "LLC" from 1974-76. Bicycling became my life and my livelihood after college. For the past 26 years I've owned Easy Rider Tours - guided bicycling vacations in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Canada and New England. I'm just back from leading our newest cycling adventure in the Pyrenees and Catalonia - land of Salvador Dalí and Anton Gaudí! My liberal arts background from IU is incorporated in many ways in my work, although I never would have guessed where my degree (and my bike) would lead me!

Looking forward to the reunion...

3 of MRC's past governors (Randye Chorlins Lyle, Jennifer Hinshaw Arthur, and Barbara Linxwiler Biancardi) hope to join in the reunion festivities! We lived on the second floor of Smith Hall from 1972 - 1975. Two more colleagues from MRC/Smith hope to join us~~Jane Finley Willis and Jill Freers Wright. Richard Blacketter was in the office back then . . . the Little 500 was held in the 10th Street Stadium. Jenny Hinshaw was one of our Tricycle team members. Randye and Barbara were part of the regatta team. Barbara also swam for the Oceanides synchronized swim team and played clarinet in the Marching 100 (one of the first female members allowed to join in 1973). Jane, Jill, Randye and Barbara bowled for MRC at the Union as the MRC Waffle Stompers (named after the pattern our boots made in the snow worn by most everyone back then). Most of us sang in the I.U. Sing and won for "Who Will Buy" from the musical Oliver. We'd go to the Madrigal Dinnners at the Union. Entertained ballet dancer Rudolph Nuerev. Swam in the quarries featured in the film "Breaking Away." Went to concerts to hear the Beach Boys, America, Eagles, Elton John, John Denver, Bob Hope, Sha-Na-Na, Dionne Warrick. Went Christmas caroling on the Big Red Bus (double decker). Computer Dating and Streaking were popular. Mark Spitz participated in the Homecoming Swim Show '72. Coaches Doc Councilman and Hobie Billingsly ruled! The swim team lived at MRC.

Jane Willis worked in the MRC front office for several years, served as Quad Treasurer and received the Bob Arrowsmith Leadership Award. In addition, Jane married Wayne Willis, another MRC Living Learning Center member who lived at both Edmondson and Brown Hall, who also was a dorm governor and MRC officer worker.

Paul Smedberg

I've got a big show coming up at the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, July 1st - 28th, 2011 in the Rosemary Miller Gallery. The show is called:

What am I looking at?
photo remixes by Paul Smedberg

Bart Everson (Greene 86-90)

I'm still working in faculty development at Xavier University of Louisiana. Over the last dozen years, I've focused on topics such as web authoring, digital production, blogging, wikis and social media. I've recently branched out, investigating contemplative pedagogy, integrative learning and transformative education. For the first time, I am doing programming that has nothing to do with technology. It's hard to say exactly what led to this expansion in the scope of my work, but I suspect it was the birth of my daughter in 2008. Funny how that works. I also continue to be involved in efforts to rebuild and revitalize New Orleans. Most notably I'm president of Friends of Lafitte Corridor, a group which is advocating for the creation of a greenway through the heart of the city — a project which is finally coming to fruition after many years.

Website: http://b.rox.com/

Emily Gleichenhaus

Collins alum Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus (1987-1990) will premier her new family cabaret show “Oh, What a Beautiful Day: Sing Books with Emily, the Cabaret” this June:

Oh, What a Beautiful Day: Sing Books with Emily
Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 11am
Tuckahoe Elementary School
6550 N. 26th Street
Arlington, VA 22213

Oh, What a Beautiful Day: Sing Books with Emily
Friday, June 10 at 8pm
MAGGIE’S CABARET
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
1830 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20009
Friday, June 10, 2011
Doors open at 7:15pm
Show begins at 8pm

Oh, What a Beautiful Day, Sing Books with Emily, the Cabaret is supported in part by Arlington County through the Arlington Commission for the Arts and the Cultural Affairs Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.
More information about Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division at:
www.ArlingtonArts.org

Lots more info about the show, on my blog:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/sing-books-with-emily-the-cabaret/
And, lots more info about the wonderful world of Singable Picture Books:
http://www.SingBooksWithEmily.Wordpress.com

Emily recently wrote and recorded a lullaby:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/last-song
Written to go with the poem in the Singable Picture Book “Last Song,” Illustrated by Eric Rohmann:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/last-song-a-singable-picture-book/

Becky Bright

I absolutely loved living at Collins as an undergrad senior in 1987--88. While I met many wonderful people and made many good friends there, sadly I have lost touch with everyone over the years.

I moved to New York City 14 years ago, and have since become a typical jobaholic, real-estate obsessed New Yorker. I currently work as a video news editor at the Wall Street Journal and share a very tiny apartment with my partner, Patrick Shields.

While I haven't yet found anyone I recognize in the blog, I do enjoy reading about what folks are doing and where life has taken them.

Owen Sutkowski

See Owen Sutkowski's posts at USAToday College:

Tour a campus without actually touring the campus
5 reasons to consider a community college

Mike Davis

I have been the City Administrator in Middleton, Wisconsin, for the past 13 years. Previously, I served as Bloomington’s Deputy Mayor and Executive Assistant to the Mayor from 1988-1995; Director of the Association of Indiana Counties (1995-96); and City Administrator in Evansville, Wisconsin, from 1996-98.

Middleton is just 5 miles from the University of Wisconin/Madison campus. CNN/Money Magazine has recognized Middleton as a Top Ten place to live in America since 2005. Middleton ranked 1st in 2007 for cities less than 50,000 in population; 7th in 2005 for cities of populations of 14,000 and more) and 4th for communities under 50,000 population in 2009. We are a statewide leader in sustainability and economic development and an All-America City finalist in 2010.

In my private life, I’m happily married to Julann Jatczak since 2006, and I’m the proud father of Andy (24), Patrick (22) and Sarah (15). I’m very involved in the community, and Julann, Sarah and I are avid travelers.

I lived at Collins from 1977-82 and 1984-87. I may still hold the record for having lived there for 8 years (5 years as a resident fellow, including two as Assistant Coordinator for Residence Life). For any Collins alumni traveling in the Madison area, please give me a call. I’d be happy to take you to lunch.

Gretchen Sneegas

Gretchen Sneegas finished her second term of service last year with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, or NCCC, a federal community service program for 18 to 24 year olds. During her two years with NCCC, Gretchen worked on a variety of projects, from mentoring kids at Boys and Girls Clubs in Southeastern Georgia to responding to severe flooding in southern West Virginia. Gretchen became interested in, and eventually passionate about, food justice and organic, sustainable agriculture during her work as a Team Leader with AmeriCorps NCCC. She is currently working as an apprentice at Brightwood Vineyard and Farm, an organic farm and winery located in central Virginia. She plans on attending graduate school to earn her Masters degree in Food Studies next year. Gretchen posts about her adventures on her blog, and welcomes any comments or questions: http://girlwiththegreenhair.blogspot.com/

Alvia Lewis Frey

Alvia graduated in 1982. She earned a Master of Arts in journalism in 1984. She is a family columnist for Cass County Lifestyle magazine and a freelance writer for The Times, Frankfort. Alvia and her husband, Dan, teach third- and fourth-grade Sunday school at St. Matthew United Methodist Church. Alvia was a resident assistant at Brown Hall.

Cairril Mills

Collins' logo, as designed by Cairril Mills, was selected for the upcoming book Master Library: Typography and Enclosures, a LogoLounge project published by Rockport Publishers. You can read all about it here.

Shari Aronson

Shari Aronson's (in Collins '85-86) performance company, Z Puppets Rosenschnoz recently released a CD of Monkey Mind Pirates, a puppet, rock, yoga adventure for families in search of calm. Z Puppets will be touring Monkey Mind Pirates throughout Minnesota, funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board. In March, Z Puppets will premiere their glow-in-the-dark Gnip Gnopera at the Walker Art Center’s Toy Theater After Dark Festival. To keep up with the puppet action and

Virginia (Jill) Teige

Graduated : May 2009, B.S. In chemistry

After graduation, I went to the University of California, Berkeley to work on my PhD in physical chemistry. I've joined Ronald Cohen's lab, and am working to develop a network of sensors to monitor air quality and greenhouse gas emissions over urban Oakland. I have just advanced to PhD candidacy, and am now teaching an upper-division analytical chemistry class while working on deploying my sensor network. On a more personal note, I've started working on perfecting my own organic energy bar recipes, and seem to be closing in on a spiced cranberry granola bar that puts my standard honey oat bar to shame. I use the massive supply of organic, local produce available in the Bay Area for many other culinary adventures whenever I'm within sight of that mythical quality known as "spare time."

Shawn Fitzpatrick

I am sorry to have to report that Shawn Fitzpatrick was killed in a car accident on December 19, 2010. I’m sure that everyone who lived in Collins while Shawn was there (maybe 1990-1994?) will remember him fondly as the red-haired, always-friendly math enthusiast and skateboarder who was always excited about some sort of new idea, whether it was designing a multi-level Star Trek-inspired chess board, learning German or figuring out how to play “Maple Leaf Rag.”

After graduation, Shawn received a language teaching certificate and then moved to Japan, where he taught for several years. This is where he met his wife Shigemi, and became the extremely proud father of a little boy, Rick, who is now about four years old. About three years ago the family came to the US, where Shawn enrolled in the MA program in Teaching English as a Second Language at University of Illinois, Urban-Champaign. He recently completed his degree, and this past semester had started teaching at Gainesville State College in Oakwood, Georgia. It seemed like he was really excited to start this new chapter in his life, and to share it with his family.

If you would like to send a condolence message to his mom Brenda (now Ms. Brenda Erdell) or to Shigemi and Rick, please either contact me (at mfcappie at hotmail.com) or Shawn’s friend Neil Wilson (at acht_zuendkerzen at yahoo.com) for the address.
-- MF Cappiello

Howard Kingkade (Collins 81-82)

It was at the living-learning center that I was in my first play THE MOUSETRAP. A great experience.
I went on to get a BA in Theatre from IU and an MFA in Theatre from the University of South Carolina.
I went on to become a SAG actor and perform in a number of national commercials, TV shows, and feature films. In 2008, I won BEST SCREENPLAY at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival for the film HOLE IN THE PAPER SKY, starring Jessica Biel and Garry Marshall. The film went on to win the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS at the Rhode Island Film Festival, the Palm Springs Film Festival, and the Florida Film Festival.
I currently teach for the University of South Carolina.

Dave Meek

I have accepted a position as a writer/editor for the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, and will be starting in January 2011.

Presently, I am an attorney licensed in North Carolina and working as an attorney adviser with the Social Security Administration in Macon, Georgia.

Q Project Awards

Each year, incoming Collins students take Q199, a peer-taught course that introduces them to the guiding principles of the community: academics, diversity, community, sustainable living, and student empowerment.

One class requirement, the Q project, can manifest in a number of different ways, from joining an established group or council to writing for the Collins Columns to putting on a program to share students’ own interests with the community at large.

Candace Bertotti and Ellen Goldberg, two Collins alumni, recently decided to give back to the Collins community by offering awards to students with exemplary Q projects. Collins’ scholarship committee will examine the applications to determine which projects best fit the criteria.

Candace and Ellen reminisced about their time at Collins and what it meant to them. “The people that I met at Collins are still my best friends in the universe,” Ellen says. Candace agrees, saying that the friendships she made during her time at Collins continue to support her.

Both were involved and held leadership roles: Candace was a Q teacher and student government president, and Ellen was the Columns editor for two years. Here’s what they have to say about their time in Collins and what they hope their new award will do for current Collins students.

What do you remember most about your time at Collins?

CB: I lived in Forest, Teter, and Read before I ended up at Collins as a junior. While I had a good experience at the other dorms, Collins had a real sense of community. I remember a sense of belonging and support, and a synergy of creativity and activism.

EG: I have a really tight-knit group of friends, such as Candace, that I met either on Ed 3, where I lived, or all over Collins. My involvement helped me become friends with a lot of other people. We had a staff of 20-30 people on the Columns by the time I was a senior.

What was the impetus behind your decision to give to Collins as alumni?

CB: I made the commitment while I was still living in Collins. Ellen and I would talk about how we wanted to give back someday, as Collins made a huge difference for both of us. Then, real life showed up after college, and that commitment was almost forgotten. It’s easy to think of yourself as a generous person, but then one day you wake up and realize you haven’t taken action to make that true.

At a big university like IU, there are so many ways to fall through the cracks and not feel a part of a community. Collins, to me, was such an oasis of community, and I want to continue to support that.

EG: It’s so rewarding to give back to the things that are most important to you. I have for years wanted to give back to Collins, and there was always a reason not to do it. But now I’m in a place where I can give. I believe in the mission of Collins.

How do you hope the Q Project Award will affect the Collins community?

CB: The science of influence is one of my favorite topics. Research shows that the more sources of influence you apply to a challenge, the more likely you’ll be to influence change. I wanted to add an additional source of influence, a monetary reward, to encourage students.

EG: Q projects have been really powerful and transformative for the community. We wanted to do something that would have a positive effect on the community and give students who are already motivated a chance to be rewarded for their efforts.

What are you doing now, and did your involvement in Collins help shape who you are today?

CB: I have my own company and go around the world giving talks on how to have more influence. In addition, I’m on the faculty at the University of Maryland and deliver executive education on Negotiation and Crisis Communication. I’m also a volunteer mediator for child abuse cases in DC.

Experiencing the different viewpoints at Collins and being exposed to a wide variety of personalities widened my horizons and my thinking, and really shaped me.

EG: I’m the Director of the Transfer Center at Harold Washington College in Chicago. I help students make a seamless transition from two- to four-year colleges.

At Collins, I learned to believe in the power of people, bringing people closer together. Collins did so much for my formation and my growth. Collins made me the person I am today.

If you'd like to donate to Collins, go here.