40th Anniversary Reunion

I thought I'd post on the blog that our alumni reunion will be happening from May 11-13 of this year. It's our 40th anniversary and we'd like to invite you to come help us celebrate! Come back to find old friends, visit your room, talk with the past and present directors, and enjoy activities in the Courtyard and around campus!

If you are interested in attending, please contact me at lbugher@indiana.edu and I'll be happy to send you a registration form. We also encourage you to contribute to our alumni "Collins Columns" scrapbook by sending us your stories, artwork, publications, or anything else you'd like to share with the Collins community.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Chad Brown

I lived in Collins 1987-88 in Edmondson.

I continue to live in Minneapolis. I am now VP of Foundation Relations at Greater Twin Cities United Way. I recently spearheaded the development of the United Way Arise Project, one of the first GLBT giving programs in the national United Way system.

Gretchen Sneegas

I am preparing to start work at a dairy in Clear Spring, Maryland at the end of February; last year, I worked at on a small organic farm in central Virginia, doing everything from processing chickens to harvesting heirloom tomatoes. I just sent in my application for a Masters Degree in Food Studies at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, and I plan on working in advocacy for sustainable agriculture and small family farms. Eat local!

Gretchen Sneegas (2008)

Eric March

I'm happy to say that I am now on faculty at the National Academy in New York City teaching drawing and painting. (http://nationalacademy.org/pageview.asp?mid=2&pid=85&id=78)

I also have a piece in the international juried show "30 Artists/ 30 Years" opening this week at the Art Students League. I'm honored to be included in this prestigious exhibition. The show will be on view from October 1 - October 28, 2011.

30 Artist/30 Years
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery
The Art Students League of New York
215 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Opening October 4 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Peter Thomas

Peter Thomas has just returned from West Ghana and a second stint in the Peace Corps to start graduate work at USC in Public Policy. He is enrolled in a two-year program and aspires to do development work in Afghanistan and Iraq. Collins students interested in the Peace Corps in Africa may contact him.

Mike Davis

I recently won the 2011 Meritorious Service Award from the Wisconsin City/County Management Association.

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Press release

Middleton City Administrator Mike Davis Wins Wisconsin City/County Management Association Award

June 16, 2011 - Wisconsin Dells – Today Middleton City Administrator Mike Davis received the prestigious Wisconsin City/County Management Association’s (WCMA) Meritorious Service Award for 2011. The award honors and acknowledges “outstanding achievement as a local government management professional in the State of Wisconsin.” Davis was presented the award at the WCMA Summer Conference in Wisconsin Dells.

Davis was nominated by City of Middleton District 2 Alderman Gurdip Brar. He has spearheaded many initiatives during his 24 year public sector career, including 13 year service as the Administrator for the City of Middleton. Prior to coming to Middleton, Davis served as the Assistant City Attorney in Bloomington, Indiana, Deputy Mayor / Assistant to the Mayor for the City of Bloomington, Executive Director for the Association of Indiana Counties, and City Administrator for Evansville, Wisconsin.

In Middleton Davis also serves as the Director of Economic and Community Development, Personnel Officer, and Public Information Officer. Davis oversees 13 departments and 150 employees.

During Davis’s tenure as Middleton City Administrator Money Magazine named Middleton the #1 Best Place to Live (2007), the #4 Best Place to Live (2009), and the #7 Best Place to Live (2005). In 2010, Middleton was a finalist for an All-America City (AAC) Award. As Economic Development Director, Mike has forged a strong relationship with the Middleton Chamber of Commerce and with THRIVE, an eight-county Madison-region economic development enterprise.

From 2007-2008, Davis served as president of the Wisconsin City Managers’ Association. He has also served as a board member since 2001. Davis has actively engaged city employees and city residents in a wide variety of topics related to city management. He created an innovative program for 3rd graders called “Democracy In Action.” Each year, he invites all 3rd grade classes to participate as “Mayors” and “Council Members” faced with difficult municipal budget decisions.

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.