Cover Story: Renewal of Antioch Hall

A fundraising effort aims to restore the historic structure as a vibrant gathering place for the campus and community. See photos of Main Building over past decades.

Trustees’ Letter to the Community

The Board’s co-chairs provide a FAQ on the college’s leadership changes.

From the President’s Desk

Approaching retirement, Jane Fernandes reflects on what it means to belong at Antioch.

FEATURES

Advancement Advances

Interim President Natalie Kubat describes a year of fundraising momentum.

Alumni Board

New Board members elected; a “President in Waiting” steps up; stronger connections with students encouraged.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026

23 graduates received bachelor of arts or science degrees during a week of commencement celebrations. Click on links to the Colloquia and the ceremony video.

Antioch Feast: 2026 Reunion

A festive, enlightening gathering of alumni is recounted in words and pictures.

Summer Volunteer Work Project

At the sweaty, fun-filled pre-Reunion event, 42 volunteers completed much-needed campus repairs and cleanup.

Sun, Seeds, and Community

Inside Antioch’s EcoFarm and Food Foresting Certificate Program

Reaching the Magic Number

Helping students get the most from available financial aid sources.

A Future in the Law

Professor Jacqueline Gaines shares her own legal path as a viable career model.

The Foundry Theater’s 2026-2027 Season

Among the highlights: Bluegrass superstars, Americana, Antioch alum Alice Gerard, and musicians from Spain, Cape Verde, and Estonia.

CLASS NOTES

- Niela Miller ’57

- Eddie Goldson ’62

- Penny Storm ’65

- David Vincent ’65

- Bethany Sansing-Helton ’93

- Lee Wade ’25

IN MEMORIAM

Now, after two renovations, a half-dozen years apart, Main Building, formally called Antioch Hall, is slowly coming back to life. Thanks to work supported by an alumnus, the college can now legally reoccupy the first floor, where a succession of presidents, starting with Horace Mann, had their offices. A fundraising campaign is under way to refurbish the three upper floors, including iconic Kelly Hall, where donors are offered numerous naming opportunities.

“The feeling is that the building itself is in pretty good shape. It’s got good bones,” says Natalie Kubat, who was running the campaign as executive director of Advancement and is currently Interim President. “There’s not a lot structurally that needs to happen.” Much of the remaining work involves “sweeping and painting and new carpet and things like that on the first floor,” she says. “Looking ahead, the team will focus on modernizing the building’s plumbing to restore functioning bathrooms and ensure Kelly Hall is fully accessible to everyone.”

As old as the college itself, Antioch Hall rose up “stark and bare from the stubble of a wheat field” in 1853, longtime college administrator W. Boyd “Alex” Alexander wrote, but eventually drew protection and beauty from surrounding trees. Combining Tudor and Romanesque revival styles, architect Elbridge Boyden modeled both Antioch Hall and Davis Hall, at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, on James Renwick Jr.’s designs for the Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C. To historian Hendrik Willem Van Loon, the turreted structure looked like a billiard table with its legs in the air.

Builder Alpheus Marshall Merrifield, a member of the committee that established the college, “thought in grandiose terms,” Antioch Archivist Scott Sanders writes in a book chapter entitled, “Establishing the Faith: Horace Mann and the Redemption of Antioch College.”¹ Whether or not Antioch Hall was the largest building west of the Alleghenies, as early college catalogues claimed, it was ambitious. Costing way over budget, it helped send the college into early bankruptcy. The school survived, and over the years, Main Building proved adaptable to changing college needs.

Before Antioch erected separate buildings for science and a library, both were housed in Antioch Hall, as was a museum. The 35-foot-high space occupying inner sections of the second and third floors went through several transformations. For its first five decades, it was the Antioch Chapel, with row upon row of church pews. When Simeon Fess became president in 1908, “one of his top priorities was to build the college’s first gymnasium,” Antioch’s Instagram page states. His ambition coincided with Trustee Edwin S. Kelly’s pursuit of a gym to host the annual Greene County high school basketball tournament. Kelly, an industrialist whose Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. (now a Goodyear subsidiary) manufactured tires for carriages and then autos, put up one-third of the money to convert the chapel into a multipurpose gym and auditorium.

Named Kelly Hall, the transformed space became a center not only for basketball but for dances, performances, talks, conferences, panel discussions, and movies. Its poor acoustics, faulted by W.B. Alexander, among others, were improved in the 1950s under the direction of Professor of Music Walter Anderson.

No doubt encouraged by Kelly Hall’s success as a venue, Antioch drew a range of cultural and civic events initiated by both the college and wider community. The college hosted the first college bluegrass concert, by the Osborne Brothers, who may actually have performed in the gym; blues guitarist Albert King; pianist and “free jazz” pioneer Cecil Taylor (who was Visiting Professor of Music and Artist in Residence, 1971-1973), folk singer-songwriter Dar Williams; pop singer Roberta Flack, and folksinger-activist Malvina Reynolds, among others.

Sanders records that in 1944, before the United States entered World War II, Eleanor Roosevelt addressed a postwar reconstruction conference at Antioch hosted by the American Friends Service Committee, along with novelist Pearl Buck and Socialist presidential aspirant Norman Thomas. In 1964, when opposition to the Vietnam War began to stir campus activism, Antioch hosted a Vietnam Colloquium that drew independent journalist I.F. Stone and then-Defense Department analyst Daniel Ellsberg, who years later leaked the classified, devastating war history dubbed the Pentagon Papers.

Antioch Hall offered early exposure to a young civil rights activist, Bayard Rustin, 16 years before he organized Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 March on Washington. Rustin’s 1947 address, “How to Conquer Jim Crow” inspired then-undergraduate Coretta Scott’s commitment to fighting segregation on her own and as King’s wife. Other speakers who found a receptive audience in Antioch Hall included then-Sen. Hubert Humphrey, Democrat from Minnesota, social critic Susan Sontag, and activist defense lawyer William Kunstler. While many speakers were left of center politically, Antiochians also heard George Lincoln Rockwell, founder of the Nazi-aligned German-American Bund, in 1964. Students didn’t heckle, but when Rockwell and opened the floor to questions, “Antioch students silently and as one, rose and walked out of Kelly Hall,” according to a 2008 piece in The Record by Alex Mette, drawing from Sanders’s book, Antioch: An Episode in History.

So heavily was Kelly Hall used, and at times casually abused, that routine maintenance couldn’t keep pace. In the fall of 1969, then-Community Manager Peter Fessenden pointed out “the goddamn cigarette burns on the carpet,” and exhorted an incoming class not to add to the problem.

Antioch Hall’s “good bones,” referenced by Kubat, owe much to a major reconstruction begun in 1957, funded by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation. The million-dollar project gutted the interior and replaced the wooden structure inside the outer brick walls with concrete and steel, providing added strength as well as fire protection. By lowering ceilings, the work allowed the addition of a fourth floor and increased the available space by 25 percent, according to an archived proposal. Kelly Hall gained an expanded balcony, boosting its capacity from 450 people to more than 670.

Some 60 years later, the concrete structure remained intact, but Antioch Hall was in no condition to resume operation when the college reopened in 2011 after its three-year closure. The building needed a new heating system because the college’s steam plant had shut down when the college closed. A broken attic sprinkler system in 2009 had caused significant flooding, asbestos needed to be removed, ceiling tiles needed replacement, and lights in Kelly Hall needed rewiring. According to the Yellow Springs News, a study commissioned by former President Mark Roosevelt “estimated that $20 million would be needed to bring Antioch Hall ‘back online.’”

Into the breach in 2018 stepped the Yellow Springs Community Foundation (YSCF), which provided about $675,000 to tackle the most pressing problems. Although nowhere close to the estimate Roosevelt received, the amount was unprecedented for the YSCF, which typically provides grants of $5,000. In return, the organization expected that Antioch Hall would be shared by the local community. Executive Director Jeannamarie Cox told the Yellow Springs News: “The building will continue to be used as a college facility, but it will also offer community space where appropriate.”

Earl Reeder, hired to stabilize Antioch Hall, found it in “extremely bad condition.” Among other steps, his firm put in two high-efficiency boilers and hot-water piping throughout the building, remediated “a lot of asbestos,” brought elevators and restrooms up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and cleared out “tons and tons” of abandoned desks and chairs. But after the first phase ended, work came to a standstill. The YSCF halted further funding. Cox says then-President Tom Manley and the trustees would not agree to shared use of Antioch Hall by the village: “They didn’t fulfill their part of the obligation.” While the foundation has continued to put money into supporting activities at the college, its board is cautious about future funding for Antioch Hall, she says.

Work resumed this past spring when the college, on its own, hired Reeder’s firm to make improvements necessary to secure an occupancy permit for the first floor. Natalie Kubat told several alumni by email that College President Jane Fernandes “is quite aware of the rift between President Manley and YSCF and we have been working to repair the relationship.”

A fundraising brochure goes partway toward meeting YSCF’s expectations. It promises that “Antioch Hall will provide thoughtfully curated space for local nonprofit and mission-aligned for-profit organizations whose work serves the Ohio Miami Valley region and meaningfully connects with Antioch students, faculty, and staff. By co-locating campus leadership and community partners, Main Building will once again serve as a dynamic crossroads of ideas, service, and collaboration.” Kubat says Kelly Hall has “always been a part of the Yellow Springs community. The high school’s used it, churches have used it.”

Cox says: “What we all hope is that this is an opportunity to change the narrative.” As to Main Building’s future, “Alex” Alexander’s words, written in 1938, carry new meaning: “Long may it stand.”

¹_{Sanders’s chapter appears in Cradles of Conscience, Hodges, O'Donnell & Oliver eds, Kent State University Press, 2003.}

Kelly Hall Adapts to Changing Needs

Dear Antioch community,

The energy of experiential learning is woven into the fabric of Antioch. It’s in our bones. We’re an old-young college: old, in that we’re celebrating 175 years; young, in that we just marked 15 years of independence. We continue to learn and evolve, and moments of transition like this one are a natural invitation to pause and reflect together.

Our Board of Trustees is made up of twenty trustees, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni. All of us are deeply committed to an Antioch that continues to offer excellent, accessible education to today’s compassionate, justice-driven learners. As we move through this period of change, we’re approaching leadership succession, both interim and long-term, thoughtfully and with care. We look forward to broad stakeholder engagement in the coming presidential search.

We are genuinely grateful to Acting Interim President Natalie Kubat and the core leadership team, including Luisa Bieri, Dean of Cooperative, International, and Community-based Learning; Dean Snyder, Dean of Faculty and Principal Academic Officer; and James Goffe, Director of Business and Revenue, who have all stepped up to take on more responsibilities. You have our full support and confidence. We also send a heartfelt thank you to President Jane Fernandes, whose dedication has led the College in making our aspirations more sustainable, amplifying our unique strengths, and centering the student experience in all decisions.

Below is a short FAQ to help answer some of the questions we’ve been hearing. The Board is committed to staying in conversation, and you’ll hear from us more often in the coming months. Securing the future of Antioch College is work we can’t do without you, and we’re grateful to be doing it together.

With gratitude and in community,

Shalini Deo + Emily Seibel

co-Chairs, Board of Trustees

Antioch College Leadership Transition

Q & A

Question: Who will serve as President after September 10, 2026?

Answer: Natalie Kubat, Executive Director of Advancement, will serve as Acting Interim President, with the full support of the Board of Trustees. A core leadership team including Luisa Bieri, Dean of Cooperative, International, and Community-based Learning; Dean Snyder, Dean of Faculty and Principal Academic Officer; and James Goffe, Director of Business and Revenue, will assume additional administrative responsibilities that align with their roles to support the College during this transition period.

Question: Did President Jane Fernandes resign?

Answer: No, President Jane Fernandes is retiring effective September 10, 2026. The Board of Trustees voted to accept her retirement timeline. President Fernandes will remain at Antioch College in a limited role to assist with a seamless transition and oversee specific projects in the coming months.

Question: When will a new President be hired?

Answer: The Board of Trustees is conducting a nationwide search for the next President of Antioch College and intends to hire that person within the next 8-10 months. The Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees is preparing a search process that will include broad stakeholder engagement. More to come.

Question: What are the priorities for the College in the coming months?

Answer: The executive leadership team is working on finalizing the operational plan for FY27; increasing communication to the campus, alumni, and the Village of Yellow Springs; evaluating existing strategic and business plans; reducing expenses and increasing revenue; planning for facilities investments; finalizing the search for a new Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing; and welcoming new students to campus.

President Jane K. Fernandes

One of the words we use often at Antioch College is belonging. It is an important word, especially as Antioch continues to grow and strengthen the distinctive community we are building here. But what does belonging actually mean at Antioch? Where do we see it most clearly, what creates it, and what might we learn from the experiences of people across our community?

Belonging is more than being welcomed into a place. It is the experience of knowing that there is room for you there—not because you have learned to become like everyone else, but because you are able to bring who you are and contribute something of yourself to the community.

At Antioch, belonging is something we create together. It happens in classrooms and in the work students do across campus. It happens on the Farm, in the arts, in the Wellness Center, over meals, through conversation, and in the ordinary encounters that make up the life of a college. It can also happen when we disagree, provided we remain willing to listen to one another and to stay in relationship across our differences.

That work feels especially important now. We live in a time when it can be easy to divide ourselves into groups and to retreat toward people who already think, believe, and experience the world as we do. Education should offer another possibility. A college can be a place where we learn how to encounter difference with curiosity, how to contribute to something larger than ourselves, and how to build community without requiring sameness.

Antioch has always asked its students to think about the world they want to create and then to participate in creating it. I believe belonging is part of that work. We do not create it once and declare the work finished. We create and recreate it through how we welcome one another, how we listen, how we participate, and how we make room for others to participate as well.

Perhaps that is one of the most important things a college can teach: belonging is not only something we hope to find. It is something we help create for one another.

Antioch has accomplished a great deal by creating a college in which people are invited not simply to attend, but to participate—to work, learn, question, create, and contribute. Understanding more fully how belonging becomes part of that experience can help us strengthen what Antioch already does well and carry it confidently into the College’s future.

Stepping into the role of Interim President on September 11 will be both a profound honor and a natural continuation of the work we have been doing together. Serving as Executive Director of Advancement has allowed me to get to know so many of you personally, learning firsthand what Antioch means to our extended family of alumni and supporters. That groundswell of care and commitment is our greatest asset. As we take this next step forward, I want to share a summary of our FY26 Office of Advancement achievements; they are a testament to what your support makes possible.

With a metric driven, operationalized plan in FY26, Advancement team members set out to strengthen the College’s core revenue needs of funding operating expenses, expanding scholarship aid, and restoring essential campus facilities. At the conclusion of the fiscal year, the College had raised $7.2 million in total commitments. Supporting this momentum was a vote of confidence from leadership, with the Board of Trustees reaching 100% participation in giving and completing a $1M giving challenge.

Major Gifts and Grassroots Support Drive Growth

Philanthropic support was powered by major investments and broad-based annual giving, along with increased grant support. Major gifts (contributions of $50,000 or more) delivered more than $3.3 million in direct support, with an additional $2.3 million in signed pledges and $3.7 million in proposals currently awaiting decisions. More than $650,000 was secured in grants.

Simultaneously, Antioch’s annual giving campaigns saw active alumni participation, generating $1.5 million against a $1.4 million target. Standout efforts included:

• The Million Dollar March Match: Generous supporters pushed this high-stakes campaign past its target to reach $513,460.

• End of Calendar Year Drive: Alumni rallied to raise $346,000, easily outpacing the $250,000 goal.

• Targeted Student Support: Focused mini-campaigns delivered critical wins, including $26,500 raised for the Shelby Chestnut Student Scholarship and $37,857 to assist incoming students with enrollment deposits.

175-Year Campaign Hits Key Student Milestones

The fundraising success closely aligns with broader goals established for the Demisemiseptcentennial Campaign, which commemorates Antioch’s 175-year legacy. The campaign’s overarching $17.5 million fundraising goal was achieved with $17.95 million raised.

More importantly, the campaign’s impact is already visible across campus life. The College successfully hit two major experiential learning benchmarks, securing 1,750 Co-op placements since reopening and logging 75,000 student work hours as a Federal Work College. Meanwhile, with enrollment reaching 134 in Winter 2026, the College remains focused on reaching its 175-student goal. Although that number will not be reached this fall, the College continues to focus efforts on increasing enrollment and has invested in a new position of Executive Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing.

Rebuilding Alumni Engagement for the Future

As the College looks ahead, Alumni Relations is navigating a period of transition and reorganization following staffing changes in the department. College leadership is actively reshaping its alumni outreach strategy with an emphasis on transparency, restored communication, and peer-to-peer connection.

Immediate priorities include engaging alumni chapters and groups, increasing communication, and strengthening collaboration with the Antioch College Alumni Board to deliver robust, well-coordinated Reunion programming.

In reference to Reunion, more than 120 alumni attended the 2026 Reunion FEAST! Attendees donated over $120,000 during the Fund a Need Dinner, generating support for several high-impact campus projects, including faculty professional development, climate control improvements for North and Birch, a welcoming new entrance to the Foundry Theater, landscaping equipment, and continued restoration of the Main Building and Kelly Hall. Although most of the projects were fully funded, there are named spaces within Main Building and Kelly Hall that are still available.

Thank you for making this year’s Reunion not only a celebration of shared history, but a meaningful investment in Antioch’s future. You can see photos and recordings from the Reunion on our website. Mark your calendars for the 2027 Reunion, scheduled for July 22-25.

Through every transition and milestone, the steady support of the Antioch alumni network remains the College’s bedrock, ensuring Antioch’s distinct model of social justice driven experiential education continues to thrive.

A rainy July day did not dampen the spirits of members on the Antioch College Alumni Board as they convened to welcome newly elected board members, elect member leadership, and discuss concerns with the College. Members attending in person were as follows: Coco Gagnet, Joan Straumanis, Jessie Herr, Larry Rubin, Denwood Parrish, Dylan Reiff, michael caselli, Abbey Cyester, and David Klasovsky. Members unable to attend in person but attended virtually: Jane Foreman, Alan Siege, and Darren Gilley.

Newly Elected Board Members and Member Leadership

This year, the board welcomed three newly elected members: michael caselli ’87, Abbey Cyester ’24, and David Klasovsky ’23. Even more exciting for the board all three of the new board members are located near or within driving distance of the College. Larry Rubin ’65, motioned for the current slate in leadership: Coco Gagnet ’18-President/Chair, Joan Straumanis ’57-Vice-President, Jessie Herr ’63-Secretary, and Larry Rubin-Treasurer. While Coco Gagnet was willing to stay on as President of the Alumni Board, she was unsure if she would be able to commit to the full-term length. Michaella Rey ’06 came forward and offered to assist the President and act as “President-in-Waiting”. Coco Gagnet will resume in the role of President until ready to step down, then after an official vote, the “President-in-Waiting” will assume leadership of the board. Additionally, it was also decided that the President of Alumni Board would not concurrently sit on the Board of Trustees, rather the roles would be separated. An announcement will be made seeking candidates to join the Alumni Board as Alumni Representative Trustee. The Alumni Board hopes to have the new member elected to and onboarded to the Alumni Board by October, in time for the next BoT meeting.

Supporting Current Students/Recent Graduates

Board members discussed how best to support current students and recent graduates to provide mentorship, connecting students with alumni expertise, promoting Co-op jobs and career opportunities, and helping new graduates build professional and personal networks. These efforts reflect the board’s belief that alumni involvement can make a lasting difference well before graduation and throughout a graduate’s career. Present to discuss how to support students, recent graduates and the College, was the Executive Director of Advancement, Natalie Kubat, who has since been named as interim president with the retirement of President Jane Fernandes. The role of Alumni Relations Director previously held by Shannon McCarville was eliminated shortly before Alumni Reunion and absorbed by the Office of Advancement, with Natalie Kubat overseeing Alumni Relations. While many on the board were skeptical and concerned about the changes, the Board agreed to keep communication open between the two groups to assess the efficacy of the changes made.

Also discussed were new Alumni Chapters that will be formed for the Miami Valley (Ohio) and Portland! We are excited to connect with alumni and current students in these two areas!

Open Forum to the Community

This year the Alumni Board hosted alums, current students, and the community at large to attend a special Q&A to discuss concerns with the current state of the College. Vigorous debate among alums and board members occurred in which many were very critical in the leadership of President Jane Fernandes, current living conditions for students, the financial state of the College, and questions about the future of the College. Some of the important key takeaways from the forum:

· Urgency about financial condition and audits indicating the college’s “going concern” status (external auditor language cited).

· Strong desire for a coordinated plan to stabilize finances, recruit/retain students, and strengthen admissions and enrollment (calls for concrete enrollment targets and operational plans).

· Desire to repair alumni–student relationships and improve campus governance and community (concerns that community government and student agency have eroded).

· Requests for transparency, accountability, and immediate, concrete actions (strategic planning, inclusion of alumni in planning, better communication across constituency.

The Alumni Board decided unanimously that hosting a forum for current students, alumni and the community at-large is critical in the spirit of community governance and will occur at every Alumni Board meeting held during Alumni Reunion. Please stay tuned for details closer to reunion!

Get Involved

Every alumnus has something valuable to offer. Whether you attend an Alumni event, mentor a student, share your expertise, volunteer, or support an association initiative, your involvement helps strengthen the alumni community. Watch upcoming announcements on board elections and other opportunities to engage with the Alumni Board and consider how you would like to reconnect or contribute.

Michaella Rey, Class of 2006, is a member of the Alumni Board and the President-in-Waiting.

The week of commencement was filled with celebration and reflection. Graduates showcased their final capstone projects during Colloquia. You can view details about each graduate’s work on the 2026 Colloquia website. On Saturday Antiochians walked the commencement “stage.”

Joining us for the weekend festivities was keynote speaker Dr. Ruha Benjamin, the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. She is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on the relationship between innovation, inequity, and justice. She is the author of influential books including Race After Technology and Viral Justice, and a leading voice on the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies.

Three graduates also participated with remarks: Heather Cain, Lark Orbe, and Colin Ross. Larry Rubin ‘65 welcomed the class of 2026 into the Antioch College Alumni Association.

Commencement weekend wrapped up on Sunday with a community brunch. Dr. Benjamin gave a keynote address titled “What We Tend, What We Pass On: Collective Care and Creative Futures.” The remarks served as inspiration for meaningful dialogue amongst attendees that followed Dr. Benjamin’s message.

If you did not get the chance to attend Commencement in-person or watch it live, we invite you to watch the recording of the ceremony.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026

Bachelor of Arts

Liv Baker | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice

Rei Baldemor | Self-Designed Major: Multimedia Production Cum Laude

Renee Alexsandra Garfias | Self-Designed Major: Culture, Power, and Change

Sunni “Stacy” Greene | Self-Designed Major: Global Studies and Engagement

Chloe Harvey | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment

Rosabella Nieves Hernandez | Self-Designed Major: Culture, Power, and Change

Gazzain Khan | Self-Designed Major: Psychological Studies

Calder Kraince | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice

Ella Norris | Self-Designed Major: Culture, Power, and Change Cum Laude

Lark Orbe | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice Summa Cum Laude

Sutton Zareen Perez | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice

Ismael Guadalupe Ramirez-Hernandez | Self-Designed Major: Culture, Power, and Change

Jessie Tejera-Fabian | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice

Maaliyau A. Thompson | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice

Ada Xie | Self-Designed Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Practice

Bachelor of Science

Darci Biswell | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment

Heather Cain | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment, Cum Laude

LaTawnya Marsue Edick | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment, Summa Cum Laude

Elizabeth Grace Mele | Self-Designed Major: Pre-Health Professions, Summa Cum Laude

Valeria Celeste Navarro | Self-Designed Major: Culture, Power, and Change

Colin K. Ross | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment, Cum Laude

Masen “Heron” Schleeter | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment

Yuri Marie Whitley | Self-Designed Major: Sustainability and the Environment

On Thursday July 16 Antiochians from far and wide gathered on the Yellow Springs campus for Reunion 2026: Antioch Feast. The reunion actually began days earlier with the Volunteer Work Project, those tireless souls that came together to get the campus in shape for the reunion. They helped with the program and setup, pulled weeds, planted flowers, and helped with projects big and small. They also gathered to say farewell and plant a tree for long-time member David Vincent.

When we arrived on campus, the place was buzzing with anticipation. The weather was warm but not too hot. There was actually a breeze. The rain did not appear until Friday afternoon, a typical on and off downpour.

The first night Thursday, was highlighted by the Welcome dinner at the Foundry Theater. Before we sat down to eat, we were entertained by Chris Westhoff, Director of the Foundry Theater who gave an impromptu performance while we ate appetizers and enjoyed beverages. I think we all appreciated getting to meet Chris, a true asset to the college. Chris has worked in museums as an art handler, in schools as an educator, with construction and carpentry crews, and in many theaters across the country as a performer, musician, and manager. Chris has worked as the Managing Director of Mad River Theater Works since 2009 and recently became the Development Coordinator for the Antioch School, a celebrated democratic elementary school in Yellow Springs.

The dinner included faculty who stood up to introduce themselves and briefly talk about their specialties; a very impressive group. After dinner, we chanced upon 2 musicians, llanera superstar Larry Bellorín (Venezuela) and Latingrass GRAMMY-nominee Joe Troop (North Carolina) who just happened to be passing by and performed for us as well. They were amazing. It was a lot of fun reconnecting with old classmates too!

After dinner, there were 2 presentations in the building which used to be the science building but is now the arts and sciences building. Everything all in one building. There was a film about former Professor John Ronsheim and a film about former Dean of Students Stephen Schwerner.

Friday there were walking tours of the Glen Helen,

the Antioch Farm,

and the main building. Peter Townsend led the Glen tour. I visited the farm, the chickens and the sheep.

Main building is undergoing a remodel/renovation. We met with the architect Earl Reeder, project manager from Yellow Springs. The air handling system (cool and heat) is up and running, the elevators are functional, and the rooms are under renovation. Kelly hall is still a work in progress but it was great to be able to check it all out.

Later that afternoon, Susanne Johnson presented a slide show/listening event dedicated to Kelly Hall - think concerts, midnight movies, and talks - which was nothing but great.

The evening was spent in the Foundry with an amazing BBQ dinner prepared by the Antioch staff. Slabs of beef brisket and ribs. Yummy. Horace Mann Recipient Wendy Ewald ’74 shared with us excerpts of her life’s work. As a photographer and educator, she has travelled the world, giving cameras to children, helping them with photography and capturing all this in books dedicated to the children she met. Her photographs were amazing and her presentation was inspiring.

Cabaret Horace was a gas. So many crazy, accomplished performers. Why didn’t I take pictures!

Saturday began with serious discussions of the state of Antioch with President Jane Fernandes followed by an afternoon/evening filled with wine and food. There were talks reflecting on the life of John Ronsheim and the aesthetics of food and wine. This was followed by an amazing wine tasting comparing wines from Europe led by expert sommelier alums Jeff Treistman ’76 and David Ramm ’91.

Dinner with a fundraising silent auction followed by Div Dance ( with many alums socializing outside on the Foundry steps!) concluded the evening.

Alumni award recipients offered many interesting talks, and with tours, meetings, films, meals, and more, the weekend was a full banquet! Overall, the attendance was small but this year’s reunion was well worth the trip. Thank you to all who helped make this a wonderful event.

Pre-reunion Antioch College Volunteer Work Project is a tradition that dates back to 1986. This past July 16-19, during the Summer 2026 VWP work period, 42 volunteer alumni, spouses/partners, and friends contributed 964 volunteer hours of service (including 100 hours in advance of the formal work period). The aggregate value of the Summer 2026 VWP volunteer-donated service was $31, 300 (serve.ohio.gov 2026 hourly rate: $32.42). In addition, several volunteers made in-kind gifts of unreimbursed purchases to support the College.

Volunteer Activities associated with Buildings and Grounds included:
Amphitheater (cleanup, weeding), Antioch Microfarm (harvest & wash vegetables), Art Annex (electrical/lighting), Birch (remove fence, replaced 10 toilet gaskets, resolved clog issues, stall door repair, clean laundry room, drawer repair, blinds research), Coretta Scott King Center (purchase, prep, cooking, serving, clean-up), Fire Pit (bench removal, assembled new donated benches, repair swing), Foundry Theater (paint railings, floor tiles, weeding, door repair/hanging, planted the donated David F Vincent tree and flowers, placed donated ceramic tile, carpentry), Grounds, including Birch & South patios, Main & OKL entrances, Horseshoe (weeding, planting perennials, mulching, trimming, plant purchasing), Maintenance Building (clock timer repair), McGregor (sanitize door jams/ switches, checked toilets), North (food history exhibit), Olive Kettering Library (food history research, stack sequence checking), South (checked toilets), South/McGregor/Spalt/Foundry (office and bench moves).

Administrative and support activities included:
Admissions (postcards/letters, phone calls), Advancement (letters), Alumni Reunion prep (streamers, pouches, tables, etc., library research, cabaret prep, dorm linens & bed prep), Business Office (shredding), Coop (data entry, scanning), VWP support (admin/paperwork, keys/check-in, task coordination, David F Vincent celebration prep).

Thank you Summer 2026 VWP Volunteers:
Paul Apone, Libby Arny, Jack Bachmann, Penny Ball, Phillip Brigham, Bob Chadwick, Ken Chambers, Peter Chintis, Margaret Eccles, Shannon Edwards, Charles Faulkner, Coco Gagnet, Evelyn Genkinger, Lauren Gjessing, Bill Hanson, Diana Harvey, Nick Hennessy, Jessie Herr, Roger Huff, Jim Hunter, Susanne Johnson, Catherine Jordan, Seth Kaplan, Shirley Kristensen, Louise Lakhn, Louise Meller, Hope Anne Nathan, Jill Ordman, Ralph Overton, Denwood Parrish, Nancy Person, Robin Rice, Beth Richards, Martha Rose, Burt Sage, David Southern, Jim Spangler, Joan Straumanis, Greta Treistman, Megan Trolander, Laurie White, Conrad Zagory.

Special Kudos to the Chefs and Kitchen Crew:
There was no natural gas service to the Coretta Scott King Center during VWP/Reunion week, shutting down the gas stove and gas hot water heater. Despite those obstacles, they showed resilience and improvisation to provide wonderful food and beverages to the VWP volunteers and guests.

Plan Ahead & Mark Your Calendar!

Volunter Work Project is a time for alumni and friends of Antioch from around the country to gather in Yellow Springs for service to benefit the College and fellowship – a time to use your skills, learn new skills, connect with old friends, & make new friends.

The upcoming Fall 2026 VWP will be October 18-23, 2026.
For information & Fall 2026 registration, please visit: https://forms.gle/aTYt1uHgdCrbk7ZG8

Save these 2027 dates:

Spring 2027 VWP: March 14-19, 2027
Summer 2027 VWP: July 18-22, 2027
2027 Reunion: July 22-25, 2027
Fall 2027 VWP: Dates TBD

This summer, Antioch College launched its EcoFarm & Food Foresting Certificate Program. This inaugural offering was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Elevar Fund. Twenty-two participants came from across the country and around the world: master gardeners and first-time growers, educators and artists, a nurse, farmers, participants from Ecuador and Brazil, alumni, current students, and community members from Columbus, Yellow Springs, and beyond.

Weekend One: Soil Health & Nutrient Cycling

We started where it all begins, underground. Healthy farms and gardens begin with healthy soils. While much of agriculture focuses on the crops we harvest above ground, regenerative farming starts by understanding the living world beneath our feet. Soil is not simply a medium in which plants grow; it is a dynamic ecosystem composed of minerals, organic matter, water, air, fungi, bacteria, insects, worms, and countless other organisms that sustain life.

Participants started on the Antioch Farm, learning about soil biology, the soil food web, and the importance of nutrient cycling. We sifted compost, planted fall crops like collards, kale, and brassicas, and discussed cover cropping with winter rye and alfalfa. Bruce Linebaugh, our Farm Manager, demonstrated root depth, plant growth, and the critical role of cover crops in building soil health. We also learned how to take soil core samples, discussed soil testing (and toured the on-campus testing facility), and got hands-on experience with farm tools–broad forks, seeders, and the BCS tractor.

By the end of the first weekend, participants had a greater appreciation for soil as a living system and understood that building soil health is one of the most effective long-term investments a farmer or gardener can make.

Weekend Two: Specialty Crops, Plant Guilds, and Community Food Systems

This took place during Reunion, which brought alumni and a powerful panel on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Food Justice, featuring alumni Shannon Edwards ‘78, Tom Boothe ‘91, Brooke Blackmon Bryan ‘03, and Alexandra Klug ‘17. It was facilitated by an EcoFarm practitioner and the myself. We asked big questions: How can we think about food as a site for justice work? How do we honor both the people at the table and the land that sustains them?

After the panel, we explored the concept of plant guilds, intentional combinations of species that support one another. Drawing from the Antioch College Food Forest, we investigated how trees, shrubs, herbs, native flowers, and beneficial insects contribute to healthy, productive landscapes. Participants also learned about specialty crops like native medicinal plants, culinary herbs, and high-value flowers that offer opportunities for small farms to diversify production and stand out in the market.

We planted cover crops together, used a seeder to sow radishes, and learned the art of “chop and drop” with a scythe. We then toured Crosshatch Farm with Brooke Bryan to learn about specialty breeds and herd shares, and learned from staff member and workshop participant, Ash Cummings, of Duskroot Farm, who shared her journey to accessing land as a local farmer who also works full-time. We planted native and dye flowers with Natalie Suzelis, a gardener and assistant professor of literature, the first step toward a vibrant dye garden.

Weekend Three: Pollination Pathways, Native Plants, and Design

The final weekend brought it all together. Regenerative agriculture is founded on the principle that farms and gardens are designed not simply to sustain productivity, but to actively contribute to the restoration of ecological health. Rather than minimizing environmental impacts, regenerative land management seeks to rebuild healthy soils, strengthen biodiversity, support wildlife habitat, and increase resilience.

We weeded and planted the College’s Apothecary Garden, learning about medicinal herbs and their uses. We explored native plants on campus and discussed pollination ecology, beneficial insects, and the importance of maintaining diverse habitats. Then came a highlight: a natural dye workshop with Forest Bright, associate professor of visual arts. We harvested marigolds, sumac, and indigo from the farm and used them to dye cotton and natural fiber shirts.

We toured Heartbeat Learning Gardens to see their model of dense horticulture and donation-based food access, and we closed with a design studio led by A Tassy, a staff member who holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. Participants learned how to map their own garden spaces, from apartment balconies to backyard plots, and left with tools and resources to finalize their plan.

By the end, participants understood that regenerative agriculture extends beyond food production to include ecological restoration. Healthy farms are places where productive agriculture and biodiversity reinforce one another.

After all three weekends, we had learned about soil health, how to test soil and read the results, sifted compost, planted crops, mulched, familiarized ourselves with tools and machinery, learned about food forestry, toured farms, harvested dye plants, and built connections that will last long after the season ends. But more than that, we built a community, a network of growers, learners, and food justice advocates who are ready to tend the land and each other.

The EcoFarm & Food Foresting Certificate is an accredited 15-credit program designed for growers and aspiring agriculturalists seeking hands-on experience in regenerative farming. The certificate requires completion of three 1-credit weekend institutes and a 300-hour Co-op Apprenticeship (the heart of the program) where participants apply their learning in a professional setting while deepening their skills in ecological agriculture, food forestry, and sustainable food systems. A Co-op faculty member works with each participant to formalize an apprenticeship with an organization committed to ecological stewardship. The course fee for the 12-credit apprenticeship is $500 for community participants.

Want to join us?

For more information or to express interest in future offerings, contact A Tassy at atassy@antiochcollege.edu.

Follow us on social media and check our website for updates. Don’t miss your chance to get your hands in the soil and be part of this growing community.

Part 2 picks up with our discussion of the administration of scholarships and the college’s philosophy about how much students should be expected to pay for their Antioch education.

DS: I wanted to ask you a question on scholarships. I know there are two science alumni scholarships for around $30,000. How do those kinds of scholarships work?

AO: The goal is to provide the scholarship for four years, or however long they stay, and maintain the donor’s specific criteria such as majoring in a STEM field, maintaining academic progress, or meeting financial need guidelines. We currently have two students receiving alumni science awards. Many donor agreements specify that the award must go to a student with demonstrated financial need. If the recipient’s financial status changes significantly, we evaluate whether we can continue the award or if we must reallocate those funds to another qualifying student. With an alumni science scholarship, if a recipient changes majors outside the science division, transfers, or leaves the college, the scholarship funds do not disappear. We reallocate the remaining multi-year funds to another student.

A Balanced Package

I keep track of the donor scholarship funds coming in and scholarships being awarded. This requires constant collaboration with the advancement team. Our goal is to have a balanced financial aid package for every student that combines federal aid, state grants, donor funding, and institutional aid. We provide three main categories of institutional funding. A Merit Scholarship is awarded at the time of admission based on high school GPA. It operates on a tiered structure and stays with the student throughout their enrollment. A Tuition Grant covers a portion of the student’s tuition cost, and a Room & Board Scholarship covers a portion of the living expenses.

We intentionally structure institutional aid to cover portions of tuition, fees and housing rather than offering single “full-tuition” or “free room and board” waivers. This ensures that if a student’s status changes--for example, if they transition from a residential student to a commuter--their entire financial aid structure does not alter significantly. It also keeps students invested in their cost of attendance across all categories.

External Scholarships

DS: In exploring a couple of different foundations, I find there are some scholarships out there that are easily visible. But the process looks pretty competitive. I was curious how much support they got from Antioch for even thinking about applying for outside scholarships or whether that’s just kind of not on the table.

AO: Finding external third-party scholarships is very difficult for students. I do sometimes share external legit scholarship opportunities. Our promise is that if the student makes an effort to earn external funding, we do not penalize them by reducing our institutional award to swallow up those funds. Instead, we use that outside scholarship to reduce their out-of-pocket cost. This allows them to lower or completely eliminate their student loans or out of pocket costs. In my experience, nearly 100 percent of the outside aid our students actually receive comes from employer-sponsored grants or local community foundations. My advice to students looking for external aid is to apply for multiple $500 or $1,000 scholarships rather than for highly competitive $10,000 national scholarships. Additionally, students should ask their parents to inquire at their place of employment to see if there is educational assistance available. The only scenario where we adjust institutional aid is when an external award creates an “over-awarding,” which means the total financial aid exceeds the student’s actual cost of attendance. Most outside scholarships restrict funds to direct educational costs and prohibit cash refunds to the student for excess balance. In these situations, we adjust institutional grants accordingly to maintain compliance with federal guidelines.

Middle-income Challenge

DS: Is there a target for what students are expected to pay? I’m trying to think of the bridge between the retail quoted rate, and what the college actually receives in terms of money.

AO: Our packaging model works backwards in a way; we determine what a student should pay and then structure aid to cover the remaining balance. For our $0 Student Aid Index (SAI) students, who make up the majority of our student body, our target net derived revenue per student typically ranges between $12,000 and $20,000 annually. So, our goal is to be able to receive at least $12,000 per student in net derived revenue. At Antioch, no student pays the full sticker price without receiving some form of institutional aid. For high-income families whose household income exceeds $300,000, the actual out-of-pocket cost caps at roughly $20,000 to $25,000 per year. Middle-income students are the most challenging applicants to package, especially when they fall just outside of Pell eligibility. For example, those with an SAI of around $6,000 do not qualify for need-based federal grant aid, which leaves a significant funding gap. For these middle-income students, we attempt to match their expected out-of-pocket payment to their financial capacity and rely heavily on donor-funded endowed scholarships to make up the remaining balance. Without donor support, packaging middle-income students to meet both our net tuition revenue targets and their affordability needs would be nearly impossible.

DS: So that $20,000 target for student derived revenue, does not include donor-provided scholarships?

AO: No, it doesn’t include donor-funded scholarships. That would be extra, I guess. We don’t include donor funded scholarships in student income because I believe that is recorded in advancement income.

DS: I’m trying to figure that out, looking at the financials, exactly where these things get bucketed.

AO: Right. So, we don’t want to count that twice. It’s still the sense that we are the ones procuring the scholarships, right? However, when a student brings in an outside, third-party scholarship, those funds count directly toward out net student-derived revenue.

Risk to Federal Student Aid?

DS: It’s not entirely clear looking at the financial statements how each of these different revenue sources is categorized. Thank you for helping make sense of that. With the conversations in Congress about the education department and Pell grants and stuff like that, do you foresee any changes? Could there be something like maybe reducing the level of allocated dollars, and the number and-or size of the Pell grants?

AO: I have a hard time watching the news because it’s so fluid right now. It could be, is the Department of Education getting dismantled? Are we going to get less funding, more funding? I think if Pell were to go away, there’s definitely going to be an issue for all the colleges, not just us. Do I foresee it happening? I don’t, because it is something that’s been around for so long. I think the only thing people are worried about is federal work-study grants. While FWS is a valuable tool for supporting student employment, our total institutional allocation is modest. If the FWS program were to be cut, it would not jeopardize our institutional financial viability.

DS: And that’s different from being a federal work college or is that the same?

AO: It’s similar, but I don’t see federal work college funding going away. The representatives who visited us recently seemed anxious, but that’s understandable given that it’s their entire model. The majority of concern is around FWS potentially going away. Regardless, because our school requires every student to work, losing that program wouldn’t be a major issue.

DS: Do we ever refuse students that can’t pay given that our primary objective is to enroll as many students as possible? And presumably, there are some students who, because of financial aid, choose not to come. Does the college ever make a decision not to admit somebody on a financial aid basis?

AO: We don’t explicitly reject students based on need, but some may turn down admission based on financial aid.

We do have students or parents try to negotiate to bring down the cost. When that happens, our first step is checking their circumstances. The FAFSA uses prior year tax data, so if a family’s financial situation has changed due to job loss or retirement, they can submit proof and I can manually adjust their income in the system to increase their federal aid eligibility.

That said, if a student simply refuses to take out a loan on principle, I won’t artificially lower their cost of attendance. It wouldn’t be fair to students who do rely on loans to cover their balance. I remind them that loans are optional, they can work or find other means to cover the difference. However, the cost remains their responsibility. I try to reassure them that an Antioch degree is an investment in their future.

Change in Approach

Previously, as discussed in the interview, our model worked somewhat backwards. We would determine what a student could pay and then utilize federal, state and institutional aid to bridge the gap. Now, we use a structured, predictable system where every dollar is tied to clear rules.

We’ve made three big strategic shifts:

1. While all residential students received the $4,500 Antioch Works Program Grant in previous years, it is now intentionally used as the foundational starting point for packaging every single award letter. By applying a $4,500 discount right off the bat, no student is ever quoted full price. For wealthier families, this eliminates initial “sticker price shock”. For high-income families, this $4,500 work grant may be the only institutional aid they receive, but it immediately signals affordability, respects our work-college identity, and drives enrollment without requiring negotiations.

2. To ensure a smooth rollout, we are handling high-income packaging through a clear transition phase. Because 2026-2027 Merit awards were already assigned prior to launching this framework, we honored those existing awards. This effectively caps out-of-pocket costs at around $30,000 for this incoming class. This cap will be formally re-evaluated before recruiting for the 2027-2028 cycle begins, moving us closer to our long-term target where high-SAI families pay closer to the full $40,000 ceiling.

3. Instead of guessing what middle- and high-income families should pay, institutional aid now scales on a strict 1-to-1 formula. For every $1 increase in a family’s ability to pay (their Student Aid Index), the college gives $1 less in institutional aid. Families can see that aid is clearly tied to data rather than arbitrary decisions, while high-income families will cap out at paying $40,000.

Under this updated approach, every seat in the classroom contributes directly to the college’s bottom line. Even our highest-need students generate $12,000 to $16,000 through state and federal aid, as well as out-of-pocket cost. By establishing a $4,500 baseline for everyone going forward, the college stays financially stable, hits its average target of $14,500 in net revenue per student, and remains deeply faithful to its accessibility mission.

(This interview has been edited for clarity.)

The line-up features musical tradition-bearers as old as 92 and much younger artists who play respectfully with tradition, “interpret it, and challenge it,” says Foundry Theater Director Chris Westhoff, promising “a pretty great season.” American Bluegrass and folk are interspersed with performers from overseas, like Cape Verde artist Lucibella, who with her band will perform melancholy, poetic ballads (mornas), and more upbeat coladeiras; Puuluup, a folk duo from Estonia; and musical theater (Mad River Theater Works’ production of “We’re Gonna Die”).

Another tradition, the pairing of progressive politics and folk, returns to Yellow Springs September 25 with musician-activist Holly Near. Composer of "Singing for Our Lives," she is described in the Foundry’s program notes as “one of the most powerful, consistent, and outspoken singers of our time.”

Antioch alumni are encouraged to buy season tickets and offer the ones they can’t use to be distributed free to members of the community.

2026-2027 Season Events

Season Opener! The Gibson Brothers with Missy Raines and Allegheny
September 17, 2026

The Yellow Springs Speaker Series Presents An Evening with Holly Near
September 25, 2026

The Yellow Springs Film Festival
October 1-4, 2026
*please note that season ticket packages are not eligible for these events

Viv and Riley (Americana/contemporary Old-time)
October 10, 2026

Lucibela (Traditional Cape Verde - mornas and coladeiras)
October 16, 2026

Are We American? The Tipperary Coal Miners Musical
October 22-25, 2026
*please note that season ticket packages are not eligible for these events

The World House Choir presents “Study War No More”
November 13-15, 2026

Alice Gerrard with Reed Stutz and Tatiana Hargreaves
November 21, 2026

An Irish Christmas with John Doyle, Cathie Ryan & Mick McAuley
December 5, 2026

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: We Are Together Again
December 17, 2026

Puuluup (Estonia - Progressive Traditional)
January 30, 2027

Antonio Lizana (Spain - Flamenco)
March 3, 2027

International Women’s Day Celebration with the World House Choir
March 8, 2027

Efrim Manuel Menuck and Tashi Dorji Present BLOOM AND RUIN
April 4, 2027

Mad River Theater Works Presents: We’re Gonna Die
April 9-11, 2027

The Antioch School Spring Musical
April 30 – May 1, 2027

What first inspired you to pursue a career in law?

I am passionate about helping people solve difficult problems. When I was in college, I was always torn between pursuing a career in academia or a career in law. I am amazed that in my career, I have been able to do both. I practiced law in the Dayton-area for 20 years. I worked in private law firms for six years practicing business litigation, workers compensation law, employment law, and did an externship at the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office. Then for 13 years, I served as a family law magistrate, presiding over complex cases involving child custody, parenting time, domestic violence, contempt, and property division.

For over 10 years, while holding a full-time law job, I also served as an adjunct professor at various schools, including the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University; University of Dayton School of Law; and Central State University. In 2025, I wanted to transition from practicing law full-time to full-time teaching. I am thrilled that Antioch College gave me the opportunity to teach full-time.

What is one meaningful moment in your career that you often reflect on and what impact did it have on your trajectory?

In 2019, I travelled to Washington, DC with a delegation from the University of Dayton School of Law and was sworn in as a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Our group had a private meeting with Justice Ruth Bader Gingsburg. She was so gracious with us and answered our questions, accepted our UD t-shirt gift, and took a photograph with us. It was an amazing experience and I learned so much about the history and traditions of the United States Supreme Court.

What do you love most about being an educator?

I love being able to interact with students one-on-one. I like hearing and learning from their stories and their experiences. It is powerful when you see a student connect with new material and take ownership of it.

How do you use your field experience to impact the way you lead a classroom and mentor students?

I like to share with my students that you do not to have a linear career trajectory, and you can leverage past experiences to open new opportunities. In my career, I have gone from business litigation in private practice, to working as a magistrate in family court, to now being an educator. Each experience builds on previous experiences.

What do you hope students take away from your classes beyond the course content?

I hope that students take away a sense from my classes that they are capable of achieving their professional aspirations because I have assisted them in building the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve them.

Are you currently working on a project, research, or new program that you will be adding to your professional portfolio?

This upcoming academic year, I’d like to hold virtual lunch and learns connecting Antioch alums who are lawyers with Antioch students in order to increase students’ comfort with being around lawyers and for students to gain exposure to a variety of legal practice areas.

Trustees Suparna Bhaskaran and Shalini Deo are planning some exciting initiatives related to the law, specifically a Law & Justice Network and a Law & Justice Co-op Fellowship Fund. I am thrilled to assist them in these endeavors.

What led you to Antioch College?

Working here at Antioch College aligns with my professional values because Antioch has a storied civil rights and social justice history, and it has been a pioneer in higher education. I am proud of the legacy of Antioch’s first president, Horace Mann, who is known as the father of American education and was an abolitionist. I am proud that the first lady of the Civil Rights Movement, Coretta Scott King was an alumna, and I support the mission of the Coretta Scott King Center. I believe in Antioch’s mission to make a life changing college education accessible to all. I am proud that Antioch is the first federal work college in the State of Ohio and of the dual work program which enables students to graduate with real world work experience.

What would you like the Antioch Community to know about you?

I would like the Antioch community to know that I am passionate about accessibility of higher education and legal education to underserved communities. Education is a powerful tool that unlocks countless possibilities in life. I want students to know that attending law school is a viable option for them and for them to know that there are many types of practice areas you can enter into from environmental law, civil rights law, to corporate law and beyond. I think that exposure to the law is important so that students can see that a law degree is versatile and can be used for community organizing or to enter various career fields that may not directly involve being in the courtroom.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I grow a small vegetable garden. I have a dog and a cat. I enjoy traveling and exploring new places with family and friends.

At the MIT Media Lab, our ethos is rooted in the unconventional synthesis of disparate fields to envision and create new futures. We are technologists, but fundamentally, we are students of the human experience. It is within this context that we undertake the documentation of Niela Miller’s work. In an environment often dominated by code, data, and explicit knowledge, Miller’s lifelong exploration of the tacit, the intuitive, the symbolic, and the pre-verbal offers a critical and complementary paradigm for innovation.

Her work, particularly the development of Symbolic Modeling (SymMod), represents a bridge between the inner landscape of human consciousness and the outer world of tangible creation. Long before embodied cognition and affective computing became institutional research areas, Miller was using bodily practices and performances as laboratories for deep psychological exploration. She later investigated the virtual not as a simulation, but as a legitimate space for authentic human interaction and insight. As academically cited in Mackey and Jacobson’s Metaliteracy in a Connected World, she is a pioneer in using virtual environments to explore the very fabric of modern learning and consciousness.

This monograph seeks to archive, analyze, and contextualize her main contributions. From her foundational work in humanistic psychology to her pioneering applications in virtual education, Miller has forged a powerful, replicable methodology for unlocking human potential. Her work is a celebration of a core belief we share: that our most profound innovations often come not from what we can logically articulate, but from what we can symbolically express. This document is an attempt to map the architecture of that belief.

Find the published booklet here.

Somehow, after Antioch, I always maintained a connection with Ed, although I don’t recall many experiences. I once shared a car ride with him, Alan Meyers, and Anita Rui to New York City at the end of a quarter.

They all went to Rochester Medical School, and I followed 3 years later. When Jane (Mason) came to the US in the summer of 1965 to test out whether we would marry and make our home in America, we lived in Ed’s apartment on Genesee Street in Rochester for the summer; our downstairs landlady was the wacky Greek woman- Mdme. Kristopher; Jane & I were married in 1966. The photo (at right, circa 1966, Rochester NY) shows me, Jane, Eddie, and my cousin Jaime Klinger.

Ed graduated with his MD from Rochester in 1966 and went to Cleveland’s Rainbow Baby & Children’s Hospital for a pediatric residency. There, he met my older sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Ben Gorge, whose children Karen and Marshall received medical care for their cystic fibrosis; the whole family was devastated when they died in adolescence. Ed was very kind to them and the family. Thus, he was connected to my family’s greatest joys and tragedies.

I have a lifetime of Xmas letters and family photos from Ed’s clan growing up in Denver although I’m not sure if I ever met Pixie or the children.

We did manage to get in some phone calls with a few words spoken in Yiddish. I do remember him telling me that his family received the Yiddish language Forverts in New York, but only one of his parents was literate in Yiddish and read the paper out loud to the other.

I did keep in touch with him about the chaotic history of Antioch College. He was on the alumni board for a while; I followed on the ACAB after the 2008 closure and reopening. We met up at the Antioch alumni reunion in Yellow Springs in 2018. Jane was already struggling with her worsening symptoms of dementia. I particularly remember Ed’s second wife, Terri Schiavonne, who was very kind to Jane and helped me to take care of her during the event.

The last time I saw Eddie was in Davis CA in December 2024, the year that Jane died. He stayed for a few days in my small ADU, where we reminisced endlessly; he talked about Denver, the kids, his dog, playing the violin, hiking & skiing in the Rockies; he was very grateful to have connected with Terri after Pixie’s death; by then, Terri had also died. The photo is of the two of us at the American Indian Museum on the campus of UC Davis.

We also shared a dinner with some of his former Denver colleagues who now live in Davis- Gordon Ulrey, Robin Hansen and others. I could see that he was beginning to fail then- but aren’t we all.

I was sad to hear of his death today. May his memory be for a blessing to all who knew him over his long, loving and productive life.

Bernie Guyer, August 2026

VWP Host (aka Roger Huff) ‘69: Penny Storm, Antioch 1965, another iconic stalwart of the Volunteer Work Project has gone. She died August 27, 2026, finally succumbing to pancreatic cancer. We know she lived well and fully as long as she could! She was never one to hesitate to express her opinions, and was unabashedly frank. She participated in a 2024 Reunion panel presentation on VWP* where you can see and hear her one more time. Breakfast at VWP work week will never be quite the same.

Penny was given a diagnosis and “time left” earlier this year, and prepared accordingly. A good friend and neighbor kept a close eye on her. As the end drew near, apparently Penny was quite annoyed that she didn’t depart this earth when she was ready to! However, her wish has now been granted, and she was able to go peacefully at home in her bed.

We will raise a glass to Penny when we gather in Yellow Springs for Fall 2026 VWP, October 18-23!

Tim Klass '‘71: I lift my glass now: Here's to Penny Storm, who faced us / and graced us / in our grit and grime / with her wit and rhyme (every time) / more than a pleasure / a treasure / beyond measure.

Robin Rice ‘64: It's impossible not to still feel Penny's presence. I fully expect to receive holiday greeting cards from her - sent from the expanded space she is now filling with poems, song and her inimitable laughter.

Antioch College: It is with deep sadness that we share with the Antioch community the passing of Penny Storm ’65.

Penny’s impact on Antioch College was both profound and enduring. Through her service on Antioch’s Board of Trustees, she provided thoughtful leadership, steady guidance, and a clear moral compass in support of the College’s long-term strength and vitality. Beyond the boardroom, her longtime involvement with the Volunteer Work Project reflected a deep and abiding commitment to experiential education, community engagement, and the principles that define Antioch.

Penny was also a regular contributor to The Antiochian, where she wrote with wit, thoughtfulness, and care about the College and its community. Through her visionary support and generosity, she helped create opportunities for students that will resonate for generations to come. Her belief in Antioch’s mission strengthened our foundation, inspired our community, and affirmed the values that make this institution unique.

Penny was also a longstanding and extraordinarily generous supporter of the College. Through the Edward D. and Mildred R. Storm Memorial Scholarship, she made a lasting impact on the lives of Antioch students. Her generosity helped financial assistance to deserving students who might not otherwise have had the means to pursue a college education—opening doors, empowering dreams, and helping shape the future of our community and beyond.

In May, Penny was awarded the President’s Medallion, the College’s highest honor, which recognizes individuals whose extraordinary commitment and transformative support advance Antioch’s mission.

The Board of Trustees was fortunate to have Penny among our members these last few years. She was a lifelong, dedicated supporter of Antioch College, and brought her creativity, style, energy and unabashed frankness to all her pursuits, which included not only the Board but 40 plus years as a stalwart of the Volunteer Work Project.

Fellow trustee and Antioch classmate of Penny’s, Larry Rubin, notes that “Penny embodied what is most valuable about Antioch. She helped people feel vital and validated. When you needed someone to help you think something through, you went to Penny. All her life, her passion, enthusiasm and openness helped people come together, and she brought out the best in all of us. It’s just unfair to the world that she’s gone.”

We extend our deepest sympathies to Penny’s family, friends, and loved ones, and our enduring gratitude for all that she gave to Antioch College. Her generosity, leadership, and service are forever woven into the history of Antioch—and into its future.

The Volunteer Work Project (VWP) hosted a celebration to honor David’s decades long commitment to the VWP on July 15^th, 2026 after the VWP Wednesday night dinner. David was known for his early arrival to the three annual work projects where he would invite members to attend; organize the lodging in West, North or Birch; make up all the volunteer beds; organize the hospitality; decorate the campus with flowering plants and colorful streamers; and of course, paint the Foundry Theater doors and railings red! His attention to detail and his welcoming style made him a favorite among the VWP team (though he could be irascible!)

Approximately 30 volunteers formed a First Line procession led by Beth Richards driving the Mann Lift (a hydrologic Cherry Picker that David named after our first President, Horace Mann!). Followed by Aaron Knell, a trumpeter, playing a dirge in the back of a truck driven by Chris Westhoff, Foundry Theater director. The assembled party waved white hankies provided by Barrie Grinnell, such a nice touch! The group walked down Livermore Street onto Campus, past the Amphitheater (that David helped paint) and up to the Foundry Theater where David painted the doors and railings fire engine red more than once.

A ceramic plaque created by Evelyn LaMers was planted with David’s ashes between two new flowering bushes in the garden. Beth Richards read Mary Oliver’s poem, When Death Comes. A Second Line formed and Aaron played “When the Saints Go Marching In” as the group processed to the back of the Theater.

There they circled the new Flaming Red Maple that Tom LaMers, a member of the Yellow Springs Tree Committee, had purchased, planted, and fenced in a hole dug by a team of VWP warriors in the heat of an Ohio Summer day. More of David’s ashes were placed at the base of the tree.

Then Beth Richards, in the Mann Lift, placed new ribbon streamers on the bar over the newly named and refurbished “David Vincent Stage Door” funded by Barrie Grinnell, Paula Treichler, Jim Spangler, Megan Trolander, and Catherine Jordan. A group photo was taken.

Folks entered the theater through David’s door to the theater lobby where a feast of Meyer Lemon bars made by Evelyn LaMers, using David’s mother’s recipe from lemons harvested from his tree in California and sent to her by Ellen Fiss were consumed! Champagne and Sparkling cider were imbibed as Chris Westhoff and Arron Knell played songs and the crowd told stories and anecdotes about our lives with David.

David was a VWP champion. He loved Antioch, he loved us and we loved him. He will be missed and remembered for many VWP sessions to come.

Catherine Jordan ‘72, Celebration organizer and David’s Theater Streamer protégé

Bethany Sansing-Helton joined the college as the new dean of science, technology,engineering and mathematics, according to a WVC news release.

Before coming to Wenatchee, Sansing-Helton was a faculty member, interim department chair for engineering, math department co-chair and lead data partner at Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin.

Outside of academia, she also previously worked for nearly seven years at LockheadMartin Astronautics as a senior test engineer and thermal analysis engineer.

“I am thrilled to be joining the WVC community as dean,” Sansing-Helton said in the release. “My 16 years of experience as a community college faculty member have shaped my philosophy and deepened my commitment to student success. I look forward to working alongside faculty and colleagues to support our students and help them thrive.”

Wade is the creator, host, and producer of Translucent, a podcast and radio program on WYSO 91.3FM. The program is meant to connect communities and foster learning through community-based conversations with transgender and nonbinary voices.