Ephs on the Mooove
Meeting alumni where they are, sharing who they are.
During the month of July, Juan Baena '06 and Mike Rodriguez '17 embark aboard an RV on a cross-country journey to listen, share, and connect with Williams alumni. By documenting alumni's experiences of life at home, work, and in their local communities, they hope to celebrate a shared sense of connection and reflect on what it means to engage beyond the Purple Valley.
Lunch in Manti
Don White ’74 is a retired exploration geologist now residing in Manti, UT. We chat about his adventures in the field post-Williams, the importance of a rounded education, and sharing the outdoors with others who come through town.
A Home on Wheels
Dave Ramsay ’09 and Matt Felser ’09 founded Dave and Matt Vans in Gypsum, CO where they design, build, rent and sell affordable camper vans you can live in (like Nelly but mini!). Listen as they share their journeys from finance and education respectively to running a rapidly growing Van Life business.
A Circuitous Route
Jason Smith ’91 moved out to Littleton, CO in early 2020 and got involved in work with the Denver Dumb Friends League as an adoption counselor. We chat about the challenges of following a traditional path versus pursuing one’s passions, the joy of making an adoption match, and keeping an open mind.
Connecting People to Nature
Rebecca Beavers ’93 (Williams Mystic ’91) lives in Denver, CO and works as a Coastal Geologist for the National Parks Service. We chat about her job, connecting parks and education, her efforts supporting the transgender and gender diverse community, and what it means to connect with people.
Live to Serve
Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts ’99 (and his wife Camille ’00) live in Denver, CO. His work has been focused as a family physician and serving underserved communities through healthcare. He shares his work, taking Capoeira as a hobby, his love for Carnival, and the importance of kindness in our lives.
Occupying Times of Transition
Madeline Berky ’10 lives in Denver, CO, loves to bake, is working on a romance novel, and has an adorable dog named Huckleberry. In our conversation, we chat about building community through food, mental health, occupying times of transition, and her movement practice.
Redefining Success
Eze Redwood ’06 calls Kansas City home. He helps small and mid-sized companies with marketing needs as VP of Lillian James Creative and also helps run two Wings Cafe restaurant locations. We talked about what success means to him, finding your passions, taking risks, and empowering others in his community.
The Ingredients for Community
Elyse Mack GA’20 is a native of St. Louis, MO which she returned to after wrapping up the Grad Art program at Williams. She now works with Bread and Roses at the center of arts and activism in the community. Listen to us chat about the work, Dungeons and Dragons, baking, and the importance of new perspectives.
A Scoop of Joy
A serial entrepreneur, Frank Uible ’85 co-founded Clementine’s Creamery in St. Louis, MO, a childhood vision from his fiancée to bring joy and connection through a scoop of ice cream. He talks about mentorship, supporting causes in the community, the impact of Williams classmates, and gratitude to his grandfather and father.
Taking a Chance
Caroline Fan ’03 and Kevin Hsueh ’03 live just outside of St. Louis. Caroline is a startup consultant, community organizer, and founding President of the Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation. Kevin is an infectious disease doctor and faculty member at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They share some of their community work, joys of gardening, introduced us to their dog Pixie, and talked about how journeys have failures and that is ok.
This Girl from Small Town Ohio
Alex Sherman ’13 currently lives in Cleveland, OH and works as a speech pathologist. In our conversation, we chat about her work, trivia, fostering kittens, and the importance of listening to connect with others.
That’s Barbecue!
As a long-time telecommuter based out of Overland Park, KS, Cynthia Sharpe ’94 uses words to build museum and theme park experiences.
Slow Down and Watch the Snowflakes Fall
After moving back to Rochester, NY, David Brown ’07 has sought to foster connections and relationships among the tech entrepreneurs in Western New York through his work in venture capital.
We Belong Here
Alejandra Moran ’17 and Kevin Hernandez ’17 have recently relocated to Albuquerque, NM, where Alejandra has started medical school while Kevin works in the education space. We chat about finding a sense of belonging at Williams, the importance of seeking help and mentors, and building community for others like you.
Serving My Community
Born and raised in the City of Rochester, Senator Brouk returned home to continue her journey in public service and most recently being elected to represent the 55th district in the New York State Senate. In this conversation we chat about the ‘sparks’ along the way that led to her involvement in the community as well as the things that bring joy in her life.
Embracing the Unexpected
Aaron Carvell ’99 currently serves as one of the heads of Old Home Distillers, a family owned distillery in Lebanon, New York. In our conversation, we chat about taking risks, the joys of family, being a trombonist, and building community wherever you go.
We the Purple: Voices from the Road – Part 3
Listen to conversations with Rebecca Beavers ’93, Samra Brouk ’08, David Brown ’07, and Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts ’99.
We the Purple: Voices from the Road – Part 2
Listen to conversations with April King ’04, Cynthia Sharpe ’94, Jason Smith ’91, and Don White ’74.
Creating Space for Belonging
Zorelly Cepeda Derieux ’14, the newest member of the Alumni Relations staff and transplant after Williams into the Berkshire community, talked about identity, creating space, and her love of a good song. She has served as a strong mentor and participant locally, and brings a rich perspective to the alumni community. We hope you’ll join her in creating a more inclusive community together.
We the Purple: Voices from the Road – Part 1
Listen to conversations with Aaron Carvell ’99, Caroline Fan ’03 and Kevin Hsueh ’03, Eze Redwood ’06, and Alex Sherman ’13.
The Land is the Link
Twink Williams Burns ’06 and Markus Burns ’06, a Williams couple who met in the Frosh Quad, returned to Williamstown to raise their two children and to work in the Admission Office. Both active members in the community in their own unique ways, they shared their experiences connecting with the land (including new gardens!), learning about their own personal histories, and developing relationships with others.
Naming Love and Gratitude Out Loud
Ashley Weeks Cart ‘05, a deeply passionate Williams community member, shared with us the importance of her family, a love of knitting, and a dedication to bringing people together.