Empire of the Griffin

From the Alumni Board President

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By Greg Byshenk ’89

Greg Byshenk

With the turning of the Reed’s fiscal year July 1, a renewed executive committee takes over leadership of the alumni association (see below). As part of that renewal, I take up the role of president. I hope to serve in a way that earns the respect of all members of the association, if not their endorsement. The latter is a bit much to hope for, given the diversity of positions and opinions of Reedies, and I know that my time as student body president did not make all of my fellow students happy. It was nonetheless a privilege and (at least in large part) a pleasure to serve then, and I feel the same about our alumni board.

Part of earning respect will involve being willing to listen to any Reedies who have something to say about the college or the alumni association. I may not agree, but I hope at least to hear you out. Indeed, I want to encourage Reedies to contact me, either in person at Reed events, or any time via email. People have told me that I can seem aloof in person, but that is only appearance. My nature is to be quiet, even introverted, rather than gregarious, but I am always happy to talk.

I think that there will be a lot to talk about in the coming year. Apart from the continuing activities of the college and the alumni board, we are hoping to expand the reach of our Life Beyond Reed committee and engage more alumni; also, we are beginning planning for the centennial of Reed’s alumni association, which will take place in the 2014–15 year. In addition, following the completion of the Centennial Campaign and the upcoming completion and dedication of the new Performing Arts Building, the college will be engaging in a two-year process to reevaluate its strategic plan. While such strategic planning is ultimately the responsibility of the trustees and the faculty, there will be opportunities for input from students, staff, and alumni, as well. Indeed, there was a panel presented by President Kroger and senior staff at Reunions ’13: Reedfayre as part of this process, and there will be other opportunities for alumni to communicate as well, including at Leadership Summit, September 20 & 21.

We on the alumni board will try to keep the members of the association (that’s you!) informed about what is happening, and I encourage Reedies to keep us informed about your concerns.

Alumni Overrun Campus at Reunions: Reedfayre ’13

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reunions

Click photo to view slideshow 
Photos by Leah Nash

Reunions ’13: Reedfayre was a stupendous celebration enjoyed by more than 1,000 alumni, friends, and family. View class photos and candid snapshots online. Mark your calendars to return for Reunions 2014, June 4–8!

Welcome New Grads

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If you’re a new grad, welcome to the alumni fold! Learn more about our arcane benefits of membership online and the new-fangled ways in which you can follow Reed and advance your own prospects via a variety of social media.

Meet Your Alumni Board

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Greg Byshenk

Greg Byshenk ’89, President

Major: Philosophy

Thesis: "Some Problems with Alasdair MacIntyre‚ Whose Justice? Which Rationality?"

Student activities: student body treasurer, student body president, soccer, security dispatcher, night bus driver

Lives in: Portland, Oregon

Day job: Selling my house, Unix system engineering

Alumni board stuff: outreach committee, social media, LBR

Volunteer work for Reed: alumni board, 2012 Rose Festival Parade float volunteer, webmaster for Reed Alumni Webcon, Reed Alumni Career Network.

Random personal fact: I was born in Chicago and have a US Green Card.

 

Scott Foster

Scott Foster ’77, Vice President

Major: Biology

Thesis: "Prey Selection and Caloric Reward in Falco Sparverius"

Student activities: men's soccer goalkeeper, KRRC deejay, various theatre productions

Lives in: Northern Sonoma Coast, California

Day job: district administrator for Coast Life Support District [Emergency Medical Response]

Alumni board stuff: Reunions/Reedfayre committee chair

Volunteer work for Reed: alumni board, chapter rep (Washington, D.C.), college fair rep, admissions interviewer, 30th-reunion class leader 2007, Reed Alumni Career Network.

Random personal fact: I enjoy celebrating the Great American Songbook through frequent jazz-ensemble performances on the remote California coast

 

Kristen Earl

Kristen Earl ’05, Secretary

Major: English

Thesis: Race, class, and sex : transgression in Langston Hughes's "The ways of white folks"

Student activities: phonathon, student activities office, residence life, alumni relations, hanging out with my sister Lyndsey '07

Lives in: Portland, Oregon

Day job: Development Manager for Bradley Angle, a nonprofit that provides essential services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.

Alumni board stuff: Most recently guidebook, previously served on Reunions, outreach, and nominating committees

Volunteer work for Reed: Oral History Project - Portland Chapter Coordinator, alumni board, other random shenanigans

Random personal fact: I can pick up dimes with my toes

 

Chantal Sudbrack

Chantal Sudbrack ’97 Immediate Past President

Major: 3-2 program, Chemistry (Reed)/Materials Science & Engineering (Columbia U)

Thesis:  N/A

Student activities:  dorm mom for Scholz III, rugby, lifeguard, orchestra, Foster-Scholz Battle of the Bands, lab instructor for Nat.Sci

Lives in: Cleveland, Ohio

Day job: materials research engineer for NASA

Alumni board stuff: LBR, Working Weekends 2012, chapter-leader council

Volunteer work for Reed: alumni board, organizer for social gatherings in Northeast Ohio, Reed Oral History Project, chapter rep (Chicago), 10th-reunion class leader 2007/2012, Reed Alumni Career Network

Random personal fact: has been recently swept up off her dancing feet by the soul-music craze that has hit Cleveland 

New at-large members:

Forrest Alogna ’95

Cindy Joe ’08

Beverly Lau ’06

Michael Stapleton ’10

Richard Thomason ’84

Continuing at-large members:

Alea Adigweme ’06

Julia Chamberlain ’03

David Devine ’96

Paul Levy ’72

Adam Riggs ’95

Richard Roher ’79

Deepak Sarma ’91

Steven Seal ’01