For Alumni and Friends of Williams-Mystic No. 56 Summer 2017

FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF WILLIAMS-MYSTIC NO. 56 SUMMER 2017

1 Alumni Profile Austin Becker CONTENTS 3 From the Director 6 4 Campus Life 6 Alumni Profile: Austin Becker 10 Reunion Classes 12 Alumni Profile: Kathleen Reardon 16 Alumni Photos 18 Ironman of Mystic Bill Scheer Alumni Profile 22 The Ditty Bag Kathleen Reardon 24 Around the Seaport 25 WM Starts Winter Study 12 26 Sustainability Council 27 Class Notes 31 Just the Facts

BUT WHAT IS A GAM?

You might wear out your index-finger running up and down the columns of dictionaries, and never find the word.

Dr. Johnson never attained to that erudition; Noah Webster’s ark does not hold it. . . certainly, it needs a definition, and should be incorporated into the Lexicon.With that view, let me learnedly define it.

Noun — a social meeting for two (or more) whaleships . . when, after exchanging hails, they exchange visits by boats’ crew . . .

– Herman Melville, “Moby-Dick”

THE GAM NO. 56 SUMMER 2017 Bill Scheer Alumni Magazine of the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program Iron Man Executive Director Tom Van Winkle of Mystic Editor Todd McLeish

Contributors Meredith Carroll, Hannah Whalen, Tom Van Winkle

Photos Alumni Meredith Carroll 18 Bridget Hall Mystic Seaport Reinhard Sokol Tom Van Winkle

Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355 (860) 572-5359 [email protected] mystic.williams.edu

Published by Traveler Newspapers Custom Publishing P.O. Box 3189, Newport, RI 02840 (401) 848-2922

Cover Photo WM S‘17 shows off their leaping abilities on the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Siuslaw Where it all began ... on a napkin at this Dunkin Donuts National Forest, Reedsport, OR. 2 WILLIAMS-MYSTIC CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY FROM THE DIRECTOR What a long, strange trip this has been.

Tom Van Winkle Executive Director A message from our three directors

Ben Labaree, Director (1977-1989) Emeritus in the library (now gone). Debby and I had More than a year ago Linda and I moved to the pleasure of stepping aboard in the fall of “The Highlands,” a retirement community in 1982 (F’82), to teach for the next seven semes- mid-coast Maine close to the Bowdoin College ters; after a short time at the Oregon Institute campus. Believe it or not, we are still moving of Marine Biology (which association was to in...opening and shelving books, sorting out anchor our Pacific Northwest field seminars in clothing, etc. We have discovered that with ad- the 1990s), I returned in 1989 as director to suc- vancing age everything takes twice as long. ceed Ben, who by then had built the program’s At the same time, there is still so much one rock-solid foundation. wants to do—books to read, lectures and con- To have led the Williams-Mystic family—stu- certs to attend, family and friends to keep up dents, faculty, and staff—for the next 26 years with, new places to visit. (and to teach in 55 semesters) is an honor be- We wonder how we once managed to work yond description. I am so pleased to be able to full-time, raise a family, check on elderly par- celebrate our 40th Anniversary and the launch ents, etc. all at the same time— of F’17 (WM81!) with all of you. as many of you are now doing. Tom Van Winkle, Director (2015- …) Whew! Hang in there, guys An important educator named Kurt Hahn once and gals. remarked, “Plus est en vous”; roughly translated this means, “There is more in you than you think.” Jim Carlton, Director What’s the point? Given the right education- (1989-2015) Emeritus al experiences, students can achieve far more On Wednesday, September 7, than they thought possible. I see this happen 1977, when 21 students from every semester at Williams-Mystic and hear 13 colleges arrived in Mystic this of previous ones. for F’77 (WM1) under the tu- Our coasts and oceans are our learning plat- telage of Professor Benjamin form. Rich, interdisciplinary learning, primary Labaree, it was impossible to research, hands-on fieldwork, offshore challeng- imagine ... to even dream ... of es, compelling field seminars, 19th-century skills, how the Williams-Mystic Pro- and sustainable community living at the most gram would grow one day to beautiful campus in the world are our methods. its unique position in global That’s all it takes to transform lives for 40 ocean education. The offices years. Let’s shoot for 40 more. Thank you Ben, alone were humble!—just two Jim, alumni, Mystic Seaport, Williams, and our Where it all began ... on a napkin at this Dunkin Donuts rooms and an assistant’s desk students for making it happen. 3 Life On Campus

BY MEREDITH CARROLL & HANNAH WHALEN

hen Paul Butera, a sophomore studying geology at the University of Puget Sound, arrived at Williams-Mystic in January 2017, he didn’t have a plan for life after college. His classmate Emma McCauley, by contrast, W was certain she would continue on to graduate school after completing her marine biology degree at Stony Brook University the following fall. At different stages in their education, Paul and Emma nevertheless share a love for the ocean. Paul spent last summer working at a salmon fishery in Alaska. Emma has years of experience volunteering with Oceana and the New York Aquarium. When they were interviewed during the 13th week of the spring semester, they agreed that their experiences at Williams-Mystic had altered their views on the ocean, on conservation and on how to carry forward their enthusiasm for both.

4 What experiences did you have before you How have your classmates’ perspectives got here that made you invested in protecting changed your experience here? Q the ocean? Q Emma: We learn from each other. One of the greatest things Paul: In Alaska, you can see that the oceans are warming, about Williams-Mystic is that I’m a marine biology major, that it’s 14 degrees warmer where you’re fishing and you’re but that doesn’t mean I’m better suited for the science class getting fewer fish. Seeing that in the real world and then than anyone else. All the different perspectives make it the coming here and reading about it has been fascinating. interdisciplinary program it is.

Paul: Emma: I’ve always tried to advocate for the ocean, but the I’m going to steal something Nickie Mitch (Bowdoin ‘18) said during the Pacific Northwest trip when we went event that made it concrete for me was Hurricane Sandy. I to Powell’s Books. I was expecting everyone to go to similar lived close to places that got utterly destroyed. Knowing that sections of the store but we all spread out. Everyone has a climate change caused this storm and that things like this different passion, but we’re all tied together by our fascina- will likely happen more frequently in the future reminded tion with the ocean. me how important environmental work and study are in the real world. What will you take back to your home campus? How has Williams-Mystic changed the way you think about your major? Q Paul: I think what I’ll take away is the interdisciplinary part Q of Williams-Mystic. If someone brings something up, I’m Emma: Williams-Mystic has shifted my perspective away able to identify how it ties into the ocean, or this issue, or from just looking at the ocean as a scientific system to be that policy. I may not be an expert, but I look forward to studied. It’s made me realize that to be an effective steward being a resource and an advocate for studying the ocean. of the ocean, you can’t push aside the people who need it to survive. Emma: I’ll also be more willing to step outside my comfort zone. Before I started this program, I was worried about getting Paul: I’ve realized that the interdisciplinary parts of the seasick. I didn’t foresee myself performing chanteys for mu- ocean are what make it special. An example from the Pacific seum visitors. I didn’t think I would feel comfortable doing Northwest Field Seminar: I go to school right there. Yet I had either of those things. But I’m doing them now and it’s not a to go to the East Coast and come back in order to appreciate big deal anymore. all that happens there. I also really liked the Louisiana Field Seminar. I’d never been to the South, and it was a completely What about Williams-Mystic do you think new experience for me. I found it similar to Alaska because will stick with you a decade from now? oil and fisheries drive both place’s economies. Yet there were drastically different views of how those things should Q Paul: be managed. It’s a different society based off the same things, Definitely the field seminars. Moving around, having which was really interesting for me. a full-body experience and learning about it at the same time is incredible, and it really ingrains whatever you’re Emma: I definitely think my worldview has changed. I’m learning about. lucky to have come from an environmentally conscious place, Emma: and my love of the ocean has made my views on environ- I’ve learned that there are more doors open than you mental issues very black and white. My college education may realize. I always thought I would go right to grad school has reinforced that. But this program teaches you that these and become a researcher, because it was the only way I problems aren’t black and white. It makes you think about thought I could make an impact. Williams-Mystic showed the social justice issues involved. Being a steward of the me that’s not true. It made me see that you can find meaningful ocean doesn’t mean you can’t also be a voice for people who ways to engage whatever interests you have wherever you go. need it. The most challenging thing about Williams-Mystic has been understanding that your beliefs may not always be right and challenging yourself to look at all the information out there before you come to a conclusion.

5 From Sea Living to Sea Level Rising

By Todd McLeish

6 Austin Becker transitions from tall ship captain to college professor intent on helping coastal communities prepare for “the biggest environmental challenge the human race has ever faced.”

ustin Becker in marine affairs. He added a se- (S’94) develo- cond master’s in environmental ped an interest science and management, then in sailing, wind went to work for the university’s surfing and all Coastal Resources Center, devel- things maritime oping policy for ports, waterfront asA a child growing up in Ham- communities and water-depen- den, Conn. But he carried that dent businesses in the upper interest further and in more reaches of Narragansett Bay. unexpected directions than Becker credits the Williams- most sailing enthusiasts. Mystic program as a launchpad He sailed aboard numerous for his interest in maritime schooners, including Harvey history and sail training. And it Gamage, Lettie G. Howard, was the interdisciplinary nature Pioneer and Soundwaters; he of the program that influenced bought and restored a 1946 him the most. In fact, all of his Rhodes sloop to serve as the education and work history have base of a day-sailing charter been highly interdisciplinary. business in Provincetown “I loved the idea of living harbor; and he delivered boats on the grounds of a maritime of all sorts to ports throughout museum,” he said of Williams- the East Coast, Caribbean Mystic, which he enrolled in and Central America. And he while an undergraduate at did it all before he turned 30. Hampshire College. “And the During one yacht delivery, he program brought us to some visited the Colombian island incredible places. I especially of Providencia, which was (S’94) remember a trip to New York first settled by Blackbeard the City where we studied the pirate, sparking a whole new academic interest in pirates and pirate ship critters in New York harbor, then the policy professor talked about democracies. the legal issues involved in New York’s shipping industry, and the But he wasn’t finished. He eventually moved to Rhode Island, where history professor took us to South Street Seaport and talked about the he served as captain of the Sloop Providence, the state’s 110-foot, Revo- evolution of New York’s maritime history. I thought that was a great lutionary War era reproduction tall ship, which hosted educational pro- way to learn in multiple dimensions. grams for schoolchildren and traveled the tall ship circuit each summer. “It was a real immersion into a maritime perspective in all of these “We performed mock gun battles, offered public tours and charters disciplines and different ways of thinking,” he added. “It was honestly and developed team-building activities,” Becker said. “But in the tall one of the best things I did during my undergraduate education.” ship world, you go where she goes, and it’s tough to have a home life.” Becker, a marathon runner whose wife gave birth to their first child So he did what many wayward sailors in the tall ship world do – he in February, calls his work on tall ships an interdisciplinary job as well. enrolled at the University of Rhode Island to earn a master’s degree “Sail training is all rooted in maritime history and labor history,”

7 he said, “but shipboard life demands a com- bility to invest in resilience lies with someone bination of many different skills like plumbing else–the insurance company or the emergency and engine repair and rigging and cooking. planners or the private business owner. Our You’re bringing all these skills together with tools help people understand how results from a small group to become a self-sufficient little hydrodynamic models developed by oceano- microcosm at sea.” graphers translate into social and economic After earning a doctorate at Stanford Uni- costs. That, in turn, helps us make smarter versity’s Emmett Interdisciplinary Program choices in planning and policy.” in Environment and Resources, Becker joined The funds from his Sloan Research the faculty of the University of Rhode Island Fellowship will enable him to hasten work on Department of Marine Affairs. He remains developing and testing these tools. connected to Williams-Mystic by working “In climate change, we’re looking at the to strengthen the relationship between the biggest environmental challenge the human program and URI. He encourages URI under- race has ever faced,” Becker explained. “Our graduates to take advantage of a scholarship roots as a civilization are very dependent on enabling them to enroll in the program while a maritime economy. Ninety percent of world also encouraging Williams-Mystic alumni to freight moves by ship. If we’re going to continue enroll in the URI Marine Affairs program for with that paradigm, we will need to make some graduate school. very significant changes to certain parts of “There’s a natural flow between the pro- our coast. These are changes that will affect grams,” he said. everybody in the world, especially those in our And when he talks to students whom he coastal cities and our ports. And there are very thinks are a good fit for Williams-Mystic, he difficult decisions that will have to be made.” describes it as “the best thing you can do as Based on current projections for sea level an undergrad. It’s an off-campus experience rise around the globe, Becker said that it where the rate of learning is really high because will be far too expensive to protect all of our you’re immersed in different worlds and coastal communities, coastal infrastructure exposed to different perspectives of science, and coastal economies. policy, history and literature. The program gives “So we have to make choices as a society, Becker credits the you a well-rounded understanding of the and choices mean winners and losers,” he said. different places you visit, and you can see how “And nobody wants to be a loser.” Williams-Mystic program those disciplines influence each other and why His research is primarily directed at how to as a launchpad for his it’s so important to understand the ecology of make these difficult choices. He is planting the a place when you’re trying to understand the seeds and developing the tools so vulnerable interest in maritime policy, or how the history of a place contribu- communities and industries can begin to have tes to the challenges faced by decision-makers. the necessary discussions that will enable them history and sail Williams-Mystic is a place where you can to make those choices. By helping decision training. And it was the really focus on the linkages.” makers figure out how to rank the vulnerability Those linkages continue to be a main of ports and helping public officials visualize interdisciplinary nature focus of Becker’s work. He calls himself an the dramatic impacts that rising seas and more of the program that interdisciplinary scientist working between extreme weather will have on coastlines, he is the social and ocean sciences. He says he is facilitating the challenging dialogue that must influenced him the most. motivated by the climate change challenge to take place in threatened communities. help make coastal communities stronger and “How do you have a conversation about sea more resilient to the effects of storms, sea level level rise when someone’s very livelihood is at rise and other natural hazards. stake?” asked Becker, who teaches courses in This year his research was recognized with marine policy, port planning and geographic a Sloan Research Fellowship in Ocean Sciences, information systems. “My work is trying to one of the most prestigious fellowships available get the conversation going before these tough to early-career scientists in the United States. He decisions have to be made.” is the first URI faculty member ever to receive Perhaps the biggest challenge he must the honor. overcome in his research is the uncertain time- “I was pretty excited when I got word that I line of climate change projections – what will was selected,” he said. “This award recognizes happen and when. the importance of bringing the latest ocean “The consequences of climate change are science information to the public and the hard to fathom; they’re mostly not visible to- decision makers who need it in order to make day,” he said. “To most people they don’t feel choices that benefit society.” real, they don’t feel like something they can Becker and his team of graduate students relate to. So moving my work forward when and research associates are developing tools to people don’t want to think about it is difficult.” aid in planning for and mitigating the effects Planning for many major infrastructure of climate change. These include a virtual di- projects, for instance, must begin soon, even saster impacts model, techniques to visualize if the climate impacts they are intended to the impact of disasters, techniques to better mitigate aren’t likely to happen for decades. understand the relative vulnerability of North “Long-term planning for climate change Atlantic seaports, and methodologies for must look 50 or even 100 years into the engaging stakeholders in resilience planning. future,” Becker concluded. “But we can still “My group develops tools that get people make a positive impact today by building thinking about the long-term implications of coastal resilience and laying the groundwork natural hazards,” he said. “Stakeholders need for a more resilient coastal society for the to understand how they share the burden of next generation.” risk. Often people assume that the responsi-

8 CELEBRATE 40 YEARS BEFORE THE MAST

REUNION HIGHLIGHTS

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10 40th Reunion Classes

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11 (PHOTO)

12 DEFENDER OF AN EMBLEMATIC CRUSTACEAN KATHLEEN REARDON (S’99)

n Maine, lobsters aren’t just a culinary predicted,” Reardon said. “We knew the condi- As Maine’s top lobster icon, one of the state’s most important tions were right, we had optimal temperatures exports, and the foundation of its for lobsters, but we’ve also seen some red flags biologist, Kathleen global reputation. They are also the that things are changing.” Reardon is charged essence of every Mainer’s identity, the Some of those changes have to do with with protecting basis of the state’s tourism economy, the warming climate and increasing water Iand a symbol of its pristine environment and temperatures, but Reardon said that those the state’s identity, rugged coastline. But that’s not all. Lobsters changes are actually benefitting Maine’s are an economic powerhouse in the state, with lobster industry. So far. reputation, economy a history going back four centuries. And for “We definitely have evidence that the and environment, all most hard-working fishermen, lobstering is a ecosystem is changing,” she said. “The timing way of life. of the hatch is shifting; lobsters are molting at the same time. Given the outsized importance of the earlier in the season. Our winters aren’t as cold, lobster fishery in Maine, the person serving as and that’s doing some interesting things to the the chief lobster biologist for the state has an timing of their life stages. In collaboration with equally outsized role along its 3,500 miles of the fishermen and the scientists, we’re trying to coastline. It’s a high-pressure, high-visibility understand what it means. That’s my challenge job that requires the ability to work closely with now.” three very different constituencies – fishermen, The warmer waters may be increasing the scientists and government decision makers. growth rate of lobsters in the Gulf of Maine “It’s a really big fishery, so the job can be and increasing harvest numbers, but it’s also kind of intimidating,” said Kathleen Reardon causing the lobsters to expand to deeper water. (S’99). And that means the fishermen have to spend She should know. She has held the job for the time searching for lobsters in new locations last two years and served as the state’s lobster and traveling farther offshore. sampling coordinator for the 10 previous years. “When I talk to the lobstermen, they say ‘I In her current role, she is the point person for don’t know where to set my traps any more,’” media calls about the lobster industry; she is a Reardon said. “They’re finding lobsters in member of the Science and Technology Com- unexpected places. But the fishermen are mittee of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries adaptable to their environment, so they go Council, which manages lobster populations wherever the lobsters are in higher numbers. in the region; she collaborates with scientists And as they catch more and more, they shift on a wide variety of research on the tasty farther offshore. They don’t have many other crustaceans; and she works hard to translate options.” Kathleen holding a chiton during the the science to the industry. Reardon didn’t set out to have the most Pacific Northwest Field Seminar S’99. According to Reardon, more than 130 high-profile job in Maine’s most high-profile million pounds of lobsters were harvested by industry. But she got there, she says, via a path the state’s 5,600 licensed lobstermen in 2016, that had its origins at Williams-Mystic. By Todd McLeish with a value of about $533 million. Although She grew up in East Greenwich, R.I., and those landings have leveled off in recent years, matriculated at Williams College to major in that comes after three decades of steady growth. biology with a concentration in environmental “We’ve had unprecedented increases in studies, knowing before enrolling that she landings and value, and that wasn’t necessarily wanted to study at Williams-Mystic.

13 “It fit in well with my interest in marine from so many perspectives.” led to dual master’s degrees in marine biology science,” she said. “I was always interested One of her favorite memories of the pro- and marine policy and, later, a job with the in being on the water; I spent a lot of time gram also plays a role in her current work. Maine Department of Marine Resources. on the local mudflats and rocky intertidal. “We went to New York City to the South “I learned most everything I knew about Willliams-Mystic was a neat way to look at the Street Seaport and had to wake up at 3 in the fisheries from the fishermen,” she said. “I interdisciplinary nature of marine science and morning to go to the Fulton Fish Market, this heard a lot from them about fishing and regu- how it fit into other things.” big fish exchange that happens in the middle lations and everything that’s wrong with the Despite her life-long interest in marine of the night,” she explained. “We had this great government, and at grad school I heard it all science, however, Reardon had no interest in opportunity to walk through this fish exchange from the academic perspective. When I got the spending time in a laboratory. in the wee hours of the morning, with dead fish job offer to run the lobster sampling program “I didn’t want to do science for science’s all around us, and clearly we didn’t belong. for the state, I thought: ‘Someone’s going to sake,” she said. “I wanted to do applied work. So But seeing that and thinking back on it now, I pay me to go out on boats and measure lobsters learning about the science in the context of policy realize I’m so comfortable now with the fishing for science? Of course I’m going to do that.’” and history and literature was appealing. Science industry, and it’s a normal thing for me to meet It hasn’t always been fun, though. Reardon was definitely my focus, but at Williams-Mystic fishermen and watch them move bait around sees a great many question marks when she I learned so much more about policy and history on a dock at 3 in the morning. But back then thinks about what is to come. A bacterium and how they relate to the lives of people who I felt so out of place. That was a unique that causes a disease on lobster shells has live and work around the ocean.” experience that I wouldn’t have had were it devastated the lobster industry in southern Reardon said her interest in the applied not for Williams-Mystic.” New England, and while it hasn’t affected the science of fisheries emerged from her Williams- After graduation from Williams, Reardon Maine lobster population yet, she is keeping a Mystic experience, noting that the data moved to Maine to work for the Island Institute close eye on it. collected about fish, the marine environment, in a program she described as “the Maine Is- She is also concerned about the recent and the harvest are almost always used in lands Peace Corps – people with skills but no results of surveys for tiny post-larval lobsters stock assessments that influence management agenda.” She lived on the island of Islesboro up to three months old that have shown their decisions that affect the fishing industry. for two years working to map the island and numbers declining, even though landings and “People are so important to the science introduce the community to what was then the surveys of adult and juvenile lobsters are stable and the communities, and that’s something new technology of GIS (geographic informa- or increasing. I learned at Williams-Mystic,” she said. “You tion systems). Along the way she collected data “You’d expect the timing might be different have to think about it in so many ways and on lobsters around the island, which ultimately given the warming water, so something may

14 “People are so important to the science and the communities, and that’s something I learned at Williams- Mystic,” she said. “You have to think about it in so many ways and from so many perspectives.”

be happening, we just don’t know all the mechanisms and bottlenecks yet,” she said. “We’re still trying to understand it.” Thousands of Mainers hope she figures it out soon. Unlike most fishermen in other regions of the country, who fish for different species at different times of the year, most Maine lobstermen make their entire living by harvesting lobsters. “It’s their identity, it’s all they know,” she said. “We have licensed lobstermen in nursing homes who continue to pay for their license every year and won’t let it go because it’s who they are. The culture of the state revolves around lobsters.” When asked about the future of the species and the lobster industry in Maine, all Reardon was comfortable saying was “change.” “I can’t expect that(PHOTO) it’s going to keep going up and up the way it has been,” she said. “Maybe it’s leveling off at 120 to 130 million pounds. But after seeing what shell disease did in southeastern New England, it makes me worried. “We have different management than they do, though, so I’d like to hope that some of the conservation strategies we’ve employed in Maine will buffer if a decline is caused by environmental factors,” Reardon added. “But at this point I just don’t know. It’s something that keeps me up at night.”

15 40YEARS

16 40YEARS

17 IRONMAN of Mystic

By Meredith Carroll 18 ill Scheer’s impressive blacksmith approach carries through to his teaching, too. For 27 years, Bill work can be found near and far, “I don’t really look at anything as a challenge,” Scheer has used from ships like the Charles W. he said when asked about the difficulties students Morgan to movies such as 12 Years confront when learning to blacksmith. “It’s just blacksmithing to a Slave. With his wife Lou – a a matter of doing more of it.” When students Blongtime Mystic Seaport employee – he has be- struggle, he has them repeat a single skill until it forge relationships come a beloved figure in the Williams-Mystic becomes second nature. among students, community since he began teaching students His years of teaching have attuned Bill to faculty and staff at blacksmithing in 1992. his students. When he meets a Williams-Mystic But he didn’t expect to become a blacksmith. class for the first time, he can often guess who Mystic Seaport. He recalled the moment, midway through he’ll see in the forge that semester. his 24-year career in the Navy, when his plans “I think it’s the fire,” Bill added. “I always began to take shape: “We were stationed in Sar- ask the kids, ‘When you go camping, who’s dinia, on a submarine repair ship. One night, the fire tender?’ And it seems like the ones the repair boss asked me what I was going to that do blacksmithing are the ones that do fire do when I retired. And I told him, ‘I’m going tending. I know whenever we go camping I’m to become the blacksmith at Mystic Seaport.’ the fire guy.” It just came out. No real thought behind it. It’s What else makes a good blacksmith? one of those things that was rattling around in “Patience,” Lou volunteered. my brain and I didn’t know it.” For Bill, it’s as simple as that: patience, a Bill had already been stationed near Mystic willingness to be different and a penchant for and taken several blacksmithing classes at the fire. IRONMAN Seaport. He even bought an anvil and forge for Most of all, though, Bill cherishes the his backyard, though he said they served more opportunity to connect with students, whether for grilling hot dogs than for blacksmithing. in the forge, at the dinners he and Lou host for By 1989, when Lou told him the Seaport every class, or on Alumni Weekend. He and was hiring a blacksmith, Bill knew it was his Lou welcome as many as eight alumni at a calling. time to stay with them. The Scheers also meet “When I came here, they thought they were former students nearly everywhere they travel. getting a real blacksmith,” he joked. “Well, I’d “I think they’ve kept us young,” Lou said. done a couple of classes, and I messed with “We’re in touch with the younger generation it, and I belonged to a blacksmith guild, but I and in tune with what their world is like. of Mystic was still a learner blacksmith. All of a sudden They’re much more environmentally conscious you’re doing it regularly and all of a sudden than Bill or I ever were. We should have been, you tend to get better. Quickly.” but it wasn’t a big thing back then. A lot of Bill hasn’t looked back since. His matter-of-fact them are going on that track now. They care

19 Bill muses about their creations, Swag for their connections, and the lessons he imparts Shipmates about patience, persistence and The Williams-Mystic crafting traditions. Collection But first, he mentions hot ~ available at the 40th Reunion ~ chocolate.

about the oceans, they care about the air.” Bill agreed. “I think the kids we see coming through this program give you faith that there is hope out there somewhere.” For his part, Bill hopes that his students’ time in the forge will become part of their traditions as they move forward. “I tell them that you’re not just making hooks – you’re making your family heirlooms,” he said. Sometimes those heirlooms are unconventional – “bottle openers seem to be very important at this age” – but he encourages his students to create numerous small items rather than one large project, ensuring that at least some creations “will become part of their family legend and lore.” When asked what sticks with students years later, Bill mused about their creations, their connections, and the lessons he imparts about patience, persistence and crafting traditions. But first, he mentioned hot chocolate. “We’ve been doing hot chocolate for years,” he reminisced. “Lou would always bring sweets from her office. Some of the best times were in the winter, when the wind was howling and the snow was blowing in through the door. You’re standing with your butt up against the hot stove and it’s five o’clock at night and it’s dark outside. “And then you’re having a cup of hot chocolate, and it makes everything well.”

Bill Scheer with members of the F’15 class during skills class.

designed by Beth Anderson (F’10) 20 Support scholarship funds ... Swag for ... for future students by donating to the James T. Carlton Fund (jtcfund.org) daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. Whether one dollar or a million, every penny will go to supporting student scholarships! Some employers will Shipmates Ways match your annual fund donations so it pays to ask. Build Williams-Mystic into your estate plan ... The Williams-Mystic ... a bequest may be in the form of cash, securities, real estate or other property. You should specify that Williams-Mystic is to receive a certain Collection to amount or percentage of your estate. For more information, contact Tom at [email protected]. ~ available at the 40th Reunion ~ Spread the word about Williams-Mystic ...... talk about Williams-Mystic with high school and college students and then share their information with us. If you would like us to send you brochures Give or posters, drop us an email at [email protected]. Donate your time and talent ...... consider speaking with us about alumni council work, becoming a class agent, or other ways to give back. Email Tom at [email protected] or Sarah Back Cahill at [email protected]. Feeling nostalgic about your Invite your shipmates to the 40th Reunion ... semester? There are some very practical ways to keep yourself in ... whether you were the class of 1977 or 2017, contact your shipmates and touch with your experience! spend time with us this September 15-17, 2017. Register at wmreunion.org

JAMES T. CARLTON ANNUAL FUND FOR SCHOLARSHIP our contribution makes it possible for Ydeserving students to participate in one of the most compelling, exciting, invigorating and eye-opening semesters of their college careers. A vital signal to our many supporters is the percentage of our alums that give back to Williams-Mystic. Your involvement, at any amount, is significant.

Thank you. Jim Carlton, Director Emeritus

DONATE TODAY: www.jtcfund.org designed by Beth Anderson (F’10) 21 THE Ditty Bag MARY K. BERCAW EDWARDS

Mary K. Bercaw Edwards serves as associate professor of English and maritime studies faculty at the Univer- sity of Connecticut. Next year, she will be on sabbatical from UConn while she finishes her book, tentatively entitled Sailor Talk: Labor, Utterance, and Meaning in the Works of Melville, Conrad, and London. Mary K spoke at the 11th International Melville Conference in London in June on “Performing the Sailor in Melville’s Works.” She still serves as the demonstration squad foreman at Mystic Seaport and never tires of climbing aloft on the Charles W. Morgan. She feels very blessed to have continued to teach for Williams-Mystic when needed. LISA GILBERT

Lisa Gilbert S’96 has a lively team of research students in Mystic this summer, including Meghan Suslovic F’16, Jason Swartz S’17, Emma McCauley S’17, and Caroline Hung. In the fall, she heads off on a research sabbatical to study seafloor volcanoes with colleagues at the University of California at Santa Cruz and the University of Otago. In addition to her marine geosciences research, she is one of the leaders of InTeGrate, a STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program) Center grant from the National Science Foundation, which supports the interdisciplinary undergraduate teaching of sustainability across the United States.

GLENN GORDINIER Glenn Gordinier continues his year-round schedule, for now at least, teaching for Williams-Mystic in the fall and spring, teaching one course per semester at UConn’s Avery Point campus, and co-directing – along with Eric Roorda – the summer-time Munson Institute. His wife Pam is still producing and teaching art in Stonington, as well as in Vero Beach, FL, during the winter season. Whether north or south, when they are together, they regularly feed their addiction to the Argentine Tango. Meanwhile, Glenn’s other addiction continues to corrupt: Glenn took the S’17 class on the 20th Williams-Mystic student surf safari.

KATY ROBINSON HALL Katy Robinson Hall, S’84 finished her 15th year at Williams-Mystic this past spring, joined by her daughter, Bridget, S’17, as the first “faculty-daughter” WM team! Katy continues to practice law and egularlyr con- sults with a local environmental non-profit in beach access litigation, coastal zone management and climate change policy initiatives. Katy is excited that with Ronadh Cox’s help, we have broadened our Louisiana field seminar to include environmental justice issues faced by coastal communities striving to protect their culture and heritage while confronting sea level rise. Katy also continues to be amazed (and gratefully forti- fied) by Policy snacks each Friday!

Fall ‘16 and Spring ‘17 Field Seminars

F’16 students (pic- tured, left to right: The S’17 class Brian Coakley, Kristen aboard a Crowley Bayrakdarian, Lina tug touring the Arboleda) hoist a Port of Seattle sediment core they’ve during their Pa- just sampled, with cific Northwest F’16 students on their offshore field assistance from faculty Field Seminar. seminar sailing Lake Erie aboard and graduate students, the US Brig Niagara. Left to right: in the salt marshes near the Louisiana John Accetta, Shanti Hossain, Lina Universities Marine Consortium Arboleda, James Fredericks, Edwin (LUMCON). Sanchez, and Steven Wang. SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

F’16 students (left to right) S’17 students at the end of their Edwin Sanchez, Nick offshore voyage aboard theSSV Tonti, Maggie Waldron, Corwith Cramer. Back row Meaghan Rondeau, Jeni (left to right): Clay Dundas, Melo, Brady Kelsey, Lina Marissa Shaw (SEA science Arboleda, and John Accetta officer), Henry Liu, Sara Martin aboard a Crowley tug in (SEA first Mate and WM S’04), S’17 Johnston House students at Zam’s the San Francisco Bay dur- Bridget Hall. Front row (left to Swamp Tour on their Louisiana Field Seminar. ing their California Field right): Ellie Handler and Emma Left to right: Ellie Handler, Natalie DiNenno, Seminar. McCauley. Mackenzie Myers, and Jason Swartz. 22 TIMOTHY PUSACK

Timothy Pusack joined the Williams- Mystic faculty this summer as the new marine ecology professor. Fascinated by the diversity of life and all of its manifestations, he is driven to understand why and how species exist in their particular habitats. He earned his doctorate from Oregon State University studying the ecology of Bahamian reef fishes, particularly the invasive lionfish. As a post-doctoral researcher at the University of South Florida, he coordinated research on oyster reefs around the state and participated in research projects investigating artificial reefs, groupers, lionfish and climate change. Tim is also active in educating the public about marine conservation issues.

23 THE 14,000-SQUARE-FOOT THOMPSON BUILDING A NEW ERA FOR MYSTIC SEAPORT

ast September, Mystic Seaport The primary feature of the building is the mural, “Away,” created by Nikki McClure opened the first exhibition building Collins Gallery, a 5,000-square-foot exhibition of Olympia, WA, one of the world’s leading to be constructed on the Museum space with soaring ceilings and a flexible papercut artists. grounds since the 1970s. With the layout that provides the caliber of conditions The building also comes with very high opening of the 14,000-square-foot required to curate not only exhibits from the environmental standards. It is heated and LThompson Building, the cornerstone of the cooled by an energy-efficient geothermal sys- Mystic Seaport collections, but also to permit $15.3 million McGraw Gallery Quadrangle, the the borrowing of outstanding art and artifacts tem, which circulates liquid through a series project has come to a successful end—within from other museums around the world. The of 20 closed-loop wells–each 465-foot deep– budget and right on schedule. inaugural exhibition in the gallery, SeaChange, that extract needed heat or cooling from the The building was designed to usher in an opened on December 10 and is a dramatic ground depending on the season. Era of Exhibition at Mystic Seaport. It was presentation of a range of beautiful and unique At a gathering to celebrate the opening of designed by the Connecticut firm Centerbrook objects drawn from the collections of the Mu- the Thompson Building in September, Steve Architects and Planners, whose idea for the White, president of Mystic Seaport, said: “This building was to evoke the “geometry of the seum. Other elements in the Thompson Building stunning building is the manifestation of many sea,” drawing design cues from the interior years of planning, bold vision, creative pro- of a wooden ship, the undulating sea; and a include a visitor’s entrance, a sweeping reception lobby, a ticketing center, and a retail shop. gramming and effective fundraising.” spiraling nautilus shell. An important part of the Thompson Building The building is named after the late Wade A wraparound deck invites visitors to enjoy the riverside setting and serves as a covered is the Williams-Mystic classroom that houses Thompson, a Mystic Seaport trustee for 27 all Williams-Mystic humanities classes, located years who believed passionately in the need overlook to the quadrangle’s common area, in the Masin Room, a room overlooking the for modern exhibition space and its importance the location for the Museum’s new, popular Mystic River. Glenn, Katy and Mary K. all teach for the future of the Museum. summer event, Arts on the Quad. their classes in this room at different times. In the Pilalas Reception Lobby is a 59-foot 24 WINTER IS COMING Geosciences professor brings Winter Study course to Mystic in 2018

By Hannah Whalen

ust a year after joining the geosciences faculty at Williams College, José Constantine has created a new opportunity in Mystic that he hopes will enable more students to experience the Williams-Mystic program. Inspired by his time on the Williams-Mystic F’16 Louisiana Field Seminar, Constantine has joined forces with renowned musician and musical historian JCraig Edwards to design a new Winter Study course called “The Changing Landscape and Musical Geography of the Mississippi River Delta.” Based in Mystic, the two-week course will examine the geological history of the Mississippi River Delta, as well as the region’s history of human settlement and the musical record of the environmental and socioeconomic challenges faced by local communities. Constantine said that the course should “provide a novel perspective on coastal sustainability” as students examine the role of landscape change in controlling the sustainability of the delta’s various environments, communities and economic infrastructure. Geared to freshmen and sophomores, the course “The Changing Landscape will be co-taught with Edwards, whom Constan- and Musical Geography tine met during last year’s field seminar and who of the Mississippi River has formed a series of old-time, Cajun, zydeco and blues bands. Students will learn about the musical Delta,” the two-week geography of the region as a means for under- class will examine the standing the legacy of landscape and socioeconomic changes for the people who call the delta their geological history of the home. In hopes of mirroring the experiential learn- Mississippi River Delta, ing atmosphere they experienced during the field the region’s history of seminar, Constantine and Edwards have arranged for participating students to enjoy two evenings of human settlement and Cajun, zydeco and blues music. the musical record of Constantine called his participation in the Louisi- the environmental and ana Field Seminar a transformative experience and the most intensive liberal arts experience he has socioeconomic challenges ever witnessed. “Ever. Transformative. And that’s faced by local delta why I absolutely believe in it,” he said. He was especially inspired by the stories of the communities. people who call the Gulf Coast home. “It was moving to hear about their lives, their struggles, and their hopes for their children and how the place is more than just their home. It’s almost like a part of their being, a part of their identity,” he said. “For me, that was where that trip was so powerful – seeing the interaction that we had with the different members of those communities. How understanding led to compassion.” A geomorphologist by training, Constantine studies the processes that shape the Earth’s surface. He asks questions about the meandering rivers that move across the Earth’s surface – what controls how quickly they move, the shape they take on and the features of their floodplains. His work has taken him around the globe, from California to the Amazon Basin and Borneo. And now to Mystic. “At a minimum, the hope is that the class will get students interested in and curious about a part of the world that maybe they’ve never thought about,” Constantine said, “and maybe inspire some of them to join Williams-Mystic. I wanted to share this experience with folks at Williams because I think that most people at the College don’t fully understand what Williams-Mystic is and don’t seem to appreciate how special a program it is.” This new class harkens back to the establishment of the Williams-Mystic program, which had its foundation in a Winter Study course offered by History Professor Ben Labaree beginning in 1971.

25 “LIVING EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT WE LEARN” Williams-Mystic Sustainability Council

or 40 years, Williams-Mystic ship- To date, these are some of the Sustainability Council’s living tips. mates have lived inside historic homes adjacent to the Mystic Sea- • Students abide by • Williams-Mystic pro- port Museum: Carr, Johnston, Kem- suggested heating and motes the “Tiny Trash” ble, Mallory and Albion. cooling guidelines. concept. Each bedroom F In the last few years, students have suggested contains a “tiny” trash living with a sustainable focus. Now a student- can and students are en- run sustainability council offers tangible sug- • Students monitor couraged to recycle and gestions for community living that takes into and collect energy use limit trash to the amount account energy use, recycling and composting. for each house, each of the “tiny” can. Each The goal is to instill simple and easy prac- month. We compare the house also contains a tices that become the “normal way of doing data among houses. large things” while living in Williams-Mystic houses recycling container. —and to create an ethic that deepens our com- mitment to sustainable living. • Each house has a • Timers are installed to Williams-Mystic staff members work with a composting system— encourage five-minute small group of volunteer student sustainability inside and outside the showers to save water advisors take the lead on sustainability goals in house. Students learn and electricity. each of their own houses. how to compost in an After each semester, students offer addition- effective and appropri- • Students are encour- al “easy to implement” suggestions to provide ate manner. aged to use drying racks rather than a the incoming class with ways to enhance sus- clothes dryer. tainable living practices. Our goal is to become a model for colleges across the country.

26 S’86 F’88 Rick Mazzotta is volunteering in CLASSCLASS an effort to forestall green crab incursions in the waters of Juan de Fuca, Hood Canal and Puget Sound. He seeks information on any as yet unpublished species- NOTESNOTES specific scientific experimenta- F’79 government. She spent a week tion that looks to disrupt their in Glacier Bay in May kayaking reproduction and metabolism Melissa Waterman writes of her without affecting other critters and hiking from a small boat. K.D. Ellis with 4th graders aboard or damaging habitat. very fond remembrance of Ben Williams-Mystic and the Environ- the gundalow “Piscataqua” on the Labaree, whose broad smile and mental Studies program at Wil- Piscataqua River in NH, May 2013. broader heart was at the core of liams remain a core experience in (My daughter is in the purple jacket.) her Williams-Mystic experience. building her personal conserva- S’91 K.D. (Katie) Ellis and Ti are cel- She has lived on Penobscot Bay tion ethic. As director of the Honors Pro- ebrating their 25th anniversary in Maine since 1989. gram at The College of New Ro- this year. They moved back to Paul Bierman still teaches geol- chelle, Amy Bass is thrilled to her hometown of Durham, N.H. ogy at the University of Vermont have a string of students spend in 2001. Their daughters are en- S’80 and is watching his kids grow a life-changing semester at tering 9th and 11th grades. She Catharine Guiher worked in the up fast. One more year and he Williams-Mystic. She is finish- was excited to watch a new wood- Finance Department at Second sends the first one to college. He ing up writing her fourth book, en gundalow “Piscataqua” being Stage Theater for 10 years and spends little time around boats “One Goal,” which is due out ear- built nearby at Strawbery Banke is now its company manager, any more, he reports, but lots ly next year. It’s the story of the in Portsmouth. which means she now works of time on snow and watching Lewiston Blue Devils, a remark- with theatre artists instead of track and cross country meets. able championship high school EDITORS NOTE: The executive numbers. She is still a Timeless soccer team in Maine composed director of the Gundalow Com- Torch, dancing at the basket- largely of Somali refugees. pany which runs “Piscataqua” is ball games at Madison Square F’84 Molly (Porteous) Bolster, for- Garden. She serves on the Wil- Lisa Durkee spent 10 years in mer WM administrator, and sis- liams-Mystic Alumni Council, ministry serving churches in ter-in-law of Peter Bolster F’85. S’92 volunteers with New Perspec- the United Church of Christ in Bill Mowitt has been working tives Theatre Company and the Massachusetts and previously After graduating from Bowdoin, and sailing for NOAA for the Urban Cat League, and raises nearly 15 years teaching English Rob Hurd took a job teaching and past 17 years as a member of the money for various charities and in secondary boarding schools. coaching at Tabor Academy, and NOAA Commissioned Officer political causes. This fall she will be the chaplain he never left. As waterfront direc- Corps. He was last stationed as and chair of the Religion and tor, he interacts with the ocean the commanding officer of the Philosophy Department at Blair daily, whether working with the NOAA ship “Pisces,” covering F’81 Academy in Blairstown, NJ. school’s nationally ranked sailing the waters of the Atlantic from Veronica Jeffers works for KIND Making a living working with program, helping marine science Galveston to the Bay of Fundy. (Kids in Need of Defense) as the young people, including coach- with an oyster farm, or teaching This has allowed him to see Tim supervising attorney for pro ing again, while still feeling a a nautical science class. Lupin S’92 in New Orleans and bono programs in Los Angeles, part of their spiritual develop- the S’92 Mystic Crew sail out of which represents unaccompa- ment feels like a gift. Her older Rhode Island last fall. He is now nied minors, primarily from El daughter, Keira, will begin her S’88 deputy director for ocean explo- Salvador, Guatemala and Hon- first year at Connecticut College ration at NOAA. Alex McClennen Dohan reports duras, in removal proceedings this summer. that son Ben is enjoying his first before immigration courts. For the past seven years, Sarah year at Middlebury and daugh- She also continues to teach at Cahill has been the director of ter Sarah S’16 just graduated Southwestern Law School and education at Mystic Seaport and F’85 from Middlebury and is head- is co-author of “Immigration has been active with the Wil- Jim Jordan moved west after a ing to Stanford Law School. Alex & Nationality Law: Problems & liams-Mystic Alumni Council. 29-year stint in New Jersey. His still works at Massachusetts Strategies,” a text and teacher’s She feels lucky to interact with new home is in La Jolla, CA, Audubon’s Drumlin Farm as an manual used at law schools Williams-Mystic students, fac- which some may remember is environmental educator, while around the country. ulty and staff on a regular basis. his hometown. He looks for- also working with the town of Her son Theo is now 10 and in ward to seeing the Pacific Ocean Lexington to get an environ- fifth grade. Her partner Sally every day and enjoying beauti- mental education center up and McGee works for the Nature S’82 ful Southern California weather. running in an old barn. Conservancy. Peg Stevenson works for better health care, housing and social policy for the San Francisco city

27 the water and the outdoors with F’92 S’96 her two boys, ages 7 and 8, and S’03 For the twelfth year, Maria After a brief stint working with husband of 16 years. She is the Anne Jurkowski Johnson cap- Bernier hosted a concert by land animals as a veterinarian, founding director of the local tains a small science commu- Don Sineti in her yard in West- Jardayna Werlin Laurent is doing J.O.Y. Crisis Resource Center for nications business in Carrboro, erly, RI, to raise money for Wil- her best to return to the sea. She those in poverty and is a college NC, and steers her family of four liams-Mystic scholarships. She is surfing in all sorts of weather counselor. through winds fair and foul. works for the Connecticut State near Boston and has become ac- This year she spent a lot of time Library, helping libraries get tive with Surfrider Foundation’s scrubbing crayon off couches high-speed internet connections Massachusetts chapter on ocean F’97 and railing against elected offi- and helping librarians learn new plastics issues and advocacy for a cials, but is incredibly grateful job skills. statewide plastic bag ban. Jennifer Zilinski is married with for life’s many gifts. two children and working as a Aviva Grasso and husband small animal veterinarian on Glenn celebrated their 10th S’97 Cape Cod. F’03 wedding anniversary. Last year, Catherine Riihimaki recently Jaye Starr was blessed with a Glenn launched a historical visited Williams-Mystic as part daughter, Zulayha, in the fall consulting business specializing F’98 of a National Science Founda- of 2015. Born with Down syn- in maritime history, and Aviva tion-funded project to study re- Cipperly Good presented at the drome, Zuzu is now thriving remains a public health bureau- formed teaching practices. She North American Society for Oceanic with the support of a small fleet crat. They’re raising a city kid is the associate director for sci- History in May with the illustrious of fantastic doctors and thera- who enjoys the view of boats on ence education at the Princeton Tom Legg, the former postdoc in pists. Jaye is finding that sail- the Hudson River from his bed- University Council on Science maritime history. Her topic was ing through stormy waters with room window. and Technology. “Maine in the Coolie Trade.” WM was fantastic preparation for parenthood. She is involved in local and national interfaith F’94 F’99 work, community organizing, Ann Gaffney is finishing her Ariel Diaz moved to New York training in hospital chaplaincy, 20th year teaching middle City about a year ago, has a and she is making the most of school and is moving on to edu- 5-month old baby girl, and is stay-at-home-motherhood. cational administration, where starting his third tech startup, she hopes to help even more Blissfully.com. Erin Flannery Keith is a Clean young people grow to love learn- Water Act attorney in the U.S. ing about themselves and their Meredith Mendelson and hus- Environmental Protection Agen- world. Her children are growing band Nick welcomed their cy’s Office of Water in Washing- up, now ages 16 and 7. daughter Lettie on Feb. 2, 2017. ton, D.C. In August 2015, she got She says that it’s hard to be back a one-day authorization from Shelly Randall with son Soren. at work, but she still loves work- Massachusetts to officiate F’03 S’95 ing as Deputy Commissioner, classmate Macy Radloff’s mar- Shelly Testerman Randall has riage to Jordan Vance. Class- Sarah Carr is enjoying urban Maine Department of Marine been active in local politics the mates Emily Welch and Lyndsey life on Capitol Hill in Washing- Resources. past three years, culminating Pyrke-Fairchild also joined the ton, D.C., with husband Yousef in her husband Jeff’s election celebration. and three young boys. She has in November to a six-year term found a wonderful professional S’00 as a progressive energy com- niche coordinating a network Julia Rosenfield and her hus- missioner for their local Public of coastal and marine conser- band Tom DePalma are living S’04 Utility District. The couple was vation and management prac- outside of Washington, D.C. Sarah Parks works at the Win- nominated for their county’s cit- titioners, EBM Tools Network, where Julia, a licensed clinical terthur Museum in Wilming- izen of the year award for their and editing a professional social worker, maintains a pri- ton, DE, where she manages role in helping to pass two bond newsletter on managing ma- vate psychotherapy practice. a research project and online campaigns. Shelly serves on the rine ecosystems, working with database documenting furni- steering committee for the pub- Williams-Mystic alum John Da- ture made in Boston. She helps lic school district’s Maritime Dis- vis F’90 on both projects. small museums and histori- covery Schools Initiative. When S’01 cal societies learn more about their son Soren started kinder- Nina Trautmann Chaopricha their collections. garten in 2014, Shelly switched enjoys managing sustainable F’95 careers to financial planning. agriculture and environmental Ellie Schmidt became a bit of a Clare McLellan comes to educa- The family spent five weeks in programs that connect Cornell wanderer after graduating from tors’ weekend every year at the Europe last spring researching University researchers with Williams with a geosciences de- Seaport, and this year was extra renewable energy in Germany nonprofit organizations around gree. She taught earth and ocean special as her 8-year-old got to and Denmark. the world. She lives with her science to 9th graders, and now make something in the wood husband Pat and their two she is in her fifth year of a doc- carving shop. Maggie Campbell Coleman lives daughters, Anya and Lena, in torate in clinical psychology. in central Kentucky near two Ithaca, NY. beautiful lakes where she enjoys

28 Colin Duncan recently finished after a six-year stint in Seattle, at Cambridge on “The Sea in the work as manager of the Skokom- where she completed her Ph.D. Anglo-Norman Realm” and is ish Tribe’s Salmon/Steelhead in oceanography. After finish- now on the history faculty there. Restoration Program in Wash- ing her postdoc, she will join ington State and has begun her partner Ada Lerner F’08 in Sunmi Yang finished her M.D. looking for the next adventure. teaching at Wellesley College. in Australia and is doing a residency in Virginia. Tucker Slosburg lives in Seattle with his wife. He runs a market- S’06 Austin Yim finished his M.Div. ing consulting firm and spends at Yale and is headed back to the Teka England is working as the his free time camping, skiing Midwest to start law school at professional draper in the Uni- and sailing the University of Chicago. versity of Oklahoma’s costume Matt Van Winkle shop, after brief stops in Idaho Jane McCamant is about to be- Sarah Ellis graduated with her Matthew Van Winkle earned and Indiana. She spends her gin her fifth year in a doctoral M.B.A. from the University of his M.D. from Eastern Virginia time on any form of textile art program in sociology at the Uni- Chicago’s Booth School of Busi- Medical School and started a she can get her hands on, hang- versity of Chicago, where she is ness last fall and is working in residency training in psychiatry ing out with the Society for Cre- writing a dissertation on moral Chicago with Ventas, a real es- at the University of Maryland/ ative Anachronism, and plotting education in American Roman tate investment trust focused on Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Resi- an eventual return to a coastal Catholic schools between 1950 healthcare. She is recently en- dency Program in Baltimore town. and 1980. She’ll take a short gaged to Matthew Cluck. in July. He found his way back break from that work to teach onto the “Corwith Cramer” as Since graduating from Bryn Mar, maritime studies during a Sea Philip Kiley is completing his a researcher last spring in a Liz Berilla Kavanaugh com- Semester in the fall of 2017. second year working for Elec- partnership with SEA faculty to pleted two additional degrees – tric Boat and is excited about evaluate the sleep deprivation- M.S. in library and information upcoming projects related to related cognitive effects of the science at Drexel University in the new Columbia class ballistic age-old Swedish watch system. F’04 2011 and M.S. in health care missile submarine. This sum- April Dery married landlub- informatics at Misericordia mer he also completes his ninth ber Rouleau Dery in June 2014. University in 2016. She and Mat- year of service in the Coast S’09 They are excited to announce thew Kavanaugh were married Guard Reserve. the birth of twins, Madigan and in September 2015 by fellow Beginning in August, Andrei Baiu Archer, who made their way into S’06 Caitlin Cotter. will be attending San Francisco Elizabeth Foretek recently the world on January 9, 2017. State University’s Department of passed her 1600-ton Ocean’s Mas- Caitlin Cotter was ordained into Geography and the Environment as ter’s license and is hiking on the the Unitarian Universalist min- a master’s student in geography, re- Appalachian trail and headed istry in 2015 and is serving a source management and environ- S’05 back to work with SEA in the fall. congregation in Santa Barbara, mental planning. Daniel Dykes continues to work CA, where she lives with her as an attorney in the Interna- After spending a few years spouse, Ashir, and cocker span- tional Corporate and Trusts & working on environmental con- iel Galahad. F’09 Estates departments of the firm sulting in the desert, Kim Elson Caroline Crowell is happy to Curtis, Mallet-Prevost in New went back to school last fall and announce that in August, she York City. He recently revisited is working toward a master’s of married her college sweetheart, many of the sites of the Pacific F’06 marine science in the geological Geoff Toy. Maggie Stack came Northwest Field Seminar and Susan Schnur defended her oceanography lab at Moss Land- to Ohio to celebrate with them. enjoyed it immensely. Ph.D. at Oregon State University ing Marine Laboratories in Moss She lives in Atlanta and works at in ocean, earth and atmospheric Landing, CA. sciences and is a geological edi- the Georgia Archives. F’05 tor at the Washington State Geo- logical Survey in Olympia. Abby Minor considers herself F’08 F’10 a poet, albeit one who drives a After several years working on Whitney McClees is finishing vegetable delivery truck. She urban parks in D.C., Abby Martin her M.S. in marine ecology at lives with one feminist man and F’07 is in the middle of a dual M.B.A. Portland State University. Her two feminist cats in rural cen- Erin Weber is still working at the and Master of Environmental research focuses on the mecha- tral Pennsylvania, where they New England Aquarium training Management program at Yale. host artists-in-residence, teach the seals and sea lions, but she nisms that limit the spread of non-native sessile marine inver- insouciant after-school art class- is on temporary loan to the sea After defending her Ph.D. last tebrates from artificial struc- es for kids and run around the turtle rescue department recon- spring, Ada Lerner will be an tures to natural habitat. valleys and creeks. necting with the reptiles that assistant professor of computer helped begin her career at the science at Wellesley College be- Hilary Palevsky is a postdoc- aquarium. She lives in Marble- ginning this fall. She and partner toral scholar at the Woods Hole head, MA with her fiancé James Hilary Palevsky F’05 are moving Oceanographic Institution, hav- and their dog and two cats. to Boston. ing returned to New England Susan Raich finished her Ph.D.

29 Meg O’Connor defended her S’11 master’s thesis at Louisiana F’13 F’15 Alexandra Stevens will gradu- State University in geology. Her Gabi Serrato Marks is a gradu- Mary Offutt finished her first ate this summer with a master’s adviser was Sam Bentley F’82. ate student in the joint WHOI/ year studying accelerated vet- degree in marine science from MIT program in oceanography erinary medicine at the Royal Stony Brook University’s School and recently organized a con- Veterinary College in London, of Marine and Atmospheric Sci- F’12 ference for women in marine focusing on marine animal medi- ences. Her research focuses on science in Woods Hole, which cine. She is trying to incorporate the effects of climate change on Anna Hopkins is the full-time included post-doctoral associate as much marine-related aspects shellfish in local waters, spe- camp director at Friends Camp, Hilary Palevsky F’05 and invited into her education as possible. cifically the interactive effects a Quaker non-profit camp in speaker Lisa Gilbert S’96. She reports that WM played a ma- of thermal stress, acidification, Maine that is hosting an artist jor role in her decision to attend and hypoxia on growth and sur- residency this fall that includes Autumn Brunelle works as a vet school. vival of juvenile bivalves. fellow F’12 alum Bea Denham. natural resources environmen- She loves hiking and exploring tal education specialist for the Miaoru Guan started a new role Glenn Watkins is living in D.C. beaches with her partner Jamie Parks and Recreation Depart- as a project finance analyst for a working on water policy issues at and border collie Seven in Santa ment in Bloomington, IN, where solar energy company based in the National Wildlife Federation, Barbara, CA, and Cape Eliza- she teaches children and adults New York. living Marine Policy class in real beth, ME. about the importance of natural life. She reunited with one of her resources through community Katie Swoap is working at a youth shipmates, Harley Bartles, last Nicholas Kraus is living in D.C. programs and events. She is also homeless shelter this summer fall and relived memories from with his girlfriend and dog and a member of a group research- and will start as an associate at the “Cramer” when she made it to working for Booz Allen Hamil- ing how climate change is affect- an education firm this fall. the Dry Tortugas with her family ton on its defense energy team. ing maple syrup production. and Tat Udomritthiruj S ‘12. He helps the Air Force Office of Claire Fahrner has accepted a Energy Assurance procure resil- position as a full-time pastry as- Britty Buonocore and her fiancé ient energy solutions during the S’14 sistant at a restaurant in Cam- have opened a bakery in Hamil- week and takes full advantage of bridge, MA. Nellie Barner is a proud resident ton, NY., where they sell bagels, the green space in D.C. and the of the Netherlands, now half- great coffee, pastries and a vari- surrounding area on the week- Aislyne Calianos went to Ice- way through the two-year inter- ety of local products. ends. land with Meg Ficarra, wrote disciplinary Research Masters in a policy paper on ballast wa- Historical, Literary and Cultural Stephanie Trott recently earned Shelly Larsen has semi-perma- ter management and won first Studies at Radboud University in her M.F.A. in creative writing nently dropped anchor in Bell- place at an international ship- Nijmegen. The program has tak- from the University of North ingham, WA, where she recently ping conference. en her all over the Netherlands, Carolina Wilmington. She plans accepted a position with the Lyn- to Italy, Belgium and soon to the to return to the Northeast in pur- den Fire Department as its first Barrett Pritchard is officially a UK to conduct research on medi- suit of a career in publishing. full time female firefighter/EMT. communications major and en- eval ritual magic. When she’s not at work, she’s joyed a great time at Sail Boston usually in the mountains, on the this summer with F’15 class- After an exciting year traveling water, or somewhere in between. mates Vitya, Aislinn, Claire and S’12 and studying sharks in South even found Katy Hall S’84 in the After a brief trip around the Africa, Europe, and Bimini Is- crowd! national parks of Utah with S’13 land, Alex McInturf is in gradu- fellow S’12 shipmate Zoe Grue- ate school at the University of Anthony Rodriguez-Vargas is skin, including a stop at Arches Molly Pickel is an intern at the California at Davis studying starting work in a two-year re- to visit Caiti Campbell, Helen National Marine Sanctuary sharks. She also spent a good search assistant position work- Song is back in Brooklyn work- Foundation in Silver Spring, MD, part of the summer of 2016 in ing on molecular genetics in the ing for the Fort Greene Park doing work related to conserva- Mystic writing educational ma- Marine Biological Lab in Woods Conservancy. tion projects in sanctuaries. terials for the Mystic Seaport for Hole, MA. Educators website. After graduation, Alex Sher- Sophie Schleicher is living back A year after graduating with a de- man served with AmeriCorps home in Colorado and studying gree in maritime studies, Caitlyn as a college access advisor in western water policy and man- S’15 Stewart has landed a position as his hometown in southeastern agement. To get her maritime Kathryn Wheeler graduated a technical writer for submarine Ohio, where he tried to guide as fix, she has a weekly-updated from college and will spend a manuals at Electric Boat. many high school seniors as he YouTube channel where she year or two doing some sort of could down a path towards Wil- sings sea songs: https://www. service program (Peace Corps or Lindsey Precht is working for liams-Mystic. He earned a mas- youtube.com/channel/UCVqv- Americorps). She writes that her an environmental consulting ter’s degree in speech language L8t_jSrQY3zfn1TMW5g time at Mystic was the best se- firm, managing to interact with pathology at the University of mester she had in college, not- ocean science, literature, policy Kentucky last spring, then relo- Lani Willmar is working as an ing that she misses doing donuts and history as she monitors the cated to Cleveland. admission officer for Brown University in Providence, RI. in the vans and making dinner health of benthic ecological with her house each night. communities in South Florida.

30 Passages Chelsea May Harper F’95 died at her home in Just the Portland, OR on the morning of Saturday May 27, 2017, of compli- Lindsey Precht cations due to metastatic breast cancer. She was 42 years old. FACTS S’16 Chelsea was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and Sarah Dohan graduated from friend. In her professional life, Middlebury College in the Chelsea was an accomplished spring. She is excited to leave 429 1 dance movement therapist, par- the cold behind and head west ent educator, and author. She was to attend Stanford Law School Total pages Approximate rise also active in supporting other this fall. of original of sea level, in young survivors of cancer. Chel- sea was a longtime performer of scientific research centimeters, musical theater and dance and by Williams-Mystic at Mystic Seaport F’16 member of women’s choruses students from from Edwin Sanchez is the presi- in Portland. Chelsea grew up in S’ 16 and F’ 16 1977 to 2017 dent-elect of his school’s ocean a family of sailors. As a young science club and received his adult, she was a crew member on SCUBA certification. He was tall ship voyages around New Eng- accepted into the 2017 summer land and the Caribbean. Chelsea Maryland Sea Grant REU at the also helped to guide therapeutic Chesapeake Biological Lab and wilderness trips for young people 333 7 made dean’s list for spring 2017 and met her husband while doing at Millersville University. that work. Total pounds of snacks Number of states/ In 2013, Chelsea and fellow cancer survivor Brook Irwin created consumed territories traveled a successful crowdfunding cam- on field seminars (S’ 17 to during Fall and paign —The Storybook Project— West Coast/Louisiana) Spring 2016 and published a personalized storybook to help mothers talk with their young children about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Chelsea nurtured balance and Meet the Williams-Mystic healing within herself and others and worked for justice and equity Research Vessel… in Portland and beyond. She was a connector who sought to build bridges, literal and metaphorical, between people given our respec- tive differences and privileges. In Edwin Sanchez memory, please consider building bridges in your own life, or Steven Wang is studying artificial contributing to activities Chelsea intelligence in hopes of contrib- supported including the Storybook uting to the AI safety field. He Project, Sabin Elementary School’s joined the effective altruists club restorative justice program, and at Berkeley in the spring. the Williams-Mystic program. She is a dark blue, Eastern 22 , center console powerboat Details forthcoming at @thestory- built in 2011. With traditional Downeast lines and a 115-HP bookproject. Yamaha, 4-cycle outboard motor, she is a spacious platform for student research projects on Fishers Island Sound. The only problem ... she has no name. We need your help! We will be collecting suggestions for her name through mid-October. We will be providing Send your class updates to short trips for interested alumni during alumni weekend and she will be available for viewing so that you can get [email protected] to know her. Please submit your name suggestions to Tom Van Winkle at [email protected]. The top three names will be selected and we will then ask you to vote for a specific name.

31 Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program 75 Greenmanville Ave. Mystic, CT 06355

REUNION September 15-17, 2017 Register at wmreunion.org 32