Alumni Council
Alumni Council serves as the advisory body to the College on behalf of the Earlham Alumni Association. Council leadership can be reached via email by any Earlhamite.
Interested in serving on Alumni Council? Alumni of Earlham College are invited to apply to serve on Council by completing our nomination form. You can also nominate a fellow alum who might be a good fit.
Elected members may serve up to three consecutive three-year terms. Alumni Council meets twice each year on campus to focus on programs and communications to fulfill a number of goals including:
- facilitating the continuing relationship between Earlham College and its alumni
- encouraging communication and fellowship among alumni
- advancing the interest and needs of Earlham College
- aiding in general promotion of the College to its alumni and the public
In response to these goals, the following committees are responsible for carrying out the work of Alumni Council:
- The Alumni Engagement Committee connects Earlham alumni to each other and to the College, fostering a lifelong sense of community and shared purpose. By collaborating with Class Chairs, reunion committees, and campus partners, the committee works to strengthen alumni bonds, support current and future Earlhamites, and uphold the values that make the Earlham experience unique. Central to its mission is recreating and sustaining the vibrant, inclusive community that Earlhamites cherish—one rooted in connection, support, and a shared Earlham legacy.
Key Points from the Alumni Council Spring 2025 meeting
Alumni can contribute to the Earlham community in a number of ways:
“Breathe deeply, stay focused on our goals, and hold onto what makes Earlham special—our outstanding teaching, our values, and our supportive community.” – Tom Thornburg (EC Class of ‘84 and current Board President)
For questions about Alumni Council, you may reach out to the executive committee listed below:
Earlham Alumni Council Executive Committee
Wendy Smiseck ’91, Alumni Council Chair
Current Leadership
| Wendy Smiseck ’91 Columbus, OH Chair | Chris Meyer ’69 Xenia, OH Vice Chair | Deborah Roose ’71 Tacomba Park, MD Secretary |
| Brandy Bennett ’05 New York, New York Co-Convener, Alumni Engagement Committee | Mary Branson ’78 The Woodlands, TX Co-Convener, Membership & Leadership Development Committee | Peggy Darragh-Jeromos ’79 Franklin, OH Co-Convener, Alumni Engagement Committee |
| Martha Hill ’79 Colfax, IN | Ken Huus ’93 Blythewood, SC Co-Convener, Membership & Leadership Development Committee | Hans Kersten ’86 Philadelphia, PA Co-Convener, Alumni Engagement Committee |
| Chip Yeakey ’03 Washington, DC Convener, Recognition Committee |
Recognition Committee
| Dante Brown ’95 League City, TX | Martha Hill ’79 Colfax, IN | Chris Meyer ’69 Xenia, OH |
| Yazeed Moore ’97 Grand Rapids, MI | Dory Weiss ’00 Wilmington, NC | Chip Yeakey ’03 Washington, DC |
Membership & Leadership Development Committee
| Mary Branson ’78 The Woodlands, TX | Ken Huus ’93 Blythewood, SC | Alejandra Rojas-Silva Honolulu, HI |
| Wendy Smiseck ’91 Columbus, OH | Sitashma Thapa ’20 Indianapolis, IN |
Alumni Engagement Committee
| Brandy Bennett ’05 New York, New York | Matthew Beer ’87 Woodland Hills, CA | Carrie Bubb ’92 Fort Wayne, IN |
| Jay Coffman ’02 Delaware, OH | Peggy Darragh-Jeromos ’79 Franklin, OH | Howell Gatchell ’69 Richmond, IN |
| Hans Kersten ’86 Philadelphia, PA | Neil Levine ’83 Beverly, MA | Bebe Miller ’71 Columbus, OH |
| Brian Navarrete ’05 Springfield, IL | Carol Pennock ’83 Centerville, OH | Jeffrey Perkins ’94 Brooklyn, NY |
| Deborah Roose ’71 Tacomba Park, MD |
Lifetime Members
| Howell Gatchell ’69 Richmond, IN | Eugene Ogle `55 Torrance, CA |