Creative Thought Works
Alumni Stories
See how Skidmore alumni are putting creative thought to work in their fields, their passions, and the world in which we live.
Ben Van Leeuwen ’07, a founder of the eponymous, premium ice cream brand that can now be found in shops from New York City to Singapore, says some of the most valuable lessons he has learned about building a business came from courses at Skidmore — including a studio art class.
Four Class of 2013 alumni have inspired and encouraged one another for over a decade, leading to a growing production company and now an acclaimed short film.
During his senior year at Skidmore, Alex Blaker ’08 boarded a plane for a study abroad program in Australia; he returned with an idea for Tech Supplier, a worldwide distributor of consumer electronics. HIs experience is an example of Skidmore's entrepreneurial spirit.
Alumni tell current scholars to embrace your story, build your community, and remember that the network you create at Skidmore will always support you.
Skidmore alumna Cristina Velez ’12 is making history as the first woman to head a men’s national team in an international lacrosse competition.
Friends and family from the Skidmore community and beyond gather to celebrate the legacy of the longtime trustee, educator, activist, and DEI champion.
Billy Winter ’18 aka Zella Cullatore is working with Drag Out the Vote to mobilize voters ahead of this fall’s election.
Skidmore College has been named the top school in the nation for “Great Financial Aid” and has received praise for its excellent First-Year Experience Program, impactful teaching, and high quality of life.
Wondering if you can really make a difference? Brendan Woodruff ’09, inaugural director of sustainability for New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, says sustainability can be “contagious.”
A passionate advocate for the arts, the master textile artist has offered her entrepreneurial expertise and mentorship to Skidmore students and alumni.
As director of data and decision science for the Baltimore Ravens, Yam runs numbers and scenarios in the player scouting process.
From word puzzlers to reinvented classic board games, independent designer Gage’s creations have been downloaded millions of times.
A major gift from the estate of Dr. Pamela Shaw ’80 will support endowed scholarships at Skidmore College to help meet financial need for students majoring in science. The legacy gift is one of the largest ever bequeathed to the College by an alumna.
Kate Brittenham ’14 is an ecological landscape designer and owner of Front Stoop Gardens in Troy, New York, with an eye toward using native plants that provide natural habitat.
Josh Cutler ’94 was recently appointed by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey as the undersecretary of apprenticeship, work-based learning, and policy.
Linda Garrettson ’68 is a certified nutrition coach, chef, and food writer who created the brand Good Natured Cooking with a commitment to healthy eating.
The Skidmore Scholars in Science and Mathematics (S3M) program was established in 2007 as a way to provide financial support to students pursuing STEM majors; since then, some 130 students have benefitted. Hear the stories of five S3M alumni who have gone on to do amazing things.
Best known for his ‘Skyrim,’ ‘Fallout,’ and ‘Marvel Anatomy’ creations, Lobe discusses independence, learning through challenge, and creativity in the age of AI.
Alumni from classes ending in 4 and 9 returned for Reunion 2024. The celebration featured tours of Saratoga Springs and campus; cherished traditions; opportunities to return to the classroom; and a Tang Teaching Museum exhibition showcasing the work of alumni.
Phiwokuhle “Pibo” Shongwe ’14 is a senior software developer at Investec Bank who specializes in software development and integration, programming, and IT operations.
Dr. Nicole Becker Katz ’16 is a resident physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, an official teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School.
Lavere Foster ’11 is associate director of the African American Community Service Agency, a nonprofit that supports the African American community in Santa Clara County, California.
Katie Riker Sternberg ’90 is applying creative thought to philanthropy, supporting experiential learning for Skidmore students and another cause dear to her family — opportunities for individuals with autism.
Malika Sawadogo ’24’s Burkina Faso-inspired clothing line won the 2024 Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition and exemplified the creative, entrepreneurial spirit behind Skidmore College’s “Shark Tank”-like competition.
U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Michael Cavanagh ’03 brings creative thought to his service to his country and fellow citizens through search and rescue.
Elizabeth Amira Streeter ’09 is senior government affairs and community engagement manager at Voltera, a company that builds infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles and operates electric vehicle charging facilities.
Zeynep Inanoglu ’21 is a registered nurse at Yale New Haven Health pursuing her master’s degree at Yale University School of Nursing to become a pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care.
Jono Pandolfi ’99 owns Jono Pandolfi Designs, which produces hand-crafted ceramic dinnerware used in high-end restaurants around the world and serves more than 500 hospitality clients.
New gift establishes the Frances Young Tang ’61 Professorship in Economics and the Frances Young Tang ’61 Asian Studies Program Endowment Fund.
The partnership between Skidmore’s Social Work Department and the long-running Saratoga nonprofit, which is led by Skidmore alumna Sybil Newell ’00, has a powerful impact on the students and the struggling populations they’re serving.
From holistic wellness to creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, a generous gift from Trustee Peg Valentine P’09 and husband Mike Valentine P’09 invests in the College’s highest strategic priorities.
If you’re looking for something new to watch or read, look no further than the work of these rising Skidmore stars.
Hon. Christina L. Ryba ’98 is a trailblazer in New York’s legal landscape, serving as a Supreme Court justice in the third judicial district and as supervising judge of her district.
Themba Shongwe ’18 is a Financial Markets Advisory (FMA) associate whose diverse client base includes governments, banks, and public institutions.
Dana Crosley Naberezny ’95 is chief innovation officer of jewelry for Tiffany & Company and vice president of the company’s Jewelry Design and Innovation Workshop, which she launched in 2018.
Scott Berman ’05 is the founder and host of Sky Cave Retreats, a darkness retreat center nestled in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument wilderness of southern Oregon.
Laura Quiros ’96, is an associate professor of social work and child advocacy at Montclair State University who specializes in trauma-informed care through a social justice lens.
Ivy Asamoah ’19 is the founder of Nourrir Drinks, a sparkling juice brand inspired by West African, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors.
Gary Muldoon ’73, is a lawyer, writer, and adjunct professor who was most recently elected town justice in Perinton, N.Y.
Clare Kenny ’15 is the program director of the Yes, And … Laughter Lab (YALL), a competitive fellowship and incubator lab for comedy that addresses social justice issues.
Lynn A. Marks ’71 is a distinguished public-interest lawyer in Philadelphia who has spent the past 40 years addressing social injustices. She recently received a lifetime achievement award.
This fall, StartUp Skidmore offered Skidmore students the opportunity to develop their business ideas, work and network with successful entrepreneurial alumni, receive feedback, and even make prototypes — all in an intense, one-day workshop.
The Career Development Center’s largest on-campus networking event of the year brings volunteer mentors from across the U.S. and a range of industries to support students at every stage of the career exploration process.
Recipients past and present reflect on ways that the prestigious merit scholarship continues to influence their lives and careers.
Andrea Román Alfaro ’12, is a scholar and activist who combines research with community work and advocacy. She used a recent award grant to support a children’s photo club in Puerto Nuevo, Peru.
Debby Mayer ’68 is a writer, editor, and blogger who has published stories of all kinds throughout her career, including novels, short stories, essays, and a memoir.
Events kicked off Friday with the annual Thoroughbred Cup golf tournament. On Saturday, alumni and friends gathered for the Skidmore Athletics Benefit and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Throughout it all, supporters contributed to the All in to Win campaign, raising $368,690 for Skidmore Athletics.
Skidmore alumnus Alex Carney ’22, who participated in a collaborative engineering program with Dartmouth College, is now chief technical engineer for SmartScope, a project that is using cutting-edge technology to speed up medical diagnoses.
Dr. Alina Bazarian ’14 recently began her three-year residency training through the Saratoga Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. She was chosen as one of six residents from more than 1,500 applicants.
Betsy Damon ’63 was awarded a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship. She will use the grant to design a functional water-cleaning sculpture.
Whether you’re on the beach or reclining in the comfort of an air-conditioned living room, a good book is practically mandatory for some summertime R&R. But what to read? Skidmore community members have some suggestions.
Three Skidmore alumni and former Thoroughbred men’s soccer players created the Vermont Green Football Club, which is committed to achieving a range of ambitious environmental justice targets.
Dylan Telano ’23 has transformed an idea into a multi-million-dollar venture during his time at Skidmore.
Kevin Ha ’21 is the founder, executive director, and board chair of the Asian American Dream (AAD), a career-advancement nonprofit that provides mentorship networks, professional development training, and career advancement opportunities to underserved Pan-Asian American undergraduates.
Marsha Johnson Bancroft ’59 has flourished as a career woman in multiple capacities, champion athlete, and family woman.
Campus was buzzing for Reunion Weekend 2023, when alumni from classes ending in 3 and 8 as well as alumni of Skidmore’s Opportunity Program returned to catch up with friends, learn about recent developments, and honor classmates and fellow alumni.
Human rights and education activist Joseph Kaifala ’08, a Sierra Leonean who majored in French and international affairs at Skidmore College, is the inaugural recipient of the Projects for Peace Alumni Award.
Donna Conklin King ’85 is a contemporary artist known for her concrete sculptures. She was recently featured on ArtNation, a new Smithsonian Channel series that showcases work by many types of artists.
Johane Simelane ’13 is executive director of the Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporation.
Joanna Schubert ’12, known as Oropendola, recently released a debut full-length album, “Waiting for the Sky to Speak,” with Spirit House Records and Wilbur & Moore Records.
Ibardo Zambrano ’06 is a urologist with the Novant Health network of physician clinics, with expertise in oncology and robotic-assisted techniques for minimally invasive surgery.
Lauren Tobias ’12 spent four years as the wellness director at Fort Peck Community College on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Sioux nations in Montana.
The Skidmore alumnus will succeed his classmate Nancy Hamilton '77, whose term ends in May.
At ESPN for more than 20 years, James Davidson '01 has produced all the Grand Slam competitions that the cable sports giant covers.
Lily Esposito ’20 grew up near Los Angeles. Now, the Skidmore alumna is living off the grid in the Adirondacks and teaching environmental education programs.
Jonah Lobe ’05 is an award-winning concept artist, 3D character artist, and illustrator known for video games like “Skyrim” and “Fallout” and his new book “Marvel Anatomy: A Scientific Study of the Superhuman.”
Laura Forlano ’95, a social scientist, design researcher, and writer, recently joined Northeastern University as a professor in the College of Arts, Media, and Design.
Josh Dorman ’88 is an acclaimed mixed-media artist whose multi-layered work now includes creating stop-motion animations to accompany classical music.
Construction of Skidmore’s McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center is now underway, with outdoor tennis courts set to open for the fall semester. Watch a video and learn more about how this innovative, integrated approach to health and wellness will benefit the entire Skidmore community.
A new partnership between the Arts Administration Program and Universal Preservation Hall in downtown Saratoga Springs offers students valuable field experiences and opportunities to network.
Altagracia Montilla ’12 is chief executive officer of A.M. Consulting, a firm made up of a diverse team of industry experts that develops strategies to improve culture, connection, and community while rooting out biases.
Helena Yohannes ’04 and her twin sister, Feven Yohannes, were recently interviewed by “Good Morning America (GMA)” about their company, 2ˑ4ˑ1 Cosmetics, kicking off the new “GMA” Trailblazing Women series.
Kate Fitzpatrick Barnico ’80, program nurse manager at the Boston Children’s Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Center, received the Mary Kontos Care Champion Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the world’s leader in the fight against the disease.
A new health, wellness, fitness, tennis, and athletics center will bring together all aspects of student health and wellness support in a single campus facility.
Hannah Traore ’17 discusses her journey from curating her first show at Skidmore to opening Hannah Traore Gallery in NYC in 2022, and the difference it’s making in the art community.
Graduates’ applications and acceptances to medical, dental, veterinary, and other healthcare schools continue to rise, thanks in no small part to the dedication of Skidmore’s Health Professions Advisory Committee.
Skidmore College is marking its College Centennial with a yearlong celebration of its history and reflections on the journey ahead.
Plotnick’s work covering the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize. She spoke with current student and aspiring radio journalist Aaron Shellow-Lavine ’23 about her time at Skidmore and career in journalism.
Skidmore College community members answered, "What's one book you're reading right now, or recommend reading this summer?" From sci-fi to memoir and more, here are their selections.
Hundreds of alumni returned to campus for the second of two Reunion Weekends and opportunities to catch up with classmates and learn about exciting developments at Skidmore.
With ceremonial bagpipes and a weekend of fun, Skidmore welcomed members of the Class of 2020 back to campus for an emotional Commencement Celebration long delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hundreds of alumni with class years ending in 2 and 7 and their guests returned for Reunion from June 2 to 5, the first of two weekends dedicated to alumni celebration.
Skidmore College recognized eminent alumna, trustee, and donor Billie Tisch ’48 by naming its ambitious new science center in her honor.
With appeals for social justice and charges to change the world — without forgetting to pause for moments of joy — Skidmore conferred 589 degrees to the Class of 2022 during the College’s 111th Commencement Exercises.
Skidmore is recognizing the alumna's leadership and service by naming the largest single academic project in College history in her honor.
The natural partnership between Skidmore and The Wild Center in the nearby Adirondacks demonstrates the power of combining the arts and sciences.
NPR Correspondent Elissa Nadworny ’10, who studied documentary filmmaking at Skidmore, describes her recent experience reporting from the war in Ukraine.
Colin Fischer ’22 and Tom Duncan ‘22 have won the first-place $20,000 prize in Skidmore College’s annual Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition to develop their protein-enhanced ice cream business.
A $5 million one-to-one matching pledge along with additional gifts creates the Sands Family Foundation Initiative for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Skidmore College.
Sh*t That I Knit (STIK), a Boston-based small business founded and run by Skidmore alumna Christina Fagan Pardy ’12, is an official licensee of Team USA for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more than 10 years, Arthur Zankel Music Center has become more than just a hub for great performances for the campus and Saratoga Springs communities: It has also become a training center for innovative careers in the arts and beyond.
Over the past two decades, the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery has provided students with valuable work experiences and extraordinary access to art, artists, and ideas that supported careers both inside and outside the arts.
The College is celebrating 40 years — 80 semesters — of MB 107, the rigorous, introductory management and business course that many students and alumni describe as a defining moment in their college experience.
From within Skidmore’s curriculum, through their careers, and in other ways, big and small, Skidmore community members are making an impact.
Just two years ago, Brandon Kasel ’20 was minding the nets for the Skidmore Men’s Ice Hockey team. Now, he has signed a pro contract as a goalie for the Adirondack Thunder.
From supporting nuclear waste cleanup efforts to running an artisan wine operation during a tumultuous 2020, Shelby Perkins ’95 says she has been “a constant academic” throughout a creative career path spanning science, art and business.
As the pandemic has further stoked interest in cryptocurrency, Lincoln Lin ’19 recently joined fellow alumnus and career mentor Melvis Langyintuo ’12 at an exchange startup.
Dance and exercise science double-major Kaitlin Guerin ’14 combined equal parts art and science with a generous amount of creativity to launch Lagniappe Baking Co. during the pandemic.
Skidmore alumni remain deeply committed to the College and are helping current students and recent graduates to build their own creative career paths.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its worldwide economic impact, members of Skidmore’s Class of 2020 are finding fulfilling success and demonstrating remarkable achievement in pursuing employment, education and other opportunities after graduation.
Skidmore alumni, parents and friends share experiences designed to prepare and inspire the classes of 2020 and 2021 during this unique time in history.
As Skidmore looks to 2021, members of College faculty and leadership believe the liberal arts offer a way to navigate through tumultuous times toward a hopeful vision for the future.
Elliot Kreitenberg ’14 and Leejay Pollacchi ’13 are behind a groundbreaking UVC disinfection system being used to sanitize airplane interiors and potentially reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 during air travel.
The College’s alumni network has supported Cadence founder and CEO Stephanie Hon ’16 in her entrepreneurial journey and continues to pave paths for students like Natalie Jew ’23.
This year, the list of noteworthy holiday gifts is giving special attention to Black-owned businesses, including 2.4.1 Cosmetics, co-owned and co-founded by Helena Yohannes ‘04.
Online format allows notable parent and alumni mentors from all over the world to network with students interested in learning more about various careers.
Skidmore’s new building, the Annex, is now open and is home to new classroom spaces as well as the Physics, Geosciences and Environmental Sciences and Studies departments.
Mike Natter ’08, Diana Perry ’89 and Jonathan Brestoff Parker ’08 described their experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring issue of Scope magazine.
With original music and expressions of gratitude, the Skidmore community offered a touching tribute and farewell to President Philip A. and Marie Glotzbach.
As Skidmore celebrates the Class of 2020 with an unprecedented virtual Commencement, we look back at some of the ways the College has celebrated graduates and adapted to changing times.
Student entrepreneurs were awarded more than $50,000 in prizes at this year’s Business Plan Competition finals, held online.
Students, alumni, employees and basketball fans cheered for the Thoroughbreds — and screamed for a Stewart’s ice cream flavor newly named for Skidmore — at the College’s annual Big Green Scream.
As the Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition celebrates its 10th anniversary, an endowment ensures the transformational mentorship experience continues.
The new space will provide a dedicated location to collaborate and think creatively about equity and inclusion. It will also serve as a hub for people from diverse cultures, identities, religions and other backgrounds.
Creating Our Future: The Campaign for Skidmore has surpassed $200 million, providing new opportunities for students and reinforcing Skidmore’s position as one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges.
A recent alumna reflects on the connections and inspiration she found as a member of the international scholarship program.- “Tiffany & Co. has built a secret lab to crush its rivals,” says Bloomberg. Others call it a “think tank” and a “lab of shiny dreams.” But it’s the label that a recent grad has given it that elicits genuine pride for Dana Naberezny ’95: “a mini Skidmore.”
The Center for Humanistic Inquiry’s inaugural Generations program provided inspiration, practical advice and insight into the value of student-faculty connections at Skidmore.
Kristen Carbone ’03, who studied art history at Skidmore, is now a tech entrepreneur and is helping those affected by breast cancer.
Fred Guttenberg ’88 returns to campus to share his experience with members of the Skidmore and broader Saratoga Springs communities.
Skidmore inducted four new student-athletes, two teams and President Philip A. Glotzbach into the Skidmore Hall of Fame.
Dozens of alumni are visiting campus this semester to recruit students and share their career stories at Career Development Center events.
Jack Mulhern ’17 is making a name for himself in the popular Netflix series “The Society.” But before he was a viral television sensation, he was testing out his writing and directing skills in Skidmore’s Theater Department.
Skidmore alumni bring creative thought to careers in every industry. For Susan Law Dake ’71, Ben Van Leeuwen ’07, and Seth McEachron ’04, creative business strides are measured, in part, by pints, scoops and flavors.
Edvinas Rupkus '19 graduated as one of the most decorated Skidmore athletes in history. But it's his roles as student, leader and friend that made all the difference.
Alumni gathered to reminisce, create new Skidmore memories and enjoy all that campus and Saratoga Springs have to offer, including art exhibitions, tours and a spectacular fireworks display.
Jenny Lupoff ’19, a newly christened Skidmore alumna, reminisces on her time as a Skidkid through a series of heartfelt “goodbyes” to her favorite places, spaces … and creatures.
From Moore Hall to D-Hall, victory gardens to Chicken Finger Fridays, enjoy a look back in time through the lens of food and the people it has brought together at Skidmore over the years.
The Class of 2019 heard remarks from author Alan Lightman and Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Torre and spent the day celebrating, recording memories and reflecting on their time at Skidmore.
What does it mean to graduate as a student-athlete? Seniors Haley English and Damian Hammond share their thoughts on the true impact sports and Skidmore have had on their lives.