American Dream: Tolu Olubunmi ’02
Tolu Olubunmi ’02 has made her journey to citizenship an opportunity to inspire and serve others.
Alumni Profiles Archive (133 Stories)
W&L Welcomes New Trustees Jason W. Aiken ’94 and Courtney Camp Enloe ’97L
Aiken and Enloe were sworn in as trustees on May 9.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Brandon Chalk '00 followed his love for the outdoors all around the world, summiting the highest peaks on each of the seven continents with his wife, Kristine Chalk.
Noteworthy Impact
Burr Datz ’75 has been a pillar of support – and supplier of stories and songs – to the W&L community for five decades.
Preserving the Future
Robert Balentine '79 and his wife, Betty, are recipients of the 2025 Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal from the Garden Club of America for their preservation work at the Southern Highlands Reserve.
Bridging College and Career
As Andrew Barnett ’02 and his wife, Tori, contemplated how they could play a role in the lives of future Washington and Lee University students, they knew they wanted to make a gift that exemplified their values.
Ainsley Daigle ’13 Named to Billboard’s Women in Music 2025 List
The vice president at Firebird Artist Management was honored in the multisector category.
W&L Announces 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
This year's honorees will be recognized during Alumni Weekend from May 1-4.
Celebrate and Give Back at W&L Alumni Weekend 2025
Alumni from the classes of 1975-2010 are invited to return to campus May 1-4 for a weekend of celebration and the presentation of the 25th and 50th reunion gifts.
W&L Energy Forum Launches with Powerful Conversations in Houston
The newest addition to the university’s affinity-based career events brings alumni and industry leaders together to explore the future of energy.
Inaugural ‘W&L Salutes’ Alumni Event Strengthens Connections, Honors the Military Service of W&L Community Members
The weekend event was commemorated with a ceremonial coin presentation with a coin designed by ROTC Cadet Carey Camp ’25.
Washington and Lee University to Host 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit
The two-day program will be held on campus April 11-12.
The Right Direction
Stephen Welker ’05 honors his past by shaping the future.
Healthy Focus
Cory Allison '94, P'26 hopes to change the way hospitals and doctors approach surgical prep.
Tricia Miller ’93 Featured in Insider Athens Magazine
Miller was named one of the most inspiring women in Athens, Georgia.
The Grand Affair
Ahead of the 2025 edition of Fancy Dress, take a visual walk down memory lane with the beloved W&L tradition.
Brooke deRosa ’01’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ Enjoys World Premiere at Carnegie Hall
DeRosa composed the music for the opera based on the short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Charting New Waters
From rehabilitating its finances to reviving endangered species, Keith Sanford ’80 transformed the Tennessee Aquarium’s future.
Heart of the Matter
Dr. Matthew Sackett ’90, P’18 is on the cutting edge of cardiac treatments.
Brett Strohsacker ’06 Gives a Bird’s-Eye View of Super Bowl Victory
The vice president of football communications for the Philadelphia Eagles enjoys his team’s second Super Bowl victory.
Bedrock Values
Howard Capito ’68 established the Christopher D. Connors Endowment for Earth and Environmental Geoscience to honor the “living legend” and support student internships in geology and related fields.
Continuing a Legacy of Philanthropy
Hank Ingram '13 recently established the Ingram Family Student Opportunity Endowment to further community-based learning opportunities for W&L students in Rockbridge County.
A True W&L Love Story
Kimberly Booth Rimmer ’91 and Bobby Rimmer ’90 discovered the power and strength of W&L friendships when faced with tragedy.
Living a Legacy
After 38 years in the federal government, Mark Bradley ’78 has made sure to think beyond himself and serve the greater good.
Simple Interventions
For Dr. Kelli Jarrell ’12, a multidisciplinary approach is foundational to her career in social emergency medicine.
Meet Cute
From stolen sandwiches to stolen hearts, these W&L alumni share their stories of how they met their significant other.
Meg Smith ’12 Named a ‘40 Under 40’ by The Roanoker Magazine
The chief operating officer for MKB, Realtors was recognized for her significant impact on the real estate industry and community in Southwest Virginia.
W&L Welcomes New Trustee Joelle James Phillips ’95L
Joelle James Phillips ‘95L joined the Washington and Lee University Board of Trustees on Feb. 7, at the board’s winter meeting in Lexington, Virginia.
High-wire Act
Whether he is trying a case or drumming with a jazz band, Curtis Joseph ’93, ’96L doesn’t miss a beat.
Bill and Wendy Payne Champion W&L’s Institutional History Museum with $3.5M Gift
Trustee issues challenge for support of the project.
On Our Honor
Past presidents of Washington and Lee University’s Executive Committee reflect on how it prepared them for a life of values-driven leadership.
Appreciating the Sweetness of Life
As a radiation oncologist, Dr. Olivia Claire Ball ’09 cherishes the humanity and connection she cultivates with her patients.
Steve Abraham ’80, ’83L Named a Washingtonian of the Year for 2024
As founder and president of Wilderness Leadership and Learning, Abraham has impacted hundreds of youths in the D.C. area.
Warren Stephens ’79 Selected for U.K. Ambassadorship
Stephens, CEO of financial services firm Stephens Inc., is an emeritus member of the Washington and Lee University Board of Trustees.
Pete Abitante ’78 to Receive 2025 Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The former vice president of special projects at the NFL enjoyed a 46-year career in communications at the organization.
Generations of Generosity
The importance of philanthropy is a value that Billy Webster ’79 instilled in his children from a young age.
W&L Launches $650 Million Capital Campaign
Washington and Lee University announced on Friday, Oct. 25, the launch of a $650 million comprehensive capital campaign, Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee.
Historic Gift Allows Washington and Lee University to Adopt Need-Blind Admissions Policy
Alumnus Bill Miller donates $132 million to expand access and affordability.
The Game of Storytelling
The two W&L alums driving the content for Golf Digest share how the sport lends itself to unexpected stories and why it’s important to take big swings editorially.
Celebrating an Extraordinary Legacy
Pat and Marshall Nuckols’ estate gift supports scholarships and student opportunities.
Focusing on the Man Who Captured JFK
Steele Burrow ’13 leaned into his liberal arts education to create his first documentary, “Capturing Kennedy,” which premieres this weekend at the Boston Film Festival.
Writing His Own Ticket: Pete Abitante ’78
As a vice president at the NFL, Abitante has spearheaded communications and special projects for the organization.
Winning Mentality: Taylor Garcia ’22
The pro pickleball player has her sights set on breaking into the top 10 singles rankings.
Synthesizing the Stats: Matt Dodson ’20
This New York Giants scouting research coordinator knows it’s more than just a numbers game.
In the Lead: Scoring the Internship
Hanna Bishop ’24 and Rob DiSibio ’24 both worked for the NBA in summer 2023.
W&L Outcomes: William Dantini ’24
Dantini was selected to join the seventh cohort of the Virginia Management Fellows program, which aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in state government.
Working Overtime
Emmy-nominated NFL sideline reporter and ‘Today’ show contributing correspondent Kaylee Hartung '07 shows no signs of slowing down.
W&L Outcomes: Katie Yurechko ’24
After a summer internship with the University of Washington, Yurechko will be pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Oxford.
Championing Tennis
Recently retired CEO of the USPTA John Embree ’75 hopes to inspire members of the younger generation to pursue a career in his beloved sport.
Going for the Goal
Matt Simpson ’12 captured silver in goalball at the Paralympics in 2016. He’s hoping to top that this summer.
W&L Outcomes: Kathleen Roberts ’24
Roberts is pursuing her doctorate in educational psychology through the LIME program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
W&L Outcomes: Jack Maloy ’24
In September, Maloy will move to Germany for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.
Second Act: Stanley Erdreich Jr. ’57
After a 60-year career in investment banking, real estate and venture capital, Erdreich embraced his creative side and turned his passion for poetry into songwriting.
W&L Outcomes: Kathryn Cover ’24
Cover is working as a public relations apprentice at Prosek Partners in New York City.
W&L Alumna Maria Kisker ’21 Selected for Fulbright to Taiwan
Kisker will pursue a master’s degree in political economy at National Tsing Hua University.
W&L Outcomes: Lucy Donahue ’24
After graduation, Donahue is working as a financial analyst at Amazon and pursuing her CPA.
W&L Outcomes: Perry Kramer ’24
After a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, Kramer is moving to NYC and will start working for Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in October.
W&L Outcomes: Shanna Kim ’24
Kim is pursuing her Master of Public Policy at Duke University.
Live from the Paris Olympics
Alex Maragos ’13’s love of journalism started through the profession’s inside access to sports. He brings it full circle in covering the 2024 Paris Olympics for NBC 5 Chicago.
W&L Outcomes: Jackson Hotchkiss ’24
Hotchkiss is spending the next year competing in professional cycling events.
W&L Outcomes: Lillie Taylor ’24
Taylor is moving to Niigata Prefecture, Japan, to work as an assistant language teacher for the JET Program.
Running the World
With a goal to run a marathon on every continent, Julia Poppenberg ’19 sets her sights on Antarctica.
W&L Outcomes: Pari Ahmadi ’24
Pari Ahmadi ’24 will be working as a clinical research coordinator at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before attending medical school.
Larry Connolly’s Running for the Roses
The 1979 W&L alumnus has two horses running in the 2024 Kentucky Derby with his syndicate, West Paces Racing.
Wangdali C. “Wali” Bacdayan ’92 Sworn in as Rector of Washington and Lee University
The board elected Bacdayan as the university’s 32nd rector during its October 2023 meeting.
Chronicles: Racing Into History
A statue of Secretariat made a stop in Lexington last spring, as the man whose dream produced the Virginia-born racehorse was a W&L alumnus and trustee emeritus.
Friends Without Borders
Lifelong friends Seng-Kah “Henry” Baey ’83 and Dan Einstein ’83 reflect on their time at W&L.
Empathy & Compassion
In May, Mary Hipp ’90 said being a member of the second class of women undergraduates at W&L taught her a lot— although she didn’t realize it at the time.
From Big Law to Foreign Assets
Chrishon McManus ’14L—attorney and competitive swimmer—radiates calm when it counts.
For Ross Draber ’10, people come first
The United Bank senior executive engages with the W&L community through student recruitment and event participation.
Rachel Adams-Heard ’16 wins prestigious business journalism award
The Bloomberg reporter was recognized for her work on investigative podcast “In Trust.”
Catching up with Laura Lemon ’16
W&L’s campus culture — from small classes to the Speaking Tradition — gave Lemon the communication skills and confidence to succeed.
Catching up with Mike Weaver ’20
Weaver’s advice for current students: Take advantage of every opportunity and embrace respectful debate.
Catching up with Sarah Tilbor ’08
For Tilbor, W&L instilled a healthy curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
Catching up with Kathryn Young ’19
Young learned the critical skills to excel at her job from the veteran journalists in Reid Hall.
Catching up with Wes Haydon ’09
Haydon credits the W&L community for inspiring him and guiding him toward success.
Catching up with Greg Barrow ’87
Barrow’s experience at W&L gave him the confidence to work through any challenge or opportunity.
Growing a Greener Future
For W&L alumni Kevin Green ’07 and Amanda Green ’06, nature and nurture go hand-in-hand.
The Art of: Climate Activism
Nate Abercrombie ’20, conservative outreach coordinator at Citizens Climate Lobby, works toward finding common ground.
Alumnus-owned property on view during Historic Garden Week
Stonegate Guesthouse, recently purchased and renovated by Derek Hutton ’93, is a featured Lexington landmark of the Garden Club of Virginia’s 90th annual event.
Catching up with Padget Sutherland ’17
Sutherland's advice for current students: "Don’t take yourself too seriously!"
Meet Tucker Kavanagh ’16
Kavanagh encourages current students to "never be afraid to reach out to the W&L network."
The Art of: Cutting the Cord
Nancy Reinhart '00 is a midwife and health care practitioner who empowers women and families during their pregnancy.
The Art of: Laying Down a Track
Kenny Sharp '12 is a singer/songwriter and owner of Brown Liquor Music.
Leading Lives of Consequence
Laura Adelman Philipson ’01 and Hayley Huber ’23 discuss their experiences as W&L students.
The Art of: Brushing Up
Katie Wall Podracky '05 painted the landscape of more than 40 state parks during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Leading Lives of Consequence
Joe Framptom '66 and Nate Unger '24 discuss their experiences as W&L students.
Leading Lives of Consequence
Caroline Boone Mitchell ’89 and Peyton Tysinger ’23 discuss their experiences as W&L students.
Catching up with Kassie Scott ’18
Scott's advice for current students: "There is no one way to do college. Do it your way and make it count."
The Art of: Roaming Freely
Sandy Hooper ’97, ’03L sold his home and went part time at work to travel the country in a camper van.
The Art Of: Crushing the Grape
Enrico de Alessandrini ’84, P’23 is the owner of award-winning Sassaia Winery.
Leading Lives of Consequence
Tracey Thornblade Belmont '92 and Posi Oluwakuyide ’24 discuss their experiences as W&L students.
Meet Elizabeth Mugo ’19
Mugo says that, above all, W&L taught her to "always be curious."
The Art Of: Taming the Current
After nearly three decades of training, Laura Goodwin '99 accomplished her lifelong dream: to swim the English Channel.
Leading Lives of Consequence
Hardin Marion and Carter Chandler discuss their experiences as W&L students.
Sarah Streeper ’14 Recognized for Commitment to Animal Welfare
During the pandemic, she launched a helpline to support struggling pet owners.
Samantha McLemore ’02 and Lee Hollis ’86 to Join W&L Board of Trustees
McLemore and Hollis will be sworn in at the board’s spring meeting.
Community Foundations
Craig Jones has been an active volunteer in his community, particularly the KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools.
‘A Sacred Trust’
Paul Schlimm ’87, who retired from the Army as a colonel in 2016, credits W&L with preparing him for command, beginning his 27-year career as an officer.
‘Living Honestly’
Ten years after helping found the LGBTQ Resource Center at W&L, Chris Washnock ’12 has carried its community-building lessons into a career in faith-based advocacy.
Exploring Appalachia through Data Science
A year after graduating, Tim Pierce ’20 uses data science to map job skills in Appalachian labor markets.
Popping Online
Coco Ellis Howe ’16 and Tani Greenspan ’16 created a successful online art gallery in the middle of a pandemic.
Smarter, Faster
In a shifting media landscape, Ted Williams ’07 and Mike Allen ’86 are focused on reigniting local journalism through a new business venture.
Nurturing the NASDAQ
Linda Roberts '71 helped the NASDAQ become a household name during a four-decade career in finance and accounting.
Helping Others and Building Change
Grace Anne Holladay '21 has a conversation with Dr. Kelli Jarrell ’12, who was recently named the national emergency fellow of the year
Legal Eagle
Life has been a series of firsts for Rita Davis ’93, who now serves as counsel to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
A Mile With You
Norman Kim-Senior ’05 has created a COVID Memorial Walk and Run to foster community, support local nonprofits and mark the one-year anniversary of the pandemic.
Book Smart
Bethlehem Dammlash ’06 has set her sights on educational equity for children from low-income families.
Super Sleuth
At Pfizer, Michael Benigno ’00 analyzed COVID-19 clinical data in the quest to develop a vaccine and antiviral therapy.
‘Abundantly Thankful’ in Austria
Despite COVID-19, Jared Nickodem '20 was able to make it to Austria, where he is teaching English to students as part of the U.S. Teaching Assistant Program.
W&L Graduate Returns to Teach Dance Master Class
Elliot Reza Emadian ’17 will teach a virtual master class in screendance, a form that merges cinematography and choreography.
Serving Veterans
As an executive at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United Services Organization, Navy veteran Ned Powell ’70 impacted the lives of many service members before retiring.
Good Ol’ Dubyuhnell
Matt Bartini ’12 offers favorite scenes of W&L on his custom shirts.
Waging the Hog Wars
Farmer and conservationist Bill Holliday ’65 spent his career fighting to preserve and protect South Carolina’s environment.
Conversation Starter
Dillon Myers ’14 and Alan Gibson ’70 are helping older adults overcome social isolation with a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Just Say Hello
Hollis Owens ’97’s nonprofit offers people with disabilities opportunities to present to, and educate, schoolchildren about their lives.
‘A Real Justice Issue’
Bridget Bartley '21 interviews Shiri Yadlin '12, director of Just Homes, a nonprofit that helps faith communities address homelessness in D.C.
Snapshot of a Pandemic
Chris Johnson ’00 uses his camera to document the COVID-19 crisis.
Hamills Put Stamp on W&L Lacrosse Programs
Alex '13, Parker '17 and Hudson Hamill '20 have all thrived at Washington and Lee, their father's alma mater.
Calling All Authors
Teresa Aires Rodrigues ’19 is on a mission to collaborate with children from around the world on a book project.
Lunchables
Shelley Adams Gentle '99 has organized a Go Fund Me campaign to help feed children in her community.
Working Toward a Mission
Danika Brockman '21 interviews Natasha Lerner '13 about making a difference in women's health.
Fostering an Inclusive Community
Jim Early ’59 and his husband Garland Tillery established the James R. Early ’59 Endowment for LGBTQ Programming to help W&L's LGBTQ students engage fully with the wider university community.
‘The Active Pursuit of a Passion’
Jack Huffard '90 talks about the actionable insights he has gained from the Entrepreneurship Summit (Sept. 27-28) and the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur.
Studying Food Insecurity
At Harvard, Leah Gose '15 has conducted a complex study of organizations that provide food to people in need.
Bits and Blocks
Kevin Batteh, ’95 and ‘98L, navigates new technology to advise blockchain and cryptocurrency clients.
Down to Earth
Megan Hill Gambrill ’05 had long fantasized about a job where she’d get to play in the dirt all day.
Felix Kwame Yeboah to Give Public Lecture on Africa’s Economic Transformation
Yeboah's talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Africa Economic Transformation: The Role of Youth.”
Helping the Homebound
R. Alan Winstead ’85 is a driving force for the Meals on Wheels program in his community.
The Interaction Between Health and Poverty
James Ricks '21 interviews Dr. Jonathan Wortham '04 about his work with the Centers for Disease Control.
Building Blocks
Virginia McGhee ’19 spent the summer at Stanford University building polymers in Bob Waymouth ’82’s chemistry lab.
Destined for Public Service
Balen Essak '20 interviews Maisie Osteen '14L about her experiences with the Shepherd Program and as an assistant public defender.
Championing Land Conservation
A passion for the outdoors led Taylor Cole '75 to launch a second career as co-founder of Conservation Partners in Lexington.
