I’m sitting in my dorm room at my study away program in the suburbs of Osaka Osaka is a city of almost three million people If you add the neighboring cities of Kyoto which together with Osaka form the ‘Keihanshin’ metro area this region of Japan is home to almost twenty million people Traveling from one end of the Keihanshin to the other takes easily over an hour — and that’s if you take Japan’s super-fast bullet train My semester here is almost over. I know I’m going to miss the friends I’ve made here, to say nothing of the places I’ve gone, the food I’ve tried, and of course Japan’s extensive public transport system But I do find myself feeling just a little nostalgic for Oberlin Look: Oberlin is a town of around eight thousand people I can run from one side of town to the other in under twenty minutes And having spent five semesters regularly doing just that your attention will probably be drawn to the center first That’s where Oberlin’s two main thoroughfares cross: Lorain Street and Main Street around which you can find most of the shops restaurants and other businesses that make up the heart of Oberlin The actual college campus is a five minute walk to the west across Oberlin’s version of Central Park: Tappan Square right between the center of town and the campus It’s where your conversations from a restaurant meal come to their natural conclusions as you and your friends walk back up to your dorm room professors move their classes outside into Tappan Square; students take their study circles away from Terrell Library and out into the sunlight; runners and bikers pass through the park’s asterisk of paths headed for points east local food vendors proffer samples from booths in the park; in the wintertime I pass through Tappan Square to get to my favorite running routes which also contains a recording studio and where I once recorded a live play D&D episode a shaded bike path that follows the route of an old railroad This part of the town is beautiful in the fall (Practically every part of Oberlin is beautiful in the fall.) Thi Ni Thai has the best Thai food I’ve ever had in my life I don’t get judged for ordering a fried egg on top of my burger Further down Main Street there’s the Arboretum I decided to listen to a podcast for my creative writing class while walking through the Arboretum at night It turned out that it was a horror podcast I had quite a lot to say in class the next day there’s Oberlin’s campus proper the practice rooms whose pianos you can tell apart by ear People do their work there; they practice their instruments there I always thought it would be fun to have a concert there and serenade the fish There’s Oberlin’s Terrell Library (The library is in the larger building of Mudd Center practically everyone also refers to the library itself as ‘Mudd.’) My friends and I always gather at this one specific table on the east side of the second floor Sometimes I go there without checking if my friends are already there — more often than not And then there are the innumerable dorm lounges and little nooks and crannies where people gather. I’m particularly fond of Langston Hall’s Starlight Lounge, which is possessed of a piano and a number of stars painted on its ceiling. Every Friday night, a group gathers there to play Blood on the Clocktower (which I’ve covered in another blog post) so of course I've made lots of good memories there The bike trail extends for miles in either direction and there are shops and restaurants that I haven’t even been to yet I’ll be back at Oberlin for my final year of college As I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do next I’ve been having flashbacks to three years ago when I was deciding which college I was going to go to In my last post, I talked a little about why I decided to come to Oberlin I hope that this post can serve as a bit of a companion piece — if the things that I love about living in Oberlin have come across in this post I’m publishing this at the very end of April a double-digit number of hours before America’s college decision deadline So if you’re a high school senior trying to decide what you’re going to do next year I hope that this post and my last post can help you in making your decision There’s nothing like returning back to campus after some time away Chloe Martin The best of both worlds: a small college town with a big city close by Ozzie Frazier Why should I trust anything you have to say?” Well that’s a great question.. Oberlin has separate application processes for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music You have exceptional musical talent and intellectual enthusiasm.We have a place just for you As we move into the last few weeks of the semester and I have found myself reflecting on my favorite moments to find the motivation to keep pushing forward One of the absolute highlights of my semester was helping plan and attend the Building Sisterhood Forum an event that reminds me of the beauty of community.  The event was hosted by the board of Sisters of the Yam which I serve on with three other amazing students Sisters of the Yam is an affinity space for Black women and femme-identifying individuals at Oberlin The event occurred at the Hotel at Oberlin and was open to all members of the Oberlin community The intentions behind creating the forum were to build a space for the Black women and femmes of Oberlin to celebrate our accomplishments and process our losses together as a sisterhood Our goal was for attendees to feel comfortable There are only so many Black women and femmes in Oberlin and we wanted guests to feel the community and support that surrounds them It can be scary when you don’t know if the people who RSVP'd will show up and if everything will go as planned But when the evening arrived and I greeted people at the welcome table The event began with a welcome from Sisters of the Yam’s chair Some of the guiding questions we prepared for our attendees were:  the emotion that I remember feeling the strongest was gratitude Gratitude for those who attended the event for the ability to come together and authentically share our experiences and for the love and appreciation I held for those around me Everyone that I spoke to after the event told me how needed the event was How it made them feel supported and uplifted and allowed them to just be College life can be fast-paced and difficult This night provided me with a much needed reminder of the community I have even if I don’t see them every day.  But evenings like these remind me that it's a space where people can build what they need This was our first Building Sisterhood Forum and we hope to make it an annual event I look forward to more moments like this as we continue to expand our organization and watch the Oberlin community grow alongside us.   technically last week by the time I’m writing this Lauren Kaskey A few ways to get involved with the music scene even if you're not in the Conservatory itself Thorin Finch How I ended up hiding in the bushes in the King courtyard trying to steal the spellbook of a cabal of evil witches for a former classmate’s project about the role of music in liberation movements We talked with the residents about music during the Civil Rights Movement but what was really unique about the experience is that most (if not all) of the residents were highly involved in the movement and each shared their stories about organizing with SNCC in the 60s I planned to eat and get homework done as soon as I returned to campus, but got derailed chatting for probably at least an hour with a classmate who spotted me finishing up lunch at Stevie. (The dangers of a small campus….) I barely got anything done (I was playing sudoku) before I had to get ready for a fundraising banquet hosted by the African Students Association that evening it’s kind of a problem that I didn’t get much work done over the weekend And trust that I will not be getting up even earlier to do the reading before class So perhaps I was slightly unprepared… I had lots of great, though unplanned, conversations on Tuesday. After International Security, which is my favorite class this term, I talked to one of my classmates about the reading and declaring majors as we both walked to Wilder We hadn’t properly talked since our shared class last term I’m happy to say that my storage conundrum was resolved Wednesday morning. Lekan assured me that Oberlin students were nice and would be more than willing to help me move out (as opposed to a company), and luckily he was right, because I got offers to help from not one, but two new friends I made during my study abroad trip in Egypt (you can read about my experience here!) The other standout of the day was attending the final information session before my Oberlin June Block trip to Beijing this summer I didn’t anticipate doing so much studying abroad in college (or any because she also agreed that she’d rather be roommates again than have a single next year I attended office hours with Professor Awan to discuss my thesis for an upcoming essay I told myself I’d go to more office hours this term having conversations with your teachers really does get easier I’ve definitely gotten the sense that Oberlin professors are “on your side.” My professors have gone really out of their way to support my specific research interests even restructuring their classes and assignments to be accommodating of them and making time to meet with me outside their normal office hours My Friday schedule this term is nice because my last class and I’m technically commitment-free for the rest of the day which is where all the Chinese language students and teachers have lunch together and chat in Chinese but I usually have to spend that hour doing homework so Friday is when I get to be the most engaged It’s genuinely one of the highlights of my week we talked about attractive Chinese Olympic swimmers I enjoyed the best Umami special of the week and worked on my essay for Professor Awan’s class Since I’m writing this in the future I’m pleased to report that I got an A+ My biggest pieces of advice as you prepare for your first year of college Dakota Wynn This semester I had the privilege of helping organize an event that brought Black women and femmes together in celebration Marcus Jensen I knew it was a commitment to the community While an East Coast(ish) liberal arts school was always the plan it was the people who really drew me to Oberlin I knew I wanted to spend the next years of my life surrounded by smart From the friends I met at All Roads to the people from home who also committed While committing to college seemed like such a big step while in high school it never occurred to me how the social components of college life would affect me post-grad The other day in my International Security class Expecting a politician or UN representative I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the speaker was in fact an Oberlin alum The presentation outlined an app he had launched along with other Oberlin Alumni: Newsreal This is an app aimed at making news more accessible and fun for younger generations helping to spread information more efficiently Through interactive and scrollable headlines the format reminds me of a more educational Instagram reel Besides my initial excitement about the project Not only are Obies out in the world doing cool things but I already have connections to so many individuals and initiatives just from a common school: Oberlin Choosing an environment for undergrad is very important It's important to pick a school that will set students up for success and a big part of this is an alumni network providing real-world opportunities and connections discussing my Oberlin commitment with a friend while standing in line for dressing rooms; as it happens an Obie employee overheard and introduced herself when my mom posted me in my new dorm on Facebook her comment section was flooded with old friends and acquaintances recommending what co-ops or activities I should join Whether it’s a friend of my parents or a stranger I happen to run into I’ve found Obies to be some of the warmest and most excited individuals I have met I can feel the excitement and sense of family that is sparked when I find other Obies.  It feels crazy to say that I have two weeks left in my freshman year at Oberlin College and I almost feel like if I blink too slowly knowing that I will become a part of such a driven and enthusiastic alumni network converts that anxiety to comfort I am so excited to find initiatives to work on with other Oberlin alumni as well as meet later generations of Obies Maybe one day I’ll be commenting on a friend's Instagram post telling them to have their child live in Kahn Hall Daniela Sueiro Bienvenue à la fin (Welcome to the ending) of my magnificent trip to Bordeaux as this fourth post makes up the last I have to tell you about this transformative opportunity During our three-week-long stay in Bordeaux I bore witness to sufficient monuments and cultural experiences to fill out a lifetime I forged friendships I expect to last a lifetime too The community among students on the trip was parfait (perfect) Led sweetly and charismatically by our professor and his friend who had both grown up in the city we embarked on unending cultural excursions during those French weeks Our community of Oberlin students in Bordeaux (who the professor called “Bordobies”) formed an eclectic mostly ingenuous (mostly queer) group of explorers to weather every contour of our odyssey as when we took a cruise on the river Garonne at the end of our stay on how there was perhaps no better place for our group to be living nor exploring at that time We ate up every bit of the French culture we could find While I know I cannot capture the experience of every cultural excursion our France trip included I’ll attempt to capture the essential gist of our goings-out through examples we wandered reverently through the Basins de Lumières (basins of lights) where an abandoned submarine base had become fine art where we wondered at the sea and gorged ourselves on oysters so alive that they shriveled when we squeezed lemon juice onto them We went in turns (for the stairway was narrow) to climb a massive cathedral bell tower in the city from which we saw Bordeaux’s valiant skyline stretching in every direction We sat in convivial fervor around a table where our wine and cheese tasting took place alike to when we got to taste wines aboard our aforementioned cruise and were privileged enough to drink from a special selection at our trip to a real chateau (literally meaning castle but which has come to mean an esteemed estate for wine-making as can be found plentifully in the Bordeaux countryside) This is still just to name a few of the things that we did as a group which all were in addition to our enjoyment of the city and surrounding area we did on our own schedules as well I and two other trip members formed a tight-knit group in which we trekked to every corner of the city We visited churches and museums and many a frippery (the French name for a thrift or consignment store) We stopped by all manner of charming bakeries and street-corner venders and frolicked (I would say this applied quite literally) through all the city’s most exquisite plazas my friends and I even took a trip by train to the nearby city of Saint-Émilion where the medieval architecture was the best preserved I had ever witnessed We climbed a tower there where we kept nearly hitting our heads but were rewarded with a view to stick in our minds unceasingly.  With those close friends I made on the trip With the others from the trip I still will exchange a friendly wave or quick word whenever we see each other on campus because even ensconced anew in our own friend groups we share a collective bond around the time of unprecedented enjoyment and learning we passed through in community.  What will I take forward from my time spent away in France A solid foundation in the language is one thing I can guarantee The community bonds we formed between students and professors as detailed in this installment certainly make up another thing I’ll take into my future I do believe I’ll carry forward a broadened international experience I always felt I was visiting and foreign (though fascinated by all I got to experience) in the city in Bordeaux I ended up feeling a bit more settled The climate was like the cool rainy days of my home and the well-classed culture was an air I came to embrace France welcomed me with truly joyous arms and yet also Evan Hamilton The third and final installment in the story of my second Winter Term trip to Guadalajara focusing on the cultural excursions and the community ties I'll carry with me Part three of a review of my magnificent French immersion trip to Bordeaux are a serendipity I didn’t know I was missing at the heart of campus in Mudd Center’s Academic Commons Opening in fall 2025, the Campus Store is located next to Azariah’s Café on the first floor of Mudd Center (148 West College Street) Also watch for pop-ups at signature events on campus The Oberlin Online Bookstore is your convenient source for course materials free delivery directly to the Campus Store—usually within a day of your order and use the Online Bookstore to have the textbooks you need shipped wherever you are Oberlin’s Campus Store is operated by University Gear Shop The Online Bookstore is powered by eCampus.com Oberlin has partnered with eCampus.com to be our official online bookstore and with University Gear Shop to operate our modernized Campus Store which will be located on the first floor of Mudd Center by fall 2025 the College Bookstore (operated by Barnes & Noble) served as the official supplier of course materials and apparel for our campus with plans in the works to reallocate the space for academic programs Oberlin faculty have requested improvements to the process of selecting and obtaining course materials making it easier to choose a wide array of materials and ensure that students are able to access quality materials in a timely manner and at reasonable prices The changes also respond to shifting trends in student buying habits and how campuses operate bookstores nationwide we can ensure that all students have a wide range of options for their course materials timely delivery to the Campus Store or other location of their choice Oberlin-branded apparel and other merchandise in a welcoming location at the heart of campus and through pop-up events around campus at key times of year When will I be able to order course materials using the Online Bookstore Course materials for fall semester courses will be available in July 2025 eCampus.com guarantees you will receive the correct course items at the best possible prices and in plenty of time for your classes.  simply log on to the Online Bookstore site using your Oberlin single sign-on credentials Your course schedule and necessary materials will be clearly visible Faculty may begin making course adoptions in May 2025 Students will begin selecting course materials in July Oberlin’s Online Bookstore website link will be shared when the site is ready for use Course materials ordered through the Online Bookstore are stored at eCampus.com’s central facility in Lexington Kentucky—a convenient location for efficient delivery.  eCampus.com monitors all orders daily to ensure you receive course materials as quickly as possible which means that most orders placed by 11 a.m will be shipped the same day and arrive the following day The availability of each book will be indicated under the condition of each item If a book is in stock and your order is placed before 11 a.m If all items are not in stock at the time you place your order it will be held and shipped once the entire order is filled If it is within two (2) weeks of the course start date Your books will be shipped via your selected shipping method at checkout Books are shipped and delivered Monday through Friday You may ship your order anywhere you choose you may have the option to check the “Ship to Campus” box to ship directly to the Campus Store You will receive email and text message alerts (if you choose to opt in) when your package is shipped and delivered Will the price of course materials be affected by the new system All materials purchased or rented through the Online Bookstore include a lowest-price guarantee. Learn more on eCampus.com’s price match page Can I use financial aid funds on the Online Bookstore Yes. Students with a credit balance on their financial aid may request a refund from the Office of Student Accounts (Carnegie Building Room 122; studentaccounts@oberlin.edu) That refund can be applied to your student ID and used for course materials the Online Bookstore offers rental options in addition to a wide range of new and used options for purchase Contact the Online Bookstore customer service department anytime at oberlin.ecampus.com/help Why are there no course materials listed for a class If you do not see any course materials listed for a particular class this could be because the course materials have not been finalized or are not required by the professor You will need to check back to see if any course materials have been added The goal of eCampus.com is to offer students the most competitive price for their textbooks Textbook prices are subject to change based on market prices and inventory conditions Marketplace is a section of Oberlin’s Online Bookstore that offers books listed and shipped by third-party These sellers have two (2) business days after your order is placed to ship the order Please read each item’s description before ordering as each Marketplace book has its own condition Not all Marketplace items are available for expedited shipping and these items will arrive separately from the rest of your order. Marketplace orders may be subject to shipping fees The Online Bookstore accepts credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) and Visa and MasterCard debit cards, as well as PayPal and Apple Pay. For more information, please visit the Online Help Desk located at the bottom of the Online Bookstore homepage When will my credit or debit card be charged Your credit or debit card will be authorized and charged upon placing your order your credit card will remain on file in case the rented books are not returned or are returned damaged Why do I need to enter credit card information if I am paying with a different payment method You are required to enter your credit card information if you select to rent any of your books Your credit card will be charged the price of a new book only if your rental book is not returned by the due date (indicated at the time of your order) or returned damaged In order for your credit card to be accepted it must have an expiration date later than the rental due date The credit card you provide as collateral for rentals will not be charged if your rental books are returned on time and in good condition If I don’t have a debit or credit card If you do not have a debit or credit card to make a payment online you can mail a check or money order along with a printed copy of your order The check must cover the cost of the order plus any applicable tax and shipping Your order will be processed once the check or money order has cleared You cannot rent books if you pay with a check or money order Please provide the following information if you wish to pay by check or money order: Send the above information along with your payment to: Select Login/Sign Up in the upper-right corner of your Online Bookstore website. After signing in, you can select My Account to check the status of your order, buyback, or return. If you have any other questions, visit your Online Bookstore Help Desk (oberlin.ecampus.com/help) course materials can be returned within 15 days of the start of classes How do I sell my textbooks back to the Online Bookstore 24/7 on the Online Bookstore website by following these simple steps: Visit your Online Bookstore (oberlin.ecampus.com) and select Sell from the drop-down menu Enter the ISBN of the book(s) you wish to sell Up to eight (8) books may be entered at a time Select the Sell This Book box for the book(s) you wish to sell then select the Sell This Book or Sell These Books Review your buyback cart and select Sell This Book or Sell These Books Sign in to your account or select Create Account Select a payment option and enter your shipping information an additional bonus will be added to the buyback amount The credit will be available on the payment screen at checkout when future orders are placed Select Complete to confirm your transaction and view and print your pre-paid UPS label and packing slip Insert the packing slip with the book(s) you are selling and affix the UPS label to the outside of your package Be sure to take your books to the UPS Store and NOT the Post Office Check and direct deposit may take up to 4-6 business days after delivery to the Online Bookstore warehouse In-store credit should be available within 3-5 business days of delivery to the warehouse Questions? Visit oberlin.ecampus.com/help You will receive instructions for accessing your account via email How can I learn about making course adoptions through eCampus Faculty training sessions will be available May 7 and 8. If you are unable to attend, please reach out to oberlin@ecampus.com for support your course list should automatically appear You may also use the search bar to locate a specific course or change the semester by selecting the filters underneath it (If there are no course materials required select the box next to “Textbooks are not required for this course.”) Enter the ISBN into the ISBN/UPC/Product field and choose the Importance level Adoptions are due approximately six weeks prior to the date they are scheduled to be available for student ordering This allows eCampus.com adequate time to check publisher availability and communicate problem titles prior to students ordering course materials The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) has provisions to reduce costs to students while supporting instructors’ ability to select high-quality course materials HEOA requires that course book information be made available to students before they enroll in a course eCampus.com complies with HEOA by asking faculty to submit course adoptions to eCampus.com so they can be listed accordingly Receiving course adoptions prior to the adoption deadline allows us to buy back textbooks from your students at premium pricing at the end of each semester and resell them at a discounted price in the future as used or rental textbooks My course says “textbooks to be determined.” What does that mean or the “Textbooks are not required for this course” option is selected each course will default to “Textbooks to be determined” status This allows eCampus.com to remain HEOA compliant while also informing students to return at a later date a course will automatically be marked as “Textbooks to be determined” for 24-48 hours This allows eCampus.com enough time to confirm publisher availability You will be notified if an issue with your selected text adoption exists I want to use the same book as last semester but can’t remember the ISBN You may view past adoptions by selecting the View Adoption History button located under the Course Adoptions Details bar Simply check the box next to the book you wish to add and select Add Adoptions I would like to have a course pack or other custom learning material created; can you assist Yes. We will work with a custom publishing company to have an ISBN assigned to your course pack. Please contact your account management team at oberlin@ecampus.com for more information I tried to add a custom book but it said the item was not in the product catalog How do I list materials that are not books If you attempt to add a book or product that is not in the product catalog (custom books select the “Click Here” link to send your eCampus.com team a message We ask that you provide all information you find may be helpful to assist us in adding this book or product to our catalog we will add it to the course on your behalf and email you confirmation once this is complete Do I have to add this into every course individually you may add the same book into several sections by entering one course After you have added an adoption and approved it for one section select the Copy All button and choose the course(s) you wish to duplicate the adoption(s) to How do I remove an adoption from my course Adoptions may be removed only through FAST before the deadline select the X to the right of the book comments textbox This allows our customer service team to contact students who may have already ordered the item How can I check the price of a book before I add it to my course Prices as well as purchasing options may be reviewed by using the Adoption Tool at the top of the FAST page a Request Desk Copy button will appear near it You may also search any book in the Adoption Tool at the top of the FAST screen and request a desk copy from the Details page the eCampus.com team will receive an automatic email and request it directly from the publisher on your behalf Please note: Desk copies are distributed at the compliance of the publisher and are never guaranteed How can I get Oberlin apparel and other merchandise We have established a Zazzle pop-up store with a limited selection of Oberlin-branded merchandise UGS will operate a series of pop-up events on campus during signature events such as Commencement and Milestone Reunion Weekend an interim Campus Store location will be open on campus The Campus Store will debut in its new location on the first floor of Mudd Center in fall 2025 Azariah’s will continue to operate in its current location and the popular coffee shop will accommodate as many guests as it previously has will be modified to accommodate the new Campus Store in a bustling The overall number of seats and tables in Azariah’s will not change What’s happening to Mudd Center’s periodicals section There will continue to be a periodicals section Creating the Campus Store in Mudd Center requires relocating the library’s periodicals section By creatively reenvisioning the first-floor space the periodicals section will be reestablished in a currently underutilized area of the Academic Commons (first floor) adjacent to the Campus Store and Azariah’s Is Mudd Center swipe-access only on weekends Mudd Center is a swipe-access building open to all members of the campus community on weekends In instances where weekend visitors are expected who may want to shop at the Campus Store What will happen to the College Street bookstore space We are currently considering options for using the space at 37 West College Street and will share those plans when they are confirmed Oberlin College and Conservatory will launch a new online bookstore and campus retail location this year moves aimed at simplifying processes and improving outcomes related to obtaining course materials while creating new opportunities to offer high-quality Oberlin apparel and other merchandise the Campus Store will open in a newly renovated space on the first floor of Mudd Center next to the popular campus coffee shop Azariah’s.  The new store will replace the College Bookstore which for years has been housed in a downtown space on College Street faculty may begin selecting course materials for fall semester using an online platform powered by eCampus.com Oberlin’s official online textbook retailer University Gear Shop (UGS) will begin operations as Oberlin’s official provider of apparel hybrid approach is a response to longstanding faculty requests for an improved model for sourcing course materials and ensuring affordable options for students It aligns with shifting trends in campus bookstore operations and student buying habits nationwide Oberlin’s partnerships with eCampus.com and UGS are the result of an extensive study led by a faculty and staff committee that invited input from students and key areas of the institution including the college UGS and eCampus are frequently paired by colleges and universities seeking an efficient effective approach to supporting campus textbook and merchandise needs.  Barnes & Noble will continue to operate the current bookstore through May The College Street space eventually will be redesigned to support academic needs and they love to gather in Mudd’s Academic Commons This move makes it easy for them to browse the store or quickly drop by for the item they need in a way that stays true to what they love about the space.” —Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings “We are thrilled to share the exciting news of our online bookstore and the two partnerships that make them possible,” says Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings Oberlin’s Vice President for Finance and Administration and budget-conscious bookstore experience for our students and faculty I am happy to say we achieved that objective through these partnerships with eCampus.com and University Gear Shop and in the selection of Mudd Center as the new home for our Campus Store.” The Campus Store and online ordering platform offer a host of advantages over the previous bookstore model; among them: which includes access to advanced course material research tools that enable assessment of materials based on real-time pricing Users log in to FAST using their Oberlin sign-on credentials Faculty will receive an email this week with information on registering for one of two virtual training sessions on May 7 and 8 with additional opportunities for one-on-one training available as necessary.  students will use the new Online Bookstore as their one-stop shop to acquire course materials for fall 2025 Students will use their Oberlin single sign-on for immediate access to professor-selected materials in a variety of formats and price points Most orders will be shipped the same day and arrive the following day The site also connects users to eCampus.com’s Marketplace option through which materials may be available from third-party sellers Professor of English Jennifer Bryan looks forward to a streamlined ordering system that will ensure all students have the necessary course materials in hand—and in plenty of time “I’m really excited about eCampus,” says Bryan a member of the committee that researched potential solutions for Oberlin “I expect that all my students will have the books they need on the first day of class: the right editions nobody should fall through the cracks or fall behind.” Oberlin’s Online Bookstore will be active in May; additional information will be shared with the campus when the site is ready selection of Mudd Center as the new home for the Campus Store follows study of numerous other potential locations on campus and they love to gather in Mudd’s Academic Commons,” she says “This move makes it easy for them to browse the store or quickly drop by for the item they need in a way that stays true to what they love about the space.” The new store will occupy the area currently used to display periodicals which will be relocated to a nearby section of Mudd’s Academic Commons while the area that houses Azariah’s will be reconfigured to accommodate the Campus Store the resulting layout will have a minimal effect on the coffee shop and will include improved seating and gathering options.  The Campus Store is expected to open in early fall. As renovation of the space gets underway this summer, UGS will begin operations in a temporary location on campus. In the meantime, a Zazzle online pop-up store with a limited selection of Oberlin-branded merchandise has been established to accommodate short-term needs.  For additional information, including frequently asked questions about course materials for students and faculty, please visit the bookstore page on Oberlin.edu For a list of frequently asked questions, please visit the bookstore page of Oberlin.edu ABOUT ECAMPUS.COM: Founded in 1999, eCampus.com is a premier online retailer of textbooks and digital course materials. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, it serves more than 300 schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. Learn more at www.ecampus.com and www.ecampushighered.com ABOUT UNIVERSITY GEAR SHOP (UGS): UGS is a trusted global distribution network specializing in supporting the needs of colleges and universities in providing branded, high-quality merchandise and apparel. For more information, visit www.universitygearshop.com director of facilities stewardship garners widespread praise for his tireless dedication to the campus and community and the Counseling Center are now located inside Dascomb Hall at 140 W student volunteers from Asia House worked with Grounds Services to plant two Kwanzan cherry trees inside the Asia House courtyard While the yard once boasted cherry trees,.. Four distinguished Oberlin alums will be receiving prestigious honors at this year’s Commencement ceremony on Monday Investigative journalist and critically acclaimed author Sonia Shah ’90 will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree before delivering the keynote address to Oberlin College and Conservatory’s class of 2025 a leading global health expert who serves as the chief medical officer in the Influenza Division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be presented with an honorary doctor of science A leading historian whose groundbreaking work examines the intersections of gender and race in the early modern Black Atlantic Jennifer Morgan earned one of the nation’s highest honors in 2024: a MacArthur Fellowship commonly known as the “genius grant.” This year Mellon Fellow at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library Jennifer is the Silver Family Professor of History in the Department of Social & Cultural Analysis and the Department of History at New York University and the author of several influential books and Capitalism in the Early Black Atlantic (Duke University Press 2011) won the Mary Nickliss Prize in Women’s History from the Organization of American Historians and the Frederick Douglass Prize awarded by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery Jennifer also wrote Laboring Women: Reproduction and Gender in New World Slavery (University of Pennsylvania Press 2004) and co-edited Connexions: Histories of Race and Sex in America (University of Illinois Press Jennifer is now working on The Eve of Slavery a project about slavery and freedom in the 17th century that centers around Elizabeth Key a Black woman who successfully sued for her freedom in Virginia in 1656 she served as executive producer for Key to Freedom a narrative film project that was written and directed by Jennifer’s daughter Jennifer designed her own major in third-world studies and went on to earn a PhD in history at Duke University She credits her extraordinary scholarship and her Genius Grant to the late Adrienne Lash Jones the first tenured Black woman in Oberlin’s Africana Studies (then Black Studies) Department Tim Uyeki is the chief medical officer in the Influenza Division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and controlling influenza and other infectious diseases worldwide His work has been instrumental in shaping public health policies and treatment guidelines to emerging disease threats the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in dairy cattle Tim has been at the forefront of global health efforts As a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) he contributed to international responses to zoonotic and pandemic influenza outbreaks and his expertise has informed critical governmental decisions and public health initiatives aimed at protecting the most vulnerable populations he served as clinical chair for the WHO’s 2024 influenza clinical practice guidelines as chief medical officer for the CDC’s response to the multi-state outbreak of H5N1 infections and as a member of the National Institutes of Health’s COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel.  Tim’s work on SARS in Vietnam was featured in the 2008 documentary The Virus Empire: Silent Killers and the 2006 WHO book SARS: How a Global Epidemic Was Stopped His research on avian influenza in Vietnam and Indonesia was highlighted in CNN and NHK Japanese Public Television documentaries as well as in books such as The Fatal Strain (Alan Sipress 2009) and news articles like “The Flu Hunters” (New York Times Magazine Tim also appeared in the Discovery Channel’s Invisible Killers series and additional NHK programs on SARS and pandemic flu.  Tim studied biology and environmental ecology and nurtured a lifelong love of the blues He earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University and later a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and a Master of Public Policy Tim is a committed mentor and advocate for public health education He is a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California and he played a key role in developing Oberlin’s global health concentration and its new global health major and minor He also advises students pursuing public health and medicine careers.  Since her days as a college student in the 1970s Liz Burgess has prioritized service to her community Liz grew up in locales worldwide: Rensselaer graduating in 1973 with a degree in psychology She began a psychiatric social work and health care administration career at the W.G she transitioned from social work to a career as an independent artist working with textile techniques and sericulture Liz and two other artists co-founded the Ginko Gallery & Studio in Oberlin exhibiting and selling the work of local and regional artists adding an art supply department and transforming the store into a vibrant base for various community activities One of its most beloved features was the group of neonatal kittens Liz fostered in the back room—an ongoing attraction for college students and local families alike organizing Lorain County’s first women’s hotline and domestic violence shelter she has served as a board member and president of organizations such as the Oberlin Consumers Cooperative (Co-op Bookstore) the Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art a public community foundation that supports projects and activities in Oberlin a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for affordable homeownership Liz continues to live in Oberlin with her husband Machnauer—and an ever-changing number of foster kittens Five Oberlin alumni have been awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowships an investigative journalist and critically acclaimed author will deliver the keynote address for Oberlin College and Conservatory’s Commencement ceremony honoring the Class of 2025 on Monday Nineteen Oberlin College and Conservatory students and alumni were awarded Fulbright grants for the 2024-25 academic year While Oberlin on its own is a singular and enriching experience it is also an excellent stepping stone for future education Sherry Miao ’23, who majored in economics here at Oberlin is currently pursuing her master’s in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School (of Harvard University) and Sherry is grateful for her time at Oberlin and how it prepared her “I feel more grounded because of the foundation Oberlin gave me,” she says “Oberlin instilled in me a genuine curiosity and persistence in learning That mindset has been essential in navigating grad school.” Her time at Oberlin was special for a number of reasons. A meaningful experience that she had involved taking voice lessons with Teacher of Vocal Studies Lisa Stidham “I wasn’t doing it for credit—just for joy,” Sherry reflects “Those classes helped me reconnect with my body and soul and introduced me to some incredible people played a huge role in shaping who I am today.” For Sherry—and many others—it is often the people at Oberlin that truly set it apart.  “I was surrounded by some of the most brilliant and creative individuals I’ve ever met I found a true sense of home.”  Sherry notes the kindness and support she received from both faculty and students in that department specifically She describes it as a “place of true humanity where people genuinely care about each other.”  Because of this major, as well as a minor in studio art public policy felt like a natural progression for Sherry “I’ve always been passionate about using both artistic expression and data-driven analysis to address social issues like gender inequality,” she explains Thanks to the high-level economics and statistics courses that she took at Oberlin she was able to waive some of the core requirements for her current program leaving more space to engage with classes that align with her interests what Sherry says matters more than the credits she received are the values that Oberlin fostered.  “When I learned that the Harvard Kennedy School’s motto is ‘Ask what you can do,’ it immediately resonated with Oberlin’s ethos of ‘Think one person can change the world.’”  Both statements—intrinsic to both Oberlin as an institution and Sherry as an individual—are reflected in her career goals She hopes to pursue a career in research and advocacy If you want to see where economics at Oberlin can lead you, visit the department page here From studying economics to coaching in MLB Max Anastasio is paving his way with perseverance A computer science and mathematics major from Lodi Tanisha Shende ’26 is among 441 Goldwater Scholarship recipients from an estimated pool of 5,000-plus college sophomores and juniors applicants one of the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarships in the natural sciences provides funding for educational endeavors Shende will spend the upcoming summer conducting research at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge with plans to work on the ethics and governance of technology at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society “I am still exploring research areas,” says Shende “But I’ve already done a lot of work in making existing technology more accessible for disabled people and developing assistive technology I want the technology I study and develop to contribute to social good.” Read more about Shende’s academic journey and career goals in this interview I developed a research study on the experiences and challenges of autistic people in social virtual reality and I contributed to a study on disability disclosure in the workplace During my second year, I became more immersed in educational equity through my positions in OUR and CLEAR, and I took Associate Professor Daphne John’s sociology course Unequal Educations These experiences supported my summer research at Gallaudet University on the impact of augmented reality on d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing learners My research projects at Cornell and Gallaudet were heavily featured in my Goldwater application I highlighted my interdisciplinary interests and community involvement in my personal statements and activities section My win symbolizes the culmination of these studies and activities I’ve appreciated the freedom and trust given to me by faculty and staff and I’ve found many wonderful mentors here who’ve encouraged that fire and supported me professionally and personally They’ve taken an interest in my ideas and goals Whenever I had an original idea for a research project or campus initiative they supported me and gave me the connections and resources needed to execute it I’m so fortunate to have people who recognize my potential and are committed to cultivating it rather than holding me back Their confidence in me has boosted my self-esteem and self-efficacy.  Research is central to my character and the language through which I contribute to social good I learned about the Goldwater Scholarship during my second year and I read articles about Oberlin’s previous winners and wanted to be like them Although the scholarship has financial benefits its main draw for me was its status as a prestigious signifier of excellence and potential within research It validates that I’m capable of the rigorous advanced research I’ve always dreamed of doing This recognition is meaningful for someone who has struggled with visibility who has had to build her confidence brick by brick in spaces that don’t always recognize her right away It tells me and the world that I belong here Connect with Fellowships & Awards to learn more about the fellowships and awards opportunities available to students Five Oberlin faculty members received Excellence in Teaching Awards for the 2023-24 academic year who majors in history and minors in Spanish and Africana Studies will graduate this semester after a vibrant and fulfilling time at Oberlin College Tina Zwegat was honored with the YB Staff Award for Extraordinary Service at the annual spring appreciation celebration for faculty and staff The award was presented by President Carmen Twillie Ambar Zwegat has served the Oberlin community in many roles for nearly four decades She began her career as Projects & Special Events Coordinator and steadily rose to her current role as Director of Student Involvement and Orientation Zwegat has had a profound and lasting impact on Oberlin’s students Through her leadership in New Student Orientation and Parents Weekend she creates the first impression many students and their families have of Oberlin Zwegat also supports countless student groups including the Student Finance Committee and dozens of student organizations dedicating her time and insight to helping them navigate the college experience and genuine care have left a lasting mark on generations of Obies Zwegat has consistently built bridges between the college and the town through her work on events such as Folk Fest She previously oversaw programming at the Apollo Theatre Zwegat has been a key organizer behind “Walking in a Winter Oberland,” a town-and-gown tradition that continues to grow in popularity She has also been a longtime champion of WOBC-FM working with students and community members to ensure the local radio station remains a vibrant Zwegat is known across campus as a trusted advisor and generous colleague Zwegat is also active in campus governance and programming Her colleagues repeatedly praised Zwegat’s steadfast positivity and humility One nominator reflected: “She always says ‘I’m just doing my job,’ but for someone who has dedicated close to 40 years to Oberlin it’s clear she’s doing far more than that She exemplifies the YB Award spirit in everything she does.” “Tina is a fierce advocate for our students She celebrates their accomplishments and supports them during their struggles “Her daily interactions with students are always positive Many have thanked her for helping them find a sense of belonging and fulfillment here at Oberlin.”  “Whenever a new person is hired in our division Tina is the first to reach out She makes sure they know they can come to her at any time “Tina’s institutional knowledge is immense Her advice is gold—because she’s done it all.” but I knew I had someone in my corner.” “Tina truly lives and breathes Oberlin Her decisions reinforce the values and traditions this institution is famous for.”  The YB Staff Award was established to honor the extraordinary service of the late Yeworkwha Belachew—“YB,” as she was affectionately known—who served Oberlin in numerous roles for more than 35 years most notably as ombudsperson and founder of the Oberlin College Dialogue Center First presented in 2016—to Belachew—the YB Award was established to recognize a non-faculty employee of the college or conservatory who demonstrates daily commitment and performance in advancing Oberlin’s strategic goals through exemplary service For more information about the YB Award and a complete list of past honorees, please visit the Department of Human Resources’ Awards and Recognition page Longtime employee was beloved by student workers and all who frequented the Wilder Hall club Becky Bode and her team are responsible for maintaining the college’s grounds and those amazing flower pots in front of campus buildings Read more about Bode in this installment of Who Am I Match Recap: Tennis | 5/2/2025 5:53:00 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here In addition to being a Oberlin blogger I am also a tour guide here on campus One of the questions I get asked most often is what is there to do around Oberlin and the surrounding area this was also one of my favorite questions to ask colleges when I was a high schooler touring and researching colleges I thought I would write a blog about my favorite things to do in Oberlin I think it's really important to learn about the place you call home for the next four to five years and I hope this blog will help you envision yourself here on Oberlin's beautiful campus.  Oberlin's art museum is completely free in addition to being recognized as one of the top five college and university art museums in the country I can attest that it definitely lives up to its prestige because it is an absolutely beautiful building filled with even more stunning art One of my favorite things to do is visit rotating exhibits with my roommate as well as to go to free lectures and talks My friends and I love going into Cleveland on the shuttle and we always have fun deciding which museum or restaurant we’re going to hit.  It’s right across from The Hotel at Oberlin and is popular with visiting families and current Obies alike It’s probably my favorite spot on campus to go and study; I love to grab an egg and cheese bagel as well as their famous ‘Albino Squirrel’ coffee drink.  One of the oldest and most popular businesses in Oberlin is the Apollo Initially I was hesitant to go with my friends (we all know how pricey movie theaters can be) so you can imagine my surprise when I ended up only spending 10 bucks on my first visit and the popcorn is not only delicious but also affordable for college students with restaurants and businesses featuring low prices or frequent deals and I’m by no means breaking the bank you can spend as much or as little money as you want as a student I’m just as content going for a walk around the arboretum as I am spending money at a shop.  5. School-sponsored events and excursions. As an Oberlin student you will have access to numerous free, or reduced price, events. While you can find out about these campus-sponsored excursions online my preferred method is just by reading our newsletter every morning to find out about upcoming events Some examples of events are trips to apple orchards in the fall or even trips to Detroit to visit the Motown museum One of my favorite things I've done was go see a musical in the world-renowned theater district in Cleveland with my friend--it was cheap and so much fun!  While this one requires a car (don’t worry Vermilion is a quaint lakeside town with a beautiful beach and cute shops My friends and I love going for a sunset walk by the beach which we follow up with a stop at our favorite diner for some onion rings and a warm brownie sundae but that’s on my bucket list this May.  there are so many things you can do at or around Oberlin That’s one of my favorite things about this campus I get to have the best of both a small college town and a large city nearby It’s a location I fell in love with when I toured three years ago and one that I am still constantly discovering new things to adore.  Naci Konar-Steenberg After three months spent studying abroad: what I miss most about Oberlin the town Ariel Roberts The Oberlin community extends through generations The Office of Alumni Engagement is dedicated to sustaining lifelong relationships with alumni by providing opportunities to engage with Oberlin College and the community in collaboration with the Alumni Association and volunteer opportunities to an ever-growing constituency of Oberlin alumni The work of the Office of Alumni Engagement includes reunions The office also works closely with campus partners to provide collaborative programming that fosters the interests and continuing excellence of Oberlin College including the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music Dewy Ward ’34 Alumni Center I’ve spoken before about how useful the network between NYC and Oberlin has been as I’ve moved out of NY for the first time When reflecting upon my current life timeline I can find Obies at most major pinpoints--every school I’ve ever attended and the extracurricular classes I’ve attended This has been a massive part of my first semester at Oberlin as I’ve further developed friendships with people who can relate to me on a hometown basis I see little glimpses of home as I wave hello to my former Model UN president and middle school bestie it never occurred to me that these roles could be reversed When deciding how to tackle the winter term it was definitely within my subconscious to choose a project that would take me home to New York City and even international projects friends planned to embark upon were highly enticing NYC was calling louder--I knew that between auditions and friends After choosing acting as my winter term project Since most of my friends went home in early January I figured this winter term would be mostly family time this initial solo image of winter term quickly disintegrated when I stepped foot on my CLE-JFK flight After quickly estimating how many Obies would be NYC-bound from other shuttles I started to account for the expansive Obie network distributed throughout the same city for the next six weeks.  I noticed glimpses of Oberlin the way I see glimpses of home while in Ohio The pool hall I frequent with my dad suddenly reminded me of the Kahn Common Room I was frustrated when my delis didn’t have the decaf item I wanted—in the same group chat usually used to coordinate Stevie lunches my friends and I were figuring out what coffee spot we wanted to try ones who I drifted from or didn’t even meet until college who all went to this school together for seven formative years Maybe even more fantastic than the mental merging of two places so special to me was the opportunity winter term brought to introduce non-New Yorker Obies to the city there was great excitement from Obies trickling in and out of the city Getting to experience the city with new friends--thrifting baking--felt just as special as my actual winter term project.  Nothing could excite me more to return to campus than plotting our spring at Oberlin over avocado toast and smoothies in Tribeca Not only did this winter term bring my Obie family closer together but it also got me thinking about the future While this January was not exactly what I expected there could not have been a more magical overlap between the places I love Thank goodness for the Park Slope to Oberlin pipeline Part four of a review of my magnificent trip to Bordeaux A silent video shows campus scenes related to the arts: you can do both with the BA/BFA in Integrated Arts Oberlin College has a long history of excellence in the arts and when you enroll in the BA/BFA dual degree you’ll experience the rigor of an arts school as well as the well-rounded interdisciplinary education of a liberal arts college Oberlin’s five-year program serves as a launch pad for today’s “thinking artists”—who are becoming increasingly important in our 21st-century visual culture you’ll earn two degrees in five years You’ll complete your BA studies in whatever field you choose—psychology etc.—along with ten additional courses across the practicing arts (cinema and media theater) to also work towards a BFA in integrated arts While traditional BFA programs lock you into a singular course of study Oberlin lets you dive into your chosen medium while customizing your own form of art practice During your first four years on the Oberlin campus you’ll work with professors and students to develop a proposal for a major project to undertake you’ll live and work at Park Arts in nearby Cleveland where you’ll have 24-hour access to private studios We designed this BA/BFA program because we believe painters are better painters when they’ve also studied animation and photography; filmmakers are better filmmakers if they’ve also studied drawing and creative writing—and artists are better artists when they have a grounding in the intellectual ideas their work represents BA/BFA Integrated Arts students prove that artists are great holistic thinkers and problem solvers Eva & John Young-Hunter Professor of Integrated Media Fifth-year Oberlin students in the new BA/BFA program will pursue their studies at the transformed space beginning in 2027 Studying art at Oberlin pushed me to develop a conceptual framework for making art grounded in a rigorous liberal arts education.  The faculty within the studio art major became trusted mentors and emboldened me to charge forth post-grad into a career in the arts something I would not have considered before studying at Oberlin Oberlin offers a leading undergraduate college of arts and sciences alongside an outstanding professional conservatory of music You’ll work closely with the faculty to design an educational program appropriate to your individual interests Oberlin holds a distinguished place in American higher education We were the first college to adopt coeducation and a race-blind admissions policy in the 1830s Our graduates have gone on to work at the Museum of Modern Art The work of Oberlin College graduates in the practicing arts has been included in institutional exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial Oberlin artist alums are commercially represented by Greene Naftali Our graduates have received grants and honors from Creative Capital "Your Sister in Exile"—A captivating dance-theater piece delving into the genius The historic Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights has been beautifully restored and converted to Park Arts a cultural arts and education facility on a 28-acre campus The transformation is being completed by Sustainable Community Associates a community development firm founded by Obies Park Arts also features a stunning new apartment complex where you can live just steps away from the studio Located just 10 minutes from University Circle and 20 minutes from Cleveland’s theater district Park Arts places BFA students in the heart of the city’s rich art scene—which includes the world-renowned Cleveland Museum of Art Local organizations like the CIA Cinematheque and Morgan Conservatory create a world-class arts community with the accessibility of a smaller city Our well-connected faculty will help you find the best outlets for your creative efforts during your fifth year and because your entire cohort will intern at these local organizations the Cleveland art scene will both inspire and nurture your work in countless ways Oberlin graduates use their training to innovate every day Check out their work below and discover what interdisciplinary art can do Eva Sturm-Gross ’22 is a Brooklyn-based artist and woodworker originally from Vermont Gross’s prints and sculptures have been exhibited nationally including at the Ohio Museum of Craft and the Kent Museum She received fellowships and work opportunities from Haystack Mountain School her work explores creative exegesis and theological frameworks in contemporary contexts She is the creative director of Gashmius Magazine and teaches woodworking at Bien Hecho Academy in Brooklyn Explore Eva’s work and multidisciplinary artist crafting imaginative worlds inspired by nature they nurture creativity and advocate for social justice focusing on racial and environmental justice MJ has worked as an illustrator for a range of institutions MJ was the editor of the RISD Museum’s Anti-Racist Work Plan and the artist/data analyst of the PVDx2031: A Cultural Plan for Culture Shift Explore MJ’s work Virginia Wagner ’08 is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and writer exploring the tension between nature and human construction through found and repurposed materials With a background in literature and painting Virginia has received commissions from Guggenheim Works & Process and National Geographic Her work has been included in exhibitions at Catherine Clark Gallery and has been featured in the New York Times She is a full-time lecturer of painting and drawing at Purchase College and is the co-founder and editor of Painters on Paintings Explore Virginia's studio Students pursuing the BA/BFA program complete the following: All students have internships at arts organizations in Cleveland during the fifth year immersing your cohort in the vibrant arts scene across the city While other schools may make you choose between a BA or BFA Oberlin lets you earn both in just five years This will give you a more customized and well-rounded undergraduate experience Students must apply to this program no later than the fall semester of their junior year students must be on track to finish the required credits Oberlin does not currently offer a BA in integrated arts This program lets you earn a BFA in integrated arts in tandem with a BA of any major There is no standalone BFA degree available.  The awarded degree will appear as a Bachelor of Arts in your completed major and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Arts (For example: a BA in computer science and BFA in integrated arts or a BA in theater with a BFA in integrated arts) Department of Human Resources Oberlin College is proud to celebrate two extraordinary student employees who have earned national accolades from the National Student Employment Association's (NSEA) 2025 Student Employee of the Year Awards: Calliope Lissak Runner-Up in the Diversity & Inclusion Category Their recognition marks the second consecutive year that Oberlin students have received national honors through the NSEA’s Student Employee of the Year program Calliope and Omukoko were honored in a campus celebration hosted by President Carmen Ambar both students accepted their awards with humility and joy—underscoring the profound impact of their work and their unwavering commitment to community The Student Employment Office and the Student Employment Appreciation Week Committee are proud to facilitate Oberlin’s participation in the NSEA awards program These recognitions are a testament not only to the talent and commitment of our student employees but also to Oberlin’s mission of cultivating leadership and experiential learning through meaningful on-campus work We congratulate Calliope and Omukoko on their well-deserved recognition and thank the faculty and staff who support and elevate student employees throughout their time at Oberlin a 1979 graduate of Oberlin College and longtime member of its board of trustees Birenbaum brings to this pivotal role decades of legal experience and a profound understanding of Oberlin’s mission which has been shaped by his years as a student His contributions have led directly to a host of co-curricular innovations Birenbaum is an attorney who focuses his practice on labor and employment law at Greenberg Traurig LLP in San Francisco where he chairs the Northern California offices His legal career spans more than four decades with extensive experience in a wide range of litigation He earned a degree in Government with honors at Oberlin and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 1982 Birenbaum has given back to the community through his work with and service on the board of the Justice & Diversity Center a leader in providing access to volunteer legal services across California “I am excited to welcome Chuck Birenbaum to his new role with the board and I look forward to the good work we will do together,” says Carmen Twillie Ambar President of Oberlin College and Conservatory “Chuck has provided steady leadership to Oberlin over many years and some of our institution’s most significant accomplishments have benefited from his expertise Since joining Oberlin’s board in 2014 Birenbaum has emerged as a driving force for fostering innovation and student success His current roles as vice chair (since July 2024) and chair of multiple key committees—including the Advancement Committee and Ad Hoc Board Planning Committee—reflect his deep commitment to Oberlin’s governance and strategic development Birenbaum’s vision has fundamentally reshaped the Oberlin experience He co-founded the entrepreneurial accelerator LaunchU which initiated a comprehensive effort to integrate business education across all disciplines The program has since evolved into today’s Innovation Studio graduates with practical business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking skills students have secured their first research grants and transformed innovative ideas into viable ventures Through Oberlin’s Ashby Business Scholars program Birenbaum has opened his law firm to provide a training ground for students facilitating direct exposure to professional environments and meaningful mentorship opportunities Ashby Scholars exemplifies Birenbaum’s belief in the power of experiential learning and professional networking to shape future careers The William and Helen Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space dedicated in 2017 and named in honor of Birenbaum’s parents stands as a physical embodiment of Birenbaum’s vision for modern education Located on the lower level of the Hotel at Oberlin this versatile venue has become a vibrant hub for cultural and intellectual exchange hosting everything from conservatory concerts and panel discussions to entrepreneurial workshops and community gatherings it will be an essential venue for Oberlin’s new Music Theater program which launches in fall 2025 in an adjacent space in the hotel This is an especially critical time to fulfill our mission to educate students to be leaders who can create change and value in the world Nothing could be more important than serving upcoming generations and Oberlin remains well-positioned to generate leaders who are prepared to address complex challenges in society.” —Charles S Birenbaum has provided invaluable guidance across numerous domains of institutional governance His expertise has strengthened committees overseeing academic affairs while his legal acumen has proved instrumental in advancing strategic initiatives As a leading figure in Oberlin’s capital campaigns he has opened his California home to donors and alumni fostering a stronger and more connected Oberlin community across the country Birenbaum experienced firsthand the transformative power of an Oberlin education This understanding has been enriched through his daughter Julia who graduated from Oberlin College in 2017 This multi-generational bond with the institution infuses Birenbaum’s leadership with both personal insight and forward-looking vision we recognize that this is an especially critical time to fulfill our mission to educate students to be leaders who can create change and value in the world,” says Birenbaum “Nothing could be more important than serving upcoming generations and Oberlin remains well-positioned to generate leaders who are prepared to address complex challenges in society.” “I am also mindful of Maya Angelou’s perspective that ‘making a living is not the same thing as making a life,’” Birenbaum says “Oberlin educates students to make a life and to build meaningful relationships as they pass through life That aspect of Oberlin is something we need to continue to develop and nourish I look forward to supporting that objective.” Birenbaum succeeds outgoing board chair Chris Canavan ’84 chief executive officer at the Global Carbon Market Utility who has served on Oberlin’s board since 2012 and as chair since 2017 Birenbaum inherits a strong foundation built through Canavan’s thoughtful leadership “I’m thrilled to pass the chair’s gavel to Chuck,” says Canavan “As President Ambar often says: We don’t assume these leadership posts; we have the privilege of receiving them from our predecessors so we can deliver them to our successors I’m grateful for the opportunity I have had to work for this institution I love and I’m eager to support Chuck and Oberlin in any way I can.” Measures follow recent steps to increase student participation in socially conscious investment decisions Carmen Twillie Ambar becomes first African American leader in the institution’s 184-year history Oberlin graduates have gone on to become groundbreaking creative forces in artistic settings all over the world.  Now a new pairing of Oberlin degree programs enables undergraduate students to establish their own paths toward interdisciplinary careers across the arts Beginning in fall 2025, students may pursue a combined dual degree that culminates in a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Arts The two degrees can be completed in five years: the first four on Oberlin’s bucolic campus followed by a fifth year set amid the vibrant professional arts community of nearby Cleveland “What is most inspiring about this new BA/BFA pathway is that it emerged organically,” says David Kamitsuka Dean of Oberlin’s College of Arts and Sciences “It developed through an extraordinary collaborative commitment among our arts faculty to design a program that is attuned to the future of the art world and attentive to the aspirations of our endlessly creative and thoughtful students.”  Students in the program complete courses in their chosen BA major, selecting from more than 50 areas of study offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. They also take 10 additional courses in the practicing arts This immersive arts year is dedicated to completing a substantial for example—determined in collaboration with their Oberlin faculty mentors which require selection of a single area of study Oberlin’s BFA in Integrated Arts invites students to shape their own path by incorporating other disciplines into their individual artistic practice creative writing with neuroscience—or any number of other combinations Our students don’t just learn to be artists; they learn to be thinkers who engage deeply with the world around them.” The program creates an ideal bridge between students’ academic journey and their chosen professional path—and a launching pad for a new generation of increasingly vital “thinking artists.” “This program is built on the idea that artists thrive when they have a broad intellectual foundation,” says Program Director Julia Christensen Oberlin’s Eva & John Young-Hunter Professor of Integrated Media “It’s about bridging the gap between creativity and academic exploration “Artists don’t usually see themselves as just a painter or just a sculptor,” Christensen says “They draw from all kinds of disciplines and backgrounds That’s the kind of artistry we want to foster here: Our students don’t just learn to be artists; they learn to be thinkers who engage deeply with the world around them using their creative problem-solving skills to address complex Current students in their first or second year of studies in the College of Arts and Sciences are eligible to participate in the BA/BFA in Integrated Arts program with the first year of immersive art studies in Cleveland slated for 2027-28 Current Oberlin students interested in the program must apply by their junior year and be on track to finish the required credits and submit a portfolio for review.  New students applying for enrollment in fall 2026 will have the option to apply to the BA/BFA program as part of the first-year application process Learn more about the BA/BFA in Integrated Arts at oberlin.edu.  Thinking about Oberlin? Connect with us at college.admissions@oberlin.edu. Partnership will yield host site for new BA/BFA combined degree program Oberlin College will launch a Business major that emphasizes hands-on learning in fall 2025 New program builds on established successes positions graduates for high-impact careers Oberlin prepares its graduates to change the world for good. In 2025 we’re celebrating a milestone of change for our campus: We’ve achieved carbon neutrality This ambitious goal took shape more than 20 years ago. It began with a 2004 pledge of environmental stewardship by our Board of Trustees, followed two years later by Oberlin’s participation as an initial signatory on a university climate commitment that grew to include a network of some 900 U.S. institutions—the step that cemented our pledge to be carbon neutral by 2025 and interconnected world for all is central to Oberlin’s mission and today we are proud of our work to help preserve our planet for future generations by becoming a carbon-neutral campus 2.7-megawatt solar array is maintained by dozens of hungry sheep who visit three times a year A form of agrivoltaics—using land for both agriculture and energy generation—the wooly landscapers help reduce our emissions and reliance on fossil fuel we completed a monumental step: activation of a new geothermal energy system that replaces our century-old fossil-fuel-based system the new system will save 5 million gallons of water annually and improve energy efficiency by 30 percent It also pushes us across the finish line to carbon neutrality for the first time in our almost 200-year history Pipe dreams: Our four-year Sustainable Infrastructure Program included the installation of 13 miles of heating and cooling pipe connecting 60 campus buildings to the new energy system We’ve achieved carbon neutrality for our campus Now we’re envisioning exciting new ways to ensure Oberlin continues to lead worldwide sustainability efforts by example We will eliminate our already minimal reliance on carbon offsets and implement new and increasingly energy-efficient systems and processes to move us beyond carbon neutrality and toward our ultimate objective: climate positivity Learn more about Oberlin’s sustainability efforts on the Office of Energy and Sustainability website Media: Connect with us at communications@oberlin.edu Oberlin’s friendly campus/community competition to reduce electricity and water usage isn’t just fun—it demonstrates how little changes can add up to a lot “It might not seem like a big deal to turn off your lights or not run water when you're brushing your teeth,” says Sustainability Manager Heather Adelman “but all of those resources are in our greenhouse gas inventory It takes all of us to achieve carbon neutrality That’s why we’re throwing a year-long celebration for all of us: Obies past and present Watch for Carbon Neutral 2025 celebrations at Commencement The green building that started it all: Lauded as “the most remarkable” of a new generation of environmentally responsible buildings by the New York Times the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies—the first certified net-zero commercial building in America—turns 25 in 2025 Deep impact: Oberlin’s four-year transition from fossil fuels to geothermal energy involved the drilling of 850 wells—each one 600 feet deep—under athletic practice fields north of campus water is transferred from the wells to heat and cool our campus Please re-cycle: Heating and cooling are only part of the carbon-neutrality equation Initiatives throughout our campus—including student-led efforts like the Oberlin Bike Co-op—are central to achieving our sustainability goals How our work as a community helped us achieve carbon neutrality Geothermal heating and cooling system comes online supports Oberlin reaching 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2025 Four-year project to convert campus heating and cooling system set for drilling of 850 geothermal wells Since the Park Synagogue congregation departed its historic Cleveland Heights campus several years ago there has been a remarkable effort underway to restore and repurpose this important site into a center for creative arts and humanities.  Oberlin College and Conservatory is proud to bring its unique combination of outstanding academics and world-class music and arts education to the dynamic community that is planned for the Park Synagogue Called “Park Arts,” this collaboration is a milestone in one of the most ambitious and historically significant reclamation projects within the nation’s Jewish community Developed by Sustainable Community Associates (SCA) Park Arts honors architect Erich Mendelsohn’s legacy while designing an intergenerational center for artistic creation and humanities education Oberlin will add its newly established Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Arts (BA/BFA) to this creative hub the combined degree program can be completed in five years: the first four on Oberlin’s bucolic campus followed by a fifth year set amid the rich professional arts community at Park Arts With the first BA/BFA students scheduled to arrive at Park Arts in June 2027 this program will provide hands-on opportunities for students in Northeast Ohio’s vibrant arts scene “We are thrilled to forge this connection between Oberlin and the greater Cleveland community,” says Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar “This partnership allows us to honor one of Cleveland’s historic Jewish synagogues while our students interact with the region’s cultural institutions Our students will gain real-world experience and contribute their talents to a city known for artistic excellence It bridges Oberlin’s close-knit campus with the creative energy of Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.”  Oberlin’s BA/BFA program eventually will bring up to 50 fifth-year students to Park Arts for an immersive arts year Students will have 24-hour access to private studios or installation—determined in collaboration with their Oberlin faculty mentors The program is designed with collaboration in mind: Students will work with renowned visiting artists and with Cleveland’s arts organizations through internships Collaborating with Cleveland’s arts organizations and being immersed in a thriving cultural district will be transformative.” —Julia Christensen The partnership with Park Arts also presents a pathway for Oberlin to expand Jewish Studies—drawing on the congregation’s archives as well as pursuing course-based research opportunities focused on the history of Park Synagogue—and the potential for community concerts and other musical outreach.  Park Arts will house a diverse collection of nonprofit and educational programs expanding access to creative programming for the broader Cleveland community the 28-acre Park Arts campus will contain intergenerational housing and the preservation of the Mendelsohn-designed building—an applicant for National Landmark status—while simultaneously integrating sustainability initiatives such as geothermal heating and cooling the donation of Park to SCA was a continuation of the congregation’s legacy “Our goal has always been to honor Park’s history while ensuring it remains an inspiring part of Greater Cleveland’s cultural landscape The larger vision for the restoration and Oberlin’s presence will bring new energy making Park Arts a truly unique center for artistic innovation and education We are thrilled to be a part of it and to return each year for high holidays.” Park Arts places Oberlin students near some of the region’s most distinguished cultural institutions the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland as well as Cleveland’s renowned performance venues and galleries “This move provides an essential bridge from student life to professional careers in the arts,” says Julia Christensen Program Director and Oberlin’s Eva & John Young-Hunter Professor of Integrated Media “Park Arts offers students the opportunity to engage with the Cleveland arts community while honing their creative practice in an academic setting.” community connections are invaluable,” Christensen adds “Collaborating with Cleveland’s arts organizations and being immersed in a thriving cultural district will be transformative these emerging artists will bring fresh perspectives and energy to the broader Cleveland arts scene Learn more about Oberlin’s BA/ BFA program at Oberlin.edu. Five-year path toward two degrees includes focused work in the thriving arts world of nearby Cleveland After completing almost a year and a half at Oberlin I have learned a lot about the Oberlin community As someone who was filled with anxiety about college during my senior year of high school (and even before that) I understand many of the fears and worries that come with committing to a school in order to (hopefully) help alleviate some of the anxieties that you may have about Oberlin I have compiled a list of things I wish I had known before coming here.  I remember feeling like everyone had their entire life planned out and were already passionate about their choices and it made me feel like I was a step behind I learned that many people don’t know their major during their first year and even those who do often change it as they explore different subjects and it’s perfectly fine to take your time finding what excites you I was obsessed with stalking Oberlin students on social media Especially the Class of 2027 Instagram page where incoming students would post pictures and a little bio about themselves It was a fun way to see who my future classmates were and get a feel for Oberlin life. While social media is a great resource for getting a glimpse of student life Oberlin is far more diverse than what you’ll see online There are so many students who won’t post on Instagram or be active on social media so I wouldn’t rely too heavily on it The people and interests that you see on social media will not be representative of all of the diverse students and personalities you will meet once you arrive on campus.  Living with a roommate was a big topic of conversation that occurred surrounding college in my high school Some people prefer going into college with a random roommate and others prefer to choose their roommate I think there can be pressure to be best friends with your roommate you do not need to be best friends or even close friends for your living situation to work out As someone who was not best friends with my first-year roommate I was still happy with my living arrangement because we respected each other's space Focus on building a comfortable and communicative relationship and let friendships develop naturally if they are meant to.  One thing that will make a big difference in your college experience is finding at least one community that makes you feel supported and where you feel excited to be (outside of academics) And I encourage you to not stick to familiar spaces Explore new communities that are different from the ones that you found in high school  One unexpected community I have found is Oberlin College Taiko (OCT) I never expected to be part of a taiko group before college mainly because I had never even heard of taiko before I came to Oberlin There are countless clubs and organizations at Oberlin that you might not even know exist but they’ll welcome you with open arms Oberlin is a place where you’ll learn and grow These are just a few things I wish I’d known before starting my journey here and I hope they help you feel more prepared and less anxious When my mom mentioned that Oberlin had offered to fly me out to Ohio The MVP program invites multi-cultural students of different backgrounds--low-income and students of color--to fully immerse themselves in the Oberlin lifestyle I was delighted upon my arrival to meet so many kind and excited prospies (prospective Obies) one of which was a half-Mexican half-Ashkenazi Jew like myself!  I knew that Oberlin was a common school for kids in my social circle to apply to but I was shocked to find a friend of mine from middle school on my flight from NYC to Cleveland I’ve come to find that Oberlin is a Brooklyn 2.0 of sorts I saw yet another middle school acquaintance from our sixth-grade musical The next few days became a sequence of run-ins decreasingly surprising yet increasingly ridiculous and high school seemed to pop up at every concert and class I found that the New Yorkers who chose Oberlin were the opposite of the New Yorkers I was trying to escape from There were a few things that prompted the phone call where I told my mom “I don’t want to come home.” Staying with a real-life Obie in her dorm (my future home sitting in on full-swing mid-semester classes attending a few of the night-time concerts at the Sco--I didn’t want it to end I was met by pleasant surprises at every turn--especially my not-so-bad intro to dorm showers I had so much fun trying everything in the dining hall already plotting the concoctions I would create out of different Stevie station elements Though the most creative I’ve seen so far was my roommate’s intricate banana split I distinctly remember trying to find the King building I didn’t even have to ask for help--Obies would just approach me and help me find my way It’s this friendly culture and sense of community that really made me feel at home The people who I met via the MVP program are to this day Experiencing a taste of Oberlin as a high school student was so exciting and overwhelming I can’t put into words the excitement I felt when I got the texts that two of my closest MVP buddies had committed to Oberlin Now that I’m finally in Ohio for good and Oberlin is my home I feel so lucky to have experienced the MVP program recommend it to any prospective Oberlin students the MVP weekend was an unforgettable experience I decided to come to Oberlin because I wanted more music in my life Oberlin's only men's and non-binary a cappella group Rebekah Grande I decided to interview 4 conservatory students of different majors and years to reflect on why they chose Oberlin and what they’ve been up to since coming here Kate Magnacca Reflections on the college decisions I've made and have yet to make Oberlin College and Conservatory’s geothermal heating and cooling system is cranking up the heat A four-year project to convert the campus’ fossil fuel-based system into an eco-friendly one is now online supporting Oberlin’s goal of becoming 100 percent carbon neutral by 2025.  “It’s a major milestone for this infrastructure,” said Chris Norman senior director of energy and sustainability.  The project, dubbed the Sustainable Infrastructure Program (SIP) involved replacing aging infrastructure with a stable system powered by 850 geothermal wells on the practice fields north of campus Oberlin retrofitted nearly 60 campus buildings to accommodate the new system and equipped 11 more buildings with air conditioning the college is an estimated 90 percent of the way to its carbon neutral goal and will buy carbon offsets to reach 100 percent carbon neutrality Oberlin will spend the next year testing the geothermal system to measure how efficient it is the college will share this data with Second Nature a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating action on climate change through higher education to certify that Oberlin's carbon footprint is zero.  “Oberlin’s approach is unique because we committed to reducing the college carbon footprint at the source instead of depending solely on carbon offsets,” Norman says Oberlin already has been a leader in higher education’s push to be more environmentally conscious. The college was the first of its peer institutions to sign the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment back in 2006 encouraging leadership at hundreds of other institutions to agree to bring their net greenhouse gas emissions to zero “Oberlin has been proactive about meeting the challenge of carbon neutrality,” says Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar “We’re not avoiding our responsibility to future generations We are acting now to address our aging energy system and thereby creating a more sustainable campus—and planet.” The campus minimized the impact on operations by completing the bulk of the conversion work during the summer months students will be able to play rugby on the practice field above the geowell field just like before.  because what we’re doing is transferable,” Norman says “Other schools and institutions will be able to use it as a model Geothermal is something you can do just about anywhere.” Already the college is hosting tours for interested higher education institutions and government entities.  From the start, the SIP project has also served as an educational resource for Oberlin students and faculty Students have been out in the field taking samples students have been on the front lines of climate action,” Norman says “They're directly involved with how we are implementing the new system and charting the next steps forward.” How Oberlin’s Geothermal System Works hot water and chilled water are circulated through the underground pipe system to heat and cool buildings and to supply hot water The closed-loop system is entirely self-contained and doesn’t extract or inject water into the ground instead circulating it continuously through pipes 600 feet below campus.  “We’re treating the earth like a battery,” Norman said.  the system will save the college an estimated $1 million per year in operations and maintenance cut its water use by more than 5 million gallons per year reduce sewer discharge by more than 4 million gallons per year and improve campus energy efficiency by more than 30% Learn more about Oberlin’s Sustainable Infrastructure Program and how students are learning about sustainability via Oberlin's Environmental Studies and Sciences Program Campus solar fields maintained by truckloads of hungry livestock Oberlin College and Conservatory is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Seydl as the new John G Cowles Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum Seydl becomes the 11th director in the museum’s distinguished history who stepped down in December 2024 after more than a decade of transformative leadership Seydl brings to Oberlin a wide-ranging background in museum leadership he has served as director of Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he led the museum through a major strategic shift emphasizing equity Krannert strengthened ties with historically underrepresented communities and completed a sweeping building renovation “It is beyond thrilling to join the brilliant team at the Allen Memorial Art Museum,” says Seydl “I have long admired the Allen; its vibrant student and faculty engagement is the gold standard for university art museums The stunning collections offer endless opportunities for the college and the broader community to explore the most pressing issues of our time It’s also a joy to return to the incredible arts ecosystem of Northeast Ohio where my partner and I have a close-knit community of friends After eight fulfilling and exciting years at Krannert I look forward to maintaining the Allen’s excellence and building new partnerships across the city of Oberlin and the region.” Seydl’s career includes roles at several of the country’s leading institutions He previously held curatorial posts at the Worcester Art Museum Paul Getty Museum and has served in academic roles at Case Western Reserve University His scholarship and curatorial practice reflect a deep commitment to accessibility The search committee for the directorship was chaired by Laura Baudot senior associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Members included faculty from both the college and conservatory as well as members of the museum’s visiting committee “We are deeply grateful to the search committee for their thoughtfulness and care throughout this process,” says Baudot “Jon rose to the top of a competitive pool as a visionary and collaborative leader—someone who commands respect while genuinely caring for the people he leads ‘He has a PhD in early modern Italian art but also understands the complexities of contemporary repatriation politics in Peru.’ That breadth is exactly what the Allen needs in this moment.” who has served as interim director since December and participated in the search praised Seydl’s unique mix of academic and civic experience “Jon’s background working at major civic museums and his focus on public engagement ensures he brings both curatorial depth and a commitment to visitor service,” she says “He’s an ideal match for the Allen’s dual role as a teaching museum and public institution.” also enthusiastically welcomed Seydl’s appointment “Jon understands the power of museums in academic settings to be catalysts for student learning and community connection We are excited for the vision and energy he will bring to Oberlin.” Kamitsuka also extends sincere gratitude to Katie Solender for her exceptional leadership during this transition: “Her deep knowledge of the Allen and unwavering commitment ensured continuity and care for both the museum staff and our broader community during this pivotal period.” Seydl’s arrival at the Allen follows a decade of impressive growth under the stewardship of Derstine who was recently appointed deputy director and chief curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art the Allen expanded its collections—especially in works by women and artists of color—and secured significant endowments and conservation projects cementing the museum’s national reputation for excellence and innovation and status as one of the premier academic art museums in the country The Allen Memorial Art Museum is free and open to the public with a collection of more than 16,000 works spanning 6,000 years As one of the finest academic art museums in the United States it serves as an essential hub for interdisciplinary learning After more than a decade of exemplary leadership Andria Derstine is leaving her post as the John G Cowles Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) at Oberlin College Oberlin will present a concert version of Rhiannon Giddens’ award-winning opera both at Finney Chapel in Oberlin and the Maltz Performing Arts Center in Cleveland Surrounding it are all kinds of cross-disciplinary events for campus and community Oberlin College will launch a Business major that emphasizes hands-on learning in fall 2025 The new program breaks from traditional lecture-based business education by immersing students in real-world projects and case studies and direct engagement with industry partners As evidenced by the popular business integrative concentration the Business major was created in response to strong student demand and complements Oberlin's new Financial Economics major that welcomed its first students this fall these programs prepare students to pursue additional education at top-tier universities or make an immediate impact in their chosen fields The new business major combines Oberlin’s renowned liberal arts foundation with practical business acumen “Oberlin students are driven to make the world better Business expertise amplifies their ability to create positive change in any endeavor,” says Lin “Whether you're advancing scientific discovery meaningful impact requires mobilizing people and resources beyond yourself Our program prepares students to effectively organize talent and manage organizations to achieve the kind of far-reaching goals that no individual could accomplish alone.” Students will tackle actual business challenges through: The curriculum extends beyond the classroom through signature initiatives like the Ashby Business Scholars program where students work directly with business leaders from Oberlin’s extensive alumni network which often present neatly packaged scenarios our approach places students in dynamic environments where they must navigate ambiguity much like they would in an actual business setting,” Lin explains This hands-on approach builds on Oberlin's long tradition of experiential learning exemplified by initiatives like successful student-run enterprises like the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) The new major also leverages existing strengths in areas like arts management where students learn business principles by working directly with arts organizations and creative enterprises “We build the experience while we are delivering the lesson,” says Lin “You can only explain how to ride a bike for so many minutes before you have to get on the bike and get feedback.” This philosophy shapes every aspect of the program from first-year foundations to advanced strategy courses Oberlin will welcome two new tenure-track faculty to the Business program: assistant professors Yongha (Yon) Kwon and Minah Park both of whom are pursuing doctorates in management and human resources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Park—who also holds a master’s degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering and a doctorate in operations management—will teach classes in marketing Kwon will teach courses in strategy and organizational behavior; he previously earned a master’s degree in business administration Lin emphasizes the program's broader vision: “The idea that business is solely about profits misses the deeper truth: profits are a byproduct of creating value for society business begins with passionate people seeking to solve problems and improve lives This applies far beyond traditional companies—modern scientific breakthroughs emerge from teams Artists increasingly collaborate to amplify their creative impact nonprofits and social enterprises need strong organizational skills to succeed.” For more information about this new major, visit the Business website or read the cover story “Taking Care of Business” in the Fall 2024 issue of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine These awardees encompass the popular English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program and Fulbrights geared toward study and research These 19 grants also represent the most honorees Oberlin has ever produced in a single academic year and six are pursuing graduate study and research projects abroad The college also had 39 semifinalists overall including 14 in the study and research category These Fulbrighters are sharing Oberlin’s excellence with the world Oberlin is perennially a top producer of Fulbright awardees This marks the 16th consecutive year that the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S Department of State has recognized Oberlin as a Top Producer of Fulbright students “It’s a point of pride for everyone on campus that Oberlin is a top producer of Fulbright winners year after year,” says Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar “Our achievement this year is especially rewarding and reflects the considerable time and resources we invest in our students’ success These Fulbrighters are sharing Oberlin’s excellence with the world.” The Fulbright Program is the federal government’s flagship international academic exchange program the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Scott Weinhold commended President Ambar and Oberlin’s Awards and Fellowship team for their hard work in promoting the Fulbright Program to the students and faculty on campus “Oberlin College’s designation as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution clearly demonstrates your dedication to promoting global engagement and mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” he wrote includes guidance tailored to each student throughout the application process “Individualized comprehensive assistance is crucial because these applications are so complex and take months to complete,” she says Students have access to multiple information sessions and one-on-one meetings access to faculty and staff experts trained to read Fulbright applications and the ability to submit essay drafts for unlimited revisions Oberlin’s Writing Center is also staffed to support Fulbright applications essentially ensuring that students can get round-the-clock assistance on their materials “This accomplishment builds on Oberlin’s long history of success in Fulbright applications and could not be done without unwavering administrative support for fellowships,” Abdon says “It also embodies our students’ academic strength and their unparalleled access to incredibly relevant co-curricular opportunities This includes everything from the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) which supports students conducting faculty-mentored research to international immersion experiences sponsored by Study Away we are forming ideal candidates for opportunities like Fulbright.” Oberlin students who won Fulbrights for the 2024-2025 academic year include: Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities and the world and have included 41 heads of state, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United State and the people of other countries. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org To learn more about fellowship opportunities at Oberlin, visit our Center for Engaged Liberal Arts Fellowships and Awards page or make an appointment with Danielle Abdon Please sign up for any available time or send an email to fellowships@oberlin.edu “I’m currently in my second semester of teaching at la Universidad Tecnológica de Tabasco It’s been a challenging but extremely fun experience to facilitate conversation-based English classes with so many students and lead a conversation club three times a week for students who seek extra practice I have also been getting involved in the music scene here in Tabasco as I’m teaching beginner voice lessons to university students and actually have a concert today with some local musicians here I’ve been fortunate enough to travel all around Mexico.” “Taiwan is where the mountain meets the sea One of my favorite memories was going to Hualien on the east coast to go to Fali Fali There’s really something special about Taiwan and the people really make a conscious effort to remember and celebrate their heritage.” my Fulbright experience has been an absolute blast culture and politics at schools all over northern Germany to exploring Hamburg and other parts of the country I'm so grateful for this opportunity to broaden my perspective My current highlight is working with a class of immigrant and refugee students recently arrived in Germany I'm honored to be a part of their learning experience and we can practice our German together.” As a recent recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship Tanisha Shende ’26 will continue to work toward educational equity and responsible technology These prestigious recipients are being recognized for their academic impact and community service a world leader in developing innovative thinkers and exceptional artists will launch seven new majors spanning a wide range of disciplines The majors not only have broad faculty support but their creation was driven by faculty desire to expand our curriculum to meet evolving student interests and the opportunities and challenges of our complex world The Conservatory of Music has added Music Theater and Recording Arts and Production Recording Arts and Production, Financial Economics and Communication Studies welcomed their first classes this fall All other programs will be available to incoming students in fall 2025 Current College of Arts and Sciences students should reach out to the chairs of the new majors for information about adding a major in these new areas Music Theater is taking shape with the addition of an impressive roster of internationally known faculty and a state-of-the-art space created specifically for the program “I share in our faculty’s firm belief that this is not a time to back down from the programs that are foundational to our values as an institution,” says Carmen Twillie Ambar “Just as important: This is the moment to double down on that commitment and to continually ask ourselves Can we do more to prepare our students for success The arrival of these new majors offers a resounding answer: We can do more I applaud our faculty in both the college and conservatory for their visionary dedication to creating vital opportunities for our students.” The seven new majors are designed to build upon Oberlin’s historic excellence in launching creative thought leaders from all walks of life.  “These new majors,” says David Kamitsuka “build on Oberlin’s academic excellence and will equip our students to harness the power of their liberal arts education for an ever wider range of professional interests and 21st-century global challenges.”  The new majors also offer previously unimaginable combinations of study in the form of double majors and Oberlin’s popular Double Degree Program through which students earn both a Bachelor of Arts in the college and a Bachelor of Music in the conservatory in five years or fewer.  “Oberlin was the first institution in America to confer the Double Degree and we welcome new opportunities to expand the potential range of multidisciplinary approaches made possible by the program,” says Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen we are hearing from many of our conservatory students about their enthusiasm for pursuing the new college majors through the Double Degree Program.”  Learn more about the Double Degree on Oberlin’s Admissions website Click the links below to learn more about each program: Business: Business and finance are among the top fields pursued by Oberlin graduates Through rich and varied courses and experiential learning opportunities the Business major offers students the knowledge and lead organizations in creating sustainable value With signature programs such as Internship+ Business at Oberlin includes high-impact opportunities for applying theoretical knowledge to real-world business challenges and tapping into Oberlin’s influential network of alumni connections spanning a wide range of industries Communication Studies: The program equips students to be ethical producers and discerning consumers of a comprehensive range of communications and communications mediums Students analyze and deploy communication strategies to address the interpersonal and political challenges facing pluralistic democratic societies today Environmental Science: Students investigate the complicated relationships between humans and the environment and explore interdisciplinary science-based solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow The program is a companion to Oberlin’s popular Environmental Studies major which approaches the subject from more cultural and sociological perspectives Data Science: Data informs virtually everything we do today: It fuels critical thinking for 21st-century challenges and unlocks insights across the natural and social sciences The Data Science major prepares students to be evidence-based analysts and decision-makers in a constantly evolving world Financial Economics: The program applies theoretic principles to extensive hands-on experiences with industry-standard software and data preparing graduates for careers in a wide range of fields related to investment banking The conservatory major in Music Theater reinforces a longstanding tradition of Oberlin graduates who have transformed Broadway through their artistry The program will debut in 2025 with a newly built home and a host of complementary resources.  The major in Recording Arts and Production capitalizes on the extensive resources of the conservatory—including more than 500 on-campus performances each year and extraordinary recording and production facilities Its expert faculty facilitate an understanding of the technical skills and aesthetic considerations that inform the craft of those at the leading edge of the profession and across a multitude of musical styles “These programs demonstrate our commitment to expanding the aperture of today’s conservatory education,” says Quillen “Music Theater and Recording Arts and Production are unmistakably united in the ways they support our mission to prepare students for relevant and fulfilling careers across the professional music landscape of today and tomorrow This has been a hallmark of an Oberlin Conservatory education throughout our 158-year history and it is unquestionably more crucial today than ever before.” Visit Oberlin.edu for more information about majors in the College of Arts and Sciences and Conservatory of Music ABOUT OBERLIN COLLEGE AND CONSERVATORY: Since its founding in 1833 Oberlin College and Conservatory has led the nation in its commitment to educational access and opportunity college to adopt a policy to admit Black students and grant undergraduate degrees to women alongside men Located at the heart of a bucolic Northeast Ohio town Oberlin uniquely combines an outstanding pre-professional school of music with a leading undergraduate college of arts and sciences Oberlin students hail from nearly every U.S Our alumni include 15 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellows more graduates of Oberlin have gone on to earn PhDs than any other liberal arts institution.  “Strum,” “Strike,” and “Bend” are all evocative references to the physicality of string and percussion instruments The vocalist and songwriter brings her distinct blend of folk and more to Finney Chapel on April 6 in an appearance with the Martha Redbone Roots Project Improving mobility and connectivity for pedestrian Project ManagerJay Shahjaykumar.shah@raleighnc.gov Division ManagerSylvester Percivalsylvester.percival@raleighnc.gov Comment Form The right of way and easement acquisition phase in underway We are at the end of the Right of Way and Easement Acquisition phase of the Project.  Contractors are currently working on curb and sidewalk repairs along Oberlin Road They have addressed most of the water pooling issues near the bus pads and bike lanes crews are completing other final tasks on the project This work is expected to be finished by the end of the month the City’s contractor is scheduled to work on asphalt repairs along sections of Oberlin Road This work will involve lane closures and flagging operations.  Crews will be working near the Clark Avenue intersection at First Horizon Bank and across from Harris Teeter between Cameron Street and Smallwood Dr This work is being completed to address water ponding in sections of the roadway Contractors are resolving water pooling issues around bus pads and bike lanes They will start applying thermoplastic pavement markings as temperatures increase Crews are also finalizing traffic signal installations and signage The new bike lanes on Oberlin Road are closed to traffic because some areas have water pooling especially with the below-freezing temperatures we have been having We are working with the contractor to resolve the standing water issues and hope to have the lanes open to the public soon The Oberlin Road Streetscape Project has a public art component as part of the Percent for Art program.  Artist Chandra Cox is working with the living ancestors of Oberlin Village to tell the story of this historic community. Chandra is working with the design team to integrate storytelling elements and artistically interpreted historical markers into the project. For more information on the artist and the installation visit the Oberlin Road Public Art Project page The Wade/Oberlin Small Area Plan of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan recognized Oberlin Road as the “main street” of the area emphasizing the need to more fully integrate pedestrian and transit uses into a well-landscaped and attractive streetscape that serves people of all abilities The Oberlin Road Streetscape Plan was adopted by City Council on January 6 The plan focuses on improving the sidewalk environment 90 Percent Plans Advanced Design Plan Map Early Design Concept Map Pre-Construction Meeting Presentation Second Public Meeting Handout Street Improvement Rendering Typical Sections Street Furniture Street Trees 25% Concept Design Presentation 25% Meeting Handout 25% Presentation Boards This generation faces unprecedented environmental challenges and opportunities: transitioning an economy powered by fossil fuel to one that runs on sunlight; designing circular flows of materials and resources that completely eliminate the concept of ‘waste’; and combining scientific knowledge with relevant socio-economic tools to construct a just and sustainable future Building resilience and protecting biodiversity in a rapidly-changing climate require the capacity to work across the traditional scientific disciplines and explore solutions at multiple scales – from local to regional to global The Environmental Studies and Sciences Program (ESS) at Oberlin College is excited to introduce an interdisciplinary environmental science major with a customizable curriculum – drawing from biology and neuroscience – to prepare you with the breadth and depth required to take on complex socio-ecological issues This field of study investigates human impact on the environment and explores interdisciplinary solutions to the environmental problems of today and tomorrow we’re developing creative solutions to design a more sustainable relationship between human beings and the rest of the natural world This new environmental science major is built on the academic structure of the longstanding and highly regarded environmental studies major that includes an individually tailored pathway for each student – you can design your studies to match your interests and desired career path Our expert faculty and facilities will prepare you for whatever future you envision for yourself – teaching in academia You can expect to gain a mastery of collaborative research and hands-on experience designing a more sustainable and resilient world The environmental science major will be available starting Fall 2025 The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies (AJLC) exemplifies our teaching philosophy recognizing that real-world experience and practical engagement complement traditional coursework Learn more about the AJLC You’ll be a vital contributor from day one undergraduate research plays a big role in your learning Explore undergraduate research The ecosystem concept provides a framework for understanding complex interactions between life and the physical environment and the role of humans as dominant agents of biogeochemical change In this course we apply systems concepts to understand the flows of energy and the cycles of matter and control mechanisms that operate in ecosystems Through primary sources and group projects students compare the structure and function of a variety of natural and human-dominated ecosystems Humans are now an urban species with more people living in cities than in rural areas social and environmental causes and implications of this transition We consider the opportunities and design challenges of urban sustainability concepts and techniques of urban and regional analysis and contemporary approaches to sustainable urban planning and design This course will examine ocean and climate dynamics central to the functioning of the Earth system scientific literature and historical accounts students will investigate both natural processes over geologic time and human interaction with the planet during the Anthropocene Labs will focus on data analysis and provide an introduction to coding in Python This course offers an in-depth exploration of critical environmental issues We will examine the complexities of surface and groundwater pollution and delve into advanced water treatment processes Students will engage with the detailed chemical principles underlying these environmental challenges investigating their causes and potential solutions Noah Hamaoui ’25 interned at AC Power a solar developer using disturbed land for renewable energy Fueled by her interest in climate resilience Noah focused on the scientific dimensions of community engagement Read how this internship helped prepare her for a future in renewable energy Learn more about Noah’s internship Alea Strasser ’24 interned at NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program joining diverse STEM students to study climate change Through hands-on airborne and ground research they built a supportive community and connected with professionals gaining confidence in their ability to impact climate science Learn more about Alea’s research a geology and environmental studies major from New Haven has been awarded a Fulbright-MITACS Globalink to conduct advanced research in Canada Learn more about Amelia’s research Oberlin is pleased to welcome new tenure-track faculty members who will join the College of Arts and Sciences and Conservatory of Music next fall These accomplished scholars and artists have pursued graduate studies at some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions exhibited their work in world-class museums published groundbreaking research on various topics and performed on many of the world's leading stages “What is so wonderful about this group is the incredible range of knowledge and artistry they bring to our students and scholarly community,” says David Kamitsuka “Oberlin is unique in how deeply it excels in the Good and this extraordinary group of new faculty embody this tradition.” New tenure-track faculty members are also joining the Conservatory for the 2025–2026 academic year many within the recently launched Music Theater program “We are delighted and honored to welcome these new colleagues to the Oberlin Conservatory community,” shares Bill Quillen “In their devotion to artistic and scholarly excellence as well as the craft of teaching these extraordinary colleagues will inspire students for years to come and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them to Oberlin.” The new faculty joining the College of Arts and Sciences include: Liana’s teaching and research focus is on late- and post-Soviet literature and avant-gardes She earned a PhD in Slavic languages and literatures at Yale and previously taught at Reed Aaron is a cognitive developmental psychologist who studies how infants and toddlers transform the landscape of their perceptual experience into learning opportunities he aims to understand how basic cognitive processes Aaron earned a PhD in psychology at the University of California and has conducted postdoctoral research at Cornell University and the University of South Carolina Jaime specializes in social and political philosophy and 19th- and 20th-century European thought with a focus on personal and political freedom His research examines external inhibitors like coercive institutions and internal ideological pressures that entrench the status quo while promoting cosmopolitan solidarity and what this would look like Jaime earned a PhD in philosophy from the University of Chicago and before coming to Oberlin was a law lecturer and political philosophy fellow at the University of Chicago Law School and choreographer Juliana Frey-Méndez works with Latiné playwrights to expand the theatrical canon she directs and devises work in theaters nationwide including FringeNYC (winner of Best Musical) Juliana studied theatre for social change at Cornell University earned her MFA in theatre directing at UC San Diego and was the inaugural Artist in Residence at Duke University’s Theatre Studies It is an exciting prospect to teach poetry and language in a place where students are already tuned in to the textures of sound Marya Sea Kaminski is an award-winning theater artist and leader whose work merges creative vision with civic engagement like an all-femme Tempest and a theatrical life-sized D&D adaptation of The Hobbit Marya was the co-founder of Washington Ensemble Theatre where she directed premieres by emerging playwrights founded Public Works Seattle and was later artistic director of Pittsburgh Public Theater She earned an MFA at the University of Washington and previously taught at Hollins University and Cornish College Hamed’s research explores the intersection of modern and Islamic art and challenges the foundational assumption in art history that modern art is secular His work brings Islamic philosophy and aesthetics to the center of art historical inquiries about historical and modern art Hamed has made numerous documentary films about the history of art as well as Islamic intellectual history and his art-critical writings have appeared in e-flux and publications by the Walker Art Center Hamed has been a pre-doctoral fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington and a Klarman Fellow at Cornell University and is earning a PhD in art history at Northwestern Sarah Jane Kerwin ’15 is a literary scholar focused on ecocriticism and 20th-century American literature Her teaching emphasizes syllabus diversification and encourages students to rethink literary canons through Indigenous Her current book project explores how transience in Western literature shapes environmental thought Sarah earned her PhD in English language and literature at the University of Michigan Alexander’s research examines how power and culture shape economic and political arenas where rules are unsettled and state and non-state actors interact in complex ways His published work has explored organizational behavior in the regulated cannabis industry Alexander is studying the privatization of punishment by investigating how telecom companies contracting with prisons commodify the carceral experience He earned a PhD in sociology at the University of Arizona I am excited to join an academic community in which providing and receiving a multi-disciplinary education in the liberal arts is still a top priority.  Ling-lin Ku is a multimedia sculptor whose studio practice merges traditional techniques with emerging technologies resulting in sculptural installations that are materially rich She has exhibited nationally and internationally with solo exhibitions at CUE Art Foundation (NYC) She is the recipient of the Seebach Prize in Fine Art from the American Austrian Foundation and the International Sculpture Center’s Innovator Award Ling-lin earned her MFA at the University of Texas at Austin and was previously an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University Yon’s research focuses on organizational design as a managerial tool for enhancing organizational learning His work emphasizes the evolution of formally designed interaction patterns through social dynamics among individuals and challenges conventional assumptions regarding organizational design in the processes of knowledge creation He is earning his PhD in business strategy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Anna specializes in Mediterranean studies and global modernism with particular interest in 20th-century French Her current book project considers the political and historical challenges arising from surrealism’s reception in the Arab world She earned a PhD in comparative literature at the University of North Carolina Marina is a scholar of modern Jewish literature who is particularly interested in how literary translation and circulation shaped modern notions of gender She is also a translator of Ladino and Hebrew literature and is currently working on two anthologies of modern Ladino fiction from the Ottoman Empire and the Americas Marina earned a PhD in comparative literature and Judaic studies at the University of Michigan and had a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Oberlin is my ideal college: academically rigorous a place where both the arts and sciences thrive and animated by a proud tradition of progressive social engagement Her stories have appeared in A Public Space The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2019 She is a recipient of the George Bennett Fellowship at Phillips Exeter Academy Uche earned her PhD in creative writing at the University of Nebraska Minah’s research aims to explore two critical areas: the formative experiences that influence entrepreneurial tendencies and the gender gap within entrepreneurship her research examines women who possess entrepreneurial potential or express intentions to engage in entrepreneurship focusing on their experiences within the entrepreneurship pipeline Minah is earning a PhD in management and human resources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a specialty in entrepreneurship Romain’s research and teaching center on Francophone Literature His work explores how literature engages with the history of slavery and colonialism drawing on postcolonial and trauma studies as well as concepts and questions from Black studies Romain is an active member of the psychoanalytic and research society SPIIRAL (Society for Psychoanalytic and Interdisciplinary Interventions and Research After Lacan) while his work and writings have appeared in Chimères Romain earned his PhD in French and Francophone studies at Cornell University and previously taught at Union College in New York Oberlin students embody a unique blend of vibrant intellectual curiosity and creativity that will undoubtedly strengthen my own commitment to lifelong learning teaching courses related to understanding sedimentary rocks and processes His research focuses on the study of organic-rich mudstone (black shales) and other marine shallow and deep-water siliciclastic rocks in Argentina as well as the development of a trace-fossil database to recognize the timing of substrate colonization during Earth’s history Maximiliano earned a PhD in geological sciences at the University of Saskatchewan Alexandra is a molecular biologist who studies how proteins that bind DNA regulate the molecular machines that perform a variety of tasks in the cell her research involves both biochemical and genetic approaches in yeast to study how single-stranded DNA binding proteins coordinate DNA replication Alexandra earned a PhD in cellular and molecular medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and conducted postdoctoral research at MIT before coming to Oberlin Briitta is a Finnish-American scholar of comparative politics in advanced democracies Her research and teaching explore the ethnic- and gender-based inequalities formed by changes in economies and welfare states as well as the consequences of these emerging inequalities for progressive politics in Europe and the U.S Briitta earned a PhD in government from Harvard University and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality” at the University of Konstanz The tenure-track faculty joining the Conservatory faculty for the 2025-2026 academic year include: Assistant Professor of Music Theater (Voice) evidence-based voice teacher and storyteller who collaborates with students to craft a singing technique that is flexible His research interests include tessitura in musical theatre and the intersection of gender and musical theatre voice collaborating with the team to present audition and vocal health master classes at The REACH at the Kennedy Center Colin earned a bachelor’s degree in music theatre at Oklahoma City University and an MFA in musical theatre vocal pedagogy from Boston Conservatory at Berklee Before joining the faculty at Oberlin Conservatory Colin served on the voice faculty at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Vicky has directed more than 400 shows on prominent stages across three continents including 38 seasons at Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater and 17 at Idaho Shakespeare Festival acting as resident director for the sister companies Her national work includes productions at the Manhattan Theatre Club She has long balanced her award-winning directing career with her role as an educator serving as director of music theater at Baldwin Wallace University for 27 years Her many accolades include a 2019 Cleveland Arts Prize for theater and dance where the jury praised her directing and teaching and Music School Central naming her one of the 10 Legendary Music Professors Teaching Today A Juno-nominated soprano for Summer Night Martha regularly presents concerts and recitals at major venues As a young artist she won first prize at both the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition and the Concours Musical International de Montréal launching a performance career specializing in concert and art song Her deep interest in art song led her to co-found Sparks & Wiry Cries with pianist Erika Switzer and commission of new works which have been premiered at venues such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art Prior to returning to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music Martha was an assistant professor of voice at Ithaca College She earned a master’s in music at Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and a doctor in musical arts from the University of Michigan Associate Professor of Music Theater (Voice) His students have performed in over 40 productions on Broadway Gregory has performed Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theater and major regional theaters across the U.S he has sung at New York City Opera (10 years) Gregory’s recent teaching experience includes ten years as a faculty member in the voice department of Baldwin Wallace University and master classes throughout Southeast Asia he has studied and worked with top K-pop voice teachers and performers in South Korea “Oberlin’s investment in the space and specialized faculty for music theater is remarkable it demonstrates an unwavering commitment to both the field and the next generation of music theater professionals I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.” Lauren Marousek has trained for over 20 years in various dance disciplines Her professional choreographic credits include productions at Beck Center for the Arts the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and ran her own private dance and acting training business in Pennsylvania before becoming an adjunct faculty member at Baldwin Wallace’s Theater and Dance department She earned a BFA in acting with a dance minor from Baldwin Wallace University and is currently enrolled in the University of Idaho’s MFA in Theatre Arts program Cassie is a dedicated vocal educator and has been a Broadway performer for over a decade she was an original Broadway company member of Bonnie and Clyde and School of Rock and performed Glinda in the first national tour of Wicked Her private studio has produced clients performing on Broadway and in national tours she has taught in the BFA musical theatre program at Marymount Manhattan College and the BA musical theatre concentration at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside She earned a bachelor’s of music in music theatre from Baldwin Wallace University-Conservatory of Music and a certification of distinction in vocal pedagogy from Boston Conservatory at Berklee Grammy-winning pianist Luis Perdomo has released nine critically acclaimed recordings as a leader and has appeared on over 250 recordings as a sideman He has performed and recorded with artists such as Ravi Coltrane Luis is a founding member of the Miguel Zenón Quartet and his collaboration “El Arte del Bolero,” a duo recording with Zenón was nominated for both a Grammy and a Latin Grammy in 2022 received the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Record Perdomo earned a bachelor's degree at the Manhattan School of Music and a master's degree at Queens College and before coming to Oberlin spent four years as a professor of ensembles and piano at Berklee College of Music returning feels like a full circle moment. I could not be more honored or excited to join such fantastic new colleagues as we help mentor the next generation students who will keep changing the world." Alex Sanchez is an award-winning New York City based choreographer Alex brings to Oberlin the unique perspective of working with the greats who shaped the industry and a keen understanding of the skills required to succeed in today’s Broadway and regional theater Alex has performed in ten Broadway shows and was in the original cast of Fosse As a musical stager on Broadway his credits include Paradise Square which won a Tony Award and earned ten nominations he’s also collaborated with The MET Opera Carlos’s research interests include early-ottocento Italian opera he earned a bachelor’s in music in composition and a master’s of music in music theory from the Mannes School of Music Carlos is earning his PhD in Music Theory at the University of Michigan’s School of Music Matthew Webb is a resident designer at Great Lakes Theater His has credits as a music director (Into the Woods; Little Shop of Horrors; Mamma Mia; The Music Man; Beehive; Forever Plaid; The Fantasticks; Sweeney Todd; Guys & Dolls; and Cabaret) and sound designer/composer (The Merry Wives of Windsor; As You Like It; Much Ado About Nothing; The Taming of the Shrew; Macbeth; Hamlet) He has also worked at several other theaters across the world Webb’s educational theater credits include the educational premieres of Kinky Boots and The Phantom of the Opera Laura Welsh has been working professionally across the country for 20 years Notable roles include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing Her educational directing credits include Measure for Measure After earning her undergraduate degree at Baldwin Wallace University and her master’s degree at the Theater School at DePaul she became a company member with Great Lakes Theater and its sister companies the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival She was the first woman in the company’s history to play the title role in Hamlet “He’s with me in every lesson that I teach,” Daniel Okulitch ‘99 said about former Oberlin voice faculty member Richard Miller (1926-2009) This spring marks the official conclusion of Takács’ tenure Many of his former students from around the world are set to convene for a celebratory concert in Warner Concert Hall on May 12 Fourth-year Jesse Cruz reflects on all the ways Oberlin College has helped him as a student and young professional: “The most valuable thing you’re getting from this education is learning how to work hard and think very openly.” When Jesse Cruz ’25 joined the Ashby Business Scholars Program last year it opened his eyes to a new way of kicking off his career journey Even for those who aren’t business majors the organization provides countless opportunities to all Obies joining the workforce “It completely changed my approach to applying and interviewing,” he says “I realize now utilizing the alumni from Oberlin is a path that has the highest success I’ve met a ton of alumni now and they have all been incredibly supportive we’ll refer you into the company and get you a better shot.’” When Jesse begins working at Synchrony–a consumer financial services company–after he graduates in May, he’ll take this networking knowledge with him into the business world. As a math and computer science double major he’s also excited to apply his Oberlin coursework to his new position “Majoring in math was an expansion of not only analytical thinking but also just a new perspective on how to view the world, which I thought was very awesome,” he says. “I think the class that changed a lot of my perspective on things in general was called Linear Optimization, and it was taught by Bob Bosch.” Jesse explains that this course taught him how to apply logic and problem-solving skills to a wide variety of situations “There is a lot of room for me to explore that in my new job Synchrony did these things called IP sprints where we were able to work on our own skills and interests and so during that sprint I actually worked on optimizing something related to my work and they gave me opportunities to explore that more.” He also emphasizes that this skillset is transferable and an “important tool regardless of field,” encouraging his fellow Obies to explore all their interests to give their careers flexibility In addition to Ashby and an invigorating curriculum Jesse credits the accomplished faculty for creating a valuable and enriching experience at Oberlin “My professors have made a significant impact on my education especially coming from my high school where I felt like a little fish in a big pond,” he says “I had a phenomenal experience with having such a strong line of communication with my Oberlin professors and any time I struggled or was confused about something there was always an outlet for me to go talk to them.” Jesse looks forward to continuing the skill development he began during his software engineering internship at Synchrony He returns to the company as a full-time employee this July and is excited to use software development and mathematical modeling to create innovative solutions that transcend industries.  If you’re excited about everything the future has in store, check out Career Exploration and Development to learn how Oberlin can help you turn your passions into a fulfilling career has been fostering community and the development of Oberlin students the program will offer exciting new opportunities After being fascinated with the research of Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science Joshua H Aahil Singh ’26 decided to pursue a similar project As a double major in mathematics and economics with a statistical modeling minor and data science concentration Aahil appreciates how concepts can cross disciplines he worked on a research paper with Professor Davidson on the subject of transportation when I applied to be a residential assistant It is technically Oberlin’s Hebrew Heritage House but it’s not exclusively for Jewish people it is known for being a ten-minute walk from most of campus and for being hauntingly beautiful—a colorful mansion nestled in the heart of the arboretum and surrounded by some of Oberlin’s best wildlife But did I mention the ten-minute walk from the rest of campus Little did I know that when I listed J House on my application I would be offered the RA position in the house As much as I wanted to live in another dorm I couldn’t deny the allure of living in Johnson House with its beauty and ties to Judaism The walk up the stairs was grueling—there is no elevator with all the extra stairs and the uphill trek to J House I figured I would become ripped in no time I had tried to find my room on the floor plan When I finally huffed up three flights of stairs I found myself outside a tall wooden door in a hallway that was not well-lit but had the charm of a place once occupied by someone marvelous with servants and roaring fires in the dead of an Ohioan winter There are no words for love at first sight wide windows facing the arboretum in great golden sheets and a walk-in closet with a small lightbulb There were vinyl wood flooring and a ceiling so tall that I could jump and spin and dance in my room without ever touching anything there was a fire escape that climbed down the side of the building and gazed at the tree grove practically within arm’s reach I decided I wouldn’t close my windows until winter I forgot to mention that the windows had no screens I could have filed a work order to get them installed but there was something so romantic about hauling up my window at sunset and sitting on the fire escape with my book and a snack I could watch the sunset and deer frolicking in the yard behind J House I was not the only one who found my room inviting It could have been worse—like a bat or a squirrel—but it wasn’t too bad Frogs sang so loudly outside that I felt they were practically in my bed I was watering my many plants only to find a small green frog on my windowsill moving along to my aloe before stopping cartoonishly and there it was—a color-changing small tree frog with toes as fat as its eyes and we walked barefoot into the long grass at the edge of the forest It captivated you just like that—a night of bad sleep and a sky sparkled with stars I fell in love with J House in no small amounts There was such perfect laziness in the afternoon when dust motes floated through the air warming my bed and practically inviting me to nap I fell in love with it when autumn came and the bugs quieted Nina Simone crooning from my speaker and candles flickering on my desk I could hardly believe how white and pure it was My room lit up as if enchanted by the snow and I would light up blue and gold string lights in my room it was safe to be held by the comfort and warmth of the house It invites wondrous questions—who lived here What esteemed tales were hallowed in these halls my friend Emmy moved into one of the first-floor rooms and it was wonderful to walk downstairs every morning to see her or stumble home late at night to hang out and I am so fortunate that so many of my residents come to Ellis (the other RA) and me for events maybe you’ll find the ghost of our wonderful parties enchanting its warm lounges If you are interested in living in J House and less interested in the magic of it I have assembled a short explanation of the benefits and downsides of living here these flaws only make the house more lovable but I dare you to find a dorm that doesn’t suffer from this malady tips for living with a roommate and the benefits of a divided double.) Maja Saveva My experience living in a village house on campus A couple years ago I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with my choir and the incredible talents of the Conservatory never-to-be-done-again opportunity thanks to prowess of the Con - to perform Omar an opera co-composed by Grammy award winning alum Rhiannon Giddons at Finney Chapel and the Maltz Center in Cleveland I would have never expected the fantastic places my love for singing would take me and the show-stopping talent I would be surrounded by And I’m not even a Conservatory student!  Omar follows the true story of Omar ibn Said an Islamic African who was enslaved and brought to America While Omar lived the entire rest of his life enslaved he had the opportunity to write his story in Arabic the only biography of an enslaved person to be in this language escape to a new plantation with a kinder master and community and tickets quickly sold out when they went on sale and residents talked non-stop about the performance and how excited they were many residents are fellow members of Musical Union and held an even greater anticipation of getting to be on stage for the event I also heard many students talk about it and how glad they were to have secured tickets It truly united both campus and town in awaiting the once-in-a-lifetime performance we spent ample time preparing not just sonically One night we had a lecture by professors of Africana studies about the history of Islamic Africans It was fascinating and enlightening to the context of the story we were portraying and helped me better understand the inspirations behind the work and the characters we were representing We also got to meet Rhiannon when doing our dress rehearsals I’ve always known Obies are talented but hearing her work as a whole and her stunning voice just amplified my sense of the bright futures Oberlin grads have ahead of them the long-awaited night arrived in Finney Chapel One of the best parts about being a member of the ensemble is you have the best seats in the house Seeing the whole story come together and feeling the emotion in the air was deeply affecting Especially with the brilliant acting and resonating power of the soloists’ vocals I truly felt pulled into the story and every anguish and affliction Omar experienced The titular role of Omar was performed by Limmie Pulliam an Obie grad who also had the lead role in The Ordering of Moses at Carnegie Hall all of the soloists were grads except for one (who we consider an honorary Obie) They really brought the story to life and inspired us as the ensemble to pour our emotion in the songs we travelled up to Cleveland to the Maltz Center an active Jewish temple also used as a performance space The building is gorgeous and full of history; an 100-year-old building the temple has been serving generations and generations of Jewish people but the meaning of our performance was tantamount; we were performing a piece about an Islamic man who met and lived with Christian Americans and enslaved people Our performance represented a union of cultures and beliefs in the hope of spreading love It was a wonderful day and an even more wonderful performance I attended a talk with Rhiannon and the other soloists to learn more about their inspirations and artistic decisions It was inspiring to hear their thought processes and learn more about what the opera meant to them One of the sonic characteristics of Omar is that it is quite modern; the songs have popular melodies and are very catchy In this way Omar’s story is brought to 2024 honoring Omar’s history and religious traditions.  This opera is spreading not only his culture—an under-recognized and appreciated one—but also his story of resilience and survival In the finale we sing “Tell your story Omar or they will never know.” I had never heard of his story but feel like I should have been taught it over and over in school Rhiannon has brought his story to the global stage; the importance of her work was even recognized with a Pulitzer Prize It’s not just a slogan; Obies can truly change the world What kinds of musical opportunities are there at Oberlin if you're not planning on entering the conservatory Match Recap: Men's Tennis | 4/19/2025 7:45:00 PM Thanks for visiting and we couldn’t be prouder of our home state of Ohio and the Midwest region Much like Oberlin College and Conservatory We are home to bustling cities like Chicago as well as agricultural powerhouse states such as Iowa and Nebraska home to both urban centers and small rural towns Oberlin alumni have made important contributions to the Midwest We know an Oberlin education can be a solid foundation for growth and innovation Students from the Midwest are more likely to stay here after graduation which is why we’re focused on making Oberlin more accessible to Midwestern families “We believe in the potential of Midwestern students to lead and contribute to their communities and we know that an Oberlin education can be a transformative experience for them,” says Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar “By making Oberlin more accessible to families across the region we're investing not just in our students but in the future of the Midwest itself." Students have countless reasons to attend college in the Midwest—and specifically Oberlin restaurants featuring many types of cuisine Northeast Ohio also boasts Cleveland Clinic one of the world’s top medical centers; some of the world’s fastest and tallest roller coasters at Cedar Point; the internationally renowned Cleveland Orchestra; and miles of beaches and parks along the Lake Erie shoreline The Midwest Merit Scholarship offers an additional incentive for students to attend college here.  I have the privilege of welcoming the world’s best and brightest students—many of them from the Midwest—to Oberlin,” says Manuel Carballo Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid “These students enrich our campus and give back to our local and regional communities Our hope is that the Midwest Merit Scholarship will encourage more of these talented students to join us at Oberlin.” The Midwest Merit Scholarship will be awarded automatically to new Read full details about program eligibility requirements New programs build on established successes bolster resources to position graduates for meaningful careers Nonprofit emphasizes linking one-of-a-kind students to institutions that celebrate a lifelong love of learning You have exceptional musical talent and intellectual enthusiasm.We have a place just for you.