Lawrence-Riddell ’98 Brings Hip-Hop To Classrooms As Mr. El-Are

It turns out that Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02 is not the only Wesleyan alumnus presenting history through the sounds of hip-hop. Just upstream from Wesleyan, in Amherst, Mass., Michael Lawrence-Riddell ’98 has worked to bring hip-hop music from the stage into the classroom with the help of several other Wesleyan alumni. So far, this middle school language arts teacher has written and recorded more than a dozen original songs, each intended to engage students while offering context and analysis of literature and history. Some historical topics mentioned in his work include the Harlem Renaissance, Hurricane Katrina and the Stono Rebellion. His…

Two Wesleyan alumni and two students who have experience working for global management consulting firms Deloitte Consulting and McKinsey & Company visited Wesleyan's Gordon Career Center on Feb. 17 to speak with undergraduates about "Management Consulting 101." The alumni, Michele Drossner ’14 (Deloitte) and Winston Soh ’14 (Deloitte), and students Cindy Horng ’17 (Deloitte) and Asad Hassanali ’17 (McKinsey) advised the students to prepare themselves for internships and full-time recruiting. The event concluded with a Q&A session. Drossner majored in economics and psychology and works with clients in the life sciences, business model transformation and strategy. Soh majored in the College of Social Studies…

Associate Professor of Government Erika Franklin Fowler and Sarah Gollust '01, associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, are authors of a new paper published Feb. 16 in the American Journal of Public Health examining local TV news coverage of the Affordable Care Act rollout in 2013 and 2014. Though television news played a key role in providing information about the ACA when Americans were first learning about the details of new insurance options open to them, this is the first analysis of public health-relevant content of this coverage during the ACA's first open enrollment period. In an…

Did you fall in love at Wesleyan? Dozens of Wesleyan alumni found their significant other at Wesleyan and some shared their romance stories with us on Valentine's Day! Martha Haakmat ‘87 and Stephen Warner '87 This year, Martha and Stephen celebrate 25 years of marriage, and it all started at Wesleyan. During her junior year, Martha, an African American studies major, joined fellow students to volunteer running a hotline for pregnant women. "We were trained one afternoon, gathered together in a conference room to go over our scripts. We were all women in that room, except for one, slightly awkward, stereotypical white guy. In…

In The Done Thing (Tyrus Books, 2016), author Tracy Manaster '01 introduces us to Lida Stearl, a newly retired widow growing more obsessed each day with her ex-brother-in-law Clarence, on death row for the murder of her sister almost 20 years earlier. We watch as Lida strikes up a correspondence with Clarence while posing as a naïve twenty-something in need of a friend. We witness the rawness of Lida’s pain when she realizes that her niece Pamela, whom she raised as her own, has been in contact with the man she has despised for all these years. And we stand…

With the approach of the centennial of John F. Kennedy's birth, it's fair to ask: Will his legacy endure? By Tom Kertscher Last July [2016], President Barack Obama signed a law creating the John F. Kennedy Centennial Commission, which will develop and carry out activities to mark the 100th anniversary of Kennedy’s birth on May 29, 2017. Kennedy, polls have shown, continues to be among the most highly regarded presidents. But only about a third of Americans were alive when he was assassinated in 1963. So, it’s fair to ask: Will Kennedy will remain relevant? Emily Jennett Butler ’90, a…

Wesleyan is known for its top-notch writing programs and for the accomplishments of its community of award-winning alumni, faculty, students and staff book authors, editors and translators. Members of the Wesleyan community—alumni, faculty, students and staff—are invited to submit their latest books, as well as information about forthcoming and recently signed titles, and other literary news, to Laurie Kenney, books editor for Wesleyan magazine. Books and information received will be considered for possible coverage in Wesleyan magazine, on the News @ Wes blog and through Wesleyan’s social media channels, as well as through possible in-store display and event opportunities at Wesleyan’s new bookstore—Wesleyan RJ…

Beatriz at Dinner, a darkly comedic film directed by Miguel Arteta ’89, written by Mike White ’92, and co-produced by Bill Macomber ’96, world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22. The film premiered with positive reviews with magazines like Vanity Fair calling it “remarkable” with a “timely shiver to it.” After acclaimed films such as Chuck & Buck (2000) and The Good Girl (2002), Arteta and White have reunited again for Beatriz, which starts Salma Hayek as a holistic therapist. She attends a wealthy client’s dinner party after her car breaks down and comes up against a real…

Recent Film Studies graduate Ani Acopian ’16 has been nominated for the “Snapchatter of the Year” award, presented on behalf of The Shorty Awards. Created to honor the best of social media by recognizing those with an influential and significant presence, The Shorty Awards draws nominees from sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat and more. Acopian gained significant Snapchat clout with her colorful snaps, specializing in narrative pieces, branded content, and music videos. Some of her work featured in her Shorty Award profile include turning the famous Angkor Wat into a real life Temple Run, and creating…

Bill Belichick ’75, head coach of the New England Patriots, led his team to the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history on Feb. 5, beating the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34-28 in OT—the first time an overtime period was ever needed in the 51-year history of the NFL’s annual championship game. The win made Belichick the winningest coach in Super Bowl history. All five of Belichick's wins have come as head coach of the Patriots, a team he has coached since 2000. Beginning his NFL career as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Colts in 1975, Belichick moved…

On Jan. 21, three Wesleyan alumni who own the Manchester Monarchs ECHL team, welcomed more than 50 alumni, family and friends to "Wesleyan Night" at the Verizon Wireless Arena in New Hampshire. Among the attendees was men's former hockey coach Dave "Duke" Snyder. Wesleyan Trustee Marc Casper '90, Brian Cheek '92 and Tas Pinther '91 purchased the team in August 2016 and spoke to the attendees about acquiring the team and the importance of giving back to Wesleyan. The Monarchs' parent team is the Los Angeles Kings.

Patti Cake$, the debut film from writer-director Geremy Jasper ’98, has earned the second-highest deal of Sundance so far this year, with a bid of $9.5 million for distribution rights from Fox Searchlight. Producers are Dan Janvey ’06 and Michael Gottwald ’06; Matthew Greenfield ’90 is senior vice-president of production at Fox Searchlight—all Wesleyan film majors. Jasper's film tells the story of Patricia Dombrowski, (played by Danielle Macdonald)—also known as Killa P and Patti Cake$—an aspiring rapper in New Jersey. In his review, IndieWire’s Eric Kohn called the film the “best hip-hop movie since Hustle & Flow.” The film premiered…

Lawrence-Riddell ’98 Brings Hip-Hop To Classrooms As Mr. El-Are

Alumni Speak to Students about Careers in Management Consulting

Fowler, Gollust ’01 Author Paper on News Coverage of Obamacare

Alumni Couples Share Wesleyan Romance Stories on Valentine’s Day

Manaster ’01 Exposes the Messiness of Life in New Book

Butler ’90 on JFK’s Legacy

Wesleyan Editors Call for New Books by Alumni, Faculty, Students, Staff

Macomber ’96 Discusses Producing Comedy by Arteta ’89, White ’92

Acopian ’16 Nominated Snapchatter of the Year

Belichick ’75 Leads Patriots to Super Bowl Win

50 Alumni Gather for Monarchs Game in New Hampshire

Jasper ’98 Writes/Directs Sundance Hit Patti Cake$