Class of 2012

Hi, ’12s!

It’s cherry blossom season here in D.C. and the city is teeming with tourists eager to take selfies (or stage entire professional photoshoots) with those ephemeral blooms of luminous white, baby pink, and vibrant cerise. The young and old all stare with child-like wonder at the cherry trees hugging the Tidal Basin. Conservationist volunteers meander through the crowds seeking pledges to protect these magnificent gifts from Japan for future generations. It’s a beautiful reminder that the power of partnership gave rise to this stunning legacy.

Speaking of partnership, I recently learned about an inspiring one between best friends-turned-business partners Abby Smith and Kayla Gilbert. I caught up with these ladies as they wrapped up the Canva Create 2025 conference in Los Angeles. Although they live on opposite ends of the Central Time Zone—Abby is in Chicago, while Kayla rests her head near Houston—these two have managed to build something remarkable together: Joyn x Design (read: “join by design”). Their company blends Kayla’s decade-plus of experience in talent recruitment and development and Abby’s expertise in branding and legal training and focuses on human-centered design principles “to help organizations attract, hire, grow, and retain talent,” all while making work more joyful. They proudly identify as “anti-headhunters” focused on centering the heartbeat of every organization—the people. Give a rouse for these visionaries!

Sharang Biswas wrote in to alert us of his debut novel, The Iron Below Remembers, published by Neon Hemlock Press. Here’s a quick description for the curious: “Set in an alternate version of the British Isles where South Asian imperial interests colonized much of the globe thanks to their advanced technology, professor Laxman Yadav is dating Saviour, one of the world’s most famous superheroes, while also investigating possibly the most important archeological find of all time. Equal parts pulp caper and meta-textual academic text, this novella leans as heavily on footnotes as it does on explorations of queer romance.” I purchased a copy and it’s on my (embarrassingly long) list of reads. Support Dartmouth authors!

In keeping with gripping stories featuring South Asian characters, I recently hopped on a Zoom call with M.J. Lee to discuss her fascinating role as a puppeteer in the stage adaptation of The Life of Pi. M.J.’s an accomplished actor, director, and dancer, but I never knew about her aptitude for puppeteering. It turns out that she is expanding her artistry, and this is her first time working as a puppeteer. Touring Southeast Asia has meant long days and tight schedules, but she’s thriving. She’s also been inspired to try her hand at writing and will pursue that project more aggressively once her tour concludes later this year. I won’t spoil the plot, but you’ll want to keep tabs on her journey via Instagram: @mj.lee.creates.

Another gentle reminder that if you’re interested in volunteering as either our class president, vice president, or treasurer, please reach out to Tim Koeth at tkoeth@gmail.com.

Finally, send your updates to 12.class.notes@gmail.com or write me at the address below. Standard emails and letters work fine, or send a picture with a brief caption, or record your update from wherever you are in the world. Bottom line: We want to hear from you. Good news is in short supply these days, so I’m sure I speak for all ’12s (and maybe all millennials) when I say, “We’ll take whatever we can get!” Take care!

—Michelle T. Domingue II, 8250 Georgia Ave., Apt. 409, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 12.class.notes@gmail.com