It’s official—we’re old! Welcome it or dread it, our reunion draws nigh! Time for us to gather in Hanover and lament the passage of time, reflect on days of yore and marvel at how much we’ve all changed in the (nearly) two decades since Commencement. I look forward to reporting many updates from what looks to be a great weekend, but in the meanwhile have received news of a few great happenings in our classmates’ lives!


Andy Graham, husband of our own Jeneen DiBenedetto Graham, wrote in with word of her accolade from the University of California, Irvine (where she completed her doctorate in a combined UCI/UCLA Ed.D. program in 2011). Each year the university selects faculty and alumni for distinctive achievement in their respective disciplines. Jeneen is the academic dean at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, California, where she developed and taught a unique open online course for edX, a program which allows high school students (and students of all ages) to pursue advanced high school and college-level coursework through its global online learning community. St. Margaret’s is one of two high schools to partner with edX and Jeneen’s dedicated efforts in leading the program have garnered her the well-deserved recognition.


Another ’96 advancing the world of education is Dan Gonzalez, who for several years after graduating taught physics at Milton Academy. He soon found himself helping his students with physics, math and test preparation, which in turn translated into a full tutoring schedule. In 2005 he leveraged that experience to join Manhattan Prep, a test prep service that offers real education from some of the industry’s best instructors. His role in the company soon grew from GMAT instructor and curriculum writer to instructor trainer and, most recently, to president of the entire company—which has become the largest GMAT test provider in the United States.


Also writing in was Sophia Zalios, who reports “life is good here in Greenwich,” Connecticut, where she lives with her “amazing husband,” Joe Smoley, and their beloved “fur babies.” Sophia has worked with Pure, a high-net-worth personal lines carrier in White Plains, New York, for the last nine years; she’s responsible for managing underwriting and agency relationships in the New England territory (including occasional visits to Hanover). She regularly sees Tom Farley ’98, who works in Pure’s Chicago office. But it’s home in the New York City area where she often runs into other Dartmouth folks, including Leo Stezano, his wife, Happy, and “adorable” kids– who live down the street in Greenwich. She occasionally sees Keli’i Opulauoho in the city, as well as Sal Spataro (who recently returned home after a few years in London). Last summer she also had the honor of attending Chris Jacobus’ wedding in Toledo, Ohio, where she reconnected with Carrie Bagshaw (whom Sophia reports “does not age!”).


Lastly, I have some unintentionally delayed news from Mark Buschmann from last year (which somehow was mysteriously hidden away by my messy inbox!). The year 2014 was a particularly busy one for Mark and his entire family. He and his wife added baby No. 3 in mid-2013 (Luke, who joined big brothers Dylan and Tyler) only to follow up with baby No. 4 in December 2014 (to which Mark said, “Thank God it’s a girl!” adding, “And, yes, we are done.”). The now-finalized family of six recently left New York for New Canaan, Connecticut, and couldn’t be happier with the move. He works at Blackstone in the restructuring advisory business, but he and his partners are spinning out into a new, to-be-named advisory firm in 2015. Sorry for the delay, Mark!


—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org