Greetings from Karen Liot Hill, guest columnist for this issue. In March I won a hotly contested re-election to the city council of Lebanon, New Hampshire, where I am now in my 17th year. My biggest news, however, is that my daughter, Marina Liot ’21, graduated from the College this year and starts at Goldman Sachs in New York City in July. I hope she will be the first of many alums among the next generation of our class!

Eddie Le and his wife, Novi, moved back to his hometown of San Diego, where he runs a mergers and acquisitions boutique. They are fortunate to be surrounded by their entire family, making for happy kids, happy grandparents, and lots of date nights for Eddie and Novi! Eddie reports that during the pandemic he drove up to Laguna Beach with Ben Pratt to meet Eric Andersen for romantic picnic lunches on the beach. Shoutout to Eric for always bringing the food!

Kim Keith Berglund sends greetings from Los Angeles, where she lives with husband Andy Berglund and two kids. She oversees TV development at Disney Junior and has spent the past pandemic year hiking, taking online dance classes, and collecting too many indoor plants.

Ben Berk sent in this note: “After two healthcare provider startups, I’ve come full circle back to health information technology. Emily (Wellesley ’00) and I gut-renovated a Chicago house built in 1890, doing much of the work ourselves, including furniture built from former walls. Our kids have appreciated the space during the pandemic—Annabel got her driver’s permit and recorded an album, Simon ranked in a North America Fortnite competition, and Oliver enjoyed his turns at demolition. I recently reunited with Jason Peoples and Landis Fryer ’99 and hang often with Beau River around a backyard fire pit.”

Hoi Ning Ngai is currently living her best life in Maine, where she is an associate director at the Bates College Center for Purposeful Work and a current interim associate dean. She was recently invited by the senior class to be its baccalaureate speaker! During the past two years she has gotten to explore more of the state and its offerings thanks to the Ladies Adventure Club of Maine, including cross-country skiing (which she’ll never do again), snowshoeing, and rifle shooting (which she’ll definitely do again). In her spare time she explores the local food scene and welcomes any visitors to join in her quests for new nibbles.

Congratulations are in order for Lori Morlock, whose powerful debut, an historical novel about environmental activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas, comes out this June! Look for Among the Beautiful Beasts under the penname Lori McMullen.

Coming full circle back to the Upper Valley, as Kate wrote in an earlier column, Nick Russell and Jen Caine welcomed baby Natalie to their crew in the fall. The pandemic has allowed us to spend lots of time together (and, regrettably, little time with anyone else!). Jen continues to teach as part of the studio art faculty at the College and to pursue her studio practice, and Nick recently stepped into the managing partner role at his small Hanover-based private equity investment firm, where he’s looking to grow his team.

Send us your news and updates to share in upcoming magazines. We love to hear from you! And while we can’t be together for our (kind of) 20th reunion this summer, be sure to put our 25th reunion on your calendar for June 2025!

—Kate (Ryan) Stowe, 91 Waterman Place, St. Louis, MO 63112; dartmouth2000secretary@gmail.com