Susan Napier is a young professionals leadership board member for the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL, www.urbandebate.org/index.shtml), a nonprofit leading the national movement to create policy debate opportunities for at-risk, urban populations. After the NAUDL was founded, it seeded Urban Debate Leagues in several cities across the country. Now in 19 major cities, thousands of at-risk students are participating in an activity with remarkable results.


Oliver Caplan is a classical music composer living in the Boston area. He recently wrote in to share news of a significant artistic collaboration with the College. The Handel Society has commissioned a new work for chorus and orchestra, Roots and Wings, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Hopkins Center. The piece will be premiered in Spaulding Auditorium at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 13.


Beth Rabbitt will be completing a residency in education as part of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s new doctorate program. 


Jennifer Rackliff graduated from Duke University in May, where she received a master’s of science in global health. Jen is off to Africa as an expert consultant for ICF International, a firm that partners with government and commercial clients to deliver professional services and technology solutions in the energy, environment and infrastructure; health, social programs and consumer/financial; and public safety and defense markets. I will be in touch with Jen for an update ASAP. 


Clare Gupta graduated from UC Berkeley and will be receiving a doctorate in philosophy in environmental science, policy and management. Congrats, Clare! Also, the pictures of your new puppy on Facebook are adorable. 


Elizabeth Bultman wrote in to say that she loved seeing Emily Graham for a Marshall Islands reunion in D.C. in late July. Liz also mentioned that she and Laura Thompson attended the New Year’s Eve 2012 wedding of Emily Graham to Jay Teeter in Charlottesville, Virginia.


Johanna Willer contributed two very happy updates. First, Catherine Dale and Jonathan Kling tied the knot on Bainbridge Island outside Seattle on August 11. Their wedding was a true Dartmouth affair, complete with the “Salty Dog Rag” and late-night streaking at the reception. Abby Berniker ’03, Naomi Yoo ’03 and Rowan Smith were bridesmaids and Jeff Hebert, Eric Trautmann ’07 and Joe Horrell were groomsmen. Friends came from all around the world (and the East Coast) to celebrate, including Annie Snider, Suzanne Larimore Wahl, Johanna Willer, Heather Lapin Hewitt, Freddie Ghesquiere Helmiere and John Helmiere ’05, Ben Wade, James Lamb, Roger Brown and many other Dartmouth alums (from classes spanning ’76 through ’11)! 


Also, in a sunrise surprise, Sheila Hicks proposed to Emily Rotella (American University ’06) at the Belvedere Castle in Central Park—complete with a ring, a chorus singing one of Emily’s favorite songs and Kimberly Siciliano ’03 as photographer. Clearly Emily said yes, and the happy couple celebrated with friends and family at a surprise champagne breakfast at the Central Park Boathouse. 


Lena Golze Desmond married John Briggs this past June in Arrow Park, New York. Partaking in the drinks and slightly inebriated dancing were also Natalie Benson, Lindsey Musselman, Lauren Meldonian and husband Karsten Barde, and Jen Mulliken and husband Dave Mulliken ’00.


Finally, I can provide a career-related update: I am going to be doing a temporary detail from the Department of Justice to White House counsel’s office, where I will be working on oversight and congressional investigations. 


Please send your notes. Thanks! 


—Jess Leinwand, 1440 S St., NW, Apt. 2, Washington, DC 20009; jess.leinwand@gmail.com