Hi, ’04s! With fall around the corner, let me first say that I hope you all have had a wonderful summer. While pool days, summer Fridays, and lots of sunshine are hard to say goodbye to, fall brings its own joys, such as pumpkin spice everything (I’m sure I cannot be the only fan!) and life transitions. Fortunately, our classmates have excelled in the past couple of months in embracing the change that can come with fall, and I am excited to share their updates here.

First, cheers to Garrett Jones and his wife, Nadia, as they recently welcomed twin daughters to this world, Maia and Lucie! Garrett and family have settled in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, so please drop him a line if you are passing through the Research Triangle.

Let’s also give a rouse for Sam Valverde who was appointed acting president of Ginnie Mae in May of this year. Ginnie Mae is a $2.5 trillion corporation wholly owned by the federal government and dedicated to supporting affordable access to homeownership opportunities nationwide, with a special emphasis on first-time homeowners and historically underserved communities.

Congratulations as well to Snowden Wright,who recently published his third novel, The Queen City Detective Agency, through HarperCollins.

I am excited also to share Jessica Van Garsse has been a meditation coach for the last eight years and a life coach for the last few. In her work, Jessica combines the power of meditation and mindfulness with coaching and therapeutic tools to help people make the necessary changes so they can be truly happy, fulfilled, and free. Jessica never imagined she would be teaching people to meditate for a living and has now taught more than a thousand people! We too must raise a glass to Jessica because she will soon be certified through the International Coaching Federation. Well done!

Additionally, Lisa Salzer shared that she has a new nationally distributed fine jewelry line with Jared Jewelers called Charm’d by Lulu Frost. It is a collection of clippable charms and chains that symbolize one’s personal stories and lives. Lisa has now been in business for 20 years and credited Dartmouth for her start, as it was her Dartmouth friends who bought handmade belts, T-shirts, and jewelry during our time in school. The early support truly has meant the world to her, and a big round of applause, Lisa, from your classmates!

Finally, I want to close with a poem, “Our Dartmouth,” submitted by Yan Somoza. Until the next time, ’04s!

Our Dartmouth isn’t just composed

Of the books of Baker Library

Or the bricks of Dartmouth Hall

It also exists in the smile of an old friend

Their warm embrace after many years gone

by

My Dartmouth is a place of brick and stone

But also of people

Of laughter

Of tears of triumph, joy, and sometimes

sorrow

It lives in our hearts and minds

Though the girdled earth we roam

And fills us with gratitude

That we have been

And will always be

At least a small part

Of this epic experience called Dartmouth.

—Johanna Thomas, 14 Logan Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005; johannarthomas@gmail.com