Purple & Gold Weekend was a beautiful time of connecting with Brits of the past and present while ushering in a new future for Albion College. Swipe through as we go down memory lane!
Lead faculty marshal, Professor Jocelyn McWhirter, guides members of the platform party into Goodrich Chapel. Also pictured: Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg '80 (left), De'Ondric Sanders '23 (back center), and Ted Everingham '61 (right).
Alumni from the classes of 1959 through 2023 marched as Class Representatives during the academic processional donning signs with their respective class years. Class Representatives wore purple and gold cords with a special Albion crest charm.
John Hibbs, director of grounds, provided the greeting from Albion staff. In his speech, he called on President Webster to be a good listener and to collaborate with staff. "I believe you’ve seen since your arrival what our capabilities are - be as confident in us as we are in you."
Kye Bristow '24, provided the greeting on behalf of Albion students. "As a graduating senior, I’m excited to see President Webster's new direction and journey for the campus. In the nine months he has been on campus, he has demonstrated his care for students by being approachable and visible to all students. I mean just ask anyone whos on the quad, it seems like the guy is always walking somewhere or taking a stroll across campus."
City of Albion Mayor and 1989 Albion College graduate, Victoria Garcia Snyder, gave a greeting on behalf of the community. In her address, Mayor Garcia Snyder mentions the many meaningful conversations she has had with President Webster. "Wayne, your leadership comes at a crucial time, and we are eager to see the positive impact you will undoubtedly make."
Dr. Sarah Bolton, president of Whitman College and former president of The College of Wooster, provided the formal introduction of President Webster on behalf of the academy. "Leading a treasure like Albion means bringing this great community together to help students today and for the generations to come to prepare for bright futures in a time of extraordinarily rapid change," she said. "It calls for true vision and wisdom, deep collaboration, a passion for the power of teaching and learning, unshakeable integrity, a commitment to inclusion, transparency and breadth, and a willingness to work incredibly hard."
She continued, "President Webster is a superb leader for Albion for many reasons, but perhaps most because he sees and appreciates the excellence of Albion’s students, staff, faculty and community, and is so committed to lifting their voices and supporting their work to advance Albion’s mission."
Joey Edwards Miller '75, chair of the Albion College Board of Trustees, confers the bronze presidential medallion on President Webster during the official investiture.
The benediction by Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg ’80 deeply moved our in-person audience. Transport back to Installation day via the livestream!
Faculty marshals Craig Bieler, professor of chemistry, and Tammy Jechura, associate professor of psychological sciences, lead the recessional out of Goodrich Chapel following the Installation Ceremony.
President Webster shakes hands with Professor of biology Ola Olapade during the celebratory tunnel following the Installation Ceremony.
The Albion College community warmly embracing Dr. Wayne Webster as the 18th President of Albion College was the pinnacle of Purple & Gold Weekend.
The Presidential Installation was bookended with a series of campus events highlighting Albion’s commitment to the liberal arts, experiential learning, campus belonging, the local community, our distinguished alumni, and more.
Kali Johnson '24, English and secondary education dual-major, presented her project "Empowering Youth Through Diverse Voices: Ensuring Equitable Access to Books That Are Mirrors and Windows."
Four very happy Albion students take a moment for a celebratory photo following their presentation.
Melanie Foust '25, biochemistry major, presented "β-Amino Alcohol Enantioselective Synthesis: Desymmetrization of Cyclohexene Oxide Using Lithium Morpholide and Lithium Pyrrolidide in the Presence of a Chiral Aminoborane Catalyst." Melanie's research was conducted alongside Tricia Sankiewicz ’25, biochemistry major.
Albion College and greater Albion community members rallied around our Brits presenting research.
Malena Solis '24, psychology and sociology dual major, presented "Plug, Play, Connect: Mapping Youth Programming Resources in Albion."
Guests were captivated by our student presenters.
Dr. Shanti Madhavan-Brown, assistant professor of psychology.
Jordan Revenaugh '19, assistant director of student and alumni engagement.
Kara Anderson '25, incoming president of Student Senate.
Provost Lisa Lewis, professor of chemistry, congratulating award-winner Marcy Sacks, professor of history.
Delia Johnson '24 and Luke Rivard '24
The Purple & Gold festivities continued Friday, April 19 with events highlighting academic excellence on Albion’s campus, and the strength of our alumni and higher education networks. Key events included the Installation Symposia, and Spotlight on Albion.
Installation Symposia offered our community the chance to engage in discourse that both challenged and affirmed our responsibility to inclusion, experiential learning and professional development. The day began with an opportunity to connect with eight Albion senior students in the Art & Art History Department and view their awe-inspiring work during the Would You Be Content? Senior Showcase & Symposium in Munro Gallery.
After the Senior Art Exhibit, campus launched into rounds of invigorating panel discussions in Bobbitt Visual Arts Center.
The Alumni in the Creative Arts panel gave Albion College graduates the opportunity to chat about building an art career after graduating from Albion College. Moderated by Aubrey Thornton Martinson ‘01, market intelligence manager.
The Lux Fiat: Shining a Light on Legacy Alumni Panel brought together four previous Lux Fiat award winners to discuss the legacy they left on Albion College’s campus, and the invaluable impact Albion left on them. Panel moderated by Rodney Mitchell ‘24.
The panel Building inclusivity on small private liberal arts campuses through the practice of civil discourse gathered current and former college presidents will explore the many innovative ways they have or are currently working to create opportunities for civil dialogue and build cultures of inclusivity on their campuses. Panel moderated by Leroy Wright, dean of students.
Alumni in the Arts panel moderator Aubrey Thornton Martinson ‘01, Market Intelligence Manager at Ready Signal.
Panelist Emily O’Hara ‘06, senior manager of guest experience design for the Detroit Zoological Society, in charge of experience development for the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, including Wild Lights and Dinosauria.
Panelist Camille Hamilton ‘05, entrepreneur, artist, and educator working in kiln-formed glass and mixed-media installation.
Panelist Angie Redmond '09, Chicago-based artist and an art instructor at Northern Illinois University and Harper College.
Panelist Trevor Hawks ‘04, multimedia designer and art director for the College of Education at Michigan State University.
Panelist Steve Nyktas ‘02, Indianapolis-based artist and an associate professor of art at Butler University.
Panelist Eryn Lewis ’23, service leader at City Year Chicago.
Panelist Robert Joerg ’19, director of government affairs at Michigan Laborers District Council.
Panelist Alexis Tillery ’16, part-time clinical therapist; full-time Juris Doctor candidate, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Sigma Zeta Chapter.
Panelist Dan Moilanen ’09, executive director, Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan’s 8th District at U.S. House of Representatives
Leroy Wright, vice president of student development and dean of students served as moderator on a featured presidential panel on creating opportunities for civil discourse on college campuses. Panelists (left to right): Dr. Anita Thomas, president of North Central College; Dr. Wayne Webster, president of Albion College; Dr. Zach Messitte, executive director, higher education and social impact at Russell Reynolds and former president of Ripon College; and Dr. Sarah Bolton, president of Whitman College.
Guests honored to soak up the wise words from our panelists throughout the day.
Friday afternoon was time to shine a Spotlight on Albion, with audiences learning the interesting, outside of the box experiential learning, student research, and curricular innovation at Albion College.
Featuring presentations from faculty, staff, and students, Spotlight On Albion covered a variety of topics from the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program to the community gardens and student farm.
Eight student research presentations submitted to the 2024 Elkin R. Isaac Research Symposium were selected to give condensed presentations of their locally-themed projects.
Rae Baker '24, biology major, presenting "Impacts of Mile-a-Minute Management in Lower Michigan’s Plant Communities."
Dr. Bill Rose, political science professor, presenting on the experiential learning Inside Out Prison Exchange Program.
After a full day celebrating the very best of Albion Friday, Purple & Gold Weekend reached its apex Saturday, April 20 with the celebrations of Presidential Installation and Alumni Awards Dinner, with various activities happened throughout the day to give Brits of the past and present a chance to reminisce and reflect.
The Alumni Awards dinner honored seven alumni for making outsized contributions to their fields, government, and their communities as professionals and volunteers.
Marcus Gill ’04, diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at Jackson County Intermediate School District and head boys’ basketball coach at Concord High School, recipient of the James L. Curtis Alumni Leadership Award.
Michael Juchno ’93, consulting partner — Digital, Data, and Analytics at Ernst & Young, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Marie Brown ’14, family medicine physician at Oaklawn Medical Group, recipient of the Young Alumni Award.
Michael Thomas ’06, head boys’ basketball coach at East Kentwood High School, recipient of the James L. Curtis Alumni Leadership Award.
Joey Barcheski ’14, owner of FrankZ Restaurant, recipient of the Young Alumni Award.
Mitchell Moore ’16, chief of staff to Michigan State Senator Michael Webber, recipient of the Young Alumni Award.
Keith Roberts ’81, Retired Chief Financial Officer at Dimplex Thermal Solutions, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.