Harumi Ito, Class of 1990, now an assistant professor of economics at Brown University, remembers her time in Gambier as a defining experience. "I'm really glad I went to Kenyon," says Ito, a native of Tokyo, Japan. "People ask me why I chose the College, and the answer is simple: I chose it for the people-they were always willing to take the extra steps to help you out."

Ito's estimation of the quality of life at Kenyon is matched by her appraisal of her academic experience. "Academic life was very nurturing," she says. "I was really able to pursue what I wanted to do. My professors were willing to accommodate my interests."

Ito credits the faculty for creating an atmosphere in which she felt continually challenged to grow. "The faculty is extremely enthusiastic in teaching undergraduates, something I don't find in a big university," she says. "When I began studying economics at the College, my interest just expanded and expanded. My teachers always encouraged me to go beyond what I had to do-they opened up the ceiling for me."

Having completed her Ph.D. at Stanford University, Ito looked to her Kenyon experience as a model for her own teaching career. "Kenyon was instrumental in formulating my teaching philosophy," she says. "I want to live up to my ideal of what a good teacher is."