The Kenyon College Board of Trustees convened in Gambier on Oct. 21–23 for its fall 2026 meeting, the first chaired by D. Matthew Voorhees ’95. Always a full agenda, the schedule was especially overflowing, as the meeting coincided with Kenyon’s inaugural Women’s Conference. Chaired by Marian Block ’75, Emily Kunze ’96 — both newly appointed trustees — and Lydia Winkler ’13, the conference drew nearly 400 alumnae and guests to campus for lively discussions about the world today and to celebrate the impact of Kenyon women.
Among the many distinguished alumnae panelists was Bridget Brink ’91, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and Kenyon’s inaugural expert-in-residence. On campus for nearly two weeks, Brink is visiting classes, lecturing on a range of topics and meeting with students one-on-one — an extraordinary mentoring opportunity that students are taking full advantage of. The new program is funded in part by gifts to Kenyon’s endowment to support experiential learning.
The board’s opening plenary session Thursday morning featured remarks from President Kornfeld and updates on several strategic initiatives. “I believe strongly that a liberal arts education — a Kenyon education — is and will continue to be the most strategic and important preparation for long-term life and career success,” Kornfeld said, noting that graduates face an increasingly complex world characterized by rapid technological change. “Our work together over the coming years is to build on this confidence and ensure that Kenyon is positioned to meet this moment with ambition and purpose.”
Trustees heard from a panel of faculty and staff leading Kenyon Keys, a college-wide initiative to help students connect their academic and career interests with the impact they hope to have on the world. Professor of English Pashmina Murthy, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Brian Janssen, Dean for Academic Advising Tom Hawks, and Dean for Career Development Lee Schott described how Keys is woven into every stage of the student experience, with over 100 faculty and 500 students participating in its first year. Kenyon’s integrated approach to advising is crucial to this kind of interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Immersive Kenyon City Programs, piloted in Los Angeles last June and expanding to New York next summer, and a new slate of summer programs for high-school students play double-duty by expanding opportunities for students and faculty, while increasing Kenyon’s visibility in important markets.
Kenyon Keys is one way that the College is working to enhance its value proposition in an increasingly competitive higher education landscape. Vice President for Communications Janet Marsden reported on the College’s marketing strategy and new tools to help prospective students find and understand Kenyon’s distinctions. “How students search for colleges has changed dramatically in a very short period of time, and so has our marketing playbook,” Marsden said.
Provost Dianna Shandy, who joined Kenyon in August, offered observations from her first few months as chief academic officer. “Kenyon’s strength is the personal education we offer and the relationships that sustain it,” Shandy said. “Our opportunity is to build on that strength: helping students thrive, supporting our faculty, and adapting thoughtfully while preserving what gives Kenyon its character.”
During their time on campus, trustees had the opportunity to see the power of a Kenyon education on display and hear from those who fuel it. They talked with students and faculty about their summer research, had lunch with students and faculty involved with Kenyon Keys, and hosted a session for faculty and staff on the board’s role in financial stewardship.
The central topic of the afternoon session was a discussion of long-term financial stewardship. Even the most well-resourced institutions are feeling financial pressure from a mix of economic, political, cultural and demographic shifts — most notably a shrinking pool of U.S. college-going students, and even fewer international students, and an increasing demand for financial aid, including from affluent families. Thanks to decades of fiscal discipline, the College has unrestricted funds in reserve for challenging economic times like these. After a review of cost-containment steps taken over the past two years, Mike Arbour ’89, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, led a discussion of various financial models for stewarding the College through headwind and tailwind conditions. The discussion included the strategic investments and funding sources needed to strengthen Kenyon’s competitive position in a tightening market.
“Your partnership will be critical to our success and I am excited and energized to work with you in the coming months and years to ensure that Kenyon’s standing only grows among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation,” Kornfeld said.
On Friday morning, the board heard an update from Vice President and General Counsel Jackie Holmes on new federal rules and changing interpretations of existing rules that affect higher education.
Vice President for Advancement Keith DiDonato reported on plans for Kenyon’s next comprehensive campaign, which will build on fundraising successes at both the leadership level and in broad-based support. Kenyon saw an increase in its participation-in-giving rate last year, with over 25% of alumni giving to the College in fiscal year 2026 — the highest rate among its peers, bucking national trends of declining participation. The Third Century Founders initiative to raise $100 million for the endowment in two years is on track to meet its goal and has already helped bring Kenyon’s total endowment to more than $800 million.
Chief Operating Officer Roger Wakeman briefed the board on the College’s recommended approach for replacing its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, the software that Kenyon uses to manage, coordinate and integrate core business processes. With support from both the board’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee, trustees approved the selection of Ellucian Student (Lighthouse Program) as the replacement. Wakeman reported on other campus planning efforts, including assessments and master planning for accessibility, athletics, energy and sustainability, and the campus overall — all in support of Kenyon’s educational mission.
In other business the board:
-
Heard updates from Una Fogarty, chair of the Kenyon in the World Committee ’90, and Hope Harrod ’98, chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
-
Approved the 2025–26 audited financial statements.
-
Approved routine faculty resolutions, including the following faculty for promotion to full professor: Craig Hill, studio art; Nurten Kilic-Schubel, history; Tabitha Payne, psychology; Kerry Rouhier, chemistry; and Marie Snipes, mathematics.
-
Adopted memorial resolutions in honor of Camilla Cai H’05, professor emerita of music, and John D. Ong, former member of the Board of Trustees.
-
Ratified the Board of Directors of the Gund Gallery, the Board of Trustees of the Kenyon Review, the Board of Trustees of the Kokosing Nature Preserve, and the Board of Directors of the Philander Chase Conservancy.