Chaired by Aileen Hefferren ’88 H’12, the Kenyon College Board of Trustees convened in Gambier on April 22-24 for its spring 2026 meeting. Time with faculty, students and generous supporters of Kenyon kept spirits as bright as spring in Gambier. This was Hefferen’s last meeting as chair; the Board unanimously elected D. Matthew Voorhees ’95 to succeed Hefferen when her term ends on June 30, 2026.
Thursday began with a report on the 2026 incoming class to date. The enrollment of early decision candidates continues to hold strong. The regular decision admission cycle is still underway, with a notable increase in the number of students who visited campus through expanded programming.
President Kornfeld opened the morning plenary session with an update on several areas of strategic focus, including Kenyon Keys, an initiative designed to help students connect what they learn in class with their aspirations for the future. “Kenyon has always built strong foundations for lives of purpose and consequence,” she said. “In today’s competitive landscape, we must make sure that Kenyon’s value proposition is crystal clear.”
Kornfeld was joined by Associate Professor of English Pashmina Murthy, who is coordinating faculty engagement with these initiatives organized around interdisciplinary exploration, experiential learning and community connections. Dean of Students Brian Janssen reported on strategic efforts to foster students’ sense of belonging, especially early in their Kenyon career, with an expansion of orientation and other first-year programming. Vice President for Communications Janet Marsden previewed marketing materials for Kenyon Keys and discussed plans to roll them out to incoming and prospective students.
Kenyon Keys unlocks the connections between what students learn in class and the dynamic forces shaping the world today — data, globalization, democracy, creativity, health and sustainability. With no additional requirements and as a complement to any major, students can curate a portfolio of courses, internships and experiences — from research to service to study abroad — keyed into their academic and career interests.
“With Kenyon Keys, students unlock experiences that matter, skills that transfer, and a personal narrative that resonates in the world today,” Kornfeld said.
The rest of the morning was devoted to a discussion of opportunities to strengthen Kenyon’s connection to Columbus. The board heard from Jason Hall, President & CEO of Columbus Partnership, who reported on the city’s growth as an economic and cultural center and the mutual benefits for higher education. Dean of Career Development Lee Schott reported on his team’s efforts to expand Kenyon students’ access to internships, research collaborations and career exploration in Columbus.
Over lunch, the board met with Assistant Professor of Art History Katherine Calvin, The Gund’s Director and Chief Curator Daisy Desrosiers, and two students who recently participated in a travel-embedded course, “Art, Money, Museums,” that took students to Belgium and the Netherlands over spring break. These high-impact experiences come at no additional cost to students, thanks to generous donor funding.
During the afternoon plenary session, the board heard an update from Chief Operating Officer Roger Wakeman on operational priorities, including the selection of a dining services provider, options for upgrading the College’s enterprise resource planning system, ongoing investments in campus security systems, and future campus master planning.
Una Fogarty ’90, chair of the Kenyon in the World Committee, reported on the committee’s Kenyon Ambassadors initiative, recognizing trustees who have arranged internships, hosted events or helped raise Kenyon’s visibility. Hope Harrod ’98, chair of the Inclusion and Equity Committee, reported on the committee’s meeting with Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chris Kennerly and the College’s efforts to foster belonging and support the success of all students. Finally, incoming chair Matt Voorhees ’95 reviewed proposed changes to the board’s committee structure, which would restructure several standing committees and eliminate the distinction between strategic and operational committees.
On Thursday afternoon, the board took time to celebrate 21 donors who have helped propel the Third Century Founders endowment effort to great success since its launch last year. The $100 million initiative was designed to rapidly grow Kenyon’s permanent resources. Meeting the goal will produce roughly $5 million in endowment income each year to support strategic initiatives to position the College for the future and support students today. More than a dozen students who have directly benefitted from endowed funds established by donors — from scholarships to internship stipends — also took part in the celebration, which included the unveiling of a wall of donor recognition in Peirce atrium.
President Julie Kornfeld celebrated the incredible investment of the group, many of whom are members of Kenyon’s board. “The entire Kenyon community is grateful for this visionary generosity, which echoes the philanthropy on which Kenyon was founded and will ensure more of the permanent resources needed to evolve boldly into our next 100 years,” she said.
After its business meeting on Friday morning, the board joined the Kenyon community in a packed Oden Hall to celebrate the life and legacy of Graham Gund ’63 H’81. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and dear friends of Gund shared heartfelt reflections.
“As was made clear so well today, Graham was much more than a supporter of Kenyon and the arts, he burnished our legacy and traditions by creating structures and spaces that have and will continue to allow Kenyon to grow and evolve,” Kornfeld said.
The central business of the board meeting was to discuss and approve the operating budget proposed for the 2026-27 fiscal year. On behalf of the Campus and Finance Committee, Christine Sharkey ’80 outlined the major revenue and expense drivers of the budget, including the steps the College has taken to reduce operating and personnel costs and to ensure that spending is in line with institutional priorities.
Highlights of the $198,000,000 budget include:
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As announced in March, total charges for the 2026-27 academic year will be $93,090, inclusive of tuition, room, board and mandatory fees.
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The financial aid budget will be $68,638,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a 5.5% increase, reflecting the College’s continued commitment to affordability and meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need.
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Compensation for faculty, exempt and non-exempt administrative staff will increase by 2%. The College will make contracted adjustments for union members.
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Health, dental and vision insurance costs will remain flat for employees enrolled in the programs. The College’s annual contribution to the emeriti post-retirement health program will be decreased.
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The budget for maintaining buildings, grounds and equipment will remain flat and will continue to prioritize critical infrastructure.
In addition, the board:
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Approved the following tenure-track appointments: Ethan Hillman, biology; Iris Howley, computing; Katharine Lindquist, international studies (starting 2027); Elle McCuskey Weeks, mathematics; and Sizhao Yi, art history.
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Approved the promotion to associate professor of and the award of tenure to: Hilary Buxton, history; Katherine Calvin, art history; Marci Cottingham, sociology; Tomás Gallareta Cervera, anthropology and Latino/a studies; Ruth Heindel, environmental studies; Travis Chi Wing Lau, English; and Michael Leong, English.
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Approved the Class of 2026 candidates for graduation, including a posthumous degree for Lucian Li ’26.
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Approved the slate of honorary degree candidates to be awarded at Commencement 2026: James “Jim” Patrick Finn ’70, Kenyon College trustee and member of the Kenyon Review Board, who died in October 2025; and Paul Tazewell, award-winning costume designer and commencement speaker for the Class of 2026.
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Approved the slate of honorary degree candidates to be awarded to retiring faculty: Read Baldwin, art; Siobhan Fennessy, biology and environmental studies; Marcella Hackbardt, art; John Hofferberth, chemistry; Jennifer Johnson, sociology; Wendy MacLeod, drama; Wade Powell, biology; Patricia Lyn Richards, Italian; Stephen Van Holde, political science and international studies; and Yang Xiao, philosophy.
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Adopted a memorial resolution in honor of Russell Batt H’00, professor emeritus of chemistry.
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Recognized the service of outgoing trustees: Aileen Hefferren ’88 H’12, Pamela Hoehn-Saric ’80 P’10,’14, and Melzetta Moody ’05.