Friday, Oct. 23

7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Hotel Shuttle

Continuous loop between the Mount Vernon Hampton Inn and the parking loop on the east side of the Church of the Holy Spirit at Kenyon.

8 - 10 a.m. Breakfast 

Self-pay through the Peirce Hall servery. Check out local restaurants for additional options. Peirce Dining Hall

9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Registration Center Open

The Registration Center will be open for all attendees to check in, pick up their event materials and receive their name badge. Please note that all attendees are required to check in. Alumni & Parent Welcome Center, 101 Scott Lane 

9 a.m. Morning Hike

Start your day with fresh air and beautiful scenery on a guided hike led by the staff of the Brown Family Environmental Center. Enjoy a peaceful walk through the trails while learning more about Kenyon’s natural landscape and the work of the BFEC. Meet at the Brown Family Environmental Center Resource Center located at 9781 Laymon Rd.

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Networking with Students

Alumni and current students are invited to connect at a networking reception with free continental breakfast hosted by the Career Development Office. This is an opportunity to build new connections, share career experiences, discuss industry trends and exchange insights about career paths. Open to all alumni and students. Peirce Pub

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Alumni Seminar: Using Art to Foster Observation Skills in an Introductory Biology Lab 

Head back to class and join us for an interdisciplinary conversation on how students in Introduction to Experimental Biology engage in a prolonged observation exercise with artwork from The Gund’s permanent collection to hone observation and develop higher-order skills that are difficult to teach. Featuring Lead Instructor and Director of Introductory Labs in Biology Jennifer McMahon and Pamela and Christopher Hoehn-Saric Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs and Education at The Gund Jodi Kovach. We recommend arriving 15 minutes to secure your spot, as this event has a capacity limit of 25. This seminar will also be offered at 3 p.m. Buchwald-Wright Gallery (second floor), Gund Gallery

10 - 11 a.m. Goat Yoga with Pure Passions Farm

Start your day with a little movement, a lot of laughter and adorable four-legged companions! Join Pure Passions Farm for Goat Yoga, where gentle yoga meets playful interactions with friendly goats.  We recommend arriving 15 minutes to secure your spot, as this event has a capacity limit of 25. Peirce Lawn, south of Ransom Hall

11 a.m. - noon. Documentary Screening with Jennifer Mizenko ’85

Jennifer Mizenko ’85 is a professor emerita of dance & movement for the actor at the University of Mississippi where she ran the dance and movement program for 30 years. Her recent creative research has focused on community projects that tell the stories of the enslaved in Lafayette County, Mississippi. She was the producer and choreographer of two site-specific physical theatre projects that brought to life the research of the University of Mississippi Slavery Research Group. Through dance, song and the search for ancestry, the 33-minute documentary “Moving Spirits: Encountering the Ancestors” illuminates the hidden histories of those enslaved at Rowan Oak and reveals the enduring desire of Black Mississippians to uncover their family legacies. Mizenko will screen the film, with a discussion to follow, moderated by Renee Peck ’75. Archon Auditorium, Oden Hall

11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch

Please note the Peirce Hall servery is busiest around noon when students are also having lunch. Check out local restaurants for additional options. Peirce Dining Hall

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Open Swim

Open to all. James A. Steen Aquatic Center inside the Lowry Center

1:15 p.m. Beyond the Gates: Kenyon’s Newest Additions Tour

Join Macy Shelton ’29 for a guided walking tour of the College’s newest spaces. Get a first-hand look at how campus has evolved while learning about today’s student experience. Meet at the north door of the Church of the Holy Spirit

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Alumni Seminar: Political Science 449, Democracy in Crisis

Join alumnae with domestic and international relations expertise for this seminar version of Professor Pam Camerra-Rowe’s course. PSCI 449, “Democracy in Crisis,” looks at the rise of nationalist right-wing parties, limitations on the free press, the erosion of democratic norms, political party and civil society polarization, apathy on the part of young people, the spread of disinformation and how abuses of democratic institutions pose serious threats to the values that liberal democratic regimes seek to uphold. The course examines the ways democratic backsliding has manifested itself in various countries such as Hungary, Poland, Turkey, the Philippines and the United States; discusses why it has occurred; the consequences for citizens; and the ways in which democratic regimes can be protected from democratic erosion. Archon Auditorium, Oden Hall

Featuring:

• Bridget Brink ’91, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
• Jenny Mallamo ’08, senior director for communications and public affairs, The Brookings Institution
• Rebecca Shoot ’06, co-convener, Washington Working Group for the International Criminal Court and co-convener, ImPact Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions
• Professor of Political Science Pam Camerra-Rowe (moderator)
• Harry M. Clor Professor of Political Science Dave Rowe (moderator) 

2:45 - 3:45 p.m. GenerosiTea & Conversation Hosted by the Generosity Project

Join emerita trustee Nina Freedman ’77 H’92, along with current trustees Chris Sharkey ’80 and Anne Ranson ’92, for a casual conversation about leadership as a form of generosity. Together, these distinguished alumnae bring a rich cross-section of Kenyon history — from historic campus "firsts" (including the first female Student Council President and E. Malcolm Anderson Cup winner) to vital current board governance. Light refreshments and swag will be provided courtesy of the Generosity Project. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with a few of Kenyon's most distinguished alumnae leaders while they are on campus! Peirce Pub

3 p.m. Alumni Seminar: Using Art to Foster Observation Skills in an Introductory Biology Lab

Head back to class and join us for an interdisciplinary conversation on how students in Introduction to Experimental Biology engage in a prolonged observation exercise with artwork from The Gund’s permanent collection to hone observation and develop higher-order skills that are difficult to teach. Featuring Lead Instructor and Director of Introductory Labs in Biology Jennifer McMahon and Pamela and Christopher Hoehn-Saric Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs and Education at The Gund Jodi Kovach. We recommend arriving 15 minutes to secure your spot, as this event has a capacity limit of 25. This seminar will also be offered at 9:30 a.m. Buchwald-Wright Gallery (second floor), Gund Gallery

4 p.m. Meaning of Death: Putting Life in Perspective

Inspired by the popular religious studies class, this conversation will explore universal end-of-life questions, planning, supports and spirituality with experts in the field. From how we talk and think about this universal experience as a society to how to support a loved one, with recognition of the outsized role women play as caregivers. Pair with “Life of Meaning” session on Saturday for an exploration of how the meaning of death is about the meaning of life. Archon Auditorium, Oden Hall 

Featuring:

• Larae Bush Schrader ’97 (moderator), estate planning and elder law
• Dr. Katie Cunin ’97, hospitalist and hospice physician
• Royal Rhodes, professor emeritus of religious studies
• Gina Kornfeind ’85, community outreach and training social worker at Good Grief

*Staff from Kokosing Nature Preserve will be tabling in the lobby, providing information about Kenyon's conservation burial ground located on Quarry Chapel Road, the first and only natural burial cemetery in central Ohio. There will also be a guided "Walk and Talk" at Kokosing Nature Preserve Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Through a Curatorial Lens: The Gund Associates in Conversation with Daisy Desrosiers

Join the curatorial team of Gund Associates for a student-led conversation with Daisy Desrosiers, former David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation Director and Chief Curator for The Gund, and newly named Britton Family Curator-at-Large, North America, at Tate Modern. Led by members of The Gund’s curatorial associate team, the conversation will explore the evolving role of curators and curatorial practice in the contemporary art world. Through questions developed by the associates, Daisy will reflect on her own practice, the curatorial vision she has helped shape at The Gund, her work with Tate, and the ideas, relationships and responsibilities that inform curatorial work today. Together, the conversation offers a look at curatorial practice from the perspective of both an established curator and the next generation of arts professionals. Community Foundation Theater, The Gund

5:30 - 7 p.m. Conference Kickoff Celebration

For registered alumni and guests only. Kenyon’s inaugural Women’s Conference will kick off with a celebratory welcome reception, bringing together alumni and friends for an evening of connection and inspiration. Join us as we open this exciting new chapter with a small plates dinner, beverages (including beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks) and the opportunity to reconnect with classmates, meet fellow attendees and build new relationships across generations. This relaxed and welcoming gathering will set the tone for a weekend of meaningful conversations, thought-provoking sessions and shared experiences. Immediately followed by music and s’mores on the Gund Commons patio (students are welcome to join attendees on the patio). Gund Commons Ballroom

7 - 9 p.m. Music & S’mores

Join us for complimentary food trucks from Tabouli Cafe and Yura Bowl, music from the band Morganized Crime and s’mores. In case of inclement weather, this event will be rescheduled to Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Gund Commons patio

7 - 8:30 p.m. Sisterhood Networking Reception

Join Sisterhood for a special reception bringing together alumni and current students for an evening of connection, conversation and community. This gathering is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds across generations of Sisterhood members, celebrate shared experiences and foster meaningful relationships. Brief remarks will be shared at 7:30 p.m. Alumni Dining Room, Peirce Hall

9 p.m. Miller Observatory Open House

Join Professor of Physics Paula Turner for an open house, weather permitting. Miller Observatory: Turn right from Wiggin St. onto Route 229, drive about 0.2 miles, and turn right onto the blacktop road marked by a Kenyon sign. Follow the road up the hill to the observatory. Parking is limited.