Milton Magazine Spring/Summer 2026

“Scratchany economist andyou’ll endupwith ‘thegreatest investmentwe canmakeisin theeducation ofthefuture workforceand ourkids.”

MESSAGEFROMTHEEDITOR

It’satremendoushonortotakethereinsof MiltonMagazine asitsthirdeditoranda privilegetotellthestoriesofthisschooland its remarkable people.

MiltonAcademyisnotmyalmamater.But ithasbeenmy mostconstantplace, beginningin2016whenIjoinedtheCommunicationsOfficeandstartedworkingon Milton Magazine asanassociateeditorandwriter. It’sbeenadecadeofgraduations,newkindergartners,belly laughsaroundForbestables,tearsshedduringKingTheatre shows,thrillingMustangswins,wonderfulalumniconversations, andinspiring,life-changinglessons.Adecadeof unforgettable stories.Tobearwitnesstothelife ofaschool—especiallyoneas specialasMilton—isajoyIcouldneverhaveimaginedwhen Ibeganmycareer.

Thetrove of storiesaboutMiltongraduatesmakingtheir mark intheworldisdelightfully,spectacularlyendless.Email magazine@milton.edutoshareyours.

MarisaDonelan

ChallengeAccepted

AsCEOofCentene, SarahLondon’98 confrontshealthcare’s toughestmoralandfinancialquestions.

16

TheEconomistintheArena

FromMilton’sspeechanddebateteamtotheWhiteHousetothe ChicagoFed, AustanGoolsbee’87 hasspenthiscareerapplying economictheorytoreal-worldchallenges.

22

BuiltfortheBigLeagues

Oneofthecountry’smostpowerfulwomeninfinance, Christina Minnis’83 embracescomplexitywithcourageandoptimism.

HEADOFSCHOOL

Alixe Callen’88

CHIEFCOMMUNICATIONSOFFICER

EileenNewman

EDITOR

MarisaDonelan

COPYEDITOR

KimberlyAshton

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

KimberlyAshton

KaraBaskin

A threepeatfor the MathTeam; Milton students’ research os published; senior takes financial literacy across borders; three sisters take the squash world by storm

AlexanderGelfand

LauraGrunberger

LewisRice

MikeSweeney’93

DESIGN

ModMag/PatrickMitchell

André Mora

CONTRIBUTINGARTISTS

AndrewBannecker

BrianCummings

JamDong

AaronFernandez

JohnGillooly

AyaKakeda

JonathanKozowyk

Kjeld Mahoney

AdamMcCauley

ScottNobles

Adam Richins

KarolinSchnoor

Jeff Sciortino

Emily Sedgwick

BradTrent

miltonmagazineispublishedtwiceayear

“UNLEASHME” Dancersperformahiphop/K-pop-inspiredpiece attheWinterDance Concert.Choreographed by KittyLai’26 and JoannaZhang’27,the dance,titled“Unleash Me,”embodiestheprocess ofone’smultipleselves.

TheMiltonEquation

THECOMBINATIONOFAGENCY,KNOWLEDGE,ANDETHICSREMAINSTHESCHOOL’SMOST POWERFULFORMULAFORPREPARINGSTUDENTSTOSHAPETHEWORLD.

theterm“agency” seemstobehavingamoment. Ihavereadarticleshailing(andothers decrying)socalled“highagency.”Apparently,inadditiontoIQand EQ,employersshouldbehiringpeoplewithhighAQ (agencyquotient). □ IoftensaythatMiltoniswhere Idevelopedmyownsenseofagency. Indeed,Milton haslongturnedoutgraduateswhohavedemonstrated anabilitytomakethingshappen.Werecognize thatalongsideourbest-in-classeducationcomesa responsibilitytogiveback, tomakeadifference.The vastaccomplishmentsofouralumniarelivingevidence of thepowerof thatmessaging. □ Butasweallknow, agencyalonecanbedangerous.Inmylastpiecefor Milton Magazine,IwroteaboutMilton’shistorical commitmenttotheethicaldevelopmentof itsstudents. Inclassrooms,aroundthetablesinForbes,onourstages andfields,inourstudentnewspapers,studentsare constantlyhoningtheirownmoralcompasses, ensuring thattheyhavedevelopedapersonalsenseofrightand wrong. □ Alongsideagencyandethics,Miltonhasalso embracedtheimportanceandpowerofknowledge, believingthatboth theattainmentandtheapplication ofknowledgetoreal-lifeproblemsarecriticalpursuits. Milton’scampus isaplacewhereit’s cooltobe smart. □ Here, thesethreeideals—knowledge,agency, andethics—existina tightlycalibratedtriangle.Milton studentsandgraduatesknowthatknowledgeorethics withoutagencyisuseless.Agencywithoutknowledge orethicsisdangerous.AroundourHarknesstablesand withintheirassignmentsandfeedback,Miltonteachers push ourstudentstodevelopallthreeideals. □ And theresultsareimpressive. Ouralumniknowhow tousetheirsuccessforgood—asmentors,headsof foundations, donors toMilton,andthosewhouse theirconsiderabletalentsandeducationinthehallsof power.Whileweregularlybringthesealumniback

tocampustosharetheirimpactwith students,aspartofanewinitiative, wehaveextendedthatopportunitytoMiltonalumniandfamilies.In aseriesofeventsaroundthecountry,alumniandfamilieshavegatheredtohearfromMiltongraduates whoseworkillustratestheseideals of knowledge, agency, and ethics.At aneventattheNationalPressClub inWashington,D.C.,thisspring, UnitedStatesRepresentative SETH MAGAZINER‘02 andBrookingsInstitutionFellow TONANTZINCARMONA‘08 discussedthewaysthat Miltonpreparedthemtotakeon thedomesticissuesofourtime.In NewYorkCity,threealumnidiscussedtheimpactofAIonourfinancialsystems.InLosAngeles, alumniheardfrom BETSYBEERS ‘75 and CELESTEHUGHEY‘04 ,both ofwhomaresuccessfulwomen— writersandshowrunners—inthe entertainmentindustry.

Thisissuefeaturesexamplesof Milton grads whoareliving lives ofdeeppurpose,embodyingthe knowledge,ethics,andagencythey developedhereonCentreStreet. Theyareleadersatthetopsoftheir fieldswhodemonstratetheseidealsintheirabilitytothoughtfullyadapttoaconstantlychanging world, theirembraceof thorny challenges,andtheirconfidenceinmakingdifficult decisions.

Inthesepagesyouwillalsofind thestoriesofyoungMiltonpeople alreadylivingthesevalues—arecentalumnusmanagingafull-time collegeschedulewhilerunninghis ownbusiness;currentstudentsgettingajumponreal-worldeconomic andfinancialexperience;andLower Schoolstudentsinvestigatingsmart solutionstomakecommunitieswork

“I believe that Milton and schools like it hold a powerful antidoteto many of the problemswe face.”

betterforpeople ofallabilities. Thesestoriesgivemehope. What’sespeciallypowerfultome isthatthesevaluesofknowledge, agency,andethicsaresocommonly heldacrossourcommunity:There arenewsmakersandindustryleadersamongus,ofcourse,andteachers,policymakers,scientists,and artistslivingtheseidealseveryday. Therearestudentswhosehunger forlearning—andtheinspiration thatcuriositybringsthem—drives themtowardpurposeandmeaningfulactionwellbeforetheycrossthe stageatGraduation.

Today’sworldneedssmartpeoplewiththeagencytotakeonmajor challengesandtheethicalfoundation to lead with integrity.We live inatimeofgreatdisruptionand confusion:a“post-truth”landscape

thataffectseveryaspectofoursociety,includingadisheartening erosionoftrustineducationalinstitutions.IbelievethatMiltonand schools like ithold a powerfulantidotetomanyoftheproblemswe face.Wehavestudentswhorefuse toshyawayfromhardthingsand educatorswholookbeyondwhat’s always beendone tostep bravely toward what’spossible.

Theproofisinourpeople—our younglearnerswhoareexpanding theirknowledge,agency,andethical developmentallthetime,andour fellowalumniwholivetheseidealsintheirworkandtheirpassions. AsIwrite,Miltonispreparingto launchanewgroupofgraduates readytobringthesevaluesintothe worldbeyondcampus.Ican’twait tosee what they’lldo.

MogulintheMaking

FOCUSED,DISCIPLINED,ANDTHOUGHTFULBEYONDHISYEARS,19-YEAR-OLD HAYESBENZAN ISAPPLYINGLESSONSFROMSOCCERANDHISBUSINESSTOSHAPE ACOMMUNITY-MINDEDAPPROACHTOLEADERSHIP.

BYLAURAGRUNBERGER

bythetime HAYESBENZAN’25 graduatedfromMilton,hehadalreadylaunchedhisfirstbusiness, BenzBoots,anonlinemarketplace whereyoungsoccerplayerscould buyandsellcleats.

Nowafirst-yearstudentathlete atBostonUniversity’sQuestrom SchoolofBusiness,Benzanisbalancingthedemandsofcollegelife withrunningadigitalmarketing company.Hisvideoseriesabout leadershipandentrepreneurshiphas spotlightedMassachusettsbusiness andcivicleaders—includingMiltonalumnusandformergovernor DEVALPATRICK’74.Somewhereinbetween,heisalsomanagingasteady streamofclientprojects(including workforMiltonAcademy)andcontentcreation.

Inthisconversationwith Milton Magazine,Benzanreflectsonstartingabusinessasastudent,lessons fromsoccer,andwhyhisfather’sadviceto“takeimperfectaction”has shapedhowheapproacheslifeand entrepreneurship.

HOWDOYOUBALANCE STUDENTLIFE,ATHLETICS, ANDRUNNINGABUSINESS? WHATDOESTHATLOOKLIKE DAYTODAY?

IuseGoogleCalendaralot!I’m prettystructuredwithmyschedule—whattimeIwakeup,whenI gotobed,andhowIplanmyday. Itwasanadjustmentatfirst,especiallygoingfromhavingthefirst fourhoursofmydayopentosuddenlydedicatingthattimetosoccer training.ThebestadviceIgotwas thatnomatterhowmanyschedulingtoolsyouuse,youstillonly have24hoursinaday.Youhaveto

decidewhatmattersmosttoyou andwhoyouwanttospendyour timewith.

WHATDIDYOULEARNFROM RUNNINGBENZBOOTS, ANDHOWDIDTHATEXPERIENCE SHAPETHEWORKYOU’RE DOINGNOW?

WhenIstartedBenzBootsatMilton,itfeltlikeahugeproject.Lookingback,Iwouldn’tcallitabig success,butitgavemetheexperienceoflaunchingsomethingand learningwhatittakestogetpeopleinterestedinanidea.

WhileIwasbuildingthebusiness,Iexperimentedwithalotof differentthings—apodcast,events, andevenafive-on-fivesoccertournamentwherelocalplayerspaid toparticipate.Butthecoreidea— sellingcleats—didn’ttakeoffthe wayIexpected.Ittaughtmeanimportantlesson,whichis:Itdoesn’t matterhowmuchyoubelieveina productifthereisn’trealdemand forit.

Aroundthattime,Iwenttoan eventhostedbymymom’shairstylist.Inoticednoneofitwasbeing documentedorsharedonline.With BenzBoots,onethingIhaddone wellwasdocumentingeverything andbuildinganonlinepresence,so itmademerealizethatmanysmall businessesstrugglewithdigital marketing.

Iendeduphelpingherwithher onlinepresence.Ibuiltawebsite, ranFacebookads,createdsocial mediacontent,andsentemails.She paidme$200,andatthetimeitfelt likeafortune!Moreimportantthan themoney,thegigshowedmethose skillshad realvalue.

WHATMOTIVATESYOUABOUT MARKETINGASACAREER?

Partofitcomesfromseeinghow hardsmallbusinessownerswork andhowmuchtheystrugglesometimes.Businessesgivepeopleautonomy and a chance to create somethingforthemselves.Marketingplaysahugeroleinwhetherthosebusinessessucceed.

IfIcanhelpsomeonemarket theirbusinessbetter,theycanmake moremoney,supporttheirfamily, andprovidevaluetotheircommunity.

HOWDIDYOULEARNTHESKILLS YOU’REUSINGNOW?

A lotofitcamefrom Milton. Itook filmclasseseveryyearIcould.For myseniorproject,Iinterviewed businessowners,editedthevideos, and posted themonsocialmedia.

Thatclasstaughtmevideoediting,whichturnedouttobeoneof themostvaluableskillsIlearned at Milton. Even the work I do now helpingMiltonwithadmissions videoscomesdirectlyfromthose skills.

YOU’VEINTERVIEWEDMANY BUSINESSLEADERSFORYOUR VIDEOSERIES.DIDANYTHING STANDOUTTOYOUFROM THOSECONVERSATIONS?

I’veinterviewedbusinessowners and leadersfrom many differentindustries—architects,stylists, eventproducers,evenaformer governor.

Onepieceofadvicethatstuck with mecamefrom GovernorDevalPatrick.Hetoldme:“Onceyou

figureoutthatyoucanfigureitout, you’llbeokay.”

YOUONCESAIDTHATYOUR FATHERENCOURAGEDYOUTO “TAKEIMPERFECTACTION.” WHATDOESTHATMEANTOYOU?

MydadandIarereallyclose.He alwayssaystwothings:“Takeimperfectaction,”and“Ifitwereeasy, everyonewoulddoit.”

Tome,takingimperfectaction meansmovingforwardevenwhen you’renotsureeverythingwillwork out.Alotofthetimeyou’restepping intotheunknown.Youmightfail, but youstilltake the shot.

HOWDOYOUDEALWITH SETBACKSOROBSTACLES?

Itrytoremindmyselftobegrateful. Every morning I write a short journal entry, andat the end I write downonethingI’mgratefulfor— evensomethingsimplelikeseeing thesunorspendingtimewithfamily.

MyparentsalsoemphasizedeffortoverresultswhenIwasgrowingup.

WHATHASSOCCERTAUGHT YOUABOUTLEADERSHIPAND RESILIENCE?

Soccerhasshaped a lotof who I am. I’ve been playing since I was 3 or 4 yearsold,andIwascaptainmysenior year at Milton.

OnebigmomentwaswhenI brokemylegasafreshman.Ifracturedmytibiaandwasoutfor months.Thatexperiencemademe appreciatethingsItookforgranted,likesimplybeingabletowalk. Italsoshowedmehowsupportive

theMiltoncommunityis—coachesandteammatesvisitedmewhile Iwasrecovering.

DOYOUTHINKYOURGENERATIONHASADIFFERENT PERSPECTIVEONWHATDRIVES SUCCESSINBUSINESSTODAY?

TechnologyandAIaregoingto changeeverything,justliketheinternetdid.ButIthinkwhatwill separatesuccessfulfoundersisbeingmission-driven,tappingintoa personalbrand,andhumanconnections.

Anyonecanlearntechnicalskills today,likeeditingvideo,posting content,orrunningads.Whatreallymattersishowmuchyoucare aboutpeople.Canyoubringthatlittlebitofmagic,thathumantouch?

IFYOUCOULDGIVEADVICETO YOURYOUNGERSELFATMILTON, WHATWOULDITBE?

Tryalotofdifferentthings.Miltonofferssomanyopportunities: classes, activities, people tomeet.

Butonceyoudiscoversomething youtrulyenjoy,doubledownonit. It’sbettertogodeeponsomething meaningfulthantojoindozensof clubsjusttolistthemonanapplication.

YOU’REONLY19ANDALREADY DOINGALOT.HOWDOYOU THINKABOUTTHEFUTURE?

Istillhavealottolearn.I’mjust gettingstarted.It’sexcitingtoshare whatI’veexperiencedsofar,butI knowthere’smuchmoreahead.This definitelyfeelslikethebeginning of the story.

“A lot of the time you’re stepping into the unknown. Youmight fail, but you still take the shot.”

SPRING/SUMMER2026

DARETOLEAD

UNCERTAINTIMESDEMANDGREATLEADERS— ANDGREATLEADERSHIPDEMANDSCOURAGE, INTELLECT,ANDANUNSHAKABLESENSE OFETHICS.MILTONCENTERSTHESEIDEALS INITSCLASSROOMSANDCOMMUNITY ATLARGE.ALUMNIATTHETOPSOFTHEIR FIELDSCITETHEIRMILTONEXPERIENCESAS FOUNDATIONALINPREPARINGTHEMTOLEAD. ONCAMPUS,STUDENTSBEGINLEADINGAS SOONASTHEYBEGINLEARNING,READYING THEMSELVESFORTHEWORLDTHEYWILL INHERITWITHTHECONFIDENCENEEDEDTO EFFECTPOSITIVEANDLASTINGCHANGE.

Story by KimberlyAshton

by Brian Cummings

Challenge Accepted

theamericanhealth caresystemisaGordianknottyingtogetherhumanlives,bigbusiness, andtheU.S.government.Bymost measures,it’sthemostcomplicated intheworld,bedevilingpresidents, bafflingeconomists,andfrustrating, well,everybody.It’snowonderSarahLondon’98wasdrawntoit.

“Theideaofworkingonsomethingthat’sreally,reallyhardandhas animpactisincrediblyrewarding,” says London, theCEOof Centene,a Fortune25companyandthenation’s largestMedicaidandMedicaremanaged carecompany.

Forsomeonewholovesachallenge,Londoncouldhardlyhave pickedabettertimetoascendtothe topjobatCentene:Thepastseveral yearshavebeenremarkablytumultuousinthehealthcareindustry,particularlyfororganizationsthatserve lower-incomeAmericans.Costshave surged,COVID-eraallowancesfor Medicaideligibilitycametoanend, andenhancedAffordableCareAct (ACA) subsidies expired.

Whenshetookthejob,in2022, shewas41andtheyoungestfemale CEOintheFortune500.During herfirstyear,sheredirectedCentene’sfocusfromrelentlessgrowth tothecoremissionofservingpeople whorelyongovernment-sponsored healthcare.Thefollowingyear,she landedonthe Fortune MostPowerfulWomeninBusinesslist.

MuchofLondon’sattractionto tacklingtough-to-solveproblems canbetracedbacktohertimeat Milton.“Itchallengedyou,andthere werenoeasypasses,”shesays.“Andit rewardedandreinforcedwhenyou stepped up to that challenge, and builtcompetencethatbuiltconfidence—notego,butjust,‘Okay,I

candohardthings.Icanbalancea lotofwork.Icanthinkaboutsomethingdifferently.Icancomeupwith anewidea.’”

Sheremembersdoinghomework inthelibraryonedayduringherjunioryearwhenherchemistryteacher, BobTyler, approached her and askedifsheplannedtotakeHonorsBiology.

“Iwaslike,‘No,it’sreallyhard. It’s supposedto bereally hard,’” she recallstellinghim.“Andhebasicallywaslike,‘No,youhaveto.’”She pushedback,sayinghercourseload wasalreadytoughandthatregular biowasfine.“Buthesaid,‘No,you can’t…I’mnotgoingtoletyoutake apass.’Anditendedupbeingone ofmyfavoriteclassesbecauseitwas insanelychallenging,andsotoactuallyfigureitoutwassogratifying,”shesays.

WhatstoodouttoheraboutTyler’sencouragementwashowmuch hecared,despiteherfeelinglike “justanotherchemistrystudent”in theclass.Tylerwasn’ttheonlyone. Londonsaysshecouldgiveplenty ofotherexamplesofteacherswho wereinvestedinhersuccess,and who“sawtheirroleashelpingto developandpushandsortofsay, ‘You are capableof more.’AndIjust lovedit.”

SheenteredMiltonatthestartof seventhgrade,havingmovedwith herfamilyfromNorthernNewJerseytoBostonafterhermothergot ajobteachingwritingatHarvard University.Londonremembersgoingtoawelcomepartyorganized byclassparents;thefirstpersonshe mettherebecameoneofherclosest friendsatMilton.“Thespeedwith whichIendedupfindingmypeoplewasjustweird,”shesays.“Ifound

Top:LondonataMilton tennismatch;bottomleft andright:Londonather 1998Graduation.

this group, and we werereferred to as the DSGs, the Day StudentGirls, becausewewerejustagroupofnerds, basically,andwelovedit,andwe didn’tcare.”

Eachgirlhadherowninterests and points of view but they all had onethingincommon:“Wereally, reallycaredaboutschool,”London says.Theylikedtohangoutanddo homeworktogetherbutalsoleaned intotheirindividualism.“Oneofthe coolthingsaboutMiltonatthetime Iwasthere,itwasreallyokaytobe whoeveryouwere,”shesays,rememberingthatsheandherfriendsspent alotoftimewatching Dawson’s Creek whileeatingcookiedoughbut would also getinto“justvery vehement debatesabout, like, Israeli foreignpolicy…wewoulddisagreeand debate.Anditreallysharpenedour mindsandperspectives.”Theyhad differentopinionsbutthesamevalues:diligence,hardwork,andbeing truetothemselves.“It’slikebeingon anA-team,”Londonsays.

Aftergraduating,Londonwentto Harvard,wheresheplayedDivision Itennisandmajoredinhistoryand literature,focusingonBritainand FranceintheWorldWarIIera.The majorhadnorequiredclassessostudentshadtocreatetheirowncurriculum.Londonlikedthatshegotto exploreanarrayofsubjectsandfigure out howthey were all connected.

FreshoutofHarvard,sheturned downajobatGoldmanSachsand headedtoHollywood,“deeplyhorrifyingmyfather,”whoworkedin finance.Workinginthefilmindustryseemedtoherlikeagoodwayto feed thepartof herthat wrotepoetryaswellasthepartofherthatwas drawntothe businessworld.

Londongotajobinatalentagen-

cy,whereshelearned“literallyhow togetanythingdone.Itwasthegreatestlessoninadultingthatyoucould everhave.”Butsherealizedthatwhile shelikedmovies,shedidn’thavethe passionforthemitwouldtaketosustainacareerintheindustry.“And, so, I went back to Boston andended upgettinghookedonhealthcare,” shesays.

Shestartedworkingasadirector ofspecialprojectsforanonprofit, venture-backedhealthcarestartup calledProjectHealth(nowHealth Leads),whichwasfoundedbyafellowHarvardgraduate.Itwasone oftheearliestmodelsaroundcommunityhealthworkers,focusedon thesafety-netpopulationatBoston MedicalCenter.Theideawasthat collegestudentswouldconnectfamiliestoresourcesthatcouldhelpthese familiesovercomebarrierstogetting healthier.

Forexample,Londonexplains, childrenwouldcomebacktothe ERrepeatedlyforasthmaattacks— theyhadinhalersandknewhowto usethem,butlivedinsubstandard housingwithcockroachesandmold thatirritatedtheirlungs.Orchildren wouldcomeinwithdiabeteswhose

familieswerelivingincars,sothey hadnoplacetorefrigerateinsulin. ForLondon,theexperiencesparked adeepinterestinusinginformation toimprovehealthcareforunderservedpopulations.

Aroundthatsametime,medical recordswerebeingdigitized,makingitpossibletolookatbothclinicaldataandbillingdata.Shecould seehowthisinformation—from population-leveltrendstoaskinga motherifshehadarefrigeratorat home—wasgoingtochangemedicalcareentirely.

Londondecidedtogotobusiness schooltofigureoutwhatacareerat theintersectionofhealthcareand datacouldlooklike.Shechosethe UniversityofChicagoforitscurriculumandfoundthatitremindedher ofMilton.

“Itwasallaboutteachingyou howtothink,notwhattothink,”she says.“WhenIappliedtotheschool, theirmottowas‘ChallengeEverything,’whichisalotlike‘Daretobe true,’right?Andsothathasbecome apersonalmottoandamentalityfor me—nottobedifficult,buttoask, ‘Isthereabetterway?Whyisthis thewayitis?Howdowepushthe boundary?’”

AfterearninganMBA,shetooka jobatHumedica(whichlatergotacquiredbyOptum).Thecompany,she says,wasattheleadingedgeofhelpinghealthsystemsfigureouthowto usedatatomanagemedicalcareina value-basedwayandtoreducecosts.

“Ifellinlovewith…whichisweird to say, but Idid, I fell in love with data,”shesays.

Oversevenyears,shemoved throughclientservices,management,andoperationsbeforejoining OptumVentures,whereshefocused

onhelpinghealthcaregothrough thekindofdigitalrevolutionthat hadtransformedfinancialservices.

In2020,aroleatCenteneopened thatLondondescribesas“thismagicalconfluenceofallthethingsthat hadbeenpartofmycareerfromthe verybeginning.”She’dbeworkingin technologystrategyandmodernization,andforacompanythatserved, at the time,28millionAmericans.

“Healthcareisanindustrythat canbeincrediblyentrenched.And soyouneedincumbentstoleanin andcrackthedooropenforinnovationtoactuallytakerootand scale,”shesays.ForLondon,that meantensuringthebenefitsreached low-income,medicallycomplex Americans—peoplewhoareoften the last to see the gains from innovationintheindustry.

Injusttwoyears,sherosefrom seniorvicepresidenttovicechairmantoCEO.Shetookoverfroma predecessorwhohadbuiltthecompanyfroma$40millionsingle-state entityintoa$140billionnational enterprise within 25years.

Londonsaysshefeltanincredible senseofresponsibilitytomeetthe expectationsofCentene’smembers, customers,andshareholders.But whatshewasmostnervousabout, she says, is whatshe calls the“moralhazardquestion.”

“Thisistheideathatyou’rerunningapubliccompanythatneedsto deliversustainableprofitability,and youareservingavulnerablepopulation,”shesays.“Therealityisthat eveninanonprofit,youcan’tdoit withoutmargin,becauseyouhave tobeabletoinvestinthecapabilities that you can bring forward to members.”

InguidingtheworkofCentene’s

“Itwasallaboutteachingyouhow tothink,notwhattothink.”

roughly60,000employees,London prioritizestransparencyandcommunication,andmakesapointtomeet withpeopleatalllevelsoftheorganizationtogetcandidfeedbackon what’sworkingandwhat’snot.Particularlyin2025,whichshedescribes asanexceptionallychallengingyear forthe industryand forCentene, she feltanintensedesiretocommunicate frequentlywithemployees.

“Paintingavision,paintingthe where-we’re-going-and-why…isa powerfulorganizingforce.Itcarriesthegravityofalmostanorbitingplanet.It’slike,‘We’regoingto themoon.’Andthere’sagravitationalpulltothat,”LondonsaidinaFebruary interview withCNBC.

Themostrewardingpartofher job,shesays,isbeingpartofamission-driventeam:“It’soneofthose teamsthat,likebackinseventh grade,Igottobepartof.I’maround peopleeverydaywhoaresmarter thanIamandwhoworktheirbutts offandreally,reallycareandwant tosolveproblemstogether.”

Andwhileshedescribesherselfas “notalwaysanoptimist,”thededicationsheseesaroundhertoimprove Americanhealthcare,combined withtherevolutionarypowerofartificialintelligencetoprovidebetter dataandlowercosts,givesherreasonforhope.

“But,youknow,”sheadds,“take thatwithagrainofsalt,becauseI reallylikehard things.” ■

KIMBERLYASHTONISAFREELANCE WRITERANDEDITORWHOSEWORK FOCUSESONSTORYTELLINGFOR EDUCATIONALINSTITUTIONS.SHE ISTHEFORMEREDITOROF BERKLEE TODAY ,ANDHASWRITTENFOR THEASSOCIATEDPRESSAND THE BOSTONGLOBE

Opposite:(Top)London withherfamily;(bottom) withhersonsataMilton Reunion.Below:London withherclosestMilton friends(L-R):NiaJacobs ’98,Lindsay(Haynes) Lowder’98,London,and Lydon(Friedrich)Vonnegut ’98atLowder’swedding andagainatReunion.

The Arena

Economist

FROMMILTON’SSPEECHANDDEBATE TEAMTOTHEWHITEHOUSETOTHE CHICAGOFED,AUSTANGOOLSBEE ’87HASSPENTHISCAREERAPPLYING ECONOMICTHEORYTOREAL-WORLD CHALLENGES.

Storyby Alexander Gelfand Photographs by Jeff Sciortino

AUSTANGOOLSBEE’87,presidentand CEOoftheFederalReserveBank ofChicago,wouldlikeyoutoknow somethingabouttheFederalReserveSystem.

Actually,he’dlikeyoutoknow anything abouttheFederalReserve System.

“In polling, the majorityof peoplesaytheydon’tknowwhattheFed does,yetanevenbiggermajoritysays whatevertheFeddoes,theythink it’sdoingabadjob,”Goolsbeesays.

Thisisaproblem,insofarasthe FederalReserveisoneofthemost importanteconomicinstitutionsin the country.

Establishedin1913undertheFederalReserveAct,theFedactsasthe centralbankoftheUnitedStates, withaso-calleddualmandateto promotemaximumemployment andstableprices.ItincludesaBoard ofGovernorsbasedinWashington, D.C.,and12RegionalFederalReserve Banksthatservedistrictsmadeup ofmultiplestates(theChicagoFed, forexample,servesthe7thDistrict, whichcomprisesalargechunkof theMidwest).Together,theymake uptheFederalOpenMarketCommittee,whichsetsmonetarypolicy byadjustinginterestrates.

AsGoolsbeeexplains,thecreationofadecentralizednetworkof regionalreservebankswasintendedtopreventcontrolofthefinan-

cialsystemfromfallingcompletely intothehandsofWashingtonand WallStreet.Instead,institutionslike theChicagoFed—whichservesmore than35millionpeopleacrossIllinois, Indiana,Iowa,Michigan,andWisconsin—ensurethattheFederalReserveSystemreceivesindependent input onthe state ofthe economy fromotherpartsofthecountry.

Yetonaday-to-daybasis,theregionalreservebanksareresponsible foralotmorethanthat.TheChicagoFed’smorethan1,600employeesdoeverythingfromsupervising memberbanksandsupplyingthem withcash(“We’vegottensofbillions ofdollarsinthebasement,andarmoredcarscomeinandoutevery day,”Goolsbeesays)toconducting economicresearchandengaging withlocalcommunities.Thatlast roleincludespromotingcommunity development—underGoolsbee,the ChicagoFedhasexploredhousingaffordability,elderlyfinancialexploitation,andhowchallengesinfinding affordablechildcareaffectpeople’s ability tojointhe workforce.

ForGoolsbee,theFed’spublic-facingrolehasbecomeespeciallyimportantgivenwhathedescribesas the“massivecrisisofpublictrustin institutions”currentlyroilingthe UnitedStates.

“Peoplearesuspiciousofeliteinstitutions.They’resuspiciousofgovernment.AndtheFedisintheVenn diagramofsuspicion,”Goolsbeesays.

Asaresult,Goolsbeehasmadea pointofengagingthepublicwheneverpossible,whetherthatmeans talking to the national media about theimportanceofprotectingthe Fed’sindependencefrompolitical influenceoritmeansexplainingthe Fed’svariousfunctionstoaudiences

ateventsinplaceslikeCedarRapids, Iowa,andGrandRapids,Michigan. Itis,hesays,allpartofthe“Fed demystificationproject.”

“TheFedhasalwayshadanethos thatexternalengagementwassucceedingthelessanyonesaidabout theFed;ifnobodysaidanything aboutit,thenthatwasavictory,” Goolsbeesays.“AndIthinkright now,that’sreallydangerous.”

Goolsbeeisnostrangertocrisis. AsformerchairmanofPresident BarackObama’sCouncilofEconomicAdvisersandchiefeconomistto thePresident’sEconomicRecovery AdvisoryBoardfollowingthe2008 financialmeltdown,hehelpedsteer theU.S.outoftheworsteconomic downturnsincetheGreatDepression.

Goolsbee’stimeintheWhite HousegrewoutofhisroleaseconomicadvisortoObama’sfirstpresidentialcampaign,whichcaninturn betracedtohisworkasaprofessorof economicsattheUniversityofChicago’sBoothSchoolofBusiness,where hespent30yearsonthefacultybefore“retiring”totheChicagoFed.

Everystoryhastostartsomewhere,however.AndGoolsbeeis clearaboutwherehisbegan.

“ItabsolutelygoesbacktoMilton Academy,” he says.

BorninTexasandraisedinCalifornia,GoolsbeearrivedatMiltonas anacademicallyprecocious,self-described“mathkid.”Theschool’s speechanddebateprogramkindledinhimapassionforextemporaneousspeaking(hewonthe1987 NationalSpeechandDebateAssociationchampionship),whichinturn sparkedaninterestincurrentevents.

“Milton changedthetrajectory of mylife.Ifoundeconomics,andIfoundmyself.”

“Itseemedlikeeconomicswas acombinationofmathandscience andcurrentevents,”hesays.“SoI startedthinking,maybeIcouldbe an economist when I grewup.”

Whenhetoldcollegecounselor SusanCaseabouthisplan,shebegantolaugh.

“Whyisthatfunny?”Goolsbee asked.

“Well,”Casereplied,“Iknow somebodywhocanhelpyoudothat.”

Thesomebodywasherhusband, pioneeringeconomistKarlE.Case, codeveloperoftheS&PCase-Shillerindexofhomeprices.CaseintroducedhimtotheNationalBureauof EconomicResearchinCambridge andeconomistsattheFederalReserveBankofBoston,wherehegot ajobasaresearchassistantwhilehe was still at Milton.

“Miltonchangedthetrajectoryof mylife,”Goolsbeesays.“Ifoundeconomics,andIfoundmyself.”

GoolsbeewentontostudyeconomicsatYalewithNobelLaureate JamesTobin,whosecareerasascholarandpublicservant—Tobinserved onJohnF.Kennedy’sCouncilofEconomicAdvisersandasaconsultantto theBoardofGovernorsoftheFederalReserve—foreshadowedhisown.

AfterearninghisPh.D.fromMIT in1995,Goolsbeelandedafaculty positionattheUniversityofChicago—orashecallsit,“paradiseon earthforeconomics.”Then,asnow, hisinterestsleanedtowardpublic economics,whichincludestopics suchastaxationandregulation,and industrialorganization,whichfocusesonparticularindustries;andwith thedot-comboomsolidlyunderway, hebeganpublishingsomeofthefirst paperstoconsidercompetitionand taxesintheageoftheinternet,even-

“It’sstillathrilleachday walkingby the machineswherethere’s hundredsofmillionsofdollars of cash running,andthinkingaboutthisnarrow Fedlane.That’sstillvery much my lane...combining mathandsciencewith currentaffairs.”

tuallytestifyingbeforeCongresson thesubjectofe-commercetaxation.

Goolsbee’srisingprofileinmatters ofeconomicpolicyattractedtheattentionofBarackObama’s2004campaignforU.S.Senate.Atthetime, ObamawasGoolsbee’sstatesenator aswellasalecturerattheUniversity ofChicagoLawSchool.ButMichelle Obama,whowasthenanexecutive withtheUniversityofChicagoHospitals,hadamuchhigherprofileon campus.Bycontrast,herhusbandwas primarily“aguyIknewfrombirthdayparties,”sinceGoolsbee’soldest childattendedthesameschoolas theObamas’children.Nonetheless, GoolsbeeagreedtoadviseObamaon economicpolicy;andseveralyears later,whenObamaranforpresident, heaskedGoolsbeeifhe’ddosoagain.

Onlythistime,Goolsbeehesitated.

“Isaid,‘Well,myresearchisvery important;Idon’tknowifIhavetime toworkonthis,’”he recalls.

Intheend,Goolsbee’swife,Robin,persuadedhimtodoitanyhow. Shetoldhimthathe’dkickhimself ifObamalostandhehadn’tdonea thingtohelphim,whichGoolsbee admitswasprobablytrue.

BythetimeObamatookoffice,the 2008financialcrisiswasinfullswing, andGoolsbeefoundhimselfnotonly servingontheCouncilofEconomic AdvisersbutalsoactingaschiefeconomistandchiefofstafftothePresident’sEconomicRecoveryAdvisory Board.Theinitialshocktotheeconomy, says Goolsbee, was even worse thantheStockMarketCrashof1929, forcinghimandhiscolleaguestoconfrontaseriesofmomentousquestions withnoclearanswers:Canthecrisis playoutwithoutthenation’sbanks collapsing,orwilltheyhavetobena-

tionalized?Cantheautoindustrybe rescued,orisit doomed?

Goolsbeehadtoturneconomictheoryintopracticeinthemost high-stakesscenarioimaginable.“It was agreat comfort to know that at theendoftheday,thepresidentwas theonewhohadtomakethesedecisions—becausenotasingleoneof themwaseasy.”

By2011,thesituationhadstabilizedandGoolsbee’sleaveofabsencefromtheUniversityofChicago wassettoexpire,leavinghimaclear choice:stayinD.C.andcontinue workingingovernment,orreturnto Chicagoandthegrovesofacademe.“I wentbacktotheuniversity,because thatwasmyfirstlove,”hesays.

Butleavinggovernmentdidn’t meanwalkingawayfromthepublicsphere.

Inadditiontoputtinghisspeakingskillstogooduseexplaining—and oftendefending—theObamaadministration’seconomicpoliciesthrough mediaappearancesinoutletsranging from TheDailyShow to FoxNews, Goolsbeeactedasanadvisortothe FederalReserveBankofNewYork, the U.S. Department of Commerce, andtheInternationalMonetaryFund. Healsobecameheavilyinvolvedin education.

“Scratchanyeconomistandyou’ll endupwith‘thegreatestinvestment wecanmakeisintheeducationof thefutureworkforceandourkids,’” Goolsbeesays,notingthatheserved ontheboardofanetworkofcharterschoolsrunbytheUniversityof ChicagolongbeforeheadingtoD.C. HealsoservedonMilton’sBoardof Trustees.

ButGoolsbee’sstintintheObama administrationmeantthatavariety ofsuitorscamecalling,leadinghim

tobecomeadirectoratboththeLuminaFoundation,whichfocuseson increasingaccesstocollege,andthe ChicagoPublicEducationFund, whichsupportsthetraininganddevelopmentofprincipals.Hewasalso appointedtotheChicagoBoardof Education.

In2022,however,Goolsbee’s predecessorattheChicagoFed, CharlesL.Evans,reachedmandatoryretirementage.Anddespitethe sometimesharrowingnatureofhis previousworkingovernment,Goolsbeeyearnedtoimmersehimselfonce againinthemission-drivenmilieuof full-time publicservice.

“Ididmissthatclarity,”hesaysof histenureintheWhiteHouse.“For allthefrustrationsandallthestress, itwasobviousthattheworkwasreally important.”

In the end, taking up theFederal Reserve’sclearlydefineddualmandateofstabilizingpricesandmaximizingemployment,orwhathecalls “thenarrowFedlane,”provedimpossibletoresist.

Hejustpassedhisthree-yearanniversaryintherole,andinDecember,hewasreappointedtoafive-year term.

“It’sstillathrilleachdaywalking bythemachineswherethere’shundredsofmillionsofdollarsofcash running,andthinkingaboutthisnarrowFedlane,”hesays.“That’sstill verymuchmylane—eversincemy Miltondays—combiningmathand sciencewithcurrent affairs.” ■

ALEXANDERGELFANDISAFREELANCEJOURNALISTLIVINGINNEW YORKCITYWHOSEWORKHASAPPEAREDINSUCHPUBLICATIONSAS WIRED , THEECONOMIST ,AND THE NEWYORKTIMES

ONEOFTHECOUNTRY’SMOST POWERFULWOMENINFINANCE, CHRISTINAMINNIS’83 EMBRACES COMPLEXITYWITHCOURAGE ANDOPTIMISM

Story by Kara Baskin

Photographs by

BradTrent

BUILT FORTHE BIG LEAGUES

Whenitwastimefor CHRISTINA MINNIS’83 tochooseahighschool, theplanseemedsettled:Shewould followfamilytraditionandboardat PhillipsAcademyAndover,herdad’s almamater.Then,atthelastminute, everythingchanged.

Thefamilyhadrecentlymoved northfromHouston,Texas.Her youngerbrotherwasstillathome. Thelogisticsofboardingschoolsuddenlyfeltheavier.Herdadlookedat herandaskedasimplequestion: Wouldyouratherstaycloseby?

Theanswerreshapedherfuture.

MinnisenrolledatMiltonAcademyasadaystudent,commuting fromnearbyDedham.Whatinitiallyfeltlikeapracticalfamilydecisionprovedinfluentialinwaysshe couldn’thaveimagined:sharpeningherconfidence,expandingher worldview,andsettingheronan athleticandprofessionalpathtobecomeachampionsquashplayerand oneofthemostexperiencedbankersinthecountry.

Today,shebringsthetraitsshe honedatMiltontoaworldwidefinancialstage.Minniswasrecently named the first global head of the AlternativeOriginationGroup, andglobalheadofcreditandassetfinanceandheadofglobalacquisitionfinancewithinGoldman Sachs’newlycreatedCapitalSolutionsGroup.Withmorethan$625 billioninalternativeassetsand$188 billioninprivatecreditassets,GoldmanSachsisatopsixalternatives playerglobally.

Minnishasbeenatthefirmfor 28yearsandapartnersince2008. Sheoperatesatwhatshecallsthe “convergenceofpublicandprivatemarkets,”advisingclientson someoftheindustry’smostcom-

plexcapitalchallenges.Sheworks withcorporations,financialsponsors,andalternativeassetmanagers todesigncreativefinancingstructures—whetherthatmeansfundingleveragedbuyoutsormassive AI-driveninfrastructureprojects, orhelpinganindustrialcompanyfinancebillionsofdollarsininventorywhilepreservingitscreditrating.

“Mostoftheroleisaboutcomingupwithcapitalsolutions,”she explains.“It’saboutconnectingdots acrossthefirmandfindingthemost effectivestructurefortheclient.”

Whilethescaleoftheworkinspiresher,thepeoplegroundher. MinnisstartedatGoldmanSachs in1998;hernewesthigh-profile roleistheapexofadecades-long careerpredicatedonenduringrelationships.

“Ilovegettingclosetoclients, solvingtheirproblems,becoming theirtrustedadviser.It’srewarding whensomeonesays,‘Ihaveabig problem,andIdon’ttrustanybody butGoldmanSachs.’Itgetsmeeverytime,”shesays.

Mentorshipisalsocentraltoher leadershipstyle,shapedbyher ownexperiencewithmentorswho

werecandid,demanding,andunvarnished.

“Thebestmentorsarenotcomfortablerelationships,”shesays. “They’re honestones.”

AtMilton,oneparticularlydemandingEnglishteacherleftalastingmark—notbecauseshepraised Minnis,butbecauseshedoubtedher.

“Shetoldmeshedidn’tthinkI coulddosomething,”Minnisrecalls.“It rubbed me the wrongway. IdecidedIwasgoingtoproveher wrong.AndIdid.”

Thatinstinct—torespondto skepticismwithresolve—becamea definingtrait.

“Anytimesomeonesaid,‘You can’tdothis,’itstruckachord,” shesays.“Ittaughtmeresilience. Yougetcutfromateam,youlosea match,andyoulearnthatyouown your outcomes. If youdon’thavethe best forehand, it’s nobody’s faultbut yourown.”

Shetriestoofferthesamedirectfeedbacktothoseshemanages,evenwhenit’sdifficult.“People tellingyouyou’reamazingdoesn’t doanythingforyourgrowth,”Minnissays.“Constructivefeedbackis hardtoget.”

Herreputationforhonestyand tenacityhaslandedheratthetopof the Forbes 50Over50 and American

“Anytimesomeonesaid,‘You can’tdothis,’itstruckachord.It taughtmeresilience.”

Top:Minnis’sseniorphoto.Bottom:Minnis,fifth fromleft,wascaptainof thegirls’squashteam.

Banker’sMostPowerfulWomenin Financelists.

Thoseseedswereplantedat Milton,whereshewelcomednew challengeswithsteadinessandoptimism.Asahigh-schooler,sheplayed threevarsitysports—fieldhockey, squash,andtennis—eachproviding anearlylessonintimemanagement, grit,andfocus.Athletics,shesays, becameastrategytoharnessherenergyandbuildtoughness.

“Sportswereahugepartofthe essenceofwhoIam,”Minnissays. “I’veusedcompetitivesportsasa waytochannelmyfocusandlearn resilience.”

Thatmindsethasguidedherever since.

Squash,inparticular,enteredher lifealmostbyaccident.ThecaptainofthefieldhockeyteamnoticedMinniswasatennisplayer andaskedwhethershe’devertried it.Shehadn’t,asidefromasinglelessonattheYaleClubwhenshewas 10yearsold.Still,shetookthesuggestionseriouslyandpushedherselftotryout.

Thatnudgechangedeverything. MinniswentontoplayDivisionI squashatYale,whereshebecamean All-American,servedasteamcaptainhersenioryear,andearneda nationalranking.

“Ifthatcaptainhadn’ttoldme totrysquash,”shesays,“myentire pathwould lookdifferent.”

Miltonshapedherbeyondathletics.Sheplayedpiano—aconnectiontoherfather,apianist—and foundspacefortheartsalongside academicsandsports.Asafreshman,shelandedarolein AMidsummerNight’sDream ,building confidenceonstagethatwouldultimatelytranslateintoauthority

“I’veneverseen privateandpublicmarketsas competitors.Isee themasinnovation,anexpansionof capitalformation thatultimately benefitsclients.”

speakinginboardroomsandconferencehalls.

“Thatplaywasthebeginningof mebeingcomfortableperforming,” shesays.“ItmatteredmorethanIrealizedatthetime.”

Shetookotherchances,too:MinniswasoneofjustahandfulofMiltonstudentswhooptedtospend partofsophomoreyearabroadat theLycéeInternationaldeSaintGermain-en-LayeinParis.Although exchangeprogramsarepopularnow, theywerejustgettingofftheground intheearly1980s,sherecalls.But Minniswasdeterminedtoseethe world.

“Itcompletelychangedmylens. MymotherwasAustrian,andmy dadwasintheNavyduringWorld WarII.Icamefromaninternationalfamily,anditwasimportantto mydadthatIdoaspringabroad,” shesays.Shespentseveralweeksin Saint-GermainalongsideFrench students,wheresheenjoyedthe clatterofconversation—“myclassmatesallspokefivelanguages,”she recalls—andtheexposuretoworlds beyondherown.

“Thetriptaughtmetobeopenminded,toexperienceallwalksof life,”shesays.“IstillhavemyMétro card from1984.”

Theexchangeperiodalsopreparedherforwhatcamenext.By senioryear,MinnishadbeenadmittedtoYale,Princeton,Dartmouth, andCornell.Shenearlymailedher acceptancetoPrinceton,despite wonderingaboutYale.NewHaven feltmoredauntingandurban.Inthe end,thatuncertaintypropelledher.

“Yalewasbigger,broader,andmore intimidating”atthetime,shesays.“I didn’twanttolivemylifewonderingifIcouldhavedonewellthere.”

Thatwillingnesstopushherself, totaketherisk,wasessentialdecadeslater,duringthefinancialcrisisof2008,whenshehelpedtosteer GoldmanSachsthroughuncharted waters,somethingshe’sstillproud oftoday.

“Thatmindsethasguidedhow wethinkaboutpublicandprivate markets.Duringthefinancialcrisis, whentheterm-loanmarketwasdislocatedandpricingmadelittlesense, weleanedin—buyinghigh-quality assetsatdeepdiscounts.Thateffort notonlyperformedwell;ithelped seedwhatbecameoneofthefirm’s coreprivate-creditbusinesses,”she explains.

“I’veneverseenprivateandpublicmarketsascompetitors.Isee themasinnovation,anexpansion ofcapitalformationthatultimately benefitsclients.Therearemoments whenonemarketismoreeffective than the other, but they will coexistandgrowtogether.Especiallyas wefacetrillion-dollarinfrastructure needs,we’llneedeverymarket,everyidea,andawillingnesstorethink theoldplaybook.”

Outsideofwork,Minnishas hungupthesquashracketand nowfocusesonskiingandgolf. SheservesontheboardofSusan G.Komen,focusingonraisingmoneyforbreastcancerresearch,acause thatreflectspersonalconvictionand abeliefinpayingforwardopportunity.

“Ilostacollegeroommatetothe disease,”shesays.“Ifeelstronglythat weneedtoseemoreinvestmentin women’shealth.”

Asthemomofthreegrownchildren(hereldest,Andrew,isalsoan investmentbankeratGoldman

Sachs),she’salsopassionateaboutjuvenilementalhealth.Minnisserves ontheboardoftheChildMindInstitute,focusingonjuvenilemental healthfundraising.

“Thisistherealpandemic:the mentalhealthofourchildren,”she says.

Askedwhatshe’smostproudof, heranswercomeswithouthesitation. NotMilton.NotYale.NotGoldman Sachs;notsquash.

“Mymarriageandmykids,”she says.Minnisdescribesherhusband, Jamie,andchildrenashergrounding forces,theconstantsamidacareer definedbymotion.ShemetJamie onthesquashcourtattheUniversityClubofChicagoinherearly 20s—he’sthestrongerplayer,she admits—andthey’vebeenmarried for 36 years.

“Wegotmarriedat25.Iwasthe firstofmyfriendstogetmarried, andIdidn’texpectit,”shesays, laughing.

Lookingback,sheseesaclear throughlinefromherMiltondays toherleadershiptoday:thatsignaturewillingnesstostepintotheunknown,thedisciplinelearnedonthe court,andtheconfidencetospeak up,evenwhenunsure.

“Youhavetobecomfortablesteppingoutsideyourcomfortzoneif youwanttoevolve,”shesays. ■

KARABASKINISAJOURNALISTFOR THEBOSTONGLOBE AND ACONTRIBUTINGEDITORAT BOSTON MAGAZINE ,WHERESHECOVERSPARENTING,EDUCATION,ANDMODERN FAMILYLIFE.SHEALSOWRITESFOR INSTITUTIONSINCLUDINGHARVARD UNIVERSITYANDMIT,ANDHOSTSAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP-THEMEDPODCAST FOR BABSON COLLEGE.

StudentLife

FutureFinanciers, PresentTense

WITHREALPORTFOLIOSANDBIGCONVERSATIONS,MILTONSTUDENTSGETANEARLY STARTINTHEWORLDOFFINANCE.

BYKARABASKIN

“Thekindsof opportunitieswegetin theseclubs...areso uniquetoMilton. We’reabletolearn abouttheseconceptson alarge,real-world scale.”

GabrielKoerner-Imas’26

atMiltonacadeMy, financeisn’t asidequesttuckedintoamathunit. It’safullecosystem.Studentsdive intoclubsspanningentrepreneurship,microfinance,economics,and investing.Theydebatestrategies, workshopbusinessideas,andchat withalumniaboutcareersthey’re alreadymappingout.Theyeven helpmanagerealinvestmentportfolios.

Theresultisimmersive.Bygraduation,manystudentsaren’tjust finance-curious.They’realreadyoperatinglikeearly-stageprofessionals.

Student-Led, Faculty-Supported

BeforeheeversetsfootonWall Street, GABRIELKOERNER-IMAS’26 hasalreadypitchedstocks,met majorfinancialplayers,andhelped shapediscussionsabouthowreal money shouldbe invested.

Koerner-ImasgrewupinNew YorkCityandworkedatanuncle’s firmbeforeninthgrade.Buthisinterestinfinancialmarketscrystallized thankstoabehavioraleconomics classatMilton,wherehestudied

consumerpsychology.

“We spent awhole class talking abouthowtonegotiateasalaryusingvariouspsychologytipsand skillsyoucanuseinnegotiations toswingtheoddsinyourfavor,and thescience behind it,” he explains.

Now,he’sdrawntowhathecalls the“humanitarian”sideoffinance— understandingconsumertrends— withhopesofrunningaventure capitalfirmsomeday.Outsidethe classroom,hecoheadstheInvestmentClub,whichhassurgedto40 students.

Thegroupmeetsweekly,hosting high-profilealumniwhogiveindepthcareertalks.Lastyear,billionairehedge-fundmanagerand formerBlackstoneCEO J.TOMILSONHILL’66 chattedwithstudents.

Studentsalsomanageareal MorganStanleyaccount,seeded byaformerclubmemberandnow worthroughly$70,000.

“Thekindsofopportunitieswe getintheseclubs,liketheMorgan Stanleyaccount,aresouniqueto Milton.We’reabletolearnabout theseconceptsonalarge,real-world scale.Obviously,whenyou’reinvest-

ing$70,000onasimulator,itmakes youfeeloneway.But$70,000of realmoneyisalittledifferent,”Koerner-Imassays.

ACurriculumThat GoesDeep

Fellowcohead ISABELLAALBA’26 cametoMiltonforitsdepthin math—andstayedforthespecificity.UnlikeKoerner-Imas,she’s drawntothequantitativesideoffinance,andMiltonofferedopportunitiesshecouldn’tfindelsewhere, includingastandalonemathematicaleconomicscourse.

“Alotofschoolshaveeconomics,butthey’reallpartofhistorydepartments.Whilethatbringsalot of value,it’snot really thesideof econthat you use if you’re going to getajobonWallStreet,”saysAlba, whoalsoskisandsailsforMilton.

Albaacceleratedearly,taking statisticsalongsideprecalculusasa sophomore,thenmovingintocalculuswithappliedeconomicsand advancedstatisticalmethodsas ajunior.Combiningthatcourseworkwithcomputerscience,she

KARABASKINISAJOURNALISTFOR THEBOSTONGLOBE AND ACONTRIBUTINGEDITORAT BOSTON MAGAZINE ,WHERESHECOVERSPARENTING,EDUCATION,ANDMODERN FAMILYLIFE.SHEALSOWRITESFOR INSTITUTIONSINCLUDINGHARVARD UNIVERSITYANDMIT,ANDHOSTSAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP-THEMEDPODCAST FOR BABSON COLLEGE.

builtandcodedanoptionspricing model,testingwhetherafour-decade-oldfinancialtheorystillholds. EveninU.S.history,she’sgravitated towardfinancialtopics,researching majormarketcrashes.

Thatacademicrigorgivesher confidence:Managingtheclub’s investmentaccountisahighlight, especiallybecauseoftheautonomy shehasinleadingit.

“Wedohavesomeguidelines,but apartfromthat,wegettomake100 percent of the trades and decisions onthat account,” shesays.

Studentspitchstocks,debate them,andvotebeforesubmitting finaldecisions.Theprocessmirrors professionalinvesting,scaledtoa highschoolsetting.

“Theflexibilityissuperawesome.It’soneofthoseopportunitiesthatotherschoolsjustdon’t have.Friendswhogotootherindependentschoolsarelike:‘Noway,’ andIsay,‘Yeah.We’reprettylucky,’” shesays.

Real-WorldExposure,Early

Facultyandstaffsaythatthisautonomyisprecisely the point.

“Theseareamazingkids,”says KatelynnBullock,anannualgiving officerintheAdvancementOffice andtheInvestmentClubadvisor. “It’sauniquestudentwho’sattractedtothisclub,andit’sastudentwho hasalotofambition.It’sastudent whoisverysmart,whowantsto thinkaboutreal-worldapplications, and who thinks about what they’re goingtodonext.”

Throughalumnispeakersand hands-oninvesting,studentsare exposedtotherealitiesofthefield wellbeforecollege.Thisrealism

comeswithpressure,butalsoperspective.Alba,whohasbeeninvestingherownmoneysincemiddle school,encouragesyoungerstudentstoseparateemotionsfrom decision-making.

“Ithink,ifyoustartfeelingthe pressureduetomoney,that’swhen youmessup.We’vehadalotof speakers come in, and they tell us thesamething:Theytrainyouinto thinkingofinvestingmoreasjust numbers,ratherthanmoney.Otherwise,that’swhenyoumakerash decisions.SoI’mnotnervousabout it,”shesays.

Therearealsolower-stakes waystoexperiment,includinga twice-yearlyinvestinggameusing $100,000intheoreticalcash.The prize?Braggingrights,andmaybe some branded Investment Club golfballs.

BuildingAccessand Confidence

Albaalsoleadsasecondinitiative:InvestinGirls,aninvestment clubfocusedonamplifyingwomeninamale-dominatedfield.The clubwasfoundedatMiltonby then-student CHELSEAMEHRA’11 andformerTrustee DUNETHORNE ’94 andnowhaschaptersinschools acrosstheUnitedStates.WithsupportfromsocialsciencesandeconomicsteacherPerinGokce,Alba plansLinkedInworkshops,companyvisits,andconversationswithfemaleleaders.

“Thisisatrustingenvironment forgirlstotalkaboutmoney,life, andprioritieswiththeirpeers,with instructorswhounderstandfinancialplanning,” Gokcesays.

Gokce,whobeganhercareerin

financeasanauditoratPricewaterhouseCoopers,seestheclubasboth practicaland empowering.

“Milton’sclubsarestudent-inspiredandstudent-driven.They’re anopportunityforstudentstoshow leadership,”shesays.“Miltonstudentsarecurious.That’smyfavoritequality.They’rethoughtful.They wanttomakeanimpact.Theywant tosupporteachother.They’recreative.ThefactthatIsabellacomes upwiththeseideasforeveryclub blockis,Ithink,suchanamazing exampleofstudentleadership.”

Alba’sownpathreflectsthatmomentum.Inspiredinitiallybythe TVshow Billions,sheshiftedfrom anearlyinterestinsurgerytofinance,drawnbyitsblendofintensity,analytics,andhumaninteraction.

NowheadedtoMIT,sheplansto studymathematicaleconomicsand AIandmachinelearning,hopingto becomeaquantitativeanalystina client-facingrole.

“Miltonteachescritical-thinkingskillsyouactuallyneedtobe successfulintherealworldversus justdrillingsomethingandhaving it almostbe memorized,” shesays.

ForBullock,thatkindofpreparationmattersmorethaneverina financialworldreshapedbyartificial intelligence,cryptocurrency,andpoliticalvolatility,allupendingglobalmarkets.

“ThisisstuffthatIneverhadaccesstoasachild,andthey’rereallytakingadvantageinapurposeful wayforcareerreadiness,”Bullock says.“Thesestudentshavethatpassion and drive, and it’s allself-motivated.Noone’saskingthemtobe there.They’rechoosingtobethere. Thesestudentsshowup,andthey’re committed totheireducation.”

BuildingaWorld for Everyone

FROMCLASSROOMSTOPLAYGROUNDS—ANDBEYOND—MILTON’SFIRST-GRADERSDESIGN SOLUTIONSTOMAKETHEWORLDMOREWELCOMING BYMARISADONELAN

“They’reseeingthat

noteveryone experiencestheworld thesameway,but they’realsolearning thattheyhavethe agencytomakechanges foragreatergood.”

Grade1teacherCaroline Sacchetti

whathappenswhen theonly entrancetoachildren’smuseum isastairway?Orwhendirections aroundaparkarecolor-coded?Or whenacardgamerequiresplayers tousetwohands?

Thosesituationsmeanthatnot everyonecanplay,Milton’sGrade1 studentslearnedthisyear.Sothey setaboutfindingsolutionsand dreaminguppossibilities—using whattheylearnedinsocialstudies andothersubjects—tomakecommunitiesmoreinclusiveandfunctionalforall.

“Thisisthetimewhenwe’re planting the seed to have the studentsthinkabouttheirroleintheir broadercommunity,”saysShannon Kilduff,oneofMilton’stwoGrade 1teachers.“We’reaskingthemto thinkabouttheirstewardshipof theirowncommunities,andwhat theycandotomake thembetter.”

Applyinglessonsfromaunit aboutsimplemachines,insight gleanedfromconversationswith peoplewhohavephysicaldifferences,basicclassroomsupplies,and

morethanalittlecreativity,thestudentsdesignedadaptivezipperpulls andutensils,page-turningdevices forreaders,andappropriatesurfacesand gradesformobilityramps.

“Learningthebasicprinciples ofthesimplemachinesandtheir movementshelpedusthinkabout thewaysthatbuildingsandcommunitiesfunction,anditdovetails nicelywithscience,”Kilduffsays. “Eventually,we’dlovetohavethem workwithUpperSchoolstudents tolearnmoreaboutphysicsanddesign.”

OneafternooninApril,Kilduff andfellowGrade1teacherCarolineSacchettisetupanexperiment forthestudentstorollmarbleson rampswithvarioussurfacesdesignedtocreatedifferentlevelsof friction.Afterrepeatedlymeasuring how quickly and how far the marblestraveleddowntheramps, thestudentsconcludedthatafairlysmoothsurfacewithalittlebit ofresistancewouldbethebestand safestforwheelchairusers.

“They’relearningtolookoutside

theirownneeds,andtheseprojects helpthemtothinkofothers,”says Sacchetti.“They’reseeingthatnot everyoneexperiencestheworldthe sameway,butthey’realsolearning thattheyhavetheagencytomake changesfora greater good.”

Consideringthewaystheworld functionsforallpeople,ofallabilities, ispartof a year-long,interdisciplinaryprogramtodevelop students’understandingofcommunitiesbeyondthesmallcircles oftheirfamiliesandpeers.Theprogramistailoredtothestudents’developmentalstageandstartsatthe beginningoftheyeartoallowtime forthemtoreflectonthemselves andwhatmakesthemfeelasenseof belonginginacommunity.Through discussionsaboutfriendshipand collaboratingduringteam-building challenges,theylearntonoticeand leveragethestrengthstheybringto thetable.

Bymidyear,thecurriculum shiftstolookingatthelargerMiltoncommunity.Usingthecollaborativeskillsthestudentshonedin

Grade1teacherShannon Kilduffasksfirst-gradersto sharewhattheylearnedduring anexperimenttestingdifferentfrictionlevelsonramps.

thefall,theybuildandrunaLowerSchoolpostofficeaspartofaletter-writingunit.Throughcustomer service,thestudentslearntolisten andrespondtotheneedsofothersandfindstewardshipinhelpingtheircommunity.

Nearlyallchildrendevelopsome senseofconnectiontoothersvery early—babiesandtoddlersmay smilewhenaparentsmilesatthem, or a child maytryto soothe another whoisupset.Aspreschoolers,they begintounderstandtheirbelonging totheirfamilies,andbytheendof firstgradetheystarttodevelopa senseofcommunityandidentity. Theyrecognizethedifferentroles peopleplayinasocietyandbegin toseehowactionsandstructures affectpeople.

Eventually,throughacademic classesandcocurricularofferings, thestudentslearnabouthowthey fitintoaschoolcommunity;how housing,publicresources,andbusinessesserve(orfailtoserve)their populations;theirownimpacton theenvironment;andthedifferent culturesthat make up a global society.

“Theyareputting themselvesintothat newperspectiveand thinkingabouthow businessesandspaces workforpeople.It’s becomingpartoftheir thoughtprocess:‘What needstochangeor improvesothat everyonecan participate?’”

GRADE1TEACHER SHANNONKILDUFF

“They’restillverymuchintheir bubbles, but they start to look outsideofthem,”Kilduffsaysofthe shiftthathappensoverthecourse offirstgrade.“They’restilltrying tomakeconnectionsbetweentheir experiencesandotherpeople’sexperiences—theythinkalotabout fairnessandwhat’sfairtothem— butthey’restartingtoacknowledge thattheybelongtoalargercommunity.”

InearlyFebruary,thestudents hadavisitfromtheBionicProject, aCambridge-basednonprofitthat workswithschoolstodismantle disabilitybiasandsupportinclusivecommunities.Theprogram introducedMiltonstudentstothe adaptivetoolsthatdisabledathletes useandshowedtheimpactoftechnologicaladvancementsinthelives ofpeoplewithdisabilities.Most importantly,studentslearnedthat giventherightsettings,allkidscan playand learntogether.

Connectingaccessibilityconceptstothestudents’interests,like sportsandgames,haskeptthestudentsengagedandincrediblycreativewiththeirideasforadaptive innovations,Sacchettisays.Intheir prototypesfortoolstohelppeople withlimitedhandmobility,forexample,severalstudentsdesigneddevicesverysimilartoonesthatare alreadyinuse.

“Theyrelatetothesesubjects becausetheyplaysoccer,theyplay Uno,”shesays.“Itmakesthemthink aboutsharingwhattheylovetodo, andontheirownthey’vecomeup withideasthathavereal-worldapplications.”

Lessonsalsotakestudentsout of theclassroom. Inoneunit, they exploredschoolspacestoidentify barriers.Lookingatstairwells,furnitureplacement,andthelocation of everyday tools, they found potentialbarriersandthendeveloped planstomakethesespacesmoreaccessible toall.

Examiningeverydayplayground structures,thestudentsusedwhat theyhadlearnedaboutsimplemachines,friction,anduniversaldesigntoreconceptualizeandadapt theapparatustomeetthephysicalneedsofstudentswithvarying abilities.

“They’vestartedtonoticeand pointoutthingsthatarebarrierstoaccessibility,”Kilduffsays. “Theyareputtingthemselvesinto thatnewperspectiveandthinking abouthowbusinessesandspacesworkforpeople.It’sbecoming partoftheirthoughtprocess:‘What needstochangeorimprovesothat everyonecanparticipate?’”

Laterinthespring,theclassvisitedtheUniversalPlaygroundin Waltham,Massachusetts,apopular, 120-acrepublicparkthatopenedin 2025.Theplaygroundwasdesigned withstructuresandsurfacesthat allowkidswhousewheelchairsor otherassistivedevicestouseevery attraction—fromswingsandsplash padstominigolf—alongwiththeir non-disabled peers.

Astheyreflectedontheirvisitto theUniversalPlayground,Kilduff askedtheclasswhytheythought “universal”wasinitsname.

“Sokidswithdisabilitiescan play!”onestudentanswered.Anotheradded:“So everyone canplay together.”

Inthe News

AThreepeat forthe MathTeam

Milton’sMathTeamfinished atthetopoftheNewEngland MathematicsLeagueforthe thirdyearinarow.Theteam scored179outof180possible pointsacrossthe2025–2026 season,onepointshyofperfectionandonemorethan runner-upCheshireAcademy.

Milton’s CELINAWANG’27 (left, speakingatthe2024opening receptionforthe Farokhzad MathematicsCenter)wasthe onlystudentwithaperfect score of36,whilejunior DILLAN AGRAWAL’27 wasamongfive studentswith35points.The competitionincludedteams frompublicandprivateschools throughoutNewEngland.

StudentHistorians Publishedin The Concord Review

TwoMiltonstudents, ADAMAMIN ’27 (left,top)and BENJAMINWANG ’27 (left,bottom),hadresearch paperspublishedin TheConcordReview,aprestigiousacademicjournalforsecondary students.Amincompletedhis paper,“DismantlingtheEmpire of Egyptology:TheNationalizationoftheEgyptianAntiquities Service(1922–1952),”aspartof anindependentstudyduring the2024–2025schoolyear.In 2024,heenrolledinanEgyptology courseatHarvardExtension Schooltaughtby Professor Peter Der Manuelian,whichsparked afascinationwiththestudy of ancientEgyptandEgypt’s reclamationofitsAntiquitiesService afterdecadesofcolonialBritish rule.Aminmadetwo separate tripstoEgypt, where he pored over archivaldocumentsand recordsinArabic,English,and FrenchintheAmericanUniversityinCairoRareBooksandSpecialCollectionsLibrary.Inlate 2025,hepresentedhiswork at theAmericanSociety ofOverseasResearchannualconference,and TheConcordReview

publishedhisworkinDecember. Wang’sresearchintodeindustrializationinYoungstown, Ohio,beganasapaperinMatthewPetherick’s U.S.History classatMilton.Initially interestedinstudyinghowautomationhashistorically replaced jobs,Wanglearnedaboutthe riseandfallofthesteelindustry inYoungstown.Aftertheclass ended,hestillhadquestions, sohetraveledtoYoungstown, where hevisitedthe steel museumandauniversitylibrary. There,hehadtheopportunitytoresearchprimarysources thatincludedoralhistoriesand handwritten records.Hispaper, “MoralWitnessintheNeoliberalDawn:AMillShutdown, ReligiousResistance,andthe Paradox ofDeindustrialization inYoungstown,1977–1979,”was publishedin TheConcordReview inMarch.Thequarterlyjournal, whichfeatureshistoryessays byhighschoolstudentsacross theEnglish-speakingworld,only publishesabout5percentofthe submissionsitreceives.

ANTHONYLANDOLFI’26 visitedthe JuniorBuildinglibrarytoreadfrom hischildren’sbook, PlatypusPat DarestoBeTrue.InspiredbyMilton’s motto,Landolficreatedastory aboutalostplatypuswhojourneys tofindhistrueidentity.Barnes& Noblepurchasedanddistributedit. TheLowerSchoolstudentconsensus? “That wasthe bestbookever!”

MiltonSeniorBrings

FinancialLiteracy ConversationsAcross Borders

AVANEESHSIRUVURI’26 traceshis passionforeconomicsbackto middleschool,whenhisfather openedaninvestmentaccount tohelphimlearnaboutmoney. “Throughthisexperienceof dealingwithwhatfeltlikemy ownmoney,Ibegantogaina deepinterestinunderstanding thefundamentalsofourmoney system,”heexplains.“Iwillnever forgetmakingmyfirstdollaron a$10investment.”

Thatearlycuriosityhassince grownintoacommitmentto expandingfinancialliteracy amongstudentsinIndiaandat Milton,apassionhediscussed duringanappearanceonCNNNews18(anindependentIndian newsnetworklicensedbyCNN International).

DuringtripstoIndiatovisit family,Siruvurirealizedthat manyyoungpeoplehemet lackedaccesstofinancialeducation.“WhenIaskedquestionsabouttheIndianeconomy orhowbanks work,Iwasoften metwithvagueornonspecific answers,”herecalls.“Itseemed tomethatmuchofthefinancial

decision-makingwasinfluenced bythemedia or outdatedmethods.”Tohelpclosethatgap,he launchedaneconomicsdiscussiongroup,looselyinspired byMilton’sHarknessteaching method,thatmeetsinperson andonlinetoexploreinterdisciplinarytopicsineconomicsand decision-making.

Thatsamepassionhascome tolifeinWareHall,wherehe’s developedafour-classfinancialliteracyprogramforMilton’s MiddleSchool.“Assomeonewho wentto[Milton’s]MiddleSchool, Irememberedlearningabout severallifeskills,suchasstudy methods,basicpsychology, andself-careinour360class.I feltthatfinancialliteracywas nodifferentthananyofthese essentiallifeskills,”hesays.SiruvuriworkedwiththeMiddle Schooladministrationtodevelop theprogram,whichcoversfundamentalconceptssuchashow tosaveandspendmoneyand howbankswork.

SzeSisters Dominatein U.S.Squash Championships

Havingonesportspowerhouse inafamilyissomethingspecial. Threeathletesfromonefamilycrushingitonaglobalstage? Well,that’ssomethingelse entirely.TheSzesisters—CHARLOTTE’28, VIVIENNE’30,and JULIETTE’32—addedtothefamily’s hardwarecollectionintheU.S. JuniorSquashChampionships inMarch,withCharlotteand Vivienneearningtheirfourth nationalchampionshipsinthe U17divisionandU15division,respectively,andJulietteplacing secondintheU13s.

U.S.SquashdescribesVivienne’svictoryas“anemphatic perfecttitlerun…[joining]her oldersisterwithfournational titlesandoneintheU11s,U13s, andU15s.”Atages16,14,and12, theyhavebeendecoratedwith multipletitleruns,including Charlotte’sU.S.JuniorOpentitle andVivi’sfourU.S.JuniorOpen titles.

Theirpathbeganfortuitously.Asa7-year-old,Charlottestumbleduponasquash clubinNatick,Massachusetts, aftergettinglostontheway toabirthday party,andthe

(L-R):VIVIENNE’30,JULIETTE’32, ANDCHARLOTTESZE’28

gamesparkedhercuriosity.She quicklyfoundthatshelovedthe intenselyphysicalandtactical natureofthesport.Vivi,and laterJuliette,followedsuit.One ofthebestpartsoftheirsuccess inthesporthasbeenachievingittogether,Vivisays:“Itis incrediblyspecialtobeableto havemysisters bymysidein

tournamentsandtotrainwith them.”

Allthreesistershave representedTeamUSAininternationalcompetitions—opportunities extendedtothenation’stoprankedjuniorplayers.ThisJanuary,Juliettemadeherdebut intheBritishJunior Open, joiningCharlotteandVivi,who

returnedfortheirfifthand fourthappearances,respectively.Charlottewasalsoone ofjustfive U.S.girlsselected tocompeteinlastsummer’s WorldJuniorChampionshipsin Cairo,Egypt,and,atage16,has achievedaprofessionalworld rankingof 127.

Shape Your Future—and Milton’s

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ANEW OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING

IntroducingMiltonConnect,anewseriesofregionalnetworkingevents createdjustforMilton graduates.ThesearespecialopportunitiesforMiltonalumstoconnect,network,andlearnfromone anotherthroughroundtableandpaneldiscussions aswellasdialogueswith industryleaders.We’ve hostedlivelyMiltonConnectgatheringsinBoston, NewYorkCity,SanFrancisco,LosAngeles,and Washington,D.C.Lookout for anevent nearyou in thefuture!

1947

BLAIKIEWORTH sharesthat friendandclassmate BRENDAGILCHRIST diedpeacefully onSeptember28,havingbeen lovinglycaredforbyhernephew andnieceinBelfast,Maine. Earlier,Brendalivednearbyon Deer IsleinPenobscotBay, and beforethatinNewYorkCity, wheresheeditedartbooksfor years.Apoliticalliberal,shewas adevotedsupporterofcommunityorganizations,andlovedtosail insmallboatsinMaine.She publisheda2012book, Waltzing withBracey:ALongReachHome, abouthowhercorgihelpedher transitiontolifeinabig,old familyhouseonDeerIsle.

1949

When PEGGYBYERSWOOD stoppedby HeadofSchool ALIXECALLEN’88’s officein November,shedidn’tjustbring stories,shebroughthistoryitself. Inherhandswasaremarkable photographfromMiltonAcademyGirls’School’s1949Graduation,showingPeggyandher girls’schoolclassmateswith formerFirst LadyEleanor Roosevelt,thatyear’sspeaker.

Peggy,aMilton“lifer”andformerTrustee,filledtheroomwith memoriesofhertimeinthegirls’ school—fromsinginghymnsin thechapelto connectionswith belovedclassmates,leaderswho servedinstudentgovernment, athletics,andschoolpublications.Shealsosharedatouching storyaboutherlifelongfriend

HeadofSchool ALIXECALLEN’88 (left)acceptsaphotofrom the1949Girls’SchoolGraduation,atwhichformerFirstLady EleanorRooseveltspoke,from PEGGYBYERSWOOD’49

Lucy“Chips”Withington,whose familynamestillgracesthe WithingtonRoomnextto Forbes DiningHall.Peggy’sfamilyties toMiltonrandeep:herfather, RandolphK.Byers,servedasthe schooldoctor.

Peggy’samazinggiftofthe photo—capturingamilestonein Milton’shistory—onlydeepened aconnectionthatstretched acrossgenerations:Roosevelt’s granddaughter, SARAROOSEVELT WILFORD’50,graduatedthefollowingyear.

PeggypassedawayinMarch 2026attheageof 94.Miltonis deeplygratefulforhergift.

1961

BARBARAKENTLAWRENCE releasedherninthbook, BothSidesofthePond,My Family’sWar:1933–1946.She startedresearchforthebook in 2007,whenshediscoveredthe photographofher mother, BritishactressBarbaraGreene, andunclethatisnowonthe book’scover.Barbarareports thatit’sbeenanexcitingand rewardingtrip!www.barbaralawrence.com Inothernews,Barbaraand herlongtimepartner,Bob,

movedtoBrunswick,Maine,last January,luredbyBowdoinCollege,trainservice,andGelatoFiasco!Ifyou’reeverinBrunswick, sheinvitesyoutoletherknowso shecantreatyoutoadishofthe bestgelatoontheEastCoast.

1968

OnJuly28,2025, JOHNE.MAHN JR. waselectedpresidentofthe BoardofCommissionersfor thePennsylvaniaFishandBoat Commission.Hewillservea one-yearterm,andhopestobe reappointedbyGov.Shapiro.His workontheboardhasalsoput himbackintouchwithclassmateandcollegeroommate MAC CUNNINGHAM, whoservesonthe nationalboardofTroutUnlimited.

“Atruegentlemanof Milton”

TheMiltoncommunitymourns thelossofTrusteeEmeritus JAMESFITZGIBBONS’52,P’87,’90, ’93,whopassedawayJanuary21. Fitzgibbons,whospentdecades ofhislifeinfaithfulserviceto MiltonAcademy,wasalegendary figureinthecommunity,andhe leavesapowerfullegacyofsupport,generosity,andfriendship totheschoolhesoloved.

FitzgibbonsservedonMilton’s Board ofTrusteesfrom1972to 2017—including10yearsasBoard president—andhecontinued servinginanemerituscapacityfortheremainderofhislife. Throughhisextraordinaryphilanthropy,sageadvice,andunflaggingdedicationtoMilton,he helpedshapethemodernhistory oftheschool.In2000,theBoard recognizedhimwiththeMiltonMedal—theschool’shighest honor—forhismeritoriouscontributions.Amonghismanygifts toourschoolanditsstudentsis avibrantspacethathostsMilton’smostimportantceremonies andevents:In1998,alongwith hissiblings, NED’40, ANN’41,and HARRY’53,hededicatedtheFitzgibbonsConvocationCenterin

honoroftheirparents.

Fitzgibbonswasanastute andinnovativebusinessleader whohada distinguished career asan executiveandchairman in thetextileindustry.AsaTrustee,

Atthe1998dedicationfortheFitzgibbonsConvocation Center,L-R:FrankMillet,HerbertG.“Stoky”StokingerClass of1924,Jim’52,Ann’41,Ned’40,andHaroldFitzgibbons ’53,andMarshallSchwarz’54

heserved Miltonwithablendof quietwisdomandfierceloyalty, andhewasknownbycolleagues as a bridgebetweengenerations: deeplycommittedtotheschool helovedasastudentbutalways opentonewideasthatwould propel Miltonforward.While he was passionateaboutthe overall healthoftheinstitution, heparticularly lovedMiltonathletics andbelievedthatthelessonsof competition—teamwork,leadership,andresilience—wereessentialtoacompleteeducation.

Former HeadofSchoolTodd BlandrecallsthatFitzgibbons actedwith“agracethatdefined himasatruegentlemanof Milton”andremembershimasa

manwhounderstoodthepower oflisteningbeforeleading.

“Ipersonally rememberfondly hispresenceatBoardmeetings. Hewouldlistenintentlyandoffer alwayssubtle,butincrediblyimpactful,comments,”Blandsays. “Inthosesettings,hewasaman offewbutimportant words.”

Hisson,Trustee JOHNFITZGIBBONS’87,notesthatJameslived afullandjoyful92years.Head ofSchool ALIXECALLEN’88 shares: “Wearefortunateandgrateful thatMiltonheldsuchaspecial placeinhisheart,andknowthat Miltonwillcontinuetoenjoythe giftsofhisgenerosityandleadershipforyearstocome.”

Love&OtherMonsters

Intheprefacetoherclassichorrortale Frankenstein, MaryShelley notedthatshewasinspiredtowritethe bookafterthepoet LordByronchallengedagroupof fourpeopletowriteaghost story.Excepttherewere actuallyfivepeople.ThepersonShelleyleftout,Claire Clairmont,istheleastknownofthegroup,butsheis thecenterpieceof EMILYFRANKLIN’snewnovel,afictionalizedversionofrealeventswhencelebratedyoung writersgatheredoverthesummerin1816atLakeGeneva,Switzerland.Then17andlivinginLondonwith 18-year-oldstepsisterMaryandMary’s companion, PercyByssheShelley,Clairepensafanletterto Byron, who,inhislate20s,wasalreadyfamousforhiswriting andinfamousforhisromanticescapades(aparamour notablycalledhim“mad,bad,anddangeroustoknow,” andthenovelprovidessupportforthatstatement).The letterleadstoameetingandatempestuousrelationship.WhenlovestruckClairelearnsthatByronplans toleaveLondonforgoodandneverseeheragain,she convincesPercytotravelto Switzerlandwithherand MaryforthesummersoshecanreunitewithByron. Theirreunion,however,provesfraught,asByroniscruel toClairewhilefriendlywithfellowpoet Percy.Tensions alsoarisebetweenClaireandMary,who,despitetheir closebond,havecontrastingpersonalities:Claireis passionateandseekingherplaceintheworld;Mary is controlledandinsular.Anothercharacter, Byron’syoung personalphysician,JohnPolidori,revealshisownromanticyearningandcraftshisowninfluentialwriting, astorythatformedthebasisofthemodernvampire legend.Franklin’snoveldelvesintothemoresoftheday, particularlygenderroles,withthefemalecharacters makingpointedobservationsabouttheadvantagesof beingamaninsociety,suchaswhenClairenotesthat thepoorestmanwouldbeseenasmoreofanexpert thantherichest woman.Clairealsoexpressesthatshe livesinaworldwithoutmuchchoice,whichispoignantlyrealizedasherrelationshipwithByrontakesitsfinal turn.Inanunpublishedreminiscenceofherlife,Claire, wholongoutlivedtheotherprotagonistsinthebook, wrote,“Iwouldwillinglythinkthatmymemorymaynot belostinoblivionasmylifehasbeen.”Franklingives voicetoawomanwhodeservestoberemembered.

1970

NATHANIELSINCLAIRWEEKS writes,“Nothingworthwhile iseasy!For example,in2025I stucktoitandpublishedfour booksthatI’vebeencogitating onfor 45years,havingnever publishedanythingbefore.I graduatedin1970andhope thesebookswillbeablessingto myfellowgraduatesandthose stillinschool.They canallbe foundonAmazon.

WildDating!! challengesthe claimthatlifecouldnothave startedto evolvemorerecentlythan3.7billionyearsagoto haveallthevariety oflifewe seearoundustoday.Ascientific evaluationof284aspectsof140 methodsofdating(radiometric, C-14,dendrochronological,etc.)

indicatesthatthere’sbeensome wilddatinggoingon!

TeachingHistorytoFascinate YourGratefulStudents isavaluableandpracticalmanualfor homeschoolers,teachers,and professorsthatintheappendix, identifiesthefamousPrinciples ofLife.

MaximizingtheMiraclesand MultiplyingtheBlessingsinYour Life ispossibleforanybody if onlyonethingisdone.Thisis nota“prosperitygospel”buta practicalapproachbackedupby realexamplesand30valuable observations.

DestinationHeaven isananswertoprayerforthosewhofear deathor are in mourningfor a lovedone.It provides strong scientificevidenceforanafterlife, anddealswithvarioustheolog-

icalclaimsabouthell,heaven,andtheLake ofFire.Itwas writtenformyyounggrandchildren althoughithasnopictures. Adultsfinditfascinating.

Ihopeyouallfindabitoffree timeforadventuresthissummer.”

1971

ROSANNAWARREN visited SYLVIEPERON in Fayence,France,in November. Sylviewrites:“Many memoriesofyearspast,whenour familieswouldmeetfor memorablepicnicsbackin1965–1966, whentheWarrenslivedfor ayear inMagagnosc.WelivedinGrasse wheremymom,Suzanne,taught LatinandRosannawasthemost brilliant studentinher class! We’ve beenfriendseversince.I’ll

ABRIASMITH releasedanalbum, Me:Assertive/TheVainillaEP, whichisavailableonmostmajorstreamingplatforms.Recordedunderanalterego,Vainilla,theprojectpaystribute to‘90ship-hop,combininglyricalstorytellingwithmemorablehooks andlayeredharmonies.

1992

neverbethankfulenoughtothe Warrensforbeinginstrumental in my attending Milton!”Sylvie also enjoyedavisitwith TISHO’CONNOR inFebruary 2025.

1985

SHOBHAMANAKTALA foundedMoonlitBooksLLC, abook reviewwebsitefor readers 18andunder.MoonlitBooks seekstoreignitethepeer-to-peer book recommendationprocess amongyoungreaders,particularlymiddle-gradereaderswhose readingrateshavesteeply declinedsincethepandemic. Shobhashares,“Pleaseshare www.moonlitbooks.orgwiththe youngreadersinyourworld.We arecurrentlyacceptingbook reviewsubmissions.”

1987

SARAHWHITE, SAMBISBEE’86,and JULIEWATKINSWHITE’83 gotto-

getheratthelastSundanceFilm FestivalinParkCity,Utah,in January2026.Sarahwrites,“It wasgreatseeingSampremier hisnewfilm, SoulPatrol.Julie andIweretherelastSundance whenSampremieredhisfilm PerfectNeighbors,whichisnow anaward-winningdocumentary. Alwaysfantastic celebratingMiltongraduatesandtheirachievements!DaretoBeTrueinthe mountains!”

ROBERTHENRYYOUNG hasbeen elevatedtotheCollegeofFellows oftheAmericanInstituteofArchitects(AIA),oneofthehighest honorsinthearchitectureprofession.

Eachyear,theAIArecognizesaselectgroupofarchitects whose work hasmadeasignificant contributiontoarchitecture and societyatanationallevel.In 2026,just 78architects nationwidewereelevated—adistinction heldbyfewerthan3percentof AIA members.Robertwas recognizedinObjectOne:Designfor

LILYBROWN released BladeWork (Parlor Press), herlatest collection ofpoetry,in2025.Thecollectionexplores“therelationship betweenhumansandboththe naturalandbuiltenvironments, questioningtheviolencewe doto natureanditscreatures, alongwiththeindustriallandscapeswetraverseinourdaily lives.” PoetDanRosenbergdescribesthecollectionas“stunning,”writingthat“everyline roundsasharpcornertocrash intopleasure.Thediscoveries madeherearethoseofamapmakertracingstrangehillsand pathslaidoutinher ownhand… Thesegorgeousandprecise poemsreassemblethebroken vaseoflanguageitself.”Lily is thewinneroftheNewMeasure Poetry PrizeandthePoetrySociety ofAmerica’sCecilHemley MemorialAward.Shepreviously releasedthecollection Rust orGoMissing aswellasseveral chapbooks.ShelivesinMaine withherfamilyandworksasa writingteacher.

abody of work definedby sustaineddesignexcellence. Formorethanthreedecades, Robert hasledRobertYoungAr-

InMemoriam

1940-1949

OsbornHowes’42

SarahGambleEpstein’43

EdwardReynoldsSr.’44

E.B.Gilchrist’47

NancyBrownSnow’47

WalterJ.Gamble’48

EmilieGratwickLewis’48

1950–1959

SamuelL.BatchelderJr.’50

AnneConantGamble’50

Dr.LuciusT.HillJr.’50

FrederickW.Jackson’50

ThomasM.Osgood’50

JosephineSaltonstall

DuBois’51

EdwardL.SawyerJr.’51

OliverF.WadsworthJr.’51

KittyBigelowBenton’52*

JamesM.Fitzgibbons’52*

EvanRandolphIV’53

JoelK.Wechsler’53

DeborahSmithRoberts’55

ElizabethReeceHall’56

RobertH.HallowellIII’56

PeterW.Lawrence’56

RichardS.Lee’56

JohnS.Reidy’56*

MaryCrockerStrang’56

1960–1969

RobertG.MorseII’61

PatriciaBrooksSumner’61

EdwardF.Schwartz’64

RobertF.PerkinsJr.’67

PeterTenney’67

JamesM.Whittemore’67

1970–1979

S.P.Fallon’72

CatieC.Marshall’73

1980–1989

AlexandraB.Donahue’89

1990–1999

EvanD.Sotiriou’93

FacultyandStaff

SheilaO’Marah

* FORMERTRUSTEE

ALUMNI,FACULTY,ANDSTAFF WHOPASSEDJANUARY1,2025–JUNE30,2025.TONOTIFYUS OFADEATH,PLEASECONTACT THEDEVELOPMENTANDALUMNI RELATIONSOFFICEATALUMNI@ MILTON.EDUOR617-898-2447.

GREGTAKOUDES’92 releasedhis newnovel, ShoutattheThunder, thisspring.

chitects,aNewYork–basedpractice offeringintegrated services acrossarchitecture,interiors,furniture,andlandscape.Hiswork is groundedincraft,place, andthe livedexperience ofspace,with projects spanning residential, cultural,and adaptive reusework alongthe East Coast.

1992

GREGTAKOUDES’ new middle-gradenovel, Shout attheThunder, waspublished May 19fromRegalPress.Greg writes:“ShoutattheThunder is the story of12-year-oldHolly Toast,agirlwithTourette syndrome, who mustsolve a mystery oftheoldestatewhere her parentshavemoved.Indoing so,shediscoversthatthe challengesshehasfacedfrom Tourette’s are,infact,exactlythe superpower she needstocreate connection andhealingwithin herself,andforthegirlwho lived onthisestate80yearsago.”

“ShoutattheThunder isa bookforallyoungreaders,but especiallyforneurodivergent readersandtheirfamilies,todiscoverapositivemessagewithin therealitiestheyhavefaced— andtoalsoenjoyafunandexcitingstory!Thebookisavailable fromBookshop.org,Amazon, andothermajorbooksellers.”

Inadditiontowriting,Gregis afilmmakerandassistantprofessoratTheNewSchoolinNew YorkCity.

“Allwillmissherverymuch indeedandrememberher vibrantintelligence,her extraordinarymemory, andherwarmth.”

SOLEDADMAURA’86 sharesthe sadnewsthather mother, MarisolMaura,passedawayonNovember24,2025.Marisolwasa deeplyvaluedteacherofSpanish atMiltonAcademyfor26years.

Soledadwrites:“Sheshaped the lives ofmanystudents, and her life, inturn,wasshapedfrom anearlyagebyherowneducation. ShegrewupinMadrid, wheresheattendedtheBritish InstituteandtheIrlandesas schoolfor girls.Bothcemented her love oftheEnglish language. She was a leaderand oneofthe few students in herclassto pursue aprofessionallifeandauniversity degree.Afterworking at thenewsagencyEuropaPress, she studiedatMadrid’s UniversidadComplutense, whereher professors, includingJack Cressey White,OBE, andKenneth S. Lynn,furtherinspiredher love of English andAmerican literature.

Marisol discoveredthepoetry of EmilyDickinson,whosework became alifelong passion and thesubjectofherdoctoraldissertation. Shewaseventually offeredtwocompetingfellowships to completeherresearch,one at the UniversityofCambridge,the other in Massachusetts.Longingto seetheland ofDickinson’s poetry,sheset offfortheUnited States.

Marisolbeganhercareeras aprofessorofSpanishliterature andhistoryatMiddleburyCollege.Fromthere,shejoinedthe Miltonfacultyin1976.AtMilton, shebecamechair oftheModernLanguagesDepartment, wasawardedtheJessieBancroftCoxChairandtheTalbot

BakerAward,andwashonored withtheUniversity ofChicago’s recognitionofOutstandingHigh SchoolTeacher.Shewasapioneerininterculturalprograms andinternationaleducation,and wasinstrumentalinfounding andleadingMilton’sSpanishexchangewiththeColegioEstudio inMadrid(currentlyinpartnershipwiththeColegiodelPilar). Shewasalsotheco-editor ofthe 2002book Azulejo (Wayside),a studyguidefortheSpanishAP LiteraturecourseMiltonhadrecentlylaunched.

Overtheyears,shewasable tospendtimeinSpain,either directingtheMiltonexchangeor teachingattheColegioEstudio orattheNewYork Universityand Middleburyprograms.

Uponherretirementin2002, her colleagueGeorgeFernald wrotein MiltonMagazine:‘Sheis apassionateloverof literature, andherknowledgeoftheEnglish,American,andFrenchclassicshashelpedherstudents...she hastaughtboththeclassicsand contemporarymasterpieceswith adepthandscopethatshow greatrespectforthepotential ofherstudents...Herwarmsmile andcheerful“¡Hola!”haveoften brightenedourdays.’

Marisol’sformercolleague AnaColbertremembers,‘Her studentsdidn’tonlylearnabout literatureandlanguageinher classes.Theylearnedaboutlife, andhowto overcomehurdles withserenityandelegance.She wasexceptionallyobservant,and took stock ofsituationsquickly andaccurately.’

Overtheyears,many ofher

students kept intouchabout theirpursuitofdegreesinSpanishortheir owncareersineducation,orotherfieldsthatallowed themtousetheirSpanish,includingimmigrationlaw.

In2001,shortlybeforeshe retired,Marisolwasdiagnosed withinclusionbodymyositis.For nearly25years,sheadaptedto thephysicallydisablingconsequencesofherrareillness,for whichthereisstillnocure.

Hermindremainedassharp as ever,andshekeptupwith childhoodfriendshipsthathad lastedover80years,aswellas closerelationshipswithfamily, formercolleagues,andstudents

fromaroundtheworld.Allwill missherverymuchindeedand rememberhervibrantintelligence,her extraordinarymemory,andher warmth.”

Soledadhopesto honorher memory and continuesharing herpassionforlanguagesand literatureinherownrole as V-NEE YEH ‘81ProfessorofSpanishand ComparativeLiteratureatWilliamsCollege(V-NeeYeh, coincidentally,graduatedfrom Milton in1977).Shedescribesher mother asthe embodiment ofhumanisticvalues,andaninspirational andbelovedparentandteacher towhomsheoweseverything.

WhyFly:SeekingAwe, Healing,andOurTrueSelves intheSky

CAROLINEPAUL’81 BLOOMSBURYPUBLISHING

Apilotformostofheradultlife, CAROLINEPAUL considersthemeaningofflight,whichsheembraceswitha newfoundenthusiasminher50s,aftertheendofalong marriage.Shediscoversanewaviationloveinlearning toflyagyrocopter,anopen-airrotorcraftthatshenicknamesWoodstock,choosingitforadventureandanew perspective,butespeciallyforthepromiseofescape. “It’seasiertolearnalandingthanahumanheart,”she writes.Shesharesherexperiencesasapilot,including herenginegivingoutwhileflyingoverarockyandtreelinedlandscape,andathree-daygyrocoptertripalong theWestCoastsoonafterhermarriageends,whenshe is“inastrangeliminalplacethat needs a map, a compass,andawaytogetalongviewoverunfamiliarterrain.”Shealsoexplorestheexperiencesofotherpilots, highlightingpathbreakingfemaleaviatorsliketheRussian“NightWitches,”whodroppedbombsonGerman targetsduringWorldWarII,andBessieColeman,acontemporaryofAmeliaEarhart’s whoismuch lessknown, Paulwrites,becauseshewasBlack.Organizedbythe fivestagesofflight(preflight,taxi,takeoff,flight,and landing),thebookexplainstonoviceshowflight works, andgoesoverkeyaspectsofapilot’sabilitytoflysafely. Thereisthepreflightchecklist,nevertobeshirkedregardlessoftheexperienceofthepilot;thenecessityof focusingonworst-casescenarios;andtheaeronautical chart(strappedtoalegsothewindwon’tblowitaway) thatPaulreliesonfornavigation.Evenwithmorethan athousandhours ofpilotingexperience,shewrites, “flyingfeelslikevoodoo,somethingsublimeandsupernatural.”Theuncertaintyaroundflightisalotlikethe uncertaintyaroundlove,shenotes:“Weknowsolittle aboutlove,andyetwelaunchourselvesenthusiastically skywardanyway.”

1996

InJanuary, KIM(MCNAMARA) O’BRIEN published Mentality Wins,abookaboutathletes’ mentalhealth,withco-author Dr.JonathanHaywoodJenkins. Aclinicalsocialworker,educator, andaward-winningresearcher, Kimhasworkedcloselywith athletestonavigatetheunique challengesof competitionand resilienceinsportsandlife.She wasacocaptainoftheHarvard women’shockeyteam,which

wonanationalchampionship in1999.

2004

EMILYPHELPS hasbeenservingas national presssecretaryforthe grassrootsorganization Indivisible since2017,whenshewas a member of itsfoundingcrew. Sheismovingonandbecoming an independent contractor.She plans onusingher newflexibility todo alotofroad-tripping, and

Withhelpfrom KATHERINE(SCULLY) PORTER’01, KATIEFRANICH’01, ALANABURKE’01,and MEREDITH BATES’02, K.DANAEPAULI’O1(L-R, above)celebratedhermarriage toAdam Penkhus intheSouth of FranceinJuly.DanaeandAdam welcomedtheirdaughter, Sawyer,attheendofSeptember inWashington,D.C.

MiltonAcademy BoardofTrustees 2025–2026

would loveto reconnectwithfellowMiltonfolksaroundthecountry, as wellasanyonewhofinds themselves in D.C.

2007

FantasyLife,afilm PHILKEEFE produced,debutedthisspring atAngelikaNewYorkCityand opened in morethan200theaters nationwideinApril. Starring MatthewShear—whoalsowrote and directedit—andAmanda Peet, FantasyLife earned critical acclaimforitsemotionally mature storytellingandobservationalcomedy.Peet received aSpecialJuryAwardatthe2025South BySouthwest(SXSW)festivalfor

ClaireD.HughesJohnson ’90,P’24’27PresidentMilton,MA

JohnFitzgibbons ’87 Treasurer Bronxville,NY

DavidCappillo P’20’24’26

Secretary Wellesley,MA

BradleyM.Bloom P’06’08 Emeritus Wellesley,MA

LisaDonohue ’83 Emerita NewYork,NY

JamesM.Fitzgibbons ’52,P’87’90’93Emeritus Washington,DC

FranklinW.HobbsIV ’65,P’98 Emeritus NewYork,NY

DavidB.Brewster ’90, P’25 Cambridge,MA

JasonDillow ’97 Greenwich,CT

RanaEl-Kaliouby P’21’27 Milton,MA

ShadiFarokhzad P’23’25 ChestnutHill,MA

YengFelipeButler ’92P’25’33 Milton,MA

LamontGordon ’87 Cranston,RI

YvonneHao P’27 Cambridge,MA

SonuKalra P’23’26’28 Milton,MA

MollyKing Wellesley,MA

MollyLadd ’92P’22’25’30 Charlestown,MA

JeanLiu P’28 Beijing

TedM.Maloney ’96 Boston,MA

MeikaNeblett ’90 Marietta,GA

OsaremenOkolo ’13 Cambridge,MA

KevinPrussia P’32’34 Milton,MA

ThomasR.ReardonJr. ’92,P’26’28’32

GeneReilly ’79, P’10’12

Cohasset,MA

DelrayBeach,FL

HendrickSin P’23’25’27 HongKong

GabrielSunshine P’22’24

Boston,MA

PatrickTsang ’90, P’27’27 HongKong

DianaVogel ’86,P’21’23’25

JustinWalsh ’99

CalebWeinstein P’26

ChestnutHill,MA

NewYork,NY

London

HelenZhu P’25 HongKong

LondonFalling:A Mysterious Deathina Gilded Cityanda Family’sSearchforTruth

PATRICKRADDENKEEFE’94 DOUBLEDAY

When19-year-oldZacBrettleriscapturedbyasurveillancecamerajumpingtohisdeathfromabalconyof aluxuryLondonapartmentbuilding,wherehestood alone,at2:24a.m.onNovember29,2019,itappeared tobeatragiccaseofayoungmantakinghisownlife. Butthereismuchmoretothestory.Inhisnewbook, PATRICKRADDENKEEFE uncoversdetailsofacriminal underworld,asecretlife,possiblepolicemisconduct, andthesuspiciouseventssurroundingZac’sdeath (Keefefirstwroteaboutthestoryinanarticlefor The NewYorker,whereheisastaffwriter).Thebookis basedlargelyoninterviews overnearlytwoyearswith Zac’sparents,RachelleandMatthew,prominentmembers ofLondon’sJewishcommunitywhocarvedouta comfortableifmodestlifeforthemselvesandtheirtwo children.ButZacsoughttocreateanewidentityfor himself.Aserialfabulist,hepurportedtobethesonof aRussianoligarchandingratiatedhimselfwithAkbar Shamji,aflashyandsmooth-talkingentrepreneur,and VerinderSharma,afearedgangsterwhoseapartment Zacspenthislastmomentsin.Keefedelvesintothe backgroundsofShamjiandSharma,andexploreswhy theirassociationwithZacmay nothavebeenbasedon friendshipandadesiretohelphim,astheyclaimed.The bookispresentedfromtheperspectiveofZac’sgrieving parents,whotrustauthoritiesatfirstbutgrowincreasinglyconcernedastheydiscoverofficialsfailingto followleadsintotheinvestigationoftheirson’sdeath. Evidenceoffoulplaysurfaces,includingmenacingtext messagessentatthetimeofZac’sdeathandconflictingstoriesandliesfrompeopleinvolvedinthecase.The authoroffersaviewinsidethehigh-flyingworldthat Zacsoughttojoin,withposhnightclubsandexclusive residenceswherediscretionisparamount,andwrites howLondonhasbeeninfluencedbyRussianoligarchs. Herevealsapatternofmysteriousdeathsofpeoplein EnglandwhohadbeeninvolvedwithorimpededpowerfulRussianinterests.Thestoryculminatesinanaccount oftheofficialinquestinto Zac’sdeath,featuringthe longtestimonyofShamji,whose“evasionsweremany andprofferedwithoutapology orshame,”accordingto Keefe.Inaviewsupportedbytheauthor,onememberofZac’sfamilyconcludesattheendoftheinquest: “Somethingverywronghappenedhere.”

wasMilton’sBlackHistory Monthspeaker. Abdoolisacreativedirectorandfilmmakerwhoisthehead ofbrandattheACLU.Hepreviouslyledthecreativeteamat GLAAD,theworld’slargest LGBTQmedia-advocacy organization.

herperformance.Thefilmalso starsJuddHirsch,Alessandro Nivolo,andBobBalaban. Philworksalongside JOHN NYLEN and MIKEGIANNONE at AC3Media,anindependentfilm productioncompanythethree classmatescofounded.

2010

BEVERLYLEON visitedMiltonas thisyear’s MartinLutherKingJr. Dayspeaker,andsheledaworkshopforMiltonstudentsand facultyoneffectingmeaningful

SHAREYOUR NEWS

Didyourecentlychange careers?Expandyour family?Findanew passion?Launchan excitingproject?We wanttohear fromyou! Sendyourupdatesand photostoclassnotes@ milton.edu.

changeintheir communities.A formerprofessionalsoccerplayerintheU.K.,Beverlyfounded LocalCivics,whichusesacompetency-basedlearningplatform toempowerstudentstodiscover andpursueskills-alignedlearningpathwaystocivics,college, andcareers.

2022

EMMANUEL“MANNY”UZOBUIFE,aseniorattheUniversityof NotreDame,hasbeennamed a2026MarshallScholar.With theaward,hewillcontinuehis educationinLiverpool,England, withafocusonpharmacologicalsolutionstosubstanceuse disorders.

Ascience-businessmajorwith minorsinscienceandpatient advocacy,chemistry,andmusicaltheater,hisinterestsrevolve aroundthequestionofhowsciencecanintervenewheresociety hasfailed,withaparticularfocus

onthedevelopmentandequitable distributionoflife-savingdrugsto preventandcombatopioidand othersubstanceusedisorders.

Manny is anundergraduate researcherintheLiebermanAnalyticalChemistryLab,conducts biologicaleducationresearchin the Department of BiologicalSciences,iscodirectorof Healthand WellnessforNotreDameStudent Governmentandisa resident assistant.Heisamember ofthe NotreDameGleeClubandthe BiotechClubandheworkedas anoperationssupervisor atRecSportsforthreeyears.

Awayfrom campus,heisa researchinternwiththe Mayo ClinicOtolaryngologyResearch Program andintheWalshLabat the Icahn SchoolofMedicineat Mount Sinai.

squadacoupleofsecondstogeteverybodytosafety.Thetrickisknowingwhentopressit.Forme,the telltalesignsareatightnessinthe centerofmychest,clenchingthe jaws,andapropensitytointerrupt. WhenIfeel those,Iknowit’s time topresspause.ViktorFranklsaid, “Betweenstimulusandresponse, there’saspace.Andinthatspaceis ourpowertochooseourresponse. Andinourresponseliesourgrowth and ourfreedom.”

Oncepaused,it’stimetoshift fromFuriousGeorgetoCurious George.Shiftthebalancefrom statingyourpointofviewtoinquiringabouttheotherside’sadvantagesanddisadvantages.Ask theotherpartytoconsiderboththe strengthsandweaknessesofyour ownperspective.Getcurious.With the tech CEO, a balanced“both/and” approachthatincorporatedfocus andflexibilityledtoabetter-functioningteam,higherrevenue,and athrivingbusiness.

Whenfacedwithapairofongoing,unsolvable,andseemingly opposingideas,maintainingemotionalbalanceandaskingquestions mighthelpyougetoverthetyranny ofthe“either/or.”Sofindyourpause buttonandgetcurious.Itcanhelp youmanagepolaritiesathomeand atwork, and itmighthelpallofus solve some of the global paradoxes thatareall aroundus. ■

MIKESWEENEY’93 ISAFORMER ARMYOFFICERTURNEDEXECUTIVE COACHWHOHASWORKEDFOR MORETHANTWODECADESWITHEXECUTIVESANDFOUNDERSTOBUILD HIGH-PERFORMINGTEAMSANDNAVIGATETHROUGHTENSIONS.THISIS AN EXCERPT FROMATEDXTALK HE GAVEIN2025ATWILLIAMJAMES COLLEGE.

FindingCommon Ground

WHENTHEPROBLEMFEELSUNSOLVABLE,CURIOSITY CANMOVETHINGSFORWARD. BYMIKESWEENEY’93

ThinkofaTime when you had tochoosebetweentworadicalopposites:high-paying,soul-sucking joborpassion-filledworkonabudget.Thestabilityofalong-termrelationshiporthefreedomofbeing single.Thesearetimeswhenwe instinctivelypickaside,andwhen someonedisagreeswithus,wecan getemotionallyhijacked.

Theseconflictscanstarttosound likethis:“Icareabouttheenvironment.”“Oh,soyouhopeoureconomytanks?”or“Ithinkgovernment efficiencyisagoodidea.”“Oh,soyou don’tcareaboutwhenworkersget fired?”Astheworldbecomesmore complexandinterdependent,weface morepolarities—ongoing,unsolvable situationswithseeminglyopposing sides.Noworlater,saveorspend, stayorgo.

Thequestionis,whenfacedwith oneoftheseconflictsathome,at work,orontheinternationalstage, howdowebreakfreefromthedeadlockandfinallyfindasolution?

Asanorganizationalpsychologist,coach,andarmyguyturnedgirl dad,I’moftenfacetofacewithparadoxicalchallenges.Opposingideas arecommonwithexecutives,diverse teams,andteenagedaughters.And formostof my life, tobehonest, I suckedatresolvingtheseconflicts. I’dfaceopposingideas,emotionally react,quicklypickaside,andthen diginforthefight.Tworesourceshavebeeninvaluableinhelping meshiftmythinkingandhelpothersfindtheirwaythroughunsolvableconflicts: Both/AndThinking by WendyK.SmithandMarianneW. Lewis,and PolarityManagement by BarryJohnson.

Irememberfacingapolarityina heatedconversationwithastartup

techCEO.Wewereworkingonstrategyandourrelationshiphadbeen crispyforafewweeks.Iwantedour strategytobefocused.Hewanted ittobeflexible.Theconversation escalated.Wewerestuckwithpolar-oppositeviewpoints.Itwasutterlyunsolvable.Nowwhat?

Iknowwhatyou’rethinking: Whataboutsomemiddleground? Howaboutacompromise?Look, sometimescompromisescanleave bothsidesunhappy,butit’sstill worthtryingforone,right?

paradox,twothingshappen:Wefall preytoemotionsleadingtodefensiveness,biases,andassumptions, andwepickaside.Wethink“either/or.”

“‘Both/and’isthe secrettomanaging theseongoing, unsolvable, seeminglyopposing conflicts.”

Insteadofaimingforcompromise,trya“both/and”approach.

“Both/and”isthesecrettomanagingtheseongoing,seeminglyunsolvable,opposingconflicts.Sohow dowedoit?Well,wehavetoget overtwohurdles.Whenwefacea

Webecomeblindtothestrengths of an opposing point of view and immunetotheweaknessesofour side.Whathappenstoyouwhenyou hearthesepolarities:Gunrightsor publicsafety;Americafirstorglobal stability;choiceorlife?Ifyou’relike me,yourheartrate’selevated,you’re feelingalittleanxious,andmaybe youfeelsomethinginthepitofyour stomach,earlywarningsignsofan emotionalhijack.

Instead, I want you to hit the pausebutton.Thinkofitlikeashot ofliquidnitrogentogivethebomb

Change Service Requested

“I’mjustgettingstarted.It’sexciting to share what I’ve experiencedso far,butIknowthere’smuchmore ahead.Thisdefinitely feelslike the beginningofthestory.”

HAYESBENZAN‘25 (SEEPAGE6)