Letter from the Director of Alumni Relations
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Dear Friends,
As we reflect on Friends Seminary’s 240th school year, we are filled with gratitude for the milestone celebrations and events that brought so many alumni and former faculty back to 16th Street. It has been a remarkable year of reconnection, spanning everything from athletics and the arts to professional networking and academic reflection.
Our seasonal gatherings brought incredible energy back to campus. We kicked off our major events with record-breaking attendance at the annual Alumni Soccer match, followed by a wonderful partnership with alumna Elisabeth Robert '91 and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. As the year progressed, we focused on community and mentorship—hosting a careers in law networking event, our second annual Alumni Appreciation Gathering, and a powerful Peace Week presentation by poet Willie Perdomo '85.
That momentum carried right through the spring. We were thrilled to welcome members of the Alumni Council back to campus for Visiting Day, and to host alumni, parents, and faculty for the 7th edition of the “We’re All Grown Ups Now” series featuring Faculty Emerita Marge Gonzalez. Pictures from all these events can be found here. The Class of 2026 was welcomed into the alumni community by Marc Mechanic '08 of the Alumni Council. In his remarks, Mark shared a message about connecting with people you may not know yet, but with whom you share a lasting bond through your experiences at Friends. It was a powerful reminder that being an alumnus of Friends is not simply about the years spent here, but about becoming part of a community that spans generations. To all of our Reunion volunteers who helped make our largest alumni gathering of the year such a resounding success: THANK YOU.
In this month’s newsletter, our featured alum, Ross Mechanic '13, reflects on his time at Friends Seminary and how he took his passion for Computer Science to Penn, eventually launching Maybern, a company building AI solutions for private markets. Our Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Spotlight features Gabriela Rachman '20, who shares what she has been up to since graduating from Kenyon College as she prepares to begin a PhD program later this fall.
Lastly, I have some bittersweet news to share. After five years of service, I will be leaving Friends Seminary later this summer to focus on my family and the next chapter of my professional life. I share this news with great affection and deep appreciation for this community, which has welcomed me so graciously.
In stewardship,
Michael Mudho
Director of Alumni Relations