February Alumni Perspectives: Shay Totten '91

I hope this note finds you safe and warm. 

On that note, I think we picked the warmest and nicest day in January for our first alumni gathering of 2026. A big thanks to Joel Fitzpatrick ’89 and his team at Chelsea Walls Gallery in New York City for hosting roughly 90 alumni, students, faculty, and staff for an evening of conversation, celebration, and connection.

This get-together gave alumni a chance to connect with each other, meet current students who are in New York City for Field Work Term, and hear music from a student ensemble accompanied by two music faculty. A big thanks to these talented student musicians: Ava Landreth ’27, Julian Conte ’26, Julius Boxer-Cooper ’26, Charlie Love ’27, and Zoe Berger’ 26; and, a shoutout to our amazing faculty members who joined them onstage—Joseph Alpar and Michael Wimberly. 

I updated folks on the many ways alumni can reconnect to the College—especially with today’s incredible students–as well as on projects I’m working on, like our current pilot course Life after Bennington.

As I noted in last month’s note to my fellow alumni, we are working to relaunch the alumni association this year. We have a growing list of alumni from New York City who, after attending this event, are on board to do more. 

Who’s next? Bay Area alumni should save the date for Sunday, April 19. We’re planning an alumni gathering in Orinda. Details will arrive in your inbox within a few weeks. 

Are you interested in hosting an alumni gathering in your community? Please email me and we can start planning. While I work on bylaws and a chapter handbook with a small group of our alumni peers, there’s no reason to put get-togethers on hold.

One of my other projects here is working to bring alumni back into the classroom so they can meet and share knowledge with current students. Starting next week, we’re piloting Life After Bennington. This term-long course will feature a different alum each week.

The course is full—40 students!—and we have more who want a spot. That’s a good sign that students are eager to connect with alumni and hear our stories about what a Bennington education can do for them out in the “real world.”

Here’s the current list of guest guinea pigs speakers (not including yours truly):

Kaiya Kirk ’20
Will Greer ’24
Jackie Sedlock ’96
Wyatt Kirby ’10
Rafe Churchill ’91
Dania Clarke ’15
Lynn Ellen Schimoler ’03
Christopher Bishop ’72
Audre Wirtanen ’17 
Jeff Williams ’91
Brooks Ashmanskas ’91
Adnan Ifthekar ’97

If you’d like to be considered for a future class to share with students your wisdom about your post-Bennington journey, email me. Don’t be shy! 

I’m always scouring the interwebs to learn about the cool things you’re doing, so maybe it’ll be me emailing you! Wouldn’t that be something?

And, if you’re ever in the neighborhood,  let me know and I’d be happy to welcome you back to campus and treat you to lunch in the Dining Hall.

Onward,

Shay Totten ’91
Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement