Christian Walkes, IRT ’17 PhD, Education Harvard University
Walkes defended his dissertation titled Landscapes of Freedom: Black Educational Architects & Historical Geographies of African American School Grounds.
Emerson Mayorga, IRT ’25 MA, Journalism University of Arizona
Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 and Savita Maharaj, IRT ’21 Leislie and Savita attended the play Lifted by Mfoniso Udofia, a graduate of Wellesley College, who has written the UFOT Family Cycle of 9 plays in May 2026at the Wellesley College Alumnae Hall Auditorium. Lifted addresses Toyima Ufot’s path in academia, which was constructed upon her father’s previous academic research. When she is accused of plagiarism, she travels to Nigeria to uncover her familial history and to find healing. This play spoke to Savita and Leislie deeply, and they will attend the next play titled In Old Age in late June.
Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 and Kevin Olusola In mid-May, Leislie had the opportunity to reconnect with Kevin Olusola, Phillips Academy alum ’06 of Pentatonix fame, who was a student Leislie mentored when he first came to Andover as an 11th grader. Kevin and Leislie shared a commonality -they both lived in Kentucky; Leislie lived in Bowling Green, and Kevin grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky. Kevin performed at Andover’s Cochran Chapel, sharing his unique style of beatboxing and cello musicianship, performing pieces from his new album titled Dawn of a Misfit.
(L-R) Kevin Olusola, Pat Davison, a former Phillips Academy colleague, and Leislie Godo-Solo
Ben Vinson III, IRT ’92 Dr. Vinson was named a Harvard Hutchins Center fellow at the Afro-Latin American Research Institute. Congratulations!
Stephen Zrike, IRT’01 Congratulations to Dr. Zrike, who was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey as Secretary of Education. Read the official press release on this appointment.
Karina Fernández Montilla, IRT ’06 Karina received theDiversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Award by the ACE Women’s Network in Massachusetts. The award honors a champion of change whose vision and contributions are focused on changing structural systems for the advancement of women in Massachusetts colleges and universities. Read more about the award and Karina’s work.
Karina also received a staff recognition award at the Black History Month Showcase that recognizes staff and faculty at Hampshire College who often work behind the scenes without enough appreciation. Congratulations!
I am honored to have been nominated and to be recognized alongside colleagues who are so dedicated to supporting transformative educational spaces like Hampshire College.
Donavan Ramon, IRT ’08 On February 11th, Dr. Ramon will be discussing a current book project on images of fight scenes in memoirs by Black men.
Fernando Tormos-Aponte, IRT ‘09 Congratulations to Dr. Tormos-Aponte who has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Women for a Healthy Environment. He is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh.
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 
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