From the Editor

When I’m searching for story ideas and putting together an outline of the magazine, I don’t have a theme in mind—it’s not that sort of publication. Instead, I simply look for interesting stories and people with a Washington connection.

This issue is no different. However, although unintentional, I saw a theme emerge organically from the subject matter—leadership.

Three pieces explicitly concern leadership: the feature on H. Lawrence Culp Jr. ’85, Professor Harvey’s book on leadership, and Mike Sosulski’s presidential report. But it wasn’t much of a stretch for me to see leadership or the values and actions I associate with good leaders in the other stories, too.

Of course, seeing patterns is human nature. After our ancestors first encountered a saber-toothed tiger coming out of the tall grass, they associated tall grass with danger. This makes perfect sense. But before long, people were seeing saber-tooths in the grass whether they were there or not. Perhaps I was seeing leadership in every article because, at the same time as I was putting the final touches on the stories, the country was wrestling with a choice between two radically different types of leaders vying to become President. Perhaps I was projecting that struggle onto our stories.

Upon reflection, I don’t think it’s my imagination. In fact, leadership is so intertwined with and a structural part of the Washington College experience that it is a trope that appears frequently in our stories. It’s just a more pertinent subject in an election year.

Hopefully, by the time this magazine arrives in mailboxes, the presidential election will be done and dusted. It would be nice if whoever wins has even a modicum of the quality, integrity, and character of the Washington leaders we feature here.

In this issue, you’ll read about Washington faculty leading by example and sharing their expertise with peers and community members. Sara Clarke-De Reza puts authentic experiences at the heart of her curricula, and her students learn while participating in numerous community-based initiatives and projects. In addition to mentoring professors at two-year colleges, Mindy Reynolds is developing kits to help professors across the country do original research with their students. Katie Charles has been passed the leadership baton for the Kiplin Hall program and is broadening its reach by incorporating other disciplines.

Like the faculty, our students and recent alumni are applying their skills and expertise to real-world problems. Xavier Smalls ’25 lends his voice to the health disparities experienced by Native American children. Faith Jarell ’25 uses her technical know-how to produce podcasts sharing the stories of Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater. Oliver Hegglin ’13 bears witness to the survivors of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“Liberal arts colleges have an important role to play in democracy in our country. And that’s not a political statement; I think that’s just a fact,” Culp said. “Well-educated, well-rounded citizens make for better democracies. I think history has proven that to be the case.”

I couldn’t agree more with Culp and the importance of education to democracy. And I am proud that those featured in this issue are the sorts of leaders and future leaders who listen, learn, and work with others for the common good.

Thank you, 
Darrach Dolan, Managing Editor

Volume 72 No. 1
Fall 2024
ISSN 2995-2573

Managing Editor
Darrach Dolan

Editor
Mark Jolly-Van Bodegraven

Executive Editor
Brian Speer

Contributing Writers/editors
Hillary Bitting, MacKenzie Brady ’21, Darrach Dolan, Dominique Ellis Falcon, Todd Farley, Courtney Hardy, Favio Rogero Hickel Jr.,
Mark Jolly-Van Bodegraven, Jodie Littleton  Mike Sosulski, Brian Speer, Andraya Sudler ’26

Art Director
Morgan Gilpatrick

Design
Morgan Gilpatrick, Jennifer Quinn

Contributing Photographers
MacKenzie Brady ’21, Tim Corrao, Pamela Cowart-Rickman, Rebecca Drobis, Brian Palmer

Contributing Illustrators
Sam Ward

Administration
Michael Sosulski
President

Brian Speer
Vice President for
Marketing and Communications

Susie Chase ’90 P’21
Vice President for Advancement, Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Emily Kate Smith ’10
Associate Vice President for 
Alumni and Constituent Engagement

The Washington College Office of Marketing and Communications publishes Washington College Magazine (USPS 667-260) four times a year: February, March (admissions), June, and October. Periodical postage paid at Chestertown, Maryland, and at other offices. 

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