Hillsdale Alumni Newsletter Archives

A New Reason to Support the College

On April 15, the Alumni Office is hosting its first Alumni Day of Giving event. Over a 24-hour period (and well before that), the Alumni Office will promote more than a dozen College programs, clubs, and organizations that want to partner with Alumni to raise money for their causes.

Hometown Hillsdale: Roni Roth Avra, ’12

Growing up in Hillsdale, Michigan, didn’t deter Roni Roth Avra, ’12, from wanting to attend the college in her own backyard. Navigating several interests in college led her to a veterinary career as Dr. Roni Roth at Northside Veterinary Hospital right here in her hometown.

Elevated Education: Jacob Mueller Learned the Higher Things at Hillsdale

Despite growing up in the elevations of the Rocky Mountains, savvy businessman Jacob Mueller, ’13, started at the ground level while beginning his education at Hillsdale College. The current CEO of Renjoy credits much of his success to his Hillsdale education.

The Hillsdale College Alumni Dozen: The Sequel

Meeting alumni and telling their stories is a joy for Doug Goodnough, ’90. Doug continues the “tradition” of highlighting some of the most memorable alumni of the year. Here are the 2025 Alumni Dozen (in no particular order or ranking).

Mile High Medicine: Dr. Kelsey Berlin Neitzel, ’10, Provides Health Care through a Hillsdale Lens

Dr. Kelsey Berlin Neitzel said Hillsdale’s education helped her reach her goal of becoming a doctor. She is now working part-time as a physician for Kaiser Permanente while she and her husband are raising a family in the Denver, Colorado, area.

Hometown Hillsdale: Nathaniel Stewart, ’95

Nathaniel “Nate” Stewart’s path has unfolded through transformative moments shaped by family, education, career endeavors, and art. For the Stewarts, the move to Hillsdale is more than a relocation—it’s the last stop and one that feels full circle.

A Hillsdale Christmas Story

On December 6, the Chargers will play the Upper Iowa University Peacocks in the Albanese Candy Bowl. If you love football and gummy bears, this game is for you. Billed as a match between the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, it is a chance to showcase NCAA Division II football and get in on the bowl season that is usually reserved for the larger publics and privates.

The Ripple Effect

Have you ever thought about the impact Hillsdale’s alumni have on the world? Doug Goodnough, ’90, continues to marvel at Hillsdale College alumni who are creating that ripple effect in their communities.

Polling Pioneer: Roy Wetzel, ’56, Revolutionized NBC News’ Election Coverage

Wetzel may have retired from NBC News more than 37 years ago, but his passion for broadcasting and politics remains. The 90-year-old who has worked with television news legends such as John Chancellor, David Brinkley, and Tom Brokaw began his career in broadcast news as a student at Hillsdale College.

Hometown Hillsdale: Stacy Vondra, ’95

Education and learning have always been a constant for Stacy Bryan Vondra. So has Hillsdale College. From head teacher to director at Mary Randall Preschool, to speech pathologist for the Branch County ISD, students have remained at the heart of it all for Stacy.

Cardinals Rule: St. Louis Native Meinecke Working for Her Hometown Team

Elisabeth Meinecke, ’07, has always had a love of sports. Although Meinecke couldn’t compete on the playing field, she could do the next best thing: write about those who do. For the past 10 years, she has been the senior editor/producer of Cardinals Magazine, which is the multimedia news site of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hometown Hillsdale: Abby Strehle, ’19

Born and raised in Hillsdale County, Abby Titus Strehle, grew up in the small farming village of North Adams. Attending Hillsdale College was her dream and ultimate goal as a K-12 student. In fact, Hillsdale was the only college to which she applied. As Abby grows older, her appreciation deepens for the place that shaped who she is.