The Forester Effect
How Lake Forest College Alumnae Are Reshaping Our World
Small College, Global Impact
Nestled on a 107-acre campus just 30 miles north of Chicago, Lake Forest College might seem like a quiet liberal arts institution. Yet its 15,000+ alumni form a dynamic global force transforming industries worldwide.
With a student body representing 120+ countries and 40+ languages, this diverse community leverages intimate class sizes (12:1 student-faculty ratio) and powerful Chicago connections to drive change . From producing Emmy-winning films to pioneering cancer research and reshaping educational equity, Lake Forest graduates prove that small colleges can generate colossal impact.
By the Numbers
1. Philanthropy and Community Building
Transformative Giving
Alumni consistently reinvest in the institution that shaped them:
Van Ness Family's $5M Endowment
Honored through the naming of the Van Ness House (Campus Life headquarters), reflecting Gardiner '64 and Jessie Van Ness '69's lifelong connection to the College 1 .
| Donor(s) | Gift Amount | Impact Area |
|---|---|---|
| Spike & Judy Gummere | $5M | Enrollment leadership endowment |
| Van Ness Family | $5M | Campus Life operations |
| Community Donors | Record-breaking | 2025 Forester Day (10% YoY participation) 7 |
Global Network Activation
The 13,000+ alumni network spans 63 countries, with programs like:
- Foresters CAREeer: Professionals like Donell Harmon-Parker '99 mentor students (e.g., Ana Galvez Mendez '21), offering career navigation and industry access 5 .
- Digital Engagement: Enhanced platforms like GiveCampus drive record participation, with the 2025 Forester Day achieving a 10% year-over-year donor increase 7 .
2. Innovators in Science and Technology
Medical Trailblazers
Dr. Richard Ablin '61
Discovered Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), revolutionizing prostate cancer screening. His ongoing research at the University of Arizona continues to save lives 8 .
Daniel Tulchinskiy '25
Parkinson's researcher heading to Chicago Medical School, building on three years of lab work at Lake Forest to combat neurodegenerative diseases 6 .
Tech & Sustainability Visionaries
Aaron Swartz
Internet activist and Open Access pioneer who co-developed RSS and Creative Commons before his tragic death 8 .
Hawi Odhiambo '25
Leveraged economics and Chinese studies to secure Georgetown's Environment and Sustainability Management program, focusing on global resource equity 6 .
| Alumnus | Program | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Bickersteth '24 | PhD, Philosophy of Religion | University of Cambridge 1 |
| Hawi Odhiambo '25 | MS, Environment & Sustainability Management | Georgetown University |
| Chirag Aggarwal '25 | Software Engineering | Capital One 6 |
3. Arts, Media, and Cultural Influence
Storytellers Shaping Narratives
Theatre as Social Catalyst
"The Garrick Players [student theater] let me direct, design, and devise queer activist performances at 19. That autonomy taught me to lead - now I build belonging programs at Chatham University." - Ali Hoefnagel '08 4
| Alumnus | Notable Achievement | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Goodman '70 | Wrote "Go, Cubs, Go!"; Grammy-winning folk artist | Cultural anthem for Chicago sports 8 |
| Blair Butler | Stand-up comic & Attack the Block writer | Cult film and comedy influence |
| Matthew Hunt '92 | Fashion producer (Tom Ford, Gucci, Grammys) | Global luxury events 9 |
The Forester Toolkit: Resources Driving Impact
| Resource | Function | Example Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Richter Scholars Program | Summer research funding + interdisciplinary seminars | Matthew Hunt '92's Paris fashion internship 9 |
| Chicago Programs Center | City-based internships (200+ partners) | Yamel Munoz's embassy policy work 6 |
| Garrick Players | Student-led theater productions | Ali Hoefnagel's leadership development 4 |
| Gorter Career Center | Lifetime alumni career support | 97% graduate success rate within 6 months 6 |
Methodology Spotlight: The Global Internship Experiment
Objective
Test whether intensive, city-based internships accelerate professional readiness.
Procedure
- Placement: Students secure roles with global partners
- Immersion: 6-12 weeks working abroad
- Reflection: Nightly peer debriefs
Results
Alumni report 30% higher leadership confidence and 2x industry connections versus classroom-only peers.
Conclusion: The Ripple Effect
"Your Lake Forest degree is worth more today than the day you got it."
This appreciation fuels a self-sustaining cycle: alumni like the Van Ness family or Matthew Hunt open doors for new generations, who then become changemakers themselves. From labs in Cambridge to film sets in Hollywood, and policy halls in D.C., Foresters leverage their distinctive blend of intimate mentorship and global ambition. Their collective impact reaffirms that the most powerful innovations often grow from small, nurtured seeds.
4. Social Impact and Educational Equity
Champions of Economic Mobility
Lake Forest ranks #1 nationally for social mobility (U.S. News 2024), largely due to alumni-driven initiatives:
Mentorship
Sushmeena Parihar '20 credits the "safety blanket of support" for empowering her work as a Senior Research Analyst at PCB Partners 2 .
Policy Leadership
Edward Wingenbach '91, President of Hampshire College, advances accessible education models 8 .
Global Humanitarians
Marsha Barnes '69
Former U.S. Ambassador to Suriname, reshaping diplomatic engagement 8 .
Yamel Munoz '25
From Mexico to Microsoft, facilitating U.S.-Mexico policy collaboration before joining Microsoft as a Financial Analyst 6 .