Author: Dale Devries
Richard Threlkeld
Class of 1959: News correspondent, anchor After being editor of the Crimson yearbook at Ripon College, Richard Davis Threlkeld became a world-renowned news correspondent, anchor and bureau chief with tenures at both CBS and ABC News. Threlkeld covered Vietnam and Moscow, the Persian Gulf War, the Patty Hearst kidnapping and trial, the Angela Davis trial, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Gary G. Yerkey
Class of 1966: Documenting history Gary Glen Yerkey was born in Chicago, Illinois. At Ripon, he majored in philosophy and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He has continued his affiliation with Ripon by serving as a Career Discovery Tour host and membership in Partners in the Legacy. Yerkey served in the United […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Francis “Frank” Wilbert Ryhlick
Class of 1936: Hugo Award Under both his own name and the pen name of Frank Riley, Francis “Frank” Wilbert Ryhlick was a widely varied and prolific writer in numerous mediums. He was born June 8, 1915, in Hibbing, Minnesota, and grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin. At Ripon, he majored in English and history and […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
(John) William “Bill” Roberts
Class of 1941: Presidential press staff (John) William “Bill” Roberts started out as a radio news reporter and rose to become Washington Bureau Chief for Time and on the press staff of President Gerald R. Ford. He was born March 21, 1919, in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. At Ripon, he majored in economics and speech communication […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Mark Porubcansky
Class of 1977: Witness to the world An awareness of the broader world outside of his rural Wisconsin home took Mark Porubcansky around the world as a news correspondent and editor of foreign news for more than 30 years. For nearly 12 years, he was a foreign correspondent for the Moscow, Vienna and Hong Kong […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Ann E. Ewing
Class of 1941: Coined the space term ‘black hole’ A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ann Elizabeth Ewing was born March 11, 1921. At Ripon College, she majored in chemistry and physics. She worked on the College Days newspaper and Crimson yearbook, serving as editor her senior year. She went on to become a renowned […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Helen Eggleston Haskell
Class of 1891: Children’s Book Author Helen Eggleston Haskell was the author of several well-known books for children in the first half of the 20th century and also contributed articles and poems to many of the leading magazines of the day. She was born Nellie Blanche Eggleston March 21, 1869, in Fairwater, Fond du Lac […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Helen Holter
Class of 1978: Recalculating and Resilience Helen Holter came to Ripon College with an interest in Russian language and the Soviet Union, which she parlayed into international travel and work as an Emmy Award-winning journalist, hoping to improve an ever-changing world by addressing and illuminating issues. She was born March 19, 1956, in Billings, Montana, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Ripon College to Host Program on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the economy, government, and society, new questions are emerging about how AI will influence work, opportunity, and economic security. The Center for Politics and the People will host a timely presentation titled “Will AI Steal My (Future) Job?” on March 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall, Harwood […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Academics, Ethics, Homepage Featured, Political Publications, Special Event.
Jean Hammond Otto
Class of 1948: First Amendment advocate A trailblazer in the field of journalism for women and in staunch defense of the First Amendment, Jean Hammond Otto had a distinguished 50-year newspaper career as a writer, editor and leader of local and national journalism organizations. She impacted the role of women in journalism and free speech. […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Emma Helen Blair
Class of 1874: Editor, translator, historian Emma Helen Blair was born Sept. 12, 1851, in Menasha, Wisconsin, and became a renowned historian, translator and editor about the state of Wisconsin and the Philippines. At Ripon, she studied the scientific course. She taught in public schools in Menasha and Milwaukee for two years, then worked as […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Fulton Chamber Players to perform Brahms sonatas at Ripon College Friday
Ripon College will host a performance by The Fulton Chamber Players Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Demmer Recital of the College’s C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts. The performance, dedicated to the violin sonatas of Johannes Brahms, is part of the Chamber Music and Jazz at Ripon Series and is funded through […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Fine Arts, Homepage Featured, Music Performance, Special Event.
Phoenix S. Brown: New Work + Artist Talk
Opening Reception and Artist Talk with Milwaukee-Based Interdisciplinary Artist Ripon College’s Caestecker Gallery is pleased to present Closer to the Truth, a solo exhibition of new work by Phoenix S. Brown, an interdisciplinary artist and musician based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The exhibition will open with a public reception on February 27th, followed by an artist […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Fine Arts, Homepage Featured, Special Event.
Chamber Music & Jazz at Ripon presents MARS:SMITH Feb. 13
The MARS:SMITH duo, Daniela Mars (flute, vocals) and Paul Smith (piano, vocals), will present a concert as part of the Chamber Music and Jazz at Ripon Series in C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts – Demmer Recital Hall at Ripon College on Friday, February 13, at 7 p.m. In addition to the evening performance, the […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Fine Arts, Homepage Featured, Music Performance, Special Event.
Bob Abendroth ’51 Named Founders’ Day Award Recipient
Abendroth, one of the longest-serving trustees, benefactor and part of four generations of Ripon alumni, receives annual award. Because of his extraordinary and continuous service to Ripon College, Robert V. Abendroth, Class of 1951, will receive Ripon College’s 2026 Founders’ Day Award in the College’s 175th anniversary year. The Founders’ Day Award honors an individual […]
Posted by Dale Devries in 175, Alumni, Homepage Featured, Office of the President, Special Event.
Finding Independence Abroad: A Semester of Growth in Barcelona
By Natalie McNeely January 28, 2026 One of my favorite parts of studying abroad in Barcelona in the spring of 2025 was the little daily moments. Every day, I walked about 20 minutes to my internship, and the route was lined with orange trees and green spaces. It became a relaxing, almost meditative start to […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Barcelona.
Victoria N. Folse
14th president 2022-Present Dr. Victoria N. Folse brings a distinguished background in nursing, higher education leadership, and student wellness to her role as president. She earned degrees in nursing from Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, and completed her Ph.D. in nursing with a concentration in research at Saint Louis University. […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Zach P. Messitte
Thirteenth president 2013-2021 He worked for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, United Nations and Cable News Network (CNN) before academic appointments at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the University of Oklahoma. He was widely published and hosted “World View,” an award-winning program on National Public Radio, from 2009-2012. During his Ripon tenure, […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
David C. Joyce
Twelfth president 2003-2011 He received degrees from Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina, Yale University Divinity School and North Carolina State University, as well as a doctorate in human resource development from Vanderbilt University. He also is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church. Prior to Ripon, he served as vice president for institutional advancement […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
Paul B. Ranslow
Eleventh president 1996-2002 Paul B. Ranslow had been executive vice president for admission at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and had more than 22 years of higher education administration experience, including interim president at Pitzer in 1991-92. Ranslow participated in campus activities and lent a sunny, positive approach to the task of leading a small […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.
William R. Stott Jr.
Tenth president 1985-1995 Under Stott, the College’s endowment nearly tripled. He was responsible for several major renovation projects, including Tri-Dorms, Bartlett, Scott Hall and Farr Hall. Stott taught an English class each semester and led popular classes and tours for the general public on topics such as Shakespeare, the Globe Theatre and bird-watching. His wildlife […]
Posted by Dale Devries in Not News.