The Kenyon Concerns Coalition is an advisory group of Kenyon staff, faculty and students whose purpose is to support a connected community by identifying and positively intervening on issues of broad campus concern to avert community division. If you know of a potential campus-wide issue within the Kenyon community, you can let the coalition know by contacting a coalition member listed below or by completing this form.

Coalition Members

  • Bijan Khaghani, Vice President for Student Life on Student Council
  • Carrie Knell, Ombudsperson (convenor)
  • Celestino Limas, Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Jan Thomas, Director of Community Partnerships; Professor of Sociology
  • Jené Schoenfeld, Associate Professor of English
  • Micah Smith, Student Council President
  • Michael Sweazey, Campus Safety Director
  • Rachel Kessler, Priest-in-Charge of Harcourt Parish; Chaplain; Chair of Kenyon Interfaith Partnership
  • Robin Hart Ruthenbeck, Dean of Student Development
  • Ted Mason, Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/ Senior Advisor to the President
  • Ubongabasi Asuquo, Student Council President
  • Yvonne Johnson, Director of Public Relations and Campus Communications

Inception

In March of 2019, a group of eight Kenyon College community representatives attended The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Divided Communities Project's inaugural Academy Initiative, titled “Strengthening Democratic Engagement to Address Local Civil Unrest." This academy was the result of lessons learned from community leaders and mediators that had experience dealing with civil unrest within their communities. The academy sought to teach the tangible principles, guidelines, and suggestions born from the strife endured. 

The Kenyon representatives returned to campus and formed the Kenyon Concerns Coalition as a way to identify and address issues of broad campus concern by applying the principles learned during the academy. Since formation, the coalition expanded to include additional campus leaders to best serve the group’s purpose, and meets monthly to discuss any areas of possible campus-wide concern.