Ally Conlon
Degrees B.A. Media & Society & Minors in Public Policy and Entrepreneurial Studies, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Samuel Peppers ’25
INVOCATION SPEAKER: Samuel Peppers ’25 is a political science major and religious studies minor from Roanoke, Virginia. While at the College, he has been on the board of multiple clubs, including serving as president of Model UN, and holding positions in the Jewish Student Organization, and the Slavic, Eastern European, and Central Asian Culture Club. He pursued interests in music, religious studies, and Middle Eastern politic, and economic sanctions have been a focal point of his studies. His Independent Study focused on authoritarian governments’ responses to sanctions. After graduation, he will be moving to Washington, D.C.
Rev. Matthew E. Davis
BENEDICTION SPEAKER: A parent to Wooster students in the classes of 2024 and 2025, Rev. Matthew Davis is pastor at Mendocino Presbyterian Church, a historic carpenter gothic style church serving its community in Northern California since the 1850s. Leading the congregation for the last ten years, Rev. Davis has built upon a traditional worship with a leadership development approach focused on “giving thanks” and “blessing.”
He sees ministry as an invitation to build community, sharing one’s gifts exploring God’s world and making a difference, whether by hiking the Grand Canyon with students “Looking at Life with God from the Top-Down and the Bottom-Up” or confronting the devastating wildfires in California by developing a herd of 80 goats and sheep called “Holy Goats: Your Fire Prevention Angels.” When band was cut at the local public school because of lack of funding, he introduced a classical guitar program that has enabled over 400 students to learn how to read music and play music at a high level.
Davis earned his master’s degree in divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1997 and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in anthropology and religious studies at Washington University in St. Louis in 1993. His son Hudson Davis ’24 majored in geology at Wooster, and Drew Skylar Davis ’25 is a communications studies major with a minor in environmental studies.
Karmellah Buttler ’25
Karmellah Buttler, a physics major from Canton, Ohio, supports fellow students as a STEM Zone intern, sings a cappella with Round of Monkeys, and participates in Astronomy Club and Physics Club. Serving as a research assistant in earth sciences and physics, she coauthored a study investigating the inside-out galaxy disk formation theory with Laura DeGroot, assistant professor of physics. For her senior I.S., Buttler contributed to the next phase of development in a long-running project in physics at the College, researching avalanches in a conical bead pile, a critical system that applies to broader ideas like landslides or earthquakes. Buttler plans to pursue graduate studies in atmospheric science after a gap year.
Rayan Dos Passos ’25
Rayan Dos Passos, a global & international studies and Spanish major from Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brazil, has served in numerous leadership roles at Wooster, including as a residential assistant, class representative, orientation leader, and senior intern and tour guide with the Office of Admissions. He participates in Model UN, Club Soccer, Latinas Unidas, and Jenny Investment Club. He has been previously recognized as a Kendall-Rives American Research Fellowship recipient. Through his Independent Study, Dos Passos examined the political economy of U.S. bilateral food aid and its impact on trade and welfare in Mexico. He plans to pursue graduate studies in international economics or global development.
Mesky Bhrane
Meskerem “Mesky” Brhane ’89 is the regional director for the planet department in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at the World Bank, where she leads the formulation of the bank’s strategy, engagements, and all lending, technical assistance, partnerships, and policy advisory work for sustainable development across the region. Her portfolio covers a broad range of areas, including agriculture and food, climate change, environment, natural resources, the blue economy, social sustainability and inclusion, and water. Brhane oversees a lending portfolio of $8 billion serving nearly 300 million people and leads a team of 120 professionals across Washington, D.C. and 10 country offices.
With over 25 years of experience in international development and poverty alleviation, Brhane has worked in the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, and Africa, shaping sustainable development initiatives in diverse country contexts. Prior to her current role, she held several key leadership positions in urban development, resilience, disaster risk management, and land administration. She served as practice manager for the World Bank’s urban development, resilience, and land initiatives in West and East Africa and South Asia, as well as program leader for Sustainable Development in Nairobi, Kenya, where she pioneered the Bank’s engagement in regions that are left behind from development. Additionally, she was a senior urban development specialist, leading operations and policy dialogues on housing, local economic development, urban upgrading, municipal management, and municipal service delivery in East Asia and MENA.
At Wooster, Brhane majored in English and French and credits her liberal arts education for preparing her for each step on her path to a successful career in international development. After graduating from the College, she received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach English in Paris and earned her doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago. After two post-doctoral research and teaching positions, Brhane started working at the World Bank in 2004. Fluent in Amharic, and French and speaking Arabic, Brhane’s global expertise and leadership continue to make a significant impact in sustainable development worldwide, particularly in advancing initiatives that aim to eradicate poverty and promote economic resilience.
Abhinav Randive
Hometown: Mumbai, IndiaAcademic Interest: MathematicsOn-Campus Activities: Chess, Scot Council, Jenny Investment ClubAdditional Language: Hindi,Urdu
Josie Fleischel
Hometown: Chicago, ILAcademic Interest: Global Media & Digital StudiesOn-Campus Activities: College of Wooster Dance Company, Woo-91, O-Huddle House
Yajas Kandel
Academic Interests: Computer Science and Environmental Studies On-Campus Activities: Club Soccer, Table Tennis, SE Asia Committee Additional Language: Nepal
Allison Osei-Okrah
*Studying abroad Fall 2025 Academic Interests: Communications and EconomicsOn-Campus Activities: Student Leadership Institute, Resident Assistant, PeerAdvisor
Julia Struck
Hometown: Chicago, ILAcademic Interests: Education and PsychologyOn-Campus Activities: Student Leadership Institute, Greek Life, Women’sSoccer
Pem Gurung
Academic Interest: Computer ScienceOn-Campus Activities: Resident Assistant, Table Tennis, SE Asian ClubAdditional Language: Nepal
Ava Caizzo
Hometown: Norwalk, OHAcademic Interests: Anthropology, Art History, and Museum Studies PathwayOn-Campus Activities: Greek Life and Music
Sara Wesolek
Hometown: McDonald, PA Academic Interests: Sociology and Political Science On-Campus Activities: Moot Court, Greek Life, Study Abroad
Kidus Bayou
Academic Interests: Economics and Data & Statistical SciencesOn-Campus Activities: Resident Assistant, African Student Union, Jenny Investment ClubAdditional Language: Amharic
Greg Kania
Hometown: Duxbury, MAAcademic Interests: Global & International Studies and EconomicsOn-Campus Activities: Ultimate Frisbee, Greek Life, Study Abroad
Audrey Richardson
*Studying abroad Fall 2025 Hometown: Southborough, MAAcademic Interest: EntrepreneurshipOn-Campus Activities: Goalie for Women’s Lacrosse, Wooster Voice, CowBelles