Written by Doug Goodnough
Last year, I debuted on this blog what I call the “Alumni Dozen,” highlighting a dozen or so Hillsdale College alumni I met throughout the year. Meeting alumni and telling their stories is by far the most enjoyable part of my job, and since I relish it so much, I am continuing this “tradition” of highlighting some of the most memorable with you.
Here are the 2025 Alumni Dozen: The Sequel (in no particular order or ranking):
- Erin Foley, ’05: Erin attended last June’s White & Blue Weekend, and I had a chance to briefly meet her and hear about her life’s mission. For more than 14 years, she has been bringing hope, resources, and the Gospel to Myanmar and the people of Southeast Asia. An amazing person doing amazing things. That sounds about right for a Hillsdale graduate.
- Roy Wetzel, ’56: As soon as I met Roy, I knew he meant business. Although he was long retired from his role at NBC News, I could tell he was serious about his lengthy and distinguished career in broadcast journalism. He helped start the radio station at Hillsdale College, and he continued being a pioneer in political broadcast journalism. What a career!
- Juliane Malia Hillock, ’91: I’m not going to lie, meeting Juliane and seeing her in action at the Hózhó Academy in Gallup, New Mexico, was one of the more incredible experiences of my life. What she is doing in this impoverished community is nothing short of miraculous. Just remarkable.
- Rob Fodor, ’84: The Dos Equis Guy has nothing on Rob, who is not just an NBA shooting coach. After spending some time with him last summer during the Alumni Awards process, he is one of the most interesting people I’ve met in a long time. A lifelong learner in every respect, he is also an entrepreneur and maybe the most knowledgeable Seinfeld aficionado out there. If he ever writes a book, I’ll buy it.
- Dana Weidinger, ’20: Dana is a high-energy graduate I met when she came back to campus last spring. A former standout pitcher on the Chargers softball team, she is now carving out a stellar career in human resources in the Detroit area. Great things ahead for her.
- Larry Covey, ’65: The annual 50/60-Year Reunion always brings fascinating alumni to campus who have wonderful stories and history to tell. Last year, Larry stood out. The former four-sport athlete (!) shared about both his time as a Charger as well as the life he lived after graduating.
- Scott Miller, ’84: Someone I “met” through a phone call. We had similar journalism paths while at Hillsdale, with Scott going on to become a renowned baseball writer and author. He truly lived his dream of covering MLB and was well-respected by his peers. Just a few months after I published his article, he tragically passed away from cancer. Good man.
- Tara Elkins Beam, ’10, ’16, M.A.: During our time in New Mexico, I met Tara, who had an interesting background and is an amazing wife, mom, and homeschooler extraordinaire. She is trying to bring a bit of Hillsdale’s classical school education to Los Alamos, a remote community and military base known for developing the atomic bomb.
- The Emerson Family: I am cheating a little bit here, since there are six alumni in this one family. And I know a few of them. But the experience of telling the Emerson family’s Hillsdale story in Aretê was one I won’t soon forget. Seeing the expression of joy on the faces of brothers Art, ’64, and Paul, ’68, Emerson during their campus visit was heartwarming.
- Elisabeth Meinecke, ’07: Another powerhouse product of Hillsdale’s Dow Journalism Program, Elisabeth has carved out an interesting path with MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals. Her passion for covering her hometown team stood out, and she’s someone we’ll be hearing from in the near future.
- Ian Faley, ’10: I met Ian and his family during our Seattle trip, and he has an understated but passionate way about him. Fundraising is a hard business, but he seems to relish his role with the Boys and Girls Club. In fact, he calls raising money for worthy causes a hobby. That’s a first.
- Phil Dombey, ’70: I haven’t featured Phil (yet), but he is another who had stories to tell for days. In fact, it took up a good portion of the Toledo Mud Hens alumni event last August, but I didn’t mind one bit. Time flew by as I heard the tales of “Happydale” and the eventful life he has lived as a lawyer and businessman.
What an honor to meet these folks and see the impact they are making on the world. As we enter 2026, I’ve already started to work on sharing more of these incredible people with you.
Happy Hillsdale New Year!
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in January 2026
