The joy of more than a thousand members of the Denison family reuniting with their students filled The Hill during Family Weekend 2025.
Lots of hugs were spotted across the campus as students and families strolled the quads, enjoying the sunny skies and warm temperatures. There was plenty to see and do. Family Weekend offered a schedule smorgasbord with more than 75 athletics, arts, academics, social, and spiritual events — plus unstructured time for everyone to simply connect.
Director of Engagement Programs for Alumni & Family Engagement Ryan Brechbill said he wanted families to get a glimpse into their students’ lives.
“As a parent of a college student, I’m always curious how my son spends his day,” he said. “And by offering so many kinds of events, we give families and students lots of ways to connect through a shared experience and a glimpse into life on The Hill.”
In addition to cheering on the Big Red at athletics competitions, viewing the stars at the McConnell Planetarium, and enjoying outstanding performances and artwork with their students, parents and families could sit in on “master class” sessions on topics such as data across disciplines, shopping in ancient Rome, and the philosophy of work.
With the rising prominence of artificial intelligence in news and business, it was no surprise that both AI-themed events were standing room only. Lori Robbins, who leads Denison’s AI strategy, shared ways the college is an innovator in integrating AI into a liberal arts curriculum.
“Denison has built a list of AI strategic priorities, a framework to guide our work and programs on campus,” Robbins said. She talked about tactics faculty use to integrate AI into learning, AI certifications students can earn through Denison Edge, and ways students can use AI to help in their search for internships and jobs.
Robbins sees the college using AI in ways that strengthen Denison’s mission statement, “to inspire and educate our students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents and active citizens of a democratic society.”
“Our students are learning how to use AI through the liberal arts point of view,” she said. “They are learning to think about the best ways to use the technology, to critique and question when and how it is used, and to use it in ways that are ethical as well as effective.”
Susan Leithauser, director of parent and family philanthropy, said significant behind-the-scenes work goes into making Family Weekend a success.
Leithauser works closely with members of the Family Leadership Council (FLC), a group of families dedicated to having a positive impact on students’ experiences. The FLC visits Denison at least twice a year to understand campus initiatives and help the college address challenges and opportunities through philanthropy, recruiting efforts, hosting events, and more.
“President Weinberg values what our families have to say,” Leithauser said. “The FLC are strong collaborators with Denison, and provided a lot of input and ideas that helped us build an experience that parents, families, and students really enjoyed.”
During a Saturday morning conversation with families, President Weinberg talked frankly about disruption in higher education, and the ways Denison is leveraging its resources to thrive.
Citing the college’s assets, among them its innovations in AI, strong alumni base, top-ranked career services, and the advantages of its proximity to Columbus, Weinberg said, “Denison has the flexibility and resources to adapt and continue our upward momentum. I am deeply proud to be a Denisonian.”
T. J. Locke traveled to Granville from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, to see his daughter Katie, a senior theatre major, in a production of The Grown Up, in which she portrayed two characters, Anna Bell and Lane Heatherette. Locke’s roommate, Fiona Kogan, makes and sells the crocheted flowers Locke and Evan Goodgee ’26, also pictured, are wearing.
“Fiona is going to be so jealous,” Locke said, “but she’ll be happy her flowers made the photo!”
Blessing Nwaozuzu came to watch her son Chika play tennis against Case Western Reserve. The sophomore tennis player, an economics major who chose to matriculate to Denison instead of Hamilton College, won all three of his matches.
“I’m so glad he’s at Denison,” said Nwaozuzu. “Chika is having a great experience, and I can be here to support him and his team.”
Jodi Fransen and her daughter Addison ’28 took a moment for a short break in their Family Weekend experience. They were on a mission to squeeze every last drop out of the weekend.
“Friday night, we went to the Student Performance Showcase, and had dinner with my roommate and her family,” Addison, a creative writing and environmental studies double major, said. “Saturday, we did the BioReserve hike, checked out the Granville Farmer’s Market, and went to the tailgate party.”
Paul and Jane Thielking were on hand at the swimming and diving hall of champions induction ceremony to see their daughter Drue ’26 accept a sheaf of awards for her academic and athletic prowess. The senior biology major competes in the breaststroke. Among her many awards, she is a nine-time NCAA Division III All-American, seven-time All-NCAC National Team Member, and a Denison Top-50 Scholar-Athlete.
Her father, Paul, was a four-year swimmer for the Big Red who graduated in 1985. “We’re so proud of Drue and all she’s accomplished at Denison,” he said.
Cornelia and Bob Carrigan flew in from New York to visit their son, Sam, a junior anthropology and PPA double major. The Carrigans have lost count of the number of times they’ve visited The Hill. Their daughter, Emily, graduated from Denison in 2019, (President Weinberg presided over her marriage to fellow Denisonian Nicolas Valdiviezo ’19), and the Carrigans are members of the FLC.
The Carrigans enjoyed lunch in Granville at Three Tigers, where they saw many other Big Red families. “Sam is having an amazing educational experience at Denison,” Cornelia said. “And we love visiting campus and seeing so many people we know.”
Paige Martin and Arjun Srinivasan caught a flight from Atlanta to spend the weekend with their son Joe, a sophomore educational studies and English double major. Because they’ve been to The Hill many times, the family opted to explore Columbus on this visit.
They especially enjoyed trying out different restaurants. “We had delicious meals at The Pearl and Black Sheep,” Martin said, “And we really loved North High Street and all the energy there!”
