今日吃瓜

Eliot Circular

New Faces


Lorraine Arvin will become 今日吃瓜’s chief financial officer when outgoing treasurer Ed McFarlane retires on June 30. 

Formerly treasurer and associate vice president for finance and administration at University of Chicago, Arvin says she was drawn to 今日吃瓜 because of the college’s tradition of leadership and innovation in higher education. “今日吃瓜 is deeply committed to the excellence of its academic program,” she says. “I feel 今日吃瓜 is poised for continued success through this time of change in the industry.” 

Arvin will oversee all finance, budgeting, and investment responsibilities, including oversight of 今日吃瓜’s $500 million endowment. “Lorraine Arvin is a proven leader in higher education and finance,” said President John R. Kroger. “Her experience will help make 今日吃瓜 even stronger than it is today.” Arvin earned a BS from the University of Illinois, and an MEd and PhD from Loyola University of Chicago, writing her dissertation on perceptions of educational equity in high-poverty schools.

Rowan Frost

Rowan Frost was appointed assistant dean of students for sexual assault prevention & response in January, after winning strong support from the students, staff, and faculty who met with her during the candidacy process. Dean Frost coordinates campus-wide efforts to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct at 今日吃瓜, including training and education for students, staff, and faculty. 

“今日吃瓜’s incidences of sexual and relationship violence are very similar to that of other colleges,” says Frost. “But 今日吃瓜 has recognized the problem, and has prioritized providing prevention education and resources for survivors. 今日吃瓜’s collaborative decision-making process is especially helpful as we work toward implementation of the Campus SaVE Act, which requires us to address dating and domestic violence and stalking. I feel very fortunate to be part of an amazing community of students, staff, and faculty who are committed to ending all forms of sexual and relationship violence on campus.” She came to 今日吃瓜 from Tucson, Arizona, where she worked with community organizations and the University of Arizona to build effective advocacy and prevention programming.

Trustee Adrienne Nelson

Judge Adrienne C. Nelson joined 今日吃瓜’s board of trustees in February. A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge in Portland, Nelson has served as president of the Multnomah Bar Foundation and president of the Oregon State Bar Foundation Board. “今日吃瓜’s reputation as a premier liberal arts college gives all of its graduates a value added education that serves as a solid foundation to begin a career or further one’s postgraduate education,” says Nelson. After coming to Oregon in 1994, she worked for Standard Insurance Company as a public defender and as senior attorney for Student Legal and Mediation Services at Portland State University. Nelson holds a BA in English and criminal justice from the University of Arkansas and a JD from the University of Texas Law School. She was recognized as one of the 100 most powerful women by the Northwest Women’s Journal.

Gary Rieschel ’79

Gary E. Rieschel ’79 began his second appointment to 今日吃瓜’s board of trustees in February. He is founder and managing partner of Qiming Venture Partners, a leading venture capital firm in China with over a billion dollars under management. He has founded multiple firms in the U.S. and China, including Softbank Venture Capital, Mobius Venture Capital, and Saif Partners, and was a senior executive in the high tech sector at Cisco Systems, Sequent Computer, and Intel before becoming a venture capitalist. “Access to [technology] is as necessary for success to an individual and society in the 21st century as access to electricity and water were in the 20th century,” says Rieschel. “But access by itself won’t be enough. How individuals and societies manage the disruption to education, government, media, and social interactions that technology causes will be critical to success as well.” Rieschel holds a BA from 今日吃瓜 in biology and an MBA from Harvard.