Sean Billingslea '02 - October 2015
Sean Billingslea, currently a middle school science instructor at Fort Hayes, graduated from Otterbein with his BSE in Middle Childhood Education in 2002. In 2012, he graduated from Ohio Dominican University with his Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction. Sean is also formerly of the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 20 years. Sean’s interests also include graphic novels, and for several years, he worked with students instructing them on the styles and basics of “storytelling through sequential art.” Sean is also a fan of science fiction & fantasy novels. You can find out more at www.arkrames.com
Craig Merz, '82 - November and December 2015
Graduating from Otterbein with a degree in Public Relations, Craig has spent most of his life reporting on and engaging with sports, particularly soccer and hockey. Craig spent 25 years working for the Columbus Dispatch as a sports reporter, covering the Columbus Crew soccer team from their inaugural season in 1996 through 2005. Currently a freelance reporter, he previously reported for MLSsoccer.com and currently writes for NHL.com covering the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has also worked for the Associated Press covering Ohio State¹s football and basketball teams; Columbus Monthly magazine; Buckeyes Sports Bulletin and the Columbus Examiner. Recently he co-authored a book on the Columbus Chill with David Paitson.
Hilary Seif, '95 - January 2016
Hilary Seif ‘95 graduated with a degree in psychology, and carried with her a love for animals, and the Otterbein Community! An Ohio native, Hilary found time while at Otterbein to complete an independent study on animal behavior, which fed her lifelong passion to improve the health and wellbeing of animals, a passion that includes education, outreach, and even participating in several K9 5Ks. But her love for Otterbein couldn’t keep her away for too long—Hilary returned to her Alma Mater to help other students find their way in the world through her work in the Registrar’s office.
Ben Hauck, '98 - February 2016
A prolific actor, equally adept in comedy or drama, Ben Hauck graduated from Otterbein with a bachelor’s in fine arts in 1998 and hit the boards running! He’s appeared on many television shows, including Law & Order, Nurse Jackie, White Collar, & Law & Order. He is known around the world for his long-form improvisation instruction and won an award in 2013 for his “improvised sermons” at the Unscripted New York Improvised Theatre & Film Festival. He’s currently a stand-in for various comedians, and voiceovers on Fiverr. When not acting, Ben enjoys running and has completed over 12 marathons.
Kelley Grant Kelley, '93 - March 2016
Kelley is a creative force, talented and devoted to many different forms of expression. A graduate of Otterbein with a BA in English, Kelley is also a graphic artist as well as a certified yoga instructor, specializing in gentle and vinyasa flow yoga. Her first novel, Desert Rising, was picked up by HaperCollins, and was a powerful entry into the romantic fantasy genre. Kelley’s impact on the world of writing is recognized by her participation in such cultural phenomenons as Chicago’s C2E2 convention, where in 2015 she appeared on a panel discussing epic fantasy alongside authors Patrick Rothfuss, Naomi Novik, and Peter V Brett. She’ll be appearing at this year’s C2E2, too.
David Trout, '66 - April 2016
Rev. David Charles Trout ‘66 was a man of faith, who enjoyed life, family, and friends. A graduate of Middletown High School, he studied Vocal Music & Theatre while at Otterbein. He was ordained as a full Elder in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1970 and served faithfully as pastor in many United Methodist Church’s throughout his lifetime. An avid hobbyist, David enjoyed repairing clocks, and after retiring from the Church, found himself at Gahanna Hardware. David was also a member of the ET Carson Masonic Lodge, Cincinnati, OH. He also enjoyed a life-long passion for singing, travelling professionally throughout the US in a group called “The Light Company”, comprised of himself and two other United Methodist pastors. After years of connecting, inspiring, leading, and sharing, David was called home on September 18, 2013, after a battle with esophageal cancer. Dave’s Updates: A Journey Through Darkness to the Sunrise is a tribute to his faith, his spirit, and his devotion to uplifting others even during his own struggles.
Tom Barlow, '72 - June & July 2016
Tom, a 1972 graduate of Otterbein, was raised in a dying steel town. He spent some time as a jeweler before both creating and directing one of the nation’s largest week long bicycle tours, the 3,000-rider Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. He later became the Membership Director of the 270,000-member American Motorcyclist Association. In 2004, he began writing and has since sold over sixty short stories and a novel. He has also written magazine articles, ad copy, catalogs, brochures, newsletters, manuals, speeches, and scripts. He writes because conversation involves a lot of give and take, and he has always thought of himself as more of a giver.
Learn more at his website, http://barlowtom.wixsite.com/author-blog
Items are listed in chronological order of featured author.