Your Classmates
At Antioch University, you will join a community of learners empowered with the knowledge, skills, and passion to lead meaningful lives and advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
Shonda Buchanan ’22 • MFA in Creative Writing
When Shonda Buchanan was in her twenties, she had a dream of writing a book of poems about singer, classical pianist, and Civil Rights activist Nina Simone, but the prospect of writing a book about someone else’s story was intimidating.
At the time, she was in the beginning stages of crafting her own first memoir, and she was exploring the intergenerational resilience of women in her family. Back then, taking on the experience of someone else and putting it to words felt far too daunting to even consider tackling. Yet her growing interest in telling the iconic singer’s story persisted. Buchanan’s intentions to create a poetry collection on Simone were firm by the time she began her coursework in the Antioch MFA in Creative Writing. She already had drafts of multiple poems, and workshopped them through the program. The project began long before Buchanan’s time as an Antioch student; it evolved and sharpened during the program, and has recently been published.
Jesse Wheeler ’10 • MS in Environmental Studies
For Jesse Wheeler, the path to conservation biology wasn’t paved with certainty—it was built through curiosity, resilience, and a passion for fieldwork.
A graduate of Antioch University New England’s MS in Environmental Studies program, Wheeler now works with the National Park Service at Acadia National Park, where he contributes to climate change research, biodiversity monitoring, and ecological stewardship.
In this profile, Wheeler reflects on his hands-on education at Antioch, where experiential learning and mentorship helped him navigate a nonlinear career path. Whether gathering vegetation data in Maine or assisting wildlife conservation efforts in California, his story is one of grounded commitment to protecting the natural world. Wheeler’s journey reminds us that science and purpose thrive when rooted in community, adaptability, and a love for the land.
Liz Foote ’22 • PhD in Environmental Studies
What do boat tours, marsupials, and social change have in common? For Liz Foote, the answer is a winding journey from guiding visitors on ocean tours in Hawai‘i to launching behavior-change campaigns for koala conservation in Australia.
Foote earned a PhD in Environmental Studies, where she discovered a passion for social marketing—a discipline that uses marketing principles to influence behavior for the greater good.
Today, she works with government and nonprofit organizations to drive public action on pressing environmental issues, including protecting Australia’s endangered koala population. Foote’s story highlights the transformative power of interdisciplinary education, practical experience, and following your instincts—even when the path forward isn’t obvious.
Kristy Kenny ’17 • MA in Clinical Psychology • BA in Liberal Studies '15
Kirsty Kenny always knew she wanted to work with incarcerated individuals—but it wasn’t until she completed her MA in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Santa Barbara, that she found her path as a forensic psychotherapist.
After gaining experience in diverse clinical settings, Kenny now works in correctional facilities, helping people at their lowest points rediscover their humanity. Guided by compassion, curiosity, and the active listening skills she honed at Antioch, she supports clients through crisis and reentry, reminding them they are more than their worst mistakes.
Her story is one of purpose, resilience, and the transformative power of second chances.
Delbert Richardson ’16 • BA in Liberal Studies
Delbert Richardson, founder and curator of the American History Traveling Museum: The Unspoken Truths, has dedicated his life to uncovering and teaching the histories often left out of textbooks.
A graduate of Antioch’s BA program in Liberal Studies, Richardson uses his museum as a mobile classroom to explore African American history through four key themes: Mother Africa, American chattel slavery, the Jim Crow era, and African American inventors.
His work is rooted in a commitment to cultural healing, education, and empowerment— especially for young people of color. In this moving profile, Richardson shares how personal legacy, lived experience, and community engagement fuel his mission. With storytelling at its core, his traveling museum doesn’t just present history—it invites reflection, dialogue, and transformation.
Emma Lombardi ’22 • MA in Individual Studies
For Emma Lombardi, art and activism go hand in hand. As a student in Antioch’s Individualized Master of Arts (IMA) program, Lombardi blended creative expression with deep inquiry into mental health, gender, and identity.
Her thesis project, an illustrated memoir titled She is Not Done Yet, explored the intersections of trauma, neurodivergence, and healing, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative. Lombardi’s journey through academia hasn’t been linear—it’s been shaped by self-discovery, a fierce commitment to authenticity, and the support of Antioch’s flexible, student-driven learning model.
In this profile, she reflects on how the IMA program empowered her to bring her lived experience into academic spaces without compromising her voice or vision. For Lombardi, education isn’t about fitting in—it’s about making space.
Mike Riera ’85 • MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mike Riera has dedicated his career to bridging the communication gap between teenagers and their parents.
Initially uncertain about his counseling focus, a pivotal moment during his studies at Antioch led him to realize his affinity for working with adolescents. Recognizing that teenagers can enact change more readily than adults, Riera found his niche.
Over the past three decades, Riera has worn many hats: teacher, school counselor, author, TV host, and head of school. He has penned five books on parenting teens, including the bestseller Staying Connected to Your Teenager, and served as the parenting correspondent for CBS’s Saturday Early Show. Currently, he leads Brentwood School in Los Angeles, emphasizing continuous growth and curiosity in both students and educators.
Riera’s journey underscores the profound impact of understanding and guiding teenagers, a mission rooted in his own experiences and the legacy of his mother’s influence.