Generation Swap
Generation Swap
Aquinas College
“Generation Swap” is the intersection of teaching and recording valuable insights between intergenerational guests from varying backgrounds and belief systems. These conversational interviews invite us to honor the value we offer each other in ALL stages of life, not despite our generational differences, but BECAUSE of them.
Eileen Chamberlin & Savannah Hammock
Eileen Chamberlin, originally from Illinois, has been living in Michigan since 1995. She and her husband have two daughters now successfully released into the world, plus three dogs and a cat still at home. Eileen is a clinical therapist mostly retired but still maintains a small private practice. She spends her free time reading, knitting, gardening, and in cordial competition with her husband doing daily word puzzles. Savannah Hammock is an Aquinas College student. She is the Outreach Coordinator for AQ Pride and a Trio SSS Peer Mentor.  Savannah is majoring in Sociology and is minoring in Women and Gender Studies. She is a member of the Class of 2027.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
Jul 23, 2025
22 min
Jan Slotten & Sophia Lentine
Jan Slotten retired in 2019 after a 37+-year career with Farmers (Foremost) Insurance Company, where she served as a project manager, copywriter, operations manager, and more. Jan earned her Masters in Management at Aquinas while working full time.  In retirement, Jan enjoys volunteering, taking OLLI classes, travel, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Sophia Lentine is a junior at Aquinas College and is expected to graduate in December. She is majoring in English writing with a minor in studio art and hopes to start a career in communications and marketing. On campus, Sophia works for the Writing Center as a consultant/communications specialist as well as a student leader and peer mentor for TRIO SSS. She is also the vice president of the Writer's Guild and the English Honor Society. Outside of college life, Sophia enjoys reading, going skiing, and spending time with the people she loves!As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth.
Jul 18, 2025
21 min
Jenny Wood Shangraw & Hannah Bowen
Jenny Wood Shangraw graduated from Aquinas College in 1971 and then worked at the Grand Rapids Public Library, specializing in business, demographics, economics, and cultural history.  This knowledge led her to become the Business Information Cybrarian for West Michigan’s economic development organization.  Participating in Generation Swap allowed her to share current business and economic trends while learning about the ambitions, challenges, and daily college life of the Aquinas College students.Hannah Bowen is a mentor for Trio SSS program at Aquinas College. She is a junior majoring in environmental science and minoring in coaching. She is on the Aquinas softball team. In her free time Hannah likes to crochet.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
Jul 9, 2025
21 min
Dan Measday & Cristian Zacharias
Dan Measday is 76 years old and a 1970 graduate of Aquinas College. A native of New Jersey, he has lived in Michigan for over 50 years. Dan is a sports fan and follows baseball, football, ice hockey, and golf.Cristian Zacharias is a sophomore at Aquinas and is from Grant, MI. He is studying Business Administration & Sports Management. He enjoys playing soccer, Magic: The Gathering, writing poetry, and being a general nuisance to his supervisors. He isn’t exactly sure about his career plans but hopes it will involve the sports industry given his passion for soccer.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
Jul 2, 2025
18 min
Cindy Ritter & Abby Kozal
Cindy Ritter grew up in Detroit and has lived in Grand Rapids for 55 years. She began her career as a dental hygienist and later became an elementary school teacher after graduating from Aquinas.  She is now retired but stays busy with her five sons and 16 grandchildren, her church (St. Robert), as a Kent County CASA and refugee resettlement volunteer, and with scrapbooking, softball, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes.Abby Kozal is a senior at Aquinas College, graduating with a Bachelor’s in English with a Writing Emphasis and minoring in Studio Arts. She has been an active member of the Aquinas community as a Writing Center Consultant, TRIO SSS Peer Mentor, and Culture Editor for the student newspaper. Abby is also very involved with the Theatre Department.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
Jun 25, 2025
22 min
Kate Schirmer & Jessy Gomez
Kate Schirmer grew up in Grand Rapids and later moved to rural Newaygo County. She raised two boys and worked as a swim teacher before returning to school as a non-traditional aged student to get a teaching degree. For 20 years she taught 4h grade in Fremont Michigan.  Katie is now retired and is a 15-year cancer survivor.Jessy Gomez is a new Aquinas College graduate. She majored in Spanish and is now exploring options for life after college.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth.
Jun 18, 2025
22 min
Tom Miller & Carson LePage
Tom Miller is a Michigan native. He’s lived much of his life in the Grand Rapids area, as well as having spent several formative years in Kalamazoo and Pennsylvania. He retired a few years ago from a career as a lawyer. Since then, he’s been a regular Osher Lifelong Learning Institute student, community volunteer, traveler (with his spouse), struggling golfer, and – most fun of all – “Grandpa.”Carson LePage is a junior at Aquinas College studying Theatre and minoring in Communication. He hopes to one day work on Broadway and to break into the film industry.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
Jun 11, 2025
24 min
Steve Murray & Olivia White
Steve Murray was born and raised in the Grand Rapids area and has spent his entire life in West Michigan. In retirement he enjoys hanging with his dog, watching grandkids’ sporting events, taking Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes, and plugging into various volunteer opportunities whenever possible.Olivia White is a sophomore at Aquinas College majoring in Elementary Education. She is hoping to teach upper elementary students.  Olivia is involved in various activities on campus such as Student Activities and Orientation, Education Club, Dance Team, and more.As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
Jun 4, 2025
22 min
Penny Murray & Jessica Kean
Penny Murray's 72-year life journey is founded on faith. She is blessed with 3 children and 9 grandchildren, satisfied in 44 years of nursing, and partnered today with Steve in the joy of life-long learning. Aquinas has provided classes for a degree-seeking adult student, and OLLI has been an amazing growth opportunity in retirement for her. Jessica Kean is a junior at Aquinas College pursuing a BSc in Health Sciences. She is from Brighton Michigan, where she has four of the coolest dogs in the world. She is looking forward to participating in the Mohler-Thompson Research Program this summer on campus! As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth.
Jun 8, 2023
18 min
Marty Arnold & Emma Pearson
Marty Arnold taught writing at Aquinas College, was a journalist, editor, and a non-profit administrator. Since retiring she has published two novels and is re-wilding her yard. Emma Pearson is an Aquinas College sophomore majoring in biochemistry. She loves spending time with kids and animals and is interested in pursuing pediatric medicine. As part of an Aquinas College class on preparing for life after college, students were paired with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) across the street from the College. The course capstone project was a Generation Swap podcast interview exploring how generational differences can be a source of strength and growth. 
May 31, 2023
19 min
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