Located in neighboring Mount Vernon, Kenyon’s Office for Community Partnerships works to connect students, faculty and staff with community organizations to advance common interests and address shared concerns. Ben Garst ’25 sees his engagement with the community as integral to his studies.
“I actually became an anthropology major because I am extremely passionate about people,” Garst said. “It felt like a complete way to study humanity and interact with it too.”
A native of Ohio, Garst appreciates how Kenyon has created a real sense of place, one that has deep ties to the broader community. He is active in the Rural Cause and volunteers at Knox Community Hospital and Wiggin Street Elementary. He also plays string bass in the Knox County Symphony.
“You get a bunch of people with all these different lives and interests into one space,” he said. “You really make meaningful connections and learn about people as people.”