Since arriving in 2006 as Jewish chaplain and director of Hillel at Kenyon, Marc Bragin has been busy guiding the campus community in spiritual and religious inquiry, exploration and appreciation. When he’s not offering a benediction at College-wide events, he’s leading Shabbat services or cooking up a storm for one of the popular Friday-night dinners at the Rothenberg Hillel House, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last week.
A former attorney, Bragin lives in Gambier with his husband, Scott Baker ’94, and their two Tibetan terriers, Gracie and Tallulah. These days, he’s busy preparing for the Jewish High Holidays, which kick off Wed., Oct. 2 with a 5 p.m. Rosh Hashanah dinner at the Parish House, followed by services at 7 p.m. at Rothenberg Hillel House. View a complete schedule of events related to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which begins the evening of Oct. 11.
Besides Gambier, where is your favorite place in the world to be?
Lake Placid, New York, where we got married. It is peaceful, beautiful and serene.
Why did you come to Kenyon?
Being a college chaplain on a small, liberal arts campus was my dream and vision, and Kenyon fit that vision in terms of community, landscape and academics.
Fill in the blank: My experience at Kenyon would not be the same without ______.
My husband. After working here for five years, I met my husband, Scott Baker ’94 when he took the job of director of alumni and parent programs. Having the place that I love working at intersect with meeting my life partner propelled me to such a sense of fulfillment, celebration and belonging.
What is your favorite Kenyon tradition?
The bookending of the New Student Sing coupled with the Senior Sing. It encapsulates one’s experience by singing songs when you arrive that you do not know very well and then singing those same songs when you are about to graduate and those songs have a very special meaning to each student. Plus, there is Professor of Music Benjamin “Doc” Locke, who brings it all together.
What Kenyon class would you love to take — again or for the first time?
AMST 314 (The History of American College and University Architecture and Planning). Tom Stamp ’73 taught this class for many years. Seeing this magnificent campus gets me interested in how other campuses are built and what that means in terms of building community.
If there was a soundtrack to your Kenyon experience, what song would be on repeat?
“Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder because this song pays homage to those before him who were his inspirations for being a musician. I am in awe at those who came before me to make this place as special as it is.
Where do you find satisfaction outside of your work?
Walking my dogs and cooking for students and friends.
What is something interesting that you have read recently?
“Reading Genesis” by Marilynne Robinson. It is a book filled with kindness and hope and a renewed and fresh approach to a story that we read over and over again.
What new skill would you like to learn?
How to read music. I play the acoustic guitar, and reading music would open up an entire world of possibilities. For now, I have to hear the song in order to play it, and if I could read music, I think that I could improve how I play and the types of songs that I play.
What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?
Love is not about finding the right person, love is about becoming the right person.
The Kenyon Ten is an occasional question-and-answer feature that highlights students, faculty and staff.