Alumni News – April 2026

Ben White ’11 is so committed to nurturing and elevating the arts in Richmond, Virginia, that he’s helping to establish the city’s first public art park.

White, who studied environmental policy at Roanoke, is a freelance photographer in Richmond. He said his interest in the environment has remained a throughline in his artistic work.  

The initial opportunity for the public art park grew out of White’s investment in the Richmond Mural Project, an annual event held to establish Richmond as a “premier art destination.” White became friends with many of the artists who come from all over the world to create murals, and he was later hired to photograph their work. That’s how he learned more about graffiti culture and met Ian C. Hess, who would become his business partner in the art park.  

In 2023, Hess brought up the idea of a city-funded park that would allow artists and amateurs to graffiti, something that isn’t traditionally legal. The idea harkens back to the days when skateboarding was a crime and the federal government funded skateparks. White said these skateparks embody the idea of “cultivating a safe haven for a subculture,” allowing it to “thrive and grow because it has a safe place to go.” 

White was initially tapped to be part of the project to help blend graffiti culture and environmental culture. The proposed art park location is on the James River. Graffitists, also known as writers, traditionally work in urban settings away from the natural environment. With little to no interaction between these cultures, White thinks this park may create more awareness of what natural environmental practices exist, so graffitists can be more mindful when creating their work. In turn, environmentalists can learn more about an art form not everyone is exposed to. White’s background and passion for the environment help him think through these issues. 

There is also talk of involving environmental organizations in the park. For example, those organizations might have their own mural for a few weeks. White said the possibilities are expansive.  

When reflecting on his time at Roanoke College, White said he truly believes in the power of experiential learning. His assistant is a college student and has shared how valuable the working experience has been for his learning. 

On April 25, Little Giant Society, the nonprofit White works for, is hosting an event titled, “Proof in the Park.” Anyone can come join and paint under the 9th Street Bridge in Richmond. There will be mock walls to showcase how the project would work. Another way to support the project is to visit the Little Giant Website and Instagram account.  

Heidi Bocianowski ’95 turned her deep-seated passion for travel into a career when she created her own company, Astonishing Travel. She works with clients to plan extraordinary trips to places both domestic and abroad. She enjoys learning and experiencing new cultures, something Roanoke College provided her many opportunities to do.   

Bocianowski said she chose Roanoke in part because of the opportunity to study abroad. After her freshman year, she studied the Renaissance in Italy and Spain. In her junior year, she studied abroad at sea. She encourages students to study abroad now, if possible, while they have the time and before they have traditional work constraints.

When reflecting on her Roanoke College experience, she shared how important it is to communicate your goals with others. “I remember talking with one professor about what it’s like to be in academia, and she gave me the opportunity to teach an introductory computer science class for a day,” Bocianowski said. “It was an incredible experience and a perfect example of how sharing your goals can open unexpected doors.”  

The Roanoke College network is especially strong, and you never know who might step in to help. Bocianowski graduated with degrees in computer information systems and business administration. She went on to earn her MBA from the University of Maryland. 

Todd Williams ’07 and his wife, Laura Hobson, are also in the travel industry, where they’re on a mission to build tools for fearless travel. After his work at a travel app ended in 2020, Williams and his wife decided to take their skills and solve the problems they see in the travel space. Their suite of travel apps under YoursGlobal includes YourSweep, YourTour and YourFit. YourSweep helps travelers detect security and privacy risks while visiting new places, and YourTour is an AI-powered tool that helps users find hidden gems in new locales. YourFit allows you to shop sustainably using AI-powered measurements.  

Williams had a unique experience at Roanoke that positively affected his life and work: living in the international dorm. “I loved living in the international dorm as one of the few people from the United States living there, and now I find myself in the situation of being the only one from the U.S. in the room often,” Williams said. “Roanoke taught me how to handle myself and make up for my mistakes in multiple cultures.” 

Williams advises students to the most of every opportunity at Roanoke College and appreciate your experience here. He graduated with a degree in English, but the knowledge he gained at Roanoke has guided him to more than he originally imagined.