At Case Western Reserve University, innovation extends beyond academics. January marks National Hobby Month, a perfect opportunity to highlight the unique talents and passions of the university’s faculty, staff and students.
From competitive dodgeball to jewelry-making, their interests reflect the kinds of individuality and creativity that define our campus.
Read on to learn about seven university community members who shared their hobbies with us—and stay tuned to learn about seven more in an upcoming article.
Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Leslie Severt
Teaching laboratory manager, Department of Biochemistry
I have been playing competitive dodgeball for nearly 17 years. It’s a high-energy, high-endurance sport in which you’re working both individually and on a team to throw balls at the opposing team with the goal of getting the opposing player “out.” An out means that, when a ball was thrown at an opposing player, the opposing player either did not avoid getting hit by the ball on their body, they failed to catch the ball, or they failed to deflect the thrown ball away from them with a separate ball in their possession. Balls can be made of rubber, foam, or cloth. I’ve played with every ball type.
I have traveled all across the country to play at the national level, including in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Denver, and Washington, D.C. to name a few places. I’ve been a part of a nationally ranked top-eight team in recent years. I have won gold medals in national tournaments, and I was formally invited a few years ago to try out for Team USA Dodgeball to represent the USA at the World Dodgeball Federation World Tournament (although I didn’t make the cut for the team that year, it’s still a huge accomplishment in my eyes).
Joshua Smith
Theatre, construction, and mechanical safety specialist, Department of Environmental Health and Safety
I’m a curler and compete in bonspiels (tournaments) around the United States. Now going into my third year of curling, our team just picked up two national sponsors and we’ll be competing in a qualifier for the 5-and-Under National Championships soon. I play locally at the Mayfield Curling Club, but the rest of the team is made up of members from Columbus and Bowling Green.
To answer the questions we always get: Yes, curling is much more difficult than the Olympic curlers make it look. No, you don’t need any experience to get started. It’s very easy to learn the basics and curlers are a very supportive and welcoming community. My bucket list of curling includes getting to Canada (hopefully next year), curling in the summer (it does happen year round in some places), and getting more of the CWRU community at learn-to-curl events. I’m always ready to talk curling and share ways to get involved.
Rachel Stegemann
Associate director, Student Activities and Leadership
I am an avid board game collector with over 160 games in my personal collection. Every year my partner (who also works at CWRU) and I go to GenCon, which is “the best four days in gaming” in Indianapolis! We spend the weekend playing board games and role-playing games (RPGs) and meeting really interesting people. Last year, I even got to go on a panel with Kieron Gillen (comic book artist and creator of the RPG Die).
I have also created a cosplay outfit from scratch for my favorite Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) podcast character (Jester from Critical Role) and even handmade a scale-maille pauldron to wear at the convention last year! GenCon is not the only annual convention I go to—I have worked at the FanExpo event that comes through Cleveland for the past several years as one of their area leads. I lovingly refer to myself as a big nerd and have hobbies that back that up!
Deva Conti
Coordinator of Advancement Services
I am a singer with an all women’s a cappella barbershop chorus, the Greater Cleveland Chorus! We sing four-part a capella and barbershop style harmony. My chorus is nine-time regional champions within the Sweet Adelines International organization. We sing at competitions and in public appearances, such as singing the National Anthem at the Cleveland Guardians game. Last year, we competed at the international competition in Louisville, Kentucky, and will do so again this year in Columbus.
Richard Pruden
Project manager, Campus Planning and Facilities Management
My hobby and passion is making pizza. I enjoy making pizza for friends, family and even co-workers. It has been my hobby since about 2009. Everyone seems happy when eating pizza. I make all kinds including Neapolitan, New York style, and even gluten-free. I love to learn about different types of ingredients and am always trying different recipes, flours, and techniques. I have a propane pizza oven and just this year purchased a wood-fired oven.
Bethany Pope
Department administrator, Department of Anthropology
I am a hobby enthusiast. I make jewelry, hand-sew skirts, and draw a little. I started making jewelry when the Office of Multicultural Affairs had a relaxation session and gave out strings and beads to make bracelets. I attended a SatCo class on jewelry making and learned how to use jewelry-making tools. I have gradually fallen in love with natural stones, crystals, handmade beads and lampwork beads, seed beads, etc. I string but would love to eventually learn how to do bead weaving and how to make lampwork beads.
After my mom had major surgery during the pandemic, I started hand-making skirts. My skirts look machine sewn because I picked up techniques over my life that I intuitively used to properly finish a garment. I later started making skirts from scarves as it was super easy to do and so much of the work was already done (seams in particular). I originally got the idea of making skirts when some Malaysian students who I supervised gifted me with a large piece of cloth (which I made into a skirt).
Emily Arauz De Cybyk
Facility manager, One to One Fitness Center
I participate in amateur natural bodybuilding. This past year I participated in three shows, with the last being the Ben Weider’s Natural Pro/Am, where I placed third in my class. For 2026, I will be taking time off to train, coach, and keep One to One active and fun for our student workers and members of the gym.