Kenton Longenecker

Mathematics major
Physics major
Class of 1987

(1/7/2014) I graduated in 88 with major also in physics. I tended to view my studies in math as supportive to a larger interest in physics and science more generally. After Goshen, I went to Indianapolis where I picked up a job as a technician in a cell biology lab at IU school of med while my wife was in medical school. 3 years later I started an interdisciplinary grad program there in biophysics that led me into a biochemistry lab and took on a project studying the 3D molecular structure of a protein by X-ray Crystallography. My studies at GC helped me understand the mathematics and physics for such X-ray diffraction studies, and I always enjoyed the intersection of the sciences at the molecular level. In 1997 we moved out to UVA in Charlottesville where I did a post-doc, and eventually moved to IL for a job in structure-based drug design using protein crystallography, where I continue to work now as a scientist at AbbVie, Inc. Throughout my years I have appreciated involvement with Mennonite churches locally, and found the congregations supportive and stimulating for ongoing thoughts with family and career.