Former Wall Street Journal editor Stephen Kreider Yoder ’79 to speak at Goshen College

Stephen Kreider Yoder ’79, whose 38-year career at The Wall Street Journal included roles as a reporter, a columnist, a bureau chief in Tokyo and San Francisco, and a senior editor on the Page One desk, will be the Umble Master Class presenter at Goshen College on Oct. 12, 2026.

Kreider Yoder’s keynote presentation, “Accidental Journalist: How I Stumbled Into Writing and Learned to Love It, Mostly,” will take place at 7 p.m. in the Umble Center.

Kreider Yoder, who graduated from Goshen College with a bachelor’s degree in English, retired from full-time journalism at the Journal in 2022.

He writes the Journal’s monthly “Retirement Rookies” column with his wife, Karen Kreider Yoder ’78. They are based in San Francisco.

Stephen grew up on Japan’s Hokkaido island, where his parents were missionaries, and graduated from Goshen College with majors in English and psychology.

Karen taught in the education department at Goshen College from 2013-14 and again winter semester 2017.

Stephen and Karen live in a row house near Haight-Ashbury when they aren’t touring on their tandem bicycle.

The Roy H. Umble Master Class brings nationally known practitioners and experts in communication and theater to the Goshen College campus annually for events and activities which enrich and inspire students, faculty, the broader campus and local and church communities.