It is with great sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we regret to inform everyone that our dear friend Rachel “Poppy” Kahan left this world today. She bravely and inspirationally battled cancer for the past year and today we say goodbye to our friend.

Rachel came to the Washington, DC area in the spring of 2007 while participating in the MSU Semester Study Program where she interned at the Atlantic Council of the United States. Leaving only long enough to walk at graduation where she received her BA in International Relations from James Madison College at MSU, Rachel immediately took a permanent position at the Atlantic Council. Later, she moved to The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith where she spent 2 years and then worked most recently with The Bonner Group.

During that time, she became involved in the Michigan State University Alumni Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC, the DC Spartans. In 2009 she was appointed Secretary of the organization and remained in the position until her passing. Over the years, Rachel contributed to many MSU events, including MSU game watches, University Row Gold Cup, and was an overall cornerstone of the DC Spartans organization. In addition, she also gave back to the program that brought her to Washington – the MSU Semester Study Program - by participating in alumni panels, giving advice to current interns, as well as attending as a representative of the DC Spartans.

She touched many lives with her energy, passion and dedication and will be greatly missed.

Rachel is survived by her mother Jane, father Sid and younger sister Jessie.