Miami Explorers
Chianti in Tuscan Villa, Oct. 4 – 12, 2009: (l-r) Nadia (campus director), Kenneth Shinn, Jon Larson, Martin Gibbons, Diane Siegman Chalker ’65, Carolyn Whitt Larson ’73, Randall Shinn, Dominick Consolo ’48, Jennifer Heil Clark ’88 (host), L. Dale Chalker ’65, Susan Richardson, Fontaine McNamara, and Doug McNamara ’67.
China, Tibet and the Yangtze River, Sept. 18 – Oct. 6, 2009: (front row, l-r) Jon Beyer ’61, Jane Myers, Zoe Palcher ’51, Richard Edwards, William Kern ’58; (middle) Jose Barahona, Catherine Beyer; (back) Cathy Miller Greene ’72, Bill Greene ’72, Barrie Eldridge, Beverly Bixley Franklet ’54, Kathy Barahona, Peter Smith, Judith Garrels Smith ’63, Ellen Edwards, and Patricia Killoran Kern ’59.
2009 Alumni Association Award Winners
Recipients of the 2009 Alumni Association Awards are: (sitting, l-r) Dottie Wilson Marek ’63 and Tom Marek ’63, accepting the Dolibois Award; Effective Educator Jon Yamashiro, Miami associate professor of art; Dave Tickel ’60, Dolibois Award; and Gambee Award winner Dan Foley ’99; (standing, l-r) Distinguished Achievement Award honoree Diane Perlmutter ’67; Honorary Lifetime Membership inductee Bonnie Wall; and Nancy Boyd Tickel ’58, Dolibois Award. Not present were Adolph Haislar MS ’83, senior associate vice president emeritus for finance and business services at Miami, A.K. Morris Award; and Ethan Sperry, associate professor of music at Miami and conductor of Men’s Glee Club, Collegiate Chorale, and Global Rhythms, recipient of the Dave Roberts Award.
The Miami University Alumni Association kicked off Homecoming Weekend 2009 with its Alumni Awards Banquet, hosted Oct. 22. The Alumni Association’s annual awards were presented following dinner.
Jon Yamashiro, associate professor of art, was recognized as the recipient of the Effective Educator Award, with nominations submitted this year by the Class of 2005. Honorees are nominated based on their ability to impact students beyond their years on campus;
Ethan Sperry, associate professor of music and conductor for the Men’s Glee Club, Collegiate Chorale, and Global Rhythms Ensembles was honored with the Dave Roberts Service, as a member of Miami’s faculty or staff who consistently goes above the call of duty in service to the Division of University Advancement;
Dan Foley ’99 received the H. Kenneth Gambee Award, presented to alumni who have graduated within the past decade and demonstrated extraordinary service to the Alumni Association;
Adolph Haislar ’83 earned the A.K. Morris Award, honoring members of Miami’s faculty and staff who provide exemplary service to Miami’s alumni body;
Miami Mergers Tom ’63 and Dottie Wilson Marek ’63 and Dave ’60 and Nancy Boyd Tickel ’58 were recognized with the John E. Dolibois Award. Named in honor of Miami’s first full-time alumni professional, the award is presented to alumni who serve in distinctive fashion over many years;
Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Alumni Association was presented to Bonnie Wall, an avid supporter and advisory board member for Miami’s Performing Arts Series. This honor is granted to those who serve the university and Alumni Association as loyally as alumni;
The Distinguished Achievement Award was bestowed upon Diane Perlmutter ’67. This medal has been presented since 1985 to an alumna or alumnus who has earned distinction in their field. Diane is a former corporate executive. To view a complete description of Alumni Awards, past recipients, and how you can nominate an individual for one of these honors, visit www.MiamiAlum.org/AlumniAwards.
1930
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Viola Peacock Headley of Kettering, Ohio, celebrated her 100th birthday Sept. 3, 2009. A party, where Viola enjoyed reminiscing with family and friends, was held in her honor at the Dayton Women’s Club with more than 300 guests attending. Guests shared pictures, notes, and memories that will be complied in a book commemorating Viola’s special milestone. Viola and both her daughters, Suzanne Headley Holloway ’61 (left) and Diana Headley Stein ’64 (right), are members of the Delta Beta chapter of Tri Delta. They have a total of 178 years of membership among them. In 2004, Viola was presented with her 75-year Diamond Circle Degree at the Dayton Alumnae Tri Delta Founder’s Day dinner.
1943
Bill Zumbrun meets up with fraternity brother Dick Plum ’40 after 69 years. Together again are Helen and Bill with Dick and his, wife, Jane Thomas Plum ’40. Bill sent in this note: “A few months ago my wife, Helen, and I changed membership to a different church here in Bonita Springs, Fla. (Naples area). Shortly thereafter I received a phone call. The voice on the other end said, “Is this the Bill Zumbrun who was a Sigma Nu at Miami University?” I answered, “It sure is.” The voice said further, “This is Dick Plum.” Immediately I recognized that it was a fraternity brother I hadn’t seen since 1940. Dick was a senior and commander (president) of our Epsilon Nu chapter that year, 1939-40. I was a pledge during the last half of Dick’s senior year and my freshman year. Consequently, we were associated only about five months, and never saw each other again until a few months ago when Dick saw my name in the church bulletin with other new members. Dick’s wife, Jane, is a Miami alumna. My wife, Helen, attended American U. and is a graduate of the U. of Toledo. Helen, incidentally, is known as a ‘Miami Acquisition,’ as we discovered during Alumni Weekend this past June. We Miami grads enjoy sharing ‘old times’ and refer to ourselves as Redskins.”
1945
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Loraine Tragesser Schultz and husband Bob, of Cincinnati, were at the Upham Arch on Saturday afternoon of Alumni Weekend ’09 to help break the world record for most couples simultaneously renewing their wedding vows.
1949
The Miami boys of “ ’49” of Dover, Ohio, now all retired, meet monthly: (l-r) Tom Patton, YMCA executive director, was assistant trainer under Jay Colville ’26 from 1946-48; George Zivic, banker; Peck Rimer, businessman; and Charles Wilson ’49 MA ’54, teacher and principal. Judge Harlan Spies and coach Ray Mears, former head basketball coach at the U. of Tennessee, both recently deceased, were also members of the Miami Dover group.
1952
Max Rensberger ’52 MEd ’58 and wife Barb, residents of Miami’s Vet Ville while in school, celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary Aug. 25, 2009. Barb writes, “Our granddaughter, Anne Arnold Obenak ’98, presented us with our first great-grandchild, Gwendolyn Rose, May 11, 2009. B. Ann Rensberger Patrick ’81 teaches in Cincinnati Public Schools. David Rensberger ’84 teaches in Wyoming Schools. Ann’s son, Michael Patrick, started his freshman year at Miami this fall. Truly ‘Love and Honor to Miami.’ ”
1953
Helen Norene Harshbarger Hogle of Mukilteo, Wash., spent the past year as a volunteer teacher with World Teach in Ondangwa, Namibia, on the southwest coast of Africa, teaching natural science and English to fifth- and seventh-grade students. “I arrived Jan. 1, 2009 and will be going back to Mukilteo, Wash., my home, shortly before Christmas. I was a teacher in the States for 31 years and came out of retirement to do this because it is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, plus I’ve wanted to do some traveling here which I’ve been fortunate enough to do. It has been a great experience with some challenges with the large classes and lack of supplies that schools have in the U.S. and is much different than any of my previous teaching.”
1954
Ginny Beuthel Leitz and husband Frank of Evergreen, Colo., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park Colo. Ginny is president-elect of the Colorado Symphony Guild.
Rev. Dale Robb MA ’54 was honored for Lifetime Achievement in Social Justice by the McKinley Foundation, which serves students at the U. of Illinois. While a student minister at Miami, he helped work on non-discrimination regulations for student organizations and a fair housing policy. He then accepted a call as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, Ill. While serving a 600-member congregation, he pressed for the hiring of African-Americans by the city and helped establish a Human Relations Commission in the city, serving as its first chair.
1957
On the left is Robert R. Brown ’57 MAT ’58, a retired school administrator living most of the time in North Fort Myers Fla.; with his granddaughter Alex Brown ’11 and son Robert F. Brown ’85 on a beautiful night in July while Grandpa was visiting Bob and Alex’s family in Cincinnati.
1958
Ex officio members of the Southeast Michigan Alumni Chapter gather at the awards banquet to honor Tom and Dottie Wilson Marek for receiving the John E. Dolibois Award (l-r): Dan ’64 MEd ’65* and Jan Szuhay Hon. ’93, Tom ’63 and Dottie Wilson Marek ’63 (seated), Jack* and Marsha Morse Haffey ’57, Evelyn Krenek Fergle ’53* and Don Fergle. (*Past recipients of the Dolibois Award.)
John White Jr., wrote an article about the decorative locomotive-shaped tea set given to Jefferson Davis by France during the early years of the Civil War for White House History #24, Life in the Lincoln White House, Part I (White House Historical Association).
1959
The Matthews family enjoys tailgating in Hannon Park before Miami’s home football games: (l-r) George Bosarge ’77, Sharon Matthews Bosarge ’82, Johnson Matthews MEd ’59, Brian Matthews ’85 ’87, and Patricia Grove Matthews ’57 MEd ’67.
1960
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Jim Martino sent in this photo from the Martino family reunion at Hueston Woods July 11-18, 2009. Those available for the picture included: (l-r) Jerry Huber MEd ’93, Patty Martino Pearson ’82, Joe Martino ’53, Karen Earhart Martino ’63 MEd ’65; Jim Martino ’60 MEd ’65, Carol Martino Jones ’85 MBA ’04, Frank Martino ’55, Tim Jones ’85, and Rosemary Walouke Martino ’55. There are three Miami Mergers in the group and two of them were in the Miami Merger picture Alumni Weekend.
1964
Robert Bagby of Richmond, Ky., professor emeritus from Eastern Kentucky U., celebrated his 80th birthday, which was on Father’s Day in June 2009, with four generations: (in photo) Robert, wife Kathryn, son Douglas, granddaughter Laura, and new great-grandson Jaden. In all, 13 family members joined in.
1965
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Dale Claypoole sent in this photo of the Gear Packers Reunion at Squaw Valley, Calif., July 26-28, 2009: (l-r) Dale Claypoole, Larry Kerr ’69, Dave Greegor, Bill MacDonald, Bob Gluck ’66, Steve Hanning, Chuck Korte, Scott Cameron, Steve Keller, and Don Deutsch. They were all resident assistants in Symmes Hall from 1962-64 who have kept in touch ever since, due largely to their mentor at the time, the late Ken McDiffett. Ten Packers and spouses showed.
Whit Morse of Guilford, Conn., shows off his Miami T, with a few holes. An architect in building and construction in Hartford and for the state of Connecticut, he retired in 1997. He has participated in the Southern Connecticut State U. aphasia program since having a stroke in 2005.
1966
Carl Wolfe recently retired from the hospital biomedical field. After graduation, he served as a radar officer in the Air Force, followed by 10 years with the New Hampshire public TV engineering department. He and wife Theda Hollister Wolfe, Western ’66, were married in 1968. They have three children and two grandchildren and live in Barker, N.Y.
1967
Stanley Greenberg, CEO of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, was the undergraduate commencement speaker for the U. of New Haven’s spring 2009 Commencement exercises and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Stanley provides strategic advice and research for leaders, companies, campaigns, and NGOs trying to advance their issues in tumultuous times. He has served as pollster to, among others, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, South African presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. He founded the company in 1980 after a decade of teaching at Yale where he received a Guggenheim Fellowship. He is married to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, 3rd District of Connecticut.
On Miami Explorers’ Salmon River Whitewater Adventure Aug. 1-7 are: (l-r) Steve Turner ’67, Connie Altschwager, Hall Crannell ’56, Sarah Belknap Boomstra ’81, and Bill Boomstra ’80.
1968
Jim Dineen of West Chester, Ohio, motivational speaker, kidney health advocate, and kidney transplant survivor, received the Robert Felter Memorial Award from the Renal Network for 2009. He is also a new board member for the Renal Network, a nonprofit that monitors quality of dialysis care in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois.
When Diana Mackey of Sparks, Nev., was in Minneapolis last summer, she had lunch with her friend of 47 years, Mike Mirvis ’67 of Bloomington, Minn.
1970
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Stephen Jennings MS ’70 is retiring May 31, 2010, as president of the U. of Evansville. He has spent the last 40 years in higher education, including nine years at UE. Under his leadership, the institution opened a new university center, constructed the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration building, and launched the school’s largest-ever capital campaign. He became the U. of Evansville’s 22nd president June 1, 2001, after serving as president of three other institutions since 1983: Oklahoma City U., Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo.
1971
David and Brenda Wells Hellard ’72 are pictured at the 600-foot Multnomah Falls outside Portland, Ore., during a 14-day tour of the Northwest. They suggest visiting the 100-mile Columbia River Valley and whale watching in the Puget Sound area leaving from Anna Cortes, Wash.
After 38 years with the Oxford Press, Bob Ratterman decided to retire in October 2009. He joined the paper in 1971, covering the Talawanda School District, Oxford Township, Oxford Police, and sports at Miami and Talawanda. He had interned with the paper while in college. He was named editor of the newspaper in 1989. Only the third editor of the 77-year-old paper, he took over from the late Bob White ’44 MA ’48.
1972
Un-Chan Chung MA ’72 is South Korea’s new prime minister. A highly regarded economist, Chung was nominated for prime minister by Korea’s president, Lee Myung Bak, and confirmed by the National Assembly Sept. 29. A friend of fellow Seoul resident and Miami alumnus Higgin Kim ’69, Chung has been involved with Seoul’s Miami Alumni Chapter and has been a resource for the Farmer School’s Pacific Rim summer program for the last several years. He has taught at universities around the world, including the London School of Economics, Columbia University, the University of Hawaii, and the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. At Seoul National University, he became dean of the College of Social Sciences in February 2002 and university president six months later. In 2006 he returned to teaching.
Robert Smith of Idaho Falls, Idaho, who works in software quality assurance, was featured in the Bechtel Globe for finishing last, the second year in a row, in the John Colter Half Marathon sponsored by his employer, Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Plant. He told the paper, “But there were a few differences. This time, I finished about 37 minutes faster … I also placed 28 out of 28 runners, instead of 64 out of 64.” He was the oldest runner and the only participant in the 55-59 age group.
1973
Todd Bailey was honored by the Jewish National Fund’s Carl B. Rubin Legal Society as Attorney of the Year in November. Todd, who teaches in Miami’s finance department, is an attorney with Frost Brown Todd. He is a litigator in intellectual property, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and products liability.
Charles Rittgers, an attorney in Lebanon, Ohio, is a 2009 Fellow who joined the Ohio State Bar Foundation. Membership is an honor extended to those lawyers and judges who adhere to the highest ideals of the legal profession and are dedicated to serving their communities. Through grants and programs, the foundation advances its mission of promoting public understanding of the law and improvements in the justice system throughout Ohio.
1974
Photo: Steve Heck ’74 MEd ’75, an eighth-grade Earth science teacher at Milford Junior High in Cincinnati, during one of his Teachers in Space training sessions.
At age 57, Steve Heck can hardly believe he’s realizing his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. He credits his education from Miami University.
“My degrees got me to the stars. If it wasn’t for Miami, I would not be a teacher. If I wasn’t a teacher, I would not be an astronaut,” said the eighth-grade Earth science teacher at Milford Junior High in Cincinnati.
Heck, who earned a bachelor’s in education in 1974 and a master’s in education in 1975, is one of the Pathfinder 7 — seven teachers chosen from thousands of U.S. teachers for the nonprofit, privately funded Teachers in Space program. He and the other six will train during school breaks the next two years to conduct science experiments on suborbital spacecraft.
“I never gave up on my dream,” said Heck, who hopes to inspire students through this experience. “I want them to be the new guys in discovery. Maybe one of the kids that I touch in this area is going to walk on Mars or discover the cure for cancer. Can you imagine if that happens? That would be far beyond any of my dreams.”
Heck came to Miami on a four-year, Air Force ROTC scholarship. While working on his master’s, he was a graduate assistant to Robert Wendel in teacher education. Six months after graduation, he joined the Air Force and became a pilot. Retiring as a lieutenant colonel, he settled with his wife, Donna, and their two sons in Cincinnati.
He returns to the classroom this fall having already earned his astronaut pilot wings after his first training flight.
“The biggest thing for me is to motivate the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians,” Heck said. “That’s what I want to do, to get that new generation going, to invigorate that new generation toward discovery.”
Jeanne Modra Weill ’74 and Jim Weill ’73 (left) and Robert Barnwell ’80 and Lezlie Lawson (right) with their daughters Joanna Weill (center left) and Addie Barnwell (center right) at their graduation last May from Vassar College. Joanna and Addie were roommates for their first two years at Vassar and discovered shortly after meeting that they both have parents who are Miami Alums.
Bruce Smith MS ’74 is interim director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State U. He served as director from 2000-2006. He is also co-author of Engaging Public Relations: A Creative Planning Approach (Second Edition, 2009).
1975
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Joan Nybell Kaderavek has been named a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; she received the award in New Orleans at the National Convention in November 2009. Joan is also a Fulbright Scholar and is in residency at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India, January-February 2010. She recently completed a textbook for speech-language pathology undergraduate students titled: Language Disorders in Children: Fundamental Concepts in Assessment and Intervention. The textbook will published in February 2010.
1976
Douglas Donnell, an attorney with Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones in Grand Rapids, Mich., was included in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Lawyers are selected for inclusion on the basis of a nationally conducted peer-review survey in which more than 25,000 leading lawyers vote on the legal abilities and professional achievements of other lawyers in their specialties.
Illustrator Chris Payne of Cincinnati has created a limited-edition print, “Redsland Forever,” to benefit the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Reds Community Fund. It shows 14 of the greatest Reds players in their prime on the same field.
Laura Morris Rees of Westerville, Ohio, sent in this photo of “three hotties” on board the Dnieper Princess in Ukraine during Miami’s alumni trip, Alumni Campus Abroad in the Ukraine and Romania, June 23-July 6, 2009: (l-r) Suzanne Moler MacLaren ’54, Laura, and Bucky Telich Love ’44.
1977
College roommates enjoyed a reunion in Columbus at the home of Harriette Hansell Aug. 23, 2009: (l-r) Pam Leffler Pitoniak, Rose Chin, Diane Burke Wolf, Harriette Sheer Hansell, Janet Treleaven Fultz, Kathy O’Brien Haidet. Not pictured but attending via phone was Lynn Green Bennett.
Larry Linson, a third-grade teacher at Cedarville Elementary School, was recognized as the East Allen County Schools (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year. He has been teaching for 32 years, the past 24 years in East Allen.
Miami Mergers Hop and Paulette Bort Wilson celebrating 30 years of marriage and still kissing under that magical Upham Arch. The Cincinnati couple has four children and two grandchildren.
1978
This March 2009 photo is of Jim Batchelder and Rick and Betsy Parker Root at dinner in Boca Raton, Fla. Jim and Rick were sophomore roommates in Scott Hall. Jim’s son, Will, of Canton, Ohio, was visiting the U. of Miami School of Law. Rick and Betsy’s daughter, Megan, of Vero Beach, Fla., was about to visit Miami in Oxford.
This is the first group of Miami undergraduates that are part of Miami’s new global masters program through Miami’s Project Dragonfly and Earth Expeditions in conjunction with the Cincinnati Zoo. Enjoying their last night in Trinidad: (l-r) Diane Koury, Jenn Breehl ’97, Andrew Campbell ’00, Cindy Fehr Kelly, John Galipault ’05, and Fia Turczynewycz Cifuentes ’05.
1979
Scott Doran ’79 MS ’83 is a partner at Chester, Willcox & Saxbe law firm in Columbus, Ohio. His practice concentrates in the areas of environmental and energy law and he chairs the law firm’s environmental law practice. A former partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, he led the firm’s environment and energy practice group, which focused on environmental and natural resource issues. His practice has included Superfund clean-ups and cost recovery, hazardous waste management and corrective action, solid waste management and permitting, wastewater discharge and wetlands permitting, corporate environmental risk allocation, environmental insurance coverage claims and policy drafting, and brownfields redevelopment. He also has been involved with the New Albany and Easton developments since their inception.
James Smith ’79 PhD ’88 became president of Northern State U. in Aberdeen, S.D., July 1. Bowling Green State U.’s former vice president for economic development and regional growth, he told the Toledo Blade he was attracted to NSU because of the university’s economic development efforts and focus on distance learning.
1980
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
College housemates of “Homeplate,” all graduates from the Class of ’80, held a reunion in Hilton Head Island: (l-r) Pam Sawyer Conlin (Dallas), Kathi Sielschott Newton (Columbus), Cindi Smeltzer Quinn (Indianapoils), Kristin Lane Mendola (Wilton, Conn.), Susie Gregory LeGates (Atlanta), Ann Conlin Mann (Denver), Beth Griffith Srofe (Cincinnati), Kathie Nyhan Watson (Lexington, N.C.), and Kim Walker (St. Louis).
Roberta Phillips ’80, Rich Lewis ’91, Georgia O'Hara ’97, Jill Korach MEn ’00, and Joe Beringer MAT ’06 standing in front of a bluewhale skeleton at the Vermillion Sea Field Station in Bahía de Los Ángeles, Baja, Calif. The group is part of the Global Field Masters Program at Miami University - Project Dragonfly. To learn more, go to www.EarthExpeditions.org.
1981
Chris Grewe is moderator of the 119 churches of the Presbytery of the Cascades. This portion of the Presbyterian Church (USA) stretches from southwest Washington State through Oregon to northern California. Chris continues to be co-pastor, with wife Susan, of Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church in Portland, Ore., where they have served since 1991. Their daughter, Anna, completed her freshman year at the U. of Oregon (sorry) last spring.
Christopher Kerosky and Emily Brown ’07, two graduates of the Western College Program, returned to campus in October to talk to students in the Western Living-Learning Community class “Introduction to the History of Activism.” Christopher, a graduate of U. of California - Berkeley Law School who has practiced since 1984, spoke about activism and immigration. Emily discussed labor issues, globalization, and unionization.
Cincinnati freelance TV reporter Laure Quinlivan won a national journalism award from Germany’s RIAS (Radio in the American Sector) for her television news series “Cincinnati to Germany Connections” that aired on WLWT-TV in August 2008. “The very lively and entertaining reports by Laure Quinlivan on the Sister Cities Cincinnati and Munich show how Germans and Americans in both cities get to know each other and work together,” said the official awards jury. “The TV reports were supported by the very good Internet blog “Cincinnati to Germany Connections.” Laure reported and produced 6-minute stories on Cincinnati’s Fairview German Language School, the U. of Cincinnati’s Summer in Munich program, and Cincinnati and Munich parks exchanges. The reports aired on WLWT’s late newscasts. Laure worked 13 years for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, where she won two Peabody Awards and 18 Emmys for investigative reporting. She lives with her husband and two children in the Mount Lookout neighborhood of Cincinnati. Two Cincinnati videographers worked with her on “Cincinnati to Germany Connections” and share in the award honors. WLWT’s Christopher Knight shot the Cincinnati footage and edited the series. Videographer Joyce Chapman Looby ’79 of Oxford shot video with Laure in Munich and Donaueschingen. Joyce works for Michael Bambino Productions.
1982
While traveling through New Zealand, Dan and Sarah Wingo Williams, of Golf, Ill., along with their three (Miami) children – Hannah ’09, Christopher ’11, and Cleary ’13 – came upon the small town of Oxford.
1983
Russ and Anita Wein Jones ’84 recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Russ is CEO of a radio network operating from the Midwest to the East Coast. Anita is an author and entrepreneur regarding healthy living. Her current book is listed on Amazon.com. They live in Louisville.
Kenneth Merten is U.S. ambassador to Haiti. He is a career diplomat of more than 20 years who has twice before worked in the small island nation. Ken has a master’s in public administration from American U. and has studied at the Université d’Aix-Marseille in France and at Karl Franzens Universität in Austria. He joined the Foreign Service in 1987. His work for the State Department has been divided between assignments in Washington, D.C., and those overseas. His previous diplomatic postings abroad include serving as the economic counselor in Paris, followed by his first tour in Haiti as the economic section chief. He was the economic officer at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, and then performed the same function for the U.S. embassy in Bonn. He returned to Haiti to serve as vice consul in Port-au-Prince. His Washington assignments include two tours in the State Department Operations Center and service in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and on the Cuba Desk, as well as a year as special assistant to the Special Advisors on Haiti. Merten was serving as deputy executive secretary at the State Department when President Barack Obama nominated him in June for the ambassadorship to Haiti. He and wife Susan have two daughters.
1984
Kevin Robb, John Trauth, Ann Kiernan Robb ’85, Tom Robb ’84 MEd ’86, Christine Trauth, and Dillon Robb pay tribute to Miami at the Trauths’ vacation home on St. George’s Island, Md.
1985
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
August Fluker Jr., AIA, LEED AP, was appointed to a five-year term on the Ohio Architects Board by Gov. Ted Strickland. He is an architect and principal with City Architecture, Cleveland. He previously worked at Burris & Behne Architects, Robert P. Madison International, and the city of Cleveland’s Division of Architecture. He lives in Cleveland with his wife, Jennifer Coleman, who is also an architect, and their son.
Carl Greci MGS ’85 of South Bend, Ind., a partner at Baker & Daniels law firm, is president of the St. Joseph County Bar Association. He has been on the St. Joseph County Bar Association’s board of governors since 2002, serving as secretary, vice president, and president-elect. The main goals of the association include: Supporting the practice of law in St. Joseph County with legal education programs and the maintenance of a law library that is open to the public; Promoting the administration of justice; Upholding the honor of the law profession; and Encouraging cordial discourse and interaction among bar members, the bench and the public, along with correlating activities in the interest of the legal profession and public which it serves. At Baker & Daniels, Carl concentrates on civil litigation with an emphasis in business and commercial disputes, creditor rights, and tort litigation. He represents banks, corporations, and insurance companies in the resolution of various disputes in federal and state courts. Carl, who graduated cum laude from Indiana U. School of Law - Bloomington in 1993, is on the board of editors for the Indiana Law Journal.
Ron Rice rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange July 27, 2009. Ron (center) is president and chief operating officer of Medina, Ohio-based RPM International.
Julie Kowalski Ziemak of Burton, Ohio, and Julie DeVelvis Hohl of Chicago and their daughters enjoyed a pleasant reunion in Chicago in July 2008: (l-r, front) Elise Hohl, Erin Hohl, and Isabella Ziemak; (back) Julie Hohl, Julie Ziemak, and Anna Ziemak.
1986
Diane Fennig MS ’86 is a senior consultant with The Human Capital Group, a retained executive search and leadership consulting firm. She leads the firm’s newly established Atlanta office. Prior to joining The Human Capital Group, she was director of graduate student services at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State U., Atlanta.
Meeting for a reunion in Baltimore – the first time in 10 years they’ve all been together – are: (l-r) Margaret Peterson Haddix, Kathryn Christner Marker, Christy Esmahan, and Patti Bergman Schiff.
The Asia Foundation has appointed Meloney Lindberg company representative in Mongolia. She was most recently the foundation’s deputy country representative in Sri Lanka where she worked to strengthen local governance, improve access to justice, and bolster community-based responses to conflict.
1987
Lisa Dankovich, associate director of institutional relations at Miami, is the 2009-10 Red & White Club Don Loss Volunteer of the Year. Lisa has been associated with Miami volleyball since 1983 as a student-athlete, former assistant coach for 16 seasons, and now avid supporter of the program. This year, Lisa was instrumental in the formation of and was chair of the Volleyball Alumnae Board. The board has already created a career database for volleyball athletes, conducted a networking seminar for the team, and set up job shadowing for players.
Jeff Toffler, a graduate of the Western College Program, played the blues guitar during a staged reading of “Down in Mississippi” at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. The play was commissioned to focus on Freedom Summer activities in 1964. It debuted at Miami in October as part of the Bicentennial celebration.
1988
Back on campus to celebrate Candice Honroth Beaver’s initiation into Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame, these three attended the Homecoming game as well: (lr) Candice Honroth Beaver, Swoop, Jennifer Shea Vallo ’87, and Susan Kmiecik Peterson.
Eric Hershberger is an associate in the Columbus law firm of Chester, Willcox & Saxbe. He has 17 years of statewide civil and administrative litigation experience representing self-insured corporations, health care facilities, public-entity pools, municipalities, governmental officials and insurance interests. His areas of practice include business litigation, employment discrimination and discharge, personal injury/wrongful death, premises liability, pharmacy/dietary supplement claims, product liability, defamation, civil rights violations, insurance defense, construction and health law.
1989
Whether spanning generations, crossing oceans or both, Miami alums are always drawn to each other. While living in the south of France, Judy Walters Goss ’89, Samantha Curran Dwinell ’99, and Don Dwinell ’00 (l-r) met on the old cobble-stoned streets of Antibes and quickly became good friends.
Michael Willian of Chicago has come out with a second edition of his book, The Essential It’s A Wonderful Life Film Guidebook. This book is loaded with fresh insight into the inspirational holiday classic, providing a handy guide that walks you through the movie scene by scene.
1990
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Tammy Guilian Gentry of Cleveland is a mother of three and CEO of CMD Gifts, which was recognized as one of the top 10 mom-owned businesses in StartupNation’s 2009 Leading Moms in Business Competition. Tammy launched her first product, Penny Stones®, in 2008. Penny Stones (“A penny for your thoughts…”) are elegant and fun conversation starters, with questions like “superpower you’d like to have” and “best trait of person on your left” on glass stones. They offer an engaging and simple way for people to start conversations, strengthen relationships and improve conversation skills.
Born: to Melinda Shedloski Growdon and Robert, Chase Robert, May 12, 2009, joining Ryder, 3. Melinda is the manager of store operations for Express, and Robert is a project manager for Limited Technology Services.
1991
Bob Eckhart of Columbus took an interesting bike trip last summer, traveling from Ireland to Istanbul – five weeks, 1,600 miles. He rode through both Oxford (England) and Luxembourg, where he studied 20 years ago.
Carolyn Pione is director of communications for CincyTech USA, a public-private group that gives startup money and business consulting to entrepreneurs with ideas for high-tech, high-growth-potential companies in the life sciences, medical device making, software and Web development and other technology areas. The goals are both market-focused and public policy-oriented: to make money for investors and to spur job growth in this growing area of the global economy.
Robert Smyth, a partner at Drew & Ward in Cincinnati, was recognized as a “Rising Star” by the 2009 Super Lawyers list, published in Cincinnati Magazine, Ohio Super Lawyers, and Northern Ohio Live magazine. The list of Ohio’s top up-and-coming attorneys honors those who have been practicing for less than 10 years or who are 40 years of age and younger. Robert practices in the areas of civil litigation, commercial litigation, labor and employment law, probate and estate planning, and general representation of individuals and closely held businesses. Previously, he was named to the Rising Stars list in 2005 through 2007.
Adryanna Godshall Sutherland of Springboro, Ohio, is president of HSR Business to Business’s Cincinnati office. Headquartered in Cincinnati, HSR also has offices in Chicago and Denver. She lead an interdisciplinary team responsible for strategy, project management, and execution. Previously serving as group vice president, she has 18 years of marketing and communications background. She has led business-to-business marketing initiatives for such companies as Pitney Bowes, Flowserve, Fidelity, and Kellogg's.
Bethy Kelly Waters wants to give a “shout out” to Chris Allen ’92. Beth of Reisterstown, Md., wrote in August, “Did you watch your namesake on American Idol?”
1992
Jackson Kelly PLLC Assistant Managing Member Gretchen Trapp Callas has been asked to join the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC) as a sustaining member. She is one of only two West Virginia lawyers with membership status in this national group of product liability defense attorneys. Members are selected and approved after an application process that, in addition to experience in product liability defense, requires the sponsorship of two corporate PLAC members. Gretchen’s practice at the Charleston, W.Va., law firm has focused on defending product manufacturers in the aviation, pharmaceutical, and heavy equipment industries. In addition to her product liability practice, her jury trial work has involved the defense of claims arising from workplace accidents.
Graydon Head attorney Steven Goodin has joined the board of trustees for the Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment (CCAT), a nonprofit drug treatment center headquartered in Cincinnati’s West End. His past work as state, federal, and military prosecutor brings a unique perspective to the board. Steve’s Graydon Head practice focuses on white-collar defense and investigations, as well as administrative, municipal, and elections law. He also has significant experience in labor law, non-compete agreements, the defense of civil rights claims, and criminal defense.
Born: to Eric McKinney and Jolie, Broderick Cullen-Brant, May 18, 2009, joining Brenden, 7, Griffin, 5, and Cooper, 3. Eric works for Evant Inc. and was 2008 Distinguished Employee. Jolie works for Winkhart & Rambacher. They live in Massillon, Ohio.
Jeffrey Stammen, CFA, has joined the global business development group’s sales team at Babson Capital Management, an investment management firm in Boston and Springfield, Mass., and Charlotte, N.C. He is based in Los Angeles and New York. He joined Babson Capital from Wachovia Capital Markets, where he was most recently director of alternative investment sales. He has 13 years of experience working in the area of structured-credit products, fixed-income derivatives and mortgage-backed securities. He has an MBA from Cornell U. and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
1993
Elizabeth Lokon MAT ’93 PhD ’97 MGS ’08, a research associate at Miami’s Scripps Gerontology Center, is the first recipient of the Environmental Arts Research Grant from the Society for Arts in Healthcare and American Art Resources. She was recognized for her work with “Opening Minds through Art: An Evaluation of an Art Program for People with Dementia.”
1994
Toni Adams Condon MTSC ’94 is vice president for institutional advancement at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore. She was most recently senior director of development for the Walters Art Museum, where she led the fundraising efforts to support the current free admission initiative, allowing equal access to the museum for all members of the community. She previously held positions in the fundraising departments of McDaniel College, the Johns Hopkins University Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Robert Fischer ’94 MEd ’04 is middle school/high school principal in the New Miami Local School District. Robert lives in Germantown, Ohio, with wife Jennifer Breininger Fischer ’96 and their children, Kyle, 11, Michael, 9, Elizabeth, 6, and Madelyn, 3. Jen is a pre-school teacher for Valley View Local School District.
Attorney Mark McCown of Ironton has been elected to serve a three-year term as District 8 representative on the Board of Governors of the Ohio State Bar Association. District 8 includes 335 attorneys who live or practice in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties. A partner in the firm of McCown & Fisher, he is a past president of the Lawrence County Bar Association, a life fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation, and a legal columnist for the Ironton Tribune. The 21-member Board of Governors meets monthly to manage the association's business affairs, set policy, review pending legislation and conduct other business on behalf of the 25,000 Ohio lawyers who are OSBA members. He lives in Ironton with wife Anke and children.
Kristi Sands ’94 sent in this photo of a Miami University Campus Crusade for Christ Reunion, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Der Dutchman in Plain City, Ohio: (bottom row, l-r) Adam ’93 and Amy Burkey, Joe Corasaniti ’93, Chuck ’92 and Kim Leightenheimer Testas ’93; (top, l-r) Mary DeWeese ’92, Chuck and Karen Donnelly Moeller ’94, Gary ’94 and Betsy Timmons Ricci ’94, Elaine Stone Morganski ’95, and Kristi Sands ’94.
Rondi Tschopp of Mason, Ohio, is founder and creative director of Five Visual Communication & Design, which has received official certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Founded in 1997, the WBENC is the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. For Five Visual, the affiliation as a Women’s Business Enterprise will provide opportunities to work with any of the hundreds of companies and government agencies that rely on the WBENC certification as part of their supplier diversity programs, Rondi said. Established in 1995, Five Visual is a graphic design firm specializing in high-end visual communication with clear, concise, creative solutions that help the client achieve their business goals.
1995
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Jeff Hayden and his wife, Ginger, celebrated their 10th anniversary Sept. 18, 2009. Jeff is serving in the Middle East for a year. They have two children, Katherine, 6, and Madeline, 2.
Lisa Kostrubanic Lounsbury, AAI, senior vice president for the DeWitt, New York-based Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York (IIABNY), has earned the Certified Association Executive credential, the highest professional credential in the association industry. To achieve the CAE credential, she underwent a minimum of 75 hours of specialized professional development, passed an examination in association management and pledged to uphold a code of ethics. Three years experience in nonprofit organization management was additionally required. Lisa, who is president of IAAC, IIABNY’s membership services division, is a 10-year veteran of the not-for-profit insurance trade association. She is responsible for all for-profit activities, agency membership, overall marketing direction of the association, and has day-to-day oversight of IIABNY’s operations. She lives in Cazenovia, N.Y., with husband Tucker and their two children.
1996
Mary Jo Anderson MA ’96 was named one of Training Magazine’s Top 40 Young Trainers 40 and under. Mary Jo manages a $4 million training and development budget for Huron Consulting Group in Chicago, where she directed last year's launch of an enterprise-wide competency model linked to the company's recently deployed LMS. She also played a lead role in the virtualization of the company's classroom-based learning curricula with the addition of more Web-based course offerings, subscriptions to key online publications, and pre-orientation MP3 podcasts for newly hired personnel.
Sean Gailey of Poway, Calif., was featured in the media for turning his online gaming hobby into a business that has grown by more than 7,000 percent in the past five years. Not bad for a company that began in his bedroom in 1999 with two childhood friends. The three are now the owners of J!NX, a company that sells clothing, mostly T-shirts, and runs an online community of “geeks” and “gamers” through its Web site www.jinx.com. In 2008 they moved their business to an 18,000-square-foot facility in the Poway Business Park.
Rajiv Joseph received a $50,000 Whiting Writers’ Award for 2009, which recognizes extraordinary talent and promise and is one of the most coveted prizes for up and coming writers. Rajiv is playwright and author of “Animals Out of Paper,” produced at the Second Stage Theatre and published by Dramatists Play Service; “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” produced at the Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theater in Los Angeles and named Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts; and “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” scheduled for production in 2010 at the Alley Theatre in Houston and at Washington’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Jeff Peters, who works at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, had the chance to climb aboard the space shuttle Discovery in June while on a business trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He’s sitting in the commander’s seat, being careful not to touch anything that might fire it up. Actually, this picture was taken from the shuttle hangar, not on the pad, so there was no risk of launch. Jeff, Katy ’97, and their two children moved to a new house last summer in anticipation of baby #3, who was scheduled to arrive in September.
Joel Shrock PhD ’96, associate professor of history at Anderson U., received a Joseph J. Malone Fellowship to study in Oman for two weeks last spring. The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations chose 10 people to attend the intensive cultural immersion program based on applicants’ essays on U.S.-Middle Eastern relations. The goal is for the Fellows to intensively study and experience the Arab culture of Oman. The group had a series of briefings from the U.S. State Department, Department of Commerce, Middle Eastern scholars, former Omani ambassadors, the Omani deputy foreign minister, U.S. embassy staff in Oman, and retired four-star Gen. Anthony Zinni in the airport lounge in Qatar. Joel also serves as director of the Center for Public Service at Anderson. He and wife Kelly Kirby Shrock MS ’95, associate executive director of university development at Ball State U., live in Muncie, Ind., with their sons. Owen is in sixth grade and involved in tennis and band (trumpet). JD and Brenton are in first grade. JD is playing tennis and enjoys tumbling classes. Brenton is into art and organizing anything he can get his hands on.
1997
David Coon earned a PhD in communication and culture at Indiana U. in July 2008 and is now an assistant professor of communication at the U. of Washington Tacoma.
Born: to Jill Meurer Grech ’97 and Chris, Owen Daniel, May 14, 2009, joining Andrew, 3, and Abby, 2. A month later, the family moved to the Chicago area with a job transfer and is now living in Western Springs, Ill. Jill stays home with the children and Chris sells advertising for AOL.
A faculty member at Cedarville U. since 1998, Matthew Moore MA ’97 has been promoted to associate professor of communication arts. He earned a BA from Cedarville in 1992 and an MFA from the Shakespeare Theatre Co.’s Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington U. He currently resides in Cedarville, Ohio. Cedarville is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist university of arts, sciences, professional and graduate programs.
Husband-and-wife singing duo Pete and Anne Goldstein Sibley of Jackson, Wyo., won the 2009 Great American Duet Sing-Off on NPR’S “A Prairie Home Companion.” The two actually grew up in neighboring New England towns, meeting as sophomores in high school, where both sang in the choir. Back then, their interests centered on pop songs and show tunes. It was only after they moved out West that they discovered traditional music. They love the simplicity of the style, the storytelling, the harmonies – evident in their singing and songwriting. Their fifth album is titled “Coming Home.”
Christine Weingart PhD ’97 is an associate professor of biology who has been awarded tenure at Denison U. She joined the faculty at Denison in 2002. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Mount Union College and did postdoctoral research at the U. of Cincinnati Medical College and at Cornell U. She teaches Introduction to the Science of Biology, general microbiology, virology, and cell and molecular biology. Her research interest is bacterial stress responses and their involvement in causing disease.
1998
Born: to Elizabeth Myers Dean and Ryan, Brady Patrick, Feb. 18, 2008, in Cleveland.
Susan Jackson of Cincinnati is associate director, creative at dunnhumbyUSA, an international leader in building sales and brand value for consumer goods and retail companies. She is responsible for writing creative direct mail and online communications for The Kroger Co. loyal customer mailings. Susan, who has an MS from Northwestern U. Medill School of Journalism, previously worked for Bridge Worldwide as a copy director.
Born: to Brett and Stacy Johnson Johnson, Katie Ann, Nov. 17, 2008. Brett is the assistant vice president of investments with Archstone. Stacy is a senior business development manager with Allergan. They live in Englewood, Colo.
Martin Schreiber III was ordained as a priest in the Society of Jesuits in June 2009. At Loyola U. in Chicago and the Jesuit School of Theology, he completed his graduate work in philosophy and theology. In August, he began a doctorate in education at Loyola focusing on the calling of the lay teacher in Jesuit High Schools. He enjoys spending time with his nephew, Emmett, and his niece, Maggie, keeping up with friends and family, and laughing with his Jesuit brothers.
Cubist Pharmaceuticals of Lexington, Mass., announced at the company’s Annual Awards ceremony that Clinical Microbiology Director Judith Steenbergen and her colleagues on the CUBICIN development team were named Team of the Year. Judith received a PhD in microbiology and immunology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2003. In presenting the award, Cubist’s President and CEO Michael Bonney said, “The CUBICIN Development Team defined itself as a high-functioning, results-oriented team. Through effective cross-functional collaboration and communication, the team defined the strategy for both clinical development and product improvement opportunities for CUBICIN. The team's ability to see the ‘big picture’ and prudently balance the anticipated benefits from CUBICIN development initiatives with the associated risks and financial costs has earned them significant credibility across the organization. The accomplishments of the CUBICIN Development Team have established it as the ‘go-to’ group for all things CUBICIN.”
1999
Born: to Jeffrey and Shannon Moran Schodowski ’00, Owen Jeffrey, May 4, 2009, in Novi, Mich., joining Avery, 2. Jeff is a program manager for Hewlett Packard and Shannon is a stay-at-home mom.
Born: to Adam and Tara Katz Singer, Elliana Lauren, March 31, 2009, joining Aiden James, 3, in Cincinnati. Adam is the sales manager for Zimmer Spine and Tara is a stay-at-home mom. They live in West Chester, Ohio.
Born: to Jeff White and Pam, Benjamin Steven, May 22, 2009. Jeff is a senior scientist at P&G. Both recently earned MBAs from Xavier U. in Cincinnati. They live in West Chester, Ohio.
2000
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Herman Baxter MA ’00 PhD ’09 is a data and market analyst in the strategic planning division at DEI, a national design/build company in Cincinnati. “The current economic climate has proven to be tumultuous,” explained Arp Trivedi, DEI’s vice president of strategic planning. “It is our duty to provide experienced talent to our clients to help them plan for better times.” Previously he worked for Colerain Township and Hamilton County of Ohio as an urban planner and taught at Miami. As a lead researcher, he co-authored multiple Community Compass reports and was the principal author for the paper “External Influences: The Impact of National Trends on Hamilton County’s Future.”
Born: to Christopher and Annie Giese Bolger, Alexander Patrick, July 15, 2009, joining Henry, 1. Christopher is a managing director in the mortgage and asset-backed group at Jefferies & Co., and Annie stays at home in Connecticut.
Jon Fossitt of Cincinnati is associate director, data solutions group, at dunnhumbyUSA, an international leader in building sales and brand value for consumer goods and retail companies. He was previously a solutions architect at Hewlett-Packard.
Daniel Gallagher recently moved to Charleston, S.C. Married to Shannon since 2004, they have two sons, Wesley and Drew. Dan has held a variety of financial positions with MeadWestvaco since graduation and is currently division controller, MeadWestvaco Specialty Chemicals Division. He earned an MBA at Emory U. in Atlanta in May 2007.
Married: RaeAnne Hoffman ’00 MAcc ’01 and Jonathon Stock ’02, June 21, 2008, in Cleveland. They live in Westlake, Ohio.
2001
Married: Lorien Hallas and Eric Butler ’01 MAcc ’02, Aug. 29, 2009, in St. Louis. They live in Chicago.
Married: Margaret Kearney and Kobi Platt, Oct. 18, 2008. They live in Washington, D.C.
Born: to Mike and Kimberly Bos Martin, Alexis Paige, Sept. 7, 2008, joining Audrey, 2, in the Detroit area. Mike, who completed an MBA from Wayne State U. in May 2009, is a medical device sales representative for Smith & Nephew. Kim is working on a master’s in counseling at Eastern Michigan U.
Married: Alisha Smith and Matthew Bauer ’95, June 20, 2009, in Denver, where they live.
2002
Eric Goodman, CPA, is manager and assistant team leader of the accounting and auditing practice (A&A) of the real estate/construction client service team at Barnes Dennig, the fifth largest public accounting firm in Cincinnati. He works closely with the real estate/construction client service team leader in managing the A&A side of that team’s practice. He also is a formal mentor in facilitating the continued professional development of the A&A professionals assigned to the real estate/construction team and leads client service engagements in providing audit, tax, and advisory services to the firm’s real estate clients. His expertise is focused on navigating financial statements and serving as a business adviser specific to the real estate and construction industries.
Kristina Moffo Linberg and husband, Nick ’03 are parents to three wonderful little boys, Nolan and twins Landen and Keegan. When Kristina and a friend returned to campus for a day, she took this photo of one of her sons. “I have to admit, they are pretty cute and a great representation of the "next generation of Miamians!"
Vikas Satyal of Fairfield, Ohio, is associate director-shopping experience at dunnhumbyUSA, an international leader in building sales and brand value for consumer goods and retail companies. He is responsible for examining brand and category purchasing behavior. He previously worked for Coca-Cola as senior category manager-shopper insights. He is working on a MBA at Xavier U.
Born: to Brett and Yufang Yu VanGaasbeek, Sophia Madison, July 23, 2009.
2003
Jennifer Hendrich Cayton of Richmond Heights, Mo., is an architect for Cannon Design, an internationally ranked architectural, engineering, and planning firm in St. Louis. She has more than five years of professional experience in healthcare design, sustainable design, planning, and programming. She received a master of architecture from Washington U. in St. Louis. Cannon Design is ranked among the leading international firms in planning and design for healthcare, science and technology, education, sports and recreation, and government clients.
Carla DeGirolamo is head coach of Miami’s synchronized skating program. After a four-year career as a RedHawk skater, Carla spent seven seasons as an assistant coach in the program, serving as head coach of the junior team for three seasons. She spent the past five years as the top assistant coach for the senior team after serving as head coach of the collegiate team her first season on staff. She brings 25 years of figure skating experience and 19 years of synchronized skating experience to her position. During the 2002-03 season, she was a volunteer assistant with Miami's collegiate synchronized skating team and served as the assistant ice skating coordinator at Miami's Goggin Ice Arena. She has also worked as an assistant coach for the Oxford Skating Club's synchronized skating teams. She is a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Athlete Advisory Committee and the Coaches’ Committee.
Born: to Suzanne Weber Fohl and Robert, Garrett Robert, July 15, 2009. Suzanne is a senior associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cincinnati. Rob is a sales representative for Kraft Foods. They live in Fort Thomas, Ky.
Peter Geldis is financial adviser at Columbus-based investment management and financial advisory firm Hamilton Capital Management. A Bexley resident, he holds the Certified Financial Planner designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the highest professional designation in the financial planning field. He also is pursuing an MBA at Ohio State U. Hamilton Capital Management is one of central Ohio’s largest independent, fee-only investment management and financial advisory firms.
Thomas Goodwin, AU, AAI, AIS, AIM, ASLI, graduated from Xavier U.’s MBA program last May. He is an underwriting specialist for CSU Producer Resources.
Interactive Data Corp. employee Kieron Kassner completed the 2009 Boston Marathon, raising $12,475 for Mutual Funds Against Cancer, one of the leading advocates in the fight against cancer within the mutual fund and financial services industries. Interactive Data serves as 2008 and 2009 Foundation Sponsor. Pictured in the photo are (l-r): Christina Thirkell, executive director for MFAC; Kieron Kassner; Ken Starr, vice president, Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data; and Ray D'Arcy, president and CEO for Interactive Data.
Married: Bethany Pratt and Kevin Feldmann, July 14, 2007, in Cincinnati, where they live. Bethany is a consultant with Accenture. Kevin is a design engineer with GE Aviation.
2004
Kyle Basilius earned a MArch from Boston Architectural College May 30, 2009. He is one of the first graduates of the nation’s first National Council of Architectural Registration Boards-accredited distance master of architecture programs, which he completed while working full time as a part of the healthcare design team at Karlsberger in Columbus. He received recognition for his thesis and the prestigious President’s Commendation for Thesis Excellence Award, given by the college president to one student each year.
Dorothy Maxwell Goepel MA ’04 of Cincinnati received an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for 2009 for her creative nonfiction work of exceptional merit. A member of the Air Force Reserve, she completed a tour of duty as acting superintendent of the 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C., last March.
Sharon Hall MAT ’04, a fourth-grade teacher at South Lebanon Elementary School in Maineville, Ohio, will join 86 other teachers from across the United States at the White House this fall to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
The only Ohio recipient of the math award, Hall says her secret to success is leaving students “a little bit frustrated.”
“They like to be challenged. If they don’t have the answer right away, I’m fine with that. I let them kind of stew for a little while and see if they hear other kids talking,” says Hall, who is in her 13th year of teaching. “Most kids really respond to seeing their peers figure something out. They learn from them, and they’ll take that to the next level.”
Hall and the other winners were judged the country’s best pre-college-level science and math teachers by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process at the state level. Ohio’s only other recipient is accepting an award for science education. Winners receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders.
In addition to teaching in the Kings Local School District, Hall has been a mathematics facilitator, teaching online professional development courses in LessonLab, a division of Pearson Education in association with Miami University.
Parents and colleagues praise her ability to instill an intellectual curiosity in her students, even though it can be difficult for some to adjust to her ways at first.
“It’s hard for parents, who say their children come home and tell them I wouldn’t help them. You have to be prepared to defend what you’re doing. We’re so used to wanting to give kids answers and walk them through the process. I want them to build their own knowledge. I’m a mix of old school and new school. I still think they need basic facts. But at the same time they have to be able to problem solve and do a lot of critical thinking.”
Along with a master’s in teaching from Miami, Hall has an associate’s degree in elementary education from Vincennes University and a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of Southern Indiana and is a National Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist.
When announcing the winners, President Barack Obama said, “There is no higher calling than furthering the educational advancement of our nation’s young people and encouraging and inspiring our next generation of leaders. These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all.”
What does the award mean to Hall?
“It really just means that what I’m doing is OK, that I’m on the right path. Sometimes you worry. You’re not watching other teachers all day. You don’t have that time, and you do need to see, ‘OK, what I’m doing is what good teaching should look like.’ It’s nice to know.”
Katie Koch has joined Dressman Benzinger LaVelle law firm as an associate in the firm’s computer and information technology practice group, based in the Cincinnati office. Her practice focuses on computer and information technology law, intellectual property, business and commercial transactions, and corporate taxation. She obtained her law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Prior to joining DBL, she was an associate attorney with the Horwitz Law Firm in Crescent Springs, Ky.
John Litchfield graduated from Loyola U. Chicago School of Law in May 2009 and is starting as an associate with Foley & Lardner in Chicago in February 2010. He was recently nominated for the Windy City Times “30 Under 30” award for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activism for his work in the Illinois LGBT community. He also serves as a board member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago.
Born: to Jason and Sarah Schillig Ondrejka, Madeline Grace, July 2, 2009.
Laura Ann Ross returned to campus in November as part of the Middle Tennessee State U.’s Stones River Wind Quintet, which performed in the Center for Performing Arts. Laura Ann, an active freelance oboist and teacher in the Nashville area, is an adjunct professor of oboe at Middle Tennessee State, the acting principal oboist of the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, and a substitute for both the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony in Miami, Fla.
Rachel Crossley Saphire was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati June 6, 2009, at the historic Plum Street Temple. She has joined Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Mass., as assistant rabbi. During rabbinical school, she held student pulpits at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Temple Beth El in Beckley, W.Va., the U. of Cincinnati Hillel in Cincinnati, Cedar Village Retirement Community in Mason, Ohio; and the URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville, Ind. She was also a b'nai mitzvah tutor at Isaac M. Wise Temple, a panelist and speaker at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a volunteer at the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a team manager for HUC Softball, active in Ride 4 Reform for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, and participated in the Former Soviet Union Passover Project. Her thesis is titled “Making Ritual Count: A Study of Ritual Theory and Sefirat Ha'Omer within the Context of the American Reform Movement.” (Photo taken by Neysa Ruhl.)
2005
Next reunion: June 17-20, 2010
Megan Ankerman of Cincinnati is senior accountant at Barnes, Dennig & Co., certified public accountants and business advisers. She has gained a wealth of knowledge of the manufacturing industry through her three years of internship experience and full-time service with Barnes Dennig’s Manufacturing Client Service Team. Her responsibilities include performing nonprofit audits, preparing financial statements and tax returns, and managing several staff-level accountants and co-ops.
Tina McCormack is a senior PR associate at C. Fox Communications, an integrated PR and marketing agency in Silver Spring, Md. Tina is responsible for client management, media relations, writing, and event logistics for a growing suite of clients. Previously, she was director of communications for Starlight Children’s Foundation MidAtlantic, a health-focused nonprofit bringing joy to seriously ill children.
Jill Rumpf of Ridgefield, Conn., received an MDiv., an MA, and The John Havran Award for Excellence in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary at the school’s 197th Commencement Exercises May 23, 2009. Jill is the chaplain at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa.
Kimberly Wagner of Atlanta received an MDiv. from Emory U.’s Candler School of Theology May 11, 2009. She is a member of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights.
2006
Erin Bower graduated from the doctor of physical therapy program at Indiana U.-Purdue U. Indianapolis in May 2009. When Erin was 5, she was the victim of a pipe bomb explosion at a Kmart store, losing a hand and the sight in one eye when the bomb, concealed in a tube of toothpaste, exploded in her hand. Although she is entering a profession where typically patients’ treatment requires two functional hands, she has learned to modify the techniques she was taught. She graduated first in her class.
Married: Leigh Lacy and Matt Whitmer ’05, July 11, 2009, in Atlanta. Leigh is a 7th-grade math teacher at Snellville Middle School in Georgia. Matt is in business development for IG Interactive advertising agency in Atlanta.
Carl Nim MA ’06, a Miami graduate student in the Institute of Environmental Sciences, received the National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The one-year paid fellowship is worth $46,000. Carl, whose master’s is in geography, conducts research on land use and environment perception following a shift from dive-based to cruise-based tourism on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. He also studies the potential effects of diver activity on coral reef integrity near the island of Curacao.
2007
Matt Rosen is a senior accountant at Barnes Dennig, the fifth largest public accounting firm in Cincinnati. Matt brings to his new role significant knowledge and experience specific to the manufacturing industry and has proven to be an outstanding client service professional, engagement administrator, and technical expert. His responsibilities include working on audit and tax issues, managing staff-level accountants and co‑ops, and working on team-related, community, and marketing efforts. Matt volunteers as a tournament director at scholastic chess tournaments. He lives in the Gateway Quarter of Over-the-Rhine in downtown Cincinnati.
Christopher Weiss of Sylvania, Ohio, completed his first year of Peace Corps service in the country of Belize. He runs an after-school program for “at-risk” youth at E.P. Yorke H.S. in Belize City. His service concludes in October 2010.
2008
Navy Seaman Scyler Livelsburger completed Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, he completed a variety of training that included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety.
Mark Simmons accepted the U. of Cincinnati’s offer of a graduate scholarship and a graduate assistantship to pursue a PhD in biostatistics and enrolled at UC in the autumn 2009 quarter. He earned a master of engineering in the biomedical engineering track from UC on June 13, 2009.
2009
Rachel Bextermueller of Cincinnati, who earned a BA in zoology and minored in neuroscience, began classes at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Aug. 6, 2009. She plans to graduate as an osteopathic physician in May 2013, and then enter into an internship/residency training program in the medical specialty of her choice.
Kate Croft, who earned a bachelor’s in political science, has joined Buffalo, N.Y.-based integrated marketing communications firm Travers Collins & Co. as administrative assistant. She was involved in the Oxford Scholars’ Program for four years and was an intern to the assistant director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York State Office of the Attorney General in 2008. In addition, she was a 2009 recipient of the Senior Service Leadership Award for Campus Life. She lives in East Aurora.
Mitch Reynolds is a mechanical engineer with R.E. Warner & Associates, a multi-discipline consulting engineering, architectural and surveying firm in Westlake, Ohio.