“Job” Class Notes

Sharon Want (Col ’84 CM) has been been promoted to Member of Caplin & Drysdale.

Want provides practical comprehensive legal advice to tax-exempt organizations.  She has counseled nonprofits for 20 years, rejoining Caplin & Drysdale after serving as in-house counsel at the American Cancer Society, where she advised on legal issues involving ACS’s global health and government-funded programs and ACS’s 501(c)(4) affiliate, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.  She also served as a senior advisor to the IRS Director of Exempt Organizations.  She works closely with a wide range of small and large public charities, private foundations and social welfare organizations, and she regularly provides counsel on tax compliance and governance issues. 

Michael Keens (Grad ’01 CM) was appointed Executive Vice President of Operations at Anju Software.  He will lead the global operations for the health technology company that provides platform technology for clinical trials, medical affairs, and analytical solutions for pharmaceutical, biotech, and contract research organizations.

Adrien Pickard (Col ’00 CM) has joined Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram, a law firm based in Washington, D.C. Pickard is a highly-accomplished business litigation attorney who counsels clients involved in complex commercial disputes before state and federal courts and on appeal across the country. 

Pickard was recognized by Washington Post Magazine in 2013 as a “Top Attorney in Washington, DC,” selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers between 2013 and 2017 and listed in Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll between 2018 and 2020.

Jennifer Beckett (Arch ’94 CM) celebrated one year as the first Director of Protocol for the United States Space Force (USSF). Beckett has served in the Department of Defense for over 17 years, with 11 years as a federal employee. Beckett is responsible for developing protocol policy for the country’s newest military service and providing expert advice to senior leaders within the Department on matters regarding customs, courtesies, diplomatic formality, order of precedence, and etiquette. Beckett also serves as the lead event planner for all official events and activities hosted by Space Force senior leadership. Semper Supra!

George Kliavkoff (Law ’93) of Las Vegas was hired as commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, starting July 1st. Nicknamed the “Conference of Champions,” the Pac-12 has won more NCAA national team championships than any other conference.

Tom Gibson (Col ’06 CM) has joined Community Preservation Partners, a national affordable housing developer committed to creativity, performance and purpose, as senior development manager.

Gibson comes to CPP with extensive experience structuring and managing complex multifamily developments through creative financing strategies and public-private partnerships. In this capacity, Gibson leads CPP East’s in-house team of developers through the successful completion of preservation projects. He is responsible for assembling and managing all external team members across various stages of development, including financiers, architects, designers, engineers and contractors.

The talent and connections Gibson will bring to the team will enable CPP to source more deals and efficiently complete the financing and rehabilitation of communities, in turn impacting the lives of residents for decades to come.

Recognized as a “40 Under 40” honoree by both Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia Chambers of Commerce, Gibson has earned a reputation in affordable housing within the D.C. metro area, having been appointed by the Governor of Virginia, Senate of Virginia, Arlington County Board and City Council of Alexandria to various boards and commissions serving Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth. As the youngest gubernatorial appointee in Virginia Housing’s history, Gibson currently serves as vice chair and has held several board positions with the agency since 2016.

Gibson is a veteran and current artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. After returning to civilian life, he consulted for the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County and was formerly vice president of development for Stratford Capital Group where he managed new construction and complex acquisition rehabilitation projects in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and Florida, totaling 561 units and $143.2 million in total development costs. Gibson received his M.B.A. from Cornell University, an M.P.S. in real estate from Georgetown University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) from Harvard University.

Journalist and essayist Suzanne Gannon (COL ’89 CM) has parlayed her insatiable curiosity and her reportorial skills in interviewing and fact-finding into a fresh endeavor known as The Essay Conqueror. In this capacity she works as a writing coach to students grappling with the daunting task of the college-admissions essay in the test-optional Age of Corona, when writing is again enjoying a moment in the limelight. Working one-on-one and in small groups over Zoom, and using reading and writing exercises that emphasize discovery and exposition, Suzanne has advised students from across the country who have applied to undergrad and grad programs alike, both as first-years and as transfers, in an array of disciplines. In each case, she challenges students to find the truest voice in which to tell their most authentic story.

Lucas Hobbs (Law ’98)  was elected by the Virginia General Assembly to serve as a General District Court Judge for the 28th Judicial District.

Wendy Thomas (Col ’92 CM) will be the next president and chief executive officer of Secureworks, beginning September 3, 2021. Secureworks is a global cybersecurity leader dedicated to providing innovative, best-in-class security solutions to protect organizations from cyber crime. Wendy first joined Secureworks in 2008 leading finance and most recently served as the company’s president and SVP, Customer Success, where she led and implemented a customer-centric approach to security partnership. Recently, Wendy was recognized in the number one position in The Software Report’s “Top 25 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity of 2021.” Wendy lives in Atlanta, GA with her family and is a Liaison for AFS Intercultural Programs, an international youth organization.

Siddhant “Sid” Das (Col ’13) joined the law firm Hirschler as an associate. Das focuses his practice on commercial leasing and real estate transactions. He drafts commercial leases and their amendments, renewals, assignments and termination agreements for retail spaces and shopping centers. Prior to joining Hirschler, Sid practiced at Reed Smith and Nichols Zauzig Sandler in Northern Virginia. He earned his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law.