“Publication” Class Notes

David T. Beers (Col ’75 L/M) and his coauthor, Patrisha de Leon-Manlagnit, published their latest joint staff working paper on the BoC-BoE sovereign default database. Covering the period 1960-2018, it’s the only data set that quantifies and tracks all types of defaulted debt owed to official and private creditors. The paper is available for download and the 2019 version of the database is available here. 

Chad Cole (Engr ’06) published his first book on Amazon, My 93 Year Old Roommate, which documents the two years he spent living with his grandfather.

Elizabeth “Liz” Martinez Cornetta (Educ ’02 L/M) published The Argyle Crocodile Learns About Being Different, a children’s book that will make you feel good about yourself and inspire you to help others feel good about themselves. Available for purchase at MascotBooks.com

Deborah E. Sheetenhelm Hammond (Arch ’82 L/M) has published her 20th novel, Both Sides Now. Set in 2019 and 1861, the novel explores the first summer of the Civil War in the town of Martinsburg, West Virginia, then Martinsburg, Virginia. Focusing on the historical facts of that summer, the novel explores the experience from the eyes of a 21st century woman who has time traveled to her own hometown during the first perilous weeks of the war. She knows what is coming, but can do nothing to change it. This and all novels are available on Amazon.com and at local book signing events.

Betty Phipps Roberts’ (Nurs ’53) book about Alzheimer’s, Midnight Chronicles, will be entered in the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, the largest and oldest book fair in the world, founded in 500, after the invention of the printing press. Roberts says, “My ‘advanced age’ never bothers me until I pick up the Virginia Magazine, turn to Class Notes and find the first listing as the ’60s. Where are the ’50s folks? Surely I’m not the only one still doing ‘stuff.’” 

Ken Manson (Com ’68) published Bring Me Back Alive: A Memoir of Adventure, Luck, and Terror in the Air. Manson’s first book covers his harrowing flying experiences as a U.S. Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War years. The book starts in 1967 with his initial training at he the UVA Airport (Milton Field) and concludes with his experiences as a Jolly Green Giant rescue pilot in 1973. Among the many unforgettable characters in the book is CMSGT Duane Hackney (the most decorated airman in the history of the Air Force) who flew with then-Capt. Manson during his time in the Air Rescue & Recovery Service. Flip Viles (Col ’68) served as an editor to make the book a reality. Mr. Manson is the father of Ashley Manson Marratt (Col 94) and William Manson (Col ’99), who is a doctor at the UVA Hospital.

Charles W. Snyder (Grad ’73, ’79) published an article, “The Economics of Plenty: Glenn Frank and the Great Depression,” in Summer 2018 issue of The Historian.

Maya Lazarevic Rodriguez (Col ’03) published her first book, Grenades as Lullabies, which tells the inspirational true story of a thrilling escape from a harrowing civil war in Bosnia. 

Catherine Keller Brown (Col ’97) co-edited Hope for Recovery: Stories of Healing from Eating Disorders with Christina Tinke. The book’s diverse essays emphasize each writer’s journey to recovery, providing hope for individuals suffering from an eating disorder and their loved ones. In addition to these highly personal, vulnerable essays, the book includes informative sections with insights from mental health professionals on topics such as how families can help loved ones affected by eating disorders. A portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to local and national eating disorder organizations. 

Pamela Harris Lawton (Col ’81), associate professor in art education at Virginia Commonwealth University, just completed a distinguished chair Fulbright at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and a Tate Modern Exchange Artist Associateship in London. She published Community-based Art Education Across the Lifespan: Finding Common Ground based on 18 years of research in community-based art.

Khalilah L. Brown-Dean (Col ’98) published Identity Politics in the United States, a book that moves beyond the headlines to show how conflicts over group identity are an inescapable feature of American political development. From battles over voting rights and immigration to the 2017 rally on Grounds, there’s no question that the United States is incredibly divided. Brown-Dean shows us how we got here, and more importantly, how we move forward. She is a tenured associate professor of political science at Quinnipac University and a frequent political contributor to numerous media outlets. 

Thomas B. Gore (Res ’83), a cardiologist in LaGrange, Georgia, published his first book, a tribute to the life of David Carr Glover of Portsmouth, Virginia. Glover composed many teaching pieces for students learning piano and, having worked for Disney for many years, was associated with the Mickey Mouse theme song. Glover wrote a “method book” for learning piano and it sold a million copies worldwide. Photographs and memories from his many friends are included.

Johnny “Jon” Hunt (Col ’75 L/M) self-published a book, Asking the Moon to Leave, which is available at Outskirts Press and on Amazon. 

Christina Hendrick Melton (Col ’93) coauthored Preserving Our Roots: My Journey to Save Seeds and Stories with Blackberry Farm master gardener, John Coykendall. With an upcoming book launch and presentation at Monticello’s Heritage Harvest Festival in September, the book was listed as Amazon’s #1 New Release in South Region Gardening in advance of its November publication. Melton was also executive producer and director of the documentary, Seize & Secure: The Battle for La Fière, which broadcast on PBS on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, is currently being distributed by PBS Plus, and is available on demand on iTunes and Amazon Video. The film chronicles a relatively unknown but pivotal battle fought over a small stone bridge along a critical inland route for American forces during the allied invasion.  

Melton was nominated for a 2019 Webby Award nomination from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, as writer and producer of the Louisiana Public Broadcasting/PBS Digital Studios series, Nourish. The series featured NASA rocket engineer and South Carolina whole hog BBQ pitmaster, Dr. Howard Conyers, as host in his exploration of Southern food culture and traditions.

Melton was also recently appointed deputy director of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, with management and oversight of strategic planning for Louisiana’s statewide media network. She lives in Louisiana with her husband, Dr. Jamar Melton (Col ’92), and their three teenage sons.

John Stith (Col ’06) published his first children’s book, The Climbing Tree, about two brothers exploring the contours of their relationship through the power of imagination. The book, described as “an eloquent, poetic fable with a timeless message,” was an immediate No. 1 New Release on Amazon.

Lauren Ritacco Seufert (Engr ’02 L/M) published her first book this spring, True Connection: Discovering Ourselves in a Distracting Digital World. The book covers topics such as emotional intelligence, self-awareness and inclusive communication, and provides tools and strategies for the digital age. Seufert has received her MBA and held several global leadership positions in the chemical industry. In 2018, she started her company, emOcean Coaching & Consulting, which supports individuals and businesses to develop the skills necessary for leadership and organizational impact in the future. 

Joe Essid (Col ’83) was coeditor of Writing Centers at the Center of Change, a look at how 11 writing centers internationally have adapted to widespread institutional change. He is director of the Writing Center at the University of Richmond.

Jay Cost (Col ’01 L/M) earned a doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago in 2017. He is a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and is currently writing his fourth book, a biography of James Madison, to be published by Basic in 2021.