Class Notes

Kristin Kisska Mehigan (Com ’90 CM) published her debut novel, The Hint of Light, under her pen name Kristin Kisska. The book follows a grieving mother who, after learning that her late son may have fathered a child, desperately searches for the granddaughter she never knew existed. The novel is in the UVA Authors Collection in the Rotunda Dome Room.

Mehigan, who lives in Richmond with her family, including her daughter Elyse Mehigan (Col ’23 CM), has also published mystery and suspense short stories under her pen name.

Steve Nesbit (Engr ’80, ’82 CM) was one of six American Nuclear Society members elevated to the rank of Fellow in September 2023.  The ANS past president (2021–2022) and founder of LMNT Consulting LLC was recognized for being a prominent and effective leader and spokesperson for the beneficial use of nuclear technology.  The society highlighted Nesbit’s work to dispose of surplus weapons plutonium by converting it to mixed oxide fuel and using it in commercial nuclear reactors.

Beth Meyer (Arch ’78, ’82 CM), the Merrill D. Peterson Professor of Landscape Architecture in the UVA School of Architecture, was appointed the inaugural faculty director of the UVA Morven Sustainability Lab in November 2022.  She received the Thomas Jefferson Award, the University’s highest faculty scholar honor in June 2023.

Lindsey Jensen (Col ’13) and Bryan Dale (Eng ’14 CM) got married north of Charlottesville at Moss Vineyards on Sept. 16, 2023. Lindsey and Bryan met on The Lawn one fall sunny day at UVA as fourth years. They survived years of long distance before settling down together in Kansas City, Missouri with their golden retriever, Charlie. They had a great time celebrating their love at the place where their story began. Wahoowa!

Kevin LaPorta (Engr ’09) and Jennifer Murphy LaPorta (Col ’10 CM) welcomed a son, Garrett Jack, on September 23, 2023. He joins big sister Lillian (age 7) and big brother Dylan (age 3).

Heather Wishart-Smith (Engr ’96, ’98) was elected to the board of directors of Orion Energy Systems, which provides energy efficiency and clean tech solutions, including LED lighting and electric vehicle charging. Wishart-Smith is also on the board of Group PMX, a private program and construction management company, and facilitates partnering sessions for large construction projects with GCC, LLC. Wishart-Smith was elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2022, and earned her National Academy of Corporate Directors Directorship Certification this year. She is a Fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers, for which she served as national President in 2020, and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Keller Smith and children Glory, Nick, and Alexandra.

Chloe Downs (Col ’17 CM)  married Jonathan Colen (Engr ’18 CM) on September 16, 2023, in the garden of Pavilion I at UVA. In attendance were a number of alumni, including in the wedding parties Tyler Curran (Col ’19, Educ ’20), Katherine McCool (Engr ’19 CM), Andrew Coffee (Engr ’18 CM), Brittany Huffman (Col ’18 CM), Anna LeValley (Col ’17 CM), Ritika Bhat (Col ’17 CM), Erika Rashka (Engr ’18), and Caelan Ryberg (Engr ’18). Chloe and Jon are living in Hampton, Virginia, where Chloe works at NASA Langley and Jon is about to begin working as a research professor at Old Dominion University.

James R. Talbot Jr., Capt. USN (Ret) (Col ’53 CM) privately published the Talbot family history, covering the period from Jared Talbot, who landed in Taunton, Massachusetts, in about 1660 to C. Scott Talbot (Eng ’81, Law ’87) and Zachary B. Talbot (Col ’16 CM).

P. Burks Echols III (Col ’85 CM) and Ann Carter “Boo” Refo Echols (Col ’86 CM) celebrated the graduation of their daughter M. Carter Echols (Com ’22 CM) from the McIntire School of Commerce in May 2022 and look forward to celebrating the graduation of their daughter Sarah B. Echols (Col ’24) from the College of Arts and Sciences in May 2024.  The family – including June W. Echols (Educ ’73  CM) and Porter “Pete” B. Echols, Jr. (Col ’55, Med ‘58 CM) – gathered for a photo with their collection of UVA diplomas in July of 2022.  Sarah held the Medical School diploma that was earned by her great grandfather, Porter B. Echols, Sr (Med 1925) as a marker until she earns her diploma in May 2024.

Robert W Kantner (Col ’77) has retired from private practice law in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from the University with a B.A. in Government and Foreign Affairs with Honors, Kantner attended and graduated from Harvard Law School. He then moved to Dallas where he worked as a trial lawyer specializing in commercial and intellectual property cases and tried 36 cases to a verdict as first chair. Kantner was a partner in the BakerBotts, DLA Piper and Jones Day law. He now enjoys spending time with his three grandchildren and writing family histories for them. 

Anne Marie Seibel (Col ’94 CM) is serving as chair of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section for the 2023-24 bar year.  She and her husband, Steven Rowe (Col ’94 CM), chief scientific officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Christina Polenta (Com ’09 CM) and Eric Magenheimer (Com ’09 CM) welcomed their second child, Luke Thomas Magenheimer, in June 2023. The family lives in Oakton, Virginia.