Class Notes
John Wilder (Col ’62 CM)
John G. Wilder (Col ’62 CM) published Wagons, Gold and Conflict, a chronicle of the adventures of Captain Alfred Davenport in the Trans-Mississippi West from the 1840s through the 1860s. The book will appeal to lovers of history, travel and adventure, especially those interested in California from 1846 to 1861 and the western theater of the American Civil War.
Johanna Kahn (Arch ’10)
Johanna Kahn (Arch ’10), a practicing architectural historian in the San Francisco Bay Area, has published an essay in the anthology Julia Morgan: The Road to San Simeon, Visionary Architect of the California Renaissance. The anthology is a companion to a forthcoming traveling museum exhibition about architect Julia Morgan and her design for the monumental Hearst Castle.
Paola Gregus (Com ’13)
Paola A. Castillo (Com ’13 CM) and Matthew T. Gregus (Com ’13, ’14) celebrated their one year wedding anniversary on May 21, 2022. They were married at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Washington D.C. The couple will be moving to Tampa, Florida with their one-year-old pug, Gnocchi, and continue to work for the federal Risk and Financial Advisory practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Kevin Kelley (Col ’73)
Kevin C. Kelley (Col ’73 CM) retired on May 1 from his position as Managing Director and Associate General Counsel after 39 years with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its predecessors. Kevin’s practice as an insolvency attorney with JPMorgan included working on most of the major corporate insolvency matters over that time in the financial, automotive, retail, oil and gas and real estate industries to which JPMorgan was a lender.
Kendall Jones (Col ’89 CM)
Kendall Jones (Col ’89 CM) has been named the General Counsel of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., and all of its affiliated companies.
Ariel Heisel (Engr ’13)
Marc Heisel (Engr ’07) and Brianne (King) Heisel (Engr ’13 CM) welcomed a son, Aiden, in May 2021. The family lives in Charlottesville where Marc is an engineering and quality manager, and Brianne is a senior program manager.
Wilson Weber (Com ’84)
Wilson Weber (Engr ’13 CM) and his wife Ani McDowell celebrated their Feb 2020 California wedding with a belated East Coast reception at Charlottesville’s The Space Downtown on Oct 16, 2021. Fellow Wahoos in attendance included John Weber (Com ’84 CM), Joey Murphy (Engr ’12 CM), Kyle Brew (Engr ’13 CM), Kylene Brew (Engr ’13 CM), Patrick Brown (Engr ’13), Chris Curtin (Com ’13), Chris Millisits (Col ’13 CM), Andrew Noh (Engr ’13 CM), Jared Arrington (Col ’14 CM), Heidi Trott (Col ’14 CM), Will Vieth (Engr ’14, Law ’19 CM), Carter King (Engr ’15 CM), Taylor Chamness (Col ’17 CM), Zoe Grippo (Col ’18 CM), Jake Weber (Engr ’18 CM), Eileen Cowdery (Darden ’19) and Hank Weber (Engr ’20 CM). Will and Ani reside in Denver, Colorado, where Ani is a senior product manager at Split and Will is a consulting and engineering lead at Google.
Lealani Mae Acosta (Med ’07, Res ’11)
Dr. Lealani Mae “Leah” Acosta (Med ’07, Res ’11) was recently promoted to Associate Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she serves as the behavioral neurology fellowship director. She also was awarded the distinction of Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology for contributions to the field, including serving as an editor for the Humanities section of the journal Neurology.
Bruce Webster (Engr ’74 CM)
On Apr. 19, 2022, UVA Air Force ROTC alumni from the classes of 1973, 1974 and 1976, along with one of their professors from that time, met on Grounds for a reunion and to speak to current Air Force ROTC cadets from both UVA and James Madison University. Major J. David Carroll, USAF, Ret. (Col ’73, Darden ’85, Law ’85), Lt. General David A. Deptula, USAF, Ret. (Col ’74, Engr ’76 CM), Colonel Richard T. Kingman, USAF, Ret. (Col ’74 CM), Bruce L. Webster (Engr ’74 CM), Michael W. Skojec (Col ’76 CM) and Lt. Colonel John E. Valliere, USAF, Ret. (Engr ’76 CM) participated in this reunion along with their UVA Air Force ROTC Air Science Professor, Colonel James A. Ball, USAF, Ret. They met for lunch in the historic Varsity Hall before being escorted by officers and cadets of the current Air Force ROTC unit to O’Hill Forum, where they spoke to some 100 cadets of the James Wing of the current Air Force ROTC Detachment 890.
Shannon Donohue (Arch ’12)
Shannon (Casey) Donohue (Arch ’12 CM) and husband Kevin Donohue welcomed their first child, Madeline Grace, on Mar. 15, 2022. The couple resides in Alexandria, Virginia, where Shannon works in fundraising at George Mason University and Kevin is in cybersecurity with Amazon Web Services. They are excited to show their daughter around Charlottesville and the UVA campus this fall.
Dan Vick (Col ’84 CM)
Dr. Dan Vick (Col ’84 CM) assumed the role of Chief Medical Officer of MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, Maine, effective Mar. 28, 2022. MaineGeneral Medical Center is a 198-bed community hospital with 4,000 employees and over 600 medical staff members. Most recently, Dr. Vick was on the Graduate Teaching Faculty in the Master of Health Administration program at Central Michigan University.
Robert Scearce (Engr ’13)
Robert Burton Scearce II (Engr ’13 CM) was recently promoted to Plant Manager of Monogram Foods in Martinsville, Virginia.
John Howard (Col ’83 CM)
John Howard (Col ’83 CM) has published the first critical biography of radio broadcaster, stage director and auteur filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis, best known for triple-Oscar-winner Zorba the Greek. Howard is Emeritus Professor of Arts and Humanities, King’s College London.
Ed Price (Col ’84)
Ed Price (Col ’84), Charlottesville Firehouse Subs restaurant owner and operator, was recently awarded an Axe Award for Mid-Atlantic Franchisee of the Year. This award recognizes high performing franchises throughout Firehouse Subs and honors Price for his strong commitment to his community.
In the Firehouse Subs system of more than 1,210 restaurants, this award recognizes Price as an exemplary business owner that has earned this achievement through an increased focus on Firehouse Subs’ core values, setting high standards, giving back to the community and increasing guest satisfaction.
Price attributes his business success to focusing on guest satisfaction, his involvement within the community and commitment to public safety. One of his favorite parts about being a Firehouse Subs business owner is the portion of every purchase that benefits the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has donated 117 grants worth $1.7 million to help first responders and public safety organizations in Virginia. Most recently, Price’s efforts helped secure a $27,000 grant for the Charlottesville Fire Department, allowing them to purchase much-needed bunker gear and personal protective equipment. Price is also a longtime supporter of the Tom Sox and the Red Cross.
Sharon Kressel (Col ’05, Med ’12 CM)
Sharon Kressel (Col ’05, Med ’12 CM) and her husband Jason welcomed their daughter Nora Irene in October 2021. Nora joins her older brothers, Aaron and Max. The family resides in Bethesda, Maryland.
Paul Lombardo (Grad ’82, Law ’85)
Paul A. Lombardo (Grad ’82, Law ’85) of Georgia State University College of Law has published a new edition of Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell (Johns Hopkins University Press).
Ashley Bartley (Col ’06 CM)
Ashley Bartley (Col ’06 CM) has released her third children’s book in a social emotional learning series published by Boys Town Press. Remi in Overdrive offers children struggling with ADHD, hyperactivity, impulsivity and/or inattentiveness ideas and strategies they can implement both at home and at school. Remi in Overdrive is available on Amazon, Boys Town Press, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, along with her other two books, Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle and Opal Octopus is Overwhelmed. Ashley is a school counselor, author and curriculum writer who now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and three young boys.
Christopher Stanley (Com ’76)
Chris Stanley (Com ’76) was recently named Professor Emeritus in the Department of Theology and Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University in western New York. He retired from the university in 2021 after 22 years as a professor at St. Bonaventure. Dr. Stanley has authored or edited seven academic books and two historical novels, together with dozens of professional articles and papers, in his 31 years in academia. He is looking forward to continuing his writing in retirement. He lives in Allegany, New York, but plans to move to southern California in the next year.
Elliot Felix (Arch ’99)
Elliot Felix (Arch ’99 CM) helps students and families get the most out of college with his new book. Felix founded brightspot strategy and has helped more than 100 colleges and universities use design thinking to improve what they offer, how they are organized and how they operate. In his new book, How to Get the Most Out of College (Alinea Learning, 2022), he shares what he’s learned about how colleges and universities work so that students and families can make it work for them, because it’s not just where you go to college but how you go to college.
How to Get the Most Out of College is the top new release in the academic development category on Amazon and was recently featured in Forbes. Having done hundreds of consulting projects to help attract and retain students, the book is a chance to give back and help level the playing field, including a “buy one, give one” model where for every copy sold, one is donated to a student in need.
Joshua Richards (Col ’09, Grad ’10)
Josh Richards (Col ’09, Grad ’10 CM) has been promoted to Corporate Director, ESG at Transwestern, an integrated commercial real estate services, development and investment management firm. In this role, Richards is responsible for expanding engagement across the various companies to identify, track and communicate ESG goals and key performance indicators; advocating for responsible, proactive programming that advances the brand and mission of Transwestern and its clients; evaluating partnerships and opportunities to deliver resources at the leading edge of industry; and reporting progress against the firm’s commitments to all stakeholders.
Richards joined Transwestern in 2017 as Director of Sustainability for Asset Services. During his tenure, he advanced Transwestern’s energy and sustainability platform through extensive benchmarking and compliance of the firm’s managed assets, educating internal and external audiences on the value and implementation of ESG and increasing transparency through integrated communications and reporting.
Additionally, Richards reinforced the firm’s commitment to culture by leading the Transwestern Experience, a unique approach to customer service. He is also actively involved in the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, leading the national Awareness and Belonging Committee which provides resources and strategies to create a more open and inclusive work environment.
Nicole Darden Ford (Com ’07)
Nicole Darden Ford (Com ’07) has joined Rockwell Automation as vice president and chief information security officer. Darden Ford joins Rockwell from Carrier, where she was global vice president and chief information security Officer, overseeing global information security, compliance and product cybersecurity through the company’s spin-off from parent company United Technologies Corporation. Prior to Carrier, she was global vice president and chief information security officer for Baxter International, where she had global responsibility for information security, information governance and IT quality compliance. Darden Ford began her career in the U.S. military and federal government, including for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, handling security, network engineering, and telecommunications.
Darden Ford is also passionate about building and growing teams, fostering culture, and focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion. She currently serves on the boards of IT-ISAC, South Florida Tech Hub and the Lola Mercedes Parker Foundation. She will remain located in Jupiter, FL.
Pamela Maliszewskyj (Col ’89)
Dr. Nicholas C. Maliszewskyj (Col ’89 CM) and Ms. Pamela Baldwin (Col ’89 CM) first met in the Hancock dormitory stairwell in August 1985, and they formed a close friendship that has spanned over 36 years. They were married on Mar. 12, 2022, in Frederick, Maryland with their four adult children and many friends and family in attendance. The couple will reside in Frederick following a brief honeymoon in Bermuda. Wahoowa!
Jenna Pastuszek (Col ’09, Educ ’10)
Jenna Pastuszek (Col ’09, Educ ’10 CM) and Joshua Zecher-Ross are thrilled to debut GET HAPPY!: A Tribute to the World’s Greatest Entertainer, Judy Garland, live and livestreamed at The Green Room 42 in Manhattan. With “lavishly clever arrangements” and “witty, endearing personal stories,” this is not a traditional Judy Garland tribute—there will be no impersonation here. Instead, lifelong Judy fans will love the cleverly curated playlist of beloved classics and forgotten gems while millennials and Gen Z-ers will discover an artist who transcends time.
The tribute will take place on Apr. 7 at 7:00 P.M., and tickets are available at this link. Contact The Green Room 42 Presents, 646-449-7792, programming@thegreenroom42.com or tickets@thegreenroom42.com.
Richard Mines (Engr ’77)
Dr. Richard O. Mines Jr. (Engr ’77), Mercer University School of Engineering professor, was named Engineer of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia.
The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers coordinates the Engineer of the Year awards, which are judged by the Engineering Council of Birmingham. The purpose of the awards is to honor licensed engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, public welfare and/or humankind.
Dr. Mines received the Engineer of the Year Award as the overall highest scoring nominee from the categories of Engineer of the Year in Construction, Education, Government, Industry and Private Practice. He received the honor during the 2022 Georgia Engineering Awards held Mar. 19 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.
Dr. Mines is a professor of environmental and civil engineering at Mercer. He has served in academia for 34 years and consulting for seven years, specializing in the design of water and wastewater treatment facilities. He also serves as startup coordinator for the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in civil engineering degrees at Mercer, where he has taught since 1998. He was previously on the faculty of the University of South Florida, where he was twice named Civil Engineering Professor of the Year.
Meagan Jolley (Com ’76)
Bill Chapin (Col ’76 CM) of See Rock City, Inc. is thrilled to announce the succession from fourth generation family ownership to fifth generation, as his son Doug Chapin is set to purchase the outstanding shares of the company.
“We have always had a focus on hospitality, as well as on conservation,” said Bill. “In the last 90 years we have protected the geological wonders of Rock City Gardens for everyone’s enjoyment, and for future generations of the next 90 years. Rock City is a unique outdoor attraction that allows visitors to experience what has been created by God and enhanced by man.”
See Rock City, Inc. has seen outstanding growth under Bill’s leadership, including consistent increases in profitability and attendance despite economic downturns, the acquisition of Battles for Chattanooga museum, Grandview, Starbucks, Clumpies Ice Cream Co., RiverView Inn and GOOD DOG, as well as multimillion-dollar renovations alongside the creation of several restaurants and shops inside Rock City Gardens. Bill has received two separate lifetime achievement awards in tourism, one from Southeast Tourism Society in 2019, and another during the Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference in 2017.
See Rock City, Inc. is a hospitality and entertainment company that features the world-renowned Rock City Gardens high atop Lookout Mountain. Visit www.seerockcity.com for more information.
Photo 1: Bill Chapin at Carter Cliffs; photo credit to the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Photo 2: Bill Chapin, Susan Harris and Doug Chapin at iconic Lover’s Leap; photo credit to the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Photo 3: Doug Chapin and Bill Chapin at the See Seven States Flag Court; photo credit to Rock City
Molly Scarborough (Col ’13)
Roscoe Scarborough (Grad ’09, ’15) and Molly Petry (Col ’13 CM) were married on Mar. 11, 2022, in a private wedding ceremony at the Historic Brunswick Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia. The couple resides on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
JoAnne Speiden (Educ ’69, Educ ’77)
JoAnne Hilson Speiden (Educ ’69, ’77) of Somerset, Virginia, was chosen as President of the Virginia Electoral Board Association on Mar. 20, 2022. This organization is a voluntary organization consisting of the 133 local Electoral Boards across the Commonwealth. Electoral Boards are citizen boards that ensure elections are conducted accurately, fairly, securely and according to the Code of Virginia. JoAnn received her B.S. in Education in 1969 and her M.S. in Education in 1977, and was employed by the Piedmont Regional Education Program in Charlottesville for 32 years as an adapted physical education teacher. Since then, she has been a member of the Orange County Electoral Board.
Halley House (Col ’08)
Halley Bogart (Col ’08) and William House, USA Ret., were married on Feb. 24, 2022, in San Diego, California. The Houses reside in Durham, North Carolina.
Michael Goodwin (Col ’78)
Michael Goodwin (Col ’78 CM) has recently published his fourth novel, Vice Versa.
It can be purchased on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Vice-Versa-Michael-Goodwin/dp/1633635651/
Robert Cottrell (Educ ’16 CM)
Dr. Jason Cottrell (Educ ’16 CM) was awarded the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) – College Student Educators International Presidential Citation.
The Presidential Citation is awarded by the discretion of the ACPA President based on their observation and/or direct work with the individual. This honor is bestowed upon members of the Association for lifelong service and extraordinary contributions to the profession of student affairs and most particularly to ACPA. It is one of the Association’s highest honors.
ACPA – College Student Educators International is a values-centered leadership association that has worked to boldly transform higher education since 1924. Student affairs and higher education professionals, faculty and students trust ACPA to deliver high-quality educational programs, provide access to modern research and scholarship, and promote leaders at all levels through a racial justice and decolonization lens.
ACPA President Dr. Danielle Morgan Acosta described Cottrell as “a passionate public servant” and “a dedicated member of ACPA for 13 years who has held numerous leadership positions in the Association at the chapter, coalition, and convention spaces,” stating that she is “honored to present one of two Presidential Citations to Dr. Jason Cottrell.”
A second Presidential Citation was awarded to the Association for the Study of Higher Education.
Tonya N. Jefferson (Col ’93)
Tonya N. Jefferson (Col ’93 CM) co-founded the non-profit Virginia Africa Partnership during late summer of 2021, and is currently the Vice President, Government Liaison and Resource Mobilization. The Virginia Africa Partnership (VAP) strives to boost trade and investment opportunities between Virginia and Africa by providing market research; helping companies identify new markets via trade mission; connecting them to potential business partners, customers, or distributers; fostering minority and women-owned small business; and facilitating the transfer of technology for the transformation of natural resources designed to increase trade and spur growth. The collaboration of higher educational institutions and the promotion of siter-cities initiatives will cement that long-term partnership.
Jefferson applied to the Clinton Global Initiative University as a George Washington University doctoral student on the due date, Jan. 26, 2022, which was exactly two days after she learned of the opportunity, and was accepted into the 2022 cohort as a result of her thoughtful, thorough and compelling application. Her Commitment to Action plan included all four of VAP’s current projects: Leadership and STEM Awards Ceremony to be held on June 11, 2022; Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Exchange to be held from July 10 through Aug. 10, 2022; Higher Education Leadership Conference to be held from Oct. 5 through Oct. 7, 2022; and Entrepreneurship Academy, in addition to a few new projects and partnerships.
Emily Thiede (Col ’04)
Emily (Bean) Thiede (Col ’04 CM) sold her debut novel, This Vicious Grace, and an unnamed sequel in a six-figure deal to Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Publishing. The first in a planned young adult fantasy duology, This Vicious Grace will be published June 28, 2022 in the U.S. and in the United Kingdom by U.K. publisher Hodder & Stoughton, with translations announced for Germany (LYX Verlag), Russia (Eksmo), Romania (Storia) and the Czech Republic (Host).
BuzzFeed calls Thiede’s debut “remarkable” and “one of the best YA fantasies of the year,” and it is listed amongst Goodread’s “68 Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2022” and Nerd Daily’s “24 Debut Releases To Get Your Hands On In 2022.”
Launch events are to be announced in the Virginia/D.C. area for summer 2022, and This Vicious Grace will be available wherever books are sold on June 28.
R. Bradford Mills (Col ’83)
R. Bradford Mills (Col ’83 CM) joined the Philadelphia-area food bank Caring for Friends in January 2022. Founded in 1974, the organization distributed 14 million pounds of prepared meals and fresh produce to homebound seniors and other needy people in 2021.
Kevin Passerini (Col ’02)
Kevin M. Passerini (Col ’02 CM) and his wife Megan welcomed a son, Tate Millar, on Oct. 21, 2021. Tate joins big sisters Reese Mary and Maeve Alice and big brother Grant Michael. The family lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where Kevin is a partner with Blank Rome and Megan is an Executive Director at Health Union.
Pete Ward (Educ ’81)
Pete Ward (Educ ’81 CM) is entering his 12th year as Chief Operating Officer of the Indianapolis Colts and his 42nd season with the franchise. Ward started as a PR intern with the Baltimore Colts in 1981 and was part of the historic relocation to Indianapolis in 1984. He resides in Indianapolis with wife Lena and two children.
John Rutkowski (Arch ’71, Com ’76)
Marvin Heinze (Arch ’79)
Marvin Heinze (Arch ’79 CM) was honored as a National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout by the San Diego-Imperial Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Currently a City Councilmember in Coronado, California, Heinze was recognized as a notable Eagle Scout who, through service to his country and community, has inspired others.
A career Navy Special Operations Officer who led Explosive Ordnance Disposal forces, a senior government official in port and harbor security and a dedicated community volunteer, Heinze has consistently lived the Scout Oath. His volunteer efforts with national non-profit organizations, local organizations and as a commission and City Council member have consistently made his nation and community a better place to live. Over 50 years after earning his Eagle award in Troop 1033 in Beltsville, Maryland, Heinze is still making a positive impact serving his community.
The NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award was established in 2010 to recognize notable Eagle Scouts who have performed distinguished service at the local, state or regional level. Worthy candidates for the award have inspired others through their actions and have devoted a lifetime to their profession, avocation, community and beliefs at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.
Alyson Steele (Arch ’94)
Alyson Steele (Arch ’94), Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and LEED Accredited Professional, has been elected president and chief executive officer of Quinn Evans, a nationally recognized architecture, planning, interior design, landscape architecture and historic preservation firm. Steele will oversee more than 200 professionals in six offices. She is widely known for her work in museum design and the revitalization of cultural institutions and landmarks across the nation. Her work emphasizes the long-term, sustainable stewardship of cultural resources. Steele’s clients include the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. During her tenure as executive, Quinn Evans has grown rapidly while increasing minority representation among its staff as well as company ownership by women.
Katya Davydova (Col ’15)
Katya Davydova (Col ’15 CM) will publish her first book, Joy in Plain Sight, in May 2022. The collection of stories and essays explores the celebration of wonder in the ordinary, especially against the backdrop of a busy, noisy world.
As a professional leadership facilitator for companies like Google, Netflix and Twilio, she is offering customized workshops on how to build behavior-based habits of joy, tailored book talks and private one-on-one coaching for individuals and organizations. Davydova’s mission is to make the world a more joyful place, starting with uncovering what’s right in front of us.
Jill Tietjen (Engr ’76 CM)
Jill Tietjen (Engr ’76 CM) has an upcoming book titled Over, Under, Around, and Through: How Hall of Famers Surmount Obstacles, which will be released May 3, 2022 by Fulcrum Publishing. The book provides the secrets of how Hall of Famers overcame the obstacles in their lives to become stronger, smarter and more resilient. The stories in the book show how the fifty successful women, inductees into Halls of Fame in the U.S. and around the world, used ten key characteristics either singly or in combination to surmount the many obstacles that they faced in their lives: mental intelligence, emotional intelligence, social support, moral compass/spirituality, determination/perseverance/persistence, optimism, creativity, resilience, action-orientation and passion.
Chelsea Granville Reed (Col ’11)
Chelsea Granville Reed (Col ’11 CM), Dentons Senior Managing Associate, has been selected as a member of the 2022 class of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinder Program. The program is designed to train high-performing, early-career lawyers in critical career development strategies including leadership and the building of professional networks. Chelsea is a member of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Employment and Labor, and White Collar and Government Investigations groups, and is in the Louisville office.
Raymond Abramson (Col ’73 CM)
Raymond R. Abramson (Col ’73 CM), a judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals, received the Judicial Leadership Award from Access to Justice for his work in founding and implementing Monroe County Children in Trust, a program designed to lift children out of multigenerational poverty in the Arkansas Delta.
Robin Verstraete (Col ’05 CM)
Robin Short Verstraete (Col ’05 CM) and her husband, Aaron, welcomed their second child, Holden Robert, on Feb. 1, 2022. He joins big brother Graham, age 3. The family lives in New Albany, Ohio, where Ms. Verstraete is a Vice President of Merchandising for Bath and Body Works and Mr. Verstraete is the head of strategy and partnerships for tech start-up UnitQ.
J Lewis (Law ’68)
J. William Lewis (Law ’68) has been named among the winners of this year’s Feathered Quill Book Awards for his debut novel The Essence of Nathan Biddle. A national book awards program that celebrates excellence in book publishing, the Feathered Quill Book Awards is sponsored by Feathered Quill Book Reviews, a preeminent online book review. Recognizing books from both large and independent presses, the Feathered Quill Book Awards honor the best books in numerous categories. The prestigious awards program, now in its ninth year, features a judging panel comprised of editors, writers, critics and other literary professionals.
The Essence of Nathan Biddle was awarded the Silver Medal in the Adult Fiction category of the 2022 Feathered Quill Book Awards.
A timeless, sweeping tale that unfolds on the Alabama coast in the 1950s, The Essence of Nathan Biddle has been met with high praise from critics and readers alike. A beautifully written, marvelously told tale about coming to terms with the necessity of engagement with life’s pain, pleasure and absurdity, The Essence of Nathan is intelligent, clever, captivating—and utterly unforgettable.
According to Ellen Feld, editor of Feathered Quill, “it is a great honor to announce The Essence of Nathan Biddle by J. William Lewis as the Silver Medalist in the Adult Fiction category of our awards program. Adult fiction is one of the most popular categories for entries and this year was no exception. We were nothing short of humbled by the volume of—and the exemplary quality of—this year’s entrants. Our judges were faced with the challenging task of combing through so many worthy contenders. Even amongst such a fine list of books, there were titles that rose above. The Essence of Nathan Biddle was one of those. The Essence of Nathan Biddle is an extraordinary book: beautifully written and tremendously powerful. This is the type of book a reader won’t forget, and a book that begs to be read and reread. We commend Mr. Lewis on an exquisite debut novel and we are proud to name The Essence of Nathan Biddle our Silver Medalist, Adult Fiction in our 2022 awards program.”
Catherine Esteves (Col ’97)
Katie Esteves (Col ’97) has been named Director/Owner of Truity Partners. Late last year, Katie and seven others participated in a management buy-out of Baker Tilly Search and Staffing. Truity Partners LLC is an award-winning staffing and recruiting agency with finance, accounting and human resources as their specialties. Their 60 professionals maintain extensive candidate networks in Chicagoland, the Twin Cities and Wisconsin. They offer temporary staffing and consulting as well as directing hire solutions in their local geography along with executive search on a nationwide basis. Visit https://truitypartners.com/ for more information.
Frank Macgill (Com ’91)
Frank Macgill (Com ’91), an attorney with HunterMaclean in Savannah, Georgia, was recently honored as a 2022 Georgia Super Lawyer.
Attorneys are selected based upon peer review, professional achievements and independent research. The process identifies attorneys from more than 70 practice areas who have achieved distinction in their respective practices of law.
Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of the selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the region and in ABA-accredited law school libraries. In addition, the list is published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country.
Erica Kraus (Col ’06)
Erica Kraus (Col ’06) is one of 24 attorneys promoted to partner at law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. Resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, Kraus is a member of the firm’s corporate practice group and healthcare team. Erica represents healthcare entities in regulatory compliance matters, and her practice focuses on navigating regulatory demands and resolving compliance challenges to allow clients to achieve their business and operational goals. She provides clients with counseling on operations, new ventures and strategic transactions; support in developing compliance programs and protocols and managing internal investigations; assistance in responding to government investigations; and representation in False Claims Act litigation. She also has extensive experience with value-based care arrangements, as well as with the unique regulatory requirements and flexibilities applicable to value-based care. Kraus leverages her background in health policy to help clients maximize opportunities in the changing healthcare landscape. In addition to receiving her B.A. from UVA, she received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her A.M. in Health Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Richard McGonegal (Col ’75)
Richard F. McGonegal (Grad ’75 CM) has published the novel Ghoul Duty with Cave Hollow Press.
The mystery is the second in the Sheriff Francis Hood series, which began with publication of Sense of Grace in 2020.
McGonegal is a 1975 graduate of the University of Virginia, where he received a master’s degree in English Language and Literature. While attending UVA, he studied creative writing with Peter Taylor, who later won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
“Ghoul Duty” is the unofficial moniker for the task of recovering corpses unearthed by Missouri River flooding. After the sheriff and his chief deputy retrieve a body, they learn it did not come from the cemetery.
The revelation begins the process of determining who the man is and how he died. Complicating Hood’s efforts are his early recovery from alcoholism; his separation from his wife and daughter; a new twist on a relationship from his past; and the puzzling behavior of an ex-convict, whose father was killed by Hood in a shootout.
McGonegal is also a 1973 graduate of Rutgers University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature.
He retired in 2017 after a 41-year journalism career at the Jefferson City News Tribune, a daily newspaper in Missouri’s capital city. McGonegal and his wife, Kristie, live in Jefferson City, Missouri, where their two adult daughters, Heather and Jane, also reside.
Print and Kindle versions of his books are available online at Amazon.com.
Ann Hewitt (Nurs ’79)
Ann Hewitt (Nurs ’79 CM) married Jon Gordon on New Year’s Day, 2020, on a shockingly warm and sunny Chicago day. The celebration took place in the historic landmark Chicago Athletic Association overlooking Lake Michigan, and the clouds over the lake turned pink as the sun set and the couple made their vows. A dinner reception featuring an 18-piece big band inspired nonstop dancing, led by the many ’Hoos in attendance. Guests included Allyson Wells Bakewell (Nurs ’81 CM), Barbara Cherney Andrukonis (Col ’79 CM), Beth Rasin (Col ’79 CM), Cindy Richardson Milton (Com ’79 CM), Don Havermann (Com ’76, Law ’80 CM), Geri Wright Miner (Com ’79 CM), Hughes Bakewell (Com ’81 CM), Kathy Simmons Neel (Com ’79 CM), Kit Kammerer Schumaker (Nurs ’80 CM), Martha Weaver Preston (Com ’79 CM), Tracy Hyde Havermann (Educ ’79 CM) and Vicki Vasta Healy (Nurs ’81 CM). Ann and Jon live in Winnetka, Illinois. Ann works for STERIS Corporation and Jon is retired.
Adam Ambrogi (Col ’98)
Adam Ambrogi (Col ’98 CM) recently took the job as Senior Director for Voting and Elections with the League of Women Voters. Ambrogi joins the League’s growing team and will expand the organization’s impact on voting rights and election administration.
“I am thrilled to have Adam join the League at a pivotal moment in our country when voting rights are under attack,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “Adam brings to the League a wealth of experience in voting and elections advocacy as well as philanthropy and strategy. We’re excited to have him join us as we continue our fight to expand voting rights for all Americans.”
Prior to joining the League, Ambrogi served for several years as Director of the Elections and Voting Program at the Democracy Fund. In that role, he led efforts in grantmaking, strategy, research and advocacy to improve the quality of elections and voting. Ambrogi has previous experience at the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and on Capitol Hill as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, addressing a wide range of issues related to rules of the Senate, election law and policy.
“I am excited to join the League of Women Voters in this new role as we expand our presence in the local, state and federal space,” said Ambrogi. “The potential to create impact with LWV’s ability to combine grassroots and organizing relationships of over 800 Leagues with national insight and strategy can be transformational to protect and promote the vote. I can’t wait to help build that vision, look for new areas of growth and expand our partnerships throughout the country.”
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