Class Notes

Margaret “Margie” McManus (Col ’89) has been appointed the inaugural chief academic advancement officer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, effective December 1, 2025. Working in the Provost’s office, she will lead efforts to align philanthropic initiatives with UH Mānoa’s strategic academic and research priorities, develop a multi-year advancement strategy, and advise campus leadership on donor relations and long-term development goals. McManus currently serves as professor of oceanography and director of the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography. Since joining UH Mānoa in 2003, she has been instrumental in building endowed and programmatic funds that support faculty and students, strengthen research and education, and expand the university’s global impact.

Kimberly Behre Kenna (Col ’79) will publish her latest novel, Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances, on March 3. The middle-grade adventure, the third installment in her Brave Girls Collection, follows a 13-year-old grieving the loss of her twin sister while spending the summer in her quirky agoraphobic uncle’s unique castle home. Part of the proceeds from book sales will benefit Friends of Gillette Castle State Park and The Cove Center for Grieving Children in Connecticut.

Grace Elizabeth Hale, Commonwealth Professor of American Studies, received a Whiting Nonfiction Grant for Works-in-Progress for her upcoming book, They Don’t Own Us: Harlan County, Kentucky and the Past and Future of American Works. The grant gives contemporary nonfiction authors $40,000 to aid their projects, as well as publicity guidance. They Don’t Own Us examines labor struggles in the changing political social and economic climate of the 60s and 70s, and reflects on how this period impacts our labor climate today.

Clifton W. Potter Jr. (Grad ’64,’70 CM) published Yankees in the Hill City, The Union Prisoner of War Camp in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1862-1865 with McFarland and Company, Publishers, Inc. It is the first comprehensive study of the rarely-mentioned transit camp that existed in Lynchburg from June 1862 until April 1865. Using the diaries of soldiers who were held there, as well as extant manuscripts and burial records, Potter fashions the story of a POW camp unlike any other in the Confederacy. He is professor of history emeritus at the University of Lynchburg.

Alexandra Rains (Col ’19 CM) and Jonathan Hartley celebrated their wedding with family, friends and many fellow Hoos in Afton, Virginia, on October 11. Reuniting with so many loved ones in Charlottesville and on Grounds made the weekend extra special. The couple honeymooned in Switzerland.

Jason Jimerson (Grad ’90) has been selected to participate in Writing Vocation: A Colloquy for Future Contributors. This opportunity is offered by the Council of Independent Colleges through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education. The colloquy will be held January 16–18, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jimerson is chair of the sociology department at Franklin College.

Adam Kadlac (Grad ’07) published his second book, The Magic Kingdom and the Meaning of Life, with Polity Press in November. In it, he argues that Disney theme parks are a remarkably fruitful environment in which to reflect on the human condition. He reflects how a day out at the Magic Kingdom can prompt parks-goers to ruminate on all sorts of important topics and questions: authenticity and pleasure; what it means for corporations to play such a large role in our culture; whether nostalgia is always bad; and, of course, princesses (so, so many princesses).

George Coussoulos (Educ ’65 CM) wrote his third book of historical speculative fiction, The Unknown, Surprising, and Fascinating Life of Jupiter Evans: Thomas Jefferson’s Personal Valet Tells His Story, released in October.

Michael Viscount (Col ’75 CM) retired in April 2024 after 43 years as an attorney in private practice, primarily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He now lives in Linwood, New Jersey, near the Jersey Shore, and is using his retirement to relax at the beach, play golf, travel and spend time with his family, which includes two sons and two grandsons.

Ron Culberson (Col ’83 CM) produced Pep Banned, directed by Chris Farina (Col ’82) and Bill Reifenberger, which premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Virginia Film Festival in October 2025. The film depicts the creation, the humor and the ultimate demise of the UVA Pep Band, which performed from 1974 to 2003.

Bob Witeck (Col ’74 CM) received the Arne Sorenson Vanguard Award at Out & Equal’s global summit in October 2025. Out & Equal, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ business and professional organization, presented him with their lifetime achievement honor for his work to recognize the LGBTQ+ community in every aspect of business. Witeck is the co-founder of the first gay-owned business certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and author of Business Inside Out, the first book on gay marketing.

Emily Goodson (Educ ’09) will release her debut memoir, Dating Disability: 15 Stories of Dealing with the BS and Building Confidence on December 9. Goodson experienced a brain bleed at age 8, which resulted in partial paralysis on one side of her body. In this book, she invites readers into intimate stories about growing up, navigating relationships and building confidence in a world that often fails to talk about disability. Now 40, with a plethora of adventures (and misadventures) to draw from, she openly shares her realities and takeaways in Dating Disability. A Kirkus Review said that the book is “A cheerful chronicle of bravery and self-compassion that encourages all readers looking for love.”

Cynthia Lawson Malhotra (Col ’02 CM) continues to grow Art & Forge, the luxury brass and bronze decorative hardware brand she co-founded with her husband, Rish Malhotra. Rooted in her enduring love of Virginia’s history and craftsmanship, she recently debuted the Williamsburg hardware collection, created in partnership with Colonial Williamsburg and inspired by the region’s timeless architectural and decorative traditions.

Susan Monaco (Com ’85 CM) was elected president of the Eastern Lenders Association (ELA). The ELA is the largest non-profit consortium of Federal Housing Administration-approved lenders and industry partners who are active in the financing and servicing of HUD-insured multifamily properties. Monaco is the managing director and Federal Housing Administration chief underwriter at Dwight Capital. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is a certified health coach, helping people get and stay well naturally.

Rita Dove, Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing, was officially inducted into the American Philosophical Society. She had been elected a member of the American Philosophical Society three decades ago, but was able to participate in person for the first time at the society’s 2025 autumn meeting. The American Philosophical Society is the oldest honorary society in North America, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin. It counts among its members numerous U.S. presidents as well as Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and many other luminaries of the 18th through the 21st centuries.

Craig W. Sampson (Col ’90, Law ’93 CM) has been named a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization of leading family law practitioners who are recognized by the bench and bar for their knowledge, skill and integrity. Sampson is president of Barnes & Diehl in Richmond, Virginia, and is a co-author of legal treatise Virginia Practice – Family Law: Theory, Practice and Forms (2025 edition).

Ilina Das Ewen (Col ’92) founded Seen & Heard, a youth-powered advocacy nonprofit organization that amplifies young people’s voices and lived experiences around health, education and joy. Inspired by the values of leadership and community she learned at UVA, Ewen leads efforts to ensure youth are seen and heard with the tools, platform and access they need in order to influence policies about their future.

Andy Claybrook (Com ’78 CM) retired in December from 45 years of service as a CPA, the last 28 years of which he spent as a self-employed personal financial specialist (PFS) and certified financial planner (CFP). He has lived in Franklin, Tennessee, since 1982. He and his wife, Rene, have eight grandchildren, all boys. He and Rene are looking forward to spending more time with them, traveling and relaxing.

William Gerstmyer (Arch ’79, ’83 CM) has been sailing from Maine to the Caribbean. He is currently in Ocean City, Maryland. This is his sixth round trip from Maine, where he spends his summers.

Byron Dickson (Arch ’63 CM) participated in the 2025 Spirit of Virginia Award ceremony at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, on June 10. Dickson was the project designer of the memorial, which was dedicated in 2001. In recognizing the staff and volunteers of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, Governor Glenn Youngkin said, “Their educational programs and commitment to remembrance inspire future generations, and it’s an honor to recognize their contribution and service to Virginia and our nation with this award.”

Bob Johnson (Col ’77 CM) released a new EP, Purer Eyes: The Songs of Bungalow Stokes, now on Spotify, YouTube, Deezer and Apple Music. The first track is about a painting on a wall in a Lambeth apartment in 1977; the artist was Asher Roth (Col ’77), whose art also adorned Newcomb Hall’s Pavilion XI for several years.

Laura G. Griffin (Col ’00 CM) has been appointed clerk of court for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, becoming the court’s senior executive. She has served the court as the chief deputy clerk of court since 2023 and first joined the court as the chief deputy clerk of operations in October 2021. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, widely known as “the rocket docket,” handles some of the country’s most prolific cases involving national security and civil rights and has divisions in Alexandria, Norfolk, Newport News and Richmond.

Cara Goodwin (Col ’07 CM) published her article “Kids and Sugar, Does it Equal Bad Behavior?” in CharlottesvilleFamily Magazine. The article discusses research showing little correlation between sugar consumption and small children’s behavior and gives advice on how to handle sugary foods in a child’s diet. Goodwin, a licensed clinical psychologist, lives in Charlottesville with her four children.

Anant Das (Com ’19 CM) was honored as one of the recipients of the 2025 Norman Vincent Peale Award for Positive Thinking as lead executive producer and general manager of In My Own Little Corner Productions. In My Own Little Corner Productions produced both a professionally filmed musical and a documentary about the making of the aforementioned musical. The two films share the story of Broadway, TV and film actor Chryssie Whitehead as she confronts her Bipolar II diagnosis.

Robert D. Weinberg (Col ’01 CM) was promoted to partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti. Weinberg focuses his practice on family law and estate and trust litigation. A devoted advocate for children, he regularly handles custody matters both within and outside Pennsylvania, always centering the best interests of minors. He describes his approach as “aggressively reasonable,” favoring resolutions that balance pragmatism with principled advocacy, while retaining the willingness to litigate when necessary. He earned his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Ritt Deitz (Col ’88 CM) published a novel, Settle Down, through Ten16 Press. The surreal sense-of-place novel follows a young Wisconsinite, freshly graduated from UVA, who comes home to find he must rediscover what it means to be from the Midwest. UVA alumni who worked for University Catering in the 1980s will recognize glimpses of the Birdwood Pavilion kitchen and Newcomb Hall. Deitz is Distinguished Teaching Faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has taught French since 2000.

Peter Mina (Col ’98 CM) has founded The Mina Firm, a law practice focused on federal sector employment law and civil rights litigation in Washington, D.C. Mina spent more than 14 years working at the Department of Homeland Security, where he served as deputy officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. He also was chief of the Labor and Employment Law Division of the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Jim Harshaw (Col ’99, Educ ’99 CM) published the 500th episode of his podcast, Success for the Athletic-Minded Man. He interviews world class performers including Olympic gold medalists, Navy SEALs, New York Times best selling authors and others (including several Wahoos). Episodes can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts as well as his website, JimHarshawJr.com.

Michael Cascio (Col ’72) produced and co-directed a critically acclaimed documentary on the artist Edward Hopper for American Masters on PBS, the latest entry in a career that has brought Cascio four Emmys, two Oscar nominations, and a “Producer of the Year” award. His work includes award-winning documentaries such as Inside 9/11 and The 90s: The Last Great Decade? for the National Geographic Channel, Biography, Titanic: Death of a Dream and Investigative Reports for A&E, and At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal for HBO, which received the prestigious Television Academy Honors. In addition to producing documentaries, Cascio has held executive roles at A&E, Animal Planet, the National Geographic Channel and NBC News. He was cited in Entertainment Weekly “It List” as one of the most creative people in the entertainment industry. He also was a backstage janitor at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, which he chronicled in a first-person article in the Sunday New York Times.

Ruika Lin (Col ’11 CM) launched Fieldnotes from a Watcher, an independent literary journal that publishes creative nonfiction stories monthly. Fieldnotes from a Watcher explores many of life’s timeless moments that seem to be shared by many yet voiced by few. Themes include families of origin and of choice, belonging, parenthood, grief, cross-cultural musings and the creative process. Lin invites fellow UVA alumni to sign up as a member of the journal, and/or become a guest writer.

Ann M. Ryan (Grad ’87) published The Ghosts of Mark Twain: A Study of Manhood, Race, and the Gothic Imagination with the University of Missouri Press. Ryan examines Twain’s writings and his uneasy relationship to Black culture and masculinity, even as he imagines a future in which Black men will gain an authentic voice and agency. The work investigates the tense intersections of white fathers, Black men, the histories they reflect and the future they promise, as expressed in Twain’s life and writings. Some of the works considered in The Ghosts of Mark Twain are not widely known: “Which Was It?,” “The United States of Lyncherdom,” No. 44: The Mysterious Stranger and the Morgan manuscript of Pudd’nhead Wilson. Written into the record of these fragments is Twain’s desire to be a different kind of white man, just as their incomplete nature demonstrates how often he stumbled in that effort.

Elizabeth Atwood (Grad ’83) published Deadline: 200 Years of Violence Against Journalists in the United States with the University of Missouri Press. In her book, Atwood offers the first comprehensive look at the history of fatal attacks against journalists in the United States between 1829 and the present. She was inspired to explore the pressing issue of violence against American journalists after the tragic death of one of her colleagues at the Baltimore Sun, Rob Hiaasen, in the Capital Gazette shooting in 2018. Throughout, she demonstrates that distrust of the media and violence against the press in the United States are hardly new developments. Her work examines how intimidation, violence, and censorship have, in fact, been used against the American press since both its and the nation’s founding.

David Meredith (Com ’03) and his wife, Jamie, ran the 2025 Boston Marathon to raise money for The Children’s Room, a nonprofit organization that provides caring grief support for children, teens and families. Their team raised over $20,000 for the organization.

Lucas Hobbs (Law ’98 CM) was elected president of the Association of District Court Judges of Virginia at the Association’s annual meeting in October. He previously served as the Association’s secretary and as its treasurer. He is a General District Court Judge in Virginia’s 28th Judicial District, and lives in Bristol, Virginia, with his wife.

Mauricio Velásquez (Col ’88 CM) published his first book, Tackling Toxicity: A Skill-Based Guide to Addressing Toxicity, which provides strategies for professionals to create healthy and successful workplace environments, as well as for people navigating difficult family and social situations. The book won an April 2025 International Impact Book Award. Velásquez is president and founder of the Diversity Training Group, and has decades of experiences in diversity and inclusion and harassment prevention.

John Peebles (Col ’82 CM) has started an organization, food4nj.org, to provide groceries and grocery store gift cards to families visiting their loved ones detained at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The organization welcomes donations as well as volunteers to help at Delaney Hall during weekends and Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Mike McGrew (Col ’75) published his second picture book, The Boy Who Would Be Santa, with Kharis Publishing. The book tells the story of Saint Nicholas, including his struggle after the death of his parents, his teenage journey of discovery, his kindness and charity, the miracles he performed and his evolution into Santa Claus. The book serves as a resource on the historical origins of Santa and as a model of kindness for children.