Class Notes

Monica N. Melmer (Col ’11, Med ’17 CM) and Patrick D. Melmer (Col ’12, Med ’17 CM) welcomed their second child, Madison Grace, on Oct. 13, 2021. Madison joins big sister Kennedy Caroline and can already cheer “Wahoowa!” After completing residencies and starting their careers in South Carolina, the Melmers are also excited to announce they will be returning home to Virginia. The family will reside in Richmond where Patrick is an incoming trauma/critical care surgery fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Suzanne Miller (Engr ’60) has published I Am An American: Is America Racist? It uses the stories of her ethnically-mixed heritage (English/Scot/Native American/West African Black) to tell the story of America, and their place in that story. Carefully researched, the book contains or cites a substantial amount of relevant documentary evidence. The goal is to give readers a sound factual basis to form their opinion on this topic of current national importance. Many will may learn quite a few things about America that are not widely known, such as: Where did the phrase “all men are created equal” come from? Why were the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution written as they were? How were colonists with little military training able to defeat the most powerful military force on the planet at that time, the British Army? How and why did racism take root and develop in America? What does the very concept of “race” really mean? It is available as both an e-Book and paperback through Amazon, Apple Books and Barnes & Noble.

Ralph Aronberg (Engr ’78 CM) was recently awarded Engineer of the Year by the Broward County (Fla.) chapter of The American Society of Civil Engineers.  Ralph has been a member of ASCE for over 40 years, and is now a life member. His specialty is traffic and transportation. He began his career with the Florida Department Of Transportation, then worked for the Broward County traffic engineering division. He opened his own firm in 1983, where his work evolved into forensics.  He has been published in his field on a number of occasions, and is a fellow member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

Laura Griffin (Col ’00) has been appointed Chief Deputy Clerk of Operations for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, effective October 18, 2021.  Laura previously served as the Clerk of Court (senior court administrator) for the Chesterfield and Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts.  She will work at the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr., Federal Courthouse in Richmond.

Dr. Rebecca Clemo (Eng ’13, Res ’21 CM) and Dr. Merrick Kozak (Col ’12, Res ’21 CM) welcomed their first son, Rhys Philip James Kozak on March 3, 2021. The family lives in Charlottesville where Rebecca is a hospitalist and Merrick is a dermatologist. Rhys is the grandson of Dr. Henry Clemo (Col ’81, Med ’86, Med ’87 CM) and Dr. Frances Lynne Clemo (Med ’85), and nephew of Annie Clemo (Col ’17 CM), Cy Clemo (Eng ’14 CM), Hannah Meredith (Eng ’12 CM), Kate Meredith (Educ ’15 CM), Sam Meredith (Engr ’15 CM), Richard Clemo (Col ’75), and George Clemo (Col ’77, Grad ’79 CM).

Deon Brown (Engr ’94 CM) recently accepted a technical engineering position as Test Architect with Paragon Space Development Corporation. He will be the lead point of contact for developing test strategies for spaceflight hardware supplying environmental control and life support functions to Lunar Gateway, the first planned space station in lunar orbit, as the United States returns to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis Program.

Mark G. Haley (Col ’78), co-founder and partner at Prism Hospitality Consulting, LLC, was inducted into the Hospitality Finance & Technology Professionals International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, the highest level of recognition in the area of technology. Since 1989, 49 individuals have received this award as a reflection of their contributions to the hospitality industry.

Lynda Marie Rozell (Col ’84, Grad ’86, Law ’88) recently published a bestselling non-fiction book Journeys with a Tin Can Pilgrim: from corporate attorney to Airstream nomad, finding joy in everyday life with st. john’s press.  Three years ago, Lynda retired from her position as project manager and in-house counsel with a non-profit in northern Virginia, sold her home, bought an Airstream travel trailer and a RAM 1500 truck, and hit the road full-time.  She writes a travel blog about shrines, religious sites, and areas of natural beauty.  Her book chronicles how she came to be a nomad ministering to the people she encounters on the road.  Based on her personal experience, the book shares entertaining stories and tips for how to live and travel in an RV.  Lynda’s travels take her all over the United States (except Hawaii because, although an Airstream resembles a submarine, it does not float!).  Lynda currently is on a book tour and has been interviewed in podcasts, radio stations, and publications listed on the media page of her book web page.  She frequently speaks at churches, RV parks, and community events.  On occasion, she rolls into town in Fairfax, Virginia to visit her grown children and spends several months each year visiting friends in Florida.  Previously Lynda served as Attorney Advisor to two sequential Commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. and worked in private practice for Hunton & Williams.

The Honorable Junius P. Fulton, III (Col ’81 CM) has been appointed by the Virginia General Assembly as a judge of the newly expanded Court of Appeals of Virginia. Judge Fulton previously served as a judge of the Norfolk Circuit Court since 1996. He and his wife, Darnell Brown Fulton (Col ’81) reside in Norfolk, Va.  

Kim Harrison Greer (Col ’89 CM) published her first novel in September 2021. Masked Intent: A Modern-Day Morality Play blurs the lines between contemporary romance and literary fiction, blending thoughtful prose with pointed observation, insights, and drama. The story arc follows the new, shaky romance between a divorced mom — who happens to be a UVA alumna — and a younger college professor. Told through a series of seemingly disconnected vignettes, the book examines our tenuous relationship with the truth and each other in a world where honesty and authenticity take back seat to the power of influence.

Michelle Jones Coles (Col ’02 CM) has written a debut young adult historical fiction novel called Black Was the Ink about the collapse of the Reconstruction Era. It will be published by Lee and Low Books on November 2, 2021. 

Susan Shapiro (Col ’10 CM) and husband Zachary Shapiro (Engr ’09 CM) welcomed a son, Everett Morton, on July 21, 2021. His mom, dad, grandma Kim Ratliff (Col ’74), and aunt Anne Bowman (Col ’02 CM) are eager to share their love for UVA and Charlottesville with this sweet little guy.