Class Notes

Russ Linden (Grad ’82 CM) has published his latest book, Loss and Discovery: What the Torah Can Teach Us about Leading Change. The book focuses on the challenges of leading during times of great disruption. It draws on ancient wisdom as well as lessons from people like Colin Powell, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and some of our most effective presidents. And it includes insights from neuropsychology, history, sociology, sports, economics and other fields, in order to help readers learn how to navigate in today’s “white water” environment. Russ has taught public and nonprofit leaders for 40 years on topics of collaboration, change management, crisis leadership and resilience. He’s been on the adjunct faculty at UVA and the Federal Executive Institute since 1985.

R. Brennan Schmidt (Col ’05, Educ ’12) and Sarah Elizabeth Eskew Schmidt (Col ’09, Grad ’12) welcomed their third child, Everett Fitzwilliam Schmidt, on March 22, 2021 at their home in Charlottesville. Fitz’s arrival was joyfully celebrated by big sister Pippa (6) and Bennett (4). 

Jennifer Beckett (Arch ’94 CM) celebrated one year as the first Director of Protocol for the United States Space Force (USSF). Beckett has served in the Department of Defense for over 17 years, with 11 years as a federal employee. Beckett is responsible for developing protocol policy for the country’s newest military service and providing expert advice to senior leaders within the Department on matters regarding customs, courtesies, diplomatic formality, order of precedence, and etiquette. Beckett also serves as the lead event planner for all official events and activities hosted by Space Force senior leadership. Semper Supra!

Oriana Dougherty (Col ’15 CM) and Michael Dougherty (Col ’15, Med ’20 CM) celebrated their marriage in their home state of Kentucky on June 18, 2021 with several fellow UVA grads present. They reside in Portland, OR where Oriana works in cloud technology and Michael is an otolaryngology resident. 

Heather D. (Maw) Curtis (Col ’91 CM) was appointed Warren S. Woodbridge Professor in the Department of Religion at Tufts University, where she also holds appointments in the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora; the Department of History; the Civic Studies Program; and the International Relations Program. She is the author of two books on American Religious History, and is currently working on a religious biography of Ida B. Wells. In addition, she serves on the Faculty Advisory Board of the Tufts University Prison Education Initiative. She lives in Needham, Massachusetts with her husband Clark, and two sons – Jonathan (18) and David (15).

Peter H. Wickersham, Esq. (Col ’84 CM) was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2022 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” award winner in San Antonio.  Mr. Wickersham, President of Peter H. Wickersham, P.C., was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America™ 2022 in the field of Health Care Law.  As “Lawyer of the Year,” Mr. Wickersham received the highest overall peer-feedback in the field of Health Care Law in San Antonio.  This singular recognition is awarded annually to one lawyer for each specialty and designated metropolitan area.  Mr. Wickersham, one of only six attorneys in San Antonio who is Board Certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, was previously recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2010-2021 in the field of Health Care Law.  

Peter H. Wickersham, P.C., a Distinguished Rated boutique health law firm in San Antonio founded in 2003, has been recognized in US News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2013-2014 and 2016-2021 as a San Antonio Metro Region Tier Two Firm in the field of Health Care Law.  The firm was also recognized in US News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2015 as a San Antonio Metro Region Tier One Firm in the field of Health Care Law, one of only four law firms in San Antonio to receive this prestigious recognition that year.  In 2018, Mr. Wickersham was named one of the Best S.A. Lawyers in Health Care by Scene San Antonio magazine.    

 With more than twenty-five years of experience in the field of health law, Mr. Wickersham focuses on the representation of physicians and physician group practices in connection with business transactions, entity formations, federal and state regulatory matters, and practice operations. Mr. Wickersham is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Louisiana State Bar, the Texas Bar College, the American Health Law Association, and the San Antonio Bar Association.  In addition, he is a former Council Member of the Health Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, a current Member of the Health Law Exam Commission for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the current Vice President and a Member of the National Board of Directors of the Catholic Bar Association. Mr. Wickersham is Of-Counsel to Pesek & Helms, LLP, an AV Preeminent® Rated, boutique Corporate, Real Estate, Health Law, Estate Planning & Probate, and Oil & Gas firm in Dallas, Texas.  He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1984 and Tulane Law School Cum Laude in 1992.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.  Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. More than 113,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received more than 15 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world.  For the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 10.8 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 66,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition.  Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. 

Dr. Victor Bernet (Med ’89) served as the President of the American Thyroid Association for the 2020-2021 governance year.  The ATA consists of 1,700+ physician and scientist members from 43 countries who are dedicated to improving care for patients with thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. Vic was recently promoted to Professor of Medicine for the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine. Since 2012, Vic has served as the Chair of the Division of Endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida which U.S. News & World Report just ranked in the top 30 in the country for endocrine and diabetes care. Vic continues to live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with his wife Alicia Bernet (Col ’86).

George Kliavkoff (Law ’93) of Las Vegas was hired as commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, starting July 1st. Nicknamed the “Conference of Champions,” the Pac-12 has won more NCAA national team championships than any other conference.

Tom Gibson (Col ’06 CM) has joined Community Preservation Partners, a national affordable housing developer committed to creativity, performance and purpose, as senior development manager.

Gibson comes to CPP with extensive experience structuring and managing complex multifamily developments through creative financing strategies and public-private partnerships. In this capacity, Gibson leads CPP East’s in-house team of developers through the successful completion of preservation projects. He is responsible for assembling and managing all external team members across various stages of development, including financiers, architects, designers, engineers and contractors.

The talent and connections Gibson will bring to the team will enable CPP to source more deals and efficiently complete the financing and rehabilitation of communities, in turn impacting the lives of residents for decades to come.

Recognized as a “40 Under 40” honoree by both Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia Chambers of Commerce, Gibson has earned a reputation in affordable housing within the D.C. metro area, having been appointed by the Governor of Virginia, Senate of Virginia, Arlington County Board and City Council of Alexandria to various boards and commissions serving Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth. As the youngest gubernatorial appointee in Virginia Housing’s history, Gibson currently serves as vice chair and has held several board positions with the agency since 2016.

Gibson is a veteran and current artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. After returning to civilian life, he consulted for the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County and was formerly vice president of development for Stratford Capital Group where he managed new construction and complex acquisition rehabilitation projects in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and Florida, totaling 561 units and $143.2 million in total development costs. Gibson received his M.B.A. from Cornell University, an M.P.S. in real estate from Georgetown University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) from Harvard University.

Joan Noelker (Col ’04 CM) and husband Phil Moy welcomed their second child, a daughter, Maeve SunYan Moy, on July 26, 2021.  

Journalist and essayist Suzanne Gannon (COL ’89 CM) has parlayed her insatiable curiosity and her reportorial skills in interviewing and fact-finding into a fresh endeavor known as The Essay Conqueror. In this capacity she works as a writing coach to students grappling with the daunting task of the college-admissions essay in the test-optional Age of Corona, when writing is again enjoying a moment in the limelight. Working one-on-one and in small groups over Zoom, and using reading and writing exercises that emphasize discovery and exposition, Suzanne has advised students from across the country who have applied to undergrad and grad programs alike, both as first-years and as transfers, in an array of disciplines. In each case, she challenges students to find the truest voice in which to tell their most authentic story.

Frank Macgill (Com ’91) was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the practice areas of Tax Law and Trust and Estates. Macgill is a partner at HunterMaclean, a law firm with offices in Savannah and St. Simons Island, Georgia.  

Founded in 1983, Best Lawyers is an annual publication that recognizes attorneys for outstanding achievements in their areas of practice. Attorneys are selected through peer-review surveys that have been completed by thousands of leading lawyers who confidentially evaluate their peers.

Best Lawyers is regarded as a reliable and unbiased source for legal referrals by the media and the public, as well as within the legal profession. Attorneys are not permitted to pay a fee for inclusion or consideration as part of Best Lawyers.