Class Notes Archive

Daniel Alcorn, ’08, B.G.S. ’09, M.P.A., Rutland, VT, recently passed his dissertation to earn a Doctor of Education. Alcorn is currently a mathematics teacher in Rutland City Public Schools and a program manager for Norwich University, both of which are located in Vermont. 

Scott Armstrong, Ph.D. ’92, Reynoldsburg, OH, recently published a novel, entitled “The Dubious Professor.” It is available on Amazon.com.

Karen Axelrad, '03, Miamisburg, OH, started a new job as a web content strategist at the University of Dayton (Dayton, OH) in October 2024. As a part of the University Marketing and Communications team, she creates and manages web content, assists in executing the university's overall digital marketing strategy and serves as a member of the Web Management Advisory Team.

Angela Baldree, ’99, Columbus, OH, published her first novel, “Your Brother.” Based on her own family, the novel tells the story of her great-uncles during World War II.

Gerald Canton, '79, M.Ed. '98, Chagrin Falls, OH, has retired after 30 years as a classroom teacher and baseball coach at Howland and Berkshire local schools and as adjunct faculty member at Kent State University. He is presently serving as Village of South Russell, OH, councilman and substitute teaching faculty member at Chagrin Falls Local Schools.

Daniel Cogan, ’11, Bedford, TX, became the city’s youngest mayor in October 2023. Initially elected to Bedford’s City Council in 2018, Cogan won re-election in 2021 as the council member for Place 2 and stepped in as mayor pro tem in September 2023.

Hallie (DelVillan) Crouch, ’08, M.Arch. ’09, Associate AIA, Cleveland, OH, was recently named a partner of Bialosky, a design firm known for design excellence and community-centered projects. She is the first female, first millennial and first nontraditional practitioner to hold ownership of the architecture and engineering practice.

"Radhika Cruz, MA '15, announces the release of ""Made for More: Overcoming Challenges and Disappointments to Live Confidently and with Purpose."" This empowering guide provides readers with strategies to navigate life’s setbacks, embrace their strengths and build lasting self-confidence.

Radhika Cruz, MA '15, Edmond, OK, announces the release of "Made for More: Overcoming Challenges and Disappointments to Live Confidently and with Purpose", now available on Amazon. This empowering guide provides readers with strategies to navigate life’s setbacks, embrace their strengths and build lasting self-confidence.

Donald Decker, ’94, Weston, FL, was the recipient of the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Florida Recreation and Park Association. The award recognizes "professional attainments, ethical practices and countless contributions to the parks and recreation field and devotion to his associates."

Gabriel Delgado, BFA '98, Boca Raton, FL, recently published his second book, "Sidewalk Scars: The Misadventures of a Working-Class Rebel", which is available on Amazon. This marks the second publication in his academic career. His first book, "ART Unveiled: Gabriel Delgado’s Contemporary Chronicles – Perspectives on Art, Culture and Beyond," is also available on Amazon.

Thomas Dietz, '72, Grand Isle, VT, was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Class of 2024. https://sociology.msu.edu/news/dietz-nas.html

Andrea Dixon, BBA, BBF, '83, Ph.D., Waco, TX, was named the Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the American Marketing Association’s Sales Special Interest Group in 2024.

Michael Duniec, ’15, Brunswick, OH, authored "Crypto and Bitcoin: A Millionaire Mindset for Opportunity." The book encapsulates Duniec’s journey with Bitcoin mining since its early days in 2011, when it was valued at just $0.70, to its current valuation exceeding $76,000.

Theodore Ferringer, Jr., ’06, M.Arch. ’08, M.U.D. ’08, AIA, Cleveland, OH, has been promoted to associate principal at Bialosky in recognition of his achievements as a licensed architect, senior project manager and recognized community leader.

After retiring from a 44-year career in geriatric speech pathology, Linda Fifer, Hamilton, MT, '74, M.A. '75, turned her creativity to writing novels: "The Road Between Two Skies," Literary Titan Gold Book winner "Finding the Grain," and the soon-to-be-released "Winter's Turn." Visit her website to sample chapters. Lsfiferauthor.com.

Under his pen name, Harry Ernest Fitch, he has published his third novel, “Desk Pilot,” through Amazon Publishing. Although it deals primarily with events while its protagonist serves in the Air Force during the ’60s, Kent State plays a prominent role in the narrative of its first person narrator.

On Oct. 17-18, 2024, the Architecture Class of 1979 celebrated our 45th Reunion with a gathering at Ray's Place, a walking tour of campus, a reception at the CAED Building and a dinner Bistro on Main. More than 30 classmates from all over the country met once again in Kent to celebrate our graduation class in 1979.

Sophia Gillespie, ’23, Kent, OH, joined PBS Western Reserve as an associate producer where she works with the station’s art clients to create their underwriting spots that air on broadcast. She was the producer for the second season of the “City Centric” series, coordinating and conducting interviews with 36 individuals.

Sara Harper, '12, M.S. '14, Ph.D. '16,  Huntsville, AL, is a tenure-track assistant professor in kinesiology at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

Jennifer Hemphill, MFA '18, Columbia, MO, is excited to be returning to Northeast Ohio as the new director of music theatre at Baldwin Wallace University beginning August 2025.

Kathleen Hohl, MA '91, Franklin, WI, was named manager of presidential communication at Marquette University in Milwaukee in September 2023. She prepares and reviews a wide variety of communications materials and staffs the university president at internal and external events. Hohl previously served as Marquette's sports information director from 1991-2000.

Kathleen Hohl, MA '91, Franklin, WI, was named manager of presidential communication at Marquette University in Milwaukee in September 2023. Kathleen prepares and reviews a wide variety of communications materials and staffs the university president at internal and external events. She previously served as Marquette's sports information director from 1991-2000.

Nidal Ibourk, '08, Laval, Quebec, Canada, graduated from Kent State University, the School of Communications, with a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications.

Allison (Pritchard) Jack, ’07, Avon, OH, was recently nominated for the Cleveland Scene's Best of Cleveland "Best Local Instagram" award for her account Cleveland.Westside.Eats on Instagram (and other platforms). She was voted as one of the top five Instagram accounts in Cleveland by the same magazine in 2023 and 2022.

Christopher Johnson, ’96, Fredericksburg, VA, joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as an adjunct research staff member in the System Evaluation Division of IDA’s Systems and Analyses Center.

Brett Juarez, '14, Troy, MT, proposed to Carmen Arriaga (Fresno State, '16) at the Fresno State vs. Kent State football game Sept. 23, 2023. They are set to be married in the summer of 2025.

Kathy Kudravi, '87, Phoenix, AZ, was named the 2024 Ann Miller Service Award winner by the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM). The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the organization.

Lillian Kuri, BS ’93, BArc ’94, Cleveland, OH, was elected the 10th president and CEO of The Cleveland Foundation Board of Directors, effective Aug. 1, 2023. Kuri was promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operation officer at the foundation in March 2021.

Sue Leimgruber, '61, M.Ed '68, Mentor, OH, is enjoying the good life after having taught school for 30 years and played golf for more.

Walker MacMurdo, M.Arch. ’23, Associate AIA, Cleveland Heights, OH, has joined Bialosky, a design firm known for design excellence and community-centered projects. As a new architecture graduate, MacMurdo enters the design profession as a pivot from a successful career as a journalist and editor in Portland and Cleveland.

Paul Marnecheck, ’03, M.A. ’10, North Royalton, OH, was re-elected as president of North Royalton City Council. He began his second four-year term as the citywide elected council member, representing more than 32,000 residents. He remains the Commissioner of Economic Development for the City of Brooke Park.

Megan A. Mason, MPH '21, Conneaut Lake, PA, completed the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Lighthouse Leadership Program as part of the 2023-2024 cohort.

Brian Meng, B.S. ’00, B.Arch. ’01, RA, LEED AP, Cleveland, OH, was named a partner of Bialosky, the AIA Ohio Gold Medal firm known for design excellence in architecture, engineering and interior design. Meng joined the firm in 2001 as a new graduate and rose to become a well-respected architect leading mixed-use developments and multi-family projects that earn regional and national awards.

Jerry O'Ryan, MPH 17, Dayton, OH, uses the degree he earned at Kent State to teach Public Health at Sinclair College. He also chairs the Safety and Health Committee for the inner-city Dayton urbanization project and serves on Sinclair’s Foundation Board as a Trustee. Jerry occassionally contributes as a writer for Dayton Daily News, covering public health issues.

Brenna Parker, '17, Washington, D.C., left the White House where she was serving as digital director to Vice President Harris. Parker is now the digital director for the U.S. Department of Transportation and Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

Brenna Parker, CCI ’17, Washington, DC, completed her tenure as digital director to Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Brenna organized the Secretary Buttigieg's June 2024 trip to Kent State's May 4th Memorial and College of Aeronautics and Engineering, the first Cabinet visit by a federal official in the university’s history.

Brenna Parker ’17, left the White House where she was serving as digital director to Vice President Harris. Parker is now the digital director for the U.S. Department of Transportation and Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

Adam Parton, '96, Greenville, OH, lives with his wife, Shannon, and their five teenagers: Kent, Sam, Parker, Addy, and Cate. Adam is the president/CEO at Friends Fellowship Community, where he serves more than 300 seniors in independent living homes, assisted living apartments, skilled nursing suites, and memory care suites.

For the past 14 years, Kellie (Brookhart) Pendley, '08, MA '10, Bluffton, SC, has dedicated her career to K-12 education, working in both public and private sectors as an ESOL director, teacher and district administrator overseeing assessment. Having also lived in Long Island, NY, and the Greater Boston area, she moved to the Lowcountry of South Carolina in 2020.

Kellie (Brookhart) Pendley, '08, MA '10, Bluffton, SC, has dedicated her career to K-12 education for the past 14 years, working in both public and private sectors as an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) director, teacher and district administrator overseeing assessment.

Emily Burnell Petrou, '82, Erding, Germany, has lived in Bavaria since 1990 and is a singer and publicist with the English-Speaking Music Ensembles (ESME) in Munich, Germany, an organization of 160 musicians from more than 30 countries, comprised of an orchestra, singers and big band.

Dionne (Redmond) Hill, M.Ed. '01, Ed.D., Houston, TX, is proud to announce the successful completion of a Doctorate of Education, Counselor Education.

Diana Rogers-Adkinson, M.Ed. ’91, Ph.D. ’91,  Bloomsburg, PA, was recently appointed by Chancellor Dan Greenstein as the vice chancellor and chief academic officer for the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education. Rogers-Adkinson currently serves as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

Paul Rossetti, ’09, M.Arch. ’11, M.B.A. ’11, Kent, OH, has been promoted to senior associate at Bialosky, in recognition of his contributions to architectural projects and pioneering technological and operational advances of the firm. Rossetti is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and brings that same discipline and work ethic to his career in architecture.

Christine (Scaglione) Schalmo, B.A. ’12, B.S. ’14, M.Arch. ’15. RA, NCIDQ, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, has been promoted to senior associate at Bialosky in recognition for her distinct value as a licensed architect, a credentialed interior designer and a driver of the firm’s culture.

Jeri Scheel, '88, MBA '91, Mableton, GA, has recently been promoted to vice president with Fiserv, Inc., the largest payment processor in the world. Jeri has spent 10 years with Fiserv, starting as a director, promoted to senior director in 2022 and now, vice president as of December 2024.

Jaime L. Schmitt-Shuster, '08, MPH '12, Ph.D. '18, Twinsburg, OH, has recently accepted a promotion to research program manager in Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. She continues to teach psychology and public health courses for Kent State and Cleveland State Universities as an adjunct faculty member.

Elizabeth Seliga, ’95, M.B.A. ’00, Charlottesville, VA, is an established photographer whose work has been published in the luxury lifestyle books, Virginia Wine & Country Wedding Planner and Virginia Wine & Country Life. You can enjoy the beautifully written and illustrated volumes here.

Sarah Shendy, '06, Cleveland, OH, lieutenant of training and professional standards at Case Western Reserve University Division of Public Safety, was inducted into the Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes. Inducted individuals are selected based on their notable accomplishments and contribution to their profession and society.

Sarah Shendy, ’06, Cleveland, OH, was featured in the spring 2021 edition of the Kent State Magazine for being appointed by Governor DeWine as the inaugural director of the Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment. Shendy received the 40 Under 40 Award in 2022 from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Globally, she was the only Arab-American female on the list.

Colleen G. Sherman, M.B.A. ’07, Painesville, OH, was recently named chief executive officer of Cleveland's NoteWorthy Federal Credit Union, which specializes in musical instrument loans. Sherman brings more than two decades of management and accounting experience with performing arts organizations in Greater Cleveland.  

Jared Shoup, ’18, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, a high school social studies teacher at Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA), was recently named a recipient of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission Excellence in Teaching Diversity Award. Shoup was recognized at the Ohio Civil Rights Commission’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Carter E. Strang received the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Living Legacy Award given for “extraordinary leadership, innovation, and professional excellence.” He is a Leader-in-Residence at Cleveland State University College of Law, a retired founding Tucker Ellis LLP partner, and past president of the CMBA, the CMBA Foundation, and the Federal Bar Association Northern District of Ohio Chapter. 

Emily Williams, ’16, M.Arch. '18, M.U.D. ’18, AIA, Strongsville, OH, has been promoted to associate at Bialosky, citing her distinct value as a dual-disciplined practitioner and engaged leader in our design community. As a licensed architect and planner, Williams contributes to buildings and master plans that uplift neighborhoods, campuses and communities.

Pat Quinn Winter, ’83, CFRE, Monroeville, PA, has joined the consulting team of Advancement Advisors.  A seasoned fundraising executive, Winter specializes in developing strategy and implementation plans for capital, endowment and special campaigns. The breadth of her experience includes major and planned giving, annual giving, donor relations and stewardship programs.

Lauren B. Worley, ’01, Cincinnati, OH, has been appointed as communications director of Tampax, Feminine Care. Worley, a veteran public relations leader, joined P&G as the global newsroom leader in January 2020. Her family has a long history with P&G, which began when her great-grandmother worked as a cook for the Procter family.