Spring/Summer 2019: 1980s
80
Carol (O’Connor) Suhre, BA ’80, Cincinnati, Ohio, wrote: “I retired in November 2019 after 35 years as director of the Clermont County Law Library, Batavia, Ohio. My library career and interest is due to employment in the Department of Special Collections at KSU with Dean Keller. I am grateful for that opportunity. I continue as executive director of the Clermont County Bar Association and enjoy travel, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers and collecting Precious Moments.”
Angelique Walker-Smith, BA ’80, Washington, D.C., is a senior associate for Pan-African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World and a member of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. In May 2018, the Rev. Dr. Walker-Smith was named the first female president of the Historic Black Family of Christian Churches Together (CCT). The broadest church fellowship in the United States, CCT seeks to build relationships and foster unity among all the major Christian traditions, which are grouped into five families [Historic Black, Catholic, Historic Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical-Pentecostal], each of which has a president.
Autumn Jeney, BSN ’81, Shaker Heights, Ohio, a registered nurse at South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, received The Art of Nursing Award in summer 2018 from the Cleveland Clinic Stanley Shalom Zielony Institute for Nursing Excellence. This award is presented to a registered nurse in recognition of the skills, talents, expertise, commitment and personal attributes of a nurse who promotes and supports healing for patients, families and colleagues.
Paula Hartman-Stein, PhD ’82, Kent, Ohio, consulting psychologist, educator, author and Medicare correspondent for The National Psychologist, received the 2018 Distinguished Professional Contributions to Independent Practice Award from the American Psychological Association (akin to a lifetime achievement award for a clinical practitioner). In announcing the award, American Psychologist journal cited Dr. Hartman-Stein “for her exceptional leadership in the field, and for making an impact that has led to positive outcomes in the health and well-being of older adults.”
Wayne Barger, BArc ’84, Coppell, Texas, healthcare architect, was hired by SmithGroup to lead its global health practice, based in their Dallas, Texas office. SmithGroup is the nation’s 7th largest healthcare architecture firm according to Building Design + Construction magazine.
Beverley Laubert, BA ’84, Lewis Center, Ohio, wrote: “I was appointed by Governor John Kasich to serve as director of the Ohio Department of Aging. My husband and I created a scholarship to support Delaware County students to attend this outstanding university that led to a rewarding career.”
Virginia Addicott, BS ’85, MBA ’95, Akron, Ohio, president and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical and member of the Kent State University Board of Trustees, received the 2019 H. Peter Burg Community Leadership Award at the 23rd annual Acts of Courage event, March 7, 2019, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. The award, established in 2004 in honor of and following the death of FirstEnergy CEO H. Peter Burg, is presented annually by the American Red Cross of Summit, Portage and Medina Counties to one or more individuals who best exemplify leadership in the community, compassion for its people and dedication to the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.
Cris Drugan, BS ’85, Akron, Ohio, ISA-AM, MIPAV-OS, principal of Emerald Art Services, LLC, has been named to serve on the
board of directors of the Artists Archives
of the Western Reserve. A unique archival facility and regional museum, the Artists Archives preserves representative bodies of work created by Ohio visual artists and, through ongoing research, exhibition and educational programs, actively documents and promotes this cultural heritage for the benefit of the public.
Joseph Fazio, BArc ’85, Boston, joined JACA Architects, one of New England’s premier healthcare-exclusive architectural firms, as an associate and director of documentation and construction administration. A LEED-accredited and licensed architect in Massachusetts and California, Mr. Fazio most recently worked on the Boston Cathedral project with Elkus Manfredi Architects.
Stephen Hupp, MLS ’85, Parkersburg, W. Va., has published his third novel. Born to the Breed is set in the exciting world of NASCAR. Marty Dodd belongs to the fourth generation of a successful racing family and possesses all the talent of her legendary grandfather. However, her parents want their daughter to pursue a life outside racing. The work is available as an eBook or paperback through Amazon. Mr. Hupp, library director at West Virginia University, Parkersburg, has also published Daughter of the Valley and Of Gods and Spirits, available through Amazon. You may contact the author at Stephenlhupp@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Lori (Dimitroff) Belock, BS ’86, Dublin, Ohio, wrote: “Our families have been friends for four generations. We congregated in late December 2018 to celebrate the season in Aurora, Ohio, and to find the three squirrels hidden in the pages of Kent State Magazine. We were successful at both.” Pictured, left to right: Tracy (Stebbins) Deluca, BS ’95, Geneva, Ohio; Brett Spyker, BFA ’92, and Shannon (Lambros) Spyker, BA ’93, Chesterland, Ohio; Debbie Lambros, AS ’83, Aurora, Ohio; Lori (Dimitroff) Belock; Dave Deluca, BS ’11, Ashtabula, Ohio. Tracy (Cameron) and Lori (Marissa) both have freshmen at the Kent Campus this year.
Thomas Bagsarian, BS ’86, Chicago, has joined the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute in Chicago, Illinois, as manager of editorial content.
Heidi Johnson-Wright, BA ’86, Miami, Fla., wrote: “I contributed a memoir essay to a recently published book titled Firsts: Coming of Age Stories by People with Disabilities (edited by Belo Cipriani, Oleb Books, October 2018). My essay was about my first experience with a caregiver who was not a family member. This took place during my four years of undergrad at Kent State. I also have a JD from The Ohio State University.”
Kathy Kudravi, BS ’87, Phoenix, Ariz., was named executive editor of Global Sport Matters and professor of practice for the Sports Knowledge Lab at Arizona State University.
Jonathan Banta, BBA ’89, McKinney, Texas, was named chief executive officer at Preferred Dermatology Partners after leading the growth and development of a multi-location, multi-specialty dermatology practice in Dallas that was acquired by Lead Capital Partners out of Nashville, Tenn., in May 2018.