Spring/Summer 2019: 1990s
90
Harry Salcone Jr, BS ’90, Hilliard, Ohio, accepted the challenging position of administrative chief while performing his regular duties as a watch commander supervising 32 direct reports. He was selected as the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Supervisory Police Officer of the Year during the DLA 51st Annual Employee Recognition Awards on December 13, 2018 at the Andrew T. McNamara Complex in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Kenneth Burhanna, BA ’91, MLS ’94, Kent, Ohio, was named the new dean of University Libraries following a national search. He had served as interim dean since the retirement of the previous dean, James Bracken, PhD, on July 1, 2017. Dean Burhanna oversees the Kent State University Library and the architecture, fashion, map and performing arts branch libraries on the Kent Campus, and works collaboratively with the libraries on each of the Regional Campuses and the College of Podiatric Medicine.
Erin Shelley, BSN ’91, Chicago, began a second season in the role of an operating room nurse for NBC’s Chicago Med, an American medical drama television series. She can be seen assisting actors “Dr. Rhodes” (Colin Donnell) and “Dr. Becker” (Norma Kuhling) Wednesdays, 8 pm EST.
Jeanne Gallagher, MM ’91, Cleveland, an accomplished blind musician, joined Xavier Society for the Blind’s Advisory Group in July 2018. She will help select content for the society’s publication in braille and audio, and advise on the best use of technology and on potential new initiatives.
Michael Lanstrum, BS ’91, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, wrote: “I presented ‘Ten Historical Women in Mathematics’ at the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Akron, Ohio, on October 12, 2018 and presented ‘Historical Women in Mathematics’ at the Westlake United Methodist Church in Westlake, Ohio, on November 8, 2018.”
Kathryn (Hardgrove) Popio, MA ’91, Wadsworth, Ohio, announces her newly released book, Cross Keys, Carpet Bag and Pen, featuring letters written back and forth (1858-1866) from home front to regimental sites by three lines of the Stark County Hardgrove family who had men fighting in the Civil War. She taught in English departments of Kent State Stark and Tuscarawas campuses. Ms. Popio also authored 100 history features and was a columnist for The Medina Gazette.
Diana Rogers-Adkinson, MEd ’91, PhD ’94, Cape Girardeau, Mo., was appointed dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies at Southeast Missouri State University effective August 1, 2018.
Donna Kessinger, BFA ’93, Atlanta Highlands, N.J., was appointed executive director of the Monmouth Museum. The museum presents thought-provoking rotating exhibitions in the areas of arts, culture, science and history, and nationally renowned talent along with the work of New Jersey artists, providing a multi-generational destination.
Susan Rozanc, BA ’94, MM ’11, Austin, Texas, teaches classical guitar ensemble and orchestra at William B. Travis High School in Austin, Texas. She also serves as Fine Arts department head and lead content teacher for high school guitar for Austin Independent School District. In addition, she is the founding secretary for the Texas Guitar Directors Association.
Amy Franjesevic, BA ’95, San Francisco, has stepped into the role of president of the American Marketing Association, San Francisco Chapter, after serving for four years on the board. She also holds a board position with the Kent State University Bay Area Alumni Chapter.
Gregory Sanders, BSE ’95, Hudson, Ohio, was named executive director of The Lakeland Foundation effective January 2, 2019. In this role, he also serves on the president’s cabinet as vice president for institutional advancement to collaborate with senior leadership and align fundraising with Lakeland Community College’s strategic priorities. Sanders previously served as executive director for the Lake Health Foundation, and he was inducted into the Lakeland Alumni Hall of Fame in 2014.
Matthew Huebner, BGS ’98, Ravenna, Ohio, is the newly appointed CEO of Discount Drainage Supplies in Akron. With multiple locations in the state of Ohio, Discount Drainage Supplies services a variety of markets and customers.
Rebecca Lewis, BA ’98, Mount Holly, N.J., a lower school science teacher at Baldwin School and graduate student In Miami University’s Global Field Program, studied coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars and other wildlife in Belize, while learning the methods communities are
using to sustain them, in summer 2018.
Erich Merkle, MA ’99, MEd ’99, EdS ’06,
PhD ’10, Stow, Ohio, is president-elect of the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) for
2018-19, a first for a school psychologist. In recent years, he had earned two formal accolades from OPA: Public Sector Psychologist of the Year in 2017 and President’s Award in 2018 for service to the profession. Dr. Merkle had served as a liaison between OPA and the Ohio School Psychologists Association (OSPA) when he was OSPA president from 2014-15.
John Misner, PhD ’99, Denver, N.C., was elected to a one-year term as executive vice president of external affairs for the Charlotte, N.C., chapter of SCORE, a national volunteer organization consisting of active, retired or semi-retired business executives and business owners who provide free face-to-face mentoring to small businesses, including startups. Dr. Misner is a published author and frequent speaker in the areas of asset pricing, market volatility, financial risk modeling, economic forecasting, economic development, strategic planning and business succession planning. He also serves as the volunteer senior economic consultant for VALUANT in Columbia, S.C.