November|December 2018
“I’m sending in news about my authorship of the official lacrosse emoji, coming to phones this fall. It recently won the World Emoji Awards’ Most Anticipated Emoji of 2018 and was featured in US Lacrosse Magazine.” —Nicole Cinnamon Bohorad C’97
1942
Julian Hyman W’42, who turned 98 on August 4, began an effort this summer to sell over a million copies of his book, U Can Save Our World, now in its fourth edition. Julian writes, “We have to start talking to one another about the problems we are facing as a world community. My book has lots of ideas for solutions to the problems facing human civilization. Life has been good to me, and I’ve done a lot of interesting things, but I want to leave something behind for everyone’s children and future generations.”
1951
Carol Helitzer Sheldin CW’51 performs her 20th solo cabaret act on November 19 and 26 at Don’t Tell Mama in New York City. Carol won the 2018 Hanson Award from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets in March. She writes, “Researching, archiving, and spreading the American Songbook heritage are my fortes.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1954
Maurice Sonnheim C’54 SW’56 has published a new book for parents and children, If You Could Change the Ending: New Endings for Old Fairy Tales. Maurice, who is 85 years old, writes, “I had a jolly time writing this book and will soon publish another book, The Jewish Bride and Other Stories and Poems.”
1957
Dr. Leslie Becker D’57 writes, “The tradition continues. My granddaughter, Haley Stein, is a member of the Class of 2022, entering this fall. She is the daughter ofSuzanne Becker Stein C’89 W’89 andGary Stein W’89. She is also a granddaughter ofJoan Gelber Stein Ed’59 and the late Alex Stein W’58.”
1958
Deborah Spungen CW’58 writes, “I recently published Table for One: Essays from a Widow’s Journey. The story recounts my journey through widowhood following the death of my husband, Frank Spungen W’57. This book marks my return to writing after a nearly 30-year hiatus. Table for One explores my difficult transition from being a partner in a loving relationship that lasted 54 years, to being a widow, alone and searching for a new sense of self. The book has been described by one reviewer as a having ‘a dollop of humor and some sage advice.’ I chronicled my struggle with grief and heartbreak and imparted my unique perspective as I dealt with everyday events as a newly single person. This book was written after my 35-plus years of working as an advocate for homicide victims. In 1980, I founded Philadelphia’s Families of Murder Victims following the death of my daughter Nancy. In 1983, I wrote And I Don’t Want to Live this Life, followed by a textbook in 1998, Homicide: The Hidden Victims. In 1995 I received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Service to Victims of Crime, presented by President Clinton and Attorney General Reno.”
1960
David Marion W’60 L’63 , senior counsel at White and Williams LLP, was recently named an “Influencer of Law” by the Philadelphia Inquirer in the area of litigation and dispute.
1961
Ramon Fouse WG’61 has published his first children’s book, The Crooked Little Christmas Tree, based on a story he told more than 50 years ago when his daughter was a baby. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Carolyn, and their two dogs. Ramon writes, “Not bad for an octogenarian!”
1962
David Van Nuys C’62 received an American Psychological Association Presidential Award for his work as a psychology podcaster. His podcasts can be found at www.shrinkrapradio.com.
1963
David T. Jones C’63 G’64 , a retired US diplomat, has released the first in a three-volume trilogy with David Kilgour, a retired member of the Parliament of Canada. Titled David vs. David: We Agree to Disagree, the first volume is devoted to domestic issues, such as elections, healthcare, racism, and economics.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1964
Lew Knickerbocker WG’64 has written Crocodiles Galore: A Memoir—Almost, which is his fifth work of fiction. He has also written two nonfiction books and three plays that were staged.
1966
Nancy Rabkin Deutsch CW’66 writes, “It’s been a few years now since I embarked on a new path—home and business organizing—which has become my passion after a life in marketing and communications. Showing my clients, especially seniors, how to let go of stuff has provided a new opportunity for me to have great satisfaction. Small or large assignments, we get results that earn a ‘thank you’ and wide smiles each time. How fortunate am I to be the Empathic Organizer!” Nancy’s website is www.empathicorganizer.com.
1967
Robert K. Goldman C’67 , a professor of law at American University Washington College of Law, has been elected as president of the International Commission of Jurists, after serving as acting president since January 2017.
Dr. Stephen R. Permut C’67 has received the 2018 Tilton Award from the Tilton Mansion Preservation Society in Wilmington, Delaware. The award is named after Dr. James Tilton C1768 M1771, founder of the Medical Society of Delaware and the nation’s first US Army Surgeon General.
1968
Robert Schoenberg SW’68 GrS’89 writes, “I am writing with some good news. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers has chosen me for its Lifetime Achievement Award. I will receive it at the organization’s annual convention on September 13 at the Kalahari Resort which, by good fortune, is only about 20 minutes from my place in the Poconos.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1969
William L. Mentlik ChE’69 writes, “Based on a nomination by one of my law partners, Roy H. Wepner L’74, I was honored by NJBIZ magazine as a recipient of its 2018 ICON Honors Award, which recognizes New Jersey business leaders over the age of 60 for their strong leadership and success. I look forward to celebrating my 50th reunion in May, along with my wife Susan B. Pondfield CW’71 G’75, my TEP brothers, and countless other of my classmates and friends.”
1970
Dr. Jeff Hoffman M’70 writes, “I am living in the Sarasota, Florida, area with my wife, Fern, and work part-time as a psychiatrist. After graduating from Penn, I trained in psychiatry at the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital. Following a stint as an Air Force psychiatrist, I moved with my wife to the Boston area, where I practiced for 30+ years and where we raised our children, Dan and Jessica. We have enjoyed many wonderful vacations with Penn Alumni Travel, and I have been active in leadership in medical alumni activities. This summer I published a memoir, Gently Down the Stream a Psychiatrist’s Life, recounting what I hope readers will find to be interesting and humorous anecdotes from my professional and personal life, including my years at PennMed and Pennsylvania Hospital.”
1971
Lorraine Howard CW’71 WG’73 has been chosen president of the Women and Mathematics Education organization, partner affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She writes, “All students (focusing on girls) need to have inquiry-based, project-based mathematics learning experiences, which research confirms sustains their mathematics learning and enjoyment that comes from actually ‘doing the mathematics’—applying the concepts to an authentic, relevant, real-world context.”
1973
Antelo Devereux Jr. GAr’73 has published two new books of photos,The Jersey Shore: A Keepsake and Brandywine Valley: A Keepsake. Each book features more than 80 images of scenes along the Jersey shore and Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania, respectively.
Rev. Lawrence D. Golin PT’73 writes, “It was my privilege to be honored by the American Physical Therapy Association with their Humanitarian Physical Therapy Award on June 28 in their NEXT Yearly Conference in Orlando, Florida. I was given a certificate in physical therapy at Penn on September 29, 1973, from secretary William G. Owen, chair of physical therapy department Eleanor Carlin, and chairman of the now defunct School of Allied Medical Professions Sidney Rodenburger. I was given a license to practice physical therapy in the state of Michigan shortly afterward. I had the privilege of being instructed by Dr. Laura Hack and Professor Eugene Michaels. I was given the award for establishing a small rehabilitation center at Memorial Christian Hospital in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and serving 11 times in various countries as part of a mission medical team. The rehabilitation clinic (PT, orthotics, and prosthetics) is still operating, run by Bangladesh nationals.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1974
John A. Quelch WG’74 has cowritten Choice Matters: How Healthcare Consumers Make Decisions with Gordon Moore and Emily Boudreau. John is vice provost and dean of the Miami Business School at the University of Miami.
Dr. Gene Salkind G’74 GM’85 has been appointed to the Strategic Advisory Board of BioSymetrics Incorporated. Gene is chairman of neurosurgery at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Pennsylvania and a director at DermTech International.
Rabbi Stephen Wylen C’74 is now the rabbi at Congregation Knesseth Israel in Bound Brook, New Jersey. He writes, “I proudly welcomed into the world this past summer my tenth grandchild, Shalev, born in Olga, Israel.”
1975
Dr. Edward C. Halperin W’75 has published the seventh edition of the textbook Perez and Brady’s Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology, which he coedits with three colleagues. He is currently the chancellor and CEO of New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York.
1977
Gilbert F. Casellas L’77 , an emeritus University trustee, has been named one of the 100 most influential corporate directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors. Gilbert is chair of the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee of Prudential Financial’s board of directors.
Andrew Chirls C’77 has been named the inaugural chairman of the Human Relations Commission of the Borough of Narberth, Pennsylvania. Andrew is a member of the Commercial Litigation/Business Dispute and Real Estate practice areas of the Philadelphia-based law firm Fineman, Krekstein & Harris.
1978
Dr. Cynthia Jones Eiseman G’78 Gr’79 writes, “A small group of longtime Society Hill (Philadelphia) residents and I interviewed nearly 90 of our neighbors to collect experiences of people who lived in the neighborhood during its redevelopment that began in the late 1950s. Society Hill is one of the best known examples of the federally funded urban renewal program and one of the few that emphasized preservation and restoration over demolition. Collaborating with Francesca Russello Ammon, assistant professor of city and regional planning at PennDesign, we combined our oral histories with her research on the neighborhood based on land-use maps, historic photographs, planning and preservation reports, and other city records to create an interactive website, Preserving Society Hill, which was launched in August. Penn’s Price Lab for Digital Humanities and the Penn Libraries Digital Scholarship Group provided the technical support for creating the site. The URL is https://pennds.org/societyhill .”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1979
Elizabeth “Bepe” Boatright Kafka GFA’79 writes, “I am an artist. I went to Penn to study under Neil Welliver, the great landscape painter. I had been living in Utah for 15 years (for the scenery, of course!). I knew that as soon as I could retire, I wanted to move back east to help my sister take care of Dad, as it was getting tougher for her by the year. We settled in an adorable town in the middle of Appalachia, and I was able to help care for him in his last years, near the place of his roots. When he passed, I wanted to do something wonderful with the money he left me, so I opened Art on 16 Contemporary Gallery in Marion, Virginia. It is a stone’s throw from Exit 45 of the well-traveled Interstate 81, a beautiful little ‘white cube’ gallery showing contemporary art. I have a studio in the back, and I get to do my work and be around artists and beautiful art every day—a dream come true. Anyone traveling in or through the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia should stop by!”
Hon. Michael Nutter W’79 , former mayor of Philadelphia, is a visiting fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics for the fall semester.
Dr. Jack Sariego C’79 writes, “I have been named vice president for perioperative services for Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. I was also awarded the CPE (Certified Physician Executive) designation by the American Association For Physician Leadership.”
Steven Silverberg W’79 has joined Sterling National Bank as managing director and vice president of its Westchester market.
Keith Stock WG’79 , chairman and CEO of Worldwide Reinsurance, was awarded the Foreign Policy Association Medal. Previous recipients include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Alan Greenspan, Colin Powell, and Paul Volcker.
1980
David Leibnitz ChE’80 writes, “I have taken early retirement from HDR Engineering, where I have worked since 1988. As a senior project manager, I worked at many locations throughout the United States. A recent major accomplishment was in the construction of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Being an initial investor into this great company’s employee stock ownership program has enabled me to undertake new adventures with (hopefully) plenty of youthful life left in me. I am right now trying to reconnect with my old friends from Penn. If you are reading this and know me, please send an email to davidleibnitz@yahoo.com and say hi.”
1981
Dr. Deborah Sackner Goldring C’81 has earned tenure and promotion to associate professor at Stetson University School of Business Administration in DeLand, Florida.
Richard A. Jaffe C’81 has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019. This is his fifth year in a row on the Best Lawyers list. Richard is a workers’ compensation attorney in private practice in Philadelphia.
1983
Douglas C. Friedman C’83 writes, “I was recently elected chair of the business management department at East Stroudsburg University, where I am a tenured associate professor of marketing.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1984
Julie Rae Dobrow ASC’84 Gr’87 has published After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America’s Greatest Poet , which tells the story of Mabel Loomis Todd and her daughter Millicent Todd Bingham, who together edited and publicized Emily Dickinson’s poetry after the poet’s death. Julie is a professor with appointments in the Department of Child Study and Human Development and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.
Rob Friedman W’84 WG’88 writes, “After more than 25 years in banking, insurance, and management consulting at AIG, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, and Oliver Wyman, in 2015 I became a fee-only financial planner. I became a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and founded my own firm, Central Park Financial Planning ( www.cpfinplan.com). I am enjoying the change to providing comprehensive financial planning for individuals and couples, along with a specialized service in divorce financial planning. In addition, in 2017, after many, many years together, my longtime partner, Robin, and I happily got married and we continue to live in Manhattan. I welcome contact at rfriedman@cpfinplan.com.”
1986
Mark Cronin EAS’86 see Alex Weber C’09.
Barbara Vega C’86 writes, “I am now serving on the board of directors for Alfalit Incorporated, in Miami, and am also an advisory board member for the International Children’s Heart Foundation, headquartered in Cordova, Tennessee.”
1987
Rabbi Lisa S. Greene W’87 , rabbi of North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois, was selected to participate in ELI Talks’ six-month speaker fellowship, culminating in a presentation filmed in front of a live audience in Detroit. The title of Lisa’s talk was “Getting Ritual: Making Meaningful Jewish Moments.”
David L. Richter EAS ’87 W’87 L’92 writes, “I have embarked on two new roles: entrepreneur and student. I am the chairman, CEO, and founder of Richter Capital, a multi-strategy asset management firm based in Princeton, New Jersey. I’ve also returned to the academic world, pursuing an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.”
Catherine Love Ruffing C’87 , of Centerville High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, has been named Teacher of the Year by the American Lawyers Alliance, an affiliate of the American Bar Association.
Dr. Alexander H. Werner V’87 writes, “I have been a member of the advisory council at Clinician’s Brief Journal for several years, and this year, the third edition of Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Dermatology textbook, which I coauthored, has been published. The previous edition had been earlier translated into Simplified Chinese and Portuguese.”
1988
John Kanaras C’88 , who retired from Merck last year, has founded a start-up called AXIA Time, which sells University-branded watches. The company launched with two designs and four university partners, including Penn, Princeton, Yale, and Dartmouth.
William “Toby” Usnik GEd’88 writes, “My new book, The Caring Economy: How to Win with Corporate Social Responsibility , is now No. 1 on Amazon for its Green Business category.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1989
Daniel E. Will C’89 has been confirmed as New Hampshire’s first solicitor general.
1990
Mike Cuccaro C’90 , formerly of Georgia,writes, “After 20-plus years holding down the fort in the Empire State of the South, working as an attorney, a court administrator, and even a nightclub promoter, I’ve made a big life change and accepted an intriguing position with the courts in El Paso County, Texas. Will miss all my East Coast Quaker friends but hope to someday return to the Homecomings and Alumni Weekends that I enjoy so much. Cheers, all!”
1991
Sumru Belger Krody G’91 , senior curator at the George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum, has published A Nomad’s Art: Kilims of Anatolia in conjunction with her exhibition of the same name at the Textile Museum.
Tonia Lee C’91 WG’96 was nominated for a Capital Emmy, given annually by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Tonia was nominated for Who We Are, a CharmTV original program that she executive produced. Tonia is CharmTV’s general manager.
1993
Jim Garver C’93 has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019. This is his seventh year in a row on the Best Lawyers list. Jim is a workers’ compensation attorney at Edgar Snyder & Associates in Pittsburgh.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1994
Josefina Jimenez Augusto C’94 and Samori Augusto EAS’94 write, “We would like to announce the birth of our son, Elias, and our daughter, Salomé, (17 years ago). Our family has also appropriated an English family’s crest and updated the motto, so that where it once said ‘Integrity’ we have substituted ‘Si vos non vident, non solliciti.’”
Gina Bloom C’94 , a professor of English at the University of California, Davis, has written Gaming the Stage: Playable Media and the Rise of English Commercial Theater , an exploration of the intertwined history of gaming and theater in the early modern period.
1995
Andrew Kluter EAS’95 married Yu-Jung Chen on September 1. His best man, David Mays EAS’95, writes, “Warmed by a California sun and embraced by a gentle Pacific breeze, grinning Andrew married the beautiful and accomplished Yu-Jung at Oakland’s picturesque Sequoyah Country Club. Guests included Ming Ming Liu Ma C’94; and Dr. Steven Pestka C’95 M’00 and I were groomsmen. Each of us met the groom during our shared residence in Ware College House in the early 1990s. After a honeymoon in the Far East, the newlyweds will return to their new home in Alameda, California, and their careers in San Francisco. The wedding party is delighted to wish Andrew and Yu-Jung many years of health and happiness together!”
1996
Jessica M. Fishman ASC’96 Gr’01 ’s book, Death Makes the News: How the Media Censor and Display the Dead, recently received two awards. She writes, “The book has itself been the subject of news reporting, and in a recent book review, the International Journal of Communication described it as a ‘breakout study and milestone contribution to the literature.’” Jessica holds joint appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine and the Annenberg School for Communication.
1997
Didem Un Ates EE’97 W’97 , senior director for AI customer and partner engagement at Cloud & AI at Microsoft, writes, “I have been working on launching new enterprise AI solutions with early customers and partners. I have also been focusing on AI for good, diversity, and inclusion, as well as AI and ethics. My recent initiatives included a STEM AI boot camp for 160 high school girls from 16 Central Eastern European countries.”
Nicole Cinnamon Bohorad C’97 , who served as Penn men’s lacrosse team manager from 1994 to 1997, writes, “I’m sending in news about my authorship of the official lacrosse emoji, coming to phones this fall. It recently won the World Emoji Awards’ Most Anticipated Emoji of 2018 and was featured in US Lacrosse Magazine .”
Dan Malasky C’97, formerly general counsel and managing director of business affairs for the national campus of the US Tennis Association in Orlando, Florida, and most recently chairman of the board of the Central Florida Sports Commission, has been appointed chief legal officer of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Dan was at Penn, he was a kicker on the lightweight football team under Coach Wagner.
Lily Saint C’97 , assistant professor of English and chair of African studies at Wesleyan University, has written Black Cultural Life in South Africa: Reception, Apartheid, and Ethics , published by Michigan University Press.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
1999
John “Griz” Dwight GAr’99 is principal and owner of GrizForm Design Architects, which he opened in 2003. Since then, his studio has designed over 150 restaurants, including the celebrated Estadio and Farmers Fishers Bakers restaurants in Washington, DC. In 2015, Griz was selected as one of the “Wave of the Future” designers by Hospitality Design Magazine.
Dr. John Mamoun C’99 writes, “Recently, I published a book about a board game called plakoto, which is a variation of the board game backgammon. Plakoto is played by millions of people in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. Plakoto Board Game Strategy explains the expert strategy used for playing this complex game and is apparently the first book exclusively dedicated to doing so (although a comprehensive chapter on this game was published in 1977 in the book Backgammon Games and Strategies, by Nicolaos and Basil Tzannes).”
2001
Atara Margolies C’01 GAr’04 GFA’04 has been promoted to architect at Quinn Evans Architects in Washington, DC. Atara has worked on many complex renovation projects in the DC region, including the modernization of the historic Stratford Middle School in Arlington, Virginia.
Erika “Rikki” Tanenbaum C’01 has been appointed as chief marketing officer at San Manuel Casino in southern California. Previously, she worked across a range of casino and hospitality brands, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Landry’s Golden Nugget Casinos.
2003
Ceres Canal Aruoba C’03 EAS’03 WG’14 has been promoted to principal at Cornerstone Research, an economic and financial consulting firm. Ceren consults on matters involving pharmaceuticals, healthcare, intellectual property, marketing, and antitrust issues.
Eric Brach C’03 writes, “I have recently completed Double Lives: True Tales of the Criminals Next Door. My third book of nonfiction, Double Lives is a true-crime saga chronicling the most dastardly secret criminals of recent memory: the ones who terrorized their own hometowns.”
Samuel J. Fetchero W’03 writes, “My wife, Allison, and I are proud to announce the birth of our daughter, Eva Danielle Fetchero, on April 15. She is our third child, along with Noelle (5) and Caleb (3). I am a product marketing director for Apptio, and Allison is a physical therapist at Peak Sports and Spine Physical Therapy. We live in Bellevue, Washington.”
Ben Lerer C’03 see Simon Kirk C’06.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
2004
Robert Gorman G’04, founder of the technology transfer and intellectual property firm Gorman Associates of New York City, writes, “I have been selected by the Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force to assume a Reserve assignment with Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA), a theater special operations command within the US Department of Defense.” Robert is a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps officer in the US Air Force Reserve and also a regional chairman for the Penn Alumni Interview Program. He adds, “I look forward to keeping in touch with fellow alumni from the past and present and may be reached at robert.s.gorman2.mil@mail.mil .”
2005
Matt Ritter L’05 see Alex Weber C’09.
Daniel Schmierer C’05 W’05 has been promoted to principal at Cornerstone Research, an economic and financial consulting firm. Daniel specializes in antitrust and competition matters.
2006
Elena Poleganova Jacque C’06 has joined law firm Blank Rome’s New York office as an associate in the Corporate, M&A, and Securities Group.
Simon Kirk C’06 writes, “I started a nonprofit with Matt Amalfitano C’11 called RaisedBy.Us. Matt is our full-time CEO. Our most well-known board member is Ben Lerer C’03, founder of Group Nine Media and Lerer Hippeau. We’ve just crossed $2 million in donations to charity and things are taking off.” RaisedBy.Us is a plug-and-play social good program for employers that allows employees to donate time and money.
Andrew J. Rosenthal C’06 writes, “My wife, Jennifer, and I welcomed our daughter, Eden Rivka Rosenthal, on May 7, 2018. Friends Brad Dalinka C’06 and Rachel Moskowtiz C’06 were quick to send red and blue baby gear. Eden, a native San Franciscan, plans on visiting campus for the first time over Homecoming 2018 for the Alumni Award of Merit Gala, when I will present Austin Lavin C’06 with the Young Alumni Award of Merit. We hope to see many friends and classmates in attendance that Friday evening.”
2007
Daniel J. Glass C’07 writes, “I am happy to announce the upcoming launch of PsychTable.org, a mass-collaborative, open-science digital research tool and taxonomy of the human mind.”
2008
Marc Garfinkle W’08 see Amanda J. Garfinkle C’09.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 17–19, 2019
2009
Mariana Carlos-Ondrusek C’09 writes, “Derek Ondrusek EAS’10 W’10 and I are overjoyed to announce the birth of our first child, Sofia Alexandra, on May 25 in Logan, Utah.”
Amanda J. Garfinkle C’09 writes, “My husband, Marc Garfinkle W’08, and I welcomed our second son, Liam Rahm Garfinkle, into the world on June 17. Not sure how we’ll ever top that Father’s Day gift again. We could not be more thrilled and cannot wait to bring him to Penn for his first visit!”
Sarah Kaminetsky Jonas C’09 writes, “Isaac Jonas and I are delighted to announce the birth of our second daughter, Margot Grace, on August 19. Margot joins big sister Claire Eliana in Manhattan, where I am an attorney with Morrison Cohen LLP and Isaac is an investment analyst with Loews Corporation. Our new family of four can’t wait to see everyone at my 10th reunion in May!”
Patrick F. Leahy GrEd’09 has been appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to serve on Pennsylvania’s Tuition Account Program Advisory Board. The board advises on the work of the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, which provides families with a tax-advantaged way to help save for their children’s higher education. Patrick is the president of Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Barrie Kahn Nussbaum C’09 SPP’11 and Dr. Daniel Levine got married on Martha’s Vineyard on September 8. Barrie writes, “Dan went to Vanderbilt for undergrad, got a law degree at Villanova, then did his post-bacc at UPenn before going to medical school at Jefferson—he is now a radiology resident. Currently, I work as a director of development at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, and Dan is a resident physician. It is his second career, after spending a decade using his law degree in television production in Los Angeles. We live in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Penn grads in attendance included: Scott Fudemberg C’99 (brother-in-law of bride), Reagan Jeffrey Naples WG’13, Amy Levine GEd’10, Amy Yuehong Lei Nu’09 GNu’11, Madeleine Grant C’09 LPS’16 SPP’17, Stephanie Searles Vogel C’09, Louis Vogel C’09, Annie Friedman C’09, Drew Feith Tye Ruby-Howe C’09, Lex Ruby-Howe C’07, Alissa Kur Lepisto C’09, Margaretha Ehret C’09, Lauren Berg Joseph C’08, Laura Minskoff C’10 WG’16, Michael Braver W’84, and Doug Kenney W’09. Also in attendance was adjunct professor Eileen Heisman and former advisory dean to Penn Medical School and retired professor Dr. Marc Levine, father of the groom. Father of the bride, Dr. Sam Nussbaum, serves on the board of the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.”
Dr. Kevin Rakszawski EAS’09 is chief fellow in hematology/oncology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
David M. Russo G’09 Gr’11 has been promoted to principal at Cornerstone Research, an economic and financial consulting firm. David specializes in antitrust and competition cases.
Alex Weber C’09 and Matt Ritter L’05 have launched a new podcast, Fired Up!, interviewing people about a time they were fired. Alex writes, “From industry leaders to Navy Seals to SNL comedians, Fired Up! shares stories of successful people who hit rock bottom and bounced back to do incredible things. We recently had producer Mark Cronin EAS’86 on the show.”
2010
Paula Davis-Laack LPS’10 published an article titled “Five Mindsets that Undercut Your Ability to Think Like a Leader” in the American Bar Association’s August 2018 Law Practice Today, which was the Attorney Well-Being issue.
Sonie Kama Guseh C‘10 , a content strategy and partnerships professional at Comcast NBCUniversal, married Kevin Osayi Osagie EE’10 EAS’10, a technology and analytics professional at Pandora Media, on August 4. Sonie writes, “My parents are Dr. James and Thelma Guseh of Durham, North Carolina, and Kevin is the son of Patience Osagie of Ewing, New Jersey, and the late Dr. Emmanuel Osagie. My cousin, Rev. Dr. Wilfred M. Manyango, pastor of Covenant Community Church in Garland, Texas, officiated the ceremony at the Pen Ryn Mansion in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The matron of honor wasCamilla Williams Seawright C’10, the maid of honor wasJanday Wilson C’10, and bridesmaids were Stephanie Guseh, Daniella Jones C’10, Jessica Magness C’10 , Shadlyn Minor, and Kimberly Osagie. The best man was Naveed Baksh, and groomsmen were Vignesh Chandramouli EE’10 EAS’10 W’10,Andrew Godwin C’10, Nahnsan Guseh, Sawalla Guseh, Jason Rodriguez W’10, and Jonathan Thompson. Kevin and I have much in common. We met as college freshman (my degree is in English; his is in electrical engineering) and both earned our MBAs from Columbia Business School. Both sets of parents consist of educators—professors and teachers—and are originally from West Africa—the Gusehs from Liberia, and the Osagies from Nigeria. Kevin and I reside in Oakland, California.”
Derek Ondrusek EAS’10 W’10 see Mariana Carlos-Ondrusek C’09.
Yu-Hua Yang GEE’10 writes, “My wife, Sally, and I would like to announce the birth of our son, Kailer Yang, on June 20, in Berkeley, California. He weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and measured 21.5 inches long. Big brother Dexson took a class about babies and was eager to put his knowledge into use by helping with feedings and diaper changes. Our newly family of four currently resides in Alameda, California.”
2011
Matt Amalfitano C’11 see Simon Kirk C’06.
Jinelle Craig G’11 L’11 has joined the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson as an attorney in its Charlotte, North Carolina, office.
Amber Efé Hopkins-Jenkins ASC’11 and Jarrid Tingle W’13 were married on August 18 at the Biltmore in Atlanta. Amber writes, “We met during a Makuu student retreat in 2009. Many Penn graduates attended the celebration, including Akinola Aliu C’13, Paul Ampofo W’14, Jacqueline Baron C’13, Michael Carajohn C’13, Robert Dixon III W’13, Triston Francis W’12, Dionicio Herrera W’13, Tyler Hyman C’13, Caitlin King W’11, Ellery Lassiter C’18, Enitan Marcelle C’13, Shane McWilliams C’12, Danielle Noel C’08, Daina Richie Troy W’98, Christopher Russell C’13, Alexandria Savage EAS’13, and Sharree Walls C’13.”
2013
Jarrid Tingle W’13 see Amber Efé Hopkins-Jenkins ASC’11.
2015
Michael Happ C’15 and Grace Liu W’15 were married on October 5 in the Lower Hudson Valley in New York, with many fellow alumni in attendance.
Rebecca Rosen GEd’15 and Jacob Shamsian were married on August 5 at Crest Hollow Country Club on Long Island in New York. Rebecca is a teacher in Manhattan and Jacob is a journalist. Also in attendance were Patrick Finn GEd’15 and Jodi Miller C’14 GEd’15, who was a bridesmaid.
2016
Matthew Mongiello Gr’16 has been promoted from visiting professor to assistant professor of political science at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Matthew also serves as the pre-law advisor.
Dwayne Allen Thomas LPS’16 published an article titled “When You Feel Like You Don’t Belong” in the American Bar Association’s August 2018 Law Practice Today, which was the Attorney Well-Being issue.
2018
Griffin Amdur W’18 , Andrew Witherspoon W’18, and James McPhail C’18 W’18 have opened the Chicago Furniture Bank, which collects and distributes furniture to Chicago residents in need at virtually no cost to the client. While they were students, the trio received a $100,000 President’s Engagement Prize from Penn to help launch the project.
