“For many years I have been surprising celebrity artists with their caricatures.”
— Robert Carley C’82
1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s
We Want to Hear from You
email [email protected]
Please include your school and year, along with your address and a daytime telephone number. We include email addresses only when requested or obviously implied.
Deadlines 7/15 for the Sep|Oct issue; 9/15 for Nov|Dec; 11/15 for Jan|Feb; 1/15 for Mar|Apr; 3/15 for May|Jun; and 5/15 for Jul|Aug.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1956
Mark C. Jacobs C’56, a resident of Rancho Mirage, California, hosted his 90th birthday party for family and friends in September at Spencer’s Restaurant in Palm Springs, California. Attendees included both locals and those from as far away as Montreal, Northern Virginia, and Miami Beach and Boca Raton, Florida. Among those present was Michael Feinberg C’91, of The Woodlands, Texas, with his wife Colleen.
1959
Paul Muldawer GAr’59 was featured this summer in an article in the Fulton Neighbor for connecting with younger generations through TikTok. To date, the 92-year-old retired architect from Atlanta has gained about 600,000 followers and has 13 million likes on his page, @PaultheATLartist, where he shares his artwork and everyday moments from life with his wife, Carol. The article can be read at tinyurl.com/Muldawer.
Gerald “Jerry” Rosenthal C’59 and Lloyd Zane Remick C’59 were featured last summer on a Philadelphia 6abc Action News segment on “The Art of Aging” for their 80-plus-year friendship. The two men met at Ellwood Elementary School, attended Central High School together, and graduated from Penn in the same class. Their bond was further solidified as military veterans. Jerry went on to become an accountant, while Lloyd became an attorney. The segment can be viewed online at tinyurl.com/rosenremick.
1960
Peter Buck Feller C’60 is the author of The Last Gasp of William Schwarzfeller: Soviet Espionage and the Cruelties of Stalin’s Gulags. From the publisher, Bloomsbury: “Part memoir, part detective story, part spy story, this nail-biting family saga journeys into the world of Soviet espionage and the cruelties of Stalin’s gulag archipelago.” It tells the story of Peter’s father, who disappeared in Moscow in 1938, when Peter was just six months old. Decades later, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Peter embarks on a search to reclaim the father he never knew.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1961
Robert A. Gleason Jr. W’61, a former University Trustee, has been appointed by the White House to serve as director of Amtrak’s board of directors. He was confirmed in September for a five-year term. Bob is a US Air Force veteran and reservist, and a consultant for the government relations firm Cassidy & Associates. He previously spent five decades in the insurance industry. From 2006 to 2017, he served as chair of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, and he has been involved in pushing for increased Amtrak service.
1963
Dr. Richard W. Chaikin D’63, a retired periodontist and former teacher at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine as well as the Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry, was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the American College of Dentistry at the group’s annual meeting in Bethesda, Maryland. The award included a bronze medal. Richard had also been granted a bronze medal from the US Army Dental Corps, as well as two other bronze medals from the American Rhododendron Society, a group that promotes interest in rhododendrons and azaleas.
1964
Stuart Resor C’64 writes, “What was your first memory? Our class were mostly born in 1942 or close to that. World War II was in full swing and our mothers were pregnant during the bombing of Pearl Harbor … quite a burden on them at that time! I was about two and a half when I remember my mom standing over me at the kitchen table and big tears were coming down. My dad joined the Navy and was far away at sea for a long time. Hitler ruled the earth in those days, and the news was not always good. Mom began saving Life magazines for him and he would eventually return and see those. My dad had a big map of the Pacific on his office wall for me. Sadly, I don’t have that map any more. Also, Pop would decline to discuss the subject.”
Dr. Edward Rossomando D’64 was a recent guest on the podcast Dentaltown, produced and hosted by Howard Farran. Ed writes, “The podcast focused on the threat and opportunities presented to the dental profession by artificial intelligence. Biodontics, the dental specialty that will lead dentistry out of the 20th century and into the 21st century was showcased and discussed.” The podcast can be viewed on YouTube at youtu.be/JsEM6oYvcb4, and more information about Ed is available at guides.library.upenn.edu/edward-rossomando.
1965
Ellen Stekert Gr’65, a folklorist and singer, has released her latest single, “The Ballad of Frankie Silver,” described in the press materials as “a riveting contribution to the rich lineage of American murder ballads and traditional storytelling.” It’s available on all streaming platforms, as well as her website, ellenstekert.com.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1966
Adele Sandberg CW’66, founder of the educational nonprofit Ear Peace Save Your Hearing Foundation, has published HearO Saves the Day, an adventure book that teaches young children how to protect their hearing from loud sound. Adele writes, “With one in five US teenagers already suffering permanent hearing loss from noise by the age of 19, it is essential that we teach children (and adults) four basic ways to protect their hearing.” The book is available on Amazon and through donations at earpeacefoundation.org. All proceeds from book sales go toward hearing-safety education.
1967
Alan Reinhardt C’67 has published a poetry collection, called A Landscape of Suitable Distance. Alan explains, “It is a kind of meditation on the passage of time and the importance of human connection.” He shares that he enjoyed a lengthy career in higher education. The last 32 years were spent at Nichols College in Massachusetts, first as professor of English, then as provost.
Alan Rosen C’67 recently published Tales of Old Zen: From New Jersey to Japan. It is a collection of stories that explores life as an American in Kumamoto, Japan. Alan has spent the entirety of his career as a professor and scholar at Kumamoto University. The focus of his scholarship has been the life and legacy of Lafcadio Hearn. When Alan was a student at Penn, he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity.
1970
Michael C. Lester C’70 writes, “As a journalist, I wrote a weekly Substack column called The Meaning of Death for more than a year. I reported on suicide, near-death experiences, Pascal’s gambit, necrophilia, COVID-19, palliative care, and other controversial but important topics. In the late spring, these columns were put into a book, The Meaning of Death, joining on Amazon my various travelogues, novels, and the peculiar How to Have Fun with Your Body (Houghton Mifflin).”
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1971
Karl Schonborn Gr’71, a criminologist and author, examines the life of Ira Einhorn C’61, known as the “Unicorn Killer,” in his true-crime book Privileged Killers. In the book, Karl also examines two other murderers who killed in Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco. Karl writes, “Despite the heinous nature of their crimes and their deception and deviousness, the justice system discriminated in favor of these men because of their various charisma, talent, or wealth, rather than against them as it often does with underprivileged criminals.” Karl is also the author of a memoir, Cleft Heart, which was reissued in 2024. It tells the story of his childhood with a cleft palate, his experience with bullies, his dream of becoming a debate star, and his determination to attend an Ivy League school. Both books are available on Amazon.
1972
Hon. Blaine G. Gibson C’72 has been named Trial Judge of the Year by the Washington State Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is an association of trial attorneys and judges who are dedicated to promoting civility and professionalism within the legal profession, improving civics education within schools and the community, and preserving and protecting Americans’ Seventh Amendment right to a civil trial by jury, which includes supporting judicial independence and ensuring safe courthouse ingress and egress for jurists, jurors, and the public.
Hon. Gary E. Jackson W’72 has been elected as a judge in the Atlanta Municipal Court. He began his eighth term in office on January 5. He writes, “I currently preside over traffic cases (over 21,760 through election day) in the busiest court in the State of Georgia. My family says it’s time to retire, but I enjoy working every day towards making our roads and streets safer for everyone.”
Norman Lock C’72 completed “The American Novels” series in July, a cycle of 12 standalone books begun in 2012 and published annually by Bellevue Literary Press. Author Joyce Carol Oates wrote of it: “Norman Lock has created a memorable portrait gallery of American subjects in a succession of audaciously imagined, wonderfully original, and beautifully written novels unlike anything in our literature.” At Penn, Norman was a student of Philip Roth Hon’03, Daniel Hoffman, Jerre Mangione Hon’80, Loren Eiseley G’35 Gr’37, and, he says, “an associate professor named Judith, whose face [I] can see clearly, but whose surname [I] cannot recall.” Still, he wishes to acknowledge her, “whose assessment of the nation’s most seminal writers sparked the writing of [this] series.”
Deborah R. Willig CW’72, managing partner at Willig, Williams & Davidson, has been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers guide. Attorneys featured in this guide are deemed by the publication Lawdragon as the most noteworthy advocates for civil rights and workers in the country.
1973
Gayle Feldman CW’73 is the author of a new biography of the founder of Random House, Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built. The book draws upon extensive interviews, previously unavailable private letters, and deeply researched archival material. Gayle writes, “I interviewed more than 200 people—from Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarthy, William Styron, and Rosemary’s Baby author Ira Levin, to Barbara Walters, Henry Kissinger, Tina Sinatra, and Mel Brooks. I did research at archival libraries across the country—including at Penn—and was even able to contribute new papers to a collection at Penn’s Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, because one of my interviewees knew of a family member who had them.”
Hazel Ann Lee CW’73 see Cynthia Cozette Lee G’77.
Arnold Rochvarg C’73, a legal scholar and law professor emeritus at the University of Baltimore, is author of No One Ever Asked: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Worker. His book presents a narrative history of the mid-1960s civil rights movement centered around the experiences of a white woman from Philadelphia who quit college to join the movement—she was also Arnold’s cousin Iris. For over 50 years, Arnold had been intrigued by the mystery surrounding the seven-year disappearance of Iris during the 1960s. Once he finally approached her about her rumored involvement in the civil rights movement, she generously shared her experiences with him and arranged for him to meet others with whom she had worked.
Robert M. Steeg C’73 ASC’75, managing partner of Steeg Law Firm in New Orleans, has been included in New Orleans Magazine’sTop Lawyers 2025 for Real Estate Law. Steeg Law also received the following rankings in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms: Regional Tier 1 (New Orleans) for Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Litigation–Real Estate, Real Estate Law; Regional Tier 2 (New Orleans) for Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law; and Regional Tier 3 (New Orleans) for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation–Bankruptcy.
1975
Dr. Edward C. Halperin W’75 has published the eighth edition of his two-volume textbook. It has been renamed Perez, Brady, Halperin, and Wazer’s Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology in recognition of the decades of work he and his coeditors have contributed to the book. Edward is the chancellor/CEO of New York Medical College (NYMC). Founded in 1860, NYMC has schools of medicine, dentistry, podiatry, graduate studies, and health professions.
Diane McKinney-Whetstone CW’75 has published her eighth novel, Family Spirit, about the Maces, a vibrant family of Philadelphia clairvoyants with issues. Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Sparkles with authenticity … a vibrant look into the power and spirituality of a multigenerational Black family.” More information can be found on her website, mckinney-whetstone.com.
1977
David Gaddis C’77 and Martin Rudow are coauthors of a new book, One Last Turn: Personal Memories of the Can-Am Era’s Greatest Mechanics, Tuners, and Crew. David says this is the first book to focus on the racing team crews and technicians of the old Canadian-American Challenge Cup car races. The book was covered by the PBS television show MotorWeek during an episode in October (viewable at youtu.be/cAoyQdzfkM0).
Cynthia Cozette Lee G’77, a flutist, pianist, and award-winning contemporary African American woman composer, recently presented a number of pieces at the National Flute Association Convention in Atlanta. Two of her flute quartet transcriptions of J. S. Bach’s music were selected and performed in an open reading by the Umoja Flute Institute. In addition, Cynthia premiered her piece “Nigerian Treasures in 3 Movements for Unaccompanied Flute” at the event. Cynthia’s sister Hazel Ann Lee CW’73 was proudly in attendance. Cynthia shares that her Bach transcriptions premiered when she was a graduate student at Penn. She was the first woman and first Black American to graduate from Penn with a master of arts degree in music composition.
1978
Dr. Bill Edkin C’78 V’84 see Dr. Jim Lunig V’84.
1979
Neil S. Plakcy C’79 has published After the Party: A Jewish Teen’s Guide to Finding Your Path, a nonfiction book inspired by what he calls a “Queen Esther moment” while listening to the podcast Being Jewish with Jonah Platt [C’08]. Known for his mystery and romance novels, Neil felt compelled to explore Jewish identity after the events of October 7, 2023, reconnecting with his faith through research, podcasts, and online services. “Writing this book became my tether to Judaism,” he writes. He’s now promoting After the Party through talks at synagogues and Jewish Community Centers. The book can be purchased on Amazon at amzn.to/43aFiDX, and more information about Neil can be found at plakcy.substack.com.
Dr. Jack Sinnigen C’79 V’84 see Dr. Jim Lunig V’84.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1981
Mike Bellissimo C’81 has joined the faculty of the International Maritime Business School at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy as a professor of management.
Bill Cotter W’81 writes, “I retired a few years ago, after enjoying many years as a senior executive in commercial real estate at Wells Fargo. Over the years I’ve maintained connections to Penn and my old AEPi brothers and former Penn football teammates. In the past few years, I have been pursuing my interest in writing. In October 2025, my son Mike and I published Salt, Sweat and Sailcloth: Working-Class Sailors and the Rise of American Naval Power. It explores the role of the US Navy in the economic growth of the early United States, and its intersection with the lives and families of working-class sailors. I have previously authored two books: Wendover Stories, a memoir about life in the Uphams Corner section of Boston in the 1960s and 1970s, and Marty, Me and the A.T., an Appalachian Trail hiking memoir. My wife Susan and I enjoy our family time with our children (Dr. Gina Cotter Russell W’12 M’23 and Michael F. Cotter, Harvard AB’14 and Yale JD’17) and their families, split between Massachusetts and North Carolina.”
Phil de Picciotto L’81, founder and president of the talent agency Octagon, was featured in The Hollywood Reporter last summer in an article titled “These 33 Sports Super-Lawyers Will Slam-Dunk Your Deals.” From the article: “de Picciotto oversees a client portfolio of more than 1,000 of the most high-profile athletes and broadcasters and was the driving force behind removing tobacco sponsorship from pro tennis. He also oversaw Amazon’s groundbreaking Thursday Night Football streaming package.” View it online at tinyurl.com/depicciotto.
Dr. Chai Wool Kim EE’81 GEE’86 GrE’95 is proud to announce that his son, William S. Kim, has started at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Class of 2029). Chai writes, “If you are looking for a good dentist in 2029, look William up!”
Mimi Preiser Zukoff C’81, chair of the City of Summit (NJ)’s Recycling Advisory Committee, was honored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection with its Volunteer Citizen Award. Mimi was recognized for her efforts in developing and implementing waste reduction plans throughout Summit, such as a partnership with BookSmiles to keep used books out of the waste stream. Mimi writes, “As of the end of August 2025, we were able to divert approximately 48,000 pounds of books from the waste stream in our partnership with BookSmiles, which is based in South Jersey and supplies books to New Jersey and Philly-area schools and organizations that support underserved communities of children. My love for books, nurtured as an English major at Penn, and my passion for sustainability were merged in this partnership.”
1982
Robert Carley C’82 exhibited his caricatures of famous artists at Central Connecticut State University last fall, coinciding with International Artists Day on October 25. The show, “ART STARS: Caricatures from Rembrandt to Warhol,” featured 160 drawings of well-known artists surrounded by quotations of their wit and wisdom. For the month of December, these caricatures were also on exhibit at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, and then later at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, Connecticut, and also Boston College. “For many years I have been surprising celebrity artists with their caricatures, [such as] Peter Max and Leroy Neiman,” writes Robert. The New Britain Herald covered Robert’s exhibit in its October 13 issue (tinyurl.com/carleyart). Robert also shares that he published a book that was three years in the making, Making the Ultimate Sacrifice: Real-Life Heroes & Heroines from History and Today, a coffee table book containing over 370 photos and illustrations.
1984
Dr. Jim Lunig V’84 writes, “Another year passing and being another year older did not stop our group of mostly retired veterinarians from completing 350 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O [Chesapeake and Ohio] Canal Path on a bike ride from Pittsburgh to DC this past fall. It was a bittersweet ride following the untimely passing of fellow rider Dr. Craig Holbrook V’84. Once again, we had the usual suspects, Drs. Dennis Burkett V’84, Bill Edkin C’78 V’84, Andy Nebzydoski V’84, and Alex Monger (Nichols College ’79). The group increased in size, adding Drs. Joe Glennon V’84 and Jack Sinnigen C’79 V’84. Perfect weather and zero mechanical issues made it an outstanding trip. Looking forward to riding across Missouri next fall on the Katy Trail. Hoping that we can add fellow alums to our ride.”
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1986
Seth M. Barsky C’86 L’90 has joined Bracewell, a government relations firm. As a partner in the environment, lands, and resources department, he works out of the firm’s Washington, DC, office. Prior to this appointment, Seth worked for more than three decades at the US Department of Justice.
1987
Dr. Howard Riina EAS’87 GM’00 has been named director of clinical innovation at NYU Langone Health. In addition to this appointment, Howard is retaining his roles as the Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Neurosurgery and vice chair of clinical affairs in the department of neurosurgery, professor in the department of neurology, and professor in the department of radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. In 2024, he received the NYU Langone Master Clinician Award.
1988
AKaiser C’88 has published her first book of literary translation, Unnameable, with Zephyr Press. She writes, “A 2022 NEA-supported translation of Catalan poet Anna Gual’s work, this is the first time a collection of Gual’s prolific, well-read, and well-liked oeuvre has been published in English.” Look for AKaiser’s poems, translations, and photos in Allium, Amsterdam Quarterly, Four Way Review, Harvard Review, Hyperion, Modern Poetry in Translation, Pen + Brush In Print, Poetry, Poetry International, and World Literature Today, among others. More information and links to this work, other work, and events can be found on her website, akaiser.org.
1989
Carolyn Behrman G’89 Gr’97, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Akron, has edited a new book with Tim Matney, What Remains: Infirmary Burials, Memory, and Community in the Rubber City. From the book’s press materials: “What is now a suburban park where people play soccer and flag football in the city of Akron, Ohio, was once a Progressive-era county infirmary’s burial ground for people who were poor, infirm, troubled, immigrant, injured, alcoholic, elderly, or otherwise deemed ‘unemployable’ during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Through community-engaged scholarship, this book uses legal, historical, archaeological, and anthropological lenses to consider what is above and below the grass.”
Laura Von Rosk GFA’89’s exhibitions in 2025 included a two-person show with mixed media artist Betsy Brandt at LARAC in Glens Falls, New York, and group exhibitions at the “Great Lakes Invitational Art Fair” in Kewaunee, Wisconsin; “Pushing Boundaries” at Artisan Lofts + Garvey|Simon Art Projects in Tribeca, New York City; “Forest Bathing” at Opus 40 in Saugerties, New York; “Site Specific,” at the Pine Hills branch of the Albany Public Library in New York; and “It’s in Our Nature” at the Lake George Arts Project in Lake George, New York. Awards in 2025 included an Individual Artist Grant from Statewide Community Regrants, offered through the New York State Council on the Arts; and international artist residencies at Arte Studio Ginestrelle in Assisi, Italy, and Annaghmakerrig House at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. You can view her paintings at lauravonrosk.com.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
1991
Michael Feinberg C’91 see Mark C. Jacobs C’56.
Andrew Silverman EAS’91 shares that he has retired from his “first post-Penn job (34 years at Microsoft)” and is planning a new career doing his “other favorite thing from Penn, being a stage lighting technician.”
Elisa Sickmen Zied C’91 shares that she “recently made a career pivot.” After 22 years as a registered dietitian nutritionist, four-time author, freelance writer, and national media spokesperson, she recently earned a certificate in editing from the University of Chicago, and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She now spends her professional time freelance editing and writing children’s books. Her current work in progress is a contemporary middle-grade novel that honors her late mother and their love of musical theater. Elisa also shares that she “remains very happily married (for 32 years!) to Brian Zied W’91, the chief financial officer of Zeta Charter Schools.”
1993
Jackie Einstein Astrof C’93 received the 2025 Alumni Award of Merit [“Homecoming 2025,” this issue]. Jackie founded PennPAC (Pro bono Alumni Consulting) in 2011 as a means for Penn alumni across ages and professional backgrounds to volunteer their time to support nonprofits with their business challenges through team-based strategic consulting projects. Since that time, PennPAC has engaged 1,200 alumni to assist 350 nonprofits, dedicating over 65,000 hours of consulting time. Jackie has also served as Student Life Chair for the Trustees Council of Penn Women and as Chair of the Board of Penn Hillel.
Jennie Hirsh C’93 G’98 G’00 and Marisa Newman C’95 have launched Aesthetic Adventurer (aestheticadventurer.com), a travel company focused on creating intimate and bespoke experiences. To date, they have organized and led small groups to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Philadelphia; and they will be expanding to the Venice Biennale cultural exhibition in Italy in late May 2026. Jennie writes, “Back in 1991, Marisa and I became fast friends as language-learning partners in Italian 110 taught by Umberto Taccheri Gr’00. Not only did that course forge a lifelong friendship between two ambitious young women, but it also launched our mutual love of art, travel, and other forms of cultural adventure.
Peter J. Tantala CE’93, a partner with the architectural and engineering firm Tantala Associates LLC, has been appointed to the board of trustees for Holy Family University in Philadelphia. He was also appointed to the Middletown Township, Bucks County, Planning Commission.
1992
Sherwin Gluck EAS’92 is proud to announce the release of As I Remember…, the third book in the Gluck Family Legacy Series. Written by his aunt Maria Gluck, and edited by Sherwin, As I Remember… is a powerful, new Holocaust memoir. Sherwin writes, “It preserves the voice of a survivor who came to America in 1940— escaping the destruction of her family and community in rural Czechoslovakia. Written in her 90s to help her youngest brother remember, [Maria’s] reflections span prewar Jewish life, wartime trauma, immigration, and postwar resilience.” The Gluck Collection is housed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which preserves the family’s letters, documents, and memorabilia.
1995
Dr. Melanie Jay C’95, a professor of medicine and population health at New York University, recently presented a TEDx talk, which was subsequently named an Editor’s Pick by TEDx Talks. She writes, “In the talk, I explore how a question posed to me by Oprah Winfrey sparked a reflection of my 20 years as a physician–scientist specializing in obesity. I share stories to illustrate both the perils and the promise of the new obesity care medications and reflect on where we’ve been and where we still need to go to transform obesity care. I talk about the new GLP-1 medications, as well as: how my understanding of obesity changed as my career evolved; my experience being on Oprah; my patient who almost died due to obesity stigma; and my little sister’s struggles with medication-induced weight gain. I did this talk because there is so much that the public needs to understand about obesity and what we need to do to improve healthcare for the over 42 percent of Americans with obesity.” Titled “What is the future of obesity care?” her talk can be viewed at youtu.be/4gdWNPQszsM.
Marisa Newman C’95 see Jennie Hirsh C’93 G’98 G’00.
Lisa María Burgess Noudéhou Gr’95 is now hand-stitching quilt art for her multilingual children’s picture books. Her SnowPal Soccer / Les copains de neige jouent au foot is forthcoming in February with Catalyst Press, and the artwork itself will be on show at various locations in the Northeast. Photos of her work and process can be viewed on her website, lisamariaburgess.com.
1997
Stephanie Clintonia Boddie SW’97 SWP’02 has been appointed the Fuller Family Endowed Chair for Social Justice at Baylor University. She joined the Baylor faculty in 2017 and her research centers on food insecurity, poverty and social services, and how churches meet the needs of those around them.
Mehul Vora W’97 is cofounder and CEO of Chordia (chordia.ai), a startup that uses artificial intelligence to improve call center operations. He writes, “Unlike the five major startups that have raised over $3 billion in venture capital funding, we do not promote firing human reps only to replace them with AI agents. Instead, we take a different tact: empower human agents with the best knowledge; unlock the voice of the customer—sample 100% of interactions, not 1–2% (the industry average); and democratize evaluations—use software to fairly, timely, and consistently offer performance reviews and training opportunities to human agents. Our solutions are powered by AI and we are at an early stage with two customers and several pilots underway. We have evaluated 40,000+ calls so far.” Mehul lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, two teenagers, and their dog.
1998
Ashley Wren Collins C’98 see Jordan Rockwell C’00.
Anthony B. Crawford EAS’98 L’12 has joined Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP as chair of the Insurance Coverage Law Practice. With over 13 years of experience managing high-profile insurance cases, Anthony has secured more than $100 million in settlements and judgments. Prior to his legal career, he served as an officer in the US Marine Corps for almost 12 years as a helicopter pilot and held several positions specializing in project management and operations training.
1999
Marilyn Fu C’99 wrote the screenplay for a new film, Rosemead. Inspired by true events and starring Lucy Liu (who also produced the film), it tells the story of a terminally ill Chinese immigrant who, after discovering her teenage son’s violent obsessions, must go to great lengths to protect him. The film made its Philadelphia debut at the Philadelphia Film Festival in October [“Profiles,” this issue], where Liu received the Artistic Achievement Award. It opened in theaters in December.
Gary Kalbaugh GL’99 is a partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP and chair of the law firm’s Commodities, Futures, and Derivatives practice. He writes, “My wife and I have eight children, one dog, two goats, and too many chickens to count.”
2000
Jordan Rockwell C’00 writes, “My short film/cinematic prayer for peace, Traitor, has won several film festival awards, and last weekend, I won Best Director for a Short Film at the Silicon Beach Film Festival. The more eyeballs, the better! In addition, my writing partner Ashley Wren Collins C’98 and I are happy to announce that our romantic comedy novel, She Wrote/He Wrote: A New York Love Story, releases worldwide in May 2026! We can’t wait to join the ‘Penn Authors’ section of the bookstore! Hurrah Hurrah!”
Umberto Taccheri Gr’00 see Jennie Hirsh C’93 G’98 G’00.
Karen Winn Nu’00 is publishing her second novel, The Society, with Dutton/Penguin Random House. She writes, “This twisty literary suspense follows two women whose lives become intertwined amid a notorious secret society in the heart of Boston.” The Society comes out on January 20 and can be ordered wherever books are sold.
2002
Liz Cohen C’02 shares that she has published her “first book, The Future of Tutoring: Lessons from 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives (Harvard Education Press), about how thousands of public schools have used tutoring to address pandemic learning loss, and what this work says about how we can make important changes in public education. I visited 19 schools in seven states and DC to tell the story of schools doing what we rarely give them credit for: trying a big new idea that leads to meaningful differences in kids’ lives.”
2003
Cynthia Ericson W’03 is the vice president of the weed management segment at Corteva Agriscience, an agriculture technology company based in Indianapolis. In this role, she is responsible for the company’s portfolio of weed control products.
Sebastian Sas WG’03 has coauthored a new book with Ilan Greenfield, titled Amatulo: Chronicles of an Argentine Hustler. Sebastian writes, “We call it ‘autobiographical group fiction,’ but at its core, it’s a novel inspired by the true story of my friend Amatulo. It explores many themes, like reinvention, and sparked my own.” He continues, “Around the time I was working on my MBA application, seven years after graduating from college, an Argentine friend told me that one of the world’s most famous billionaires was bringing him to New York, paying for his college, and welcoming him into his family. My friend was a total hustler—no one could even confirm how he graduated high school. I told him it sounded cinematic and that he should write a book. He replied, ‘You go ahead.’ It took me 25 years to start.” Their book is now available on Amazon and Apple Books.
2004
Joe Cohn G’04 L’04 recently joined the faculty of Yale Law School as the executive director of its new Center for Academic Freedom and Free Speech. Joe writes, “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work on such important issues remotely from my horse farm in Southern New Jersey.”
Kimberly Dobson C’04, a partner and shareholder at the law firm Littler, has been honored with the Pillar of the Profession Award from the Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association. From the press materials: “This is due to her remarkable experience and talent… [and] this award stands as a testament to her professional excellence, leadership, and the doors she continues to open for others in the legal community.”
2005
John Barry C’05 has joined the law firm Epstein Becker Green as senior counsel in its Newark, New Jersey, office. John is a member of the firm’s Healthcare and Life Sciences practice group.
2009
Victoria Marie Lees LPS’09 has authored a new memoir, Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College. From the press materials: “With raw honesty and humor, Victoria chronicles her relentless pursuit of education, from community college to an Ivy League scholarship. She juggles coursework, parenting, and self-doubt, to fight for her success.” More information about the book and Victoria can be found on her website, victoriamarielees.com.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
2011
Brian Antar LPS’11 LPS’14 see Bill Carlin W’18.
Rose S. Espinola C’11 and artist Ayeola Omolara Kaplan have collaborated on a project called Jewish Postpartum through the Stories of JOC in the United States. Ayeola created a series of five artworks depicting the postpartum traditions and rituals of Jews of Color in the United States, and Rose curated a chapbook of postpartum stories. The chapbook is available online at roseespinola.com/jewish-postpartum.
2012
Dr. Gina Cotter Russell W’12 M’23 see Bill Cotter ’W’81.
Jabari Zuberi LPS’12 is chief operating officer of the Order of New Arts (ONA), a new free museum in Philadelphia that opened its doors on October 9. Jabari writes, “We unite the public in dialogue with creatives, curators, and scholars to activate our mission through exhibitions, residencies, and educational programming. Grounded in the belief that humanity’s shared histories and migrations connect us all, ONA carves out a new way forward, fostering creative growth and critical reflection on what it means to be human.” For the opening, Jabari curated an inaugural exhibition, Visions of a New Order, which featured six newly commissioned works by Zora J. Murff, Meesha Goldberg, Patricia Renee Thomas, William Camargo, and others. Jabari explains, “Together, these artists explore the origins and evolution of artistic systems and the possibilities for reimagining them in our time.” More information can be found at orderarts.org.
2013
Dr. David Fajgenbaum M’13 WG’15, cofounder of Every Cure, a nonprofit that uses AI to repurpose approved drugs for rare diseases such as the one he has, idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) [“Chasing Every Cure,” Jul Aug 2025], has been recognized with the 2025 John Scott Award. The Scott Award was created in 1815 by Scottish chemist John Scott to honor the scientific legacy of Benjamin Franklin, and it is presented each year in ceremonies at the American Philosophical Society.
Rose Kozar W’13 see Annie Christian C’14.
2014
Annie Christian C’14, vice president of marketing for Courier Health, shares that Penn has the “biggest alumni group” in her company of approximately 65 people. Along with Annie, Caleb Epstein C’22, Rose Kozar W’13, and Beryl Chen C’21 all work for Courier, a New York City-based technology company that aims to improve the patient experience for millions of people living with chronic conditions or rare diseases. Annie adds, “We are hiring and always looking for talented Penn alumni based in New York City!”
Eric Santoli LPS’14 is an artist and teacher currently developing an instructional art and travel series for public television. Eric En Plein Air will provide art instructions while Eric visits different locations to highlight nature and wildlife. In 2023, Eric was artist-in-residence at Claude Monet’s estate in Giverny, France; in 2024, he appeared as a guest on the PBS floral arranging show J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom, on a special “Painting and Flowers” episode. After filming Eric wrote a treatment for his own program and filmed a pilot, which can be viewed at vimeo.com/1077682478. He is currently filming season one and blogging about it on his website, ericenpleinair.com.
2015
Roland F. Rivera Santiago Gr’15 has joined Blank Rome as a patent attorney in the Intellectual Property group at the firm’s New York office. Roland represents clients across a wide array of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agriculture, and commerce.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
2016
Brian C. Chao G’16 Gr’20 has published his first book, Continental Powers and Naval Development: Strategy Coherence, Threat Diffusion, and Success at Sea. He writes, “Based on the political-science doctoral dissertation I wrote at Penn, the book examines how continental great powers have fared at naval development over these past 225 years, with an eye on 21st-century China’s prospects.” Brian is an assistant professor in the Naval War College’s National Security Affairs Department, and an associate at Penn’s Center for the Study of Contemporary China.
Alex Garlick Gr’16, assistant professor of political science at the University of Vermont, has authored a new book, Pre-Existing Conditions: How Lobbying Makes American Health Care More Expensive. The book was recently covered in the October 21 edition of Newsweek magazine (tinyurl.com/garlickbook).
2017
Chloe Kaczvinsky C’17 has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford in biology. Her thesis, entitled “Factors that Influence Pygoscelid Microbiomes Across the Scotia Arc,” focused on Antarctic penguins and their microbiome in a biogeographic context. She will continue working at the intersection of genetics and ecology as a post-doc at Lund University.
2018
Bill Carlin W’18 and Brian Antar LPS’11 LPS’14 are cofounders of Racklify, a platform that connects merchants with 3PL warehouses and logistics service providers. Brian serves as CEO while Bill is chief marketing officer. In just a year since its launch, Racklify now has more than 10,000 warehouses listed on the platform, representing over two billion square feet of logistics space across more than 50 countries.
2020
Edward M. Epstein GrEd’20 is author of Race, Real Estate, and Education: Inventing Gentrification in Philadelphia, 1960–2020. In this book, Edward, director of the Teachers Institute of Philadelphia, explores the role of university-led K–12 educational interventions in Philadelphia’s transition to a postindustrial economy.
Celebrate Your Reunion, May 15–18, 2026!
2021
Beryl Chen C’21 see Annie Christian C’14.
2022
Caleb Epstein C’22 see Annie Christian C’14.
2024
Kade Shippy C’24 W’24 is working in clinical operations at Genentech (Roche Group). This past year, her work has been published by the National Institutes of Health, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology; and with her team she was honored with a Social Impact Telly Award for “Why Advancing Inclusive Research Matters in Ophthalmology Studies.” In addition, Kade was recognized internationally as Miss European Continental New York 2025 and a Top 15 finalist in Miss Universe Jamaica, which she uses as platforms to advocate for STEM careers, health access, and inclusive clinical research participation.
