“I’m continuing to collect antique cars and make wine from fruit I grow on my 170-acre farm in Pitman, Pennsylvania.”
—Gerald “Jerry” Nesvold GrEd’74
1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s
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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.
1956
Arnold G. Regardie W’56 writes, “I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book, The Pearl Harbor Congressional Cover-Up: A True Account of How a Partisan Congress Misled the American People on the Pearl Harbor Attack, December 7, 1941. Featuring Historic Lessons on the Failure of Leadership to Foresee the Attack and to Avert War with Japan. It is based on a congressional report released on July 20, 1946, after a lengthy joint committee investigation of the attack. Release of the report followed an 8–2 vote of the 10-member committee. The book focuses on the well-documented views of the two dissenting senators, both Republicans, who believed that the report was misleading to the American people as to responsibility for America’s unpreparedness for the attack.”
1962
Steve Stovall W’62 ASC’63 see Seth Bergmann GEE’73.
Mier Wolf C’62 was recently honored as a distinguished alumnus of his hometown high school in Austin, Minnesota. He writes, “My wife Cathy, daughter Joanna Wolf C’97, and Joanna’s older sons, Jamie and Tyler, accompanied me back to Minnesota for homecoming weekend in September. I was presented an award at a full school assembly where I addressed the 9th through 12th grades. The theme of the message was to encourage students to engage, using the examples of the Parkland students on gun control and Greta Thunberg on climate change. I was honored for my professional and volunteer achievements after college, grad school, and later law school. While serving as a trial attorney for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, DC, I was on the Chevy Chase (Maryland) Town Council for 24 years, and I served as mayor for nine of those years. Austin is the home of Spam, so a tour of the Spam Museum was arranged, as well as a ride in a classic car in the homecoming parade. Thomas Wolfe said, ‘You can’t go home again,’ but I think you can, depending upon your memories and the realities of today.”
1963
Idaherma Williams GFA’63 shares that the Idaherma Museum of Art Foundation is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She writes, “In the second year of ‘The Ida,’ we will have our second annual art competition. Prizes will be given, and we are happy to have new donations in honor of loved ones. Go to www.idaherma.org to donate.” Idaherma’s latest art exhibitions have been in Barcelona at the 39th International de Cadaques, and a print exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was included in the Philadelphia Water Color Society’s 2020 show and the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Art of the Flower 2020. She also won third prize in the Medals Show at the Plastic Club in Philadelphia in 2019.
1965
Natvar Bhavsar GFA’65 exhibited his artwork at the Philadelphia Art Alliance’s “Invisible City Philadelphia and the Vernacular Avant-Garde” exhibition, January 21–April 4 [“Alumni Profiles,” Mar|Apr 2018].
Richard Kopelman W’65 WG’67 writes, “For the past 15 years I have been working on a book that essentially culminates my nearly 50-year career at Baruch College.” A professor of management, he has written Improving Organizational Performance: The Cube One Framework (Routledge, 2019). From the press materials, “[The book] provides a basis for understanding, diagnosing, and improving organizational performance. It is based on the premise that successful organizations enact practices that satisfy three key constituents: the enterprise itself, customers, and employees.”
1969
Dr. Patricia Gabow M’69 GM’70 GM’73 has published TIME’S NOW for Women Healthcare Leaders: A Guide for the Journey. From the book’s summary: “This is a practical how-to book that will help women in healthcare envision their ability to contribute and inspire them to lead.”
Jeffrey David Jubelirer W’69 has written a new book of poetry, Rising Determined to Live (2020).
Subhash Singhal Gr’69 received the Electrochemical Society’s inaugural Subhash Singhal Award, which is named after him, at the 16th International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, held in Kyoto, Japan, in September. The award recognizes “excellence and exceptional research contributions of distinguished researchers to the science and engineering of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and electrolyzers (SOEC), materials, processes, and manufacturing.” Additionally, Subhash was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in science and technology by the University of Tartu, Estonia, in recognition of his “outstanding achievements in the development of renewable energy in the world and for integrating the electrochemistry researchers of the University of Tartu into the international electrochemical community, during the centenary celebrations of the university, December 2019.”
1970
Michael A. “Mickey” Kaufman EE’70 C’71 has authored a new series of seven children’s books, known as Fox & Camel, intended for three- to seven-year-olds. The books include Raindrops, The Sleepover, The Track Meet, Vacation Time, The Unicorn, The Stamp Collection, and The Ice Cream Cone, and they can be found at www.foxncamel.com (softcover editions are also available on Amazon). Mickey writes, “The stories are somewhat biographical. For example, my son, Alex S. Kaufman C’03, threw the javelin for Penn, hence the track meet story; and my older daughter, Mandy, who graduated from Michigan in 2004, is now an excellent skier, but in her ski first lesson, ‘S’ turns were converted to a straight downhill run! The central themes include: good sportsmanship, patience, honesty, getting along with siblings, learning how to share, and other important early life lessons. These books are an outgrowth of stories I told to my youngest of three children, Andrea, as she was growing up, to keep her entertained when we went on vacation. Andrea grew to love Fox & Camel stories, and eventually asked me to write them down, but being a corporate lawyer for Johnson & Johnson didn’t allow me the time. Upon my retirement from J&J, in September 2016 after 37 years, Andrea, now 23, reiterated her request, as did my wife, Sherryl. I wrote these books over the course of the last two years, collaborated with an illustrator, and had a book launch and signing in our home in East Brunswick, New Jersey, on September 15. For me, writing was a nice, relaxing change of pace from lawyering.”
Thomas J. Madden ASC’70 has written a new book, Love Boat 78. He writes, “The book is about my search for love and companionship on the internet, following the death of my beloved wife, Angela, to whom I was married 54 years. So where did I find my next wife? In a neighborhood sports bar called Duffy’s. So the internet is not always the answer.”
1971
Ted Munice W’71 writes, “I retired last April after being a consulting actuary for over four decades. Since then, I’ve busied myself with learning bridge, going to discussion groups on how to solve the world’s problems, auditing classes at Rutgers on international organization, and politics and culture. And of course, my wife and I also spend time with our three grandchildren. I highly recommend grandchildren. Then some days I wake up with nothing to do. And I am absolutely OK with that.”
Dr. David G Young III C’71, a retired brigadier general in the US Air Force, has completed his four-year term as member and then chair of the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ $1.2 billion National Research Advisory Council, and received a certificate in recognition of his service from VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. David writes, “While on active duty, I commanded the Air Force’s two largest teaching and research medical centers and served for five years as the USAF assistant surgeon general for the Medical Corps. As captain and commodore of the Penn 1971 heavyweight varsity rowing team, I’m hopeful that classmates and especially rowers start planning now for our 50th reunion in 2021!”
1973
Seth Bergmann GEE’73 writes, “I competed in the USATF National Club Cross Country Championship at Lehigh University on December 14, finishing 10th among men 70 and over on the 8K course. Congrats to Steve Stovall W’62 ASC’63 for completing a triathlon at age 78!” [“Alumni Notes,” Jan|Feb 2020.]
Mark Teaford C’73 was awarded the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award from the American Association for Anatomy, the association’s highest award for anatomy education. Mark writes, “I graduated from Penn in 1973 with a degree in anthropology. After grad school at the University of Illinois, I took a postdoc in anatomy at Johns Hopkins University in the School of Medicine. I then stayed on as a faculty member, rising up through the ranks to full professor, before retiring in 2011. During my last 15 years there, I directed the Medical Gross Anatomy course taught to first-year medical students. I then moved to High Point University to help design a new anatomy lab as part of their School of Health Sciences. More recently, in 2015, I moved to Touro University California to help revamp their anatomy program.”
1974
Zvi Feine Gr’74 writes, “I have written Partnerships, Challenges, and Transitions: Jewish Communal Service in Romania and Poland, 1986–2002 (Gefen, 2019). The book describes working with both Jewish communities, within the constraints of Communism, the violent December 1989 revolution in Romania, the more peaceful transition in Poland, and the aftermath of transition to democracy. It also describes the challenges of effective communal service in turbulent times, carried out as the representative of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC), and navigating a complex and delicate web of history, religious and cultural mores, personalities, ideals, and hopes. This culminates a career of 34 years with the AJJDC, during which I also served as deputy director of JDC-Israel, chief program officer, and director of North Africa/Asia. I reside in Israel, in Jerusalem, and currently enjoy retirement as a volunteer senior consultant to AJJDC. I’m married to Dr. Ruth Feine and have five children and 12 grandchildren.”
Stephen Hall ChE’74, chief process engineer at Genesis AEC, has been elected as the 2020 Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year by the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia. The award is presented to “a standout local engineer who emulates the qualities and talents that define professional excellence, civic duty, society leadership, and community stewardship.”
Gerald “Jerry” Nesvold GrEd’74 has retired after a long career in education, serving as principal of Williams Valley Junior Senior High School and North Schuylkill Junior Senior High School; and superintendent of Shenandoah Valley School District and Shamokin Area School District, all in Pennsylvania. He also taught a graduate education course for aspiring principals at Alvernia University for several years after retirement, and he served as interim superintendent of schools for North Schuylkill School District. He writes, “I’m continuing to collect antique cars and make wine from fruit I grow on my 170-acre farm in Pitman, Pennsylvania. My son is H. Peter Nesvold C’93, and my granddaughter is in the class of 2023 at Penn.”
John Quelch WG’74, Leonard M. Miller University Professor, vice provost, and dean of the business school at the University of Miami, received this year’s William L. Wilkie “Marketing for a Better World” Award from the American Marketing Association Foundation.
1975
Brad Borkan C’75 G’79 writes, “I recently returned from Antarctica. On the morning of the day that we visited Sir Ernest Shackleton’s grave, I was invited to give a guest lecture to the 114 passengers on the ship. The lecture was based on the book that I coauthored, titled When Your Life Depends on It: Extreme Decision Making Lessons from the Antarctic [“Briefly Noted,” Jan|Feb 2018]. The book focuses on the life-and-death decisions made by early Antarctic explorers like Shackleton. It also looks at what we can learn from their situations to help improve our modern-day decision-making.”
Allan Kanner C’75, founder and senior partner at the New Orleans-based law firm Kanner & Whiteley LLC, reports that his firm was named the 2020 Environmental Protection Law Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal.
1976
Robert Gibson C’76 writes, “I am pleased to announce the birth of my first grandchild, Filippa ‘Pippa’ Helena, a Penn Class of 2042 aspirant. Pippa joined us on January 14 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, and she is the proud daughter of Aly Gibson C’08 and Matt Marcucci C’09, and niece of Lauren Gibson C’11.”
1977
Timothy Houghton C’77 has published his seventh book of poetry, Where the Lighthouse Begins (Salmon Poetry, 2020).
C. Robert Paul C’77 joined the Morrisville (Pennsylvania) Borough Council in January following his election last November. Bob serves as vice president of the council.
Ed Rivkin C’77 has been honored by the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey with its H. Richard Dollinger Community Service Award. This award is given to a community leader that has given their time and effort to benefit the Jewish community over a significant time span. Ed writes, “My tenure is more than two decades of volunteer service in the southern New Jersey community. I am currently an officer, chair four committees, and serve on an additional 10 boards and committees within the Jewish Federation and its agencies.”
1978
Dr. Harold M Levy C’78 D’84 writes, “I sold my private dental practice in Pikesville, Maryland, to go full time into my position as a general practice group clinical director at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in Baltimore. I married Laura Silberg Miller, an accomplished NICU nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, on Thanksgiving Day 2018, with our children attending the small ceremony.”
1979
Stuart Beckerman C’78, a zoning and land use attorney, is now a partner at Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP, which recently merged with his former law practice, Slater & Beckerman P.C.
1980
Andrew Kassner C’80 is cochair of Faegre Drinker, the combined law firms of Faegre Baker Daniels and Drinker Biddle & Reath, which launched global operations in February.
Marilynn Katatsky WG’80 has been named Best-in-State Wealth Advisor for 2020 by Forbes magazine. She writes, “After almost 25 years practicing at Morgan Stanley in the Baltimore/Washington, DC, area, I’m now based in beautiful Naples, Florida, where I focus on retirement, philanthropy, and wealth transfer.”
Dr. Vincent J. Palusci C’80 writes, “I’m writing to announce my seventh book, Unexplained Pediatric Deaths: Investigation, Certification, and Family Needs (Academic Forensic Pathology International, 2019). I live in Manhattan with my wife, Roslyn Scheiber Palusci C’80, and am professor of pediatrics at the NYU School of Medicine. Son John Palusci C’09 WG’15 and his wife, Meredith Boehm Palusci C’09 Nu’10 GNu’14, live in Concord, Massachusetts; and daughter Katie Palusci Siegel W’11 lives with her husband, Professor Joshua Siegel, in Novi, Michigan.”
1981
Karen Reardon C’81, associate professor of management and leadership at La Salle University, is lead editor of In Living Color: An Anthology of Contemporary Student Writings on Race (2020). She writes, “The book is the result of a cross-campus initiative to give student voices on this important topic a wider audience. It is appropriate for classroom use as well as professional workshops and retreats on diversity and inclusion.”
Amy Shuman Gr’81, a professor of English, anthropology, and folklore studies at Ohio State University, received the 2019 Lifetime Scholarly Achievement Award from the American Folklore Society.
Amy Stern C’81, senior vice president of 3E Public Relations, participated in a webinar hosted by The Food Institute on April 2, 2019, entitled, “Taking Vertical Farming to New Heights: Discover Marketing Opportunities for Disruptor and Traditional Brands” (more information at bit.ly/2PXKWUv). Using AeroFarms as a case study, she addressed ways that innovations in public relations can help companies, from disruptors to traditional brands, achieve their marketing goals. During her tenure as a publicist, Amy has represented nationally recognized brands like French’s Mustard, Duncan Hines, Finlandia Cheese, and Cuisinart, as well as up-and-coming brands looking to take center stage.
1982
Dr. Stephen P. Niemczyk D’82 GD’84, an assistant program director at Albert Einstein Medical Center with the Department of Dental Medicine and Post Graduate Endodontics, was presented with the Calvin D. Torneck Part-Time Educator Award from the American Association of Endodontists in April.
1983
Dr. Marc J. Kahn C’83 M’87 GM’90 has been appointed dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, after serving as the senior associate dean and Peterman Prosser Professor at Tulane University School of Medicine. Marc was also elected as a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London, this past October and was elected as a master of the American College of Physicians. His new book, The Business Basics of Building and Managing a Healthcare Practice, was published by Springer Nature in November 2019.
Peggy Wilmoth Gr’83, the first female and nurse to serve as deputy surgeon general for the Army Reserve, was inducted into the US Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame on March 11.
1984
Michael S. Kutzin W’84 became a partner at the law firm of McCarthy Fingar LLP in White Plains, New York, in February, after practicing with his prior firm for 18 years. He writes, “I will be continuing my work in the areas of estate planning and administration, estate litigation, and guardianships. In addition, I am coauthoring New York Elder Law, published by Matthew Bender and Company this summer. My wife, Wendy North, and I remain ensconced in Scarsdale, New York. Our daughter, Caroline, is a senior at Skidmore College, majoring in marketing; and our son, Matthew, is a freshman at NYU studying filmmaking—he wants to be the next Martin Scorsese. I’d love to hear from fellow Quakers. Feel free to email me at my new email address, mkutzin@mccarthyfingar.com.”
1985
Urban Carmel W’85 was elected to a four-year term on the Mill Valley (California) City Council. He will serve as city mayor in 2022.
Jeffrey Fink C’85 has been named a partner in the Wellesley, Massachusetts, law firm of Kerstein, Coren & Lichtenstein, where he practices business law and dispute resolution.
1986
David Blatte W’86 and Sue Dreier Wishnow C’86 write, “Greetings ’86ers! We know you want to keep up on what’s happening on campus and with our classmates, so please take one quick minute to send your current email address to dcblatte@gmail.com. We’ll update you on Penn happenings as well as our upcoming 35th reunion, in May 2021, which we’ve just started planning. We also send out quarterly newsletters and want to make sure everyone has been receiving them. And please join our Facebook Group by searching for ‘UPenn Class of ’86.’”
Janet Byron C’86 writes, “I recently joined the Permanente Federation as manager of editorial services, after seven years as senior communications consultant in the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. I’m also the coauthor of Berkeley Walks (Roaring Forties Press, 2015), a book of 21 self-guided walking tours in Berkeley, California. In addition, I’m a semi-newlywed, having married Steven Price, principal of Urban Advantage, in August 2018. My daughter, Julia Wineger, is a junior at Berkeley High. I’d love to hear from old Penn friends at janetlesliebyron@gmail.com.”
David Steerman C’86, a partner at the law firm Klehr Harrison, was a course planner and moderator at a Parenting Coordination Program that took place in Philadelphia on March 2 at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. In addition to helping plan the entirety of the course, he moderated the section “Resistance and Refusal/Alienation and Estrangement—Identification and Explanation: What every PC should know about this topic.”
1987
Dennis Coffey C’87 writes, “I am working part-time as a chauffeur for Maine Limousine Service in Scarborough, Maine. I’d like to extend an invitation to any alumni living in or visiting the Portland area to consider calling Maine Limo at 207-883-0222 for any of their transportation needs.”
Judith Reich L’87 is executive partner of Faegre Drinker, the combined law firms of Faegre Baker Daniels and Drinker Biddle & Reath, which launched global operations in February.
1991
Danné L. Johnson C’91, a law professor at Oklahoma City University, has received the Marian P. Opala Award for Lifetime Achievement in Law from the university.
Dr. Maribeth Schreder LeBreton GNu’91 GNu’95 was selected to be one of three finalists for the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania in the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse category. The award recognizes nurses demonstrating excellence in nursing, influencing the quality of patient care, creating a collaborative environment for the practice of nursing, modeling care and compassion, and contributing to healing and health in the community. Maribeth, a registered nurse for over 38 years, is managing clinician of Care Connections at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
1992
Rebecca Bratspies L’92, a law professor at CUNY School of Law, has been appointed to the New York City Environmental Justice Advisory Board by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The board aims to create an environmental justice plan for the city, as well as develop public-facing data and educational materials.
Meera Joshi C’92 L’95 has been named principal and New York general manager of Sam Schwartz, an engineering, planning, and consulting firm headed by Sam Schwartz GCE’70 [“Street Fighter,” Mar|Apr 2016]. Meera is the former chair and CEO of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. She writes, “In this time of rapid change in the transportation and infrastructure fields, I am excited to lead one of the region’s most talented group of planners and engineers as we provide solutions that increase mobility, safety, and sustainability for all.”
Linda Thatcher Raichle Gr’92 has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions in recognition of a lifetime of dedication to healthcare education and significant career contributions to the organization, and more broadly to the promotion of a healthy world. Linda was also the 2019 recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award from Holy Family University. Recently retired, she spent over 30 years in the field of continuing medical education teaching physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers about new medicines to improve patient care. She served in leadership roles in multiple medical societies and pharmaceutical companies.
1993
Theodore H. (Lewis) Schmiechen EAS’93 writes, “I’ve legally changed my last name to Schmiechen, matching that of my husband, John Schmiechen.”
H. Peter Nesvold C’93 see Gerald “Jerry” Nesvold GrEd’74.
1994
James P. Rosenzweig C’94 has joined Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP as a partner in its Real Estate, Banking and Finance, and Restaurant and Hospitality practice groups.
1995
Kenneth J. Braithwaite II G’95, a retired rear admiral of the US Navy and current US ambassador to Norway, has been nominated by President Donald J. Trump W’68 to be the next secretary of the Navy.
1997
Christopher R. Friese Nu’97 GNu’01 Gr’05, a professor of nursing at the University of Michigan, has been named associate director for cancer control and population sciences at the university’s Rogel Cancer Center.
Jennifer Khoury Newcomb ASC’97 has been promoted to chief communications officer at Comcast. She will oversee the company’s external and internal corporate communications.
Joanna Wolf C’97 see Mier Wolf C’62.
1998
Doug Stambaugh W’98 has been promoted to vice president, director of strategic operations and business development for Simon & Schuster. He writes, “My team and I are responsible for the company’s business development, strategic initiatives, and business operations. Outside of work, I recently completed my dissertation on Chinese–Latin American relations to complete an MA in global diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London.” Doug expects to graduate with distinction this summer.
1999
Edward W. Chang C’99 has been appointed to the board of directors of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The group’s mission is to create a nationwide network of trails and more bikeable and walkable communities in the United States. Edward is a partner at Blank Rome and vice chair of the firm’s Consumer Finance Litigation group.
Alicia Syrett W’99 writes, “My husband, James Major, and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our daughter, Alexis Sabine ‘BB’ Major, on December 1 in New York.”
2000
Tom Kozlik G’00, head of municipal strategy and credit at HilltopSecurities, was recently elected to Smith’s Research and Gradings 2019 Municipal Analysts All-Star Team, one of the highest honors in public finance. While at Penn, Tom served as the founder and editor of the Fels Journal of City and State Public Affairs. He also teaches a graduate level public finance course at the University.
Rebecca Kirsch Schiz C’00 and Douglas Schiz welcomed daughter Emily Alicia on February 7. Rebecca writes, “Two-year-old Henry is a proud big brother and is looking forward to bringing her to campus soon!”
2001
Eric Lomazoff C’01 writes, “The 2018–2019 academic year was a pretty, pretty, pretty good one for me. In October 2018, the University of Chicago Press published my first book, Reconstructing the National Bank Controversy: Politics and Law in the Early American Republic. And in May 2019, I earned tenure at Villanova University and was promoted to the rank of associate professor of political science.”
2003
Kimberly Meltzer ASC’03 Gr’07 writes, “The paperback edition of my second book, From News to Talk: The Expansion of Opinion and Commentary in US Journalism, was published in January 2020 by the State University of New York Press (the hardcover was published in April 2019). Drawing on more than 30 interviews with journalists and other industry professionals and a decade of published journalistic materials, the book tracks the movement toward opinion and commentary—or talk—in television, online, print, and radio news. A key part of this work are journalists’ perspectives on civility, or the lack thereof, in public discourse. From CNN’s Brian Stelter, to Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo, the Washington Post’s Paul Farhi, and many other journalists from CBS, USA Today, POLITICO, and HuffPost, the interviewees are key figures in journalism.” Kimberly is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.
Alexander Rivera CGS’03 writes, “Jessica Kroes and I were married on February 22 in Cartagena, Colombia, surrounded by family and friends. We live in Center City Philadelphia. Jessica is an ob-gyn at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, and I lead digital strategy and content distribution at the Philadelphia Inquirer. “
2004
Jody Alessandrine G’04 has been appointed director and CEO of Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities in Cape May, New Jersey, which promotes the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region.
Elizabeth Lange C’04, an attorney, has been elected partner at Faegre Drinker. She works out of the firm’s Philadelphia office and represents public and private clients in a variety of corporate and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, venture investing, corporate governance, ongoing compliance with federal securities laws, and general business counseling.
Emily Loeb C’04, a partner at Jenner & Block, has been named cochair of the firm’s Government Controversies and Public Policy Litigation Practice. Prior to joining Jenner & Block, she served as associate counsel in the Office of the White House Counsel. The National Law Journal profiled her in its March issue as one of Washington, DC’s next generation of crisis management lawyers, or “DC Fixers.”
2005
Paul M. Farber C’05, artistic director of Monument Lab and a senior research scholar at Penn’s Center for Public Art and Space, has published A Wall of Our Own: An American History of the Berlin Wall (University of North Carolina Press, 2020).
2006
Kimberly Siegal Esterkin C’06 writes, “As a proud older sister, I’d like to congratulate my sister Brittany Siegal Mennuti W’09 on the start of her incredible passion project, Cheese the Day. While Brittany has a very successful career at Facebook, with a love for food and an incomparable creative eye, Brittany has somehow found the time in her busy day to take a traditional cheese plate and makes it so much more. Smoked mozzarella and fresh gouda are accompanied by truffle almonds, dried figs, and chocolate covered cashews. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water, but my words do not do it justice. Check out these artistic masterpieces on Instagram @cheese_the_day_.”
Michael D. Sloan C’06 has been elected as a shareholder at the law firm Carlton Fields. He works out of the West Palm Beach office in Florida.
David Snyder C’06 has been promoted to partner at the law firm Akin Gump. He works out of the New York office.
2008
Alexandra Gibson C’08 see Robert Gibson C’76.
Douglass Stewart EAS’08 WG’16 see Melissa Garcia Stewart Nu’09 GNu’13.
2009
Matthew A. Marcucci C’09, an associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department at Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., has received Long Island Business News’ 40 Under 40 Award. Matthew was also selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2018 and 2019. See also Robert Gibson C’76.
Brittany Siegal Mennuti W’09 see Kimberly Siegal Esterkin C’06.
John Palusci C’09 WG’15 see Dr. Vincent J. Palusci C’80.
Meredith Boehm Palusci C’09 Nu’10 GNu’14 see Dr. Vincent J. Palusci C’80.
Melissa Garcia Stewart Nu’09 GNu’13 writes, “Douglass Stewart EAS’08 WG’16 and I are proud to welcome our second child, Clara Maria Garcia Stewart. Clara was born at Bryn Mawr Birth Center on December 26, weighed seven pounds and three ounces, and measured 19-3/4 inches long.”
Pamela Yau C’09 has been promoted to the position of assistant teaching professor of arts administration and museum leadership at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. She has previously taught in Columbia University’s Teachers College’s graduate arts administration program. Prior to teaching, Pamela had spent the past decade working in arts marketing and public relations and had served as the special projects coordinator for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy.
2010
Sean Homsher GEd’10 writes, “I’m proud to announce the opening of Blue Bell Equine Assisted Therapy (www.bluebellequineassistedtherapy.com), in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Because horses are particularly patient, perceptive, and attuned to displays of anger, fear, agitation, and despair, they are able to mirror human moods in a nonjudgmental way without motive, or expectations. As a person in therapy bonds with a horse, self-awareness grows and emotional healing often takes place. Traditional talk therapy is also offered to clients seeking assistance with anxiety and depression, autism spectrum disorder, parenting and children’s behavioral issues, grief illness and end of life, relationships, separation and divorce, sports and artistic performance anxiety, LGBTQIA issues, and personal empowerment through my psychotherapy practice Blue Bell Mental Health (www.bluebellmentalhealth.com).”
Megan Nelson Ratwani Nu’10 GNu’15 writes, “Connor Ratwani was born August 5. He joins his sister Charlotte (five) and brother Patrick (three). I currently work at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, where I have been since graduation as I was a Sands Scholar.”
2011
Lauren Gibson C’11 see Robert Gibson C’76.
Dr. Katie Marks-Cogan GM’11 and her team at Ready, Set, Food secured a deal of $350,000 from investor Mark Cuban on the January 19 episode of Shark Tank. Their start-up offers all-natural food allergy prevention products for babies. The clip can be viewed at bit.ly/30Q7ZEZ.
Katie Palusci Siegel W’11 see Dr. Vincent J. Palusci C’80.
2012
Bethany Donaphin WG’12, head of operations at the WNBA, has been included in Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” list for 2020.
Natalie Franke C’12 is cofounder of Rising Tide, a community of freelancers, and head of community at HoneyBook, a business and financial management platform for freelancers. She has been featured in Huffington Post, New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Bustle, and speaks at 15–20 conferences per year. Learn more about her endeavors on Instagram or Twitter @nataliefranke.
2014
Heidi K. Ricker GNu’14 writes, “We just had our second baby, Xander Michael Ricker. He was born on November 4.”
2015
Akshay Khanna G’15 WG’15, general manager of sports at StubHub, has been included in Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” list for 2020.
Katelyn Wright GNu’15 writes, “We recently welcomed our third baby into our family. Silas Grey was born on December 5 at 4:40 p.m., weighing seven pounds and four ounces. Little man completes our family.”
2016
Nick Cherukuri LPS’16 is founder and CEO of ThirdEye, creator of the lightest MR glasses at just 300 grams (called X2 MR Glasses). He writes, “At Wharton, I started an AR/VR club that quickly grew to several hundred participants. Using a combination of that experience and bringing in experienced engineers, I was able to create ThirdEye in 2016, which has grown rapidly since.” Nick holds multiple patents in the augmented and mixed reality field, and he is a recent Forbes 30 Under 30 award recipient in Enterprise Technology.
Travis Mitchell GEd’16 has joined Maryland Public Television as senior vice president and chief content officer. Prior to this appointment, he was chief content officer for University of North Carolina Television.
2018
Aaishwariya Gulani W’18 was recently selected to be Miss India USA 2019–20 at a beauty contest for young women of Indian descent who are residents of the United States. Aaishwariya will go on to represent the United States at the Miss India Worldwide pageant in Mumbai in October. Aaishwariya writes, “I am humbled and honored and want to truly thank the entire Penn and Wharton community for all the support and experience I gained during my time there. As a proud Penn alumna, I will always look back to my time at Penn as some of the best and formative years of my life which have truly shaped me to be who I am today and to receive this great title.”
Anthony R. C. Hita GFA’18, an architectural conservator at LimeWorks.us, writes, “I was recently appointed by the City Council of Doylestown Borough (Pennsylvania) to serve a three-year term on the Historic and Architecture Review Board. HARB reviews and advises the City Council on external changes to historic buildings in the Borough’s historic district.”
Tiffany Yau C’18 SPP’19 is founder and CEO of Fulphil, a nonprofit that teaches high school students social entrepreneurship skills. Recently, she was interviewed for a Forbes article, which can be viewed at bit.ly/2TS00FM (“Bringing Entrepreneurship Education to Students in Underserved Communities: Interview with Tiffany Yau,” January 16, 2020). Tiffany writes, “I am pursuing this full time out of my passion for wanting to inspire more students and youth to give back to Philadelphia instead of leaving it for other cities.”
