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Alumni News
Social media sensation Chemical Kim advocates for access to discovery The American Chemical Society (ACS) honored Professor Kimberly Hilton, M.S. ‘96, with the 2022 Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach. The award is presented annually to an ACS member whose outstanding achievements have improved public recognition and appreciation for the contributions of chemistry. Hilton, a chemistry professor at Florida SouthWestern State College, is also known to millions of fans around the world through her in-person and digital public outreach as Chemical Kim. Of particular importance to her is inspiring a young audience, especially those who may not have equal access to scientific discovery as a result of longterm hospitalization, foster care, language barriers or physical or mental disabilities. Her goal is to spark their interest to learn, understand and appreciate chemistry. In the early 2000s, Chemical Kim took her enthusiasm to local airwaves by producing radio spots called “The Chemical Kim Science Minute” as well as an award-winning educational TV show called the “Chemical Kim Science Show.” Over the years, and with the advent of new technology, she has branched out beyond in-person events to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok, generating thousands of followers and millions of viewers who enjoy her engaging presentations. “I am honored to receive this amazing recognition from ACS,” Hilton said. “I make science inclusive and accessible for everyone. I believe the more diversity we bring to science, the faster and greater we will see improvements to our lives and our environment.” Hilton holds a B.S. in chemistry and a secondary education certification from Michigan Technological University, where she was a featured alumnus in the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences in 2018. She earned a master’s degree in chemistry from CMU, where she was the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. In 2011, she was the LGBTQ Pride co-chair in Kalamazoo, and she continues working to improve LGBTQ visibility in STEM education. She is featured on the website 500 Queer Scientists. •
Awards and honors for CMU Chippewas
Henry Ford College named Holly Diamond, M.S.A. ‘01, vice president of student affairs. Diamond has spent her career in higher education, including in several roles at HFC and eight years at University of Michigan–Dearborn. Chris Fowler, ‘16, has been named an assistant coach for Western Michigan University’s men’s basketball team. He spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Northern Arizona University, and before that he was a graduate assistant for the Michigan State men’s basketball team for two seasons. Fowler was a four-year team captain for CMU’s men’s basketball team, finishing his career as the record holder in assists, free throw attempts and made free throws. Tobin J. Williams, ‘80, M.P.A. ‘83, has been named Stellantis North America’s senior vice president for human resources in North America. Stellantis is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider. Prior to joining the company, Williams held several HR leadership roles in the U.S. and abroad, including a 35-year career with General Motors. Justin Peterson, ‘08, was named only the third director of campus recreation in the University of Louisville’s history. Each of the previous two directors held the position for 40 and 41 years respectively. As a student at CMU, Peterson was a sports official and supervisor in the intramural sports program. He’s been at Louisville since 2010. >
Jakob Marsee, a nondegree-holding alumnus, was selected by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball draft this summer. In the 2022 season, he hit .345 for CMU with 66 RBIs and seven home runs, earning FirstTeam All-MAC honors. Amy Clouse, ’17, has been named principal of Clara Bolen Elementary School in the Tawas Area Schools district in northeastern Michigan. She has a background in classroom teaching and spent time as a Title I interventionist, literacy coach and school improvement team leader. Brig. Gen. David Foley, M.S.A. ’05, was named the deputy commanding general of education for the Combined Arms Center, the provost for Army University and the deputy commandant of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Since he was commissioned in 1994, he has held command positions at bases across the country and in Afghanistan.
Adam Gulick, ’17, joins the South Plains College men’s basketball program in Texas as an assistant coach. He began his coaching career at Grand Rapids Community College before heading to roles as a graduate assistant at Florida State and an assistant coach and interim head coach at Colby Community College in Kansas. Sharida Lewis, ’98, has been named principal of Royal Oak High School. She spent 19 years as an International Baccalaureate math teacher at Renaissance High School in Detroit and Harrison High School in Farmington before becoming associate principal at Bloomfield Hills High School. Cynthia Villaire, ’79, M.A. ’82, is one of just 20 women who own and operate McDonald’s restaurants in Michigan. Recently, Villaire and her family added 10 locations to their portfolio, including stores in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Indian River, Mio, Rose City and more. Villaire became Michigan’s second female owner/operator in the state when she bought her first restaurant in 1994. Now, she works to mentor the next generation of female franchisees in the company. Laura Orta, ’06, has been hired as Ann Arbor’s first director of organizational equity, a new position created by the city’s administration. She leads the city’s DEI efforts and has expertise in traumainformed practices and working with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities and organizations. She previously served as CMU’s diversity coordinator and director of women’s studies. Lisa Slappy, M.S.A. ’00, is the new chief communications officer for Carroll Community College. Prior to joining the Westminster, Maryland, school, she was CCO of a federal contracting staffing company, providing strategic communication counsel and stewarding relationships. Adam LaLonde, ’03, was inducted into the USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame this fall. The former USA Softball Men’s National Team outfielder/catcher from Cheboygan played for Team USA from 1999 to 2007. He is the assistant coach and director of recruiting for the University of Missouri softball team. Robin Carter-Cooper, M.S.A. ’09, has been appointed global director of talent and diversity and inclusion for Danfoss Power Solutions, a global provider of mobile hydraulic and electrification products and solutions headquartered in Ames, Iowa. She joins the human resources leadership team in Grand Blanc for this newly created position, bringing 10 years of experience in DEI work. Melanie Kalmar, ’87, received a prestigious CIO of the Year ORBIE Award, recognizing technology executives for outstanding leadership and the business value created by technology innovation. Kalmar is the chief information officer and chief digital officer for Dow.
Crain’s Detroit’s 2022 class of 40 Under 40 features a quartet of CMU Chippewas this year. They are: • Lorron James, ’08, CEO of James Group Inc. • Katlyn McBrady, ’09, president of Atwater Brewery. • Robert Schumaker Jr., ’07, CFO of the Detroit
Zoological Society. • Mary Sheffield, M.S.A. ’15, president of the
Detroit City Council. •
Connectivity and Affordability.
