ALUMNI NEWS IN THIS ISSUE

CLASS NOTES

Dear Alumni,

PROFILES

Megan Thoben, ‘10

Briana Persley, ‘97 ‘22

Lizette Rogers, ‘16

David, ‘07 ‘17, and Rebecca Fifer, ‘08

My time serving as your president of the Eastern Kentucky University International Alumni Association is quickly coming to a close. While previously serving in several positions on the Alumni Board, being selected to serve as your president has truly been an honor. During this time, I have had the opportunity to renew relationships with multiple organizations on campus, in particular the ROTC department and the Greek fraternity of Kappa Alpha Order.

I was initially asked to join the Alumni Board as the ROTC representative and gladly accepted this position. I was commissioned as an Army officer through this program in 1972 and made a 20-year career through it. EKU’s ROTC department continues to train, develop and commission outstanding future military leaders. Each school year in December and May, I attend their commissioning ceremony and watch our country’s future leaders begin their careers. I also enjoy the opportunity to meet the cadets at the annual Military Ball.

For many years, EKU has hosted a Veteran’s Day ceremony at the Chapel and Veterans Memorial in Powell Plaza. This provides a great opportunity to meet with a number of ROTC alumni of years past. With the Powell Plaza now renovated to accommodate student activities, the Veterans Memorial is being relocated to the north end of the Carloftis Garden. The new location offers enhanced visibility to the campus and surrounding community, representing the high standard EKU holds to honor those who served and sacrificed so much. I am looking forward to it being rededicated soon.

For a comprehensive list of Class Notes or to share your good news with fellow alumni, visit alumni.eku.edu/ Class-Notes

We want to hear from you!

Another campus area I have enjoyed reconnecting with through my work on the Alumni Board is Greek Life. As a new student at Eastern, I became interested in joining this vibrant community. After meeting with multiple fraternities, I pledged with Kappa Alpha Order my sophomore year. The fraternal relationship I developed with my brothers in those years continues through today. I’ve enjoyed meeting with a number of the current officers and members at football tailgate and pledge parties.

While my duties with the Alumni Board will soon be completed, I will continue to be involved with and support the Campus Beautiful by volunteering with Freshman Move-In Day, attending athletic events and advocating to others at every opportunity. It is my greatest joy to share what an exceptional university we have here in Eastern. Go Colonels!

Bob Sullivan

Bob Sullivan, ’72

Class Notes

Roy Kidd, ‘55 ‘61 , former EKU head football coach, was named the recipient of the 2023 AFCA Amos Alonzo Stagg Award.

Ronald Keith Curry, ‘57 ‘58 , (deceased) was inducted to the University of Pikeville Distinguished Educators Hall of Fame.

Dr. Marshall Myers, ‘66 , retired EKU professor emeritus of English, published his sixth book, “Enslavement in Kentucky.”

Addie Henry, ‘67 ‘71 , was inducted into the 14th class of the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame.

Charlie Walton, ‘70 , was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Eastern Kentucky University Hall of Fame as a member of the 1967 Grantland Rice Bowl team.

Harold Rainwater, ‘74 , was elected to another four-year term as mayor of Wilmore, KY. Rainwater was first elected mayor in 1976 and is currently the fifth longest-serving mayor in the U.S.

Huston Wells, ‘74 ‘81, retired after serving nearly 35 years in office in Franklin County.

JoEllen Reed, ‘75 ‘79, was voted Winchester’s new mayor and the first female mayor in the city’s history.

Kathy Sanders, ‘75, retired from Columbus Regional Hospital after 29 years of service.

Dr. Robert W. Robertson, ‘78 , was appointed president and CEO of the University College of the Cayman Islands and was also named a senior research fellow at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

Steve Crump, ‘80 , received the 2022 John Tyler Caldwell Award for the Humanities from North Carolina Humanities.

Martin Hatfield, ‘80, has been inducted into the Somerset Community College Hall of Honor.

Roger Chapman, ‘86 , took home the gold medal in the 800 meters at the USA Track & Field 2022 Masters Outdoor Championships, becoming one of the world’s top runners in his division at 60 years old.

Kathryn Giles, ‘86, MBA, has been named business development representative for the Schmidt Associates Louisville office.

William Tal Jones, ‘87 ‘02, was hired as the new FOCUS executive director by the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corp. and the FOCUS Board of Directors.

David Robbins, ‘87 , is the new vice president of advertising and marketing at River City Newspapers.

Megan Thoben, ’10

EKU Graduate Leading Operations at Louisville Airport

Megan Thoben, ’10, was among the Louisville Business First Forty Under 40 in 2021 and was named the 2022 Most Admired Woman - Young Woman Executives by Today’s Woman.

Thoben is the director of operations and business development for the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Post-graduation, Thoben worked part time at Blue Grass Airport, part time for TAC Air-Lex and as an unpaid intern at the Louisville Airport. Her days started at 5 a.m. with Blue Grass Airport and ended at 10 p.m. with TAC Air-Lex, and she traveled to Louisville on her days off for her internship.

Thoben was then offered a full-time position with Blue Grass Airport in their operations department before being promoted to supervisor.

“The operations department oversees regulatory compliances with the FAA and TSA,” Thoben said. “We ensure the airport stays open and can receive commercial flights. Airport operations is the glue that brings everybody together for the passenger experience.”

She next took the opportunity to work as operations manager at Columbia Airport in South Carolina. After almost three years in this position, where she built the department from scratch, the Louisville native landed her current position at the Louisville Airport. n

Briana Persley, ’97 ’22

EKU Alumna Serves Kentucky Families

In January 2022, Briana Persley, ’97 ’22, began her current position as director of youth services for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. She oversees programs for court-involved youth who have public or status offenses.

Early in her professional career, Persley, a child and family studies graduate, served as a counselor at United Methodist Home for Children and Youth, where she worked with children with behavioral problems. Then, she was the social services coordinator for Manchester Center before working at the Lexington Housing Authority as the resident program coordinator.

For 15 years, she served as a crime victims’ advocate at the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Office. During this time, she was also the Fayette County Public Schools’ Experienced-Based Career Education liaison and joined the board of directors at Partners for Youth Foundation, Inc. In 2017, she became the executive director of Partners for Youth before obtaining her current position.

Persley attributes her successful career to the people she has worked with over the years.

“I listened and learned from them,” she said. “No one can be effective in their role if they are not humble enough to recognize that they don’t know everything.” n

Beth Hargis, ‘88 ‘02 ‘05 ‘11, was named associate commissioner with Career and Technical Education at the Kentucky Department of Education.

Dr. Elmer Thomas, ‘88 ‘93 ‘18, was appointed interim superintendent by the Clark County Public Schools Board of Education.

Jeff Johnson, ‘89, was named special teams coordinator for the sprint football staff at Bellarmine University before its inaugural season.

Felicia Garr, ‘90, was named by the Community Education Coalition as a new leader of Black and biracial youth initiatives in the community.

Mitch York, ‘90, was named chief investment officer at Atlantic Union Bank Wealth Management.

Bobby Halloran, ‘93 , has been appointed as a new agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company at the Madison County Farm Bureau Richmond office.

Matt Kelly, ‘96 , has been named interim director of athletics for the Racers at Murray State University.

Derek Humfleet, ‘97 , Esq., was added to the roster of attorneys at Elder Law Lexington.

James Reardon, ‘97 , was sworn in as Liberty Township Fire Department’s new chief.

Jason Stein, ‘97 ‘98 , was added to the baseball coaching staff at Middle Tennessee State University.

Kenneth Holbert, ‘98, is the new chief of the Vine Grove Police Department.

Chrissy Roberts, ‘98 ‘99 , was added as an assistant coach for Lindenwood women’s basketball.

Patty Gibbons, ‘99, was appointed assistant principal and is the first female dean of students at Badin High School in Hamilton, OH.

Jason Hays, ‘99, took over as Berea Police Department chief.

Andy Bradley, ‘00, was named principal of Elkhorn Elementary School in Franklin County.

Michael Jackson, ‘00, Clark-Cowlitz fire rescue chief, has been named the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals 2022 fire marshal of the year.

Dr. Telly Sellars, ‘00, was appointed as interim president at Big Sandy Community and Technical College.

Keith Vroman, ‘00 ‘02 ‘03 , was promoted to head coach of the Blue Raider track and field program at Middle Tennessee State University.

Curtis Wiseley, ‘00, Psy.D, Army veteran, was named first executive director of a unique consortium collaborating to address mental health needs of students at Rose-Hulman, DePauw University and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Jodi Mackay, ‘01, business owner, was appointed to City Council Ward 4 in Laurel, MT.

Alecia Webb-Edgington, ‘02, CEO of Life Learning Center, Inc., was recognized with the 2022 Pioneer Award in Kenton County for her contributions to the community.

Chris Brady, ‘03, became the next superintendent of Marion County Public Schools on July 1.

James “Gary” Cornett, ‘03, a veteran district and school administrator with Owsley County Schools, now leads the district as its superintendent.

Kevin Faris, ‘03 ‘10, was announced as a new leader by Fayette County Public Schools as program director at The Stables.

Dr. Jerry Jackson, ‘03 , was appointed new chancellor at the University of the Cumberlands.

Chris Neal, ‘03 , was added to the staff at the University of Notre Dame as assistant track & field and cross country coach.

Marcie Simms, ‘03, has joined Marshall University’s President’s Cabinet as vice president for intercultural and student affairs.

Dr. Jennifer Mooney, ‘04 , was named next district director of the Northern Kentucky Health Department.

Laura Richard, ‘06 ‘10 ‘14, was named director of the Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation.

Josh Branscum, ‘07 , former executive VP of Branscum Construction Company, Inc., has succeeded to the role of president at the company.

O’Brian Bridges, ‘07 ‘14, was named head coach of Asbury University’s new men’s and women’s track and field program.

Jared J. Madison, ‘07, has joined Mirick O’Connell as an associate in the Trusts and Estates Group.

Nicole Bogle, ‘08 ‘18 , is the new principal at Southern Elementary School.

Jules Montinar, ‘08, is in his first season as the cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator at East Carolina University.

Kenneth Clayton, ‘09, joined the University of Kentucky Turfgrass Science Program as an extension associate, bringing nearly 15 years of golf course management experience to the turf program.

Sheri Satterly, ‘09, was named superintendent of Frankfort Independent Schools.

Lizette Rogers, ’16

Bilingual Educator Named Head Principal of a Fayette County Elementary School

As of Jan. 2, 2023, Lizette Rogers, ’16, is the new principal of Arlington Elementary School for Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS).

According to a press release, Rogers’ advocation for diverse communities, experience with Title l schools, and innovative ideas and instructional knowledge make her an asset to Arlington Elementary School. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Rogers has more than 18 years of experience nationally in three states and internationally in Japan. She is known for being a collaborative, bilingual leader. “Rogers is dedicated to ensuring that students are engaged and that educators have support to overcome barriers and raise student achievement,” the FCPS press release stated.

She was previously a teacher at Dixie Magnet Elementary in Lexington for four years, assistant principal at Yates Elementary, also in Lexington, for four years, and fourth-and fifth-grade teacher in Clark and Fayette counties. Rogers earned her doctorate in educational leadership from EKU. n

DR. ANNE (PEYTON) SPANN, ’61

1 939 —2022

Dr. Anne (Peyton) Spann, ’61 ’67, the first African American to earn an undergraduate degree from EKU, passed away at age 83. She held a spot on the Dean’s List all four years while pursuing her undergraduate degree. After obtaining her degree in elementary education, Spann worked as a teacher in Ohio before returning to EKU to earn her master’s degree.

Spann was a devoted Christian and an ordained minister. Her passion for education and career as an educator brought great pride to her family, community and EKU. She paved the way for many graduates after her, including her own sister.

Spann’s legacy will continue to be remembered and honored at EKU.

DR. JOHN L. MEISENHEIMER SR.

1 933 —2022

Dr. John L. Meisenheimer Sr., who started teaching at EKU in 1963 and retired after 36 years, passed away at 89 years old. Meisenheimer was an organic chemistry professor at EKU and served as a foundation professor from 1994-96.

He was best known as the country’s first space-age meteorologist because of his crucial role in America’s first successful satellite launch of Explorer I. NASA later made a short documentary about his story and awarded Meisenheimer a medal on the 60th anniversary of the launch.

Meisenheimer was also the author of 14 scientific publications. EKU honored him with several teaching awards, and the organic chemistry lab was named in his honor. In 2020, he was named as an iconic professor.