Roanoke College Magazine Issue 1 | 2023

AT LEFT: Milo, a certified therapy dog, brings comfort to students in the Jim Buriak Athletic Training Clinic, where he works several days a week with his mom, Head Athletic Trainer Gaby Oney ’17 . Read more about Milo at roa.ke/milo. Photo by Griffin Pivarunas ’16

Big Dreams in Motion

Roanoke College is taking on the evolving landscape of higher education with a series of initiatives aimed at improving student success, strengthening the College’s financial and academic foundations, and forging partnerships within the local community.

BY LINDSEY NAIR

2 2

A Tradition of Service

The Center for Civic Engagement is celebrating 10 years of building programs that have helped countless communities and spurred students to grow as servant leaders.

BY ALICIA PETSKA

ON THE COVER: Lyon, France-based illustrator Gwen Keraval married Roanoke College imagery with his colorful, vintage design aesthetic to create a piece of cover art that represents our beloved institution’s vibrant next chapter.

Members of the Class of 1998 at their 25th reunion on Alumni Weekend 2023. Back row, left to right: Cara (Bayersdorfer) Kenney, Mary (Muller-Thym) Paxson, Mary (McNulty) Jones, Dan Riley, Tracy (Swan) Keeley, Anne (Ryan) Spoerndle and Chris Sadowsky. Front row, left to right: Lindsey Nair and Jaime (Leddy) Graham.

Iconfessthat I haven’t been the most active alumna since I graduated from Roanoke College. I can count on one hand the number of Alumni Weekends I attended, and I wish I’d written more Day of Giving checks.

But returning to Roanoke as an employee last year gave me a new devotion to our alma mater, and it’s about more than who issues my paycheck. It is about the professors who devote so much of themselves to their roles as educators and mentors, both inside and outside the classroom, and the staffers who have poured years of their lives into this school. Most of all, it’s about students like those who work in our office each day, brightening the place with their curiosity, energy and enthusiasm for learning.

It’s also about alumni — not just those who make it to every Alumni Weekend or those who regularly donate to the school, although we sure appreciate that group. It is about ALL of us because current students are part of a legacy that belongs to all of us.

As President Frank Shushok Jr. has said, “Our existence is for those who come after us. This is our time to do what needs to be done to prepare for the next generation.”

As you will read in this issue, we’re working hard to make sure that many generations of students will follow this current group, make Roanoke College theirs and go out into their communities to effect positive change.

I hope many of you will join me in championing that cause. And don’t forget to keep in touch!

Lindsey Nair ’98 College Editor

2022 – 2023 | board of trustees

Mr. Malon W. Courts ’92, Chair

Ms. Kathryn Snell Harkness ’73, Vice Chair

Mr. James S. Frantz Jr., Secretary

Mr. David B. Mowen, Treasurer

Dr. Frank Shushok Jr., President of the College

Mr. Kenneth J. Belton Sr. ’81

Mr. Kirk Howard Betts

Dr. Paris D. Butler, MPH ’00

Ms. Pamela L. Cabalka ’76

Dr. M. Paul Capp ’52

Mr. Joseph H. Carpenter IV ’99

Ms. Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo ’78

Mr. W. Morgan Churchman ’65

Ms. Kimberly Davis-Riffe

Ms. Danae Psilopoulos Foley ’92

Mr. Robert P. Fralin

The Rev. Harry W. Griffith

Mr. Michael P. Haley ’73

Ms. Judith B. Hall ’69

Mr. Richard S. Hathaway ’73

Ms. Peggy Fintel Horn ’78

The Rev. Robert F. Humphrey

Mr. Patrick R. Leardo

Mr. Christopher N. Merrill ’93

Ms. Nancy B. Mulheren ’72

Mr. Brendan O’Donnell ’09

Mr. Roger A. Petersen ’81

Mr. J. Tyler Pugh ’70

The Rev. Dr. Theodore F. Schneider ’56

Mr. C. Micah Spruill ’11

Mr. Daniel E. Strelka ’89

Mr. Andrew K. Teeter ’71

Dr. Garnett B. Whitehurst

Ms. Helen Twohy Whittemore ’80

Mr. Gregory M. Terrill ’94 and Mrs. Nicole (Brewer) Terrill ’95

(Ex-officio, Co-Chairs of the Parent Leadership Council)

Mrs. Cara (Bayersdorfer) Kenney ’98

(Ex-officio, Chair of the Alumni Executive Council)

Mr. James Chisom ’84

(Ex-officio, Chair of the President’s Advisory Board)

Roanoke College Magazine

Editor

Contributing Editors

Contributors

Lindsey Nair ’98

Teresa Gereaux ’87

Alicia Petska

Teresa Gereaux ’87

Alicia Petska

Ray Cox

James France

Kaylen Ayres ’24

Archives

Photography Design & Production Printing

Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Jesse Bucher

Griffin Pivarunas ’16

Ryan Hunt ’18

Carissa Szuch Divant

Lewis Edwards ’24

George Kendall ’23

Mikula-Harris

Bison Printing

Melanie Tolan

Roanoke College does not discriminate against students, employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origin, disability or veteran status.

Roanoke College Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications for alumni, students, parents, staff and friends of Roanoke College. Editorial rights are reserved.

Questions, comments and corrections may be sent to: Magazine Editor Roanoke College Office of Marketing and Communications 221 College Lane Salem, VA 24153-3794 rcmagazine@roanoke.edu

221 College Lane | Salem, VA 24153-3794 | www.roanoke.edu College Switchboard 540-375-2500 Admissions Local 540-375-2270

Admissions Toll-free 800-388-2276

Alumni/Parent Relations 540-375-2238 Alumni Email alumni@roanoke.edu

Church Relations 540-375-2300

Colket Center 540-378-5125

Intercollegiate Athletics 540-375-2338 Olin Box Office 540-375-2333

PRESIDENT ’S PEN

WhenI was a doctoral student studying higher education, my advisor, Robert Birnbaum, a former college president himself, was keen to remind me that I could count on a bumpy career navigating an unpredictable road in higher education. He noted that the education engine always jostles back and forth trying to make sense of a confusing world in pursuit of a very worthy calling: preparing the next generation of citizens.

Robert was fond of saying, “As they say in the bayou country, ‘Plus les choses changent, plus careste lameme,’” which translates to “In times like these, it is good to remember there have always been times like these.” After several decades on this road, I now better understand what he meant: The challenges of adaptation are never-ending.

For nearly 200 years, Roanoke College has faced the opportunities and challenges of the day and has become its next best self. While our mission has been stable, the “how” has morphed again and again to meet both the bumps and the promise of the road before us.

Now, we’ve entered a critical period for all colleges and universities, especially the powerfully important small college. We’re going to need you, our alumni and friends, to support Roanoke College and its future like never before — but in the same spirit as every previous generation that has loved the Maroon family since 1842.

I am so excited that it’s our turn to receive the baton. Lest we lose track of our purpose on this journey, remember that it is about the next generations of students. In the end, when a single student finds a calling, becomes compelled by the cause of justice, learns to care for humanity, discovers a talent, hones a skill or finds the courage to speak up for a value, the world stretches. Potential becomes reality.

It is, therefore, with hope that Maroons greet each day with a spirit of service to the world we hope to see. Thank you for being deeply and collectively connected to such a worthy calling.

In closing, I also want to thank you for embracing my family and me in so many generous ways. It’s hard to fathom that I’m wrapping up my first year as president of Roanoke College. It has been a joyful ride full of beautiful people, big challenges and a deep realization that the health of the next generation is tethered to the work and mission of places like Roanoke College.

With hope,

Frank Shushok Jr.

We’re going to need you, our alumni and friends, to support Roanoke College and its future like never before — but in the same spirit as every previous generation that has loved the Maroon family since 1842.

President Shushok with Rooney at the President’s Ball in March.

snapshots

Emy Hampton ’24 as Cecily Cardew and Kennedy Swineford ’26 as Gwendolen Fairfax in Theatre Roanoke College’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” (top left, continuing clockwise). • Campus Recreation Manager Dan Smith shows the students how it’s done during a dance-off at President’s Ball. • Dining Services Executive Chef Matt Phillips puts the final touches on a dish for the board of trustees during their February meeting on campus. • The Roanoke College Dance Team shows their moves for the crowd during Maroon Madness, a men’s and women’s basketball double-header. • A President's House statue sports a hat with the new Roanoke College logo (see P. 19) at a Board of Trustees event during Alumni Weekend 2023.

• A candlelight vigil for Black History Month concluded with a walk to the Rock, where attendees placed memorial markers bearing the names of enslaved people with ties to Roanoke College history.

c o l lege n e w s

A new game plan

IN

1942, AFTER DECADES OF ACTION ON THE FIELD

, the Roanoke College football program was forced to disband because of the constraints of World War II.

Now, more than 80 years later, it looks like Maroons will soon be picking up the pigskin once again. At their April meeting, the board of trustees voted to support a proposal by President Frank Shushok Jr. to reinstate football as a varsity sport. The proposal also upgrades an existing co-curricular cheerleading program to varsity level and introduces a cocurricular marching band.

The board approved the proposal on the condition that startup funding of $1.2 million was in place by June 1. Vice President for Advancement Kim Blair ’93 said that target has been hit.

When he arrived as Roanoke’s 12th president in July 2022, Shushok initiated a feasibility study to evaluate the possibility of reinstating football and adding the cheerleading and band programs. The study showed that the three programs would increase enrollment and student diversity, elevate campus spirit, attract more visitors to campus and build stronger bonds with the local community.

“Over the academic year, I have had many individual conversations with students, faculty and staff about the potential addi-

tion of a football team and associated programs,” Shushok said. “Cultivating a successful football program, along with a marching band and competitive cheer, can breathe life into a college campus, bringing together our faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community in a unified spirit of passion and pride.”

The current plan recommends minimizing costs with a conservative investment and upgrading existing underutilized facilities. Alumni Field would be used for practice, and the Bast Center would be upgraded to accommodate locker rooms, training facilities, offices and a weight room. Salem Stadium, a 7,157-seat facility near Roanoke’s Elizabeth Campus, would be the game site. Salem Stadium, which is already the home of Salem High School’s Spartans, also hosted the NCAA Division III Football Championship (the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl) for many years.

With the initial investment in place, the school will begin recruiting with the goal of fielding a team for a partial season in fall 2024.

After a lengthy break from offering a football program at Roanoke College, Shushok said, “now is the time to rekindle that spark into a flame that will add new life to our campus, enable us to invigorate recruitment and inspire alumni support.”

Now is the time to rekindle that spark into a flame that will add new life to our campus...

— President Frank Shushok Jr.

The Roanoke College Board of Trustees voted in April to reinstate football and add cheerleading and band programs, and the initial investment has been secured.

Roanoke adds offerings in disability studies and screen studies

OLIVIA BRICHTER ’23 has heard it all before. That her epilepsy means she has to scale back her ambitions. That her ADHD means she won’t thrive in the rigorous world of research. That her disabilities will define and control her.

She’s heard it — and she knows nothing could be further from the truth.

“It’s hurtful and disturbing when people try to tell you that,” she said. “But it’s also what fueled my fire. I have this determination in me to prove to the world that I can do the things that other, neurotypical people can.”

Brichter, a psychology major and research fellow studying epilepsy genes, is one of the first students in Roanoke College’s new disability studies concentration, which was approved by Roanoke College’s Curriculum Committee in fall 2022. A few months later, in spring 2022, the committee also approved a new major and minor in screen studies, allowing students to pursue their interests in the rapidly growing industry while developing marketable media skills that

can be applied to the arts, education, marketing and other vocations.

“Both of these new programs intentionally bring together perspectives from multiple disci-

plines to help students understand disabilities and narratives through different lenses,” said Dean of the College Kathy Wolfe. “They ask students to apply their learning in authentic, realworld contexts; nurture the humanistic, scientific and technical skills that college graduates need; and will connect Roanoke College students to exciting career opportunities in growing fields.”

The creation of a disability studies concentration puts Roanoke at the forefront of the movement. Students in the concentration include future health and human service professionals, research students, education majors and more.

“The rates at which people are being diagnosed with a disability increases every year; especially autism and dementia,” said Andréa Burchfield, visiting assistant professor of psychol-

Olivia Brichter ’23 conducts lab research with Biology Professor Chris Lassiter. Brichter, a psychology major and research fellow studying epilepsy genes, said the disability studies concentration has strengthened her resolve to be an advocate for change.

“I have this determination in me to prove to the world that I can do the things that other, neurotypical people can.”

— Olivia Brichter ’23

Director of Student Activities Joe Boucher in his office, where he frequently meets with students who are interested in learning about his career in the film industry.

ogy. “As numbers rise, students entering many career fields are more likely to encounter clients, patients and employees who live with a disability. Understanding the wide-ranging nature of disabilities will enable future professionals to provide better services.”

The interdisciplinary concentration, which includes courses in disability theory and lived experience, also opens the door to experiential learning through real-world internships. The program culminates in a final capstone project.

Roanoke College has had a screen studies program for nine years, but it is now expanding into an interdisciplinary minor and major that will blend learning from the realms of communication studies, literary studies, creative writing, fine arts and psychology. Students will delve into the his-

LEADERSHIP

— Omari Chancellor ’17

tory of cinema and visual media while tackling hands-on projects under the mentorship of faculty such as Emmy winner Joe Boucher, who served as a producer on “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.”

Other opportunities for students will include an

intensive Digital Media Capstone project and internship partnerships with the Roanoke-based Grandin Theatre and TV news stations WSLS and WFXR. Of course, they can also participate in the College’s annual Basically Tarantino Film Festival, which has inspired students like Omari Chancellor ’17. Chancellor, a graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, recently starred in the Apple TV+ film “The Greatest Beer Run Ever.”

“I felt super supported by my professors and by the community at Roanoke, and I felt very confident and able to try and fail at things, which I think is a comfort I haven’t had in anything I’ve done since,” Chancellor said. “I don’t think I would be able to do these things without the growth and development that I found being a student at Roanoke.”

Roanoke College Board of Trustees

welcomes new members

THE ROANOKE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES has appointed two new members, Kimberly Davis-Riffe and Christopher “Topher”

Merrill ’93

Davis-Riffe is a Northern Virginiabased certified public accountant who co-partners the National Financial Services Advisory, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Practice of KPMG LLP. She holds an Executive MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in accounting information systems with a minor in marketing from Virginia Tech.

Davis-Riffe has given back throughout her adult life. She has served as a board member or executive committee member for the American Red Cross, National Capital Chapter; The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, National Capital Chapter; and The John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, which serves the working poor of Washington, D.C., and for which she was also an underwriting sponsor.

Most recently, she has served Virginia Tech as a member of the university’s Alumni Advisory Board; the Pamplin College of Business Accounting Information Systems Advisory Board; and the Inspiring Women in Lifelong Leadership (IWILL) program, a mentoring experience for female students during their college career and throughout their professional lives. She also founded The Davis Endowment for Student Advocacy at Virginia Tech to support students in LGBTQ+, first-generation and other underrepresented classes.

“I am beyond honored to join the Maroons in their endeavors to continually enhance the college experience,” Davis-Riffe said, “and to produce productive, enthusiastic, well-adjusted new members of tomorrow’s workforce and community.”

Merrill, who lives outside Chicago, Illinois, in the village of Winnetka, is the founder, chairman and CEO of Harrison Street, a real assets investment management firm established in 2005. He earned a degree in economics from Roanoke, where he played on the golf team and was a member of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, and an MBA from Cass Business School in London.

At Harrison Street, where he is the largest individual shareholder, Merrill serves as chairman of the board and leads the firm’s investment and executive committees. The firm has earned numerous awards, including Alternatives Investor of the Year: Global, Alternatives Investor of the Year: North America, and Firm of the Year from Private Equity Real Estate (PERE). In 2013, Real Estate Forum named Merrill one of Chicago’s Real Estate Icons, and in 2022, he was PERE’s Global Industry Figure of the Year.

Outside the office, Merrill serves on several community boards, and he enjoys acting as an angel investor for newly developing companies.

“The education and relationships I developed at Roanoke College served as a firm foundation for my graduate studies and subsequent career in the real estate industry, which in turn allowed me to invest in my community and support other entrepreneurs,” Merrill said. “I look forward to collaborating with the rest of Roanoke College’s Board of Trustees to champion innovations that will help our students excel — and propel our alma mater into a prosperous future.”

CORRECTION: The Rev. Dr. Theodore F. Schneider ’56 remains the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America representative to the Roanoke College Board of Trustees. An article in Issue 2, 2022, incorrectly stated that a new representative had been appointed.

“I don’t think I would be able to do these things without the growth and development that I found being a student at Roanoke.”

One last number for the Sandborgs

world premieres of his works. She also works closely with students in the music major.

“When you teach a one-on-one class, you really get to know one another,” she said. “It’s been a privilege and a joy.”

Under Jeffrey Sandborg’s leadership, the choir held “Lessons and Carols of Christmas” at the magnificent St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in downtown Roanoke. The now-annual event has become known as the unofficial opening of the Christmas season in Roanoke, and over 38 years, the choir raised more than $60,000 for charities in the Roanoke region.

Jeffrey Sandborg initiated spring break choir tours, often coordinating with Lutheran churches in the region, including performances at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with the Metro Washington D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In addition to U.S. tours, the Sandborgs have traveled with the choir to Normandy and Brittany in France. That work began years ago when Jeffrey Sandborg met D-Day veteran Bob Slaughter. The Roanoke College Choir sang in Normandy on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

“Dozens of our singers have walked the beaches of Normandy and the cemetery at Vierville-sur-Mer and will never forget those experiences,”

Jeffrey Sandborg said. “Singing in great spaces in the world like Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and Chartres Cathedral will remain a vivid memory.”

Jeffrey Sandborg’s involvement and connections in the regional music scene meant students often had the opportunity to perform with professional musicians in collaborations with Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Opera Roanoke and the Roanoke Valley Choral Society.

Andrew Miller ’08 said both of the Sandborgs were mentors to him. Miller is now the choral director for Hidden Valley High School and Hidden Valley Middle School in Roanoke.

JEFFREY AND MARIANNE SANDBORG, the husband-and-wife musical team who have been synonymous with Roanoke College’s vocal performance and choral music programs, will retire at the end of this academic year after having served the College and its students since 1985.

Jeffrey Sandborg, the Naomi Brandon and George Emery Wade Professor of Music at Roanoke, has grown the College choral program in his 38 years of leadership. Choir membership increased and opportunities abounded as Sandborg recruited students and found new ways to showcase student singers.

Marianne Sandborg came to Roanoke College as a voice instructor in the College’s preparatory division in 1985 and became an adjunct faculty member, teaching voice, in 1987. In 1993 she was named a teaching associate and resident artist.

Marianne Sandborg has been in hundreds of performances with the Roanoke College Choir. She also is a frequent collaborator with Gordon Marsh, professor of music, as a soprano soloist in his programs, including

“Mrs. Sandborg helped me understand my own voice and potential,” Miller said. “She was patient and kind while also being clear with her expectations. As an educator, I learned from her how to set expectations while being compassionate to my students.”

“Dr. Sandborg taught me how to be unabashedly passionate about choral music and everything it has to offer,” Miller added. “His energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he really brought out the best in his singers. My best memories as a choral singer are in the Roanoke College Choir.”

In addition to the choir, Jeffrey Sandborg created Oriana Singers, which he directed for 14 years.

Sandborg said that after he retires, he will miss the students most.

“Anything we’ve been able to accomplish in the choirs over the years is the result of the hard work of our smart, talented and committed Roanoke College students,” he said. “I’ll miss our daily collaboration creating beauty for a world that needs it. It’s been an honor and joy to be able to work with them these years. Along the way, I’m hopeful that they’ve acquired musical/vocal skills that they can use the rest of their lives.”

Jeffrey and Marianne Sandborg retired at the end of the academic year. The two have been instrumental in Roanoke College’s music programs since 1985.

Jeffrey and Marianne Sandborg share memories with a full house in Antrim Chapel during their retirement celebration on Alumni Weekend 2023.

“Anything we’ve been able to accomplish in the choirs over the years is the result of the hard work of our smart, talented and committed Roanoke College students.”

— Jeffrey Sandborg

WHEN BRENDA (PORTER) POGGENDORF ’81 speaks about the value of a Roanoke College education, she’s not reciting empty words. She’s drawing on more than 45 years of personal history — as an alumna, a parent, an educator and an admissions leader who’s helped shape the campus for generations of students.

“You know, I’ve been called to Roanoke, so to speak, three times in my life,” she reflected. “This is family. This is home. It will always be part of my life — just in a different way now.”

Poggendorf retired from Roanoke at the end of the 2022-23 academic year and is now vice president for enrollment management at Randolph-Macon College.

At Roanoke, she rose to lead a pivotal division as vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid. In that post, she helped guide the College from the nascent internet era into the lightning-fast, round-the-clock age of social media.

She was a steady hand at a time when the competition to nab the attention of prospective students and break through the noise was increasingly fierce, said President Emeritus Michael Maxey, who recruited Poggendorf to replace him as vice president of enrollment after being tapped for the presidency.

“She’s been innovative and forward-thinking and taken us to a much more sophisticated level of recruitment,” Maxey said. “She was also active in cam-

ADDITIONAL 2023 RETIREES

pus life to a huge degree. You could run into her at many events that she had no obligation to attend other than she just loved the students and loved the college community.”

Poggendorf didn’t always envision herself in higher education. A San Francisco native, she returned to Silicon Valley after graduation to work as a chemical technician but found a lab setting didn’t suit her. Then she got a call from her alma mater.

“I had been a tour guide as a student and was asked if I would come back as an admissions counselor,” she recalled. “I said, ‘You’re going to pay me to tell students about this college that I love? Wow, all right.’”

That call would set Poggendorf’s career on a new course, working directly with families and helping countless students connect with a college experience that would help them discover their path. That people factor has remained a constant of Roanoke even as other parts of the world have changed, she said.

“A big part of why I chose Roanoke as a student was because every time I called with a question, the people were so friendly,” she said. “They got me in touch with a current student, Kim McLeod ’79, who was also from California and lived not far from me. When she was home on break, she invited me over and showed me all her pictures. She really introduced me to the College in a more personal way, and she’s still a friend today.

“That’s the hallmark of Roanoke: its people. It’s what brought me here, and it’s what brought me back so many times.”

Poggendorf’s career brought her back to Roanoke not once, but twice, with an initial tenure in admissions from 1982-1988 followed by a return as vice president in 2007, interspersed by serving fellow Lutheran-founded Carthage College in between.

Her family would grow into a multi-generation Maroon household. Her sister, Kimberly (Porter) Trerice, is a 1985 alumna. Her daughter, Allie Poggendorf, earned her degree in psychology in 2019.

“Roanoke served them well. It served me well,” Poggendorf said. “It will always be a special place.”

We could fill this entire magazine with details about the exemplary service these retirees have provided to the Roanoke College community. Here is a glimpse into their exceptional runs as faculty members.

• CYNTHIA EDMUNDS, a lecturer in the Department of Health and Human Performance, joined Roanoke College in 1997. A true believer in the value of wellness and physical activity, she shepherded the Fitness for Life and Liftetime Wellness classes, helped create the first 200-level lab experience in health and exercise science, instructed the Exercise Physiology lab, and facilitated 23 independent study experiences during her time at Roanoke.

• ELIZABETH KOESTERS HEIL (artist name Eliz. S.-K Heil), associate professor of fine arts, served Roanoke College for 42 years. She taught classes in photography, printmaking, design, computer graphics, senior seminar, painting and

drawing, and more. Heil was an early adopter of computer technology, including video art, artificial intelligence and 3D printing. Her students have presented their artwork and research at regional conferences and in the galleries of Olin Hall, and her own work has been shown in more than 100 shows and exhibits, including at The Art Institute of Chicago and the Cincinnati Museum of Art.

• CHARLENE KALINOSKI began teaching Spanish at Roanoke in 1988. During her 35 years at the College, Professor Kalinoski served on so many valuable committees, in addition to her work as a faculty moderator, parliamentarian and sponsor, that she received the Exemplary Service Award in 2006. She chaired Modern Languages

for six years, led 15 May Term trips to Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru and Chile, and even helped evaluate language departments at other institutions. She is also a strong supporter of the Roanoke Valley Sister Cities program, serving as director of the Florianópolis, Brazil Committee.

• JANE LONG has taught at the college for 27 years, offering courses in introductory and upperlevel art history, general education and honors seminars, and travel courses to Italy. Long’s curriculum vitae also includes a number of conference presentations, published articles and essays, national honors, and service on governance and advisory committees. She has also served as a book review editor and translator.

‘It will always be part of my life’

Brenda Poggendorf ’81 is retiring from her post as vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, closing a decades-long career at her alma mater.

Campus pantry meets student needs at no cost

COLLEGE CAN BE DEMANDING for any student, but when one lacks basic necessities such as personal hygiene products or food, the pressure to keep up with academics, extracurriculars, a social life and self-care can be downright overwhelming.

“If you are not feeling well, strong and connected, you aren’t going to progress well in college,” said Ellasen Spangler ’22, assistant director of residence life and housing. “All students deserve to be on a level playing field.”

That’s why Spangler led an initiative at Roanoke College to open One Campus Pantry, a new campus pantry that offers a wide variety of necessities, such as personal hygiene products, school supplies and snacks to students who are too embarrassed to reach out to the residence life staff for help. The pantry is located in a low-traffic area of Wells I and is open to all students with Maroon Card access every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“I think there is a general feeling that Roanoke students have everything they need and it is a

wealthy school, but that’s not necessarily the case,” said Lewis Edwards ’24, a head resident advisor. “There are plenty of students who don’t have everything they need because they can’t afford everything or maybe don’t have family support, transportation or time to work a job. I think this pantry is important because it helps people that may not want to speak up about not being able to afford a tube of toothpaste or body wash.”

Now, thanks to donations from caring individuals both inside and outside the Roanoke College community, the pantry is flush with supplies to help students flourish. To learn more about donating to One Campus Pantry, email Spangler at spangler@roanoke.edu.

“I think this is going to be a great resource for those who need it,” Edwards said. “We’re all in this together, and this is one campus. Nobody should be deprived of the basic things that they need.”

Maroons helping Maroons is now easier than ever

Introducing a new online tool that offers a quick, simple way to connect Roanoke College students and alumni.

WE OFTEN HEAR from members of Roanoke College’s community that they’re looking for more ways to engage, connect and help. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of Meet A Maroon, a simple yet powerful resource that makes it easy to ask for and give help.

Meet A Maroon connects you with bright, upand-coming students as well as other Roanoke alumni who have questions about career trajectories, new ventures or other decisions that could benefit from your expertise.

The dynamic digital tool makes it possible to provide advice within minutes — right from your email. Once a Maroon submits a question to the service, it automatically analyzes the request and sends an email directly to the inboxes of the alumni whose experience best matches the topic.

What happens when you get an email with a question? You get to choose the most convenient way to respond with your thoughts — whether

it’s an email, a phone call or other means. No muss. No fuss.

What happens if you’re too busy to respond to a question? Not a problem. Just let us know by selecting “Pass.” The program will move on to the next person who was a match in the queue.

What if you don’t get a question right away? Don’t worry. Meet A Maroon constantly analyzes submitted questions. Once a match is made with you, a question will be sent your way, whether it’s in two days or two months.

What can you do in the meantime? Add meetamaroon@roanoke.edu to your email contacts to make sure you don’t miss any questions.

Thank you for taking part and for helping make our Roanoke College community stronger. To explore the new platform or get started with a request, just head over to roanoke.edu/meetamaroon.

“I think this pantry is important because it helps people that may not want to speak up about not being able to afford a tube of toothpaste or body wash.”

— Lewis Edwards ’24, head resident advisor

Ellasen Spangler ’22, assistant director of residence life and housing, stands in front of supplies in the One Campus Pantry.

FACULTY BOOK

“Crossing the River Styx: The Memoir of a Death Row Chaplain”

by Russ Ford with Charles Peppers and Todd Peppers, Henry H. & Trudye H. Fowler Professor in Public Affairs

Publisher: University of Virginia Press

Overview: The Rev. Russ Ford served as head chaplain for Virginia prisoners condemned to death during the 1980s and 1990s, building relationships with 28 men and ministering to them in their final moments on death row. This memoir, which was co-authored by Todd Peppers and his oldest child, Charles, chronicles the years Ford spent working with these men, trying to understand their struggles and their crimes, and introduces readers to the complexities and staggering human cost of state-sanctioned death.

Review: “Former prison chaplain Russ Ford offers the reader a harrowing look inside Virginia’s death row. Anyone who wants to understand the moral and spiritual carnage of capital punishment needs to read this book.”

— Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking”

RCMediaBytes

The portrait of justice

New York Times, Oct. 7, 2022

“You can watch the justices change and age over time. You may be relieved that you’ve finally got a chair, but by the time you get a chair, because of seniority, it means you are closer to the end than you are to the beginning.”

— Todd Peppers, Henry H. and Trudye H. Fowler Professor in Public Affairs, on Supreme Court portraits through the years

Conversations with Bob Denton: voter sentiment ahead of Election Day

Blue Ridge PBS, Nov. 4, 2022

“Good polls have good transparency. Look to see where the information came from. Does it seem reasonable to you? Then look into what the plus or minus is. Don’t read the ‘someone’s ahead by two percentage points’ as they’re ahead if the margin of error is bigger than two. Just take a few minutes to digest the numbers, and do that yourself rather than letting someone else tell you what it means first.”

— David Taylor, director of the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research; associate dean for academic affairs and administration

Dead bills litter state House and Senate floors

The Roanoke Times, Feb. 6, 2023

“If you don’t follow state and local politics, give it a try,” Parsons said. “They’re working on really important issues that affect the Commonwealth, and we as citizens have a responsibility to plug into that from time to time.”

— Bryan Parsons, associate professor of public affairs

The psychology of ghosting

Cardinal News, Feb. 14, 2023

“People have been doing a version of this since letters were carried on horseback. But it’s much more common now because so much of relationships take place, or unfold, through technology.”

— Darcey Powell, associate professor of psychology, on the phenomenon of “ghosting”

Warmer weather in the Roanoke Valley is impacting both the environment and local businesses

WDBJ (CBS), Feb. 20, 2023

“People are excited about the warm weather. They feel bliss, but there’s also this dissonance, this uneasy feeling that maybe we shouldn’t be having this weather in February. Those budding flowers may not make it to spring; we also might see differences in migratory bird patterns and the emergence of pests if we don’t have a nice, cold winter.”

— Chelsea Peters, assistant professor of environmental studies

College presidents in region emphasize tools to enable free expression

The Roanoke Times, March 24, 2023

“We have to create the conditions that model what civil, thoughtful, engaged, curious dialogue looks like. If we can do that well on a college campus, then we will prepare people to do that well in the communities that they will eventually call home.”

— President Frank Shushok Jr.

Todd Peppers

Class of 2023!

DURING A WARM, sunny Commencement 2023, Roanoke College conferred degrees upon 436 students, including a record seven valedictorians. In addition, an honorary degree was awarded to American literary icon Nikki Giovanni.

“I want you to remember that you have the fortitude and tools to take on hard things, whether that’s a struggling relationship, another personal issue, a sticky work problem or a pandemic that shuts the entire world down,” said President Frank Shushok Jr. in his first Commencement message at Roanoke. “You know how to struggle and learn your way through it. From there, you can look back, understand the lessons, and say, ‘Look at me now.’”

Roanoke College is taking on the evolving landscape of higher education with a series of initiatives aimed at improving student success, strengthening the College’s financial and academic foundations, and forging partnerships within the local community.

Big Dreams

by Lindsey Nair nair@roanoke.edu

many pages have been turned in the Roanoke College story.

Over the last 181 years, the school has seen both prosperous periods and times of tribulation as it has shifted, often with the patterns of national or global change, and ceaselessly stretched toward a stronger iteration of itself.

Now, far from the humble pastor’s home in Augusta County that welcomed the first dozen students in 1842, Roanoke College is entering another chapter — one that will be characterized by imagination, innovation, courage and growth.

“The outcomes that Roanoke College has historically produced in people is as a result of what is deep in the College’s DNA,” said President Frank Shushok Jr. “Our alumni care about other human beings and their communities. They are critical thinkers and bridge builders, and they are team-oriented. These are the outcomes that Roanoke College has been producing in graduates for a long time, and I don’t think that has changed.

“What must change are our methodologies, because the speed of change in the 21st century is fast and only becoming more rapid,” he said. “Our ability to meet the needs of the students we serve must be always adapting. It’s just the way the world works now.”

Since Shushok became Roanoke’s 12th president last year, his leadership team has launched a series of initiatives aimed at improving student success and wellbeing, strengthening the College’s financial and academic foundations, and driving more collaboration between the school and the local community. With every step toward a new future, Shushok has championed transparency, input from the entire College community, and tireless optimism that Roanoke will evolve to accomplish goals we never could have imagined.

It is an ideal time to be visionary, as colleges and universities nationwide enter a period of unprecedented societal and industry challenges. Higher education in general faces a supply-and-demand problem brought on by a declining number of high school graduates across the country, demographic changes in those classes, an unpredictable post-pandemic economy, and a political climate that has thrown the value of higher education into question.

Only two types of institutions will be insulated: those with colossal endowments and those that are courageous and nimble

enough to adapt. Roanoke does not yet fit into the first category (at $149 million, our endowment is a fraction of what many peer institutions report), so it must stand out in the latter group. Shushok and other college leaders are advancing on that goal, but it will require the investment of time and financial resources from every corner of the college community.

Among other undertakings, the College is working to engage more Maroons — not just during the four years they are students, but over their lifetimes. Only 16% of Roanoke College alumni donate to the College, and that figure must increase to 25% by 2025 to keep pace with need and inflation. Alumni gifts contribute to essential campus needs, including scholarships and financial aid for students, academic programs, campus infrastructure, faculty recruitment and retention, student research, student life and classroom technology. And although 86% of Roanoke College students need financial aid and 100% receive aid, only about 17% have that need fully met.

“Alumni giving is not just a mark of financial success for a college, it is a testament to the strength of the community and the impact of education,” said Kim Blair ’93, vice president for advancement. “The more alumni give, the more we can invest in the future of our institution and the more we can provide opportunities for future generations to better themselves and the world around them.”

Now, more than ever, college students must have meaningful experiences and strong outcomes, and schools must partner with one another, industry leaders, community organizations and their own alumni to ride out the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.

Despite these challenges, Shushok is optimistic.

2,160 DONORS (CURRENT LY )

3, 375 DONORS ( BY 2025 )

“I’m very bullish on higher education. I really am,” he said. “I think higher education will continue to play an essential role in the future of our community, our country and our world. But those schools that will be at the forefront will be those that are innovative, agile and willing to take calculated risks to be different, to ask new questions, and to invite new people into the conversation. I think that’s the future of higher education.”

At this time, only 16% of alumni donate to the College.

This must grow to 25% to keep pace with need and inflation.

“Alumni giving is not just a mark of financial success for a college, it is a testament to the strength of the community and the impact of education.”

— Kim Blair ’93, vice president for advancement

Joining forces

The pristine city of Salem sometimes feels like an oasis, but it certainly is not an island. Roanoke College is surrounded by strong industries and quality schools, including community colleges and state universities, and Shushok sees those schools not as competitors, but as partners.

Identifying Virginia’s economic needs, which include qualified candidates in technology fields, is what led to an exciting new partnership between Roanoke College and Virginia Tech that aims to bolster the workforce in key industries and improve student outcomes.

In March, Roanoke became the first college in Virginia to sign agreements with Virginia Tech that will make it easier for Roanoke students to transition into graduate programs in computer science or computer engineering. The new Direct to Tech program will provide Roanoke students direct admission to Virginia Tech Master of Engineering programs in computer science and applications or computer engineering upon graduation from Roanoke, while an accelerated 4+1 undergraduate/ graduate program sets students up to complete a master’s degree in one of those areas at Virginia Tech just one year after graduation from Roanoke.

The Virginia Tech agreements followed the announcement last year that Roanoke College will begin offering an MBA this summer. That program was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, paving the way for additional graduate programs. The College hopes to add as many as seven new in-person, online or hybrid graduate programs in the next five years.

A partnership that is currently in the works aims to make bachelor’s degrees more accessible to students at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke. This direct-admit agreement would welcome all Virginia Western students enrolled in transfer programs who meet certain criteria. Once admitted, those students would be invited to Roanoke’s campus frequently to be advised on course selection and build a sense of belonging, all of which is designed to keep them on the four-year path to graduation.

A related plan that was approved by faculty in April will allow students who complete an associate’s degree at a community college concurrent with their high school classes to transfer those classes to Roanoke and earn the same standing as if they’d taken those courses after high school graduation.

One more example of community collaboration is the Bridges Program, which education faculty spearheaded to help increase the number of teachers of color

in local school divisions. Students in grades 9-12 in Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem public schools who are interested in becoming teachers can join the program to access Roanoke College advising and events leading up to high school graduation, followed by financial aid at Roanoke College and, after Roanoke, preferential hiring in the partner school systems.

As Roanoke College looks to the future, leaders will strive to build additional bridges across the educational and employment spectrum that will bolster not only student success and the health of the College, but also the economics and workforce of the surrounding community.

“I don’t think divide and conquer is going to win the day,” Shushok said. “I think we need to link arms and lift up collectively, pool resources, design together, understand the needs of the community, and constantly be asking the question: What are the needs that people around us have, and how can we use our resources in partnership with others to help close the gap?”

“I don’t think divide and conquer is going to win the day. I think we need to link arms and lift up collectively, pool resources, design together, understand the needs of the community...”

— President Frank Shushok Jr.

Anil Shende, professor

of computer

science,

interacts with his students in a computer science classroom at Roanoke College.

Creative collaboration

Over the past eight months, faculty and administrators across campus have been workshopping the creation of schools that would elevate awareness of focus areas buried within the College’s existing academic structure. An example might be a school of health, science and sustainability that folds in existing programs such as health and exercise science, environmental studies and public health.

Kathy Wolfe, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College, said a new academic structure could create new leadership opportunities for school deans and facilitate greater interdisciplinary collaboration across departments. Industry leaders and practitioners, including alumni, might be interested in serving on advisory boards and providing focused feedback to help strengthen opportunities for students.

“I think pulling programs together in this kind of organization and putting leadership in charge of facilitating, deliberately and intentionally, a process of collaborating in an interdisciplinary way is really exciting,” Wolfe said. “I mean, there is no big problem in the world today that can be solved from the perspective of just one discipline. The more interdisciplinary lens-

es the students get in their degree programs, the better prepared they will be for the world we’re in.”

A faculty taskforce was created to generate ideas and create draft structures, while the larger College community has been invited to brainstorming sessions and focus groups. Wolfe said that work will continue over the next year, culminating in a new structure that amplifies Roanoke’s academic strengths.

“The perception of higher education is shifting, and the role of higher ed in the community and the region is changing,” Wolfe said. “If we want to remain relevant, we need to change, and there is never going to be a time when we can say, ‘Okay, I guess

we’re done changing.’ The institutions of higher education that are still around in 20 years will be the ones that know how to be agile and nimble all the time.”

Students f irst

Students have always been at the heart of Roanoke College’s mission, and their learning and success will continue to be centered as the school advances into the future.

To improve retention and graduation rates, the College has joined the Moving the Needle partnership, which is administered by a higher education consulting

“I think pulling programs together in this kind of organization and putting leadership in charge of facilitating , deliberately and intentionally, a process of collaborating in an interdisciplinary way is really exciting.”

— Kathy Wolfe, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College

Janny Alvarado ’20 (right), assistant director of admissions, is leading the school’s Hispanic recruitment efforts.

firm, Credo, and is designed to unearth and address cultural elements that work against student success and well-being.

Roanoke also recently joined the Hispanic Association for Colleges and Universities (HACU), a nonprofit whose mission is to promote Hispanic student success in higher education. This membership will allow Roanoke students to access HACU’s initiatives, experts and resources, including internships, scholarships and leadership development programs.

In addition, Roanoke has introduced faculty, staff and students to the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment tool, which measures an individual’s natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving and offers guidance on how to leverage those talents in all facets of life.

Zoey Nichols ’23 took the assessment with staff in Residence Life & Housing, where she is a student worker, and she found her results enlightening.

“I definitely think it could be helpful across campus, because it helped me discover some new things about myself, like how much I love learning inside and outside the classroom,” Nichols said. “I think it could help others discover who they are and help them figure out new things and start using their strengths to their advantage.”

In the future, CliftonStrengths results will be incorporated into classes, career advising, residence life and other areas of campus. And faculty and staff, who can serve as strengths coaches for students, have begun to discuss how their results might better inform teamwork across campus.

“CliftonStrengths is a valuable tool that can help students unlock their potential, discover where they excel and think about lines of work that might best suit them,” said Dean of Students Tom Rambo, who used the tool in his Team Dynamics class. “My students loved it.”

Introducing a new look

Maroons who visited campus for Alumni Weekend this year may have noticed that the school logo has a fresh look. The new logo is part of a full rebranding, unveiled in April, that is a fitting companion to other initiatives in the works at Roanoke. It will be deployed across the College’s many products and platforms, including on-campus signage, merchandise, print publications and the website, which is undergoing a full redesign that will be completed later this summer.

“While the core mission of nurturing and launching the talent of our graduates into the world has been remarkably steady, the way we communicate our mission and value is always adapting to best reach the next generation of prospective students,” Shushok said.

A hallmark of the rebranding is the logo, a sharp new shield divided into four quarters. The images within these quarters represent key elements of the College’s values, traditions and aspirations: our founding in 1842; our distinct campus architecture; our mascot, the maroon-tailed hawk; and the white dogwood flower, a symbol of Virginia, our tree-studded campus and our Lutheran heritage.

The shield logo, along with a new color palette, typography, patterns, graphics and writing voice, were established through a collaboration between Roanoke College’s Office of Marketing and Communications and Ologie, an award-winning marketing and branding agency. The new branding was informed by extensive market research with all Roanoke College audiences.

“This project is the most comprehensive new branding exercise the College has undertaken in more than a decade,” said Melanie Wine Tolan, vice president for marketing and communications. “Our goal was to develop fresh creative pieces that capture attention and resonate with current and future Maroons.

“Our visual brand is how the world sees us, and I’m proud of the team that worked with input from the community to create this,” she said. “The work is strong and uplifting and represents a new era, showcasing the many dimensions of Roanoke College.”

“Our visual brand is how the world sees us.”

— Melanie Wine Tolan, vice president for marketing and communications

Down to a science

When Roanoke College first began to envision and fundraise for a new Science Center in 2011, the world was a different place: Most people had never heard of Instagram, Venmo or Uber; the iPad and Oculus hadn’t been invented; and only epidemiologists and doomsayers lost sleep over the specter of a pandemic.

Since then, the technology for instruction and research has changed dramatically, as have the skills students need to succeed in jobs of the future. In addition, the country has seen the highest increase in construction costs in 50 years, with inflation altering the projected cost of the original Science Center design from $50 million in 2012 to $100 million today.

But Roanoke’s leaders don’t want to continue to chase inflation; they want to act now and build a state-of-the-art facili-

ty that will provide students with transformative education in the sciences and help grow enrollment.

“Having a new president come in with experience and background in working on capital projects has allowed us to view this project through a new lens,” said Kim Blair ’93, vice president for advancement. “We want to move with urgency and actualize the vision to transform science education at Roanoke.”

To that end, the College has adopted a new design for the Science Center that is efficient, flexible and sustainable. The Charlottesville, Virginia-based architectural firm VMDO, which designed the Cregger Center, has been hired to re-envision an educational facility that will accommodate more technology in a smaller footprint and foster opportunities for greater interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and accessibility.

“We do quality science here with undergraduate students in these current buildings, where we are working with good equipment and publishing our findings,” said Biology Professor Chris Lassiter, “but with a new Science Center, we’ll have facilities that reflect the quality of the science

An updated design for Roanoke College’s new Science Center will accommodate more technology in a smaller footprint and foster efficiency, flexibility and collaboration.

New Science Center rendering from Virginia-based architectural firm VMDO.

that is going on and that help to engage all students, as well as build communities among the sciences.”

The College’s updated Science Center

initiative will hold costs to $60 million and break construction into phases, beginning with a $30 million new facility that will stand where Massengill Hall now exists,

then progressing to renovations of Trexler Hall and Life Sciences. The goal is to break ground in early 2024.

“Adapting our initial plan for the Science Center ensures that we uphold our promise to bring to life a long-held vision for scientific transformation at Roanoke,” said President Frank Shushok Jr. “We remain committed to building a remarkable facility that inspires all of us. I’m confident that our adapted approach for the Science Center will take Roanoke College to new heights.” RC

“We want to move with urgency and actualize the vision to transform science education at Roanoke.”

— Kim Blair ’93, vice president for advancement

A TRADITION OF SERVICE

BY ALICIA PETSKA

hen Davis Tingle ’23 was weighing where to commit for school, his thoughts kept coming back to the R House project he was told about at Roanoke College.

As an incoming freshman, he’d be joining forces with hundreds of new classmates to tackle an intensive, weeklong push to build a house with Habitat for Humanity, an all-in introduction to service that would help a local family achieve the dream of a home to call their own.

“I decided a school that would do a project like that would be a good place for me,” said Tingle, a computer science and mathematics double major who would go on to become a volunteer co-coordinator for the massive annual house build.

“There is a big tradition of service at Roanoke,” Tingle said. “I came in knowing that I wanted to be a part of that.”

Today, R House is led by the Center for Civic Engagement, a campus hub established in 2013 to focus and expand Roanoke’s commitment to service learning.

The Center for Civic Engagement is celebrating 10 years of building programs that have helped countless communities and spurred students to grow as servant leaders.

“ THERE IS A BIG TRADITION OF SERVICE AT ROANOKE. I CAME IN KNOWING THAT I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT. ”

— Davis Tingle ’23

Eliana Glover ’24 participates in the 17th R House build at Roanoke College in June 2022.

In the decade that followed, it has grown the College’s community partnerships and worked alongside faculty to weave service directly into the curriculum. The result has been more hands-on learning, more opportunities for student leadership and more good work done in the community.

“It’s pretty remarkable,” said Brian Clark ’01 who’s worked closely with the center in his career as construction director for Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley. “There was always an emphasis on service at Roanoke when I was a student, but I’ve watched it become more intentional and more comprehensive.

“Habitat and the families we serve definitely benefit from that, and we’re grateful for it,” he added. “But something I really appreciate is that R House is just a starting point for students to get into service and envision what they can do working with the community. There are so many

other organizations that the center partners with, which I’m grateful for, because the more I do personally in affordable housing the more I see how many needs are out there.

“The center’s approach looks at the larger community and helps students find their niche. And I love that Roanoke College is doing that.”

A mission to serve the whole student

In the 10 years since its founding, the Center for Civic Engagement has succeeded in nearly tripling the number of community nonprofits that students can connect with, branching out into programs that tackle food insecurity, early education, disability advocacy and more.

The College also equipped the new center with funding for faculty training and classroom partnerships, an investment that helped more professors blend hands-on service with traditional learning, designing projects that helped students from biology to business majors experience firsthand how their skills could be applied in community settings.

“We really see this as a specialty that makes us different,” said Jesse Griffin, founding director of the center. “Roanoke College is a place where you can come and get your hands dirty. You can really live your major. The nonprofits that we partner with become part of our classrooms, essentially.”

The center’s portfolio now includes coordinating service

“ ROANOKE COLLEGE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME AND GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY. YOU CAN REALLY LIVE YOUR MAJOR. THE NONPROFITS THAT WE PARTNER WITH BECOME PART OF OUR CLASSROOMS, ESSENTIALLY. ”

— Jesse Griffin, director, Center for Civic Engagement

Davis Tingle ’23 volunteers with Habitat for Humanity to build a shed for a homeowner during an alternative Fall Break trip in Boone, North Carolina, in 2022.

Jesse Griffin, director of the Center for Civic Engagement, at the 2022 R House build with Sirena Perry of Roanoke, who later moved into the new home with her daughter.

opportunities, leading R House, and organizing alternative break trips that take students as far away as Latin America to serve local communities and soak up new experiences.

None of that has made its way into the facility’s mission by accident. The establishment of the center itself was a carefully thought-out step taken at a time when the College was closely examining its larger mission as part of the renewal of its independent accreditation status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

That rigorous outside process challenged the campus to refresh its long-term goals and reflect on how it could keep enriching the student experience. The answers that would come back to Roanoke leaders again and again would be united in a belief in experiential learning as a means of cultivating a holistic approach to the College’s work.

“We were very much focused on what we called, at the time, whole student development,” said Richard Smith, vice president and dean emeritus, who was part of the leadership team that proposed the center. “Service learning was a central part of that approach. We recognized that much of how students develop

and grow during college happens outside the classroom. The academic component and what they do in the classroom are important, of course. But there are many other experiences that contribute to them discovering who they are and finding their purpose.

“So, we began thinking about how to expand experiential learning as a key way to broaden what students were learning in the classroom, and to encourage them to think deeply about what it means to serve and about what’s important to them.”

That latter piece would become a hallmark of the new center. To not only serve but to do so with a thoughtfulness that could spur students to dig deeper and discover things about themselves that would shape their future paths.

The center also carved out more space for students to step up as leaders. That included launching a fellowship program to create a team of student organizers to oversee volunteers and projects. It also expanded on training programs that allowed students to take ownership of alternative break trips, designing their own itineraries and leading the trip in the field.

“Our students are incredibly capable people. They wanted those leadership opportunities,” Griffin said. “If you give them the chance to do amazing things, they step up to the plate.”

The driving idea, he added, isn’t to help students tackle a single project or day of service. It’s to help them tap into their passion and their potential — to foster a new generation of civic leaders.

“One of the coolest parts of my job is getting to watch students grow up into who they’re going to be,” Griffin said. “This work can be a really powerful experience for them. When you have these opportunities to do work out in the community, as a college student, you come away with a very different type of learning experience.” RC

Students put their muscles to work for a good cause during the R House build on campus in June 2022.

Sirena Perry and her daughter cut the ribbon to their new home, which was the 17th R House build by the Roanoke College community.

PASSION + LEADERSHIP + SERVICE

Nick Varrell ’15 took stock of all the things that service learning taught him. The hands-on lessons included how to build new homes for families in need in Roanoke and how to usher in new infrastructure for villages in Latin America. Most importantly, it taught him what it meant to build community — to forge stronger connections between people and neighborhoods.

“You can change other people’s lives in huge ways with simple acts,” Varrell said. “I think that was probably my biggest takeaway from my experiences at Roanoke. That and the amount of joy that comes from helping others.”

Varrell, a Massachusetts native, has channeled those lessons into a passion for service that continues to this day. The Spanish and criminal justice major spent time after graduation working with nonprofits in Central America — work he first learned on alternative break trips with Roanoke College. More recently, Varrell has been serving as the supervisor of volunteer programs for Project: Homes in Richmond, where he lives with his wife, fellow Maroon Rachel Perkinson Varrell ’17, whom he met on a service trip.

At Project: Homes, Varrell works with communities to improve housing for people who need everything from wheelchair ramps to a helping hand with yard work. The volunteer-driven programs serve people who are disabled, senior citizens and families who would otherwise struggle to afford the cost of crucial home repairs.

“These are projects that help people stay in their homes,” Varrell said. “It’s amazing what can be done with a little bit of time and volunteers who care.”

The shoulder-to-the-wheel work of organizing volunteers is something he learned in the Center for Civic Engagement, he added. Establishing the center allowed the College to deepen its message of service and invest in new partnerships that brought the work directly into the classroom.

“The center is a place that stayed with me long after graduation,” Varrell said. “Now, service is my career. And for me, Roanoke is where it all started, that itch to serve and find ways to help communities through volunteerism.”

Mackay Pierce ’17 had a formidable to-do list in front of him. As a new student leader for the alternative break program, he had to design his own itinerary from the ground up, coordinate with outside partners, and handle the logistics that come with keeping a vanload of fellow students safe, on schedule and immersed in meaningful work for a week.

The then-sophomore from Tennessee tackled it all. Then he returned the next year to do it again.

“That was a really incredible part of my time in Roanoke,” said Pierce, who led multiple student service trips. “It was a unique opportunity where I was given a lot of agency and space to develop a vision for each program. I learned a tremendous number of skills that I still use every day in my current career.”

Pierce, an environmental studies and sociology major, jumped into working with the Center for Civic Engagement as a freshman, starting as a volunteer coordinator focused on community garden work and spearheading the creation of the campus garden on what was previously an overlooked lot off Hawthorne Street.

Those multi-layered opportunities to step into leadership roles — learning budgeting, project management and the intangible art of inspiring student groups — have served him well in life after graduation. Pierce is now secondin-command at the Rachel Carson Council, a major environmental nonprofit, where one of his first tasks was creating an initiative to engage college students in environmental justice work.

Pierce now oversees a national fellowship program that supports projects developed and led by students.

“There is a very direct throughline between my experiences at the center and how the fellowship was shaped,” he said. “In many ways, I modeled the program on my time at Roanoke, because I know how much I got out of it and how it could benefit students.”

He now works to give a new generation the chance to pursue their ideas for change and be taken seriously as emerging leaders — the same opportunities that shaped him at the Center for Civic Engagement.

“The center is part of most of my best memories from college,” Pierce reflected. “I met wonderful mentors and learned so much.”

Princess Diaz-Bîrca ’18 sat outside a courthouse in New Orleans during a break between hearings for the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, where she was interning as part of her last semester at Northeastern University School of Law.

It’s not a place she always saw herself — training to be an advocate determined to dismantle outdated mindsets that hurt, rather than help, children who wind up in the system. But it’s a role that came naturally to her after three years working with at-risk youth as a team leader for the Center for Civic Engagement.

“I had never really worked with kids before that, but the experience stuck with me,” she recalled. “To be able to be there for them and see how our relationships grew when they knew I was there to help — that was amazing.”

Diaz-Bîrca, a Delaware native, first came to Roanoke undecided on her major but knowing she wanted to make a difference for communities. She signed up for Jesse Griffin’s alternative break project in Nicaragua as a freshman and later joined the center as a student fellow, leading other volunteers who worked as mentors for children with the Community Youth Program in downtown Roanoke.

“Roanoke College’s campus is already a tight-knit community, but being with everyone at the center really provided me with an even closer community,” she said. “I met all these people who truly cared about serving and about creating change. It helped me lay a foundation and showed me all the cool things that people can do by working for their communities.”

Diaz-Bîrca, who graduated with a sociology degree, would go on to serve in the Peace Corps — where she also met her now-husband — and enroll in law school with a plan to work in juvenile justice. In the spring, as her graduation from Northeastern University approached, she accepted a position with Philadelphia-based civil rights law firm Berney & Sang, where she’ll be working to ensure that children with disabilities who are in the carceral system are receiving needed educational services.

It’s a journey that she credits to her time at the center. “It’s something I still talk about, that first connection that I made with kids,” she said. “It’s something that called to me and led to where I am now.”

Who do the students that come through the Center for Civic Engagement grow up to be? Let three of them tell you.

g i v i n g n e w s

Roanoke honors 2023 medalist and emerging alumni

Sandra Bates ’69, who served the federal government for 37 years, received the Roanoke College Medal while Dr. Jared Herr ’04 and Rosemarie Stephens-Booker ’08 were the first recipients of the College’s new Emerging Alumni Awards.

A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 1969 who dedicated her life to government service was awarded the Roanoke College Medal during Alumni Weekend, while two additional alumni received the Emerging Alumni Award.

This year’s Roanoke College medalist, Sandra (Nelson) Bates ’69, retired from the General Services Administration (GSA) in 2005 after 37 years of service to the federal government. At Roanoke, Bates studied business administration and was a member of Chi Omega.

Societ y of 1842

Over the past year, 14 new members have joined the society, representing a special fellowship of benefactors that has grown from 32 members in 1982 to 1,131 members today.

This fiscal year, new planned gift provisions total more than $6.5 million dollars.

Bates spent the first 10 years of her career in the GSA, where she worked on the original government-wide long-distance services program, Federal Technology Service (FTS). She then transferred to NASA, where she ultimately became chief of communications, with responsibility for all NASA operational, command and control networks worldwide.

In 1996, Bates returned to the GSA, working her way up to commissioner of the FTS, which is responsible for more than $8 billion in products and services to federal government agencies each year. Bates is now an executive consultant for Topside Consulting, LLC, which provides a range of services to companies seeking to do business with the federal government.

Bates and her late husband, Tommy, generously established an endowed scholarship that aids incoming freshmen who require assistance beyond family resources to attend Roanoke. Recipients also must demonstrate their well-rounded attributes through involvement in co-curricular activities such as church youth group, community service, music, athletics or student leadership. Bates is a member of the Society of 1842 and the Presidents Society.

The Emerging Alumni Award, a new honor in 2023, highlights outstanding alumni under the age of 50 who have made

significant contributions to their communities and the Roanoke College family.

Dr. Jared Herr ’04 is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist in the Center for Advanced Heart Failure Therapies at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). He serves as director of the Continuing Medical Education Program for the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group and is active in clinical research and graduate medical education at CPMC and Sutter Health.

Herr graduated from Roanoke magna cum laude with a B.S. in biology and biochemistry, then went on to earn a medical degree with honors at The University of Texas Medical Branch. At Roanoke, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa, Beta Beta Beta and Alpha Chi honor societies.

Herr also serves as a member of the President’s Advisory Board and Science Center Campaign Committee. He actively supports alumni engagement in California and is a member of the Associates Society.

Rosemarie Stephens-Booker ’08 is director of state mobilization at the California-based Building Decarbonization Coalition. She previously worked with the Biden-Harris Administration as a presidential appointee to the Department of Energy.

Stephens-Booker was unable to accept her award at the luncheon this year because she just gave birth to a son, Everett. We will celebrate her and share more about her extensive achievements during Alumni Weekend 2024.

Sandra (Nelson) Bates ’69 (right) receives the Roanoke College Medal from Malon Courts, chair of the board of trustees, during the Society of 1842 luncheon on Alumni Weekend.

Dr. Jared Herr ’04 (left), recipient of an Emerging Alumni Award during the Society of 1842 luncheon on April 21, stops for a photo with one of his mentors, Professor of Biology Emeritus Dar Jorgensen.

Why I give

Ramsey Hathaway ’00 and Kelley Hathaway ’01 are members of the Associates Society, a group of individuals, corporations and foundations that make annual gifts to the school of at least $1,000. Associates are recognized throughout the year with special events and programs, including an invitation to President’s Evening, lectures and an Associates Society event during Alumni Weekend.

“Roanoke College is a special place for our family, and we take pride in saying that we both graduated from there. The recent improvements to the College will continue to differentiate Roanoke College from other academic institutions in the area. We’ve been blessed to begin giving back to the College, and we hope to continue giving annually to help make a difference for future generations of Maroons. Go Noke!”

Anna (Moir) Diles ’14 is part of the Young Associates group, which includes alumni between the classes of 2014 and 2023. To become a Young Associate, alumni who are between zero and four years out of college make an annual donation of $250. Alumni who are five to nine years out of college may donate $500 annually to become a Young Associate. Young Associates receive many of the same benefits earned by members of the Associates Society.

“Roanoke College provided the foundation for my adult life. I had an amazing time while I was a student, and I was fortunate to be entrenched in a welcoming and exciting campus community that helped guide my academic growth and personal maturity. The friends I made at Roanoke College are still some of my most treasured relationships more than 10 years later. If you want to be able to revisit special places like Roanoke College and also ensure that future generations can enjoy a similar experience, you have to help take care of those places by providing meaningful support. Giving to Roanoke College at the Young Associate level is impactful, affordable and helps keep me connected to one of my favorite places in the world!”

Roanoke College alumni share their motivations for contributing to the future of their alma mater and its students.

The Hathaway family

Anna (Moir) Diles ’14

athletics n e w s

BY RAY COX

Athletic Director Scott Allison ’79 signs off

FROM HIS TIME as a two-sport student-athlete in 1975 through the end of June, when he will retire from the athletic director post at which he has served since 1993, there is no portion of Roanoke College’s vast sporting life that Scott Allison ’79 has not impacted.

Busy man that he is, Allison recently indicated that his place in history wasn’t a topic he’d considered much.

“I never thought of it like that,” he said, “but I have been here a long time.”

Brian Hoffman ’74, who has been covering college sports for local newspapers for more than 40 years, summarized the Allison reign in just a few words: “Everything runs smoothly all the time.”

Members of the coaching staff at Roanoke say they always feel supported by Allison, who shows his care for students, coaches and staff every day.

“After working for a number of different people before Scott, I came in here a little on-guard, I guess you could say,” said

A glimpse at Allison’s 3 6-year service to Roanoke College:

• Allison played eight varsity seasons of Maroons soccer and lacrosse as a student-athlete, was team captain of each, a national champion in lacrosse and a 1979 graduate. He was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

• He returned as a coach in 1986 after coaching lacrosse and women’s soccer at Dartmouth College, the United States Naval Academy, Salisbury University and Washington College.

• Soon after starting as head soccer and lacrosse coach at Roanoke, the College won Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles with each — once in the same year.

• After the two-season stint at the helm of the lacrosse program, he immediately added to his soccer duties a successful one-year run leading women’s tennis to the first winning campaign in program history.

• His formidable soccer coaching resume included eight ODAC titles and six NCAA Division III appearances, along with sundry conference and state coach of the year honors.

• As the lead athletic administrator, he has fronted a department that supported men’s and women’s teams that have earned 100 ODAC championships and 131 NCAA appearances going into the 2023 spring season.

Scott is a man of the people when you’re thinking of the athletes and coaches he is in charge of.

— President Emeritus Michael Maxey

Athletic Director Scott Allison shows off a plaque that was presented to him during a retirement celebration on Alumni Weekend 2023.

Women’s Lacrosse Coach Erica Brown. “Working for someone who genuinely and honestly cares about those around them makes a difference when you come into the office. You want to do well because you know your boss has your back.”

President Emeritus Michael Maxey, whose time at Roanoke coincided closely with Allison’s, confirmed that impression: “Scott is a man of the people when you’re thinking of the athletes and coaches he is in charge of.”

President Frank Shushok Jr., who joined Roanoke College last year, said it didn’t take long for him to see what Allison has meant to the school.

coaches, staff, alumni and friends,” Shushok said.

Not to be overlooked are Allison’s extensive labors in fundraising, planning and execution. During his time at Roanoke, the College has invested millions in new facilities, including the 154,000-square-foot Cregger Center, which houses a 2,500-seat multi-sport arena and a field house with a 200-meter indoor track. The facility, which also holds a fitness center, athletic hall of fame and training rooms, is the shining nerve center of the Athletic Department.

Fittingly, during Alumni Weekend 2023, the Cregger Center foyer was renamed the Scott Allison Foyer and dedicated to the man who welcomed so many into the Roanoke College Athletic Department over the years. Soon, a permanent plaque will be in place to honor Allison.

Under his administration, varsity softball, baseball, men’s and women’s swimming, wrestling and men’s volleyball have been added to an already impressive menu of competitive opportunities for students. Cycling, which is not an NCAA sport but is predicted to be popular as a club sport, was also recently introduced, and football has been approved by the board of trustees pending funding.

The argument may be made that as Allison turns in his keys, athletics at Roanoke College have never been stronger.

“I’ve had great people to work with,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky.”

Allison was a force on the Roanoke men’s lacrosse team. He served as a team captain and was later inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for his performance on both the soccer and lacrosse teams.

“All you have to do is mention Scott’s name around alumni and this community to see what his passion, gifts and hard work have brought to the College and to so many student-athletes,

Coach

Allison offers words of wisdom to the men’s soccer team in 2011.

“All you have to do is mention Scott’s name around alumni and this community to see what his passion, gifts and hard work have brought to the College...”

— President Frank Shushok Jr.

STANDOUTS

Five new members enter Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame

DURING ALUMNI WEEKEND 2023, Roanoke College inducted four alumni student-athletes and one retired coach into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established in 1971 to honor coaches and players who made history as part of the College’s athletic programs.

This year’s inductees were:

• TRACY COYNE was a two-sport head coach at Roanoke for seven seasons, coaching both women’s lacrosse and field hockey.

• CARMEN GRAVES ’13 was a star on both the women’s track and field and women’s soccer teams during her time at Roanoke.

• MICHAEL STARK ’11 led the men’s soccer team to back-to-back ODAC Championship game appearances in 2008 and 2009 as part of a stellar Maroon career.

• JUSTIN TUMA ’11 excelled on the field for the men’s lacrosse team.

• GINA VALLES ’11 excelled on the women’s lacrosse team. She was also a member of the women’s soccer team.

Rotanz inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

Bob Rotanz ’78, a star on the lacrosse field, was inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame class

CONGRATULATIONS to Roanoke College lacrosse standout Bob Rotanz ’78, who was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame on April 22, 2023. The Hall of Fame celebrates athletic excellence in Virginia and the positive impact of sports.

Rotanz, a defenseman for the Maroons, scored the game-winning goal to lift the team to its first national championship victory in 1978, earning the National Player of the Year Award. Also in 1978, the three-time All-American captained the South Squad on the North/South All-Star Game, was named National Defensive Player of the Year, and was awarded the Paul Griffin and RC Male Athlete of the Year Award. He was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988, and his jersey has been retired.

Rotanz, who owns Mac and Bob’s restaurant in Salem, was also recently honored with the Salem Salutes Award from Salem City Council. The “Mayor of Main Street,” as he is affectionately known, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Down Syndrome families, and he frequently supplies nonprofits and Salem workers with free food. — Kaylen Ayres ’25

The 2023 class of Roanoke College Hall of Fame inductees (left to right): Tracy Coyne, Carmen Graves ’13, Gina Valles ’11, Michael Stark ’11 and Justin Tuma ’11.

> Read more about these exceptional inductees at roa.ke/HOF23.

Rotanz addresses guests at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 22.

BASEBALL

28-17 (16-6 ODAC)

SOFTBALL

27-12 (17-3 ODAC)

MEN’S LACROSSE 11-8 (6-3 ODAC)

WOMEN’S LACROSSE 16-4 (7-1 ODAC)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

20-7 (12-4 ODAC)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

18-8 (12-6 ODAC)

MEN’S TENNIS 5-11 (3-7 ODAC)

WOMEN’S TENNIS 7-10 (4-6 ODAC)

MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Fifth at ODAC Indoor Championship; fourth at ODAC Outdoor Championship

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Third at ODAC Indoor Championship; third at ODAC Outdoor Championship

GOLF

Sixth at ODAC Championship

MEN’S SWIMMING

Third at ODAC Championship

WOMEN’S SWIMMING

Second at ODAC Championship WRESTLING

Ninth at NCAA Div. III Southeast Regional Championship

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 7-19 (0-8 Conference)

NOTE: As of May 15, 2023

For the latest scores, go to roanokemaroons.com

RC | highlights

BASKETBALL

Kasey Draper ’23, Trent Dawson ’24 and Joshua Morse ’24 made the Academic All-District team. A trio of Maroons were named All-ODAC selections, with Draper on the First Team, Justin Kuthan ’24 on the Second Team and Efosa U-Edosomwan ’23 on the Third Team. Additionally, Draper received ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was named First Team Academic All-American and was a finalist for the Jostens Trophy. Rose Sande ’23 recorded Second Team All-ODAC honors for the women’s team.

LACROSSE

Luke Kammerman ’24 was named ODAC Player of the Year and Weston Hammond ’26 was named ODAC Rookie of the Year. Julian Kammerman ’26 joined them with First Team All-ODAC honors, while Wyatt Whitlow ’24 was named Second Team and Luca Docking ’24 and Noah Goad ’24 were named Third Team. On the women’s team, Lilly Blair ’22 was named ODAC/VA Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete of the Year and First Team All-ODAC. Also named First Team were Libby Bowman ’24, Sophia Chickering ’24, Natalie Mason ’24 and Addison Schmidt ’23 Grace Koutouzis ’25 and Sydney Harrison ’25 made Second Team All-ODAC.

TRACK AND FIELD

Sam Crawford ’23 was named ODAC Male Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week after winning two events, recording two top-four Division III times and breaking a school record. Brady Fowler ’25 earned ODAC Track Athlete of the Week after breaking the school record for the 100-meter dash and posting the sixth best time in Division III, while Kim Roden ’26 earned ODAC Field Athlete of the Week after posting the top ODAC height for high jump.

SOFTBALL

Jada Karnes ’23 earned ODAC Softball Pitcher of the Week twice this season, while Lilly Burns ’24 earned an ODAC Player of the Week nod.

BASEBALL

Will Turner ’23 and Caleb Lingenfelter ’23 both earned ODAC Pitcher of the Week honors. Brody Langlotz ’25 was named ODAC Player of the Week. Jacob Bonzon ’23, Conner Butler ’23 and Langlotz were named to the First Team All-ODAC while Mason Staz ’24 and Jonny Wall ’24 earned Second Team honors.

TENNIS

Federico Maccari ’26 was named ODAC Player of the Week after winning both his singles and doubles matches at the top seed versus Randolph.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The inaugural squad finished their season with a 7-19 record, recording a 0-8 conference record.

WRESTLING

Headlining the accolades for the team’s second season, Mahlic Sallah ’24 earned All-American honors and became the first two-time All-American in the program. Mark Samuel ’26 was named ODAC Rookie of the Year. Sallah and Corey Messick ’25 earned First Team All-ODAC honors; Jacob Cherry ’26 earned Second Team All-ODAC honors; Mac Cafurello ’25, Zane Cox ’26, Kyle Lee ’26 and Wyatt Sage ’25 earned Third Team AllODAC honors. Cafurello, Ryan Foutz ’24, Josh Noble ’25 and Jude Robson ’26 were named NWCA Division III Scholar All-Americans, with Cafurello becoming the program’s first two-time Scholar All-American.

Kasey Draper ’23 raked in laurels this year on the men’s basketball team.

Kim Roden ’26 earned ODAC Field Athlete of the Week after posting the top ODAC height for high jump.

a l u m n i n e w s

Roanoke College magazine

welcomes news of your recent accomplishments and/or transitions.

class notes

1960s

You can write to us at: Office of Alumni Relations, Roanoke College, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153-3794; call us toll-free at 1- 866-RCALUMS; fax us at 540-375-2398; email us at alumni@roanoke.edu or update your record online at www.roanoke.edu/alumni

Due to space constraints and time between issues, submissions might appear in an upcoming issue. Editorial contributions are welcome but subject to editing. Photographs may be used as space permits, submitted in print or digital format. Digital photos must be 1 MB in size or larger. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee return of contributed materials. We look forward to hearing from you!

Peter Hill ’65 recently retired as commander of American Legion Post 38 in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Hill, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, was a past commander of Post 149 in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. He earned a degree in psychology at Roanoke and is retired from a career in banking.

1970s

Pamela Pierce ’72 has won a regional Emmy Award from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a documentary she executive produced. “However Wide the Sky: Places of Power” celebrates the connection between the spirituality and land of the Indigenous people of the American Southwest.

Brian Hoffman ’74 was honored by Salem City Council for five decades of service to the community. Hoffman, who studied business administration at Roanoke, this year celebrates his 50th year covering sports for the Salem TimesRegister. He is also a charter member of the board of directors of the SalemRoanoke Baseball Hall of Fame and was inducted in 2004.

Roland “Roby” Hurley ’75 is chair of the board of supervisors for the Teton

Conservation District in Teton County, Wyoming. In that role, he oversees a $2 million budget and seven staffers in charge of water quality, wildlife management, GIS mapping, wildfire mitigation and agriculture grants. Hurley holds a B.A. from Roanoke and is retired from his role as principal planner for Teton County Planning and Development.

1980s

Gillian Deegan ’88, a deputy commonwealth’s attorney in Botetourt County, Virginia, was recently profiled by The Roanoke Times for her work as an animal welfare advocate. Also featured in the article was her standard poodle, Seamus, who is in training to be an emotional support animal for victims and witnesses in Bote-

Bruce Spinney ’69 (left) and Bob Zimmer ’69 reconnected at their 50th reunion in 2022. There, Zimmer and his wife, Susan, learned that Spinney is a docent at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which they had always wanted to visit. This photo was taken outside the museum in Chantilly, Virginia, in January. Spinney, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia, is retired from a career as a financial analyst. Zimmer, who lives in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is retired from his role as CEO of Capital Analysts of New England, Inc.

William “Bill” Brenzovich Sr. ’71 received the Jean C. Harris Award for Excellence from the Hanover County Community Services Board in Hanover, Virginia. Named for a founding board member, the Harris Award is given annually to recipients who are passionate about serving the community. Brenzovich has dedicated more than a decade in service to individuals with behavioral health and developmental needs. He represented the Mechanicsville District on the Hanover County Community Services Board from 2011– 2019 and was just reappointed for a three-year term. He also has represented his region on the Virginia Association of Community Service Boards since 2016, serving as vice chair and chair.

tourt County’s General District and Circuit courts. Deegan earned an English degree at Roanoke, where her father, William Deegan, was an English professor.

1990s

Steve Esworthy ’91 was named chief advancement officer for the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation. Esworthy received a degree in political science and was an initiate of PKP’s Xi Chapter at Roanoke College. He previously served as the College’s director of development.

Christy Clark ’93 was narrowly defeated in the November 2022 election for the 98th House District in North Carolina. Clark, a Democrat, went up against Republican incumbent John Bradford III and lost by just 861 votes. This was the third time Clark and Bradford ran against each other; in 2018, Clark edged out Bradford by 415 votes. Two years later, Bradford defeated Clark by 2,050 votes.

Forest Jones ’95 received an honorable mention in the nonfiction essay or article category of the 91st Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition for an essay he co-wrote with his son, Anton Jones. The essay, titled “William G. Dabney: ‘I wasn’t afraid of the

Southard wins national volunteer award

Southard, a pediatric nurse who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Roanoke, has for decades been one of Virginia’s biggest advocates for the nonprofit JDRF and the leading-edge work it supports. She’s participated in annual fundraising walks, helped organize charity galas, volunteered for 15 clinical trials with the University of Virginia, and served as a longtime board member for the local chapter.

In November 2022, during JDRF’s annual conference, Southard’s tireless advocacy was recognized with one of the foundation’s top honors: the Edwin Lurie Award, which is named after a JDRF founder and celebrates a standout volunteer whose dedication has “significantly advanced the mission and strategic priorities” of diabetes research.

Southard has a track record of volunteerism that started in her childhood. At Roanoke College, she raised money for the hospital ship Project HOPE; as an alumna, she served on the President’s Advisory Board and the Roanoke College Carilion Clinic Partnership Task Force. She was awarded the Roanoke College Medal in 2022 and is a past recipient of the Charles Brown Award from the city of Salem and the Living and Giving Award from JDRF.

Inthe more than 50 years since Sally Waters Southard ’77 was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she has never lost sight of the mission to find a cure for the complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

“I’m still hoping it will be in my lifetime,” she said. “That’s why I’m so passionate about doing whatever I can to help.”

D-Day invasion, but I didn’t think I’d come out alive,’” is about an African-American veteran from Roanoke, Virginia. Jones earned a degree in history at Roanoke, then went on to receive a master’s in history at Hollins University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Virginia Tech. He lives in Salem, where he is director of administrative services for Salem City Schools.

Crystal (Wilson) Cline ’96 has announced her bid for sheriff in Warren County, Virginia. Cline earned a degree in business administration at Roanoke, where she was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for her performance on the women’s basketball and volleyball teams. She has served the town of Front Royal in law enforcement for more than 22 years and is currently an operations captain in command of the patrol and investigations divisions. She also supervises the SWAT team, Crisis Negotiation Team and Civil Distur-

bance Unit. Cline, who was the first woman to achieve the ranks of sergeant and captain in her department, is currently completing a Master of Science in criminal justice administration at University of the Cumberlands.

Marcie (Flinchum) Atkins ’97 of Fairfax, Virginia, has had two poems published in anthologies for children. Her poem “Zany” was included in “Things We Feel,” while “Promise” was included in “What Is a Friend?” Both books were published by Pomelo Books in 2022.

Atkins earned a degree in psychology at Roanoke and went on to receive an MA and MFA in children’s literature from Hollins University. She is also the author of “Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature” (Millbook Press, 2019).

Julie (Carson) Moore ’97, who teaches world music at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, helped organize the first Global Folk Music Retreat, which took place in North Carolina in Octo-

“Sally is an all-around T1D champion, from welcoming new members into the community to sharing her knowledge and raising funds to accelerate life-changing research,” said Jaclyn Toll, executive director of JDRF’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter. “We thank Sally for her longstanding commitment to our mission and congratulate her on this well-deserved award.”

ber 2022. The weeklong retreat covered music genres from around the world and was hosted by Community Sound, of which Moore is founding director.

2000s

Hilary (Tulloch) Ambroziak ’01, who just started her 21st year of teaching at Mapleton Montessori School in Boulder, Colorado, was instrumental in the school’s recent certification as a “Bee-Safe” school, which means the school only uses organic gardening practices on its campus. She also had a photograph included in the “Art Inspired by the Land” exhibition at Canyon Gallery at the Main Boulder Public Library, and she and her chocolate Labrador, Bella, participated in a human/canine chemical exposure study coordinated by the University of Colorado-Boulder and Yale University.

Kimberly (Kidd) Halterman ’01 has been appointed to the Virginia Depart-

ment of Education’s Superintendents Judges Liaison Committee, which allows school division superintendents to work with juvenile and domestic relations court judges to address issues facing at-risk youth. Halterman holds degrees in sociology and psychology with minors in elementary and secondary education from Roanoke, as well as a master’s in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech. She was named superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools in March 2021 and is currently helping to lead the consolidation of Alleghany County and Covington City public schools into Alleghany Highlands Public Schools.

Will Farmer ’02, who earned a B.B.A. from Roanoke College and a master’s in business administration from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, is now vice president of revenue operations and a member of the executive leadership team for Traxero, a

Sally Waters Southard ’77, seen here with JDRF CEO Aaron Kowalski, was honored with a national award for her tireless advocacy for diabetes research.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JDRF

software company in the towing industry. Previously, Farmer served as vice president of sales for KAR Global.

Greg Geraci ’02 recently joined Amazon Web Services as a recruiting manager. He previously held positions with Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm, and Robert Half, a global human resource consulting firm. Geraci holds a degree in health and human performance from Roanoke.

Katie (Bolin) Ranes ’04 has been appointed as a district associate probate judge in Judicial Election District 5C by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. Previously, she served as a magistrate in the same district. Ranes earned degrees in criminal justice and political science at Roanoke before going on to obtain her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2007 She worked in private practice and was a certified family law mediator prior to her

ALUMNI PROFILE

appointment as a magistrate.

Melissa Carr ’05 made The Roanoker magazine’s 2023 40 Under 40 list. Carr studied chemistry at Roanoke and has been teaching the subject for Roanoke County Public Schools for 17 years.

Matthew Donato ’05 has joined Echelon Risk + Cyber, a cybersecurity professional services firm, as a partner. He was previously managing director of client services for CyberSN, a global leader in cybersecurity and talent solutions. In addition, Donato recently joined the board of advisors as senior advisor for solutions at Rebel Global Security,

a security risk management consultancy. Donato graduated from Roanoke with a B.A. in economics and went on to earn an MBA at Wake Forest University School of Business.

Ashley (Pierce) Thorsen ’06 has been named a 2022 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40 by Aviation Pros magazine for her work as an operations manager at South Bend International Airport in Indiana. Thorsen received a B.A. in sociology at Roanoke, an associate’s degree in air traffic and aviation management from Hampton University, and a Master of Science in aerospace and aviation management from Purdue University. Prior to her current position, she was an operations officer at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Jimmy Winterer ’06 has been named head baseball coach at Salem High School, where he also teaches physics. Winterer earned a B.S. in physics at Roanoke. He pitched for the Maroons from 2003-2007.

Matt Rose ’07, a population health manager for Evolent Health in Roanoke, has launched a line of seasoning blends called Spice Titan. Rose, who holds an English degree from Roanoke, develops and mixes the blends himself and sells them online and at farmers markets in Roanoke.

Craig McCullough ’09 has accepted a position as strategic business development manager for the commercial division of Miles & Stockbridge Law Firm in Baltimore, Maryland. McCullough continued on page 36

Next stop: Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Beth (Hylton) Dalton ’04 has spent the last several months preparing for her next assignment with the U.S. Foreign Service, which will be at the U.S. Embassy in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

As a general services officer (GSO), Dalton is responsible for management of physical resources and logistical functions at the embassy. That includes overseeing programs such as contracting, warehousing, inventory, shipping and customs, housing, travel and official visitor support.

Dalton, who grew up in Roanoke, obtained a degree in political science at Roanoke College, later earning an M.S. in management from University of Maryland Global Campus. Following graduation from Roanoke, she served in the U.S. Army before going to work as a contractor for the Department of Defense.

For the next several years, she did publications and public relations work for multiple federal agencies, including the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense Information Systems Agency, Naval Research Laboratory and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. Dalton said the intensive writing and analysis expected of her from professors at Roanoke College prepared her for the

rigors of those jobs.

After joining the U.S. Foreign Service in 2018, Dalton worked as a consular officer in both China and Jamaica before receiving her latest assignment.

To prepare for her new job in Malabo, which will begin in June 2023, Dalton has undergone training at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Virginia. Her lessons included intensive language study, because she will have to be essentially fluent in Spanish in order to carry out her work in Equatorial Guinea.

“I am not a polyglot by nature,” Dalton said, “but learning Spanish is much easier than learning Chinese!”

Dalton’s assignment in Equatorial Guinea will last for two years. Joining her there will be her husband, Trev, whom she met through a Roanoke College friend, Shaun Morgan; and their two dogs, a German shepherd named Bailey and a mixed breed (or “brown dog,” as Dalton said) named Belle.

Dalton said she loves her work in part because it takes her to different corners of the world.

“You get to immerse yourself in a new culture and explore places that are vastly different than any place you have ever been before,” she said.

“I am not a polyglot by nature, but learning Spanish is much easier than learning Chinese!”

ALUMNI BOOKS

Alumni tackle topics from preaching to pinup girls

“Preaching to Those Walking Away”

By the Rev. Dr. N. Graham Standish ’81, executive director of Samaritan Counseling Guidance Consulting of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and adjunct professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary doctor of ministry program.

Standish holds a B.A. in psychology from Roanoke College, an M.S.W. from the University of Pittsburgh, a M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Duquesne University. He is the father of Erin Standish ’21, who holds a B.A. in communication studies from Roanoke.

Publisher: Fortress Press

Overview: “N. Graham Standish has long been passionate about reaching out to those who call themselves ‘spiritual but not religious.’ Determined to help the church connect with them, he shares methods he has tested, refined and proven effective — approaches to preaching typically not taught in seminaries. Rather than grounding preaching in traditional homiletical theories and practices, Standish integrates insights from postmodernism, generational theory, multiple-intelligences theory, marketing, communications theory, brain/neurological research, counseling, spiritual formation, TED Talk presentations, motivational theory and the history of communication styles. Standish developed his ideas about preaching during more than two decades as senior pastor of a healthy, growing congregation that consistently attracted people who had walked away from Christianity and church.”

Review: “Standish calls contemporary preachers to a transformational, postmodern, apostolic proclamation for the sake of the nones and dones. He delivers a compelling and inspirational argument for preaching to those who have been and are still walking away from a church that does not speak to them.” — Bishop Laura L. (Hocker) Barbins ’90, Northwestern Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

“Leading Beyond Crisis: The Five Virtues of Transformative Resilient Leadership”

Co-written by Amy B. Athey ’97 and George S. Everly Jr. Athey is a licensed psychologist and national leader in sport and performance psychology, crisis intervention and wellness plans. She holds a degree in business administration from Roanoke and a Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Loyola University Maryland. She is on the Human Performance Team for the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

Publisher: Magination Press (American Psychological Association)

Overview: “Leading Beyond Crisis” covers the art and science of transformative resilient leadership, a unique leadership style that identifies opportunities in adversity and uses them to foster resilience and growth. With practical and reader-friendly chapters, this book profiles leaders from classical and modern history who exhibit the five pillars of this leadership style.

Review: “In times of crisis, leadership that restores confidence, connects people, inspires growth, and creates a resilience culture that radiates to all aspects of life is priceless. This book inspires the growth of such leadership like none other I’ve read. It masterfully integrates leadership, crisis management, and resilience — brilliantly weaving together research, application, inspiration, and wisdom.”

— Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., Lt. Col (USAR, ret.), University of Maryland School of Public Health (ret.)

“Pinups Portraits and Posters: The Life and Art of Bill Randall”

The Randall family, including Jessica (Randall) Balint ’11, her father and her aunts, put together this compilation to honor the life and work of their family patriarch, Bill Randall. Balint holds a B.A. in international relations and Spanish and a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean studies from Roanoke, and an M.A. in international peace and conflict resolution from American University. She is a senior conversion specialist for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts.

Publisher: Independently published

Overview: At the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, Balint and her relatives began the journey to commemorate her grandfather’s art legacy. A top commercial artist in America during the 1940s –1970s, Bill Randall painted some of the most popular pinup portraits of his day. He also created iconic advertising including images of Mr. Clean that can still be seen on store shelves today, and he loved painting landscapes, seascapes, figure studies and portraits. This book includes more than 400 pages of biographical information, insight into Randall’s creative process, and artwork.

“In Case You Get This”

A poetry collection by Cheryl R. Hopson ’95, associate professor of English and African American studies at Western Kentucky University. Hopson holds a B.A. in English from Roanoke, an M.A. in English from Radford University, and a Ph.D. from University of Kentucky.

Publisher: Finishing Line Press

Overview: “In Case You Get This” touches on memory, loss and aging parents; queer love and marriage; the specificity of this second, day and moment; and joy as a reprieve. Written at the height of the pandemic, the collection showcases a poet’s love affair with love, language, people and sound.

Review: “In these songs of trauma and treasure, of sass and survival, of love and longing, Cheryl Hopson opens the gate around her heart, and out tumbles everything that can’t be drunk away, laughed away, hoped away. Deliberate, unafraid, and armed with the power of poetry, she swats at her demons, she questions everything, she sings like Lionel Ritchie about the need to be free. Cheryl Hopson is a poet to be reckoned with.”

— Tom C. Hunley, author of “What Feels Like Love: New and Selected Poems”

graduated from Roanoke with a degree in business administration and spent nine years building a top-tier real estate group, which he has since sold to pursue his new opportunity.

2010s

Cathie Anthony ’10 received her Doctor of Education degree in K-12 educational policy, planning and leadership from William & Mary in May 2022. In October, she finished requirements to become a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia. She is the full-time lead social worker for York County Schools in Yorktown and serves as an outpatient therapist with Touchstone Counseling Services in Richmond.

Taylor Rowley ’10 has joined the Roanoke College faculty as an assistant professor of health and human performance. Rowley holds a B.S. in health and human performance from Roanoke, an M.S. in kinesiology from James Madison University, and a Ph.D. in kinesiology from University of WisconsinMilwaukee.

Adam “Cody” Sexton ’11 made The Roanoker magazine’s annual 40 Under 40 list for 2023. He holds a B.A. in philosophy from Roanoke and a master’s in public administration from Virginia Tech, and he is the assistant town manager/treasurer for Vinton, Virginia.

Greg Hanlon ’11 has been appointed director of Alumni & Family Relations at Roanoke College, having served as the associate director since December 2017. Prior to his work in that office, Hanlon worked in Student Affairs for five years, serving in various capacities, including as an area coordinator, assistant director of student activities and director of Greek life.

Zachary Hottel ’12 has been elected Virginia Caucus Representative of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC), an organization that supports professional archivists in the mid-Atlantic region. He was also Shenandoah County’s Young Professional of the Year for 2022. Hottel is an archivist for the Shenandoah County Library near Woodstock, Virginia. He holds a B.A. in history from Roanoke and an M.A. in history from Appalachian State University.

Jed Curtis ’13 is the founder and operator of Heart & Spade Forge, a Roanoke-based blacksmith shop that was named first runner-up in the home category of the Made in the South Awards, an annual contest conducted by Garden & Gun and Explore Asheville to shine a light on Southern-made products. Curtis, who obtained a chemistry degree at Roanoke, forges carbon steel cookware using small-batch processes and raw materials from mills in Virginia and South Carolina.

Jake Stewart ’13 has been named a partner in the North Carolina law firm of Cranfill Sumner LLP. Stewart earned a history degree at Roanoke, then went on to the University of South Carolina School of Law. He focuses his practice in employment and municipal law.

Lauren Kennedy-Metz ’14 has joined the Roanoke College faculty as an assistant professor of psychology. She received a B.S. in psychology with a minor in creative writing and a concentration in neuroscience at Roanoke, then earned a Ph.D. in translational biology, medicine and health with a concentration in neuroscience from Virginia Tech.

Stephanie Walsh ’14 has been sworn in as a police officer in the town of Vinton, Virginia. She holds a degree in psychology with a concentration in East Asian studies from Roanoke.

Macey Tyree ’15 has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville, Virginia, for her performance on the volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. Tyree racked up multiple laurels during her high school athletic career, including Blue Ridge District, All-Region and All-State honors. She transferred to Roanoke College from Virginia Tech and was a threeyear starter on the volleyball team. She was named to the ODAC All-Academic team. Tyree obtained a degree in health and exercise science at Roanoke College and was an assistant women’s volleyball coach for the Maroons from 2015-17.

Austin Gregory ’15 has been honored with a 2022 CoVa BIZ Next Gen Award from CoVa BIZ Magazine. The awards are given each year to dynamic young professionals who are making a difference in coastal Virginia. He earned a B.S. in sport management from Roanoke and is the director of development for Special Olympics Virginia. He also serves on the board of tHRive Young Professionals and the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Commission, and he recently graduated from a regional leadership program, LEAD757.

The Rev. Kayla (Edmonds) Keilholtz ’15 was featured in the Smyth County News & Messenger for being the first woman installed as pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Marion, Virginia. Keilholtz’s installation ceremony was led by the Rev. Jonathan Hamman ’97, a pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wytheville and a member of the Highlands Conference of the Virginia Synod. Keilholtz earned a B.A. in criminal justice at Roanoke, then obtained a Master of Divinity from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. Her younger sister, Emily Edmonds ’15, is a chaplain with Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg, where she works primarily with patients in the drug addiction and mental health area.

Harrison Richards ’16 has joined the Virginia law firm Gentry Locke as an associate and member of the firm’s Employment & Labor Practice Group. Richards earned a

Dr. Mackenzie Sullivan ’15 has been matched for a four-year fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Sullivan is currently chief resident in the Harvard Integrated Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is shared between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He will begin his fellowship next year. Sullivan earned a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.A. in music, both with honors, from Roanoke College. He went on to obtain his medical degree from the University of Virginia, then completed his OB/GYN residency at Harvard Medical School.

Jon Murrill ’09 recently completed three murals along the Roanoke River Greenway as part of a public art project that included input from a Roanoke College art history class. Murrill, who studied studio art at Roanoke and earned an MFA from Radford, teaches visual arts at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke. Read more at roa.ke/murrill.

Rebuilding confidence under the gun

As a biology major at Roanoke, Kwok thought about taking the pre-med track, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to be a doctor. Her mentor, Biology Professor Darwin Jorgensen, encouraged her to shadow both doctors and PAs before she made a final decision. After following his advice, she realized that becoming a PA would allow her to work closely with patients, assist in the operating room, experience and learn something new every day, and require fewer years of post-graduate education.

Right out of Cornell, she took a job at MSKCC, one of the top cancer hospitals in the country. Her department specializes in reconstructive surgery following tumor removal, whether for restorative or functional purposes. Kwok said she loves working with the hospital’s unique patient population.

Caitlin (Giles) Kwok ’12 holds a B.S. in biology from Roanoke College and a Master of Science in Health Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Cornell University, but lately she’s received more attention for a third piece of paper she earned: her tattoo license.

Kwok, a physician assistant in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in Manhattan, joined several other PAs to seek the licensure so they could provide realistic, 3D nipple tattoos to patients who have undergone reconstructive breast surgery. In October 2022, Today.com featured Kwok and her colleagues in a Breast Cancer Awareness Month story about the tattoos.

Kwok said administering the tattoos is highly rewarding for her, and often a very emotional process for the men and women she treats. The tattoos have a powerful ability to restore a patient’s self-confidence following a painful time in their lives.

“A lot of these patients have had mastectomies, chemotherapy or radiation, and reconstructive surgery,” she said, “and we always tell them that it’s a journey that takes six months to a year to complete. Tattoos are the last step so they can close that chapter.”

B.A. in history at Roanoke and went on to earn his J.D. from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

Prior to joining Gentry Locke, he was an associate with Hannon Law Group, LLP, a boutique litigation firm in Washington, D.C.

Joey Dishaw ’16 and Chad Fisher ’17, former lacrosse teammates at both Salem High School and Roanoke College, joined the Salem Mayhem, one of nine teams in the Professional Box Lacrosse

Association, for its debut season. Box lacrosse is a mix between regular lacrosse and ice hockey. The dimensions of the playing surface are the same as hockey, but the game is played on artificial turf. Dishaw graduated from Roanoke with a degree in business administration; Fisher earned a degree in environmental studies.

Tyler McEachern ’17 recently served as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Richard

In the past, MSKCC surgeons did the tattoos themselves, but their equipment did not allow for the detail and color variation that the department can now offer. Kwok said her chief surgeon found the funding and provided the support to allow a group of PAs to obtain the proper training from an artist who specializes in medical tattoos. Since then, MSKCC has been able to offer extraordinarily realistic tattoos in a wide array of colors to suit every patient.

“It’s a little scary at first because it’s permanent,” Kwok said, “but we meet as a team often and review challenging cases, new techniques, and new ink colors for different ethnicities and skin tones.”

Kwok credits her experiences at Roanoke College, where she conducted research with Jorgensen and participated in as many extracurriculars as possible, with giving her the confidence to tackle new challenges.

“I was pretty involved, and the variety of opportunities I had at Roanoke College gave me the mindset that I could do anything I want,” she said. “Having that experience with supportive professors and friends, it felt like a solid foundation for me when I was starting my career.”

Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on his successful re-election campaign. He previously served as press secretary to U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-N.C.) on his U.S. Senate campaign and worked as the statewide campaigns coordinator for the North Carolina Democratic House Caucus. He has worked in various other positions managing multiple campaigns and organizing for his hometown member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). He holds a

degree in political science from Roanoke.

Zachary Wright ’17 and a fellow graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Kelly Spencer, have created a book and website called “Ice Cream Theology” that uses their favorite sweet treat to start conversations about God. Visitors to icecreamtheology.com can order the whole book or select among 15 “flavors” of study guides about topics such as crucifixion, communion or resurrection. Wright is a

“The variety of opportunities I had at Roanoke College gave me the mindset that I could do anything I want.”

pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in North East, Maryland.

Omari Chancellor ’17 starred in the Apple TV+ film “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” which began streaming in September 2022. Chancellor earned a degree in international relations at Roanoke and an M.F.A. in dramatic arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Read more at roa.ke/omari.

Josef Simme ’18 recently accepted a new position as senior NEPA environmental specialist at Nakupuna Companies, a private contractor that assists USDA Rural Development with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project compliance review and consulting. He was previously an environmental compliance review specialist and an environmental protection specialist at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Simme earned a biology degree at Roanoke.

2020s

Gaston Ocampo ’20 traveled to Buenos Aires for the C40 Mayors Summit, a gathering of mayors, business leaders, philanthropists, campaigners and youth leaders that aims to promote local solutions to world problems. Ocampo works in the president’s office of the Inter-American Dialogue, an international affairs think tank based in Washington, D.C. Ocampo, a native of Argentina, is helping lead the organization’s new Cities Initiative, which tests and scales solutions to Latin America’s most difficult problems from the perspective of cities and subnational entities. He earned degrees in international affairs and business administration at Roanoke College. In addition to his work for the Inter-American Dialogue, he directs the IPDAL Academy for Instituto para a Promoção da América Latina e Caraíbas (Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean), a diplomatic institute based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Sarah Riddell ’21 has been hired as an editorial assistant for LeisureMedia360,

Kate Clatterbuck ’22 was crowned Miss Virginia Volunteer 2023 in a pageant held Aug. 8-13, 2022, in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Miss Virginia Volunteer organization recognizes young women who contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.

Clatterbuck’s grand prize was $10,750 in scholarship money that she plans to put toward graduate school after completing her year of service as Miss Virginia Volunteer.

Clatterbuck, who earned a degree in education professional studies from Roanoke, teaches sixth-grade English for Albemarle County Schools. She has worked with a hunger-fighting group in Danville called God’s Storehouse and, after discovering that Virginia history SOLs name 77 men but only eight women, she created the PowHerful Voices Initiative, which advocates for the inclusion of women’s history in the Virginia history curriculum. Read more at roa.ke/missvv.

the publisher of The Roanoker magazine, Blue Ridge Country, bridebook and other local publications. Riddell holds a degree in literary studies.

Ben Nelson ’21, who graduated from Roanoke College with a degree in envi-

ronmental studies, is completing a master’s in sustainable development in Amsterdam. The Master of Science in Metropolitan Analysis, Design and Engineering (MSc MADE) program is an interdisciplinary offering of the Delft Uni-

Willard-Ruimerman wedding

Smith-Patxot wedding

Blackmore-Strickland wedding

Mitchell-Hanania wedding

Guilliams-Nowlin wedding

Stauffer-Moreau wedding

versity of Technology and Wageningen University & Research.

Caitlin “KK” Sharkey ’21 has been promoted to health administrator at the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke. Sharkey, who earned a degree in public health studies, was previously co-director of vaccines at the clinic. She is earning a Master of Public Health at Virginia Tech.

Kaelyn Spickler ’21 has a new position as public information specialist for Roanoke County, Virginia. Spickler previously managed public relations, marketing and social media for the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She holds a degree in communication studies from Roanoke.

Jasey Roberts ’22 has joined the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority as manager of public relations, marketing and social media. He graduated from Roanoke with degrees in literary studies and creative writing. He was previously a communications coordinator for Virginia Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke).

Avery Courts ’22 is working as an investment analyst at Domain Capital Group

in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned a degree in business administration from Roanoke.

Nick Price ’22 returned to Roanoke College as an assistant coach of the men’s basketball team for the 2022-23 season. Price holds a degree in health and exercise science from Roanoke, where he played all four years on the basketball team. He finished his career with 331 points, 245 assists, 188 rebounds, 90 steals and 25 blocks.

marriages

Caitlin Mitchell ’13 and Sam Hanania were married on Dec. 10, 2022, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Mitchell is a civilian attorney-advisor representing soldiers at Fort Bragg, where Hanania is stationed as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Guests included Taylor (Davis) Bain ’13, Kelly (Dubell) Fisher ’14 and Stephanie (Wiggins) Lanini

Rachel Stauffer ’20 and David Moreau ’19 were married Oct. 9, 2022, in Blue Ridge, Virginia. Dave Flowers ’17

officiated the ceremony.

Rachel Guilliams ’17 and Lucas Nowlin ’17 were married in summer 2022 in Callaway, Virginia. Their wedding party included Tessa Morin ’18, Jordan Meador ’17, Brandon Byrd ’17 and Devin Cassity ’17. Guilliams teaches math and is an assistant varsity softball coach at Franklin County High School; she is also an assistant for Roanoke College’s softball program. Nowlin is a senior accountant with World Strides. The couple live in Roanoke with their cats, Brady and Lily.

Bailey Smith ’17 and Isaiah Patxot were married on May 21, 2022, in Caroline County, Virginia. Bridesmaids included Reva Marsh ’18, Jane Rice ’18 and Jaina (Lanum) Codington ’17, and guests included Leah (Harbison) Wray ’17, Noah Wray ’18 and Marina Wray ’21. Smith earned a degree in political science at Roanoke and is a contracts administrator at Moog Inc. She and Patxot live in Vinton, Virginia.

Kylah Blackmore ’18 and Ross Strickland ’18 were married in October 2022. The bridal party included many fellow baseball and volleyball alums: Lauren Stride Butts ’17, Laura Sullivan ’18,

Marleigh Hall ’18, Ryan Hedgpeth ’18, Taylor Sayegh ’18, Joe Larimer ’18, Stephen Kim ’19, Jack Howard ’19, Kenny Mackovic ’19 and Ethan Delahunty ’19. The newlyweds live in Richmond, Virginia, where Blackmore teaches elementary school and Strickland is a physical therapist.

Kimberlie Willard ’19 was married to Andrew Ruimerman ’19 in April 2022. Alumni in the wedding party were Erin Standish ’21, Jessica Shelburne ’22, Chantel Young ’20, Chris Fenton ’19 and Josh Storo ’17. Willard is an insurance agent at Willard Insurance Agency and Ruimerman is a senior operations coordinator for Cardinal Logistics. They live in Rocky Mount, Virginia.

families

Nancy (Fairbrother) Councilor ’70 and her husband, James Councilor ’69, are the proud grandparents of a baby girl, Robin Simone Barry Councilor, born on Aug. 2, 2022. Robin’s parents are K.C. and Katie Barry Councilor.

Kathleen (Barber) Ordile ’06 and her husband, Gregory, celebrated the birth of a

Christopher James Ordile

Hutson and Henly Sensabaugh

Lillie Gray Decker

Josephine Cook

Robin Simone Barry Councilor

Cooper Joseph Littman

Charlotte Joelle Fedison

son, Christopher James, on Jan. 31, 2022. Christopher joined big sister Annaliese. The family lives in Chalfont, Pennsylvania.

Helen “Corri” (Rhodenizer) Sensabaugh ’09 and husband Chad expanded their family with the birth of a daughter, Henly Cline, on Sept. 10, 2022. Henly has a big brother, 6-year-old Hutson. The family lives in Lexington, Virginia.

Samantha (Garst) Cook ’15 and her husband, Samuel Cook ’13, welcomed a daughter, Josephine, on Jan. 27, 2022. The family lives in Prince William County, Virginia, where Samantha is a compliance architecture project manager with Sierra Nevada Corporation and Sam is an adjudicator with Booz Allen Hamilton.

Emma (Blair) Fedison ’19 and her husband, Tyler, welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Charlotte Joelle Fedison, on Nov. 2, 2022. Little Charlie is the first grandchild of Kimberly (Perdue) Blair ’93 and Tommy Blair ’85. The Fedisons make their home in Vinton, Virginia. Emma is a policy manager for Meta and Tyler works for MB Contractors, Inc.

Taylor Cazeault ’12 and her husband, Ethan Littman ’10, celebrated the arrival of their son, Cooper Joseph, on Sept. 22, 2022. The family resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Gabrielle (Gery) Decker ’17 and her husband, Ty, welcomed a daughter, Lillie Gray Decker, on May 13, 2022. The family lives in Greenville, North Carolina.

in memoriam

Helen (Pitts) Vaughan ’44 died on April 29, 2022, in Lynchburg, Virginia. She taught high school business classes until her children were born, at which point she became a homemaker. Later, she returned to teaching at Mountain View Elementary School in Roanoke County. She was active in her church, and her interests included bridge, square dancing, jigsaw puzzles and cooking.

Iris (Cassell) Mills ’47, of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Jan. 7, 2023. Mills studied English and sang in the choir at Roanoke, then went to work for Colonial American National Bank, where she worked until retirement. She was recognized as the first female bank officer in the company’s history.

Betty (Evans) Woodworth ’47 (Marion College), of Dayton, Ohio, died on Nov. 13, 2022. Woodworth received a degree from Marion College. She was married to her husband, Carl, for 64 years, and they had three children. She was a lifelong member of her church, a member of the Painters and Sculptors Society, and an avid quilter.

Kenneth S. Mayer ’48, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, died on Nov. 3, 2022. Mayer served as an Army combat medic and company clerk during World War II, then earned a degree at Roanoke College, where he met his wife, Lois (Huffman) Mayer ’48. They were married for 69 years before she died in 2017. Mayer was retired from a career in banking and was an avid model railroad hobbyist.

Benjamin B. Albert Jr. ’49, of Kansas City, Missouri, died on Oct. 30, 2022. Albert earned a degree in economics at Roanoke, where he played soccer and was in Pi Kappa Phi. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army for 45 years, including World War II, Korea and Vietnam, achieving the rank of colonel. According to his family, he enjoyed traveling, history and learning about different cultures, and he was known for telling “wondrous and fascinating stories.”

Constance (Moser) Koiner ’49 died on March 29, 2022, in Asheville, North Carolina. At Roanoke, she played basketball and field hockey. She was a wife, mother, devout member of her church and longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

Warren P. Stoutamire ’49 died on July 26, 2022. He studied at Roanoke, University of Oregon and Indiana University, ultimately earning a Ph.D. in plant taxonomy. He worked at the Cranbrook Institute of Science in Michigan, then became a professor at University of Akron. He was a dedicated naturalist who loved traveling and growing South African Disa orchids from seed.

Robert L. Dalmas ’51, of New Mexico, died on Oct. 2, 2022. He was in Pi Kappa Phi at Roanoke and was a retired research scientist for Kraft.

Doris (Godbey) Wallace ’53, of Beth-

lehem, North Carolina, died on Dec. 3, 2022. Wallace, who sang in the choir at Roanoke, was a beloved high school English teacher, lifelong activist, avid traveler and 25-year volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

Margaret (Fritz) Calhoun ’56 died on Oct. 24, 2022, in The Villages, Florida. She earned an English degree at Roanoke, where she played field hockey and was a cheerleader and member of Phi Mu. She also met her husband of 65 years, Dr. Stanton K. Calhoun ’57, in college. She enjoyed her family and sailing with her husband throughout the islands of the Bahamas, Caribbean, and north to Maine.

Douglas C. Forbes ’57, of Vinton, Virginia, died on Oct. 26, 2022. Forbes earned degrees in economics and business administration at Roanoke, then went on to graduate school at Virginia Tech. He was retired from American Electric Power, where he worked as safety director. He enjoyed golf and was an active member of his local historical society.

James A. King Jr. ’57 died on Aug. 5, 2022, in Roanoke County, Virginia. King was a Korean War veteran who went on to become president and CEO of New River Electrical Corp. He was active in the community, and his many interests included nature, antique cars and carpentry.

Thomas H. Row ’57, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, died on April 14, 2022. Row earned a degree in physics at Roanoke, where he played soccer and was in Kappa Alpha. He obtained a master’s in nuclear engineering at Virginia Tech. During his 40-year career, he managed a number of major research and operational programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, receiving many awards for his work. He was committed to his community, serving on

Missouri “Mo” (Lyerly) Nelson ’44, of Salem, Virginia, died on Oct. 18, 2022. Nelson was raised at the Lutheran Orphans Home of the South in Salem, then accepted a scholarship to Roanoke College, where she sang in the choir. After graduation, Nelson went on to receive a nursing degree from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and became a cadet nurse in the U.S. Navy. When she completed service, she went to work as a psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, retiring in 1982. She then volunteered at LewisGale, the Red Cross, Brandon Oaks Retirement Community and her church.

She received the Charles Brown Award from Roanoke College, the LewisGale Pineapple Award, the Frist Humanitarian Award, and the Paul Harris Fellow recognition from The Rotary Foundation. Nelson loved traveling, classical music, opera and reading, and she believed that every human should strive to help others.

more than 30 civic boards. Hobbies included being a master gardener, birding and photography.

Dr. Larry G. Tilley ’57, of Fallston, Maryland, died on Oct. 8, 2022. He received a B.S. from Roanoke, where he was a member of Sigma Chi, and a medical degree from the University of Maryland Medical School. He was retired from Eastpoint Medical Group, where he was a family physician.

Robert G. Leonard ’58, of High Point, North Carolina, died on Sept. 10, 2022. Leonard attended Roanoke just a few years after the graduation of his mother, Susie Kilgore Leonard ’55, and earned degrees in economics and business administration. He also was in Kappa Alpha and choir. He served as an Army medic and was later vice president of advertising for Bassett Furniture. He volunteered with the Kiwanis, Salvation Army and a number of churches, and he was a gifted artist and painter.

Douglas D. Early ’59, of East Peoria, Illinois, died on Nov. 23, 2022. After earning a degree at Roanoke, Early went on to receive a master’s and Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. He became a physics professor at Bradley University, where he was the longest-serving faculty member in history. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve, and he founded and ran Marine Designs, which designed and made boat covers, interiors and framework.

Rowena (Holliday) Boehling ’60, of Salem, died on Jan. 16, 2023. She held a B.A. in classics from Roanoke, where she played field hockey and sang in the choir, and an M.A. in the subject from University of Kentucky. She taught Latin, ancient history and other subjects to high school students for more than 30 years. In retirement, she enjoyed singing, traveling and writing.

Walter A. Meyer ’60, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, died on April 25, 2022. Meyer obtained a degree in economics at Roanoke, where he was a member of Sigma Chi and the swim team. He later earned his MBA at Seton Hall School of Business and owned an independent software company, Eastern Digital Systems, LLC. Meyer was a U.S. Army veteran who enjoyed running and gardening.

Patrick M. Minahan ’60 died on Aug. 28, 2022, in Salem, Virginia. He was retired from Harleysville Insurance Company and loved spending time with his four grandchildren.

Gloria L. Tayloe ’60 died on Aug. 7, 2022. Tayloe was a lifelong Roanoke resident who spent her entire career with the Social Security Administration.

James E. “Jim” Orrell ’61, of Char-

continued on page 42

An inspiration to generations

protesting it. People were defending it. It was a time on college campuses quite unlike anything that, as far as I know, came before or has come since.”

In 1979, Herring published his groundbreaking history of the war, “America’s Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975.” The book would become an essential study guide for budding historians, appearing frequently on required college reading lists.

Soon, Herring said, he found himself doing “things I had never dreamed of doing” such as giving lectures about the war all over the world. The sixth and most recent edition of his book was published in 2020.

George Cyril Herring Jr. ’57, an internationally known and respected historian of U.S. foreign relations who wrote a seminal history of the Vietnam War, died on Nov. 30 at his home in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 86.

Herring graduated from Roanoke College with a B.A. in history before going on to earn a Ph.D. in the subject at the University of Virginia. According to his obituary, his return to Roanoke College as Commencement speaker in 2011, at which time he was awarded an honorary degree, was one of his most cherished memories.

“He was a wonderful and most thoughtful friend and role model,” said Mark Miller, professor emeritus of history at Roanoke. “We held him up to generations of Roanoke history majors as a figure that they could aspire to be like. We will miss but remember always his gentle ways, sincere kindnesses and inspirational support.”

Herring, who was born in Blacksburg, Virginia, served two years in the U.S. Navy following graduation from Roanoke, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha. After UVa, he began his teaching career at Ohio State University in 1965, just one month after the U.S. entered the Vietnam War. In a video for the University of Kentucky (UK), where he became a history professor in 1969, Herring said, “Vietnam was all over the campuses. It was in the classroom. It was outside of the classroom. It was what we talked about no matter what the topic of the day might be in classes. Students were concerned about it. People were

At UK, Herring taught history courses at all levels and directed the work of 35 doctoral students and more than 50 M.A. students. He served three terms as chair of the History Department and was acting director of the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce in 2005.

He was the author or editor of eight books and many articles, including the award-winning “From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776,” published in 2008. In 1985, he was a consultant and co-developer for the documentary “Long Road Back: Vietnam Remembered.”

Herring also was a visiting professor at University of Otago, New Zealand; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; and University of Richmond. He served on the Army Historical Advisory Committee and as president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, as well as on a number of boards. He was also the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards throughout his career.

Herring loved sports, having played softball for both the Navy and the UK History Department team. He was also an avid tennis player who played matches well into his 80s. He loved traveling, especially with his cherished wife, Dottie, and he adored spending time with his children and grandchildren.

In the UK video, he reflected on the sense of purpose he found through the study of history, a passion he first discovered at Roanoke College: “I consider myself very fortunate to have stumbled upon a career in which I could do things that I really love doing: teaching and writing and research,” Herring said. “I can’t think of any other way that I could have spent these years and enjoyed myself any more.”

“We held him up to generations of Roanoke history majors as a figure that they could aspire to be like.”

— Professor Emeritus Mark Miller

George Herring addresses the crowd as the featured speaker at Roanoke’s 2011 Commencement.

lotte, North Carolina, died on Oct. 24, 2022. Following graduation from Roanoke, where he was in Kappa Alpha, Orrell started his own insurance agency in Charlotte. He loved meeting and interacting with people, coaching little league, watching the Panthers and Hornets, golfing and visiting the beach. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn (King) Orrell ’61

David J. Krumlauf ’61, of Katonah, New York, died on Sept. 25, 2022. Krumlauf attended Roanoke College in between Navy enlistments, serving a total of eight years, mostly in the Far East. He later joined the Reserves and retired with 30 years of total service. He spent his postnaval career with the Public Works Department of Westchester County, New York, and Westchester Community College. He served his community in numerous volunteer capacities, including as fire commissioner in the Katonah Fire District for 22 years. In retirement, he enjoyed model railroading and spending winters in Florida.

Sue Ann (Sublette) Kellam ’62 died on Aug. 13, 2022. After receiving a B.A. from Roanoke, Kellam had a long and rewarding career in social service in both Virginia and North Carolina. Survivors include her husband, Clarence Fleming Kellam Jr. ’66

Jean (Bolton) Stevens ’63, of Hollins, Virginia, died on Oct. 17, 2022. Stevens earned a degree in nursing from both Roanoke College and Stuart Circle Hospital

in Richmond. At Roanoke, she was in Sigma Kappa Phi. She spent her life as an educator, teaching at Burlington Elementary School in Roanoke County for 32 years.

Dean S. Skillman Sr. ’64 died on Sept. 9, 2022, in Sylvania, Ohio. Skillman, who earned a degree in business at Roanoke, was an energetic entrepreneur who managed a diverse real estate portfolio built over decades. His businesses included mobile home parks, restaurants and video stores. He was also a beloved and fun-loving family man. One of his favorite hobbies was participating in Dock Dog competitions with his jumping dog, Wylie, with whom he traveled the country and made the Dock Dog Hall of Fame.

David E. White ’64, of Houston, Texas, died on Dec. 21, 2022. White received a degree in political science at Roanoke, where he played soccer and was a member of Kappa Alpha. He served in the U.S. Navy, and his career included stints at IBM and Bell Helicopters. He also owned popcorn shops in Del Rio, Texas, and was a manager for the La Quinta hotel chain. He enjoyed traveling, going to the Houston Symphony and being active in his church.

Sharon (Richardson) Proehl ’66, of Moneta, Virginia, died on April 25, 2022. Following graduation from Roanoke, where she was in Alpha Phi, she earned a master’s in education from University of Virginia. She taught for years in Bedford County Public Schools. Proehl was a mem-

ber of Alpha Phi sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma Society and Daughters of the American Revolution.

James W. Vickers ’68 died on Aug. 9, 2022, in Alexandria, Virginia. Vickers studied political science at Roanoke, where he was on the golf team, then went on to obtain a law degree at American University. He spent more than 40 years in the Office of General Counsel at the Government Accountability Office. He loved golf, basketball, cooking, traveling and studying the Civil War.

Dr. Pamela (Shelton) Fawley ’69, of Morgantown, West Virginia, died on Nov. 20, 2022. Fawley, who earned a degree in biology at Roanoke, was the first in her family to attend college and the first woman to graduate from West Virginia University School of Medicine. She later became chief of psychiatry at Valley Community Mental Health Center in Morgantown.

David W. Fennell ’69, of Louisville, Kentucky, died Sept. 17, 2022. In addition to Roanoke College, where he played basketball, ran track and field and was in Sigma Chi, he studied at University of Louisville and Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He also served in the U.S. Army and was retired from a career in banking.

William “Bill” E. Dutcher ’70, of Henrico, Virginia, died Oct. 20, 2022. After receiving a degree from Roanoke, where he played soccer, he worked most of his

career as a horticulturist. He loved plants and music, and he was active in his church, the Virginians Barbershop Chorus, and the Richmond Nursery Association.

Debra A. Downard ’73, of North Carolina, died on April 23, 2022. She obtained a degree in sociology at Roanoke, where she was a member of Delta Gamma.

Umberto R. “Bobby” Fierro III ’73 died on Oct. 31, 2022. Fierro had a lifelong passion for history and earned a B.A. in the subject at Roanoke. He lived for years in both New York and Bologna, Italy, where he pursued an interest in coins and antiquities, establishing an international business. He was a lifelong member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity who will be remembered as an excellent chef and a creative and big-hearted friend.

Stuart H. Kershner ’73, of Salisbury, Maryland, died on Aug. 7, 2022. Kershner graduated from Roanoke with a degree in business administration. After working as a broker for several firms in D.C., he opened Beaux-Arts, which combined historic designs and 3D technology to create functional works of home art. Survivors include his sisters, Mary Beth (Kershner) Cox ’66 and Robin Kershner ’81 Jackson A. Wainwright ’73 died on Aug. 4, 2022, in Vinton, Virginia. He stud-

Dr. Wayne Wilson, veteran surgeon, dies at 84

Dr. Wayne Hilton Wilson ’60, of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Oct. 22, 2022. Wilson received a B.S. with honors from Roanoke, where he was president of his class and Kappa Alpha Fraternity, as well as a member of the track/cross country and swim teams. Following graduation, Wilson obtained a medical degree with honors from Medical College of Virginia and completed a surgical residency at Ohio State.

Wilson was then drafted into the Army and moved to Japan, where he operated on casualties airlifted from Vietnam. He later became chief of the Far East Burn Unit, treating and stabilizing scores of soldiers for transfer to the U.S. Following his tour in Japan, he became assistant chief of surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center, where he ultimately achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel and received the Meritorious Service Award. In 1977, Wilson went to work as chief of surgery at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem. He also trained residents and medical students at University of Virginia.

Outside work, Wilson served in his church and as a Boy Scout leader, hiked on the Appalachian Trail, and enjoyed baseball, water sports and spending time with his family. His survivors include his wife, Mabel “Jo” (Umberger) Wilson ’60, whom he met as a student at Roanoke College.

ied business administration at Roanoke and went on to own Old Town Jewelers in Vinton. Survivors include his daughter, Sarah Wainwright ’06

Freddie M. Cox ’76 died on Aug. 19, 2022. Cox studied biology at Roanoke and went on to found and run Country Corner, a successful produce stand turned garden center and store in Bonsack, Virginia.

David S. Hoggard ’82 died on Aug. 29, 2022. Hoggard earned a degree in business administration and was a member of Sigma Chi at Roanoke.

Fred L. Steffey ’83, of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Dec. 26, 2022. Steffey earned degrees in business administration and economics at Roanoke, then went on to receive an MBA at Virginia Tech. He worked for 31 years in banking and, most recently, was a trust and estate specialist with Brown Edwards accounting firm. He was an Eagle Scout, devoted Methodist and avid Hokies fan.

Douglas D. Sheeran ’84, of McLean, Virginia, died on Oct. 23, 2022. Sheeran earned a degree in business administration at Roanoke.

Elaine (Smith) King ’87, of Salem, Virginia, died on Nov. 17, 2022. After earning a degree in psychology at Roanoke, King went on to receive a master’s from Radford University, where she later practiced as a school psychologist. Survivors include her son, Rangeley King ’00

Gary W. Watson ’90, of Roanoke, Virginia, died Sept. 1, 2022. Watson earned a degree in business administration at Roanoke and also later graduated from Mary Baldwin University. He loved antiquing and most recently owned an antique store in Roanoke called Gene’s Trading Post.

David Lee Croswell ’93, of Reedville, Virginia, died on Oct. 18. Croswell received a degree in political science with honors at Roanoke before going on to earn three law degrees: a juris doctorate from Mercer University School of Law, a Master of Laws in military law from the Judge Advocate General’s School, and an LLM in environmental and energy law from Georgetown Law School. Croswell enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 25 and served for 20 years, attaining the rank of major. He served in positions in the U.S., Germany, South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan, and by the time he retired, he had been awarded two Bronze Star Medals, three Army Meritorious Service Medals, five commendation medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Expert Marksmanship Badge. Following retirement, he was awarded the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal. After retiring, Croswell worked for U.S. Congressman and Dean of the House Don Young (Alaska) and Congressman Rob Wittman (Virginia).

Other Maroons in Watson’s family include his late father, William J. Watson ’49 and his wife, Robin (Hess) Watson ’87

Frederick B. “Rick” Rowe Jr. ’91, of McGaheysville, Virginia, died on Nov. 4, 2022. Rowe studied political science and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi at Roanoke. At the time of his death, he had been employed by ComSonics in Harrisonburg for almost 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Nicole Marschall-Rowe ’94

Steve Lee Williamson Jr. ’92, of Alexandria, Virginia, died on April 26, 2022. He received a degree in computer science and statistics at Roanoke and a master’s in management of information technology from University of Virginia. He

RETIRED STAFF OBITUARIES

Linda Bryan, who retired from her position as dining services coordinator in 2010 after 18 years of service to Roanoke, died Aug. 17, 2022, in Adamsville, Tennessee.

Bryan began her career at Roanoke in 1992 as a business services assistant in the Business Office. In 1999, she moved to Dining Services to be a secretary, accepting the position of dining services coordinator in 2004. Bryan was beloved by students, faculty and staff for her kind personality, open heart and strong work ethic.

A number of former colleagues took to her memorial page to write glowing tributes to her. “What a wonderful person Linda was, helping thousands of students at Roanoke College over the years,” wrote retired cross country/track and field coach Finn Pincus. “She took extra time to make sure that special order meals were prepared correctly on time. ALWAYS a welcoming and positive representation for the College.”

had a successful career in software development and enterprise analytics. Hobbies included traveling, dining, music and doting on his Bichons, Bentley and Winston.

Lori (Pruitt) Wilson ’92, of Poquoson, Virginia, died on Nov. 19, 2022. She earned a degree in Spanish at Roanoke and taught that subject for more than 24 years in Newport News and Gloucester, Virginia.

Justin Marc Thomas ’96 died on Aug. 31, 2022, in Charleston, South Carolina. He received a degree in sociology at Roanoke, where he was in Kappa Alpha, Maroon Corps and Interfraternity Council. He became a successful real estate broker with Carriage Properties in Charleston. He

also was an avid runner and fitness enthusiast who loved spending time with friends and sailing in Charleston Harbor.

David M. Wierzbic ’09 died on July 18, 2022, in Roanoke, Virginia. He earned a degree in English at Roanoke. Wierzbic enjoyed being with family and playing horseshoes and ping-pong.

Kelsey Katherine Palmer ’16, of Cotuit, Massachusetts, died on Dec. 1, 2022. She earned a degree in sociology with a minor in psychology and a concentration in health care delivery at Roanoke, where she was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Chi Omega. Palmer went on to work as operations manager for the Football Players Health Study at Harvard Medical School. She was enrolled at Harvard Extension School, where she was studying industrial-organizational psychology. She was also a certified yoga teacher. Survivors include her father, Frederick E. Palmer ’87

Brianna-Zhane Manigault-King ’20, of Newport News, Virginia, died on May 31, 2022. She earned a degree in biochemistry with a minor in Spanish at Roanoke, where she was a member of Black Student Alliance, the Campus Activities Board and Habitat for Humanity. She was a talented singer who served as assistant musical director for Mainstreet a capella group and was inducted into the Student Activity Media Arts Hall of Fame. She also had an entrepreneurial spirit and was passionate about encouraging people to embrace their natural hair, participating in Tangles Natural Hair Club at Roanoke and later founding her own company, C-R-O-W-N-E-D, through which she held podcasts and gave hair advice. RC

Kathryn Kesling Dame Buchanan, of Roanoke, Virginia, died on Feb. 1, 2023. Buchanan served as assistant to the president for church relations and major gifts for 23 years. She was recruited by President Norman Fintel in 1987 to serve as the College’s liaison to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her work resulted in strong relationships with Lutheran constituencies in the Virginia Synod, where she held offices, the Metro D.C. Synod and the West Virginia Synod, as well as the national level of the ELCA. Her work helped to bring approximately $14 million in funding to the College to create a variety of programs, including three endowed chairs in Lutheran studies and the Timothy L. Pickle, Jr. and Timothy L. Pickle, III Dean of the Chapel endowment. Buchanan’s role at Roanoke coincided with the popular “Church Lady” character from Saturday Night Live, and she embraced the connection and her role as Roanoke’s “Church Lady” until her retirement in 2010.

Celebrating our honorar y Maroons

What does it mean to be a Maroon?

Among other things, it means being an openminded lifelong learner, a critical thinker rooted in values, and a community bridge-builder. But on a more literal level, being a Maroon has always meant being a student or graduate of Roanoke College — until now.

At the Society of 1842 and Award Recognition Luncheon during Alumni Weekend 2023, the College celebrated the first three honorees in a new program, Maroons by Choice, that allows alumni to nominate honorary Maroons who demonstrate a deep appreciation for Roanoke College even though they never attended the school.

The inaugural class of Maroons by Choice included Linda Snyder, Alexa Gagliardi and Ryan Bell:

LINDA SNYDER and her husband, John Snyder ’64, have long been advocates for Roanoke College. The Snyders, who are members of the Associates Society and the Society of 1842, last year made a generous $5 million donation to support construction of Roanoke College’s new Science Center. The Snyders said they were inspired by John’s fond college memories, their respect for President Emeritus Michael Maxey, and their belief that quality science education is important. Linda is retired from her role as chief marketing officer at EPI Corporation, a Louisville, Kentucky-based provider of rehabilitation and recuperative inpatient care facilities.

ALEXA GAGLIARDI is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business. She is the associate portfolio manager of U.S., international, and global structured research equity strategies in the U.S. Equity Division at T. Rowe Price. Gagliardi and her husband, Rich Montoni ’09, are both members of Roanoke’s Associates Society. Montoni is chair of the Baltimore Alumni Chapter, and Gagliardi has worked alongside him to infuse energy into the group.

RYAN BELL is head of school at The Academy at Belle, a free, nonprofit private school in Roanoke that primarily serves underrepresented students. Bell has done an exceptional job of demonstrating

to Academy students that college — including Roanoke College — is well within their grasp. He is also the founder and senior advisor for the Black Father Family, which helps to engage fathers, families and communities for stronger children and family outcomes. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Virginia Union University and a master’s in education from Virginia State University.

The Office of Alumni & Family Relations would like to hear about more individuals who deserve to be celebrated as Maroons by Choice. Alumni are invited to submit nominations at roa.ke/MBC, which will provide an opportunity to describe a nominee’s support of Roanoke.

Criteria for nominations include:

• A Roanoke College graduate must nominate the individual.

• The nominator must provide supporting information with multiple reasons for nominating the person.

• Only one nomination per person is required for consideration.

• The nominee should have invested time with Roanoke College, provided support to family members who currently attend or have attended, volunteered for the school, been employed by the school, or made a financial commitment to Roanoke and its students.

Nominations will be accepted each year through March 15, at which time the next group of Maroons by Choice will be selected and invited to the ceremony on Alumni Weekend.

“We’re so excited about the Maroons by Choice program and the opportunity it provides to recognize these honorary Maroons,” said Cara Kenney ’98, president of the Alumni Association. “We couldn’t be prouder of Linda, Alexa and Ryan, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Roanoke College family.”

(Left to right) Maroons by Choice designee Ryan Bell, Vice President for Advancement Kim Blair ’93, President Frank Shushok Jr., and Maroons by Choice designee Alexa Gagliardi during the Society of 1842 luncheon on Alumni Weekend.

“We’re so excited about the Maroons by Choice program and the opportunity it provides to recognize these honorary Maroons.”

— Cara Kenney ’98

Alum n i Weekend 20 2 3

1. Members of the Class of 1973 reunited for their 50th reunion at the President’s House.

2. Virginia Masters Leonard ’53 attended the Honor Guard breakfast at Alumni Weekend almost 70 years after her own graduation from Roanoke College. 3. Peter Becker ’75 introduces the use of QR codes to support the College’s designation as a Tree Campus USA under the historic Elm tree on campus.

4. Rain couldn’t dampen spirits at the Field Hockey Alumni Game at Kerr Stadium.

5. Deneen Evans ’86, who served as Roanoke's first director of multicultural affairs, and Trustee Ken Belton ’81 speak at the Shades of Maroon networking event. 6. Left to right: Gaston Ocampo ’20, Hayley Moe ’18, Pam Cabalka ’76, Carmen Graves ’13 and Chaplain Chris Bowen at the 4th Annual NOKEHour. Ocampo, Cabalka, Graves and Bowen shared success stories with the crowd, and Moe was the event’s energetic host.

MAROON MUSINGS

BY BEN MARKS, DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY SERVICES

Making connections to inform new directions

teams has a reach that impacts most of campus. I’m sure that many of the alumni reading this magazine can recall fond memories from one or all of these campus services, whether it involves receiving a care package from loved ones, purchasing your first Roanoke College sweatshirt, or sharing a favorite meal with your closest college friends.

Having conversations with students, staff, faculty, alumni and parents has led to a new vision for the future of Auxiliary Services. That vision sees these programs adding value to the campus community, investing in our staff to help navigate change, being good stewards of resources, and supporting the recruitment and retention of students and employees.

ices with student success, create new experiences for students, or meet religious and other dietary needs. In observance of Black History Month in February, our executive chef and culinary team offered a four-part culinary study on the influence of African foodways and Black culture on American cuisine. That series was inspired by feedback from students I met on my first day in the job, and it was informed by research and relationships with staff at Fintel Library, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and other areas.

One of our largest undertakings so far has been the planning and implementation of tools that will offer our guests access to a robust nutritional information system. Whether they use it to access nutritional information, plan menus for athletic performance or anticipate chicken tender day (a favorite on campus), this software will give campus diners agency to make informed food decisions. Without the relationships we’ve built with Information Technology and Business Services, this advancement wouldn’t be possible.

Education,

skill, experience, work ethic and other factors that contribute to success at work are valuable, but when I reflect on my career, I realize that most of my achievements can be attributed to a support network of peers and mentors.

Relationships are central to every distinctive moment in life. Relationships are what led me to pursue hospitality in my undergraduate work and education in graduate school. They also played a role in my transition to higher education dining, my relocation to Virginia, and my decision to join Roanoke College as director of Auxiliary Services.

Since I arrived at Roanoke in September 2022, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time building new relationships within the teams I lead, which includes those in the Mail Room, the Campus Store and Dining Services. The work done by these fantastic

We’ve talked about how to add value by expanding our services to meet the needs of today’s students and anticipate the needs of future students, all with the resources available to us. Some questions we’ve asked ourselves include: How do we get creative? Where can we grow and where do we need to grow? How do we position ourselves to support the campus community? Answers to these questions lead back to investing in staff so they have the knowledge and skills to grow with our changing program.

By navigating relationships as a team, we’ve seen some great wins so far:

Our campus store is creating a marketing internship program that will give students practical experience in their field of study; help them develop entrepreneurial skills; and help us reimagine how the store can connect with Maroons using displays at campus events or an online catalog accessible from anywhere in the world.

During meetings with our fantastic international student population, we have learned more about how to tailor our dining offerings to help build connections, align Dining Serv-

Some of my greatest joys so far have been hearing directly from students and alumni about the impact of our services: the care our mail room staff puts into processing and distributing packages, textbooks or online orders; the intentional pride that our campus store team puts into selecting merchandise that helps customers show off their Maroon pride; the thoughtfulness with which our dining team strives to provide excellent hospitality and culinary experiences; the way catering supports key meetings and celebrations; and the way our retail services reach those on and off campus.

These are all ways in which we are working together and strengthening relationships to fulfill the vision for Auxiliary Services and make Roanoke College a supportive and transformative place for everyone in our community. RC

Ben Marks became Roanoke College’s director of Auxiliary Services in September 2022, bringing 21 years of food service and higher education experience to the table.

COLLEGE ARCHIVES

BY JESSE BUCHER, COLLEGE HISTORIAN

A peek inside Roanoke’s earliest chapter

through which McCauley steadily progressed, they reveal almost nothing about how students actually encountered these experiences. Without McCauley’s notebook, our substantive knowledge of the College’s courses in this time period would be otherwise limited to examining President David F. Bittle’s lecture outlines.

With his beautiful penmanship, McCauley allows us a seat inside the 19th century classroom, a look that reveals important details about continuity and change within the College’s academic experience. Like sub-

mense comparative change: the move away from a Classical education, broader pre-professional learning, and growth of the student body and faculty. Moreover, many of the topics that McCauley took notes on — including the long-discredited theories of human origins that framed Bittle’s course on ethnology — have thankfully disappeared from the curriculum.

Beyond its contents, McCauley’s notebook also has an important role to play as a physical object, especially when the item is examined by a student like Ethan, who has a direct connection to the author. Two members of the same family have now read through and handled the same notebook, at that same place, more than 165 years apart. This material history gives us a different kind of evidence about the wonderful forms of continuity and change that make Roanoke College such a special place.

Earlier this winter, Ethan Paitsel ’23 arrived at Fintel Library to read through a truly distinct item in the Roanoke College archives: a small notebook of lecture notes and grammar review kept by his ancestor, William McCauley (Class of 1859) in the mid-1850s. Like his brother, Samuel Paitsel ’21, Ethan is a sixthgeneration Roanoke College student, a legacy that started when William McCauley joined 15 other young white men to form the first Roanoke College student body, not long after the institution received a charter from the commonwealth of Virginia and began life as a college in 1853.

McCauley’s notebook gives us a unique snapshot of academic life during the earliest days of the College’s history. While college catalogs published in the mid-1850s show the courses of study, specific subjects, readings and campus activities

sequent generations of Roanoke College students, McCauley carefully prepared for his courses, labored over the intricacies of his language instruction, and assiduously listened to the words of his professors.

At the same time, we witness im-

The entire Roanoke College community benefits when legacy students show new Maroons what it means to belong to a place; when we bear witness to continuities and interact with the past. But it is equally important when these new generations of students are themselves part of a never-ending process of changing the institution and bringing it forward to become an evergreen version of itself. RC

Two members of the same family have now read through and handled the same notebook, at that same place, more than 165 years apart.

Ethan Paitsel ’23 examines a notebook that belonged to his ancestor, William McCauley, a member of the Class of 1859.

With his beautiful penmanship, McCauley allows us a seat inside the 19th century classroom.

rel ic :

noun. An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental interest; an artifact having interest by reason of its age or its association with the past.

In one painting, a woman wears a white ruched gown and just the hint of a smile on her ruby lips. The second portrait appears to be of a slightly older, possibly affluent woman clad in black lace.

Who are they? Are these portraits of the same lady at different stages in her life? Finally, when— and why—did these works of art become part of Roanoke College’s permanent collection?

These questions swirl around the two mystery paintings, which surfaced in the Olin Archives a couple years ago. Gallery Director Taliaferro Logan and Assistant Director Lacey Leonard would like to know the answers, as would Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo ’78, a member of the College’s board of trustees and an avid supporter of the arts at Roanoke. They hope that sharing these images in the alumni magazine may spark some recognition—and perhaps lead to those answers.

“Someone likely donated these paintings to the College so that we could be stewards of this artwork,” Logan said, “so it is important to have more information about them and where they fall within the history of the College.”

Roanoke’s permanent collection is made up of more than 1,500 works of art, some dating to the 19th century. The College has existed for 181 years, but Logan said it’s likely that some art in the collection predates the school itself. And while she has worked at Roanoke for 17 years and conducted several inventories of the collection, Logan had never seen these works before they surfaced.

If you have information or ideas about these two mystery portraits, please contact us at rcmagazine@roanoke.edu.

“Someone likely donated these paintings to the College so that we could be stewards of this artwork.”

— Gallery Director Taliaferro Logan

Help solve a mystery!

Lifting up the next generation

Pete Gebhard ’66 wasn’t sure what to expect when he arrived at Roanoke College for his freshman year. The Pennsylvania native had applied on the recommendation of a guidance counselor but didn’t lay eyes on the campus until that first day.

“I was lucky,” he said, reflecting on everything the next four years brought him. “Being there was a great experience. With the size of the school, you don’t get lost in the crowd. That allowed some good things to happen for me. I got involved in things I never anticipated and came out a much more confident person.”

Roanoke is where Gebhard, an economics major, honed his leadership skills as president of the student body and captain of the golf and swim teams, among other pursuits. It’s where he jumped into his first job, recruited to work for admissions director Sam Good, and got advice on making the transition to graduate school at the University of Richmond, where he earned his master’s in 1969.

Most importantly, Roanoke is where Gebhard met his wife of 55 years, Lauralee Mills Gebhard ’67 The two met at the campus library.

“It was a new library at the time,” recalled Lauralee Gebhard, a Long Island native and history major.

“Back then, in the Dark Ages,” she joked, “the only place that freshmen could go in the evening was the library, so it was frequented by everyone.”

That close-knit community feel on campus was a big part of what drew her to Roanoke, she added. “I was on the shy, quiet side, but I felt really comfortable here. It was just a perfect fit. I also got involved with a lot of things, including student government, and gained confidence that served me well. Looking back, I really grew as a person during those years.”

She also benefited from a scholarship that made the outof-state college as affordable as an in-state school in New York. That made it possible for her to pick Roanoke and shaped the couple’s thinking later when they felt called to help the next generation of Maroons.

The Gebhards — who’ve been inducted into the Society of 1842, Maroon Club and Cornerstone Society since graduating — have invested donations as recently as this year to support student scholarships. It’s their way of paying forward the opportunities extended to them at Roanoke.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate,” said Pete Gebhard, who built a career in the insurance industry and co-founded a firm, Hoaster Gebhard & Co. “If we can help today’s students have the same privilege that we had to attend a school like Roanoke, well, we’re happy to do it.”

Lauralee Gebhard, who was a teacher before becoming a full-time homemaker for their family, which would grow to include three children, said she and her husband always enjoy the chance to revisit campus. They stop at old haunts, marvel at new facilities and chat with current students.

“It’s funny. In many ways, they don’t seem so different than we were at their age,” she said. “But, in other ways, they seem more worldly wise. Their energy and their aspirations are just incredible. That’s worth supporting.”

The Gebhards' extracurricular involvement at Roanoke included his service as student body president and her selection as Miss Roanoke College, which were both detailed in the Brackety-Ack.

For Pete Gebhard ’66 and his wife, Lauralee ’67, supporting student scholarships at Roanoke College is a way to pay forward the opportunities extended to them when they were students.

Marketing and Communications

221 College Lane Salem, Virginia 24153-3794

NOTE TO PARENTS: If this issue of Roanoke College Magazine is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer lives at your address, please provide a change of address to the College. Contact the Alumni Office by mail, e-mail or phone.