CLASS NOTES

IN THE LIVES OF SEU ALUMNI

1982

Phil Cochrane '82

PHIL COCHRANE works as the project manager for the Congo Nurse Scholarship Project (CNSP), an organization that offers scholarships to train nurses who provide spiritual and physical healing to the people living in the most remote areas of the northeastern Congo. Phil and his three siblings founded the project in honor of their mother, Edith Cochrane, who was a nurse-midwife and missionary to the Congo.

1993

Monica (Kramer) McConkey '93

MONICA (KRAMER) McCONKEY has combined her personal experience with farming and her professional background in psychology and counseling to help rural communities overcome mental health challenges. She provides mental health services to Minnesota farmers and their families through a contract she established with the Minnesota Centers of Agriculture Excellence. Additionally, Monica runs Eyes on the Horizon Consulting and frequently speaks on topics relating to farm stress and mental health.

CHAD PFEIFER accepted a position as the chief people officer (CPO) at Blue & Co., LLC, a top 100 national accounting firm in the Midwest. He previously served as the vice president of talent management at two leading healthcare companies and as a lead pastor in central Indiana for nearly 15 years.

2003

Sharla (Plastow) Cook '03 (Second from the right)

SHARLA (PLASTOW) COOK works as the CFO for Better Choice Company, an innovative pet and wellness company. Sharla and her team rang the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange in January. Her company will be launching Halo Elevate this year, a new premium pet food brand set to release in more than 2,000 pet specialty stores. Sharla has three stepchildren and two fur babies with her husband, Keith.

2007

ESTHER (ARTHUR) LULLY accepted a position as the director of the Collier Senior Center in Naples, Fla. The center offers a food pantry, a hot lunch program, job placement and training for low-income seniors. Esther previously worked as a club director and director of family services at Habitat for Humanity and New Horizons of Southwest Florida. As a certified life coach and behavior consultant, she owns her own practice called Timeless Worth Coaching & Consulting, where she offers her services as a personal and professional development speaker and leadership trainer.

2012

Willam "Billy" Glessner '14 M.Ed.

WILLIAM “BILLY” GLESSNER ’14 (M.Ed.) is the head baseball coach at the University of Fort Lauderdale. He is eighth all-time in program history, with 58 stolen bases in two seasons. In his senior year, Billy hit a batting average of .372. He earned his master’s from Southeastern in 2014 while working as a graduate assistant.

2014

JOHANNA CEDILLO ’21 (MSW) was hired out of her practicum at Manatee Children’s Services as a child and family therapist. Johanna works in crisis intervention where she provides counseling to students and directs services.

2016

Valerie (Battles) Roberts '16 MBA

VALERIE (BATTLES) ROBERTS (MBA) has worked at Gadsden State Community College in Alabama since 2017. She serves as the tutorial coordinator for Student Support Services and is an orientation and ACT Prep instructor. Valerie also serves as the founder and director of Operation Christmas Hero and is the director of student ministries for her local church. She and her husband, Kyle, have three daughters.

2018

RACHEL BAKER ’21 (MSW) works at the Highland Park Counseling Center as a child and adolescent therapist. She has been employed as an MSW registered clinical social work intern since July of 2021.

2019

Charity Bell '19

CHARITY BELL accepted a position as the weekend anchor at Illinoisbased WGEM News. As a multimedia journalist, she previously interned at Spectrum Bay News 9 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Malik Chevry '19

MALIK CHEVRY accepted a position as the defensive assistant coach for the Trojans at Anderson University in South Carolina. He previously served as the cornerbacks coach and video coordinator for the Erskine College football program. Malik was also the outside linebackers coach at Blue Ridge High School and the defensive backs coach at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Fla. While at Southeastern, Malik earned his bachelor’s in sports management. He played for the Fire football team and was part of the Sun Conference Football Academic All-Conference Team and the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

Erin Gorman-Sandler '19

ERIN GORMAN-SANDLER is working on her doctorate in neuroscience at the University of South Carolina. Erin recently co-authored a chapter in Springer’s Current Topics in Behavioral Sciences titled, “Neuroinflammation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Link Social Stress to Depression.” Erin received a travel award from the European Brain and Behaviour Society (EBBS) and presented her research at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) meeting in Paris, France, in July. KENSLEY HUTCHINGS works for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. She is currently pursuing her master’s of business administration and master’s in international community development.

ALLIE MALDONADO (MSW) is a licensed clinical social worker for the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners. As a contract manager for the Department of Homeless and Community Services, she manages other social workers, oversees family shelters and manages $7 million in grant funding. Allie also works part time providing OCD treatment at an Exposure and Response Prevention program (ERP).

Kelsey (Morton) Thomas '19 MSW

KELSEY (MORTON) THOMAS (MSW) works at Southeastern’s Counseling Center. She is a licensed clinical social worker and provides undergraduate and graduate students with individualized counseling. Kelsey also leads numerous therapy groups and hosts health and wellness events on campus. She and her husband, COLLIN THOMAS ’17, ’19 (MBA), met at Southeastern as student athletes. They have been married for two years and have a dog named Ellie.

2020

LAUREN ELIJAH ’21 (MSW) works at Hope Partnership, where she serves as a housing stability case manager. She helps homeless families get into affordable housing and access needed resources.

CIARA HELM (MSW) serves as a director of a program that helps women who have been exploited in the sex industry.

Brandilynn Knapp '20, '21 MSW

BRANDILYNN KNAPP ’21 (MSW) completed her master’s in social work in the spring of 2021. She was hired out of her generalist practicum at Lakeland Regional Health as a social work case manager. employed by the audit department of CBIZ MHM in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Olivia (Kliner) Vander Wyst '20, '22 MSW

OLIVIA (KLINER) VANDER WYST ’22 (MSW) co-authored a piece for the OMEGA Journal of Death and Dying with former dean Dr. Erica Sirrine titled “College Student Experiences of Grief and Loss Amid the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.”

2021

Beth Backes ' 21 Ed.D.

BETH BACKES (Ed.D.) completed her doctorate in educational leadership. As an ordained minister with over 12 years of church planting experience, she launched The Table Church in early 2022 in Federal Way, Wash. Beth’s diverse team meets on Saturday nights to share biblical messages in a talk-show style.

Victor M. Flores '21 MSW

VICTOR M. FLORES (MSW) serves as a school social worker for Polk County Public Schools (PCPS). Victor has over 16 years of experience working as a social worker in Puerto Rico and Florida.

Jared Johnston ' 21 Ed.D.

JARED JOHNSTON (Ed.D.) accepted a position as the chair of undergraduate education at Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Okla. He previously served as an elementary principal at Valley Fellowship Christian Academy in Huntsville, Ala., and as an adjunct professor at Southeastern University’s College of Education.

AMARIS RAMOS (MSW) accepted a position at the PACE Center for Girls. She works as a therapist at Westwood Middle School in Winter Haven, Fla., helping young girls decrease risk-related behaviors and achieve their potential.

TYRON SMITH (MSW) accepted a position at Lakeland Regional Health as a medical social worker and is working toward clinical social work licensure.

BRYCE TRAFFORD (MSW) serves as a mental health social worker for Lake Buena Vista High School. As an employee of Orange County Public Schools, she provides individual and group therapy, staff education, crisis intervention and screenings, among her other responsibilities.

Leah Weeks '21 MSW

LEAH WEEKS (MSW) works for Hardee County School System as a school social worker. As part of the Mental Health Support Staff, Leah serves seven schools across her district.

2022

Kim Meel ' 22 MSW

KIM MEEK (MSW) accepted a therapist position at New Life 360, a private mental health agency in Brandon, Fla., and is pursuing her licensure as an LCSW.

Alexandra Taylor '22 MSW

ALEXANDRA TAYLOR (MSW) works as a crisis counselor for the Crisis Response Team for Peace River Center (PRC) alongside the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PSCO). In her service with the department, she received a Sheriff’s Commendation Award for her efforts in helping a team safely remove a young student from the roof of an elementary school building.

SEND US YOUR CLASS NOTES

All submissions due by November 18, 2022, for the next issue.

Email: alumni@seu.edu Submit online at: SEU.edu/alumni

Mail to: University Advancement Southeastern University 1000 Longfellow Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33801

IN MEMORIAM

1971

LOWELL D. VAN VLECK passed away March 24, 2022. Lowell served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He met his wife of 67 years, Margaret Kearns, while stationed in Jacksonville, Fla. Lowell was an Assemblies of God minister for over 45 years and served in the church until his passing. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, six children, eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, two siblings and other family members.

1980

DEANNA YOUNGS SHICK passed on January 17, 2022. She was previously a music teacher for Evangel, Ridgeview Global Academy and Kathleen Middle School, where she received the “Teacher of the Year” award. Deanna also was an avid sports fan and played basketball during her time at Southeastern. Deanna is survived by her husband, Richard, and her father, Daniel.

1983

DENNIS CATON passed on November 20, 2021. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and an ordained minister. He pastored two churches, Sandhills Assembly of God and Lakeside Assembly of God, the latter he served at for 11 years. Dennis is survived by his wife, Susan, of 41 years, his son, numerous brothers, nieces and nephews.

1992

ED FROST passed away on February 16, 2022. A Tampa, Fla., native, Ed served as the lead pastor of Real Life Church in Fort Mill, S.C. He is survived by his wife, Kristen, daughters Claire and Ella, father, three sisters and other family members.

1994

DANIEL “DANNY” HESSE passed on December 11, 2021. He was an Assemblies of God ordained minister and served as the chaplain for Frederick County Emergency Services. Danny was a retired Air Force veteran, active member of the Winchester American Legion Post 21 and volunteer for the Winchester Rescue Mission. He is survived by Sheryl, his wife of 24 years, and his brother, Anthony, sisters Stephanie and Christiane, and other family members.