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Alumni News
Alumni Awards 2020
There is no greater testament to The Webb Schools’ mission, culture of service and honorable leadership than our extraordinary alumni. Through our annual Alumni Awards program, the Alumni Council and the Board of Trustees honor alumni whose service and achievements truly exemplify the qualities and values that Webb represents.
Alumni Outstanding Achievement
The Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award acknowledges alumni who epitomize the core values of their school’s motto: Webb School of California: Principes non Homines, “Leaders, Not Common Men” Vivian Webb School: Sapientia Amicitia Atque Honor, “Wisdom, Friendship and Honor”
Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ’93 Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge
Throughout her distinguished career, the Honorable Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ’93 has exemplified the Vivian Webb School ideals of Wisdom, Friendship and Honor. Upon graduation from Harvard University, she worked as a public high school teacher in Ghana. After earning her J.D. from Yale University in 2001, she clerked for a judge on the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, worked at an international law firm and then served in the Justice Department during President Obama’s administration. In 2015, she joined the Millennium Challenge Corp. in Washington, D.C., a foreign aid agency run by the United States government. Over the course of her legal career, Judge Frimpong practiced numerous areas of the law, including whitecollar crime, immigration, civil rights, international law, and consumer protection. She was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015 and took the bench in 2016. She serves as an assistant supervising judge of the Criminal Division and presides over a criminal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles.
“I had wanted to become a lawyer to make society work better and fairer … and I truly loved advocating for my clients,” Frimpong said. “Over time, however, I came to see that the judge is also an advocate – for justice and the rule of law. The more I considered it, the more I felt drawn to the role. And ultimately, the opportunity to grapple with complex legal questions, make difficult decisions, demystify the justice system for the public, and protect the rights of all who come before me was too intriguing not to try.”
Frimpong has also been a strong supporter of Vivian Webb School (from which she graduated as valedictorian), engaging with Webb students whenever she can. She’s been a guest speaker multiple times at Sophomore Career Evening, delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Honors Symposium, hosted alumni in her Los Angeles courtroom (including Jason Brooks ’99 and his class of high school students), served as an alumni mentor for Webb’s first-ever Black student-alumni affinity meeting and gave the keynote address for the 2021 Vivian Webb School Commencement.
Blake B. Johnson ’95 Entrepreneur and Investor
“My Webb education has played a part in every success I’ve had – it taught me to think, to lead, to have a great work ethic. It taught me to think about consequences and not just in a ‘is this smart or stupid?’ way but in a manner which raises the more important question: ‘Is this right or wrong?’”
With that foundational testimonial, Blake Johnson ’95 provides what he believes is the basis for all that he has achieved – and it is quite a list. Johnson has founded and cultivated a variety of businesses that currently exceed $1 billion in valuation. Currency Capital and IM Capital Access (companies for which he was chairman and founder) were named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Best Places to Work and several of his ventures have landed him on Inc.’s 500/5000 lists of fastest-growing privately held companies.
His most recent enterprise, byte, a direct-to-consumer dental aligner company, has achieved significant success expanding to Australia, Canada, Europe and Mexico. In 2020, byte converted its 150 Juell 3D printers to make masks, face shields and ventilator parts for frontline healthcare providers. In January 2021, Dentsply Sirona announced that it acquired the clear dental aligner maker in an all-cash deal worth $1.04 billion.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Johnson is an enthusiastic philanthropist, supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Boy Scouts of America (he achieved Eagle Scout status as a teen), the International Justice Mission and MOCA Los Angeles. He was the chairman of YPO Los Angeles in 2020. Through his Blake Johnson Alliance, founded in 2015, he follows his passion for creating and improving opportunities in his Southern California community by providing grants to deserving businesses and nonprofits serving the advancement of education, arts, sciences and social well-being. It will come as no surprise to the classmates who knew him that Johnson serves with a generous spirit – he has also been a consistent volunteer and donor to Webb. He is a member of the Hastings Society, having given to Webb for 22 consecutive years. He has also served as a class agent for more than 10 years, co-chaired his 20th reunion and served as a guest speaker at Sophomore Career Evening and the Honors Symposium. Johnson was also one of the first supporters of the Webb@Work program, giving young alumni opportunities to gain valuable work experience with summer internships at his company.
Young Alumni Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award recognizes recent alumni of the past 15 years who have used their success to bring good to the world, demonstrated exceptional achievements in their chosen field and have shown an affinity for Webb.
Noreen Lysette Barcena ’05 Immigration Attorney at Barcena Law Office
When Noreen Lysette Barcena ’05 was majoring in psychology and organizational studies (with a minor in Chicano studies) at Pitzer College, she dreamed of entering the field of neuropsychology. But while taking a course on Latin American migration, she performed an extensive research project on Salvadoran migration and realized that “the law” was the key to real change. The following summer, she clerked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and promptly changed her post-graduation plans. In 2012, she graduated from the University of La Verne Law School, passed the California Bar Exam and obtained her license to practice law. She established her firm, Barcena Law Offices, and promptly began the work of dedicating her practice to immigration, criminal defense and family law cases. The firm prides itself as being a professional law corporation “built on the philosophy of putting clients first.” She was named a 2021 Rising Star for Super Lawyers in January and recently earned her certification for Immigration and Nationality Law specialization.
Alumni Awards 2020
“ Immigration law is a constant uphill battle of trying to keep families together, helping people seek refuge from their countries and standing up to constant criticism and backlash,” Barcena said.
Barcena has argued before the Ninth Circuit Court and is a frequent attorney contributor for Telemundo, ABC7, Univision and Hoy. She is a founding member and executive board member of Ferias Legales, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing knowledge and justice to underresourced populations. She is also a volunteer with the Catholic Big Brothers and Sisters Program and an executive board member of Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights. She is a former executive board member of the Mexican American Bar Association and has served as a speaker for the American Immigration Lawyers Association Southern California Chapter. She is also an active volunteer of IMAHelps, helping to organize medical missions to populations in need.
Her law office also engages in extensive volunteer work with several nonprofit organizations, including Public Counsel, Al Otro Lado and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
Barcena has volunteered her time as a VWS alumna by returning to campus as a guest speaker at Sophomore Career Evening, hosting students for Unbounded Days and co-chairing her 15th reunion. She is a member of the Hastings Society in recognition of her consecutive years of giving.
One of her clients commented: “Noreen Barcena is not just a great attorney but also an amazing person with a great heart. Not something you can say about everyone in her profession.”
Colburn Distinguished Service Award
Named in honor of Ken Colborn ’47, the Colborn Distinguished Service Award pays tribute to an alumnus/a in recognition of selfless commitment and ongoing volunteer service to The Webb Schools and/or Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology.
R. Larry Ashton Jr. ’70 Manager, Star Investment Company Chairman of the Board, Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology
At the 87th Commencement for Webb School of California, R. Larry Ashton Jr. ’70 shared his childhood memories of meeting a paleontologist from Southern California at the Ashton family store in Vernal, Utah. Raymond Alf was an annual visitor to the family market because Alf and his summer Peccary Trip crew of Webb students needed to stock up on supplies before heading out to fossil sites nearby. Ashton would talk to Alf on these visits about Webb and years later, he would see Alf again – this time on campus as a student in his legendary ninth-grade science class.
As a boarder at Webb (overlapping briefly with brother, Michael ’67), he spent many hours with Alf, both at school and in the field, and he developed a deep affinity for the Alf Museum. As a devoted Webb alumnus, Larry has worked tirelessly to ensure that the legacy of his beloved teacher and the scientific contributions of the legions of Webb students and alumni who identify as members of the Peccary Society remain at the core of the museum’s mission in perpetuity.
Since Ashton became chairman of the Alf Museum board in 2001, the museum transformed into a world-class institution renowned for its innovative education and research programs. Other items accomplished under Ashton’s board leadership include renovations of the Hall of Footprints and Hall of Life; national re-accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums; creation of the Lofgren Research Lab where Webb students can conduct research on the specimens they find on Peccary Trips; modernization of the Malcolm C. McKenna Fossil Preparation Lab; addition of a compactor system for collections storage that boosted capacity by 60%; expansion of professional staff (curator,
collections manager, fossil prep specialist) needed to run a world-class museum; and doubling the museum’s endowment. All these endeavors will ensure that the museum will continue to thrive in fulfilling its mission to Webb, the scientific community and all who are touched by its educational programs.
Ashton has proudly made giving to the Alf Museum and Webb a regular part of his life since shortly after his graduation in 1970. Today he and his wife, Alicia, are members of the Hastings Society, having made annual gifts to both the Alf Museum and Webb annually. They contribute to the annual Giving Day, the Class of 1970 Scholarship Fund, the Don Lofgren Endowed Director’s Chair, and the annual Peccary Dinner, among other initiatives. The Ashtons are also members of the Thompson and Vivian Webb Society, having made an estate commitment.
While the Alf Museum continues to be his passion, as board chair he also serves as an ex officio member of The Webb Schools Board of Trustees. Ashton holds a significant love for Webb and gives an equal amount of time to work that directly supports it. For seven years he served as chair of the Investment Committee. Today, he serves as a member of about 15 museum and school subcommittees, including those handling finance, development, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Ashton believes in active participation, virtual and in-person, as much as he possibly can.
“ I love my school and have tried to give back to it as generously as it has given to me,” Ashton said. “I take bragging rights whenever possible to our academic programs, our leaders, our faculty, our students, our staff and our school home, the Webb campus. I love and support all aspects of our institutions.”
Dick Lynas ’55, a life trustee of the Alf Museum, nominated Ashton for recognition.
“Larry’s generosity is legendary,” Lynas said. “He’s the first to volunteer his time, money and resources. He always contributes to the Peccary Trips and makes his presence felt at conventions and other museum functions even though it’s not required. Both he and his wife, Alicia, go out of their way to promote the museum and to make others feel very welcome there.”
Dr. Don Lofgren, the museum’s director from 1991 to 2021, described Ashton as the consummate cheerleader.
“Larry has an extremely positive attitude in his leadership style that is infectious and inspiring,” Lofgren said. “All who meet him are touched by his deep love of Webb and the Alf Museum. When Larry joined the museum board in 1999 and two years later was elected chairman, the museum’s path to eventual world-class status was never in doubt. Larry and his fellow trustees overcame all the challenges needed to make that a reality. There is no better ambassador for Webb than Larry Ashton.”
Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipients. Due to the postponement of Alumni Weekend in 2020, our four 2020 recipients were celebrated with online presentations available on the Webb Alumni YouTube channel.
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THE WEBB SCHOOLS
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1956 Leslie Epstein
has published his 10th book, which he calls the culmination of all his energies and interests. The work of fiction, which was released on March 1, is entitled Hill of Beans. The novel brings together Les’ personal and professional interests – WWII and Hollywood. 1
1960 Robert Letteau is the proud grandparent of a WSC graduate. His grandson, Mason Letteau Stallings, was a boarder and member of the Honor Committee. Mason matriculates to Washington University in St. Louis.
1961 Many thanks to Roger Millar, who stepped down from the Board of Trustees on June 30 after finishing his second consecutive term. Roger joined the board in 2011 and we are grateful for his service.
1963 Ralph Young and Rick Clarke, along with their friend Aaron Warren, sailed Ralph’s boat, the Greek Isle, from Newport Beach, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico, where it was “reborn” as the Summer Star II. The group celebrated the 12-hour journey with fish tacos! 1964 The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training has published Christian Holmes’ oral history centered primarily on his public service career. It is now part of the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection, Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training in Arlington, Va. “I emphasize my Webb education, its emphasis on living a purposeful life within one’s moment in time. I remain immensely grateful for my time at Webb.” Visit adst.org/oral-history and use the search function to find Christian’s oral history interview, which will also become part of the Library of Congress digital collection.
1966 Many thanks to Doug Gregg, who served as president of the Alumni Council for the past four years. He joined the Council in 2012 as a member at large and now continues as past president. We are grateful for his service and leadership. 2
1970 R. Larry Ashton Jr.
was named the 2020 recipient of the Colborn Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his honorable service and extraordinary commitment to the Alf Museum and The Webb Schools. Read about his many contributions and accomplishments on page 70.
1975 Jim Boyce is a proud first-time grandparent of baby Amelia Desai. “My daughter, Kelly Boyce, VWS Class of ’06, and her husband, Rishi Desai, WSC Class of ’05, gave birth to a new Webblet! So excited. Beyond words!” 3 After almost 40 years with the Bechtel Corp., Karim Khan has retired. “I started off as a college hire in the San Francisco office and moved on to project assignments in eight countries on seven continents, plus another 18 countries on business trips. It was a great ride. I made many memories and lifelong friends along the way. The best part was for the past 20 years my wife, Daria, has been on the journey with me working side by side on projects from Chernobyl to Hanford, Wash., to Chile to India to Gabon to Australia and finally to Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to the next phase!”
1981 In February 2020, just before COVID-19 entered all our lives, Steve Farley finalized his transition away from politics to take a position as CEO of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. “While it has not always been easy leading this 76-year-old community institution during a worldwide pandemic, I have never loved a job more than this one. The staff, board, donors and volunteers are amazing, and the work is so rewarding. Adoptions are going great – everyone needs a new best friend to hunker down with these days! Once we can travel again, if anyone wants to get a behind-the-scenes tour of our Tucson facilities, look me up at HSSAZ.org. Let’s hope we can all get together in person at our 40th reunion!”
VWS ALUMNAE ON GMA INSPIRATION LIST
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Good Morning America and ABC News asked influential AAPI leaders like Dr. Sandra Lee Rebish ’88 to nominate fellow members of the community for the GMA Inspiration List. Lee Rebish, who stars in the TLC network’s Dr. Pimple Popper television series, serves on Webb’s Board of Trustees and is the parent of two Webb students (Chance ’23 and Stratton ’24). Stacy Chen ’12 caught her attention for several reasons. “I love when I notice someone on television and social media who has found her ‘thing,’ has found a way to get her points across, connecting with complete strangers, telling stories and conducting interviews that inspire people to improve their lives and the lives around them,” Lee Rebish said.
“When I saw Stacy Chen doing this as an Asian American journalist, mixing her own personality – including light-hearted irreverence with serious subject matter – it really made me pause and smile. And the surprise and pride I had to realize we both heralded from the same high school that fosters this spirit.” Chen is a news producer at ABC News. She joined the network in 2015 as a digital and political intern. Since then, she interned for Nightly News with Lester Holt and worked as a production assistant before becoming a producer in 2018. Recently, she’s covered top stories, such as the ABC News interview with Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, and Cara Page, founder of Southern Kindred Healing Justice Collective. Chen has also covered stories related to Asian hate crimes, such as the violent attacks on elderly Asian Americans in the Bay Area, and the attacks across the country on Asian American-owned businesses.
1985 Kit Stephenson, assistant director at the Bozeman Public Library, invited Ingrid (Smith) Ulrey to speak at a May 13 library event titled, “How are you holding up? The pandemic’s wide-ranging effects on mental health.” Ingrid is the policy director at Public Health for Seattle & King County, one of the largest metropolitan health departments in the U.S. The online panel was part of Bozeman’s award-winning speaker series, SymBozium, which features current topics and speakers from varied points of view. Kit has worked in public libraries for over 20 years, from leading a one-room library in Vermont to throwing a film festival for teens in Nashville. She is president of the Montana Library Association. She lives in Bozeman, Mont., with her husband and son, and her hobbies are living in the Rockies (and all that entails) and sewing. Visit www.webb.org/alumni to watch the panel with Kit and Ingrid. 4
1987 Melissa Barnes
Dholakia and Sanjay Dholakia are the proud parents of a VWS graduate. Their daughter, Maya, is attending Pitzer College this fall. 5
Many thanks to Janel Henriksen Hastings for her service on the Board of Trustees. She takes on a new role as co-chair of the Affiliates parent group this year. After 18 years at Nike, Michael Kwon is now an executive at Hyundai Motors’ brand Genesis. “It’s been super exciting working at the global level of a Korean company, a kind of surreal experience. I’m opening some amazing showrooms around the world. We just launched in China and will be launching in Europe this month. You can follow us on Instagram at @genesis_ worldwide.” Igbo Obioha is the executive producer and legal counsel for “Entanglement,” a short film led by a team of Black filmmakers, including his wife, Anasia Obioha. Igbo is president and founder of Obioha & Associates, an entertainment law firm in Marina del Rey, Calif. He is a former trial attorney who litigated cases involving intellectual property rights disputes and First Amendment matters before moving to the transactional side of entertainment law in 2004. Igbo is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He graduated from UCLA and USC Law School. 6
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THE WEBB SCHOOLS
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10 James Sun enjoyed seeing classmates at a mini reunion hosted by Jenny Huang in May. “Ingrid was visiting from NorCal, so Jenny invited us to her home in Pasadena. She went to three restaurants and a bakery to put together a wonderful Taiwanese feast. It’s been a few years since I saw Jenny and Roger, but more than 20 since I last saw Ingrid or Lee. So fortunate to have these lovely people in my life. Go Gauls!” Pictured L-R: Roger Yiu, Jenny Huang, James, Ingrid Liu and Lee Chou ’88. 7
1989 Thank you to Bob Connolly for his six years of service on the Alumni Council. As a member at large, Bob led a major reorganization of the archives room and hosted numerous events at his home. Bob will continue his volunteer work with the school archives.
1990 “When there is no high school reunion but you are all vaccinated!” So great to see WSC Class of 1990 reunited for a mini-reunion dinner at Haidilao in Los Angeles in May. Many air miles are represented in this photo! L-R: David Kahm (Hong Kong), Brian Choe, Jay Nam and Robert Sueng (Jakarta, Indonesia). 8
1993 Rachel Cunnan
Malicay is the proud parent of a Webb graduate and a new student. Her son, Jackson, was a boarder and member of the Dorm Council. Jackson is attending UCLA this fall. Her daughter, Erika, joins VWS as a freshman this year. 9
Maame Ewusi-Mensah
Frimpong was named a 2020 recipient of the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding professional achievement, service to the community and commitment to The Webb Schools. See page 68 for more details. Maame was also the commencement speaker at the 38th VWS graduation ceremony held June 12 on the Webb campus. A recording of her address is available on Webb’s YouTube channel. 10
JENN LOUIS ’89 LENDS HELPING HAND TO HOMELESS IN PORTLAND
When Jenn Louis ’89 saw the number of tent camps growing in Portland, Ore., during the pandemic, she wanted to do something to help. Since December, she has brought hot meals and a variety of donations to about 30 homeless people three times a week. Her efforts started after her boyfriend cleaned out his closet. She asked if she could donate his old wool sweaters to a tent camp she passed almost every day. The following day, she brought people living at the camp – and six other camps nearby – a hot meal of rice and beans. Months later, she has partnered with nearly 20 businesses and organizations that contribute to her efforts. From soap and socks to blankets and tarps, she asks the community what they need and makes sure she has those items next time she visits.
“I offer these things with an open heart and without judgment. I do not ask about anyone’s past, I just ask what they need and what I can supply for them,” Louis said. “All I want is that their basic needs are met.”
For Louis, one of the most rewarding parts of her experience has been getting to know the people she meets. “They’re really good people,” she said. “There are such a variety of reasons that people are on the streets. I think that right now, more than ever, we need to think about the fact that we’re all interconnected. Just because someone isn’t your family or isn’t like you doesn’t mean you can’t expand your heart and include them in your world.” Louis plans to continue her efforts for a year and see where it goes from there. Learn more about her homeless relief initiative on her website, jennlouis.com.
1994 For the third year in a row, Christine Choi Kim has been named one of the top dermatologists by Los Angeles magazine! “I’m giving a double dose of thank yous to my physician peers who nominated me for this honor. I am truly grateful for your confidence and trust.” 11
2000 Nick Barshick and his wife, Krista, welcomed baby boy Henri on April 27. He joins big sister Rory, age 2. Lilly Coye has launched a new business venture, Lilly Coye Coaching + Consulting. Lily is a member of the International Coaching Federation and trained through CoachRice at Rice University. She has an Ed.D. in educational leadership and a decade of experience coaching college students through transition.
2002 Andrea Hobby
earned her master’s degree in epidemiology from Georgetown University in May. After graduation, she joined Accenture as a data scientist.
2004 Kelsey Dickson and her husband, Justin Burns, are the proud parents of baby Eleanor, born in July 2020. 12
Felicity Doyle was the featured artist during the April 30 Unwind with Webb concert. From her home in Brooklyn, N.Y., she performed on her autoharp and sang original songs, including new releases from her EP Trail Markers. Check out her website, felicitydoyle.com, or have a listen on Bandcamp at feedoyle.bandcamp.com/ releases. After more than 12 years at DreamWorks Animation, Jennifer Pan is now the director of production technology at Skydance Animation. The animation studio has offices in Madrid and Los Angeles.
2005 Noreen Lysette
Barcena is the 2020 recipient of the Young Alumni Rising Star Award in recognition of her outstanding professional achievement, community service and commitment to Webb. Read more on page 69. Brittan Berry and her husband, Andrew, are the proud parents of a new baby girl, Eden Ruth Berry. She arrived on April 29, the morning of the NFL draft, and the Cleveland Browns tweeted “Andrew and Brittan Berry’s 1st round pick of the 2021 draft came a little early.” Big brothers Zion and Kairo are smitten. 13
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BLAKE JOHNSON ’95
Entrepreneur Blake Johnson ’95 was recently featured in Forbes magazine. Johnson and business partner Scott Cohen, launched byte, a direct-to-consumer dental aligner company, in 2019. In January 2021, they sold the company for more than $1 billion.
“Repeat entrepreneurs Scott Cohen and Blake Johnson built this unicorn in record time in what some have called one of the greatest direct-to-consumer success stories of the century,” according to Forbes. What sets this success apart is the fact that Johnson and Cohen accomplished this feat without any venture capital investments.
“Not only did byte succeed without it, but they took on industry giants Invisalign and Smile Direct Club in the process. Their differentiator? Byte’s been mission-driven and profitable from the start, focused on improving accessibility and putting the customer first,” Forbes stated. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson continued to invest in his employees, customers and the community through the ByteCares program, offering services to communities in need and converting a large portion of manufacturing to supply ventilator parts and face shields to frontline healthcare organizations. For more on Blake Johnson, see the 2020 Alumni Awards article on page 69.
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THE WEBB SCHOOLS
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17 2006 Kelly Boyce and Rishi Desai ’05 are the proud parents of a baby girl, Amelia, born in February 2021. 14
Congratulations to Heidi Marti, who earned her master’s in organizational psychology at Azusa Pacific University. “My thesis was entitled The HEX that Spells A COhesive Team: Exploring the Relationship between Team Cohesion and Personality using HEXACO. Next step … submitting my thesis for publication!” 15 Thomas Yu has joined the Alf Museum Board of Trustees. He is a project manager for Stem Inc., an energy storage startup, focused on strategic projects to improve and scale fleet operations, and has been in the energy storage space for the last five years and the greater energy industry for the last 10. “My experience at the museum prepared me by introducing me to the importance of data, explaining how organizations work and by showing that students can do great things with expert guidance. I’m excited to be a part of this tradition of education and look forward to supporting the unique opportunities the museum provides for students.” Museum Director Emeritus Dr. Don Lofgren said, “Thomas was the leader of the museum after-school class during his Webb career as he was a skilled fossil preparator and could also make Jiffy Pop popcorn for his fellow students without burning a kernel. Thomas also helped discover the camel skeleton now on display in the Hall of Life on a Barstow Peccary Trip in 2006.” 16
2007 Elisa Gores and Stella Green Sanderson got married in a small wedding on July 31, 2020. “Unfortunately, COVID restrictions made it impossible for any of my Webb friends to attend but we were lucky to be surrounded by family and a couple of close friends. In August, we relocated to Stella’s hometown of Toronto, Ontario. I also graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in May 2020 with my master’s in social work.” 17
2008 We love this photo that Johnson Lightfoote shared from Michael Bashoura’s wedding in May! L-R: Paul Grimm, Shant Tomassian, Michael and Johnson. 18
Thanks to Jeff Cripe for being a guest speaker in Dr. Theresa Smith’s entrepreneurship class in February. Jeff talked about his early jobs at Birchbox and Christie’s, which led to his interest in ecommerce and the eventual creation of Cargo. Students heard about the challenges he faced with early stage funding and getting an investment from Techstars, which helped refine and grow the company. Jeff also talked about the pandemic’s effect on the company and how the business has adjusted its business plan. 19 2009 Lexington Henn has joined the Alf Museum Board of Trustees. She is a vice president for the Debt & Equity Finance Team at Mission Capital. Lexington has been actively involved in raising more than $1 billion of capital in the form of debt, equity, mezzanine and preferred equity for a variety of asset classes, including residential, office, hospitality, industrial and retail throughout the United States. Her responsibilities include debt and equity placement, client and investor correspondence, identification of the appropriate capital sources and preparation of financial models and investment materials. She sits on Georgetown University’s Real Estate Associate Advisory Board and the Management Committee of Real Estate Aspiring Leaders, which aims to connect the next generation of leaders in commercial real estate. Previously, Lexington worked at Cushman & Wakefield (formerly known as DTZ) in the research and capital markets departments. She graduated from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown, earning a BSBA in finance and international business. Dr. Don Lofgren said, “Lexi was an avid student member of the Peccary Society and her description of the 60-million-year-old mammal species Protoselene ashtoni (named in honor of Larry Ashton ’70) was published by the American Museum of Natural History in 2014. She has been a mainstay at the annual Peccary Dinner and on international Peccary Trips like those to Mongolia and Peru.”
Alumni Profile
Asim Rizvi, M.D. ’00 is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Orbit Health Telepsychiatry. His practice combines supportive therapy, diagnosis and medication management. From his home office in Pennsylvania, he works with patients all over the country, with a particular emphasis on under-resourced communities in California.
Before joining Orbit Health, Rizvi was a staff psychiatrist with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the Rancho Cucamonga field office. There, he was integral in building the telepsychiatry division. He vividly recalls the launch of FaceTime in 2013 and knowing that it would change the world and shape the future of care and interaction. Fast forward to 2020 with the world shifting to online communications, Dr. Rizvi was well prepared, having already been treating patients in this manner for several years.
Orbit Health offers telepsychiatry services for medical practices, schools, employers, lawyers, correctional facilities and other institutions across California. Rizvi works with clients from Kaiser Oakland all the way to the Mexico border. One of his largest client bases is out of the Imperial County Behavioral Health Services in El Centro, a remote location with limited access to local mental healthcare. This community in particular has struggled with substance abuse issues and the associated mental health challenges.
Rizvi also supports residential juvenile treatment facilities that serve as turning points for children and youth at risk of entering the prison system. One of the largest hurdles people face is seeking treatment.
Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has heightened demand for mental healthcare. Stressors have permeated every corner of the world as people work to balance professional, school and family commitments, all while ensuring public safety. Rizvi treats children and adolescents ages 4 to 18 and has seen cases that range from moderate Zoom fatigue, to feelings of isolation and suicidal thoughts.
“The name of the game is ‘function,’ ” he said. “We all experience anxiety, but when your ability to function is compromised, that’s when you should ask for help.” But the pandemic has also opened more doors for practices such as his and allowed more people to receive treatment.
Rizvi counts Javier Valera (world languages) and Mark Thompson (history) among his most influential teachers. As a senior, he received the E.T. Price Award in History and was a strong asset on the varsity football team. After graduating from Webb, he studied communications at the University of Southern California and completed his Doctor of Medicine at Shifa College of Medicine in Islamabad, Pakistan. He lives outside of Allentown, Penn., with his two daughters.
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THE WEBB SCHOOLS
23 2010 Congratulations to Kelsey De Silva for earning her M.D. from Tulane University. Photo credit: Ariel Fan 20
2011 Dana Edwards married Jake Okerman on March 27, 2021. Webbies in attendance included the bride’s aunt Dana Su Lee ’84 and Lauren Gronna. 21
Madison Fuelling and her husband, Casey Fox, welcomed their bundle of joy, Hudson, on February 27! Madi is happy to be back in Claremont, close to family. She’s working as a project manager with her family’s healthcare management company, Brault. 22
Christopher Jusuf
graduated from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. 23
Many thanks to Adrian Lam for being a guest speaker in Dr. Theresa Smith’s entrepreneurship class. He talked about the “Art of the Pitch” and showed the students an actual pitch deck.
Brittany Lamon-Paredes
received her naval officer commission in December and graduated in June with a Master of Legal Studies (dispute resolution) from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. She’s now in Washington, D.C. working as an analyst for the Department of Defense. 24
LISETTE FARVE ’04, DVM
Banfield Pet Hospital recognized Dr. Lisette Farve at its national conference in March as Chief of Staff of the Year in the Southwest Region. Farve joined Banfield in 2012 after graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. After two years as an associate with Banfield, she was promoted to chief of staff and eventually returned to California to be closer to home. Farve trains and mentors associate doctors and works as a practicing veterinarian. “I like the mentorship part, talking to other doctors. I learn the most there, hearing their perspective and learning how they practice,” she said. Recently, Farve was promoted to area chief of staff and now oversees a pod of four hospitals across Upland, Eastvale and Riverside. In addition to her management role, she continues to see pets for spays, neuters, teeth cleaning and more. Farve always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. In kindergarten, she drew a picture of herself as a pet doctor, which her mom framed next to her DVM diploma. “It’s a very competitive field,” Farve said. “You need a lot of science classes and hands-on experience. Before I applied, I knew it’d be helpful to have different experiences, so I volunteered at vet clinics and did research with large animals and lab animals.”
While she was a student at Webb, she volunteered at a small animal clinic and the 4H club at the Chino Fair working with pigs. As a day student, she fondly remembers weekend activities like trips to Disneyland, downtown Los Angeles and the Webb van runs to local shopping areas. She also participated in afternoon activities, including soccer, volleyball, track and field, and theater. She loved English class with Jim Kingstone and the interactive science class with David Sculley. She also appreciated the extra time that AP bio teacher David Fitzgerald gave her. “Bio was difficult at first, but he took the time to talk with me outside of class. Very quickly, I caught on,” she said. Farve earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Claremont McKenna College. She lives in Guasti with her husband, Orlando Hodges, and their Yorkie, Duchess.
Dakota Santana-Grace
was the commencement speaker at the 99th WSC graduation ceremony held June 12 on the Webb campus. A recording of his address is available on Webb’s YouTube channel. Dakota is currently serving on the Alumni Council as a member at large and cochairing the council’s DEI subcommittee. 25
In May, Elena ScottKakures graduated from Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service program (MSFS) with certificates from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. “I am so grateful for my professors, colleagues, and family and thrilled to begin work with the U.S. Department of State in July.” 26 Shihan Wijeyeratne is working with Immigrant Justice Idaho, a nonprofit legal organization that specializes in representing clients in immigration cases. The group also provides immigration law education to the legal community and general public and advocates for fair and just immigration policy at all levels of government. “While leaving the world of IT consulting to work for a local Idaho nonprofit feels a little like jumping into the deep end, I am excited for what’s ahead and have been blown away by the skill and dedication of the team.” In November, he married his longtime girlfriend, Ashley, at the Ada County Courthouse. 27 2012 The Class of 2012 enjoyed a mini-reunion on Zoom following a Q&A with Stacy Chen and AAPI advocate Dr. Satsuki Ina. Ken Rosenfeld and Sonsoles Cardalliaguet enjoyed seeing everyone. Read more about the AAPI event on page 65. 28 Shiraz Belblidia received her master’s in biomedical science policy and advocacy from Georgetown University. She’s an ORISE Fellow with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in Washington,D.C. 29
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VWS 40th Anniversary
This year, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Vivian Webb School. In 1981, the Webb campus welcomed 34 young women who would become known as “The Pioneers.” In the decades since, VWS has expanded considerably, with The Webb Schools now enrolling equal numbers of students across the two schools.
Founding Headmistress Dr. Ann Longley was the 2019 VWS Commencement speaker, and during the weekend, alumnae leaders from the early classes of 1984 through 1988 joined Longley, VWS pioneer faculty and Head of Schools Taylor Stockdale in storytelling about the founding of VWS and the experience of those early years. The event was facilitated by the Alumni Office, Stephanie Buxbaum ’93, Bob Connolly ’89 and Rahmi Mowjood ’90.
On August 5, 2021, we marked the anniversary of the school’s founding with a virtual gathering with participation from alumnae over four decades. The event featured an alumnae speaker panel and breakout rooms for each decade. Many thanks to panelists Karen Greene Robinson ’88, Julia Salas Woertink ’99, Jana Sims ’03, Ariel Fan ’10 and moderator Kathy Fredrich ’02, president of the Alumni Council. We are also grateful to Jenna Gambaro ’95, Julia Marciari-Alexander ’85 and Wendin Smith ’89 for their help in organizing the event. Current VWS students will celebrate this milestone when they return to campus this fall.
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THE WEBB SCHOOLS
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37 Congratulations to Dr. John Bouz, who earned his D.O. from the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. He is now doing an anesthesia residency at Riverside University Health System.
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Christopher Garabet
received his M.D. from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in May. 31 Ivie Tokunboh returned to Boston this fall to start her Master of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has been selected as a Zuckerman fellow, a fellowship program designed for individuals from medicine, law or business who are committed to public service. After completing her MPH, she’ll return to UC San Francisco to finish her final year of medical school. 32
2013 Aman Patheja is a CivicSpark Housing Fellow at the Southern California Association of Governments, a partnership between Americorps and a California nonprofit called the Local Government Commission, with the goal of combating climate change and fostering local community engagement. “My first fellowship term was from 2019-2020 with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. Duane Baker ’82, works there as deputy executive director. My work focused on an inventory analysis of the Health In All Policies planning approach in the region. My current fellowship is now with the Southern California Association of Governments, where I’m working on affordable housing and transit-oriented development. After my program I hope to work in the private sector for a year before going to grad school.” In July, Mallory Thompson started medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Southern Utah. “Since graduating from Boston University in 2017, I have worked in various clinical research experiences, including working within the COVID-19 units of a local hospital in Tucson, Ariz. I recently earned my master’s in cellular and molecular medicine at the University of Arizona and will be defending my thesis, Assessment of Microvascular Disease in the Diabetic Foot Using Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging. I am incredibly excited about beginning this next chapter of my life and exploring the beautiful state of Utah with my white German shepherd named Primrose for the next four years.” 33
2014 Lauren Carpio has started a new position as talent operations coordinator at DreamWorks Animation.
2015 Maia Dominguez
completed her master’s degree in tumor biology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She’s now working as an assistant scientist for quality testing at the biotech company Puresyn, Inc. 34 Rena Patel was excited to have her short play, The Noise of the Storm, produced by Imaginarium Theatre Company in April. She is an Entertainment Law Fellow at Loyola Law School with an expected graduation date of 2023. 35
2016 Hailey Arteaga
has received her MBA in information technology management from Seton Hall University. She’s working as an account manager for Bond and Matter, a healthcare communications agency based in New Jersey. 36 Francisco Munoz graduated with distinction and honors in engineering from Harvey Mudd College in 2020. He was a Henry E. and Gayle Riggs Fellowship in Engineering Management in the summer of 2019. Francisco is now working as a consulting analyst with Accenture in San Jose, Calif. He stays in touch with his Webb friends: Joshua Hong,
William Liu, Kevin Zhu,
Ethan Chen and Paul Yanez, along with several others.
2017 Leilani Aguila
graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor’s in anthropology and education. This fall, she is attending USC Rossier School of Education to pursue a master’s in teaching. 37 Jordan Fuelling completed her bachelor’s degree at Chapman University, majoring in psychology with an emphasis in business and economics. She was also a member of the women’s volleyball team. Next up, she’s headed to the University of Hartford for a master’s in organizational psychology. 38
ALUMNI ATHLETES
“Ten years later, we tri-ed again.” Adrian Lam ’11, Nick Ting ’09 and Ryan Au ’12 completed the Ironman 70.3 in Florida in April. The three alumni were founding members of Webb’s Triathlon team and the Ironman competition marked the 10-year anniversary of their first triathlon.
Midfielder Danny Crisostomo ’15 has joined the Las Vegas Lights FC, an official affiliate of Los Angeles FC. For the previous two years, he played for Orange County SC. We enjoyed seeing him at the alumni Huddle Up Zoom event in March.
Nick Jung ’17 was one of the six Pomona-Pitzer football players named to the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s 2021 NFF Hampshire Honor Society. Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale); met all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress toward degree requirements; and have been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2020-21 season. This was the final year of an illustrious softball career at St. John’s University for Elyse Morris ’17, who graduated with a biology and Spanish degree in May. Her St. John’s highlights include team captain, Big East regular season champion, multiple Big East All-Academic team selections, founding member of the Athletics Council on Community, Culture & Social Justice, member of the 2020 team with the highest GPA in the Big East and member of Chi Alpha Sigma. Morris is enrolled in Notre Dame’s Master of Science in Management program with the potential to use another year of eligibility. She hopes to play for the Fighting Irish during the spring season.
Skyler Rivera ’18 is a coxswain for the women’s rowing team at Syracuse University. “This season my team went out with big goals – to be a top 10 team in the country. In 2019, we missed out on an at-large bid to NCAAs, but we continued to train hard, finding speed and building our team culture. This year we had an amazing season with great showings at big regattas and received an at-large bid to the NCAA championships. I coxed the varsity 4 that placed 11th in the nation, boosting our team to an overall 10th-place finish, the best NCAA finish in our program’s history. It feels great to be a part of a historic team. I have one more season left with the Orange and I can’t wait to see what we can do next year.”
Photo credit: Sagehen Athletics
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THE WEBB SCHOOLS
Wes Pulles graduated from West Point Academy with a bachelor’s in life sciences on a premed track. Next up: Ft. Rucker, Ala., for SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) and flight school! 39
2018 Riya Mehta is in her senior year at USC and serves as president of the campus Lean In circle. Lean In USC is an organization dedicated to empowering women to become leaders across industries. As part of her Lean In USC involvement, she volunteered at the annual Young Women’s Leadership Conference in March. This conference brought together over 60 high school girls throughout the Los Angeles area to USC to encourage them to channel their leadership skills into public service and civic engagement. 40
2019 Jordan Fang has started Nioh Nutrition, a sports nutrition company centered around East Asian culture and Asian Americans in sports. “We’re very much in the startup stages and beginning to spread the word. Nioh is currently focused on making protein bars that are inspired by East Asian flavors, and one of the core values of our team is promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices in sports and fitness. As an athlete myself, I wish there was greater representation for the AAPI community in sports. We want to connect with individuals who are interested in our company and mission. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact me! I am also a student studying economics, diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College.” 41 Lexie Freeland has accepted her first co-op at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s acute general medicine unit. Lexie is a junior at Northeastern University in Boston, studying health sciences.
Drew Hersch was the featured artist during Unwind with Webb on February 26. He sang original songs and talked about his musical influences. His 10 years of theater experience is one of the most significant inspirations for his sound. “Theater is the sole explanation for my excessive use of violins, bass drums and gospel choir plug-ins. I learned the fundamentals of music in a melodramatic setting where crazy vocal warm-ups and large emotional orchestral climaxes were the norms, so this has inevitably bled into the music I make today.” If you missed the online concert, go to www.webb. org/alumni. Euphy Liu has accepted an offer to study experimental psychology and film studies at St. Edmund Hall, University of Oxford as a visiting student for the 2021-22 academic year. “I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity and I cannot wait to explore and learn more in the unique tutorial system. I cannot accomplish this achievement today without the help from my professors, friends, family and the Office of International Studies at Wellesley.”
FORMER FACULTY/STAFF
We received this update from Leo and Stevie Marshall, who worked in the Admission Office from 2001 to 2016. “Stevie and I are now in our fifth year of retirement here in Jupiter, Fla., with our dog, Lucy (Gracie sadly passed away in 2017). Stevie volunteers with St. Vincent DePaul Charities in its thrift shop. I am still on the faculty at USC for the certification program for Leadership in Enrollment Management, a 30-week online program for independent school and university professionals. I just finished my sixth year with the program. On the side, I am training full time for upcoming triathlons here in Florida and work two nights a week at the local minor league baseball stadium. Bill and Joann Robinson dropped in the other day on their way up to see their grandson in St. Augustine. Great to see them, our first real visitors since the pandemic hit us, and share old stories. Our memories of our friends at Webb remain fondly and we wish you all great happiness.”
The Webb Schools of Delicious Cookies
More than 290 boxes of delicious chocolate chip cookies were shipped to Webb’s young alumni in college in February, just in time for their midterm exams.
Since the Dining Hall was closed, the Alumni Office reached out to the Webb community for help with this special tradition. A big thank-you to Ayad and Trixie Fargo (parents of Mitchell ’17 and Max ’21) of Biscomerica for going out of their way to provide the cookies for this year’s mailing! And thank you to Max for delivering them to the Webb campus! When asked if they would be willing to help continue this annual tradition, the Fargos did not hesitate for a moment before answering “Absolutely!”
Individually packaged for freshness, the cookies traveled across the country to colleges, universities and homes in 28 states and Washington, D.C. to be devoured by grateful young alumni.
And although food is difficult to mail internationally, the Alumni Office made sure young alumni overseas were not forgotten, as they received packages filled with fun Webb swag.
Once cookies started hitting mailboxes, young alumni showed love and gratitude for Webb by sharing photos of their cookies and packages – on athletic fields, in the snow, with pets and during late night study sessions. These posts and photos are a highlight for the Alumni Office each year. A huge thank-you to all who participated!
