Class Notes

Welcome to our expanded Class Notes, a section dedicated to sharing your news with the UD community. Share your updates with us via udallas.edu/alumni-portal for possible inclusion in the next issue of Tower.

1970s

Paula Sweeney, BA ’78, received the 2021 Lifetime Contribution to the Profession award from the Texas Trial Lawyers. Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, leading four departments that manage diverse materials science research activities spanning wide band gap semiconductors and devices, quantum materials and devices, ferroic materials, nanoporous materials, 2D electronic materials and energy storage materials. Carlos has been at Sandia National Laboratories for 16 years and prior to that was a tenured physics professor at Texas State University for 13 years. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Wesley Walter, Ph.D., BS ’83, professor of physics at Denison University, was honored with the prestigious Bonar Family Mentorship and Teaching Excellence Award at the college’s faculty awards celebration last May. This award recognizes exemplary mentoring and teaching by a Denison faculty member. Paul John, M.D., BS ’84, a family physician with a long-standing private practice in Austin, Texas, has enrolled in Concierge Choice Physicians, the nation’s leading full-service concierge medical service provider, in the company’s Hybrid Choice™ program, which provides patients with more time, support and greater connectivity between doctor and patient. Rob Oshana, MBA ’85, vice president of software engineering and R&D for NXP Edge Processing, was named the 59th Design Automation Conference general chair. This is the only event devoted to electronic design and design automation of electronic circuits and systems.

1980s

Mary Zielinski Hellwig, BA ’80, hosted 11 members of the Class of 1980 (and one member of the Class of 1979) in July 2018 at her home in Scarborough, Maine, for a combined reunion/celebration of 60th birthdays. The group is pictured on Higgins Beach (above). They received a surprise visit on their last day from classmates and guest chefs Frank Hellwig, BA ’80, and Jeff Mitchell, BA ’80, who prepared a dinner of clams and lobster for them. Alan Berecka, BA ’81, recently published a collection of poetry, A Living Is Not a Life: A Working Title, adding to his growing list of works. Mike Gordon, MBA ’82, is the 2021 Chief Officer Award Winner: Public Company CISO. Carlos J. Gutierrez, Ph.D., BS ’83, is the senior manager for the Semiconductor, Nano and Quantum Sciences Group at Sandia National Karen Jakuback, BA ’86, is president of Ursuline Academy of New Orleans and a UD Class Agent. Mike Corey, BA ’87, is chief development officer of ZIPS Car Wash. Michael Kramer, MBA ’87, is chief revenue officer of ProntoForms Corporation.

1990s

Angie (Tuttle) Michelini, BA ’91, is vice president of legal and government affairs for Gordian, the leading provider of facility and construction cost data, software and expertise. John L. Kent, MBA ’94, director of supply chain, China initiatives, and clinical professor in the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business, was one of two speakers in an informative discussion on current trends and future expectations regarding tariffs and supply chain issues in October, sponsored by the Asia Society in partnership with the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and spotlighting experts on U.S. and Chinese economic relations. Nancy Avedikian, BA ’95, published a book, Saturdays with Dad, “a portrait of family love and … one of the most rewarding books about fathers,” available through all major online booksellers. According to a review, “Like everything the Italians do, the book also shares the elegance, flair and vibrance of Christmas in an Italian home, with servings of salami and a pound of provolone cheese, Italian bread, antipasto, spaghetti, roasted lamb and cannoli.” As a certified Spanish reading recovery teacher, Nancy taught pre-K through third grade. After retiring, she tutored middle school students, worked part time as a translator for the school district and taught English classes for Spanish-speaking adults. She lives in Texas with her husband of 53 years. Jeanne Canavan, BA ’99, is principal of Our Lady of Hope School in Potomac Falls, Virginia. Todd Elms, MBA ’99, is president and chief operating officer of Instant Power Corporation. Aline Harbison, MTS ’99, is director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center. Gloria Werthing Reynolds, MBA ’99, is co-founder and CEO of the Werthing Foundation, managing director of Werthing Pathways to Success and Girl Power Academy, university recruiting lead for Korn Ferry and program manager/ recruiter for INROADS. A wife and mother, she is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Links Inc.

2000s

Julie (Sheehy) Connally, BA ’00, is a data transcriber at Appen and a freelance writer. Matt Mehan, BA ’00 MA ’09 PhD ’14, teamed up again with his good friend, illustrator John Folley, to publish The Handsome Little Cygnet, available on Amazon: “Manhattan’s Central Park seems an unlikely place for a family of swans to raise their baby cygnet, but family life is full of surprises, happy mistakes, and mysterious joys.” Matt was featured in Tower’s Winter 2019 cover story with his

book Mr. Mehan’s Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals. Ashish Bhuskute, MBA ’01, is chief financial officer of TTI Inc., a leading specialty distributor of electronic components. Kevin Antene, BA ’02, joined KLJ Engineering as a remote content strategist in the marketing and communications department. Kevin has extensive experience in marketing, content creation and publishing. He will help KLJ create both internal and external content for a variety of markets. Jeff Bishop, M.D., MA ’02 PhD ’09, received an Expanded Reason Award from the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation for his book Biopolitics After Neuroscience: Morality and the Economy of Virtue, a collaborative project with M. Therese Lysaught and Andrew A. Michel. The book “explores the social philosophy that animates the neuroscientific study of morality, arguing that the philosophical anthropology that animates the scientific questions asked by neuroscience is an impoverished moral anthropology.” Jeff holds the Tenet Endowed Chair in Bioethics and is professor of philosophy and of theological studies at Saint Louis University. Terina Martínez, Ph.D., BA ’03, is executive director of both the Duchenne Regulatory Science Consortium (D-RSC) and Critical Path to Therapeutics for the Ataxias (CPTA) at the Critical Path Institute (C-Path). David Raju, MBA ’03 MS ’06, is group chief information officer of Angel Oak, a leading vertically integrated asset manager delivering innovative mortgage and consumer credit solutions. Laura Tenner, BS ’03, is director for cancer survivorship at Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Mirka Hokkanen, MA ’04 MFA ’06, published a novel, Harmony Humbolt: The Perfect Pets Queen, in August and will publish a graphic novel, Mossy and Tweed: Crazy for Coconuts, in summer 2023, as part of Holiday House’s “I Like to Read Comics” line. Mirka has four more books scheduled for release in 2023-24 with Candlewick and Holiday House. Her book Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book was featured in Tower’s Summer 2020 “Diversions” section. Donnie Copeland, MA ’03 MFA ’05, had a December exhibit at Justus Fine Art Gallery. According to a news release, Donnie “works primarily with painted paper to produce nonobjective, collaged canvases that emphasize pattern, texture, color and mark. His works are a synthesis of the visuality of landscapes, such as the planted fields and prairie that run along the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers, as well as that of peoples and cultures local and distant, rural and urban.” Donnie is an associate professor of visual arts and chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Ouachita Baptist University, where he teaches painting, drawing and art history. David Fisher, MBA ’05, is cultural arts director of the City of Garland, Texas. Michael Garcia, BA ’05, is chief revenue officer of MP, a human capital management company headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, and focused on transforming the employeremployee relationship and experience. Michael joined MP as the vice president of sales in November 2019. Brad Parrish, MBA ’06, is vice president of university partnerships for the research platform Noodle Tools. Shagronda Traveler, DBA, MBA ’06, is executive vice president leading advocacy, marketing communications, and people and culture for Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth, Texas. Shagronda was recognized as the 2019 Community Champion of the Year by the National Black MBA Association and was awarded the International Leadership Excellence Award by Walden University’s board of directors. Aaron Miri, MBA ’09, is chief digital and information officer at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida. In this newly created position, Aaron will play a key role in creating Baptist Health’s future from an information technology perspective, emphasizing digital strategy, innovation, cybersecurity and integration of technology across the enterprise. president of finance for The Dallas Foundation, the first community foundation in Texas. Torrey previously served nine years at the foundation in the roles of senior director of finance and controller, during which he fostered deep relationships with many of the organization’s donors and community partners. He brings an unparalleled knowledge of fund management to his new role. Francis Fast, MA ’13 PhD ’21, is an assistant professor of philosophy at Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta. Alejandra Hernandez, BA ’13, is a fellow of the Kresge Foundation, supporting the Environment Program’s strategy to help cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic equity. She will also work with Kresge’s Climate Change, Health and Equity initiative team to mobilize equitable climate action in low-income communities across the country, collaborating with health care institutions, health practitioners and community advocates.

2010s

Katie (Ali) Westley, BA ’10, hosted a virtual Q&A after Virgin Galactic’s exclusive virtual tour for Los Alamos ScienceFest participants in July. Katie is the Galactic Unite associate manager for Virgin Galactic.

Stefan Dammen, BA ’11, is a commercial loan officer at United Federal Credit Union. Torrey Littleton, MBA ’12, is vice Nicolas Lee, BA ’14, has joined international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as a Dallasbased associate in the firm’s corporate department, where his practice focuses on private equityrelated transactions. Kimberly Heil, MA ’15 PhD ’21, is entering prepostulancy with the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. JP Bremar, BA ’17, is a commercial property tax manager at Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider and the

largest firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. Prince Giadolor, BA ’18, announced his candidacy for Texas State Senate District 2, which serves Delta, Fannin, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties and portions of Dallas County.

2020s

Abraham Davoody, MBA ’20, is assistant vice president in the banking supervision department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Maria Rossini, BA ’20, is an editorial assistant at Virginia Quarterly Review and an English master’s student at the University of Virginia. Joshua Nunn, BA ’21, is an editor at Tome App and a freelance filmmaker. Joe Vondrachek, BA ’21, is an account executive at Intuit and pursuing an MBA at UD.

In Memoriam

Carmen Del Rio, BA ’70, a retired Southern University professor, died in August. Carmen was a beloved educator who motivated her students with her tireless passion for the Spanish language, literature and culture. She often hosted students at her home so they could eat the Cuban cuisine she prepared with love, and she enjoyed telling stories and cooking for her niece, nephew and their children. Engraved on Carmen’s heart were the words of Spanish poet Antonio Machado, a mantram that marked her life: “Caminante, no hay camino, / se hace camino al andar”; in English, “Traveler, there is no road; you make your own path as you walk.” Sarah Goodwin, daughter of Associate Professor of Theology Mark Goodwin, Ph.D., died in June. Sarah attended UD in 2013-14. Certified as an esthetician in Texas, Sarah was deeply sensitive and caring; she loved giving facials because, as she said, it made others feel good about themselves. Sarah was also passionate about art, Japanese movies and caring for her cat, Captain. Mary Jo (Lemming) Gorgyca, BA ’78, died in December at her home in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, surrounded by family. Mary Jo spent over 25 years teaching, starting her career as an elementary school teacher in Dallas and later serving as principal in Victoria, Texas. She returned to teaching in Kennett Square after staying home to raise her five children. She is survived by her husband, children and their spouses, granddaughter, mother, brother, sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Professor Emeritus of Theology Mark Lowery, Ph.D., died in July. Before retiring in 2016, Mark was a professor of moral theology at UD for 27 years and the longtime chair of the Theology Department. Former students and colleagues remain inspired by him. He is survived by his wife, Madeleine, and their nine children and seven grandchildren, as well as his mother and three siblings. Read more at udallas.edu/mark-lowery. Marvin Moore, MA ’75, died at his home with his wife, Lois, by his side in August. In addition to his career as an editor, Marvin was a prolific author and speaker, writing over 40 books and hundreds of articles. He traveled the world to share his faith in God and his passion for Christian gospel. He is survived by Lois, with whom he spent 44 happy years, as well as his sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Charles Griffin; daughter, Sheri Moore; son, Barry Moore; daughter-in-law, Lisa Joss-Moore; and granddaughter, Mia Moore. Michael Perdue, BA ’01, died in a plane crash in November on Beaver Island, Michigan, while holding his 11-year-old daughter, Laney, tightly in his arms. Laney was the sole survivor of the crash and will make a full recovery. Mike was known for his bear hugs, and his wife, Christie, believes that this last one saved their daughter’s life. Mike is survived by Christie, Laney, and his and Christie’s other three children, Addie, Henrik and Bo. Peter Ruh, MBA ’82, died in July with his family by his side. Lovingly remembered for his competitive tennis game, outstanding sense of humor, love of international travel and adventure, map-collecting and largesse with family and friends, and as a loving father, husband and friend, Peter is survived by his sons, Kernan Ruh and Brendan Ruh; his ex-wife, Sunaina Gulati-Ruh, and her mother, Saroj Gulati; his brother, Terry Ruh; his nephew, Tim Ruh; and his niece, Sarah Ruh. Kathryn (Sutherland) Ryan, BA ’68, died in July. She was a tireless advocate for education and literacy and is especially remembered by her community in Kyle, Texas, for her championing of their public library. While raising her children, she taught public elementary school in Indiana and later earned her M.S. in education from Indiana University. Preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister, Kathryn is survived by her five children and seven grandchildren. Roger Smith, MBA ’81, died in December. Roger spent most of his career at Texas Instruments/ Raytheon, where he had many friends among his coworkers and customers and mentored many in Defense Systems programs before retiring in 2011. A lover of soccer, cooking, gardening, vacationing in Hawaii and collecting recipes, Roger is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Johnnie (Marlowe) Smith; adored son and daughterin-law, Stephen Smith and Jamie Russo; and the light of his life, granddaughter Emerson Smith, as well as siblings, siblings-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews. James Shuler, MBA ’86, died in July. Preceded in death by his beloved wife of almost 62 years, parents, brother-in-law and nephew, Jim is survived by his three children, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, sister and niece, as well as children-, grandchildren- and great-grandchildren-in-law. Jim will be remembered for his independent spirit, unflinching integrity, generous nature with friends and family, servant’s heart for anyone in need, and love, strength and leadership as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. His lifelong affinity for nature and work as a conservationist leave outdoor spaces that will be enjoyed by many for generations to come.

An alumnus with an inspiration, a chance meeting, a faculty connection to a religious artist, and the generosity and effort of countless benefactors contributed to the creation of UD's Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine. Read

more at udallas.edu/ a-vision-realized.