Class Notes December 2022

Class Notes

2010s

Gary Norman, WCL/JD ’11, serves as an ambassador with the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Norman welcomes people considering the program—especially those with disabilities—to contact him.

Amanda Brenner, SIS/BA ’16, received her MSW in policy practice from the University of Connecticut.

Rebeca Rodriguez, CAS/BS ’16, joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as a research staff member in the Systems and Analyses Center’s Operational Evaluation Division. A nonprofit corporation, IDA tackles challenging issues around national security and science policy.

Stephanie Simpson, SIS/MA ’16, wrote a short story, “Lechón,” for the July issue of The Margins, a publication of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Simpson recently returned to the US from China, where she worked with an educational NGO and as a teacher.

Sandra Akufo, SOC/BA ’19, founded the wellness start-up, Onvesso.

2000s

Christina Bache, SIS/BA ’03, MA ’04, chairs the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education Working Group on Business for Peace. She is advising the German government on gender and conflict sensitivity as part of a project focused on economic development and private sector engagement in Ukraine.

Kathleen Ralls, SOE/MAT ’04, wrote Take Her Word for It: Sports Cultivate World-Class Leaders, which explores how lessons learned in sports help women become effective team leaders.

Christopher Abbott, SPA/BA ’05, joined Jenner & Block LLP as a partner in the Washington, DC, office. Abbott is a member of the firm’s antitrust and competition practice.

Andrew Huff, SPA/MPA ’05, was appointed chair of the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission by DC mayor Muriel Bowser, SPA/MPP ’00.

Christina Vitale, WCL/JD ’05, joined the Texas law firm Jackson Walker LLP as a partner in the trial and litigation section, based in Houston.

Christopher Stout, Kogod/BSBA ’08, MS ’09, a partner with RRBB Accountants and Advisors, gave a presentation in June to the Somerset County (New Jersey) Business Partnership about a new lease accounting standard.

Caleb Enerson, SPA/BA ’09, and his wife, Chelsea, welcomed their second child, Leo Enerson, on September 23, 2021.

1990s

David Ouellette, SPA/BA ’91, accepted a position with Exxon Mobil as regulatory advisor for commodity trading.

Kelly Hattel, SIS/BA ’92, is a senior financial sector specialist in the Asian Development Bank’s Southeast Asia department in Bangkok, Thailand. Hattel will help harness technology to increase sustainable financial inclusion across the region.

Phyllis Jones, SPA/BA ’93, marked 25 episodes of Ability Assistance on North Andover Community Access and Media.

Laurie Boulden, SIS/MA ’95, was appointed chief learning officer with the Department of Homeland Security.

Megan Pincus Kajtani, SPA/BA ’95, a children’s author, won the Cook Prize for Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood’s Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for Wildlife and the Golden Kite Nonfiction Honor Award for Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery.

Pearline Raphelita Rance, CAS/MFA ’96, wrote her second book, A Pearl from the House on Queen Street.

Gregor Hank, WSP ’97, works as a secondary-school teacher in Germany.

1980s

Stacy Clark, WCL/JD ’83, was invited to speak at a meeting of the Association of Legal Administrators Independence Chapter about the role of administrators in creating outstanding client experiences.

Tom DeSantis, SOC/BA ’84, retired as city manager of Moreno Valley, California. A former US Air Force officer and senior executive, DeSantis and wife Carely (Benazar) met while students at AU and will celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary this year.

Nancy Swing, SIS/PhD ’85, maintains a blog, Where in the World?, about her life working overseas as an independent consultant. Read it at nancyswing.com.

Peter Quinter, WCL/JD ’89, was selected as a shareholder and chair of the US Customs and International Trade Law Group with the Florida law firm Gunster.

Stewart Small, SOC/BA ’89, a communications analyst with the Government Accountability Office, received a teamwork award for his work developing guidelines to help staff write more clearly and concisely.

1970s

Phoebe Cowles, CAS/MA ’72, helped establish the lifelong learning program at Vivalon, a healthy aging campus in San Rafael, California. The program offers everything from ukulele instruction and technology tutorials to foreign language classes and US citizenship preparation.

Gary Lipkin, SPA/BA ’74, retired to Florida after a 35-year career as the employment and labor counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Christopher Gontarz, SPA/MS ’75, was elected treasurer of the Rhode Island Bar Association. He is of counsel at Lynch & Pine, Providence and Newport, concentrating on criminal defense, ethics, and professional misconduct. He also serves on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel.

Don White, SPA/BS ’76, received a 50-year service award from American Red Cross National Capital Area CEO Courtney Bulger on June 28.

Margie Blumberg, Kogod/BSBA ’79, is celebrating 19 years of publishing books for children and young adults through her company, MB Publishing.

1960s

Steve Mehlman, SOC/BA ’64, was cochair of the Save the Caps committee, which in 1982 helped keep the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals from folding or moving to another city. This is the 40th anniversary of their successful campaign.

George Rosenberg, SOC/BA ’67, and wife, Arlene Rosenberg, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. George, former CEO of Cohn & Wolfe, advises owners of public relations and marketing communication firms, as well as senior corporate communications executives.

In Memoriam

ALUMNI

Stephen Ford, SPA/BA ’78, April 9, 2021, Harwich, Massachusetts

Stephen Thomas O’Toole, SIS/MA ’81, December 5, 2021, Alexandria, Virginia

Peter Connelly Simmons, CAS/BA ’68, 2022, Chesterfield, Virginia

June Anne MacClannahan (Spangler) Chewning, CAS/BA ’50, February 22, 2022, Rockville, Maryland

Claudia Anne Keller, CAS/BA ’63, April 15, 2022, Pompano Beach, Florida

Norman Strickland Early Jr., SPA/BA ’67, May 5, 2022, Denver, Colorado

Thomas Abbenante, SPA/BA ’72, May 6, 2022, Washington, District of Columbia

FACULTY

Linda Wishart (Smith) Chase, March 26, 2022, Woodstock, Connecticut