’10s
Taylor A. Cummings ’16 was hired to run the girls’ lacrosse program by the McDonogh School, her high school alma mater, in Owings Mills, Md. Cummings was previously an assistant with the program. She also runs Taylor Cummings Lacrosse and plays professionally for Team USA and New York in the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.
Stefon Diggs ’16, a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, is in a new Geico commercial series, the first of which aired Sept. 6 during the NFL’s season opening game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons.
Claire Quinn ’15 studied desert and marine landscapes using ecological and social field methods in Baja through Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course. Quinn, a wild Africa trek excursion guide at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, lives in Winter Garden, Fla., and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program.
Anne Kopf M.Arch ’14, AIA, has been promoted within Quinn Evans Architects, an architectural firm specializing in planning, design and historic preservation. Kopf has contributed to restoration projects at the Daughters of the American Revolution headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the modernization and adaptive use of Old City Hall in Richmond, Va. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Rachel Schwartz ’13 joined the law firm Carlton Fields as an associate in its New York office in August. She is a member of its property and casualty insurance practice group. Schwartz graduated magna cum laude from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Michele Perez Exner M.P.S. ’12 is communications director for CBS News’ Washington, D.C., bureau and Sunday show “Face the Nation.” Prior to joining CBS News, Exner was press secretary for South Carolina’s Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and spent eight years in the U.S. Marines, working in communications, marketing and advertising, and as an instructor and public affairs officer. Exner is a 2007 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Photo by Ronald Rodriguez
Amilcar Guzman M.A. ’12 married Lissette Flores on June 24 in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., according to The New York Times. The couple met through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute fellowship program. Guzman is the director of data and evaluation at Casa de Maryland, which works for immigrant rights for those from Latin American and African countries. He graduated cum laude from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., and received a master’s degree in education leadership and policy studies from UMD, where he is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the same subject.
Tony Nakanishi M.A. ’12 is one of nine federal government officials participating in the Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program in Japan this year. Nakanishi is a reliability and risk analyst with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The fellowship program was established by Congress in 1994 to build a corps of U.S. government officials with substantial Japan expertise.
Courtney Connolly M.A. ’11 is a Washington Business Journal Business of Pride Award honoree. The award honors Washington, D.C.-area companies and business leaders for outstanding practices in advancing LGBTQ leadership and equality. Connolly is senior manager, university talent acquisition at Appian.
Ryan Richman ’11, M.Ed. ’13 was promoted to assistant coach of the Washington Wizards. He spent the past four seasons as assistant video coordinator and player development coordinator. He served as a graduate assistant under Terps basketball coach Mark Turgeon.
Theresa White-Stegman M.R.E.D. ’11 is a member of the 2018 class of Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, which honors young professionals helping to lead industry-shaping companies. White-Stegman is director of development at Cross Street Partners, a real estate company focusing on creating urban mixed-use neighborhoods.
Anthony Clark ’10 joined the law firm Kramon & Graham in Baltimore as an associate in the real estate practice group. He began his career as a real estate paralegal during the day while attending law school at the Catholic University of America at night.
Photo by Taylor and Ben Powell
Ravi Tandon Ph.D. ’10, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, received the 2018 Keysight Early Career Professor Award from Keysight Technologies for his work in advanced information theory for wireless networks and cloud computing. The award recognizes and encourages excellent research enabling design, test or measurement of electronic systems.
’00s
Andrew Lee ’09 joined the Siegfried Group’s Washington, D.C., metro market as an associate manager. Most recently, he was a senior consultant at Riveron Consulting.
Jason Vondersmith ’09 was named a data consultant at Data Blueprint. Previously, he was with West Creek Financial.
Michelle Brown Ph.D. ’08 began as dean of the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University on July 16. Brown was previously associate professor of English at Shenandoah University and served from 2014 to 2017 as English department chair. Brown earned an M.A. in English and a B.S. in communication and English at James Madison University.
Tracy Clemons Jr. M. Jour. ’08 began as Fox 8 WGHP’s morning news anchor in North Carolina on July 9. Clemons was previously a reporter and anchor in multiple markets, most recently at KTRK in Houston. Before joining WGHP, Clemons was spokesman for the Houston Independent School District.
Lamar Owens Jr. ’08 is a 2018 Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellow for the San Francisco 49ers. Owens will work with the 49ers quarterbacks as he is entering his third season as Georgia Institute of Technology’s special teams coordinator. He has also served as the school’s slot backs coach since 2010.
Danny Rogers Ph.D. ’08, CEO of Terbium Labs, was selected by the Baltimore Business Journal to receive a 2018 Tech 10 Award. The awards honor professionals in Greater Baltimore who make noteworthy technology contributions to the community.
Pro soccer player Rodney Wallace, who played on the Terps’ 2008 NCAA championship team, competed with Costa Rica in the FIFA World Cup.
Katherine Ann De Celles Ph.D. ’07 was named one of the Best 40 Under 40 professors by Poets and Quants, a website that covers business schools. DeCelles is a professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Her research, which has been featured on CNN and in The New York Times, explores ethical issues for business and society with a focus on conflict, power, inequality, activism, crime and aggression.
David Fitzgerald MBA ’07 was named vice president of flight operations for CommutAir, which operates some 1,000 weekly flights as United Express. He worked at Mesa Airlines before joining CommutAir in 2015.
Brendan Lough ’07 is a member of the 2018 class of Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, which honors young professionals helping to lead industry-shaping companies. Lough is a senior vice president at JLL.
Sierra Mitchell ’07 was named to the Daily Record’s 2018 VIP List, which honors professionals 40 or younger who have been successful in Maryland. Mitchell is an attorney with Meng Law. She earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Kathy Park ’07 joined NBC News as a correspondent. She was previously a general assignment reporter for Sacramento station KCRA 3. She began her career at a news station in Tennessee and worked as a reporter in Washington, D.C.
Retired Army Capt. Florent Groberg ’06 will serve as grand marshal of the New York City Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11. He received the Medal of Honor in 2015 for tackling a suicide bomber who was part of an attack that killed four service members.
Melissa Mooney Wilkoff ’06 has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the American Tinnitus Association. She is the owner of Peachtree Hearing in Atlanta. She earned her doctorate of audiology from Washington University School of Medicine.
Meghan Hatfield Yanacek ’06, M.P.P. ’10 was promoted to partner with Goodell DeVries Leech & Dann. Based in the Baltimore office, she focuses on medical malpractice defense and medical institutions regulatory law. She earned a juris doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Daleisha Tyann Sollers ’05 was named the 2018 Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year. She has taught fifth grade at Tulip Grove Elementary in Bowie for two years, and spent eight years at Marlton Elementary in Upper Marlboro before that. She also serves as a mentor to younger colleagues and as an instructor at Bowie State.
Matthew Steenhoek ’05, vice president of development at PN Hoffman, was named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2018 list of 40 Under 40.
Drew Cook ’04, CFP was named to the Daily Record’s 2018 VIP List, which honors professionals 40 or younger who have been successful in Maryland. Cook is a principal and director of investment management at Berman McAleer.
Deandra S. Coleman ’03 was named to the Daily Record’s 2018 VIP List, which honors professionals 40 years of age or younger who have been successful in Maryland. Coleman is the founder of Deandra Coleman Interiors.
Thomas Fautrel ’03, CRPC, CRPS, of Seventy2 Capital Wealth Management, an entity of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, was recognized as a 2018 Top Next-Generation Advisor by Forbes. Fautrel has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and has earned multiple industry designations for retirement planning and asset management.
Linda Hagan Ph.D. ’03 began in August as professor and chairperson of the department of business at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich. She was previously professor of marketing at Walsh College in Troy, Mich. She holds an M.A. from the University of Arizona, and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Kristin Heiser ’03 was elected Worcester County state’s attorney. She earned a bachelor’s degree and J.D. from the University of Maryland.
Neveen Kurtom ’03 was named to the Daily Record’s 2018 VIP List, which honors professionals 40 or younger who have been successful in Maryland. Kurtom is the founder of the Law Office of Neveen H. Kurtom, LLC. She earned her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Marianne Navarro MCP ’03, AICP was named to the Daily Record’s 2018 VIP List, which honors professionals 40 or younger who have been successful in Maryland. Navarro works in Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh’s office of strategic alliances.
Brad Johnson M.P.M. ’02 has been named assistant Sarasota County administrator in Florida. Johnson was previously Lakeland deputy city manager.
Benjamin Kelley ’02 was elected to partnership at Ballard Spahr in its Baltimore, Md., office. He is a member of the real estate department and co-leader of the insurance company and institutional investments team.
“No Ordinary Soldier: My Father’s Two Wars,” by Liz Gilmore Williams M.A. ’02, was a finalist in the military history genre in the 2018 International Book Awards. Her book was one of 400 honored in 90 genres, which surpassed more than 2,000 entries worldwide. Williams’ book chronicles her father’s WWII experiences, including the bombing of Pearl Harbor and his duty on other Pacific outposts.
Elyse H. Wolff ’01 was named a Law360 Construction Rising Star for 2018. Wolff is a member of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis’ litigation department and its construction, community association and employment law practice groups.She is one of 168 attorneys chosen by the national online publication. Her practice encompasses general commercial litigation, emphasizing the areas of construction, community association and employment law.
Jeffrey C. Palmer MBA ’01, M.S. ’01 joined Tris Pharma as vice president and head of quality and compliance.
Dr. Vivian Graham ’00 was named to dental magazine Incisal Edge’s seventh annual 40 Under 40 list. Graham owns four offices in New Jersey and specializes in endodontics. She earned a D.D.S. at Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.
Shesha Rajen Pancholi ’00 is director of product management for CreditXpert, a credit analysis and management solutions provider for mortgage professionals. Pancholi has held leadership roles in product management at Neustar, AOL and Laureate International Universities.
’90s
Shawn Bingham M.Ed. ’99 was named director and associate dean of the Honors College at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Bingham was previously assistant dean of academic affairs of the Honors College at the University of South Florida. He also previously served at Saint Leo University and Howard Community College. Bingham holds a Ph.D. in sociology from American University and a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.
Kenny Johnson ’99 joined the La Salle men’s basketball team as an assistant. He left Louisville in November after 3 1/2 years on the staff, and he previously ran recruitment at Indiana.
Keri Mattox M.Jour. ’99 was named global lead of integrated corporate communications for W20 pure, which is a branch of W2O, a network of marketing and communications firms. She was most recently vice president of corporate and investor relations at the health care company AmerisourceBergen.
Grant D. Newman ’99, M.S. ’00 was named senior vice president, strategy and corporate development for the helicopter operator Era Group Inc., effective Sept. 4. Newman was previously a director in the industrials investment banking group at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., where he led Americas Commercial Aerospace and Global Helicopter Coverage. He also worked at General Electric from 2001 to 2006.
Lisa Pecora ’99, MBA ’03 was hired as vice president, global commercial finance, at spine-surgery innovator NuVasive. She most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Carling Communications.
Quinetta M. Roberson Ph.D. ’99 joined the diversity, equity and inclusion advisory board of Ketchum, the global communications consultancy. Roberson is the Fred J. Springer Endowed Chair in Business Leadership in the School of Business at Villanova University. She has more than 18 years of experience teaching courses and workshops globally on leadership, talent management and diversity. She holds a B.S. in finance and accounting from the University of Delaware, an MBA in finance and strategic planning from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior from the University of Maryland. Roberson is a principal at Brooks Whitney, a management consultancy she has co-owned since 2013.
Rori Lavon Bailey ’98 was promoted to senior vice president and portfolio risk manager at Old Line Bank. Bailey has been with Old Line Bank since 2014, when she joined as a credit analyst. She has a master’s degree in real estate finance from Georgetown University and is a recent Stonier Graduate School of Banking graduate at the Wharton School of Business.
Richard Harris MBA ’98 joined email delivery platform SparkPost as chief executive officer. Harris was previously group vice president of Oracle’s Data Cloud business unit and was responsible for its international operations. He also holds a J.D. degree from the University of Maryland, and a B.A. from Denison University.
Sean Keogh ’98 became principal of the Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School in Adams, Mass., on July 1. He has been an English Language Arts teacher at the school since 2009. Keogh received his master’s degree from the University of Montana.
Jonathan Mark ’98 joined 5W Public Relations as senior vice president of digital in July. Mark previously oversaw the digital media and marketing practice of Blue Fountain Media. He began his career at GREY before launching his own startup, a food-themed social network. Upon selling his startup to Delivery.com, Mark served as their vice president of marketing before joining the team at Blue Fountain Media. Mark has developed and managed digital programs for Procter & Gamble, Kraft, SONY, Dewars, Bowlmor, Service King and more.
Melody Merritt ’98 was named one of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation’s Georgia Teaching Fellows for 2018. She will receive $30,000 to complete a master’s degree program in return for a commitment to teach for three years in the urban and rural Georgia schools that most need strong STEM teachers.
Clifford Whitcomb Ph.D. ’98 is the new editor-in-chief of Systems Engineering. He is a professor of systems engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He is also a retired naval officer, having served 23 years as a submarine warfare officer and engineering duty officer.
Edward Albert III MBA ’97 was appointed chief operating officer of Mosaic Acquisition Corp. Albert has extensive experience in the investment industry, most recently as managing director of the Credit Funds Business at Fortress.
Jacqueline Leonard Ph.D. ’97, director of the University of Wyoming’s Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (2012-16) and professor of elementary and early childhood education (2012-present) in the College of Education, was selected for a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in STEM Education award. She plans to continue her research into equitable STEM education for indigenous students in an international context and to serve as a role model for underrepresented students in Calgary, Alberta.
Seema Kumar M.A. ’93 received the Biotechnology Institute’s 2018 Woman of the Year Award. Kumar is vice president of innovation, global health and science policy communication for Johnson & Johnson. Before taking this position, Kumar was vice president, global R&D communications at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J&J. Prior to working at Janssen, Kumar was the chief communications officer at the Whitehead Institute/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Genome Research.
Seema Verma ’93 was named to Health Data Management’s Most Powerful Women in Healthcare list. Verma is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and was named in the “thought leaders” category. For more than two decades, Verma has guided health care policy in the public and private sectors. As the architect of the historic Healthy Indiana Plan, she helped create and implement the nation’s first consumer-directed Medicaid program. Verma completed a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins University. Previously, she founded and led SVC, a national health policy consulting company.
Jonathan Baker ’92 joined Dickinson Wright PLLC’s Silicon Valley office. He has served as lead counsel in trials before the U.S. International Trade Commission, in district court cases throughout the country, in appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Baker received his M.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Randall Cathell ’92 CPA, MST was named an international tax director at public accounting and advisory firm Cherry Bekaert LLP in Florida. Cathell has more than 20 years of experience regarding federal, international and state tax compliance and consulting matters. He completed Texas Tech University’s Master of Taxation program. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Florida and serves on the Internal Revenue Service Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee.
Sarmad “Sam” Rihani M.S. ’92 received the W. Gene Corley Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Structural Engineering Institute. The annual award honors an individual who has done outstanding work to advance and distinguish the profession. Now retired, he specialized in the structural analysis and design of steel framing systems of buildings over a 36-year career. He was also active in the ASCE and SEI, including serving as a fellow of the former and president of the latter.
Donald Hall Ph.D. ’91 became the University of Rochester’s Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences and Engineering on July 1. Hall was previously at Lehigh University where, since 2011, he served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and professor of English.
Greg Bartolomei ’90 was named National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative’s president of utility solutions. Most recently, he led the development, quality assurance and program management teams responsible for all electric automation solutions at Eaton. He previously held senior positions at Cooper Power Systems, Eka and GridPoint. He has master’s degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering from the Catholic University of America.
Sean McCormack M.A. ’90 has joined TrailRunner International as managing director. He was previously vice president of communications at Boeing. Prior to that, he was chief spokesperson for the State Department and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as well as special assistant to the president, National Security Council spokesperson and deputy White House press secretary for foreign policy.
Ezequiel “Zeke” Navar ’90 joined JMP Securities, an investment banking and alternative asset management firm, as a managing director in its investment banking division. Now based in the firm’s San Francisco office, Navar previously was a managing director and head of health care information technology and services at H2C Securities. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Paul Schulman ’90 was appointed American Real Estate Partners’ principal and chief operating officer in June. He will assume responsibility for all day-to-day operations including leasing, marketing, property management, development, construction, asset management, finance and administration. Most recently, he served as president and COO of the U.S. office division of Brookfield Property Partners, a firm he was with for more than 26 years.
Philip R. Wiser ’90 has been named chief technology officer of CBS, overseeing the company’s technology platforms and divisional technology initiatives. Wiser was previously chief technology officer at Hearst and, prior to that, chairman and president of Sezmi Corporation, a technology company he founded in 2006.
’80s
Deborah Davis M.L.S. ’89 is a recipient of Valdosta State University’s Presidential Excellence Award for Service, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to service at VSU and to the local community. Davis is director of VSU’s Archives and Special Collections.
Georgette Kiser ’89 was appointed to the Board of Directors of Adtalem Global Education. She is the managing director and chief information officer of the Carlyle Group. She has an M.S. in mathematics from Villanova University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore.
Paula Ryan ’89 was named CEO of New Thought Channel, a streaming service specializing in metaphysical, spiritual and inspirational programming. Ryan joined New Thought Channel as a consultant in 2015 and was CFO prior to being named CEO.
Ihab Tarazi ’89 was appointed chief technology officer of Packet, the leading bare metal cloud for developers, in July. He will be responsible for Packet’s technical and product strategy. Prior to joining Packet, Tarazi held a number of positions in the infrastructure space, including four years as chief technology officer at data center and colocation provider Equinix. Tarazi holds a Master of Engineering degree in telecommunications management from Southern Methodist University.
Jennifer McNelly ’88 is the new executive director of the American Society of Safety Professionals. She was most recently president of 180 Skills LLC, an online career and technical education company. Prior to that, McNelly served as president of the Manufacturing Institute, the nonprofit affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and at the U.S. Department of Labor as director of the Business Relations Group and administrator of its Office of Regional Innovation and Transformation.
John Bourgeois ’87, principal at the Baltimore law firm Kramon & Graham, has been named a Best Lawyer in the area of white-collar criminal defense by the legal ranking guide the Best Lawyers in America. He earned a J.D. from Georgetown University.
Cindy Davis MBA ’87 was appointed to the board of directors of Deckers Brands, a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing footwear, apparel and accessories. Davis served as vice president of Nike, president of Nike Golf and as U.S. general manager at Nike Golf. She holds a B.A. in economics from Furman University.
Reese Feuerman ’87 received a Baltimore Business Journal Best in Finance: CFO award. Feuerman is CFO of ConnectYourCare, an administrator of health care accounts like FSAs, HSAs and HRAs.
Michael Genhart M.A. ’87, Ph.D. ’89 released his seventh children’s picture book, “Love Is Love,” published by Little Pickle Press/Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. His first six books are published by Magination Press, the children’s imprint of the American Psychological Association. Check them out: www.michaelgenhart.com.
Stephanie Turco-Williams ’87 was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as his deputy special representative for political affairs in Libya. Williams was formerly Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. She has served as deputy chief of mission at the United States Missions in Iraq, Jordan and Bahrain, where she led the Embassy as Chargé d’Affaires for 10 months. She also served as a senior adviser on Syria and at the United States Embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Pakistan. She earned a master’s degree in Arab studies from Georgetown University and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College, where she earned a master’s degree.
Michelle Barrett Ferrier ’86 was named dean of Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, effective Oct. 1. Ferrier is an associate professor at Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis.
Bruce Matez ’86 of the family law and divorce firm Borger Matez received the Honorable Joseph M. Nardi Jr. Award, presented to a member of the South Jersey family law community whose commitment to the practice of law encourages and exemplifies civility, humility, compassion and a moral/ethical obligation to the welfare of children and families.
Eric Menzer ’86 will become a bank director of York Traditions Bank in October. He is president of York Professional Baseball, which owns and operates the York Revolution and WOYK Sports Radio 1350. The organization also manages the York Ice Arena and operates Eventive, which produces special events such as the York Halloween Parade and July4York. Menzer’s background includes roles as senior vice president of Wagman Construction in York, director of economic development for the city of York, and executive director of the York County Transportation Authority. He chairs the boards of Better York and PENNVEST (the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority), and serves on the several local boards.
Gene Spiegelman ’86 is a partner at Ripco Real Estate. Spiegelman was formerly vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield’s North American store group.
Florence Tan ’86 led a delegation of scientists from NASA to the Philippines to participate in the National Science and Technology Week in July. Tan works at NASA headquarters and is deputy chief technologist of the space agency’s Science Mission Directorate. She was earlier with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
Denise Fortune ’85 has joined Voya Retirement as a vice president of institutional clients for the company’s tax exempt markets business. Based in Maryland, Fortune will be responsible for generating new 403(b), 457 and 401(a) business as well as building key distribution relationships in Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Virginia and North Carolina. Most recently, Fortune served as a relationship manager with Empower.
David Lemus ’84 joined the board of Silence Therapeutics, a company developing RNA therapeutics, as non-executive director. Lemus is also executive vice chair, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Proteros biostructures GmbH. Lemus is a CPA, and holds a Master of Science/MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Andrew Watcher ’84 is the new chief of the Carroll County Bureau of Utilities. Previously, Watcher was Carroll County civil engineer manager and spent 27 years at the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Highways.
Maureen Carrion ’83 has joined Columbia-based Keeney Financial Group as a certified financial planner. She holds her FINRA Series 65 license and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association and Women in Finance.
Christopher Kubasik ’83, chief executive officer and president of L3 Technologies, was named its chairman of the board. L3 provides a broad range of communication, electronic and sensor systems used on military, homeland security and commercial platforms.
Vahid Motevalli ’83, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’89 was elected to a four-year term to the American Society of Engineering’s Engineering Research Council board of directors.
David Wade ’83 was elected vice president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. Wade is the general manager of Northview Stallion Station in Peach Bottom, Pa., as well as the manager of Sycamore Hall Farm in Chesapeake City, Md.
Gregory Wilkins ’83 was appointed professor of practice with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan State University, where he joined the faculty in 1994. He also serves as the chief faculty advisor for the Maryland Epsilon Chapter of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Ronald Grosse ’82 received the Order of the Palmetto from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on July 26. The FBI special agent received the state’s highest civilian honor for his 28-year career, in which he has secured more than 250 convictions and some $300 million in court-ordered restitution.
Ed Tuvin ’81 was named treasurer of the board of directors of B-Local Mid Atlantic, which helps businesspeople in the DMV act on their goal to have a socio-economic and environmental impact on the community. He is an executive with City First Bank—a “B corporation” in D.C.—and his career has also included corporate finance, management, commercial real estate leasing, commercial real-estate finance, mergers and acquisitions, business development, credit and operational risk management, and financial engineering.
Margaret Grover ’80 was named to the 2018 edition of Northern California Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service and publication, in the area of employment and labor. She is an attorney at Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean LLP.
’70s
Joseph DiMaio Jr. ’78 has joined the Bryn Mawr Trust’s wealth management division as senior vice president, relationship manager. DiMaio has more than 25 years of experience in wealth management, having held senior positions with Merrill Lynch, Key Capital Management and West Capital Management. He earned his B.S. in finance/economics from the University of Maryland, and received his Certified Financial Planner designation from the College for Financial Planning.
Bob Fortna ’78, president of Fortinet Federal, was elected vice chairman of the board of directors at AFCEA International. Previously, he was the president of Government Industry Consulting and was vice president for Juniper Network’s Defense Sector and the senior federal industry leader in organizations such as Enterasys Networks, Avaya and Nortel Networks. Fortna has an MBA from Southern Illinois University.
Edward Koehler ’78 has published his second novel, “Felix Leiter CIA,” available on Amazon. It is the follow-up to his first novel, “Felix Leiter USMC.” Koehler earned an M.S. in engineering from Drexel University.
Karen E. Raffensperger ’78 was named head of a CBS News workplace council for employees to discuss issues regarding sexual harassment and other concerns. Raffensperger is the network’s director of standards and practices.
Willie E. May Ph.D. ’77 is the new vice president of research and economic development at Morgan State University. May most recently served as director of major research and training initiatives for the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at UMD. May spent more than four decades at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including as director of the 3,400-employee research institution.
Marc Elrich ’76 is the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Executive. He has served on the county council for 12 years. Before that, he was on the Takoma Park City Council and was a teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park, Md.
Catherine A. Allen M.S. ’75, chairman and CEO of the Santa Fe Group, a strategic consulting company specializing in cybersecurity, risk management and emerging technologies, was appointed to the board of the New York Institute of Technology. She also serves as a board member of Synovus Financial Corp., El Paso Electric Co. and Analytics Pros and is a member of many nonprofit boards in New Mexico. She is co-chair of the University of Missouri’s capital campaign and supports numerous arts, cultural and educational organizations.
Louis Bernard Lynn Ph.D. ’75 received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, from Gov. Henry McMaster. Lynn is a Clemson University trustee and has served on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. He is chairman of ENVIRO AgScience, a construction management company he founded in 1984 as a commercial lawn care company. He is also a member of the National Urban League board of directors and is on the board of directors of BB&T bank.
Ted Miller ’75 was named senior loan officer at Tidewater Mortgage Services’s Sterling, Va., office. Miller has more than 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He is a member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Leesburg-Daybreak.
Susan Turnbull ’75 is running for lieutenant governor of Maryland under Democratic candidate Ben Jealous. She is former chair of the Maryland Democratic Party. The election is Nov. 6.
Stanley D. Curbo ’74 joined Magna Legal Services as a senior litigation consultant for its Southwest and West Coast operations. He is based out of Magna’s Dallas office. He earned his juris doctor from Saint Mary’s University. He is fluent in Spanish and a Vietnam veteran (U.S.M.C.).
John Ferrara ’73 was named CFO of Squan, which specializes in designing telecommunications and building services for network infrastructure. Ferrara has been CFO for Cartesian, a consulting firm focused on the global telecommunications, media and technology industries, as well as for TheStreet and Space.com. He has also held other CFO positions, including EDGAR Online, Inc. Ferrara holds an MBA in finance from Columbia University.
Carol Jeffers ’72, Ph.D. ’91 recently had her new book, “The Question of Empathy: Searching for the Essence of Humanity,” published by Koehler Books. It explores what makes us human and capable of caring, savagery or indifference toward each other, bringing together philosophy and psychology, neuroscience and art. She is a professor of art emeritus at California State University, Los Angeles.
Susan Orloff ’69 was named Most Comprehensive Child Therapy Services Provider in Georgia at the 2018 Social Care Awards, hosted by Global Health and Pharma. She is CEO and executive director of Children’s Special Services and the author of “Learning Re-Enabled: A Practical Guide to Helping Children with Learning Disabilities.”
Robert Stumpff ’68 recently retired following 50 years of dedication to intercollegiate athletics and facilities management. Stumpff was an assistant director of athletics at the University of Maryland shortly after he graduated. He went on to serve as a business manager of athletics and acting director of the student union before accepting the position of assistant director for general services in facilities management in 1988. He was UMD’s director of public works from 2005 to 2018.
Michael B. Kitz-Miller ’67 has written the historical trilogy “The Life of an Airborne Ranger.” The first novel, “Donovan’s Skirmish,” was published in July and is available on Amazon, Google and Barnes & Noble. The other two books will follow in six-month intervals. The two main characters and a number of chapters in the first book are set at the University of Maryland. Kitz-Miller is a former paratrooper and Recondo with the 101st Airborne Division and is now retired from a varied career in sales and management. He lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Charles L. Fefferman ’66, a professor of mathematics at Princeton University, received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Warwick. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1969. He became a professor at the University of Chicago and was the youngest full professor ever appointed in the U.S. Fefferman’s many awards included the Fields Medal in 1978, the Salem Prize in 1971, the Bergman Prize in 1992 and the Wolf Prize in 2017.
PASSINGS
Elysse N. Camacho ’17 of College Park was killed in a car accident in Columbia, Md., on June 10. She is survived by her parents, Joyce and Eddie, and her grandmother.
Clifton L. Tucker Jr. ’11, former Maryland men’s basketball player, was killed in a car accident in Texas on May 28. He was 29. Tucker played for the Terps from 2007–11 and was part of the 2009–10 team that tied Duke for the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title. As a senior in 2010-11, the final season of Gary Williams’ 22-year coaching career, Tucker averaged a career-high 9.6 points in a little over 22 minutes a game. He led the Terps that year in three-point shots made with 41. Tucker played overseas for several years—including splitting time in Hungary, Germany and the Dominican Republic in 2015—and returned to his hometown of El Paso to hold a basketball camp two summers ago. He is survived by his mother, Regina; father, Cliff Sr.; grandparents, Willie Mae and Levet Brown Jr.; son, Dallas; daughters, Dianna and Destinee; the most significant person in his life, Genesis; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Ron H. Dekelbaum ’92 of Plano, Texas, died June 14. He is survived by parents Norman G. and Sarah Lang Dekelbaum; children Alex and Jordan Dekelbaum; brothers Leon and Michael; and many loving relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Andrew Dekelbaum.
Margaret D. Armstrong ’76, former vice president of communications for the International Dairy Foods Association and a press secretary to former Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams, died May 21 from cancer at Sibley Hospital in Washington. The former Towson resident was 63. Armstrong was born in Baltimore and raised in Towson. Her parents were Dr. Albert B. Armstrong, a veterinarian, and Dolores E. Armstrong, who worked in her husband’s Towson veterinary practice. During the 1980s, she worked for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where she wrote and produced nationally televised programs that supported social services activities. From 1991–95, Armstrong was publications manager for the Enterprise Foundation in Columbia. In 1995, she moved to Washington and worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and for the District of Columbia city government. From 1998 to 2003, she served as communications director, press secretary and policy adviser for Williams, then worked as vice president of communications for the dairy foods association, a position she held from 2007 until last year. She is survived by a sister, Barbara Armstrong Green, and many nieces and nephews.
Dr. Savas Tsakiris ’74, a retired Baltimore dentist, died on July 22 from pancreatic cancer at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. He was 66. Tsakiris was born in Kattavia, Greece, on the island of Rhodes. He was the son of Moskos Tsakiris, a carpenter, and Anastasia Tsakiris, a seamstress. He and his family left Rhodes in 1961 and settled in Baltimore’s Greektown neighborhood. He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1970 and from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1980. Tsakiris, known as “Sam,” maintained a general dental practice on Merritt Boulevard for 37 years. He was also the owner of Boulevard Diner, the site of which had once been the House of Neptune, a crab house owned by Tsakiris’ father-in-law. Tsakiris’ dental office was next door to the diner, which was featured in a 2011 episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” on the Food Channel. Tsakiris also enjoyed traveling, playing poker, vegetable gardening and Greek dancing. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Connie Chilis; a son, Marc Tsakiris; a brother, Kosmas Tsakiris; two sisters, Fifi Kutson and Irene DeVito; and three grandchildren.
Marilyn R. Berman Pollans M.A. ’73, Ph.D. ’79 of Bal Harbour, Fla., died on June 17. Pollans was a former associate dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, as well as a member of its Board of Visitors, founder and supporter of its Women in Engineering program and Innovation Hall of Fame, and a founding donor of the Women in Engineering Opportunity Scholarship. She was a member of the university’s College Park Foundation Board of Trustees, and in 1991 was awarded the title of Outstanding Woman of the Year by the UMD President’s Commission on Women’s Affairs. In 2007, she made a gift to establish Flexus: The Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans Women in Engineering Living & Learning Community. The Clark School’s Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans Outstanding Service Award was established in 2011 in recognition of her contributions to the college; it honors Clark School staff members whose service to the department, the school and the university has been judged outstanding. She was the wife of Albert Pollans and of the late Stanford W. Berman. She is also survived by three children, Scott Berman, Marcy Berman and Brian Berman; and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sisters, Sandra Novick and Irene Levin.
Dennis Horton ’72, founder of Horton Vineyards in Gordonsville, Va., and a pioneer in the Virginia winemaking industry, died June 19 in his home, according to The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress. He was 72. After a brief stint at the University of Missouri, Horton was drafted during the Vietnam War. He served out of England in the Air Force. Upon his return, he used the G.I. Bill to pay for his education at UMD, where he earned a marketing degree, and worked several sales jobs before starting his own business, Automated Systems. Horton taught himself to make wine by reading books and visiting wineries in France and California. He started making it in his basement in the 1970s before planting his first vines in his yard. He and longtime business partner Joan Bieda started Horton Vineyards by acquiring 55 acres in 1988. Horton was a member of the Virginia Wineries Association, the Virginia Vineyard Association and a former board member of the Monticello Wine Trail. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Elaine Eldringhoff Horton; a daughter, Shannon Lee Horton; two brothers, Earl Eugene Horton Jr. and Phillip Stinson Horton; two sisters, Margaret Anne Barret and Francine Horton; and a granddaughter.
Barbara Levy Gradet ’70, former director of Baltimore County’s Department of Social Services and a pillar of the area’s Jewish community, died of a stroke May 8 while on vacation with her husband in New Mexico, according to The Baltimore Sun. She was 69. Born Barbara Levy to Joyce, a secretary, and Morris “Chick” Levy, a business owner, Gradet grew up in Park Heights. Her passion for service developed from an early age, going along with her grandmother to volunteer jobs in the Pimlico area. After graduating from Western High School in 1966, she studied social work at the University of Maryland’s flagship campus. There she met Howard Gradet ’68. Two years later, the couple married and settled in Rock Glen, later moving to Reisterstown. Gradet began her career as a clinical social worker, later moving into administrative fields. She obtained her master’s in social work in 1979 and, in 1988, became director of Baltimore County’s Department of Aging. Ten years later, she was appointed director of the Department of Social Services. In 2004, she joined Jewish Family Services of Baltimore, which later became known as the Jewish Community Services. The Gradets had a timeshare in Hawaii and traveled extensively, visiting 22 countries on six continents. In addition, Gradet was an extra—or supernumerary—in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children. She also enjoyed singing and performed for eight years with a group called the Showtime Singers. Gradet and her husband had recently moved to Los Angeles to be closer to their family. Besides her husband, Gradet is survived by two children, Regan Chagal and Alexander Gradet; a brother, Laurence Levy; and two grandchildren.
David Landsberg ’70 died Aug. 5 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from complications from surgery for esophageal cancer. Landsberg was an actor, screenwriter and producer who wrote and produced episodes of “Cosby” (the follow-up to “The Cosby Show”) and other shows including “Blossom,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Fantasy Island.” He also appeared on the 1970s sitcom “C.P.O. Sharkey” with Don Rickles. Landsberg was born on Sept. 4, 1944, in Brooklyn, and attended Plainedge High School in North Massapequa, N.Y. He served with the Army in Vietnam from 1966–68 before attending UMD. Landsberg is survived by daughter Caryn O’Neill; son Daniel; brother Joseph; three grandchildren; and four nieces and nephews.
Everett Charles “Chuck” Dann Jr. ’68, a former Ellicott City resident and retired trial attorney who worked on environmental and product liability cases, died of a stroke June 16 at his home in Los Angeles, according to The Baltimore Sun. He was 71. Born in Baltimore and raised in Academy Heights, he was the son of E. Charles Dann, a Westinghouse Electric machinist, and Elaine A. Bonsall, a retail manager for Rheb’s candies. After earning a degree in political science at UMD, he graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law. He joined the firm of Semmes Bowen and Semmes in Baltimore and was named a partner. Until 1992, Dann chaired the Towson office of the Semmes firm. He then joined former colleagues to form Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Gray, later Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann LLP. Dann represented clients in civil cases including product liability, environmental concerns, premises liability and insurance coverage. He defended product liability actions. After his retirement in 2013, he remained involved in a case related to the old Maryland Casualty Company and its coverage of a Baltimore mechanical contracting firm that was a defendant in asbestos-related claims. The case began in 1989 and lasted for 20 years. Dann returned to school for a master’s degree in computer systems management from University of Maryland University College in 2000. He also held a Chief Information Officer certificate. Dann enjoyed reading newspapers, magazines and works of history. In 2014, Dann and his wife, Helen Szablya, moved to Los Angeles from their Harbor East home to be near family. In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Alexander Meiners; a daughter, Anna Meiners Morini; and three granddaughters. His marriage to Carole Ridgeway Dann ended in divorce.
Carville D. (“Don”) Duncan, Jr. ’65, chief judge of the Orphans’ Court of Talbot County, died on Aug. 2 of congestive heart failure at his home in St. Michaels, Md. He was 76. Born April 14, 1942, in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Carville D. Duncan Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Duncan of Arnold, Md., and Bradenton, Fla. Duncan attended schools in Anne Arundel County and graduated from UMD with a degree in business administration. He then served in the Air Force as a captain in the Medical Services Corps. He spent most of his career as a health care administrator and management consultant. He worked in both the acute hospital and long-term care fields for 30 years before establishing Health Management and Consulting LLC in 1994 and the S&H Group in 1996. Both companies engaged in health management and consulting. Duncan was a past president of the Health Care Facilities Association of Maryland and chairman of its Service Corporation. He served on the board of directors of the American Health Care Association and was a fellow in the American College of Health Care Administrators. He also served as chairman of the Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators under Govs. William Donald Schaefer and Parris N. Glendening. He served as president of the Easton Rotary Club and of the Isaak Walton League’s Talbot Chapter. He was chairman of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, receiving its 2013 award for community service. He also was a member of the county’s Republican Central Committee and served on the boards of directors of the Waterfowl Festival of Easton, the Talbot County YMCA, Maryland State Chamber of Commerce and the Republican Leadership Council. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Granite Lodge #177 and a member of the Harbourtown Golf Club. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jennifer Angle Duncan; his daughter, Kelly Ann Duncan; his son, Michael Donovan Duncan; two grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Elizabeth Heatwole. Another sister, Connie Bailey, predeceased him.
Albert Lee Kaiss ’62, a retired decorated Navy officer, died at his home on July 25. Known as Lee, Kaiss was born in 1940, in Hagerstown, Md. He graduated from North Hagerstown High School, then the University of Maryland with a business degree. Kaiss entered the U.S. Navy and became a surface warfare officer, serving on four ships, then as executive officer of the USS McCandless. He then commanded the USS Paul F. Foster and USS William H. Standley and was the re-commissioning commanding officer of the USS Missouri. Kaiss served as the mission task element commander for the hospital ship USNS Mercy and then returned to command the Missouri in the Gulf War and throughout the remainder of the ship’s service life. Kaiss was the only person to commission and decommission the same ship. His service included combat action in Vietnam and in the Gulf War, for which he was highly decorated. Kaiss received a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University, and additional master’s degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and National University. Kaiss transitioned into civilian employment for eight years with Scientific Atlanta, and then served with several companies, mentoring and training naval officers in shiphandling and ship safety. His hobbies included obtaining one of the largest and most prestigious milk bottle collections in the United States. Kaiss was also a real estate broker, youth coach in soccer, Scouter and member of the Knights of Columbus. Kaiss was preceded in death by his wife, Veronica, in 2012. He is survived by his children, Julie Laing and Andrew Lee; and three grandsons.
Clarence “Bud” Smail ’59, CEO of Smail Auto Group, died at age 81 on Aug. 1 at his home in Greensburg, Pa. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Smail was a son of Clarence B. Smail Sr. and Dorothy Reffner Smail. After graduating from UMD, he joined the family business, the Bud Smail Lincoln-Ford dealership, in 1959. He eventually grew the business to include 10 franchises. Smail served as president of the Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Association, president of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, board member of the National Automobile Dealers Association and member of the American International Automobile Dealers Association. In 2014, he was honored with the lifetime achievement award from the Pennsylvania Automotive Association. He also served on the boards of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Westmoreland County Community College, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust and the American Heart Association of Western Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ellen R. Leone Smail; children Kathryn Johnson, Mark and Jeff; German daughter Heike Milbrodt; Jordanian son Safwan Moubaydeen; seven grandchildren; Safwan’s children; two great-granddaughters; two brothers; two sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Joseph Anthony Horak ’58 of Hollywood, Md., died on July 14 in Baltimore. Born in Takoma Park, Md., he was the son of Anton Horak and Anna Marie McKovsky. Horak grew up on a farm in the White Oak, Md., area. During his military service, he volunteered for and served in the Army Special Forces (Green Berets). Horak began his career with the U.S. Census Bureau as a statistician in the agriculture division in 1958. He traveled extensively to train enumerators and crew leaders in census methods and procedures for collecting information from farms and ranches for the 1959 and 1964 national censuses of agriculture. He later specialized in compilation and publication of statistics on farm irrigation, becoming chief of the irrigation branch. He retired as assistant division chief for agriculture statistics. For 13 years during and after retirement from the Census Bureau, Horak was a business partner in the construction, renovation and management of rental property in the Laurel and Jessup areas. After retirement, he lived in Hollywood, where he built a house and enjoyed doing yard work and maintaining fruit trees and a garden. He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Williams; his stepson, Wayne M. Gordon; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Jeannine Horak, in 1996, and his siblings, Helen Hannigan, Mary Seckel Skinner and Francis Horak.
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