From the Alumni Association

Alumni Profiles:
Bob Rotella's winning ways Bob Rotella '74 M.A., '76 Ph.D.
A natural multitasker makes her mark Yvonne Davis '04 M.A.
Lani Fortier's helping hand  Lani Fortier '04 (ED)

Also of Interest:
Bringing Micah Rood legend to life
America's top history teacher
Inside Major League Baseball
Alumni Weekend
In Memoriam

Submit your class notes information online.

Let your fellow UConn alumni know about the milestones in your life. You can keep them up to date by sending information and, if possible, a photograph, to Alumni News & Notes, University of Connecticut Alumni Association, Alumni Drive, Storrs, CT 06269; by fax to 860-486-2849; by e-mail to alumni-news@uconn.edu; or by filling out the online News & Notes form.

In the fall of 2007, more than 3,000 freshmen walked into their first UConn class full of aspirations and began following a long tradition of Huskies who came before them.

They came from every corner of the state, across the country and around the globe, eager to learn from a world-class faculty and become future educators, scientists, pharmacists, artists, doctors, farmers, nurses and business and community leaders.

As they pick their majors, and perhaps change their minds, they already know they are part of something special: a proud Husky family.

These students are bright and talented. Yet they can still benefit from the guidance and wisdom of those they follow. Imagine the impact on their lives if they could tap the network of UConn alumni to learn from their experiences.

With a UConn degree and the support of the alumni network, being part of the Husky family would take on new meaning for them.

The UConn Alumni Association is introducing several opportunities to make these connections for both alumni and students.

Events scheduled throughout the students’ careers will focus on bringing alumni and students together in unique and memorable settings.

From the beginning of their journey as new students with alumni chapter “Freshman Picnics” to Family Weekend, Homecoming, the Senior Year Experience classes and career networking activities, there are many opportunities for interaction.

Through our enhanced Web site, coming this summer, alumni will be able to volunteer as mentors and share their expertise and experience directly with students and other alumni through e-mail or conversations.

Families help each other. I hope you’ll show the Class of 2012 and beyond what it means to be part of the Husky family. You should know. You’ve been there.

Lisa Lewis
Executive Director, UConn Alumni Association

John Adams '46 (CLAS) was a member of the class of 1941 but obtained his degree in 1946 after spending 18 months as a POW in Germany. After earning a dental degree from St. Louis University Dental School in 1950, he had a dental practice in Milford, Conn. He has been married to his second wife, Breta, for 17 years.

 Alumni News & Notes Menu

Jeremiah Wadsworth '50 (CANR) retired in 1994 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture ASCS/FSA. He and his wife, Lois, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August 2007.

John T. Redman '52 (BUS) is enjoying retirement with his wife of 52 years. The couple lives in Ponce Incet, Fla., near their daughter Lisa.

Rudy J. Favretti '54 (CANR), professor emeritus of landscape architecture at the University of Connecticut, published the book Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect in 2007 with Wesleyan University Press.

John H. Cable '55 (RHSA) retired after operating Burnt Hill Blueberry Farm in Heath, Mass., for 36 years. He is the founder of Litchfield Hills Historical Automobile Club in Torrington, Conn., and master judge of the Classic Car Club of America.

Hannah Korobkin '55 (SAH) is retired after working for more than 40 years as a physical therapist. She volunteers at the YMCA and a hospital on a regular basis and was married to George Korobkin '56 M.S.W. until his death in 1997.

Janet Warshaw '55 (CLAS) retired as manager of theOcular Pathology Lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y.

Paula Armbruster '56 (CLAS), '74 M.S.W., the former director of outpatient services and former director of social work training of Yale University's Child Study Center, was named Cambridge Who's Who Professional of the Year in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Michael W. Gordon '57 (BUS), '63 J.D., John H. and Mary Lou Dasburg Professor of Law at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., served as the inaugural Fulbright Distinguished Professor at the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa in Lisbon, Portugal. He was elected to the American Law Institute and to honorary membership in both the Academia Mexicana de Derecho Internacional Privado y Comparado and the Guatemalan Bar Association.

Richard A. Johnson '57 (CLAS), a singer in the Rose City Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Preston Community Chorus and Central Baptist Choir in Norwich, Conn., received a 50-year pin as a member of the Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Singing.

Robert Gregory '59 (SFA), director of economic and community development for the City of Milford, Conn., received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Milford Chamber of Commerce for 19 years of service to the chamber.

Allan Krasnow '59 (PHR) is a pharmacist at CVS and plays saxophone in four bands. He is also a justice of the peace in Connecticut.

Francis Manning '59 (CLAS) was recognized by the Town Council in Southington, Conn., for his career as an editorial cartoonist for the Meriden-Record Journal for more than 40 years. He recently donated his original art to the Southington Historical Society.

David Connell '61 (CLAS), '62 M.A. is the author of the novel Poverty Tale, released in 2007 by PublishAmerica.

Andrew DePino, Jr. '61 (CLAS) recently retired after 33 years of teaching science and physics at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, Conn., and at community colleges. Prior to teaching, he was a research physicist for the Atomic Energy Commission in Richland, Wash. He and his wife, Lois, now reside in Westminster West, Vt.

Bernard Fried '61 (CLAS) is the co-author of the book Food-Borne Parasitic Zoonoses: Fish and Plant-Borne Parasites, to be released in 2008 by Springer.

Joel Mandell '61 (CLAS), '66 J.D., town meeting moderator for the town of Simsbury, Conn, was named a "Connecticut Super Lawyer" for 2008 by Super Lawyer Magazine.

Daniel Scott '61 M.S.W. retired after a 46-year career in human services, including the last 16 years as the first president and CEO of Emerald Heights, a nationally recognized continuing care retirement community in Redmond, Wash.

Leif Erickson '62 (RHSA) has worked for more than 40 years as a farrier, a blacksmith who shoes horses, in the Gilmanton, N.H., area.

George Shaboo '62 (ENG) was recognized by the Old Timers Athletic Association of Greater Danbury, Conn., for his contributions to the city's sports heritage as one of Danbury's top baseball players in the 1950s.

Naomi (Pincus) Cramer '63 (CLAS) retired after a long career teaching high school home economics in Windsor, Conn. She lives with her husband, Mark, in Windsor and Sarasota, Fla.

Lawrence Demott '63 (CLAS), '65 M.A., '86 J.D. continues to pursue his interests in horticulture and nutrition after retiring from the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services in 2007.

Leighton Gage '63 (CLAS) wrote Blood of the Wicked, published earlier this year by Soho Press. Please go to Creative Currents.

Holley Ulbrich '63 (CLAS), '64 M.A., '69 Ph.D. is the author of The Fellowship Movement: A Growth Strategy and Its Legacy, published by Skinner House Books.

Richard Lindgren Sr. '65 Ph.D. has served as an adjunct professor of educational leadership at Central Connecticut State University for the past 41 years.

John Trocciola '65 M.S. is a private consultant after working at United Technologies for over 40 years. He received a 2007 Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition Award, given annually to those who have made remarkable advancements in fuel cell technology.

Angela Kelly-Shelby '66 (NUR) is a consultant for various state and local agencies, after working for more than 40 years as a certified nurse specialist.

John Surowiecki '66 (CLAS), '78 M.A. is the recipient of the 2007 Pegasus Award in Verse Drama. He resides in Amston, Conn.

William Byxbee '67 (CLAS) retired as dean of San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies. He lives with his wife in the Washington, D.C., area.

Beverly Goulet '67 (CLAS), director of the Norwich (Conn.) Human Services Department, received the Palmer Davies Leadership Award in recognition of her work toward fostering an environment of community spirit in Norwich, Conn.

Robert Clark '68 (BUS), president and CEO of Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, in Roanoke, Va., was appointed to the board of directors of LL Global Inc., the umbrella organization of the Life Insurance Marketing Research Group and Life Office Management Association, the world's largest insurance and financial trade associations.

David Paulson '69 (CLAS) is sales manager at Largo Preserve in southern Sarasota County, Fla.

 Alumni News & Notes Menu

C. Marshall Davidson '70 M.B.A. is semi-retired as executive director of the Woman's Seamen's Friend Society of Connecticut after 53 years in engineering and manufacturing.

George DeLeone '70 (ED) was named tight ends coach for the Miami Dolphins. A veteran of 37 seasons as a football coach, he most recently was the offensive coordinator at Temple University. He previously held several coaching positions at Syracuse University and also served as offensive line coach for the San Diego Chargers.

Joseph Andrew Camille Vautour'70 M.A., '76 Ph.D., '86 J.D. heads "Project Opening Doors" of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association Education Foundation, which encourages students to explore science and technology-based careers.

Margery Daniels '71 (ED) is executive director of Middlesex Partnerships for Youth in Cambridge, Mass. She previously was an educator in public school systems for 36 years, most recently as assistant superintendent of the Newton (Mass.) public schools.

Stephan Jespersen '71 (BUS) is the director of advertising acceptability at The New York Times and is responsible for guaranteeing that advertisements in The Times do not conflict with the company's ideals.

Carol McGlinchey '71 (CLAS) is a past-life regression therapist and psychic medium and is a member of the International Association for Regression Research & Therapies. She conducts workshops and takes on private clients at her practice, Infinite Quest, in Housatonic, Mass.

John W. Rafal '71 (CLAS), president of Essex Financial Services in Essex, Conn., was named the nation's top independent financial adviser by Barron's.

Guy Desaulniers '72 (CLAS) was promoted to chief operating officer at Career Concepts USA in Carey, Ill.

Marja M. Hurley '72 (CLAS), '76 M.D., associate dean of the UConn School of Medicine and director of the Office of Health Care Opportunity Programs, was appointed to the advisory committee of the Higher Education PK–16 Council in the Connecticut Department of Higher Education, which encourages and prepares students from low-income and first-generation families to pursue postsecondary education.

Brenda Needham '72 (CLAS) is the 2007 Vermont Superintendent of the Year. She is superintendent of schools in Windsor, Vt.

D. Wesley Slate Jr. '72 (SFA) is member of the city council in Beverly, Mass. His wife, Georgia Bills '72 M.A., teaches musical theater at Walnut Hill School in Natick, Mass.

	Ron Palillo ’72 (SFA) recently portrayed 18th-century apple-farm owner Micah Rood in the short film The Curse of Micah Rood, based on a rural legend from Norwich, Conn. The screenplay was written by Nicholas Checker ’77 (SFA). The film was made in various locations around southeastern Connecticut and will be entered in prominent film festivals after being shown in local movie theaters.
Photo by Firesite Films

Janice Kasper '73 (SFA) served as artist-in-residence at Denali National Park in Alaska, August 2007.

Jane Huffman '73 (CLAS), '77 M.S., professor of biological sciences at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsberg, Pa., received the Distinguished Professor Award, the highest faculty award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the university.

James Narus '73 M.B.A., a professor of business marketing at the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University, in Winston-Salem, N.C., co-authored VALUE MERCHANTS: Demonstrating and Documenting Superior Value in Business Markets, published by Harvard Business School Press.

David W. Spitzer '73 (ENG), a partner in the technical consulting firm Spitzer and Boyes LLC in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., was named an ISA Fellow in recognition of his contributions to flow measurement and variable speed drives for process control.

Joel Becker '74 M.S., CEO of Torrington Supply Co., in Waterbury, Conn., and chairman of the board of trustees of Waterbury Hospital, received the 2007 Malcolm Baldrige Community Award for enhancing economic growth in the Waterbury area.

Tyrone Cannon '74 (CLAS), library dean at the University of San Francisco, received his Ed.D. in May 2007 from the USF School of Education.

Mark Graham '74 M.F.A. is on the board of the Theater Artists Workshop in Norwalk, Conn., and has directed more than 75 plays and musicals.

William Kohlhepp '74 (CLAS) is director of the Undergraduate Entry Master's Level Physician Assistant Program at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. He earned a doctorate in health sciences from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in December 2007.

Stephen Russo '74 (BUS) is vice president of human resources at PPL Corporation, an energy company headquartered in Allentown, Pa.

John F. Sharry '74 (CLAS) is senior vice president and head of business development for alternative products at the Phoenix Companies, Inc., in Hartford, Conn.

After Padraig Harrington plunked two balls into a creek on the 18th hole at the 2007 British Open, it seemed his quest for a major title would again end in disappointment.

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

But after a quick conversation with Robert Rotella ’74 M.A., ’76 Ph.D. on the putting green, Harrington regrouped to win in a playoff. “I wouldn’t have won the British without Bob,” he says.

Rotella is one of the top sports psychologists in the world with a roster of clients on the PGA, LPGA, European and Senior tours. His book, Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect, is one of the top-selling golf books.

“A lot of my work is about encouraging people to have huge dreams and to visualize them,” says Rotella, who also consults with corporate executives.

“It’s amazing when you can see something clearly in your head, that it gets easier to do it.”

Rotella’s road to sports psychology began when he was a basketball and lacrosse player at Castleton State College in Vermont and his coach brought in a group of intellectually challenged children to learn basketball skills.

He later worked in a special needs program, teaching students to swim. When a group of UConn professors arrived in Vermont to evaluate that program, they were impressed with Rotella and offered him a graduate scholarship.

He also was able to coach lacrosse at UConn.

Near the end of his master’s studies at UConn, Rotella took an elective course in the social psychological skills of sport that set him in a new direction.

He decided to continue at UConn to pursue a doctoral degree in performance psychology and the psychology of excellence.

After earning his doctorate, Rotella headed to the University of Virginia, where he initiated its doctoral program in sports psychology and spent two decades working with its athletic teams.

His first golf client was Denis Watson, a PGA player who after working with Rotella began to have more success winning tournaments.

Since then Rotella’s clients have won at least 25 of the 40 tournaments played for each of the past 15 years and include an all-star lineup of pros such as Davis Love III, Tom Kite, Julie Inkster and Pat Bradley.

“I try to get the athletes and executives I work with to put fears and doubts aside,” he says.

“What you learn is that as long as you do everything you can with your talent, you’ll have a great time in life.”

— Kenneth Best

Brian Clarey '75 (BUS) was promoted to senior vice president of construction lending for Sun National Bank's South Jersey market. He has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate lending and underwriting.

Gloria Giroux '75 (CLAS) is the author of the novel Fireheart, the first book of a science fiction trilogy, released in November 2007 by iUniverse, Inc. She is currently working on the second and third installments.

Rebecca Jacobs '75 (ED), a BEST mentor and a supervisory teacher for student teaching at Amity Regional Middle School in Orange, Conn., was appointed for the third year as team leader for the school's Life Arts Team.

Peter Kirk '75 (CLAS) is president and chief financial officer of BNC Financial Group, Inc., a multi-bank holding company with The Bank of New Canaan and The Bank of Fairfield as its subsidiaries. He lives in Waterford, Conn., with his wife Marsha (Smith) '75 (CLAS).

Robert Lang '75 (CLAS) is a broker associate at William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty in Farmington, Conn., specializing in homes and investment properties.

Bruce Lubin '75 (CLAS), '77 M.B.A. is president of Illinois Commercial Banking at PrivateBancorp, Inc. in Chicago. He is also an active community leader serving on the boards of numerous schools, the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation and the Hillcrest Educational Foundation.

Thomas Pastor '75 (ENG), '77 M.S., vice president of codes and standards for the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co., in Hartford, Conn., received the J. Hall Taylor Medal, presented for distinguished service in the field of codes and standards pertaining to the broad fields of piping and pressure vessels.

Bradley Rock '75 (CLAS), president and CEO of Bank of Smithtown in Smithtown, N.Y., was elected chairman of the American Bankers Association.

Susan Rovinski '75 (CLAS), '81 M.A. was named database analyst for Internet services in the office of University Communications at UConn. She previously was an application developer for The Hartford.

Michael Rubino '75 (PHR), director of pharmacy services at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., received the Paul G. Pierpaoli Award from the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists, presented annually to a hospital pharmacist for outstanding service and dedication to the profession.

Anthony Singe '75 Ph.D. is semi-retired after working for many years in public education, most recently as superintendent of schools in Locust Valley, N.Y.Michael C. White '75 M.A., professor of English at Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn., published his most recent novel, Soul Catcher, in August 2007 with William Morrow.

William DiYeso '76 M.A. is the author of Almost Home, a young adult novel published by PublishAmerica. He was an educator for 35 years and helped establish the TLC Group Home in Manchester, Conn., for abused and neglected teens.

Donna (Albani) Fazzino '76 (CLAS), paraprofessional and job coach at Portland (Conn.) High School, received a Distinguished Service Award, given to members of Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority, for service work exceeding sorority commitments.

Steven Gordziel '76 Ph.D. is practice head of pharmaceutical development at PharmaDirections, Inc., a drug development management firm based in Cary, N.C.

William Ryczek '76 (BUS) recently published his fourth and fifth sports history books, The Yankees in the Early 1960s and The Amazin' Mets 1962-1969, with McFarland.

William Cullen '77 (CLAS) has his own legal practice in Birmingham, Ala., specializing in Social Security Disability law.

Stephen Doxsey '77 (CLAS), professor of molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass., received a $1.5 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation to continue his research on stem cells, cancer and aging.

Tracie Ezzio '77 (PHR) owns and operates Pepperell Family Pharmacy in Pepperell, Mass.

Pamela Kahn '77 (BUS) is the vice president of marketing for Gifford's Ice Cream and Candy Co. in Washington, D.C.

Robert Kravchuk '77 (BUS), '77 (CLAS) is chairman of the department of political science at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. He is the author of several books on the former Soviet Union and is currently completing a book on the collapse of the USSR.

Robert Kravecs, Jr. '77 (CLAS), '81 D.M.D. is a volunteer clinical instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine in the undergraduate prosthetic clinic.

Paul Mariano '77 (BUS), head of Mariano, McGrath & Associates, combined his firm with Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services in fall 2007.

Edward J. "Ned" Popkins Jr. '77 (CLAS), business editor at the Orlando Sentinel, received the Russell C. Hill Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Scouts' highest recognition for service to its Learning for Life character-education program for schoolchildren. His wife, Marianne McClain Popkins '77 (CLAS), is executive director of the Winter Park (Fla.) Historical Association. They live with their three sons in Orlando, Fla.

Karen Rogers '77 (NUR) was appointed director of education at Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, Maine. Rogers and her husband, Bill, have two sons, Kyle and Christopher, and a daughter, Brittany.

Michael Klemens '78 M.S. is director of conservation science at Scenic Hudson, a valley nature-preservation group in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He also is a member of the science staff at the American Museum of Natural History and has authored a number of publications.

William J. Luddy '78 J.D., professor of management at Rensselaer-Hartford, is chair of the United Nations Center for Electronic Business and Trade Facilitation and has been active in the global e-commerce field for the past 10 years.

John Calka '79 (CANR) was promoted to the rank of sergeant at the Westport Police Department in Westport, Conn. He lives in Darien, Conn., with his wife and their two children, Alexandra and Elizabeth.

Daniel Ciaburri '79 (CLAS), '83 M.D. is the chief medical officer of Kinetic Concepts Inc. in San Antonio, Texas.

Richard Croarkin '79 M.B.A. is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Alcon, Inc., in Fort Worth, Texas.

David Grimaldi '79 (CLAS), curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City, received the Thomas Say award, which recognizes significant contributions and outstanding work in the fields of insect systematics, morphology or evolution.

Edward Machuga '79 (CLAS) is vice president of sales and marketing for Epitome Biosystems in Waltham, Mass.

Diane McCarthy '79 M.S.W. is general counsel of the Joslin Diabetes Center and co-chair of the health law membership committee of the Boston Bar Association.

Mark Stevens '79 (CANR), program director for the Zoo & Aquarium Science associate's degree program at Davidson County Community College in Lexington, N.C., was a finalist for the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award from the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges.

Lisa (Carter) Taylor '79 (CLAS), '82 M.A., a writer-in-residence at EASTCONN, one of six Regional Educational Service Centers, and a creative writing teacher in Hampton, Conn., published her third book of poetry, Talking to Trees, in September 2007.

Michael Alberts '80 (CLAS), '87 M.B.A. joined Putnam Savings Bank in Putnam, Conn., as senior vice president of commercial lending. He is also a state representative for the 50th District in Connecticut.

Lisa Allen '81 M.A., '88 Ph.D. is the senior director of quality and patient safety at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Tris Carta '81 D.M.D., a dentist in Manchester, Conn., is president of the Manchester Road Race.

Mary E. Greene '81 (CLAS), plant controller at Rubbermaid Commercial Products in Winchester, Va., represents Frederick County on the Lord Fairfax Community College Board in Middletown, Va.

Matthew Guarino '81 (6th year), is the principal of the Middle School of Plainville in Plainville, Conn.

Karen Palasek '81 (CLAS) is the director of educational and academic programs at the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, N.C.

Maureen Festi ’72 (ED), ’81 M.A., center, a fifth-grade teacher at Stafford (Conn.) Elementary School, became the first elementary school teacher to be named a Preserve America History Teacher of the Year by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which recognizes outstanding American history teachers. She received the award at the Museum of the City of New York on Nov. 16, 2007, from First Lady Laura Bush, and Anita (Bevacqua) McBride ’81 (CLAS), right, assistant to the president and chief of staff for Mrs. Bush.

Photo by Shealah Craighead

James Doing '82 (SFA), '84 M.M. is a professor of voice at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He also performs around the world, specializing in the music of J.S. Bach.

Maria Gawryl '82 Ph.D. is a senior director and program executive with EnVivo Pharmaceuticals in Watertown, Mass.

Paul Martha '82 M.D. is the chief medical officer for Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Cambridge, Mass. He has over 14 years of industry experience as an endocrinologist.

Richard T. Roth '82 (BUS) is a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP and leads Deloitte's Global Benchmarking Center in Atlanta.

Kevin Sullivan '82 J.D. is the president and chief executive officer of The Children's Museum, based in West Hartford, Conn., which serves as a hands-on science and learning center for children, families and teachers.

Peter Sumby '82 (CLAS), associate director of the Ed McMahon Mass Communications Center at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., received a 2007 Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students Award from Quinnipiac.

Paul Vezzetti '82 (CLAS), regional information technology manager for the U.S. Department of Labor in Philadelphia, is a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve assigned to the Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare. He lives with his wife and three children in Bucks County, Pa., where he is active in farming, serving on the boards of several agricultural associations.

Philip Wilson '82 (CLAS) recently celebrated 12 years as owner of Limousines Plus, a limousine service in Wolcott, Conn.

Toni Duval '83 (CLAS) is the founder and president of TLD – Training and Leadership Development in Knoxville, Tenn., a full-service training and skill development consulting firm. She also writes a business column for the Knoxville News Sentinel of Knoxville, Tenn.

Parveen Gupta '83 M.B.A. is chairman of the accounting department at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. He has been working at Lehigh since earning his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in 1987.

Michael Lanza '83 (CLAS), '86 J.D. is executive vice president and general counsel with Selective Insurance Company of America in Sparta, N.J.

Jill Maguire '83 (BUS) is assistant vice president of business development at Ridgefield Bank in Ridgefield, Conn., a division of Fairfield County Bank Corporation.

Carolan Norris '83 (ED) was promoted to associate athletics director of Brown University in Providence, R.I., after coaching field hockey and women's lacrosse for 24 years.

Robert Sorcher '83 (CLAS) is chief content officer for Cartoon Network, based in Los Angeles, Calif. He was previously executive vice president of programming and production for AMC Network.

Michael Antonini '84 (BUS) married Amy Suzanne Okrepkie in June 2007.

Raymond DiDonna '84 (CLAS) is vice president of group reinsurance at The Hartford. He previously served as president of Union Fidelity Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of General Electric Insurance.

Eric T. Johnson '84 (CLAS) and his wife, Suzanne, announce the birth of their son, Thomas Joseph Johnson, who joins a daughter, Hannah. Eric is a Conservation Police Officer and lives with his family in Easton, Conn.

Pablo Malavenda '84 (CLAS), '92 M.A. is associate dean of students at Purdue University.

David Pazdar '84 (CLAS) owns and operates Pazdar Winery in Scotchtown, N.Y., which received two 2008 Scovie awards, recognizing top food products from around the world.

Judith Pepin '84 M.S., '87 Ph.D., senior scientist in the scientific writing and editing section of Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, is treasurer of the American Medical Writers Association.

Craig Ashmore '85 (ENG) is senior vice president for planning and development at Emerson, based in St. Louis, Mo.

Roger Ballentine '85 (CLAS), president of Green Strategies Inc. in Washington, D.C., joined the board of directors of the Environmental Power Corporation, a developer and owner of clean energy production facilities.

Col. Marc Caouette '85 (PHR) serves as the chief of pharmacy education and readiness training at the U.S. Army Medical DepartmentCenter and School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

William E. Evans '85 Ph.D. completed and self-published his autobiography My Journey–Memoirs of Spiritual Faith.

Susan (Pearson) Gambardella '85 (CLAS) is regional vice president of national sales for The Coca-Cola Company, and is responsible for revenue and profit growth across 19 states. She and her husband, Mark Gambardella '85 (BUS), and their two children, Nicholas and Natalie, live in Dallas, Texas.

Daniel Morley '85 (CANR) is the policy development coordinator for responsible growth planning in the Connecticut Office of Policy andManagement in Hartford. He lives in West Hartford, Conn., with his wife, Cathy, and son, Sean.

Briggs Morrison '85 M.D. has joined Pfizer Global Research and Development as senior vice president of clinical development. He previously held senior research and development positions at Merck Research Laboratories.

Timothy Shannon '85 M.D. was appointed president and chief executive officer of CuraGen Corporation, based in Branford, Conn., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology. He previously served as executive vice president of research and development, and chief medical officer of CuraGen.

William H. Brewster, Jr '86 (ENG), '91 M.B.A. is vice president of Gerber Technology in Tolland, Conn., responsible for global marketing and product management. He holds eight United States patents.

David Brigham '86 (BUS, CLAS) was appointed Edna S. Tuttleman Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum in Philadelphia, Pa.

Mark Caswell '86 (SFA) received his master's degree in interactive communications from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. He is a video technician for ESPN in Bristol, Conn., and lives in Prospect, Conn., with his wife, Tracy, their twin sons, Joshua and Mathew, and daughter, Cameron.

Ronald Drotos '86 (SFA) is the director of the Wilton Singers in Wilton, Conn.

Mark Iadarola '86 (BUS) is senior vice president of MidCap Business Credit, a commercial finance company. He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and is involved in various charitable activities. He lives in Cheshire, Conn., with his wife and two daughters.

Thomas Murphy '86 (CLAS) was named senior vice president of corporate sales and services by the New York Mets. He previously was vice president of sponsorship and entertainment with MasterCard.

James Turner '86 M.B.A. is vice president of product management with Synacor, a Buffalo technology company. Previously he served as vice president for digital media at A&E Television Networks.

Robert M. Villanova '86 Ph.D., superintendent of schools in Farmington, Conn., was named Connecticut's 2008 Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Public SchoolSuperintendents.

Joseph Bittner '87 (BUS), '90 M.B.A., consultant and manager of education programs at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, received the 2007 Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Business Education from the National Business Education Association.

Mark Boxer '87 M.B.A., president and CEO of operations, technology and government services at Wellpoint, Inc., won the 2007 Tony Coelho Award for his commitment to employ people with disabilities in competitive positions and his work to influence other business and government leaders.

Mark Finkelstein '87 (CLAS) is president of the Boston division of Reed Business Information, the leading U.S. provider of business-to-business information.

Clare Lamontagne '87 M.S., nursing professor at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Mass., is participating in a national study of the use of patient simulation technology in nursing education.

Kathleen Murphy '87 J.D., chief executive officer, ING US Wealth Management, has been named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune magazine.

David Schless '87 (SFS), president and CEO of the American Seniors Housing Association in Washington, D.C., is the author of a chapter in The Future of Long Term Care in America: Views & Recommendations By Prominent Experts, published by Genworth Financial. He lives with wife, Susan Martino-Schless '88 (SFS), in Rockville, Md., with their two children, Ethan, 10, and MacKenzie, 5.

Jamie Swift '87 (ED) is a literary coach at the Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, Conn., where she has worked as an English teacher for more than 20 years.

Daniel Toscano '87 (BUS) is head of HSBC Holding PLC's leveraged and acquisition finance business in the Americas, which handles bond and loan issuance for companies and buyouts. He previously held a similar position at Deutsche Bank in New York.

Laura Caramanica '88 Ph.D. is the senior vice president/chief nursing officer of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y.

Frederick Kuriger '88 M.B.A. is executive vice president/chief operating officer of Seton Health System, an integrated health care delivery system in Troy, N.Y.

Kenneth W. Mouning Sr. '88 (BUS), '96 M.B.A., associate director of information technology at UBS Realty Investors LLC, received the 2007 Man of the Year award from the Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission in recognition of his work with the annual Greater Hartford Black Family Technology Awareness Week. He and his wife, Rose-Marie (Scott) Mouning '91 (SFS), '01 M.S.W., also announce the birth of a new baby, Nairobi Elizabeth Lee Mouning, on Sept. 26, 2007, who joins brothers Kenneth Jr., 12, and Malachi, 11, and sister Kenya, 5.

Celine (Duffy) Mulderrig '88 (CLAS) and John Mulderrig announce the birth of a daughter, Keira James Mulderrig, born on October 10, 2007, in New York City.

Paige Turco '88 (SFA) plays the part of Lisbeth on the NBC series Big Shots. She most recently completed production on Disney's The Game Plan.

Anthony Ciofani '89 M.B.A. is executive vice president and chief underwriting officer at PMA Insurance Group in Blue Bell, Pa.

Kristen (Fox) Haaijer '89 (BUS) and her husband, Eric, announce the birth of a son, William, on December 11, 2007. He joins sisters Hannah, 10; Emily, 9 and Caroline, 5. They reside in Skillman, N.J.

Maureen Macera '89 Ph.D., superintendent of Woonsocket Schools in Woonsocket, R.I., received a Women of Achievement Award from the YWCA of Northern Rhode Island.

David O'Hara '89 (CLAS) is a sales associate with Grand Prix New York Racing, LLC in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Jen Pepper '89 M.F.A., associate professor of studio art at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, N.Y., had a solo exhibition of her work, Slipstream, at Wells College in Aurora, N.Y., in 2007 and will have a solo exhibition at UMass-Dartmouth in 2008.

Stephanie Stone '89 (CLAS) joined the law firm of Pepe & Hazard LLP, in Hartford, Conn., as director of business development. She has more than 13 years of experience in service provider marketing, public relations and business development.

Deborah Wolf '89 (ED), retired from Southeast Elementary School in Howell, Mich., is helping guide principals and teachers with school reform projects in the United Arab Emirates by volunteering through the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

 Alumni News & Notes Menu

Amy (Brouwer) Gahan '90 (SAH) and her husband, James R. Gahan Jr., announce the birth of a daughter, Molly Frances, on April 19, 2007. Molly joins brothers Patrick, 4, and Ian, 3. Amy is a physical therapist for the VNA of Southern Worcester County in Webster, Mass.

Donna-Maria Lonergan '90 J.D. is manager of the Nationwide Trial Division office in Rocky Hill, Conn.

Charles Mobayed '90 Ph.D. is the psychological consultant for Exploration Summer Programs in Wellesley, Mass., and has a private practice.

Rob Chudzik '91 (CLAS) was named manager of Internet services in the Office of University Communications at UConn. He previously was marketing manager at Duck Creek Technologies in Farmington, Conn.

Gani Manelli '91 M.A. is a social studies teacher at Masuk High School in Monroe, Conn., and serves as an adjunct history professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield and Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport. He is also a strength and conditioning coach at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury.

Wade Seward '91 J.D. was appointed chief marketing officer of the individual life division at The Hartford Financial Services Group in Hartford, Conn. He is responsible for product launches, advanced marketing, marketing communications, field technology and competitive analysis.

Peter Tesei '91 (CLAS) is a vice president in the Wealth Management Group of Bank of New York Mellon Bank. He resides in Greenwich, Conn.

Dan Waters '91 (CLAS) is the author of Generation Dead, a young adult horror novel that will be published by Hyperion Books in May. He lives in Norwich, Conn., with his wife, Kimberley Fideli Waters, '92 (CLAS), an elementary school teacher in Lisbon, Conn., and their two children.

Sean Cassidy '92 (BUS), '00 M.B.A. was appointed vice president and chief financial officer of CuraGen Corporation in Branford, Conn.

Carla L. Curran '92 (CLAS) was named assistant director of government relations at UConn in Storrs. She previously was a senior policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.

Ann Totten Doyle '92 M.S. is a statistics lecturer at the University of Connecticut and a member of the executive council of the UConn chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Christopher Lawrence '92 (CLAS) is vice president, senior underwriting counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company, based in Houston, Texas.

Peter V. Longo '92 (BUS) is president and executive director of Connecticut Innovations Inc., in Rocky Hill, Conn.

Marc Marin '92 (CLAS) was named assistant principal for Middlesex Middle School in Darien, Conn. He previously was district instructional improvement specialist for the Fairfield Public Schools. He lives in Trumbull with his wife, Christine, and three children.

Mitch Passero '92 (CLAS) and his wife, Silvia, announce the birth of a daughter, Samantha Michelle, on Oct. 16, 2007. She joins her sister, Pamela, 2, at their home in Stamford, Conn.

Donna (Germano) Phillips '92 (CLAS) and husband, Mark Phillips, announce the birth of a baby boy, Jason Patrick. He was born on Aug. 20, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nev. He joins three sisters, Alexandra Marie, Samantha Rose, and Gabriella Noelle.

Scott Pivnick '92 (CLAS) is a partner in the international law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in McLean, Va., where he litigates patent, trademark and copyright disputes. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two children, Kelsey, 5, and Jenna, 3.

Peter Rea '92 (CLAS) is the head coach at ZAP Fitness, an elite training program in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Lance Richmond '92 (CLAS) is the manager of technical services for the Office of the President at Columbia University in New York City. He previously was an assistant director in information technology at Columbia's Graduate School of Business.

Sharon Rosenberg-Scholl '92 (ED), nursery school director at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, is the 2007 recipient of the Vivian Mann Jewish Educator of the Year Award, given annually to a Jewish educator in Minnesota, as well as a 2007 recipient of the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards for Excellence In Jewish Education, a national award.

Martianne (Sullivan) Stanger '92 (SFA) and her husband, Michael announce the birth of their daughter, Nina Elizabeth, on June 9, 2007. Nina joins her brother, Luke Michael. The family lives in Middleboro, Mass., where Martianne teaches drama, tutors and provides consulting services.

William Stuart, Jr. '92 (CANR) operates the Stuart Family Farm in Bridgewater, Conn., with his wife, Deb, and their two children.

Wayne Tonning '92 (CLAS) and his wife, Deena (Pacelli) Tonning '92 (CLAS), announce the birth of their son, Thomas Patrick, on March 5, 2007. He joins sisters, Skylar, 4, and Hailey, 2.

Dwight Whitaker '92 (CLAS), assistant professor of physics at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., received a grant from the National Science Foundation in support of his research.

Joseph Zornado '92 Ph.D. is the author of 2050 Volume 1: Gods of Little Earth, published in November 2007 by Speculative Fiction Review.

Susan Alwardt '93 (CLAS) is senior vice president of sales performance and integration executive at Bank of America located in Charlotte, N.C. She is responsible for engaging with all product, channel and finance partners.

Alison (Fine) Berks '93 (CLAS) and her husband, Lance, welcomed their daughter, Mia Francine, on April 30, 2007, in Sydney, Australia. Mia joins big brother Benjamin, 2.

Alex Jones '93 (ENG) owns and operates his car detailing business, Automobilia, in Orange, Conn., where he lives with his wife, Monika, and their two children.

Robert McDonald '93 (BUS) received the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching award at Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas.

Kevin Molloy '93 (CANR), '98 M.S. is senior vice president of distribution finance for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company in New York, N.Y.

Dana Mortensen '93 (CLAS) is an interior designer at BJAC in Charlotte, N.C., one of the largest woman-owned design firms in the Southeast.

Bethany (Samuelson) Olson '93 (CLAS) and Michael Olson '92 (RHSA) announce the birth of their son, John Paul, on May 10, 2006. He joins sister Lauren, 3. The family lives in New Braintree, Mass.

Stephen Swett '93 M.B.A. is senior vice president of research at KBW, Inc., based in New York, N.Y. He was previously employed at Wachovia Securities as an Equity REIT analyst.

Jennifer (Colangelo) Fricke '94 (CLAS) and Richard Fricke '94 (CLAS) announce the birth of their son, Oliver Louis, on July 5, 2007. Oliver joins sister Charlotte, 6, and brother RJ, 4. The family lives in Farmington, Conn.

Michael Goba '94 (BUS) is serving in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps during his second tour of duty in Taji, Iraq. He is a member of the 1st Cavalry Division of Fort Hood, Texas.

Prabhat Pokhrel '94 (PHR) is a clinical faculty member in the department of family medicine at the Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Mich.

Ella Sastram '94 (CLAS) is the speech and language pathologist at Quaker Farms School in Oxford, Conn.

Robert Spadafora '94 (CLAS) is the vice president of legal affairs for the Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corporation in Waltham, Mass.

Eric Baumann '95 (CLAS) and his wife, Jaclyn, announce the birth of their second child, Anya Colette, on Nov. 19, 2007. Anya joins brother Colton, 2. Eric is a fifth grade curriculum support teacher for math and science in Dublin City, Ohio. The family lives in Marysville, Ohio.

Eric Ferreri '95 (CLAS) and Stefanie Pratola Ferreri '97 (PHR) welcome twins Ryan John and Annabelle Grace, born Sept. 13, 2007. Eric is a newspaper reporter with the Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., and Stefanie is a pharmacy professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They live in Durham.

Eric Kopp '95 (ED) is partner and clinic manager of ProEx Physical Therapy in Farmington, Conn., a therapist-owned company.

Frederick Kuo '95 (CLAS) married Cristina Dieguez on Oct. 13, 2007. He is associate director of student activities at Fairfield University, in Fairfield, Conn. The couple lives in Hamden, Conn.

Jennyfer (Reed) Matteson '95 (CANR) and her husband, James, announce the birth of their first child, a son, Justus Reed Matteson, on July 9, 2006. She is currently a lead product development scientist at Kellogg Company. The family lives in East LeRoy, Mich.

William Petricone '95 M.D. married Katherine A. Schneider in December 2007. He is a physician at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, Conn., where he practices internal medicine, and is also an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Yale University.

Jeanette Rivera '95 (CANR), '00 M.D. joined the medical staff of Danbury (Conn.) Hospital as director of urogynecology and pelvic reconstruction in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Neil White '95 (CLAS) married Michelle Hord in September 2007.

Craig Burdick '96 (CLAS), '01 (ENG) was named marketing specialist in the Office of University Communications at UConn. He previously was an instructional media developer in UConn's Institute for Teaching & Learning.

Suzanne (Dube) Burridge '96 (PHR) and her husband, Gary, welcomed twins Matthew and Samantha on Nov. 16, 2007. Suzanne is a hospital pharmacist at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The family lives in Grand Island.

Susan Collins '96 M.S. is a diabetes educator with Innovex in Parsippany, N.J., after retiring from Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Conn., where she worked for more than 34 years.

Donna Ellis '96 M.S. is an extension educator at the University ofConnecticut, conducting applied research and educational outreach programs in integrated pest management.

Michael Grimaldi '96 (ED) married Meghan McHugh in August 2007. He is the manager of apparel sourcing for Reebok International. The couple lives in Canton, Mass.

Michael Larkin '96 (CLAS) is principal of Crystal Lake Elementary School in Ellington, Conn. He was previously the interim principal at Stafford Elementary School in Bristol, Conn.

Patrick Lockhart '96 (CLAS) and Karen (Stokes) Lockhart '98 (BUS) announce the birth of a baby boy, Brandon Owen Lockhart, born on Nov. 17, 2007, in Fairfax, Va.

Jean Perreault '96 (BGS) published Footprints Across Connecticut From Simsbury 1930 Census, a genealogy book about local Farmington Valley residents, released by Infinity Publishing.

Robert N. Schmidt '96 (CANR) married Deborah Jean Rayburn in October 2007.

Richard Tilley '96 (ENG), '04 J.D. married Julie Black on Oct. 20, 2007. He is an attorney in the intellectual property and information technology practice group at McCarter & English, LLP. The couple lives in Hartford, Conn.

Stacey (Zweifel) Tinker '96 (SFA) and Scott Tinker '97 (CLAS) announce the birth of their son, Jackson Mack, on Aug. 9, 2007. Jack joins brother Zane, 6, and sister Cora, 3. The family lives in Wethersfield, Conn.

Joseph Alfano '97 (BUS) and his wife, Kasia (Kaluzny) Alfano '88 (BUS), both work for Aetna Inc. They are the parents of a son, Dominic Randal, 9, and a daughter, Isabella Alexandra, 6. The family resides in Farmington, Conn.

Kevin Balfe '97 (BUS) is the coordinating producer for the Glenn Beck program on CNN Headline News. He recently co-authored and edited An Inconvenient Book, which reached No. 1 on The New York Times Bestseller List. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in Manhattan.

Nelson Braslow '97 M.P.H. is executive vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer for MVP Health Care, based in Schenectady, N.Y.

Sherri Cifaldi '97 (SFA) married Jason Morrill '97 (ENG) in Central Park, New York City, on Oct. 6, 2007. She is the director of exhibit design for Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Conn. Jason is the IT manager for the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut. They live in Woodbridge, Conn.

Jennifer Kelly '97 (BUS) is a senior managing consultant at MasterCard Worldwide in New York City.

Matthew Kelly '97 (BUS), '99 M.B.A. and his wife, Amanda, welcome their second child, Madeline Elizabeth Kenny, born Dec. 5, 2007.

Matthew Labanca '97 (SFA), '98 (ED) is a performer in the Mel Brooks Broadway musical Young Frankenstein.

Jennifer Schilt '97 (BUS) and Christopher Perfetti announce the birth of a son, Luke William, born Oct. 27, 2007, in Mineola, N.Y.

Dana (Marrow) Sullivan '97 (NUR) and her husband, Peter, announce the birth of their first child, daughter Carter Caroline, on Sept. 3, 2007. Dana is a senior sales consultant for Bayer Healthcare. The family lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Gabriel Tuvek '97 (BUS) is executive vice president and managing director of Daniel Island Mortgage in South Carolina. He previously ran a stock option trading company on the floor of the American Stock Exchange.

	Brian Schulz ’97 (CLAS) gets an up-close look at Major League Baseball as an Emmy Award-winning producer for MLB Productions, capturing historic moments such as Barry Bonds’s 762nd home run and the 2007 World Series, won by the Boston Red Sox. A resident of New York City, he also directs television commercials and music videos.
Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos

Jessica (Stone) Beauchemin '98 (CLAS) married Olivier Beauchemin on Oct. 19, 2007. She is senior manager of health and research communications for Special Olympics International in Washington, D.C., and is president of the National Capital Chapter of the University of Connecticut Alumni Association. The couple lives in Maryland.

Thomas B. Bogue '98 (CLAS) is assistant professor of physics at Northwestern College in Saint Paul, Minn.

Andrea (Tonnessen) Cordani '98 (ED), '99 M.A. and her husband, Michael Cordani '96 (CANR), announce the birth of their daughter, Kaitlyn Elisabeth, on Oct. 19, 2007. The family lives in Burlington, Conn.

Melissa Cummings '98 M.B.A. is head of workforce planning at Aetna, Inc. in Hartford, Conn.

Aileen Dever '98 Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish at Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Conn., received a 2007 Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students Award from Quinnipiac.

Charles Nagy '98 (ED), former major league baseball pitcher who is now the pitching coach for the Salt Lake Bees, the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, was inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Commission Hall of Fame in October.

John Nguyen '98 (ED), '99 M.A., a social studies teacher at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Conn., received a $25,000 National Educator prize honoring outstanding teachers from the Milken Family Foundation in California. He previously received the Americorps Education Award.

Julie Snowden '98 (CLAS) married Matthew Browne in August 2007. She is a business analyst at The Oliver Group, a technology company in Pawcatuck, Conn.

Kristene Baldwin '99 (ED), '00 M.A. and her husband, Seth, announce the birth of their second child, Lorna Paige, on Aug. 5, 2007. She joins Kayla Ann, born April 28, 2006. The family lives in Lehi, Utah.

Adawna Bell '99 (CLAS) is a parenting counselor at Children's Home Society in Florida, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Elizabeth Burleson '99 J.D. joined the faculty of the University of South Dakota School of Law as an assistant professor. She teaches international environmental law, property law, international law, water law and environmental law.

Jamie Cheshire '99 (CLAS) is the legislative director for U.S. Rep. Howard McKeon of California. She previously served as legislative director for former U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson of Connecticut.

Eugene Gartlan '99 M.B.A. is senior project manager at Toll Brothers, a leading builder of luxury homes based in Horsham, Pa. He previously worked as project manager in the company.

Shay Harrison '99 Ph.D. is director of operational development for Blasch Precision Ceramics in Albany, N.Y. He is responsible for overseeing manufacturing and improving overall quality.

Carrie MacMillan '99 (CLAS) married Hugh Bailey '99 (CLAS) on July 13, 2007. Their wedding party included several UConn alumni: Amy MacMillan '92 (CLAS), Melissa (Koerner) Reeve '99 (CLAS), Christine Brownlee '99 (CLAS), Stefanie Dion-Jones '00 (CLAS), Owen Bailey '90 (SFA) and Mark Theriault '01 (PHR). They both work for newspapers in Connecticut and visited Iceland on their honeymoon.

Alex Maderazo '99 M.B.A., '01 M.D. is an assistant attending radiologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He conducts research in several divisions of radiology.

Joseph Mele '99 M.B.A. is senior vice president of operations with Gerber Scientific in South Windsor, Conn.

Jennifer Zenowich '99 (CLAS) married Ryan Sandberg '00 (CLAS) in July 2007. She is a speech language pathologist for the West Haven (Conn.) schools, and he is an optical engineer for Goodrich Corporation.

Nicole Bakes '00 (CLAS) married John Deluca. She teaches science at Bunnell High School in Stratford, Conn.

Brian Drake '00 (BUS) and his wife, Kendra, announce the birth of a daughter, Madison Rae, on Oct. 4, 2007. They live in Middleboro, Mass.

Kyle Eckert '00 (ENG), an engineer with AARON Environmental in Plantsville, Conn., and her husband, Hans, announce the birth of daughter Emelia Louise on Aug. 5, 2007, who joins sister Lauren Lee, 3.

Tsuyoshi Fukuda '00 J.D. is an attorney at Gallagher & Cavanaugh, LLP, in Lowell, Mass.

Amy Grandison '00 (CLAS) married Timothy Swaller. The couple lives in Milford, Conn.

Katherine Henry '00 (CLAS) is an associate at Bailey Law Group in Washington, D.C., recognized by the Washingtonian as one of the "Great Places to Work" in the Washington, D.C., area.

Qaiyima Haleem Holloway '00 (ED) married Gary Allen McMillan '99 (CLAS) in September 2007. She is a treasury manager at HOP Energy, White Plains, N.Y., and he is a senior trainer at Verizon Wireless, Wallingford, Conn. The couple lives in Bridgeport, Conn.

Catherine (Bucci) Klar '00 (CLAS), '05 M.A. and her husband, Jonathan Klar '01 (BUS), '03 M.B.A., announce the birth of their daughter, Sarah Catherine, born on Oct. 12, 2007. The family lives in Brookfield, Conn.

Thomas Maguire '00 M.B.A. is vice president for Yellow Pages products at Knowledge Networks/SRI of Menlo Park, Calif.

Keya Maitra '00 Ph.D. is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Taylor Norton '00 (CLAS), '04 J.D. has rejoined the Hartford office of Halloran & Sage LLP. Her practice is focused on civil litigation and insurance defense litigation.

Sally A. Sakelaris '00 (CLAS), '02 M.S. is vice president of Patent Resources Group, Inc.,in Charlottesville, Va., a firm that provides courses and publications on patent practice.

Bill Zagorski '00 (CLAS) is director of development at Operation Fuel in Bloomfield, Conn., a nonprofit organization that offers emergency energy assistance to people who are not eligible for government assistance. He is pursuing a graduate certificate in nonprofit management at UConn's West Hartford campus.

Christopher Bevin '01 D.M.D. joined Southwestern Vermont Health Care as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Michelle Cruz '01 J.D. is the chief ombudsman for crime victims in Connecticut and the liaison with the state's criminal justice system.

Teresa Labarbera '01 (CLAS) is a morning general-assignment reporter for WFSB Eyewitness News, in Hartford, Conn.

Meredith Lee '01 (CLAS) is a print production manager at Canterbury Graphics Strategic Marketing in Wilton, Conn.

Richard Manzo '01 M.D. joined the practice of The Hand Center of Waterbury in Waterbury, Conn. He completed his orthopaedic surgery training at the UConn Health Center, where he received the Cavazos Award in 2006 for most outstanding resident/teacher.

Lauren Marcoccio '01 (CLAS) was a contestant on the tenth season of CBS's The Amazing Race. She teamed up with her father to try to win the 28-day race around the world.

Timothy McGarrigal '01 (SFA) appears in the 60-city national tour of the stage production of Disney's High School Musical.

Brenda Velez '01 (CLAS) is a publicist at Newsweek magazine. She previously worked for three years as a journalist for a national business magazine.

Courtney Brown '02 (BUS) was promoted to senior project manager at InsightExpress, LLC, located in Stamford, Conn.

Lindsay Clarkson '02 (CLAS) graduated from the University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, N.Y., in May 2007 and is doing a residency in emergency medicine at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

Janelle Francisco '02 (ED) is associate athletic trainer at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y.

Alyssa Gerlando '02 (CLAS) received a master of science in athletic administration from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., on Dec. 15, 2007.

Robert McDonald '02 Ph.D., assistant professor of management in the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University, received the university's Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Award.

Lauren Medvetz '02 (CLAS) is a meeting planner for Advanced Health Media in Philadelphia, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from Rutgers University.

David Natonski '02 (CLAS) is the press secretary for U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays of Connecticut.

Ludmyla Rekeda '02 M.S. announces the birth of a daughter, Anna Danica, with Alexander Rekeda '01 M.B.A. The family lives in Hoboken, N.J.

Michelle Royce '02 (CLAS) married Ryan James Williams on September 15, 2007. The couple lives in Coventry, R.I.

Hillary Royer '02 (CLAS) married Eric Sirois on June 30, 2007. The couple lives in Plainfield, Conn.

Joshua Shuart '02 Ph.D. is an assistant professor of sports management at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

Bethany (Brown) Villa '02 (ED) married Rick Villa on Sept. 22, 2007, in Edgartown, Mass. They live in Newport, R.I.

Roxanne Williams '02 M.D. is a family practitioner at the Apopka Family Health Center in Apopka, Fla.

Elizabeth Acey '03 (CLAS) is a substance abuse counselor at the Hartford dispensary in New Britain, Conn. She received her master's degree in mental health counseling from Central Connecticut State University in 2007.

Alumni News & Notes Menu

Yvonne Davis ’04 M.A. enjoys a challenge, and it has been that way for as long as she can remember.

Photo by Peter Morenus

By the time she was 4 years old, Davis says, she had announced to her parents that she would one day “know the president and travel the world.”

Today, Davis does know President George W. Bush, having served as a member of the 2004 African Americans for Bush National Steering Committee, and she has traveled the globe, now at 53 countries and counting.

As president and CEO of DAVISCommunications, a company she founded in 1996, Davis works with companies around the world to develop communication strategies and provide professional training to help reach their business goals.

Davis and her colleagues coach individuals and firms of all sizes in public relations; offer insight into effective management practices; and conduct training and workshops focused on leadership, negotiating skills, and other areas.

Last February, Davis traveled to Tanzania to run an intensive, two-week course she developed on women’s leadership in government.

She also lectures to audiences worldwide on a range of topics, including American presidential politics, small business and crisis communications. She says leadership and ethics have become a new focus for her recently.

Davis doesn’t stop there. She has attained multiple advanced degrees, including a master’s degree in political theory from UConn in 2004, and is currently seeking a doctoral degree in leadership and the mastery of change from the Thierry Graduate School of Leadership in Brussels, Belgium.

“I’m a natural multitasker,” Davis admits.

“I have the philosophy that a person can achieve even their craziest thoughts — they just have to persevere. Once the momentum is in that direction and you have the tools, there is really nothing to stop you.”

Davis says her UConn education is a factor in developing her career.

“The UConn political science department gave me a strong foundation,” she says.

“Looking at what I do now worldwide, I can connect it directly to my time at UConn. I was able to apply my learning almost immediately.

“I’m living what I studied. Every day in my life is an adventure.”

— Stefanie Dion Jones ’00 (CLAS)

Katherine Bakes '03 (CLAS) teaches Spanish at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan, Conn.

Marc Bovino '03 (CLAS) played the role of Renfield in Dracula at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Ky.

Molli R. Jones '03 Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the mathematics department of Immaculata University, Immaculata, Pa.

Kathryn Litwin '03 M.D. is on the medical and dental staff of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Conn.

Frank Macchi '03 (CLAS) is a social studies teacher at Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Conn. He received his master's degree in secondary education from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2007.

Benjamin Pinkhasik '03 (ENG), '06 M.B.A. started a film and entertainment industry social networking site, www.MyMovieNetwork.com, with several business partners over the past year.

Helen Sabolek '03 M.A., '06 Ph.D., married Joseph Consiglio '03 M.S., '04 Ph.D., on June 24, 2007 on Cape Cod, Mass. She is a research scientist with Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital, and he is a product manager with Harvard Apparatus in Holliston, Mass. The couple resides in Belmont, Mass.

Lindsey (Muir) Turner '03 (SFA) married Nathan Turner '03 (CLAS) on Sept. 8, 2007, in Burlington, Vt. She is director of marketing and promotions for the Litchfield Performing Arts Jazz Festival and summer camp and recently released a compact disc of her own music, You're Nearer: Love Songs of the '30s and '40s. He is a data analyst working for Columbia University.

Naomi Wasser '03 (BUS) married Jack Mozer in September 2007. The couple resides in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Jennifer Bryant '04 (CLAS) married Jesse Glaude '03 (CLAS) in April 2006, and have a daughter, Madilynn, born on April 25, 2007. They are both teachers in the Windham, Conn., school system.

Valerie Treco '04 (BUS) married Jason Graf '04 (BUS) on Sept. 1, 2007. She is an M.B.A. student at UConn, and he is a director of client relations at MetLife in New York City. The couple lives in Fairfield, Conn.

Geri Izbicki '04 (CLAS) married Brian D. Jennings in May 2007. The couple lives in Ann Arbor, Maine.

Shirey Moore '04 (CLAS) recently spent 10 months in the Marshall Islands, teaching English to children, as a volunteer with WorldTeach.

Susan (Crossett) Rudnickas '04 (CLAS) and her husband, Donald Rudnickas, Jr. '05 (CLAS), announce the birth of their first child, daughter Amy Jean, on Nov. 6, 2007.

Alexa Smith '04 (SFA) was named program coordinator for Internet services in the Office of University Communications at UConn. She previously was a program assistant in the First Year Program in UConn's Center for Undergraduate Education.

Melissa Toscano '04 (CLAS) is an assistant for communications and publications with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation in Washington, D.C.

Alumni News & Notes Menu

Lani Fortier ’04 (ED) had served as a volunteer for many years, but her interest in humanitarian work was sparked when she traveled to Brazil in the summer of 2004 as a member of the UConn women’s soccer team.

Photo by Charity: water

“We were staying in a nice hotel, and I looked up the hill and saw all these people living in shacks,” recalls Fortier, who was a senior on the team that won the 2004 Big East championship and advanced to the NCAA finals.

“That was the first time I noticed the disparity in how people around the world live.”

After completing her degree in exercise science, Fortier spent a year working with Mercy Ships, a global charity that uses ocean vessels to offer free surgery and medical care to people living in port areas of third-world countries.

While visiting Liberia, Fortier learned of an orphanage for 153 children that was about to be shut down because it was in disrepair. She recruited friends to raise enough money to rebuild the orphanage.

Through her work with Mercy Ship, Fortier met fellow volunteer Scott Harrison, who was serving as the organization’s photographer. They talked about their passion for health issues in developing nations, particularly the lack of clean drinking water or reliable sanitation.

“Without safe water, nothing else matters,” Fortier says. “There are over a billion people around the world who don’t have safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.”

When Fortier and Harrison returned to New York in 2006, they launched a non-profit organization, simply named Charity, to address humanitarian issues, beginning with clean water and sanitation.

For the first eight months of Charity’s operation, Fortier earned no salary and lived with a friend. Now known as Charity: Water, the organization has installed more than 250 wells in African countries, working to ensure the wells will be sustainable.

“I want to help develop programs in communities, not give handouts,” says Fortier, who is pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable international development at Brandeis University.

In recognition of her work in Africa, Fortier was presented with the 2007 Humanitarian Award from the UConn Alumni Association.

— Alix Boyle

Alumni News & Notes Menu

Lindsay (Shafer) Bessette '05 (CANR), a veterinary technician with Beckett and Associates of Glastonbury, Conn., married Andrew Bessette in October 2006.

Todd Clemens '05 (CLAS) joined Barnum Financial Group in Shelton, Conn., as a financial services representative.

Myeisha Gillette '05 (CANR) is a staff physical therapist with Aquacare in Salisbury, M.D., focusing on amputations/prosthesis training, joint arthroplasties, wound care and nerve injuries.

Kelly (Burke) Lamb '05 (SFS) and Craig Lamb were married Sept. 15, 2007, in Mystic, Conn. She is completing her master's degree in educational administration at the University at Albany while working as a counselor for transfer students. The couple lives in Albany, N.Y.

Domenick Scarfo '05 (CLAS) is a case manager and team leader for MetLife, in Hartford, Conn., where he has worked since graduation.

Emily Scholl '05 D.M.D. joined the B Street Health Center in Lewiston, Maine, as a part of its community clinical services area.

Vida Sumrell '05 M.P.H. was married on Jan. 7, 2008. She is a claims processor for Social Security Disability.

Kevin Hanlon '06 (6th year) is the assistant principal of Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington, Conn.

Kathryn Jurczik '06 (CANR) married Michael Hollis in June 2007. She is assistant superintendent at the New London Country Club. The couple lives in Norwich, Conn.

Matt Nuzie '06 (CLAS), a residential and commercial real estate agent with RE/MAX, was named 2007 Sports Person of the Year for Trumbull, Conn., for his accomplishments as a member of the UConn football team by the Fairfield County Sports Commission.

Michael Riolino '06 (BUS) is a CPA at Schwartz & Hofflich and a photographer for the East Haven (Conn.) Historical Society.

Janet Robinson '06 Ph.D. is the superintendent of schools in Newtown, Conn.

Erin Wenzler '06 (CLAS) is a marketing coordinator for CB Richard Ellis, a worldwide real estate services firm, in its Saddle Brook, N.J., office with responsibilities for flyers, brochures, presentations, Web content and other marketing materials. She previously was an account coordinator at Bernard Hodes Group, handling national advertising accounts.

Sara (Burridge) Yezefski '06 (BGS) and her husband, Brent, announce the birth of their son, Jackson Henry, born on May 7, 2007.

Albert Barrueco '07 J.D. is an associate specializing in employment litigation at the law offices of Day Pitney, LLP, in Hartford, Conn.

Jill Davidson '07 (ED) is teaching at the Abraham Pierson School in Clinton, Conn.

Robert Flanagan '07 (CCS) is the zoning and wetlands enforcement officer for Redding, Conn. He is on the board of directors of the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission.

Cullen Jumper '07 M.D. is a resident at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He lives with his wife, Allison, in Lebanon.

Mark Kiniry '07 (CLAS) is vice president, national sales director, investments, for ALPS Fund Services, Inc., a leading provider of outsourced and advisory solutions to the investment management industry.

Amy Zinser '07 J.D. married Robert Trudel in August 2007. She is a law clerk for Judge Alvin W. Thompson of the Federal District Court in Hartford.

Alumni News & Notes Menu

Alumni News & Notes compiled by compiled by Emily Rosenkrans '09 (CLAS) and Tina Modzelewski