Class Notes Winter 2024
Class Notes
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James Rudin, B.A. ’55, co-authored “Why (Not) Me: Searching For God When We Suffer” (ipub Connections, 2023), the story of his friend’s battle with hairy cell leukemia.
Bruno I. Aploks, B.S. ’77, M.D. ’83, recently retired from Slocum-Dickson Medical Group, where he practiced as an otolaryngologist and a head and neck surgery specialist.
Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak, M.F.A. ’77, received a 2022-23 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for a project in Ukraine (reassigned to Poland, due to the war). In 2024, her artwork was showcased at Texas A&M. Hooks-Epstein Gallery will feature her solo show in Houston next year.
Louella Bryant, B.A. ’71, Ed.D. ’20, published “While in Darkness There Is Light: Idealism and Tragedy on an Australian Commune” (Black Lawrence Press, 2008), which is now available from Audible Publishing Services in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio book.
Bob Frishman, B.A. ’73, published “Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentleman, 1730-1803” (The American Philosophical Society Press, 2024).
Neil Harpe, M.A. ’76, published “Pictured in Time: An Artist’s Journey Around the Chesapeake” (Fox Road Productions, 2024), which showcases more than 125 previously unpublished photographs of the Chesapeake Bay from the 1980s and ’90s, along with the artwork inspired by these iconic images.
Crystal (Blankenship) Kinzel, B.B.A. ’78, was re-elected clerk of court and comptroller for Collier County, Florida.
Javier A. Lopez, J.D. ’76, joined Vedder Price as a shareholder in the Miami office.
Andy Shapiro, B.A. ’75, M.U.R.P. ’85, has retired after nearly 35 years as a management consultant in corporate site selection and relocation, most recently serving as principal at Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company, LLC.
William R. Simpson, M.S.A. ’75, published “Morty Martin and Dancing Francis” (Newman Springs Publishing, 2024) under the pen name Nathan Pfleger. The book tells the story of a scientist and his unusual pet.
Steve Vender, B.A. ’73, published “Private Instigator: A Journey Through the Underworld of Disorganized Crime” (fmsbw, 2024), in which he recounts stories from his time as a private investigator.
Laurie Fenton Ambrose, B.A. ’87, co-founder, president and CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer, recently presented actor Tony Goldwyn (“Oppenheimer,” “Law & Order”) with her organization’s most distinguished award, the Rays of Hope Award, for his work starring in national public service announcements on the dangers of lung cancer.
David Araujo, M.D. ’84, was selected to serve on the 2024 ACGME Family Medicine Residency Review Committee.
Joseph Babits, B.A. ’85, M.B.A. ’88, was recently selected as Top Lawyer of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals for his outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to the industry.
David A. Cohen, J.D. ’88, recently joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s executive committee.
Ken Gause, M.A. ’87, joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a researcher in IDA’s Global Dynamics and Intelligence Division.
Michael F. Heim, J.D. ’87, has earned selection in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 guide as one of the country’s top intellectual property attorneys.
S. Craig Holden, J.D. ’80, was selected as an American Health Law Association fellow. AHLA is the nation’s largest nonpartisan educational organization devoted to legal issues in the health care field.
Daniel Moses Laby, M.D.’87, RESD ’89, director of SportsVisionNYC and a sports vision consultant with Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates and the Korean Baseball Organization’s Lotte Giants, recently published his second book, “Eye of the Champion: Unlocking the Power of Sports Vision for Peak Performance.”
Andrew J. Paul, J.D. ’85, retired from his position as vice president of labor relations for Metro-North Railroad in New York City. He is opening a labor arbitration practice in Westchester County.
Sarah Schneiderman, B.F.A. ’80, has had her work, “Deqa Dhalac — First African-Born Woman Mayor In the United States,” selected for inclusion in Compass Gallery’s first National Juried Exhibition, focused on the theme “Transformation and Change.” Schneiderman’s portrait, created from non-recyclable trash and repurposed objects, reflects the resilience of Somali Americans and highlights the responsibility of government officials to address waste.
Victor Vallo Jr., M.M. ’81, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, is an adjunct professor of music at both Le Moyne College and the American College of Music. He is also the music director and conductor of the Syracuse Chamber Orchestra, Auburn Chamber Orchestra and the Oasis Chamber Orchestra.
Robert Brown, B.S. ’97, was appointed president of J2 Engineers, Inc. dba J2.
Edgar D. Bueno, J.D. ’97, joined Hunter Maclean as a partner in the firm’s health care and litigation group.
Jason Drenning, B.S. ’97, M.S. ’00, was promoted to president and CEO of STATinMED, a health care consulting organization focused on real-world evidence and health economics/outcomes research.
Dianne Duva, B.A. ’97, a founding partner of the wealth management firm Arlington Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara, California, has been named the company's new managing partner.
Alan M. Freeman, J.D. ’96, joined the senior leadership team at Uncommon Cures.
Ali Gharavi, M.D. ’90, was recently named chair of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and physician-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Michele Zamarra Givens, M.B.A. ’92, completed her service in the British monarchy from 2020 to 2024. She served Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew and King Charles III during this time. She held the title of Princess Michele, duchess of York, and princess consort, while residing in Virginia.
Marjorie J. Just, J.D. ’94, recently became a shareholder of Offit Kurman, P.A.
Lori S. Kovak, J.D. ’97, has been named to the “Daily Journal”’s 2024 list of Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California. The annual list highlights the “top performing intellectual property attorneys” who work in patent litigation, trademark and copyright.
David Leibowitz, B.B.A. ’92, recently started a new role as vice president of finance and CFO for the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.
Terence Nicholson, B.A. ’91, has had his work, “Safety Jacket: A Mourning in Chinatown,” selected for inclusion in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s “Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond” exhibition, which celebrates the impact of Asian Americans in Washington, D.C.
Deirdre O'Leary, B.A. ’91, recently celebrated 20 years of employment with Leidos. She serves as a consultant assigned to special projects.
Ethan R. O’Shea, J.D. ’93, has been named to the 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list in the areas of employment and labor, and employment litigation. Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers selects no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state to receive this honor.
Tony Palermo, B.A. ’91, M.P.A. ’93, was elected vice president of membership and outreach services for the American Planning Association Florida Chapter.
Stefanie Reeves, B.A. ’95, is the deputy chief of public policy and engagement for the American Psychological Association. She recently received its 2024 Professional Performance Award.
Holly Rymon, B.A. ’90, has spent the past 30 years working in film and television. She is currently a producer on the HBO series “The Gilded Age,” which has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, including “Outstanding Drama Series.”
Kara Sidener, B.A. ’95, is now teaching AP psychology and criminal justice to high school students in Prince William County Schools after a 25-year career as a special agent with the FBI.
Dana Lynn Thomas, M.D./M.P.H. ’98, chief medical officer and assistant commandant for health, safety and work-life for the U.S. Coast Guard, retired this year after 30 years of uniformed service.
Jon Tuteur, B.B.A. ’99, published his first book, “Seizing Today: Discovering Purpose and Authenticity Amidst Life’s Extraordinary Challenges” (Manuscripts LLC, 2024), a memoir about living with epilepsy, which affects one in 26 Americans.
Stacey Young, M.B.A. ’97, M.S. ’00, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, “Student Engagement’s Impact on Academic Performance for Nontraditional Students in a Community College Environment,” at Marymount University.
Michael Y. Bennett, B.A. ’02, published “Between the Lines: A Philosophy of Theatre” (Oxford University Press, 2024) and “The Routledge Companion to Absurdist Literature” (Routledge, 2024).
Jason B. Blank, B.A. ’02, was sworn in as the 37th president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Lesley Bryant, B.A. ’03, is the owner of D.C.’s Lady Clipper Barber Shop, which is staffed exclusively by women of color.
Bridget Cooper, Ed.D. ’05, a former GW employee in student affairs and visiting professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, published her seventh book, “Unflappable: How Smart People Quit Overthinking, Ditch the Drama, and Thrive at Work” (Summit Press Publishers, 2023).
Dana Cooper, B.A. ’06, is the general counsel for GreenVest, LLC, a small environmental developer specializing in stream and wetland restorations and nature-based climate resiliency solutions.
Shannon Dalton, M.B.A. ’06, has acquired Quinn Fiduciary Services, a fiduciary firm based in Santa Barbara, California, following her licensure as a professional fiduciary in 2020 and a successful career running her own insurance company and working with Aflac.
Hitesh Dev, M.S. ’02, is the COO and co-founder of Devout Corporation, the leading health care technology company supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Department of Commerce with electronic health records implementation and analytics.
Teresa Diaz, M.A. ’00, opened Red Dot Art Gallery in Oaxaca, Mexico. The gallery specializes in contemporary art by Oaxaca artists and multidisciplinary events like artist talks, art tours, hands-on workshops and performances.
Chris Dougherty, B.A. ’06, and Kristen Tully, B.A. ’08, married on April 6. The wedding was attended by about 26 GW friends and fraternity brothers.
Julie Gordon, B.A. ’04, was named editorial director of “New Jersey Bride” magazine in addition to her role as editor of “New Jersey Monthly.”
Ariel Handelman, B.A. ’03, is the new director of strategic communications, brand and marketing at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
Kate Hash, B.A. ’06, signed a two-book deal with Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Her debut novel, “Gracie Harris Is Under Construction,” is tentatively scheduled for release in summer 2025.
Erin E. Hertzog, J.D. ’09, joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP as a partner in the firm’s health care and life sciences industry practice.
Laura Vartain Horn, J.D. ’08, joined Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in its intellectual property practice group.
Jeanelle Johnson, B.B.A ’01, was named managing partner of PwC’s Washington, D.C., metro office.
Dan LeClair, B.A. ’05, now serves as executive director of alumni and donor relations with the University of Vermont Foundation, where he works closely with the Larner College of Medicine.
Luis E. Lorenzana, J.D. ’06, has been named office managing shareholder of Littler’s San Diego office.
Andrew MacWilliams, B.A. ’04, was promoted to chief innovation officer at Precision Talent Solutions.
Nathan S. Mammen, J.D.’04, joined Snell & Wilmer’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner in the intellectual property group.
Lori Metcalf, M.P.P. ’05, Ph.D. ’12, is a senior analyst with the Office of the D.C. Auditor, where she conducts performance audits to assess the effectiveness and equity of District government programs.
Michael Nemerof, B.A. ’08, is an attorney at Property Litigation Group, PLLC, in South Florida, specializing in representing homeowners against their insurance company for property damage claims.
Ricardo J. Pineres, J.D. ’09, has been appointed chief risk officer at the United States Senate Federal Credit Union.
James Platte, M.S. ’05, joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a research staff member in the Strategy, Forces and Resources Division of IDA’s Systems and Analyses Center.
Patti Kelly Ralabate, Ed.D. ’08, published her fourth book, “True Inclusion with UDL: Designing to the Edges to Reach Every Learner” (Brookes Publishing, 2024).
Rudy Rodas, B.B.A. ’08, was recently appointed to serve as state director for interim U.S. Sen. George Helmy (D-N.J.).
Katie Rodriguez, M.B.A ’05, was promoted to executive vice president of capital markets at Housing Partnership Network.
Christine P. Dela Rosa, B.B.A. ’06, published “Between Two Poles” (Legacy Book Press LLC, 2024), a memoir focusing on a relationship that starts and grows at GW.
Will Sparks, Ph.D. ’02, has published “Actualized Teamwork: Unlocking the Culture Code for Optimal Performance” (SHRM Books, 2024), which debuted as an Amazon No. 1 Best Seller.
Tim Tobin, Ed.D. ’02, published “The Clarity Advantage: Overcome Ten Communication Pitfalls and Boost Your Influence” (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2024), which shows how clear communication leads to credibility and influence.
Tracy Badua, J.D. ’10, co-authored “The Cookie Crumbles” (HarperCollins, 2024), a middle-grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry.
Jennifer Bates, M.A. ’14, was commissioned as a provisional deacon in the North Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in June. Bates graduated from Brite Divinity School in May with a Master of Arts in theology in ministry.
Elizabeth Berry, B.A. ’12, received the “Phoenix Business Journal”’s “40 Under 40” award recognizing the area’s enterprising young executives making an impact in their fields.
Katelyn B. Cramp, J.D. ’19, joined Fox Rothschild in Denver, Colorado, as an associate in the litigation department.
Nichol Gabor, M.A. ’19, is the Nathalie L. Klaus curator of costume and textiles at the Valentine museum in Richmond, Virginia.
Christopher P. Healey, J.D. ’11, joined Davis Polk as a partner in the investment management practice in Washington, D.C.
Jacqui Heinrich, B.A. ’11, was promoted to senior White House correspondent at FOX News Media.
Bryan Hilley, M.A. ’15, is the associate registrar at Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art.
Garrett Jackson, M.P.P.’13, currently serves as director of philanthropy and communications at an award-winning affordable housing developer in the D.C. region.
Molly Kunselman, M.A. ’13, launched MKD Interiors, a full-service studio offering interior design, decoration and coaching.
Kacy Lawrence, M.P.P. ’10, received her Ph.D. in educational research and evaluation from Virginia Tech in May.
Jose Rey Antonio Lesaca, B.A. ’15, currently serves as associate chief counsel at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and was recently recognized with an Outstanding Service Award for his efforts in advising the FDA on a number of novel and complex legal issues.
Chris R. Marando, J.D. ’10, joined Perkins Coie’s intellectual property and patent litigation practices as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office.
Aaron R. Modiano, J.D. ’10, joined Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., one of Florida’s largest environmental law firms, as a senior attorney at the firm’s West Palm Beach office.
Matthew R. Mollozzi, J.D. ’13, M.B.A. ’13, has been named to the 2024 Lawdragon “500 X – The Next Generation” list. The list recognizes future leaders in law and those who “have eyes turned toward the future and an undiminished belief in the opportunity to make an impact.”
Steven Mumford, M.P.P. ’18, was promoted to associate professor of political science with tenure and MPA program director at the University of New Orleans. He recently co-edited the “Research Handbook on Program Evaluation.”
Jane Pierce, M.A. ’13, is a project manager in the modern and contemporary art department at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. She and her husband welcomed their first baby, Vivian, in July.
Martina Polasek, L.L.M.’12, has begun her term as the secretary-general of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes following her election in April.
Saurabh Prabhakar, J.D. ’14, has been named counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in the San Francisco office.
Trevor R. Salter, J.D. ’10, joined Troutman Pepper’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner in corporate practice.
Cathy Felmlee Shanholtz, O.T.D. ’16, joined McDaniel College as the inaugural program director of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The program is expected to launch in summer 2026, pending approval by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
Mourad M. Shehebar, M.D. ’11, was promoted to program director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
Simoon Shiferaw, M.B.A. ’10, has published a meditative adult coloring book to promote mindfulness and well-being.
Mohammad M. Shouman, J.D. ’14, has joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a United States officer and judge advocate general. This marks his first station as a direct commission lawyer, where he holds the rank of LTJG. Shouman was also recently named to the Arab American Foundation’s 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes young Arab Americans across various fields.
Adriano Lima e Silva, M.S.A. ’19, has been hired as assistant professor of accounting at McDaniel College.
Sadie Thimsen, M.P.A. ’13, currently serves as a general services officer at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador.
Yuta Watanabe, B.A. ’18, left the NBA to play in his native Japan.
John B. Allen, J.D. ’21, joined Spencer Fane’s litigation and dispute resolution practice group as an associate in the firm’s Salt Lake City office.
Libby Barnard, M.F.A. ’20, recently performed in the world-premiere play “The Bed Trick,” at Seattle Shakespeare Company.
Julia B. Heasley, J.D. ’22, joined Fox Rothschild in Princeton, New Jersey, as an associate in the family law department.
Donavan Hoffman, B.A. ’24, is pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Northern Illinois University.
Eric Lee, M.A. ’20, joined “The New York Times” in June as a photo fellow and covers Capitol Hill and the White House.
Theresa Menders, M.P.H. ’20, co-founded “The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis,” a global refugee portrait project that aims to humanize the women, men and children seeking safety from conflict and persecution.
John Perrino, M.P.A. ’20, joined the Internet Society as a senior policy and advocacy expert. He leads U.S. policy and works with partners and policymakers around the globe to advocate for an open, secure and trustworthy internet for everyone.
Georgia Turpin, B.A. ’23, recently moved to Aviano Air Base, Italy, to serve as an Air Force intelligence officer at the 31st Fighter Wing. In addition to serving her country, she is pursuing her master’s degree in public policy at Northwestern University.
Laura Wilson, M.A. ’24, is the new collections specialist at the National Building Museum. She is currently cataloging the permanent photography collections and collaborating with the team on an upcoming visible storage exhibition.
Regina Wright, M.P.P. ’20, was recently elected as the first woman president of the Ohio State Council of Machinists, the political arm of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers in Ohio.