1950s
[1956]
JAMES FREED (BA) served in the U.S. Army for two years after graduating from USD; he reports that he married his wife, Helen, in 1958. He worked at Ryan Aeronautical from 1958 to 1993. James and Helen raised five children and are both now retired.
1960s
[1960]
ALEXANDER HARPER (BA, JD ’63) was named a 2016 Top Lawyer in the March issue of San Diego Magazine. “I had the luck and the honor to be in Professor C. Hugh Friedman’s first corporate law class,” he says. “He made the complex subject of corporations understandable and fun to study, so much so that a small group of us asked him and a few other professors to prepare us for the August 1963 bar instead of driving to Los Angeles to take the bar prep courses. The majority of us, including me, passed the state bar exams on the first attempt. He knew most of us did not have much money, so they charged very little for their work. This state bar cram course is not known by many, but is one more compassionate side of this great legal scholar.”
[1965]
KATHY LUNDY DERENGOWSKI (BA) was awarded first prize for her poem, “San Onofre,” in the California State Poetry Society’s Best of Your Best contest for previously published poems.
JO (KOZICKI) FRITSCHEL (BA) traveled to Machu Picchu in Peru and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. While in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jo contributed to the earthquake recovery efforts.
[1968]
WILLIAM BACHOFNER (BA) was installed in the California Community College Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame on May 16, 2016. Bill coached golf at Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif., from 1986 to 2008 and has been the association’s state historian since 1994.
[1969]
STEVE CLOUD (JD) says he still remembers his three years at USD and his fellow day-class students, and he wishes to say hello to each of them.
1970s
[1971]
DWIGHT MOORE (BA, JD ’74) is the supervising criminal judge at the San Bernardino Justice Center in California.
[1975]
ANGELA NEWMAN (BA) is a staff marriage and family therapist at Lomi Psychotherapy Clinic in Santa Rosa, Calif. The clinic provides affordable and compassionate mental health care to the community.
[1977]
CHRISTINE BOLOGNA (JD) reports that she and her husband, John LaRocco ’77, have a son, Jeffrey, who is a second-year student at USD in the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering.
GLENDA GERDE (BA) writes, “Working in Turkey and loving the people and the great city of Istanbul, as well as travel adventures in Europe. My little dog, Mr. Happy, loves our long walks to the beautiful Bosphorus, once the waters of Constantinople.”
STEPHEN LEGOMSKY (JD) retired after 34 years as a law professor at Washington University. He then served as senior counselor to the secretary of homeland security in Washington, D.C.
JOAN STEIDINGER (BA) published her first book, Sisterhood in Sports: How Female Athletes Collaborate and Compete, which won five literary awards. She is working on a chapter titled “Female Collaborative Competition” for an anthology about women in sports. She is also working on a new book, Inequality in Sport: Female Athletes.
[1978]
BILL DeGRENIER (BBA) retired from the San Diego Fire Department as a captain after more than 30 years with the department.
[1979]
STEVE COHN (JD) retired in
December 2014 and reports that his daughter was married last year. He also took a Spanish immersion class in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and traveled extensively with his wife, Catherine. This year, he is recovering from surgery and writing a book on local politics.
DAVID PARRY (BA) writes, “My biggest dream for USD: Become an independent Division 1 football team, play on alternate Saturdays to San Diego State. Only Army, BYU and Notre Dame remain as FBS independents for football. USD is located in the most beautiful city in America. Countless top college football players would love to play in San Diego. As an independent, USD could play virtually any team. And big-time football would put USD on the map nationally!”
ADAM SARANCIK (JD) reports that he and Karen Sarancik ’85 celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 25. Since graduating from USD, Adam worked as a civil litigation attorney, a small-business owner, obtained his Master of Arts in Teaching from Western Oregon University, and has been a real estate broker for 25 years. He has coached youth sports for players ages 8-22 and is the author of Coaching Champions for Life – Coaching the Whole Person, Not Just the Athlete (Amazon.com or Xulon Press, 2012). Adam is also the athletic director for CYO baseball in Portland, Ore. Karen was a business litigation attorney in San Diego and in Portland she has been a school administrator and a business manager. She is currently an assistant escrow officer. Karen also participated in the Singing Christmas Tree production for 10 years as a singer and was in charge of wardrobe and choreography. Adam and Karen have two daughters and three grandchildren.
1980s
[1980]
THOMAS BALESTRERI (JD) is managing shareholder of the San Diego law firm of Balestreri, Potocki & Holmes, which celebrated its 25-year anniversary by supporting the Fred Finch Youth Center Charity Golf Tournament. “We selected this event to commemorate our 25th anniversary because the Fred Finch Youth Center has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the community and we respect the work they do providing supportive services to high-risk children and their families,” Thomas says. The firm also served as the key volunteer team and committed to provide 125 volunteer hours for the May 2016 event.
SUSAN BEATTY-HITES (BA) moved from Coronado, Calif., to Atlanta in October 2015.
RANDALL FONG (MEd) completed his 16th year as a college counselor at Sacred Hearts Academy, an all-girl Catholic school in Honolulu, Hawaii. He reports that his wife, Linda, is a flight attendant for Delta Airlines. Randall’s daughter, Marissa, received a master’s degree in business at Hawaii Pacific University and his son, Nathan, is a junior at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he also works as a resident assistant in the dorms.
MICHELLE JOHN (BA) reports that she and her husband, Christopher, founded New GateWay Solutions. They work among the churches of San Diego County to help the unemployed and underemployed find jobs or start businesses. “I have been out of touch with my classmates from 1976-1980,” Michelle says. “Hopefully, I get to see some of them again (or meet new friends) by attending some of the alumni events. I have fond memories of my years at USD.”
[1982]
ROBERT EATINGER (JD) retired as senior deputy general counsel from the Central Intelligence Agency in December 2015. His tenure included four months during which he served as the CIA’s acting general counsel. Bob founded SpyLaw Consulting to provide consulting services to U.S. businesses faced with requests from U.S. intelligence and security services as well as to law firms that have a temporary need for expertise in intelligence law.
[1983]
JUAN MANUEL ESPINO MORA (MA) received the San Diego Latino Champions Award in the field of education and he has retired from the San Diego Unified School District.
THOMAS OERTEL (MSN) retired from Grossmont College after teaching nursing for 29 years. He received his Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University in 2010. He plans to do nursing research projects and write. He reports that he has been married to Susan (Reeves) Oertel ’86 for 28 years. They live in San Diego and have two grown daughters.
[1984]
MICHAEL MULLARD (BA) completed a PhD in clinical psychology and is working at the County of Orange Health Care Agency in Mission Viejo, Calif. He is also a spiritual director and a retreat and conference leader.
KATHLEEN (FREITAS) NELSON (BA) reports that she was married in 2014. She also visited Quito, Ecuador, on a mission trip in 2011 to spread the gospel to people in remote, rural villages.
VICTOR TORRES (BA, JD ’88) participated as an instructor in the Oral Advocacy Skill-Building Immersion Seminar (OASIS) under the Justice in Mexico program in Mexico City at UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México). His first grandchild, Ruby Rose, was born on April 6.
[1985]
GARY DOKES (MBA) is the chief investment officer for the Arizona Community Foundation, the state’s largest private provider of college scholarships, which awards millions of dollars to help students achieve their educational goals.
NEIL EVANS (JD) celebrated his 25-year anniversary with the U.S.
Attorney’s Office in Oregon. “Enjoying the Northwest and my 15-year-old son,” he writes.
JOHN KOWNACKI (BA) practices ophthalmology in San Diego and specializes in laser vision correction.
[1988]
SHEILA (WHITE) OLANDER (BA) has been with the Department of Treasury, IRS-Criminal Investigation for more than 25 years and is currently the director of special investigative techniques at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. She reports that she lives in Fairfax, Va., with her husband, Curt, and their two children.
BILL PARROTT (BBA) founded his own investment and financial planning firm in Austin, Texas, and he works with clients in California and Texas. The firm’s website can be found at www.parrottwealth.com.
[1989]
ROSEMARY COATES (MBA) published a supply chain legal book written in collaboration with an attorney. Her fifth book — titled, Legal Blacksmith: How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes — is available on Amazon.com. Rosemary is president of her own global supply chain consulting firm and is the executive director of the Reshoring Institute, which is a collaboration with USD’s Supply Chain Management Institute.
ANNA (PATZMAN) UMSTADTER (BA) reports that her husband and their daughter are back in San Diego after four years in the Bay Area. Anna sells residential real estate through HomeSmart Realty West. “Our daughter is now 6 and keeping us very busy!” she says.
CHARLES WARD (BA) launched Word with Ward, a copywriting business.
1990s
[1991]
SERGIO GIACOMINI (LLM) is president of the Swiss Bar Association SAV-FSA. The website is at www.sav-fsa.ch.
[1992]
SCOTT KAWALL (BA) writes,
“Getting through another winter in Chicago while watching my three daughters grow up so quickly and seeing them excel in academics and athletics. Oldest daughter, Ashlee, is in her second year playing D1 softball at the University of Evansville. Middle daughter, Madison, is recognized on Illinois high school all-state basketball and softball teams, and youngest, Lauren, started freshman year starting alongside her sister on a state-ranked high school softball team. All while getting high honors recognition academically! My wife and I are so proud of their accomplishments!”
ERIKA SANCHEZ (BA) wrote her first novel, Ernestine, which is available in paperback on Amazon.com.
PATRICIA SCHNELL (JD) has worked for Travelers Insurance for more than 11 years. Her area of practice is workers’ compensation defense.
[1993]
DAVID HUCH (BA, JD ’02)
reports that he and fellow USD law alumni, Derek and Suzanne Emge, achieved one of the largest California false advertising class action settlements in 2016. The $50 million settlement was from a class action lawsuit against J.C. Penney for falsely advertising original prices and sale prices. The case was featured on the TODAY show and CBS This Morning.
SAHAND POULADI (BBA) writes, “Getting accepted to USD was a dream. From the moment I entered the campus, I was incredibly impressed with the faculty and the student body. As an international student, I enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and really immersed myself in the USD culture. Today, 25 years on, I own two successful businesses and truly know what I experienced and learned at USD helped get me to where I am today! This place is not just a university but a life school! USD we love you!”
JOANNE ZIPAY (MFA) published Come, You Spirits! The Supernatural World of Shakespeare, which is available on Amazon.com.
[1994]
REGINA BALLARD (BA) received a Doctorate of Ministry in educational leadership from Virginia Theological Seminary. Her thesis was titled That’s So ’70s: Making Feminist Hermeneutics Relevant for the 21st Century
Adolescent.
MATT ZELLER (BA) transitioned his private family practice to a concierge medical model in 2015. His practice’s website is www.kolvita.com.
[1995]
ELENA HARTWELL (BA) is a successful playwright and recently published her first work of fiction, One Dead, Two to Go (Camel Press, Seattle), the first of a three-part series. Elena earned a PhD in theater writing from the University of Georgia in 2004.
BETHANNE (YOXSIMER) PAULSRUD (MEd) completed her doctorate in 2014 and then worked as an assistant professor of English at Dalarna University in Sweden. Since the summer of 2015, she has worked on postdoctoral research at the Centre for Research on Bilingualism at Stockholm University. BethAnne’s research focuses on the roles of multilingualism and interculturality in education policy, national curricula and teacher education. She collaborates with researchers from Helsinki University and they plan to conduct comparative studies.
[1996]
NICOLE ALEXANDER (BA) was named one of New Jersey’s “2016 Best 50 Women in Business” by NJBIZ, a leading New Jersey business journal, in March 2016. The awards program honors New Jersey’s successful and influential women in business who have been making headlines in their field. Nicole is an attorney and director of business development at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter.
DARIN CHASE (BBA) is an eight-year back-country ski patrol veteran. “Missing the snow,” he says.
JASON EBERL (BA) holds the Semler Chair for Medical Ethics and is professor of philosophy at Marian University in Indianapolis. He has published three books this year: The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy, The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy, and The Routledge Guidebook to Aquinas Summa Theologiae. He reported that he sent his daughter off to college recently.
[1997]
JENNIFER CAREY (BA) started a California nonprofit organization called FUN 4 GOOD, which creates “fun events for good causes.” She also teaches English within the community college system.
LUIS MASSIEU (BBA) and Marta Catala announce the birth of their second daughter, Flavia. Luis manages www.apostille.net, the leading apostille service in New York City.
MARY JOY SOTIC (BS/BA) reports that she and her husband, Dennis, cofounded Guam Surveyor in 2013. Their daughter, Melissa, graduated from high school and will be attending California State University, Fresno, as a geomatics engineering major.
CASEY (WALTON) WHALEN (BA) says that she and her husband, Eric, moved to Sacramento, Calif., in 2007. Casey taught in Oceanside, Calif., for seven years and now teaches AP government and civics in the Sacramento area. “I am celebrating 10 years of marriage this summer and have a 6-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son,” she says.
[1998]
KATHLYN (ALVAREZ) CANCEL (BBA) graduated from LEAD San Diego’s Impact program in June 2015.
BRUCE PLEAT (MBA) reports that he and his wife, Arianna ’99, returned to California last spring and now live in the Tri-Valley region of East Bay. Their children are ages 5 and 10. Bruce’s mother also lives with them.
BRAD YOUNG (LLM) is the general counsel, global business alliances, of Japan Display Inc. in Tokyo and San Diego. He also serves as general counsel of the Magic Johnson Foundation in Beverly Hills, Calif.
[1999]
KRISTINA (SCHELBERT) BROWN (MA) was named chair of the Couple and Family Therapy Department at Adler University in Chicago in the fall of 2015.
BRIAN ROSARIO (BBA) reports that he married Michelle Sandoval on Aug. 15, 2015, at Santa Monica Church in Santa Monica, Calif. In attendance were fellow alumni Elton Perkins (wedding party), Kevin Malady (wedding party), Natasha Lopez, Kelly (Kaiser) Edwards and Tiffany Jackson.
2000s
[2000]
PEDRO ALONSO COLIO (MSN) is a nurse practitioner at an underserved hospital in Southern California and a tenure-track assistant professor of nursing for an associate’s degree nursing program at Imperial Valley College in Imperial, Calif. Pedro planned to begin studies in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree at USD in the fall of 2016.
MARISOL PRESTON (BA) is the director of admissions at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tenn.
[2001]
SHAUNA McMUNN (BA) has been working for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, N.J., for the past two years as office manager of the family growth program, in-home foster care program and natural parent support program. “Was back on campus in March 2016 over Easter break to marvel at all of the changes since I graduated,” she says.
RODD MILLER (BBA) reports that he and Mary Miller ’01 welcomed their third child in August 2015. Rodd is the president of Miller Wealth Management, a financial advisory firm in Carlsbad, Calif. Mary is working full time as an active mother of three.
KAREN OGDEN (MA) is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She was selected for the 2016 Best of Newport Beach Award in the category of mental health care/counseling by the Newport Beach Award Program, which annually identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category.
AIMMEE RODRIGUEZ (MA) reports that her master’s thesis developed into a local history book, The Harris Company (Arcadia Publishing, 2008). She also is working with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on a tribal government unit for the secondary level.
[2002]
TONY BETANCOURT (BA) reports that he and his wife celebrated the arrival of twin sons, Mico and Milian. The boys join older sister, Milenna. “They are doing great,” Tony says.
MEAGHAN (BURKE) CARTER (BA) says that she and her husband welcomed their third baby, Paxton Maddox, in September 2015. “Big sister, Harper Monroe, 5, and big brother, Thatcher Marshall, 3, continue to dote on him daily,” Meaghan says.
MIKE CENTURIONI (BA) reports that he married Vanessa Webster in the summer of 2015 in La Jolla, Calif. Mike is a former Los Angeles alumni chapter president (2005-2014).
JASON COITO (BA) moved from campus ministry and teaching at Bishop Alemany High School in Los Angeles to coordinator for young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
MALTE FARNAES (JD) was appointed honorary consul for the Kingdom of Denmark in San Diego. As honorary consul, he assists the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C., in consular, commercial and cultural matters. The Danish consulate in San Diego will be located at his law firm, Farnes & Lucio, APC, in Cardiff, Calif.
LAURA HARTWELL (BA, MEd ’03) obtained the highest degree in France, the Habilidad Diriger Rechershe, which enables her to supervise PhD students doing research. She earned her PhD in English and Education from the University of Toulouse in 2009.
SCOTT SCHIMMEL (BAcc) runs the YouSchool, an organization that provides life coaching for emerging adults, helping those in high school, college and the military discover their purpose and design a meaningful life.
MICHAEL SPENCER (BS/BA) reports that his first child, a daughter named Caroline Maria, was born
on May 15, 2016. She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 19 inches at birth.
[2003]
MICHAEL BOOTH (BBA) reports that he was married on Sept. 26, 2015.
ALEXIS BRIEL (Paralegal) was promoted to project manager for a new software line at Cybersoft.
ROBERT DANIELS (JD) will serve as president of the North County Bar Association for the year 2017.
CHRIS HEIM (BBA) founded his own law firm, the Heim Law Firm (heimlawfirm.com).
SANFORD HOROWITZ (JD, LLM ’03) reports that he and his wife, Christy, opened a law office, Horowitz Law, in downtown Santa Barbara, Calif. Sanford and Christy are both veteran prosecutors. Sanford worked for the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service in San Diego. The firm’s practice areas include family
law, business law, criminal defense, and civil and criminal tax litigation.
ERYN SCHNITZLER (BA) founded Wine Vibe San Diego in 2016. “Wine Vibe is the go-to spot for wine lovers looking to gain, improve and utilize their wine knowledge,” Eryn says. “We offer interactive wine education tailored to fit your group or company’s interest and comfort level.” The firm’s website is www.winevibesd.com.
[2004]
ANTONIO LOPEZ (BA) says that he and his wife, Liz, celebrated the arrival of their first baby, Logan Lopez, in October 2015. Antonio ran the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2016, in a time of two hours and 49 minutes. This was his 15th marathon, fifth fastest and second Boston Marathon. Antonio celebrated his 10th year as a vice president and senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in 2016.
MICHELLE ROSALES-RUIZ (BA) reports that she and her husband welcomed twin boys, Cristian and Gabriel, on May 13, 2015.
SUZANNE WEINSTEIN (MA) is a graduate of USD’s leadership studies program and a successful consultant for 15 years. She recently launched Being in Sync, where she teaches authentic leadership and spiritual practices to global leaders.
[2005]
DANIEL BATTAGLIA (BBA) writes that he lives “in Fayetteville, Ga., with my beautiful wife, Lindsay, and amazing 2-year-old son, Lindan (born March 29, 2014).” Daniel is in charge of marketing operations for Castle Medical in Atlanta. He previously worked at MTV Networks in New York City as an event coordinator (with fellow USD alumnus Matthew Van Houten).
HEATHER BURNER (BA) is an anchor and reporter for Fox 31/Channel 2 in Denver.
LINDSEY (HANSEN) LAPOINTE (BA) reports that she welcomed a baby boy, Lucien Roger, on April 21, 2016.
[2006]
JENNIFER SCARBROUGH (BA) was promoted to program director at Kids Vision for Life. She reports that she lives in St. Louis, Mo., with her husband, and that the couple has “our first baby on the way!”
ELIZABETH THOMETZ (BA) is a certified athletic trainer with a U.S. Army physical therapy clinic in Germany. “Simultaneously, I am pursuing a second master’s degree, this time in secondary education, so that I can eventually teach sports medicine in Department of Defense Education schools and work toward getting athletic trainers hired in their full capacity in that realm,” she says.
ROBERT THOMPSON (BA) is working for the Environmental Protection Agency on national priorities.
[2007]
MIKE JAIN (BA) writes, “After USD, I am applying many practical business methods and strategies in my new realty business.” Mike and his wife look forward to attending USD functions.
CHRISTINA ARIAS LOERA (BA) is the benefits manager in the human resources department at Pala Casino Spa Resort.
DIEGO MANZETTI (LLM) was promoted at AIG to the new head role of legal for southern Europe and the Middle East/North Africa. He is keeping the Italian general counsel role as well, he says.
ERY MILLAN-COFFEY (MEd) was promoted to program coordinator after teaching English as a second language for eight years at several secondary and post-secondary institutions. Ery is married with three girls, ages 6, 4 and 18 months.
ALANNA PEARL (JD) opened a solo practice, Pearl Legal Counsel, in January 2016, after nearly eight years of broad-based civil litigation experience working with some of San Diego’s finest litigators. Pearl Legal Counsel represents individuals and small businesses damaged by the wrongful actions of others in the fields of employment and business litigation.
WHITNEY SHARPE (BA) reports that she married Evan Grist in Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2015. In attendance were several USD alumni, including Gina (Pettinelli) Celaschi, Mayra San Juan, Allison Barker, Courtney Jerzyk, Andrea Bosowski, Florie Clark, Christine McAuliffe and Emily (Correll) Freeland.
KRESTSNA (NANN) TOTTRESS (BBA) welcomed a baby boy, Hendrick, and she also was promoted to manager at Genoptix Medical Laboratory.
JULIO DE UNAMUNO IV (BA) is the founding chief executive officer of LabFellows. “We’re focused on helping biotech startups develop more cures faster by eliminating the multimillion-dollar burden of owning and managing lab space and equipment,” he says.
[2008]
KEVIN BRADLEY (JD) was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. On May 5, 2016, he graduated from the 199th Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course and he returned to Miami to practice immigration law. He will conduct monthly drills with the 151st Legal Operation Detachment out of Fort Belvoir, Va.
BRYAN GLOVER (MBA) was promoted within the Department of Defense and relocated to Sacramento, Calif. He negotiates contracts for the Army Corps of Engineers. “I now get to take full advantage of my Oakland Raiders season tickets,” he says.
MARY STURGEON (BA) is a licensed architect in Illinois. She works in Chicago for Gensler, an international architecture and interiors firm, specializing in luxury automotive dealership design and construction. Several of her completed and ongoing projects are in Southern California and the Bay Area. In 2013, she completed her Master of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin.
RACHEL (MAUPIN) SULLIVAN (BBA) reports that she was married to Evan Sullivan on March 28, 2015, in Turks and Caicos. They live in Kansas City, Mo., where Evan practices law and Rachel is a physician, practicing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy at her own practice, BioBalance Health.
[2009]
SHERMAN GILLUMS (MSGL) was promoted to executive director of Paralyzed Veterans of America in January 2016. The change was ratified by the board of directors in May 2016. Sherman adds, “First veteran of the post-9/11 era to head one of the Big 6 veteran service organizations (PVA, DAV, VFW ,VVA, AmVets, American Legion).” He was featured on the cover of the Summer 2016 issue of USD Magazine.
FRANCOIS PORTEE (MEd) is a high school teacher in the San Diego Unified School District for at-risk homeless students. He is also the president of Follow the Leader Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2006. Learn more at www.followtheleaderfoundation.org.
ELIZABETH SPANGENBERG (BA) writes, “I am active-duty Navy, but right now, I am a full-time student in the peace and justice master’s program at USD’s Kroc School.” She recently hiked Mount Kilimanjaro with two fellow USD alumni and student-athletes: Meghan O’Brien and Erin Voyles. Meghan and Erin were swimmers and Elizabeth was a rower.
GILLIAN (HEMMES) VAN DER SCHAAF (BBA) reports that she married Tyler Van Der Schaaf ’09 in October, 2014.
2010s
[2010]
AMANDA (THEIS) ACCIOLY (BA) reports “Luca Joseph Accioly was born on May 1, 2016, to Amanda and Guilherme Accioly. Big sister Gabriella is excited to have a little brother.”
VINCE ATOFAU (BS/BA) reports that he is “blessed with a beautiful wife, three children (two girls and one boy), and an awesome career at Northrop Grumman as an engineer.”
VIVIEN FRANCIS (MA) has been passionate about art her entire life. She has a BA in graphic design and her passion for human rights and conflict resolution led her to USD to earn a master’s degree in peace and justice studies, specializing in conflict resolution. Vivien combines her background in art and human rights to develop advocacy projects through the use of art and images, including cross-cultural understanding programs between the United States and Mexico. She also founded PilloveTalk, where she designs and produces home textiles with affirmations and empowering thoughts in order to provide people with uplifting messages in the intimacy of their homes. Vivien has lived in La Jolla, Calif., since 2009, where she is near the ocean and nature, and where she finds inspiration for her work.
STEPHANIE LEUNG (BA) moved to Savannah, Ga., where she is a digital marketing manager for TMC Finance. She is in charge of all digital media buying and planning.
ERIC ROBERSON (BA) graduated from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., in May 2016. Following the bar exam, Eric plans to clerk for a federal judge in Alexandria, Va.
SERENA ROMERO (BA) relocated to New York for a position at NBC/MSNBC.
SAMUEL SWANSON (BBA) reports that he moved to Dallas, Texas, to be with his partner, Daniel Martell, after dating long distance for more than two years. Samuel is a development director for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
[2011]
ERIN ALTON (BA, MAcc ’11) was promoted to audit manager at KPMG, one of the Big 4 public accounting firms.
BRITTANY BERG (BBA, MS ’16) graduated from USD’s Master of Science in Supply Chain Management in January 2016 and is now a senior procurement specialist for ViaSat Inc. in Carlsbad, Calif.
CLARISSA BROWN-JENNINGS (BA) invites her fellow alumni to “stay classy!”
AMANDA (FOBAR) HOGAN (BA) reports that she married Joshua Hogan in October 2015. They relocated to Roanoke, Va., to further her career as a labor and delivery registered nurse and recently bought their first home.
MARGARET (McCANN) HOWARTH (DNP) was promoted to assistant director at the School of Nursing/Health and Human Services at National University in San Diego.
CHRISTIAN INZUNZA (BBA) is the cofounder of Solteris Energy, a renewable energy supplier based in Indio, Calif.
SHANNON IPPOLITI (BA) is in her first year as a pediatrics resident at the University of California, Irvine/Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
YLIANA PENALOSA (BA) graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a second Bachelor of Science in nursing. She is currently a student in APU’s psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program.
ANNE STEWART (BBA) passed the July 2015 California bar exam after graduating from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in May 2015. She is a real estate and transactional attorney.
[2012]
ELOISA AMEZCUA (BA) completed the Master of Fine Arts program at Emerson College in Boston in 2014. She has received scholarships from the Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference, the Vermont College of Fine Arts Post-Graduate Workshop, the Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference and the New York State Summer Writers Institute. Eloisa reports that her debut chapbook, On Not Screaming, was expected to be published by Horse Less Press in the summer of 2016.
JOSE FELIX (BBA) is working toward a master’s degree in Spanish language and literature and also working as a graduate research assistant for the Spanish Department and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y.
NANCY JOYCE (BA) works for Christie’s Art Auction House.
ELLE ORTEGA (BA) writes, “After graduating from USD, it is my greatest pleasure to pursue two master’s in public health and social work at the University of Southern California. Having just completed my first year of graduate school, I am honored to say that I have been elected as the assistant regional director for Region F (Inland Empire) for the National Association of Social Workers for the 2016-2017 year. For my second year of graduate school, I will be working as a medical social work intern at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center–West Los Angeles.” Elle says she was elated to be returning to “San Diego, my alma mater, and reunite with old and new friends for USD’s 2016 Wine Classic. Fight on and olé!”
ALEXANDRA PAULUS (BBA) is a property manager for a private commercial real estate management company and also an accounts payable manager for a wholesale distribution company.
HENRY PERAZZELLI (BBA) works in wealth management at J.P. Morgan Securities in Boston.
[2013]
TARA IGUIDBASHIAN (BA) is working in partnership marketing with the Portland Trail Blazers since graduating from USD. She reports that her experience interning for the USD athletics department helped her get to this position.
SUE JORDON-TALASKA (MSN) is the education specialist for the critical care and progressive care units at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, Calif., designated a Level II trauma center, cardiac care center of excellence and primary stroke center. Sue’s job responsibilities include development of education programs for staff. “I graduated from USD’s MSN, CNS gerontology program in 2013,” she says. “I found the program and information invaluable to my successful job performance!”
ANDY QUINTANA (BBA) is a financial analyst for Acadia Healthcare in Carlsbad, Calif.
HEATHER RASAMEETHAM (BA) is a first-grade teacher at Anza Elementary in El Cajon, Calif.
LUKE STAGER (BA) earned a Master of Science in finance from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University in May 2014. He is a financial analyst at Asurion.
KAYLEY STUMPE (BA) is a full-time producer and also conducts celebrity interviews for the Entertainment Tonight television show. She has worked at ET since graduation and interned there the summer before her senior year at USD.
[2014]
RYAN LANE (BA) began his career in advertising with a year at The Garage/Team Mazda, an award-winning WPP-held advertising agency. “As project manager, I had the opportunity to work with creatives, account executives, legal teams, our board of directors and Mazda global executives from Japan,” Ryan says. His photography skills were used in the national Drive for Good campaign. Another position followed as national events manager for Quest Nutrition, and Ryan is now director of sales and events for Level Up Entertainment, an Orange County event production company. “I love what I do, and have learned a lot along the way in the short time since graduating, but a lot of the tools I’ve utilized I learned while at USD,” Ryan says.
ESTEBAN LOPEZ (BBA) works in management consulting on an enterprise resource planning project known as FI$Cal, the Financial Information System for California, a business transformation project for state government focusing on budgeting, accounting, procurement and cash management.
KEVIN PELAEZ (BA) is a San Diego corps member of Teach for America, where he teaches 10th grade math and AVID, a college prep class, at King-Chavez Community High School.
MARIA RUVALCABA (BA) finished a year of postgrad volunteer service with a tenant rights advocacy nonprofit organization in Los Angeles. She is now working with another nonprofit organization in Santa Ana, Calif., that provides leadership and community engagement opportunities for youth.
LISA VANDER (MA) moved to the Washington, D.C., area to work in the field of workforce development and social economic justice. Previously, she conducted a job creation summer program for 110 at-risk youth for the city of Baltimore, Md.
KYLE WADSTROM (BBA) met his fiancé, Sarah, when they were on USD’s Second-Year Experience trip to Barcelona in 2012. “We met in Spain, and after we graduated, I proposed in Thailand,” Kyle says. “We figured we have to keep this up, so we are getting married in Hawaii.”
HUGO WERSTLER (BA) writes, “Was just recently hired at USD! Couldn’t be more proud to be a part of the continual excellence of my alma mater.”
DANA YEE (BA) finished her second year at USD Law School and is working as a law clerk at RJS Law.
[2015]
DEEMA ALBASSEET (MA) has a new position as quality management officer at Badir Program for Technology Incubators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
CAMERON CYRUS (MS) assists his clients by writing custom applications providing strategic insight. “Removing information silos and providing visibility from the shop floor to the top floor is providing my people with an exceptional competitive advantage,” he says. “Thank you, USD, for helping to make this happen.”
COLBY EDSON (BBA) reports that he and his wife, Chloe ’15, were married just three weeks after graduating in 2015.
JAZMIN GARCIA (BA) moved to Washington, D.C., to pursue a nine-month paid fellowship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. After some time on Capitol Hill, and then working for an international union, she transitioned to a full-time position with NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials) Educational Fund. “What an incredible opportunity I’ve had to really apply everything I’ve learned at USD — personally and professionally!” she says.
JOSHUA GREENE (BA) has decided to move to Washington, D.C., and as a part of his journey across the country, he plans to visit Catholic shrines. “At these holy pilgrimage sites, I will offer up prayers to God for particular people who have requested themselves or their own intentions to be offered,” he says. “I believe God has chosen to enhance the purpose of this extended vacation/drive across the country for the betterment of those I know and love, and those I will soon come to know and love as I meet them from state to state.”
KERRY HAYDEN (BA) spent a month traveling the world after graduation. She then accepted a position as marketing communications coordinator at HouseCall Pro, a San Diego-based technology startup. Kerry says she enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and appreciates her education for preparing her for this role.
JULIANA LOCKWOOD (BA) is a graduate student in a Master of Science program in marriage and family therapy at Northwestern University. “I have a growing caseload of couples and families that I see both in the Family Institute clinic right across from Millennium Park and during school and home visits through the Community Program,” she says.
KHEA POLLARD (BA) is a community representative for San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox.
MADISON POPE (BA) was promoted from the position of marketing coordinator to director of client communication and marketing at HighTower San Diego.
JENNY (CALVERT) RODRIGUEZ (MA) is a program coordinator at Levi Strauss & Co.’s Red Tab Foundation, an assistance fund for the company’s global workforce and retirees.
CHRIS RUIZ (MBA) joined Huron Consulting Group’s health care practice. “I learned about the opportunity at a MOJO career fair in San Diego,” he says. “Huron is actively growing their veteran hiring, so it was great timing for me, and I hope in the future for other USD veteran alumni!”
AMY SMITH (MA) writes, “Wrapping up a successful year with the Del Mar Union School District! Absolutely loving my new role as a K-5 technology specialist!”
KELLY SMITH (JD) is a judicial law clerk for Judge John A. Houston in the Southern District of California. “I’m so happy to be back in the area!” she says.
KIMBERLY WOODBURY (BS/BA) is in the Operations Rotation Program based at the Carlsbad, Calif., site of Thermo Fisher Scientific. She expects to work in the Midwest for her second rotation.
[2016]
TAYLOR KREBS (BA, BA ’16) is a relocation planner in the Department of Planning and Capital Projects for Seattle Public Schools.
HAYLEY PARK (BA) is a graduate student in the Master of Music: Music Therapy program at Arizona State University.
In Memoriam
LAURIE LAZZARO MASSA JR. ’64 (BA) passed away on Feb. 6, 2016, in San Diego. Laurie earned an accounting degree from USD and later became a CPA. After college, he served in the Army and met his wife, Adeline, with whom he shared 47 years of marriage. Laurie was dedicated to his profession, working 35 years with the IRS, but his passion in life was his family. Genuinely loving, generous and kind, he was a treasure to anyone who knew him. Laurie is survived by his wife, Adeline Massa; children Laurie Massa, Anthony Massa and Catherine Hughes; three sisters; and seven grandchildren.
TIMOTHY SKELTON ’98 (JD) passed away from melanoma on Feb. 23, 2016. Upon graduation from USD, he joined Ropers, Majeski, Kohn and Bentley in Los Angeles and became a partner in 2006. He then joined the Los Angeles office of Arent Fox as a partner in 2013. He was a skilled writer and was excellent at arguing in court, from the U.S. District Court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He was an avid car, truck and motorcycle enthusiast and modified and raced his truck when he wasn’t practicing law. Tim is survived by his mother, Lois Skelton; his sister, Julie Skelton; and numerous family members, friends and coworkers.
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