Class News

These notes reflect information received through Aug. 15, 2009. To ensure its publication in the next issue, please submit your class news item within the first two weeks after receiving the current edition of the magazine. E-mailed submissions are preferred: sdaniel@odu.edu. News also may be sent to: Steve Daniel, 100 Koch Hall, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529.

1950s
Ed Tyree ’56, of Virginia Beach, continues to write profiles of sports figures and encourages “fellow old-timers to write on subjects such as politics, sports, religion or current events. It’s good for our brain cells.” One of his recent pieces was on Eric Liddell, the “Flying Scotsman.”

1960s
William L. Dudley Jr. ’65 was elected chairman of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission for a three-year term, starting July 1, 2009. He was first appointed to the commission in 1997 by the General Assembly. He previously served as chair from 2000-03. William also is president of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, which encompasses 17 states. Prior to his recent appointment, he practiced law in Norfolk for approximately 30 years.

Charles H. Greiner Jr. ’69 (M.B.A. ’74), former senior vice president of International Paper, was elected to the Frank Parsons Inc. board of directors. Frank Parsons is the largest employee-owned, fine paper, technology and office supplies company in the United States. Charles also teaches graduate leadership classes in the ODU business college and is involved in several nonprofit initiatives in the Virginia Beach area.

1970s
Alphonso V. Diaz (M.S. ’70) was named Purdue University’s executive vice president for business and finance and treasurer, effective July 1. He is responsible for a $1.9 billion budget. Al previously was vice chancellor for administration at the University of California at Riverside.

Cynthia Fravel ’73 recently reduced her psychotherapy practice by half as a first step toward full retirement. She spends her new free time volunteering at an animal spay/neuter clinic and traveling with her artist husband. She would love to hear from other alumni with whom she has lost touch over the years. cfravel@AncientArts.org

Leon T. Johnson ’74 (M.P.A. ’90) received a Ph.D. in public policy and public administration in May from Virginia Commonwealth University. He works as a deputy county manager in Henrico County, Va.

Linda M. Shifflette ’74 was named as the new superintendent of schools by the Hampton School Board and began her new job Aug. 6. She most recently served as the school system’s deputy superintendent for instructional support.

Marcia Brand ’75 (M.S. ’77), Ph.D., was named deputy administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration in March. HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that works to fill in the health care gaps for people who live outside the economic and medical mainstream. From 2007-09, Brand was associate administrator of HRSA’s Bureau of Health Professions, where she provided national leadership in the development, distribution and retention of a diverse, culturally competent health workforce that provides high-quality care. From 2001-07, she was director and associate administrator of HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy.

Ken Smith ’78 has earned a credential as a clinical addictions specialist and internationally certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor. He practices psychotherapy as a North Carolina licensed clinical social worker in Fayetteville and Sanford. He notes that he also writes articles as a “social work expert” for www.helium.com (under the name Kenneth Gregory Smith). ken-smith@gmx.com

1980s
Jim Coates ’80 completed a 28-year active-duty career in the U.S. Army when he retired Jan. 1 at the rank of colonel. He is now a business development manager with MPRI, L-3Com. Jim went full circle during his military career, beginning with his commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant out of ODU’s Army ROTC program and ending as commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s 9th Brigade, where he was in charge of recruiting, training and leader development for ROTC programs at 30 major universities and colleges (3,500 cadets) in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. His career included six overseas assignments. He holds graduate degrees in strategic studies (U.S. Army War College, 2004) and business administration (Central Michigan University, 2001).

Matt Martin ’80 graduated summa cum laude recently after completing work on a master of education (curriculum and instruction) degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Matt, a middle and high school English/language arts teacher, went into education in 2004 after a 19-year career in journalism. A former assistant in the ODU sports information office under Bill Schnier and Debbie (Harmison) White, he was sports editor at The Sanford (N.C.) Herald, where he won multiple N.C. Press Association awards for sports reporting as well as columns and feature writing. Matt is a graduate of ODU’s Army ROTC program and served as an administrative officer at Fort Ord, Calif. (1980-84).

Mark Swingle (M.S. ’80), director of research and conservation at the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach, was named the Virginia Beach Rotary Club Outstanding City Employee of the Year this spring. He is one of the original employees of the aquarium, and has had a variety of duties in his 27 years. Currently, he is responsible for all research and conservation projects, operation of the marine animal acquisition and quarantine programs, and the marine animal Stranding Response Program. He is the newly elected president, and Stranding Committee chair, for the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. He also participates on federal management teams working to conserve marine mammals and sea turtles.

Gwyn Coghill (M.S.Ed. ’81) retired this summer as principal of Kiptopeke Elementary School on Virginia’s Eastern Shore after a 35-year career as an elementary schools educator/administrator in the public school system there. She accepted a position as lower school principal for the new Cape Charles Christian School, which opened in September.

Debbie Myers ’82 was named Teacher of the Year at Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, where she teaches marketing. Previously, she was a Teacher of the Year (1997) at Churchland High School in Portsmouth.

James Vernon ’82 received Oklahoma Baptist University’s Meritorious Service Award at the school’s spring commencement. The annual award honors a faculty or staff member who has “distinguished himself in service to the university as acknowledged by former students, current students, peers and other university friends.” James, who joined the OBU faculty in 1990, is an associate professor of music and chair of the music division. He teaches courses in music composition and theory and directs music composition studies. James is the first OBU faculty member to receive all three of the university’s major honors. He received the Promising Teacher Award in 1994 and the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2005. He also currently serves as minister of music at University Baptist Church. He and his wife, Lisa, have one daughter, Meredith.

Kenny Gattison ’86, formerly an assistant coach of the New Orleans Hornets, was one of five NBA assistants selected to work with the 2009 National Team at a minicamp in Las Vegas from July 22-25.

Liesl DeVary ’88 was hired in June as the new chief financial officer of the Southeastern Public Service Authority in Chesapeake, a regional waste authority. Previously, she worked four years as director of budget and finance for Isle of Wight County.

Shewling Moy Wong ’87 reports that she has been busy since her recent service as ODU Alumni Association president. She was invited to serve as a director of both the BB&T advisory board of Virginia Beach and the ODU China Center advisory board. She graduated from the CIVIC Leadership of Hampton Roads in May. Most recently, she and her sons traveled to six countries in Asia over three weeks during May and June. In addition, she was appointed by the Virginia Beach City Council to serve on the Development Authority Board and by Gov. Kaine to serve on the Virginia-Asian Advisory Board. Both are for four-year terms.

Lance Norton ’88 left the U.S. Navy in 2008 after 20 years of service as a naval aviator. He was married in 2008 to Lara McMahan, an elementary school teacher and a former “Wildcat” of the University of Kentucky. They live in Jacksonville, Fla.

Gail Englert (M.S.Ed. ’89), chair of the math department at Norfolk’s Ruffner Academy Middle School, was named the Norfolk Public Schools’ most outstanding math educator at the district’s 13th Annual Inspiration Awards. Gail, who teaches 7th-grade pre-algebra, serves on the ODU Darden College of Education advisory board.

1990s
Sonya L. Ford ’90 earned her doctorate of education in counseling psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She recently began private practice as a licensed clinical professional counselor in Waldorf, Md. She has appeared on several Washington, D.C., radio news programs as a guest therapist, including “The Sighlent Storm” and “WHUR Newsbreak.”

Catherine Marone Schultz ’90 completed her doctorate in clinical psychology in summer 2008 at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her dissertation was titled “Post Bariatric Surgery Disordered Eating and Negative Body Image Comorbidity: Can Surgery Alone Address These Issues?” After graduation, she accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position with the Renfrew Center, a facility near Philadelphia that treats women with eating disorders.

Michael Tsompanas ’91 is with Affinity Fine Homes in Smyrna, Ga. michael@affinityfinehomes.com

Theodore W. Atkinson ’92, a former partner with the law firm Venable LLP, recently joined the U.S. Department of Justice as a trial attorney in the Office of Immigration Litigation. He and his wife, Kelly, and their two sons, Billy and Tommy, live in suburban Maryland.

Jason Cohen ’92, president and owner of ILM Corp. in Fredericksburg, Va., began writing a monthly column in May on fredericksburg.com. The column, he said in a story on the Web site, will “discuss and debate the social and emotional aspects of running a business.” ILM offers document and data capture services, business process outsourcing and document management solutions.

Pamela Hammond (Ph.D. ’92) was named provost of Hampton University on July 9, a position that makes her HU’s chief academic officer. She previously served as dean of the nursing school.

Robert ’92 and Heather Powell Marshall ’94 announce the birth of a son, Watson Edward, on March 5, 2009. He joins sisters Sydney, Macy and Lexy.

Joe Savala ’92 has become associate vice president, facilities administration, for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Joe says that MD Anderson is rated as the No. 1 cancer treatment and research hospital in the world and occupies more than 15 million square feet. He previously was vice president of operations for Sentara CarePlex Hospital.

J. Brett Swindell ’92 returned to Hampton Roads last year after six years in Costa Rica. He was voted into the Chesapeake Bay Art Association in early 2009 for his Gyotaku “fish rubbing” art. www.gyotakufishprints.com

Jane Elyce Glasgow (M.S.Ed. ’93) became director of the ODU Child Development and Child Study centers on June 25. The CSC offers a preschool and kindergarten program, parenting center, parenting resource library and speech pathology program. The CDC is a full-service, full-time day care facility for children ages 8 weeks to 3 years. Glasgow previously served as director of the Child Development Lab and adjunct instructor at Tidewater Community College. She is the second vice president of the Southeastern Association for Early Childhood Education.

Deborah Lohmeier ’93, PE, Associate, has been named a vice president of Burgess & Niple and district director of the engineering and architecture firm’s Virginia Beach office. She manages contractual, operational, marketing and project-related activities for the firm in Hampton Roads. She joined B&N in 2004 as director of architectural and engineering services in the Virginia Beach district office. B&N has 21 offices in nine states.

Celeste Hill Brockett ’94 and her husband, Alex, announce the birth of a son, Kingston James, on May 1, 2009.

Trevor Coddington (M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00) started San Diego IP Law Group LLP in July with a colleague of his from their former firm. “My legal practice remains the same – patent litigation and procurement – but I am able to leverage a better and more flexible platform – big firm type talent, but at rates and with the dedicated service you would expect from a small boutique firm.”

Arlene Montgomery (Ph.D. ’94) was named dean of the Hampton University School of Nursing in July. She previously served as assistant dean for academic affairs in the nursing school.

Becka Hill ’95 was promoted June 29 to director of sales development for Media General Inc.’s digital media group. She is now responsible for sales training for digital products, driving revenue from ongoing sales initiatives, and partnering with sales teams to accelerate audience-based learning programs. Since 2008, Becka had served as director of interactive sales for Virginia for the company’s interactive media division. Media General Inc. is the Richmond-based company that owns the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Paul Chandler Moulton ’95 has had his photograph, “Rider Down,” included in the volume “Street or Studio: A Photobook,” published by the Tate Modern and displayed in a rotating slide show at the Tate Modern Museum in London and on the museum’s Web site. His photo was one of 100 chosen from more than 3,000 submissions during a juried competition. Paul writes that he is currently living, albeit temporarily, in Memphis, where he spends his free time photographing musicians.

James Battle (M.S.Ed. ’96, Ed.S. ’04) was selected in June as assistant principal at Riverdale Elementary School, part of the Southampton County (Va.) Public Schools.

Andy Page (M.S.Ed. ’96) was named in May as president and CEO of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), the nonprofit consortium of 100 colleges and universities that serves as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies. He also becomes director of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which ORAU manages for the DOE. He joined ORAU in 1999.

Cesca Janece Waterfield ’96 recently had a manuscript accepted for publication by Two-Handed Engine Press of New York City. “Bartab: An Afterhours Ballad” is a story in verse and short fiction. It will be published sometime in early 2010. Cesca subsequently had poetry and fiction published in journals, including the Blue Collar Review, Ghent Reader, Powhatan Review and RVA Magazine. She is a journalist and editor of a weekly newspaper in Richmond, Va.

Stacey Stevens Lemma ’97 and her husband, Matt, announce the birth of a son, Joseph Santino, on April 9, 2009. “Sonny” joins a sister, Olivia, and brother, Nicholas. The family lives in Norfolk.

Robert J. Pauly ’98 (Ph.D. ’01) is an assistant professor in the international policy and development department at the University of Southern Mississippi. He lists his new address as 124 Brentwood Blvd., Gulfport, MS 39503.

Sherry A. Cooper ’99 recently graduated from Amridge University with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. She has begun her residency toward licensure in Virginia as a marriage and family therapist.

2000s
Eureka F. Collins ’00 received the 2009 Eric Hoffer Award in the Legacy Nonfiction category for her book “Strong Winds Change Lives.” She recently published two more books, “Love Matters Most” and “Literary Talks on Writing Short Stories” (fall 2009). She is known for writing inspirational articles and short stories that have a twist to them. Several of her short stories have been featured in three anthologies, as well as on FaithWriters.com. www.EurekaFCollins.com

Michele Heisse (M.S.Ed. ’00) and David O’Brien were married July 28 on the beach at the Grand Lido Braco, Jamaica. She is serving on the Governor Mifflin School Board.

Lee Huss ’00 (M.S.Ed. ’04) and his wife live in Richmond, Va. He teaches at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, Va. thussjr@yahoo.com

Ed Lathrop ’01 is an assistant project manager with Spacemakers Inc. in Virginia Beach. elathrop@spacemakers.net

Capt. Ashley Peppers ’01 of Petersburg, Va., officially assumed command of Headquarters Company, 1-63 CAB, Second Brigade, 1st ID, on Feb. 18 in a ceremony held on Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah.

Elizabeth LoCascio Beavers ’02 and William Beavers Jr. ’03 announce the birth of a daughter, Pearson LoCascio Beavers, on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2009.

Eric Mitchell ’02 was hired in July as head coach of the Brooklyn College men’s and women’s swimming teams. He previously was head coach of the Red Tide of New York City, where he trained masters swimmers from ages 18-65. He coached an Olympic Trials qualifier, three U.S. Masters national champions and a Masters world-record holder. He also has served as the aquatics director at the Brooklyn Sports Club since 2006.

Catherine Tynes Prestipino ’02 received an M.B.A. in business from Mississippi State University on May 2. She was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Drew Ungvarsky ’02 is the creative director and owner of Grow Interactive, a Norfolk-based interactive studio which won a Bronze Cyber Lion at the Cannes Lions 56th Annual International Advertising Festival. More than 22,000 entries from 86 countries competed for recognition in this year’s event, held in June. The prize was awarded for a self-promotional campaign, “Thank You begins with a T.” The campaign also won other prestigious advertising honors, including two Webby Awards, a One Show Pencil, an Art Directors Club Cube and a CLIO nomination. The winning site, http://thankyou.thisisgrow.com, was created as a token of appreciation that was originally sent to 200 clients, friends and colleagues of Grow Interactive last December. The studio’s clients include Intel, Nike, NBC, Wendy’s, Sprint and Lollapalooza.

Lt. Cmdr. John L. Beaver (M.E.M. ’03) earned two graduate degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the degree of naval engineer and an M.S. in nuclear science and engineering. His next military assignment is at Naval Reactors in Washington, D.C.

Adam Nelson ’03 has taken time off from work to walk the Appalachian Trail until the end of the year. He started on March 17. 770-500-0135

Jennifer Bennett Settar ’03 and Matthew Settar ’03 announce the birth of a son, Chase Matthew, on April 22, 2009, in Norfolk.

Stephanie Perry Wofford ’03 received a master’s of education in December 2008 from Southern Wesleyan University. She also was awarded National Board Certification for Teachers (middle childhood generalist) in December.

Ed Zurey (M.B.A. ’03) moved in June from Saline, Mich., to 610 Upper Pass Road, Manhattan, MT 59741.

Cassie Calwell ’04, a former Lady Monarch basketball player, was recently employed by the “Jerry Springer Show” as an associate producer. She wrote on June 30 that the show was moving its TV production studio from Chicago to Stanford, Conn. Cassie previously worked with ESPN as an intern and for WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, as an assistant TV producer.

James Lidington (M.F.A. ’04) took second place in the Agnes L. Braganza Award for Nonfiction competition for his entry, “Hallways, Here We Come.” Awards were presented at Christopher Newport University’s 28th Annual Writers Conference. He teaches British literature and journalism at Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News.

Lt. Jason Redman ’04, U.S. Navy, who was seriously wounded during a firefight in Iraq two years ago, has created a Web site called Wounded Wear, “to promote awareness throughout the country of the sacrifices that wounded service members and their families have made in the name of freedom; and to foster a sense of camaraderie, determination, and strength of purpose, amongst them.” Jason says that 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of the products advertised on the site, above operating costs, will go directly to members of the military wounded in service or to charities that support them. www.woundedwear.org

Thomas Bennett (M.P.A. ’05) was sworn in June 11 as chief of the Suffolk Police Department. He previously was deputy chief of the Newport News Police Department.

Tayler Burgess ’05 and his wife, Stephanie, live in Vidor, Texas. He works for DuPont as a reliability engineer and she is an oil and gas resource manager for the National Park Service. tayler.burgess@gmail.com

Capt. Owen Mayo ’05 returned in January from a 15-month deployment to the Diyala Province and Mosul in Iraq. He was a scout platoon leader in Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and squadron battle captain in 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment, out of Fort Hood, Texas. Owen was awarded the Bronze Star for service and the Combat Action Badge for engaging the enemy in February 2008. He recently was inducted as a Distinguished Knight in the Order of St. George, Black Medallion. Owen has been participating in the Military Intelligence Captain Career Course at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. He is the son of Sam ’72 and Gail Mayo ’75 of Newport News.

Melissa Watkins Starr (M.A. ’05) has enrolled in the M.F.A. program in fiction writing at Warren Wilson College.

Seann S. Kalagher (M.S.Ed. ’06), of Milford, Conn., was appointed in June as assistant dean of student affairs at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. He will be responsible for administering the student conduct process as well as spearheading the university’s alcohol awareness and drug prevention education initiatives. Previously, he was the associate director of student conduct and community standards at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.

Philip Odango ’06 wrote and directed the musical revue “Como La Flor: The Selena Musical,” a one-woman show about the life of Texas-based Tejano singer Selena who was killed in 1995. The show, which starred ODU student Andrea Gomez, premiered at Norfolk’s Generic Theater in July. Andrea, a music education and vocal performance major, is expected to graduate in December. Philip is the creative director for Operation Smile in Norfolk.

Ryan ’06 and Morgan Forrey Roach ’07 wrote in May that they were moving to Gilbert, Ariz. Ryan was called to serve as pastor to students at First Baptist Chandler.

Shawn Kohlman ’07 is assistant director of admissions at Argosy University in Arlington, Va. skohl002@aol.com

Daniel S. Matthews ’07, a U.S. Navy ensign, deployed in late spring as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to support Maritime Security Operations, provide crisis response capability, and increase theater security cooperation and forward naval presence in the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of operation. He is with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group out of Norfolk.

Brandon S. Rodgers ’07, a U.S. Navy ensign, reported in late spring for naval aviator training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas.

Nigel W. Tierney ’07 (M.S. ’08) is a technical director at DreamWorks Animation, where he recently worked on his first major movie, “Shrek Goes Fourth.”