Presidents embark on Kenyan safari Vin Lawrence, Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology at Washington & Jefferson College, took a group of adventurous alumni and friends on a Kenyan safari in July. The participants had the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitats, including cheetahs, elephants, giraffess and zebras, and to spend time with the semi-nomadic Maasai and Samburu people. “We were thrilled that W&J would offer such a high-caliber, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to its alumni and family,” Julie Dickinson, a participant in the trip, said. “The experience was indescribable.” Alumni trips are planned and administrated by W&J faculty members and promoted by the Office of Alumni Relations. “While many colleges and universities contract their alumni trips to travel agencies, W&J consistently promotes and supports its ‘homegrown’ alumni travel experiences,” Lawrence said. “They typically evolve from Intersession courses abroad and are repeatedly rated by participants as among their favorite trips.” For a list of trips being offered, visit www.jayconnected.com/alumnitravel.
1984 Denise von Hermann, Ph.D., has been named the new Provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Southern Mississippi. During her 14 years at the university, she has served as the University’s dean of the College of Arts and Letters, as well as a professor of political science. Joseph H. Sproul III and Karen Thieroff Sproul ’86 celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, as well as the graduation of their oldest child from college and their youngest child’s departure to college. The Sprouls write, “This has been an exciting year.”
1985 Steve Lichtman and his 1963 Studebaker Cruiser were featured in the September 2011 issue of Turning Wheels magazine, the monthly publication of the Studebaker Drivers Club. Included in the magazine was a picture of Lichtman’s first car in front of W&J’s Old Main towers, which was taken during his 25th class reunion in 2010.
1986 Susan Mondik Key, an elder attorney with Peacock Keller in Washington, Pa., served as an
elder law issues speaker at a community center in California, Pa. She also participated in a scholarship presentation in the Chartiers-Houston and Washington School Districts. Her practice focuses on estate planning and administration and estate litigation. Brian Long received the Chairman’s Award from the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania. Long is president of Steubert & Associates, a regional insurance brokerage firm, which has been the presenting sponsor of the association’s largest annual fundraiser, the Annual Summer Festival. Richard J. Savarino, M.D., was promoted to rank of captain in the U.S. Navy. He is stationed at Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., where he is the department head of orthopedic surgery.
1987 Rose M. Baker was a co-editor for the International Journal of Vocational Education & Training. She is an assistant professor of education in the Workforce Education and Development program at Pennsylvania State University, where she also works as a research associate in the Associate Dean’s Office for Research, Outreach and Technology. Edward P. Wojnaroski Jr. authored a chapter in the book, “The American Bar Association (ABA) Practical Guide to Estate Planning.” The
Alumni visit Makalia Falls at Lake Nakuru National Park during a Kenyan safari. Participants, pictured with their tour guides from left, are: Terrie Baranek ’83, Julie Dickinson, Janna Baker Rogers ’00, Brooke Elias ’77, Mike Kennedy, Stan Myers, Maureen Myers, Betty Lawrence, Vin Lawrence, Gina Micarelli ’82, Brian Eberts ’82 and Ana Eberts.
chapter is titled, “Private Annuities and SelfCancelling Installment Notes.” Edward is a member of the Williams Coulson law firm in Pittsburgh. Steve Woratyla, M.D., is a vascular surgeon with Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lancaster, Pa.
1988 Jay Clayton is the chief financial officer at Douglas Education Center in Monessen, Pa. He is responsible for the development and execution of the career school’s financial growth strategy, as well as overseeing its accounting, internal reporting and business development strategies.
1991 David Zimsky is the project manager for the Canonsburg, Pa., office of Wallace & Pancher, Inc., an engineering-environmental consulting firm. He is responsible for managing and participating in public, government and industrial sector projects.
1992 Darin M. Trelka, M.D., Ph.D., is the chief medical examiner in Broward County’s medical examiner and trauma services division in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He oversees the division’s investigation of all violent, suspicious, unnatural and unattended deaths and performs drug and poison tests for police and health departments. Trelka also presented the 2011 Dieter-Porter Medical Lecture, “Forensic Investigation: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom,” at W&J during Homecoming in October. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE
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