While studying abroad in New Zealand, several Master of Business Administration students were inspired by Crystal Inman’s (’19) plans to rise early and make the journey from Auckland to the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Upon arrival and wetsuit preparation, they explored the magical water caves, where thousands of glowworms illuminate the dark with their natural light and create a breathtaking, starry-sky effect deep underground.
(L–R): MBA students Gabriel Carrazana (’25M), Jessica Lamberty (’25M), Crystal Inman (’19), John Hughes (’97), Matthew Mendez (’25M)
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JESSICA LAMBERTY (’25M) AND THE LEGENDARY BLACK WATER RAFTING CO.
Turning the page on another chapter in JMU’s history Presidential Perspective
James Madison University has evolved from a small, allwomen’s teachers’ college to a national research institution, and that evolution has been thoughtful, strategic and intentional. However, our future aspirations aren’t to be dominated solely by research and growth. We must stick to our core values and what makes us unique, like the relationships that are cultivated between students and instructional faculty.
The theme of this edition of Madison is “Research for the Public Good.” The research happening at JMU most often involves public service and outreach. In fact, 70% of our external grant funding involves public service and community outreach. Given this institution’s history, it seems only fitting that our focus and passion continue to be service to others.
In my 25-year career at JMU, it has been inspirational to watch that progress play out in the classroom and across campus. Our vision from capital projects and infrastructure to expanded course offerings, degree attainment and student career outcomes has kept up with the demand, while continuing to focus on the uniqueness of JMU.
inally wanted to “keep the trains running on time,” I believe that, collectively, we’ve continuously been ahead of schedule.
I’ve developed an even greater partnership with, and respect for, instructional faculty. We’ve even had the opportunity to problemsolve together. The warm reception and positive feedback I received from my presentation at the Faculty Senate meeting has been inspiring.
As we begin to turn the page to the university’s next chapter, I want to share a few parting words: Despite the challenges and increase to my scheduled obligations, it has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as president of JMU. My fondness and deep appreciation have only grown stronger as I have had the distinct privilege to lead this institution. I thank the JMU Board of Visitors for trusting my leadership and vision to serve in this role during such a pivotal moment for the university. In serving as a vice president, I thought I had seen and experienced it all! The view from the president’s seat is quite different but incredibly rewarding.
JMU could not operate without the many special people whom I am honored to have worked with.
My vision as president has been one of active leadership in providing an exceptional and welcoming collegiate experience for all. As most of you know, I’m a rather punctual person, and while I orig-
JMU continues to be a student-focused institution, and at the highest levels, decisions are being made with care and focus on how to impact students and ensure they are receiving the full benefits of a quality education. I believe this focus is so deeply embedded in our culture that it will continue well beyond my tenure.
It has been exciting to watch the success of our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom, as well as major capital projects like the renovation and expansion of Carrier Library.
The next chapter of JMU will begin July 1 with the appointment of President James C. Schmidt, and I will continue to ensure the transition is seamless. I will do everything I can to support the Board of Visitors and Jim, and I trust he and his wife, Kim, will receive a warm Dukes welcome. JMU will be in good hands under his leadership.
Finally, I want to extend my sincere thanks for the kindness you have shown to my wife, Sherry, and me over the past year. I am truly grateful for the support we have received. JMU could not operate without the many special people whom I am honored to have worked with. I especially want to thank the senior leadership team, who have spent countless hours supporting, informing and advising me. I am incredibly proud of this university and look forward to continuing my support as JMU keeps reaching new heights.
My sincere thanks,
Charles W. King Jr. President, James Madison University
Charlie King’s term as JMU president comes to a close on June 30.
Julie Flournoy (’89) vividly remembers the day her mother told her they couldn’t afford for her to return to JMU after her freshman year. “I was devastated,” she recalls.
But a pair of Julie’s neighbors — sisters — became her “fairy godmothers” and helped with her college expenses for the next three years.
“Their generosity and kindness — and most important, their belief in me — shaped who I am today.”
Today Julie is a member of the Women for Madison Executive Advisory Council and supports scholarships that help students afford the Madison Experience and become Dukes for life.
New
taining
On March 26, JMU welcomed Dr. James C. Schmidt as its seventh president, embarking on a new era of growth and innovation.
From
Faye Pleasants (’66)
In February, JMU women’s basketball set a new Sun Belt Conference record by going 18-0 en route to a regular-season championship.
SPRING/SUMMER 2025
Grant agencies look to JMU for innovative solutions in education, health care, the environment and more BY DR. ANTHONY TONGEN
Funded by the Virginia Department of Education, the center promotes self-determination and leadership BY ALEXIS WILLIAMSON (’25M)
Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein reflects on her extensive career at CISR while looking ahead to retirement BY AMY CROCKETT (’10)
(L-R): Paige Ober (’13), Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein and Brenna Matlock (’14, ’21M) at the Senior Managers’ Course in Croatia FEATURED:
38
LAB SCHOOL TEACHES BY ASKING BIG QUESTIONS
Students, parents and teachers are excited to be part of a new way of project-based learning BY JOSETTE KEELOR
42 BREATHE
EASY
JMU’s partnership with Virginia Clean Cities focuses on green transportation and alternative-fuel initiatives BY LILLIAN JOHNS
46
IIHHS AIMS TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION
The Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services works to advance a culture of health and equity BY TAYLOR MOORE
“I discovered the third-largest culprit of greenhouse-gas emissions was food waste, and no one was talking about it.”
— TAN NGUYEN (’92) entrepreneur
Participants in the I’m
48 Alumni for Life
A serendipitous bone-marrow match for leukemia survivor; Distinguished Alumni Award winners; JMUAA benefits; chapter events; Mixed Media
55 Class Notes
A retrospective — looking back on commencement 25 years ago with former President Linwood H. Rose; Celebrations; Staff Emeriti news
63 In Memoriam
Celebrating the endeavors and highlights from the Office of Research, Economic Development and Innovation’s 2023-24 annual report
Frank Douglass “Doug” Dickey (’76); Christina Smith (’10); Steven C. Baumler (’90); professor George Johnson; JMU friend George Cary Bailey
NGUYEN (’92) PHOTOGRAPH BY EARL RICHARDSON; KARAOKE COURTESY OF I’M DETERMINED CENTER
Determined Center’s annual Youth Summit gather for karaoke night.
Letter From the Editor
They say you want an evolution …
Like many Dukes of my generation, I used to sit on the hill behind The Union after lunch and take in the sights and sounds of a beautiful, spring afternoon on campus. One day, a student in a tie-dye shirt with a goatee was on his soapbox, railing against the university’s plans to build the College of Integrated Science and Technology on the other side of Interstate 81, where only the Convocation Center and a few biology classroom trailers stood. “Don’t you see?” he implored. “We’re becoming Madison Tech!”
ranks. Likewise, research and scholarship had long been part of the university’s academic profile, but the growth of East Campus accelerated our evolution in these areas and led to more funding opportunities from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of State, and other federal- and state-grant agencies. By the time I returned to JMU as an employee in the fall of 2011, the liberal arts school I had known was well on its way to becoming a national research institution.
SPRING/SUMMER 2025 Vol.48, No. 2
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Andy Perrine (’86)
EDITOR
Jim Heffernan (’96, ’17M)
DEPUTY EDITOR
Amy Crockett (’10)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Josette Keelor
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Bill Thompson
ART DIRECTOR
Carolyn Windmiller (’81)
DESIGN ASSISTANTS
Lea Dorcus
Georgia Pinkston
Mikey Zagalak (’25)
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Lillian Johns
This was the early 1990s. JMU was still a relatively small, regional, liberal arts university with an enrollment of around 10,000. I arrived here as a Music major before being bitten by the journalism bug. My friends and I were rooted in the humanities. The thought of future scientists, information technology gurus and engineers in our midst should have offended our bohemian sensibilities, except for the fact that we were cardcarrying members of Generation X. Apathy was our jam. Who cared if a new generation of Dukes wanted to wear lab coats, analyze data and design better bridges?
Of course, the visionaries in former President Ronald E. Carrier’s administration and in Richmond, who were responding to a need for more STEM graduates in Virginia, got it right. CISAT was a resounding success, attracting a new type of student and giving rise to state-of-the-art curricula, centers and institutes at JMU. Not long after I graduated in 1996, the university began to grow by leaps and bounds, not just in enrollment, but in reputation. We had always boasted expert faculty, but now we were adding world-class researchers to our
Today, I’m proud to work at an R2 Doctoral University with High Research Activity, as classified by the Carnegie Commission, one where professors and students — many of them undergraduates — work side-by-side to identify and tackle complex problems in the world around us. With more than two-thirds of our grant-funded research focused on public service and outreach, the university has upheld its commitment to engaged learning. This issue of Madison highlights some of these important initiatives: the I’m Determined Center (Page 30), the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (Page 34), the Laboratory School for Innovation and Career Exploration (Page 38), Virginia Clean Cities (Page 42), and the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (Page 46).
JMU’s share of grant-funded research dollars has increased by more than 92% over the last five years to $34.1 million. In fiscal year 2023, we produced over $21 million in research expenditures and awarded 40 research doctorates. JMU researchers are helping our children learn, improving our health and relationships, protecting our environment, and making a safer world. Who could argue with that?
Taylor Moore
Alexis Williamson (’25M)
PHOTO AND VIDEO TEAM
Steve Aderton (’19)
Rachel Holderman
Olive Santos (’20)
Cody Troyer
ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
Cathy Kushner (’87)
CAMPUS CONTRIBUTORS
Alumni Relations
Athletics
Donor Relations
Family Engagement
University Marketing & Branding
FOR ADDRESS UPDATES: Email: advancementgr@jmu.edu or call 1-855-568-4483
CONTACT THE MADISON STAFF: Email: madisonmag@jmu.edu or call 540-568-2664
Madison magazine, JMU, 127 W. Bruce St., MSC 3610, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
For Class Notes, go to http://jmu.edu/alumni. Madison is an official publication of James Madison University and is produced by the Division of University Advancement for alumni, parents of JMU students, faculty, staff and friends of JMU.
Editorial office: JMU, 127 W. Bruce St., MSC 3610, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Jim Heffernan (’96, ’17M) editor
Connect with us: For a complete list of all university social media, please visit https://j.mu/socialmedia. JamesMadisonUniversity @JamesMadisonUniversity James Madison University @JMU
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: James Madison University does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, race or color, height or weight, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation or belief, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, parental status (including pregnancy), marital status, family medical or genetic information in its employment, educational programs, activities and admissions. JMU complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination, affirmative action and anti-harassment. JMU prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment, including sexual assault, and other forms of interpersonal violence. The responsibility for overall coordination, monitoring and information dissemination about JMU’s program of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, Title IX and affirmative action is assigned to the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX. Inquiries or complaints may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX: Amy Sirocky-Meck, Title IX Coordinator, 540-568-5219, http://jmu.edu/oeo, oeo@jmu.edu.
(REVISED JANUARY 2020)
OFFICIAL HOTEL OF JMU
Inspired by the vibrant local scene and cherished guests, award-winning and JMU celebrity Chef Tassie Pippert (pictured) carefully crafted a Monty’s menu showcasing quality ingredients and dishes made from scratch. Each offers a familiar taste, elevated with a unique, modern flair, all served in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
COME FOR:
■ Comfort food with a modern twist
■ Extensive wine collection
■ Great flavors, drinks & good company
■ Fun community happenings
BONUS: Private Dining Room available to reserve for your special events!
Walk-ins welcome; reservations suggested.
JOIN OUR JMU ALUMNI CLUB
Stay on campus like you used to!
Sign up in the top menu of hotelmadison.com to receive:
■ 10% off our Standard Daily Rate
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DON’T MISS…
Football weekends
Monty’s Restaurant Menu by the one-and-only Tassie Pippert
Quills Lobby Bar live music
Schedule on our website
grace+main cafe
Specialty drinks, Neapolitan pizza & more!
MENUS, & MORE INFORMATION
Contributors
Freelance illustrator Stephanie Dalton Cowan is behind the cover of this issue. Synthesizing printmaking with photography and custom silhouettes, Cowan produces a range of assignments for magazines, publishing houses, advertising and design agencies, as well as opera, theater, television and major motion pictures. A partial client list includes Showtime Networks, The Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian magazine, National Geographic Adventure and Austin Lyric Opera.
Lillian Johns, an editorial assistant on our Content Marketing team, is a junior Political Science major from Des Moines, Iowa, with minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Environmental Humanities. She completed the Washington Semester in the fall and recently joined Phi Beta Kappa honor society. An active member of Give International’s JMU chapter, she enjoys volunteering in the local community. Johns’ feature on Virginia Clean Cities begins on Page 42.
Student editorial assistant Taylor Moore, from Chesapeake, Virginia, is a junior double majoring in Media Arts and Design and Communication Studies. She enjoys exercising, spending time with friends and volunteering. Moore serves as the vice president of programming for Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Her feature story on JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services begins on Page 46.
Earl Richardson is a freelance commercial photographer and a recovering copyright attorney in Lawrence, Kansas. He spent more than 20 years as a photographer and director of photography for several newspapers in the Midwest. Since 2010, he’s been using his cameras to tell the stories of higher education throughout the country. Richardson photographed entrepreneur and Vietnamese refugee Tan H. Nguyen (’92) for Bright Lights on Page 26.
Alexis Williamson (’25M) is an editorial assistant and second-year graduate student completing a master’s degree in Communication and Advocacy with a concentration in Strategic Communication. She is a member of Women of Color and was a panelist at the Eastern Communication Association Conference. Her feature on the I’m Determined Center, a statewide, grant-funded program, begins on Page 30, and her Being the Change profile can be found on the back cover.
Design assistant Mikey Zagalak’s (’25) work is featured in By the Numbers on Page 64. The Burke, Virginia, native is a senior Graphic Design major with a minor in Illustration. During his spare time, he enjoys playing music, spending time with those he cares about and helping his classmates in any way he can. Beyond academics, Zagalak is the secretary for SPARK, a club for student designers and enthusiasts.
SPRING/SUMMER 2025 Vol .48, No.2
BOARD OF VISITORS 2024–25
Suzanne Obenshain, Rector
Teresa “Terrie” Edwards (’80), Vice Rector
Richard “Dickie” Bell (’88)
Jeff Bolander (’80)
Larry W. Caudle Jr. (’82)
Joanie Eiland
Carly Fiorina
Tom Galati
Kay Coles James
Dave Rexrode (’01)
Steve Smith (’79)
Michael Stoltzfus
Nikki Thacker (’11)
Jack White
Nicole Palya Wood (’96)
Sydney Stafford, Student Representative
Kathy Ott Walter, Faculty Representative
David Kirkpatrick, Secretary
PRESIDENT
Charles W. King Jr.
ADMINISTRATORS
Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt
Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer
Arthur T. Dean II (’93, ’99M)
Associate Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Hollie Hall
Dean of Students
Dr. David Kirkpatrick Chief of Staff
Jack Knight
Senior Assistant Attorney General and University Counsel
Dr. Bob Kolvoord
Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs (interim)
Dr. Nick Langridge (’00,’07M,’14Ph.D.)
Vice President, University Advancement
Dr. Tim Miller (’96, ’00M) Vice President, Student Affairs
Dr. Bruce E. Mitchell II
Associate Vice President, Accessibility and Belonging
Towana Moore Vice President, Administration and Finance
Dr. Chris Orem (’12Ph.D.)
Executive Director, Planning, Analytics, and Institutional Research
Andy Perrine (’86)
Associate Vice President, University Marketing and Branding
Caitlyn Read (’1 0, ’18M) Director, State Governmental Relations
Matt Roan Director of Athletics
Dr. Anthony Tongen
Vice President, Research, Economic Development and Innovation
Mary-Hope Vass (’22M)
Assistant Vice President of Communications and University Spokesperson
Melinda Wood Vice President, Access and Enrollment Management
VICE PROVOSTS
Dr. Fletcher Linder (’86)
Associate Provost for Online Strategy
Dr. Rudy Molina Jr. Student Academic Success
Dr. Elizabeth Oldmixon Faculty Affairs and Curriculum
Dr. Narketta Sparkman-Key
Dr. Narketta Sparkman-Key Stragetic Initiatives and Global Affairs
DEANS
Dr. Bethany Blackstone Honors
Dr. Michael Busing Business
Rubén Graciani Visual and Performing Arts
Dr. Jeffrey Tang
Integrated Science and Engineering (interim)
Dr. Mark L’Esperance Education
Dr. Fletcher Linder University Studies
Dr. Sharon Lovell (’85) Health and Behavioral Studies
Dr. Bethany Nowviskie Libraries
Dr. Samantha Prins Science and Mathematics
Dr. Nick Swartz
Professional and Continuing Education
Dr. Linda Thomas The Graduate School
Dr. Traci (’92, ’94M) Arts and Letters
Zimmerman (’92, ’94M)
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
OFFICER
Ellen Hineman (’89) President
PARENTS COUNCIL
CHAIRS
James and Christina Gibson (’94) Crist (’25P)
JOHNS, MOORE, WILLIAMSON (’25M) AND ZAGALAK (‘25) PHOTOGRAPHS BY RACHEL HOLDERMAN
Letters to the Editor
Sky-high kudos from 1970 alumna
My name is Judy McKinley Fernald (’70), and I just wanted to write to let you know how much I enjoyed your latest edition of Madison magazine, “Then and Now.” It is brilliant! I love how the Fearless Flyers and Bill Thompson aligned old photos of campus with current images to show the growth of JMU. Your results were outstanding!!!! Congratulations on a job well done. You truly captured the beauty of the old and the new. I loved the aerial view. You truly deserve an award for your hard work and talented results!
Thank you for a job well done.
Sincerely, — Judy Fernald (’70)
A second glance at JMU’s history
I like your [aerial] photos of JMU. You might also do an article on who took the old,
black-and-white photos: I think that it was Dr. John Wells, longtime chair of the JMU physics department, for whom the John C. Wells Planetarium is named at Miller Hall. Perhaps he used Hartman Airfield in Harrisonburg. — Joe Rudmin (’89) electronics technician, School of Integrated Science and Technology
We love your letters Send your letters and comments to madisonmag@jmu.edu or by mail to: Madison magazine
MSC 3608, 127 W. Bruce St. Harrisonburg, VA 22807
out that while night
CORRECTION: Betty Joe English (’74) pointed
football games in 1972 were played at the old Harrisonburg High School, day games, such as the one pictured here (and on Page 19 of the Winter 2025 issue), were played on the field on the north side of Eagle Hall.
&News Notes
Dr. James C. Schmidt named university’s seventh president
Schmidt has more than 30 years of experience working in higher education, serving as the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 2013. During his tenure, UW-Eau Claire has been ranked among the top 10 regional public universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. It was named the top masters-level university for excellence in undergraduate research by the Council for Undergraduate Research in 2016 and is the only master’s-level university in Wisconsin among the top 20 nationally for student participation in study abroad.
UW-Eau Claire has produced two Rhodes scholars since 2005 and leads master’s-level institutions in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the number of Fulbright students.
In addition to UW-Eau Claire’s national recognition, Schmidt has been a stellar fundraiser and visionary for elevating academic excellence. He recently brought in one of the largest gifts in Wisconsin history at $70 million to help construct an indoor athletics facility and event center.
“I am committed to leading JMU’s vision and strategic direction, enhancing academic excellence and research, and ensuring an exceptional student experience.”
— Dr. James C. Schmidt
JMU maintains national research prominence
JMU has been recognized by the Carnegie Commission as a 2025 Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production institution. The updated designation, which is recognized for three years, highlights JMU’s commitment to research excellence and its significant contributions to the academic community.
Carnegie’s criteria for this year’s designation include an institution spending on aver-
age in a single year at least $5 million on research and development and awarding at least 20 research doctorates. In fiscal year 2023, JMU produced over $21 million in research expenditures; JMU also awarded 40 research doctorates during the 20222023 academic year.
JMU was first classified as a Research 2 university in February 2022, providing the university with new opportu-
nities to elevate its academic mission, while expanding research and scholarship for faculty and students and participating in larger, national conversations.
This designation reaffirms the university’s core commitments of providing close faculty and student interactions, high-quality undergraduate and graduate education enhanced by cutting-edge research and scholarship, and extraordinary faculty who provide opportunities that are collaborative, interdisciplinary and engaging within the community.
ISAT team to design better fuel cell for ocean sensors
Integrated Science and Technology professor Dr. Cheng Li and his students are helping design a cutting-edge marine microbial fuel cell that will replace batteries and other power sources fueling ocean sensors.
An MFC is a bioelectrochemical device that uses microorganisms to break down organic fuel and generate clean, renewable electricity.
“The level of power from an MFC in a marine environment has never been achieved or even attempted in a lab,” Li said, noting the first step is to create a device that can produce 10 watts of power consistently for a year or more.
development agency of the U.S. Department of Defense that develops emerging technologies for national security, wants to power its sensors with biomass and awarded $7.8 million to the University of Maryland to design and build the microbial energy source. JMU is one of seven partners the university enlisted to help.
“The level of power from an MFC in a marine environment has never been achieved or even attempted in a lab.”
“Ten watts may not seem like much compared to what a coal-fired or nuclear power plant would produce, but it’s a lot for microorganisms,” he said.
— DR. CHENG LI
Li’s invitation to the project stemmed from his pioneering work on microbial fuel cells for ocean sensors at Oregon State University. His primary responsibility for the DARPA project is to design a fuel cell that can be stacked in an array to boost voltage. Li said at least six of his students will assist him and be paid as undergraduate research assistants.
Skeletons
reveal
health patterns in men and women
Studying ancient skeletons can help create specific health measures for past populations, according to a study conducted by JMU researchers and published in the journal Science Advances.
The project team, which included researchers from JMU, the University of Louisville, University of Colorado and Ohio State University, examined data from more than 1,600 skeletons from medieval cemeteries in London, England.
Dr. Samantha Yaussy, an assistant professor in JMU’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Dr. Kathryn Marklein from the University of Louisville are co-first authors of the study.
Their study shows that skeletal data can help scientists better understand health patterns from the past and how they relate to modern populations.
“Bioarcheological studies like this are important because they can tell us whether the patterns of disease and death that we see in living populations also existed in the past,” Yaussy said. “If patterns of health are not consistent over time, we can use skeletal data to understand why.”
Yaussy says modern society can use these findings to learn more about some of the social and cultural factors that influence how men and women experience health and disease.
— Chad Saylor
The world’s oceans are filled with sensors that monitor everything from water currents to ocean life. The sensors require power to operate, and that power is typically supplied by batteries or cables running from land or ships.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a research and
The new device will collect biomass from the ocean to support on-site fermentation and simultaneous power generation.
DARPA wants the device to selfrefuel, operate fully submerged and deliver battery-level power without being serviced for longer than is possible by comparably sized battery packs, according to the project website.
— Eric Gorton (’86, ’09M)
KEY FINDINGS:
■ The study suggests that the way men and women experienced health and disease in medieval London was different from today.
■ Unlike modern times, where women typically
live longer but often have more health issues, this pattern was not seen in medieval London.
■ This could mean that cultural factors, like access to nutritious food, played a role in health differences between men and women in the past.
If this airplane could talk ...
X-Labs students bring history to life
Students in JMU X-Labs recently submitted a proposal to board members of the First Air Force One Foundation that focuses on President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s official plane from 1953 to 1954. The presentation took place at Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, Virginia, where First Air Force One, also known as Columbine II, has been undergoing renovations to restore the plane to an “asnew” condition before being flown across the country to honor its role in history.
The students’ proposal came in response to a unique challenge that the foundation pitched to X-Labs about a year ago, asking them to consider how to make the plane accessible to the public.
of Media Arts and Design also helped, and the teaching team included a JMU designthinking facilitator and the president of a Northern Virginia marketing agency.
“Everything in X-Labs begins with a problem statement that requires multiple disciplines to come together to solve a problem,” said Frigo.
One of the team’s narratives was to present the plane as more than just “a whole bunch of nuts and bolts.”
Eisenhower “was known as the transportation president,” said Josh Dornak, one of the X-Labs student presenters.
“This is the plane that flew him to his ‘Atoms for Peace’ speech, the Bermuda Conference, as well as Korea.”
Professor leads NSTA’s call for better climatescience education
Geology professor Dr. Eric Pyle says teaching the science of climate change is crucial to preparing future generations to confront environmental challenges.
Opening remarks were provided by Michael Stoltzfus, president and CEO of Dynamic Aviation and a JMU Board of Visitors member. Stoltzfus said he wanted the students to have a “profound experience,” so they could look back and know they were part of a project of historical significance.
Before the presentation, Dr. Connie Frigo, executive director of X-Labs, introduced JMU faculty members who provided their expertise and guided the students throughout the program. Faculty and students from the Department of History and the School
The students also highlighted those who worked for the Eisenhower family, including John Moaney, Eisenhower’s personal valet, and Delores Moaney, the Eisenhowers’ cook and housekeeper.
After the presentation, the students took questions from board members and elaborated on some of their proposals, including how best to fund the project, potential partnerships, collaborations, social media and digital tactics.
Stoltzfus congratulated the students on their presentation, telling them, “You are now part of the story.”
— Chad Saylor
“As educators, it is our responsibility — both professional and ethical — to ensure that students grasp the science behind climate change, providing them with the tools and understanding they need to address the urgent issues shaping our planet’s future,” said Pyle, who chaired a team of educators and scientists who drafted a statement about climate science education from the National Science Teaching Association. Pyle was NSTA president from 2021-22.
STATEMENT UPDATES:
■ Stronger language emphasizing the need to support science educators in resisting unscientific ideas intentionally designed to mislead students
■ Language reaffirming NSTA’s commitment to teaching climate change as an established field of science
■ A call for increased support for educators in teaching evidence-based science, including approaches to understanding climate science
■ Recentering to focus on student-driven solutions to climate change and climate change resilience, including engineering and workforce development
(Left): Michael Stoltzfus; (right): the Eisenhowers exit Air Force One in 1953. To learn more about the plane and the restoration project, scan the code or visit https://firstairforceone.org.
Student Josh Dornak presents his proposal at Dynamic Aviation.
JMU, BRCC launch co-admission partnership
JMU and Blue Ridge Community College have launched the BR2JMU coadmission initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to enhance and streamline the path to a four-year degree for Shenandoah Valley students.
BR2JMU offers students graduating from area high schools the unique opportunity to be admitted to both BRCC and JMU from the start of their college journey. This program aims to provide a seamless transition for students, allowing them to complete their associate degree before transferring to JMU without the need for a separate transfer application.
The initiative welcomes students from Augusta and Rockingham counties, and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro.
For more information, visit JMU’s BR2JMU webpage or fill out the BR2JMU interest form to be contacted by an advisor.
School counselors, career coaches and others can use the same form to nominate students for the program.
Scan the QR code to learn more, or visit https://jmu.edu/ transfer/br2jmu/index.shtml.
BENEFITS OF THE BR2JMU INITIATIVE:
■ Dual admission Students are simultaneously admitted to BRCC and JMU, ensuring a smooth transition to a four-year degree.
■ Cost savings By starting their education at BRCC, students can take advantage of lower tuition rates before transferring to JMU.
■ Personalized academic advising Participants will receive dedicated academic
advising from both schools, helping them stay on track and make informed decisions about their education and career goals.
■ Clear pathways to degrees BRCC and JMU are developing optimized pathways to every major at JMU so students can take the right combination of courses at each school to earn their bachelor’s degree in four years.
■ Career focus
Students can work with the BRCC and JMU career offices and attend workshops and career fairs to prepare for growing job fields and network with employers.
■ Community and peer support
Students can visit JMU and build a network of peers who will transfer with them to JMU, fostering a sense of community in their academic journey.
NATION
From JMU to the PGA
Alumnus Derek Sprague (’88) tops off a successful career as CEO
BY JESS NICKELS (’21)
For Derek Sprague (’88), JMU and the College of Business not only prepared him for a thriving career in the professional golf industry, but it also shaped the way he rose through the ranks. Now, he’s the first CEO of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America to have also served as past president of the organization, proving that where you start can define where you go — if you make the most of it.
As a child who grew up on a course, Sprague’s passion for golf started early. “I grew up playing golf my entire life. My mother used to say a golf course was the safest playground in America,” he recalled. Pursuing his passion from an early age, Sprague worked at his hometown course, Malone Golf Club in upstate New York, prior to enrolling at JMU on a golf scholarship in the fall of 1985. A few years later, when graduation began to approach, Sprague sent the club a business proposal requesting that they hire him back — but only if they let him run the entire club. He received an offer to become general manager, which he happily accepted.
Sprague became a PGA member in 1993, served on the board from 2008 to 2010, was elected an officer of the national body in 2010, and then served as the 39th president of the association from 2014 to 2016. In 2015, he was recruited by the PGA Tour to run the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, one of the most expensive golf clubs in the world, with guests including celebrities, athletes and CEOs of Fortune 100 global companies.
In the fall of 2017, Liberty National Golf Club was hosting the President’s Cup when Sprague received a new offer. “They asked me to go down to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and run their flagship property, TPC Sawgrass, which hosts the marquee event for the PGA Tour, The Players Championship.” He accepted and spent seven years there, setting records for financial and operational performance. Now, Sprague is the CEO of PGA of America, leading the association from its headquarters in Frisco, Texas.
“So I graduated in December of ’88 and then started my career on Jan. 1, 1989. I then worked there for the next 26 years and raised my family,” Sprague said. While there, he quadrupled revenue and returned the company to profitability from near-bankruptcy, which was hailed by members and guests as an extraordinary success. It was the first stop in a long and prosperous career in professional golf.
From his days balancing academics and athletics at JMU to leading some of the most prestigious golf clubs in America, Sprague’s journey proves that ambition, coupled with strong foundational skills, can open doors to incredible opportunities. As he continues to shape the future of the PGA, his story serves as a reminder to all Dukes: Success isn’t just about where you start, but how you make the most of every opportunity.
THREE LESSONS FOR LEADERSHIP
As someone who has been in a leadership role his entire career, Sprague has picked up a few important lessons along the way that have contributed to his success:
#1 Have empathy, and look at the business from the consumer’s eye, not your own.
“Anyone can say ‘I like this product,’ but if consumers don’t like a certain feature or the service you are
selling, you won’t profit or find success. Develop the skills, and change your perspective.”
#2 Value everyone in your company.
“Whether it’s the janitor making sure employees have a clean place to work, the marketing person running ads or senior managers overseeing daily operations, they all matter and they all have an important role. Make sure you show your appreciation to every individual, because they make a business successful too.”
#3 Ask questions and understand the ‘why.’ “If you don’t understand a subject matter, a certain class, whatever it may be, continue to ask questions. Continue to ask why, so that you really have a deep understanding of that course or that subject matter, rather than just trying to memorize it.” Sprague constantly took advantage of his professor’s office hours. “I want to have a 100% understanding of why,” he said. “My professors were always pushing me to be better.”
Derek Sprague (’88), past president and current CEO of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America
Historic seasons for JMU basketball
Women’s team claims Sun Belt regular-season title; men earn share of championship
Women’s basketball compiled one of its most challenging schedules in program history and turned it into a 30-6 season, claiming the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship with an unblemished 18-0 league record and setting program records for both overall (30) and regular-season victories (27). The Dukes just missed an atlarge selection to the NCAA Championship, instead garnering a No. 1 seed and hosting privileges for the Women’s Basketball Invita-
tion Tournament. Peyton McDaniel was the Sun Belt Player of the Year after averaging 16.0 points and 8.4 rebounds in the regular season. She was joined as First Team AllConference by Kseniia Kozlova (’25), who averaged 12.6 points and 7.6 rebounds. Sean O’Regan claimed his first Coach of the Year honors after leading JMU to the most regular-season wins in program history, while Ro Scott was named SBC Sixth Woman of the Year after averaging 11.3 points per game.
In its first season under head coach Preston Spradlin, and with nearly an entirely new
roster, men’s basketball went 20-12 in 202425 and finished with a share of the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship. In his one-and-only JMU season, Mark Freeman (’25) was named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year after averaging 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in the regular season, and before pouring in 34 points in the SBC semifinals. He was later named a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award as the best transfer in college basketball and the Lou Henson Award as the best mid-major player in the country.
Peyton McDaniel (left), the 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year, high-fives Zakiya Stephenson during the top-seeded Dukes’ overtime win over Marquette in the WBIT.
SUN BELT SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPS
James Madison came out on top of the Sun Belt Conference for the second year in a row.
The Dukes claimed their seventh conference title in eight seasons and are the fourth Sun Belt
program to repeat as swimming & diving champions. It is the first time a Sun Belt school has won back-toback titles since Denver in 2011-12.
JMU won with a total of 1,067.5 points, the second most in Sun
Belt history behind its 1,091 points scored last season. Jess Pryne (’25) was named co-top swimming point scorer and Alexa Holloway (’25) was the top diving point scorer.
“Winning championships is hard! Every year presents new challenges. My favorite part is watching all their hard work pay off and then be able to celebrate the work they put in all season.”
— DANE PEDERSEN, swimming & diving head coach
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025
Six former student-athletes and one longtime administrator constitute the 37th class to be inducted into the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The induction ceremony will be held on Aug. 29 in the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
EVA HANNESDOTTIR (’12) Women’s swimming and diving (2010-12)
Shenandoah Valley native Kirby Burkholder joined her hometown Dukes and turned in a prolific career of individual success while leading JMU to a pair of Colonial Athletic Association titles.
Eva Hannesdottir made a lasting impact on the swimming and diving program in her final two seasons of college eligibility, breaking seven different JMU records before advancing to become
KIMBERLY (HELFRICH) SOLARI BROWN (’13) Women’s swimming and diving (2009-13)
CHARLES KING
University administrator (1996-2021, president 2024-present)
the first and only Olympian in program history.
The first member of the swimming and diving program to compete in the NCAA Championships, Kimberly (Helfrich) Solari Brown finished in the top 30 in the country in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events in 2010-11.
As senior vice president of Administration and Finance for 25 years, Charlie King served as immediate supervisor of Ath-
DARREN MCLINTON (’13) Men’s basketball (1992-96)
KEVIN MUNSON (’16) Baseball (2008-10)
letics and a staunch supporter and advocate for the value of an intercollegiate athletics program within the educational mission of the university.
One of the top shooters and scorers in men’s basketball history, Darren McLinton ranks sixth all-time for the Dukes with 1,533 points to go with 271 assists and 212 rebounds.
Among the most elite relief pitchers in program history,
STEPHON ROBERTSON (’13) Football (2009-13)
Kevin Munson posted a 2.35 ERA, 13-4 record, 23 saves and 171 strikeouts in three seasons with the Diamond Dukes to earn a pair of AllAmerica honors.
Stephon Robertson was a dominant defensive force at linebacker for JMU, amassing 445 tackles, including 44 for loss, in four seasons as a starter with nine sacks, three interceptions, seven forced fum bles and two fumble recoveries.
Advancing Madison
A retired lifelong educator gets creative to support future teachers
Faye Pleasants (’66) remembers a campus that felt small yet full of possibility. “The entire campus was a postage stamp, mostly Wilson Hall and just a few other buildings,” she said. “I liked that. I really felt I belonged.”
Like many future elementary teachers, Pleasants spent time watching and learning in the classroom. “I remember observing a first-grade class at AnthonySeeger Campus School, and I knew on that very day that I would strive to be the best first-grade teacher I could be.”
After earning her degree, she returned to her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, where she taught at Fairview Elementary. “I thought I’d teach first grade for my entire career, and I would’ve been happy with that.” But a supervisor’s course piqued her curiosity. When roll was called on the first day, her instructor called her name and said, “A first-grade teacher taking a supervision course? You must be ambitious.”
“I wasn’t a teacher for the salary. I was driven by a desire to make a real difference in the lives of my students.”
— FAYE PLEASANTS (’66)
Pleasants just smiled. Her curiosity and ambition led to many leadership roles before she retired in 2002 after 36 years of service. “I wasn’t a teacher for the salary,” Pleasants said. “I was driven by a desire to make a real difference in the lives of my students.”
Like many teachers, she found that early in her career, giving back financially wasn’t feasible. But after a class reunion, she discovered an innovative way to give back to the institution that helped shape her.
In 2016, Pleasants reconnected with JMU during her Bluestone Reunion. “Coming back to campus felt just like going to New York City; everything had grown so much.”
Despite JMU’s enlarged footprint, she was struck by current students describing the same environment — friendliness, a feeling of fitting in and being inspired by their studies.
Motivated by conversations with fellow alumni and hearing about the Class of 1966 Scholarship Endowment in the College of Education, she made her first gift to the university. Since then, she has continued to give annually, supporting the scholarship and other university initiatives.
During the reunion, she met Kathy Sarver (’03, ’09M), director of Planned Giving, who deepened her understanding of the impact scholarships can have.
“She made me want to be a part of that effort,” Pleasants said. “Madison gave me so much — not just an education, but a sense of community, and opportunities — it all shaped me. I wanted to ensure future generations have the same chances to succeed.”
After years of giving, Pleasants wanted to do more. When she learned about the option to donate through her individual retirement account, she created the R. Faye Pleasants (’66) Scholarship Endowment in the COE.
“It feels wonderful knowing that I can still support students. This allows me to give significantly while still having the funds I need for myself,” she said. “I may not be in the classroom anymore, but I can still make a difference.”
— Jamie Marsh
(L-R): Bluestone Reunion Class of 1966 alumnae Sandy Linkous, Pat Thomas Torrence, Bonnie Woodford Overacre, Judy Burtner, Faye Pleasants, Robin Brooks Bowyer, Mary Steed Ewell, Ann Kendrick and Helen Wood
(Above): Wilson Hall in the 1960s; (left): Faye Pleasants’ yearbook photo; (below): Madison College faculty observe a class at Anthony-Seeger Campus School.
NONSTOP IMPACT
The Madison community came together on Feb. 27 to show the world what it means to Give Like a Duke.
8 a.m. Students wake up to the signs of giving all around campus.
11 a.m. Dukettes hand out purple cookies to fellow students in front of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. Dukes search for Mad Money Boxes hid den on campus, and those who find them donate the money inside to their favorite Giving Day fund and keep the swag.
5,194 DUKES CONTRIBUTED $1.23 million IN FEWER THAN 24 hours
3 p.m. Dr. Tim Miller (’96, ’00M), vice president of Student Affairs, and Dr. Cannie Graham (’95, ’20M, ’25Ph.D.), associate vice president of Constituent Engagement, drive a golf cart through UREC
MADISON TRUST 2025
Igniting innovation
For the fifth year in a row, 100% of Madison Trust projects representing this year’s 10 best faculty- and staffled innovations will receive some level of seed funding.
JMU faculty and staff pitched their ideas on March 14 to a group of 16 philanthropic investors who went deep with their ques tions and pledged funds for the projects of their choice.
“Preliminary funding totals are exciting,” said Ryan Boals (’17, ’23M), who coordinates the annual event. “We’re looking to post-event crowdfunding to further supplement initial giving.”
At JMU, imagination and innovation race well ahead of resources, so donors have stepped forward over the last decade to invest more than $1 million in groundbreaking ideas.
fessor of environmental and material chemistry, answers questions from investors after presenting “Sustainable Nutrient Recovery From Poultry Litter at Phillips Family Farm Near JMU.”
(Above): Dr. Nick Langridge (‘00, ’07M, 14Ph.D.) of University Advancement leads a discussion with philanthropic investors at Madison Trust.
Biology professor Dr. Mark Gabriele (’95) presents “The MindWell Hub: An Innovative Center for Cultivating Awareness, Healthy Minds, and Self-Flourishing.”
LEARN MORE: Help ignite innovation by supporting the project of your choice through crowdfunding. Scan the QR code, or visit https://jmu.edu/madisontrust/current-projects.shtml.
Celebrating what’s possible
Scholarship recipients say thank you
More than 400 donors, recipients and JMU leaders gathered for the 34th Annual Stewardship Luncheon to celebrate what their philanthropy makes possible at Madison. In addition to powerful stories by students and faculty members, there was a welcome by Dr. Nick Langridge (’00, ’07M,’14Ph.D.) of University Advancement and a JMU update by Charlie King, president.
“You have given us more than scholarships — you have made us confident leaders, prepared to take on whatever comes next.” — JORDAN YANG, ISAT major
Marine Corps Band euphoniumist Andrew Ribo (’22, ’24M), at the podium, returned to JMU to speak about the faculty-student experiences he shared with professor Kevin Stees, who directed a performance by the 2024 National Champion JMU Brass Band.
Dahlia Constantine said she considers sophomore Samantha Cornell the legacy of Lt. Col. Justin Constantine (’92) as the recipient of a scholarship established in his memory.
Carrier Library donors Stan (’56) and Rosemary Jones spend time with a student.
Scholarship athletes and team captains Cassidy Strittmatter (’25) and Jordan Yang, a senior, shared their nationallevel, beyond-the-field leadership roles.
READ MORE: Scan the QR code, or visit https://jmu.edu/news/2025/04/09stewardship-luncheon.shtml.
Bringing the “new” Carrier Library to life
“We’re past the halfway point of Carrier Library’s sweeping transformation — one that will benefit every student on JMU’s campus and match our rise to prominence as a national university.
This time next year, we’ll be busy moving in and preparing to open our doors for the Fall of 2026.
You can look forward to a renovation that honors historic details from the original 1939 library and features a lofty new atrium, technology-rich studios, spaces for collaboration, and reading rooms with stunning campus views.
At the heart of campus, the new Carrier Library will serve every student and major, support faculty research and teaching, welcome alumni home, and connect us with scholarship, media and cultures from around the globe.
I invite you to be part of it.”
Library Patrons Bookshelf
Donate $1,939 and have your name — or a loved one’s name — immortalized in our one-of-a-kind sculptural book display that will greet Dukes in the new 56,000-square-foot Jones Wing.
Give now to the Carrier Library Campaign to ensure that your book is on the donor-recognition shelf at the grand opening.
Carrier Library is for everyone.
SUPPORT
CARRIER
Bethany Nowviskie Dean of Libraries
Stan and Rosemary Jones Wing under construction
Research
(Left): Dr. Bentley in Singapore, with an active urban thunderstorm in the background; (below): Bentley and Dr. Henry Way, professor of geography, on a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok on a smoggy evening
The power of pollution
Multidisciplinary team discovers link between air pollution and increase in urban lightning strikes
Air pollution could be causing more frequent lightning strikes in urban areas, according to research led by geography professor Dr. Mace Bentley.
A three-year study, funded by the National Science Foundation and published last year in the journal Atmospheric Research, examined nearly 500,000 thunderstorms in and around Washington, D.C., and Kansas City, Missouri.
Using 12 years of lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network and data from hundreds of air-pollution stations in the two cities, the researchers determined that in environments with high instability, adding more pollution increases cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.
Pollution from car and bus exhaust, cooling systems, generators, and other engine activity injects billions of particles into the urban atmosphere. “These particulates or aerosols can be caught in the rising air produced by the urban heat island and lifted into developing thunderstorms,” the researchers said.
(integrated science and technology), and Dr. Dudley Bonsal and Dr. Henry Way (geography), along with 10 student research interns: Hayden Abbott and Chelsea Lang (ISAT); Hunter Donaldson, Lucie Griffith, Allison Tucker and Leah Wilczynski (Geography); and James Agresto, Declan McCue, Mia Pham and Endre Szakal (Computer Science).
The investigators each had specific roles based on their background and experience, according to the project’s website. “The multidisciplinary nature of the research provides a cohesive framework to explore connections between the geographic, atmospheric and computer sciences,” it states.
“The updraft and downdraft separate the pollution particles, which divides the electrical charges in the cloud and leads to more lightning production.”
— DR. MACE BENTLEY
“It gets brought into the cloud through the updraft,” Bentley explained. “The updraft and downdraft then separate the pollution particles, which divides the electrical charges in the cloud and leads to more lightning production,” he said.
In addition to Bentley, the team consisted of co-principal investigators Dr. Zhuojun Duan (computer science), Dr. Tobias Gerken
Working with an international team of researchers, Bentley found similar results in Bangkok, Thailand, a tropical Asian megacity with high aerosol concentrations and frequent thunderstorm activity, from 2016 to 2020.
The research, published in September 2024 in Earth Systems and Environment, concluded, “Aerosol impacts on thunderstorms are robust and, when examined in concert with instability, can augment lightning.” It found that the concentration of particulate matter was significantly higher in thunderstorms containing more than 100 strikes.
“It looks like no matter where you go in the world, urban pollution is capable of enhancing thunderstorms and lightning,” Bentley said.
— Eric Gorton (’86, ’09M) and Jim Heffernan (’96, ’17M)
FACULTY FOCUS
Spotlighting JMU professors through the lenses of scholarship, awards and service
Erin Kamarunas and Christy Ludlow
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
Keith Holland ENGINEERING
Dr. Kamarunas, Dr. Lud low and Dr. Holland were awarded a $90,000 Commonwealth Commercialization Fund grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation to advance the Chronic Cough Controller, which is based on JMU/James Madison Innovations Inc.-owned intellectual property invented by Ludlow. Ludlow, with assistance from JMI and the Office of Research, Economic Development and Innovation, received the patent on the chronic cough suppressant device, which offers a promising noninvasive technique to reduce chronic cough in daily life. This therapy uses a wearable device on the front of the neck to apply vibrations at the base of the throat to desensitize persons to cough stimuli and reduce the urge to cough. In 2017, the Office of Research and Scholarship, Ludlow, Kamarunas, and Holland worked with students to develop a proof-of-concept prototype, with support from Madison Trust donors.
Sombo Muzata
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Dr. Muzata received support from the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program to partner with African highereducation institutions.
John Peterson MUSIC
The team hopes to license the technology to a company. For more information, visit http://chroniccoughcontroller.com.
(Top): Dr. Ludlow;
CADFP supports partnerships between African-born academics living in the United States or Canada and accredited African universities to carry out research collaborations, graduate student teaching/mentoring, and/or curriculum co-development. CADFP is funded by a grant from the Carnegie Corp. of New York and administered by the Institute of International Education. Muzata received the alumni CADFP award to continue her collaboration with Christopher Nshimbi, professor of political science and director of the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, on the project “Collaborative Research in Public Debt, Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows.” In addition to continuing her research, Muzata will organize a class with support from JMU X-Labs and a transdisciplinary team of scholars at UP who bring together students from the two universities to address contemporary social issues in South Africa and the United States. In Phase 1 of the Carnegie fellowship, Muzata convened two academic conferences in Pretoria and the U.S. that were attended by government officials, practitioners and many academics. Phase 2 of the fellowship begins this summer.
Carol Dudding COMMUNICATION SCIENCES
Dr. Dudding attended the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, as an Erskine Fellow. This prestigious fellowship invites international scholars to lecture and collaborate on their areas of expertise. She met with researchers, academics, and students on the topics of online learning and simulation.
Dr. Peterson, associate professor of music, authored the book Modeling Musical Analysis, which is co-edited by Dr. Kimberly Goddard Loeffert, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech, and was recently published by Oxford University Press. They are currently working on a second volume of the book, which received support from a 4-VA grant — a partnership by 10 Virginia universities including JMU and Virginia Tech to use collaborative research, course and program development, expanded learning opportunities and emerging tools for education.
Laura Katzman
ART HISTORY
Dr. Katzman won the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s 2024 Director’s Essay Prize for research in the field of visual biography and American portraiture. Katzman’s essay, “Lorenzo Homar’s Cine Alba: An Intimate Portrait of North American Artists in Nineteen-Fifties Puerto Rico,” was chosen for its interdisciplinary contributions to the fields of American art, biography, history and cultural identity. The text was published in the book La Mirada en Construcción: Ensayos Sobre Cultura Visual Katzman is an internationally recognized scholar of 20th-century documentary photography in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico. Her “engaging, beautifully written essay is a masterwork in interdisciplinary research and analysis,” said Julio Capó, an adviser of the Portrait Gallery’s scholarly center, PORTAL, which juried the 2024 prize. “[T]he text will serve as an excellent model for future works on portraiture.”
(middle): Dr. Holland; (left): Dr. Kamarunas holds the chronic cough supressant device in the lab.
HOLLAND, KAMARUNAS AND MUZATA PHOTOGRAPHS BY CODY TROYER; DUDDING BY STEVE ADERTON (’19); KATZMAN BY
(’20)
Being a Duke
Finding your JMU community
Advice from the Madison family
ALUMNI PARENTS
When Tom Dyer “married into” the Madison community, he didn’t plan on becoming part of it.
But that’s exactly what happened after he met future wife Robin (’87). The Dyers’ big-hearted philanthropy has touched nearly every part of campus. They can be found at JMU sporting events, attending shows at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, exploring the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum or socializing with fellow Dukes through the NC Triad Alumni Chapter.
Robin (’87) and Tom Dyer
HOMETOWN: Kernersville, NC
FAVORITE JMU CAUSE: Student scholarships
RECENT HIGHLIGHT: Attending a JMU volleyball match. If you haven’t been to one of those, you have to!
ADVICE FOR ALUMNI looking to reconnect to JMU: Attend local chapter events, get back to campus often, and keep up with JMU through social media or e-newsletters. And, of course, nonalumni spouses should join — they would be welcomed into the JMU community with open arms and become Dukes themselves!
An “empty nester” parent found a way to support his daughters while they were away at JMU.
After a nudge from a friend, Jeff Carr (’24P, ’27P) joined the Parents Council to support his daughters’ Madison Experiences — and deepened his love for JMU.
Jeff Carr (’24P, ’27P)
HOMETOWN: Alexandria, VA
FAVORITE JMU CAUSE: Parents and Families Fund
ADVICE FOR JMU PARENTS to find community through JMU: Attending sporting events is a great way to immerse yourself in the Madison spirit and connect with the JMU community. You can also explore contributing as an adviser if you have a career- or work-related skill. Volunteering as a mentor or helping the University Career Center are other meaningful ways to support students and deepen connection to the university.
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU AT JMU? Scan the QR code to read more stories about Dukes giving back — and the far-reaching impacts of philanthropy at JMU.
FRIENDS
Retired horticulturists put down deep roots in Harrisonburg.
Ten years ago, Lynda and Craig Chandler were searching for a new hometown that would keep them close to nature. They found their place — and their community — through the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum.
Lynda and Craig Chandler
HOMETOWN: Harrisonburg, VA, and Temple Terrace, FL
FAVORITE JMU CAUSE: Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
ADVICE FOR RETIREES to find community through JMU: The Lifelong Learning Institute is a great way to meet people and share unique talents. Take a class or offer to teach one. The arboretum also offers a great place for people to get out in nature and just help a little.
IMAGINING A GREENER FUTURE
Entrepreneur and refugee
Tan H. Nguyen (’92) pioneers food-waste solution
BY AMY CROCKETT (’10)
Tan H. Nguyen (’ 92) relies on cultural memory to paint a picture of his earliest years in South Vietnam during the 1970s.
“The collection of these stories that my mom and aunts would tell me was always filled with a lot of fun and a lot of love,” he said. “It wasn’t until close to the fall of Saigon, when it was chaotic, that there was uncertainty.”
As North Vietnam’s communist regime progressed farther into the south, those opposed to the movement risked political imprisonment or death. Frantic and facing the possibility of great suffering, Nguyen’s mother decided to flee with Nguyen and his siblings aboard a cargo ship to Guam in 1975.
During the fateful journey to America at age 5, Nguyen’s full memories locked in. “To be whisked away on a boat, find our way to an island, all of a sudden be in this giant tent city with thousands of people waiting in line for each meal and then working toward placement in the U.S. into a refugee camp — for a child, that was very confusing,” he remembered.
STARTING FROM ZERO
After a lottery system relocated his family to Pennsylvania, Nguyen witnessed his single mother struggle to integrate into a new country with a foreign language. In Saigon, she had worked as a bank teller and was fluent in Chinese and French; in America, she supported the family through odd jobs, such as cleaning houses and altering clothing.
Nguyen’s generation of immigrants grew up in an environment where their parents came from nothing, stripped of previous education and trades, and built livelihoods in the face of racism. “And in my mom’s case, sexism,” he said.
“There was a backlash of hatred toward Vietnamese refugees, because a lot of people in America did not like the idea of the Vietnam War. I watched the refugee adults bear that weight from society, but they were resilient. They continued to push forward and work harder. They continued to be creative, and they were persistent about it.”
BRIGHT LIGHTS
“Being a refugee of the war molded a big part of who I am.”
— TAN H. NGUYEN (’92)
For the rest of his youth, the message of resilience and perseverance stayed with Nguyen. “There’s nothing I can’t overcome — you just gotta work harder. There’s nothing beneath you — be grateful,” he said. “Being a refugee of the war molded a big part of who I am.”
A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
As a member of a low-income minority group, Nguyen qualified for the Milton Hershey School in Pennsylvania, founded in 1909 by chocolatier Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine. Nguyen spent four years at the cost-free, private boarding school, where he experienced the power of compassion and philanthropy firsthand.
But it was at JMU where Nguyen felt at home. He applied as a transfer student from Old Dominion University and was accepted in 1989. “I wanted to be part of this legendary, mythical place in Harrisonburg
that everyone kept talking about,” he said. “I worked hard my freshman year to make sure I stood out and could make it to JMU.
“I felt so welcomed,” Nguyen continued. “The culture of JMU was everything I thought it was going to be — the staff, incredible professors, student body.”
At first glance, Nguyen’s resume and career resembles the path of a College of Business graduate. His six-year stint at Sprint telecommunications during the early 2000s led to the acquisition of two startups at the forefront of wireless technology. In 2007, he took a calculated risk, establishing his own multimillion-dollar mobile media company: NuWin Enterprises. His most recent venture, NuWin FWRD (Food Waste Recycling and Distribution), focuses on reducing food waste and methane gas from landfills.
A closer look into what drives the serial entrepreneur and CEO reveals a self-proclaimed “fascination” with human behavior. Without hesitation, Nguyen pursued a Psychology degree at JMU. “Psychology is a thread through everything, especially business,” he said. “If you don’t know your consumer, if you don’t know behaviors, you cannot provide that customer with what they’re looking for.
“In business, we’re dealing with all kinds of personality types that have different agendas, needs and wants,” said Nguyen, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. “My Psychology major is counseling applied in the real world that gets a result, where everyone is participating in this mission of trying to clean up the planet.”
While he was raised to persevere and practice resiliency, Nguyen credits his Madison Experience with directly shaping the third quality of his personality: adaptability. “At JMU, I was put in an environment that was diverse and inclusive,” he said, explaining that this dynamic fosters a “growth mindset” — a key component of being an effective leader and successful businessperson. “When we have a growth mindset, we’re adapting to the world as it evolves, and we become part of the solution.”
CLOSING THE LOOP
With the gift of adaptability comes the ability to examine a traditional model and change it for a better future. As a parent, Nguyen realized designing apps wouldn’t improve the Earth for his daughter. A personal journey in 2015 led him to pivot and question the state of garbage in America — an economic opportunity to innovate the landfill.
“When I looked into climate change, the narrative was dominated by electric vehicles and renewable energy,” Nguyen said. “What I discovered was the third-largest culprit of greenhouse-gas emissions was food waste, and no one was talking about it.”
(Above): Nguyen’s childhood in Vietnam before the fall of Saigon; (left): Nguyen and his siblings overcame great odds to start their lives anew in America.
Globally, humans discard 40% of all food produced, and food waste remains the largest, single product in a landfill. Once the food is tossed in the trash bin or goes down the garbage disposal, Nguyen says it’s part of the “throwaway” culture not to worry about where the waste goes next.
Launched from the social sustainability efforts of NuWin Enterprises, NuWin FWRD patented an enzyme-based formula that accelerates nature’s decomposition process. Composting takes three to four months before it is used as fertilizer. Nguyen’s thermal aerobic digestion technology can break down 5 tons of food waste in 24 hours, removing methane from the atmosphere and sequestering carbon dioxide into its compost output.
“When we put these metrics and data in front of lieutenant governors, state assembly leaders and Congress, they can’t believe the technology exists,” Nguyen said. “We have been going through a very long process — resilience and perseverance — seven years of meeting with lawmakers from as many states as we can, and at the federal level, explaining how this works. We’ve collected a number of leaders who support what we’re trying to do, and now we’re trying to navigate the funding part.”
In 2019,
the State Department
invited
Nguyen
to speak
on telehealth
“Wherever I go, whatever I do, I’m aware that I represent JMU.”
While Nguyen waits for financing to funnel through government agencies, he envisions building food-waste recycling centers across the U.S. He says the first flagship center will most likely be in Los Angeles. “The California Department of Transporta -
and sustainability
at
the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the Netherlands. “Philanthropy, to me, is an obligation of success,” he said. “Whatever I can do, I should do in the service of others.”
tion needs 390,000 tons of compost each year to beautify the landscape and roads,” he said.
In an offtake agreement, California will stamp the compost produced from NuWin FWRD’s industrial-size machine as a certified, high-nutrient fertilizer, enabling Nguyen to sell it to agriculturalists and gardeners. “We’re trying to figure out a process where farmers grow the food, it gets shipped to the stores, people buy it, they create the waste, it goes into our machines, we produce fertilizer and give it back to the farmers. We’re trying to close that loop,” Nguyen said. Additionally, he hopes to provide wastepickup and drop-off services to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, schools and private homes. Nguyen’s machines can sift and grind organic debris ranging from chicken bones to tree limbs, before the enzymes break it down further. “The only thing we don’t want is the plastic and Sty-
rofoam packaging,” he said.
NuWin FWRD’s centralized processing model presents an advantage to transform food disposal at JMU, using the output to maintain its green spaces. “We could easily put one or two machines on campus, because the transport of the food waste from the dining halls isn’t far,” Nguyen said. “Then we make it part of a program that students participate in, so they can learn how waste management is changing for the future.
“Students may not know it right now, but trust me, what I developed in myself because of JMU brought me here to this moment,” he said. “Wherever I go, whatever I do, I’m aware that I represent JMU.”
With the food-waste industry expected to hit $400 million worldwide regarding business opportunities, Nguyen continues to educate stakeholders and the government on generating new, green jobs and the environmental impact of diverting millions of tons of waste from landfills.
“We are dependent on their participation to make this real and give it the support it needs,” he emphasized. “We want them to take food waste as seriously as they take getting gas-guzzling cars off the road.”
RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
Grant agencies look to JMU for innovative solutions in education, health care, the environment and more.
As a state institution designated R2 (high research activity), our research, scholarship and creative priorities help define who we are and demonstrate the value of public education. Universities are well-equipped to respond to national and global challenges, of which there are many. The complexity of artificial intelligence, energy security, health care delivery, geopolitical conflict, sustainability and other issues require interdisciplinary collaboration, a hallmark of JMU academic programs and centers. A JMU approach to “research for the public good” brings together diverse groups of problem-solvers and encourages innovation and new ways of thinking, while maintaining core values of community and integrity to establish trust and identify needs with the communities we serve.
The programs highlighted in the stories below showcase what is possible when we merge subject-matter expertise with external partners to address local, state, national and global issues. Student participation with these centers and programs in labs, libraries, field sites, studios, and other facilities contributes to the development of critical thinking, adaptability, and resilience skills — all necessary for future career success. Pursuing positive societal impact through intentional research activities helps us fulfill JMU’s mission of “preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.”
Dr. Anthony Tongen, vice president Research, Economic Development and Innovation
Jesse Rodriguez (’18M), right, associate director of innovation at the I’m Determined Center, with participants at the annual Youth Summit
I’M DETERMINED CENTER EMPOWERS YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
Through mentoring, experiential learning and the annual Youth Summit, this program equips students with the skills to take control of their futures.
In 2004, the Virginia Department of Education was given a crucial mission by the governor’s office: Create a program that addresses the disparities in post-graduation outcomes between individuals with disabilities and their peers without disabilities. The task would become the I’m Determined Center.
Funded by VDOE, this state-directed project offers students with disabilities direct instruction, models and practice in self-determined behaviors. “Disability is just a part of who they are,” said John McNaught (’02M), principal investigator. “It doesn’t define them.”
While the center serves all of Virginia, its headquarters and grant management are housed at James Madison University. This unique connection allows for collaborations with JMU programs and resources, such as Conference Services to host annual Youth and Family Summits; College of Education undergraduate students to provide extra support at events; the Health Education Design Group to write, produce, and edit videos and media; and UREC’s Adventure Center to offer leadership-development opportunities for I’m Determined state youth leaders.
MENTORING, SUPPORT AND SELF-ADVOCACY
Headquartered at JMU and funded through the Virginia Department of Education, the I’m Determined Center has spent two decades empowering students with disabilities and addressing the disparities they might face in their post-graduate outcomes.
UREC’s Adventure Center provides leadership-development skills. (Above): Youth leaders on the ropes course; (bottom): a team-building activity with UREC staff and an I’m Determined Center staff member
It’s a life-changing initiative that promotes self-determination, empowering students to take charge of their lives and pursue futures of their own design. As Jesse Rodriguez (’18M), associate director of innovation, explained, “We help youth understand how to think about their disability and how to speak about it in a way that’s positive and helps them be successful.”
(L-R): Jesse Rodriguez (’18M), associate director of innovation; John McNaught (’02M), principal investigator; Kendal Swartzentruber, director of I’m Determined
In 2008, the I’m Determined Center took a significant step forward by introducing a youth leadership component in its annual Youth Summit, in which students of transition age learn about self-determination and leadership skills. Led and planned by 20 to 30 leaders who work alongside I’m Determined staff, the summit draws approximately 50 participants who are mentored by the youth leaders. It’s a transformative expe-
rience that enables these young individuals to be heard and valued, reinforcing the project’s commitment to youth leadership.
“It’s really about the moments where youth are front and center, and we’re listening to perspectives and voices and experiences that don’t often get heard,” said Kendal Swartzentruber, director of I’m Determined.
By focusing on these young voices, the summit helps amplify stories that challenge
stereotypes and raise expectations. “A lot of times, there’s a very low bar for students with disabilities,” McNaught said. “The easiest way to raise that bar is to put a kid up there who breaks the glass ceiling and defies those low expectations.”
I’m Determined provides services for youth, their families and educators, so everyone has access to the resources and tools necessary to ensure student success.
“We’re giving you something useful that you can run with,” Swartzentruber said. “The kind of culture that we’ve created in the project is really fun and engaging. People find a lot of motivation from being a part of it.”
Preparing students to meet challenges head-on fosters a sense of confidence and resilience. Swartzentruber describes the journey as “finding the balance between keeping really high expectations and high levels of support … providing lots of oppor-
tunities that really push students with disabilities to try new things … and in that, providing adequate support.”
Focusing on one’s identity, including strengths and challenges, encourages students to take pride in their experiences and uniqueness. The I’m Determined Center helps students understand their disability is just one part of who they are, and it should never hold them back from their dreams or advocating for themselves.
“‘This is what makes me unique. I’m going to show it off for better or for worse.’ … When you can be proud of that, and you can kind of own it — that’s what we’re trying to do with the identity piece,” Rodriguez said,
He added that participants develop outcomes for the project, such as, “‘Here are the
goals that I have for myself, and I’m willing to speak up when something’s in my way.’”
Through stories of success and empowerment, students in the program build their confidence, inspire others to push past boundaries and prove that disability is not a limitation, but just one thread in the tapestry of their lives.
One of the newest ways I’m Determined is supporting youth voices is through its debut feature film, Pulling Threads, which showcases three high-school students as they wrestle with identity, disability and their futures. A collaboration with HEDG in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies, Pulling Threads won the award for Breakthrough Ensemble (U.S.) at the 2024 Richmond International Film Festival in September for HEDG’s nonbiased, authentic casting process and most recently
“Finding the balance between keeping really high expectations and high levels of support … providing lots of opportunities that really push students with disabilities to try new things … and in that, providing adequate support.”
— KENDAL SWARTZENTRUBER on the journey students can gain through the I’m Determined Center
Produced in Harrisonburg, the 2024 debut feature film Pulling Threads is one of the newest ways the I’m Determined Center amplifies youth voices.
won the award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2024 Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Produced in Harrisonburg, the film’s cast and crew are mostly JMU alumni. Some of the scenes were also shot in COE’s Memorial Hall, and the Madison “door-holding” tradition showed up in many ways throughout the filming of the project.
“The film has opened up many opportunities for youth, educators and members of the community to share about their own experiences while safely diving into misconceptions they may have held before watching the film,” Rodriguez said.
“We really try to make youth voices the key to everything we do and make sure that people are hearing not just from professionals in the field, but people who have gone through and built up self-determination skills and are now successful,” he said.
“They need to hear those stories, and who better to tell it than the youth themselves?”
LEAVING AN IMPRINT AT JMU AND ABROAD
For 26 years, Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein guided CISR through its challenges and successes.
BY AMY CROCKETT (’10)
Aveteran globetrotter, Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein pulled out her U.S. passport 15 times to enter the country of Jordan while representing JMU — a number that doesn’t include the 21 other countries she visited during her 26-year career in humanitarian mine action at the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery. Fiederlein joined CISR in 1999 as a senior
research associate and victim-assistance team leader. In 2010 she became the associate director, and in 2020 she took over as its director. Five years later, as retirement sets in, she’s working to clean out more than two decades’ worth of files and memorabilia, while also looking forward to beginning a new life chapter in Harrisonburg with her husband, Dr. David Pruett, professor emeritus of mathematics.
(L-R): Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein, former CISR Director Dr. Ken Rutherford and Muhabbat Ibrohimzoda, director of the Tajikistan National Mine Action Center
“I don’t think there will be a lack of things for me to do,” Fiederlein said. She doesn’t rule out the prospect of consulting work in mine action but speaks enthusiastically about having enough free time now for her local passions: supporting immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley and engaging in climate protection. “The challenge might be to not let myself get overextended.”
Looking back on her journey with CISR, Fiederlein managed a multitude of mineaction projects and programs. Early in her career, she supported the development of the International Mine Action Standards and managed its website for 10 years. Fiederlein also served on the IMAS Review Board and the editorial board of The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction.
“Suzanne’s stewardship has provided valuable experiences for graduates as they explore international security and humanitarian assistance-related careers.”
— DR. ANTHONY TONGEN
She began overseeing recruitment for the Frasure-Kruzel-Drew Memorial Fellowship program shortly after it started in 1999. The fellowship is an opportunity for fourth-year students, graduate students and recent graduates to apply for and serve in the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
GLOBAL MINE ACTION AND POST-CONFLICT RECOVERY EFFORTS
Since 2022, CISR has won more than $5 MILLION in external funding to conduct cutting-edge research and expert training in mine clearance as well as educational capacity-building in post-conflict societies.
(Above): The 2006 Senior Managers’ Course on JMU’s campus; (below): CISR hosts a Ukrainian mine-action group.
“Suzanne’s stewardship of the FKD Fellowship has provided valuable experiences for graduates — 41 to date — as they explore international security and humanitarian assistance-related careers at the State Department,” said Dr. Anthony Tongen, vice president of Research, Economic Development and Innovation at JMU.
“Her leadership in humanitarian mine action has also helped establish CISR and JMU as the premier source for management training in the field, demonstrated by comprehensive trainings delivered to nearly 400 senior managers representing 58 countries,” he said. Since 2004, Fiederlein directed and coordinated the trainings known as the Senior Managers’ Courses in Conventional Weapons Destruction, hosted 11 times at JMU and seven times internationally.
These courses took place through a collaboration with JMU faculty, particularly from the College of Business; local implement-
“She is small but mighty, fierce and fearless, and she confidently takes her seat at the table in a field that has historically been dominated by men.”
— NICOLE NEITZEY (’02, ’15M)
ing partners; and sponsoring organizations including the State Department and the United Nations. As Fiederlein often states, CISR’s work is based on collaboration with many partners at JMU and outside it, both in the U.S. and abroad.
For Fiederlein, running into former trainees on work trips was a personal highlight and a rewarding, full-circle moment. “When I go around to international meetings, whether
they’re in Geneva or recently in Cambodia for the Fifth Review Conference of the AntiPersonnel Mine Ban Convention, there are like 40 people there that I had trained over the years. So it’s really cool to see them. They say, ‘Dr. Suzanne!’”
During her trips to Jordan, she helped implement We Love Life!, a psychodrama and creative arts program educating youth on the dangers of explosive remnants of war while promoting safe behaviors. A total of 29 performances at 18 locations were conducted in mine-affected areas of Jordan, reaching nearly 16,000 people. “We had a second We Love Life! in 2014 that was focused on schoolchildren in northern Iraq and Syrian refugees — adults and children both,” Fiederlein said.
Some of her most interesting research took place in Central America — a region that was declared mine-free in 2010 — where she examined the connection between mine-clearance
In 2012, Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein visited a minefield in Cambodia with a deminer from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.
(Clockwise from top): 2011 Jordan trip; 2015 Senior Managers’ Course in Vietnam; Dr. Fiederlein holds demining equipment; then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recognized CISR as a leader in post-conflict issues in 2011.
programs and peacebuilding. “In Guatemala, the former guerrillas worked closely with the military units through the volunteer firefighters, the bomberos. They were seen as sort of a neutral, trusted entity to reach out to all the communities to engage them in risk education and get information from them on what they know about where there are dangerous munitions that needed to be cleared.”
She also closely investigated the effects of the environment on landmines in the ground in the 2010 Landmine Aging Study: “Under what circumstances do they continue to function as intended? Do they become more dangerous or less dangerous over time?” More recently, Fiederlein’s team published a 2025 report on the aging of underwater munitions.
During her tenure at CISR, Fiederlein worked extensively on efforts to enhance the effectiveness of casualty data collection and management as lead researcher and author of the Landmine Casualty Data: Best Practices Guidebook.
“I’ve been around long enough that I can see shifts in emphasis as far as a country’s focus and what the issues are within the sector.” A constant challenge facing Fiederlein and her peers was the need for reliable data, especially in the early days of mine action,
EDITOR’S NOTE: Amy Crockett (’10) worked at CISR for 12 years before becoming a deputy editor and production manager for University Marketing and Branding.
“There’s always been this quest to improve data collection, management and analysis to actually inform future decisionmaking for programs.”
— DR. SUZANNE FIEDERLEIN
when information was collected and recorded on paper. “There’s always been this quest to improve data collection, management and analysis to actually inform future decisionmaking for programs,” she explained.
Fiederlein points out another unwavering obstacle — the fact that CISR was established at JMU in 1996 as a grant-funded center. “While you’re carrying out a project and wanting to make it as successful as possible, there’s always the pressure to seek new grants and write new grant proposals,” she said. Fiederlein steered the nonprofit in evolving and expanding efforts outside of mine action, namely capacity-building projects with the American University of Kurdistan and the Young African Leaders Initiative, as well as a refugee program with Harrisonburg High School Peer Leaders.
In February, Buddhist scholar Dr. Christie Kilby of the Department of Philosophy and Religion stepped into Fiederlein’s former
role, but the future of CISR remains uncertain due to recent budget reductions at the Department of State.
In 2017, Fiederlein received JMU’s Woman of Distinction Award upon nomination by the CISR staff. At her retirement party in late January, Fiederlein’s right hand, Assistant Director Nicole Neitzey (’02, ’15M), remarked, “Don’t let her height fool you — she is small but mighty, fierce and fearless, and she confidently takes her seat at the table in a field that has historically been dominated by men. At the same time, she is kind and loyal, leading with empathy and compassion. She is truly one of a kind: an incredible leader, colleague, confidant, mentor and friend.”
Whether venturing to Vietnam or Tajikistan, Fiederlein and her colleagues improved livelihoods through recovery, rebuilding and resilience, and her legacy cannot be overstated. “Suzanne’s dedicated efforts and collaborative approach have left a lasting impact both here at JMU and in communities around the world,” Tongen said.
“I will miss [Suzanne’s] passion for the mine-action sector and the people in it,” Neitzey said. “She has set the bar incredibly high when it comes to being a boss and the head of CISR.”
“At my retirement event, I mentioned that people often ask me what I like most about my job,” Fiederlein said. “And I always say, ‘It’s the people.’”
LAB SCHOOL TEACHES BY ASKING BIG QUESTIONS
The state-funded program helps students reach new heights, whether inside or outside the classroom.
BY JOSETTE KEELOR
Students at Broadway High School participate in a Lab School lesson in the fall of 2024.
In a classroom at East Rockingham High School in Elkton, Virginia, 50 ninth-graders have been discussing what it means to be human.
The theme, which kicked off in August, has continued throughout the academic year as part of the state-funded Laboratory School for Innovation and Career Exploration.
The effort is a partnership among James Madison University, Blue Ridge Community College and Rockingham County Public Schools. Students from four local high schools have
signed up for project-based lessons through the Lab School curriculum, which offers a creative, collaborative environment.
At East Rock, about a quarter of the ninth grade is enrolled in Lab School. As part of the program’s pilot year, students have been contemplating various questions to get them thinking about how to self-evaluate, said Danielle Matheny, a health and physical education teacher and department chair. “How do you interact with other people?” she said. “What resources do [those people] need? What resources, as you’re looking from an overall perspective, does the world need?”
CULTIVATING INNOVATION AND CAREER EXPLORATION
The College of Education secured $8 MILLION in state funding to open the inaugural JMU Lab School for Innovation and Career Exploration, an interdisciplinary high school program in partnership with Rockingham County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, and industry partners to promote pathways to college and careers for grades 9-12.
(Above): Danielle Matheny instructs Lab School students with a countdown clock to keep them on task. (Right): East Rockingham English teacher
Robert Mann is one of four instructors co-teaching through the high school’s partnership with JMU, BRCC and Rockingham County Public Schools.
“And that’ll take us all the way through,” Matheny explained. “The last unit, I believe, is their personal wellness plan before we go for the summer.”
In Lab School, the ninth graders study English, world geography, science, health and P.E. in a collaborative setting unlike anything offered at the schools before. Participants were randomly chosen from applicants for a maximum of 50 seats for ninth graders at each school. As students continue their high school education, they can choose whether to remain in Lab School or switch back to their school’s regular curriculum.
The initiative was launched by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and approved by the Virginia Board of Education in January. According to the Virginia Department of Education, at least 16 other higher educational institutions around Virginia also applied to participate in the Lab School effort. Local participation started with East Rockingham and Broadway high schools, and a fall 2025 launch is planned for Spotswood High School in Penn Laird and Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater. Additionally, with the current ninth graders moving on to 10th grade, the program is set to expand from eight
“We’re trying to figure out what it is that we can do as human beings to take all of us one step higher, to do things better. When you know better, you do better.”
— DR. DONICA HADLEY assistant professor in the Department of Early, Elementary and Reading Education
JMU’s participation includes meeting with principals from Spotswood and Turner Ashby, onboarding new Lab School teachers and incoming students, and offering professional development opportunities to build the curriculum along with other collaborative efforts.
Incoming students were surveyed prior to curriculum development to learn their expectations and hopes for Lab School, said Dr. Donica Hadley, assistant professor in the Department of Early, Elementary and Reading Education at JMU and executive director of Lab School for Rockingham County.
To conduct the surveys and maintain a database of feedback, JMU has been work-
ing with ARETGroup (Applied Research and Evaluation Technologies Group) and two Public Administration professors, Dr. Amanda Teye and Dr. Liliokanaio Peaslee, who specialize in data collection. They created surveys specific to students and parents, and the program will continue to survey students every few months to gauge their experience and adjust as needed.
The program curriculum is “a breathing document,” Hadley said. She and the teachers often reflect on what’s working and what can change, so they can be “very thoughtful and mindful of not just what we’re teaching, but who we’re teaching.”
There’s no ideal Lab School learner. “This is an opportunity for all students,” Hadley said. “In the College of Education, we’re always trying to Be the Change. We’re trying to figure out what it is that we can do as human beings to take all of us one step higher, to do things better. When you know better, you do better.”
At East Rock, the morning is divided into two, 80-minute class periods with a 40-minute advisory block in between. Most days, students participate in a brain question, followed by a movement activity, Matheny said.
“So that’s just daily. Every single day. It
(Above): Dr. Donica Hadley is executive director of Lab School at JMU. (Right, L-R): Kaleigh Phelps (’25M), Courtney Vreeland (’25M), Zoe McDowell (’25M)
gives them consistency,” she said. “It gives them that routine … [It] gives them the opportunity to get warmed up to the space before we say, ‘OK, get out this assignment.’ It gives them the opportunity to get their brain going. So that really helps.”
Co-teaching with Matheny is environmental science teacher Bonnie Altstaetter, worldgeography teacher Jordan Biller (’23M) and ninth-grade English teacher Robert Mann. Working with them are three JMU graduate assistants — Elementary Education student Kevin Wheedleton (’24), who’s participating with Lab School for a year while pursuing a master’s degree in Teacher Leadership; Psychology major Riley Grizzard, who’s assisting with the Department of Graduate Psychology through her concentration in School Counseling; and Lab School Community Engagement Liaison Xavier Grier (’24M).
Through Lab School, Grier said, “We’re trying to build a new kind of culture, a new mindset about education. ... It just makes people excited to come in and learn.”
Part of Grier’s role has been identifying community experts to speak to the classes on various topics or host them at JMU and the surrounding area. Besides being a favor-
“It’s been amazing to watch those life skills come out — collaborating, communicating, all those things — the critical thinking today.”
—
DANIELLE MATHENY East Rockingham health and P.E. teacher, and department chair
ite with students, the guest speakers bring expert knowledge on topics like mental health, providing more depth to lessons and helping teachers focus on other topics.
“I’ve never been able to do that and have that guest speaker come in as we’re doing mental health,” Matheny said. “That’s this big bridge we’re building [within] the curriculum. … We can have multiple guest speakers; we can go on a lot of different field trips because we have that bridge built.”
When Lab School started, teachers focused on helping students get comfortable with the setting, so they could learn to better relate to others and themselves. Students were only sitting with their friends, Matheny recalled, but after a few days they
Geography teacher Jordan Biller (’23M) instructs students during a Lab School lesson at East Rockingham High School.
started collaborating with others. About halfway through the fall semester, they all knew each other’s names and could work well in different groups.
“And that’s the beauty of it,” Matheny said. “You can foster it in other classes — but not like you can when you have the amount of supports you have in this room.
“It’s been amazing to watch those life skills come out — collaborating, communicating, all those things — the critical thinking today. They were getting frustrated, but they were frustrated because they haven’t been challenged to think that deeply about questions and where they fit into the world. It’s hard, but it challenged them to really dive into themselves.”
Lab School teachers have enjoyed the collaborative nature of the program. “We can go in a different order, because they’re still going to learn the content,” Altstaetter said. She recalled sharing with 10th-grade teachers how different the program will feel for them if they join the instruction team next year — though “different” is also the point of Lab School.
“I do not expect this program to be for everyone,” Altstaetter said. “It’s the beauty of having options. … That’s why a lot of parents are like, ‘Get my kid in here, because we want something different.’”
Parents have also been excited about their kids learning from guest speakers and taking field trips to JMU to see if higher education is for them. “Long-term wise, the big buzz was them having an opportunity to get [college] credit,” Altstaetter said.
“I am so grateful to be a part of this initiative,” said Hadley, previously an administrator with Rockingham County schools.
“The collaboration has just been tremendous,” she said. “For me it is just a blending of our community, resources, talent, expertise, our energy — it’s that ‘it-takes-a-village’ mentality — and it’s been such a wonderful community effort. JMU brings a lot to our community, and our community brings a lot to JMU as well. So, it’s just such a perfect blend of the power and positive energy that a university can bring to a community.”
BREATHE EASY
JMU’s partnership with Virginia Clean Cities focuses on clean-transportation initiatives.
BY LILLIAN JOHNS
Vehicles queue up to use the new solar-powered charging station during its unveiling at the VCC Harrisonburg office in 2021.
Amodel university is a steward, not only to the people who make up its community, but also to the region it calls home. With more than a decade of partnership, Virginia Clean Cities and JMU have succeeded in improving air quality and building economic opportunities through various infrastructureand education-based programs.
Through their collaboration, they hope to transform Harrisonburg-Rockingham County into a region of
energy independence. By bringing in federal, state and private grants; sponsoring programs; and building stakeholder networks, VCC is enriching the quality of life for Virginians.
Alleyn Harned (’14M), executive director of VCC, shared several multimillion-dollar initiatives underway.
The Mid-Atlantic Nitrogen Oxide Reduction Project is a JMU-led initiative to help dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions from large, diesel-burning vehicles.
“You can plug in your car and just charge off sunshine-powered batteries,” said Matthew Wade (’03, ’07M, ’18M), VCC deputy director. The “JuiceBox” collects and stores solar energy to be purchased and transferred to an electric vehicle.
PREPARING VIRGINIA FOR GREEN TRANSPORTATION
Since 2022, Virginia Clean Cities has secured more than $19 MILLION in external funding to deploy advanced technology vehicles and alternative-fuel infrastructure while conducting education and outreach on the importance of reducing transportation emissions, improving economic opportunities, and strengthening energy-supply chains.
Since 2019, the project has partnered with UPS, successfully replacing numerous diesel-burning vehicles in the delivery company’s fleet with a mix of compressed natural gas and other clean-diesel technologies.
According to its website, MANOR estimates it saves more than 468,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year and reduces emissions by approximately 35%.
The project’s first phase saw the reduction of vehicles in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania in areas facing persistent airquality problems.
Currently, the MANOR project is in its second iteration, focusing solely on renewable compressed natural gas, which will
“Electricity is just part of the puzzle that we are trying to put together.”
— MATTHEW WADE (’03, ’07M, ’18M) VCC deputy director
make an even greater impact on pollution reduction. In Harrisonburg, the project has already helped local transportation-logistics efforts by replacing older diesel trucks with cleaner CNG trucks. VCC has also provided technical assistance to the city in its efforts to electrify multiple school buses.
“The focus of our program is to align with engagement, public service and other key
aspects of the university’s mission, and to align educational programs or career-based engagement,” Harned said.
With the help of a grant proposal authored by JMU, another VCC project is underway.
The Mid-Atlantic Electrification Partnership has launched in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. This initiative has created a regional, electric-vehicle ecosystem through the
Parking spots in the vicinity of charging stations at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport are reserved for electric vehicles, all part of a bigger plan to build an environment for electric vehicles in communities.
development of EV ride-sharing vehicles and new charging stations.
VCC Deputy Director Matthew Wade (’03, ’07M, ’18M) said initially the plan was to build 300 Level 2 charging stations in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia, but the program has exceeded that number. “We hit our goal of more than 300 chargers deployed, but that is just one piece of the puzzle, because then we had to build our ride-share system,” Wade said.
As part of the project, partnering utility company Baltimore Gas and Electric purchased 100 electric vehicles and leased them to Lyft drivers in the greater Baltimore area. As of the end of December 2024, more than a million miles had been logged by these EVs. Calculating the carbon emissions from how much gasoline it would take to travel that distance, the ride-share vehicles have prevented almost 800,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide tailpipe emissions, Wade said.
At the local level, Harned said, efforts are being made to electrify the Gus Bus, a mobile classroom serving elementary school students in the area and involving JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services and the College of Health and Behavioral Studies.
With plans to install a 140-kilowatt traction battery strong enough to power a household, “the ability to run power without being reliant on diesel as it serves the children of the Harrisonburg and greater Rockingham County community is very promising,” Harned said.
JMU is also making waves by piloting solar EV-charging infrastructure, further bringing rural America into the conversation regarding sustainable energy usage.
“You can plug in your car and just charge off sunshine-powered batteries — literally — because it’s not grid-tied at all,” Wade said. “And that’s what we are trying to demonstrate for rural areas or places that are hard to access from utility-grid connections.”
JMU students interested in the study of clean transportation have the opportunity to take part in the Last Mile Leadership scholarship program through another VCC project, LODESTAR, in which experts in the field of alternative energy are helping
“The focus of our program is to align with engagement, public service and other key aspects of the university’s mission, and to align educational programs or career-based engagement.”
— ALLEYN HARNED (’14M) VCC executive director
students apply clean transportation to their fields of study.
Harned believes this is the leadership decade. But it is also one that will be defined by experimentation and collaboration.
“The next five years are very specifically aligned with leadership and early-stage energy changes, where people, communities, corporations, governments and individuals seek to reduce their emissions footprint by 50%,” Harned shared.
Virginia communities and companies hope to be at the head of these efforts.
The Gus Bus, which serves as a mobile classroom for elementary-age students in Harrisonburg, is working with VCC to potentially electrify one of its vehicles. The program is dependent on being mobile for its operation and, through electrification, can reduce its tailpipe emissions.
The alternative fuel industry is gaining traction, and VCC, though based in Harrisonburg, is expanding its domain, with offices around the state and impacts beyond the region. The options are ever-expanding with the emergence of renewable propane, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuels, and other exciting low- and zero-emission petrochemical innovations.
Twenty years from now, Virginia Clean Cities hopes to see positive changes that benefit livelihoods and pocketbooks, reduce emissions, and present a brighter future for the planet.
“Electricity is just part of the puzzle that we are trying to put together,” Wade said. “Our role is to help people figure out which alternative domestic fuel or technology will make their fleets and their lives more efficient.”
IIHHS AIMS TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION
A JMU institute works with communities to advance a culture of health and equity.
BY TAYLOR MOORE
Promoting personal, social and institutional well-being is at the heart of the College of Health and Behavioral Studies’ mission. As an extension of the college, JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services brings together students, staff, faculty and the community to advance a culture of health and equity through education, clinical practice, research, innovative programs and advocacy.
IIHHS was established as an interdisciplinary hub to respond to health and human services needs in the communities it serves. The institute has 16 communitybased programs that operate at the local, regional and state levels. Additionally, eight of the nine community-based clinics at IIHHS are partnerships with several
CHBS academic units, allowing them to function as training clinics for JMU students.
“All of the IIHHS community-based programs are supported by grants. We write grants to respond to problems that the community identifies, and then we grow our capacity through our amazing students and also through the faculty,” said Dr. Linda Plitt Donaldson, IIHHS director and associate dean of CHBS.
“Socioeconomic status and access to quality housing, transportation and food are all factors that help people feel like they have a good quality of life.”
— DR. LINDA PLITT DONALDSON IIHHS director and associate dean of CHBS
“The scope of the institute is very broad,” added Jolynne Bartley, associate director of Children and Youth Services at IIHHS. “From Augusta County to Winchester, both geographically and numerically, we serve a big population. We have many rural initiatives surrounding our immediate Harrisonburg hub. We also work locally with our school systems, from elementary to high school. And some of
(Left): The Inter-Professional Autism Clinic provides in-depth, multidisciplinary assessment and intervention for children ages 2-7 on the autism spectrum. (Above): The Counseling and Psychological Services Clinic offers affordable outpatient mental health services in the local community.
our programs serve the whole commonwealth and beyond. IIHHS has a huge presence.”
IIHHS programs have a common research focus of community and the social determinants of health.
“Socioeconomic status and access to quality housing, transportation and food are all factors that help people feel like they have a good quality of life,” Donaldson said, adding that research suggests social factors can be the most predictive of someone’s health status regardless of their access to care.
Individual behaviors are also examined, such as if a person drinks, smokes or exercises. “None of those factors are as important as whether you have a safe, decent place to live; whether you’re living in poverty; or whether you feel safe and have access to food and transportation,” Donaldson said.
Bartley oversees Claude Moore Precious Time, a pediatric respite care program that provides families of children with disabilities and special health care needs an opportunity to take a break from the demands of caregiving. Students in Nursing and Health and Human Services provide respite care for families within a one-hour radius of JMU as part of their learning experience.
Another IIHHS program, The Gus Bus, is a community literacy and academic enrichment program that serves pre-K and elementary-school students in Harrisonburg. Its mission is to foster a love for learning in young students through its mobile
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY COMMUNITY HUB
Since 2022, IIHHS has garnered more than $15 MILLION in external funding for public service and outreach projects. IIHHS’s multifaceted work has spanned the region and the state, providing crucial health and human services in Harrisonburg and Augusta, Page and Shenandoah counties. RESEARCH FOR
“We made sure that we’re casting people who actually have disabilities and ensuring that we’re portraying that on screen in a way that honors the work of the youth leaders at I’m Determined.”
— BRENT FINNEGAN director of Health Education Design Group
classroom vehicles, on-site after-school programs, in-home tutoring program and summer day camps.
IIHHS’ Health Education Design Group produces content for health and human services organizations, including educational online courses, medical training and howto videos.
HEDG delivers modules for the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, helping individuals, couples and families develop the skills and resources necessary to build healthy and stable home environments.
“We’re constantly refining our processes based on user feedback of the learners who have taken the modules and give us feedback through the surveys,” said HEDG director Brent Finnegan. “We’re also checking to make sure that a lot of the information that’s there is
updated, and they’re keeping up with federal and state best practices as those change.”
HEDG partners with School of Media Arts and Design students interested in film production. “By the time they graduate, they have projects that they can be proud of and use to find employment in the industry,” Finnegan said.
In recent years, HEDG has collaborated with other IIHHS programs, including The Gus Bus and SexEdVA. In 2022, it worked with SexEdVA’s Youth Advisory Board to produce the short film Follow You, Follow Me, which won Best Screenplay at the Swan International Women in Film Festival in Perth, Australia.
“Follow You, Follow Me was written and directed by HEDG staff writer and 2018 SMAD graduate Sydney Thier,” Finnegan explained. “It tells the story of two young adults as they navigate the complex intimacies of a budding, interabled relationship.”
From counseling to occupational therapy, autism to attention-deficit issues, migrant camps to homeless shelters, IIHHS is meeting the needs and building the capacity of vulnerable members of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County community and beyond.
“We pride ourselves in being able to expose our students to the full breadth of the social determinants of health,” Donaldson said, “so that together, with the community and our faculty, we can impact and support the overall holistic health of our communities.”
Behind the scenes: Writer and director Sydney Thier (’18), right, films Follow You, Follow Me in Harrisonburg.
for Alumni Life
A perfect match
Alumna’s selfless act leads to a lifesaving connection
BY ANDY PERINNE (’86)
In the fall of 2014, first-year student Bethany Warren (’18) attended a seminar at JMU on the virtues of donating bone marrow. She was moved to act by what she had heard at a Be the Match event on campus encouraging students to join the National Marrow Donor Program by donating and potentially saving the life of someone with leukemia.
Meanwhile, three hours away in southern Virginia, Caroline Laughorn (’23) was in the eighth grade, praying that she would stay healthy. The leukemia that had snatched away much of her childhood was in remission, and she was looking forward to starting high school and living a normal life.
Little did Warren know that her simple, generous act would someday save the life of young Laughorn.
The next four years went very well for Warren. “JMU was the best four years of my life,” she claims, without hesitation. She became heavily involved on campus, met friends she’s close with
to this day, and mostly forgot that she’d ever joined the bone-marrow registry during her first year.
(L-R): Caroline Laughorn (’23) enters the Hotel Madison lobby and greets Bethany Warren (’18) with a hug. The “Two Dukes” finally meet!
Life, however, took a challenging turn for Laughorn. At 15, she relapsed, and her high-school years were full of punishing therapies, extended hospital stays and, most definitely, not living the normal, healthy life she and her family prayed for so passionately. Once, when she was hospitalized during the throes of her relapse, she developed pneumonia and the doctors prepared the family for the worst because she was so weak. “I was scared to go to sleep because I wasn’t sure I would wake up,” she remembered. But with determination, faith and several medical interventions, Laughorn recovered, and her leukemia again went into remission. She began to dream about going to college. As fate would have it, her heart was set on JMU. “It was always only JMU. I didn’t apply to any other school.”
“I think my favorite comment on the [social media] post about us finally finding out who each other is was ‘Dukes hold doors and save lives.’ I thought that was a great line. It’s true!”
— BETHANY WARREN (’18)
Warren graduated in the spring of 2018 and moved on with her life. Laughorn arrived on campus the following fall. She almost didn’t make it to JMU, as she relapsed again just before starting her first year. Her doctors began discussing a bonemarrow transplant. While she was already in the registry, there was no guarantee that Laughorn would ever find a match. Plus, the transplant itself is a rough procedure. Survival is not guaranteed.
To cope with what had become a dogged specter in her life, Laughorn decided on her purpose at JMU: She became heavily involved in promoting campus causes related to leukemia. “When I got to JMU, I got involved with Relay for Life. We did bone-marrow drives and stuff like that. Then I started Dukes Against Childhood Cancer.”
Fast-forward to 2023. An exact, 10-outof-10 match for Laughorn was located on the bone-marrow registry, and the transplant was scheduled for Dec. 23 that year. She checked the box giving the registry permission to send her contact information to her donor. Warren had checked the same box about nine years earlier. The transplant surgery was a success, and thus began a yearlong waiting period between the procedure and the registry’s connection of donor and recipient.
Warren found out first. She received an email saying that her recipient was reaching out and wanted contact. “So, I got the email, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, here’s her information.’ I saw Virginia as her address, and I was like, ‘No way, that’s crazy.’” With millions of people in the National Marrow Donor Program, the chance of a donor and recipient having the slightest connection is infinitesimal. “Before I texted her, I went on Facebook to look her up, and it said that she went to JMU. I freaked out. I immediately texted all my JMU friends.”
Once Warren let the news sink in, she texted Laughorn. “Well, first when she
texted me, I saw it was a Virginia number,” Laughorn recounted. “I was freaking out because [it was] Virginia. Then she texted she went to JMU, too. And then I really was freaking out. I was shaking. It was just crazy.”
(Top): Purple-and-gold serendipity: Not only are Laughorn and Warren both Virginians, they are Dukes who also lived in Gifford Hall. (Inset): Laughorn receiving treatment in the hospital. (Above): These families are now united because of their daughters. Scan here to watch a video of this incredible story:
Their story blew up on social media, with members of JMU Nation celebrating Warren’s and Laughorn’s beautiful, deep connection and their shared love of their alma mater. While on campus in early March to meet in-person for the first time, Warren said, “I think my favorite comment on the post about us finally finding out who each other is was ‘Dukes hold doors and save lives.’ I thought that was a great line. It’s true!”
2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winners
On March 14, JMU honored six Dukes at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards event.
Heather Easley Hedrick (’00), who received the Inez Graybeal Roop (’35) Alumni Service Award, is a member of the JMU Foundation Board of Trustees and served on the JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2010 to 2020. Hedrick is a Women for Madison Amethyst Circle member and supports JMU athletic programs and student-athletes through the Duke Club and Dukes LEAD.
Brielle Sue Lacroix (’25), a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, won the Student Today, Alumni Tomorrow Award. A force for change, she has represented 21,000 JMU students and overseen a 19-person Senior Leadership Team as Student Government Association president. She was also part of Student Ambassadors, the Alternative Break Program, Orientation Peer Advisers, First yeaR Orientation Guides (FROGs) and the Marching Royal Dukes, and she helped JMU adopt the Okanagan Charter.
The recipient of the Ronald E. Carrier Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Robert L. Dortch Jr. (’90) was the first African American man to chair the Philanthropy Southeast’s Board of Trustees in its more than 50-year history. A first-generation college graduate, Dortch later attended seminary and pursued nonprofit work.
In 2024, he published Adventures in Leadership: A 30-Day Quest to Elevate Your Leadership and Life, based on his
executive coaching experience and lessons he learned summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
(L-R): Paula Polglase (’92, ’96M), alumni director; Ellen Hineman Westcott (’89), JMU Alumni Association president; Paul Holland (’82); Brielle Sue Lacroix (’25); Mary Margaret Thacker (’18); Heather Easley Hedrick (’00); Leasa Neaves (’92); Robert L. Dortch Jr. (’90) and Charlie King, JMU president
Leasa Neaves (’92) won the Social Justice Award for her career empowering women in the workplace. Neaves worked for Dell in sales and marketing, eventually becoming chief of staff and receiving the Women of the Channel and Michael Dell awards for leading Dell’s Women in Action Employment Resource Group and growing its membership to more than 7,000. She is now founder and CEO of Elevate for Women.
Mary Margaret Thacker (’18) is this year’s Young Alumni Award winner. She helped launch Sharp Litigation PLC in Harrisonburg, where she’s an associate attorney. She received the 2023 Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference Significant Service Award and was named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Up & Coming Lawyers of 2024.
Presidential Award recipient Paul Holland (’82) was the inaugural vice president of JMU’s Public Administration Society and served on the College of Business Board of Advisors. He and his wife, Linda Yates, have hosted students in California through the JMU Society of Entrepreneurs and CoB Career Trek, and made a historic $5 million cash gift for scholarships and programming in entrepreneurship and global immersion.
Celebrating new affinity partners and exclusive benefits for alumni
The JMU Alumni Association finance committee, led by Allison Manno Brown (’92), has been hard at work over the last year. Its latest affinity partnerships, designed to bring exclusive benefits to alumni, not only offer valuable services, but also strengthen the alumni community by providing unique opportunities to stay connected with JMU.
We encourage all alumni to take advantage of these fantastic opportunities and continue showing their Purple Pride in meaningful ways.
Go Dukes!
Paula Polglase (’92, ’96M), director of Alumni Relations
CRAYOLA FLOWERS: Add color to your celebrations
Crayola Flowers is a vibrant addition to the affinity program, offering alumni a delightful way to celebrate special occasions while supporting the JMUAA. Crayola Flowers allows Dukes to purchase beautiful, fresh flowers for any event, from birthdays to anniversaries, and even fundraisers. What sets Crayola Flowers apart is its commitment to giving back. A portion of every purchase made by alumni will be donated to the JMUAA, helping to fund scholarships and other alumni initiatives. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser or simply want to send a thoughtful gift, Crayola Flowers makes it easy to spread joy and support our alma mater.
CHURCH HILL CLASSICS:
Preserve your achievements in style
The JMU diploma represents years of hard work and dedication, and it deserves to be displayed with pride. But we hear from alumni all the time that their diploma is still in the envelope it came in or their current frame is dated. That’s why JMUAA is excited to partner with Church Hill Classics, the leading provider of custom diploma frames. Dukes can now enjoy exclusive discounts on a wide range of high-quality frames that are handcrafted to perfection. Choosing a Church Hill Classics frame is a way to honor academic achievements and also show JMU pride in a sophisticated, elegant way.
PETS BEST:
Comprehensive pet insurance for furry friends
For many of us, pets are beloved family members. That’s why Pets Best pet insurance is one of our new affinity partners. Pets Best offers comprehensive coverage, including accidents, illnesses and routine care. Alumni can take advantage of special rates and discounts on their insurance plans. With flexible coverage options and a straightforward claims process, Pets Best makes it easy to ensure pets receive the best possible care — Duke Dog-approved!
Check out more tried-and-true affinity partners
F&M Bank provides special banking products and services tailored to meet alumni needs. Dukes can enjoy competitive rates on loans, exclusive banking offers and personalized financial advice. Also, Farmers Insurance, with access for JMU alumni to Farmers Insurance Choice, offers auto and home insurance.
From D.C. to the U.K., alumni celebrate their Purple Pride at chapter events
(Top, clockwise): Although their favorite team will always be the Dukes, the MetroDukes enjoyed cheering on the Washington Capitals for the night; London Dukes across the pond warded off the colder months with a happy hour; the South Florida Dukes enjoyed hosting JMU Nation for the football program’s first bowlgame victory; the Williams burg Alumni Chapter surround the “Big Guy” for a group picture during Alumni Day at Christmas Town, Busch Gardens.
(Right): The Alumni Spirit Groups (Pep Band and Dukettes) dusted off their instruments and pompoms, and took to the court alongside the current spirit teams to perform during halftime.
Scan the QR code to learn more about alumni chapters, and get connected with a chapter in your area:
MixedMedia
BOOKS, MUSIC FILM
Crazy by Conscious
BY CHRIS COOPER (’10)
Outcast
Press LLC
ISBN-13: 978-1960882165
Crazy by Conscious follows Dennis Clauden, a neurotic high school teacher torn between the life he has and the one he lost. Struggling with addiction and haunted by unhealed trauma, he finds his life spiraling as he navigates waves of existential angst and strives to live in the now. This dark, satirical novel dives into the chaos of the modern psyche, revealing the tension between madness and the pursuit of meaning. A provocative read, it offers a fearless journey into our most unsettling truths, exposing the raw edges of the human experience and the darkness we’re afraid to confront.
With a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Psychology, Chris Cooper says his literature studies at JMU gave him the foundation to become a published fiction author who is nominated for the Pushcart Prize award in literary fiction. Over the years, he’s won a few literary accolades alongside public appearances. T-shirt sales that accompanied his 2022 short story raised more than $2,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Start With A Vegetable: More Than 100 Easy, Tasty, Plant-Forward Recipes for Everyone
BY JESSICA SMITH (’03)
Countryman
Press
ISBN-13: 978-1682688830
With original recipes and photographs, Start With a Vegetable is a bright, colorful, fun love letter to everyday vegetables. It offers simple dinner recipes that make use of the broccoli, baby spinach, bell pepper and carrots we all grab on the way through the grocery store without a real plan for how to use them.
Author Jessica Smith turned her English major into a successful food blog, inquiringchef.com, that received more than 5 million visits in 2024, an Instagram page (@inquiringchef) that has grown to 60,000 followers, and a cookbook deal. Last year, she also opened a cooking school for kids in Kansas City, Missouri, called Inquiring Chef Academy.
The Elk of Amor
BY BETSY (KURTH) QUINN (’86)
Willow Glen Publications
ISBN-13: 978-0999809020
A young girl playing in the park comes across a beautiful, bronze statue of an elk that takes her on the adventure of a lifetime. Soaring through the air, sleeping in a quiet forest, bursting through the gates of a fortress and plunging into the depths of the sea, the Elk of Amor teaches the young girl valuable lessons while combatting the wicked tyrant Oinkler!
Betsy (Kurth) Quinn, who majored in English, is a talented writer and thorough researcher with a deep love of literature and history. She has edited and published Gold Rush Girl: Pioneer Life in the Black Hills, a memoir first written by her great-grandmother in the 1920s that chronicles the struggles and adventures of growing up in Lead, South Dakota. She recently published a compilation of animal stories also written by her great-grandmother.
Grandmother’s Animal Tails
EDITED BY BETSY (KURTH) QUINN (’86)
Willow Glen Publications
ISBN-13: 978-0999809037
Sarah Elizabeth “Sadie” Taylor shares more than 30 short stories drawn from the lives of her pets and other animal friends with her grandchildren. Taylor's tales include her dog, Nip, solving mysteries; her daughter’s cat, Peter, dressing as a clown for a class pet show; and a wild porcupine joining the family on a boat ride. And believe it or not, they’re all true! These animal stories tell of adventure, tragedy and kindness. Taylor offers grandmotherly wisdom and witty commentary on her animal “tails” to all her young readers.
English major and editor Betsy (Kurth) Quinn, Taylor’s greatgranddaughter, has worked as a correspondent for Prison Fellowship Ministries and served as chair of the Board for Oakseed Ministries International. She lives in Oak Hill, Virginia, with her husband, Michael Quinn, and has three sons.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHRIS COOPER (’10)
Chris Cooper (’10) autographs a copy of his book, Crazy by Conscious, at a Barnes and Noble book-signing event.
MixedMedia CONTINUED
Reunited: A Novel
BY MARCUS O’MALLEY (’04)
ISBN-13: 978-0578756189
Nick’s life was shattered by the accident that cost him everything. How will he ever recover from this or ever look Jason’s family in the eye again? Still he knows Pablo and Connor need him. Then Nick discovers a vision for South Africa that could change the friends’ lives forever. Walk with four friends’ unique journeys of faith as each Christian and nonChristian puts their beliefs to the ultimate test.
Reunited is a fictional story inspired by true events when Marcus O’Malley, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, sold his Harrisonburg-based business and everything else he owned, and moved to Cape Town, South Africa. The trip was inspired by the Rev. Desmond Tutu’s speech to “be the change” when he received the Mahatma Gandhi Global Nonviolence Award at JMU in 2007.
Holier Matrimony: Married Saints, Catholic Vows, and Sacramental Grace
BY CAITRIN BENNETT
Marian Press
ISBN-13: 978-1596146297
(’13, ’14M)
In Holier Matrimony, debut author Caitrin Bennett offers a powerful new resource for engaged and married Catholics who long for a more authentic and holy expression of their marital vocation. This book invites readers to discover the transformative grace endowed in the Sacrament of Marriage and learn how to live out their vows more fully in pursuit of holiness.
Bennett was very involved in the Catholic Campus Ministry at JMU, meeting her husband through the program. They now live in southern Maryland with their three young children. In the book, she draws on the inspiring lives of married saints, from Sts. Elizabeth and Zechariah (parents of St. John the Baptist) to Blessed Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi, an Italian couple who aided refugees during World War II. Holier Matrimony is a collection of their incredible biographies, linked together by the traditional Catholic wedding vows and the promise of God’s powerful grace in the Sacrament of Matrimony.
“So many well-known saints were priests, or religious brothers and sisters,” Bennett said. “But most Catholics around the world and throughout the centuries have been married people. We need role models in this vocation too. We need to meet married saints and think to ourselves, ‘If she can do it, maybe I can, too!’”
Anti-American Terrorism: From Eisenhower to Trump — A Chronicle of the Threat and Response
BY DENNIS A. PLUCHINSKY (’73)
World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd.
ISBN-13: 978-1800616189
A major international security concern that surfaced in the post-World War II period was the emergence and evolution of international terrorism. The dominant theme in the evolution of this threat has been anti-American terrorism. No other country has had its overseas interests subjected to the same level, lethality, diversity and geographic scope of international terrorist activity as the U.S. This five-volume work chronicles the development of this threat through 12 presidential administrations over a 70-year period. It assesses the terrorist threat in America and overseas, and how the government responded. The expansion of the field of terrorism in academia, think tanks, institutes and the private sector over this period is also addressed.
Executive orders, presidential decision directives, domestic legislation, international treaties, special counterterrorism units, terrorist renditions, presidential findings, public diplomacy and counterterrorism actions are also examined.
The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway
BY MELANIE SWIFTNEY (’97)
Left-Handed Mitten Publications ISBN-13: 979-8348128982
All Eve Ellaway wants is to escape to college, start a life of her own and finally sever the connection to her twin sister, Gen, who disappeared when they were babies. Because while the rest of the world moved on from the kidnapping, Gen’s still very much alive at home.
Most families would grieve their missing child. Some families might create a shrine for their lost daughter. But the Ellaways are not most families.
Every night, Eve pretends to be Gen to protect her mother’s delicate grasp on reality — dividing her life, her stories and her dreams so there’s enough for two sisters. Eve’s forced to maintain her father’s lie to ease his guilt over Gen’s disappearance, but is she sacrificing the last threads of her identity and any hope for a normal future?
As the lies propping up Eve’s life start to crumble, she no longer knows what she wants. But Gen does, and she’s ready to take it.
Notes Class
68
YEARS
Carolyn Duncan Cecil, a Bachelor of Science graduate with majors in History and Social Science, is the self-published author of the
Faculty, staff and students along with their families pack Bridgeforth Stadium for Spring 2000 Commencement exercises with newly inaugurated President Linwood H. Rose.
workbook series Equipped: Equipping and Empowerment for Christians and Lay Ministers, as well as seven children’s books such as Holy Spirit at Work. Cecil earned a doctoral degree in ministry at age 73, and at 78 she was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Magazine, “Millennium,” 14th edition, 2024. Cecil resides in Vinton, Virginia.
70
Kathy Jenkins and her classmates used to get together at the beach for a long weekend every few years to reconnect and reminisce about their fun Madison Experiences. Over time, they grew farther apart geographically and some
passed away. Their 50th reunion was celebrated over Zoom. After that, they decided to reconnect via Zoom every week on the same day at the same time.
“It has been a wonderful experience, and we want to recommend it to all alumni,” Jenkins said. “We catch up with what is happening with the group and help each other adjust to life’s speedbumps. One person is in charge and sends the link to the group. Right now we are zooming from Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Montana and Florida.”
79
Rose Goheen, a 41-year agent with State Farm in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was elected as the 2024 president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors for Virginia. She was honored in September as the Virginia representative at the NAIFA APEX meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
87
Seven friends from the Class of 1987 booked a Norwegian cruise to celebrate turning 60 together: Kenny Lawhorn of Fairfax Station, Virginia; Kathy (Keenan) Rickard of Chantilly, Virginia; Mau reen
Rose Goheen (’79)
Carolyn Duncan Cecil (’68) with her doctoral diploma
(Malloy) Moore of Glenville, New York; Isabel Krauss of Chantilly, Virginia; Nancy (Fistori) McGovern of Ponte Vedra, Florida; Beth Parrish of Goochland, Virginia; and Dave Funk of Zebulon, North Carolina.
88
Paul E. Brown, executive producer for the C-SPAN Television Networks, was recently honored by CableFax Magazine as an honoree for this year’s Diversity Pride List, recognizing the most influential multi-ethnic executives, LGBTQ+ executives and champions in the industry. ■ Tracey
(Howard), a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies, and her husband, Mark Holmes (’84), a Sports Management major, restored a historical home in Waynesboro, Virginia. The city wanted to demolish the house, but the Holmeses stepped in with the intention of bringing the property back to life. Holmes was recently appointed to the Waynesboro Historical Commission and hopes to add the home to Virginia’s register of historical houses.
“As the city of Waynesboro grows and changes, I’m proud
that … my family [was] able to save a great piece of Waynesboro’s history with the Red Brick House — 204 years young,” Mark said.
91
Kristen Cavallo, who retired from the advertising industry in 2024 after 30 years, was named the executive director of The Branch Museum of Design in Richmond, Virginia, in January.
At the time of her retirement, Cavallo was the global head of
and Tracey
restored their
MullenLowe Group and oversaw a global network with 4,500 employees worldwide. She spent six years as the first female CEO of The Martin Agency in Richmond. Under her leadership, Martin was named “Agency of the Year” multiple times by Adweek and Ad Age, and was included on Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Company” list twice. In December 2023, she was named “Virginia Business Person of the Year” by Virginia Business.
Paul E. Brown (’88)
(L-R): Class of 1987 friends Kenny Lawhorn, Kathy (Keenan) Rickard, Maureen (Malloy) Moore, Isabel Krauss, Nancy (Fistori) McGovern, Beth Parrish and Dave Funk on their Norwegian cruise
Kristen Cavallo (’91)
(L-R from top): 1970 classmates Linda Stoltz, Kathy Jenkins, Carol Davis, Barbara Thompson Brown, Elizabeth Grimm, Christine Shelton, Carol Hannah and Trudi Gilliam catch up over weekly Zoom calls.
Mark (’84)
(’88) Holmes
204-year-old home in Waynes boro, Virginia.
CLASS NOTES
In addition to becoming known for leading with creativity, compassion and collaboration, Cavallo built a reputation in the industry for her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. When she retired from advertising, she expressed interest in working on causes related to societal change.
“The Branch Museum of Design captivates me,” Cavallo
said. “I’ve seen firsthand how creativity can broaden minds and grow businesses. Design fosters curiosity, which is the root of growth — personally and professionally. In addition, Richmond has a reputation for design and is deserving of a museum to celebrate it. Lastly, housing this museum at the Branch with its
Janel Schuh (’93), who has a Bachelor of Science in Communication, lost her high-school class ring when she was a student at JMU. “[I] don’t know when or where or how, but one day I realized I didn’t know where it was,” she said. “Needless to say, I was really bummed.”
Fast-forward a few decades, and Schuh received a message via LinkedIn from Pete Shifflett, headphone technician for JMU football, saying he and his wife found a highschool class ring in front of Wilson Hall about 10 years ago that might be hers. At the time, they tried to connect with Schuh online but
storied history provides an interesting tension between the old and the new that I love.”
92Christina Auch has returned to the western North Carolina mountains, where she was called as one of the pastors at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, N.C. In addition to pastoral care, teaching and worship responsibilities, she leads the Spanish-speaking worship, presiding and preaching in Spanish several Sundays each month, as well as at Spanish-language weddings, funerals and a quinceañera (the latter is pictured). Auch was ordained in June 2014. ■ Lisa High, who has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, was named deputy superintendent for Chesterfield County Public Schools on Jan. 27.
included supervising all principals; analyzing academic performance of schools; providing student-support services (counselors, social workers, psychologists, etc.); working to create a culture of equity and excellence; and challenging the school-improvement team and instructional team to close achievement gaps.
She began her career as a teacher in Albemarle County Public Schools (1992-98). She served in Spotsylvania County Public Schools (1999-2007) as assistant principal, then principal. She worked in Falls Church City Public Schools (2007-19) as human resources director, assistant superintendent for curriculum innovation and personnel, chief academic officer, and assistant superintendent for equity and capital programming.
High joined CCPS in 2019 as chief of schools, leading the Division of School Leadership and Support Services — which
didn’t have any luck. Recently, Shifflett discovered a Facebook page for lost-and-found class rings and thought he’d try again. The members in the group helped pinpoint Schuh, and Shifflett reached out. She received the ring in the mail in January!
The precious high-school class ring Schuh proudly wears again
“I so appreciate Pete and his wife going out of their way to hold on to the ring, track me down and get it back to me. These are the things that remind me that there are good people out in the world. Just think about how much of a difference it would make if all of us went that extra mile to help make this crazy world a little better for someone else.”
“Dr. High brings a breadth of expertise to the role of deputy superintendent,” said John Murray, CCPS superintendent. “Her experiences have more than equipped her to ably serve in this new capacity. Beyond all of this, I have developed a deep respect and rapport with and for Dr. High during her tenure in Chesterfield schools. The continuity this transition will provide will prove incredibly valuable, as such continuity establishes greater organizational stability.” ■ Chris Tignor, a Computer Information Systems major, has been named Customer Security Officer for Microsoft Corp. He is based in Microsoft’s Charlotte Technology Center and specializes in cybersecurity for the retail and consumer goods sector. Chris is a proud member of the JMU College of Business’ CIS Executive Advisory Board.
Lisa High (’92)
Christina Auch (’92) presiding over a quinceañera.
CLASS NOTES
93 Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions
Monyette L.F. Martin (’96M), a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Services and Master of Education in Counseling Psychology, attended the Ole School Alumni Scholarship Group event at Homecoming in October.
94
Deb Fuller’s Minecraft Education game Atomic Rescue (later renamed Periodic
ner at Goldman Sachs in November, based on her commercial effectiveness, leadership and impact on firm culture.
97
Jeff McKay was first elected chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 after serving on the board as the Franconia District Supervisor for 12 years. In October 2024, he was named among the “50 most influential people in Northern Virginia” by Northern Virginia Magazine.
Amanda Beisel (’96)
day Murphy, Melinda Genua and Heather Pringle) reunited in Harrisonburg for the Nov. 9 Dukes football game. ■ R.J. Smolenski, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, and son Cooper, a big Dukes fan, had a fun time visiting campus for the Marshall vs. JMU football game Nov. 30. “This was our first time bringing our dog along,” Smolenski said. “Coco got to explore campus and get a photo op with the Duke Dog statue.”
Rescue) was awarded the 2023 Horizon Prize for Education from the Royal Society of Chemistry. It can be found in the Minecraft Education library at https:// rsc.org/prizes-funding/prizes/ 2023-winners/stride-inc.
96
Amanda Beisel was promoted to part-
99
Pam Haraway Connelly and 10 alumnae from the Class of 1999 (Lauren Pokornicky Wiles, Anne Robbins Counoupas, Katharine Alden Mosher, Maggie Hass Finke, Maggie Hill Butler, Melissa Kelly Everett, Stefanie McGivern Cline, Xenia Kola-
00
Alison Ferguson, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice, is dedicated to advocating for and improving the lives of persons with disabilities through her work with ABLEnow, Virgin-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 60 >>>
Monyette L.F. Martin (’93, ’96M), second from left, at the Ole School Alumni Scholarship Group event at Homecoming
(Above): Class of 1999 alumnae; (right): R.J. Smolenski (’99), on the right with his dog, Coco, and son, Cooper
Celebrations
WEDDINGS, HONORS & FUTURE DUKES
1. Mackenzie Cornwell (’21), a Nursing major, and Michael Denison (’21), a double major in Geographic Science and Computer Science, married Oct. 5 at Ivy Rose Barn in Rocky Mount, Virginia, with a visit from the JMU Alumni Association’s Road Dawg. The bride’s parents, Steve (’90) and Christie (’89), are former JMU Parents Council chairs, and Steve serves on the JMUAA Board of Directors. The bride’s two sisters and one of the groom’s sisters are also alumnae. 2. Chad and Sydney Wood (’19), a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and the social media and marketing manager in the JMU Office of Residence Life, welcomed their son, Easton Marshall Wood, a future Duke, on Dec. 11. 3. Joshua (’20) and Macy (Stanley) Ridgway (’22) celebrated their marriage in Roanoke, Virginia, on June 22, 2024, surrounded by family, friends and Duke Dog! 4. Taylor (’13), a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, and Turner (’11) Phelps, a Kinesiology major
and baseball pitcher, married Nov. 9 in their hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, alongside many of their JMU classmates and longtime friends 5. Jessi (’17), a College of Education graduate, and Jack (’17) Munford, a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with a minor in General Business, married Feb. 3, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. “At our wedding, we had one big request — streamers!” Jessi said. “We needed the fun, purple-and-gold spirit, so we rolled our own streamers, printed labels and got it done.” 6. Jon Teconchuk (’16) married Casey Lawson on Nov. 2 in Richmond, Virginia. Many fellow Dukes were there to celebrate with Jon and Casey. 7. Isaac Dean (’20), a Political Science major, and Margaret Dyment (’20), a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies, married in Greenwich, Connecticut, Oct. 5. They started dating in 2018, meeting through JMU Greek life. Many alumni attended the wedding at the Riverside Yacht Club.
Ten years in, SEA continues to grow its roster and reach
BY TINA UPDIKE (’73), SEA Steering Committee chair
The Staff Emeriti Association just completed its 10th successful year as a JMU-approved organization. The SEA is sponsored by the Office of Human Resources with Director Chuck Flick providing funding and staffing support. The association has grown due to its partnership with Human Resources to increase awareness of the staff-emeriti designation across campus. As a result, at the end of 2024, 323 classified staff retirees have earned the designation, and 30% are active SEA members. Kathy Sarver, director of Planned Giving, serves as SEA liaison to University Advancement. Sarver regularly attends SEA Steering Committee meetings and membership events. The SEA is grateful for her advice and support.
In 2023, the SEA adopted The Pantry as its new volunteer activity. SEA support is in the form of monetary donations and needed supplies to help alleviate food insecurity on campus, which 38% of the student body experiences. Over the past two years, the SEA has made individual gifts totaling more than $6,300 and has donated nearly 100 pounds of supplies. This initiative has become its ongoing sponsorship.
Jeremy Hawkins, assistant director of Off-Campus Life, thanked the SEA for its generous donations. “With your support, we’ve expanded our general offerings to include more consistent school supplies, dairy and nondairy milks and creamers, and a steady supply of fresh produce,” he said. “Your thoughtful contributions have a significant and lasting impact on the lives of countless students at JMU.”
On Oct. 16, members of the SEA Steering Committee volunteered to host a table at the JMU Retirement Fair sponsored by the Office
ia’s Achieving a Better Life Experience savings program. As the program manager, she leads efforts to encourage eligible individuals to open a tax-advantaged ABLE savings account and save for their futures. ABLE accounts allow people with dis-
abilities to save and achieve financial independence without jeopardizing their eligibility for public health benefits. More than 18,000 Americans with disabilities have opened an ABLEnow account.
In addition to serving as associate general counsel at Common-
of Human Resources. JMU employees within five years of retirement attended the fair to learn about retirement strategies. The SEA spoke with attendees and supervisors about the staff-emeriti designation and distributed brochures outlining its activities and the benefits associated with the designation. Also, in early December, Christina Updike, SEA chair, spoke at the annual Retirement Banquet hosted by HR celebrating staff and administrative and professional faculty who retired from JMU in 2024. She brought greetings from the SEA and congratulated the retirees on their career accomplishments.
(L-R): Louise White, Paula See, Alma Hale-Cooper and Tina Updike (’73)
The SEA conducts a monthly luncheon series and periodic tours of JMU facilities offering educational opportunities, as well as a chance for members to get to know one another and network with former colleagues. To end the year, a festive holiday luncheon was held in early December at CrossKeys Vineyards, which was attended by 52 members and guests. The SEA returned to campus in March to tour the Student Success Center, followed by a lunch at Taste of Thai. The SEA is appreciative of the JMU employees who give their time and expertise leading its tour events.
Enthusiasm is strong for the continued growth and development of the SEA in 2025!
For more information about the Staff Emeriti Association and upcoming events, visit https://jmu.edu/ staffemeriti or email staffemeriti@jmu.edu.
wealth Savers, Ferguson worked in private practice for three years as a trusts and estate attorney. She focused her practice in the areas of estate planning, special needs planning and estate and trust administration. She is a member of the Women for Madison Executive Advisory Council and lives in Lexington, Virginia, with her husband and four children.
01Stacey Craig, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Computer Information Systems, was elected shareholder of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland and Gund, a leading accounting and business advisory firm, Jan. 1. Craig joined Saltmarsh in 2022 as a director in the Tax and Accounting Services practice.
Alison Ferguson (’00)
Since beginning her career in 2001, she has been dedicated to delivering tax compliance, consulting services and innovative solutions to her clients.
Craig’s expertise spans multiple industries, and is rooted in her passion for helping clients navigate the complex tax landscape and developing strategies to drive growth. As a recent graduate of Convergence Coaching’s Transformational Leadership Program, she is invested in continuously evolving her leadership and development capabilities, and took initiative to create a standardized process to address client service opportunities that further their success.
CLASS NOTES
fied Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
02 Amanda (Carr) Robey, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and her husband, Jason Robey (’03), a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Science and member of Exit 245, own a small sheep farm called JMEwe Farm. Their farm mascot is a sheep with a similar crown to Duke Dog’s. “We work in a small way with our farm to provide sustainable wool and meat from our sheep to the community,” Amanda said.
Additionally, Craig is a recent graduate of the ATHENA Orlando NextGen Class, a nonprofit, women-focused program dedicated to exemplifying leadership excellence in the community. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certi-
The Robeys married in 2005 and live in Round Hill, Virginia, with three children. They work in Loudoun County, Virginia — Jason as a teacher and Amanda as a nurse at a local hospital.
“We love JMU,” Amanda said. “Jason’s parents live approximately 20 mins away from JMU, so we frequently visit.”
04
Dr. Kristie (Fleming) Nor wood, a Psychology major, received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award along with a formal letter from former President Joe Biden at an event last year in Atlanta, Georgia. A licensed clinical psychologist, she is the director of the Student Counseling Center at Hampton University, where she also serves as a psychology professor.
05 Andrew and Alissa (Santanna) Kern met at JMU in 2002. Alissa played field hockey, and Andrew, a wide receiver, was a member of the 2004 national championship football team. They try
to return to JMU every year with their future Dukes (now 13, 11 and 6). “From 2019 to 2024, J. Maddy is still the best babysitter,” Alissa said. “We always say, ‘you were born into this!’” ■ Ricardo Pineres was named the chief risk officer for the United States Senate Federal Credit Union. In this role, Pineres oversees the credit union’s legal, risk-management, compliance, regulatory-relations and public-policy functions.
06
Milissa Marshall, a Master of Arts in Art Education, celebrated the expansion and rebranding of her boutique fitness studio. Fly Fitness (formerly Dazzling Diva Fitness) opened its doors in Winchester, Virginia, in January. Offerings include pole fitness, lyra (aerial hoop), and many other unique, effective, and fun formats within
(Right): Amanda (Carr) Robey’s (’02) sign for her JMEwe Farm; (below): Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr. Kristie (Fleming) Norwood (’04)
Stacey Craig (’01)
During a visit to campus last fall, the three children of Andrew and Alissa (Santanna) Kern (’05) pose with J. Maddy.
CLASS NOTES
a supportive, noncompetitive community.
Fly Fitness is Marshall’s second business. In 2012, she started graphic design and apparel company Brag Swag while still an art teacher — a career she enjoyed for 18 years before deciding to pursue entrepreneurship full time. Marshall believes her extensive background in education has been invaluable to her success outside of the classroom. ■ Beth Myers, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, was awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Research to study elementary school education in Scotland for six months. “I’m curious about how children’s rights in general show up in
schools and if that changes the way that people think about play in schools,” she told The Ithaca Voice in December. For eight years, Myers has taught first grade at Northeast Elementary in Ithaca, New York.
10Cooper Reveley, a Master of Arts in Political Science, was elevated to senior policy adviser Jan. 1 at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP in Denver, Colorado. A member of the firm’s Government Relations Department, he leverages experience from positions in state, federal and international government to connect clients with relevant policymakers and offer strategic insight on high-level issues. Reveley pilots stakeholder goals to success by employing his knowledge of state agencies and the legislative process.
12
Gray F. Kidd (’14M) has been appointed assistant director of New York University’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Previously, he served as assistant director of the Center for Research and Fellowships at Villanova University, where he was dedicated to expanding access to hands-on research and helping students translate their academic
journeys into new opportunities. With a doctorate in History from Duke University specializing in Latin American cultural history, he is eager to design and implement impactful programs at one of the country’s premier institutions for global scholarship, fostering deeper engagement with the region’s rich histories and cultures. ■ Steven W. Lippman, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, was appointed counsel at the law firm of Christian and Barton LLP, in Richmond, Virginia. In his practice, he represents public and private entities on a variety of transactional matters, including industrial development projects, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and privateequity transactions.
13
Cooper Reveley (’10M)
Gray F. Kidd (’12, ’14M)
Steven W. Lippman (’12)
21
Sara Woznicki, a Media Arts and Design and Communication Studies double major, recently launched a new woman-owned small business with her sister, Louanne. The company, Woz Here Co.,
celebrates its shared love of travel with hand-drawn, unique travel souvenirs including stickers, tote bags, mugs and magnets. Louanne hand-draws and paints each city design that is then printed on a variety of travel keepsakes. The launch of “The Hometown Series” features designs from the places the sisters have called home: Wallingford, Connecticut; Aiken, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. Future lines will focus on major U.S. cities, college towns and cities abroad. Woz Here Co. also accepts wholesale orders and custom design requests. See more at http://wozhereco.com.
Faith Mattick, a Bachelor of Arts in History, joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a security receptionist/visitor control clerk. ■ Melissa Ward and Alexandra Meyers (’23), Computer Science majors, are making waves in the NFL as key members of the Digital Product team for the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles. Ward serves as digital product coordinator, and Meyers is digital product associate. “Their hard work and contributions have helped propel us to Super Bowl LIX,” said Chris Rutledge, digital product manager for the Eagles.
Woz Here Co. owners Louanne and Sara Woznicki (’13) sell their original art souvenirs of favorite travel destinations.
Northeast Elementary school teacher Beth Myers (’06)
CLASS NOTES
— IN MEMORIAM —
Frank Douglass “Doug” Dickey (’76), 71, of Bristol, Virginia, died Jan. 9 while on vacation with his wife, Patricia Alexander Dickey (’74), in The Bahamas.
A Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with studies in Computer Science, he enjoyed photography and served as the photography editor of the 1974 Bluestone yearbook. A few years ago, Pat and Doug were featured in Madison standing in front of a large photograph that he developed — it was a highlight memory for them.
Doug’s career spanned more than 40 years in U.S. federal government support to the intelligence community and Department of Defense. His memorial service was held Feb. 1 in Reston, Virginia. Condolences can be left at https://everloved.com/ life-of/frank-dickey.
Christina Smith (’10), 35, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, died April 13, 2024, at her home in Los Angeles, California. A Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Digital Video, Smith was born May 17, 1988. She loved JMU, recently visiting campus in Fall 2023, and meant so much to many alumni.
At JMU, Smith made many lifelong friendships, especially as a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, where she served as philanthropy chair and became a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Through her leadership, the chapter raised $25,000 for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Smith carried this passion with her after graduation and continued to donate personally to St. Jude and its mission. Upon graduating, Smith moved to Arlington, Virginia, where she embarked on her career with IBM as a business analyst. She quickly realized that she had dreams beyond technical consulting and took a chance by leaving for Los Angeles in 2011. Hoping to pursue a career in music and entertainment, she bounced across various entertainment jobs, gaining experience and picking up a few best friends along the way. In 2013, Smith was hired in the Content Acquisitions department at Jukin Media, where she passionately carved out a career and community for herself. She quickly became a highly respected leader and friend among her colleagues, rising to senior vice president of the Content Acquisitions team. During her tenure, she oversaw a 100-person global team. Smith remained working at Jukin through the sale of the company to Trusted Media Brands, where she led her team as executive vice president. Despite numerous accolades, including the Cynopsis Media Award and a nomination for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s
Women Leadership Awards, Smith remained humble and dedicated to empowering her colleagues. Her influence was profound, evidenced by the attendance of more than 60 Jukin employees and 25 Tri Delta sisters from across the U.S. at her funeral. Smith’s innovation, leadership and kindness deeply resonated with all who knew her.
Steven C. Baumler (’90) of Washington, D.C., died peacefully in his sleep Nov. 23 surrounded by friends and family who knew him well and loved him fiercely after a brief battle with glioblastoma multiforme. Born Oct. 11, 1966, he enjoyed a rich, colorful life filled with extraordinary experiences and accomplishments, but his greatest achievements and joy were his sons, Logan and Luke. A lover of science fiction, fantasy and the written word, Baumler read and wrote avidly throughout his life, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English. A memorial gathering was held at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas, Virginia, Dec. 31.
Former Media Arts and Design professor George Johnson, 77, of Harrisonburg, died on Jan. 24 at his home after battling cancer for 14 years. Johnson retired from JMU in 2019 after 32 years. He helped establish SMAD, designed its first high-definition television studio and served for 13 years as its first director. He was also a teaching fellow in the Center for Faculty Innovation and received the Provost Award for Excellence in Academic Advising and the College of Arts and Letters Outstanding Service Award. He won several awards from the Broadcast Education Association for video projects.
“After he retired, he had the opportunity to come back and teach one semester, just a photojournalism class,” wife and Professor Emerita Marilou Johnson (’80) told The Breeze. “He probably worked for five or six months studying — thinking about developing that class just because he loved it, but also because he loved sharing what he loved with other people.” A celebration of life was held in Anthony-Seeger Hall on Feb. 8.
George Cary Bailey, 99, of Grottoes, Virginia, died Feb. 15 at Belleaire at Stone Port in Harrisonburg. Bailey was married to Johanna Lee Shallcross (’49) for 75 years. The couple’s Madison College love story was featured in our Spring 2023 issue.
By the
RESEARCH FOR THE PEOPLE
Highlights from Research, Economic Development and Innovation’s annual report
92%
allocated to public service and outreach projects ($22.8M) increase in sponsored program funding since fiscal year 2019 ($34.1M) 67%
Scan to connect with REDI, and learn how it supports faculty and student research and scholarship.
years celebrated by Research Integrity as a centralized research-compliance office
107
Research Development programs offered, encompassing consultation, office hours, site visits, workshops and presentations
103 10+
studentfellowship applications facilitated by Student Awards, Initiatives and Research (Fulbright Top Producer recognition)
STUDENT SUPPORTING THE
Alumna receives presidential honor for her mental health advocacy and commitment to service
Dr. Kristie (Fleming) Norwood (’04) is a licensed clinical psychologist and the director of the Student Counseling Center at Hampton University, where she also serves as a psychology professor.
Last year, she was given a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by former President Joe Biden. The distinguished honor is presented “under the auspices of Points of Light and the School of the Great Commission Education Foundation,” Hampton University announced in December. It recognizes her “extraordinary commitment to service,” including more than 5,000 hours of volunteer work benefiting the nation.
As the director of the Student Counseling Center, Norwood has expanded mental health services, doubled the center’s staff, introduced Mental Health First Aid and Safe Talk training, and hosted the U.S. surgeon general’s We Are Made to Connect tour to promote student well-being.
One of her most impactful initiatives is the SheCare Wellness Pods, a partnership with the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and Kate Spade New York. Launched in the fall of 2023, the pods provide safe spaces for Black women to focus on their mental health — a milestone in her advocacy work. Her passion for advocacy took root at JMU, where she majored in Psychology and was deeply involved in student
For more stories, scan the code and visit http://jmu.edu/being thechange
leadership. As president of Women of Color, president of the Iota Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a resident adviser and a hall director, she gained valuable experience in fostering supportive communities, which shaped her career. In 2022, she launched ReMIND U Wellness and Outreach, a nonprofit focused on eradicating the stigma of mental health in vulnerable communities. Through her nonprofit, she and other Dukes developed and launched the three-day, evidence-based Exhale Summit, where women step away from daily responsibilities and focus on strategies to prevent burnout and chronic stress. At JMU, Norwood was empowered to take initiative and realize her personal growth. “My time at JMU helped me realize that whatever community you’re part of, you can step out and make a difference, no matter how big or how small.”
