The Magazine of Radford University is produced by Advancement and Alumni Relations and Marketing and Communication.
EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS
Gabby Bailey ’23
Bailey Black
Blake Brady
Michelle Carlson ’08
Karen Casteele ’79
Hunter Q. Gresham
James Harman ’92
Neil Harvey
Ellen Hines ’18
Mary Beth Kegley
Mark Lambert, M.S. ’97
Dan Lewin
Matt Long
Pam McCallister
Chad Osborne
David E. Perryman, Ph.D.
Jordan Richardson
Laken Dillow Rickey ’19
Te'a Startz
Laura Turk ’87, M.S. ’90
Justin Ward ’10, M.S. ’23
Penny Helms White ’85, MBA ’87
inside
Borne of curiosity and driven by adventure, David
’94
a trail across continents. Read his story on page 16.
Owen
blazed
Photo by Iz La Motte
When the dust finally settled this spring from Blue Ridge Outdoors’ Top Adventure College competition, only one university remained standing among the 32 entrants representing all 22 states across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Radford University.
Some fans of the annual competition likely viewed this result as a David and Goliath story. After all, mid-sized Radford had defeated the likes of Appalachian State and Virginia Tech along the way and then vanquished two-time champion East Tennessee State University in the final round.
But while Highlanders across the commonwealth and beyond received the news with great excitement and celebration, they viewed the accolade less with surprise and more with a sense of validation.
Radford University’s location, combined with the Scots-Irish history and culture of Southwest Virginia, has instilled a spirit of adventure in our DNA since our founding in 1910.
Whether whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley rivers, launching bold research, forging new partnerships or charting unconventional career paths, Highlanders embrace every opportunity to explore, discover and push beyond the expected.
This issue of the Radford Magazine celebrates the spirit of adventure that defines our students, faculty and alumni – on campus, in the community and across the globe.
In this issue, you’ll hear from former students who pursued concentrations in outdoor recreation and leadership, recreation therapy and tourism and special events. Current and former faculty in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism also share insights about the history and evolution of these programs.
“Out of the Lab and into the Field” recounts students’ recent experiences with hands-on research and internships. These range from analyzing behaviors of primate species in their natural Costa Rican habitat to driving Volvo’s North American Long-Haul truck on a test track in Dublin, Virginia to reconstructing the history of precipitation in sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, alumni profiles explore how graduates have parlayed the skills, knowledge and experiences gained at Radford into trailblazing outdoor adventure businesses stretching from Peru to Norway to Japan.
I hope these and other stories in this issue stir not only a sense of pride in Radford University but also a desire to engage more deeply in the life of our university. The distinctive Radford experience is enriched greatly by your interest and involvement, and we sincerely appreciate your support.
Tartan Proud,
President Bret Danilowicz
First-Year Float
Highland ers Highland ers
THRIVE ON CHALLENGE THRIVE ON CHALLENGE
Adventure-based academic programs teach transferable skills with limitless application
By Chad Obsorne
In the spring, Blue Ridge Outdoors named Radford University the Top Adventure College in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
“I knew it was going to happen,” said Harleigh Britt ’25, just having dried off after a rafting trip down the New River. “We’re perfect for the award.”
The accolade confirmed what Britt and her fellow Highlanders already knew: Radford University, located at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Mountains and New River, has a passion for and is committed to seeking adventure through its campus culture and academics, all of which are enhanced by the amazing natural resources available in our backyard.
“Radford University is positioned perfectly for adventure,” confirmed Josh Carroll, a professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism (RCPT). “We have the mountains. We have Claytor Lake. And the New River literally winds through our campus.”
OK, but what else?
“We have climbing sports opportunities nearby,” he continued. “There’s the New River Trail for walking and biking. Also, the Appalachian Trail is close by.”
And don’t forget caves. There are lots of caves to explore in our region.
So many of these outdoor adventure opportunities are available to Radford University students through academic programs offered by RCPT. Its programs emphasize hands-on education experiences like no other, Carroll said, with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in three specific concentrations: Outdoor recreation and leadership; tourism and special events; and recreation therapy.
All three tap into the Highlander spirit of adventure.
For example, outdoor recreation, Carroll noted, focuses not only on skill development and certifications – think Leave No Trace and Wilderness First Responder – but it also teaches valuable leadership skills. Students who enroll in RCPT courses often find themselves in nature, such as leading a 10mile backpacking trip or guiding a local business group on a high-adventure ropes course.
“There are all kinds of things to consider when it comes to leading a group,” Carroll explained. “There’s the weather. People’s moods. If it’s a lengthy or overnight trip, people can get cold and tired and hungry. So, you need to be able to handle it all for yourself and also be able to read the temperature of the individuals in the group and make decisions for the whole.
“We teach these skills, not only in the classroom but in the outdoors, where real adventure happens,” said Carroll, a U.S. Coast Guard captain who runs RCPT’s revamped Tourism Institute and last year began teaching a water recreation course. “It’s great to get students out into these real-life situations and help them overcome their own challenges in order to be able to lead others confidently.”
Being cold, tired and hungry is one thing, but what about being trapped high in the air, dangling from a rope that is the only thing keeping you from plummeting to the ground 25 feet below?
“Yeah, we do real-life rescues where we cut someone off a rope,” said Fred Pierson, an RCPT faculty member who directs RU ABLE, the university’s inclusive adventure-based learning experience that includes an on-campus challege ropes course. “There aren’t very many programs that have their students do that.”
RU ABLE’s ropes course is open to individuals and groups who want to challenge themselves on either a high- or low-level ropes course. It’s often a team-building experience for the participants. Radford RCPT students play a key role in designing and facilitating these outings. In the fall, students can enroll in the introduction to aerial environments course, where they work with those groups that sign up for the course. In the spring, students in the advanced facilitation techniques course gain even more experience working with groups, while also being involved in the program design and planning process.
“They have a say in what’s going to happen,” Pierson noted. “And the cool thing is, these students gain certifications and have the opportunity to come back the next fall and become a student lead facilitator, which is a paid position.”
We teach these skills, not only in the classroom but in the outdoors, where real adventure happens.”
Josh Carroll
Planning and leading groups through the RU ABLE courses help students build confidence, Pierson noted.
“Anything can happen up there,” he said. “Someone could get stuck or there could be a medical emergency. Either way, students need to know how to get them down safely. And anyone can learn to do it, no matter their size and strength.”
The process involves the student rescuer climbing a telephone pole and gliding along the rope to meet the person in need of saving. They have a bag with materials to set up a second belay system.
“They hook them up to that belay. Then, the student who is doing the rescue transfers the person over to the second belay system,” Pierson explained. “And because the person is hanging, you can’t simply lift them off the apparatus they’re hanging from. The quickest way is to cut the rope they are originally attached to. The student then lowers them to the ground.
“Being able to belay somebody when their life is in your hands is a huge confidence-builder.
“The skills students learn through outdoor, adventure-based academic programs are so transferable to other occupations,” Pierson stressed. “If you can lead a group and have confidence in doing it, it doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing.”
Our professors don’t just teach you; they listen to you and challenge you to go further.”
Harleigh Britt ʼ25
Before she came to Radford, Britt was a self-described “beach kid” who hadn’t spent much time in the outdoors beyond the sandy coasts of her hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In the fall of her junior year at Radford, Britt took an outdoors living skills course. “And that was the one class for me,” she recalled with a huge smile. “I loved it so much.”
So much that she changed her major to recreation, parks and tourism. A year later, she found herself in an internship, guiding family and friend groups on whitewater raft excursions down the often-punchy New River waters in West Virginia.
Before she secured the internship, which has now turned into a paid position, Britt had never stepped foot in a raft.
“All of our RCPT professors at Radford take experiential learning to a whole new level,” she said. “They gave me the confidence to take what I learned in their classes and apply it to what I’m doing.”
Things haven’t always been smooth sailing for Britt on her river adventures, like a time this summer when she fell out of the raft. “The water was really quick and high that day,” she said, laughing her way through the story. Britt prepares the groups before each journey, but “I don’t think they were prepared for their guide to fall out of the raft.”
That’s where her experience and confidence kicked in, allowing Britt to climb back into the raft. It wasn’t easy, but because of her education and experience – those long canoeing trips and 11-mile hikes as part of her RCPT courses – she knew exactly what to do.
“Our professors don’t just teach you; they listen to you and challenge you to go further,” Britt explained. “They meet you where you are, and then they push you to where you are meant to be. Even if you don’t have a lot of experience with doing things outdoors, our professors say, ‘That’s perfectly fine. Let’s get you in classes and get you started doing neat things.’”
Getting students pointed in the direction they want to go often involves internships like Britt’s. Or like the one at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Or the one at Marco Island Beach Resort. Or the one at Kitty Hawk Kites. Or the one at St. Elias Alpine Guides in Alaska.
The recreation, parks and tourism department has an incredible network of internship partners, Carroll said. “We have a list of hundreds of places. And, if a student says, ‘Hey, I know a place I’d like to intern,’ and it’s not on our list, we look into it. You can create your own internship program. The possibilities are endless.”
Radford University has a long, established history of helping its students seek adventure, to find their place outside, not only in the incredible natural settings in and around Radford, but around the world.
During Mick Stewart’s time teaching at Radford, he took three different student groups on bicycling trips to France.
One year, the professor and his students pedaled their bikes from Paris to the chateau region of the Loire Valley and then back to the city. Another year, the bikers trekked from the Atlantic coast to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The third year, Stewart and his students biked through the villages of Southern France.
“And everyone came back unharmed,” he joked.
Mick and his wife, Lee, both of whom are “adventurers by nature,” Lee said from their home in Asheville, North Carolina, taught at Radford for years before retiring in the early 2000s. Both were perfect role models for students who were seeking great adventure.
“We’ve traveled a lot. We’ve been to 57 countries. We’ve camped. We’ve biked. Mick runs. I used to run. If it was a race, he’d be in the front of the pack; I brought up the rear,” Lee Stewart joked. “We’ve canoed. We have a sailboat. We’ve done a lot of adventure activities in our lives. And our students knew that.
“I think our choices came from us thinking, ‘how hard could it be?’” she continued.
and we had no understanding of what would be involved – not in the terms of disability; we had that kind of awareness – but integrating that with caving experience,” said Mick, whose expertise is in adaptive activities for people living with disabilities.
Mick and fellow RCPT Professor Gary Nussbaum, a caving expert, used their knowledge and skills to create what they called a caving chair. They asked workers in Radford’s maintenance department to build it. They did.
“The people in maintenance are magicians,” Lee said. “We designed and built a chair that could be carried by one person in the front and one in the back, with somebody sitting comfortably in between,” Lee said. “We were able to take Ed through one of the caves around here, and he had a fantastic time.”
Today, RCPT Assistant Professor Brandt Brickell is doing the same, acquiring equipment for adaptive paddling for canoes and kayaks.
“In terms of adventure, he’s getting students to learn how to help people who have various disabilities get out on the water,” Carroll said. “He’s definitely bringing in a hands-on adventure approach for the students and helping many more people enjoy adventure experiences.”
Seeking adventure and simply spending time outside is important for people, Carroll explained, “to connect with, not only the natural world, but ultimately with themselves. Experiencing those feelings helps people to better connect with others and be better citizens of the world.”
If you wanted to learn more about all the natural resources Radford and the New River Valley have to offer, talking to Samantha Livesay ’12 would be a good place to start. Livesay is the executive director of tourism for Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Montgomery County. Before moving into that position midway through 2025, she served as senior director of business engagement at Onward New River Valley.
Livesay grew up near Radford University in Christiansburg, Virginia, spending much of her time outdoors. “Growing up, we were always camping, floating. I’ve had my hand at fishing,” she said, adding that the activity has become a favorite with her kids. “I’ve been kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and all of those things.”
As a Radford student majoring in communications and public relations, she spent much of her free time biking from the Dedmon Center to Bisset Park. She took on the rock wall in Peters Hall and zipped through the RU ABLE ropes course. “Plus, I loved studying outside on the Quad,” she said, relishing the outdoor time she spent as a student.
As a marketer, Livesay knows the value tied to Radford University receiving the 2025 Best Adventure College award from Blue Ridge Outdoors.
“The recognition is such a huge win for us, and I think it says a lot of how Radford University is able to leverage these natural amenities, and how we’re doing something with those,” Livesay said.
Funding future adventurers
Mick and Lee Stewart are not simply retired teaching faculty, but professors emeriti and loyal benefactors with more than 30 years of philanthropic support to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism; the Cultural Tourism Program Fund; the Adventure Learning Fund; the Selu Conservancy Endowment Fund; the College of Visual and Performing Arts General Fund; and more. They have previously provided a matching gift to encourage participation during the annual Highlander Giving Day (HGD) crowdfunding initiative.
If you would like to provide a matching gift for HGD (which will take place on Dec. 2-3, 2025) or support any of the above funds, visit us online at radford.edu/give, call us at 540-831-5914 or email giveback@radford.edu.
The Stewarts have remained engaged with the university as retirees. If you are a former university employee who is now retired – faculty or staff, from Radford or elsewhere – we’d love to stay connected. Email magazine@radford.edu with the subject line "Interested Retiree" and include your name and preferred phone number.
We'd love to connect with you!
FSELU CONSERVANCY
SELU CONSERVANCY
Still blazing new trails after nearly four decades
By David E. Perryman and Jordan Richardson
ounded in 1989 thanks to generous land donations from the Bowles family, the Selu Conservancy has provided myriad opportunities for faculty, students and the community to conduct research and conservation activities as well as socialize and decompress in nature. Numerous entities came together initially to make Selu a reality, including the Kresge Foundation and the Kolla-Landwehr Foundation, the Student Government Association, various local businesses and stalwart individual supporters.
Just as plant and animal life flourishes on the conservancy’s 380-acre property, Selu continues to find new ways to serve its constituents and blaze new trails. During the 2024-25 academic year alone, Selu achieved several firsts, including publishing the first digital map for visitors, being listed on the American Hiking Society National Trails Day registry and hosting the inaugural Ales, Trails and Research Tales faculty social.
Amid these innovations, the conservancy embodies Radford University’s steadfast commitment to the Appalachian region, whose natural and cultural heritage can be explored, celebrated and preserved for future generations.
A fertile field for instruction, research and socializing for faculty
Selu is a multifaceted resource for faculty, serving as both a living laboratory and a space for rejuvenation. Among the conservancy’s many scholarly uses, faculty leverage the burn site to teach fire ecology, conduct long-term studies on songbirds and forest ecology and support national-scale ecological monitoring efforts that examine insect population decline and ecosystem responses to nutrient changes.
“Beyond teaching and research, Selu is a vital hub for faculty community-building,” said Chet Bhatta, associate professor of biology, who maintains a small apiary at the conservancy to support honeybee research and education. “I participated in faculty socials like Ales, Trails and Research Tales last year, and several faculty members attended research proposal writing
workshops at the Retreat Center this summer. It’s also a place where students and faculty alike can unwind – a short drive from campus leads to hiking trails and natural spaces that offer peace, perspective and inspiration.”
Boundless opportunities for student engagement
Kate Hudson, an elementary education major and member of a student club called Peer Health Educators, helped organize the inaugural Stress Less event at Selu for students in March 2025, offering a range of activities from yoga classes to painting the natural beauty around them. As a Quest Ambassador for the past two summers, she has also helped new students practice teamwork, solve problems and improve interpersonal communications on the conservancy’s low-ropes course.
“I think Selu is a hidden gem,” Hudson said. “It’s a beautiful property with so many opportunities for student engagement – from conducting research with faculty and canoeing on the Little River to attending formals in the barn and stargazing at the Selu Observatory.”
A vibrant hub connecting community to the land
Selu Conservancy has become a vibrant hub for community connection through nature, art and education. With initiatives like the Selu Scenery Plein Air Workshops, regional artists and visitors are drawn into immersive experiences that highlight the beauty and educational richness of Selu. These workshops not only celebrate creative expression but also deepen community appreciation for Selu’s natural and cultural environment.
“It’s rewarding to see a wider audience benefit from Selu in different ways,” said Linda Correll, coordinator for Selu Scenery. “Instead of only college students and faculty experiencing this beautiful land, it has become a source of generational enrichment for younger students, grandparents, artists and community members of all ages and backgrounds.”
To support Selu, visit radford.edu/selu.
The people powering Radford’s bold outdoor spirit
adford University’s recognition as the 2025 Top Adventure College by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine is far more than just another award – it reflects the university’s adventurous mindset, dynamic academic programs and spirited campus life. Radford embodies adventure through both literal outdoor exploration and the adventurous pursuit of knowledge, experiential learning and personal growth.
Adventure permeates every facet of Radford life. Whether kayaking on the historic New River, hiking the Appalachian Trail, rock climbing in the Jefferson National Forest or engaging in groundbreaking research, Radford students and faculty embrace opportunities to explore, discover and surpass expectations. Adventure might mean simple recreation – like s’mores on the quad, Friday Floats and trails at Selu – or thrilling expeditions, including trips to Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness, whitewater rafting on West Virginia’s Gauley River or exploring Utah’s Salt Flats.
“Each year, when we launch the Top Adventure College contest, we’re looking for something more than just proximity to trails or rivers; we’re looking for a school where the outdoors
is central to the culture and spirit of the campus,” said Leah Woody, publisher of Blue Ridge Outdoors. “Radford University stood out this year not just for its incredible location but because its students, alumni and community showed us how deeply outdoor adventure is woven into their identity. The overwhelming passion and pride we saw from Highlanders during the contest made it clear: this isn’t just a place to explore – it’s a place that inspires adventure. That’s what earned Radford the top spot in 2025!”
Radford goes beyond exercise and recreation. Students can earn degrees in recreation, parks and tourism (RCPT) and sports management or engage in field-based sciences such as geology, oceanography and physical anthropology. Even fields like teaching, nursing and criminal justice often come with a solid dose of daily adventure.
This adventurous spirit shapes resilient, innovative and globally aware graduates making their mark worldwide. RCPT alumni are living and working globally – from Alaska to South America, state parks to international cruise expeditions.
Few better exemplify the passion behind Radford’s adventurous reputation than the team at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. With 11 full-time employees, two parttime employees and approximately 150 student employees, they’re “rocking and rolling,” said D.J. Preston, director of Student Recreation and Wellness.
Over the past seven years, Preston has focused on a cultural shift emphasizing accessibility and team alignment. His staff embodies Radford’s enthusiasm for accessible adventure. “Adventure and wellness go hand-in-hand,” Preston noted, emphasizing recreation’s crucial role in student success. His playful mantra – “Try it! I promise we won’t make you hate it” – underscores his welcoming approach.
Preston’s philosophy prioritizes creating an inclusive atmosphere with abundant options. Under his leadership, Radford’s recreation programs have flourished, deeply connecting with students and the local community. And he’s quick to credit his dedicated team.
Associate Director Jess Rothe ’18 first visited Radford in eighth grade through her school’s Talent Search Program (TRIO). “I took a picture at the clocks on Heth Plaza and said that I was coming to Radford,” said Rothe – and she did. As a proud RCPT graduate, Rothe passionately champions Radford’s adventurous reputation, describing it as “a hidden gem with unlimited potential ... that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.”
Collaborating with Marketing Coordinator Emma Mayers ’24, Rothe enthusiastically promoted Radford throughout the Top Adventure College competition. “As an alumna and a first-gen student, I have a deep love for Radford,” Rothe shared. “Being able to build connections with students and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves is where I find peace.”
Connor Russell ’20, assistant director of outdoor programs, transformed his personal passion into professional excellence. “I was an undecided undergraduate student who honestly wasn’t enjoying college because I hadn’t found my place ... yet,” Russell explained. “But I took an intro outdoor recreation class on a whim, and from there I was obsessed.” Russell’s leadership has greatly expanded the outdoor program’s scope – from local climbing and caving to extensive wilderness expeditions. Last year alone, Outdoor Programs offered more than 100 trips. Additionally, Russell highlights their transformative leadership program: students complete intensive training to become trip leaders in core adventure areas like backpacking, mountain biking, paddling, caving and rock
Being able to build connections with students and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves is where I find peace.”
Jess Rothe ’18
As senior designer at Blue Ridge Outdoors, Rebecca Cencewiski ’20 celebrated Radford’s Top Adventure College recognition with immense pride. Her Radford experiences expanded her perspective and boosted her confidence, offering lessons in creativity and resilience. “Radford may be small, but its impact is huge,” she reflected, recognizing the personal and professional growth she still draws upon today.
Rebecca Cencewiski ’20
The Student Recreation and Wellness team.
climbing. “These students are the foundation of what makes our program so great,” said Russell.
Doug Benedict, associate director for esports, entered higher education to support student success. “I found a way to focus my hobby [gaming] and my passion [helping students] towards a powerful goal,” said Benedict. Esports aligns perfectly with recreation and wellness, emphasizing engagement, community and inclusion regardless of physical ability, gender, age or background. “We allow students to experience, craft and lead,” Benedict added. “We look at adventure holistically. Pre-adventure, adventure, post-adventure – and students get involved in all of it. It’s all part of the learning process.”
Health educator and registered dietitian Shannon Moore plays another vital role, advocating wellness as an essen-
tial, adventurous journey. “The college years, for many, are a time of newfound independence,” Moore said. “Helping students establish healthy lifestyle habits that will hopefully lead to a lifetime of well-being is an important and fulfilling role.” Programs like sunrise yoga hikes and peer-led wellness initiatives encourage bravery, growth and resilience. “It is bold to step into a room full of strangers and try something new,” Moore observed. “While some of our programming doesn’t fit the typical image of ‘adventure,’ they call on many of the same qualities and often require just as much courage.”
At Radford, adventure isn’t just accessible – it’s encouraged, embraced and embedded in every Highlander’s experience.
“Connor always tells us to have ‘one foot outside of your comfort zone,’” said junior Grace Morrow, an interior design
student and assistant trip leader. “That way you will always be growing but not overwhelming yourself ... Basically, you can’t move forward standing still.”
“Radford’s accessibility and the incredible opportunities here transformed my life,” shared Audrey Fauvel, a graduate student passionate about fitness. “At Radford, being adventurous means more than outdoor pursuits – it’s stepping outside your comfort zone. Radford truly inspires you to be brave.”
“I am consistently amazed at Radford’s ability to meet any challenge,” Benedict noted. “We rise even when people count us out.”
“When you’re an underdog, you have more fight!” Preston agreed. “We went from not on the list to winning. Radford is small but mighty and a really cool place! If you know, you know.”
And now, thanks to being named Blue Ridge Outdoors 2025 Top Adventure College, more people certainly know!
Higher Ground
Radford’s premier outdoor orientation program, Higher Ground, provides incoming students with a transformative introduction to university life. Based at Radford’s 380-acre Selu Conservancy, students participate in hiking, rock climbing, paddling, caving and team building, forging lasting bonds and a strong sense of belonging. Higher Ground offers a valuable giving opportunity, directly supporting student engagement, leadership training and health education.
Student Recreation and Wellness offers various indoor cycling classes in a dedicated cycle room.
Connor Russell '20 working with trip leaders.
David Owen ’94
Study abroad sparks global adventure career
By Mark Lambert
A chance encounter was the spark igniting a lifelong passion project for David Owen ’94.
Near the end of his junior year at Radford University, Owen was approached by a friend who asked if he would consider studying abroad in Central America that summer. She gave him a pamphlet on a global education program.
“Honestly, I think at the time, I didn’t even know where Costa Rica was, embarrassingly enough,” Owen conceded, “but I took the pamphlet home to Richmond and showed it to my parents, who loved the idea.”
Soon, Owen embarked on a five-week program abroad, living with a Costa Rican family and polishing his Spanish through immersion. He calls the experience a “game changer” that spun his personal and professional lives in directions he never could have imagined.
After a short return to the States, Owen made a life-altering decision and took a brave leap.
“I bought a one-way ticket to Venezuela and spent seven months backpacking around South America by myself,” he said. “When you’re traveling alone like that, you become comfortable with yourself, and you get to know yourself really well. I think that’s when I really became the person I am today.”
A school like Radford can be instrumental in helping students figure out what they’re good at and what they may enjoy doing with their lives.”
David Owen ʼ94
Owen returned to Radford for his senior year, his mind never far from his adventures in Latin America. After getting his degree in communication with a focus on public relations and journalism, he set off on a 6-month trip, backpacking through Central America, surfing in Costa Rica and spending time in Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize.
During that trip, Owen met some Chileans while he was in Ecuador, encouraging him to move to Santiago, Chile, in 1998. During his time there, he was hired to manage a start-up outdoor adventure company relocating him to Pucon, in northern Patagonia.
“We helped young international travelers book trips to climb the surrounding volcanoes as well as enjoy rafting, trekking, cycling and local cultural activities,” Owen said. However, he found that business slowed down in the winters.
“I noticed there was always an influx of skiers and snowboarders looking to explore the local resorts and backcountry from July to September,” Owen said. “But they all had similar challenges, like understanding the local language, finding trustworthy information on ski areas and learning how to link
multiple ski destinations on one trip while finding quality ski guides.”
So, in 1999, Owen founded PowderQuest. The company provides guided ski and snowboard adventures to Chile, Argentina, Norway and Japan. It offers backcountry adventures and ski resort trips, led by a team of certified ski guides and coaches with a strong focus on local culture.
Owen’s wife Carolina – whom he met in Chile – and his son, Sebastian (born in Pucon), both work at PowderQuest, making it a family business. In its 26 years, the business has grown into one of the most successful of its kind in the world – and Owen attributes its success, in part, to his start as a Radford Univer sity student.
“Radford provides such a unique expe rience. I feel quite fortunate to have had the chance to study and graduate from the university,” Owen said. “It felt like the right fit for me when I was deciding where to go. It wasn’t too small, and I
liked that it was about four hours from home so I could develop some independence living on my own.”
Owen also served as president of his fraternity at Radford, Alpha Chi Rho, which built his leadership skills and helped him understand the complexities of working with different personalities.
“I met phenomenal people in that role and had to make some particularly important decisions. I never realized I was a leader until then,” he recalled. “And I was able to bring those skills to building and running PowderQuest.
Owen tapped into several former fra-
a website for the company when the Internet was just beginning to be widely used by businesses. Owen said without the website and his friends’ hard work, PowderQuest would have struggled to survive as a start-up company outside the United States.
“A school like Radford can be instrumental in helping students figure out what they’re good at and what they may enjoy doing with their lives. That’s certainly what happened with me. Overall, my time at Radford was just one of the best experiences of my life.”
Photo by Iz La Motte
Photo by Ted Slee
Highlanders LEARNING FROM Highlanders
By Neil Harvey
College students and spring break.
When you consider that combination, it’s difficult not to picture bustling beaches, a crowded cruise ship with its roof raised or even just a weary scholar grabbing some couch-time as the second half of the semester approaches.
Last March, however, a dozen of Radford’s business-minded undergraduates put a significant chunk of their vacation toward another goal: preparing for their futures.
They’re members of the Davis College Fellows – a program donor-funded by Jack and Sandy Davis that channels the talent and drive of the university’s top business and economics students. These students spent four days visiting Nashville, Tennessee, largely to meet a string of Music City professionals, including a number of successful Highlanders.
These excursions have occurred annually for years, with destinations as far-flung as Europe and Australia. And while they hit a bit of a speedbump off the pandemic, they’ve recently been rebooted by Assistant Professor of Marketing Luke Liska.
Liska, now in his fifth year at Radford, is the Davis College Fellows’ director and a faculty advisor for the university’s chapter of the American Marketing Association, as well as a mentor for Highlander Research Rookies and Honors Capstone projects. He netted the school’s Distinguished Service Award in April, and his youthful enthusiasm has helped reignite the trips.
“Having guests come to Radford is fantastic, and they love coming here, but when we can get our students into their offices and into their workplaces, I think that introduces our Fellows to another level,” Liska explained.
“Our students get lectures all the time in classes, but they’re also really interested in the alums’ stories. Like hearing about how they got where they are today. What are the things they did that made them successful? And maybe, what is something that, if they had the ability to do it again, they might do differently,” he said.
“Through those discussions, our students can imagine themselves in the alums’ footsteps and taking those steps as well.”
In 2024, Liska led a Davis College Fellows group by train to New York City, where over three days they logged more than 32 miles on foot around Manhattan, visiting the Empire State Building, Central Park and Rockefeller Center and spending time with Madeline Thomas ’14, who worked for Clearwater Analytics then but who is now a director of marketing for the London-based information services firm 9fin.
For March’s trek, a larger group traveled by van to Nashville to join alums like Mike Burton ’02, vice presi dent of land development with the construction company Toll Brothers; Erin Powell ’04, a health and wellness consultant with the Entrepreneur Center; and Clearsense Inc. CEO Jason Rose ’93.
The fellows spent their first morning in Nashville with Kevin Donahue ’95, who earned his degree in criminal justice but who, after an early and lucrative brush with construction equipment sales, merged into the business arena. Last year, following stints with Security Compliance Associates, Tevora and Executive Sales Source LLC, he became the co-founder, CEO and business development director of the cybersecurity company Stealth Family.
An exuberant speaker, Donahue’s account of his professional life – which has woven from Radford to Washington, D.C. to Costa Rica and now Tennessee – could stand as a motivational speech by itself.
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Luke Liska
“The theme of my talk with the students, and one of the ways that I live, is: ‘Life is a movie, write your own script,’” Donahue said. “You have to pivot and bob and weave throughout life and look for opportunities as they come.”
Mentors are vital to that process, he noted, as are mentees who can provide value.
“Life is really about making the connections. You’re only one connection or one idea from anything you want,” he added. “If you go out and make connections with really good people, there’s no telling where you could end up.”
During their visit, Donahue learned that one student, junior Shannon Herrity, minors in music industry studies with an eye toward entertainment law. He soon introduced her to a Stealth Family colleague, an attorney who’s worked with the Nashville arms of Capitol and DreamWorks records.
“I was able to talk with him over Zoom, to get his story of how he got to where he is now and get some advice from him. That was a really great connection that came out of that trip, for sure,” Herrity recalled.
Senior Adrianna Hodges recounted that Donahue “also said we need to have an inspiration board about what we want to do, whether it’s a future house that we want or a job. He said that’s how he wakes up every morning, and it’s almost like manifesting it.
“That meeting kind of lit some fire in me,” she said.
During a stop at the tech care company Asurion, the students split into teams to speak with employees about accounting and finance, marketing and customer experience and legal aspects.
The program is really about connections.”
Luke Liska
“We broke off into groups based on our interests and got to ask whatever questions we wanted,” Hodges said. “That was very cool, because I got to ask more about marketing rather than just business in general.”
Isaiah Hawkins ’25, of Floyd, Virginia, graduated in May and is now getting his MBA through Radford’s accelerated program. He’s interested in sports marketing with companies like Wilson or TaylorMade and, at Asurion, got direct advice on a crucial subject – selling himself – from a digital marketing editor.
“She reviewed my resume the same day I gave it to her, which was really great,” Hawkins said, and from her recommendations, he made revisions: “I went through and added more keywords to get past the computer auditing side of resumes.”
Collectively, the group’s travel experience ran the gamut –one had visited China, Paris and nearly all 50 states, and several others had been to Nashville before, while for at least one member, it marked his first time outside the Eastern time zone.
As such, students also got opportunities to tour the city, taking in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an open mic show, and several Buc-ee’s, the famously sprawling markets, including a pit-stop at its Sevierville branch, which, at 74,000 square feet, is among the world’s largest convenience stores.
“If you’re trying to figure out what you want to do, and you might want to relocate, it’s good to have some exposure to a place and be able to experience it organically as well,” Herrity said. “This was definitely a good, good use of my spring break. Wouldn’t change it.”
As 2026 approaches, Liska is next considering Austin, Texas, or Charlotte, North Carolina, but said even students who can’t make the journey still gain access to a wealth of exposure.
He works to bring to campus at least one speaker a month each semester, six per year, or 24 across four years, with occasional trips to local businesses. Students who attend Davis College Fellows trips also interact with an average of six career professionals.
“If you come into the Davis College Fellows as a freshman, by the time you graduate, you will have personally met and shaken the hand of at least 40 business leaders and alums, all of them successful,” Liska said.
“The program is really about connections. It’s about connecting our top students with alumni, with business leaders, and giving them those extra experiences to learn more.”
For more information about the Davis College Fellows, or to apply, please scan the code.
Bethany Barto Highlander Giving Day T-shirt contest winner
“I’m (sort of) a senior here at Radford, and I’m getting my B.F.A in studio art. I’m originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and when I transferred here last fall (2024), I thought I would miss the coast, but instead I quickly found a kind and welcoming home here in the mountains!
I submitted a design to the T-shirt contest because I think a lot more students should take a chance on these lovely opportunities to have a lasting impact on their local community, especially a worthy event like Highlander Giving Day. I made myself a promise to give back to my community and get involved as much as I can, and I don’t plan on slowing down any time soon. This is my first step of hopefully many more in the future!”
AND INTO THE
Radford students find another side of adventure
By Neil Harvey, Pam McCallister and Chad Osborne
It’s easy to see why Radford University was named Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine’s 2025 Top Adventure College – close proximity to the New River and the Blue Ridge Mountains provides abundant opportunities for the outdoor life.
But adventure can come in many forms, especially where scholars are concerned. It can involve internships, study abroad, employment opportunities and volunteer efforts, for starters.
While it tends to cut a less dramatic profile than activities involving kayaks or carabiners, there’s something about an active approach to learning – with students guided by professors – that has always resonated with the Highlander spirit. Over the past dozen years, for example, student participation in research projects has risen from 3% in 2013 to 25% today, driven by such initiatives as living-learning communities, Research Rookies and Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grants.
“The idea of hands-on faculty-student interactions has been the central theme of what makes a Radford University education distinctive, valuable and transformative,” said Joe Wirgau, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Here are just some recent examples of Radford’s more academically minded adventures.
Watching wildlife in Costa Rica
Amber Gordon found her place at Radford – and it led her into the jungle.
At enrollment, she was undecided about what to study. “I’ve always been interested in biology, culture and international relations/policy, and I felt myself being drawn to many fields,” she said. Her path started to emerge after taking ANSC 101 with Professor Cassady Urista, which was about human evolution.
“We had a unit on primate behavior and evolution, and I found that I was very interested in it,” Gordon said. “I declared biology and anthropological sciences as double majors, and I’ve focused on wildlife ecology and human evolution through my coursework.”
To that end, the senior from Rural Retreat, Virginia, spent part of the summer of 2025 in Costa Rica. Her project, a planned Honors College capstone funded by a SURF grant and
the Honors College, involved conducting a behavioral analysis of four primate species, with Urista as her mentor. “My research has implications for wildlife conservation, as understanding animal behavior and ecology helps to guide conservation legislation,” Gordon said.
“Originally, I focused on two of the species, squirrel monkeys and white-faced capuchins, and their interactions with each other,” she said. “However, I couldn’t see the two small-bodied species in the forest as much as I would have liked.” She changed her methods to also collect data on howler monkeys and Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, “and that went much better,” she said.
Later, she reflected on the trip. “I loved my time in Costa Rica,” she said. “I met local researchers who were so informative and helpful. I connected with Daniela Solano-Roja, a woman who runs a foundation studying squirrel monkeys; she even drove me to the airport and gave me a place to stay my last night in Costa Rica!
“Participating in undergraduate research has helped me connect my coursework with the broader academic community by applying what I’ve learned to real questions and contributing to ongoing
projects,” Gordon said. “Working closely with faculty mentors and presenting at conferences has given me a clearer sense of direction for my future career, helping me decide that I want to pursue advanced research opportunities involving fieldwork, travel and graduate study.”
Experience by design
When Radford’s graphic design majors undertake internships at Volvo Truck North America in Dublin, Virginia, they receive a tractor-trailer load of practical experience, figuratively speaking.
“Our relationship with Volvo goes back about a decade, and we have placed quite a few students with them over the years,” said Professor Emeritus of Graphic Design John O’Connor, M.S. ’85.
Through the work, they assist with internal communications and distribute information to the plant’s roughly 3,000 employees via the company’s newsletter and its digital displays. They also help with large-scale print requests and greet vast crowds at launch events and exhibits.
Perhaps most strikingly, communications interns get a hands-on introduction to one of the company’s biggest and most vital products when they climb be-
hind the wheel of a Class 8 heavy-duty tractor, Volvo’s North American LongHaul (VNL) truck, and take it for a spin.
“The company tries to find a way to make sure that, before their tenure is done, interns have the experience of driving that truck,” said Marcus Thompson, who recently retired from Volvo after 38 years as a communications manager. “We want them to experience the product they’re associated with, because they’re helping to tell the company story and the story of the men and women who build our trucks.”
The VNL is capable of 405 to 500 horsepower, but the test drives take place on the company’s private track and are co-piloted by a licensed supervisor.
“They’re coaching you, letting you know how fast you can go and stuff like that,” said Austin Tuggle ’25, of Pulaski, Virginia, a graphic design graduate who recently completed his internship, during which he sampled driving several types of heavy trucks.
“We got up to highway speeds, and then they take you down ramps and inclines, and it’s weird when you brake because you can feel the weight of it pushing you more than you’d expect.”
Austin Tuggle ’25, a recent Volvo intern.
Amber Gordon, current senior.
Along the way, he was mentored by other fellow Highlanders, including Jay Rae ’19 of Roanoke, Virginia, and Erica Sheffield ’22 of Christiansburg, Virginia, two Radford graphic design graduates who extended their internships at Volvo into full-time employment.
“My mentor, Marcus Thompson, made it a point to take all of us down to the test track at the customer center to drive one of the vehicles, and we’ve recently expanded that to a 3-mile track,” Sheffield said.
“I was like, ‘Why are you trusting me with this quarter-ofa-million-dollar vehicle?’ The biggest thing I’d probably driven was my dad’s truck, and that’s just a Toyota Tacoma,” she mused, but added, “It was a very fun experience.”
The big rigs definitely made an impression, but they were just one part of an internship that supplemented the interns’ educational experience while also validating it.
“You’ve gone through school, and you’re taught things for a reason, and then you actually get to apply them,” Tuggle said of his work at Volvo, where he’s still employed on a part-time basis.
“You walk around the plant and get to see your designs up on the screens, and it’s being shown to thousands of employees, and it does give you a pretty good sense of satisfaction,” he said.
“It’s like: Wow! I did that!”
Safety, in numbers
One important component of adventure is staying safe, and a student project underway through a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) grant has that very goal in mind.
Jeremiah Garretson, a sophomore in recreation, parks and tourism from Christiansburg, Virginia, is collecting information on the impact of personal location beacons (PLBs) on outdoor activities. PLBs allow for rescue signals to be sent from remote locations, and they can be vital tools in helping hikers and campers who have lost their way.
This year, Garretson has taken to local trails where he surveys those he encounters to get a sense of how PLBs influence their approach to risk-taking. How does that PLB wireless safety net affect decision making in the wild?
“PLB use should be reserved for life or limb scenarios outdoors, and they put the entire wilderness rescue machine into motion,” he said. “This study attempts to determine recreator perceptions of PLB use and wilderness rescue to shape future best practices that keep both parties safe.”
Garretson hopes to survey about 450 outdoorspeople before compiling his results.
(Left) Erica Sheffield ’22 in the driver's seat.
(Above) Volvo's North American Long Haul (VNL) truck.
Tracing the rain in Zambia
For a month this summer, Radford geospatial science major Kiara Bartoli and Professor Stockton Maxwell embarked on an expedition to Zambia, collecting tree core samples for a National Science Foundation-funded project aimed at reconstructing the history of precipitation in sub-Saharan Africa.
In a region where agriculture is key to livelihood and hydropower is the dominant energy source, Maxwell’s and Bartoli’s work will be critical to resource planning for years to come. For their adventurous field work, Bartoli and Maxwell trekked to remote regions of southern Zambia, including Kafue National Park, “where you are likely to see elephants, giraffes and water buffalo crossing the road on your way to a study site,” Maxwell said after the duo returned to the United States.
As part of the trip, Maxwell, chair of Radford’s geospatial and earth science department, co-organized and instructed the African Dendrochronology Field School with a mission to expand scientific discovery. He also co-organized an international conference, WorldDendro, drawing scientists from across the world.
Bartoli, a junior from Charleston, West Virginia, assisted with the instruction at the field school and presented a research poster at the conference. To support her research in Zambia, Bartoli was awarded a SURF fellowship.
Over the 2025-26 academic year, she will be funded by an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates to work on the project in Radford’s Tree Ring Lab. The project is a collaboration with colleagues from Indiana State University, Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida and Copperbelt University (Zambia).
10th Annual Volunteer Summit
SATURDAY J an. 24, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Join alumni, friends, supporters and students for the 10th annual Volunteer Summit – a signature Radford event designed to inspire service, strengthen leadership and celebrate Highlander pride.
At the summit, you will:
Hear exclusive updates and insights from President Bret Danilowicz.
Discover meaningful volunteer opportunities and leadership pathways.
Build your professional and personal network.
Cap off the day with an exciting afternoon of Highlander basketball.
Registration is now open – sign up today by scanning the QR code or visiting radford.edu/vs26.
A scene in Zambia.
Path to Peru paved by love of outdoors and wilderness-based education
By Bailey Black
Jennifer Hrinkevich ’97
If you take your education seriously and make the most of it, there is so much you can learn.
Jennifer Hrinkevich ’97
A trek through fertile alpine valleys. A hike past sparkling glacier lakes. A climb to a 360-degree summit vista. A mountain bike race through one of the highest ranges in the Americas. These are just a few of the activities available through Skyline Adventures, a professional adventure service located in the Peruvian Andes.
“It’s all part of a linked tale that was born at Radford,” said Jennifer Hrinkevich ’97, who founded Skyline Adventures in 2001. As a student at Radford University, Hrinkevich stumbled upon the outdoor recreation and education program. After meeting several professors in the program and learning about the wilderness-based educational opportunities available, she knew this was the right degree path for her. “Once I switched majors, I enjoyed everything I did,” she said. “It was engaging and real, and I had great classmates and teachers. It was a really fulfilling time.”
Her love of the outdoors began as a child, but Radford was where she learned that her passion could become a career. Thanks to a curriculum that integrated lectures and labs with real field experiences in the outdoors, Hrinkevich was able to put her education into action after graduation. She began her career at North Carolina Outward Bound School, which offers wilderness expeditionary courses and programs for professionals, educators, students, families, veterans and more.
“When I went to Outward Bound, I felt extra prepared professionally because I was not just a good rock climber, but I felt like I had a really good understanding of the professional side of outdoor education and recreation,” said Hrinkevich.
A few short years later, she headed to South America with her now husband to open the Outward Bound school in Patagonia. Eventually, this led Hrinkevich to Peru – specifically, Huaraz, where Skyline Adventures was born.
“It was a perfect little mountain paradise with very few serious agencies,” said Hrinkevich. “My husband and I had this background in running and teaching outdoor programs for Outward Bound, and I had my background in outdoor recreation education from Radford. We knew we had what it takes to create a quality company and offer safe and exciting outdoor experiences. We started putting up trips and getting customers and learning very experientially. It caught on, and 20-something years later, we’re still doing it.”
Skyline Adventures is composed of a group of experienced climbers, hikers, mountain bikers and outdoor educators who guide visitors on adventures that allow them to experience the magic of Huaraz and the Andes Mountains. Activities include climbing and trekking through the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash mountains, full-service mountaineering courses
and mountain biking and trail running adventure races.
Hrinkevich believes what sets her company apart is that they focus on their home turf, creating customized itineraries for every group based on their personal experiences in the area, as well as historical knowledge and awareness of the changing trends.
“Someone will write me and say, ‘We’re five friends, we have three weeks, we want to climb a 6,000-meter peak and see this ruin, and we’re coming from sea level. What should we do?’ I can easily put something together because I know exactly what they’re going to experience. It’s high altitude, it’s a tough place to get used to, and I’ve been up all the peaks. I know what’s going to go well for them and what’s going to be a little more challenging. Being able to talk to them about approaches and gear and conditions – it’s very personalized,” said Hrinkevich. “That’s what Skyline is, and that’s why we’ve had so much success.”
“If you take your education seriously and make the most of it, there is so much you can learn,” Hrinkevich said. “Having the outdoor skills, the people skills, the education skills, the administrative and professional skills – everything you learn from being an outdoor recreation major – allows you to pursue any opportunity, if you’re inspired enough to take it on.”
Highlanders connect with spirit of adventure, culture of service, sense of place
By Justin Ward ʼ10, M.S. ʼ23
The first thing you notice about Eugene Naughton ’89 at Dollywood isn’t the title on his name badge. It’s how often he stops and how he’s carrying a grabber in his free hand. As he moves through Wildwood Grove, he bends without breaking stride to pluck a straw wrapper near a bench, a bottle cap by a planter, an empty cup along a walkway.
Click.
Into a nearby trash bin, then he’s back to listening.
On Showstreet, a host flags him down to share a joke and give him a hug. A baker from Spotlight Bakery calls out and waves from behind a tray of cinnamon bread. A photographer reaches out for a handshake and to loudly proclaim he’s got the best boss. Naughton lingers for each conversation, remembering
names and details that matter. And between hellos, he quietly tidies what others leave behind. He doesn’t make a show of it. He just does it.
That small ritual says as much about his leadership as the laughter and stories do. He leaves places better than he found them. He makes a crowded theme park feel personal and a busy day feel human.
Those qualities in a leader – curiosity, humility, care – are perfectly aligned with the values of a Highlander. And for Naughton, who graduated from Radford University in 1989 and now serves as president of The Dollywood Co., they are not an act. They are the through line.
Photo credit: Dollywood Parks & Resorts
“I fell in love with the idea that no day is the same,” he says of the industry that became his life’s work. That simple declaration, “no day is the same,” could be the caption for his life’s journey, from the seventh of eight kids in a big Irish Catholic family, to a student paying his way through Radford, to a 40year career that’s spanned Paramount Parks, Six Flags and now the beloved Smoky Mountains destination built around Dolly Parton’s heart and hometown.
Finding his place
Naughton’s decision to come to Radford began with an instinct that still guides him.
“If you think about where Radford University is today, I think one of the biggest competitive advantages that you all have is your teacher-to-student ratio,” he said, noting one reason why he decided to study here. “And it warms my heart to see people still being able to make that decision in a positive way.”
On Fridays, as a student majoring in foods and nutrition, he’d drive 3 ½ hours to work at Kings Dominion in Richmond, Virginia, then head back to campus on Sunday nights. “I was a shift supervisor there at a funnel cake place on International Street, and that’s how I funded my way through school.”
The general education courses were fine, he admits, but “the minute I hit my core classes for culinary management, that’s when I really started to get engaged.” And he was covering all expenses himself. “I took 18 credit hours every single semester because it cost the same as 12.”
In the culinary lab, something clicked that would shape Naughton’s career. “I learned how to use a computer for the first time at college ... where our key professor actually was teaching us how to run cost of sales management in a food environment on a PC.” After graduation, he stepped into a procurement role at Kings Dominion and asked to buy a computer. “I ended up dropping 6% out of the cost of goods in my first year of being a procurement manager, simply because I used what my professor from Radford taught me on how to engage better.”
A career built on learning and serving
Following his Kings Dominion experience, Naughton spent 19 years at Paramount Parks, helping launch on-brand experiences from a Bubba Gump Shrimp concept developed in collaboration with Tom Hanks to the Days of Thunder attraction tied to Tom Cruise. He then moved to Six Flags and stepped onto a wider stage, overseeing revenue across 28 parks nationwide. The work was multilingual and global: Spanish in Mexico City, French in Montreal. It ultimately led to international development that had him on the road nearly 200 days a year across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China. Those global assignments stretched his leadership instincts. They also prepared him to lead in the Smokies, where Dollywood’s spirit of adventure and artistry, hospitality and place, felt like home.
Eugene Naughton ’89 at Dollywood.
“As you can imagine, you probably would get a little bit scared” to work with Dolly Parton, he said, smiling, because “she’s an iconic woman who has done so much. But she puts you right at ease. And she has instincts better than any leader that I’ve ever been associated with in my 40-year career.”
The hardest season and the choice to care
Naughton arrived at Dollywood in 2019, just in time for the industry’s hardest season. “We had just added Wildwood Grove, and then we all know what happened in 2020,” he said. The parks went quiet. “My biggest worry was how I was going to care for the hosts that were working for us that relied, every day, on the money they earned here to put food on their table and to pay for their rent. So as a new president of the company, I requested all of our leaders to take half pay so that we could actually fund the average weekly wage for everyone who worked for us, without any strings attached.”
Even as Dollywood weathered the shutdown, Naughton kept an eye on the horizon. “When the whole industry was closed during Covid, I put out a request for proposal to buy a roller coaster.” That bet, paired with careful cash management, set the stage for a roaring return. He helped open Big Bear Mountain, an over 4,000-linear-foot, 2 ½-minute-long roller coaster ride, and the results speak for themselves. “We’ve tripled our business in three years,” he noted, and the company now has “a strong 10-year plan and a half-billion investment to help grow our campus.”
[Radford] shaped me as a person. It's shaped me as a leader ... I'm reengaging and trying to give a little bit back.”
Eugene Naughton ’89
Storytelling, elevated
If you want to understand how Naughton thinks, you can watch where he invests attention. Live entertainment got a major lift on his watch. “I’ve paid particular attention to try to improve our offering. We paid the original producer of the New York City Rockettes, John Dietrich, and he helped script, write and produce a new musical here, called ‘From the Heart.’”
That same care shapes the new Dolly Parton Experience. “That really is celebrating all of Dolly and what she’s not only done for us, but she’s given so much to her hometown,” he said. “If you ever spend a minute with Dolly Parton, you realize there’s nothing static about her... I wanted this to be in her words; I didn’t want anyone making up what those stories are.”
The instinct to tell true stories, clearly, warmly, in the right voice, feels familiar to anyone who has spent time at Radford. It’s how Highlanders build trust.
Advice for the next Highlander in line
When he talks to students about launching careers, Naughton doesn’t begin with titles or paychecks; he begins with values. “Don’t hastily make a decision on who you’re going to work for,” he said. “Make sure that you’re fitting into your value-stream mapping in your heart, and how you make your decisions, how the company makes their decisions. And is it connected well to what you believe is right?”
He urges students to choose growth. “Pick companies that have opportunities for growth,” he said. “I’ve only worked three places; I’ve always tried to be a constant learner.” And he smiles at Radford’s tagline, “Find Your Place. Here,” because it matches his path. “You wouldn’t find your place if you don’t take the time to make a really good decision.”
Why Radford still matters
Ask Naughton what Radford gave him, and the answer is both practical and deeply personal. “I think it helped me be myself, really, and I was always comfortable asking for assistance,” he said. “To every one of the professors that believed in me and supported me, I won’t forget that.”
More than 25 years after graduating, he’s still proud to be a Highlander. “Very, very much so,” he said. Naughton has been back to Radford the past two fall semesters to speak at academic year kickoff events, sharing with faculty, staff, and students how he found his place and how it defined his path. And he’s confident about where the university is heading. “I think you have an extraordinary leader in President Bret. I’m so energized by the fact that he’s thinking long-term for the university and the benefits to the students. He’s an innovator.”
On Showstreet, with cinnamon in the air
Back on Showstreet, the stopping and starting continue. Naughton doesn’t glance at his watch; he simply greets each person as if this moment and each conversation is the point of the job. Dollywood is a place where families return to mark milestones, where music lifts a hillside, where coasters twist and soar like an eagle through the sky. It’s also a place where the president remembers your mom’s surgery date and your grandson’s nickname.
“We always get our points across, but it’s always going to be that we’re going to have fun together,” he said of sharing a stage with Dolly. The same could be said of how he shares a pathway with his people: hosts, bakers, performers, landscapers, and ride operators who number in the thousands. He leads with empathy, steadies with strategy and never loses the joy.
No day is the same. But some things are consistent: the welcome, the care, the instinct to serve. In the Smoky Mountains, Dolly’s Tennessee mountain home, those Highlander values have found a good home, and countless guests and hosts are better for it.
Ethan Taylor ’13
Finance with heart at the Imagination Library
Ethan Taylor ’13 found exactly the right fit at Radford University. “The university was big enough to meet new people but small enough that you could get around,” he said, noting how professors knew their students and invested in their success, which is an approach that continues to guide his leadership.
Today, Taylor serves as director of finance for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Dollywood Foundation program that mails free books to children around the world. Since joining the team in 2021, he has overseen the Foundation’s global finance and accounting procedures and partners daily with colleagues across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Taylor traces his leadership style to lessons learned on campus. A finance professor emphasized mastery and real-world application over test prep; a leadership professor’s stories revealed “hidden lessons” about creative problem-solving and seeking better solutions. Radford also built confidence in communicating one-on-one and with large groups, a skill he relies on when connecting with new partners and stakeholders. The strong Highlander alumni network, he added, is a source of enduring pride.
Taylor’s passion for the Imagination Library’s mission is personal.
“Growing up, I had some hearing issues,” he said. “Because I could not hear what others were saying or how words were supposed to be pronounced, reading was one of my hardest struggles.”
Discovering the Imagination Library program later in life left him “amazed” and determined to help make sure that every child, regardless of background, can build a lifelong love of reading. In finance, he sees a way to multiply impact by aligning strong stewardship with the Radford values of community and care to support millions of young readers.
Debra Moffat ’07, M.S. ’08
After a heartbreaking loss, a mother resolves to help others and save lives
By Pam McCallister
Aven Moffat was a happy 6-year-old who loved dressing up in costumes, playing baseball and soccer, catching frogs, fishing and swimming. Most of all, he loved his family – his twin brothers John and Gene and his parents, Craig and Debra.
“He told us every single day,” said Debra Moffat ’07, M.S. ’08, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s in special education at Radford.
After graduation, the North Carolina native moved to Raleigh, married Craig and started a family. Gene and John were born in February 2013, with Aven following in November 2014.
“Life was busy, full and joyful,” Moffat said.
That changed abruptly in the summer of 2021.
After swimming with his brothers in a freshwater pond, Aven began showing signs of illness a few days later and was admitted to pediatric intensive care. What started with flu-like symptoms quickly spiraled. He was diagnosed with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri – an amoeba found in warm, fresh water like lakes, rivers and hot springs and also in poorly chlorinated pools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than 10 people a year in the U.S. get PAM – but it is nearly always fatal.
Despite heroic efforts by his doctors, Aven passed away on Aug. 13, 2021 – six days after entering the hospital and 12 days after swimming in the pond.
Aven’s parents were devastated –and determined.
“After receiving Aven’s diagnosis and learning about the amoeba, I did what every mom does these days and headed to Google,” Moffat said. “There was very limited information. Aven was the first case at our large children’s hospital. I was lost searching for help and answers.
“Something is rare until it happens to your family. Had I known about this deadly amoeba, I would have never let my children swim in fresh water.”
After Aven’s death, Moffat and her family faced unimaginable grief. But she knew she had to act.
“When Aven died, I chose to live for him,” she says. “Three days after he passed away, I set out on a mission to help his legacy live on – just not in a way I ever expected.”
With community support, the Moffat family launched Amazing Aven’s Quest for Amoeba Awareness (AAQAA), a nonprofit funding research, increasing awareness and supporting families. Over four years, AAQAA has raised more than $700,000 for research and education.
Their funding supports work around the country, including grants to the University of North Carolina, the University of Georgia, Duke University and UMass Dartmouth to promote education and develop rapid water testing and diagnostic tools. AAQAA also hosts public awareness events and speaks regularly to medical professionals, schools and the public.
Beyond advocacy and research, the foundation keeps Aven’s joyful spirit alive through acts of kindness. Its Annual Toy Drive has donated over $100,000
in toys and comfort items to hospitalized children. “Children of all ages participate and are learning the importance of giving back,” Moffat said. “It brings a smile to others in Aven’s memory.”
AAQAA also hosts the Swing for Aven Memorial Golf Tournament and “Partee" for a Cause each April to fund lifesaving efforts.
The foundation’s message centers on safety and awareness. PAM is “100% preventable,” Moffat emphasized. “If you’re going to swim in fresh water, wear nose plugs. And test pools before using them.
“We were recently on vacation, and the pool at our resort wasn’t properly chlorinated,” Moffat said. “It’s easy to buy test strips and test pools yourselves. Right now, there’s no way to test fresh
water. We hope one day, through the grants we’re funding, there will be.”
Now, as the Moffat family co-sponsors a national conference this fall and continues its outreach, Aven’s legacy lives on in every life their mission touches.
“I never thought something like this would happen to me – but it did,” Moffat said. “Aven is part of our daily lives. We think about what he would be doing today.
“Our slogan is ‘Live, Love, Laugh and Play the Amazing Aven Way.’ I love sharing his story because I hope that through it, lives will be saved.”
Aven Moffat, 6 years old.
Terri Stockton Foulks ’92, MBA ’94
Embracing life's learning opportunities to make wishes come true
By Bailey Black
I believe that everyone is a leader. Leader is not just a title; it’s how you show up and connect with people.
Terri Stockton Foulks ’92, M.A. ’94
According to Terri Stockton Foulks ’92, M.A. ’94, the most fulfilling part of working for Make-A-Wish America is the “mission moments” in which she sees the positive impact that wishes have on lives.
Make-A-Wish is a nonprofit organization that grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Whether it’s seeing a child receive the transformative gift of a special all-terrain wheelchair or watching a young man experience his dream of announcing the first-round pick at the NFL Draft, these moments fuel Foulks to continue to make a difference.
In her role as chief people and culture officer, Foulks is focused on caring for the dedicated employees who serve MakeA-Wish children and their families. “We’re driven by our business objective, which is to grant wishes to every eligible child. My goal is to make sure that the people who are responsible, either directly or indirectly, for taking care of these families during the most difficult times in their lives, are taking care of themselves,” said Foulks.
She began gaining leadership experience and making a difference as a student at Radford University, serving as vice president for Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority, chairperson of the Black Student Awareness Council, member of the Student Government Association (SGA) executive council and residence hall director in Muse Hall and then Moffett Hall.
“All of those experiences helped me understand how to navigate the world,” explained Foulks. “SGA sponsored me to go to my first national conference in Florida. It was the first time I flew and the first time I had exposure to any type of national assembly of people. Then, AKA gave me my second experience going to a national meeting, and those two experiences really opened my eyes. I think back about my time at Radford and how it taught me how to connect with people from all walks of life and how to grow from successes and failures. Though I don’t actually believe there are failures – just learning opportunities.”
When she came to Radford from Martinsville, Virginia, at 17 years of age, Foulks didn’t know what degree path to take; however, she quickly found her passion in psychology and criminal justice. After graduating with a double major, she
stayed at Radford to pursue her master’s degree in psychology, a time when she experienced another major milestone: adopting her daughter. “That life experience – of having that campus not only wrap their arms around me, but also my daughter –was incredible.”
She then earned her master’s degree in social work at Ohio State, where she served as director of residence life. When it was time to move closer to home, she made her way to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she served as director of career services at Salem College, director of human resources at American Express, director of enterprise learning and development at Wake Forest Baptist Health and senior director of human resources at Reynolds American, all of which paved the way to her current role at Make-A-Wish. Foulks continues to reside in North Carolina with her husband, Branson, and their beloved dog, Pretzel.
“What I say now is, live limitlessly – carefully, but limitlessly and know that the world is your classroom and your playground. What opportunities do you have to step off this beautiful campus at Radford, this beautiful learning lab, and explore and grow?” shared Foulks. “Be open to people. Be open to the lived experiences that they can share. Look for the synergies of what you have in common versus what you don’t. The world is your learning lab. The world is your classroom.”
Ending every email with her motto, “Lead on!”, Foulks sees everyone as having the potential to influence those around them. “I believe that everyone is a leader. Leader is not just a title; it’s how you show up and connect with people. It’s finding the best in people and helping them be the best they can be,” said Foulks. “I learned a lot of that at Radford.”
Foulks with her husband, Branson, and their dog, Pretzel.
Natalie Baker Conca ’00
Leading change by navigating life's shifts with purpose and grit
By Hunter Q. Gresham
For Natalie Baker Conca ’00, life like horsemanship – isn’t about staying in control but knowing when to respond, adjust and lead change.
A lifelong equestrian, Conca grew up riding horses and learning to listen to the nonverbal cues of her four-legged partners. That same deep sensitivity, paired with a spirit of adventure and compassion, has guided her career in therapeutic recreation and equine-assisted services for more than two decades. “I come from a very adventurous family,” Conca said. “Fun was at the center of everything we did.”
A native of Salisbury, Maryland, Conca transferred to Radford University in 1998 after Salisbury University eliminated her initial major. Radford’s renowned recreation, parks and tourism (RCPT) department offered exactly what she was seeking: a career rooted in service, activity and connection.
“Radford offered me so many adventurous opportunities,” she said, recalling outdoor education trips that included sea kayaking, tubing in the New River and rappelling down mountain cliffs.
Conca thrived in Radford’s immersive, hands-on learning environment, quickly becoming a leader on campus. She served as vice president of Rho Phi Lambda honor society, was a member of Tri Sigma sorority and helped build the accessible trails at Selu Conservancy.
It wasn’t just the landscape that shaped her it was the people. “I had an incredible team of teachers,” Conca said. “Drs. Mick and Lee Stewart, Dr. Gary Nussbaum – these were faculty members who were national leaders in the field, and they invested in us as individuals. They helped shape the professional I am today.”
After graduation, Conca went on to serve in a range of clinical and community-based therapeutic recreation settings – from summer camps for kids with chronic illnesses to children’s rehabilitation hospitals to inpatient rehab units. Driven by her commitment to accessible, meaningful care, she lobbied on Capitol Hill, mentored interns and ultimately founded Lead Changes Therapy in 2006.
Conca spent 17 years providing aquatic therapy, community inclusion and therapeutic horsemanship and consulting with Lead Changes Therapy, a time when she also served as vice president of the Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia.
Alongside her husband, fellow Radford alumnus Jared Conca ’01, and their two children, Conca has returned to Richmond, Virginia, and is charting a new course – one still grounded in her love of horses and helping others. She recently achieved distinction as
a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner, in addition to her prior designation in 2019 as a Masterson Method Equine Specialist, where she uses specialized equine bodywork techniques to relieve tension and improve horse performance.
Conca says she’ll remain certified so she can go back to recreational therapy at any time in the future as time, opportunity and circumstance allow. But for now, she’s found something that is a good fit for this stage of her life.
“It’s like therapy for horses,” she explained. “You’re reading subtle signals, helping them release built-up stress. It’s deeply clinical and intuitive work – it feels like a natural extension of everything I’ve done.”
Conca also serves as a speaker for a variety of organizations and as a faculty member of Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the professional development of healthcare pro-
Adventure isn’t just about the outdoors – it’s about learning, adapting and advocating for others. Lead Changes was born from that idea.”
Natalie Baker Conca ’00
fessionals involved with aquatic therapy. Even as her career evolves, she remains grounded in the values she nurtured at Radford.
“Radford is a place of opportunity, shaped by its geography and driven by a mentality of access and inclusion,” she said. “You don’t need to build something in a beautiful place – you need to make the beautiful place accessible and available to everyone. Radford not only prepared me professionally but also equipped me to lead change in whatever form it takes.”
Conca when she’s not with her horses.
That was the most pressure I’ve ever faced in my life ... It was also the most rewarding experience of my life."
George Sava ’91
Sava ’91
Building a successful law career on a foundation laid at Radford
It's heartbreaking to hear George Sava ’91 pause to clear the lump in his throat and say, “I lost friends in those buildings.”
On Sept. 11, 2001, Sava, an attorney, was in his law office in lower Manhattan when planes crashed into the World Trade Center. He and his colleagues rushed outside to see what was happening. They were four blocks away from the burning buildings.
“We were told, ‘You got to get out of here,’” Sava recalled as his voice lowered.
He and several others made their way to Midtown before the buildings crumbled.
In addition to working as a civilian lawyer, Sava was a JAG (Judge Advocate General’s Corps) in the U.S. Army Reserves at the time. “As soon as I got home that night, my unit was mobilized,” he said. “The next day, within 24 hours of when I saw the buildings burning, I was at Ground Zero. It happened that fast.”
The War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring Freedom began soon after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., and Sava volunteered to serve overseas. He was sent to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. “Terror cells were working in those areas,” Sava said. In the Horn of Africa, he was one of seven JAGs at the base, but over the course of a few weeks and some transfers, that number dwindled to just himself.
“That was the scariest thing I had ever experienced because of everything that was going on around me,” he said.
His job as a JAG meant interpreting the law of warfare, often with little time to spare. “If a commander needed to make a call to engage something, they
By Chad Osborne George
would almost always confer with a JAG. If the lawyer was wrong, the legal consequences would fall on that lawyer.
“That was the most pressure I’ve ever faced in my life,” Sava said. “It was also the most rewarding experience of my life.”
When he returned to the U.S., Sava began practicing law again, and “for the first six months it was the biggest letdown,” he recalled. “It felt like nonsense.”
It took some time, but Sava reclaimed his joy for practicing law. He finds joy in achieving success with his law firm, Port & Sava’s Commercial Litigation and Sports & Entertainment Groups.
There, Sava is a complex commercial trial attorney, often representing large banks, hedge funds and corporations in front of numerous trial and appellate courts in New York and the Northeast. Not long ago, Sava successfully argued a high-stakes case in the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.
That particular case presented its own brand of stress. “I lost my hair for a reason,” he joked, sitting in his New York office.
“You are being watched by your client, and you’re trying to argue the necessary points, and it becomes overwhelming. It doesn’t help that the arguments are webcast in real time, and you know everyone in the legal field is watching you,” he explained with rising tension in his voice.
But then, explaining the verdict, Sava began to breathe again.
“The case ended up being successful, and we changed an aspect of contract law.”
Sava also represents entertainment production companies, sports associations and professional athletes. The evidence of those relationships hangs on his office walls. There are signed jerseys, helmets and other paraphernalia of athletes he represents.
Sava became interested in law and politics as a Radford student through his interactions with history professor, Noel Eggleston.
“Everything I do as a lawyer started with Professor Eggleston,” said Sava, who secured a White House internship with the professor’s guidance.
Eggleston, who has a memorial scholarship at Radford named in his honor, “was one of those teachers who made an indelible mark that I have carried with me throughout my career,” Sava explained. “He gave me an appreciation for history, politics and the law and taught me how to be a critical thinker. He was one reason I became a lawyer and joined the military, which have led to so many rewarding experiences in my life.”
“The foundations and roots of my career,” Sava continued, “all started at Radford.”
Professor Noel Eggleston gave me an appreciation for history, politics and the law and taught me how to be a critical thinker."
George Sava ’91
A historic season on the links
The Radford women’s golf team made history in the spring by winning its first-ever Big South Conference Championship. The Highlanders defeated the top two seeds, No. 1 Charleston Southern and No. 2 High Point, in the tournament played at Fripp Island, South Carolina. The victory advanced Radford to the NCAA Charlottesville Regional, where they finished twelfth. Junior Macy Johnson of Salem, Virginia, was named Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women’s golf.
Big wins and big honors for softball
Radford’s softball team was a big hit in the Big South last spring. The Highlanders played to a 14-4 record in conference play and claimed their first conference regular season title since 2012. Radford softball achieved its success on the diamond under first-year head coach Kevin Fagan. Radford finished the 2025 season ranked No. 24 in the D1 Softball Mid-Major Rankings. Highlanders players and coaches received ample recognition from the Big South following the season. Fagan was named the conference’s Coach of the Year; Dakota Redmon was tabbed Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year; and Cassi Barbato was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year in softball.
Drivers of success
Men’s golfer Channing Blevins received the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year in his sport for his impressive work on and off the course. In the conference tournament, Bobby Dudeck paved the way for the Highlanders with an impressive third-place finish among all Big South men’s golfers, earning all-championship team and first team all-conference honors.
Sparkling on the diamond
The Highlanders baseball team returned to the postseason last spring for the first time since 2019, placing fourth in the Big South. The Highlanders earned notable wins over Virginia Tech, UNC Greensboro, USC Upstate and East Tennessee State University throughout the regular season. The team’s 9-2 win over Presbyterian College in the Big South tournament was its first postseason victory since 2018.
Running to the podium
Sienna Bailey won the 5,000-meter title to highlight the Highlanders’ women’s track and field program’s performance at the Big South Championship. Mia Farley, Kandace McIvor, Jeylah Hamrick and Danae Niles also secured record podium finishes, along with the 4x400 meter relay team of Claire Keefe, Jaslyne Robinson, Mattie Flores and Hamrick.
Good work, Mady
Mady Cheney was selected for the Big South Conference’s postseason awards list, receiving honorable mention for her strong season for the women’s lacrosse squad. Cheney was also an All-State NACDA Good Works Team nominee.
Chu builds staff with a ‘wealth of perspectives’
Soon after Zack Chu took the reins as head coach of the Radford men’s basketball team, he assembled a coaching staff that will establish the Highlanders as a competitive force in the Big South Conference and Division I hoops. Together, the group has more than 90 years of coaching experience in college basketball and the NBA.
Chu’s staff includes associate head coach Marcus Jenkins; assistant coaches Jordan Surenkamp and Josh Adel; assistant coach and director of recruiting Conor Dow; special assistant to the head coach David Watkins; aoperations specialists Chase Ridenour and Jack Field; and Charlie Anderson, general manager for both men's and women's basketball programs. Chu’s
staff will bring a modern, analytical approach to the Dedmon Center this year.
“The diversity in background amongst our coaching staff brings a wealth of perspectives and ideas to achieve the overall purpose of creating a distinct approach and a competitive advantage in the Big South,” Chu said. “We will work as hard as we can to serve our student-athletes in helping them to maximize their basketball potential both individually and collectively.”
Smart play
For the 13th consecutive season, Radford volleyball was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Academic team. The award celebrates collegiate volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale. Speaking of classroom success, Marley Krach of the Radford women’s soccer team netted the Big South Conference’s Christenberry Award for her outstanding academic career. The award is given to graduating male and female scholar-athletes who attain the highest GPA during their undergraduate collegiate careers. Softball star Cassi Barbato also received the Christenberry Award.
WRAP-UP Homecoming
Highlander spirit was alive and buzzing Oct. 9–11 at Radford University’s Homecoming. From the joyful cheers as alumni reclaimed “Chip,” our beloved campus fountain finally freed after decades behind a fence, to the Golden Reunion of the Class of 1975, Homecoming 2025 was a celebration that united seven decades of Highlander pride. Activities ranged from the Women of Radford Luncheon to Athletic Hall of Fame inductions, the Parade of Tartans at the Highlanders
Festival and meaningful volunteer service through Radford Gives Back. The weekend also celebrated our 2025 Alumni Award winners during the Volunteer Leadership Business Lunch, honoring the many ways Highlanders lead with purpose. Reunion hugs, new connections and shared memories filled the air as Highlanders of all generations came together to celebrate, reminisce and look ahead as one Radford family.
DONOR SOCIETIES DONOR SOCIETIES
THE RED BRICK SOCIETY name draws inspiration from the iconic red brick architecture that defines the Radford University campus. Just as each brick contributes to the foundation of the university, recurring gifts – no matter the size – provide consistent, reliable support that helps build a stronger future. This name honors the collective impact of loyal donors whose ongoing generosity shapes the Radford experience, brick by brick. This annual designation recognizes three or more consecutive years of giving and/or established monthly auto-recurring gifts.
RECOGNIZING LOYAL COMMITMENT THROUGH SUSTAINED ANNUAL GIVING.
THE NEW RIVER SOCIETY takes its name from the ancient and ever-flowing New River, which runs beside Radford University and has long symbolized resilience, renewal and continuity. Just as a river shapes the landscape around it, annual gifts of $1,000 or more have a transformative impact on the university’s people and programs. This name honors individuals whose support helps chart a bold and forward-moving course for Radford. This annual designation recognizes $1,000 or more in philanthropic giving during the prior fiscal year.
THE SOCIETY of 1910 is named in recognition of the year Radford University was founded. This society honors individuals who have made a planned gift, demonstrating their belief in the university’s long-term success as well as their desire to contribute to its future strength. Though their generosity will be realized after their lifetimes, these donors are making a profound statement: Radford’s mission matters. Their legacy is one of trust, vision and lasting impact. This is a perpetual designation bestowed annually for qualifying planned gifts documented in the prior fiscal year.
RECOGNIZING
Philanthropy is at the heart of Radford University’s story. Generations of Highlanders have chosen to give back, strengthening the university and transforming lives in ways that endure well beyond their time on campus. To honor this legacy and recognize the many forms of generosity that sustain Radford, the university has established the following donor societies to reflect the spirit of care, loyalty and vision. These societies celebrate the impact of alumni, parents, friends and partners whose support continues to shape Radford’s future.
TO LEARN MORE about philanthropically supporting Radford University, please contact us by emailing donor-relations@radford.edu or calling 540-831-7138.
THE MOFFETT CIRCLE is named in honor of M’Ledge Moffett, a pioneering figure in Radford University’s early history whose leadership helped shape the character and culture of the institution. This society celebrates those who have made a lasting impact through steadfast dedication and significant support. This designation is bestowed annually for cumulative lifetime leadership giving of $50,000-$99,999.99, with the opportunity to advance to the McConnell Circle.
THE McCONNELL CIRCLE honors John Preston McConnell, Radford University’s founding president. The McConnell Circle celebrates philanthropic leaders whose investments echo the transformative influence of its namesake – bold visionaries whose generosity strengthens Radford for generations to come. This is a permanent designation that is bestowed annually for cumulative lifetime transformational giving of $100,000 or more.
TARTAN FELLOWS represents the highest distinction in Radford University’s donor recognition program. These donors have achieved recognition in the McConnell Circle, recognition in the Society of 1910 and sustained 20 or more years of cumulative giving. Their unwavering commitment reflects not only deep loyalty but also a profound investment in Radford’s past, present and future. This is a significant and permanent designation that is bestowed annually and celebrated in perpetuity.
Class Notes
1970s
Margaret “Janey” Feher ’73 was elected to the office of VFW Auxiliary National Conductor at the VFW Convention in Columbus, Ohio, in August 2025.
Judi Pugh Greathouse ’75 retired in September 2024, concluding a career spanning 49 years with Frederick County Public Schools. She held various roles, including elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, supervisor of gifted services, supervisor of libraries, supervisor of EL and division MTSS coach. In retirement, she plans to continue teaching graduate-level education courses at Shenandoah University, serve on the Frederick County Education Foundation Board and serve on the Mountain Vista Academic-Year Governor’s School Foundation Board, while also spending more time with her family.
Eugenio Piñeiro Soler ’79 was appointed assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries.
Beth Moody ’79, M.S. ’86, served as a math teacher for Mercy Ships, a charitable organization with two floating hospitals that travels to poor countries to perform life-changing surgeries and train local people in medical care, in 2022 (Senegal) and 2024 (Sierra Leone).
1980s
Claire Burgess Miller ’81 was ordained a minister in the United Methodist Church in June 2025, following a fruitful career in human resource development. She is currently serving as the senior pastor at Washington Farm United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
Brian Udy ’86 was promoted to director of Boys Regional Academy South for Charlotte Independence Soccer Club. Udy was also inducted into the South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame in March 2025, becoming the first player from Woodstown High School to receive the honor. At Radford, Udy played on the men’s soccer team for four years and served as captain for three.
Helen Haynes Pack ’87 retired from the Town of Christiansburg Wastewater Facility after 35 years of service.
William Kenley ’87, chief executive officer of AnMed, was named the 2025 Chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association. In this role, he will lead efforts to facilitate statewide collaboration among the hospital community, improve patient care and access and develop the healthcare workforce to serve the state’s growing population.
Andrew Shotwell ’89 was promoted to executive vice president, chief technology and innovation officer at Bank of Botetourt. Previously, Shotwell served as the senior vice president, chief information officer. In his new role, he will oversee marketing, deposit and loan operations, facilities, information technology and information security. Shotwell is a lifetime Botetourt County resident who currently resides in Fincastle, Virginia, with his wife.
James D. “Jim” Moore ’89 was named chief of police for Bedford County, bringing with him over 35 years of experience in law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels.
Kennis Austin ’89 retired after 30 years with the Worcester County Schools in Maryland. Austin served as an educator, school administrator and student services specialist.
Kim Grosenbacher ’89 was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award by Humanities Texas. Grosenbacher is a social studies teacher at Samuel V. Champion High School.
Bobby Buchanan ’83 and several alumni from class years 1977 to 1985 met in Radford for a highly anticipated reunion in April 2025. Connected through the Department of Theatre and Cinema, the group of former actors and production crew members spent the weekend exploring new spaces on campus, including the set-design studio in the Artis Center. They also met with university staff and enjoyed Radford’s spring production of “Stop Kiss.”
1990s
Jay Kenslow ’91 was promoted to Hampton Roads Market President for Atlantic Union Bank.
Kevin Sowers ’92 was named associate vice president for business affairs at the University of Florida.
Neil Halvorson ’93, M.S. ’95, retired from a 20-year career in the District Attorney’s Office for the Macon Judicial Circuit (Bibb, Peach and Crawford counties, Georgia).
Rhonda Wright-Simmers ’93 is the principal of Grove Park and Northside Preschools in Danville, Virginia.
Kimberly Watts ’94 is the new assistant principal at Culpeper County High School.
Nancy Rosenberg England ’94 accepted a new position in July 2024 as associate professor of English at Tarrant County College in Texas.
Paul W. Nester ’95, president and chief executive officer of RGC Resources, Inc., is a 2025 Virginia Business C-Suite Awards recipient. These awards celebrate top corporate executives who demonstrate remarkable leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, company performance and community engagement.
Randall Helmstutler ’96 was named director of undergraduate programs for the College of Business at the University of Mary Washington. Helmstutler is also an associate professor of mathematics.
Amanda Darden ’98, M.S. ’00, vice president for student experience and quality assurance at Lander University, was named among the Women of Influence by GSA Business Report.
Farrah Vaughn ’98 joined the Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute – Wytheville team, specializing in cardiology.
Brian Chenault, M.S. ’95, has begun a new position as an instructor at the Amsterdam campus of the Dutch National Police Academy. The role requires knowledge of Dutch law, police procedure and psychological techniques such as de-escalation, demonstrating empathy and the Trauma-Informed Approach to trauma notifications. Chenault has resided in the Netherlands since 1995.
Jennifer Jones ’98 was appointed as the first chief marketing officer for RGP. Jones joined RGP in 2019 as part of the company’s acquisition of Veracity Consulting Group, LLC. In her new role, Jones will lead all strategic marketing initiatives.
Sandra Craft ’98 was recognized in The Roanoker magazine’s 20 Over 50 in 2025. Craft is a commercial loan manager at First Bank, Daleville.
April Clark Easton ’99, M.S. ’07, began a new position as supervisor of instruction for Botetourt County Public Schools.
Matthew Lafler ’99 joined Thalhimer’s Virginia Beach office as vice president, focusing on retail services.
2000s
Caroline Gaskins ’00, M.S. ’05, serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones, earned a Certified Exit Planning Advisor credential in February 2025.
Christy Johnson-Oliver ’00 joined the Southern Dominion Health System, Inc. team as a family nurse practitioner.
Shaun Sparks ’01 is the new principal at Rockbridge County High School.
Todd Meredith ’01, M.S. ’05, is the new city manager for the City of Radford, Virginia.
Mary McKay Renfroe ’02 was promoted to hearing office chief administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration.
Matthew Hundley ’04 joined Butler Snow LLP as an attorney.
Alicia Trent ’05 was promoted to associate university registrar at Wake Forest University.
Darren Guensch ’05 was named assistant women’s basketball coach at Virginia Tech in June 2025. Guensch, his wife Devon Bartok ’05 and their two children are excited to be back in Virginia.
Jenny Maugeri ’05, executive director for Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, was included by Women We Admire in the Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia for 2025.
Stephen McConnell ’05 was honored with the Val Lauder Award in Teaching, which recognizes a non-full-time faculty member for excellence in teaching. McConnell has been an instructor at the University of North Carolina since 2023, teaching digital storytelling and media ethics. He is also a faculty member at New York University.
Cory Underwood ’06 is the assistant principal at Henry E. Lackey High School in Charles County Public Schools.
Joseph Keller ’06 began a new role as a licensed land surveyor for Timmons Group.
Are you ready to plan your will or trust?
Radford University’s free Estate Planning Guide can help you successfully plan your estate and avoid accidental disinheritance. In addition, you can learn about ways to leave assets to Radford University that provide you and loved ones with current and future benefits with our free Guide to Gift Planning.
To learn more, visit our website or contact Rebekah LaPlante, director of gift planning, by emailing rlaplante@radford.edu or calling 540-831-5167.
Peter McCann ’07, M.S. ’08, was recognized as the 2025 Emergency Management Professional of the Year at the Virginia Emergency Management Symposium in Roanoke, Virginia. McCann has served as the director of emergency management at Radford University since 2019.
Bradley Benton Haga ’08 of Crockett, Virginia, is the newly appointed superintendent for Smyth County Public Schools. Most recently, he served as assistant superintendent of finance and operations for Wythe County Public Schools, and previously, as a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal for Smyth County Public Schools. Haga is married to his wife, Kelley, and they have three children: Carter, MaryEllen and Caxton.
Laura Wolff ’08 launched her own design firm in the Washington, D.C. metro area in July 2015. For the last five years, her firm has been one of Home & Design Magazine’s Top 100 designers in the area. In 2025, she was invited into the Marquis Who’s Who. She is now breaking into the world of keynote speaking and business coaching. Wolff is married with two children, ages 3 and 4.
Shep Roeper ’08, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Boundaries, was included in Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40: Class of 2024.
William Riddle ’09 and Tara Brown Riddle ’11 welcomed their third child, Ella, in September 2024.
2010s
Kristin Clark Kenley ’10 is the new digital marketing account manager at Technology Therapy Group.
Marlin Campbell, M.S. ’10, Ed.D. ’23, was named the superintendent for Giles County Public Schools. Campbell’s career in public education spans 19 years with service in Wythe County, Grayson County and Carroll County Public Schools.
Brittany Dellinger ’11 was promoted to HR business partner senior manager at Peraton.
Kate Stewart, M.S. ’11, is the new principal at Eastern Montgomery Elementary School.
Becky Hawke, M.S. ’12, was unanimously approved to be Wilmington, North Carolina’s new city manager. She previously served as town manager in Matthews, North Carolina.
Ellen Harvey, D.N.P. ’12, of Carilion Clinic, was selected as a 2025 American Academy of Nursing Fellow, to be inducted in October 2025. This distinction recognizes nurse leaders who make substantial contributions to the areas of health and healthcare.
Patricia Deale ’12 is the special education instructional coach for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.
Samantha Livesay ’12 was named executive director of the BlacksburgChristiansburg-Montgomery County Regional Tourism office in June 2025.
James Woods ’13, MBA ’15, was promoted to director of US SIM Operations at Trackman.
Kalem Graham ’14 is the new director of bands at Lincoln University of Missouri.
Joshua Eggleston ’15 is the new controller for Tuck Chiropractic in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Chelsea Stowe Curtis ’19 joined the faculty at the Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science and Technology as the research instructor for the Martinsville, Virginia site.
Marcus Burks ’19, fitness instructor at Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg, Virginia, earned dual certifications in Box ’N Burn from the Boxing Fitness Academy.
Tracy Jones ’19 was promoted to senior director of enrollment management and assistant registrar at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
2020s
Sophie Smith ’21 opened Hiss Off, a goth and Harajuku-inspired vintage clothing and décor store, in Richmond, Virginia.
Caroline Salvant ’22 accepted a new position as student employment coordinator at Randolph-Macon College.
Luke Williams ’23 is the new director of parks and recreation for Patrick County.
Jeanell Webb-Jones, MSN ’24, was appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to serve on the Virginia Board of Nursing. Webb-Jones has been a nurse at UVA Health System for 10 years and currently works as the HIV RN care coordinator for the Infectious Disease and Travelers Clinic.
Hannah Rorrer ’21 was appointed member of the Police Honor Guard for the Sherwood Police Department in Arkansas.
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce announced its 2025 Forty Under 40, which included Radford University alumni and employees:
Angie Marcolini ’15, business solutions manager, Town of Blacksburg, Virginia.
Caitlyn Scaggs ’07, M.S. ’23, founder, Connect 936, author of “Worth It & Wonderful.”
D.J. Preston, director of student recreation and wellness, Radford University.
Jenna Bareford ’20, deputy clerk II, Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Samantha Livesay ’12, executive director, Blacksburg-ChristiansburgMontgomery County Regional Tourism.
The Roanoker magazine introduced its 2025 40 Under 40, which represents the leaders, innovators and visionaries who are shaping the future of Roanoke Valley and beyond. Several Radford alumni were recognized:
Amanda Holcomb ’10, director of community engagement for the Council of Community Services.
Brooke Keen ’14, quality assurance coordinator, Wall Residences (Supported Living/In-Home Support Services, Western Region).
Caitlyn Scaggs ’07, M.S. ’23, founder, Connect 936, author of “Worth It & Wonderful.”
Danielle Johnson, M.S.W. ’18, school social worker, Roanoke City Public Schools.
Edward Crews, M.S. ’67, of Radford, Virginia, March 3, 2025.
Billie Radford Cline ’67 of Blacksburg, Virginia, April 22, 2025.
Nancy Rodeheaver ’67, M.S. ’68, of Naples, Florida, June 29, 2025.
Norma Adrienne Johnson Brown ’68, M.S. ’71, of Cary, North Carolina, March 20, 2025.
Sara Mathews Fisher ’68 of Richmond, Virginia, April 2, 2025.
Jill Lobach Graybeal, M.S. ’68, of Cary, North Carolina, June 22, 2025.
Anne Leighton Yeatts ’68 of Venice, Florida, July 1, 2025.
Brenda Faye Graham Johnson ’69 of Salem, Virginia, March 26, 2025.
Carol Blankenbeckler Eddy ’69 of Palmyra, Virginia, May 28, 2025.
Sharon A. Laverty ’69 of Dover, Delaware, July 17, 2025.
1970s
Mary Turnbull Vaughan Simmons ’70 of Burkeville, Virginia, June 6, 2025.
Deborah Wilson Lore ’70 of Dublin, Virginia, June 14, 2025.
Linda Hopkins ’71, M.S. ’73, of Roanoke, Virginia, and Isle of Palms, South Carolina, Feb. 9, 2025.
Charles Forrest McKay III, M.S. ’71, of Charlottesville, Virginia, April 9, 2025.
Linda Darlene Bell ’72 of Roanoke, Virginia, March 14, 2025.
Linda Sharon Ellis Coleman ’72, M.S. ’75, of Monroe, North Carolina, March 29, 2025.
Elizabeth Boothe Crumbley ’72, M.S. ’76, of Pulaski, Virginia, May 16, 2025.
Ann A. Holsinger ’72 of Luray, Virginia, July 10, 2025.
Brenda Mozelle Barnett Lawson ’72, M.S. ’75, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, July 13, 2025.
Gwendolyn Broce ’72 of Midlothian, Virginia, July 31, 2025.
Virginia Lou Graham Jones ’73, M.S. ’87, of Richmond, Virginia, March 18, 2025.
Carol Lynn Behn ’73 of Winchester, Virginia, May 18, 2025.
Weeta Jean Bell-Phillips ’73, M.S. ’74, of Shipman, Virginia, June 9, 2025.
Sharon Elizabeth James ’74 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, May 5, 2025.
Ravenna K. Pittman ’74 of Summerville, South Carolina, May 6, 2025.
Laura Marlene Casto ’74 of Oak Island, North Carolina, June 15, 2025.
Weida Darlene Oliver ’76 of Elliston, Virginia, March 12, 2025.
Amy Ruth Bryant Bolton ’76 of Boykins, Virginia, April 2, 2025.
Odell Berle Sheffey ’76, M.S. ’85, of Roanoke, Virginia, May 25, 2025.
Valerie Ann Diamond Wales, M.S. ’76, of Twinsburg, Ohio, May 29, 2025.
C. W. Wurzburger ’77 of Blacksburg, Virginia, June 2, 2025.
Diane G. Spangler ’78 of Afton, Virginia, Feb. 17, 2025.
Janet Page Jones DeBernard ’78 of Hartsville, South Carolina, March 2, 2025.
Ronald Wayne Gilmore, MBA ’78,of Radford, Virginia, March 23, 2025.
Paulette Dietz Kachilla ’78 of Alliance, Ohio, May 15, 2025.
1980s
Jane Lyons Hester Cecil ’80, M.S. ’82, of Bristol, Virginia, June 26, 2025.
David Michael Hillman, M.S. ’81, of Johnson City, Tennessee, May 5, 2025.
Barbara Kemp Russell, M.S. ’83, of Wilmington, North Carolina, March 14, 2025.
George Lynn Burris ’83 of Radford, Virginia, March 26, 2025.
Jane Toomey Eyler, M.S. ’84, of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, April 8, 2025.
Daniel Hempey ’85 of Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 1, 2025.
Howard Eugene Espravnik, M.S. ’86, of Gallatin, Tennessee, April 4, 2025.
Delores Bell Mick, M.S. ’86, of Christiansburg, Virginia, June 1, 2025.
Lisa Destabramlet ’86 of Saint Paul, Minnesota, June 18, 2025.
Christine Ann Grem ’88 of Seattle, Washington, April 13, 2025.
Connie Sue Leighton Cox ’88 of Bedford, Virginia, April 28, 2025.
Susan Marie Gallagher ’89 of Ashburn, Virginia, May 12, 2025.
Elizabeth Anne Robinson Grimaldi Schwalenberg ’89, M.S. ’90, of Sebring, Florida, July 25, 2025.
1990s
Brenda Sue Bailey, M.S. ’90, of Ewing, Virginia, Feb. 3, 2025.
Martha Louise Wilkins Crawley, M.S. ’91, of Martinsville, Virginia, April 6, 2025.
Jeremy E. Allen ’93 of Centennial, Colorado, March 4, 2025.
Suzanne S. DeBerry ’93 of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, March 26, 2025.
Geraldine June Nagle ’93 of Burlington, Vermont, April 13, 2025.
Robert P. Ribelin ’94 of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, March 10, 2025.
Joel Keith Stuart, M.S. ’95, of Pulaski, Virginia, Feb. 25, 2025.
Heather Hale Wright ’95 of Giles County, Virginia, May 1, 2025.
James Walter Christian ’96 of Christiansburg, Virginia, May 28, 2025.
Heather Marie Wasson ’98 of Gloucester, Virginia, May 15, 2025.
Deborah Lynn Kitts ’98, MBA ’09, of Summerville, South Carolina, May 30, 2025.
Colleen Marshall Giardina ’98 of Leesburg, Virginia, July 15, 2025.
Robert Landon Carter ’99 of Stephens City, Virginia, May 25, 2025.
2000s
Kristina Marie Meller, M.S. ’01, of Christiansburg, Virginia, Feb. 28, 2025.
Mechelle Raymar Hunt ’05 of Roanoke, Virginia, April 2, 2025.
John Thomas Brill ’07, M.S.W. ’09, of Herndon, Virginia, April 14, 2025.
2010s
Laura Patterson Lefkowitz ’12 of Blacksburg, Virginia, April 22, 2025.
Elisabet Minter ’12 of Ridgeway, Virginia, July 29, 2025.
Courtney Brammer Driver, M.S. ’16, of Salem, Virginia, June 6, 2025.
FACULTY/STAFF
Randy Lee Davis of Newbern, Virginia, Feb. 1, 2025.
George David Parish of Radford, Virginia, March 3, 2025.
Mark Steven Deisher of Radford, Virginia, March 15, 2025.
Olga V. Yerrick of Weeki Wachee, Florida, April 24, 2025.
Joyce Leonard Dalton of Pulaski, Virginia, June 28, 2025.
Marian Fuller Archer of Radford, Virginia, July 18, 2025.
Eva Annie Taylor Hutchison of Dublin, Virginia, July 24, 2025.
Support our Highlander men’s and women’s basketball teams at the 2026 Big South Tournament in Johnson City, Tennessee.
SAVE THE DATE MARCH 4-8, 2026
Dear Highlanders,
It is with immense excitement and deep appreciation that I write to you today as the newly appointed president of the Radford University Alumni Board. This opportunity is not only an honor but also a heartfelt responsibility – one that I am eager to tackle as we continue to strengthen the lifelong connection we all share with our alma mater. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my predecessor, Kevin Rogers ’87, whose immeasurable commitment to Radford University and the alumni community has set us on a path for success for years to come. I certainly have big shoes to fill.
As another academic year is underway and our campus shifts to the autumn colors unique to the Blue Ridge Mountains, I think back on how my time at Radford helped lay the foundation for the person I am today. From unforgettable classroom experiences with some of the best professors and mentors around to the incredible adventure of studying abroad and connecting with lifelong friends, every moment and person contributed to my growth and broadened my perspective. These adventures inspired me to stay involved, give back and connect with other Highlanders who’ve had their own transformative experiences.
Over the years, I’ve had the great privilege of meeting and working alongside so many incredible alumni. Some of the most important and influential people in my life came from this campus. Whether it was during alumni events, professional networking gatherings, volunteer opportunities or even casual conversations, the passion our alumni hold for not only our shared collegiate experience but also for their personal and professional endeavors has always reminded me of the powerful legacy of Radford University.
As the fall season progresses, I find myself reflecting with gratitude on all of you who have shared your time, stories and support for one another and for the university. The essence of Radford lives on because of your continued engagement, generosity and belief in what we can achieve collectively. Thank you for all that you do.
I can remember the day I moved into Muse Hall as a freshman, feeling that sense of excitement about a completely new venture, one that would change who I am for the rest of my life.
Looking ahead, I’m thrilled to serve you in this new role and feel that same excitement I did all those years ago. My goal is to ensure that every alumnus and alumna feels that same way. We will work together to foster meaningful connections, enhance opportunities for involvement and celebrate the unique journey each of us has taken since leaving campus.
To those of you I know personally, I challenge you to be a strong alumni presence in your communities, and I look forward to meeting even more of you in the years ahead. Let us continue building a future that honors Radford’s traditions while embracing its ever-growing potential.
Wishing you and your families a joyful, restful and gratitude-filled season.
Go Highlanders!
Landon Hinton ’13 President, Radford University Alumni Board
Highlighted Events
calendar.radford.edu
Dec. 2-3
Dec. 12
Dec. 13
Dec. 18
Dec. 21
Highlander Giving Day (online)
Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony
Undergraduate Winter Commencement
Tartantown Tailgate (Radford men's basketball at Willam & Mary), Williamsburg, Virginia
NRV Alumni Chapter Night (Radford men's basketball vs. VMI)
2026
Jan. 12
Jan. 15
Jan. 19
Jan. 24
Feb. 2-3
Feb.5
Feb. 5-6
Feb, 20
Feb. 29
March 4-8
March 10
March 27
April 6
April 6-10
May 1
May 2
June 30 2025
First day of spring semester classes
Radford Night at Washington Capitals, Washington, D.C.
