Class Notes

’60s

Fred and Juanita Greene Colley ’64 celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on August 24, 2022.

’70s

Bernadette Senna Douglas ’76 was honored by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives Association with the 2022 Executive of the Year Award. Recently retired from the Cleveland/ Bradley Chamber of Commerce after a 40-year career in the Chamber industry, Bernadette and her husband Rob Douglas ’78 reside in Cleveland, Tennessee. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Tom Schmidt ’77, M.S. ’78, has retired after more than 40 years as an industrial safety engineer in the commercial property and casualty industry and construction industry.

’80s

Mitzi Dorton, M.S. ’82, published a new book, “Chief Corn Tassel,” available through Finishing Line Press, Georgetown, Kentucky. This is a nonfiction historical narrative about the life and words of the Beloved Man, peace chief and great orator of the 18th Century Cherokees. She also has work in various literary journals and was a part of the anthology, “Rise” (Colorado Book Award, 2020).

Calling all members of the Class of 1973!

Start planning now to come back to campus during Homecoming 2023, Oct. 19-21, for a special celebration –your Golden Reunion. Reminisce with fellow classmates throughout the weekend and meet Radford University President Bret Danilowicz.

It’s not too early to let us know you’ll be here. We would love to have you join us as a volunteer for the reunion! Call the Office of Alumni Relations, toll-free 1-888-478-4723, or email alumni@radford.edu.

Gloucester County, Virginia welcomed Carol Steele ’84 as its new county administrator. Steele has served as one of the deputy county administrators and as the acting county administrator since April 2021.

Robert Chappell Jr. ’85 has written a new book titled, “Rock Painting Therapy: A Soldier’s Journey to Improved Mental Health.”

Kathy Didawick ’85 joined Strategic Elements as a strategic partner, bolstering the firm’s business partnerships and political networks in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. Previously, Didawick served as vice president of political and external affairs for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Didawick has also worked for three U.S. Senators.

Jan P. Monroe ’85 was honored as one of two recipients of the 2022 Darrel Tillar Mason Excellence in Advocacy Award by the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV). Monroe was recognized at the dLCV Midsummer Night’s Gala at The Cultural Arts Center in Glen Allen, Virginia. This award is given to individuals whose work advances independence, choice and self-determination for people with disabilities. Monroe is the founder and executive director of STEPVA, which provides sensorybased theater and arts programs for individuals with disabilities.

Lois Stewart ’87 has been inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (FAANA). Stewart is the founding director of the new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sun Belle Inc. announced that agriculture marketing expert Jennifer Sparks ’87 joined their leadership team as director of marketing and communications. Prior to joining the team, Sparks served as the vice president of marketing and communications for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

William Farrell ’88, President of Berglund Automotive Group in Roanoke, Virginia, has been appointed to the board of American National Bankshares Inc.

Sam Harber ’88 has been elected Chairman of the Committee on Automotive Rubber Specification (CARS), a segment of the International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Harber is a senior applications development scientist at ZEON Chemicals L.P.

Kelly Jarvis ’89 joined OneDigital, an insurance, financial services and human resources consulting advisory firm, as an employee benefits consultant.

Dana Stevens ’89 is the new principal of William Byrd Middle School. Stevens has worked for Roanoke County Public Schools in Virginia for 33 years.

’90s

Scott Arthur ’91 has been appointed senior director of government sales and marketing at SDSE Networks in Reston, Virginia. Formerly a managing partner at Diversified Outlook Group, LLC, for 11 years, Arthur has also held senior roles at Conseqta Technology, QOMPLX, Voyager Labs and Oracle.

D.A. Davidson & Co. announced the opening of a new wealth management office in Blacksburg, Virginia, welcoming a three-person team of professionals with extensive financial services experience, including Martha Thomas ’91. Thomas has been working with Creamer Wealth Management, an advisor with D.A. Davidson & Co., for 13 years.

“Leadership in the Trenches: Proven Success Strategies for Middle Managers to Thrive in a System They Didn't Create,” a new book by Karen Brueckmann Hauschild ’91, was published in July 2022.

Kevin Wheeler ’13 married Julie Simpson at Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane, Virginia, on June 19, 2021 with many Radford alumni in attendance.

Corinne Gostel ’92, M.A. ’94, is the new vice president of human resources at Core Specialty Insurance Holdings, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Matt Holloway ’93 has been named director of business development for Everglades Boats, a designer and builder of offshore fishing boats. Most recently, Holloway was senior key account manager for Navico, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics.

Steve P. Fifield, M.S. ’93, published two new books: “Everyone Shoots” and “For The Love Of Gold.”

Michigan-based Health Alliance Plan (HAP) named Merrill Hausenfluck ’94 senior vice president and CFO. Hausenfluck joined HAP from Envolve Pharmacy Solutions, part of managed care company Centene Corporation’s specialty services division, where

Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has announced the addition of public policy professional William H. Applegate ’90 to the firm’s Health Care Public Policy Group in Polsinelli’s Washington, D.C. office. Once an aide for the United States Senate, Applegate has honed his professional experience by assisting healthcare organizations and corporate clients in impacting and shaping the development of national and state health care public policy.

Realizing Inclusive Student Excellence

HIGHLANDERS RISE TOGETHER

In the spring of 2021, several teams from across campus began research and meetings to decide on a focus for Radford’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP demonstrates the university’s commitment to student learning and success and is one of three major components of Radford University’s reaffirmation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).*

Merrie Winfrey, J.D., instructional designer and learning architect in the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and Sarah Kennedy, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, worked with a team to submit the topic “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” to the QEP selection committee. Once this topic was selected, they began to lead the QEP development and wrote the document (with more than 40 Highlander collaborators) that went to SACSCOC in October 2022.

After months of conversation, focus groups and research, the QEP development team named the QEP, Realizing Inclusive Student Excellence (RISE) with the tagline, “Highlanders RISE Together.”

The QEP plan was inspired by the REALISE program that has been ongoing in the Artis College of Science and Technology since 2017. REALising Inclusive Science Excellence (REALISE) is a $1 million Howard Hughes Medical Institute funded program that provided faculty with inclusive pedagogy training for redesigning STEM courses. Curriculum reform included increased use of research in the classroom, incorporating active learning techniques, as well as faculty introspection and cultural awareness. The program also increased belongingness for our students through the peer mentoring program, REALISE Students. Fresh Fruit Fridays, de-stress events, STEM club fair, and Diversity in STEM series are all events that brought faculty and students together in the Artis College.

RISE has three main goals: students will successfully complete 100- and 200- level courses; students will experience a sense of academic belonging; and students will experience a sense of campus belonging.

These goals will be accomplished through two main components that are reminiscent of the REALISE program:

1. RISE Faculty Institutebeginning spring 2024: In each year of the five-year QEP, 20 faculty members who teach 100or 200-level required courses will learn to remove barriers to learning; engage with students, diversity, and differences; and foster academic belonging through inclusive and active learning pedagogies; and,

2. RISE Community Action Teams (R-CATs) – beginning fall 2023: groups of students and faculty members will examine disaggregated student success data and then collaborate to advance campus belonging within colleges, creating community through onetime and ongoing events.

The RISE QEP addresses several critical factors at Radford. It aligns with student success and enrollment growth goals in the university’s current strategic plan. Research for a 10-year period of grade data for 315 distinct 100and 200-level courses showed definitive gaps in grades achieved when sorted by race. The plan will increase student performance and belongingness of all students. And finally, research shows that with faculty development, inclusive and active forms of instruction will increase students’ sense of belonging and academic performance to close equity gaps.

Learn more about RISE at www.radford.edu/qep or contact Sarah Kennedy, co-chair of the QEP Development Committee, skennedy25@radford.edu.

*Every five years, Radford University must produce a compliance certification document, institutional summary form and QEP to be considered for reaffirmation with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC.)

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement, led by Jessica Stowell, works with faculty, staff and administrators to assess, report and utilize results of assessment for meaningful data-driven decisions for the university. All of this work funnels into the compliance certification document and the Institutional Summary Form.

He served as CFO. A former crosscountry runner at Radford University, Hausenfluck was the 1993 Big South individual champion, 1993 Big South Runner of the Year and a two-time allconference honoree.

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI), the trade association for the cleaning products supply chain, announced the appointment of Corey Brooks Pace ’94 as director of legal affairs.

Martinsville City Public School Superintendent Zebedee Talley Jr. ’94 was commemorated for his service at the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) annual conference in Roanoke, Virginia. Talley received a gavel and plaque for his service to VASS as president for the 2021-22 academic year.

Andrew Gostel ’94 is the new executive services and transportation leader at GE Aviation in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ruppert Landscape promoted Greg Franklin ’94 to vice president of fleet, facilities and safety. Franklin joined Ruppert Landscape in 2016 as director of fleet and facilities and took on oversight of the growing safety department in 2019.

Patrick Kannan ’94 is the new chief financial officer at AINS, the leading provider of low-code, adaptive case management software for government.

Brian Carroll ’95 was promoted from major to chief of the Arnold Police Department in Arnold, Missouri.

DNAnexus, Inc., leading provider of cloud-based genomic and biomedical data access and companion analysis software, announced the appointment of Stephen Nuckols ’95 as chief commercial officer.

The Roanoke County School Board announced the appointment of Jill Lane ’95 as the new principal at Mount Pleasant Elementary School. Lane comes from Garden City Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia, where she served as principal.

Eric L. Merrill ’95 has accepted a new position as lead data warehouse architect at California Correctional Health Care.

Capt. Todd Brewster ’96 is the new chief of police for the Blacksburg Police Department in Virginia.

Kimberly S. Smith, M.Ed. ’96, associate vice provost for student success initiatives in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, has been elected president of the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education. This organization advocates for the advancement of Black faculty, staff and students in the academic community.

Deborah Bell ’96 was hired as a criminal justice grant program specialist for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Christopher Ruggieri ’97, founder and president of Intrinsic Yacht & Ship based in Annapolis, Maryland, celebrated 21 years of the business as a leading yacht brokerage.

Dune Properties announced the addition of Brandy McMahon ’98 to its team of professional realtors in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

ESPN college football reporters Marty Smith ’98 and Holly Rowe joined host Chris Fowler during the 88th Heisman Trophy Ceremony presented by Nissan on December 10, 2022 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. They were also joined by ESPN analysts and former Heisman Trophy winners Robert Griffin III, Desmond Howard, Tim Tebow and Andre Ware.

Otto Varela ’98 joined Pinnacle Financial Partners as senior vice president – credit advisor, National Capital Region. Prior to this, Varela served as vice president – CRE commercial credit underwriter and portfolio manager at Truist.

National Bank, a subsidiary of National Bankshares, Inc., a Blacksburg-based financial holding company, announced the promotion of Lara E. Ramsey ’90, M.S. ’91, to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Ramsey has been with national bank since 1996, most recently serving as senior vice president of administration. She graduated from Radford University with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and economics and a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology. She is also a graduate of the Virginia Bankers Association’s School of Bank Management, the American Bankers Association’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking and The New River Valley Leadership program. Ramsey is also a certified senior professional in human resources.

EAB hired Holly Yeatts Griles ’98 as account manager, fundraising and development. Griles comes to EAB from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where she served as consumer marketing manager and planning and production manager.

Prince William County Service Authority appointed Sandra Hardeman ’98 as the organization’s new chief people and talent officer. The Service Authority provides drinking water and wastewater services to homes and businesses in Prince William County. Prior to taking on this role, Hardeman served as the director of human resources for Brailsford and Dunlavey.

GIFTS YOU CAN AFFORD

GOOD NEWS! You can support Radford University today while preserving your assets for retirement and providing for your family.

Gifts You Can Give Now:

• Gifts from a Will or Trust

• Beneficiary Designations

• Life Insurance

• Appreciated Securities

Laura Zebosky ’98 was appointed by the Roanoke County School Board as an assistant principal at Glenvar Elementary School. Prior to this, Zebosky was a teacher at Green Valley Elementary School.

’00s

Tabitha Maggard Atkinson ’02 and Steven Atkinson ’04 welcomed their son Cooper Kyle Atkinson on Aug. 14, 2022.

Kwabena Osei-Sarpong ’05, founder and CEO of RIFE International, was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to join the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) for a two-year term. Osei-Sarpong was named Radford University’s Outstanding Alumnus in 2021.

Teresa Nicely, M.S. ’06, returned to Bonsack Elementary as a special education teacher who will be collaborating with first and third grade teachers. Nicely has taught at William Byrd Middle School for the past seven years.

The Roanoke County School Board Valerie Close ’06 as the new principal at Mountain View Elementary School. Most recently, Close served as the assistant principal at Green Valley Elementary School.

Scott Cash ’06, M.S. ’09, was named Fort Defiance High School’s 202122 Teacher of the Year by Augusta County Public Schools. Cash serves the exceptional learners program. In addition to his leadership and sponsorship roles at Fort Defiance, he also serves as the golf coach and coordinates the annual Thanksgiving Day Project, which brings Augusta County high school communities together to deliver meals locally.

Sandra Clement, M.S. ’07, has been hired as the new principal of Pilot Mountain Elementary School in North Carolina. Clement joins Surry County Schools from Patrick County Public Schools in Virginia, where she had 32 years of experience as an educator.

Vanessa Capehart ’07 was named membership account executive with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Greene County Public Schools has announced Donna Payne, M.S. ’07, as the new director of teaching and learning for the school division. For the past four years, Payne has served as principal at Ruckersville Elementary School. Prior to that, she served as assistant principal for Nathanael Greene Elementary School and Dublin Elementary School.

Aaron “Chase” Davidson ’07 has been selected as the new athletic director for James River High School. Previously Davidson served as athletic director for Bath County High School.

Caitlyn Scaggs ’07 launched her first book, “Worth It and Wonderful: Inspiration for Christian Women to Live Bravely and Boldly,” on Amazon in January 2023. Scaggs is a lifestyle blogger and currently serves as the executive manager for New Hope Girls.

The Alleghany Highlands School Board appointed Karen Staunton, M.S. ’07, M.S. ’13, as principal of Covington Middle School.

International law firm Perkins Coie announced that Betselot Zeleke ’07 was promoted from counsel to partner in its partner class of 2023. Zeleke is a member of the investment management practice.

Patrick Beggs ’08 joined ConnectWise as chief information security officer. Prior to this, Beggs served as the global head of cybersecurity operations at Cognizant Technology.

Katie Wishneff ’08 joined William Means Real Estate in Charleston, South Carolina as a realtor of distinction. Wishneff ranks among the top 2% of realtors in Charleston.

Michael McBride, M.S. ’09, was promoted to dean of student services and enrollment management at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon. McBridge and wife Maria have three daughters: Madeline, Merida and Magnolia.

Conor Brandquist ’09 was promoted from vice president to senior vice president, project executive at Clune Construction Company, a national, employee-owned general contractor. Brandquist played a major role in developing some of Clune’s largest national accounts. He is affiliated with several organizations, including DCBIA, Washington Building Congress and Kids Enjoy Exercise Now.

’10s

Andrew T. Pruett ’10 married Nora L. McFaddin ’15 on March 26, 2022 at The Woodland Place in Vinton, Virginia. Nora was also named annual giving manager of Good Samaritan Hospice, a nonprofit serving the Roanoke and New River Valley.

James McCune ’10 is the new vice president of acquisitions and development for Ripley Heatwole Company. Previously, McCune served as development manager for Breeden Construction.

Farm Credit of the Virginias welcomed Nathan Lantor ’10 to its South Boston branch as a loan officer. Previously, Lantor was a high school history teacher and alternative education director with Halifax County Public Schools. He currently serves as an assistant basketball coach at Halifax County High School and runs children’s basketball camps during the summer.

Selvedge Brewing in Charlottesville, Virginia, welcomed Josh Skinner ’10 as its new head brewer. Skinner came to Selvedge from Champion Brewing, where he served as head brewer and director of brewing operations.

The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, a Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) hockey team, welcomed Trevor McKinley ’10 as its new game operations and events manager. Prior to this new role, McKinley was a freelance graphic designer and manager at Fork in the Market.

Trey Kovacs ’11 was appointed a professional staff member on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. Prior to joining the House staff, Kovacs was a senior campaign consultant to RWP Labor and served the Trump administration as a special assistant in the Office of LaborManagement Standards.

Josh O’Dell ’12 conducted a 90-person choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June 2022 as part of the 39th Anniversary Season of MidAmerica Productions. The choir included singers from the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir, the Metropolitan Opera and the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism in Covington, Virginia. Taylor previously served the chamber as the special projects and marketing coordinator.

Kevin Wheeler ’13 married Julie Simpson at Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane, Virginia on June 19, 2021 with many Radford alumni in attendance.

Hilton Willoughby ’13 was appointed director of food and beverage at Hyatt Place Chelsea in New York.

Brittany Mitchell ’13 joined East Tennessee State University as a student life coordinator for the Honors College. Prior to this, Mitchell was a K-12 teacher in the Unicoi County School System in Erwin, Tennessee.

New River Community College in Virginia welcomed Kasey CantrellMcCowan, M.S. ’13, as an instructor of mathematics. Previously, McCowan taught at Buchanan County Public Schools, Piedmont Community College in North Carolina and Wythe County Public Schools.

Becky Hawke, M.S. ’12, was promoted from assistant town manager to town manager of Matthews, North Carolina.

Josh O’Dell ’12 conducted a 90-person choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June 2022 as part of the 39th Anniversary Season of MidAmerica Productions. The choir included singers from the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir, the Metropolitan Opera and the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

Former Radford University volleyball player Yacine Meyer ’12 is the new athletic director for Seabury Hall, a private college preparatory school for middle and high school students located on the island of Maui in Hawaii. A Seabury Hall alumna, Meyer was a four-sport standout.

Andrew Johnson ’12 is the new band director at Liberal High School in Kansas. A former student at Liberal High School, Johnson has also served as the school’s bowling coach since 2015.

Donnie Secreast ’12 was selected as a U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Fellowship award winner by the Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School. These fellowships are awarded to outstanding current doctoral students whose excellence in both research and teaching exemplify the meaning of scholarship and mentorship in the highest sense.

Leanna Rippey ’13, M.A. ’15, was appointed by the Roanoke County School Board as an assistant principal at Northside High School. Rippey comes to Roanoke County from a teaching position in Botetourt County.

Josh Taylor ’13 is the new director of marketing and special projects for

In her eighth year of teaching at St. Mary’s Ryken, Stephanie Bolin ’14 was named the 2022 Archdiocese of Washington Veteran Teacher of the Year. Bolin leads the English department.

Afton Jamerson ’14, trauma program manager at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, was selected by the Delta Zeta Sorority as a 2022 recipient of the 35 Under 35 award. This award highlights Delta Zeta alumnae who are outstanding young professionals that have achieved success by making a significant impact in their industry.

Andrew Keen ’14 has been hired as the new finance director for the Town of Vinton in Virginia. Keen comes to the Town of Vinton from Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, where he served as the budget and finance manager.

Lyle Moore ’11 was added to the management team at Elliott Electric Inc. in South Boston and Danville, Virginia.

Carrie Kessler ’14 is the new senior financial analyst for the Town of Vinton, Virginia. Previously, Kessler served as accounting assistant for the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline.

ValleyStar Credit Union announced Mendy S. Shaffer, MBA ’14, as its chief financial officer. Shaffer joined the ValleyStar team in 2018 as the vice president of accounting and recently served as the interim chief financial officer.

Callie Ivanov ’14 is the new PEAP teacher at Bonsack Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia. This is an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Pre-K classroom for students with autism. Ivanov is currently working toward her master’s degree in early childhood special education.

Vince Wyatt ’14 was named the new athletic director at Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge, Virginia. Wyatt was a standout

member of the men’s track and field team at Radford University, where he also began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach.

Katelyn Bailey ’15 is the new director of tourism for Maysville, Kentucky.

Trenton Miller ’15 joined Interstate Engineering’s Spearfish, South Dakota, office as a survey technician.

Amy Woods ’15 has been hired as the new chief nursing officer at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. Most recently, Woods served as the chief nursing officer at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Christina Craig ’15 married Patrick Harvey in Glen Allen, Virginia on July 23, 2022.

Keela Dooley Marshall ’15 is the new executive director of the Floyd Center for the Arts in Virginia.

Kevin Cox ’16 has been named the new head varsity boys basketball coach at Christiansburg High School in Christiansburg, Virginia. Cox previously served as the assistant varsity boys basketball coach and head junior varsity boys basketball coach at Christiansburg High School and as the assistant varsity boys basketball coach at Floyd County High School.

Sydney Moss Walters ’16 is the new executive director for the Lancaster by the Bay Chamber of Commerce in Kilmarnock, Virginia.

Ben Webster ’16 is the new deputy director of emergency management for Charleston County in South Carolina. Webster previously served as the regional emergency manager for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

Jordan Eagle ’16, an astrophysics graduate student at Clemson University, has spent the last two years at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on a Chandra X-ray Center pre-doctoral fellowship. Eagle is completing her Ph.D. thesis on pulsar wind nebulae, which are descendants of massive stellar explosions, and the role they play in creating cosmic rays. After receiving her Ph.D. from Clemson

Michael McBride, M.S. ’09, was promoted to dean of student services and enrollment management at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon. McBridge and wife Maria have three daughters: Madeline, Merida and Magnolia. in Aug. 2022, Eagle continues her studies at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a NASA post-doctoral fellow.

F&M Bank welcomed Ben Thompson ’16 to his new role as a commercial relationship manager. Thompson joined F&M Bank most recently from the National Bank of Blacksburg.

Sara Cooper ’16 married Kevin Goldman ’15 on Oct. 17, 2020, at Rixey Manor in Rixeyville, Virginia. The reception, held on Sept. 11, 2021, was attended by many Radford alumni. Sara has also accepted a new position as library technician at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

The Waynesboro School Board appointed Ryan McLaughlin ’16 as one of the assistant principals of Kate Collins Middle School in Waynesboro, Virginia. McLaughlin has served as a special educator at Kate Collins Middle School for the past five years. He has been also been an assistant coach for the Waynesboro High School varsity football team.

Lauren Cox ’17 has been promoted to head athletic trainer at Ferrum College. Cox initially joined the Ferrum sports medicine staff in August 2019 as assistant athletic trainer and was promoted to associate athletic trainer in August 2021.

Iván Thirion ’18 was awarded the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s Fellowship Program for the 2022–2023 academic year. The foundation awards fellowships to graduate students in pursuit of a career in professional advocacy through government relations and lobbying. Thirion is currently pursuing his master’s degree in security studies at the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Nick Mayhugh ’18, who was recently nominated for two ESPY Awards after a breakout performance at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, was one of more than 600 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes invited to the White House by President Joe Biden to celebrate their accomplishments in Tokyo and Beijing.

Emily Jenkins ’19 was named a Maryland Legal Services Corporation Housing Fellow at Mid-Shore Pro Bono, where the third-year University of Baltimore School of Law student works directly with staff attorneys to handle a variety of landlord and tenant matters.

Choreographer Fiona Scruggs ’19 announced that she will present her evening-length performance of “Chiaroscuro” at Chesterwood in August 2022. The performance will be danced by members of Qualia Dance Collective, the New England-based dance company founded by Scruggs.

She is currently a teaching artist fellow through Massachusetts Cultural Council Creative Youth Development program and is an American Ballet Theatre certified teacher. Scruggs is also a teaching artist at Berkshire Pulse, the writer and digital content producer at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and a contributing writer for The Berkshire Edge.

Jessica McPeak ’19 became engaged to Nathan Burton in April 2022. She also accepted a new role as athletic trainer at Luray High School in Luray, Virginia.

Amy Christian, M.S. ’19, has been appointed assistant principal for Kate Collins Middle School in Waynesboro, Virginia.

’20s

Amherst County, Virginia announced the hiring of Bradley Beam ’21 as its new director of public safety. Beam previously served as a battalion chief of the Williamsburg Fire Department.

Former Radford University volleyball player Jordan Coomes ’21 has joined Arkansas State University as an assistant coach.

Nathan Parker Rowland ’21 joined the University of Tennessee Medical Center as a registered nurse.

Anna Bui ’21 is teaching second grade special education at W.E. Cundiff Elementary School in Vinton, Virginia. This will be her second year as a special education teacher.

Storm Mace ’22 is the new head varsity baseball coach at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in Washington, D.C. Mace was a member of the baseball team during his time at Radford University.

To submit a class note, please visit www.radford.edu/alumniupdate or call 1-888-4RU-GRAD Photographs may be submitted as .jpg files with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. If you submitted a class note and it does not appear in this issue, please look for it in the next magazine.

IN MEMORIAM

’40s

Anne R. Wallace ’45 of Pulaski, Virginia, Oct. 29, 2022.

Elisabeth C. Collins ’46 of Scottsboro, Alabama, March 29, 2022.

Garna C. Williams ’53 of Gainesville, Florida, Sept. 27, 2022.

Vida J. Brasse ’54 of Arlington, Virginia, Sept. 4, 2022.

Mildred K. Baird ’55 of Wytheville, Virginia, Nov. 28, 2022.

Joan F. Beamer ’55 of Columbia, South Carolina, Sept. 6, 2022.

Virgie W. Stone ’55 of Christiansburg, Virginia, April 16, 2022.

Phyllis J. Nelson ’55 of Christiansburg, Virginia, April 25, 2022.

Anne Wolfenden ’57 of White Stone, Virginia, July 4, 2022.

Katherine V. Games ’61 of Campbellsville, Kentucky, Oct. 11, 2022.

Patricia E. King ’61, M.S. ’72, of Lewisburg, West Virginia, July 22, 2022.

Ruth A. Arington ’61, M.S. ’73, of Glade Spring, Virginia, March 13, 2022.

Carol L. Shotton ’61 of Suffolk, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2022.

Mary S. Tolley ’61 of Radford, Virginia, Nov. 20, 2022.

Carol J. Fournier ’62 of Warren, Rhode Island, April 19, 2022.

Mava S. Vass ’47 of Hillsville, Virginia, Dec. 4, 2022.

Nina K. Bowling ’48 of Richlands, Virginia, May 10, 2022.

Martha I. Green ’48 of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Sept. 1, 2022.

Emily Reed ’48 of Stuart, Virginia, Aug. 29, 2022.

’50s

Freeda H. Harman ’50 of Halifax, Virginia, June 7, 2022.

Nancy E. James ’50 of Duncanville, Texas, Aug. 5, 2022.

Martha J. Browning ’51 of Fincastle, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2022.

Elizabeth Beamer ’52 of Christiansburg, Virginia, May 13, 2022.

Sally L. Fitzhugh ’52 of Stafford, Virginia, Nov. 28, 2022.

Nancy I. Nixon ’58 of Christiansburg, Virginia, March 3, 2022.

Martha J. Allen ’59 of Powells Point, North Carolina, Dec. 12, 2022.

Barbara H. Comer ’59 of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, June 4, 2022.

Oakie S. Singletary ‘59 of Milton, Pennsylvania, June 9, 2022.

Connie M. Dingus ’59 of Wise, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2022.

Carolyn J. Witten ’59 of Dublin, Virginia, Nov. 11, 2022.

’60s

Patricia A. Glenn ’60 of Elkton, Virginia, June 9, 2022.

Nancy Rohrbaugh ’60 of Canton, Georgia, June 26, 2022.

Wilma J. Shay ’60 of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, Sept. 28, 2022.

Rebecca L. Shumate ’60 of Waynesboro, Virginia, Oct. 6, 2022.

Eleanor G. Kensinger, M.A. ’62, of Bluefield, West Virginia, July 4, 2022.

Barbara A. White ’63 of Bassett, Virginia, May 25, 2022.

Paula Ward ’63 of Roanoke, Virginia, July 28, 2022.

Phyllis C. Barnes ’64 of Salem, Virginia, Aug. 17, 2022.

Richard A. Giesen, M.S. ’65, of Ferrum, Virginia, April 5, 2022.

Diana G. Haver ’65 of North Chesterfield, Virginia, Nov. 14, 2022.

Sylvia M. Lloyd ’65, M.S. ’91, of Radford, Virginia, May 11, 2022.

Ann L. Cook, M.S. ’66, of Rocky Mount, Virginia, July 21, 2022.

Orelia E. Dann ’66 of Dexter, Michigan, Sept. 17, 2022.

Doris E. Dawson ’66 of Pulaski, Virginia, Nov. 19, 2022.

Mary C. Perhac ’66 of Morristown, Tennessee, June 18, 2022.

Donald L. Brookman, M.S. ’67, of Dublin, Virginia, Oct. 19, 2022.

Ann W. Roberts ’67 of Elon, North Carolina, Nov. 25, 2022.

Phyllis Thompson ’67, M.S. ’69, of Ripplemead, Virginia, July 28, 2022.

Charlan E. Motes ’68 of Woodbridge, Virginia, May 8, 2022.

Susan B. Perry ’68 of Nederland, Colorado, Oct. 28, 2022.

Jane K. Blankenship ’69 of Martinsville, Virginia, Nov. 20, 2022.

Carolyn E. Trimmer ’69 of Mechanicsville, Virginia, July 12, 2022.

Donald L. Stinnett, M.S. ’69, of Henrico, Virginia, March 13, 2022.

Jennifer S. Kirby McCarthy ’69, M.S. ’72, of Pulaski, Virginia, Nov. 30, 2022.

Carol S. Tate, ’69, M.S. ’73, of Salem, Virginia, June 14, 2022.

’70s

Suzanne Ashford ’70 of Roanoke, Virginia, July 1, 2022.

Norma J. Graham ’70 of Christiansburg, Virginia, Oct. 24, 2022.

Martha B. Wilson ’70 of Danville, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2022.

Andrea G. Miller ’71 of Staunton, Virginia, Oct. 27, 2022.

Betty Anderson’72 of Henrico, Virginia, March 1, 2022.

Sue A. Bopp ’72 of Chester, Virginia, April 6, 2022.

Theodore N. Ballard, M.S. ’72, of Peterstown, West Virginia, March 27, 2022.

Nancy J. Bruce ’72 of Kingsport, Tennessee, Sept. 26, 2022.

Charlene A. Curtis ’76, a standard-setter for Radford University and a trailblazer in women’s sports, passed away on Aug. 18, 2022.

A Roanoke native, Curtis enrolled at Radford College in 1972, becoming the school’s first Black student-athlete and joining the program in its second varsity season, before athletic scholarships were available. After scoring a record-setting 1,043 career points and earning a bachelor’s degree in music, Curtis returned to her alma mater as head coach in 1984. Curtis led now-Radford University and its newly-elevated Division I program to its first three Big South championships and a national postseason appearance in the 1989 WNIT. With victories in 70 percent of her games (121-53 record), Curtis is the winningest coach in Radford women’s basketball history.

Curtis moved on to head coaching positions at Temple (1990-95) and Wake Forest (1997-2004), becoming the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first Black head coach. She was also part of coaching staffs at the University of Connecticut, Team USA and in the WNBA. Following her coaching career, Curtis worked as a television broadcaster and as the ACC’s supervisor of officials, retiring in 2019.

Curtis twice served her alma mater on the Board of Visitors, first in 1979 and again in 2021. Among her numerous accolades, Radford named its women’s basketball coaches’ suite for Curtis in February of 2022.

Olivia G. Bundy ’73 of Abingdon, Virginia, Nov. 8, 2022.

Rebecca J. Carver ’73 of Fredericksburg, Virginia, July 6, 2022.

Barbara A. Patterson ’73, M.S. ’82, of Pulaski, Virginia, Nov. 8, 2022.

Deborah S. Paul ’73 of Midlothian, Virginia, Oct. 1, 2022.

Kathryne L. Slavin ’74, M.S. ’77, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, Nov. 22, 2022.

Sandra T. Tolar, M.S. ’74, of Southport, North Carolina, May 29, 2022.

Doris A. Bordwine ’75 of Saltville, Virginia, March 9, 2022.

Jacquelyn K. Brownell ’75 of Purcellville, Virginia, March 22, 2022.

Barbara S. Edwards ’75 of Woodlawn, Virginia, Nov. 6, 2022.

Charlene M. Keys ’75 of Radford, Virginia, June 24, 2022.

Violet R. Nelson ’75 of Collinsville, Virginia, Oct. 10, 2022.

Harold A. Reedy ’75 of Roanoke, Virginia, June 25, 2022.

Ann C. Patterson, M.S. ’75, of Narrows, Virginia, April 15, 2022.

Charlene A. Curtis ’76 of Kernersville, North Carolina, Aug. 18, 2022.

Susan Whealler Johnston, Ph.D., passed away on Aug. 12, 2022. She served on the Radford University Board of Visitors for eight years, beginning in 2014. Johnston chaired the search committee that found Radford’s eighth president, Bret Danilowicz, Ph.D., and she was featured in the previous issue of The Magazine of Radford University. As president and CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), Johnston made it a priority to remind educational leaders that their mission should always be focused on their students, and she extended that philosophy into the training, guidance, tools and collaboration provided by the organization. NACUBO’s members include nearly 2,000 colleges and universities and approximately 40,000 individuals working withing higher education’s business and finance offices. In her roles with the Board of Visitors and NACUBO, she always focused on keeping students at the core.

L. R. LaBrie ’77 of Radford, Virginia, Feb. 16, 2022.

Diana L. Johnson ’77 of Pearisburg, Virginia, March 9, 2022.

Elizabeth S. Law, M.S. ’77, of Bluefield, West Virginia, June 22, 2022.

William H. Wright ’78 of Radford, Virginia, Aug. 8, 2022

Delores M. Boehm, M.S. ’78, of Marion, Virginia, Aug. 26, 2022.

Linda H. Little, M.S. ’79, of Boones Mill, Virginia, June 5, 2022.

Harriet S. Beavers, M.S. ’79, of Tazewell, Virginia, July 11, 2022.

Victor D. Wright, M.S. ’79, of Reidsville, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 2022.

’80s

Susan G. Ali-Clark, M.S. ’80, of Pembroke, Virginia, Aug. 28, 2022.

Emily L. Wiley, M.S. ’80, of Wimberley, Texas, Oct. 9, 2022.

David L. Jessup ’80 of Claudville, Virginia, Oct. 10, 2022.

Dee A. Lindsey ’80, M.S. ’08, of Pulaski, Virginia, Oct. 17, 2022.

Chuck Taylor passed away on Sept. 21, 2022. Taylor was Radford’s first athletic director and men’s basketball coach. He served as athletic director from 1974-96 and led Radford on a remarkable journey from a six-sport unaffiliated smallcollege program to Division I athletics. He led Radford’s move to Division I status in 1984 and helped establish the Big South Conference, ensuring Radford’s entrance as a founding member. Seven different athletic teams achieved national rankings during his tenure. Taylor also chaired several key committees in the league, including budgets and awards. The former men’s basketball coach helped shape the fledgling conference’s basketball programs, including ensuring Radford’s teams were successful, with women’s basketball winning nine of the first 10 Big South titles and men’s basketball posting 20 winning seasons in his 22 years.

Daniel W. DeVilbiss, M.A. ’80, of Roanoke, Virginia, Nov. 2, 2022.

Suzanne M. Montgomery ’80 of Lynchburg, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2022.

Ann Atway ’81, M.S. ’95, of Dublin, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2022.

James A. Deck ’81 of Roanoke, Virginia, Sept. 30, 2022.

Cecelia L. Norwood ’82 of Decatur, Georgia, Feb. 24, 2022.

Carless E. Craighead ’82 of Goodview, Virginia, Aug. 25, 2022.

Peter G. Frizzell, M.S. ’82, of Johnson City, Tennessee, March 16, 2022.

John R. Carmine ’84 of Hayes, Virginia, March 3, 2022.

David W. Zickafoose ’84 of Fairfax Station, Virginia, March 20, 2022.

Harrison P. Dolan ’84 of Severna Park, Maryland, June 22, 2022.

Cheryl A. Newton ’86 of Midlothian, Virginia, April 12, 2022.

Dean T. Lake ’87 of Leesburg, Virginia, April 30, 2022.

William M. Jones ’87 of Washington, D.C., Nov. 22, 2021.

Elaine S. King, M.S. ’89, of Salem, Virginia, Nov. 17, 2022.

’ 90s

Kimberly A. Atkinson ’90 of Windsor, Virginia, Dec. 15, 2022.

Jackie R. Sowers ’91 of Fredericksburg, Virginia, July 24, 2022.

Raymond C. Farr ’92 of Toano, Virginia, March 23, 2022.

Stephen A. Barber ’92 of Salem, Virginia, March 24, 2022.

William S. Gotchey, M.S. ’92, of Greeley, Colorado, May 13, 2022.

Jeannine L. Calhoun-Zearfoss ’93 of Salem, Virginia, Nov. 13, 2022.

Joseph B. Wray ’93 of Rocky Mount, Virginia, March 4, 2022.

Holly E. Bailess ’93 of Gretna, Virginia, March 25, 2022.

Gregory J. Hale ’94 of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, June 21, 2022.

Mark A. Early, M.S. ’94, of Roanoke, Virginia, May 21, 2022.

Shaney L. Howard ’96 of Eugene, Oregon, Sept. 30, 2022.

Leigh Faulconer, M.S.W. ’98, of Radford, Virginia, Oct. 25, 2021.

’00s

Alicia A. Monahan ’04 of Midlothian, Virginia, June 25, 2022.

Marcus T. Holmes ’04 of Herndon, Virginia, Aug. 14, 2022.

Vicky T. Sands ’06 of Dublin, Virginia, June 2, 2022.

Adam T. Roush ’06 of Arlington, Virginia, July 28, 2022.

Brian S. McElraft ’08 of Imperial, Missouri, July 23, 2022.

’10s

Paul J. Drakulich ’12 of Richmond, Virginia, April 18, 2022.

Justin E. Bollinger ’14 of Poquoson, Virginia, Nov. 13, 2022.

Nicholas P. McGuiness ’15 of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, July 19, 2022.

Joshua Amodeo ’18 of Blacksburg, Virginia, Aug. 26, 2022.

RETIRED/FORMER FACULTY/STAFF

Samuel J. Zeakes of Radford, Virginia, June 1, 2022.

Shairan G. Araiza of Check, Virginia, May 10, 2022.

Ellen Dehaven of Hardy, Virginia, Aug. 1, 2022.

Mildred A. Hopkins of Roanoke, Virginia, March 19, 2022.

Kelley P. Bonds of Hiwassee, Virginia, March 21, 2022.

Harold W. Mann of Centreville, Virginia, April 5, 2022.

Stephen G. Fawthrop of Floyd, Virginia, May 10, 2022.

Judith F. Breen of Bunnell, Florida, May 20, 2022.

Donna L. Walker-Johnston of Radford, Virginia, June 7, 2022.

Deborah F. Lucas of Radford, Virginia, June 29, 2022.

Kay K. Jordan of Radford, Virginia, July 1, 2022.

Mary S. Gilmore of Radford, Virginia, July 16, 2022.

Eulah S. Price of Roanoke, Virginia, Aug. 8, 2022.

Susan W. Johnston of Berryville, Virginia, Aug. 12, 2022.

Helen C. Flack of Radford, Virginia, Sept. 15, 2022.

Leland K. Larimore of Webb City, Missouri, Sept. 25, 2022.

Garth N. Montgomery of Blacksburg, Virginia, Oct. 12, 2022.

Karen L. Lowe of Inverness, Florida, Oct. 16, 2022.

James D. Hatcher of Indian Valley, Virginia, Oct. 24, 2022.

Margaret M. Pugh of Radford, Virginia, Nov. 10, 2022.

STUDENTS/ NON-DEGREED

Campbell G. Pitzer of Martinsville, Virginia, May 14, 2022.

Paulette A. Wright of Claudville, Virginia, Dec. 21, 2022.

Elizabeth L. Girone of Midlothian, Virginia, Sept. 23, 2022.