J. Eddie Ellis ’86, Bradley, Illinois, published his first children’s book, “Good Boy, Achilles!” (Westbow Press, 2016). The story is based on the premise that, because human beings are flawed, God has given dogs the task of helping us along. His book is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Ellis is a professor of New Testament at Olivet Nazarene University. He can be found online at www.eddieellis.com.
1990s Bret D. Marty ’91, London, England, has worked in the city of London for the past 24 years, thanks to a “few seemingly small opportunities provided in the late-1980s at Stetson.”
Vincent A. Citro ’98, MBA/JD ’00, Maitland, Florida, has joined the Law Offices of Mark L. Horwitz, P.A., where he focuses on criminal and related civil and administrative matters, including grand jury and internal investigations. He recently was named the Federal Bar Association Younger Federal Lawyer of the Year. He left the U.S. Department of Justice after serving as a federal prosecutor for nearly 14 years.
2000s Heather Quick, JD ’00, Jacksonville, Florida, founder and CEO of The Quick Law Group, was recognized in the 2016 edition of Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite. Her law firm offers family and marital law services specifically for women and was recognized in the Marital and Family Law category.
Nefertiti Walker ’05, ’06, Amherst, Massachusetts, has been appointed director of diversity and inclusion at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Davis D. Mallory ’06, Nashville, Tennessee, released his debut holiday single “Box It Up.”
Derrick R. Connell, MBA/JD ’09, Indialantic, Florida, was named Top 40
Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers for the third consecutive year and a Rising Star by Florida Super Lawyers magazine — an annual publication that recognizes the top 2.5 percent of the state’s young lawyers. Connell is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Ryan J. Lynch ’09, Columbus, Georgia, completed his doctor of philosophy in Islamic history at the University of
Oxford and has become an assistant professor at Columbus State University.
2010s Jake C. Broselle ’11, Naples, Florida, has completed his first children’s book, called “Rockstar.” The story is about a rock that wants to be a star. You can find it at: www.rockstarthebook.com. Ashley Rutherford ’12, Savannah, Georgia, graduated with a doctorate in public affairs (health services research and management) from the University of Central Florida. She is being commissioned as a public health officer in the U.S. Air Force this spring. Amanda James ’13, Sanford, Florida, chorus teacher at Deltona High School, accompanied her choir to the 75th anniversary remembrance of the Pearl Harbor bombing. She was chosen to lead the combined choir (more than 125 members) at the opening ceremonies, as
Retelling History Peter J. Matulis ’94, Orlando, Florida, was promoted to executive vice president/profit center leader at Brown & Brown Inc. Matulis works at Brown & Brown’s Orlando office. Donald J. Spence ’94, Ormond Beach, Florida, was promoted to assistant professor of biology at Bethune-Cookman University. He also has published “Assessing the Survival of the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle and Laurel Wilt Pathogen in Wood Chips” in the Journal of Economic Entomology.
Christopher D. Girata ’02, Dallas, Texas, was named the eighth rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas. Established in 1945, Saint Michael and All Angels is the nation’s second-largest Episcopal Church. He is in the process of completing his doctorate of ministry at Duke University. Girata already is recognized as a leader in the Episcopal Church, presenting regularly at national conferences.
Ed Hughes ’64, ’66 certainly hasn’t forgotten the lessons taught by his history professor at Stetson, Gilbert Lycan, Ph.D. Lycan directed his master’s thesis on American neutrality legislation in the 1930s — and that initial inspiration is infused throughout Hughes’ two recent books, “Governor John Milton and the War for Southern Independence” and “Civil War Correspondence.” The latter book is dedicated to Lycan, who taught at Stetson from the 1950s through the 1970s, wrote the first history of the university and has two Department of History awards in his name. Hughes, a retired educator and small businessman now living in Colombia, says Stetson “illuminated American history for me.” With his books and his passion, he’s seeking to continue doing the same.
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