Transylvania Pioneer Slug Bramlage in action: The 1938 Crimson yearbook describes him as a “demon on at tack and a holy terror on defense.” Our football team was to last only three more years.
I once spoke with the CEO of a bank and asked — what makes students from small liberal arts institutions like Transylvania stand out as potential employees? How do you identify which graduates will be successful leaders and innovators in the banking field? He responded that he of course looks for students with strong academic records, but, within that, his first preference is for varsity student-athletes. Curious, I asked him what the connection was between sports and banking.
He said that they had figured out over the years that those young people had strong self-discipline, strong time management skills and were comfortable working as part of a team to meet an objective. He pointed out that his bank was ahead of the game if it brought on board people who already had those skills and attitudes.
I had never really heard it articulated that way, but it made great sense to me. Few, if any, of our student-athletes expect to be the next Michael Jordan or Mia Hamm. Most will not even become professional athletes after leaving college.
They play because they love the sport, the team dynamic and relationships — and just maybe because they see the value in cultivating those same qualities that the bank CEO captured as being sought after by organizations of all kinds.
That’s not to say that being a Pioneer student-athlete is all fun and games. Our coaches and trainers expect excellence from their players on the playing field. They challenge our students to be the strongest, fastest and smartest competitors they can be, spending long hours running drills and scrimmages to ensure their skills are at their sharpest when it matters most.
But all that hard work our student-athletes endure comes from a place of pride — of achieving a shared goal while wearing the Pioneer name across their chests. In short, the student-athlete experience at Transy is meant to help these young people fulfill their potential as competitors, teammates and individuals.
It’s the same ethos from which we approach the liberal arts. We train our students and challenge them in the classroom, expose them to any number of unfamiliar scenarios and watch as they reflexively learn to make connections, as they find and pursue a bold path that brings success to themselves and those they work with.
One look at the trophy cases in our athletics facilities speaks to how well Transy student-athletes have stepped up to that challenge in the gym, on the field and in the weight room. Similarly, you can look at Third & Broadway magazine and see just how well our alumni have met myriad other challenges in the world with thoughtfulness and creativity.
I hope you feel the same sense of Pioneer pride that I do when you hear these stories — whether we’re cheering our students on in athletic competition or watching in awe as they carve out a unique place for themselves in this world in order to make it a better place.
Readers may send name or address changes or corrections to:
Office of Alumni and Development
Transylvania University 300 North Broadway Lexington, KY 40508 800-487-2679 alumni@transy.edu
Joseph Rey Au John Friedlein
Joey Howard Steve McFarland
Megan Moloney Natasa Pajic Mongiardo Kaden Siler Heath Stiltner Justin Sweeney Tyler Young Tim Webb
Transylvania University, located in the heart of downtown Lexington, Kentucky, is a top-ranked private liberal arts college featuring a communitydriven, personalized approach to a liberal arts education through 48 majors. Founded in 1780, it is Kentucky’s first college and the 16th oldest institution of higher learning in the country, with approximately 1,000 students.
Find more resources online at transy.edu.
Contact Us Third & Broadway news@transy.edu 859-233-8120
BY JOHN FRIEDLEIN
Forget what you might think about jocks being dumb. Transylvania University Pioneers lay that stereotype to waste.
They exemplify the synergy between athletics and academics — how the values learned in the heat of competition and during locker room pep talks also produce stellar scholars.
For senior Karrington Jackson, a dean's list student and standout middle blocker for the volleyball team, organic chemistry wasn't exactly a quick and
easy bond. But she persevered — she'd learned through sports that when faced with a challenge, you just don't roll over. You finish what you start.
"In a game, you just can't give up and be like: 'They're winning so let's just stop.' You can't just drop a class when it gets too hard," says Jackson, an exercise science major from Louisville.
While a lot of success on the court and in the classroom is due to individual grit, some of it comes from the structure that athletics provides. Jackson knows
that coaches are looking out for her, as are teammates taking the same tough classes.
More generally, the Transylvania community as a whole provides a support structure for student-athletes. Jackson tackled difficult organic chemistry equations with the help of one-on-one tutoring through the Academic Center for Excellence. In turn, she tutors other Pioneers who need help in anatomy and physiology and Latin.
the
the magazine of TRANSYLVANIA
Learning Skills Specialist Laura Scroggins said a majority of tutors are also student-athletes.
As with Jackson, she sees how they can transfer what they learn through sports into meeting challenging subject matter with a can-do attitude; in fact, it’s part of what Scroggins and other staff members in the Learning Skills Program help players realize.
Student-athletes already know they should go into a game with a sense of bravery, turning their anxious energy into excitement, Scroggins says. So she tells them: "If you can do this on the field with people cheering, and there are opponents coming at you, there's no reason you can't do this in the classroom."
These Pioneers know about the hard work it takes to succeed. "If you want to do well in volleyball, you just aren't playing volleyball over and over — you're running drills, lifting weights, working on endurance," Scroggins says. Academics is like that too; it's not just sitting in the classroom or looking through a textbook. You find multiple ways to approach the content, seek out guides to help you practice it, set goals and don't expect immediate results. They also sometimes do academic drills as a group under the guidance of a tutor, like soccer players doing shuttle runs for a coach.
Another key of both athletics and academics is teamwork. "If you’re not doing well on the court, you just don't go into your room and sit by yourself,” Scroggins says. “You reach out to people and practice together."
Madison Bell '22, a former track and cross country captain from Lexington, helped her teammates perform in both areas. Bell, who’s pursuing a master's degree in secondary STEM education, got a head start in her career helping teammates study science on long bus rides — Transylvania is the southernmost school in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, so there's plenty of time for that.
On the other hand, track (and schoolwork) can force runners to dig deep on an individual level. "When you're running, you're fighting yourself in a sense," Bell said. "You have to find exactly what you're fighting for, and you have to focus on that."
A big part of that focus is time management, adhering to a schedule of going to class, studying and running. This ties into committing yourself to a process, in developing a plan with your coach and following through with it. "If you're doing the work at practice, you need to trust in yourself and your coaches and that you will get to where you want to be," Bell says. For instance, this might mean not getting worked up if somebody you usually beat is running ahead of you, because you know that your strategy — say, when you're supposed to peak — is independent of your competitors and relies on your inner strength and preparation.
"I feel like track has given me a lot of confidence," Bell continues. She was a little freaked out when she first came to Transylvania because she'd heard a lot of classes are discussion based, and she was shy in high school. But now
“In a game, you just can’t give up and be like: ‘They’re winning so let’s just stop.’ You can’t just drop a class when it gets too hard.”
Karrington Jackson
“When you’re running, you’re fighting yourself in a sense. You have to find exactly what you’re fighting for, and you have to focus on that.”
that she's put herself out there in front of crowds, coaches and teammates, she's got the wind at her back when she has to speak publicly or contribute to a conversation with classmates.
Jakob "Jak" Birdsong, a men's soccer midfielder and defender on the HCAC All Academic Team, noted how the discipline of college athletics helps young people grow as individuals. "When you step into college and you're coming out of high school, you have to rely on yourself a lot more," he says.
But this is a self-reliance supported by a community. Birdsong, of Liberty Township, Ohio, offers advice to students who'll be starting college in the fall: "Be willing to reach out and ask people for help." As with professors at a small school like Transylvania, coaches have got your back. If they see you’re struggling academically, they'll do what they can to be of assistance.
Head volleyball coach Amy Barmore is a strong believer in helping her players excel academically. Her players serve each other as accountability partners, helping their teammates study and meet certain goals. They also set aside an hour on each road trip during the fall for hitting the books (even if they don't feel like it).
"Volleyball is important, but we tell them that accountability and time management will allow them to succeed when they leave Transy and enter the real world," Barmore says.
Jeff Chaney, associate athletic director for compliance and sport administration, says, "It starts with the coaches," who make schoolwork
a priority. "There is not a conflict; if there's class or practice — you go to class."
Many teams also have regular study halls, and coaches will meet individually with players whose GPA falls below a certain level.
Additionally, different offices across campus pull together to help studentathletes succeed. “The goal is all of us connecting,” Chaney says.
For instance, his department meets with Scroggins and her Learning Skills colleague Greg Strouse (to come up with the best tutoring times, e.g.), as well as talking with Writing Center director Scott Whiddon. The academic dean’s office is another resource, especially in identifying players who should get help with their classwork.
Even if they’re not in need of assistance with schoolwork, Transylvania student-athletes can benefit from various campus programs.
For example, the Center for Academic and Professional Enrichment offers workshops for them to hone skills like writing resumes and interviewing for jobs. And mentors in the 100 Doors to Success program can guide them along their path in life.
"There are so many people who want to help," Chaney says. "They want everybody to succeed."
“When you step into college and you’re coming out of high school, you have to rely on yourself a lot more. Be willing to reach out and ask people for help.”
Jakob Birdsong
BY JOHN FRIEDLEIN
From embracing their inner "Magnum, P.I." in November for male health awareness to picking up trash off the streets during a neighborhood clean-up in March, the Transylvania University men's lacrosse team is dedicated to year-round campus and community service.
This spirit of dedication not only helps them achieve success on the field through team building, but it also instills positive values that will resonate for years to come.
"We really preach an attitude of servant leadership," head coach Logan Otto says. "We want these guys to be great fathers, coaches and leaders in their community."
Otto was recently recognized for these efforts with the university's Presidential Award for Community Service.
According to President Brien Lewis, “It is clear that service is just not a word to use in recruiting for coach Otto, but something he believes in and is passionate about himself.”
Through the coach's guidance, the lacrosse program has raised more than $20,000 for Vs. Cancer, a campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. These proceeds are split between the national foundation (for pediatric brain research) and the local Kentucky Children's Hospital. Each fall, players raise awareness and money by setting up fundraising webpages and through social media campaigns.
Otto looks to expand participation in Vs. Cancer by getting other Transylvania teams involved; he’s a member of the Lacrosse Vs. Cancer Ambassadors, a nationwide group of coaches and others dedicated to spreading the word about the program. "It's been our flagship community service project," Otto says.
Another project — this one already embraced by multiple teams each November — involves athletes growing mustaches and fundraising for Movember, which collects money to support men's well-being in areas like mental health and prostate and testicular cancer prevention. Over the past two
decades, Movember has raised funds for more than 1,250 projects globally, according to the organization.
Lacrosse standout Bryce Lowe '22 says he grew a "really nasty" mustache for the cause.
He pointed out how a service project like this builds team unity while helping others. "It grows us together as a unit," he said. "You think of a team, it's a cohesive unit." Players who bond are those who function together for a common goal, that is, winning.
Lowe also valued the opportunity to work with teammates during litter clean-up efforts on and around campus — they were a chance for players to connect in a setting that's different than the field or classroom. "You get to hang out and be yourself and spend time with them while doing something good," he says.
Plus, people out in the community see the team doing good work during the clean-ups, which started under former coach Terry Justice. Otto notes how people living around Gratz Park on the other side of Third Street from campus came out to thank them for picking up litter.
"It's nice to see your work appreciated, and we've got such a great, tight-knit community," Otto says. Helping to make it a better place fosters a connection to something larger than a team or school.
"This is something that I don't have to make a mandatory thing," Otto adds. "They jump at these opportunities; as a coach it makes you proud. Go above and beyond — that's the Transy way."
The showing of appreciation goes both ways with these lacrosse players. They also participate in the One Kind Cookie project, where they package thousands of cookies that go to local firehouses and police stations — an act of kindness and gratitude toward first responders. They also take leftover cookies around to campus faculty and staff as a thank you to them as well.
Additionally, these Pioneers donate gear to a nonprofit Otto runs called For Keeps Lacrosse, which gives the items — including expensive sticks and helmets — to youths who are interested in the sport but can't afford the equipment.
These acts of good will also help promote lacrosse in the Lexington community, which in turn can benefit Transylvania's programs. The sport has been capturing the interest of local youths more and more in recent years.
Evan Deskins '22 benefited from the growing local lacrosse
“THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON’T HAVE TO MAKE A MANDATORY THING. THEY JUMP AT THESE OPPORTUNITIES; AS A COACH IT MAKES YOU PROUD. GO ABOVE AND BEYOND — THAT’S THE TRANSY WAY.”
LOGAN OTTO
scene, playing for Paul Laurence Dunbar High School before coming to Transylvania. He feels strong ties to Lexington and wants to give back through the team's service projects. "Being from Lexington is definitely a big motivator," says the defensive player.
The tight bonds between his team and Lexington help encourage his volunteerism. For instance, the fathers of some of his fellow players are police officers, which inspires his participation in the cookie program. "Having that personal involvement and knowing those people, I'm motivated to get involved in my community," Deskins says.
(He also notes that even his teammates who aren't from Lexington eagerly pick up on the community spirit vibe.)
This ethos is an important part of Transylvania Athletics as a whole, says Holly Sheilley, vice president for athletics. "We have been blessed with many opportunities, and giving back is our way to pay it forward. Coach Otto and his team are an inspiration to us all. It is more than just wins and losses — it is teaching student-athletes lifetime values."
Pioneers across Transylvania's campus pitch in to serve their local and school communities, embodying the university's commitment to social responsibility and its broader liberal arts mission.
Being in the heart of Lexington offers students plenty of opportunities to serve and get life and leadership experience that will help them in their future careers. In fact, 90 percent of Transylvania students take part in community engagement projects.
The school was recognized for its efforts in 2019 and 2020 when Washington Monthly ranked it in the nation’s top 10 liberal arts schools for public service.
Many different campus groups are dedicated to helping others. For instance, Pioneers can join a student volunteer team that commits at least two hours a week to a community partner, such as Habitat for Humanity or Seedleaf, to help out with things like affordable housing, food insecurity and education.
Other organized efforts include the Peace Corps Prep program, service trips and projects sponsored by other student groups such as fraternities and sororities, Circle K and Students Against Hunger and Homelessness.
Students also earn money helping out the local community through the federal Community-Based Work-Study Program.
Additionally, all of the sports teams participate in service projects, ranging from delivering food to American Cancer Society patients to helping out at the Humane Society to sending greeting cards to nursing home residents and veterans.
“A key part of living a meaningful life is to go beyond yourself — to do things for others,” Transylvania President Brien Lewis says.
“WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MANY OPPORTUNITIES, AND GIVING BACK IS OUR WAY TO PAY IT FORWARD.”
Pioneers embody spirit of volunteerism across campus, community
BY TYLER YOUNG
Loyal Transylvania sports fans are used to seeing their favorite teams recognized for national rankings and conference championships year in and year out. Whether it’s last season’s transcendent 27-1 women’s basketball team or a fourth-straight conference title for the women’s lacrosse team, or, the season before that, top-10 national rankings for the volleyball and softball teams and three All-American women triathletes — female Pioneers have been some of the strongest leaders of Transy’s recent athletic successes.
Fifty years after the passing of Title IX legislation in 1972, women’s intercollegiate athletics at Transy are producing athletes and coaches like never before in school history. Like at pretty much every other university in the country, progress in those 50 years has been at times slow and frustrating, but today Transy has more women’s sports and more women athletes than ever before, with seemingly no limit to how much they can achieve on the field of competition.
It’s actually been 120 years since Transy first fielded a women’s basketball team. The 190203 squad debuted back when Transylvania was known as Kentucky University. They played one game against State College of Kentucky (you might know that school by its current name — the University of Kentucky), losing the contest but ultimately setting the stage for what was a fairly dominant (approximate) 68-26 record over the next 26 seasons, including an 8-0 state championship season in 1922-23. Unfortunately, the team disbanded in 1930 and lay dormant for the next 40 years.
As an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky in the 1950s, Pat Deacon also didn’t have any official intercollegiate women’s teams she could join, despite being a remarkable athlete. Her only outlet for competing was through the physical education department, which occasionally organized games against other schools. So she took every opportunity to play basketball and field hockey whenever one of those unofficial contests arose.
Perhaps that’s why, when she arrived at Transylvania in 1970 to revive the women’s basketball program, she fought so hard to make that team as competitive as possible, demanding better funding and teaching the sport to women who — pre-Title IX — had very little high school
Above: Back when Transylvania was known as Kentucky University, the women’s basketball team took to the court for the first time during the 1902-03 school year. The program disbanded in 1930.
Bottom Left: Coach Pat Deacon on the sidelines in 1975.
Bottom Right: Coaches Pat Deacon and Ron Turner during the 1986-87 season
experience. Her first team compiled a 9-1 record in a year where they wore unbranded gym suits and had to bring their own official to the games.
“When I started, the women only had three sports — tennis, field hockey and basketball,” Deacon says. “Now there are 17 sports for women; it’s unbelievable.”
Left: 1970s
Above: Transy vs. Pikeville, February 1993
Right: March 4, 2022: Transy vs. Washington & Jefferson
PAT DEACONOver her 17 seasons as head basketball coach, Deacon continued to improve the program, culminating with the 198687 team that finished 21-6 and won the Kentucky Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. She also coached the field hockey team for 28 seasons, amassing eight conference championships and a 98-55-3 record.
“We won more tournaments in field hockey than we did basketball,” she says. “When I took over the hockey program, most of the girls had never played. They came to Transy to play basketball. I would suggest they come out to field hockey and try it. Even to this day I have former players say that was the best decision they made.”
Now at age 87, Deacon still keeps a close eye on Transy athletics, staying in contact with the program while spending her free time riding her bike 75 miles per week and competing in international table tennis tournaments (she took home a
bronze medal in her most recent one, nearly knocking off the Canadian team for silver).
“Pat Deacon has been a real inspiration to a lot of the women coaches here,” says Holly Sheilley, Transy’s vice president of athletics and director of athletics. “She’s given a lot to the university. We have more women competing right now, and more women’s sports than we’ve ever had. That’s been on the shoulders of people like Pat Deacon.”
Deacon’s legacy continues with current women’s coaches like head basketball coach Juli Fulks, who, in addition to making Transy’s program one of the best in the nation, has encouraged her players to go on to careers in coaching, with several of her former players working as assistant coaches and graduate assistants at universities like Boston College, the University of Tulsa, Sarah Lawrence College and Centre College.
“Everything is easier when you see it,” Fulks says. “Whether it’s women going into athletics, engineering, medicine — when you know it’s a possibility, that opens doors and thought processes. I think anytime when we can see a female being successful, that just helps open everybody’s eyes to these potential opportunities, and that matters.”
“When I started, the women only had three sports — tennis, field hockey and basketball, Now there are 17 sports for women; it’s unbelievable.”
“Everything is easier when you see it. Whether it’s women going into athletics, engineering, medicine — when you know it’s a possibility, that opens doors and thought processes.”
JULI FULKS
Head volleyball coach Amy Barmore — who also has former players coaching at schools like the University of Chicago and Ithaca College — points to Sheilley’s leadership as an enormous catalyst for the current state of the women’s programs. Whether it’s finding funding for her team to travel nationally or encouraging her to stay active coaching local club teams, Barmore feels rich support from her leader and mentor.
“She’s all about professional development — whatever we want to do, we pitch it to her and she says go,” Barmore says. “She’s given me the opportunity to grow as a person and a coach. She’s been an awesome mentor and one of the best bosses I’ve ever worked for.”
Sheilley knows that there’s still an uphill battle for women in athletics around the country and why it’s so important for programs like Transy to help women find their way in the field, athletically and professionally. Unbelievably, she notes there are actually fewer women in athletics coaching and administration than there were when Title IX legislation passed in 1972.
A three-sport athlete at Asbury College in the ’90s, Sheilley went straight into a career in athletics, earning four Coach of the Year honors in softball and volleyball at Lindsey Wilson College before being hired at the University of Louisville as assistant athletic director for championships and student development, then assistant director for championships with the NCAA.
At Asbury, she played for coach Rita Pritchett, who had earned the distinction of being the first female collegiate athletic director in the state of Kentucky in 1989. Nearly 25 years later, when Sheilley came to Transylvania as athletic director, she became just the third.
“Rita was the first female coach I ever had,” Sheilley says. “I didn’t even know women could do that, as silly as that sounds. She spent energy and time with all of the female athletes, explaining what Title IX was, why it was important. She said, ‘It’s your time; I need you to carry this forward.’ I felt like she was saying that we’re only going to go as far as the next generation is willing to go with this.”
It’s why she speaks with pride of female Pioneer studentathletes who go into sports as a career, using their liberal arts education and competitive experience to make a difference in the lives of more young women.
“I hope the special part about Transy is we champion women, and we want you to know that there are so many things you can do as a female, whether you spend the next 40 years in sports, or in business or as a mother,” she says. “Whatever it is, I want you to know that you’ll have the tools you need to be successful at it.”
Sheilley regularly brings in women leaders from inside and outside the athletics profession to speak with and help mentor student-athletes to let them see the possibilities that are out there for them. Fulks started a program where she has local female guest coaches participate in game prep, sit on the bench during the game and speak with her team. Recent guests have included Valvoline CFO Mary Meixelsperger, President of
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Susan Elkington and Gratz Park Private Wealth President Sherry Holley ’88, a member of Transy’s Pioneer Hall of Fame.
“When they come and meet with our team, they tell stories that are very similar to our players’ undergraduate stories,” Fulks says. “I want our players to see what they can go on and do. They can dream big; they can be these people.”
It all goes back to Transy’s mission of educating the whole person, of offering an education that will help them break boundaries and set off on their own successful journeys.
“You get to learn the leadership, communication and accountability — everything that goes into the coaching world,” says Barmore. “It relates to everything I preach to them as student-athletes. To see them grow and be leaders and mentors when they leave Transy is cool to see.”
“I hope the special part about Transy is we champion women, and we want you to know that there are so many things you can do as a female.”
accomplishments in athletics span the centuries since our founding. From history-making moments to the individual accomplishments of student athletes, our Pioneers have truly made our downtown home a campus of champions. Since 2004, when Transy began competing as an NCAA DIII School, Pioneers have amassed a list of accolades. These are just some of them.
’24 first diver to compete at NCAA regionals, wins conference 3M title • Maddie Kellione ’23 named HCACbasketballplayer oftheyear•DaltonHubbs ’ 23named
2021-22 Triathlon team members Grayson Bray ’23, Delaney McPherson ’24finishtop 10atnationalchampionships• MackieRedford
men's lacrosse first All-American • JJ Holmes ’25 wins three conference swim titles • Luke Stegman ’25wins discus conference title• GarretElrod’24wins800mtrack
conference title • Tim Alexander ’22 wins golf conference individual title • Trent Youngblood ’24 namedto All-American fifthteam. 2020-21TaylorAllen’22won
the 400-meter hurdles and the 400 meters in the HCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. • JacobBurnam ’21won the 800metersand1mileintheHCACIndoor
Track and Field Championship. He also won the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters in the HCAC Outdoor TrackandFieldChampionship.• RhettCox’24wontheHCACmen’s
golf individual title. • Gunnar Eaton ’20 won the hammer throw in the HCAC outdoor championship. • SamiMonarch’23claimedthe50-meterfreestyletitleintheHCAC Swimming and Diving Championship. • Mackie Redford ’24 won the 1-meter and 3-meter divingin the conference championship.2019-20JacobBurnam’21wonthe 800 meter Indoor Track and Field Championship while breaking his own school record. • SwimmerDrewDodds’21 was championinthe100-meterbreaststroke.•SwimmerMattieFogle ’20 successfully defended her 1,650-meter freestyle title. 2018-19 Graham Smith ’19 finished asthe nationalrunner-upinthemen’sjavelinatthe2019NCAADivisionIIIOutdoorTrack and Field Championships. • Elizabeth Moore ’22 wrote history for the inaugural season of Transylvania’striathlon program,finishingasthenationalrunner-upattheWomen’sCollegiate Triathlon National Championships. • Taylor Allen ’22 was the 400-meter indoor and outdoor track andfield champion. •AbbyBlackburn’19wasnoviceintercollegiateeventingchampion of the year. • Rachel Fine ’20 was conference champion for women’s golf • Mattie Fogle’20 won the1,650freestyle swimmingcrownattheHCACchampionship.•GrahamSmith’19was the outdoor track and field javelin champion. • Sarah Haerle ’20 claimed the 200 breaststroke crown. •JordanUpton’22 wastheindoortrackandfieldtriplejumpchampion.•Blake
Young ’19 won the conference championship for men’s golf. • Rian Boelter ’20 was the outdoor track andfieldtriplejumpchampion.2017-18SpencerMcKinney’20wasconference champion for men’s golf. • Sarah Haerle ’20 won the conference championship for swimmingin 100 breaststroke and200breaststroke. •MeredithMoir’19wasconferencechampionin women’s golf. • Graham Smith ’19 won the conference crown for javelin in outdoor track and field.
Sometimes Sherry Holley ’88 strolls a few blocks up Market Street from her financial advisory firm to Transylvania University’s campus, just because it feels good to return to where it all started.
She’s remained more than physically close to her alma mater. In fact, Holley is a university trustee who credits her Transylvania experience with helping her lead a successful and fulfilling life.
"It's something that I carry with me and speak about often," she says. "It's a big part of my life."
Athletics has played a large role. Holley, who participated in field hockey, basketball and softball at Transylvania, was named the 1988 Pioneer Athlete of the Year and later was inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame. Shortly after graduation, while launching her career at Merrill Lynch, she served as the university’s assistant basketball coach and then head softball coach, helping the program transition to fast pitch.
Her later financial support made possible the softball field's Ronald and Frances Holley Players Lounge (named after her parents). And she remains involved with Transylvania athletics to this day — for instance, she’s 4-1 as a guest coach for the wildly successful women's basketball team.
Looking back, Holley is grateful for the mentorship of her former coaches. They include the legendary Pat Deacon, who counseled her to see an adviser when she was struggling with a political science class and law school ambitions. As a result, Holley ended up enrolling in a May term investment analysis course, which was described to her as like walking into the Stock Exchange; they’d regularly read the Wall Street Journal and watch “Wall Street Week.” "I was off the charts — this is what I want to do. I love this," says Holley of her reaction to the class. She went on to earn a business management degree and now serves as president of Gratz Park Private Wealth.
She supports the school so enthusiastically in large part because of the experiences that set her on her path. And she says other alumni can point to similar, life-altering turning points they had at Transylvania. She encourages them to return to campus to see not only the major physical changes (such as the new Campus Center and residence halls), but also what the students are experiencing — including new programs like the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Holley is a resource for business and marking studies herself. Coaches
sometimes send her their players for advice, and she provides students with internships. She’s also on the Pioneer Advisory Council, which for now is mostly involved with selecting Hall of Fame inductees but may expand into fundraising and other efforts to help coaches boost the school’s enrollment.
"Our coaches do a great job of telling the Transylvania story and have brought in some wonderful studentathletes," Holley says.
And after they bring students in, she knows first hand how supportive coaches are in their players’ lives and academic success. "It's not like they're just showing up for a job," Holley says. (Even after all these years, coach Deacon often calls her and sends cards.)
The influence of her own coaches is evident in how she interacts with her staff at the financial firm. "I can't tell you how often I've used some of my coaches' sayings with my own team here, helping young women grow into the career they want."
To stay informed about the latest Transylvania news, visit our 1780 blog at transy.edu/1780, and subscribe to biweekly email updates.
1. The Transylvania theater and music programs in May presented “The Ballad of Bride and Blue,” a story about star-crossed lovers with a folksy feel.
2. Transylvania professor Zoé Strecker has launched a two-year project called Crucial Terrain: Ecological Flourishing, Environmental Justice and Regenerative Culture in the Face of the Climate Crisis.
3. Transylvania has hired an experienced business consultant with a passion for education to lead the new Center for Entrepreneurship. Jeni Al Bahrani began in January as director of the center, which promotes creativity and innovation while encouraging students in any academic major to pursue their interests and explore a wide range of entrepreneurial career paths.
4. Two members of Transylvania’s Class of 2021 this spring received competitive Fulbright grants to teach and study abroad: Jacob Burnam for teaching in Germany and Hayle Hall for study in Taiwan. The U.S. State Department sponsors the program to foster mutual understanding internationally.
5. The newly renovated Strickland Auditorium is more technologically up to date and visually appealing with plenty of natural light and warm wood tones. Located in the Brown Science Center, Strickland is Transylvania’s largest classroom.
6. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo gave this year’s Kenan Lecture in March. She’s an internationally known poet, writer, performer and saxophone player of the Mvskoke Nation.
7. Transylvania welcomed Lexington native Ben Sollee, an acclaimed cellist and singer-songwriter, for the annual Smith Concert in April. He was also the featured guest in this year’s Delcamp visiting artist series; and he met with music and art students and led a string workshop the day of the concert.
8. Transylvania students Shalomel Jatau ’23 and Elia Zonio ’23 in April each received a Charles and Susan Shearer Scholarship for outstanding academic performance, leadership, campus contributions and strength of character. It will provide full tuition for their senior year.
9. In May, the Transylvania community celebrated this year’s Judy Gaines Young Book Award winners: recent Kentucky Poet Laureate Jeff Worley and student recipient Tatianna Verswyvel-Popcev.
10. The women’s basketball team made a historic run all the way to the NCAA Elite Eight as the only remaining undefeated DIII team. The 27-1 Pioneers finished in the nation’s top five.
11. In time for commencement, Transylvania wrapped up improvements to the front of the historic Old Morrison administration building. The project included replacing the limestone steps along with the concrete slabs on either side of the main entrance. Additionally, the large oaks flanking the building were trimmed to help showcase the steps and columns.
12. The annual Patriotic Concert at Transylvania resumed July 3. Featuring the Lexington Philharmonic, the event in front of Old Morrison was part of the city’s first full slate of Fourth of July events in three years.
Submit Your Alumni News email: alumni@transy.edu web: www.alumni.transy.edu/update mail:
Office of Alumni and Development Transylvania University 300 North Broadway Lexington, KY 40508
Dot Couch Watson ’62, Tullahoma, Tennessee, was named the 2021 Citizen of the Year by the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce for her work with The Literacy Council, which operates The Book Shelf in downtown Tullahoma, as well as for her dedicated support of her community.
Dot and her husband, Tom Watson ’61, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June 2022.
Glen S. Bagby ’66, Lexington, received the 2021 University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law Alumni Association Legacy Award for exceptional leadership and making a positive impact on the college, state and nation. The 2020 recipient was Bruce K. Davis ’66, Glen’s KA pledge brother.
Wandaleen Poynter Cole ’67, Baltimore, was Transylvania’s delegate at the inauguration of Julia Jasken as president of McDaniel College on April 9, 2022.
Georgia Green Stamper ’67, Lexington, released "Small Acreages: New and Collected Essays" on May 17. Her book features personal stories and timeless lessons.
Peter H. “Pete” McDevitt, ’69, Lake Placid, Florida, has been reappointed to his seventh consecutive four-year term to the Sebring (Florida) Airport Authority Board of Directors.
Herschel Sparber ’69, Los Angeles, was part of the film “Shaky Shivers” (directed by Sung Kang of “The Fast and Furious”),
which premiered June 2 at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans.
James T. Ahler ’72, Apex, North Carolina, retired as CEO from the North Carolina Association of CPAs in 2016. He currently serves as president of Western Wake Crisis Ministry, a charitable organization in Wake County.
William B. Bramblet ’73, Lexington, retired from his role as a director and chairperson on the Traditional Bank board in March. He retired as CEO of Traditional Bank in 2014 after 30 years of service.
C. Philip Hanna ’73, Columbia, Kentucky, has been working part time since 2019 in the Adair County Genealogy and History Center. He enjoys working with the public on finding family genealogy history both for present and future generations.
Stanley S. “Mike” Parks ’73, Madison, South Dakota, published a new book, “SITE 251,” in September 2021 with BookLocker. The first book of a trilogy, it delves into the speculation of what the government knows about UFOs/ UAPs and the public’s growing interest. It is available online and at local bookstores.
Ellen Snier Durrett ’74, Durham, North Carolina, retired in 2016 after 40 years as a psychologist with Baltimore County Public Schools. Since relocating to Durham, she has pursued an interest in oil painting.
Transylvania was happy to welcome back alumni to celebrate their class reunions April 29-May 1. This year’s reunion included classes that graduated in years ending in 2 or 7. Enjoy highlights of the weekend on the next few pages, and check out our alumni awards on Page 32. Threes and eights: We hope to see you at our next reunion in 2023!
Kathryn Weston Pirie ’77, Longmont, Colorado, became the Colorado State Secretary for P.E.O., an international organization that helps women of all ages achieve higher education. Kathy retired from IBM 11 years ago and earned a Master of Arts in elementary education.
Barry A. Resta ’78, Hiawassee, Georgia, and his wife, Ellen, have retired to a beautiful new mountain home in Hiawassee.
Davis E. Caywood ’83, Venice, Florida, has retired as airline pilot and captain for Federal Express Corporation.
Bonita Justice Dailey ’83, Pikeville, Kentucky, was selected in November 2020 for the Kentucky Association for Psychology in Schools Best Practice Award for the Big Sandy/Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative area.
Meredith Millard Moody ’83, Lexington, after 15 years at Sazerac, parent company of Buffalo Trace Distillery, took on the role of chief experience officer at Dant Crossing/Log Still Distillery in Gethsemane, Kentucky, in April.
Steve Ratti ’85, Asbury Park, New Jersey, was selected to be a judge for four categories at The AdForum PHNX Global Creative Awards. He is an Advertising Hall of Fame inductee at the NJ Ad Club and is in his 12th year as the chief creative officer of Ratti Report.
Dawn J. Wilson ’90, Louisville, was recognized in June by the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission for her outstanding service on the LMHRC Advocacy Board after having served 10 years and twice chaired the education committee. She is also serving in her second term as a member of USA Fencing DEIB Committee.
Anthony L. Leachman ’92, Louisville, was honored by Louisville Business First as one of 24 financial professionals in the Greater Louisville area with a 2022 Best in Finance Award, given for outstanding performance in his role. Anthony is the CFO of the Louisville Urban League.
Susan Marine ’92, Lowell, Massachusetts, was promoted to professor of higher education at Merrimack College. In July 2021, she was appointed vice provost for graduate education. Her most recent book, published with Stylus Press, is “Critical Praxis in Student Affairs: Social Justice in Action.”
Stephen E. Stauffer ’92, Lexington, is serving in a new role at the University of Kentucky as director of facilities resources and planning in the office for student success.
Ellen Cohn Bloomfield ’93, Georgetown, Kentucky, began serving as interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Midway University.
Carmen Hall Caldera-Brzoska ’94, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, started a new position as director of the arts/arts education with the Elizabethtown Independent School District in July.
Heather M. Wibbels ’94, Louisville, the Cocktail Contessa, released "Bourbon Is My Comfort Food: The Bourbon Women Guide to Fantastic Cocktails at Home.” This book features recipes and a history of bourbon cocktails.
Jason A. Deibel ’97, Dayton, Ohio, assumed the role of chair of the physics department at the University of Dayton.
Angie Lane Moore ’97, Versailles, Kentucky, was promoted to vice president of sales with Select Medical’s Outpatient Division in October 2021.
Gregory O. Shenton ’97, Smyrna, Georgia, received several accolades for his contributions to the law profession: Legal Elite in Business Law by Georgia Trend magazine, Top 3 Business Law Advisors in the state by Georgia Business Journal and Georgia Superlawyer in Business Litigation by Thomson Reuters.
Andrew L. Sparks ’97, Lexington, was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear as a member of the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee, which will help advise him on providing access to medical cannabis for Kentuckians suffering from chronic pain and other medical conditions. Andrew is a former assistant U.S. attorney.
Ann E. Tramontin ’97, Lexington, has been principal at Christ the King School since August 2021.
Rebecca A. Yowler ’97, Galesburg, Illinois, represented Transylvania at the inauguration of Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney in May.
Alexia Schempp Couch ’98, Elkridge, Maryland, was promoted to principal of Harper’s Choice Middle School in Columbia, Maryland, on July 1.
Elaine M. Russell ’98, Portage, Michigan, was named senior associate athletics director for external operations at Western Michigan University this spring. She previously spent eight years at the University at Buffalo.
Charity D. Butcher ’99, Woodstock, Georgia, professor of political science at Kennesaw State University, was recognized with the 2021 Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Political Science Association.
Alice Van Brunt Connor ’99, Cincinnati, published her third book, “Brave: Women of the Bible and their Stories of Grief, Mercy, Folly, Joy, Sex, and Redemption,” with Broadleaf Books. These women's stories are messy, challenging and beautiful, and when we read them, we can see not only their particular, formidable lives, but also our own.
Brooks E. Hefner ’99, Charlottesville, Virginia, Roop Distinguished Professor of English at James Madison University, has published his second book, “Black Pulp: Genre Fiction in the Shadow of Jim Crow,” with the University of Minnesota Press.
Kendall Hunt Anderson ’00, Lexington, in January became the executive director of Camp Horsin' Around, a central Kentucky nonprofit
organization that provides an outdoor camp adventure for children whose health is compromised or have special needs.
B. Blanton Coates ’00, Winchester, Kentucky, is now part of the Deanbuilds Ownership team. As director of business development at Deanbuilds, Blanton leads preconstruction efforts, manages teams and partners, and maintains timely projects.
John M. Davidson ’01, Denver, and his company, TriMountain Corporation, were recently named to the Denver Business Journal’s Top 25 Insurance Agencies. They moved up from the 25th spot two years ago to 23rd this year.
S. Jamie Ketron ’01, Bluff City, Tennessee, started Ketron, Masino & Associates CPAs PLLC this past winter. The venture came about after conversations on the requirement for CPAs to have a succession plan before retiring and will offer a way for CPAs to exit the field while leaving their clients in good hands. The firm specializes in serving individuals and small businesses with their bookkeeping, payroll, tax compliance and tax planning needs and has interest in acquiring CPA firms and bookkeeping practices. Check out her new adventure at ketronmasino.cpa.
Nicole Bremer Nash ’01, Canton, Georgia, received the 2022 Stevie Awards Thought Leader of the Year for her work as executive director at Intertribal Education Foundation. She is also vice president at SilkWeb Consulting & Development and a certified accessibility professional in Atlanta.
Lindsey J. Boyd ’02, Louisville, has been the in-house counsel for Humana since January 2022. Prior to joining Humana, she was an attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl, which honored her with the 2020 Difference Maker award.
Kristen L. Byrd ’02, Louisville, a 20-year PNC banking veteran who most recently served as regional banking director for PNC Private Bank, was named PNC Bank regional president for Louisville in April. In June she was appointed to the Greater Louisville Inc. Board of Directors.
Tamara Bentley Caudill ’02, Saint Johns, Florida, was named the 2022 Faculty Woman of the Year at Jacksonville University. She is the chair of world languages and an assistant professor of French.
Katie Corcoran Williams ’02, Lexington, is the director of communications for Fayette County Public Schools.
Sarah Stewart Holland ’03, Paducah, Ky., and Beth Thurman Silvers ’03, Union, Kentucky, the famed duo from the Pantsuit Politics podcast, released their second book, "Now What?: How to Move Forward When We're Divided (About Basically Everything)."
Emma Sowards Thacker ’03, Harrisonburg, Virginia, received the 2022 Distinguished Teacher Award for the College of Education at James Madison University. Emma's emphasis is on social studies. She was also given the 2019 Essie Glass Award for excellence in scholarship and teaching. Emma has served on several boards and committees in her field, and in 2020 she received an endowment to support her research.
Catherine E. Vannatter ’03, Lexington, completed her Ph.D. in educational leadership studies at the University of Kentucky in March 2022.
Olesja Lukjanova Cormney ’04, McKinney, Texas, received the Pro Bono and Community Service Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel - Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. Olesja serves on several boards and is involved with the Equal Access to Justice Campaign, raising funds to provide civil legal aid to low-income members of the DFW community.
Rachel B. Goodman ’04, Tampa, Florida, a business law attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP, was elevated to partner status in February. She is a member of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group and national Telemedicine and Digital Health Industry Team.
Justin L. Handshoe ’04, Lexington, has been promoted to director of operations and management (2-1-1) at United Way of the Bluegrass. Previously, he was community impact coordinator.
Katharine L. West ’04, Neligh, Nebraska, became pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in March.
Alicia Still Branum ’05, Lexington, was promoted from corporate counsel to North American legal manager at Alltech in February.
Thomas P. Claycomb ’05, Hodgenville, Kentucky, was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear
to serve on the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Board of Directors. Tom is an attorney at Claycomb Law Office and has served as master commissioner and domestic relations commissioner of the LaRue Circuit Court. Additionally, he is an attorney for the LaRue County School Board and president of both the LaRue County Bar Association and the Hodgenville Rotary Club.
Elizabeth Wells Collignon ’05, Louisville, is the clinical case manager for Aetna, a CVS Health company. Previously she was with SAFY of America for nearly 12 years.
Catherine R. Jones ’05, Omaha, Nebraska, earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is now a forensic anthropologist with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Mayme Boehmann Clayton ’06, Lexington, started a new position at BoomTown, a real estate platform in Charleston, South Carolina. She is working as a web developer in the marketing and advertising area.
Greg L. Repass ’06, Lexington, has served as chief operating officer at Baptist Health Lexington since May. He is an internal medicine physician and has been with Baptist Health since 2013. Kelsey Blankenship White ’06, Richmond, Virginia, completed her Ph.D. in health management and system sciences in December and in March began as an
assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in the department of patient counseling, College of Health Professions.
Megan Barber Williams ’06, Frenchburg, Kentucky, was sworn in as Menifee County attorney this spring. She is following in the footsteps of her father, David Barber ’77, who was the Floyd County attorney when Megan was growing up.
Kevin C. Price ’07, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is a sales manager at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. He also works with Elevated Underground Entertainment, a multimedia company specializing in promotion and marketing tools for independent urban artists.
Corey Clatterbuck ’08, San Diego, graduated from the joint doctoral program in ecology at San Diego State University and University of California, Davis, in 2021. She became a California Sea Grant State Fellow and continued in a full-time data analytics and storytelling role with her host agency, the California Water Boards, in 2022.
John D. Kromer ’08, East Orange, New Jersey, began his position as associate university librarian for research and engagement at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in February.
Bradley C. Sutherland ’09, Lexington, was promoted to vice president, mortgage lending officer at Central Bank in May.
Jacob Brumfield ’10, New York, has been promoted to strategy and consulting director with Accenture, where he is a corporate culture change expert and leads largescale workforce transformations.
Brittany L. Deskins ’10, Lexington, joined the McBrayer litigation practice recently as a senior associate. Her practice primarily focuses on medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful deaths. She is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Allison Garvey Zimmerman ’10, Louisville, was featured by her employer, NTS Development, for her contributions to the company.
Allison markets, manages, writes and more for NTS Upton Oxmoor as a property manager.
J. Daniel Bodner ’11, Lexington, was promoted as business analyst with Amazon Global Programs in March.
J. Austin Luttrell ’11, Versailles, Kentucky, has joined Preferred Equine Marketing, the industry’s leading harness racing sales agency, as an account and recruiting manager.
Crystal L. Emerson ’12, Laguna Niguel, California, began working at Edwards LifeSciences as a clinical screening analyst in March. She has mostly been working on clinical heart valve trials.
Andi Mong Miles ’12, Abingdon, Maryland, recently moved into the role of director of the Johns Hopkins Dietetic Internship.
Joshua A. Travis ’12, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is a senior leadership giving officer, working remotely for Brown University in Rhode Island.
Sarah E. Czack ’13, Versailles, Kentucky, is in the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Fellowship Program, following her year serving as chief pediatric resident. She earned her M.D. from the University of Kentucky in 2018.
Abby C. Dowdy ’13, Murray, Kentucky, became the first clinical psychologist to join the MurrayCalloway County Hospital in January. She graduated with her Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Eastern Kentucky University in 2020.
Brittany Staub Stanley ’13, Brownsville, Texas, graduated with a doctor of social work from the University of Kentucky in May.
Chase E. Bullock ’14, Chicago, has joined Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella P.C., a full-service, Chicago-based law firm, as an associate. He is a member of the firm’s Class Action, Labor and Employment and Litigation practice groups.
Rachel L. Norris ’14, Lexington, is the clinical research coordinator with the departments of Neurosurgery and NeuroInterventional Radiology at the University of Kentucky.
Jacqueline M. Young ’14, Frankfort, Kentucky, began working as a sales account executive at Xometry in January.
Dalton Seth M. Gannon ’15, Louisville, graduates from the University of Louisville with a Ph.D. in applied and industrial mathematics this August. He has accepted a visiting assistant professor of mathematics position at Sewanee: The University Of The South.
Hannah R. Greer ’15, London, Kentucky, was named director of the Corbin Public Library in January. She previously served as the family resource and youth services coordinator for Corbin Independent Schools.
Skyler S. Slone ’15, Hindman, Kentucky, graduated summa cum laude with a master of arts in creative business leadership from the Savannah College of Art and Design De Sole School of Business Innovation in June.
Nicole Craigmille Erwin ’16, Denver, is a teacher and atelierista for The Oak School. As atelierista, she facilitates research, innovation and empathy as expressed through a number of projects within each classroom, implementing learning experiences that complement classroom curricular learning.
Ryan C. Hanson ’16, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Kentucky in 2020 and accepted a position as an assistant professor at the University of Delaware starting in the fall of 2022.
Kaitlyn A. Hill ’16, Lexington, published her debut novel, "Love From Scratch," in April. Check it out at thekaitlynhill.com.
Aaron M. Johnson ’16, Nashville, Tennessee, is an associate in the Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. He earned a J.D. from the University of Kentucky School of Law in 2021.
Shawn Kolani ’16, Sherman Oaks, California, has been the head coach of boys basketball at El Camino Real Charter High School since April 2022.
Sarah Jonas Shaw ’16, Sagamore Hills, Ohio, is a supply chain analyst for Swagelok.
Erin N. Triplett ’16, Louisville, graduated from Sullivan University with a master’s degree in physician assistant studies in June.
Laura K. Wooldridge ’16, Cincinnati, was named associate director for ethnic programs and services at the University of Cincinnati in November 2021.
Elias S. Hanna ’17, Washington, D.C., has been a physical scientist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since November 2021. He graduated from Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2019 with a dual Master of Public Affairs and Master of Environmental Science.
Ghazal Jawed ’17, Menlo Park, California, started as cancer clinical research coordinator associate for sarcoma oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine in January.
K. Grace Kobitter ’17, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, joined KE Law Group as an attorney.
She was previously at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, handling litigation in the general liability division defending corporations in civil suits for the firm.
Graham E. McCormick ’17, Lexington, received a promotion to commercial lender at Traditional Bank. Over the past four years, Graham had worked there as a teller and a credit analyst. He also assumed the role of Transy’s Young Alumni Council president on July 1.
Myriah Porter Albrecht ’18, Lexington, graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in May. She began her internal medicine fellowship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in June.
Meredith K. Davis ’18, Louisville, started working as the recovery support staff at Family Ark in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in January.
McKenzie E. Hall ’18, Florence, Kentucky, started as trainer/analyst with Meyer Tool Inc. In this role, she develops and delivers training programs, analyzes and interprets data and facilitates corporate improvement projects.
Erin Alexander Hughes ’18, Maryville, Tennessee, began her work as email marketing coordinator in enrollment management at the University of Tennessee Knoxville in November 2021.
Charlotte E. Stephens ’18, Lexington, was awarded the James Still Fellowship for Graduate Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences to pursue her master's in library science from the University of Kentucky this fall. She is an administrative assistant for CASA of Lexington.
Lilian M. Williams ’18, Frankfort, Kentucky, is an associate in Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Lexington office. She has been with the firm since 2021 and contributes to the Business Litigation practice group.
Anna M. Bond ’19, Lexington, graduated with a nursing degree from Spalding University. She is a postanesthesia care unit registered nurse at the University of Kentucky Center for Advanced Surgery.
Jewell E. Boyd ’19, Lexington, started a new position as metadata coordinator at University Press of Kentucky in January.
Nicole A. Fox ’19, Lexington, joined Fayette County Public Schools as a biology teacher in June.
Collin A. Ruegg ’19, Lexington, received a promotion to global enterprise account manager at Anixter in January.
Jessi M. Samuel ’19, Providence, Rhode Island, started a new position in May in the advancement office at Brown University as the class giving officer.
Madison R. Banta ’20, Jacksonville, Florida, has been a financial planning and analysis coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars since January.
Caswell R. Fuller ’20, Mount Sterling, Kentucky, started a new position in May as associatetransaction advisory services at Berkeley Research Group LLC in Nashville, Tennessee.
Katherine D. Smith ’20, Washington, D.C., was named the associate, IVLP administration at Meridian International Center in February.
Audrey C. Denham ’21, Louisville was named a 2022 65 Roses Finest Honoree by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She has volunteered and worked with the foundation since she was 9 alongside her mom.
Michael A. Webb ’21, Louisville, co-founded a sustainable building materials company, Panda Industries Inc., which has received $250,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation and $83,000 from private investors.
Ellen Snier Durrett ’74 and Robert H. Ashton, April 12, 2022 Kelly M. Morris ’03 and JK Kurtz, Dec. 4, 2021
Sara H. Satterwhite ’09 and Corey M. Young, Oct. 2, 2021
Bradley C. Sutherland ’09 and Katie Applewhite, April 23, 2022
Brittany N. Riley ’10 and Jay A. Fleenor, May 28, 2022
Lacey A. Napper ’11 and Patrick Lewis, Oct. 2, 2021
Ashley Lynne Stafford ’11 and Sergio King, May 12, 2022
Brooke H. Benton ’12 and Jess Marvin, Jan. 24, 2022
Joshua A. Travis ’12 and Judy Kohut, Aug. 28, 2021
Ansley Turner ’13 and James Tait, May 21, 2022
Madisen S. Webb ’14 and Christian Sandford, Oct. 9, 2021
Sarah E. Allison ’15 and Justin Shirk, June 18, 2022
Emily K. Martin ’15 and Erik J. Mudrak ’17, June 11, 2022
Robert S. Albrecht ’16 and Myriah D. Porter ’18, June 23, 2018
Nicole C. Craigmile ’16 and Benjamin J. Erwin ’16, June 27, 2020
Jacob T. Hall ’16 and Gabriella R. Martin ’17, May 14, 2022
Sarah E. Jonas ’16 and Connor Shaw, Nov. 20, 2021
Erin C. Romito ’16 and Nathan Riggs, April 16, 2022
Meredith K. Davis ’18 and Richard Bentley, Feb. 19, 2022
J.T. Henderson ’18 and Amanda Hoskins, May 22, 2022
Madeline V. Sjogren ’19 and B. Blake Urbanek ’19, Sept. 6, 2020.
Front row (L to R): Linda Stred Gagnon, Debbie Bird Phelps, Pat Daugherty Drinkwater, Sandy Steele Bowling, Becky Kennedy Burdick, Sherrill Anderson Nance. Second row (L to R): Linda Casucci, Ann Torstrick Davis, Jim Ahler, Pat Hocker Riddle, Linda B’Hymer Mauser, J.B. Embry. Third row (L to R): Ramona Grumbles Anderson, Christine Burroughs Allen, Beth Noble Campbell, Marilyn Price Smedley, Bob Coates. Back row (L to R): Bob Drinkwater, Jim Wilson, Steve McLane, Leon Hirsh.
Bradley T. Sullivan ’03 and Tara Mulrooney, a son, Henry Thomas William Sullivan, June 16, 2022
Casi Clark Benedict ’05 and Daniel W. Benedict, a daughter, Embry Camp Benedict, May 6, 2022
William A. Freeman ’05 and Stephanie W. Freeman, a son, Benjamin Louis Freeman, on June 27, 2021
Mary Jo Kilzer Weaver ’05 and Adam Weaver, a daughter, Finley Jo Weaver, on Jan. 12, 2022
Julie Potter Byrne ’06 and Jonathan Byrne, a son, Wyatt Steven Aloysius Byrne, on Jan. 11, 2022
Colleen Comer Courtwright ’06 and Alex Courtwright, a daughter, Evelyn Carol Courtwright, on April 20, 2022
Amanda Arnett Harris ’06 and Jody Harris, a daughter, Audrey Lidamarie Harris, on March 7, 2022
Lindsay Milton Lodmell ’06 and James Lodmell, a daughter, Caroline Ruth Lodmell, and a son, Andrew Russell Lodmell, on Dec. 7, 2020
Jennifer Toribio Naas ’08 and Daniel Naas, a daughter, Hadley Daniela Jude Naas, on Oct. 12, 2020
Haley Trogdlen McCauley ’07 and J. Mason McCauley ’07, a daughter, Alice James McCauley, on June 14, 2022
Ryan C. Meyer ’08 and Shauna Meyer, a son, Brayden Ryan Meyer, on March 20, 2022
Shayanna Little Hutchinson ’09 and Adam B. Hutchinson ’05, a son, Llewyn Jack Hutchinson, on March 12, 2022
Joshua T. Motley ’10 and Chelsea Thayer Motley, a son, August Taylor Motley, May 17, 2022
Andi Mong Miles ’12 and Nathan Miles, a daughter, Audrey Miles, on June 24, 2021
Daisey G. Weber ’12 and Robbie Weber, a son, Duncan Joseph Weber, on April 12, 2022
Jessica Carnes ’11, a daughter, Alexis Carnes, on March 1, 2022
Brittany Staub Stanley ’13 and Christopher A. Stanley, a son, Myles Christopher Alan Stanley, on April 29, 2022
Benjamin H. Lyvers ’15 and Katherine Lyvers, a daughter, Mary Katherine (Mary Kate) Lyvers, on July 31, 2021
Julia Landsberg Kurazono ’18 and Ryota Kurazono, a daughter, Lily Anika Kurazono, April 24, 2022
Alex Miller ’21 and Jack Allen, a baby, George Michael Miller on April 22, 2022
Oren “Ned” Reneau ’43, Grafton, West Virginia, died Feb. 17, 2022.
Joy Salzmann ’46, Sedona, Arizona, died Dec. 21, 2021.
Faith Marsh Blumenfeld ’50, Knoxville, Tennessee, sister of Virginia Marsh Bell ’44, died May 21, 2022.
Iris “Dixie” Grugin ’50, Frankfort, Kentucky, died Feb. 3, 2022.
Walter H. Herbert '50, Hanover, New Hampshire, died July 16, 2022.
Murray Cohen ’51, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, died Dec. 7, 2021.
Betty Hubble Blakemore ’52, Richmond, Kentucky, died Nov. 24, 2021.
Patsy Lewis Samples ’53, Lexington, died March 18, 2022.
Kenneth R. Catlett ’54, Bardstown, Kentucky, died April 15, 2022.
Harold T. Faulconer ’54, Lexington, died Jan. 12, 2022.
R. T. “Tom” Parks Jr. ’54, Fairhope, Alabama, died Feb. 24, 2022.
Nancy Graves Talbott ’54, Lexington, died July 1, 2022.
Joseph Cy Rowell ’55, Fort Worth, Texas, died Nov. 8, 2021.
Sharlene V. Lunsford ’56, Louisville, mother of Christe L. Lunsford ’90, died Feb. 25, 2022.
Barbara Wilson Moody ’56, Dayton, Ohio, died July 6, 2022.
Ivar Aavatsmark ’57, Lebanon, Tennessee, father of Julie Aavatsmark ’81, died Jan. 1, 2022.
William H. Hammonds ’57, Gulf Breeze, Florida, father of Amy Hammonds Compton ’84, died Jan. 13, 2022.
Gayle Ropke Greer ’58, Versailles, Kentucky, died Dec. 24, 2021.
Peggy Sleade Jenkins ’58, Springfield, Missouri, died Dec. 11, 2021.
Lee Rose ’58, Charlotte, North Carolina, husband of Eleanor Lollis Rose ’61, died April 5, 2022.
Charles Brumley ’59, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, father of Charla Brumley Reed ’87, died Feb. 23, 2022.
Edward C. Kennedy ’59, Pompano Beach, Florida, died April 8, 2022.
Clyde H. McKee ’59, Las Cruces, New Mexico, husband of Hilda Hulett McKee ’60, died Oct. 27, 2021.
Ann Cartmell Hussey ’61, Maysville, Kentucky, died May 17, 2022.
James M. Richards ’61, Lexington, died July 4, 2022.
Anne Hector North McMahon ’63, Louisville, mother of Kimberly North Mercker ’89, died Aug. 9, 2022.
Price Howell Topping ’64, Sag Harbor, New York, died Nov. 20, 2022.
Gary D. Coughlin ’66, Marlton, New Jersey, died Oct. 26, 2021.
William R. Goodan ’66, Louisville, died Dec. 20, 2021.
William F. “Billy” Reed ’66, Louisville, died Feb. 5, 2022.
Lewis G. Dickinson ’67, Glasgow, Kentucky, died Dec. 6, 2021.
Carl “Bud” Fairchild ’67, Fraziers Bottom, West Virginia, died Dec. 10, 2021.
William G. Hiles ’67, Lexington, died May 23, 2022.
Stephen C. Hombach ’67, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, died July 15, 2022.
Barbara Hoppenjans McCarthy ’67, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, died Jan. 11, 2019.
Thomas J. Owens ’67, Aiken, South Carolina, died May 27, 2022.
Ossie Kathleen Becknell ’68, Manchester, Kentucky, died Dec. 25, 2021.
Michael F. Jeffrey ’68, Ashland, Virginia, died Oct. 1, 2019.
B. Ritchie Zaeh '68, Roswell, Georgia, husband of Kelly Lannum Zaeh ’66, died March 21, 2022.
Lorna Petty Harrell ’69, Independence, Kentucky, died April 22, 2022.
James L. Hurley ’69, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Minnetonka, Minnesota, died Feb. 14, 2022.
Douglas H. Jenkins ’69, Lebanon, Kentucky, died Nov. 2, 2021.
Metta Tomlinson-Lansdale Jr. ’69, Traverse City, Michigan, died July 13, 2022.
William L. Burgoyne ’70, Westfield, Massachusetts, died Jan. 31, 2022.
Cheryl Edmunds Kirk ’70, Hamilton, Ohio, mother of Jennifer A. Kirk ’08, died Nov. 22, 2021.
Mary Thompson Tillman ’70, Pottsboro, Texas, wife of John S. Tillman ’70, died June 30, 2022.
William "Inge" Hill Jr. ’71, Montgomery, Alabama, husband of Camille Elebash Hill ’73, died Aug. 7, 2022.
David A. Rose ’71, Lexington, died
July 24, 2022.
Paul D. della Volpe ’71, Dayton, Ohio, died June 20, 2022.
Peter Larro Jr. ’72, Glen Falls, New York, died July 30, 2020.
Edward Christian “Chris” Mathews ’72, Concord, New Hampshire, died Nov. 11, 2021.
Arthur G. Tafel III ’72, Louisville, died Aug. 17, 2018.
Brien F. Sullivan ’72, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, died Nov. 26, 2021.
Robert K. Claycomb ’73, Hodgenville, Kentucky, father of Robert B. Claycomb ’93 and Thomas P. Claycomb ’05, died Nov. 17, 2021.
Gregory D. Rohrer ’73, Louisville, died June 1, 2022.
Sharon L. Scott ’73, Scottsville, Kentucky, died October 24, 2021.
Philip C. Trover ’73, Earlington, Kentucky, father of Loman Collin Trover ’10, died Nov. 4, 2021.
Jill Brooks Pellerin ’75, Hilton Head, South Carolina, died April 12, 2022.
David J. Christiansen ’76, Winchester, Kentucky, died May 27, 2022.
David Steven “Steve” Bobo ’78, Memphis, Indiana, died Jan. 5, 2022.
Lisa K. McWhorter ’78, Suffolk, Virginia, died Oct. 21, 2021.
Susan Saunier ’81, Lexington, sister of Nancy Carr Mahoney ’85 and Anne Carr Oliver ’86, died March 16, 2022.
Catherine Miller Wells ’81, Louisville, wife of William B. Wells ’81, died July 25, 2022.
Kathryn Porter Letton ’85, Jacksonville, Florida, died October 26, 2021.
Cynthia M. Motsch ’85, San Diego, sister of Christine M. Motsch ’85, died May 20, 2022.
James R. Kolasa ’86, Burgin, Kentucky, died April 21, 2022.
Joseph I. Castro ’87, Louisville, brother of Paul T. Castro ’87, died April 23, 2022.
Elisa Pape Millett '90, Louisville,
sister of Ann Jonczy Pendley '01, died Aug. 12, 2022.
Alyssa McIntosh ’92, Lexington, died Jan. 10, 2021.
Sherri Swift Crossett ’00, Amelia, Ohio, died Jan. 3, 2022.
Travis Aaron Crump '00, Louisville, husband of Faith Hawkins Crump '02, died July 27, 2022.
Tallu Schuyler Quinn ’02, Nashville, Tennessee, died Feb. 17, 2022.
Sarah V. Gregory ’04, Salisbury, Maryland, died Aug. 22, 2020.
Kathleen C. Bryson, retired director of the Transylvania library, Lexington, died Oct. 15, 2021, in Lexington.
Bobby Burchette, former Transylvania professor, died Oct. 9, 2021, in Lexington.
David F. Burg, former Transylvania professor, died Nov. 6, 2021, in Lexington.
John R. Hall, lifetime Transylvania trustee, died Nov. 25, 2021, in Lexington.
We are proud to recognize these alumni and friends for their exemplary service to Transylvania and their communities and for distinguishing themselves in their respective professions. The awards were presented during the Alumni Celebration Convocation on Apr. 30.
Josh served on the Alumni Board from 1978-81 and Board of Regents from 2013-19, assisted the admissions office with recruitment of students of color and has been involved with every five-year reunion planning effort. He also served as a member of the Alumni Campaign Committee and has personally made gifts supporting all areas of campus. Josh served on the mission committee as part of Transylvania’s 2003 Strategic Plan and as a mentor in Transy’s 100 Doors to Success program. Josh is an active member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lexington, where he is currently an elder and church treasurer. He is married to Laura Lee McCullough Santana ’77 and has two daughters and five grandchildren.
Joshua E. Santana ’70
As the next generation of Pioneers experience the traditions of Transylvania, we invite you to invest in their success. Your philanthropic support will benefit academic programs, current students and the university as a whole.
Start the school year off right, and make a gift so our extraordinary students can achieve their goals, secure their future and pursue bold paths.
Give online at transy.edu/giving, or mail your gift to Transylvania University, 300 North Broadway, Lexington, KY 40508. EXPLORE MORE WAYS TO GIVE.
Leave your legacy in the heart of campus. Each year, Transylvania installs bricks and pavers in Alumni Plaza with graduate, faculty and staff names. Proceeds from this project help fund an annual scholarship awarded to a child or grandchild of Transy alumni.
Adding a name is easy. Visit transy.edu/alumni and select the “Alumni Plaza” link. For questions, please contact the alumni and development office at 800-487-2679 or giving@transy.edu.
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