CL ASS NOTES College. Christopher H. Asplen ’86 an attorney with Hill Wallack LLP, moderated a nuclear terrorism mock trial at the International Peace Palace in The Hague this past winter. The attorney-in-charge of the firm’s life sciences practice, Asplen has been working for over a year now with the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (“GICNT”) as one of its legal experts. Catherine Grozier ’87 assistant dean in humanities and social sciences, was recognized on May 15 for outstanding performance by a member of the administrative staff at Northampton Community College. Grozier was praised for caring about individual success and taking time to help students, faculty and administrators solve problems. This past year she handled a double workload while a colleague was out for a family emergency and provided personal support for that family. In addition to her bachelor’s degree from West Chester University, she earned a master’s degree from Temple University.
1990s
Vicki Worden ’91, has been named executive director of the Green Building Initiative. Worden was part of the original launch team that brought Green Globes to the United States and served as Vice President of Commercial Programs for the organization from 2005 to 2010. Worden became a national spokesperson and champion for green building, resulting in significant recognition of Green Globes by designers, building owners, and all levels of government. Vicki holds an MBA from Loyola University in Baltimore. Donna Heller ’92, MPA, has been promoted to Lower Merion Director of Parks and Recreation. Prior to joining Lower Merion Township, she served as Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Burlington, New Jersey.
18 WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
Tom Blomstrom ’93, MBA was hired in March as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Whitemarsh Township in Lafayette Hill, PA. In addition, Tom was also appointed as the Pennsylvania Professional Representative to the National Recreation and Park Association Mid-Atlantic Regional Consortium consisting of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society. Andy Olsen ’94 was named northeast regional sales manager for Tricor Braun, a world leader in packaging components. In this new role, Olsen will work closely with the northeast sales to drive TricorBraun’s business forward in the areas of account management, project development and growth, while continuing to work closely with customers. Melissa DeStefano M’96 has brought Special Olympics to Pottsgrove High School. In 2013, she co-founded Falcon Friends, a PGHS organization that pairs regular education students with those who have special needs. Special Olympics took place at Souderton Area High School on May 18th. DeStefano has accomplished all this while battling multiple sclerosis. Chris Dima ’96 is CEO of Walnut Street Labs. Located in West Chester, Walnut Street’s mission is to promote and create innovation in greater Chester County and Southeastern PA. Ryan T. Lombardi ’97 vice president for student affairs at Ohio University has been named Cornell’s vice president for student and campus life, effective Aug. 1. Shelby Naunton ’98 has been promoted to vice president at the Lancaster City Alliance.
2000s
Stephen P. Smith ’01, an attorney, has been named director of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. His exemplary, efficient and passionate leadership for the Bureau’s mission, demonstrated during his service as acting commissioner prompted this appointment.
Angela Spadone Love ’01 has been hired as principal of Seven Sorrows School, Middletown, PA. Jenna Maus-Colucci ’04, an educator with the West Essex Middle School in North Caldwell NJ, was presented with a Governor’s Teacher of the Year Award. One of her colleagues referred to her as “an outstanding educator who constantly motivates her students to reach far beyond what they believe are their capabilities. … and a model for all teaching professionals, young and old, to emulate.” Sarah F. Young ’04 has earned a B.S. degree in nursing from Drexel University and plans to work in forensic nursing. Jennifer Gilhooley ’06, sales manager and national account executive for the North America Division, headquartered in New York City, was named the North America 2014 Sales Performer of the Year by her employer, JC Decaux, the premiere outdoor advertising corporation, headquartered in Paris, France. Dr. Garrett Cuppels ’07 risked his life attempting to save a man who jumped off a bridge into the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Dr. Cuppel’s heroism was featured in “An American Hero” on Dateline NBC. Benjamin Ford ’10 musician 1st Class, a native of Coatesville, PA., joined the Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble in 2014 as a trombonist. He earned a Bachelor of Music in jazz performance with a music history minor from WCU and a Master of Music in jazz performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Pete Olsen ’12 returned to campus in April and gave an excellent presentation to Dr. Barth’s “Chemistry of Beer” class. Pete, who is now a brewer for Dogfish Head in Milton, DE, related his journey as a student in Dr. Barth’s class to Boxcar Brewing in West Chester, to Dogfish Head, to the Seibel Institute in Chicago, and back to Dogfish Head. Colleen Gray ’13, an associate professor of music at Slippery Rock University, wrote The Life and Vocal Works of Lee Hoiby, American Composer and Classical Pianist (1926-2011): Including a Complete Catalog of his Songs, which was published earlier this year by Edwin Mellen Press in Lewiston, N.Y