Alumni Class Notes
1999-2000

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Class of 1999

Matthew Behr (mechanical engineering), a graduate student at Georgia Tech, is spending his first year in Metz, France, on a joint program fellowship. In his second year he will be a teacher's assistant.

Amy Benedict (criminal justice and political science) is a Chancellors Scholar at Syracuse University College of Law. After earning her degree, she plans to earn a master's degree in applied psychology from Columbia University.

Jeff Boyd (biology and chemistry) is a medical student at Temple University School of Medicine.

Erin Burns (psychology) attends Villanova University School of Law. She reports that the Honors classes at the University of Delaware "helped in more difficult concepts and also in balancing heavy workloads, which is necessary in law school."

Bonnie C. Callahan (biology) attends medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Jennifer Cleveland (Degree with Distinction in food science) is pursuing her master's degree in science at Rutgers University on a Graduate Excellence Fellowship. She spent the summer of 1999 as an intern food specialist at SPI Polyols in New Castle, Delaware.

Richard Corcoran (finance and economics) works for J.P. Morgan as an ICS analyst and lives in New Jersey.

Jaime Manna Davison (accounting and finance) works as a staff accountant/consultant with LarsonAllen-CherryBekeart in South Carolina. She married Brian Davison (mechanical engineering '99) on February 29, 2000.

Nicole Derungs (Dean's Scholar in English) works at a private day care school in Maryland, where she teaches pre-kindergarten children. She plans to attend graduate school next year.

Claire Megan Dooley (elementary and special education) lives in Huntington Beach, California, where she teaches special education in the Corona-Norco School District.

Brendan Driscoll (Honors Degree in philosophy) is pursuing a Ph.D. in rhetoric at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Katrina Edge (psychology) attends law school at the University of Chicago on a partial scholarship.

Jennifer Eye (biochemistry) is a doctoral student in pharmacy at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

Amy Joelle Fligiel (accounting) works as a staff auditor with Ernst and Young LLP; she took her CPA exam in November 1999.

Sean Gallagher (mechanical engineering) attends graduate school at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and is working as a teacher's assistant.

Bonnie Goldenberg (Honors Degree in history) received a fellowship and began her Ph.D. in history at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Rachel C. Gordon (political science) works as an administrator for Jewish Heritage Programs in Philadelphia. She also teaches SAT classes at KAPLAN and is planning to apply to law school.

Elizabeth Gorski (criminal justice) is working towards a certificate of cosmetology at Rizzieri Institute and lives in Marlton, New Jersey.

Victoria Haje (management and marketing) is a law student at the UCLA School of Law.

Allison Hansen (chemistry) works as a chemist in the pressure-sensitive and laminating adhesives division with National Starch and Chemical Company.

Heather Hartline (Honors Degree in nutritional sciences and dietetics) is interning in dietetics at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda.

Nathaniel Heller (Honors Degree in international relations and foreign languages and literature) holds a one-year fellowship at The Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C., after which he will pursue a master's in foreign service at Georgetown University.

Erica Iacono (English journalism) works as an assistant editor at ParentGuide newspaper in New York City.

Jool Nie Kang (Honors Degree in international relations) attends Emory University School of Law in Atlanta on a scholarship.

Nicole Kesty (Honors Degree in food science) received a full-tuition scholarship to pursue her Ph.D. in molecular biology at Duke University.

Karen Kinkel (biological sciences) is a medical student at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

Cristen Cropper Klute (chemistry education and psychology) teaches chemistry in the South Jefferson Central School District and lives in Calcium, New York.

Greg Knott (German) is pursuing a master's degree at the University of Munich in Germany, where he is studying German, Scandinavian, and English literature. Greg reports, "I have lost the weight I gained during the 1,000 Beer Semester (and gone back to more reasonable amounts of beer drinking)."

Lynne K. Larochelle (Honors Degree in chemistry) is a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania.

Marc Lipschultz (civil engineering) is a traffic engineer for McCormick, Taylor, & Associates and lives in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

Kara Odom (Degree with Distinction in chemical engineering) is interning at Merck & Co. in clinical research and biologics. She plans to attend medical school after she completes the internship.

Aaron W. Overman (civil engineering) is working towards a master's degree in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He was awarded the Advanced Institute for Transportation Infrastructure Engineering and Management Fellowship, as well as a research assistantship at the Center for Transportation Research.

Tim Patton (computer science) is a software engineer with Herlex Systems Ltd. and lives in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania.

Kari Peter (Degree with Distinction in entomology and plant pathology) completed an internship at Du Pont Stine-Haskell and is now in graduate school in plant pathology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she received a teaching assistantship and fellowship.

Melissa Rabey (Degree with Distinction in history) received an internship in the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives and she is working towards a master's degree in library science at the University of Kentucky.

Shaun Ramsey (computer and information science) is pursuing a doctorate in computer science at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Bryan Reed (computer engineering) works as a consultant in web development with Booz Allen and Hamilton and lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Allison Ritter (animal science (pre-veterinary medicine)) is in veterinary school at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Gregory Robleto (English) is a web designer and head of the design department at Emeron in Delaware.

Louis P. Rotkowitz (biological sciences) worked as a seasonal park ranger in Nassau County, New York, before entering the Ross University School of Medicine in New York City.

Jennifer Roux (biological sciences) is a medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Justin Schaffer (mechanical engineering) works at Sunair Company as an application engineer and sales engineer and lives in Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Amy Sens (Honors Degree in international relations) volunteers with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. She is working as a paralegal in the domestic violence division of AYUDA, a law firm serving the Hispanic community in Washington, D.C. She plans to enter seminary for graduate work.

Tammy Stigile (Degree with Distinction in family and community services) received a fellowship from Florida State University, where she is pursuing a master's in social work.

Monica M. Stoll (Italian) is pursuing two master's degrees¾one in Italian and the other in foreign language education-at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she is also teaching as an associate instructor.

Rebecca Stone (environmental science and geology) is an assistant geoscientist with MeLaren/Hart, Inc., and lives in North Wales, Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals.

Cathleen A. Swody (psychology) studies industrial/organizational psychology in a doctoral program at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Philip J. Torina (biology and liberal studies) attends Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He is also serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Delaware.

Julie Vidinghoff (Dean's Scholar in environmental science) works with Americorp as the watershed watch coordinator with the Tualatin Riverkeepers in Portland, Oregon.

Aaron Wallen (Honors Degree in psychology) has a teaching assistantship and is pursuing a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology at New York University.

Erin Weleber (international relations) serves as an Americorps member. She has a construction position with the Omaha Habitat for Humanity in Nebraska.

Sara Whitehead (Honors Degree in English) received the W.W. Cooper Scholarship and is pursuing a master's degree in arts management from the Carnegie Mellon University Heinz School in Pittsburgh.

Betsy Winter (English and psychology) has an assistantship at Temple University, where she is pursuing a master's degree in journalism.

Richard Yoon (Honors Degree in liberal studies and biology) attends medical school. He is working on his first research publication based on his thesis research. He also designed a t-shirt for the 4th annual Operation Smile 5K Run.

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Class of 1998

Janina Abiles (hotel, restaurant, and institutional management) works for Marriott International in Orlando, Florida, as the assistant manager in the Italian Fine Dining restaurant. She accepted this position after returning from four months as a bartender/intern in Switzerland.

Alison M. Bossert (biology education) teaches seventh grade life science at Twin Valley Middle School in Pennsylvania. She is also pursuing a master's degree in secondary education.

Ami J. Hoffman (sociology) has returned from volunteering in Israel and is now working as a residence director at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts.

Sara Morriss (Honors Degree in English) attends the University of Pittsburgh, and is working toward an M.F.A. in fiction.

Jenny Nuuttila (nutritional science and dietetics) moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where she is working as a dietician in a "beautiful rural community."

Jeremy W. Pinkham (computer science) works for an Internet startup company in Baltimore.

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Class of 1997

Ken Bonamo (Russian Studies; M.A. Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service) is "thrilled to be teaching Russian at his alma mater" and is pursuing his master's degree in educational administration.

Nicholas T. Leone (Degree with Distinction in nursing) was recently accepted to Jefferson Medical College. During the summer, Nick, Bob Dilmore ('96), and Mark Okonowicz ('98) went on a 3½-month backpacking trip out west.

Erica M. Sparks (psychology) is pursuing a master's degree in counseling at the University of South Florida. She currently works with abused and neglected children.

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Class of 1996

Roger F. Clark (chemistry) works for AstroPower in Newark, Delaware.

Mark E. Frey (chemical engineering; M.S. chemical engineering, Penn State, 1999) has a new job as a process engineer at Intel. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Matthew R. Kratz (philosophy) is a teacher's assistant in a first-grade classroom at Lafayette Elementary School and lives in San Francisco. He also makes music for adult films.

Betsy Hoats Krauss (accounting) and her husband, Dan Krauss ('97) have moved to Stamford, Connecticut. Dan is working for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City and Betsy is employed by a regional CPA firm, Grill and Partners, in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Elizabeth R. Stapleton (music) continues to work at the Cleveland Institute of Art Library. She writes, "I spend a lot of time volunteering at Animal Protective League of Cleveland, where I am known for my partiality to the feline species. . . .The APL employees have also given me the privilege of socializing feral (wild) kittens so that the kittens can be placed for adoption."

Sara Cassidy Wheaton (English education and history) has taken a leave from her position as an English teacher in the Arlington public schools to pursue her master's degree in English literature at San Diego State University.

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Class of 1995

Mike S. Price (Degree with Distinction in animal science) is pursuing a master's degree in plant pathology from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He planned to start work on a doctorate this past summer. He and Jen Libby ('97) were married on June 28, 1997.

Marni E. Vath (communications) is "working for a high-end residential architecture and interior design firm in Los Angeles [and is] also having a very successful season playing rugby for the UCLA Women's Rugby Club."

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Class of 1994

Christine Bongiorno (pre-veterinary medicine) wants to correct her wedding date printed in the Fall 1999 Alumni Newsletter. She was married October 9, 1999, not October 6. Christine and her husband now live in Sussex County, New Jersey. She is working in her "dream" practice at The Animal Hospital of Sussex County. She writes, "We see everything from cats, dogs, small mammals, reptiles, and avians to cattle, sheep, horses, goats, and llamas and we also do work for a local zoo."

Seth Gleiman (chemical engineering; M.S. chemical engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1997; Ph.D. chemical engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1999) is living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is currently a post doctorate fellow at the Los Alamos National Lab. While in graduate school, Seth was on a team that took third place in the Du Pont Plunket competition for new uses for Teflon. He also played on an Ultimate team that went to the 1997 world club championships. Seth is a triathlete and has competed in a number of Iron Man qualifying events.

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Class of 1993

James L. Loving (psychology; Psy.D. Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University, 1998) works as a licensed psychologist in Philadelphia, providing forensic and clinical services to adolescents and their families. He also teaches as an adjunct faculty member at LaSalle and West Chester Universities.

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Class of 1992

Jean R. Cornish Anastasia (biology; M.A. applied ecology, S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook, 1999; Ph.D. ecology and evolution, S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook, 1999) has moved to East Moriches, New York, and is working as a biology instructor at Suffolk County Community College.

Susan Coulby (English/journalism and American studies) became the media relations coordinator at Camden County College in Blackwood, New Jersey, in July 1999.

Kathleen M. Hall Testa (psychology; M.A. industrial/organizational psychology, West Chester University) is the human resources manager at Bancroft Construction Company in Wilmington, Delaware. She and her husband, Joseph Testa, were married in July 1997.

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Class of 1991

Mindy Procopio Buckley (chemical engineering; M.S. chemical engineering, Lehigh University, 1996) got married and continues to work for Merck in New Jersey.

Jeanne M. Madej (business administration; M.I.M., American Graduate School of International Management, 1992) is a vice president and senior securities underwriter at Bank One in Manhattan.

Gretchen Hertzog-Mahar (Spanish; M.A. Penn State University, 1993; M.Ed. Wesley College, 1999) received her M.Ed. in May 1999 and is teaching high school Spanish in Pennsville, New Jersey.

D. Betsy McCoach ('91) is a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut. She works as the assistant director of Mentor Connection, a summer program for talented high school students, and as a facilitator in the Comment Program, a service learning component of the University of Connecticut Honors Program. Betsy recently had her first article accepted for publication. She also married Del Siegle on May 22, 1999.

John A. McGeehan (Degree with Distinction in mechanical engineering) and his wife, Christy Snyder McGeehan ('91) enjoyed another trip to Detroit for Fantasy Camp, this time with the entire family. "John lived out his dream of being the last to walk off the Tiger Stadium field in uniform after a game."

Len Stark (Honors Degree in political science; Degree with Distinction in economics; M.A. European history; D.Phil. British politics, Oxford, 1993; J.D., Yale University) was the Winter Commencement speaker on January 8, 2000, at the University of Delaware. Len is working at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP.

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Class of 1990

Jennifer Guidotti Alvarado teaches biology and anatomy at Cinnaminson High School. Jenn was married to Bernard Alvarado on July 10, 1999. She and her husband bought a house in Riverton, New Jersey.

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Class of 1989

Craig R. Tobias (biological sciences; Ph.D. biological sciences, William and Mary, 1999) continues to do research at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

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Class of 1988

Kristin Londahl-Smidt Frensley (electrical engineering) accepted a new job as district manager for Inacom Communications in Southern California. She is also enjoying spending as much time as possible with her 1-year-old daughter, Samantha, and husband, Chris Frensley.

Trish Olson Moore (sociology; M.Ed., University of Delaware, 1991) left the world of full-time work to be home with her five-year-old son, Alex, and three-year-old daughter, Kerry. She continues to teach part time at the University of Delaware through the Academic Services Center. Her husband, Scott Moore ('87), works at Du Pont's Glasgow site.

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Class of 1987

Oliver J. Smith (Degree with Distinction in chemical engineering; Ph.D. chemical engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University, 1991) purchased a farm with a 120-year-old farmhouse in Pennsylvania. Oliver writes, "When I am not busy renovating the house I am busy farming or taking care of our horses."

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Class of 1986

John M. Nahay (chemical engineering; M.S. math, Rutgers University) defended his doctoral dissertation, "Linear Differential Resolvents," in December 1999 and was awarded his Ph.D. in math at Rutgers University in May 2000.

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Class of 1984

Michele D. Davis (Degree with Distinction in animal science) professed religious vows with the secular institute of St. Francis de Sales. She also enjoys working with and teaching mentally and physically challenged people through Chimes, Inc., in Newark.

Iris Gonzalez (Biological Sciences, Dean's Scholar; M.D., University of Kansas, 1991) is teaching in the Family Medicine Residency Program of Topeka, Kansas, and enjoys home life with her husband, Mike Cluff, and their son, Evan James, born last December.

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Staff Notes

Sharon Scott (programming advisor 1993-95) recently eloped in Alabama. She and her husband have moved to Tampa, Florida, where they have bought their first home. Sharon is now working at Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa. She writes, "We're now owned by five bulldogs. . . . It's nowhere near as insane as it sounds, though, as normal bulldog activity consists primarily of sleeping and snorting."

Jenny Stanberry-Beall (programming advisor 1999-2000) and husband Michael Stanberry- Beall ('99) are the proud parents of twins (Madelayne Amelia and Ezekiel Halloran), born on August 25, 2000, in Rochester, N.Y., where the family now lives.

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Marriages

Terumi Nagase ('87) and Chris McKenna ('87) were married on August 25, 2000, in Wilmington, Delaware.

Kimberly Michalek ('99) and Jim Witkoskie ('00) were married on August 5, 2000, in Huntington Station, New York.

Adrienne Thompson ('98) and Rob Eckhardt ('98) were married on July 15, 2000. They are living and working in Rochester, New York. Adrienne is a microbiologist for Highland Hospital and Rob is a Resident Director for the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Stamatios Stamoulis ('96) and Jennifer Lea Brinkmeier were married on July 2, 2000, in Newark, New Jersey.

Eliza L. Redlus ('98) and Josh Phillips ('97) married in July 2000. Josh was Eliza's freshman year resident assistant on the fourth floor of Dickinson C. She also graduated from New York University with her master's degree in counseling in May 2000.

Pamela A. Miller Sikora ('94) was married on June 24, 2000. She and her husband continue to live in Maryland.

Jen Kern ('98) and Jason Remy ('98) were married on May 27, 2000, in Springfield, Virginia.
Jen is a forensic chemist working for the State of North Carolina, and Jason is teaching high school chemistry. They live in Garner, North Carolina.

Jaime Manna ('99) and Brian Davison ('99) were married on February 29, 2000, in South Carolina. They had an intimate ceremony on her friend's back porch rather than going to the courthouse. They now live in South Carolina.

Krista Marie King ('96) and Scott Allen Barber ('96) were married on November 6, 1999, in Medford Lakes, New Jersey.

Spencer C. Payne ('97) married Erica Thorsen on October 16, 1999. Spencer is in his third year of medical school at State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Doug Fagen ('91) and Suzanne Smith were married on August 1, 1999. After honeymooning in London, Doug took a position as a child psychologist at the Lab School of Washington in Washington, DC, working with children with learning disabilities.

M. Jane Steele ('92) married Paul van Adrichem Boogaert in 1998. She and Paul are currently living in New York City. In 1997 Jane earned a master's in business administration from the Rotterdam School of Management in The Netherlands.

Morris A. Weinstock-Blair ('87) and C. Thomas Blair, Jr. were married in October 1998. The Weinstock-Blairs are living in State College, Pennsylvania.

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Births

Julie Finley O'Connor ('88) and her husband, Tim O'Connor, have announced the birth of their son, Aidan Patrick, on April 21, 2000. Aidan has an older brother, Liam.

Tea Burt Carnell ('86) and Kevin Carnell ('88) announce the birth of their second child, Alice Olivia, on April 17, 2000. Their son is named J. Atticus.

John Buschiazzo ('88) and his wife Anne Marie Buschiazzo are the proud new parents of Grace Elizabeth, born March 27, 2000.

Iris P. Gonzalez ('81) and her husband, Mike Cluff, have a son, Evan James, born December 29, 1999.

Alaina Beth Young Haerbig (elementary and special education; M.S. education, Johns Hopkins University, 1995) enjoys teaching gifted children part time. She and her husband, Chris Haerbig, are delighted to have two sons, Matthew Wesley, born May 17, 1998, and Nathan Andrew, born May 28, 1999.

Bob S. Huss ('90) and Cindi L. Olson Huss ('91), along with daughter Linore Anniken (3 years old), welcomed their new daughter Jana Mae to the family on September 15, 1999. Bob is a staff member at the University of Massachusetts Chemical Engineering Department in Amherst, and Cindi owns an on-line quilting business.

Sheila Hogan Levie ('91) and husband Stefan Levie ('91) are pleased to announce the birth of their sons Nicholas Gerhard and Alexander Thomas on September 23, 1999. Nicholas and Alexander are identical twins.

Kirsten Margaret Saxe ('85) and her husband, William Thompson, celebrated the birth of their son, Justin Saxe Thompson, on September 15, 1999. Kirsten and William are also foster parents to a 15-year-old, Gary DeVor.

Chris A. Seguin ('91) and family welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth Morgan, on August 24, 1999. Chris earned his Ph.D. in computer science in 1998 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Seguins are now living in Newark, Delaware.

Anne Marie Edenhofner Tan ('91) and her husband, Narciso Tan, welcomed their son, Nathaniel, on August 15, 1998. In January 2000 the family moved to Eindhoven, The Netherlands, as part of a job transfer with Narciso's company.

Julie L. Campbell Tokarski ('94) and Aaron Tokarski were married in June 1995. They now have a son, Alexander Aaron, born April 8, 1997, and a daughter, Abigail Nicole, born February 11, 1999. Julie says, "I am privileged to be a stay at home mom with two wonderful children and an incredible husband."

John Velonis ('87) and his wife, Jeanne Braun Velonis (daughter of Professor T.E.D. Braun of Foreign Languages and Literature), had twin boys on February 23, 2000. The twins are named Adrian and Nathan.

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In Memoriam

Dr. Edward W. Claugus (FHP '77) died on April 3, 1999. We wish to express our condolences to all of his family and friends.

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Excerpts from some letters:

November 1999 from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
"[I] was promoted within the past year to Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Franklin & Marshall College. . . . Funny story¾now that it's over: This past October, one hour AFTER the announcement of the military coup of the Pakistani government, I left for a recruiting trip that began in Pakistan…and let me add, if you're a U.S. citizen, traveling abroad for your first time, and have never gone into a third-world nation on the brink of a military takeover of the government, I highly recommend it as a good time! No danger to speak of except for stringent security checks on foreigners in the airports. But I have to say, watching CNN in my hotel room upon my arrival to Karachi, Pakistan, and seeing 'Crisis in Pakistan' on the screen, has a whole new meaning when you're sitting in ground zero. The trip continued from Pakistan to Kuwait to Bahrain and then to Norway¾believe it or not. All in all, two of the most interesting and life-changing weeks I've ever known."
--Varo Duffins ('94)

December 1999 from Woodridge, Illinois
"After working for McDonald's Corporation for the last 2½ years as a consultant in their Information Systems department, I have become a full employee of McDonald's and am now working in their Operations Technology department. My main focus is testing new generations of point-of-sale (POS) and back-office software to provide ever-increasing efficiencies for McDonald's restaurants to more effectively serve our 22 million daily customers."
--Vicki L. McKay Leranth ('92)

March 2000 from South Carolina
"Well, we did it. . . . I was talking to one of the partners (Wayne) at work and he mentioned that because he's a notary, he's legally allowed to perform marriage ceremonies in South Carolina. I told Brian and he said let's do it on leap year's day. . . . We picked out a ceremony for Wayne to read. We bought the wedding rings after work. . . . I wore my old high school graduation dress and a new white sweater. I borrowed a ring from someone at work that had a blue stone in it. So I had the new, old, borrowed, and blue. A woman I work with thought I needed a wedding bouquet, so she ordered it. . . . . They were beautiful white tulips wrapped in lace with pearls on the handle. Wayne and his wife, Carol, bought us champagne and a plant for our new house. We had the ceremony at their house on the back porch. They took us out to dinner after the ceremony. We videotaped the whole thing and took pictures. We called our parents after we got home from dinner and told them. It was great!
--Jaime (Manna) Davison ('99)

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