News and Life Events
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1960-69
Richard Foster (B64) returned to campus in September to present an award in his name to pastor and author Joshua Choonmin Kang at a free public gathering at which Kang gave a lecture, “Deep-Rooted in Christ.” The award honors those whose intellectual and practical work helps others come into an ongoing transformational relationship with Christ. Kang is the founding pastor of New Life Vision Church in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles and the author of more than 80 books in Korean, including Solitude of a Leader, with more than 1.5 million copies in print. Foster is renowned worldwide for his book Celebration of Discipline, and is the founder of Renovaré.
Chuck Mylander (B64) and Deborah Martin (B79, M01) serve as leaders of two prayer groups that include 15 members of the ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox Board of Trustees. They lead the groups in Scripture reading and praise, discussion about books on prayer, and prayer for ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox University, including individual students and employees. The groups have met weekly via Zoom since 2020. “We are witnesses to the fact that God is working through this prayer group,” Mylander says. “So many of our prayers get answered, often in real time.”
1970-79
Glenn Ludtke (B71), who taught music in Portland public schools for 24 years until retiring in 2004, recently completed a term as president of the Rotary Club in Fayette, Missouri. He is involved at three churches – as a weekly pianist for St. Paul United Methodist Church, as a twice-a-month pianist at St. Joseph Catholic Church, and as a bell choir member at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church. He is highly visible in the city during holidays, portraying characters like “Uncle Sam” for the Fourth of July parade and “Lenny the Leprechaun” for St. Patrick’s Day.
Keith Merritt (B74), after 50 years, is still connected to his alma mater as co-coordinator of the Bruin Football Club. He retired from public education in 2007 after 35 years in four school districts, the last in the Longview (Washington) School District, where he was a middle school principal, starting in 1989. Still in Longview, Merritt co-coordinates the football club with Pete McHugh (B68), and teams with wife Jean to coordinate special gatherings at away games and tailgating events at home games.
Paul Koch (B79), at Olivet Nazarene University since 1992, reported last fall that the current school year would be his last, ending 32 years on the Bourbonnaise, Illinois, campus. He’s also been a faculty member of the International Business Institute for 23 years, with a study-abroad program in Europe and Asia. He plans to do pulpit supply for local congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
1980-89
Gayle Beebe (B81) was featured in an article, “A Presidential Journey in Pursuit of Excellence,” in the Oct. 27 issue of Higher Education Digest. His newest book, The Crucibles That Shape Us: Navigating the Defining Challenges of Leadership, was published this spring by InterVarsity Press. He is in his 17th year as president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.
Richard Zeller (B83) showcased his vocal talent on campus in April, performing for the ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox Legacy League and in the university’s spring concert. Acclaimed for both his concert and opera roles, the baritone is noted for his dramatic voice, compelling stage presence and musicianship. He’s been an opera and concert singer worldwide for 36 years, including 11 years with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He’s currently a voice faculty member at Portland State University, starting in 2019.
Heather (Pierson) Lewis (B84) and her husband, Dennis, were honored with the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce in Newberg. In a February ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ, the longtime owners of Lewis Audio Video were cited for volunteering to serve pancake breakfasts, being crossing guards, pressure washing downtown sidewalks, and donating the wall of their business for a mural supporting the ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox/Rotary Club of Newberg art program.
Keri-Jo (Jacobson) Raz (B88) started in August as a secondary math teacher with Central Christian Schools in Redmond, Oregon, with 277 students in pre-kindergarten through high school.
1990-99
Jim Johnson (M90) last July started as a business development manager with Ciocca Cleaning and Restoration in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Previously, for 23 years, he was with 3Rivers Federal Credit Union in Fort Wayne, the last 14 as vice president for member services. He also is cofounder of First Fridays Fort Wayne, started in 2017 to bring dynamic local leaders to speak on a variety of topics.
Philip Higgins (B92) and his Pacific Crest Real Estate Advisors firm received the 2023 Business Partner of the Year Award in September, awarded by the Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), a regional economic development organization for Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Newberg-based business was cited for exemplifying the best qualities of corporate citizenship by contributing significantly to the community.
Kurt Ronnow (B92) is special agent in charge of the counterintelligence division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the FBI’s Washington, D.C. field office. His appointment was announced last spring, as he moved from a position as deputy assistant director of the division.
Kevin Dougherty (B93), professor of sociology at Baylor University, is co-directing a five-year study, “Churches that THRIVE for Racial Justice,” that’s being funded by a $1 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant. It’s a collaboration that will connect sociologists who study race and religion with a cohort of 25 churches affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists in the U.S. Dougherty is in his 19th year at Baylor. He also is the graduate program director for the sociology department and chair of Baylor’s Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching.
Christine (Deboy) Drazan (B93) is seeking to return to her former position in the Oregon House of Representatives. A Republican, she narrowly lost the governor’s race in November of 2022, resigning her House seat of five years to run. The House minority leader from 2019 to 2021, she represented Clackamas County, where she resides in Canby. Previously, in September, she announced the establishment of A New Direction for Oregon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “holding power to account and providing Oregonians with a more balanced approach to the challenges we face.”
Charles Harrell (B93) is completing his first year as an attorney with Sapient Law in Portland. In the previous four years, he was a chief legal officer with El Hempe Spirits in Portland, following his position as chief executive officer and founder of Compass Law, also in Portland.
Christie (Lauinger) Wheatley (B94) is using her degree in sociology/social work as the independent living social service coordinator at Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg. She started in August, supporting residents with care management. She has worked with care facilities in the Portland area for 28 years.
Natalie (Schumacher) Goff (B95) is an English teacher at Keiser University in San Marcos, Nicaragua, where she and her husband, a seminary teacher, are independent missionaries. She’s taught English for 17 years, starting in Portland, then in Germany at Black Forest Academy, before a return to Portland and the move to Nicaragua in 2019.
Derick Mitchell (B95, M98) is now vice president of talent and culture with the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative in Clackamas, Oregon. It operates Oregon’s statewide beverage container return system on behalf of beverage distributors. He started in January of 2023 after two years as manager/senior human resources business partner with Cambia Health Solutions in Portland.
Robert Gebhardt (M97) has joined the leadership team at Brenner Certified Public Accountants in Salem, Oregon. He started in the spring of 2023 after just over a year as chief operating officer and vice president of finance and administration at Western Seminary in Portland.
Petra Hoy (M98) in November was given Woman of the Year designation in the Spokane, Washington, area by the Spokesman-Review newspaper. She was one of 14 named, recognized for her founding and leadership of Be the Change 509 – Eastside Gladiators, a grassroots nonpartisan organization dedicated to building a more kind and inclusive community.
Donovan Mattole (B98) is now headquartered in New York City, starting in December as the chief human resources officer with Langan Engineering and Environmental Services. He moved from his eight-year position in Philadelphia, where he was vice president of human resources with Brenntag, a global distributor of chemicals and ingredients.
Jessica (Wilson) Smith (B98) and Phil Smith (B98) live in Warrenville, Illinois, while he is president/CEO of First Love International Ministries in Loves Park, Illinois. He started in 2023 with the non-denominational missions agency. Previously, for more than two years, he was director of global partnerships with Accessible Hope International in Wheaton, Illinois, a faith-based nonprofit that specializes in assisting those with disabilities. She is using her education degree by homeschooling their children, advising other educators, and volunteering at a local Christian school.
Rose (Linn) Bernards (M99, B96) is now managing director with the Seattle office of the Alvarez & Marsal Healthcare Industry Group, a consulting firm working with turnaround management and corporate restructuring. Previously, for nearly 16 years, she was with Optum, which provides technology, pharmacy and direct healthcare services.
Kristi (Cash) White (M99) in August became interim director of the master of arts in counseling program at Multnomah University in Portland, while also serving as an assistant professor. She also resumed her private practice, Kristi Cash White Counseling, which she operated for 10 years until 2019, when she joined LifeStance Health in Gresham, Oregon, for four years.
Wade Neiwert (B99), after 19 years as a professor of chemistry and department chair at Bethel University in Arden Hills, Minnesota, has left for a new position in industry. He started in January as general manager and senior scientist with Higher Dimension Materials in Oakdale, Minnesota, the manufacturer of a special fabric, SuperFabric, with customers that include 3M.
John Nelson (B99), after three years as an electronics engineering manager with Electrolux in Hangzhou, China, is now in Boise, Idaho, where in October he began a position as a remote support engineer with HP Inc.
Eric Thompson (B99, M04) authored Strong Like Wildflowers, a 344-page Christian contemporary fiction paperback, released last June. He’s starting his third year as a research director for global supply chain planning at IDC (International Data Corporation) in Portland.
2000-09
J.J. Arthur (B00) has been promoted to vice president of nuclear steam supply system engineering with NuScale Power in Corvallis, Oregon, which designs and markets small modular reactors. He has been with the firm since 2010, moving up through five positions to the VP level while completing a program for leadership development at Harvard Business School for executive education.
Michael Dahl (B00, M02) has switched careers and is now a pastor, starting in April of 2023, at Gresham Bible Church, serving east Multnomah County, Oregon. He was named after just over two years as associate pastor. Previously, for more than 10 years, he was in the insurance business with Standard, Aetna and The Hartford in the Portland area.
Aron Depew (B00) started last June as a general surgeon with the healthcare services provider Optum, affiliated with several hospitals in Redlands, California. Previously, he was a general surgeon with the Beaver Medical Group in Redlands for nearly five years.
Holly Thomas-Mowery (B00, M04) is an associate broker with Homes of Idaho, Inc., in Boise. She started in November, moving from a similar position with Fathom Realty, also in Boise, after two and a half years. She also has her own business, in its 29th year, as a sign language interpreter, consultant, and conference interpreting coordinator and presenter.
Debbie (Ross) Taylor (B00) in January became the new executive director of the 300-member Madras-Jefferson County (Oregon) Chamber of Commerce. An 18-year resident of the area, Taylor spent the last three years placing student interns with local businesses in her role as internship coordinator with Economic Development for Central Oregon.
Nathan Goff (B01) is chief product officer with ClearlyRated, a Portland business he cofounded in 2008. He reports that a year ago his company, to accelerate growth, agreed to a majority investment by Software Growth Partners, a Silicon Valley-based investment firm focusing on software companies. ClearlyRated helps business-to-business services firms measure the client and employee experience with satisfaction surveys.
Aaron Gapasin (B01, M12) is Newberg’s Amazing Educator for 2024, named in March by the Newberg Graphic newspaper, which choses city winners nominated by district educators. He’s in his ninth year as an eighth-grade teacher at Chehalem Valley Middle School.
Amanda Sue Harris (B01) is back on campus – for a third time – now as an administrative assistant in the Department of Biological and Molecular Sciences. She started in January of 2023 after a 16-year hiatus to stay home with her children. She was an administrative assistant in the performing arts department from 2002 to 2005.
Tasha Burlini-Olson (M01) is starting her second year as director of quality assurance, food safety and research development with the Galloway Company, in a new position that combines previously separate departments. She moved 250 miles east from River Falls, Wisconsin, where for the previous 12 years she was director of quality and food safety with Fiberstar, Inc., a producer of citrus fiber products.
Kendra (Heinrichs) Jones (B02, M06) started in September at Southwest Christian School in Beaverton, Oregon, where she teaches fourth grade at the non-denominational school of 240.
Jennifer (Hansen) Kercher (M02), a teacher at Walker Middle School in Salem, Oregon, was named the Oregon Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Middle School Educator for 2023. She is the professional learning community leader for the middle school choir in the Salem-Keizer School District, as well as the choral chair for the OMEA D4 (Marion and Polk counties).
Daniel Russell (B02) has been promoted to aviation support facility commander with the Oregon Military Department. He’s now in his second year commanding Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, Oregon, for the Oregon Army National Guard. It is one of two such facilities and is where CH-47F (Chinook) helicopters are based. In June of 2022, he completed a master’s degree in operation studies at the Army Command General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Matthew Chandler (B03) has shifted from Notre Dame to Princeton University, where he started in September as research data infrastructure services lead, moving from research data service manager after a year. He started at Princeton in 2019 after being a postdoctoral research associate for a year following graduation from Notre Dame in 2018 with a PhD in sociology and peace studies.
Nick Chapman (B03) has moved up from northwest regional manager to director of operations for the Western United States with the Skyhawks Sports Academy. He began in September after starting with the company in 2019 as an area manager in Spokane, Washington, where he resides. The company offers 15 sports for 3- to 12-year-olds in summer camps and year-round after school.
Krista (Bibby) Herling (B03, M05) is with the Pinnacles Prep Charter School in Wenatchee, Washington, starting last August as a math intervention specialist before teaching Spanish and eighth- and ninth-grade math this year. She is also chair of the Malaga Water District for the unincorporated nearby city of 600 where she lives. In that role, she is guiding the district in an infrastructure expansion – spending nearly $40 million in the first phase – as it prepares to supply water for Microsoft to construct six new data centers that will use more than twice the amount of water the district now uses in the summer.
Derric Howard (B03) is in London as head of underwriting transformation with WTF (formerly Willis Towers Watson), in his second year with the British-American multinational insurance services company. It’s a move in the same city after more than 11 years with the Zurich Insurance Group.
Nicholas Ryland (B03) has been promoted to lead driving instructor with the Colorado Springs Police Department, where he’s been an officer for 18 years. He also is founder and president of Blue First, created to provide spiritual and physical respite to help first responders get away from daily routines to focus on relaxing and being refreshed in God’s word.
Josh Hunter (B04) is in his second year as senior manager, project management with Gilead Sciences, a biopharmaceutical firm in Foster City, California.
Nicole (Bostic) Killian (B04, B09) in February was named the new head volleyball coach at Great Falls (Montana) High School. She worked last fall as an assistant at Great Falls and previously was an assistant at Sherwood, Barlow and Reynolds high schools in Oregon.
David Malcolm (B04, M07) has returned to one of his alma maters, Cascade Christian Middle School in Medford, Oregon, where he teaches science courses for the school of 160. He started in August after previously teaching at South Medford High School.
Vic Napier (M04) is a financial services consultant in Tucson, Arizona, starting last August. Previously, he was with Sabino Research and Consulting for nearly 19 years, the last 13 years as owner.
Brenda (Dizer) Smith (M04) is chief marketing officer with Elyon International, an IT solutions and management consulting firm for commercial and government clients, headquartered in Vancouver, Washington. She is in her second year, working remotely from Nashville, Tennessee, after serving more than 11 years in her own consulting firm, BR Smith, as an economic equity strategist.
Enrika Weniger (M04) is in her second year as director of credit and contracts with PNW Railcars Inc., in Portland, after starting with the firm in 2019 as a credit and contract manager. She’s also an indoor cycling instructor with the Sherwood (Oregon) YMCA, in her 10th year.
Fairlight (Ankeny) Morelli (B05) and her husband, Aaron, gained attention in October with their service project to help a widow with her home and property needs. Through the Both Hands organization, they gathered friends and relatives to assist, each sending letters to raise sponsorship for their day of service. Money raised for Both Hands is used to financially help families adopt orphans. The Morellis have been cleared to adopt an orphan from Colombia and are awaiting a match.
Michael Chaney (B05) and Jessica (Johnson) Chaney (B09) live in Dallas, Oregon, on a 170-acre cattle farm, with Michael working at ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox and Jessica working in Salem, Oregon. He started on campus in January as a student account specialist and Veterans Affairs certifying official in the Office of Student Accounts. For the last decade he’s owned his own business, Silver Fox Photography, specializing in weddings and projects. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner with Childhood Health Associates in Salem, in her 14th year.
Bob Harding (M05) started in September as chief commercial officer with OnPoint Community Credit Union in Portland, providing financial services for businesses and nonprofits. He joined after one year as a regional manager with First Republic Bank in Portland.
Alice (Long) Knotts (B05) started last July as a consultant pharmacist with the Cornerstone Whole Health Care Organization Inc. in Payette, Idaho, a nonprofit serving rural and vulnerable populations. She moved after more than three years with Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Jerry Orr (B05, M09) is now a senior quality assurance manager with Curtiss Wright/PacStar in Tigard, Oregon, a developer and supplier of advanced, interoperable tactical and enterprise communications systems. He started in August after more than eight years with Vanguard EMS in Beaverton, Oregon.
Evangeline Pattison (B05) just completed her first year with The FOCUS Group, a Christian-based firm, based in St. Augustine, Florida, that prepares organizations for and helps them conduct capital campaigns. She is vice president for client services, a senior consultant and director of project management, living in Camas, Washington.
Matthew Smith (B05) last fall won a seat on the Chehalem Park & Recreation District Board to serve a three-year term. He is in his 19th year as a senior technical claims specialist with Liberty Mutual, handling complex workers’ compensation claims and managing litigation and complicated medical issues to bring claims to resolution.
Cynthia (Bonner) Wall (B05) is completing her second year as an accounting manager with PAE in Portland, a sustainable engineering design firm. Previously, for nearly four years, she was with the Newberg School District as a counseling secretary.
Bryan Cobb (B06) is now associate professor of math, computer science and physics at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, starting last fall after eight years as an assistant professor at North Park University in Chicago. Holding a PhD in biomedical engineering from Virginia Tech, he is helping build a new engineering program at Roanoke.
Perla Rodriguez (D06), after 25 years in the Forest Grove (Oregon) School District, has moved to a position in the nearby Beaverton School District, where she started in June as a K-8 executive administrator.
Evan Schanzenbach (B06), in his fifth year at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, last year began work as a curriculum and technology specialist after three and a half years as a curriculum coordinator.
Jason Twyman (M06) last July was promoted to second vice president of policyholder services in employee benefits with the Standard Insurance Company in Portland. He has been in 10 positions with the insurance company over 25 years.
Donna Anderson (B07, M20) started last fall as a literary specialist at the Arco Iris Spanish Immersion Charter School in Beaverton, Oregon, after a year teaching kindergarten in the Tigard-Tualatin (Oregon) School District.
Kyle Ashley (n07) is in Austin, Texas, heading two businesses. He is owner/founder, since 2010, of Green Building Energy Services, providing retrofit upgrades and energy-efficient services to builders and owners of new construction projects. Last year, he started BGA Holdings, a residential real estate firm that invests in single and multi-family homes in underprivileged and underserved communities.
Brian Bailey (B07) is in his second year as a business solutions program manager with the J.R. Simplot Company in Boise, Idaho, after working as a senior project manager for a year with the international food and agricultural company.
Sara Johnson (D07) in April was named superintendent of the High Desert Education Service District, which serves the Central Oregon school districts of Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, Crook County and Jefferson County. Scheduled to start in July at the Redmond headquarters, she previously was superintendent of the Crook County School District for five years, until 2023. An educator for 32 years, she has the rare distinction of being named both Oregon’s Principal of the Year (2007) and Superintendent of the Year (2023).
Isaac Moffett (B07) is in Buhl, Idaho, as an insurance representative with American Income Life, starting in January. Last year, he was a youth program director with the U.S. Department of Defense at a youth center in North Dakota following four years in Idaho as a middle and high school principal.
Timothy Nelson (B07) in January became a partner at Delap, a 135-employee tax, business and wealth advisory firm in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He’s been with the firm since graduation.
Rachel (Borgman) Samuelson (B07) last May started her own business, Breath Point Digital Marketing, in Long Beach, Washington. Providing services on LinkedIn, she helps with content strategy, email marketing, lead generation and social media marketing.
Brady Webb (M07) is now general manager of Freelin-Wade, starting last June, moving up from plant and operations manager after nearly three years. He’s been with the company for more than 18 years. Located in McMinnville, Oregon, it is North America’s largest independent manufacturer of plastic tubing and hoses for industries.
Michael Carr (M08) is starting his second year as chief information officer with Health First in Space Coast, Florida. He started with the not-for-profit community health system as vice president/chief technical officer and chief information security officer in Melbourne, Florida, in 2020, after more than four years in Portland with Legacy Health as vice president of information systems technology.
Holly Fay (B08) has returned to Oregon Health & Science University, starting in September as a nurse practitioner with the melanoma team. She was at OHSU for nearly five years, until 2015, as a registered nurse coordinator.
Ryan Fobert (B08) started in August as an assistant baseball coach at ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox. He’s been a business teacher at Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Oregon, since 2017.
Peter Jackman (B08) is using his mechanical engineering degree at SRAM, a designer and manufacturer of bicycle components. He’s at the company’s Colorado Springs, Colorado, location, one of five in the U.S., now in his second year as a test manager after starting as a test engineer in 2019.
Rick Janosek (B08) last June became a lead wear test analyst, global sports apparel, with Nike in Portland. He’s been with the sportswear company since 2014.
Jonathan Putnam (B08) started in October as a certified endpoint supervisor with Tecology, Inc., a Vancouver, Washington, firm that provides core IT services to businesses. Earlier, for more than six years, he was a desktop support team lead with Portland-based Northwest Evaluation Associates.
Chloe (Hamann) Verdick (B08), who majored in Christian ministries, is using her degree in Karamoja, Uganda, where she’s an accountant with the Orthodox Presbyterian Uganda Mission. It features a clinic, church services, educational outreach and community health programs. Her husband is a clinic administrator. They just completed their 12th year with the mission.
Amanda Westphal (B08) has a small paint and wine night business, Painting with Mandy, based in McMinnville, Oregon. She is also president of St. Bezzies Art Collab, a nonprofit started a year ago, created with the goal of providing curriculum and supplies for groups to participate in healing through art. Recently, she partnered with Mi Casa International in El Salvador to help 30 children in an orphanage there, establishing a $4,000 fundraising goal for a trip last spring.
Emily Alverson (M09), after 13 years in the Tillamook (Oregon) School District, has moved to the Central School District in Monmouth, Oregon, where she is a kindergarten teacher at Monmouth Elementary School.
Jessica Dietlein (B09) is a senior subaward compliance officer with Mercy Corps, based in Portland. She started in October after living in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for more than a year as an associate reporting officer with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. Previously, she was in international positions in Amman, Jordan, and London.
Aubrie (Langenhuizen) McNeal (B09) moved with her family in August to San Salvador, El Salvador, where she’s a first-grade teacher with Escuela Americana, a private, coeducational, bilingual school system that teaches classes in English. Previously, she worked for 15 years as an academic interventionist at Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Denver. She plans on a two-year stay in El Salvador.
Danette Newkirk (B09) is back on campus, starting in the spring as an administrative assistant in the occupational therapy doctorate program. Previously, from 2003 to 2016, she was with the university’s marketing communications office, starting as a coordinator and ending as the advertising and design studio manager.
Vladimir Tkach (B09) started his own business in the fall of 2022 as a private accountant in Charlotte, North Carolina, then last year acquired a small CPA firm from a retiree. He transitioned from nearly nine years with Daimler Truck North America, where he was a sales controlling manager.
2010-19
Brett Gage (M10) is now with HF Foods Group Inc. in Las Vegas, a distributor of food products, primarily to Asian and Chinese restaurants. He started in May 2023 as a system administrator. Previously, he was with Blue Cross of Idaho for nearly seven years as a finance systems manager.
Connie Haney (M10) has moved from California to Kirkland, Washington, where she started in October with Acumatica as total awards director, helping design, implement and administer compensation and benefits programs. It is a cloud enterprise resource planning software provider. Previously, she was director of people operations with Teknova in Hollister, California.
Ryan Hawkins (M10) in March was named permanent superintendent of the Nyssa (Oregon) School District after being named interim superintendent in July of 2023.
Hannah Mills (B10) is a communications and public involvement specialist with the city of Gresham, Oregon. She’s in her second year after working more than nine years as a public involvement specialist with Portland consulting firm JLA Public Involvement.
Russ Pierson (M10, D12, D22), after seven years as dean of the Florence (Oregon) Center of Lane Community College in Eugene, is now dean of humanities for the main campus while continuing as dean of the Florence and Cottage Grove centers. He has been with LCC for 14 years.
Stephen Poeppe (B10) started in February as a senior advisor with Provarity, a software development company that helps businesses run more profitably, based in Pleasanton, California. He moved from a position as chief customer officer with AI EdgeLabs.
Melissa Rogers (B10) started in October as a human resources business partner with American Credit Acceptance in Meridian, Idaho. She left a 16-year position with T-Mobile, the last seven as a learning and development manager.
Scott Culbertson (B11) is director of retail sales at Mental Mojo, a supplier of nootropic supplements said to improve focus, memory and energy. He’s in his second year with the Scottsdale, Arizona, company, running all retail sales and distribution for the commercial side of the business. He’s also creating an indoor dog park and bar, Cool Paws, in Gilbert, Arizona.
Margaret Evans (M11) is a certified professional Enneagram coach, with her own business involving a personality testing system based on core motivations, fears and virtues. She started last July after nearly four years as an independent licensed professional counselor in Beaverton, Oregon.
Nathan Swenson-Reinhold (D11) was honored by McPherson College with a Young Alumni Award, one of five alumni recognized in October. He is a partner in GSB Fundraising in Frisco, Texas, and also the owner and leader of Summit Coaching and Behavioral Consulting in Frisco.
Ashley Brown (B12) started in February as a registered nurse with Center for Lifetime Health, a medical group practice in Boise, Idaho. Previously, she was with St. Luke’s Health System in Boise for nearly eight years before taking a five-month career break that included hiking the Camino Frances pilgrimage route.
William Gibson (D12) is in his second year with Helping Education in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is president and chief executive officer. It is a nonprofit seeking to empower historically marginalized students through evidence-based programs. Previously, he was in Seattle as chief strategy officer and managing partner with Sustineri Group.
Joshua Rice (B12) started last spring as lead SOAR (security, orchestration, automation and response) engineer with Booz Allen Hamilton, an American government and military contractor specializing in intelligence. He lives in Rosemount, Minnesota, and previously was a security operations center lead with Fanatics, Inc. He’s also in his eighth year with the Minnesota Army National Guard as a cyber operations specialist.
Jason Rogers (B12) is in his second year as an operations manager with Medical Teams International, based in Tigard, Oregon. He joined the faith-based organization that provides lifesaving medical care for people in crisis in 2019. He was the U.S. programs disaster response manager before his promotion.
Brandon Taft (B12) has started his own company, Proximity Construction, in Newberg, based on 10 years of experience that started with building zip lines, aerial adventure parks and custom tree houses. He is expanding that niche knowledge to general construction, especially outdoor spaces.
Tracy Berg (B13) received a master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University in December. It matches her field of work: She is social services director at Marquis Hope Village in Canby, Oregon.
Michele Biehler (M13) is the new business manager with Hubbell Communications, a 10-year-old public affairs and public relations firm in Portland, overseeing fiscal operations. She started in March after 19 years in the real estate industry in the Portland area.
Todd Crist (M13) in February was announced as the new head football coach at Tigard (Oregon) High School. He coached at the Class 6A Three Rivers League school of 1,350 for 17 years and was the team’s assistant coach last fall.
Elsy Dinvil (B13, M22) gained Portland metro-area attention in September when KGW-TV featured her and her business, Creole Me Up. Started in 2017, it produces organic, allergen-free and overall healthy Haitian-style condiments, spreads, marinades and sauces sold in farmers’ markets seasonally and year-round, and in 11 retail stores, including New Seasons Market. Born in Haiti, she also teaches Haitian cuisine, provides catering services, and has authored the book Cooking With My Mother, a guide to home cooking through stories and recipes.
Kirsten (Kiki) Litchford (B13) in August was named new director of business and professional development for LeadingAge Florida, based in Tallahassee. Previously, she served as the chapter and education manager at the Florida Assisted Living Association. LeadingAge is a community of nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-driven organizations serving older adults.
Veronica Palmer (B13) was elected to the Dayton (Oregon) School District Board for a three-year term in November, helping guide the district in which she attended school. She is a labor and delivery nurse at the Legacy Silverton (Oregon) Medical Center.
Drew Van der Werff (B13) was on campus in February to speak on “Crypto and Your Gift is Someone Else’s Miracle,” a presentation of the College of Business’ ongoing Reiten Lecture Series. He is a deal partner with a focus on technical infrastructure and decentralized finance at BH Digital, the crypto and digital division of Brevan Howard in Austin, Texas. He started in 2022 after five years with Goldman Sachs in New York, three years as a vice president.
Greg Zickau (M13) retired in February after nearly 20 years with the Idaho state government, the last two as chief financial officer following 18 years as a chief technology officer. It’s his second retirement. He was with the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, including being part of a select team that traveled with the secretary of defense and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, writing communications policy for the air combat command, and being part of America’s initial response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Dannica (Thornton) Ballard (B14) started last June with Full Circle Health Caldwell (Idaho) Family Medicine, matched into a family medicine residency after receiving a doctor of osteopathic degree from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yamima, Washington.
Ryan Hill (B14) is using his biology degree as an academic advisor with the University of California Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, developing research programs and extension materials for Tehama County. He started in August after receiving a master’s degree in plant breeding and genetics from Oregon State University in 2020, before becoming a faculty research assistant in the OSU weed science lab.
Robby Larson (D14) started in December as a major gifts officer and campaign strategist with Trinity Academy in Portland, a classical private Christian school of 125 for grades 6-12. He moved after nearly six years as vice president of advancement at Multnomah University in Portland.
Benjamin Leal-Vawter (B14) is now with Kaiser Permanente in Clackamas, Oregon, as a nurse informaticist, in his second year after being a medical-surgical ICU nurse for more than a year. Previously, he was an intensive care nurse at Trios Health in Kennewick, Washington.
Christopher Luttrell (M14) in August became dean of students at 270-student Waverly Elementary School in Albany, Oregon, leaving the nearby Aumsville School District, where he was an elementary teacher for a year.
Rick McKinney (D14) in December wrote the article “ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Happens in the Heart” for Patheos, an online media company covering religion. He’s been in active ministry for more than 50 years with his wife, Jane. In 2006, they walked across America (2,770 miles) to share their faith and pray for the country. He currently teaches at the University of Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Chelsea (Brustad) Terry (B14, M16), after four years in Washington state, is now in Texas, where she’s a clinician with the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare Services in Addison. She is in her third year with the clinic that treats post-9/11 veterans and their families, complementing the Veterans Administration.
Timothy Almquist (B15) received a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling last year at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, and is staying in the city as a marriage and family therapist associate with Family Essentials Counseling.
Melissa Carrion (M15) is completing her first year as a second- and third-grade teacher at California State University Channel Islands Prep Charter School in Camarillo. Previously, for two years, she was a fourth-grade teacher in the nearby Fillmore Unified School District.
Justin DeLoretto (B15, M17) published a book, The Ride of My Life: From Street Gangs to Motorcycle Clubs to Social Worker, which tells the story of his transition from being an outlaw biker and the founder of Oregon’s Mongols Motorcycle Club to earning degrees in social work and becoming a professional counselor for youth. Published in September, the book is rising on Amazon’s Best Sellers list. Now in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, he is a multisystemic therapy supervisor with One Hope United, starting his fifth year with the nonprofit that provides programs for children and families in need.
Tayler (Main) Gerhardt (B15) is now living on campus as an area coordinator for houses and apartments. She started last fall after more than three years in Portugal, where she had a full-time, live-in role as director of a community and student center for the Christian conservation organization A Rocha International.
Ariel Hortert (B15), a research associate with the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, received international recognition in May of 2023 as recipient of the Value-Based Health Care Prize honoring inspiring initiatives that aim to redefine healthcare. She and Dr. Prakash Jayakumar were chosen for their work, “Next Generation Musculoskeletal Condition-based Care Via Advanced IPU’s.” There were 115 applicants from 27 countries. Last fall, she left her position of two years and started the Master of Science in Health Care Transformation program in the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.
Ryan Moeller (B15) is an account manager with SBM Management Services in Bellevue, Washington. He started with the building maintenance management firm in May of 2023, moving from the Salt Lake City area, where he was with Tempur Sealy International for nearly four years.
Jennifer (Higgins) Newman (B15) is executive director of Beacon Hill Friends House in Boston, in her second year after starting in 2020 as program manager. It provides learning experiences and church services, and is home to 22 adults who live in an intentional community grounded in Quaker values.
Bert Pace (M15, D18) is an outpatient clinical manager with St. Raphael Counseling in Denver, starting his second year after a year as coordinator of psychological testing. He specializes in psychological assessment for the center, serving the Archdiocese of Denver. He’s also an adjunct professor and content expert at Denver Seminary.
Analisa VanOostrum (B15) started a year ago as a physical therapist at Oregon Health & Science University’s Beaverton location, after two years with Connect the Dots Pediatric Therapy in Roseburg, Oregon.
Jana Giles (B16, M24), in her sixth year as an Oregon educator, is a third-grade teacher at North Marion Intermediate School in Aurora. She’s also one of 21 directors on the state’s Educator Advancement Council, in her fourth year with the Oregon Department of Education program to support culturally responsive public educators in all classrooms.
Paul Gratton (D16) last July was appointed interim vice president for the School of Adult and Graduate Studies at Montreat College in North Carolina, a role he held through December. He’s been at the 970-student college since 2017, currently serving as director of the college’s Adult and Graduate Studies Business program.
Brittany Morales (M16) in January of 2023 became a teaching and learning coordinator with the Newberg School District, leaving her position as an English language development teacher at the district’s Dundee Elementary School. She has been with the district for eight years, starting as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher.
Ulysus Torres (B16) last July became head coach of FC Westlake in Austin, Texas, a youth soccer program, while also picking up duties as Elite Girls program director and college recruitment coordinator.
Brenn Borror (B17) in October was hired as executive director of marketing at the University of Maine’s Orono campus, which has 11,000 students. He left his position as director of marketing and communications at Multnomah University in Portland, where he’d been for two years.
Marcus Cooksey (B17, M19) is beginning his second year as a district manager with Waste Connections in Ramsey, Minnesota. He started the year prior as an assistant district manager with the national waste collection, disposing and recycling firm.
Ryan Elder (B17) is chief technology officer with a new business, Medicratic, a software application platform for the evaluation process in medical education. He started in January of 2023 with the Dallas/Fort Worth-based company, but he lives in New York City.
Alyssa Poffenroth (B17, M19) switched careers in January and is now an institution counselor with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. She left a career in special education, with teaching positions in Oregon and Washington. She also is attending Capella University for a second master’s degree.
Christina Ridley (D17) is a physical therapist with student health and counseling services at the University of California, Davis, after earlier working in sports medicine and orthopedic care and serving as an adjunct professor at Los Rios Community College in California.
Samuel Vernhes (B17) started last August as a French teacher at Marist School, a private Catholic high school of 1,100 in Brookhaven, Georgia. He moved after three years teaching French and coaching soccer at Greater Atlanta Christian School.
Brian Hall (B18) is in Forest Grove, Oregon, working remotely as an IT specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture. He started in April of 2023, bringing 10 years of experience in software and hardware with the military and in the private sector, most recently with Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Jeff Harvey (M18) is in Austin, Texas, where he’s a marketing content strategist with Subsplash, a software for churches that brings giving, website and messaging under one platform. He was promoted in April of 2023 from his position as marketing manager after joining the firm in 2019.
Britta (Stewart) Mansfield (B18) is using her history degree as executive director of the Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition, based in Marylhurst, Oregon. She started in 2021 after serving as director of the Hoover Minthorn House Museum in Newberg for three years. In that role she wrote Newberg: Past and Present, a 96-page paperback book released in October.
Adam McGuffie (M18) is living in Eugene, Oregon, but remotely serves as manager for advancement for the American Bible Society, headquartered in Philadelphia. He started in 2023. He also continues as principal of Joy Ethic, his own creative agency helping mission-driven organizations use their brand for productive fundraising.
Keenan O’Hern (B18, M22) is cofounder of Revino, started in 2020 with the purpose of developing a system of refilling and reusing wine bottles after washing. With more than 40 wineries committed to the program, they hope to put 2.4 million bottles into circulation next year. He and his company were featured in a September story in the Oregon Business magazine.
Josh Pratt (M18) is starting his second year as associate principal at Sherwood (Oregon) High School, moving up last July from his position as dean of students. He was a middle school language arts and social studies teacher in Newberg prior to joining the Sherwood High teaching staff.
Jon Abels (B19) was featured in Portland-area local weekly newspapers in November in a Pamplin Media Group special section honoring area military veterans. He served in the Army and in 2007 was in Iraq when his squad was ambushed in a village and his right arm was severely shattered, ending his infantry career. A Newberg resident, he now volunteers at a local wood ministry and with Meals on Wheels, and has helped at Portland Rescue Mission for the last 11 years.
Elaine Agee (B19) began in September as a social worker with Cascadia Health, a nonprofit providing integrated mental health, addiction, primary care and housing services in Portland. She earlier was a crisis counselor with the Yamhill County Health and Human Services Department.
Anna Alsager (B19) is back with the cinematic arts program from which she received her degree with an animation concentration. She is an instructor of animation at ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox, starting last fall. Since 2020, she’s also been the lead animator with So Peculiar, in charge of all character animations and scene timelines and cutscenes.
Joseph Bridgeman (D19) is now deputy chief information officer for the State of Oregon’s higher education agency in Salem, starting in October. Before that, for seven months, he was an information technology operations and policy analyst.
Michael Chaney (B19) is beginning his second year as a tax manager with Moss Adams, the national accounting, wealth management and consulting firm in Portland. He moved up from tax senior after two years.
Jason Deuman (D19) is lead pastor at Creekside Church, an Assemblies of God Church in Lynnwood, Washington, serving in that role for the last nine of the 20 years he’s attended. He’s also an adjunct faculty member in the College of Ministry at Northwest University in Kirkland. But it’s his side gig that garnered attention in January, when My Edmonds News published a feature story on his being a standup comic two or three times a month in local and Seattle comedy clubs, both at open-mic sessions and occasional paid performances. He calls it a fun hobby and a chance to model Christian faith values.
Darcy Hansen (M19, D22) started last July as associate director of doctoral programs at Portland Seminary. She had been teaching at the seminary for two years as an adjunct professor in both spiritual formation and Adult Degree Program classes. The owner and director of her own spiritual direction ministry since 2020, from 2017 to 2019, she was hospitality coordinator on the community life team at the seminary.
Tim Migaki (M19) has a dual career as a substitute teacher in the Beaverton (Oregon) School District, starting in 2022, and as a submarine educator with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on the Willamette River in Portland. He explains and educates about the USS Blueback, which served the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1990.
Evangelina Montelongo (B19) has left her position as an account manager with Maxim Healthcare Group, in Los Angeles County, California, to join Waves, Inc. in Franklin, Tennessee, as a marketing associate. She is in her second year with the organization that helps children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Donald Phillips (M19) is back at his other alma mater, Oregon State University, from which he graduated in 2016, in the newly created position of coordinator of veteran and military-connected student mental health and wellness. He served for four years of active duty as an Army medic, including deployment to Iraq for a year. He is using his ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox degree in clinical mental health counseling as he works with veterans impacted by military trauma, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, depression and substance use.
Kyler Shumway (D19) is president and chief clinical officer of Deep Eddy Psychotherapy in Texas, where he’s turned a small therapy practice in Austin into one of the leading outpatient mental health organizations in the state. He has grown the practice to 225 therapists and 34 administrative staff in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. He started with the practice in 2019, moving up to the role of president in January of 2023. He’s also been a TEDx speaker and authored four books.
Gabriel Taylor (M19) received a law degree from Willamette University in Salem in 2022, and in 2023 established his own practice in Wilsonville, Oregon, specializing in estate planning, wills and trusts, and tax issues.
Aren Thomas (B19) is an engineering graduate working for a Christian non-government organization in Morocco helping to set up a climbing gym in Marrakesh. On Sept. 8, he experienced and helped in the aftermath of the devastating 6.8 earthquake that killed more than 2,900. He and friends loaded a borrowed four-wheel-drive vehicle with as much water as they could buy and drove to a nearby village where half the buildings were destroyed and many people were killed. They spent the night searching for survivors, digging through rubble and comforting victims.
2020-23
Scott Crane (D20) started in September as the supply pastor and head of staff with the First Presbyterian Church in Corvallis, Oregon. Previously, starting in 2015, he was pastor of the Trout Lake (Washington) First Presbyterian Church.
Caleb Fernandez (B20) has two titles. He works full time as a supply chain coordinator with Northstar Chemical, starting that position in February after three years as an accountant and IT specialist. He’s also the ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox men’s golf coach, rejoining the program as an assistant in 2020 after four years as a Bruin player, and named head coach in 2022.
Brandon Harvey (M20) is senior director of edge infrastructure solutions, with Honeywell, working remotely from Sweet Home, Oregon. He was promoted in October after serving as director of IT strategy and architecture-infrastructure.
Rick Kavanaugh (D20) is in his 27th year serving Framework Church in Presque Isle, Maine, where he is pastor for leadership and formation. He was lead pastor of the church for 20 years, until 2008, when he left to pastor Wesleyan churches in North Carolina and Ohio, returning in 2019. Also an artist, his work in October was exhibited at the Aroostook Agency for the Aging in Presque Isle.
Shelby (Bauer) Kool (B20) is in her second year as senior account executive with Fort Mare in San Clemente, California, a firm that handles market planning, media management, publicity and brand experience events. She has been with the company for nearly four years after almost eight years as a freelance photographer.
Austin O’Donnell (B20) is in his second year with Compassion International as a software engineer. He is working remotely from home in Newberg. Previously, he was with Tech Elevator, helping with 14-week boot camps to educate software developers.
Whitney (Standal) Scholars (M20, D23) is in Salt Lake City with the Utah Center for Evidence-Based Treatment. She started in September and is a licensed clinical psychologist and post doctoral psychology resident.
Comfort Smith (B20) is a violinist as both a performer and instructor. She’s in her second year as section violinist with the Vancouver (Washington) Symphony Orchestra and also a kindergarten violin teaching artist with the Junior Orchestra of Yamhill County, also in her second year. She continues as a private violin teacher in Newberg.
Hailey (Hartney) Swenson (B20) is back on campus as the associate athletic director of operations, starting last fall. She worked the previous two years as an event manager with the Fairgrounds Site Management Group in Ridgefield, Washington. A former four-year player with the Bruin women’s basketball team, she now lives in Vancouver, Washington.
Jana Whitworth (M20) is using her master of divinity degree as the associate rector with the Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver, Washington. She is in her second year with the church, started in 1968. She was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church last June.
Mike Stroud (D20) is a physical therapist with the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, starting last October. He moved from Hanford, California, where he was a physical therapist supervisor for two years with Hanford Post Acute. He also is teaching online with South College, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Sydney Zuyus (B20) is back in her hometown of Palmer, Alaska, where in July she started in a new communications associate role with the Mat-Su (Matanuska-Susitna) Health Foundation. Previously, she was the web, graphics and sponsorship coordinator for Nashville Songwriters Association International and a freelancer.
Brianna Bliquez (B21) in December started as a patient care coordinator with Active Path Mental Health in Clackamas, Oregon, leaving the same position at Schlenker Chiropractic Associates in Gladstone, Oregon.
Kayla Bose (M21), just after her graduation, became principal of Hosanna Christian School in Vancouver, Washington. She also is a student in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program.
Tricia Caldwell (M21) in January became vice president of marketing and development with Medical Teams International in Tigard, Oregon, the nonprofit organization that provides life-saving medical care for people in crisis in 58 countries. She started as marketing manager in 2020 after four years with the Stash Tea Company.
Kailey Doutt (n21) completed a degree in forensic science at Utah Valley University in December, and in January started as a crime lab assistant with the city of Salem (Oregon).
Suhail Khan (B21, M23) has started a new position as property and casualty vice president with USI Insurance Services in Portland, providing risk management and insurance consulting services. He joined the firm in May of 2023 after nearly 10 years with the Northrup Corporation in Portland, where he was executive VP the last two years.
Dana Lawson (M21) last June opened her own business, Compassionate Couch Counseling, in Tigard, Oregon. She moved from a two-year position with Dr. Sanderson and Associates in Tigard, where she was a professional counselor associate and referral coordinator.
Maggie Lynn Beil (B21) is now with the San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group, starting in September as laboratory lead. Previously, for two years, she was a back office lead with the Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California.
Matt Miller (D21) is now teaching full time at ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox, starting in January as an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology. He moves up from being an adjunct professor for a year and a half, as well as serving as an interim lead therapist with the university’s Physical Therapy Community Clinic. He also is co-owner and operator of Elevate Physical Therapy in Newberg.
John (Afanda) Muhanji (D21) is in his 20th year as director of African ministries with Friends United Meeting in Richmond, Indiana. He is in Kisumu, Kenya, where he coordinates work in healthcare, education, church planting and social gospel efforts.
Kasondra (Silva) Oylear (B21) in August started her new position as human resources manager for classification and compensation with Washington County, Oregon. She started with the county in 2022 following seven years at ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox University, her last position as the associate director of human resources-operations.
Megan Stewart (B21) has moved across the country to Burlington, Vermont, where she started last July as a government reporter with the daily Burlington Free Press newspaper. A journalism major and two-year co-editor of the campus student publication, The Crescent, she started her career as a general assignment reporter with the Newberg Graphic.
Stephanie Andrade (B22) is in Elgin, Illinois, where she started in March as a behavioral health technician at the Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital.
Marlee Baker (B22) is using her social work degree as an education and outreach specialist with the Fair Housing Council of Oregon. She facilitates training on state and federal fair housing laws and conducts community outreach meetings. She spoke on campus in November on the topic “Diversity Dialogue: History of Housing Discrimination in Oregon.”
Gwyn (Schwartz) Curtis (B22) is in her second year as an executive assistant in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s advancement office. She moved from a position as a human resources coordinator, involving employee benefits, with the Jubitz Corporation in Portland.
Troy Fisher (D22) in April was named the new superintendent of the St. Paul (Oregon) School District, with two schools and 300 students. He moved from his position of two years as principal of Harvey Clarke Elementary School in Forest Grove, Oregon. He has been a ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox adjunct professor in education since 2022.
Roxanne Jackson (B22, M23) is using her new social work degree as a clinical social worker with LifeStance Health at its Clackamas, Oregon, office, starting last September as a therapist for children 6-17.
Sara Jane Lance (M22, D23) is using her skills as a new physician assistant at Harney County Hospital in Burns, Oregon, where she provides medical care for 8,000 residents scattered across 10,000 square miles. The 25-bed hospital is the only medical help available within a five-hour drive. She is helping the hospital restore its orthopedic program. She earned her ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox degrees after already becoming a neuroscientist with a degree from UC Santa Cruz in California.
Jennylin Lopez (B22) is using her civil engineering degree at Miller Consulting Engineers in Portland, where she is a structural designer. She started last June, working on fire escape assessments and residential and commercial designs.
Shay Mikalson (D22) holds three education positions in Eastern Oregon. Last July, he was named assistant superintendent of the Jefferson County School District in Madras. He became superintendent of the Jefferson County Education Service District in July of 2021, also in Madras. And, since 2020, he has been chief student success officer with the High Desert Education Service District in Redmond, servicing four districts and 14 counties.
Jake Redmond (M22) has moved from teaching business at Cleveland High School in Portland to the Beaverton (Oregon) School District, where, starting in August, he again teaches business but also an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) course, designed to prepare all students for college readiness, at Aloha High School.
Ariane Rosas (B22) is on campus both as a student and employee. She started in January as a simulation and lab operations technician after graduating with a degree in kinesiology. She also is enrolled in ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s physician assistant program. She has 16 years of medical field experience, most recently as an exercise physiologist with Providence over the past year.
Madeleine Teel (B22), after receiving a master’s degree in philosophy of religion from the University of Cambridge in England last June, started in July as an admissions specialist with ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s honors program. She was in the honors program while a student, serving as a peer advisor and as an office and professor’s assistant.
Evan Teter (B22) took the field in the spring as the new head baseball coach at Sweet Home (Oregon) High School. He was an assistant coach last year and is an elementary physical education teacher in the district’s Foster Elementary School.
Kristine Adams (M23) has moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she is a counselor at the University of Wisconsin, starting in November. Before the career change she taught English as a Second Language and English as a Foreign Language, both stateside and abroad, for 10 years.
Desiray Anderson (D23) is starting her second year as a physical therapist at the Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. She is in a system that pairs her position directly with physicians, assisting with musculoskeletal issues.
April Bingaman (M23) is using her new social work degree as a mental health specialist with Columbia Community Mental Health in St. Helens, Oregon, which helps residents with behavioral and mental health, substance abuse and gambling-problem issues.
Katie Birtell (B23) is starting her career using her new psychology degree as an applied behavioral analysis therapist with Life Stance Health, a mental healthcare facility in Tualatin, Oregon.
Rebekah Burns (B23) is using her new nursing degree as a mental health RN in Salem at the Oregon State Hospital, a psychiatric treatment facility. She started in October.
David Clancy (B23) started last July as a medical assistant with Spinal Diagnostics in Tualatin, Oregon, a medical practice diagnosing and treating spinal pain.
Megan Clausen (B23) is with Ethos Civil in Wenatchee, Washington. Using her new degree in civil engineering, she is a civil designer with the firm, serving as lead designer for a 123-unit assisted living community project in Spokane, Washington.
Christina Deleon Guerrero (M23) immediately started using her degree in social work as a psychiatric social worker with the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. She conducts initial and ongoing strength-based assessments and works to stabilize the mentally unwell as she advocates for and helps them in court with the purpose of restoring them to the community.
Andrew Ellestad (D23) is now assistant professor of business at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, and also has been an adjunct at nearby Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. His turn to academia follows 15 years in corporate positions, the last being with LURN, Inc., a Maryland-based company, as director of technology and IT.
Catherine Enger (D23) graduated in December with a doctor of physical therapy degree and the next month became director of the university’s Physical Therapy Community Clinic. Before receiving her degree, she spent three months in Uganda, evaluating and treating children with disabilities in an urban boarding school and patients in rural outpatient and primary care settings.
Cole Florio (B23) is a researcher at the University of California, Davis, helping in a project on pulmonary embolism, while planning to apply for medical school.
Alyssa Gilmore (B23) is back on campus using her degree in cinematic arts as a video production specialist after being an assistant editor with Perennial Films in California, working remotely from Rathdrum, Idaho. She received cinematic arts’ Outstanding Senior Achievement Award her final year.
Melinda (Malvik) Harp (B23) has started her teaching career as a learning specialist in the Riverdale School District, near Lake Oswego, Oregon, an independent district of 600 families with a single 1-8 grade school and a high school.
Whitney (Mayforth) Henkel (B23) is starting her nursing career as a progressive care nurse with Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.
Haley Holman (M23) earned a master’s degree in leadership from Portland Seminary last year and is now enrolled in its spiritual direction certification program. She also started in January as the seminary’s admissions counselor. For the past three and a half years she was director of children and youth ministries at Cedar Creek Church in Sherwood, Oregon, where she also worked as an office coordinator and grant advisor.
Timothy Johnson (D23) is with the Visalia (California) School District as an elementary and middle school string instructor, starting last fall after working in the Fairfax Unified School District in Bakersfield, California, for a year as an after-school music director. He is planning to become an administrator to use his new doctorate in education. His dissertation was given the Norman and Judy Aldred Award for outstanding dissertation in the program.
Tony Kelly (D23), owner of his own realty firm in Portland, TLK Group Properties, for nearly 21 years, is now in his second year as president of the 8,000-member Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors. He also is state director and vice chair of the government affairs committee for Oregon Realtors, a Salem-based trade association of 18,000 members, and has appeared in seven episodes of HGTV’s House Hunters series.
Logan Keppel (B23), after interning for Apollo Mechanical in Hillsboro, Oregon, is now a project engineer with the company, which specializes in mechanical construction for correctional facilities, hospitals, high tech data centers, schools and industrial facilities.
Samuel Imlig (B23), who graduated with ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s outstanding computer science student award, is continuing on campus as a computer support specialist in the institutional technology department.
Jake Loomis (B23) returned to campus in March to become assistant director of university recreation. In his final two years as a student, he was a building and facilities manager in the Hadlock Student Center. He had been a sales and marketing administrative coordinator at Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg since August.
Kira Negrete (D23) is using her new doctor of physical therapy degree as one of 10 team members with Therapeutic Associates Newberg Physical Therapy in downtown Newberg.
Evan Richards (B23) started the new year back on campus as a computer support specialist, using his degree in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity.
Tiana Ringer (B23) is using her mechanical engineering degree at Swinerton in Portland, a nationwide commercial construction company, where she is a project engineer. She started in February after five months as an intern project engineer with the company.
Michelle Robertson (M23) is putting her master of social work degree into use, establishing her own business, Ripple Effect Counseling, in Tigard, Oregon. She left behind a career in accounting areas and 14 years with Pacific Corp in Portland, as a business analyst.
Luis Rojas (M23) started last June as a tennis teaching professional at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, a facility with 57 courts on a 30-acre site.
Carter Smith (B23), a security team officer with ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s public safety office for three years as a student, remained on campus as a full-time safety officer, starting last June. He earned his degree in psychology with a criminal justice minor and has worked security for upscale hotels in Portland.
Julieanna Stafford (B23) has moved to Washington, D.C., where she is an interior designer with Design Case, which focuses on hospitality, interior and impact design with real estate developers, government organizations and small businesses.
Mindy Sutton (M23), a marriage and family therapist, last year started her own private practice, Heart Attach Counseling, on First Street in Newberg. Her speciality is equine-assisted therapy, which uses horses in a therapeutic setting to help speed up the healing process without necessarily needing to talk about feelings.
Josh Zimmer (B23) has joined ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s data analytics and foresight team as a market research analyst. He started in January after working as a marketing subcontractor with Demand Gen Experts in Bellingham, Washington, for eight months.
Kendyl (Sanderson) Zwetsch (B23) started in February as a nurse at Hillsboro (Oregon) Medical Center, a 167-bed hospital formerly called Tuality Community Hospital.
In Memory
Wilma (Koontz) Loeks (n48), Oct. 28, 2023, in Sherwood, Oregon.
Marion Wilhite (n50), May 5, 2023, in Newberg.
June (Knobel) (May) Warner (n51), Sept. 17, 2023, in Newberg.
Donna Jefferson (B52), Dec. 11, 2022, in Concord, California.
Dealous “Dea” Cox (B53), Sept. 15, 2023, in McMinnville, Oregon. ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox Board of Trustees, 1983-2008; Honorary Trustee 2008-2023.
Ellen (Haines) Martin (n56), Jan. 15, 2024, in Newberg.
ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Andrews (n57), Jan. 20, 2024, in Tualatin, Oregon.
Leroy Jeffery (n58), Sept. 7, 2023, in Pullman, Washington.
David Hanson (n59), Feb. 8, 2024, in Moscow, Idaho.
Damon Heinrich (B60, M67), March 3, 2024, in Monroe, Louisiana.
Richard Phillips (n60), Dec. 20, 2023, in Milwaukie, Oregon.
Judi (Retherford) Nolta (B61), May 23, 2023, in Newberg.
Lonny “Lon” Fendall (B64), Oct. 15, 2023, in Newberg.
Raelene (Barnes) Fendall (B64), Sept. 26, 2023, in Newberg.
Roy Johnson (B65), April 7, 2024, in Newberg.
Richard Lakin (B65), March 24, 2024, in Newberg.
Anne (Thornburg) Roberts (n65), Oct. 7, 2023, in Portland.
Richard Whitten (n65), Sept. 2, 2023, in Gladstone, Oregon.
Carolyn (Dokken) Bagley (n67), Feb. 11, 2023, in Estacada, Oregon
Lorraine (Root) Brown (n67), June 24, 2023, in Citrus Heights, California.
Koneta (Wilkins) Morrill (B68), March 12, 2023, in Battleground, Washington.
Lynn Dunton (B69), March 28, 2024, in Mulino, Oregon.
Joe McCullough (B69), Oct. 6, 2023, in Moses Lake, Washington.
Edgar Meier (B69), Oct. 15, 2022, in Salem, Oregon.
Dana Burns (B70), Oct. 17, 2023, in DuBois, Pennsylvania.
Mic Gwilym (B71), Oct. 3, 2023, in Kirkland, Washington.
John Beck (B73), July 21, 2023, in Caldwell, Idaho.
Ken Carsley (n74), May 20, 2023, in Newberg.
Jack Jaffe (M75), Dec. 23, 2023, in Newberg.
Thea (Bales) Cowley (B77), Dec. 4, 2023, in Newberg.
Cheryl (Wacker) Hewitt (B78), Nov. 9, 2023, in Chandler, Arizona.
Kenn Willson (B80), May 1, 2024, in Beaverton, Oregon. Assistant professor of music, 1987-2020.
Steven Dick (B81), Sept. 22, 2023, in Salem, Oregon.
Gordon Martin (B82), Nov. 24, 2023, in Hope, British Columbia.
Nancy (Meinert) Atkinson (B86, B91), May 16, 2023, in Portland.
Joseph Rourke (B88), July 23, 2023, in Newberg.
Jonathan Umfleet (B90, M95), May 9, 2023, in Newberg.
Edward Cates (n91), Nov. 12, 2023, in Seymour, Indiana.
Sonja (Brooks) Dazey (B91), Jan. 1, 2024, in McMinnville, Oregon.
Sam Farmer (B92), Sept. 13, 2023, in Newberg. ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox Board of Trustees, 1969-1988.
Tim Tank (n96), Jan. 1, 2024, in Beaverton, Oregon.
Richard Lamontagne (D02), Oct. 26, 2023, in Fresno, California.
Julie Koch (M04), March 23, 2024, in Beaverton, Oregon.
Thomas “Moose” Rich (B04), Jan. 3, 2024, in Yachats, Oregon.
David Fears (M05), May 27, 2023, in Banks, Oregon.
Jeff Davis (M06), Aug. 6, 2023, in The Dalles, Oregon.
Cole Hardman (B09), Aug. 17, 2023, in Portland.
Mark Stahlnecker (M11), Oct. 15, 2023, in Murrieta, California.
Daniel Pavlina (B15), Oct. 23, 2023, in Camas, Washington.
Rebecca Farwell (M20), Aug. 24, 2023, in Oregon City, Oregon.
Ron Eroen (D22), Jan. 4, 2023, in Torrance, California.
Zaid Fackenthal (student, Class of 2025), Oct. 24, 2023, in Stanwood, Washington.
Bob Moore, Feb. 10, 2023, in Milwaukie, Oregon. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, 2015; founder, Bob’s Red Mill; donor.
Tim Tsohantaridis, Sept. 11, 2023, in Middletown, Rhode Island. ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox associate professor of biblical studies and Greek; chaplain; men’s soccer coach, 1985-1990 and 1993-2020.
Kathryn Eichenberger, Jan. 16, 2024, in Newberg. ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox Student Accounts Office, 1963-1996.
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