Class Notes
1960s
1965
Bernadine Abbott Hoduski (MLS ’65) has published “Bernadine’s Office Building: Working in the Capitol and Other Dangerous Places,” which chronicles her career as a government documents librarian including 20 years with the Joint Committee on Printing of the United States Congress.
1966
Vicki Adler Gray (BSBA ’62, MPA ’66) has established a Learning Center at Tustin California Historical Society Museum. She has written over 50 biographies about Tustin pioneers that are available on the Learning Center computer. Vicki lives in Orange County.
1970s
1975
Howard Bronson (BA ’75) has set a goal to write 60 books based on his list of 60 life lessons learned over the course of his 70 years. Two of his recent books are “I Refuse to be Abused” and “I Refuse to Sing the Blues.”
1977
Robert Cooperman (PhD ’77) has recently published two poetry collections, “Steerage,” the fictionalized tale of his grandfather’s misadventures on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the early 20th century, and “The Death and Rebirth of Ophelia,” in which he posits Ophelia faked her drowning to escape Hamlet and Elsinore.
1980s
1980
Walter Dodds (BS ’80), a Kansas State University distinguished professor and chair of biology, received the Olin Petefish Award in Basic Sciences from the state’s Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards for scholarly excellence.
1981
Julie Kane-Ritsch (BA ’81) was nominated for a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Best Young Teen Series for her work as an executive producer on “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” Julie is the head of the animation and family entertainment division at The Group Group, a talent management and production company in Los Angeles.
1982
Michael Hightower (MA ’82) has published “Justice for All,” a biography of Dick T. Morgan, a frontier lawyer in Oklahoma Territory, six-term congressman, and father of the Federal Trade Commission. He also has written “At War with Corruption,” about U.S. Attorney Bill Price who spearheaded prosecutions in the most extensive case of public corruption in FBI history.
John Hamilton Works, Jr. (JD ’82) has joined the Sturm College of Law as an adjunct professor. This fall, he will teach an expert witness practicum course that will offer immersive training experience for students who possess foundational knowledge and professional expertise, or who aspire to become expert witnesses or trial counsel.
1983
Katherine Sellery (BS ’83) was honored at the International Women’s Conference 2025 in Bangaluru, India, for her pioneering work in conscious parenting. She received the award from the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, recognizing her impact in transforming family relationships worldwide.
1987
Ben Wolters (MA ’87) was named director of development and business services for the City of Lynnwood, Washington.
1989
Jeff Keller (BSBA ’89) has been appointed president of the medical affairs business unit for Propel Health, a provider of strategic communications and engagement services to the life sciences industry. Jeff has over 30 years of experience in healthcare communications.
1990s
1993
Leslie Sidell (MBA ’93) has joined the Rose Community Foundation board of trustees.
1994
Kimbra Killin (JD ’94) was appointed to the 13th Judicial District Court by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Kimbra previously served as county court judge in the 13th Judicial District and counsel at Kelley Law Ltd.
1996
Kimberly MacArthur Graham (MA ’96) has returned to her roots as an artist, selling oil and mixed-media originals and prints to art consultants, collectors, and curators. Previously she worked in marketing and proposal writing for design and construction firms. Her art is inspired by natural and built environments.
1997
Melissa Curtin (MSW ’97) has been appointed president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County in Maryland. Melissa brings extensive experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership to this role.
Mike Worley (BA ’95, MS ’97) has been named the 14th head coach of the Truman State University Bulldogs men’s basketball program.
1999
Lydia Hanks (MBA ’99) has been named director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.
2000s
2000
Mari Bengston (BA ’00) has written her fourth movie screenplay and is in development as executive producer of “Trying to Reach 100” with her company Mainsheet Productions, LLC. The film is a comedy/drama about a man who brings his cantankerous father from Iowa to Los Angeles on one last road trip down Route 66 before putting him into a nursing home.
Mark Dodge (MA ’00) has joined the curatorial team of the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe. For the past 18 years, Mark served as curator of Colorado’s Golden History Museum & Park.
2001
Courtney Holm (JD ’01) was appointed Vail municipal judge and will preside over regular and special sessions of the Vail Municipal Court. Courtney has more than 20 years of experience as a general law practitioner in Colorado mountain towns.
Dan Young (JD ’01) has been named Denver office managing partner and office chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group for Quarles & Brady LLP. Dan has advised clients on IP protection for a wide range of technologies for more than 20 years.
Kevin Robinson (BSBA ’01) has been named chief operating officer for Langham Hospitality Group in Hong Kong.
Michael Schneider (MBA ’01), 16-year president of McPherson College in Kansas, has secured one of the largest gifts in the history of higher education with a $1 billion donation from an anonymous donor. McPherson College, with approximately 800 students, claims to be the only school in the U.S. to offer a bachelor’s degree in automotive restoration.
Susan Klopman (JD ’01) has been named special counsel in the Denver office for Littler, an employment and labor law practice that represents management.
2003
Joshua Williford (JD ’03) was appointed to the 18th Judicial District Court by Gov. Jared Polis. Joshua previously was an Arapahoe County Court Judge in the 18th Judicial District.
2004
Rosemary “Rosie” Rizk (JD ’04) has been named a litigation partner in the Denver office of Cordell & Cordell, a family law firm with offices throughout the U.S.
2005
August Teague (BSBA ’05) has been named executive director of the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, one of the oldest ski clubs in Colorado and the U.S.
2006
Andrea Lambert South (PhD ’06) has been named director of the School of Media and Communication in the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University.
Randy Ortega (JD ’06) has been appointed a judge on the Austin (Texas) Municipal Court.
2007
Lisa Yin (MA ’07) is the new assistant vice president of addiction and recovery services for Behavioral Health Network Inc. in Springfield, Massachusetts.
2008
Ben Weinberger (BA ’08) has been promoted to chief operating officer and board member of The ASCII Group, Inc., a full-service provider of comprehensive IT staffing services. Ben previously served in business operations for the company founded in 1984 by his father.
Jay Whiteley (BSBA ’08) was named chief revenue officer at RedAwning, a vacation rental platform serving property managers, owners, and independent hoteliers.
Joshua Norkin (JD ’08) was confirmed by the New York State Senate to serve as director of the Authorities Budget Office. Joshua previously served as assistant counsel and later deputy counsel to the governor.
2009
Michal Lord-Blegen (JD ’09) has been appointed to the 17th Judicial District Court by Gov. Jared Polis.
2010s
2010
Kalvin Brite (BS ’10, MBA ’10) has been appointed senior vice president of product for Siteimprove, a leading AI-powered SaaS platform in Bellevue, Washington.
Stephanie L. Krusemark (PhD ’10) has been named president of Starr King School for the Ministry in Oakland, California. Stephanie has more than 20 years of experience in higher education with expertise in strategic enrollment management, diversity and equity in higher learning, and student success.
2011
Jeanice Swift (PhD ’11) has been named superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence, Kansas.
William Murphy (PhD ’11) has been inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association Hall of Fame. William is a speech professor and advisor to the Forensics Society at the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College.
2012
Christopher Gracey (MA ’12) has been appointed as the command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Space Forces Central Command (SPACECENT) at MacDill AFB, Florida. Christopher is a chief master sergeant.
Eric Hobbs (JD ’12) was recognized by the Denver Business Journal in the 2025 40 Under 40 list. Eric is a partner in the Denver office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, and has served six years on the Mountain West chapter of Breakthrough T1D, the leading global charity for type 1 diabetes research and advocacy.
Rory Devlin (JD ’12) was appointed to the Elbert County Court in the 23rd Judicial District by Gov. Jared Polis.
2013
Steve Blackstock (MSW ’13) has been appointed executive director of the Aurora Housing Authority. Steve has been with the organization since 2016 and has extensive experience in social work and family services.
2014
Amy Knapp (JD ’14) joined the labor and employment practice group in the Denver office of Spencer Fane LLP.
Jenna Bainbridge (BM ’14) has been cast as Nessarose in the Broadway musical “Wicked.” It will be the first time that a wheelchair-using actor will play the role of the wheelchair-using witch on Broadway.
2015
Erin Orchard (BA ’15) was named one of the 2025 Top Forty Under 40 winners by the Alaska Journal of Commerce.
Joyce Adetutu (JD ’15) has joined Houston-based law firm Vinson & Elkins as a partner in the export controls and economic sanctions practice.
Kate Alderete (MLIS ’15) has been named director of the Public Library of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County. Kate recently served as New Mexico deputy state librarian.
2019
Aditi Machado (PhD ’19) has published, “Material Witness,” a series of meditative long poems that explore notions of involvement and participation in the consumptive and colonial forces of late capitalism in the plundering of the living world.
2020s
2020
Joe Kopacz (PhD ’20) has been appointed the IT vice president of AI technology at global aerospace and national security company, SNC. Joe joined SNC from its affiliate and sister company, Sierra Space, where he served as vice president of software and artificial intelligence.
Carrie Forbes (MA ’11 PhD ’20) has been named dean of Illinois State University’s Milner Library. Carrie has worked as an academic librarian for 25 years including at the University of Denver Libraries when she was associate dean for student and scholar services and professor of library science.
2021
Blaine Tracy (BA ’21) has joined the board of directors of UpRoot Colorado, an organization dedicated to increasing the nutrition security of Coloradans. Blaine is an associate in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s real estate department.
Gregory S. Phillips (MBA ’21) has been named chief operating officer for the City of Philadelphia and the Department of Aviation. Gregory most recently served as director of aviation at the Colorado Springs Airport.
Seth Davis (JD ’21) has joined Cape Fear Realtors as the government affairs director. Seth is a military veteran having served 10 years on active duty as an infantryman and Special Operations combat medic, and another 10 years in the Army National Guard.
2022
Jeff Clarke (JD ’22) has joined Spencer Fane LLP as an associate in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group.
2023
Sara Draney (BA ’23) is a member of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Criminal Justice Information Services Unit. Her unit is tasked by the FBI with the maintenance and support of the Colorado and FBI crime databases that are responsible for keeping police departments operating throughout the state.
Sarah Dickens (MA ’23) is a manager of private events at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Built with Shorthand