1990s Class notes

Submitted within the past year

1990
Dan Parks (A&S), formerly the managing editor for Roll Call newspaper and Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C, now is the editor-at-large for Bloomberg News. He works for BGOV, a new Bloomberg division focused on covering the business implications of government actions. Dan and his wife, Jill, had their first child, Aidan, in March 2011.

1991
Michelle Altobelli (BBA) received a Pyramid Award in internal marketing from Promotional Products Association International at a January 2011 awards ceremony in Las Vegas, Nev. The award recognized Michelle's work on a multipart marketing campaign during a total rebranding launch for a large financial company.

Cheri Johnson (BA) has joined the Minneapolis, Minn., office of Weber Shandwick as an account supervisor in its farm and food advocacy group. She brings expertise in agriculture and long-standing media relationships to her work leading Syngenta Seeds alfalfa, sorghum and sunflower seed marketing communication activities, and as a member of the farm and food advocacy media relations team. Before joining Weber Shandwick, Johnson ran an independent public relations business. She previously was with the U.S. Grains Council and Foremost Farms. Weber Shandwick is a global public relations agency with offices in 74 countries around the world.

Erin McRaith (BA) currently is a full-time volunteer near Kagali, Rwanda, working with multiple schools and their teachers. Her efforts are part of her participation with CUSO-VSO, an international nonprofit service organization that partners with more than 40 countries to benefit people striving to overcome poverty, create sustainable development and build both human and organizational capacity. Erin mentors teaching staff and helps them develop curriculum and classroom techniques as well as strategies for ongoing use of materials. More details can be found on her blog at erinrwanda.blogspot.com. Prior to her time in Rwanda, Erin earned a master's degree in education and has spent the past seven years teaching elementary-age students at a Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Mont., and a Navajo Reservation in Tohatchi, N.M. She also has spent time working and volunteering in China, Japan, India and Palestine. Erin and her husband, Dan, aren't sure where their next adventure will take them, but it will include their continued involvement with schools and school children who will benefit from their desire to educate.

David Roll (BBA) reports that after living in Utah for almost 15 years, he and his family decided to move back to Wisconsin to be closer to family. He still works for Wells Fargo but now mainly works remotely and commutes once per week to Menomonee Falls. David says he and his family enjoy rural living on their eight acres outside Waldo but miss their former mountain views.

James Vyvyan (BS), a professor of chemistry at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., received the university's 2011 Paul J. Olscamp Research Award in May 2011. The award recognizes faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to research and scholarship. Vyvyan's research on the synthesis of biologically active natural products and new synthetic methods has included nearly 50 undergraduates and 14 graduate students, resulting in 14 publications with 24 different student co-authors. His work currently is funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the American Chemical Society's Petroleum Research Fund. Among Vyvyan's awards are an NSF Career Award, a Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award and the 2008 Peter J. Elich Excellence in Teaching Award. He earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1995. After a Camille and Henry Dreyfus postdoctoral fellowship at Hope College, he joined the WWU faculty in 1997.

1992
Troy Hawks (BA) has been the communications director for the National Ski Areas Association and editor of the NSAA Journal, a bimonthly national trade business magazine serving the U.S. ski industry, for the past seven years. In May 2010 he had the opportunity to welcome former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the keynote speaker at NSAA's national convention in Orlando, Fla. Hawks also works as a freelance writer, photographer and fly fishing guide. He lives with his two dogs, Hey Porter and Road Again, in Denver, Colo., and notes that despite often getting lost while traveling through Eau Claire, he can still find his way to The Joynt.

1993
Dan Brown (BA) is a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and fine artist in Los Angeles, Calif. In March 2010 he took on the rebranding of an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, Pacific Outdoor Living, the largest landscaping company in Southern California. In January 2010 he completed a 12-foot-tall portrait of Michael Jackson titled "A Tribute to the King of Pop," which was made of nearly 1,700 unpainted soda pop cans. The piece was the featured work at the March 2010 LA Artwalk and at the July 2010 "Art in the Park" exhibition in downtown LA. Brown, known professionally as Seaton Brown, has received national and international recognition for the Michael Jackson piece, with articles in the Los Angeles Times, Google News, Celebrity Magazine, Fine Art News Matters and Artcyclopedia, among others, and was featured in the film documentary "The Way He Makes Them Feel."

Jennifer (Ruder) Culver (BBA) has been certified by the International Coach Academy as a certified professional coach. She is the owner of Jentle Wellness LLC in Wautoma and is a Reiki master and writer. Her primary service offering is life coaching, emphasizing positive work and life transitions, spirituality and wellness with a global market. Jennifer invites fellow alumni to visit her blog, jentlewell.wordpress.com, and her website, www.jentlewellness.com.

Cindy Knowles (BS-E) has assumed the duties of registrar at Konawaena High School on the Big Island of Hawaii. She has worked at the high school since 2003 as both a special education teacher and student services coordinator. Prior to that, she was a special education teacher at Altoona Middle School in Altoona. Cindy and her husband, Jeff, live in Kealakeua, Hawaii.

Anne Elizabeth Moore (BFA) has received a Fulbright Specialist Award to continue her work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, researching the impact of global media on youth cultures and teaching media literacy. Moore's work has been featured in Print magazine, Time Out Chicago and the Phnom Penh Post, and on Grit TV and National Public Radio's "Worldview." The work also will appear as a series of essays to be collected and released in winter 2012.

Andrea (Kroening) Solper (BS-E) and her husband, Jim, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Eli James. Both Solpers enjoy teaching in the Green Bay Area Public Schools.


1994
Jennifer (Schaub) Gage (BA) and her husband, Paul, were married in September 2008. They traveled to Africa for their honeymoon in October 2008, bought their first house in April 2009 and had their first child, Lawson Cole, on Aug. 24, 2010.

Valerie Schmidt (BS) and her husband, Tom, welcomed their son, Andrew, on Oct. 19, 2010. Valerie teaches math at River Falls High School. The family lives in Hudson.

1995
Sarah (Oitzinger) Franciscolo (BA) and her husband, Aldo, welcomed their first child, Alessandra Marie, to the world on June 4, 2010.

Kristen Gunderson-Inden (BS) and Joel Inden (at right) were married April 16, 2011, in Elm Grove. The unexpected snowy weather made for an even more memorable day. Kristen is the environmental compliance specialist for Vantage Specialties, a specialty chemical manufacturer, in Gurnee, Ill. The couple live in Milwaukee.
     
Judy (Adams) Therond (BS) and husband Laurent welcomed daughter Claire Kirika on June 23, 2009. Her big sister, Margaux, was very excited by her arrival and continues to be a model sibling — so far! The family lives in San Jose, Calif., where Judy has been a self-employed regulatory consultant since 2006. She says she'd enjoy hearing from classmates by email at judytherond@yahoo.com.

Trisha Priewe (BA), celebrated five years of being cancer-free by organizing "Make Some Noise for a Quiet Cancer," a fundraiser for ovarian cancer awareness and research, held May 14, 2011, in Lodi. Proceeds were donated to the UW Hospital's Carbone Cancer Center ovarian cancer fund. Priewe says that ovarian cancer used to be known as the "silent killer," but now there are recognizable symptoms, such as difficulty eating or feeling full sooner, changes in urination or bowels, bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, and persistent or increased changes or symptoms. For several years Priewe was hesitant to talk about her cancer, but eventually she changed her mind and began to see that stories like hers, in which a woman survives ovarian cancer, can offer hope to all women getting a scary diagnosis. Priewe can be reached at 608-235-4646 or trish.priewe@gmail.com.

Mark Scholze (BBA) is the brand sales and marketing manager at Sparrer Sausage Co. in Chicago, Ill. The family-owned company was founded in 1938.

1996
Tara Bauer (BA) received a master of divinity degree from Bethel Seminary in June 2001. She graduated summa cum laude and was selected for the Who's Who Among Theological Students honor. She currently is pursuing ordination with the United Church of Christ and will continue her longtime military service as an Air Force Reserve chaplain. Bauer lives in Minneapolis, Minn.

Miriam Gehler (BSHCA), '04 (MBA) (at left) has been appointed to the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp. board of directors for a three-year term. She will lend her time and expertise to the EDC, working to advance the area's economy. Gehler is the administrator for Marshfield Clinic's Eau Claire Center. She also serves on the board of directors for Wisconsin Illinois Senior Housing Inc. and has experience as a long-term care administrator. Gehler says she is thankful for her UW-Eau Claire education and is honored to be a part of the EDC, as it is critical to the strength and vitality of the community.

Stefanie (Bell) Haglund (BA) and husband Scott welcomed daughter Savannah Kate in June 2011. She joins big brother Sawyer. Stefanie is a senior human resources business partner for MoneyGram International in Minneapolis, Minn. She and her family live in Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

Jennifer Kushnier (BA) and her husband, Robert Wilson, announce the birth of their first child, Jude Patrick Scott, on Aug. 30, 2010. The family lives in Slatington, Pa.

John Peterson (BS), '98 (MSE), '00 (EDS) and Melanie (O'Brien) Peterson (BSN) announce the arrival of their fifth child, Katherine Grace, on Nov. 16, 2010. She joins big brothers Samuel, Drew and Owen, and big sister Tesfanesh. John is the director of special education and pupil services for the School District of Fort Atkinson. Melanie now is a stay-at-home mom. The family lives in Fort Atkinson.

Jennifer (Brandt) Zabel (BS) and husband Chris happily announce the birth of their son, Colin Henry, on Jan. 27, 2010. Colin joins big brother Reece. The family lives in St. Michael, Minn.

1997
Ann (Ringelstetter) Bradshaw (BBA) and her husband, Terry, welcomed their first child, Kathryn Robin, on Jan. 21, 2011. The family lives in Marshall.

Ryan Dahlgren (BA) was promoted to the position of sergeant of police in the Eau Claire Police Department in March 2011. After joining the department in December 2003, he served in the patrol division and special operations section. He currently works in the detective division. Dahlgren also serves as an instructor for both the Police Training Officer and Force Options Training programs and is a member of the department's Tactical Response Team. Prior to attending UW-Eau Claire, Dahlgren served in the U.S. Army for two years. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire, he worked for the Wisconsin State Patrol for five years. Dahlgren and his wife, Jacqueline, have two children.

Matt Pronschinske (BA) accepted a position as an operations analyst at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in May 2011.

Lisa Quinn-Lee (BSW) received her doctorate in social work from the University of Minnesota in 2009. Her dissertation was titled "School Social Work with Grieving Children in the Twin Cities." Lisa is excited to now be an assistant professor in the social work department at her alma mater, UW-Eau Claire. Lisa, her husband and daughter split their time between their homes in Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minn.

Shireen (Bork) Renaghan (BA) and her husband, Ted, welcomed their first child, Evan, on July 22, 2010. The family lives in Newark, Ohio.

1998
Holly (Dosdall) Andrews (BBA) started Sweet Q's Creations, a gluten-free bakery in River Falls in March 2011. Andrews creates baked goods such as muffins, cookies, donuts and mini cheesecakes as well as custom cakes and cupcakes by special order. She also plans to add new products such as bread and pizza crust in the future. Sweet Q's products can be purchased at local grocery stores or through special orders. A full list of retailers can be found online at www.SweetQsCreations.com. More information also is available through Facebook (facebook.com/SweetQs) or by calling 651-353-0091.

Ryan Moran (BS) reports that after graduating from UW-Eau Claire, he attended and received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, N.C. He then completed his residency in pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. After his residency Ryan received fellowship training in pediatric critical care and a master's degree in public health from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. He is now an assistant professor in the division of pediatric critical care at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. Ryan sends a big thank you to everyone at UW-Eau Claire who helped send him in the right direction.

1999
Foster Beyers (BME) was named director of orchestras at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., after completing his course work for a doctor of musical arts degree in conducting at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in May 2011. Foster received his master's degree in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University in 2006. He previously taught in the Green Bay public schools for five years. Foster would like to thank his mentor and friend, Nobuyoshi Yasuda, associate professor of music at UW-Eau Claire, for all of his support and inspiration over the years.

Sara Finger Warmuth (BA), the founder and executive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, was featured in a story titled "Raising the Grade" in the January 2011 issue of Brava Magazine. The story can be found online at www.bravamagazine.com/BRAVAMagazine/Live/111RaisingtheGrade.aspx. For the past six years Sara has led the effort to help advance comprehensive women's health in Wisconsin by engaging, educating, empoweringand mobilizing individuals and organizations. More information about Sara's work is available online at www.supportwomenshealth.org.

Scott Hegerty (BS) and his wife, Sara, welcomed their daughter, Eleanor Murray, on Nov. 17, 2010. Scott is an assistant professor of economics and finance at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. The family lives in Buffalo.

Robyn (Pohlkamp) Kademan (BS-E) and colleague Shawdi Nesbit recently had their book, titled "Taking Time for Teamwork," published. The book, which includes fun team-building activities for K-12 educators, was published by Lorenz Educational Press.

Jill (Schoenike) Martin (BBA) has been promoted to the position of associate trust counsel at Marshall & Ilsley Trust Co. in Milwaukee, after serving as a trust officer for four years. Jill and her husband, Shane, live in Waukesha.

Andrea (Wall) Osborne (BBA) and her husband, Matt, happily announce the birth of their first child, Morgan Elizabeth, on April 10, 2011. The family lives in Boston, Mass.

Amber (Dahlen) Peterson (BME) and Sean Peterson were married July 24, 2010, in Siren. Amber is pursuing a doctorate in music education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The couple live in Burlington, Iowa.

SuAnne (Jensema) Rieckman (BS-E), a fourth-grade teacher in the Appleton Area School District, was honored as a recipient of a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation fellowship in March 2011. Fellowship recipients are chosen for their ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, their ability to motivate others, and their leadership and service within and outside the classroom. More information about the Herb Kohl Education Foundation is available online at kohleducation.org.

Mike "Bubba" Steffen (BBA) and Nancy Nerio (at left) were married Feb. 26, 2011, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The couple live in Neenah, where they work for the Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Wendy (Duval) Welsh (BA) and husband
Joshua Welsh (BS-E) are proud to announce the birth of their second daughter, Logan Grace, on March 16, 2011. She joins big sister Taylor.

Joshua Welsh (BS-E) has been named a Rising Star by Wisconsin Super Lawyers and an Up and Coming Lawyer in the state of Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Law Journal. Welsh is a shareholder with Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. in Milwaukee, representing clients across the state in business and real estate matters. He graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University Law School in 2003.

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