Alumni Notes

1960s

Penney Sanders ’67, Port Angeles, Washington, co-authored “The Last Journey: A Road Map for Ending-of-Days.” She participated in the annual Kentucky Book Festival this fall.

Virginia Willoughby Newtown ’68, Richmond, Virginia, is enjoying her eight grandchildren.

1980s

Al Grasch ’80, Lexington, has joined the Lexington law firm of Kinkead & Stilz as a member. Al will continue his practice concentrating on business and business owner litigation, personal injury, employment discrimination and wrongful termination, estate disputes, business advising  and other civil matters. 

Holly Gifford Knott ’82, Paintsville, Kentucky, has moved to Appalachia after 62 years in Louisville. She is subbing in the Paintsville Independent School system this school year.

Lynn Ann Vogel ’82, St. Louis, co-founding partner of Vogel Law Office, was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as a 2023 ICON honoree. The announcement said: “Vogel has held multiple local, state and national volunteer leadership roles in the legal and civic communities, including past president of The Missouri Bar and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and is the current delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. She has served as a member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents’ Executive Council and has worked with the nominating committee of NCBP. She has served as a board member and officer of the St. Louis Internship Program, a youth training program developed for underserved teenagers by BAMSL, which became its own program and merged with the Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis, where Vogel serves as an officer.”

Sam Terry ’86, Glasgow, Kentucky, received the Jesse Stuart Media Award from the Kentucky Association of School Librarians. His nomination noted, “Terry’s passion for Kentucky, history and the preservation of the stories of fellow Kentuckians checked all the boxes of the purpose of this award, which is to recognize the development of media relating to Kentucky.” Search “Sam Terry’s Kentucky” to check out his work.

P T Schram ’87, Churubusco, Indiana, was promoted from maintenance engineer to environmental health and safety manager for Sanko Gosei, an auto parts manufacturer in Fort Wayne. His Land Rover shop (PTSchram Rover Repair) is still in operation, although it has morphed into a consultancy instead of a repair/service/off-road modification shop.

Kimberly North Mercker ’89, Louisville, Kentucky, retired in June after teaching for nearly 32 years. She is excited to have some free time to visit more family and friends, travel, play pickleball and be able to say yes to whatever comes up.

1990s

Robin Bowen ’90, Alexandria, Virginia, is a winner of the 2024 Leading Association Lobbyist Award. Given by Association TRENDS and CEO Update, Robin was honored for her work on behalf of the Plant Based Products Council. Over the past four decades, the Salute to Association Excellence Awards has honored those who have gone above and beyond in their work within the association industry.

James Dodds ’94, Madisonville, Kentucky, was inducted into the Madisonville North Hopkins All Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. James was inducted due to his outstanding athletic career in three varsity sports — basketball, soccer and track and field. James is now an orthopedic surgeon in Madisonville and recently received the Loman C. Trover Health Care Award for his work in the community.

Elizabeth Homan ’95, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, is the new vice president for strategic marketing and communications at Juniata College in Huntingdon. She was previously at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, where she served as executive director of public relations and marketing.

Brie Linkenhoker ’96, Woodside, California, presented an online talk for the UN General Assembly Science Summit. She and two colleagues discussed psychological barriers to engaging with risks like nuclear weapons and catastrophic climate change, and how futurists and designers are working to improve the way we approach and manage those risks as individuals and a society. 

Ana C. Reyes ’96, Washington, D.C., was formally invested as the United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia on Oct. 27.

C. Shawn McGuffey ’98, Saugus, Massachusetts, received the 2023 Best Paper Award from the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers. His article, “A Kentucky State of Mind: bell hooks’ Feminist Geography of Subjectivity,” was published in Southeastern Geographer. 

Shane White ’98, Columbus, Ohio, obtained his Junior National Referee certification from USA Volleyball at the 2023 Girls Junior National Championship in Chicago. The junior national rating is the second-highest certification offered by USAV. He also has a national scorer certification from USAV. In addition, he officiates volleyball at the collegiate and high school levels, with national line judge and state referee certifications from the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials, the certifying body for NCAA referees.

Joseph Williams ’99, Raleigh, North Carolina, was named program director for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program at the UNC School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.  He is triple-board-certified in adult psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and addiction medicine.

2000s

Amy Elliott ’00, Frankfort, Kentucky, was named vice president of external affairs and customer service at Kentucky Power.

Lydia Wilson Kohler ’00, Winchester, Kentucky, a French teacher at George Rogers Clark High School (Clark County), is the 2023 recipient of the Kentucky World Language Association Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. She received the award on Sept. 30 at the KWLA Fall Conference.

Erin Riney ’00, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was named executive director at PORCH, a nonprofit focused on food justice in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. Erin has a background in education, yet her experience is broader. She helped create a food pantry at Durham Technical Community College and led a statewide alliance of other colleges, serving as a leader in the creation of an interconnected holistic student support system for families experiencing housing insecurities. 

Bridget Trogden ’00, Chevy Chase, Maryland, is the dean of undergraduate education and academic student services at American University. She will also serve as a professor in the AU School of Education. Bridget was previously at Clemson University as associate dean of engagement and general education.

Jessica McCarthy Lotz ’01, O’Fallon, Illinois, won re-election as alderman for the City of O’Fallon (a suburb of St. Louis). She was first elected in April 2019 and serves as vice chairman for finance and administration and sits on the public safety committee. Professionally, she is the leadership and development coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce and a director for the Heartland Member Network for Thrivent Financial, a Fortune 500 financial services firm.

Wilson Dickinson ’02, Georgetown, Kentucky, published his latest book, “Singing the Psalms with My Son: Praying and Parenting for a Healed Planet.” Copies are available. 

Brooke Dunn ’02, Indianapolis, returned to Faegre Drinker as counsel with the corporate practice in Indianapolis. She was previously at the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, where she served as the chief financial officer and treasurer. 

Craig Lotz ’02, O’Fallon, Illinois, was honored by BJC Hospital for scoring in the top 10% of providers nationally providing excellent quality of care to patients. He is a licensed clinical psychologist with BJC Family Medicine Clinic in O’Fallon, where he provides mental and behavioral health services to patients of all ages. He was also recognized for pioneering the CARES program, which provides physicians with confidential and direct access to mental health services. He received his doctorate degree from Spalding University and has worked in psychiatry and family medicine clinics since 2007.

Kyra Stoddard-Duncan ’02, Wilmore, Kentucky, graduated with her MS degree in psychology-child and adolescent development from Capella University. She owns Vineyard Microschool, where she has taught since September 2015. 

Katie Griffin Jenner ’04, Madison, Indiana, who serves as Indiana’s secretary of education, participated on a panel called “What’s Next for College and Career Pathways? Policy Highlights from States,” alongside secretaries of education from Florida and Tennessee, at ExcelinEd’s annual National Summit on Education in Atlanta in November. She also moderated a session with author and researcher Richard Reeves, where he addressed the complex and troubling challenges facing today’s male students. 

Casi Clark Benedict ’05, Utica, Kentucky, was promoted to director of outreach services at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. Casi has been with KHEAA since 2010, serving in a variety of roles that took her around the state to ensure that Kentucky students received the support they needed before pursuing college. From talking to parents to training staff and now big-picture planning, Casi has helped make a difference. She and her husband also have a production company, Red Serial Films, that earned her an Emmy for an Independence Bank commercial. Most important of all, they have four beautiful children. 

Ann Sterrett Gilcrease ’06, Alameda, California, serves as middle school principal at the Academy of Alameda.

Heidi Lester ’06, New Orleans, passed her board certified behavior analysis exam after completing a master’s in behavioral psychology in 2019. She’s now a licensed behavior analyst at Behavior Teaching Concepts in New Orleans, where she has been for four years as a behavioral therapist.

Charlene Rubio Buckles ’08, Louisville, Kentucky, was recognized as a 2023 Louisville Business First 40 Under 40 honoree. Charlene is director of development for the ACLU of Kentucky and a tireless champion for immigrants’ rights. 

Allison Ray Drake ‘08, Garland, Texas, was named senior pastor for East Dallas Christian Church in December, having served as acting senior minister eight months prior. She started at East Dallas Christian as its children and youth minister in October 2016, transitioning to associate minister along the way.

Anne-Tyler Morgan ’08, Lexington, was named to the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2023 and recently elected chair of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Industrial Authority. She is also a longtime senior member of Lexington’s Economic Development Investment Board and a member at McBrayer Law, where she also serves as chair of its economic development practice group. 

Sarah Harcourt Watts ’08, Lexington, is back on Transylvania’s campus as the university’s education credential specialist. She will assist the education program by managing all data and documentation related to teacher certification, accreditation, Title II management and other program business.

2010s

Brittany Riley ’10, London, Kentucky, was recognized as one of the Top 10 Under 40 by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. She practices law at Scoville-Bonham & Riley, PLLC.

Jessica Zaker ’10, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, completed her Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies within the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at Indiana University. She is now an Assistant Professor of Education at Alma College where she serves as the Social Studies member of the Education faculty. A Lexington native, Jessica majored in Middle Grades Education at Transy and taught in Fayette County Public Schools for seven years before pursuing her doctorate. She has just defended her dissertation which examines preservice elementary teachers’ conceptions of social issues and social action. She wants to give a shoutout to the Transy Education faculty for inspiring and supporting her throughout her career.

Kelsey Strasser Flynn ’11, Independence, Kentucky, is an instructional coach for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where she leads professional development for teachers.

Justin Tereshko ’12, Lexington, has hit what Eastern Kentucky University calls the trifecta — winning the 104th Kentucky Open, claiming the 109th Kentucky Amateur Championship and qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Amateur. Justin is the first amateur to win the Kentucky Open in the past seven years; there have only been 18 in its history. Justin is also only the fourth person to win both the Kentucky State Amateur and the Kentucky Open in the same year. He has also won the North Carolina Amateur and Open championships. He’s the head coach for EKU’s men’s golf program.

Della Cummings ’14, Lexington, recently partnered with former Fayette County Family Judge Carl Devine to open Devine Law Group, PLLC. They focus primarily on family law, but their practice varies. Della was previously at Mattmiller Crosbie and has coached the dance team at Bryan Station High School since 2016.

Sarah Fletcher ’14, Lexington, was featured in Lexington’s local news earlier this fall. She embarked on a seven-day, 500-mile journey as part of Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. But it wasn’t just for the exercise — Sarah was riding in memory of Torsie Haugli ’14, a beloved sorority sister who passed away from leukemia and lymphoma not long after graduation.

Zara Bullock ’15, Lexington, is now working for the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health and Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities as the behavioral health services systems coordinator.

Valerie A. Whitlock ’15, Hodgenville, Kentucky, is back in the classroom, but this time she’s teaching. She is the newest sixth-grade science teacher at LaRue County Middle School and will be helping coach middle and high school girls basketball.

Carson Baughman ’16, Lexington, was named to Family Business Magazine’s “NextGens to Watch 2023” list. He’s the director of development for Cowgill Inc. and recently earned his master’s of real estate development from Auburn University. 

Ashton Ogle ’16, Georgetown, Kentucky, relocated back to central Kentucky in April to take a new position in the UK hospital Emergency Department, working primarily in pediatric emergency medicine. In June, Ashton was elected to the American Academy of PAs Board of Directors to serve a two-year term as director-at-large. This position is elected from a national vote of PAs in the United States.

Heather Hamilton ’17, Lexington, has begun working at PetVet365 in Lexington after her recent graduation from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Some of Heather’s previous work includes research on house sparrow behavior, working in a variety of veterinary hospitals for small and exotic animals, and with birds at the Nashville Zoo. 

Matthew Shultz ’17, Versailles, Kentucky, recently started a new job as a workforce analyst at Kentucky Center for Statistics.

Isabella Alonso ’19, Lexington, started a position as a pediatric nurse at Kentucky Children’s Hospital (RN, BSN). She graduated magna cum laude from EKU’s accelerated second degree nursing program and magna cum laude in May with a BSN and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. 

Shelby Lewis ’19, Lexington, recently began work as the executive policy adviser for the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program. She previously spent a year as executive director in the Office of Legislative Services. Along with her career in the state government, she runs Sweetened by Shelby, a custom cookie business in Lexington. 

Daniel McCarthy ’19, Lexington, earned his LPCA and is taking new clients through Avenues Unlimited Counseling Center. He specializes in working with children and teenagers but also sees young adults. 

Hannah Mooney ’19, Shepherdsville, Kentucky, graduated this year with her Master of Science in library and information science from Simmons University.

Josh Porter ’19, Lexington, was named Faulkner Morgan Archive’s new assistant executive director earlier this fall. Founded in 2014, Faulkner Morgan Archive is dedicated to telling Kentucky’s LGBTQ story. Through his work, Josh hopes to share Lexington’s important LGBTQ+ history with Transylvania students.

2020s

Ashley Dragan ’20, Lexington, successfully passed the bar exam this summer and joined Jenny Scott & Associates as an associate attorney in family law.

Savannah Lambert ’21, Georgetown, Kentucky, recently started a new role as a participant services associate with the Council on International Educational Exchange. 

Ben Gallenstein ’22, Lexington, has returned to Transylvania as an admissions counselor.

Mattie Dunn ’23, Lexington, joined the Transylvania staff as an admissions counselor.