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Class Notes - Fall 2020

1950s

The Oklahoman published commentary about the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, highlighting Hub Reed鈥檚 (BA Physical Education 鈥58) speech as the 鈥渇avorite part of the day.鈥

The Black Chronicle featured Sylvia Ruth Townsend Menser (BA Psychology 鈥58) as the Editor鈥檚 Pick Front Page profile for her teaching legacy.

1960s

Darlington Public School in El Reno honored Terry Davis (BA 鈥65) for her 42 years of teaching and serving as its first kindergarten teacher.

A column by OCU trustee Jane Jayroe Gamble (BM 鈥69, HDHL 鈥11) in The Oklahoman headlined 鈥淪ometimes Surrender is the Pathway鈥 includes a story from her time as a student at OCU. Another column in the series was about Phil Busey Sr. (BA History/Political Science 鈥74, JD 鈥77).

1970s

An article by Terry Zinn (BA Speech Theatre 鈥71) about former voice professor Florence Birdwell appeared in Senior News & Living.

The 野狼社区 Community Foundation elected Pete White (JD 鈥73) to its board of trustees.

Steven M. Angel (JD 鈥76) received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tim Colbert

Tim Colbert (JD 鈥76), former district judge and Chickasaw tribal legislator, will be inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame.
 

1980s

Donald Jordan (BA Speech Theatre 鈥80) was interviewed for an American Theatre magazine story about how theater companies are handling the pandemic, and he mentioned his CityRep partnership work with OCU on a racism awareness project.

Sam Houston (JD 鈥85) is the new publisher of the Hood County News in Texas.

RealClearDefense posted a report by Charles Barham (MBA 鈥86), a retired U.S. Army colonel, about the Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance Program.

The Oklahoman ran a tribute story about artist Thomas Batista Correa (BA Art/Mass Communications 鈥84, MLA 鈥88).

The Rev. Greg Tolle (BA Religion 鈥88), pastor of First United Methodist of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was interviewed for the story 鈥淢inisters Called in Different Ways to Serve鈥 in the Muskogee Phoenix.

Jan Gaddis (JD 鈥88), a Duncan, Oklahoma, attorney, was appointed to serve on the state鈥檚 Forensic Review Board.

LaVonda Jones (MBA 鈥89) was promoted to executive vice president and president of the Ada, Oklahoma, market/CIO for Vision Bank.

1990s

Jill Campbell (MBA 鈥90) was elected to the Georgia Power board of directors.

Trustee and alumnus the Rev. Dr. David Wilson (BA Mass Communications 鈥90) was appointed as assistant to the bishop鈥檚 office for the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rick Reimer (MBA 鈥91) retired as director of the Northeast Tech Claremore Campus after 33 years with the Oklahoma school.

Kristin Chenoweth (BM Musical Theatre 鈥91, MM 鈥93, HDHL 鈥13) was a guest on the Actors Fund and SiriusXM Broadway show 鈥淪tars in The House,鈥 a series featuring stars of stage and screen singing and performing live from home on social media to promote support for those most vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus. Chenoweth also led a vocal warmup for 鈥淭he Disney Family Singalong鈥 special on ABC, and was a guest on the 鈥淲atch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen鈥 show on Bravo, where she adorned her tiara from her Miss OCU victory. Chenoweth also donned her Miss OCU tiara during an appearance on the CBS show 鈥淭he Talk.鈥

Destan Owens (BM Musical Theater 鈥91) was a featured guest on the YouTube live-stream fundraiser 鈥淏lack Lives Matter: A Virtual Celebration of Black Theatre Artists.鈥

Chris Harrison (BA Mass Communications 鈥93; HDFA 鈥15) was a participant in a DePaul University online class project that was covered in a Chicago Tribune story. The Athletic website featured Harrison in a story headlined 鈥淲hy 鈥楾he Bachelor鈥 franchise and ex-football players are the perfect match.鈥 He was also featured in the ABC show 鈥淏rad Paisley Thinks He鈥檚 Special.鈥

The Rev. Linda Harker (BA Religion 鈥93) announced her retirement as senior pastor of McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma.

Ronald Plesco (JD 鈥93) joined the DLA Piper firm鈥檚 intellectual property and technology practice as a partner in the Philadelphia office.

Chuck Skillings (BS Competency-Based Degree Program 鈥93) retired as CEO of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital-Shawnee in Oklahoma.

Charles Wagner (MBA 鈥93), senior vice president and chief information officer for the Franciscan Alliance Inc. hospital system, was listed as a 2020 CTO of the Year by the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Terri Avinnaq Walker (MEd 鈥94) was named superintendent of the Northwest Arctic Borough School District in Alaska.

The Kansas City National Security Campus named a scholarship award in memory of Lt. Darwin DuPree (MPA Music 鈥94).

Michelle Dolan (MM Musical Theater 鈥95) was appointed director of development and stewardship for Kansas Wesleyan University.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (JD 鈥95) was the keynote speaker at the Reagan Day Dinner in North Carolina in March.

William (Bill) L. Bullock, Jr. (MBA Finance 鈥96) was named executive vice president and chief financial officer for ConocoPhillips.

Louis Ross (MA Criminal Justice Administration 鈥96) was named chief of campus police for Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma.

Dave Tomasi (MBA 鈥97) was named chief commercial officer of Bayer Consumer Health鈥檚 North America region.

The Messenger-Inquirer in Kentucky published a feature about Jeff Berry (JD 鈥98), a Major League Baseball player agent.

Kerry Anne Schultz (BS History, BA Political Science 鈥98), a manager and attorney with Fountain, Schultz & Bridgford, PLLC, was appointed to Florida鈥檚 Judicial Nominating Commission for the First Circuit.

Kelli O'Hara (BM '98; HDHL '15) did a live-stream benefit performance on 鈥淭he Rosie O鈥橠onnell Show.鈥 O鈥橦ara also participated in a live-stream concert celebrating Stephen Sondheim鈥檚 90th birthday and was the first featured artist in the weekly virtual 鈥淭he Seth Concert Series.鈥

Jennifer M. Grigsby (MBA 鈥99) was highlighted in the Greater Tulsa Reporter column headlined 鈥淲omen are Playing Vital Roles in Energy.鈥

2000s

Col. Kevin L. Sellers (MBA 鈥00, JD 鈥05) retired from the United States Air Force with 29 years of honorable service.

Beau M. Patterson (JD 鈥01) joined the Phillips Murrah P.C. firm鈥檚 Dallas office as a counsel attorney.

The Greater OKC Chamber鈥檚 Velocity 鈥淎udacity鈥 podcast/video series did an interview with Coop Ale Works founder Daniel Mercer (BSB Economics 鈥01).

JC Shine (BS prior learning & University Studies-Technical Management 鈥02, MBA 鈥06), a technical officer in the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Section at the International Civil Aviation Organization, presented an overview of unmanned aerial vehicle model regulations before a trade group.

Kyle Dillingham (BM Instrumental Performance 鈥02) and Peter Markes (BM Instrumental Education 鈥01) were guests on the RFD-TV show 鈥淲oodSongs,鈥 where they mentioned their goodwill music trips after meeting as music students at OCU.

Margaret Creighton (BS Dance Management 鈥02, MBA 鈥06) was named executive vice president for Positive Tomorrows, a school established for children who are experiencing homelessness in 野狼社区.

Former OCU basketball player K.T. Turner (BA Criminal Justice 鈥03) was named the associate head coach for the University of Texas Longhorns.

Ben Russ (JD 鈥04) was appointed to the board of directors for FTS International, Inc., an independent hydraulic fracturing service company based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Schulyer Adkins (MM Music Theater 鈥05) was hired to be a music teacher at Dewey Elementary.

State Sen. Carri Hicks (BA Broadcast/Political Science 鈥05, MLA 鈥09) was named to the Journal Record鈥檚 Achievers Under 40 list for 2020.

Anita Reynolds Howard (JD 鈥05) made history when she became the first African American person and first woman to be named district attorney of the Macon Judicial Circuit in Georgia.

Christina Chicoraske (BA Religion 鈥07), former OCU undergraduate admissions assistant director and current water conservation coordinator for 野狼社区, was a guest on a recent 鈥淭his is Oklahoma鈥 podcast episode.

Erick Worrell (BA Public Relations 鈥07) was named executive director of marketing and PR for 野狼社区 Community College.

Tim Peerbolte (BS Education 鈥07), a theater teacher for Greenwood High School in Arkansas, was interviewed for a news story about teaching arts during a pandemic.

John Ratliff (JD 鈥07) was appointed city attorney for Lawton, Oklahoma.

Three women
Pictured are Kate Bacon, Family Builders executive director; Oklahoma First Lady Sarah Stitt; and Kelly Williams.

Kelly Williams (BS Psychology 鈥08), board president of Family Builders, presented Oklahoma First Lady Sarah Stitt with the Advocate of the Year Award at the Hope for Families Luncheon. 

Clinton Normore (MBA 鈥08), former OCU director of multicultural student affairs, was promoted to vice president of diversity and inclusion at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Judge Trevor Pemberton (JD 鈥08) was appointed to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals.

Crowe & Dunlevy named Jennifer Willey (JD 鈥08), Zane Anderson (JD 鈥12), and Paige Masters (JD 鈥12) as directors in the firm.

Matthew R. Schultz (BA Theatre Performance 鈥09), a financial advisor with Principal Life and Principal National Life Insurance companies, earned the Retirement Income Certified Professional designation from The American College of Financial Services.

The Oklahoman and El Dorado News-Times ran feature stories about Teresa Ritchie (BS Nursing 鈥09) and her journey to help in a New York City hospital鈥檚 ICU during the COVID-19 outbreak.

2010s

Singer and actress Heather Harris (BM Vocal Performance 鈥10, MM Musical Theater 鈥13) was the mistress of ceremonies for the Texas Cinderella Miss pageant.

Red Lake Nation News, the news source of the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, featured Yukon attorney Pamela Kennedy (JD 鈥10) and her fused glass artwork.

Chaz Wolcott (BPA 鈥10) performed in 鈥淏roadway in Franklin鈥 in March at the Black Box in Massachusetts. Wolcott also choreographed a 3D Theatricals production of 鈥淣ewsies鈥 as part of the 3D+U Thursday lineup.

Jacob Leighton Burns (BFA Film Studies 鈥10), Zachary Burns (BFA Photography 鈥10), and Vinnie Hogan (BM Composition 鈥08) were interviewed about their film 鈥淪hifter鈥 for the Indie Horror Rising podcast. Jacob Leighton Burns also participated in a Virtual Orbiter screening of the film as part of the Other Worlds Film Festival.

Sasha Hutchings (BPA Dance 鈥11) was amongst several guest stars performing with a "Hamilton" Zoom flash mob on the "Some Good News with John Krasinski" show. Hutchings appears in the film version of 鈥淗amilton,鈥 which was released this summer on Disney+. She is also a host of a new talk show series on BroadwayWorld TV called 鈥淐haos Twins,鈥 which premiered in June, and was on the judges panel for BroadwayWorld鈥檚 鈥淣ext on Stage鈥 Dance Edition鈥 student video competition.

Greg Butz (BM Music/Emphasis in Business 鈥11) was hired as an associate with Sumner Schick, a Dallas-based law firm.

Woman with glasses smiling
Kassie McCoy

The Claremore Daily Progress featured Rogers County (Oklahoma) Associate District Judge Kassie McCoy (JD 鈥12) in its 鈥淜now Your Neighbor鈥 series.

Former OCU runner Aleia Gordon (BS Biomedical Science 鈥12) was the subject of a KXII Sports Rewind in Ardmore.

Brandon Cooper (JD 鈥12) opened a new law practice in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Andrew Byrd (MBA/JD 鈥12) is leading the new Kansas City, Missouri, office of Generational Group, a mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held, middle market businesses.

Bailey Perkins (BA Political Science 鈥12), vice chair of the Oklahoma Women鈥檚 Coalition, moderated a panel discussion with a group of leaders called Black Women Voices on issues of race and justice.

Kyle Lacy (BM Music Theater 鈥13) released his debut album 鈥淭he Road to Tomorrow.鈥

Woman in front of America's Got Talent banners
Eileen Chase

Eileen Chase (BFA Acting 鈥13) performed on NBC鈥檚 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Got Talent.鈥

Biology professor Dr. Tony Stancampiano and his daughter, Angelina Stancampiano (BS Biology 鈥14), a naturalist at Sequoyah State Park in Oklahoma, participated in a webinar and were mentioned in a Tahlequah Daily Press story about the Bathtub Rocks natural feature in the J.T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve in Cherokee County.

Steven D. Powell (BS Nursing 鈥14) was deployed to Puerto Rico by the Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System of the Department of Veterans Affairs for two weeks in January to help with relief efforts related to a 6.4-magnitude earthquake. Also in January, Powell began a new appointment on the Health Policy Committee of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. He was one of two national scholarship winners to attend the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs Hill Day in Washington, D.C.

Performance Today on American Public Media played music by Katie Barrick (BM Music Business 鈥15) during its July 17 program.

Seth Sloan (JD 鈥15) joined Crowe & Dunlevy as an associate in the firm鈥檚 Dallas office.

Dr. Sadeq AL-Fayyadh (DP Nursing 鈥15) had an article published in the Ethics, Medicine and Public Health journal titled 鈥淲hose Life Is It Anyway? A Reflective Dialogue between Religious and Secular Bioethical Perspectives.鈥 AL-Fayyadh, who teaches at the University of Baghdad College of Nursing, wrote to his Kramer School of Nursing professors, saying 鈥渆ven after five years of graduation from the KSN program, it is still fruitful, simply because it is a lifelong productive program鈥攁 program whose educational seeds continue to grow everywhere and anywhere!鈥

Roy Samra (BFA Acting 鈥15) made his Mercury Theater Chicago debut as part of the ensemble in the musical 鈥淧riscilla Queen of the Desert.鈥

Former OCU golfer Taylor Cusack (BS Kinesiology and Exercise Studies 鈥15) is the co-host of 鈥淪wing Clinic鈥 on Fox Sports.

Jacintha (Bachman) Webster (JD 鈥16) became a professor of politics, law, and society for East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

Caitlin Crabill (MM Opera Performance 鈥16) stepped into the leading role in the Sarasota Opera (Florida) production of 鈥淟a Wally.鈥

Madison Moody (BFA Studio Art 鈥17, MA Non-Profit Leadership 鈥18) was a curator for the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition鈥檚 Momentum exhibition in March.

Daniel McClain (BBA Accounting 鈥17, MS Accounting 鈥19) was promoted to senior associate at BKD CPAs & Advisors.

Mathew Hester (BFA Film Production 鈥17) completed a master鈥檚 in English at University of New Orleans last spring and received a doctoral fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. this fall at Texas Tech University.

Grace Lewis (BM Instrumental Performance 鈥17) co-founded and is a double-bass instructor for the distance-learning Motivation Orchestra Camp.

翱办濒补丑辞尘补鈥檚 Nursing Times ran a feature story about Matt Logan (BS Nursing 鈥17), an ER nurse at Integris Community Hospital鈥揥est.

Rutgers University鈥揅amden fine arts grad student Patience Williams (BA English 鈥17) was a semi-finalist for the Fulbright Scholarship competition. Williams was named a Fulbright Teaching Fellow in the highly competitive Netherlands program.

Cover of Bass World magazine
Abby McBroom

Abby McBroom (BMIE 鈥18, MM 鈥20) was appointed assistant orchestra director at Putnam City North High School in 野狼社区. McBroom was featured on the cover of an issue of Bass World, the magazine for the International Society of Bassists.

Nicolette Winterscheidt (MS Physician Assistant Studies 鈥18) is one of the providers for Oklahoma State University鈥檚 telemedicine psychiatric services for students.

KFOR in 野狼社区 featured law alumnus James Blaise (JD 鈥18) and his inspirational story of how he became a lawyer.

Abby Peek (BFA Acting 鈥19) performed in 鈥淵oung and With Time鈥 at Dixon Place in New York City.

Sara Byerly (BFA Acting 鈥19) starred in 鈥淭he Library鈥 at Carpenter Square Theatre in 野狼社区.

Cassidy Jasperson (BS Elementary Education 鈥19), coach of the state鈥檚 first high school girls wrestling program in Broken Arrow, was interviewed for a story in The Oklahoman headlined 鈥淗ow Girls鈥 Wrestling is Taking Another Step Toward Inclusion in Oklahoma.鈥

The Journal Record鈥檚 Oklahoma Joe column featured Claire Pedulla (BS Nursing 鈥19), a registered nurse at the OU Health Sciences Center, on her experiences in treating COVID-19 patients.

翱办濒补丑辞尘补鈥檚 Nursing Times ran a feature story about Gretchen Chafey (BS Nursing 鈥19), a nurse at Integris Community Hospital.

Erin Davis (BA English 鈥19) was accepted into the graduate English program at Tulane University.

Laura Leigh Turner (BM Music Theater 鈥19) earned her first Broadway credit with the role of Karen Smith in the Tony-nominated hit 鈥淢ean Girls.鈥

Vanessa Martinez (JD 鈥19) joined the Stange Law Firm鈥檚 野狼社区 office as junior associate attorney.

Laley Freeman (BA 鈥19) was hired as youth director for Bartlesville First Church.

Film production alumni Mary McLain (BFA 鈥19) and Hannah Rogers (BFA 鈥20) served as student liaisons at this summer鈥檚 at-home version of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, usually held at Quartz Mountain. Associate professor Bryan Cardinale-Powell was also a member of the film faculty at OSAI.

Allen S.D. Zomonway (MA Nonprofit Leadership 鈥19), hospital administrator at Ganta United Methodist Mission in Liberia, was featured in a United Methodist News story headlined 鈥淎U (Africa University) Health Care Grads on COVID-19 Front Lines.鈥

Dr. Eman Alslman (Ph.D. Nursing 鈥19) published an article in the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health titled 鈥淎lexithymia, Fibromyalgia, and Psychological Distress Among Adolescents: Literature Review,鈥 based on Alslman鈥檚 dissertation research.

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