1965
Price Smith marked 50 years as an attorney in fall 2020 and decided to take down his shingle. In a Wichita Falls newspaper article, he said he had always wanted to be a trial attorney, so he spent his life in work he loved. He said he is retiring now for health reasons.
1967
Larry Francell has compiled a history of Austin College’s Pi Chi Epsilon fraternity, with the help of many of his fraternity brothers. Alumni interested in a copy should contact him at larry.francell@sbcglobal.net or P.O. Box 2176, Fort Davis, TX 79734.
1972
Gregory West earned a Diploma in Anglican Studies at Bexley Seabury Seminary at the University of Chicago in May 2020. He is semi-retired after 38 years of practicing Emergency Medicine, specializing in rural safety net hospitals. He and his wife, Cynthia, live in Brandenburg, Kentucky. Holding a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, he also is a Licensed Lay Reader and preacher in his home Episcopal parish, conducting services once a month for the past 10 years. He earned a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics as well as a medical degree from the University of Louisville.
1973
Gary C. Johnson, Partner with Reed Smith law firm, splits time between Houston and Austin, adding the expanding Austin office to his area of work in the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Group. He handles major energy and infrastructure deals that span the globe and the energy spectrum and has more than four decades of experience as a leading lawyer in the oil nd gas industry, having served as In-House Counsel for three energy companies before moving to private practice.
1977
Claude Webb was named Executive Director of Administrative Services for Melissa High School in 2020, having spent 10 years as Girls Athletic Director. He joined Melissa ISD in 2007, initially serving as an Athletic Coordinator, Basketball Coach, Cross Country Coach, and Government and Economics teacher at Melissa High School.
1981
Virginia Wells, M.D., is the Chief Medical Officer, Director of Medical Services, and Team Physician to William & Mary’s Tribe Athletics program. She moved to Athletics in 2019 after serving 11 years as Director of William & Mary’s Student Health Center. Prior to her work at the university, she served as Assistant Professor of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at the Medical College of Virginia. She also had practiced in the Williamsburg area. When COVID-19 ended athletics competition, she found her specialties in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases allowed her to serve as an educational resource to colleagues throughout the university about how to do their jobs safely.
1982
Charla Glass Aldous is co-founder of Aldous/Walker Law Firm in Dallas. The firm was honored as a 2020 Elite Trial Lawyers Law Firm of the Year in the dram shop category by American Lawyer Media and The National Trial Lawyers.
1983
Kayoko Orita Tanaka now lives in Yokohama, Japan.
1984
Rodney Moore continues to receive accolades for his work in law. He was named to Texas Best Lawyers 2020 and to The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law in Mergers and Acquisitions Law, for which recognition is based on peer-review surveys. At the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Rodney is Co- Managing Partner of the Dallas office and a Partner in the firm’s Private Equity practice. He also spends significant time in the firm’s Houston office.
1988
Helen Lowman has published her dissertation Building Renewed Relevance: Portraits of CEOs Rebranding Iconic Nonprofit Organizations. The research looked particularly at the leaders’ drive for innovation and the practices they incorporated for the successful rebrand. Helen completed her Ph.D. at Antioch University’s Graduate School of Leadership and Change. She has been President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful since 2017. She has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the areas of international diplomacy and development, youth engagement, environmental education, disaster resilience, global leadership, volunteerism, social justice, and human rights.
Andrew “Thomas” Smith is owner and partner with the Hard Smoke BBQ catering company of Frisco. The company provides gourmet food for any event, thanks to an executive chef Thomas calls “world class.” The company serves North Texas.
1989
Michelle Frymire joined CWT, a business-to-business travel management company in May 2019 as Executive Vice President and Chief Finance Officer. In September 2020, the company created three new global operating units, and Michelle became President of the Strategy and Transformation unit, overseeing areas of finance, technology, talent and performance, enterprise projects, and strategy. She remains CWT’s Chief Financial Officer. She has nearly 20 years of travel industry experience, with CFO roles at Starwood Vacation Ownership and Delta Technology (a division of Delta Airlines). Previously a member of the Texas Women’s Foundation Economic Leadership Council, Michelle now sits on the board for Family Gateway in Dallas.
Nick Kagal is Vice President of Health Information Technology at Mitchell Martin, Inc. The New York-based organization provides nationwide staffing and recruiting services through staff augmentation, placement, direct hire, and payroll services. Nick is leading and developing the company’s new Health Information Technology.
Bill Ucherek II re-established Ucherek Law Firm in Dallas, Texas, and joined McCullough Mediation in Dallas in December 2019. He successfully completed the Basic and Family Mediation Training courses in compliance with the Texas Mediation Trainers’ Roundtable Standards. Also, he and his wife, Brenda Montfort-Ucherek ’88, enjoy traveling between Lake Texoma, Taos, and Dallas since their three boys— Nicholas, Jared, and Walker— have left the nest.
1992
Jarrod Foerster took office in June 2020 as elected public member of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation. Jarrod is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Flagship Capital Partners in Houston, Texas, overseeing all capital formation, investor relations, and asset management functions. Before co-founding Flagship in 2003, Jarrod was Acquisitions Officer with Camden Property Trust and began his career in Real Estate Investing as Financial Analyst for Rainwater, Inc. Jarrod was appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas in 2017 and unanimously confirmed by the Texas Senate to a three-year term as a public member of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas. He served as chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and as a member of the Executive, Budget, and Legislative Policy Committees.
1993
Sallye Fogarty Norris was named the 2020 Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) Region 10 Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year in recognition of exceptional leadership in the day-today operations of schools. Assistant principal at Taylor Elementary in Frisco ISD, she has worked in education for 18 years, teaching all elementary grades except fourth. “I want students to trust me so that they have another person they can turn to here at Taylor to help guide them to make good choices,” Sallye said in a news release. “Building relationships while keeping students accountable is a pillar of how I go about my day.”
1994
Jay Dew was named the Edward R. Campbell Press Director of Texas A&M University Press in February 2020. He had served as the Interim Director since fall 2019. Jay began his publishing career at the University of Oklahoma Press and had served as Editor in Chief at Texas A&M University Press since 2016. He holds a Ph.D. in American History and is active in the Western History Association, Texas State Historical Association, Western Writers of America, and other professional organizations. “Stewardship of the university’s publishing imprint is a duty that I approach with deep respect, and I will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend it,” Dew said. Texas A&M University Press, founded in 1974, publishes 50 to 60 books annually over a wide range of subjects.
1995
Brian Grandjean is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked in the mental health field for more than 15 years. He completed a Ph.D. in Marital and Family Therapy in 2016 from Texas Woman’s University. As the Director and Clinician for Emerald Palace Practice in Allen, Texas, he treats a wide range of family therapy issues, with a specialty in the treatment of high functioning children and adults with autism. He also works with individuals who exhibit signs of Asperger Syndrome and Social Communication Disorder. He also is the Founder and Executive Director of Tracks 4 Kids, a nonprofit that runs social skills programs for children on the autism spectrum.
1996
Stephanie McDonald, Chief of Staff at Central Health in Austin, Texas, since 2015, has been named Vice President of Enterprise Alignment and Coordination for the organization that assists low income residents to access health care. She collaborates with Central Health’s affiliates and partners to support strategic work priorities of the health care district across Travis County. She previously had been Vice President of Public Policy for Austin Chamber of Commerce and earlier, Executive Director of Waller Creek Conservancy.
1998
Stephanie Barnes joined the Collin County-based Plunk Smith law firm in spring 2020. With 15 years of experience in business and civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout Texas, Stephanie has been recognized on the annual Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list of the state’s top young lawyers and has achieved an AV Preeminent Peer Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory. She is a former officer of the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association and member of the Eastern District of Texas Local Rules Advisory Committee.
Timothy Andrew Kennedy was ordained as an Episcopal priest on January 16, 2020. He became Chaplain of the Episcopal School of Dallas in 2019 while in the final stages of his priestly discernment. He completed ordination requirements in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C., and was ordained as a Transitional Deacon in June 2019. In addition to his chaplain role, his priestly vows allowed him to begin a sacramental ministry at ESD.
1999
Justin Miller, City Administrator in Lakeville, Minnesota, since 2014, received the 2020 James F. Miller Leadership Award from the League of Minnesota Cities. The annual award is the league’s highest honor for appointed city officials. Justin is a credentialed manager through the International City/County Management Association and a former board member for the League of Minnesota Cities. He has served on the Downtown Lakeville Business Association and Lakeville Arenas Board, and as the past chair of the Dakota Communications Center Board. The League of Minnesota Cities serves more than 830 member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services.
Caryn Schenewerk is the Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs for Relativity Space, the world’s first autonomous rocket factory and launch services leader for satellites. She is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s federal, state, and local government strategy. She previously served as Senior Counsel and Senior Director of Spaceflight Policy at SpaceX, where she focused on civil and commercial space.
2000
Omar J. Alaniz became a Partner in 2020 at the international law firm Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group in Dallas. A restructuring and bankruptcy lawyer with more than 17 years of experience, Omar left his role as Partner at Baker Botts for the new position. In 2019, he joined the National Bankruptcy Conference, which advises Congress on bankruptcy law, and is a member of the board of the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation. He served several years as an Adjunct Professor at SMU’s Dedman School of Law.
Arturo Lopez, who now uses the last name Ballesteros, spent several years working for the legislature in Austin before his return to North Texas. He lives in Plano and works for the North Texas Toll Authority as Director of Government Affairs. He is happy to be a proud ’Roo living a short hop from campus. Reid Heim joined the football coaching staff at Guyer High School in Denton, Texas, as Defensive Coordinator in 2020. He previously was Director of Quality Control and Special Teams with the University of Colorado–Boulder. Before the move to Colorado, he was Linebacker Coach at Dallas Jesuit and was the Assistant Head Coach at Richardson.
Amy Poling Sutherlun MAT ’01 presented the sermon, “Benediction,” for Austin College’s Virtual Baccalaureate Service May 16, 2020. She and her husband, Joshua ’01, have served as co- pastors of First Presbyterian Church of San Marcos, Texas, since 2013. They have four children.
2001
Katie Battaia Clark became a Partner at Thomas Coburn in February 2020. She has broad commercial litigation experience related to troubled and insolvent businesses and has represented companies, fiduciaries, secured and unsecured creditors, and lenders. She also has worked with constituencies from every segment of the capital structure in federal and state court reorganization, liquidation, and litigation proceedings. She was named to the Lawdragon media list of 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers for 2020.
2002
DeCorian Hailey began his leadership as Principal at Braswell High School for the Fall 2020 Term. He was appointed to his new role in March 2020. At the time of his selection, he was Associate Principal at Guyer High School, where he had served for five years. He previously was a teacher and coach in DeSoto ISD before moving to Garland, Frisco, and Lake Dallas ISDs.
Chris Pendergrass became President of Ulrich Barn Builders of Texas in July 2019. He brought 20 years of experience in manufacturing and 10 years of full P&L responsibility, leading family owned manufacturing businesses through extensive growth, cost reductions, and leadership transitions. In addition to his Austin College degree in Chemistry, he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Chris is an active member of YPO and serves on the Manufacturing Excellence Network board. Ulrich Barn Builders is a leading manufacturer of storage sheds and lifestyle structures such as cabin shells, playhouses, and finished cabins.
Stacey Shaw became Technology and Transactions Counsel at American First Finance in Dallas at the end of 2019. She has been a Licensed Attorney since November 2005, completing Texas Tech University School of Law that spring. She and her twin boys, 4, live in Grapevine, Texas, with their recently adopted German shepherd mix.
2004
Sara Anne Giddings is Chair-Elect of the Texas Young Lawyers Association Executive Committee for the 2020-2021 bar year. Owner of Giddings Law Firm in San Angelo, Texas, Sara’s practice involves assisting businesses, including oil and gas service companies, with compliance, master service agreements, contracts, employee handbooks, and taxes. She also specializes in estate planning, business planning, probate, and tax law.
2005
John Anness co-founded AR6 Construction & Engineering in April 2019 and serves as Owner/President of Construction. AR6 is a small business general contractor and structural engineering firm providing design and construction services, with an emphasis on design-build project delivery. The U.S. government is the firm’s primary client, with AR6 as General Contractor on multi- discipline construction management projects. Also operating AR6-Cram Roofing JV, John says the group experienced exceptional early-stage growth and has expanded operations beyond Texas.
2007
Edgar Araiza, M.D., joined Methodist Dallas Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center, as Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon in 2018. He had recently completed an Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he also served as an Assistant Instructor in Orthopedic Trauma. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine after earning his medical degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He and his wife, Gloria, now live in the Kessler Park area of Dallas.
David Savage, M.D., was elected to a three-year term on the American Medical Association’s Council on Medical Education in June 2020. He is a third-year internal medicine resident at UC San Diego in 2020-2021. His wife, Elizabeth Frost, began a Ph.D. program in global public health at UCSD and San Diego State University in fall 2020, and the couple relocated to San Diego from Cleveland, Ohio, where David worked the previous two years as a resident at the Cleveland Clinic.
2011
Kristen Sunny is at work in San Francisco, leveraging the power of technology to educate youth and empower women in Malawi to make sustainable change in their communities. Upon moving to California, she worked in development at Bay Area Discovery Museum in San Francisco. She’s since made a career switch, graduated from a Product Design bootcamp, and while looking for a full-time position, has taken on a pro bono project with the Centre for Youth and Development. She recommends Catchafire https://www.catchafire.org/, to find similar opportunities based on interests and time commitments.
2012
Hannah Alexander became the Austin, Texas, Staff Attorney for Proyecto Defensa Laboral, a nonprofit organization that empowers low-income workers to achieve fair employment through education, direct services, organization, and strategic partnerships. She is a longtime ally of Workers Defense and defender of working families in Texas.
2014
Brittnay Connor is a 2020-2021 Teach Plus DFW Policy Fellow, selected by Teach Plus Texas. The highly selective, year-long leadership program allows deepened knowledge of education policy and expanded influence. She also was the 2020 Dallas Rotary Service-Above-Self Elementary Teacher of the Year. In fall 2020, she moved within Dallas ISD to become a third grade self-contained dual language teacher at Geneva Heights IB. There, she pilots Student Voices, a club for elementary students to advocate for their community and school. She also was invited to join the Dallas ISD Association of Hispanic School Administrators.
2015
Taylor Crouch-Dodson is an Analyst for the Office of Performance and Innovation, an internal consulting firm at the City of Minneapolis. The firm’s work includes performance management of city services and human centered design thinking for improvement of city service processes. In May 2017, Taylor earned a Master in Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public
Affairs and that fall, married Kelsey Dodson. The Crouch- Dodson couple purchased a home in the Ericcson neighborhood of Minneapolis in 2018.
Kusha Mohammadi graduated from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in May 2020, earning a Ph.D. in Biostatistics with a minor in Epidemiology and breadth in Bioinformatics. His dissertation work addressed an estimation issue for continuous-time semi-Markov models when analyzing categorical outcomes over time. He also accepted a position as a
Principal Biostatistician at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where he supports early clinical development studies.
2017
Brady Flanery graduated in May 2020 from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. There, he was in the International Law Review Association and interned with Dallas ISD, the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Labor, and was an extern for the Honorable Judge Amos Mazzant in the Eastern District of Texas in Sherman. In 2018, Brady studied at Oxford University for the summer semester. He is an associate with Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C., a school law firm in Plano, Texas.
Michelle Gonzalez graduated in May 2019 from the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston-Main with a master’s degree in Accountancy. She completed an audit internship with Grant Thornton during winter 2018 and began working as an External Auditor with Grant Thornton in September 2019. She also is studying to become a licensed CPA in the State of Texas.
Will Kollett was selected during summer 2020 as Girls Basketball Coach at Grapeland High School in Grapeland, Texas. The team has advanced to the state tournament the past two seasons, and the new coach plans to make that three in a row. Will’s first coaching opportunity was as a 2017 midseason interim coach at Broaddus High School; he was promoted to Head Coach for the next year. He also coached at Cushing High before accepting this offer. At Grapeland, he also coaches volleyball, which was a new sport for him, but he had confidence his coaching staff would educate him as needed.
2019
Taylor Goyen joined Sul Ross University Athletics in summer 2020 as Assistant Soccer Coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. Having served as an undergraduate Assistant Coach for the Austin College men’s program in 2018-2019, Taylor spent the 2019-2020 season at Schreiner University as Women’s Assistant Soccer Coach. Before playing at Austin College, he played at Oauchita Baptist University, and the current Sul Ross soccer coach was an assistant coach in that program. Taylor is pleased to work with his former coach.