Class Notes - Fall 2023

November 13, 2023

1960s

VERN SCHOOLEY, ’61 (College of Engineering), attended, by special invitation, an American Inns of Court (AIC) celebration at the U.S. Supreme Court in recognition for his leadership in training and encouraging new attorneys in civility and professionalism in the practice of law.  

SHERMAN LEWIS, ’65, M.A. ’77 (Both in College of Education), was honored at the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s second-annual Awards of Excellence. Lewis played football at MSU for Head Coach Duffy Daugherty and later joined the program as an assistant coach before moving on to numerous NFL coaching positions.

RAMON RICKER, M.A. ’67 (College of Arts & Letters), along with his wife Judith, received the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester Centennial Award. In honor of its centennial year, this award recognizes 100 individuals who exemplify Eastman’s mission and legacy through their commitment to artistry, scholarship, leadership, community engagement and/or philanthropy.  

GARRETT E. CROW, M.S. ’68, PH.D. ’74 (Both in College of Natural Science), recently published the book “Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America” with co-author C. Barre Hellquist, which covers 1,223 plant species growing in aquatic and wetland habitats in the title region.

 

1970s

CLARK ANDREWS, ’71 (College of Social Science, Honors College), was recently named one of Michigan’s Go-To Lawyers in Real Estate Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Andrews has worked for O’Reilly Rancilio P.C. and its predecessor firm for nearly 50 years. 

JEFFREY IMES, M.A. ’71, PH.D. ’74 (Both in College of Natural Science), recently published a book titled “The Spiritual Purpose of the Physical Universe,” which interweaves the philosophy of the Edgar Cayce readings, religion, cosmology and anthropology. Before writing, Imes spent 35 years as a groundwater hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. 

MIKE KUS, ’73 (Eli Broad College of Business, Honors College), has joined the Bloomfield Hills-based law firm, Strobl PLLC, where he will advise banks and financial institutions on compliance and regulatory laws. He is considered a banking industry expert with over four decades experience leading financial institutions. 

NICHOLAS HILL, ’74 (College of Arts & Letters, Honors College), has been selected as a finalist for the 2023 Alfred H. Barr Award by the College Art Association. He received the recognition for “The Pandemic Portraits by Nicholas Hill” exhibition catalogue, a collection of portraits created on saved news pages from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal starting in March 2020.  

CHARLES W. BATES, ’75, MLIR ’77, M.A. ’14 (All in College of Social Science), was recently appointed to the Bremerton, Washington Civil Service Commission by the city’s mayor and approval of the City Council. The Civil Service Commission oversees the employment processes for police and fire personnel.  

DR. WILLIAM BEECROFT, ’76, M.D. ’80 (Both in College of Human Medicine), was named the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Michigan Chapter of National Alliance of Mental Illness.  

 

1980s

RACHEL CRANDALL-CROCKER, ’83, MSW ’85 (Both in College of Social Science), was named a Game Changers honoree by the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Comerica Bank. She was recognized as a leader in advocacy and support for transgender individuals. In 1997, Crandall-Crocker established the nation’s first help line to support the transgender community. 

DR. JOSEPH T. SPANIOLA, ’85, M.M. ’87 (Both in College of Arts & Letters), was recently honored for Distinction in Faculty Scholarly, Creative, and Research Activities at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida.  

LEN WOLFE, ’89 (James Madison College), was reelected to serve for a second three-year term as the Chair and CEO of Dykema, a leading national law firm. Wolfe is known for his work with public charter schools and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America each year since 2007. 

 

1990s

LEIGH E. METHOD, ’90 (Eli Broad College of Business), recently received the 2022 Lt. Gen. Michael E. Zettler Lifetime Achievement Award from the Air Force Logistics Officer Association. The organization’s most prestigious award is presented to members who have demonstrated superior leadership throughout at least 20 years of service. 

HEDY POPSON, ’90 (College of Arts & Letters), has been appointed CEO of Productions Plus, a premier, full-service SAG/AFTRA franchised talent agency representing actors/performers nationwide. She was also named a 2023 “Your Hour, Her Power” honoree by Dallas nonprofit Dress For Success, and was recently appointed to Personnel Advisor for the UNT Chapter of Chi Omega Sorority. 

EDWARD DADEZ, PH.D. ’91 (College of Education), was named the 11th president of Saint Leo University in July 2022. Prior to this position, he was vice president for student affairs for 18 years and a visiting professor in the doctorate and master’s education programs for four years at Saint Leo University. 

BRIAN PATRICK MORLEY, ’92, J.D. ’99 (Eli Broad College of Business, College of Law), joined law firm Butzel as a Shareholder. His past experience also encompasses several years in law enforcement. 

CARRIE WOLEBEN-MEADE, ’92(College of Social Science), was recently promoted to Landscape Design Principal at Mariani Landscape in Lake Bluff, Illinois. A leader in the landscape design industry, Carrie has won numerous awards and led some of the most memorable and artistic landscape installations in the country. 

JASON ECKERLY, ’98 (College of Social Science), was appointed as Managing Shareholder at Segal McCambridge after nearly two decades at the law firm. Eckerly oversees strategic planning for all offices across 11 states, guiding the firm’s growth and expanding its services.  

ALAN MATUSZAK, ’98 (College of Engineering), has joined the Structural Engineering practice in Thornton Tomasetti’s Houston office as vice president. Matuszak’s project background includes office and residential towers, educational facilities and aviation facilities.  

 

2000s

NANCIE STODDARD, MBA ’00 (Eli Broad College of Business), was appointed to President of Financial Executives International (FEI), Detroit Chapter. Nancie is also the chief financial officer of Functional Fluidics, a biotech company and high complexity CLIA-certified diagnostic lab in TechTown Detroit. 

ERIC KOGELSCHATZ, ’04, M.A. ’07 (Both in College of Communication Arts and Sciences), celebrated the 10th anniversary of shark&minnow, the strategy and design consultancy he co-founded with his wife and business partner, Hallie Bram Kogelschatz. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, the firm specializes in branding, marketing, advertising, public relations and audio and video production. 

JOSHUA JUDY, ’06 (College of Engineering), published “Ripple of Change” alongside co-author Todd R. Otten, M.D. The book recently ranked No. 1 on Amazon in the Doctors and Medicine Humor category. 

SHEA BRYANT, ’09, M.S. ’10 (Both in Eli Broad College of Business), received the 2023 Daniel D. Robinson Account Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers. This national honor recognizes leadership and continuous commitment to college and university accounting and reporting.  

KRISTEN CLAUDER, ’09 (College of Social Science), joined Michigan State University as the director, corporate relations, key industries.  

 

2010s

DR. KATHERINE WOZNIAK, ’16 (College of Natural Science), was selected as part of the postdoctoral fellowship class at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), based at Baylor College of Medicine and empowered by NASA’s Human Research Program. The program supports early-career scientists pursuing research with the potential to reduce the health risks associated with spaceflight.  

CASSIE COTTON, M.A. ’18, (College of Communication Arts and Sciences), has been appointed as the inaugural president of Piper & Gold, a PR agency with an emphasis on government organizations, nonprofits, associations and small businesses.  

JORDYN D. DAVIS, ’19, M.M. ’21 (Both in College of Music), recently premiered her composition with the New York Philharmonic & Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra at the Young People’s Concert: New Voices – Composing Inclusion. Davis is a prolific composer and award-winning bassist, songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, Michigan.

RACHEL SCHMIDT, M.A. ’19 (College of Education), has been promoted to Associate Director of Development for the Michigan State University College of Social Science. Schmidt has worked for the College of Social Science for nine years. 

 

2020s

KALYN MCCULLOUGH, ’20 (College of Communication Arts and Sciences), has been promoted to PR account executive at Connecticut-based advertising agency, Mintz + Hoke.  

CAMI ROSE HANCOCK, ’21 (Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, Honors College), served as the dramaturg for the Broadway musical “Parade.” The show won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. This is Cami’s first Broadway production. 

SAMANTHA LICWINKO, ’21 (College of Natural Science), received a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

COOPER ADAMS, ’22 (College of Communication Arts and Sciences),has joined Michigan State University as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Manager of MSU Greenline. 

ALAINA BENJAMIN, J.D. ’23(College of Law), has been named Staff Attorney for CTB, Inc. 

MAYA SCHUHKNECHT, ’23 (College of Arts & Letters), was crowned Miss Michigan 2023. She will go on to compete in the Miss America 2024 competition. 

 

 

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