Spring/Summer 2023 Class Notes

1960s

Anthony J. Marsella, MA ’64, Alpharetta, GA, earned a PhD at Penn State in 1968 and is currently Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the , where he served as vice president for academic affairs from 1985-1989 and retired in 2003. He is also the past director of the World Health Organization Psychiatric Research Center in Honolulu and past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, among other roles.

Marsella is known nationally and internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture, psychology and psychopathology; he challenged ethnocentric and racial biases in the assumptions, theories, methods and practices in psychology and psychiatry. Among many honors and awards, he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1999 at a ceremony presided over by Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II.

He has served as consultant to numerous national and international agencies and organizations, and he has published 21 books and more than 350 book chapters, reports, reviews and articles.

Much of his present writing is on peace, social justice and nonviolence. He currently serves on journal editorial boards and scientific and professional advisory committees. He is also senior editor for the book series for Springer-Nature Publications (New York), a 47-volume series.

1970s

Thomas J. Jordan, BA ’72, Sturgeon Bay, WI, wrote: “After retiring from advertising, I continued my love for photography that began at Kent State. Since then, I have . Last year, I won silver and bronze for Amateur, Fine Art/Photography at the 2022 International Photography Awards. There were over 40,000 entries from 120 countries.”

Mark Levine, MEd ’73, Alpharetta, GA, wrote: “I proudly cheered for Kent State from the Georgia Bulldogs game to honor Kent State Homecoming 2022 in Atlanta. My son-in-law (a Bulldog fan; his family has had 50-yard-line seats for the past 30 years) kindly took me to tailgate and cheer on my Kent State Flashes this month. I met some great Kent State fans but sat with my son-in-law. The Bulldogs fan next to me jokingly asked how I (a Kent State fan) got a valuable Bulldog seat on the 50, then laughed. Although the Bulldogs were expected to win, many Bulldog fans, as well as the Atlanta TV sports show said, ‘The Flashers played a very respectable game.’”

Mark Levine earned a PhD in leadership and education with a specialty in human resource development from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, in 2006. He was inducted into the EHHS Hall of Fame in 2019. He received the Centennial Alumni Award, which recognizes an alumnus who has made significant contributions to society, whose accomplishments and careers have brought honor and distinction to Kent State University, and who has advanced the field of education, health and human services.

Linda Fifer, BS ’74, MA ’75, Hamilton, MT, wrote: “I have published my debut novel, (Atmosphere Press, November 2022). Brenniss Tripham is at the apex of her career when a bizarre kidnapping results in her loss of memory. She accepts who she is, now as Maggie, but as her memory recovers, she realizes who she was. Saying goodbye is the only way for her to reconcile her two lives until she knows where she belongs.”

Fred Jermyn, BS ’74, San Diego, CA, wrote: “The Kent State Men’s Soccer Alumni Reunion on Saturday, October 1, 2022, was the first time that the five Kent State men’s soccer goalkeepers who are now listed in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Division 1 Record Book for their feats were able to gather for a group photo. The achievements of these five men to now be recognized by the NCAA as Kent State student-athletes is a phenomenal boost to the already prominent athletics programs of Kent State.”

Wendy (Borom) Eugene, BS ’77, Savannah, GA, published (Grace 4 Purpose Publishing Co. LLC, August 2022). Her memoir tells a story of faith and hope as she navigates the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in a way that has enabled her to continue living, dreaming and achieving. She currently is employed as a peer mentor with Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. See .

1980s

Hans Kwee, BBA ’80, Wooster, OH, retired as staff radiologic technologist from in September 2022 after nearly 21 years of service. He spent 12 years in manufacturing before making a career change to radiologic technology. He graduated from Timken Mercy Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology in 1995. He worked in healthcare for 27 years.

Ray Novotny, BS ’80, Youngstown, OH, devoted 30+ years of service to , Ohio’s first park district. Upon his retirement in 2016, the Board of Park Commissioners honored him with the title Naturalist Emeritus.

(Thamnophis brachystoma) were known only from northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York state until Novotny discovered the species as new to the Buckeye State in 1989-1990. A decade after finding them in Mahoning County, he found more in Trumbull County. He authored a chapter on them in the 1,100-page book , recently published by Ohio Biological Survey.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History celebrated its centennial in 2021 and chose Novotny as its .

The held its conference in Cleveland in 2022 and honored Novotny as both regional and national . NAI is dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation. Its membership includes staff at parks, museums, nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and historical sites (more than 6,000 members in more than 30 countries).

Angelique Walker-Smith, BA ’80, Washington, DC, was at the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly, held in Karlsruhe, Germany, in September 2022. She was one of eight presidents elected at the assembly. WCC presidents promote ecumenism and interpret the work of the WCC (national member churches and partners), especially in their respective regions.

Walker-Smith is the national senior associate/strategist for Pan African and Orthodox Faith Engagement at Bread for the World, based in Washington, DC. She has been ecumenical representative for National Baptist Convention USA Inc., is a member of the WCC central committee and works for the National Council of Churches in the US. She also is president of the Historic Black Church Family of Christian Churches Together, made up of many US national churches, and served as initiator of the Pan African Women of Faith Networks. She earned a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1995.

Kathy Schulz, MLS ’83, Santa Fe, NM, wrote: “My book, , was released January 9, 2023, by History Press. The cover blurb reads: During a dark time in our history, thousands of freedom seekers traveled the Underground Railroad through Ohio. The Buckeye State hosted about half of all fugitive slave traffic of the antebellum era. A mix of Northern and Southern settlers in the state added drama to a struggle that led to major benefits for the state and the country. Unfortunately, this epic past was obscured by silence and secrecy and then distorted with misinformation and folklore—until now. Author and native Ohioan Kathy Schulz accurately details the development and workings of Ohio’s Underground Railroad with true stories of Addison White, John Parker and others. The author drew upon her library degree and background to research and write this book.”

Beverley Laubert, BA ’84, Lewis Center, OH, retired after 33 years advocating for older adults and people with disabilities in Ohio, including 26 years as Ohio’s state long-term care ombudsman.

She is currently serving as the national ombudsman program coordinator at the in the US Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC.

With gratitude for her excellent education at Kent State, she and her husband, Mike, initiated an endowed fund, the Grosse-Laubert Family Fund for Aging Study in the College of Education, Health and Human Services.

Steve Case, BA ’86, Morrisville, NC, has launched a new book, (Apocryphile Press, February, 2023). A humorist and youth pastor, Case has re-imagined all 150 psalms with pictures and messages that will take the psalms off the pulpit and put them back in the hands of those who need to hear these words for the first time. The book is available wherever books are sold. He is available for workshops/seminars/podcasts and other interviews through email to .

1990s

Amy Doyle, BS ’90, Madison, WI, has been promoted to business operations manager and has become a shareholder at in Madison, Wisconsin. Through her decade of working at Aro Eberle, she has taken on increasingly demanding tasks while stewarding the operations of the company financials, human resources and regulatory compliance. Company president and founder, Matt Aro, says, “We are pleased that Amy has joined the ownership team. She is an important part of the structure that supports our company, a recognized leader among staff and peers, and is an essential interface for our clients, vendors and consultants.”

Marie F. Jones, MLS ’90, Brevard, NC, has published (Torchflame Books, March 2023). Written with co-author Pat Magee, the book provides a model for high performance organizations based on the interconnected triad of leadership, organizational culture and strategic planning dubbed the “Magee Stool.” Drawn from Magee's decades of experience revitalizing struggling companies, the book is written for aspiring leaders in business and nonprofit sectors.

Jones is currently the library director at Brevard College and teaches courses in leadership and management. She has a doctorate in educational leadership from East Tennessee State University. The book is available from all major online booksellers in both paperback and e-book formats. Learn more at .

Heather (Riley) Rice, BA ’97, Dresden, OH, is this year. She is the contract manager and supervisor of two programs at the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department. is a home-based parenting support program for new parents. is a service coordination program for families of children under age 3 with developmental delays. She supervises four home visitors and three service coordinators.

George Ebey, BA ’98, Barberton, OH, wrote: “ My book (Glass House Nocturnal, December 2020), is now available in paperback. This collection of stories and novellas is set in the world of a future Mars where rovers are controlled by Earthbound operators in a high-stakes game for ultimate power.

Previously available as an e-book, I’m super excited that it has made its way into paperback for the first time. If you’re new to the series, this is a great place to start. Work on the second book in the Helen of Mars series, along with a new tie-in novella, is well underway and will follow in 2023. See .”

2000s

Jill Christoff, BA ’04, Shaker Heights, OH, has been promoted to associate principal at . Trained in architecture and interior design, she joined Bialosky Cleveland in 2011 with the unique ability to approach projects from a fully integrated design perspective. Her experience in complex renovations led her to be an asset on notable projects, including the renovation of Shaker Heights Public Library, Kent State University’s School of Visual Communication Design and the $86 million expansion of the Ashley United States Courthouse in Toledo, Ohio.

She earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame in 2009. She is certified through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification and is a member of the International Interior Design Association and an associate of the American Institute of Architects.

Jessica Hudson, BA ’04, MLIS ’07, MBA ’11, Canton, OH, was named president and chief development officer of the in August 2022. The foundation supports patient care, medical education and research at Summa Health through philanthropy.

Janet Gbur, BS ’06, Canfield, OH, a research biomedical engineer and investigator in the at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, will serve a three-year term on the ASTM International board of directors. ASTM is an organization that offers global access to technical standards development.

Gbur also serves as senior research associate in the department of materials science and engineering and is a member of the Advanced Manufacturing and Reliability Center at Case Western Reserve University. She is an adjunct faculty member in mechanical engineering at Youngstown State University. Her work focuses on fatigue and fracture behavior of materials used in biomedical applications and the development of emerging technologies to improve devices used in neural-interfacing systems.

An ASTM International member since 2012, Gbur serves as second vice chair of the metallography committee (E04) and chair of its long-range planning subcommittee. She is also a member of the committees on fatigue and fracture (E08), mechanical testing (E28), and medical and surgical materials and devices (F04). Gbur has been honored by E04 with the Award of Appreciation in 2018 and by E08 with the M.R. “Mitch” Mitchell Best Student Presentation Award in 2014. She has also received the ASTM Graduate Scholarship (2015).
Gbur holds a BE and MSE in materials and mechanical engineering from Youngstown State and a PhD in materials science and engineering from Case.

2010s

Stephanie Hand-Cannane, BA ’10, Massillon, OH, an associate in the Cleveland office of , has been included in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, in the practice area of commercial litigation. This honor recognizes lawyers who have been practicing for 10 or fewer years.

Eric Mansfield, MA ’12, Akron, OH, was awarded second place in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s for his play Baron of Brown Street. The full-length drama, which premieres in September with Rubber City Theatre in Akron, Ohio, was inspired by the true story of a homeless man who became an overnight celebrity following media reports that he had forgiven the punks who intentionally set him on fire. The national award is offered for an outstanding student-written script that explores the human experience of living with a disability. (Mansfield is pursuing a NEOMFA in Creative Writing-Playwriting at Kent State.)

Mansfield was honored with the by Summit Artspace in June 2022, and he recently signed with Next Stage Press, a national play publisher. See .

Ronda McCaskey, BSN ’12, Chardon, OH, was named 2022 NICU Nurse of the Year, a national award co-sponsored by NICU nonprofits 4moms Cares and Project Sweet Peas. She rose to the top from among more than 600 NICU nurses nominated from across the United States. She was endorsed by many of her patients, co-workers and family members for the exceptional care she provides to babies and families at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. She has worked in the neonatal intensive care unit since September 2012, one month after she graduated from Kent State Geauga. In addition to caring for her patients and families, she manages the unit’s schedule of about 150 nurses.

Corey Moore, BS ’16, Columbus, OH, earned certification as a web accessibility specialist from the in July 2022. Only about 1,000 people hold this certification worldwide.

Updated: Thursday, May 18, 2023 04:57 PM

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