Class Notes, Fall 2025

1956

1961

Gary Baker BS, JD ’69 joined IBM in Portland in 1969 and held eight management positions in six states before retiring in 1992 and returning to Oregon. He and his wife, Molly Divine, enjoy international travel and recently completed a world cruise. They live in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

1965

Linda Weber Austin BA, the notable dance maker and cofounder of Performance Works NorthWest, is celebrating her studio’s 25-year anniversary. She’s been active in the Portland arts community for roughly 40 years.

Jack Townsend BA writes, “I’m still on the live side of the grass. Twice married, twice divorced, single now. One beautiful biological daughter. Living in a senior resort community in Lincoln, California. Spent many years in the corporate world while continuing my involvement in high school and college sports, officiating in baseball and basketball. Founded, and still own and operate, a year-round baseball umpire–assigning business for over 30 years. I train youth and adult umpires to service my very large and varied baseball league customers’ game schedules in northern and central California, primarily in the East Bay. Golf when I can. Living the good life so far despite occasional medical issues at age 82.”

1966

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Carla Shafer BS
chuckanutsandstone@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Roger Clark BA shares his memories of the campus cleanup following the infamous Columbus Day storm of October 12,1962. “It was Christmas break and I was looking for work, so I responded to a student job offer to clean up campus damage from the storm. I was physically underwhelming at 6 feet tall, 155 pounds, and a music major! But I overcame skepticism and was accepted. I paired up with another student who had some chainsaw experience and we worked hard, creating piles of debris around stumps that were doused with diesel fuel and ignited. I commuted from home every day by bus, retreating to the back to minimize the discomfort to other passengers caused by my smoky diesel fragrance and rustic attire. A Christmas to remember!”

Bill Coggins BA, who lives in Leesburg, Virginia, writes, “I’m almost too old to take on training a new Lab puppy. Maggie will either be my demise or keep me moving!”

Nancy McClintock BA began her career as an elementary school teacher in California and Ghana. She also served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia and Ghana, where she primarily worked in international development with government finance and health agencies. Later, she worked in the installation of medical software worldwide in hospitals. Nancy writes, “Love creating art, especially watercolor! Life brought me several wonderful men, one at a time. I have a love for cats, many over my life. I am a longtime Marylander by the Chesapeake Bay.”

John Venator BS writes, “Since my wife Dorianne’s death, I’ve decided I need to reengage with life, so I’ve traveled to several destinations on Silversea cruises to visit fellow members of my Lewis & Clark overseas study programs and my host families in Tokyo, Hawaii, and Vancouver, reliving fond memories of those experiences.”

1967

Steve Johnson BA (aka, Steven Reed Johnson) writes that his father, Kenneth Johnson, taught at Lewis & Clark for more than 30 years. Their combined tenure at Lewis & Clark was 75 years. Johnson is a senior fellow at Portland State University’s School of Government. He also serves as a research fellow at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan, and a distinguished visiting professor at Gyankunj College in Katmandu, Nepal. Johnson has made presentations around the world on sustainability, civic engagement, healthy communities, and community-based learning. He reports that he’s traveled 650,000 miles (26 times around the world), presenting to 10,000 participants in 30 countries. Johnson worked extensively with Apple Computer Company, distributing free computers to nonprofit organizations around the country. He has also published 10 books, mostly short stories. He’s been awarded several fellowships, including a Fulbright Fellowship for teaching and research in Thailand and an Australian Fellowship at James Cook University in Carines, Australia.

1971

Richard Moore BS still writes songs. His latest music video was a collaboration with composer Michael Hoppe and arranger Cal Scott BA ’72. Check it out on YouTube and enjoy: https://youtu.be/PeOVg00nyCs.

1973

Jackie Fowler BS retired from teaching at Marylhurst University. Fowler is now a proud elections worker for Multnomah Country, a dedicated volunteer for Healing Circles Global (healingcirclesglobal.org), and a happy camper in her gold-certified Northwest native garden.

Dr. Doug Speedie BS retired at the end of June 2024 after 44 years of medical practice, 41 of which were in western Colorado. He spent 23 years in practice in internal medicine, 12 years as a medical director for Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and 6 years as a medical director for PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), which provides care for the elderly, poor, and disabled. He has also served on several nonprofit boards, both local and statewide. Speedie is currently the board chair of Delta Health, a hospital and clinic system in western Colorado. He has been married to Linda, an ICU nurse, for 48 years. His hobbies include skiing, ballroom dancing, and wildfire mitigation.

1975

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Susan Olson BA
olsonsu@ohsu.edu
“Please send me your updates!”

Charlie Johnson BS is happily retired after 35 years in education, primarily in the Beaverton School District. He has one daughter and two granddaughters. Living quietly, he mainly divides his time between the Portland area and the grandchildren plus the Alsea River near the coast. Every first Friday, he meets for breakfast with some friends from his Lewis & Clark days at Milo’s City Cafe on Broadway. In June, he had the opportunity to emcee for his class’s 50th reunion dinner during Alumni Weekend. In July, he took part in the Alumni Travel Program trip on the Schooner Zodiac in the San Juan Islands: “This year, in particular, the weather was great, sailing was fun, the company wonderful, and the food terrific.” He has taken up playing ukulele and attends many uke gatherings in the Portland and Waldport areas.

1976

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Ken Goe BA
kengoe1020@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Kathryn “Kathi” Huber BS published Call of the Owl Woman: A Novel of Ancient Peru (SparkPress, 2025). The book is a coming-of-age story set in 6th-century Peru. After a devastating earthquake, 15-year-old Patya “must not only help the healers, she must do things she never thought possible. As she begins to conquer her self-doubts and trust her own sense of justice, she will also have to outwit men of power to keep her little brother from being sacrificed by religious extremists at the coming solstice.” A sequel is in the works. Huber spent almost three decades living in Latin America. She now resides in East Tennessee with her husband.

Mike Kasperzak BA, former mayor of Mountain View, California, has joined the Los Altos History Museum’s board of directors for a three-year term beginning July 1. He brings more than 25 years of experience in business, law and public service to the position.

Stephanie Zito BA published her autobiography, Legend of the Unforeseen (Luminari Books) in April 2025; see also “Bookshelf” at left.

1977

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Ginger Harville BA
gbharville@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Saeed Feyz Mahdavi BS published Saeed’s Notes: Resonance of History in Destiny in April 2025. “In this reflective memoir, the author examines a life shaped by decades of transnational experiences across five countries, tracing his development through the facets of child, student, professional, and father. These experiences support a central claim: regardless of assimilation, questions of personal and cultural identity inevitably resurface with lasting significance. Drawing on his interpretation of ancient and contemporary Iranian history, he analyzes Iran’s enduring capacities and sociocultural patterns.”

1978

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Ann Vogel BA
vogelann4@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Kim Hartwig BA is celebrating 27 years as a senior consultant and Oracle and JD Edwards ERP software trainer and documenter. He’s been employed for five years with Denver-based consulting firm iLearnERP.com. Before COVID-19 struck in 2020, Hartwig worked at client sites throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in Europe and Asia. Since 2020, Hartwig has worked remotely from his home in Tampa, Florida, where he lives with his wife, Emma. At age 68, he has no plans to retire.

Lauri Robson Howe BS writes: “I was blessed with an exciting and ever-changing career in technology sales, retiring in November 2019. I’ve been thankful for the chance to travel internationally on many occasions. After returning for Christmas 2019 from a trip to China, my husband and I decided to stay home during COVID. However, we have been on several big adventures since then with more to come. I spend most of my spare time volunteering with Meals on Wheels and a church food pantry. I also attend women’s Bible studies. I am grateful that the experience of attending and graduating from Lewis & Clark prepared me for my future.”

Karen Margulies Kimbrell BA writes: “I’ve had a rewarding and flexible career as an RN. I recently partially retired and am enjoying travel, doing volunteer work, and spending time with friends and family, including my son, daughter, and five granddaughters in the San Francisco Bay Area. I live in my home state of Hawai‘i. I’m so glad I had the Lewis & Clark experience, one of the most satisfying life choices I’ve ever made. Mark Kimbrell BA ’77 and I divorced in 2008. Please say hello if you are in Hawai‘i!”

Allan Linehan BA writes: “As I come up on 50 years since my days at L&C, I’m reflecting on the relationships made during my school years. I’m friends with a group of six couples, and eight of the individuals graduated from L&C. We roomed with each other either on or off campus. We’ve been meeting for the last 15 to 20 years, and we’ve held a reunion almost every year at different locations. Although we call it our May Fête, I’m thinking we’ve never actually met in the month of May. It started when one of the brethren suggested we attend a reunion on campus to see each other again. The timing wasn’t right for all of us, so we planned another time—and it has been so much fun we never stopped. Friendships that have lasted the test of time are one of the best things to come out of my years at L&C.”

Jan Connell Lovell BA writes: “We are living in chaotic times, but there is a way to help impact the world for good. In 2023, I wrote a book, Our Better Selves: A Journey of Love Amid Life’s Storms (WestBow Press), which provides a potential path. I was a journalist for several years in Oregon, Minnesota, and Iowa. After working several years at an internet service provider and obtaining an MS in telecommunications, I currently serve as vice president at CLtel in Clear Lake, Iowa.”

Ronald “Ron” Marks BS, a 42-year national security veteran and life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, began his career at the CIA, where he spent 16 years as a clandestine services officer and Senate liaison for five directors of central intelligence. He met his wife, Suzanne, during that time; she went on to serve 35 years at the agency as an attorney and senior official. After the CIA, Ron worked on Capitol Hill as intelligence counsel and assistant national security advisor for two Senate majority leaders, later holding senior posts in the intelligence community and the State Department. He then moved into the defense and intelligence industry and now consults for corporate leaders and government agencies. For the past five years, Ron has also been a visiting professor of technology and intelligence at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. Marks is also a lecturer on intelligence issues at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. A frequent speaker and media commentator, he is the author of Spying in America in the Post 9/11 World: Domestic Threat and the Need for Change (Praeger, 2010).

Keith Martin BS writes: “Retired in 2022 from a career in casting and plastics manufacturing. Three grandchildren who my wife and I see often. Love music. Still snow ski and visit the Oregon coast a lot. I drive my race car and coach drivers on the track with Hooked on Driving. Participated in L&C events talking to undergrads about ‘life in the real world.’ Annual donor to the physics dept. Amazed at updates and how many nice things remain beautiful on the L&C campus. Enjoying life at 70.”

Peter Paton BS retired this summer after 30 years as a professor at the University of Rhode Island. His career focused on the conservation of birds and amphibians. He also served as chair of the Department of Natural Resources Science for 14 years. In retirement, he plans to continue his passion for traveling, birds, and photography.

Donna Roisom BS, MAT is the club manager and teaching pro for pickleball and tennis at Charbonneau Tennis Club in Oregon. The club just finished a two-year construction project, which resulted in four tennis courts and four pickleball courts. Roisom continues to play tennis on seven different teams.

1979

Steve Hodson BM, professor of music and director of piano studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, has retired after nearly 30 years of teaching. During his career, he played a variety of roles, including directing choral activities, conducting the Westmont College Choir, founding and leading the ensemble New Sounds, teaching a music survey class as well as basic and advanced conducting, and directing piano studies. Hodson has performed in the community as a pianist and organist, spending more than 15 years playing the organ at First United Methodist Church.

1980

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Kathleen Holder BA
holder.km@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Lisa Groening BA retired from The Waverly School in Pasadena, California, where she taught middle and high school English for 18 years.

Karen Saul BA writes: “My four years at L&C, along with my double major in history and English, launched me into adult life. I was the first in my family to attend college. After L&C, I earned a JD at Willamette University and practiced law with a Portland firm from 1983 through 2010. My husband and I established Andante Vineyard west of Salem in 2010 and continue to manage it together. My daughter earned a graduate degree (MAT) from L&C in 2013. For nearly half a century, the friends I’ve made at L&C—and the cultural and intellectual influence of the college—have influenced my life in countless good ways. Thank you.”

David Schoenbrun BA retired from 35 years of teaching African history at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, and at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He and Karrie Stewart relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he continues writing about the African past. He also has begun working with others on retrofitting the city’s impermeable surfaces to accept the area’s 12 inches of annual rainfall and help it infiltrate the soil, with the goal of revitalizing the Santa Fe River watershed, increasing tree cover, and using less potable water for plants.

Anne Weaver BS has spent 46 years creating, managing, and building the Portland-based food business Elephants Delicatessen with her chef husband. They bought a 1905 historic inn, The Lyle Hotel, in the Columbia River Gorge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weaver enjoys family time with her children and two grandchildren.

1981

1982

Cindy Hills BS writes: “2025 was a big year. I can officially retire from the Lawrence Virtual School in Lawrence, Kansas, where I’ve been the business manager since 2019. But I’m not ready for that just yet. I’m enjoying life in Lawrence, but I’ll be ready to move south in a couple of years.”

Tim Lim BA edited South Korea and the Politics of Ethnic Nationalism (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2025). The project was part of a multiyear grant from the Academy of Korean Studies and the South Korean Ministry of Education. Lim also has a new self-published book titled Class, Race, and Power in American Politics: A Comparative Perspective. It’s available for free through Press books; visit https://pressbooks.calstate.edu/tclim. Lim will be contributing a chapter to The Social Science of Conspiracism, Extremism, and Hate, to be published by Oxford University Press. His chapter is tentatively titled “Polarization, Hate, and Extremism in Two Asian Democracies: Japan and South Korea.”

Julie Swehla O’Herin BA, who’s turning 65 this year, reports that she has successfully navigated what she calls the “maze of Medicare enrollment.” She notes that there is light at the end of the setup process—once one is in, the system mostly works, with free “welcome” visits and preventive services in year one. On the flip side, she has learned that not all doctors accept Medicare and that classmates with names containing special characters or hyphens (such as hers) may encounter online glitches. She adds: “Thank you for bearing with me for this very strange class note. Some people report that they became a CEO or published their fourth novel. I am exultant that I made it through the Medicare melodrama. Greetings, Class of ’82!”

1983

Brian “Sandy” Curtis JD retired in 2022 after an almost-40-year legal career in private practice in the oil and gas industry. During his last assignment, he worked in Singapore and Jakarta, Indonesia, managing Chevron’s Asian environmental and safety legal team. Now in Houston, he is enjoying a less hectic “career” managing his two grandchildren, playing tennis, being with family and friends, and traveling to unique locations.

Matt Murphy BS writes: “After 37-plus years working for the same company, I retired on February 1, 2025. It’s strange not to have to go to work every day, but it is very satisfying to not have to deal with traffic! My wife of 28 years, Cindy, retired in 2024, so now we can enjoy the rest of our lives together.”

Jürgen Zeiner BA writes: “After 15 years in Zürich, I moved to St. Gallen three years ago. However, I am not planning to spend the rest of my life in Switzerland and bought an apartment in Frankfurt.”

1984

Robert Budway JD has retired from his role as president of the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) after nearly 40 years of service to the association. Budway, who joined CMI in 1986, grew CMI membership and oversaw its public policy and communications efforts, with a recent focus on sustainability, trade, and regulatory matters. Prior to joining CMI, Budway served as a staffer on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.

Dr. Tristi Metcalf BA was appointed chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. Metcalf, a nationally recognized speaker on pelvic health and gynecology, came from the Cleveland Clinic, where she worked since 2021 as OB/GYN and Women’s Institute chief. Metcalf previously served as OB/GYN department chair at Houston Methodist Hospital. She earned a medical degree from the Mayo Clinic Medical School. She served in the U.S. Air Force for over a decade, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Elizabeth Winzeler BA was elected to the 2025 class of the National Academy of Sciences. She writes, “This speaks to the quality of undergraduate education I received at Lewis & Clark!”

1985

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Sarah Marin BA
sarah.marin@comcast.net
“Please send me your updates!”

Emily Decker BA writes: “After 40+ years at L&C (30 years doing admissions work and 10 years in the alumni office), I have recently retired and started a new chapter in my life’s journey, which will include lots of travel, family, friends, and adventure! It was wonderful to see so many of you in June at our 40th reunion. Let’s do it again in five years, if not sooner!”

David Fierberg BA writes: “I’m entering my 14th year as a development professional at San Francisco State University. I love San Francisco and making my community a better place by supporting a major public education institution. My grown children are 3,000 and 6,000 miles away, much to my and my wife’s chagrin. They’re happy and healthy but oh so far away. My spare time pursuits include continuing to play music with friends, though I miss the Marks-A-Lot orange Gibson bass I played at L&C.”

Paul Jorgensen BA had a great time seeing friends at the 40th reunion. He and his wife, Setareh, have moved to Vienna, Austria.

Narayan Kaimal BS became a lucky grandparent when his daughter gave birth to twin boys, Asher and Lenox, on December 31, 2024. The infants lived with Narayan for their first four months, which he says was exhausting but still great. He writes: “Thanks to the reunion committee who made our 40th gathering a wonderful time. I loved connecting with friends and remembering so many things that made that time so special.”

Robert Oaks BA enjoyed seeing so many classmates at the 40th reunion, including members of his 1985 Denmark/Greenland overseas study program. Oaks works for the Oregon Department of Revenue, lives with his family in Salem, and looks forward to someday joining his classmates who have already retired.

Kate Oser BA and her Portland band, the Riflebirds, reunited in 2024 to make a new album of original material titled Windmills on the Moon, produced in Los Angeles by Marvin Etzioni. The album was released in mid-August and was preceded by an in-store appearance at Music Millenium on July 19. All four original Riflebirds were joined by The Mermaids, a backup singing group composed of her daughter, Briana Oser; her niece Branigan Lieuallen; their guitarist’s daughter, Grace Kraft; and guest guitarist Steve Barton of the band Translator. The Riflebirds are now known as the Riflebirds of Portland. They also played a private party at Skyline Tavern.

Wendy Hall Ragusa BA is running for a third term as a board member of the Mount Vernon [Washington] School Board #320. She currently serves as board vice president. Wendy writes: “#SupportEveryStudent #LeadWithPurpose, Lewis & Clark prepared me for this service!”

Ellen Simonis BA, MAT ’93 writes: “After 39 years of teaching in both Oregon and Washington, I’ve started working for the Washington Education Association as a full-time union representative. I work with certificates and classified locals on contract negotiations, grievances, and other advocacy issues. I am beyond excited to make the switch to full-time labor advocacy!”

David Toovy BA attended his recent 40th reunion and wrote: “It was delightful to reconnect with my classmates. We also had a Micronesia overseas trip hybrid reunion, and that was so interesting. What we have all accomplished in the last 40 years is amazing. So many people followed their passions that began at Lewis & Clark. Like about a third of my class, I am in the process of retiring, and I still interface with Lewis & Clark indirectly by hiring and training some of the students in my medical scribe program in emergency medicine. I have been trying out the alumni and friends trips. The latest one I went on was on the Schooner Zodiac in the San Juan Islands. I carpooled with three recent L&C grads and another who was slightly more senior than me. It is a relatively low-cost, fun, interesting experience. I will seriously be considering further L&C trips for me and my wife, Kathy Harris BA ’84.”

1986

1987

Brad Cairns BS, a cancer cell biologist, professor of oncological sciences and head of Huntsman Cancer Institute academic affairs, will serve as the next CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. Cairns has been a member of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s leadership team for 15 years and has been with the organization since its founding.

Kristina Newhouse BA and Alain Miller married in Oysterville, Washington, earlier this year. They dated (briefly) when both were residents of Odell Hall on campus. Kristina retired as curator of contemporary art at UCLA at Long Beach, and Alain retired as a day and residential treatment school teacher with Portland Public Schools. They now live in Milwaukie, Oregon, with their two dogs.

1988

Danica Goshert BS was named one of InvestmentNews’ 5-Star Financial Planners for 2025, a distinguished recognition that highlights professionals in the wealth management industry. She is a senior vice president and private wealth manager at Integrated Equity Management.

Björn Kjellstrom BA is now an advisor at the European Parliament (EP) after having served at the Foreign Office, European Commission, and other posts for the EP. Björn writes: “Ron, Rob, Dana, Bridget, Alison, Beth, Rob, Andy, and all of you, I would love to get in touch. Anyone planning to attend an alumni event in the near future?”

1989

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Andrea Ball BA
aball1017@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Matt Bergman JD, founder of Social Media Victims Law Center, was featured on PBS’ Amanpour & Co. on April 28, 2025. At issue is the prevalence of AI chatbots that are capable of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with children—and even posing as children. Bergman and filmmaker Perri Peltz appeared on the show to discuss the harmful impacts of social media on children in Can’t Look Away, a new documentary that exposes the real-life consequences of these kinds of technologies.

Cheryll Miller BS left her position in the admissions office at Smith College and started a new role on the Advancement Data Team at Amherst College. Cheryll also became a grandparent in January 2025. Daughter Kelly and partner Liam live in Northern Ireland with their new baby.

1991

Natasha Beck MAT published Our Family Legacy in June 2023. The book draws on the translated diary entries of her great-grandmother, Etta Nisenholz Beck, who was born in rural Ukraine around 1863 and died in the United States in 1947. Natasha writes that women’s life stories are often hidden from history, and her book seeks to bring Etta’s experiences—and those of other European Jewish women of her generation—to life. Themes of social justice, tikkun olam (repairing the world), and intellectual curiosity run throughout her family’s story. Beck adds: “Their strong and spirited examples invite us to consider the question, ‘In what ways are we called to show up in the world?’ It is my hope that this book will help the reader to discover their own answers.”

Bob Miller JD has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American Bar Association of Arizona. Miller, an enrolled citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, is the Jonathan and Wendy Rose Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and was formerly a law professor at Lewis & Clark.

Eric Taussig BA writes: “My wife, Vithamon Peg Taussig, and I celebrated our 10th year back in Portland with my parents, Nancy (age 86) and Peter (age 90). Our company, Prialto (prialto.com) is now headquartered in the Studio Building in downtown Portland, with nearly 300 employees split between Guatemala City, Nairobi, and Manila. Our son, Ben, 16, attended the University of Austin’s new summer high school honors program in June. Our girls, Sophie and Maddie, turned 11. They recently joined the Thorns Academy soccer team and will be practicing at Providence Park this season. On recent trips to Prialto’s Kenya offices, I’ve had a great time reconnecting with fellow L&C ’91 and ‘Ditch House’ alumnus Stan Njuguna. On my weekend back in Nairobi in January, we had a blast FaceTiming with fellow L&C ’91 and Ditch House alumnus Sarabjeet Singh Anand.”

1992

Ruthe Farmer BA, founder and CEO of the Last Mile Education Fund, reached a major milestone in her work in April 2025. She writes: “The Last Mile Education Fund has supported 10,000 students on their journey to tech and engineering degrees. These are students who were close—so close—to finishing their degrees but were held back by small financial barriers. With an average investment of just under $3,000 per student, we’re seeing 74 percent of them graduate—a rate that far exceeds the national average for students from similar backgrounds.”

Ron Podmore MEd is launching his second of a four-part series exploring life in the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. His second film, Ron Podmore’s the Best of Central America: Secrets of El Salvador’s Success, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video in addition to several international distributors. He is featured in IMDb.com (international movie database) as a film producer. Originally receiving his master’s degree in education under the guidance of Dr. H. William “Bill” Brelje and the late Dr. Barbara Schirmer, Podmore spent 32 years teaching in Washington State, becoming the first nationally board-certified deaf teacher, emphasizing his work with the instruction of American Sign Language as a world language. He has published two books, including being the authorized children’s book author with Academy Award–winning actress Marlee Matlin.

Edward “Ted” Sawyer BA recently added the role of creative director at Bullseye Studio to his portfolio of responsibilities at Bullseye Glass Company, where he is the director of research and education. He helps bring large-scale artwork made in glass to public and private spaces, some of which you can see here: https://studio.bullseyeglass.com. Sawyer can be seen in action at work in the award-winning feature-length documentary film Holy Frit and in another short film called The History of Fused Glass. He lives in Portland with his daughter, Una, and his son, Crispin.

1994

Michael Colbach JD is celebrating his 20th year as title sponsor of the Bicycle Attorney Cycling Team. Team members share a commitment to making a positive impact through cycling and take on many bike-related causes every year.

Tom Lange BA still lives in Southwest Portland. He’s experienced plenty of changes in his life, but one constant has been his dedication to music. He writes: “For the last 28 years, the focus has been on sound healing with primary instruments of didgeridoos, gongs, and Tibetan singing bowls. Although I still love doing live events, for the last five years, I’ve been fine-tuning my ‘Sonic Brain Massage’ offering.”

Sophia Serghi BA, a music professor at William & Mary, composed “Dragonflies” for a new album of classical music that won a gold medal from the Global Music Awards. “Dragonflies” is the first track on Symphonic Stradivarius, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

1995

Jason Friedman BS took the stage in May at The Boutique Hotel Series: The Summit Bangkok for a TED Talk–style keynote titled “The Soul of Luxury: Boutique Hotels Redefining Unforgettable Experiences in the Luxury Market.” Friedman, a native New Yorker with over three decades in the industry, is the founder and managing director of J.M. Friedman Hospitality, a boutique consulting firm focused on the development and operation of small luxury resorts, tented camps, and expedition ships across Southeast Asia.

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir BA was elected the rector of the University of Iceland in March 2025. After completing a BA in international affairs at Lewis & Clark, she earned an MA from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a PhD from University College Cork in Ireland. She’s served on the University of Iceland’s political science faculty since 2005, focusing on international relations, U.S. politics, and foreign policy analysis.

1996

1997

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Anne Bunn BA
anne@anneandsam.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Tim Cook MA, president of Clackamas Community College, ran 1,400 miles from the Oregon-Idaho border to the Columbia River Gorge, stopping at all 17 of the state’s community colleges. Over 52 days—and six pairs of shoes—he logged the equivalent of a marathon nearly every day to raise awareness and funds for students struggling with housing and food insecurity. To learn more, visit his blog Running for Oregon Community Colleges.

1998

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Jan Martin BA
jzmartin@shaw.ca
“Please send me your updates!”

1999

Chris Taylor BA is the founder/owner of Mempops, a frozen treat that he sells from his 15 carts and 5 Airstream trailers around Memphis, Tennessee. He also runs two brick-and-mortar shops. Taylor began with 10 flavors. He now offers “over 100, if not more.”

2000

Matt Biondi MAT, an Olympic medalist, International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, and the first man to break 49 seconds in the men’s 100-meter long-course freestyle, has been named the new head coach and general manager of the Redding Swim Team, one of 53 USA Swimming club teams located in Northern California. In addition to leading the team, which trains at Shasta College, Biondi will also serve as head swimming and diving coach at the college itself. Biondi, one of the most decorated swimmers in history, is a three-time Olympian, having represented the United States at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympic Games. Over the course of his career, he won a total of 11 Olympic medals: eight gold, two silver, and one bronze.

Marshall Highet BA cowrote a fourth novel, The Washashore—a cozy historical murder mystery set on Martha’s Vineyard in 1929 (Koehler Books, 2025); see also “Bookshelf,” page 32.

Emerald Lopez BA has been named president of fitness and wellness franchise Barre3. Lopez brings more than 15 years of executive experience leading multi-site consumer businesses. She most recently oversaw a $135 million portfolio as head of NVA Equine North America and previously held operational leadership roles at NVA General Practice and LensCrafters. She holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from City University of Seattle and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of San Diego.

Sean O’Day JD was named acting director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS). O’Day was most recently the deputy director for DCBS, the state’s largest consumer and worker protection and business regulatory agency.

Cari Tautfest Sloan BA, MAT ’01 earned an EdD from George Fox University and currently serves students as the principal of Canby (Oregon) High School.

2001

2002

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Sarah Stohr BA
sarahstohr@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Elizabeth Bellardo BA launched a new coaching and consulting business, Good Work Endeavors (goodworkendeavors.com), after more than 20 years in public service and humanitarian work. Bellardo spent the last 10 years working for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, doing what she considers some of the best work in the U.S. government: implementing and safeguarding American generosity in the face of disasters and crises. She says it was more than a job—it was a calling. Following the shutdown of USAID, she created a business that reflects her continued commitment to lead, serve, and support others.

Thomas Stephenson BA ran a successful campaign for the May 2025 special election and was elected to the David Douglas School District’s board of directors in east Portland. If you have any ideas for collaboration or questions, please reach out at: thomas_stephenson@ddouglas.k12.or.us. For nearly 19 years, he has worked as a senior systems engineer in L&C’s Office of Information Technology, where he is constantly striving to improve the student experience. You may also find him running Weimaraners around the Glade or the Great Plat Field to the delight of students passing between classes.

Leah Svendsen BA collaborated with her friend and poet Dustin Lyons to publish Passage: Paintings & Poetry From Wallowa Country (Hawk House Publishing, 2024). The book contains more than 50 images of her encaustic paintings (made with beeswax and tree resin). It is designed to be a collaborative creative reflection on living in and being a part of the mountains, valleys, forests, and canyons of northeast Oregon.

2003

Myah Moore Irick BA was recently named to the Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors list. Additionally, the team she founded in 2020 was also recognized as one of Forbes Top Wealth Advisory Teams. She and her team support a variety of clients, including business executives, their multigenerational families, and nonprofits. Irick reports that life outside work has been equally rewarding. She resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, Jaime Irick, and three children.

Morgan Keller BA works at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, as the director of the Office of International Student Affairs. In 2016, he graduated from the Middlebury Institute with an MA in international education management. He is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer and taught in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

Cindy Matsushita JD has been appointed to the role of licensing administrator for the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Her career spans 25 years, primarily in legal and administrative capacities within the public sector.

Matt Pellegrino BA was recognized with the Milton E. Ahlerich Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2025 National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition. He serves as the vice president of operations and match day security for New York City Football Club, where he oversees all event operations and security logistics. With over 20 years’ experience in the sports industry, Pellegrino has worked for both Major League Soccer (MLS) and the National Football League and has been involved with major sports events including the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff Championship, MLS Cup, MLS All-Star Game, and Gold Cup.

2005

Kelda Van Patten MAT is an artist and freelance photo illustrator based in Portland. According to her website, she creates “disorienting pictorial spaces that utilize still life arrangements, collage, drawing, animation, and re-photography.” She holds a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

2006

Charlie Blackmar BA, after more than a decade of community mental health leadership, has started his own private psychotherapy practice in Southeast Portland (charlieblackmartherapy.com). He specializes in chronic suicidal ideation. This past summer, he completed his first 50k ultramarathon and successfully hiked the two northern sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. He has now successfully hiked all of the trail’s Washington sections.

2007

Jocelyn Stokes BA directed and produced In Her Nature, which premiered on PBS Nature in March 2025. “In Her Nature was born from a desire to spotlight the incredible women leading successful, solution-driven conservation efforts across the globe—often against all odds,” says Stokes. “This series offers a fresh and hopeful perspective, proving that real change is happening and that these women are shaping the future of wildlife conservation.” The six episodes, created entirely by women, highlight powerful conservation efforts alongside never-before-seen wildlife behavior.

2009

Adrian Anderson MAT has joined Miller Nash’s litigation team in the Portland office. He has experience in complex civil litigation, including cases involving contract, tax, and constitutional claims. Anderson joined the firm after serving as a career law clerk to Chief Judge Elaine D. Kaplan at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Before clerking, he worked in the Washington, D.C., office of an international law firm. Anderson began his career as a classroom assistant and high school teacher in Oregon.

Britta Baechler serves as director of ocean plastics research at Ocean Conservancy. She leads primary research on varied topics related to the impacts of plastic pollution, including the prevalence of microplastics in the human food system, wildlife benefits of plastic cleanups, movement of floating plastics, and public knowledge and perceptions of the issue. Baechler is also an adjunct faculty member in the University of Toronto’s Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences.

Nic Costa BA reports that his new feature film, Raging Midlife, hit the big screen in May 2025. The film is a wild, heartfelt, and absurd comedy-adventure that follows two middle-aged friends on a chaotic mission to recover a tank top once worn by a legendary 1980s wrestler named Raging Abraham Lincoln. It features performances from Walter Koenig (Star Trek), singer Paula Abdul, and comedian Eddie Griffin. The film, which was selected for the 2024 Austin Film Festival, had an initial theatrical run in March and is now available via streaming services; for viewing information, visit https://geni.us/RagingMidlife.

Dr. Kristen Larsen BA lives and works in Olympia, Washington, as an emergency room physician. She would love to meet local alumni!

Katie Jo Walter BA is Lewis & Clark’s new director of the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement. She rejoins L&C after a yearlong sabbatical in Rajasthan, India, capping off her previous role as director of advancement and alumni relations at Woodstock School India. Walter looks forward to engaging alumni of all ages, helping them discover the continued value of the community, and inspiring them to lend their voice to the L&C of today and tomorrow. She and her husband, Bob, along with their dog, Kali, are enjoying getting settled in South Portland and revisiting their favorite places. Walter invites all alumni to stop by the Odell Alumni Gatehouse on campus to introduce themselves!

Consuelo Wise BA is a Guatemalan American poet, artist, and professor who teaches creative writing at Portland State University. At L&C, Wise majored in English and studied poetry with Mary Szybist, Odell Professor of Humanities, and Jerry Harp, associate professor with term of the humanities. She’s also studied with Michele Glazer, MFA director at Portland State University, among others. Wise’s first book, b o y (University of Chicago Press, 2024), is a hybrid of lyric poetry and essay in which, through repetition, fragmentation, and syntax, the protagonist envisions ways to process great loss.

2010

Micah Depper BA is a seventh-grade science teacher at Bath (Maine) Middle School. This past February, he received the national Milken Educator Award for the 2024–25 school year, which came with a $25,000 cash prize. Depper was Maine’s only Milken Educator Award recipient.

2011

Rebecca Lexa MA is proud to announce the publication of her book The Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Fungi Wherever You Go (Ten Speed Press, June 2025); see also “Bookshelf,” page 32. This beginner’s guide to nature identification helps readers learn how to identify the species around them no matter where they are—no experience required! Inspired by her training in ecopsychology at the graduate school, Lexa now spends her time as a naturalist connecting others with nature through her writing, classes, and guided tours. For more info, visit RebeccaLexa.com.

Jane Wong MEd has repatriated to the Lone Star State, where she is working as a professional school counselor in Austin, Texas. Since graduating from Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling in 2011, Wong has lived overseas, working in international schools in Myanmar, Kenya, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, Wong will serve as a bilingual elementary school counselor in the Austin Independent School District.

2012

Rueben Lange BA is the owner and winemaker at Amiti. His commercial wines are made in Mosier, Oregon.

Brandis Piper BA, MAT ’13 is the new assistant principal/athletic director at Central High School in Independence, Oregon. Piper comes to Central from McKay High School in Salem, where he has been working as a teacher/instructional coach for 13 years. This will be his first post as an administrator. Piper, who was raised in Hillsboro, Oregon, is married with two children. He was a receiver for L&C’s football team.

2013

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Christopher Van Putten BA
loveasmusic@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

Danial Afzal BA has produced a new series on Fatima Jinnah, a Pakistani politician and sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the nation’s founder. He writes that Jinnah’s story “has been deliberately erased and rewritten to fit political agendas.” He adds, “In many ways, I now find myself doing through filmmaking what I once tried to do in L&C classrooms—uncover lost narratives and challenge dominant historical discourse.”

Jean Placko MAT was profiled in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle for her outstanding work as a science teacher at Bozeman High School in Montana.

2015

Erica Lauer BA is an opening service manager and assistant wine director at Fedora, a community-oriented restaurant in New York’s West Village.

Henry Lemus BA writes: “Life has been full of adventure since my time at L&C. I met my amazing wife there, and we’ve been together ever since! Over the past few years, we’ve had the chance to travel around Europe, Japan, and Central America, which has been incredible. This year, we celebrated four wonderful years of marriage—and even more exciting, we welcomed our first child in May 2025, a beautiful baby girl who’s already stolen our hearts. I’ve been working as a nurse for the past seven years and am currently with LA County. I’m grateful for where life has taken me and excited for what’s ahead!”

2016

2017

Undergrad Class Correspondent: Heather Wells BA
wells.heather65@gmail.com
“Please send me your updates!”

CJ Appleton BA earned a master’s degree in sociology at Portland State University, followed by a PhD in criminology at George Mason University. He recently accepted a tenure-track job at Duke University in its Sanford School of Public Policy. In February, Appleton returned to L&C to connect with sociology and anthropology students and to deliver a presentation titled “Looking Back to Move Forward: A Life-Course Examination of Trauma and Desistance [ceasing criminal activity].” He is a PhD candidate researching race, identity, desistance, community supervision, and organizational theory. His dissertation examines how race influences narrative identity and the desistance process. Appleton also investigates the impact of adverse childhood experiences throughout the life course, with a particular focus on how these experiences shape pathways to desistance.

Stein Retzlaff BA won the first season of Hulu’s Got to Get Out in which contestants trapped in a mansion with a growing cash prize run to escape while others try to stop them. He shared the $312,000 prize with a fellow contestant. Retzlaff is an adventure filmmaker who has worked in various remote places, including Antarctica and Greenland.

2018

Clelia Davis Del Piccolo BA writes: “I’m excited to share that I was selected as a NASA DEVELOP participant at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We are conducting a feasibility study using NASA Earth Observations to determine wetland extent as part of an ecological conservation effort in California’s Amargosa Basin. A special thanks to Dr. Magalí Rabasa [associate professor of Hispanic studies] for her support and letter of recommendation!”

Dara Reckard BA finished her Peace Corps service in December 2024, traveled in Europe for a few months, and is now preparing to deploy to McMurdo Station in Antarctica as a support staff member for scientific research for the National Science Foundation.

2019

Oswald Huynh BA was named laureate of the Frederic A. Juilliard|Walter Damrosch Rome Prize in Musical Composition. He will be residing in Rome for the 2025–26 season.

Mike Machado BA has been named one the San Francisco 49ers’ 2025 Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellows. He will work with the 49ers’ tight ends. Machado is currently L&C’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He previously served as a graduate assistant at San Jose State University, where he worked with their team’s offense while earning a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. Previously, he was an offensive quality control intern at San Jose State University, where he coached their tight ends and special teams units. Machado was a quarterback at Lewis & Clark, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and media studies.

Ben Weinstein BA is a project archivist at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

2020

Amelia Eichel BA cowrote the children’s book Journey to Away: One Raccoon’s Mission to Change the World (BookBaby, 2025); see also “Bookshelf,” page 32. Through the eyes of a curious raccoon named Mel, readers embark on an adventure that reveals the hidden journey of waste, from overflowing dumpsters and landfills to polluted oceans and ships brimming with garbage. Eichel is CEO of Wonderfil, a Santa Cruz–based company that creates refill stations to reduce plastic waste.

Sally Goldman BA is a licensed private investigator working at one of Portland’s public defense offices and a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Local 2805). She assists public defense attorneys in advocating for clients charged with crimes in Multnomah County. Her work consists of fact investigation (“What happened?”) and some mitigation investigation (“Who is my client as a whole person?”). She spoke to L&C students at the history department’s 2024–25 Career Series on February 27.

Olivia Mathews BA was profiled as one of seven “young artists who are making a difference” in Oregon ArtsWatch. These “up-and-coming theater artists” are expected to have “a lasting impact on theater here in greater Portland—our taste-shapers of the future.”

2021

Austin Crutchfield BA and Laurea Everson BA ’22, who met on the 2019 overseas study program in Greece, got engaged this spring. They always say they have the best story when people ask how they met. Everyone involved in that trip made it a phenomenal learning and life experience.

Riley Hanna BA, a 2020 Dixon Awardee at Lewis & Clark, is entering the MA program at the University of Oregon to study modernism.

2022

Laurea Everson BA and Austin Crutchfield BA ’21, who met on the 2019 overseas study program in Greece, got engaged this spring. They always say they have the best story when people ask how they met. Everyone involved in that trip made it a phenomenal learning and life experience.

Haley Ledford BA writes: “I am now working at a large ski resort in my area as the sign shop girl! I make all of the signs for the resort. I can work outdoors in a creative department, which is the best of both worlds for me. I also am working on my master’s degree in arts management and finishing up on an internship at an art gallery in town. Aside from work and school, I am raising two adorable doggies with my partner. Life is good.”

2023

Andrew “Drew” Sullivan JD has been appointed as the first procurement executive of the U.S. Supreme Court.

2024

Kit Graf BA, a 2023 Dixon Awardee at Lewis & Clark, currently teaches English as a second language to refugees in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska.

2025

Gemma Goette BA was selected as a Fulbright English teaching assistant for Germany this year. However, she has since accepted a job to be a curatorial assistant at the Aspen Museum of Art in Colorado.

Marriages and Unions

Jacob Costantino BA ’15, MAT ’17 and Nathalie Duran MAT ’17 married on April 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. Both are entering their ninth years of public school teaching in Southern California—Nathalie at the elementary school level, and Jacob at the high school level.

Emily Bennett BA ’19 married Bryan Joppa BA ’19 on June 7, 2025, in Portland.

Births and Adoptions

Adam Smith BA ’99 and wife Emily Medley Smith welcomed their second daughter, Lyra Roberta Medley, in March. Everyone is exhausted but doing well.

Submit your class note