1960s
1960s
Cecile “Julie” Fontenot Landry, ’65, of Laguna Woods, Calif., has used her time at home during the pandemic as an opportunity to write and research. Landry’s short-story collection, “Tales of Louisiana,” came out in November 2020 and her latest children’s book, “Clovis Crawfish and the Feu-Follet,” was released in February 2021. She is currently doing research for the sequel to her historical novel, “Chapman Hall,” which came out in 2016.
Mary Ann “Sully” Sullivan Boyce, ’60, and Susan “Sue” George MacDonald, ’60, both of St. Louis, attended the funeral of Louise Lukens Naumann, ’60. Among her life’s achievements, Naumann graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Maryville as a young mother and widow, following the sudden death of her husband. Naumann is survived by her two sons, Fred and Joseph. The latter serves as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. At Naumann’s funeral, Boyce and MacDonald had the opportunity to meet Archbishop Naumann as well as Mitch Rozanski, archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and extend their sympathies to the family.
1980s
Walter “Walt” J. Gaal, ’86, of Collinsville, Ill., recently signed a recording contract with a label in Nashville, Tenn. He is excited to announce his first single, “I’m Sailing Away,” has now aired on the radio.
1990s
Anne Cope Hart, ’90, of Eureka, Mo., has been a physical therapist for six years and is currently working at ApexNetwork Physical Therapy. After graduating from Maryville, she worked in Austin, Texas, where she completed her residency in orthopedics. Hart shared that she loves physical therapy and being able to build relationships with her patients.
Jennifer Mabury Petrowsky, ’91, of Ballwin, Mo., has enjoyed a successful career in marketing and management while raising two daughters. Her youngest, Emma, is a second-generation Saint, having started her freshman year at Maryville this past fall. After Petrowsky graduated from Maryville, she enjoyed a career in the shopping center industry including owning and operating a boutique public relations and marketing company called JPMarket Source. In 2012, she opened the first American Girl Store in St. Louis at Chesterfield Mall as the General Manager. More recently, Petrowsky left the retail world to spend more time with her daughters after the untimely passing of her husband. Petrowsky is happy to have her daughter on campus as she reminisces about her own positive experience as a Maryville student and hopes to get more involved with the Maryville alumni community.
Julia Pusateri Lasater, ’92, of St. Louis, was appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson to fill the position of associate circuit judge for St. Louis County’s 21st Judicial Court. She is on the board of the St. Louis County Bar Association, and she served as president of the association in 2014. Lasater holds a bachelor’s degree from Maryville and a juris doctor from the Saint Louis University School of Law.
Melissa Tallent Bozell Emery, ’97, ’98, of Louisville, Ky., is the owner of Emery Law Office. She is passionate about sponsoring and mentoring children and teens around the world through Compassion International and enjoys cooking on the weekends. In December 2020, Emery welcomed her first grandchild.
Tamra L. Vallejos, ’97, of Lawndale, Calif., was awarded the Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital Award for Nursing Excellence as Nurse of the Year in October 2020.
Karl R. Snider, ’98, of Arcadia, Mo., was recently named vice president of operational resources for The Baptist Home located in Southeast Missouri. In his role he will over-see all internal operations for the company. Snider received his Master of Business Administration degree in 1998 and is a certified public accountant.
Maria Cabo Moise, ’99, of Papillion, Neb., received a Master of Science in information technology from the University of Nebraska Omaha on August 14, 2020. She is currently a director of application development at Fiserv in Omaha, Neb.
Karen Breeden Rosewell, ’99, of Ballwin, Mo., was one of 100 St. Louis area educators to receive an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. The award pays tribute to educators — from kindergarten teachers to college professors — for their achievements and dedication to the field of education.
2000s
Zachary S. Zerbonia, ’01, of Chicago, has been appointed chief operating officer of Franciscan Ministries sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago. Zachary will be responsible for growing their senior living lines of business. He recently relocated to Chicago from Tampa, Fla., where he had lived since graduating from Maryville.
Justin M. Brown, ’02, of Los Angeles, joined Rivian, an electric vehicle startup inspiring people to get out and explore the world, to lead their total rewards function. Previously, Brown spent nearly a decade with an international video game company.
Christy Jagodzinski Newsham, ’03, of St. Louis, was one of 100 St. Louis area educators to receive an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. The award pays tribute to educators — from kindergarten teachers to college professors — for their achievements and dedication to the field of education.
Bryan A. Goad, ’04, of Kansas City, Kan., celebrated a two-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Rabecca, on February 9, 2021. Goad works as a math teacher at Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kan.
Tonya Kricensky McMillen, ’04, of Wildwood, Mo., is the new volunteer coordinator for MSE Racing, a company that creates, manages and times racing events for swimmers, cyclists and runners.
Christa Hendrickson Barr, ’05, of Florissant, Mo., is an account manager and designer at Spellman Brady & Company. She recently passed the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID) examination and earned the prestigious Certified Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID) certification.
Daniel “Dan” R. Derby, ’05, of Bridgeton, Mo., was one of 100 St. Louis area educators to receive an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. The award pays tribute to educators — from kindergarten teachers to college professors — for their achievements and dedication to the field of education.
Dana M. Webb, ’05, of O’Fallon, Mo., wrote a book called “Beauty for Ashes: Bought & Paid For… ” to share the gospel of Jesus’ saving grace. Webb is looking forward to publishing the book in the future.
Vanda M. Wilder, ’07, ’08, of Des Peres, Mo., celebrated her engagement to Geoff Goodpaster in September 2020. The couple got engaged while hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Jessica N. Cooper, ’08, of Fort Collins, Colo., established Jess Cooper Consulting in 2019 to serve nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she worked with USA Swimming to serve its 59 regional governing bodies with crisis management during the pandemic. In 2021, Jess is launching Nonprofit Wellness, an online course to help leaders take control of their organizations’ health.
Erin Clark Taylor, ’08, of Charleston, S.C., founded Ambitious Solutions last year, a service-based business to help creative makers streamline their businesses through organization, automation and systemization.
Tanya R. Voss, ’08, of Sullivan, Mo., joined the board of trustees for Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital in December 2020.
2000s (continued)
Jenny Williams, ’08, of St. Louis, opened her own home health care company called Innovative Occupational Therapy Solutions. Williams’ occupational therapy passion is geriatrics and home care. She has been providing home care since 2008.
Robert “Bo” M. Bunton, ’09, of O’Fallon, Mo., earned an EMT license and has been working at Abbott Ambulance since December 2020. Bunton is working toward his goal of becoming a firefighter and shared that “I’ve always taken pride in impacting others, so I know this is the career for me.” Previously, after earning a Master of Arts degree in counseling, he worked as a school guidance counselor, which sparked his interest in helping people in another way. Bunton has been married since 2012 and has two beautiful daughters, Kenley (4) and Aubrey (1).
Kayla I. Solomon, ’09, of Pacific, Mo., joined the litigation practice group at Capes Sokol. She previously worked for the firm as a summer associate. She will focus her work on product liability and commercial litigation.
Adam M. Bridwell, ’11, of Rochester, Minn., accepted a new position to lead inpatient oncology and lymphedema therapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In this new position, he will develop department procedures and best practice initiatives using the latest evidence-based research. Bridwell married his wife, Audrey, on September 12, 2020, in an intimate backyard ceremony attended by close family and friends and officiated by his brother.
John F. Murar, ’11, of St. Louis, and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their second child, Ellie Rose, on January 21, 2021. Ellie was born weighing 7 lbs, 3 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long.
Nisha Patel, ’12, of Chesterfield, Mo., is the new superintendent for the Clayton School District for the 2021–2022 school year. She shared, “I am extremely excited and humbled to be named the next superintendent of The School District of Clayton. I look forward to the opportunity to become an active member of the community and continue the paramount work around equity and inclusion and propel the strategic plan forward ensuring that Clayton is a place for everyone to grow as learners in the head and heart.”
Wade D. Steinhoff, ’11, of St. Charles, Mo., assistant superintendent of the Orchard Farm School District, was recently named the new superintendent of the district. Steinhoff has spent the past 20 years in education, including seven in his role as assistant superintendent. He will begin his new role on July 1, 2021.
Casey A. Stine, ’12, of St. Louis, was hired as a vice president and business development consultant for Lockton’s Midwest Series. Stine will assist clients in developing comprehensive health plans, total rewards and benefits strategies.
Alexandra “Lexie” Purcell Loewnau, ’13, of St. Louis, and her husband, Ben, welcomed their daughter, Callaway Anderson, in January 2020.
Stephanie A. Metter, ’13, of St. Louis, joined Elephant Rock Counseling, LLC, as a therapist. She has been a licensed professional counselor since 2017. Metter works with adults and adolescents struggling with trauma, emotional regulation, anxiety and depression. She will also be joining the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Consultation Team.
Tomi M. Benney, ’13, of Bridgeton, Mo., accepted a new position as head coach of the girl’s soccer program at Pattonville High School in Maryland Heights, Mo. Benney played soccer at Maryville from 2009 to 2012.
Sheryl L. Mueller, ’12, of Hillsboro, Mo., married Dustin Lemp on April 3, 2021, at The Artisan at Baetje Farms in Bloomsdale, Mo. Mueller graduated from Maryville with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and is self-employed as a graphic designer.
Eric J. Zluhan, ’13, of Chicago, graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in neuroscience and physiology from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y.
Kenneth “Kenny” V. Evischi, ’14, of Nashville, Tenn., and his wife, Annie, celebrated the first birthday of their son, Oliver “Ollie” Anthony, on April 24, 2021. Michael “Mike” Golden, ’14, of Hillsboro, Mo., was named vice president of education at Great Circle. He will oversee the educational programs and curriculum standards of eight Great Circle Academy schools throughout Missouri.
Lauralee Gilkey Nelson, ’14, ’17, of St. Charles, Mo., is the human resources manager at American Optometric Association.
Jessica McFadden Humphrey, ’15, ’17, and Casey M. Humphrey, ’14, of St. Louis, welcomed their first child, Henry James, on September 4, 2020. The couple shared, “Henry loves to smile and is growing tall just like his parents. We are blessed to be able to spend so much time together at home this season. Henry has truly been the greatest joy in such a challenging year.”
Laura Marley Johnson, ’15, ’17, of Breese, Ill., married Chad Johnson on October 24, 2020, in Breese. The couple had a small wedding because of COVID-19, which made the day feel more intimate and special. The couple met through a mutual friend, Amanda Peters Henrich, ’15, ’17, who was also a member of the wedding party alongside two other Maryville alumnae.
Breann Baker Jones, ’15, ’20, and Dr. Garrett D. Jones, ’15, ’17, both of Austin, Texas, married on October 4, 2020, in Silverthorne, Colo. While the wedding was not what they originally planned, they were delighted with how it turned out. Bree shared, “It really made us focus on what was most important, and I am grateful we were able to enjoy the celebration with our close family and friends.”
Nicole Kaltwasser, ’15, ’17, of Belleville, Ill., announced her engagement to Nick Anthony. The couple met while moving into the same apartment complex. But moving into a new apartment on the same day wasn’t the only thing these two had in common: they both graduated from physical therapy school on the same day, passed the Illinois Physical Therapy Licensure Exam on the same day and started work in Peoria, Ill., on the same day. Some will say you can’t build a relationship on competition, but sometimes it is the perfect bond; Nick and Nicole have competed against each other in many sports and activities. The couple especially enjoys long bike rides on the same trail where Nick first asked Nicole on a date. The couple plans to wed on July 10, 2021.
Kristen A. Kenney, ’15, of St. Louis, received her associateship through the Society of Actuaries in September 2020.
Kavita McCarthy, ’15, of St. Charles, Mo., joined E.J. Welch as vice president of marketing in August 2020. In her role, she is responsible for developing a competitive product positioning strategy as well as an integrated digital and marketing strategy.
LaTonia C. Smith, ’15, of St. Louis, was appointed provost and vice president of academic affairs at Harris-Stowe State University. In her role, she oversees the university’s numerous colleges, the academic resource center, academic success, accreditation, career services, retention and international programs, student support services, university institutes and the university library.
Blair Stabile DePew, ’16, accepted a new position as a mother and baby nurse at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Prior to that, DePew spent five years at The Family Birthplace at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse. Her husband, Kaleb DePew, ’15, also accepted a new position as a program manager at Worldwide Technology. They are both very excited about their new roles.
2000s (continued)
Kurtis C. Hinderman, ’16, of Riverton, Utah, became a family nurse practitioner at Forum Health LLC, in Salt Lake City. Hinderman graduated from Maryville in 2016 with a Master of Science in nursing.
Connor J. Pollmann, ’16, ’17, of Mascoutah, Ill., accepted a new position with the state of Missouri in the division of finance as a bank examiner. A month later, he got engaged. Pollmann is excited for the wedding and is looking forward to having a handful of Maryville alumni as groomsmen: Chance Reuter, ’17; Nick Hitpas, ’18; and Eric Vandeloo, ’18.
Shruti Desai, ’17, of St. Louis, was named associate vice president of student affairs for campus life at Washington University in St. Louis. She began her new role on March 15, 2021, and is helping build a more vibrant and inclusive campus community.
Haley Fatheree Klockenga, ’17, and Dr. Hayden T. Klockenga, ’17, ’19, of Mount Vernon, Ill., welcomed their first child, Beckham Thomas, on October 4, 2020.
Makesha Harris Lee, ’17, of Collinsville, Ill., was named the first director of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s new CORE T.E.A.M. in the Office of Enrollment Management. CORE T.E.A.M. stands for College Readiness: Transition, Engage, Achieve and Mentor, which supports the school’s pre-collegiate programs and partnerships.
Yi Ru, ’17, of St. Louis, received her Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in August 2020. She is an assistant actuary at the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated.
Melanie A. Self, ’17, of St. Louis, became a systems engineer for The Boeing Company in March 2020. She also graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2020, with a Master of Science in aerospace engineering and Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Self attributes her achievements to the Maryville faculty and staff who encouraged her to fulfill her dreams.
Ryan Van Volkenberg, ’17, of Lisle, Ill., is a sales supervisor for Reyes Beer Division in the Greater Chicago area.
Daniel “Dan” T. Clerke, ’18, is the director of the Maryville Esports Program. Under his leadership, Maryville University was selected as the top College League of Legends team in the ESPN College League of Legends preseason coaches poll. The Saints are the reigning College League of Legends champions and a perennial powerhouse in the collegiate scene.
Nicholas A. Ervin, ’18, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., joined the Saint Francis Healthcare System as a nurse with the palliative care program in September 2020.
Dana Liberton, ’18, of Ballwin, Mo., accepted a new position as principal of North Kirkwood Middle School. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2021. Liberton is currently the school’s assistant principal.
Dr. Kelsey E. Martin, ’18, ’20, of Ballwin, Mo., is a physical therapist at SSM Health Day Institute in St. Louis. Martin and Dr. Carter Montgomery, ’15, ’18, plan to wed on May 15, 2021.
Dr. Abigail “Abbie” C. Reilly, ’18, ’20, of Godfrey, Ill., graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy in December 2020. She is a physical therapist with Alton Physical Therapy, P.C. at the Alton, Ill., clinic location.
Brandi C. Robertson, ’18, of St. Charles, Mo., received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She is a transport nurse at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights, Mo.
Dr. Steven L. Schahl, ’18, ’20, of St. Louis, graduated with his Doctor of Physical Therapy in December 2020. He is a physical therapist with Alton Physical Therapy, P.C. at the Litchfield, Ill., and Shelbyville, Ill., clinics.
Ryan S. Shubert, ’18, of Ballwin, Mo., earned his FSA credential for Federal Sustainability Accounting Level I and Level II this past year.
Russell S. Susuki, ’18, of Maryland Heights, Mo., accepted a position as a marketing associate with Rapsodo, Incorporated.
Erin Hollenbeck Thorsen, ’18, ’19, of O’Fallon, Mo., married Donald “Donny” Thorsen, ’16, on September 5, 2021, at Bogey Hills Country Club. Several Maryville alumni attended the wedding. Additionally, in November, Erin opened The Learning Experience St. Peters West and is the new child care center director at this location.
Daniel P. Covert, ’19, of St. Louis, is a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. He enjoys being active by working out at the gym, playing slow-pitch softball and competing in corn hole tournaments.
Brianne “Brie” N. Howerton, ’19, of Bradenton, Fla., was awarded the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Bradenton Student Doctor of the Year Award. The award honors involvement, leadership, professional contributions and community service. Howerton was nominated by her peers and chosen by a council of faculty and staff. She will go on to compete at the national level for Student Doctor of the Year.
Tyesha L. Joseph, ’19, of Baltimore, joined Mercy Personal Physicians at Lutherville as a nurse practitioner in January 2021.
Amanda Blanton Manera, ’19, and Mark N. Manera, ’19, both of St. Louis, married on August 8, 2020, in Breckenridge, Colo. Like many couples, they had to downsize their big day to an intimate wedding. Even though it looked nothing like their original plan, the couple shared that it was still the most perfect day. They are looking forward to having a big celebration with all of their friends and family as planned, just at a later date, once everyone is able to gather again safely.
Shenna M. Woods, ’19, of St. Louis, was appointed director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Harris-Stowe State University. Woods received her Doctor of Education in higher education leadership from Maryville in 2019.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Barton, ’20, of St. Louis, got engaged to John Fleming on October 18, 2020, at Tower Grove Park. The couple spent the afternoon celebrating with some of their closest friends.
Alexa L. Burley, ’20, of Lothian, Md., joined UM Shore Medical Group Behavioral Health as a nurse practitioner on November 29, 2020.
Diego Coy Caicedo, ’20, signed a contract with Aussie FC Soccer. He will play as a defender and midfielder in the 2nd Division in Ecuador.
Kaitlyn “Katie” E. Grunert, ’20, of Waukesha, Wis., graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor of science from Maryville University’s Rawlings Sport Business Management Program. She accepted a new position as marketing coordinator for SponsorUnited in January 2021.
Michele Kolbasko, ’20, of St. Louis, accepted a new position as an underwriter at Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA), after graduating from Maryville in May 2020. She worked as an intern at RGA for about a year while completing her Maryville course-work before being hired full time.
Robert K. Payne, ’20, of St. Louis, received his Doctor of Education from Maryville in December 2020. Robert is assistant principal at Armstrong Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District.
Tiffany Reed, ’20, of Terre Haute, Ind., has been selected as director of the Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center at Indiana State University.