What’s new with you matters to us.
Have you been recently promoted or started a new job? Perhaps you are starting on a new educational journey. Maybe, you are newly married or recently added to your family. Let your fellow Ducks know what is happening in your life.
When you submit a class note, it will be considered for publication in the UOAA’s monthly Shout! newsletter, posted to the UOAA alumni website, or highlighted on social media.
Featured Class Notables
Lora Vess
Class of 2007
LORA VESS, PhD '07 (sociology), an associate professor of sociology and department chair of social sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast, wrote an article for the Juneau Empire on the role of humans in creating raging wildfires that she called "the new normal of climate change."
Alaina Ladner
Class of 2008
ALAINA LADNER, MArch '08, was hired by Illinois-based JLL real estate as vice president and west region energy and sustainability practice lead for the company's project and development services group, helping clients with the sustainability and resilience of their retrofits, building upgrades, and new development.
Quillyn Brown
Class of 2009
QUILLYN BROWN, BS '09 (accounting), a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, was promoted to tax manager at accounting firm Lavine, Lofgren, Morris and Engelberg, where she provides accounting and tax services to S corporations, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals.
Heidi Schreck
Class of 2009
Heidi Schreck, BA '09 (English), was nominated for two Tony awards for Best Play and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for What the Constitution Means to Me.
Emily Hartlerode
Class of 2009
EMILY J. HARTLERODE, MA '09 (folklore), associate director of the Oregon Folklife Network, was covered in Eugene Weekly for a story about the network’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.
Heather Holmquest
Class of 2009
HEATHER HOLMQUEST, MA '09, PhD '14 (music theory), helped launch ROCopera, an opera collection based in Rochester, New York, intended to reimagine a contemporary form of traditional opera music.
Russell Mead
Class of 1968
RUSSELL RUSS CRANSTOUN MEAD, BS '68, MS '70 (biology), died September 15. A native of Riverside, California, he taught mathematics for more than 30 years at Palo Verde High School in Tucson, Arizona, and also coached track and cross country. After retiring in 2010, he traveled, visited grandchildren, and attended classes at the University of Vienna, Austria.
Ruth Miller
Class of 1976
RUTH ESTELLE MILLER, MS '76 (public affairs), died November 11. A community leader with numerous civic contributions, she retired in 1984 as a neighborhood liaison for the city of Eugene, having helped increase the number of neighborhood associations and train other community leaders.
Patricia Hoover
Class of 1969
Cited, a Canadian podcast, featured PATRICIA HOOVER, BS '69 (journalism), in America's Chernobyl, about her life living downwind of the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington.
Bob Traa
Class of 1980
BOB TRAA, BBA '80 (finance), MA '84 (economics), PhD '85, published The Macroeconomy of the United States: Why the US Economy is Slowing and the US Federal Government is Insolvent/Notes for Discussion.
Gerald Smith
Class of 1972
GERALD L. SMITH, BS '72 (management), a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, was named general manager of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
Kent Weiss
Class of 1981
KENT WEISS, BS '81 (management, history), housing director for Corvallis, retired after 27 years in the community development department, where he specialized in affordable housing.
James Melamed
Class of 1982
Jim Melamed, JD '82, received the Academy of Professional Family Mediators' first Outstanding Family Mediator award. He is the cofounder and CEO of Mediate.com.
George Filz
Class of 1979
GEORGE FILZ, BS '79 (mathematics), former professor, director of the Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research, and assistant department head, has been conferred the title of the Charles E. Via, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Janet McComb
Class of 1979
JANET McCOMB, BS '79 (psychology, community service and public affairs), published her first true crime book, Cherry City Confidential, chronicling the 12 most notorious murder cases in Salem, Oregon.
Stacey Kiser
Class of 1993
STACEY KISER, MS '93 (biology), an instructor at Lane Community College, was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for distinguished contributions to leadership in community college education through national and local initiatives.
Stephen Cohen
Class of 1982
Stephen Cohen (3 Hand Stephen) is happy to announce that his new hardcover book, BAGGY RED PANTS AND OTHER STORIES, Short Stories, Poems, Lyrics and Visual Art, has been published by Wake Robin Press- www.wakerobinpress.com
Jennifer Spencer-Iiams
Class of 1988
JENNIFER SPENCER-IIAMS, BS '88 (elementary education), MEd '99 (special education exceptional learners), PhD '13, published Leading for All: How to Create Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools, a practical guide for providing a clear pathway for educators to develop a more inclusive school community from start to finish.
Brett Warnock
Class of 1989
BRETT WARNOCK, BA '89 (fine and applied arts), released the third issue of Kitchen Table Magazine, a print and digital publication connecting adventurous souls, curious cooks, and enthusiastic eaters with world-class creators who explore the culinary arts through personal stories, art, and photography.
Thomas Mann
Class of 1990
TOM MANN, BA '90 (Russian, journalism: news editorial), published his second book, Life After Foster Care: A Survivor's Guide.