Class Notes

Dena Taylor (BA, TcF, 1988) published her memoir, "I Don't Wanna Be Pink—How a single, 39-year-old refused to let breast cancer and its fervent culture define her," in 2019. Her heartbreaking, candid and witty story takes readers from diagnosis, mastectomy and treatment to awkward encounters as a survivor navigating the worlds of dating and pink ribbon advocacy. Taylor is an award-winning professional copywriter (and occasionally-published humorist). This is her first book.

After graduating from U of O, I went to work for the Japanese Foreign Ministry at the Consulate in Chicago, and then the Japanese Ministry of Education in Osaka. I then worked for Osaka Gaigo College, and as Senior Programme Administrator designed curriculum utilising art and film as teaching tools, and lived in the Kansai region for about ten years.

I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1996 and completed a Masters of Science with Distinction in Social Anthropology; I completed my Ph.D. in 2003 with a focus on economic anthropology, consumption, identity and performance. I began working at Scottish Natural Heritage while writing up my dissertation, and continued working as a Licensing Officer for sites of special scientific interest until I was elected Vice-Convenor of PCS and Prospect trade unions, in which role I travelled around Scotland visiting all of the SNH field offices.

After SNH's headquarters relocation, I used my redundancy pay to set up a social enterprise working with women’s community groups in Africa and Central America. After the 2008 crash I began to take on temporary contracts, working at architectural and engineering firms, and the National Library of Scotland, until I ended up working for Edinburgh Council in the Child Protection Team. I was elected trade union shop steward, then trade union side Convenor for Children & Families, and finally Unison International Relations Officer.

In 2017 I ran for political office in the city council, and was elected to represent Leith Walk ward (District 12) in Edinburgh. I'm a member of the governing administration of the city, and hold the position of Vice Convenor (deputy chair) of Culture & Communities, as well as chairing the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership. My remit covers all aspects of culture in the city, from responsibility for our museums, galleries, theatres, music halls and historic monuments, to our world-famous festivals, our parks, libraries, and sporting events. The public safety aspect of my job includes oversight of community safety, justice, addiction, domestic violence, counter-terrorism and antisocial behaviour. I sit on the Council of Scottish Local Authorities Wellbeing board, with thematic oversight of issues such as homelessness, trafficking, participatory civic budgeting and encouraging greater diversity in elected office.

I also sit on the boards of the Edinburgh International Science Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Capital Theatres Trust.

Jan E. Frydman, BBA with Honors ’80, was knighted by H.M. King Philippe of Belgium in March, 2023 as Officer of the Order of Leopold, the oldest and highest order of the Kingdom of Belgium. Besides his law practice, Jan serves as the Consul of the Principality of Monaco to the Kingdom of Sweden, and as the Head of the Swedish delegation to the European Council of Bar Associations and Law Societies.

Retired from The Dow Chemical Company in June 2005 and moved to Montana. Now still working as a semi-retired independent corporate pilot flying 3 different jets for 5 clients. Having a ball still flying jets and Warbirds!

Michael F. Tevlin's (MA, Journalism, 1981) novel, "Sockeye," was published by Black Rose Writing in March 2020. Set in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon, the novel tells the story of a troubled man's homecoming to the fictional town of Sockeye, Oregon. It is Tevlin's first novel.

DALTON MURAYAMA, BArch '69, died September 10. Kiyo was a decorated Vietnam veteran and a head of architecture for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. He was also an architectural manager for the city of Fort Worth and a Ducks fan who inspired relatives to attend the UO.

SIMEON CROWTHER, BS '64 (history), died November 14. A lifelong Ducks fan, he taught economics at California State University, Long Beach.

MARLIS-GAY LARKINS, BA '61 (English), died March 9, 2019. She worked for United Airlines in several capacities, primarily in California and Chicago.

ELIZABETH LEE ULRICH, BS '46 (sociology), died August 4, 2016. Known as Bette Lee, she participated in campus activities, some of which supported the World War II effort, and valued providing opportunities for young people through tennis and golf.

EVA DENISE COHEN, BFA '88 (fine and applied arts), died December 31. The wife and mother was a Bay Area graphic designer and taught design and typography at Diablo Valley College. A yogi and triathlete, she was never above a silly hat, gag eyeglasses, or a stick-on mustache.

DUDLEY POSTON, PhD '68 (sociology), retired after more than 40 years as a sociology faculty member at three universities,most recently Texas A&M,and lives with his spouse, Patricia, in San Antonio, where he is writing a textbook on applied regression models.

BERDINE JERNIGAN, BA '64 (elementary education), has established a scholarship in the UO's College of Education for students from California and Oregon preparing to become teachers. Jernigan taught for 14 years before transitioning into a career in real estate.

The Oregon State Bar Business Law Section awarded RON GREENMAN, BS '68 (political science), JD '74, the 2019 James B. Castles Leadership Award, recognizing him for the highest level of integrity and dedication to the public.

Historical ecologist LOREN E. McCLENACHAN, MS '02 (environmental studies), received tenure and was promoted to associate professor at Colby College in Maine, focusing on marine fisheries conservation.

ARIEL L. KELLEY, BS '05 (business administration), opened the Healdsburg Free Store, providing thousands of free items such as diapers and clothing to those affected by the Kincade fire in Sonoma County, California.

FIONA GWOZDZ, BA '06 (Clark Honors College, planning, public policy and management), was hired as public relations director by social-impact branding agency Oliver Russell.

KEENAN YANIT-MITCHUM, BS '07 (human physiology), an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University, was named a Top Doctor in Portland by Portland Monthly. Her aunt, CATHY HOLBROOK, BA '76 (psychology), retired after 19 years as an Oregon state mental health examiner.

ANNA C. LYON, BA '08 (electronic media production), assistant vice president and marketing director with Franklin Savings Bank of Maine, announced plans to retire after nearly 23 years with the bank.

JULIETTE GRUMMON-BEALE, MArch '07, was promoted to associate at Portland-based FFA Architecture and Interiors, where she is working on plans for an agriculture complex at Chemeketa Community College and a facilities master plan for Tillamook Bay Community College.

The Software Report listed JOSEPH EDGAR, BS '07 (economics), fifth among its Top 25 Real Estate Software CEOs of 2019 for his work at TenantCloud, a free, cloud-based service for small landlords, property managers, tenants, and service professionals.