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
Denali Porter
Class of 1951
DENALI PORTER, BS ’51 (speech), played music from George Frideric Handel and Denes Agay during a duo piano concert with Bev Owen at Reedwood Friends Church in Portland.
Kathleen Thorne
Class of 1992
KATHLEEN HEGARTY THORNE, MS ’92 (speech: theater arts), completed her eighth book, Boots on the Heather, chronicling events in County Mayo, western coastal Ireland, from 1920 to 1923.
Michael Pappalardo
Class of 1988
MIKE PAPPALARDO, BS ’88 (geological sciences), who has been involved with the permitting and development of large, utility-scale, renewable energy projects across North America since 2001, was named head of permitting and environmental studies for Enel Green Power NA, the North American branch of Enel, an Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas.
John Schmidt
Class of 1992
JOHN SCHMIDT, BLArch ’92, an expert in three-dimensional modeling and simulations, was named a principal and partner at the Eugene firm Satre Group, where he serves as technology principal and oversees project design and management.
Peter Moshinsky
Class of 1989
PETE MOSHINKSY, BS ’89 (speech: telecommunication and film), an experienced educator who has held roles including alternative education teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal, was selected human resources director for the St. Helens (Oregon) School District.
Kevin Pitts
Class of 1989
348190 KEVIN PITTS, MS ’89, PhD ’94 (physics), chief research officer at Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory and professor of physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was named dean of the Virginia Tech College of Science in Virginia.
Mayuko Nakamura
Class of 1993
MAYUKO NAKAMURA, BA ’93 (linguistics), assistant director for assessment and equitable pedagogy at Illinois State University, received the 2022 David A. Strand Diversity Achievement Award for being instrumental in curricular or program activities that assist in the commitment to diversity.
Donald Bailey
Class of 1985
DON BAILEY, MS ’85 (art education), a Native American artist, was featured by Portland TV station KOIN for River Sisters, artwork that is part of Portland Streetcar’s Art on Board campaign to feature artists on streetcars.
Mark Jorgensen
Class of 1986
MARK JORGENSEN, BS ’86 (journalism: advertising), became marketing manager in the Beaverton headquarters of CTL, which has manufactured Chromebooks, laptops, desktop PCs, and high-end servers since 1989.
Raymond Yancey
Class of 1990
RAY YANCEY, BArch ’90, an architect experienced in all phases of project development, was promoted to principal at LRS Architects of Portland, where he has made significant contributions to senior living projects.
J. Marmion
Class of 1991
BRYAN MARMION, MS ’91 (physical education), who has served in Christian school athletic administration and as a head football coach for more than 20 years, was named athletic director and head football coach for Trinity Christian Academy in Weatherford, Texas.
Lee Kirner
Class of 1994
LEE KIRNER, BS ’94 (marketing), an attorney experienced in working with commercial financing lenders on unpaid foreclosure mortgages and other concerns, became a partner at McGinnis Lochridge LLP and will work in the Dallas office.
Jenny Bennett
Class of 2001
JENNY BENNETT, BA ’01 (public relations), market president for the Eugene and Springfield markets of Summit Bank, received a 2022 Women of Influence Award from the Portland Business Journal.
Anthony Leiserowitz
Class of 1998
ANTHONY LEISEROWITZ, MS ’98 (independent study: environmental studies), PhD ’03 (environmental science, studies, and policy), a senior research scientist at Yale University’s School of the Environment, was featured in the college science publication Yale Scientific in his role as director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
Orray Taft
Class of 1998
ORRAY TAFT, BS ’98 (business administration), a principal with Meketa Investment Group, became a shareholder of the global investment consulting and fiduciary management firm.
Scott Robson
Class of 1999
SCOTT ROBSON, MCRP ’99 (community and regional planning), formerly town manager of Vail, Colorado, where he oversaw an $85 million budget and 300 employees, was appointed town manager of Telluride.
Kyle Teune
Class of 2008
KYLE TEUNE, BS ’08 (business administration), completed three years of leukemia treatment and was declared cancer-free.
Harlen Springer
Class of 1970
Harlen Springer, BA '70 (business administration), is chairman of Florence's Public Arts Committee, which received the 2018 Innovation in Business Award from the Chamber of Commerce. He also was one of two finalists for the 2018 Florence First Citizen Award, which is based on leadership and community impact.
Rob Johnson
Class of 1991
ROB JOHNSON, BS ’91 (finance), was promoted to senior vice president of engineered wood products, sales, and marketing at Boise Cascade Company, one of the largest producers of engineered wood products and plywood in North America.
Mark Rockwood
Class of 2011
MARK ROCKWOOD, MMus ’11 (music performance), PhD ’17 (music theory), director of the Douglas County Youth Orchestra, was featured in the Roseburg News-Review for a story recognizing the 25th anniversary of the organization.