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
Adam Stephen
Class of 2012
Adam Stephen, BArch '12 (architecture), has been promoted to architect and member of the leadership team at Steele Associates Architects, Bend.
Allen Stewart
Class of 2012
AJ STEWART, MS '12, PhD ’14 (mathematics), an instructor in mathematics at Seattle University, was named the 2021’22 American Mathematical Society Congressional Fellow and will spend a year working on a congressional staff or committee, assisting in legislative and policy areas that require scientific and technical input.
Halla Hoffer
Class of 2012
MArch ’12, was promoted to associate principal at Portland-based Peter Meijer Architect, and is leading work on historic seismic upgrades of the Fountain Place Apartments in Portland.
Kelly Kenoyer
Class of 2017
KELLY KENOYER, BA ’17 (international studies, journalism), joined the newsroom of WHQR Public Media, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Samantha Bennett
Class of 2013
SAMANTHA BENNETT, BArch ’13, was promoted to associate at Portland-based Hennebery Eddy Architects, where she is project architect for the rehabilitation of two facilities in Yellowstone National Park.
Joseph Vranas
Class of 2019
JOSEPH VRANAS, MMus ’19, (music composition, music performance), released a collection of experimental poetry, 63 Poems of the Pacific Northwest, capturing the “natural magic” of the region through the mind of a transplanted Texas musician.
Daniela Nasser
Class of 2019
DANIELA NASSER, BS ’19 (business administration), became assistant coach of women's tennis at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Sawyer Hagen
Class of 2020
SAWYER ALCçZAR-HAGEN, BFA ’20 (product design), was covered in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News for a feature about Vvolt, a Portland e-mobility and electric cycling company.
Nathan Harris
Class of 2014
The Sweetness of Water, written by NATHAN HARRIS, BA ’14 (English), has been selected for Oprah Winfrey's 2021 book club list, former president Barack Obama's summer 2021 reading list, and as a New York Times Book Review editors' choice.
Hannah Wellman
Class of 2016
HANNAH WELLMAN, MS ’16 (anthropology), received a postdoctoral position as a Knauss Fellow to examine national policy decisions affecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of government in Washington, DC.
Samantha Chiang
Class of 2018
SAMANTHA CHIANG, MBA ’18 (general business), a lieutenant commander with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, was featured by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, which provides media organizations access to US military service members and commanders.
Diego Atencio
Class of 2017
DIEGO ATENCIO, JD v17, joined San Francisco-based Clean Energy Counsel, a law firm for renewable-energy companies, and will focus on project development in the real estate sector, including site acquisition agreements, options, leases, and title and survey review.
Jasmine Minor
Class of 2015
JASMINE MINOR, BS ’15 (business administration), joined WISH-TV Channel 8 of Indianapolis, Indiana, as an investigative reporter.
Brittany Breitzmann
Class of 2016
BRITTANY BREITZMANN, BS ’16 (accounting), was hired as an associate at Kernutt Stokes, a CPA and advisory firm in Eugene.
Jacob Simonson
Class of 2015
JACOB SIMONSON, MArch ’15, was hired by ALSC Architects of Spokane, Washington, and is working on projects including the White Salmon Valley Aquatics Center and an aquatics facility for the city of Caldwell.
Natasha Kimmell-Harris
Class of 2018
TASH KIMMEL, BS ’18 (journalism), joined radio station KCAW, of Sitka, Alaska, as a community reporter.
Joy Ruppersburg
Class of 1975
JOY L. RUPPERSBURG, BS '75 (elementary education), MEd '84 (special education), a former teacher, principal, and superintendent in Oregon and California, moved her private practice as an education therapist from San Rafael, California, to her home in Petaluma, where she also enjoys organic gardening and maintaining a wildlife habitat she has dubbed, "Joy's Jungle Petaluma."
Joy Ruppersburg
Class of 1975
JOY L. RUPPERSBURG, BS ’75 (elementary education), MEd '84 (special education), a former teacher, principal, and superintendent in Oregon and California, moved her private practice as an education therapist from San Rafael, California, to her home in Petaluma, where she also enjoys organic gardening and maintaining a wildlife habitat she has dubbed, “Joy's Jungle Petaluma.”
Ruby Haughton
Class of 1977
RUBY HAUGHTON-PITTS, BS ’77 (speech: rhetoric and communication), wrote an opinion piece for the Oregonian in which she argued the state must examine workplace biases that sideline women of color.
Erin Watkinson
Class of 2000
Erin Watkinson, a proud Duck and At-Large UOAA Executive Committee member, recently took a new role as the VP of Strategic Solutions & Training for Avetta, a fast growing leader in Supply Chain Risk Management software based out of Orem, UT. After adjusting to working from home during the pandemic, this serves as Erin's first completely remote role. She is particularly proud to be one of the only women in an senior leadership position and plans to work alongside her peers and with the Leadership team to push for continued opportunities for women and POC.