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
Jesse Barton
Class of 1980
Jesse Barton, BA '80 (community service and public affairs), authored the sixth "silver anniversary" edition of Felony Sentencing in Oregon: Guidelines, Statutes, Cases, a publication of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
John Heldt
Class of 1985
John A. Heldt (UO Class 1985) published Duties and Dreams, his twenty-third novel, in November 2023.
Catherine Ryan Gregory
Class of 2006
Catherine Ryan Gregory, BA '06 (journalism and Spanish) and MA '12 (literary nonfiction), recently published her first book, Virtual Travel Activities for Kids: Explore the world from home with 52 fun, no-prep lessons. The book provides themed adventures to learn about different countries through play, math, language, movement, creative writing, science, engineering, art and more. The book debuted on several top 10 lists on Amazon, including Children's Travel Books and Family Activities. She wrote the book to help families—her own and others'—continue to travel in whatever way possible in spite of the coronavirus-related lockdown.
Bronwyn Baz
Class of 1996
Bronwyn Baz, BMus '96 (music performance), BS '00 (biology), was named one of Portland's Top Doctors of 2019 and of 2020. She has been the lead physician for the Northwest Permanente pediatric hospital medicine group at Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health and Science University for 7 years, and marks 12 years of medical practice in August 2020. She and husband Matthew Waddell (B.S. Econ ’96) have two children.
Daniel Vazquez
Class of 2007
Daniel Vázquez, BA '07 (political science), joined the board of directors for Radio Tierra, a Spanish-English community radio station in Hood River.
Barbara Date
Class of 1987
Recent publication: Daté, B. and Monkman L. (2019) Justice-With-Healing: An adapted indigenous model of justice and healing of relationships. In Peace Research: The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, Volume 41, Number 2: 65-104
Also Barbara has been teaching many of her workshops via Zoom through the Center for Dialogue & Resolution (See lanecdr.org)
Also Barbara has been teaching many of her workshops via Zoom through the Center for Dialogue & Resolution (See lanecdr.org)
Barbara Date
Class of 1987
Recent publication: Daté, B. and Monkman L. (2019) Justice-With-Healing: An adapted indigenous model of justice and healing of relationships. In Peace Research: The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, Volume 41, Number 2: 65-104
Also Barbara has been teaching many of her workshops via Zoom through the Center for Dialogue & Resolution (See lanecdr.org)
Also Barbara has been teaching many of her workshops via Zoom through the Center for Dialogue & Resolution (See lanecdr.org)
Michael McCord
Class of 1996
Mike McCord, a career Senior Foreign Service Officer with the US Agency for International Development, recently completed his latest assignment in Washington, DC as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia. He arrived in Vientiane, Laos in June 2024 as the USAID Country Representative.
Dena Taylor
Class of 1988
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.
Amy McNeese-Mechan
Class of 1981
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.
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 Frydman
Class of 1980
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.
Frank Hale
Class of 1970
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 Tevlin
Class of 1981
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
Class of 1969
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
Class of 1964
SIMEON CROWTHER, BS '64 (history), died November 14. A lifelong Ducks fan, he taught economics at California State University, Long Beach.
Marlis-Gay Larkins
Class of 1961
MARLIS-GAY LARKINS, BA '61 (English), died March 9, 2019. She worked for United Airlines in several capacities, primarily in California and Chicago.
Bette Ulrich
Class of 1946
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 Cohen
Class of 1988
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
Class of 1968
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
Class of 1964
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.
