Ann K. Werner Van Dyke (C ’68) performed with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Chorus at DAR Constitution Hall during the DAR’s 127th Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. Van Dyke is a member of the Theodosia Burr Chapter, which is based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. During the Continental Congress, she attended opening night and several afternoon business sessions.
After 32 years of directing Virginia Tech’s marching band, The Marching Virginians, David McKee (C ’76) has retired. During his three-decade career, McKee directed hundreds of performances across the country and also served as a conductor, teacher and mentor. In 2015, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors named the Sochinski-McKee Marching Virginians Center in recognition of his service. (Pictured to the left.)
Director of Graduate Music Therapy Studies and Associate Professor of Music Therapy Anthony Meadows, Ph.D., and Ray Leone (C ’86, C ’17) MT-BC, in association with the Inova nurse research team, won first place for their research poster, “The Impact of an Active Music Therapy Intervention on Vital Signs, Pain and Anxiety on Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” at the 14th annual Spring into Research Conference held by the Reston Hospital Center Research Committee and Eta Alpha Chapter Sigma Theta Tau at Marymount University on May 18.
Craig Morrow (AS ’86) has been promoted to senior vice president, commercial banking team leader for First National Bank in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
After 33 years, Carolyn Stahl Price (AS ’96) has retired from being an educator with Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, Virginia. Most recently, Price served as the principal of Millbrook High School in Winchester, Virginia, for 11 years.
Kamie Hagedorn MacRae (B ’01) has accepted a special education teaching position at Sherando High School in Frederick County, Virginia.
Rebekah Rigg Pennington (C ’09) has accepted a position as a special education teacher for Warren County Middle School in Front Royal, Virginia.
In May, Brittany Nicole Koons (AS ’09) graduated from the Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a doctorate of pharmacy degree.
Jessica Galli Robertson (AS ’09, HP ’11) is an physician assistant in neurosurgery at Premier Health in Dayton, Ohio.
Airelle Heyda Hedrick (AS ’10) and her husband, Daniel, welcomed their daughter Autumn into the world at 8:55 a.m. on Feb. 22. Baby Autumn weighed three pounds, ten ounces, and was 17.25 inches long. (Pictured to the right.)
Ashley “Spice” Suddarth (AS ’10) welcomed her daughter Javella into the world on April 19. Baby Javella weighed seven pounds, four ounces, and was 20.5 inches long. (Pictured to the left.)
Jesse Nichols (B ’11) is the director of team and talent for The St. James Sports and Active Entertainment Center in Springfield, Virginia. As the director of team and talent, Nichols has principal involvement in and oversight for the search, staffing and human capital development.
In August 2017, Patricia Saunders Nixon (C ’11) was promoted to associate professor of music at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, and this May received the status of tenured associate professor for the university. (Pictured to the right.)
Samantha Oakley (C ’11) and Nick Oakley (AS ’09) welcomed their daughter Pepper into the world on June 28. Baby Pepper weighed eight pounds, four ounces, and was 20.75 inches long.
Ashley Plaugher (AS ’11) has been named the new head softball coach at Millbrook High School in Winchester, Virginia.
Kaitlin Robinson Erdman (AS ’14, AS ’15) and Nick Erdman (AS ’13, HP ’15) welcomed their son Ashton into the world on May 12. Baby Ashton weighed seven pounds, nine ounces, and was 20.75 inches long. (Pictured to the left.)
Byron Mitchell (AS ’14) accepted a position at Shenandoah University as the football team’s defensive backs coach
Kevin McCloskey (C ’16) is a music therapist at Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia.
Akila Scott (B ’16) and Corey Bly were married June 9, 2018, in front of family and friends, including Shenandoah University alumni Samantha Donaghy (AS ’14) and Kyle Murph (AS ’16) at Historic Jordan Springs in Stephenson, Virginia. (Pictured to the right.)
Alec Sparks (C ’16) is the master carpenter for Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Michelle Adams (AS ’17) and Ryan Rawlings were married May 19, 2018, in front of family and friends in downtown Winchester, Virginia. (Pictured to the left.)
Molly Murphy Bernish (N ’17) has accepted a position at the University of Maryland Community Medical Group Women’s Health in Easton, Maryland. Bernish’s specialties include the full scope of midwifery care, including gynecological, contraceptive, prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care.
Michael Christie (C ’17) plays trumpet for Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra.
Andrew Omerzo (EL ’17) was named assistant principal at Potomack Intermediate School in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Erin Septer (AS ’17) has rejoined the Shenandoah University women’s soccer program as the athletic department’s first-ever graduate assistant.
In Memoriam
Dennis J. McGeehan (AS ’99, B ’99) of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 21, 2018. McGeehan had various different positions in the education field throughout his career, ranging from a professor to college dean to university administrator. He was the campus dean and chief campus academic administrator for the Strayer University Lower Bucks Campus, while also serving there as an adjunct professor as well. During the course of his career, McGeehan was also a professor at Luzerne County Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, LaSalle University and Temple University. He also held professional memberships in the Pennsylvania Council for International Education and the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education. McGeehan is survived by his wife, Diane T. McGeehan; children, Dennis B. McGeehan, Elizabeth D. Baird and Matthew D. McGeehan; his granddaughter, Cara McGeehan; and his siblings, Maureen Capano and Cathy Kraus.
Andrew J. Sammons (C ’03, C ’06) of Napa, California, passed away on June 22, 2018. After completing his Master of Music Therapy degree in 2006, he moved across the country to take a position at Napa State Hospital as a music therapist. He inspired colleagues and patients through the power of music, which was fueled by his passion for the guitar. Sammons is survived by his wife, Sara Epstein; his unborn son Emmett Sammons; his grandmother, Grace Plate; his parents; Cheryl Dumont and John Sammons; and his siblings, Zach Sammons and Luke Dumont.