Pam Bell (AS ’71, AS ’83) took part in the Winchester Little Theatre Stagedoor New Scripts Festival held Feb. 8 to 10, at Handley Library in Winchester, Virginia. She was chosen for the full-cast reading of “Something Glorious” by Barbara Barrett Billings. A moderated discussion was held after the performance with the playwright, director, actors and audience. Bell says this play is “edgy,” as it involves elder abuse in which her character is a participant.
On Jan. 20, 2019, Thomas Wilkins (C ’78) received the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Dreamer Award during the Virginia Symphony’s concert “Songs for a Dreamer – A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” (Pictured to the right.)
Lyle Oliver (HP ’81, AS ’87) is a retired secondary education teacher, and is involved in Community Emergency Response Team training in his community.
Nate Copeland (AS ’85) was promoted from chief operating officer to president of InTec in Fairfax, Virginia. Founded in 2004, InTec is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business delivering a portfolio of services on multiple contracts in multiple agencies (both as a prime and subcontractor). InTec professionals offer decades of technical and management expertise across positions in the federal government including civil, defense, and intelligence agencies. InTec’s customer and community knowledge, coupled with a proven track record, result in support and solutions that are both effective and cost efficient. (Pictured to the left.)
Director and Associate Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Golder O’Neill (C ’92), M.M.E., and Harrison Endowed Chair in Piano, Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Jazz Piano Bob Larson (C ’08), D.M.A., presented “Critical Listening: A Blended Pedagogical Approach for 21st Century Jazz Performers and Engineers Using Music Production Techniques and Traditional Analysis” at the Jazz Education Network’s national conference, in Reno, Nevada, on Jan. 12. (Golder O’Neill ’92 pictured to the right.)
Mark DeGarmo (HP ’93, HP ’04) is the primary physical therapist at Island Physical Therapy in Summerville, South Carolina.
Lisa Vaughn Springer (HP ’93, HP ’95, HP ’98) is a family nurse practitioner at Dominion Internal Medicine, a primary care practice in Warrenton, Virginia.
Music Production & Recording Technology Professor Dan Shores (C ’99), B.M., mixed and mastered “Songs of Orpheus,” featuring Karim Sulayman & Apollo’s Fire, which was the winner of Best Classical Solo Vocal Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10. He was also nominated in the Best Immersive Audio Album category. (Pictured to the left.)
On Jan. 26, 2019, Alfred Duncan (AS ’98) and his wife, Sherrell, performed in their play, “Views From Forever” at THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus in Washington, D.C. The stage play starred Alfred and Sherrell portraying older, amplified versions of themselves taking a relatable and comedic look at love, trust and intimacy in relationships.
In February, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema partnered with the Winchester Area NAACP to commemorate Black History Month with a series of films. On Feb. 20, Director of the McCormick Civil War Institute and Adjunct Assistant Professor of History Jonathan Noyalas (AS ’01), B.M., introduced and spoke before the screening of 1989’s “Glory,” about a little-known act of mass courage during the Civil War by the all-black members of the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. (Pictured to the right.)
Alan Lombardo (HP ’02) was named the CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute in Goochland County, Virginia. Sheltering Arms Institute combines the strengths of VCU Health and Sheltering Arms Hospital to provide care for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various neurological diseases and disorders. The 114-bed hospital is expected to open in mid-2020. (Pictured to the left.)
Travis Stoner (AS ’02, HP ’05) and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their son Alexander Clayton Stoner into the world on Oct. 1, 2018, at 8:18 a.m. Baby Alexander weighed six pounds, and was 18 inches long. (Pictured to the right.)
Sara Knox (HP ’03, HP ’04) was promoted to associate chair at MGH-Institute of Health Professions in Boston, Massachusetts. MGH Institute of Health Professions is a graduate university of health sciences founded by Massachusetts General Hospital. Knox has been a faculty member since 2013 and is a 2018 graduate of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Education Leadership Institute Fellowship.
On Feb. 2, Alumni Board of Directors member Patrick McCoy (C ’05) moderated an engaging panel discussion on Music and The Great Migration at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Maryland.
Kimberly Nice (B ’05) is senior manager at Myers, Patsy & Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nice has an extensive background in K-12 education, higher education, human service organizations, boroughs, townships, municipalities, counties, foundations, and charitable organizations, as well as corporate and individual taxation. Her primary responsibilities at Myers, Patsy & Associates, LLC include audit and assurance services, as well as quality control. (Pictured to the left.)
On Feb. 15, 2019, the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Ensemble performed a concert in Armstrong Concert Hall celebrating the music of Mardi Gras with New Orleans trumpet star and Shenandoah alumnus Ashlin Parker (C ’05).
After 30 years, Ann Arella (C ’06) retired from teaching choral music at Lodi High School in Lodi, New Jersey. Arella recently opened her own piano and voice studio, Essence Music Studio, and is the director of the Bergen Community College Chorus in Paramus, New Jersey.
Rene D. Caputo (AS ’07) is the ESL Specialist for the Thompson Writing Program at Duke University. She supports multilingual undergraduates and advises Duke faculty and Writing Studio consultants on best practices with that population. She recently celebrated her 11th anniversary in this position and her 10th anniversary of teaching Duke Graduate School courses to international students. (Pictured to the right.)
Tara Newinsky Gesling (C ’07) and Chris Gesling (B ’07) welcomed their daughter Gracie Ryan Gesling into the world on Jan. 11, 2019, at 10:17 p.m. Baby Gracie weighed six pounds, 4.5 ounces, and was 20 inches long. (Pictured to the left.)
Gillian Ramsey (C ’07) and her husband, John, welcomed their daughter Millicent Leisel Sheahan into the world on Feb. 4, 2019.
David Abesamra (C ’08) and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their daughter Florence Louise Abesamra into the world on Jan. 4, 2019. (Pictured to the right.)
Michael Misko (C ’08) and Sarah Sesler Misko (C ’10) welcomed their daughter Rosalind Rachel Misko into the world on Jan. 15, 2019, at 9:40 p.m. Baby Rosalind weighed seven pounds, four ounces, and was 19.25 inches long. (Pictured to the left.)
Peter J. Kronemeyer (B ’09) is associate director of student conduct and Title IX coordinator at Shenandoah University.
On July 21, 2018, Kevin Cornell (AS ’10) and Alexis Stein were married; fellow Shenandoah alumni Brandon Bryan (AS ’12), Chris Christensen (B ’11), Kevin Kline (B ’11) and Kelcy Brown Kline (AS ’15) were in attendance.
Colin Macy-O’Toole (C ’10) will appear in Bravo’s hit series, “Below Deck Mediterranean” when it returns for its fourth season later this year. Macy-O’Toole is part of the hard-working yacht crew which makes sure everything runs smoothly on deck.
In January 2019, Elizabeth Crockett-Chidester (HP ’11) and Shea Dempsey (HP ’12) were awarded a specialty credential, a Certificate of Added Qualification in Emergency Medicine, from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Barbara Fox DeMaio (C ’13) started the Opera company Painted Sky Opera in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with one of her colleagues at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). The company has an extensive outreach program to schools, retirement communities and soon, prisons. With her position at UCO, DeMaio created a master’s degree in voice pedagogy. She has also presented her research and workshops on the menopausal and aging voice at several national and international conferences, and returned to musical theatre by performing the role of Grandma Helene in “Freaky Friday” at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Mrs Paroo in “Music Man” with CityRep, a local Equity theater. (Pictured to the right.)
Jessica Richardson (B ’13) is a team leader at the Mount Jackson branch of BB&T in Virginia.
T. Scott Ross (C ’03) helped create the new musical “Syd Norman’s Pour House” for Norwegian Cruise Line, and is now associate director for the show.
Pam Smulovitz Burke (EL ’14) and her husband, Trey, welcomed their son Jameson Alexander Burke into the world on Oct. 18, 2018. Baby Jameson weighed seven pounds, 15 ounces, and was 21 inches long. (Pictured to the left.)
Ashley Cross (B ’14, B ’16) is the division director of accounting operations at Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
On April 21, 2018, Nate Huntley (C ’14) and Jackie Nguyen were married in Columbus, Ohio. Shenandoah alumni who attended the wedding included Catharine Kuntz Murray (C ’13), Chelsey Smith Sheppard (C ’13), Zachary Durand (C’14) and Jeremy Ward (C ’14). In July 2018, Huntley performed in “The Full Monty” with Pittsburgh CLO at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Pictured to the right.)
Erin Clemens Pauling (P ’14) and her husband, Brandon, welcomed their daughter Eliza Jane Pauling into the world on Sept. 7, 2018.
Marilla Burnham Riggs (C ’14) is the dance instructor for the Tiger Band at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. In January, six Shenandoah students traveled with Sport Management Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Fritz Polite, Ph.D. to take part in the College Football Playoff in California. While serving as hosts for the Clemson marching band and spirit squad, Kit Gould ’18, ’19 and Jared Lowry ’20 had the opportunity to meet and catch up with Riggs. What a small world! (Pictured to the left.)
On June 23, 2018, Gabrielle Devaud (HP ’15) and Michael Pierandri were married in Bristol, Rhode Island. Devaud’s sister, Jacqueline Stiles (HP ’14) was in attendance as her maid of honor.
In February, Director of Musical Theatre and Associate Professor of Voice Matt Edwards (C ’15), D.M.A., was a special guest at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Music’s Vocal Arts and Science Symposium.
On Nov. 3, 2018, Paige Fox (HP ’15) and Tony Grab were married in Ellicott City, Maryland. Shenandoah alumni who attended the wedding included Donnie McKinney (HP ’14), Clara Danzeisen (HP ’15), Liz Depasquale (HP ’15), Stephanie Hammond (HP ’15) and Alysia Jordan (HP ’15).
Jeff Landy (HP ’15) and his wife, Bonnie, welcomed their daughter Harriet Jane Landy into the world on August 23, 2018, at 12:57 p.m. on her great-grandfather’s 87th birthday. Baby Harriet weighed eight pounds, four ounces, and was 21 inches long. (Pictured to the right.)
Annie Wong (C ’16) was recently appointed academic lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney, Australia.
Since the summer of 2017, Natalie Ahearn (C ’17) has been a permanent member of the Washington, D.C. based funk-fusion band, “Of Tomorrow.” The band has traveled all over the east coast, performing at DC’s 930 club and at Firefly music festival alongside The Killers, Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washington, Arctic Monkeys and more. Ahearn has also accompanied a number of other DC and NYC based artists in a variety of musical settings from jazz and r&b to rock and roll, in both live shows and in the studio. On March 23, the band will return to the Bright Box in downtown Winchester to perform. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To get your tickets, http://www.brightboxwinchester.com/events/funk-vs-bluegrass/. (Pictured to the left.)
On Feb. 2, Taylor Bloom (C ’17) played the role of Paul Simon in the immersive concert-style theater show, “The Simon & Garfunkel Story” at The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Martina Bingham (C ’18) had her dissertation research “Defining the Therapeutic Singing Voice: An Analysis of Four Music Therapists’ Clinical Work” accepted for publication in the journal Music Therapy Perspectives.
Madison Shifflett (C ’18) is a Disney cast member at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
En Lin Qing (AS ’18, C ’18) was accepted into the MPS Fashion Photography graduate program at the New York School of Visual Arts (SVA). Qing served as the Dance Division photographer for several years and his award-winning photos of Shenandoah students have been featured in gallery showings in New York City, San Diego, Miami and London. His work was also selected for a showcase in Florence, Italy, in January 2018.
The Shenandoah University Office of Admissions has hired five recent Shenandoah alumni, including Admissions Counselors Domonique Gholson (AS ’18), Malik Henry (B ’18), and Joshua White (B ’18), Graduate Admissions Specialist Emmy Jo Maguire (AS ’17), Transfer Admissions Recruiter Alex Moore (C ’18) and Data and Processing Specialist Heather Shannon (B ’17).
While working closely with the National Football League for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, Sport Management Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Fritz Polite, Ph.D., seven sport management students, and alumnus Casey Edsall (B ’16, B ’18) had the chance to meet and network with local Shenandoah alumni Chris Delfin (AS ’05), Stephen LaBohne (AS ’07) and Alumni Board of Directors member Sherry Trocino (B ’96). (Pictured to the right.)
In Memoriam
June Hamilton Price (D ’41) of Bridgewater, Virginia, passed away on Jan. 14, 2019. Price graduated from Shenandoah College with a Secretarial Science Certificate. She then applied for and received a job with Chesapeake & Western Railroad in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Price remained there until she was married. She is survived by her daughter and son, Marla June Price and Harry Hamilton Price; nephew, Sherrill H. Propst; and great-niece, Mary Emily Miller Van Pelt.
William Hoyt Overton (AS ’63) of Chesapeake, Virginia, passed away on Jan. 24, 2019. Overton served in the United States Marine Reserves for seven years. After working as a Sales Representative for 25 years at Sherwin-Williams, he opened his own business, Tidewater Floors, which he co-owned for 20 years. Overton was an avid golfer and made many lifelong friends on the golf course. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Linda Weatherford Overton; sons, Ryan and Chris; son-in-law, Freddie Doyle; grandchildren, Taylor Doyle and Fisher Overton; brother, Ray Overton; and many extended family members.
Clarence C. Chewning III (N ’86) of Middletown, Virginia, passed away on Feb. 2, 2019. Chewning was a trust officer at F&M Bank for many years until he embarked on a new career in behavioral health nursing at the age of 43. After earning his Associate of Science degree in nursing from Shenandoah, he worked for Winchester Medical Center until his retirement. While at Shenandoah, Chewning received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award for character and leadership. He was a lifetime member of Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue, where he was treasurer for more than 25 years. Chewning also served as finance chair on the Middletown Town Council and was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winchester. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Susan Owings Chewning; sons, C. Conway Chewning IV and Patrick L. Chewning; grandsons, Keller and Quinn Chewning; sister, Patricia Young; and brothers, Thomas Chewning and Robert Chewning. Kevin
J. Roshak (P ’04) of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on Jan. 17, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife, Bethany Marcello Roshak and his sons, Thomas and Ben; sister, Joi Lynn Roshak; and his niece and nephew, Ella and Brady Bagwell.