Class Notes

1983 | Toni L.P. Kelner

Award/Achievement
Malden, MA

Toni L.P. Kelner ’83 (BA, English) has published a new book: The Skeleton Rides a Horse and Other Stories. The book is a collection of short stories written over the thirty years of Kelner’s mystery writing career and includes stories about carnies, estranged sisters, pirates, ambulatory skeletons, serial killers, and what people really hide in self-storage facilities. It’s her thirty-fourth book. Kelner is also releasing new editions the first three books of her Family Skeleton series, written under her pen name Leigh Perry.

1984 | Tracy Smith

Award/Achievement
Concord, NC

Tracy Smith ’84 (Criminal Justice), has released a new book, Pennies From Vietnam: A Sister at Home, A Brother at War that covers something that a vast number of American families encounter but rarely discuss – intergenerational trauma in the face of war and conflict.  Through the her brother Larry’s service in the Vietnam War, Tracy has written a compelling account of resilience, where lingering love, truth, and trauma pay tribute to American families exposed to the brutalities of war.

1986 | Steve Wangerin

Promotion/New Job
Jacksonville, NC

Steve W. Wangerin ’86 (Business Administration) was elected chair of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Community Foundation. He has been a member of the board since 2015. He is also the executive vice president and chief credit officer for Coastal Bank & Trust.

1987 | Donna Latham

Promotion/New Job
Hiddenite, NC

Donna Latham ’87 (Biology) was promoted to executive director of the Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center. She previously served as assistant director for the center, which provides arts and cultural heritage programming for the community of Alexander County.

1989 | Nancy Townsend Barr Dunst

Award/Achievement
Cornelius, NC

Nancy Townsend Barr Dunst ’89 (Early Childhood Education) published her first children’s book, Grandee and Her Silly Birds, which teaches readers to be silly and have fun along with the identity of seven birds. She retired from 20 years as the program coordinator at Mitchell Community College.

1989 | Shawn Kelley

Award/Achievement
Charlotte, NC

Shawn Kelley ’89 (BCA in Visual Arts) recently directed and produced a Vietnam War documentary that is now in distribution. Logline: A platoon of American soldiers stumbles upon a large enemy force in the dense jungles of Vietnam. Outnumbered 10-to-1, they face the darkest hours of their lives.

1990 | Stephen Jacobs

Promotion/New Job
Lumberton, NC

Stephen Jacobs ’90 (Criminal Justice) was named warden of the Lumberton Correctional Institution by the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. Previously, he served as warden at the Columbus Correctional Institution in Whiteville, NC.

1990 | Scott Owens

Award/Achievement
Hickory, NC

Scott Owens ’90 (MA, English) has published a new book, An Augury of Birds. The book is a unique collaboration with award-winning photographer Clayton “Joe” Young, and is a resonating masterpiece that will captivate both poetry and bird enthusiasts.  Owens, owner/operator of Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse Hickory with his wife, Julie, is a poetry professor at Lenoir Rhyne University. He has been an instructor for more than 35 years, has presented poetry workshops in schools, libraries, and communities throughout the southeast and has published 17 books over the years.

1991 | Nancy Brightwell

Promotion/New Job
Charlotte, NC

Nancy Brightwell ’91 (Educational Leadership and Administration) was named the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools chief academic officer. She has been with CMS for 25 years, serving as principal of five schools and holding several posts in central offices.

1991 | Michael Guerin

Award/Achievement
Mount Airy, MD

Michel Guerin ’91 (Political Science) was elected to a four-year term as District 4 Commissioner, Carroll County Maryland, in November 2022.  He is a former U.S. Army and Coast Guard Officer, and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland in 1999.

1992 | Benjamin R. Kuhn

Award/Achievement
Raleigh, NC

Benjamin R. Kuhn ’92 (Political Science) has been selected to the North Carolina Super Lawyers edition for the sixth consecutive year, and this year he was named to its 2023 Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina list.  He was recognized as “Legal Elite” in the 2023 Business North Carolina magazine’s list of top rated lawyers, named to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly magazine’s “Power List” for excellence in Real Estate law and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Edition for his law practices in Real Estate, Real Estate Litigation and Land Use & Zoning.

1992 | Chrys Egan

Award/Achievement
Salisbury, MD

Dr. Chrys Egan ’92 (English) Dr. Chrys Egan earned the International Leadership Association (ILA) Women and Leadership Outstanding Practice with Local Impact Award for her years of mentoring work with the Youth Innovation Academy, Peer to Peer Women’s Circle, Mosaic Mentoring, and Office of Undergraduate Research and Creativity Activity. She will receive the award at the annual Women and Leadership Conference in June 2022, in Portsmouth, England. Egan is the Associate Dean of the Fulton School of Liberal Arts and a Professor of Communication at Salisbury University in Maryland.

1992 | Jackie Palmer

Promotion/New Job
Hickory, NC

Jackie Palmer ’92 (Business Administration and Management) has joined First Citizens Bank as a business banker. She most recently worked at Wells Fargo Bank as a senior business relationship manager/market president for the Catawba, Caldwell, Burke and McDowell markets.

1994 | George Austin, Jr.

Promotion/New Job
Burlington, NC

George Austin, Jr. ’94 (Criminal Justice) was appointed the new police chief of Burlington, NC. Previously, he served as the police chief in Milton, GA, since 2017. While in that role, he established several innovative initiatives including revamping the department’s use of force policy.

1994 | Donald Green

Award/Achievement
Charlotte, NC

Donald Green ’94 (Architecture & Geography), was recognized at the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Carolinas Green Gala Leadership and Community Awards with the 2023 Community Impact Award for his work in sustainable design and advocacy. This award recognizes Donald as a leader and expert in sustainable architecture who is committed to combatting climate change through the built environment.

1994 | Max Lu

Promotion/New Job
Alexandria, VA

Max Lu ’94 (Geography) has joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as an information systems security manager team lead in the Information Technology and Security Directorate located at IDA’s Alexandria, VA Headquarters. IDA is a nonprofit corporation that operates three federally funded research and development centers in the public interest. IDA answers the most challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical and analytic expertise.

1994, 1996, 2005 | Scott Hunsinger

Promotion/New Job
Boone, NC

Scott Hunsinger ’94, ’96 MBA, ’05 PhD (Computer Information Systems) has been named managing director of Appalachian State University’s Center for Analytics Research and Education. Prior to this role, he was a professor in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Computer Information System.

1995 | Jeanne Atwell

Promotion/New Job
Lafayette, CO

Jeanne Atwell ’95 (Mathematics) was named vice president and chief engineer of Ball Aerospace. In a span of 20 years at Ball Aerospace, she has served in widely diverse roles. Most recently, she was senior director of Advanced Mission Solutions for the National Defense business unit.

1996 | David Jenks

Promotion/New Job
Macon, GA

David Jenks ’96 MS (Criminal Justice) was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Middle Georgia State University. He will be bringing more than 20 years of teaching and higher education administrative experience to the role. He was the former vice provost at the University of West Georgia.

1996 | Ming Chow

Promotion/New Job
San Francisco, CA

Ming Chow ’96 (Biology) has been promoted to president of MNB Holdings Corporation and president and director of Mission National Bank. He has over 20 years of experience having held a number of executive and senior positions with community banks in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

1996 | Bart Warner

Award/Achievement
Bedford, VA

Barrett (Bart) Warner ’96 (MPA), has been elected to the Executive Board of the Virginia Local Government Management Association. Bart currently is the Town Manager of Bedford, VA, a position held since August 2017.

1997 | Christine Arvidson

Award/Achievement
Charlotte, NC

Christine Arvidson ’97 (MA, Liberal Studies) has published a poetry chapbook “The House Inside My Head” and and is available at Park Road Books, from the publisher (finishinglinepress.com) and Amazon.com. Chris and teaches in the English Department at UNC Charlotte.

1998 | Natasha Stracener

Award/Achievement
Cornelius, NC

Natasha Stracener ’98 (Communication Studies), instructional media production manager for UNC Charlotte’s Center for Teaching and Learning, is the 2023 recipient of the Erskine B. Bowles Staff Service Award, given by the UNC Staff Assembly. She is the first UNC Charlotte employee to receive this prestigious recognition. Stracener was honored at the Staff Assembly meeting held at Winston-Salem State University.

2000 | Jonathan Graham

Promotion/New Job
Monrovia, Liberia

Jonathan Graham ’00 (Finance and Management) is now managing director of APM Terminals Liberia. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the terminal facility in Monrovia and implementing APM Terminals’ strategic vision in the Liberian market.

2000 | Benjamin Gilmer

Award/Achievement
Asheville, NC

Benjamin Gilmer ’00 (MS, Biology) has published a book entitled “The Other Dr. Gilmer:  Two Men, A Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice”.  The book will be released March 1, and is available via Penguin Random House. Benjamin is a family medicine physician in Fletcher, North Carolina. A former neurobiologist turned rural family practitioner, he has lectured across the country about medical ethics, bias in medicine, and criminal justice reform.

2002 | EURIKCA FELIPE EUSTACHE

Promotion/New Job
Winston-Salem, NC

Eurikca Felipe Eustache ’02 (Communication Studies) has been named Director of Development for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County. In her new role, Felipe Eustache will be responsible for fundraising and development activities to build and advance Arts Council’s visibility, relevance, impact, and financial resources. Felipe Eustache is an active member of her community, volunteering with her church, sorority, and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a national organization focused on community enrichment and philanthropy.

2003 | Scott Cryer

Promotion/New Job
Alexandria, VA

Scott Cryer ’03 (Architecture) has been named the associate vice president and principal of the interdisciplinary design firm HGA in the Washington, D.C., office. He previously had leadership roles with Westlake Reed Leskosky in Washington, D.C., and Nagle Hartray in Chicago.

2004 | Jamy Houck

Promotion/New Job
Charlotte, NC

Jamy Houck ’04 (Business Administration) is now the director of operations at ToneyKorf Partners, LLC, a national consulting firm. Prior to this role, she served as the chief of staff to the chief executive officer. She is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor.

2004 | Julia Vaughan

Award/Achievement
Asheville, NC

Julia Vaughan ’04 (MA, Teacher Education) has been selected for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Short Term Program (Fulbright DAST). Vaughan is one of 20 U.S. citizens who will travel to 10 countries around the world in 2022 on the Fulbright DAST Program. The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Short-Term Program sends expert U.S. K–12 educators to participating countries to support projects in schools, teacher training colleges, government ministries, or educational nongovernmental organizations, as identified by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world.

2005 | Laura Colson

Promotion/New Job
Huntersville, NC

Laura Colson ’05 (Curriculum and Supervision) has been named vice president of academic affairs at Bennett College. Prior to this role, she served as the associate vice president for academic affairs at Johnson C. Smith University.

2006 | amber ayers

Award/Achievement
Lexington, NC

Amber Ayers ’06 (Psychology) has been appointed to the Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the premier national organization for professionals in the business of healthcare. As the governing body for AAPC’s extensive network of local chapters, the CAB plays a critical role in supporting the professional development of its members.

2007 | ANDREW JENSEN

Promotion/New Job
Castleton, NY

Andrew Jensen, ’07 (Civil Engineering Technology)  has been named the Director of Technology at Questar III BOCES. Jensen most recently was the Assistant Director of Technology. Jensen has successfully led a team of professionals, focusing on staff development, department organization, and implementation of innovative solutions to enhance technology services across schools and component districts.

2007 | Josh Wittensoldner

Promotion/New Job
Forest, VA

Josh Wittensoldner ’07 MBA (Management) is now a controller at NanoTouch Materials, a provider of green, self-cleaning surfaces. He will be responsible for the firm’s accounting, banking, audit, inventory control, financial analysis and taxes.

2009 | Lydia Fergison

Achievement or Award
Charlotte, NC

Lydia Fergison ’09 MEd (Teaching English as a Second Language) is the first recipient of the Theresa Perez Memorial Scholarship. She is principal of North K-8 Language Academy and is a doctoral student in the Cato College of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction program.

2009 | Traci Ray McCombs

Award/Achievement
Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Traci Ray McCombs ’09 (Art History) recently authored the Amazon bestseller, “My Miscarriage: And Other Uninvited Events.” In addition to her role as an author, she works as a management and program analyst at the National Institutes of Health.

2009 | Vanessa Castañeda

Award/Achievement
Hanover, NH

Vanessa Castañeda ’09 (Anthropology and Latin American Studies) was recently named a Guarini Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellow in Afro-Latinx and/or Afro-Latin American Studies at Dartmouth College. After UNC Charlotte, she earned a PhD in Latin American Studies from Tulane University.

2011 | Mac McLaurin

Promotion/New Job
Pinehurst, NC

Mac McLaurin ’11 (Exercise Science and Kinesiology) has opened a private physical therapy practice, Restore Physiotherapy, in Pinehurst, NC. He earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Franklin Pierce University in 2015.

2011 | Matt Cullen

Promotion/New Job
Charlotte, NC

Matt Cullen ’11 MBA (Marketing) was named vice president of marketing for NearU Services, a founder-led premier home services platform in the Southeast. Prior to joining NearU, he spent nearly 15 years in the sports, hospitality, and events industry.

2012 | Jennifer Layton

Promotion/New Job
Asheboro, NC

Jennifer Layton ’12 MPH (Public Health) was named assistant public health director for Randolph County. Prior to this role, she served for 10 years with the Stanly County Health Department where she oversaw Stanly’s efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic.

2012 | Caleb Holloway

Promotion / New Job
Charlotte, NC

Caleb Holloway ’12 (Economics), has has joined Robinson Bradshaw, expanding its employment and labor practice.

Holloway counsels companies on a wide range of day-to-day employment, human resources and compliance issues, drawing upon years of experience as associate general counsel for Advocate Health. He advises clients on internal and government investigations, and assists in implementing effective strategies to minimize litigation risk and optimize overall business and employee productivity. Holloway also advises on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility matters, helping clients to calibrate and implement strategies to achieve their DEI/IDEA goals, from compliance to corporate social responsibility.

Holloway, who also earned his law degree from Wake Forest, most recently served as Advocate Health’s vice president for teammate relations and executive services.

2012 | Garrett Bedenbaugh

Award/Achievement
Jacksonville, FL

Garrett Bedenbaugh ’12 (Meteorology) Local television meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh has released his first illustrated children’s e-book. Inspired after reading short stories to his young niece, Garrett brings “Billy the Bear” to life to inspire children ages 3-6 to learn about the changing seasons and weather they may see in their local neighborhood. In this first short story, Billy is just waking up from his long winter’s nap. Spring greets him as he exits his den. The changing seasons bring changing weather and even darkening skies. Join Billy in Billy Wakes Up as he heads out on his first trip of the new season in this early learning e-book.  The e-book is available for download on Amazon Kindle and Apple Books.

2013, 2015 | Michael Vranich

Promotion/New Job
Baltimore, MD

Michael Vranich ’13 (Mechanical Engineering) and ’15 (Engineering Management) has joined Constantine Engineering Associates LLC as a mechanical engineering associate. Prior to this position, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Henry Adams, LLC.

2014 | Bee Law

Award/Achievement
Concord, NC

Bee Law ’14 (Biology) founder and CEO of QuirkChat, was named to Forbes magazine’s inaugural Next 1,000 List spotlighting rising entrepreneurs who are forging their own paths. She was also named one of 15 women who are disrupting the technology industry by Essence Magazine.

2016 | Jordan Irvan

Promotion/New Job
Ocala, FL

Jordan Irvan ’16 (Finance & Accounting) has been promoted to Tax Senior Manager, effective January 1, 2023, for James Moore.   James Moore, founded in 1964, is a regional firm with offices in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Gainesville, Ocala and Tallahassee, Florida. The firm specializes in providing tax, auditing, accounting and controllership, technology solutions, wealth management services, HR solutions and business consulting services.

2016 | Nakeshia Williams

Promotion/New Job
Hollins, VA

Nakeshia Williams ’16, PhD (Urban Education) has been appointed vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at Hollins University. Prior to this role, she was an associate professor of educator preparation in the College of Education at North Carolina A&T State University.

2016, 2019, 2020 | Ryan Haines and Sarah Tozer

Marriage/Union
Charlotte, NC

Ryan Haines ‘16 (Computer Science), ‘20 (Information Technology) and Sarah Tozer ‘19 (Child and Family Development) were married on February 12, 2021.  Their love story started on campus after she was introduced to him through her sorority sisters. Ryan proposed to Sarah in November 2019, five years after they started dating.

2019 | Josue Tellez

Educational Update
Charlotte, NC

Josue Ugalde Tellez ’19 (Biology) has been accepted to the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. He hopes to provide essential dental care to underserved individuals in his community.

2020 | Timberly Southerland

Promotion/New Job
Raleigh, NC

Timberly Southerland ’20 (Communication Studies & Spanish) recently joined Fox Rothschild in Raleigh, NC as an Associate in the Real Estate Department.  Timberly advises clients on a full range of real estate transactions, including sales, purchases and leases. She also guides owners and developers through the municipal land use and zoning process, helping them secure the approvals needed to complete their building projects.

2021 | Hyunjae Jeon

Promotion or New Job
Owings Mills, MD

Hyunjae Jeon ’21 (PhD, Biology) has joined McDaniel College as assistant professor of kinesiology.  A certified athletic trainer, he holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where his dissertation was titled “Diagnostic Ultrasound Assessment of Femoral Cartilage Health in Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain.” He also received a master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and both a bachelor’s degree in physical education and master’s degree in sports biomechanics and rehabilitation from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

2021 | Mackenzie Whittaker

Award/Achievement
Charlotte, NC

Mackenzie Whittaker ’21 (Exercise Science) was named a national scholar by the American Kinesiology Association for her record of academics and leadership. She was co-founder and president of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club and a research assistant in the Biodynamics Research Laboratory.