Class Notes

Award/Achievement
Emory, TX

Donta (Haynes) Mularkey, PhD ’69 (Engineering) has released her second thriller novel The Dead Return published by The Wild Rose Press, 2025. Dr. Mularkey is a retired Southern Methodist University engineering professor and the first woman to graduate from UNC Charlotte in Engineering in 1969.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Promotion / New Job
Riverside, CA

Robert Shields ’00 (Computer Science) has been named associate dean for the Marketing and Analytics Division within the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University (CBU) in Riverside, CA. Prior to this role, he served as assistant director of CBU’s Teaching and Learning Center. After UNC Charlotte, he earned a EdD in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fullerton.

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.

Promotion/New Job
Greensboro, NC

Natalie C. Folmar ’02 (Finance & Political Science) has been named managing partner of Tuggle Duggins, P.A., a Greensboro-based law firm. Natalie, who guides companies on matters relating to acquisition and divestiture as well as the day-to-day operations of their businesses, has been with Tuggle Duggins for nearly two decades and has served as a member of the firm’s management committee for seven years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Award/Achievement
Charlotte, NC

Christopher Thurley ’12 (MA, English) has recently published a book, Anthony Burgess and America, a biographical and critical analysis of Burgess’s commentary on and relationship with the United States of America. Dr. Christopher W. Thurley, Ph.D. is an English faculty member at Gaston College in Dallas, NC, and lives in Charlotte, NC, with his wife, Julia, an elementary school teacher, his daughter, Sasha, and his son, Leo. Dr. Thurley is originally from Rochester, NY.

Award/Achievement
Brooklyn, NY

Christina Milliner ’13 (English) received a MFA in Writing at Lindenwood University in 2016, and became a self published author with her first novel Meet Clay Brown in 2023. Christina is currently writing her second novel with the hopes of becoming traditionally published.

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.

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.

Award/Achievement
Charlotte, NC

J. T. Roy ’16 has recently published a children’s book titled Millie Bananas Can’t Sleep! Millie Bananas Can’t Sleep is a relatable bedtime story about a cute little monkey who just can’t fall asleep because one small but important step in her bedtime routine was missed… a goodnight kiss! With playful rhymes and repetition, this story reminds readers how the tiniest details can make a big difference.

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.

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.