51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Class Notes are printed in every issue of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine. Alumni can submit to Class Notes using the online form.
1970s
Henry Apfel, '70 BS Education, recently changed careers after 38 years in the corporate travel industry. He now works for HelmsBriscoe, the largest hotel and meeting venue-location company in the world. He has five children and four grandchildren. His youngest son serves in the U.S. Army and has been deployed to Afghanistan. He lives in Longwood, Fla.
Patrick Deeley, '71 BS Special Education, is retired after a career that included working as a keno writer, keno shift boss, and pit boss at the Sands Hotel & Casino and as a police officer in Chicago. He has served as a basketball referee for 43 years. He and his wife, Silke, have four children, Robert, Patricia, Joseph, and Alyssia, and four grandchildren, Anjelica, Hannah, Matthew, and Alayna. The couple lives in Leesburg, Ga.
Bruce Sames, '71 BA Sociology, recently retired as a vice president with JPMorgan Chase. He began his banking career with Bank of Las Vegas (Valley Bank of Nevada) in 1969 while still a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ student. After 11 years with Valley Bank, he relocated to Carmel, Calif. His hobbies include hiking, traveling, reading, and doing volunteer work. He now lives in Pacific Grove, Calif. His son is Keith Sames, '05 Film.
Herb Steege, '71 MBA, retired from Bank of America in January 2000. He had specialized in lending to the gaming industry. His volunteer activities include participation in the Clark County School District's Payback program, which encourages middle school students to stay in school and work toward attending college. He also coordinates the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace program at his church and provides financial guidance to church members.
Robert Lapp, '72 BS Hotel Administration, is a registered nurse in the operating room at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City. His hobby is building a 1965 Cobra replica. He is married and has two grown children, a daughter and a son.
Dale Wellman, '74 AS Radiology, '81 BS Allied Health Professions, '03 JD, is a radiographer at University Medical Center. He previously worked at Valley Hospital and Southwest Medical Associates. He also worked as a radiation protection technologist at the Nevada Test Site. His hobbies include target shooting, archery, self-defense practice, and reading.
Niki Nolles, '76 BA and '80 MA English, teaches full-time at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colo. A faculty member there since 1992, she is chair of English, Literature, and Reading. In the 1990s she studied at the Shakespeare Institute. Her hobbies include attending plays, hiking, and traveling overseas. Recent destinations have included Mexico and England. Reading her favorite authors -- including Mark Twain, Shakespeare, David Sedaris, and (thanks to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Distinguished Professor Darlene Unrue) Henry James -- is another pastime. She plans to retire to Las Vegas someday.
Randall Campanale, '77 BS Business Administration, is senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for Northern Trust.
Randy Dockter, '77 BS Physics, is a senior scientist and IT specialist with Intera Geosciences & Engineering. He also has worked as a scientist/programmer supporting weapons testing experiments at the Nevada Test Site; as an IT specialist working on Yucca Mountain; and as a scientist/programmer at Hanford. He is married with three children and two grandchildren. He lives in Richland, Wash.
Charles Doughty, '77 BS Mechanical Engineering, works with submarine control system embedded software and simulation software/hardware. He has started his own company, Rough Country Robotics, for robotic simulation software and mobile robots. His hobbies include computers, robots, and reading science fiction. He lives in Gales Ferry, Conn.
Michael Plyler, '77 BA American Studies, is the director of the Zion Canyon Field Institute for the Zion Natural History Association in Zion National Park. He also teaches photography courses for the institute. His third book with writer Logan Hebner, Southern Paiute: A Portrait, recently was published by Utah State University Press. He has conducted photographic workshops across the United States, in Europe, and in Guatemala. In January, a 30-year retrospective of his portraits of the Maya of Guatemala will open in 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's Marjorie Barrick Museum. He became a professional photographer following seven years working for the Clark County Fire Department. His hobbies include drinking wine, hiking, and woodworking ("not all at the same time"). He and his wife, Sandy Bell, live in Springdale, Utah.
Rick Dreschler, '78 MBA, was a bank manager in Nevada for 35 years. He last worked at Sunwest Bank as executive vice president. His hobbies include golf and traveling. He is married to Ann Nissen Dreschler, '78 BS Business Administration. They live in Henderson.
1980s
Dennis Luppens, '81 BS Education, has worked in public administration for California local governments since graduation. He lives in Santa Clarita.
David Patterson, '81 BS Hotel Administration, has worked as director of sales at the Palm Mountain Resort & Spa in downtown Palm Springs, Calif., for 10 years. His hobby is detailing his black 1993 BMW 325 convertible, which just passed the 200,000-mile mark. He and his wife, Madelene, have two dogs.
Christine Deschaine, '82 BS Business Administration, is a principal of Lee & Associates-LA North/Ventura, a full-service commercial real estate company. A retail specialist, she has more than 18 years experience in tenant and landlord representation and has worked extensively in the area of urban redevelopment. She ranked among the company's Top 10 performers and was recognized in the President's Circle of Excellence in 2008. Among her many awards was the 2010 Commercial Real Estate Award in the category of Landlord Representative-Restaurants by the Los Angeles Business Journal. This year she won her company's Jack Cadillac Award for her commitment to volunteerism. In 2009 she traveled on a small medical boat on Brazil's Amazon River, assisting a team that provided dental extractions to people living in remote villages. This year she traveled to Uganda for the second time as a volunteer. She worked with Bringing Hope to the Family, which is affiliated with Global Support Mission. She again worked with a dental team, this time assisting children who have been orphaned by violence or HIV/AIDS. She lives in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Joe Domina, '82 BS Hotel Administration, is a regional director of operations for Morrison Management Specialists. He lives in Westfield, Ind.
Christopher Gist, '82 BS Management Information Systems, is a senior IT customer support specialist with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He works with desktop hardware and does software support in the field. Other jobs have included being a COBOL programmer, doing database and systems design and development, working as an IT manager, and designing network infrastructure and serving as network administrator for a local company. A self-described "computer geek," he also enjoys riding his Harley. He has two children, Sam and Liz.
Dannette Trivisonno, '82 BS Business Administration, is vice president of investments for UBS Financial Services. Watching soccer is her hobby. Her son is a freshman at San Diego State University.
Gregory Goussak, '84 BS and '94 MS Hotel Administration, is an assistant professor in the MBA program at the University of Southern Nevada. He earned a doctoral degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in 2009. He and his wife, Cindy, have two children, Ariel and Alyssa. The family lives in Henderson.
Paul Weinstein, '85 BA Communication Studies, is a regional contracts administrator for AT&T. He negotiates site license agreements for AT&T Antenna Solutions Group. His hobby is traveling to five-star resorts in Las Vegas. He lives in Chicago.
Amy Wills, '85 BS Special Education, '92 MA History, a 25-year veteran of the Clark County School District, is a special education facilitator in the special education management systems department. She is the daughter of the late Paul Harris, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ professor emeritus of theatre. Her son, Geoffrey Gardner, is now studying computer engineering and computer science at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. Her daughter, Saundra Gardner, is a student at the school district's Virtual High School. She lists her hobbies as riding her Harley-Davidson, watching her children grow up, and being a huge alumni booster. The family lives in Henderson.
Kathleen Mills Crow, '86 BS Business Administration, works as an employment specialist. She recently became the first Kansan to receive Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) certification for people who provide employment services to people with disabilities. This nationally recognized certificate documents that the provider completed a minimum of 40 hours of training or professional development. She lives in Lenexa, Kan.
Ralph Gaddis, '86 AS Radiological Sciences, '91 BS Healthcare Administration, is a marketing professional in the health care IT industry. He was one of the first two students to receive a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration from 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. He said he and his fellow graduate "held a 20-year reunion on the telephone" earlier this year. His hobbies include hiking, skiing, and staying in touch with friends across the country. He lives in Centennial, Colo.
Carmen Henriquez Gigar, '87 BS Marketing, is chair of the Water Conservation Coalition for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. She also works as director of advertising and public relations for MetroPCS. The job has her finding ways to use new tactics that stretch her creative skills to generate brand awareness and sales. She is also a member of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is studying for her MBA at the University of Phoenix.
Larry Fry, '88 BS Hotel Administration, a real estate agent for Remax Los Cabos, says he helps people secure their "dream property" in paradise. He also maintains his Utah real estate license, having spent 30 years in the ski resort business. He and his girlfriend, who operates a pet hotel, have two golden retrievers. They live in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
Danna Botwick Nordin, '88 BA Secondary Education, '94 MBA, is a senior human resources professional. She married Cary Nordin in 2008 and has a daughter, Lucy Botwick, a student at the College of Southern Nevada.
Dierdre "Dee" Riley, '88 AA, '07 BS and '10 MS Nursing, is a nursing instructor at Nevada State College. She is married with six children and two dachshunds. Her hobbies include gardening and scuba diving.
Karen French Avalos, '89 BA Secondary Education, retired from her job as an English teacher with the Clark County School District.
Jeff Grace, '89 BS Finance, reports that his company, NetEffect, ranked in the top 10 in the In Business Best Places to Work list for the second year in a row, moving to fourth place from eighth. He is the company's president and CEO.
1990s
Stephen Tremblay, '90 BS Radiological Sciences, teaches and performs as a diagnostic medical sonographer in the clinical arena for Scottsdale Healthcare and at Carrington College. In 2010 he earned a master of education degree at Northern Arizona University. He lives in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Matt Engle, '91 BS Business Administration, graduated from the 10-month Leadership Las Vegas program of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in June. The program is devoted to strengthening and educating community leaders by providing in-depth insights into a variety of issues impacting residents. He was re-elected president of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Association for 2011. He leads a 25-member board of directors with the key missions of connecting alumni to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ for life and being leaders in the community.
Rand Higbee, '91 MFA, wrote a play, The Head That Wouldn't Die, which was published this year by Eldridge Publishing Co. The play spoofs old, bad science fiction movies. It debuted at the 2007 Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez, Alaska, and has been produced several times since, including once in the United Kingdom. He lives in Hager City, Wis.
Curtis Miller, '91 BA Hotel Administration, is director of sales and marketing at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. He lives in Ankeny, Iowa.
Dawn Larsen Garner, '92 BA Art, '00 BS Interior Architecture, is a senior interior designer. She is working on the Hard Rock Hotel Tulsa at Worth Group Denver for the Cherokee Nation. Past experience includes work with Parker Scaggiari, Marnell Corraro Associates, MGM Mirage Design Group, and Scott Avjian. Her design projects included guest rooms, suites, and casino areas for the Bellagio as well as king rooms, tower suites, and corridors for the Mirage. Her hobbies include tennis and traveling. She lives in Fort Collins, Colo.
Larry Lee, '92 BS Business Administration, '96 MBA, is deputy director of the Washington State 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan. The fastest-growing plan of its kind in the nation, it is helping 135,000 students save for college. Married with two children, he recently earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington. His hobbies include scuba diving. He lives in Olympia.
Suresh Vishnubhatla, '92 MS Electrical Engineering, is senior vice president and chief technology officer of Pharmerica Corp. He lives in Louisville, Ky.
Hank Hope, '93 BA Communication Studies, is a media manager for American Casino Entertainment Properties.
Shawn Danoski, '94 BS Architecture, and Bryce Clutts, '03 BS Business Administration, are the leaders of the full-service general contracting firm Danoski Clutts Building Group, which was founded in 2001. The firm announced the completion of Lick within the Shoppes at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. The store offers a full selection of candies and sweets.
Ehab Ibrahim, '94 BS Hospitality Administration, is restaurant manager at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club. He lives in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Rick Arpin, '95 BS Business Administration, is senior vice president and corporate controller for MGM Resorts International. His hobbies include golf, reading, and traveling.
Sean DeFrank, '95 BA Communication Studies, is an associate editor at Vegas Seven magazine. His hobbies include sports, music, and travel. He and his wife, Melissa, live in Henderson.
Jennifer Hammett Francis, '95 BA Communication Studies, is an account director working in advertising, marketing, and communications for SK+G Advertising.
Alison Evans Boring, '96 BS Hotel Administration, is employed by Project Kindle as the director of Camp Kindle. She lives in Moorpark, Calif.
Lori Ciccone Brazfield, '96 BA Communication Studies, works as director of system-sponsored programs and EPSCoR for the Nevada System of Higher Education. She works with faculty and students on grants focusing on increasing research within the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and college access programs. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and taking family vacations. She and her husband, Symaron, have two sons, Christopher and Andrew.
Simaan Hawa, '96 BS Hotel Administration, is director of national accounts-West Coast for Pelican Hill. He lives in San Clemente, Calif.
Zane Marshall, '96 BA Environmental Studies,' 06 MA Science, is director of the environmental resources department of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. He lives in Henderson.
Scott Mills, '96 BS Hotel Administration, started M Hospitality, a Beverly Hills-based, full-service hospitality consulting firm earlier this year. Previously, he spent four years as general manager with the Viceroy Hotel Group and 11 years as an executive with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. His hobbies include golf, wine, and travel. Married with one son, he lives in West Hollywood, Calif.
Robert Bonghi, '97 BS Business Administration, is director of post-harvest operations for Andrew-Williamson Fresh Produce. He lives in Beaumont, Calif.
Anthony Llanos, '97 BS Hotel Administration, is controller at the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square in San Francisco.
Jiebing Wang, '97 PhD Physics, is vice president of central engineering for Exar. He lives in San Jose, Calif.
Robyn Lemon Chapman, '98 Bachelor of Music, is teaching music in kindergarten through eighth grades in Corvallis, Ore., as well as assisting with the Oregon State University marching band. She taught elementary school-level music in Snohomish, Wash. (2002-05) and middle school band in Las Vegas (1998-2002). She and her husband, Christopher Chapman, '98 Master of Music, have one daughter, Cecilia Noel. The family lives in Albany.
Mark Knoblauch, '98 MS Kinesiology, is a postdoctoral fellow at Taylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. He received a Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Houston in August.
Daniel Loring, '98 BS Hotel Administration, is chief operating officer of Honeydrop Beverages. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Erik Okland, '98 BS Business Administration, is an escrow officer with Inter Valley Escrow in Burbank, Calif. He has extensive experience in residential and commercial escrow transactions is the Los Angeles area. He lives in Glendale.
Jessica Perez, '98 BA Political Science, is the 2011 president of the Board of Bar Commissioners, the governing board of the New Mexico State Bar, and is president of the Sandoval County Bar Association. She is employed as a field representative for U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., primarily handling health care issues. Previously, she worked as an assistant attorney general and as an analyst for the New Mexico State Senate. She was in practice for five years with her father and brother, both attorneys, and her mother, who served as their paralegal. A bar commissioner since 2003, she is past chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Bylaws and Policies, Annual Meeting Planning, Bench and Bar Relations, Finance, and Governmental Affairs committees. She and her husband, Al Park, have one daughter. The family lives in Bernalillo.
Jason Roth, '98 BA Communication Studies, graduated with an MBA from the University of Southern Nevada (USN) in June. In July he was promoted to vice president of communications and public relations at Roseman University of Health Sciences. The USN became Roseman University of Health Sciences on July 1. He lives in Henderson.
Nicholas Anderson, '99 BA Communication Studies, has worked in marketing with a high-tech security company for the past nine years. He has traveled extensively, visiting Australia three times, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, and Argentina. He plans another trip to Australia with a stopover in Fiji this year. In 2012 he expects to visit Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina. His hobbies also include blogging, thrill seeking, golf, and developing entrepreneurial ideas. He lives in Newport Beach, Calif.
Chad Belding, '99 BS Business Administration, recently started his second hunting-related television show, Dead Dog Walkin', which, along with his first show, The Fowl Life, airs on the Sportsman Channel and Wild TV. The Fowl Life entered its third season this year and combines heart-pounding hunting action with in-depth instruction. In the new show, he and his team hunt coyotes and other predators that are threatening domestic sheep and cattle herds. His company, Banded Nation, encompasses several ventures, including Banded Gear, Last Call Ringtones, Banded Hunts, Banded Calls, Banded Retrievers, and Banded University. He has won national competitions in duck and goose calling. A former Rebel baseball player, he lives with his wife, Melanie, and their daughter, Alyssa, in Reno.
Sarah Harmon, '99 BS Business Administration, was promoted to partner of the Las Vegas law firm of Bailey Kennedy, where she's worked for five years in civil litigation of class actions, product defects, tobacco cases, business torts, and commercial and corporate law. Previously, she was an associate with Lionel Sawyer & Collins. She also is on the editorial staff of the Nevada Civil Practice Manual. She earned her law degree at the University of San Diego.
Richard Kimbrough, '99 BA Communication Studies, was named chief development officer for the Mayo Clinic Health System in southwestern Minnesota. He lives in North Mankato.
Charles "Mike" Prince, '99 BA Elementary Education, is a rancher and middle school teacher. He authored Toquop the Warrior Stallion, which won the Will Rogers Medallion for best Western novel for juveniles and young adults in 2008. He and his wife, Alma, have been married for more than 50 years. He enjoys farming, raising beef cattle, and working with 4-H youths. He lives in Alamo.
Eric Sway, '99 BA Communication Studies, is sales manager at General Steel Corp. in Cleveland. He coaches soccer, basketball, and baseball for children in second through fourth grades. His hobbies include traveling, serving on his neighborhood homeowners association board, gardening, and attending professional sporting events. He and his wife, Stacee Appiano Sway, '01 BS Business Administration, met while living in the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ residence halls. They have a 10-year-old son, Andrew. The family lives in Streetsboro.
2000s
Melinda Simpson Chaney, '00 BA Communication Studies, is a State Farm agent and owner. She enjoys running, tennis, reading, traveling, and speaking at Career Day events at schools. A wife and mother of three daughters, she lives in Richardson, Texas.
Travis Huxman, '00 PhD Biological Sciences, is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona. He is the director of UA Biosphere 2, the earth science facility focused on water and energy research and public science literacy; director of UA Science: Flandrau, the university's science outreach portal and museum; and co-director of the Arizona Center for STEM teachers, which focuses on teacher training, retention, and curriculum development. He lives in Tucson.
Adam Lopez, '00 BS Hotel Management, is a project manager with Bally Technologies. He works in marketing and tradeshow events. His hobbies include working out at the gym, biking, hiking, and traveling. He and his wife had twins, Sicily and Tyler, on June 8. The family lives in North Las Vegas.
Jason Thompson, '00 BS Business Administration, '04 MBA, is community development director for Focus Property Group.
Michelle Sposito Atkinson, '01 BA Communication Studies, is a staff attorney in the Ohio department of education, office of professional conduct. She lives in Dublin.
Robert Bachilla, '01 BS Physics, is a quality engineer and lead metrologist for ITT Corp. Working in the defense sector, he uses state-of-the-art equipment to make precision measurements. He also uses CAD and writes technical reports. Previously, he worked in the aerospace industry in Seattle. He earned a master's degree in physics from the University of Washington. His hobbies include yoga and cycling. He lives in Salt Lake City.
Phillip Dart, '01 BS Workforce Education, is an employment and training coordinator for Experience Works. He lives in Bedford, Ind.
Josh Hudson, '01 BA Communication Studies, is a faculty member at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. Currently, he is directing and editing Is This the Face of Autism for Hudson House Films. He also is editing two feature documentaries. He has three sons.
Stacy Grasso Manobianca, '01 BA Psychology, is an attorney in the litigation department of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis. She was re-elected chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Essex (N.J.) County Bar Association in May. She recently moderated two continuing legal education seminars for the association, "Business & Trust Accounting for Lawyers" and "Civil Trial Preparation." Additionally, she was selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition 2011 by Super Lawyers magazine. She focuses on complex product liability litigation involving motor vehicle manufacturers, premises liability, and asbestos litigation. A member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, she earned her law degree at Seton Hall University. She lives Elmwood Park.
Cara Minardi, '01 BA and '05 MA English, works as an assistant professor at Georgia Gwinnett College. She completed her Ph.D. in English (rhetoric and composition) at Georgia State University in May. She lives in Decatur.
Lisa Montes, '01 BA Psychology, works in the food and beverage department at Wynn Resorts.
Pin Tan, '01 BS Computer Science, is an intellectual property attorney with Weide & Miller. He also is working on an iPhone application called Momentous.
Rachel Choudhury, '02 BS Nursing, is curriculum dean at Chamberlain College of Nursing, where she has been a faculty member for six years. "In my career as a nursing educator, I think about my experiences at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and how much I grew as a person because of the nurse educators who were such great role models," she said, describing 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's nursing faculty as "knowledgeable, professional, and approachable." She is grateful for the Lahr Foundation Scholarship she had while at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. She currently is pursing a Ph.D. in nursing education at Capella University. She and her husband, Fayyaz, have one daughter, Zaiba. The family lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Marion Smith, '02 BS Secondary Education, is assistant principal of Madrona K-8 with the Seattle Public Schools. Previously, he was the founding director of culture at Young Scholars Frederick Douglass, K-8 turnaround school in North Philadelphia, Pa. His career began in Las Vegas where he worked for the Clark County School District for nine years, serving as a middle school dean of students, a high school English teacher, and a middle school English/language arts teacher.
Adam Villarreal, '02 BS Physics and BA Psychology, is a senior research scientist for Lockheed Martin. He lives in Avondale, Ariz.
Janie Lade, '03 Master of Education, is a licensed school counselor and a national certified counselor working with at-risk students. Her model for providing services is to look first at the student's personal and social skills followed by academic and career development. She helps students and parents cope with depression, anxiety, drug abuse, anger management, and other mental issues that overwhelm students and keep them from focusing on academics. Her philosophy is that when the man is together, so is his world. She earned her doctorate in leadership and administration at the University of Phoenix. She enjoys water activities, traveling, reading, and family time. She lives in Kannapolis, N.C.
Hwabong Lee, '03 MS Hospitality Management, is a tradeshow organizer and exhibition coordinator for COEX. He has eight years of experience organizing tradeshows in Korea and Vietnam. His hobby is driving classic cars. He lives in Seoul, Korea.
Laura Stanzione, '03 BA Communication Studies, received a master of arts in teaching degree in elementary education from Anderson University earlier this year. She works as a tutor for Ortin-Gillingham. She is the mother of one son and lives in Anderson, S.C.
Camilla Brunold, '04 BS Hotel Administration, works at Animal House, a full-service pet store. She assists clients and helps with administrative tasks. She has two daughters, Tiffany and Kristen. She enjoys spending time with her family and with her cat, Cupid; working jigsaw puzzles; watching movies; and reading. She and her boyfriend, Darryl Lackey, live in Pahrump.
Timothy Rainey, '04 BA Communication Studies, is director of programming as well as afternoon radio host for WNOU, RadioNOW 100.9 in Indianapolis. He broadcasts under the pseudonym "Rayne." He has won numerous awards, including the 2007 and 2009 Major Market Top 40 Program Director of the Year Award from the Street Information Network. He enjoys traveling and volunteering with local charities.
Jennifer Hartwick, '05 BA Interdisciplinary Studies, is the director of recruitment for the Greenspun family of companies, including Vegas.com, Greenspun Media Group, and the America Nevada Co. Previously, she spent 12 years with a global consulting firm focused on the recruitment of IT professionals. She is married and has two young sons.
Phyllis Hedges, '05 BA Criminal Justice, enjoys walking and taking care of her pets -- five cats and one dog.
Fred Meyer, '05 BA and '10 MA Criminal Justice, is a sergeant with the detention services division of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He enjoys spending time with family, golfing, and fishing. He and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Caitlyn and Ethan. The family lives in Henderson.
Elio Montes, '05 BA Economics, works as CEO of the start-up Digital TV Cable in Bolivia. It is a cable television company and Internet service provider. His hobbies include photography and trekking. He and his wife, Fatyma Rivas, have two children. The family lives in Santa Cruz de La Sierra.
Gina-Marie Nissen, '05 BA Journalism and Media Studies, married Jonathan Strong, '08 BS Culinary Arts Management, March 19 in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. She works as marketing manager at Medco Health Solutions. He is a restaurant manager at Wynn Las Vegas.
Christopher Dayley, '06 Bachelor of Social Work, '09 Master of Education, is student services coordinator for Utah State University. He lives in Logan.
Dana Reitz Covotsos, '07 BS Hotel Administration, is a human resources manager for Walmart. She lives in New Lenox, Ill.
Adrian Huerta, '07 BS Human Services Counseling, is pursuing a doctoral degree in education at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on the social and academic experiences of underrepresented student populations in postsecondary institutions. Previously, he served as the assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program at the University of Southern California. He and his partner, Kristan, have a daughter, Felicia. They live in El Monte.
Pj Perez, '07 BA Journalism and Media Studies, reports that his alt-rock band, As Yet Unbroken, just released its first full-length album, "Unbroken."
Samantha Stewart, '07 BA Journalism and Media Studies, is a senior content coordinator and copywriter for Zappos.com. She lives in Henderson.
Denise Balfour, '08 Master of Education, is assistant director of the office of student conduct & academic integrity at Old Dominion University. She lives in Norfolk, Va.
Cynthia Blanco, '08 BS Kinesiological Sciences, teaches ballet, Pilates, and yoga. She focuses on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and learning. She is starting a dance/yoga company. Hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, swimming, doing personal growth work, reading, and inspiring people. She lives in Englewood, Colo.
Katie Carney, '08 Bachelor of Journalism and Media Studies, is a production coordinator for King and Country Productions. She enjoys shopping, eating sushi, and hanging out with friends. She lives in West Hollywood, Calif.
Michael Gordon, '08 Master of Public Administration, is president of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Graduate & Professional Student Association for 2011-12.
John Green, '08 Ph.D. Civil Engineering, married Margaux Byrne on Oct. 9, 2010. Following their wedding at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, Ill., they honeymooned in Kauai, Hawaii. He is senior rail civil engineer and lead track designer-North America for Halcrow Inc. in its Chicago office. The couple lives in Naperville.
Jason Roth, '08 BS Hotel Administration, is a catering & conference manager at The Venetian | The Palazzo Hotel. He specializes in social, public relations, and government relation events. It is the largest resort convention facility in the world with over 2.2 million square feet of meeting space. He previously worked as assistant director for alumni special events & student involvement at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ.
Derek Schoen, '08 BA Journalism & Media Studies, was promoted to Internet marketing manager. He oversees all social media and online marketing efforts for ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, and CityCenter. He has worked at CityCenter for two years. He is married to Courtney Edelman Schoen, '08 BA Education. The couple has two new puppies.
Justin Dacek, '09 BS University Studies, is a video production technician for 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's Thomas & Mack Center and for the Las Vegas 51s baseball team. He lives in Henderson.
Justin Hebblethwaite, '09 BS Culinary Arts Management, is a food service director for Aramark. He lives in Fremont, Calif.
Lindsay Smith, '09 BA Interdisciplinary Studies, is attending law school at the University of Kansas. She lives in Lawrence.
2010s
Cassidee Shinn, '10 BS Biological Sciences, is pursuing a master's degree at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She works at a nonprofit agency dealing with forest conservation issues. Hobbies include hiking, swimming, reading, painting, surfing, snorkeling, and traveling.
Jeffrey Walker, '10 Master of Public Administration, is a northern region emergency planner for the Virginia department of health. He coordinates preparedness and response activities for the department in its national capitol region. He lives in Herndon, Va.
Guan Wang, '10 MBA, is an energy marketing analyst with NV Energy. His hobbies include movies, hiking, and food.
Belinda Johnson, '11 BS Human Services Counseling, is interning in the field of human services/counseling. She also does volunteer work in that field. Her hobbies include community service work and church-related activities. The U.S. Army veteran lives in North Las Vegas.
Alysson Thewes, '11 Master of Social Work, spent time traveling after graduation before beginning to look for her dream job. Her hobbies include going on trail rides with her horse, reading, and driving the 2011 Camaro she received as a graduation gift. She lives in Henderson.
Obituaries
Richard Brooks, emeritus professor of anthropology, died June 23. He taught at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ from 1966 to 1994. He pioneered the creation of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History and served as its director. He also was director of the Desert Research Institute and cofounded Archeo-Nevada in Las Vegas and the Nevada Archeological Association. He was the widower of anthropologist Sheilagh Brooks, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's first distinguished professor, who died in 2008. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Brooks-Harris. Survivors include daughter Kathleen Brooks and granddaughters Sheilagh Polk and Genevieve Brooks-Harris.
Lewis Brown, a former Runnin' Rebel, died Sept. 14. He was a teammate of the late Larry Moffett (below). Known as "Big Lew," Brown ranked No. 20 in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's listing last year of the Rebels' top 100 players. Part of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's first Final Four team, known as the "Hardway Eight," he is No. 2 in career rebounds (1,019) and 18th in points (1,289). A member of the team from 1973 to 1977, he averaged a career-high 13.4 points in 1975-76 and led the team with an 11.7 rebounding average in 1974-75. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1977. He played just two games in his NBA career -- both for the Washington Bullets in 1981. Most of his professional career was spent playing in France and the Philippines. Survivors include his mother, Betty, and sisters Anita Brown Campbell and Jeri Brown.
Anthony Ferri, professor in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, died June 15. A faculty member since 1985, he served as general manager of KUNV, the university's public radio station and as associate director of the Greenspun School of Communication. In August, an article he co-authored comparing two cities he loved, Rome and Las Vegas, appeared in the Journal of Popular Culture. He was honored as Outstanding 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Faculty Member by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and as the Rita Deanin Abbey Teacher of the Year. One of his proudest accomplishments was participating in and witnessing the graduation of his daughter, Theresa Ferri, '11 BA Psychology. Other survivors include son Steven, brother Tom, and sister Gina.
Armon Gilliam, '88 BA Communication Studies, a Runnin' Rebel Hall of Famer, died July 5. Known as "The Hammer," Gilliam played at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ from 1984 to 1987 and was a key member of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's second NCAA Final Four team in 1987. In 1998 he was inducted into the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2007, his No. 35 basketball jersey was retired during a halftime ceremony at the Thomas & Mack Center, making him the eighth player to be so honored. He is seventh on the all-time 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ career scoring list with 1,855 points and holds the school record for most points in a season with 903 and most field goals made in a season with 359. The 1987 Big West Conference Player of the Year, he also was named first team all-conference and an All-American selection that same year. He was the second pick in the 1987 NBA draft and played in the league for 13 seasons with six teams. Jerry Tarkanian, who coached Gilliam at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, said, "He was one of the greatest Rebels ever and one of the best players we ever had. In my ratings, I had Larry Johnson No. 1 and Armon No. 2." Survivors include his parents, the Rev. James and Alma Gilliam; children, Cheryl, Jeremiah, and Joshua; grandchild Khalih Moses; and siblings Gralan, Jerrel, and Javan.
Tony Knap, the "winningest" coach in 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ football history, died Sept. 24. Nicknamed the "Silver Fox," he came from Boise State in 1976 and won more games than anyone in school history with a record of 47-20-2 over six seasons. He led the Rebels to an NCAA Division II playoff appearance, through the move to the Division I level in 1978, and to a stunning road upset of No. 8 BYU in 1981, his final season. His coaching record was 143-53-4 in 18 seasons. He signed quarterback Randall Cunningham, who was a redshirt freshman under Knap and eventually played 16 seasons in the National Football League. Knap retired to the Pacific Northwest. The Milwaukee native was inducted into the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Survivors include Mickey, his wife of 70 years, and daughters Jacki Knap Wright, Angie Nelson, and Caroline Smith.
Agnes Lockette, emerita professor of curriculum and instruction, died June 5. She taught at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ from 1972 until 1984. Before that she taught for the Clark County School District at Westside and Sewell elementary schools. Among her publications were The Preliminary Design for the Pre-School Handicapped Early Childhood and Playing, Experiencing and Growing in Language Arts. She served on a College of Education dean's search committee and on the college's scholarship committee. She also chaired the Preschool Advisory Committee. She was the first woman appointed to the Clark County Pollution Board. In 1973 she chaired the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County. Survivors include daughter Sharon Matrisciano; son Emory Lockette Jr.; and grandson, Chris Matrisciano.
Larry Moffett, a former Runnin' Rebel, died May 2. He was a teammate of the late Lewis "Big Lew" Brown (above) and a member of 1977's "Hardway Eight" team, the first men's team to reach the Final Four. He averaged 8 points and 9.2 rebounds and shot 54.2 percent from the field in his only season with the Rebels. Jerry Tarkanian, who coached Moffett at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, was quoted in the Las Vegas Review-Journal as saying, "If Moffett didn't break his nose in the second half, we would have beat North Carolina in the Final Four. I went without a big man. He was a great shot blocker. He's the one who made it a great team." In its ranking last year of the Runnin' Rebels' top 100 players, the newspaper placed Moffett at No. 53. Moffett played one season in the NBA after being drafted in the second round by the Houston Rockets. He later played in France, Spain, and Belgium. Survivors include an aunt, an uncle, and four cousins.
Ellen Cronan Rose, retired director of women's studies, died Oct. 10. A 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ faculty member from 1994 until 2002, she oversaw the transition of women's studies from an interdisciplinary program to an academic department. She inspired faculty and student research on gender and feminist scholarship, supported women in academe, and brought the National Women's Studies Association to Las Vegas. Co-editor of the Journal of Modern Literature, she also taught at Dartmouth and Haverford colleges, Drexel University, and MIT. She once was a Fulbright fellow at Cambridge University. A devoted "Phillies Phan," she moved back to her hometown of Philadelphia upon retirement. She is survived by three children, Emily Rose Hoffman, Amanda Rose, and Barnabas Rose, and two grandchildren, Madeleine Hoffman and Mason Hoffman.
Anthony Saville, emeritus dean and professor of education, died June 28. His 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ career spanned 1967-1998. When Nevada Southern became 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, he became the founding dean of the College of Education, a role he maintained for 11 years. An expert in stress, conflict, and time management, he served as a consultant to schools and higher education systems throughout the nation. He was honored by the Clark County School District with the creation of Anthony Saville Middle School. Among his many awards were the 2001 Distinguished Nevadan Award by the Board of Regents, the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Foundation Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty in 1996, the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Award for Distinguished Faculty in 1995, and the Spanos Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1990. Survivors include Joy, his wife of 56 years.
Curtis Watson, '70 BS Business Administration, a former Runnin' Rebel, died July 11. He was a member of the team from 1967 to 1969, scoring 963 points. Last year he was listed as No. 58 in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's ranking of the Runnin' Rebels' top 100 players. In 1992 he was inducted into the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 1967-68 men's team. During his first year at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ he was named to the NCAA College Division Regional All-Tournament Team and was voted Most Valuable Player during the tournament. In 1968-69 he was named to the Associated Press All-American Team and was voted the best defensive player at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. He scored a career-high 39 points on March 2, 1969. In 1973, he opened a State Farm Insurance agency, making him the first African-American insurance agent in Southern Nevada. He retired from State Farm after more than 37 years. Survivors include his wife, Wilma; daughter Tamara Watson-Dove; son Bryan Watson; brothers Marshall, James, and Roy; and grandchildren Rachel Watson, Halle Watson, and Jalen Dove.
