51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

Lisa Griffith Story, ’84 BA Communication Studies, co-authored with Carl Laurin the book, Pardon Me, Father, the mostly-true story about a con man turned holy man who used his military skills, Cold War experiences, and Catholic altar boy memories to mine for diamonds (legally) in Sierra Leone in the 1980s and smuggle them out (illegally) dressed as a priest. The authors were brought together by an adventurous man, Walt Reca, who was Story’s uncle and Laurin’s Michigan Parachute Team buddy. Pardon Me, Father is available on Amazon.com in eBook and paperback and BarnesandNoble.com in paperback.

Bonnie Taylor, '03 BA Criminal Justice and '06 MA Public Administration, works at Talent Resources, a leading full-service marketing, and creative strategy agency. The company has named Taylor partner and chief communications and strategy officer in recognition of her outstanding achievements. A former TR client on the agency side for Dunkin’, Taylor joined Talent Resources in 2020 and created the agency’s highly successful communications team, which comprises industry veterans in key locations across the country. Taylor is responsible for bringing in high-profile clients such as The Athlete’s Foot, Jordan’s Skinny Mixes, Ohza, and was instrumental in the Ben Affleck and Dunkin’ collaboration. In her new role, Taylor will continue to lead the development and execution of communications and strategic initiatives across Talent Resources’ diverse portfolio of clients including the UK expansion. Her extensive experience in public relations and marketing has been an invaluable asset in growing all divisions while elevating Talent Resources’ overall profile. Taylor currently resides outside of Boston with her husband and two sons.

Jason B. Cooper, '97 MA Anthropology, is a professional archaeologist working with the Washington State Department of Transportation. He is the cultural resources lead for WSDOT's Northwest Region based in Seattle. He was recently re-elected as president of the Association for Washington Archaeology, a non-profit organization committed to the protection of archaeological and historic resources in the state of Washington. Cooper recently co-authored an archaeological monograph, Hunters of the Mid-Holocene Forest: Old Cordilleran Cultural Sites at Granite Falls, Washington, that examined the archaeological evidence recovered from two precontact sites that were being impacted by highway construction. He is married to wife, Karin, and is father of Marlene, 21, and Caleb, 18, and lives in Seattle.  

Lisa Levy, '00 BA Interdisciplinary Studies and '04 MA Special Education, has spent 20 years as a special education teacher at two local high schools. She's worked in the Clark County School District for over 35 years. Levy loves traveling and watching NASCAR.

Maria Donnalin Maliwat, '98 Hospitality, is proud to announce her son, Brandon Bugay, '22 BS Nursing, passed his NCLEX exam and is joining his siblings to be a registered nurse.

Jackie Hwang, '03 Communication Studies, is on the radio every afternoon from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on HOT 97.5. She's been on-air for the past 20 years.

Chase Palliser, '22 BA Anthropology and BA Art History, is living in Rome, Italy, obtaining a master's degree in art history. Palliser plans to study in Rome for two years and then hopefully transition to a job there.

Yvette Michelle Tippetts, '01 BS in Secondary Education Social Studies and '03 MS in Educational Administration, has been with the Clark County School District since August of 2001 as a teacher, counselor, dean of students, assistant principal, elementary school principal, and in her current role as the proud principal of Silvestri JHS. She has mentored many aspiring administrators and has a passion for education and the community of Las Vegas.  Yvette is married to Jimmy Tippetts who also works in CCSD. Both Yvette and Jimmy were born and raised in Las Vegas. They have five children. Yvette loves to attend 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ athletic events and show support for 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. She loves baseball and watching her boys play ball. She is passionate about traveling and experiencing other cultures and trying different foods.

Galit Ventura-Rozen, '95 BS Business Management, is the broker/owner of Commercial Professionals, Inc.; the co-founder of Everyday Woman TV; owner of J&G Sellers; a professional speaker; and author.

Christopher Pratt, '98 BS Recreation and Leisure Service Management, has been dislocated, but like many people since the pandemic after being furloughed from his catering and sales job. Pratt was fortunate enough to have such experiences as being Will Smith's personal bartender at his non-alcoholic 50th birthday during his jump at the Grand Canyon. Right now he's switching back to the education career path and looking forward to returning to Nevada. Pratt enjoys anything that has to do with the outdoors and water, including relaxation time and playing ball with my dog.

Karla Larreynaga, '16 BS Public Administration, is a social worker.

Beau McDougall, '15 BS Public Administration, was born and raised in Las Vegas and has been serving Las Vegas as a firefighter/paramedic for the last decade. He is also a small business owner focused in the real estate industry. When he’s not selling homes or fighting fires, he dedicates his time to his alma mater. McDougall has recently accepted a position on the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Association Board of Directors. This will be his first year serving on the board, and he’s already hit the ground running. The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ is currently operating the largest COVID-19 testing site in the state of Nevada. The site serves over 500 patients a day; working in congruent with 85 staff and volunteers: students, nurses, doctors, National Guard and Metro Police. McDougall saw this as an opportunity to bring together his resources and make a difference! Early week of May, he coordinated with local organizations to provide five days of food and beverages to be delivered to the School of Medicine's testing site. He brought together various real estate organizations, wealth management companies, and even the Firefighters Union to all sponsor a day. McDougall's own mortgage company, Next Home People First, provided In-N-Out burgers and Mora’s Ice Cream for all the workers!