Class Notes

Michael Huseby (Acct’76) joined Barnes and Noble, the nation’s last remaining major bookstore chain, as chief financial officer in 2012 and was appointed CEO in January. Earlier in his career he was an executive at Cablevision Systems Corporation, Charter Communications, AT&T and Arthur Andersen. He lives in New York.

Of the 2,300 volunteer advocates taking part in the CU Advocates program in the CU President’s office, Alvin Rivera(EdD’76) was selected as 2013 CU Advocate of the Year. He is a veteran who served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.  “Mr. Rivera has engaged in nearly every facet of advocacy for CU,” said President Bruce Benson (Geol’64, HonDocSci’04).  Alvin lives in Pueblo, Colo.

Kant in Hong Kong is Gray Kochhar-Lindgren’s (Phil’77) book about how travel, philosophy and the city connect, drawing inspiration from the regular city walks of philosopher Immanuel Kant. Gray is professor and director of the Common Core curriculum at the University of Hong Kong. He previously served as associate vice chancellor for undergraduate learning and professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at the University of Washington Bothell.

If he weren’t an attorney, William Nelson (PolSci’77) told the Colorado Springs Business Journal, he would be a landscaper or nurse so he wouldn’t have to wear a tie. But he wears that tie well as a partner in the Colorado Springs location of the firm Lewis Roca Rothberger. He began as a law clerk in 1981.

For the fifth consecutive year, Barron’s magazine named Thomas Moran (Hist’78) the No. 1 financial advisor among 1,200 top advisors in Southwest Florida. Thomas is the founding member of the Moran Edwards Asset Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Naples, Fla.

The University of West Florida appointed Gregory Lanier (MCDBio’79) dean of the newly formed University College, which helps prepare students for the workforce before and after graduation, among  other services. Previously, Gregory was an associate dean for the arts and sciences college, director for the Kugelman Honors Program and professor of honors in theater and English.

Scott P. Overmyer (Psych’79) was named by Mount Washington College as vice provost and dean of the information technology school. Among other duties, Scott leads the information technology degree programs for the college’s national online program.

After serving as vice president for academic affairs and dean of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., Carolyn J. Stefanco (Hist’79) was appointed the 11th president of the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. She started the position in July.

Beth Ann Catalano (Mktg’79) has been appointed president of AHAVA North America. AHAVA is a brand of Dead Sea mineral skincare products. Before this, she was senior vice president of sales, administration and education at the Steiner Leisure Corporation. Beth Ann has served as a guest speaker, lecturer and contributing editor for ABC, Bloomberg, FOX News and MSNBC.

Clinical psychologist Priscilla Dann-Courtney (Engl’79, MPsych’86, PhD’91) wrote a column about the experience of sending her daughter, a CU student, on a Semester at Sea excursion. The time apart “was quite a powerful experience in so many ways,” writes Priscilla, who lives in Boulder. She also wrote an essay for the December issue of the Alumni Association’s Forever Buffs Insider e-newsletter.

The Colorado Education Association named Brad Bartels (Engl’80, EdD’12) executive director. He previously served as the association’s general counsel. Brad was a classroom teacher before joining the CEA. He lives in Longmont, Colo.

Artist Anne Connell’s (Art’80) work was shown in London at the Stephen Ongpin Fine Art exhibit from Feb. 11 to March 7. The exhibition was her first in Europe. Anne lives in Portland, Ore.

Former CU Foundation President and CEO Rick Lawrence (Bus’80) is now president and CEO of wealth management firm Sargent Bickham Lagudis. The firm, which has offices in Boulder and Denver, manages $900 million across 400 clients. Rick lives in Lafayette, Colo.

Tom Weis (EnvCon’85) has more than 25 years of environmental and political organizing experience. He is president of Climate Crisis Solutions, an environmental consulting firm. In 2010, he rode his unique “rocket trike” more than 2,500 miles from Boulder to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about renewable energy, and in 2011 nearly 2,200 miles from Canada to the Texas Gulf to protest the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. He lives in Boulder.

The Boulder International Film Festival has become a hot spot for movie stars and film enthusiasts around the country. The festival was started 10 years ago by sisters and filmmakers Kathy Beeck (Engl’86) and Robin Beeck(Comm’88). The pair shared a love for movies and believed that Boulder was the ideal place for a festival with a backdrop of the Flatirons. Their initial goal was to bring independent films to Boulder. In the festival’s first year, 5,000 people came. Now more than 20,000 people attend each year.

Graham Hill (Jour’86) developed Wide Eyez, a bike helmet shield that protects riders from insects and the elements. In 1997 the Boulder resident started 21 Wheels, an enterprise focused on alternative transportation.

Superior, Colo., resident Marlene Prinzing (Dance, Jour’87) was selected as an honored member of the Covington Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. She was selected for her commitment to health and fitness. Marlene created a business 25 years ago called the Prinzing Method, which helps clients meet their physical and mental well-being goals.

Michael Unger (ArchEngr’87) was hired as area manager of Denver operations for civil engineering firm Manhard Consulting. The company has more than 6,000 clients in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana and Nevada.

While reminiscing about their days at CU and painting together on the northern coast of California, Jennifer Hately Ash (Engl’87) and Catherine Nieland (Art’82) watched a great white shark pass right by and gulp down a seal swimming feet in front of them. The two were thankful they were spared. Both are friends of Murray Carpenter (Psych’85), who was featured in the Summer 2014 Coloradan article “Are We Over-Caffeinated?”

After working 18 years in television, Neil Brubaker (Bus’88) joined the World Fishing Network, a digital resource for anglers in North America, as its senior director for affiliate sales. Prior to this, Neil spent 16 years at ESPN Media Networks directing its affiliate sales and marketing team, and managing syndication distribution and agreements. He was selected to serve on the advisory boards of the Denver Nuggets season ticket holders and the CU Intercollegiate Taskforce.