Notes from the Class of 1980

Attorney Amy Hirter (Hist’80, Law’86) was appointed vice chair of the American Bar Association’s International Law Section’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint-Ventures Committee for 2011-12. She joined the law firm Hutchinson Black and Cook in 2009 and lives in Boulder.

Vice president and chief operating officer of ISOindustries Matt Lipkin (PolSci’80) joined the board of the nonprofit Wounded Nature — Working Veterans. This year the organization has five “Victory Vessels”— each one representing a different branch of the military— cleaning beaches, visiting military bases and attending port festivals. Matt lives in Virginia Beach, Va.

Following a national search, the CU Foundation named Rick Lawrence (Fin’80) president and CEO after Wayne Hutchens (Mktg’67) retired in March. The foundation is CU’s main fundraising arm, and Rick served as its chief operating officer and vice president for six years. Prior to working at the foundation, he was an executive with Vectra Bank and Bank One Corp. He lives in Lafayette.

Because of his outstanding contributions to the community and demonstrated excellence in the classroom, CU awarded Thomas Huber (PhDGeog’80) a 2012 Thomas Jefferson Award. He is a professor of geography and environmental studies at CU’s Colorado Springs campus. He has worked on such projects as habitat mapping of the Prebles meadow jumping mouse in Colorado’s El Paso County, state vegetation mapping for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and mapping and analyzing elk habitats in the Pikes Peak region.

Boulder residents Beverly Tucker Fest (MMus’80) and husband Bruce Fest(Law’74) celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in May with trips to the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico and Maui, Hawaii. Beverly is a chaplain and coordinator of Pastoral Care for Boulder Community Hospital, and Bruce is an attorney. They have three children and one grandchild. The couple enjoys traveling, hiking, theater, concerts and Rockies and Nuggets games.

CEO of Além International Steven McCarthy* (IntlAf’80) recognized a need for the integration of all services and functions inherent to large events, including safety and security, training, marketing and media relations. As a result, Além International has grown from organizing bicycle races to a broad-based global event, media and marketing company. Steven lives in Longmont, Colo.

*Directors club member

Boulder resident Audrey Nelson (PhDComm’80) announced in May the release of her third book, The Gender Communication Handbook: Conquering Conversational Collisions by Men and Women (Wiley & Sons). Visit her website at audreynelson.com.

Dedicated to the environment for years, Anita Wilks (EnvCon’80) is editor and publisher of the Highlander Monthly, an environmental magazine that has been disseminating important printed information on issues both local and regional for more than 12 years. It serves Boulder, Golden, Nederland and Central City. She researches and writes on local environmental and conservation issues, interviews candidates for local and state governments and supports animal and wildlife causes in her publication. The free magazine reaches about 30,000 readers every three months and is online at www.highlandermo.com. Anita lives in Golden, Colo.

Boulder educator Terry Pinchuk Bradley* (Comm’80) is stepping down as founding president of Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented after seven years and to be president-elect of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented. In August 2013, Terry will present at the 20th Biennial World Conference of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children. She is the gifted/talented adviser at Boulder’s Fairview High School, which she attended. She lives in Boulder.

*Directors Club member

Working to support the university, Rick Lawrence (Fin’80) is president and chief executive officer at University of Colorado Foundation. He played a fundamental role in the strategic planning process for the university’s $1.5 billion Creating Futures campaign and helped lead the Foundation to its five most successful fundraising years ever. Rick lives in Lafayette, Colo., with his wife Barbara Lawrence(MComDisor’96) and their two children. He also serves as president of the board of directors at Peak to Peak Charter School.

Pueblo Community College recognized Irene Blea (PhDSoc’80) as its distinguished alumna in August. The award is for students who attended or graduated from the college or its predecessor institution, Southern Colorado State College. Irene is an accomplished scholar and author of textbooks and academic articles. She has held leadership positions in Pueblo, Boulder and Denver. Irene lives in Albuquerque and lectures throughout New Mexico for the New Mexico Humanities Council, a nonprofit civic organization.

In Gina Meagher’s (MCDBio’80) book There Is Something about Gina — Flourishing with Diabetes and Celiac Disease, she shares her journey with two chronic conditions. She writes both have been challenging and frustrating but also educational and, over time, she has learned to flourish. Published last February, her book is the result of her desire to share her experiences for the benefit of others who may be struggling with diabetes, celiac disease or other conditions. She lives in Golden, Colo.

Attorney Janet Perlstein (IntlAf’80) joined Fox Rothschild as partner. In July the company merged with established Denver law firm Lottner Rubin Fishman Saul. Janet represents institutional leaders, commercial property owners and developers and tenants in a variety of real estate matters. Her focus is in such areas as commercial loan transactions, foreclosure, actions, lease agreements and the ownership, sale and encumbrance of real property. Janet lives in Aurora, Colo.

The University of Memphis received Greta Coger’s (PhDEngl’80) science fiction and fantasy collection of about 9,000 hardbacks, paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, letters, essays, book reviews and more. The university is calling one of its conference rooms the Dal Coger Room and will hold a dedication most likely in spring. Greta lives in Memphis, Tenn.

A diplomatic correspondent for The Jerusalem Post for nearly 30 years, Herb Keinon (PolSci’80) spoke at the University of Hartford last October about Israel and the media. Herb covers the prime minister and the foreign minister, often traveling with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abroad. He is author of the book Lone Soldiers: Israel’s Defenders from Around the World. Herb lives in Ma’ale Adumin, Israel.

What does a retired tenured sociology professor from California State University-Los Angeles do well? Irene Blea(PhDSoc’80) did not just write a series of classroom textbooks and novels that mostly focus on women’s issues. The New Mexico Humanities Council scholar also regularly reenacts the life of Dona Tules, the “Lady Gambler of Santa Fe”— one of the state’s most controversial historical figures — on stages across New Mexico. Irene lives in Albuquerque.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College appointed Barbara Kelberer McDonald (Engl’80) interim president. She will serve in the role until June 30, 2015. Barbara previously served as provost at Itasca Community College. She lives in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Former executive director of the CU-Boulder Alumni Association Kent Zimmerman (Edu’80, MPubAd’90) left his job in 2008 after 14 years to travel with his wife, Christine Lanier Zimmerman (Ger’80, MA’90). One of their latest adventures took them to Sucre, Bolivia.

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.