Notes from the Class of 2012

Soil ecologist Kelly Ramirez (PhDEBio) is a postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. Her research characterizes the diversity and biogeographical patterns of soil microbes across the globe. In November 2016, she co-founded 500 Women Scientists with friend and colleague Jane Zelikova. The organization’s mission is to make science “open, inclusive and accessible, and to be the foremost organization for the transformation of leadership, diversity, and public engagement in science.”

In June Melissa Lee Kean (Art, EBio) was ordained a priest at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver by Right Reverend Kimberly Lucas, 11th bishop of Colorado. Melissa completed her master’s of theology at Sewanee: The University of the South, in May. She is now in Rome, Ga., where she serves as associate rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Last summer, Kaitlyn Bruce (Jour) participated in Miami (Ohio) University’s Earth Expeditions field course, taking a trip to Guyana and learning conservation practices from the local Makushi people. Kaitlyn is a teacher at Kipp Renaissance High School in New Orleans.

Brendon Bosworth (MJour) — who lives in Cape Town, South Africa — studied at CU Boulder on a Fulbright scholarship. In April, he wrote that the COVID-19 lockdown was putting immense pressure on Cape Town’s residents. He was part of a community-led response to the virus, which consisted of 70 volunteer-run Community Action Networks (CANs) to support the needy. One way his CAN in Muizenberg assisted people was through distribution of donation-funded food boxes to families. Find out more at www.muizenbergcan.org.

Vice president of CU Law Class of 2012 Shandea J. Sergent (Law’12) is lead deputy public defender in the Golden office for the State Public Defender. She is returning to Colorado Law this year as an adjunct faculty member. Shandea has tried more than 70 cases, ranging from driving under the influence to murder.

Chris Bilton (Econ’12), a private wealth advisor for Merrill Lynch, was named to the 2022 Financial Planning “Top 40 Advisors Under 40” list. Chris co-founded PLB & Associates, and is a member of the executive board for Barrington Children’s Charities.

Brothers Harrison and Matt Query (Psych, Soc’12) published their  first co-written book, Old Country. Matt, an environmental lawyer, first published the thriller as a multi-part story on Reddit’s r/NoSleep — a place where internet writers share original horror stories. After it blew up on Reddit, Matt reached out to his screenwriter brother — who also spent some time at CU — to help him develop it into a book and screenplay. The story was picked up by Netflix in a seven-figure deal the same month they landed a book deal.

Attorney Sam Tallman (Hist’12) was promoted to member of the international law firm Clark Hill. Sam is a litigation practitioner in the firm’s Chicago branch.

Attorney David Cline (Law’12) joined the Denver office of law firm Husch Blackwell as a partner in the firm’s financial services and capital markets industry group and a member of its private equity and investment management teams. David focuses his practice on venture capital transactions and venture companies.