Class Notes

In July, Bronwen Maxson (Engl, Span) of Eugene, Oregon, was promoted to associate librarian rank at the University of Oregon Libraries, where she is the coordinator of undergraduate engagement and instructional services as well as the subject librarian for Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American studies.

This year, Adam Creapo (Jour, MEdu’13) moved from the classroom to administration. After teaching in Adams 12 and Denver Public Schools classrooms he is now an assistant principal and CareerConnect pathway director at Northfield High School. He lives in Denver with his wife, Amanda, who he met while serving as the Buffs volleyball PA announcer, and his son, Colt.

Kevin P. Walsh (Psych) has been named shareholder of Denver’s Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck law firm.

Nicholas Sandoval (ChemEngr), assistant professor of chemistry and biomolecular engineering at Tulane University, was awarded a National Science Foundation Career Award of $500,000 to develop new tools and techniques for studying Clostridium, a genus of bacteria. Nicholas leads a research group with four graduate students and one postdoctoral researcher. He writes that his research falls generally in the field of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering.

Kyle Redfield (Econ) is CEO and president of KonaRed Corporation, a premier Hawaiian coffee brand. In 2017, Kyle launched the company’s first line of ready-to-drink cold brew coffees. He leads product development to find sustainable ways to use the coffee fruit, which surrounds the coffee bean and is usually discarded in the coffee making process. He previously was the general manager for POM Wonderful, a beverage and fruit extracts company. Kyle resides in California. Read our Forever Buffs Q&A featuring him.

Kevin Walsh (Psych) joined the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in the litigation department, based in Denver. In his practice, Kevin specializes in construction law and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Brownstein, Kevin was an associate principal at The Holt Group, LLC, where he provided legal services to general contractors, design builders, sub-contractors, architects, engineers, private owners and governmental entities. He serves as an adjunct professor at CU’s College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, where he teaches a course on the legal aspects of construction.

This April Dustin Sanza (Fin) is running the Boston Marathon in honor of Martin Richard, who was killed in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Dustin committed to raise $7,500 for the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation Inc. This will be Dustin’s second marathon. 

Musician Mark Nowakowski (MMus) released his first album, Blood, Forgotten, through the world’s largest classical label, Naxos. The album received a glowing review in Gramophone magazine. He also composed the soundtrack to the documentary Discovering Tolkien, which aired nationally on EWTN in November. He is serving his second year as assistant professor of music at Kent State University, Stark, where he lives with his wife and three children.  

On Aug. 25, Colorado 18th Judicial District Chief Deputy District Attorney John Kellner (Law) accepted the Freedom Award from the Department of Defense, the highest recognition of employers for their support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. John is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

In October, Tennessee governor Bill Haslam appointed Mary Wagner (PolSci) as a Circuit Court trial judge for Shelby County, Tenn. Mary is currently the youngest such judge in the state.

Mark Nowakowski (MMus) was appointed assistant professor of music technology at Kent State University, Stark. His CD Blood Forgotten was released on June 9 through NAXOS, the world’s largest distributor of classical music. He lives with his wife and three children in Ohio, where he continues to pursue an active career in music composition, writing and teaching.

On Sept. 24, 2016, Shaun Reed (AeroEngr) married Cassandra Ilich Reed in front of 200 guests in a traditional Serbian Orthodox ceremony at the home of the bride’s parents, Chateau Summerset, in Northern California. Shaun is a licensed mechanical engineer in Denver. The couple enjoyed a monthlong African honeymoon on safari in Ethiopia. They also sailed around the Seychelles Islands and toured Morocco. Shaun and Cassandra reside at their home, Sierra Dorado Ranch, in Golden, Colo.

In March, Ben Rosenberg (Psych) married Sarah Czerniejewski (IntPhys’07) on their 11-year anniversary as a couple. Ben writes that fellow alum and good friend J. Keith McGlone (Econ, PolSci’06) officiated the wedding at the C Lazy U Ranch outside of Granby, Colo. They were joined by several other alumni, including Marc Sandler (Mktg’06), Chris Powers (Hist’06), Ricka Sterner (IntPhys’07) and Nicholas Sorrentino (MechEngr’05). Ben works as a lecturer at Chapman University in Orange County, Calif. Sarah is a nurse in the ICU at a hospital near their home in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Ben Herrmann (PolSci) and Corbin Marr (Hist’98) have gone into business together in the wastewater infrastructure sector. Their firm has locations in California and on the East Coast. Projects include an inspection of underground pipelines in Boulder using cameras, sonar and laser equipment. The firm is also developing and implementing technology for inspecting and rehabilitating failing infrastructure.

Former CU football player Jeremy Bloom (A&S ex’06) will be inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. After high school Jeremy accepted a scholarship to CU, then delayed his enrollment to prepare for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He is the only Olympic skier ever to be drafted by the NFL.

Chris Avantaggio (Advert) of the VIA advertising agency in Portland, Maine, appeared in Adweek’s list of “50 Creatives Whose Brilliant Ideas and Beautiful Craft Will Make You Jealous.” Chris made the list for many reasons, including his re-branding efforts for Maine Beer Company and his work on a TV ad for Perdue chicken.