Class Notes

’56 Richard Rochford sold his CPA practice in 2008 but he still works part-time. He stays in touch with Jim Walsh ’57.

’68 Anthony E. Graham, the owner of Patterson's Pub, writes, "After almost half a century, I am the proprietor of an Irish pub in the coastal town of Mendocino. Do come see what a USF education can do for you.”   

’69 Ronald P. Fisher writes, “After living in Nashville for 10 years, I am moving back to Atlanta, where I moved in 1969 from San Francisco. I have an online counseling business, Counseling Works, GA. My clinical training is a PhD in counseling psychology from University of Georgia. I'd love to hear from my friends from St. Anne of the Sunset, S.I., and USF.”

’69 Edward J. Watson was inducted into the hall of fame at his high school, Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, for public service. He was recognized for his service as a lawyer, as a member of the Our Lady of Angels parish, and for his work with the Boy Scouts.
 

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Aaron J. Brooks MA ’22 Congratulations to all the #Dons who graduated today. Two years ago I walked that same stage at Saint Ignatius, and it was one of the greatest honors of my life to become part of the #Jesuit family of University of San Francisco!

’72 Cox Ferrall, a graduate of what was formerly USF’s College of Business Administration, is happily retired at home in San Francisco. He and his wife, Merle, have been married for 57 years. “She is a wonderfully patient person,” he says.

’75 Jim Mellin writes, “While attending USF, I was drummer for the pep band. We played the last season of the USF football team and all the home basketball games. I was also drummer for On Tap, a band that played every Thursday night at the Fog and Grog, and also drummer for Big Mack, a Sha Na Na cover band that played at Medusa's coffee house as well as Friday Day on the Greens outside Gilson Hall. I am now drummer for the E&J Movement, a Motown revue band in Southern California. I totally get that this is not like everyone else's accomplishments, but it's huge to me. Those years were amazing times.”

’77 Rodney Dean Wells of Stanislaus County published a crime drama novel, The Lost Ladies, in 2023.

’78 John D. Hourihan JD ’81 was listed in the Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators in Northern California by America's Top 100, LLC. He is a partner at Stratman, Patterson, and Hunter.

’83 Verna Antonette Castro founded a nonprofit organization, Inafamaolek.us, to serve the Bay Area Chamoru (indigenous to Guam) communities. That follows 28 years as a physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director in the San Francisco Unified School District, and 10 years as a high school program administrator.

’85 Tony Bartenetti joined Malone Workforce Solutions to build the 50-year-old company’s West Coast practice. “Remain happily married to Katie Harmon Bartenetti for almost 32 years,” he writes. He is East Bay chair for the USF Alumni Council.

’94 Arlo Garcia Uriarte JD ’03 works for Liberation Law Group PC and married Elizabeth Lyons JD ’19. 

’95 Tetsu Kidokoro writes, “I recently returned from living in Japan for 18 years. After my first job at a Japanese subsidiary following my graduation in 1995, I got a great job offer in Tokyo and moved to Japan in 2001, expecting to only stay three to five years."

​​’96 Shalonda Baldwin is transportation business line leader for Northern California at WSP, an engineering and environmental consultancy.    

’96 Dahlia M. Melendrez and Jackson Haney '23 work for the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Melendrez is the deputy staff director and general counsel. Haney is a staff assistant after previously serving as intern with the committee.    

’97 Pamela G. Sharp graduated from USF's College of Professional Studies with a BS in information systems management. In 2023, she published a book, Dispatches from the Rez.

’98 Patranya Bhoolsuwan, a three-time Emmy Award-winning TV journalist, is celebrating the fourth anniversary of her media consulting business.

’01 Nat Hayes teaches English and math at Huntington Learning Center in Sacramento.

’01 Shelley Lindgren, an English major who started the San Francisco restaurant A16, in 2023 published Italian Wine: The History, Regions, and Grapes of an Iconic Wine Country.

’05 Sherene Melania, executive and artistic director of the Presidio Dance Theatre, said the organization was selected to represent San Francisco at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2023 conference.

’06 Chaffee K. Burke is principal at Slalom Build, a company that provides AI solutions for businesses. Most recently, the company worked with Japan’s Kawasaki on AI and machine learning tools to develop automatic rail track monitoring. 

’08 Christopher D. McNary JD ’11, a former U.S. Department of Homeland Security asylum officer, was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland as a U.S. immigration judge to hear cases in the Santa Ana, California Immigration Court.

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Greg Sempadian ’89 @gregstormsempadian: There have been so many stories about the best basketball coaches in the NCAA so I wanted to write my own tribute to the most special, caring, passionate, dedicated, loyal, supportive, inspirational, and truly greatest student-athlete, coach, role model, and mentor in the history of our University of San Francisco women’s basketball family and the all-time leading scorer in USF men’s and women’s basketball history … USF Hall of Famer and a true legend of the Hilltop… No. 15… Mary Hile-Nepfel!

’11 Majel Ruth Baker writes, “Things have come full circle for me after graduating from USF, a Jesuit Catholic liberal arts school, with a psychology major. I am now an assistant professor of psychology for College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University, two integrated Benedictine Catholic small liberal arts colleges in Minnesota. I started the position in fall 2022.”

’11 Ammar Rehman, who is serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, writes, “I look back on my experience at USF with great fondness. The education I received from the professors was superlative. Living in San Francisco from 2007 to 2011 itself was highly educational and immense for my personal and professional growth. The charisma and character of the city at that time was unparalleled in the world.”

’12 Robert Thomas Curl writes, “I married in June of 2023 and returned to Canyon County, Idaho, as a deputy public defender in September 2023.”

’12 Leada Malek, an exercise and sport science major, in 2023 published Science of Stretch.

’13 Mirabai Eloise Elizabet Collamore writes, “I am a teacher's assistant for young adults with learning disabilities in San Francisco, and I help them with life skills. I just earned my license as a speech language pathology assistant in California."

’13 Deirdre Ellen Peterson MA ’14, vice principal of St. John Notre Dame Elementary School in Folsom, California, writes, "Ten years after graduating from USF, I am still teaching and leading in Catholic schools. This past spring, I married the love of my life at St. Ignatius Church. Getting married at my alma mater was a dream come true! Thank you, Fr. John Whitney, S.J., for witnessing our marriage vows on our very special wedding day.”    

’14 Conor Malcolm Crockford, a freelance writer and editor, published in March his first book, Birdsongs: Poems 2020–2023.

’14 Breniel Quebral Lemley in 2023 earned a PhD in media, technology, and society from Northwestern University. She was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow, and in her research examined parent and child perceptions of an educational television show with a culturally inclusive focus on computational thinking.

’15 Ranya Mohamed Abdelfattah writes, “2023 has been a fantastic year for me! I got married on June 4, 2023 to the love of my life and started my dream job with an amazing startup called Neurolutions in October. At Neurolutions, I help with consultations for the IpsiHand — a first-of-its-kind device that helps stroke survivors regain function in their upper extremities. It's so exciting to be able to use my education at USF.”

’15 Alex Cristopher Lee received a doctor of dental medicine degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences in Utah and is an oral and maxillofacial surgery resident physician at Medical University of South Carolina.

’19 Travarus Fauntleroy, senior DE&I business partner at Adobe Systems, writes, “My wife, Tiffany Carter Fauntleroy ’19, and I met at the School of Education orientation in 2017. We became a couple in early 2019 and got married on Nov. 11, 2023 in Los Cabos, Mexico!”

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Taryn Moore ’06 MA ’08 That’s a wrap on a successful University of San Francisco trip to New York! An afternoon at the opera, a regional council meeting, meeting new alumni and current parents, and supporting alumnus Moses Villarama at his Broadway debut. It was a packed five days. Even the Empire State Building was showing USF some love this week. If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved with USF’s New York chapter, let me or Molly Kastendieck know.

’20 Vincent Balgemino, a media studies major and former multimedia producer in USF’s Office of Marketing Communications, is a film curator at the SFO Museum in San Francisco.

’20 Jordan Sandoval MA ’22 published an article on arts activism and education with David Donahue of the USF School of Education titled "Beyond Stereotype: Contemporary Art in Children’s Picture Books About Going to the Museum" in the peer-reviewed journal Art Education. He is the assistant director of student services in the art and art history department at Stanford University.

’21 LeAnn Glover writes for Fair Observer, an independent nonprofit media organization that engages in citizen journalism and civic education, and she is an advocate for human rights, climate change, and education issues in the developing world. A native of Ghana, she was recognized in 2023 as a Young Professional in Foreign Policy Africa Fellow and project assistant at EnCompass, a woman-owned business providing services to international organizations.

’22 Georgia Brabec, an art history and museum studies graduate, completed a postgraduate internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy. Growing up, she was inspired by the vibrant arts community in her hometown of Minneapolis, and her true passion lies in art historical research.

’22 Aryana Mariam Kazimi writes, “I graduated from USF with my BA in politics. I became a government program analyst for the state of California, and now I'm going back to USF to get my MA in International Studies, with a concentration in global policy and governance. Go Dons!”

’72 Michael Patrick Pearson MA published his most recent book in 2023. The Road to Dungannon is about his journey to Ireland to learn more about his maternal grandfather.

’82 Audry Lynch EdD published a children’s book in 2023. Ruben’s Tales from the Amazon Jungle is a collection of stories about the animals of the Amazon.

’85 Michael J. Emling JD writes that he “no longer practices law in any meaningful way, but instead serves as CEO, winemaker, and assistant janitor at Dark Star Cellars in Paso Robles.”

’87 Jesse Santana JD was appointed to the Sutter County Superior Court by Gov. Gavin Newsom. He has been a partner at Santana and Smith Law Firm in Yuba City since 2014.

’91 John Podesta JD is founder of Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., which hosted Clarence B. Jones, director emeritus of USF’s Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice, in a September 2023 discussion about Jones’ recent book, Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir, about Jones’ time with Martin Luther King Jr.

’98 Frieda Garcia JD was appointed managing partner of BAL, a global corporate immigration law firm. She is the first woman and Latina to serve this role and is the third managing partner in BAL’s 43-year history.

’98 John S. Garrison MBA is a professor of English at Grinnell College in Iowa. He writes, “My book, The Pleasures of Memory in Shakespeare’s Sonnets, has just been published by Oxford University Press. I so enjoyed the opportunity to explore the nature of recollection — from the Renaissance ‘memory arts’ to modern-day psychology — in this famous set of poems.”

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Cindy Luu ’23 This past month has been a life-changing journey for me and my family. I recently graduated and received my BSN from the University of San Francisco. I am incredibly grateful for the friends, professors, and family who have supported me during my years at USF. Not only did I graduate cum laude, but I’m also happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Registered Nurse (RN) from the California Board of Registered Nursing! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me and look forward to learning new skills and knowledge as I officially take my step into the world of nursing.

’00 Benjamin Leoson Hanna JD, former chief deputy district attorney for Shasta County, was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as a judge of the superior court in Shasta County.

’01 Jared Dillian MBA wrote a book, No Worries: How To Live a Stress-Free Financial Life, published in January. He lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

’02 Kinna Patel Crocker JD, a former Santa Rosa family attorney, was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as a Sonoma County judge.

’02 Jane E. Foreman MBA started a new role as director of food service for Otis McAllister, a rice importer.

’02 Lois M. Moore EdD was awarded the Soroptimist International of Novato 2023 Women of Vision Award at their 2023 luncheon. Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization that gives women and girls access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.

’03 Margaret Mary Drucker MA ’04 is co-owner of a financial education startup called ProsperBridge, an employee-owned public benefit corporation.

’03 Ruth P. Beauchamp MA is an educational entrepreneur and author of education resources, curriculums, and professional development materials. She works as a consultant and career development coach.

’06 Jordan S. Sharon MA, a sport management alumnus, moved to Colombia with his wife and daughter in 2021. Upon arriving in the city of Bucaramanga, he immersed himself in the city's golf culture. He opened LiveColombia, a golf venue, there.

’08 Wen Huang MBA was named executive of the year for technology in the 2023 Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards. He is chief technology officer at SoftServe Singapore.

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sfdeltazetaalumnae @sfdeltazetaalumnae: Love that is ever steadfast ~ our alumnae gathered to celebrate Founders Day and the 40th anniversary of the Xi Lambda chapter at University of San Francisco.

’10 Joyce Leslie Schriebman MNA founded a nonprofit in 2010 called My Brother From Another Mother to provide interfaith information. Last year, she wrote a multi-faith children's book coming out in the fall called Oy, Santa! 

’11 Jennifer Anne Heisleman MSN works at Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, and she wrote a chapter about infusion therapy for the textbook Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care.    

’11 Jess Montejano MA is president of Riff City Strategies in San Francisco, which won Small Organization of the Year in PR Week's Purpose Awards.

’12 Kristina Mattis EdD is an education programs consultant and equity broadband coordinator for the California Department of Education, and in December 2023 she published a book, Guiding Transformational Change in Education.

’15 Jennifer Camota Luebke MBA EdD ’13 was recently appointed president and CEO of Relay Resources, a social enterprise in the Pacific Northwest that cultivates employment for people with disabilities. In June 2023, she joined the board of trustees for the national United Cerebral Palsy organization.

’15 Jennifer Leighn Sta. Ana JD is a member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Regional Network, and she is a trial lawyer for the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2023, she was included in On the Rise: Top 40 Young Lawyers from the American Bar Association.

’17 Victor Mauricio Avello MA writes, “I hold the role of project manager at Mount Tamalpais College, which is the first independent and accredited college that operates entirely within San Quentin State Prison. My primary responsibility involves providing support for academic planning and bridging the gap between the traditional college environment and the unique ‘pen and paper’ setting within the prison.”

’18 Anthony Mariano Amboy MFA is director of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program for the Foundation for California Community Colleges.    He has returned to USF to pursue an EdD at the School of Education. 

’18 Bolor Lkhaajav MA is a researcher and writer for The Diplomat magazine. In September 2023 she published her 100th article.

’18 Danielle Suh JD, who is also known by her Korean name Suh-Dong Joo, is a lawyer. She moved to South Korea and became a regular cast member on the variety show “Kick a Goal.”

’19 Glen Ryan Flores Alejandro MA, an English teacher at Castlemont High School, was recognized in 2023 by the Oakland Unified School District for his leadership, creativity, and dedication to learner-centered instruction, specifically the integration of learners’ personal stories into ESL classroom learning.

’19 Esther Sprague MA, a graduate of the international studies program, is co-founder of South Sudan Women United and was recognized by Refugees International for her work to evacuate Sudanese and South Sudanese fleeing the war in Sudan.

’19 Vanessa Genevieve Taylor MBA, a senior consultant with Exadel, writes, "The MBA journey with USF not only transformed me in the business world, it also changed me as a person. It ignited my creativity, ambition, and curiosity. I am more bold, present, and aware.”

’19 Wyatt Lim-Tepper MS ’19 has launched a nonprofit, A Curiae, to provide services, financial assistance, and mentoring for people who are returning from prison. He is also an adjunct professor in the School of Nursing and Health Professions and School of Law at USF.

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Maximillian Diez ’04 Grateful for the 9,802 connections I’ve made since joining LinkedIn in 2007! My goal is to hit 10,000 before year end by connecting with those who share in my passions. Huge thanks to those who’ve engaged with my proptech and fintech discussions, as well as my obsession for all things University of San Francisco.

’22 Russell L. Taylor JD joined Shook, Hardy, & Bacon in San Francisco in the class action and complex litigation practice.

’23 Pierce Hans Stanley JD joined the law firm Berman Tabacco as an associate attorney in San Francisco where he litigates privacy and antitrust matters.

’23 Dolores Mercedes Canizalez MA writes, “I am currently teaching fourth grade at McKinley Elementary in Burlingame. I am teaching in the dual language program, and I am very happy with the knowledge that I have learned from my professors and fellow teachers in my cohort.”

’23 Cho Hsun Yang MS is a data scientist with Rhombus Power in Palo Alto.

’23 Barwende Medard Sane EdD writes, “I am very grateful to the USF School of Education. My next step will be to pursue postdoc research at the Georgetown University environmental justice program.”