Class Notes

Sarah Schaefer ’90 has worked on the Isotek System’s Uranium-233 Disposition Project for the last 16 years in positions ranging from nuclear facility manager to project manager. This year she was promoted to President of the LLC. This project is safely disposing of cold war era fissile material for the Department of Energy while extracting life-saving radioisotopes for nuclear medicine.

Greg Warner ’90 and Gail Warner ’90 have retired early and moved to España. During their time at Valpo, they learned that truly anything was possible. They say their professors, peers and mentors never stopped us from dreaming and, as a result, they worked hard, saved money and left their careers in their mid-50’s to become permanent residents of what they argue is one of the most beautiful places in Europe.

Peter A. Richert ’90 J.D. and Victoria Richert adopted Emilio Richert, born on Sept. 19, 2014. He has lived with his parents since he left the hospital on day three.

Krista Steinke ’90 was named a 2017–2018 Howard Foundation Fellow in Photography, sponsored through Brown University. For the fellowship, she will work on a project titled “Good Luck with the Sun,” which will debut in a solo exhibition in Austin, Texas, in April 2018. A selection from the project will be on exhibit at the Brauer Museum of Art in fall 2018.

Leah Cleeland ’90 earned her MSW from the University of Denver in 1992 and her Ph.D. in social work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. Her research focus is on military members, veterans, and their families. She is employed by the University of Minnesota Duluth as an assistant professor of social work.

Greg Herker ’90 serves as the Fab Lab Program Director at Palmer Hamilton, where he leads their efforts in delivering turn-key Fab Lab/Makerspace solutions to K–12 schools across the U.S. Greg currently serves as the board chairman of the United States Fab Lab Network; has consulted on Fab Lab development through the National Science Foundation; and assisted numerous educational programs from K-12 through post-secondary in their Fab Lab programs, including delivering presentations on Fab Lab/Makerspace Programs in education at MIT, Stanford, the Association for Career and Technical Education, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, and the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers, among others. He is also heavily engaged with the National Coalition of Certification Centers in developing training and curriculum for educators to leverage in the Fab Labs & Makerspaces. In addition to holding a degree in business and communication from Valparaiso University, Greg is a distinguished graduate of the Dale Carnegie — Sales Advantage Program, is a certified GrowthWheel business advisor, is certified in business incubation management through the International Business Innovation Association, and is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Racine.