Class Notes

The late Ralph Johnson ’59 received a Distinguished Service Award from NY General Contractors in June 2021.

Judy Hallcher ’62 Spillane shared that 12 Gammas spent the week together at Lutheridge in North Carolina in October 2021.

Deanna Hinshaw ’64 Graumann shared that 23 of the 119 women who started Kappa Psi Omega (now Kappa Delta) 60 years ago met in Milwaukee Sept. 28–30, 2021, to celebrate the occasion. They first gathered in 2008 in Valparaiso to celebrate their sisterhood and enjoyed it so much they have been doing so every even-numbered year since. Such gatherings have taken place in Geneva, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; San Diego, California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Charleston, South Carolina. They never imagined the bonds they formed at Valpo would be so strong and last so long, and they give thanks to God and Valpo for this blessing.

Bev Benson ’65 Schultz shared that she is enjoying her time tending her garden and interacting with friends. According to Bev, Valpo was her “fertilizer,” and she bloomed vociferously; she is now “pruned back and still colorful and doing okay.” She wishes for all Valpo grads to have rich and full lives.

Deaconess Carol Halter ’65 continues her work serving the LCMS mission in Hong Kong, connecting with the faithful over Zoom and by telephone when COVID-19 restrictions prevent in-person gatherings

Donna Jean Simon ’71 began her two-year term as Illinois state president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on July 1, 2022. AAUW began in 1881 and is one of the major funders of scholarships and graduate fellowships for deserving women worldwide. AAUW supports and promotes gender and pay equity for women and girls. Donna Jean was formerly the Northern Illinois district director and co-vice president of programs, and formerly served as the co-president of the Wheaton Glen Ellyn AAUW branch.

Jack Hagen ’73 was named interim chief operating officer at EW Howell in April 2022.

Dr. Heather Mitchell ’74 Johnson is senior partner at Reiter Hill & Johnson, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Chevy Chase, Maryland. Her recent publications, “What They Don’t Tell You About Having a Baby: An Obstetrician’s Unofficial Guide to Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum Care,” and “What They Don’t Tell You About Menopause: A Gynecologist’s Unofficial Guide to Perimenopausal, Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Life,” are available through Atlantic Publishers. Learn more at askdrheatherjohnson.com.

Razz Jenkins ’77 sends his greetings from Ragusa, Sicily. Retirement suits Razz and his wife, Patricia, well. “See you at Homecoming or somewhere out there in the world!”

Morris Smith ’81 was named vice president at Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages in April 2022. Morris will serve as vice president of public affairs, communications, and sustainability, serving markets across Texas and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Roy Portenga ’81 J.D. was inducted into the State Bar of Michigan Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame in 2021. He also received the Muskegon Community College Alumni of the Year award.

Luke Curtis ’81 taught a course in occupational medicine in spring 2021 at East Carolina University. In 2021 alone, Luke published eight medical journal papers, including a large review on COVID-19 and air pollution in Environmental Science and Pollution Research and a large review of COVID-19 and nutrition in Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy.

Paul Chambers ’83 is a retired CNN news anchor (1995–2012) now living in his hometown of Garland, Texas, with his wife, Ruth. This past spring, he handled publicity for the upcoming 100th anniversary of Central Lutheran Church of Dallas. The church was founded in 1922 at the Downtown Dallas YMCA. The 100th birthday celebration took place during the weekend of July 22–24, 2022.

Kirk Melhuish ’84 received a commendation from the state of Georgia in recognition of his long and storied career as a broadcast meteorologist. Kirk retired from broadcasting in August 2021 and transitioned into a consulting role.

Kristi Moe ’86 Hope recently launched an executive coaching business in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, John Hope. She is the first female Master Certified ILEC coach, and they are the first husband and wife team to serve as ILEC coaches. Learn more at leadingwithhope.intelligentleadershipec.com.

Peter Marhenke’s ’87 daughter Julia became a fifth generation Valpo graduate in May 2022, and the 10th member of her family to graduate from Valpo. Peter’s great-grandfather graduated in 1901.

Robert Kirtland ’91 was promoted to Colonel, United States Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s Corps on June 13, 2021. During the same ceremony presided over by Brigadier General William B. Dyer III, Commander, United States Army Reserve Legal Command, Col. Kirtland assumed command of the 9th Legal Operations Detachment, an Army Reserve unit headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with teams located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Inkster, Michigan.

Lois Young ’93 Cortell is currently working in Montgomery, Alabama, advancing blight removal and community development. In April 2022, the city’s USA Today-associated newspaper, the Montgomery Advertiser, named her Community Hero of the Month; she received a formal honor at a July 2022 ceremony.

Jukka Kääriäinen ’96, missiologist, Lutheran pastor, and scholar of Chinese Christianity, was named executive director of the Finnish Lutheran Overseas Mission on Oct. 1, 2021. Jukka previously served as mission theologian at the National Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (2019–2021), missionary professor of systematic theology at China Lutheran Seminary, Taiwan, R.O.C. (2011–2018), pastor of Lutheran parishes in New York and New Jersey (2000–2011), and Lutheran chaplain at Princeton University (2008– 2011). A graduate of Concordia Seminary (M.Div., 2000) and Fordham University (Ph.D., 2011), Jukka is author of “Mission Shaped by Promise: Lutheran Missiology Confronts the Challenge of Religious Pluralism” (2011) as well as numerous published articles on mission theology and Lutheran missiology.

Scott Latzke ’97 was named Best-in-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes in May 2022. Forbes’ Best-in-State list recognizes financial advisors who have demonstrated high levels of ethical standards, professionalism, and success in the business.

Brad Pierce ’99 has been creative director with HAVEN Home Staging in downtown Chicago for nine years. Brad leads the company’s aesthetic and oversees its on-trend inventory. Brad has assisted hundreds of homeowners in preparing their homes to sell and has a proven eye for elevating spaces to their fullest potential with creativity and practicality. Brad is passionate about the city’s neighborhoods and the people who live in them through his work with realtors, developers, and homeowners. Brad lives in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood with his wife, Melanie, and daughter, Sarah (9).

Dr. S. Glenn Jaffe ’99 received the 2021 NCCA Doctor of the Year award.

Kenya Jenkins-Wright ’00 was selected as a Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer magazine Salute! Top 50 Women in Law honoree in August 2021.

Nate Holdren ’00 is now a professor at Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa. In 2020, he published his first book, “Injury Impoverished,” which includes references to multiple books he first read in Christ College—The Honors College and in philosophy classes at Valpo. The book is a history of workplace injury and law in the early 20th century United States. It recently won the honorable mention for the Merle Curti Intellectual History Award for 2020, an award offered by the Organization of American Historians.

Stefan Bjes ’00 was awarded the 2021 Missing Children’s Day Law Enforcement Award by the Department of Justice. Stefan is a sergeant with the Addison, Illinois, Police Department.

Maryn Olson ’02 and Angela Fulton were married in St. Louis, Missouri, on Oct.19, 2019. Valpo was well represented among the guests, including graduates spanning multiple decades. Maryn serves as the program director for Pathways to Progress — a program of St. Francis Community Services — a position she started on July 1, 2019. Pathways provides long-term, intensive case management services to families living in poverty in north St. Louis County and the northern part of the city; the program focuses on strengthening the community, educating and empowering families, and advocating for systemic change. Maryn and Angie live in St. Louis.

Lindsey Shelton ’05 has been practicing as a prosecutor in Illinois for the past 12 years and was recently appointed as an associate judge in the 6th Judicial Circuit in Macon County, Illinois.

Lindsey O’Malley ’05 J.D. joined Winthrop & Weinstine’s specialty tax and incentives practice group in February 2022.

Justin Barney ’05 won a national teaching award from Honored in 2021. Justin teaches middle school Spanish at Denver Green School Northfield, a part of Denver Public Schools. He and his family reside in Denver, Colorado.

Kari Murphy ’06 married Kevin Carey in Bloomington, Illinois, on Sept. 18, 2021. Kerri Nanney ’06 McGreal served as a bridesmaid and Tyler Manning, former assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, served as a groomsman. Jennifer Jones-Hall, former assistant dean of students, officiated the ceremony. Kari and Kevin currently reside in Normal, Illinois.

Mark Blakley ’07 and his wife, Megan, welcomed a son, Luke, in August 2019. They relocated to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in April 2021.

Jennifer Durkin ’08 received an employee excellence award in nursing diversity and inclusion in 2021.

In recognition of Brianna Schroeder’s ’09 J.D., ’09 M.S. significant contributions to the practice of Janzen Agricultural Law LLC, the firm was renamed Janzen Schroeder Agricultural Law LLC in February 2021

Paula Maust ’09 is pleased to share “Expanding the Music Theory Canon,” an open-source collection of music theory examples by women and BIPoC composers that she created to address racial and gender inequities in the field. This is the first platform of this magnitude and scope tailored specifically to undergraduate courses. Since its launch in 2021, the site has had more than 15,000 users in 61 countries, and a companion score anthology is forthcoming from SUNY Press. Paula speaks regularly to universities across the country about the need for a more inclusive curriculum, and she is an assistant professor of music theory at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Learn more at expandingthemusictheorycanon.com.

Patrick Lay ’09 joined the faculty at Columbus College of Art and Design as an adjunct professor, teaching a course on comics and narrative illustration

Warren Arnold ’09 married Holly Lynn Golcher on July 9, 2022. The wedding took place in Chicago at Fourth Presbyterian Church. Members of the wedding party included Alex Ericksen ’09, Tim Kratz ’09, Ryan Kozey ’09, and Katrina Queram, wife of John Queram ’08.

Cindy Miller ’10 Stemple was recently named ambassador for the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. She was honored to have been recognized by the organization that drives national and international efforts to advance prevention, detection, and treatment of head and neck cancer.

Gabriele Bladdick ’10 Deitsch and Kevin Deitsch ’11 welcomed Oakley Lynn Deitsch on Nov. 11, 2021.

Mandy Chalk ’10 and David Marquardt ’15 were married on Oct. 3, 2020, in Lafayette, Indiana. Valpo alumni in the wedding party included Johannah Facer ’15 Frey as officiant, Samuel Yablonowski ’15 as best man, and Chris Miller ’15 as groomsman. Other alumni in attendance included Polina Kogay ’11 McLaughlin, Tom McLaughlin ’14, and Jacob Frey ’15.

Bryan Manalo ’11 passed the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) certification exam on Feb. 19, 2020. This examination is offered through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

Robin Lehninger ’11 joined national law firm Dykema’s new office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in January 2022

Matthew Kochevar ’11, ’14 J.D. was appointed to serve on the City of Beech Grove Board of Zoning Appeals. He was also elected vice president of the City of Beech Grove Redevelopment Commission.

Kristin Flora ’11 was appointed vice president for academic affairs and dean of Franklin College of central Indiana, in April 2021.

Gabriele Bladdick ’10 Deitsch and Kevin Deitsch ’11 welcomed Oakley Lynn Deitsch on Nov. 11, 2021.

Laura Ehlen ’12 Norris and Ryan Norris ’11 welcomed daughter Isla Joan on Sept. 16, 2019

Amber Kratochvil ’12 was named director of perioperative services at the University of Chicago in May 2022. In her new role, Amber will have full oversight of all operations of the sixth floor of the Center for Care and Discovery. Amber has been a part of UChicago Medicine since late 2013 and has transitioned over the years from an operating room nurse and member of the transplant team into various levels of leadership.

Alyson Raabe ’12 Jones was married in November 2018. Her father, Craig Raabe ’85 and his parents Audrey MacLachlan ’59 Raabe and William Raabe ’59, also attended Valpo. Other alumni in attendance include Madelyn Horvath ’12, Kelsey Gatza ’12, Julie Johnson ’12, ’15 J.D. Weller, Andrew Weller ’12, and Augusta McKie, an exchange student from Cambridge who studied at Valpo in 2011. The group became close while studying abroad as part of C-86. Alyson’s father, Craig, also studied abroad in Cambridge

Katie Szymanski ’13 J.D. joined Varnum LLP’s estate planning practice. During her time at Valpo, Katie was the recipient of the National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Student Award.

Bryan Rogers ’13 J.D. was named partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, in January 2022. Bryan concentrates his practice on construction litigation, commercial litigation, and business disputes, as well as general trial practice.

Thaddeus Harrell ’13 J.D. joined the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP as a labor and employment specialist.

Nate King ’15 was appointed to the 2022 cohort of McCain Global Leaders, sponsored by the McCain Institute for International Leadership. The cohort is made up of leaders working in the arena in a variety of public sector, private sector, military, and NGO positions that are all connected to a thematic focus area for each region. The regional themes include migration, defending democracy, peace and security, and sustainability.

Mandy Chalk ’10 and David Marquardt ’15 were married on Oct. 3, 2020, in Lafayette, Indiana. Valpo alumni in the wedding party included Johannah Facer ’15 Frey as officiant, Samuel Yablonowski ’15 as best man, and Chris Miller ’15 as groomsman. Other alumni in attendance included Polina Kogay ’11 McLaughlin, Tom McLaughlin ’14, and Jacob Frey ’15.

Shelby Riley ’16 O’Malley and husband, Toby, welcomed Easton James O’Malley on Oct. 4, 2021.

Rachael DeVries ’17 is working on a master’s degree in bioinformatics at Copenhagen University. Her thesis research involves building a diagnostic machine learning model that takes single-cell RNA sequence data as input, and querying the model to explore connections between gene expression and disease

Marcus Clinkscales ’18 J.D. joined Winthrop & Weinstine’s specialty tax and incentives practice group in February 2022.

Julia Marhenke ’22 became a fifth generation Valpo graduate, and the 10th member of her family to graduate from Valpo. Her great-great-grandfather graduated in 1901 and her father, Peter Marhenke, in 1987.