Class Notes Spring/Summer 2022

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2020's

Patricia Brolin-Ribi | 

Mainstee, Michigan

Patricia was elected president of the International Chapter of PEO Sisterhood for 2022.


Haines Eason | 

Lawrence, Kansas 

Haines is the managing editor of "A Place for Mom" and is a published freelance writer.


Jonathan Karlen | 2021

Missoula, Montana

Jonathan was selected to represent Montana at the Western Governors’ Leadership Institute in the summer of 2022. The Leadership Institute recognizes and rewards each delegate’s history of leadership. As a delegate, Jonathan, along with 21 other young leaders, will learn directly from governors and other influential leaders in the West.

2010's

Reagan Colyer | 2017 

Bozeman, Montana

Reagan was named assistant editor of Trail Runner magazine, a partner publication of Outside magazine. An alum of UM's track and field and cross country teams, she also has worked as a local reporter for the Madisonian in Ennis, Mont, and as a news service writer covering agriculture at Montana State University.


Christian Hunter | 2015

Warren, PA

Christian completed the 2,200-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail.


Megan Torgerson | 2014

Dagban, Montana

Megan was named Public Humanities Fellow from Humanities Washington, in its inaugural cohort of fellows. She will produce a new series of her podcast "Reframing Rural."


Lee Baxter | 2012

Anchorage, Alaska

Lee was promoted to shareholder at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. Lee is part of the Indian Country and Alaska Native Corporation and Natural Resources industry groups.


Bess Pallares | 2011

Brookings, South Dakota

Bess has joined Portland-based comics publisher Oni Press as an editor. Bess previously worked for Oni Press while completing her master's in publishing at Portland State University, and will now manage titles including Rick and Morty and Aggretsuko.


2000's

Maritsa Georgiou-Hamilton | 2008

Missoula, Montana

Maritsa was awarded the Walter Cronkite Award for her coverage of U.S. Postmaster General policies implemented nationwide, the effect of which was to slow down mail delivery. Her reporting for NBC Montana broke the story of mailbox removal in Montana, especially in Democratic areas, potentially disenfranchising voters. Maritsa now works as a national correspondent for the news company Newsy.


Stephanie Krebs-Anderson | 2007

Spokane, Washington

Stephanie was recently promoted to the role of associate general counsel and deputy ethics and compliance officer of ENGIE Impact, a management consulting company in Spokane, Washington.


Anna Birkas | 2006 

Ukiah, California 

Anna is the founder of Chickfly pants design for women. The patented design has a pull-apart fly design that caters to female outdoors enthusiasts. After a successful Kickstarter campaign. Chickfly has just launched its online store.


Sherri Mason | 2001

Erie, Pensylvainia 

Sherri works to enhance the effort to stop microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes. Her work has prompted major companies to change their production process and led the Food and Drug Administration to ban plastic microbeads in face creams and shampoos. Her new project is to launch a food composting system at Penn State Behrend where she is a professor and sustainability coordinator.


Pearlynn Houck | 2002

Charlotte, North Carolina

Pearlynn was named a Power Player by Sports Business Journal in recognition of outstanding work in sports law.


Sam Sunshine-DeWitt | 2001

Denver, Colorado

"I landed my dream job with the Brewers Association, the national craft beer trade association, as state government affairs manager. I spend my days lobbying state lawmakers on the economic impact of local breweries on their economies and communities, pushing for reforms and funding to help these small businesses thrive, and protecting them from harmful changes and upheaval in the market."

1990's

Gregory Gourdet | 1999

Portland, Oregon

Gregory was selected to compete on Netflix's "Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend" this summer. A native of Queens, N.Y., Gregory is a celebrated chef, best-selling author, and television personality. He owns the famous pop-up restaurant Kann PDX and is also the former executive chef and culinary director of Departure at The Nines in Portland, Ore.


Matt Ziglar | 1998

Stuttgart, Germany

Col. Ziglar was named commander of US Army Garrison Stuttgart in Germany.


Sarah (Schmid) Stevenson | 1998

Missoula, Montana 

Sarah recently took a position in political communications for Moonsail North, a PR firm in Michigan and California. She spent the previous 10 years as editor of Xconomy Detroit, covering the business of technology and innovation.


Kyle Wood | 1996

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Kyle volunteered as an international election observer for the October 2021 presidential election in Uzbekistan.


Muhammad Farooqui | 1994

Lahore, Pakistan

Muhammad recently retired and has 36 years of professional experience in academia, including teaching, research, administration, budget management and strategic planning. He earned his Ph.D. in geology from UM in 1994, after which he returned to Pakistan to continue his career in academia. During his time at UM, he served as an ASUM senator and member of the University Court. His contributions to making UM a more diverse and multicultural community were recognized by UM and was awarded a certificate of honor.


Tracy Stone-Manning | 1992

Missoula, Montana

Tracy was named director of the federal Bureau of Land Management in 2021 by President Joe Biden.


Bill Johnston | 1979, '91 

Missoula, Montana 

Bill was honored with the Montana Ambassador Plenipotentiary award. Bill serves as the community relations officer at First Security Bank of Missoula.

1980's

Jeff Jenson | 1984

Boulder, Colorado

Jeff received the 2022 Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research in January 2022.


Dan Vuckovich | 1982 

Great Falls, Montana

Dan was elected chair of the Montana State Board of Accountants, serves on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Professional Ethics Executive Committee and the NASBA UAA (Uniform Accountancy Act) Committee.


Brian Handel | 1982

Glendive, Montana

Brian recently was named business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #206 for Montana.


1970's

Luana Ross | 1979

Seattle, Washington

Luana was featured among top influential American Indian scholars in the nation at AcademicInfluence.com. She is a sociologist and associate professor emerita of gender, women, and sexuality studies at the University of Washington.


Deborah McWhinney | 1977

New York City, New York

Debby was named to the Standard and Poor's Board of Directors following a merger with IHS Markit.


Tim Brick | 1976

Traverse City, Michigan

Tim was awarded a declaration from the state of Michigan in recognition of more than 30 years of radio broadcasting of high school football games in his hometown of Traverse City, Mich. He also was recognized for his involvement in raising more than $2 million to refurbish the local high school stadium.


Richard Kaudy | 1976

Littleton, Colorado

Richard was elected president of the Colorado chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. 


Alfred B. YoungMan | 1974

Lethbridge, Alberta

Alfred was featured among top influential American Indian scholars in the nation at AcademicInfluence.com. Originally from Rocky Boy's reservation, he is widely known for his work as a Cree artist, writer and educator.