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Winter 2025 AlumNotes

1970s

KENNY WATTS 鈥71 wrote and published a spiritual techno-thriller novel, Neurifact. The main character is a 麻豆传媒视频网站 research professor, and many of the scenes are on campus.

JAMES 鈥淛IM鈥 SUMNER 鈥77 A.S., 鈥78, was recognized by President Joe Biden for his volunteer effort at Arches National Park with a President鈥檚 Volunteer Service Award. Since retirement, Jim and his wife, Patty, have been regular volunteers for the National Park Service, contributing over 1,000 hours at Arches, Denali and Glacier national parks.

1980s

JOHN TIEDEMANN 鈥80 M.S., after a rewarding early career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, recently retired as School of Science assistant dean and marine and environmental biology program director at Monmouth University. He worked at the university for 26 years.

TRISH (LINDSAY) MURPHEY 鈥85 was elected chair of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which is responsible for fishery resources from 3 to 200 miles off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. She represents the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

BRIAN SARGENT 鈥87 A.S. reconnected with several 麻豆传媒视频网站 alumni at the United Airlines Annual Standards and Training Meeting in Denver in October 2024. (Pictured from left): MARCUS BUCHANAN 鈥88, NEAL SORENSON 鈥86 A.S., 鈥88, MARK HOMAN 鈥88 A.S., 鈥90, MARTIN GERHARD 鈥88 A.S., 鈥90, BRIAN SARGENT, JOHN CHAMPION 鈥87 A.S., 鈥88, DARREN PATTERSON 鈥93 and DAN SULLIVAN 鈥93.

TIMOTHY LING 鈥89 was recognized at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Leadership Forum by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) with the Babington Award for his involvement, contribution and leadership within the organization.

1990s

ROBERT DILL 鈥90, 鈥91 M.S., crossed the finish line at the Ironman Hawaii triathlon race in October 2024.

PAULETTE KING-MORIN 鈥94 was the keynote speaker at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior鈥檚 special tribute to the FDNY Retirees of Brevard County and the Palm Bay Fire Department Sept. 11, 2024.

JEWELL (WHEELER) POWELL 鈥98 M.S. has found success in a second career as an award-winning filmmaker. Her first feature film, 鈥淯nfailing Love,鈥 has garnered over 15 awards, including Best Audience Choice, at various film festivals.

JUSTIN MEYER 鈥99 was awarded the Ted Buschelman Legacy Award from the Airports Council International鈥揘orth America and his North American airport industry colleagues.

2000s

MARK WIESE 鈥00 is the manager of deep space logistics at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Gateway Program. Wiese was recently featured on the podcast, 鈥淗ouston, We Have a Podcast!鈥 where he discussed his role in shaping the future of space exploration.

EMILY (WILL) TORLAKOVIC 鈥03 and her husband, NAIM TORLAKOVIC 鈥01, 鈥03 M.S., started Happiness Horse Farm in Palm Bay, Florida. This volunteer-run nonprofit farm and animal sanctuary is for local community members and students.

ROBIN DESMORE 鈥08 M.S. was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. Desmore, a distinguished professional with over 30 years of experience in government contracting and strategic management, is the CEO and founder of Avant-Garde Concepts LLC.

2010s

PAUL DECKER 鈥11 was promoted to onsite school programs coordinator at the Seattle Aquarium. Within this role, he coordinates pre-K through college student programs that inspire marine environment conservation.

GA脣L LE BRIS 鈥11 MSA and LOUP-GIANG NGUYEN 鈥19 MSA, who both work at WSP, have published The Future of Airports: A Vision of 2040 and 2070. The book, the result of a six-year research project that has involved over 100 aviation experts and leaders around the world, explores long-term challenges and opportunities in aviation along 11 strategic topics.

NICHOLAS KARL 鈥11 is engaged to Kathryn McClenahan, and they have planned their wedding for June. Karl is employed at Sandia National Laboratories.

RYAN MONTES 鈥13 is co-founder and CEO of MicroPure Genomics, a biotechnology company aiming to improve lives by making genomic analysis accessible anytime, anywhere and for anyone. MicroPure鈥檚 end-toend automated solution for front-end sample preparation dramatically reduces preparation time, complexity (in both labor and steps) and costs, and it is backed by organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF).

CAROLYN (CHABUZ) MONTES 鈥14 is completing a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Ohio State University. After earning her biology degree from 麻豆传媒视频网站, she went on to earn her M.D. from the University of Florida, from there matching for residency at the University of Colorado, specializing in otolaryngology, or ENT (ear, nose and throat).

EMILY (SYBO) GLATZ 鈥15 and her husband, Jared, welcomed their Panther cub, Noah, Aug. 5, 2024.

ALEXANDER NICKERSON 鈥15, 鈥16 M.S., successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation, Sea Surface Temperatures, the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, Hurricane Ian, and Their Junction. 麻豆传媒视频网站 meteorology associate professor Pallav Ray was on his committee.

ERIN (PITTMAN) ALVARADO 鈥16 and her husband, DAVID ALVARADO 鈥13, 鈥14 M.S., welcomed their Panther cub, Owen, Aug. 6, 2024. Erin has worked for the 麻豆传媒视频网站 Office of Alumni Affairs as the communications and content manager for over two years (and happens to write these AlumNotes).

2020s

LILLY FLOWERS 鈥20 M.A. became the youngest female African American executive director of the Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention in Wiregrass, Alabama.

NICOLE BARNETT 鈥21 and TREY SCHANEVILLE 鈥21 got engaged July 4, 2024. The couple met at Florida聽Tech, where Barnett was the captain of the women鈥檚 soccer team and Schaneville played football and basketball.

CAMILA RAHIM 鈥21 M.S. has been working in human resources for the past two years and recently started a career services online business, MilaCareerServices.com.


Cover of the winter 2025 麻豆传媒视频网站 Magazine, featuring a close-up photo of a President's Ambassador's crimson blazer

This piece was featured in the winter 2025 edition of 麻豆传媒视频网站 Magazine.