Alumni Notes

Gary Browning MA ’63, BA ’62, Mesa, Ariz., long since retired from teaching in Longmont, provides entertainment on trumpet and vibraphone throughout the Phoenix valley and is also the director of the Mountain Brook Village Community Band in Gold Canyon, Ariz. Browning is currently playing at the famous Arizona Golf Resort in Mesa on Saturday nights.

Maureen Browning BA ’63, Mesa, Ariz., has written short stories which have been published on a storytelling website. One of her anecdotal stories was selected for publication in the Arizona Republic’s 125th Anniversary Edition in 2015. Browning is working on her medical memoir, For My Surgeons’ Eyes Only, and is pursuing traditional publishing.

John D. Williams Ph.D. ’66, MA ’60, BA ’59, Ocean Park, Wash., is an emeritus professor at The University of North Dakota and author of the recently published book Lee Harvey Oswald, Lyndon Johnson & the JFK Assassination.

G. Benjamin Baxley MA ’74 and BA ’73 North Palm Beach, Fla., was named Volunteer of the Year 2019 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Fla. Baxley is on staff at Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, Fla. with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Teresa (Wagner) Weydert BA and BS ’75, Washington, Utah, retired after 26 years as an elementary physical education teacher in the Tacoma School District including seven years as a high school swim coach and five years working for the Department of the Army in Germany.

Larry R. Lambert MA ’76, Wenatchee, Wash., was involved in commercial aviation first as an Alaskan bush pilot and later hired by Northwest Airlines flying he B-747-400 internationally. Lambert retired July 2015 as a Seattle-based International captain flying the B767-300ER worldwide.

Daniel Pierce MA ’80 and BA ’75, Parker, retired after 42 years of coaching tennis at Highlands Ranch High School and Cherry Creek High School in 2018. Pierce retired from teaching in 2014 after 40 years in Douglas County.

Kahle Charles BA ’81, Longmont,is the assistant superintendent of Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction for the St. Vrain Valley School District.

Lance Lahnert BA ’81, Amarillo, Texas, was inducted into Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. He retired from the Amarillo Globe-News after 38 years as sports writer/editor. He currently hosts the radio show The Sports Drive.

Neil Williams BS ’83, Bronx, N.Y., recently published a children’s book, Little Bear Sam From Greeley Square.

James S. Juliana MA ’84, BA ’75, Littleton, has published his second book A Secret Life: Enduring and Triumphing Over OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Melody Holehan-Kopas MA ’85, BA ’84, Anthem, Ariz., was awarded the Follett 2019 Arizona School Librarian of the Year.

Stephen Sobiech BAE ’86, Bloomington, Ind., is writing and producing a dark comedy series about a mental health therapist.

Patricia M. “Patsy” Collins Bandes BA ’95, Belmont, Mass., was appointed chair of theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, a leading performing arts conservatory. Bandes is also completing her master’s degree from Harvard University.

Earnest Collins Jr. BA ’96, Miami Gardens, Fla., has been named senior associate athletics director for compliance and operations at Florida Memorial University (FMU). In his new role, Collins will have direct oversight of FMU’s compliance program, while also reviewing and updating policies and procedures. Additionally, he will serve as a sports supervisor for women’s soccer and cheerleading, have oversight of the athletic training, strength and conditioning units.

Jodi (Cyr) Gidcumb BS ’98, Milliken, owns a business installing Public Safety Emergency Responder Radio Systems in commercial buildings for fire, police, and EMS so they have radio communications or cellular communications.

Ronald Sentwali Bakari Ph.D. ’00, Colorado Springs, has been appointed new vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Chris Lynett BS ’02, Denver, has been recognized on the Forbes Next Generation Best in State Wealth Advisor List.

Paul Coleman MM ’04, BM ’01, West Henrietta, N.Y., appeared on an episode of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts as a member of the New York-based Ensemble Signal performing the music of Radiohead guitarist and composer Johnny Greenwood.

Darren C. McHugh BA ’05, Austin, Texas, joined Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP as partner in the Austin office.

Tara Stevenson BA ’05 St. Augustine, Fla., was named dean of student engagement and career development at Flagler College in St. Augustine after serving at the college in various roles for 10 years.

Adam Cordova BA ’06, Greeley, was recently awarded the Morgan Community College Alumni of the Decade award. Cordova earned an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of General Studies degrees before coming on to UNC. He graduated UNC with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and is a Cumbres alum as well. Cordova is currently a Spanish teacher at Northridge High School in Greeley.

Timothy Stueven BS ’06 Denver, was admitted into the partner group at his public accounting firm, ACM (Anton Collins Mitchell), LLP.

Shashwatta P. Dutta BA ’08, Denver, was appointed UNC Trustee by Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

Kate Imy MA ’10, Hickory Creek, Texas, is an assistant professor of history at the University of North Texas and has authored her first book entitled Faithful Fighters: Identity and Power in the British Indian Army.

Jessamyn Miller BA ’10, Aurora, won Teacher of the Year at Sky Vista Middle School and Middle School Theatre Teacher of the Year from Colorado Thespians.

Yeni “Violeta” Garcia Ph.D. ’13, Denver, has been selected as Denver Urban Gardens’ Executive Director. DUG said about Garcia, “The board sought a leader who is passionate and knowledgeable about food access who will continue to build community through food systems.”

Aisha Jackson BA ’13, New York, N.Y., has been cast as Snow White in Once Upon A Time, One More Time, debuting in Chicago this April before hitting Broadway later this year.

Jamie Lloyd MA ’13 and BA ’10, Flagstaff, Ariz., accepted a position as assistant director of residential life at Northern Arizona University.

Nicholas “Nick” Kenny MM ’16, Greeley, was named Ambassador of the Year by the Greeley Chamber of Commerce. Kenny currently serves as the executive director of the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra.

Cody L. Wilson MA ’18, BS ’17, Castle Rock, reported to Marine Corp Officer Candidate School in December. Thank you for your service, Cody.

Timothy M. “Tim” Hernandez BA ’19, Denver, was selected as a 2020 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute intern in Washington, D.C.