Class Notes - Fall 2010
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Elizabeth Kearney GEd’59 is the president of Kearney & Associates: The Experts’ Alliance. She is currently researching generational patterns and their effect on the workplace, particularly as the Millennial Generation enters the workforce.
Gerald Smith GrEd’64 sends the following update from his home in San Mateo, CA: “After finishing [my] work at Penn, I returned to my home area of San Francisco, CA. I secured licensure as a licensed psychologist then began a private practice in San Mateo, CA. Though now 79, I have no plans to retire and look forward to most every hour of work. I [have written] two books concerning family communication: Couple Therapy and Hidden Meanings. I am married and part of a family of twenty that includes eight grandchildren. Both sons and a daughter-in-law are also psychotherapists.”
Irvin McPhail GrEd’76 was named President and CEO of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering on September 1, 2009.
Celeste Clement GEd’85 will soon publish her book Little Stories for Little People to Leaf Through…Read, Hear, and Doodle through the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, VT.
Alan Fegley C’80 W’80 GEd’83 was named superintendent of the Phoenixville Area School District, effective July 1, 2010. He comes to Phoenixville from the Haddonfield School District.
Jeanne Stanley GEd’87 GR’93 stepped down from her full-time faculty role at Penn GSE in order to develop her private practice in mental health counseling and college and career coaching. Jeanne will continue to teach classes in the GSE counseling program.
Yvonne K. Fulbright, Ph.D. GEd’98 published a book on sex and relationships in June 2010 and has also launched a website that serves as a hub for sexuality information and education. Visit Yvonne’s website: www.yvonnekfulbright.com.
Christopher Hopey Gr’98 was named president of Merrimack College in Andover, MA, and began his tenure on July 1, 2010.
Jon Lasser GEd’94 and his wife, Illysa Foster, recently published Professional Ethics in Midwifery Practice, an applied ethics books for students and practicing midwives. Dr. Lasser is an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program at Texas State University-San Marcos.
Gloria J. McNeal, R.N., Ph.D. GNu’75 Gr’98 was recently named Founding Dean of the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA.
Juan Acevedo GEd’10, Zachary Bencan GEd’09, Rekha Bhatt GEd’09, Elizabeth Humphries GEd’09, and Mallory Loveridge GEd’10 were awarded their schools’ 2010 Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teachers in the Philadelphia School District.
Theo Burnes GEd’01 has been appointed Associate Professor in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Alliant International University in Los Angeles, CA. Theo previously served as a Senior Lecturer and the Associate Director of the Professional Counseling and Applied Psychology Programs at Penn GSE.
Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor Gr’01 co-authored the recently released book Teachers Act Up: Creating Multilingual Learning Communities through Theatre, which provides educators with information on using theatrical strategies to encourage conversations about race, language, class, and curriculum in numerous settings and contexts.
Megan Carlson GEd’06 married Bennett Langman on June 27, 2009. They reside in Cherry Hill, NJ. Megan teaches 9th and 11th grade English at Cherry Hill West. Ben is an attorney with Mayfield, Turner, O’Mara, Donnelly, & McBride in Philadelphia.
Francis M. Hult Gr’07 was selected as a 2010 Language Learning Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at the Language Research Centre, University of Calgary.
Kara Jackson Gr’07 was named a National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow for 2010-2011.
Pearl Jonas C'05 GEd'10 began teaching Social Studies at the Nuevo Mundo School in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in August 2010. This bilingual school serves elementary and high school students in Guayaquil. Pearl’s involvement there is the beginning of an evolving International Teaching Certificate program for graduates of Penn GSE’s Teacher Education Program.
V. Scott Koerwer GrEd’01 was named president of Newberry College in Newberry, SC, and began his tenure on July 1, 2010.
Leroy Nunery WF’01 GrEd’03 was named deputy superintendent of the Philadelphia School District on June 9, 2010, effective immediately.
Jo Ann Rooney GrEd’05 was named the sixth president of Mount Ida College in Newton, MA, and began her tenure on July 1, 2010.
ShaVon Y. Savage GEd’02 G’07 L’07 has joined the Education Law Group of Wisler Pearlstine, LLP. ShaVon’s practice focuses on representing school districts, universities, and charter schools in general and special education matters.
Caitlin Wood Sklar GrEd’07 has been appointed Director of Development for the Regional Office of KIPP Philadelphia Schools, where she will support KIPP's expansion from two middle schools to ten schools serving K-12. The schools are located in North and West Philadelphia. KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) is a national network of high performing charter schools. Dr. Wood Sklar played an active role in starting up two other charter schools: Community Academy Public Charter School in 1997 in Washington, DC and Philadelphia Montessori Charter School in 2004. She served as Associate Director and Director of Montessori Education at PMCS through 2010.
Ellis Van Orman GEd’51 passed away in November 2009. Prior to coming to GSE, Ellis graduated from Juniata College and served in the Army in North Africa and Italy during World War II. After teaching for several years, Ellis worked as a principal and assistant district superintendent until becoming superintendent of the Central Dauphin School District in 1973. He held this position until his retirement in 1979. Ellis is survived by two sons, Paul and Philip; two brothers, Kenneth and Melvin; and five grandchildren.
D. Caroline Vlaskamp GrEd’94 passed away in January 2010.