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Chorus girls

The presence of chorus girls at a 1921 fraternity party revealed scandalous behavior by students and administrators alike.

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Bill Martin's legacy

As he approaches retirement, the athletic director will go down as one of U-M's most influential figures.

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A world without ice

Geophysics professor Henry Pollack explains how scientists know that CO₂ is at its highest level in 800,000 years, and what it means for the planet.

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Veterans Radio

U-M alumni and Vietnam veterans Dale Throneberry and Bob Gould found their calling in the stories of fellow vets.

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Tarantino's film history

The director's latest film is brutally violent at the same time it joyfully recalls movies of the past.

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Canadian, eh

Native speakers are increasingly proud of the "fizzy Canadian cocktail" that is their language.

An online magazine for alumni and friends of U-M.

Alumni notes

Read about U-M history, and tell your own stories about what U-M was like when you were here, at our Heritage page.

Wendy Uhlmann,

received the National Society of Genetic Counselors Outstanding Volunteer Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and leadership on November 14, 2009 at the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference in Atlanta, GA.

Margaret Mallory,

Margaret Mallory announces the release of KNIGHT OF PLEASURE (ALL THE KING'S MEN). Available in bookstores everywhere, December.

Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to forget her duty to her betrothed, her king, and her country.

Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. When a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen must prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure ... and that love can conquer all. www.margaretmallory.com

Portia Trenholm Hamlar,

has published a memoir and family history, "A Sense of Humor Helps." This book is a family history covering the period 1830 through 2004 and includes my memoir and life in the south for African Americans prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This book was published by Equity Press on 4/8/09. It is available on amazon.com under my maiden name, Trenholm, as author.

Nami Mun,

won a 2009 Whiting Award. The awards, which are $50,000 each, totaling $500,000, have been given annually since 1985 to writers of exceptional talent and promise in early career. Nami won in the fiction category for her novel "Miles from Nowhere." Born in Seoul, South Korea, she now lives in Chicago.

Susan Valiquett,

Sue Valiquett is the author of "The Rock People," a children's book with an eco-friendly message that is fresh, fun and interactive. "The Rock People" is a story about a little girl named Nae-Nae who discovers that rocks have faces. Through a family legend, Nae-Nae learns the Rock People are here to heal and protect the Earth. The Rock People story weaves the intuitive nature of rock collecting, the emotional faces on rocks and the magic of legend to enlighten a child to Earth's fragility and their power to help. The Rock People is printed in the USA on eco-friendly paper. To purchase a copy and learn more please visit our kid-friendly website at www.therockpeople.net

Wessam Ibrahim,

Wessam writes us: "When I went Scuba diving in the Red Sea this weekend I had to represent U-M under water where we definitely GO BLUEEEEE. There was 3 of us who had met in Michigan, and we all ended up meeting for a Scuba trip in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a Red Sea Coral Reef exploration. Just thought that it was cool that we had this meet-up after graduating three years ago. Us Wolverines, we are everywhere. A group of us will also be holding the first Middle East Alumni Conference in Dubai on the 24th of October , 2009, and we will be visited by Ms. Jo Rumsey, Vice President of the Michigan Alumni Association at the University of Michigan for the opening. GO BLUE!!"

Nathaniel Sutton,

Nathaniel Sutton is a musician and songwriter. He's just released a new album, Starlite. You can hear and purchase it on his website.

Eseohe Arhebamen,

Edoheart (Eseohe Arhebamen) is teaching another dance workshop at The Living Theatre, expecting a poetry chapbook publication from Laughing Mouse Press, designing a limited clothing label with another U-M alum, Angela (Youells) Sweet, and working on an album. Since graduating from U-M, she has performed in New York, South Korea, Nigeria, Finland, Germany, Estonia and Latvia; and has been featured in publications for The Diverse Universe Festival, The Korea Experimental Arts Festival, The Low Lives Exhibition and the Ukrainian monthly magazine of cultural resistance, "SHO" and opened for The Wailers as a former member of the Afro-beat band, NOMO. Follow Edoheart at http://facebook.com/edoheart

Janet Anderson Platt,

Hello to anyone who remembers our fun times at the school of Music 78-79. Also thank you to those of you who followed me to Iowa to play and sing at my first wedding. Yes, a few more did follow. Hope to hear from you.

M. Dujon Johnson,

M. Dujon Johnson's first book 'Race and racism in the Chinas: Chinese racial attitudes toward Africans and African-Americans was a 2008 NAACP Image Award nominee for 'Outstanding Literary Work, Non-Fiction.'
Mr. Johnson was named in International visiting scholar at Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the only think tank in Asia devoted to promoting democracy.(www.tfd.org.tw/). Mr. Johnson is the first African-American to be named a visiting scholar at this prestigious institute.
M. Dujon Johnson received his Doctorate of Philosopy in 2009 from National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan. Dr. Johnson is the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. from a university in the Republic of China.

Davi Napoleon,

Davi Napoleon, LSA '66, Rackham '68, writes Theater Talk, a column for the new online paper, The Faster Times. Theater Talk explores issues and trends in the commercial and not-for-profit theater and profiles theater artists and managers.

Joe Fairchild,

Joe Fairchid is currently running across the United States in order to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He left Boston in August and is planning on finishing in L.A. You can read an article about his run here, or go to his website, runsomemore.com for more information.

Kendrick Brown,

Prof. Kendrick Brown, who received his MA in 1996 and his PhD in 1998 from the University of Michigan, is the new Associate Dean of the Faculty at Macalester College.

Courtney Conover,

Like most dog lovers, Courtney Conover will never forget her first dog, Prince – though she never thought he would inspire a story that would be included in an internationally published book. But that’s precisely what happened for Conover, the former deputy mayor of Westland, who is cooking up a new career: author. Her story, Prince of Pleasure, will appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog which is scheduled to arrive in bookstores September 22, 2009. In the book dog lovers delight readers with humorous, heartwarming, and inspiring stories about lessons their canine friends and family members have taught them.

Conover’s story focuses on how her German shepherd-beagle mix, maintained a zest for life despite a number of health challenges. Conover says that writing the story was the first step in allowing her own passion to charter her life’s course, which eventually led to the decision to pursue writing seriously.

“Prince lived life with the uncanny combination of gusto and compassion in a way that only a dog can and we as people should. Quite simply, he lived in the moment,” writes Conover. “If we fail to experience pleasure, if we fail to experience excitement…don’t we fail to experience life?”

After graduating from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Conover went on to become a television reporter and producer for WLTX News 19 in Columbia, South Carolina. She has also worked as an auto show product specialist and narrator for Honda and Jaguar. In 2007 she was appointed deputy mayor of Westland; she resigned in May 2009 to focus on writing. Her work has appeared in the Ann Arbor Observer, Woman’s Life Magazine, and The Artisan’s Well. She and her husband, Scott, a former Detroit Lions Offensive lineman-turned-personal chef, reside in Wayne, Michigan.

Sonny Ginsberg,

Formed Ginsberg Jacobs LLC, a boutique transactional firm in Chicago with 11 attorneys, including several partners from his former firm. GJ specializes in commercial real estate, corporate, hospitality and tax credit transactions.

John H. Wilson,

John H. Wilson recently completed the one-month Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship at the Harry Ransom Center, the University of Texas at Austin. Wilson's research topic was "Evelyn Waugh in the Military and the Church."

Christopher McVety,

Undeterred by negative economic news, Christopher A. McVety, a dual degree holder from the University of Michigan (BA ’98, JD ’00), recently launched an innovative gourmet food company, Beyond the Shaker LLC (www.beyondtheshaker.com). McVety, along with dozens of other Midwest business partners in graphic design, print media, packaging and photography, worked for over two years developing the Beyond the Shaker concept. The company’s unique aim is to introduce home cooks to an extensive array of natural sea salts from around the world. In addition to educating consumers with blog articles and recipe ideas centered on the use of salt, Beyond the Shaker’s website offers an original line of chef-crafted gourmet blends that pair unrefined sea salts with premium organic, sustainable and locally-produced ingredients.

The Beyond the Shaker retail website makes available for purchase over twenty different varieties of salt, including eleven original salt blends that were created in collaboration with a chef from Traverse City, Michigan.

Jeanene Heidenreich Cooper,

The suspense novel "If I Should Never Wake" by Jeanene Heidenreich Cooper has been selected by the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards as the bronze medalist for 2009’s Best Regional Fiction. The novel details the unexplained disappearances of working women from a secluded island in the Straits of Mackinac. First published in October of 2008 through Booksurge, a subsidiary of Amazon, the second edition is due for release in August of this year and will be available at Amazon.com

Joshua M. Congdon-Hohman,

Joshua M. Congdon-Hohman has been hired by the College of the Holy Cross as a new faculty member in economics for the 2009-10 academic year.

Congdon-Hohman earned his B.A. from Wesleyan University, his M.A. from the University of Michigan, and is expected to complete his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in August 2009. His research interests include labor economics, public economics and health economics. He previously taught macro- and microeconomics at the University of Michigan. His accomplishments at the University of Michigan include a grant from the Michigan Retirement Research Center; a Departmental Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Teaching, Top Ten GSI; and a Rackham Regents Fellowship.

Julie DiMambro,

Julie DiMambro has been promoted to Director of Finance for McGraw Wentworth, a Michigan-based group benefit consulting and brokerage firm. In her new position, DiMambro is responsible for financial reporting and forecasting, revenue analysis, facilities management and vendor relations. Joining the firm in 2006, DiMambro previously served as Controller for McGraw Wentworth.

DiMambro, a resident of Sterling Heights, is a graduate of The University of Michigan with a BSA in finance and economics. She received her MBA from Wayne State University with a concentration in accounting. A licensed health and life agent and a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), DiMambro is pursuing CMA and CFA certification in accounting.

Sonja Dunson,

Renowned longtime film and TV star Sonja Dunson ('The Female Spike Lee') releases "You Can't Buy Love," the companion seven-track music soundtrack to Dunson's similarly-named, to-be-released movie. Set in Detroit, "You Can't Buy Love" is, in Dunson's words, "an interracial love story triangle" in which the principals are a Black woman from a well-to-do family and a White male. "The parents disinherit her because he's poor, not because he's White," explains Dunson, whose impetus for creating "You Can't Buy Love" was "to portray the upper-class Blacks."

One of Hollywood's earliest successful Black film and television stars, Dunson has a distinguished history in Tinsel town. The former "Miss Michigan Universe" winner was a regular on three long-running television series – "Lohman & Barkley," "D.A." and "Emergency," and appeared in over twenty commercials while being represented by the prestigious William Morris Agency.

Copies of the CD soundtrack of "You Can't Buy Love" are avaiable at cdbaby.com/cd/sonjadunson

Brad Dashoff,

The American Bar Association has published a book by Brad Dashoff, a senior Real Estate associate with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Northern Virginia. Dashoff co-authored "The Commercial Real Estate Lawyer's Job: A Survival Guide" with Pillsbury colleague John Antonacci. Copies of the book are avaialable at: https://www.abanet.org/abastore/index.cfm?fm=Product.AddToCart&pid=5150436

Dr. Jerome and Isabella Karle,

have retired from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) following 127 years of combined Federal Service. Joining NRL from the Manhattan Project, Dr. Jerome Karle was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1985, and Dr. Isabella Karle was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Clinton in 1995. Dr. Jerome Karle received his Ph.D. received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan in Physical Chemistry in 1942 and 1944, respectively. He then worked on to the Manhattan Project before joining NRL in 1944. Dr. Isabella Karle was awarded a scholarship to the University of Michigan where she earned the B.S. Chem, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with a specialty in physical chemistry. During World War II she devised a procedure for producing pure plutonium chloride from a mixture containing plutonium oxide for the Manhattan project. Later, she was an Instructor in Chemistry at the University of Michigan. After World War II, she joined NRL in 1946. In 2004, the University of Michigan honored both Drs. Jerome and Isabella Karle with the “Jerome and Isabella Karle Collegiate Professorship of Chemistry.”

Darren A. Lossia,

Midwest Claims Service, Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan, a subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., has named Darren A. Lossia (Michigan Law School 2002) as its Vice President. Prior to joining Midwest Claims Service, Mr. Lossia worked as an attorney specializing in insurance coverage litigation at Plunkett Cooney, PLC headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Bobby Oppenheim,

owns an Action Sports Protective Company called Triple Eight (www.triple8.com) that makes helmets, wrist guards, knee pads, etc. for skateboarding, rollerblading, snowboarding, etc. We are one of 6 companies featured in American Express' new TV campaign. It will be running all over network television and will include an online video profile of me and the company at www.openforum.com.

Darci E. McConnell,

U-M '90, has been named the state communications director of Repower Michigan. The organization is an affiliate of the Alliance for Climate Protection that was launched in 2008 in a speech by Al Gore, Repower America was first introduced as a bold plan to "repower" our country with 100% clean electricity and revitalize our national energy infrastructure.

Albert V. Witham,

Alumni, students, executives, staff and others may hear the 1949-51 U-M Law School barbershop quartet, The Legalairs (Bob Rizley '53 JD, baritone; Phil Robertson '51 JD, bass; Jim Kendall '52 JD, tenor; Vern Witham '51, JD, lead.) in a slide show by going to the following:

Google Search: type in: youtube legalairs I; youtube legalairs II; youtube legalairs III; and youtube legalairs IV

When the list of items appears after each search, click on the small square picture of The Legalairs. The quartet, a tribute by The Lettermen, and photos of the Law Club are shown on the slide show. The various songs are played by scrolling and selecting with the computer mouse.

Holly Feen-Calligan,

was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at Wayne State University.

Steve Crower,

91•86•90. What do these numbers mean? Why do they affect you? Why should you care? Steve Crower, an energy investment banker from Denver, CO, finds a creative way to present the underlying data of the world's petroleum supplies and why we should pay attention to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDIYgG0gSiY

Susan Kearney,

USA Today best selling author Susan Kearney's newest trilogy will be released by Grand Central Publishing 09.01.09. The Pendragon Legacy is a trilogy which begins with LUCAN, a science fiction romance set in the near future. You can read excerpts at www.susankearney.com. Book covers can also be viewed on my web site.

Mia Katrin (Hartsook),

Mia Katrin, award-winning jewelry designer and owner of JEWEL COUTURE LLC (http://jeweljewel.com) has been invited to attend the top retail jewelers' event in the Southeast by Southern Jewelry News, where her monthly Byline column is featured. Her Collections of 18-22 karat gold necklaces with precious gems, which have been worn by A-List Hollywood celebrities, are featured in top galleries and stores nationally, where Mia Katrin regularly hosts Trunk Shows.

Christopher L. Kwasneski,

I received my Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Boston University in May 2009 and in June of 2009, I was appointed to the position of HR Director for Genesee County, MI. I am a 1995 graduate from U of M - Flint with a BBA in accounting.

Lawrence Velvel,

A new book by essayist Lawrence Velvel, Dean of the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, has won the 2009 gold medal in the essay/creative category of Independent Publisher, the voice of the independent publishing industry.

The "IPPY" Award was conferred for his non-fiction work "An Enemy of the People: The Unending Battle Against Conventional Wisdom," published by the law school's Doukathsan Press. Last year, Doukathsan Press brought out Velvel’s unsparing fictionalized memoir, the 818-page quartet "Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam." It chronicles post 1960 cultural declines—a moral meltdown that caused America to go from the world's hope to a country often reviled abroad.

Betty A. Rakowski,

Mark and I were married in an intimate ceremony at our home last September, followed by a reception at the Michigan League and honeymoon in San Francisco.

Douglas S. Kearney,

Jason L. Duzan, managing director of Chicago-based private equity firm Glencoe Capital, today announced the appointment of Douglas S. Kearney, Class of 1991, as principal of the firm. Kearney will help manage the firm’s latest fund, the Michigan Opportunities Fund, and will work from Glencoe Capital’s new office in Birmingham, Mich.

Before joining Glencoe Capital, Kearney was a principal at Detroit-based Superior Capital Partners, where he sourced and executed special situation portfolio investments in the lower middle market. Previously, he was a managing director for Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy.

From 2001 through 2006, Kearney served as chief financial officer of Lason Inc., a global provider of business process outsourcing services. Kearney has also held positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers, DaimlerChrysler and IBM.

A CPA, Kearney holds an MBA from Yale University and a BBA from the University of Michigan.

Susan E. Padley,

Susan E. Padley has been named to the May/June 2009 issue of "Super Lawyers—Corporate Counsel Edition" by a survey of Law & Politics Media, Inc. She was selected through a process which included peer nominations and evaluations as well as independent research. She is considered one of the top business attorneys in Michigan in the area of Land Use/Zoning Law. Only five percent of the attorneys in Michigan were named to this list. Ms. Padley received her B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1984.

Richard Albright,

Richard Albright is being featured in a series of articles in the Atlantic City Press dealing with munitions being pumped up on beaches during sand replenishment operations. Dr. Albright's book, Cleanup of Chemical and Explosive Munitions is now being published by Elsevier, a world wide publishing company specializing in technical books. Dr. Albright has also recently completed an article on underwater ordnance including a study of the massive amounts of ordnance dumped in the Great Lakes, some near fresh water intakes.

John Brinkman,

John & Wendy have two art-driven children's books out in Spring 2009. The first, released in March, is "Mommy Loves Me" (Penguin/PSS!), a board book featuring illustrations of baby animals with their mothers (Publisher's Weekly called the illustrations "endearing"). The second, available in May, is a picture book called "Periwinkle Smith and the Twirly, Whirly Tutu" (Penguin/PSS!). In it we meet an imaginative young girl who has a very painterly problem.

John Brinkman and his partner, Wendy Walters, make art and illustration together under the name "John & Wendy."

Mark Adam Kaplan,

Mark Kaplan's first novel, A THOUSAND BEAUTIES, is now available through Amazon.com. A THOUSAND BEAUTIES is published by BeWrite Books, a small European press. For more information, please visit my website: www.markadamkaplan.com

Lisa Lane,

I have written a new book entitled "Firm Conviction: A Case Against Private Law Practice," published by Strategic Books Publishing/Eloquent Books in New York, New York. it is available on www.eloquentbooks.com/FirmConviction.html or amazon.com.

Mike Lee,

I received an email reply from the editor of R&D magazine to an opinion I voiced over what is valid R&D. My solar recharged bass guitar amplifier using recycled cell phones for power caught the chief editor's attention and may be featured in the next issue.

This is R&D magazine the latest breakthroughs are highlighted. Yet the editor took time to consider my simple device and even may feature it. That is rather cool.

Gina Pensiero,

Gina Pensiero has a music blog, One Sweet Song (http://www.onesweetsong.blogpot.com), that has been nominated for a 2009 Bloggie Award. Her Brooklyn-based band, Palmyra (http://www.myspace.com) is also on a short tour of the East Coast.

Ann Marie Lipinski,

Ann Marie Lipinski was the co-editor-in-chief of the Michigan Daily, 1977-78. She left Michigan a few credits short to start work for the Chicago Tribune. (She completed her degree in 1994). In this spring’s alumni newsletter for past staff members of the Daily, the Michiganensian yearbook, and the Gargoyle humor magazine, journalist Sara Fitzgerald, who was also an editor of the Daily (1972-73), noted, "Winning a Pulitzer Prize (for investigative reporting, in 1988) would probably be considered qualification enough for the Athena Award, but Ann Marie went on to become managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, and then, in 2001, senior vice president and editor of the paper. Nevertheless, she still found time to give back to the university and her profession, serving on the Board for Student Publications from 1992-1998 and on the board of the University of Michigan Knight Wallace Fellows program in journalism, as well as on the boards of the Poynter Institute and the Stanford University Journalism Fellows program." Ms. Lipinski resigned from the Tribune in July 2008 and is now the University of Chicago's Vice President for Civic Engagement. In that position she oversees the university's relationships in a number of areas, including public schools, public safety, economic development and the city's bid for the 2016 Olympics.

Dino Markus and Frank Castiglione,

Are creators of Daily Ball Breakers (www.dailyballbreakers.com), the first ever daily stand-alone video sports comedy website, covering the biggest stories of the day, and the talking heads who analyze them. All things sports, all satire, all funny. It's SportsCenter meets The Daily Show meets Talk Soup online.

Dino Markus has produced for 10 years across media platforms, worked for network comedy shows, comedy websites, and a half dozen ESPN properties, including 3+ years as head writer and a producer for Jim Rome.

Frank Castiglione spent several fast-paced years as SVP Marketing for divisions of Target Corp., and has reinvented other well-known brands in a variety of business sectors using both traditional and emerging media.

James P. Spiewak II,

started www.financialyoung.com. Wrote the book "Start Saving Now - Perspective From Our Generation." Started iMag magazine.

Karen Gray Ruelle,

Karen Gray Ruelle's latest picture book is out: The Tree (Holiday House, 2008), illustrated by Deborah Durland DeSaix, is a historical portrait of an elm tree in the heart of New York City, and the city that grew up around it, during its more than 250 years. Kirkus Reviews called it a "charming piece of history . . . the author paces the narration perfectly, beginning leisurely and becoming more breathless as life in the city quickens, but she never forgets the tree's steady presence." Booklist says, "A handsome work on a subject that will have appeal to many children." For ages 5-9.

Robert Camuto,

After leaving UM 30 years ago. Robert Camuto followed a journalism path that led him to California, New York, Texas and (for the last 8 years) France.

His first book Corkscrewed: Adventures in the New French Wine Country has been a critical hit with Eric Asimov wine critic of the New York Times calling it "my favorite new book."

Corkscrewed is MUCH more than a wine book: It deals with topics like sustainable agriculture, "wine as food," and human values in France's storied vineyards in the 21st Century.

Robert says its been great to have Michigan alums show up at his book events in NY and elsewhere (His next reading is in Paris March 30.) See www.corkscrewed.info.

Christina Ryu,

Christina Ryu is passionate about medicine, especially ophthalmology. Ryu will be participating in Ride for World Health, a coast-to-coast bike ride, beginning in April that seeks to raise awareness about global health issues. After attending a Unite for Sight Global Health Conference, Ryu learned about global health disparities and was inspired to advocate for change. She hopes that the Ride will help others to learn about current global health issues and encourage them to take action. Both Ryu and the other riders are still raising funds for the Ride.

Ryu attended The University of Michigan where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in classical archaeology.

Susan Liss,

Susan Liss, of Maryland, 1973 grad of LSA is being honored on Thursday, March 12, 2009, in Washington DC as the recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Award, given by the American Jewish Committee. This award is given annually to an attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to the highest principles of the legal profession and has made an outstanding contribution to the enrichment of the community.

Susan Liss is Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. She has devoted her life to public service, civil rights, women's rights, and human rights.

Roberta M. Gubbins,

I am now using that journalism degree I received from Michigan in 1957 as editor of the Ingham County Legal News, located in Mason, MI My background as a teacher and a lawyer are a nice mix with the writing.

Chris Campbell,

Chris Campbell has won the 2008 John Schultz Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Inland Seas Education Association. He volunteers as an instructor for the schoolship program of ISEA, teaching marine science to grade school students. He reminds his teacher friends that teaching is so much fun that he takes vacation time from his job to do it for free.

Ann Goodnight Bochnowski,

Recently was elected to serve a four year term on the Democratic National Committee from the state of Indiana. A community volunteer, Ann also serves on several boards, including that of the Indiana Nature Conservancy.

Boris Kozolchyk,

The National University of San Marcos (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos), located in Lima Peru, in co-operation with leading Peruvian institutions, is sponsoring Peru’s first International Congress on Contract Law in honor of Dr. Boris Kozolchyk. The honor recognizes his work in international contracts, and especially commercial contracts. The Congress is to be held April 23-25, 2009, in Chiclayo, Peru. Kozolchyk is the founder and president of the Tucson-based National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade (NLCIFT) and is the Evo DeConcini Professor of Law at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. In operation since 1992, NLCIFT develops legal infrastructure to build trade capacity and promote economic development in the Americas. Kozolchyk’s many legal contributions have included providing expert drafting and advice with respect to the work of the Organization of American States Specialized Conferences on Private International Law, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the International Chamber of Commerce. Earlier, he directed the U.S. Agency for International Development Law Reform Project in Costa Rica. His most recent book is on comparative commercial law (La Contratación Comercial en el Derecho Comparado) and has been adopted by leading law schools in the hemisphere. His publications include the legal classic, Commercial Letters of Credit in the Americas, which received awards from both the Inter-American Bar Association and the Spanish government. The April meeting in Peru will feature presentations by professors from prestigious Latin American and Spanish law schools as well as a presentation by Kozolchyk and a ceremony to pay tribute to him. (The National University of San Marcos, which is convening the gathering, was chartered in 1551 and is one of the oldest universities in the world.)

Katherine T. Donaldson,

Kate Donaldson married Ryan B. Whitacre last year on Leap Day. Although she does not have any children, she and Ryan have an incredibly loveable black lab named Ody. A Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner, Kate became a Partner of her Financial & Investment Advisory Firm (Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, Inc.) at the beginning of this year. As you can imagine, she is desperately looking for more business! Although no longer a semi-professional violinist, Kate still plays her fiddle at friends' weddings and for fun at home in Chicago.

Glenn Robertelli,

Glenn Robertelli, founder of Intelligen and makers of ViewGuard™ brand products, was selected as Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in Entrepreneur® magazine’s inaugural 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year contest presented by The UPS Store®. Glenn Robertelli, not only created a business that competes with a corporate giant, but he’s also done so completely on his own with a virtual, 99 percent paperless office. He started Intelligen in October 2006, which makes ViewGuard Anti-Glare Privacy Filters. He has since broadened his product line and estimates 2008 sales at $2.8 million. About ViewGuard™: ViewGuard™ offers a full line of unique and novel electronics accessories including privacy filters, anti-glare and cleaning products for even the rarest computer or television models: www.BuyViewGuard.com.

Paul Roberts,

Honors graduate Paul Roberts (B.A. Poli Sci & History Magna Cum Laude, Class of 1978) has recently opened Orange County, California's first "virtual ad agency" featuring the finest in freelance talent available for a fraction of traditional agency pricing.

Utilizing the interactive services available in Web 2.0 (like "web conferencing" and group sites), West Coast Marketing offers clients the ability to build an "ad hoc team" on an "as needed basis" including copywriters, creative directors, media buyers, PR professionals, web designers, video producers and voice-over talent.)

For more information, visit www.westcoastmarketing.org.

James A. Burns, Jr.,

For the third year in a row, James A. Burns, Jr (A.B. '77, J.D.'80) has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer, an honor given to the top 5% of the attorneys in the state, in the area of Employment and Labor. Jim is a partner at Reed Smith LLP in Chicago.

Robert Riley,

After graduating cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 2008 and passing the Michigan Bar Exam, I began work as a law clerk to Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court. I recently accepted a second year with the Chief Justice, and will be working with her through 2010.

Timothy Rampe,

was elected as a partner of Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, a law firm based in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Rampe practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities compliance and corporate finance.

Michelle M. Gallardo,

Michelle M. Gallardo, a senior corporate lawyer with Ford Motor Company in Detroit, was appointed by the President of the American Bar Association to the following two leadership positions in 2008:

The Council for the Fund for Justice and Education, the public service arm of the ABA, which funds nearly 200 law-related public service programs each year, with approximately $60,000,000 in yearly revenue; and
The Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession whose mission is to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of attorneys admitted into the bar by focusing on educational issues related to law school admission, bar passage and K-12 education.

Ms. Gallardo has served in numerous leadership positions within the ABA since 1998 including appointments to the Executive Councils for both the Young Lawyers Division and the Section of Business Law. Ms. Gallardo is Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Automotive Components Holdings, LLC, a business managed by Ford Motor Company, and has held various positions within the Ford Motor Company since 2000. Ms. Gallardo graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1992.

Charlotte Robinson,

Charlotte Robinson, BA '95, recently became Managing Editor of Economic Development and Cultural Change, a multidisciplinary journal of development economics, at the University of Chicago Press.

Roberto Cabanelas,

Roberto Cabanelas is now with Motorola as Corporate Vice President of Human Resources.

Michigan Today