Paul Eberts and his brother Harry have published a new book on The Jesus Movement and Its Parties: A New Way to Look at the New Testament. Their book provides a sociological perspective on the New Testament whereby its books and letters are seen as outcomes of four cooperating but also contending parties founded soon after Jesus’ death. The parties grew out of four different ethnic segments in Roman society — the Disciples from Galillee; the Brethren from Jewish synagogues in Jerusalem; the Hellenists from Jews in places outside Palestine, and the Apostles who ministered to Gentiles. Each party produced a gospel and other writings that expressed their particular viewpoints. The book can be found on Amazon.com.

Dickinson Wright announces the election of the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer, William T. Burgess. Burgess succeeds James A. Samborn, who has served as the firm’s CEO for the past 10 years. Burgess, a graduate of the University of Michigan and Yale Law School, has enjoyed a 25-year career at Dickinson Wright following a clerkship with the Michigan Supreme Court. He practices in the firm’s Detroit office in the areas of creditors rights, insolvency and commercial law.

For the fourth consecutive year, James A. Burns, Jr. (B.A. ’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. During 2009, Jim was quoted more than a dozen times by the National Law Journal and other leading publications on key Supreme Court employment cases, and was the only attorney quoted by USA Today in its front-page story on the Court’s closely watched case involving claims of “reverse discrimination” against New Haven firefighters. Jim is a partner at Reed Smith LLP in Chicago.

has been elected a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Grand Rapids, effective Jan. 1, 2010. Mr. Gregg received his B.A. in 1996 from the University of Michigan. He is a member of Barnes & Thornburg’s Finance, Insolvency and Restructuring Department, and has extensive experience representing secured creditors, debtors, committees, asset purchasers and other parties in interest in reorganizations, liquidations and other insolvency proceedings. He has been involved in numerous bankruptcies and workouts in various industries, including automotive, manufacturing, real estate, airline, investment banking and retail.

was recently nominated by President Obama, and confirmed by the US Senate, to be the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

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 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

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.

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.