Class notes: career moves, celebrations & life updates

From promotions to parenthood, see what Wolf Pack alumni are up to now.

A group of seven people pose in front of a stylized mountain-themed backdrop. The front row includes three individuals, and the back row has four. All are smiling and dressed in a mix of business and casual attire, including blazers, shirts, and glasses.

Class notes: career moves, celebrations & life updates

From promotions to parenthood, see what Wolf Pack alumni are up to now.

A group of seven people pose in front of a stylized mountain-themed backdrop. The front row includes three individuals, and the back row has four. All are smiling and dressed in a mix of business and casual attire, including blazers, shirts, and glasses.

Class Notes are back! Have you recently celebrated a marriage, welcomed a child, advanced in your career or achieved another milestone? We’d love to hear from you. Please send your life update (in 100 words or fewer) to classnotes@unr.edu.

 

Class of '90 to '99

Nicola Neilon ’95 (general studies)

A group of people dressed in similar shirts poses together, all smiling for the camera.

Nicola Neilon ’95 (general studies), serves as vice chair of the board of directors for the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. She will become chair in October — the first Nevadan to hold the role.

Paula Riley ’96 (social work)

Headshot of Paula Riley.

Paula Riley ’96 (social work), writing as JoJo Riley, published “Yellow Moon Rising,” a Depression-era suspense novel and the first in a two-book series. She teaches continuing education courses at TMCC.

Steve Massey ’98 M.S. (electrical engineering)

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Steve Massey ’98 M.S. (electrical engineering) is chief technology officer of a high-power radio frequency (RF) platform, following the acquisition of his engineering firm, MegaRF Design, LLC, by ACP.

Gabriel Urza ’99 (Spanish, English)

Gabriel Urza ’99 (Spanish, English) released his second novel, “The Silver State,” in July. The legal thriller is the follow-up to his acclaimed debut “All That Followed.”


Class of '00 to '09

Becky Bayley ’00 (management), ’03 MBA

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Becky Bayley ’00 (management), ’03 MBA was promoted to vice president at Nevada Rural Hospital Partners and appointed to the National Rural Health Association’s Health Equity Council.

Machelle Miller ’01 (general studies)

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Machelle Miller ’01 (general studies) transitioned to private practice as a mental health counselor in 2024 and over the past year has expanded her work to a hybrid model of telehealth and in-person services.

Nicole (Chappell) Delgado ’02 (English)

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Nicole (Chappell) Delgado ’02 (English) was named the 2025 Nevada Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Brad Lucas ’02 Ph.D. (English)

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Brad Lucas ’02 Ph.D. (English) was promoted to professor of rhetoric and composition and associate dean of research and graduate studies at Texas Christian University, where he supports graduate students and faculty research.

Lawrence Tam ’03 (supply chain management)

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Lawrence Tam ’03 (supply chain management), a three-time national boxing champion at Nevada, and his wife Rebecca Haehn welcomed their first child, Parker, on July 23, 2024.

Sheena Harvey ’06 (interior design), ’14 M.S. (equity and diversity in educational settings), ’23 Ph.D. (education)

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Sheena Harvey ’06 (interior design), ’14 M.S. (equity and diversity in educational settings), ’23 Ph.D. (education), director of fitness and recreational sports for the University of Nevada, Reno, has developed a new course on race, sports and culture which she teaches for the University’s Department of Gender, Race, and Identity.

D.J. Gothe ’07 (economics)

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D.J. Gothe ’07 (economics) was honored as a 2025 CFO of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal for leadership in finance.

Jennifer Richards ’09 (information systems)

Jennifer Richards ’09 (information systems) was elected to the Reno Justice Court and began her first term in January.


Class of '10 to '19

Shirley Diaz ’12 (international affairs, political science), ’13 M.A. (economics)

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Shirley Diaz ’12 (international affairs, political science), ’13 M.A. (economics) founded Diaz Vidales PLLC, a law firm focused on wills, trusts and estate planning, with offices serving Nevada, California and Washington, D.C.

Annie Allen ’12 (international affairs, Spanish), ’14 M.A. (foreign language and literature)

Annie Allen ’12 (international affairs, Spanish), ’14 M.A. (foreign language and literature) celebrated her one-year anniversary in August as chief operating officer at Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada.

Allie Galas ’12 (elementary education)

Allie Galas ’12 (elementary education) received a national Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 cash prize. She is a fourth-grade teacher at Jessie Beck Elementary School.

Zach Fretz ’12 (international business)

Headshot of Zach Fretz

Zach Fretz ’12 (international business) was promoted to vice president, private wealth advisor, at U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2012.

Jennifer (Franklin) Orolfo ’12 (human development and family studies) and Jushua Jay Orolfo ’10 (information systems)

Headshot of Jennifer Orolfo

Jennifer (Franklin) Orolfo ’12 (human development and family studies) and Jushua Jay Orolfo ’10 (information systems) welcomed their second Wolf Pup, Leon Edwin, on July 29, 2024.

Steven Hammonds ’13 (psychology, Spanish), ’19 MSW (social work)

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Steven Hammonds ’13 (psychology, Spanish), ’19 MSW (social work) is clinical supervisor for the Vitality Unlimited Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in Reno. He is also a 2025 Nevada Alumni Association award recipient.

Korry Barnes ’14 Ph.D. (chemistry)

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Korry Barnes ’14 Ph.D. (chemistry) is assistant department head at the Navy’s Comprehensive Industrial Hygiene Laboratory, where he helps protect public health by analyzing environmental and chemical hazards.

Curtis Hartzell ‘13 (civil engineering) and Sarah Hartzell ‘15 M.A. (criminal justice,) ‘24 Ph.D. (public health)

Headshot of Curtis Hartzell and Sarah Hartzell

Curtis Hartzell ‘13 (civil engineering) and Sarah Hartzell ‘15 M.A. (criminal justice,) ‘24 Ph.D. (public health) welcomed a daughter, Lily, on Oct. 7, 2024.

Matthew King ’15 (geography, Spanish), ’18 M.A. (world languages, literatures)

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Matthew King ’15 (geography, Spanish), ’18 M.A. (world languages, literatures), is a learning designer for Boston University’s BU Virtual, creating online courses that expand access to education.

Lindsey Forbes ’16 (mathematics) ’18 M.A. (educational leadership)

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Lindsey Forbes ’16 (mathematics) ’18 M.A. (educational leadership) is associate data coordinator at GreatSchools.org, helping families make informed education decisions.

Kate (Dunlap) Levia ‘16 (journalism), ‘19 M.A. (higher education administration)

Kate Levia (left) wears a wedding dress while standing next to her husband, wearing a tux, Yonatan Levia.

Kate (Dunlap) Levia ‘16 (journalism), ‘19 M.A. (higher education administration) married Yonatan Levia on Nov. 2, 2024, in San Diego, California.

Matt Denney ’18 (secondary education)

Matt Denney ’18 (secondary education) was named recruitment coordinator for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona, supporting student engagement and enrollment.

Taissa Lytchenko ’18 (psychology), ’24 M.S. (psychology)

Headshot of Taissa Lytchenko.

Taissa Lytchenko ’18 (psychology), ’24 M.S. (psychology), was named programming and marketing coordinator for the Graduate Student Association at the University of Nevada, Reno, after years of leadership and advocacy.

Kurstin Sirotek ’18 (community health sciences)

Kurstin Sirotek ’18 (community health sciences) serves as environmental coordinator for the City of Elko, leading efforts in environmental health and public education.

Marissa Gillis ’19 (international business)

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Marissa Gillis ’19 (international business) helps lead a startup that created a biosensor technology to make drug development faster and more affordable.

Vick Singh ’19 Ph.D. (materials science and engineering)

Headshot of Vick Singh.

Vick Singh ’19 Ph.D. (materials science and engineering) is chief operating officer at Dragonfly Energy, a battery technology company, where he oversees operations and advances research in energy storage.


Class of '20 to '25

Nathan Camp ’20 M.D.

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Nathan Camp ’20 M.D. completed a fellowship in interventional spine and sports medicine and is now practicing in eastern Oregon.

Joseph Sciancalepore ’21 MPH

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Joseph Sciancalepore ’21 MPH is clinic operations program manager at the Adult Urgent Care Center at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, overseeing daily operations and improvements.

Logan Lathrop ’22 (information systems)

Logan Lathrop ’22 (information systems) graduated from Harvard Law School in May.

Sammy Sadovia ’22 (mathematics)

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Sammy Sadovia ’22 (mathematics) is a real-time energy trader at Puget Sound Energy in Seattle.

Ria Anand ’25 (cellular and molecular biology)

Headshot of Ria Anand

Ria Anand ’25 (cellular and molecular biology) joined the Madireddy Lab at Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Jersey as a postdoctoral associate, where she researches Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic condition that affects children’s blood and bone marrow.


2024-25 Executive Committee

Alumni Association Executive Committee
Mike Hix
Mike Hix, '89
President
4417
Alumni Association Executive Committee
Bryan McArdle
Bryan McArdle, '05, '10 MBA
Past President
4417
Alumni Association Executive Committee
Christina Stoever Young
Christina Stoever Young, '94
President-Elect
4417
Alumni Association Executive Committee
Jennifer Hill
Jennifer Hill, '94
Vice President
4417
Alumni Association Executive Committee
Tiffany McMacken
Tiffany McMacken, '00
Vice President
4417
Alumni Association Executive Committee
Cher Fesenmaier
Cher Fesenmaier, '94
Vice President
4417
Alumni Association Executive Committee
Monica Powers Kales
Monica Powers Kales, '79
Treasurer
4417

2024-25 Board Members

Alumni Association Board Members
Carmina Aglubat
Carmina Aglubat
ASUN President
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Anderson, ’04, ’06 M.A.
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Carissa Bradley
Carissa Bradley, ‘19
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Randy Brown
Randy Brown, ‘89
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Mariam Chilton
Mariam Chilton, '92, '02 MBA
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Bayo Curry-Winchell
Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, '02
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Ratchanya  Dev Chinnappan
Ratchanya Dev Chinnappan
GSA President
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Ronele Dotson
Ronele Dotson, '92
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Frank Gallagher
Frank Gallagher, '77 Foundation Chair*
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Matthew Hawn
Matthew Hawn, '15, '19 MS, '24 MBA
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones, ’77, ’81 M.D.
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Donna Lee-Kistler
Donna Lee-Kistler, '77
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Jesse Murray
Jesse Murray, ’02, ’07 MBA
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Tracy Ostrem
Tracy Ostrem
Vice President, University Advancement and Executive Director, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation*
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
McKenna Peri
McKenna Peri, ’11, ‘12
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Erica Pinjuv
Erica Pinjuv, '10
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Stephanie Rempe
Stephanie Rempe
Director of Athletics*
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Sara Robbins
Sara Robbins, '10
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Katie Rossi
Katie Rossi, ‘08
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
R. Tom Saxton
R. Tom Saxton, ’07, ’11 MBA
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Chris Strader
Chris Strader, '05, '07 MBA
4418
Alumni Association Board Members
Andy Volpp
Andy Volpp, '17 MBA
4418