Alumni and donors will notice a notable difference when browsing the www.transy.edu/alumni website since November 1. The site has gone through a complete overhaul and the e-commerce platform for donations and event registrations is also new. Please take a look around through various pages. Let us know what you think. We welcome and appreciate constructive feedback and plan to continue to work on this site as time goes by.
Questions/comments regarding the website should be sent to alumni@transy.edu
Carol Ann Goff Tanner was born in Ashland, Kentucky. Named 1964’s Miss Transylvania, she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and was president of Chi Omega women’s fraternity. After graduating in 1964, Carol served her alma mater in numerous roles, with membership on the Alumni Board from 1968-1975, the Board of Visitors from 1999-2004 and the Board of Trustees from 2004-2011, as well as multiple reunion planning committees. In 2015, Carol was instrumental in helping the alumni office organize the Robert Barr Society Council and establish the new tradition of the Fall Reunion of the Barr Society, open to alumni who have celebrated their 50th class reunion.
As a member of the Morrison Planned Giving Society, Carol has been a generous supporter of Transylvania. Most recently, she established an additional scholarship for students who participate in Transylvania’s partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare. The Goff Tanner Appalachian Regional Health Scholarship provides as much as $5,000 annually to up to 20 students for the duration of their four years at Transy. Carol was also a key supporter of Transy’s COVID emergency fund, and has a planned gift arrangement to create an endowed faculty chair for education.
Over the years, Carol and her late husband Bob have supported many Transylvania initiatives including the Lila Boyarsky Scholarship, the Brown Science labs renovation and the library, as well as the Transylvania Fund.
Carol currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.
D. Chanslor Gallenstein ’16 Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Originally from Maysville, Kentucky, Chanslor Gallenstein graduated from Transylvania with a B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics in 2016. While at Transy, he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies, as well as the Holleian Society. He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law in 2019, where he was executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., where he has been an associate attorney with Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, PLLC, since March 2022. His previous appointments include work as an associate at Winston and Strawn and a term law clerk for Judge John K. Bush, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Louisville. Chanslor has been a member of the Young Alumni Council since 2017 and has served as a mentor for 100 Doors to Success since 2019. Working with his law firm, he has arranged for a paid summer internship for Transy students. Chanslor recently assisted Transy professor Peter Fosl in forming a new pre-law society and serves on its inaugural advisory board.
Amy Collignon Gunn ’93 Distinguished Achievement Award
Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, Amy Collignon Gunn graduated from Transylvania with a B.A. in political science in 1993. While at Transy, she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi women’s fraternity and worked as a member of the residence life staff. Earning her J.D. from St. Louis University in 1996, she is a member of the Simon Law Firm, P.C., in St. Louis.
Amy has been inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers and has received many professional awards, including the John C. Shepherd Professionalism Award, the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award, the 40 Under 40 Award presented by the St. Louis Business Journal, the Women’s Justice Rising Star and Litigation Practitioner Awards and the Thomas G. Strong Trial Attorney Award. In October 2020, she received the President’s Award from the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys in recognition of her efforts to protect and defend the civil justice system.
Amy has been consistently named to Best Lawyers in America since 2009, and she is the founding member and host of two podcasts: “Heels in the Courtroom” with colleagues at Simon Law Firm and “Trial Tested” for the American College of Trial Lawyers. She currently resides in St. Louis.
Hayden Travis Mauk ’98 Distinguished Achievement Award
Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Hayden Travis Mauk graduated from Transylvania in 1998, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. Planning to become a farmer, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, working with cattle during the day and taking acting classes at night. This led to a career shift — initial work as a production assistant on an IMAX film was followed by stints as a stand-in on several sitcoms before Hayden found himself working on the then-brand-new ABC late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Today, Hayden is an Emmy-award-winning producer and director with extensive experience working in the unscripted television genre. He is currently showrunner and director for the Outdoor Channel series “Feral” with Chef Yia Vang. While his preferred medium is television, he has also produced a feature-length horror film, several commercials and acted.
Previous shows include Comedy Central’s “Too Late with Adam Carolla”; FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Kitchen Nightmares” and “MasterChef”; CBS’s “Undercover Boss”; NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior”; Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” and “The Zimmern List”; Netflix’s “Fresh, Fried and Crispy” and Nickelodeon’s “America’s Most Musical Family.” Despite his busy schedule, Hayden still finds time to serve Transylvania as a mentor for 100 Doors to Success.
Ana C. Reyes ’96 Distinguished Achievement Award
Born in Uruguay, Ana C. Reyes grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. A William T. Young Scholar and student-athlete, she graduated from Transylvania in 1996 with a B.A in political science. While an undergraduate, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta women’s fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary and played both softball and field hockey. She was a member of the Board of Regents from 2012-2015.
Ana earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000 and her M.I.P.P. from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in 2014. Along with her admission to the U.S. bars, Ana was listed on the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales. She has co-taught courses at Yale Law School and Georgetown University Law School. In 2017, she was named Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Women’s Bar Association of D.C. In February 2023, Ana was appointed as a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. Prior to that, she spent 22 years at Williams & Connolly after clerking for Judge Amalya L. Kearse on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Her practice focused on international litigation, and she devoted substantial time to pro bono work assisting refugees.
Elizabeth “Lizi” C. Ruch ’73 Distinguished Achievement Award
Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Elizabeth “Lizi” C. Ruch ’73 graduated from Transylvania with a B.A. in studio art. While at Transy, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta women’s fraternity and the university’s tennis team. “Animal and horse crazy” since childhood, that’s where Lizi found inspiration for her art, and her first works sold in Louisville art galleries as animated interpretations of local residences and restaurants in clay. After graduation, she taught art and served as department chair at Eastern High School in Louisville while attending the University of Louisville, where she earned her M.A. in ceramic sculpture in 1979.
Lizi eventually moved to New York City, where she completed a B.F.A. in fashion design at Parsons School of Design and then launched her own knitwear business. Her designs were sold throughout high-end specialty stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog. Lizi Ruch Designs were selected as the merchandise for the PGA opening golf championship at Valhalla. She also assisted with designing a women’s clothing collection under the label of P’galli.
In addition to her business, Lizi taught within the fashion design departments of both Parsons and Otis College of Art and Design, and has worked as a freelance consultant.
A passionate equestrian, Lizi continues to be inspired to bring the joy of art to patrons by illustrating, sculpting and painting animals and the people who love them. She has created equestrian-themed dinnerware, and a couple of her pieces toured as part of the MFHA Traveling Centennial Art Exhibition, which opened in New York in January 2007. She has also published a children’s book, “Merry Christmas to You from Little Dreamer,” which she wrote and illustrated.
Today, Lizi resides in Chatsworth, California, where she is a member of the Chatsworth Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce, the Chatsworth Fine Arts Council and the Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth.
Jill A. Stratton ’91 Distinguished Achievement Award
Originally from Mayfield, Kentucky, Jill A. Stratton graduated from Transylvania with a B.A. in psychology in 1991. While at Transy, she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi women’s fraternity, Psi Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa honoraries, and worked as a member of the residence life staff. She served on the Alumni Board from 2012-2015.
Jill earned her M.S. in college student personnel from Indiana University in 1993, as well as her Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in ethical and creative leadership from Union Institute and University in 2011. Known as the “Dean of Joy,” she currently serves as Assistant Provost for Academic Support and Community Engagement at Vanderbilt University.
Before her 2020 appointment at Vanderbilt, Jill spent the bulk of her career at Washington University in St. Louis, where she served in several roles, including area coordinator in residence life, assistant and associate director of residence life, associate dean of students and director of residential academic programs and associate dean for undergraduate residential learning in the office of the vice chancellor for student affairs. She resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where she continues to do research and teach in the areas of college student development, emotional intelligence, leadership, positive psychology and residential learning communities.
Thomas Jeffrey Vasseur ’83 Distinguished Achievement Award
A native Kentuckian, Thomas Jeffrey Vasseur graduated from Transylvania in 1983. A soccer player and member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy. After graduation, Jeff was a teaching fellow at the University of Utah from 1985-92. His studies abroad included summers at Alliance Française in Paris and a winter at Universidad de Buenos Aires. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1992.
Jeff taught English at Valdosta State University from 1996-2021. Prior to his appointment there, he served as MFA coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University.
An author of numerous referred publications and articles, he has published several books, two of which were finalists for the Townsend Award: “Discovering the World: Thirteen Stories” (2002) and “Touch the Earth: An Aftermath of the Vietnam War” (2006). A 2002 nominee for Fiction Book of the Year by the Georgia Writers Association, he was also nominated for the Valdosta State University Service Award for a decade of work on VSU’s literary magazine and named the VSU Honors Exemplary Professor, 2008-09.
Jeff credits the English department at Transylvania, especially professors Fizdale and Vital, with changing his life when he was a student. In 2001, he returned to Transylvania at the invitation of the English department, where he gave a public reading from “Discovering the World: Thirteen Stories” and conducted writing workshops for Transy students. He retired from Valdosta State University in 2021.
Carolyn Hilterbran Henry ’73 and J. Steven Henry ’73 Distinguished Service Award
As Transylvania freshmen, Carolyn Hilterbran Henry and J. Steven Henry met in front of Old Morrison after it burned in 1969. At the time, they had no idea they would be married in the building in 1975.
Their love for Transylvania has remained steadfast through the years. Steve, a Phi Kappa Tau alumnus, served on Transylvania’s alumni board from 2015-21. Carolyn, a Phi Mu alumna and 1973’s Miss Transylvania, is currently serving on the alumni board and is an active member of the financial support small group. Both have served on multiple class reunion committees, including this year’s committee for their 50th college reunion. Faithful five-year reunion attendees, they haven’t missed Alumni Weekend in the past decade.
Both Carolyn and Steve are active members of First Christian Church (DOC) in Lafayette, Indiana, where Carolyn sings in the choir, serves as an elder, and is involved in her P.E.O. (philanthropic educational organization) chapter. Also an elder, Steve serves as the church’s treasurer. When the Transy choir traveled north on spring break several years ago, the Henrys helped coordinate host families for the students through their church.
Steve retired from Purdue University in 2017, and Carolyn retired after teaching math for 42 years. Indiana natives, they currently reside in Lafayette.
Dustin E. Meek ’88 Distinguished Service Award
Originally from Ashland, Kentucky, Dustin E. Meek earned her B.A. in psychology from Transylvania, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta women’s fraternity and played on the tennis team. She then earned her J.D. from the University of Louisville and practices law at Tachau Meek, PLC. Respected by her peers, she has consistently been elected to Super Lawyers from 2009-23, recognized in Super Lawyers as one of the top 25 women lawyers in Kentucky since 2012 and, in recent years, has been named as one of the top 50 of all Kentucky lawyers.
Dustin has stayed connected to Transylvania in the years since her graduation. She has served on her class reunion planning committee, was a member of the Alumni Board from 2016-22 and currently serves on the Board of Regents. She was inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame for her prowess as a tennis player in 2008. She has also served as a mentor for 100 Doors to Success since 2021.
Dustin serves on the Board of Directors of Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company of Kentucky, a professional liability insurer for many of Kentucky’s small and medium-size law firms. She is a past member of the Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court. A member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the UofL Brandeis School of Law, she serves upon appointment by the Kentucky Supreme Court as chair of the Kentucky Board of Bar Examiners. She currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky.
Linda Campbell Tipton ’88 Distinguished Service Award
Originally from Louisville, Linda Campbell Tipton earned her B.A. in psychology from Transylvania, where she was a William T. Young Scholar, as well as a member of Chi Omega women’s fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary. In her senior year, Linda served as head resident advisor for Forrer Hall. She earned her Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1992. Since 2004, Linda has been a psychologist in private practices and has served as adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Maryland since 2012.
As an alumna, Linda has stayed involved with Transylvania, having served on every five-year reunion committee, numerous times as gift chair. In 2018, Linda led the giving effort for the Class of 1988 to name the new William T. Young Campus Center’s Hearth Room fireplace.
A regional ambassador for the Washington, D.C., area, she has served on the Transylvania Women’s Impact Council and was a mentor for 100 Doors to Success from 2018-22. She currently serves on the Board of Regents.
Linda resides in Takoma Park, Maryland, with her husband Sean Tipton ’86.
Transylvania University, Kentucky’s first college, has released its new Strategic Focus — an agile, targeted, three-year plan for the future. Titled “Pursuing a BOLD PATH for Transylvania University: 2021-2024,” the Strategic Focus was approved in October by the university’s Board of Trustees.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, a night cold but sweet, Not a creature was stirring, no committee did meet. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, No one was Zooming, a moment quite rare.
The first years were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of Winter Term danced in their heads. They dreamed of great classes that they soon would take, And of all of the “A”s they would certainly make.
