Alumni Notes

1940s

Rees Marsh Wilcox ’46, Lindenhurst, Illinois, and Dottie Gray ’46, Louisville, Kentucky, are still friends after all these years and are enjoying life! They write to each other and talk often. Rees turned 100 in October 2024, and Dottie turned 100 in January.

1960s

Ann Hood Brooks ’67, Louisville, Kentucky, lost her husband in May and has downsized to a condo. 

Richard S. MacAlpine ’67, Sherrill, New York, was inducted into the Wall of Distinction at Oneida High School this September. The Wall of Distinction is its primary fundraiser, celebrating graduates who have made an outstanding contribution in their field. It also recognizes retirees and others who have served the Oneida City School District with distinction.

1970s

John C. Berrett ’70, Wilbraham, Massachusetts, represented Transylvania at the inauguration of Daniel G. Lugo, Trinity College’s 23rd president, on Oct. 18. He was third in the processional since the delegates line up by the institution’s year of founding.

Josh Santana ’70, Lexington, was honored Oct. 10 with a Golden Record at the 20th Anniversary Gala of the Central Music Academy. Josh founded this nonprofit to pay tribute to music saving his life as a kid growing up in Spanish Harlem, New York. 

Michael G. Mancuso ’71, Cleveland, retired after a nearly 50-year successful career in dermatology.

Everett Bass ’72, Houston, was inducted into the Lexington African American Sports Hall of Fame in September. The former All-American made history as the first Black four-year basketball player at Transy and still holds the all-time leading rebounder title with 1,308 (1968-72) and the most rebounds in a season with 418 (1969-70). He coached two NCAA Final Fours and was inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1994.

Linda Bowen Baker ’74, Atlanta, and her husband Tielke Baker have downsized and now reside in a retirement community, Canterbury Court.

Richard M. Briggs ’74, Knoxville, Tennessee, was recognized by the American Medical Association with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service. He is a surgeon who practiced for 30 years, an Army veteran and current Tennessee state senator.

Marilyn Rose Nicholson ’75, Riverview, Florida, is blissfully retired after 40 years as a choral director in the public schools. She realized a longtime dream to have a dog, and now shares her time with family and her retired racing greyhound. If she had known how much fun retirement was, she would have done it first!

Noah E. Powers ’75, Cincinnati, retired in December 2024 after nearly 50 years as the presiding judge of Butler County Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton, Ohio.

Charlene Jones Shaw ’75 and Timothy C. Shaw ’75, Smyrna, Tennessee, celebrated 50 years of marriage on May 30. They were married at Old Morrison by Paul Murphey, two days before graduation. They have two children and two grandchildren, with another granddaughter on the way.

Russell “Rusty” Richard Reichenbach Cavendish ’77, Richmond, Kentucky, released his second volume of plays, “The Great Kentucky Tragedy and My Old Kentucky Plays II.” His first volume, “The Botanic Garden and My Old Kentucky Plays,” was published in 2020. Both volumes feature plays characterized as “historic drama” with Kentucky themes. In July, Rusty was named Rotarian of the Year by the Richmond Rotary Club.

Linda Wise McNay ’77, Atlanta, is retiring in December after a 45-year career raising millions of dollars for nonprofits including Transylvania University, Georgia Tech, Emory University, the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges, Pace Academy and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. In 2013, she founded Our Fundraising Search, a fundraising consulting firm serving more than 200 clients providing development search, annual fund and capital and endowment fundraising counsel. She has authored five books on fundraising. She and her husband Gary happily live in Atlanta and have two wonderful adult sons.

1980s

Manuel M. Probst ’81, Lexington, associate professor at Morehead State University and chair of the Department of Health, Kinesiology, Imaging & Psychological Sciences, earned a top honor from the Ohio Valley Conference for his work in the classroom as a winner of the Outstanding Faculty Commitment to Student Success Award. Criteria for this award include impacts on students, university and curriculum development, contributions to the department, consistent professional development, community involvement and institutional service.

Mark V. Blankenship ’81, Lexington, vice president of advancement for Lexington Theological Seminary, has announced his plans to retire July 31, 2026. Mark has served LTS for 14 years and has given leadership to the seminary’s overall fundraising program, including the Ministerial Education Fund, Infinite Table Campaign and the Equipping Leaders for Ministry Campaign. He has also provided leadership for alumni relations and church and community outreach. He works with the president and executive leadership to address issues of institutional governance.

Ralph “Hunt” Sidway ’83, Sumiton, Alabama, is the photographer and author of “The North American Thebaid” (St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press, 2025), a photographic pilgrimage to over 30 Orthodox Christian monasteries across the Lower 48 and Alaska. Taking its name from the Egyptian Thebaid desert region, where Christian monasticism began to flourish in the fourth century, Hunt’s book is the culmination of several years of travel and photography and features numerous images of Orthodox monastic life in America.

Todd S. Page ’87, Lexington, has retired from law practice at Stoll Keenon Ogden LLC. He was recognized with Best Lawyers 2026 Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year award.

Christopher S. Rose ’89, Lexington, is the vice president of sales for the U.S. and Canada at Paragraph Publishing, a company headquartered in Norwich, United Kingdom. Chris oversees Whisky Magazine, American Whiskey Magazine and more as they expand their presence across North America. 

1990s

Lance Tucker ’91, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, was named chief executive officer at Jack in the Box in March, after joining the company in January as chief financial officer. He brings a proven track record of driving results and deep experience as a strategic business leader within the restaurant industry. Lance has a thorough understanding of the company’s business operations, having previously served as CFO at Jack in the Box from 2018-20.

Dawn Flamm Deweese ’92, Louisville, Kentucky, was selected as the 2025 Kentucky School Counselor of the Year by the Kentucky Counseling Association. She has been a guidance counselor at Assumption High School in Louisville for nearly 10 years.

Mary Thomas Tudor Emanuel ’92, Richmond, Kentucky, who recently finished her Rank 1 in elementary education from Eastern Kentucky University, received tenure and was promoted to assistant professor and faculty laureate at Model Laboratory School. She was also honored with the 2025-26 Rockstar Award for teaching excellence. Presented by Superintendent John Williamson, the annual Rockstar Award recognizes a faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond, exemplifies excellence in action and demonstrates servant leadership within the Model Community. 

Joy Williams Lind ’93, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was promoted to full professor of business administration at the University of Sioux Falls. She has been at Sioux Falls for 16 years.

Christopher C. Wischer ’93, Newburgh, Indiana, represented Transylvania at the inauguration of Steven J. Bridges as the fifth president of the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville.

Kenneth B. Nusbacher ’93, Lexington, was named assistant chief medical officer for ambulatory dentistry at UK HealthCare in September, marking a significant step in the ongoing integration of the UK College of Dentistry’s clinical operations into the broader UK HealthCare system.

Brian Quattrocchi ’94, Owensboro, Kentucky, a longtime prosecutor with the Daviess County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, has been appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to fill an open district court judgeship in Daviess County. Brian said he isn’t doing it for the salary or title, but because he has a genuine love for his community. He also claims he is going to give his best effort to treat everybody fairly, kindly and with respect and still uphold the law. 

Marcus A. Osborne ’97, Atascadero, California, has been selected to serve as the chair of Frontier Nursing University’s Board of Directors. Osborne has served on the board since 2017. Before FNU, Marcus served as the chief financial officer for the Clinton Foundation’s Health Access Initiative. He then earned his master’s in business administration with honors from Harvard Business School. 

Jason T. Childers ’98, Frankfort, Kentucky, is the co-owner of Us Soap and Body, a maker of bar and liquid soaps, sprays, beard products, roll-ons and more. Us Soap and Body only uses products from the earth and never uses synthetic fragrance oils or colors. 

Taufika Islam Williams ’98, Raleigh, North Carolina, has been promoted to research professor in the Department of Chemistry and to assistant director of METRIC (Molecular Education, Technology, and Research Innovation Center) at NC State University. In these dual roles, she provides scientific and administrative leadership for one of the university’s flagship research cores, with a particular focus on advancing mass spectrometry-based technologies. Her work centers on the development and management of advanced research infrastructure, fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations and enabling faculty, staff and students to apply state-of-the-art analytical tools to address complex scientific questions.

Kelly Hoskins Tyler ’99, Columbus, Ohio, was named director of The Ohio State University Dermatology Residency Program in July 2024. She is an associate professor in the Department of Dermatology, where she also serves as the director of quality, director of the Patch Testing and Contact Dermatitis Program and co-director of the multidisciplinary Vulvar Clinic. She is also entering her second year as the director of the American Academy of Dermatology’s Leadership Forum. And she is editor of “Cutaneous Disorders of Pregnancy” as well as “A Comprehensive Guide to Genital Skin Disease,” which will be published in late 2025. Kelly is dual-board certified in ob/gyn and dermatology.

Joseph Williams ’99, Raleigh, North Carolina, was the recipient of three prestigious awards from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry in 2024 and 2025. They include the PGY-1 (first-year medical resident) Teaching Award, recognizing him as a kind and compassionate role model for academic medicine, whose thoughtful Socratic approach to teaching inspires physician trainees to excel as both medical learners and providers. The others are the Dr. Ray and Mrs. Christine Hayworth Award for Excellence in Psychiatry Education and Department of Psychiatry Chair Award for Outstanding Job Performance. He serves as program director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at UNC, as well as assistant program director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship, director of Correctional Psychiatry services, and clinical associate professor of general psychiatry. He is among a select group of UNC faculty physicians who are triple-board-certified in addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry and general psychiatry, reflecting the depth and breadth of his clinical expertise and leadership in the field.

2000s

Marni Rock Gibson ’00, Midway, Kentucky, became the president of the North American Securities Administrators Association at its annual meeting in September. She is commissioner and securities administrator of the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. 

Christopher H. Reitz ’03, Louisville, Kentucky, has dedicated 10 years of teaching and contributing to Columbia University since graduating from a master’s program there in 2014 and has advanced to lecturer, where he will be teaching his own course, Digital Organizations & Digital Transformation. He will also be teaching an AI course in the fall that he has been supporting for the past three years. He will be doing this all while holding the senior director of artificial intelligence position at Elevance Health (a Fortune 25 health insurer). 

Matthew B. Frank ’03, Lexington, was named regional manager, wealth management and trust of central Kentucky at Stock Yards Bank & Trust. He joined the bank because he was drawn by the firm’s collaborative spirit and the opportunity to continue empowering central Kentucky families to reach their financial objectives.

Bradley T. Sullivan ’03, New York, was elected secretary/treasurer of Delta Sigma Phi’s Grand Council at the fraternity’s convention last summer. Brad is a managing director at TJM Institutional Services.

Lesley Wellington Wiglesworth ’04, Danville, Kentucky, is a professor of mathematics at Centre College and is one of three recipients of Centre’s 2025 Kirk Award, established in 1996 to honor faculty whose teaching was recognized as outstanding during an annual review. Lesley has been a member of Centre’s faculty since 2008 and was named a Centre Scholar in 2012 and again in 2021. She has mentored many research students, leading to numerous student co-authored presentations and publications.

Erin Melville Lageman ’04, Union, Kentucky, graduated from Leadership Northern Kentucky in May. She is the vice president of people and culture for the Cincinnati Reds. Prior to joining the Reds in January, Erin enjoyed a 19-year career in human resources at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. 

Erin Jones Roth ’05, Lexington, serves as the regional director of philanthropy at Transylvania. A proud alumna, she comes from a true Pioneer family — her mother, Harriet Perry Jones ’75, and her husband, Matthew Roth ’04, are also graduates. 

Amelia Martin Adams ’06, Lexington, is chief legal and risk officer at the University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union.

Kelsey Blankenship White ’06, Mechanicsville, Virginia, is an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and the first female editor-in-chief of the Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy. She spoke on a podcast called The Chaplain’s Compass, discussing her passion for spiritual care, journey into research and insights into the evolving landscape of chaplaincy research.

Rachel Hogg-Graham ’08, Versailles, Kentucky, has been named chair of the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. 

John D. Kromer ’08, East Orange, New Jersey, associate university librarian for research and engagement at New Jersey Institute of Technology, was named a Fellow of the Special Libraries Association. This honor is bestowed upon active SLA members in recognition of past and present service and expected future contributions to the association and the profession. The SLA awards recognize individuals and organizations for extraordinary contributions to the field of special librarianship and information science.

Ryan C. Meyer ’08, Waxhaw, North Carolina, founded his own company called Mattress Lab in 2023. The company was recognized with the Charlotte’s Best and Best of South Carolina awards. Prior to starting Mattress Lab, Ryan worked for Tempur Sealy for 13 years.

Monica Hagan Vetter ’09, Prospect, Kentucky, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. Individuals are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process. Dr. Vetter is a distinguished expert in the field of gynecologic oncology who has served at Norton Health Care since 2024. 

2010s

Prya Murad ’11, Miami, has earned Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law. This certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Only 7% of Florida attorneys have achieved Board Certification in any field. Of the approximately 100,000 members of the Florida Bar, less than 400 are Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law. 

Kelsey Strasser Flynn ’11, Independence, Kentucky, has published a children’s book “ABC, Run With Me: Flying Pig Marathon.” It combines her passions for literacy and running, taking young readers on an engaging A-Z journey through Cincinnati’s iconic Flying Pig Marathon. Her goal with this book is to inspire a love of reading and movement in children.

Matthew F. Wise ’11, Hoover, Alabama, has been promoted from associate head coach to head coach of the Samford University women’s basketball team. He looks forward to building the program and winning championships.

Erin Brock Carlson ’12, Morgantown, West Virginia, was promoted to associate professor of English and awarded tenure at West Virginia University, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in the writing studies program. 

Bethany Breeze Davenport Truman ’13, Lexington, is an associate at Kinkead & Stilz law firm. Before her legal career, Bethany worked in higher education fundraising, listening and building relationships with donors to better understand their motivations. She plans to foster these skills in her practice as she works with her clients in various ways. 

Kyle J. Smith ’14, Orlando, Florida, has re-upped his contract with Orlando City SC through 2025. A shining star on the team, last season he was tagged with “no goals against” in his 29 games played and is credited with 42 aerial duels and 17 clearances.

Daniel C. Lyvers ’15, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been serving as senior minister at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Chattanooga since January.

Chelsea Michelson Crosier ’15,
Shepherdsville, Kentucky, recently won the American Staffing Association Women in Leadership Scholarship Award! This award is part of a competitive program aimed at empowering emerging leaders in the staffing industry by recognizing outstanding female professionals who exhibit leadership potential. Each year, the program selects a distinguished group of recipients, emphasizing their contributions and growth as future leaders in this field. Chelsea Crosier was among the eight winners in 2025, chosen from over 90 applicants. The award highlights Chelsea’s exemplary leadership growth and potential through recognition and professional development opportunities, including her work on Kelly’s Government contract with the NIH/NIAID. The award includes registration and travel support for the industry capstone event, Staffing World and ASA THRIVE, where Chelsea will be honored and featured in a video presentation.

Erin M. Miller ’16, Austin, Texas, is an account executive with Austin FC (Los Verdes MLS team). She works primarily with events and ticketing for the organization, and on game day, you will find her mingling with Verde fans in SciPlay Sports Bar and the club’s private suites. Whether you live in Austin or plan a visit, stop by to see Erin at Q2 stadium.

BayLeigh Routt ’17, Versailles, Kentucky, is the social media and content marketing manager for the Paul Miller Motor Company. In this role, her focus is to strengthen the brand identity online by developing successful marketing strategies through research, strategy, content creation and other creative initiatives such as events and partnerships. Every day, she’s thinking outside the box to grow brand awareness online in a meaningful, intentional way for multiple Paul Miller brands including Ford, Mazda and Auto Outlet dealerships. 

Dia J. Wright ’17, Seattle, has been promoted to director for research and program management for the Public Education in Beloved Community Initiative at Seattle University. 

Evan J. Reister ’17, Canton, Ohio, is the assistant professor of exercise science in the Division of Natural and Health Sciences at Malone University. He previously served as a professorial lecturer in the Department of Health Studies at American University.

Sarah C. Ashley ’18, Lexington, was inducted into the 2025 Corbin High School Athletic Hall of Fame by the Redhound Varsity Club. She is remembered as one of the best all-around basketball players to ever suit up for the Lady Redhounds. Splitting a dual role as a guard and forward, Sarah helped guide the Lady Redhounds to back-to-back 13th Region titles and consecutive trips to the Sweet 16 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Megan Goins ’18, Stuttgart, Germany, became a newly published author. Titled “A Hidden Genocide: The Profitable War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” her book details the history of the ongoing conflict in the DRC, its causes and the current conflict mineral trade. 

Thomas “Toland” Lacy ’18, Lexington, is a staff attorney with the Kentucky Attorney General’s office, working with its rate intervention division.

Ariel P. Norvell ’18, Richmond, Kentucky, was promoted in June to director of health outreach services at AVOL Kentucky, a nonprofit working to end the HIV epidemic in central and eastern Kentucky. In this leadership role, she oversees HIV, HCV and STI testing programs, develops strategic outreach initiatives and leads efforts to reduce health disparities among LGBTQ+ individuals, racial and ethnic minorities and others experiencing systemic barriers to care. She is a certified health education specialist whose work blends data-driven strategy with compassionate, community-centered care.

Katherine E. Stachowski ’18, Spartanburg, South Carolina, left a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Limestone University to become the next head coach of the University of Mount Olive women’s lacrosse program.

Nikki Fox Webb ’19, Lexington, is a biology teacher at Tates Creek High School, and in March, she published her debut fantasy novel, “A Dragon’s Night.”

2020s

Shelby N. Boyle ’20, Brighton, Massachusetts, has been named the new assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Dartmouth College women’s basketball team after five seasons at Boston College, where she served as the director of player development. Shelby was recognized as a WBCA “30 Under 30” honoree in 2024. She was selected to the NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy in May 2025.

Isaac G. Settle ’20, Owensboro, is the executive director of the Owensboro Museum of Science and History. An Owensboro native, he deeply loves the museum and is excited to elevate it to new heights. Isaac spent three years assisting with research and exhibit development and preserving the museum’s current collections at the establishment.

Leslie Whaley Allgeier ’21, Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from the University of Louisville School of Law in May. She was sworn in by the Kentucky Supreme Court in the practice of law in October. Leslie also holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky and is a CPA.

Charles “Carter” Johnson ’21, Lexington, has joined Stock Yards Bank as an investment associate. He is excited for the opportunity to learn from a seasoned team dedicated to client service. Carter believes in the power of long-term discipline to navigate market uncertainties and achieve financial goals.

Audrey C. Denham ’21, Louisville, Kentucky, recently joined the American Heart Association as a development coordinator. She is honored to contribute to such meaningful work that impacts lives every day and is thankful for the opportunity to grow, serve and make a difference.

Kate Girard Benge ’22, Roanoke, Virginia, works as a school psychologist at both Bonsack Elementary and William Byrd Middle School.

Anna E. Kelly ’23, Louisville, Kentucky, is a 2025-26 recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grant in Madrid, Spain. She is working with the Global Classrooms initiative, a program that uses Model United Nations-style activities to promote English language learning, cross-cultural understanding and global citizenship among secondary school students. She was particularly looking forward to supporting bilingual education in Spanish classrooms, collaborating with local teachers and helping students engage with international issues through dialogue and role play. 

Taylor Stamps Senter ’23, Aiken, South Carolina, is the assistant coach for Augusta University’s softball team. She was assistant coach at Transylvania during the 2024 season, helping lead the team to a 35-10 record and an NCAA regional tournament appearance. 

Jillian A. Shaw ’23, Lexington, is a program coordinator with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Peyton M. Dunaway ’25, Maysville, Kentucky, is the new editor at The Ledger Independent.

Amara F. Wagner ’25, Orlando, Florida, is a guest relations cast member at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. After completing two weeks of training and receiving her “D-Pin” — honoring her as a full-fledged member of the EPCOT Guest Relations team — she’s excited for what’s in store.