Class Notes

Urban planner Gunnar Hand (Plan, PolSci) was selected to participate in Next City’s Vanguard 2015, a gathering of top U.S. urban innovators under 40. He works for the architectural firm BNIM and is on the boards of the Kansas City Public Schools, Metropolitan Energy Center and Regional Transit Alliance, all in greater Kansas City. Gunnar also played a key role in the KC Streetcar Starter Line planning effort led by his firm.

Marketing agency Fingerpaint welcomed Nick McDowell (Engl) to its creative team last fall. Nick previously worked as a senior copywriter for Palio+Ignite and for Grey Healthcare Group.

Denison University in Granville, Ohio, granted tenure to Cheryl McFarren (PhdThtr), who has worked in the university’s theater department since 2009. She teaches acting, with an emphasis on the performance of heightened language. She is a member of the Actors Equity Association and has performed with the Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado, the Bread Loaf Acting Ensemble in Vermont and Short North Stage in Ohio.

This June Scott Pertel (Comm) joined Holiday Fenoglio Fowler, which provides financial services to the commercial real estate industry, as managing director in San Francisco. He concentrates on office and industrial transactions, including sale leasebacks and net lease sales. He also sits on the board of Boys Hope Girls Hope, CREATE San Francisco and the Stillwater Foundation.

Attorney R. Taylor Speer (Mgmt) has joined the firm Turner Padget’s litigation practice in Greenville, S.C. With more than seven years of experience, he handles corporate and employment litigation matters. When he’s not working, he is a musician who has performed throughout the Southeast in support of charities.

Early this year Denver resident Nate Ragolia (Engl) published his first novella, There You Feel Free, which details the day-to-day lives of five Millennials. Nate heavily draws on T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Wasteland” for the book. It is available at blackhillpress.com.

Producer Heather Richardson (Soc) joined the Chicago-based editorial firm Cutters in January. For nine years, she worked for Cosmo Street Editorial in New York as a producer of high-profile commercials for clients that included ESPN, Verizon and Geico.

Rhodes College professor Chris Seaton (PhDMath) was awarded Rhodes College’s highest faculty honor for outstanding teaching and research. Chris is an associate professor in the college’s math and computer science department. He studies orbifolds that are formed when a surface gets folded on itself, particularly those with seven-dimensional surfaces in 10-dimensional space. Chris has had 20 manuscripts published or accepted since 2007 and has presented his work internationally.

Lindsey Corsi Cottone (Comm) works as the director of communications and marketing at Western Reserve Academy in Ohio. She also serves as a member of WRA’s executive committee. Previously, she worked as marketing and communication director for the real estate management and development company Forest City Enterprises in Cleveland.

While he was a CU student, Brian Grabski (Mgmt) worked in cabinet shops, perfecting his woodworking skills before founding Designed & Made. At the Minneapolis shop, Brian handles commissions that include custom interiors, kitchen cabinets, office furniture, dining tables, bureaus and pool tables.

While he was a CU student, Brian Grabski (Mgmt) worked in cabinet shops, perfecting his woodworking skills before founding Designed & Made. At the Minneapolis shop, Brian handles commissions that include custom interiors, kitchen cabinets, office furniture, dining tables, bureaus and pool tables.

Baby Buff Theodore William Bather was born April 3 to Lindsay Bather (Comm) and Adam Bather (Fin). The parents write, “Teddy will make his first official recruiting visit this fall.”

The Bryan Cave law firm in Boulder hired Christopher Achatz (Mgmt, Psych; Law’10).He advises clients on the licensing and transfer of intellectual property and high technology and provides legal services to businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

After abandoning her plans to become a lawyer, Jazmin Chavez (Ethnic) worked for the magazine Talentedly, then became the New York City Council’s social media and community manager. In an interview, Jazmin told Talentedly social media helps educate the masses, sustain movements and unify messaging.

Former CU Presidential Scholar Rania Elhelo (MJour) is a communications officer in Gaza for ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid), which was created to assist the homeless and impoverished victims from the Arab-Israeli War. Today it helps Palestinian families in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

Engineer and entrepreneur Adam Green (MBA) serves as president and principal engineer at the civil engineering firm Crosstown Engineering, which has offices in Texas and Florida. His firm specializes in foundation, civil and structural engineering reports and plans. Adam lives in Dallas.

Albertson & Davidson LLP named Gian Ducic-Montoya (PolSci) partner. Gian received her law degree from the University of La Verne. She represents clients with probate, trust and estate litigation issues in the firm’s office in Ontario, Calif.

The historical novel published by Adam Littleton (IntlAf), American Baroque, features an aging Johnny Appleseed wandering the countryside to check the fruits of his early planting. Adam, currently living in Tokyo, says the book was inspired by his travels and his education at CU. Prior to moving to Japan, Adam taught English near Moscow. He says he does not know where he will end up next.

The reality TV show The Sing-Off featured Richard Steighner’s (EnvDes, Psych) five-man vocal pop band, The Exchange. Formed in 2012, the band has traveled worldwide and has included a 32-city European stadium tour in spring 2014.

Associate professor of marketing at Virginia Tech Rajesh Bagchi (PhDBus) was named the Richard E. Sorensen Junior Faculty Fellow by the university’s Board of Visitors in recognition of his teaching and research excellence. It is a three-year appointment.