Class Notes

Entrepreneur and consultant Aaron Perry (MGer) works with social enterprises to enhance company culture and holistic balance. He has a new book, Y on Earth. Aaron and his partner, Winter Wall, also offer workshops for companies, colleges and community groups.

Scott Fields (EnvSt) was recently appointed head coach of the men’s lacrosse team at NCAADivision III Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.

Paul Gesterling (Econ, PolSci) has joined the Steier Group, a national capital campaign fundraising firm, as a campaign manager. He previously served as development director for the Catholic Alliance in Denver. Paul is currently conducting a campaign planning study in Reno, Nev. He and wife Lisa have three children.

Former CU Buffs women’s soccer player Ashley Grosh (BusAd, Econ) was named to the Denver Business Journal’s 2017 40 under 40 list of influential young people working in business. Ashley is vice president of environmental affairs for Wells Fargo and has partnered with Buffalo Sports Properties to help conserve water throughout the west. She and husband Michael live in Denver with their two children

In June, Olivia Koski (EngrPhys, Ger) published Vacation Guide to the Solar System. The book is part of her work with the Intergalactic Travel Bureau, a public outreach STEM program about humans in space. Olivia works as head of operations at Guerilla Science, an organization that creates and plans installations for festivals, museums and galleries. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

J. Ernesto Ortiz-Diaz (MSpan) has received tenure at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. His interests include Latin American and 19th-century literature with a focus on narrative and poetry.

Travis Macy (Hum) published The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion’s 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports, and Life in 2015. The former CU track and cross-country runner has finished more than 120 ultra endurance events in 17 countries, and once set a record for the Leadman series, which involves a trail running marathon, 50- mile mountain bike race, Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, 10k road run and Leadville 100 Run, all above 10,200 feet in the Rocky Mountains. He and wife Amy have two children. They live near Evergreen, Colo.

Sydney Bergen Hafliger (Soc) and Aaron Hafliger (Econ’05) were married in February in Mexico. The couple honeymooned in Belize. Sydney works for Realities for Children Boulder County, a nonprofit organization that partners with the CU Guardian Scholars program to provide full scholarships for former foster care youth. Aaron is a commercial real estate broker in Denver. Their wedding bands are inscribed with Buff motto “WTTF” — Welcome to the Fight.

In February, Jasmine Fry Cloud (MArtHist) lectured at Truman State University on the history of papal ceremonies. Jasmine is currently an assistant professor of art history at the University of Central Missouri. She lives in Blue Springs, Mo., with her husband, Nick, and their daughter.

In October, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants appointed Diego Baca (Acct, MS) to the CPA Examination Board of Examiners and to the institute’s board for a three-year term. At 31, Diego is the youngest board member and hopes to contribute a fresh vision for the examination. Diego also is a member of the CU Boulder Latino Alumni Association’s board.

New Jersey native Blake Baldwin (Mktg) is one of 12 finalists competing on the latest season of Food Network Star, which premiered June 4. Blake recently switched careers, entering the culinary world after years of marketing and account management for tech start-ups.

Joe Mekulski (Econ) was hired as the newest broker at the Baltimore office of KLNB, a commercial real estate brokerage and services firm. He will assist with tenant and landlord representation activities in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas.

Amanda Laviage (Comm, PolSci) joined McGlinchey Stafford’s Houston office as an associate in the law firm’s commercial litigation practice. Amanda has experience in appellate matters, including those assigned by the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Committee. She lives in Houston.

In April, Elizabeth Hernandez (Jour) returned to Boulder to report on the university that taught her a thing or two about reporting. Prior to landing the Boulder Daily Camera’s higher education job, Elizabeth dug deep as a fellow at the Center for Public Integrity, an investigative newsroom in Washington, D.C. Before that, she called the Denver Post home for two years, first as an intern and then as a staff reporter covering breaking news and education. When she’s not filling her reporter’s notebook, she enjoys reading and writing but detests arithmetic.

Alexandra Alonso (Span) has been named executive director of the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization. At 28, Alexandra will be the youngest executive director of the nonprofit organization since it was founded in 1964. Before joining CLLARO in 2015, she worked as an editorial assistant at the Denver Post.

On Dec. 6, Andreas and Allison Deptolla (MLing) welcomed a son, Benjamin Victor Deptolla. The couple also has a young daughter, Clara.