Notes from the Class of 2004

This spring, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appointed Michelle A. Chostner (Anth, Psych’04) to the 10th Judicial District Court of Pueblo, Colorado. She was sworn in by the chief judge of the district in April. In 2017, the Colorado District Attorneys Council selected her as the outstanding prosecutor of the year. Michelle is married and has three children. She and her family live in Pueblo. 

Robert Coombs (Comm, MA’04) is CEO and founder of Baton Health, a healthcare technology company. The company, which focuses on healthcare credentialing, has generated just under $9 million since its founding in October 2022. Robert lives in New York City. 

Joe Franco (PolSci’04) is a public affairs and advocacy expert. He was appointed vice president of programs and development for The Washington Campus, where he will design and lead graduate-level courses in public policy for MBA students from around the world. He was also appointed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to serve on the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, serving a four-year term to provide oversight over the Preakness and other key horse racing operations in the state of Maryla

Caroline Hult (Engl, Hum’04) and Elliott Hood (Comm, PolSci’04) met 21 years ago by the pool at CU Boulder. They married 15 years ago. On Twitter, Elliott wrote, “I’m still counting my blessings and grateful for her love, support, and patience.”

Genét Simone (PhDEdu’04) is academic program director for Western Washington University’s teacher education outreach programs in Bremerton, Washington. She writes, “All of my experiences as a grad student in Boulder helped pave the way for supporting new candidates and mentoring them into the teaching profession. I am forever grateful for the mentoring of my professors.” She is also a high school teacher. Last year, she published a memoir Teaching in the Dark about her first year as a teacher in the Arctic.