Mercy High School Class Notes A Catholic, College Preparatory Girls School in Baltimore, MD

List of 5 items.

Spring/Summer 2023

Sally DiPaula ’64’s novel was published by Nicholson Press on June 13, 2023. Entitled Once Upon a Time in Baltimore, the story begins in 1918, when Baltimore is coping with the Spanish Influenza epidemic and World War I and follows its two main characters, an Irish-American girl and the son of Sicilian immigrants, through the Depression and World War II, and into the latter half of the 20th century. Once Upon a Time in Baltimore is both a family saga and a historical novel involving interconnected lives from several generations. Sally lives in Washington, D.C .with her husband. She holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. Once Upon a Time in Baltimore, the first in the Parisi-Finnerty Family series, is her debut novel. She has also recently completed a Young Adult Mystery entitled Captain Moretti’s Daughter.
Libby Gibbons Smith ’65, P’87 has published The Coin Flip, an engaging story demonstrating how God works in the lives of ordinary people enabling them to do extraordinary things. The book tells the story of two men who emigrated from Ireland to America in order to become priests. Because they did not have the money for both to attend seminary, they agreed to flip a coin and have the loser pay the winner to attend. The loser of the coin flip struggled through inner turmoil as he tried hard to accept God’s will and trust that it was for a better purpose. Wanting to be healed of his anger and resentment, he prayed for peace and to know God’s plan for his new direction. Decades later, God showed him the answer to his initial question, “Why Lord did I lose the coin flip?” His heart burst with praise and gratitude for the unexpected blessings given in his later years.
Mary Unkelbach Eastham, Ph.D. ’70 has been bestowed a Queen’s Service Medal for services to interfaith communities on the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List. Mary, who lives in New Zealand, helped establish the Palmerston North Interfaith Group as the Bishop of Palmerston North’s representative on the Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Interfaith Relations. The group targeted the pressing issues that confronted humanity, such as climate change and eliminating racism and discrimination. The Queen’s Service Award recognizes Mary’s service to interfaith communities in 2023. Mary also served on the organizing committee for the Association of Practical Theology in Oceana (APTO) Conference entitled On the Move! Migration and Practical Theology: Emerging Challenges, Experiences, and Responses across Oceana, where she presented information about climate change refugees. According to Mary, “Next to climate change, I believe that the refugee crisis is the greatest moral and spiritual crisis of our day.” Read more about Mary’s work and her award in Stuff, a magazine from New Zealand.

Virginia Baird Petr ’74 celebrated 20 years of service at Loyola Blakefield where she is an art teacher.
Nancy Papa Doran ’74, P’05, ’07 has retired after 46 years of service as an occupational therapist at the William S. Baer School. The Baer School is a Baltimore City Public School that is recognized as a leader in inclusive, therapeutic education for students, aged three to twenty-one, with multiple disabilities. The school recently hosted a celebration in Nancy’s honor.
Louise Colianni ’78 is employed as the Nursing Payroll Administrative Coordinator at the University of Maryland Medical System, Upper Chesapeake Health.
Tina Mancini Flegel ’78, P’17 is employed as the Pathology Laboratory Director for the Johns Hopkins Medical System.
Meg Egan Auderset ’84 is employed as the Managing Editor at Leidos, a civil, defense, health, and intelligence agency.
Jackie Loya-Torres ’84, CRA and Community Development Officer at Commerce Bank, has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Community Development Advisory Council. This 16-member council, composed of representatives from the seven states in the Federal Reserve’s 10th District, provides insights to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City on community and economic development challenges faced by low- to moderate-income communities. Jackie co-chaired the KC CRA Association (an association of area CRA officers), served on the executive committee of Money Smart KC, and, most recently, on the Leadership Council for the Bank On KC Coalition. She currently serves on the boards of directors of both Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC) and Harvesters Community Food Network. Read more about Jackie’s appointment.
Mary Lee Barry Carroll ’86 is a sales hostess at Walt Disney World’s Pop Century Resort, working in merchandise.
Melanie Robin, MBA ’88 is the Senior Value Based Care Quality Analyst for the University of Maryland Medical System. Melanie earned her undergraduate degree in English from Elizabethtown College, followed by her Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola University Maryland.
Elena Pozaro Janetopoulous ’89 recently accepted a new position as the Brain Injury Waiver coordinator for the Behavioral Health Administration for the State of Maryland.
Kathleen Ertel Lloyd ’90 has been named the Dean of Women at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kathleen also coaches Varsity Women’s Lacrosse at the school.
Beth Meagher ’91, Principal & Federal Health Sector Leader, US Government & Public Services at Deloitte has been named to the Top 35 Execs to Watch in 2023 list by WashingtonExec magazine. In the article, Beth states that her biggest recent achievement is the leadership team she has assembled. “They are diverse in every way, which is a huge component facilitating our ability to make an impact,” she said. Beth’s team convenes cross-industry experts to discover ways to reduce suicide in the veteran community, supports the government's ability to speed biomedical research, and creates access to vaccines in underrepresented communities. Heavily focused on transforming health for this generation and beyond, the team is creating greater access for all through advancements in health equity; developing standards around data that support advances in research; and driving change around mental health issues. Beth was also interviewed by Fast Company, a business magazine focused on technology, business, leadership, and design. The interview article is entitled, 2023 Outlook: What’s Ahead for government health agencies and their leaders? and can be found here.
Jennifer Berndt White ’92, a Registered Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center was nominated for the DAISY Foundation’s Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Jennifer was nominated for this award by one of her patients who recognized Jennifer's exceptional care and ability to go “above and beyond” to ensure the patient’s comfort and well-being.
Virginia Bates Moore ’92 has been named to the Harford Community College Spring 2023 President’s List, earning a grade point average of 3.76 or above.
Kathleen Wallner King ’92, Assistant Site Manager Johns Hopkins HealthCare Medical Imaging in White Marsh, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland Global Campus earning her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and Management. Kathleen completed her undergraduate studies at McDaniel College earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science and Physical Education in May 1996.
Anna Moore Shalom ’93 was recognized with the 2023 Arts Council of Rockland County, New York's Dance Artist Award. The Arts Council of Rockland is dedicated to advancing the arts, culture, and the role of artists in their community. Anna is the owner of Anna de la Paz Spanish Dance and Co-Director at Hispanic Culture Arts, Inc. She performs professionally and recently returned to Mercy to set a piece for our Dance Troupe.
Melissa Nelson-Boyd ’95 was recently featured on WMAR News and news anchor, Jamie Costello’s Facebook page. Tragically, Melissa’s 19-year-old son, Christopher, was killed in a car accident in December 2020 while on his way to help friends who were experiencing car difficulties and were stranded at the Maryland/Pennsylvania line. To keep Christopher’s memory alive, Melissa and her family established the Christopher Xavier Boyd Foundation. One project of the Foundation is “Christopher’s Lily Pad Legacy.” This project allows people to request a small Lily Pad and frog and then take it to a location of their choice, with the aim to spread kindness and happiness in Christopher's memory. So far, these lily pads have “traveled” to every state as well 59 countries around the world. To view the story, click here. To request a lily pad of your own, click here.
Jenna Bana Burch ’97 has been named principal of Hawthorne Elementary, a Baltimore County Public School, for the 23-24 academic years.
Megan Graff Odett ’97 is employed as the Senior Salesforce Consultant at Fionta, which provides information technology services to nonprofits, associations, and foundations. Megan completed her undergraduate work in Liberal Studies at St. John’s College, graduating in 2002. She then earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Performing Arts Management from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2008.
Sarah Butts, MSW ’98, Director of Public Policy at the National Association of Social Workers, has been named to The Daily Record’s list of the Top 100 Women in Maryland.
Kimberly Lawrence Tawney, LMSW ’98 recently earned her Master of Social Work degree from Walden University. Kim is employed as the Program Director of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program at Sheppard Pratt.
Ann Marie DeSimone Bassett, RDH ’00 is a dental assistant and hygienist at Howard County Smiles Dental Office.
Tara Singleton ’00, head women's lacrosse coach at Jacksonville University, was named the ASUN Conference Coach of the Year after leading her team to a 10-7 overall record and the second seed in the ASUN tournament with a 6-1 league record. This is Tara's first year coaching at Jacksonville. Read more here.
Nicole Ortiz Fleischmann, CPA ’01 has accepted a new position as Managing Director of BDO USA, LLP, one of the nation’s leading accounting and advisory firms. Nicole completed her undergraduate work in Accounting at the University of Maryland and earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola University Maryland in May 2010.
Briana Snyder, Ph.D., RN-BC, CNE ’01, graduate program director at Towson University, has recently been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Briana and her team recently earned the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Society For The Study Of Trauma And Dissociation. This award recognizes their research on dissociative disorders and working toward reducing stigma and advancing evidence-based practices related to the treatment and improvement of health outcomes. Dr. Snyder is a Certified Nurse Educator as well as a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse. She earned her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia, her Master of Science degree in Nursing and Nursing Education from Towson University, her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Stevenson University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Ancient and Medieval History from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alison Wedekind Tisdale, Ph.D. ’01 has accepted a position as Entrepreneur in Residence at RAVen (RA Ventures), the venture-focused arm of RA Capital Management, LP, a Boston-based biotechnology and life sciences investment firm. Alison completed her undergraduate work at the University of Delaware, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 2005 and her graduate work at the University of Minnesota, earning her Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 2009. Alison then earned her Doctorate in Biological engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2019.
Andrea Boston ’02 is employed as the Digital Media Manager at the Baltimore Museum of Art. In this role, she oversees digital storytelling initiatives shared via web, email marketing, and social media, and manages the museum's Social Media Producer. Andrea also co-produces an arts community gathering in Baltimore called SunSets, a monthly event modeled after the salon gatherings of the Harlem Renaissance, with Nia Johnson ’03. Andrea and Nia’s work was featured in a December 2016 article in Baltimore Magazine entitled, Place in the Sun. In addition, Andrea directs the Oddflower project, an online documentary series about quirky women of color. Andrea earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Temple University in 2006. Learn more about her work here.
Nia Johnson, Ph.D. ’03 is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at West Chester University. Nia completed her undergraduate work at Morgan State University, earning her Doctoral Degree in Social Work there in 2021. She has previously served as adjunct faculty at Morgan State University and the Community College of Baltimore County. She and Andrea Boston ’02 co-produce an arts community gathering in Baltimore called SunSets, a monthly event modeled after the salon gatherings of the Harlem Renaissance. Nia and Andrea’s work was featured in a December 2016 article in Baltimore Magazine entitled, Place in the Sun. Learn more about Nia’s career here.
Adaria Hathaway Sogbor, Ed.D ’03 is employed as a Graduate Academic Advisor at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. Adaria completed her undergraduate work at Morgan State University, where she earned her Doctorate of Education degree in Urban Education and Leadership in 2021.
Maria Adornato Baliles ’05 is employed as an Instructional Technologist at Kaizen Approach, Inc. which helps government and commercial customers to strengthen their cybersecurity position and advance their workforce development. Maria completed her undergraduate work in Mass Communications at Towson University and earned her Master of Science degree in Instructional System Design from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2017.
Megan Anderson '05 moved from Washington, DC to Seattle, Washington in April 2023 for her new role at Amazon Web Services, where she was promoted to Senior Event Manager, Keynote on the Global Events Team.
Cynthia Perry ’05 graduated Cum Laude from Boston University’s School of Divinity, earning her Master of Divinity degree in May 2023. She has accepted a position at Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts as the Assistant Director of their Multicultural Center. Cynthia completed her undergraduate work at George Washington University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. In 2016, Cynthia earned a Master of Science in Sports Management, also from George Washington University.
Dorothy Smith Ohl, Ph.D. ’05 has been promoted to Director for Global Posture Policy at the United States Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Dorothy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston College in 2009 earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Civilization and Societies. She then earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University in 2016.
Amanda Kloid Best ’06 serves as the Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the Maryland Public Service Commission. Her portfolio includes energy efficiency, renewable energy, offshore wind, electric vehicles, low-income energy issues, and nuclear energy. Amanda completed her undergraduate work at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Geography in 2010. She then went on to earn her Mast of Science degree in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2012.
Rachel Distler ’07 is a self-employed comic book illustrator. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in 2012.
Ashley Dulaney Villano ’07 is employed as the Climate, Engagement, and Leadership Development Lead for the United States Coast Guard. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Mercyhurst University in 2011 and then earned her Master of Science degree in Management and Human Resources Management from the University of Maryland University College in 2016.
Ashley Kowalski ’07, Project Leader for International Partnerships at the Aerospace Corporation and SIRIUS-21 crew member, was a featured presenter on The Mars Society’s Red Planet Live podcast, a monthly one-hour video podcast. Ashley spoke about her role as crew engineer as a member of the Mars Desert Station (MDRS) Crew 269. The Mars Desert Station is a space analog facility in Utah that supports Earth-based research in pursuit of the technology, operations, and science required for human space exploration. Ashley addressed how the research she conducted as part of this crew will help prepare future human explorers for living and working on the Red Planet.
Shannon Austin ’08 has accepted a position as the Executive Administrative Assistant for the Offices of the President and Advancement at Goucher College.
Kaitlyn Beinstein Dix ’08 is an Independent Contractor with Belay. Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Mount St. Mary's University in 2012 and her Master of Science degree in Non-Profit, Public, and Organizational Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2016.
Brooke Bennett Castillo ’08 is a Curriculum Specialist at Rapides Parish School District in Alexandria, Louisiana. Brooke completed her undergraduate work at the University of the Cumberlands. She then earned a Master of Education degree specializing in Reading and Writing also from the University of the Cumberlands. In December 2018, Brooke earned her second Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Southeastern University.
Meghan Brumbley Moloney ’08 is employed as a Marketing Data Strategy Manager at Digitas North America, an integrated advertising agency within Publicis Groupe. Meghan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management, Hospitality, and Tourism Management from Virginia Tech.
Jessica Ciarapica ’08 is employed as the Medical Clinic Coordinator at LifeBridge Health’s Center for Hope, a comprehensive violence prevention and intervention agency. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Frostburg State University in 2012.
Jennifer Foley Bocian, PT, DPT ’08 is a Pediatric Physical Therapist at Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Misericordia University in 2011, and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree, also from Misericordia University, in 2014.
Merrie Goodlander ’08 recently hosted an event for Period Poverty Awareness Week. This week was officially recognized by the Delaware governor, and the event featured speeches from Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and State Senator Kyle Evans Gay. Merrie moderated an informative panel on menstrual diversity. The Physician and Mental Health expert panelists discussed the ways in which age, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status affect the experiences of women and girls. According to Merrie, “I credit Mercy for instilling the value of social justice and the experience of public speaking for preparing me for a rewarding experience like this!”
Kelly Karle ’08 is employed with Constellation Energy Generation, LLC as a Senior Legal Analyst, supporting all aspects of litigation for the company’s in-house legal department. Before joining Constellation, for six years, Kelly served as a Senior Paralegal at McGuireWoods, LLP working in complex commercial litigation. Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies and minor in Political Science from Wesley College in 2012. She also received the Departmental of Excellence Award in Legal Studies and was named to the President’s List recognizing her grade point average of 4.0.
Lindsay Sawyers Schneider ’08 is the Marketing Director at Advanced Fire Protection Systems. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from West Virginia University in 2012.
LCDR Sarah Troch USCG, P.E ’08 is employed as a Port Engineer for the United States Coast Guard. Sarah graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2012, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Sarah earned her Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2016. In 2022, Sarah was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, serving as a project manager developing logistic support for the Coast Guard’s newest cutter which is currently under construction. She and her team manage the required maintenance, parts, and technical information to operate the cutter once it is built.
Olivia Leitch Weber ’08 is the Instructional Technology Integrator at St. Paul's Schools. In 2012, Olivia completed her undergraduate studies at Towson University, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Art History and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. She then earned her Master of Science degree in Instructional Design and Development from Towson University in 2015. In November 2019, Olivia earned her Executive Education Certificate in Management Development from The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.
Natalie Zoppo Allen ’08 has opened a coffee shop in the neighborhood of Mayfield in Baltimore City. Arcola Coffee also provides a space suitable to hold meetings, events, and fundraisers.
Tierra Bennett ’09 is the Director of Collateral Operations at Morgan Stanley. Tierra earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Management from McDaniel College in 2013.
Melinda Kane Miller ’09 is employed as a Marketing Assistant at MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services. Melinda graduated magna cum laude from Stevenson University in 2013 earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Communication.
Unissa Cruse-Ferguson ’10, a professional dancer, actor, and choreographer, was recently featured in a Target commercial.
Julia Mattucci ’10 is employed as an assistant underwriter at Beazley. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson University in 2015.
Danielle Bagley Hyde ’11 is employed as a Speech Language Pathologist for VNA of Maryland. Danielle earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University.
Brittney Bosse, PE ’11 is a Senior Design Engineer at Bohler Engineering. Brittney earned her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from Hofstra University in May 2015 and earned her Professional Engineer license in December 2020.
Tanesha Moody ’11 has accepted a position as Director of Corporate Marketing and Events at Salesforce, a cloud-based software company.
Gabbi Perrella-Jager ’11 is employed as a Settlement Officer at Eagle Title in Towson, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Towson University.
Shannon Aikens ’12 will be the Head Coach Women's Lacrosse Coach at River Bluff High School in Lexington, South Carolina. Shannon, a Speech-Language Pathologist, was recently featured in the Lexington County Chronicle discussing the coaching style she plans to bring to the team. Shannon graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University Maryland in 2016, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She then earned her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2019, also from Loyola.
Emily Borkowski, J.D. ’12 is employed as Corporate Counsel at Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services. In this role, she is the managing attorney for all professional and general liability litigation including clinical risk and investigations. Emily earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Stevenson University in 2016 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2020. She became a member of the Maryland State Bar in 2020.
Maura Commodari ’12 has accepted a position as a Registered Nurse at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Carmen Williams Tucker ’12 is employed as a Special Projects Coordinator at Green Vest, LLC, an entrepreneurial, land-based, resilience and restoration practitioner focused on fixed-price, resilient, nature-based solutions. Carmen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University in 2017 and her Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University in 2021.
Shelby Andresen ’13 has accepted a position as a Kindergarten Educator for the Summer Program at Reggio & Co. in Hunt Valley, Maryland. This school employs the Reggio Emilia learning approach. Previously, Shelby taught first grade n Baltimore County Public Schools.
Tori Bruno ’13 has accepted a position as Supervisor of Operations at MedStar Health Bel Air. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Stevenson University in 2017 and is pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus with an anticipated graduation date of January 2024. Tori is also a coach of the 2025 Skywalkers Lacrosse team.
Claire Wescott ’13 is currently employed as an actor. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Towson University in 2020.
Lauren Crusse Wheeler ’13 is a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sinai Hospital. Lauren earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Towson University in 2019.
Brianna Dorsey ’13 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Morgan State University in 2017 and her Master of Science degree in Community-Based Educational Leadership from Stevenson University in 2020. She is employed as the Business Operations Administrator at Baltimore Corps, which works to create equitable change.
Melissa Godlewski ’13 is employed as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative at ISBA Group, a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Towson University in 2017.
Amber Lomax ’13 is a Freelance Makeup Artist and Licensed Esthetician. She is a manager at Girlhero Boutique. She graduated from the Von Lee School of Aesthetics in May 2014.
Alexandra Placek ’13 is employed as a Marketing and Recruiting Manager at Diversified Safety Services. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Salisbury University in 2017 and her Master of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Columbia Southern University in 2022.
Maria Makinde ’14 is the Senior Administrator for Program Operations at Save the Children, US. Maria earned her Bachelor of Science degree in International Studies from the University of Baltimore in 2018.
Maria Noto ’14 is the Catering and Events Coordinator at Brookside Market in Phoenix, Maryland.
Alison Prematta ’14 is enrolled at Keiser University studying Occupational therapy in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Bridge Program.
Corrina Sech ’14 has accepted a position as a Client Specialist at Baird, a financial services company. Previously, Corrina was a social studies teacher at Dulaney High School in the Baltimore County Public School system. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Social Studies Education with a minor in Italian from Towson University in 2018. She is currently pursuing her Master of Education degree in Transformational Educational Leadership also from Towson University.
Leah Dickinson ’15 is an Associate Account Executive at iHeartMedia, Z104.3. Leah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Media and Film (Radio/Audio) from Towson University in 2018.
Jill Scott ’16 is currently studying Scottish History at the University of Glasgow where she is writing her dissertation entitled Expression of Decoration: The Use of Humanism and Allegory in Scottish Castles and Palaces during the 16th Century Renaissance. She anticipates earning her Master of Science degree in History in December 2023. Recently, Jill traveled to Mercy International Centre on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland, where Catherine McAuley opened the first House of Mercy in 1827 as a place to shelter and educate women and girls and where on December 12, 1831, she and two others professed their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy.
Allison Stillinghagan, JD ’16 graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland Francis Carey School of Law, earning her Juris Doctorate. Allison was awarded the Public Service Award at her graduation. She will sit for the Maryland Bar Exam in July 2023. Allison has accepted a position as a Junior Staff Attorney at the Human Trafficking Prevention Project in Baltimore. She and her team will be working to reduce the collateral consequences of involvement in the criminal legal system for survivors of human trafficking and those populations made most vulnerable to exploitation.
Consolata Olemgbe ’17 has accepted a position as a Quality Analyst Associate Specialist at Catalent, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Consolata graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morgan State University in 2021 earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Biomedical Science.
Casey Brown ’18 is employed as an Assistant at Enhance Esthetics. She has also accepted a position in the insurance industry as a personal lines account manager.
Hannah Lancaster ’18 earned her esthetician license from Von Lee International in 2019 and holds greater than 12 certifications in the beauty industry. She is the owner of Enhance Esthetics.
Julia Palomino ’18 has accepted a full-time position as Office Manager at Archbishop Borders School in Baltimore.
Amber Parker ’18 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from McDaniel College in May 2023.
Kendall Prematta ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from York College of Pennsylvania in May 2023.
Allie Price ’18 has accepted a position as the Digital Advertising Specialist for the Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Allie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Advertising from Towson University in May 2022.
Julia Walstrum ’18 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Education from Goucher College in May 2023.
Katie Yeagle ’18 is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at South College. In 2022, Katie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Florida Southern College.
Kristin Addison ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Marketing from Salisbury University in May 2023. Kristin has accepted a position as a Marketing Assistant with Blueridge Restaurant Group.
Tamrah Blanchard ’19, a senior at McDaniel College, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List with Honors, earning a grade point average of between 3.50-3.69.
Samantha Brager ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration and Management from Towson University in May 2023. She has accepted a position at the Sinai Hospital of Maryland as an Administrative Assistant in Care Management.
Tyra Bristol Grade ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Multi-Platform Production from Morgan State University.
2LT Sarai Chestnut ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Intelligence and Security Studies from The Citadel and accepted a commission into the United States Army.
Sarah Cirincione ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from McDaniel College in May 2023.
Victoria Clark ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Stevenson University in May 2023.
Sarah Coffman ’19 graduated Cum Laude earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Human Development from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2023. She will begin graduate school at Towson University in the fall, studying Occupational Therapy.
Claire Corte ’19 graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Lynchburg earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Philosophy with a minor in Spanish.
Sydney Dye ’19 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Elizabethtown College, earning her Bachelor of Social Work degree. At graduation, Sydney was honored as a member of Psi Chi, the International Psychology Honor Society; Phi Alpha, the National Honor Society for Social Work; and Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Honor Society for First-Year Students.
Abigail Estrada ’19 graduated Summa Cum Laude earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Studies and Theology from DeSales University in May 2023. She also earned the Award for Excellence in Marriage and Family Studies from the Philosophy and Theology Department at DeSales.
Savanna Foertsch ’19 graduated Magna Cum Laude from Widener University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She will begin graduate school in the fall, studying Speech-Language Pathology at Thomas Jefferson University.
Mary Huebler ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Physics Education with a minor in Coaching in May 2023. At graduation, Mary was honored as a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the National Physics and Astronomy Honor Society, and Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Honor Society for First-Year Students. She has accepted a position teaching science at Mercy High School.
Maya Kempf-Harris ’19 presented her history honors thesis entitled “Hostile to this New Plantation”: Undermining the Region Myth of the Colonial Chesapeake at Dartmouth College.
Grace LaCount ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Theater from Frostburg University in May 2023. She was also named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List earning a grade point average of 3.4 or higher.
Marissa Lesko ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a Concentration in Forensic Science and a minor in Sociology from Elizabethtown College in May 2023.
Rhiannon Levenson ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University New Orleans.
Kayleigh Maimone ’19 graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington College earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology on the Pre-Medical track and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with departmental honors. She was also awarded Washington College’s Greek Life President of the Year Award recognizing her leadership as President of Zeta Tau Alpha as the most influential of the Greek organizations on campus. Kayleigh was also recognized as a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, recognizing and encouraging superior leadership and exemplary character; Beta Beta Beta, the National Biology Honor Society; Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the National Chemistry Honor Society; and Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. Kayleigh’s Senior Psychology Capstone Experience Thesis entitled Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and its Lasting Effects was awarded an honors designation by Washington College's Psychology Department. Her thesis continued work from her earlier Biology thesis and studied the developmental impairments of HIE from early childhood through adolescence to determine whether or not children affected by HIE can overcome the setbacks they face in early childhood to be back on track developmentally with their unaffected peers by adolescence. Prior to graduation, she was selected to present at the Eastern Psychological Association conference in Boston. This presentation entitled Preschool Children’s Temperament and Maternal Responsivity while Occupied investigated how a child’s temperament affects how their mother responds to them while she is busy with other tasks. Kayleigh has accepted a position as a Leadership Consultant with Zeta Tau Alpha for the 2023-2024 academic year. In this role, she will travel the country working with collegiate chapters providing guidance on chapter operations, leadership development, and officer education.
Kari Maygers ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the University of Maryland College Park in May 2023.
Mikerria Melvin ’19, a senior majoring in Biology at McDaniel College, was selected to present during the second annual Academic Symposium held May 1, 2023, at McDaniel College. McDaniel College's Academic Symposium showcased the original research, scholarship, and creative achievements of McDaniel students, faculty, and staff. The daylong event included a robust program of innovative and inspiring presentations to showcase the liberal arts in action. In addition, Mikerria completed a Capstone Project entitled, Broad Spectrum: Triclosan Is it worth the risks?: A literature review of triclosan, investigating the dangers of triclosan and if it is safe for daily exposure in its remaining consumer products. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from McDaniel College in May 2023. She has accepted a position as a Laboratory Technician at Microbac Laboratories.
Lydia Morris ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Digital Communications from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2023.
Brooke Rahnis ’19 has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Cassidy Roberts ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with minors in Public Relations and Communications from West Virginia University.
Esther Shin ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science with a minor in Business Management from Case Western University in May 2023. She has accepted a position as an Associate Software Engineer at T. Rowe Price.
Ada Clare Tempert ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University Maryland in May 2023.
Isabelle Varon ’19 graduated Cum Laude from Loyola University New Orleans earning her Bachelor of Arts degree.
Maddy Warren ’19 graduated from Towson University in May 2023.
Destini Wheeler ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Howard University in May 2023.
Leah Williams ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2023.
Kennedy Ackerman ’20 is a rising senior at Stevenson University majoring in Legal Studies. She is a member of Lambda Epsilon Chi, the national honor society for legal and paralegal education. Kennedy was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Liv Barry ’20 is a rising senior at Washington College majoring in Communication and Media Studies with a double minor in Journalism, Editing, and Publishing and Theater. She is the incoming Editor-in-Chief of The Elm, Washington College's student newspaper, having served as the Lifestyle Editor in her junior year. She recently was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, recognizing and encouraging superior leadership and exemplary character.
Erin Burnett ’20, a rising senior majoring in Journalism with a minor in Technology and Entertainment, recently completed her internship with the Today Show, Washington, D.C. Bureau.
Ariyana Cozart ’20, a rising senior majoring in Kinesiology on the Pre-Medical track at the University of Virginia, has been elected the Vice President of UVA’s Black Student Alliance.
Phoebe Glock ’20 is a rising senior at the University of Delaware majoring in Nursing and minoring in Global Health. She is active in the intramural sports program at Delaware.
Julia Hiebler ’20 is a rising senior at Loyola University Maryland majoring in Psychology with a minor in Forensic Studies. Julia serves as a Greyhound Ambassador campus tour guide, a member of the Evergreen staff, supporting first-year students through their academic, social, and personal transition to Loyola, and a Kairos retreat coordinator. She is also employed as a Building Supervisor at Loyola’s Fitness and Aquatic Center.
Bailey Krahl ’20, a rising senior majoring in Chemistry at Stevenson University, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List. Bailey plays attack on the Women’s Lacrosse team at Stevenson and was also named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (IWLCA) DIII Honor Roll. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. Read more about Bailey’s season here.
Christy Martin ’20, an International Business major with a concentration in Marketing, is a rising senior at Elizabethtown College. She works as a student ambassador, providing campus tours to prospective students and their families. In addition, Christy trains new ambassadors. She serves as a resident assistant as well as an academic tutor for Introduction to International Business and Management and Organizational Behavior. In Winter 2023, Christy studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain. This summer, Christy will return ad a Team Lead intern at Hersheypark. In this role, she will oversee a group of ride operators at one of the park’s major attractions coordinating the rotations and breaks of the operators in accordance with company policies and related labor laws.
Alivia McDermott ’20, a rising senior majoring in Education at McDaniel College, has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List with High Honors, earning a grade point average of between 3.70 and 3.89.
Laura Parada ’20 graduated Cum Laude from Stevenson University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies. At Stevenson, she was a member of Lambda Epsilon Chi, the national honor society for legal and paralegal education. She is employed as a paralegal at Ward & Co Law. Laura was also named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List at Stevenson University, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Breighan Pressley ’20 is a rising senior at the University of Maryland Baltimore County majoring in Social Work and Aging.
Brooke Rainville ’20, a rising senior majoring in Health Sciences, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List earning a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.899.
Dasha Robinson ’20 is a rising senior double-majoring in Finance and Economics at the University of Maryland College Park. This summer she will be interning at Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Management Summer Analyst on the Capital Markets Track
Hayden Zemanski ’20, a rising senior at Juniata College, has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, earning a grade point average of at least 3.6 out of a possible 4.0.
Carolyn Albert ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Business Economics with a specialization in Quantitative Economics at Loyola University Maryland. Carolyn is a newly inducted member of Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society as well as the recipient of the T. Rowe Price Business Leader of the Year Scholarship and the Deloitte Foundation Diversity Scholarship. At Loyola, Carolyn is also involved in women’s club basketball, Best Buddies International, and Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional co-ed business fraternity. In addition, Carolyn is an employee of the Loyola Greyhounds Athletic Department in Game Operations. This summer, Carolyn is excited to begin an internship at M&T Bank as part of their Community Branch Internship Program. Next semester, she will be studying abroad at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Mickey Burnett ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Business and Sports Management with a minor in Sports Media at Lander University, where she is also an attacker on the Women’s Lacrosse team. Read more about Mickey’s season here.
Madison Clark ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Sports, Entertainment, and Events Management at Johnson and Wales University. She is a guard on the Women's Basketball team. To read more about her season, click here.
Kerri DeCarlo ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Criminal Justice at York College of Pennsylvania. She is a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon and President of the York College Panhellenic Council.
Caleigh Forti ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Spanish at Rutgers University where she is a goalie on the women's lacrosse team. Learn about Caleigh’s season here.
Olivia Hatcher ’21 is a rising junior at Johns Hopkins University double-majoring in Neuroscience and Philosophy, on the Pre-Medical track. She is employed as a Laboratory Technician under Dr. Frances Northington in a Pediatrics/Neuroscience lab at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is a First-Year Mentor for incoming Hopkins students and an active member of JHU's Take Two, an a cappella group focused on alternative and indie music.
Jackie Hendley ’21, a rising junior majoring in Business Administration at McDaniel College, was selected to present during the second annual Academic Symposium held May 1, 2023, at McDaniel College. The title of Jackie’s presentation was “Art Fair: Print Fair.” McDaniel College’s Academic Symposium showcased the original research, scholarship, and creative achievements of McDaniel students, faculty, and staff. The daylong event included a robust program of innovative and inspiring presentations to showcase the liberal arts in action. In addition, Jackie was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List with High Honors, earning a grade point average of between 3.70 and 3.89.
Bella Herda ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Philosophy at York College of Pennsylvania. She has been inducted into the Tri Alpha, the National Honor Society for First-Generation students.
Madison Laine ’21, a rising junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Educational Studies at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List earning a semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Madison is also a midfielder on the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Women’s Lacrosse team. Madison was named a 2022 and 2023 United East Scholar Athlete. In order to be selected, a student-athlete competing in a conference-sponsored sport must achieve a combined grade point average of 3.4 or higher for the fall and spring semesters and must have been in good standing on his or her team. In 2022 and 2023 Madison helped her team win their conference. Read more about Madison’s season here.
Riley Mitchell ’21, a rising junior majoring in Marketing at Loyola University Maryland, completed a summer internship with the Business Network for Offshore Wind. In this role, Riley worked closely with the marketing and communications teams to draft emails to members, write copy, and promote Network events.
Precious Nwobi ’21, a rising junior majoring in Nursing at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Kelsey Reynolds ’21, a rising junior majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Riley Schap ’21, a rising junior at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Hayley Scott ’21 is a rising junior majoring in Environmental Engineering at Syracuse University. She is a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta. Hayley as well as a Global Ambassador, sharing her study abroad experience with other students, as well as an Engineering Ambassador.
Natalie Vancura ’21 is a rising junior at Gettysburg College where she double-majors in Health Sciences and Public Policy with a minor in Political Science. She is employed at the college as a Student Programming Coordinator. In this role, she is responsible for planning and facilitating activities in the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life. Natalie also serves as the President of the Newman Association, whose purpose is to help provide an environment in which Catholic students can practice their faith through meaningful worship and find community through social events and service. She is a member of the Student Senate, a STEM Scholar, serves on the Interfaith Council, and is a member of the Pre-Law Club. An article entitled Connecting with the Community through on-campus Employment was recently featured on the Gettysburg College website.
Leandra Williams ’21 is a rising junior double-majoring in Public Policy and Sociology at the University of Maryland College Park. She is an active member of the Black Student Union and Black Girls Vote.
Sarah Zile ’21, a rising junior majoring in business administration at Towson University, is completing a marketing internship at Allianz Trade, an international insurance company, this summer.
Valery Caicedo ’22 is a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland College Park where she is majoring in Civil Engineering.
Britney Carey ’22 completed her freshman year at North Carolina Central University where she was named to the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Dean’s List. Next year she will be attending Stevenson University.
Alice Chen ’22 is a rising sophomore at Harvard University where she is majoring in Bioengineering.
Riley Dick ’22, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University majoring in Elementary Education, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Mariah Dixon ’22 is a rising sophomore at Goucher College where she is majoring in Biology. Mariah has accepted a position as a resident assistant for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Maddie Kersch ’22, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University majoring in Biology, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Katie Kocent ’22, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University majoring in Biology, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Victoria Lam ’22, a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, completed a summer internship at the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Audits at the NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
Amara Njoku ’22 is a rising sophomore in the Honors College at Towson University where she is majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology and minoring in Spanish.
Sydney Casserly ’23 was recently featured in The Daily Record. Sydney, a rising freshman at Towson University, was awarded a $2,000 college scholarship from Point Breeze Credit Union based on her involvement in high school activities, as well as several essays she submitted. Read the article here.
Jade Peckinpaugh ’23 was recently featured in The Daily Record. Jade, a rising freshman at Immaculata University, was awarded a $2,000 college scholarship from Point Breeze Credit Union based on her involvement in high school activities, as well as several essays she submitted. Read the article here.
Payton Schenning ’23 has been named 2022-23 Gatorade Maryland Girls' Soccer Player of the Year! This award recognizes Payton's role in leading the Magic to a 16-1 record, a number one state ranking, and the first “A” Conference Soccer Championship in program history, while scoring 22 goals. Payton is Mercy’s second Gatorade Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year. Payton will attend the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the fall where she will be a member of the Women’s Soccer Team.
Winter 2022

Lynne Spigelmire Viti ’65 has been named the inaugural Poet Laureate of Westwood Massachusetts by the Westwood Select Board Westwood Poet Laureate Selection Committee comprised of dedicated Westwood citizens including teachers, library trustees, a social worker/therapist, a cultural council chair, and employees of youth and family services. During her term, which runs through June 2025, Viti will present poetry workshops in the Westwood schools, run poetry workshops for adults in the library and senior center, and write poems to commemorate the town and civic holidays. Additionally, she will partner with the library and the schools in a town-wide poetry contest, a slam poetry event, and a poetry course at the Westwood Senior Center. She will also select and mentor the first and second Youth Poets Laureate, a position also established by the Select Board. Lynne is the author of four books of poetry, most recently, The Walk to Cefalù, from Cornerstone Press. She has published widely in online and print journals and newspapers and has won prizes in local, national, and international competitions, including the WMOR/Joe Gouveia Outermost Poetry Contest, The Fish Publishing Poetry Contest, the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest, and the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards. Lynne earned her Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Barnard College, and a Ph.D. and J.D. from Boston College. She serves on the board of the oldest poetry group in the U.S., The New England Poetry Club, which was founded by Robert Frost, Amy Lowell, and Conrad Aiken. She blogs at https://lynneviti.wordpress.com. In addition, she is a lecturer emerita in the Writing Program at Wellesley College. Recently, Lynne had her poem, Elegy, Written in A Soccer Field, published in the online version of America, the Jesuit Review.
Mary Beth Saltysiak ’73 is an artist who creates and sells handcrafted calendars. She was recently featured in an article in Voyage Baltimore entitled Rising Stars: Meet Mary Magenta. In September 2023, her work will be featured in an art show entitled Celebrating 50 Years of Mary Magenta Art Calendars. Visit her website to see more of her work.
Ann Schenning ’73 is employed as a community planner for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Karen Ross Blake, MBA ’82 has published a book entitled, Lessons from the Sidelines.
Jackie Stilling LCPC ’82, P’14,’16, founder of The Both And Way, presented to the Executive Leadership Team at HealthCare Access Maryland for part of their Retreat Day.
Michele Smith Farris ’85 is employed as the Division Chief of Data Integrity for the Maryland Department of Health. Michele earned her Master of Arts degree with distinction in Emergency and Disaster Management from the American Military University in 2015.
Georgia Economakis ’90 has opened her own interior design business, Designs by Georgia, where she is the principal and lead.
Beth Meagher ’91, Principal & Federal Health Sector Leader, US Government & Public Services at Deloitte has been named to the Top 35 Execs to Watch in 2023 list by WashingtonExec magazine. In the article, Beth states that her biggest recent achievement is the leadership team she has assembled. “They are diverse in every way, which is a huge component facilitating our ability to make an impact,” she said. Beth's team convenes cross-industry experts to discover ways to reduce suicide in the veteran community, supports the government’s ability to speed biomedical research, and creates access to vaccines in underrepresented communities. Heavily focused on transforming health for this generation and beyond, the team is creating greater access for all through advancements in health equity; developing standards around data that support advances in research; and driving change around mental health issues.
Lisa Ferretto ’92 served as a semi-final judge in the category of Office Building at the United States Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon which is a collegiate competition that prepares the next generation of building professionals to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables. Lisa is the Senior Director of Sustainable Practice and Knowledge for the American Institute of Architects.
Lisette DesMarais Child ’94 has been promoted to Assistant Director, Employer Relations within Central Career Services at Syracuse University. In this role, she will serve as the first point of contact for current and future constituents who seek to engage with Syracuse University undergraduate students for career-based opportunities, while engaging in inter-University conversations with the individual school/college career units on creating and expanding career pathways for your dedicated student populations. Previously, Lisette spent three years at the School of Information Studies (iSchool) where she was a project manager in academic affairs. Before her time at SU, Lisette spent 13 years in the corporate technology event research, planning, and production space helping to develop engaged communities and collaborating with Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries. Lisette earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Towson University in 1999.
Rachael Grob Redyk ’95 has been nominated as a 2023-2024 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Rachael teaches physical education at Sandy Plains Elementary School.
Tara Mathew Sahu ’97, Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Varo Bank, was recently featured on David Baldwin’s Brands in Action podcast speaking about Varo's mission to democratize financial power and create a more equitable world. Tara shared how Varo is challenging traditional banking models by providing banking services with access to products and features that put customers first and create a more inclusive financial system. Listen to the podcast here. Tara completed her undergraduate work and earned her Master of Science degree in Marketing Communication from Northwestern University in 2006.
Kate Plantholt Elfrey, DO ’98, a cardiologist with The Heart Center at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, appeared on WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore sharing information regarding cardiac arrest given news of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest moments after tackling a Cincinnati Bengals player during a nationally televised NFL game. Kate was named one of Baltimore's "Top Docs" by Baltimore magazine in November 2022. Watch the segment here. Kate also presented information about natural ways to prevent heart disease at Coppermine in Timonium, Maryland as part of their "Evening with an Expert" series.
Amy Moore Cherry ’99 earned her Master of Arts degree in school counseling from Loyola University Maryland. She has accepted a position as a school counselor for an elementary school in the Baltimore County Public School system.
Kristen Carr ’06 was inducted into the Greater Baltimore Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame. Kristen directs the St. James Girls’ Lacrosse Program, following stints of Division 1 coaching at Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and The Ohio State University. An assistant coach with the National Team Development Program, Kristen is on the Board of Directors of USA Lacrosse.
Lisa Katchan McCarthy, Pharm.D. ’06 has accepted a position as a pharmacy supervisor for Kaiser Permanente. Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2010 from McDaniel College and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2015 from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Lauren Newton ’06 earned the "Rookie of the Year Award" from her employer, Eurofins-Diatherix, a unique laboratory providing accurate and actionable results in one day for infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance genes, utilizing innovative molecular technologies. Lauren is a Territory Manager based in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Coastal Carolina University, earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health and Promotion in 2010.
Kristen Etzel ’07 is employed as a UX designer with expertise in human-centered design and design strategy within healthcare, government, nonprofits, and financial services industries at Deloitte. She has experience in all aspects of the UX process supporting digital products from initial concept to delivery. Kristen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Psychology from Salisbury University and a UX design certificate from General Assembly.
Ashley Kowalski ’07 was featured on the cover of the March edition of The Catholic Review which featured women making history. In the feature article, Ashley shared advice for aspiring female astronauts as well as the impact of her Mercy education. To read the article, click here. Ashley was the first American woman to participate in the SIRIUS-21 mission, an eight-month mission designed to help NASA and researchers learn about the effects of isolation and confinement on humans in preparation for future missions to the moon and long-duration space travel to Mars. Earlier this year, Ashley was honored with the McAuley Award to an Outstanding Alumna.
Caroline Abrams Huemmer ’08 is employed as a special educator in the Baltimore County Public School system. Caroline earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education in 2012 from Towson University and her Master of Education degree in Leadership in Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2018.
Sara Brooks ’08 has been promoted to Product Owner/Client Experience Manager at T. Rowe Price. In this role, Sara is responsible for implementing strategic initiatives and enhancements for the United States. Intermediary website. Sara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in e-Business and Business Administration with a minor in Marketing from Towson University. She then earned her Master of Science degree in Business and Technology Management with a concentration in Emerging Technology from Stevenson University in 2013.
Bailey Severe ’08 has been promoted to Vice President - Derivatives Clearing Client Service Team at Morgan Stanley. Bailey graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore in 2011 earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance. She then earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore in 2015.
Melissa Wunderer Hubbard ’08 has accepted a position as a digital marketing specialist at SilverBack Advertising. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Marketing with a minor in Dance from Old Dominion University in 2012.
Alondra Sills Kelley, DNP, RN ’09 recently earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Executive Nurse Administration from the University of South Alabama. She is a Clinical Education Coordinator at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Alondra earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Coppin State University.
Lexie Bittner ’10 earned an Impact Award from Ruppert Landscaping honoring her outstanding dedication and contributions which made a positive impact on the corporate branch in 2022. Lexie is the Maintenance Division Administrator at Ruppert Landscaping.
Julia Mattucci ’10 has accepted a position as Assistant Underwriter on the Miscellaneous Medical & Life Sciences team at Beazley. Julia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson University in 2015.
Katie Scarbath ’10 has accepted a position as the Senior Human Resources Business Partner at McCormick & Company. Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Washington College in 2014.
Katie Almon Misciwojewski ’11 is employed as a project manager at Whiting-Turner, managing all aspects of the construction process from design through the end of construction. Katie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2015.
Cait McKay Berry ’11 was recently featured in Canvas Rebel, an online magazine featuring entrepreneurs, artists, and creatives. Cait is the founder of Right To Be Relevant, whose mission is to help people accept ownership in their lives in order to initiate change and align with exactly what they want and need. In the article, Cait details how she began her business as well as the products she offers. Read more here.
Maura Commodari ’12 earned her Associate degree in Nursing from the Community College of Baltimore County. She now plans to pursue her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Towson University with an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2023.
Monica Page ’12 has accepted a position as a fashion specialist at Amazon. Monica earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles and Apparel Studies from Delaware State University in 2016 where she was a sister in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Taylor Villarreal Kalwa ’12 was a featured speaker at Towson University's Graduate Networking Event. Taylor shared information about her thesis defense. Tayor earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Management from Towson University in the Spring of 2022. She currently is employed as a Change Manager and Communications lead for Allegis Group, an international staffing organization located in Baltimore, Maryland.
Raquel Ramos ’15 is completing a fellowship in Public Health Informatics Workforce, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Health Explorations and Africana Studies from Susquehanna University in 2019. Raquel earned her Master of Public Health degree in Global Environmental Health from Emory University in 2021.
Delaney Schield Taubenberger ’15 earned her Master of Science degree in Data Analytics Engineering from George Mason University College of Engineering and Computing in 2022. Delaney completed her undergraduate work at Marymount University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in May 2019. She is a Senior Analyst at the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT). In this role, Delaney conducts benchmarking surveys and analyzes government data relating to the manufacturing industry such as trade data, production values, and general economic indicators.
Bryanna Goncalves ’16 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland College Park in 2020. She has accepted a position as a benefits associate at Diversified Insurance Industries, Inc.
Jordan Harte ’17 earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwest Florida State College.
Ciarra Armour ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Towson University in May 2022. She holds her Maryland State Teaching License in Special Education from birth to adulthood. In September of 2022, she accepted a position as a Functional Academic Learning Support (FALS) Special Education teacher at Windsor Mill Middle School in the Baltimore County Public School System.
Kat Brown ’18 earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art and Design from Towson University. She is completing an apprenticeship at Lock & Hue and anticipates earning her cosmetology license by Spring 2024. She will begin accepting clients in June 2023.
Kyrsten Coulbourne ’18 is pursuing her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Loyola University of Maryland.
Emily Crusse ’18 earned her Associate degree in Nursing from the Community College of Baltimore County.
Shanelle Fleet Smith ’18 has accepted a position as a Registered Behavior Technician at Little Leaves Behavioral Services. Shanelle earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in dance from St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Kaitlyn Kozlowski ’18 is coaching junior varsity lacrosse at Mercy High School in Spring 2023. Kaitlyn is the Coordinator of Partnerships and Advertising at USA Lacrosse. She graduated summa cum laude from Stevenson University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Kaitlyn was also a member of the women's lacrosse team at Stevenson.
Allie Lijewski ’18 has accepted a new position as Digital Marketing Manager at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Baltimore, Maryland.
Amber Parker ’18 has been named to the McDaniel College Fall 2022 Dean's List with Honors, earning a grade point average between 3.50-3.69.
Katie Yeagle ’18 has accepted a position as a physical therapy assistant at Gold Medal Physical Therapy in Bel Air, Maryland. Katie is also coaching junior varsity lacrosse at Mercy High School in Spring 2023.
Kristin Addison ’19, a senior at Salisbury University majoring in Communications and minoring in Marketing, is completing an internship at Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County. Kristin will be serving as a Development Intern.
Sarai Chestnut ’19, a senior majoring in intelligence and security studies at The Citadel, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List. Sarai also achieved Gold Star Recognition, earning a 3.7-grade point average or higher.
Sarah Cirincione ’19, a senior at McDaniel College, completed a three-week study abroad tour entitled "Greece: Myths, Monks, and Monuments." Through this experience, Sara was introduced to the history and culture of ancient Greece and through affiliation with The Athens Centre, she studied and visited a broad range of significant monuments, museums, and archaeological sites.
Savannah Collins ’19 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies and Promotion from Temple University. Savannah was a member of the Honors College at Temple.
Carly Connell ’19 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics with a minor in Professional Writing from the University of Maryland College Park. Carly was a member of Tau Sigma Fraternity, the national honor society for transfer students. She also completed a study abroad session at the American University of Rome. Carly has accepted a position as a Technical Writer at NTT Data's Federal Public Sector Division. In this role, she will write proposals, past performance reviews, and re-compete bids to NTT’s federal clients.
Abigail Estrada ’19, a senior at DeSales University double-majoring in Marriage and Family Studies and Theology, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List earning at least a 3.5-grade point average.
Savanna Foertsch ’19, a senior at Widener University majoring in Biology, was named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Ashley Jensen ’19 graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences.
Grace La Count ’19, majoring in theater at Frostburg University, was named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List earning at least a 3.4-grade point average.
Grace Mahan ’19 graduated from the honors college at the University of North Texas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Developmental Psychology.
Kayleigh Maimone ’19, a senior at Washington College double-majoring in Biology and Psychology on the Pre-Med track, presented her Biology Senior Capstone Experience Thesis entitled Treating Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) with Adjunctive Treatments to Therapeutic Hypothermia. In the Spring 2023 semester, Kayleigh will continue her research on the developmental effects of HIE as she completes her Psychology Senior Capstone Experience Thesis. Kayleigh was also awarded Washington College's Greek Life President of the Year Award recognizing her as the most influential leader of Greek organizations on campus. She served as the president of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority from January 2022-January 2023. Kayleigh was also inducted into Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the national Chemistry Honor Society.

Hailey Wienecke ’19 completed her Maryland Fire I training, the first of a series of courses to certify her as a firefighter.
Kennedy Ackerman ’20, a junior at Stevenson University majoring in Legal Studies, was named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Erin Burnett ’20, a junior Broadcast Journalism and Technology Entrepreneurship major at the University of Maryland College Park, will be completing an internship at the Today Show, Washington Bureau as an NBCUniversal intern in spring 2023.
Grace Beyer ’20 has accepted a position as a hairstylist at Form Salon in Towson, Maryland.
Destiny Edwards ’20, a junior at McDaniel College, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List with Honors, earning a grade point average between 3.70-3.89.
Megan Francis ’20, a junior hospitality, resort, and tourism management major at Coastal Carolina University, completed a study abroad opportunity in Italy.
Jackie Hendley ’20, a junior at McDaniel College, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List with the Highest Honors, earning a grade point average of 3.90 or higher.
Julia Hiebler ’20, a junior majoring in Psychology and Forensic Studies at Loyola University of Maryland, is completing a semester-long internship with the Forensic Services Section at the Baltimore County Police Department. As an intern, Julia will be working closely with forensic photographers to obtain, process, and verify photos taken throughout the county.
Sara Matvey ’20, a junior in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh, earned her white coat and was accepted into her first-choice area of concentration (ARCO)- Geriatrics and Palliative Care. Sara is also completing an internship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is a member of Lambda Kappa Sigma fraternity, which provides lifelong opportunities for women in pharmacy through professional achievements and personal growth. Sara is also a sister of Sigma Delta Tau.
Liv McDermott ’20, a junior majoring in education at McDaniel College, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List with High Honors, earning a grade point average between 3.70-3.89. She is a goalkeeper for McDaniel's women's soccer team.
Laura Parada ’20, a junior at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Carolyn Albert ’21 is a sophomore at Loyola University of Maryland, where she is majoring in Business Economics on the Quantitative Track. Carolyn is an active member of the Best Buddies and Women in Business clubs and a member of the Club Basketball team. This summer, Carolyn has accepted an internship position with M&T Bank's Community Branch Internship Program.
Precious Nwobi ’21, a sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Laine Reddish ’21, a sophomore majoring in Nursing at York College of Pennsylvania, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List.
Aryssa Reid ’21 is a sophomore at East Carolina University majoring in Accounting.
Kelsey Reynolds ’21, a sophomore majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Emily Ritzes ’21, a junior double majoring in psychology and human geography and minoring in gender and sexuality studies at Salisbury University, was named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List. Emily is a member of the Glenda Chatham and Robert G. Clarke Honors College. She has served as a Resident Assistant for the 2022-2023 academic year and is on the Executive Board of Salisbury TV, serving as the director of social media.
Riley Schap ’21, a sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Sofia Smith ’21, a sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Bri Stumpf ’21, a sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Janella Balderosa ’22 is a freshman at George Mason University majoring in Kinesiology. Janella is a member of the George Mason Dance Team, Urbanknowlogy 101.
Sarah Benjumea ’22 is a first-year Integrated Life Sciences student at the University of Maryland College Park Honors College, majoring in Cell Biology and Genetics and minoring in French.
Emma Bittner ’22 is a freshman at the University of South Carolina where she is majoring in Sports and Entertainment Management. She is an active member of the Women in Sports Management club and Relay for Life. She is also a sister in Alpha Chi Omega.
Taylor Gilmore ’22, a freshman at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Katie Kocent ’22, a freshman at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Paige Marion ’22, a freshman majoring in Nursing at Salisbury University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 4.0-grade point average.
Kate Mitcherling ’22, a freshman at Stevenson University, has been named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List, earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Fall 2022

Lynne Spigelmire Viti ’65 had a letter to the editor of The Baltimore Sun published sharing details of her recent visit to Mercy where she read poems from her latest book, The Walk to Cefalu, to members of our community including AP English students and members of The Lance and The Shield. In reflecting on her visit, Lynne wrote, “I have read before many audiences, in bookstores, schools, at senior centers, in libraries-- and have been fortunate to have very engaged, reactive listeners. But this group was the most prepared, the most engaged, the most inquisitive, that I’ve ever experienced. There is nothing quite like reading one’s poetry to a room of 50 students and hearing so many cool finger snaps of appreciation.” Read the full letter here.
Kitty Yanson ’66 had her personal lyric essay, "The Uses of Water," published online as an editor’s pick in the "Braided Way: Faces and Voices of Spiritual Practice," a magazine that provides a “forum for practitioners of spiritual disciplines from various world faiths, with the intention of providing guidance and insight to readers from varied spiritual perspectives.” Read Kitty's essay here.
Mary Ellen Santiago Barbera ’69, P’88, retired Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge, is the first woman to have her portrait on display at the Maryland Court of Appeals. The tradition of displaying these portraits dates back to 1778! We were honored to have former Chief Judge Barbera as our most recent commencement speaker, inspiring the Class of 2022 with her remarks in June. Read more about former Chief Judge Barbera's portrait in this article from The Daily Record.
Fran Pellegrini Brinker ’83, P’10,’12 has accepted a position as the Assistant Director of Bond Financing with the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO). In this position, Fran assists the Director of Bond Financing in managing the MEDCO-owned assets, structuring potential deals that are seeking MEDCO financing, reviewing and drafting documents, and other aspects of project finance and management. Previously, she worked as an attorney at Miles & Stockbridge for almost 30 years specializing in public finance and tax-exempt bond work, including work as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel, and bank counsel. Fran also co-chaired the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. Fran earned her Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from the University of Baltimore in 1989.
Lisa Glenn Schaffer ’91 is an independent recruiter for Wrenchzilla, a veteran-owned company that matches seasoned, skilled professionals with employers focusing on drivers, mechanics, and other “blue-collared” trades.
Liza Boffen-Yordanov, CFRE ’92 has been named the Director of Advancement at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Formerly the head of advancement for Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Liza has 24 years of experience in international fundraising and alumni relations. Liza has held senior positions at The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Franklin University Switzerland, The George Washington University, The National University of Singapore, and Purdue University. She and her teams have raised hundreds of millions of dollars during her career. Liza completed her undergraduate degree at Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University) in Washington DC. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the School for International Training and is ABD at Purdue University for her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. Read more here.
Sarah Butts, MSW ’98 has been awarded the Women in Government Relations Excellence in Advocacy Award in the category of Federal Issue Campaign! This award aims to put the spotlight on everyday advocates who dedicate themselves to representing their issue, cause, or organization in the public policy arena. Specifically, the Federal Issue Award "recognizes an effort wherein the advocate(s) successfully impacted the outcome of a federal legislative or regulatory problem or opportunity on behalf of their cause, issue, client, organization or coalition." Sarah is the Director of Public Policy for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Blaire Aull Miller ’02, senior business development manager at Constellation Energy, has been named to the Stevenson University Board of Trustees, ex officio. Blaire served as president of the Stevenson Alumni Association Board from June 2020 to June 2022. She graduated magna cum laude from Stevenson in 2005, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Blair then earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola Maryland University graduating summa cum laude in 2008.
Brittany Sullivan Shoul ’04 was recently promoted to Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy and Operations for MCI USA, a global engagement and marketing agency. Brittany leads a team of sales and support professionals that generate non-dues revenue for associations through advertising, exhibit, sponsorship, and corporate partnership programs from MCI's Towson, Maryland office. She has worked with more than 50 associations across multiple industries, including education, healthcare, and engineering, to improve their products to engage both members and sponsors. Brittany earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology from Towson University in 2008.
Melissa Kellner, MS, OTR/L ’06 was honored as a 2022 Shock Trauma Hero at the 32nd annual Shock Trauma Heroes Celebration held on September 10, 2022. This celebration highlights the extraordinary working relationship between Shock Trauma and its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) partners that has made Maryland's unique, highly coordinated trauma system a national model. Melissa, who is an Occupational Therapist at Shock Trauma's Rehab unit, was honored along with more than 40 trauma professionals and first responders who worked together to save the life of a 51-year-old highway construction worker whose legs were crushed when he was struck by a car on I-95 and pinned against his truck. Read more about this honor here.
Kristen Etzel ’07 has accepted a position as a User Experience (UX) Designer at Deloitte.
Ashley Kowalski ’07 is a crew member on the ground-based simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), a research facility used by crews to carry out important analog studies and field testing to help prepare humanity for the eventual human exploration of the Red Planet. Ashley is serving as the crew engineer. Learn more about her journey on the MDRS Facebook page. Or, you can listen to an interview with Ashley and the other crew members here. To read more in-depth information about the crew and their mission, please click here.
Merrie Goodlander '08 received the Delaware Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, given in recognition of her efforts in the Junior League of Wilmington's Stand Up. Period. initiative addressing period equity in Delaware. Merrie's work as Chair of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee included testifying before the Wilmington City Council, coordinating a letter-writing campaign to elected officials, and working in collaboration with public and charter schools to ensure the availability of cost-free hygiene supplies to students. Stand Up. Period.'s efforts saw the successful passage of House Bill 20 during the 151st General Assembly.
Julie Robinson Lurz ’08 has been promoted to a role as a Staff Development Teacher in the Baltimore County Public School System. Julie earned her Master of Education degree in Special Education and Teaching from Loyola University Maryland in 2018.
Lauren Ramsburg, PharmD ’08, has been promoted to Pharmacy Manager at RiteAid in Silverdale, Washington. Lauren completed her undergraduate work at Towson University, earning her bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry in 2013. She then earned her graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia University, earning her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree in 2017.
Sasha Slacum Sachdev ’08 has accepted a position as Strategy and Operations Manager for Network Optimization at BetterUp, a business coaching organization.
Erin Scrimger ’09 has accepted a position as an archivist at the United States National Archives and Records Administration. Erin earned her Master of Library and Information Science degree with a concentration in Archives from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015.
Dr. Lisa Shanty ’09 earned her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in August 2022. She has accepted a position as a fellow with the Johns Hopkins IDEALS Institute, in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education. As part of this fellowship, Lisa's team is developing learning materials for early intervention providers and families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities, with the goal of preparing them for Kindergarten and beyond.
Maria Stavrides ’09 has been promoted to Onboarding Consultant II at Toast, a restaurant point of sale and management system. Maria earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems in 2013 from Towson University.
Kristen Trzcinski ’09 has been promoted to Compensation Manager at Under Armour. Kristen earned her Master of Science degree in Human Resources from Towson University in 2016.
Anuli Duru ’10, a freelance content creator, was featured in the September 13, 2022 issue of Vogue in an article entitled The Best Looks from Afropunk Brooklyn 2022.
Mercedes Vilasoa, Pharm.D. ’10 earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree in May 2022 from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. She is currently a PGY1 Pharmacy Resident for Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, Inc. Mercedes completed her undergraduate work at Stevenson University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology.
Sarah Eibner Miliman ’11 is a registered dietician and has earned her 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (500 RYT) certification.
Bria Mays ’11 has accepted a new position as a Procurement Specialist for the State of Maryland.
Shannon Harwell Bishop ’11 has accepted a position in the marketing department at Revlon.
Ivy Perrella ’14 has accepted a position as Administrative Coordinator at Park's Chevrolet in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ivy graduated magna cum laude from Salisbury University's Perdue School of Business in 2017 earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Planning and Services.
Caroline Wagner ’14 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering from George Mason University in 2019. She is currently employed as a Senior Project Manager for Constellation Energy. She has earned her Project Manager Professional (PMP) certificate as well as her Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification from Project Management Institute.
Katrina Schmidt ’16 has moved into a new role as a messaging and research analyst at Bully Pulpit Interactive. In this role, she will be supporting clients to answer key messaging and strategy questions through opinion research and analysis.
Ashley Grabowski ’17 has accepted a position as Registration Coordinator for Sponsorship Boost. In May 2021, Ashley earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore.
Nadia Owusu ’17 has been promoted to Director of Policy and Communications for Baltimore City Councilmember for District 2, Danielle McCray. Nadia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in American Government and United States Politics from the University of Maryland in 2021.
Elisha Buie ’18 has accepted a position as an Assistant Study Coordinator at Noble Life Sciences, Inc., a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) owned and operated by scientists with decades of experience in drug, vaccine, and medical device development. Elisha earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Pre-Veterinary Studies from Delaware State University in May 2022.
Kaila Burks ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Towson University in 2022.
Allie Lijewski ’18, a May 2022 graduate of Loyola University, has accepted a position as a Digital Marketing Manager at SoBotanical, the only custom aromatherapy bar in the Baltimore tri-state area.
Emily Schneider ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from the University of Maryland Global Campus in August 2022. She has accepted a position as a Research Assistant at Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Tamrah Blanchard ’19, a senior at McDaniel College, performed in their Gospel Choir Concert on December 4, 2022. The concert featured traditional and contemporary gospel music, as well as spirituals, under the direction of music lecturer Shelley Ensor.
Samantha Brager ’19, a senior majoring in healthcare management and minoring in business administration, is completing an internship at the University of Maryland St. Joseph's Medical Center in the patient experience sector.
Sarai Chestnut ’19, a senior majoring in intelligence and security studies at The Citadel, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.
Claire Corte ’19, a senior majoring in criminology and philosophy and minoring in Spanish at the University of Lynchburg, will serve as Head Delegate at the National Model of United Nations in Spring 2023. Claire, and the other members of the University of Lynchburg Model UN, will represent Ireland. In addition, Claire is one of five finalists for the 2023 Sommerville Scholar Award at the University of Lynchburg. This award honors one senior who has exemplified the University of Lynchburg’s ideals in their four years at the University.
Cassidy Roberts ’19, a senior majoring in political science at West Virginia University, has been elected Vice President of Membership for her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi.
Hailey Wienecke ’19 earned the Oscar "Doc" Shapiro Memorial Award for Outstanding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider from the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company located in Northern Baltimore County. Hailey is pursuing a career as a paramedic.
Megan Francis ’20, a junior hospitality, resort, and tourism management major at Coastal Carolina University, was honored as Tau Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity's "Brother of the Month" in October 2022. Delta Sigma Pi develops principled business leaders for the future by providing a lifetime of opportunity for members, by providing training in professional skills, leadership, ethics, and service. According to Megan, "Being a member of DSP over the past year has been one of the most rewarding experiences from my time at Coastal. I wake up each day constantly inspired by my fellow brothers, which has led to me becoming a much more active member within the fraternity and in my own personal development. I am extremely grateful to be a part of this organization and it is an honor to be nominated as Brother of the Month by my DSP family."
Breighan Pressley ’20, a junior double majoring in Social Work and Sociology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, completed an internship with the Baltimore County Department of Aging Ombudsman Program. Breighan also earned her certification as a preschool teacher and is working at a local childcare center.
Rhianna Betley ’21, a sophomore at Albright College, is an outside hitter on the Albright women's volleyball team. To read about her season, click here.
Riley Mitchell ’21, a sophomore majoring in Marketing at Loyola University Maryland was recently awarded Loyola's Cura Personalis Award. This award recognizes and honors students who embody the Ignatian ideal of care for the whole person through demonstrated service, leadership, and academic achievement. At Loyola, Riley serves as a student office assistant in the Office of Student Engagement and is a member of Evergreens, a group of upperclassmen committed to supporting new students and acting as a resource throughout their first year at Loyola. In addition, she is a member of the Women in Business Club.
Sarah Zile '21, a sophomore majoring in business administration at Towson University, was named Employee of the Month by Towson University's Office of Campus Recreation. Sarah is a Social Media Assistant in this office. In this role, she plans, manages, and creates TikTok content for Campus Recreation events weekly. In addition, Sarah researches strategies and analyzes social media analytics for optimal engagement on the platform. Sarah is also a Marketing Event Assistant for Towson's Office of Campus Recreation, serving as a liason between the office and the student body, managing over 50 tabling events per year. Sarah also serves as an economics tutor for Microeconomic and Macroeconomic courses.
Alira Abdullai ’22, a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, was recently featured in the University of Maryland College Park's C.D. Mote, Jr. Incentive Awards Program 2022 Yearbook. This program is designed for exceptional students who demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence, and maturity. Alira stated, "As a child of two hard-working Nigerian immigrants who came to this country with nothing but a dream and managed to make something of themselves, success for me is the only option, and I know that UMD and IAP hold so many opportunities for me to not only grow as a student but as a person. It is my dream to help children like myself who were born with no spoon in their mouths to know that there is more to life than suffering, and education can get you to incredible places."

Valery Caicedo ’22, a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, was recently featured in the University of Maryland College Park's C.D. Mote, Jr. Incentive Awards Program 2022 Yearbook. This program is designed for exceptional students who demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence, and maturity. Valery stated, "I want to be able to give back and prove to others and myself that I took advantage of the opportunities given to me. There are many people whose kindness helped me persevere through many difficult circumstances and led me to succeed and take risks. My journey also allowed me to discover how much tenacity I had and has given me a strength I would not have otherwise gotten. While it has been challenging, I would not change my path and I appreciate what I’ve learned."

Ashley Taupyen ’22, a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, was recently featured in the University of Maryland College Park's C.D. Mote, Jr. Incentive Awards Program 2022 Yearbook. This program is designed for exceptional students who demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence, and maturity. Ashley stated, "Aside from my strong leadership, my vibrant, optimistic attitude is another apparent quality that sets me apart from others. Staying hopeful in challenging situations is difficult, but it’s always better than being doubtful, as failure and insecurities arise from focusing on 'the worst possible outcome.' Acquiring a growth mindset is key to success, and without staying positive, I wouldn’t have been able to come as far as I have today. Ultimately, I will consistently portray a strong work ethic, uphold the strong character and positive attitudes IAP represents, and utilize my talents to serve others while acting as a good role model in my community."
Spring & Summer 2022 (Continued)

Andrea Amos Hardy ’08 has accepted a position as the Nurse Manager for Perioperative Services at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Outpatient Center.
Shannon Austin ’08 has been selected to attend a two-week Writing Workshop in Greece.
Brie Brown ’08, a Baltimore County Public Schools Kindergarten teacher, was interviewed by ESPN in an article entitled How Lacie DeCosta Became the Leader of the 'Ravens Flock' on Social Media. Brie shared how Lacie DeCosta, the wife of Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has supported Brie's classroom and school.
Candace Ransom ’08 is a Registered Nurse with Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. Candace completed her undergraduate work in Biobehavioral Health at Pennsylvania State University. She then earned her Master of Science degree in Master of Science in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader from the University of Virginia in 2022.
Dr. Rachel Troch ’08 has accepted a position as a neonatologist at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Noelle Ford ’09 has been promoted to Lead Mentor/Instructional Coach at Friends School of Baltimore.
Sasha Slacum Sachdev ’08 was promoted to Senior Manager, Central Supply at Wonolo.
Alondra Sills ’09, a 2013 graduate of Coppin State University, is employed as the clinical education coordinator in the adult emergency department at University of Maryland Medical Center.
Brandi Zaccaria ’09 accepted a position as an adjunct professor in the Special Education Department at Towson University teaching a class on the topic of the social emotional development of children.
Anuli Duru ’10 was recently featured on The Today Show highlighting her cosplay tribute to 'The Nanny,' Fran Fine. Anuli has grown a large Instagram following for her creative cosplay looks. She's mostly seen cosplaying as different Anime characters or modeling gorgeous styles for various events. To read more, click here.
Savannah Georgieff ’10 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English Literature from Towson University in 2015 and her Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the Community College of Baltimore County in May 2022. She is currently a Registered Dental Hygienist at Dr. Caroline Foster Owen's office in Baltimore.
Hannah-Sarah Litsch ’10 has accepted a position as a cyber architect at Bell Textron, an aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Hannah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2014.
Jane Bryant ’11 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Towson University. Jane owns her own tutoring business which specializes in children aged 8-14 who identify as neurodivergent learners. While supporting these children in their academic journey. Jane simultaneously focuses on advancing their socio-emotional growth and development providing a personalized set of services.

Toni Strehlen DiVenanzio ’11 has been promoted to an accounts payable specialist at BlueDot of Maryland.
Gabriella Capobianco ’12 has been promoted to National Sales Trainer at Sebela Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Mary Oakey ’12 earned her Master of Science degree in medical physics and radiation oncology from the University of Toledo in 2019. Mary is employed as a medical brachytherapy physicist at Novant Health New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina. Mary and two of her colleagues have implemented Interstitial Brachytherapy, a new procedure which allows targeted treatment to patients with gynecologic cancers. This procedure is performed with the use of special catheters that are placed in and around the tumor, making it possible to deliver radiation doses to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues, such as the bowel and bladder. Mary is pictured on the left in the photo below.
Taylor Villareal Kalwa ’12 earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Management from Towson University. Taylor recently accepted a position as a change manager at Allegis Group supporting communication, change management, and training efforts for the organization.
Kasey Fogelsanger Hayes ’13, a 2017 graduate of the York College of Pennsylvania, is a teacher in the Garnet Valley, PA Public School System. She is pursuing her Master of Science degree in Education with a concentration in Teacher Leadership at Villanova University.
Rebecca Leary Finnerty ’13 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Towson University in 2017. She is currently teaching second grade in the Baltimore County Public School system.
Jill Flenner Burley ’13 is employed as an occupational therapist at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Jill holds her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park and she earned her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Chatham University in 2020.
Julia Tobin ’13 earned her Master of Science degree in Management with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Maryland Global Campus in May 2022.
Lindsay Berg Arnold ’14 joined the East Carolina University (ECU) Office of Student Development staff as an academic coordinator in October of 2021.In her current role, Lindsay primarily works with Pirate football student-athletes, handling a myriad of key responsibilities that include conducting weekly academic meetings, tracking degree progress and providing study skills. Prior to her appointment at ECU, she served as a mental performance coach at Sterling Sports Mindset, a private sport psychology group practice in Kansas City, for a year. Lindsay earned her Bachelor of Science degree in sport and exercise psychology from West Virginia University (WVU) in 2019 and then earned a Master of Science degree in kinesiology, sport, and exercise science from Georgia Southern in 2020. While there she served as a graduate assistant helping prepare grants for submission and co-authoring a manuscript that was ultimately accepted for publication in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. In addition, she served as an academic advising intern for the school's successful football program in her last semester and was president of GSU's Sport and Exercise Psychology Club. As an undergraduate at WVU, Lindsay engaged in a multitude of academic, leadership, and volunteer roles, including service as a student-athlete tutor, Special Olympics volleyball coach, sport and exercise psychology peer advisor, sport and exercise psychology club historian, and co-founder of the Association for Women Networking in Sport and Physical Activity. She also currently serves as a Rising Star Lead - Mental Health in Sports Circle for the Women Leaders in College Sports, an appointment she earned in January of 2020. Lindsay is certified as a mental performance coach, was a student commencement speaker during West Virginia's graduation ceremony in 2018, and was named WVU's Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Additionally, she attended the 33rd and 34th Annual Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Conferences as a lead presenter.
Abigail Messaris ’14 earned her Master of Arts degree in Emerging Media from Loyola University Maryland in August 2021. She is currently the Coordinator for Undergraduate Communications and Recruitment in the University of Maryland's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
Corinna Sech ’14 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences and Secondary Education with a minor in Italian from Towson University. She is currently teaching high school Social Studies in the Baltimore County Public School system while she pursues her Master of Science degree in Transformational Educational Leadership at Towson University with an anticipated graduation date of 2024.
Sarah Laiza Braine ’16 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Asian Studies from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 2020. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in cultural heritage from Johns Hopkins University.
Jessica Midwig ’16 earned her Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration and Management with a special interest in Pediatric Optometry at Stevenson University. She has accepted a position as a Pediatric Ophthalmic Technician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Jessica earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-medicinal studies from the University of Iowa in 2020.
Jill Scott ’16 is employed as a seasonal park ranger at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In this role, Jill completes a variety of tasks such as repairing materials around the park, hosting interpretive programs, leading volunteer programs, and completing trail maintenance. She has been accepted into the History Postgraduate Program at the University of Glasgow, Scotland and will begin her studies there in September 2022.
Allison Stillinghagan ’16 had her comment entitled The Kids Aren't Alright: The Road to Abandoning Deceptive Interrogation Techniques for Juvenile Suspects in Maryland published in Volume 81 Issue 3 of the Maryland Law Review. Aly is a Juris Doctor Candidate at University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a student attorney with the University of Maryland Clinical Law Program.
Consolata Olemgbe ’17 graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morgan State University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Biomedical Sciences in May 2021. She is currently employed as a Pharmacy Technician II for Kaiser Permanente and as a Manufacturing Associate for Emergent BioSolutions.
Brianna Romagnano ’17 has been accepted to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine where she will pursue her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Brianna is a 2021 graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Poultry Sciences on the Pre-Veterinary track.
Megan Young ’17 is pursuing her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law while serving as a Judicial Intern for The Honorable Michelle Harner. Megan has also accepted a position as a Staff Editor at Maryland Law Review, the oldest student-run legal journal at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Yinka Akinola ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation from the University of Maryland College Park. She has accepted a position at Comcast NBC Universal as a CORE technology associate.
Ciara Armour ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Towson University, earning Dean's List honors every semester since the fall of 2020. Ciara has accepted a teaching position in a Functioning Academic Learning Support (FALS) program.
Lauren Berrish ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Immunology and Infectious Disease from Pennsylvania State University in May 2022.
Jessica Borne ’18 graduated Cum Laude from The University of South Alabama earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology with a minor in Mathematics. She has accepted a position as a Modeling and Assessment Specialist with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in the Air Permits Division.
Taylor Colimore ’18 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Kinetic Imaging with a focus on Animation, Sound, Performance, and Video Art. During her junior and senior years she worked as a research assistant to Dr. Kate Sicchio, an assistant professor of dance and media technologies at VCU. Her work was featured in a VCU article entitled, Class of 2022: A Freshman Class in Digital Media Inspires a New Direction in Art. View more of Taylor's art here. Taylor has also accepted a position as a Media Specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Kristin Curry ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services from The Pennsylvania State University in May 2022. She has accepted a position as a mental health worker at Sheppard Pratt.
Shanelle Fleet ’18 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Jasmine Franklin ’18 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Widener University. She was also named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.50 or above for the semester.
Jordan Garner ’18 graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland School of Nursing earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
Rachel Hoos ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Media Studies from Loyola University Maryland. Rachel has accepted a position as a Marketing Coordinator for Harkins Builders.
Rachael Huebler ’18 graduated Magna Cum Laude from York College of Pennsylvania earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She was also named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List. Rachael was a defender on the York women's lacrosse team. To read about her season, click here. This fall, she will be attending West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Hannah Keller ’18 graduated Magna Cum Laude earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Spanish from McDaniel College on May 21. Hannah also earned Honors in Environmental Studies. Hannah was also named to the McDaniel College Spring 2022 Dean's List with High Honors, earning a grade point average between 3.70 and 3.89.
Kaitlyn Kozlowski ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a Visual Communication Design minor from Stevenson University. She was a member of the women's lacrosse team and was named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Midfielder of the Year. Kaitlyn paced the conference with 106 draw controls, becoming Stevenson's all-time draw control leader in a game, season, and career. She has scored 34 goals, ranking third on the team, and caused 11 turnovers with 25 ground balls. She also posted at least 10 draw controls in four contests for the Mustangs, breaking the career mark against Hood College on April 6. Kaitlyn was also selected to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) DIII Senior All-Star Team. The IWLCA also named her All Region. Kaitlyn was also named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List at Stevenson University, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Allie Lijewski ’18 graduated Summa Cum Laude earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with double specializations in Journalism and Digital Media with a Writing minor from Loyola University Maryland. She was been named to the Fall 2021 Dean's List earning a 3.5 or higher grade point average. As a student at Loyola, Allie was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honors Society; Pi Epsilon Pi, the National Writing Honors Society, where she served as the Vice President; and Lamba Pi Eta, the Communications National Honor Society.
Rosemary Mezu ’18 graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morgan State University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture and Environmental Design.
Kathryn Paturzo ’18 graduated Cum Laude from Elon University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Religious Studies. She also recently presented her research entitled The Impacts of Religious Beliefs and Levels of Practice on Heart Rate Variability at the Experimental Biology Conference (EB) in Philadelphia. EB is the annual meeting of five societies exploring the latest research in anatomy, biochemistry and molecular biology, investigative pathology, pharmacology, and physiology. Participants represent scientists from academic institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industry. This fall Kathryn will pursue her master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Monmouth University.
Morgan Pettebone ’18, a senior at the University of Maryland College Park majoring in Bioengineering, has accepted a position as a Biologics Intern in GTO at AstraZeneca.
Riley Rumbley ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson University where she was a member of the women's soccer team.
Katie Yeagle ’18 earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science at Florida Southern University. Katie was a member of the Florida Southern women's lacrosse team who recently won their fourth Sunshine State Conference tournament championship in team history. To read more about Katie's season, click here.
Jordan Banks ’19 is a rising senior at Hood College majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is a member of the Kappa Delta Phi Honor Society for Aspiring Educators, and vice president of the Hood College step team. In addition, Joran serves as a head resident assistant (RA).
Sarah Cirincione ’19, a rising senior at McDaniel College, studied abroad in Budapest, Hungary during the Spring 2022 semester.
Sarah Coffman ’19 is a rising senior at the University of Maryland (UMD) College Park, majoring in Kinesiology, on the Pre-Occupational Therapy track and minoring in Human Development. Sarah serves as a recruitment chair of Terp Thon, the largest student-run philanthropic organization in Maryland supporting Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of UMD's Global Public Health Scholars Program, earning their Outstanding Citizenship Award. Sarah has been inducted into Phi Alpha Epsilon, a local honorary society open to undergraduates in Family Science, Community Health, Kinesiology and Public Health Science at UMD. In addition, Sarah is a member of the Kinesiology Student Organization, the Pre-Occupational Therapy Association, and Catholic Terps.
Carly Connell ’19, a rising senior at the University of Maryland College Park majoring in government and politics and minoring in professional writing, studied abroad in Italy during the Summer of 2022.
Claire Corte ’19, a rising senior majoring in Criminology and Philosophy and minoring in Spanish at Lynchburg University, has been elected the social chair and standards chair of her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Zeta Upsilon Chapter. In addition, Claire has also been elected president of the Pre-Law Society at Lynchburg. This summer, Claire will be studying abroad in London.
Abigail Estrada ’19, a rising senior double majoring in Marriage and Family Studies and Theology, was named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List at DeSales University, earning a semester grade point average of at least 3.5.
Grace LaCount ’19, a rising senior majoring in theater at Frostburg State university, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List for outstanding academic achievement, with the distinction of a 4.0 grade point average.
Marissa Lesko ’19 is a rising senior at Elizabethtown College majoring in Forensic Chemistry. She is a member of the intramural soccer and flag football teams and the Chemistry Club. Marissa is also a chemistry teaching assistant and a lead peer mentor, helping incoming students transition from high school to college.
Kayleigh Maimone ’19, a rising senior double majoring in Biology/Pre-Medicine and Psychology and minoring in Hispanic Studies, at Washington College was awarded the Greater Baltimore Alumnae Panhellenic Association's 2022 Scholarship honoring outstanding undergraduate sorority woman from a Maryland college or university. In addition, an article entitled Made for Medicine featuring Kayleigh was recently published on the Washington College website. Kayleigh is the president of her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and attended their national convention and leadership training held in Grapevine, Texas as Washington College's official delegate. In addition, Kayleigh just completed her term as the president of the Washington College (WC) Student Events Board. This group is responsible for planning events for the entire WC community. This summer, Kayleigh will continue her internship at Mercy Medical Center.
Hailey Wienecki ’19 has been accepted into the School of Health Professions Emergency Medical Technology Program at the Community College of Baltimore County. Hailey is an Emergency Medical Technician with the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Department.
Kennedy Ackerman ’20, a rising junior at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Olivia Barry ’20, a rising junior majoring in Communication and Media Studies and double minor in Journalism, Editing, & Publishing and Arts Management at Washington College, is completing an internship at Baltimore Fishbowl. Her article, Black-Owned Skin Care Company NKVSKIN Opens with Support from Program Striving to Fill Downtown Baltimore Vacancies, was published in the June 2, 2022 edition.
Erin Burnett ’20, a rising junior Broadcast Journalism major and Technology Entrepreneurship minor at the University of Maryland College Park (UMD), has been elected the vice president of UMCP's chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Erin is also a sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She serves as a UMD Peer Mentor and is a College Park Scholar. In addition, Erin is a staff writer for The Black Explosion, UMD’s only historically Black newspaper and she participated in the Dow Jones News Fund Digital Media Program in 2021. She is a fellow for the Emma Bowen Foundation, which awarded her a paid four-year summer internship at WBAL-TV in Baltimore. While in high school, Erin was a member of the inaugural class of Youthcast Media Group and was recently featured in their "College Corner" publication. Read the story here.
Ariyanna Cozart ’20 is a rising junior Kinesiology major at the University of Virginia on the Pre-Med track.
Asha Davis ’20 is a rising junior majoring in Public Health on the Pre-Physician Assistant track at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) in their Honors College. Asha is also a team leader in the UMCP Orientation Office, assisting new students and their families throughout their entire orientation experience.
Megan Francis ’20, a rising junior Hospitality, Resort, and Tourism Management major, was named to the Spring 2022 President's List at Coastal Carolina University, earning a semester grade point average of 4.0.
Chloe Griffin ’20, a rising junior majoring in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and minoring in Special Education at Loyola University of Maryland, has been named to Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society. Chloe also serves as an Evergreen, an upperclass student committed to supporting new students and acting as a resource throughout their first year. In addition, Chloe is a member of the Loyola Women's Club Basketball Team.
Karissa Kozlowski ’20 earned her Associate of Arts degree in Psychology, Humanities, and Social Sciences from the Community College of Baltimore County in May 2022. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Psychology at Towson University beginning in Fall 2022.
Bailey Krahl ’20, a rising junior majoring in Exploratory Studies at Shippensburg University, is a midfielder on the Shippensburg women's lacrosse team. To read about her season, click here.
Christy Martin ’20, a rising junior majoring in International Business at Elizabethtown College, will continue as a Hersheypark leadership development intern in the Hersheypark attractions department this summer. In 2021, Christy was named Outstanding Employee and she was recently promoted to team lead. At Elizabethtown, Christy serves as a resident assistant, student ambassador and tour guide, and academic tutor. Christy was also named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a semester grade point average of 3.60 or higher.
Laura Parada ’20, a rising junior at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Brooke Rainville ’20 is a rising junior Health Sciences major on the pre-occupational therapy track with a Christian Studies minor at James Madison University.
Elena Schutz ’20 is a rising junior at the University of Maryland College Park double majoring in Management and Marketing at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. During her freshman year, Elena was part of the Carillon Communities iGive Living and Learning Program, working with non-profit organizations to create a grant competition to aid the environment. She is also a member of the Accounting and Business Association, serving as the social and community service chair. In addition, she is a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon, a professional co-ed business fraternity.
Kelley Scott ’20 is a rising junior majoring in Environmental Science at the University of Maryland College Park. She is a sister of Alpha Delta, Pi Beta Phi chapter.
McKenna Shay ’20, a rising junior Nursing major at Frostburg State University, is a goalie on the Frostburg women's lacrosse team. To read about her season, click here. McKenna was also named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning cumulative semester grade point average of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale
Janiece Taylor ’20, a rising junior, has been named to the McDaniel College Spring 2022 Dean's List with Honors, earing a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.69.
Mickey Burnett ’21, a rising sophomore at Lander University, plays attack on the Lander women's lacrosse team. To read about her season, click here.
L'Rae Chester ’21, a rising sophomore, has been named to the McDaniel College Spring 2022 Dean's List with High Honors earning a grade point average between 3.70 and 3.89.
Gabby Costello ’21 is a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland College Park, majoring in Business in the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Kerri DeCarlo ’21, a rising sophomore majoring in Criminology at York College of Pennsylvania, is completing an internship at Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company. She is completing a summer internship at Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company.
Caleigh Forti ’21, a rising sophomore at Rutgers University, is a goalie for the Rutgers women's lacrosse team. To read about her season, click here.
Shey Freyman ’21, a rising sophomore majoring in Public Health on the Pre-Medicine track at the University of Maryland College Park, has accepted a position as a student assistant at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
Hannah Kurtz ’21 is a rising sophomore at the University of Vermont majoring in Sustainable Business.
Dasia McQueen ’21, a rising sophomore at Delaware State University, is a member of the women's lacrosse team. To read about her season, click here.
Precious Nwobi ’21, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Laine Reddish ’21, a rising sophomore majoring in Nursing at York College of Pennsylvania, was named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Kelsey Reynolds ’21, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Riley Schap ’21, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Sofia Smith ’21, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Bri Stumpf ’21, a rising sophomore at Stevenson University, has been named to the Spring 2022 Dean's List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Natalie Vancura ’21, a rising sophomore majoring in Health Science and Public Policy at Gettysburg College, has been elected the president of the Newman Association which aims to strengthen the relationships of Gettysburg's Catholic students with one another and with God.
Spring & Summer 2022

Lynne Spigelmire Viti ’65 has published a new full-length poetry collection, The Walk to Cefalu', forthcoming in mid-September from the Portage Poetry Series of Cornerstone Press, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. The book is available for purchase from Cornerstone press, online booksellers, and independent bookstores.
Sue DiPaula Murphy ’66 is a volunteer nurse at the Baltimore County Health Department.
Laureen Pepersack, Ph.D. ’68 earned her Master of Science for Teachers degree from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Colleen Rouark Goddard ’75 is a Lead Project Manager for Lumen based in Colorado.
Barbara Barrett Clapp ’76 was one of two Mercy Alumnae featured as a panelist at the Baltimore Business Journal's 2022 Enterprising Women Conference, honoring women executives and business leaders who make their companies, employees and communities shine. Barb is CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, an innovative non-profit whose purpose is to provide Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) training and entry level job positions to individuals who lack opportunity and who aspire to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Dwyer Workforce Development provides job training, wraparound services and case management of students and handles job placements in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Goals are set for a Dwyer Scholars work path and after reaching those goals, students will be awarded a scholarship to attend nursing school or to be trained for other healthcare careers. Barb was chosen to transition the new venture from concept to a full-scale national workforce development organization. She is leading non-profit program development, operations, strategic partnerships, marketing tactics and board development while leveraging past entrepreneurial and non-profit success to develop an immediate and sustainable market presence. Prior to this position, Barb was Founder and CEO of Clapp Communications, a full-service international marketing and public relations firm headquartered in Baltimore since 2001. She is a C-Level Advisor for the Emerging Technology Centers and a sought after speaker on leadership, overcoming challenges and business strategy. She is also a Director of CFG Bank Board of Directors. A graduate of Loyola University, Barb has received awards and recognition for her CEO leadership over the years which include, most recently, Public Relations Society of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, The Daily Record’s Most Influential Marylander, Most Admired CEO, Top 100 Women, and induction into both the Circle of Leadership and Circle of Excellence. Barb also serves on the boards of the Baltimore Public Markets Corporation, Signal 13 Foundation and Maryland SPCA. A committed community advocate, she has served on The Humane Society of the United States Humane Policy Leaders, as Chair of the Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals, sponsored American Diabetes Association CEOs for Stopping Diabetes and was a 2016 Alzheimer’s Association Memory Ball dancer.
Mary Ella Franz Marion ’76, P’09 was named the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland's (IAAM) Basketball Coach of the Year. Mary Ella has coached basketball at Mercy for 32 years. Under Coach Marion, this year's Varsity team was undefeated in conference play and won Mercy's first ever IAAM title. Read more about Mary Ella's Coach of the Year honor here. In addition, the Baltimore Sun featured an article about Mary Ella's career in their March 30, 2022 edition. Read the article here.
Gretchen Zekiel ’76 is a senior fellow/program manager for Montgomery County's 50+ Volunteer Network, the County's new senior initiative that connects skilled volunteers with nonprofit and government agencies needing assistance.
Mary Hain ’78 is a physical education teacher and lacrosse coach at Western High School in Baltimore. Mary also is a college field hockey umpire who mentors novice, intermediate and experienced umpires. She serves as the Field Hockey College Chair, Assigner, and Rules Interpreter for the Executive Committee of the Baltimore Board of Officials for Women's Sports.
Ruth Quattrochi Deacon ’82 is a Marketing Content Specialist at Oceaneering, a subsea engineering and applied technology company based in Houston, Texas that provides engineered services and hardware to customers who operate in marine, space, and other environments.
Debbie Reitz ’86 earned her certification as a wine specialist and has started her own business, Great Vines & Wines.
Colleen O'Shaughnessy Chenworth ’87 has accepted a position as Human Resources Coordinator for the global non-profit Generation USA.
Melanie Coburn ’89, Mercy High School art teacher, was the recipient of the Ann H. Heckwolf Teacher Award for Outstanding Commitment to Catholic Education in the Mercy Tradition. The Ann H. Heckwolf Teacher Award was established by Mary Anne Heckwolf ’66, in memory of her mother, to acknowledge sustained commitment to teaching at Mercy High School by a lay teacher who embodies the Mercy charism in education.
Lisa Ferretto ’92 has accepted a new position with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as their Senior Director of Sustainable Practice and Knowledge. In this role, Lisa will work with architects across the nation advancing sustainable practice, building performance, and design for equitable communities.
Jen Coffey Leary ’93, the CEO of Clifton Larson Allen (CLA), has been named the National Association of Black Accountants' (NABA) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leader of the Year. According to Jen, "At CLA, we believe in continuous learning and taking action to drive change. Our collaboration with NABA is critical to helping us have a strong, diverse CLA family — and industry — well into the future.”
Danielle Friedline Manalansan ’93 has accepted a new position as Program Coordinator for the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging and Human Services in Leonardtown, Maryland.
Erin Moran ’93 was named a 2022 Woman of Influence by I-95 Business. Erin is Executive Director of the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute. Read more about this honor here. In addition, her article, Trust: The Antidote to Combat the Great Resignation, was featured in the June 8, 2022 issue of I-95 Business. Erin was also one of two Mercy Alumnae who were featured panelists at the Baltimore Business Journal's Enterprising Women Conference honoring women executives and business leaders who make their companies, employees and communities shine in August 2022.
Anna Moore Shalom ’93, a professional flamenco dancer, performed in Espana in New York: A Spanish Dance, Music, and Song Concert on June 11, 2022.
Lauren Szczepaniak LaPointe ’93 has accepted a position as a Benefits and Wellness Specialist at Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia/Lower Merion.
Anne Balcer, Esq. ’95 has been named Senior Executive Vice President of Chief Government Relations and Public Policy at Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Anne most recently served as executive vice president, general counsel and internal auditor for Forbright Bank, formerly Congressional Bank, in Chevy Chase, MD. Anne served in an executive role at the community bank since 2013, advising its executive management team and board of directors while managing all aspects of legal, regulatory and compliance oversight. ICBA Chairman and President, Brad Bolton, spoke highly of Anne's expertise, stating, "With experience on the front lines of financial regulation at a growing community bank, Anne is uniquely suited to lead ICBA’s powerful and respected government relations team as we fight for a more level regulatory environment for community banks across our great nation.” Read more about Anne's new role and her career here.
Kelly Knapp Cumberledge ’95, P’23 has accepted a position as a product marketing manager at McCormick & Company.
Marylee Pearl Robinson ’96 is a featured speaker at the Forensic Accounting and Asset Forfeiture/Asset Protection Conference sponsored by Florida Atlantic University. Marylee, a director at Stout, will be speaking on the topics of asset tracing and tracing methodologies.
Jennifer Baña Burch ’97 is the Assistant Principal at Middlesex Elementary School in Essex, Maryland. She and her sister, Elizabeth Baña Thomas ’01, were featured in an article on the Baltimore County Public Schools website in a series focusing on BCPS staff members and their Hispanic heritage entitled The Baña Sisters: Born to Galician Immigrants.
Jessica Brown Monaghan ’97 has accepted a position as the Assistant Programing Director at the Edward A. Myerberg Senior Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
Shannon Cohen ’97 is the Athletic Director at Krieger Schechter Day School in Baltimore, Maryland. She also teaches lower and middle school physical education. She was featured in JMORE: Baltimore Jewish Living Magazine. Read the article, written by one of Shannon's students, here.
Jenna Dietrich ’97 is the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of JAD Development and Construction, LLC. based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jennie Hayes Lee ’97 is the owner of Natural Vybz Hair Studio.
Rebekah Kates Lemke ’97 is employed as the senior content developer/strategist for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Previously, she was a web producer, branded content writer, and editor for CRS and worked in television news for 15 years.
Tara Mathew Sahu ’97 is the Vice President, Head of Integrated Marketing at Varo Bank. In 2006, tar earned her Master of Science degree in Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.
Jennifer Mitchell ’97, an assistant professor of nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University, was recently featured on the Notre Dame of Maryland website in an article entitled, She was a Champion for All Women. In the article, Jennifer reflects on the legacy of her grandmother, Juanita Jackson Mitchell, the first African American woman to practice law in Maryland, filing lawsuits that desegregated pools, restaurants, and parks. She also played a pivotal role in Maryland becoming the first southern state to integrate schools after the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision. In the article, Jennifer tells how her grandmother's legacy impacts her work with her students at Notre Dame University of Maryland, stating, "My grandmother's determination in the fight for civil rights and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved populations is something that I integrate into my teaching and my curriculum. I teach community health nursing to senior nursing students. We weave social justice. We talk about health disparities. We talk about the social determinants of health, about how macro-level social issues impact people’s health behaviors and health outcomes. It helps students to get a perspective of some of the barriers to quality healthcare, including education and discrimination based on race, religion, or gender. I use my platform to carry on her work and empower my students." Jennifer's story was also featured in the Spring 2022 edition of Maryland History and Culture News in an article entitled, In Dialogue With Jennifer Mitchell. This article also details the legacy of Jennifer's great-grandmother, Dr. Lillie May Carroll Jackson, as well as the donation Jennifer and her family made to the Passion and Purpose: Voices of Maryland's Civil Rights Activists exhibit at the Maryland Center for History and Culture Museum in Baltimore. Jennifer is pictured below along with her grandmother, Juanita Jackson Mitchell at 18 years old.
Courteney Petrosino ’97 has published her first full-length essay collection entitled Bright, a work of lyric nonfiction, offering glimpses of a life lived between cultural worlds. According to her publisher, “Bright,” a slang term used to describe light-skinned people of interracial American ancestry, becomes the starting point for an extended meditation on the author’s upbringing in a mixed Black and Italian American family. Alternating moments of memoir, archival research, close reading and reverie, this work contemplates the enduring, deeply personal legacies of enslavement and racial discrimination in America. Situated at the luminous crossroads where public and private histories collide, Bright asks important questions about love, heritage, identity and creativity."
Charlotte Sauer Plantholt ’97 earned her Associate degree in Nursing from the Community College of Baltimore County.
Heather Stansbury, Esq. ’97 is a partner at Ayres, Jenkns, Gordy & Almand, P.A. on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, focusing her practice in the area of family law and criminal law. She is a trained mediator and is trained in Collaborative Law and also practices in the area of criminal law, education law, trusts and estates, civil litigation, landlord/tenant matters and engages in Will preparation and the representation of children in high-conflict custody matters. Heather is currently serving as the attorney for the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Adjustment and Appeals for the Town of Ocean City, Maryland and the Vice-Chaiperson for the Board of Trustees for Atlantic General Hospital. In addition, Heather serves as a member of the Women's Fund of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. Read more about Heather's career here.
Jen Waldt Zellinger ’97 accepted a position as Vice President, Product Development at enGen in August 2021.
Natalie Aycock Preston, RN ’98 earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from Millersville University. She is currently employed as an emergency room nurse with Wellspan Health of Pennsylvania and will begin working a Family Nurse Practitioner in August 2022 once her credentialing is complete. She is also pursuing her Doctoratal degree in Nursing Practice at Millersville University.
Sarah Butts ’98 presented the plenary session on the topic of Social Work Advocacy and Public Policy at the National Association of Social Workers 2022 National Conference. Sarah also was a presenter at the American Promise Connect: The Power of Political Social Work Virtual Conference. Sarah is the Director of Public Policy at National Association of Social Workers.
Tara Singleton ’00, a member of the Greater Baltimore Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame, has been named the head coach of Jacksonville University's Women's Lacrosse Program. Tara served as defensive coordinator and director of recruiting for Johns Hopkins Women's Lacrosse since 2011 and was the Associate Head Coach for the past ten years. Jacksonville University Senior Vice President/Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert said, “We are ecstatic to welcome Tara to Jacksonville. When we set out on this search, we were looking for someone who would value the whole person. It was clear from our first conversation that Tara was going to care deeply about our young women. She’s played and coached at the highest level and has spent more than a decade in one of the finest women’s lacrosse cultures in the country.” Read more here.
Ashley Valis ’00 has been named the first chief operating officer of Catholic Charities USA. In this newly created role, Ashley will be responsible for strategic oversight and operational excellence of programs and services, human resources, and leadership of the strategic planning process and initiatives. Ashley her Bachelor of Science degree in family and community services from the University of Delaware and a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in management and community organizing, from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Read more about Ashley's role at Catholic Charities here. Her appointment was also featured in the May 9, 2022 edition of The Daily Record.
Roula Adams ’01 has been promoted to principal quality assurance manager at FEI Systems, a leading information technology, services, and analysis organization specializing in healthcare solutions for federal, state, and local governments.
Elizabeth Baña Thomas ’01 is a Spanish teacher at Dulaney High School in Baltimore County, Maryland. She and her sister, Jennifer Baña Burch ’97, were featured in an article on the Baltimore County Public Schools website in a series focusing on BCPS staff members and their Hispanic heritage entitled The Baña Sisters: Born to Galician Immigrants.
Helen Barnaba Ball ’01 is employed as the training and learning content developer at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, Delaware. Helen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 2005 from Mount St. Mary's University.
Megan Campbell Carson ’02 has been promoted to National Senior Sales Manager at PepsiCo.
Alison Ege ’03 has accepted a position as Executive Office Manager at Stella Maris.
Chrissy DeSimone ’04 has been recognized by the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) as a 2022 National Teacher of the Year finalist! The National Teacher of the Year Award recognizes exemplary teachers who utilize cutting-edge methods, techniques, and activities to provide stimulus and visibility to family and consumer sciences in elementary and secondary education.
Gina Servelle Martin, LMSW ’05 has accepted a position as a Social Worker at the Child and Adolescent Day Hospital at Sheppard Pratt at the Baltimore Washington Campus.
Jessica Thuerrauch ’05 earned her Master of Arts degree in library and information sciences from the University of Washington in 2017. She is currently employed at the Baltimore County Public Library as a librarian.
La Shawna A. Obame, MA, LCPC, NCC ’06 has been promoted to lead clinical therapist at Springboard Community Services, Inc.
Bianca Jones ’07, who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from American University in 2011, produced a documentary film that she titled Change the Name. The documentary follows the three year journey of Chicago fifth graders as they campaign to rename a park after abolitionist leaders Anna Murray Douglass and Frederick Douglass.

Class Notes

List of 5 items.

Spring/Summer 2023

Winter 2022

Fall 2022

Spring & Summer 2022 (Continued)

Spring & Summer 2022

Mercy High School