Featured class notes

Alumna Valerie Kinloch '98, '00 was recently named Johnson C. Smith University’s 15th president, effective Aug. 1, 2023. Kinloch earned her master’s degree in English/African American Literature and her doctorate in English. Read the full article online – https://www.jcsu.edu/dr-valerie-kinloch-named-15th-president

Dr. Jeanne Powell (J.D. from USF) has read her published work in several venues this year: First Fridays in North Beach, Writers Grotto at Salesforce Park, Juneteenth at Alton Hotel, Better Ancestors at MoAD, Labor Fest at Tenderloin Museum, and annual Petaluma Poetry Walk. Taurean Horn Press publishes her poetry collections..

Director of Nursing at Pinecrest Farms Midland MI meet are one of only 2 Infirmary’s in the state of Michigan. We are non profit and paid by milage. We serve the underserved in the county and are income based .

Kevin Kuehn recently completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Washington. Dr. Kuehn is now working as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego on a T-32 from the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Kuehn's dissertation research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and his research was published in Nature Human Behaviour. Dr. Kuehn's research seeks to better understand proximal risk factors of suicidal thoughts and behavior.

LYDIA JEANNE POWELL earned her J.D. at USF School of Law. She is a writing consultant to USF law students. Author of four books of poetry from Taurean Horn Press: My Own Silence, Word Dancing, Two Seasons, and Deeply Notched Leaves. Carousel is her collection of essays from Regent Press. She performs her poetry in various venues as Dr. Jeanne.

I recently started a role in which I am a Client associate/Engagement Manager for the international IT company Globant. Globant is a 25k+ employee Technology Disruptor with 20 studios that is spearheading this age of the Digital Transformation

Dr. Erin Bell was hired as the Assistant Director of Educational Development at the new Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning at the University of Detroit Mercy in early 2022. https://cetl.udmercy.edu/meet-the-people/

Dale Stanton is the author of a new book, "Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Communion (Finding Subtle Humor in the Bible)" In his tongue-in-cheek exploration of the Bible, Dale discovers hidden gens of humor in the reverent readings. To learn more and to purchase, visit: http://covenantbooks.com/books/?book=funnything

Published my book, "Our Mission Revealed", in 2014, the story of the AFSPPF, a top-secret Air Force unit providing R&D support and production of images from spy aircraft and satellites.

I'm thrilled to announce that Pixel+Ink (an imprint of Holiday House Publishing) will publish my eighth middle grade novel, THE SWALLOWTAIL LEGACY: WRECK AT ADA'S REEF on February 1, 2022.

At 74, my first book of short stories has just been published through Modern History Press of Ann Arbor. The SideRoad Kids: Tales from Chippewa County is available on Amazon. My first book of newspaper columns was self-published in 2016 and is also available from Amazon: Life in a Tin Can: A Collection of Random Observations. So my BA wasn't a total waste even if it did take 40 years to reap the rewards!

Denise Lewis is receiving the 2021 Distinguished Alumna Award from her undergraduate alma mater, Barnard College, Columbia University. Barnard’s President, Sian Beilock said in her statement that Denise is being honored for her “illustrious career as a real estate attorney and the work she has done to support underserved communities in Detroit as testament to her commitment to the physical and social revitalization efforts in urban environments.” Barnard is recognizing Denise for her leadership role at the Honigman law firm over her 36-year career, serving as member of firm management and founder of the Urban Redevelopment practice, and for her respected position as a leader in the Detroit civic and business community. Denise has received numerous honors in the legal profession. Barnard is also honoring Denise in appreciation for her role in expanding opportunities for women and persons of color in the legal profession and the real estate industry and for the “many ways Denise has improved the lives of countless individuals both within and beyond the Barnard community.” Denise continues to be active in the Wayne State community, serving several terms on the Board of the Wayne State University Foundation. Denise was elected to the University’s Board of Governors and served for eight years. For three years she served as Chair of the Board and led the search for the selection of Dr. Irvin Reid as the ninth President of the University.

My poetry chapbook "A Sky Full of Wings," was selected as a finalist in the 2020 New Women's Voices Chapbook Competition and is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press in September 2021. For more information, visit kseniarychtycka.com. I graduated in December 1985 with a BA in Journalism and a minor in art history.

2017 received Fellowship in the American College of Radiology. After 36 years of practice now part time and anticipating retirement. I will always cherish both the undergraduate and medical education I received at the University and the many doors it opened to me in my career.

I'm pleased to once again be selected by Lürzer's Int'l Archive for their “200 Best Digital Artists Annual.” Previously, I had 3 illustrations selected in 2011. I'm still working at 77. My clients are primarily ad agencies in NYC, NJ, and Philadelphia. For 27 years Boundless Creativity by Big Al Gruswitz has specialized in 3D & 2D photorealistic illustration, medical illustration, and difficult retouching. Prior to illustrating I was an ACD/AD for 30 years in Detroit and NYC with a total of 57 years in advertising as of next June. My website: http://www.boundless-creativity.com.

Dr. Newkumet is the current President of the Medical Staff at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospitals- Oakland and a UCSF Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. She is the longest serving member in the division of Pediatric Cardiology at the Oakland, CA hospital, practicing and teaching there for over 27 years, with a focus on Critical Care cardiology and General cardiology. She lives in Berkeley, CA with her husband, having recently launched 2 young adult children into independence. A native of Detroit, she remains a proud graduate of WSU.

Accepted a position at a non-profit that provides therapy to adults with eating disorders - BANA - as a Clinical Therapist

Detroit native Brian Miller completed a MA in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). At WSU, he earned the Howard A. Donnelly award, captained the WSU baseball team and was an Academic All-America nominee. Since 1990, he has worked as a police officer with WSUPD, a Border Patrol agent in San Diego, and a DEA special agent and in San Diego and South America. He now investigates corruption along the Southwest Border. Brian plans to use his experience and this degree to teach criminal justice and homeland security to law enforcement officers.

Ashley Aldea ’11, M.S.B.M.E. ’12, has joined Butzel Long. She focuses on real estate and corporate transactions with a focus on real property acquisition and disposition, real estate financing, commercial leasing, general corporate representation, entity formation, and entity structure. Before Butzel Long, Aldea worked for Ford Motor Credit Company. She advised Ford Credit executives, management and business teams on dealer matters, marketing matters, vehicle liquidations, and bankruptcy matters, day-to-day corporate and commercial matters and secured transactions for Ford Credit Canada Company. She assisted in negotiating and drafting contracts and supported the implementation of changes in laws and regulations in Canada.

Helped create a $6.5 billion market opportunity in autonomous oil well drilling. Brought oil industry to Detroit.

I am pleased to be celebrating 20 years in business this year. EAFocus PR specializes in public relations for attorneys, physicians, CPAs, the public sector, business owners and professional affinity groups.

Now retired

Dale Meah '88 has passed away.

Michael Cichoracki '97 passed away on March 14, 2024.

Kenneth C. Hietikko '62 passed away on May 31, 2023.

Baqar Husaini passed away on February 25, 2023.

Harold H. Brown, PhD 1954, died May 16 at the age of 95. After graduating from Marietta College in 1950, Harold earned his doctorate in biochemistry from Wayne State. He worked as a clinical chemist at hospitals in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and New York, retiring in 1988 from his position as Director of Clinical Chemistry at Albany Medical Center. Harold was a member of the American Chemical Society for more than 70 years. After his retirement, he participated in RE-SEED, introducing middle school students to science, enjoyed ballroom dancing, and traveled throughout the United States with his wife, Lois.

Dorothy Maxine Coston-Jones passed away peacefully on December 24, 2020 in Smyrna, GA at the age of 97. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wayne State University in 1947. While there, she enjoyed writing as part of the school newspaper staff. She also pledged, and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1945. Dorothy worked at Pinkerton Detective Agency for a time, then was selected to become one of the first black female police women in the City of Detroit. She was later picked to be Director of Treatment/Prison Services at Detroit House of Correction (DeHoCo), the only prison for women in Michigan. Now named Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility. There she was instrumental in establishing educational programs that allowed female inmates to attain their GED's. She earned a Masters of Arts in Corrections Administration from University of Detroit in 1971 and the September 19, 1986 "Dorothy Coston graduating class" of Earl F. Demarse Corrections Training Academy at Eastern University was named in her honor. She also served as a field instructor in the School of Social Work at University of Michigan.

Gary Garrett passed away in his home on August 26, 2019, following heart trouble. He was a professor of communications, public relations and English literature at many local colleges and universities. He also worked with the Red Cross and other nonprofits. Garrett was an active member of his Detroit community where he live for more than 50 years. In addition to teaching, Garrett had a passion for Shakespeare, jazz and his pet dachshunds. After retirement, he became the primary caregiver for a lifelong friend. He is survived by his sister and three generations of nieces and nephews.

Ruby I. Thompson Zuelzer died August 3, 2019. She was a pioneer of women’s rights as a standing member of the Professional and Business Women’s Foundation. Zuelzer supported her family while putting herself through college and then worked for many years at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. She also worked in the laboratory as a cytogeneticist and immunohematologist at the VA Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and ultimately retired as the director of blood bank services under the Department of Pathology at Grenada Lake Medical Center in Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her husband, fellow Wayne State alumnus Dr. Wolf Zuelzer. He was a renowned pediatric pathologist, professor of pediatric research at WSU and director of the laboratories at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.