Class Notes

1950s

ALICE HABER ’55 attended a rally for abortion rights outside of the Frederick County Courthouse on Dec. 1. The Frederick News-Post reported on the story and quoted Haber. “Seniors have strong voices, and our ranks are increasing,” she said. “We want seniors all over the country to make sure that they’re engaged and they’re heard.”

1970s

EDDIE APPLEFELD ’70 has been associated with Baltimore media and public relations since graduating. He was marketing director of Lexington Market and a part-time instructor at TU teaching public speaking. Now he is promotions director for Talk Radio 680 WCBM.

ANN BRACKEN ’74 recently published her third collection of poetry. Once You’re Inside: Poems Exploring Incarceration details Bracken’s experiences working in prison-based writing programs. Readers will meet memorable characters living in harsh and inhumane conditions whose main desire is to make a positive contribution to their communities. 

1980s

SCOTT RUSSELL ’82 earned his master’s in education administration from Shenandoah University. Russell is a high school teacher in northern Virginia.

HOPE C. TARR ’82 wrote “She's Got the Beat,” a story about Go-Go’s drummer and Dundalk, Maryland, native Gina Schock, for Baltimore magazine. Tarr also interviewed legendary filmmaker John Waters for the magazine.

PAUL J. RYAN ’87 is a business consultant, corporate trainer, author and TU mentor. He published his second book, Raise or Repair & Retain a Great Credit Score and is writing his third book about humor in the workplace.

DONNA (BRUGGER) DREHMANN ’89 published a children’s book based on her dog, Lady. Things Lady Likes is available on Amazon. It is intended to inspire conversations with young readers.

1990s

MARK BROWN ’90 received the Presidential Rank Award, a highly selective honor. Brown is one of only 11 recipients across the entire U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He was acknowledged for his work at HHS, his prior service at the Department of State, at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services and in the Army National Guard.

AMY SNYDER THORNE ’94 moved to St. Augustine, Florida, with her husband, Charlie, in August 2020. The last time she was on campus, it “looked amazing and continues to look more and more beautiful!” 

GREG SLATER ’97 is the former Maryland transportation secretary. The Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority selected him as its next executive director and CEO.

2000s

MATTHEW PAPUCHIS ’03 recently published a nonfiction book, A Little Birdie Told Me… The book references his days at TU and his time at The Towerlight.

DIANE E. DIBLASIO ’07 was named partner by Niles, Barton & Wilmer, effective Jan. 1. DiBlasio concentrates her practice on insurance coverage litigation, property insurance law, related first-party insurance matters and commercial litigation.

KERIANNE P. KEMMERZELL ’09 was named a partner with Baltimore law firm Tydings. Kemmerzell practices in the areas of employment law, immigration, estate litigation, general litigation and family law. She counsels small- and medium-sized companies on a wide range of labor, employment and immigration matters. In her family law practice, she represents clients in divorce cases as well as disputes involving custody, alimony and child support and division of assets. 

2010s

JENNA A. FLORIO ’10 was promoted to partner with Goldberg Segalla.

AMY WEISS ’12 is director of Jewish communal engagement and learning at OLAM in Washington, D.C. She has been selected as part of Class 6 of the Wexner Field Fellowship, which was created in 2013 in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation to focus on developing promising Jewish professionals’ leadership skills while enveloping them in a rich network of Jewish colleagues.

“ We find our work satisfying because as occupational therapists, we believe in helping individuals achieve their fullest potential despite illness and injury. ”

ANDREW MYERS ’12 and KATIE SWINSON ’15 are occupational therapy alumni working together. Swinson is a real estate agent focused on helping older adults and families with children with disabilities find a home that they can safely live in. Myers started UHome Consulting, where he engages homeowners, contractors and related service providers to enable individuals to remain in their current home via home modifications and getting the right support system in place. “We make a good team because we are both addressing a gap in the housing market for individuals with disabilities,” Myers says.