Lindenwood Magazine - Spring / Summer 2019

LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY Michael Castro (1945 to 2018) James Spainhower (1928 to 2018) SPRING/SUMMER 2019 | 21 Brittany Norwood (’18) completed her Bachelor of Science in information technology on December 30, 2018, and started a new job at Boeing in February as in enterprise problem management. Her mother, Gayla Norwood, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in business administration on June 30, 2019. Kelsey Whitley (’18) of Hannibal, Mo., was recently named principal of Eugene Field Elementary School in the Hannibal School District for the 2019-20 academic year. She has taught in the school district for seven years; this will be her first principal position. She earned her Ed.S. degree from Lindenwood. Logan Wolf (’18) of Highland, Ill., was honored by the Quilt of Valor Foundation in January. The organization awards veterans of America’s wars with quilts aimed to help them heal after their experiences in war. Wolf is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, where he served as a combat engineer clearing explosive devices. Jill Palmer has been selected to serve as the principal of Westport Elementary School in Springfield, Mo., for the 2019-2020 school year. Palmer, who is completing her doctorate in instructional leadership at Lindenwood, began her career with Springfield Public Schools in 2001, serving as a teacher at Kickapoo High School, a science curriculum facilitator, and as coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. Please be aware that the names listed in the In Memoriam section are of alumni that may have passed within recent months or within the past couple of years. Michael Castro, who was born in New York City, is widely credited with helping shape the poetry scene in St. Louis. The author of several books of poetry, he was one of the founding poets of St. Louis’ River Styx in the 1970s, which still holds readings and publishes a literary magazine of the same name. He served as St. Louis’ first poet laureate from 2014 to 2017, and he taught for 32 years at Lindenwood University, founding the institution’s MFA in Writing program along the way. The youngest of 14 children, James Spainhower was born in Stanberry, Mo., and had a distinguished career in politics and higher education. He served as a representative in Missouri’s state legislature and was also elected Missouri state treasurer twice. He served as president of the School of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo., prior to becoming president of Lindenwood College, for which he served from 1983 to 1988. Deceased records after November issue of LINDENWOOD Ms. Jean Bradfisch (’48), Joplin, Mo. Frances (Casey) Clair Jones Ancker (’49), Honolulu, Hawaii Mrs. Suk H. Shum (’54), Indianapolis, Ind. Mary Fletcher Cox Branch (’60), St. Louis, Mo. Jane G. Ratliff (’61), San Antonio, Texas Margo Kelsey Roberts (’71), Broken Arrow, Okla. President James I. Spainhower (1983 to 1988) Michael Castro (former professor) IN MEMORIAM ’00s Heather Lichtenberg Duckworth (’01) joined Axiom Product Administration in November 2018 as the executive assistant to the CEO. She has a degree in business administration from Lindenwood and lives in O’Fallon, Mo. Scott Hufty (’04) has been promoted to president of Lincoln County Bancorp, Inc. Previously, he served as senior accountant for the company. When he transitions into his new position of president, Hufty’s duties will shift into overseeing bank affairs at a macro level and ensuring the operational needs of each chartered bank are met. He lives in his hometown of Silex, Mo., with his wife Kelly and two children, Connor and Claire. Libby Magee (’05), who teaches at O’Fallon Township High School in Illinois, was named a finalist for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching by Golden Apple, a leading Illinois nonprofit committed to recognizing exemplary educators and developing future educators. She was one of 32 Golden Apple honorees from throughout Illinois. Angela Richards (’05) was named president of Givin’ It All For Guts, a local nonprofit organization focused on making a difference of those struggling with Crohn’s Disease and Colits. She currently serves as customer service manager for Mississippi Lime Company in St. Louis, Mo. She lives with her daughter near Bethalto, Ill. Todd Roach (’05) was recently named director of human resources for Schafer Industries, based in Clayton, Mo. He was also elected in April to the City Council for O’Fallon, Ill., having previously served as vice president of the O’Fallon District #90 School Board and trustee of O’Fallon Township. He and wife Jackie have four children: Kaleigh, 9, Stella, 8, and twins Olivia and Resse, who were born Nov. 11, 2018. Daniel Amsinger (’06) is manager of affiliate operations for NBCUniversal in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. William “Buddy” Mckenzie (’06) recently finished his LPC and is a school therapist for Bourbon School District. He has been married 17 years with three active and accomplished kids, Billy, Liberty, and Boston. After earning his degree in educational studies at Lindenwood, he has earned master’s degrees in psychology and industrial and organizational psychology. In addition to his full-time job, he teaches as an adjunct at East Central College and Central Methodist University. Majayka “Maji” Francis (’09) was recently hired as purchasing director for Goodwill Industries in Fort Worth, Texas. In this position, Francis is responsible for oversight of supply chain operations and the overall purchasing function for the agency, including negotiation of buying goods, equipment, and services. She has 19 years of experience in the field and earned her bachelor’s in business administration at Lindenwood. ’10s Molly Engleking (’12, ’14) was named to the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Young Professional’s Board. She works at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and is a two-time graduate of the School of Accelerated Degree Programs with a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in project management. Christine Hoffmann Slatin (’12) a journalism and studio arts major, was married to Zach Slatin on Sept. 29, 2018. They live in St. Louis. Emily Cox (’13) has been named administrator at Signature Medical Group in St. Louis. She had been working at Signature as an athletic trainer and physician extender transitioned to workers’ compensation and marketing coordinator. In her new role, she will oversee administrative operations for multiple locations, including offices in St. Charles, O’Fallon, and St. Peters. She has a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a master’s in healthcare administration, both from Lindenwood. Jaycee Rashelle (’13) is an exercise science graduate. She has since earned a doctorate in physical therapy and joined the Navy, with which she serves in Okinawa, Japan. Alexandra Bardon (’15), who holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art, was recently hired as web content administrator at Lindenwood University. She is responsible for a variety of website additions and updates on the site as part of the University Relations staff. She and her husband, Alex, who graduated Lindenwood in 2015 with a bachelor’s in music, live in St. Charles. Barbara Bultman (’15) is a St. Louis-based fashion designer, doing business as Barbara Bultman Designs. She presented one of her fashion lines on the closing night of Kansas City Fashion Week on March 30. She was featured in a Kansas City publication, The Pitch, the day of the show. Lauren Cumming (’15) was named principal of Bernard Middle School in the Mehlville School District in South St. Louis County for the 2019-20 school year. She has served as assistant principal at the school for the past three years. She lives in Glendale, Mo., with her husband, Paul. Nicholas Hogue (’16) was recently promoted to UX programmer analyst at Edward Jones and lives in St. Louis. His Lindenwood degree is in interactive media and web design. Serena Rossi (’17) and Simon Piñeiro (’17) got married on Jan. 14, 2019. Serena is from Italy and came to Lindenwood to take ESL class but wound up staying to get her bachelor’s. She and Simon met while working at the Spellmann Center cafeteria. Serena majored in graphic design; Simon majored in criminal justice, in which he also earned a master’s. Aeriel White (’17) and husband Roy celebrated their daughter’s first birthday on March 19, 2019, as well as their first year in their home on Jan. 30, 2019. With a master’s in criminal justice and nonprofit administration, she recently transitioned from security work to working in the Sexual Assault Victims’ Care Unit at Call for Help Inc. in Illinois. ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES SPRING 2019 Submit your alumni news and notes to Alumni@lindenwood.edu Lindenwood University REAL SUCCESS 20 | SPRING/SUMMER 2019