Transylvania University Alumni

Misty K. Nall '05, joined Othram Inc., in 2022 as a Forensic Genetic Genealogist. Othram is a forensic lab located in The Woodlands, Texas specializing in sequencing DNA evidence in cold cases and in conducting forensic genetic genealogy. Last year, Othram assisted the Boone County Sheriff's Office in resolving a nearly 50-year-old cold case by using genetic genealogy to identify the perpetrator in the 1976 murder of Northern Kentucky teenager Carol Sue Klaber.

Congratulations to Summer Taylor '21! She graduated from Notre Dame's law school this year and started working at Morgan and Morgan in Tampa, Florida. We wish you all the best, Summer!

Happy ! Today we celebrate the many Pioneers who are out there trying to make our world a better place. From higher education to healthcare and housing—thank you! Tag your favorite non-profit worker or volunteer to tell them how much you appreciate them! ♥

Can you guess what’s only ONE week away? 🤩

We loved seeing this spotlight on Transylvania Alumni Board member Brian Hughes ‘82!

Posted • Lexington Habitat for Humanity🏠 Volunteer Spotlight 🏠 Brian Hughes estimates he's been volunteering with Lexington Habitat for 15-20 years. "I've picked up so many skills — much more than just swinging a hammer," he said. But his favorite thing about volunteering with LHFH? The incredible friendships he has formed along the way.

🔨 Brian represented the Disciples for Habitat at Wednesday evening's dedication; he presented Kerrington and her daughter with the ceremonial hammer.

Thanks for your years of service, Brian!

Congratulations to Steven Dabney '23 who was selected as a Staff Editor for Volume 113 of the Kentucky Law Journal, the tenth oldest continuously-published law review in the nation! Steven is a student in UK's law school and interned this summer at the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts.

Transylvania thrives because of the generous support of our donors. Our President’s Circle members are critical to sustaining the university, and we are committed to honoring their contributions. Thank you to the Pioneers listed at the link below who give to ensure our students can access the highest quality education before finding their place in the world.

https://www.transy.edu/third-and-broadway/summer-2024/presidents-circle/

Congratulations, Bill! 👏

Alumnus who cultivated leadership skills at Transy promoted to FCPS assistant superintendent Bill Bradford ’02, who developed leadership skills as a Transylvania student, athlete and coach, was recently named to a top position with Fayette County Public Schools.

Jim Purdom '65 was presented the Chinese government's Friendship Award, China's highest award given to foreign experts. Jim is responsible for significant work in the development of meteorological satellites for China and other countries across Asia-Oceania. He spent almost 30 years working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). During which time, he was at Colorado State University where he was the NOAA lead during the genesis of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and remained for 17 years as NESDIS's Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch chief. After that, he was Director of the NESDIS Office of Research and Applications where he worked with NASA to form the NOAA/NASA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation. Jim remains Senior Research Scientist Emeritus through CIRA. We're sure there's more to Jim's impressive career but we might be out of space! Congratulations on your award, Jim!

Let's celebrate Rena Hallam '90 today! Rena is director of the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood and a professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development. And now she will serve as interim dean for the college. UD said, "She has more than 25 years of experience designing, implementing and studying early childhood systems in partnership with governmental agencies." We're so proud of you, Rena! https://bit.ly/4dub3KV

Natasha Collier '09 is now at Kentucky Career Center as a Talent Development Specialist! They help coach job seekers through basic career services as well as provide case management and individualized career services to help build skills and find suitable employment and training opportunities. Congratulations, Natasha!

✨The magazine is here! ✨ For class notes or articles on Coach Deacon and Professor Points friendship, Mariju Bofill '99, Alumni Weekend 2024, and more, check out the latest digital issue of Third & Broadway. Let us know your favorite story in the comments below ⬇️ Link: https://www.transy.edu/third-and-broadway/

Today we celebrate Ruben Joseph '23, residence hall director at the College of Charleston, for receiving the Outstanding Campus Collaboration Award in recognition of exemplary service to the division of student affairs and the students. Way to make us proud, Ruben!

Jeff Brumfield '92 received a special feature from HCA Florida Largo Hospital for a new surgery he performed, the first in his area to do so! Jeff assisted a patient with a new minimially invasive pacemaker—wire and chest incision free! He's a board certified cardiologist and clinical cardiac electrophysiologist. Get the details: https://bit.ly/4do2IbG

Denver, you were great 👏 Thank you to everyone who joined us for brunch on Sunday!

Jennifer Price '97 was named the new Executive Directors of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program by Governor Beshear, who said, "I can think of no one more suited to take over the GSP reins than Jen.” She has held every position in the organization since her days as a student in the program. Congratulations! Get the story: https://bit.ly/3yihUbx

If you’re attending the or cheering on anyone you know, we’d love to celebrate with you! You can message us details and a photo.

ICYMI, today's the opening ceremony of the 2024 ! We're proud to have Pioneer Hallye Griffin '08 representing as the Equestrian Chef de Mission. Get the story at the link below. If you're at the Olympics, we'd love to see a photo!

https://bit.ly/3zWH5Rx

Deborah Clubb '76 is celebrating 20 years as executive director of the Memphis Area Women's Council, a nonprofit dedicated to advocacy for women and changing policies to assure safety, justice, and equity. She coordinates the Memphis Says NO MORE campaign to end domestic violence and sexual assault and co-founded Women of Achievement, which annually since 1984 has recognized local women for change-making leadership, documenting and archiving the stories of 278 women and three groups to assure their place in history via published books and www.womenofachievement.org.

ICYMI, today's the opening ceremony of the 2024 ! We're proud to have Pioneer Hallye Griffin '08 representing as the Equestrian Chef de Mission. Get the story at the link below. If you're at the Olympics, we'd love to see a photo!

https://bit.ly/3zWH5Rx

Where are our Denver alumni? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ friends!

Join us for a fun brunch at Local Jones in Cherry Creek on Sunday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.! We will enjoy good food, great company, and you’ll be excited to hear a University update. Appetizers are on us! Don’t miss a chance to meet Transylvania alumni and friends living in Colorado. Help us spread the word! Please share this invitation with any friends/classmates living in the area.

We loved seeing this feature on Dot Couch Watson '62! Dot has a lifetime of service to others, from being a teacher to a nurse and now a volunteer. She established Partners for Healing—a primary care clinic offering free services to the uninsured. And now she serves as VP for The Literacy Council. Get the full story here: https://bit.ly/3zR4Avb

Congratulations to Valerie Whitlock McCubbin ’15 on being the newest attorney to join Claycomb Law Office, PLLC! She joins fellow attorneys, Tom Claycomb '05 and Catherine Ford Claycomb '04. Valerie's practice primarily focuses on real estate closings and title services, estate planning, and probate matters. She also serves as outside counsel to the LaRue County School Board.

Congratulations to Jewell Boyd '19 who now works as a Metadata and Digital Marketing Specialist at University of Michigan Press! We hope you're loving the new job, Jewell!

Trent Youngblood ‘24 is taking his Pioneer spirit all the way to the Major League! The Arizona Diamondbacks picked him in the 10th round of the draft, making him the first Pio to be drafted. Trent, who was recently named HCAC Athlete of the Year for men's sports, was a first-team All-American infielder and pitcher for Transylvania, holding program career records in hits, runs scored, total and stolen bases, walks, doubles and triples. ⚾️ We’re so excited for you, Trent!

Barton Lynch '16 and Jordan Lloyd '16 embarked on an incredible 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles for AIDS Life Cycle. They joined others in raising at least $3,500 for the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. So not only did they support a great cause, the two accomplished a truly physically challenging goal! We're so proud of you!

Bruce Johnson '78, James Graham Brown professor of economics at Centre, was recently featured on the podcast, The Academic Minute. He spoke about his research on determining if the economic benefits of public investments in large stadiums were worth it—spoiler alert—he says, for the most part, no. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4cUtjgi

Last month, Dawn Wilson '90 served as Grand Marshall in the Kentuckiana Pride Parade! Dawn is education chairperson for the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission, a minister, and a professional fencer. We're proud to call you a Pioneer, too, Dawn! https://bit.ly/3zGLBmX

Richard Medley '88 recently received a social shoutout by First Urology after he and the team at Louisville Surgery Center performed their first Ureteroscopy using the new Thulio Laser. Awesome! Richard, a Urologist, is fourth from left.

BayLeigh Routt '17 recently started working as a Project Manager at Fooji, a company that connects brands with their fans. Bayleigh also spends her time assisting team gameday operations at the Lexington Sporting Club and volunteering for both Access Language Solutions and the Kentucky Interpreter and Translator Association. Congratulations on your new job, BayLeigh! And we hope to see you at a game sometime!

Congratulations to Dan Bodner '11 on his promotion! Dan has been at Amazon for over 10 years and was promoted to Senior Business Analyst this spring. His experience is in data analytics, customer service, process improvement and project management.