2003
Leah Giambarresi MacDonald
macdonaldleahg@gmail.com

Hi everyone!  Welcome to this edition of the 2003 Class News! Julie Sirak Pacilli began 2 new jobs in June. She started with the LRAP Association as the Director of Client Service and has launched her own travel agency! It’s called Four Mountains Travel Company, and while she specializes in Disney vacations, she can help plan trips all over the world. I can vouch for how awesome she is – she’s helped my family plan more than one Disney trip already! Her website is 4mtravelco.com, or you can find her on Facebook. Taryn Chubb has decided to add another degree to her name!  She started law school at the University of Oklahoma earlier this year, with plans to graduate in 2022 and work in intellectual property, art, and cultural heritage preservation law. I, Leah Giambarresi MacDonald, had a baby!  My husband Matt and I welcomed Nicholas James in March.  His big sister Abigail is very excited to have him around – well, as excited as any two-year-old can be with the arrival of a younger sibling! That’s it for this season – don’t forget to join the Hood College Class of 2003 group on Facebook, and to send me your news for the next column!

2003
Leah Giambarresi MacDonald M.S.’10, C’05
240.409.7439
macdonaldleahg@gmail.com

Hi everyone! Happy Reunion Year! Those of us who made it to Frederick in June had a great time exploring the new sights on campus and reminiscing. We have lots to report!

Cassie Brode graduated with her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2012 from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She completed two postdoctoral fellowships – a Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, and an NIH-funded T32 Research Fellowship in Adolescent Bariatric Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. Since July 2015, Cassie has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, WV. She is currently a Licensed Psychologist in Ohio and West Virginia with training in general mental health and behavioral medicine with expertise in weight management and bariatrics. She hopes everyone reconnect with her at cassiebrode@hotmail.com!

Kaye Brown Hamilton, husband, Adam, and daughter, Lily (4), welcomed Lyle Patrick on May 2, 2018.

Taryn Chubb was elected to the Faculty Senate of East Central University. She is also a founding member of ECU’s new chapter of the American Association of University Professors and a member of the executive committee.

Charlene Deniker Gonzalez of the class of 2003 married David Gonzalez on May 11, 2018 in Gaithersburg, MD. She has two daughters from her previous marriage: Victoria (10) and Melody (8). Charlene teaches Spanish with Montgomery County Public Schools.

Jennifer Fair Milas, husband Matt, and daughter Ava welcomed Ethan James on August 1, 2017! Jenn was also promoted to Principal at her Firm (McLean Koehler Sparks & Hammond) on January 1, 2018.

Michael Offutt will be celebrating his 14th Anniversary working within SSA’s National Data Center in Frederick this August. Five years ago, he purchased his first home in Frederick City. He welcomed a niece, Paislee, last year. Michael has two dogs: Bella the Beagle and Raven the Shepherd. He writes that Bella and Raven enjoy going to Alive at Five in Downtown Frederick, and hopes that they’ll all run into some Hood folks one of these Thursdays!

For the past two years, Heidi Schnarr has been teaching music in Montana, first on the Crow reservation, then in Butte. She just accepted a job for next school year in Victor, MT, which is a rural K-12 school with its own Performing Arts center. She is active in raising money for instruments and supplies for the kids and facilitating cross-cultural performances and radio spots for her choirs. Heidi also completed a Master’s of Music in 2013 from Bard College with an emphasis in Choral Conducting.

Erin Smith Babitts and her husband Drew and just moved to Albany, NY! Erin accepted a job as a Licensed Master Social Worker, still with NY State Office of Mental Health, but at the Capital District Psychiatric Center.
Liz Stacks Millhouse, her husband Scott, daughter Clare (5), and son Chase (2) recently moved to Fort Washington, MD.

Carla Earl Trump worked as a family therapist with seriously emotionally disturbed foster children in Baltimore City and County. She has been working with the Carroll County Youth Service Bureau for the past 12 years as a mental health therapist in their crisis-oriented Family Preservation Program and outpatient mental health clinic. She supervises Masters-level social workers or professional counselors in their yearly internship programs. She is currently supervising a Licensed Graduate Social Worker for licensure. Carla is also working toward a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Linehan board certification while seeing clients in the DBT Program. She maintains a private practice in Carroll County as well. Carla’s husband has continued his home appraiser business, Hawkeye Appraisals. Her son, Justin, opened his own business, Mercedes Specialists, and her daughter, Krystal, is currently in her fourth year at Midwestern University, seeking her residency to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

Anna Walker Beaver will be starting a full-time position as a special educator/early interventionist for the infant and toddler program with Frederick County Public Schools this summer. She and her husband, Jeb, have five children – Cora (9), Finley (7), Hudson (6), Gwenyth (3), and Maeve (2).

Kirsten Wolle Lansberry just accepted a position with Baltimore County Public Library. She is a librarian with the Youth and Family Engagement department of the Mobile Engagement Group. She’s been with BCPL since 2011, but this is the first full-time position she’s had. Kirsten married Sean Lansberry in 2012 and they welcomed a daughter in 2014.

That’s it for now – keep those updates coming!

Hi everyone! Can you believe we’re coming up on our 15th reunion?! It feels like just yesterday we were freezing in the graduation tent waiting to receive our diplomas! So, let’s start off our 15th year with some good news!

First, a few new babies! Naomi Levine Levinthal writes that she and her husband Eli welcomed their third child, Vivienne Ella Levinthal, on September 16. Vivienne joins her big brother Joseph and big sister Ava.

Erica Buckley Wrightson and her husband Jim also welcomed a new little girl! Alaina Claire Wrightson was born on November 10. Alaina was also welcomed by her big siblings, Aidan, Ainsley, and Lexi.

JJ Bell-Godfrey has some exciting news, too!  After spending the last year as the Assistant Controller at Mattress Warehouse, she was promoted to Controller in November!   She’s responsible for the company’s financial statements, general ledger, cost accounting, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and tax compliance – which is a pretty big job given how big the company is!

I think that’s it for this round – don’t forget to join the Hood College Class of 2003 group on Facebook, and even more importantly, don’t forget to put Reunion Weekend 2017 on your calendars!  Hope to see lots of you there!

Hello, classmates!  Lots of exciting things this time, so let’s get started!

Erin Smith Babitts has a new job!  In December 2016, she began working as a Licensed Master Social Worker for the New York State Office of Mental Health in New York City!

Erica Buckley Wrightson writes that she, her husband Jim, and their kids Aidan (9 and a half), Ainsley (7 and a half), and Lexi (4) recently moved back to Maryland.  She’s also happy to report that she is expecting baby #4 this fall!

And speaking of babies – there have been quite a few who joined us recently!  Lauren Guerieri McCrea and her husband Jessop welcomed their third child, Owen Eric, on May 10, 2017.  Owen joins big brother Henry and big sister Anna.

Elizabeth Stacks Millhouse and her husband Scott welcomed their son Chase Asher Millhouse on September 9, 2016.

And, my husband Matt and I welcomed our daughter Abigail Therese on February 9, 2017!  She already has a dink and has made her first visit to Hood (including meeting President Chapdelaine!), so she’s all ready to join the class of 2039.

I think that’s about it – keep the news coming!  You can email me at macdonaldleahg@gmail.com or visit our Hood College Class of 2003 group on Facebook.

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen of 2003!

First off – a few new homes! Erica Smith writes that she purchased a single family home in Beltsville, MD recently.

Also, Erin Dooley has moved to a new home as well. Her new address is 12 Elm Ave, Rockledge, PA 19046.

And, a few pieces of exciting professional news as well! First, JJ Bell-Godfrey writes that she was recently promoted to Assistant Controller for Mattress Warehouse. She’s also planning on sitting for her CPA certification in the spring, at which time she’ll become the sole Controller there.

Also, Rebecca Morse writes that she has a new role as the Director of Research Training, Institutional Review Board Chair, and Associate Professor at the Institutes for the Psychological Sciences. She has two thanatology publications coming out in the near future: Morse, R.S., Hoch, T.A., Freeman, T.R. (2016). Grief and Developmental Disabilities. In Harris, D. L., & Bordere, T. Promoting social justice in loss and grief. Amityville, NY: Routledge. and McCord, J., Morse, R. (in press). Seasons of Love: Measuring a Child’s Life after Suicide. In Cox, G. & Stevenson, R. (Eds) Children, Adolescents and Death: Questions and Answer. Baywood Press.

Keep the exciting news coming, everyone! You can email me, update your information through the Hood Alumni site, or find us on Facebook!

Hi everyone!

We’ve got a few fun updates this season, so let’s get started!

Erica Smith writes that she recently got her National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) certification in teacher training! She’s currently the Assistant Director of the Justice and Legal Thought in Law and Society Program at the University of Maryland. Erica was also recently inducted into the Disco America Hall of Fame in June.

Next, some exciting wedding news! Lisa Forrester Meyer married Kevin Meyer on June 16, 2016, in Dry Ridge, KY.

And some good news from Taryn Chubb – she was granted tenure and promoted to Assistant Professor of Art and Art History at East Central University in Ada, OK! Taryn has been at ECU since 2010; her responsibilities also include being the director of ECU’s Pogue Gallery of Art.

That’s about it for us this season! As always, we have a Facebook group called Hood College Class of 2003, so come find us there!

Leah Giambarresi MacDonald ’03, M.S.’10, C’05
240-409-7439
lhg1@hood.edu

Hi everyone! Let’s start off our class news with some new jobs! First up – Julia Sirak Pacilli, who started not one but two new jobs in the past few months! She began a new position with Montreat College as the Director of Campus & Faculty Services for Adult and Graduate Studies at the beginning of October. She also started as a Vacation Planner specializing in Disney Destinations with Starts With A Wish Travel back in July. If you’re thinking about a Disney vacation anytime soon, look her up on Facebook!
Stephanie Bulka Smith also started a new job earlier this year! She’s working as a family medicine physician at the Fort Meade Community-based Outpatient Clinic, and is really enjoying it. Laura Secker Hammond wrote with a few updates, too! She moved to Alexandria in 2006, got married in 2011, and had a little girl in March 2014 named Ella Catherine Hammond. Laura stays home with her and also works part time coordinating private events at Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria. Her husband works at a neighborhood restaurant group. So basically, they’re surrounded by good food and beer! What a great life! One more bit of important information – we started a Hood College Class of 2003 Facebook group! If you haven’t joined yet, type that title into the Facebook search bar and come join us!
And as always, if anyone has any exciting news, or just updates on what you’re up to, please send it in through the alumni website, message it to me on Facebook, or email me at macdonaldleahg@gmail.com – I’m excited to hear it!

Leah Giambarresi MacDonald ’03, M.S.’10, C’05
240-409-7439
lhg1@hood.edu

Hi everyone! 2003 doesn’t have too much news to report this time, but what we do have is pretty exciting! First of all, Mary Northrup Smerk, M.S.’07 wrote that her children’s clothing business, Lovin’ Ewe, is booming! It was voted Best Children’s Boutique according to Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s readers. You can see her items at lovineweboutique.com–I’ve ordered a few things for various babies (some Hood babies included, of course!) and her stuff is fantastic! Stephanie Bulka Smith and her husband Kevin Smith ’05 bought a house in Rockville last year. She’s excited to re-enter civilian life, too, after finishing her Naval career in October 2014. She’s currently working as a family medicine physician with a medical practice in Frederick. I’m full of news about myself as well! Matthew MacDonald and I were married in September 2014. The wedding was at the Hood chapel and we got some wonderful pictures on campus, as well as some curious looks from students. We currently live in Leesburg, Va., although I still work in Frederick. Speaking of work, I was also promoted in January 2015–an exciting few months for me! That’s it for this season–everyone, keep those updates coming! Also, I started a Facebook group for us, called Hood College Class of 2003, so come join in there if you haven’t yet!

Hi everyone!  I hope you’re having a great 2014.  Let’s see what our classmates are up to!

Lauren Guerieri McCrea writes that her family had a new addition this year!  Lauren, Jessop, and Henry welcomed Anna Jane McCrea on June 17^th. 

Kaye Brown Hamilton and her husband Adam also welcomed a new daughter!  Lily Pearl Hamilton was born on March 31^st, weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz., and measuring 19 inches long.

It’s not all girls for us, though – a few baby boys too!  Tiffany Taylor Newmius and her family welcomed her son Jackson Grey at 12:34 pm on March 13.  Jackson weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.

Laura Faris also welcomed a son this year!  His name is Carson Porter, and he was born February 28 at 4:02 am.  He weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Next up – professional updates!  Emily Johnson Jones writes that she started a new job this summer.  She’ll be working as a Pupil Professional Worker for Frederick County Public Schools.  She’ll be moving between 8 different schools, and is very excited!

Kelli Jackson also has some exciting work news to report – she was selected as a 2014 Technology Rising Star by Career Communication Group’s Women of Color magazine.  The honor was based upon her accomplishments in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics community.

Atiya Smith sent an update as well.  During the past school year, she received recognition from the Association of Counselor Education & Supervision, a division of the American Counseling Association. She was selected to be an Emerging Leaders Fellow, a Presidential Fellow and was recognized during the national conference for her leadership and academic excellence. This fall, Atiya will serve as a doctoral intern at a college counseling center, will teach “Assessment & Appraisal in Counseling” to Master’s students and will co-present two programs at a regional conference focusing on supporting African American graduate students in counseling and graduate student wellness. Atiya wants to send thanks to Dr. Wanda Ruffin in Hood’s Psych Department for providing guidance and mentorship during her years as a psych student.

Lee Goetz writes that she is just made a big move!  On August 1^st, she headed to Luleå, Sweden to take a post-doctoral research position at the Luleå University of Technology.  She’ll be developing and modeling filtration systems using nanocellulose and nanochitin.  She’s very excited to be able to travel around Europe, something she’s always wanted to do. 

Also, we’ve had a few weddings!  JJ Bell-Godfrey married Jesi Bell-Godfrey on June 8^th at Independence Harbor in Assonet, MA, followed by a more local ceremony and reception on June 14^th in Middletown at Christ Reformed UCC.  There were plenty of Hoodlums at their ceremonies, too!  Sarah Gowen ’08 was a bridesmaid, Erick Wellner ’14 was their reader, and Rachel Collmus Ellick ’05 and Imani Pearson Jackson were also in attendance at the Maryland ceremony.

Taryn Chubb also got married!  Mary Northrup Smerk, Larry Smerk, and I (Leah Giambarresi) attended her wedding to Mark White on May 31 in her hometown of Parsons, KS.  The wedding was at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Parsons, which was the same church where her grandfather used to be the priest.  It was a wonderful day, even if we didn’t get to serenade her with The Nun Song as I had hoped.

On that note, I hope everyone had a great summer, and I look forward to hearing and reporting more exciting news in the coming months!