Recent Updates - May 2009

Karl W. Ritzler '70 MA '76 retired as an editor in the business section and online edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is now a freelance writer and editor based in Marietta, Ga.

Douglas F. Cannon, '75 MA '76 received a doctor of philosophy degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in December 2008. His dissertation was titled: “Speaking of Faith: Public Relations Practices among Religion Communicators in the United States.” He worked as a United Methodist Church communicator from 1984 to 2008 and is the 2008-09 president of the Religion Communicators Council, the oldest public relations association in the United States.

Sherry Beck Paprocki '80 is president of Paprocki Ltd., a boutique publications and media relations company in Granville, Ohio. She was the editor for the redesign of Marietta Magazine, a publication for Marietta College alumni, which won a national gold award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The magazine's redesign was selected over 51 other publications in the Magazine Publishing Improvement Division.  Her juvenile nonfiction book, Oprah Winfrey: Talk Show Host and Media Magnate, was named in 2007 as one of the best nonfiction books for middle and junior high students by the Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA). She and other authors were honored at a reception in Washington, D.C., during the annual meeting of the American Library Association.

Ray Paprocki '82 and Sherry Beck Paprocki '80 are the co-authors of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Branding Yourself, scheduled for publication by Penguin in May 2009.  Ray Paprocki is the editor of Columbus Monthly magazine and throughout much of his career has covered the branding efforts of Les Wexner, founder of The Limited, Intimate Brands and other retail divisions. Sherry Beck Paprocki is the author of several Chelsea House biographies for middle schoolers, including those about big personal brands: Katie Couric, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart. In addition, she is the freelance editor of Columbus Monthly Homes and other custom publications through Paprocki Ltd. Pre-orders for the CIG to Branding Yourself are available at www.amazon.com.

Jo Crawford Williams '92 is employed by the Ohio State University Extension as a 4-H Youth Development Educator in Scioto County. She and her husband, Matt, have two children: Gracie, 7, and Garrett, 2.

Tim Ingle '08 is an advertising account executive for The News-Herald.

Jenna McGuire '08 is a technical writer/editor for the Ohio Department of Development.

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Alumni Notes Archives

Faith Corrigan’48 earned her master’s degree from Kent State University in 1989. She is currently a field representative for the U.S. Census Survey and is writing a book.

Andrew J. "Andy" Alpers '52 retired as vice president for L. Martinez & Associates Advertising and Public Relations. Alpers is the past president and current treasurer for South Florida International Press Club and is a contributing writer for U.S. Architecture magazine and other travel-related publications.

Tim O' Brien '71 has served as the vice president of communications for Ripley Entertainment since 2004. O'Brien recently published his 14th book titled Frog Oddities that calls attention to the rapidly declining frog population in a fun, quirky way.

Terry Olbrysh ’70 MA ’71 is the director of marketing and communication for the college of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Ariz.

Lou Heldman ’72 recently retired as president and publisher of the Wichita Eagle to work as Distinguished Senior Fellow in media management and journalism for Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan. He is teaching and conducting research while working with the university’s provost on communication strategy.

Homzak Wyld ’72 is president of the Norfolk Southern Foundation, a charitable endeavor that specializes in arts funding. Using his experience from serving on the board of directors for several performing and fine art organizations, he plans to open a commercial art gallery after he retires.

Kathleen Kaiser Harl '75 has worked 31 years in communications for Athletes in Action, the athletic ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Harl currently manages the content on the aia.com website.

Norm Bower MA '76 works part-time as a freelance writer and part-time as the director of development for Davenport Schools Foundation in Davenport, Iowa.

Bill Dragomir ’76 of Beloit, Ohio, is employed as a sportswriter at the Alliance Review and at WNPQ 95.9, light radio.

Dana Dunn '76 is the director of community development for CMH Regional Health System in Wilmington, Ohio.

Debbie C. Cohen ’78 is a contract administrator for Hexion Specialty Chemicals in Columbus, Ohio.

Carrie Mason-Druffen MA '79 is the author of 151 Quick Ideas to Deal with Difficult People and a columnist and business reporter for Newsday in Long Island, New York.

James McKeever ’79 reported 22 years for the Post-Standard newspaper in Syracuse, N.Y. He now freelances as a writer and consultant in addition to advocating for individuals with disabilities seeking employment as a consultant with Arise Inc. in Syracuse.

Linda Whealton ’81 is an editor for the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia since retiring from home-schooling her children last year. She is also an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

India Johnson Ehioba ' 82 lives in the suburban Chicago area and serves as the director of marketing for Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center, a non-profit organization committed to helping individuals with disabilities reach their highest level of independence.

Doug Fisher '82 is co-author of Principles of Convergent Journalism published by Oxford Press and a new grandfather.

Robin Crawford Waits ’82 was recently appointed to director of public relations and admissions for Cincinnati Christian Schools.

Colleen McCann Buzza '84 is the director of digital media for WBNS-10TV and the Ohio News Network.

Ruth Sternberg Portnoy ’85 is the development director of Religion News Writers—a national organization that provides training and resource materials to journalists about religion.

Pat Tiberi ’85 is a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives for the state of Ohio. He was recently appointed to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Bret Atkins MA ’85 was recently appointed to the review panel for Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, an American Medical Association journal. He also continues his work with the Ohio Department of Health.

E-K Evette Strothers Daufin ’81 MA’85 is a professor of communication at Alabama State University. She is also a poet, actress and vocalist.

James Ivancic MA '86 is a web editor for washingtontimes.com.

Karla Martin ’86 is the co-author of a newly released children’s book, Logan’s Journey.

Jeff Rapp ’88 is working for Bucknuts Media Network as a basketball analyst for bucknuts.com and Bucknuts the Magazine after leaving Buckeye Sports Bulletin as the senior writer.

Richard Fujita ’87 is the director of college relations for Casper College in Casper, Wyo. Fujita held similar positions at the State University of New York at Canton and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Susan Opt Ph.D. '87 is chair of the Communication Department at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With fellow OSU alum, Mark Gring '93, Opt recently published a book titled The Rhetoric of Social Intervention based on a class she took at OSU.

Michael Sponhour '89 has earned the Accredited Business Communicator ABC designation by the International Association of Business Communicators IABC . Sponhour is the director of public affairs for the South Carolina Budget and Control Board. He also spent 10 years as a reporter for The State and is co-owner of S and S Communications and past president of the South Carolina IABC chapter.

Angela Baldasarro Allton '91 is the director of the Midwest Division of Petro-TV.
Headquartered in New Orleans, Petro-TV is building a network of TV screens at
the gas pumps, featuring a mix of entertainment, information and advertising in Ohio and surrounding states.

Bob Hanseman ’92 is a partner of the Dayton-based law firm, Sebaly, Shillito & Dyer. He specializes in business litigation, government contracting and creditor’s rights.

Doug Honig ’92 is the marketing services manager for Parker Hannifin's Hose Products Division in Wickliffe, Ohio, since October 2006.  Honig is responsible for developing tools and materials to support the sales efforts of the division, including product launches, collateral development, tradeshows, Web content, special events and more.

Dave Smith '92 is the head coach for Division I Men's Hockey at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.

Shuly Cawwood MA ’93 is a writer and editor for IntraHealth International, a non-profit organization in Chapel Hill, N.C.

LeeAnn Whaley ’93 earned her master’s degree in business administration from Ohio Dominican University in May 2007.

Julie Bitton ’95 won a journalism fellowship in Paris, France, and is now the producer for Dinner and A Movie and Movie and A Makeover, two shows regularly aired on TBS.

Lisa Boyle Wolfe '95 and her huband own the Chocolate Cafe' in Grandview, Ohio putting their Buckeye making skills to good use. They also have owned and operated Video Central since 2002.

Melissa Carvor-Gleason ’96 is the producer for the Eyewitness News at 5 p.m. at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. She was the 2007 Edward R. Murrow national winner for Best Newscast in a Large Market.

Tiffany Grinstead '97 is associate vice president of marketing for Nationwide Financial's retirement plans business.

Nathan Kraft ’02 is an account supervisor at Edelman, a communication firm in Chicago, Ill. He manages the firm’s tourism and lifestyle practice accounts. He is also working toward his master’s degree in integrated marketing at Northwestern University.

Matt Locke ’04 is a sports writer at the Parkersburg News and Sentinel in Parkersburg, W. Va., where he writes and photographs high school sporting events.

Angie Schmitt '05 is a staff writer for the Blade in Toledo, Ohio.

Elena Mendoza '06 is a multicultural account executive for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Ariz.

Angela Gresser '07 is a policy analyst for the Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy.


Obituaries

Betty Mae Ainslie’38, a Chicago Daily Herald human interest columnist in the late 1950s and through the 1960s, died Feb. 5 in Minnetonka, Minn. She was 91. Ainslie drew her material from her busy family activities as well as from events going on in the local community.

David N. Nchia ’91 passed away in August 2007. Nchia was a communications professor, advisor and committee chair at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind. Nchia was 45.