Bill Brian, MA ’87, was named chair of law firm Kennedy Covington’s Land Use and Zoning practice. This section, which includes 23 attorneys, focuses on zoning, land use and municipal law, real estate litigation, and commercial real estate law.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, MFA ’94, was recently awarded the highest dance honor in D.C., the Metro D.C. Dance Award. He received the award in the “best large venue production” category for his performance entitled “Images from the Embers,” which premiered at Lisner Auditorium last year. The performance has been touring the U.S., South America and Asia since it premiered. Burgess, who is also an assistant professor of dance at GW, is the director of D.C.’s premiere Asian American Dance Company.

John P. Ferguson, MBA ’73, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Medical Center, was selected one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine for the fourth consecutive year.

Simon Lee, MS ’05, recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for dedication to the advancement of minority business enterprises at a White House reception last month. Lee, who graduated alongside three of his children in 2005, is president and CEO of STG, Inc., a government contractor.

Steven Miano, BS ’82, was recently elected secretary of the Executive Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. Miano is a partner at WolfBlock law firm.

John David Morris, BA ’88, MA ’90, has announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in central Illinois. To learn more about his campaign, visit www.votejohnmorris.com.

Mark A. Norman, BA ’77, was selected to be included in the 2008 Best Lawyers in America list. Norman, who works with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, in Cincinnati, Ohio, practices environmental law.

Hillary B. Parsons, BS ’02, is now an associate at national litigation firm Foley & Mansfield in Minneapolis. She is working in the Toxic Torts and Mass Litigation group. Prior to joining Foley & Mansfield, Parsons served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gordon W. Shumaker at the State of Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Ellice Perez, BBA ’05, was recently named D.C. regional Vice President of Zipcar, a car-sharing service.

Jem Spectar, MA ’92, was inaugurated as the fifth president of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in September. Previously, Spectar has been an administrator at Western Oregon University; University of Scranton, Princeton University, and University of La Verne.