Lorena E. Ahumada, LAW JD ’03, has recently joined Philadelphia-based law firm Kleinbard Bell & Brecker LLP. Ahumada concentrates her practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, employment litigation and counseling, and insurance coverage law. Ahumada joins Kleinbard Bell & Brecker after serving as law clerk to the Honorable Petrese B. Tucker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth M. Duke, CCAS PhD ’69, was among three women leaders in the federal government selected to participate in an exchange program with her peers in the East African country of Tanzania. The Ministerial Fellows Exchange Program, directed by the Council of Women World Leaders, promotes and supports women’s leadership in government through cross-cultural exchanges. Duke is the administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Richard K. Gallagher, SPPPA MPA ’93, was promoted to deputy commander of U.S. European Command, previously serving as the director of operations for two years. Vice Adm. Gallagher has served operational tours in various fighter squadrons and carrier air wings, logging in more than 4,000 flight hours and 800 aircraft carrier landings from a variety of aircraft. Vice Adm. Gallagher's decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (four awards), NATO Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards) and various service decorations.

Mohammad A. Ghiasuddin, LAW JD ’99, was named a “Pennsylvania Rising Star 2007” by Philadelphia Magazine. Ghiasuddin, who works at the New Jersey law firm of Kaplin Stewart, is involved with the representation of businesses in the construction industry. His litigation practice also includes asset purchase agreements, hospital law, matters involving public entities, franchising, and consumer credit. 

Sandi M. Hennequin, CCAS BA ’93, has been elected president of The Northeast Energy and Commerce Association, one of New England's largest trade associations serving the competitive electric power industry. Hennequin serves as director of Energy Policy in New England for Constellation.

Edwin S. Hopson, LAW LLM ’71, was selected again for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for 2008, and was listed in Kentucky Super Lawyers for 2007. Hopson is a member of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP in Kentucky.

Ilysa Kimball, CCAS Psy.D. ’07, and Evan Samuel Michelson, ESIA MA ’05, were married on October 17, 2007 in Morristown, N.J. The couple currently resides in Hoboken, N.J. Dr. Kimball is a staff clinical psychologist at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, N.J. Michelson is a senior research associate at The Rockefeller Foundation in New York City and is pursuing a Ph.D. in public administration from New York University. The groom’s mother, Rosellen Michelson, GSEHD BA ’72, and sister, Heather Michelson, CCAS BA ‘05, also are GW alumni.

Blythe Purdin, CCAS BA ’04, was recently promoted to kindergarten teacher for the 2007-2008 school year in the Nahant Public Schools located in Nahant, Mass. She thinks of GW often and hopes to teach her class the GW fight song! She also believes her GW Human Services degree has helped shape her as an educator.

Peter James Roberts, GSEHD MA ’82, published “Philatelic Materials in Archival Collections: Their Appraisal, Preservation, and Description” in the Spring/Summer 2007 Issue of American Archivist and was promoted to associate professor in the Special Collections and Archives department of Georgia State University in July 2007. His research focuses on philatelic materials in archival collections, library outreach, and exhibits in academic libraries.

Elliot Sainer, GWSB MBA ’71, has been named one of four national finalists for the Ernst & Young 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Services Category. Sainer is vice chairman of the Board of CRC Health Group and founder and recently retired CEO of Aspen Education Group. The awards program was designed to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs on a regional, national, and global level who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Sainer was selected as a national finalist from approximately 300 regional Entrepreneur of the Year winners.

If you would like to read more class notes, or if you would like to enter one of your own, visit the class notes section of the GW Alumni Online Community. (If you have not already registered, the site will guide you through the process.)

IN MEMORIAM

Andy Davis, GSEHD BS ’52, a former professional football player and insurance salesman, died of congestive heart failure Dec. 22 at his home in Silver Spring, Md. Davis attended GW on a football scholarship and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1952. An honorable mention all-American, he was inducted into the GW Hall of Fame in 1973. Click here to read The Washington Post obituary.

Donald P. “Pat” Lanaghan, MS ’68, of Pensacola Beach, Fla., a retired naval aviator, died of pneumonia Dec. 23, 2007. Lanaghan enlisted in the navy in 1939 and joined the ranks of enlisted naval aviation pilots (“silver eagles”) in 1942. Over the course of his career as a pilot, he logged more than 10,000 of hours flying P2V Neptunes and a variety of other multi-engine aircraft.

Samuel Snyder, CCAS BS ’39, a former National Security Agency employee, died of a heart attack Dec. 28 in Frederick, Md. Snyder was one of the first employees of the U.S. Army’s Signal Intelligence Service and led teams of code-breakers during World War II. He had a significant role in designing and building Abner, an early computing system used to break codes. In recognition of his distinguished career, Snyder was inducted into the National Security Agency-Central Security Service hall of honor in October 2007. Click here to read The Washington Post obituary of Samuel Snyder.