Erik Doman, ESIA MA ’98, recently deployed to Afghanistan. Erik, a former foreign service officer with the State Department and founder of Global Migration Group, an Immigration consultancy based in the Philippines, is currently serving as an Infantry soldier in Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. Erik took a sabbatical to volunteer for service in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team in the southeast. The PRTs play a key role in the US strategy to bring development and reconstruction aid to the people of Afghanistan, while suppressing the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Matthew J. Dowd, LAW JD ’08, recently joined Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox. He has received numerous awards for legal writing on intellectual property and veterans law issues over the past few years.

President George W. Bush named Tobi Merritt Edwards, CCAS BA ’99, associate counsel to the President. Edwards recently served as a deputy associate counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office.

Stefka Czarnecki Fanchi, ESIA BA ’94, was chosen as one of the Denver Business Journal's “Forty Under 40” for 2008. The highly coveted award recognizes young professionals for outstanding contributions to their field as well as for their community and civic involvement. Fanchi was named to the list for raising more than $8 million annually for Habitat for Humanity to finance the construction of more than 125 homes built in partnership with families in need of safe, decent, and affordable shelter.

Janet Fries	Michael R. Miner

Philadelphia-based law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP recently promoted three GW alumni. Janet Fries, LAW JD ’94, was promoted to partner. She is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Washington, D.C. Michael R. Miner, LAW JD ’98, was promoted to partner. He is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group in Washington, D.C., focusing his practice on white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions. Jonathan D. Tarnow, LAW JD ’96, was promoted to counsel. He is a member of the Education Team in the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group in Washington, D.C.

Alex Hershey, LAW JD ’99, recently became a partner at Thorp Reed and Armstrong.

Antxon Iturbe, CCAS BA ’01, a GW basketball letter winner and Becca (Gruber) Iturbe, GWSB BBA ’01, a former Colonials gymnast, announce the birth of their first child, Axel, born in Spain on Feb. 11.

Sonia Klein, GWSB MBA '98, won her primary election in London and is the Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Ilford North. Klein writes that all GW alums are welcome to intern in London or work virtually on her campaign.

Harris Livingstain, CCAS BA ’79, was named a partner at the Asheville law firm McGuire, Wood & Bissette in Pennsylvania.

Edward Moser, ESIA MA ’91, is co-author of a new published book, The Armchair Reader -- World War II. Read more about it here: http://www.amazon.com/Armchair-Reader-World-War-II/dp/1412715652

Paul Olivier, SPHHS MHS ’92, of Boardman has been appointed senior vice president of business development for Humility of Mary Health Partners. He will be responsible for strategic planning, business development, marketing/public relations, managed care, primary care and outreach services, physician network development, and advocacy.

Brian Ratner, CCAS BA ’79, president of East Coast Development for Forest City Enterprises, Inc., recently joined Case Western Reserve University’s board of trustees. Ratner’s terms will run from February 2008 to February 2012.  

David G. Scott, LAW JD ’03, joined the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as an associate. As a member of the natural resources group, Scott will focus on environmental and water law, including matters arising under the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and the Clean Air Act.

W. W. Norton & Company will soon publish a new book entitled Public Markets by Helen Tangires, CCAS PhD ’99. For more information, visit: http://www.wwnorton.com/npb/nparch/073167.html.

Suzanne (Clarke) Zurn, CCAS MA ’99, and Melvin Zurn are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Philip Arthur. He was born on February 25, 2008 in Reston, Va., and weighed 8 lb., 4 oz.

In Memoriam

Philip S. Amsterdam, CCAS BA ’62, president and CEO of North Star Enterprises, Inc., and a GW Trustee Emeritus, died March 22, 2008. Amsterdam served as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2007. He also was a charter member of the GW Arts and Sciences Council. Amsterdam had a distinguished history of giving and was chairman of the Amsterdam Family Philanthropic Foundation and the Anna Amsterdam Eye Foundation. He and his wife, Gail, were longstanding supporters of GW. Their most recent gift of $5 million to the Trachtenberg Legacy Fund supports the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. The Amsterdams also contributed a substantial gift to the Department of Anthropology, from which he received his degree, establishing the Hortense Amsterdam House on G Street. In 2007, Amsterdam received GW’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award for his involvement in the improvement of the university and the university conferred upon Amsterdam an honorary Doctor of Laws degree recognizing his decades of support and service to GW. Click here to read the GW tribute to Philip Amsterdam.