Category: Class Notes

Jane E. Wilcox, professional genealogist with her company Forget-Me-Not Ancestry in Albany, NY, recently finished writing her first book, New York State Archives Guide: For Family Historians, Biographers, and Historical Researchers, published by the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. This robust reference book has more than 500 pages of carefully curated information for researchers, including an introduction and comprehensive overview of NYSA’s holdings; a spotlight section; 21 detailed chapters; 2 appendices; and an index. Ms. Wilcox serves on the New York State Archives Advisory Committee and the NYG&B’s Family History Advisory Committee. Specializing in colonial and early national New York and area research, she speaks at national and regional genealogy conferences and institutes and local societies.

Kalyn Kahler reported and hosted an investigative podcast series called “Spiraled” which tells the story of Packers legend Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and several other ex-NFL players, like Colts star Robert Mathis, who joined an extreme religious group and left their wives and children behind to follow the group’s charismatic leader. Gbaja-Biamila was a local hero in Green Bay until a very strange and public incident turned him from a Packer to a pariah. As she figured out what happened to Kabeer, Kahler dug into the controversial history of the group, and uncovered more ex-NFL players who had a similar spiral. The podcast is an extension of Kahler’s three-part investigative series for Sports Illustrated, which was named an honorable selection in Best American Sports Writing, and won the Pro Football Writers Association’s annual enterprise award.

You can find “Spiraled” wherever you listen to podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiraled/id1763809519?i=1000666769306

Craig Tiede graduated from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in May 2024 as a member of the Class of 2024 Global Executive MBA program. He was conferred a degree in Master of Business Administration.

Amy Wilen-Buckman received the Philadelphia Public Relations Association’s 2024 PRoActive Community Service Award. The award is given to a PR professional who dedicates their time to support the betterment of their community and serves as an exemplary model of selfless service. Buckman is the Director of School and Community Relations for the Lower Merion School District.

Matthew Rolnick recently tag teamed with Hulk Hogan to join Real American Beer. Matthew is the Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Events. Real American Beer has secured retail partnerships with ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Albertsons, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Total Wine & More, Walmart and more. The product is an “American-style” light lager brewed with 100% North American ingredients. Real American Beer’s mission is to bring America together, one beer at a time.

Leigh Ann Winick was named Lead Medical Producer for CBS Network News. She was previously medical producer for CBS Mornings. Earlier this year, Winick was awarded Best Television report from the American Association for Cancer Research.

Susanni Douville is retiring from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine on July 31, 2024, after 26 years as a career law clerk to three successive U.S. Magistrate Judges. After obtaining her M.S.J. from Medill in 1980, she worked as a copy editor at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Post, and the Hartford Courant before switching career gears and obtaining her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1990. She looks forward to decompressing, spending more time with family and friends, including her husband, John R. Hull, Jr., and daughters Kate and Christie Hull, and being able to savor sunrises (with coffee) and sunsets (with wine) at home in Harpswell, Maine, instead of commuting on I-295.

Bill Healy (MSJ ’09), Dana Brozost-Kelleher (MSJ ’19) and Alison Flowers (MSJ ’09) were all part of a team Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting and a Peabody Award win last week for the podcast “You Didn’t See Nothin” by the Invisible Institute and USG Audio. The podcast also won the International Documentary Award for Best Audio Documentary, an Ellie Award, Lisagor Awards, among other honors.