Alumni Profiles

In the NewsFebruary 11, 2024Wangdali C. “Wali” Bacdayan ’92 Sworn in as Rector of Washington and Lee University

The board elected Bacdayan as the university’s 32nd rector during its October 2023 meeting.

From the MagazineDecember 7, 2023Chronicles: Racing Into History

A statue of Secretariat made a stop in Lexington last spring, as the man whose dream produced the Virginia-born racehorse was a W&L alumnus and trustee emeritus.

From the MagazineNovember 30, 2023Friends Without Borders

Lifelong friends Seng-Kah “Henry” Baey ’83 and Dan Einstein ’83 reflect on their time at W&L.

From the MagazineNovember 22, 2023Empathy & Compassion

In May, Mary Hipp ’90 said being a member of the second class of women undergraduates at W&L taught her a lot— although she didn’t realize it at the time.

From the MagazineNovember 13, 2023From Big Law to Foreign Assets

Chrishon McManus ’14L—attorney and competitive swimmer—radiates calm when it counts.

In Case You Missed It

Alumni ProfileOctober 17, 2023For Ross Draber ’10, people come first

The United Bank senior executive engages with the W&L community through student recruitment and event participation.

Alumni ProfileOctober 17, 2023Rachel Adams-Heard ’16 wins prestigious business journalism award

The Bloomberg reporter was recognized for her work on investigative podcast “In Trust.”

Faces of W&LJuly 6, 2023Catching up with Laura Lemon ’16

W&L’s campus culture — from small classes to the Speaking Tradition — gave Lemon the communication skills and confidence to succeed.

Faces of W&LJune 28, 2023Catching up with Mike Weaver ’20

Weaver’s advice for current students: Take advantage of every opportunity and embrace respectful debate.

Faces of W&LJune 14, 2023Catching up with Sarah Tilbor ’08

For Tilbor, W&L instilled a healthy curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Faces of W&LMay 31, 2023Catching up with Kathryn Young ’19

Young learned the critical skills to excel at her job from the veteran journalists in Reid Hall.

Faces of W&LMay 17, 2023Catching up with Wes Haydon ’09

Haydon credits the W&L community for inspiring him and guiding him toward success.

Faces of W&LApril 25, 2023Catching up with Greg Barrow ’87

Barrow’s experience at W&L gave him the confidence to work through any challenge or opportunity.

Alumni in Action April 17, 2023Growing a Greener Future

For W&L alumni Kevin Green ’07 and Amanda Green ’06, nature and nurture go hand-in-hand.

From the MagazineApril 17, 2023The Art of: Climate Activism

Nate Abercrombie ’20, conservative outreach coordinator at Citizens Climate Lobby, works toward finding common ground.

FeaturesApril 13, 2023Alumnus-owned property on view during Historic Garden Week

Stonegate Guesthouse, recently purchased and renovated by Derek Hutton ’93, is a featured Lexington landmark of the Garden Club of Virginia’s 90th annual event.

Faces of W&L April 4, 2023Catching up with Padget Sutherland ’17

Sutherland's advice for current students: "Don’t take yourself too seriously!"

Faces of W&LMarch 21, 2023Meet Tucker Kavanagh ’16

Kavanagh encourages current students to "never be afraid to reach out to the W&L network."

From the MagazineMarch 21, 2023The Art of: Cutting the Cord

Nancy Reinhart '00 is a midwife and health care practitioner who empowers women and families during their pregnancy.

From the MagazineMarch 8, 2023The Art of: Laying Down a Track

Kenny Sharp '12 is a singer/songwriter and owner of Brown Liquor Music.

Alumni ConnectionMarch 6, 2023Leading Lives of Consequence

Laura Adelman Philipson ’01 and Hayley Huber ’23 discuss their experiences as W&L students.

From the MagazineMarch 3, 2023The Art of: Brushing Up

Katie Wall Podracky '05 painted the landscape of more than 40 state parks during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Alumni ConnectionFebruary 27, 2023Leading Lives of Consequence

Joe Framptom '66 and Nate Unger '24 discuss their experiences as W&L students.

Alumni ConnectionFebruary 21, 2023Leading Lives of Consequence

Caroline Boone Mitchell ’89 and Peyton Tysinger ’23 discuss their experiences as W&L students.

Alumni in Action February 17, 2023Catching up with Kassie Scott ’18

Scott's advice for current students: "There is no one way to do college. Do it your way and make it count."

From the MagazineFebruary 16, 2023The Art of: Roaming Freely

Sandy Hooper ’97, ’03L sold his home and went part time at work to travel the country in a camper van.

From the MagazineFebruary 10, 2023The Art Of: Crushing the Grape

Enrico de Alessandrini ’84, P’23 is the owner of award-winning Sassaia Winery.

Alumni ConnectionFebruary 6, 2023Leading Lives of Consequence

Tracey Thornblade Belmont '92 and Posi Oluwakuyide ’24 discuss their experiences as W&L students.

Faces of W&LFebruary 2, 2023Meet Elizabeth Mugo ’19

Mugo says that, above all, W&L taught her to "always be curious."

From the MagazineFebruary 1, 2023The Art Of: Taming the Current

After nearly three decades of training, Laura Goodwin '99 accomplished her lifelong dream: to swim the English Channel.

Alumni ConnectionJanuary 30, 2023Leading Lives of Consequence

Hardin Marion and Carter Chandler discuss their experiences as W&L students.

Alumni in ActionAugust 15, 2022Sarah Streeper ’14 Recognized for Commitment to Animal Welfare

During the pandemic, she launched a helpline to support struggling pet owners.

Board of TrusteesFebruary 12, 2022Samantha McLemore ’02 and Lee Hollis ’86 to Join W&L Board of Trustees

McLemore and Hollis will be sworn in at the board’s spring meeting.

From the MagazineJanuary 21, 2022Community Foundations

Craig Jones has been an active volunteer in his community, particularly the KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools.

Alumni in ActionNovember 10, 2021‘A Sacred Trust’

Paul Schlimm ’87, who retired from the Army as a colonel in 2016, credits W&L with preparing him for command, beginning his 27-year career as an officer.

Alumni in ActionOctober 15, 2021‘Living Honestly’

Ten years after helping found the LGBTQ Resource Center at W&L, Chris Washnock ’12 has carried its community-building lessons into a career in faith-based advocacy.

Alumni in ActionSeptember 17, 2021Exploring Appalachia through Data Science

A year after graduating, Tim Pierce ’20 uses data science to map job skills in Appalachian labor markets.

From the MagazineJuly 1, 2021Popping Online

Coco Ellis Howe ’16 and Tani Greenspan ’16 created a successful online art gallery in the middle of a pandemic.

From the MagazineJune 24, 2021Smarter, Faster

In a shifting media landscape, Ted Williams ’07 and Mike Allen ’86 are focused on reigniting local journalism through a new business venture.

From the MagazineJune 2, 2021Nurturing the NASDAQ

Linda Roberts '71 helped the NASDAQ become a household name during a four-decade career in finance and accounting.

Shepherd ProgramApril 28, 2021Helping Others and Building Change

Grace Anne Holladay '21 has a conversation with Dr. Kelli Jarrell ’12, who was recently named the national emergency fellow of the year

From the MagazineApril 23, 2021Legal Eagle

Life has been a series of firsts for Rita Davis ’93, who now serves as counsel to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

Alumni in ActionMarch 9, 2021A Mile With You

Norman Kim-Senior ’05 has created a COVID Memorial Walk and Run to foster community, support local nonprofits and mark the one-year anniversary of the pandemic.

From the MagazineMarch 5, 2021Book Smart

Bethlehem Dammlash ’06 has set her sights on educational equity for children from low-income families.

From the MagazineFebruary 19, 2021Super Sleuth

At Pfizer, Michael Benigno ’00 analyzed COVID-19 clinical data in the quest to develop a vaccine and antiviral therapy.

Alumni in ActionFebruary 8, 2021‘Abundantly Thankful’ in Austria

Despite COVID-19, Jared Nickodem '20 was able to make it to Austria, where he is teaching English to students as part of the U.S. Teaching Assistant Program.

Alumni in ActionJanuary 29, 2021W&L Graduate Returns to Teach Dance Master Class

Elliot Reza Emadian ’17 will teach a virtual master class in screendance, a form that merges cinematography and choreography.

Alumni in ActionNovember 11, 2020Serving Veterans

As an executive at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United Services Organization, Navy veteran Ned Powell ’70 impacted the lives of many service members before retiring.

Alumni in ActionOctober 14, 2020Good Ol’ Dubyuhnell

Matt Bartini ’12 offers favorite scenes of W&L on his custom shirts.

Alumni in ActionSeptember 2, 2020Waging the Hog Wars

Farmer and conservationist Bill Holliday ’65 spent his career fighting to preserve and protect South Carolina’s environment.

Alumni in ActionAugust 19, 2020Conversation Starter

Dillon Myers ’14 and Alan Gibson ’70 are helping older adults overcome social isolation with a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Alumni in ActionJuly 22, 2020Just Say Hello

Hollis Owens ’97’s nonprofit offers people with disabilities opportunities to present to, and educate, schoolchildren about their lives.

Shepherd ProgramJune 15, 2020‘A Real Justice Issue’

Bridget Bartley '21 interviews Shiri Yadlin '12, director of Just Homes, a nonprofit that helps faith communities address homelessness in D.C.

Alumni in ActionJune 1, 2020Snapshot of a Pandemic

Chris Johnson ’00 uses his camera to document the COVID-19 crisis.

AthleticsMay 20, 2020Hamills Put Stamp on W&L Lacrosse Programs

Alex '13, Parker '17 and Hudson Hamill '20 have all thrived at Washington and Lee, their father's alma mater.

Alumni in ActionMay 15, 2020Calling All Authors

Teresa Aires Rodrigues ’19 is on a mission to collaborate with children from around the world on a book project.

Alumni in ActionApril 7, 2020Lunchables

Shelley Adams Gentle '99 has organized a Go Fund Me campaign to help feed children in her community.

Shepherd ProgramNovember 14, 2019Working Toward a Mission

Danika Brockman '21 interviews Natasha Lerner '13 about making a difference in women's health.

Supporting W&LOctober 3, 2019Fostering an Inclusive Community

Jim Early ’59 and his husband Garland Tillery established the James R. Early ’59 Endowment for LGBTQ Programming to help W&L's LGBTQ students engage fully with the wider university community.

EntrepreneurshipAugust 28, 2019‘The Active Pursuit of a Passion’

Jack Huffard '90 talks about the actionable insights he has gained from the Entrepreneurship Summit (Sept. 27-28) and the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur.

From the MagazineMay 9, 2019Studying Food Insecurity

At Harvard, Leah Gose '15 has conducted a complex study of organizations that provide food to people in need.

Alumni in ActionMay 7, 2019Bits and Blocks

Kevin Batteh, ’95 and ‘98L, navigates new technology to advise blockchain and cryptocurrency clients.

From the MagazineMay 5, 2019Down to Earth

Megan Hill Gambrill ’05 had long fantasized about a job where she’d get to play in the dirt all day.

Alumni in ActionApril 5, 2019Egged On

Robyn O’Brien ’93 is a leading voice in food-industry reform, the author of “The Unhealthy Truth” (2009), and a frequent commenter on food allergies, politics and financials.

Public Lecture February 27, 2019Felix Kwame Yeboah to Give Public Lecture on Africa’s Economic Transformation

Yeboah's talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Africa Economic Transformation: The Role of Youth.”

From the MagazineJanuary 13, 2019Helping the Homebound

R. Alan Winstead ’85 is a driving force for the Meals on Wheels program in his community.

Shepherd ProgramOctober 12, 2018The Interaction Between Health and Poverty

James Ricks '21 interviews Dr. Jonathan Wortham '04 about his work with the Centers for Disease Control.

Summer InternshipOctober 1, 2018Building Blocks

Virginia McGhee ’19 spent the summer at Stanford University building polymers in Bob Waymouth ’82’s chemistry lab.

Shepherd ProgramSeptember 21, 2018Destined for Public Service

Balen Essak '20 interviews Maisie Osteen '14L about her experiences with the Shepherd Program and as an assistant public defender.

From the MagazineSeptember 5, 2018Championing Land Conservation

A passion for the outdoors led Taylor Cole '75 to launch a second career as co-founder of Conservation Partners in Lexington.

Looking for older stories? See the complete Alumni Profiles archive.