2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners
alumni
W&L Alumnus Appointed Assistant News Director of Community Radio Station
Shaun Soman '17, was appointed assistant news director of WORT, a community radio station in Madison, Wisconsin.
Alumni Chapters: Your Local Connection to W&L
Participating in one of our 76 W&L alumni chapters is a great way to stay connected with the University, meet up with old and new friends, and have a great time while doing it!
Fostering 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.
2019 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards Announced
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award winner. We will also celebrate the 2018 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Winners due to last year's Young Alumni Weekend cancellation. The recipients will each receive their awards during Young Alumni Weekend, October 25 -27. There is still plenty of time to register for the weekend if you haven’t already.
In Case You Missed It
W&L Updates Climate Action Plan
Washington and Lee University has already exceeded carbon-reduction goals for 2013 and 2020. The latest updates keep the university on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Jack Huffard ’90 and Bebe Goodrich ’07 to Keynote Entrepreneurship Summit
The event, which is open to all students, provides multiple opportunities to network with alumni entrepreneurs from a variety of industries.
Three Distinguished Alumni to Receive Awards at Five-Star Festival
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Five-Star Alumni Award winners.
‘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.
Studying Food Insecurity
At Harvard, Leah Gose '15 has conducted a complex study of organizations that provide food to people in need.
Bits and Blocks
Kevin Batteh, ’95 and ‘98L, navigates new technology to advise blockchain and cryptocurrency clients.
Down to Earth
Megan Hill Gambrill ’05 had long fantasized about a job where she’d get to play in the dirt all day.
Egged 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.
2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners
Felix 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.”
Helping the Homebound
R. Alan Winstead ’85 is a driving force for the Meals on Wheels program in his community.
Donors Fund Named Athletics Positions
Three donors have recognized the role coaches play in educating and mentoring W&L students, both in the competitive arena and in the classroom.
Bridge Dedicated to W&L Veteran
A bridge in Maryland has been named for Cpl. Chris Coffland ’88, who died in Afghanistan in 2009.
W&L Presents Five-Star Festival Midterm Election Preview
The talk is free and open to the public and the discussion will also be streamed live.
W&L Hosts Third Annual Social Impact Summit
This year’s event focuses on Exploring Careers and Issues in Social Innovation and Responsible Leadership.
The Interaction Between Health and Poverty
James Ricks '21 interviews Dr. Jonathan Wortham '04 about his work with the Centers for Disease Control.
Two Distinguished Alumni to Receive Awards at Five-Star Festival
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Five-Star Alumni Award winners. The recipients will receive their awards during this weekend's Five-Star Festival.
Building Blocks
Virginia McGhee ’19 spent the summer at Stanford University building polymers in Bob Waymouth ’82’s chemistry lab.
Destined for Public Service
Balen Essak '20 interviews Maisie Osteen '14L about her experiences with the Shepherd Program and as an assistant public defender.
Championing Land Conservation
A passion for the outdoors led Taylor Cole '75 to launch a second career as co-founder of Conservation Partners in Lexington.
Former W&L Trustee Thomas C. Frost Jr. ’50 Dies at 90
The San Antonian native served on the board from 1972-1982.
President Dudley’s Response to the Report of the Commission on Institutional History and Community
Today, President Dudley shared his response to the Commission on Institutional History and Community's report.
2018 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Winners Announced
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award winners. The recipients will each receive their awards during Young Alumni Weekend, September 14 – 16, 2018. There is still plenty of time to register for the weekend if you haven’t already.
Opting for the Unknown
Bob Chandler ’92 charts his own course as co-owner of omnichannel retailer Tactics.
Alumni Chapters 2017-2018 Review
The second half of the Alumni Chapter year turned out to be just as busy as the first!
A Powerful Connection
Gerry Barousse '80 helped found the Bayou District Foundation, which is developing a community that replaced a flooded housing development in New Orleans.
A ‘Dream Act’
Tolu Olubunmi ’02 speaks up for immigrants and refugees.
Helping Kids Bounce Back
Dr. Daniel “Trey” Lee ’98 leads groundbreaking research and clinical trials of immunotherapy treatments to fight pediatric cancers.
A Leap of Faith
Ollie Cook '60 and wife, Sharon, discover the rewards of adopting a senior dog.
Chip Mahan ’73 Recognized for Business Acumen
Mahan, CEO and chairman of Live Oak Bank, was recently profiled in the Wilmington, North Carolina-area media.
A Message from President Dudley Regarding the Report of the Commission on Institutional History and Community
In August 2017, I appointed the Commission on Institutional History and Community and charged it with examining how the ways that we teach, discuss and represent our history shape our community.
Washington and Lee Alumnus Tom Wolfe ’51 Dies at 88
Wolfe, one of W&L's most accomplished alumni, will be remembered for his talent, wit and generosity.
Authenticity in Leadership
A conversation with W&L trustee Brodie Riordan '03 about leadership, and the importance of diversity on the board and in the student body.
Poet Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon ’96 to Give Public Reading
This reading is sponsored by the Glasgow Endowment and is free and open to the public.
W&L Presents Annual Friends of the Library Symposium
The talk, titled “Storytelling in the Digital Age," is free and open to the public.
Greg Hunt ’97 Honored for Counterterrorism Work
The FBI agent credits his father, the Honor System and his W&L education with shaping his career.
‘I Have Been a Very Lucky Man’
John Gulick '63, who served as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, was on the wrong end of an ambush about one week after his arrival in country.
A Time to Heal
Bruce Rider '66, who served as an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam, was moved to write this essay on the occasion of his 20th reunion.
W&L Lives Lost in the Vietnam Era
Nineteen Washington and Lee University alumni died during the Vietnam Era. These are their stories.
Alumni Weigh in on Vietnam Anniversary
Alumni who served react to the Fall 2017 alumni magazine article about the war, and share some of their thoughts about that time.
Journalist and W&L Alumna to Give Society of Professional Journalist Keynote Address
Laventure will speak on the ethical journalist’s role in the modern media age.
O’Hare Headlines 7th Annual AdLib
The VP of global brand communications for adidas delivered the keynote address at a daylong advertising and marketing conference full of networking opportunities for students.
W&L’s Repertory Dance Company to Perform in NYC
Students and alumni members of the award-winning W&L Repertory Dance Company will perform in NYC the last weekend in Jan.
Hot Soup for a Cool Cause
Through her catering business, Jenny Elmes '91 has supported the Souper Bowl fundraiser for Campus Kitchen at W&L since 2013. This year's event is Jan. 28 in Evans Dining Hall.
Honoring Our Namesakes
Alumni Affairs has been busy working with many alumni chapters to stage Presidents' Day events to commemorate the lasting W&L contributions of George Washington and Robert E. Lee.
A View from the Cockpit
Capt. Clay Shaner ’04 left investment banking to fly the unfriendly skies as a combat pilot.
What We Lost: Remembering Vietnam 50 Years Later
W&L alumni look back at the Vietnam War and how it changed them.
She Talks to Animals
For Christine Starer-Smith ’99, a love of animals led to a veterinary career and volunteer service at a remote Dakota reservation.
Classic Designs
Julie Lawrence '92 mixes old and new materials in her furniture designs.
Providing Food for Thought
Quincy Springs '02 is set to open a Chick-fil-A that will also serve up a helping of civil rights history.
An Event That Benefits Both Alumni And Students: The 2017 Entrepreneurship Summit
Q&A with Professor Jeff Shay and Matthew Rickert '18 about the 2017 Entrepreneurship Summit.
Bob Trotman ’69: Business As Usual
The sculptor's latest exhibit runs through Dec. 8 at Davidson College’s Van Every/Smith Galleries.
Leadership Informed by Empathy
David Foster ’98 values W&L and the Shepherd Program as a training ground for the country's future leaders
A Message Regarding the Commission on Institutional History and Community
President Dudley sent a message to the W&L community regarding his appointment of a Commission on Institutional History and Community.
Building Valuable Relationships at the Entrepreneurship Summit
Traveling to my first Entrepreneurship Summit at W&L, I looked forward to an agenda packed with information-loaded sessions on topics ranging from fundraising to scaling. I quickly realized that as helpful as the sessions were, an even greater learning opportunity came from hearing the experiences of the other entrepreneurs.
If the Shoe Fits
As head of brand communications for Adidas, Alegra O’Hare ’94 advises young women to 'break barriers.'
Long Live the Glossies
Jeff Hamill ’81 has built a global career in advertising with popular Hearst magazines.
Pulitzer-Winning Team Includes Two W&L Alumni
Michael Hudson '85 (pictured) and Scott Bronstein '93 both worked on the Pulitzer-winning Panama Papers investigation, which relied on the collaboration of some 400 journalists around the world.
Civility and Opinion in a Polarized America
Tyler Grant ’12, a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of Virginia School of Law, is a regular editorial contributor to several national publications.
Statement from the Admissions Office Regarding Admissions Tours
In response to questions that have arisen regarding the student-led campus admissions tours, we want clarify the current situation and address any confusion that exists regarding the tour route.
Holiday Greetings from the Office of Alumni Affairs
As we prepare to close the book on 2016, warm Holiday Greetings and thank you to W&L’s marvelous and loyal alumni. Your Association offers these highlights since June 30 as we strive to serve you.
‘A Better World’
Kara Karcher '11 is parlaying her studies in poverty and women's and gender studies into a law career dedicated to helping women and children.
Perks of the Parks
As superintendent of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Sula Jacobs ’00 enthusiastically promotes the virtues of the National Park Service, which turned 100 years old this year.
Annual Law and Literature Seminar to Explore Shakespeare’s “King Lear”
Now in its 24th year, the seminar on Oct. 14-15 will focus on the Shakespeare classic “King Lear.”
Sherry A. Fox ’06L Named a Leader in the Law
Sherry Fox, an attorney with ThompsonMcMullan, has been named to the 2016 class of Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
Over There: Kiffin Rockwell, W&L’s French Fighter Pilot
One hundred years ago this month, Sept. 23, 1916, a young man named Kiffin Rockwell became the first alumnus of Washington and Lee University to give his life during World War I — not as an American doughboy, as you might expect, but as a founding member of the French air squadron known as the Escadrille Americaine, or the Lafayette Escadrille.
Putting Words into Action: The Rev. John Cleghorn '84
In his 2014 Baccalaureate address at Washington and Lee University, “Community and the Common Good,” the Rev. John M. Cleghorn told the graduates: “This place and the people who give it life have prepared you for life beyond the comforting lap of Lexington. More than that, they have given you a rare advantage and a set of privileges that call on you to live and lead extraordinary lives, lives that reach beyond yourselves.”
Roanoke Times: Washington and Lee graduate achieves Paralympic dream
The Roanoke Times featured a story about W&L alumnus Matt Simpson '12, who earned a silver medal last week as a member of the U.S. men’s goalball team at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Read the full story.
Museum of the American Revolution Honors Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest
On Sept. 15, Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest joined hundreds of friends and neighbors at a ceremony for the official opening of the Museum of the American Revolution’s outdoor plaza and the unveiling of the plaque naming the recently completed museum building in the Lenfest’s honor. The museum officially opens to the public on April 19, 2017.
Paten Hughes: Lights, Camera, Action!
Actress and producer Paten Hughes’ dream role would be to play Hillary Clinton. “I find her incredibly interesting,” she said in an interview with The Tulcan Times. In the meantime, the recent W&L French and theater graduate has another project that launched Sept. 9 — “Heirloom,” the debut of a nine-part rom-com web series on Vimeo.
Jon Philipson ’06 Encourages Dads to Lean Out
When Jon Philipson, a top-billing associate at the Carlton Fields law firm, decided to take paternity leave, his "friends questioned my sanity and told me I was committing career suicide," he said in an essay published on the Motto website (Time Magazine). "One asked: 'How do you go from law review editor in chief to tummy time connoisseur?' "
Matt Simpson ’12 Represents the U.S. at the 2016 Paralympics
Matt Simpson, a 2012 graduate of Washington and Lee University, posted a photo of himself and the U.S. men’s goalball team decked out in their Team U.S.A. uniforms just before the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which runs Sept. 7 – 18.
Flood Relief: James McCullum ’15 Lends a Hand
When the floodwaters from the August storms in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, finally receded, James McCullum was one of many volunteers to head to the devastated region. A member of the Maryland-based Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team, he connected with the St. Bernard Project to help gut homes damaged by the flooding.
Food for Thought: Robyn O’Brien ’93 on #epigate
“Food allergies are not a niche,” said Robyn O’Brien, a 1993 graduate of Washington and Lee University and founder of the AllergyKids Foundation. “It is a growing epidemic that is challenging how we think about our food and how it is made. Genetic factors don’t change this quickly, environmental factors do. Are we allergic to food or to what’s been done to it?”
Tom Wolfe ’51 on the Gift of Gab
Tom Wolfe poses an interesting question in his newest book, “The Kingdom of Speech”: Why can’t science explain the origins of human language?
Sutton and Hagberg to Keynote W&L's 2016 Entrepreneurship Summit
The 2016 Washington and Lee University Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted by the J. Lawrence Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship at W&L, will take place Sept 23–24. The keynote speakers are Ben Sutton, co-founder and chairman emeritus of IMG College and Erika Hagberg, the head of Food and Beverage at Google.
Working the National Conventions
W&L was well represented by five alumni and one current undergraduate working at the Republican National Convention, held July 18-21, in Cleveland. One week later, Jake Barr ’16 worked the Democratic National Convention, held July 25 -28 in Philadelphia.
Jenny Elmes '91 Is Good and Green
Jenny Elmes, a member of Washington and Lee University’s Class of 1991, this month received a nice honor for her Lexington business, full circle catering: Top Green Provider for 2016.
Jackie Coleman '08 Applies Art History to Event Commerce
If you’re interested in the inner workings of an event commerce company — and especially if you’re interested in a great way to use that liberal arts degree — check out this interview in the Chicago Tribune with Jackie (Neilson) Coleman, a 2008 graduate of Washington and Lee University. She is the senior product manager at Eved, in Chicago.
A’rese Emokpae '10 Wins “The Voice Nigeria”
During her student days at Washington and Lee University, A’rese Emokpae danced and acted on many a stage at the Lenfest Center before graduating in 2010. Over the past six years, she’s been pursuing a career in musical theater, and now she’s putting her talents to the test by competing on “The Voice Nigeria” TV show.
Headed to Rio
Lynn Symansky ’05 said she has “essentially been trying out for the Olympics” ever since she began competing during college at the top level of the equestrian sport. 2016 is her year.
Robert M. Dees ’84 Appointed to Fourth Judicial Circuit Court
Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed Robert M. Dees, a 1984 graduate of Washington and Lee University, to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court.
Kelli Carpenter Fleming ’03 Named a Rising Star of Health Care
Kelli Carpenter Fleming, a 2003 graduate of Washington and Lee University, has been named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s Rising Stars of Health Care list for 2016.
Alumni Registration Open for 2016 Entrepreneurship Summit
Registration is now open to Washington and Lee alumni for the 2016 Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted by the Williams School’s Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship. The Summit will take place Sept. 23–24 and is open to all alumni, students and friends of the university. Attending the Summit is free but all attendees must register by Sept. 16.
Utah Lt. Gov. and W&L Law Alumnus Spencer Cox ‘01L Receives National Attention for Orlando Vigil Speech
Spencer Cox, a 2001 graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law and Lt. Governor of the State of Utah, is receiving national attention for a speech he delivered on Monday in Salt Lake City at a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting.
Ryan Welsh '10 Named An Emerging Leader in Transaction Banking
The Bankers’ Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) has named Ryan Welsh, who graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2010, an Emerging Leader in Transaction Banking.
A Q&A With Patsy Doerr '90 on Corporate Social Responsibility
Is there a connection between corporate social responsibility and a company’s return on investment? According to Patsy Doerr, who graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1990, the answer is very much a yes.
William Toles ’92, ‘95L Named Top Lawyer in Dallas
William Toles, a 1992 graduate of the College and a 1995 graduate of the School of Law, was named a “Best Lawyer in Dallas” by D Magazine.
Robert E. Lee Davies Named Senior Judge for Tennessee Supreme Court
Robert E. Lee Davies, who graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1979, has been named senior judge for the Tennessee Supreme Court. In this position, he will hear cases in which other judges cannot serve because of a conflict, or in courts where there is a vacancy.
School of Law Honors Graduates at 2016 Commencement Ceremony
The Washington and Lee University School of Law celebrated its 161st commencement on Saturday, May 7, awarding 93 juris doctor degrees.
Ruscio Addresses Opening Assembly at Alumni Reunions
Dr. Kenneth P. Ruscio, president of Washington and Lee, gave the keynote talk at the University’s annual Alumni Reunion Weekend Opening Assembly on April 28, in Lee Chapel. He spoke on “A Timeless Trust.”
W&L Celebrates Distinguished Alumni and Sets Reunion Records
Washington and Lee University bestowed its Distinguished Alumni Awards on four graduates during its annual Alumni Weekend, April 28-May 1. The presentations came on April 30, during the annual meeting of the Alumni Association.
Taylor Crothers ’93 Curates Pop-up Exhibition of Dave Mathews Band Photographs
One of the first bands Taylor Crothers covered as a freelance photographer was the Dave Mathews Band, when it was new to the music scene in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the early 1990s.
Gail Deady ’11L Represents Transgender Student in Virginia Restroom Case
Gail Deady, a member of the law class of 2011, played a role in the landmark Title IX ruling issued recently by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
W&L Law Presents Alumni Awards during 2016 Reunion Celebration
Walt Kelley ’77, ‘81L received the Outstanding Law Alumnus award and Neil Millhiser ‘11L received the 2016 Volunteer of the Year award.
