Class Notes

Mischa Buford Epps, LA91, was named the executive director of The Missouri Bar by its Board of Governors. Previously, Epps was a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City, Mo., where she practiced for more than 20 years.

Theresa (Riley) Shaw, GR90, self-published Mademoiselle Duchesne: Mere Duchesne RSCJ (2018). The book highlights the life of Rose Philippine Duchesne, who arrived in St. Charles, Mo., in 1818 and soon moved to Florissant, Mo. She established religious communities and eventually opened 12 schools before her death. Today, there are more than 130 Academy of the Sacred Heart schools around the world. Duchesne was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 1988.

Karen Markel, BU90, started as dean of the College of Business at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, last June.

Fred Frommer, LA89, released an updated book, You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals (Lyons Press, 2020), with new chapters and a foreword by “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd. The book features interviews with players such as Ryan Zimmerman and famous fans including Maury Povich and Lewis Black. Frommer appeared on Todd’s podcast in July. He is head of sports PR at the Dewey Square Group, and is an environmental communications consultant.

Dennis Dwyer, TI89, retired in 2017 after 44 years in the information technology field. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2003 as a master chief petty officer with 30 years of service.

Brenda B. Asare, GB89, was named to Crain’s list of 2019 Notable Minorities in Accounting, Consulting & Law. She is president and CEO of The Alford Group, a national consulting firm that partners with nonprofits and corporations to help them advance their missions and do more good in the world. Asare has helped clients raise more than $2 billion to fund their efforts. 

Sterling Miller, LW88, recently penned his fourth book, his second book for the American Bar Association: Ten (More) Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel (ABA Publishing, 2019). He is also the author of The Evolution of Professional Football (Mill City Press, 2015) and a slow-cooker cookbook. Miller is an attorney living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Dana (Trotter) Buckley, LA88, retired as a captain from Monarch Fire Protection District in Chesterfield, Mo., in March 2020. She and her husband, Gary, returned to her native Oregon and live in a home on the coast designed by her father. Buckley continues to contribute to her community as a teaching assistant for the local school district.

Jacquelyn (Johnson) Minter, EN87, was appointed director of Fort Bend County (Texas) Health & Human Services. As director, she provides leadership, management and support for the county’s HHS departments, divisions and health and well-being programs and initiatives. Minter, who holds MD, MPH and MBA degrees, started work with the county as a preventive medicine physician in the tuberculosis program in 2017. 

Gary Ford, BU87, whose career in the financial industry spans more than 30 years, advises Principal Financial Group’s St. Louis clients on financial investments and life and health insurance. Ford’s focus over the course of his career has been as an equity analyst following financial institutions.