Class Notes

Lauren (Miller) Hoye, SW06, a partner with Willig, Williams & Davidson, was named a 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. Hoye advocates for labor unions and individual employees before state and federal courts around the country. She is an arbitrator in the compulsory arbitration program of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and is a volunteer with the Support Center for Child Advocates, representing abused children in the child welfare system.

Patricia Saleeby, SW05, helped develop courses for the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Program. The ICF is a health and functioning classification that works with the ICD (classification of diseases), used in every global health system. As a Washington University doctoral student, Saleeby began working with the World Health Organization in development of the ICF. Since then, she has continued to serve on committees to update and promote the use of these international health classifications.

Danielle Borrin Hertz, LA05, was appointed by President Joseph Biden to be a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the governing board of trustees of the museum.

Lynne R. Perkins, LW03, was retained as associate circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in the City of St. Louis by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson in November 2020. Perkins has served the associate circuit bench since October 2017. Since the start of 2023, he has been one of two associate judges assigned to the St. Louis Circuit Court’s bond review divisions.

Kjell Erik Brekke, GR03, moved with his family in July from Nairobi, Kenya, to San Francisco to start a new diplomatic posting as a consul at the Norwegian Consulate General.

Jayson Johnson, LA01, was appointed to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission by Mayor London Breed. The commission advocates for human and civil rights and works in service of the city’s anti-discrimination laws to further racial solidarity, equity and healing. Johnson was also featured as a 2023 LGBTQ+ Biopharma Leader in Endpoints News.

Melissa Bloom, LA01, is in the planning stages of a journey from Maryland to California aboard her sailboat. She will be joined by first mate Matthew Pickar, LA01; her husband, Tom Spalding; and her loyal and enthusiastic pup, Ollie. The planned journey includes an initial sail to Delaware to pick up Ivey (Raymond) Helmick, LA01, and a daring trip through the Panama Canal before following the whale migration routes north to pick up Allison (Tannenbaum) Levy, LA01, in Long Beach and then concluding the epic journey with Elizabeth (Hazelton) Pearce, LA01, in San Francisco. To date, preparation includes a day sail from the vessel’s home port outside Baltimore during which first mate Pickar did a “really good job” steering the boat.

Paul Gassett, PMBA00, was named vice president at OBATA Design, where he manages client relationships for the firm’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) and sustainability reporting division. He writes that he leverages the skills he learned at Olin Business School to guide clients, including major Fortune 100 companies, in their sustainability strategies.

Melissa Kerin Reagan, BU99, was selected as LawWeek Colorado’s Top 2023 Women Attorneys. Reagan is a member in Sherman & Howard’s trial department, where she is a member of the firm’s data security and privacy group. She also serves as the firm’s chair of talent acquisition, inclusion and diversity.

Katie Ireland, PMBA99, has joined CRB as a senior packaging engineer. She has more than 20 years of experience across iconic global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg, Ford Motor Company, Unilever and Hershey. Ireland is helping clients seeking holistic packaging, equipment and line design that maximizes a product’s shelf life, safety, ease of use and marketing appeal.