Class Notes

Christopher Cokinos, MFAW ’91, penned his latest book, Still as Bright: An Illuminating History of the Moon From Antiquity to Tomorrow (Pegasus Books, April 2024). Neil Armstrong biographer James R. Hansen calls it a “mesmerizing masterpiece,” and Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred notice. Cokinos is also leading a crew of four artists, who will spend six days on a simulated moon mission in Biosphere 2’s Space Analog for the Moon and Mars in Arizona.

Linda Hunt, AB ’90, wrote Particular Place and People (Booklocker.com, August 2023) about growing up in University City, Missouri, during the ’50s and ’60s. In the memoir, Hunt shares how at age 5 she became notorious for being the first vegetarian in her neighborhood. Known as an individualist and quirky, she turned ideas into reality and, due to her religious background, questioned everything. Hunt admired Louisa May Alcott and planned to be a writer herself despite her mother’s plans for her to be a secretary and marry a lawyer. Her home life was topsy-turvy at times, and she’d go exploring to get away.

Nicole Anderson, AB ’88, is interim executive director of academic and scientific affairs, director of the Ben & Hilda Katz Interprofessional Research Program in Geriatric and Dementia Care, associate scientific director of the Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness, and senior scientist at the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education in Toronto, Canada, as well as a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Toronto. In March 2024, Anderson and two colleagues published the second edition of their book Living With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Guide to Maximizing Brain Health and Reducing Risk of Dementia (Oxford University Press).

Jennifer Weed, JD ’87, retired last year after 35 years in private practice spanning three states (Texas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania). Her husband, Jim, plans to retire in four years, at which time they will decide whether it will be the beach or the mountains in retirement. Their daughter is a law student at American University in Washington, D.C., and loves it. While the family was visiting law schools, Weed was amazed at the stunning law school building at WashU that did not exist when she was a student in the 1980s.

Julia L. Bienias, AB ’86, MA ’86, was named a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 2021.

Jeff Lefton, MBA ’85, was selected to do his “Murder by Magic” show last month in Melbourne, Australia. Lefton has been performing magic professionally since he was 12, starting at children’s birthday parties. He has gone on to perform at Hollywood’s Magic Castle, in Las Vegas, and on a three-month national tour for General Motors. Using his WashU MBA, he founded and sold two St. Louis companies devoted to magic and entertainment — Lefton Promotions and Abra-Kid-Abra.

Michelle Gralnick, AB ’84, after a successful 30-plus year career as executive director for local and international nonprofit organizations, “recreated” herself as a resident rights advocate and private care manager, providing support and services to individuals living in residential care communities. Gralnick has authored articles and blogs, spoken at conferences, and testified in Jefferson City, Missouri, to address and improve quality of care, and she recently served as a resource to KSDK-TV as part of their ongoing investigation of abuse and neglect in nursing homes.

Leonard Chanin, JD ’84, accepted a position as chief counsel to the president of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, which provides support and guidance to all state bank commissioners.

Michael Ivy, AB ’83, was appointed chief medical officer of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Connecticut. Previously, he was health deputy chief medical officer at Yale New Haven Health.

Nathan Byers, BS ’82, is semiretired from a career in engineering consulting and working three days per week (more or less). Despite having more time, he is still as busy as ever. Byers and his wife, Page, are empty nesters and are experiencing the paradox of both loving the quiet house and missing their daughters, Hallie and Harper.