Class Notes

Jonah Chiarenza, AR02, and Emily Lammert, AR02, in 2020 designed and built a custom “parklet” for the City of Melrose, Mass., as a volunteer effort to support outdoor economic and recreational activity during the pandemic. Three parklets now operate thanks to their charitable efforts. While at WashU, both studied in Copenhagen, Denmark, and they restarted their friendship after a serendipitous encounter in Melrose.

Kate Van Steenhuyse, FA01, was appointed chief programs officer of the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, the official state arts agency of Kansas. In this role, she manages grantmaking, program development, and arts and cultural community and economic development strategy. Van Steenhuyse still serves as the executive director of Harvester Arts, the artist-run space she co-founded in Wichita.

Songbai Ji, SI01, SI03, SI03, was promoted to professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. A member of the faculty and tenured since 2016, he has taught a wide range of courses. His research focuses on computational modeling and medical imaging for the study of traumatic brain injury and surgical image guidance.

Cliff Holekamp, GB01, is expanding operations for Cultivation Capital, the early-stage venture-capital firm that he co-founded. Before launching the firm, Holekamp was on the faculty of Olin Business School and led the entrepreneurship program to a No. 1 world ranking. He and his wife, Megan (Kolbrener) Holekamp, BU99, reside in Greenville, S.C.

Luke Epplin, LA01, released his first book, Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series that Changed Baseball (Flatiron Books, 2021). The book was profiled by NPR, People Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times and The Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal praised both Epplin and his work: “Epplin has a journalist’s eye for narrative and gives a dramatic account of the season and the series.”

Deborah Levine, LA00, associate professor of health policy and management at Providence College, earned its 2019–20 Joseph R. Accinno Faculty Teaching Award. The award is presented annually to the faculty member who best exhibits excellence in teaching and passion and enthusiasm for learning, along with a genuine concern for students’ academic and personal growth. 

Jennifer Zimmerman, SW99, was promoted to vice president of evaluation and impact at bi3, Bethesda, Inc.’s grantmaking initiative to transform health in Greater Cincinnati. Since joining bi3, Zimmerman has been responsible for developing, managing and evaluating its portfolio of multiyear grants and initiatives. 

Karen (Reed) Troy, EN99, EN99, was promoted to professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. A member of the faculty since 2013, she teaches upper-level and graduate-level courses. Her research focuses on the interactions between physical activity and musculoskeletal health, disease and injury.

Stephanie Schlaifer, LA99, FA99, authored two collections of poetry, Cleavemark (BOAAT Press, 2016) and Well Waiting Room (Fordham University Press, 2021). She also penned a children’s book, The Cloud Lasso (Penny Candy Books, 2019). Schlaifer works in marketing and communications, and maintains a creative practice as a sculptor and installation artist.

Corey E. Mohn, LA99, LA99, is executive director of the Center for Advanced Professional Studies. The program connects high school students in 73 programs across 19 states and three countries to industries in which they have interest. Started in Kansas City, the program has grown into an international network in the field of education.