Class Notes

Paula Loomis, MArch ’85, MS ’85, with The Urban Collaborative, and Matthew Freeby, AB ’82, MArch ’84, MS ’84, with Water Technology, Inc., collaborated to complete a Customer Concept Document (CCD) for the Naval Facilities Command–Atlantic. The facility — intended to train divers in advanced underwater training demands, such as those needed after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse — will feature a 55-foot-deep training pool with a ship’s half hull to simulate multiple training situations. The project was published in The Military Engineer magazine and received a Society of Military Engineers Design Award.

Leonard Chanin, JD ’84, accepted a position as chief counsel to the president of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), a Washington, D.C.–based organization that provides support and guidance to state bank commissioners throughout the country. Chanin will coordinate strategic priorities and special projects and provide strategic counsel on all components of the CSBS mission. Previously, Chanin was deputy general counsel and senior vice president at Discover Financial Services.

J. Leora Mirvish, AB ’83, was elevated to the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. AIA Fellows are recognized for achieving a standard of excellence in the profession and making a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Amy Usdin, BFA ’82, was a winner of one of the 2024 Stone & DeGuire Contemporary Art Awards. The awards are open to BFA and MFA alumni of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at WashU working in sculpture, painting, printmaking, photography and/or time-based media. Each winner, chosen by a faculty and alumni jury, receives $25,000 to advance their artistic practice.

Debbie Swanson, BSOT ’82, retired after 42 years as a pediatric occupational therapist. Swanson and Craig Shank moved to Denver in May where they hope to enjoy the mountain air, travel and new adventures.

Eugenio Hernández Rodríguez, PhD ’81, has been awarded a 2024 Royal Spanish Mathematical Society medal for his “longstanding relevant and continued contributions in a variety of mathematical areas, including education, research, conveyance, and outreach.” The award commends his 42 years of academic service to the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. In addition to his scholarship in the field of wavelets and education, he has held numerous administrative positions, including vice chancellor. Special recognition was given to his participation and leadership in ESTALMAT, a program designed to identify and nurture mathematical talent among adolescents.

Peter A. Lichtenberg, AB ’81, received the 2024 Donald P. Kent Award from the Gerontological Society of America, one of the highest honors from the society. The award is for exemplifying exceptional standards of professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society. Lichtenberg is Distinguished Service Professor of Psychology at Wayne State University and the director of its Institute of Gerontology.

Ripley A. Rasmus, MArch ’80, was elevated to the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. AIA Fellows are recognized for achieving a standard of excellence in the profession and making a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Danny O. Jacobs, MD ’79, was elected to the American Philosophical Society (APS) in 2024. Election to the society honors extraordinary accomplishments in all fields. The APS is unusual among learned societies because its membership is composed of top scholars from a wide variety of academic disciplines. Jacobs is professor of surgery at Oregon Health and Science University.

Joel Mitnick, AB ’78, opened his own antitrust law boutique, the Law Offices of Joel M Mitnick. He counsels clients about the antitrust clearance process of certain mergers and acquisitions and represents clients in lawsuits involving antitrust/competition law. Previously, Mitnick headed the transactional antitrust practice at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Mitnick’s daughter, Annie, graduated from WashU Arts & Sciences with a major in film and media studies in May.