Alumni inalumni.nau.edu/images/articleimages/Pine Archive/PINE Winter 2007.pdfAlumni in Focus ALSO: A Who’s Who of NAU alumni in business, public affairs, sports, ... profile—the

naualumni.com I Winter 2007 �

Arts & Media

Alumni in Focus

ALSO: A Who’s Who of NAU alumni in business, public affairs, sports, arts and media and education. See who made the list!

A Special Edition of PINE from the Northern Arizona University Alumni Association

GREAT OUTDOORS Preserving wildlands for leisure activities p.5

MORE THAN A FANHolding Jacks hockey history in his hands p.8

ACADEMIC ALLY Growing scholarships for students p.11

WINTER 2007

� Winter 2007 I naualumni.com

the Chain

W elcome to the second annual edition of PINE Faces. The genesis of this publication was your response to our surveys: you wanted to learn more about the lives and achievements of your fellow alumni. If anything, we underestimated how responsive

you would be after the first issue.This issue of Faces introduces you to many alumni. We feel so proud of the amazing things

our great university grads accomplish. And what about you? Whether you are doing something you love, saving the world or just living your satisfying life and want your fellow alums to know, please drop us a note, email or give us a call. You can also tell us about your friend, dorm mate, fellow athlete, etc.

Even if you don’t want to be included in one of our publications, please consider visiting our online directory to register. If you have already used the directory, consider updating your profile—the more information on the directory, the more interactive we can make it and the more services we can provide. You’ll find the directory and more at naualumni.com/directory.

And just in case this yearly Faces version isn’t enough, sign up for our e-newsletter, NAU Alumni Who’s News (see back cover for details).

Speaking of who’s doing what now, if you participated in a club or organization during your time on campus, you know how important it is to leave a legacy for the future students who will be the keepers of your passions, traditions and service. With that in mind, the NAU Alumni Association Traditions Committee is looking for former Chain Gang members to help resurrect the Chain Gang on campus. Founded in 1927, the Chain Gang’s mission was to promote friendli-ness, foster the highest ideals of athletics and sportsmanship, serve the school and the student body through the capable and efficient handling of all athletic games and tournaments, serve as guardian of the college’s copper axe (the symbol of Lumberjack sports), lend assistance to other groups carrying out activities, and supervise Homecoming festivities.

Membership was limited to 13 male upperclassmen with a minimum class standing of second-semester sophomore, and was originally decided through election by secret ballot. New mem-bers were selected based on merit of academic standing and personality. One female sweetheart was selected each year, and a uniform orange sweater was worn with pride by each member of the group. In later years, the now-coed group expanded to 26 members.

Today, Chain Gang needs your help to remain a high-profile service organization whose goal is preserving NAU’s most honored traditions while giving back to the NAU campus and Flagstaff community. We look forward to alumni participation in our effort to revitalize this important NAU tradition. To contact the NAU Alumni Association about Chain Gang, call 888-NAU-ALUM or email [email protected].

Arts & Media 3Starr T. HoganKen Davis

Faculty 4Pam PowellMarty Lee

Public Affairs 6Jeri Williams

Business 7Mark MeyerDwight Spence

Sports 8Doug AllanRoss Land

School 10Linda Elliott-NelsonJames Hamlin

NAULinks

Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly, with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession.

-Isaac Watts, father of English hymnody

As an alumna, I am proud to support Chain Gang’s future.

Krista Perkins, ’98Editor

Got NEwS? we want to

hear about it. Expanded your

family or business…or your

family business? Whether

you’ve been named CEO or

Best Mom Ever, we want the

particulars—titles, dates, pho-

tos and bragging rights—and

we’ll gladly publish them in an

upcoming PINE, PINE Faces

or NAU Alumni Who’s News.

E-mail your life updates to

[email protected] or

send them to PINE, NAU Office

of Alumni Relations, P.O. Box

6034, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6034.

We want you to stay engaged in

the life of NAU, so write today!

naualumni.com I Winter 2007 �

K en Davis’ recap of his career was so charming and self-effacing that we thought you’d enjoy reading it in his own words:

Throughout my college days I worked in media, first at the NAU radio station, and then KEOS Radio and KOAI-TV in Flagstaff. (Try saying “Coconino County Cutup California Ken crankin’ out the cream of the crop on KEOS” three times fast!). After a few years in front of the TV camera, I became a producer/writer/voice announcer for media outlets including CBS, PBS, and FOX. I’ve also produced such shows as Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Extra, and Real TV (OK, I sold out for a while, but a guy’s gotta make a living!).

Along the way I’ve fooled enough people to win three Emmy Awards and four “Golden Mikes,” and I’ve gotten myself invited to some nice Hollywood parties. I have two TV shows in development at ABC and Spike TV—that’s TV talk for “we like your idea but we don’t quite love it yet.”

We asked Ken for celebrity anecdotes and he hear-kened back to his acting days:

I have several lines in the 1982 movie Wrong Is Right. What’s not in the film is the scene where Sean Connery is supposed to get mad at me. Each time Sean

got angry, I freaked: “007 is yelling at me!” Finally the director cut the scene. That effectively ended my acting career.

Ken is single with two sons (young men now) and would love to hear from friends at [email protected]. He looks forward to the day when he can shoot a show in Flagstaff. How about Dancing with the PINE Editors?

Art at WorkGail Dixon-Willden, ’68 M.S.Artistic Director, Sand-stone Productions

John Running, ‘69 B.S.Photographer

Lee Ann Lankford, ’72 B.S.Owner, Digital Video Diaries

Janice Johnson, ’72 M.A.ED.Director, Hilltop Art Gallery

Mike Curtis, ’74 B.A.Principal BassoonEugene Symphony

Oscar J. Gillespie, ’77 B.F.A.Printmaker and EngraverAssociate Professor of Art,Bradley University

Lydia Barker Tederick, ’77 B.A.Assistant Curator, The White House

Gary O’Brien, ’79 B.S.Photo Systems Editor, Charlotte Observer

Serena Supplee, ’81 B.F.A.Artist

Cathee Clausen, ’82 B.A.Artist

Richard Sims, ’84 M.S.Director, Montana Historical Society

Cliff Thrasher, ’85 B.S.Director of Patron Ser-vices, San Diego Opera

Vince Wedge, ’85 B.M.ED.Trombonist

John J. Duncan, ’90 B.S.Concept Model Maker (Star Wars Episode II, among others)

James Ward Byrkit, ’91 B.F.A.Storyboard Artist (Pirates of the Caribbean II and III, among others)

Kim Obrzut, ’91 B.F.A.Sculptor

Kevin Zacher, ’93 B.G.S.Sport Photographer

Tobias Forrest, ’97 B.F.A.Actor

Matthew Martinez, ’99 B.A.Producer, Weekend Edition Saturday, National Public Radio

Jeremy Parker, attendedRecording Engineer

Public Displays of Imagination Starr T. Hogan, ‘02 B.A., executive director of the

Daydreamz Project, proudly reports her creative

team was chosen to participate in Denver’s 2006

CowParade (www.cowparade.com).

Daydreamz’ “bovine beauty” is designed in a rain-

bow mosaic of glass beads and symbolizes the complex

merging of many cultures and languages. Affectionately

named “Moooolticultural Cow,” she honors those who

champion the value of reaching our potential together.

Hogan founded Daydreamz in 2000 while at NAU.

“It had been a vision of mine to learn how to combine

community and the arts. During my studies at NAU,

I had to work with a community nonprofit, so instead

I figured, why not bite the bullet and create my own,”

she says. “It was nice to have the umbrella of the public

humanities program to do that.”

For additional photos and more on the Daydreamz

mission, “building community through creativity,” visit www.daydreamzproject.org.

Starr (far right) and fellow northwest Denver community volunteers with their ‘Moooolticultural’ creation

“This was taken just before Johnny Carson’s final Tonight Show. I was excited about put-ting it above my fire-place…but as you can see, the photographer was no Ansel Adams. So now I have a prized picture of myself and half of Johnny.”

Ken Davis, ’7�, carved his niche in TinseltownFrom the A-List

NAUArts & Media

� Winter 2007 I naualumni.com

T hey say practice makes perfect, and Pam Powell lives the axiom. Before coming to NAU, she spent over two decades in the

trenches as an elementary school teacher. Now her years of experience and experimentation help promote learning for all students—and for their teachers as well.

Powell’s research encompasses the full range of what makes a student succeed or fail. She has studied educational policies affecting students in public school settings; researched the practice of grade retention and its effects in later life; and the high correlation of grade retention to subsequent dropping out in high school. Her findings are then put to practical use in the classroom, helping pre-service teachers learn to utilize current, inclusionary, and developmentally appropriate practices that cultivate the well-being of their students.

As a teacher of the literacy block in the College of Education (COE), Powell and her students frequently participate in practicum experiences in the Flagstaff Unified School District or local child development

Forward

Fast Facts:Pam Powell, ED.D., Assistant Professor at NAU since 2003Teaches: Methods Courses for the Prepa-ration of Educational ProfessionalsExpertise: LiteracyRecent Accomplish-ment: Hosted NAU’s second annual Early Childhood Conference, Arizona Early Childhood Education: Assessing Our Place (http://coe.nau.edu/earlychildhood/) on NAU’s mountain campus in July 2006Education: B.S., Texas Tech; M.ED., ASU; ED.D., NAU, 2005

centers. She’s also an advocate of quality early learn-ing opportunities for children in Arizona and through-out the nation. In collaborating to develop summer conferences at COE for early childhood educators throughout the state, she has helped provide a venue for critical dialogue on these seminal topics.

Powell believes that NAU creates the right nurtur-ing environment for her work.

“I see NAU as a community of scholars and learners, a community that works together for the same cause,” Powell says. “Our COE classes are small enough to offer individual attention. Also, having the residential campus means that we have a familial atmosphere in the college; we enjoy working with each other and want everyone to be successful. The faculty is about helping students succeed. At NAU, people listen to each other.”

In advocating an education that is at once inti-mate, familial and open-minded, Pam Powell and NAU have developed a practical and personal formula for success.

Assistant professor Pam Powell, ’05, schools Arizona’s future educators

Pam Powell wants your children to succeed.

NAUFaculty Profiles

“What matters to me is that everybody matters here—this is a place where people count.”

naualumni.com I Winter 2007 5

NAU School of Forestry Professor Marty Lee is all about taking time to smell the flowers. And run through them. And experience

benefits that only quality flower time can bring. Her research on the positive effects of leisure activity in wildland recreation settings helps federal land man-agers define recreational objectives that preserve our wilderness and provide access for future generations.

Lee, who holds a Ph.D. from Oregon State University, is dedicated to growing a fresh crop of candidates who will play a role in wildland manage-ment. Last spring, her students worked with the U.S. Forest Service to develop an educational program

Fast Facts:Professor Marty Lee, Ph.D., at NAU since 1990Teaches: ForestryExpertise: Wildland recreation management on the Colorado PlateauNoteworthy: Recently given a major grant from the National Park Service to identify ways to prevent theft of natural artifacts from the Petri-fied Forest National Park

Wildlandsthat reduces mechanized recreation intrusions in designated wilderness. Lee’s protégés designed edu-cational posters that became the model for future markers used by the Forest Service at trailheads.

“This was such a great opportunity for students to work on issues affecting our forests,” Lee says. “The personal one-on-one with the Forest Service’s wilder-ness managers is invaluable and every year at least one student gets a summer job in the field. I see a huge benefit for students in the real-world experience they get, and for the managers, as they get a product they can really use.”

As coordinator of NAU’s American Democracy Project, Lee plans events that challenge students to engage in civic activity. “Our focus for the next year or so will be on stewardship of public lands,” Lee announced last March. “The project will support ini-tiatives including public involvement and decision making in local land policies.” Also, for her extraordi-nary skill as an educator and mentor, Lee was named 2005-06 Consortium of Professional Schools Teacher of the Year. And that is just the reward for doing what comes naturally.

“What matters to me is how you learn at NAU—small classes, lots of team-teaching, field experiences on amazing public lands. It’s an incredibly powerful combination.”

Marty Lee thinks we’re all born to be wild.

NAU professor Marty Lee guards the great outdoors for the benefit of future generations

� Winter 2007 I naualumni.com

NAUPublic Affairs

Command

Government & Military

Bruce Anderson, ’67 B.S.Assistant Public Administrator, Clark County (Nev.)

Robert K. Simm Jr., ’80 B.A.Colonel, USAF, Chief, U.S. Liaison Office, American Embassy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Cliff Dils, ’81 B.S.Forest Supervisor, Umpqua National Forest (Ore.)

Frederick D. Pellissier, ’83 B.S.U.S. Army Colonel, Commander, Desert Chemical Depot (Ut.)

Greg Gentsch, ’85 B.S.E.Tucson District Engineer, Arizona Department of Transportation

Robert C. Ong, ’88 B.S.F.Director, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Malaysian Government,

Sabah, Borneo

Rob Antonak, ’97 B.S.Goodyear City Council

Jennifer Martin, ’98 B.S.Commissioner, Arizona Game and Fish Commission

Krista Beazley, ’00 B.S.Tribal Wolf biologist, White Mountain Apache Tribe

Jeremy Christopher, ‘02 B.S.B.A.U.S. Army Lieutenant, Camp Echo, Iraq

J. Judson “Jut” Wynne, ’03 M.S.Cave Research Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey’s Southwest Biological Services Center

Law & Order

Mark Aspey, ’71 B.A.U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Arizona

Major Smith, ’74 B.S.Warden, Venango County Jail (Pa.)

Karin Lucas Philips, ’77 B.S., ’96 M.A.ED.Community Outreach Coordinator, Trial Courts of Maricopa County, Arizona

Nancy Nelson, ’85 B.S., ’90 M.A.Law Clerk, Mark Aspey (U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Arizona)

Nonprofit

Carroll Klein, ’76 B.S., ’77 M.A.CEO, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona

Wayne C. Watkins, ’80 B.S.Director of Marketing and Communication, American Youth Soccer Organization

Lori Arguelles, ’87 B.A.Executive Director, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Amy J. Peña, ’94 B.S.Attorney, Legal Division, Lions Clubs International

Chris Parish, ’96 B.S.Lead Biologist and Director, the Peregrine Fund

Jon Schmieder, ’96 M.ED.Executive Director, Metro Denver Sports Commission; Co-Host 2008 Frozen Four

Kylie Colin Toone, ’04 M.A.Director, State Health Alliances, American Heart Association (Tempe)

Volunteerism

Eunice S. Hoffman, ’74 B.S., ’78 M.ED. Mission Volunteer

Peggy Kennedy, ’79 B.S.Teacher and NAU Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee; Volunteer Coach, NAU Women’s Basketball Camps

Sister Beverly Claire (Moreno) Medlenka, ’96 M.ED., ’97 M.ED.Mission Medical Specialist, Guatemala City, Central America

Melanie Forthun, ’02 B.S.Community Development Volunteer, Peace Corps, Bulgaria

Stephanie Birdwell, ’03 B.S.ED.Teacher, Community and Youth Outreach, Peace Corps, El Salvador

Dwight Francisco, attendedLegislative Attorney’s Assistant; Author, official legal code, Tohono O’odham Nation

After 17 years with the Phoenix Police Depart- ment, Jeri Williams, ’99 M.ED., was promoted to commander in February 2006. She credits

NAU with helping her prepare for a demanding role, which required working as a patrol officer, sergeant and lieutenant.

“The information and studies of leadership and theory were of tremendous assistance in fine-tuning my leadership skills with the department,” she says.

The first black woman to reach the rank of com-mander in any law enforcement agency in Arizona, Williams is pursuing her doctorate as a distance student in NAU’s College of Education. Though she isn’t planning to leave the force anytime soon, she

wants to keep her options open. “Someday I would like to be in either the university setting or possibly in administration within one of the val-ley school districts,” she says. “True leadership can make a positive dif-ference for the community.”

Williams says her biggest obstacle is learning to manage all of her duties (she is also a wife and mother). Luckily, she says, she is “blessed to have a supportive family, and online classes allow greater flexibility in completing course-work.” And those are just the facts, ma’am.

Jeri williams, ’99 M.ED.Commander, Phoenix Police Department

Robert K. Simm Jr., ’80

Jeri williams, ’99, fights crime and collars a great future

naualumni.com I Winter 2007 7

Giving Credit Where It’s DueMark Meyer, ’90 B.A., has been named

Executive Director for the Filene Research

Institute, effective January 2007. Explaining

the convoluted journey from NAU to Filene,

Meyer credits his sister, also an NAU alum.

“My career has had some interesting

twists and turns, but my sister, Jennifer

(Meyer) Schrage ’96 B.S.JOUR., reminded

me that it all started with working at Arizona

State Credit Union as part of NAU’s College

of Business Administration Cooperative Education program,” Meyer says.

“My roommate, who had held the intern position at the credit union the

previous semester, gave me a heads-up he was quitting, and I quickly

dropped off an application. I ended up working a few summers at the credit

union during law school.

“I never thought I’d pay much attention to credit unions again. But after

a brief stint in private practice in Colorado, I followed my wife’s job back to

Phoenix; and interestingly enough, via a networking lunch with the credit

union CEO, he offered me a job.”

Now Meyer’s career path has taken him to Madison—and as far away

as China—as the Filene Research Institute explores issues vital to the future

of credit unions and financial services through independent research and

innovation programs. Now, that’s what we call extra credit.

Balanced PortfolioDwight Spence, ’84 B.S.B.A., has joined

MassMutual Financial Group as president

of The Dollarhide Financial Group, LLC, in

Phoenix. As the leader in this new endeavor,

Spence will assist in further increasing

MassMutual’s market share in both Arizona

and New Mexico.

“NAU set me up with a well-rounded

business background, particularly the busi-

ness management courses that provided

some ‘real world’ scenarios for the industry

that I’m in now,” he says. “The professors

had spent time in both the business world

and in academia, which allowed them to

give the students some real-life applications that have had an impact on

the growth of my career.”

A Scottsdale resident, Spence has been recognized with many industry

honors for sales performance, including the General Agents and Managers

Association Platinum Award for the past six years. Sounds like a lucky

seventh is in the offing.

Dwight A. Spence, ’84 B.S., President, The Dollarhide Financial Group, LLC (MassMutual Financial Group, Phoenix)

Moguls & Magnates

Ab Jackson, ’73 B.S., ’74 B.S.ED.Executive Director, Chino Valley (Ariz.) Chamber of Commerce

Steve Hoberg, ’76 B.S.President, Glass Rite

Richard Stone, ’77 B.S.B.A.President, Sea Ray Division, Brunswick

Jana Turner, ’77 B.S.B.A.President, Asset Services, CB Richard Ellis

Brian Stangle, ’78 B.S.Vice President, Product Development, MasterCard International

Steven L. VanFleet, ’78 B.S.B.A.President & CEO, RewardsNOW

Michael Ceballos, ’80 B.S.B.A.President, Qwest (Wyoming)

Rick Blomquist, ’81 B.S.B.A.President/CEO, Farnam Companies, Inc.

Michelle Kerrick, ’85 B.S.ACCY.Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche Phoenix

Thom Rowen, ’86 B.S.B.A.President, Operations for the State of Iowa, Glazer’s Family of Companies

Tracey Gotsis, ’88 B.S.B.A.Senior Vice President, Development Marketing, Westcor Partners

Jamie Norman, ’89 B.S.B.A.Director of New Business Development, Dallas Stars

Jeff Beck, ’91 B.S.ACCY.VP, Corporate Counsel, Meritage Homes

Adrienne Gavron, ’91 B.S.President, Scarritt Group, Inc.

Miguel Monnichmeyer, ’91 B.S.B.A.VP International Banking/Mexico, Hong Kong Shanghai Bank

William Kapfer, ’93 M.ED., ’97 ED.D.Vice President of Marketing, Window Media

Laura Roberts, ’93 B.G.S.Chairman and CEO, Pantheon Chemical

Richard Ziegner, ’94 M.B.A.Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, New Mexico Commercial Banking Office

Kelly Gallagher, ’95 B.S.General Manager, Business Intelligence Segment, Bowker

W. Richard Betts, ’97 M.S.Master Sommelier, The Little Nell, Aspen

W. Jodon Hellwig, ’98 B.S., ’02 M.B.A.Owner, 4Site Home Inspection, LLC

Lydia Kennedy, ’00 M.ED.Human Resources Director, Buffalo Exchange

Elizabeth Wirick, ’05 B.S.ACCY., ’05 B.A.Audit Associate, Epstein, Weber & Conover, PLC

Suzanne Vidra, attendedGeneral Manager, Hotel San Carlos

Mark Meyer, ’90 B.S.B.A. Executive Director, Filene Research Institute

NAUBusiness & Entrepreneurs

� Winter 2007 I naualumni.com

webStay connected! Subscribe to NAU Alumni Who’s News at naualumni.com.

NAUSports

And the varsity produced some future talent for the professional leagues, most notably Greg Adams.”

As for Allan, he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in round 12, #194 overall in the 1974 amateur draft. Although Flagstaff and a career in education called—he is currently an Associate in Career & Technical Education for the Flagstaff Unified School District—Allan never lost his appetite for lumber, bisquit and glass. Want a varsity team at NAU? Doug Allan is ready to do lunch.

Doug Allan, ’81 B.S., ’02 M.ED., is the ultimate goaltender

Doug Allan, ‘81 B.S., ‘02 M.ED.

Icy FlameCoaches Corner

Kevin Carroll, ’74 M.A.Head Football Coach, Albuquerque Academy

Dennis Pirch, ’78 B.S., ’98 M.ED.(Retired) Head Wrestling Coach, Payson (Ariz.) High School

John Estrada, ’87 B.S.Football Coach, Hayden High School

Jason Tate, ’01 B.S.ED.Volleyball Coach, Indio High School

Kim Juba Gilligan, ’02 M.ED.Head Track Coach, Horizon High School (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

D oug Allan arrived at our office one day last year, holding history in his hands. His two overflowing binders are the most complete

existing record of NAU’s Ice Hockey program. Allan’s dedication to Jacks hockey has transformed him from a former player and coach to historian, alumni coordi-nator and advocate.

In a sense, Allan’s volumes are like pop-up books, with visuals and verbals jumping out as you read them, from budgets to parental inquiries to color pro-grams for “NAU Hockey, Hottest Thing on Ice.” For those who wonder why a winter sports haven like Flagstaff doesn’t have a varsity hockey program, Allan traces the tale:

“The program first took root in the fall of 1971. Dr. Gerald Caple, a former college hockey player (St. Olaf College, Minn.) and NAU chemistry professor, was club advisor and coach…as the players’ talent esca-lated, he convinced former NHL player Jimmy Peters to coach the club. Later, former NAU goaltender Doug Allan took over as head coach for the 1980-81 season.

“In 1981-82, the skating Jacks became an NCAA Division I independent program, with traditional opponents from among the hockey powers including North Dakota, Denver, Michigan State, Minnesota, RPI and Ohio State on their yearly schedule. Again, Peters returned to coach, with Allan as his assistant.

“Unfortunately, the inferior design of the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome’s ice rink and other fac-tors eventually led to the demise of the varsity pro-gram, with state tax cuts putting an end to discussions of a new facility in 1986. The NAU Hockey Club now calls the Jay Lively Ice Arena home and is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.”

Former NAU players organized a reunion in 2003 to honor Dr. Caple and his wife, Sharon. Another reunion is planned for April 2007 to honor former player Bill “Woody” Wood, ’81 B.S.B.A., who passed away in January 2006. Allan, of course, will be in the reunion’s starting lineup.

Why is he so passionate? “I believe hockey at NAU was unique to the university, the city, and the sur-rounding area,” he says. “Many students and faculty were attracted to the game. The coaches and players were involved in the local youth hockey association.

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naualumni.com I Winter 2007 9

Taking His ShotIf you were in Flagstaff during the

1997-98 school year, you undoubtedly

remember NAU’s own “kardiac kids,”

the men’s basketball team. Storming

the first round of NCAA March Madness

for the first time in NAU’s history, the

Jacks scared the dickens out of the

Cincinnati Bearcats, and had the national

TV announcers wondering, “Who are

these guys?” One of the most talented

and visible of that incredible all-star lineup

was the curly-haired phenom Ross Land.

Now, after spending two seasons

revisiting the bench in Flagstaff as an

assistant basketball coach, Land has

taken a job as assistant coach at the

University of California-Irvine. During

his tenure at NAU, Land coached

the Lumberjack guards to a Big Sky

Conference regular season title, winning

21 games to tie for the most in school

history. Among others, he guided Kyle

Feuerbach to All-Big Sky honors, and

also mentored Stephen Sir, who shot a

national-best 48.9 percent (93-for-190)

from three-point range to lead Division I

in three-point field goals among players

with 2.5 three-pointers per game.

Land, who played overseas for three

seasons in the FIBA SuproLeague in

France and Croatia after his collegiate

career, is the most prolific three-point

shooter in Big Sky Conference history.

He also leads the NCAA for all time in

career three-point percentage among

those with 300 triples. These amazing

numbers immediately translated into

not one, but two inductions into the

NAU Athletics Hall of Fame: in 2004

as part of the aforesaid unforgettable

team, and in 2005 as athlete extraor-

dinaire. Now, as we watch his progress

with UC-Irvine’s Anteaters, we can fore-

see a future full of honors for Land, as

he continues to aim for greatness from

outside the perimeter.

Ross Land, ’01 B.S., assistant coach, University of California-Irvine

�0 Winter 2007 I naualumni.com

A Legacy of Educational ExcellenceWhen the announcement was made in Yuma-area media that Linda Elliott-

Nelson had been appointed Dean of Instruction at Arizona Western College

(AWC), we were understandably impressed. So were her mom and dad, but

more on that later.

Elliott-Nelson is brilliantly credentialed, having served AWC in a variety

of key roles, most recently as the Division Chair of Modern Languages. She

holds advanced degrees in both business and Spanish, and is currently a

Ph.D. candidate in education with an emphasis in community college leader-

ship from Walden University. She was awarded the Outstanding University/

College Level Educator Award for the State of Arizona in 2000 by the Arizona

Language Association.

According to the Yuma Sun, despite her initial work in the business sec-

tor, Elliott-Nelson decided to pursue education as a career when she found

the personal rewards some-

what unfulfilling: “When you’re

in business, you don’t get as

much of a sense of giving back.”

A Yuma resident since birth,

she chose to benefit the com-

munity as much as possible

through her career choices. In

her new office, Elliott-Nelson

will continue to reach out to the

community by “home-growing”

local professionals. “We need

an incredible number of nurses

and teachers just to serve the

population,” she says.

Both Elliott-Nelson and her

husband, Randy Nelson, ’80

B.S.B.A., director of AWC’s

Small Business Development

Center, seem to be creating a

lasting legacy of practical edu-

cational ideals for the people of

Yuma. Oh, and did we mention

that Linda has her parents to

thank as role models? Mom

and Dad are none other than

Marion L. Dick Elliott ’52 B.S. & ’57 M.A., and Harold L. Elliott, ’49 B.S. & ’51

M.ED., who have spent the last half-century as bellwethers for both NAU

and their beloved Yuma, creating opportunities in education, the arts, and

the community at large.

Of course, the proud parents probably view Linda herself as one of their

most important achievements. We imagine that in the years to come, AWC

and Yuma will agree wholeheartedly.

Linda Elliott-Nelson, ’78 B.A., ’85 M.B.A.

Schol arship

NAUSchool

Mentors & Mascots

Joe D. Lloyd, ’62 B.S., ’64 M.M.E.Adjunct Professor in Music, Middle Tennessee State University

Gary Hocevar, ’73 B.S.Principal, Terrace Community Middle School

David Dauwalder, ’74 B.S.Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of New Haven

Eileen Breslin, ’77 A.S.Dean, School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Kim Jongerius, ’86 B.S.Professor of Mathematics, Northwestern College

Katherine Sohn, ’89 M.A.Author; Assistant Professor, English, Pikeville College

Ghassan E. Jabbour, ’90 B.S.E.Director of Flexible and Organic Electronics Development, Flexible Display Center/Professor

“When you’re in business, you don’t get as much of a sense of giving back.”

naualumni.com I Winter 2007 ��

W hen Jim Hamlin became his family’s first-generation college student, he found himself fascinated with all aspects of the

university world. “I was a member of several service organizations at NAU, including Sophos, and was elected to student government,” he says. “I assumed I would go into student affairs as a career.” Now, 28 years, six institutions, and ten titles later, he is Executive Director of Scholarship Support at Washington University in St. Louis.

Hamlin started his journey in familiar company: “I had been president of a Sigma Alpha Epsilon ‘col-ony’ at NAU, and guided that group toward acquiring its charter in 1975, a true leadership-building expe-rience. After graduation, I [became] a chapter con-sultant for ∑AE. I visited 42 chapters in 14 states each year and met literally thousands of undergraduates and alumni.”

Along the way, Hamlin discovered what was then a relatively new field within higher education, development. Unlike the field of student life in the 1970s, which faced radical budget cuts, development was clearly a growth sector. “Thanks to the help of some ∑AEs already in the field, I obtained an entry-level position in 1978 with the University of Illinois Foundation. Little did I realize that I had stumbled upon the perfect career.”

Hamlin now energizes endowed scholarship sup-port at Washington U., which raises over $17 million each year in student financial assistance. He clearly loves his job—and always reveres his inner NAU col-legian: “There has never been a day I have not val-ued my work, and it all started with wearing a goofy maroon Sophos blazer with a 6-inch-wide pink paisley tie.”

James L. (Jim) Hamlin, ’75 B.S.,

Executive Director of Scholarship

Support, Washington

University

Schol arshipof Chemical and Materials Engineering, Arizona State University

Gregory A. Page, ’90 M.A.Director, Atlas Language Institute

Penelope Wong, ’92 M.A., ’01 ED.D.Assistant Professor of Education, Centre College

Jena Burges, ’93 M.A., ’96 PH.D.Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Undergraduate Studies, Humboldt State University

Darlene M. White, ’93 ED.D.Interim Superintendent, Coolidge Unified School District

Susan Marie Sanders, ’96 M.A. Vermont Education Literacy Teacher, Northeast Kingdom Learning Services

Teri White, ’96 M.ED.Associate Superintendent for Education Services, Lyon County (Nev.) School District

G. Allen Haden, ’97 M.S.Aquatic Ecologist/Research Specialist, NAU

Dean Palmer, ’97 M.ED.Principal, Wiggins (Colo.) High School

Vicky Young, ’99 M.ED., ’01 M.ED.Adult Degree Program Core Faculty/Coordinator for Native American Students, Prescott College

Hiram B. “Doc” Smith, ’00 M.S.F.Associate Director, Ecological Research Institute, NAU

Dave Wagner, ’02 PH.D.Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, NAU

Jason C. Martin, ’03 M.ED.Principal, Highland Park Elementary School (Gilbert, Ariz.)

Duane Brown, attendedAssistant Director of Student Life, University of Colorado-Denver

A champion for education, James

Hamlin, ’75, still holds his NAU

“school ties” dear

PUBLiSHER, Molly WilliamsMANAGiNG EDiTOR, Krista Perkins, ’98 [email protected]

EDiTOR, Anne Walden [email protected]

NAU Alumni Association National Board of DirectorsPRESiDENT, Sam Leyvas, ’97, Phoenix

ViCE PRESiDENT, Clifford E. (Kip) Alexander III, ’94, Flagstaff

iMMEDiATE PAST PRESiDENT Rhian Evans Allvin, ’94, Vail, Ariz.

TREASURER John M. Clark, ’77 & ’81, Oracle

PARLiAMENTARiAN Barbara McCloud, ’78, Phoenix

Marc Atonna, ’95, Tempe

Mike Beatty, ’77, Prescott

LaTrice Brewster, ’92, Tucson

Wayne L. Connelley, ’76, Phoenix

Joy Gaeraths, ’98, Chandler

Ira Greenspan, ’71, Phoenix

José E. Herrera, ’96 & ’01, Gilbert

Debra Himes, ’75, Gilbert

Gerald P. (Jerry) Marchal, ’60, Fountain Hills

Yvette Martin, ’92, Phoenix

Dick Nothstein, ’59 & ’63, Palmerton, Pa.

Kimberly Ott, ’82, Flagstaff

Marvin Peterson, ’61 & ’70, Redding, Calif.

Paul J. Peterson, ’00, Phoenix

Heidi Shoen, ’72, Flagstaff

Daniel Slayton, ’78 & ’91, Flagstaff

Gary Tom, ’71 & ’75, Fredonia, Ariz.

Ex OFFiCiO

NAU PRESiDENT, Dr. John D. Haeger

ViCE PRESiDENT FOR UNiVERSiTY ADVANCEMENT, Molly Williams

NAU ATHLETiCS DiRECTOR, Jim Fallis

LiFETiME MEMBER, Dr. Joseph C. Rolle, ’41

LiFETiME MEMBER, Robert E. Crozier Jr., ’53 & ’71

STUDENT BODY PRESiDENT, Eric Norgard

NAU office of Alumni RelationsASSiSTANT TO THE DiRECTOR, Krista Perkins, ’98

COMMUNiCATiONS, Anne Walden

COORDiNATOR, REUNiONS AND EVENTS, Beth Martin

ADMiNiSTRATiVE ASSOCiATE, Judith Burk

COORDiNATOR, EVENTS, Toni Fox

COORDiNATOR, REUNiONS AND EVENTS, Erin Bertelsen, ’01

Publishing ConsultantsEDiTOR, Allison Thomas

ART DiRECTOR, Lisa Altomare

PREP SPECiALiST, Julie S. Fong

PRODUCTiON MANAGER, Laura Marlowe

V.P./CREATiVE SERViCES, Beth Tomkiw

ACCOUNT SUPERViSOR, Robyn LaMont ’96

MCMURRY CEO, Chris McMurry, ’87

PINE Faces is published twice annually by

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85014. For more information about custom

publishing, call McMurry at 888-626-8779.

All editorial content © 2007 NAU Alumni

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