Class Notes

Carlie Weir was awarded a scholarship from the Tipp City (Ohio) American Legion Post 586 in support of her graduate studies at Wittenberg.

Deanna Volz’s illustrations from her Wittenberg senior thesis, a children’s story called L et’s Find the Yokai, were displayed in March 2019 at the Bowlby Library in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. A literacy specialist and organizer at the library, Volz also offers art classes and tutors elementary students in literacy. She is pursuing a children’s book illustration certificate from Hollins University.

Ben Knochel is a data standard analyst for Medpace, a contract research organization located in the Cincinnati area.

Libby Bauman spent the summer of 2019 biking from Seattle, Washington, to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness and funds for the Fuller Center for Housing, which she first became involved with at Wittenberg. Her trip included a stop in Springfield, where she helped the local chapter with a build project.

Megan L. Zeidler married Blake W. Nelson on Aug. 3, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio. Megan is a CPA and accountant at CareSource, while Blake is a third-year medical student at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Becca Joseph has been named an assistant coach for the Ohio Northern University women’s lacrosse program. Previously, she was an assistant coach with women’s lacrosse at Earlham College.

Addison Coldren had her first solo art show in a gallery space in March 2019 at The Artisan Shoppe, Studio and Gallery in Gallipolis, Ohio. Titled Mordant, her show featured pieces that used an alternative darkroom photography process called Mordancage. She works at The Karat Patch Diamonds-N-Gold, where she makes custom jewelry.

Madelyn H. “Maddy” Miller and Brian J. Kissane ’17 were married in August 2019 by Joseph Freeman ’70. Both Maddy and Brian are in advanced-degree science programs at the University of Central Florida.

Ria A. Tignor and Noah W. Kerns ’17 were united in marriage on June 9, 2018, in Wittenberg’s Weaver Chapel.

Autumn Smith presented “’Kami wo Sawanaide’: An Exploration of Blackness and ‘Othering’ in Japan” at the “Speak Your Truth, Sis!’ Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Symposium” hosted by the Wittenberg student organization Shades of Pearls in March 2019. She works as a freelance translator and English team manager called ON THE TRIP, a Japanese cultural audio guide.

Brian Ringholz studied desert and marine landscapes through ecological and social field methods in Baja in the summer of 2019. A science teacher at Lake High School, he lives in Perrysburg, Ohio, and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program.

During the summer of 2019, Cady Gannon Breslin studied Borneo’s primate denizens, including the orangutan, and developed new ways to engage communities worldwide in primate conservation in Borneo through Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course. A program leader and naturalist at California Woods Nature Preserve, she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program.

Bryce Agler was named director of player development for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings in February 2019. Previously, he served as a player development coach for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Ian D. McNeill married Kiersten Rosenberg on Oct. 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Karlos L. Marshall and Moses B. Mbeseha, co-founders of The Conscious Connect Inc., were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 2019 for their work in education. Dedicated to ending urban book deserts, the pair provides children in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods with access to free books through 70 national literacy access points, such as barbershops and hair salons, as well as “Little Libraries.” In addition to being designated in June 2019 as Luminaries by the Board of Clark County Commissioners in recognition of their efforts to make a difference in their community, the pair was honored by the Library of Congress in September 2019.

Katherine N. Kiedaisch married Joseph M. Poff ’15 on July 14, 2018, at Dock580 in Columbus, Ohio.

Brenna M. Burkhart married Jeff M. Lee ’11 on Aug. 4, 2018.

Brittany Brake earned a master’s degree in political science in 2016 and is working toward a doctorate. An instructor of political science at Western Michigan University (WMU), she is the recipient of WMU’s All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award.

Ashley Weber completed an M.A. in counseling and art therapy from Edinboro University in August 2019.

In summer 2019, Taylor Owens, a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program, studied coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars, and other wildlife while learning the methods communities are using to sustain them in Belize.