Moeller has made a name for��herself as a 5x Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment��Television,��who now��works��as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew ������Ƶ had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that ������Ƶ was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to ������Ƶ helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers ������Ƶ asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With ������Ƶ’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did ������Ƶ’s inaugural ‘������Ƶ in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller��made the��switch��from��the��international��department��to��the��domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer.��Over��her��15��years at��E!��News,��she��was nominated for five Emmy Awards,��and��interviewed people��like��Steve Carell,��Charlize Theron and��50 Cent. She also had the��privilege��of��working��on��the��red carpet at the��Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing��that’s��gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are��just normal��people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained.����“When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts,��I’ve��always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.����They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally��and��give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller��credits��her continued success��to��strong relationships with her coworkers,��interviewees, and��former hosts,��always��keeping in��contact��with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the��biggest��pop��culture stages as a top moment.

“I��recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars,��like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,��and��Leslie Mann,��to name a few.”

This��unforgettable��experience solidified for��her��that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for��Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples��Center.

“It was just me, my host Will��Marfuggi, and��a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.����It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Moeller’s��journey��at��E! News was marked by steady growth��in��leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and��opportunity.

“One��meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell,��who at the time was��hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in��September,��we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,”��said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position��in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

������Ƶ’s��top-notch��curriculum and amazing professors helped��her��feel��prepared��for the real��world, knowing she��could succeed outside the classroom.��������Ƶ’s study abroad center helped many students,��including��Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller��has come a long way��through��courage and perseverance,��and now she works��for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide��show.

“This business,��especially��out��in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that��is what��keeps you there,” she��explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always��keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s��going to��end up where and who can help you down the line. And when��you’re��on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you,��as��one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to��share your feedback or those stories online.

They stood poised with their hands raised, breathing steady, before their fists began to fly. Jab, cross, right hook, left upper cut.

They noticed the sensations in their body as childhood memories raced through their mind, allowing themself to feel every feeling that remained with them from a time when they didn’t have a voice. With every punch, they stepped closer to regaining their power, closer to a deeper understanding of their full self.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 says the physical movement often allows clients to recognize and begin healing younger parts of themselves that were never fully seen or supported. “Through the movement, through fighting back against that, they were able to trust themself more.”

A licensed professional counselor, Martinelli-Taylor centers her Denver practice, Animo Counseling and Coaching, on healing the whole person. Among the approaches she uses is somatic boxing, a method that connects mind and body to help clients process trauma and strengthen their overall well-being.

“We’re interconnected beings,” she says. “Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.”

A Non-Linear Path

Martinelli-Taylor’s journey toward counseling wasn’t straightforward, but every step helped develop the empathy, critical thinking and global perspective that shapes her work. The Massachusetts native wasn’t familiar with ������Ƶ before stumbling upon it while touring colleges along the East Coast. She was immediately drawn to its arts and sciences foundation, small class sizes and study abroad program.

She enrolled Early Decision, planning to study education, but soon found that teaching wasn’t her passion. She did, however, have a knack for fostering strong one-on-one connections, and she found other ways to build those skills through a strategic communications major and religious studies minor.

“There’s a lot of psychology in strategic communications, learning what are people’s needs, what do they want, why do they do what they do. I loved that aspect,” Martinell-Taylor says. “Then my religious studies minor was just a window to the world of what other people believe, why they believe it and how that directs their decisions, hopes and dreams.”

But it was her semester abroad in London that influenced her most, broadening her worldview and clarifying what she did and didn’t want to pursue post-graduation. She interned for a fashion supplier on Oxford Street but didn’t feel a strong connection to the work. She loved London, though, and wanted to use her communications skills in service of something she cared about deeply.

After graduating, she returned to London for two years, working with an international mission organization that supported churches and other spiritual communities. Martinelli-Taylor spent much of her time connecting with South Asian women, children and teens and found their conversations about life and struggle deeply meaningful. On weekends, she volunteered with a nonprofit fighting human trafficking, a cause that first sparked her interest through an ������Ƶ course examining slavery in the Bible, in American history and in modern times. Again and again, she found herself drawn to work that offered support to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“I was hearing people’s trauma, hearing really difficult life journeys and feeling this pull,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “If people have gone through these really awful things, forced into things they had no control over, how do I step into that world?”

That realization ignited Martinelli-Taylor’s calling to be a counselor. She moved back to the U.S. and earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Denver Seminary in 2019. Her communications, religious studies and study abroad experience from her time at ������Ƶ remained foundational as she forged this new path.

L.D. Russell, senior lecturer emeritus of religious studies at ������Ƶ, remembers Martinelli-Taylor as open-minded, eager to learn and deeply committed to helping others. Her unique counseling approach feels like a natural extension of that spirit. “One of the truest values of an ������Ƶ education,” he says, “is gaining a clearer sense of how others live and move through the world, and how our own gifts can be used to foster the public good.”

The Mind-Body Connection

After obtaining her master’s degree, Martinelli-Taylor again used her skills to support human trafficking victims, providing counseling to survivors with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She later moved to a group practice, helping clients with a broader range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.

In graduate school, she began to learn how physical movement, education and preventative work can help set clients up for a healthier life and resiliency amid difficult challenges. That idea coupled with her own personal experience with boxing prompted her to try bilateral boxing as a technique with some clients at the group practice. “It was starting to help people break out of dissociation and get into their body,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “We used it as a tool when they felt stuck or overwhelmed with talk therapy.”

As she saw the approach resonate with more clients, Martinelli-Taylor set out to develop it further and open her own practice. Drawing on her strategic communications background, she built the foundation for her business while consulting with counselors who use somatic therapies that link breath, body and mental health. In 2024 she founded Animo Counseling and Coaching, where she offers treatments such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and her own style of somatic boxing therapy.

Animo means “mind” in Latin, “soul” and “courage” in Italian and “encouragement” in Spanish. “The practice reflects that intentionality, that purposefulness,” she says. “It represents the embodiment of the brain and body’s role in learning about yourself.”

Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.��— Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12

Martinelli-Taylor first teaches her clients the basics of non-contact boxing, using the bilateral movements of boxing but no sparring, just hitting boxing gloves to mitts as the whole body engages. She focuses on proper form and breathwork, guiding clients to concentrate on each motion. The practice becomes a type of moving meditation, stimulating both sides of the body and both hemispheres of the brain.

For many clients, the approach offers another avenue for healing, especially for those who may not feel ready to talk through difficult experiences right away. By focusing on the rhythm of movement and breath, clients begin to notice what their bodies and minds are holding, and shift it out.

Once clients feel comfortable with the technique, she introduces strategies for building courage, managing stress and emotions, and processing difficult memories. The approach encourages people to tune in to the physical sensations that often accompany mental health struggles, opening the door to more holistic healing. Movement and breathwork, Martinelli-Taylor says, can help move through distress, regulate mood and ground the body to allow clients to face and work through deeper challenges.

In addition to continuing to grow her practice, Martinelli-Taylor hopes to conduct larger studies on the impact of somatic boxing on mental health. And while she is there to support her clients in the “ring” when they need it, she doesn’t expect them to rely on a coach forever. Her goal is to help people build the awareness and tools to continue the work on their own — to trust their bodies, their instincts and their capacity to heal.

“I want them to feel like they’re equipped to learn and grow,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “They can take this work, try it out in the world and know that they’re resilient.”

The ������Ƶ Alumni Board (EAB) acts as a key link between the University administration and the alumni body. On an individual basis and collectively as a Board, the EAB provides advice, counsel and perspective to staff and leadership on a wide range of strategic issues facing the University.

Katie Corrigan ’02

Katie is a Vice President at MKI Global Partners, an advisory firm focused on how policy, politics and regulation shape financial markets and corporate transactions.��She graduated from ������Ƶ in 2002 and values the strong community and network it continues to provide. Her younger sister is also an ������Ƶ alum, Class of 2003.

Katie lives in South Burlington, VT, with her husband, Dan, and their two sons, James (12) and Thomas (9). Outside of work, she enjoys taking full advantage of Vermont’s seasons, from lake days in the summer to skiing and hiking with her family.

Lauren Ludlow ’13

Lauren is the founder of��, a New York–based consultancy helping brands and creators build influencer marketing programs that drive long-term growth. She has partnered with leading CPG and retail brands including Sephora, P&G Beauty, Nike, Meta, and No7 Beauty Company.

She is also the co-founder of��, a community and networking event series built on the belief that meaningful connection drives better ideas, stronger businesses, and a more collaborative beauty industry. Lauren previously served on the New York ������Ƶ Alumni Board for four years.

Kari Taylor ’09 will be transitioning from her current role in the President’s Office to a new position as ������Ƶ’s Deputy Chief Integration Officer, based in Charlotte. Beginning June 1, Kari will play a pivotal role in ������Ƶ’s integration efforts, bringing the relationship-building expertise, collaborative efforts and strategic vision she has demonstrated through her extensive leadership at ������Ƶ.

An ������Ƶ alumna who earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA, Kari joined the President’s staff in 2018 and has been instrumental in amplifying campus engagement through innovative strategies and meaningful initiatives, such as the 1923 Commemoration, fostering trust and building community.

Director of New Student Programs Emily Krechel will transition to the President’s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff for Campus Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, also effective June 1. Emily joined the ������Ƶ community in 2017 and holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UNC Greensboro, where her research focused on equity and student success, and her career includes leadership roles at UC Berkeley, Earlham College, and now ������Ƶ.

As co-chair of the university’s Mentoring Initiative Design Team and former chair of Staff Advisory Council, Emily is a dedicated advocate for meaningful relationships on campus and embodies our commitment to student-centered excellence. Her deep belief in our mission, passion for student development, and proven ability to build transformative programs make her an outstanding addition to our team.

“These transitions reflect the strength of ������Ƶ’s leadership pipeline and our commitment to positioning talented colleagues where they can have the greatest impact,” said President Connie Ledoux Book in an email to the university community. “Please join me in congratulating Kari on her new opportunity and welcoming Emily to her expanded role.”

������Ƶ student Rony Dahdal ’26, and his brother, alumnus��Rafi Dahdal ’24 G’24��were highlighted in a The Assembly article chronicling their family’s journey from war-torn Syria to North Carolina in search of educational opportunity.

The story, details how the Dahdal family’s commitment to learning endured despite the dangers of civil war and the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the United States.��

After fleeing Damascus in 2012 amid escalating violence, the Dahdal family settled in North Carolina, where education remained central to their long-term goals.��Rafi Dahdal is��an ������Ƶ graduate through the Accelerated 3+1 Dual Degree Program in business administration and business analytics. He has gone on to serve as a Youth Trustee for the university.

At ������Ƶ, Rony Dahdal has distinguished himself as a Lumen Scholar and Goldwater Scholar, conducting innovative research using LiDAR technology to explore noninvasive ways to detect vital signs — work aimed at improving health outcomes through emerging technologies.

“I felt so encouraged to continue research because I’ve seen my parents value higher education,” said Rony. “It was very hard to deal with as a little kid, but I look back on it now, and I’m grateful.”

At ������Ƶ, she majored in��environmental and��ecological��science and minored in��statistics,��laying��the foundation for her career in public service.

“I found ������Ƶ while I was touring colleges in the South, and if I’m honest, what initially captivated me was the beautiful campus,” says��Nighswander. “It was quaint, but not too small, and I��immediately��felt comfortable there. I also learned that they offered the environmental science program I was interested in, as well as plenty of extracurricular activities, so it was��a pretty easy��choice.”

Once on campus, Nighswander immersed herself in student life and began shaping her sense of self, playing on the women’s rugby club��team��and working as a referee for ������Ƶ’s Campus Recreation intramurals program all four years.

Beyond extracurricular involvement, ������Ƶ also nurtured her academic and professional growth.

“I received a scholarship through the ������Ƶ College Fellows program, which gave me financial aid as well as a program that really helped me succeed at ������Ƶ,” she said. “The program itself was fairly rigorous, and I credit the academic standards and research requirements for starting me on the path that got me into graduate school and ultimately, my career at the EPA.”

Through the ������Ƶ College Fellows program, she spent her junior and senior years conducting undergraduate research on��wetland��ecology, an experience that sparked her passion for��environmental��research.

She continued her education at the University of Florida, earning her master’s degree while discovering a new passion for CrossFit and the��strong sense��of community it fostered. After graduating in 2019, she moved back to Washington, D.C., to live with her parents and begin her job search. When COVID-19 upended those plans, she adapted, taking on side gigs and consulting work while also teaching CrossFit once gyms reopened.

“I met some members��at CrossFit��who worked at the EPA. I had told them��that��I��really wanted to work there, and they sent me a few positions that were hiring,” she said.��“The positions were in the Office of Pesticide Programs,��which��I��wasn’t��sure I was qualified for since I had��very little��knowledge about pesticides,” she explained. “When I interviewed, I��leveraged��my experience with statistics, entomology, and data analytics, and was lucky enough to get hired and start working there by the end of 2020.”

Today, her work at the EPA��remains��fast-paced, with priorities shifting quickly and requiring constant adaptability. “I work in pesticide regulation, and more specifically, I manage both public and proprietary pesticide usage data and analyze said data as part of assessing the benefits and risks of a given pesticide active ingredient,” Nighswander said.

Her time at ������Ƶ continues to influence her professional approach.

“My experience conducting research at ������Ƶ helped me a lot. It helped refine my skills in developing and testing hypotheses, technical��writing and public speaking,” she said.

She is especially energized by projects that blend science and technology.

“My favorite project currently is using a mapping software called ArcGIS to develop Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) to protect endangered species from pesticide exposure,” Nighswander said.

Her career as a public servant has been��complex, but she explains that it also makes her work rewarding.

“What gets me to work every day is knowing that I am working to help protect human health and the environment. I have always wanted to have a successful career where I can still balance my love for the environment.��At��the��same time,��I��also��must��make members of the industry, the��general public, and environmental groups happy, which is��very challenging,” she explained.

The past year has brought��additional��demands amid broad changes across the federal workforce. Even so, she feels grateful to remain in her role and grounded in the purpose behind her work to safeguard the environment.

Looking back, Nighswander offers simple but powerful advice to her younger self: “Know that you have all the tools you need to be successful. You��don’t��have to be the smartest kid in the class or the loudest voice. Just trust your instincts, love yourself, and��you’ll��find your way.”

She approaches the future with the same openness. “I have no idea where I will be in my future, and I kind of love that,” she said. “There��was a period last year where every week, I was worried if I would still have a job. A year later, I am still here, serving the public, and I am grateful for that. I trust myself enough to know when it is time to move on and make a change, and I am sure that time will come, but for now, I am enjoying the work that I do.��The uncertainty, while scary at times, can be the most beautiful part of life.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please feel free to��share your feedback or those stories online.

While much of the marketing world is obsessed with algorithms, Weickert focuses on the “science and soul” of human interaction. Her work aims to combat the modern “loneliness epidemic” by creating spaces that foster psychological safety,��trust and a genuine sense of belonging.

“In today’s world, people aren’t buying the product anymore,” Weickert explains. “They are buying identity and how a brand makes them feel. That’s the future of experiential.”

Her��expertise��has earned her��a spot on��the��2024��Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders in North Carolina, a testament to her influence��on the up-and-coming industry.

“There’s��not a ton of experiential representation in our state, so it was nice to put our agency and our industry on the��map,”��she��said.

Weickert’s��reach extends globally��as well��through her work with the World Experience Organization, where she collaborates with fellow creators to design experiences that��connect��people.

“Experiences are the best form of ads and will be the only channel that matters in a world that is being inundated with AI, mistrust, a loneliness epidemic and a��polycrisis,” she��said.

Her��rise to the top of the experiential marketing world began with a deep-seated curiosity about��the human��experience. Her career started in��traditional��advertising,��where��she quickly became exposed to the greater marketing ecosystem. Seeing��all��the many��facets��of marketing allowed her to find��her true��calling in experiential��work.

“There was something soulful about��experiential��marketing;��it was much deeper than a human being exposed to a digital ad on the��screen,��and I��was drawn to��that,” she said.��“I felt instantly connected to this idea of using brand stories as a powerful tool to create��connection��and belonging amongst strangers.”

Weickert’s��career was heavily influenced by her��experience��at ������Ƶ.��She credits her classes at ������Ƶ��for helping��her thrive in her current role.

“My Business Communications class and my Public Speaking class both taught me how to effectively communicate with others in a concise yet compelling way, with lessons that I still use in my current role today,” she said.

Winter Term ended up being one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at ������Ƶ, especially due to one class centered on Woodstock.

“My Winter Term class��explored the music surrounding the Woodstock era, both the cultural and artistic influences that��led up��to it and the ones that emerged in its wake,” she said. “What struck me most about the class was how deeply it invited us to reflect on the creative act itself. It��taught me the biggest��lesson above all: to always engage in experiences that leave you inspired, stay curious about the human experience, and expand your world into new realms of thinking.”

That mindset has stuck with her, and she now makes a point to seek out experiences that spark inspiration and bring those insights into her everyday work. Her work as head of strategy at��XD Agency��involves working with her team to discover��“how people make sense of the world and turn it into category-shifting advantages for brands,”��she explains.

Her job��also��consists of��constant travel and high-pressure environments. For Weickert,��she��maintains��a level head��with a��disciplined sense of gratitude, reminding herself how lucky she is to��feel tired from a long week of��traveling the world��and how fortunate she is to meet unexpected��people��around the globe.��She also looks to stay��present��through��mid-day meditation or simply appreciating the��moments.

Weickert points to one standout project as her favorite: Camp��Poosh��at��the��2025��Coachella��Festival,��created for Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s brand��Poosh.

The team transformed a massive Palm Desert estate into something entirely immersive, blending “color, texture, sound, nostalgia, and ritual” to create a space that tapped into what people crave most: novelty,��belonging, and pleasure.��What made the event especially memorable for Weickert was its carefully crafted sensory journey, which Weickert was a main part of creating.��Guests flowed through an environment filled with contrasts,��moving between workout classes, cold plunges, sound baths, DJ sets, and late-night celebrations that blurred self-care with nightlife.

“The brain loves contrast, so we leaned into it,” she explained, highlighting how each moment was designed to keep energy and engagement high. That philosophy culminated in a surprise performance by Heidi Montag, which, “turned the entire house electric.” The result was a perfectly balanced experience: “wellness that didn’t feel preachy” and “indulgence that didn’t feel guilty,” capturing what she calls a seamless blend��of inscape and��escape.

Her advice for those��following in her footsteps?��Put down the��phone and��connect with others.

“The only way you can understand what it means to be human is by exposing yourself to things that fundamentally make us human,” she said.

Weickert emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time outdoors to stay grounded. As algorithms increasingly shape our digital lives, it is essential to nurture a curiosity for the physical world, enabling us to become better communicators.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

“I wasn’t really interested in chemistry whatsoever when I enrolled. I was a lot more interested in sports. That’s really where my heart was at the time,” Seitz said.

Pursuing his current major in exercise science as a freshman, Seitz was enrolled in a required chemistry course when his professor called him to meet in his office.

“He wanted to have a one-on-one meeting, which, as a freshman only two months into college, was a little bit intimidating.”

Unsure of what his professor wanted to discuss, Seitz recalls, “He thought I had a lot of talent and potential in chemistry. He wanted me to take it seriously, and also to think about taking more chemistry classes that weren’t required, just to explore and see if I enjoyed it more than I thought I did.”

Having his potential recognized led him to take his professors’ advice. It was halfway through his second chemistry course that Seitz decided to change his major to chemistry.

“I got into chemistry with the broader goal of trying to help people in some way,” Seitz expressed.

During his time at ������Ƶ, he took full advantage of the opportunities presented to him. He studied abroad in Europe during Winter Term, conducted research through the Lumen Scholars program, completed two internships and immersed himself in service learning, where he taught children who were struggling to read.

Striving to gain experience in his field, Seitz dove right into his internship abroad. He attended RWTH Aachen University in Aachen, Germany, for the summer, contributing to their research efforts.

“This was my first real research experience, and it made me realize that I enjoy research so much that I’m still a researcher today,” he expressed.

The following fall, he started his research with the Lumen Scholars. Alongside his mentor, Sydney F. & Kathleen E. Jackson Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Department of Chemistry Joel Karty, Seitz conducted a project that earned the 2014 Lumen Prize. Focused on expanding research on the reaction preferences of an enolate anion, in both gas and aqueous environments, he aimed to understand why it behaves differently in different environments, with the end goal of other scientists further optimizing the usage of this molecule when they need it.

Seitz’s passion for chemistry research continued the next summer when he was selected to participate in an internship at the California Institute of Technology. This further learning encouraged his eagerness to contribute to research.

“Going to Caltech, I was intimidated by being around so many geniuses. This internship was a good confidence-building exercise. It proved that even though I come from a small school with a tiny science program, I can fit in with these types of people and communicate and share ideas with them. That internship gave me the confidence to go to graduate school and then beyond,” he said.

Right after graduating from ������Ƶ, Seitz went to the University of California, San Diego, and completed his Ph.D. He then went to the University of Chicago and the Argonne National Lab to work on a project where researchers work with the World Health Organization to create a list of ten viral diseases with the greatest potential to cause a global pandemic.

The virus that would later mutate into COVID-19 was on this list, which became a global pandemic just a year later. Due to this, there was more interest from foreign governments to fund this type of work to make vaccines for the remaining viruses on the list and distribute them to prevent the next pandemic.

Joining this team in 2023, Seitz’s work is focused on two viruses: Lassa Fever, which affects people in West Africa, and the Nipah Virus, which affects a few countries in Southeast Asia. The Lassa Fever is very transmissible, but often non-lethal; Nipah is the opposite. Not many people get sick with Nipah; however, when they do, it is often lethal.

Both viruses are concerns for a possible pandemic and require preventative research to fully understand, for a vaccine to be created.

“Those countries in West Africa and Southeast Asia do not have the healthcare capabilities or biotechnology to develop these vaccines themselves,” he said. It’s private U.S. foundations and Western European governments that put money into this non-profit, which is funding my research through the University of Chicago to develop these vaccines. Once the vaccine is successfully developed, they will go to these countries and give them out for free.”

Connecting his current work back to his time at ������Ƶ, Seitz noticed that his ability to work with diverse groups of people and social connection skills that he strengthened at ������Ƶ served him in his current role. He notes, “Because I talk with different types of people who don’t have the experience that I have, I have to accurately communicate what I’m doing, why I need to do this, and so on. So that’s certainly something that helped quite a lot from ������Ƶ, being able to communicate what I’m doing.”

Seitz’s published chemistry research is�� available online; he hopes other chemists can read these manuscripts and learn something from them, and hopefully build off of that.

“I’m contributing to advancing science in small steps. Even though I’m doing more of the basic research of trying to find stuff, the overall goal is that people are going to use these to discover stuff that will directly help people,” he added.

Seitz hopes the future of his career holds opportunities to take up a leadership and mentor role for other chemists.

“I really enjoy mentoring and teaching people, I want to have my own research group where I have some people working below me so I can mentor them and help them advance science as well,” Seitz said.

In May, Seitz will be awarded the Top 10 Under 10 Award. This award is given to 10 Alumni from the past decade who have bettered their community and serve as alumni role models.

In her role,��McKay oversees��academic support, development,��health care��administration, inclusion and belonging and leadership for student-athletes.��She champions community service by organizing��student-athlete programs during��the ACC’s Unity Tours.

The��Unity Tour��is a��conference-wide,��immersive learning experience��focused on��unity, social��responsibility,��and civic engagement.��McKay and her team have introduced over��300��student-athletes,��coaches��and administrators to��different��Unity Tour��experiences in Washington, D.C., Charleston, South Carolina, and Selma, Alabama.

McKay graduated with a degree in sport and event management from ������Ƶ��University��before getting her master’s��in higher education/student affairs��and��doctorate in higher education/higher education administration from��The George��Washington University.

In 2019, she gave the keynote address at the��Department of Sport Management senior banquet and awards ceremony, and has served as��an ������Ƶ Career Mentor,��mentor to ������Ƶ’s��Women Influencers in Sport program and as a member of the Women of ������Ƶ Advisory Council.

Distinguished Alumni Awards��

������Ƶ will recognize��five��alumni��for their leadership,��accomplishments��and service during this year’s��Distinguished Alumni Awards��ceremony on May��1��at��Snow��Family Grand��Atrium. Award recipients��include:

Kent Strosnider��’91 P’25��
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award

This award is presented to��an alumnus��who has distinguished himself in a profession and in the community and brought honor to ������Ƶ.

A��corporate��communications major, Kent Strosnider��is��the managing director of��The Strosnider Dudderar Wealth Management Group at Morgan��Stanley,��where��he��provides��strategies��and potential solutions to clients as they prepare��for their financial��objectives.��One of Kent’s daughters,��Sophie, also graduated from the university with a degree in strategic communications��in��2025.��Kent was a former Parents Council member��from 2022-2025, and a member of the ������Ƶ Alumni Board from 2012-2015.

Joyel Crawford ’97��Distinguished Alumna of the Year��Award

Awarded to��an alumna��who has distinguished herself in a profession and in the community and brought honor to ������Ƶ.

A��psychology��major, theater arts minor, and Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, Joyel Crawford��is currently the CEO, Founder,��Career Coach and��Motivational Speaker at Crawford Leadership Strategies, LLC.��She holds 20+ years of leadership development experience with clients including the U.S. Senate, NASA, The New York Times, ESPN, and Aramark. She is��a consistent contributor to ������Ƶ programming as a speaker,��webinar��host��and guest, and has served as an��������Ƶ Black Alumni Network Mentor since 2018.

From��2016-2019, Joyel was a member of the��Philadelphia Alumni Board and was a member of the��������Ƶ Alumni Board from 2018-2021. In 2022, Joyel was the recipient of the ������Ƶ Black Alumni Gail Fonville Parker Distinguished Alumna Award, and in fall 2025, she��joined President Connie Ledoux Book on the “������Ƶ Beyond the Bricks” podcast.

David Rich ’87 and Sue Hoggard Rich ’85��
Distinguished Service to ������Ƶ Award

Awarded to an organization, business, foundation or individual��who has��demonstrated��outstanding service that promotes the advancement of ������Ƶ.

Alumni couple,��David Rich and Sue Hoggard Rich,��have��shared��many of the university’s moments and traditions.��Sue, an English -journalism major, retired��as the vice president of human resources at Glen Raven in 2023. David, a sociology major, retired��as the global director – workplace etchnology support at Atos in 2022.��Sue��was a member of the ������Ƶ alumni Long Maroon Line at President Book’s��inauguration��and��David��served on the ������Ƶ Alumni Board from 2001-2007. David��and his friends created the��“������Ƶ 7��a.m.��Tailgate”��that is hosted prior to every home football game.��Together, the couple are members of the 1889 society and��give generously to the university in their time and unwavering spirit.

Hon. Stephen M. Ross ’73
Distinguished Alumni Service Award

Awarded to��an alumnus��or��alumna��who has given extraordinary service to his or her community.

A��political science��major,��Steve��Ross��has held��a long career��in public service.��A Burlington native, Steve��served as the city’s mayor for two terms and on city council for four terms. He is currently serving his sixth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives, chairing both the Commerce and Economic Development Committee and the Finance Committee.��Steve has��held��various volunteer��positions��and��has been��named��one of Triad’s Most Influential People by the Triangle Business Journal.

Top 10 Under 10

The Office of Alumni Engagement and��the��Young Alumni Council��have announced the 2026��Top 10 Under 10��award recipients, who will be celebrated during a May��2��ceremony��in��Snow��Family Grand Atrium.

These 10 accomplished alumni from the past decade have achieved professional success, continuously work to better their communities and serve as loyal alumni role models.

Morgan��Bodenarain��’18��
Policy Director and Counsel, Congressional Black Caucus��

Morgan��Bodenarain��graduated��with��degrees in��policy studies and political science��at ������Ƶ��before completing��law school at George Washington University in 2021.��Morgan��now��serves��as��the��Policy Director and Counsel for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in the 119th U.S. Congress, leading policy��priorities��and advocacy efforts for all 61 members.��She was honored with��the��National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 Award��and the National Bar Association’s Nation’s Best Advocates Award in 2025.

Colby Bracy ’16��
Director of Human Resources & Philanthropy, The��Nonantum��Resort and Owner, Hello Humans Consulting

Colby Bracy graduated with a degree in��accounting.��Currently working��at her family’s business,��The��Nonantum��Resort,��Colby��has led the resort’s��efforts��to��become��a certified Recovery Friendly Workplace, championing the��business’��efforts to hire individuals reentering the community following incarceration.��Colby��is��also��the owner of her own human resources consulting firm, Hello Humans Consulting, and holds many roles in local boards and committees.��In 2024, she was honored with the North Star Award from the American Hotels and Lodging Association.

Michaela Fogarty ’19��
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist; Upstream USA����

Michaela Fogarty graduated with a degree in��international��economics��and began her professional career��at��Planned Parenthood Federation of America as a data analysis and visualization specialist��before completing a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins University.��After graduating from Johns Hopkins,��Michaela worked at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a data manager in the division of global women’s health, and is now the monitoring, evaluation and learning specialist at Upstream USA, a nonprofit working to expand contraceptive access for all.

Michael Goldstein ’17��
Vice President, Guggenheim Partners

Michael Goldstein graduated with��degrees��in��finance and accounting. Recently promoted��from��Investment��Banking Associate��to��Vice President��at Guggenheim Partners,��Michael��focuses on medical devices and��technology and��has helped��advise on transactions exceeding��$5 billion.��In support of ������Ƶ students, Michael led the creation of the first annual award for an outstanding senior transfer student, as well as a new Goldstein Family Endowed Scholarship for transfer students in the Love��School of Business.

Gary Grumbach ’16��
Legal Affairs Reporter, NBC News����

Gary Grumbach graduated with a degree in journalism.��As��the��Legal Affairs Reporter for NBC News, Gary��covers the Supreme Court and federal courts on-air and in��print.��His reporting has been recognized with three NBC GEM Awards, and team honors for coverage of the Trump trial and 2020 and 2024 elections. In 2025, Gary joined��President Connie Ledoux Book on the “������Ƶ Beyond the Bricks” podcast.

Emmanuel Morgan ’19��
Sports Reporter, The New York Times

Emmanuel Morgan graduated with a degree in journalism.��Having previously served as a Los Angeles Times sports reporter with a focus on��the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, Emmanuel is now��a��New York Times culture reporter, covering the NFL and combat sports nationally.��In 2023, Emmanuel was awarded the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Award��–��National��Sports Coverage for his New York Times feature, “For Dreadlocked N.F.L. Players, Hair Is a Point of Pride”.

Daniela Pereyra ’16��
Real Estate Broker, Dalton Wade Real Estate Group and Founder, Dare to Jump

Daniela��Pereyra graduated with a degree in cinema��and��television arts. Currently a real estate broker licensed in North Carolina and Delaware, Daniela��is ranked as a Top Producer within her firm. Daniela is also the Founder of Dare to Jump, a hybrid series of seminars and coaching sessions for individuals and groups, focused on cultivating a growth mindset to elevate productivity and sustainable efforts.

Jensen Roll ’16��
President, Roll Construction

Jensen Roll graduated��with��a degree in��social entrepreneurship��and was an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow.��He��is the��President��of Roll Construction��in Graham, North Carolina, a custom homebuilding and remodeling company serving Alamance, Guilford, and Orange counties.��Since Roll Construction’s launch in 2018, Jensen has completed projects ranging from tiny homes to breweries and built a real estate portfolio of more than��20 properties by age 30. Jensen��also��founded The Alamance Mill coworking space and��has��been involved in the��Alamance County Chamber of Commerce.

Nikki Sanz ’18��
Founder��&��CEO, GIGGS

Nikki Sanz graduated with a degree in��sport and event management.��After��moving��to Nashville��with the goal of working on the road in the touring industry,��Nikki��secured diverse gigs��from Eric Church to Super Bowl LVII.��Nikki��publicly launched��GIGGS, a��professional career platform for the live event industry in 2024, and the site has drawn��20,000 users��seeking roles in touring and live events across 1,000 companies.��In 2025,��Nikki��was named��a Forbes��30 Under 30 in the music category.

Christian Seitz ’16
Postdoctoral Researcher for epidemic vaccine development, University of Chicago

Christian Seitz graduated with a degree in��chemistry��from ������Ƶ��before��completing a��doctorate in��biochemistry and biophysics with��a specialization in multi-scale biology at UC San Diego in 2022.��His accolades at graduation included four first��author��and nine total publications focusing on global diseases and molecular recognition in influenza.��Currently��a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago,��Christian��is working with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiative, designing vaccines to prepare the globe for the next pandemic through artificial intelligence in viruses and vaccine development.