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ALUMNI UPDATE A-E F-O P thru Z
Arranged in alphabetical order by last name of alumnus (while in school). We sincerely regret any misinformation or other inadvertent errors. By email, please send us corrections, revisions, additions and updates, including online links and jpegs. It is a challenge to keep up with this, but it’s always interesting. Contact…

Following graduation, Valerie (Paidar) Almquist (MA '95) worked as a graphic designer at Parsons Technology / Mattel Interactive in Hiawatha IA, and at Stamats Communications in Cedar Rapids. In 2004, she established her own freelance design firm.

Chawne Paige (BFA ‘01) is a graphic designer at the Waterloo Museum of Art in Waterloo IA at <http://www.waterloocenterforthearts.org/>. Kyriakos Papaspyrou (BFA ‘04) has returned to his native Cyprus, where he works as a designer in Nicosia. Michael Pasley (BA) is an independent filmmaker. The film Frag, which he wrote and directed, was accepted into the NY International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2007. Benjamin Patterson (BA ‘03) is a high school art teacher at the West Delaware County Community Schools in Manchester IA. Three works by Marcus Payzant (BFA ‘05) were reproduced in color in the 2006 edition of New American Paintings. He’s living in the Southwest, and is an MFA painting candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. His works are online at <http://www.marcuspayzant.com/Site/Home.html>. Bill Pendry (BFA ‘02) is a graphic designer at Martin Brothers in Cedar Falls. His website is at <www.billpendry.com>. Colyn Petersen (BA ‘95) lives in Omaha NE, where he handcrafts Native American-style flutes through the company he founded called Woodland Voices Flutes. For more information, see his website at <http://www.woodlandvoices.com/>.

Connie Peterson (BA '67) lives in Iowa City, where she is a graphic designer at the University of Iowa, a board member of the University and College Designers Association, and director of the Creative Media Group. Merrill Peterson (BA ’69, MA ‘71) teaches at Southeast Community College in Lincoln NE, where he is chair of the graphic design program. Dale Phelps (BFA ‘05) continued his involvement in printmaking until his recent passing. Prior to his death, he and his wife donated the funds for a new large children’s wing at the Waterloo Museum of Art. His final series of woodblock prints are online at <http://blochcancer.org/2009/04/fighting-cancer-woodblock-prints-by-dale-phelps/>. Elise Plakke (BA ‘96) is senior art director of photography at L.L. Bean in Portland ME. During the summer of 2007, she studied at Harvard University. Randy J. Ploog (BA ‘80) is International Programs Coordinator in the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University.

Drea Potter-Talton (BA ‘04) lives in Milwaukee, where she works as a graphic designer.

Megan Pralle (BA ‘10) is a graphic designer for Edgecore in Cedar Falls. Last year, prior to graduating, she was one of the top winner in the design category in a nationwide card design competition. All three of her entries were among the semi-finalists. See her online portfolio at <http://issuu.com/mpralle/docs/m_pralle_portfolio>.

David Prehm (BA '79) is an art instructor at the New Hampton High School in New Hampton IA.

Carolyn Prins (BA '81, BA '93, MA '99) is a web designer for Marketing and Public Relations at UNI.
Steve Proffitt (MA ‘75) was associated for many years with National Public Radio, where he was senior producer of the news program Day to Day. He currently works for KCET in Los Angeles. For more information (and amusement), see his blog at <http://nicejobmedia.blogspot.com/>.

William Raschendorfer (BA '94), who worked as a writer for Mad Magazine in New York following graduation, later moved back to the Midwest and is now an art teacher at Brent Elementary School in Bloomington IL. There's an online photograph of him at a 2007 Comics Convention in San Diego at <http://www.kchronicles.com/gallery.shtml>. Jay Raveling (BA ‘96) is one of the principal fabricators for Associated Mountmaking, a Los Angeles-based firm that fabricates exhibition mounts and installs works of art, antiques and other artifacts at <http://associatedmountmaking.com/>. Among the company’s clients have been the Art Institute of Chicago, the Fogg Museum at Harvard, the Los Angeles County Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Shawn Reed (BFA ‘04) has completed an MFA in intermedia at the University of Iowa. Brian Reeves (BFA ’92) lives in Portland, Maine, where he is a co-founder of a satirical production shop, called Slop Art. The firm was featured in Art Journal. Volume 66 No 1, Spring 2007, pp. 75-78. The Worldwide Slop Art website (complete with sound effects) is at <http://slopart.com/>. Robert Reeves (BA ‘94) is a painter living in Des Moines. His extensive website and blog are at <www.RobReevesStudio.com>. Andrew Reisdorph (BA ‘04) is a print and web designer at Dablr Creative Services at <www.dablr.com> in Solon IA. Ben Ressler (BA ‘06) is an elementary and high school art teacher for the Western Dubuque County Community School District.

Justin Richert (BFA '03) is on the staff of the RDG Dahlquist Art Studio in Des Moines IA. Cody Riddle (BA ‘76) has worked for many years at a museum preparator and installation technician at the Walker Art Center, Phoenix Art Museum, and, since 1987, for Larry Bell in Taos NM. His website is at <http://codyfineart.com/>. Becky (Rieck) McElroy (BA ‘95) is owner of an award-winning design firm called Girl in Motion Design in Sioux Falls SD. Her online portfolio is at <www.aigadesignjobs.org/beckymcelroyGIM>. Robert Riseling (BA ‘63, MA ‘66) is a Professor of Painting and Drawing at the Memphis College of Art in Tennessee. For more info and examples of his work, see <http://www.mca.edu/faculty_pages/riseling.html>. Laura Riskedahl (BA ‘03) is a metadata librarian at Bucknell University in Lewisburg PA. Darrell Roberts (BA ‘97) returned campus recently as a guest artist. He lives in Chicago, where he is represented by the Thomas McCormick Gallery. He has had a solo exhibition at the Hyde Park Art Center, and his work was also exhibited at Art Chicago 2007. His website is at <http://www.darrell-roberts.com/index.html>. Jared Rogers (BA ‘09) is a graphic designer at MetaCommunications in Iowa City. His online portfolio is at <http://www.leadindesign.com/>. Jared Rogness (BFA ‘03), who was the cartoonist for the Northern Iowan when he was an undergraduate, is a prolific illustrator in Los Angeles. An extensive website of his work is at <www.theartofjaredrogness.com>. Adam Rohwer (BA ‘03) is a graphic and multimedia designer at Innova Ideas and Services in Des Moines.

Kate Rolfes (BA '07) is employed by Gannett Corporation in Des Moines, where she is a production coordinator for the advertising department. She is also a freelance photographer. Brittania Roster-Morey (BA ‘03) is a graphic designer in Cedar Rapids IA. Ken Rowe (BFA ‘92) completed an MFA in sculpture at the University of Oregon in 1998, and is now living in Nashville TN. His website is at <http://www.kenroweartist.com/>. Libby Rowe (BFA ‘93) is on the art faculty at Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN. Her work is online at <http://www.libbyrowe.com/>. Matt Rowland (BFA ’06) is a graphic designer at North Design in Toledo, Ohio at <http://northdesign.com/>. He worked with a team of designers of the brochures, websites, presentations and other materials for a successful application by the city of Socchi (Russia) to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Paul Rude (MA ‘96) is the Financial Aid Coordinator at the New College of Florida, in Sarasota FL. Terri (Rule) Sheehan (BFA ‘90, MFA ‘94) is a multi-media artist. She is also a Gallery Assistant at the Phelps Youth Pavilion at <http://www.phelpsyouthpavilion.org/>, and an Education Assistant at the Waterloo Center for the Arts at <http://www.waterloocenterforthearts.org/> in Waterloo IA.

Loren Sandvik (BFA '93, MA '94) received his Master of Fine Arts degree from CalArts and has been teaching Sculpture and Photography at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest CA. Melissa Sayen (BA ‘06) is a graphic designer at Universal Melody Services in Dallas TX. Todd Schatzberg (BA ‘90) is the owner and principal of Red Dot Advertising and Design in Des Moines at <http://www.reddotad.com/>. David Schmitz (BFA ‘06) completed an MFA at Columbia College in Chicago, and was recently appointed Membership Manager at the Des Moines Art Center at <http://desmoinesartcenter.org/>. Dan Schrad (BA ‘95) is Director of Creative Services at Faction Media, a digital marketing firm in Denver CO <http://www.factionmedia.com/>. Emily Schrad (BA ‘05) is the Studio Manager for Sayles Graphic Design, a major design studio in Des Moines at <http://www.saylesdesign.com/>. Nicholas Schrunk (BA ‘08) works for Red Bull in Santa Monica CA, where he is Moving Images / Interactive Resident. His online portfolio is at <http://www.nickschrunk.com>. An animated short film that he made as an undergraduate, titled "Conscious," is featured on the internet as one of the top forty "spectacular typography videos" at <http://ae.tutsplus.com/articles/roundup/40-spectacular-typography-videos/#comment-25099>. Dan Schuster (BA ‘92) is the owner of Dan Schuster Graphic Design (Design Trust) and Reclamation Sculpture in Marion IA. His website is at <http://danschusterdesigns.com/gallery2/index.html>. In 2009, his work was featured in Pulse magazine. Dean Schwarz (BA ’60, MA ’61) has been a studio potter for many years. He is a co-founder of South Bear Press at <www.southbearpress.org>, through which he and his wife Geraldine Schwarz (BA ’59, MA’ 65 English) have published a major book in 2007 about the Bauhaus pottery tradition, titled Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus: An Eyewitness Anthology. In 2009, he published a new book titled Centering Bauhaus Clay: A Potter’s Perspective.

Brian Seger (BA ‘96) is an animator, illustrator and founding partner at Chromadvantage in Waterloo IA. His online portfolio is at <http://www.brianseger.com/>. Charmaine (Shreve) Dapena (BA ‘70) lives in Bloomington IN, where she art directs the Indiana Alumni Magazine. She recently received a University and College Designers’ Association award for design excellence. Jon Sigmund (BA ‘99) is an art director at the Competitive Edge in Des Moines. Chris Singewald (BFA ‘06) is completing an MFA degree at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Duane Slick (BFA ‘86) earned an MFA at the University of California at Davis, and has since taught painting at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence.
Sadie (Smid) Trytten (BA ‘02) is Business Development Manager at ADi Group in Des Moines.

Annalyn Smith (BA '04) is an art and technology teacher at North Cedar Community Schools in Mechanicsville and Lowden IA. Patti Smith-Lawrence (BFA ‘00, MA ‘01) is an associate art director at Meredith Corporation in Des Moines. Sarah Sommerfeldt (BA ‘06) lives in Chicago, where she is an art director intern at Euro RSCG. Tyler Speicher (BA ‘06) is a marketing assistant that the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center, while also collaborating with Sarah German on a ceramics studio. His website is at <www.tylerspeicher.com>. Laura Spindler (BA ‘05) is a graphic and web designer for University Marketing and Public Relations at the University of Northern Iowa. Steven Sprague (BA ‘96) is an award-winning Flash developer at Screenscape Studios in Des Moines at <http://www.screenscape.tv/>.

Kimm Stastny (BA '69) recently retired from his long-term position as a teacher, art director and school administrator at the Adali Stevenson School in Lake Zurich. Gary Stattler (BA ‘66, MA) taught in the Marshalltown IA Community School District for 32 years. A ceramic artist, he now lives in Conrad.

Mike Steckel studied drawing and performance art at UNI in recent years. He has since moved to Los Angeles, where he studied with internationally-known performance artist Rachel Rosenthal, eventually becoming a member of her company. There are several pictures of Mike performing in Rosenthal’s recent book The DbD Experience (Routledge Press). He also works full-time in the education department of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, for which he wears an elaborate, hyperrealistic T-Rex costume as part of their Dinosaur Encounters program. He recently worked closely with artists from the Jim Henson Creature Shop (they do a lot more than make Muppets!), building the costume for a life-like saber-toothed cat that will roam the halls of the museum in the near future.
Chelsea Steen (BA) is a graphic designer at Staples Promotional Products in Sioux Falls SD. Sarah Steil (BA ‘97) has completed her MFA degree in graphic design at the University of Minnesota. Robbie Steinbach (BA ‘70) lives in Ranchos de Taos NM, where she is a freelance photographer and artist. She is well known for her book, Lifework: Portraits of Iowa Women Artists. Her website is at <http://www.robbiesteinbach.com/>. Ken Steinkamp (BA ‘70) lives in Stonington CT. After graduating from UNI, then working at the White House as a photographer, he earned an MFA in printmaking in 1974 at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. His paintings have been exhibited at various galleries in the US and Europe. For online examples of his work, see his website at <http://kensteinkamp.com/>. Alanna Steininger (BA ‘02) is a lead bookseller at Barnes and Noble Booksellers. Stephen Steininger (BA ‘71) lives in Altoona IA, where he and his wife Karen are proprietors of The Potters Ltd. Philip Sterk (BA ‘03) is living in Brooklyn NY, where he is gaining notoriety as an innovative keyboard musician.

Annette Stoehr-Stevenson (BFA '89) is a screen designer at TV Satzstudio in Emskirchen, Germany. Crit Streed (BA ‘70), who teaches painting and drawing at UNI, is represented by AIR Gallery in New York. She plans to retire from teaching at the end of 2009. For more information, see <http://www.uni.edu/artdept/streed.html>. Ron Streed (BA ’69, MA ‘78) has retired after many years of teaching in Cedar Falls public schools. Most recently, he taught in Guatemala for a year.

Kimberly Strohbeen (MA) teaches art at the elementary school in the Le Mars Community Schools in Le Mars IA. Kim Strunk (BA ‘74) is a science teacher at West High School in Davenport IA. He was named Teacher of the Year for his conservation work with students. He also maintains a farm that is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. David Sturtz (BA ‘99) is a product manager and information architect at Geonetric in Cedar Rapids IA. For more information, see <http://www.davidsturtz.com/about.php>. Kyle Struve (BA) is a grapic designer and marketing assistant at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville. Joseph Sweeney (BA ’98, MA ‘99) is on the art faculty at Albany State University in Albany GA. Andrea Tadlock (BA) is a graphic designer at Signs Now in Des Moines IA. Nathan Tarr (BA) is an image specialist at Gannett Publishing in Des Moines IA. Jamie (Tegeler) Sauer (BA ‘04) is vice president of marketing at Emmon Accessories in Denton TX.

Kathy Ter Veen (BA '64) teaches art and humanities in US Department of Defense high schools in Europe. Bounnak Thammavong (BFA ‘03, MA ‘05) is completing his MFA degree in sculpture at the University of Iowa. He has continued his involvement in public sculpture, the most recent result of which is his River Horizon Archway (dedicated September 2009) in Trout Run Park near Decorah IA. Cory Thorson is a sales representative at Park Printing in Minneapolis.

Brad Tierney (BA ‘97) worked as a graphic designer for several years for the ERTL/RC2 Toy Company in Dyersville IA, then earned an MA (‘05) in Industrial Product Design at Iowa State University in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program, combining areas of art, design, marketing and industrial technology. He is currently an industrial designer for POLO Custom Products, a division of M-C Industries, in Monticello IA. He enjoys personal and commissioned design and illustration projects as well.

Robert Tjaden (BA'58, MA '67) is a retired art teacher, and lives in Hemet CA.

Rochelle Toner (BA '62), now retired, was for many years a Professor of Art and Dean at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Courtney Towlerton (BA ‘03) is a graphic designer for Lee Enterprises in Waterloo IA, and is one of a team of designers responsible for the production of Pulse, a Cedar Valley culture and entertainment magazine. Casie Truitt (BA) is a graphic designer at Winegard Company, a telecommunications firm in Davenport IA. Vicki Truka Schmitz (BA ‘03) teaches art for gifted and talented students in Huntington Beach CA. Eric Tufts (BA ‘99) is a web designer at John Deere, and a business partner at Rocketwood, a web design firm in Des Moines. John Unsen (BA ‘04) is a graphic and interface designer at VGM Forbin in Waterloo IA. His online design portfolio is at <www.unsendesign.com>. Bryan VanDonslear (BA ’87, BFA ‘91) is head of the UNI Art Department’s Visual Resources Center. Andrew Van Fleet (BA ‘98) is the founder and CEO of a prominent Waterloo-based design firm, called Darning Pixels at <http://www.darningpixels.com/staff-page.php>.

Jennifer (Varnum) Giebels (BA '94) is the owner of Jeneration Design in Spring TX. Her website is at <http://jenerationdesign.net/about.html>. John Vorwald (BA ‘04) is an assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout at Menomonie WI. Lori (Ward) Wallace (BA ‘89) is a graphic designer for Wartburg College in Waverly IA. John Christopher Ward (BA ‘05) is an elementary art teacher at Roland-Story Elementary School in Story City IA. Nicole (Vernon) Warner (BA ‘95) is a designer at Innovative Marketing and Design in Napa CA. Ivy (Walker) Boyd (BA ’07) recently married Jake Boyd and is now a graphic designer in Des Moines. Lindsay Wedemeier (BA) is a Creative Services Specialist at Aviva Investors in Des Moines. Lindsey Weirich (BA ‘08) is a graphic designer at RuffaloCody at <http://www.ruffalocody.com/> in Cedar Rapids IA.

Crystal Weiss (BFA '02) is the owner of McKenna McNelly Photography in Waterloo. Sheena Wendt (BA ’07), is Communications Coordinator at Heartland Vineyard Church in Cedar Falls.

John Weyl (BA '59, MA '67) has retired, after having taught for years an art instructor at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington IA. Paul Wharton (BA ‘75) lives in Minneapolis, where he is Vice President Creative at Larsen Design at <http://www.larsen.com/company/executive_team/>, and Creative Director of Wausau Paper at <http://www.wausaupaper.com/>.

Dawn Wheat (BA ‘98) lived in Chicago for eight years, and now lives in New Mexico, where she is a graphic designer and painter. She has an extensive website, with examples of her current work, at <www.dawnwheat.com>. Aaron Wherry (BA ‘00) teaches high school in Bakersfield CA, while also producing music on his own record label, called A+9. For more information, see <http://www.facebook.com/aaronwherry01>. Will Wilkinson (BA ‘95) is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute in Washington DC at <http://www.cato.org/>. John Will (BA ‘61), an internationally known printmaker, lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Amanda (Williams) Thompson (BA ‘02) has established her own design firm, called Studio A Designs in Des Moines. Her online portfolio is at <http://studioa-designs.com/portfolio/index.php>. Heather (Winterhof) Fromm (BA ‘97) is assistant vice president and account manager for Lincoln Savings Bank Financial in Waverly IA.

Chad Wolf (BFA ‘96; BAArtEd ‘02) is an art teacher at Peet Junior High School in Cedar Falls, and was recently named Gold Star Teacher for 2010. Shawn Wolter (BA ‘97) lives in Urbandale IA, where he is a self-employed artist. His website is at <http://www.shawnwolter.com/>. Sally (Woods) Alexandres (BA ‘71) lived in Greece for many years, and is now a painter and art teacher at Osceloa High School in FL. Beginning in the 1970s, she lived in Greece for fifteen years, where she taught English language. During that time she also met her husband Stefan, a sculptor. A trip to the east, visiting countries such as Pakistan and India were pivotal to her development as a person and an artist. Means of travel included open transport truck, jeep and donkey caravan in the Chitral Valley in North Pakistan and across Afghanistan and Iran on board benches in a public bus. She and her husband moved to Florida in 1988. Her work is online at <http://home.att.net/~salexandrs/>. Chris Wubbena (BFA ’98) is an assistant professor of art and the head of sculpture at Southeast Missouri State University. For more information, see <http://www.semo.edu/art/faculty/index_wubbena.htm>. The paintings of Jorge Estaban Zapata Garcés (MA ‘09) are currently being exhibited at the Besharat Gallery in Atlanta GA. Online examples can be seen at <http://www.besharatgallery.com/zapata.htm>.

JoEllen (Zmolek) Nyquist (BA ‘99) earned her graduate degree at Iowa State University. In recent years, she has been working as a senior marketing strategist at Innova Ideas and Services in Ames IA.

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