Alumni News
Each year we invite alumni to Carbondale for the annual MPA luncheon. Afterwards many who can stay gather for a group picture. The picture above is from the luncheon held in 2006. Many of you hail from too far away to attend the lunceon but we would like to catch up with what you are doing these days just the same. If you graduated from the MPA program, let us know how you are doing! The MPA Program periodically posts updates about its alumni so we can keep in touch with each other. If you have news, please drop us a line at: (619)453-3177 or email the program: mpaprog@siu.edu .
Recently, we have heard that:
Maral Annayeva (MPA ’06) has left her position as an adjunct professor, teaching Geography to undergraduate students at Harris-Stowe State University to become the World Languages Supervisor for the St. Louis Board of Education in St. Louis, MO.
Michelle (Bean) Bradley (MPA ’06) is the new Vice President of Community Programs with the United Methodist Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon, IL. She recently married Jeff Bradley.
Jeffrey Buchheit (MPA ’92) left his position as Assistant Director of the Museum Assessment Program for the American Association of Museums to accept the position of Director of the Baltimore Heritage Area for the Office of the Mayor, in Baltimore, MD. The web site is http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/heritage/.
Kevin Byron (MPA ’03) has been promoted to Regional Manager of Medi-Dyn, Inc. in Jonesboro, AR.
David Chayer (MPA’95) began working for the American Red Cross in 1999 as Director of Government and External Relations in Illinois. He then moved up to be the CEO of the Red Cross in Corpus Christi, TX. In January of 2007, David was promoted to Senior Director of the Community Presence Initiative in the national headquarters office of the Red Cross in Washington, D.C.
Jodi K. Golden (MPA’05) has been promoted to the position of Executive Director of the Indiana Education Savings Authority, which oversees the College Choice 529 Investment Plan. She lives in Indianapolis, IN.
Anna Gregg (MPA ’97) has finished her PhD at SIUC and has been offered a tenure track position at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
Al Havinga (MPA’80) was named Agricultural Branch Chief of the Agriculture Division of the Office of Compliance of the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., on April 16, 2007.
John Henderson (MPA’95) has been promoted to Supervisory Human Resources Specialist in Employee Relations/Labor Relations with the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, in Murfreesboro, TN.
Steven Johnson (MPA’06) is currently working as a Vocational Coordinator at the Southern Illinois Center for Independent Living in Carbondale, IL.
On July 1, 2007, Steven Klingaman (MPA ‘06) was appointed by Governor Blagojevich to the position of Laboratory Director of the Southern Illinois Forensic Science Centre in Carbondale, IL. This is a state Senior Public Service Administrator position. Steve also published his MPA research paper in the May issue of the Law Enforcement Executive Forum, a peer reviewed journal.
Richard Kula (MPA ’96) is the Chicago Metropolitan Program Manager with the FAA at the Chicago Airports District Office, Chicago, IL.
Eugenia Kulygina (MPA ’03) left BearingPoint last December and now works for Keane Federal Systems, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
Dana Lamb (MPA’03) is working as his wife’s office manager/ managing her medical practice in Batavia, New York. Dana and Dr. Lamb invite any faculty, staff or alumni who find themselves in the area to visit.
Joshua Ira Long (MPA’06) was formerly the Senior City Planner for the City of West Palm Beach, FL. In 2005, he joined Gunster, Yoakley, Attorneys-at-Law, as a planner with the firm’s Commercial Department in West Palm Beach, FL.
Sheree Mayfield (MPA ’07) has been promoted to Assistant Director of Youth Services at the Delta Center in Cairo, IL.
Benjamin McKay (MPA ’07) has accepted a position as economic researcher with the Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA.
Namita Nayak (MPA’05) and her husband are the proud parents of beautiful son, Soham, born August 3, 2007. They live in Lakewood, CO.
Rob Peterson (MPA’07) has accepted a position as Aviation Operations Representative in the Communications Department of the Denver International Airport, Denver, CO.
Dennis Presley (MPA’02) is the Grant Writer for the Community Benefits Program for Southern Illinois Healthcare in Carbondale, IL.
Dean Ralston (MPA’03) is a board member and Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Jackson –Union County. He is also a volunteer with SIU Habitat for Humanities on campus and the SIU Alumni Association.
Courtney (Henby) Roche (MPA ’06) married Tony Roche October 7, 2006. She has accepted the position of Sales Manger/ Outside Sales Representative with Fieldbrook Pipe Supply in Olney, IL.
Carla Smith (MPA’06) has accepted the position of registrar with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL.
Larry Solliday (MPA ‘94) has left the Federal Acquisition Service and is working as the technical advisor for the Joint Test and Assessment Activity for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, IN, (south of Bloomington).
Ivona Spiridonova-Hecht (MPA) published a book in 2007 with Ciela Publishing House in Sophia, Bulgaria. The book is titled, Sweet Dreams: Bulgarian Folk Tales. It features a special selection of some of the best Bulgarian folk tales rendered in English. Ivona is currently involved in providing assistance to public adminstration projects for the EU as well as planning a new writing endeavor. Congratulations Ivona!
Katharine Johnson Suski (MPA ’04) was recently promoted to Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL.
David Tanner (MPA’99) has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Burchfield-Penney Art Museum at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, NY.
H. Kraig Thompson (MPA ’00) has changed jobs. He is now a Budget Analyst with the United States Marine Corps’ Training and Education Command (TECOM) at the Quantico Marine Corp Base in Quantico, VA.
Akaash Vasishta (MPA’06) is working as a Junior Database Analyst for Fannie Mae in Washington, DC.
Linda Wang (MPA’02) is currently working as the project Comptroller for a design-construction project at NOAA in Washington, DC.