News

January 28, 2025

Redhawks Who Soar - January 2025

We are proud of the nearly 21,000 living alumni working in marketing, healthcare, social work, business, criminal justice, law, ministry, non-profits, the technology industry, and entrepreneurship – to name a few. 

This month, we celebrate new positions and accomplishments in our alumni network.

 

Izzy Groves ‘20 (Biology) is a professional soccer player for the Women’s Championship club London City Lionesses as of Dec. 2024. The Lionesses are based in England. A midfielder, Groves played for the Redhawks from 2016 to 2019.

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Aaron Hitchcock ‘24 (Biochemistry) recently joined Bausch and Lomb as an Analytical Chemist. 

 

Photo credit: urmc.rochester.edu

E. Katherine (Ireland) Valcin ‘96 (Nursing) has been named the University of Rochester Medical Center’s chief nursing executive and chief nursing officer of Strong Memorial Hospital. In her new role, Valcin will oversee all nursing operations at URMC, convene system-wide chief nursing officers in information sharing, and strengthen collaboration across disciplines. She will also serve as assistant dean of clinical practice in the School of Nursing, continuing to bridge clinical care and education.

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Malik Dare ‘18 (Business Administration) was recently promoted to the Director of Environmental Conservation, Lower Education, and Higher Education at the New York State Senate Finance Committee. He will oversee all fiscal-related matters regarding these issues in the NYS budget and any proposed State legislation for all SUNY, CUNY, and private colleges throughout the State as well as the State’s K-12 system and all of the important energy and environmental demands in New York.

 

London Booker  ‘16 (Childhood and Special Education) started a new position as the Athletic Director at Rochester City School District.

 

Becca Fields-Poniskaitis ‘16 (Business Marketing and Graphic Design) earned her master’s in Marketing from the University of Sunderland in London, England.

 

Jason Scharf ‘06 (Religion and Philosophy) was appointed the Deputy Director of Digital Services for the City of Syracuse by Mayor Ben Walsh on Dec. 13, 2024. Scharf will be responsible for promoting digital innovations and supporting digital solutions to improve City government service delivery for residents. Scharf has worked in City government for three years. 

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Benjamin Lazcano ‘24 (Business Administration), a recent graduate, started a new position in January 2025 as the Associate Regional Director for Dallas Legends soccer programs.

 

Nathan Cannon ‘20 (Physics) is a Resident Physician in the Department of Opthalmology at Milson S., Hershey Medical Center, and a medical student at Penn State in Hershey, PA.

 

Michelle (Rowland) Lee ‘93, M ‘05 (Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Management) launched True North Executive Solutions LLC in May 2024. The company specializes in organizational assessments, HR gap analysis, compensation, board and leadership development and strategy.

 

Sarah Michel ‘14 (Music) was ordained as an Elder in the Free Methodist Church. She completed a Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary in May of 2024. She is a Chaplain Resident with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, KY.

 

Sara “Saso” Nady ‘19, M ‘21 (Business Administration, Master of Science in Strategic Leadership) is joining the Global Operations team at Keepit in January. She will start her year in Copenhagen meeting the team in person. Keepit is the leading provider of SaaS backup and data protection, and it is present in Europe and the United States.

 

Marna (Vanderhoof) Distaffen ‘88 (Math Education) started a new role as Director of Advancement Services at Roberts Wesleyan University. Before that, she was the assistant director of prospect research and donor stewardship for the Advancement team at Roberts.

 

Joseph Otto ‘22 (Marketing) started a new position in January as the Assistant Director of Database Management & Analytics at Roberts Wesleyan University.

 

Faith (Mosseau) Turner ‘82 (Music Education), retired from a wonderful career in Special Education PreK.

 

Ronalyn “Ronnie” (Hawkins) Pollack ‘98 (Social Work) made the Rochester Business Journal 2024 Power List, announced in Dec. 2024, for Environmental Leaders. This program recognizes people for their important climate advocacy work in the Rochester area. Pollack is the director of training and community engagement at the Center for Dispute Settlement.

 

McKennzie Muir ‘20 (Psychology) started a new position as Senior Specialist, Digital Marketing at Belden Inc. headquartered in St. Louis. Before that, she was a Marketing Specialist at Precision Optical Transceivers, Inc.