Class Notes
Alumni, we want to hear what you've been doing. Mail career, wedding, child, and death news to Class Notes, Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Holtzman Alumni Center, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061, or email the information to classnotes@vt.edu. Photos may also be shared for consideration. For assistance, call 540-231-6285.
1969
- Raymond D. Smoot, Blacksburg, Va., was appointed to the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority board of directors on Nov. 22, 2024.
1970
- Michael G. King, Sandia Park, N.M., received the Federal Aviation Administration Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in recognition of over 50 years of exemplary aviation flight experience, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment to aviation safety. Having retired from the U.S. Air Force and Delta Air Lines, Mike currently serves as chief flight instructor at the Kirtland Air Force Base Flight Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
1978
- Christopher E. Mandel, College Grove, Tenn., was named assistant professor of enterprise risk management practice at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
1980
- James L. Hull, Fairfax, Va., has published two books in his retirement: the apocalyptic, future-fiction “Mallmageddon” and the out-of-this-world space adventure “James T. Rogers, Space Cadet.
- Bryce A. Turner, Baltimore, Md., was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from ULI Baltimore in recognition of his contributions to architecture and urban design and planning within the Baltimore-Washington region.
1981
- Jeffrey R. Williams, Potomac, Md., was appointed president of Aptamus Carbon Solutions, a pioneer in the global clean energy transition focused on the maritime transportation and storage of carbon dioxide captured from power plants and other industrial sources. Also, he is the legislative director for the global nonprofit Surfrider Foundation, which promotes science-based policies for mitigating the effects of sea-level rise, removes plastics from the oceans, and protects public beach access rights around the nation.
1982
- Thorold J. Sharitz, Cumming, Ga., is a Christian author with a new spiritual memoir, “Control Freak, The Least Valuable Player.”
- James P. Woolsey, Washington, D.C., joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a member of the adjunct research staff in the Cost Analysis and Research Division of the Systems and Analyses Center.
1985
- Andrew T. Ceperley, Palm Springs, Calif., published his first book, “Tone Setters in the Academy: How to Build an Inspired Life as a University Administrator,” which was written to help higher education administrators reconnect to their passions, implement changes at their organizations, and flourish in their roles.
- Christine M. Gagne-Werner, Maryville, Ill., who retired from her role as a professor in the physician assistant program at Saint Louis University in 2023, was named professor emeritus in December 2024.
1991
- Gerard F. Lawson, Salem, Va., was reappointed to the Board of Counseling on Nov. 22, 2024 by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
1994
- Robert J. Mills Jr., Callands, Va., was elected vice president of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation during the 2024 Annual Convention. He has served on the board of directors since 2011. Mills was re-appointed to the Virginia Tobacco Board by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in October 2024.
- Christopher J. Yianilos, Alexandria, Va., published his second book, “The Law School Breakthrough, 2nd edition,” to help current and aspiring law students succeed.
1996
- Charlie R. Gillian, Spring Hill, Tenn., is regional vice president for the Waste West region of VLS Environmental Solutions.
1997
- Amy K. Cheatham, Virginia Beach, Va., was inducted into the Franklin Community Wall of Excellence in recognition of significant career achievements by an alum of Franklin City Public Schools.
2002
- Morgan A. Eddy, Annandale, Va., is vice president of Steele Foundation, which earned the 2024 ABC Metro Washington Excellence in Construction Award for exceptional site workon the Claret project.
2003
- John H. Rossmeisl Jr., Blacksburg, Va., the Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Virginia Tech, was recognized as a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Awards by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Dominion Energy. He directs the Veterinary and Comparative Neuro-oncology Laboratory, which researches brain tumor formation and treatment.
2005
- Britni W. Edwards Grimes, Raleigh, N.C., joined Tapestry Development Group as regional development director.
- Brittany B. Macomber, Brooklyn, N.Y., of Morris Adjmi Architects recently was selected as a winner of Glen-Gery’s inaugural Architect Collaboration Program, an initiative that invited architects, designers, and students to submit original designs for custom brick shapes.
2008
- Jennifer A. Kinnetz, Olney, Md., joined CodaPet, a network of veterinarians dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care for pets in the comfort of their homes.
2010
- Audrey L. Lucardi-Worden and Alexander G. Worden ’11, Erie, Colo., founders of StudioTJOA in Boulder, Colo., were awarded the Department of Energy’s Building Envelope Innovation Challenge for their Thermalswitch Building Envelope Extension.
2013
- Yasmin Bagha, McLean, Va., joined Ogletree Deakins in Washington, D.C., as an associate.
Lindsey Buracker ’07, DVM ’13 volunteers twice a year to provide veterinary care in what is essentially a veterinary desert. Navajo Nation spans some 27,000 square miles and contains over 500,000 cats and dogs and only three veterinarians.
“It fills my bucket,” said Buracker. Veterinarians “have so much stress, so many hardships, difficult clients, and a lot of time we feel like we are taken for granted and our buckets are depleted. To go to these places where people are so grateful they’re practically crying, it fills me back up and reminds me why I’m in this difficult profession. It’s for those people, those pets, who truly need me.”
As an area chief of staff, Buracker oversees five Banfield Pet Hospital locations spread from Roanoke to Richmond. She manages and directs veterinarian teams — this includes everything from leading a 12-week mentorship program with new graduates to rolling up her sleeves and chipping in to help more experienced veterinarians.
In addition, Buracker is the area community champion, a leader in community outreach who organizes events. For example, a recent event with the Richmond SPCA saw over 100 animals vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
Learn more at alumni.vt.edu/buracker.
2015
- Ashley E. Adams, Springfield, Va., joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a technical editor in the Science, Systems and Sustainment Division of the Systems and Analyses Center.
2016
- Erin M. Struble, Williamsburg, Va., joined CodaPet, a network of veterinarians dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care for pets in the comfort of their homes.
2017
- Kevin Junior Mekulu Mvondo, Blacksburg, Va., was recognized in the 2025 Forbes 30 under 30 in Healthcare list.
2019
- Megan E. Lowman, Ashburn, Va., joined CodaPet, a network of veterinarians dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care for pets in the comfort of their homes.
2021
- Angela E. Orange, Richmond, Va., was selected as a member of Cohort 6 of the Virginia Management Fellows program.