Join us for a weekend of fun and good memories during Homecoming, with “Blue & Gold Reunion” activities on Friday October 19^th and Saturday, October 20^th. More info will be posted on the alumni events page, as the schedule of events is made.

Caroline Miller, ’71 MA,  re-published her Victorian novel of mystery, Gothic Spring, in January of this year and has recently signed a contract for another suspense/mystery, Trompe l’Oeil, to be published in October – a story centered around the French-Algerian War. The first novel, Gothic Spring, has received several good reviews, the latest from Alan Caruba, a nationally recognized book critic. Miller has sold many short stories.  Her most recent is a novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, a piece of magical realism which takes place in modern Paris.  It will be published as a two-part sequel by The Colored Lens beginning this month.  You can also read Caroline’s daily thoughts on her blog. (Image, right)

Happy retirement to Bill Eardensohn, ’73 BS & ’76 MS, and Pauline Dynneson Eardensohn, ’76 BS. They wrote to tell us they have completed “their 25 year career as missionaries in Tanzania, soon returning to Omaha, NE for stateside assignment followed by retirement from their sending organization.” (Photo, left)

Patricia Williams West, ’74 BM, stopped by our Alumni offices in Old Main this month. She and her husband were in town for her nephew’s (Russell Flores, BFA ’12) senior art exhibition and graduation. (Photo, right)

Joseph Lippert, ’75 MA & ’83 PhD, just had an article, "Harvesting Souls," published in Native Peoples Magazine. Read the article.

William E. Jenkins, ’76 BS, is treasurer of the USA Coast Guard Foundation board of directors. He joined the foundation’s board in 2009. Mr. Jenkins is President of SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., an ExxonMobil affiliate in Houston. He is Chairman of the Board of International Marine Transportation Limited, an ExxonMobil affiliate in Great Britain, and the ExxonMobil Global Marine Center.

Doug Wells, '76 BS, was featured in an article in the Williams News. Doug is now publisher of Williams News. (Photo, left, courtesy: Ryan Williams/WGCN)

Dr. Jennifer McNelis Johnson, ’76 BFA, emailed us an update on her Lumberjack family: “I am a proud Lumberjack, class of 1976. My husband [Craig Johnson, ’71 BS] is a Lumberjack, Class of 1971. Our three children are all Lumberjacks! At the end of this school year I will be retiring after 32 years with the Glendale Union High School District, the last four years as the superintendent! We would all be Lumberjacks if we had to do it over again. Thank you for keeping me in the NAU loop!”

Congrats to alumnus Steven Bain, '77 BS. He has been hired as Northwest University head volleyball coach. Steven also has a PhD in Veterinary Science from Washington State and is currently a research associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Washington. Read more.

Gerald Tuskan, ’78 BSF, has been named Forest Biotechnologist of the Year by the Institute of Forest Biotechnology. Jerry is currently a distinguished scientist in the biosciences division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The award recognizes the forest biotechnologist who best exemplifies responsible uses of forest biotechnology and actively promotes science, dialogue and stewardship through their work. Read more.

Gary O’Brien, ’79 BS, is a photographer, picture editor and multimedia producer in Tucson, Arizona. Gary worked for the North Las Vegas Valley Times, the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Daily Sun, the East Valley Tribune and the Mesa Tribune before joining the Charlotte Observer in 1988. He’s worked as a staff shooter, photo systems editor, regional picture editor and photo lab manager. He became the Observer‘s night picture editor in 2006 before returning to Arizona last summer. 

Dr. Melanie Wilson, ’79 BS, is now Director of the Women’s and Diversity Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott campus. Melanie has more than 15 years of leadership experience in college student development, women’s center and student service directorships as well as a voyage with the Semester at Sea program. (Photo, left)