Class Notes
Explore what our alumni have been up to recently. We'd love to hear from you, too! Submit your class note today.
Recent Class Notes
- Nazila Merati '82
- Stephen Engle '84
- Sarah McGregor Horner '84
- Don Blakeney '94
- Janet Paskin '94
- Rob Johnson '96
- Shane Strauss '97
- Steve Hooper '98
- Teresa K. Miller '00
- Victoria Genise Arthur '02
- Rachel Landy '03
- Shane Salk '04
- Anna (Levin) Schneider '05
- Sophie Asher '06
- Mara (Skalenakis) Eng '06
- Cleopatra Cutler '07
- Stephen Goldberg '07
- Lauren (Olsen) Smilde '08
- Blake Titcomb '09
- Denzel Belin '11
- Hanna Sanford '12
- Karsyn Wallace '18
- Wilson Smith '21
Nazila Merati '82
Summer 2021
"In my work life, I help manage one of the largest archives of atmospheric, coastal, geophysical, and oceanic research in the world. Since March 2020, I've been the Data Stewardship Division's Colorado Site Lead at NOAA-National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). When I say I work for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I get a lot of "Do you work with whales?" "Is the Arctic changing?" or "Will it rain tomorrow?" I tell people that I help protect our data resources that feed into products and models that inform climate and marine research. I live in Seattle with my partner and dog. I'm a loyal friend, dog mom, garden historian, daughter, and Auntie LaLa to my niece and nephew. I am also an inveterate traveler, avid needlepointer, accomplished baker, and people connector."
Stephen Engle '84
Winter 2022
"It was great meeting Janet Paskin '94 at a Bloomberg staff party one night amid the high-rises in Hong Kong. It was a classic case of 'Oh, I'm from Seattle, too. Small world. What school did you go to? University Prep? Me too! Even smaller world!' I've now been with Bloomberg Television 18-plus years, based in Hong Kong and Beijing over that time span. I'm the chief North Asia TV correspondent covering the business, finance, and politics of China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Interesting times indeed! There's no question that University Prep seeded me with the curiosity and wanderlust needed for this job."
Sarah McGregor Horner '84
Summer 2021
"I have been working in the Oregon wine industry since 2004. For the last five years, I have been the director of consumer sales at Montinore Estate Winery. Currently, I am most proud of my role as co-chair of ¡Salud!, an organization that provides health care to the migrant farmworkers that the wine industry relies on. Through fundraising, winery contributions, and volunteer efforts, this organization has helped care for vineyard workers for 30 years. This past year, we have provided COVID-19 testing and care and administered vaccines to workers and their families. I live with my winemaker husband, Gary, in the Oregon countryside, and my two adult kids live in the Portland area."
Don Blakeney '94
Summer 2021
"I recently joined the U District Partnership as their new executive director, after working 10 years in downtown Seattle, most recently for the Downtown Seattle Association, and, prior to that, for the Chinatown-ID Business Improvement Area. In my new role, I am excited to lead a team to support the small businesses in the U District, while also guiding planning efforts as the neighborhood welcomes the light rail and unprecedented new residential and commercial development."
Janet Paskin '94
Winter 2022
"I moved to Hong Kong with my partner, Jen, and our three kids (Saul, age 10, and Dahlia and Eliza, age 6) at the end of 2019. It was almost 18 months before my employer, Bloomberg News, had a proper office party. That's where I learned that Stephen Engle '84 and I both went to UPrep—what a small world. You can read my work on www.bloomberg.com/authors."
Rob Johnson '96
Summer 2021
"About two years ago, I joined the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena as their VP of sustainability and transportation. My work is focused on how fans will get to and from all the arena events and implementing the sustainability vision to make Climate Pledge Arena the world's first certified net-zero-carbon arena. Built in 1962 for the World's Fair, Climate Pledge Arena has been able to preserve the original 44-million-pound roof, which is a National Historic Landmark, while we build a brand-new arena underneath. Home to both the NHL's Seattle Kraken and the four-time WNBA champion Seattle Storm, Climate Pledge Arena will also host other great events in the heart of Seattle Center's campus. I'm so thrilled to work for a company that's committed to sustainability while helping to preserve an important part of Seattle's history."
Shane Strauss '97
Winter 2022
"With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting upheaval in the airline industry (not to mention my wife carrying and delivering our third child in the midst of a pandemic), I decided to take an extended military leave of absence from United Airlines to finish up my active-duty military service. I spent the past year and a half flying and instructing on RQ-4 Global Hawks at Beale Air Force Base, California. I recently took a three-year tour of duty for the California Air National Guard, working on manpower and operational planning for domestic operations (wildfires, COVID-19 response, food bank support, and supply chain issues). It is very satisfying to see military personnel and processes being used to make life better for people in California."
Steve Hooper '98
Summer 2021
"I recently joined Ethan Stowell Restaurants, one of the premier restaurant groups in Seattle, as co-owner and president. Ethan Stowell Restaurants includes five-star favorites, including Goldfinch Tavern, Tavolata, and How to Cook a Wolf. After UPrep, I attended Colby College and received my MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Upon returning to Seattle, I founded Kigo Kitchen, which ultimately merged with Ethan Stowell Restaurants. I'm an active UPrep alum and served on the UPrep Alumni Board. I now have three small children - Maggie (6), Ellie (4), and Steven III (1) - and live with my wife, Laura, near Green Lake."
Teresa K. Miller '00
Victoria Genise Arthur '02
Rachel Landy '03
Summer 2021
My first book, Beyond the Work Product: A Guide to Relationship-Driven Transactional Lawyering, was published in January 2021 by the American Bar Association. The book (inspired by the several years I spent in private law practice) is geared toward law students and junior associates and provides a framework for approaching a transactional project in a manner that builds institutional knowledge and rapport with clients (especially smaller/emerging companies), so they are less tempted to move to more automated or lower-cost solutions. I remain based in New York City, where I am an adjunct law professor at Cardozo Law School and employed full-time at YouTube.
Shane Salk '04
Anna (Levin) Schneider '05
Winter 2022
"I am still living in Seattle. I recently opened a yoga studio with my husband. It's called Take Care (www.takecare.yoga) and it's located in the Old Spaghetti Factory building in Belltown. It has been such a joy to start a business in the city where I grew up, in a building I have always know and loved that is now a city landmark. Seattle has changed so much over the years, but the folks that own small businesses still have just as much heart (if not more) now as they did before. I am thankful to be here and would love to welcome all Pumas to come through and say hello. Y'all are always welcome."
Sophie Asher '06
Winter 2022
"After eight years in New Mexico, my partner, Jon, and I moved back to the Seattle area in November 2020. While in New Mexico, I attended the University of New Mexico School of Law, where I focused on Indian law, and then I practiced as a public defender and later in children's law for the state of New Mexico and several Tribes. However, I missed my family and the ocean during the hot desert days, and I am happy to be back in the Northwest. Since moving home, I have gotten to spend time with those I love and whom I missed so much while away. I now work for a national law firm and assist Indian Tribes across the country in court and economic development. I hope everyone in the UPrep community has a wonderful year filled with light, warmth, and love."
Mara (Skalenakis) Eng '06
Winter 2022
"Hi, UPrep community! After graduating college and spending a few years working in the physical therapy industry, I moved to Walla Walla, Washington, to start my private personal training business. Along the way, I met my husband of two years and I celebrated my seventh full year in business in August of 2021. I run a successful studio as a strength and conditioning coach and corrective exercise specialist, with a focus on rehabilitation, chronic pain, and sports performance enhancement. I have spent my free time working to mentor individuals looking to expand into the physical therapy, exercise, and general sport science industry. I would love to help and offer to mentor anyone from the UPrep community who may be considering going in this direction. Just reach out! Sending this as a thank-you to all the wonderful teachers who invested in me and brought me to where I am today. I am so grateful for my high school education and experiences."
Cleopatra Cutler '07
Summer 2021
This year is a whirlwind while I grow my fledgling business as an artist. I'm painting a world where I want to live, in full spectrum. Exploration of artistic voice has led me to ethical shifts from a binary to gradient mindset (as it applies to right and wrong, gender, identity, politics, etc.); "campfire rules" (leaving it better than I found it in all things, most radical of which is the environment); and a deep love for transformative justice (healing over retribution). I live with a friend, partner, and two chubby guinea pigs on Capitol Hill. I'm always open to connection, questions, and collaboration! @cleopatratheartist
Stephen Goldberg '07
Lauren (Olsen) Smilde '08
Winter 2022
"After earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the UW in 2019 (with fellow UPrep alumnae Bekah Strong '01 and Lauren Rotkis '06—small world!), I started working as a palliative care nurse practitioner at Valley Medical Center in Renton. Prior to and throughout the pandemic, my team had the privilege of walking alongside patients with serious illness, with the goal of promoting quality of life, alleviating symptoms, and planning for the future. While it has been an incredible honor to support hospitalized patients and their families these past few years, I transitioned to EvergreenHealth Hospice Care in December, where I help care for people at home in their final weeks and months of life. In other news, my husband, Ed, and I recently celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary and are incredibly privileged to be settling into our first home in Edmonds."
Blake Titcomb '09
Denzel Belin '11
Hanna Sanford '12
Summer 2021
After a lengthy job search, I landed my dream job with the Seattle Seahawks! I am excited to be a part of the team as the community engagement manager. In this role, I will execute and provide support for a variety of community programs, events, and game-day experiences. I will work closely with local nonprofit organizations, the Seahawks Charitable Foundation, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to support our Pacific Northwest communities. I will also partner with the Corporate Partnerships department to plan and execute many key partner programs and NFL initiatives. I look forward to raising awareness for and supporting many diverse causes using the Seahawks platform. I am grateful and thrilled to be continuing my career in community outreach in the professional sports industry.
Karsyn Wallace '18
Wilson Smith '21
Winter 2022
"So far during my gap year, I've been to a lot of new places and met a lot of cool people. I went to Central America for 70 days this fall, exploring Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama with a group of other students like me and two awesome instructors. Some of the activities we did included learning how to scuba dive (I saw a hammerhead shark!), surfing, and working on a farm in the mountains. We also released hundreds of baby sea turtles into the ocean! I feel very lucky that I was able to do this amazing trip, and I look forward to exploring more of the world."