ALUMNI MAKING NEWS
Elan Barnehama '78 wrote the novel Finding Bluefield (Bold Strokes Books, September 2012), which centers on medical resident Barbara Phillips, who is content to basically hide out in a small Virginia town. When she enters Nicky's Diner, everything changes and -- against her better judgment -- she falls in love.
Perry Binder '81 published 99 Motivators™ for College Success (CreateSpace, 2012). He is a legal studies professor at Georgia State University, and blogs for the College section of The Huffington Post at 99Motivators.com. In this book, Binder gives away all of his teaching secrets, including advice on how to study for multiple choice exams and how to write model essay exam answers.
David Kocieniewski '85 of The New York Times earned the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for his series that penetrated a legal thicket to explain how some of the nation's wealthiest citizens and corporations often exploit loopholes and avoid taxes.
Mary Rittling, MS '88, president of Davidson County Community College (DCCC), was honored in April as North Carolina's Community College President of the Year. Rittling has been president of DCCC since August 2003 and has overseen major campus expansions. In addition, she has fostered and strengthened local, state, regional and national relationships that resulted in DCCC receiving approximately $14 million in new grant funding.
Wendy E. Saunders '91 is acting director of the Mayor's Office of State Legislative Affairs for the City of New York. Saunders joined the Bloomberg Administration in April 2011 and serves as assistant vice president of intergovernmental affairs for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.
James G. McNulty '94, a New York City firefighter, received the M.J. Delehanty Medal for Bravery from the city for placing himself at risk to search for, rescue and remove an unconscious 2-year-old from a tenement fire in Brooklyn. The medal day event took place on the U.S.S. Intrepid. In attendance were his wife, Liz McNulty '94 and their three children, J.T., Caitlin and Ciara.
Seth Marcus '97 is branch chief for operations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). He is part of the leadership team that manages the National Practitioner Data Bank used by hospitals and other healthcare organizations as part of a national strategic effort to improve quality and lower the cost of healthcare. He was named a recipient of the 2012 "Federal 100" Award, recognizing leaders who have played pivotal roles in the federal government IT community.
