The Berea College Alumni Association enjoys hearing from Bereans from all over the world. The “Class Notes” section of Berea College magazine reports verifiable news you wish to share with your alumni friends and associates: careers, weddings, retirements, births and other items of importance to our alumni. Please include your class year and name used while attending Berea. Notes may be edited for style and length. While we will make every effort to put your information into the next issue of BCM, some delays may occur. We appreciate your understanding.
Submit class notes and photographs here or via email: alumninews@berea.edu.
Tap or click on the arrows beside each year below to display Class Notes and photos.
1959
Dr. Harold Branam has published a series of scathing, satirical op-eds in West Virginia’s Charleston Gazette-Mail critiquing the state’s Republican-dominated politics, with titles like “Your government, working for you” and “Kitty litter and West Virginia politics.” Most can be accessed online at “Op-eds by Harold Branam,” including one in West Virginia Watch titled “West Virginia ways of life: The neo-trailer style in a time of late capitalism and climate change.” Before retiring as professor and chairman of English, he was an assistant editor of the first International Encyclopedia of Communications (Annenberg School, Penn/Oxford UP, 1989) and published hundreds of articles in literary reference books, plus poetry in little magazines. Besides op-eds, he is now working on a poetry collection, writing fiction and seeking museum homes for artworks by his late wife, prominent artist Sandy Branam.
1967
Essie Knuckle published her bestselling book, “My Children’s Minds Will Not Be the Devil’s Workshop” in September 2025. Read more.
1982
Donna Chatham Whitis was inducted into the Walden Hall of Honor for teaching.
1984
Gary Chapman has been announced as a 2026 recipient of the Alabama Arts Impact Award by The Alabama State Council on the Arts, the state’s official arts agency. This award honors individuals who have made unique and meaningful contributions to arts and creativity in Alabama and is the state’s highest arts honor. Chapman and six other recipients were honored at the Celebration of Alabama Arts on May 14, 2026, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Ala. Read more.
1992
Mary Pletha Cartwright Erwing would like to announce her upcoming wedding (renewing) in August 2026.
1994
Donald Sutton was recognized in April for 20 years of service to the federal government. He currently works at the Army National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., and serves as the deputy chief of education services and GI bill programs manager for the Army National Guard. During his tenure at the Guard Bureau, he has helped more than one million National Guard Soldiers use their GI Bill benefits to pursue higher education. Don and Cynthia Grey Sutton ’96 celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in March. Cynthia currently teaches choir and guitar at Graham Park Middle School in Triangle, Va. Her choirs recently received a superior ranking at the
district assessment.
1995
Melinda Wofford has amassed many roles within her community over the years, such as assistant director of motor vehicle licensing at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and becoming the first African American councilwoman for the city of Burgin in Mercer County, Ky., in November 2022. She is currently serving a second term and seeking re-election.
Sean Hennessey, an artist, curator and arts administrator, has joined the board of ReVision Arts, a Seattle-based inclusive organization that brings together people of all abilities to celebrate art with a focus on artists with all types of disabling conditions and other artists who consider themselves underrepresented. Hennessey was invited to the board through his work in relief sculptures made in glass that are accessible to touch, allowing the sight-impaired to interact with the sculpture. Sean lives with his wife, Jessica, and their son, Atlas, in Seattle.
1996
Christel Pressley has retired from the Fayette County Clerk’s Office in Lexington, Ky., after 25 years and has moved to Florida. Recently, she became the site coordinator at Lincoln Memorial University – Orange Park College of Veterinary Medicine for the inaugural class.
2002
Gina Fugate defended her dissertation entitled “Barriers and Breakthroughs: Empowering Voices on Accessibility, Identity, and Equity in K-12 Computer Science.” Fugate graduated from the University of Florida with an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in computer science education on April 30.
2005
Jennifer Kilkus completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. She has worked in many hospital systems in the United States and now works in Ireland as an expert in the psychological care of people with cancer. She is excited to be publishing a book in her field of expertise: psychosocial oncology. Her overall goal is to ensure as many people with cancer can be made aware of this book as possible. Read more.
2010
BIRTH: a daughter, Sage Alexandria Calicker, was born to Donovan Calicker and his wife, Dr. Shari Calicker.
2011
MARRIED: Priscilla Henken to Brian Thomas on March 14. They celebrated with family and friends, including several other Berea graduates. In true Pi Day fashion, there was pizza and mini pies.
2013
MARRIED: Lara Zavalza-Neeson married her husband, Jacob, in 2025 and welcomed their baby girl in April 2026. The new family will be relocating to Phoenix, Ariz., in summer 2026 and hope to connect with any alumni out west.
