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.
1956
Peggy Patterson Mull did not finish her degree at Berea after marrying Donald Sherwood Mull ’55, in the summer of 1955, but she did complete an associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree elsewhere. She wants to share her new hobby of writing stories about growing up in Appalachia with her alumni friends. At the age of 89, Mull enrolled in a non-credit class where she was encouraged by the teacher to write about growing up in Appalachia. As a 90th birthday present, he presented her with a copy of her first book. Since then, Mull has written four more books. The last one, titled “Guess I’ve Waited Long Enough to Tell,” describes the past year for Mull. The other book titles are: “Picnic on the Hill,” “Quacky Lou” and “Berry Picking.” These books are available on Amazon.
Tom Reesor shared news that the 1956 Foundation School swim team was inducted into the Kentucky Hall of Fame. Reesor, a seventh grader at the time, was unable to attend, but said John Stevenson and Charles Fiske Fd. ’59, ’63, were present. Seventh- and eighth-grade students had been invited to compete that year. The team presented Dr. Roelofs with their trophy, which is now displayed in Seabury Center.
1969
Jerry Kidd has a podcast on YouTube “Jerry Kidd Hillbilly Historian.” The podcast provides truth in history that you will not find in your high school or college textbooks. Kidd studied history at Berea under Dr. Lambert, Dr. Heckman, Dr. Drake and Dr. Wray. Kidd has published books on history and genealogy that can be found on Amazon.com. He was one of the first to publish a book on John Jay, the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He also edited and published a book on the direction of historiography in today’s world of advanced technology. Kidd has also published a couple of historical novels based on actual events. Kidd earned a BA in history at Berea and a master’s at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He also has an EdS in education from Lincoln Memorial University. Kidd says “I like to think I have discovered the path to truth in a society that favors fiction over reality.”
Dr. Roy L. Moore published the 7th edition of “Media Law and Ethics” (Routledge) with co-author Michael D. Murray. The work is designed as a college text and reference resource. Roy and Dr. Pamela V. Moore ’71 live on the coast of Maine in Belfast. They celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this year.
1970
Carolyn Coffey Pennington won two awards: one for a poem in Kentucky Monthly magazine; another for writing five poems for Harriet A. Rose Legacies Contest at Carnegie Center for Literacy in Lexington, Ky.
1972
Professor Rocky S. Tuan was awarded the highest award in TERMIS Global—the Jensen Tissue Engineering Award—for his work on stem cells, biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, that focus on musculoskeletal development and disorders, and his achievement in higher education leadership. Prof. Tuan was presented with a silver medallion and a monetary award of $25,000 at the TERMIS-AM 2025 conference held in Detroit, Mich., in November 2025. During the awards ceremony, Tuan also presented an overview of his unparalleled research at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.
Prof. Tuan also presented at the TERMIS-AP 2025 conference in Wuhan, China, in October 2025. Read more.
1973
John Grigsby has enjoyed reading about his classmates’ post-retirement activities in recent issues of the magazine and decided to share his own update. Grigsby retired as an attorney in 2017 but continues to work about 10 hours a week for Professor Amy Hess of the University of Tennessee College of Law. He conducts research and writes for the Bogert Law Treatise, which Professor Hess has edited since 1994. Grigsby began writing for the Treatise in 1995 while still in law school and continues to do so today. He says he plans to keep writing, which he enjoys, “until either Professor Hess or I get old—and since she has better longevity genes, it’ll probably be me first!”
1975
Rose Weaver, Oak Ridge, Tennessee’s poet laureate, was honored with a surprise ceremony by friends, family and officials for her social activism. Read more.
1979
Michael Banks became the director of code and regulatory compliance at Durasein Acrylic Solid Surface in January 2025.
1984
Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews received the Community Builder of the Year Award at the inaugural hmTv Awards Ceremony on Sept. 19, 2025, at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County in New York. He was recognized for his role as host of Many Voices, One Community, a podcast dedicated to amplifying a broad spectrum of voices. Stevenson-Mathews, who served as a guest artist and visiting assistant professor of theatre at Berea College during the 1996-97 academic year, said, “Berea played such an important role in shaping both my education and my outlook on life. To be honored now for work that carries forward this same spirit of service and community is truly gratifying.” Read more.
Stevenson-Mathews has also been working with students at the Glen Cove Economic Opportunity Commission summer program, teaching students Shakespeare. View more.
1988
Theresa Thompson teaches English composition at the University of Central Missouri. She received her master’s degree in English from UCM, in 2014.
1994
Dr. Sarah Pennington published a book titled “Enacting Differentiation in the Teacher Education Classroom: Practical Strategies for Modeling and Reflection.” She currently teaches at Montana State University. Read more.
Amy Hoggard Vanderpool opened a brick-and-mortar location for the business she owns and operates with her daughter, Molly. Tennessee Sassenachs Herbal Apothecary was a dream that began online four years ago, and it now has a physical location to serve the community with homemade herbal remedies for common health complaints, as well as offering healthy hot and iced teas. The company can be found online at tnsassenachs.com.
1995
Terina Hoskins Edington, M.S., R.D., SNS, CCNP, CMP, has been appointed the executive administrator for Jefferson County Public Schools, where she oversees the USDA Child Nutrition Programs for 147 school locations and approximately 100,000 students. The programs include the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.
1999
Rachel Newman Baker, a former Berea College women’s basketball standout from Berea, Ky., continues to serve on the Southeastern Conference Executive Committee for the second of a two-year elected term. Baker has been with the University of Kentucky athletics department since 2013 and has served as a senior woman administrator since 2022. She previously served as managing director of enforcement for development and investigations at the NCAA National Office. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Berea College and a master’s in sports administration from The Ohio State University. Read more.
Tamilyn Ingram-Thompson graduated from The University of the Cumberlands on Oct. 16, 2024, with a Ph.D. in educational leadership. She is the director of analytics and academic programs for the Menifee County School District.
2002
Sarah Bryant has been promoted to the newly created role of Chief Scientific Advancement Officer (CSAO) for the American Mathematical Society. Read more.
2003
BIRTH: a son, Ramy Moutki Abdur-Rahman, to Dr. Rashaad Abdur-Rahman and Houda Moutki ’13 on July 10, 2025. Houda and Ramy are both healthy and doing very well. They hope to see y’all at a future homecoming!
2004
Christina Caul was selected as one of the 70 II2 fellows, joining top HBCU practitioners nationwide in reimagining self-sustainability for HBCUs. The event took place in May 2025 at Claflin University and was hosted by the Higher Education Leadership Foundation. Additionally, Caul was chosen as one of 30 participants in the 9th cohort of the AASCU Emerging Leaders Program, which includes a week-long session in Washington, D.C., in June, followed by virtual sessions to prepare participants for leadership roles.
Amber Richardson Detty successfully defended her dissertation titled “The Impact of Annual Preventive Visits on Long-Term Patient Outcomes” on March 28, 2025, and graduated from Franklin University with a Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) on June 1, 2025. She was supported in this journey by receiving the Thomas A. Boyd Graduate Scholarship in Sociology from Berea College from 2022 to 2024. Following her graduation, Detty intends to continue her work as the director of state performance outcomes with AmeriHealth Caritas, focused on supporting healthcare quality improvement across multiple Medicaid-managed care populations.
2007
Blake Ryan Henry has held multiple positions in the past 15 years with Cabinetworks Group. He was promoted to multi-site engineering manager in October 2025, working for their corporate office.
2008
Jamie D. Anderson, MBA, has published the “Everything is AOK Teen Keepsake,” a 200-page guided journal designed to help teens build confidence, resilience and focus through prompts and activities. She co-leads the Stamina Foundation with her husband, former NBA Champion Derek Anderson, focusing on youth empowerment and literacy initiatives.
2012
Randy Burson Spade has published his first book, “Walk Me Home: Surviving the Loss of a Loved One to Suicide with Honesty, Grace, and Grit.”
2013
BIRTH: a son, Samuel Onyejindu Oleka, was born to Jamie Oleka and OJ Oleka on May 23, 2025.
2014
Betsy Ann Crabtree graduated from East Tennessee State University on May 10, 2025, with a master’s degree in nursing, specializing in psychiatry and mental health. She recently passed her board certification exams and is now a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. She plans to open her own practice in the coming months.
Seth Teegarden married Brenna Robinson Teegarden ’15. The couple has two daughters, both born healthy and happy. Seth graduated from East Carolina University and is a public-school teacher. Brenna graduated from the University of Louisville and is a licensed therapist.
2015
Nathaniel Fouch accepted an appointment to join the faculty of Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, as an assistant professor of law. Fouch and his wife, Theresa, welcomed their third child and first daughter, Rosa Lucia Fouch, during the first week of the semester!
Bobga Tachu graduated in May 2025 with a doctorate in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, marking his second terminal degree. He is an engineering leader, technical program manager and educator with a strong interest in using computer information systems, engineering and technologies such as blockchain, AI, IoT and cloud computing to drive innovation, sustainable growth and digital transformation across industries. Tachu’s work focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies and their potential to create value for individuals, communities and society at large. He has led global teams at companies including Google, Intel, AWS, nCino and Drata, and he taught at institutions such as Portland Community College, Western Governors University and Purdue University.
MARRIED: Cassandra Rolin Koirala to Shrijit Koirala in Kathmandu, Nepal on Feb. 14, 2023, and gave birth to their son on May 26, 2024. He is 21 months old and delights in learning both Nepali and English.
2019
Kateryna Nabukhotna, an international student from Ukraine, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Berea College. She completed her doctorate at Vanderbilt University last spring and is now a postdoctoral researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Ronnie Sloan Pessetto became executive director at Seven Canyons Trust in Salt Lake City to uncover and restore the Salt Lake Valley’s urban streams.
2021
MARRIAGE: Jacob Ford ’21 to Diana Hernandez ’22 on June 14, 2025, in Glendale, Ky. They celebrated with several Berea alumni.
2023
MARRIED: Kaela Davis Darling to Immanuel J. Darling on Aug. 25, 2024. Their story began at Berea College, where they met while pursuing their shared passion for health and human performance. From study sessions to campus events, their bond grew stronger each day, and they are excited to continue this journey together as husband and wife.
Hannah From brought her one-woman show, Appalachian Songcatcher, to the New York City Fringe Festival in April 2025. The show tells her story through short narratives and musical refrains. About the show, From says, “I want it to be an invitation to listen, to feel and for people to go into their own communities and ask questions and hear the stories of others. I know stories are one of the best ways we can come together and better understand one another.” Read more.
2024
Gabrielle Scott was selected for the Fulbright award to Taiwan.
2025
Syakira Divany Wijaya of Sleman has been selected as a recipient of a Marcus L. Urann Fellowship by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Wijaya is one of only six recipients nationwide to receive the prestigious $15,000 fellowship, named for the Society’s founder. Wijaya received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and computer and information science from Berea College. As a Urann Fellow, Wijaya will pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Southern Methodist University. Read more.
