Class Notes Summer 2016

1970s

Antoinette Franklin ’78 BA ’98 MEd has written and self-published several books of poetry and three anthologies. Franklin received an honorable mention for self-publication of her book “In the Mist of Struggle Stands a Woman.” She is presently attending UIW pursuing a Ph.D. in organizational leadership.

1980s

Louanne Hausmann ’81 BSN was promoted to nurse manager of Special Procedures Clinic at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Spokane, Wash.

Sue Cunningham ’83 MS, PhD, RD, LD, CDE, FAND, clinical associate professor of nutrition at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, was named the 2015 Texas Distinguished Dietitian and was recognized as a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Paul Spana ’84 BA is the exhibits director for the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Nancy Reyes ’87 BSN celebrated the UIW December graduation of daughter Amanda K. Reyes ’15 BS with dear friend and alumna Raquel Zapata-Garcia ’87 BSN.

1990s

Denise Barkis Richter ’90 MA is the author of “100 Things To Do in San Antonio Before You Die” (Reedy Press, 2016). Richter started her blog, sanantoniotourist.net, in June 2010 to share her love of the Alamo City with fellow adventurers. Richter has lived and studied in Mexico, Spain and Guatemala, and she has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. She has been a professor of journalism/mass communication at Palo Alto College in San Antonio, Texas, since the fall of 1998. Peggy Bowie, her communications professor at UIW, is her teaching role model/mentor.

Eva Matz ’90 BA was named the Northside Independent School District Educator of the Year.

Ricardo Chavira ’96 BA formerly of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” played a recurring character on the hit series “Scandal.” He played Francisco Vargas, Pennsylvania’s first Hispanic governor and a potential presidential candidate.

2000s

Juanita Liserio ’01 BAA retired almost four years ago from Nueces County MHMR. She spent a year-and-a-half resting, traveling and volunteering and was recently hired full time at John Paul Steven’s High School (NISD) as a registrar’s assistant.

Monica Ramirez ’03 PhD RN BSN has been promoted to associate professor and granted tenure. She has been a member of the faculty of UIW’s Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions since 2003.

2010s

Jennifer Herrera ’10 BA is now the owner of a boutique shop called The Southern Bunny. The store is located at 4707 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/shopsouthernbunny

Michelle Martin ’10 BS is the president of MicheTechnology Cyber Consultants, LLC and has 18 years of Information Security expertise in Security Awareness Training, Cross-Sector Collaboration Information Sharing Bridge. She has served in executive leadership roles with the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Washington, DC and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Peter John Holt ’11 BA earned a promotion to oversee all enterprise operating divisions, including HOLT CAT, HOLT AgriBusiness, Texas First Rentals, HOLT Crane & Equipment and Sitech Tejas. Holt earned his B.A. degree in general business and was a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Business Administration Honor Society.

Lawrence Scott ’11 PhD started a consulting firm called S.E.N.D. which focuses on educators reaching at-risk youth. Visit the S.E.N.D. website at www.drlawrencescott.com/index.php

Monica Acuna ’12 BS was hired to lead the Burbank Owls after spending one year as an assistant at Burbank High School. As a student, Acuna played college softball for Incarnate Word. Her accomplishment was featured in April on MySA.com, visit www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/First-year-coach-energizes-Highlands-softball-7243462.php

Jenness Gough ’13 BA ’16 MBA is the new marketing coordinator for Cushman & Wakefield/San Antonio Commercial Alliance.

Ellyse Sanchez ’14 BA MA was promoted to financial aid officer II and training coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin.

Justin Puente ’15 BA has started a new position as graphic designer and marketing coordinator for the company Neon South in Dallas, Texas.

Weddings and Anniversaries

Austin Schafer ’02 CP (certification program for pastoral studies) married Jennifer M. Oddi of Columbus, Ohio, in June 2013. Schafer has been working as the Catholic Campus Minister at St. Thomas More Newman Center at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, for the past seven years. After UIW, he completed a B.A. in philosophy from Saint Xavier University, a M.A. in theology from the University of Dayton, a Graduate Certificate in Youth Ministry from Seton Hall University, and an Executive Certificate in Business Administration from University of Notre Dame. He lives in Columbus with his wife and son, Benjamin.

Jennifer Ara Masters ’11 BA married Jeremy Howard Stavinoha of Bryan, the son of Delbert and Veronica Stavinoha of La Vernia on May 7, 2016, in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Bryan, Texas. The Rev. Ryan Higdon officiated.

Catherine Rosales ’10 BA met her husband, Emilio Javier Rodriguez, through a mutual friend during their college freshman year in 2007. They were engaged March 29, 2014, and married on Feb. 14, 2016.

Angel Garcia ’13 BS and Joshua Luna ’14 BA announced their engagement on May 7, 2016. The couple met through mutual friends while part of the Greek Life community at UIW. Garcia and Luna are planning a summer wedding in 2017.

Alexander Torres ’13 BS and Jennifer Willborn ’12 BA announced their engagement and will be wed on Sept. 3, 2016, with a reception to follow in the Rosenberg Sky Room.

Nataly Gutierrez ’14 BA will marry Ricardo Lopez on July 23, 2016, in Waco, Texas.

Christopher Sullaway ’14 BA announced his engagement to Mercedes Esquivel on May 8, 2016. The couple met through mutual friends in 2013, it was love at first sight. Esquivel will complete her B.A. at UIW in December 2016.

Amber Villarreal ’16 BS has announced her engagement to Robert Fowler.

Darlene Jasso ’15 BA studied abroad in Rome at UIW sister school John Cabot University in Fall 2014. In 2013, she met Edwin Mendoza Hipp, during his exchange semester at UIW from Guatemala. He returned to Guatemala with a promise as she traveled to Europe as part of UIW’s Study Abroad program. While in Rome, Hipp flew from Guatemala to surprise Jasso at her apartment doorstep. On a Valentine’s Day picnic a few days later on a hilltop overlooking Rome, the two had a small prayer service where they exchanged Bible verses and notes to each other which they shared aloud. Hipp read the note from Jasso first and, after a short prayer, she read his; it read, “Would you marry me?” in Spanish and Italian.

The two married on April 30 in New Braunfels, Texas. Their wedding was attended by many UIW alumni and former exchange students who traveled from as far as the Netherlands and Colombia. Two former UIW exchange students served as groomsmen. The couple spent their honeymoon in Thailand. Jasso and Hipp have settled in Guatemala and Jasso hopes to teach English there.

“When I started UIW five years ago, I never thought I would have met a guy from a different country and get married to him just one year after my graduation,” said Jasso. “Edwin and I lived many great memories at UIW and in different parts of the world. It has been a true adventure and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in this new chapter of our lives.”