1977
Bill Lambert, ’77 BSED and Mary Morrison Lambert ’77 BA celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September. Both are retired from Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools. They have one daughter and they live in Northern Virginia.
John R. Dillard ’77, now teaching at a law school in Birmingham, AL, has earned multiple doctorates and was named Outstanding Professor of the Year in 2024. He credits his WCU degree as the foundation of his career.
1978
Peter Givens M.A. ’78, a retired U.S. National Park Service professional who spent much of his career on the Blue Ridge Parkway, recently published his first novel, An Enduring Voice.
1989
Mike Warren ’89 transitioned from IT to real estate appraisal in 2006 and now owns Mike Warren Appraisal Services, LLC. He has served on the NC Appraisal Board since 2018 and has been its chair since 2022.
Gina Paris ’89 MA.Ed earned her Doctor of Education degree from Liberty University in Curriculum & Instruction with a Cognate in Special Education in April 2025.
1991
Thomas Perkins ’91 is Supervisor of Athletics for Tarboro Parks and Recreation, where he has worked for 27 years, and recently celebrated his 34th wedding anniversary with fellow Catamount Shannon Kress Perkins ’93.
1992
Andy Lominac ’92 is Director of Interior Design and Logistics for ALG Senior, where he has overseen 12 new construction projects and more than 20 renovations, including the recent opening of Stonecroft Senior Living in Flat Rock.
1993
Melinda Sessoms Ward ’93 was honored with induction into the 5S Club at the NC One Water conference, recognizing her outstanding professional involvement in the field.
Tina Ballard Barber ’93 received the Thanks Badge from Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont for exceptional service and was elected as a delegate to the 2026 National Council Session.
1994
Eric Josephson ’94 is the author of the novel and soon to be Audible book, The Man Named Destruction through Amazon distribution. The story is a mixture of sci-fi, horror and historical fiction. The main character in the thriller is a WCU graduate and the story has chapters that take place on campus.
1997
Matt Henson ’97, now in his 28th year of teaching and coaching, was inducted into the 2025 Georgia Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He serves as head track & field coach at Parkview High in Lilburn, GA.
2000
Christy Lilley Propst ’00, principal of Morehead City Elementary School, was named the 2025 Carteret County and Southeast Region Principal of the Year.
2001
Natasha Teasley ’01 co-founded Two Sisters Adventure Company in Durham, offering inclusive kayak trips, paddlesports classes, and summer camps alongside her sister Rainbow Teasley ’07. The company was recently featured on PBS-NC’s North Carolina Weekend.
Tim Van Cleave M.A. ’01 is now Program Manager of the Interpretive Division at Tonto National Monument in Arizona, following a 23-year career with the National Park Service.
Camille Harwood ’01, an author based in Raleigh, recently published her debut novel Carolina Girls: Sunset Beach, the first in a four-part series, and is planning local signings and events with her Alpha Chi sisters.
Melissa Brubaker ’01 was recently selected as one of Greenville County Schools’ newest Assistant Superintendents of Elementary Schools. Greenville County Schools is the largest district in South Carolina and the 47th largest in the nation.
2004
Michelle Gorton Dill ’04 has led Charlotte High School’s volleyball program to 300+ wins, six district titles, and multiple Coach of the Year honors in her 16-year career. A former Catamount player, she now coaches incoming WCU freshman Abbie Willis.
2005
Will Staley ’05 is Chief Commercial Officer for Tecumseh Products LLC, leading global sales, marketing, and strategy for the $600 million HVAC/R supplier, and proudly represents WCU on his international travels.
2007
Ruby Brady Lansdell ’07 was promoted to Principal in Bernard Robinson and Company assurance practice in Greensboro, NC, bringing over 16 years of experience serving privately held businesses, employee benefit plans, and HOAs. She’ll return to WCU in February for a staff accountant recruiting event.
2008
Rahkie Mateen former Track and Field athlete (94-97) turned Comedian performed in New York September 4-5, 2025 at Under St Marks Theater in the Neurotica Fest presented by Iris Bahr (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks, Stories from the Brink!).
2010
Katelan Suzanne Price ’10, ’12 started a new role in October as the Director of Finance for Pilot Gaming Inc.
2014
Joshua Wilkey ’14, M.A. ’16 was recently named Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Union Commonwealth University.
2016
Darlene DeRosa Houghtaling ’16 is HR Manager for Team Penske, where she has built a 30-year career with one of the racing industry’s most successful teams.
2018
Molly Grace Lovette ’18 will complete her MBA in Summer 2025, her second master’s degree from Ohio University.
2021
Melinda Lo ’21 is in her third year of pharmacy school, working toward her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and says Cullowhee will always feel like home.
2022
Taylor Lang ’22 earned a Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health in 2024 and now works in rural and tribal youth suicide prevention, building on experiences from WCU’s Cherokee Studies program.
Jared Draney ’22 is in his second year as Assistant Director of Creative Services for University of Massachusetts Athletics.
2023, 2025
Ivan Huffman ’23, M.E. ’25, and Deborah Widding ’25, both College of Business Ambassadors, met through Future Business Leaders of America and will marry on November 1, 2025. Ivan earned his master’s in Entrepreneurship, and Deborah graduated with honors in Finance.