Engage!

JIM YOST, BA, history, ’71, was appointed one of two Idaho members of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. He previously worked for Union Pacific Railroad and the Idaho Farm Bureau, and served two terms in the Idaho Senate representing the Magic Valley’s North Side. Yost served as a natural resources adviser to Governors Phil Batt, Dirk Kempthorne, and Jim Risch, and has been project manager since Otter took office in January.

BEE BIGGS-JARRELL, MPA, public administration, ’82, published an anthology of stories called “Malawi Moonsmoke 2006,” about the two years she and her husband served as senior citizen volunteers in Malawi, Africa.

MARK A. SEELEY, BA, political science, ’84, is publishing a book titled, “A Most Fortunate Man, A Vietnam KIA Pilot’s Letters, A Son’s Journey” about his father’s experiences during the Vietnam War.

LYNN A. SANDER, BA, communication, ’86, has been appointed vice president, community relations and development for Home Federal Bank in Nampa. She is responsible for strategic initiatives including the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act Plan, expansion of the retail branch network, community involvement and public relations. She most recently served as executive vice president, Consumer Banking Division.

JOHN ELLIOT, BA, communication, ’91, recently joined Countrywide Home Loans team in the Boise Overland office. Elliot specializes in all types of residential mortgage lending, including purchase, refinance, equity, construction, prime and sub-prime. Previously he worked as a loan consultant for Trinity Home Mortgage.

SUSAN M. STACY, MA, history, ’91, presented a lecture for the 2008 Boise River Community Lecture Series sponsored by Idaho Rivers United. Stacy is the author “When the River Rises: Flood Control on the Boise River, 1943-1985.”

SCOTT MARTIN, BA, political science, ’95; MPA, public administration, ’00, works in Virginia’s Roanoke Valley as Franklin County’s director of commerce and leisure. He is in charge of economic development and runs the tourism department for the county.

MARC MUNCH, BA, anthropology, ’95, has been named state highway archaeologist for the Idaho Transportation Department. Munch has been with ITD for the past four years and before that worked for nine years at the Boise National Forest as an archaeologist.

HEIDI KELLY, BA, advertising, ’96, has been hired by Oliver Russell in Boise as an interactive producer. She will provide online expertise and e-marketing solutions for the marketing agency. Most recently, she was creative integration manager for Critical Mass.

DEMETRIA RAMAKERS, BA, communication, ’97, has been appointed vice president, commercial lending relationship manager at Home Federal Bank’s Commercial Lending Center in Boise. She most recently was vice president, relationship manager for Magnet Bank in the Treasure Valley.

PERRY STOKES, BA, history, ’98, is the new library director for the Baker County Library District based in Baker City, Ore. After four years of teaching English in Japan, he served in leadership roles for King County Library System in Washington State while earning his Master’s of Library & Information Science degree at the University of Washington. He will oversee library services in six library branches throughout Baker County.

SEAN S. BURLILE, BS, criminal justice, ’99, received a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho-Boise. His dissertation was entitled, “The Experience of Transitioning from the Armed Forces to the Civilian Workforce as a Result of Service-Connected Disabilities.” Burlile was selected to participate in the VA’s Executive Leadership Program.

ODESSA R. BECKER, BA, social work, ’00, received her MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University in Alexandria, Va. She is a foster parent recruiter for the City of Alexandria, Va.

LUKE WILD, BS, psychology, ’00, joined the Coeur d’Alene office of Century 21 Beutler & Associates as a real estate agent.

MARK BETSILL, D.C., BS, psychology, ’01, joined the staff of Whole Health Chiropractic in Boise. Dr. Betsill graduated from Western States Chiropractic in December 2007, and is trained in the treatment of spinal injuries and corrections, sports injuries, children, and pregnancy, among other health issues.

KEVIN O’BRIEN, BA, history, ’03, a mass communication specialist 2nd class, is an official photographer assigned to U.S. Navy Secretary Donald Winter, the civilian head of the Department of the Navy. He has photographed President Bush, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, completed a tour of the South Pacific and the Persian Gulf, and was briefly assigned to photograph the Blue Angels.

LISA SHINE, BA, social work, ’03, works at the Adams County Behavioral Health Clinic. Lisa provides PSR (psychosocial rehabilitation services), case management and counseling services.

PATRICK CHETWOOD, MPA, public administration, ’04, is the finance & insurance manager for Meridian Ford, and recently graduated from the General Dealership Management program of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

JOSH THORNDYKE, BS, criminal justice, ’04, works as a patrol officer for the McCall Police Department.

CHRIS CARR, BS, political science, ’05, cornerback and kick returner for the Tennessee Titans, was a guest speaker at Challis Elementary in January.

SHELBY DAY, BA, anthropology, ’05; BA, visual art, ’05, is the state co-chair for the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). And she is responsible for identifying and nominating individuals, projects, or entities for national Leadership in History awards for the recognition of excellence in the fields of collection, interpretation and preservation.

BENJAMIN DAVENPORT, BA, history, ’07; BS, political science, ’07, has joined the Boise firm of Evans Keane LLP as a governmental affairs liaison.

TERI De BIASE, BS, sociology of social science, ’07, works as the Ada county field supervisor for Assisting Angels Home Care, a provider of non-medical home care services. She assesses clients, provides office support, and fills in with clients when the caregivers aren’t available.

Filed under: Uncategorized