28 TOWER | FALL 2023 CLASS NOTES 1970s Thomas Ardizzone ‘75 is a freelance video producer and adjunct professor at Cedar Crest College. He has produced videos for Cedar Crest of their Rio de Janeiro, Athens, London, Costa Rica and Marrakech Sophomore Year Expeditions. Ardizzone is a founding member and radio host for the National Public Radio member station WDIY FM. “Everything I do – from producing videos, teaching communications, playing original music, hosting a radio show and leading Tai Chi – is a result of my experience at Kutztown University." Joe Evanousky ’75, M’83 taught art in North Schuylkill, Selinsgrove, and Williams Valley public schools for 35 years before retiring in 2010. Several of his drawings, inspired by his childhood in Shenandoah during the 1950s and 1960s, were on display at the Schuylkill County Historical Society in January. 1980s Curtis Smith ’82, M’88 has published over 125 stories and essays, and his work has been cited by or appeared in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Mystery Writing, The Best American Spiritual Writing, The Best Small Fictions, The Best Microfictions, and the WW Norton anthology New Micro. He worked with independent presses to release five story collections, two essay collections, six novels, and one book of creative nonfiction. His last novel, “The Magpie's Return,” was named an Indie Pick of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews. His new novel, “The Lost and the Blind,” will be published this month. Mark R. Weaver, Esq. ’83, M‘85 was honored with a Reader's Favorite Honorable Mention award at the end of 2022 for “A Wordsmith’s Work.” Nationally, only four other books won awards in the nonfiction writing/publishing category. “A Wordsmith's Work” is in its fourth edition, providing practical advice for writers generally, and even some industry-specific advice for crisis communications for those in law enforcement, restaurant management, higher education, and health care. Throughout the book, Weaver emphasizes the importance of clarity of thought and precision of prose. The book also gives detailed guidance on how to write opinion columns, referring to Weaver's own published pieces in major outlets like USA Today, The Washington Post, and Newsweek. “A Wordsmith's Work” is available on Amazon and AWordsmithsWork.com. Margaret Dinneny '87 was recently selected as Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia's (CSFP) new board chair after serving on the board since 2019. Prior to her board chair appointment, Dinneny, who is currently the Chief People Officer at Wawa, served as the vice chair. CSFP is a privately funded program whose mission is to provide financial access for students from under-resourced Philadelphia families to safe, high-quality, tuition-based schools. It is the largest provider of scholarship support for grades K-8 in Pennsylvania. CSFP currently serves more than 5,800 children enrolled at more than 160 area tuition-based schools, who are receiving a maximum of $3,200 per child, per year. CSFP scholarships are need-based and awarded by random lottery. Scott Balestrier ’89, a professional services industry veteran, has joined SolomonEdwards as its chief executive officer. With over three decades of experience leading professional services organizations and delivering strong outcomes for clients and colleagues, he will drive SolomonEdwards’ next phase of growth with the company’s executive leadership team and its private equity partner, Renovus Capital. He is based in the company’s headquarters in Wayne, Pa., and has joined the company’s board of directors. 1990s Craig Norris ’93 is employed by French Creek State Park in Elverson, Pa. Once an industrial complex for the fledgling United States, today, French Creek State Park is an oasis for people and wildlife. Straddling the Schuylkill Highlands, the 7,730-acre park is the largest block of contiguous forest between Washington, D.C., and New York City. Holly Tienken ‘97, Kent Eisenhuth ’06, and Matt Twombly ‘08 worked together on the identity, graphic and website design for Aalyria. Aalyria brings together two technologies orignally developed at Alphabet as part of its wireless connectivity efforts: atmospheric laser communications technology (Tightbeam) and a software platform (Spacetime) for orchestrating networks across land, sea, air, space, and beyond. Annette (Evans) Whipple ’98 celebrates curiosity and inspires a sense of wonder while exciting readers about science and history. She's the author of many fact-filled children's books including, “The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide” (Chicago Review Press), “Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls” (Reycraft Books) in The Truth About series, and “The Story of the Wright Brothers” (Rockridge Press). She recently released her 12th book, “Meow! The Truth About Cats” (Reycraft Books). When Whipple is not reading or writing, you might find her baking for her family in Pennsylvania. Kimberly Levin ’99 earned her Ed.D. from Lehigh University in May 2022. Her dissertation title was "The Complexity of Teacher Interactions with At-Risk Students." She was promoted to the director of secondary education for the Stroudsburg Area School District in July 2022. 2000s Major Michaelann Andrusiak ‘00 was selected by Col. Christopher Paris and appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to lead the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security. Andrusiak enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in 2002, beginning her career as a trooper assigned to Troop K, Media Station. While assigned to Media, she worked as a patrol trooper and criminal investigator. She held the ranks of corporal, sergeant and lieutenant within the various stations that fall under the purview of Troop K, Philadelphia. She also served in the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division, as an investigator, and most recently served as the director of the Drug Law Enforcement Division within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
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