Alumni News

Robert L. Chapman, ‘80, has been appointed vice president of administration for eCobalt Solution’s U.S. operations. He comes to the company with more than 35 years experience in senior positions in the mining industry.

Randy Jensen, ‘85, was recently named superintendent at American Falls School District. Jensen was previously principal of William Thomas Middle School.

Helen Keezer Burton, ’89, a former English teacher in School District 25, has completed her first novel, “Shakespeare’s True Love.”

Laura McKnight, ’87, ’99, director of Idaho State University’s dietetics program, has been selected as the 2017 Outstanding Dietetic Educator for a Didactic Program in Dietetics in her region. The award recognizes the teaching, mentoring and leadership activities of faculty and preceptors in dietetics education programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. McKnight was selected by a committee of her peers in recognition of her years of service preparing students to become dietitians. In the past year, McKnight has also received the 2016 June Yerrington Award from the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the Phi Upsilon Omicron 2016 National Bachtel-Holbrook Collegiate Advisor Award.

Rick Magnuson, ’92, the co-owner and managing partner of MSVM Group in Pocatello, has been awarded the 2017 American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award by the Idaho Advertising Federation.

Steven Carlsen, ’94, has been named superintendent of the Box Elder School District in Box Elder County, Utah. Carlsen has been a superintendent for Utah’s Carbon School District since 2011. Prior to that he was the North Summit School District superintendent in Coalville, Utah.

Jeffery Mansfield, ’95, was recently named the City of Pocatello Public Works Director and City Engineer. Mansfield is tasked with overseeing operation of the Water, Water Pollution Control (WPC), Sanitation, Streets, Engineering and Science/Environmental Departments.

Dan Heiner, ’95, senior credit officer, Citizens Community Bank, Division of Glacier Bank in Boise was recently elected as the 2017/18 Chair of the Board of Directors for the Idaho Bankers Association at its annual business meeting.

Molly Swallow, ’96, was hired by Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho to serve as manager of investor relations and advocacy. Swallow has served in commercial banking since 2002. She will be responsible for facilitating REDI’s growing investor relations and advocacy efforts.  Swallow sits on the Idaho State University Bengal Athletic Booster Board.

Rosie Maloney, ’96, and Regina Calcaterra’s memoir, “Girl Unbroken,” has been published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The story is the second book for Calcaterra, and documents the sisters’ struggles, courage and triumph through a difficult childhood.

Matt Lucas, ‘96, is the next chancellor of Indiana Wesleyan University National and Global Campus, the campus that oversees all non-residential services at IWU.

Amy Weimer, ‘99, an associate professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, received the University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. She is one of four UTRGV faculty members who received the 2017 recognition.

Ryan Bowman, ‘00, former Buhl High School principal, is the Twin Falls School District’s new director of operations. Bowman started his career in education in 2000 in Buhl where he taught high school government and history. Bowman has also worked as the principal of Raft River Junior/Senior High School and principal of Jerome High School.

Brad Gamet, ’01, was recently named University of Idaho’s new Butte County Extension educator. Previously, Gamett served as the county weed superintendent.

Olav Sorensen, ’05, has joined the Willamette Dental Group after several years of military service.

Idaho State Police Lt. Col. Kedrick “Ked” Wills, ’05, ‘09, has been named the next director of the Idaho State Police, to succeed Col. Ralph Powell.

Whitney Poleki, ‘06, has been selected as Mrs. Pocatello in the Mrs. Idaho America Pageant.

Bryan Wheat, ‘08, is the new Eastern Idaho Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, working out of the Pocatello U.S. Federal Courthouse. His caseload focuses on gun and gang violence, drug trafficking, and immigration offenses affecting eastern Idaho.

Lisa Moravec, ‘11, an assistant professor in the department of dental hygiene at the UNMC College of Dentistry, received the 2017 Dental Hygienist of the Year Award at the Nebraska Dental Hygiene Association (NDHA) Annual Session on April 28.

Chelsea Schoenfelder, ‘12, has been elected to a two-year term as secretary of the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics board of directors. A health and wellness manager at the Idaho Dairy Council, Schoenfelder oversees curriculum and materials provided to health and school professionals, coordinates health and wellness content, enhances partner programs, and promotes the nutritional benefits of dairy foods.