Alumni News

Albert Wada, '69, of Pingree, has been named to the 2017 Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame. Wada is a nationally honored potato industry leader active at the state and national level of production leadership and other agriculture-related civic organizations.

Dale Conrad, '73, has joined Washington Federal as a branch manager in Boise. Conrad has more than 30 years of experience in construction lending, mortgage and custom construction.

Sharon Hagan, '73, Lane Community College (Oregon) dental hygiene program coordinator, has received a public service award from the Lane County Dental Society for 40 years of service. She was recognized for providing dental care through community service projects and for assistance in obtaining grant funding. She earned a degree in dental hygiene at Idaho State University and taught at Western Kentucky University before moving to Eugene.

Dan Hammon, '80, has been promoted to senior vice president and senior commercial loan officer, at D.L. Evans Bank. Hammon has 36 years of banking experience.

Jean Henscheid, '83, '92, was named interim director of the University of Idaho's James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research, based in Boise. The McClure Center conducts nonpartisan public policy research, informs dialogue and engages University of Idaho students in learning about public policy- making. Henscheid earned her bachelor of arts in history and master of public administration from Idaho State University and her Ph.D. in education from Washington State University.

Bryce D. Jolley, '83,  has been named to Bingham Memorial Hospital's Board of Directors. Jolley is the president of Harper–Leavitt Engineering, Inc., having worked there for more than 30 years and is a registered professional land surveyor in Idaho.

Kent Oram, '83, the Idaho Central Credit Union President and CEO has joined the Western CUNA Management School Board of Trustees. Oram has been the president and CEO of Idaho Central Credit Union since 2007.

Tina Fehringer, '85, '05, the principal of Hillcrest Elementary in American Falls, was named Idaho's Principal of the Year. She will now attend a national summit in Washington D.C. this fall with award-winning principals from each state.

Cass Herbst, '85, '01, CMAA, athletic administrator, Nampa East Valley Middle School, is the 2016 recipient of the Frank Kovaleski Professional Development Award presented by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. She is in her 31st year of teaching and her 18th year as an athletic administrator at Nampa East Valley Middle School. Herbst earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Idaho State University, and a master's degree in athletic administration from Boise State University.

Laura McKnight, '87, '98, 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 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.

Charlie Hurley, '88, was inducted into the Nevada High School Hall of Fame March 14.  He served as head varsity softball and men's soccer coach and served three stints as Virgin Valley High School Athletic Director in 1981-1984, 1996-2000 and 2004-2008. His support of athletics led to 37 Nevada state championships during his tenure. Hurley was named Clark County School District teacher of the year for 1995-1996.

Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, '89,  a 2016-17 American Council on Education fellow, has been selected by Misericordia University for a year-long fellowship. Pehrsson is a professor and dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Kendra Kenyon, '93, has joined Advocates for the West as director of strategic partnerships. Kenyon is a former co-owner of Polly Bemis Ranch on the Salmon River. She has worked with several Fortune 100 companies and nonprofits as a management and leadership consultant.

Christine Wilcox, '93, has been promoted to vice president, communications and public affairs at Albertsons Companies. Wilcox is an 18-year veteran of Albertsons, and for the last 10 years has served in both internal communications and public relations roles for the company. She will lead a newly integrated internal and external communications team.

Rachel Dunaway, '97, was recognized with the Summit County Rotary Club Hero Award for saving a man's life last July. On July 16, Dunaway, a police officer, was driving south on Colorado State Highway 9, when she saw a man on a bicycle collapse on the side of the road. She performed CPR for 4 minutes before an ambulance arrived. Dunaway has been working as a police officer for nearly 20 years.

Siva Gramm-Rohm, '97, has been named to the International Association of HealthCare Professionals  with her upcoming publication in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare. She has been practicing for more than 19 years and is a speech language pathologist currently working for Health Facilities Rehab Services in Kingman, Arizona. She is renowned as an expert in language disorders and in geriatric and pediatric swallowing disorders.

Sarah Miller, '97, has joined Audacious Inquiry, a health information technology and policy company. Prior to coming to Ai, Sarah served as the Oregon Department of Human Services' Chief Operating Officer for Technology, the Oregon Integrated Eligibility Determination Project Director, and the Statewide Chief Operating Officer at Oregon's Department of Administrative Services.

Dr. Aaron S. Florence, '99, has been named Chief of Staff of Estes Park Medical Center. Florence received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Idaho State University and went on to obtain his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. 

Amy LaBaugh, '99, has been named the Student Life vice president at Brigham Young University-Idaho, becoming the first woman to serve as a university vice president at the institution.

Devanee Morrison, '02, was appointed executive director of The Lava Hot Springs Foundation, which oversees the hot pools, the swimming complex and approximately 178 acres of land in and around the Southeast Idaho resort town.

Angie MacKinnon, '02, has joined HDR as the firm's Nevada and Utah water business manager based in the Las Vegas office. MacKinnon's responsibilities include business development, operations, staff development, project management, quality and control for the multi-discipline Nevada water section, and coordinating those efforts with national and regional leaders.

Dan Thurman, '02, is the new President and CEO of East Idaho Credit Union. Prior to his appointment, he served as East Idaho's Chief Lending Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

Cole Parker, '04, is now a partner in Deagle, Ames & Co. The accounting firm has offices in Buhl and Twin Falls.

Dr. Karli Ghering, '05, '07, has opened Bismarck Psychological Associates in Bismark, North Dakota. Ghering has practiced in Bismarck since 2007

Jonny Fisher, '06, founder and owner of Textbook Exchange, has been named the 2017 Idaho Business Leader of the Year by the Idaho State University Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Upsilon chapter, the professional business fraternity. Fisher was recognized at a dinner in Pocatello March 16. The award annually recognizes an Idaho business leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and professional ethics while contributing significant support to worthwhile community, civic and education activities.

Adam Frugoli, '08, was named vice president of EPIC Health Care Strategy Group by EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants. Frugoli will be responsible for new business development, program design and management, marketing and coverage placement.  Frugoli has received many business and community awards, including a “Distinguished Under 40 Award” from the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network.

Connie Stopher, '08, is the new executive director of the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization. Stopher comes to the new position after having served since 2014 as executive director of the South Coast Development Council in Coos Bay, Ore. Stopher has also served as an economic development specialist for Bannock Development Corp. and human resource workforce training instructor at Idaho State University. She earned a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor of arts in political science from ISU.

Jake Garcin, '11, has joined T3 Sport, a basketball-focused sports training facility that is under construction in Boise. Garcin will serve as director of marketing and operations. He holds a master's degree in physical education, athletic administration from Idaho State University and a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Boise State University.

Max Pond, '11, has been hired as the new political affairs director for the Idaho Association of Realtors. Pond was most recently communication specialist for Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. He previously worked as deputy press secretary for Sen. Mike Crapo and field director for Mike Simpson for Congress.

Jordan Kress, '12, has been promoted to escrow officer at AmeriTitle in Pocatello. Kress has more than six years of administration and banking experience.

Zach Stringham '12, PA-C, is joining Banner Health Clinic in Brush and Fort Morgan.

Joseph K. Han, '13, has been named Central Washington University's new vice president of operations. He previously worked as associate vice president of facilities services at Idaho State University and was director of facilities management and services at California State University, Chico.

Jennifer Sawmiller, '16,  PA-C, joined the team at Toppenish Medical Dental Clinic. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Idaho State University in Meridian.

Jennelle Thompson, '16, PA-C, joined the team at Miramar Family Health Center. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Idaho State University in Meridian.