Vol. 20, No. 2 - Spring 2004

Alumni notes

1920s

Helen Allen (B.S., ’26) died Nov. 11, 2003, at the age of 96. Allen, a former teacher, was one of the college’s oldest living alumni and was featured in the winter 2002 Link. Her love of teaching was only surpassed by her pride in being a College of Education and Human Development alumna.

1930s

Elizabeth Atkins (B.S.,’38) died March 23. Atkins, who was 88, was a teacher in Grand Marais, Mich., and a long-time nursery school teacher in Edina, Minn.

1940s

Margaret Moe (B.A., ’46) died Jan. 6 at the age of 84. Moe taught school in Minnesota before taking a position with the Girl Scouts of America as executive director of the Independence, Mo., Girl Scout Council. In 1953 she took a national staff position with the Girl Scouts and moved to Washington state. She was an avid world-class traveler and a wildlife enthusiast.

1950s

Marcia Moore Nesley (B.A., ’55) retired this past fall after a long career as a kindergarten teacher. She began her teaching career in Great Falls, Mont., teaching 40 children in the morning and 40 more in the afternoon. After Nesley and her family moved to Bond Lake, Wis., she resumed her teaching career until her retirement.

1960s

Arlene Clapp (B.A., ’60) was named chair of the board of Minneapolis-based CornerHouse.

Thomas Zellmer (B.A., ’69) celebrated his 25th anniversary as principal of Parkvalley Catholic School, Golden Valley, Minn.

1970s

Antoine Garibaldi (Ph.D., ’76, educational psychology) president of Gannon University, Erie, Penn., has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn. Garibaldi also was elected vice chair for programs of the Board of Directors of the Council of Independent Colleges.

Sharon Studer (Ph.D., ’78, educational psychology) was appointed an independent non-executive director of Taylor Nelson Sofres, a world leader in market information. Studer was a partner in KPMG’s consulting practice, held several positions with Control Data Corporation, and served as a vice president of Knight Ridder. She resides in the United Kingdom.

1980s

Terry Tofte (Ph.D., ’84, educational policy and administration) retires June 30 after serving four years as Northfield, Minn., superintendent and previously as principal of Black Hawk Middle School in Eagan, Minn.

1990s

Natalie Rasmussen (B.S., ’90) was a recipient of a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. Rasmussen is a science teacher at North High School in Minneapolis, Minn., and was one of 100 teachers honored in 2003. The award honors educators for creative teaching strategies. Rasmussen is pursuing her doctorate in curriculum and instruction in the college.

Larry Shellito (Ed.D., ’98, vocational education) was installed as Minnesota’s adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. In civilian life, Shellito is former president of Alexandria Technical College.

Ross Young (M.A., ’95, English education) and Marcia Holmes Chapman (B.A., ’64), both high school graduates from schools in the Classic Lake Conference, received 2003–04 Outstanding Alumni Achievement Awards April 14 for their achievements in the fine arts. Young is an English teacher at the Area Learning Center in Osseo, Minn., and a professional actor. Chapman, a former elementary school teacher at Thorson Elementary School in Crystal, Minn., is the cofounder and executive director of Ballet Arts of Minnesota.

2000s

Ann Marie Peterson (Ed.D., ’01, work, community, and family education) was honored by Minnesota Business Educators, Inc. with The Teacher of the Year award for her outstanding contributions to business education. Peterson has taught at the high school level and at Minnesota Riverland Technical College, Austin Community College, and is currently teaching at South Central Technical College and the University of Minnesota. She is president of the Southwest Minnesota Business Educators, Inc.