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Class News: September 2024

September 18, 2024

By Lina Giles

Header Image
Clockwise from top left: Jim Carney ’65, Joanna Coe ’11, Chris Mader ’88, son of Julie Leventhal ’17, and Vanessa Blakeslee ’01.

In this monthly roundup, get the latest on what’s happening in the lives of your fellow Tars.

Welcome to the September 2024 edition of Class News, our snapshot of personal achievements and professional journeys in your alumni community.

Each month we’ll share a collection of the most recent submissions, so don’t forget to keep us up to date on your latest news.

Clockwise from top left: Joanna Coe ’11, Amy Calandrino ’07, Vanessa Blakeslee ’01, and Craig Campbell ’96
Clockwise from top left: Joanna Coe ’11, Amy Calandrino ’07, Vanessa Blakeslee ’01, and Craig Campbell ’96.

Onward & Upward

After six years of serving as production manager for Cygnet Theatre in San Diego, Craig Campbell ’96 was promoted to the role of producing director.

Vanessa Blakeslee ’01 was selected to serve as a writer in the 2024 Artist-in-Residence program at Acadia National Park by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Blakeslee currently teaches creative writing at the University of Central Florida.

Amy Calandrino ’07, commercial real estate broker and podcast host, recently launched the Calandrino Foundation, Inc. with a mission to bridge the wealth gap and democratize financial prosperity. This foundation aims to support small businesses and inspire future entrepreneurs.

Rollins Hall of Famer Joanna Coe ’11 has secured a spot on the 2024 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team. During her time as a student, Coe won the 2008 NCAA Division II National Championship, setting a then NCAA record-low round of 68 and leading the Tars to the team title that year. Coe was also a four-time All SSC honoree and four-time WGCA Scholar All-American.

From left to right: Chris Mader ’88, artwork from Steve Farrelly ’92’s Bonefish Barehanded!, and Christy Sanford ’62
From left to right: Chris Mader ’88, artwork from Steve Farrelly ’92’s Bonefish Barehanded!, and Christy Sanford ’62.

What’s the Word?

Christy Sanford ’62 recently won the Arts and Letters Unclassifiable contest presented by Georgia College & State University. Sanford also placed as a finalist for the Calvino Prize, an annual fiction competition sponsored by the University of Louisville’s creative writing program.

Inspired by Boyd Coffie, his late coach at Rollins, Chris Mader ’88 authored Make the Adjustment, a book that draws from his personal experiences to demonstrate how adaptability, persistence, and embracing change are the keys to business leadership and success.

After spending countless hours on the water with bonefishing expert Stuart Cleare, Steve Farrelly ’92 has written Bonefish Barehanded!, an all-encompassing guide packed with a lifetime of practical experience and lessons on bonefishing in the Bahamas.

Clockwise from top left: Jim Carney ’65, Chester Glover ’82, and son of Julie Leventhal ’17
Clockwise from top left: Jim Carney ’65, Chester Glover ’82, and son of Julie Leventhal ’17

Gatherings & Milestones

Jim Carney ’65 celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute’s Leadership Lab. This program—founded by Carney and his family—consists of a six-day workshop for teachers and administrators focused on developing the leadership competencies of their students.

Chester Glover ’82 has retired after a 25-year public service career. During his years of service, Glover worked as a district congressional caseworker for the offices of U.S. Rep. Val Demings and Rep. Corrine Brown. He also served as the district legislative assistant to Alzo J. Reddick, former state representative and former dean of student affairs at Rollins.

Julie Leventhal ’17 and her husband welcomed their first son, Jonah Asher Leventhal, on August 28. Leventhal, an LPGA-certified teaching professional at Dubsdread Golf Course in Orlando, shares that she can’t wait to get Jonah onto a golf course.

Fellow tars hugging on Mills lawn.

Have News to Share?

Keep us in the know about what’s new with you and stay connected to both the personal and professional adventures of your fellow Tars.


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