Alumni Association announces 2011-12 Young Alumni Council

The Arizona State University Alumni Association announced its slate of officers and its newest members for the 2011-2012 Young Alumni Council.

The council was formed in 2009 to direct and facilitate the development of the association’s Arizona State Young Alumni (ASYA) program for ASU graduates age 35 and younger. As the program enters its third year, Jennifer Holsman, executive director of operations for the Alumni Association, said members of the council are shaping the program into one that sets the stage for strategic growth.

“The evolution of the Young Alumni Council, like the growth of the Arizona State Young Alumni program itself, has been amazing to watch,” Holsman said.  “The council is shaping ASYA into a powerful tool for keeping Sun Devil graduates embedded in the ASU community.

“We've been impressed by the initiative that our volunteer leadership team has shown,” she continued. “We are thrilled to have such impressive talent on the council to provide leadership and guidance.”

Biographies for new Young Alumni Council officers and members

The following ASU alumni will be part of the 2011-12 Young Alumni Council.

Officers

President: Meghan Dorn ’02 B.I.S. is the owner of an event planning, public relations, and marketing company, MAD Marketing & Events, LLC. She is also a certified health coach at Take Shape For Life. She has worked for the Hilton Hotels Corp. and the Arizona Office of Tourism, and has volunteered with the event committees for the Arizona Centennial Foundation and the 2010 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Dorn is the current president of the Interdisciplinary Studies academic affiliate of the Alumni Association.

Vice President: Jayson Matthews ’03 M.P.A. is the chief program officer with the Tempe Community Council. He has worked for the city of Tempe as a management intern for former Tempe City Manager Will Manley, and as an executive assistant for former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano. He has served on the boards of the Tempe Transportation Commission, the City of Phoenix Commission on Housing and Neighborhoods, the City of Phoenix License Appeals Board, and the Tempe Leadership’s board of directors.

Secretary: Sean J. O'Hara ‘03 B.A. is an associate with the law firm of Snell & Wilmer LLC. His practice focuses on products liability, commercial litigation and medical malpractice defense. O’Hara and his wife Amy are avid Sun Devil fans who rarely miss an ASU football or baseball game.  

New Members

Jessica Aguilar ’10 B.A. works as an enrollment advisor for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences online program at Walden University. She also is an assistant coach for Dobson High School’s “We the People” program. At ASU, she was the vice president of the Devils’ Advocates organization and a member of the Student Admissions and Relations Team (START). She has interned for several congressional campaigns and participated in several “get out the vote” efforts. 

Saif Al-Alawi ’05 B.A. is an adjunct faculty member at Glendale Community College and Central Arizona College. While at ASU, he was a West campus Devils’ Advocate and the student body president for the campus. He has been active in the Communication Studies alumni chapter of the Alumni Association.

Alexander Clark ’10 B.A. is an associate financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, focusing on disability income protection and whole life insurance. While he was at ASU, Clark was a tutor in the English Writing Center. A native of Boston, Clark is an avowed sports fan with a bias toward his hometown’s professional teams, but loves the Sun Devils and cheers for the university’s team at every opportunity.

Meghan Cox ’07 B.A. is a partner at the Lincoln Strategy Group, a nationwide consulting firm specializing in public affairs. While at ASU, Cox was involved with the Associated Students of ASU (ASASU), the ASU Student Foundation, the Honors Devils, Sigma Kappa sorority, and the Panhellenic Council. She contributes to her community by participating in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation and the Valley of the Sun Active 20-30 group, and is president of the Barrett Honors College alumni council and a member of the  ASU Women in Philanthropy group.

Dave Glanzrock ’05 B.S, ’05 B.S. is the founder/owner of the Leadership Melting Pot. He owned and operated a number of business ventures, including four sandwich franchises, a vending machine company and a telecommunications brokerage firm. At ASU, Glanzrock was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, the Devils’ Advocates, the Business School Council, and START. He is an avid supporter of Sun Devil Athletics and a member of the Sun Devil Club.

Kurtis Hingston ’09 B.S. works as a large group medical underwriter for CIGNA Healthcare. While a student at ASU, Hingston was involved with the Student Alumni Association, the Student Sun Devil Club executive board, the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and Devils’ Advocates. He is an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona.

Christopher Lee ’10 B.A.  is currently pursuing a master’s of business administration at the University of Arizona with a focus in management information systems. During his undergraduate years, he was a life coach for the Initiative for Inclusive Communities in ASU’s College of Public Programs and a success coach with Learning Support Services. He held leadership positions with several campus organizations, including vice president of public relations for the ASU Senior Class council. He has been a facilitator and member of the Canon Leadership program, and a member of the Sun Devil Inferno Club board.

John Mitman ’10 B.S.E. graduated from ASU in 2010 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He is currently completing a master's degree in solar engineering and commercialization in ASU’s School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy. During his undergraduate years, he was active in ASU Men's Rowing and participated in many volunteer activities. His future plans involve a career in solar energy and public policy.

Amanda Petru ’09 B.S. is the youth and events manager for the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission. For the past two years, Petru has been responsible for coordinating  the organization’s largest fundraiser, the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.  In addition, she has helped create the annual Youth Sports Summit and the Youth Sports Awards program. She is actively involved with the National Association of Sports Commissions.

Alison Scott ’01 B.A. is the assistant director of admissions at the Art Institute of Phoenix. While at ASU, she was active in Gamma Phi Beta sorority and served as president of the Panhellenic Council. She also was a member of Devils’ Advocates, worked as a summer orientation leader and a resident assistant, and participated in two ASU study abroad opportunities.

Neal Stephenson ’08 B.S. is channel marketing manager for Shell Oil in Houston, Texas. He is an active member of the Alumni Association’s Houston chapter. As an ASU student, Stephenson was president of the Programming & Activities Board and involved in a number of on-campus organizations, including Devils' Advocates. Stephenson also serves as a director for the Kiwanis Club of Houston Foundation.

Danielle Vasta ’04 B.A. is the owner of Bella's House & Pet Sitting and JUMP Consulting. In the community, she is the leader for the McDowell Mountain Ranch business networking group, volunteers with other local networking groups, and serves on the board of directors for the Association of Pet Sitting Excellence.

Jessica White ’05 B.A. currently serves as a communications manager at Apollo Group. Prior to that position, she spent several years working in community relations in Gov. Janet Napolitano’s office before transitioning to private sector communications roles at Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, Inc. and PetSmart, Inc. She is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, and serves as a volunteer with Southwest Human Development and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona organization.

The new council members and officers join current council members Ryan Abbott ’01 B.S., ’08 M.B.A.; Sara Agne ’04 B.A.; Tim Agne ’04 B.A.; Mahilani Akiona ’05 B.A.; Maja Aurora ’03 B.A.; Teniqua Broughton ’00 B.I.S., ’05 M.Ed.; Patrick Dostal ’02 B.S, ’04 M.Ed.; Maribeth England ’05 B.I.S.; Lisette Flores ’00 B.A., ’03 J.D.; Matt Gervin ’01 B.S.; Brandon Goad ’04 B.A.; Lauren Hengl ’08 B.A.; Ashley Irvin ’07 B.A., ’09 M.Ed.; Arlene Miramon ’06 B.S.; Sophie O’Keefe-Zelman ’05 B.A.; Oquendo Perez ’06 B.I.S.; Michelle Pishkur ’04 B.A.; Daniel Seiden ’08 J.D.; Nicole Severson ’99 B.A., ’02 J.D.; Drew Seybold ’08 B.S.E.; Tara Trzinski ’05 B.S.; and Heather Watkins ‘08 B.S.

For additional information on the Arizona State Young Alumni program, visit its Web site at http://alumni.asu.edu/programs/asu-young-alumni.