Bethany Wasik ’04 was recently promoted to acquisitions editor at Cornell University Press and is acquiring books in the subject areas of Classics, Archaeology, Modern European History, and Military History. Bethany joined Cornell University Press in 2015 as an editorial assistant to transition into scholarly publishing after receiving her PhD from Indiana University in molecular biology and genetics and completing two postdoctoral fellowships at Yale and Cornell Universities. Congratulations!

Laura O’Connor ’04 has an art show opening on November 20th at the Blue Moon Gallery in Grayslake, Illinois. The show is called “Embroidery as Testimony and Dissent.” It is a collection of embroidered and cross-stitched pieces that primarily focus on society’s treatment of women and the use of embroidery as resistance.

Gwydhar Gebien recently released a book on June 28, 2021. The book is Enfant Terrible: Opening Acts.

Synopsis: Damen Warner is the front man for a metalcore band who has hit the skids. Hard. His record label dropped him, his manager has gone missing and now his agent won’t return his calls. In a last-ditch effort to revive his career, Damen returns to Chicago on the promise of playing Lollapalooza and his life quickly spirals into a vortex of sex, drugs, rock and roll, colorful language, explicit content and poor taste. Antagonizing everyone in his path, Damen struggles to reinvent himself and reconnect with his estranged family while plummeting face-first to rock bottom. You can find the book here.

Jill Jackson ’04, a managing director in transaction services for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, was promoted to partner in June 2021. Jill co-leads the PwC U.S. Contracts and Closing Mechanisms practice and focuses on advising clients regarding the accounting-related aspects of sale and purchase agreements.

Sarah (Brown) Smith ’04 was named associate principal for curriculum and instruction at Andrew High School in Tinley Park. Read the full article here.

Rachael Marusarz ’04 was promoted to Vice President, Development / Chief Development Officer at Sinai Chicago, where she leads fundraising to support the city’s largest private, nonprofit safety net healthcare system.

In 2019, she completed her Doctor of Education (EdD) in transformational leadership and coaching at Wright Graduate University.

Congratulations, Rachael!

Sarah (Brown) Smith ’04 was named associate principal for curriculum and instruction at Andrew High School, in Tinley Park, Illinois, in March 2021, ahead of the 2021-22 academic year. Sarah previously served as division chairman of the English, English learners and music programs at Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois.