Tulanians: Class Notes

Lee P. Gary Jr. (A&S ’63, PHTM ’10) graduated from the National Emergency Management Basic Academy operated by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He was awarded a certificate of completion by the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Gary currently serves as a visiting faculty research scholar at the University of Makeni in Sierra Leone, where he co-authored two peer-reviewed public health articles in the “World Journal of Public Health.”

Tim M. Berra (G ’67, G ’69) received a “Friend of Darwin Award” from the National Center for Science Education for his work promoting the teaching of evolution. His latest book, “The Peopling of Polynesia: From Taiwan to Easter Island,” was published by Acclaim Press.

Frederick Lukash (A&S ’69, M ’73) published “The Hypocritical Oath,” a medical murder mystery set in New Orleans.

Whit Rummel (A&S ’69) released his first book, “The Accidental Picasso Thief,” co-authored with art-crime scholar Noah Charney. The book blends memoir and a true-crime investigation to tell how Rummel’s family became caught up in a 1969 Picasso theft in Boston — complete with an FBI investigation, mob rumors and a daring “reverse heist” to return the painting.

Kevin Ducote (A&S ’71) presented “Community Engagement in the Various Rounds of Naming and Renaming K–12 Public School Buildings and Campuses in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA” to the International Society for Educational Planning at Nelson Mandela University.

Neal Brantley (A&S ’73) won Best of Show and First Place in Opaque Painting at the Selma Art Guild’s Annual Art Competition in Selma, Alabama.

George F. Indest III (SLA ’73, L ’80), president and managing partner of The Health Law Firm, was named to the “Florida Super Lawyers” list for 2025, which recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in the state.

David McLain (M ’74) was inducted into the Royal College of Physicians in London. His medical practice was named Best of Alabama 2025 for rheumatology by “The Guide to Alabama.”

Joseph V. Trahan III (A&S ’76) was inducted into the Defense Information School Hall of Fame in recognition of his extraordinary and lasting contributions as a public relations professional.

Sandy Rosenthal (B ’81), the brain behind Levees.org and host of her own podcast, was featured in the documentary “Leading Ladies of Hurricane Katrina,” which highlights four women whose leadership shaped the city’s recovery after Katrina.

Paul Friedrichs (A&S ’86) stepped down as the inaugural director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy in early 2025 and now serves as a professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University. He also acts as a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The American Medical Association honored him with its 2025 Annual Award for Outstanding Government Service by a presidentially appointed official. He and his wife, Rita, also a physician, live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Sue Strachan (NC ’86) published her second book, “The Obituary Cocktail,” through LSU Press as part of its Iconic New Orleans Cocktails series. Her first title in the series was “The Café Brûlot.”

Chief Judge William Pryor (L ’87), of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, delivered the address at the New Life Member Luncheon during the American Law Institute’s 2025 annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The “Florida Law Review” also published a keynote address, “Modesty in Originalism,” that Pryor delivered at the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Inaugural Originalism Conference.

Christopher Moffett (B ’91) joined SK Commercial Realty as president of SK Investment Group, bringing more than 25 years of real estate and finance experience to the role.

Kevin Barron (B ’92) was promoted to vice president of payer relations at University Health in San Antonio, Texas. He was recently featured in an article and podcast episode of “Becker’s Hospital Review” discussing University Health’s approach to recovering high-dollar claims and navigating today’s payer landscape.

Elaine Bird Purdy (B ’92) was promoted to associate professor in the faculty of health administration at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.

Pablo Acedo (B ’94) was appointed CEO of the Raw Materials segment of Grupo Pochteca, a leading Mexican distributor of industrial inputs, bringing more than 30 years of senior management experience to the role.

Sanford C. “Sandy” Coats (TC ’94) joined The Norris Law Firm as a partner specializing in trial practice.

Michael Horner (L ’99) recently married Monica Baird and rejoined Reynolds, Horne & Survant as a personal injury trial lawyer.

Christopher K. Ralston (L ’99) was re-elected chair of the National Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). He also continues to serve as community leadership board chair for the ADA in Louisiana and Mississippi. Ralston is a commercial litigation partner and litigation practice coordinator at Phelps Dunbar in New Orleans.

Ian Kramar (TC ’00) was promoted to executive producer of streaming at WWL Louisiana. Kramar has earned multiple New Orleans Press Club awards and an Emmy nomination for newscast excellence.

Jonathan Augustine (L ’01) was named senior pastor of Big Bethel AME Church, the oldest Black church in Atlanta. He also serves on the inaugural faculty at the Hampton University School of Religion and continues his work as an author, scholar and national leader.

Rebecca Keithley (B ’03) was promoted to assistant section chief of the FBI’s Financial Crimes Section, where she leads the bureau’s efforts against white-collar crime threats and has directed national initiatives to protect older Americans from fraud and cyber-enabled scams.

Stephanie (Crane) Lieb (B ’03) was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy in 2025 and elected chair of the business law section of The Florida Bar.

Michael J. Hickerson (L ’04) joined Davis Hartman Wright LLP as a partner in the banking and finance, corporate and commercial real estate practice groups in Charleston, South Carolina.

Kevin Williams (SSE ’06) received the Xavier Pi-Sunyer Award from The Obesity Society. Williams also co-hosts the American Diabetes Association’s “DiabetesBio” podcast and will be featured in a “Journal of Diabetes” spotlight later this year.

John Gagnon (L ’07) transitioned to a new role in civil rights compliance at the University of Michigan after 20 years of federal service.

Kris Shull-Dunn (A ’07) and her firm, workshopWDXL, received a 2025 Small Project Award from the American Institute of Architects for The Syd, a hotel in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood.

Michael Braden Wright (L ’07) made history in 2023 as the first African American administrative law judge at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and currently serves as chief administrative law judge at the agency.

Lily Filson (SLA ’08) published “Renaissance Automata of the Villa Pratolino: Magic, Mechanics, and Medici Ambition” with Palgrave Macmillan/Springer, which explores how the Medici family used art, engineering and theatrical wonder to project power.

Max W. Fargotstein (B ’14, L ’17), an associate at Duane Morris LLP, was elected president of the board of directors of the Jewish Council for Youth Services in Chicago, which provides early childhood education and camp programs that serve thousands of families annually.

John Owens (SLA ’14) was appointed chief strategy officer for the Arizona Department of Administration.

Logan Hilton (SSE ’16) completed his neurology residency as chief resident and has returned home to New Orleans to begin his first attending position in Covington, Louisiana.