Alumni Notes 1979 and Beyond

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James O. Turnipseed BA 1937 At 92, retired after 43 years teaching English and in Administration. Teacher, principal, State Dept. Consultant. Have two great nieces - one in Auburn, one Lee County Gold Hill. September 2005
Virginia C. Hinton MS 1948 I had no difficulty in pursuing my PhD in American lit after earning an MS at Auburn. I retired in 1987 from then Kennesaw College (now Kennesaw State University) as professor of English. I was a charter member of the KJC faculty. I am now professor emerita. February 2006
Oliver Steele 1949 We both retired from the English Department of the U. of Iowa in 1992. We have five children and six grandchildren. We spend our time reading and bird watching. September 2005
W. Harry Durham BA 1954 I'm now retired. My career field was communications. I began in Radio-TV advertising, then spent most of my career in higher education, the last 30 years at Clemson University. September 2005
Louie Crew MA 1959 lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu Emeritus Professor at Rutgers from 2002. Author of 1,565 published items. Ph.D. from U. Alabama way back in 1971. Three honorary degrees recently: D.D. from Episcopal Divinity School (Cambridge, MA), 1999; D. D. from the General Theological Seminary (NYC), 2003; D. H. L. from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 2004. Photo appears at http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/gallery/cdsp_lc2.jpg My website is at http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/ May 2004
Janice Townley Moore BA 1963 janicem@yhc.edu I have been employed in the English Department at Young Harris College (in Georgia) since 1963 and have served as Chair of Humanities for the past 5 years. My poetry has been published over the years in Southern Humainties Review, Prairie Schooner, Georgia Review, Atlanta Review, and Southern Poetry Review, and others. My chapbook Teaching the Robins will be published fall of 2005 by Finishing Line Press. October 2005
Mary Moore Johnson BA 1964 chmouse5@bellsouth.net My husband, Spencer Johnson (AU '72) and I own a British import shop in Fairhope, AL. (My Enlgish degree was a great asset during 20+ years as a Librarian.) September 2005
James Frank Vickrey, Jr. BA 1964 MA 1965 sphdra@troy.edu All I am or ever hope to be I owe to my angel Mother, to paraphrase A. Lincoln, and to my rhetorical studies at AU, which have enabled me to be a university president, lawyer in practice, and college professor as well as a speaker, writer and public radio commentator. September 2005
James Frank Vickrey, Jr. BA 1964 MA 1965 sphdra@troy.edu All I am or ever hope to be I owe to my angel Mother, to paraphrase A. Lincoln, and to my rhetorical studies at AU, which have enabled me to be a university president, lawyer in practice, and college professor as well as a speaker, writer and public radio commentator. September 2005
Kay Killingsworth Bains B.A.. 1969 kbains@walstonwells.com I have been practicing law in Birmingham for 25 years, and am a senior and founding partner of Walston, Wells, Anderson & Bains. When the high school friends of my 4 sons would ask what major they should declare in college to prepare for law school, I have always responded "English Lit". I remember the despair I felt in my first semester of law school, when other students could discuss in class issues they had learned in their undergraduate pre-law classes. At exam time, however, I drew on my writing and analytical skills learned at Auburn, and, by the end of my three year law school career, finished 1st in my class of 265, with the most writing awards any single person had received at that time (1980). I lookforwardto retiring in 10 years so I can attend the Carl Benson Lectures and other symposium series. What wonderful memories I have of Dr. Benson and Ruth Faulk and Frederick Montesor. All were life-changing true teachers and mentors. January 2005
Gail Hunter Yates BA 1969 yatesg@seattleu.edu Work in development at Seattle University Albers School of Business and Economics. September 2005
Mary Houghton McLemore BA 1970 workwright@mindspring.com I'm "retired" from work outside the home, and grow organic veggies and flowers. September 2005
Allison Todd Orr B.A., M.Ed. 1970 orralli@auburn.edu I have taught English in grades seven through twelve,have been a guidance counselor in grades K through six, and have taught at several colleges. Presently, I teach freshman composition at LaGrange College and am the Written Communications Assistant for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn, where I help the professors who want to include writing in their forestry courses. I attend summer forestry camp with the students and teach them how to write lab reports after they have done their field experiments. I have published in the Journal of Forestry and have written a children's novel. November 2004
Adele Current-Garcia MacLean BA 1971 I earned a law degree from the University of Hawaii in 1988 and clerked for a judge in the State Court of Appeals for 1 year. Moved to Richmond the following year. Have been active in the community here. Worked for the state almost 10 years - Commission on Local Government. Most recently, I have become the Regional Coordinator for a small nonprofit called the Partnership for Smarter Growth - a citizens' educational and advocacy group and I love the work. September 2005
Judy Hutchings '72 Berneske B.A. 1972 jberneske@bigfoot.com Am attempting to return to the workforce using my writing skills and analytical ability. I'm considering the possibility of writing grants or technical instructions that would utilize my former experience as a computer programmer. If anyone is aware of a job opportunity here in Birmingham, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know. Thanks... and War Eagle! May 2004
Kenneth M. Autrey BA 1973 kautrey@fmarion.edu Currently professor of English and Chair of the Faculty at Francis Marion University, Florence, SC. September 2005
Karlene T. Barger BA 1973 rebarger@bellsouth.net I'm completing my 30th year at BellSouth (in a technical management job!) My husband and I have 3 grown kids, including a Univ. of Georgia grad. Our youngest is also at UGA (can't beat the Hope Scholarship.) My nephew is at Auburn. September 2005
Ruthie Golson McMichael B.A. in English, M.Ed. 1973 ruthiemcmichael@hotmail.com (Please correct the spelling of my middle name on the website and add these notes. Thank you!) I live in Middle Georgia. My husband and my 2 children are also AU graduates. I am a Media Specialist in a Middle School and have taught school for 26 years. February 2006
Robert V. Scott BA 1973 bscott@perimeter.org I received 2 MEd degrees in 1975 and 1984 in Counseling (AU) and School Admin. (RTS). Married to Valerie MacDonald Scott, 1975, and have 3 children. Had first book published in 2004: When Children Love to Learn, Crossway. Helped start 4 private covenant schools in Atlanta and am currently headmaster of Perimeter School in Duluth, GA. Grades 1-8, 500 students. September 2005
Judi Lee Stinnett BA 1973 yorkman@peoplepc.com Retired from teaching English in 1998 after 271/2 years at high school and college level - now do legal work for family business and do living history presentations in area schools and organizations, edit and read, work out and create artistic works. September 2005
Jan Foster Taylor BA 1973 MA 1975 mjftaylor@aol.com We were relatively unharmed by Katrina but continue to be saddened by the losses of others in our region. We have two children, a son 22 and a daughter 20. Both are at Harvard University. I have recently been appointed to the Eudora Welty Foundation Board and still do volunteer tutoring and work with various literary groups and the University Press of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. September 2005
Kirk Mallory Reynolds B.A. in English 1974 MA English 1979 kreyno9149@netscape.net After I left Auburn, I received a Ph.D in English at the University of South Carolina in 1987. In 1988, I began working for MCI in Washington, DC, doing regulatory work. While working at MCI, I went to night law school at American University (1993-1997), received the J.D. degree in December 1997, and in February 1998 passed the Maryland Bar Exam and the New Jersey Bar Exam. I worked as an attorney at MCI from 1998 until May 2005, when I was hired as an attorney at VeriSign in Dulles, VA, where I currently work. I live in Alexandria, VA with my wife Ann and my 14-year old daughter Hannah. September 2005
Phil Sharpe BA 1974 MA 1980 psharpe_us@yahoo.com I've been teaching at the high school level since earning my MA in 1980. Presently, I teach Latin and English at North Springs High School in Atlanta. I am married with two daughters, Hannah 9, and Claire 6. We still live in Marietta, Georgia. September 2005
Daniel B. Smith BA 1974 danielbsmith@bellsouth.net Attorney in private practice. Part-time faculty UAB English Dept. - Freshman Comp. September 2005
Melanie Whatley Barstad BA 1975 mbarstad@hcsus.jnj.com Melanie Barstad is President, Acute Care for Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. with responsibility for sales to large hospitals, hospital systems, distributors and group purchasing organizations. She assumed this role in June 2002 and serves as a member of the JJHCS Management Board. Previously, Ms. Barstad served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for JJHCS, a position she assumed in January 2002. Prior to this position, she was the WW General Manager for the Vascular Access business of ETHICON Endo-Surgery and was a member of the ETHICON Endo-Surgery Management Board. Ms. Barstad began her career with Johnson & Johnson in 1986 as a sales representative with the Patient Care Division. During her career, she has held numerous positions of increasing complexity and responsibility in sales, marketing, product development and general management, including assignments at Johnson & Johnson Medical and ETHICON, Inc. Before joining Johnson & Johnson, Ms. Barstad worked for Proctor & Gamble and Pitney Bowes in sales and sales management. Ms. Barstad is a member of the Johnson & Johnson's Women's Leadership Initiative steering committee; she previously served as the chair of the Medical Devices & Diagnostics WLI segment of Johnson & Johnson companies. She is currently the co-chair of the Coalition to Protect America's Health Care and Vice President of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurse (AORN) Foundation. Ms. Barstad also serves on the board of both the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Committee and the Solaris Health System. Ms. Barstad is also a Blue and Gold Officer for the US Naval Academy. Ms. Barstad holds a bachelor of arts degree from Auburn University and had completed the Senior Executive Development Program at Columbia University. October 2005
Jan Foster Taylor BA 1973 MA 1975 mjftaylor@aol.com We were relatively unharmed by Katrina but continue to be saddened by the losses of others in our region. We have two children, a son 22 and a daughter 20. Both are at Harvard University. I have recently been appointed to the Eudora Welty Foundation Board and still do volunteer tutoring and work with various literary groups and the University Press of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. September 2005
Jim Warren BA 1976 warrenj@wlu.edu The degree in English helped me, since I went on to get advanced degrees in English at Yale (PhD in 1982). I've been teaching at Washington and Lee University since 1984. My main areas are 19th century American literature and environmental literature. I also teach literary theory, and of course we all teach compositon and lower-division literature. Southern literature is one of my recent lower-division interests. These teaching and research interests grew on my after I left Auburn, I think, though I recall reading Whitman in Professor Current-Garcia's course on American Poetry my senior year and being blown away by the voice. September 2005
Timothy John Lockhart B.A., English 1977 MA English 1984 tlockhart@wilsav.com Partner in Charge of the Intellectual Property Group at Willcox & Savage in Norfolk, VA. As a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, assigned to NR DIA HQ 0466, which drills one weekend a month at The Pentagon. Writing book reviews for "The Virginian-Pilot," the largest daily newspaper in Southeastern Virginia, and trying to find a publisher for my first novel, a private-eye mystery. Living in Norfolk, VA, with wife Anne and daughter Meg (four years old). September 2005
Celeste Waid Waid McNeill B.A. 1977 cmcneillrhs@aol.com After receiving my BA in English from Auburn, I worked in the construction industry as an office manager until I realized I was not using my degree or my love of literature. I returned to school & received a MS in secondary education, English emphasis, and have been teaching high school English for 16 years. This is truly where I should have been since graduating from Auburn. This past summer I stepped out of the box and took a post graduate class with the UofA--Alabama at Oxford program!! Wow, I spent a month with a whole bunch of "Bammer" folks and survived!! Dr. Bob Halli from UA Honors college was my professor, and we studied British Lit in its Landscape, or "Putting British Lit in its Place." We read four novels and two Shakespearean plays before arriving in Oxford where we were based for the course (Wadham College). Upon arriving we proceeded to travel to locations mentioned in the literature or where the literature was set. It was a thrilling course and just what I needed to "recharge" my teaching batteries!! I hope and plan to use my knowledge of the landscapes that influenced Jane Austen, Walter Scott, Phillip Pullman, William & Dorothy Wordsworth, William Shakespeare, and William Golding in my teaching strategies. Once you have witnessed one of Shakespeare's plays performed in the new Globe Theater you can never really teach Shakespeare as simply the written word!! I saw The Winter's Tale there in July, and this lesser known/studied play just came alive! We also experienced a wonderful presentation of The Comedy of Errors by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. Yes, I would say that the English education I received from Auburn professors like Hitchcock, Breyer, Mowat,the Drs Wright, and others nurtured this love of reading and literature that I now try to nurture in high school students! September 2005
Paula M. Mathis BA 1978 mathis_paula@yahoo.com I'm not a teacher. I have worked in public relations and marketing for 30 years in a variety of entities. I am an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Montgomery and serve on Assimilation Work Area, sing in the choir, and teach Bible school in the summer. I have never married. I enjoy 1 niece and 2 nephews. September 2005
Margaret F. Ingalls BA 1979 megingalls@aol.com I am rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fruitland Park, FL. I've been here 12 1/2 years during which time we have established a grade 6-12 school for children with learning disailities. My newly ordained husband is helping us establish a new worship site for our church. Katy lives in MD and Sarah in VA. October 2005
Kirk Mallory Reynolds B.A. in English 1974 MA English 1979 kreyno9149@netscape.net After I left Auburn, I received a Ph.D in English at the University of South Carolina in 1987. In 1988, I began working for MCI in Washington, DC, doing regulatory work. While working at MCI, I went to night law school at American University (1993-1997), received the J.D. degree in December 1997, and in February 1998 passed the Maryland Bar Exam and the New Jersey Bar Exam. I worked as an attorney at MCI from 1998 until May 2005, when I was hired as an attorney at VeriSign in Dulles, VA, where I currently work. I live in Alexandria, VA with my wife Ann and my 14-year old daughter Hannah. September 2005
Phil Sharpe BA 1974 MA 1980 psharpe_us@yahoo.com I've been teaching at the high school level since earning my MA in 1980. Presently, I teach Latin and English at North Springs High School in Atlanta. I am married with two daughters, Hannah 9, and Claire 6. We still live in Marietta, Georgia. September 2005
Timothy John Lockhart B.A., English 1977 MA English 1984 tlockhart@wilsav.com Partner in Charge of the Intellectual Property Group at Willcox & Savage in Norfolk, VA. As a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, assigned to NR DIA HQ 0466, which drills one weekend a month at The Pentagon. Writing book reviews for "The Virginian-Pilot," the largest daily newspaper in Southeastern Virginia, and trying to find a publisher for my first novel, a private-eye mystery. Living in Norfolk, VA, with wife Anne and daughter Meg (four years old). September 2005