Alumni Association: Class Notes

Lene Gary, 2005
"I'm currently enrolled in the Vermont College/Union Institute & University MFA in Writing (Creative Nonfiction) program. If anyone would like to visit about it, please feel free to contact me."

Michael F. Kallon, 2005
"(I am) presently in graduate school taking up Public Administration, at Walden University. I have published two books since I left Burlington College. My first book is titled Idols With Tears. It's on the Kissi people, who are found in Sierra Leone, on Africa's west coast. My second book is, Walking With a Cane: New York City's food stamps war. The two books were published by authorhouse in Indiana/ USA, (1888 519 5121). I am still living in New York City, and working on my third book. I have missed all the good people at Burlington College."

Cynthia McDonald, 2005
"I am in my first year of the residential PhD program in Clinical Psychology at the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA. and am very happy to report that I have been offered a practicum at the Salvation Army in San Jose, CA, beginning in September of this year. I will be working with the men in their residential rehabilitation program. They offer a unique program that includes living, working, counseling, AA and NA meetings, chapel, and community service. I will be assigned at least 6 men who I will counsel weekly for the duration of their participation in the program (6 months). Additionally, I will have one on one supervision, group supervision, and the opportunity to facilitate a group of men if I choose. It is a very structured and well organized program and the staff is wonderful. I will certainly be challenged and will learn a great deal in the process.

"Additionally, I have been invited to be a research assistant for a project at Stanford University Medical School for cystic fibrosis patients. The project is sponsored by the Center for Education in Family and Community Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, they are looking to put together a holistic approach to caring for cystic fibrosis patients and their families that can be taught as part of the curriculum for the medical students and medical care givers.

"So, that's my news! I am both excited and humbled by these incredible opportunities for service and for learning. I'll keep you informed as the adventure unfolds.

"Be well and blessings to all of you!"

Bill Bradley, 2004
"After my graduation I attempted to find employment to no avail. Detroit and Michigan are in dire straights due to the globalization of the auto industry. Detroit now has the highest rate of poverty in the U.S. Anyway, I had tired of the non-profit industry. I have been doing home improvement projects for the rich and famous, reading and attempting to complete a book of short stories for a Christmas release." 

Brandey Fogarty, 2004
Currently I have been in the healing business for over a year now. I use the techniques learned from Tom Verner’s wonderful dream intensive workshop for my own dream group I carry locally. I usually have anywhere between 2 and 15 people who come for both the meditation group, and the dream group. I also lead a Reiki share once a month and take in clients for appointments for both Reiki and dream work. Since graduating Burlington, I volunteered at the local cancer center and administered Reiki to patients receiving chemotherapy treatments. Since then, I taught dream class intensives at the local community college within the holistic certification program. Also, just recently I finished Reiki master Training, an intense training at that which took me a year to complete. I always think of and refer people to Burlington College, around my business Burlington College is a common “household” conversation! Best wishes to other alumni and to the mentors and instructors that helped me through my path and follow my dream come true.

Eric D. Motycka, 2004
"I'll be receiving my Finance M.B.A. from Indiana State University with both Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma honors in May 2006, just a few weeks away. Last June I published my first anthology of short stories, Burden of Lineage, and will be finishing Sisyphus, the novel I worked on for my degree project at Burlington College, before the Spring of 2007."

Margaret Dawedeit, 2003
"Seven days after receiving my BA, I entered Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley California. I graduated from there on December 15th, 2005 with a Masters of Theological Studies. I then spent February studying for TEFL certification at the Boston Language Institute. After completing that program I returned to Vermont where I was offered and have accepted the pastorate at the Peru Congregational Church in Peru, Vermont.

"I am continually grateful for the work of Burlington College. Tom Verner and David Joy were incredibly kind and helpful to me in my journey. The education I received at Burlington was stellar, and in fact, far superior to the graduate institution I attended."

William D. Mitchell, 2002
Bill is Assistant to the Mayor in Burlington, Vermont. In this capacity, he serves as right hand to Mayor Peter Clavelle, coordinating communications and media relations, and facilitating the development and implementation of a wide range of policies and interdepartmental initiatives.

Megan Price, 2001
Megan Price, a graduate of BC's paralegal program in 2001, was the point person on a recent Certificate of Need (CON) application which resulted in consumer choice among home health agencies for more than 80,000 Medicare and Medicaid insured Vermonters. Price's employer, Professional Nurses Service, had fought for 25 years to obtain the necessary CON which would allow it to become Medicare certified and compete with Vermont's 12 non-competing home health agencies, all of whom have long-standing agreements not to compete with one another in this $100 million annual industry.

Price's investigation into Vermont's home health monopoly resulted in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation and a new home health law passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2005, designed to protect the dozen existing agencies from the federal investigators. Price is Director of Contracts & Communications at Professional Nurses Service, with headquarters in Winooski.

The CON file created as a result of Price's work exceeds 19 inches in height. It is now being reviewed by the Vermont Supreme Court, where some of the home health agencies have appealed the CON approval. The oral argument is expected to be heard in May 2006. Price contributed to many of the legal briefs written in this matter.

Price said, "My experience at Burlington College gave me a lot of confidence that I could tackle this matter and many other social issues and not be overwhelmed by them. The paralegal skills I learned at BC, combined with my former work as a journalist, gave me the tools I needed to accomplish what no one had been able to do in this state, break up a health care monopoly, put consumers first. The amount of research and work it took to do this over a periood of years was incredible. But I'm pretty proud of having fought for the poor and elderly and young people with severe disabilities. At last, these people have a choice of home health agencies like every other American."

Alice C. Jones, 1980
"I attended the Adelphi/Vermont Program in Burlington and was awarded my Master of Social Work in 1987. I moved back here to Maine, my native state, and began work at a Community Mental Health Center. Since then I have worked in a solo practice and for 2 Federally Qualified Health Centers. I am currently working for the Harrington Family Health Center in Washington County, Maine. My specialties are trauma work and addictions. I have had the opportunity in this rural area to work the gamut of mental health issues. My job is never boring.

"Since my return to Maine I have lost both my parents and my youngest brother who suffered a heart attack at age 52. I now live with my 2 favorite pets, Miss Pussyfoot, (who on a bad day has been dubbed "Miss Crabtree") and my Basset Hound, RozePoze Freckles McHound.

"Roze has recently been diagnosed with a serious disc problem and we are in the throes of lifestyle and diet changes. You all know how difficult that is. I take heart from the little book, Changing for Good, authored by the men who brought us Motivational Interviewing. It helps to know where I am in the process of change and to stay focused 'in the now.'

"'Hello' to all my old classmates and friends at Burlington College and VICI."

Adam F. Bortz III, 1979
Adam is now a retired Certified Construction Specifier consultant to architects and engineers. He is President pro tempore of the Burlington College Alumni Association. In May 2004 he received the Distinguished Trustee Award for his dedicated service and outstanding trusteeship, the first alumnus to receive it. He is a charter member of the Vermont Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute, and has served as President of both the Vermont and Syracuse, New York chapters. He served on CSI’s Board for 3 years. He is active in the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, a mentor in the Spectrum Youth and Family Services Program, and a driver for Meals-on-Wheels. He served as President of his townhouse association, on the Jericho Zoning Board of Appeals, and as a Trustee of the former Waters Memorial Library in Underhill Flats.