Graduate Degrees

Marilyn Friel Powers ’62MA and her husband, Jude Powers ’51, were nominated to receive the Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Jude the Apostle Medal on Nov. 25, from Bishop Robert N. Lynch. Kellen Plaxco ’02MA, philosophy, has been awarded a Fulbright Research Grant in philosophy to work in Leuven, Belgium, on a PhD dissertation to be completed at Marquette U. Scott Ford ’09MA, architecture, has been appointed executive director of South Bend’s Department of Community and Economic Development. A 2001 graduate of ND, he received a master’s degree in economics from Cambridge U. Before his appointment in South Bend, he held a number of responsible positions, including working as a consultant on urban policy issues with South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Manuel P. Berriozabal ’56MS, mathematics, a U of Texas at San Antonio mathematics professor, has been honored for his lifetime of work by the San Antonio City Council, particularly the founding in 1979 of PREP, Pre-freshman Engineering Program, a rigorous summer program in science, technology, engineering, and math now known as STEM education. Jonathan Reyes ’00PhD, history, president and CEO of Denver Catholic Charities, has accepted a new role as executive director of the US Bishop’s Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development. Reyes will oversee their efforts in domestic and international affairs. I had the exhilarating experience of sitting in the stadium in the rain with my son, Mark, and my grandson, Noah, as a superb ND team beat Stanford on the last play of the game. — Marvin J. LaHood ’58MA, ’62PhD, English; 93 Parkhaven Drive, Amherst NY 14228; res 716-691-4648; mlahood@roadrunner.com