Class Notes
Class Notes
Our Spalding community never ceases to amaze us. From professional accomplishments to community impact and marriages to babies, Spalding alumni are impacting the greater good wherever they go. Class Notes celebrates achievements, shares updates and honors Spalding alumni who have passed.
Dr. Aron “Nikki” Pollack
Class of 2024
After graduating from Spalding University in January of 2024, I went on to publish two books! I am so grateful to Dr. Josh Skuller and Dr. Laura Stimler for their guidance through my OTD journey! For those that are quietly battling an invisible illness like Dysautonomia, please feel free to share these resources with your physicians, family, etc…Thank you to Spalding University and best wishes to all of the future OT candidates on your journey! Click here to learn more about my book!
Tracy Skaggs
Class of 2022
Spalding Alum, Tracy Skaggs has been working with Floyd County Sheriff Steve Bush in creating a program for FCSO to equip opioid overdose antidote, Narcan. This will be such a huge life-saver in Floyd County! Learn more about the program here.
Dr. Lauren Coffey
Class of 2021
Dr. Coffey recently started the position of School Counselor, Jeffersontown Elementary School, Louisville KY.
Ceirra Evans
Class of 2021
Ceirra Evans is 2021 Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Spalding graduate that has been nominated at Spalding’s 851 Spotlight. She was nominated May 2023.
Dr. Jabani Bennett
Class of 2021
(She/they) now serves as the first black woman to be the Director of the Women’s Center at the University of Louisville. Read more about Dr. Jabani Bennett here.
Dr. Janikaa Sherrod
Class of 2020
Dr. Sherrod now serves as the Vice President of VOA Health and VOA Justice at Volunteers of America Mid-States.
Shianne Davis
Class of 2021
Shianne has officially been accepted in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/ Primary Care program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She will officially start fall 2022.
John Styron
Class of 2022
Spalding alum, John Styron visited the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville to collaborate with Donna Lawrence productions of Louisville on script development for the signature film “Roots.” Learn more about John Styron here.
Amilia Hall
Class of 2022
Amilia Hall is the first alum and student to be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies and the first to earn a Minor in Biology from Spalding University.
Baxter Yarbrough
Class of 2022
Baxter Yarbrough joins the John Lewis Fellowship in Washington D.C., organized by the Faith and Politics Institute. The fellowship brings together a new cohort of 20 emerging leaders. The John Robert Lewis Scholars & Fellows program builds networks for students seeking solutions to the challenges democracy faces today.
Dr. Tiffany Franklin
Class of 2019
Dr. Franklin received the women of Distinction Faculty Award at Franklin College.
Holly Gleason
Class of 2015
Spalding Alum, Holly Gleason co-authored country music singer Miranda Lambert’s forthcomoing “YALL EAT YET? Welcome To The Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen” (Harper Collins). It has been #1 on several reatiler lists prior to it’s April 25, 2023 release. Learn more about Holly Gleason’s book here.
Drema Drudge
Class of 2013
Spalding Alum, Drema Drudge’s second novel “Southern- Fried Woolf” is now available. The book won a silver Literary Titan Book Award. Learn more about Drema Drudge here.
Marjetta Geerling
Class of 2011
Congratulations to Margetta, a Spalding MFA alum that will be presenting the inaugural distinguished MFA alumni lecture at Spalding University.
Jacob Wardrip
Class of 2011
Jacob has recently started two exciting business ventures. He is coming up on 2 years as a licensed Realtor with Homepage Realty. Jacob has also started a rental business, 502 Bounce. He is excited about the projected growth for 2022 and beyond.
Dr. Monica Lakhwani
Class of 2015
Dr. Monica Lakhwani was awarded the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Program to the Philippines. Dr. Lakhwani was granted a five-week immersion experience as she has shown an immense desire to partake in unique cultural situations and use those experiences to drive professional development. Her experience illustrated professional qualifications and potential to benefit from the program. She demonstrated superb professional competency in her current role as a Multicultural Specialist within Jefferson County Public Schools serving students from diverse backgrounds. In partnership with the Philippine-American Educational Foundation, Dr. Lakhwani was able to build her knowledge and understanding of the Philippine culture, history, and educational system.
Steven dos Santos
Class of 2018
MFA Alum Steven dos Santos, wrote a new book titled “Malicia.” The publication is scheduled for Fall 2023. The deal was brokered by Lynnette Novak of the Seymour Agency. The news was recently featured in Publisher Weekly’s Rights Report.
James “KJ” Abrams
Class of 2018
Congratulations to KJ on being featured in the Canvas Rebel Magazine. Canvas Rebel’s mission and purpose is to create a space for artists, creatives and entrepreneurs to be able to learn from their peers through the magic and power of storytelling.
Silas House
Class of 2003
Spalding Alum and faculty, Silas House is appointed Kentucky’s 2023-2024 Poet Laureate by Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear. Learn more about Sila’s House as Poet Laureate here.
Sandra Evan Falconer
Class of 2005
Congratulations to Sandra Evans Falconer ’05 for her newest book of poems- The Lucky Spot Dance (Last Gypsy Press), published in June 2020. She is currently working on a new book of poems about the war in Ukraine.
Share a Class Note
Let us know if you have an update that we can share! Use the form below to submit a class note.
