February 2025 Alumni eNewsletter
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February 11, 2025
FEATURED NEWS
Tomorrow is OU Giving Day
Calling all Petrels – OU Giving Day 2025 is almost here! Tomorrow, February 12, join OU alumni in showing your love for Oglethorpe by making a gift of any amount to the area of Oglethorpe that means the most to you. Thanks to generous challenge opportunities, your donation will have an even greater impact on current and future students. Learn more about the exciting giving challenges and plan to give on OU Giving Day 2025!
Alumni Weekend registration is open!
We are looking forward to welcoming all alumni back to campus for our annual celebration, Alumni Weekend, taking place March 28-29. If your class year ends with a 5 or 0, we welcome you to celebrate your reunion year with Oglethorpe. Visit the website to learn more!
Presidential Tour Continues
Dr. Kathryn McClymond will continue her tour this month, with a stop in Nashville, Tenn., on February 25. She’ll share her vision for Oglethorpe as Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience. This is both an opportunity to hear about the university’s future as well as a chance to reconnect with fellow alumni, share your experiences and be a part of shaping the next chapter of Oglethorpe’s history.
A new virtual tour
Oglethorpe has launched a new virtual tour, featuring beautiful 360-degree photos of campus and highlighting what the university has to offer for prospective students. Thanks to alumni Sammi Rowell ’23 and Caleb Smith ’22 for their recording at the end of the tour.
The Carillon Returns
The Carillon Magazine will return this spring! This is the university’s magazine, featuring news and updates. Update your mailing address with the university to ensure you receive a copy. And, send in your Class Notes to have them potentially included in print!
Upcoming Alumni Events
Student to Alumni Networking Night, Thursday, February 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Join us in the TLCC Trustee Room to help provide support and mentorship to students as they explore their college-to-career pathways through a night of networking.
Virtual Book Club, Monday, March 3, 7:00 p.m. ET
The Oglethorpe Alumni Virtual Book Club, hosted by Richard Bakare ’03, will meet on Monday, March 3, at 7 p.m. ET to discuss Aeneid by Virgil, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Core.
Raising the Bar: Alumni and Student Law Mixer, Wednesday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The Stormy Petrel Bar Association invites you to our “Raising the Bar” networking event, an opportunity to network with alumni and current Oglethorpe pre-law students. By attending, you will not only get to help the next generation of law students but also get to make personal connections and gain valuable insight in your field.
Oglethorpe Out Loud, Thursday, March 20
Aline Mello ’12 will join us for Oglethorpe Out Loud this spring. She is sharing her debut poetry collection, More Salt Than Diamond, and other works.
Alumni Weekend, Friday and Saturday, March 28-29
We are looking forward to welcoming all alumni back to campus for our annual celebration, Alumni Weekend, taking place March 28-29.
Class Notes
News and updates submitted by your classmates.
Laura Turner Seydel ’86 was named to Atlanta Magazine’s 2025 Atlanta 500: Religious, Nonprofit & Advocacy. She serves as director of the Turner Foundation and works with organizations that address challenges affecting our life support system, including air, water, land, food, biodiversity, and climate.
Rebecca Miller ’97 recently earned the Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA®) designation from the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association to offer certification in elder law. Miller is one of 16 CELAs in Tennessee and approximately 500 nationwide, and is employed as an attorney at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
Robert Fink ’03 has joined Columbia Residential, a leader in affordable housing, as Chief Development Officer. Mr. Fink was the former VP of Development at Zimmerman Properties and also served as the Director of Housing Finance and Development at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Colin Gillis ’04 has been named Chief Investment Officer at Passco Companies. In his new role as CIO, he will continue to guide Passco’s investment strategy and spearhead new opportunities in the multifamily housing sector.
Bradley Harper-Firchow ’19 is the Chair of the National Rural Health Associations Student Constituency Group. This year the NRHA Annual Conference is in Atlanta. If you do health research, advocacy, or policy in the rural space (or are interested in making a career pivot), check out the upcoming conference and hang out with fellow rural health ogles! https://www.rura lhealth.us/events/schedule/annual-rural-health-conference
LaChelle Foster ’24 is opening Mai Açaí this spring in Peachtree Corners. The shop will feature self-serve bowls made with açaí sustainably sourced from Brazil.
In Memory
Oglethorpe mourns the loss of members of our alumni family and former faculty. We’ve recently learned of the passing of these alumni:
Orville Walter Brauss ’44, 1/01/2025
Dorothy Sanders Carlile ’53, 1/19/2025
Charles William Burke, Sr., 1/08/2025
James “J.D.” Fowler ’62, 1/6/2025
Alice Jane Hill Hughes ’67, 12/15/2024
David Monroe McBee ’70, 1/04/2025
Mark Samson ’71, 12/12/2024
A full list of those who have passed away are remembered here.
We want to hear from you! Tell us about a new job, promotion, award, wedding, birth or adoption, or other noteworthy milestone. We want to keep your classmates up to date on your latest news and celebrate your accomplishments!
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Carters to share family’s impact and pathways to service in Oglethorpe Day address
Chick-fil-A, Inc. Supports the Student Retention Fund
Science students learn conservation and culture on life-changing Hawaii trip
Barbeau follows unique path from college baseball to international dodgeball
Oglethorpe students cast in Actor’s Express Co-Production of “Marie Antoinette“
Oglethorpe community comes together for MLK Day of Service
Oglethorpe museum hosts historic Wiley and Delaney exhibit
Want more University News? Read more online or subscribe to The Source.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Oglethorpe Day
February 12
Oglethorpe Day is an annual celebration recognizing the lasting legacy of the university’s namesake, General James Edward Oglethorpe. Festivities include the Petrels of Fire race, and special speakers alumna Sarah Opp Carter ’06 and her husband, Josh, who will deliver the 2025 Oglethorpe Day address. As the grandchildren of former United States President Jimmy Carter, Sarah and Josh have devoted their lives to continuing his legacy of advocacy and giving back to the community.
“Fragile Genius: Catherine Wiley and Beauford Delaney”
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, now through May 4
“Marie Antoinette”
Actor’s Express Production in partnership with Oglethorpe students, now through Feb. 23.
Conant Performing Arts Center
Spring sports teams are getting fired up! Click the link below to view their full schedules.
Go Petrels!
Stay Connected
Networking on LinkedIn? Be sure to join the OU Alumni group and follow the Oglethorpe University LinkedIn page.