Notes - Common Thread

Dréa Lewis ’07

Dréa Lewis (Antioch University Midwest, MA in Performing Arts) was honored to receive a directing award from The John F. Kennedy Center for her artistic leadership on “Tilikum” (produced in partnership with the University of Central Missouri). At the virtual awards ceremony that was held May 22, 2021, the production also received awards for Innovative Use of Technology; Overall Production; Special Achievement in Ensemble Collaboration – Performance and Production; Special Achievement in Performance by a Lead Actor, and The Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Award for promoting long-term societal impact through an artistic lens, to encourage empathetic exploration of the complex

Katelyn Berezo

Katelyn Berezo, Antioch University Seattle MAEd alum, is living the Antioch mission. She has been advocating for first-generation college students for years. She currently serves as the Mentorship Manager at Thrive Scholars, which helps students from underrepresented, low-income communities reach their goals during college. Berezo was recently interviewed about what it means to be a mentor in the article Mentoring Students to THRIVE.

Marian Blue ‘08

Marian Blue ’08 (Antioch University Seattle, Communications) recently had her book Sailing off the Hook published by Cyberwit Publishing. This collection of twenty short stories involves characters who abandon traditional methods of making decisions, developing relationships, enjoying life, and discovering the magic in life. “These short stories, not about sailing, cover decades of writing that has appeared in a variety of magazines and anthologies,” says Blue. “Most reflect my continued interest in magic realism and fantasy.” Blue’s award-winning writing (journalism, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) has appeared internationally for 45 years. She’s published in newspapers, magazines, and books/anthologies (including her own

April Brucker ’19

April Brucker ’19 (Antioch University Los Angeles, MFA in Creative Writing) had her new book Don’t Read My Lips! — America’s Foremost Female Ventriloquist Reveals the Secrets of How to be a Successful Vent published CFBP Bestsellers on March 13, 2021. Brucker is a Las Vegas headliner and the special guest star in the Las Vegas revue “BurlesQ.” “When the pandemic shut down my Vegas residency last year after just two performances, I took time to write the book that I always wanted to write but hadn’t due to tour dates, TV appearances, and other excuses,” says Brucker. “Whether you’re

Giselle Töngi-Walters ‘21

Giselle Töngi-Walters ‘21 (Los Angeles, MA), the lead star of Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes’ romantic-drama, “Diliryo” (1997), finished her graduate studies at the Antioch University in Los Angeles. Her focus for graduate studies was professional development and academic classes pertaining to the nonprofit sector. She thought of nonprofit management because it is similar to attaining an MBA (Master’s in Business), but adding the NGO [non-government organization] social good structure. She hopes to one day create sustainability for future generations. She has recently been offered the executive director position for the annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC). The

Carol Potter

Antioch University Los Angeles MFA Poetry Faculty Carol Potter had four poems published: “Tickled Pink” and “When the archeologists” in Unbroken, “The Requisite Bad Hair” in The Laurel Review, and “I know it was not nice of me” in Hotel Amerika.

Vanessa Smith, ’03

Vanessa Smith ’03 (Antioch University Los Angeles, BA) started a new job as the Shriver Family Law Attorney at Legal Access Alameda. In this role, she is supervising volunteer attorneys who represent low-income individuals at hearings in child custody cases. “I have wanted to work in the nonprofit legal sector since I was a student at Antioch and then at law school,” said Smith. “This job represents finally reaching this goal.”

Dr. Yves P. Gakunde ’12 and ’20

Dr. Yves P. Gakunde ’20 (New England, PhD in Environmental Studies) and ’12 (New England, MS in Sustainable Development and Climate Change) assumed the position of Purchasing and Contract Services manager for the City of Keene after previously working as environmentally preferred purchasing program coordinator. He will assist the city in working toward its sustainability goals.

Dr. Kavon Ward

Community Organizer, Spoken Word Activist Dr. Kavon Ward (PhD in Leadership and Change, GSLC) has teamed up with fellow activists in California to launch Anti-Racist Movements (ARMs) Around the South Bay (LA). The mission of ARMs is focused on “Mobilizing families to raise anti-racist children and enact change in our community through organized action”. The group provides a space for involvement and education to engage in deep conversations about privilege and race to enact change. Kavon brings years of demonstrated experience in community leadership to the group and has extensive expertise in nonprofit organizational development, grassroots organizing, governmental relations, and volunteer

Dr. Maya Townsend

Dr. Maya Townsend (PhD in Leadership and Change, GSLC) recently co-published “The Road to Successful Change is Lined with Trade-Offs” in Strategy+Business, an award-winning management magazine focused on strategy, operations, human capital, and governance.

Dr. Brittany Pines

Dr. Brittany Pines (PhD in Leadership and Change, GSLC) has successfully garnered a new Department of Education Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Title V grant to benefit students of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) where she is Project Director of an existing Title III grant entitled EXITO: Exit on Time in STEM. This new grant entitled, CASA: Creating Access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for All, allows NEIU to create a freshman/sophomore STEM cohort that embeds Ethics, History, and Financial Literacy into the cohort but taught through a STEM lens in a collaborative, co-teaching way. In addition, the grant allows NEIU

Dr. Ileya Grosman

Community Builder, and Educational Strategist, Dr. Ileya Grosman (PhD in Leadership and Change, GSLC) has just authored “Will COVID-19 Be a Disruption or an Interruption” for Medium an online network of scholars and practitioners. The piece examines the impacts of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and provides deep reflection regarding the ways in which it will drive transformation throughout communities, within individuals, and amongst leadership practices. Acknowledging that change and disruption are continual, she questions the takeaways of this historic moment in time. Ileya’s scholarship, practice, and expertise focuses on fostering relational connections and educational engagement driven by the power of communication

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