Career Day Alumni/ae
2017
Tonya M. Evans ’87
Tonya M. Evans will soon be joining the tenured faculty of the University of New Hampshire School of Law this fall as an integral member of the Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property and the UNH Sports and Entertainment Law Institute.
A nationally-respected expert on intellectual property, trusts and estates, and entertainment law, her scholarship primarily focuses on the intersection of those areas of law and the impact of new technologies and artistic forms on copyright law. Tonya is currently the Associate Dean for Inclusion and Equity and an Associate Professor of Law at Widener University and her courses are uniquely informed by her background as an accomplished author, poet, and former professional tennis player as well as her vast work in the law field. Following her education at Friends’ Central, earned her B.S. from Northwestern University and J.D. from Howard University.
In recognition of her achievements in law and her commitment to social justice, diversity, and inclusivity, Friends’ Central honored Tonya with the 2017 Distinguished Alumna Award. Tonya says of her work:
“My approach in the classroom is to challenge and to engage students from day one in law school not merely as students but as first year practicing lawyers. I use legal studies, and the critical thinking, analysis, oral and writing skills required in law school, to prepare students to be highly skilled, ethical, motivated, intellectually curious, compassionate and confident professionals. Excellence, compassion and intellectual curiosity were some of the hallmarks of my education at Friends Central; they were encouraged and nurtured early and often.”
James R. Rutenberg ’87
As the media columnist for The New York Times and a contributor to The New York Times Magazine, James R. Rutenberg is at the heart of conversation “about our shifting media landscape” in relation to American politics. In his column The Mediator, Jim writes on a range of challenges facing the press. With articles such as “Media’s Next Challenge: Overcoming the Threat of Fake News” and “Yes, the News Can Survive the Newspaper,” Jim advocates for the importance and relevance of journalism.
After earning his B.A. at New York University, Jim was a reporter at The New York Observer, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post prior to his career at The New York Times. Throughout 17 years at The Times, he has covered presidential and national politics and the media as a political, investigative, White House, and business correspondent as well as City Hall bureau chief.
In recognition of his commitment to truth and transparency through his work in journalism, Friends’ Central honored Jim with the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Jim writes that he is very much looking forward to being back on campus for Reunion this May and to talk with students about his work as a journalist at Career Day.
Paul Paz y Miño ’87
Since 1997, Paul Paz y Miño has been an advocate for human rights and environmental justice based in Oakland, California. Paul is Associate Director of Amazon Watch, a nonprofit organization that works with indigenous communities in the Amazon region of Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru to help strengthen the long term foundation for environmentally-sustainable development. In the Huffington Post, he has brought public attention to the long term impact of oil pollution in the Lago Agrio oil field region of Ecuador and the ongoing legal battle between local residents and Chevron Corporation over responsibilities for cleanup.
After earning his M.A. in International Affairs at George Washington University, Paul was the Guatemala/Chiapas Program Director at the Seva Foundation prior to his work at Amazon Watch.
Currently, he is also an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and continues his volunteer work of over 20 years as Colombia Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA.
Paul writes, “My work with Amazon Watch since 2007 has been challenging and rewarding. We challenge some of the world’s biggest polluters, such as Chevron, and work with some amazing partners in the Amazon. Quaker ideals of social justice and compassion are a part of my work and home life every day.” Looking ahead to his thirtieth FCS Reunion, Paul hopes to return to campus and to stay in touch with all of his FCS classmates.
David Gershkoff Slusky ’02
David Gershkoff Slusky '02 lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife, Joanna Slusky and four year old daughter Eve. David enjoys his research and teaching as an assistant professor of Economics at the University of Kansas, and an Oswald Scholar at the University of Kansas, where he also co-directs the Health Policy Research Group and is a faculty affiliate of the Institute for Policy & Social Research. His research focuses on how public policy affects maternal and child health, and his work was cited on the floor of the Kansas House right before they voted by a veto-proof majority to expand Medicaid. Recent publications show that women’s health clinic closures due to funding cuts reduce preventive care and that increases in maternal sunlight exposure reduce childhood asthma. His research has been funded in part by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, and has been covered by the San Francisco Chronicle, Vox, Slate, NPR's Morning Edition, and FiveThirtyEight. He also teaches courses on microeconomic theory, labor economics, and health policy. Previously he was a management consultant in Oliver Wyman's financial services practice in New York City. He holds a doctorate in economics from Princeton University, and an undergraduate degree in physics and international studies from Yale University.
Outside of the university, David enjoys spending time with his family cooking and attending Congregation Beth Shalom in Overland Park, Kansas.
As a student at Friends' Central, David was a part of Model UN, the Debate Team, the Math Team, and SAC. He performed in Barbershop, Twelfth Night, and directed the Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged for his senior project.
Kristin Hevner-Wyatt ‘97
Kristin Hevner-Wyatt ‘97 is a music composer itions have been performed nationally and internationally and span the musical genres of classical opera, electronic dance music, and atonal rock. She has also composed music for national commercials including GEICO and numerous independent films and her music has been performed in Carnegie Hall, Birdland and in conjunction with La Scala in Milan. As former Composer-in-residence the new NYC-based opera company, Metropolis Opera Project, Kristin penned four full-length contemporary operas that have been recently performed off-Broadway.
Kristin holds degrees from The Ester Boyer School of Music at Temple University, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and the School for Audio Engineering (SAE), NYC. In addition to her work as a composer, she also maintains a private instruction practice in NYC and Westchester County. She has also previously served on the board of directors for “The Look and Listen Festival,” an annual event dedicated to the performance of contemporary music in art galleries.
She writes that one of her fondest memories from Friends’ Central: “...was having the challenge and the opportunity to compose a suite of piano pieces for my senior project. To be given the time and space to develop my creative vision at such a young age was a tremendous gift. I remember performing those pieces for an audience of my friends, classmates and teachers and feeling not only pride in what I had accomplished but a burgeoning sense of possibility - that I could share who I was through the language of music. It was a profound experience. Now, as a teacher myself, I understand how important receiving both emotional and intellectual support from faculty was for me in pursuing what I love to do and sharing it with others.”
Jonathan Grinspan ‘02
Jonathan Grinspan is Curator of Political History at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History whose work explores the reciprocal relationship between politics and popular culture in American history.
Prior to his work with the Smithsonian, Jonathan earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in History at the University of Virginia and his B.A. at Sarah Lawrence College. His first book, The Virgin Vote: How Young Americans Made Democracy Social, Politics Personal, and Voting Popular in the Nineteenth Century, uncovers a forgotten era when young men and women fueled American democracy.
Currently, he is researching a second book on the long struggle for control of American politics fought between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the 20th century. His writing also explores a number of other historical subjects, from Civil War coffee to young people's courtships to political rioting in 19th century America.
Gabe Bloomfield ‘07
Gabe Bloomfield came to FCS in the 9th grade and quickly made himself a visible and active member of the school. He pursued a number of interests while here, most notably in the arts. He sang in the chorus, participated in the vocal groups, and acted in numerous plays and dramatic productions. He acted in "The Women" and showed his dancing, singing, and acting skills in "The Pajama Game". His submission to the Young Playwright's Festival, "Snow is Falling" won first prize and received a full production in Philadelphia. In his senior year, he wrote "Omi" which he then directed as the 9th - 10th grade play. He was a leader in the GSA and was also a member of our short-lived but passionate 4th team tennis squad!
A versatile student indeed.
He is now pursuing a PhD program at Columbia, specializing in the poetry of 17th century England.
