ALUMNI NEWS 

Claudia Garcia-Des Lauriers (BA ’98), outstanding graduating senior in art and history, received her doctorate in anthropology from UC Riverside in June.  Claudia, a specialist in the archaeology of ancient Mexico, spent the past year completing her dissertation, and also serving as a visiting lecturer at Pomona College.

Steve (Randy) Jordan (BA '04) has taken up the post this year as the Dean at Kern Valley High School; he taught the last several years at Arvin HS.

Kenya McCormack (BA ‘07) has been accepted to the Peace Corps.  She will be teaching English in Africa.

John C. Pinheiro (BA ’92, MA ’94) an assistant professor of history at Aguinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., has recently published a book, Manifest Ambition:  James K. Polk and Civil-Military Relations during the Mexican War.  John earned his doctorate in history from the University of Tennessee in 2001.  From 2002 to 2004 he was assistant editor of the “George Washington Papers” at the University of Virginia.

Luis Valladares (BA '07) left on Sept. 27 for a Peace Corps assignment as an English teacher in Mozambique.  For his ten weeks of pre-service training he stayed with a host family in the capital of Maputo.  Unfortunately, Luis became ill and was forced to return to the US this fall.

The Bakersfield Californian ran a biographic piece on alumnus Peter Wonderly (BA '94) in July. The story highlighted his twenty-year (and going strong) career announcing at bike racing events, as well as acting as dj at wedding receptions and hosting concerts for local Celtic bands.