Association news & class notes
2013
It has officially been 10 years since we graduated, rang the bell, and began our post-college lives — and I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to believe that it’s been an entire decade already.
As Will Haddad put it, “Though time marches irrevocably on, it’s very comforting to think of the Hill standing there as firm as ever.” Last June, Will passed the California state clinical exam to become a licensed marriage and family therapist. Now he works for Foothill Family Service in their intensive services department, where he acts as a clinician on a four-person care team providing therapy to high-needs and high-risk youth and their families. He says it is simultaneously some of the most challenging and rewarding work he has ever done. Will also opened a private practice, which he hopes to grow into his primary profession.
Kira Young Connor and her husband, Kyle, welcomed their first child, Declan James, in August 2022. After Kyle retired from the Army and started a contracting job in Reston, Virginia, they moved to a wonderful little farm in Berryville, Virginia, and now also care for a menagerie of animals.
After six years as an administrative assistant with the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance, Gregory Nolen was promoted to office manager and has been enjoying his new role and additional responsibilities. These days, he works primarily in Annapolis, Maryland, but enjoys teleworking when he can. He lives with his family in Laurel, Maryland.
Gary Smith officially left professional baseball after working for the Orioles for eight years. He moved to Sarasota, Florida, and accepted a job as a certified athletic trainer at a private K-12 school called The Out-of-Door Academy, where he enjoys the warm weather and improved work-life balance.
It’s been a momentous couple of years for Rachel Shlaferman Heimann, who achieved a hat trick of milestones. She married Andy Heimann ’12 in 2020 right before the pandemic, and they bought a house together in Bethesda, Maryland. Recently, Rachel was promoted to vice president at the Zins-Shlaferman Group with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.
Tim McLister is a senior associate attorney for Greenberg Traurig LLP in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Emilie, live in Leesburg, Virginia, with their three children: Harper, 5; Riley, 3; and Grant, 1.
As a contributing writer at the magazine Music Daily, Drew Garrison credits English professors Kate Dobson, Kathy Mangan, and Corey Wronski with the research and writing skills he utilizes every day.
Sydney Kirchhoff Knower, M.L.A. ’13 is celebrating 10 years (seven married) with Chuck Knower ’15. He is an engineer with Northrup Grumman, and she is the human resources manager at a company based in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. They love working so close to their Annapolis home so that they can spend time with their kids, Callan, 6, and Cora, 3, who are best buddies. In her free time, Sydney is president of Cal’s school’s Parent Teacher Organization. She also volunteers with the local YWCA as an event coordinator and loves being part of her neighborhood book club. Chuck is den leader for Cal’s Cub Scouts troop and has been enjoying lots of camping expeditions recently. She says, “We’re so thankful to McDaniel for bringing us together and for giving us the skills, knowledge, and opportunities that have helped us in our careers and personal lives.”
Rachel Hoffman, M.S. ’14 is in her ninth year of teaching middle school Spanish for Howard County (Maryland) Public Schools. Her marriage in April 2022 was officiated by Tyler Justice, and Sarah Holbrook Heeney was a bridesmaid. Rachel and her husband recently purchased their first home together and are enjoying making it their own.
As for Tyler Justice, he is still with the Seaford (Delaware) Police Department, where he was promoted to sergeant for his patrol division. Tyler is happily married with two little girls, ages 2 and 4, who are “growing like weeds.”
Lisa Vasapollo recently started a new adventure teaching television broadcast at Washington Township High School in New Jersey. She is excited to combine her passions of education and media into this role. Lisa is also still an audio engineer with Beasley Media Group. A short film she worked on with a group of friends in the summer of 2021 premiered at the Garden State Film Festival in March and has won several awards.
Charles Mullin and I, Hanna Barker Mullin, recently bought our first home, a condo in Halethorpe, Maryland. I am still with Perkins Coie LLP as a litigation paralegal, and the pandemic-induced shift to hybrid work has been a boon to my work-life balance. Last year, I was promoted, and this year, I received the Pro Bono Leadership Award for Business Professionals for my work supporting asylum applicants and veterans. After several years as a coach with Teach for America, Charles returned to the classroom in 2021 — this time at Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, where he teaches 11th grade English and AP Composition.
Hanna Barker Mullin2013 Class Reporterbarkerhanna@gmail.com