Updated: August 2020

In November, the Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation named Barry A. Levin, B.A., 1970, of Dyer, Ind., to its board of directors. Founded in 1913, Alpha Epsilon Pi is a Jewish college fraternity with chapters on more than 175 college campuses in six countries and more than 90,000 living alumni. Levin has been involved in the fraternity for many years. The AEPi Foundation promotes the values of Alpha Epsilon Pi through leadership development, partnerships with educational and Jewish community organizations, and scholarships, financial support, and programming. Levin is president of Levin Tire & Service Center, which has five locations in northwest Indiana.

Ronald S. Reinstein, B.A., 1970, J.D., 1973, of Scottsdale, Ariz., has been awarded the 2019 Judge Learned Hand Award for Public Service. Previously named a member of the IU Academy of Law Alumni Fellows, Reinstein retired as a judge after 22 years with the Superior Court of Arizona. He now serves as a judicial consultant to the Arizona Supreme Court. The Judge Learned Hand Award honors those who have contributed to the legal community and whose work reflects the integrity and broad humanitarian ideals exemplified by Judge Learned Hand, one of America's most noted jurists and humanitarians.

Former president of the IU Board of Trustees, John D. Walda, B.A., 1972, J.D., 1975, of Big Sky, Mont., has been inducted into IU Bloomington's most prestigious donor recognition society, the President's Circle. The President's Circle recognizes individuals whose lifetime giving has reached $100,000. Walda is interim president and CEO of Yellowstone Forever, a nonprofit organization that partners with Yellowstone National Park to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve the park. He is former president and CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers in Washington, D.C., where he served from 2006 until August 2018. He has also served as chair of the Indiana Lottery Commission, as a director and chair of the Association of Governing Boards, and as chair of the board of Clarian Health Partners (now Indiana University Health). Prior to his career in the higher education sector, Walda was a practicing lawyer for nearly 30 years.

In 2019, Marilyn (Liszewski) Carter, B.A., 1978, assumed the role of acting executive director of the Indiana Optometric Association. Carter, a former television news reporter, is no stranger to the IOA. She was the IOA director of communications and marketing from 2011–14. In 2014, she took a full-time position to assist the Indiana State Department of Health with its initiatives to fight Indiana's high infant mortality rate and spent several years overseeing the staff and operations of the Indiana State Medical Association's Communications Department. Carter is married to Stephen T. Carter, J.D./M.B.A., 1983, former Indiana attorney general and current senior policy adviser and central Indiana director of U.S. Sen. Mike Braun. The Carters have three adult children.

Melissa A. Proffitt Schmidt, B.A., 1982, J.D., 1985, was elected to the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce executive committee as treasurer for 2019. She became vice president in 2020 and will become president of the Indy Chamber in 2021. She was also re-elected to the Indiana Chamber executive committee, the economic development committee, the nominating committee, PAC board and the congressional affairs Policy committee. Proffitt Schmidt was elected to the Indiana University Women's Philanthropy Council executive committee and was also selected as membership committee chair. In addition, she was selected to participate in the NBA All Star 2021 committee and was elected treasurer of the 500 Festival board. Proffitt Schmidt is partner-in-charge of client relations at the law firm Ice Miller in Indianapolis, where she lives.

Sarah E. Freeman, B.A., 1994, J.D., 1997, of Indianapolis, has been appointed chair of the subcommittee on education and research at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Freeman serves on the boards of many organizations involved in the utilities industry, and previously represented the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on the board of directors of the Organization of PJM States Inc., an electric transmission system that serves parts of the Eastern Seaboard, the Midwest, and the South.

Rachel (Tumidolsky) Hardwick, B.S., 1994, J.D., 1998, became president of the Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia Foundation in June. She is senior counsel and compliance officer at America's Health Insurance Plans in Washington, D.C. Hardwick and her husband, Matthew J. Hardwick, B.S., 1994, are excited that their daughter Olivia will be a student at IU Bloomington in the fall of 2020.
[Minor in political science]

Kelly (Wood) Gemelli, B.A., 1995, is a principal in the San Diego office of the law firm Jackson Lewis. She provides advice and counsel to management on a wide range of employment issues. She is a certified leave of absence specialist, and is an active member of the California Advice and Counsel Resource Group. She has litigated a broad range of employment matters for nearly 20 years and routinely provides training seminars on a wide variety of employment topics. Gemelli lives in San Diego with her husband and their two young sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, going to the beach, camping, and hiking. She has been to over 40 countries, and has lived in England, the Netherlands, and Spain.

In April 2019, Brian A. Ratner, B.A.J., 1996, and his wife, Jamie, appeared on the ABC reality television show Shark Tank seeking investment for their business, CertifiKID, a resource for local, affordable family activities and entertainment. The couple, from Potomac, Md., was presented with investment offers from panel members Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, and Daymond John on the show. After a tennis match of negotiations, the Ratners accepted a $600,000 investment from O'Leary for a 19 percent stake in CertifiKID in the hope of expanding the reach of their business nationwide. [Outside major in political science]

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council has selected Courtney (Curtis) Miller, B.A., 2001, J.D., 2004, of Indianapolis, as assistant executive director. She plays an active role in planning IPAC's many training sessions and conferences. Curtis has been a valuable faculty member in the past for IPAC's trial advocacy courses and has presented at training and conferences nationwide throughout the course of her career.

Cullen C. Harkness, B.A., 2004, is attorney for the City of Eaton Rapids, Mich. In 2019, he was selected as a Rising Star in municipal law by Super Lawyers magazine. He lives in Okemos, Mich.

J. Tyler Bond, B.A., 2005, joined the National Institute on Retirement Security as research manager in March 2019. He conducts research on retirement policy with a particular focus on public sector employees. He married Liz Ragland in June 2016 and they welcomed daughter Elizabeth "Libby" Frankie Bond in November 2018. Bond has lived in Washington, D.C., for several years, originally moving there to attend graduate school at George Washington University, where he earned a master's degree in public policy.

The Indiana Department of Child Services has announced that Erin (Hittinger) Lahr, B.A., 2005, J.D., 1908, of Greenfield, Ind., will serve as deputy general counsel, providing legal advice and making sure the organization remains in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. DCS's main mission is working with families, the state, and local community partners to help provide child support services and protect children from abuse and neglect.

Laura (Siegel) Perpinyal, B.A., 2005, of Wilmette, Ill., is director of congregational learning at Temple Chai in Long Grove, Ill.

Joseph Z. Osgood, B.A., 2006, is a writer for The Times of Israel, an Israel-based, primarily English-language online newspaper launched in 2012. Osgood lives in Wheaton, Ill.

Jeremy S. Gard, B.S., 2007, OD'11, or Albany, Ind., will continue to serve as the northeastern trustee of the Indiana Optometric Association through April 2021. He is an optometrist at Family Vision Care in Muncie, Ind.
[Minor in political science]

Amy (Goetz) Koch, B.A.J., 2008, works for the Target Corporation in Minneapolis, where she lives.
[Minor in political science]

Evansville native Jackson G. Ford, B.A., 2016, J.D., 2019, has joined the law firm Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt as an associate attorney. He earned bachelor of arts degrees in history and political science from Indiana University and his law degree from the IU Maurer School of Law. Jackson's practice is focused on corporate law and litigation and providing legal counsel to business owners.