University of San Diego Magazine - Fall 2025

TOREROS MAKING WAVES

1980s

1990s Dawn Simon VanderMeer ’91 (BA) earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) in July 2024. While at VCFA, she received the Award for Excellence in Writing Middle Grade. Dawn looks forward to seeing her children’s books published in the near future.

a two-phase trial team that first won a jury verdict last December, awarding the limited partners $9.7 million in damages — $1.7 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages. In May, the Santa Clara County granted an additional $7.36 million in damages to the partnership itself for derivative claims. Austin Pegues ’19 (JD) has joined Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman as a senior associate in the firm’s Orange County office. His practice focuses on labor and employment law, representing employers of varying sizes and providing advisory services on matters including policy development, employee handbooks, contract analysis and general corporate counsel. Austin earned his undergraduate degree in film and business management from Arizona State University before receiving his JD from the University of San Diego School of Law. While at USD, he was an active member of the International Law Journal and the Black Law Student Association, and he also served as a youth mentor with the Crawford Legal Institute and Mentorship Bond Program.

water policy arena, Danielle has advanced critical initiatives related to water affordability and accessibility, and she has guided the strategic vision for water agencies, coalitions and officials across the state. Basil Considine ’03 (BA) has been named the executive director of Carroll Museums in Baltimore. The historic house museum is dedicated to the legacy of Declaration of Independence signer Charles Carroll of Carrollton and his family. Thomas Hanchett ’04 (MA) published the book, Disgracefully Easy: A B-24 Pilot’s Letters Home by William Hanchett with Thomas F. Hanchett, in May. The book is a compilation of more than 200 correspondence from his late father, William, during his time in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. After retiring from federal civil service, Thomas edited the letters, organizing them into chapters, and providing introductions and historical endnotes to place the correspondence in context. In the correspondence, William details his experiences in flight school and subsequent assignments as an instructor and airplane commander responsible for training and leading a heavy bomber crew. The letters provide a vivid snapshot of life on the home front during the war, when overseas deployment was always a possibility — but never occurred.

original songs now streaming on all major platforms. In February, she had the opportunity to perform internationally at the Red Note Global Village Music Festival in Zhuhai, China. 2020s

Greg Rolen ’86 (BA) graduated cum laude from USD with a degree in political science and history. He went on to law school and served as a deputy district attorney, deputy attorney general and general counsel of a large East Bay suburban school district. Later, he became managing partner of a statewide California law firm and was recently appointed general counsel of the Orange County Department of Education. Greg has shared his expertise with USD students as a speaker for the Phi Alpha Delta prelaw fraternity and was invited by the athletics department to help select head football coach Brandon Moore. Throughout his career, Greg has exemplified the USD spirit of giving back to the community. Elizabeth Colonna Noriega ’87 (BA) and James Noriega ’87 (BA) welcomed their third grandchild, Julia Rose, in March 2025. Barry Stewart Mann ’89 (MFA) has spent the past few years sharing his talents around the globe as a storyteller and arts integration specialist. A member of the inaugural MFA class, Barry was a Fulbright Specialist in India and presented at a conference in Auckland, New Zealand, in Summer 2024. This spring, he completed two storytelling tours in China and is scheduled to travel to Uruguay — and likely additional South American countries — near the end of the year.

Adam Hauser ’09 (BA) is a Texas Dentist of the Year nominee and a native Texan who played football at the University of San Diego under head coach Jim Harbaugh, before attending Baylor College of Dentistry in his hometown. After practicing in San Antonio for four years — where he advanced his dental education through courses nationwide in comprehensive, cosmetic, surgical, implant, Invisalign, sleep and IV sedation dentistry — Adam has spent the past four years serving the Austin community. He remains actively involved in the local dental community, serving on the boards of both ADA and AGD constituents, and has been honored as New Dentist of the Year in both San Antonio and Austin. 2010s Tyler Goss ’17 (BA), ’21 (JD) helped secure a complete victory for a limited partnership and its partners following years of fraud by the partnership’s general partner. An associate at the international law firm, Withers, Tyler was part of

1960s Ed McCarthy ’63 (BBA) is celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Margot. The couple have two daughters and four grandchildren. Ed enjoyed a long career traveling extensively for a tobacco company throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean, followed by 20 years in the U.S. liquor industry. He later retired from Seiko Watch U.S. in 2000, enjoying visits to Tokyo along the way. Ed and Margot now live happily retired in a senior community in Colorado Springs. Vern Schooley ’66 (JD) was re-elected executive of the Ball/Hunt/Schooley American Inn of Court. He is enjoying retirement after nearly 60 years practicing patent infringement law in district courts and appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Vern remains active in the legal community, attending monthly membership meetings and mentoring newly minted attorneys. He has always taken pride in his USD education, often delighting in surprising opponents who hold credentials from schools such as Harvard and Yale.

Deborah A. Wolfe ’80 (JD) received a lifetime achievement award from the East County San Diego Bar Association in January for “outstanding dedication to the practice of law.” In June, the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD), honored her as the newest inductee into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame at their annual past presidents’ reception. The award recognizes career contributions of select CASD members for their accomplishments as trial lawyers, their service to the public and their leadership within the association.

Vicente Galvan ’23 (BS/BA) , was recently accepted into the part-time MBA program at the Knauss School of Business. He is a member of the USD SHPE Alumni Council and USD SHPE MentorSHPE program.

Deborah Hutchinson ’99 (BA) published her first children’s book in September. Inspired by her dissertation research, the book aims to teach children about colors, reduce their fear of snakes, and highlight the benefits these creatures provide for both kids and adults. Deborah credits one of her USD professors, Gregory Pregill, PhD, as a key reason she pursued graduate school and as someone who continues to inspire her work. 2000s Danielle (Maxson) Coats ’00 (BA) was recently honored by the Southern California Water Coalition as the 2024 Kathy Cole Water Policy Advocate of the Year. The award recognizes individuals who exemplify dedication, perseverance and collaboration in California water policy. Spanning more than two decades of service in the

Olivia Quinn ’20 (BBA), ’24 (MBA) and Trent Smith ’22 (BBA) were married on June 28, 2025, at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. They are living in Point Loma with their dog, Penny. Olivia is in software sales for Recurly, Inc., and Trent recently left Cushman & Wakefield Industrial Real Estate and is working in his family business.

Mark “Garo” Garibaldi ‘82 (BA) , who played fullback for USD from 1977-1980, organized and sponsored a reunion brunch for USD alumni football players and coaches from the 70s and 80s at Tio Leo’s on Napa Street, followed by attending the St. Thomas football game.

Taylor Wong ‘19 (BA) , was recently promoted to senior product manager, advancing her career in cybersecurity. Outside of tech, she’s diving into her passion for music as a singer-songwriter under the name Taylor Alyssa, with

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