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Welcome to the May 2025 edition of Class News, our snapshot of personal achievements and professional journeys in your alumni community.

Each month we’ll share a collection of the most recent submissions, so don’t forget to keep us up to date on your latest news.

Gatherings & Milestones

Beth Lincks ’75, who writes under the pen name Arlene Hutton, is celebrating 30 years as a professional playwright. Her play Blood of the Lamb won the Critics’ Circle Award at the 2024 Adelaide Fringe Festival and ran off-Broadway last fall. Lincks’ latest work will premiere at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Several members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority returned to campus for a reunion weekend. Highlights included a campus tour led by Student Government Association president Eltavious Johnson ’26 and a nostalgic visit to the former Kappa House.

Richard Farrer ’01 presented awards to JROTC cadets at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Sons of the American Revolution.

Onward & Upward

Steve O’Donnell ’91 has been named president of NASCAR, where he will oversee the organization’s national and international racing series as well as its media, business, and track operations. With more than 30 years at NASCAR, O’Donnell previously served as chief operating officer and has helped expand the sport’s reach to fans across the country.

Amy Calandrino ’07 became a best-selling author with the release of her debut book, From Perfect to Real: Ditch Perfection, Shift Your Mindset, and Thrive on Your Terms. The book reached No. 12 on Amazon’s business mentoring and coaching list and held a spot in the top 100 for business and self-help.

Christina Dempsey ’14MBA was appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as the deputy director of government affairs for the state’s Department of Cannabis Control.

Across the Arts

Richard Sansone ’76, professor of Portuguese at Valencia College, hosted artist Clovis Junior for an art exhibition at the college in April. Now in his 36th year at Valencia, Sansone launched the college’s Portuguese program and credits his Rollins mentor, professor Frank Sedwick, for sparking his passion for languages.

Moriah Russo ’13 recently joined the Rollins Museum of Art as curatorial assistant, where she leads research for upcoming exhibitions and supports the museum’s curatorial efforts. Outside of Rollins, she serves as vice president of the board for the Jack Kerouac Writers-in-Residence Project of Orlando.

• Alumni News