Michelle Talonn Blechman

I've been living in the Chicago area since college. Married 17 years to the brother of an ex-colleague. Two kids: Eve is 13 and Ari is 11. I fell into advertising and marketing, and currently work at Abbott Labs, which I find very rewarding (as I get to spend time listening to and learning about patients with chronic illness). I also volunteer at my synagogue, and serve on a couple of nonprofit boards (Chicago Association of Direct Marketing Educational Foundation, and Luminescence Media Group).
BA '82 (Brown Hall)

Robert Nigro

As a resident of Collins’ Greene Hall during 1986-1988, I may be remembered for my portrayal of Sonny in “Doing Poetry with Helen, Veronica, Sonny and Poor Dead Charlie,” a play written by Peter Dee and directed by fellow Collins resident Cyndi Elliot in +/-1987. Also at IU, I majored in broadcasting and hosted various shows for then-WIUS 95.1 FM (Cable).

Since graduating from IU, my journalism and fiction career has spanned more than 23 years. I recently was an editor of the manuscript of Construction Administration for Architects, by Greg Winkler, AIA and Gary Chiumento, Esq. (McGraw-Hill, 2009). I also served as a volunteer editor for the second edition of S.S. United States: The Fastest Ship in the World, (Turner Publishing, 2003), a publication of the S.S. United States Foundation.

I estimate that I’ve written more than 1,000 different pieces for print and broadcast media.
I formerly was a journalist, photographer and editor for the Times Graphics newspaper group in Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, where I was integral in the launch of two newspapers for that company, then served as managing editor in the publications department of the Philadelphia Bar Association. I then was programming manager for the Pennsylvania Br Institute, a nonprofit provider of continuing education for lawyers. I’ve since served as a marketing communications manager for two law firms: Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis LLP and, currently, Pepper Hamilton LLP.

I served on the editorial board (1992) and as fiction editor (1993) for the South Jersey arts group AfterImage, and chaired the Publication Committee of the Atlantic County Historical Society in 1992.

In 1995, I founded Whatever's Write, a workshop group for prose writers in South Jersey. I’m a lifelong South Jersey resident.

Joe Chesak

Hey everybody!

Marianne is pregnant again! We're about half way through and it's a girl! Due mid-summer.

Moonhop is her nickname for now. We're thinking that Maya or Fiona will stick, and we're open to suggestions. :)

Here are some recent photos! http://picasaweb.google.com/chesaknorway/MoonhopAndMore?feat=directlink

Marianne & Joe

Laura Robinson

I lived in Collins from 1998 to 2002 on Smith 1 and in Hillcrest, was on BOEP, E-Force, Community Council, Collins Thespians, and spent a year as an RA. After finishing my MA in English, I moved to Helsinki, Finland. I teach English and drama at the junior high and high school levels at a bilingual school. I love it -- there are hassles with any job but teaching-wise, it's my dream job. Outside work I spend a lot of time swing dancing and playing the flute in a wind band and a symphony. I travel a lot around Europe and get back to the States every year or two. I was sorry to miss the Collins reunion last May, but I can only travel on school holidays. :)

Collins 87-89

Collins 87-89

Collins alum Jeff Grote recently sent in a ton of photos from 87-89. Enjoy!

You can reach Jeff at jeffgrote.com.

Brian Pence

I only awakened to Collins for my senior year, but wow!! That was the best of times spent at IU. I made great friends, experienced true human beauty, and I met my wife, Robin Gnagni Pence (B.S. '93).

We now live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We have two children, Zoe - 5 years old, and Jacob - 9 months old. We love the climate out here, but often find ourselves longing for a stroll through the courtyard at Collins LLC.

I am technical director for an environmental testing laboratory and I have my own business.

My wife, Robin, is a teacher and technology director at Solomon Schechter Day School here in Albuquerque.

We like to spend our time with our kids and our dog, Yofi, roaming the Southwest.

Blessings to all of our fellow Collins alums. Peace be with you always.

Gretchen Sneegas

Gretchen Sneegas is currently a member of Americorps NCCC, Class XV. She is based out of Perry Point, MD from February through November 2009, doing disaster relief and recovery work. At Collins, Gretchen served as Vice President and Director of BOP, member of BOG and Exec Board, and was a Q-teacher for two years. She also made HUNDREDS of sandwiches in the deli. She graduated in May 2008 with majors in Theatre and Drama and Germanic Studies, and plans to further her education eventually with a Masters in Arts Administration. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Alvia Lewis Frey

I am presently a columnist for The Frankfort Times, Frankfort, IN. I write a monthly column highlighting everyday people and the uplifting and positive aspects of their lives. My husband, Dan, and I have three children, one of whom will be entering the IU freshman class of 2009. I teach Sunday School to third and fourth graders at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, where I am also a certified lay speaker.

(BA '82, MA '84)

Scott Sala

I lived at Collins before it was Collins from 1974-1977.

I received a degree in English in 1979 and moved to Colorado where I have been working as an elementary school teacher. I currently do a live, elementary school science program on a district-owned cable station. After a long academic hiatus, I am working on my dissertation which focuses on the professional identity of science teachers.

Tony Ralph

I’m Tony Ralph, and I lived and worked in Collins from 1990-1995. I’m living in Lexington, KY now and working at the University of Kentucky. We’re trying to create more LLCs here, but have not achieved anything like Collins yet. I’m married with two kids (ages 17 and 14). Life is busy!

Alex Dzierba, Jr.

I graduated from IU in 1992. When I was living at Collins in 1987 as a freshman I was majoring in math. I was working as an orderly at Bloomington Hospital to pay my way through school. When I was just three math classes short of graduating I decided to go into a more exciting field - nursing. My plan was to work as a traveller. I wanted to go to Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii... I went to Hawaii first, 16 years ago, and I got stuck. I am living in Honolulu and working as a nurse in a hospital. I also do some contract work on the side - I'm designing a statewide database to track victims of trauma and I'm also working for a product company to teach about pulmonary artery catheters. I'm married to a beautiful (inside & out!) local girl named Allison, also a nurse. We enjoy the life of being DINKs.

I have a younger brother, Chris Dzierba, that is a current resident at Collins!

Andi Smith

After returning home from Bloomington as a Vocal Major in the School of Music, I went on to finish my Bachelor's in English at the extension.

I spent 10 years in the sales industry and did very well for myself, but in the end, I really hated Sales. I eventually quit to plan my wedding which was unbelievably beautiful. It took place at the Taltree Arboretum in Valpo just as the leaves were turning their fall colors. After that my husband Shane and I bought a house, adopted a Labrador named Rupert, and we are planning on starting our family some time next year. Yes, even I went traditional and (it turns out) am excellent at the culinary arts. My married name is Andi Houlihan and I miss my old friends from Collins.

('91-'93)

Christopher Cokinos

I just got tenure at Utah State and have a new book coming out, on meteorite hunters and their lives, in July. It's called The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars (Tarcher/Penguin, Summer 2009).

Geoffrey Rubinstein

I lived at MRC/LLC from 1975-1977. I was pretty involved with the creative writing scene (Dancing Star, coffee house readings, etc). I went on to get an MFA in poetry writing at the University of Arizona, lived and taught in Japan for two years, then settled in the Boulder, Colorado area, where I completed a Ph.D. in communication/media studies. I now direct the University of Colorado's Independent Learning Programs--primarily distance and online learning representing most of the CU schools and colleges but also two smaller programs:
Sustainable Practices and Applied Music. I'm always interested in hearing from old friends.

Stacy P. Allan Horcher

I loved the time I lived in Collins LLC from 1983-1985, those were the happiest most carefree days of my life!

I lived on the third floor, in the bay window room facing the quad, on the right hand side.

Here is a photo from my 21st birthday.

For the past 17 years, I've been a jewelry designer in wholesale diamonds in Chicago, and I love my job, but I'd give almost anything for one more weekend at the dorm in the 1980s!
Thanks for the updates!

(BA English 1986)

Edward Burkhardt

Looking back 26 years since I walked into Collins, I still have fond memories of my first two years at the Center. Collins was clearly a special place and as an out-of-state student, helped me ease into life in a large campus much easier. Great friends and cherished experiences were all part of my time at Collins.

Since graduating in 1987, I was recruited through the Business Placement office to a position with May Dept. Stores Co. in St. Louis. After a year with that organization, I accepted another position with a large Retailer in Southern California and relocated to Los Angeles. In 1990, I changed career paths and began what is now my current career in Insurance. I’ve lived in Southern California for the past 21 years and enjoy all this wonderful area has to offer. Having worked in a number of insurance and Risk Management positions during the past 18 years, I currently hold the Regional Vice President position for ESIS, Inc., a unit of ACE USA. While it’s been many years since I’ve visited IU and the Bloomington campus, I have many fond memories of my time on campus and am grateful for the great experiences that Collins LLC offered me as a Freshman and Sophomore.

BS – IU/Bloomington 1987

Lived in Collins LLC (Edmonson and Brown Halls) in 1983 and 1984

Alan Rose

I've moved out of the corporate world after six years with a small software company in Ithaca, NY. I returned to working at Cornell University, this time in IT, where I support all of the systems that Cornell Dining uses. I'm still very active in the Ithaca music scene, especially during the summers when my entire band is in town. I'm hoping to get into the studio with them in '09 for a new CD, but meanwhile there are some live recordings on my Facebook music page:
I'd love to reconnect with people from my Collins days (and my time at IU in general).

(Collins Brown RA '95-96 and Q instructor Fall '96)

Identify yourself

UPDATE:

This picture is from the 95-96 IU Sing entry, "The Spirit of Cheese."

The following people have been identified:

Ian Hodges (glasses and goatee in the second row)

Brian Quick (top left corner in the hat)

Candace Bertotti (third one from left in back row)

Kim Ornat (third row with glasses)

Kevin Zeck (first row with beard and mustache)

Kate Buckman (in the center with jazz hands)

Chris (Hester) Scudder (front row, hands framing her face)

John Bancroft

john bancroft, iu school of music 1993

my wife and i recently relocated from north carolina to seattle, washington. my new responsibilities as vice president of tommy bahama are keeping me busy and happy. our son, johnny, is now 16 months old and we look forward to hearing from any other collins alumni who might be in the seattle area.

Candace Bertotti

This year has taken me to explore Jordan, Egypt, Beligum and France.