American Magazine: November 2016

JAKE HAELEN
SOC/BA ’07
Jake Haelen GREW UP IN THE KITCHEN of his family’s
Middletown, New York, restaurant. “I’ve been passionate about food
my whole life,” says Haelen, who produces cooking and baking
competitions for FOOD NETWORK AND COOKING
CHANNEL. “Now I’m lucky for it to be my job.” Some of his
favorite projects are focused as much around family as they are
around food. For Kids Baking Championship, Haelen sifts through
casting videos looking for youngsters with a standout personality
and top-notch skills. But technique and passion are just part of the
RECIPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEASON. Haelen wants
“the skilled kids, but also the entertaining kids, because we are
making television.” Haelen’s kitchen stages have also tested plenty
of adults. CLASH OF THE GRANDMAS, premiering in
November, features super-skilled matriarchs who battle it out for a
$10,000 prize. Haelen’s own grandmother taught him to appreciate
the hard work that goes into a family meal. “I have few memories
of her not in the kitchen,” he says. On HOMEMADE PASTA
NIGHTS in his own kitchen, Haelen’s toddler son is at the counter,
SQUEEZING DOUGH AND THROWING FLOUR. “Not
all that helpful,” he admits, but he’s glad to see that early interest
and a willingness to eat just about anything. “I lucked out.”
42 AMERICAN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2016
Laura Petravage, CAS/BA ’07,
completed her doctor of musical
arts degree in choral conducting
at George Mason University. This
fall, she is teaching at Millersville
University in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, where she
is also completing
post-doctoral work
in the Kodaly
method and
music education.
Stephen Lawson,
Kogod/MS ’09,
was promoted
to partner at Baker
Tilly. He specializes
in providing transactional tax
planning, compliance, and
business advisory services to
companies and their owners.
David Teslicko, SIS/BA ’09,
WCL/JD ’12, married Diana Pak,
WCL/JD ’12, on May 28, 2016, in
North Beach, Maryland.
2010s
Ashley Peppler Charnetski, SIS/
BA ’10, joined Whitfield & Eddy
Law as an associate attorney in
the firm’s estates, wills, and trusts
group. She will also represent
clients in business matters and
real estate transactions.
Trace Dominguez, SOC/BA ’10,
appears on Discovery Digital
Networks’ flagship show DNews.
President Obama hosted the TV
spinoff, Science Presents DNews,
earlier this year.
Steven Cetel, CAS/BA ’12,
received a doctor of osteopathic
medicine degree from Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine
in June. He is continuing his
medical training in internal
medicine at Christiana Care in
Newark, Delaware.
KEEP
YOUR FRIENDS IN
THE LOOP. SEND
YOUR UPDATES TO
CLASSNOTES@
AMERICAN.EDU.
Jimmy Fagan Jr., SPA–CAS/
BA ’12, is a candidate for the
Pennsylvania House of
Representatives in the 151st
legislative district.
Scott Silvester, SOC/
MA ’14, is a television
producer in New
Jersey. He and his
team have a new
music television
show: Mixtape
Nation.
Amberly Alene
Ellis, SOC/MFA ’15,
is among the 2016
Rubys Artist Project grantees
in performing and media arts.
Alison Venable, SIS/BA ’15,
began a 10-month term of
national service in FEMA
Corps, an AmeriCorps National
Civilian Community Corps
program. She will assist citizens
and communities that have
been impacted by disasters,
and provide administrative and
logistical support to the nation’s
emergency management system.
Mitchell Zeller, SIS/BA ’15, was
a recipient of this year’s Arthur S.
Flemming Award, which honors
federal government leaders with
between 3 and 15 years of service.
IN MEMORIAM
Robert Hoffman, CAS/BA ’49,
July 16, 2016, Kings Park, New York
Lloyd McKinley Alston Sr.,
Kogod/MBA ’64, January 31, 2016,
Baltimore, Maryland
Gary Lande, WCL/JD ’64, September 23,
2015, Encino, California
Mortimer Dittenhofer, Kogod/PhD ’74,
March 4, 2016, Silver Spring, Maryland
Douglas Dugan, SPA/BS ’81,
July 18, 2016, Scottsdale, Arizona
PHOTO BY NICK PARISSE