Blackburn Institute

Victoria Barnes Graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance. She is in her third year of graduate school at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While attending the University of Alabama, Victoria was a member of the Commerce Associates, which is the Culverhouse School of Commerce and Business Administration ambassador program. She was a scholar in the UA Ronald McNair Program in 2000. Victoria’s teaching experience includes teaching microeconomics and macroeconomics labs at UA, serving as a graduate teaching assistant for Financial Management (FI 301), and instructor of International Strategic Management (BA 351) and Investment (FI 425) courses at UT. Her areas of research include corporate governance, executive compensation, banking, and behavioral finance.

Rebecca Brand Redmond Graduated from UA law school and lives in Birmingham, Alabama. Rebecca practices labor and employment law with the firm of Carr Allison.

Joshua Burcham Accepted a position on the Blackburn Alumni Involvement Network, an extension of the Institute’s advisory board, in 2007. Graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in Marketing. He lives and works in Franklin, Tennessee. Joshua manages marketing and e-commerce for Windsor & Neil, LLC, a group of companies dealing in rare antique prints and real estate.

Stephanie Leigh Cory A second-year law student at LSU and lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She recently completed a summer clerkship with Chief Judge Helen G. Berrigan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She also worked for the Department of Justice in the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana. She plans to get married in May 2005.

Kristin Gilmer Lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Jason Goggins Currently serves as a Republican Counsel to the House Committee on Financial Services in Washington, DC. Graduated from the Cumberland School of Law in May of 2008 and is an active member of the Alabama bar. Former press secretary to Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) from 2003-2005.

Jessica Najjar Works as a traveling consultant for the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She will attend law school this fall at the University of Georgia.

Alan Johnson

Kerri Keith Graduated with a MBA from UA and lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Chad Kendrick Lives in Birmingham.

Jeffery Lees Jeffrey Lees received his B.S. in Accounting from The University of Alabama in 1998, and graduated from The University of Alabama School of Law in 2001. A brief career practicing transactional law after joining the bar led him to the title insurance industry, and he is now the Alabama Sales & Agency Manager for First American Title Insurance Company. Jeff is a frequent lecturer on real property issues to attorneys, real estate agents, and mortgage lenders, He is also a director of Dixie Land Title Association, Inc, an industry group designed to foster strong relationships and best practices among title insurance professionals. In addition to professional work, Jeff serves a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, working as Assistant Staff Judge Advocate to the Regional Support Group-East. Jeff is an active UA alumnus, serving as an officer and executive committee member of the Jefferson County Chapter of the Alabama Alumni Association; he is also a member of the alumni advisory committee for the Alpha Beta Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order at The University. An active supporter of the Alabama Literacy Council, Jeff is a member of St. Paul's Cathedral Catholic Church. He and his wife, Meredith, also a UA grad and an attorney at Haskell, Slaughter, Young, & Rediker, live in Birmingham.

Melissa Limbaugh Lives in Nashville.

Emily Smith Llinas Emily graduated summa cum laude from UA, and served as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Caracas, Venezuela. She represented Rotary International, speaking at local clubs and participating in service projects while pursuing a master's in International Relations at La Universidad Central de Venezuela. Emily was the first international student in the graduate program. During the summer of 2006, she published her first book, "Don't Call Me Gringa," that is based upon her experiences in Venezuela. Emily currently works for the University of Texas Medical Branch and serves as Assistant Director for Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness in Montgomery County, north of Houston, Texas.

Jonathan Macklem Graduated in May 2005 from the University of Alabama Law School. Upon passing the bar exam, he will be working for the law firm of Christian Small in Birmingham, Alabama. Jonathan and his wife Erin live in Birmingham.

Mark Martin Mark is the founding elementary principal of NOLA 180's Langston Hughes Academy Charter School in New Orleans, Louisiana. LHA opened in fall 2007 with 110 fourth and fifth-grade students, and will grow to include grades preK - 8, with over 600 students, by the 2010-2011 school year.

Matthew Phillips Working for SIRSI Corporation in Huntsville. Married Annie Lee, a UA alum, in May of 2004.

Kellee Renee' Ransom Accepted a position on the Blackburn Alumni Involvement Network, an extension of the Institute’s advisory board, in 2007. Lives in Huntsville and works as the Regional Recruiting Supervisor for North Alabama Enterprise Rent A Car.

Nathan Reamey Continues to serve on the Blackburn Alumni Involvement Network, an extension of the Institute’s advisory board. Serves as Vice President for Vulcan Pipe & Steel Coating, Inc. in Bessemer, AL, a specialty painting contractor. He serves on the Capstone Engineering Society Board of Directors at UA. He is an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa. Nathan and Becky live in Tuscaloosa with their four-legged child, Izzy.

David Richardson Works with Steve Richardson & Company, PC, and his wife Nikki is the Executive Director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of West Alabama. David’s current memberships include: Board treasurer for CAPS (Child Abuse Prevention Services), The Rotary Club, The Tuscaloosa Quarterback Club, Business Network International, and Pi Kappa Phi Alumni Advisory Board; he is also a graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa. David, Nikki, and their son Hartley live in Tuscaloosa, AL and attend Cavalry Baptist Church. The Richardsons are also expecting a baby girl in August 2008.

Adam Russell Adam now works as a Senior Industrial Engineer for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Raman Seghal Received his degree in Computer Engineering and German from he University of Alabama in 2001, after which he obtained his Masters of Business Administration . Raman now works at the Procter & Gamble company, where he manages interactive marketing and internet strategy for North America. Raman lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Marc H. Shook Graduated from The University of Alabama School of Law in 2001 and is currently the Assistant Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin.

Britt Strong Employed by US Steel and lives in Birmingham.

Kristy Thomas Lives in Alabaster, Alabama.

Brandon Tubbs

Keisha Turner A 2002 honors graduate from UA. She is a second-year law student at Howard Universtiy School of Law in Washington, D.C. Her plans, upon graduation in May 2005, are to pursue a career in family law or juvenile justice in the the Atlanta, GA area.

Faythe Smith VanPelt Currently works as the Director of Volunteer Services for Volunteer Jacksonville. She and her husband, Bahati VanPelt, live in Jacksonville, Florida where they are active members of Betherl Baptist Church. Bahati works for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

Shunta Vincent Currently living Atlanta practicing real estate law for the firm of Morris, Manning, and Martin, LLP. Graduated from UA's law school in May of 2004. Shunta has an article published in the Winter 2004 edition of the Alabama Law Review, entitled "An Alternative to the Blanket Closure of "Special Interest" Deportation Hearings: Balancing the Press' Right to Access and the Government's National Security Interests." Shunta also served as the Senior Editor of the Alabama Law Review.

Joshua Wallace Finished his MA in history from UA in 2004. Josh is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree here at Alabama. He expects to finish that degree in May 2007. After that, he hopes to find employment at an academic or government library or archive. Josh is also currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Montevallo where he teaches history.

Victoria Starks Ward After graduating from the University, Victoria attended Thomas M. Cooley law school in Lansing, Michigan. Victoria is currently an Associate Attorney at Bryan P. Hilton, P.C. in Douglasville, GA where she practices real estate litigation, civil litigation, wills and estates, as well as family law and criminal law . Victoria was married to Ronald Ward on October 7, 2006, and they live in Atlanta, GA. Ronald is a fitness trainer in the Atlanta area. Victoria attends the Cornerstone Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir. Victoria is also a regular volunteer in her community through her membership in Junior League of Atlanta.

Brooke West Lives in Birmingham and serves as Executive Director for the David Toms Invitational.