Alumni Updates & Recognitions

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is proud to recognize AnneMarie Monachino ’09, DNP, RN, CPN, NPD-BC, EBP-C, for her exceptional contributions to nursing education and simulation training. As a Lead Nursing Professional Development Specialist and former Senior Simulation educator, Monachino is dedicated to enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals in pediatric life support and emergency response, as well as, incorporating Evidence-Based Practice into nursing. She plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing resuscitation-based simulations that prepare nurses for real-life medical emergencies.

Monachino holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chestnut Hill College and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Community College of Philadelphia. She further advanced her expertise by earning a Master of Science in Nursing from Widener University and attained her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Duquesne University.

Widener Men's Track and Field graduate Macharia Yuot '07 was inducted into the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The USTFCCCA Class of 2025 is comprised of six inductees from the NCAA Division III. 

In 2006, Yuot won at the 2006 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track & Field Championships where he became the first – and still only – male athlete in NCAA history to win national titles in the 5000 meters, 10,000 meters and steeplechase. Those were three of six NCAA titles for Yuot and three of 14 All-America honors he earned between cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. He also topped the NCAA podium twice indoors in the 5000 meters and once following the NCAA Cross Country Championships as a senior in 2006.

Yuot holds a degree from Widener University in Social Work.

Nicole Gutekunst Ross ‘08 has joined The Green Bay Packers as a Paralegal in their Legal Department. Before joining the Packers, Ross served for seven years as a Senior Paralegal for the National Football League (NFL). She previously worked for Norton Rose Fulbright and the United States Attorney's Office as a paralegal specialist. 

Ross earned her bachelor's degree from Widener University in Government and Politics.

The Consulting Report is pleased to announce that Tiffany Brown, MBA '92 has been named to the Top 25 Consumer and Retail Consultants and Leaders of 2025 list. Brown is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal Corporate Performance Improvement (CPI) practice in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the North American Solution Leader for CPI’s CFO Services practice, where she partners with Fortune 1000 companies to architect and execute transformational initiatives that fuel growth and create high-performing organizations.

With over 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor and delivery partner, Brown works closely with clients across the consumer package goods, retail, financial services, telecommunication, high tech, and resources sectors.

Brown holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Widener University and an MBA from the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University. She was a board member of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. 

Fox Chase Cancer Center is pleased to announce the hiring of Caryn Karff, '92, '96 MS, RT, CRA, as the new Administrative Director of Radiology for Temple University Hospital. Prior to joining Fox Chase and Temple, Karff was Director of Radiology Clinical Operations for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 2018, where she managed over 260 employees. Previously, Karff also worked for 27 years for Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in a variety of roles, including Administrative Manager of Diagnostic Medical Imaging.

Karff received her bachelor’s degree in diagnostic imaging from Widener University, as well as a master’s degree in diagnostic imaging and a graduate degree in population health from Thomas Jefferson University. She is also a certified radiology administrator. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Healthcare Administration program at Walden University. 

Joe Tacchino, MBA '10 has been promoted to Partner at Elevation Land Solutions, a land development firm. He joined the firm in 2021, returning to his roots in single-family land development, where his career began 25 years ago. Tacchino holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College and an MBA from Widener University.

Thank you to our alumni who attended the School of Business' annual “Empowering Female Leaders” Conference! From left to right, Sabrina Brooks, MBA, ’95, ’99, Brenda Hudson-Nelson, BS-Accounting, ’83, Jill Alspach, MBA, ’14, Laura Wallon, ’26 – Student Government Association President and Demetrica Todd, Esq., MS-Taxation, ’95,’96.

The Wissahickon School District announced the appointment of Sean Gardiner, D.Ed. '14 as the district’s new assistant superintendent. Gardiner has served for over a decade in the Upper Merion Area School District as the director of curriculum and instruction for STEM education. Prior to his time at Upper Merion, Gardiner was the supervisor of mathematics and gifted education in the Norristown Area School District. He started his career in education with eight years of classroom experience as a high school math teacher.

Gardiner received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Towson University, and then earned a master’s degree in Communications from The University of Connecticut and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Widener University.

Beyond Plastics, a nationwide nonprofit fighting plastic pollution, announced that Susan Keefe '86 joined the organization as its first-ever Southern California director. Keefe will be using her 30-plus years of leadership experience and dedication to activism to grow Beyond Plastics’ presence in Southern California.

Keefe brings three decades of leadership experience working in the private sector, most notably with enterprise software company Oracle Corp. Since leaving Oracle in 2022, she has actively worked alongside nonprofits such as The Last Beach Cleanup, Climate Action Campaign, Climate Reality Project, and Surfrider to advocate for change. 

Keefe is a leader in the California Green Business Network and founded her own consulting company, Eco Forward, to promote plastic-free, healthier alternatives to communities, cities, and businesses in Southern California. She holds a degree from Widener University in English and Management.

Ashwina Mosakowski, EdD '16 has been selected as the new Director of Elementary Education for the Upper Darby School District. She brings more than twenty years of experience in education, along with a strong background in educational leadership. Mosakowski began her career as a high school French teacher and later went on to serve as an Assistant Principal, a Principal, and the Director of Curriculum in the Southeast Delco School District. She currently serves as the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, the Coordinator of Federal Programs, and the district lead for Cultural Proficiency within the Upper Darby School District. 

Mosakowski earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and French from the University of Mauritius, a Masters of Arts in English Literature from Durham University, and a Doctorate of Education from Widener University.

ADM, a global leader in human and animal nutrition, announced the appointment of Carrie Nichol, MBA '01 as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. In this role, she will be responsible for ADM's external and management accounting and reporting processes, internal control functions and insurance and risk management department. 

Nichol has more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting. She joins ADM from Cargill, a recognized global agribusiness leader, where she served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Global Process Leader. Nichol began her career in public accounting with KPMG LLP.

She is a licensed certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Widener University and an MBA in finance from Villanova University.

Civil engineering graduate Kayla Nelson '19 was one of 10 young civil engineers from around the world to be named to the 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering by ASCE, or the American Society of Civil Engineers. Nelson, a civil engineering analyst for Kimley-Horn in Dacula, Georgia, is recognized for her professional accomplishments and celebrated as a rising, talented, young engineer positioned to contribute tremendously to the industry.

Nat'e Guyton, DM, RN, MSN, CPHIMS, NE-BC '98, '02 was appointed President of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Previously, Guyton was the Chief Operating Officer at CommonSpirit Health-California Hospital Medical Center. She helped finalize a $243 million patient care tower dedicated to Women's Services, Emergency Services and Trauma Services.

Her previous roles include Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer for the University of Maryland Medical System, Chief Nurse Officer for Spok Inc., Chief Operations Officer for the Society of Hospital Medicine and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Region-Mercy Health System.

Guyton holds a doctorate in Management with a concentration in organization development from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in Nursing Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Widener University.

Brown Plus, an accounting firm, named Patrick Rogers, MST '08 as Tax Principal and Research & Development Director. In this role, Rogers will lead Brown Plus' Tax Credit Practice, with a focus on expanding its services. Rogers has over 17 years of experience in public accounting and specializes in providing tax and project management services. 

Rogers received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a focus in Accounting, from Widener University. He also earned his Master of Science in Taxation from William Howard Taft University and his Lean Six Sigma certification from Villanova University.

Primus Partners, a leading management consulting services provider, announced the appointment of Vinay Singh, MBA '05 as a Managing Director. In this role, Singh will focus on building relations in the US market, and establishing Primus Partners as a top voice when it comes to Management Consulting. Prior to this, he served as the Chief AI Officer and Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and also led initiatives for the Office of Disaster Assistance at the Small Business Administration. 

Singh holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and accounting from Christopher Newport University and an MBA from Widener University. He is also a certified public accountant.

Joanne McFall '98, market president at Keystone First, Pennsylvania's largest Medicaid managed organization, was a recipient of City & State Pennsylvania's 2024 Impact Award. In this role, McFall manages the health plans of over 600,000 Pennsylvanians. She has worked at Keystone First’s parent company, AmeriHealth Caritas, since 2000, shortly after earning her master's in business administration from Widener University. 

Under her leadership, Keystone First has seen its membership expand across Southeastern Pennsylvania and recently negotiated an ongoing partnership with Temple Health.

Markevis Gideon '10 has been named to the Delaware Business Times' Delaware 222 List of the state's most impactful business, civic, and nonprofit leaders. Gideon, the CEO of NERDiT NOW, a computer and electronics repair and recycling business, founded the company based off a simple idea: what can donating 100 computers do? From there, he launched the first electronics recycling company in Delaware, while also opening a shop to repair computers. Through the company’s nonprofit arm, it has donated more than 10,000 computers to at-risk communities in the state and started an apprenticeship program for those who live in the community.  

Gideon earned a degree in accounting from Widener University.

Mary Sortino, PsyD '98 has been named dean of graduate studies and professional education at Fairmont State University in West Virginia. In this role, she will oversee all of the university’s master’s degree and continuing education programs, including curriculum development, recruitment, and retention. Previously, Sortino served for over a decade as the dean of business and education at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania. With over two decades of higher education experience, she previously held leadership roles at Delaware Technical and Community College, Rosemont College, Cabrini University, and Wesley College.

A graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Sortino holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology, a master of health administration degree, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Widener University.

Michael Brady '97 '00 has received the Excellence in Business Award from the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, which awards exceptional business leaders who play a pivotal role in driving business growth in Delaware County. Brady began his career with LPL Financial Services in 2001 and has run his own Financial Planning and Services practice located in Broomall, PA. 

Brady, who holds a degree in accounting and an MBA from Widener University, has also served as an adjunct instructor in the Graduate Program, where he has taught Introduction to Financial Planning, as well as serving two terms as President of the Alumni Association. Brady has been a member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce since 2001 and was named Board Chairman in 2008, and later President in 2009. During his tenure he was responsible for a reorganization effort that led to a more engaged board and membership.

Richard Roberts III, '85, '89, '00 is the executive director of Young Men and Women in Charge, a West Chester, PA nonprofit, which seeks to empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth so they can pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, math, art, music, and entrepreneurship. Roberts, a three-time Widener graduate who earned degrees in the School of Engineering and School of Business Administration, provides these opportunities to youth from third grade through high school. 

Young Men and Women in Charge guides over 300 young people through tutoring, mentoring, financial assistance, and a host of projects including science fairs, and community service. The nonprofit also raises money for scholarships for college-bound students and provides them with SAT prep courses, help applying for admission and financial aid, as well as a career and college expo.