Stephanie A. Allen, a principal in Court Jesters, a Denver-based firm that brings humor into businesses, is currently working with a co-author on Manual for Becoming a Jester (Kiteshade). Her latest article, "Don't Deck the Clown: Inviting Humor into the Law Firm," was published in the winter issue of Law Governance Review.

Dennis Dart is a Peace Corps volunteer currently stationed in Togliatti, Russia, where he works with the city administration in urban planning, and housing and real estate development. He is also helping local lawyers create the first bar association in the area. Jan M. Lecklikner, a deputy public defender at the San Francisco Public Defender's Office, was named president of the Criminal Trial Attorneys Association of Northern California. Carl B. Mankinen, Ph.D., genetics laboratory director of the Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., was appointed assistant professor of pediatrics at Mayo Medical School. Mankinen was also elected to the American Society of Clinical Oncologists and is a founding member of the American College of Medical Genetics.

Merri McKee teaches drama, visual arts and chorus at Truckee High School and is the director/producer of yearly theater performances. She also organizes community concerts to support scholarships. She was recently included in Who's Who Among America's Teachers for her knowledge and dedication to teaching.

Janet (Van Arnum) Sitts is a third-grade teacher and computer specialist at Valley Oak Elementary School in Davis. She and her students have created a web site at http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/vme/vo/ called "The Timeline of the Revolution." The site, which has had some 20,000 visitors per month, tracks the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1781 and includes maps, drawings and other graphics.

Constantine J. Dillon was recently appointed superintendent of Long Island's Fire Island National Seashore. Previously, Dillon had served as the superintendent of Homestead National Monument of America in southeastern Nebraska. He has been with the National Park Service since 1979. Enrique E. Figueroa, M.S., M.S. '82, Ph.D. '86, was appointed as an alternate to the North American Free Trade Agreement Advisory Committee for Commercial Dispute Resolution Regarding Agricultural Goods. The committee will address disputes on perishable fruits and vegetables and eventually oversee disputes on other agricultural commodities. Figueroa is an associate professor at Cornell University with the Department of Agriculture, Resources and Managerial Economics. Louis G. Friedman, an independent film producer, recently returned from Mexico where he finished production of the 20th Century Fox film Titanic, directed by James Cameron. He has also produced Tri-Star Picture's Starship Troopers, the ABC pilot "Gun" and the first season of NBC's "JAG." Friedman has served as production executive, production manager and assistant director for Lucasfilm Ltd. during the making of American Graffiti II, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Carlos G. Gutierrez, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at California State University, Los Angeles, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Gutierrez was among 10 individuals and six institutions that were honored at a White House ceremony. The $10,000 award was used to establish a scholarship fund for chemistry and biochemistry undergraduate students. During his 20 years at Cal State Los Angeles, Gutierrez has been a mentor to more than 180 students.

Juan Zavala retired in April after 21 years with the state of California Youth Authority working in parole services in Chico. He has now moved to Santa Maria and says he plans to travel, work on his yard and relax.

After graduation Pat (Barry) Bomberger joined the Air Force and became an airlift pilot. She is now a lieutenant colonel commanding the 458th Airlift Squadron at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Previously, she had been stationed at the Pacific Command Headquarters in Hawaii. Frank H. Carber is a commander in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Navy. In July he will go to Bahrain to serve as legal adviser for the commander of the Fifth Fleet. He is currently working on a master's of law degree in oceans law at the University of Miami. He lives in Miami with his wife, Margie, and their children, Elizabeth, 4, and Frank IV, 1. During a stay at the American Embassy in Beirut last year, Carber met another UC Davis Aggie, Howard Van Vranken '87, a member of the ambassador's staff. Michael R. Poley is a resident brewmaster with Anheuser-Busch, Cartersville Brewery in Georgia. His wife, Stephanie Thorne Poley, is on the development staff at Darlington School in Rome, Ga.

Jack Gualco, the owner of the Gualco Group, a public affairs consulting firm in Sacramento, was recently ordained a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. He was assigned to the Saint Ignatius Parish. Navy Cmdr. James C. Miller was presented with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his superior performance while serving as the training coordinator with the commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Detachment 520. Frank L. Powell, M.S., Ph.D. '78, is a professor of medicine at UC San Diego and director of the UC White Mountain Research Station, a multicampus UC research unit that sponsors studies on high altitude and Great Basin environments.

Patrick O'Donnell, Ph.D., will become chair of the English department at Michigan State University in July. He is currently an English professor at Purdue University and editor of the journal Modern Fiction Studies. Before joining the Purdue staff, O'Donnell taught at West Virginia University where he was the first holder of the Eberly Family Distinguished Professorship of American Literature. Naida West, Ph.D., has written River of Red Gold, a historical novel about the American Indians, white settlers and Spanish Californians living in the Sutter's Fort area during a seven-year period in the mid-1800s.