New York Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R-122nd District) visited Hamilton College on May 16. He responded to an invitation made during New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day in February in Albany, N.Y., when a group of Hamilton students visited the state capital.  Director of Opportunity Programs Phyllis Breland ’80 said, “He took the time to show that he cared about the experiences and opinions of our Opportunity Program students.”

Five members of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, volunteered at the Walk for Autism fundraiser in Oneida on April 20. April is Autism Awareness Month and the walk was held to benefit The Kelberman Center in Utica, a regional center for excellence for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The center was founded by Michael Kelberman ’80. Heather Wixson, associate director of the Career Center, was co-chair of the walk this year.

The Atelier Four – Professors of Art Bruce Muirhead and William Salzillo, with Amy Buchholz ’80 and Jake Muirhead ’86 – have prints on display in a national exhibition at the Old Print Shop in New York City. The 79th Members Exhibition of the Society of American Graphic Artists is on display through June 29. 

Hamilton’s focus on the development of effective written and verbal skills readily applies to students pursuing careers in communications, and if the attendance at the Media Board’s Multimedia Journalism Forum is any indicator, there are many such students at the College.

Hamilton varsity athletes make up one- third of the student body. On Monday night, they and the rest of the Athletic Department gathered in Wellin Hall at the behest of Athletic Director Jon Hind ’80.

Author David Pratt ’80 will read from his work Bob the Book on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 4:15 p.m, in the Days-Massolo Center. The reading is free and open to the public.

Ronald Pressman ’80, a Hamilton College charter trustee, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of TIAA-CREF, a leading financial services provider.  Pressman is a 32-year veteran of General Electric, where he most recently served as president and CEO of GE Capital Real Estate and as director of the GE Capital Services and GE Capital Corporation boards. He will begin his new duties on January 30 and will be based in New York City.

Henry Sneath '80 was recently installed as president of DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, an international organization of 22,000 civl defense trial counsel, commercial litigation attorneys, and corporate counsel.  He will also serve as the principal spokesperson for DRI’s Center for Law and Public Policy.  Sneath has previously served as both second and first vice-president of DRI, as a member of the Board of Directors, and as chair of the Commercial Litigation and Public Policy Committees.

Hancock Estabrook, LLP has announced that John L. Murad, Jr. has been selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers 2011.  This is the fourth year that Murad was chosen for Super Lawyers, a rating service based on peer recognition and professional achievements. Murad is a partner at Hancock Estabrook and a member of the Firm's Executive Committee. His practice focuses on product liability, health care defense, commercial disputes and environmental litigation.

Mark Sullivan '80 has co-written two novels with bestselling author James Patterson, whose father graduated from Hamilton. The first, titled Private Games, will be the third of the Private series, which includes Private and Private: #1 Suspect.  Private Games is centered around the murder of a high-ranking official on the 2012 Olympic Games Committee and is scheduled for a Feb. 13, 2012 release.