Class Notes - Fall 2025

2005 

Jamie Goodwin ’05, ’10, ‘13 started her own education consulting business, Baxter Educational, which supports school districts from district to campus level.

2011 

Leonard F. Humes, Jr., after earning an MBA, joined organizations that manufacture components for the defense industry, including parts for the F-35. He also worked for companies that make components for the gas and oil industry, and large battery assemblies for the forklift industry. Humes has also joined the University as an adjunct professor in the College of Business.

2012 

Sonya Bryant ’12, ’16 serves as a workforce manager for the City of San Antonio, where she oversees a U.S. Department of Labor grant supporting registered apprenticeship programs. Bryant and her team recently organized a National Registered Apprenticeship Day event at Patriots’ Casa. The event aimed to educate local employers on the value and advantages of participating in registered apprenticeship programs. 

2013 

Naomi R. Adams has been teaching special education in Northside Independent School District since 2013, working with students who have a variety of disabilities. As a teacher, Adams’ goal is to always help and encourage her students to reach independence and do all they can do. In 2024, she received awards for Educator of the Year and Middle School Educator of the Year. She is the mother of a 9-year-old.

Michael L. Persyn recently accepted a position as senior commercial title examiner for Charter Title. 

2014 

Heriberto Chavez serves as a government solutions manager at HaulHub Technologies, a leader in digital innovation and public-sector technology. In his role, Chavez works closely with Departments of Transportation across the country to modernize workflows and implement digital solutions like e-ticketing and AI-driven reporting. He takes great pride in helping improve work-zone safety that protects both job site crews and motorists, making the roads safer for everyone.

Lynsey M. Kelly acquired her Licensed Master Social Worker degree from Our Lady of the Lake in 2020. She’s currently a social worker at Family Service in San Antonio.

Zack Magallanez received a scholarship from the Urban Management Association of South Texas to attend the Texas City Management Association Conference in June. He gained a deeper understanding of the city management profession, particularly within the unique context of Texas cities and their evolving political landscape.

2015 

Cristina M. Lopez started a new position in June as a clinical assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development at A&M-San Antonio.

2016 

Louis M. Palacios has a grandson on the way, due in late August or early September. 

2017 

Nadia Gomez recently started as the new Fort Sam Houston Elementary (FSHE) assistant principal. Gomez previously served in a variety of roles across other districts, including paraprofessional, teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Most recently, she served as FSHE’S response to intervention coordinator. 

Amy Klassen is an insurance advisor with Futurity First and committed to helping individuals and families protect what matters most. Outside of work, she is a proud wife, mom of two amazing daughters and a lifelong sci-fi fan

Linh N. Ly ’17, ’21 After she earned an MBA from A&M-San Antonio, she started working at Domingo Vara Chevrolet and now serves as a controller.

2018 

Kathleen R. Isaac recently received a first-of-its-kind award through City Education Partners, which has launched a new initiative to honor the educators who are driving academic excellence. The inaugural San Antonio Math Excellence Teacher Awards celebrates extraordinary math teachers—one from nearly every City Council District. Isaac was recognized for her work at Gillette Elementary and Harlandale Independent School District in District 3.

Chyntia D. Johnson recently purchased her first home. 

2019 

Destiny Monique A. Bonds gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in 2022. She is entering her ninth year of teaching.

Rachel L. Todd has been a successful teacher in Colorado for six years, including as a special education teacher and a third- grade teacher. She graduated with a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education from Southern New Hampshire University in 2024. She gave birth to a son in 2020.

Cindy Trinh is running her first marathon at the Chicago Marathon in October.

2020 

David D. Dries completed his MBA in logistics and supply chain management within 16 months. He served as a government employee at Misawa Air Base in Northern Japan from 2022 to 2024.  He then moved to Dayton, Ohio, and is currently working for General Dynamics IT on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in support of the Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate. 

Amber Nolan is going into her fourth year teaching special ed at Kitty Hawk Middle School in the Judson Independent School District. This fall she is returning to A&M-San Antonio to pursue a Master's in Special Education. She has three kids, two of whom are in the same high school she attended and one at the same middle school. 

2021 

Laura De León earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management from Texas A&M International University in May 2025.

Paul J. Strickland is a sixth-grade social studies teacher and middle school basketball coach at Leadership Prep School in Frisco, Texas. 

Jason C. Tharp is the new communications director for Fulshear Simonton Fire Department.

Michael M. Villa is a senior building operations coordinator with Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Villa and his fianceé, Jasmine Martinez, are getting married in January 2026.

2022 

Isaiah J. Alonso currently serves as an eighth-grade U.S. history teacher at La Vernia Junior High School, where he also leads the Introduction to Technology Department for sixth and seventh graders. In May 2024, Alonso was accepted into the graduate program at Louisiana State University, where he is pursuing a Master of Education in Educational Leadership. A proud five-generation resident of the La Vernia area, he is passionate about giving back to his community through education. In addition to education, Alonso serves as a pastor and worship leader at The Promised Land Church in San Antonio.

Evelyn J. Campos recently celebrated her one-year work anniversary at Alamo Colleges Foundation as a Foundation Scholarship Coordinator. She and her husband are expecting their first baby in December. The couple also celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary in June.

Leatre Yan Cooper ’22, ’25 earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from A&M-San Antonio in May 2025 and her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Dec. 2022.  She is a first-generation college graduate who was inspired to go back to school because of her mother, who did not complete high school.

Brenda Reyes is teaching third grade at San Antonio Independent School District. This past school year her student Sebastian Luna, after receiving a “Does Not Meet” grade level in his reading assessments, received a “Masters” in reading and math in his STAAR assessments. The district recognized Luna and 30 other students in a special award ceremony. Also this past year, all but one of her students passed the math STAAR and all but four passed the reading. Next school year she will be teaching fifth grade at a new campus which is an international baccalaureate school within San Antonio Independent School District. 

2023 

Kelli A. Arguello completed her 30th year at Southwest Independent School District and her first year as a special education teacher in May. She was a paraprofessional for 29 years before she became a teacher. 

2024 

Vivian Salazar graduated magna cum laude in 2024 with a bachelor’s in biology. She began attending physician’s assistant school at Arcadia University in Delaware in May 2025. Her interests currently lie in dermatology, orthopedics and plastic surgery.

Zachery R. Salazar is offering summer and fall virtual tutoring sessions for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Both one-on-one and group sessions are available.