60s

Gary Sterling ’64 has published a book titled “For Lo These Many” after more than two decades in retirement. The book combines stories and poetry, taking the reader through an alternate reality of human evolution and growth. Over his 40-year career as a teacher, Sterling taught students ranging from elementary school to college primarily in the Pasadena Unified School District, during which time he brought students to Washington, D.C., to represent The Youth of America for NASA and JPL/Caltech. He is a proud charter member of Poets for Peace.

80s

J. Brett Marymee ’84 has been elected as director for the Santa Ynez Community Services District. For 10 years, he has served as board vice president for the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District. Marymee also chairs the board of the Eastern Management Area Ground Sustainability Agency in Santa Barbara County. The agency spearheads efforts to preserve water resources in the Santa Ynez Valley, a region renowned for its agricultural importance and scenic beauty.

10s

Jessica “Jay” Beard ’11 has been promoted to entertainment tech and programs manager at The Walt Disney Company. She currently oversees the technical operations of Fantasmic! and the Rivers of America entertainment offerings at the Disneyland Resort.

Umar Siddiqui ’17 has published a book titled “Stylistic About Style.” The book explores fashion’s history and future, various textiles and design elements, and different worldviews to examine and assess fashion, taking a critical look at its impact.

Jo Gbujama ’18, an associate attorney for Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, co-founded the Bridging the Gap Scholarship in 2019 to provide financial support and mentorship to prospective law students with the goal of increasing minority representation in the world’s largest law firms. Since then, the scholarship has been awarded to 11 students, including three UCR alumni, with seven gaining admission to top law schools.

20s

Philip Falcone ’20 has been elected to the Riverside City Council, becoming the second-youngest city councilmember in Riverside’s 150-year history. In 2017, Falcone became Riverside’s youngest-ever city commissioner as the chairman of the Cultural Heritage Board. He previously served as a senior advisor for Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. Falcone is also a professor of oral communications at Riverside City College and California Baptist University.

Noah Motabar ’20, a current student and executive editor of the Journal of International Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, has accepted a position as a corporate finance associate at Norton Rose Fulbright’s office in Houston, Texas. Motabar will graduate from Northwestern in May 2025.

Greg Sanchez ’22 has accepted the position of assistant director for the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities at the University of Chicago, leading comprehensive initiatives to support military-affiliated students and justice-impacted veterans. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Sanchez transferred to UCR after overcoming a series of personal hardships, where he served as president of the Underground Scholars Initiative, an academic support program for formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students. Sanchez earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago in 2024.