CLASS NOTES
With all that was going on in San Diego , if I hadn ’ t gotten into journalism and discovered that those skills could bring about change , I wouldn ’ t be alive today .”
— LOWELL BERGMAN
“ The Secret History of the Credit Card ”
“ Another story hiding in plain sight ,” says Bergman . For this look into the cryptic and largely unknown practices of the credit card industry and its growth in power and political influence , Bergman included his UC students in the journalistic process via extensive multimedia accompaniments . “ It ’ s the background of how the credit card industry is possible in the United States . I think that had a direct effect on a lot of consumerrelated matters .”
“ A Dangerous Business ”
A partnership with the New York Times , Frontline and Canada ’ s Fifth Estate produced this story exposing criminal neglect of employee safety and systemic environmental violations at the McWane , Inc . iron foundries throughout North America . The effort won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service and nearly every major award for documentary films . “ Two graduate students from my seminar did critical work on the series ,” says Bergman . “ That became the inspiration for the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley .”
Look deeper into Bergman ’ s stories at : tritonmag . com / lowell
1990
Vincent Brown , Muir , and his book Tacky ’ s Revolt received the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award — the fifth award for the book , which recounts the largest slave uprising in Jamaica in the 18th century .
Danny Burnstein , MFA , a seventime Tony Award nominee , won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Harold Zeigler in Moulin Rouge ! The Musical .
1991
Alex Fitch , Muir , is captain of the City of Fairfax Fire Department . He just completed his 24 th year of service .
1992
Steven Cliff , Revelle , PhD ’ 98 , was nominated by the Biden Administration to serve as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .
Laura McHale , Marshall , wrote Neuroscience for Organizational Communication : A Guide for Communicators and Leaders , published by Singer Singapore . She is a business leadership psychologist , communications specialist and accredited executive coach helping organizations create a stress-free work environment .
Craig Peters , Muir , is a founder of Altair Law , a San Francisco Bay Area law firm . In November 2021 , he was named incoming president of the Consumer Attorneys of California .
Joann Trejo , PhD , MBA ’ 15 , was elected to the National Academy of Medicine . Trejo is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and assistant vice chancellor of UC San Diego Health Sciences Faculty Affairs .
1994
Laura Coulson , Warren , works at Family Health Centers San Diego as a core faculty member of their residency program .
Alisa Daglio , Warren , directed the music video for “ Crash Site ” by Yelawolf and Struggle Jennings .
Clarissa Falcon , Marshall , was appointed to the California Transportation Commission . Falcon is a board member on the UC San Diego Chancellor ’ s Community Advisory Board , the San Diego Union Tribune Community Advisory Board and the South County Economic Development Council .
Priti Gandhi , Marshall , is the new artistic director for Portland Opera , where she is responsible for artistic and repertoire planning , casting , developing a resident artist program and managing education and community engagement programs .
Roy Gessford , Marshall , released his second book , Preserving the Chaldean Aramaic Language . He founded Let the Light Publishing in 2012 and received his Master in Interfaith Action from Claremont Lincoln University in 2020 .
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