Alumni Updates

Jonathan Addleton ’79

Photo by Ashley Bell, 102nd Mobile Public Affairs

Jonathan Addleton, former U.S. Agency for International Development senior civilian representative for Southern Afghanistan, received the 2014 Christian A. Herter Award from the American Foreign Service Association. He received the award for urging a systematic review of the U.S. State Department’s public affairs policy, calling for more creative and rapid responses to allow for more meaningful engagement. He had submitted a commentary for publication in the Pushto press that explored the parallels between Malala of Swat and Malala of Maiwand, a young Afghan heroine who was killed in battle in the 19th century. Department officials rejected it on the grounds that it would feed conspiracy theories. Addleton (“Assignment: Kandahar,” fall 2013) is USAID regional mission director for the Central Asian Republics.

Ben Prawer ’12 and Jesse Swedlund ’13

In early May, Jesse Swedlund and Ben Prawer (“Ty’s To-Do List,” summer 2012) finished their first feature-length documentary, Ty’s List. The film follows three strangers who shared a common friendship with Tyler Lorenzi ’10, who died in a boating accident in May 2011 but left behind a list of his favorite things to do in San Francisco. The three completed Ty’s list while celebrating the life of their mutual friend. “At its core, the movie is about learning from Tyler’s life philosophy and seeing what sort of adventures will come when you open your mind to the things around you,” Prawer says. The filmmakers hosted a private rough-cut screening at Northwestern’s McCormick Tribune Center in early May.

Jesse Swedlund, left in photo below, and Ben Prawer. Photo by Margaux Pepper '14

Lily Rabe ’04

Photo by Joan Marcus

Lily Rabe has become an integral part of the Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park series in New York City, starring as some of the Bard of Avon’s most notable female characters, including Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Rosalind in  As You Like It. This summer Rabe starred as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing in the famed series’ 52nd year at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Rabe also has a recurring role in Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series  American Horror Story, playing Misty Day in the current run, Coven. She also stars in the new ABC alien drama The Whispers. (See “Lily Rabe: Acting Her Age,” summer 2011.)

Adam Sachs ’05

Adam Sachs (“A Match Made in India,” winter 2013) joined Midroll Media as its chief operating officer and head of product last October. In June the company, which connects podcasters to advertisers, announced that Sachs would become its new CEO.

Denise Miarecki Stillman ’99 MMGT

Denise Miarecki Stillman, a veteran marketer and business developer from Oak Lawn, Ill., is president and CEO of Go the Distance Baseball, which owns the farm and baseball diamond used in the filming of Field of Dreams. On Father’s Day weekend Kevin Costner and other stars from the 1989 film returned to Dyersville, Iowa, for the movie’s 25-year anniversary. (See “Baseball Heaven,” summer 2013.)