Alumni Updates

Sarah Adler ’13 and Mackenzie Barth ’13, ’13 CERT

There’s been a lot cooking at Spoon University’s New York City headquarters. Co-founders Mackenzie Barth, CEO, and Sarah Adler, chief technology officer, have successfully led the startup — created as a Northwestern-centric magazine and website in fall 2012 — to more than 250 campuses, with about 10,000 contributors and more than 2 million Facebook followers. In May, Spoon was purchased by Scripps Networks Interactive, parent company of the Food Network. (See “Spoon U,” fall 2015.)

Spoon co-founders Mackenzie Barth, left, and Sarah Adler

Michael Blake ’04

Michael Blake was elected a Democratic National Committee vice chair at the DNC meeting in February. During his “Leadership for Tomorrow” campaign, Blake focused on building up the Democrats’ “bench” by identifying, supporting and training candidates for local office. Blake, a former Obama White House and campaign aide, was elected to a four-year term. Since 2014 Blake has been a member of the New York Assembly, representing the Bronx. (See “The White House Goes Purple” and “Wildcats in the White House,” summer 2010.)

Richard H. Bernstein ’99 JD

Justice Richard H. Bernstein of the Michigan Supreme Court delivered the convocation address at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in May. Blind since birth, Bernstein has a long history of advocating for disabled rights. Prior to being elected to Michigan’s highest court, he headed the public service division for the Sam Bernstein Law Firm, where his cases helped gain accessibility for disabled airline passengers and make New York City parks accessible for disabled and visually impaired individuals. His eight-year Supreme Court term began in January 2015. (See “An Attorney with Perspective,” fall 2002.)

Derrick Brandon Clifton ’12, ’16 MS

Derrick Brandon Clifton won the 2016 national award for newspaper commentary from the National Association of Black Journalists for Chicago Reader columns about the shooting of Laquan McDonald by Chicago police. Clifton also won the 2016 Peter Lisagor Award for Best News Column or Commentary from the Chicago regional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for the “On Identity & Culture” column for the Reader. (See “All Star Seniors,” summer 2012.)

Bryce ’14 and Maris O’Tierney ’14, ’16 MS

Bryce and Maris O’Tierney, musicians and composers who perform as maeve & quinn, were commissioned by the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra to compose and perform an original orchestral work for chamber ensemble and duo. The world premiere of their piece moraine culminated the ASO 2016–17 concert season. This fall maeve & quinn will release a new album, something overheard, something overhead, an intertwining of classical, indie-pop and Irish traditional genres. The duo is currently based in Chicago. (See “Standout Seniors, Musical Resonance,” summer 2014.) 

Bryce Quinn, left, and Maris Maeve O’Tierney. Photo by Mary Henebry.