Malone Alumni News

Melinda Kay Talbott, age 63, of Newark, Ohio, passed away Monday, October 12, 2026, at the OSU James Cancer Hospital. She was born in Newark, Ohio on March 4, 1963, to the late Otto and Viola (Regoli) Talbott. Melinda obtained her undergraduate degree from Malone College and her master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. She worked in higher education at several institutions and finally retired from Newark City Schools, Liberty Middle School, in 2024 where she taught health and physical education. In retirement she enjoyed operating her own home decor business, Rula’s, in Berlin, Ohio. Melinda was a devout Christian who attended church regularly. She loved gardening, traveling, and volunteering at the Licking County Humane Society. Melinda is survived by her sister, Darla Talbott; nephew, Blake (Gwen) Talbott; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Visitation will be held from 4PM-7PM Friday, October 16, and 10AM-12PM Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Brucker and Kishler Funeral H...

Claudia Jane Kieselhorst of The Moorings of Gray Oaks in Naples, Florida, formerly of Palmira Golf & CC in Bonita Springs, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2026. Prior to living in Florida, Claudia lived in Catawba Island, Ohio and Annapolis, Maryland. Born on March 8, 1943, in Canton, Ohio, Claudia was the daughter of Parker & Arlene Schafer. Claudia graduated from Hoover High and continued her education at Malone College, where she received her teaching degree, both located in Canton. Claudia taught for over 30 years with most of her career at Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland. Claudia was married to James (Jim) Kieselhorst for 52 years before his passing in 2022. Their life was filled with countless dear friends and family. They enjoyed traveling, sailing and power boating on Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay. They led a very active social life in Florida and loved calling it their home. Claudia was a wonderful person and always the first to lend ...

More than two decades after starring on the softball field for New Philadelphia, Sarah Schmidt is returning to her alma mater as the Quakers’ new head softball coach. A 2002 New Philadelphia graduate, Sarah was a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-time first-team All-East Central Ohio League selection. She helped lead the Quakers to the regional final as a freshman in 1999 and was part of ECOL championship teams in 1999 and 2000. Sarah continued her playing career here at Malone University from 2003-06, where she established herself as one of the program’s top hitters. She led the Pioneers with a .387 batting average and a .996 fielding percentage as a senior.  Sarah's name remains featured multiple times among Malone’s top 10 career and single-season statistical records. Previously Sara coached at both the high school and youth levels. She served as an assistant coach at Garaway from 2007-09 before returning to New Philadelphia, where she was an assistant from 2010-12....

Jami Brighty '00 has been named the new head coach of men’s golf at Wheaton College. Jami's lifelong connection to golf began when he started caddying at a golf club in Toledo, Ohio, at age 13. He then played four years of collegiate golf here at Malone University, where his college experience helped shape his path in the sport. During his senior year at Malone, a professional golfer encouraged Jami to pursue a career in the golf industry. That led him to Crystal Lake, Illinois, where he worked as an assistant golf professional before earning his PGA professional certification in 2006. Before joining Wheaton, he spent five years as head boys golf coach at Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst, Illinois. His teams qualified for the state championship in each of the past three seasons. “It was very clear to me that God was leading me in this direction of getting back into the world of golf,” Jami said. Congratulations to Jami as he begins this new chapter at Wheaton! The Pioneer ...

  John K. Jones '93 was named senior vice president of Residential Services for MorseLife. John brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience to his new role.  His extensive background includes operations, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, human resources, and community development. John will oversee the strategic direction, resident satisfaction, operational performance, compliance, governance, financial results and brand positioning for more than 500 senior living units across luxury and affordable residences. He will focus on building upon the strong services already in place while collaborating with colleagues to further enhance the resident experience and ensure MorseLife’s services continue to evolve in response to the changing needs and expectations of those it serves. Way to go, John!  The Pioneer community is proud to cheer you on as you embark on this exciting new chapter! This article adapted from the Florida Hospital News and Healt...

  Wright State cross country and track and field head coach Rick Williamson has announced the addition of Mackenna Curtis Johnson to his coaching staff. "We are extremely excited to have Mackenna join our staff," Williamson said. "She brings with her a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm. Her ideals fit perfectly with the core principles of our Track & Field and cross-country programs." Curtis Johnson joins the Raiders after spending time with On as a technical representative. Before that, she was part of the Roots Running Project in Boulder, Colorado. In 2024, Curtis Johnson ran the 10,000m in 32:47.14 at the Stanford Invite. She also placed in the top 10 at the 2023 USATF 10K Championships. A Lexington, Ohio, native, Curtis Johnson earned her bachelor's degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Malone University, where she was an All-American and two-time G-MAC Runner of the Year. She then earned her master's degree in Li...

  Dale P. Stitz, 78, of Perry Twp., passed away on Wednesday, September 16 from Lewy Body Dementia. He was born on November 7, 1947, in Massillon, the son of Paul and Elizabeth Stitz. Dale was a 1965 graduate of North Canton Hoover High School. He taught math and computer programming at Canton City Schools for 33 years followed by teaching math as an adjunct professor at Kent State University, Stark Campus. In 1975 he developed and taught the first computer programming course for Canton City Schools. He graduated as the valedictorian for his B.A. in mathematics and physics at Malone College in 1969 and received his M.A. in mathematics education from The Ohio State University in 1972.  Dale was an active member of Jackson Friends Church and an avid volunteer at Refuge of Hope Ministries. Through his faith and belief in the verse John 14:6 - “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” he has joined his wife Janice Stit...

Congratulations to Brian Shoop '80 on being selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2027!  We are celebrating with Brian on a lifetime of accomplishment and impact within collegiate baseball. During his time at Malone, Brian was named All MOC and All NAIA District 22 in baseball. He was inducted in the Malone Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.  Here is his bio from the ABCA press announcement:  "From NAIA national championships to NCAA Tournament appearances, Brian Shoop's coaching career reflected success at every level of the collegiate game. Over 31 seasons as a head coach, Shoop compiled a 1,061-694-1 (.605) record across stops at Birmingham-Southern and UAB. He spent 14 seasons at UAB, where he finished as the second-winningest coach in program history with more than 360 wins and guided the Blazers to a 2012 Conference USA Tournament title and the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. His teams earned 37 victories over na...

Congratulations to our 2026 Alumni Award Recipients! These individuals stood out amongst other nominees for the ways they keep Christ's Kingdom First in serving their communities, the church, and the world.  2026 Alumni Award Recipients Young Alumna of the Year: Blake Stuckey '20  Young Alumnus of the Year: Brandon Bapst '17 Alumna of the Year: Julianna Smith '08  Alumnus of the Year: Joseph Hudak '72 Graduate Program Alumnus of the Year: Brian Hollingsworth '02 '14 Malone alumni continue to impact and improve the world through their work and lives each day, and we are excited to honor these distinguished alumni for their professional and personal accomplishments.  Join us in celebrating these alumni at our Alumni Awards Banquet on September 18 during Homecoming & Family Weekend (tickets are available here ). Stay tuned for highlights on each recipient coming soon to both our blog and Instagram, @malonealumni . 

Emily (Trnka) '21 and Xavier '21 Moore welcomed their third child to the world, Eden Jane Moore.  Congratulations to the Moore family! Praying blessings upon you all as you transition to a family of five. 

Erin Brown Thomas '07 recently won an Academy Award for her role as associate producer on the short film "The Singers." The film tied for Best Live Action short film.  Congratulations to Erin on this success! The Pioneer community is cheering you on and looking forward to your continued impact in film.  To read more about Erin's win, click here to read her interview with the Canton Repository .

Brian McFee '97 was recently named assistant principal at East Central High School.  He has over 25 years of educational experience and is known for being a collaborative leader who values strong relationships, high expectations, and creating an environment for students to thrive. Brian earned a Master of Educational Administration from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical and Health Education from Malone College. Congratulations to Brian on this accomplishment! Your alma mater is cheering you on in this next chapter.  This post is adapted from 812noww.com. You can view the original article here . 

  This article President Greg Miller, Ph.D.,  first appeared in Crain's Cleveland Business . It has been shared here with permission.  The landscape of American higher education is undergoing a historic, turbulent reconfiguration. The structural causes of this shift have been analyzed at length: rapid technological disruption, sharp regional demographic declines, mounting student debt, and an evolving corporate workforce. The fallout is undeniable; since the pandemic, nearly 50 not-for-profit colleges have closed their doors, and another 40 have merged. For institutions in the Midwest and Northeast, where population shifts are felt most acutely, the warning signs are blinking wildly. Yet, amidst this widespread volatility, there is a distinct sector experiencing remarkable resilience. As president of Malone University, I hold radical hope for the future of our institution and the roughly 200 Christ-centered, Bible-based universities across the country — including member s...

  Congratulations to Ashton Dulin '18 who was recently featured in Sports Illustrated as one of the Top Colts of 2026! Here's a small excerpt from the article: To say that Ashton Dulin is a vital part of the Colts' overall operation would be understating it. From his contributions on special teams as a gunner and blocker to his offensive production whenever called upon and everything in between, Dulin is a player whose efforts often go unnoticed, or at least underappreciated. When it comes to his anticipated increased workload on offense, Dulin's proven reliability has put him on the inside track to becoming the Colts' third starting wide receiver... If you've watched even a single game of Ashton Dulin's career thus far, it's evident that he epitomizes consistency, and that's precisely why he's expected to earn his spot as a starter in the Colts' offense in 2026. We're excited to cheer Ashton on in the season ahead! You can click here to ...

Congratulations to Jessica (Parcher) Shelenberger '02 on her promotion to associate dean for student success at Westminster College!  In her new role, Jessica will provide strategic leadership for student support initiatives within the Student Success Center. In addition to academic success programs, she will oversee accessibility resources, coordinated care and the CARE early alert program. We are cheering on Jessica in this accomplishment, and praying for her success as she continues to cares for students in her new role at Westminster College!  This is adapted from a feature in New Castle News. You can view the original article here for more information.   

This article by President Greg Miller, Ph.D., appeared first in print in the Canton Repository . It has been reshared here with permission.  The warning signals across the American higher education landscape are flashing bright red.  Driven by shifting demographics, mounting student debt, rapid technological changes, and evolving workforce needs, the sector is shrinking. Since 2020, nearly 50 nonprofit colleges have closed their doors and another 40 have merged — largely concentrated right here in the Midwest and Northeast. Given these sobering statistics, people are often surprised when I express deep hopefulness about the future of Malone University and the roughly 200 institutions like us across the country (the member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and the International Alliance for Christian Education). My confidence is not wishful thinking; it is grounded in our distinct, unchanging mission. In this fractured cultural moment, Christ...

Pamela "Pam" Smith '77 of Canton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026.  Pam graduated from Canton McKinley High School in 1960 and pursued music at the St. Louis School of Music in Missouri, training as a concert pianist after beginning piano lessons at the age of six. She later earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Malone College.  Pam taught kindergarten and first grade at St. Paul's Catholic School and Edgefield Elementary in Plain Township before concluding her career teaching fourth grade at Amherst Elementary in Jackson Local Schools.  After teaching, Pam and her best friend, Carol, co-founded The Village Goose Country Store, which grew into a popular curtain and home décor shop before retiring after over 20 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pam's friends and family during this difficult time. To read the full obituary, click here . 

  Congratulations to Shane Byler '14 and the Lake Center Christian Tigers on winning the OHSAA Division VI state championship!  Shane played baseball at Malone for two years before choosing to stop and begin his coaching career in 2012. He graduated from Malone in 2014 with his BS in Middle Childhood Education. Over the past fourteen years, Shane has developed and grown the LCCS program; last year, they made it to the state championship and lost to Hiland High School. This year, they defeated that same team to secure their first state championship.  Congratulations to Shane and his entire team on this accomplishment! For more details, you can view his post-game video interview with the Canton Repository here . 

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (CVCA) has hired RiCarlo "Rico" Bell '16 to serve as the school's athletic director. Rico joins CVCA after serving with Fellow of Christian Athletes, and in management and sales positions before that. Rico played football for Malone from 2013-2015 and graduated with his BA in Exercise Science. Congratulations to Rico on this accomplishment! We look forward to seeing how you keep Christ's Kingdom First in this new chapter at CVCA! For the full press release, click here .

   Congratulations to Trevor Beerman '18 who was named Head Coach at Eastern Michigan University! Trevor played baseball during his time as a Pioneer and graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and Sports Management.  Trevor has spent the past three years at EMU and most recently served as their interim head coach for the 2026 season. In addition to his experience coaching, Trevor has built a growing reputation in player development and recruitment.  Congratulations to Trevor on this exciting accomplishment! The Pioneer community is cheering you on as you prepare for the 2027 season.  For the full press release, click here . 

  Congratulations to Kevin Paustenbach '10 who was recently named Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Ferrum College! Kevin graduated from Malone with a B.A. in Sports Management, and has spent his career coaching at various universities and colleges.  You can read the full press release here . We're cheering for Kevin as he and his family start this exciting new chapter! 

  Brenda Lee Pavlantos '89 passed away on June 10, 2026 from complications following spinal surgery in August 2025.  She was a proud graduate of Timken High School, Class of 1974. Brenda continued her education by earning her Associate degree from Stark State, her Bachelor's degree in Business from Malone University, and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Brenda was an example to everyone she met of what it truly means to trust Christ completely. As a preteen, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, a journey that led to more than 30 major surgeries which drove her love of medicine and understanding the human body. When she was recently asked about the highlights of her life, she spoke about her early surgeries that restored her mobility functions and allowed her to live fully-as a wife, mother, Yiayia, and devoted member of her church and community. She considered that ability to keep moving forward one of her greatest accompli...

Robert "Bob" Grams '56 passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2026. Bob was raised in Ypsilanti and grew up on a farm, where he learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance at an early age. After graduating from high school, he continued his education at Cleveland Bible College, now Malone University, where he pursued his passion for music and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education and Music. He later received his Master's Degree from Youngstown State University, reflecting his lifelong commitment to learning. While attending Cleveland Bible College, Bob met the love of his life, Wilma J. Howard. The two were married on August 9, 1952, and shared nearly 73 years together until Wilma's passing on March 31, 2025. Bob devoted 32 years to teaching in the Austintown School District, where he served at Frank Ohl and Fitch Schools. In 1957, Bob and Wilma joined the Salem First Friends Church, where their faith became a central part of their ...

  Shane Byler '14 was featured in the Canton Repository for his coaching career at Lake Center Christian School. This will be the second consecutive year Lake Center has made it to the state semi-finals, and Shane's fourteenth year coaching. Shane stopped his own baseball career here at Malone to become the head coach at Lake Center in 2012.  Congratulations to Shane for this wonderful feature, and we're cheering the Tigers on for their final games in the coming weeks! Click here to read the full article .