Alumni Award for Achievement
Barbara H. Lange '88
Executive Director, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and the Hollywood Professional Association
Graduating from Washington & Jefferson College in 1988 with bachelor's degrees in chemistry and German, Barbara embarked on a career in scholarly publishing, first working in the chemistry discipline for the prestigious German scientific publisher, Springer-Verlag, in New York, and then as director of product development in publishing at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest non-profit technology professional association and one of the industry’s largest scholarly publishers. Barbara was among the pioneers who managed the scholarly publishing industry’s transition from print to digital platforms in the 1990s. While at IEEE, she also gained a deep knowledge of association management.
In 2010, she became executive director for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Founded in 1916, SMPTE was organized expressly to set industry standards for motion pictures.Today, SMPTE standards are the foundation that enables the multi-billion dollar global media and entertainment industry. Barbara's mandate was to reinvigorate a struggling association. Under her leadership, the Society expanded its global presence and increased membership by over 40%; built a digital library and, with it, an ongoing revenue stream; supported the development of significant industry standards; acquired a Hollywood post-production trade association; and established a fundraising campaign with support from media industry leaders such as The Walt Disney Studios, Panasonic, Dolby, Netflix, Google/YouTube, and others. In addition to leading the strategic initiatives of two associations, Barbara is a board member of the London-based International Broadcasting Convention.
In 2016, the Society celebrated its centenary with year-long global events including recognition at the Venice Film Festival, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with the Philo T. Farnsworth Emmy award, and by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences “for one hundred years of nurturing the technology, providing essential standards, and offering the expertise, support, tools and infrastructure for the creation and post-production of motion pictures”. The celebratory year culminated with the SMPTE gala where the Society presented its highest honor to the director and innovator, James Cameron.
Barbara is once again participating in an industry transition, as media and entertainment technology migrates to an Internet-based ecosystem. She is also helping to emphasize increasing diversity within the technology sector.
What Barbara says about W&J: "W&J set me up for critical thinking. Because I studied chemistry, I became attuned to the scientific method. And while I no longer use chemistry in my daily work, the skills that I developed in the lab still work for me today in association management. It’s how I think. Equally important, W&J provided a safe environment where a woman can excel. I never felt disadvantaged while on campus. In fact, W&J fostered a level playing field where everyone could do their best. Unfortunately, work life was not always so kind. While I don’t visit W&J as much anymore, I have very dear friends who remain in my life to this day - those friendships made in calculus class in Old Main, on the floor in the Alex dormitory, in Kappa Kappa Gamma, or on an intersession trip to the Soviet Union. Friends forever and great memories!"
Distinguished Service Award
Pete J. Ross, D.M.D. '74
Pediatric Dentist, Lancaster Pediatric Dental Associates, PC
Louise Kirkpatrick Ross '74
Graduating in 1974, Peter J. Ross, D.M.D., and Louise Kirkpatrick Ross have been a part of the Washington & Jefferson College family for forty-seven years.
While pursuing a degree in biology, Pete was editor of The Red & Black student newspaper and a brother of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity. He was also a proud member of the 1970 W&J football team that won the first Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship. A member of ROTC, Pete commissioned into the US Army upon graduation.
A member of the first class of women to complete a four-year undergraduate degree at W&J, Louise obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology. While there were no sororities at that time, Louise was one of the first ATO “Little Sisters”.
After graduation, Louise and Pete married and remained in the Pittsburgh-area while Pete attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Louise began working shortly after commencement at Corning Glass Works, but it wasn’t long before she returned to her alma mater as the assistant director of admission; a position she remained in for five years.
Once Pete completed his dental degree, he and Louise moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where Pete served as an army dentist and Louise as a field director for five county community services organizations. They eventually returned to Pittsburgh while Pete completed his residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the last year of which he served as chief resident.
With encouragement from fellow alumni Tom Ladley ’73 and Joanne Burnley Ladley ’74 to locate Pete’s practice in Lancaster, the couple opened Lancaster Pediatric Dental Associates in 1985.
The Rosses have always stayed close to their alma mater, serving on their class’s reunion committee and organizing regional events. Along with Joanne, they have built the Lancaster alumni chapter and began hosting annual events as far back as the ‘80s
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In 1986, Louise was the first alumna elected to the W&J Board of Trustees and served her first term from 1986-1991. She rejoined the Board in 2006 and completed two additional terms this year. As a board member, Louise has served on numerous committees throughout her terms including student life, executive committee, and presidential search committees.
In 2010, Louise played a significant role in W&J’s celebration of 40 years of co-education. Believing that such a remarkable time in the College’s history should be showcased somewhere on campus, Louise led an effort to gift the College with its first piece of public art. The piece titled 1970, was dedicated in 2014 and sits strategically between the President’s house and the Burnett Center.
At their 40th reunion in 2014, Pete, a retired Colonel in the US Army Dental Corps, served as the keynote speaker at the annual Veteran’s Memorial Service, where the College honors the W&J men who have given their lives for our country.
Continuing the legacy the Rosses created for W&J, their daughter, Abbey, also attended W&J and graduated in 2004.
Whether Pete is providing advice to aspiring dentists or Louise is speaking with students at the annual senior reception, the Rosses are always willing to mentor today’s students. Hoping to provide current and future students with the same opportunities they had at W&J, the Rosses are Lifetime John McMillan Society members.
The Rosses passion for helping others and paying it forward extends to the community around them. Pete has served as the president of the Lancaster Country Dental Society as well as the Pediatric Dental Association Fifth District. He is currently the president the Pennsylvania Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He also serves as an assistant clinical professor of surgery at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, assistant clinical professor of pediatric dentistry at the Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, and is an active staff member at Lancaster General Hospital and Hershey Medical Center.
In 2008, Pete received the H.K. Cooper Award for distinguished service and dedication to the dental community in Lancaster County, especially patients with handicaps. The award is Lancaster County Dental Society’s most prestigious award for lifetime achievement and service in the dental profession.
For their dedication to their country and community, and a loyalty to their alma mater that epitomizes the W&J spirit, Pete and Louise Ross have been named this year’s Distinguished Service Award recipients.
What Pete & Louise say about W&J: "We grew up at W&J academically, socially, culturally - in ways that have affected our lives, both personally and professionally every day. We didn't discover that influence until after we graduated and got out into the world. There are many influences all of us encounter during our lives: family, spouses, and special people. We both count our W&J experience near the top of that list."
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Timothy M. Wagner, Ed.D. '07
Associate High School Principal for Program Planning & Innovation, Upper St. Clair School District
Timothy M. Wagner, Ed.D. is a graduate of Upper St. Clair High School.He received a bachelor's degree in child development and education from Washington & Jefferson College in 2007. In addition, he holds two degrees from the University of Pittsburgh: a master's degree in applied developmental psychology and a doctorate in education in administrative & policy studies. His dissertation research focused on the public school experience of child refugees.
Timothy serves as a public educator in the Upper St. Clair School District where he has spent time as an elementary and middle school teacher, a secondary gifted education coordinator, and the middle school English language arts curriculum leader. Currently, he is the associate high school principal for program planning & innovation. Additionally, he holds an appointment as an adjunct faculty member in the education department at W&J.
In 2016, Timothy was honored to serve the PA Department of Education in its analysis of the Every Student Succeeds Act as an appointed work group member in the area of educator evaluation.
Timothy's civic engagement includes service as the vice chair of the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair, vice president of Beverly’s Birthdays Board of Directors, and education director for the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair. His past recognition includes the University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s Doctoral Book Scholarship Award (2010), PASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award (2014), and membership in the PASCD Emerging Leader Cohort (2016).
What Timothy says about W&J: "My journey at Washington & Jefferson College revealed to me that the answers to today's most complex problems are often found in the treasure of a liberal arts education. Considering life from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and holding oneself accountable to both knowledge and community, are hallmark features of a W&J education. Because of what W&J offers, my service in schools has been marked by a desire to understand fully the nexus of educational theory, policy, and practice. Most importantly, however, my work at W&J instilled in me a belief that the best learning happens when instructors use both "head and heart"as they consider the needs of children and families."