
Betsy Olmstead
Proving that “Creative Thought Matters,” artist Betsy Olmsted '02was recently recognized as one of Country Living Magazine’s “100 Most Creative People.” Betsy is known for vivid watercolor textiles that she creates in her cozy horse stable turned design studio in historic downtown Saratoga Springs. Her vibrant work, as well as the renovated carriage house and barn she shares with her two sons and husband Peter Olmsted ’03, have been featured in publications such as House Beautiful, HGTV Magazine and Design Sponge. Want to keep up with Betsy’s creativity? Follow her on Instagram @betsyolmsted.

Jacob Navarrete
Jacob Navarrete ’08 helps high school students and their parents navigate the college selection and application process through his consultancy, Sherpa Strategies. He is expanding his focus to work with businesses and other organizations seeking to engage a diverse and inclusive workforce. An alumnus of Stanford University Graduate School of Education, Navarrete stays busy at his day job as college counselor and upper school registrar at the Alcuin School in Houston, Texas. The former Skidmore Admissions staffer has also established college counseling programs at private schools in China through Dipont Education.

Tracey Meltzer Kyle
Children’s author Tracey Meltzer Kyle ’91 has published two new books for primary school-age readers. A Paintbrush for Paco and Food Fight Fiesta: A Tale About La Tomatina are aimed at a growing audience of children living and learning in bilingual environments. A middle school Spanish teacher, Kyle specializes in introducing young native Spanish speakers to English language skills and see themselves reflected in popular literature.
Writer Andrew LaSane ’10 covers culture, art and technology for RockYou, an interactive media and entertainment company offering digital publications enjoyed by millions of multicultural millennials, including Vocally, DailyToast, and Sedgwick Ave. A contributing writer for Outer Places, an e-magazine focused on technology and science fiction writing, LaSane is a former staff writer for popular platform Mental Floss. The Skidmore American studies major earned a master’s in media, culture and communications from New York University.

Raiza Nazareth
Raiza Nazareth ’12 is an investor relations manager at Conti Organization, a real estate investment firm in based in Dallas, Texas. She launched her career in financial services at IMG Capital, staffing its offices in Los Angeles, New York City, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. More recently, Nazareth managed over $35 billion in assets at global equity firm Pantheon Ventures. An honors management and business major at Skidmore, she served as vice president of communications and advancement for the Student Government Association and co-president of HAYAT, a club that celebrates the diverse cultures of the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

Dave Murphy
Attorney Dave Murphy ’93 has announced his bid to fill a recently vacated seat in the Massachusetts State Senate representing Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester counties. The Amherst native is one of three write-in candidates hoping to clinch the Democratic primary on September 4. A former legislative assistant to the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Murphy was legislative director for the administration of Governor Deval Patrick and served at the U.S. Department of Justice. Efforts by the Georgetown Law alumnus were central to the defeat of a proposed bill aiming to ban gay marriage in the state.