Katrina (Wilhelm) Hill ’02 has been named executive director of the Community School in Roanoke, Va., a small, independent school with a focus on critical thinking and creativity.
Hill, who earned a degree in English from Roanoke College, has dedicated 22 years of her career to Community School. She started there as a humanities instructor in 2002 and became middle school coordinator in 2018. She advises the school’s Model UN program and was instrumental in the school being named a School of Distinction by the Association for Middle Level Education in 2022.
After a six-month national search that included input from teachers, parents and students, the Community School Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Hill. Their decision was based on “her dedication to progressive education, her innovative approach to teaching and curriculum development, her demonstrated commitment to Community School and its mission, and her success in and out of the classroom,” wrote Board Chairperson Cassie Hunt. “With her guidance and expertise, we will continue to uphold our standards of excellence and provide an unparalleled educational experience for our students.”
Hill is also the owner of Rainy Day Reads, a pop-up bookstore that was featured in an edition of Alumni News last year.
Hill will work alongside retiring executive director Linda Roth to ensure a smooth transition into her new role.
Cheryl Hilton ’81 was named director of TRIO Student Support Services at Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) in Roanoke, Va. TRIO is a federally funded educational grant designed to provide selected students with counseling, advising and instructional support services. Hilton has served VWCC for 18 years, including roles in new student advising and retention services. She holds a B.B.A. from Roanoke College and a M.A.L.S. from Hollins University.
Tom Coyle ’76 was named the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus of Greenwich Country Day School (GCDS) in Greenwich, Conn., and was honored during the school’s Alumni Weekend in October 2024.
Coyle graduated from GCDS before earning a B.A. in political science at Roanoke. He went on to have a distinguished career in national security and counterintelligence, serving with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for 20 years. He has also worked as a senior principal for CACI International Inc. and a security/counterintelligence expert for Leidos. He has been a national security consultant for the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence, with oversight of U.S. Navy offensive counterintelligence operations. He also served as a senior instructor at the Department of Defense Joint Counterintelligence Training Academy. He is currently the president and CEO of Talon Security Solutions, and he teaches as an adjunct at U.Va.'s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Coyle has been an ardent supporter of Roanoke, starting the Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter and serving as chair of both that chapter and the Washington, D.C., chapter. He is a member of the Society of 1842 and the President’s Advisory Board.
Thomas Lux '16, John Hull '04 and Kimberly (Kidd) Halterman '00 were featured in the recent issue of Roanoke College Magazine. Click the links associated with their names here to read the extended version of their profiles.
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Do you know a Roanoke College alum who deserves to be highlighted? Please let us know! Nominations can be sent to rcmagazine@roanoke.edu or nair@roanoke.edu.