Seton Hill University honored its inaugural class of Griffin GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Award recipients in October. The GOLD award recognizes recent graduates for their exceptional early career success, community leadership, and significant personal achievements. In its first year, the Griffin GOLD Awards program honored 10 graduates during the 2025 Homecoming and Family Weekend celebrations.

 

Chase Parker ’15, Sports Management
Captain and Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force

Captain Chase M. Parker is a Victims’ Counsel in the Victims’ Counsel Division of the United States Air Force. He is currently assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and also provides victims’ legal counsel at Grissom ARB, Indiana and Youngstown ARS, Ohio. In this role, he provides independent legal representation to, and advocacy on behalf of, victims of crimes in administrative and civil legal matters, as well as military courts-martial. Additionally, he provides base-wide community outreach and comprehensive sexual assault response in tandem with the installation’s Family Advocacy and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Programs. Prior to joining the United States Air Force, Chase worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in Indianapolis, Indiana and practiced as a private attorney in varying legal practices. Captain Parker received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant and entered active duty in April 2022. He has a JD from the Michigan State University College of Law.

James Yezek ’15, Business Administration
Director of People Operations at the Washington Commanders

James Yezek, SHRM-CP, serves as the Director of People Operations for the Washington Commanders, bringing over a decade of progressive HR and talent leadership experience in sports and entertainment. With a proven track record in designing and delivering learning and development programs, advancing leadership capability, and building high-performance cultures, James has led initiatives that improved retention, reduced turnover, and created stronger pipelines for future leaders. With over a decade of HR experience, he has previously held roles with Aramark Sports & Entertainment at PNC Park, UPMC, Supervalu, and Excela Health, where he developed expertise across workforce planning, employee engagement, talent development, and organizational effectiveness. His earliest childhood memories were formed on campus while his mother, Georgia Schomer ’98, was pursuing her own studies. James is passionate about sharing the good news that true fulfillment comes not through worldly success, but through a relationship with Jesus.

Fito Magic Andre ’17, Criminal Justice
Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force

Fito Magic Andre has served as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force since June 2023. After graduating from Seton Hill, Fito worked as a legal assistant at Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson, & Gary, P.L.L.C. in Florida for two years before entering law school. He earned his Juris Doctor from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2022, where he served as a Student Ambassador, a Tech Teaching Assistant, a Student Trustee and the Administrative Editor for the Vermont Journal of Environment Law. Fito was selected as the class speaker at his Vermont Law commencement and earned the Maximilian W. Kempner Award, which is given to the graduate who best exemplifies competence, integrity, respect, fair-mindedness and public service. Fito is currently based in San Antonio, Texas.

Emily Frost ’17, Art Therapy
Art Therapist at Kerrville Hospital Maximum Security Unit, Texas

Emily Frost is a registered art therapist, licensed professional counselor, and currently serves as the Program Director at Kerrville State Hospital in Kerrville, Texas. Since completing her master’s degree in art therapy from Florida State University in 2019, she has built a diverse and meaningful career centered around individualized treatment, trauma-informed care, and community healing. Emily has worked extensively with individuals in the criminal justice system overcoming stigma, navigating trauma, and reintegrating into their communities. In addition, Emily has significant experience providing mental health services and community response events with survivors of mass shootings - including those affected by the tragedies at the Tallahassee Hot Yoga Studio and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Emily’s clinical and programmatic expertise has led her to present at multiple conferences, where she has shared her passion for self-care, burnout prevention, and sustainability for human services workers.

Zachary Herman ’17, Biology
UPMC Senior Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery

Zachary Herman is a Senior Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He was recently one of 30 selected for UPMC’s Senior Resident-Fellow Leadership Academy and as the UPMC Orthopaedic Surgical Residency Study Plan Leader, organizing monthly study plan sessions for interns and junior residents. Zach, who was a men’s basketball player at Seton Hill, currently supports athletes as the High School Football Administrative Chief Resident at UPMC. He graduated summa cum laude from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in 2021 where he supported his fellow students academically in a variety of ways. Zach first became acquainted with the Sisters of Charity through his high school chemistry teacher who was a Sister and has spent over 700 hours volunteering at Caritas Christi visiting, assisting on field trips, and performing violin recitals.

Adam Burke ’18, Biology
Medical Director of Patient Access at Independence Health

Adam D. Burke, DO, MBA, PHP is a Board-Certified Family Physician and serves as the Medical Director of Patient Access for Independence Health System, one of the leading health systems in Western Pennsylvania. In his role as Medical Director of Patient Access, Dr. Burke has led transformative initiatives in imaging services and primary care. He has also collaborated with multiple insurance providers to enhance quality metric performance, driving both patient outcomes and financial optimization. His continuous contributions to improvement programs have made him a key figure in operational efficiency across the health system. Additionally, Dr. Burke is a clinical leader in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for the NPAX company. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a Master of Business Administration at Youngstown State University during his clinical years in medical school.

Crystal Joyce Nettles ’18, MBA ’20, Business Administration - Human Resources, MBA in Management
Senior Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Crystal Joyce Nettles is a Senior Project Manager for the Steelers. Since May 2023, she has been on the application for and logistics of hosting the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh along with the NFL, VisitPittsburgh, the state of Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh, and additional internal and external partners. In her role she also assists with government affairs, attends yearly NFL meetings in Washington, D.C., and manages working relationships with outside partners and executives. Crystal was previously Senior Manager for Executive Operations and Special Projects with the Pittsburgh Penguins and an HR Generalist for UPMC Corporate. Crystal was recognized for her achievements in the Pittsburgh Business Times 30 under 30 Class of 2025. In a nod to her travel to Ireland as an undergrad, she recently returned to assist with the 2025 Steelers-Vikings Game in Dublin, arranging logistics and advance work for 60-plus executives and officials.

Jonteal Hasty ’19, History
Public Defender at the Marion County Public Defenders Agency

Jonteal Hasty serves as a Public Defender with the Marion County Public Defender Agency in Indianapolis, Indiana. As part of her service in the agency's Family Preservation Division, she works diligently with parents to get their children back from the state. Jonteal has handled more than 200 Children in Need of Services (CHINS) and Termination of Parental Rights cases (TPR) cases since joining the agency in 2022. A graduate of Seton Hill University with a bachelor's degree in History with minors in Legal Studies and International Studies, Jonteal earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. Jonteal serves as the Chair of the Black Public Defender Association's (BPDA) Law School Committee where she helps Black law students secure paid fellows in Public Defender offices around the country every summer.

Jennifer Thomas ’18, Psychology
Community Engagement Manager at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

Jen has served as the Community Engagement Manager at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania since 2022. With personal lived experience of housing instability, Jen has always been grounded in the belief that housing is a human right. She earned her Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in community organizing and social action from the University of Pittsburgh. Her work with the Housing Alliance focuses on amplifying the voices of those with lived experience, advancing voter engagement and education, supporting policy advocacy, and providing evidence-based educational opportunities through webinars and the annual Homes Within Reach Conference. She also leads initiatives on effective storytelling to strengthen advocacy efforts and on zoning reform to expand access to affordable housing. Prior to her time with the Housing Alliance, Jen worked in student housing and with a grassroots animal advocacy organization.

Ana Salazar ’20, Nutrition and Dietetics
Registered Dietitian at Laguna Beach Community Clinic

Ana Salazar works as a Registered Dietitian at the Laguna Beach Community Clinic in California, where she helps low-income individuals live a healthier lifestyle and prevent and manage chronic diseases through balanced eating and physical activity. She works closely with her patients to help them make small, sustainable changes that fit their lifestyle, budget, goals and knowledge level. She also provides nutrition education classes to groups of patients. Prior to her current position, Ana worked as a clinical dietitian for UPMC Passavant in Pittsburgh. She earned her master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with an emphasis in Nutrition and Physical Performance from Saint Louis University in 2023.