2010s

Tyler Furry ’10, Columbia Falls, is a senior UI developer/designer at ZaneRay in Whitefish. He puts his media arts and communication degrees to work by helping build aesthetically pleasing websites.

Matt Raffety ’10, M.F.A. ’13, Dillon, recently became director of university communications at the University of Montana Western. For seven years, he oversaw communications and public relations at the University of Montana’s Center for Environmental Health Sciences, working on social media, graphics, ad campaigns and more. He also has worked on a research study developing educational video games as grant project manager for the past four years and taught in the media arts program at UM.

Charles Robison M.B.A, J.D. ’10, Helena, was appointed state director for USDA Rural Development in Montana by the Trump Administration last November. He worked as a USDA Forest Service wildland firefighter in the 1990s and then practiced law in Helena, representing family businesses, farmers, ranchers and Montana mines alongside Attorney General Tim Fox. He served four years as state director for U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte.

Cassandra Simonich ’10, Shoreline, Wash., received the 2018 Graduate School Medal and a $5,000 award from the University of Washington for her HIV-vaccine research, recognizing her academic contributions and social awareness. The master’s and doctoral student studies immune responses to HIV in infants. She also is involved with the nonprofit RotaCare, a student-run clinic in North Seattle serving undocumented, homeless and uninsured populations. As clinic manager and student leader, Simonich established a “diagnose-and-treat” clinic.

Trumaine Johnson ’11, Woodland Hills, Calif., has become the second highest paid cornerback in the NFL at $14.5 million per year. Only 28 years old, he already has 18 career interceptions and was acquired by the New York Jets for one of the largest contracts in NFL history – five years, $72.5 million and $34 million guaranteed at signing – this past March after playing for the St. Louis Rams for six years.

Izaak Opatz ’12, Los Angeles, Calif., was featured in Rolling Stone magazine as one of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” in May. Opatz is described as “an eccentric singer-songwriter whom you not only connect with, but root for as he tries in vain to sort out his love life.” Opatz first discovered his love for metaphors while studying creative writing at UM. His latest album is called “Mariachi Static.”

Future Griz: Levi Sebastian Martin McPherson was born on Jan. 31, 2018. His parents are Laura and Jeremiah McPherson, M.Ed. ’13, Seattle, Wash. Some of the many UM alumni Levi is related to include grandparents Gerald McPherson ’77, Richland, Wash., Walter ’73, and Patty Kero, PhD. Ed.’07, Missoula, and great-grandma Margaret Kelly ’69, M.S. ’75, Missoula. 

Abbie Schuster ’13, Simsbury, Conn., started her solo business Kismet Outfitters, which offers everything from guided fishing trips to corporate events with the option to add yoga. She has worked in Montana, Seattle and Alaska and today guides out of Martha’s Vineyard, Maine and western Massachusetts. Schuster grew up in New England and first began guiding in Montana in 2011.

Brooke Hess ’16, Missoula, has competed on the U.S. Freestyle Kayaking Team since 2013. In fall 2016, she taught environmental science, trigonometry and advanced algebra at World Class Academy’s climbing academy. A Missoula native, she has competed around the world – from championships in San Juan, Argentina, to the White Nile in Uganda. She has a degree in fluvial geomorphology and now lives out of her truck, traveling to competitions. She also started an annual women’s kayaking event in Idaho called Ladies on the Lochsa.

Mamunur Rahman ’16, Pangsha, Rajbari, Bangladesh, is the founder of Ella Pad and a U.S. Fulbright/Humphrey Fellow. He developed an idea for low-cost sanitary napkins for poor workers in garment factories while still at UM. He was encouraged by UM faculty to showcase his invention, and now, his idea is used in the D-Lab of MIT and recognized globally as a sustainable way to help the productivity and well-being of garment workers. He says he still receives feedback from his Missoula host family and professors at UM.

Jacob Godbey ’17, Los Angeles, and Trevor Cummings have signed a deal with Delish.com to produce a comedy cooking show. Former UM journalism student Alex Tait stars alongside Godbey. In the episodes, Godbey and Tait brew beer, eat pickled liver cheese, butcher a pig and more. The episodes premiere every Monday and are online at https://www.youtube.com/delish. Godbey and Tait also formed a Missoula-based comedy duo called “Gingers on Ice.”