Dec. 12, 2017: Spergel ’82, Cleveland *77 Honored for Breakthroughs; Bodine ’83 Joins EPA; and More

Astrophysicst David Spergel ’82 and cancer biologist Don W. Cleveland *77 were among the 2018 Breakthrough Prize honorees feted at a star-studded event in Mountain View, Calif., Dec. 3. — Wired

Jeff Bezos ’86 heads Recode’s list of 100 “people in tech, business, and media who mattered in 2017.” Other alumni on the list include Indivisible’s Ezra Levin *13, Microsoft’s Brad Smith ’81, and New York Times deputy managing editor Clifford J. Levy ’89. — Recode

Susan Bodine ’83 was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. — The Hill

Bob Vance ’82, a former judge who nearly defeated Roy Moore in 2012 for a seat on the Alabama Supreme Court, describes what Democrats needs to do in order to win crossover Republican votes in this week’s Senate race. — Politico
 
U.S. Army engineering officer Victor Prato ’15 was injured by a suicide bomber on his first week serving as a platoon leader in Kandahar, Afghanistan. — The Tab

Andrea Jung ’79 discusses her role as CEO of microlender Grameen America and talks about what tech companies can do to attract and keep female employees. — Crain’s New York

“It defies logic and wisdom, not to mention the bankruptcy code, that a bankrupt company would now propose further multi-million-dollar bonuses for the senior leadership...” 

— Assistant U.S. Trustee Robert Van Arsdale ’72, who criticized a plan by Toys ’R’ Us to pay executives $16 million in bonuses despite filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Read more in The Wall Street Journal

Forbes named Jacob Reses ’13 to its “30 Under 30” list in the law and policy category, recognizing his role as Heritage Action for America’s director of strategic initiatives and adviser to the CEO. — Shore News Today
 
Designer Vikram Goyal *94 describes how his grandfather’s home inspired him to enter the high-end home design industry in India, where he aims to bring “modern Indian designs to life.” — Verve
 
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi ’95 explains his push for a bipartisan bill targeting career and technical education. — The Washington Post

Economists and policy experts John Taylor ’68, George Shultz ’42, Douglas Holtz-Eakin *85, and professor Harvey Rosen were signatories to a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury that said tax reform could boost GDP by reducing the cost of capital. — The Wall Street Journal
 
After struggling with mental illness at Princeton, Rob Middleton ’95 decided to pursue his passion for abstract art, setting up a studio in Jacksonville, Fla. — The Florida Times-Union
 
Greg Silvestri ’82 was named president of Glen-Gery, one of North America’s largest brick and stone manufacturers. — Markets Insider

MIT neuroscience professor Earl Miller *90 pledged $2 million to fund three scholarships and a professorship at Kent State University, his undergraduate alma mater. — Cleveland.com

Columbia University Law Professor Bernard Harcourt ’84 will serve as the inaugural executive director of Columbia’s Eric H. Holder Initiative for Civil and Political Rights. — Columbia College
 
New Jersey Assemblyman Herb Conaway ’85 reflects on his two decades in office and proposes solutions to the opioid crisis from the perspective of a physician. — Community News Service
 
Former Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh ’89 was sworn in as the New York state senator for the 26th District, representing Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. — Brooklyn Daily Eagle
 
Sampson County (N.C.) cardiologist William Newman ’74 was recognized as the 2017 Tree of Love honoree for his health-care contributions to the community. — The Sampson Independent
 
Co-authors Jeffrey Burt ’66, James Hitch ’71, Peter Pettibone ’61, and Tom Shillinglaw argue for a reassessment of U.S.-Russia relations and a more cooperative relationship in a recent op-ed. — The National Interest

Pittsburgh entrepreneur Frank Demmler ’71 says that equally splitting profits in a startup almost never makes sense and can lead to frayed relationships. — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette