Four alumni honored with awards during UR Reunion Weekend

Four distinguished University of Richmond alumni were recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions in their respective field of business, service to the community or service to their alma mater on June 4 during Reunion Weekend.

The University of Richmond Alumni Association presented the following awards:

• David Raiser, ’06, of Boston, received the Distinguished Recent Graduate Award. Raiser is the co-founder and CEO of Aldatu Biosciences, a biotechnology company committed to commercializing products that address diagnostic challenges in global health, primarily in HIV and other infectious diseases. The company also works to improve both the quality of patient care and healthcare cost-efficiency. After graduating from UR, Raiser received his Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard Medical School.
• David Rosenbaum, ’96, of Los Angeles, received the Distinguished Service Award. Rosenbaum is vice president of talent at Universal Studios’ Illumination Entertainment. The company’s “Minions” film franchise has ranked among the most profitable in history, having grossed billions of dollars around the world. He is even the namesake for “Dave the Minion.” Rosenbaum earned dual degrees from the Robins School of Business and the School of Arts and Sciences. He then received his master’s degree from The American Film Institute.

The Jepson School of Leadership Studies presented the following awards:

• Michelle Swartz Castiglione, ’06, received the Jepson School of Leadership Studies Tenth Year Reunion Recognition Award. Castiglione is a senior leadership analyst for the federal government. Her work profiling Middle Eastern leaders has shaped the foreign policy decisions of several presidents, White House officials and members of the National Security Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies from UR and an M.P.A in international relations from Princeton University.
• Chris Yurchuck, ’96, received the Jepson School of Leadership Studies Alumni Award. Yurchuck, a singer and songwriter, graduated from the University of Richmond with a major in leadership studies and a minor in music. After college he released two records and his songs have been featured on television shows, including Felicity and Everwood, and are currently in programming on A&E, Fox, The Food Network, Oxygen and Lifetime.