Looking Ahead See the future through the lens of University leaders.

Fall2010

SoUthweStern UniverSity’S core pUrpoSe

Fostering a liberal arts community whose values and actions encourage contributions toward the well-being of humanity.

SoUthweStern UniverSity’S core valUeS

Cultivating academic excellence. Promoting lifelong learning and a passion for intellectual and personal growth. Fostering diverse perspectives. Being true to oneself and others. Respecting the worth and dignity of persons. Encouraging activism in the pursuit of justice and the common good.

Southwestern University’s recruiting of students, awarding of financial aid, and operation of programs and facilities are without regard to sex, race, color, religion, age, physical handicap, national or ethnic origin, or any other impermissible factor. The University’s commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

board oF trUSteeS

* Ex-Officio# Honorary

Southwestern is published semiannually by the Office of Institutional Advancement. Bulk rate postage paid at Austin, Texas.

Merriman Morton ’63, Austin, ChairLarry J. Haynes ’72, Coppell, Vice ChairR. Griffin Lord, Belton, Secretary-TreasurerMartin Aleman Jr. ’68, AustinL. James Bankston ’70, HoustonLisa Barrentine, AllenDouglas M. Benold ’44, GeorgetownW. Earl Bledsoe*, PlanoRoy H. Cullen#, HoustonJohn S. Curry ’70, PampaJames E. Dorff*, San AntonioRobert W. Dupuy ’69, DallasThomas A. Forbes ’71, AustinJames W. Foster ’72, HoustonJack Garey, GeorgetownRoberto L. Gómez ’69, McAllenSarah Gould-Stotts ’10, Charlottesville, Va.Robert H. Graham, HoustonKay Granger, Fort WorthRonald D. Henderson, PlanoC. Preston Hollis ’09, AustinJanice Riggle Huie*, HoustonHenry C. Joyner, Colleyville

Robert W. Karr ’71, St. Louis, Mo.Bart C. Koontz ’78, San AntonioJ. Michael Lowry*, Fort WorthRed McCombs ’49, San AntonioMichael McKee, HurstJ. Eric McKinney ’72, GeorgetownDavid J. McNitzky ’77, San AntonioLaura A. Merrill ’84, HarlingenCharles R. Millikan ’68, PearlandBarbara Prats Neely ’77, Fort WorthErnesto Nieto ’64, KyleSteven A. Raben ’63*, HoustonRobert T. Rork ’62, San AntonioJake B. Schrum ’68*, GeorgetownRobert C. Scott, San AntonioPeter A. Sessions ’78, DallasH. Blake Stanford ’81*, AustinStephen G. Tipps, HoustonDonald W. Underwood ’70, PlanoJames V. Walzel, HoustonD. Max Whitfield*, Albuquerque, N.M.Robert D. Wunsch, Austin

Fall2010

oFFice oF creative ServiceS

Eric BumgardnerDirector of Creative Services

Kristina W. MooreWriter/Editor

Antonio Banda Graphic Designer

Keely DoeringCreative Services Coordinator

magazine@southwestern.edu

oFFice oF alUmni & parent relationS

Georgianne Hewett ’90 Associate Vice President for Alumni and Parent Relations

JoAnn Lucero Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Grace Josey Pyka ’05 Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Daniel Webb ’08 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Development Communications

alumni@southwestern.eduparents@southwestern.edu

oFFice oF UniverSity relationS

Cindy Locke Associate Vice President for University Relations

Ellen Davis Director of Communications

John Kotarski ’93 Director of Web Development and Communication

Meredith Barnhill Assistant Director of Web Development and Communication

chieF adminiStrative oFFicerS

Jake B. Schrum ’68, President

Richard L. Anderson, Vice President for Fiscal Affairs

Gerald Brody, Vice President for Student Life

James W. Hunt, Provost and Dean of the Faculty

Beverly Jones, University Chaplain

W. Joseph King ’93, Vice President for Innovation

C. Richard McKelvey, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Thomas J. Oliver ’89, Vice President for Enrollment Services

Francie Schroeder, Executive Assistant to the President

Ronald L. Swain, Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Planning and Assessment

Telephone: (512) 863-6511

Alumni & Parent Relations: (800) 960-6363 Office of Admission: (800) 252-3166

2 SouthwesternMAgAzine

Fall2010

10 in 10…

Southwestern sat down with Jake B. Schrum ’68 and Jane Woodman Schrum ’70 on the anniversary of their first decade as Presidential couple of Southwestern University to reflect back and look forward. (See Page 6.)

in every issue

5 | President’s Message

14 | On Campus

20 | Athletics

23 | Engaging Find

33 | Academics in Focus

36 | Alumni News

38 | Class Notes

46 | Last Word

Features

8 | 20/20 Vision and Shaping Our Future: The Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020 A look forward through the viewmaster.

24 | Senior Stories—Lives Transformed Discover the Southwestern Experiences of 10 recent graduates.

30 | Life at the Molecular Level Three associate professors of biology discuss life, learning and their love of research.

3FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

24

4 SouthwesternMAgAzine

With your help we can bridge the gap.

Your gifts enhance our ability to attract and retain students, as well as provide an exceptional undergraduate learning experience— a Southwestern Experience. Thank you!

Every gift matters.Make a gift at www.southwestern.edu/makeagift or call 800-960-6363.

*Calculated over a six-year period beginning in the 2003–2004 fiscal year by dividing the average annual total gifts received by the fall student enrollment headcount. Data was taken from the VSE reports published by The Council for Aid to Education. The schools included in the chart are members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC).

Average Gifts per Enrolled Student*Fiscal Years 2003–2009

$7,362

$12,824Centre College

DePauw University

Sewanee

Austin College

Birmingham-Southern College

Rhodes College

Trinity University

Southwestern

Colorado College

Hendrix College

Millsaps College

Oglethorpe University

Share Your Ideas | Make a Gift | Refer a Student www.southwestern.edu/about/leadership

Shaping Our Future

What do you think Southwestern University will be like in the year 2020?

We are certain that we would like to be a top-tier national liberal arts and sciences college that provides a transformational experience to an increasingly diverse range of students.

This is the over-arching goal of our new stra-tegic plan, Shaping Our Future: The Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020. This plan was the result of more than a year of work by faculty, staff, student and alumni repre-sentatives, along with representatives from The Association of Southwestern University Alumni and the Board of Trustees. More than 700 people took time to send us their ideas or participate in sessions designed to gather feedback.

Implementation of the plan began this fall as we put into effect the most extensive curricular change in Southwestern’s recent history. Under the new curriculum plan, the typical student takes four 4-credit courses a semester instead of five 3-credit courses. We believe this new curricu-lar structure allows for an even greater depth of study and interaction with faculty members and will ultimately lead to greater academic success and engaged learning. Implementation of this curriculum—which mirrors the curriculum in use by many of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges—marks a significant milestone in our continued maturation as a nationally recognized university.

We also grew our student body by about 20 students this fall and will continue to do so over the next four years until we have an enrollment of 1,500 students.

This new strategic plan is both ambitious and realistic and provides the framework for meeting our aspirations over the next decade. I would like to thank all those who participated in the process, and I look forward to working with you to fulfill the promise that it offers.

And while we are looking forward, this is also a good opportunity to look back over the past 10 years. In this issue of Southwestern, you will see some of the many things we accomplished under The Strategic Plan for 2010. For example, we added 18 new tenure-track faculty members, launched the Paideia® Program and incorporated the Living-Learning Community program into the First-Year Seminar offerings.

During the last decade, the Writer’s Voice Series, the Shilling Lecture Series and the King Creativity Fund program have all greatly enriched the academic experience for our students.

Our student life program has been enhanced by the addition of varsity women’s softball, varsity men’s lacrosse, the Large Act Concert series and the Pirate Bike Program, to name just a few.

The University built two new residential apartment complexes, a new admission center and, most recently, the Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning, as well as renovated and expanded the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center.

Perhaps most important, we’ve set the University on a course for a more sustainable future.

Looking back over the last 10 years, we have much for which we can all be proud.

On a personal note, this year marks my 10th year as President of Southwestern. It continues to be a privilege to share this journey of promise and fulfillment with each and every one of you.

Jake B. Schrum ’68President, Southwestern University

5FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

preSident’SMessAge

To alumni who may not have had an opportunity to come back

to campus, I would say that the hopes, dreams and actions of

our current students are still what can bring tears to their eyes,

because they can see that this generation of students realizes

what’s most important…just as they did.

J a k e B . S c h r u m ’ 6 8

J A K E As students, Jane and I met in a music appreciation class taught by Professor Emeritus of Music Ellsworth Petersen ’55. Music has always played an important role in our lives. When I walk through the hallways in the Fine Arts Building, I remember sitting outside the old practice rooms studying and listening to Jane practice piano. When Ellsworth announced his retirement, Jane and I went to his last class to show our appreciation; it was a seamless way of showing our enjoyment of our relationship with him and what music has meant in our lives.

J A N E There haven’t been too many surprises, but I did have a few fantasies. It was our choice to live on campus and we’re very glad we do, but I had this idea that in the evenings we would stroll around campus, talking and reflecting on our day. Our busy schedules prevent that from happening very often. Maybe when we retire we’ll stroll like we did when we were students falling in love on this campus.

J A N E Since returning to Southwestern, I’ve found my place, and found satisfaction by using our home and my interests in homemaking to make a difference in the life of the campus community. I really enjoy interacting with staff and hosting visiting scholars, students, dignitaries, alumni, trustees, parents and others in our home.

J A K E I’ve been on staff at Southwestern four times. I believe what draws one to Southwestern in the first place is the same thing that draws us back—to Homecoming or to a position on staff—the desire to be in a place where you know some-thing important is happening…where you can re-imagine the possibilities of life. Most of us have the desire to improve; as Professor Emeritus of History Weldon Crowley used to say, “to make oneself a more inviting person.” Southwestern just naturally encourages that; it makes us more vibrant, dynamic and alive. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

reflectionsP r e s i d e n t J a k e B . S c h r u m a n d w i f e J a n e

l o o k b a c k o n 1 0 y e a r s o f s e r v i c e a t S o u t h w e s t e r n

6 SouthwesternMAgAzine

J A N E Over the next decade and beyond, I see Southwestern continuing to be a place that places a high priority on values, community and life-long friendships; that holds us as individuals and collectively. I hope that it never loses that which it’s had from the very beginning.

J A K E I’ve always known that the Southwestern community is dedicated to providing transforma-tional experiences for our students. Over these 10 years, we’ve increased our faculty by nearly 20—enriching the diversity of our community in every way—and hired professional staff who also add value to the experience. That’s what I expected 10 years ago. What I didn’t antici-pate were the two debilitating economic down-turns we’ve experienced. These situations have caused me to think more about how we in higher education need to adjust our expectations and make the changes necessary to successfully move forward.

J A K E I strive to build on Southwestern’s financial strength. I believe that, among other things, will help us continue to recruit high-quality faculty who enhance the Southwestern academic experi-ence and add value to our graduates’ degrees.

It really has been like coming home. Southwestern

is a place that holds one in its arms. Being here

feels like being held in a loving embrace. It’s an

intangible but powerful thing.

J a n e W o o d m a n S c h r u m ’ 7 0

7FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Read Shaping Our Future: The Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020 online at www.southwestern.edu/plan

want MORe?

8 SouthwesternMAgAzine

over the next decade, Southwestern will sharpen the focus on our academic

mission—a mission that engages minds and transforms lives. on our rise to

the top-tier of national liberal arts and sciences colleges, Southwestern as a

whole is being shaped and transformed as well. Following are the voices of

some of Southwestern’s visionaries who, with a little hindsight, have a clear

view of what could be.

9FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

How will it affect Southwestern in the future? What has

been our most significant achievement?

What is our highest priority?

What will Southwestern look like in the year 2020?

What role will you play?

Ben Pierce, professor of biologySouthwestern is known for its personalized approach to education through

small class sizes and the care shown to students by faculty. It’s our niche in higher education. Going forward, I believe that the addition of high quality junior faculty whose teaching and scholarship—as well as their energy and enthusiasm—will help shape and impact the future of the University. More immediately, you can imagine that I think our highest priority should be on the renovation and expansion of the science facilities. Southwestern established a good reputation in the sciences starting with Dr. Robert Hyer in 1882, who set the bar high. Improvements to our facilities and instrumen-tation are required to maintain the reputation Dr. Hyer established more than a century ago. As for me, I plan to continue to focus on my students; to provide a high-quality educational experience in the classroom, the lab and the field. I also plan to continue my research and to focus on the plan-ning of our new and improved science facility.

Bob Karr ’71, chair of the board of trustees Strategic planning committee

Despite the tough economy over the past 10 years, Southwestern made a commitment to move forward. The optimism about and enthusiasm for Southwestern is evident in Shaping Our Future: The Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020, and reflects the dedication of every-one at the University. The strategic planning process itself was reflective of Southwestern as a whole, based on the number of people who had input in the process and who rose above their personal interests for the good of the whole. Our collective hope for the future is that Southwestern is able to build increased recognition across the country for its fundamental strength of engaging minds and transforming lives. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve on the board of trustees, and for my wife (Jean Gibson Karr ’71) and me to contribute in meaningful ways to Southwestern.

10 SouthwesternMAgAzine

proposed rendering of an improved Southwestern science facility.

Overarching Vision: Southwestern University will be nationally

known for providing society with graduates

who are bright, moral and courageous. over

the next decade, Southwestern University

will continue to position itself as a top-tier,

national liberal arts and sciences college

by building upon its greatest strength—

providing a transformational, residential,

liberal arts and sciences education that

empowers an increasingly diverse range

of students to lead fulfilling lives in a global

community.

strategic Direction: Focus on our academic mission—our

commitment to providing every student

with an education that extends beyond the

simple transmission of knowledge and skills

to a concept of learning as a broad, inte-

grated and transformational process.

supporting strategies:EnhanceOurCampusExperience

andResidenceLife

create a more vibrant, diverse and

student-friendly campus that will enhance

the campus experience and the quality of

student life, and will contribute to attracting

and retaining students that are best able

to benefit from Southwestern’s academic

mission.

BuildFar-ReachingVisibility

andRecognition

build far-reaching visibility and recogni-

tion for the University as an exceptional

national undergraduate liberal arts and

sciences institution known for engaging

minds and transforming lives.

EnsuretheFinancialVitalityand

OverallSustainabilityoftheInstitution

ensure the financial vitality and overall

sustainability of the institution by build-

ing an ever-stronger financial foundation

that will increase our ability to invest in our

academic enterprise, undergird our commit-

ments and reach our aspirations.

The Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020

A summary ofShaping Our Future:

Rick McKelvey, vice president for institutional advancement

Southwestern students have always expected more of themselves and the institution; graduates expect us to be always moving forward toward the next level of quality education. The introduction of Paideia® has enhanced how student experiences impact the Southwestern community, inside the classroom and out. It’s a reflection of the best things about the Southwestern Experience. Our overarching vision is to be one of the finest national liberal arts universities in the country, based on quality faculty and staff and their ongoing development, the diversity and quality of our students and the quality of our facilities. That’s a bold statement, and it’s the first time we’ve included visibility and recognition as a strategic direction. Our visibility needs to be on a parallel track to our integrity and quality of education. The most tangible action item in Shaping Our Future is the expansion and renovation of our science facilities. Southwestern students have high expec-tations for the quality of education they will receive here. Since science and technology change over time, we must, too. In order to make this happen, it is my job to communicate with donors and others about Southwestern’s financial needs to support the strategic direction.

glada Munt, director of intercollegiate athletics

There have been numerous achievements over the past 10 years, includ-ing the University’s continued vitality in a tough economy. While academics always come first, our continual growth in athletics requires that we also make improvements to our athletics facilities. The Athletics Department brings in one-third of admitted students and our programs are competi-tive or better than those of our competition. I will continue working to create a more visible and quality athletics program, which will add to the student experience and make Southwestern a great choice for both students and parents.

“I hope that Southwestern’s second hundred years will be as energized and as forward thinking as its first hundred years.”— mary visser, professor of art

11FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Ron swain, senior adviser to the president for strategic planning

Shaping Our Future: The Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020 has set the stage for Southwestern’s continued growth and development. It’s a commitment by the University to academic excellence, sustainability and diversity, among other things. Through the previous strategic plan, we added 18 tenure-track faculty members. Having a more diverse faculty makes an impact on our curriculum and promotes diversity among our students. Over the next 10 years, our priority will be to focus on our academic strength, beginning with an emphasis on renovating our science facilities. Doing this will help Southwestern become a major player in the region and help us keep pace with the growth in the health care industry…which will provide increased opportunities for student internships and employment. Another priority is to develop a more diverse student body and faculty, engaged in dynamic interaction. Our challenge is to figure out how a small liberal arts college in Texas can be recognized for its distinctiveness. Keeping within the context of human interaction, Southwestern can lead the way. For now, it’s my job to develop action plans to help implement Shaping Our Future as a whole.

Mary Visser, professor of art

I think the most significant achievement at Southwestern in the past 10 years has been the recruitment of personnel—from the board level to faculty and staff—who have the desire and commitment to challenge Southwestern and its students to move the University into the national level of top-tier liberal arts colleges. In the future, I believe we will be recognized for our unique blend of educational programs that promote lifelong learning and educated thinkers; for graduating citizens who make choices based upon facts and yet have a strong sense of compassion for all human beings. As for me, I will be a constant supporter of Southwestern’s goals.

sarah Woolley ’11, president of Student congress

I believe Southwestern’s two greatest achievements over the past 10 years have been the creation of the Paideia Program—made possible by $9 million raised through the Priddy Challenge—and the numerous envi-ronmental initiatives that have been implemented. Although still in its infancy, Paideia has the potential to strengthen the University over the next 10 years. Beginning with President Schrum’s signing of the President’s Climate Commitment and the Tallories Declaration, and continuing with the work of Students for Environmental Activism and Knowledge (SEAK), Southwestern has become a carbon-neutral school, and our ranking with the College Sustainability Report Card has improved tremendously. Right now, the top priority for the University is renovating the Fondren-Jones Science Building. We have a great natural science division, but the facility does not reflect the work that is being accomplished there. Another priority is the renovation and addition to the athletics facilities for both our student athletes and the Southwestern community as a whole. I’m hopeful that students and alumni understand that all of these efforts depend on money. The fact is that tuition only covers about two-thirds of our operating costs. If every alumna/us gave just $10 per year, many of these plans would be completed much sooner. Personally, I plan to start with “giving the amount of my graduation year.” For me, that’s $20.11 per year until I’m able to give a more sizable amount. Every gift really does matter!

12 SouthwesternMAgAzine

10 years

sShaping our Future: the Strategic plan

for Southwestern University 2010–2020 is

not a new idea. For over three decades

Southwestern has been guided by strategic

planning. in 2000, Southwestern undertook

an ambitious, decade-long plan that yielded

outstanding results.

Ten major accomplishments of the last strategic Plan:

• created

Paideia®

• added

faculty• transformed

curriculum• expanded

civic engagement• enhanced

diversity• enriched

student life• built and renovated

facilities• engaged

alumni• prioritized

sustainability• became home to the

national institute for Technology in Liberal education (niTLe)

at the lastA look back

Watch the highlights online at www.southwestern.edu/10in10

want MORe?

13FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Think!Who do you know that may follow in your (Pirate Bike) tracks?

No, not the living legacy you left down on 6th Street when you almost got that Captain Ruter ink. Your academic tracks. Like you, the successful Southwestern student of the future:

Is highly motivated

Looks for intellectual challenges

Is civic/community minded

Makes learning a top priority

Got a name or two? Good! Now, go to www.southwestern.edu/alumnireferral and send them our way.

t exas’ f i rst u n i v ers i ty

Oobserving the ravages of aidS in africa

Sophomore Kadidiatou “Kadi” Magassa spent the summer observing at an AIDS clinic that serves children from birth to age 18 in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a small country of about 2 million people in the Republic of South Africa.

A 2007 report estimated that 23.2 percent of the country’s population has HIV/AIDS—the third highest in the world after Swaziland and Botswana. The CIA’s World Factbook says the average life expectancy in Lesotho is 41.18 years for men and 39.54 years for women.

Magassa’s trip was the result of three years of fundraising by the student group EBONY, a local civic organization called The Links, and several local churches. “It is truly heartwarming to know that something that was started several years ago was able to come to fruition,” says former EBONY President LaToya Alexander ’07.

“This was the first step toward working in my desired field,” says Magassa, who is developing an independent major focusing on international studies with a concentration on Africa. Her career goal is to work in Africa to help solve problems such as AIDS and government corruption.

While in Lesotho, Magassa gathered video footage that she hopes can be used there and in the U.S. to educate people about AIDS. She was previously involved in AIDS prevention efforts in her hometown of Harlem, N.Y.

Singing in Shanghai

Supported by The Friends of the Sarofim School of Fine Arts, 16 Southwestern students, faculty members and alumni helped represent Texas at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.

The group was part of a choir that also included representatives from Chorus Austin, the San Gabriel Chorale, the Chancel Choir

Go to In Focus at www.southwestern.edu/newsroomwantMORe?

14 SouthwesternMAgAzine

oncAMPus

from First United Methodist Church in Mineral Wells and the Mineral Wells High School Varsity Mixed Choir.

The performance at the World Expo was part of a 10-day tour of China, which included a performance at the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.

Conducted by Kenny Sheppard, professor of music and director of the Southwestern Chorale, the choir performed Haydn’s “Mass in a Time of War,” the same piece the Chorale sang at Carnegie Hall in 2004.

Sheppard says the group was warmly received, especially when they performed a well-known Chinese folk song at the Forbidden City Concert Hall and again at the World Expo.

“This was the trip of a lifetime. Experiencing the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and other wondrous sites would have been enough,” Sheppard says, “however, interaction with the Chinese people was even more meaningful. The Chorale students were ideal ambassadors for Southwestern and for the United States. I was proud to be associated with them.”

Student participants included Ben Bracher, Katie De La Vega, Anne Fenley, Dustin Fillmore, Andra Loer, Bonnie Maddox, Brian Miller, Katie Sokolyk and Kailey Watson. In addition to Sheppard, partic-ipating faculty members included organist David Polley, part-time assistant professor of applied music; vocalist Bruce Cain, associate professor of music, and Victoria Star Varner, professor of art. Participating alumni included Marie Henderson Becker ’03, Barbara Horan ’85 and Barbara Sands Mittanck ’59.

vicente villa Summer Scholars

With a $263,318 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, in 2008 Associate Professor of Education Stephen Marble developed the Vicente Villa Summer Scholars Program—a five-week “mini-liberal arts experience.” Participating students have completed their junior year of high school and are recommended by their teachers, counselors and principals.

The program was named for Professor Emeritus of Biology Vicente Villa, who was chosen as the 1993 U.S. Professor of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Marble says, “First-generation (Hispanic) students frequently struggle at large state schools because they have limited experience and social networks to help them survive in impersonal competitive environments…and are generally unaware of the range of choices open to them as they prepare to be the first in their family to go to college.”

Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail deliv-ered the May 8, 2010 commencement address at Southwestern University. Zewail is the Linus Pauling professor of chemistry and professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology. His daughter, Maha Zewail Foote, is an associate professor of chemistry at Southwestern. In 1999, Zewail was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for pioneering the development of a new field known as laser femtochemistry. Using lasers and molecular beams, femtochemistry

has made it possible for researchers to see chemical reactions as they happen in real time. Femtochemistry has had an impact on chemical, biological and medical research all over the world, and is someday expected to yield practical results by allowing improved control of chemical processes used in manufactur-ing and drug design. Since winning the Nobel Prize, Zewail has focused his research on the develop-ment of another field, 4D electron micros-copy, the direct visualization of materials and biological behavior in the familiar

three dimensions of space plus time. He currently serves as director of the multidisciplinary Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology at Caltech. After receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Alexandria University in Egypt, Zewail earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, before joining the faculty of Caltech in 1976.

nobel laureate addresses class of 2010

®©

The Nobel Foundation

This past summer, 16

Hispanic, Austin-area

high school students

participated in the Vicente

Villa Summer Scholars

Program at Southwestern.

15FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

on

cA

MP

us

Students participating in the program stayed in residence halls during the week, and attended English classes taught by Elisabeth Piedmont-Marton, associate professor of English, and math classes taught by Alison Marr and Therese Shelton, assistant and associate professors of mathematics, respectively.

All students who participated in the program were encouraged to apply for admission to Southwestern. Sandi Nenga, assistant profes-sor of sociology, will track the participants over the next few years to better understand how the program may have influenced their college choices. “It will be great if they decide to come to Southwestern, but our goal is that they choose a college or university that best meets their needs,” Marble says.

o’brien, ore and robertson receive acS Funds

Bill O’Brien, associate professor of physics, and John Ore, professor of theatre, received a $7,168 grant to work with Tim Francis, light-ing designer and technical director at Trinity University, to develop an environmental studies/theatre/physics course focused on energy conser-vation strategies for the theater, particularly the replacement of incandescent lighting with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The goal is to install a renewable energy system on the roof of the Fine Arts Center that will generate electrical energy equal to the needs of the LED lighting system.

The ACS grant money will be used to help pay the students who are working on the project and to purchase a solar panel and a wind turbine

that can be used as teaching tools. Ore says he hopes the Heather Hall project will serve as a model for other colleges interested in energy conservation.

Carl Robertson, associate professor of Chinese, received a $1,600 grant through the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) Faculty Renewal Program to work with Li Wei, professor of Chinese at Rollins College, on a pilot project that will allow small colleges with limited faculty resources to offer advanced classes in Chinese and Chinese culture.

“Most small liberal arts colleges and universi-ties have limited resources in specialized fields of Chinese instruction such as literature, perform-ing arts and film,” Robertson says. “However, with modern Internet technology and a consortium of participating universities, individual exper-tise across universities can be shared and will enable our students to have access to broader instructional content.”

Using technology expertise from the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE), located at Southwestern, Robertson is currently offering a lecture taught by Wei on Chinese music, which includes a demonstration by three Chinese musicians from Disney’s Epcot Center. A lecture on Chinese literature taught by Robertson will be offered in spring 2011.

Graduates receive prestigious nSF Fellowships

Four Southwestern graduates have received grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support their graduate school studies.

The NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program is for students who are college seniors or first- or second-year graduate students. Fellowships are funded for up to three years and provide students with a yearly stipend of $30,000. The NSF typically funds fewer than 10 percent of the applications it receives.

“Given that this competition awards only the best and brightest of the applications in all areas of the sciences, we should be very pleased with this outcome,” says Jesse Purdy, professor of psychology, who has helped select recipients of these fellowships.

Two students who studied animal behav-ior with Purdy received fellowships—Delia Shelton ’09, to start graduate studies at Indiana University, and Katy Siciliano ’08, to continue studies in biopsychology at the University of

John Ore, professor of

theatre (pictured above),

and Bill O’Brien, associate

professor of physics,

along with four students

and two staff members,

have been working on a

project since September

2009 to design LED

technology for Heather

Hall, a small theater

on the second floor of

the Alma Thomas Fine

Arts Center.

16 SouthwesternMAgAzine

on

cA

MP

us

Michigan, where she is working in the van Anders social neuroendocrinology lab. Colin Kyle ’09 and Patrick Egan ’09, who are in graduate school at the University of Chicago and Indiana University, respectively, also received fellowships.

“I wouldn’t be too surprised to learn that this is the first time a college of our size had four recipients of the fellowship in a given year,” Purdy says.

NSF reviewers pointed to the extensive under-graduate research experience of the Southwestern applicants, including publications, presentations and international experience. Shelton worked in Purdy’s lab, Kyle worked with Romi Burks, asso-ciate professor of biology, Siciliano worked with Fay Guarraci, associate professor of psychology, and Egan worked with Traci Giuliano, professor of psychology.

inaugural walt potter prize

Four-year King Creativity Fund grant recipient, Pelham Keahey ’10, received the program’s first $2,500 Walt Potter Prize, awarded to the best student or project in a given year.

The program, established in 2000 with an endow-ment provided by W. Joseph “Joey” King ’93, is designed to support “innovative and visionary projects” proposed by Southwestern students.

The award was named for Walt Potter, profes-sor of mathematics and computer science, who was King’s mentor when he was a student at Southwestern.

As a physics major, Keahey applied for and received a King Creativity Fund grant each of his four years at Southwestern. The first two years, he used the money to build a low-cost solar water heater. In 2008–09, he used the grant to build a Ruben’s Tube, which enables people to “see” different sound waves by means of flames coming up through holes in the tube.

In 2009–10, Keahey received a grant to build a new type of apparatus for the detection and identification of microorganisms. He collaborated with physics majors Will Hardy and Mason Cradit, biology major Andrea Holland, chemistry major Steven Solis, and Gerald Wade, coordinator of science facilities and equipment. The device could enable doctors to prescribe specific treatments more quickly than they are currently able.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to receive this award,” King says. “It has been wonderful to watch Pelham since he was a first-year student.” Keahey says his most recent project helped him decide to accept a position with the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center as a control engineer. He plans to apply for graduate school in 2011.

$25,000 provides Student research experience

Professor of Biology Ben Pierce has received a $25,000 grant to conduct research that may help the threatened Georgetown salamander (Eurycea naufragia). Pierce and several Southwestern students will perform studies known as “mark–recapture studies” designed to accurately deter-mine the number of salamanders currently living at several sites in Williamson County.

The salamander, believed to exist only in Williamson County, lives in wet caves and springs found in the South, Middle and North Forks of the San Gabriel River and is threatened due to development.

Williamson County and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation are working with an Austin-based consulting firm to develop a conser-vation plan for the salamander. Pierce has been awarded a subcontract to help with the work. Pierce and his students will also continue conduct-ing monthly surface counts of salamanders at two springs, as they have been doing on a volun-teer basis.

Professor of Biology Ben Pierce

Sheppard Garners william carrington Finch award

Professor of Music Kenny Sheppard received the 2010 William Carrington Finch Award during the May 2010 commencement ceremony. The award, given every other year to a full-time faculty member “for exemplary accomplishment in furthering the aims of Southwestern University,” is named for Southwestern’s 11th president. Criteria for the award include excellence in teach-ing, contributions to University governance and contributions outside the classroom.

Sheppard has been a member of the Southwestern faculty since 1974 and has served as chair of the Music Department twice, in addition to conducting the Southwestern Chorale. He has also served as the artistic director for Chorus Austin, has conducted the chorus for the Georgetown Festival of the Arts since its inception in 2005, and has led a summer institute at Southwestern that gives choral conductors professional instruc-tion in the great choral/orchestral works of classical music.

17FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Fulbright teaching assistantships

Emily Gutzmer ’10, a double major in interna-tional studies and German, Tanlyn Roelofs ’09, an anthropology major with a minor in German, and Zach Zeman ’10, a double major in music education and German, were awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships in Germany for the 2010–11 academic year.

“Fulbright Teaching Assistantship Awards offer our students the opportunity to learn and teach across cultures and boundaries, to become even more proficient communicators, and to discover their potential as cultural ambassadors and media-tors,” says Erika Berroth, associate professor of German.

Students selected for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Program receive round-trip transportation to the host country, a salary for the academic year based on living costs in the host country, medical insurance and an allowance for books and research.

This is the third consecutive year that Southwestern students have received Fulbright Teaching Assistantships. Carolyn Acker ’09 and Erin Osterhaus ’09 spent the 2009–10 academic year teaching in southern Germany and Jamie Falconnier ’09 taught in Austria. Amy Tanguay ’08 and Chelsea Edge ’08 both taught in northern

Germany and are now in graduate programs in the U.S.

Student-Faculty archaeology collaboration in italy

Junior Georgia LoSchiavo and Katherine Maples ’10 spent part of the summer working in a 2,000-year-old garden located in the ancient Roman city of Stabiae, which was buried with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.

Thomas Howe, professor of art history at Southwestern and the coordinator general of the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation, has led excavations at Stabiae since 1999. Most recently, Howe oversaw the largest ever excavation at the site. More than 100 students and researchers from around the world participated, including some of the foremost experts on garden archaeology. Participants focused their efforts on a garden about the size of a football field, that was part of the Villa Arianna, one of four villas excavated at the site.

In addition to working at the Villa Arianna at Stabiae, LoSchiavo and Maples had the opportu-nity to work at the House of the Large Fountain in Pompeii.

For more information about Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation, visit www.stabiae.com.

Sarah Gould-Stotts ’10 was one of 60 students named to the 2010 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team, honoring students who excel academically and benefit society by extending their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom. “This is a huge honor,” says Roger Young, director of career services, who encouraged Gould-Stotts to apply. “Students from hundreds of universities all over the country apply.” Gould-Stotts says, “I was very honored and excited to receive this recognition.” A Paideia® Scholar, Gould-Stotts graduated cum laude from Southwestern in May with a major in English and a minor in business. While a student, she started the Mock Trial Team, helped revive the Brooks Prize Debate and started the Society of Young Women Leaders organization to mentor local high school women. Jennifer Knight ’00 was named to a USA Today All-USA College Academic Team in 2000.

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beading the change

As early as middle school, sophomore Jenna Gaska began volunteering in her hometown of San Antonio.

Upon arriving at Southwestern, Gaska decided to “Bead the Change” that she wanted to see in the world, while simultaneously pursuing a double major in biology and classics.

A member of Circle K International, a colle-giate service organization with more than 13,000 members on 560 campuses worldwide, Gaska started a project with an international focus.

On www.nabuur.com, a website that links online volunteers with villages in Africa, Asia and Latin America, she found Revelation Children’s Ministries International. RCMI was looking for a marketplace for their various hand made goods. Gaska proposed a partnership with Circle K to sell RCMI products in Georgetown.

Her project, “Bead the Change,” is aptly named. Women in two remote, war-torn villages in Uganda use recycled and purchased paper to make beads and create one-of-a-kind jewelry, which Circle K began selling on campus and at craft shows in December 2009.

When Gaska began receiving requests from other groups wanting to export their goods, Circle K selected another organization in Uganda called the Agoro Community Development Association.

Both organizations provide financial assis-tance to orphans and widows in the communi-ties with whom they work. Many widows lost

their husbands in the tribal conflict that plagues Northern Uganda. And children often lose their parents to HIV/AIDS, forcing them to cope with desperate poverty.

“They are trying to provide the orphans with life skills that will allow them to support them-selves,” says Gaska, who corresponds with many villagers by letter, phone or e-mail.

She says the nearly $5,800 raised to date has gone to Uganda to provide funds for education and school supplies. She adds that her dream is to go to Uganda to work with both groups in person, either through a nonprofit organization or by putting her biology degree to use doing medical research.

“We never thought it would be that success-ful,” says Gaska, who credits much of the program’s success to members of Circle K and other Southwestern students who have gotten involved. “It just makes you really glad to know you can make a difference...”

“They’re trying to make a child care center with some of the money we’ve been able to raise here on their behalf, and we are also trying to get them a new sewing machine,” she says.

At Circle K International’s convention in August, “Bead the Change” won 3rd place for best single service project in 2009–10.

Gaska says she wants to continue the program as long as Circle K is willing to help, but she is already laying the groundwork for future projects.

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19FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Watch the video at www.southwestern.edu/beadthechange

want MORe?

nnew pirate Scoreboards

The Southwestern soccer and lacrosse programs have a new 24’ x 13’ scoreboard, proof of the Pirates’ ongoing efforts to improve the player and spectator experience at Southwestern.

The state-of-the-art LED scoreboard is keeping with green initiatives happening across campus. The baseball and softball programs also have received new scoreboards over the past few years. The three new devices use less electricity combined than was used by the former baseball scoreboard alone.

The previous soccer scoreboard had been used since 1993, where it stood on Moses Field before being relocated to the current soccer/lacrosse field.

The Women’s Soccer Team initiated the new scoreboard on Sept. 6, when they took on Texas Lutheran University.

pirates Set academic record

Southwestern placed a school record 101 student-athletes on the 2010 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Spring Academic Honor Roll. The SCAC, comprised of 13 schools, named a record 1,077 student-athletes to the 2010 Academic Honor Roll, eclipsing the previous record of 1,029 student-athletes, set in 2009.

To qualify, a student-athlete must retain a minimum GPA of 3.25 for the term and be a regular member of a varsity athletics team in a sport sponsored by the SCAC. Since the inception of the Honor Roll in fall 1997, just under 16,600 SCAC student-athletes have achieved recognition for their contributions in the classroom.

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want MORe?

arthur ashe Jr. Sports Scholar

Anthony “A.C.” Cox ’10 was named one of 12 men’s basketball players nationally, throughout all athlete divisions, as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine. Cox is the lone SCAC representative on the list.

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education “estab-lished the Sports Scholars Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who have made achieving both academically and athleti-cally a winning combination.” To be eligible, students must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2, and be active on their campuses or in their communities.

As a Southwestern student, Cox majored in business and was a leader on the Pirate men’s basketball team, helping the team achieve one

of its best records, culminating in a return to the SCAC Tournament. He averaged just under seven points per game and led the team in assists with 75, while shooting 43 percent from the floor. (See Cox’s Senior Story on Page 27.)

national honor Society

Twenty-five Pirate athletes representing 14 sports were inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society for the 2009–10 academic year. The Honor Society is devoted to recognizing student-athletes nation-ally who have excelled in the classroom as well as their sport. To be a member of this prestigious group, a student-athlete must be a junior or senior, must have earned a varsity letter and must have a GPA of 3.4 or better.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Pirate women finished the season in fourth place in the SCAC West, qualifying for the conference tournament. Junior Shae Seagraves was named Second Team All-SCAC and junior Staley Mullins was named All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Senior Jessica Herbst was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Three Pirates broke a total of seven school records during the season: Seagraves—most points in a game, most field goals made in a game, and most field goals attempted in a season. Mullins—highest field goal percentage in a game and most blocks in a game. Herbst—most three point field goals made in a game and most three point field goals attempted in a game. Former coach and player Kerri Brinkoeter ’95 has returned to the court as Head Coach for the 2010–11 season.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: The Pirate men went 16-10 for the 2009–10 season, finishing second in the SCAC West and reaching the conference tournament. Junior Jonathan Brown was named Second Team All-SCAC while senior Travis Barber, senior Zach Bergstrom and junior Nick Caputo were named All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Senior A.C. Cox was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

WOMEN’S GOLF: Helping the team finish third in the SCAC and place fifth at the National Tournament, senior Kristen Davenport shot a hole-in-one on a 135-yard par 3. She was named All-Region, All-Scholastic and First Team All-American. Senior Cody Wallace and first-year Kelsey Coburn were named All-Region. Wallace was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

MEN’S GOLF: SCAC Co-Champions, the men’s team earned its first team tie for the conference title in the 19-year history of the SCAC Men’s Golf Championships. Senior Ricky Jones finished second at the SCAC Championships, was named All-Region and named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team. First-Year James Charles finished third at the SCAC Championships and was named the SCAC Male Freshman Golfer of the Year.

WOMEN’S TRACK: The women’s track team finished ninth in the SCAC Championships, breaking Southwestern records and posting personal and season best times. Sophomore Taylin Eckols had a Southwestern record-breaking javelin throw of 30.44 meters. The women’s 4×4 relay team, consisting of sophomore Kelly Myers, senior Tami Warner, sophomore Dianna Urrego and first-year Christina Hadly, set a new Southwestern record, taking sixth with a time of 4:17.51. Warner was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Scoreboard sPRing 2010PiRATes

21FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

MEN’S TRACK: The men finished sixth at the SCAC Championships. Senior Avery Sheppard finished second in the 400m dash with a time of 49.87. The men’s 4×4 relay team came in fifth place with a time of 3:30.18, while first-year Sam Martinez earned sixth place with a time of 15:49.78 in the men’s five kilometer run. Senior Josh Gideon was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

MEN’S SWiMMiNG: In his first year with the men’s and women’s programs, Head Coach Dan Carrington took both teams to eighth place at SCAC Championships. The men’s team finished 21st in the nation for team GPA. Junior Josh Stanfield was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

WOMEN’S SWiMMiNG: The team finished eighth at the SCAC Championships. Junior Bailey Thompson and sophomore Sarah Ayers were named Honorable Mention Academic All-Americans and the team finished 52nd in the nation for team GPA. First-Year Elizabeth Lewis broke three individual school records: 500 Freestyle (5:19.4), 1000 Freestyle (11:07.6) and 400 Individual Medley (4:42.5). Senior Anya Lopez-Fuentez was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

MEN’S LACROSSE: In the inaugural season of varsity lacrosse at Southwestern, first-year Jamie Long and junior Thomas Mock earned Second Team All-SCAC honors. Sophomore Jack Parker was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

SOFTBALL: In its second season, the team finished third in the SCAC West and went on to become Conference Champions, ending the season ranked 23rd in the nation, with a record of 33-13. Sophomore Lyndsy Maus was named to the All-Tournament Team. Maus, senior Katelyn Gola, and first-year Haley Hughes were named Second Team All-SCAC. Gola and Hughes were named Third Team All-Region. Sophomore Alyson Pulver, first-year Kara Soloman and sophomore Taylor Turpin were named All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Turpin was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Coach Angela Froboese was named SCAC Coach-of-the-Year for the second year in a row.

BASEBALL: Junior Kyle Belski, senior Todd Boone, first-year Charlie Garrett and sophomore Nate Shipp were named All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Boone was also named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

WOMEN’S TENNiS: The team finished sixth in the SCAC, sophomore Victoria DeLeon was named to the All-SCAC Team and senior Mary Pennington was named to the SCAC All-Tournament Team. Senior Emily Gutzmer was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

MEN’S TENNiS: The team finished 10th in the SCAC, and junior D’Artagnan Bebel and sophomore Alex Lam were named All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Bebel was named to the SCAC All-Tournament singles team and the doubles team with partner, sophomore Alexander Reisch. Sophomore Andrew Olsson was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

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AAccording to the 2007 U.S. Census, nearly 23 percent of children under the age of 18 have at least one immigrant parent, and 12.6 percent of the U.S. population—nearly 38 million people—are foreign born. However, the modern immigrant experience is not often explored in depth in the popular media. So, as a Japanese-born immigrant having grown up in middle-America, I was espe-cially intrigued to read Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake and watch Mira Nair’s film of the same name, which promised to explore the experi-ences of the American-born Gogol Ganguli and his Indian-born parents, Ashima and Ashoke.

The story begins with young Ashima, fresh from India and pregnant, in the kitchen attempt-ing to recreate a common Indian snack out of Rice Krispies and chopped red onion. I empathized immediately; I remembered my mother trying to make nikuman, a savory roll filled with pork, with Pillsbury biscuit dough out of a can. They both felt the ache of something missing, of things being not quite right.

After giving birth, Ashima and Ashoke are asked to choose a name for their son. Though unpre-pared to do so, they choose the “casual” name, Gogol, with the promise of a more formal name to come. Named after the Russian novelist Nikolai Gogol, it’s a strange name for an Indian boy in America, but has emotional significance for his father. Slowly, the story transitions to the point of view of Gogol, who grows up feeling caught between two worlds and unable to reconcile his American upbringing with his Indian roots.

In college, Gogol symbolically discards his casual name in favor of his formal name, Nikhil, in an effort to redefine his identity. Initially, he attempts to abandon his Indian heritage altogether by living with his girlfriend, Maxine, and her family. They are casual, comfortable with them-selves and supremely confident. It is interesting to note that years earlier on a visit to India, he saw this confidence in his own parents. Lahiri

writes, “Within minutes, before their eyes Ashoke and Ashima slip into bolder, less complicated versions of themselves, their voices louder, their smiles wider, revealing a confidence Gogol and Sonia (his sister) never see on Pemberton Road.” Gogol longs for this confidence in his own life. He lives in his fantasy for a while but when his father dies unexpectedly, he is wrenched back to reality and begins to see that Maxine is ignorant and insensitive to his Indian heritage, which he finds he cannot fully abandon. They break up and he begins to date an Indian immigrant much like himself.

Lahiri never fully explores the complexity of Gogol’s emotions during his identity crises, but instead provides enough detail to allow the reader to feel those emotions herself. I empathized with Gogol through much of the book; though we may gain more confidence in the totality of who we are, there will always be awkwardness and times when we feel like outsiders.

The film version of The Namesake, directed by 2010 Writer’s Voice speaker Mira Nair, stays faithful to the book, beautifully capturing the details that Lahiri describes so well and that are important in understanding the experience of living in a foreign culture. Lahiri says of Nair, “I cannot think of anyone else who would have been able to internalize my novel, to take the essence of my novel, and transpose it the way she has done.”

In America, there is often a stereotyped and negative view of immigrants from the outside, whether Middle Eastern, Latino or French. The Namesake provides an opportunity to view the everyday, personal experiences of immigrants from the inside. I recommend both the book and the film to anyone who wants to better under-stand what it’s like to live as an immigrant or what it’s like to be split between two cultures, and to anyone wanting to read a good novel about the evolution of family dynamics.

The NamesakeNOVEL BY Jhumpa LahiriFILM BY Mira Nair, 2010 Writer’s Voice speakerREVIEW BY Fumiko Futamura, assistant professor of mathematics

23FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

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24 SouthwesternMAgAzine

transformedPhotography by Lance Holt

25FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Behind the curtain of a photo booth, one can become (on film) who he or she wants to be. On the Southwestern campus, students can—and do—become who they want to be. Here, lives are transformed.

livestransformed

Read the Bonus Senior Stories (Page 49)

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the circus! “I want to join the circus,” I said. My parents brought me to Southwestern—almost

literally kicking and screaming—instead. Now, there is nowhere on earth I would rather be.

I knew I wanted to study psychology. What I didn’t know was that psychology would become my life or that my fellow research assistants would become like family. I spent my last year at Southwestern studying ways to improve misper-ceptions of shy people—something I’ve struggled with myself—in (Professor of Psychology) Dr. Traci Giuliano’s research lab, where we managed to design, run and analyze six different studies.

Don’t get me wrong; it was hard work, but I certainly wasn’t chained to the lab the whole time. In my free time, I took photographs at countless skate parks in the area. And, if school-work ever got overwhelming, I’d combat it with a healthy dose of “Fort Awesome”—thankfully, Southwestern is probably one of the few institu-tions of higher learning where you can comman-deer a library study room, build a blanket fort and have a marathon homework party. It has to be the only college where it’s possible to meet at a coffee shop for (Associate Professor of English) Dr. David Gaines’ famous “Dylan” class, run into the President of the University, and convince him

to join the group and divulge that his favorite movie is Legends of the Fall.

You’d never know it by looking at me, but I’m a nerd to my very core. On top of research, I piled on the extracurriculars. The most noteworthy was The Megaphone, Southwestern’s official news-paper. I began as a writer and photographer and snagged a section editor spot as a sophomore. Not only was The Megaphone a great work experience, it was a source of constant entertainment. It’s the only on-campus job where you have impromptu raves while Photoshopping pictures of President Obama in an apron. It also allowed me to attend a newspaper conference in San Diego, Calif., and to obtain a press pass for Austin’s 2009 FunFunFun Fest, where I photographed the bands Ratatat, Danzig, Astronautalis and Of Montreal.

As an intern for the Williamson County Public Information Office, I wrote press releases and helped prepare for the launch of their new mental health website—a job I found through Southwestern’s Office of Career Services. In summer 2009, thanks to Dr. Giuliano’s great connections, I interned at LifeWorks, Austin’s only nonprofit social services agency and an amazing place that inspired me to pursue a career in social work. I saw the inner-workings of an agency that was making a difference in people’s lives and I knew that I wanted to be part of something similar. As a result, I’ve headed just south to The University of Texas at Austin for the Master’s in Social Work program.

UT’s program is one of the best in the country, but somewhere in the back of my mind I think I’m here because I’m not yet ready to be too far from Southwestern.

whitney{ } laashometown: Brookshire

major: Psychology

I never got into intramurals, but I loved being “Seeker” whenever someone

would start the occasional Quidditch match on the mall.

26 SouthwesternMAgAzine

today, I’m more confident than ever in my leadership skills and my ability to take on new

challenges. My Southwestern Experience helped develop my character as well as my life skills, both analytically and socially. Most significantly, I developed many long-lasting relationships with fellow students and campus staff that I know will continue long after graduation.

The “defining moment” that started my trans-formation was the “Pirate Training” dance contest during freshman orientation. I knew I was a pretty good dancer but was never one to show off, espe-cially in front of hundreds of other students. However, I also knew this was an opportunity to start making a name for myself.

I went down onto the court and did my thing. I won the contest and soon after, I became known as “the guy who can dance.” That was just the beginning...that experience helped me build the self-esteem I needed to become an active student on campus. Ever since, I have accepted the role and responsibility to be a leader, whether in the classroom, on the court or in the community.

In my four years at Southwestern, I was very active in the Pirate community, especially in athletics. When I wasn’t focused on school-work, I enjoyed playing basketball, working out (anything that keeps the body fit) and playing “Catch Phrase” with my friends. When I got stressed, I would try to read the Bible or take a break to call my parents.

As a member of the men’s basketball team (captain my junior and senior year), I was chosen to be a Southwestern representative for the NCAA Leadership Conference, held in Orlando, Fla., in June 2008. I received SCAC all-conference recognition my junior year and was voted to the

All-Conference Sportsmanship Team my junior and senior year. In addition, I received the Tex Kassen Male Athlete of the Year award in 2009. (See also Athletics, Page 21.)

I was also involved with the Southwestern Intramural and Recreational Activities (SIRA) program and worked as an intramural supervisor for three years.

As a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and as president of the organiza-tion for two years, I had the honor of speaking at the annual FCA banquet in Austin alongside Colt McCoy, former UT quarterback.

These experiences enabled me to become a more outspoken and influential leader, not just on campus but also in the community. As a mentor at Georgetown’s Annie Purl Elementary School, I visited the school at least once a week.

I am now more confident in my decision-making skills and not afraid to step out on a limb when it comes time to stand up for something I believe in. I strongly believe that Southwestern equipped me with the skills—both academically and socially—to be successful in life, and prepared me to make a difference wherever I go. Where’s that? To be determined...possibly business school or seminary.

{ }a.c. cox

hometown: Flower Moundmajor: Business

I was blessed at Southwestern to be surrounded by coaches, teachers and

friends who cared about me and about the person I will become.

27FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

kimberly griffin{ }hometown: Rockwall

major: Environmental Studies/Spanish

as I look back on my Southwestern Experience, I realize my worldview has changed a lot.

My liberal arts education has shown me that much is missed about the big picture when something is dissected or isolated from other related elements.

The only reason anything has meaning is because it has a relationship to something else—another person, place, idea or perspective. I came to this understanding through my collec-tive experiences at Southwestern, starting in my First-Year Seminar when we studied Deleuze and Guattari’s Rhizome.

I became involved with Students for Environmental Activism and Knowledge (SEAK) and quickly declared Environmental Studies as my major, excited that my studies would be closely tied to my activism. I especially liked tackling issues from an interdisciplinary approach.

When I applied for the Paideia Program the second semester of my first year, I really didn’t know what I was getting into, but that intrigued me. My cohort of seven students included majors in theatre, physics, political science, computer science, math and international studies. We studied with Dr. Kim Smith, professor of art history. I think having different perspectives was one of the most valuable aspects of Paideia. Because our cohort was together for three years, we were able to get to know each other really well, and transcended traditional academic disci-plines in our discussions about issues happening inside and outside the classroom.

I was forced to think about what “environ-mental studies” really meant when I began plan-ning the first Youth Environmental Summit for high school students. I really wanted to show younger students that environmental issues can be understood through a variety of disciplines

and perspectives, and that you don’t have to be a scientist to make a difference. Ultimately, the summit was a big part of my academic develop-ment. It forced me to think about the ways in which environmental issues can or should be analyzed and communicated.

During a semester abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico, my view of environmental studies was broadened even further as I was exposed to a different type of learning. About half of our class time was spent analyzing texts and theories much like my classes at Southwestern, but the other half was spent visiting sacred sites, murals or fields, and learning from Mexicans who had personal experiences with the topic at hand. The most useful part of this educational model was drawing connections between the global issues we studied and the local manifestations of such phenomena. This solidified my belief that when studying complex issues such as environmental degradation and social injustice, it is necessary to have a broad view encompassing interconnec-tions between the issues.

Over the summer, I remained on campus working with Bob Mathis, associate vice president for facilities and campus services. I’ve recently accepted a position as Development Associate with Austin Habitat for Humanity where I’ll get to use my Spanish, and put my global view to work for the betterment of humankind. I’m really excited!

Through Paideia®, I gained friends that shared my intellectual curiosity. That's

been a really important part of my liberal arts education.

28 SouthwesternMAgAzine

the things I liked to do at Southwestern: learn about science, think about writing a chil-

dren’s book about science, learn to dance, watch and talk about TEDtalks, improvise and write.

Seriously, Southwestern was great because it confused the hell out of me...for a while. While I perpetually sipped Yerba Maté, Southwestern deconstructed my world and helped put it back together again. College was a tumultuous time as I tried to understand what it means to see the world through modern-scientific eyes, how it gets deconstructed by postmodernism, and how we can move forward gracefully. The magic of Southwestern is that in the midst of the philo-sophical turmoil it precipitates, it provides wildly synergistic opportunities to untangle the mess of our modern dilemmas. While some classes deconstructed the cultural basis of western science, Students for Environmental Activism and Knowledge (SEAK) used physics, chemistry and biology to make the case for sustainability.

Fortunately, Southwestern also provided me with opportunities for fun—running around in the sun (usually with a lacrosse stick), doing improv ’till the wee hours with Cooper Street, making breakfast burritos and learning that the universe is pretty similar to Mycellium.

It all started when I read both Ishmael and Into the Wild and was convinced that moder-nity was cursed by capitalism and an atomistic worldview. I told my parents I was going to buy a plane ticket to Alaska rather than return to Southwestern. They begged me to stick with it...at least until I got a degree. Ultimately, I stayed with my physics courses, and low and behold, I received a research grant from Southwestern to travel to Alaska during summer 2009 with (Associate Professor of Physics) Dr. Bill O’Brien. The grant sponsored my senior research project to investigate methods of increasing the efficiency

of photovoltaic cells. It was science, sustainability and Alaska! What more could I ask for? Needless to say, it was infinitely more rewarding to be in Alaska as a scientist than as a bum.

As things stand, I’m taking my physics degree and my quirky habits—making funny faces when friends aren’t looking and folding whatever piece of paper is in front of me into a crane or a box—to New Mexico State University to study chemi-cal engineering. Specifically, I’m interested in researching low-technology methods of securing and purifying water that can be used in develop-ing nations. I should know soon whether I’ve received a grant from the New Mexico Rotary Club to take my research to Argentina in 2011, where water shortages are beginning to affect rural communities. It’s a way of taking the best of science and using it to sustain the diversity and sovereignty of some remarkable cultures.

It’s tough to put a price tag on an education, but as a Southwesten graduate, I now feel like a capable, modern citizen. By understanding the basis of the assumptions that have shaped the present world, I think we can move forward with more enlightened decisions and incorporate the health and well-being of an increased number of Earth’s residents. I think that’s my goal, and I hope it all works out.

{ }hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.major: Physics

connorhanrahan

The defining moment of my Southwestern Experience was Paideia®. The program

was an irreplaceable part of my education. Paideia teaches a lesson of balance...that begins with authentic dialogue... This is a

discussion that I want to be a part of.

29FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

30 SouthwesternMAgAzine

A. Maria Cuevas speCiAlty:

reproductive endocrinology

B. Rebecca sheller’82 speCiAlty:

cellular neurobiology

C. Maria todd speCiAlty:

molecular genetics of cancer

Photograph by Lance Holt

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a midst a lab filled with light and laughter, there’s serious work to be done. Picture three women talking, laughing, even crying over life’s day-to-day events, all while working together to find something that may someday provide answers to the seemingly endless questions the world has about the causes of and cures for breast cancer.

Maria Cuevas, Rebecca Sheller ’82 and Maria Todd, associate professors of biology at Southwestern, have worked as a research team since the summer of 2008, with the philosophy that “three quirky heads are better than one.” Among them, they have three significant others, three children and quite literally a menagerie of household pets, not to mention three doctoral degrees, 36 years of combined teaching and research experience (at Southwestern alone) and a host of published scientific papers. They even say they’d like to take a tap dancing class together, “if we’re the only ones in the class,” laughs Cuevas.

In August 2009, Todd and Cuevas (aka “the Marias”) received a nearly $99,000 grant from the National Science Foundation as part of its Major Research Instrumentation Program. “We were in short supply of equipment,” says Todd. “Some say your research is only as good as your instrumenta-tion, so we used the grant to purchase three new pieces of equipment right away.”

Thanks to the grant, the Southwestern molecu-lar biology labs now feature three new instru-ments that enable researchers to investigate the behavior of normal cells verses that of cancer cells—a cell counter, a phase contrast microscope and a flow cytometer. “The new microscope is connected to a computer so that the enlarged images of cells can be shared with others on the monitor (or in print). It’s a great teaching tool,” says Sheller.

In addition to the equipment being available for their biology and chemistry colleagues to utilize, Cuevas says, “It allows for an enhanced lab experience for our upper-level classes. Students are becoming better trained and familiar with Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) equipment. It’s beneficial for them to be exposed to these types of instruments and their uses as they apply to graduate programs.”

What began in 2004 as a research idea by Todd and two Paideia® students, became an oppor-tunity to do research that may someday lead to gene therapy for cancer. Cuevas, Todd and Sheller, along with two students each year, are studying claudin-3, a protein found in the tight junctions that link adjacent cells together and prevent leakage between cellular layers. These junctions ensure the correct compartmentaliza-tion and functioning of tissues and organs.

“We are studying the effects of elevated versus normal levels of claudin-3 protein on cell-to-cell adherence and communication in normal and breast cancer cells,” says Todd. “The challenge of molecular biology,” adds Sheller, “is that investiga-tions of small, invisible molecules must be done indirectly, using multiple controls.”

Todd explains, “Basic research like ours is important because it can lead to broad ramifica-tions for multiple subdisciplines. But, it’s not an overnight process, and nothing is done in isola-tion—we regularly present our data and receive feedback from our peers at conferences, in addi-tion to monitoring relevant research literature and staying up-to-date with developments in new technologies.”

According to their colleague, Associate Professor of Biology Martín Gonzalez, “This collaboration is distinctive because Drs. Sheller and Cuevas are not trained cancer researchers. Yet I believe they bring a unique perspective to the research,

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31FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

inspiring hope

student-focused

based on their areas of expertise, that is invaluable to this collaboration. Their work will provide a foundation for other researchers to build on, and will bring recognition to Southwestern.”

Todd adds, “Ultimately we need to help bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside, meaning researchers need to work together with physicians to facilitate the translation of research findings into new clinical practices.”

student-focused

Sheller, an active member of Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL)—an organization that promotes best prac-tices to build and sustain strong undergraduate programs in the fields of science, technology, engi-neering and mathematics—says PKAL encourages collaboration among students and advocates more dialog in classroom. “However,” she says, “if the classroom is too interactive, you lose scientific content. The lab is the more social and interactive time, and reinforces and makes real the informa-tion students have learned in class.”

Todd adds, “As a researcher, you have to be opti-mistic, hopeful, a cheerleader, and have a sense of humor.” While the team enjoys working together in the lab, they agree that the opportunity to teach and work with undergraduate students is the reason they’ve chosen to be at Southwestern.

“Not only is this a group of impressive research-ers, they are all phenomenal instructors as well. Students benefit tremendously from their passion for teaching and will benefit greatly from the research collaboration,” says Gonzalez.

One such student—now alumna—is Brytanie Piana Marshall ’08, a third-year medical student at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “It’s hard not to fall in love with Dr. Todd,” Marshall says. “She’s the whole package...a genius in terms of professionalism, education, confidence, intelligence and integrity.”

Marshall began working in Todd’s lab during summer 2007 and says she quickly “became my personal mentor, helping me learn to take a compli-ment...to be gracious. Most important though, Dr. Todd taught me what it means to be a scientist with integrity.”

One can have faith in Todd’s science and in her results, Marshall insists. “You can trust her science because she lives with integrity in all aspects of her life. She represents herself, her staff and Southwestern very well.” Even today, Marshall says she often asks herself, “How would Dr. Todd handle this?”

Another alumna, Katy Eby ’04, feels “lucky to have been guided by Dr. Sheller’s expertise in class

scheduling and career options, and encouraged to expand upon my experiences through under-graduate research.” She says, "From the moment I met Dr. Sheller, I was immediately inspired. The enthusiasm and energy she exhibits is contagious, and her methods of teaching allowed for a seamless transition from the classroom to the practicality of bench work.”

Eby, who received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Vanderbilt University earlier this year and is now working toward her M.D. at Vanderbilt, expands, “Dr. Sheller was the epitome of a scientific mentor, balancing masterful classroom skills with excel-lence in basic scientific research. The clear enjoy-ment she radiates while performing her many roles at Southwestern was influential in making my decision to become a physician-scientist.”

A current student reaping the benefits of the NSF grant is senior Andrea Holland. “I have worked with Dr. Cuevas for two years—it’s amazing how much she’s helped me grow as a scientist,” she says. “She was patient with me through all of my novice blunders and has helped me see that research can be fun! She is always positive and energetic in the lab, which makes me excited about the work we’re doing.”

In the 2010 spring semester, Holland began working with Cuevas on the claudin-3 research and is anxious to see the results they find in the next semester. She says, “It is a privilege to be able to work on a project like this because of the impact it could have on the scientific community. Working with such a prodigious scientist as Dr. Cuevas has added to my experience tenfold.”

inspiring hope

In fall 2009, Todd, Cuevas and Sheller received the “Inspiring Hope” award from the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. Marjorie Galleece, the organization’s director of navigation services, as well as a survivor, patient advocate, educator and fundraiser, says, “The kind of research Dr. Todd and her fellow researchers are doing is moving the focus of cancer ‘upstream’ where it needs to be if there’s to be any significant progress made in eradicating cancer.” Cuevas says, “The survivors are our inspiration to do our research.”

Many others are also inspired by the team. Gonzalez explains, “Drs. Todd, Cuevas and Sheller are showing that collaboration can work, even at a smaller liberal arts university like Southwestern. They are working with each others’ strengths and making the collaboration look seamless.”

32 SouthwesternMAgAzine

ReBeCCA shelleR ’82· has 2 rotweilers and a peekapoo· loves to get dirty (gardening), likes the outdoors & cam

ping· oddest pet

—chickens

MARiA todd· fro

m london, but people say she sounds Australian (or oklaho

man)

· a latin american dancer

· 2010 sU teaching Award recipient

MARiA CUevAs· used to work with & stud

y dog fish sharks· oddest pet

—vegetarian gecko (eats baby food)

· a dessert connoisseur

TTraci Giuliano, professor of psychology and recipi-ent of both Southwestern’s 2010 Excellence in Academic Advising and 2010 Teaching Awards, has an intimidating list of credentials to her name. Most recently, she has been named holder of the John H. Ducan Chair and has received her second Southwestern University Teaching Award since joining the faculty in 1994. But, as she stands in her bare feet, proudly displaying the pictures of former research students that adorn the walls of her research lab, Giuliano is far from intimidating. In fact, her enthusiasm is infectious. “When I was an undergraduate student at UT,” she says, “my mentor—now a social psychologist at Harvard University—treated me like a graduate student; my ideas were equal to theirs and his. I appreci-ated it so much that I immediately knew I wanted to treat my students the same way—as equals.” In her 16 years at Southwestern, that’s exactly what she’s done, and the results have not gone unnoticed.

Giuliano’s students have done extremely well in national research paper competitions, spon-sored by Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society, with 10 students placing in these competi-tions over the last 12 years. Most recently, Stacy Mathis ’10 placed first in the Psi Chi/J.P Guilford Undergraduate Research Awards competition. She is now enrolled in the Ph.D. program in counsel-ing psychology at Texas Tech University. Kathryn Bollich ’10 placed second in the Psi Chi /Allyn

& Bacon Psychology Award competition and received a full scholarship to attend Washington University in St. Louis, where she is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in social psychology.

“I have really high expectations for my students and for myself,” says Giuliano. “I tell them that they will work harder in my lab than they ever have before, but that the rewards will also be better. I work hand- in-hand with them in the trenches,” she says.aa “I give lots of feedback, but I won’t rewrite a sentence for them. This enables them to be indepen-dent when I’m not around.” In preparing competition papers, students often write 20, 30 or even 40 drafts before they are ready for submis-sion. “By the time they get to graduate school,” says Giuliano, “they may only need to write 20 drafts to get it right.”

Whitney Laas ’10, currently pursuing a Master of Science in Social Work at The University of

“By the time they get to graduate school, they may

only need to write 20 drafts to get it right.”

Tough Professor = Award-Winning StudentsBY Shannon Hicks ’12

2010 graduates Kathryn

Bollich, Stacy Mathis and

Whitney Laas (pictured with

Professor of Psychology Traci

Giuliano) presented a poster at

Southwestern’s annual Student

Works Symposium in April.

33FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

academicSinFOcus

Texas at Austin, says “Unlike most other under-graduate students, with Dr. Giuliano I had the chance to design and conduct several studies with my fellow research assistants. We were able to draft manuscripts of our own original research. Students from her lab end up leaving with a thor-

ough understanding of the research process and a realistic idea of what the graduate workload is like.” (See Laas’ Senior Story on Page 26.)

Giuliano says her emphasis on realis-tic preparation is the

reason that, “When my students get to graduate school, their mentors write and thank me for sending them a second- or-third-year graduate

student. They’re in classes with more advanced graduate students who ask for their advice.”

As her students complete graduate school and go on to pursue careers in the psychology field, they and Giuliano often stay in touch. “We form lifelong relationships,” she says. “Ten years later, we still keep in touch.” It is the close bond that she has with her students that Giuliano says has made it easy to be successful.

“Dr. Giuliano is probably the toughest professor I had while at Southwestern, but it is because she genuinely sees potential in her students and wants them to reach that potential,” says Mathis.

“We had some pretty fun times too. We ate a ton of junk food, listened to music and just talked about life. Dr. G is definitely on my list of the top five things I miss about Southwestern.”

It is clear that Giuliano and her students adore each other and that their love of psychology and dedication to the practice has culminated during their years together at Southwestern. “Mentoring future scholars is the best part of what I do,” says Giuliano.

“We ate a ton of junk food, listened to music and just talked about life.”

Deaf and Disability Studies, Interdisciplinary Perspectives edited by Susan Burch and Alison Kafer, associate professor of feminist studies

The Friends We Keep; Unleashing Christianity’s Compassion for Animals by Laura Hobgood-Oster, professor of religion

Reading Michael Chabon by Helene Meyers, professor of english

Siva’s Demon Devotee; Karaikkal Ammaiyar by Elaine Craddock, professor of religion

Thoreau’s Democratic Withdrawal; Alienation, Participation and Modernity by Shannon L. Mariotti, assistant professor of political science

White Chief, Black Lords; Shepstone & the Colonial State in Natal, South Africa, 1845–1878 by Thomas V. McClendon, professor of history

34 SouthwesternMAgAzine

Faculty WorksOUTSIDE THE CL ASSROOM

Now that I’ve been President of The Association for a year, I thought I’d share a bit of my Southwestern Experience.

The year was 1959. The Korean War was six years past and the Vietnam lottery draft wouldn’t begin for another decade. As a first-year student at Southwestern, it was an idyllic time.

There were less than 600 students, equally male and female, with a balanced academic distribution between arts, sciences and the humanities. Men were active in athletics, both varsity and intramu-ral, and there was a robust Greek system. It was a time of personal engagement. No cell phones or e-mail meant that we talked to each other face-to-face. We were a tight-knit community.

In the 40 plus years since graduating, things have changed at Southwestern. The campus community has grown and is more diverse, the athletics program has exploded with more varsity sports engaging talented young men and women. These memories, our growth, the quality of the academic program and alumni opportunities for personal growth are what motivate me.

As one of your representatives on the Board of Trustees, I want you to know that while I value Southwestern’s past, much about Southwestern’s future excites me, including:

Gradually growing the student body to •1,500–1,600 students while maintain-ing a ratio of 10–12 students per faculty member.Investing in the development of excep-•tional Southwestern faculty and staff.Supporting the growth of the University’s •athletics programs and facilities.Raising the visibility of the University to •improve our competitiveness in attracting the best new students and enabling alumni to enter preferred graduate programs, find jobs and lead fulfilling lives. Marshalling the resources to capture the •potential of the Greek System.

You, too, can be involved in shaping Southwestern’s future by:

Participating in a Local Association, Alumni •Connection Group or Class Reunion.

Attending Volunteer Leadership Weekend, •January 28–29, 2011. Referring prospective students.•Financially supporting your Alma Mater •with gifts directed to programs you wish to support.

Your Alumni Council and Alumni Assembly encourage you to be an “activist” for Southwestern. To contribute your “time, talent and treasure” in ways that reward you. To learn more and to get involved, contact the Office of Alumni Relations by e-mailing alumni@southwestern.edu, calling 800-960-6363 or visiting http://sualumni.net.

Make a difference in Southwestern’s future!

Steve Raben ’63President, The Association of Southwestern University Alumni

Association of Southwestern University Alumni

The

35FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

President STEvE RABEN ’63

President-Elect BLAKE STANFORD ’81

Class Relations Chair NiSA SHARMA ’92

Nominations and Awards Chair REv. DR. PAUL BARTON ’83

Homecoming and Reunions Chair SARAH WALTHALL NORRiS ’68

Local Associations Chair MAxiE DURAN HARDiN ’73

Alumni Connection Groups Chair KATHERiNE MERRiLL ANDRE ’99

Assembly Program Chair REv. MiLTON JORDAN ’62

Assembly Program Chair-Elect YESENiA GARCiA ’03

Alumni Communications Chair LiSA DREiSHMiRE ’91

Lifelong Learning Chair KEN HOLLEY ’71

At-Large Member JOHN DAPPER ’91

At-Large Member THEODORE CARYL ’76

Trustee Representative JOHN CURRY ’70

Student Representative ZOE MARTIN ’12

ALUMNi COUNCiL

Fifth annual volunteer leadership weekend

Volunteer Leadership Weekend will mark its fifth anniversary by inviting alumni, parent, faculty and staff volunteers to campus Jan. 28–29, 2011, to receive train-ing in areas in which they are currently engaged or for which they have expressed interest. This informative and produc-tive weekend will provide an opportunity for volunteers to meet one another, share and generate ideas, and plan for the year ahead. If you are interested in planning your class reunion, building a local association, forming an alumni connection

group, recruiting prospec-tive students or assisting with University fundraising initia-tives, you will not want to miss this weekend. Volunteers work collaboratively with the Offices of Admission, Alumni and Parent Relations, Annual Giving and Development. For more infor-mation, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@southwestern.edu or 800-960-6363.

delta delta delta centennial celebration

The Theta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Delta Delta is approach-ing its 100th anniversary. A

celebration is scheduled for March 25–27, 2011, at Southwestern. The Centennial Planning Committee, chaired by Jean Janssen ’84, started planning early to make this a memorable event. Tri-Delta alumnae are encouraged to mark their calendars and make plans to attend this special occasion. To learn about the Centennial Celebration or to volunteer, visit http://sualumni.net/TriDelta.

higher education on the texas Frontier

T h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f Southwester n Un iver s it y Alumni presents the 2011 Alumni Assembly Program,

36 SouthwesternMAgAzine

alUmnineWs

Amalfi The Divine CoasT

“Higher Education on the Texas Frontier: Southwestern and 1870s Williamson County.” Rev. Milton Jordan ’62 serves as the Alumni Assembly Program Chair on the Alumni Council and is the coordinator for the April 16, 2011, event. The Alumni Assembly Program will explore life in Central Texas in the Spanish Colonial Era, and will include a guided tour of the John G. Tower Library at Southwestern and a virtual tour of 1870s Williamson County. The program will bring schol-ars from Texas State University and Southwestern, as well as the former president of the Texas State Historical Association, and

experts from the Williamson Museum and the Texas Historical Commission. For more informa-tion visit http://sualumni.net/AssemblyProgram2011.

many ways to connect

A number of ways in which to connect and network with alumni are offered by The Association of Southwestern University Alumni. Join the new and improved online alumni community by logging in to http://sualumni.net where you may search the online alumni directory and update your information, submit a Class

Note, find events in your area, join alumni connection groups, plan activities with your class, create a blog and post photos for members of the online alumni community to see. Visit the Career Services for Alumni page to learn about the many (free) ways the Office of Career Services can assist alumni, and to access PirateLink, a national, Web-based system for posting and searching for full- and part-time employment. The Association can also be found on Facebook and LinkedIn where news and interesting tidbits are shared. To discover the myriad of ways to connect with alumni, visit http://sualumni.net.

37FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

The Southwestern Experience continues on the Amalfi coast. Immerse yourself in southern coastal Italian culture and cuisine. Discover the quaint towns of Positano and Ravello, the ancient ruins

of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum, the Isle of Capri and the cliff-top village of Sorrento during your week-long stay in Vietri sul Mare, Italy on The Divine Coast. An optional excursion on day eight will take you to the ancient ruins of Stabiae with Southwestern Professor of Art History Thomas Howe.

Join southwestern and northwestern alumni May 18–26, 2011 for this inaugural lifelong learning travel experience offered by The Association of Southwestern University Alumni. Space is very limited. Call 800-323-7373 today for availability.Visit http://sualumni.net/amalfi_2011 for special pricing and additional information. The Association hopes to offer trips like this as a regular part of its lifelong learning offerings.

1948

Nettie Ruth Brucks Bratton, Georgetown, was honored in February at the Texas Democratic Women State Convention, “Be the Change You Want in Texas,” for being someone who embodied the theme.

1953

John Mood, San Diego, Calif., published another book titled A New Reading of Rilke’s “Elegies”: Affirming the Unity of “life-AND-death” in 2009 with publisher Edwin Mellen. The book culminates in a new inter-pretation of the German language poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s Duinese Elegies. This is a follow-up to his first book, Rilke on Love and Other Difficulties, which has been in print for 35 consecutive years and has become the second largest selling Rilke book in the English-speaking world.

1955

Thelma Travland Cardwell-Cale, Pleasanton, (See sidebar, Page 39).

1964

Tom McClellan, Garland, has published Reflections from Mirror City, a book of personal essays.

1965

Jim Smith, Pasadena, was given the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Pasadena Independent School District. The award recog-nizes an alumnus who has made

significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments and career have brought credit to the Pasadena School District. He served the district for 35 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and transportation director before retiring in 2002.

1969

F. Fleming Crim, Madison, Wis., was a recipient of the Hilldale Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in March. The Hilldale Award is the university’s top honor for faculty who excel in teaching, research and service. He researches chemical dynamics using lasers to study the mechanisms of chemical reactions in gases and liquids. His work has earned awards from the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2001.

Marc Raney, San Antonio, announced his March 2010 retire-ment from Trinity University, where he was the vice president for univer-sity advancement. He served Trinity for more than 30 years, and has been an active member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Association of Fundraising Professionals at the national and regional levels.

1971

Tom Forbes, Austin, started stra-tegic consulting firm Longbow Partners LLP in February. The firm

advises clients on public affairs and business strategy with engagements in the technology, pharmaceutical, nuclear energy, water, defense, oil and gas, education and other indus-tries. Longbow partners include Joey King ’93 and Bob Karr ’71.

1976

Dr. Jimmy Burkholder, Harlingen, is a dentist and received the masters level of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He practices adult restorative dentistry.

1977

D a w n C a r d w e l l M u r r a y , Pleasanton, (See sidebar, Page 39).

1978

Kay Webb Mayfield, Fairfax, Va., is director of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of State. She is a member of the Senior Foreign Service.

1981

Robin Atkinson Woodson, Gilmer, has been teaching for 30 years. She has been teaching third grade students consecutively for 24 of those years, and has received an award recognizing her teaching service at Harmony Independent School District.

The Original social network

The following Class Notes were submitted between Oct. 17, 2009, and June 18, 2010. Share your accomplishments, achieve-ments and life milestones with friends and classmates! Submit your Class Note for the by visiting http://sualumni.net. Select

“Connect” from the main menu, then “Class Notes.” You may also e-mail your Class Note to alumni@southwestern.edu.

Reunion Years

38 SouthwesternMAgAzine

claSSnOTes

1984

Mikal Hart, Austin, a software engineer, designed a unique wedding gift for his friend/college roommate, Chris immel ’85, that is receiving much attention from the tech-nology, geocaching and entertain-ment worlds. The gift was a carved, wooden box with a special global positioning system (GPS) circuit that keeps the box sealed until it is taken to a pre-set location (a process he has coined “Reverse Geocaching”). For more informa-tion, visit www.arduiniana.org.

1985

Chris immel, Elsa, (See 1984).

Dr. Michael Middleton, Belton, is the director of the Division of Nuclear Radiology and Advanced Molecular Imaging at the Scott & White Healthcare Temple Clinic. He is also a member and secre-tary of the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for Scott & White Healthcare. In his spare time he is a scout leader and Eagle Scout training adviser, and plays the accor-dion, tuba and piano. He plays accor-dion music at churches and festivals throughout the year, and in the fall at the Scott & White Temple Clinic cafeteria to celebrate Oktoberfest.

1987

Steven Hales, Orangeville, Pa., was a visiting professorial fellow at the Institute of Philosophy at the University of London’s School of Advanced Study. He is a professor of philosophy at Bloomsburg University and has written his ninth book, A Companion to Relativism.

1989

Sharon Lundgren, Houston, volun-teers at her son’s school with Project RESPECT, which educates middle school students on historic cemetery preservation projects. In November 2009, she coordinated for seventh

and eighth grade students at the Regis School of the Sacred Heart, a Project RESPECT day of service and education focused on preserving the historic Harrisburg-Jackson slave-era cemetery.

BIRTH: Dr. Jennifer Cunningham, Houston, a son, Tate Christopher, July 23, 2009.

1990

Georgianne Hewett, Georgetown, serves on the Council for the Advancement and Suppor t of Education (CASE) District IV Board of Directors. She is also an appointed member of CASE’s international commission on alumni relations. In spring 2010 she co-chaired Entry to New Advancement for new profes-sionals during the CASE District IV 2010 Conference in Austin.

Lorie Kling Marrero, Austin, is the national spokesperson for Goodwill Industries International. In late June, her company (The Clutter Diet®), Goodwill and Levi’s launched the Donate Movement and the new universal symbol of donation. The movement aims to educate the public about Conscious Donation (being aware that donating household items benefits both the

community and the environment). Marrero is the ambassador of the Donate Movement and teaches home organization concepts to help generate donations and spread the word about Goodwill’s mission to provide job training, placement assistance and other community programs to those facing chal-lenges to finding employment. For more information visit www.donate.goodwill.org.

BIRTH: Mark and Dr. Tamra Trimble Dixon, Georgetown, a son, Brynach Pearson, Oct. 13, 2009.

1991

Roxanne Barnes, Cincinnati, Ohio, published her third book, I Am Like Fire. The poetry, prose and photog-raphy in the book centers on her ongoing transformation—resulting from an invitation to personal training—that catapulted her into successfully competing in multiple races in 2009 and training for her first marathon in 2010. A private book signing in October 2009 featured her published works and a preview of a new book, Looking for the Pearl. You can follow Barnes’ progress and purchase her books via her blog, “I Am Like Fire: The Transformation of a Lifetime” at www.iamlikefire.wordpress.com.

Thelma Travland Cardwell-Cale ’55, Pleasanton, had one of her paintings of Texas wildflowers selected by HEB stores to be featured on a reusable tote bag. HEB printed 98,000 tote bags which were available at stores across the state. She was the honored guest at the recently opened New Braunfels HEB store where she signed 700 works of art. As an additional honor, HEB printed 15,000 coloring books, A Touch of Color, which features her artwork and the work of her granddaughters. The second volume of the coloring book is due out later this year. Cardwell-Cale does volunteer work for a number of organizations, teaches art at the Atascosa Alternative School near Pleasanton, and is a columnist for the Pleasanton Express newspaper.

She has been honored as the Pleasanton “Woman of the Year” and “Senior Citizen of the Year” as a result of her volunteer work. She says of her artwork, “I am trying to share the beautiful side of every day as I paint God’s world on canvas and record His many blessings.” Her daughter, Dawn Cardwell Murray ’77, is a drama teacher at Pleasanton Middle School and was honored as “Teacher of the Year.”

39FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Craig McKinney, Dallas, received a teaching award from The University of Texas “Texas Exes” in February. The annual Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers recognize teachers from every size school, geographic area and subject. Award recipients are nominated by prin-cipals and are not limited to grad-uates of The University of Texas. Craig joins an elite group of 250 teachers that have been recognized since 1987.

James venhaus, San Antonio, is a playwright and educator. His play, The Happy Couple, premiered at the Overtime Theater in San Antonio in the spring. His new play, Broken Record, opened in August. Venhaus has writ ten 15 plays, four of which have been published by Playscripts Incorporated. His collect ion of holiday-themed short plays, Stocking Stuffers, has been published by Original Works Publishing in Los Angeles, Calif., and is available by visiting w w w. o r i g i n a l w o r k s o n l i n e .c o m /s t o c k in g - s t u f f e r s .h t m . He is also the middle and upper

school theatre teacher at Saint Mary’s Hall.

Duana Welch, Austin, authors a bi-weekly blog “Love Science: Research-Based Relationship Advice for Everyone,” which offers not only what to do and how to do it, but provides the science and research behind the advice. Shortly after its launch, “Love Science” became Amazon.com’s top-rated, best-selling blog in the categories of Life & Love, Relationships, Marriage, Dating, Sex and Behavioral Science. The blog can be viewed by visiting www.LoveScienceMedia.com.

1992

Ginny Graham Hutchins, Durango, Colo., has been promoted to asso-ciate professor of biology and was granted tenure at Fort Lewis College, a public liberal arts college. She teaches cell biology, molec-ular biology, genetics and senior research courses. She serves as the chair of the health careers advisory committee and conducts research

with students in biochemistry and cancer biology.

Nate McCarty, Fremont, Calif., accepted a position with Cushman & Wakefield as the proper t y manager for San Francisco’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid Center. He and his wife, Karen Okimoto McCarty ’98, a physical thera-pist at Washington Hospital, have a daughter, Sophie.

Steven Otillar, Houston, is a partner at Baker & McKenzie and was selected as a 2010 Rising Star by Texas Lawyer magazine. He was elected as the U.S. Director for the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and named as a 2009 Member of the Year.

B IRTHS: Heather and Mark Easterly, Houston, a daughter, Sophia Grace, April 17, 2010; Jim and Ginny Graham Hutchins, Durango, Colo., a daughter, Emma Grace, Dec. 17, 2009; Dr. Karl Ittmann and Lorri White, Houston, a daughter, Caroline Eleanor Ittmann, Dec. 23, 2009.

1993

Chris tine Ket t le Bowman , Georgetown, completed a master’s degree in higher education adminis-tration at The University of Texas at Austin in August 2009.

Joey King, For t Wor th, has been elected to the Board of the Council on Library and Information Resources. He also serves on the Rice University oversight board of Connexions, a leading open educa-tion system. (See also 1971).

Jamieson Mackay, League City, serves as a board member on the Clear Creek Education Foundation and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Laura Phillips Mackay, League City, is the president of the Texas

The Honorable Billy Ray Stubblefield ’71, Georgetown, was appointed for a four-year term as the presiding judge of the Third Administrative Judicial Region (a 26-county area) by Governor Rick Perry in February. He is the 26th Judicial District Judge of Williamson County, a post he has held for 17 years. Stubblefield is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Williamson County Bar Association, Bar for the Western District of Texas, Fifth Circuit and Supreme Court of the United States. He is a past judicial member of the American Probation and Parole Association and a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Georgetown. He is also past president of the Georgetown Project, and a past board member of the Williamson County Crisis Center, Wesleyan Nursing Homes Inc., and the Georgetown Palace Inc. Stubblefield received his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. He was licensed to practice law in 1976 and was elected to four consecutive terms as County Attorney from 1977 to 1992, making him the longest-serving county attorney in Williamson County history. He was sworn in as judge of the 26th District

Court on Jan. 1, 1993, and continues to serve in that capacity. He says, “I plan to continue to serve as judge of the 26th to the end of my term (Dec. 31, 2012) and perhaps beyond if I choose to run again and get re-elected.”

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Association for the Gifted and Talented Executive Board.

MARRIAGE: Rev. Bryan Hooper to Baylah Tessler-Sherman on Jan. 1, 2010, living in Hartford, Conn.

1994

Spencer Thompson, Columbia, Mo., (See 1995).

BIRTH: Spencer Thompson and Lauren Williams ’95, Columbia, Mo., a daughter, Anna June Williams Thompson, March 28, 2009.

1995

Patrick Chavez, Ballwin, Mo., is a partner with Williams Venker & Sanders LLC in St. Louis. He was honored by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) with the President’s Outstanding Service Award in May 2009, which recog-nized his work as co-chair of the minorities in the legal profession committee. In 2004, he was also honored with BAMSL’s President’s Outstanding Service Award and in 2002, with the Young Lawyers’ Division Award of Merit. He sits on BAMSL’s Board of Governors as a Member-at-Large and serves on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Bar Foundation.

Alan Haworth, Dallas, published his first book of fiction, Hitchhiking in Boston, in September 2009. This collection of short stories was written while he was living in Boston, Mass. It is available for purchase by visiting www.stankygroovepress.com and Amazon.com.

Lauren Williams, Columbia, Mo., received her Master of Arts degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri in May. She is a professional librarian at the Columbia Public Library. She and husband, Spencer Thompson ’94, are enjoying parenthood.

BIRTH: Spencer Thompson ’94 and Lauren Williams, Columbia, Mo., a daughter, Anna June Williams Thompson, March 28, 2009.

1996

Chris Pieper, Austin, is a visiting professor of sociology at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.

Greg Plourde, The Woodlands, is the client services director for Employee Benefit Solutions, a bene-fits consulting and brokerage firm.

Marcy McGrath Plourde, The Woodlands, and her husband, Greg Plourde, moved to The Woodlands in fall 2009 with their two sons, Owen and Wyatt. Marcy handles human resources/recruiting for Encore Health Resources, a start-up healthcare information technologies consulting firm based in Houston. In their spare time, the Plourde family can be found at Reliant Stadium cheering on the Houston Texans!

MARRIAGE: Gwen H. Garcia to Terry G. Ide on Jan. 5, 2010, living in Superior, Colo.

BIRTHS: Justin and Angie Moore Ewing, Little Elm, a daughter, Vivian May, Sept. 18, 2007, and a son, Judson Monroe, Feb. 18, 2010.

1997

Tracy Heidmann Balboa, Austin, is the executive director at the Acton School of Business, an intensive one-year MBA program in entre-preneurship. Taught by practicing entrepreneurs, Acton is consistently rated by Princeton Review as one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the country. Balboa has worked at Acton for six years in both oper-ations and sales. She and husband, Aaron, have a daughter, Sophia.

Alicia Kerr, Richmond, earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University in May. She has completed 11 years in the field of education and serves as the graduation coach at Alief Taylor High School in southwest Houston.

Jason Schayot, Georgetown, is completing his third year as head band director at Georgetown High School (G.H.S.). The G.H.S. Eagle Band earned Texas’ highest achievement that the University Interscholastic League (UIL) awards for a music group—a sweepstakes trophy at the 2010 UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest. Sweepstakes for band is distinguished from all other UIL competing organizations in that the band must be recognized as a first division ensemble both in the fall semester at UIL Marching Contest and at the Varsity Band Concert and Sightreading Contest in

Lee Silva Ferguson ’95, Plano, was named the Texas Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award winner for 2010. She has been teaching high school biology for 13 years and is currently teaching Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate biology at Allen High School. She helped co-author the biology curriculum standards [Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) as a member of the Texas Education Agency’s Biology TEKS Revision Committee. The committee rewrote the standards by which more than 4 million high school students statewide are taught. She says, “I am proud to have been a part of this very important work.” Ferguson was also honored in November at the National Association of Biology Teachers national conference in Minneapolis, Minn., and the Science Teachers’ Association of Texas conference in Houston.

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the spring. The G.H.S. Eagle Band has received a sweepstakes every year under the direction of Schayot and has a long, storied tradition that it proudly continues to uphold. Schayot completed his 10th year of teaching in the Georgetown Independent School District, having taught at both Forbes Middle School and Benold Middle School previously. He and his wife, Molly Barnett Schayot, have three daughters, Mary Grace and twins, Evelyn and Willa.

BIRTH: J. Scott and Melanie Pifer Adams, San Antonio, a son, Callan James, Sept. 4, 2009.

1998

Jason Embry, Cedar Park, was named as the capitol bureau chief for the Austin American-Statesman in November 2009.

B r y a n K i m e s , S t - S u lp i c e , Switzerland, joined Philip Morris International as a manager of records and information manage-ment in August 2009. He and his wife, Mary Ann, relocated their family in November 2009 to Switzerland, where they are learning how to ski.

Karen Okimoto McCarty, Fremont, Calif., (See 1992).

Emily Owens, Austin, has earned her Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

BIRTHS: Marla and Rev. James M. L. Grace, Houston, a son, Henry Randall, Sept. 8, 2009; Mary Ann and Bryan Kimes, St-Sulpice, Switzerland, a son, Thomas Stephen, Sept. 1, 2009; Justin and Stacey Jones Gould ’99, Austin, a daughter, Parker Marie, May 24, 2010.

1999

Sarah Guffey Baker, Arlington, published her first book, Lucky

Stars: Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, in 2009. It examines the on- and off-screen romance and life-long friendship between the two. The book includes a detailed film-ography and is lavishly illustrated with more than 100 photographs. The book can be purchased on Amazon.com and on Bear Manor Media. www.bearmanormedia.bizland.com

Destiny Traphofner Cromer, Astoria, N.Y., ran and finished the 2009 New York City Marathon in November 2009.

R . Br ian Nor moyle , We s t Hollywood, Calif., played “Sagot,” a character in Steve Martin’s play Picasso at the Lapin Agile in Los Angeles. He also completed a run of Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed in Palm Springs, star-ring opposite Greg Louganis and Dawnn Lewis.

MARRIAGE: Summer Woodman to Michael McKinnon on Nov. 28, 2009, living in Austin.

BIRTHS: Justin ’98 and Stacey Jones Gould, Austin, a daughter, Parker Marie, May 24, 2010; David and Christina Smith Manica, Kansas City, Mo., a son, Luca Lorenzo, April 21, 2010; Dr. Christopher and Katherine Gleason Lewis ’01, Round Rock, a daughter, Madeleine Michelle, Dec. 15, 2009.

2000

MARRIAGES: Arianna Chavez to Jason Lay on Nov. 21, 2009, living in San Antonio; Jessica Kubik to Kenton Stephens on May 23, 2009, living in Austin.

BIRTH: Jef frey Bendall and Adrienne Kendall ’01, Dripping Springs, a son, Gram Bendall, May 3, 2010.

2001

Matt Chumchal, For t Wor th, co-authored an ar ticle about co-authoring papers with under-graduates with Southwestern Associate Professor of Biology Romi Burks. The article was published in the teaching resource section of Science Signaling. Matt is now an assistant professor of biology at Texas Christian University.

BIRTHS: Matthew and Jennifer Hervey Beck ’03, Austin, a son, Graham Matthew, Feb. 16, 2010; Jeffrey Bendall ’00 and Adrienne Kendall, Dripping Springs, a son, Gram Bendall, May 3, 2010; Brandon and Tricia Mein Bruce, Maryville, Tenn., a daughter, Sonoma Colleen, Jan. 24, 2010; Jason and Denise valdez-Soto de Garcia, Planfield, Ill., a son, Gabriel Egnacio Garcia, July 6, 2009; Dr. Christopher ’99 and Katherine Gleason Lewis, Round Rock, a daughter, Madeleine Michelle, Dec. 15, 2009.

2002

Stephanie Arsenault, Cedar Park, is a program therapist at Meridell Achievement Center. She earned her licensed professional counselor certification in May.

Elizabeth Dodd Conaway, Houston, is a psychotherapist at the Menninger Clinic, an in-patient psychiatric hospital.

Ebony Rose, Atlanta, Ga., is the student organizations adviser at Georgia State University in Atlanta. She oversees leadership development programs for nearly 300 student organizations and teaches a freshman-level leadership course. She was also inducted as an honorary member into the Alpha Chapter of Golden Key International Honour Society, a collegiate honor society that recognizes outstanding academic achievement.

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isaac Smith, Austin, has discov-ered, along with his colleague and adviser, Jack Holt, the origin of the spiral troughs and the giant canyon in the north polar ice cap on Mars. Their results were published in the May 27 issue of Nature, an inter-disciplinary science journal. He is a graduate research assistant at The University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences.

BIRTH: Steven and Elizabeth Dodd Conaway, Houston, a daughter, Ellen James, May 21, 2010.

2003

Yesenia Garcia, Austin, is President and Founder of C2C MULTIMEDIA, a HUB- (historically underutilized business) cer tified multimedia services company, specializing in high-definition video production, website design and development, and graphic design. Garcia is also an adjunct faculty member at Austin Community College. The Association of Southwestern University Alumni Assembly elected her to the Alumni Council as the Assembly Program Chair-Elect in January. C2C MULTIMEDIA’s ser v ices can be found by visiting www.c2cmultimedia.com.

Mary Beth Kopsovich, Fort Worth, is the site director of SafeHaven of Tarrant County in Arlington where she manages the emergency domestic violence shelter. She is pursuing her master’s degree in social work at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Tara Cummings-Robeau, Pearland, earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Houston in May. She works for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District as a psychologist.

Kelly Turner, West Hollywood, Calif., received her Ph.D. in social and developmental psychology from the University of California,

Los Angeles (UCLA) in June 2009. She works as a research analyst at the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing at UCLA. She is also the education coordinator for Heartsent Adoptions Inc., in Pasadena, Calif., where she facilitates classes for adopting parents.

MARRIAGE: Sara Faehnle to Gregory Mast ’05 on Oct. 18, 2008, living in Austin.

BIRTHS: Matthew ’01 and Jennifer Hervey Beck, Austin, a son, Graham Matthew, Feb. 16, 2010; Kyle ’04 and Tara Cummings-Robeau, Pearland, a son, Austin Kenneth, April 2006, and a daughter, Gracie Lynn, Sept. 2009.

2004

Katy Eby, Nashville, Tenn., has earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Vanderbilt University. She has returned to the Vanderbilt School of Medicine to complete the M.D./Ph.D. program.

Kyle Robeau, Pearland, earned his Master of Education in phys-ical education from the University of Houston in 2007. He teaches tech-nology and engineering courses at Friendswood Junior High School. He also coaches the football, basket-ball and baseball teams, all of which had successful seasons under his leadership.

Scott Rocher, Los Angeles, Calif., has joined a star t-up in Santa Monica called DailyD, which was founded by two successful entrepre-neurs. DailyD provides aggregated daily deals nationwide in one conve-nient e-mail. Visit www.dailyd.com for more information.

MARRIAGE: Jesica Rivero to Drew Gilbert on March 19, 2010, living in Galveston.

BIRTHS: Michael and Julie McCaskill Hackett ’05, Houston, a

daughter, Gail Renee, Jan. 30, 2010; Kyle and Tara Cummings-Robeau ’03, Pearland, a son, Austin Kenneth, April 2006, and a daughter, Gracie Lynn, Sept. 2009.

2005

Melinda Smothermon Helsley, Dallas, earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in May.

Fred "Dave" Winter, Austin, launched search engine optimiza-tion and Web marketing firm “SEO Launchpad” in Austin. He invites alumni to contact him if they are interested in enhancing their online exposure and revenue streams. Visit his company’s website at www.SEOLaunchpad.net for more information.

MARRIAGE: Sara Faehnle ’03 to Gregory Mast on Oct. 18, 2008, living in Austin.

B I R T H : M i c h a e l ’ 0 4 a n d Julie McCaskill Hacket t , Houston, a daughter, Gail Renee, Jan. 30, 2010.

2006

Emil Boehm, Houston, is the co-founder of Agent Marketing Alliance LLC.

Paul Santa Cruz, Dallas, received his Master of Arts in history from Southern Methodist University in December 2008. He is an archivist with the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Lewisville.

Stacey Faulkner, Burbank, Calif., is now the international licensing manager at Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.

Anna Matis, Houston, teaches French for the Aldine Independent School District. In May, Matis’ photog-raphy series “New Orleans Street

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Scenes” was exhibited at Khon’s Bar. Her work can be viewed by visiting www.annafloraphotography.com.

MARRIAGE: Aileen E. Mosele to Matthew D. Culling ’07 on Aug. 30, 2008, living in Brooklyn, N.Y.

BIRTHS: Paul and Heather Saegert Bullis, Round Rock, a son, Brent Owen, Oct. 30, 2009; Craig and Cauley Cullom Snoddy ’07, Houston, a son, Cullom Whitson, Aug. 3, 2008.

2007

Hedda Barber Elias, Austin, received the 2009 Volunteer of the Year award from the Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown.

MARRIAGE: Aileen E. Mosele ’06 to Matthew D. Culling on Aug. 30, 2008, living in Brooklyn, N.Y.

BIRTH: Craig ’06 and Cauley Cullom Snoddy, Houston, a son Cullom Whitson, Aug. 3, 2008.

2008

Lydia Rudy, Elizabethtown, N.C., is an outdoor youth counselor at Eckerd Youth Alternatives. She works with at-risk boys ages 10–18 who are sent by the court system to Eckerd’s year-round, full-time residential, outdoor therapeutic program. The program takes place in a rustic camp setting in the woods of North Carolina and is meant to give the boys a chance to turn their lives around through life at the camp and occasional multi-week wilderness trips.

Katy Siciliano, Kingwood, was selected to receive a 2010 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. (See Page 16.)

MARRIAGES: Michelle Perrin ’09 to Aaron Blair on Nov. 28, 2009, living in Dallas; Faye Mattie to Adam Crowell on March 20, 2010, living in Lock Haven, Pa.

2009

Michelle Perrin Blair, Dallas, was a Conducting Fellow for the 2010 Julliard Conducting Workshop for Music Educators in July. She is studying Orchestral Conducting at the Universit y of Texas at Arlington.

Laura Cook, Valrico, Fla., is the programming assistant at the new Tampa Museum of Art.

Patrick Egan, Addison, was selected to receive a 2010 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship in April. (See Page 16.)

Colin Kyle, A r ling ton, was selected to receive a 2010 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. His “outstanding abilities and accom-plishments, as well as [his] poten-tial to contribute to strengthening the vitality of the U.S. science and engineering enterprise” led to his selection for this fellowship. He is a graduate student at the University of Chicago. (See Page 16.)

Delia Shelton, Brenham, was selected to receive a 2010 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. (See Page 16.)

MARRIAGES: Leigh Herrin to Ted Wilson in Dec. 2009, living in Edinburg; Johanna C. Hoyo to Ramon A. Napoles on Aug. 8, 2009, living in Austin; Michelle Perrin to Aaron Blair ’08 on Nov. 28, 2009, living in Dallas.

“When I first started looking at colleges, I was set on going out-of-state.

However, when I saw Southwestern and read about the amazing liberal arts

education it offered, I knew this was where I belonged. Southwestern offers

so many wonderful opportunities to better oneself and the community. I am

able to learn not only in the classroom, but from the close-knit community

and from relationships with my professors as well. I appreciate the fact

that people like you are willing to give back to the place they love, so that

more students can enjoy the Southwestern Experience. Thank you.”

Please make your gift today at www.southwestern.edu/giving or by

calling 800-960-6363, ext. 1416.

We Make the Call, You Make the Difference

Kristi Lenderman ’13

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Sarah Walton Parmele Cooke ’25 Austin, Nov. 28, 2009

Helen Rogge Archer ’27 Portland, May 1, 2010

Lola Haden McDaniel ’31 La Marque, Aug. 27, 2010

Rev. Benjamin Bohmfalk ’32 Lampasas, April 17, 2010

Joseph P. McAuliffe Jr. ’33 Sherman, Feb. 11, 2010

Erna Karbach Carson ’34 Englewood, Colo., Oct. 18, 2009

Evangeline Patterson Pennington ’40 Austin, Jan. 10, 2010

Elizabeth Bartlett Allen ’42 Marlin, May 6, 2010

Eugenia Palmer Stokes ’42 Wharton, Feb. 19, 2010

Robert M. Barton Sr. ’43 Kerrville, Feb. 24, 2010

Dana E. Kilgore ’43 Martinez, Calif., Nov. 12, 2009

J.D. Thomas Jr. ’43 Georgetown, Aug. 23, 2010

June Jeffers Middleton ’44 Corpus Christi, June 4, 2010

Rowena Lucile Sheets Wilson ’44 Gorman, Jan. 18, 2010

Mary Joanna Hull Prine ’46 Fort Worth, April 14, 2010

Ann Harrell Turk ’46 Granbury, Sept. 28, 2009

Carlos D. “Bud” Wilson ’46 Fredericksburg, July 25, 2010

L.D. Jones Jr. ’47 Seymour, July 26, 2010

Barbara Frede Joseph ’47 Richmond, June 15, 2010

Jackson D. Logan ’47 Houston, May 27, 2010

Donna Ramsel O’Donnell ’47 Austin, Jan. 20, 2010

Wilbourne G. Blake ’48 Galveston, Feb. 8, 2010

Richard Heacock Jr. ’48 Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 2, 2010

Frances Eastin Brown ’49 Monroe, La., Dec. 30, 2009

James S. Hobbs ’49 Mesquite, Feb. 23, 2010

James R. Jonas ’49 Pearland, May 28, 2010

Elmina Bell Krieg ’49 Corpus Christi, April 19, 2010

Herman Kyle Nagel ’49 Spring, Nov. 18, 2009

Betty Bain Spellmann ’49 Georgetown, May 9, 2010

Nelson E. Webernick ’49 Midland, May 10, 2010

Joseph D. Frazer ’50 San Antonio, June 28, 2010

Thomas Hammond ’50 Burnet, March 31, 2009

Leo C. Hearn ’50 San Antonio, Jan. 23, 2010

Patricia Traylor Brady ’51 Georgetown, March 14, 2010

William Cayard ’51 Cranberry Township, Penn., Aug. 7, 2010

Evelyn Deschner Henson ’51 Houston, May 25, 2010

William P. Rader ’51 Centennial, Colo., Nov. 8, 2009

Paul Kern Baker ’52 Irving, May 15, 2010

Henry Flak ’52 Kent, Wash., March 15, 2010

Joe Sissom ’53 Irving, May 21, 2010

L’Roy Randall Burke ’55 Trinity, June 30, 2010

James J. Homer Jr. ’55 Dripping Springs, Aug. 24, 2010

Pat Horn Edwards ’57 Hondo, Feb. 9, 2010

Richard L. Hays ’57 Belton, Oct. 8, 2009

Dr. Jack A. Ramey ’57 Kerrville, Feb. 8, 2010

Rev. Lewis H. Sommermeyer ’58 North Richland Hills, July 23, 2010

Albert T. viola ’58 Yarmouthport, Mass., Dec. 15, 2009

Joseph R. Oliver ’59 Montgomery, June 24, 2010

Jack Warren ’60 San Francisco, Calif., Feb. 15, 2010

John W. Harris ’61 Marble Falls, May 14, 2010

Joe Wayne Johnson ’61 Houston, June 11, 2010

Fred Erck ’62 San Antonio, Dec. 24, 2009

Sandra Hill Raney ’62 Nacogdoches, Dec. 2, 2009

Mary Jo Salter ’62 Dallas, March 1, 2010

Rev. J. Doug Fisk ’63 Dallas, Dec. 12, 2009

Dr. Joseph Patton ’66 Grants Pass, Ore., May 26, 2009

Hugh G. Leffler ’67 Arlington, Jan. 15, 2010

Bruce W. Barrick ’71 Austin, July 12, 2010

Teresa Hill Rodgers ’71 Graford, June 30, 2010

Max T. Barron Jr. ’79 Cedar Park, Jan. 13, 2010

Joe Earl Phillips ’82 Austin, Aug. 15, 2010

Earl L. Moseley Jr. ’84 San Marcos, Feb. 25, 2010

Marco de Anda ’96 Ft. Collins, Colo., March 27, 2010

Matthew J. Turk ’02 Boerne, Jan. 18, 2010

Dr. Stephanie S. Jenkinson ’03 San Antonio, May 1, 2010

Ila L. Ashby Weir, Jan. 23, 2010

Mrs. Herbert (Kate) Dishman Beaumont, Jan. 30, 2010

Della Escareno San Antonio, June 6, 2010

Walter W. Fondren III Houston, Jan. 28, 2010

Jean Cragg Houston, May 30, 2010

In Memoriam

None of us is replaceable and we are diminished by any who are absent from us. For the lives of all members of the Southwestern University community who have died, we give thanks.

RRecently, I find myself thinking more and more about my time at Southwestern, reflecting on specific experiences and how they now relate to the challenges I face professionally. What I find most interesting about these reflections is the conclusion that what benefited me the most was not so much what I learned, but rather, how I learned.

I remember, as a student, my goal and objective was to maximize my GPA. The apparatus I used to get me where I needed to be, and I suspect most of my fellow students also utilized, was the course

syllabus. The first day of class, highlighter and calendar in hand, I high-lighted the key course dates and marked my calendar with ‘cram week’ for all of the important tests.

Imagine then, my frustration, anger and disbelief upon receiving the Paideia® “syllabus.” This wasn’t a one page road map to an ‘A’—it was a 100-page outline for a three-year program that I was expected to design for myself. Wait! You mean I have to take ownership of my own development and advancement? You mean I have to critically think about subjective program elements, reflect on them regularly with nine other students, and glean from all of that my level of growth and success?

I am sure to most of us this juxtaposition seems obvious and silly. However, I find myself increasingly alarmed at how many recent college graduates with whom I work who are still looking for a course syllabus rather than a Paideia syllabus. When I reflect on my Southwestern Experience, I think of my Paideia journey and what it taught me about being the entrepreneur of my own growth, development and success, rather than depending on someone else to define it for me. Paideia taught me more than just the importance of being a self-starter, it actually taught me how to take owner-ship, develop, manage and document a project without having to be given specific detailed instructions.

All of this is not to say that I didn't find individual classroom assignments and projects meaningful to my professional development. Rather, I find the challenges, mystery, collaborative effort and work required to develop and complete my Paideia portfolio prepared me in a more robust and complete way for the challenges and experiences I deal with professionally and personally as a Southwestern alumnus. Paideia taught me to ask the ques-tion, “How am I going to do this?" instead of, "What am I going to do?”

The hope that my wife (Patricia Paxon Slezak ’06) and I have for Southwestern, as it reflects on the results of the Strategic Plan for 2010 and implements Shaping Our Future, the Strategic Plan for Southwestern University 2010–2020, is that it continues to be a leading institution predi-

cated on challenging young minds with more than just what to know. Our hope is that it continues to offer programs that introduce students to experiences and challenges outside of their comfort zones, so they learn that they are capable of the how, not just the what.

Finally, in reading Dan Hilliard’s Last Word in the spring 2010 issue of this magazine, I was struck by his observation that Southwestern readers—myself included—seek ways to stay connected to Southwestern. Perhaps the simplest way of doing this is to merely reflect on the way Southwestern benefited us in our current stations in life, and to simply share that reflection with a friend, colleague or loved one. If nothing else, I hope we never stop experiencing and reflecting on how we can succeed.

Owner of My Own Success BY Dan Slezak ’06, Paideia Scholar

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Protect Your Nest Egg…from fall ing interest rates, while earning 5.0% or more with a Southwestern Charitable Gift Annuity, versus .72% on a money market account or 1.05% on a 12-month CD. Supplement your income—at a fixed rate—for life and feel good that Southwestern will benefit from your charitable gift.

For more information, please call Justin Gould ’98, Director of Gift and

Estate Planning, at 512-863-1997.

SU Charitable Gift Annuity . . . . . . . . . 5.0% or more!

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“Success comes to the prepared mind. Success is not rain which falls from the sky. Success is what you reap when you plant with passion and optimism.”

– Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail

Carl

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sSouthwestern’s 256 May 2010 graduates heard from Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail, who encouraged them to

“be prepared” to help themselves, their families, the country and the world’s needy by “being aware of opportunities,

passionate about life, optimistic and committed to liberty, and sincere in the pursuit of happiness.” (See Page 13

for more information about Zewail.)

B1FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

Behind the curtain of a photo booth, one can become (on film) who he or she wants to be. On the Southwestern campus, students can—and do—become who they want to be. Here, lives are transformed.Photography by Lance Holt

YOU WANTED MORE?YOU GOT MORE.

bONUsPAGESlivestransformed

B2 southwesternMAGAzinE bonusPages

brooke arnold{ }hometown: College Station

major: English, Feminist Studies

In 2007, I transferred to Southwestern. Coming from Blinn College in Blenham,

Texas, I was incredibly nervous…but then I met my academic adviser, Professor of English Helene Meyers.

From the first time I went to her office, she was incredibly warm and encouraging, while taking me and my goal of going to graduate school seriously. She worked with me on gradu-ate school selections and admissions essays, and celebrated with me when I received acceptance letters.

Dr. Meyers didn’t simply provide help, she served as a model for the kind of college profes-sor that I want to be someday.

From working with faculty as a research assis-tant on several book projects to visiting archives in faraway libraries, and from presenting papers at academic conferences to teaching writing in

the Deborah S. Ellis Writing Center, I had many unique opportunities at Southwestern.

I believe my Southwestern Experience gave me a huge advantage in applying to graduate school, but the most valuable thing about Southwestern is that it’s a family.

Both the faculty and the students at Southwestern provided me with a sense of community that I’ve never felt before. In a way, I was sad to graduate, but I know all of them will be cheering me on and helping me succeed as I move to New York to pursue a Ph.D. in English at City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center.

It’s the investment in students by the faculty that makes Southwestern such an

extraordinary place.

carlos{ } barronhometown: Houston

major: Studio Art

B3FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

before coming to Southwestern, I learned the value of giving back. I spent six years

at the Chinquapin School in Highlands, Texas, where the school motto was “Quid Pro Quo,” or “Something for Something.” Chinquapin is a small college preparatory boarding school for low income kids in the greater Houston area. With only 120 students, classes were small and chal-lenging. In a way, it was a small university-style institution. The education we received came with responsibility. The mentality was that we were receiving an opportunity and in return, we would try to give something back.

I knew what my parents had sacrificed by allow-ing me to attend Southwestern and I wasn’t sure what I could accomplish in return. My first year, the change in culture was uncomfortable and I was worried about the financial investment my family had made. I felt pressured to succeed; even the scholarships I received made things stressful because I knew that other people were investing in me. Although I wasn’t as excited as everyone else to be here at first, I knew that it was a huge opportunity for me and my family.

Taking classes in many different departments affected my art experience. For example, as a sculpture major, my work—a merger between my interest in architecture and concepts I learned in sculpture classes—was displayed in the SU Fine Arts Gallery.

I was also involved with many other forms of art for different purposes and expressions. I had the opportunity to work with the Office of University Relations as photography intern. This experience provided a new direction with my art, and with my thoughts on how one perceives and documents the community. Thanks to a grant from the King Creativity Fund, I completed a photography exhibition in which I presented extreme close-up photographs of bugs. This involved research in both science and art. In addition, I worked as the graphic designer for The Megaphone, designing the front covers and center spreads for the student newspaper.

Four years ago, I didn’t anticipate these oppor-tunities. I owe my progress and my Southwestern Experience to the liberal arts system, as well as to my advisers, professors and many others who helped me get to this point of working on free-lance projects and considering graduate school.

The liberal arts opportunities at Southwestern allowed me to grow into an

artist, which was not something I anticipated.

natalie{ } sandershometown: Llano

major: Chemistry

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The road leading to my future has been varied and full of personal growth. I

began my Southwestern career as a biology major with a pre-med focus, working as an emergency room clerk at my local hospi-tal during breaks, gaining experience by checking in patients and shadowing physi-cians. Seeing the doctors provide neces-sary and much-appreciated services for our community confirmed that I would was on the right path.

Joining the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO) at Southwestern gave me a new appreciation for community service and helped me develop a better understand-ing of my personal motivations for serving others. During my first year, I joined Science and Math Achiever Teams (SMArT) and Student Foundation, and enrolled in Paideia. Under the direction of Professor of History Daniel Castro, our cohort was able to make a difference in the world by spear-heading the project “Computers for Honduran Children,” which involved recycling and re-imaging old computers and shipping them to La Esperanza, Honduras, where they were installed by Southwestern students, faculty and staff.

My undergraduate research experience involved working with Lynn Guziec, part-time assistant professor of chemistry, and Martín

Gonzalez, associate professor of biology. I loved being in the lab and was fortunate to have two very different lab experiences—working on organic synthesis as well as microbiology. This experience was a defining moment as I realized I wanted to pursue a degree that would provide me with the skills to do my own research and someday work with physicians in a medical setting.

Many other opportunities have helped shape the person I have become, including studying abroad in Brighton, England for a semester; being elected Chair of Student Foundation my junior year; becoming a day coordinator for SMArT; and completing an Honor’s thesis on my under-graduate research. When I’m not studying, I enjoy playing guitar, reading and being on the worship team at my church.

God has given me a passion for serving others, and I look forward to wherever that leads me. For now, I am pursuing a doctorate in microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md.

Dr. Castro spent three years encouraging our group of Paideia® Scholars to

change the world, insisting that we have the power to do so.

marc guzman{ }hometown: Linn

major: Communication Studies

B5FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

The most profound moment of my Southwestern Experience was my internship. Thanks to

a recommendation by David Olson, director of communication studies internships, to alumna Lana Silva ’08, I had the amazing opportunity to work in New York City with one on the most celebrated designers of our generation. As the public relations intern at Jimmy Choo, I was able to gain first-hand experience in a fast-paced envi-ronment. While some interns fetched coffee, I had the opportunity to do much more. Everyday was an adventure! From outfitting the stars, to rearranging the Jimmy Choo closet, I was part of the action. It was a simple process. I had a phone interview with Lana and the next thing I knew, I was buying a plane ticket to New York City and looking on Craig’s List for a place to live!

As a transfer student from The University of Texas–Pan American, I came to Southwestern hoping to find a sense of belonging. I was able to do so through my involvement in the Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chi and Phi Lambda Eta honor soci-eties. I had to work hard for the recognition, but it was worth it.

My professors and my coursework helped me to become a more well-rounded person with a broader perspective. I came away with a better understanding of diverse cultures, perspectives and ways of life and how to engage with them. I know that no other university could have offered

the same kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to do great things. Not to mention, I got to feed my fascination with Imperialism and royalty by reading Hola magazine in the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center. Even though it’s written in Spanish (which I don’t read or speak fluently), it never ceased to provide me with the latest information on the royal families of Europe and other parts of the world.

Back home in the Rio Grande Valley, I enjoy hunting, horseback riding and cycling. Now, back at UT–Pan American, I’m working on my master’s degree in communication studies.

As I prepare for my next exciting opportunity—I’m applying to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland—I hope to use the knowledge and expe-rience I obtained at Southwestern and abroad to do something great, not only for myself but for others as well. And I hope to have the oppor-tunity to help up-and-coming students have as great a Southwestern Experience as I had, and much more.

I can confidently say that Southwestern University has forever changed my life—I liked having the company of others striving

toward academic excellence.

ashley { }hometown: Arlingtonmajor: Music

foster

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I fel l in love with Southwestern the moment I set foot on campus

my senior year of high school (Diet Coke in hand, of course). A beauti-ful campus with the warmest people, I knew this is where I wanted to spend my undergraduate career.

I was lucky to be a student in The Sarofim School of Fine Arts, which provided several opportunities to explore the field of music. I researched music history with Professor of Music Michael Cooper; was offered copious vocal performance training opportunities with Carol Kreuscher, part time assistant professor of music; studied and composed several works under

Assistant Professor of Music Jason Hoogerhyde; and participated in the Southwestern University Chorale for eight semesters of music making under Kenny Sheppard, professor of music.

I also became involved with Delta Omicron, the music service fraternity. As pledge class leader, and later first vice president and recruit-ment chair, I helped recruit new enthusiastic members and became president my last two years at Southwestern. I’m proud to say that I helped the fraternity grow into a progressive and prosper-ous organization. Delta Omicron now holds an annual Arts Festival, promotes faculty apprecia-tion within the music department and is active in performance, scholarship and service in the Southwestern and local communities.

Southwestern brought out the best in me. I became a leader, a passionate musician, a well-rounded student and a friend because of the amazing people at this school. The faculty and staff are friendly, helpful and genuinely interested in student success.

My Southwestern Experience was so enriching that I’m now able to

pursue a business degree at the McCombs School of Business at The

University of Texas at Austin.

B7FALL2010 www.southwestern.edu

My Southwestern Experience was full of exciting and diverse activities and oppor-

tunities—from tennis team my first year to presi-dent of Beta Beta Beta biology honor society my senior year—and I grew and changed along the way. I discovered during my first year that I’m an overachiever, and had to narrow my scope and learn how to balance coursework with extracur-ricular activities.

I became involved in APO, the co-ed service fraternity. I loved having the opportunity to serve others in the Georgetown community outside the Southwestern “bubble,” while spending quality time with my fellow members. I also joined Delta Delta Delta sorority and found myself surrounded by a wonderful group of smart, talented young women that continue to inspire me. As a sopho-more, I took on the daunting task of organizing the annual student works symposium, “From Every Voice,” which was a great opportunity to hone my planning and organizational skills, as well as get a behind-the-scenes look at how much work goes into such an event.

The pivotal point in my Southwestern career was when I took Research Methods in Psychology and met my mentor and adviser, Fay Guarraci, associate professor of psychology. I quickly fell in love with research—specifically, behavioral neuro-science—and modeled myself after Dr. Guarraci.

That summer, I was selected for a presti-gious National Science Foundation (NSF) internship at Duke University, where I met my graduate school mentor-to-be and discovered the research area that really drives my passion—the effects of early-life stressors and immune challenges on immune and cognitive functioning later in life, which join together the fields of neuroscience and immunology.

Rather than return to Southwestern that fall, I packed my bags for England, where I studied at the University of Sussex in Brighton. I had the time of my life exploring the UK and Europe, immers-ing myself in a new culture and taking neuroscience classes not offered at Southwestern.

Returning to campus in the spring, I resumed my research with Dr. Guarraci and began another collaborative, interdisciplinary project with Maha Zewail Foote, associate professor of chemistry. This became my Capstone and gave me the opportunity to attend the National Society for Neuroscience meeting two years in a row. I also presented and won an award for the project at the regional Southwestern Psychological Association meeting.

Looking back, I know my experiences at Southwestern allowed me to accomplish many things and learn a lot about myself along the way. Looking forward, I plan to earn my Ph.D. from Duke University where I am currently studying psychology and neuroscience.

jessica { }hometown: Carrolltonmajor: Animal Behavior

bolton

After my study abroad experience, I became involved as

co-president of the International Club in honor of my new-found love for

traveling and experiencing other people, places and cultures.