southwestern fall 2009

Fall 2009

In this issue:

SENIOR STORIES P.13

“Live the life you want to live on your terms and with a good heart and clear conscience.”

Commencement 2009 P.24

Fall preview: TOBIAS WOLFF P.26 + 35

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=13





The Ties That Bind

President’s message

One hundred years ago, the Southwestern family gathered for the University’s first Homecoming. Even without the assistance of e-mails or instant messaging, the University contacted a significant number of alumni and friends so that attendance was nearly 1,000. Published reports described the attendees as a “who’s who in Texas.” A huge “dinner on the grounds” was enjoyed as participants joined in singing the popular hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” in recognition of their close association with Southwestern. Alumni and friends posed on the downtown square for a photo that has now been immortalized on the wall of Georgetown’s visitor’s center. It was truly an extraordinary event.

In 1909, William H. Taft was president of the United States, the population of the country was just over 90 million and a first-class stamp was two cents. The NAACP was founded under its first leader, W.E.B. DuBois, and American explorers Robert Peary and Matthew Henson reached the North Pole. Yale was the NCAA football champion, and the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Guglielmo Marconi for the development of the wireless (even though some believe Southwestern President Robert S. Hyer sent a wireless message before Marconi).

Southwestern University had few peers in Texas in 1909. Famous people like William Jennings Bryan visited our campus; the first literary societies in Texas, founded at Southwestern, were well-established and robust; and Professors Hyer and Cody had assembled a faculty, albeit still small in number, which was second to none in the Lone Star State. Even though the First World War was only a few years away and very difficult financial times lay ahead for our University, 1909 was a perfect time to beckon the Southwestern family home for a grand celebration.

Now 100 years later, Southwestern enjoys the admiration of its higher education peers in Texas and beyond. As the first and best national liberal arts college in Texas, we continue to lead the way through innovative programs like Paideia® and our leadership of NITLE, the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education.

Our alumni and friends continue to give Southwestern the resources and the inspiration to move forward and to challenge our students. None of our progress would be possible without you. Therefore, it is with gratitude and appreciation that I invite you to join the campus community for a Southwestern family celebration Nov. 6-8 commemorating the 100th anniversary of our first Homecoming.

See you there!

Jake B. Schrum ’68President, Southwestern University

Fall 2009 www.southwestern.edu 3

Fall 2009

On the coverPaideia® Scholar Crystal Jackson ’09, reflects on her Southwestern Experience in Senior Stories (Page 18).

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13 24

In every issue 2 | President’s message

26 | Kiosk

27 | On Campus

32 | athletics

35 | engaging Find

37 | alumni news

38 | Class notes

47 | academics in Focus

50 | Last Word

Features

4 | the Care and Feeding of a southwestern education Keeping financial assistance alive at Southwestern.

6 | mission: dixon How to choose when outstanding grades and test-scores are a given?

10 | in the Field with elisabeth Piedmont-marton Walking her talk on campus and around the world.

13 | senior stories Instrument petting zoo? Check. Cannibalistic snails? Check. Predictable college experience? Not a chance.

24 | Capturing the moment Commencement 2009.

10

Fall 2009

In this issue:

SENIOR STORIES P.13

“Live the life you want to live on your terms and with a good heart and clear conscience.”

Commencement 2009 P.24

Fall preview: TOBIAS WOLFF P.26 + 35

































students faculty resources

The Care and Feeding of a

SouthwesternEducation

CARE INSTRUCTIONS for Educatio Australoccidae

In the current economic environment, a growing gap exists between the demonstrated financial need of our students and the resources available on campus to assist them.

The Princeton Review calls Southwestern University one of “America’s Best Value Colleges,” noting that Southwestern is “$10,000 to $15,000 lower than what you’d expect for a liberal arts college of its academic caliber.”

Even so, the full sticker price of a Southwestern education—including tuition, fees, room and board, books and a realistic estimate of personal expenses—is more than $41,000 for the next academic year.

While about 67 percent of the average student’s needs are met by the University through need-based and/or merit scholarships, these students receiving financial aid still pay around $18,000 a year for a Southwestern education.

A Southwestern education is resource intensive, but extremely beneficial to students.

•Employingexceptionallytalentedandqualified“teacher-scholars,”99percentofwhomhold the most advanced degree in their field, encourages collaborative student-faculty research and publication.

•TheUniversityupholdsrigorousacademicexpectationsand offers the Paideia® Program, a distinctive learning seminar that emphasizes intellectual curiosity and civic engagement.

•A10:1student-facultyratioallowsforsmallclasssizesandmentoring relationships between faculty and students.

•Amodernliving-learningenvironmentissupportedbycomprehensive student services, including a Center for Academic Success, an Office of Intercultural Learning, an Office of Civic Engagement and an Office of Career Services, which was ranked #7 in the country for Best Career/Job Placement Services in the 2008 edition of The Best 366 Colleges, published by the Princeton Review.

•Volunteeropportunitiessuchas“DestinationService,” a Spring Break volunteer service program, as well as oppor-tunities to study abroad and to participate in internships are offered and encouraged.

•Studentshavewideaccesstotechnology,andareabletoutilizeextensivecampus facilities including theaters, sports and recreation centers, laboratories, an observatory and a greenhouse.

Here, Lives are ChangedIn his book, Colleges That Change Lives, author Loren Pope described Southwestern as

“…one of the few jewels of the Southwest whose mission it is to prepare a new generation to contribute to a changing society, and to prosper in their jobs, whatever and wherever in the world they may be.”

Providing students with financial assistance allows Southwestern to recruit and retain a diverse and highly qualified student body, whose contributions to society will continue to add value to the degrees of future and past graduates alike.

However, in the current economic environment, a growing gap exists between the demon-strated financial need of our students and the resources available on campus to assist them. Southwestern must increase the amount of assistance it is able to provide. It is critical to our students and their families.

The Southwestern Experience has changed the lives of many and continues to transform the lives of deserving students today. Southwestern invites all alumni and friends to make an annual gift to support our students. Every gift matters.

If you wish to make a gift, please go to www.southwestern.edu/giving/annual-giving-form.php or call the Development Office at 800-960-6363, extension 1482, to discuss your plans.

Financial Assistance by the Numbers

54%

32%

67%

80% of Southwestern students receive some form of financial assistance from the University.receive need-based financial aid = $26,000 per student per year.

receive merit scholarships = $10,000 per student per year.

of the average student’s needs are met by the University, thanks in part to the generosity of donors.

6 Southwestern Magazine

The Dixon Scholarship Selection Committee is currently made up of five professionals, four of whom are Southwestern

alumni. Southwestern sat down with the committee to learn more about what’s involved in applying for and possibly

receiving a Dixon Scholarship.

Relying on gifts from alumni and friends to maintain and grow the level of scholarship support offered, the Dixon Fund has

provided full and partial scholarships to 160 deserving students headed to the Southwestern campus over the past decade.

To be considered for a Dixon Award, students must rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class and are selected

based on the quality and rigor of their high school academic record, their performance on the SAT or ACT, their level of

extracurricular involvement, the quality of their written essay, their personal interview with a member of the admission staff

and the content of their recommendation letters.

IN 1999, SOUTHWESTERN PARTNERED WITH THE TEXAS METHODIST FOUNDATION to create the Dixon Scholarship Fund, named in honor of the late Ernest T. Dixon Jr., a leading United Methodist Bishop and advocate of higher education. The Dixon Scholarship Award was created to benefit high-achieving African American, Hispanic and Native American students.

Mission: Dixon

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Lynette: Dixon creates interest in Southwestern and opens doors for students who might not otherwise come here. I’ve been on the selection committee from the beginning, and it’s gotten harder every year to make our decisions.

Maggie: This was my first year on the committee. My grandfather and Bishop Dixon were friends, so I’m especially happy to help; it does so much good for the students and the University.

What drew you to the Dixon Scholarship Selection Committee?

Curtis: I’ve been part of the committee for eight years. I value diversity in our environment, and I believe differences of opinion allow us all to grow and become better citizens.

John: I was a Presidential Scholar in the inaugural year of that Southwestern scholarship, so when I was asked to be on the Dixon selection committee, I saw it as an opportunity to help others as I’d been helped as a student.

For a committee member, what is the application process like?

Candy: The Southwestern Office of Admission receives more than 150 applications each year from minority students who meet our requirements. The admission counselors narrow those down based on academics, test scores, extracurricular activities and financial need as well as other subjec-tive factors. Ultimately, we consider about 50 applications a year. Each committee member has to review all 50 within a week’s time.

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Candy GrossVice President of Investor

Services and grants, Texas methodist Foundation

John Lopez ’89 attorney,

Travis County District attorney’s office

Lynette Saterfield Phillips ’83

attorney, Flahive ogden & latson

Curtis Vick ’83Senior Vice President of operations, Texas

methodist Foundation

Maggie Smith Wolfe ’06 account assistant,

Investor Services, Texas methodist Foundation

The Dixon Scholarship Selection Committee:

five professionals, 635 tough decisions.

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entrepreneurial ventures like a home décor company that advocates fair trade

with suppliers, all of whom are the original artists and live in impoverished regions

of Central america.

John: The application materials are so interesting to read that you lose track of time.

How does the committee come to make scholarship offers?

Curtis: We each spend a long weekend reviewing applications. Once we make our selections, the top 25 students are invited to Southwestern and personal interviews are held over two days. The committee makes its final selec-tions within a couple of days after the interviews and then offers are made. It’s a fast process.

Do Dixon recipients have to reapply every year?

Candy: No. Dixon Scholarships are awarded annually for up to four years. Recipients must maintain a minimum grade point average to keep their scholarship.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being part of the selection committee?

Curtis: The biggest reward is getting to know the kids (the applicants). Their level of maturity and confidence, and their willingness to answer questions is amazing. The challenge is trying to identify the students who will flourish at Southwestern—students that might not find their way to the University otherwise.

Maggie: Going through the applications was arduous, but I was so impressed with the caliber of the students. It’s amazing to see what they’ve already accomplished and what they can bring to Southwestern.

Committee, ctd.

10 Years of Success for Dixon Scholars

High-achieving african american, Hispanic and Native american students arrive each year at Southwestern with knowledge, skills and life experience, as well as drive, ambition and a desire to succeed. That’s what is required to be a Dixon Scholar.

of these students, the University retains 95.7 percent, compared to a 86.4 percent retention rate among Southwestern students as a whole. Dixon Scholars also maintain an average gPa of 3.42 with 87.3 percent graduating within four years, while the student body as a whole has an average gPa of 3.29 and a 75.9 percent graduation rate.

Upon graduation, Dixon Scholars are ready to go out and make a difference in the world. one graduate says, “ethical, corporate responsibility … that’s what Southwestern University taught me. It’s not enough to practice the status-quo, you’ve got to get out there and redefine it.”

Dixon graduates have embarked on a variety of journeys, achieving success and making a difference in many ways. Some of their accomplishments have included:

Involvement in projects like “Street law,” teaching Chicago high school students their basic legal rights.

one of the original Dixon Scholars, Yesenia Yadira Garcia ’03, recently wrote a letter to Charline Hamblin McCombs ’50, Southwestern’s earliest Dixon donor, filling her in on the past five years and thanking her for her support. Following is an excerpt of garcia’s letter:

“Thanks to the Dixon Scholarship Program … I was able to complete my double major in theatre and communication studies from Southwestern and have since received my mFa in acting from The University of Texas at austin and have had the opportunity to perform … my bilingual multi-media one-person show … originally conceived … at Southwestern. I now own my own film company…”

garcia’s personal Dixon testimony can be seen at www.tinyurl.com/mptjw6

learn about a recent Dixon graduate, Ricardo Levario ’09, in “Senior Stories” on Page 22.

law degrees from The University of Texas, University of Chicago and Harvard law School, to name a few.

High school teaching positions, specializing in speech and debate, humanities and Spanish.

medical degrees from Southwestern medical School and the University of Texas medical Branch; one alumna making the commitment to return to the rio grande Valley to practice medicine.

Ph.D.s in economics and computational chemistry at institutions like emory University.




With so many applicants, how do committees choose? academic achievement and other technical qualifications aside, how do you distinguish yourself on an application or in an interview?

Scholarship selection committees, admission counselors and employers, for that matter, all have something in common. They are looking for something special. How do they choose the best candidates for the scholarship, the incoming class or the job? The application and interview can make all the difference.

These are some things the Dixon Scholarship Selection Committee looks for:

On Paper: Make it MemorableGive a sense of who you are and what you can bring to the community.

• Writeadynamicessayorcoverletter.(SeePage 12 for writing tips.)

• Whencompletingaformorquestionnaire,distinguish yourself with detailed answers.

• Showalevelofcommitmenttoanactivityother than that for which you’re applying.

• Demonstrateyourleadershipexperience.

In Person: Speak UpExpress your individuality through the personal interview.

• Betruetoyourself:youractivities,familyand faith.

• Communicateyourpassion.

• Befriendly.Makeeyecontact.Becomfort-able, as though you’re sitting down with a friend.

• Giveopen,detailedanswersandbesuretoinclude specific anecdotes or examples.

John: It’s really humbling to learn about the big plans these students have for themselves, even after—in some cases—having overcome diffi-cult circumstances in their lives. They blow me away!

Candy: Reading about students’ specific life circumstances can be emotional. But it’s great to see the plans they have for their futures.

John: The challenge is making the decisions. We want to offer something to all of them.

Do you look for depth or breadth of experience in activities?

John: What I look for is passion. It may be passion for one thing—sports, arts, church—or it may be a passion for learning in general. Either depth or breadth can be good, it just depends on the student.

Curtis: Personally, I like to see both. You can’t have one without the other. If (the applicant) has depth in only one area, have they really explored enough to know what they like or what they want to do? On the other hand, we need to see some depth, otherwise it looks like their activities are just résumé fillers.

Lynette: I hate to see kids who’ve spread themselves too thin. It depends on the student and what he or she has done in their activities, but I like to see quality over quantity.

What makes an application memorable?

Curtis: Those students that stick out in my mind are the ones that clearly want to make a difference. They have a plan and an expectation that they will succeed.

Lynette: Each year it seems we have groups of students who all do the same thing; one year we have a lot of athletes, another year a lot involved in the sciences. So, for me, the essay is the best way to get to know them as individuals. The most memorable for me was an essay written by a girl about her grandmother. She ended up graduating from Southwestern and going on to law school.

John: I like to read an essay that gives me insight into the student’s life. What’s memorable to me is a student who demonstrates strong character and the ability to succeed even in the face of adversity.

Maggie: The essays distinguish one applicant from another, but the inter-views are also really eye-opening. It’s inspirational to hear some of the back-ground stories and see the motivation of these goal-oriented students.

Candy: What’s memorable? Students who have a passion for learning, who recognize the possibilities in front of them, who are able to articulate what they will bring to Southwestern.

For more information on applying for the Dixon Award and other schol-arships, go to www.southwestern.edu/assistance.

If you would like to make a gift to the Dixon Scholarship Fund, please call the Southwestern Development Office at 512-863-1482.

Committee, ctd.How Do You

Stack Up?





In the Field with Elisabeth Piedmont-MartonAssociate Professor of English, Director of the Deborah S. Ellis Writing Center, Paideia® Professor

Photograph by Lance Holt, Holt Images


Most Southwestern students choose the latter option. That’s one reason Piedmont-Marton loves her job. “At Southwestern, we see a majority of students

start careers that include strong elements of social activism,” she says.

Piedmont-Marton herself sets the standard to follow. “It’s Elisabeth’s curiosity, creativity and passion for social justice that combine to make her one of the premier intellects and teachers I know,” says David Gaines, associate professor of English and Director of the Paideia® Program. Delilah Dominguez ’09 says, “Dr. Piedmont-Marton is not just a professor out to teach literary theory but a person concerned about connecting with people.”

That connection begins in the classroom and continues off campus and even to remote parts of the world. Whether discussing civic engagement with a student over coffee, weighing in on local politics or helping to raise more than $23,000 to build a school in Vietnam, Piedmont-Marton puts her words into action.

Gaines says, “Elisabeth is the embodiment of intellect turned to good works on campus and in the world. She is the best kind of political activist, always willing to walk her talk.”

Piedmont-Marton brings that focus on civic responsibility to students through the University’s Paideia Program, in which she is a professor. Paideia, meaning the “sum total of one’s education,” is a distinctive learning seminar that serves to intensify the students’ educational experience, she explains. “We reflect on the connection between our roles as citizens and as intellectuals. We read about and discuss what our responsibilities are and how to participate; how to give back to the community and to society as a whole.”

Having traveled to Vietnam twice in three years, Piedmont-Marton has read extensively about the region across a wide rangeofdisciplines:politics,history,ethnographyandliterature. “Thanks to my involvement with Paideia,” she says,

If Elisabeth Piedmont-Marton asked you, “Do you consider your

education to be a private asset or a vehicle for public good?”

how would you answer?

“I’ve been thinking of how I can take up the responsibilities of intellectual citizenship and bring my work as a professor and writer into fuller engagement with the world.”

She explains that most writing about Vietnam from the last two decades focuses on the policy of doi moi, or economic reform, and how it affects Vietnam’s status as one of the few remaining countries with a communist government. Currently, those interested in learning about contempo-rary Vietnam will have to look to writing that is at least 10 years old.

Helping build a much-needed school near the market town of Bac Ha in the Lao Cai Province led Piedmont-Marton to the idea of writing a book that would explore the world of modern day North Vietnam. “The book will bring together my scholarly work in war and literature, a grassroots civic engage-ment project and my ambitions as a writer,” she says.

It could also position Piedmont-Marton as a “concentrated messenger of a culture,” just as food is perceived to be in one of her favorite books, Heat, by Bill Buford.

Getting to SUPiedmont-Marton didn’t take a traditional path to

Southwestern. She lived in Chicago, Ill., Washington, D.C. and Austin, and worked as an aerobics instructor, waitress, sports stringer and mentor to college basketball players, all the while earning her master’s degree and doctorate. She’s happy to share her real life examples and knowledge in the classroom. “I learned to be a better teacher because of those experiences,” she says.

Piedmont-Marton is an example to her students. Sophomore Griffin Ferry says, “All the things you wouldn’t expect a professor to do, she does … even when my First-Year Seminar with her was over, she still checked in to see how I was doing.”


“Elisabeth is a populist with refined tastes,” says Gaines. “She appreciates the beauty in everything from a text to the dinner table to social justice.”

Piedmont-Marton and her husband, Bruce Marton, live in South Austin and enjoy backpacking, camping, running, reading, watching sports, cooking and entertaining. She also loves to travel and cites Budapest, Hungary; Dubrovnik, Croatia; North Vietnam; and Glacier National Park, Mont. as her favorite places, but has been happy to call Southwestern home for 10 years.

Students say Piedmont-Marton’s humility and humor help make her classroom feel like home. Dominguez says in the midst of a student’s often-chaotic campus life, “Her classes are like Robert Frost’s definition of poetry—momentary stays against confusion.”

To read more about Piedmont-Marton’s journeys to North Vietnam, visit her blog at www.brightenthecorner.blogspot.com.

Write Like A Pro

Five Tips from Elisabeth Piedmont-Marton

1. Read a lot.

2. Writing is messy. Be willing to make mistakes in the process.

3. Don’t lose sight of your reader.

4. Find actual readers to provide feedback.

5. Revision often means getting rid of your favorite parts.

Deborah S. Ellis Writing CenterIn 1999, elisabeth Piedmont-marton came to Southwestern and developed the Deborah S. ellis Writing Center, named for the late Debby ellis, a scholar of medieval literature, beloved english teacher and a founder of the women’s studies program. Now in its 10th year, the Writing Center is considered by Piedmont-marton to be a success.

Student consultants receive training on how to help other students with their writing, working one-on-one with writers at all levels, on all texts and at all stages in the process. Piedmont-marton is confident in that training. “I trust the students to make decisions,” she says. “It’s a collaborative culture, and the students don’t want to let each other down.”

“Through the Writing Center, Dr. Piedmont-marton tries to understand what’s at work in the writer, without regard to academic level or discipline,” says Delilah Dominguez ’09.

of Piedmont-marton’s writing expertise, emily Northrop, associate professor of economics and chair of the economics and business department, says, “over the years I’ve had many conversations with elisabeth on how to be more effective in teaching students to write. In telling me and other faculty what we don’t particularly want to hear, her advice has always been expert, convincing, encouraging and fun.”

During her travels to North Vietnam, elisabeth Piedmont-marton visited with school children in Tong Thuony, hiked through rice fields from Can Cau market to Bac Ha and got to know mr. Duong, assistant headmaster of the school.


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STORIESKevin,Natalie,Crystal,Colin,Ricardo:

Five Southwestern seniors whose faits

accomplis beg the question, “What’s next?”

Photography by Taylor Jones ’97

Manage a portion of the University’s endowment . . . . . .

Have personal values and listen with an open mind . . . . .

Prove that art benefits from being informed by

different subjects—even accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kick around ideas on the soccer field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Work to save the planet from giant snails (yes, really!) . . .

When in Rome: Salsa dance in Uruguay, play

ice hockey in Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Create an arts festival with an instrument petting zoo . . .

Pursue a Ph .D . in quantitative ecology

and mathematical modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Return home to Dallas as a Cowboys Cheerleader?

You never know! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Put theory to work: major in physics and business . . . . . .

Make music a career—one that doesn’t

freak out my parents in McAllen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Get published: give Odessa a claim-to-fame . . . . . . . . . . .

Next winter: report on wind-chill factor

when calling home to Arlington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Care about my community: teach senior citizens

to use e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Next stop? Boston: “not a big college town” . . . . . . . . . . . .

Be honored as a Dixon Scholar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Barcelona, minus Vicky Cristina: set up a painting

studio in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thank the King Creativity Fund, twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Kevin O’Neil has played soccer since he can remember, and he’s known for years that he wanted to be an engineer.

Southwestern was a good fit—he could study business as a precursor to engineering, while continuing his passion for soccer. “I received a handwritten letter from Head Coach Don Gregory which really meant a lot,” he says. Then, a week before signing with the team, O’Neil found out he’d received a Brown Scholarship, Southwestern’s most prestigious academic award.

A physics and business major, O’Neil felt playing on the soccer team helped him create balance in an otherwise busy campus life. “With soccer, I had a routine, I stayed in shape and I got to travel,” he says. He also received the Southwestern Athletics Pirate Anchor Award, presented annually by the Student Athletic Advisory Committee to one male and one female athlete who best display the traits that embody the spirit of the Southwestern community as decided by a student vote.

For O’Neil, the Southwestern Experience included being a member and officer of Pi Kappa Alpha frater-nity, the Student Foundation and the Homecoming Committee. He was also a campus tour guide and a resident assistant. “I discovered I’m not good at saying ‘no,’” he laughs.

Coming from a high school twice the size of Southwestern, O’Neil thought he’d have to go to Austin for fun. “I was wrong,” he says. “There’s a lot to do on campus.”

Beginning this fall, O’Neil will be spending time in Austin after all. He is going to The University of Texas at Austin to pursue his master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a goal of working in the field of renewable energy. “I want to combine the busi-ness skills I learned at Southwestern with an engineering degree,” he says.

“At Southwestern I learned that hard work really does pay off,” O’Neil says, adding that he was able to apply classroom knowledge to real world scenarios through his involvement in the University’s Financial Analyst

Program, which allows a select group of students to manage a portion of the University’s endowment fund. (Additional information about the program can be found at: www.southwestern.edu/departments/economicsbusiness/fap.)

“Dustin James ’79—a fraternity alumnus and a research scientist/labo-ratory manager at Rice University—thought I’d be a good fit for a program sponsored by the National Science Foundation called the Research Experience for Undergraduates (held at Rice),” says O’Neil. “Bart Koontz ’78, was instrumental in helping me secure an internship with Koontz McCombs, a commercial real estate company in San Antonio.”

In addition to the business connec-tions he’s made through Southwestern, O’Neil says, “I made lifelong friends here, including coaches and profes-sors. That’s what I’ll miss … that, and being able to play golf for free!”

Put theory to work: major in physics and business . . . . . .

Manage a portion of the University’s endowment . . . . . .

Enrollment size matters: SU is smaller than my

San Antonio high school . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kick around ideas on the soccer field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

KKEvINO’NEIl

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The Fayez Sarofim Passion for the Arts Award winner for 2009, Natalie Moore demonstrated an unusual passion for the arts throughout her undergraduate career.

Creator of the Southwestern University Arts Festival, Moore’s goal was to bring the arts—music, art and theatre—together through a day-long event, which included an instru-ment petting zoo, arts and crafts, an art exhibition and a jazz band performance. Two consecutive King Creativity Grants made that goal a reality.

Taking a summer job as a camp counselor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Mich. sparked Moore’s desire to bring different art disciplines together. “The kids were talented, but naïve about arts other than their own,” she says. “I found SU students, including myself, to be the same. I think having a general knowledge of all of the arts is beneficial to one’s creativeness.”

NNATAlIEMOORECreate an arts festival with an instrument petting zoo . . . .

Thank the King Creativity Fund, twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Make music a career—one that doesn’t freak out

my parents in McAllen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Next stop? Boston: “not a big college town” . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Professor of Music Michael Cooper says the festival was “one of the most remarkable undergraduate achievements I’ve seen.” Moore says the experience highlighted Southwestern’s commitment to its students because “the University showed it will support our ideas and showcase our work.” She also says working on the project helped her see her strengths and weaknesses. “I realized that there’s no such thing as an inadequate idea!”

Moore was also involved with Delta Omicron, the music fraternity on campus, a member of the Southwestern University Chorale and president of the Southwestern University Composers’ Collective.

It was participation in the Southwestern Chorale that led Moore to her music major, and a passion for music and the arts that is leading her to Boston University to study arts

administration. “My hope is to someday create art programs for inner-city kids,” she says.

This summer, Moore was hired by Professor Emeritus of Music F. Ellsworth Peterson ’55 as a paid intern for the Georgetown Festival of the Arts, which includes an art festival and the performance of works by a single composer. The festival featured the music of Antonin Dvorák. Peterson is the festival’s artistic director.

As she moves forward to the East Coast, Moore reflects back. “Southwestern teaches you to think outside the box—to answer questions with questions—and sets us apart from other students.” She advises new students, “Have a voice, don’t hold back.”

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With volleyball in hand and thoughts toward law school in mind, Crystal Jackson arrived at Southwestern in the fall of 2006 with a plan … or so she thought.

Two days into her second semester, Jackson changed her major. “I loved my public speaking class and loved how Dr. Olson wanted his students to excel,” she says. It was then that she became a communication studies major. Having graduated in three years, Jackson is now pursuing a master’s degree in mass communication at Louisiana State University. She plans to then join the busy world of agency public relations.

Jackson’s plan to play collegiate sports also changed. After one season with the women’s volleyball team, for which she was recruited to SU, she was ready to trade in her tennis shoes

for jazz shoes. An avid dancer since she was three years old, Jackson and two friends founded the “Southwestern University Dance Squad,” the first SU dance team. “I knew that if I wanted to dance in college, I’d have to make it happen for myself,” she says.

Jackson thought about continuing her dance career as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, but for now she’s just holding her dance team memories close to her heart. She says wistfully, “I’ll miss dancing with my friends at Southwestern, but I’m glad to be leaving something for other students who share my passion.”

Jackson also leaves the Georgetown community more educated. A long-standing belief in the importance of community service led her to volunteer as a computer skills teacher for local senior citizens. “It reminded

me of helping my grandma when she got her first e-mail account,” she says, happy that her knowledge helped others.

While juggling sports, studies and civic engagement, Jackson was a Paideia® Scholar, a member of Sigma Delta Pi (the Spanish honor society) and Lamda Pi Eta (the communication studies fraternity), and a member and officer of EBONY, whose purpose it is to promote unity among African Americans and the SU community.

Jackson says the biggest and best lesson she learned at Southwestern was that “I can learn from others without losing my personal values.” She advises incoming students to not be afraid to embark on new experi-ences even if that means starting something new at SU. In other words, she says, “Light your own candle.”

Have personal values and listen to others with an open mind . . . . . . . . . . . .

Realize that I actually love public speaking (Thanks, Professor Olson!) . . . . . . .

Care about my community: teach senior citizens to use e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . .

Return home to Dallas as a Cowboys Cheerleader?

You never know! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Colin Kyle came to Southwestern and less than four years later found himself studying Pomacea insularum, commonly known as the channeled apple snail, in Uruguay!

Kyle and Romi Burks, associate professor of biology, traveled to Uruguay in November 2008 to study the native population of P. insularum, which is very similar to the exotic population they had been researching locally. “These snails are interesting to study,” Kyle says. “They have both gills and lungs, a swim bladder so they can float and swim, and they’re cannibalistic” … not to mention as big as apples! Hence the common name.

“These snails are scientifically important because they are an exotic invasive species and can cause a lot of envi-ronmental damage. They could potentially eat all the plants in a wetland and irreversibly change the ecosystem,” Kyle explains.

“That research was the hardest work I’ve ever done,” he says, “but going to Uruguay was the most fun experience I’ve had.” Scratching his head in a bit of disbelief, he says, “I found myself Salsa dancing with world-renowned researchers!”

Both Kyle and Burks will continue to study the data collected in Uruguay, with a long-term goal of “turning the work into a paper, with help from the South American researchers who participated in the experiments,” he says.

Back on campus, Kyle says he was “devoted to academics and research.” Much as apple snails are considered super snails, Kyle became somewhat of a super researcher in the Southwestern biology lab, which he says “opened my eyes to the respect SU professors have for their students.” He advises new students to “get to know your professors, and allow them to get to know you.”


His devotion to academia led Kyle to the University of Chicago where he is working on a Ph.D. in quantitative ecology and mathematical modeling. Ultimately, he would like to be known on a college campus as Professor Kyle.

Kyle credits Southwestern with providing opportunities for personal growth, independence and freedom of expres-sion, and for teaching him how to make a career of doing research.

The only thing missing from Kyle’s Southwestern Experience? “Ice hockey!” he says. Captain of his high school varsity hockey team, Kyle hopes to play some “pond hockey” now that he has the advantage of being in a place more suited to the sport. “Chicago’s great,” he says. “I’ll have at least three months of solid ice!”

CCOlIN KYlEWork to save the planet from giant snails (yes, really!) . . . . . . . .

When in Rome: Salsa dance in Uruguay, play

ice hockey in Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pursue a Ph .D . in quantitative ecology and

mathematical modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Next winter: report on wind-chill factor

when calling home to Arlington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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You may have already seen Ricardo Levar io’s national ly recognized paintings.

Levario had two paintings accepted and published in the Spring 2009 issue of Creative Quarterly, a journal that highlights the best student and profes-sional work in the areas of graphic design, photography, illustration and fine arts.

Southwestern’s Sarofim School of Fine Arts is listed in the Fiske’s Guide to Colleges’ top 25 small colleges and universities strong in art or design, but Levario says, “It’s still encouraging when someone outside the University appreciates and values my work.”

To create one of the paintings—a 44” x 72” oil painting titled “Asphyxia”—Levario worked from a photograph he took of plastic sheeting. “I wanted to make something beautiful slightly dangerous,” he says. Doing so took a year and a half as he tirelessly worked to capture both the beauty of the plastic and the realization that it could be turned into a weapon. “I wanted to present tension within the painting—a sense that a two dimensional image could envelop the viewer into its illu-sionistic depths, drawing them in but

threatening them at the same time,” Levario explains.

In fact, Levario didn’t come to Southwestern to paint or sculpt, but to major in psychology and go on to medical school. All that changed when he took a drawing course with Professor of Art Victoria Star Varner.

He was surprised to find himself immersed in his art projects, spending countless hours on each assignment. His untitled painting, which earned a silver award from Creative Quarterly, took a total of 120 hours over three weeks to complete. So, when he asked Varner how to decide what his major should be, she told him to consider what he was putting the most time into. “My decision was clear,” he says.

After getting his Teach English as a Foreign Language certification, Levario will teach and paint in Barcelona, Spain, for a year. He plans to then pursue a master’s degree in fine art and hopes to teach at the university level.

Levario’s job at the 8th Street Gallery in Georgetown provided the Dixon and Mood Scholar with an opportu-nity to teach the process-oriented art of ceramics. “I had to learn how to simplify things to make them

Be honored as a Dixon Scholar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Prove that art benefits from being informed by different

subjects—even accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Get published: give Odessa a claim-to-fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Barcelona, minus Vicky Cristina: set up a painting studio in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . .

More stories are a click away atwww .southwestern .edu/magazine

SENIORSTORIES

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Rappealing and attention-grabbing for children,” he says.

As President of the SU Ar t Association, Levario organized a biweekly showing of the PBS program “Art:21—Art in the Twenty-FirstCentury,” a series of documentaries about contemporary artists, which was open to all students.

Along with his attention-to-detail personality, Levario says, “Taking time to explore all different subjects—anthropology, accounting, science, psychology, philosophy—has ulti-mately made me a better artist.”

Writer/editor Kristina Moore is happy to have had the opportunity to get to know Southwestern through the eyes of its bright and talented students.

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2009 marked the celebration of Southwestern University’s 165th annual commencement ceremony. President Jake. B. Schrum ’68, shook hands with 277 graduates as they crossed the stage at the Corbin J. Robertson Center on May 9. Keynote speaker, Stephen Joel Trachtenburg, President Emeritus of The George Washington University, advised graduates to “live the life you want to live on your terms and with a good heart and clear conscience.”

Capturing the Moment

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Southwestern’s annual Student Art Exhibit was held april 23 – may 1.

September 30This year’s theatre season opens with Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), a comedic play written by ann-marie macDonald and directed by Mark Pickell ’98, in which Constance ledbelly, a young english literature professor from Queen’s University, goes on a subconscious journey of self-discovery.

November 6-8 “get into the picture!” mark your calendars now for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Visit www.sualumni.net for the latest details.

November 10Tobias Wolff is coming to campus for “Writer’s Voice,” the annual a. Frank Smith, Jr. library Center series. Wolff is the author of the memoirs This Boy’s Life and In Pharaoh’s Army, and the novel Old School. (See a review of Old School in “engaging Find” on Page 35.) For further information and tickets visit: www.southwestern.edu/library/writers-voice/wvoice.html

on campus

music fraternity Delta omicron sponsored the second annual Southwestern University Arts Festival. The event included activities like an instrument petting zoo and face painting.

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For the latest campus news, follow Southwestern on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SU_News

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Curl up with a Wolff! Write to [email protected] with your ideas for improving Southwestern magazine. The readers who submit the top 10 best ideas will receive a complimentary copy of one of Tobias Wolff’s books.




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nitLe: innovation at Home at su

Over the summer, Southwestern became the new home for the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE—pronounced “nightly” by those in the know), a technology initiative that serves more than 130 colleges in the United States and abroad.

NITLE was established in 2001 with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to provide small liberal arts colleges with enhanced technological solutions. NITLE has operated through a network of centers and regional offices, with staff in nine states.

W. Joseph ( Joey) King ’93, a Southwestern graduate who holds a Ph.D. in human-computer interaction from the University of Washington, was named the new executive director of NITLE when Jo Ellen Parker left to become president of Sweet Briar

College in Virginia on July 1. He has also been named vice president for innovation at Southwestern.

“I am tremendously excited about the future of NITLE,” King says. “Our goal is to provide participating institu-tions with technological solutions that add to their effectiveness in teaching. Being campus-based will allow NITLE to develop best practices and both test and demonstrate them in a real world learning environment.”

Southwestern was one of the first institutions to participate in NITLE and currently serves as a regional host campus for NITLE staff who design and deliver professional development and networking programs for faculty, technologists and librarians from participating campuses.

The Mellon Foundation played a critical role in the transition of NITLE to Southwestern, including the transfer of $4 million in existing grants and operating funds.

“When NITLE’s full team of distrib-uted experts is marshaled under Southwestern’s innovative and efficient leadership, valuable synergies are sure to emerge,” says Philip E. Lewis, vice president for the foundation’s Liberal Arts Colleges Program.

Southwestern President Jake B. Schrum ’68, says the move should greatly raise Southwestern’s visibility within the liberal arts community. He described it as a “watershed event” that resulted from the quality of Southwestern’s faculty, students, staff and academic programs. Read about King’s vision for NITLE on Page 50.

environmental studies Program unique in texas

Southwestern’s environmental studies program has received a major boost thanks to $1.3 million in funding from three recent grants.

Laura Hobgood-Oster, chair of the environmental studies program,

Southwestern: Environmental LeaderSouthwestern President Jake B. Schrum ’68, furthers the University’s commitment to environmental leader-ship by signing the american College and University Presidents Climate Commitment as internationally known environmental activist, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and 2009 Shilling lecturer, Wangari maathai, looks on. For more information on the Presidents Climate Commitment, v is i t w w w.president sclimate commitment.org.

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says the new additions the funds will provide to the program will give Southwestern “a unique approach to environmental studies that no other school in Texas has and few others in the country have.”

A $750,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is designed to expand the global emphasis of Southwestern’s Environmental Studies Program.

A portion of the funds will be used to develop a new course titled “Introduction to Cultural Studies” in collaboration with the Modern Languages and Literatures Department. “Unless we understand the cultures that are engaging in environmentally destructive practices, we can’t begin to change the way we live,” says Hobgood-Oster.

It will also enable Southwestern to hire its first full-time tenure-track faculty member dedicated to envi-ronmental geography, which is a branch of geography that offers tools for measuring human impact on the environment.

“An environmental geographer will bring critically important analytical

tools to our program,” Hobgood-Oster says. “Students will learn skills that will translate into better research design and into more informed and measurable sustainability and advo-cacy projects.”

To go along with the grant, Southwestern will create a new Mellon Environmental Fellows program. Five students a year will be offered a $5,000 fellowship to participate in a study abroad program that has an emphasis on environmental issues.

The Mellon Environmental Fellows will provide key student leadership to the new Center for Social and Environmental Justice, which will facilitate environmental research proj-ects on campus and in the community. A major goal of the Center will be to help students integrate their study abroad experiences into local projects.

A $436,000 gift from the Kendeda Fund will be used to buy the equip-ment for the Geographic Information Systems lab as well as support various sustainability projects on campus such as the Environmental Fellows program.

An additional $129,000 grant from the Associated Colleges of the

South has enabled the Environmental Studies Program to hire Jinelle Sperry, a postdoctoral fellow who recently completed a Ph.D. in conservation biology at the University of Illinois. She began teaching a biodiversity course this fall.

admission goes greenSouthwestern’s new admission

center opened this spring to positive reviews from visitors and employees alike.

The new Wilhelmina Cul len Admission Building is located behind the original Cullen Building, and enables all of Southwestern’s admission counselors and financial assistance staff to be in the same area.

Tom Oliver ’98, vice president for enrollment services, says the new building gives his staff the space they need to accommodate the growing number of visitors to campus. This year campus visits were up 15 to 20 percent. The new building has three to four times the reception space of the old admission office on the first floor of the original Cullen Building.

“The admission office is where first impressions are made,” says Oliver. “The new building is definitely one of the nicer facilities of its type in the region. It’s hard not to be impressed.”

The new building is a “green” building, and was designed to earn Gold LEED certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. At least 20 percent of the materials used in the building were extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. All paints, finishes, adhesives and sealants used on the interior of the building had low VOC content. The building is also surrounded by landscaping that uses native plants. Construction was funded by the Cullen Trust for Higher Education of Houston.

The new Wilhelmina Cullen admission Center is beautiful, practical and green.

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it’s 1905 all Over againA lost tradit ion returned to

Southwestern this spring as students revived the Brooks Prize Debate as well as an oratory competition.

Matthew Maschino ’09, a political science major, brought back the debate with the help of Sarah Gould, who is now a senior English major.

Last summer, Maschino spent hours doing research in the Special Collections section of Southwestern’s A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center. He especially looked into the four literary societies—two male and two female—which were the focus of social life at Southwestern in its early years.

In 1878, the two men’s societies began holding a debate with each other during commencement week. Within 10 years, it was the most significant campus event of the year

The 2009 Brooks Prize Debate topic, “Resolved: That Multinational Corporations Are a Menace

to Societies Around the Globe,” echoed the topic of 1905’s debate, “The Gigantic Industrial

Combinations Are a Menace to the Public.”

More Students Than Ever Say Yes! to SUIn a year when the economy hit record lows (Are you there 401k? It’s me, Retirement…) the office of admission had more than a few families ask, “Is a Southwestern education worth it?” Judging by the numbers, the answer is a definitive, “yes!”

Southwestern received a record number of admission applications for the 2009-10 academic year—nearly 30 percent over the previous year. The strong applicant pool translated to more acceptances and 2009-10 enrollment is tracking to be one of the largest in SU history.

of the incoming class: 49 percent graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class. out-of-state students account for 11.8 percent of the incoming class and 23.8 percent are from minority populations. Both overall SaT and aCT scores are up from last year.

Students debate in hopes of receiving the Brooks Prize.

and eventually came to include all students. The debates focused on prevalent, controversial issues of the day, such as women’s suffrage and the future of telegraphs and railroads. Local and state leaders attended, as well as nationally recognized guests and speakers.

In 1904, Southwestern named the event the Brooks Prize Debate after 1884 graduate Richard Edwards Brooks. As a student, Brooks had been a debater and helped establish the campus literary magazine. After graduation, he provided funds for a

gold medal and book scholarships for the winners of the debate.

The 2009 debate was won by Alex Caple, a senior communication studies and political science major, and Brian Tidwell, a junior anthropology major. Both received $2,000 as well as a medal that was specially designed for the occasion.

Gould says the Student Foundation is considering taking over the coor-dination of the Brooks Prize Debate, with hope that it will continue for many years to come.

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twenty-something makes major musical discovery

Megan McCarty ’09 was taking a music seminar on song cycles during her junior year when Professor of Music Michael Cooper told his students they had to write about something not covered in class for their final paper. Unsure what to do, McCarty asked Cooper for an idea.

“He suggested I look into Franz Liszt,” McCarty recalls. “I was confused at first because, to my knowledge at the time, Liszt had not written any song cycles—only individual songs.”

Nevertheless, McCarty set to work. The results of her research surprised even Cooper, who is one of the world’s foremost music scholars.

McCarty discovered that Liszt did, in fact, write a song cycle based on four poems—all based on love—by Victor Hugo, a prolific French writer who lived from 1802-1885. Song cycles are collections of songs written about a single theme or subject, often telling a story or tracing some sort of narrative. In addition to studying the texts of the four songs, she studied their musical composition to determine a common thread among them.

“What Megan did is really extraordinary,” Cooper says. “I have never seen this level of work in an undergraduate thesis. This is advanced doctoral work in all but name.”

Cooper believes McCarty may be the first twenty-something to discover a previously unrecognized song cycle by a major composer. “Most people who do this are in their 40s, 50s or 60s,” he says. “But most scholars go their entire career without discovering anything this important.”

“Because of Megan’s research, future music textbooks will need to be altered.”–Michael Cooper, professor of music.

Cooper says he suggested the project to McCarty because Liszt is among the least researched of the major composers. “There is a huge portion of his life we don’t know much about from a scholarly viewpoint,” he says.

Liszt, who lived from 1811-1886, was a world-famous piano player before he became a composer. Cooper says that even though Liszt set 80 poems to music, most scholarship has focused on his piano works, for which he is best known. Cooper and McCarty believe Liszt may have reconstituted the four songs into a song cycle in an effort to become taken more seriously as a composer.

“Since Liszt wrote cycles in every other genre in which he worked—including symphonic poems and piano pieces—it was logical to assume he would have written a song cycle, but no one had ever looked for this,” Cooper says. “I knew Megan had the combination of curiosity and perseverance to find something if it was there.”

McCarty expanded her original paper for the seminar into a 40-page honors thesis, which she successfully defended in April. McCarty graduated cum laude in May with a degree in music literature. She plans to spend the next year reworking her Liszt paper, as well as several other papers she has written. She hopes to submit them to the Journal of Musicological Research, and present them at regional meet-ings of the American Musicological Society and the College Music Society. She would like to enter a Ph.D. program in musicology in the fall of 2010.

In the coming year, McCarty will also continue her work as Cooper’s research assistant and will be his co-author on the Historical Dictionary of Romantic Music, which will be part of a series to be published by Scarecrow Press in 2013. She is also helping Cooper on his book, Secular Religion in Music from Mozart to Schoenberg, to be published in 2012.

megan mcCarty discovers song cycle by composer Franz liszt.

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two seniors Headed to bavaria on FulbrightsCarolyn Acker ’09 and Erin Osterhaus ’09, were awarded

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships in Germany and will be be teaching at schools in Bavaria for the 2009-10 academic year.

Acker graduated with a double major in German and anthropology and Osterhaus graduated with a degree in Spanish and French, and a minor in German.

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program is one of several academic exchange programs administered by the U.S. Department of State. “Fulbright Teaching Assistantship awards are very competitive and very prestigious,” says Erika Berroth, associate professor of German.

Acker and Osterhaus are following in the footsteps of 2008 graduates Amy Tanguay and Chelsea Edge, who also received Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships in Germany.

After her year in Germany, Osterhaus plans to attend graduate school for international affairs or Latin American studies. Acker plans to attend graduate school for social work or public health.

students design the Phone infrastructure for a new Country in Four days

A team of Southwestern students received a prestigious award as the result of their participation in an international mathematical modeling competition held earlier this year.

The competition was the 25th annual Mathematical Contest in Modeling sponsored by the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications. Students participated in the competition via computer in February. During a four-day period, they had to research, model and submit a solution to one of two modeling problems. More than 1,675 teams from 14 countries participated in the contest.

The Southwestern team, consisting of Stephen Foster ’09, Bobby Potter ’09 and junior Tommy Rogers, was one of nine teams named “Outstanding Winner” for their work modeling “Problem B,” in which students were asked to design the phone infrastructure for a new country.

Foster, Potter and Rogers also won the prestigious SIAM Award in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling for their solution to “Problem B.” The SIAM Award is given by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

Preserving Local HistoryThanks to the efforts of a group of students in

Southwestern’s Paideia® Program, a piece of Georgetown history has been documented and preserved.

Three years ago, students in Michael Kamen’s Paideia cohort were looking for a community service project. They met with Kimberly Garrett, parks and recreation director for the City of Georgetown, who suggested they research the history of a house that used to be located in Rivery Park, along the San Gabriel River hike and bike trail.

The house was built in the mid-1800s by the Shell family, who used the surrounding land as a ranch. The family sold the 263-acre property in 1972 and it traded hands several times before Georgetown acquired it for parkland in the mid-1990s. Today, all that remains of the house is part of the foundation and steps, as well as a cistern.

Students visited the property, went to the Georgetown Library and the Williamson County Museum to get informa-tion on the house and talked to several descendants of the Shell family before using $1,500 from a 3M grant to Southwestern to develop a sign that gives the history of the house. Carlos Barron, a senior art major, was hired to create a drawing of the house, which was “like reconstructing a suspect in a crime scene,” says Kamen, associate professor of education.

Fulbright Scholars erin osterhaus (left) and Carolyn acker (right) say “auf Wiedersehen” to associate Professor of german erika Berroth.

Paideia® Professors David gaines and michael Kamen join Carlos Barron and Derek Sample ’09 in preserving georgetown history. also pictured right: Kimberly garrett, City of georgetown.

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Pirate Baseball Brings the HeatStarting pitcher, sophomore Brantley Freeman, was named to the 2009 CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District baseball second team for his outstanding sportsmanship and his 3.93 GPA. Freeman helped the Pirates close out the season with a fourth place finish in the SCAC.

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Lady Pirate golfers above Par for third year running

For three years in a row the SU women’s golf team has placed first in their confer-ence, the NGCA All-West Region, and for each of those years Coach Dan Ruyle has been honored as Coach of the Year. There are 10 available positions on the NGCA All-West Region Team; four of those positions were filled by SU women’s golf team members:Marisa Mauldin ’09 and juniors Emily Bartholet, Kristen Davenport and Cody Wallace. Sophomore Victoria Dominguez earned the honor of selection to the SCAC Women’s Golf All-Sportsmanship Team.

The team’s outstanding conference ranking led them to the NCAA Championships in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the week after final exams. The team finished the tournament in fourth place. Mauldin earned third place individually. Mauldin and Bartholet were named to the NGCA Division III All-American First Team.

First year’s a WinnerIn its inaugural season, the SU women’s softball team performed like a seasoned

team, finishing in first place in the SCAC West Division with a record of 9-3. Their high placement brought the team to the SCAC Conference Tournament where they finished the season with an overall record of 19-16.

Coach Angela Froboese was named a 2009 SCAC Coach of the Year. First-year student Kaitlyn Pavlicek (pictured) was named to the first team All-SCAC Softball team. Receiving all-conference honorable mentions were junior Katelyn Gola and first-year students Taylor Turpin and Blair Wallace. Turpin was also the recipient of the SCAC All-Sportsmanship award.

baseball: Named to the 2009 All- SCAC Baseball team were pitcher Wes Willis ’09 and catcher Michael Murphy ’09. Willis had the best ERA at 3.54, most wins with six, and led Southwestern in complete games with four, including a complete game shutout against conference rival Trinity University. Murphy led Southwestern at the plate with a .367 batting average, 55 hits, a .493 slugging percentage and doubles with 13, including three in one game against Austin College. Murphy was also named to the first-ever SCAC All-Sportsmanship team.

men’s golf: Finished in sixth place at the SCAC Championships, held in Tunica, Miss.

track: Five new school records were set at the SCAC Championships, where

the Southwestern men placed eighth and SU women placed seventh.

tennis: The women’s tennis team finished seventh and the men eighth at the SCAC Championship Tournament.

swimming: Jessie Carrier ’09 was Southwestern’s first Academic All-American. Both the men’s and women’s teams received All-American Team Awards. The women had the fourth highest GPA in all of Division III. Interim Head Swimming and Diving Coach Nicole Kaupp and Interim Assistant Coach Scott McLean were named to the 2009 SCAC Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.

Leadership: Glada Munt, associate vice president and director of inter-collegiate athletics, was named the 2008-09 Under Armour Athletics

Director of the Year for the Division III West Region.

new athletics staff: Southwestern announces Dan Carrington as its new head swim coach for men and women. Dan Mulford is the new assistant lacrosse coach and Bill Bowman is a volunteer assistant lacrosse coach. Megan Hardin is the new sports infor-mation director.

new Web site: This summer, SU Athletics launched its newly redesigned Website:www.southwesternpirates.com. New features allow fans to follow and support the Pirates in a variety of ways:followthedepartmentonTwitteror Facebook, purchase photos or shop for Pirate gear with a portion of the proceeds going to SU Athletics.

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Estate planning can be a complex endeavor, but one that brings

great rewards as well. Southwestern University’s development

team can help facilitate the process.

For useful tools and resources, please visit our new Web site at:

www.southwestern.plannedgifts.org


a book review by larkin TomDirector of Foundation relations

Old School takes place in 1960 at a boys’ prep school in a wooded arcadia, a long train ride north of New York City. “I pictured the black-beamed dining hall loud with voices. The chapel windows blazing red on winter afternoons. The comradely sound of the glee club practicing, the scrape of skates on the outdoor rink, a certain chair in the library. . .” The speaker is the book’s nameless narrator, a scholarship boy from the Pacific Northwest adrift in the chilly waters of WASP privilege.

In just a few years that world of certainties would fracture. Though the old order would eventually knit itself back together again, the iron imperatives of class would never be quite the same. But the mad sprint of the Sixties still lay ahead, and the protagonist must come of age in a world of rules no less binding for being unarticulated. “Class was a fact. Not just the clothes a boy wore, but how he wore them. How he spent his summers. The sports he knew how to play. His way of turning cold at the mention of money, or at the spectacle of ambition too nakedly revealed. You felt it as a depth of ease in certain boys, their innate, affable assurance that they would not have to struggle for a place in the world.”

But the school has its routes to earned success as well. All the boys worship at the shrine of literature. Leading writers are invited to campus to address the student body, and to meet with the boy who submits the winning entry to writing contests judged by the authors themselves. Like his fellows and like adolescents everywhere, the protagonist desires both to conceal his inner life and to reveal himself in a burst of authenticity. In this charged state, he enters upon a quest to write something that will demonstrate his superiority and win him an audience with the most thrilling celebrity author ofall:ErnestHemingway.Theplotturnsonhisambitionandthe lengths to which it drives him. As the headmaster of the school says, “Make no mistake … a true piece of writing is a dangerous thing. It can change your life.”

The title Old School, both ironically reverent and dismissive toward the citadels of WASP culture, expresses the book’s deep duality. Like Fitzgerald’s Midwestern dreamers before him, Wolff’s narrator is more than half in love with gothic chapels and the fine green lace of New England woods edging into spring. But the longest shadow the book casts is into the future—into the protagonist’s tour as a soldier in Vietnam; into years of work transforming himself into a writer; into a reconfigured, unexpected world. The most compelling aspect of this complex, successful novel is its artful positioning at a turning point in time, when for a moment the “Old School” still reigned.

Looking for other recommendations? Visit the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center Web site: www.southwestern.edu/library/reviews/what-reading/html/

Engaging Find: tobias Wolff’s Old School


“Through Southwestern Snapshot admission events, alumni convinced more than 60 percent of undecided

students to attend Southwestern.”

Dear Southwestern University Alumni,

A characteristic that defines the Southwestern community is a commitment to service —a willingness to give to causes that benefit others. Last year, 527 alumni volunteered their time and talents in support of University and Association initiatives. Their involve-ment ranged from planning class reunions to engaging alumni through local events to serving as career mentors to students. Their contributions help the Association achieve its vision of “a lifelong Southwestern Experience.”

With the recruitment of the Class of 2013, 383 incoming students have already begun their Southwestern Experience and alumni are contributing to that experience. Between the Admission Recruiting Efforts by Alumni (A.R.E.A.) volunteers and the local associations that helped sponsor admission events, nearly 21 percent of deposited incoming students encountered alumni at least once during their admission process. As recruitment for high-caliber students becomes more competitive with other colleges and universities, alumni involvement is critical to Southwestern’s success. Are you wondering how you can help? One of the easiest ways to help is to identify gifted students who may be a good fit for Southwestern. To refer a student to Southwestern, visit www.southwestern.edu/alumnireferral/

As we enter the next school year, I hope you will consider your place in the Southwestern family and offer to share your pride with others. The energy and enthusiasm of volunteers will help propel Southwestern for years to come. All alumni have the opportunity to be advocates for the University in ways that are meaningful and gratifying. As members of The Association of Southwestern University Alumni, we are making significant contributions to the University and are setting a high standard for future generations of graduates. Help keep the tradition alive by volunteering to support Southwestern. If you are interested in volunteering, I invite you to contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 800-960-6363 or [email protected].

I look forward to seeing you at the 100th anniversary of Southwestern’s first Homecoming, Nov. 6-8.

Sincerely,

Ann Tyrrell Cochran ’72 President, The Association of Southwestern University Alumni


aLumni neWs

new and improved www.sualumni.net

The Association of Southwestern University Alumni is pleased to announce its newly redesigned Web site, www.sualumni.net. The Web site offers a more comprehensive source of information and services available to alumni. Connect with alumni groups, post your own class note, register for events, volunteer your time, offer ideas, participate in lifelong learning activities and utilize the online alumni directory. If you have not already done so, register to use the redesigned Web site by Oct. 30 to enter your name in a drawing for a Southwestern ring. Visit The Association’s Web site today to see what is available for you!

get into the Picture at Homecoming

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is a special time to celebrate cher-ished memories and friendships formed at Southwestern. This year’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Nov. 6-8, marks the 100th anniversary of Southwestern’s first Homecoming held in 1909. The Association of Southwestern University Alumni is planning a number of activities and events to commemorate this historic event. All are encouraged to attend. Class reunions will be celebrated, local associations will gather for receptions, alumni connection groups will meet and a panoramic photo will be taken in honor of this historic occasion. More information can be found by visiting www.sualumni.net. You may also contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at [email protected] or 800-960-6363. Of course you are coming. You cannot think of missing it.

2010 volunteer Leadership Weekend

If you have an interest in planning your class reunion, helping with a local association, forming an alumni connection group, recruiting prospec-tive students or assisting the University with fundraising initiatives, you will not want to miss this informative and fun weekend. It will provide an opportunity for volunteers to meet one another, share ideas and get a head start on planning for the year. The 2010 Volunteer Leadership Weekend is scheduled for Jan. 29-30. Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at [email protected] or 800-960-6363 for more information.

alumni Propose university Columbarium

Motivated by the sentiment that Southwestern played a sacred role in their lives, a committee of alumni have proposed building a colum-barium next to the Lois Perkins Chapel on Southwestern’s campus. A columbarium is a structure with niches that serve as a burial vault for the containment of urns holding cremated remains. Many churches have bui lt columbaria on their grounds. Southwestern’s architec-tural firm drafted some conceptual drawings so that the committee could share the idea of a columbarium with alumni and measure interest. Should they determine that there is enough interest to garner the necessary early commitments, they will ask the Board of Trustees to consider the columbarium as one of Southwestern’s building projects. Niches in the colum-barium would cost $5,000, which would include the cost of construc-tion, maintenance for perpetuity and a scholarship contribution to the

University Endowment. In order to proceed, 125 initial commitments are needed. Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at [email protected] or 800-960-6363 for more information.

Express your interest.

Visit www.sualumni.net/columbarium


I just received, and read, the latest issue of Southwestern. The first class note listed was from the class of 1952. It seems to me that we older alumni have more to offer than is represented in Class Notes. members of my class and those before had fought in WWII, returned home and started families all before the members of ’52 got sized for their mortarboards. at any rate, my wife, Catherine “LaVerne” Walden Melbert ’43 and I are celebrating our 65th wedding anniversary this year.

laVerne and I attended Southwestern from 1939 to 1943. old history, but she was miss Southwestern and queen of the golden Bowl in 1943. Those were two of mrs. ruth Ferguson’s (dean of women) most important achievements for the ladies of the laura Kuykendall Hall. (We unappreciative men always called them “the gracious and lovely girls of lK Hall.”)

We didn’t have a golf team, but laVerne did enjoy the game as part of her physical education classes. During the war years, there were no intercollegiate sports except football, so students golfed the former 9-hole course on the Southwestern campus, as well as the three holes located in front of lK Hall. really, it was mainly used for courting in the evenings.

I haven’t been to the SU campus since our 50th reunion in 1993. But I do remember how it was back in the “good ole days.”

Life at SU Didn’t Start in ’52an e-mail from James Melbert ’43

CLass nOtes

Class Notes: The Original Social Networklong before Facebook, Twitter and linkedIn, Class Notes kept alumni informed about marriages, births, job promotions, cross-country moves, first marathons, books authored, Ph.D.s earned, gatherings held, fun had and more.

Tried and true, Class Notes is still a great way to share your good news, promote your business, update classmates and friends, and celebrate the lifelong Southwestern Experience.

Submit your own Class Note and read others at www.sualumni.net.


1931Lola Haden McDaniel, la marque, received her 50-year membership pin from the george Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the american revolution, Texas, the first and oldest Dar chapter in Texas. mcDaniel served as regent of the george Washington Chapter from 1967 to 1969. She and her husband, the late Moran Kuykendall McDaniel ’33, met at Southwestern and married in 1937. The mcDaniels contributed significantly to the history of galveston County, particularly the City of la marque. local history recalls that the petition to incorporate la marque was written and signed on the mcDaniels’ kitchen table in 1953. mcDaniel has served on the galveston museum Board of Directors, taught school in galveston, and, as a member of the Texas Historical Survey Committee, researched historical churches in galveston, contributing plaque and marker information. Her current passion, along with playing bridge, is the mcDaniel Charitable Foundation. In 1999, the Foundation created a scholarship program for galveston County students “to support programs, projects and education that enhance the quality of life within the local community and the state of Texas.” Its mission is “to produce profound good that is inspired by the directors and which implements the mcDaniels’ desire for education and knowledge.”

1941Marvin Henderson, georgetown, placed second in the men’s 85 Singles bracket at the United States Tennis association (USTa) National Indoor Tennis Tournament. He and his doubles partner also placed first in the men’s 85 Doubles bracket at the USTa National Hardcourt Tennis Championships.

1949J. Roy Moses, Kerrville, was honored with an edith Fox King award by the Interscholastic league Press Conference of the University Interscholastic league in recognition for distinguished contributions and outstanding devotion to scholastic journalism education in Texas. moses is an assistant professor emeritus of journalism at the University of North Texas.

1952Betty Jasperson Smith, Canyon lake, [see 1985].

1953 Myron Dees, Canyon, has been inducted into the llano High School athletic Hall of Fame for his athleticism in football, basketball, baseball, track and tennis.

Robert Sledge, abilene, is a distinguished professor emeritus of history at mcmurry University and was honored in Indianapolis, Ind., as the 11th alpha Chi National College Honor Society Distinguished alumnus. His wife, Marjorie Stout Sledge ’57, accompanied him. He has recently published two books: James Winford Hunt, Founder of McMurry College, and A People, A Place: The Story of Abilene, 1880-1940.

1955F. Ellsworth Peterson, georgetown, was named the recipient of the 2009 Community arts leadership award given by georgetown’s Performing arts alliance. Peterson, Southwestern University professor emeritus of music, was recognized for his work in initiating the Festival of the arts in georgetown and for his contributions to the georgetown Symphony Society. In honor of his 75th birthday, the georgetown Symphony Society initiated The ellsworth Peterson Society as a fundraising organization for the georgetown Festival of the arts.

Rev. Jerry Jay Smith, Canyon lake, [see 1985].

1957Rev. Gordon Roe, lewisville, is enjoying his eighth year of retirement. In addition to playing golf and bridge regularly, he teaches english as a Second language to adults and sings in several choirs. He is chair of the rotary District Teacher exchange committee, sending teachers to mexico to teach english and hosting mexican teachers coming to Texas to teach Spanish. He also is chair of the lewisville Cultural arts alliance.

Marjorie Stout Sledge, abilene, [see 1953].

1961Mary Louise Meyers Gulley, Houston, came out of retirement to work on a special 18-month project for exxonmobil.

William Seale Jr., Jasper, is an independent historian and one of the United States’ leading experts on the restoration of historic homes and build-ings, specializing in state capitols and other public buildings. The Johns Hopkins University Press recently published a second edition of Seale’s two-volume work, The President’s House: A History.

1964 Buckley O’Day, Santa Fe, served in the United States army Special Forces. He is a former member of mensa and the Society of Petroleum engineers, which is part of The american Institute of mining, metallurgical and Petroleum engineers.

1965Charlotte Darden Reed, Boerne, wrote a cookbook, Enjoyment of Life, which has been well-received both locally and statewide.

1967 John Ozmun, Dallas, completed his seventh Bike mS ride in may. The race is a 150-mile plus ride to raise awareness and money for people with multiple sclerosis. ozmun says, “one of the lessons I have learned over the years is that this ride is not about me. It is all about the people who have mS and the debilitating effects on them. People who have this are just like you and me.”

1968Claire Cole Lillie, Houston, is in her 23rd year as a substitute teacher and tutor in Klein ISD. She and her husband of 40 years, John, have three children and four grandchildren. They enjoy extensive travel in the United States and europe. most recently, they took a 17-day land tour of Scandinavia and Saint Petersburg, russia. lillie is active in four historical organizations, having served at the local and state levels.


1969Rev. Dr. Roberto L. Gomez, mission, is in his 11th year as pastor of el mesías United methodist Church. He serves on the Texas methodist Foundation board of directors and acted as the rio grande Conference clergy delegate to the 2008 United methodist general Conference. He is a member of the Texas methodist Foundation Publishing House board of directors, where he serves on the execu-tive committee and chairs the committee on marketing and sales. He has published sermons in abingdon Preaching annuals for 2007, 2008 and 2009. gomez also serves on the Southwestern University Board of Trustees.

1970Jan Tankersley Boeckel, Fair oaks ranch, is a licensed professional counselor and works as a school counselor.

Rev. Fred Winslow, leander, retired in 2007 after 35 years of ministry in the United methodist Church. He and his wife, Sharon, are enjoying retirement and highly recommend it. Says Winslow, “We are able to combine travel with mission work and love this phase of ministry.”

1972Rev. Dr. J. Eric McKinney, georgetown, was named a consultant for the Institute for Clergy and Congregational excellence for the Texas methodist Foundation, where he will continue to facilitate two clergy development groups. mcKinney has served in the United methodist Central Texas Conference for more than 30 years in a variety of settings, including senior pastor of First United methodist Church of georgetown, district superintendent and interim chaplain at Southwestern University. He also is a member of the Southwestern University Board of Trustees.

Dr. Claire Peel, Birmingham, ala., was named associate provost for faculty development and faculty affairs at The University of alabama at Birmingham (UaB), before which she served as interim associate provost since November 2006. Peel joined UaB’s department of physical therapy in 1996. She served as assistant dean of the school and interim chair of

the department of critical care before becoming associate dean for academic and student affairs for the School of Health Professions. She holds a certificate in physical therapy from The University of Texas medical Branch in galveston, a master of science degree in physical therapy from the University of Southern California and a doctorate in physical education from The University of Iowa.

1974marrIage: Cate Foster to Neil Ormond, Nov. 29, 2008, living in Clovis, Calif.

1975Carol Armitage McCall, Cedar Park, graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in media and communication.

1976Bill Ashley Jr., Houston, retired after 30 years of working at IBm. He looks forward to catching up with old friends. ashley and his wife, mary, have two children, William III and Victoria.

Kim Tipton, San antonio, retired from teaching after 28 years. She now works part time for Pearson Publishing Company. She states, “I have traveled all over the world but love to come home to my two dogs.”

1977Edith Brown Tunstall, Waco, teaches K-2 music at Whitney elementary School.

1979Lisa Pelosi Butterfield, Spicewood, participated in the filming of the HBo movie “Temple grandin” when her two great Danes appeared in the scenes filmed in Bastrop. Her dog, lucy, appeared on the July 2008 cover of Austin Monthly magazine.

Rev. Andrew Smith, lakeway, [see 1985].

Bill Williams, Houston, joined lockton Companies llC in 2006 as a senior vice president and team leader after 25 years with another consulting firm. Williams lives with his partner, Juan, and their four Italian greyhounds.

1980Carol Bender Maak, Houston, teaches fourth grade in Katy ISD. maak has 28 years experience as a teacher. She and her husband, Bill, have a son, Brooks.

1981Dr. Edward R. Sherwood, galveston, serves as director of the m.D.-Ph.D. combined degree program at The University of Texas medical Branch. Sherwood is professor and vice chair for research in the department of anesthe-siology and holder of the James F. arens endowed chair in anesthesiology. He also holds a joint appointment in the depart-ment of microbiology and immunology. Highly praised for his teaching, Sherwood received the James F. arens award for excellence in Teaching from the residents in the department of anesthesiology. He is well known for his research on the immune response after burn injury and sepsis, and his contributions have led to the discovery of new treatment modalities for the critically injured and septic patient. He has an outstanding publication record and has been continuously funded for his work, with current awards from the National Institutes of Health and Shriners of North america. In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Sherwood is active as a clinician, providing care for critically injured burn patients. He has been listed in the Best Doctors in America (2007-2008).

1983Diana Nelson Meadows, Boonville, md., recently relocated from Corinth, and is enjoying retirement with her husband, Joe.

1984Michael English, georgetown, works for the City of austin Water Utility as a treatment operations and maintenance technician.

Dr. Ray Page, aledo, was named president of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, a large oncology group with eight practice locations across North Texas. He will continue to serve as its director of research and will maintain cancer education and research collaborative efforts with the National Cancer Institute‘s pharmaceutical clinical trials. Page is also


an associate professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

BIrTH: Chessica and Brian Burton, Sherman, a son, Brennan Jackson Burton, Jan. 22, 2009.

1985Randy Bowden, Haubstadt, Ind., works as assistant vice president and senior loan review officer for Integra Bank N.a. He has 24 years experience in the banking industry. He and his wife, Felicia, have three sons.

Sharon Walker Fillion, austin, earned a doctorate in education/school improvement at Texas State University.

Samuel Jay Smith, New york, N.y., was awarded a master of divinity degree from general Seminary, the United States’ oldest episcopal seminary, may 20, 2009.

Smith won the preaching prize for the year at general and preached the sermon at the commencement ceremony. He will be ordained a deacon in the episcopal Church. Smith is the son of Jerry Jay Smith ’55 and Betty Jasperson Smith ’52, brother to Andrew Smith ’79, and uncle to Maggie Smith Wolfe ’06.

marrIage: Patti Ross to Joe loya, Dec. 20, 2008, living in Danbury.

1987Lisa Auanger, Hampton, Va., has been named Foreign language Teacher of the year for Hampton City Schools.

Shed Boren, miami, Fla., serves as Ceo of Sister emmanuel Hospital. He earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of miami. His dissertation, “Ignoring ambiguity: legitimating Clinical Decisions,” explores end-of-life

decision making by health care ethics committees in american hospitals.

Amy Wink, austin, has published her second book, Tandem Lives: The Frontier Texas Diaries of Henrietta Baker Embree and Tennessee Keys Embree, 1856-1884.

1988Mike Timlin, Tarpon Springs, Fla., of the Boston red Sox, won the 2008 lou gehrig memorial award. The award is presented annually to the major league baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Baseball Hall of Famer lou gehrig.

1990BIrTH: Christopher Damon and Judith Manriquez, a daughter, alana Winn Damon, may 12, 2008.

1991Roxanne Barnes, Cincinnati, ohio, designed and published her second book, Wide Open Spaces, Selected Poetry 2002-2008. This book, along with her first, New Life and Joy: Songs in the Shadow, are available for purchase at www.stores.lulu.com/roxannebarnes/

Cile Spelce Elley, austin, and her husband, Chris elley, were honored by the National academy of Television arts and Sciences lone Star region with an emmy® for outstanding achievement in Documentary for their film “ghost Town: 24 Hours in Terlingua.” The elleys own the documentary film production company electro-Fish media, which specializes in films, tourism marketing and media coaching. electro-Fish was also honored with an emmy® award nomination for outstanding achievement in editing. Through The University of Texas System, elley worked on the team of producers for the public television series “State of Tomorrow,” which was also recognized by the National academy of Television arts and Sciences lone Star emmy® awards for outstanding effort in Broadcasting in Texas. “State of Tomorrow” was recognized for three episodes of the 13-part series: “Shadow of a Doubt,” about the innocence clinics formed within public higher education institutions in the wake of scientific advancements in DNa evidence; “aging

College President: B. David Rowe ’87The Centenary College Board of Trustees announced the appointment of B. David rowe, Ph.D., as the next president of Centenary College of louisiana, beginning august 1, 2009.

a Texas native and an ordained United methodist minister, rowe served for the past nine years as the Vice President for advancement at lagrange College in lagrange, ga.

“The Board of Trustees and I are excited that Dr. rowe will be assuming leader-ship at Centenary College,” says William anderson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “David brings substantial experience in institutional advancement as well as a deep passion for higher education and expanding opportunities for the college and our students. We are very fortunate to have someone with his background in college development, experience and vision to assist the College in continued success and progress.”

rowe received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Southwestern, his master of Divinity from emory University and his Ph.D. in higher education from georgia State University. Prior to assuming his position at lagrange College, he held administrative posts at Wesleyan College (ga.), oxford College of emory University and Candler School of Theology at emory.

He and his wife, Jodi, have two sons, Carter and Philip.


With Dignity,” in which physicians explore treatments for age-related illnesses; and “The Future of energy,” regarding higher education experts across the state working to solve the world’s energy crisis. The series also received two lone Star emmy® awards in 2007.

BIrTH: michele and Bohdy Hedgcock, rumson, N.J., a son, Connal James Hedgcock, June 24, 2008.

1992Kimberly Long Harmer, Weatherford, is a full-time mother of six, ages 3 months to 11 years. She teaches the 16-18 year-old girls at her church, where her husband, Dr. Jon-Paul Harmer, is bishop of the congregation.

Kyla Lawson Hastie, amherst, mass., serves as assistant regional director for external affairs for the northeast region of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service after nine years in the Service’s southeast region. Hastie oversees communications in the 13-state region, including interac-tions with the news media, Congress and Native american tribes, as well as the region’s Internet presence, and audiovisual and publication production.

Joseph “Joe” Wilson, austin, [see 1993].

BIrTHS: Dr. Jon-Paul and Kimberly Long Harmer, Weatherford, a son, Brigham alexander Harmer, Dec. 3, 2008; Thomas and Maria Gil Murray, marble Falls, a daughter, mallon addison murray, Jan. 29, 2009.

1993Steve Alex, Houston, is the chief financial officer for environmental Tree and Design Inc., a company that moves large trees for preservation during construction projects. environmental Tree and Design Inc. has been awarded the tree services contract for the World Trade Center memorial grove. The design calls for the delivery of 437 custom-grown mature trees in time for the memorial’s opening. alex and his wife, Suzanne, have two children, Will and Kate.

Kim Goldsmith Kobersmith, Sharon, Conn., relocated from alaska. Her current vocation is full-time mom to her two children, Sayer and Cavan.

Alyssa Perz-Edwards, Durham, N.C., accepted the position of assistant dean of Trinity College at Duke University, after teaching in the biology department for eight years. as assistant dean, she advises undergraduate students about major selection. She states, “I have developed an interest in mentoring students that come to Duke academically underprepared and helping them to develop the skills and find the confidence to succeed in a challenging academic environment.” She will also work closely with pre-medical students and members of the basketball and football teams.

W. Joseph “Joey” King, Fort Worth, has been named the new executive director of the National Institute for Technology in liberal education (NITle), a technology initiative that serves more than 130 colleges in the United States. Southwestern has become the new home for the NITle. King assumed his new position in mid-may and, as a result of NITle’s relocation to Southwestern, he will hold the title of vice president for innovation at Southwestern. (refer to Page 27 for a detailed story.) additionally, Phi Beta Kappa, a society that champions and fosters the value of study in the liberal arts and sciences, honored King with a membership in march.

Dr. Paul Tatum, Columbia, mo., serves as assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of missouri, where he teaches geriatrics and palliative medicine.

Darien Kubik Wilson, austin, and husband, Joe Wilson ’92, announced the acquisition of their baby sling company, ZoloWear, by Today Baby Holdings Inc., based in Houston. Wilson says of the acquisition, “We’re thrilled that ZoloWear slings will continue to be manufactured in Texas, and by a family that shares our passion for babywearing.”

marrIage: Sonya Irani to Bill Wooley, Nov. 22, 2008, living in league City.

BIrTHS: Drs. Bibby and Lisa Jacob Mathew, millinocket, maine, a son, alexander Bibby mathew, oct. 3, 2008; miguel and Amy McDaniel Molina ’93, Fort Collins, Colo., a son, mateo enrique molina, may 1, 2008.

1994marrIage: Leslie Williams to luis Cerezo, Nov. 29, 2008, living in Houston.

BIrTHS: mauricio and Dr. Amy Kizer Cuellar, Pearland, a son, lucas mateo Cuellar, Jan. 28, 2009; Dr. Chris and Shannon Irish Foster ’95, Corpus Christi, a son, aiden Thomas Foster, Feb. 28, 2008; Sherry and Ajay Thomas, austin, a daughter, Jenna marie Thomas, aug. 12, 2008.

1995Maria Hanke-Boley, round rock, serves as associate project scientist at Weston Solutions Inc., working on environmental engineering projects throughout the country.

Robin Dutton-Cookston, San Francisco, Calif., published The Foggiest Idea: Tales of a Displaced Texan in San Francisco Mamaland, a collection of non-fiction essays about the transition to parenthood while adjusting to the culture of a new city.

Cathy Syverson Incardona, Bryan, serves as an english as a Second language teacher at Bryan High School. She lives with her husband, three children and two dogs.

BIrTHS: Dr. Chris ’94 and Shannon Irish Foster, Corpus Christi, a son, aiden Thomas Foster, Feb. 28, 2008; Drs. David and Dannette Smith Johnson, Clinton, miss., a daughter, Cadia Noel Johnson, oct. 2, 2008.

1996Elizabeth Albin, Falls Church, Va., serves in United States embassies around the world as a foreign service officer.

Patrick Dempsey, austin, [see 1997].

Denise Flinn, ann arbor, mich., has completed her geriatrics fellowship at the University of michigan. She plans to return to Texas to join The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San antonio as a clinical assistant professor of geriatrics.

marrIage: Bronwyn Stewart to David Sutherland, Sept. 27, 2008, living in Houston.

BIrTHS: Patrick and Amy Robins Dempsey ’97, austin, a daughter, Vivian ruth Dempsey, July 16, 2008; Hayden




and Dr. Celeste Arden Riley ’97, College Station, a son, Vaughn Hayden riley, april 6, 2009; Donald gallegos and Paula Scafe, austin, a daughter, Helen alta Scafe-gallegos, Nov. 10, 2007.

1997Genevieve Durham DeCesaro, lubbock, serves as associate professor of dance at Texas Tech University. She is associate chair of the department of theatre and dance, and was selected as the recipient of the President’s excellence in Teaching award for 2008-2009. DeCesaro and her husband, Patrick, have a daughter, Sofi evelyn.

Amy Robins Dempsey, austin, was honored when her home, which she designed and built, was featured on the austin american Institute of architects Home Tour. amy is married to Patrick Dempsey ’96.

Deborah Butler Espe, Cedar Park, works as a real estate broker for elite Homes and land.

David Leggett, Dallas, was elected President of the Board of Trustees of Second Thought Theatre. He has launched a new Web site: www.phlography.com, a visual blog which chronicles his daily life and works.

BIrTHS: Lawrence and Dr. Amanda Bounds Baumle, Houston, a daughter, gwendelyn Claire Baumle, Nov. 1, 2008; Patrick and Genevieve Durham DeCesaro, lubbock, a daughter, Sofi evelyn DeCesaro, Feb. 22, 2009; Patrick ’96 and Amy Robins Dempsey, austin, a daughter, Vivian ruth Dempsey, July 16, 2008; Chad and Amy Smith Edwards, austin, a son, Isaac gabriel edwards, aug. 26, 2008; David and Christine Sonnen Fernandez, San antonio, a son, Benjamin James Fernandez, Jan. 30, 2008; Daniela Dimitrievska-Heaslet and Robert “Scott” Heaslet, Skopje, macedonia, a son, logan Dimitri Heaslet, march 6, 2009; Michael Johnson and Kathleen Carberry, Houston, a daughter, Brigitte elizabeth Carberry Johnson, march 15, 2009; Hayden ’96 and Dr. Celeste Arden Riley, College Station, a son, Vaughn Hayden riley, april 6, 2009.

1998Dr. Chris Prichard, Houston, was appointed assistant professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery at Baylor College of medicine. He continues his ear, nose and throat practice with rosewood eNT.

Natalie Stanco, austin, serves as student relations director for The Texas exes at The University of Texas at austin. In her previous position in the office of relationship management and university events, Stanco advised and mentored many student organizations. She also has experience coordinating all of UT’s major events, including Commencement at the Tower, gone To Texas, explore UT and orange Santa.

Dr. Xiao Yun Wang, austin, practices medicine with austin Pathology associates at North austin medical Center. She earned her m.D. from UT Southwestern medical Center at Dallas. She completed an internal medicine internship with The University of Utah and a pathology residency with The University of Kansas, where she was also granted a cytopathology fellowship. Wang is certi-fied by the american Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology, and cytopathology. She and her husband, erik Tragus, have a son, Tavi Nesta Tragus.

Amy Wendling, omaha, Neb., is an assis-tant professor of philosophy at Creighton University. She has written a book, Karl Marx on Technology and Alienation, which discusses the interaction between humans and nature through technology.

marrIage: Mark Nash to Jacquelyne Ontiveros ’00, Nov. 22, 2008, living in Dallas.

BIrTH: Joshua and Crystal Heule Murray, leander, a son, griffin Heule murray, march 25, 2008.

1999Sara Hemenway, round rock, teaches world cultures and creative writing at Hutto middle School. She was one of six teachers selected to participate in a NaSa research program through the Texas Space grant Consortium (TSgC) that conducts experiments on the NaSa reduced gravity aircraft. Hemenway was selected for the program based on an application focusing on cross-curricular

education through cross-curricular development and applications in language arts and history classrooms. In 2006, she attended the TSgC liftoff Summer Institute: “return to the moon.”

Kevin Moore, Dallas, was named 2008 actor of the year by the Dallas Voice. over the past year, Kevin has appeared at Theatre Three, Uptown Players and Kitchen Dog Theater in productions of “Crimes of the Heart,” “Bent,” “The Facts of life: The lost episode” and “The goat, or Who Is Sylvia?”.

Adam Smithers, Washington, D.C., serves as a mathematics teacher at mcKinley Technology High School.

BIrTHS: Karl and Jennifer Gingrich Christianson, Boerne, a daughter, ellie Dzintra Christianson, July 16, 2008; Wes and Wenona Cave Taylor, Sweetwater, a daughter, mary elizabeth Taylor, Jan. 22, 2009.

2000Sarah Dreumont-Boudreau, Portland, ore., works in the behavioral neuroscience department at oregon Health Sciences University as a postdoctoral researcher.

April Brinkmeyer Griffin, leander, works as a staff technical writer for National Instruments. She lives with her husband, Tim, and their two dogs.

Niall McGinty, Chicago, Ill., performed in “The glass menagerie” in gainesville, Fla.

marrIageS: Danielle Brown ’05 to Tim Stapleton, June 21, 2008, living in Walnut Creek, Calif.; Jacquelyne Ontiveros to Mark Nash ’98, Nov. 22, 2008, living in Dallas; Katie Seawell to Justin rojo, Dec. 20, 2008, living in austin.

BIrTHS: laura and Richard Atherton, Dallas, a son, reid Travis atherton, april 12, 2009; glenn and Kathleen Frosch Longley, Beaverton, ore., a daughter, Karalynne Blue longley, march 3, 2008; Cecilia and Clint Rain, Irving, a daughter, Victoria elizabeth rain, march 3, 2009.

2001Josh Batenhorst, Canton, N.C., directed “The Santaland Diaries” as a part of asheville Community Theatre’s 2007-08 season. The show was voted Best of Western North Carolina in two categories by the readers of the Mountain Xpress,


asheville’s independent newspaper. The awards for Best locally Produced Play and Best live Show: Theatre made “The Santaland Diaries” the only dual-award winner in all of Western North Carolina.

Matthew Brown, Canton, ohio, works as assistant conductor for the Canton Symphony orchestra. He holds a master’s degree in conducting from the Peabody Conservatory, and worked as music director and conductor for the Harbor opera Company in Baltimore, md. among his responsibilities at the Canton Symphony are conducting the Cameo and Casual Friday concert series, Kinder Concerts and other education concerts, and the Canton youth Symphony. In may, he conducted the Zing in the City concert in downtown Canton.

Mark Corbin, Jersey City, N.J., is currently the sound audio engineer for iN Demand Networks in New york City. iN Demand provides all the movies on Demand services for big cable companies such as Time Warner, Comcast and Bright House. They also produce “Howard TV,” which is Howard Stern’s daily Sirius broadcast for television, and just completed their HiDef network called mojo. Corbin also owns a small audio company called CorbinSound where he mixes television shows and designs post-production studios.

Mandie Craft Eichenlaub, Tampa, Fla., serves as corporate counsel for WellCare Health Plans.

Tucker Henson, austin, [see 2004].

Sashenka Lopez, Denton, is pursuing a master’s degree in library information science at the University of North Texas.

E. Joanna Brinkoeter Soles, Hallsville, serves as associate athletic trainer and clinical coordinator for east Texas Baptist University.

marrIage: Joanna Brinkoeter to Jason Soles, Nov. 26, 2008, living in Hallsville.

BIrTH: Charlton and Ingrid Kliewer Vance, The Woodlands, a son, andrew James Vance, Feb. 16, 2009.

2002Sarah Winn Graham, Washington, D.C., works as a media manager with Connected Nation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that facilitates rural broadband deploy-ment through private-public partnerships.

Maggie Hawthorne, austin, earned a master’s degree in public health from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and works as an epidemiologist for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Joy Myers, Washington, D.C., works as a policy analyst for the government accountability office. myers earned her master’s degree in public policy from the University of michigan.

marrIageS: Adrianne Stropes to Shaler Wells, Feb. 14, 2009, living in austin;

Sarah Winn to Steven graham, Jan. 24, 2009, living in Washington, D.C.

BIrTH: William and Audrey Allen O’Neill ’03, Pflugerville, a daughter, avelyn Christine o’Neill, april 17, 2008.

2003Kelly Bledsoe, Dallas, is pursuing a master’s degree in english at The University of Texas at arlington.

Sarah Seawell Champie, San antonio, has moved back to Texas with her husband, Casey, and son, Blake, who is now three years old.

Brandy Fyffe, garland, teaches at Bridge Builder academy, a private home-school that focuses on individualized instruction in a minimally restrictive learning environment.

Dr. Ryan Fiedler Jones, Dallas, is an internal medicine resident at Baylor University medical Center. Her husband, Bryan Jones ’04, works as an estimator for Darling Homes.

Celestine Kan-Sutton, Houston, received a Ph.D. in pathology and immunology from The University of Texas at Houston Health Sciences Center. She works for apoCell Inc. doing clinical trial cancer research.

marrIageS: Carolina Herrera to Neal overstreet, aug. 2, 2008, living in New Braunfels; Bethany Thomas to rick Jordan, aug. 23, 2008, living in Dallas.

BIrTHS: Matthew and Krystyn Alter Hall, marietta, ga., a daughter, Natalie grace Hall, oct. 13, 2008; Bryan ’04 and Dr. Ryan Fiedler Jones, Dallas, a son, Sawyer andrew Jones, aug. 4, 2008; eric and Alejandra Rodriguez Mullett, San antonio, a daughter, Sophia elise mullett, Jan. 31, 2009; William ’02 and Audrey Allen O’Neill, Pflugerville, a daughter, avelyn Christine o’Neill, april 17, 2008.

2004Elizabeth Mills Henson, austin, is pursuing a master’s degree in health promotion at The University of Texas at austin. She is married to Tucker Henson ’01.

Bryan Jones, Dallas, [see 2003].

Erin Roe ’09 and her parents, Tricia and Grady Roe ’70, are all smiles following Commencement.

elle

N D

aVIS


Edgar “Ted” Meredith, austin, works as an actor and writer for esther’s Follies, a premier institution for comedy, music and magic on austin’s 6th Street. He will appear in the upcoming film, “The Two Bobs.”

Dr. Jamie King South, Benbrook, earned D.o. and m.S. degrees and is completing an obstetrics/gynecology residency at the methodist Dallas medical Center.

marrIage: Annamary Johnson to Jonathon given, July 12, 2008, living in league City.

BIrTHS: Bryan and Dr. Ryan Fiedler Jones ’03, Dallas, a son, Sawyer andrew Jones, aug. 4, 2008; eric and Dr. Jamie King South, Benbrook, a daughter, edie Caroline South, Jan 12, 2009.

2005Blair Quinius, Waco, heads a nonprofit organization that serves at-risk youth in Honduras. UrbanPromise was founded 20 years ago in Camden, N.J., with a commitment to breaking the cycle of urban poverty through equipping children and teens with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership. UrbanPromise Honduras provides these opportunities through after school programs, summer camps and leadership training, with the mission of inspiring a new generation of creative leaders. Visit the organization Web site at www.urbanpromisehonduras.wordpress.com/

Lynn Tarkington, Houston, received a National Science Foundation fellowship to support her doctoral research in two-dimensional surfactants and professional development at the University of Houston.

marrIageS: Danielle Brown to Tim Stapleton, ’00 June 21, 2008, living in Walnut Creek, Calif.; Alison Broyles to John m. Coffey, June 14, 2008, living in arlington; Lisa Kay Foster to Jacob r. Key, Nov. 8, 2008, living in lorena; Jeanna M. Van Pelt to Mark Patric Mascorro Jr., aug. 16, 2008, living in Sugar land.

BIrTH: Robert and Lauren Niver Paver, austin, a son, Brendan Patrick Paver, may 16, 2009.

2006Eric Baker, Chattanooga, Tenn., is working towards a graduate degree in cartooning and comics at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.

Aryn Campbell Calhoun, Cambridge, mass., completed a certificate in songwriting from the Berklee College of music and released her first independent professional album, “lockless Heart.” Her most recent album, “light: Hymns revisited,” is available through iTunes and at www.cdbaby.com/cd/aryncalhoun2/ Her husband, Clint Calhoun, earned a J.D. from Harvard law School.

Maggie Smith Wolfe, austin, [see 1985].

2007Danielle Cohen, round rock, serves as executive assistant at Celebration Church in georgetown.

Dorian Fogo, austin, serves as director of special events at lifeWorks, a nonprofit organization that transitions youth and families from crisis to safety and success. lifeWorks is austin’s only nonprofit organization to provide a continuum of services to youth and families, addressing critical needs to achieve lasting, positive change. Visit www.lifeworksweb.org for more information.

Jessica Freeman, Deer Park, works as a chemist for Celanese in the acetyls research and development group.

Terrenee Knight, Irving, received her master of arts degree in education with an emphasis on early childhood education from the University of Phoenix. She has accepted a position with the garland Independent School District teaching sixth grade english and coaching.

Ashley McClure, lubbock, is pursuing a master of occupational therapy degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Kurt Seilheimer, Studio City, Calif., is pursuing a career in acting with the stage name “Kurt Cole.” He has played roles in the films “Temple grandin” (2009), filmed in part on the Southwestern campus, and “The Secret at arrow lake,” starring opposite C. Thomas Howell (2009).

Ana Stewart, Nashville, Tenn., is pursuing a master’s degree in economic development from Vanderbilt University.

Jaclyn Suffel, memphis, Tenn., works for Teach for america as a ninth grade english and theatre teacher and volleyball coach.

marrIage: Laura Chatfield to garrett Newsom, march 7, 2009, living in lubbock; Emily Taylor to Kim Sorensen, Nov. 7, 2008, living in austin.

2008Leslie Cuellar, Santiago, Chile, works as an english instructor.

William “Cody” Faulk, San antonio, attends Saint mary’s University law School.

Emily Galey, College Station, was awarded the rotary ambassadorial scholarship grant for 2009-2010 to study in India. The purpose of the ambassadorial scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.

Meredith Orf, austin, was accepted to the minneapolis/St. Paul, minn., Teach for america program to teach english as a Second language.

David Stanberry, Cleveland Heights, ohio, is a first-year student at Case Western reserve University School of law.

Jessica Jane West, Shenzhen, guangdong Province, China, works as a primary school english teacher with the Center for Teaching and learning in China.

marrIage: Shalane Giles to John Burchfield Jr., aug. 8, 2008, living in georgetown.

2009Congratulations to the Class of 2009! Welcome to The association of Southwestern University alumni. let us know what is happening in your life.


Eugene H. Lott ’47, San angelo, oct. 24, 2008

Josephine Barfield Berry ’48, midland, Nov. 12, 2008

Joveda Murphy Bray ’48, Houston, Jan. 29, 2009

Priscilla Halloran Kingswell-Smith ’48, Houston, Dec. 16, 2008

H. David Medley ’48, georgetown, oct. 21, 2008

Travis Robertson Harris ’49, austin, may 2, 2009

Charles J. Hooper ’49, Houston, Feb. 3, 2009

Bill J. Woods ’49, edgewood, Dec. 5, 2008

Charles A. McCormick ’50, georgetown, Nov. 25, 2008

Clara Mae Blocksom Smith ’50, roswell, N.m., may 1, 2008

Evelyn Velicka Miller ’51, Irving, Nov. 29, 2008

Constance Swift Roe ’51, austin, oct. 9, 2008

Helen Elizabeth Bartak Trimarchi ’52, Keller, april 2, 2009

Ellis Youngblood ’52, Columbia, Tenn., may 16, 2009

Daisy Johnston Akin ’53, Houston, april 3, 2009

Edward T. Slaughter Jr. ’53, Dallas, Feb. 2, 2009

Arden Daniel Feltman ’54, Dallas, Jan. 9, 2008

Dr. James E. Williams ’55, Katy, Feb. 7, 2009

Ann Reinhardt Allen ’57, austin, Jan. 25, 2009

Dian Finley Barron ’57, San antonio, Jan. 7, 2009

Walter A. Peterson ’57, austin, Dec. 2, 2008

Thomas Jerry Moore Sr. ’58, Denton, march 20, 2009

James M. Nixon ’58, manchaca, may 11, 2009

Woodrow A. Thrower ’59, Provo, Utah, oct. 15, 2008

Jerry R. Williams ’60, Fort Worth, oct. 18, 2008

John Ray Birkner ’61, Bryan, Jan. 21, 2009

James K. Raatz ’61, Kerrville, Nov. 4, 2008

Rev. Clinton H. Clements ’63, lake Jackson, Jan. 12, 2009

Myra Kay Kilpatrick ’65, Houston, Dec. 29, 2008

Mary Reed Harris ’66, austin, oct. 23, 2008

Georgia Ruth Risner Malone ’67, georgetown, april 5, 2009

Marsha Turnbull Harris ’75, abilene, Jan. 6, 2009

Eric K. Hanson ’78, midland, Jan. 14, 2009

Susan Sinclair Whitehead ’79, lago Vista, march 19, 2009

Thomas A. Whitehead ’79, lago Vista, march 15, 2009

Nancy Goodell Oesch ’80, richmond, Feb. 1, 2009

Erica L. Swords ’86, austin, Nov. 27, 2008

Jeffrey L. Allen ’87, Waxahachie, may 19, 2009

Troy S. Bijou ’89, georgetown, may 17, 2009

Dr. Leslie Hunt Parks-Finley ’93, Spring, Nov. 25, 2008

Tamara C. Treuhardt Hernlund ’94, georgetown, June 28, 2009

Dana Clair Edwards ’98, San antonio, Jan. 1, 2009

Dallas D. Dupré V ’03, Plano, march 28, 2009

lucy Bedinger Finch, Nashville, Tenn., June 22, 2009

elizabeth Perkins Prothro, Wichita Falls, may 23, 2009

Wilhelmina Cullen robertson Smith, Houston, Jan. 26, 2009

Sonia riquelme, austin, Sept. 8, 2008

In MemoriamDorothy Shell Bunting ’29, allen, Nov. 25, 2008

Mary Chance Strandtmann ’32, maxwell, oct. 18, 2008

John P. Giesecke Jr. ’35, Clute, Nov. 19, 2008

Dr. Charles Gillespie ’35, Temple, oct. 4, 2008

Virgil C. Morelle ’36, georgetown, Nov. 18, 2008

Lucile Ainsworth Thames ’39, Victoria, Nov. 6, 2008

Lanette Liese Wilkinson ’39, albuquerque, N.m., Dec. 15, 2008

Dr. Seth W. Lehmberg ’40, Taylor, Dec. 27, 2008

James K. McDonald ’41, Houston, march 12, 2009

Byron P. Peebles ’41, Bryn mawr, Penn., may 11, 2009

Doris Hodges Pickett ’42, austin, march 2, 2009

Colleen Wyatt Conoley ’43, San marcos, Feb. 24, 2009

Sara Barber McQuaide ’43, Bryan, Nov. 23, 2008

Jean Tyree Runnels ’43, richmond, oct. 27, 2008

Marie Bartlett Sinclair ’43, lufkin, Dec. 8, 2008

Moye Bratton Baeuchle ’44, leavenworth, Kan., Feb. 28, 2008

Rev. Donald Box ’44, rockdale, July 8, 2008

R. L. Cooper Jr. ’45, Dallas, march 17, 2008

Mary Adams Bartlett ’46, Fairfield, Calif., Feb. 5, 2009

Graceann McCreless Durr ’47, San antonio, Nov. 14, 2008

Sam L. Fore ’47, San antonio, Jan. 25, 2009


academics in Focus is compiled from InFocus, Southwestern’s official weekly newsletter, and highlights student, faculty and staff honors.

BIOLOGY2009 graduates COLIN KYLE, JAMES McDONOUGH, MATT TRAWICK and ANNA FRANKEL presented research at the academy of Sciences meeting in Junction.

Student laNCe Keller presented research at a meeting of the Texas branch of the american Society of microbiology.

reBeCCa SHeller, associate professor of biology, presented a paper at the american association of Cancer research International meeting in Denver, Colo., in april. The paper was written in collaboration with marIa CUeVaS, associate professor of biology, and marIa ToDD, assistant professor of biology.

BUSINESS/ECONOMICSSHaUN DaNIel CooPer, a sopho-more economics major, received a scholarship from Freeman-aSIa to study abroad in Shanghai, China.

KeN roBerTS, professor of economics, and MICHAEL MORRIS ’95 had a chapter about remittances from mexico published in The Economics of Networks.

mary yoUNg, professor of economics, and economics students WeS rIVerS and erIC FraNCo, presented a poster at a meeting of the Texas Public Health association in austin. They also presented a paper titled “The effect of Social Networks and Health Care Interventions on Tobacco Use outcomes” at the annual meeting of the Western economic association held in Vancouver, British Columbia.

mary graCe NeVIlle, associate professor of business, received the Journal of Management Education’s 2009 Fritz roethlisberger award for the best article published in the journal in 2008 at the organizational Behavior Teaching Conference in June. Neville also received one of two 2009 Southwestern University Teaching awards.

CHEMISTRYFraNK gUZIeC, professor of chemistry and holder of the Herbert and Kate Dishman Chair in Science, and lyNN gUZIeC, part-time assistant professor of chemistry, are co-authors on the publication “a model for aDPH: Quinoneoxidoreductase (NQo1) Targeted Individualized Cancer Chemotherapy,” appearing in Drug Target Insights, 2009.

DoNaTo (Joe) DelUCa, a sopho-more chemistry major, received Honorable mention for the Barry m. goldwater Scholarships, which are given to undergraduates who plan to pursue careers in science, math and engineering.

COMMUNICATION STUDIESNADIA ALAREKSOUSSI ’09, BrooKe arNolD CalDer, ERIKA KLEINSCHMIDT ’09, and Sally SPalDINg presented papers at the Western States Communication association convention in mesa, ariz. JUlIa JoHNSoN, assistant professor of communication studies, also presented a paper co-authored with alISoN KaFer, assistant professor of feminist studies, and SUZy PUKyS, director of civic engagement.

COMPUTER SCIENCESUZaNNe FoX BUCHele, associate professor of computer science, presented a paper at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges South Central Conference. She also gave

a presentation at The University of Texas at austin to female graduate students in the natural sciences who are considering careers at liberal arts colleges.

ENGLISHelISaBeTH PIeDmoNT-marToN, associate professor of english, was co-host of the 2009 South Central Writing Centers association Conference held at Southwestern in april.

HeleNe meyerS, professor of english, has had a chapter of her book Femicidal Fears: Narratives of the Female Gothic Experience (2001) reprinted in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism, Vol. 202 (2008).

MATHEMATICSDaNIel BoWer, junior computational math-ematics major, was selected to participate in IBm’s extreme Blue program this summer.

MODERN LANGUAGESaaroN PreVoTS, assistant professor of French, was selected as a finalist for the 2008 Texas Institute of letters’ Soeurette Diehl Fraser award for Best Translation.

laUra SeNIo BlaIr, assistant professor of Spanish, wrote the program notes for “Chilean Cinema of the Post-Dictatorship era: a retrospective in Film (1994-2004),” which was part of the Cine las americas latin american Film Festival held in austin. She and student FraNCISCa loPeZ interviewed Chilean directors who were in town for the festival as a collab-orative student-faculty project.

PAIDEIA® PROGRAMeleven faculty members have been named to lead 2009-2012 Paideia® cohorts. They are romI BUrKS, DoN gregory, Hal HaSKell,

melISSa JoHNSoN, mICHael KameN, FraNCIS maTHIeU, SCoTT mcleaN, HeleNe meyerS, TIm o’NeIll, KaTy roSS and DeSI royBal.

PHILOSOPHYPHIl HoPKINS, associate professor of philosophy, was invited to contribute a chapter on the presocratics to the forth-coming Continuum Companion to Ancient Philosophy (2010).

PHYSICSBIll o’BrIeN, associate professor of physics, co-authored and presented a paper about glacier research to the american geophysical Union. He also had a paper titled “measuring magnetic Declination with Virtual globes, Compass and gPS” published in the march issue of the International Journal of Digital Earth.

marK BoTTorFF, associate professor of physics, and mICHael KameN, associate professor of education, are working with other schools in the associated Colleges of the South to develop an astronomy course in which students will learn by using their own observations.

POLITICAL SCIENCEerIC SelBIN, professor of political science and University Scholar, had a 2003 book chapter “agency and Culture in revolutions” republished in a russian book titled The Concept of Revolution in Contemporary Political Discourse. He also had articles published in Latin American Perspectives and Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and was interviewed for a book on Che guevera released this year.

alISa gaUNDer, associate professor of political science,

aCademiCs in FOCus


presented a paper titled “Female Candidacy in Japan and the U.S.: The role Women’s organizations Play in Confronting electoral obstacles” to the Southern Political Science association.

TIm o’NeIll, professor of political science, had 10 articles published in the Encyclopedia of the First Amendment.

MATT MASCHINO ’09, presented a paper co-authored with gIlBerT ST. ClaIr, visiting professor of political science, at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science association. at the same confer-ence, SHaNNoN l. marIoTTI, assistant professor of political science, presented a paper titled “Damaged life as exuberant Vitality: adorno, america, and the Sickness of Health.” Her essay will be published in a special issue of the journal TELOS, dedicated to the topic of “adorno in america.”

PSYCHOLOGY at the Southwestern Psychological association annual meeting in San antonio in april, SARAH GOMILLION ’07, placed first in the graduate student paper competition. JESSICA DOMINO ’09, and BryaN NeIgHBorS, associate professor of psychology, won a Best Submission to the Psi Chi Program award for a poster titled “Dimensions of Intimate relationships and emotional Functioning among College Students.” BENJAMIN OAKLEY ’09, LEAH CHRISTIAN ’09, and BrITTaNy ForD were winners of H. Wayne ludvigson memorial Student Prizes for best student paper presentations.

JeSSe PUrDy, professor of psychology, will spend four months in Coffs Harbour, NSW, australia, working in an aquatic animal behavior and cognition lab associated with the Pet Porpoise Pool marine park and the University of Southern Cross.

RELIGIONlaUra HoBgooD-oSTer, professor of religion and chair of the environmental studies program, has been appointed to the National Council of Churches eco-Justice Working group. She also lectured at yale University in march on “animals in Christian Worship.”

SAROFIM SCHOOL OF FINE ARTSeIleeN meyer rUSSell, associate professor of music, presented a master class for those who double on trombone and euphonium at the 2009 annual Tuba-euphonium Conference held in Washington, D.C.

KIyoSHI TamagaWa, professor of music, appeared at merkin Concert Hall in New york City as a guest performer on the New york Philharmonic ensembles concert series. Tamagawa and HaI ZHeNg, assistant professor of music, were invited by Xiamen University to give a master class and a recital at gulangyu Concert Hall in China, followed by another concert and master class at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei.

mary VISSer, professor of art, has two works touring with the e-Form exhibition of 30 international artists that is part of the cultural programs related to the 2008 olympics in Beijing. Visser’s works can be seen on the Web site: www.digital-stone.net/e-form/

mICHael CooPer, associate professor of music, will produce a performance of “Songs of Bilitis,” to be held in spring 2010 and recorded for national and international distribution. Cooper also published an article dealing with mendelssohn’s final choral compositions, informally known as his op. 69, in the april issue of The Choral Journal.

THomaS HoWe, professor of art history, spoke at the opening of an exhibit sponsored by the restoring ancient Stabiae Foundation that is on display in ravenna, Italy, through oct. 4. The exhibit is titled “otium ludens” (The game of leisure, or The Play of leisure). Howe is Coordinator general of the restoring ancient Stabiae Foundation.

Paloma mayorga, junior art major, created a portrait of composer antonin Dvorák that was used on the poster and brochures publicizing this year’s Festival of the arts in georgetown.

mageN Comley, junior, won the assistant principal flute chair in the Small College Intercollegiate Band that performed at the College Band Directors National association Conference held at The University of Texas at austin.

loIS FerrarI, associate professor of music, led the austin Civic orchestra in a sold-out performance in the alma Thomas Theater on Feb. 21. The concert featured the world premiere of Professor of music mICHael CooPer’S edition of mendelssohn’s Fantaisie und Variations uber den Zigeunermarsch aus Weber’s “Preziosa.”

F. ELLSWORTH PETERSON ’55, professor emeritus of music, received the 2009 Community arts leadership award given by georgetown’s Performing arts alliance.

SergIo CoSTola, assistant professor of theatre, and rICK roemer, professor of theatre, created a play about eshu, a deity from african mythology, which was performed in Bulgaria this summer and will be performed at Southwestern in Fall 2010 as part of the Theatre Department’s Theatre for young audiences program.

SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGYNICOLE POWELL ’09, received the 2009 odum award for best undergraduate research paper from the Southern Sociological Society. Her paper, titled “little gay gandhis: Providing a Safe Space and empowering Sexual minorities,” was also selected as the third place winner in the 2009 alpha Kappa Delta Undergraduate Paper Competition.

TRISTINE BACCAM ’09, juniors laUreN HamleTT, JeSSICa HerBST, and GRACE STAFFORD ’09, presented papers at the Southern Sociological Society’s annual meeting in New orleans, la.

SaNDI K. NeNga, assistant professor of sociology, chaired a session at the Southern Sociological Society meeting on youth Culture and Behavior. She also presented a paper co-authored with TRISTINE BACCAM ’09, and titled “monsters and rockstars: The gendered Underground economy of a middle School Summer Camp.”

marIa loWe, professor of sociology, received one of two 2009 Southwestern University Teaching awards.

OTHERCHarleS PrINCe, junior, was accepted into a summer program in South africa that focused on education and social change. The program was sponsored by the School for International Training Programs.

JASON CHAPMAN ’03, student activities coordinator, received the 2008 Central region outstanding New Professional award from the National association of Campus activities.

Juniors JUaN JUareZ, erIKa reNDoN, raNDI SPeNCer and SaraH Woolley received Sumners Fellowships, which began in the fall of 2009.

˘


The fellowships are awarded by the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation of Dallas and are designated for students majoring in political science, history, pre-law or education.

SUe meNNICKe, director of intercultural learning, JUlIa JoHNSoN, assistant professor of communication studies, KaTHleeN JUHl, professor of theatre, and elaINe CraDDoCK, professor of religion and philosophy, will participate in the Border Studies Program operated by earlham College along the U.S.-mexico border to identify

strengths and weaknesses in Southwestern’s off-campus and study-abroad programs.

ToDD WaTSoN, associate director of systems and networks in ITS, co-authored a paper titled “2006 Whole earth Telescope observations of gD358: a New look at the Prototype DBV” that was published in the Astrophysical Journal.

TOM OLIVER ’89, vice president for enrollment services, received the Founders award from the Texas association for College admission Counseling.

The Council for the advancement and Support of education (CaSe)awarded the oFFICe of CreaTIVe SerVICeS two National Circle of excellence awards: a grand gold medal (top honors) for the design of the Sarofim School of Fine arts dedication materials and a Bronze for In-House Publications. Creative Services also received seven CaSe District IV awards for writing and design, including two grand awards. District winners included projects for the office of admission, Brown Symposium, Health and Counseling Services, the Friends of Fine arts and the Sarofim School of Fine arts.

DaVID SeIler, associate director of academic success, received the 2009 Southwestern University advising award.

SUZy PUKyS, director of civic engagement, and 2009 graduates JESSICA DOMINO, HAILEY ORMAND, TRAVIS NORTON and LINDSEY SMITH gave a presentation about their experience with the 2008 Verizon Domestic Violence Summer Internship Program at the International Partnership Institute at Portland State University in may.

Sorry, Right Number!Teryl Henderson ’10

Why do give?

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

or by calling 800-960-6363, ext. 1416.

As a student manager for Southwestern’s Phonathon program, I have been

able to speak with hundreds of alumni over the phone. Financial gifts to the

University from alumni, friends and parents like you allow every one of our

callers to attend Southwestern. On behalf of our student Phonathon callers,

thank you for taking the time to speak with us, even if it’s just to stay up-to-date

with the happenings on campus. Thanks to support from donors like you, I

will be graduating in May of 2010 with a BA in Communication Studies and

Feminist Studies. I hope to speak with you soon!”

“


tHe Last WOrd

vision for NITlEby W. Joseph King ’93, Ph.D.

FIFTY YEARS AGO, J.C.R. Licklider, one of the fathers of computer science, observed, “About 85 percent of my ‘thinking’ time was spent getting into a position to think, to make a decision, to learn something I needed to know…in short, my ‘thinking’ time was devoted mainly to activities that were essen-tiallyclericalormechanical:searching,calculating, plotting, transforming…preparing the way for a decision or an insight.” As Licklider predicted, computers have relieved much of the clerical and mechanical burden of thinking. Indeed, computers have changed the nature of thinking and knowledge in fundamental ways.

The ongoing and profound effects of this change can be seen on any college campus. The modern student carries more computing power in her pocket than her parents had in their home 10 years ago. Computing and communication technologies have merged and become ubiquitous. Students are continuously connected via broadband networks that blanket most of the world. More significantly, processor speed continues to double every 18 months. When current SU students retire in 50 years, they will have more computing power at their fingertips than is currently available in the entire United States.

These facts challenge the ability of liberal arts colleges to keep up. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is keenly aware of this challenge and has a longstanding commitment

complicated. Thanks to advancing technology, recording audio and video is no longer a complex and expensive process. However, formatting, editing, archiving and indexing this material is a significant challenge that requires either significant staff time or costly automation. NITLE is uniquely quali-fied to address this challenge, and it will be one of our first initiatives.

Media is only one of many new technologies that offer great promise and great challenge to liberal arts colleges. Scientific computing now routinely involves the use of large computing clusters, with hundreds or thousands of processors. Few of our peer institutions have computing clusters, beyond a stack of old machines in an overheated closet. Scholarly communication is no longer an arduous process of typesetting but can be a fully automated system. One such system is Connexions (cnx.org), which I had the privilege of leading at Rice University. The Connexions platform supports everything from open (free) textbooks to university presses.

Going forward, NITLE will be focused on these and other challenges and opportunities. The organization will benefit from a newly formed national advisory board, which includes representatives from our participating institutions and nation-ally recognized leaders in liberal education. The organization will also benefit from the continued support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finally, NITLE will benefit from being headquartered at Southwestern, an exemplary liberal arts campus that can serve as a testbed for NITLE’s latest endeavors. Indeed, Southwestern will lead the way, enriching the educational environment for students today and in the years to come.

to supporting technology in liberal education. Initially, this support took the form of regional technology centers, one of which was hosted at Southwestern. In 2001, these merged into the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education, NITLE (pronounced “nightly”). NITLE serves as a catalyst and resource for these institutions, using technology to facilitate teaching and learning in the great tradition of liberal education.

In accepting the leadership of NITLE, my challenge in addressing new technologies is not reactive but proactive. NITLE’s 138 participating institutions want to use the latest tech-nologies to engage their students and faculty. However, they face significant financial and human resource chal-lenges in doing so. I have spent the first two months of my tenure visiting with our peer institutions and listening to the challenges that they face. They know that technology has become an essential part of their educational experience inside and outside the classroom, but they struggle with what that portends.

We know that students are immersed in a great sea of media. The “millen-nial” generation has never known a time when the Internet did not deliver immediate access to rich media sources. A recent study at the State University of New York at Fredonia has shown that media (a lecture podcast, in this case) has a positive effect on learning. Specifically, students who listened only to a podcast of class scored an average of 71 percent on their exam, whereas students who only attended the class scored an average of 62 percent. Students who did both scored highest, with a 76 percent on average.

We can measure the positive utility of media, but the realization of a media resource on campus is C

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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.

Southwestern magazine is printed on FsC certified galerie art Cover and text. it is printed by the Whitley Printing Company in austin.

bOard OF trustees

*ex-Officio

Southwestern magazine is published semiannually by the Office of institutional advancement. bulk rate postage paid at austin, texas.

Merriman Morton ’63, austin, Chair Helen E. Black McAllister ’49, san antonio, Co-vice ChairLarry J. Haynes ’72, Coppell, Co-vice Chairr. griffin Lord, belton, secretary-treasurerMartin Aleman Jr. ’68, austinL. James Bankston ’70, HoustonLisa barrentine, allenDouglas M. Benold ’44, georgetownW. earl bledsoe*, PlanoAnn Tyrrell Cochran ’72*, Houstonbobby smith Cohn, HoustonW. mark Craig, dallasroy 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, missionrobert H. graham, HoustonKay granger, Fort Worthronald d. Henderson, PlanoC. Preston Hollis ’09, austin

Janice riggle Huie*, HoustonRobert W. Karr ’71, st. Louis, mOBart 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, WimberleyCharles 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, dallasnamiqa a. shipman, big springstephen g. tipps, HoustonDonald W. Underwood ’70, PlanoJames v. Walzel, Houstond. max Whitfield*, albuquerque, nmDoak M. Worley IV ’08, round rockrobert d. Wunsch, austin

Fall 2009

mandy solin director of Creative services

Kristina moore Writer/editor

antonio banda graphic designer

Janice mcLemore graphic design magazine design

Joshua Logsdon Web magazine design

[email protected]

aLumni & Parent reLatiOns

Georgianne Hewett ‘90 associate vice President for alumni and Parent relations

Joann Lucero assistant director for alumni relations

Grace Josey Pyka ‘05 assistant director for alumni and Parent relations

Daniel Webb ’08 assistant director for alumni relations

[email protected]@southwestern.edu

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

dr. 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

I can’t believe how much campus is changing!

I heard that this building will have 468 windows.

That’s more windows than students!

Get into the picture! | November 6–8, 2009 | www.sualumni.netJoin us to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Homecoming.

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