magazine

Plus: New College of Business & JU’s 70th Anniversary

F A L L 2 0 0 4Volume 8 Number 1 F A L L 2 0 0 4Volume 8 Number 1

Plus: New College of Business & JU’s 70th Anniversary

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Message from the Publisher

Dear JU Magazine Reader,

hat an exciting time to bejoining the JacksonvilleUniversity community.

After our first few months at JU,Judy and I are still very much in thelearning mode, but we are alreadyardent converts to Jacksonville andJacksonville University.

We have learned what awonderful university we share withour talented and dedicated faculty andstaff, what an absolutely first rate educational experiencewe offer our students and what amazingly supportiveand successful alumni we have. We also have one of thebest Boards of Trustees I have worked with in the last 30years. All of this creates a strong sense of optimism andpromise for the university we love, share and support.

I must thank the entire campus community formaking me and Judy feel so welcome and so much animmediate part of the University. Our introduction toFlorida, to Jacksonville and to Jacksonville Universitycould not have been more welcoming, open and friendly.

I also need to give special thanks to Dr. CatherineMorgan, the Board of Trustees, and all those who workedso diligently to guide JU through what was one of themost challenging times in our history. Last year willrepresent a defining moment for Jacksonville University.That was the year we had to regroup and retrench inorder to ensure the University’s financial future.

Thanks to the efforts of the entire campus, ouruniversity is moving positively forward. I am honored tohave the opportunity of building upon the work of all ofthose who have preceded me in defining and creating thisexcellent institution of higher learning.

Jacksonville University has a rich, interesting historywhich has involved a number of pivotal stages andevents. Last year’s financial difficulty was not the firstcritical challenge faced by JU in its 70 years. And, as youwill read in this issue of JU Magazine, each time theUniversity community has rallied to preserve andstrengthen our institution.

Kerry D. RomesburgPresident

W

PresidentKerry Romesburg

featuresRomesburg Takes Charge 4Kerry Romesburg brings to JU years ofpresidential experience and a passion forbuilding great universities.

JU Celebrates 70 Years 10JU’s campus and alumni prepare tocelebrate seven decades of academicexcellence. Plus, get ready forHomecoming 2004 MargaRATavillestyle!

Business is Booming 16at New Davis CollegeWith an updated curriculum and a high-tech home, JU’s Davis College ofBusiness enters a new era ofmanagement and leadership education.

Athletic Association 20Arrives AgainDedicated Dolphin fans are reviving thegroup that supports JU Athletics.

Advancing Healthcare 22One JU alum is helping find new ways ofdetecting and treating breast cancer.

Renovating Swisher 26A new capital campaign kicks off seekingto reopen Swisher Theatre.

Serving Up Smiles 31JU’s orthodontic residents are improvingsmiles in Jacksonville’s underservedcommunities.

Fall 2004, Volume 8, Number 1

contents

Jacksonville University Magazine is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Jacksonville

University, 2800 University Blvd. N.,Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394, (904) 745-7033.

Please send changes of address to: Development Services, Jacksonville University,

2800 University Blvd., N., Jacksonville, FL32211-3394.

© 2002 Jacksonville University

On the Cover:

Kerry and JudyRomesburg havemarveled at JU’scampus beauty sincetheir first visit.

Cover Photography:laird

featuresNews Briefs 32Faculty News 38Student News 40Sports Shorts 42Alumni News 46Class Notes 52

For Alumni and Friends ofJacksonville University

PublisherKerry D. Romesburg

EditorJohn Daigle Jr.

Assistant EditorSara F. Coleman

DesignChristopher D. Layton

Publication CoordinatorRobin Bangert-Lenard

Alumni Section EditorOlga Bayer

Web VersionRyan Hart

Class NotesPatricia Reeves

Contributing Photographylaird

Contributing WritersOlga Bayer Devan StuartKathy Ellis

Contributing DesignLynette FransenPrinciple Design Group_________________________________

Jacksonville University Contacts:Main Number . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-8000Admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7000

admissions@ju.eduAlumni/Class Notes . . . . . (904) 256-7201

alumni@ju.eduPublic Affairs. . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7033

jdaigle@ju.eduRegistrar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7091

cbarret@ju.eduInstitutional Advancement (904) 256-7095

jframpt@ju.eduWebsite . . . . . http://www.jacksonville.edu

Jacksonville University Magazine is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Jacksonville

University, 2800 University Blvd. N.,Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394, (904) 256-7033.

Please send changes of address to: Institutional Advancement, JacksonvilleUniversity, 2800 University Blvd. N.,

Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394.

© 2004 Jacksonville University

magazine

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 3

In 2000,Kaplan’s CollegeGuide calledJacksonvilleUniversity oneof the “hiddentreasures” inAmerican highereducation. Now thetreasure is a little lesshidden. This year, U.S.News & WorldReport’s annual ranking of colleges anduniversities in America listedJacksonville University among the bestin the South at number 52.

Dear Reader:Last spring, amidst the university’s

budget reductions, we published amodified version of JU Magazine withmost of its content exclusively online.Like the rest of the University, this fallJU Magazine is returning to normal.And, as we do, we want to thank thethousands of readers who took theopportunity to log on and read lastspring’s issue on our website.

For those of you who didn’t getthat chance, we have republished someof the articles and classnotes from thespring in this issue. Thank you forsticking with us and continuing toshow your Dolphin spirit.

The Editor

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 5

r. Kerry D. Romesburg is the kind ofperson who does not shy away fromchallenges and opportunities. In 2002,

when he was the longest serving universitypresident in the state of Utah, he walked awayfrom a comfortable job and a long list ofinstitutional achievements to start a brand newstate college in Nevada. This summer, whenJacksonville University approached him for thepresidency, he again seized the opportunity.

As a small, private institution, JU was vastlydifferent than the publicly funded institutionshe had worked for. It would be a great“unknown” to him.

“Nothing,” he said,“attracts me more thanthe unknown.”

Romesburg hasindeed built a reputationfor blazing new trailsfrom his time as a younghigher educationadministrator to histenure at blossominginstitutions in the West.He brings with him toJacksonville a record ofachievement in thepublic university systemsof Arizona, Alaska,Utah and Nevada.

On July 1, hebecame the seventh president of JU. As theUniversity approaches its 70-year anniversary,Romesburg is prepared to rebuild theinstitution’s finances and continue JU’s traditionof excellence.

First on his agenda is listening to JU’sconstituents – students, parents, faculty, staff,alumni and friends – to hear their thoughts onthe University.

“My gosh, I’m learning like crazy,” he said.“And, if there’s anything I love, it’s learning. It’slike trying something new. So I’m learningabout the school. And, I’m learning about thepeople. And I will soon be learning about thestudents,” he said in late summer, beforestudents returned for classes.

Romesburg was quick to point out thatwhile he has definite priorities for the comingyear, he needs more input before forming avision for the university’s future. “I do not havethe audacity to have a vision yet,” he statedemphatically.

“This institution has 70 years of history inproviding excellence in education to the FirstCoast region of Florida. And we’ve got anincredible heritage. I’m not going to mess thatup. We’re going to expand it. We’re going tomake sure people understand it. That is goingto be our message: we have a heritage ofexcellence at this institution and we’recontinuing that forward.”

Romesburg Takes the Reinsby Sara F. Coleman • photo by laird

Romesburg enjoyed the great outdoors during his stays in the Westernstates. Here, he rides through the picturesque Heber Valley in theWasatch Mountains of Utah.

D

6 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

“The number one priority is really making certain that wehave our budget in shape and our fiscal controls where theyshould be,” he said. “There is a plan – a three-year plan –that I’m charged with implementing. It will get this schoolback in good financial shape.”

The core elements of the financial plan Romesburgreferenced involve increasing enrollment, raising privatefunds more successfully, watching institutional expendituresat the institution and monitoring investments more closely.

Beyond that, Romesburg is fired up about raising moneyto renovate the 48-year-old Swisher Theatre so that JU’swell-regarded theatre program has a home for hands-onteaching and learning. (See related story on page 26.) Moregeneral fund raising to support student scholarships,academic programs and other initiatives will also be on hisagenda for the first year.

Dr. John Balog, vice president for student life at JU, saidthe presidential search committee sought an experiencedpresident and proven fund-raiser, but also a leader who haddealt with challenging financial situations. “I felt personallythat Kerry was the total package,” Balog said.

During his interviews, Romesburg asked tough questionsabout recruitment and retention of students, and reviewedthe financial recovery plan developed in the spring. TheUniversity needed a leader and a manager, Balog said, andhas succeeded on both fronts.

Early on, Romesburg signaled his commitment tobringing Jacksonville University through its financialrebuilding and into a phase where it can strengthen existingprograms and develop new ones. On his first day on the job,he told a Florida Times-Union reporter that Jacksonvillewould be his last professional stop. “This school needs along-term commitment,” he explained.

AN EARLY INTEREST IN ADMINISTRATION___________________________________Romesburg’s academic career began at Arizona State

University, where he studied math after graduating from atough, inner-city high school in Phoenix. He had ascholarship when he started, but lost it after having “an awfulgood time that first semester,” he recalled.

He started working nights for the pressman’s union andcatching some sleep in his truck before classes. He marriedJudy Land, whom he had known in high school, at the age of20 and immediately improved his academic performance.After graduating, he taught math in the Phoenix publicschools and earned a master’s degree part-time beforeconsidering a doctoral program.

In 1970, Romesburg received a generous fellowship tostudy higher education administration at ASU. By 1975,Romesburg was executive director of the ArizonaCommission for Higher Education, which handled statewide

The fire safety program at Utah Valley State College brought Romesburg on a flashover (controlled burn) exercise in theirtraining facility. Programs such as fire safety were part of Utah Valley’s technical school heritage.

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 7

budgeting and planning for all the state institutions anddistributed federal funds among the universities, among othertasks.

Then Alaska called, and the Romesburgs moved toJuneau by way of a two-and-a-half day ferry from Seattlewith their two young children. When they arrived, Juneauwas in the midst of its worst winter in 13 years, said JudyRomesburg, and she had never seen a snowfall growing up inArizona. But they fell in love with what Judy called the “mostmajestic beauty in the world.”

Kerry Romesburg guided Alaska in establishing itsstatewide commission for higher education during the next13 years. The whole family enjoyed living in the relativelysmall city of Juneau, where they hiked, skied and fished. Itwas a wonderful place to raise children, Judy said.

THE PRESIDENCY BECKONS___________________________________In 1988, Romesburg accepted the presidency at Utah

Valley Community College, which had just expanded beyondits 40-year legacy as a technical school. He led the collegethrough a period of significant change, including expansioninto a four-year state college and enrollment growth of19,000 students in 14 years. It was one of the fastest-growingcolleges in the country, Romesburg said.

He helped raise $80 million, much of which was used tobuild the 1 million square feet of facility space added to thecampus. He also team-taught an ethics course as part of UtahValley’s nationally known ethics center. Romesburg wasunofficially rated the number one adjunct faculty member bystudents on teaching evaluations, though he declined thehonor several years so that other faculty could be recognized.He and Judy lived in a home in the center of the rapidlyexpanding campus and became very involved in college andcommunity activities.

Brad Cook, vice president of academic affairs at Utah

Valley, said, “[Romesburg] truly led this institution toheights never anticipated or imagined by anyone in thisvalley. His tenure here will always be characterized as averitable golden age of growth and progress.”

In 2002, Nevada officials asked Romesburg to bepresident of a brand new state college that was opening. Hisfirst inclination, he said, was to not leave Utah, where he hadbecome devoted to the campus and had developed strongworking relationships with legislators, the governor and otherimportant constituents.

“One of the challenges of leadership,” said former UtahRegent Charles Johnson, “lies in bringing together divergentgroups and getting them to move in the same direction.[Kerry Romesburg] does that extremely well.”

But Romesburg viewed the Nevada job as anotherexceptional opportunity to start something from scratch. “Ican remember talking with Judy and I said, ‘You know, thejob I had in Utah is a once in a lifetime opportunity – tocome into a place and build, essentially create a newinstitution. Hardly anybody in the country gets that kind ofchance. And I’m being offered it again.’ ”

Romesburg was drawn to the challenge. He became thepresident of Nevada State College, which had bare groundand zero students at the time.

“I will tell you, all my colleagues thought I was crazy,” herecalled. “They just couldn’t understand why I would evergive up what we had and go to work that hard again.”

Romesburg effectively served as president, chief budgetofficer and chief academic officer, and played a hands-onrole in developing the college from the ground up. Under histwo years of leadership, Nevada State earned accreditation,grew its student body and planned its first new building.

Romesburg on a hike through Pariah Canyon in southern Utah.

During his lengthy stay in Utah, Romesburg developed areputation for participating in student stunts, such as bungee-jumping.

JU OFFERS NEXT CHALLENGE___________________________________

The decision to leave Nevada State College and acceptthe presidency at JU was likely the hardest professionaldecision Romesburg ever made, he said. He was happy inNevada, and relished the role he played in working with top-

level government officials on higher educationissues. But the unknown – a small, privateliberal-arts university on the opposite side of thecountry – intrigued him.

For her part, Judy Romesburg encouragedhim to consider the post. She felt Kerry excelledat speaking to large groups and connecting withindividuals, and there had been feweropportunities to pursue that at Nevada State’sone-building campus.

“And I thought: My gosh, if he got back on areal campus, he would have all of those chancesand opportunities to do that again.”

The vision of JU’s tree-lined, riverfront localeimpressed them. The Romesburgs touredcampus alone before Kerry’s interview with thesearch committee. “And I was blown awaybecause it just was so beautiful,” Judy said.

As the first residents of the newly builtUniversity House, the Romesburgs have a unique

opportunity to live on the JU campus and become an integralpart of campus life. They both said that attending campusevents, especially with and for students, will be their majorsocial priority for the coming year.

“The students are a huge focus for us,” Judy remarked.

New University House Designedto be Home for All

Perched among the palms and oaks along the St. JohnsRiver on the northern end of campus sits the newUniversity House – a home for the president’s family andfor the entire Jacksonville University community. The5,000-square-foot residence is designed to be a campushome for the president’s family as well as an entertainmentand gathering venue for JU’s larger family of students,faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

In July, Dr. Kerry and Judy Romesburg became the firstoccupants of the home and immediately welcomed JUfaculty and staff at an evening reception. “This is yourhouse,” Kerry Romesburg announced to the crowd of 200.

Downstairs, the University House includes a wide foyer,a formal dining room, a catering-friendly kitchen, a largeliving room, a library and a sunny Florida room. A wide,covered veranda wraps around the sides and back of thehouse.

A small amount of art from JU’s collection complementsthe lower spaces. The Romesburgs have furnished the upstairsliving space with art they collected from places they have livedand traveled in the American West.

Judy Romesburg said former President David Harlow andhis wife Peggy deserve all the credit for designing a beautifulspace that is well suited for entertaining and hosting groups.The house can hold 200 for a standing reception and 100 fora seated dinner. The wide archways connecting the downstairsrooms are crowd-friendly. And the garage off the kitchenprovides space for catering staffs to utilize portableappliances.

With this new and adaptable space located on campus,President Romesburg and University staff are excited aboutnew opportunities for on-campus gatherings. Susan Mattox,assistant vice president of institutional advancement, said theUniversity needed a comfortable venue for small dinners,receptions and alumni reunions. University administrators,faculty and trustees will now have better opportunities to inviteguests to JU’s beautiful campus, instead of relying on off-campus clubs, restaurants and other venues.

The University House was commissioned in 2002 by theBoard of Trustees, which envisioned a new campus home forthe president and for the University community to gather onspecial occasions. Gifts from trustees partially funded the $1million project.

On his first day on the job, Romesburg toured the Davis College of Businessconstruction site with Superintendent William Duke.

RUNNING THE CAMPUS, LITERALLY___________________________________

After just a few weeks on the job, Kerry Romesburg hadalready settled into his routine – waking early, running a three-mile loop around the campus, and consuming his 30-yearBreakfast of Champions: a glass of skim milk and an assortmentof vitamins and herbs. Always an active person, Romesburg hasplayed racquetball and golf and enjoyed the outdoors on all of hisuniversity stops. He coached every sport under the sun when theirtwo boys were growing up.

He said he’s a ham, particularly in front of students, anddoesn’t take life too seriously. Romesburg claimed he’s done avariety of fun and silly stunts with students, including bungee-jumping in his suit and tie, riding a mechanical bull and kissing apig.

He used to grow inpatient watching television, but hasdiscovered TiVo and now digitally records his favorite programs –The Late Show with Dave Letterman, golf and other sports events,and televised poker tournaments. (He used to play poker andbridge in Alaska with several high-ranking state officials.)

Members of the presidential search committee foundRomesburg to be energetic and charismatic during the interviewprocess.

“We wanted a president who was willing to work 24/7, andRomesburg appears to be willing to give his all to this position,”said Dr. Sherri Jackson, chair of the faculty and professor ofpsychology.

After 39 years of marriage, Kerry Romesburg said, Judyremains his closest confidant and one of the biggest influences inhis life. “She is the only person with whom I can actually just talkabout everything – in total, open honesty. And she is that waywith me,” he said.

The Romesburgs are happy to be in Jacksonville, close towhere one of their grown sons teaches at Embry-RiddleAeronautical University in Daytona Beach. The UniversityHouse’s waterfront location and Florida-friendly design (coveredback porch, sunroom, large windows) provide new material forJudy’s watercolor paintings.

Kerry Romesburg said his view, and their view, of a universitypresidency is that it becomes your number one priority in life.

“For me, this is full-time, all the time. Our focus is going tobe Jacksonville University,” he said. And with the Romesburgscomfortably settled on JU’s campus, the University has welcomeda new, yet seasoned, first couple.

“For me, this is full-time,all the time. Our focus

is going to be Jacksonville University.”

— Kerry Romesburg

Top: At a presidential welcome reception at the UniversityHouse in July, Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Casconepresented Kerry Romesburg with a basket of JacksonvilleUniversity goods: books, apparel, accessories and Dolphinspirit supplies. The Romesburgs have since cleaned out theirclothing from previous university stops in favor of their newJU style. Above: Cascone welcomes Judy Romesburg to thecampus and the University House. Judy has enjoyed the lushJU landscape, taking long campus walks early in the morning.The Romesburgs say they plan to become very involved incampus life, attending arts and athletic events and meetingwith JU alumni and University donors in the comingmonths.

Campus Community WelcomesKerry and Judy Romesburg to Jacksonville

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 9

It all started with anambitious youngattorney-turned-judge-

turned-businessman and aplan that nearly went bellyup in its first two years.

In 1934, William J.Porter and a small group ofpartners set out to open auniversity that offered fourdegree programs. Bitterinfighting and financialwoes ensued. By the end ofthe second year, fewer thanhalf the original facultyremained and the rest oftenwere asked to go withoutpaychecks. The Carnegies,the Rockefellers, even theFederal Emergency ReliefCouncil turned down the school’s pleas for help. Withdwindling cash reserves, no permanent home, the threat of arival university and little community support, the institutionthat had been renamed Jacksonville Junior College, and laterwould become Jacksonville University, nearly shut down.

Prideby Devan Stuart

70 years ago this fall, on Oct. 1,

1934, Jacksonville University’s

predecessor – Wm. J. Porter

University – ambitiously welcomed

its first students at a convocation

in rented space downtown. Now,

entering its eighth decade, and on

the heels of a turbulent year,

Jacksonville University takes a

moment to look back with pride on

its history of highs and lows. With

much help from and tributes paid

to JU historian Dr. George

Hallam’s research, JU Magazine

offers this brief reflection on our

unique past.

70Years of Dolphin HistoryCelebrated WITH

Judge William J. Porter,founder and first president.

Jacksonville Junior College's firstcheerleading squad, 1949.

7070

Seventy years later, Jacksonville University is in the midstof great growth, with a record freshman class this fall andseveral building projects either recently opened or in variousstages of completion. From an original 60 students in its firstyear, JU today boasts a growing enrollment of more than2,600 students from 46 states and 61 countries with one ofthe South’s most diverse student populations.

Emerging now from a string of recent financialchallenges, and with new leadership in President KerryRomesburg, the University is entering its 70th anniversaryyear with renewed optimism and energy.

“Brighter days are definitely ahead,” said Julia Samms,interim dean of enrollment and a two-time JU graduate. “Itwill take time, but there are many alumni, faculty, staff andfriends who continue to support theUniversity and keep it moving in aprogressive manner.”

The Jacksonville University story readslike a multiple-part dramatic series with fartoo many plot twists and colorful charactersto recall in a single article. Highlights – andlowlights – include the long but ultimatelytriumphant struggle for a permanent home,accreditation, integration and reputation.

No Place Like HomeA major underpinning of JU’s early

problems was its lack of a permanent home.Instead of establishing a campus, the schooloperated in a series of rented spaces scatteredthroughout Jacksonville. Jacksonville JuniorCollege (officials dropped Porter’s name inthe second year) flailed about town in its firstfew years, holding classes in venues such asthe Florida Theatre, the Masonic Temple and the FirstBaptist Church’s educational building.

In December 1943, the Jacksonville chapter of CivitanInternational, a network of community service clubs,launched a $20,000 fund-raising campaign that would giveJacksonville Junior College its first permanent home. In1944, classes began meeting in the Riverside Avenue KayMansion, named for previous owner Col. William Kay.

Appropriations from the city allowed for hiring moreteachers and another $30,000 fund-raising campaign coveredbooks and laboratory facilities.

The grand home featured 15 rooms, eight fireplaces, aballroom (which would house the school’s library), frontpiazza and second-story deck (prime evening gathering spots)and a separate carriage house. Speech classes were held in thecarriage house and, by the summer of 1946, two temporaryframe buildings from Camp Blanding housed biology,chemistry and physics labs.

In two years, however, the college already was outgrowingthe Kay Mansion. An influx of students enrolling under theG.I. Bill more than doubled enrollment. By 1947, severalclasses were being taught in faculty offices and at the

Riverside Presbyterian Church nearby. Officials were turningaway applicants by the dozens. Even the second-level floorwas beginning to sag under the weight of the growing library,now 7,000 volumes strong.

The next major move came via the efforts of CarlSwisher, whose company, Jno. H. Swisher & Sons, includeda Jacksonville plant that produced one-tenth of the cigars inthe United States. A board member since 1943, Swisher wasanxious to make the college a four-year institution. Evenbefore the growth spurt, he had proposed a $100,000building campaign and launched a search for a suitable site.

One option was the Cecil Field Naval Air Station, a2,700-acre ready-made campus – with dormitories, acafeteria, swimming pool and field house – that was about tobe decommissioned. But in 1946, the Navy changed itsmind. Last minute wrangling also shuttered a deal for a 185-acre wooded tract on Cedar Creek near the Ortega River.

Chemistry instructor F.S. Wetzel at the blackboard in a classroom at the Masonic Temple,early 1940s.

Crew has been an integral part of JU's history and heritage. (Photo 1968)

Then came the opportunity for a 137-acre tract ofundeveloped land along the St. Johns River in Arlington.The land, owned at times by such notables as shipbuilderJames Merrill and former slave Anna Kingsley, featured awashed out ravine called McGully’s Gulch. The swampygorge was reputed to be a popular hideout for gypsies, piratesand bootleggers. But it would also make a great spot for anathletic field – a priority for Swisher. The deal was done andconstruction soon began on the campus that remains home toJU. Despite more financial setbacks and construction delays,students began reporting to the Arlington campus for classesin 1950.

A Turning PointAnother major hurdle for the college was accreditation,

both as a junior college and, eventually, a four-year seniorcollege. The school’s first full accreditation wouldn’t comeuntil 1950, after two denials. Endowment funds andenrollment figures typically were to blame. But when it cameto the school’s transformation to a senior college, the questproved particularly volatile, costing several school officialstheir jobs. One of those losses led to the hiring of FrankJohnson, a decorated World War II veteran who served asuniversity president from 1956 to 1963.

At 34, Johnson was the nation’s youngest universitypresident and boasted impressive credentials. He was a topgraduate of Rutgers and Harvard, where he had graduatedfirst in his class.

As JU president, Johnson would boost the college’s fund-raising abilities, attract top-quality faculty members andspeakers, as well as see the institution through a merge withthe Jacksonville College of Music, accreditation as a four-yearuniversity and racial integration.

Jacksonville Junior College officially became known asJacksonville University in September 1956. Third- andfourth-year curricula were added the following twoSeptembers and the first degree candidates graduated in Juneof 1959. Accreditation, however, remained a tough challenge.

“Things were very tight,” said Johnson, now retired andliving in Naples, Fla. “We really had to operate on ashoestring, and everything went into trying to fund theaccreditation.”

One tactic for improving JU’s finances proved to be asticking point. Most of the college’s trustees, includingSwisher, were opposed to the idea of building studentdormitories on campus. Swisher wanted to retain acommunity college feel and to avoid the need for federalloans. Johnson argued that income from dormitory rentalswould help offset a drop in enrollment, in part the result of ahuge tuition hike.

By January 1961, Johnson had all but won over thetrustees – and in good timing. Just months following theannouncement that JU would begin construction on studentdorms later that year, news broke that a state-run junior

college would set up shop in Jacksonville within five years. The same year, JU met another minimal standard for

accreditation when it hit volume No. 50,000 in its library.Finally, in December of 1961, the five-year wait was over.The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools grantedJU its full accreditation as a senior college. When the firststudent dorms opened in time for the 1962 fall term, all butnine were filled and enrollment was up 5 percent.

Breaking the Color Barrier “The other big goal with which we had to struggle was

integration,” Johnson said. Rumblings of a racially integrated JU began as far back as

1945, when the Jacksonville City Council consideredappropriating funds to expand Jacksonville Junior College.Expansion would allow for the expected influx of studentsenrolling under the G.I. Bill of Rights. In response,Theodoro Redding, president of Jacksonville’s NAACPchapter, wrote the council, asking whether African-Americans would benefit from the public funds spent.

When the Swisher Gymnasium opened in 1953, officialpolicy allowed for black performers, but white patrons only.Not for three more years would “colored” patrons beadmitted, and then only in the northwest section of the gym.Even in 1958, when all state universities became integrated atthe graduate level, JU’s board of trustees remained defiantlysegregated.

Artis Gilmore led the Dolphins to a national title game that drewunprecedented attention to Jacksonville University in the early 1970s.

By 1963, JU and the University of Tampa remainedFlorida’s only segregated universities. That year, African-American attorney Earl Johnson threatened to sue JU unlessit changed its stance on racial discrimination.

The final push over the racial line came at the threat ofbeing taken over by the state. Board Chairman Guy Bottsproposed adoption of a non-discriminatory policy. At a May9 meeting, the board agreed. In September 1963, plain-clothed police officers patrolled the campus as five African-American students attended their first classes at JU.

“Some people expected violence and mayhem and all sortsof trouble,” Frank Johnson said. “We had a few dark andcontemptible looks on the part of some of the white students,but no trouble of any kind.”

JU escaped the embarrassment of being Florida’s finalholdout for segregation, as the University of Tampa wasintegrated by court order the next year.

“Days of Concern”With the birth of the Free Speech Movement in 1964, so

too was borne a decade of student unrest at JU. It began witha few scathing articles in The Navigator and soon escalatedto student walkouts when attendance-required convocationsran uncomfortably long. The attendance requirement came toan end after someone hurled a brick marked “ConvocationLiberation Front” through a glass door window of theWolfson Student Center in 1971.

For the most part, however, student activists would makesome headway peacefully. A dorm council managed to landchanges in the student dress code, minor violations fines, andrestrictions on visitors in women’s dorms. Students alsoorganized sit-outs during convocations and lobbied for alouder voice in university policy. And, The Navigator calledschool officials on the carpet for failing to promote a 1969visit by civil rights activist Dick Gregory. In response, then-president Bob Spiro created a “Days of Concern” committeethat included student, as well as faculty, input.

In 1971, the Black American Student CulturalOrganization demanded a meeting with JU administrators,pressing them on the lack of African-American teachers, staffmembers and courses. By the fall term, changes in theschool’s charter dropped racially discriminatory wording andtwo African Americans, Janet Johnson and Joseph Haygood,landed faculty appointments. The next year, Afro-AmericanInsurance Co. President I.H. Burney would become JU’s firstblack board member, and Marvin Wells became the StudentGovernment Association’s first black president.

Perhaps JU’s most memorable byproduct of the freespeech movement came in the pages of the 1970 issue ofRiparian, JU’s yearbook. Edited by Robyn Moses, the bookbegan with a petition to have the draft repealed and featureda nude centerfold of two coeds. JU’s administration, teachersand many students were not amused. A book burningfollowed and, soon after Moses graduated, a 23-pagereplacement titled Focus ’70 was issued.

The Great AdventureMost of the 1970s marked a period of good times and

growth at JU. The decade began, of course, with the upstartDolphins basketball team led by Artis Gilmore makingschool history with its run at the national title. School spiritand enrollment were at an all-time high the year followingthe Dolphins’ appearance in the national title game againstUCLA.

The decade also brought a 24-hour openlobby policy for the women’s dorms, and theRathskeller, an on-campus bar in thebasement of the Wolfson Student Center.

“Because it was a campus bar, thestudents weren’t getting split among thedifferent decisions of where to go on aweekend night,” said Robert Leverock,marketing director for the Gator BowlAssociation and a 1986 grad. “TheRathskeller helped build camaraderie amongthe students at the university.”

And, of course, the ’70s was the decade ofstreaking.

Outdoor commencement ceremonies on the ScienceGreen have become a tradition at JU. (Photo 1975)

The 1970s marked a period of good times

and growth at JU, beginning with the

JU Dolphins basketball team making

a run at the national title.

“One of our school’s capstone achievements wasseeing a 6-foot-9-inch scholarship basketball playerrunning around centerfield of a JU baseball game, cladonly in a T-shirt wrapped around his head,” said TedSimendinger, a 1976 JU grad who went on to become anauthor and publisher. “Unfortunately, the T-shirt blockedhis eyes and he couldn’t find the exit gate – one of thetruly great memories that trademarks an entire era ofAmericana.”

By 1972, unrest brewed among the faculty andadministration, particularly in the aftermath of the firingof 13 popular faculty members when enrollment figuresfell short of expectations. The next year, an attempt tounionize the university led by Professor Asa Gardinernarrowly failed and left a permanent rift between manyteachers and administrators.

Tempers flared with a 1977 news article listing PresidentBob Spiro’s salary and perks for the 1974-75 year among thestate’s top three university presidents.

A study of faculty morale listed salaries among the toppriorities. The next year, salaries jumped 5 percent and workbegan on establishing an equal pay scale for women. Still,relationships between faculty and administrators grewincreasingly strained and rumors began to circulate that severalkey trustees aimed to boot Spiro as president.

In 1979, the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation oftwo private consultants, asked Spiro to resign. Dr. Fran Kinne –a former professor who became dean of the College of Fine Arts,helped establish the School of Nursing and created what is nowthe Davis College of Business – was named interim president.Kinne began her presidency with an acceptance speech titled“The Great Adventure,” an apt subject for not only JU’s but alsoFlorida’s first woman to serve as university president.

Kinne, who later would win a place in the Florida Women’sHall of Fame, became known as JU’s best public relationsmachine, as exemplified by her idea to award syndicatedcolumnist Ann Landers an honorary degree. Landerssubsequently named JU one of four recommended institutions inher column, which reached nearly 85 million readers. Kinneoriginally agreed to serve just one year, but remained in thepresident’s post a full decade, boosting faculty morale andlanding funds for five new buildings.

Kinne dealt with the challenge of adjusting to the newcompetition from the University of North Florida.

“We had to make people realize the importance of bothpublic and private education,” Kinne said. “I’m a strong believerin the dual system of education – private and public. Havinglived in so many other countries where the government controlsall of the education, I think that in America, we have the idealsystem, public and private. They feed on each other.Competition never hurt anybody.”

The Next Great EraKinne led the University through two decades, and would

be the last president to enjoy that kind of longevity.Presidents Dr. James Brady, Paul Tipton and David Harlowall served less than five years, each leaving their own markson the University’s history.

Fast forward to 2004, as JU celebrates its 70thanniversary and a new leader whom 1973 grad John Petrakisand others call “the right president for JU, at the right time.”

Hired on the heels of recent financial strains, Dr. KerryRomesburg was chosen during a national search thatconcluded last spring. With more than three decades ofsuccess in public higher education, Romesburg brings astrong background of accomplishments.

Under Romesburg’s direction, “I see no reason why JUshould not be perceived as one of the most attractiveopportunities available for students nationally,” said JUAlumni Association Board of Governors President MichaelHowland. “We need to refocus our marketing to the nationalmarketplace, and overcome our fiscal challenges andstrengthen our resources. I’m confident that, in KerryRomesburg, we now have the right leader to move usforward...and I believe we’ll get there.”

JU’s story – both past and present – perhaps was bestdescribed long ago in a prophetic 1937 letter from actingpresident J. Richard Grether in which he wrote about JU:

“At times our little craft has been becalmed inmotionless seas and it has seemed that she would nevermove again. At times, she has floundered through heavyseas with every wave threatening to engulf her. At timesshe has been forced to put into port for repairs or tochange the members of her crew. At times she has hadmost of her cabins filled with passengers and at othertimes she has been almost empty. Always, however, shehas been able to come into the home port under her ownpower in June.”

A show of school spirit as the Jacksonville Junior CollegeGreen Dolphin Band heads off to Atlanta, 1956.

H O M E C O M I N G 2 0 0 4

O C T O B E R 1 5 - 1 6 , 2 0 0 4MargaRATaville

70 Years and Counting…In our 70th anniversary year, JU is proud to announce its inaugural Silver Dolphin alumnicelebration. The Class of 1964 and all preceding University and Jacksonville Junior Collegeclasses will be welcomed into these esteemed ranks. In their honor, the first-ever SilverDolphin Reunion will be held at Homecoming 2004. In addition to the events open to allalumni, Silver Dolphins can participate in numerous special events, including the AlumniReunion Processional prior to the game on Saturday and recognition during halftime. Totop off this historic reunion, the University will honor Silver Dolphins at a banquet anddance on Saturday night featuring displays, photos andpresentations in their honor.

All alumni will start the weekend off with the officialOpening Reception at the new University House. MeetDr. Kerry Romesburg, our dynamic new president, as heintroduces this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awardwinner. Kick off Saturday with the Alumni Tailgate Zone– park, relax and let the kids work off energy before the

game at the Family Fun Zone. Bring your grill for cooking orbelly up to barbecue at the Annual Homecoming BBQ beforecatching the big game against Austin Peay.

Continuing our newest homecoming tradition, theRathskeller opens for business on Saturday night atthe River House! The Conch Republic returns Rathskeller-style when the AlumniAssociation hosts its own version of MargaRATaville for class years 1965 through2004. Feast on Caribbean fare, enjoy your favorite brew, and groove to the tunes youremember most from the Rat, all under the stars of our beautiful JU campus.Challenge your buddies to pool, Pacman and foosball and enjoy special presentationsand memorabilia honoring all our reunion classes. If you never knew the original Rat,we welcome you to make it your new tradition!

For more informationcontact us at:

(904) 256-7201alumni@ju.edu

www.jacksonville.edu

16 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

thical leadership.Entrepreneurship. VentureDevelopment. CorporateResponsibility. Customer

Relationship Management. Supply ChainManagement.

These are the business buzzwords nowfloating freely through the halls at theDavis College of Business. Revisions toevery curriculum are complete, and theresult is a college more closely aligned withcontemporary business practice. Studentsreturned to the classroom this fall to findseveral traditional courses updated withnew materials and a more practical focus.

New faculty have also been recruitedfor two new outreach centers that will linkthe college’s resources and expertise tocompanies in Jacksonville and beyond. Asearch to replace departed dean Dr.William Rhey is underway, and a newleader for the school should be in placeduring the academic year.

And it’s only the beginning of the ridefor students, faculty and staff at the DavisCollege. By early 2005, they plan to moveinto a new $10 million, two-story businessschool building that will be the mosttechnologically advanced facility on the

Jacksonville University campus. All ofthese changes, faculty said, are positioningthe college to become a stronger academicunit at JU and a stronger force in thebusiness community.

The new Davis College of Businessbuilding is more than just a collection ofclassrooms and offices. With its teachingtechnology and large spaces, it will be agathering and learning space for thebusiness community and the entire JUcampus as well. In many ways, the newstructure represents progress and a sense ofcommunity at JU.

“The building symbolizes a change forthe business school and the opportunity tocreate a new experience, a newenvironment,” explained Dan Davis, theJU trustee whose family is the namesake ofthe business college and the benefactor ofthe new facility.

“Hopefully that environment will beconducive to challenging the students andthe faculty to new levels,” Davis said.

Davis hopes the building will enable

an improved learning experience forbusiness students and all JU students.

The new 55,000-square-foot DavisCollege of Business will be a vision ofclean lines, dramatic glass features andbrick exteriors that complement thesurrounding JU landmarks. The buildingwill stand at one end of the picturesquewalkway that connects the northern andsouthern parts of campus.

The project also includes a newcampus entryway, landscaped traffic circleand loop road. The Davis College ofBusiness will be an anchor for thenortheastern corner of campus.

Outside the front entrance, a tall glasscolumn will feature a musical clock thatplays 200 tunes and a signature mast thatrises toward the sky. Sunshades crown thewindows and entryways.

Inside, the two-story lobby is an oval-shaped area with a dramatic skylightoverhead, a patterned tile floor, and areception desk. A large, plasma televisionscreen featuring business news will givestudents and visitors a preview of thetechnology-rich spaces throughout.

Associate Dean Ellen Lockamy saidthe lobby will convey to all the school’s

Building the Future of Businessby Sara F. Coleman • photos by laird

EBringing Technologyand Business Together

18 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

Internet material into their classes with ease.Vince Narkiewicz, associate professor of marketing and chair

of the DCOB building committee, said he and his colleagues areready to utilize the new classroom features and will receiveextensive training.

A variety of classroom sizes and layouts were designed,Narkiewicz said, to fit the needs of different class types. Two 50-seat “case study” classrooms on the first floor have tiered, semi-circular seating to promote interaction among students andteachers in courses that rely on the case study method and groupdiscussion. Traditional classrooms and seminar rooms will house20, 30 and 40 students.

A second-floor trading room will feature video monitors withstock quotes and business news so that finance and investmentstudents can practice real-time decision-making. A “behavior lab”with a glass-walled observation area is well suited for focus groupsand other behavioral study exercises.

Students will have access to breakout and study rooms, twocomputer labs, lounges, offices for student organizations and acafé. The aeronautics program’s first floor suite will include aflight simulator room and classroom space dedicated to theaviation program. A network of wireless zones will enable high-speed access to the Internet throughout the building.

Faculty and administrators are particularly excited aboutcustom-built executive education and meeting space that will allowthe college to bring the business community to campus.

“We want our companies on campus, using our facilities andbeing part of our campus,” Lockamy said.

Three flexible meeting spaces on the first floor can bepartitioned off for executive seminars or joined together for a 200-capacity gathering space for lectures, receptions and other campuscommunity events. Kitchen space down the hall provides thefacilities necessary for catered events.

One of two 50-seat executive training rooms will have aboardroom feel and teleconferencing capabilities that will beparticularly attractive to companies and executives working withthe business college. He and other professors hope that studentsand faculty alike will have more opportunities to interact withbusiness professionals through new curriculum initiatives. Thecollege’s new outreach centers are expected to play a major role inlinking JU to the greater Jacksonville business community.

For more than two years, business faculty have been studyingthe curriculum intensely and defining the college’s niche inbusiness education. At the end of this introspection, the facultycommitted to creating a more applied curriculum andencouraging more structured and frequent involvement withexecutives and local businesses.

“One thing that was key in identifying ourselves is wewanted to be an applied school of business, not a theoreticalschool of business,” Lockamy said. “We want to take what welearn and put it to work.”

The two centers are directly related to that goal, she said.Dr. Gordon McClung, a marketing consultant and author,

The sleek lobby, as designed by JSA architects, features apatterned tile floor, a central elevator column and a plasma-screen television.

With 55,000 square feet on two floors, the new building offersplenty of space for classrooms, meeting rooms, offices andcustomized facilities such as the aviation simulator.

vibrant atmosphere and a new sense of professionalism.In designing the new facility, faculty visited other new

business school buildings and researched the best features availableto enhance teaching and learning. The classroom technologyincludes ceiling-mounted projectors and teacher stations with abuilt-in computer, VCR, DVD player and touch-panel controlscreen. Faculty will be able to incorporate video, sound, and

Encouraging Business Interaction

has joined the JUfaculty as the newdirector of themarketing center.Companies such asWinn-Dixie, Procter& Gamble and TNTLogistics have alreadysigned on to workwith the center.

“We want thelocal and regionalbusiness communitiesto come here foranswers,” Narkiewiczsaid.

Faculty expect theLeadership Center tohave a broadermission. It has beencreated to infuseleadership principlesthroughout thebusiness curriculumand extend its reachto the entire JUcampus.

Dr. WilliamLocander, whodirected a leadership center at the University of South Florida,arrived over the summer to fill the endowed leadership chair.The center will work with students and faculty to help themdevelop their leadership skills and apply their businessknowledge.

All JU business students are seeing curriculum changes thatreflect the new focus on practical business concepts.

The updates reflect not only a greater focus on practicalbusiness concepts, but also on emerging and re-emerging trendsin business.

For example, the updated Executive MBA Program includesmore coaching on executive leadership skills, managementsimulations and “360 evaluations” for students.

“I think this sends a statement to the Jacksonville communitythat we are very a progressive university – and the Davis familyhas shown their faith in us by building this building,” Lockamysaid.

Dan Davis is pleased with the new programmatic focus andactivities planned for the business college, and pleased that thenew facility will provide adequate space and technologicalenhancements for these goals. He said he hopes the changes willencourage students and faculty to push the envelope, to developnew opportunities, and to create a better learning environmentfor everyone at JU.

Old Davis Building

to Become Student

Hub

Excitement is building around campus for a new planthat will turn the old Davis College of Business facilityinto a student commons – the long-sought center ofcampus life for Jacksonville University’s growing studentbody. Officials have started planning now, and expect tobegin construction after the business college moves to itsnew facility in early 2005.

Faculty and staff are discussing several ideas for howto utilize the space when it becomes available, and manysee a need for a flexible, student-focused building. As partof its 1998 $20 million challenge gift, the Davis familytook the lead by donating $1 million for renovations ofthe existing structure. The family specified that theywanted the former Davis College of Business buildingconverted into a facility for students.

“We couldn’t ask for a better location for a newstudent commons,” said President Kerry Romesburg,who has been a proponent of student unions and studentfacilities at his previous institutions. “It will be in theheart of campus, right between the Kinne UniversityCenter and the Swisher Library and overlooking thebaseball field and the riverfront. Students will love it.”

Bryan Coker, dean of students at JU, has formed acommittee of students, faculty and staff to solicit inputfrom the campus community, formulate a list of needs,and advise the administration about the renovations.

Initial reaction and input has started flowing already.“I’ve been amazed by the amount of student interest andinvestment in this project so far,” Coker said. Andbeyond students, faculty and staff have been providingideas and volunteering to help.

Preliminary suggestions for the facility includemultipurpose and meeting rooms; a satellite diningfacility; offices for student media, government and otherstudent organizations; recreational and fitness amenities;the Career Services Center and Student CounselingCenter; and office space for staff in several StudentAffairs departments.

This initiative holds great promise for a positive andsubstantial impact on student life, Coker explained.“What we lack is a central gathering space for students, areal hub of student activity on this campus. That’s whatthis facility will give us.”

The facility was designed andconstructed to complement other majorbuildings on the JU campus whileincorporating contemporary elements.

Refocusing Business Education

They’ve enjoyed floor seats at JU basketball games since the1980s. They’ve gotten so addicted to the excitement ofwatching Dolphin games that they now have a hard time

enjoying their season tickets inthe stands at Florida Gatorgames.

“Basically, I love JU and I loveathletics,” said Fred Pruitt, whomarried his sweetheart Debbie as

a JU freshmanand earned anundergraduatedegree in 1968.During his

career in retailbanking, Pruittearned a master’s as amember of JU’s firstExecutive MBA class.

Pruitt’s heart has been at JU for more than 35 years. He stillwears his JU ring. So when John Harrison, a 1967 grad,approached him about serving as chairman of the JU AthleticAssociation, he accepted enthusiastically. Everyone knows thatPruitt’s passion for Dolphin athletics will serve him and theUniversity well in his role as chairman.

Harrison had been asked to head a steering committee toreestablish the Athletic Association to support JU’s athleticprograms. He then contacted 11 potential members, all of

“We need a core of people who are willing to get this started. We’ll be developing a plan to grow sports and be more competitive.”

Fred Pruitt and his wife Debbie arepassionate about Dolphin Athletics.

Fan SupportJU’s Athletic Associationis Reformed by Alumni

JUAA would provide support forDolphins football and other athleticteams at JU.

by Kathy Ellisphoto by laird

whom said yes and felt it was longoverdue. “They understood theneed of having an organization inplace to gather the supportnecessary to enable our athleticteams to be competitive, ” he said.

“Athletics is very important tothe health of an institution,” Pruittsaid. “It acts as a window to thecommunity, and does a lot for thevibrancy of JU. We want the JUAAto be a fun group that brings fansback, and provides support to thecoaches, players and students.”

Pruitt and the fledglingAthletic Association have gottenfull support from JU’s newpresident, Dr. Kerry Romesburg.

“I’ve been very impressed with the

president,” Pruitt said. “I met with him on his second day onthe job. He told me that he and his wife love sports and wantto see it thrive here. It was everything a Dolphins supporterwould want to hear.”

Harrison agrees. “In my dealings with PresidentRomesburg, I have been encouraged by his understanding ofthe value athletics brings to the campus community and thecommunity at large.”

While raising money to support athletics is a key function,it is only one of the board’s goals. The 21 members of theumbrella organization will work together with the JU athleticdirector to establish needs. They are expected to make or bewilling to solicit donations and serve on a marketing or eventscommittee. Terms are set at three years, with a limit of twoconsecutive terms to promote a flow of people. Harrison saidthey wanted diversity on the board consisting of age, gender,race and for all sports to have representation.

Pruitt is confident that the reformed JUAA will receivewide support. “I think that there are a lot of people out therejust like me who want to see JU sports boom,” he said. “Timingis everything. The new president is giving us an opportunity toput the spotlight on athletics and therefore the rest of theschool. Hopefully we’ll get the same enthusiastic response fromthose who want to be involved as we have with those asked tolead the effort.”

Grady Jones, vice president for institutional advancement, isproud of the group’s progress. “We started by asking thecoaches for supporters and broadened our search from there,”

he said. There was no arm-twisting.”Board Chairman-Elect Jim Dalton cited a different reason

for stepping up to the plate. Dalton, a 1984 graduate,acknowledged that he hasn’t been involved at JU since he was astudent. In the meantime, he has built a successful advertisingbusiness that resulted in The Dalton Agency being named theofficial advertising and public relations agency for Jacksonville’sSuper Bowl.

“My business has matured which gives me the time, andbeing involved in fund-raising for the Super Bowl has gottenme to take a look at what is good for Jacksonville,” Dalton said.“Education is so important. It’s a big part of what makes a citygreat.”

With this new perspective, Dalton said, he recognized thatJU needed a bigger presence. “We have a real chance to makeJU a premier university, but we need more awareness in thecommunity,” Dalton said. “After hearing the plans for revivingJU, I saw how important athletics is for building the life of theuniversity.”

Dalton sees the role of the JUAA as a means to an end. “Ithink it’s a natural to expand athletics,” he said. “Our initialgoal is to build the athletic fund. Sports have a lot of needs intheir facilities. In the past, athletics was paid for out of theoperating budget, but that’s not how most universities do it.We need to support athletics through separate fundraisingefforts.”

Thanks to great volunteers, the JUAA is the vehicle to dothat.

e who are willing to get this started. w sports and be more competitive.”

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 21

Fred Pruitt, BA ’68/MBA ’85, and John Harrison, BA ’67, areamong those working to restart the JU Athletic Association.

Dr. Elizabeth DePeri can find cancers most can’t.

ADVANCING

Healthcareat Home

by John Daigle Jr. • photos by laird

he Terry Parker High School graduate who enrolled at Jacksonville University at the age of 16 is now one of a few specialized high-risk cancer researchers in the nation using the latest technology to detect dangerous

malignancies that current methods often miss. As a staffmember at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, DePeri says there’ssomething special about practicing some of the world’s mostadvanced breast cancer detection techniques right here in herhometown.

Since April 2003, DePeri and a fellow radiologist atJacksonville’s Mayo Clinic, discovered numerous cancers thatwould have otherwise been missed, using a state-of-the-art MR-guided breast biopsy system initially implemented at just threeother cancer care facilities nationwide.

At a staff installation dinner last fall, DePeri received anunexpected handwritten congratulations note sent over to her byDr. Fran Kinne, the person she says inspired her most duringher undergraduate studies at Jacksonville University.

Before the evening ended, DePeri went over to speak withKinne, who served as president during DePeri’s years of study atJU in the mid-1980s.

“It gave me a lot of satisfaction seeing her that night at thestaff dinner,” Kinne said. “Being brought on as a regular staffmember is very prestigious. But it doesn’t surprise me becauseshe’s always been a very brilliant woman.”

Friendly faces and support of old friends are just some of theperks of returning to her hometown to practice. After attendingmedical school at University of Florida, DePeri traveled northfor her residency at Bayside Medical Center in Springfield,Massachusetts and fellowship at Faulkner-Sagoff Breast Centerin Boston, before returning to the First Coast to work atJacksonville’s Mayo Clinic. Aside from a desire to be close to herfamily, the renowned research hospital offered DePeri awonderful career opportunity.

“There are not many facilities where I could put into practicewhat I learned in my fellowship,” DePeri said.

DePeri has gone far beyond implementing the skills sheacquired in Massachusetts. Specializing in high-risk and familial

breast cancer patients, she has lead Mayo Clinic in exciting newdirections with cutting-edge equipment and innovative researchstudies.

Under the direction of DePeri and her radiology associate,Dr. Michelle McDonough, Mayo Clinic was the fourth cancercenter in the country to perform magnetic resonance (MR)-guided breast biopsies using the ATEC breast biopsy andexcision system. The unique system can operate in the presenceof the magnetic field created by MR because it’s powered withpneumatics, rather than electricity.

As with similar imaging-guided breast biopsy procedures –such as ultrasound – MR-guided breast biopsies use a needle to

n find cancers most can’t.

T

Dr. Elizabeth DePeri

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 23

draw out sample tissue to test it for malignancies, helpingpatients avoid surgical biopsy.

Yet these new MR-guided biopsies are also set apart fromultrasound techniques. MRI is widely considered the mostsensitive imaging modality available and the vacuum-poweredcore needle allows radiologists to handle the procedure as soonas the suspect lesion is visible on the screen, without movingthe patient to another area.

“This is a much needed, long awaited technology,” DePerisaid. “It’s really a shortcut to diagnosis and it streamlines carequite a bit. For patients, that means quicker answers and lessworry.”

DePeri and Dr. Connie Lehman, a radiologist at the SeattleCancer Care Alliance, collaborated their research on the newsystem in order to present a paper at one of the leadingradiology society conferences in Miami last May. Theirfindings are consistent with those found at Sloan-KetteringCancer Center, the first to adopt this new technology. Morethan 30 percent of the lesions tested through MR-guidedimaging are indeed malignant, their research shows.

“Things that get biopsied through MR, are things we couldonly see through MR,” she said. “So, although only 30 percentare positive, they are cancers that otherwise would not havebeen diagnosed.”

In addition to her groundbreaking work with MR-guidedbeast biopsies, DePeri is also involved with several ongoingstudies. One study investigates the feasibility of fully digitizingradiology departments, making them essentially filmless. Other

research unites DePeri with Mayo’s breast oncologist, Dr.Edith Perez and internist/geneticist, Dr. Betty Anne Minceyon multi-disciplinary approaches to cancer — evaluatinghormone therapies, chemotherapies and genetic markers ofpatients.

DePeri’s forward-thinking work has its roots in a pastmarked by self-motivation and a strong education. As anintelligent and hard-working student, DePeri graduated fromArlington’s Terry Parker High School at 16 years of age.Because of her daughter’s youth, DePeri’s mother was hesitantto send her to a college far away. Jacksonville University, with astrong pre-med program and a campus just three miles from

"Things that get biopsied through MR, are things we could only

see through MR. So, although only 30 percent are positive, they

are cancers that otherwise would not have been diagnosed."– Dr. Elizabeth DePeri

DePeri is involved in a study that will determine the feasibility of fully digitizing radiology departments, making them essentially filmless.

24 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

their home, seemed the natural choice.DePeri lived at home until her senior year, enjoying the small-

class environment and the benefits of going to school in NortheastFlorida.

“There’s a certain pleasure to having classes outside with achalkboard in the springtime,” DePeri said.

DePeri was also impressed by the access to and quality of thefaculty and advisors at JU. She has fond memories of Dr. QuintonWhite, JU’s current dean of the College of Arts & Sciences andDePeri’s advisor atthat time.

“He was the kindof guy who would tellyou that you could dowhatever you wantedto,” DePeri said.“That’s what you needin an advisor. Hereally believed thatabout people.”

White remembersDePeri as bright andpersonable. He saidhe’s not surprised a bitby her success. “Shecame to the Universityvery young, as thekind of student whoneeded a little extraattention. That’s whyI think JU was a verygood choice for her.”

DePeri alsocredited Kinne'sinfluence on her andthe example she setfor women in business.DePeri still remembersKinne’s uncanny abilityto know something about each of the University’s students.

“She knew every student’s name,” said DePeri, who incidentallynow is responsible for reading Kinne's annual mammograms. “I wentto pick up my diploma on the day of graduation and she said ‘have agreat time in Gainesville and come back and see us.’ ”

After taking a year off to work, DePeri continued her educationat University of Florida’s medical school, feeling confident in herundergraduate preparation and quickly absorbing the mild cultureshock of the large student body.

Kinne said she anticipated DePeri’s success. Speaking of JU’s rolein that success, Kinne commented, “JU gave her an opportunity topursue her goals,” noting that the undergraduate school has one ofthe best admission rates to medical school in the country.

And while JU had an impact, DePeri’s “intellect, enthusiasm andmotivation set her apart,” Kinne said. “I think she would have beensuccessful in anything she tried.”

DePeri performs a MR-guided breast biospy using the new ATEC breastbiopsy and excision system.

Performing outside the box

– the black box – is the

dream of every theatre

student at Jacksonville

University. That dream is

about to become a reality as

the University embarks on

an ambitious new

$4 million campaign to

renovate Swisher Theatre.

Built in 1956, JU’s main teachingand performing venue for theatre anddance students was closed in 2001 due tostructural damage, code violations andother conditions.

Since the closure, theatre classes andperformances have been held in a smallstudio theatre known as the black box inthe Phillips Fine Arts Building.

As JU kicked off its campaign forSwisher Theatre in September, with halfthe needed funds already raised and someimportant supporters on board, optimismwas building.

Thinking Outside the BoxThinking Outside the BoxThe black box should be a part of

every well-rounded theatre program, but

it can’t replace a main stage. Actors andtechnicians must experience both.

“Theatre involves the psychology ofspace,” said Deborah Jordan, assistantprofessor of theatre. “You must learn tofill a space both physically and vocally.It’s the difference between a small chapeland St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”

The lack of a theater has limited thenumber of performances the theatredepartment can offer. Onlycertain types of plays lendthemselves to black boxproduction.

That has limited theexperiences of JU theatrestudents, said Ben Wilson, theatreand dance department chair.

“You want to give students an evenexperience in both design and acting. Theyneed to work in all the styles and periods.”

Wilson, who’s been actively involvedin the concept and design for renovatingSwisher, said the theatre is hisdepartment’s primary teaching tool.

RENOVATINGSWISHER THEATRERENOVATINGSWISHER THEATRE

26 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

“It’s not just about having astage. Without a theatre, our

students don’t learn the systems –lighting, rigging, staging, acoustics.”

–Ben Wilson, chair of theatre and dance

by Olga Bayer

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 27

“It’s not just about having a stage,”Wilson said. “Without a theatre, ourstudents don’t learn the systems –lighting, rigging, staging, acoustics.”

Darrel Fall, a theatre productionsenior, is concerned about what he hasbeen missing, but also sees a bright sideto his extra black box experiences.

“You’re not always going to get thegreatest space in theatre,” he said. “It’staught me to adapt.”

Compensating for not having atheatre, JU faculty encourage and provideopportunities for students to gain theexperiences they need.

All theatre majors participate in astudy abroad program or an internship indistinguished places like New York’s

Berkshire Theatre, Utah ShakespeareTheatre and London’s Royal Academy.

Dancing Around the IssueDancing Around the IssueBrian Palmer, director of dance

studies, said JU dance majors are alsomissing an important component of theirtraining – to be able to perform in aspace on a regular basis and have atheatre “to call home.”

Palmer said dancers must have accessto a facility they can get accustomed to,work night after night, build theirstamina and measure their development.

Currently, the college rents spacedowntown for various dance concerts.With rental costs, performances thatused to run several days now run for one.

Central Makeup Room

Costume Production Shop

Proscenium Stage and Continental Seating

Theatre and Dance Faculty Offices

Artist renderingsby Hetal Patel, BFA ’04

28 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

With limited space and performanceopportunities, attendance at theatre anddance productions suffered. Taking theshows off campus has had a negativeimpact on student attendance as well.

Regaining a campus theatre is alsokey to maintaining the dance program’sNational Association of Schools of Dance(NASD) accreditation, a prestigious markof distinction that helps JU competenationwide. JU is one of only twocolleges in Florida offering a B.A. degreein dance education. The programprovides an equal emphasis on moderndance and ballet, which is very attractiveto students and their parents.

A Solid Case for SwisherA Solid Case for SwisherIn 2002, JU’s College of Fine Arts

turned 40 years old. It is one of the fewcomprehensive schools of the arts inFlorida, offering majors and pre-professional programs in music, art, arthistory, theatre and dance.

The college attracts gifted studentswith diverse talents and backgrounds.Working with highly-qualifiedteachers, students learn, grow andprogress – largely throughengaged-learning experiencesthat take place in the theatre.

Swisher has served not only asthe main stage for performances andhands-on learning, it’s also been the venuefor many campus events and activities.

The fine arts continue to be one ofJU’s most visible links to the community.Swisher Theatre has played an importantrole to this end, opening its doors to thecommunity so it can embrace the artsthrough performances, exhibits, youthprograms, art camps and more.

With no campus venue, the theatredepartment had to suspend or limitcommunity outreach programs like theTheatre for Young People Program.

Campaign KickoffCampaign KickoffRecognizing Swisher as one of the

University’s most immediate needs, theJU Board of Trustees initiated a capitalfund-raising campaign to renovate thebuilding. The $4 million renovation,which will maintain the historicalintegrity and value of the originalbuilding, is expected to cost substantiallyless than building a new theatre.

“If we built from scratch, we’d spendbetween $10 million and $17 million,”said Wilson, who has also served as atheatre consultant for the design of threeother theatres. “We’re going on a verytight budget, there’s nothing to sacrifice.”

The Swisher Theatre Campaign,under the leadership of trustee TimMann, president of Swisher InternationalGroup, Inc., was launched in mid-September. Grady Jones, JU’s vicepresident for institutional advancement,is optimistic about reaching the goalquickly.

“Theatre and the arts have aconnection to people’s hearts and theopportunity to make this kind of gift willbe very appealing,” Jones said.

The University has already receivedapproximately $2 million for Swisher,thanks in large part to generous pledgesand donations from SwisherInternational, a local arts patron and anendowment gift.

Jones sees a broad base for donors,

drawing on those who have an affinityfor JU, people in the community whohave a direct interest in the arts, andthose who see the theatre as anotherneeded cultural venue for Jacksonville.

JU President Kerry Romesburg saidthe Swisher campaign will be one of histop priorities.

“Over this next year, one of my goalsis to get this theatre back online so ourstudents get what they deserve,” he said.“Students deserve a theatre on campusfor their performances.”

Designs on Swisher Designs on Swisher Renovating a theatre to bring it up to

state-of-the-art functionality won’t beeasy. Terry Netter, dean of the Collegeof Fine Arts, and Wilson have spentcountless hours conferring on plans withThe Haskell Company, the design-buildteam chosen for the project. Building atheatre is a complex process that requiresa constant “give and take” said Wilson.

After reviewing prior plans, doing anin-depth analysis with a consultant and

studying the budget, Wilson metwith Preston Haskell, founder andchairman of the HaskellCompany. Before architecturaldrawings were done, Wilson and

Haskell discussed the main purposeof the building – curriculum delivery. “That’s all we talked about. If the

space doesn’t deliver the curriculum, thenwe don’t need to be doing it,” Wilsonsaid. “This is a tight space, a no-frillsspace. If something isn’t supporting thecurriculum, we’re not putting it in.”

A New Look, Inside and Out A New Look, Inside and Out The most dramatic and noticeable

change made to the theatre will be thenew fly house. With the 15-footextension of the stage house roof, youwill be able to fly in sky drops, flags and

(Pictured from left to right) Students working with lighting batten on counterweight system; Dancers are eager to showcase their talent on a home stage; Artist-in-ResidenceDevlin Mann, along with Deborah Jordan and Ben Wilson directing a rehearsal; A scene from Tennessee Williams’ Picnic, the last performance in Swisher Theatre.

“. . . Something happens whenyou walk into a theatre lobby, the

anticipation of something magical.”–Debbie Jordan, assistant professor of theatre

large pieces ofscenery.

“It will allow usto teach rigging,”Wilson said. “It’srather costly, but ifyou don’t do that,you might as wellnot do the rest.”

Even in alimited space with ashallow stage,Wilson wasdetermined to havea real orchestra pit.The new orchestrapit, designed tohold a 19-pieceorchestra, will bepartially covered,common inGerman theatrehouses built in the1920s and 30s. The proscenium stagewill feature a permanent extension – aforestage – that enlarges the stage area,with the orchestra pit beneath. Aremovable non-skid marley floor will beincluded, a necessity for the dancers.

The audience will be morecomfortable with the added legroom ofthe new continental seating. The theatrewill seat close to 400.

The main level will house a newentry lobby with a concessions andticketing area.

“Going to the theatre is more thanwatching the show,” Jordan said. “It’s thewhole ambience. Something happenswhen you walk into a theatre lobby, theanticipation of something magical.”

The south expansion will include anew two-story addition, making roomfor much needed office space. A newmezzanine will be devoted to costumestorage, a new mechanical room and a“spot-booth.”

There will be new rigging, newlighting, new sound, and a new intercom.All rooms will be wired so the stagemanager can talk to anyone in any roomin the theatre. The audio system willfeature a new, modern sound controlbooth to house all the theatrical lightingand audio controls.

A new steel catwalk with guardrails

will provide ample room to manipulatelighting.

Some other new features include alaundry room, costume production shop,central makeup room, and a new greenroom – the area where actors generally sitand wait before going on stage.

“The green room is also where thetheatre students can hang,” Wilson said.“Right now, they have no place to go.This will be their own space.”

The Bottom Line The Bottom Line Wilson, who’s been at JU since

1995, said, “Theatre is all about beingable to adjust. It’s something you haveto be willing to do. But the fact is,eventually, students simply must have atheatre.”

Projections indicate that the newteaching/performing Swisher Theatre willattract 100 more students to the college,yielding an annual income of $1 million.

Netter, confident about theincreased enrollment, said “Build it andthey will come.”

Jordan, looking ahead, already has anidea for the gala opening – she’d like toproduce the stage musical Fiddler on theRoof.

“Everything we do is trying to makethis a reality,” Jordan said.

Presenting the New Swisher Theatre

400 Seat Performance Theatre

New Grand Lobby

New Stage Rigging

New Sound System & Control Booth

New Theatrical Lighting & Controls

New Dressing Rooms

New Central Makeup Room

New Costume Production Shop

New Costume Storage Room

New Green Room

New Faculty Offices

New Prop Construction & Storage Area

A Look at Increased Area:Basement – 6,169 square feet

First floor – 13,694 square feetMezzanine – 2, 050 square feet

Total: 21,913 square feet

he annual fund (also known as the JU Fund) isthe backbone of Jacksonville University’s fund-raising efforts. Annual giving is simply defined asa program that consistently, or annually, solicits

gifts from all constituents. The University’s yearly campaignstarts at the beginning of the University’s fiscal year, July 1, andends on June 30, the end of the University’s fiscal year.

Throughout the course of the campaign, alumni, parentsand friends will have many opportunities to donate to theannual fund. These opportunities will occur through a directmail solicitation, a phone call from one of our students callersduring the annual Phonathon, or even JU Magazine.

The important elements of annual giving are dollars raisedand participation. Both elements are extremely critical to theUniversity and its mission. Dollars raised are important becauseall the monies benefit students in the form of studentscholarships and enhanced student life programs. Our goal thisyear is $760,000.

The approximate cost of tuition for a year at JU is $18,590.However, that is only about 60 percent of what it actually coststhe University for a student to attend. The dollars raised duringthe annual fund (or JU Fund) campaign go to help offset thecost of the student’s attendance, for both the University and thestudent.

The second element of the annual fund is participation. Agift at any level counts toward participation! Annual fundparticipation is important because it allows us to pursue grantsfrom outside sources, and it impacts our college’s ranking inpublications such as U.S.News & World Report, which leads toincreasing the value of your JU degree, and helps withrecruitment and retention too. So, a gift to the annual fund, atany level, not only affects the student and alumni of today, butalso affects the students and alumni of tomorrow.

Simply put, your annual gift at any level makes a differencein education at Jacksonville University.

Making a gift is easy. Just mail back the postage-paid returnenvelope that accompanies this issue of JU Magazine with yourdonation; or if you wish, tell one of our student callers who willcontact you during the Phonathon that you wish to support JUstudents, and he or she will be happy to assist you.

If you have any questions, or wish to make agift, please do not hesitate to contact me at

(904) 256-7014 or at ptrakas@ju.edu.

Get to Know the Annual Fundby Peter Trakas, Director of Annual Giving

To enhance our program and recognizeour donors, we have established new givingclubs that allow you, our donors, to easilysupport your university. These clubs are asfollows:

$1- $99 GREEN LEAF SOCIETY

$100 - $249 BRONZE LEAF SOCIETY

$250 - $499 SILVER LEAF SOCIETY

$500 - $999 GOLD LEAF SOCIETY

$1,000 and up ORDER OF THE DOLPHIN

Every member of each club will receive agift of appreciation specifically designed forthat club. In addition, each new donor willreceive a special token of appreciation at theend of the fiscal year. Benefits of each club willbe explained in the next issue of JU Magazine.

Thank you for your support!

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J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 31

ast summer, when Lynn Pinner was shopping for bracesfor her 13-year-old daughter, she called JacksonvilleUniversity after her husband heard about the school’s

new orthodontic services, offered by the Dental School ofOrthodontics. What she found, Pinner said, was an affordableoption, a friendly and informative clinical team, and a veryprofessional experience.

Her daughter Kelli, now 14, has seen remarkableimprovements in her teeth in just one year of treatment. Eachtime she visits, Kelli picks a new color for her braces, LynnPinner said. “Kelli is very artsy, and she likes to do everythingout of the ordinary.”

The Pinners were initially drawn to JU’s lower-pricedorthodontic services, which were partially covered by theinsurance they received as a military family. They also enjoyedthe personal attention they received from Dr. Jean-PierrePontier, a faculty member, and Dr. Randall Snyder, a studentresident in the orthodontics program.

“It’s been a truly wonderful experience,” Pinner said. “I’m sohappy that my husband heard about it and that we made theinitial call and came over. We couldn’t have picked a betterplace.”

And the Pinner family isn’t alone. The one-year-oldorthodontics program has already placed more than 15,000braces on about 600 patients. Many of them are fromcommunities that have access or financial barriers to gettingtreatment.

That’s where the JU orthodontics clinic has found itsmission. “We are responding to both of these [barriers] byopening our door to the community at a tremendous savings,”said Dr. Laurance Jerrold, professor and interim dean of theprogram.

A study of patients seen in the first year showed thatroughly two-thirds were minority patients. Most come fromlower to middle-income families, who often have troublefinding orthodontic services they can afford.

The average patient at the JU clinic pays about $2,500 forservices, which would likely cost $4,000 at a private practice,Jerrold said. The clinic’s financial counselor and insurancecoordinator work with each family to develop a customizedpayment plan.

At JU, patients also get the benefit of being seen byresidents who are supervised closely by faculty. In the teachingenvironment, each case is reviewed by the residents and facultyin weekly diagnostic seminars, drawing a lot of opinions andexpertise to each case. “There is … a lot of oversight that goesinto an individual patient’s treatment,” Jerrold said, describing itas a system of checks and balances.

In August, the school welcomed its second class of 14students, for a total enrollment of 28. As one of the largest andnewest orthodontics program in the country, the JU program ishelping to fulfill a nationwide shortage of orthodontists. “Thelatest statistics from the American Association of Orthodontists[say] that the number of orthodontic students graduating is notkeeping pace with the number of orthodontists retiring frompractice,” Jerrold said.

The average orthodontics residency program takes about 5students per year, and there are about 280 slots nationwide.The intense competition to become an orthodontic residentensures that JU’s residents are exceptional new dental schoolgraduates and practicing dentists, Jerrold explained.

Second-year resident Darrin Storms said his 13 classmatesand those in the next class after him brought a wealth ofexperience to the program. Some, like Storms, have justcompleted dental school, but others have between two and 14years of experience in dental practice. Their knowledge benefitsstudents and patients alike when they review cases as a group,Storms said.

Now in his second and final year, Storms is paired with afirst-year student for mentoring, and he is spending more timeon clinical work. After he finishes next summer, he plans tomove back to his roots in Northwest Arkansas and open anorthodontic practice. There, he will continue JU’s mission ofproviding orthodontic services to underserved communities.

Dr. Laurance Jerrold (left) supervises orthodontic resident Dr. Boris Arbitman(right) while he sees a young patient in the clinic.

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CommunityBenefiting from New

ORTHODONTICPROGRAM

by Sara F. Colemanphoto by Betsy Favorite

NEWSNEWS

Newsnews briefsnews briefs

acksonville University celebrated one of its largestgraduating classes in 20 years at commencementceremonies on May 1. In addition, a record number

of graduates received the Fred B. Noble Medal for scholarshipfor achieving perfect 4.0 grade-point averages.

In her message to the 633 new graduates, former ActingPresident Dr. Catherine Morgan said their education reachedfar beyond classroom material.

“The education that you received at Jacksonville Universityis what will remain with you long after you have forgottenwhat you learned,” Morgan said. “Whether as a Navy Seal, anentrepreneur, physician, educator or artist, when you decidehow you are going to make a living, we expect that you willchoose work that matters. That is the enlightened differencebetween a job and a vocation, and it is an essential part ofliving a good life.”

Morgan conferred an honorary doctorate of laws degree onFormer U.S. Representative Tillie K. Fowler, a formerJacksonville city leader and great friend to the University.

Fowler also delivered the keynote address and gave somevery practical advice to graduates. She told them they shouldnever be afraid to make a mistake, should never hesitate to aska question and should remember thatone of the most important elementsof success is perspective.

“Perspective allows us to see thatsuccess doesn’t mean just achievingprofessional standing or gainingwealth,” Fowler said. “It means beinga person of value – a loyal friend, aloving spouse, a great parent, a manor woman of integrity. And nomatter what chapters of difficultymay lie behind you or in the pathahead, each of you has the capacityto become a success in the ways that truly matter most.”

Dr. Mary Kathleen “Kay” Johnson, professor of education,founder and director of JU’s Wilma’s Little People’s School,and a child development expert, was presented with theUniversity’s Integritas Vitae award, the highest honor JUbestows. Johnson is retiring after 30 years at JacksonvilleUniversity.

A record eight students were awarded the Fred B. NobleMedal for scholarship by earning perfect grades in every classin their collegiate career. Those students are: Kenneth M.Athans, the Outstanding Senior in Computing Sciences and aDivision of Science and Mathematics Student of the Year;

Tim Benjamin Birkman, the Outstanding Finance Student ofthe Year and a member of the Davis College of BusinessCircle of Excellence; Inga Chira, the OutstandingInternational Business Student of the Year and OutstandingDavis College of Business Student of the Year; Gary AllenHarrington, U.S. Navy lieutenant and Outstanding BusinessAdministration Student of the Year; Amanda Gail Jackson, apsychology major and member of the national honor societyPsi Chi; James Arthur Quaresimo, a summa cum laudegraduate of the Davis College of Business; Courtney ChristineSchulker, the Outstanding Aviation Student in the DavisCollege of Business; and Tamara Ann Simpson, editor of the

student newspaper The Navigator,and the College of Arts and SciencesOutstanding Student of the Year.

John Balog, vice president forstudent life, also presented theUniversity’s two major leadershipawards to students at thecommencement ceremonies.Alejandro Savransky, SGA president,tutor, Orientation leader and vicepresident of the Green KeyHonorary Leadership Society, washonored with the University Council

President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership. Sonya Bennett, leader of the Orientation team, president

of Green Key and an officer in SGA and DolphinProductions, earned the University Award for Service andExtracurricular Activities.

JHuge Graduating Class Marked by Record Noble Honorees

32 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

Alejandro Savransky

Sonya Bennett

Acting President Catherine Morgan presided over commencement afterleading JU through a spring semester filled with challenges.

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J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 33

he Davis College of Businesshonored six alumni and onebenefactor at its inaugural

Blue Chip Awards banquet on March4. Faculty, staff and top students cameout to the Adam’s Mark Hotel tosalute the college’s most successfulalumni.

The awards were designed torecognizealumni whodemonstratebusinessexcellenceandachievementin theirrespectivefields, saidformerbusinessDeanWilliamRhey.

“TheBlue Chip Awards engage ourbusiness school with the businesscommunity,” Rhey explained. “Itshowcases the quality of our students,the accomplishments of our graduatesand our commitment to scholarship.”

The Blue Chip Awards werepresented in the categories of aviation,traditional business, executive MBA,evening MBA, and adult degreeprograms; and for the business partnerof the year and lifetime service.Several alumni were nominated ineach category, Rhey said, and thewinners were chosen by judges whorepresented a cross-section of theJacksonville business community.Each winner received a custom-designed, cobalt blue glass bowl,created in JU’s glassblowing studio byyoung artist Jeremy Wintrebert.

The following winners wererecognized at the March celebration:

Dan Davis, chairman of the boardof Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and JUTrustee, received the lifetime serviceaward for his generous contributionsto JU, including his time and businessexpertise. A gift from the Davis family

funded the construction of the newDavis College of Business buildingthat will be completed in early 2005.

Randy Amos ’70, president andCEO of the Lake Shore Radiator &Specialty Auto Parts Warehouse,earned the business partner award forhis continued service to theUniversity.

MarkStiehl ’89 washonored inthe aviationcategory. Thefirst studentto completethe aviationmanagementand flightoperationsdegree at JU,Stiehl is acaptain forFederalExpress.

Angela Auchey Kohler ’90 was thetraditional business graduate winner.She is an assistant vice president andportfolio manager for FederatedInvestors inc., one of the nation’slargest investment managementcompanies.

JU Trustee David Graham ’86,chairman and CEO of InTuitionDevelopment Holdings, was thehonoree in the executive MBAcategory. His company providespayment processing services alongwith operational services to collegesavings programs.

H. Joseph O’Shields ’02 was theevening MBA honoree. He is a realestate and corporate attorney with theRogers Towers firm in Jacksonville.

Miller Electric CompanyPresident and CEO Ronald Autrey’86 received the Blue Chip Award inthe adult degree category. A 32-yearveteran with Miller, Autrey handlesprime accounts, corporate alliancesand design-build projects.

At the dinner, former ActingPresident Dr. Catherine Morganremembered three of the honorees

from her days as a professor ofmanagement. “What I personallyknow about those students, and whatI believe about all the others, is thatthey always had it in them to besuccessful,” Morgan said. “What wedid for them was give themknowledge, an ability to learn, andconfidence in themselves. This is whywe are here.”

Blue Chip Awards Honor Alumni Business Accomplishments

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Dan Davis, whose family has provided tremendoussupport for the college, spoke to the crowd after receiving alifetime achievement award.

Ronald Autrey ’86

David Graham ’86

H. Joseph O’Sheilds ’02

Mark Stiehl ’89

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34 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

JU Team Brings Geography Lessons to Local School KidsJU geography professor, an alumnus and a recent

graduate have launched a local geography programfor elementary schoolchildren with the help of a

$15,000 grant from the National Geographic Society andmatchingdonations totaling$25,000.

A projectproposal by Dr.Ray Oldakowskiand researchpartner JasonGeiger ’98 was oneof just 19 that thesociety funded thisyear. The grant allowed them to expand theirpilot geography program to additional schools.Oldakowski and Geiger traveled toWashington, D.C., to accept the grant at theNational Geographic Society’s Annual GranteeMeeting in January.

The idea for the program was developed bygraduating senior Melissa Holmes, who was anart teacher at North Shore ElementarySchool’s after school program, TeamUp. Thegeographers asked 40 fourth and fifth gradersto draw a map of their school’s neighborhood.Then they showed the students aerial photographs of theirschool, and took them on walking trips around the area,about a mile in diameter.

“On their first maps, some of the kids just drew theschool building. They couldn’t draw anything else,” saidOldakowski. “They didn’t know there was a fire stationaround the corner, or a huge cemetery nearby. Maps weasked them to draw later in the program started includingthe streets around the school, and street signs and majorlandmarks.”

The map study was followed by a field trip to downtownJacksonville, which many students had never seen. Thechildren were given disposable cameras to record their trip.Back at school, they used the photographs, along with maps,

to create “virtual field trips” of downtown, and did thesame thing with the neighborhood around NorthShore Elementary.

With funding from the NGS grant, the teamlater expanded the program to Justina and ArlingtonElementary schools and designed additional fieldtrips. They took students to the beach and on a drivealong the St. Johns River through several Jacksonvilleneighborhoods.

Oldakowski saidgeography is importantfor elementaryschoolchildren because itallows them to see moreof the world aroundthem, and morepossibilities in their lives.

“If they don’t knowanything but the threeblocks around theirhomes and school, theirview of the worldbecomes very small,”

Oldakowski said. “When we asked kids what they can do fora living, they can only imagine what they’ve seen. Gettingthem out and around the city opens their world up andshows them that there are opportunities beyond theirneighborhood.”

Donations from Geiger’s employer Iluka Resources andfrom JU increased the total value of the project to $40,000 incash and in-kind contributions. In addition, Holmes wonthe undergraduate award for best student presentation at theFlorida Society of Geographers annual meeting.

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acksonville University made its first showing indecades in the national rankings of colleges anduniversities, landing at no. 52 among master’s

universities in the South according to U.S.News & WorldReport’s America’s Best Colleges 2005 list.

“Generations of students have known that JacksonvilleUniversity provides high-quality education in a small, intimatelearning environment,” said President Kerry Romesburg.“This recognition helps us explain the value of a JU degree toour neighbors in Jacksonville, Northeast Florida, and the restof the world.”

This is the first time that U.S. News numerically ranked

all the schools in the top two tiers of master’s-leveluniversities. JU placed number 52 among 131 Southerncolleges and universities. The magazine computes its rankingsusing objective measures of academic quality provided by theschools and assessments made by leaders at peer institutions.Data categories include student/faculty ratio; class size;graduation rate; percentage of full-time faculty; studentselectivity; average SAT/ACT scores; percentage of highlyranked freshmen; alumni giving rate; and others.

JU’s small classes, outstanding faculty, high academicstandards and competitive admissions policies contributed toits success.

U.S.News Places JU in Good Company in the South

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After trips to the beach and to downtown Jacksonvillewith JU leaders, elementary school students mappedbroader views of their local communities.

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JU Names New NROTC Building for Stateswoman Fowlerxpressing hope that JU graduates will emulate theprinciples of a dedicated public servant, BoardChair Michael Cascone helped lead the March 1

dedication of Jacksonville University’s new NROTCheadquarters in honor of former U.S. Representative TillieK. Fowler. Cascone was joined at the dedication ceremonyby former Acting President Dr. Catherine L. Morgan,Commander of the NavyRegion Southeast RearAdmiral Annette Brown,and Fowler herself.

“During an era ofdefense budget cuts, TillieFowler became aneffective and tirelessadvocate for a strongnational defense,”Cascone, a 1965 JUgraduate and a formerNaval officer, told thelarge group that gatheredfor the ceremony. “Hervalues are similar to whatour NROTC faculty teachjust inside those doors.We hope that by namingJacksonville University’sNROTC Building in herhonor, our students willemulate Fowler’sunparalleled principles.”

JU’s NROTC unitmoved into the new10,000-square-foot facilitylast fall. It includesclassrooms, offices, studyspace, simulationequipment, multimediaequipment, and fitnessand training facilities.

“This is a very specialday for me and myfamily,” Fowler said. “Icannot think of a greater honor than for this building tobear my name, a building in which future leaders in theNavy and Marine Corps for many years to come willreceive their training and go on to serve honorably in ourmilitary service.”

The NROTC program opened in the spring of 1971with 43 midshipmen. Today, it has grown to a battalion ofmore than 300 students from JU, the University of NorthFlorida and Florida Community College at Jacksonville –making it the largest NROTC battalion of its kind in theUnited States. The company commissioned more than 40

officers into the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in2003 – a fact not lost on Morgan.

“Whether it is flying aircraft, piloting ships,interpreting intelligence, leading marines, supplying thefleet, or whatever is needed, JU NROTC graduates areinvolved today, as we stand here, in every aspect of ournation’s current struggles,” Morgan said. “They are

keeping the watch overour way of life, and it isfitting that we remembertheir service and sacrificeon a day like today.”

The new facility wasnamed in Fowler’s honorto recognize herleadership, effectivenessand dedication tonational security and tothe First Coast region asthe U.S. Representativefrom the Jacksonville areafrom 1993 to 2001. Shewas a senior member ofthe House ArmedServices Committee andserved six years as amember of the U.S.Naval Academy Board ofVisitors.

Speaker of the HouseDennis Hastert alsoappointed her to hisNorth Korea AdvisoryGroup in November1999. She received theNavy’s DistinguishedPublic Service Award andthe Department ofDefense Medal forDistinguished PublicService. Fowler iscurrently a partner in theWashington, D.C., law

firm Holland & Knight.Admiral Brown called Fowler an exceptional friend to

the U.S. military. “How fitting it is that this building be named for

Congresswoman Tillie Fowler, one of our military’sstrongest advocates on the First Coast and in the nation,”Brown said. “I am proud to say that our NROTCgraduates from JU who wear the uniform, who serve theircountry and who do their duty make it possible for theirfellow classmates to pursue their dreams. It all started atJU in 1971 and continues today in this new building.”

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Tillie Fowler, the namesake of JU’s new NROTC building, has been anadvocate for military affairs throughout her political career in Florida andWashington, D.C.

JU faculty, staff, students and alumni and friends were joined by Navyofficials at the building dedication.

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36 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

top executive of the biggest retailer on the planetespoused a corporate philosophy of “one” during anappearance at Jacksonville University in March.

Michael T. Duke, executive vice president of Wal-Mart andpresident and CEO of theWal-Mart Stores division,visited JU after receiving ane-mail invitation from anambitious student. SeniorWayne Standiford was a JUbusiness major and assistantmanager at a Wal-Mart storenear campus who graduated inMay.

During his speech, Dukesaid the retail giant built itsempire by paying attention toone customer at a time. “Thenumber ‘one’ is really our mostimportant number,” he said.“What’s really important internally within Wal-Mart is onecustomer at a time, one store at a time, one associate at atime. That’s why, when I got an e-mail from Wayne, it wasmy responsibility to respond.”

Duke delivered his address, “The Future of Retail, theFuture of Wal-Mart,” to a standing-room-only crowd inTerry Concert Hall. He predicted strong growth in the retailindustry and encouraged business students to consider that

field as they begin their careers.Duke said the future of theretail industry would be markedby several factors includingtechnology and innovation,global competency and arenewed focus on the customer.

Duke is responsible for theretail and merchandisingoperations of all Wal-MartDiscount Stores, Supercenters,and Neighborhood Markets inthe United States.

Standiford was pleasantlysurprised by the turnout forDuke’s appearance. “This is

awesome,” he said. “I really didn’t expect this many people toshow up.”

Standiford has been a Wal-Mart employee since he wasa high school student in Philadelphia.

Student Invitation Draws Wal-Mart Executive to Campus

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he School of Nursing earned accreditation in Mayfrom the Commission on Collegiate NursingEducation (CCNE), the

major accreditation body for BSNand higher degree nursingprograms in the United States.The bachelor’s program wasaccredited for 10 years and themaster’s program earned a five-year accreditation, the maximumterm for which the programs wereeligible.

The four-person CCNEevaluation team spent four dayslast November assessing andreviewing the quality of educationprovided by the School ofNursing. Evaluations includedprivate interviews with students,graduates and representatives oflocal hospitals who hire JU grads.

In the final report, theevaluation team noted, “In a meeting with graduates, oneindividual stated that he was ‘given the right tools’ topractice. Another student acknowledged that ‘the program

prepares you for beyond the BSN.’ One hospitalrepresentative stated that graduates ‘had what they needed

to be independent,’ and that ‘newJU new graduates required lesshospital orientation.’

Alumni stated that they feltcomfortable and competent whenthey were first employed. Alumnialso stated that they felt very wellprepared for graduate school.”

The School of Nursing, whichis also accredited by the NationalLeague of Nursing, has carefullyincreased its new studentenrollment while remainingcompetitive. The school admitsfewer than one in five applicants.

Among other recentaccomplishments, the schoolinstituted a master’s program, asatellite program at FlaglerHospital in St. Augustine, a

bachelor’s program for professionals who want a secondcareer in nursing, and an online degree program.

Nursing Earns Maximum Professional Accreditation

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Former business Dean William Rhey (left) and graduating seniorWayne Standiford (right) welcomed Wal-Mart Stores executiveMichael Duke (center) to campus.

JU’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing,now accredited by the CCNE, meet in the newLazzara Health Sciences Building.

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ast spring, JU’s Department of Theatre andDance and Florida Community College atJacksonville’s DramaWorks collaborated on the

city’s first-everintercollegiatetheatre productionand staged one ofShakespeare’s hiddengems.

The Winter’s Taleis one of the mostrarely produced ofShakespeare’s plays,and one of the mostbeautiful. The play’sproducers said thiswas the firstproduction of TheWinter’s Tale inJacksonville – a localpremiere almost 400years after it was firstperformed in 1611 atthe Globe Theatre.

This studentproduction waspresented at theWilson Center forthe Arts on FCCJ’sSouth Campus. For JU students who don’t have access toa full-scale theatre on their home campus, the play was anopportunity to work with technical equipment in an up-to-date theatre environment.

The cast of 25 included JU and FCCJ theatre students,

as well as community performers under the direction ofFCCJ theatre professor Ken McCulough. The productionteam also included more than 20 stage technicians and two

stage managersfrom both schools.

The Winter’sTale was one ofthe last playsShakespeare wroteand is oftencategorized as oneof his romances. Itis an epic storyencompassingmany ofShakespeare’sfavorite subjectsbeginning withbetrayal, jealousy,death, revenge,loss, and in thesecond halfmoving towardromantic love,divine providence,forgiveness, hope,reconciliation andresurrection.

The play is alsonoteworthy for its lengthy script, strong roles for women,several subplots and journey through the seasons of theyear. One subplot calls for a bear attack on stage – achallenging element that may make it one of Shakespeare’sleast-staged works.

LJU, FCCJ Collaborate on Rare Shakespeare Production

lasses began in January for JU’s newly re-institutedmaster’s program in Educational Leadership. Theprogram was brought back to address a projected

need for principals in the Duval County School System overthe next five years.

“When Duval school leaders told us they wanted toidentify and prepare their best teachers for positions asprincipals, we had just the solution,” said Dr. HarryTeitelbaum, former dean of the School of Education wholed the partnership effort for JU. “Our EducationalLeadership program is designed to help administrators meetthe challenges school principals face, from the routine to theexceptional.”

Last fall, Duval school officials asked 159 currentprincipals and administrators to nominate teachers who they

thought showed the best potential for academic leadership.Those leaders nominated 42 of the best and brightestteachers in the Jacksonville system. All 42 of the teachersapplied to JU’s new program, and the 15 top candidates wereaccepted into the program’s first cohort.

“JU has been helpful by making sure our needs are met,”said Peggy Williams, general director of the leadershipprogram for Duval County Schools. “The School ofEducation is making sure its course content includeselements the state requires of us such as school law andbudgeting.”

Though any educator can apply for admission to theprogram, the first group of students is composed exclusivelyof Duval public school teachers who have beenrecommended for leadership positions.

CEducation Restarts Principal Training Program

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 37

Clockwise: Graduating senior Jeff Wells played Antigonus, who defends Hermoine (played byAmber Davis), the queen of Sicilia, after she is accused of infidelity in The Winter's Tale.

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38 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

Facultyfaculty

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r. Lynette Kennison did not expecther first semester as a faculty memberto end so abruptly. As the highest-

ranking female officer in the Florida ArmyNational Guard, however, she is always readyto heed the call to service. When that callcame early in 2004, Kennison packed her bagfor Fort Gordon and the Southeast RegionalMedical Command, where she was sent todevelop the Army’s first community-basedhealth care organization.

Call-ups due to the war in Iraq havecaused a dramatic increase in the number ofreservists and National Guard members onmedical hold – those with medical conditionsthat prevent them from deploying, and thosewho become injured and wounded while onduty. The Army developed the concept ofcommunity-based health care organizations tocare for the additional personnel who need medical attention.Those centers are planned for Arkansas, California,Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Florida. Kennison said Floridavolunteered to set up the pilot program.

“My unit is the Florida Medical Detachment out of St.Augustine that normally provides all the medical care to the10,000 troops in the Florida Guard,” Kennison said. “TheArmy has decided that it would be in their best interests to

move sick and injured personnel closer to theirhomes and families and use case managementin order to provide care.”

Kennison supervised nurses, physicianassistants and support staff in the new unit.With a background in psychiatric nursing andcommunity health nursing, she is the head ofthe critical stress management team for thestate and coordinates the crisis interventionmeasures that are necessary for personnel andfamilies adjusting to the difficulties of war.

A few months after she was called up,Kennison was sent to Puerto Rico, where sheoperated as part of a mental health clinic forsoldiers and provided individual therapy atRodriguez Army Health Clinic at FortBuchanan, near San Juan. There, she ledgroup therapy on smoking cessation and post-traumatic stress disorder, and taught

chaplains, rescuers and medical personnel to be trained crisisresponders.

Kennison began her military career at the tail end of theVietnam War as an active duty nurse in the Navy. Shetransferred to the Army National Guard in 1983. She served asa psychiatric nurse practitioner at the Mayo Clinic for morethan six years before joining the JU faculty last fall. Kennisonsaid she plans to return to JU as soon as the Army releases her.

DArmy Taps JU Professor for New Health Program

Dr. Lynette Kennison

r. Sherri Jackson, theprofessor ofpsychology who has

served as Chair of the Facultyduring a critical time oftransition for JacksonvilleUniversity, was named 2004-2005 JU Professor of the Yearat the annual FacultyRecognition Dinner lastspring. Other faculty memberswho received nominationswere economics professor Dr.Rody Borg, biology professorDr. Ken Hoover and

mathematics professor Dr.Sanjay Rai.

Provost Dr. Gary Moorealso presented the Award forExcellence in CommunityService to Dr. Pam Rillstone,assistant professor of nursing;and the Award for Excellencein Teaching to Dr. BarryThornton, assistant professorof economics. Jackson receivedthe Award for Excellence inUniversity Service, and Dr.John Garrigus, professor ofhistory, received the Award for

Excellence in Scholarship andProfessional Activities.

Jackson, who joined theUniversity in 1988, was the49th JU faculty memberhonored as Professor of theYear. She is a frequentpresenter at professionalconferences and workshopsand is a supervisor for studentspresenting research on aregional and national level.Jackson published her secondtextbook in as many years thissummer.

Dr. Sherri Jackson Named JU Professor of the Year

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Provost Gary Moore presented Dr.Sherri Jackson with Professor of theYear honors.

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Morgan Wins Times-Union EVE Awardust before completing her tenure as JU’sacting president, Dr. Catherine Morganwas honored for her service with the

prestigious 2004 EVE Award for Education fromThe Florida Times-Union. Morgan, a 20-yearveteran of Jacksonville University, was chosen inJune from a field of four outstanding finalists.

The annual EVE Awards recognize theexceptional contributions of women in education,volunteer service and employment. Morgan wasselected for her extraordinary efforts in leading theUniversity in a positive direction, restoringconfidence in JU’s leadership, helping rebuildcampus morale and laying the groundwork for theincoming president, Dr. Kerry Romesburg.

In choosing Morgan for the honor, judges wrote of her, “assuming a difficultposition at a difficult time in the life of the University, Dr. Morgan inspired andengaged faculty and students to carry JU forward in its mission to providequality education.”

After serving as a professor of management in the Davis College ofBusiness, Morgan coordinated a major boost in enrollment as vice president ofenrollment services. She became special assistant to the president, then served asacting president until Romesburg assumed the presidency on July 1.

Past JU leaders honored with an EVE Award include Dr. Fran Kinne, 1973;Dr. Elizabeth Buie, 1976; Dr. Martha McGee, 1979; Dr. Joan Carver, 1982;Dr. Kay Johnson, 1983; Prof. Janet Johnson, 1984; and Dr. June Main, 2001. In1979, Kinne was awarded EVE of the Decade, the same year former JU TrusteeFlo Davis was named the EVE winner for volunteer service.

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r. Nancy Thomas wantsto know who madeAgamemnon’s daggers,

the Bronze Age artifacts that arethe subject of her research. Thequestions raised by her researchearned Thomas an invitation topresent at the prestigious 10thInternational Aegean Conferencein Athens, Greece, in April.

The specific type of inlaiddecoration on the daggers hasbeen seen as the quintessentialinvention of the Bronze AgeGreeks themselves. Twelve yearsago, a respected scholar suggestedthat the daggers were not made by Greek artisans but bycraftsmen from the Levant (modern Lebanon) who hadtraveled to Greece. Subsequent testing seemed to favor theoriginal theory of Greek origin, but Thomas’ researchrevealed testing equipment may have been inadequate,

which has reopened the entirequestion.

“My ultimate hope,”Thomas said, “is that this workwill encourage museum officials,who are understandablyreluctant to allow their preciousobjects to be cleaned and drilledfor samples, to be moreamenable to further tests.”

The highly regarded Aegeanconferences, held biennially, areinternational meetings ofarchaeologists, art historians,and other scholars who work inthe Bronze Age culture of

Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. They shareinformation on the latest excavations, finds, new scientificstudies and scholarly revisions. The most recent conference,two years ago, met in the United States when YaleUniversity served as the host.

Thomas Stabs at Dagger’s Ancient Origins in Greece

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Dr. Nancy Thomas previewed her Aegean Conferencepresentation at a JU Phi Kappa Phi gathering.

Dr. Catherine Morgan

r. Patricia Moore,assistant professor ofnursing, won this year’s

Florida Nurses Association(FNA) District II NurseEducatorof the YearAward.She wasnominatedby herstudentsin themaster’s program at the FlaglerHospital satellite nursingprogram in St. Augustine.Moore received 15 studentnominations as well asnominations from severalpeers. The FNA represents allFlorida nurses, regardless ofspecialty. In 2003, Moore wasone of six JU nursing facultynamed to the list of Great 100Nurses of Northeast Florida.`

Moore Wins NurseEducation of theYear Award

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40 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

Studentstudent

Studentstudent newsstudent news

osh Mundy, a sophomore majoring in AviationManagement and Flight Operations at JU, neverthought he’d be part of history so early in his young

career. Not even out of boot camp at the time, Mundy, amember of the Coast Guard Reserves in Jacksonville, servedas an Honor Guard at former President Ronald Reagan’sfuneral procession in June.

A seaman recruit, Mundy was in hisseventh week of basic training at Cape May,N.J., when his company – Recruit CompanyH-168 – was chosen as part of the marchingplatoon to represent the U.S. Coast Guard atthe service.

Mundy’s first reaction to the news was“I’m only a reserve; I can’t be an HonorGuard.” He said the entire company of youngrecruits needed a minute for the idea sink in,then started practicing immediately.

Mundy was part of a nine-by-ninemarching platoon comprised of 81 CoastGuard men and women. After arriving at theMall in Washington, D.C., to practice withthe other branches of the armed services, theylined up and marched into the staging area for the beginningof the procession. The honor guards stood in formation,alternating between “attention” and “parade rest” every 15minutes, for more than an hour before beginning the two-mile march down Constitution Avenue.

Mundy said the long, hot march was really intense and hesaw several men fall out from the heat.

“Your feet hurt,” Mundy said. “Your knees hurt. You’redehydrated. You can’t lean to one side and you can’t lock yourknees or you’ll block your circulation.”

To stay completely focused, Mundy said he fixed his gazedirectly on the person in front of him. But from the corner ofhis eyes, he glimpsed around at the flag-waving crowds,

amazed by all the cheering and clapping. “The streets were packed,” he recalled.

“The crowds were overwhelming and sosupportive. When they saw us coming theyyelled ‘Coast Guard, Coast Guard.’”

When the platoon reached the Capitolbuilding, Mundy’s group broke off to presentarms – saluting with rifles – as the casket wasbeing brought up the steps to lie in state in theCapitol Rotunda.

Mundy believed this may be one of thehighest honors in his still-young career, andsaid he would not trade the experience foranything.

“This was such a great honor,” Mundysaid. “It’s a rare occurrence to get to participatein something of such historic importance. It’s

really a big deal.”Mundy, a native of Rocky Mount, Va., graduated with

honors from the Coast Guard Reserves in Cape May, N.J., inJune. He resumed his studies at JU this fall, spending oneweekend each month with the Coast Guard. “When you jointhe reserves, you know you can be called up anytime,” Mundysaid.

JStudent Reservist Serves as Reagan Honor Guard

Josh Mundy

tudents in the Davis College of Businesshave placed Jacksonville University in thetop 10 percent of all college and

university business programs in the United States.The ranking is the result of the performance by JUbusiness majors who took the ETS Major FieldTest in Business II.

The exam is an end-of-program test thatobjectively measures achievement. Businessprograms from colleges and universities across thenation administer the exam to their graduatingseniors to assess the level of student achievement

and competency and to assess the overall qualityof their business programs.

During the spring semester, 40 Davis Collegeof Business students enrolled in Dr. MohammadSepehri’s Business Policy and StrategyManagement capstone course took theassessment test. The mean score for JU businessmajors was better than 90 percent of all otherinstitutions taking the test. The JU studentsdemonstrated significant achievement, especiallyin the areas of accounting, economics,management, finance and international business.

Undergraduate Business Students Among Best in the Country

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Senior business majors scoredwell on the assessment test.

uring their weeklong breakin March, 25 JacksonvilleUniversity students spent

some time on the beach, playing inthe sand and water.

It wasn’t all fun in the sunhowever. They also cleaned up thebeach, planted trees at a local school,and laid mountain trails – all intropical hotspot Costa Rica.

Their trip was part of AlternativeSpring Break, a national trend thatencourages college students to spendtheir time off volunteeringdomestically and around the world.

The students spent most of theirtime in the small town of Guayabo,the hometown of Jacksonville bankerFederico Ledezma of Wachovia.

Ledezma helped organize the tripand find volunteer projects, thenaccompanied the group to CostaRica. Geography professor Dr. RayOldakowski, Arts and Sciences DeanDr. Quint White, and Community

Service Director Chris Tyler alsochaperoned the group.

Throughout the week, studentsspruced up a local high school, visitedan orphanage, and laid trails at themountain resort of Monteverde.

They also squeezed in somesightseeing in San Jose, the capitalcity. At night, students andprofessors bunked with local hostfamilies (swelling the population ofthe tiny town) and practiced theirSpanish language skills.

The service the studentsperformed was part of the 50 hoursthey are required to complete beforegraduation. They also received somecourse credit for their academicstudies of Costa Rica, led byOldakowski.

Faculty leaders have alreadybegun organizing next year’sAlternative Spring Break trip.Ecuador has been selected as the nextdestination .

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DStudents Work and Play During Spring Trip to the Tropics

aura Chester, a freshman at JU,has been painting and drawingas long as she can remember.

Encouraged by her father, Allen, whodrew with her daily, she was just fiveyears old when she created one of herfirst masterpieces – a watercolor of asailboat.

Later, at age 18, Chester wouldcreate another masterpiece titled LoveThat Hair that would be chosen to hangin the Capitol Building in Washington,D.C., through summer 2005.

As a high school senior at DouglasAnderson School of the Arts inJacksonville, Chester was encouraged byher art teacher to enter the nationalCongressional Art Competition.

Her pastel portrait of a determinedyoung African-American model indreadlocks won first place, representingthe 3rd Congressional District. Chesterand her family were flown, compliments of SouthwestAirlines, to a reception of national winners in

Washington, D.C., in July. Chester, impressed by the high

caliber artwork at the reception, said, “Ifelt a little out of my league.”

However humble, Chester has wonmany awards throughout her young artcareer and was offered severalscholarships, including one to aprestigious art college. Ultimately, shechose Jacksonville University, where shebelieves she’ll get more “one on one”with the teachers.

JU wasn’t new to Chester, either.She had attended summer high schoolclasses in glassblowing and ceramics atJU and knew the quality of the artsprogram. Her sister, Dabney, aphotographer, also went to JU and hermom, Virginia, is a JU librarian.

Chester has been featured in severalnewspapers and will have her art on thecover of Southwest Airlines magazine.

To get a look at her portfolio, visit her website atwww.chesterart.com.

LFrom Capitol to College, Laura Chester’s Art Comes First

Freshman Laura Chester’s portrait of ayoung model (top right) was chosen tohang in the U.S. Capitol Building.

JU students Eric Meichtry and Joni Petry, andgeography Professor Ray Oldakowski were guidedby a Costa Rican parks worker (right) duringtheir service at the mountain resort of Monteverde.

In Guayabo, Costa Rica, the JU contingent poseswith their host families – practically the entirevillage.

42 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

SPORTSsports

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hat adifferencea year

makes. Last year,JU entered thebasketball season asthe mostinexperienced teamin all of Division I,yet managed to win13 games andqualify for theAtlantic SunChampionship.

This year, headcoach HughDurham, who isalready theDolphins’ all-timewinningestDivision I coach ashe enters hiseighth season atJU, has high expectations as the Dolphins return four of fivestarters, including sophomore forward Haminn Quaintance

and seniorshooting guardDavid Lee.

Quaintanceearned A-SunFreshman-of-the-Year honors andwas voted Second-Team Atlantic SunAll-Conferenceafter averaging ateam-best 14.3points, 8.8rebounds and 3blocks per game asa rookie.

He establishedhimself as theDolphins’ bestfreshman in 20years dating backto when Ronnie

Murphy earned First-team All-Sun Belt Conference honorsin 1984. Lee, meanwhile, enjoyed a breakout junior season inwhich he averaged 14 points and emerged as one of theAtlantic Sun’s top shooters.

For the first time in five years, JU will play both Floridaand Florida State in non-conference action. The powerhouseGators will face the Dolphins in Jacksonville at the newVeterans Memorial Arena on Friday, Nov. 19, while the JUDolphins will travel to Tallahassee to play the upstartSeminoles on Dec. 21.

Basketball Looks for Good Year with Returners

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Florida Gators Coach Billie Donovan and JUCoach Hugh Durham. The Dolphins begin their2004-05 season playing UF at VeteransMemorial Arena.

November19 vs. Florida^ 7:30 p.m.23 NORTH FLORIDA 7:00 p.m.27 at Savannah State 7:00 p.m.

December2 GEORGIA STATE* 7:00 p.m.4 MERCER* 2:00 p.m.

11 SAVANNAH STATE 2:00 p.m.19 at Tennessee Tech 4:30 p.m.21 at Florida State TBA

January3 STETSON* 7:00 p.m.5 TROY STATE* 7:00 p.m.9 at UCF* TBA

11 at Florida Atlantic* 7:30 p.m.14 LIPSCOMB* 7:30 p.m.16 BELMONT* 2:00 p.m.20 at Campbell* 7:00 p.m.22 at Gardner-Webb* 7:00 p.m.26 at Stetson* 7:00 p.m.29 CAMPBELL* 2:00 p.m.31 GARDNER-WEBB* 7:00 p.m.

February3 at Lipscomb* TBA5 at Belmont* 5:15 p.m.

10 FLORIDA ATLANTIC* 7:30 p.m.12 UCF* 4:00 p.m.18 at Troy State* 7:30 p.m.25 at Georgia State* 6:00 p.m.27 at Mercer* 2:00 p.m.

March3-5 at Atlantic Sun Championship TBA

(Nashville, Tenn.)

*Atlantic Sun Conference Game^at Veterans Memorial Arena

Home games in BOLD CAPS played at Swisher Gymnasium.All times Eastern and subject to change.

2004-05 Men’sBasketball Schedule

The Dolphins’ best freshman player in 20 years,forward Haminn Quaintance, returns as asophomore starter.

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he Dolphins didn’thave to look far tofind a new women’s

basketball coach. JU turnedto the Atlantic SunConference’s top program –Georgia State – and selectedthe Panthers’ top assistant,Jill Dunn, as the Dolphins’new head coach. Dunn, aformer NCAA Division Ihead coach and player,becomes the second coach ofthe five-year-old Dolphinwomen’s basketballprogram. She has been partof three Atlantic SunChampionship teams at Georgia State, including twoappearances in the NCAA Tournament (2002, 2003).

“Jill is an excellent fit for our basketball program,” saidDr. John Balog, vice president for student life and actingathletic director. “She has proven success as a Division Ihead coach, and as an assistant coach, has proven to be oneof the country’s top recruiters. Jill also understands what ittakes to be successful in the Atlantic Sun Conference, asevidenced by Georgia State’s recent success, both on thecourt and in the classroom.”

“I’m excited about the opportunity to build JU into oneof the top women’s basketball programs in the Atlantic SunConference,” said Dunn, who emerged from more than 100candidates. “There is so much potential to be successful atJacksonville University and I am looking forward to thechallenge of making that potential become a reality. JU is aplace where student-athletes can excel on the court and inthe classroom. In addition, Jacksonville is one of the mostvibrant and growing cities in the country.”

Dunn has been part of three Atlantic SunChampionship teams at Georgia State, including

two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.Dunn spent the last three seasons as the recruiting

coordinator and top assistant coach at Georgia State, wherethe Panthers captured three straight A-Sun regular-seasontitles and played in the 2002 and 2003 NCAATournaments. The Panthers won 59 games the past threeseasons, including a 40-16 mark in A-Sun play. In 2003-04,Dunn’s recruiting class was rated in the Top 100 nationallyby All-Star Girls Report.

The 32-year-old Dalton, Ga., native was head coach atWestern Carolina from 1998-2000. Dunn led theCatamounts to 23 wins in two seasons as head coach,including 12 wins in 1998-99, the most in 15 years at WCUand the most ever by a first-year head coach. Before being

elevated to head coach, Dunn was the top assistant coach in1997-98.

She spent the 2000-01 season as the top assistant coachat Miami University in Ohio, where the RedHawks finished18-11. Dunn began her coaching career as an assistant atSouth Carolina from 1994-97.

As a player, Dunn was a three-year starter and four-yearletterwinner at Georgia Southern (1990-93). The formerteam captain was chosen to the SoCon All-TournamentTeam as a senior in 1993, after leading the Lady Eagles tothe Southern Conference Tournament championship and aberth in the NCAA Tournament.

Dunn graduated as the school’s all-time leader in assistsand three-point field goals made. She was named GeorgiaSouthern’s Woman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of theYear for women’s basketball. Dunn earned her B.S. ineducation from Georgia Southern in 1994.

Jill Dunn Set To Refresh JU Women’s Basketball Program

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Jill Dunn is JU’s new women’sbasketball coach.

November13 ROLLINS COLLEGE (EXH.) 2:00 p.m.19 at Stanford 8:00 p.m.21 at Birmingham Southern 3:00 p.m.27 at South Carolina 7:00 p.m.

December2 at Gardner-Webb 6:00 p.m.4 at Campbell 2:00 p.m.

11 at Bethune-Cookman 2:00 p.m.18 NAVY 2:00 p.m.20 at Eastern Illinois 8:00 p.m.31 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 2:00 p.m.

January6 MERCER* 7:00 p.m.8 GEORGIA STATE* 2:00 p.m.

15 at Troy State* 8:00 p.m.20 at Lipscomb* 8:00 p.m.22 at Belmont* 3:00 p.m.27 FAU* 7:00 p.m.29 UCF* (DH) 5:00 p.m.

February2 at Stetson* 7:00 p.m.5 at FAU* 7:00 p.m.7 at UCF* 7:00 p.m.

10 BELMONT* (DH) 5:00 p.m.12 LIPSCOMB* (DH) 1:00 p.m.15 STETSON* 7:00 p.m.17 TROY STATE* 7:00 p.m.24 at Georgia State* 6:00 p.m.26 at Mercer* 2:00 p.m.

March3 GARDNER-WEBB* 7:00 p.m.5 CAMPBELL* 2:00 p.m.

10-12 at Atlantic Sun Championship TBA(Dothan, Ala.)

*Atlantic Sun Conference Game(DH) Doubleheader with JU Men

Home games in BOLD CAPS played at Swisher Gymnasium.All times Eastern and subject to change.

2004-05 Women’sBasketball Schedule

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44 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

ot only did senior shortstopDianna Korcak set thestandard for the future of JU

softball on and off the field, but shealso set the standard for the entirecountry on the diamond.

Korcak set an NCAA single-season record by hitting 17 triplesduring the 2004 season while alsobatting .361 with 36 RBI en route toSecond-Team Academic All-America honors and First-TeamAtlantic Sun All-Conferenceaccolades.

Korcak, who played every inningof the Dolphins’ 120 games duringtheir first two seasons of fast-pitchsoftball, eclipsed the previous NCAArecord of 16 triples. That record hadstood since it was first set by BarbMarean of Massachusetts in 1992and later by Jennifer Egan of

Monmouth in 1995.She also had a Jacksonville

University school-record 20-gamehitting streak during the 2003-04season and posted 20 multi-hitgames, while ranking among theAtlantic Sun leaders in 11 differentcategories.

The Clearwater, Fla., nativegraduated from JU with a 3.67 GPAin elementary education and was acandidate for NCAA Woman of theYear as well as Atlantic Sun FemaleAthlete of the Year.

At JU’s annual All-Sports AwardBanquet on April 20, Korcakreceived the Douglas B. MilneSportsmanship Award for being theDolphins’ top female student-athletewho has demonstrated excellence inathletics, academics, leadership andsportsmanship.

NKorcak Sets the Standard On and Off the Diamond

Diana Korcak earned Second-Team AcademicAll-America and First-Team Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors.

U athletics capped a banner academic year by placing a recordthird out of 11 teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference AcademicChampion rankings for the 2003-04 season. More than 59

percent of the Dolphin student-athletes earned A-Sun Academic All-Conference honors. In addition, 33 Dolphins were named to the PioneerFootball League Academic Honor Roll in the fall. And a school-recordfour JU student-athletes earned national Academic All-America honors in2003-04.

Senior Inge Heiremans from the women’s soccer team became thefirst female athlete in school history to earn First-Team Academic All-America honors in the fall. Dianna Korcak (softball), Kristina Puck(women’s tennis) and Ben Birkmann (men’s tennis) earned Second-TeamAcademic All-America honors in the spring. All four also joined MartinHehensteiger (men’s tennis) as District III Academic All-Americans.

More than 59 percent of Dophin student-athletesearned A-Sun Academic All-Conference honors.

In addition, 33 Dolphins were named to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll in the fall.

JU made remarkable improvement from the previous year, when theDolphins placed fifth among league schools with 50 percent of itsstudent-athletes participating in A-Sun sports earning academic all-conference honors. A record 154 Dolphins earned Dean’s List honors for2003-04, which is a 10 percent increase from a year ago. And 364 JUstudent-athletes earned a 3.0 or higher GPA during the fall and/or springsemester, a 28 percent increase from last year.

Dolphin Student-Athletes Earn Academic Honors

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Inge Heiremans became the first female athlete in JUhistory to earn First-Team Academic All-Americahonors.

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U senior heptathlete Andrea Pressley nearly madehistory last June when she came within 800meters of becoming JU’s second national

champion. Pressley earnedAll-America honors in oneof sports’ toughest eventsafter finishing fourth at theNCAA Outdoor Track &Field Championships inAustin, Texas.

Entering the final event,the 800-meter dash, Pressleywas in second place and hadthe entire track and fieldworld on the edge of theirseats. She finished thegrueling two-day event witha school-record 5,586points, which was just onepoint shy of third place. Theonly schools to finish aheadof JU’s Pressley were Arizona State, Georgia andNebraska.

Heading into the final three events, Pressley was in

second place after throwing a Mike Myers’ Stadiumheptathlon record 46’-02” in the shot put to finish first,while running a career-best 13.76 in the 100-meter

hurdles and a season-best24.61 in the 200-meter dashto record 3,424 points afterday one. She started day twoby throwing a career-best141’-02” in the javelin andthen jumped a career-best19’-06” in the long jump.

Pressley entered thechampionships ranked ninthnationally in the heptathlonafter winning the FloridaRelays earlier in the spring.She competed in the 2003NCAA Outdoor Track &Field Championships as the21st seed in the heptathlon,finishing the meet ranked

13th overall. She also finished 16th in the 2001 NCAAOutdoor Championships after earning a No. 22 nationalranking at the end of the season.

JPressley Shines at NCAA Track & Field Championships

J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 45

With a career best in javelin throw, Andrea Pressley finished fourthand earned All-America honors in NCAA championships.

acksonville University has signed a contract withJacksonville’s newest Sports Superstation, “TheWinner” AM 970 (WNNR), to air more than 85 live

broadcasts of JU athletic events during the 2004-05 academicyear. “The Winner” AM 970 will broadcast all 11 footballgames, all 30 men’s basketball games and 26 baseball games, aswell as 10 football coach’s shows and 15 basketball coach’sshows. The Voice of the Dolphins, Cole Pepper, will alsoreturn for hisfourth year callingplay-by-play for JUfootball, basketballand baseball.

The SteveGilbert Show, willair live from FastBoys Wings on University Blvd., Thursdays from 7-8 p.m.during football season, while The Hugh Durham Show willair Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. throughout the basketball season.Jamie Zeitz, JU’s assistant athletic director for media relations,will serve as the host for the third consecutive year. All JUgames can also be heard live on the Dolphins’ official athleticweb site – judolphins.com.

“We’re excited to once again be part of a new and growingstation,” said Zeitz.

J“The Winner” AM 970 Becomes JU’s Flagship Station

fter winning $1 million by racing 52,000 milesaround the world in 28 days, what do you do for anencore?

“You get your own television show,” says Alex Boylan, BA’99, and current host of the top-rated PBS show, At The Chef’sTable.

Boylan is a Boston native who, along with his best friendChris Luca, competed against 10 other teams to win thepopular reality show TheAmazing Race in 2002.Starting in the desert of LasVegas, he hiked, jetted andboated through fivecontinents and eightcountries including Brazil,Africa, Thailand, Australiaand Japan to finish first inthe footrace finale in SanFrancisco.

Boylan found himselfdoing things he neverdreamed of – bungeejumping in New Zealand,hang gliding off San PedroMountain in Brazil andmaking history as one of thefirst to rappel off Sugar LoafMountain in Rio de Janeiro.

Jerry Smith, president and CEO of PineRidge Film &Television in Jacksonville, Fla., watched Boylan on TheAmazing Race. Smith knew Boylan’s upbeat personality andsense of adventure would be perfect for his new travel-adventure food show, At the Chef’s Table.

“The whole town of Jacksonville was like ahidden little treasure.” – Alex Boylan

The job meant moving to Jacksonville, an area whereBoylan already had strong ties since he had spent four years atJacksonville University, earning a degree in internationalbusiness while playing for JU’s soccer team.

“JU had Division I soccer, my major, warm weather, andbeaches,” said Boylan. “The whole town of Jacksonville waslike a hidden little treasure – the smaller town atmosphere wasso different and fun.”

Boylan met many of his closest lifelong friends at JU andkeeps in touch with most of them today. His freshmanroommate, Daniel Villareal, rents the top floor of his house atNeptune Beach. Besides the great friendships and theexcellent location, Boylan remembers JU for the professorswho had an impact on him, such as Barry Thornton, assistantprofessor of business, who taught Boylan quantitative analysisand business statistics. He gets a big thumbs-up as Boylan’s

best teacher.“Quantitative analysis –

what does that really mean?”asked Boylan. “You’relearning crazy theories. Butyou don’t leave Thornton’sclass until you understandthem. He goes above andbeyond to make sure of that.”

Boylan remembers thepersonal interest Thorntontook in his students –showing up at soccer games,football games and othercampus activities.

“He was one of thoseteachers involved in everyway,” said Boylan. “Youdevelop a different kind of

relationship with a professor when that happens.” Looking back, Boylan is struck by what a wise decision he

made in coming to JU. Even though he didn’t know it at thetime – he was only 18 and looking for a sunny spot withsoccer and his major – he realizes now how the small class sizeand personal relationships with professors and advisors cankeep you grounded.

“At JU, you’re held accountable for your actions whetherits soccer or studying. You can’t get away with what youmight at a bigger school where you’re anonymous.”

Boylan used to think it was easy to be on television. “In reality shows like The Amazing Race, the cameras just

rolled, you didn’t pay attention to them, and what you saw waswhat you got,” said Boylan. “At The Chef’s Table is completelydifferent. I’m looking into the camera lens, trying to make itlook like I’m talking to my good friend. I ad-lib a little, buteverything is scripted, planned out ahead. The memorization isa challenge and keeping it on cue with where to turn at theexact point in time – that’s a whole other ball game.”

Alex Boylan filming At the Chef's Table in San Jose, California.

Alumnialumni

Alumnialumni newsalumni news

46 J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4

A Good Dose of Reality Leads to Top Rated Showby Olga Bayer

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J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 47

Another challenge for Boylan is keeping up his staminaday after day. Even though he thrives on the travel, the 15-16 hour days of shooting can be tiring. The show requireshim to spend about 90 percent of his time away fromhome, on the road for 12 days at a stretch, usually shootingthree different shows.

The premise of At The Chef’s Table is straightforward,entertaining and delicious to watch. Each show is basedaround a theme and opens with Boylan in a picturesquelocation. After capturing the flavor of the area with beautyshots and a few interesting facts, thehost invites the viewer to join himon a behind-the-scenes adventure toan upscale five-star restaurant.Boylan interacts with the chef,sharing recipes and cooking tips,and even following him to docks,gardens and markets to find thefreshest ingredients. The showcloses with Boylan and celebrityguests seated at the chef’s table,sampling gourmet meals – fromappetizers to fine wines and desserts– all specially selected, prepared andserved by the chef.

“At JU, you’re heldaccountable for youractions whether itssoccer or studying.”

– Alex Boylan

The chef’s table originated inEngland when lords and kingsrefused to eat with the commonpeople. As time went on, famous people and dignitaries –not wanting to be recognized – were ushered to a separatetable, set up in or near the kitchen. Today, the chef’s tableis the most prestigious place to sit in a restaurant, whereworld-class chefs entertain and try new recipes on honoredguests.

According to Boylan, the cost to dine at a chef’s tablecan range anywhere from $100 a person to $10,000 pertable, depending on the restaurant.

Noting that chef’s tables are popping up more andmore across the nation and not just in five-star restaurants,Boylan commented, “If restaurants aren’t doing it now,they probably will, because it’s the number one grossingtable at these high-end restaurants.”

Boylan’s travels have taken him to some memorabledining spots including the Waldorf-Astoria in New York,Emile’s in San Jose, Calif., and the Inn at LittleWashington in Virginia. A favorite dish was the conch

chowder he was served at a restaurant called Norman’s inCoral Gables, Fla., and the most unusual item he’s eatenwas, surprisingly, gourmet beets.

After taping 21 programs and working alongside suchpassionate chefs, Boylan says he’s picked up a few tipsabout cooking. He’s amazed at how simple and healthy therecipes are, pointing out that the chefs use only thefreshest or organic products with just a few keyingredients.

When he’s not shooting, Boylan’s traveling withfriends, surfing, and playingbasketball or soccer. Last spring,Boylan returned to JacksonvilleUniversity to participate in a soccerfundraising event called Five-a-Sidewhich Head Men’s Soccer CoachMike Johnson plans to turn into anannual event.

Johnson, who’s trying to recoupalumni participation in the soccerprogram, said Boylan hasvolunteered to help – as much as hisschedule allows – during thepreseason.

“Boylan was a highcontributing, competitive playerwhen he was at JU. He had a greatattitude,” said Johnson. “I’d love tohave him. This is a positive step.”

For Boylan, faith, family andfriends are important. He alsobelieves in supporting thecommunity and giving back toJacksonville University.

“College helps establish who youare,” said Boylan. “What happens ifyou turn around and that placewasn’t there anymore? That would

be sad. I want to support JU and I can afford it. I’ve beenblessed.”

Also blessed with an enthusiastic personality, big blueeyes and an even bigger smile, Boylan seems to be anatural at hosting At The Chef’s Table. However, he saidthere were some growing pains to get where he is today.

“In those first episodes, the editors had to work a littleharder,” said Boylan. “They make you look better than youare.”

The show is a major success – airing in about 70percent of the PBS markets with solid ratings in NewYork, Dallas, Miami and San Francisco.

What makes this show different from other foodshows?

“This isn’t just another stare and smile show,” saidBoylan. “They wanted this food show to be exciting – tobe an adventure.”

Amazingly, that’s what Boylan brings to the table.

Amazing Race teammates Boylan and Luca plantheir strategy from the top of Corcovado Mountainin Rio de Janerio, under the statue of CristoRedentor (Christ the Redeemer).

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Photo and story by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White, Jr.Marine Corps Combat Correspondent

L ASAD, Iraq – Deploying here for the first timein February, in support of Operation IraqiFreedom, provided 1991 JU graduate and Marine

Maj. Timothy Kornacki with anup-close look at the harshatmosphere he anticipated.

“Being in a war zone prettymuch measures up to what Ithought it would be,” offeredthe 36-year-old informationmanagement officer who nowcalls Jacksonville, Fla., home. “Iknew there would be austereconditions over here and hostileforces, but actually being hereputs things into perspective.”

During his formative yearsat Lake Mary High School, theformer enlisted Marine joined the Junior Reserve OfficersTraining Corps, which fueled his desire to become one ofthe “The Few and the Proud.”

Kornacki, who works with the Operations Section ofMarine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, 3rd MarineAircraft Wing, remembered the retired sergeant majorand lieutenant colonel who served as Marine instructorsthere.

“They ran the ROTC unit and instilled MarineCorps principles in me. I pretty much knew what Iwanted to do with my life after that,” said Kornacki.

Kornacki received a four-year NROTC scholarship to

JU and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. InMarch 2003, he earned his master’s of science degree ininformation technology from the Naval PostgraduateSchool in Monterey, Calif.

When Kornacki isn’t performing his extensivecomputer-based duties, he engages in activities that

stimulate both his body andmind to relieve stress.

“I work out at the gym andgo for morning runs, when it’scooler,” he laughed. “I also doa lot of reading.

Of all the comfortsKornacki misses, his spouse isat the top of the list.

“I miss my wife Catherinethe most,” he reflected. “I alsomiss those basic facilities wetake for granted like airconditioning, privacy, my ownhome and vehicle.”

Proud to have the opportunity to lead such a fineyoung group of Marines in Iraq, Kornacki said heappreciates the support and recognition for their mission.

“I really believe that we are contributing to the war onterrorism,” Kornacki emphasized. “I see American forcesover here as taking the fight away from our borders, withthe goal of not having another Sept. 11, 2001 terroristattack happen.

“Americans should remember that freedom issomething that should never be taken for granted,” saidKornacki. “There are people who die for freedom and it’snot to be taken lightly.”

JU Alum Supports Operation Iraqi Freedom

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Maj. Timothy D. Kornacki, BS ’91, manages informationresources within his unit for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Apply to JU for Free!Help us identify JU’s future alumni, and we’ll waive the

application fee! If you know a prospective student who wouldbenefit from the JU experience, fill out this coupon and askthat student to send it in with their completed undergraduateapplication. That’s it – we’ll waive their application fee! Andremember – under JU’s Legacy Scholarship program,children and siblings of JU alumni receive a $500 scholarshipupon admission to the University.

Name of Alumnus: _______________________________

Graduation Year: _________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________

For additional waiver coupons or an undergraduateapplication, contact the the Office of Admissions at

904-256-7000 or 800-225-2747.

For more information, log on to www.ju.edu/admissions/.

hancellorEmeritus Dr.Frances

Bartlett Kinne hasbeen named to thetenth edition of theAmerican BiographicalInstitute’s 2,000Notable AmericanWomen.The ArthritisFoundation NortheastFlorida will honor Dr.Kinne with theLifetime AchievementAward at their 7th Annual Community Leader ofthe Year Award Dedication (CLYAD) on Nov 12.

Kinne Honored Twice

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J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 49

ust Cause. Desert Storm. Operation IraqiFreedom. Captain Chuck Briant, BS ’75, is nostranger to putting himself in harm’s way to serve

his country. In most cases, he has emerged relativelyunscathed. But on Sept. 9, 2003, Briant was seriouslyinjured in a terrorist bomb blast in Iraq, earning him thePurple Heart.

Briant, a naval reservist, was selected to go to Irbil, Iraq,as chief of the coalition operating base.

“Around 9 p.m. I was sitting in the house, facing thestreet, behind my desk with my laptop,” said Briant. “Iremember seeing a yellow flash, and then I was blown backinto the room.”

Thebuilding hewas in wasall butdemolished,the result ofa suicidebomber whoblew up acar with 440pounds ofexplosives.

Amid allthe chaos, aKurd whosejob was to protect Briant kissed him, relieved to find himalive. Next he heard the sounds of ambulances andhelicopters that would transport him to the 21st CombatSupport Hospital in Mosul to be treated for severe injuriesto his abdomen and internal bleeding.

“I can’t say enough about the medical people there,God bless them,” Briant said.

When he was stabilized, he was transferred toLandstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Briantconsiders himself fortunate – this wasn’t the first time he’descaped death. On Sept. 11, 2001, he left a meeting at theNavy Command Center in the Pentagon early. A shorttime later, those who had sat next to him were killed whenFlight 77 hit the Pentagon.

Have these close calls changed his outlook on life?“I don’t get concerned about the little things,” Briant

said. “I make more of an effort, and try to help othersappreciate what they’ve got because it might not be heretoday or this afternoon.”

Back in the 70s, Briant was accepted to Notre Damebut chose JU where he received a full four-year NROTCscholarship. He said NROTC at JU was a tremendousexperience.

“We got out to Mayport and NAS. We touched the

US Naval ReservistAwarded Purple Heartby Olga Bayer

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Navy Capt. Chuck Briant, right, receives PurpleHeart citation from Air Force Gen. Richard B.Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Oct.29, 2003.

Greetings!Do not miss Homecoming 2004:

MargaRATaville, October 15-16 on theJacksonville University campus. A football game,tailgate, barbecue, soccer match, reception withour new President, Kerry Romesburg, our first-ever Silver Dolphin Reunion and a blockbusterSaturday night MargaRATaville-themedRathskeller Party event at the River House offerplenty of opportunities to reconnect with JUfriends and see a remarkable, redesignedcampus.

We expect a great turnout of faculty membersand administrators, so you’ll have the opportunityto catch up with them as well. PresidentRomesburg and his wife, Judy, plan to attendvirtually all of the events in an effort to meeteveryone who turns out for the festivities.

The Romesburgs bring promise and hope toJU at a critical juncture for our alma mater.Alumni were involved actively in every step of thesearch process, and universally embraced theleadership, experience, fiscal prowess, vision andaffability Kerry offered to move JU forward.

I hope you will join our VISA (Volunteers InStudent Admissions) ambassadors, our Board ofGovernors and other alums that have re-engagedwith JU to help Kerry do just that. Please cometo our next Alumni Board of Governors MeetingFriday morning (8:30am, Howard Bldg., 3rdFloor) of Homecoming Weekend and check usout…or e-mail the Director of Alumni and ParentRelations Margaret Dees (mdees@ju.edu) or me(mhowland@nobleofindiana.org) to initiate adialogue on how you might get involved on behalfof your alma mater.

From theAssociationPresident:

by Michael R. Howland,CAE ’76

radar, touched the planes, talked to the people working onthem. Other people were reading about it; we were actuallydoing it.”

Briant lives in Virginia with his wife, Joanne, amanagement assistant for Naval Intelligence. Currently, he’sthe senior Naval Criminal Investigative Servicerepresentative to the Navy staff and serves as deputy directorfor Intelligence on a Pentagon crisis management team.

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Every baseball player who has put on a glove andlaced up his cleats has aspirations to make it to themajor leagues and play in the World Series. For

former Jacksonville University pitchers Juan Padilla andNick Regilio, a pair of dreams came true when the duo hadtheir contracts purchased bythe New York Yankees andTexas Rangers, respectively,and found themselves in theheart of the American Leaguepennant race during thesummer of 2004.

Padilla, a relief pitcher fromLevittown, Puerto Rico, wascalled up on July 16. Amember of the Dolphinsprogram from 1997-98, Padillahas become a versatile memberof the Yankees pitching staffout of the bullpen. On July 19,an entourage of Dolphins’ fandrove to Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg to see Padilla hurl alittle more than one inning of scoreless relief against theTampa Bay Devil Rays. After the game, Yankees managerJoe Torre said he was impressed with Padilla’s“unflappability.”

Padilla, BS ‘00, was recruited to JU by Dolphins HeadBaseball Coach Terry Alexander.

“Juan was a great player, he was so versatile,” said

Alexander. “He hit third in the lineup, was a good fielder,played third base, closed and started, and had a great pickoffmove. We looked to him to kind of carry the team.”

Regilio, a starting pitcher from Deltona, Fla., originallymade his debut at Fenway Park against the Red Sox with aninning out of the bullpen before being recalled on July 22after the all-star break. With the Rangers, Regilio hasbecome a regular fixture in the starting rotation. A memberof the Dolphins from 1998-99, Regilio was drafted by theTexas Rangers in the second round of the 1999 MLB

Amateur Draft beforeadvancing through the minors.Despite tendonitis andshoulder surgery, Regiliolanded with the Triple-AOklahoma Red Hawks beforegetting his first call to themajors.

“It can all be a blur,”Regilio told The Florida Times-Union about his minor leaguecareer. “You just try to stayfocused through all the ups anddowns because one day yourchance will come.”

Alexander said Regilio’ssuccess is as much about workethic as it is about talent.

“Despite sickness, injury and all that can go wrong, Nickperservered. He overcame adversity,” said Alexander.

Two JU Pitchers Called Up to Majors in Same Week

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Former Dolphins pitcherPadilla has provided versatilityout of the bullpen for the storiedYankees pennant race.

Regilio has proven to be amainstay in the Rangers'starting rotation, as the teamchased the 2004 pennant.

DOLPHIN PRIDE

For more information call your local tax collector’s office or log on towww.hsmv.state.fl.us/specialtytags/specialindex.html.

Want to show your Dolphin Pride andhelp Jacksonville University in a whole newway?

The official State of FloridaJacksonville University license plate isavailable at local tax collectors’ offices.

And the best part is – $25 of theannual fee will support JU.

Jacksonville University is one of 21ICUF (Independent Colleges andUniversities of Florida) schools whose tagswere approved by the Legislature in 2003.

Show your support for JacksonvilleUniversity and help us outpace sales atother ICUF schools!

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J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 51

rom a little girl whostarted playingpiano at age five to

becoming the first femalemusic director of St.Patrick’s Cathedral in NewYork City, Dr. JenniferPascual ’92 still abides byone principle – you have toplay nice.

“It’s not how well youplay, but how well youconnect with other people,”says Pascual, discussing howone rises to the top in sucha competitive profession.

That may sound easy,but when you’re putting in six hours of practice a day,Pascual says, it’s hard to get out and get to know otherpeople. Learning how to network and interact with otherscan make or break any professional – especially in a highprofile position such as Pascaul’s, where her biggestchallenge is “trying to please everyone.”

Pascual, appointed to her St. Patrick’s position byEdward Cardinal Egan in September 2003, received herMaster of Music in piano performance from MannesCollege of Music in Manhattan and her Doctor of MusicalArts in organ performance from the Eastman School ofMusic in Rochester, N.Y.

“If it weren’t for JU, I wouldn’t bein this position today. JU was thefoundation for everything else.”

– Dr. Jennifer Pascual

But it was at JU, where she earned her undergraduatedegrees – bachelor of music in piano and organ performanceand music education – that she decided to pursue music as acareer.

In addition to a full-time class schedule and many hoursof practice, Pascual served as the accompanist for the JUChamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Jon Carlson,professor of music and director of choral activities. She saysthat experience was instrumental in helping her become theaccompanist for the Boys Choir of Harlem in 1994.

Pascual remembers her JU music professors as being“very demanding, but in a good way.”

Carlson remembers the time Pascual presented himwith an award that had “Slave Driver” on it.

Mary Lou Krosnick, distinguished performer-in-residence, taught Pascual piano and said her former student

“took to the organ like a fish to water.”“Jenny was very virtuosic at piano but she got a late start

on the organ,” Krosnick said. “It was amazing how shedeveloped the pedal virtuosity. It was natural for her.”

Carlson agrees, saying, “It’s very unusual to have astudent who excelled in both organ and piano. She wasexceptional.”

Her principal organ instructor, Dr. William Saunders,recalls Pascual as very diligent and said, ”her junior andsenior recitals were well learned, well rehearsed and wellperformed.”

Carlson describes Pascual as very personable, a topmusician who’s excelled professionally but who still keeps incontact with her former teachers.

About her current position, Carlson said, “It’s such anhonor, probably the highest you can go in the CatholicChurch. We’re very proud of her.”

And how does Pascual feel about being at St. Patrick’s?“I always thought this would be the greatest thing,” says

Pascual, “I’m extremely honored to be here.”St. Patrick’s is a huge cathedral - it seats more than

2,000, and serves as the Archdiocese of New York. Thecathedral has three organs, with two full-time organists inaddition to Pascual. She plans out the entire music programfor all the Masses each week, organizes special concerts, fillsin whenever an organist is needed and conducts the High

Mass on Sunday. She also serves as the conductor for theNew York Archdiocesan Festival Chorale.

Pascual says some of the highlights of her career -besides St. Patrick’s - include traveling and playing for PopeJohn Paul II at the Vatican.

She’s looking forward to an upcoming trip to hermother’s original hometown in Manila, Philippines, to playthe only bamboo pipe organ in the world at the Las PinasInternational Bamboo Organ Festival.

When asked what she expects to be doing in 10 years,she answers, “I hope I’m still here, making great music.”

Maestro Hits High Note at St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Olga Bayer

F

Dr. Jennifer Pascual, director ofmusic at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Pascual ’92 conducts High Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, NewYork City.

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1954Charles Edward “Eddie” Bohannon,

AA ’54, bachelor’s degree at FSU, lives inMillis, Mass. His wife of 38 years,Carolyn Perkins, died in 2003. Bohannonhas been a tutor, mentor and teacher for24 years.

1964

Dr. Jim Langen, BA ’64, has retiredfrom teaching in San Diego, Calif. Hereceived his M.Ed. and Ed.D from UNFand previously taught at Fletcher MiddleSchool in Jacksonville Beach.

1965

Chauncey Johnstone, ’65, is vicepresident of business development forWestern Medical Ltd. in New Jersey.

1966

Sherrill A. Casey, BS ’66, recentlyretired from Seminole County (Fla.)Public Schools as an elementary principalafter a 36-year career in education.

1967Michael E. Fraser, BS ’67, owns

Fraser Insurance and Jacksonville CarWashes in Jacksonville Beach where helives with his wife Elaine. He spendsmost of his time at his oceanfront condoand hunting at his cabin in Montana.

1969

Barbara Sieger, BA ’69, is a secretaryat the University of Florida, LevinCollege of Law. She has twograndchildren.

Paul Ferreira, Sr., BS ’69, recentlyretired after 35 years in the Duval Countyschool system as an athletic director andP.E. instructor. He now lives in Blaine,Tenn. on a cattle and tobacco farm.

1971

Mike Blevins, BS ’71, recentlyopened a commercial real estate loanproduction office for BankAtlantic as thesenior vice president and Jacksonvillemarket manager.

Michael Boyd, BA ’71, is an adjunctprofessor of business and marketing forsix universities, teaching in class andonline. He lives with his family and wifeof 34 years in Knoxville, Tenn.

Jon R. Levinson, BS ’71, was recentlyre-elected to the Delray Beach citycommission for a second two-year term.He was also elected by his fellowcommissioners to the vice mayor post.

1972Warren Grymes, BA ’72, was named

CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters inJacksonville, one of the nation’s premiercharitable organizations. Grymes wasformerly co-owner of Akra Travel.

1973

Dr. Gary Buffone, BA ’73, is apsychologist and diplomat of theAmerican Board of ProfessionalPsychology and director of Jacksonville’sFamily Business Center. Buffone spoke atJU as a guest of the Friends of theLibrary. His book, Choking on the SilverSpoon, was reviewed on CBS’MarketWatch as excellent information.

James B. Kinchen, Jr., BME ’73,conducted Gabriel Faure Requiem inCarnegie Hall in March. He led a choirof 190 from Alaska, Arkansas, California,and Wisconsin, along with soloists and anorchestra. Sponsored by MidAmericaProductions, his second performance atCarnegie had 2,000 in attendance.Kinchen was one of 18 to participate inthe Chorus America/Chicago SymphonyOrchestra and last year received the“Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award”at the University of Wisconsin-Parksidewhere he delivered the 2003 wintercommencement address.

‘5O19711993class notesclass notesClass notes is compiled by your friends at the Office of

Alumni and Parent Relations. If you’ve got news, let usknow! We want to stay connected with you so e-mail your

information and photos (we’ll return them!) to us atalumni@ju.edu or send snail mail to:

Office of Alumni and Parent Relations Jacksonville University

2800 University Boulevard NorthJacksonville, Florida 32211

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J U M A G A Z I N E / F A L L 2 0 0 4 53

Sally Jo Mischley, BS ’73, and PattiWalkup, BS ’75, are picturedreminiscing 25 years later about the funthey had at JU in the ’70s. They send aCalifornia “hello” to all their old schoolpals.

J. StewartPikula, BS ’73,made a trip backto campus inMay 2003 whenhis son Keith A.Pikula, BS ’03,followed in hisfootstepsgraduating fromJU. They are pictured with theircousin, newly retired Dr. Kay Johnson,professor of education, known to Keithas “Aunt Kay!”

1974

Charles HughBrown, BA ’74,published his firstnovel, Master JonesGoes to Washington, afictionalized accountof his 1968 trip tothe nation’s capital.Brown is anadministrator for Genex Services inWinter Park, Fla. He and his wifeKathy live in Orlando.

1975

Michael D. Jackson, BS ’75,received his Doctorate in Ministryfrom McCormick TheologicalSeminary in Chicago, Ill. in June 2003.

1976Kenny Jones, BS ’76, retired from

the U.S. Navy in 1994 as a lieutenantcommander. He has since worked atMSC in force protection and anti-terrorism. Jones lives in Virginia withhis wife Susan, daughters Stephanieand Kelly and son Sean.

1979

Shirin Firouzabadian Brenick, BS’79, is a new member of theJacksonville University Alumni Boardof Governors. Shirin is also thepresident of JU’s Friends of the Libraryfor 2004-05.

Mary Calhoun King, BS ’79,recently released her third book LevelGround, the final novel of a trilogy. Formore information, go towww.maryf452001.com.

1980

William C. Aksamit, BS ’80, wasappointed head baseball coach at theUniversity of Hartford on Oct. 31,2003.

1981Thomas R. Barker, BA ’81, was

recently appointed deputy generalcounsel to the United States secretaryof Health and Human Services. He isrecognized as one of the nation’sleading authorities on health insuranceand legislation.

MichaelKennedy, BS ’81,has beenpromoted toassistant vicepresident forBB&T in Wilson,N.C. BB&T wasnamed this year to the Forbes Platinum400 list of America’s “Best BigCompanies” for the fourth year in arow. Michael and his wife, Susan,reside in Rocky Mount, N.C., withtheir three children.

Captain TimTibbits, BS ’81,recently assumedcommand of Patroland ReconnaissanceWing 10 inWhidbey Island,Wash. Hisdecorations include the MeritoriousService Medal with three gold stars, theStrike/Flight Air Medal, the NavyCommendation Medal with two goldstars and other awards. Tibbits ismarried to his wife Merriellen and theyhave one son and two daughters.

1983

Betsy Sargent Conklin, BA’83/MBA ’85, manages a call center atComputer Sciences Corporation inSarasota, Fla., where she lives with her11-year-old daughter Samantha.

Dr. John Luciano, BS ’83/MAT’85, has earned the 2003-04 NationalGrand Idea Award from Today’sCatholic Teacher magazine inrecognition of his work as the principalof Holy Spirit School in Jacksonville.

Surf’s up!JU grads met in October 2003

at Cape Hatteras and enjoyedsurfing, windsurfing and card games.Pictured from first row, left to right,Wayne Sheppard, BA ’78, ThorntonWhite, BS ’79, Kevin McAuley, BS’77, Robbie Brendel, BS ’80, RayHalle, BS ’76, “Chef Le Bo” DaveAbbott, BS ’80, John Hungerford,BS ’78, and Pat McGuiness, BA ’79.

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s 1985Lt. Col. Adam Copp, USMC, BA

’85, is currently commanding the 1stForce Reconnaissance in Iraq on hissecond deployment supportingOperation Iraqi Freedom.

1987

Michael T. Leary, EMBA ’87,joined the Greensboro agency ofMassachusetts Mutual Life InsuranceCompany as a sales associate. TheGreensboro agency was established in1890 and serves approximately 35,000clients.

1989

Teresa Varner Arellano, BA ’89,and husband Sergio, who attended JUas part of a joint engineering programwith UF, recently returned to ClayCounty after living in the Bahamas for10 years. Arellano is a stay-at-homemom with son Sergio Miguel anddaughter Angela Cristina. SergioArellano is employed by Bacardi &Company Ltd.

Jay Huling, BFA ’89, recently hadhis play Elvis of Nazareth produced bythe Source Theatre at the WashingtonTheatre Festival in Washington, D.C.His other plays include Twelve BarBlues, Insert Laugh Here, Hard LuckSings the Blues and Plumber’s Butt.

Brenda Jackson, BS ’89, lives inJacksonville with her husband Geraldand two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon.Brenda was the first African-Americanauthor to publish a book under theHarlequin/Silhouette Desire line. Thebook, Delaney’s Desert Sheikh, was onthe Walden Books best-seller list fortwo weeks. Another book, One SpecialMoment, was chosen for a made-for-television movie by BET.

Lt. Walter E.Merz, Jr., USN(Ret.), BS ’89,and Amare L.Shipley Merz, BA’92, live inHuntingtown,Maryland with their sons Walter andbaby, Alexander Lee.

David WayneOpdycke, BA ’89,works for FlaglerCollege in St.Augustine, Fla.He marriedEmily KatherineRoberts on Nov. 15, 2003; she worksfor Flagler Hospital.

1990

William (Bill) Morlan, BA ’90, hasjoined the law firm of King &Spalding, LLP, in Atlanta, Ga. Bill, amember of the Alumni Board ofGovernors, moved with his family fromJacksonville to Atlanta.

Kathy Paulk Woolner, BS ’90,moved from San Jose, Calif., to Cary,N.C., where her husband, Keith,accepted a product marketing positionat SAS in Feb. 2003.

CatherineYudow, daughter ofJennifer CorbinYudow, BA’90/MBA ’92, andRobert Yudow, ispictured greetingher friend Duncanthe Dolphin atHomecoming 2003.

1991

Andrew T. Hart, BS ’91, is a Lt.Commander in the U.S. Navy,currently assigned as the CommandingOfficer for the Naval and MarineCorps Reserve Center in Cincinnati,Ohio.

Cheryl Meide, BS ’91, lives inJacksonville and in April 2003 startedher own law firm, Meide Law Firm,P.A., specializing in trademark andtechnology law.

Dr. Diana S.Perdue, MAT’91, recentlymoved fromTexas to Virginiato accept anassociate professorof mathematicseducation positionat Virginia StateUniversity.

Derek White, BA ’91, is aconsultant with the Strategy Team inColombo, Sri Lanka.

Thomas White, BA ’91, is editorof Reuters Asia in Singapore.

1992

Charles Brown, BS ’92, lives inMonterey, Calif. with his wifeShannon and daughter Hannah-Grace.He is attending the U.S. NavalPostgraduate School in Monterey.

Brian Davis, BS ’92, received hisMBA from Marywood University. Helives in Clarks Summit, Pa., and is thedirector of store operations for FamilyDollar, Inc.

David Lee Emmons, BS ’92,formerly the vice president andpublisher for MediaNews in NewEngland, has recently joined theinvestment banking firm of W.B.Grimes & Company, handling mergersand acquisitions for National MediaAccounts in the U.S.

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CharityNicole James,BFA ’92, residesin San Franciscowith husbandPete. She recentlyappeared on thetelevision showQuintuplets andhas appeared on Sunset Beach, Friends,Suddenly Susan, Boy Meets World, Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman, Beverly Hills90210, TVLand and Chestnut Hill.James is also a Systems ProjectManager for STERIS Corp., a majormedical equipment companyworldwide.

1993

LuAnn Corrado, BS ’93, wasrecently promoted to Navy lieutenantcommander while serving with theAtlantic Fleet Career InformationTeam in Norfolk, Va. She waspromoted based on sustained superiorjob performance and proficiency in herdesignated specialty.

Edward “Ted” Holstein, BS ’93, isa lead flight coordinator of crew serviceswith Netjets in Columbus, Ohio. Herecently accepted a promotional transferas a flight dispatcher within theGulfstream Operations Center inHilton Head, S.C.

Kathryn Beyerle Lively, BA ’93,recently won the 2003 Royal PalmAward for Best Published Mystery. Shewas awarded the Florida WritersAssociation award for her novel SaintsPreserve Us, the first in a series ofmysteries set in Jacksonville and NorthFlorida.

Jeff Scudder, BS ’93, is based in SanDiego, Calif., and assigned as theoperations officer for Commander,Destroyer Squadron 23. He recentlyreturned from an extended eight-monthdeployment to the Persian Gulf as partof the Nimitz Strike Group supportingOperation Iraqi Freedom.

Nikki Taylor, BS ’93, is vicepresident, portfolio manager and teamleader for Bank of America in Atlanta,Ga. She is engaged to David Tanner ofNew York City.

Jodie BrandonUnderwood, BS’95, recentlymoved to FortWorth, Texas,with her husbandBarry to attendseminary and pursue a calling to foreignmissions. They have two sons, WesleyBrandon born on July 30, 2003, andLuke Brice born on April 4, 2002.

Steve Vozzola, BS ’93, and his wifeAllison live in Hollywood, Fla. withtheir three children, Nolan, Francescaand Collier Joseph, born on March 1,2004. Vozzola is scheduled to moveback to Jacksonville in fall 2004 tobecome the Assistant IntelligenceOfficer for Commander, CruiserDestroyer Group Twelve in Mayport.

1994

Kimberly Elkins Lawler, BA ’94,with daughter Lindsey Kay; StefanieSmith Bulinski, BS ’92, with son BlakeGregory, and daughters Brianna Nicoleand Ashlyn Elizabeth; and MonaTalastas Mateo, BS ’91, with daughterCecilia Marie. These JU and AlphaDelta Pi alums recently met for aminireunion to introduce their newestfamily members.

Karen Marie Gemski, BA ’94, iscurrently vice president and relationshipmanager at CIGNA Retirement &Investment Services. Her husband Paulteaches history at Queens Vocationaland Technical High School. Thecouple resides in New York City.

Elyse Silver, BA ’94, is a physicaleducation teacher in Tampa, Fla. Sheloves spending every minute with herstudents who are mostly from lower-income families. Silver also enjoysrunning into fellow JacksonvilleUniversity alumni in her school district.

Julian C. Chambliss, BS ’94, anUpward Bound graduate, recentlyreceived his doctorate from theUniversity of Florida. He was offered atenure-track position at Rollins College.

1995

Michael K. Gulla, BS ’95, a NavalReserve hospital corpsman 2nd class,recently returned from Iraqi Freedom IIwhere he earned the Purple Heart andBronze Star for valor in combatoperations.

Tim Munderloh, BS ’95, andStacey Smith Munderloh, BS ’99, areliving in Plano, Texas. Tim is currentlyvice president of sales and marketing forFACServices, Inc. and Stacey is amanaging partner for AmericanFinancial Retirement Services, LLC.

EthanAndrew Way, BS’95, has beenrecognized by theFlorida Bar as aspecialist in thefield of criminaltrial law. He became board certified incriminal trail law effective Aug. 1, 2004.Ethan is a partner in the law firm ofGentry & Way, P.A. in Tallahassee,Fla. He represents clients in state andfederal courts throughout Florida.

1996

Victor Diaz, BSN ’96, received amaster of science degree in nurseanesthesia from the Uniformed ServicesUniversity of the Health Sciences. Hewill soon report to the Navy MedicalCenter in Portsmouth, Va., for his firsttour as a Navy certified registered nurseanesthetist.

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s Cathy Freeman, BS ’96, recentlyopened a dance studio in NeptuneBeach, Fla. The name is Studio 1014.The business is family operated byFreeman and her husband MichaelFinne.

1st Lt. Joseph T. Ludick, USMC,BS ’96, was assigned to the 11thMarine Expeditionary Unit thatrecently deployed to the western Pacific– the central command area ofresponsibility in support of the globalwar on terrorism. His unit is anexpeditionary intervention force withthe ability to rapidly organize forcombat operations in virtually anyenvironment.

Navy Lt. Daniel B. Rasado, BA’96, recently returned from an eight-month deployment to the amphibioustransport dock ship USS Nashville,homeported in Norfolk, Va.

ReginaViscogliosiVillanueva, BS’96, is presidentof the board ofdirectors forDesert Son-ShinePre-School/Pre-K/Kindergarten inPalm Springs, Calif. She lives inCathedral City, Calif., with herhusband Andy Villanueva, BS ’95, anddaughter Marnie, age 5.

1997

Pat F. Brooks, BSN ’97, is acertified registered nurse anesthetist inHickory, N.C., where he lives with hiswife Jennifer. He completed his masterof science degree in nursing from theUniversity of North Carolina atCharlotte/Carolinas Healthcare Systemin Dec. 2002.

1998

Laura Hanna Cruse, BME ’98,earned a master’s degree in missionsfrom the Southern Baptist TheologicalSeminary in Louisville, Ky., on Dec.12, 2003.

1999Michale Gonzales Dudley, BS ’99,

Karen Kelczewski Hike, BA’76/MAT’81, Tralyn Reeves Hodson, BS ’00,and Renee Vaughn, who works in JU’sOffice of Institutional Advancement,caught up when they assisted with the2003 Alumni Tailgate Zone. These JUgroupies helped with kids’ games andparked cars. The Tailgate Zone is openbefore each home football game andhas become quite popular with JUalumni.

Laura Gunn, BA ’99, a Ph.D.candidate at Duke University, is amongfour authors whose article, “BayesianModeling of the Multiple LesionOnset and Growth from IntervalCensored Data,” has been accepted forpublication in the bio-statistics journalBiometrics. Gunn is the daughter ofTom Gunn, director of the JU library.

Sarah Koepke, BS ’99, earned herM.V.P. from the University of Kansasin 2002. Sarah currently works as atransportation planner with the FederalHighway Administration in Lansing,Mich.

Timothy Lucey, BS ’99, recentlyearned his Doctor of OsteopathicMedicine degree from Lake ErieCollege of Osteopathic Medicine.Lucey is doing his internship at HamotMedical Center in Erie, Pa. and plansto return to Florida as a resident inneurology, through the state universitymedical system.

2000

Roi Dagan, BS ’00, has recentlycompleted his master’s degree inenvironmental science from theUniversity of Florida. He is currently inmedical school.

Elizabeth Lindstrom LaBarbera,BS’ 00, and her husband Toby havemoved back to Jacksonville. She is themarketing manager for Taylor MarketMedia Group.

Eric Macanga, BS ’00, willgraduate from the National Universityof Health Sciences with a doctorate inchiropractic in April 2004. He was alsoa semi-finalist in the “Illinois Mr.Fitness” competition in October 2003.

Henry Schmitges, BS ’00, lives inJacksonville. He is a teacher at theDePaul School and also works inadministration and technology.

2001

Scott Amos, BS ’01/MBA’02, isthe chief assistant to the tax collectorfor the City of Jacksonville. He isinvolved with departmental budgetpreparation, coordinating the datasystem implementation andmodification, and the analysis andinterpretation of applicable Floridastatues and City of Jacksonville charterordinances.

Madeleine Combs, BA ’01, is asports announcer for WZNZ-AM,Jacksonville’s ESPN radio affiliate.

2002

Devon M. Hockaday, BS ’02, anensign in the naval reserve, recentlyreceived an Outstanding AcademicAchievement Medal while assigned toNaval Air Station Whiting Field inMilton, Fla.

Diana Peaks, BA ’02, is a newmember of Jacksonville University’sAlumni Board of Governors.

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2003Leah Dow,

BA ’03, lives inTwin Falls,Idaho, with herhusband Joel andtheir son Jalen,who is a big JUfan! She hasopened her ownbusiness, Threeof Hearts, catering to those who don’thave the time or desire to plan events,such as weddings, birthday parties, orbusiness meetings.

Arrivederci!Angelo’s ItalianRestaurant, anearby favoriteof JU alum,faculty andstaff, closedafter 33 years.

2004

Tamara Simpson, BA ‘04, hasreceived a Rotary scholarship to studyfor her master’s degree at the Universityof St. Andrews in Scotland, where shewill visit high schools and colleges as anambassador of goodwill for the U.S.She plans to start a book club and helpwith literacy and education in Europe.

Babies!Monique

McLuskey Baker,’90, and husbandDr. Jeff Baker, ’90,became parents ofEthan Edward onMarch 6, 2003.

Brad Brown,BA ’94, and wifeMichelle CampbellBrown, BS ’95,became parents ofdaughter HaileyGrace on June 12,2003.

Rachel ScharfDeSilva, BA ’94,and Vinny DeSilva,BS ’95, becameparents of son JakePeter on Feb. 27,2003. Jake iswelcomed by big brother Joey.

DeLisa Danahoo Fellows, BS ’00,and husband Curtis Lee Fellowsbecame parents of daughter AnnistonLee on June 19, 2003.

Cherie PierceHitchens, BS ’96,and husbandThomas Hitchens,BS ’95, becameparents of son JackPierce Hitchens onJuly 3, 2003. “Big sisters” are Mollyand Sophie.

David Loveday,BS’99, and his wifebecame parents ofTakara MakenzieLoveday, on March5, 2004.

Dwayne RogersBS ’94, and CaseyCorrigan RogersBA’96/MBA’99became parents ofRiley Michael onMay 11, 2004.

Laura Curcuru Schless, BA ’93,and husband Gary became parents ofson Tyler Julius, “TJ,” on Feb. 9, 2003.

CarolynMacBlainSchmoyer, BS ’91,and husbandbecame parents ofdaughter StefanieNicole on Aug. 30,2003. She joins big brother AndrewJames who is four years old.

Shawn Starr, BS ’93/MBA ’96, andwife Meredith became parents of twindaughters Emma and Alexandra onAug. 27, 2003. Shawn is the son ofDolores Starr in the President’s Office.

Rod Van Dyke,BS ’91, and wifeBarbara becameparents of daughterAllison Claire onJune 13, 2003. Sheis welcomed by bigsister Heather, age 6, and big brotherErik, age 3.

JoelleStonbraker Volpe,BA ’93, and FrankVolpe, BS ’93,became parents ofdaughter ValerieAnne on June 16,2003. The “big brothers” are Gabrieland James.

Kathy PaulkWoolner, BS ’90,and husband Keithbecame parents ofson Sagan Daniel onDec. 30, 2002.

Congrats to JU grads!Dr. Karen Jackson, chair of the

Department of Biology and MarineScience at JU, attended thespringtime graduation of several JUalumni who earned medical degreesfrom the University of South Floridamedical school. Pictured left to rightare: Chris McCarthy, BS ’00; NathanCharlton, BS ’00; Dr. Karen Jackson;Gretchen Shaughnessy, BS ’00; andAmber Degryse, BS ’00.

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s WeddingsWilliam C. Aksamit, BS ’80, and

Emily Held, BA ’80, married on June3, 2003.

Rebecca Bandy, BA ’98, marriedMichael Bonfanti of New Hampshireon June 19, 2004 at St. Peter’sEpiscopal Church in FernandinaBeach, Florida. Both the bride and thegroom are in their last year of lawschool at FSU.

Susan Cody,BA ’92, marriedSteven Rydzewskion Dec. 13, 2003, atSt. Joseph’s Churchin Jacksonville.They live inNewnan, Ga., where she is a professorat LaGrange College and he works forEmery Worldwide. Susan Cody is thedaughter of Claudelle Cody who worksin the Controller’s Office at JU.

Mark Cross,BA ’94, married JillBalota on Dec. 14,2002.

Duchesne Tolaram-Crawford,MAT ’98, married Lt. RichardCrawford on May 30, 2003. Theyhoneymooned in the westernCaribbean.

Laura HannaCruse, BME ’98,married Dr. BradCruse on Aug. 2,2003. JU alumni inattendance were Dr.Jimmy Scroggins’93, officiant, attendants Allison TaylorJohns ’98, Betsy Foote Smith ’98 andChristy Tebow Allen ’98; ShirleyElliott ’98 was the pianist and VickieFloyd ’98 was the soloist. Jim Hanna’62 is the father of the bride. Other JUattendees were Mark Hanna ’85, thebride’s brother, and Sheri McQuistonAnderson ’98.

Karen MarieGemski BA ’94married Paul AdamNadler on Nov. 8,2003 in Cresskill,New Jersey.

Susan LynnGross, MBA ’02,and AnthonyPowell, BS ’00/MBA ’02, marriedon Aug. 30, 2003.They honeymooned in England. Susanworks for St. John & Partners as anadvertising executive and he is amanager at the Federal Reserve Bank inJacksonville. She is the daughter ofMarcia Gross who works in JU’sDivision of Continuing Studies.

Cynthia PetrieMonroe, ’86,married DaveMonroe in October2000. Many JU andAlpha Delta Pifriends came tocelebrate. After honeymooning in theGreek Isles, they moved to their homein Alpharetta, Ga., where she is atechnical writer for a software company.

Amanda Shayne Mortimer BA ’98,married Jason Geer on April 24, 2004.The couple lives in Atlanta, GA.

Lisa Moser, BS ’03, marriedGordon Belyea on April 24, 2004.

Fumnanya Okolie, BS ’00, MBA’02, married Lorenzo Johnson on July10, 2004

In MemoriamMary Natalie Comer, a longtime

employee in the Registrar’s Office, diedon June 17, 2003.

Charles Dorfman, BA ’69, died onSept. 22, 2003.

Gary F. Izzo, MAT ’92, died onOct. 9, 2003.

Roy Russell, BS ’99, died on May10, 2003.

Eloise Truett, former JU facultymember, died in Oct. 2003.

What’s New with You?New job? Marriage? Something to brag about? Please e-mail your news and photos to us at alumni@ju.edu. Or mail the formbelow to the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. North, Jacksonville, FL 32211.

Name________________________________________________________ Maiden Name_____________________________Address____________________________________________________________________ New Address? q Yes q NoCity____________________________________________________ State_________________ Zip_____________________Daytime Phone ( )_______________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________JU Degree (BA, BS, etc.)_______________________ Class/Year graduated_________________________________________If no degree from JU, last year attended_______________________________________________________________________News and Updates__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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