A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI, STUDENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS

SPRING 2019 Novelist Maurice Ruffi n: A DAZZLING DEBUT

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS: VOLUME 43 s ISSUE 1

I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR RECENT ALUMNI; YOU ARE NOW EXECUTIVE EDITOR part of a global network of Privateers that is more than 80,000 strong. I encourage you to take Littice Bacon-Blood full advantage of your new status by connecting with fellow University of New Orleans alumni EDITOR throughout your professional journey. The successes of our graduates actually enhance the value Adam Norris DESIGN AND LAYOUT of a degree from the University. As a university community, we are always stronger together. Eric Gernhauser We spent last year celebrating the University’s 60th anniversary. It gave me occasion to CONTRIBUTING WRITERS reflect on what this institution has accomplished and what it has meant to our city and its Ro Brown James Mokhiber people. I hope we continue to make you UNO Proud. Last fall, we grew our overall enrollment Mallory Moore Kelvin Queliz and welcomed one of the largest and most talented freshman classes in years. PHOTOGRAPHY Interest in the University is accelerating. We have received 25 percent more Littice Bacon-Blood Jordan Fontenot freshman applications than this same time last year. In-state applications Tracie Morris Schaefer are on the rise, and we have seen a surge in applications from students in Alicia Serrano a number of different states across the country. On the research front, our contract and grant expenditures continue an upward trajectory. We are engaging in new and exciting partnerships Send Correspondence to: Silver & Blue Editor around the metro area and the state. Also, if you have not been University of New Orleans Administration Building 103 back to your alma mater recently—please stop by. Campus 2000 Lakeshore Drive looks terrific! New Orleans, LA 70148 phone: (504) 280-6832 These milestones and achievements represent email: [email protected] momentum that I feel every day when I am on campus and in the community. They are also laying the foundation for our future. I believe it is incumbent upon the leadership of the Silver & Blue Magazine is published by University to translate our momentum into a bold new vision the University of New Orleans. Articles represent the opinions of the authors and that will transform our university into something even greater. do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone but the authors. To accomplish that, we are working on three major initiatives: a To inquire about alumni events or to new 10-year strategic plan, a master plan that will create a road join the UNO International Alumni Association, contact: map for our physical campus, and a comprehensive fundraising Office of Alumni Affairs, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148 campaign. As alumni and supporters of the University, your phone: (504) 280-2586 fax: (504) 280-1080 involvement will be a catalyst for our success. I have never email: [email protected] © 2019 The University of New Orleans been more excited about what we will accomplish together. This public document was published at a total cost of $28,518. Forty-five thousand (45,000) copies of this public document were published in this first Sincerely, and only printing at a cost of $28,518. There will be no reprints, so the total cost of all printings of this document is $28,518. This document was published by the University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., John Nicklow New Orleans, LA 70148, to promote the purpose of PRESIDENT the University under authority of 17:3351(A)(12). This material was printed in accordance with the standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant to @UNOPresidentJN @unopresident R.S. 43:31. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

2 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 FEATURES TABLE OF p.20 DAZZLING DEBUT UNO’s Creative Writing DEPARTMENTS Workshop alumnus Maurice Ruffin is taking 4 CAMPUS SCENE the literary world by storm Swampball 2018, Career Fair, Krewe with his debut novel of UNO, Gov. John Bel Edwards at fall “We Cast a Shadow.” commencement, Hollywood director workshop, Engineering Week, First- p. p. generation college student luncheon. 24 26 8 NEWS & EVENTS Food pantry; Saint Marques Colston talks business; Nicklow highlights progress in State of University; PLUS turns 50; UNO- Delgado sign student transfer agreement; New aviation program; UNO ranked #1 in state for ethnic diversity; Transportation Institute awarded $150K for rail study; CRUISE CONTROL SAFFRON NOLA Distinguished Alumni Gala; Innovate UNO; Degree programs earn high marks; School of Justin Champion is building ships Two UNO alumni co-own and the Arts’ $100K grant. and sailing through life. manage the popular Uptown restaurant. 16 FACULTY FOCUS Meet the new COE dean, NASA taps p. p. Hoque; Roussev wins NSF grant to develop universal data language; Faculty medallion winners; Bierhorst gets NSF grant for 32 34 quantum research; University awards over $400K in research grants; Mitchell helps create online database of fugitives from American slavery. 38 THE UNO TRAVELER SWAMP WRITERS SELF-DRIVING REVOLUTION Model United Nations students visit China. Louisiana bayous play muse as Alumnus Lute Maleki’s technology MFA creative writing students helps drive the automated car 40 ATHLETICS journey down the waterways. industry. UNO baseball pitcher Eric Orze knows how to handle life’s curve balls; Ron Maestri inducted into Louisiana Baseball Coaches p. p. Hall of Fame. 36 44 DONOR SPOTLIGHT 35 Finance professor Tarun Mukherjee establishes new scholarship to honor his parents. 46 ALUMNOTES News from UNO’s accomplished graduates. CAMILLE HARMAN’S VICE NEXT UP, MED SCHOOL 50 IN MEMORIAM Alumna lands a role in the Oscar- Biology major Dayana Frazer is a first- nominated movie. generation college student looking to THEN AND NOW pursue a career in medicine. 52

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 3 HEADLINES AND HAPPENINGS

FALL COMMENCEMENT Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was the principal speaker at the University of New Orleans fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 14. He told graduates that they have been equipped with the tools to change the world and that their achievements would propel the state forward. “Graduates in the class of 2018, you are a brilliant, diverse community, filled with a thousand points of light,” Edwards said. “Just look at the fellow graduates seated around you ... This is what the American dream looks like. This is what Louisiana looks like and you’re a huge part of the reason I am so excited about the future of our great state.”

4 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 CAREER FAIR From college degree to career professional: The University of New Orleans Office of Career Services Career Fair in October attracted national and international companies like GE, Chevron and Nike, as well as local employers who recruited for internships, part-time work and full-time positions. The industries represented ranged from hospitality, retail and food service to insurance, real estate, financial services, nonprofits, utilities and government agencies.

FIRST-GENERATION LUNCHEON Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed was at the University of New Orleans in September to facilitate a panel discussion during a luncheon with current first-generation college students. Reed designated Oct. 1 as First-Generation Day in Louisiana to honor students who are the first in their family to attend college. At UNO, 41 percent of the University’s undergraduates are first-generation college students, President John Nicklow told the group.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 5 SWAMPBALL There’s nothing better than getting dirty for a good cause! Teams of students, alumni, and local residents battle for the golden volleyball trophy and bragging rights, while raising money for student scholarships. Did we mention the volleyball games are played in water-filled pits? The event is sponsored by the UNO Ambassadors and is held each fall in the quad.

HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR WORKSHOP Prominent Hollywood writer and director Robert Spera conducted a He directed the 2016 feature film “The Sweet Life” starring Chris Messina workshop in November for film students enrolled at the University of New and Abigail Spencer, and has directed a substantial number of episodes Orleans School of the Arts. Spera, who serves on the faculty of the AFI within the “Criminal Minds” series franchise, one of which featured the Conservatory, has an extensive background in film, television and theatre. Academy Award-winning Forest Whitaker.

6 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 ENGINEERING WEEK On Feb. 20, the University of New Orleans celebrated the value of engineering studies with a daylong event for area middle and high school students. In honor of National Engineers Week, about 600 students from several parishes in the metro New Orleans area visited campus to enjoy dozens of interactive exhibits that included an underwater remote-operated vehicle, table-top robots, a hydraulic can crusher, a NASA observatory and star dome. The University of New Orleans offers the only civil, electrical, mechanical, and naval architecture and marine engineering programs in the metro area, making it an ideal host for such an event, says President John Nicklow.

CARNIVAL AT UNO They walked, they rode, and yes, they “floated” as the Krewe of UNO rolled through the University of New Orleans campus on Feb. 26, celebrating its 2019 theme of “Hollywood on Parade.” Parade-goers were treated to a healthy dash of Privateer-flavored throws that included swords, silver and blue beads, cups, balls and T-shirts. President John Nicklow and Stacy Nicklow led the processional of nearly 30 organizations while tossing beads, cups and other trinkets from atop a privateer ship.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 7 President Nicklow’s State of the University Address Highlights Momentum; Unveils Three New Initiatives THE NUMBER OF FRESHMAN “Think about that; because particularly from Mississippi, continues to target them as well applications for the fall at the of our enrollment team and your Alabama, Florida and Texas. in recruiting. University of New Orleans efforts, we have nearly doubled “We believe that’s in large On the research front, has already surpassed the final the number of students inter- part due to the Gulf State Nicklow said the University’s number of freshman applications ested in and who applied to our Promise, which offers in-state commitment to supporting received last year, President John campus in three years,” Nicklow tuition to students from the Gulf faculty research remains strong. Nicklow said during his biannual told the faculty and staff who states,” Nicklow said. He used a chart to illustrate State of the University address in filled the University Center’s Spikes in applications from the upward trajectory of the March. ballroom. California, Colorado, Illinois and University’s grant and contract “Right now we are just about In addition, Nicklow said New York are attributed to the expenditures. to cross the 5,000 freshman enrollment for the spring University’s outreach, paired with “In fiscal year 2016, we were application mark,” Nicklow said. semester is up 2.6 percent digital advertising and traditional at $19.3 million. That figure “That’s an increase of 25 percent compared to spring 2018 and print mailers in those same areas. has climbed to $23 million and compared to this same time last that the University’s fall 2018 to “Based on these increases it then $31.5 last fiscal year, and year.” spring 2019 retention is up 1.6 is fair to say that the University it is projected to exceed the $32 Nicklow, who has made percent. of New Orleans is building its million mark in the current fiscal growing student enrollment his That retention increase often out-of-state name recognition year,” Nicklow said. “We have main priority, said the number translates “very positively for fall and improving national percep- a ways to go, but that is terrific of freshman applications is up 62 enrollment,” Nicklow said, which tions about the institution,” progress and I think it shows percent compared to the same drew applause. Nicklow said. our renewed commitment to time two years ago and is 92 Nicklow said a lot of the Applications from local expanding our research portfolio percent ahead of the same time application growth is coming students are also on the rise, and supporting our faculty three years ago. from out-of-state-students, Nicklow said, as the University researchers.”

Online Hospitality Master’s Degree Program Earns “Best” Ranking

THE ONLINE MASTER’S educational research firm. Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism to be “the best in the nation degree program in hotel and The firm released in October Administration’s program as to advance your hospitality tourism management at the its “Top 10 Master’s in Hospi- best particularly for careers in management career.” University of New Orleans has tality Management Programs for tourism management. The program was evaluated been selected as one of the best 2018.” OnlineMasters ranked based on methodology that among similar programs by The award recognizes the UNO’s program ninth out of included academic quality, OnlineMasters.com, a private Lester E. Kabacoff School of 50 programs that it determined student success and affordability.

8 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 The University of New Orleans and Delgado Sign Student Transfer Agreement

UNDER A NEW STUDENT and an overall GPA of 2.25 academic year at UNO will be (l-r) Mahyar Amouzegar, transfer agreement, eligible or higher receive guaranteed sent back to Delgado for articu- UNO provost and senior Delgado Community College admission to UNO. lation and possible award of an VP academic affairs; UNO students will have a seamless t
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Delgado Interim Chancellor the University of New Orleans. of “quick admit” days on transferring to UNO will have William Wainwright; and Mostofa Sarwar, Delgado Delgado students also will have Delgado’s City Park and West weekly access to pre-admission interim vice chancellor of access to new financial aid oppor- Bank campuses. UNO will advising through a transfer academic affairs and provost, at tunities and UNO admissions waive the application fee, and admission counselor in a the Jan. 24 ceremony. counselors who can admit transfer eligible Delgado students will be dedicated on-campus Delgado students on Delgado’s campuses. admitted to UNO on the spot. location. UNO President John Nicklow t
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“The agreement represents New Orleans represent unity and Delgado Community College admission before the completion a major step forward as we seek centered on student success, Interim Chancellor William of an associate degree, they may to work more closely with our and this agreement represents a Wainwright took part in a signing participate in a financial aid partners at Delgado Community commitment by our institutions to ceremony Jan. 24 on Delgado’s consortium. Students may take College,” Nicklow said. “This expand opportunities for qualified City Park campus. classes at Delgado and UNO but will provide Delgado students Delgado students to achieve a Here are some of the use financial aid through UNO who are interested in pursuing a baccalaureate degree by making highlights of the newly signed to fund their education at both bachelor’s degree with a clear and the transfer rules and require- student transfer agreement: institutions. predictable path to achieving that ments seamless and supportive of t
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objective. We hope this leads to achieving their goals,” Wainwright or more hours of transferable, reverse transfer agreement with more degree completion.” said. “Special thanks to our college-level coursework, Delgado. Under this agreement, “Strengthened collaborations UNO partners for their work to including the completion of a transcripts of students who apply between Delgado Community create this enhanced pathway for college-level math and English, and attend UNO for at least one College and the University of Delgado students.”

UNO Ranked #1 Ethnically Diverse College in Louisiana

The University of New all of our students,” says UNO Orleans is the most ethnically President John Nicklow. “A diverse college in Louisiana, wide variety of experiences and according to College Factual, viewpoints helps foster more a data analytics company that understanding and an expanded focuses on higher education world view. Our differences are outcomes. among our institution’s greatest It is the second year in a row attributes, and they are worth that the University ranked No.1 celebrating.” out of 30 Louisiana colleges To create the ranking, College analyzed by the company. Factual analyzed the ethnicity of “The ethnic diversity of our each school’s student population. student body serves to enrich The greater the variety, the higher the educational experiences of a college will rank.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 9 Bucks For Ducks Fundraiser Fill Privateer Food Pantry THE OFFICE OF STUDENT campus and to stock our shelves Affairs has found a creative with the goal of opening the way to fill its on-campus food pantry on a regular basis,” says pantry by hawking rubber Reagan Laiche, student affairs ducks. Privateer Pantry donation operations manager. stations were set up around The pantry, which opened of those reporting that they throughout the year. campus to accept cash—or in 2017, aims to help University would absolutely be in need “Because the majority of “bucks for ducks”—that was of New Orleans students of food assistance on campus,” students who utilize the pantry used to purchase supplies for the in need of food. As long as Laiche says. thus far live in the residence pantry. students have a valid UNO Last year the pantry offered halls, we are asking for items that For each college that raised ID, they can access the pantry, “pop-up” services, trying to are microwavable,” she says. $250, a campus “celebrity” Laiche says. bridge the gap for students If ideas for donations are represented the college on top of The pantry is in the Office of when campus food service is needed, the pantry has an a giant rubber duck that floated Student Affairs in the University not at full service. This fall the Amazon wish list, Laiche says. in the fountain at the Robert Center, and is stocked with goal is to have a set schedule for The celebrity floaters were: Merrick/Latter & Blum Patio. nonperishable food items. students to access the pantry, College of Sciences, Dean Steve While the Nov. 20 fundraiser The idea for the pantry grew she says. Johnson; College of Engineering, was designed to be fun, the issue out of informal talks among staff “The pantry is still operating Interim Dean Norma Jean it attempts to address is a serious about conversations overheard in pop-up mode, but a set Mattei; College of Liberal Arts, matter: food insecurity. between students about skipped schedule is the driver behind Education and Human Devel- “The Fill the Fountain event meals, Laiche says. A student the Fill the Fountain fundraiser,” opment, Rachael Smith; College of is the culmination of two weeks survey confirmed that food Laiche says. Business, Rebecca Chaiban; Inter- of tabling and crowdfunding insecurity was a concern for Donations of unexpired disciplinary Studies, Cap’n Horace to raise money and awareness many students. food items can be dropped off Pembroke III and First Mate Rose; about the Privateer Pantry, food “About 200 students at the Student Affairs office and Student Government Associ- insecurity experienced on our completed surveys with 180 during regular University hours ation President Kenady Hills.

Board of Regents Approves New Professional Pilot Bachelor’s Degree THE LOUISIANA BOARD while New Orleans Aerial Tours The professional pilot in the number of trainees, both of Regents has approved a new & Flight Training will provide program will be accredited civilian and military, are creating professional pilot bachelor the technical instruction. by the Federal Aviation a looming shortage of pilots, of science program at the “Our professional pilot Administration and will blend Williams says. In Louisiana, University of New Orleans. The program will provide a diverse flight training with rigorous the 10-year growth projection program, which still requires air space system environment academic study that will for commercial pilots is 320 approval from the Southern that will expose our students provide a foundation for a jobs with an annual total of 80 Association of Colleges and to a wide variety of real world career in the aviation industry. openings per year from jobs in Schools (SACS), will prepare challenges, resulting in highly During the 120 credit-hour the occupation and as a result of students for a career in the field sought-after graduates,” says program, students will engage in retirement or turnover. of aviation. John Williams, dean of the technology-enhanced class- According to the Bureau of The program will be College of Business Admin- rooms, as well as actual flight Labor Statistics, the mean annual conducted in collaboration with istration, which will be the training. Students who complete salary for commercial pilots in New Orleans Aerial Tours & academic home for the program. the program will meet FAA 2016 was $86,260. Flight Training, which is located “The program will extend the commercial and private pilot The University will begin at the Lakefront Airport, a five- vision of the University of standards, with instrument and accepting applications only after minute drive from the UNO New Orleans as an engine of multi-engine ratings. the degree program has been campus. The University will take economic development of the A predicted global growth approved by SACS, the Univer- the lead on certifying the faculty region.” in aviation and the decrease sity’s regional accrediting body.

10 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Former Saint Marques Colston Talks Business FORMER NEW ORLEANS talked about the business failure bar that has Saints star receiver Marques of four of his companies, and several franchise Colston has a philosophy that he how that led him to create other locations. Colston calls “irrational confidence” that better companies that were more and his wife has propelled his success on the sustainable. Emily, who is football field and in boardrooms. “Failures are only failures if an alumna, are It is the belief that if you put in you allow them to be,” Colston partners in the the hard work and preparation, told a packed auditorium filled venture. Colston you can achieve success despite with students. “Being able to is director of the odds, Colston said during a translate very public failures . business devel- speech at the University of New . . and move forward is a key opment. Orleans. aspect of entrepreneurship and Statisti- “Don’t be afraid to fail,” management.” cally speaking, said Colston, the founder and Colston gave the keynote Colston, who was managing partner of Dynasty address in March as part of a seventh-round Innovation, a strategy and the University of New Orleans draft pick from Former New Orleans Saints star execution firm focused on Management Week, which off-the football-radar Hofstra receiver Marques Colston gave keynote address for the University of marketing, branding, sports and features visits by business University, wasn’t supposed New Orleans’ Management Week. education, as he recalled a very leaders from across the region to have a professional football “public and painful” moment of to classes in the College of career, he said. dropping a pass in front of 70,000 Business Administration to share “As a seventh-round pick his business ventures, he said. football fans. their stories and insights with you’ve got maybe a 3 or 4 percent “Understanding that if However, the former NFL students. chance of becoming a starter at there’s a 1 percent chance that’s star said he also has a Super Bowl Colston’s topic, “Striking some point in your career, and somebody’s going to make it— ring, remains the Saints all-time a Balance: Life as a Serial even when you do make the you’re the 1 percent,” Colston leader in receptions and total Operator,” explored the different team your staying power is 3 ½ said. “And the way you become touchdowns, and has a business roles he plays in a number of his years,” Colston said. that 1 percent is your approach, degree that has allowed him to varied business ventures that are His “irrational confidence” your work ethic and literally transfer some of his gridiron located all over the country. bespoke another reality, he said. getting yourself in a position skills into the business world. One of those business One in which he flipped the where there’s nobody in the Colston, who retired from ventures is Main Squeeze Juice script and wrote his own success world that’s going to outwork you professional football in 2015 Co., a New Orleans-based story. That same philosophy and take what’s yours. You plant after 10 years with the Saints, fast-casual juice and smoothie translates into the way he handles your flag early on.”

Transportation Institute Awarded $150,000 Grant for Statewide Passenger and Freight Rail Analysis THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW “Understanding how to key corridors for investment. and enable the state to increase Orleans is set to play a major best incorporate rail infra- It will also show us where we its competitiveness in the global role in setting the course for structure into the state’s multi- should focus on mitigating marketplace. the future of rail transpor- modal transportation system safety concerns and rail traffic In rural areas, she says, tation infrastructure across requires a unified vision with congestion.” potential growth in manufac- Louisiana. Bethany Stich, common goals. This research Louisiana’s freight rail turing, agriculture and local director of the University will ascertain the current state transportation services provide industries can be realized of New Orleans Transpor- of rail in Louisiana and offer essential support for the petro- through a connection by tation Institute, was awarded benefit/cost analyses of system chemical industry and others, railroads to major urban areas. $150,000 by the Louisiana expansion,” Stich explains. generating a total economic The Louisiana Transpor- Transportation Research Center “The study will inform the output of $13 billion. tation Research Center will use (LTRC) to conduct an analysis work of state transpor- According to Stich, more the system analysis to develop of passenger and freight rail tation planners by exploring rail transport availability can a plan to expand transportation systems that will be used to economic development provide cost and logistical efficiency, cost effectiveness, guide future investments. opportunities and identifying advantages to Louisiana firms accessibility and capacity.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 11 University of New Orleans Planning & Urban Studies Celebrates 50th Anniversary THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW says the department has Orleans Department of Planning achieved because of its focus and Urban Studies has left its on community service and mark on the city of New Orleans partnerships with neighborhood and the surrounding metro area groups. over the course of five decades. She also credited the Since its founding in 1968, the department with helping shape department has been involved in legislation that has made New the research and creation of land Orleans a more pedestrian and use studies to guide municipal cyclist-friendly city. officials, provided expertise in “I hope in the next 50 years planning commercial corridors this program becomes a true and helped to build and rebuild hallmark because we’re learning neighborhoods through the lessons here that volunteer work of its students we need to share and faculty. with the rest of the UNO officials marked the country and the Department of Planning and world in terms of Urban Studies, or PLUS, 50th what we’re doing,” anniversary with a luncheon and Palmer said. panel discussion in November.. Laura Bryan, “At UNO one of our jewels transportation is PLUS, both in terms of the director for New kind of research they do on this Orleans Mayor campus, the faculty we have and LaToya Cantrell the students we produce that go and an alumna, out in the world and do greater presented a certif- things for society,” said Mahyar icate of excellence on Amouzegar, provost and senior behalf of Cantrell. vice president of academic “This program affairs, during the luncheon that was really important celebrated the milestone. “It is to me,” said Bryan, very unique and special.” who earned a master’s in urban nately neighborhoods, many Planning & Urban The department is and regional planning. “It of them in New Orleans, but Studies celebrated its 50th comprised of five independent, provides such an important also in Jefferson Parish as well,” anniversary in November yet related academic program service to this city. The students Brooks said. “This tradition with a luncheon and a areas: Bachelor of Science in are really engaged, you get has continued among the faculty founders roundtable, urban studies and planning, to learn a lot about what’s faculty that have come after and attended by five founding faculty members. Pictured Master of Science in transpor- happening in your community.” working in the neighborhoods. on the front row from left to tation, Master of Science in The luncheon also included I think that is a very important right, Fritz Wagner; Bethany urban and regional planning, a panel of five founding faculty thing that we have done. Stich, department chair; Kim Master of Science in urban members—Jane Brooks, Tim The students get great Martin Long, dean; and Jane studies and the Ph.D. in urban Joder, Ralph Thayer, Fritz experience in working with Brooks, back row, left to right, studies. Wagner, and Bob Whelan—who real clients, neighborhood Bob Whelan, Tim Joder, New Orleans City Council- talked about the department’s clients, parish government or Mahyar Amouzegar, provost; woman for District C, Kristin work and its impact. city government and also we do and Raph Thayer. Gisleson Palmer, presented a “What I’m most proud of some really great work that is proclamation in recognition over the years are all of the helpful in moving the commu- of the accomplishments she studies that we did, predomi- nities forward.”

12 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Innovate UNO Symposium Showcases Students Scholarly Research and Creative Designs FROM STUDENTS IN THE Brown’s group project was Lester E. Kabacoff School of among 200 entries in a variety Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism of categories presented in poster A framed painting on an Shisir Acharya, a mechanical Administration creating hot, sessions, oral presentations, easel contained Alexis Chivatero’s engineering student, fruit-filled crepes and sharing artwork, music, performances project called “The Next enthusiastically explains how to cooking tips with an appre- and exhibits. The presenters were Generation.” What appears to be reduce power plant emissions. ciative audience to a mechanical on-hand to explain their entries an octopus is visible from afar. A engineering student explaining and answer questions from closer viewing, however, brings that can cause smog, acid rain how to reduce emissions by judges and visitors. a startling discovery that the and which some scientists have “tweaking” the thermal energy The Office of Research, the octopus resides within a circle attributed to causing global cycle, Innovate UNO offers a Graduate School, and the Earl of twisted human bodies upon warming—by improving the platform broad enough to hold K. Long Library host the annual which a raven is perched. efficiency of the thermody- those endeavors and many more. research symposium, which is It’s a “semi-satirical” look at namic energy cycle using a On Nov. 7-8, the fourth floor sponsored in part by the Oscar J. what could happen if humans combination of steam and gas of the Earl K. Long Library was Tolmas Charitable Trust. destroy the earth and other intel- to generate the same amount of the epicenter for the University Matt Tarr, vice president for ligent species rise to the top of power. of New Orleans’s seventh research and economic devel- the order, Chivatero explains. After compiling “a lot of independent showcase in which opment, stated goals for Innovate “I think art is a really good data” and using a computer students were able to present UNO are simple: way to get people to realize that program to run simulations that their independent research, “I want the presenters to feel humans are very destructive “tweaked” various components scholarly or creative activities to an achievement and an accom- towards the earth so creating in the power producing cycle, the campus community. plishment of ‘Hey, I did this, and sort of satirical pieces like this Acharya reached his conclusion. “Quite frankly I think it gets I told the world about it,’” Tarr is a good way of getting people “Increasing the efficiency people involved on campus and says. “The second part is that I interested in learning about the in the thermodynamic cycle it allows people to think outside want the world to know what our environment,” she says. will result in a better efficient the box,” says business admin- people are doing.” A few rows over, Shisir hydro-power system which will istration major Jeffrey Brown, As visitors weaved through Acharya, a mechanical ultimately contribute towards whose research focused on ways the aisles that contained artwork engineering student, enthusias- reducing the emissions,” he says. to reduce pet surrenders after and posters filled with graphics, tically explained how to reduce “Less emissions; it’s better for adoptions. “It gives students, pictures and research summaries, power plant emissions. His the environment and that’s how faculty, everybody a chance to participants were not shy about research targets carbon dioxide, I save earth,” Acharya says with come together.” sharing their projects. nitrogen and sulfur—pollutants a laugh.

Master’s Degree Program Named Best by Onlinemasters.com ONLINEMASTERS.COM, A academic support. collected from current students professionals seeking a program of research organization seeking to In addition to recognition and alumni through interviews study focused on multiple areas of provide data-driven analysis to for the best hybrid format of the and surveys as well as insights educational leadership. prospective graduate students, degree program, the University from human resources profes- All classes meet in the named the University of New of New Orleans was ranked 28th sionals informed the rankings. evening, drawing students who Orleans master’s degree program in overall among higher education Selection criteria included bring a diversity of professional higher education as the best degree master’s degree programs offered curriculum quality, program perspectives and experiences to program of its kind available in a exclusively online. flexibility, affordability and the classroom. Graduates of the hybrid format. In a hybrid degree According to OnlineMasters. graduate outcomes. program typically work as admin- program, students can complete com, its analysis included every The higher education istrators at colleges and universities much of the coursework online but higher education master’s degree master’s degree program at the in areas such as admissions and can also attend classes in person program in the U.S. available University of New Orleans is retention, residential life, career to meet with professors, network online from an accredited designed for both recent college services, multicultural affairs, with peers or get additional nonprofit institution. Data graduates and mid-career financial aid or student affairs.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 13 (L-R) Lute Maleki, Jules Schneider, Bob Duvernie (accepting on behalf of son-in-law Major Gen. Chad Franks), Sonny Lee, President John Alumni Achievement Takes Center Stage Nicklow, Bill Chauvin, Angie Gates at 2018 Distinguished Alumni Gala and Phillip May A STANDING-ROOM CROWD of more than 500 people celebrated the achievements of University of New Orleans graduates at the Distinguished Alumni Gala held Nov. 1 at The National WWII Museum. Former insurance executive William Chauvin was honored as the 2018 Homer Hitt Distin- guished Alumnus of the Year and Son of a Saint founder and executive director Bivian “Sonny” Lee was honored as the 2018 Homer Hitt Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year. Chauvin is currently chair of a Vistage CEO peer support group. He previously served as senior vice president of finance and treasurer for XL Catlin, Inc., a global insurance and studies program also honored Administration honored currently serves as a governor reinsurance company. He also their own distinguished alumni. Philip May, who earned his of the Recording Academy, was an executive with Global The College of Sciences MBA from UNO in 1992. Washington, D.C. chapter (The Special Risks, Inc. and Southern honored Lute Maleki as its May is the president and chief Grammys). Marine & Aviation Under- 2018 Distinguished Alumnus. executive officer of Entergy Interdisciplinary studies writers, Inc. Chauvin began Maleki, who earned a doctorate Louisiana, LLC, which serves honored Major Gen. Chad Franks his career as an accountant for in physics from UNO in 1975, more than one million electric who graduated from UNO in Price Waterhouse & Co. in New is senior distinguished engineer customers in the state. He is 1990. Gen. Franks is the deputy Orleans. He is the 35th honoree and executive in charge of responsible for the company’s commander, Combined Joint Task to receive the Homer Hitt LiDAR Development for Cruise electric transmission and Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Distinguished Alumni Award. Automation, the self-driving distribution systems, customer U.S. Central Command. He Lee is the president and unit of General Motors. He service, regulatory and public oversees joint and coalition opera- executive director of Son of a previously worked as a scientist affairs, economic development tions, intelligence and plans in the Saint, a nonprofit that inspires at the Jet Propulsion Lab in programs and charitable contri- fight against the Islamic State of mentorship and enhances the Pasadena, Calif. The College butions, as well as its financial Iraq and Syria. Additionally, he is lives of fatherless boys. He of Engineering honored Jules performance. the commander, 9th Air Expedi- founded the organization in Schneider. Schneider, who The College of Liberal tionary Task Force-Levant, U.S. 2011 in honor of his father, earned a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Education and Human Air Forces Central Command. former Saints player Bivian Lee mechanical engineering from Development honored Angie Gen. Frank is deployed overseas Jr., who died of a heart attack UNO in 1984, has spent 33 years Gates, who earned a bachelor’s so his father-in-law, Bob at the age of 36. Son of a Saint working for Lockheed Martin degree in communications and Duvernie, accepted the award on provides emotional support, life Space Systems. He’s director of a master’s degree in arts admin- his behalf. skills development and exposure assembly, test and launch opera- istration from UNO. She is the Proceeds from the Distin- to constructive experiences to its tions, making him responsible director of the Office of Cable guished Alumni Gala increase mentees. Lee was named New for all of the final assembly, Television, Film, Music and funding for student scholarships Orleanian of the Year by Gambit integration and testing of the Entertainment for the District and support the UNO Alumni in 2016. Orion Spacecraft at the Kennedy of Columbia and interim Association’s programming The University’s academic Space Center. director of the Commission on to ensure student success and colleges and the interdisciplinary The College of Business the Arts and Humanities. Gates alumni engagement.

14 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 UNO Awards Over $400,000 for Research and Scholarly Endeavors

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW faculty, staff and students. Orleans awarded more than “We’re here to support those $400,000 in research grants and activities—research, creativity awards to 24 faculty members and scholarship—across the and 75 undergraduate students entire campus, whether that’s on Jan. 23 during its annual faculty members, staff members Achievements in Research, or students, both graduates and Creativity and Scholarship undergraduates,” Tarr says. awards ceremony held in the In total, the awards University Center’s ballroom. amounted to $403,083 invested “For more than six decades now Matt Tarr(far left), vice The awards presentation, in promising research and schol- this institution has had a strong president for research and hosted by the Office of Research, arship being conducted by UNO heritage of research and that economic development, stands with award winners Stephen underscored the power of students and faculty. legacy, that heritage, is going to Ware, Tara Tolford, Shaikh research and the opportunities President John Nicklow be a strong part of our future.” He also applauded award Arifuzzaman, and Mark that exist for UNO scholars at all says Tarr’s office is helping the Trudell during the annual winners for their dedication. levels and areas of the campus, University build on its rich Achievements in Research, Matt Tarr, vice president for heritage of research. “Research makes professors Creativity and Scholarship research and economic devel- “Today’s event is extremely better teachers, it improves awards ceremony. opment, said. befitting our status as the only student engagement and Easels were placed around public research university in elevates the success of the entire institution. Each of you play the ballroom that held posters New Orleans and one of only institution,” Nicklow says. “I’m an integral role in helping the highlighting some of the two Carnegie R2 institutions in grateful for your dedication to university fulfill its research endeavors over the past year by the entire state,” Nicklow says. both your discipline and this mission.”

School of the Arts Awarded $100K for Visiting Artist Program THE NEW ORLEANS THEATRE “Our primary mission attract a different artist or sponsorship of the Jazz at the Association (NOTA) awarded is preparing our students group of artists each year. The Sandbar performance series $100,000 to the University of to succeed in a competitive length of stay for each visiting and an endowed professorship New Orleans School of the Arts professional world,” Taylor says. artist will vary depending the in theatrical arts. for a guest residency program “While there are many profes- artist’s availability and the The University of New that will bring to the campus sional artists in New Orleans, University’s needs at that time. Orleans School of the Arts ranks professional artists from around it is essential for students to Over the five-year grant period, among the leading cultural and the country who will teach develop a broader conception each arts discipline—visual arts education centers in the master classes in visual arts, of artistry and artistic success. arts, theatre, film and music— Gulf South. Offering instruction theatre, film and music. With This guest residency program will be represented at least in music, film, theatre, visual this award, NOTA is the sole ensures that our students will once. arts and arts administration, sponsor of the guest residency have the benefit of instruction The New Orleans Theatre the School of the Arts nurtures program. and interaction with successful Association is a presenter of creative and intellectual devel- According to Charles professional artists from touring Broadway productions opment, fosters collaboration Taylor, director of the a variety of disciplines, and other live performances. among disciplines, embraces University of New Orleans backgrounds, viewpoints and As a nonprofit organization, diversity and encourages School of the Arts, visiting locations. NOTA channels all proceeds community engagement. It also artists will complement the “We are grateful to the New back into the local arts serves the public as a regional expertise of the permanent Orleans Theatre Association community in the form of center of cultural and intel- School of the Arts faculty and for its generous investment in grants and other support. lectual activity with perfor- at the same time offer students the UNO School of the Arts Previous support from NOTA mances, exhibitions, lectures and exposure to the lives and and the future of our region’s for University of New Orleans workshops by students, faculty experiences of working profes- cultural economy,” Taylor adds. projects includes the New and guest artists in its galleries sional artists. The University hopes to Orleans Jazz Celebration’s and performance spaces.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 15 Taskin Kocak Appointed College of Engineering Dean TASKIN KOCAK, THE of Engineering and Natural new dean of the College Sciences at Bahcesehir of Engineering, embraces University. He holds a doctorate an educational philosophy in electrical and computer that includes practical work engineering from Duke experience and equipping future University and has previously engineers with soft skills such as worked at Duke, the University leadership, communications and of Bristol in England and the team building. University of Central Florida. “I believe in working and Kocak says he avidly of different manufacturing Taskin Kocak, the new dean of the education at the same time consumes current affairs news and others, like information College of Engineering because it gives you practicality about the U.S., Turkey and technology companies, moving and experience, even before you England, a byproduct of his into the New Orleans area, so I offering of new programs, hiring finish your degree,” says Kocak working in those countries. think there’s a great chance to more research-capable faculty who worked at Mitsubishi “My wife tells me ‘Normal partner with them because they and increasing recruitment Electric Semiconductor in people don’t do that! What are will need the workforce,” Kocak efforts and marketing, particu- Raleigh-Durham, N.C. while you going to do with all that?’” says. larly at high schools. pursuing his degrees. Kocak says with a laugh. “I’m a The industry partnerships is “You have to visit high Kocak, who joined the news junkie.” part of what Kocak lists under schools,” Kocak says. University of New Orleans He also likes computers, his “enhance undergraduate Kocak says he will create a in January, succeeds civil and which is what first attracted him experience” goal, one of four five-year plan that includes end environmental engineering to engineering and an eventual overall goals he presented to goals of increasing the college’s professor Norma Jean Mattei, master’s degree in electrical and the University community as national ranking, increasing who served as the interim dean. computer engineering. part of his interview for the student enrollment by 50 Kocak says he wants to As he settles into his new position. His other focus points percent, increasing research explore the creation of study role at the University, Kocak says for UNO are to grow graduate funding by 100 percent and abroad engineering programs he wants to ensure that students and research programs, develop increasing faculty hires by 50 to offer students a “global have the opportunity for intern- faculty and to engage the percent. Kocak says faculty experience.” He established such ships both foreign and domestic. community and industry, he mentoring would play a key role programs in Germany, Italy and In addition, Kocak wants to says. in those goals. Hong Kong while at Bahcesehir explore partnerships with He’s quick to add that it was “The College of Engineering University in Istanbul, Turkey. local companies that will allow not one single factor that helped has a lot of potential,” says Prior to coming to UNO, industry leaders to share their BAU’s engineering department Kocak, noting that the college Kocak, who was born and expertise with students, possibly to experience a 30 percent ranks within the top 200 in raised in Turkey, spent eight as adjunct faculty members or growth in student enrollment the country. “Based on this years as a professor, department through new elective courses. during his eight-year tenure. potential, I think we can develop chair and dean of the College “I think we have a lot The strategy also included the this college further.”

16 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Computer Science Faculty Member Awarded $100,000 to Help NASA’s Stennis Space Center NASA’S STENNIS SPACE lectual property by securing licensing become more efficient Center has tapped University of patents for its innovations. and effective. New Orleans computer science Patents allow NASA to share With a previous grant, Md Tamjidul Hoque associate professor Md Tamjidul its technology through external Hoque applied an advanced Hoque to help the agency partnerships related to the machine-learning tool to technology, which involves fully improve the way it manages and NASA mission or licensing to NASA’s intellectual property automating the classification markets intellectual property. the public for commercial and management system to sort process on the document side The agency awarded $100,000 to social benefit. and classify patent documents. and adding metadata to records Hoque to enhance and expand Hoque’s work aims to A machine-learning approach to improve search results on the an initial version of technology improve the centralized system uses software to perform the user side. he has already developed for the used by NASA for organization decision-making process of Hoque, who earned a space center. and navigation of patent data categorizing and naming each doctorate from Monash In the course of carrying and related documents so new innovation without the University in Australia, out its mission, NASA routinely that marketing efforts based need for human oversight. The researches machine learning, develops new technology and on opportunities for business current award will fund the bioinformatics and optimi- often elects to protect its intel- partnerships and technology next phase of developing this zation.

Computer Science Professor Wins NSF Grant To Develop Universal Data Language

TELEVISION CRIME Digital forensics is the However, many of the forensic dramas have made “forensics” a science of tracing or tracking tools are proprietary and are household word. University of evidence from any digital system not designed to be used across New Orleans computer science or source, such as a computer’s different software tools or professor Vassil Roussev is hard drive, a video, an audio systems, Roussev says. Having to working to give forensics inves- file, cell phone or email. As manually cull through another tigators a universal language—a the volume of data from these investigators notes to determine Vassil Roussev data query language, that is. digital sources continues to grow, how they arrived at a particular Roussev has been awarded the need becomes greater for conclusion slows the investi- flow of a forensic inquiry from a nearly $300,000 National investigators to be able to sift gatory process, he says. data source to final results; Science Foundation Grant to quickly and efficiently through “Nugget,” an idea that origi- allow the fully automatic—and develop the language called mounds of data to find potential nated with Roussev and is being optimized—execution of the “nugget,” that he says seeks to evidence, Roussev says. executed by Christopher Stelly, a forensic computation; and make digital forensic investiga- “When people talk about UNO doctoral research student, provide a complete, formal and tions quicker for analysts. forensic analysis, they essentially is designed as an open source auditable log of the inquiry. “What this work does is figure out what happened,” project that would operate The investigation process not create a uniform language to he says. “Forensics is basically regardless of the software the only has to be understandable, describe what you’re doing,” analysis after the fact or when analysts uses. but also reproducible which is a to arrive at specific results or you suspect something has As it relates to usability and key component in science and conclusions, Roussev says. “And happened.” performance requirements in the legal arena of court cases, the reason this is useful and Currently, investigator notes digital forensics and incident Roussev says. important is that it documents are the main source for helping response investigations, nugget “If (the results) can’t be it exactly, in effective computer guide analysts in reproducing seeks to: provide investigators reproduced, it’s not science,” says code that is understandable to information gleaned from with the means to easily and Roussev, referencing a basic tenet the analyst.” another colleagues’ data search. completely specify the data of scientific research methods.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 17 Freedom on the Move Launches Database of Fugitives from American Slavery

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ago and since then a core group because so little Orleans history professor Mary of historians, programmers, information Niall Mitchell is a lead historian and librarians has been working about them as for an online project called on developing the crowd individuals has Freedom on the Move that is sourcing site and gathering ads been preserved, devoted to creating a searchable from newspapers and smaller project coordi- database about fugitives from existing collections of ads, nators say. slavery in North America. Mitchell says. “It is hard Project coordinators are Within the past three years, to know how enlisting the public to help the project has secured major many of them create the database for tens of funding from the National succeeded, but thousands of advertisements Endowment for the Humanities because they ran placed throughout the years and the National Archives, we have these by enslavers who wanted to which has made the very advertisements University of New Orleans history recapture Africans and African expensive process of building that describe them and tell professor Mary Niall Mitchell Americans who fled the forced an interactive site from the something of their personal bondage of slavery. ground up possible, she says. stories—what their person- “In the broadest sense, this The site launched on Feb. alities were like, what skills they for genealogists, they say. project is retrieving detailed 14 with around 12,000 ads had, their physical features, “Our immediate goal is stories about tens of thousands already uploaded, Mitchell health or disabilities, recent to collect all fugitive slave ads of enslaved people who says. University of New Orleans histories of sale, family ties,” placed in North American liberated themselves before students have steadily been Mitchell says. “They are truly newspapers from the colonial the Civil War,” Mitchell says. collecting ads from New remarkable documents. And era through the Civil War and “These advertisements—placed Orleans newspapers and so far there are thousands of them.” emancipation. We estimate that by both enslavers and jailers have contributed some 8,000 The free, open-source site there are well over 100,000 such —have been scattered in local that will be uploaded, she says. has been designed to be acces- ads, quite possibly many more,” newspapers and hard to study There should be at least sible to the public. Users can Mitchell says. “With the help as a group until now.” 50,000 ads on the site within quickly set up an account and of crowd sourcers, these will By digitizing and crowd- the next year or so with an begin working with digitized be transcribed and mined for sourcing these ads, researchers expanded geographical area, versions of the advertisements, details about those who ran and can begin to ask larger Mitchell says. whether for research, for a class, the people and places associated questions about those enslaved The ads were placed in or personal interest. with them. “This information people, such things as mobility, newspapers both by enslavers Users transcribe the text will create the metadata for the resistance, family relationships, trying to locate fugitives of an advertisement and then database, which will be free and linguistic ability, skills, gender and jailers wanting to return answer questions about the ad open source. We are also devel- and racial classifications, captured fugitives to the and the person it describes. oping a portal for educators to Mitchell says. enslavers who claimed them as They can choose to transcribe make it easier for them to use “It is exciting to think that “property.” ads from a particular state or FOTM in the classroom and a we cannot even predict all of The ads offered monetary specific time period, depending kiosk that can be placed in both the different uses people will rewards and included a wealth on their areas of interest. large and small museums.” find for these ads,” she says. of personal details about The output of this crowd- The hope long-term is “But just as important, we the fugitives’ appearance, sourced project will be an ever- that this material will expand are able to retrieve detailed mannerisms, clothing, speech, growing database of thousands what is known about slavery accounts of individual men, family members, places of of individuals, and the places and enslaved people in North women, and children who origin and destinations. and people associated with America, Mitchell says. endured slavery, and in some The insights the ads provide them, according to project “Eventually we would like cases escaped it.” into the experiences of enslaved coordinators. This in turn will to pursue collaborations with The project originated at Africans and African American be an invaluable research aid, scholars in the Caribbean and Cornell University several years people are especially valuable pedagogical tool, and resource Latin America as well,” she says.

18 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 The University of New Orleans 2018 Medallion Award Winners Named

THREE RECIPIENTS OF mission. the University of New Orleans “Not only has Dr. Schock annual medallion awards were shown exemplary leadership announced in October as part as department chair, but he of President John Nicklow’s has taken a keen interest in National World War II Museum. President John Nicklow with the State of the University address working to increase enrollment, It is awarded to an individual recipients of the University’s three given to faculty and staff in the retention and the overall who has provided significant annual awards (l-r) Peter Schock, University Center’s Sen. Ted student experience,” Nicklow leadership toward the interna- M. Kabir Hassan, and Kim Hickey Ballroom. says. “His committee work tionalization of the University. Jovanovich The recipients of the three and his passion across the “Dr. Hassan is an interna- medallion awards are: University have been tireless.” tionally renowned scholar in t
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the College of Engineering that It is awarded to a faculty or professor, dean, vice chancellor, associate dean of the College we have,” Nicklow says. “His staff member who has made the founding president of the of Engineering, received the one-man-show on the wonders outstanding contributions in UNO Research & Technology Presidential Staff Medallion. of engineering has built a support of the University’s Park and co-founder of The It is awarded to the staff reputation around the state.”

National Science Foundation Funds Quantum Research by Mathematician THE NATIONAL SCIENCE phenomenon of quantum The experiments Bierhorst separated parts of the exper- Foundation (NSF) awarded entanglement, whereby two participated in at NIST were iment are not influencing each $162,000 to Peter Bierhorst, microscopic particles such as significant because they ruled other,” Bierhorst says. “We assistant professor of mathe- photons or electrons, can appear out all potential explanations of will develop a new high-speed matics at the University of New to act in concert instantaneously the data that didn’t involve the all-optical switch as a key Orleans, to take his research even when tested miles apart, concept quantum nonlocality. experimental component to into quantum nonlocality to the Bierhorst says. These experiments, according make this possible. It will be next plane. Bierhorst’s expertise For Bierhorst and his to Bierhorst, were “a big step easy to turn this switch “on and is addressing practical problems colleagues at NIST, the demon- in demonstrating quantum off” much faster than previous in secure communication and stration of quantum nonlocality ‘weirdness’ experimentally.” methods, and the switch will cryptography through quantum came in the form of a random Those experiments, though, also have applications to many physics. number generator constructed were quite large, requiring experiments beyond quantum Less than three years ago, to make online passwords more separations of about 100 yards to nonlocality tests. Bierhorst was a member of secure. Because of the random ensure that separate measuring “The basic idea is that the an experimental team at the nature of quantum mechanics, stations wouldn’t influence each output of this experiment in National Institute of Standards there is no predictable pattern other. With the award from nonlocality generates true and Technology (NIST) in to the numerical sequence. The NSF, Bierhorst will now prepare quantum randomness and Boulder, Colo., working to device and experiment that led to attempt the experiment in a cannot be predicted. Given demonstrate the phenomenon to its creation was featured in single room. the demand for passwords and of quantum nonlocality, which stories on NPR radio, WIRED “For the single-room cryptographic protocols, there is is what Einstein described as magazine and in the April 2018 experiment, the process will value in developing a system that “spooky action at a distance.” issue of the nature research require speeding everything can ensure the standard gener- The phrase describes the curious journal Nature. up to continue to ensure that ation of random numbers.”

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 19 Alumnus Maurice Ruffin takes the literary world by storm with his debut novel “We Cast a Shadow”

BY LITTICE BACON-BLOOD PHOTOS BY TRACIE MORRIS SCHAEFER

20 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 21 A GAUZY HAZE BATHES THE AREA, PERHAPS THE CREATION his first novel. Ruffin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English of the bright stage lights meshing with the dark room at The Ace and a Master of Fine Arts from the University’s Creative Writing Hotel. Maurice Ruffin, dressed in black, is holding court center Workshop (CWW), is being touted as a rising literary star and a stage, preparing to read an excerpt from his debut novel “We Cast a “writer to watch.” Shadow.” He was among 32 writers featured last fall by The New York Times A standing-room-only crowd has packed the lower room and in an article about impactful literature created by African American the upstairs balcony, prompting Ruffin to joke that contrary to what men. Fellow UNO alumnus Jericho Brown also was featured in the must have been advertised, there would be no “free money.” article. He turns serious, thanking the crowd and his family for their Ruffin’s novel, released Jan. 29 by One World/Random House, show of support. It has been a long journey. He started writing the has been characterized as a “must-read” on various book lists, book seven years ago. including reviews by The Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly and “Seeing y’all here is very important to me, because when I started Cosmopolitan magazine. I didn’t know if I would finish the book,” Ruffin says. “All I can say is “I’m humbled,” Ruffin says regarding the media attention his that community helped me do this, there are so many people in this novel has drawn. “I worked on the book for years and only a small room right now who have pulled me over the finish line.” circle of friends knew anything about it. Now, I’m seeing positive It has been quite a finish but, perhaps, only the beginning. reviews from NPR and The Boston Globe! It’s a true blessing!” The superlatives are flying from coast to coast and all points in Ruffin’s popularity from the buzz that his novel has generated is between about the University of New Orleans double alumnus and increasingly apparent. Walking down Chartres Street one February afternoon, he is accosted by the words of a passer-by. “Congratulations! I can’t wait to read your book,” the man says as he passes. Ruffin, pleasantly startled and a bit bemused, stops walking and sticks out his hand. “I’m Maurice,” he tells the man unnecessarily. They both laugh as the man shakes Ruffin’s hand and introduces himself as well before continuing down the sidewalk. Ruffin, an attorney with the Social Security Administration, is married and lives in New Orleans, where he was born and raised. He calls his wife, Tanzanika, “the executive producer of my entire life.” She also is an attorney and the two started dating in high school. “I couldn’t have accomplished any of this without her,” Ruffin says. He started writing as a youngster, and Ruffin feels fortunate to have people around him who encouraged him to pursue his writing. Growing up in New Orleans East, he chose to attend the University of New Orleans because it’s “home,” he says. “I’m from here, my family is here,” Ruffin says. “I’ve lived here my whole life and whenever I wanted to advance myself and gain new skills I just looked right across the city and said, ‘That’s my spot, I’ll go there.’” After earning a law degree, a fellow writer encouraged him to apply to UNO’s Creative Writing Workshop program. During the book signing, Ruffin shares his writing insecurities and how then-CWW director Rick Barton responded. “I told him I was an amateur, I don’t have any previous writing degrees,” Ruffin recalls. “He told me ‘We’re going to accelerate you by 10 years.’ And sure enough, by the time I got to the next director, I was like ‘Neal, I’m sorry, I’m a better writer than you!’” The audience—including UNO’s CWW director M.O. “Neal” Walsh – laughs and applauds loudly in response to the story.

22 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 THE BOOK hope readers come to understand that they Ruffin’s novel is set in an unnamed southern should educate themselves on the history of city about 50 years in the future where walls racism in America and dig deeper than the separate the rich and the poor and police typical stories we repeatedly hear,” he says. violence against people of color is a common “Mostly, I hope they share the book with their occurrence. Ruffin says New Orleans “informs loved ones and have conversations about the the setting,” and readers will recognize some book!” familiar sights. Like the city, the narrator’s name is not THE CALL given. “My name doesn’t matter,” is the opening When Ruffin began writing, “We Cast a sentence in a novel some reviewers have Shadow,” he had three goals: Finish the book, compared to Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man.” be proud of it and get it published. In simple terms, Ruffin says the novel He finished writing the book in 2016 is “a story about a family.” However, the and was proud of it. In early 2017, while novel’s themes of love and racism, of social “I want them to shopping in Walmart with his mother, he conditioning and stereotypes, add layers of received a phone call from his literary agent: provocative complexity. You are wanted in New York. The narrator father is an African understand that most of That trip to meet with publishers American attorney who is trying to protect secured that final goal. his biracial son from the dangers that many the easy answers we “Trying to publish a book is one of the young black men face in America, Ruffin most difficult things a writer can do,” Ruffin says. get from politicians and says. “There are hundreds of thousands of “He wants to protect his son from talented people just trying to get their book racism. He wants to save his son so that he media personalities in the world.” can have the same opportunity as any other He met with four publishers; the last American ... His son is very light-skinned are not answers. I meeting was with One World. and he’s sort of pushing his son to pass as “The second I met Victory, I said this white. The son is resisting it and the mother hope readers come person understood what I was trying to can’t quite understand why the dad is so do,” Ruffin says regarding his book editor insistent,” Ruffin explains. to understand that Victory Matsui. The son has a very dark birthmark For nearly two years, Ruffin and Matsui on his face that’s getting bigger as he gets they should educate worked to polish the book, including older, which adds a sense of urgency. The cutting some 15,000 words. father wants the birthmark removed via a “The first time she said cut a chapter, I skin lightening or demelanization process themselves on the history was like “Cut a chapter? Are you crazy, that that would in effect allow his son to look was a six-month chapter!’” Ruffin recalls more white and less like a target for a hate of racism in America with a laugh. crime. He appreciates the constructive The novel is an outgrowth of news and dig deeper than criticism, and calls Matsui “a genius.” stories that were prevalent several years “Every cut was the right cut. The book ago, Ruffin says. Such stories included the the typical stories we is better because of the cuts that Victory murder of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed made,” Ruffin says. black Florida teenager who was shot and repeatedly hear. Mostly, I Ruffin also credits his “writing tribe” for killed by a neighborhood watch captain; helping bring the book to fruition. He and the racially tinged political struggles of hope they share the book fellow UNO writing workshop alumnus Tad President Barack Obama and several high- Bartlett, started the Peauxdunque Writers profile police-involved fatal shootings of with their loved ones and Alliance more than a decade ago. unarmed black people, he says. He urges all writers—neophytes and The job of a writer is to reflect what have conversations about professionals—to find a supportive writing he sees, Ruffin says. Writing “We Cast a community. Shadow,” was his way of processing some of “My advice for writers in general and those events, he says. the book!” budding writers, you need to find people “I was trying to understand what I was who are trying to do what you are trying to seeing on television, the internet and in real do,” he says. “You need to find a way to train life. Why were people being incarcerated, beaten or killed mainly yourself to be a better writer than you are at the moment.” because of their skin color,” he says. And, never give up on yourself, Ruffin says. For his readers, Ruffin says he’d like them to read the book with “You have to walk on faith,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how an open mind. dark the path seems ... keep walking that path, you’re going to find “I want them to understand that most of the easy answers we someone who is going to want to hold your hand, hold a flashlight get from politicians and media personalities are not answers. I and say, ‘I got you, come on.’ So, don’t ever, ever give up.”

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 23 Justin Champion is on cruise control UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS GRADUATE JUSTIN design get built.” Champion’s career has him sailing through life and around the globe. Champion grew up in North Carolina around the Great Smoky Champion, who earned a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and Mountains. A family cruise out of New Orleans when he was marine engineering in 2012, is a project manager for Foreship, LLC 5-years-old sparked an interest in cruise ships that never crested, he and is responsible for designing and overseeing multi-million dollar says. renovations of popular cruise ships. In high school, he told his friends he was going to school in New His career has taken him around Europe, the Middle East and the Orleans to pursue a shipbuilding career. They laughed. Caribbean, among other places. “They kind of made fun of me,” Champion says. “They would “I’m enjoying it, definitely!” Champion, 28, says of his travel- joke, ‘What are you expecting to do? Design cruise ships one day?’” centric career. Champion got the last laugh when he recently attended his Foreship is a privately owned naval architecture and marine 10-year high school reunion. engineering company that specializes in building and remodeling “They couldn’t believe I ended up doing that!” cruise ships. Its main office is in Helsinki, Finland, which is where Champion says the University of New Orleans was his first choice Champion landed just three months after graduating from UNO. for college because of the strong naval architecture and marine His acceptance into the company’s training program, which engineering program and its “value for money.” included a part-time job while pursuing a master’s degree, came via “UNO prepared me extremely well. The NAME program was email the morning of his graduation, Champion says. comprehensive and hands-on,” he says. “Even though I chose a career “With Foreship I worked part-time and then on the side I was in a very specific field (cruise industry), all of the basics were covered getting a master’s degree in naval architecture,” he says. “They funded so that I had a smooth transition from school to employment.” my master’s degree and the whole time I was working with them, so Extracurricular activities and student leadership positions, such it was an awesome opportunity.” as being a UNO Ambassador, equipped him with additional profes- After completing the two-year program, Champion was hired sional and social skills valued by his employer, Champion says. full-time as a project engineer. In 2017, he was promoted to a project “I think it is important to use your time at UNO for more than manager. educational development,” he says. “As someone who is now hiring His work is exclusively with cruise ship design, focusing on new employees for our new office in Seattle, I can attest that social ships that are being renovated, Champion said. Many of his projects and leadership skills are equally if not more important than a GPA. have involved Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, he says. “It’s my job to Especially in a surrounding like mine, teamwork is everything.” prepare drawings for the cruise line and travel to the cruise ships to ensure that everything is built as it should be,” Champion says. One of his first projects for the company was helping with a FACING PAGE: Justin Champion in Freeport, Bahamas for the refur- redesign of the “Oasis of the Seas,” one of the world’s largest ships, he bishment of “Navigator of the Seas.” It’s a $115 million dollar project says. that lasted nearly two months. BELOW: Champion at sea onboard the “I got to spend a month on board of that ship; I got to learn a lot,” cruise ship “Norwegian Getaway,” sailing from Miami to Jamaica. Champion says. “We sailed from Miami to Spain, and then I stayed a month on the ship in Spain to watch the transformation.” Champion recently moved to Seattle from Finland as part of a team tasked with opening a new office there. He had lived in Europe since his graduation. “I’d never been to Europe before in my life; the first time was on my flight there,” Champion says. Now, traveling around the country has become second nature. Every design project he works on requires an onsite visit. His team typically starts design work about a year before the actual renovation or building starts, Champion says. In January, he headed to the Bahamas to oversee a $115 million project, and spent nearly two months aboard the dry-docked vessel. “That’s why I love what I do because I spend a lot of time on the design and then I get to see it be built,” he says. “So I’m always traveling to the ship to watch what I

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 25 Sibling restaurateurs Ashwin and Pranita Vilkhu.

26 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Popular Uptown restaurant is led by two University of New Orleans graduates

BY LITTICE BACON-BLOOD PHOTOS BY TRACIE MORRIS SCHAEFER

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 27 SAFFRON IS A POPULAR AND FLAVORFUL SPICE, SO It is a long way from the restaurant’s one-night only dinner delicate that it must be harvested by hand. Saffron also is the name genesis in a West Bank strip mall in Gretna. The family would serve chosen for one of New Orleans’ most well regarded and nationally dinner once a week on Fridays to accommodate their catering recognized restaurants: Saffron NOLA. customers who wanted a sit-down meal. The chic Magazine Street restaurant—where reservations are In addition, it took a huge leap of faith to make such a transition, not required, but are recommended by food critics—is co-owned Ashwin recalls. and managed by University of New Orleans alumni siblings His parents, Arvinder and Pardeep Vilkhu, immigrated to Ashwin Vilkhu and Pranita Vilkhu, along with their parents. the United States about 35 years ago with little money, and were The restaurant is an outgrowth of their parents’ catering and near retirement when their son pushed the idea of a full-fledged “pop-up” eatery that operated with the same name for more than 20 restaurant. years in Jefferson Parish. They, understandably, were hesitant, Ashwin says. Restaurants Ashwin, however, a double alumnus who earned an under- are a risky proposition, he knows. graduate and graduate degree in business administration, had visions The Vilkhus took their son’s plans under advisement, but were of something larger and grander. not quite ready to act on it. In hindsight, Ashwin says their waiting On Christmas day in 2015, he approached his parents with an paid off. idea. Indeed, he gift-wrapped the notion. “I had been saying this for the last 10 years, that Saffron should “I wrote a thesis, essentially of what Saffron is now and what it be doing something different, but I didn’t know if the city was ready could be, and that’s kind of where everything changed,” Ashwin says. for it yet,” Ashwin says. “High-end ethnic food wasn’t a thing, and I “I gave it to mom and dad as a Christmas gift when I was graduating. don’t know if it would have been accepted right away. So, it was all I wrapped it up in a box, and said ‘This is what we should be doing.’” about timing.” Less than a year after it opened, Saffron NOLA was named a Then, the city’s culinary landscape started shifting. New ethnic semifinalist in the “Best New Restaurant” category by the James restaurants such as Shaya, also on Magazine Street, and Compere Beard Foundation. Lapin opened, and were doing extremely well serving Israeli and “This is what I’d envisioned,” Ashwin says, indicating the restau- Caribbean-inspired food, respectively. rant’s elegantly adorned dining room. Those owners had taken their familial roots and meshed them

28 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 into the flavor of New Orleans, making it their own, Ashwin says. The five-course dining experience showcased Saffron’s menu Those successes renewed a desire to do something similar with his staples such as crusted gulf shrimp with tomato-ginger remoulade, family’s Indian culture and tradition. curried seafood gumbo with Louisiana lump crab, Gulf shrimp and His parents and sister were on board, so they started searching basmati rice and a dessert that included fig-date praline ice cream. for a location. They searched for more than a year. “I found this place,” says Pranita, who lives in the commercially A FAMILY AFFAIR revitalized neighborhood. Prior to starting his own catering business, Arvinder Vilkhu Once ensconced in the Uptown location, the family set out on a worked decades in the hospitality industry, learning the ins and journey to illustrate “the evolution” of Indian cuisine, as the restau- outs of the fickle field. Those skills often were displayed during rant’s website boasts. family gatherings at their home, Ashwin says, recalling how it seems The restaurant’s name, while “phonetically pretty,” as Pranita his parents moved about their home sharing food on platters and describes it, is also a bit symbolic of the food served inside. mingling as if working a restaurant dining room. “Saffron’s an international spice and very exotic,” Pranita says. “We grew up having theme nights,” Ashwin recalls. “Dad was “And it’s not just used in Indian cuisine, but used in a lot of Italian a real student of the arts. We’d have Italian night, French night, fare, French cuisine, Spanish ... We don’t just stick to one type of American nights, Indian nights, so we got exposed to so much fare.” cuisine we kind of form this medley of flavors and techniques.” The same care their parents used to serve guests in their home is The menu melds local and global flavors that are inspired by the same hospitality displayed at the restaurant, the siblings say. their father’s grandmother, and influenced by the traditions of New “That’s the big take-away. Humble home, humble setting, but Orleans, France, Thailand, Singapore and China. they had so much grace and elegance,” Ashwin says. “We got to see “It is great to see the Indian cooking techniques being transferred all this and we got to translate all of that into the restaurant.” to our cooks and chefs here,” Pranita says. “It’s a cool thing to see.” As in most businesses, there are divisions of labor at the In March the family headed to New York City as the invited restaurant. Moreover, as is typical in many family-run businesses, restaurant to cook at the Beard House, a private fundraising dining there are some overlapping of duties. event by the James Beard Foundation. The event was billed as “India Arvinder Vilkhu is the president, executive chef and the Meets Mardi Gras.” “godfather” of the operation.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 29 “He comes in, shakes a few hands, kisses a few babies, and “I sort of do a lot of different things inside the restaurant, then goes into the kitchen,” Ashwin says laughing as Pranita nods. honestly because I love it,” he says. “If somebody falls out, I want to “He checks the lines and sometimes he works the stations in the be able to fall right in. That’s just what we were taught. My dad’s a kitchens.” jack-of-all-trades, he can work the front of the house and the back of Their mother, Pardeep, is vice president, director of operations the house.” and the executive production chef. She oversees the prep work and handles the catering events. THE SAFFRON EXPERIENCE Pranita, who holds an MBA from UNO, and works a full-time The goal, Ashwin says, was for Saffron to change the stereo- job outside the restaurant as an internal auditor, is the operations typical expectations of Indian food that he believes many diners had formulated. Since the 1970s and 80s, Indian food had “I want people to experience the purity of our food, been relegated to either being seen as buffet dining or as a low-end curry house with and the hospitality that is shown in the restaurant a hundred page menu offering food from every state in India, he says. because it all stems from our home.” “There’s no real experience about it,” Ashwin says. “I want people to experience the purity of our food, and the hospitality that is shown in the restaurant because it all stems from our home. manager. She handles all of the human resources responsibilities and “When people enter this building, no matter how beautiful or financials—and pitches in on weekends in the kitchen. how sophisticated, I still want it to feel like you’re walking into your “When we had the place on the West Bank, it was me and my home, and that’s really what we do.” friends that were the servers so I have that experience as well,” she Saffron is “dialed into the details,” of hospitality and service, says laughing. “So, if I ever have to step out there I’m ready!” Ashwin says, because that is what was demonstrated inside their Ashwin is the general manager and beverage director. Like home. his father, Ashwin can be found in the dining room mingling with When the restaurant opened in August 2017, they were guests, in the kitchen cooking or stationed behind the bar. He scheduled to have several “soft opening” events. worked for nearly a decade marketing beverages, and created a “They weren’t soft openings, they were like full-on dinners with beverage menu for the restaurant. hundreds of people,” Ashwin recalls. “I think it said something. It

30 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 said that the city was ready for a sort of different cuisine, they were ABOVE: Ashwin Vilkhu works in many aspects of the restuarant. “If open and they embraced it. And they are still embracing it and it’s somebody falls out, I want to be able to fall right in. That’s just what we getting national attention, which is awesome!” were taught.” BELOW: Ashwin Vilkhu and his younger sister Pranita In February 2018, the restaurant was among 18 semifinalists Vilkhu, along with their parents, Arvinder and Pardeep Vilkhu. nominated for the prestigious James Beard culinary award. Despite the fanfare that accompanied Saffron’s opening just mere months before, Ashwin and Pranita say they were thrilled, but shocked at making the shortlist of the best new restaurants in the country. “I didn’t even think that we would,” Pranita says, citing the fact the restaurant literally had opened only months before the December nomination deadline. While their parents greeted the possibility of an award nonchalantly, not quite grasping the culinary magnitude of being nominated for such an award, Ashwin says he was anxious. The night before the Beard Foundation was to release the names of its semifinalists, Ashwin says he could not sleep. He had pushed the family to take on the risk of opening a full-fledged restaurant, and knew that even a consideration for a James Beard award was like culinary gold. The next day, his cell phone was exploding with congratulatory calls and texts. “It was great to be a part of that,” he says. “To see mom and dad’s hard work of so many years, of them being in a little strip mall doing catering and then all of a sudden be recognized nationally on the biggest stage, that felt good.”

BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILKHU FAMILY SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 31 MFA Writing Workshop Students

TAKE A SWARM OF MOSQUITOES IN A SOUTH LOUISIANA times if they do write about themselves, it’s refl ected through this bayou, add a bit of humidity and a dose of humanity in slow moving environment.” kayaks to arrive—fi guratively speaking—at the production of philo- Th ose writing assignments, which Goodman posted on a website sophical prose. Th e journey down the bayou is real, and is the idea of designed for writers, recently caught the attention of editors at ViaNo- University of New Orleans English professor Richard Goodman. laVie, a New Orleans-based website that focuses on Louisiana culture. Th e day trip is part of a writing assignment for students in Th ey liked what they were reading. Goodman’s creative nonfi ction Master of Fine Arts workshop. It “ViaNolaVie spotlights the eclectic and unique arts, culture, and is an exercise in ecological awareness intended to stretch writers’ educational landscape in Louisiana and, wouldn’t you know it, the imaginations by requiring them to produce a refl ective essay on their writers in Richard Goodman’s MFA writing workshop are writing experience. about most, if not all, of these life forces in their refl ections on their “In nonfi ction a lot of the students write about themselves, time down the bayou,” says Kelley Crawford, managing editor at memoirs,” Goodman says. “I’m alright with that, but I would like for ViaNolaVie. them to learn to write about other things because you can’t make a ViaNolaVie asked for permission to include all of the student career out of writing just about yourself.” essays from past and future trips in their publication, off ering the Th e annual coastal excursion provides context and substance that chance for many of Goodman’s students their fi rst professional help students to explore themes beyond themselves, Goodman says. byline. Th e resulting essays have taken a variety of perspectives and many Th e fi rst of the down the bayou trip stories appeared in forms, including one graphic artist telling her story via illustrations, September, and a new one was published every week thereaft er. he says. “I think a lot of them are excited about it,” Goodman says. “When “So when you’re exposed to new, you just refresh your brain. you’re a student so many times you just want to get published.” You reboot your brain in a way,” Goodman says. “Also a lot of Crawford commends Goodman’s workshop for providing

32 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Head Down the Bayou

Kayaking Shell Bank Bayou

students with an artistic outlet and for sharing information on some “I introduce this the fi rst day of the workshop,” Goodman says. of Louisiana’s unique landscapes. “Every single time everyone has wanted to do it.” “Goodman’s workshop off ers writers a space to create their Goodman crowdfunds the expense of renting kayaks and hiring individual art while also refl ecting on either their personal culture or a guide from Lost Lands Environmental Tours, a company co-owned the culture of what surrounds them,” Crawford says, “and of course by Marie Gould and her husband, environmental reporter Bob there is the pedagogical connection to not only make the assignment Marshall, who is the former outdoors editor for Th e Times-Picayune. engaging but also a public good. People can now vicariously kayak Prior to the students heading into the bayou, Marshall gives them down the bayou with these writers, and we have an archive of what about an hour-long talk on the precarious state of Louisiana’s coastal the bayou was like on that given day.” wetlands and the importance of coastal restoration. Goodman isn’t quite sure where the idea for the group kayak day “Once on the bayou, the guide will explain a few things along the trip came from nearly three years ago, only that a former colleague way, but a lot of it is really them just taking it all in,” Goodman says. had taken him out once and he’d enjoyed the trip immensely. “A lot of the students don’t know what a bayou is, or they’ve never Goodman hires an environmental tour guide who leads the been on a bayou and sometimes never been in a kayak.” group of writers, typically eight to 10 of them, through a coastal It’s not unusual for the group to see alligators, egrets, Louisiana waterway via kayaks. Previous trips have been along the woodpeckers, and owls, and to have to contend with annoying Blind River and Lake Maurepas in St. James Parish and Shell Bank insects and clingy hyacinth that tangles up many a paddle. In fact, Bayou in St. John the Baptist Parish, both spots about an hour west of during one trip, the vegetation was so thick that the kayaks had an New Orleans. extremely diffi cult time paddling through, Goodman recalls. In its fourth year, Goodman says students have yet to balk at the “We got stuck in that and it was sort of a hard day, and so I say, idea of a day spent on an isolated bayou. Th e trip is on a weekend, ‘Th is is a great metaphor for life—adversity! Use it!’” Goodman says typically in late October or early November. with a laugh. “And so they did.”

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 33 Alumnus Lute Maleki’s Research Helps Drive The Automated Vehicle (R)Evolution

WHEN GENERAL MOTORS UNVEILS ITS vehicle is passing or lane keeping system in which a fleet of fully automated, “self-driving” vehicles this system automatically takes steps to ensure a vehicle year, they will include technology developed by stays in the correct lane. University of New Orleans alumnus Lute Maleki. The vehicles that GM is looking to mass-produce Maleki’s micro lidar sensor technology, which he developed at his would be fully automated in which there are no steering wheels, or startup company Strobe, is a key component that is helping propel pedals or human driver. This, according to the NHTSA, amounts to a GM’s Cruise Automation to the front of the rapidly evolving auton- Level 5 automation. omous vehicle industry. NHTSA, based on a similar standard developed by the Society of Maleki is a senior distinguished engineer at Cruise Automation. Automotive Engineers, describes the levels of automation from Level He is considered a leading researcher and expert in lidar. 0, where a human does all the driving to a Level 5 in which humans Lidar technology is similar to radar but uses laser light instead are simply passengers and the driving is performed by an automated of radio frequency to survey and measure distances to objects. Lidar system. systems equip vehicles with the sensor ability to distinguish trees from GM is piloting the use of such cars in several cities, including San shadows, Maleki says. Francisco, Maleki says. “Lidar is like the eyes of the car to see where to navigate, what “If you come to San Francisco, we will put you in a car which is to avoid, how to move, all of that,” says Maleki, who grew up in Iran autonomous, that is self-driving,” he says. and came to the United States to attend college. He earned a master’s GM has declared its mission for developing self-driving vehicles degree and a doctorate in physics from UNO. as a way to reduce traffic congestion by decreasing the number of Lidar technology has been around for years; however, Maleki’s vehicles on the road. The automotive giant has said it plans to use the company, Strobe, was able to create a market-friendly version that allows fully automated vehicles as part of an on-demand service, similar to the automotive industry to reproduce it less expensively, he says. Uber or Lyft. “The requirement for autonomous vehicles are a number of Maleki first began researching Lidar technology while working parameters, like seeing how far it can see and how well it can tell at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California from 1979 to 2007. objects apart; and yet have a sensor that is small and can be produced In 2000, he founded OEwaves, a technology company that further low-cost,” Maleki says. “Ours is a technology that can meet those developed the radar and communications research undertaken by requirements.” scientists at the NASA lab. General Motors bought Maleki’s Pasadena, Calif.-based company Maleki was president and CEO of OEwaves when he was awarded in 2017. Cruise, will use Strobe’s lidar laser sensors as part of its the C.B. Sawyer Memorial Award by the tech organization IEEE automated driving system. In October, Honda announced it was in 2013. The award is given in recognition of entrepreneurship or investing $2.7 billion in a partnership with GM to develop a fleet of leadership in the frequency control community; or outstanding autonomous vehicles that are expected to debut in 2019. contributions in the development, production or characterization of Although GM is expected to bring self-driving cars to market this resonator materials or structures. year, buying one from a local dealership is probably still years away, Maleki thinks the autonomous vehicle will have an impact far according to the federal Department of Transportation’s National beyond the car industry. He foresees it changing the way society plans Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which oversees and operates in such areas as land development. transportation standards. “Right now your car is not used 92 percent of the time, it’s just Many vehicles sold today—and being driven daily—has some sitting there taking up parking spaces,” he says. “Once we have level of “automated” assistance, such as a “ding” to remind us to autonomous vehicles, we can literally turn parking spaces into parks buckle our seat belt, rearview cameras, blinkers to let us know a and things like that.”

34 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 regarding her attraction to acting. “I really love acting in period pieces. Acting makes me feel present and creative. It expands who I am, and makes me feel alive.” In 1991, Harman returned to Louisiana to pursue a theatre degree at Alumna UNO. “I sent UNO an audition videotape with my appli- Camille James Harman cation, and they offered me a student teaching assis- tantship,” she says. “UNO Lands Role in also encouraged us to have an agent and audition for film and TV roles while in “Vice” movie school. They didn’t mind if we missed a class or two for a good role.” When she graduated, Harman says she had film and TV credits “and my SAG THE DICK CHENEY-INSPIRED BIOPIC “VICE” WAS card to go with my MFA.” nominated for dozens of awards, including eight Academy Awards In 1995, she moved to Los Angeles where she currently lives with and six Golden Globes. If that’s not incentive enough to persuade you her husband and son, who is an actor. to see the movie, there is a local reason: University of New Orleans Harman says the internet has “revolutionized auditioning,” and she alumna Camille James Harman plays the role of Republican political encourages aspiring performers to use social media to network and strategist Mary Matalin. submit auditions. Harman says she was recently offered a role from a The movie, which opened in theaters nationwide in December, director she had met on Facebook. stars Christian Bale as former vice president Cheney who served “You can audition for things all over the country using self-tapes under President George W. Bush. uploaded through the casting websites,” she says. “Take classes, “‘Vice’ is winning lots of awards and being nominated for more network, and find a great flexible job to support yourself between each week, so I’m going to parties and other events to build my acting jobs. Act for free for a while, and get yourself a good reel of network,” Harman says. “I am sure that being in this award-winning several clips. Put it up on your acting profiles like Actors Access and film will get me more audition opportunities.” on social media.” Harman, who grew up in Lafayette and graduated with a master’s It’s OK, Harman says, if you need to take a break from acting. degree in drama and communications from the University of New “I took a long break when we moved to Arizona for a while to raise Orleans, answered a call for a Matalin “look-alike” and headed for the our son Aidan,” she says. “I came back to it when he was about eight. audition after doing a bit of research on her. We moved back to Los Angeles in 2015, and now he’s a teen SAG/ “I had researched Mary Matalin’s look online, dressed the part AFTRA actor in Los Angeles.” and got my hair cut,” says Harman, who found out the next day she’d Harman says she’s ready to ride the wave of publicity “Vice” is gotten the part. “I was thrilled! I didn’t have an agent at the time, so I garnering. was proud of myself for scoring such a win on my own. I loved Adam “I plan to be very busy this year acting. Perhaps I’ll book a job in McKay’s film “The Big Short,” also starring Christian Bale and Steve New Orleans,” she says. “I’m available as a local hire. I can stay with Carell. I knew ‘Vice’ would be amazing.” friends. My passport is ready if I need to work out of the country. I’m Bale won a Golden Globe award for best actor, comedy or ready for adventure.” musical category. Harman says she was bitten by the acting bug while working behind the scenes as a college student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After graduation, she moved to Richmond, Va., and continued performing in community productions. “I love storytelling. I love using my imagination in conjunction with the team of professionals who contribute to the whole illusion,” Harman says

(From L to R) Camille Harman as Mary Matalin, Don McManus as David Addington, Eddie Marsan as Paul Wolfowitz, and Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld in Adam McKay’s “Vice,” an

CHARLES MITRI PHOTOGRAPH, TOP; ANNAPURNA PICTURES BOTTOM Annapurna Pictures release.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 35 Biology Student Dayana Frazer’s Next Focus Is Medical School

DAYANA FRAZER, A SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW is very passionate about her classwork as well as her research.” Orleans, could very well be “focus” personifi ed. Th e biology major, Johnson met Frazer during her sophomore year when who counts studying among the ways she de-stresses, will graduate she enrolled in his course, Population Genetics, Ecology, and in May and currently has nearly a 4.0 grade point average. Evolution. Her studious nature later prompted him to write a “I really love school, I like learning,” Frazer says. “So, that’s my recommendation letter for a summer research internship in which idea of relaxing.” he noted her academic drive and accomplishments—including her Following a gap year spent working in a research lab; Frazer’s high grade point average. next major focus will be medical school. She’s leaning toward an “She received an A in the course and was in the top 5 percent M.D./Ph.D. program. of students in this very diffi cult biology course. In both lecture and “Dayana is an incredibly smart person who is driven to lab, Dayana was extremely dedicated to her work,” Johnson wrote. succeed,” says Steve Johnson, dean of the College of Sciences. “She “She is a very intelligent student with a strong work ethic.”

36 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 While acknowledging compliments for medical labs conducting research and further laying a foundation her achievements, Frazer also self-consciously for a future medical career. Frazer was one of five UNO undergrad- shrugs them off. As the first in her immediate uates chosen for a summer research internship at Ochsner Medical family to graduate high school and now college, Center in 2017. being focused is a driving force; failure is just During the six-week program, the students engaged in work not an option. that sought to understand more about liver cancer recurrence, “My mom is really excited,” Frazer says. to improve care for babies and children with pulmonary health “She’s worked hard her entire life to give me a concerns and to help develop successful cancer therapies that better life.” would perform in a patient who has developed drug resistance. When Frazer was 3-years-old, her mother Last year, Frazer participated in a summer undergraduate moved to the United States from Honduras, research program at the University of Massachusetts Medical leaving Frazer to be raised by her grandmother School. She was one of 29 high-achieving students chosen from for nearly a decade. Frazer, who grew up in across the country to attend the 10-week mentored laboratory Honduras, joined her mother in the U.S. when clinical research program. she was 12. Frazer worked in the gene therapy lab of University of New The transition wasn’t an easy one, Frazer Orleans alumnus Dr. Terence Flotte, the dean of the UMass says. Medical School. “I did go to a bilingual school (in Honduras) Frazer says her summer research has left her learning toward so I learned English, but I never really spoke it,” an M.D./Ph.D. program that would allow her to translate her Frazer says. “I didn’t have anybody to speak it medical research into patient care. with, and coming here it was like ‘Oh, I really “With the medical (degree) you’re pretty much using what the have to do this now.’” scientists have discovered to treat your patients,” she says. “But Frazer learned to speak English fluently and when you get an M.D./Ph.D. you get to do your own research and she and her mother became naturalized citizens apply it to your patients. So, it’s a lot longer, but I think it’s worth it. in 2017. You can have an M.D. and run a lab!” “She pushed me to do the citizenship and we As she edges to the finish line of her undergraduate degree, both became citizens the same day,” Frazer says. Frazer credits the University of New Orleans and its faculty for “It wasn’t really hard for me because I learned it preparing her for her next career step, and for exposing her to all in school; it was harder for my mom.” research opportunities that allowed her to broaden those pursuits. Frazer speaks about her path to UNO and “I think UNO in general gives you a lot of opportunities,” her aspirations with such determination that it Frazer says. “I’ve gotten to know my teachers and they kind of push seems nearly every high school student could you to do things. They are always trying to help you, and I really benefit from hearing her tell it. appreciate that from UNO because I feel like maybe a larger school Her focus is research-based. In her wouldn’t have given me that opportunity. Here, it’s like you’re able sophomore year at Archbishop Chapelle High to engage with your teachers a lot more. I can definitely tell they School in Metairie, her interest in science was care for you and, academically, it’s prepared me well.” piqued by a biology course. She explored that interest more when given the choice of taking FACING PAGE: University of New Orleans student Dayana Frazer Biology II versus chemistry or another science. says the University has helped her lay the groundwork for a career Before starting college, she shadowed a in medicine. BELOW: She spent part of her summer at the UMass physician to get a feel for whether a career in Medical School working with UNO alumnus Dr. Terence Flotte, the medicine would suit her, Frazer says. medical school dean. “I took Biology II, which was like anatomy and physiology, and based on that I thought, ‘I really want to do biology as my major,’” she says. “And to really confirm it I spent like a month at LSU Health Sciences Center shadowing a doctor ... and that helped me to really know that science it what I really want to do.” She is specifically interested in women’s health. “I come from a country where women are not really taught much about sexual education; they either end up with some disease or end up pregnant really young and in a bad situation,” Frazer says. “So I really wanted to see what OB-GYNs do.” The career shadowing experience fueled a compassion to be able to help people, Frazer says. As a student at UNO, she’s spent summers in

BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 37 Model United Nations Students Travel to China By James Mokhiber, DIRECTOR, UNO INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM AND MODEL UNITED NATIONS ADVISOR

38 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 IN NOVEMBER 2018, ELEVEN Tiananmen Square, the city’s simulations. As members of students and two advisors from famed hutong alleys and other the UN International Devel- the University of New Orleans sites. The following day, the opment Organization, the traveled to China to take part group traveled a portion of the UN Economic and Social in a United Nations simulation Great Wall at Mu Tian Yu. On Committee, the UN General and conference sponsored by Nov. 18, the group took the Assembly, and the UN the US-based National Model China railway high-speed train Security Council, they worked United Nations organization to Xi’an, China, the site of the alongside approximately 300 and local partner National conference itself. other students from around Polytechnical University. Local organizers led the the world. The students were chosen group and approximately Each committee was tasked following a rigorous interview 300 other students from nine with debating two key issues, and selection process, and countries on mandatory ranging from improving the assigned to represent the tours of the terracotta army safety of UN peacekeepers to countries of Poland and of first emperor Shi Huangdi, promoting cultural heritage Turkey. the Xi’an City Walls, and as part of sustainable devel- These students partici- other local sites, including opment. After committee pated in an extensive training the Drum and Bell Towers meetings each day, students process, primarily under the and the Muslim Quarter. In met for an additional one framework of the International this way students came to to two hours for a group Studies 3060 “Model United understand Xi’an, previously debriefing to review the day’s Nations” course. Typical known as Chang’an, as both activity and plan for upcoming preparations include study a former Chinese capital and sessions. of assigned countries and the cosmopolitan endpoint The official closing international issues/topics, of the Silk Road. Based at the ceremony took place outside UN procedure, structure and Xi’an Westin hotel, which of Xi’an on the campus of history, and a host of skills, sits at the center of the New Northwestern Polytechnical including public speaking, District, the students were University on Friday, Nov. 23. collaborative writing and literally witnesses to China’s At the ceremony, delegation research. This international ambitious urban transfor- awards were announced, and conference also required mation and economic advance UNO won an “Honorable students to prepare for travel through this city of 8.5 million Mention” for its represen- and cultural exchange in the inhabitants. tation of Turkey. Students host country of China itself. Over four days, UNO Daniel Lamplugh and Leah The students arrived in students attended a host of Bordlee were recognized as China on Nov. 16 and briefly official ceremonies and partici- “Outstanding Delegates” within toured Beijing and visited pated in many hours of UN the Security Council itself.

FACING PAGE: “Touring the Great Wall of China, members of the UNO delegation to the 2018 Xi’an National Model United Nations conference include (l-r) Leah Bordlee, International Studies Director James Mokhiber, Rehana Ottallah, Daniel Lamplugh, Amanda Mancilla, Nina Balan, Raquel Valencia, Fatima Chaar, Courtney Duvall, Professor John Hazlett, Kathleen Mendoza and Konstanza Krohn Burgos. Not pictured: David Teagle” INSET, LEFT: Students representing Turkey, including head delegate Rose Ottallah, won “Honorable Mention” at the closing ceremonies, held at Northwestern Polytechnical University.

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 39 Thrown a Curve Privateers pitcher Eric Orze eyes a comeback after striking out cancer BY RO BROWN

40 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 ERIC ORZE WAS A BIG-TIME “I kind of accepted it pretty recruit—the kind of pitcher head quickly and said ‘I understand coach Blake Dean needed in what we need to do,’” shrugs year-three of his quest to return Orze. “Cancer is a pretty big the luster to the University of word, but it was probably harder New Orleans baseball program. for my family.” In 2017, the 6-foot-4 right- Orze underwent successful hander recorded 61 strikeouts surgery in the spring of 2018 in 66 innings at Northwest and doctors declared him to be Florida State Junior College in cancer-free. Niceville, Fla. However, doctors found “We had high expectations swollen lymph nodes in his for him. He was our number two abdomen. As a precaution, they pitcher behind Bryan (Warzak, performed a second surgery who was drafted last year by to remove those lymph nodes. the Los Angeles Dodgers),” Once again, they found no says UNO pitching coach Rudy cancer. Unfortunately, this Darrow. “He showed exactly was not the last entry in Orze’s who we thought he was. But medical chart. stuff started changing and we Back home in Illinois didn’t know what it was.” last summer, he had trouble It was a mystery to Orze as breathing. He went to the well. He started the 2018 season hospital and while being with a 0-1 record, allowing 15 examined for shortness of earned runs in 16 innings for a breath, a doctor casually bloated earned run average of mentioned that Orze had a more than 8. It was not what the mole on his back and, perhaps, coaching staff had expected from he should have a dermatologist the Carol Stream, Ill. native. examine it. Orze played through He heeded the doctor’s abdominal pain until it reached suggestion and a month later, a point where he could not a dermatologist informed him stand it. that he had skin cancer. More In May, he went to a surgery. doctor who performed tests. “I had little sections The diagnosis was terrifying: removed from the neck and testicular cancer. back,” Orze says. “However, His initial reaction when one was melanoma, the most hearing the news was laughter. dangerous form of skin cancer. When the enormity of the But now I’ve had another situation sank in, his hands check-up and I’m clear of all of started shaking. that too.” “I’m not the most emotional That’s a total of two person, but I cried like a baby,” cancer diagnoses and three Orze says. “It was a tough surgeries during the course moment for me, but the hardest of three months. Orze says he part was calling my mom. She is certain he made it through heard it, but didn’t understand 2018 because of the support because you don’t expect a he received at the University 21-year-old to tell you he has of New Orleans. The business cancer.” administration major says he Orze says, at first, the was able to conquer cancer with diagnosis did not feel real. help from his teammates and Eventually, he chose to handle it coaches. like a pitcher who has just given “I think I was meant to up a home run: accept it and try come to UNO because of the to figure out how to defeat the people I’m around,” he says. “A next hitter. lot of the guys on the team

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 41 last year who are not He helps his teammates warm “This is the best I’ve seen here now are still up before games and is part him look in the two years that checking up on me of the grounds crew, which is I’ve known him,” Darrow says. all the time. Their part of being a college baseball “If he continues to progress the families came and player. way he has and continues to helped out. They He has dreams of playing the get his body in shape, there’s made sure they were game professionally, but he has no question he’ll pitch on the able to get my family a more immediate aspiration at weekend.” down here (to New the University of New Orleans. Certainly, the Privateers Orleans) for that first “Being the Friday starter pitching staff won’t find anyone surgery. That was is what I see,” Orze says. “That more unconquerable. something I never pitcher is normally your ace. “For me this was a real kick Eric Orze says he was able to thought I would need, not being Last year we knew Bryan in the butt saying if you really conquer cancer with help from the most emotional person.” Warzak was going to go out on want to do this (professional his teammates and coaches. This year is a redshirt-senior Friday and give us six or seven baseball), it can be taken away season for Orze, who will return good innings at a minimum. My from you at any point,” Orze to the mound for the Privateers goal next year is to be that guy says. “It makes you put your in 2020. And while he is not for us.” priorities in line. The little playing this season, you can still Darrow, the pitching coach, things you stress out about, find him in the dugout, proudly says Orze is well on his way to you get over pretty quick after wearing his number 37 uniform. reaching that goal. something like this.”

42 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Ron Maestri Inducted to Louisiana Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame BY KELVIN QUELIZ

LEGENDARY FORMER NEW and 1984 (Division I). Maestri following the 2015 season. teers from 2000-05. Bush played Orleans Privateers head baseball also guided New Orleans to 40 On top of his success on the in the Majors for 12 seasons coach Ron Maestri was inducted or more wins in six of his last field, many of Maestri’s former with the Minnesota Twins after into the Louisiana Baseball seven years. players have become mainstays being drafted in the second Coaches Hall of Fame on Jan. Maestri oversaw the team’s in baseball circles. Brian Snitker round in 1979. 12. Maestri amassed 543 career transition back to Division I is currently managing the In all, five Privateers from wins in two stints as head coach upon returning to the Privateer Atlanta Braves and was National Maestri’s tenure made it to the of the Privateers. dugout in 2014. In that first League Manager of the Year in majors: Bush, Eric Rasmussen, From 1972-85, Maestri year, the Privateers defeated the 2018. Paul Mainieri has guided Wally Whitehurst, Roger was instrumental in building Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns who LSU baseball to five College Erickson, and Mark Higgins. a strong New Orleans baseball were then ranked in the top five World Series appearances and a Maestri was joined in the program. He guided the nationally. He brought in current national title. 2019 Hall of Fame class by Privateers to two College head coach Blake Dean as an Randy Bush is assistant Wilbert Ellis, Jeff Schexnaider, World Series appearances: assistant. The reins were handed general manager of the Chicago Ronnie Coker, David Moreau 1974 at the Division II level to Dean after Maestri retired Cubs and he coached the Priva- and Reginald Lambright. New Endowed Scholarship Finance professor Tarun Mukherjee establishes scholarship to honor parents, recruit students

TARUN MUKHERJEE, WHO University since 1981, and has spent nearly four decades describes his landing in as a faculty member at the the finance field as “simply University of New Orleans, has accidental.” He majored established a scholarship in in history in India and honor of his parents. The Kali planned to earn a Ph.D in Charan Mukherjee Endowed the subject. However, the Scholarship in Finance is a university where his oldest renewable $1,000 a year schol- brother was teaching didn’t arship for students majoring in offer a doctorate. He ended finance. up in an MBA program Mukherjee was one of 10 and received a Ph.D in children born into a middle finance from Texas Tech, class family in India. His he says. parents, who are deceased, sacri- “I now realize that ficed a great deal to see that he finance was always my and his siblings received the best destiny because I am education that the family could getting paid for something afford, he says. that I totally enjoy,” “They inculcated in all of Mukherjee says. “Besides, their children that education finance is the ultimate was the most valuable asset of bottom line of almost all all,” Mukherjee says. “The award decisions we make as an is a very small way to pay tribute individual, business or to all the sacrifices they made government.” so that their children are where To be eligible for they are in their lives.” the scholarship students Mukherjee, whose primary must be a first-semester expertise is in corporate freshman who has enrolled finance, says the scholarship is full-time at the University designed as a recruiting tool and have: for the University, specifically
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44 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 It’s been a while. We’d love to hear from you.

Promotion? New job? Receive an award? Relocation? Marriage? We want to hear from you! Stay connected to your Privateer family by updating your profile at unoalumni.com. Use the AlumNotes feature under the “Benefits” tab to share your news with us.

email [email protected] phone 504.280.2586 Susan Hess (B.A., ’67) appointed as vice president of Mark Roming (B.S., ’78) Susan Hess of New Orleans middle market and specialty by Mark Romig, president and CEO of was honored by the New Iroquois Group, an insurance New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. and Orleans National Council of agency network. Venus previ- Jewish Women for her advocacy ously was the commercial lines stadium announcer for the New Orleans leadership. She is the recipient leader for Brown & Brown of Saint at the of the Hannah G. Solomon Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s Mercedes-Benz Award which is awarded to an degree in chemistry and a Superdome, is the individual who demonstrates master’s in business from the recipient of the leadership through activism. University of New Orleans. Hess’s volunteerism includes Edward Kennedy, Jr. (B.S., ’76) 2019 Ella Brenna work with the NCJW, The UNO Edward Kennedy, Jr. of Lifetime Achieve- Foundation, SPCA, City Park Miami, Fla., has retired after 38 ment in Hospitality and the National World War II years as a commercial lines in- Museum. She holds a bachelor’s Award made by surance premium auditor. After in English from the University of the New Orleans traveling with his wife, Elaine, New Orleans. Wine & Food Ed hopes to launch a second Experience. Romig, Peggy Scott Laborde ( B.A., ’75) career as a teacher/researcher who has been Peggy Scott Laborde, along in Latin American political with her husband and fellow economy. Ed holds a bachelor’s called the unoffi- University of New Orleans alum, degree in economics from the cial “Ambassador for New Orleans,” because Errol Laborde, held a book University of New Orleans and of his tireless work in promoting the city signing to discuss their book an MBA from Florida Interna- of New Orleans, was feted at a gala at The “New Orleans: The First 300 tional University. He is pursuing Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Years.” Laborde also produced a second master’s degree Romig is a graduate of Brother Martin the television program “New from FIU in Latin American and Orleans: The First 300 Years” Caribbean studies. High School and holds a bachelor’s degree for WYES and is producing 200 Leon Mathes (B.S., ’76, M.S., ’84) in hotel, restaurant and tourism admin- short “Tricentennial Moments” Leon Mathes has been ap- in recognition of the city of New istration. In 2016, he received the Univer- pointed chief financial officer for Orleans’ 300th-year birthday. sity’s Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumni Edward Hynes Charter School Award. Charles Venus (B.S., ’75, M.B.A.,’83) in New Orleans. Mathes had Charles Venus has been served as a vice president for finance at Loyola University since 2017. He began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. as a staff auditor before serving as UNO FILM GRADS EARN FILM GRANT AWARD director of internal auditing at Loyola from 1982 to 2000. University of New Orleans film Mathes earned a bachelor’s program alumni Bruno Doria (B.A., ’11) and a master’s degree in ac- and Lizzie Guitreau (B.A., ’14) created counting from the University of New Orleans. a feature documentary through their production company, Worklight Pictures, Philip Gunn (B.S., ’79) about the Cajun music band Lost Bayou Philip Gunn, managing director at Postlethwaite & Net- Ramblers which won the 2018 French terville, APAC in New Orleans, Culture Film Grant from Create Louisi- was recognized by New Orleans ana. The award carried a $30,000 prize. CityBusiness as a top financial The film, called “On Va Continuer!” pre- professional as part of its annual miered at the 22nd Annual New Orleans French Film Festival on Feb. 17th. Bruno Doria Lizzie Guitreau

46 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 UNO ALUMNI-LED SCHOOLS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION AWARD

Three public high schools in Jefferson Parish are among the Science and Technology and Andrew Vincent, (M.Ed., 2010), six nominated by the Louisiana Department of Education as principal at Thomas Jefferson Academy. 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools. All three are led by alumni of the University of New Orleans’ M.Ed. program in Educational Administration. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Education, honors schools that are either high- performing or have closed achievement gaps, espe- cially among minority or disadvantaged students. The high schools, which are considered some of the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessment tests, are led by Karla Russo, (M.Ed., 2010), principal at Haynes Academy; Jaime Zapico,(M.Ed., 2004), principal at Patrick Taylor Karla Russo Jaime Zapico Andrew Vincent

Money Makers class of 2018 and Hollie Gilbert- Arangio (B.S., ’88) Mark Cheek has been of recognition. Gardes holds a innovation. She will support the was named to the Money Mak- Hollie Gilbert-Arangio has selected to serve on the Ameri- bachelor’s degree in accounting medical program’s curriculum ers Hall of Fame, which happens been hired as vice president, can Concrete Institute’s Board from the University of New renewal process. Thompson after a third year of recognition. field marketing for Hilton of Direction. The appointment Orleans. earned a bachelor’s degree in Gunn holds a bachelor’s degree Grand Vacations, Inc. She was is for three years. Cheek is vice English from the University of Emily Thompson (B.A., ’95) in accounting from the Univer- previously vice president of presidents of The Beta Group, New Orleans. Emily Thompson has joined sity of New Orleans. retail marketing for Bluegreen Engineering and Construction the Office of Medical Student Chris Costello (B.S., ’00) Vacation Corp in Delray Beach, Services in Gretna, La.; he Gay Polk-Payton-White (B.S., ’81) Education at Washington Chris Costello, vice president/ Fla. Gilbert holds a bachelor’s earned a bachelor’s degree in Gay Polk-Payton-White has University School of Medicine asset based lending at Capital degree in marketing from the engineering from the University been hired as the new municipal in St. Louis as the director of One N.A., was recognized by University of New Orleans. of New Orleans. judge pro-tem in Hattiesburg, educational technology and New Orleans CityBusiness Miss. Polk-Payton-White, who Brent Brooks (B.A., ’90) Flozell Daniels, Jr. (B.A., ’94) was hired in January, was later Brent Jeffrey Brooks has Flozell Daniels, Jr., has been sworn into the office by the been elected chair of the Adams named chairman of the New mayor during a Hattiesburg City and Reese LLP’s executive Orleans Regional Transit Author- Council meeting. She earned a committee. Brooks holds a ity. Daniels holds a bachelor’s bachelor’s degree in account- bachelor’s degree in political degree in biological sciences. Lowell “Chris” Hazel (B.A., ’90) ing from the University of New science from the University of Lowell “Chris” Hazel, a former Loui- Patrick Gros (B.S., ’94) Orleans. New Orleans. Patrick Gros, president of siana state representative for District 27, Errol Laborde (PhD., ’83) Amber Howell (M.A., ’91) Patrick J. Gros, CPA APAC in has been elected to the 9th Judicial District Errol Laborde, along with his Amber Howell, a licensed Covington, La., was recognized Court, Division B wife and fellow University of practical nurse, has been hired by New Orleans CityBusiness in Rapides Parish. New Orleans alum, Peggy Scott by Avanti Senior Living of Cov- magazine as a top financial Hazel, who was Laborde, held a book signing ington, La. as director of Salize professional as part of its annual to discuss their book “New Memory Care. Howell earned a Money Makers class of 2018 and elected Nov. 6, Orleans: The First 300 Years.” master of arts degree from the was named to the Money Mak- 2018, will preside Laborde received a doctorate University of New Orleans. ers Hall of Fame, which happens over civil, criminal in political science from the after a third year of recognition. Courtney Millet (M.Ed., ’91, Ph.D., ‘00) and juvenile pro- University of New Orleans. Gros holds a bachelor’s degree Courtney Millet has been ceedings. in accounting from the Univer- James Breeden (B.A., ’86) hired as the principal of St. sity of New Orleans. Prior to being James Breeden’s novel, Charles Catholic High School elected to the judi- “Painting Angela,” won the 2018 for 2019-2020 school year. Derek Gardes (B.S., ’95) ciary, Hazel spent Gas Station Pulp Award spon- Millet holds a bachelor’s of Derek Gardes, chief financial sored by the North American science degree in education officer at Ryan Gootee General 11 years as a state Review. The crime novel takes from Louisiana State University Contractors in Metairie, La., representative for place in New Orleans and will be and a master’s of education in was recognized by New Orleans District 27. He resigned that position after published by the North American educational leadership and a CityBusiness magazine as a top being elected district judge. Review Press in 2019. Breeden doctorate in curriculum and financial professional as part of Hazel earned a bachelor’s degree in holds a bachelor’s degree in instruction from the University its annual Money Makers class English from the University of of New Orleans. of 2018 and was named to the liberal arts from the University of New New Orleans. Money Makers Hall of Fame, Orleans. Mark Cheek (B.S., ’93) which happens after a third year

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 47 Christina Francis (M.B.A., ’93) Christina Francis, has been promoted to president of Magic Johnson Enterprises in Los Angeles, the company founded by former NBA and magazine as a top financial pro- Keller also served as vice Lakers playmaker fessional as part of its annual president of physician and Earvin “Magic” Money Makers class of 2018 business development at the and was named to the Money hospital. In that role he devel- Johnson. Makers Hall of Fame, which oped and implemented business Francis, who happens after a third year of plans to grow facility volume and joined the com- recognition. revenue, recruited and retained pany in 2014 as se- Costello earned a bachelor’s physicians on the medical nior vice president degree in business administra- staff, evaluated and advanced tion from the University of New professional relationships to of marketing and Orleans. improve hospital profitability, communications, and improved revenue to over will be responsible Ken Keller (M.B.A., ’01) $220 million and income to over Ken Keller has been named for overseeing the $27 million within a four year the new president and CEO of daily business op- period. He also served as the Dignity Health Memorial Hos- hospital lead on a project to erations, including strategy and managing pital in Bakersfield, Calif. Prior build an 80,000 sq. ft. medical many of the organizations partnerships. to his promotion Keller was the office building. Francis had worked with Johnson previ- chief operating officer for the Keller serves as board chair hospital. ously when she led a national advertising of the American Heart As- and promotional campaigns at UniWorld Group. Her selection to head Johnson Enter- prises follows several stints at other high Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand (B.S., ’72) profile companies, such as NFL Players Dr. Keith Ferdinand, a cardiologist at Inc., where she had been vice president of Tulane University School of Medicine, has marketing and events, and chief marketing been appointed to the Gerald S. Berenson officer for the Orange Bowl Committee. Endowed Chair in Preventive Cardi- ology. sociation and is on the board of Program at Emory University in Dr. Ferdi- directors for Ronald McDonald Atlanta, Ga., was among the 32 nand’s focus is on House Charities Bakersfield. writers highlighted by The New cardiac risk factor He holds a master’s degree in York Times in an article about evaluation and business administration with a impactful literature created control, including focus on health care from the by black authors. Brown, who hypertension and University of New Orleans and earned an MFA in creative a bachelor’s in pre-medicine writing from the University of hyperlipidemia, from the University of Louisiana New Orleans, is featured in the especially in com- at Lafayette. article “Black Male Writers for munities of racial Our Time.” Vanessa Baughman (M.B.A., ’02) The article, which was pub- and ethnic minori- Vanessa Baughman has lished Nov. 30, described how ties. Ferdinand has been heavily involved been hired as the chief financial the selected group of American officer, VP of Finance, for in many national organizations concerned writers “and their peers are AgReliant Genetics, and will lead with public health, including the Associa- producing literature that is the financial and administra- tion of Black Cardiologists, of which he was essential to how we understand tion departments. She will be our country and its place in the the former chair and chief science officer, responsible for the overall world right now.” the American Society of Hypertension, and accounting and finance function Brown has authored three of the organization including the Healthy Heart Community Prevention books. His most recent book, treasury, tax, related policies Program, a cardiovascular risk program “The Tradition,” was published and procedures, and financial targeting African American and other high- in April by Copper Canyon Press. information systems. risk populations. Baughman has a bachelor’s Rickie Dufrene (B.S., ’02) He is also past chair of the National in accounting from Our Lady Rickie Dufrene, commercial Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Pre- of Holy Cross and a master’s in lender, has joined Gulf Coast vention, which provides the leadership and business administration from the Bank’s Gretna, La. branch. He encouragement for collaboration among University of New Orleans. has 15 years banking experience and earned a bachelor’s degree Jericho Brown (M.F.A., ’02) more than 65 organizations. in marketing and business ad- Jericho Brown, who is an Ferdinand earned a bachelor’s degree in ministration from the University associate professor and the biology from the University of New Orleans. of New Orleans. director of the Creative Writing

48 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Matt Nani (B.S., ’07) a playwright and director, is a ing. Stewart earned bachelor’s Matt Nani has been hired as founding member of Underbelly, degrees in accounting and Chanel C. Davis (B.S., ’96) a project engineer by Elliott Bay a theatre collaborative that mathematics from the University Chanel Christoff Davis was recognized Design Group (EBDG) to join its stages immersive journey-plays. of New Orleans. naval architects and engineers. Her plays have received a Rosa as a 2018 Power 15 Award honoree pre- Joseph Esposito (B.S., ’09) He will be responsible for the Parks Award from The Kennedy sented by Walker’s Legacy, a global platform Joseph Esposito has joined initiation, management and Center. She earned a bachelor’s for the professional and entrepreneurial the Dallas office of the national execution of diverse projects degree from the University of law firm Polsinelli as an as- multicultural woman. The Walker’s Legacy and will be based in Seattle. New Orleans and a master’s sociate in the Corporate and Dallas Power 15 Nani, whose technical from the University of Texas at Transactional practice. Esposito Awards program expertise includes structural Austin. has experience representing design and assessment, hydro- was presented in Tina Stewart, (B.S., ’09) clients on general corporate dynamic and vessel motions partnership with Tina Stewart has been ap- and transactional matters, assessments, and stability pointed treasurer for the Veter- ranging from formation, opera- AARP and the analyses, holds a bachelor’s in ans Recovery Resources board tion and governance issues to Minority Busi- naval architecture and marine of directors in Mobile, Ala. The joint venture relationships and ness Development engineering from the University nonprofit organization serves private investment vehicles. He of New Orleans. Agency (MBDA) military veterans and their earned a J.D. from the Southern to recognize the Gabrielle Reisman (B.A., ’08) families. Stewart, a certified Methodist University Dedman achievements of Gabrielle Reisman’s produc- public accountant, is a manger Law School and a bachelor’s tion “Flood City,” premiered at with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC degree in finance from the notable business the The Anacostia Playhouse and specializes in government University of New Orleans. women and community leaders. in Washington, D.C. Reisman, and nonprofit public account- Davis is a founding partner of Davis Katherine Lemoine (M.Ed., ’10) Katherine Lemoine, Davis & Harmon LLC., which specializes director of development at in sales tax refund recovery, audit defense, Nunez Community College in training and legal research. As President/ Robin Martin (B.A., ‘94, M.Ed., ‘09) Arabi, La., was awarded the CEO, Davis manages client relations and Robin Martin, deputy director of inaugural President’s Award the daily operations of the firm. postsecondary success at the Bill & Melinda for Excellence in Teaching by the Louisiana Community and Davis, a 2018 WBE Who Rock Award Gates Foundation and former provost Technical College System for winner and Women’s Business Enterprise and professor at 2018. The award is given to one Rising Star Nominee, also launched an the University of educator statewide who repre- inspirational podcast, “Follow the Leader,” Cincinnati, has re- sents the best practices for all that features dynamic women entrepreneurs leased a new book of the community and technical colleges in Louisiana. who share their journeys to becoming a suc- called “Navigating In addition to this presti- cess in business. The private awards dinner Courage: A Black gious award, Lemoine also program was held in Dallas on November Woman’s Journey was awarded $5,000 to honor 30, 2018. in Athletics and her outstanding service and Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in ac- commitment to her students and Academia.” counting from the University of New Orleans. She is CEO/ community. Lemoine holds a bachelor’s Founder of Lead- and master’s degree in educa- ing Beyond the tion from the University of New Post, Inc., a full- Orleans. She is enrolled in its ride-share giant Uber to acquire “Writers to Watch Spring 2019.” service leadership development and execu- Ph.D. program for educational a bike-share company. Duncan, Washington’s book, published tive coaching consulting company aimed administration. whose focus at the University of by Riverhead Publishing in New Orleans was transporta- March, is a collection of short Kyle S. Youngberg (B.S.,’10) at helping leaders and organizations get tion and geographic information stories set in his hometown of Kyle S. Youngberg, a certified “unstuck” by translating corporate strategy systems, currently splits her time Houston, Texas. Entertainment public accountant, has been into individualized leadership development. between Washington, D.C. and Weekly and LitHub both named promoted to tax manager San Francisco, where she is the “Lot” to its list of anticipated She has more than 20 years of experi- II at Kushner LaGraize LLC. product manager of logistics books of 2019. ence in higher education, including stints as Youngberg holds a bachelor’s at Mapbox, a provider of online Washington’s fiction and degree in accounting from the an associate provost for diversity and inclu- custom maps. essays have appeared in a University of New Orleans. sion at the University of Cincinnati. Martin variety of publications, including Bryan Washington (M.F.A., ’17) earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Tarani Duncan (B.A., ’14) The New York Times, The New Bryan Washington, a gradu- Tarani Duncan, who earned a York Times Magazine, The New a master’s degree in education from the ate from the University of New bachelor’s degree in planning and Yorker, BuzzFeed, Vulture, The University of New Orleans, and a doctorate Orleans’ Creative Writing Work- urban studies, was featured in Paris Review, Boston Review, in urban education and leadership from the shop (CWW), has published his a Forbes magazine article about and Catapult, where he wrote a debut book, “Lot,” and has been University of Cincinnati. how her strategic skills help lead column called “Bayou Diaries.” named one of Publishers Weekly

SPRING 2019 SILVER & BLUE 49 Fritz Dohse, Founding Dean of the College of Engineering FRITZ DOHSE, THE periencing Nazi rule and the war. the University of Illinois before program remained relevant to founding dean of the University of Shortly aft er being draft ed into the returning to New Orleans. their needs, and he helped develop New Orleans College of Engineer- German Army in 1943, he caught He helped design a bachelor’s cooperative agreements with ing, passed away at his typhoid fever and later degree program in engineering minority-serving colleges of the home near Freiburg, developed tuberculosis. sciences, which the school imple- region to build educational path- Germany on Aug.12, In 1945 he was a prisoner mented in 1965. Th e program was ways so that more students could 2018 at the age of 93. in the Russian-occupied administered through the Depart- earn engineering degrees. His fi nal Dohse arrived on sector of Germany, but ment of Engineering Sciences achievement was to help secure campus in the spring managed to escape to the within the College of Sciences; the funds for the engineering of 1960. Th e campus West. He survived the in 1971, a master of science was building that still stands promi- was primarily com- next few years despite off ered. Th e department was el- nently on the campus. posed of buildings Fritz Dohse chronic food shortages evated to a School of Engineering Dohse is survived by his wife, inherited from the old and severe poverty. in 1973 and, in 1980, the school Helga Dohse, his three sons and naval air base. He was one of two In 1950, through the generos- became a fully accredited College their wives: Till and Michele Dohse, instructors responsible for teach- ity of an American friend, Waldo of Engineering with three diff er- Hans and Monika Dohse, and ing courses in the engineering Dunnington, Dohse was given ent degree options serving 600 Dirk and Renate Dohse; and six technology curriculum. From this the opportunity to study in the students. In 1981, a new program grandchildren: Sonja, Katja, Stefan, humble beginning, Dohse worked United States. Aft er completing his in naval architecture and marine Lukas, Nils and Mirko. tirelessly for the next 24 years to master’s degree at LSU, he accepted engineering joined the mechani- In lieu of fl owers, the family build the University’s College of a teaching position at the Baton cal, electrical and civil engineering asks for donations to the “Found- Engineering. Rouge campus, and was among the degree programs in the College of ing Dean’s Award Endowment,” a Dohse was born in Göttingen, fi rst faculty to teach on the New Engineering. scholarship that supports African- Germany on Feb. 2, 1925. He Orleans campus. He later took time Dohse worked with local American students pursuing grew up during diffi cult times ex- off to earn a doctoral degree from businesses to ensure that the engineering.

Professor J. Stephen Hank, the ‘Father of the Film Program’ JAMES STEPHEN HANK, his fi rst movie, “Bingelela”, for the and producer, Hank made more country. Hank received the UNO whose infl uence on fi lm students Peace Corps to introduce new than two dozen short fi lms, most Alumni Association Excellence at the University of New Orleans volunteers to the country. of them crewed by his students at in Teaching Award in 2008. spanned four decades, When he returned UNO, and won awards at national “Steve was the consummate died Oct. 5, 2018, at the to the U.S., he became and international fi lm festivals. fi lmmaker,” said Kevin Graves, age of 72. Hank arrived a commercial still His narrative fi lms include senior associate dean in the Col- at UNO in 1978 and photographer, and then “Th e Limner” (Best Southern lege of Liberal Arts, Education helped build the Uni- earned an MFA in fi lm Dramatic Film at the IMAGE and Human Development, and versity’s highly regarded production and theory Film Festival in Atlanta in 1986) professor of fi lm and theatre. “He fi lm program before from Ohio University. and “Th e Widow Paris” (Teddy greatly infl uenced and mentored retiring in 2011. He came to New Orleans Solomon Award for Best Southern hundreds of students over the “He was the father in 1978 to teach at the Film at the New Orleans Film years. He held his students’ work J. Stephen Hank of the fi lm program University of New Or- Festival in 1992). in the highest regard and, in here at UNO and he taught leans, fell in love with the city and He made promotional fi lms some cases, above his own.” hundreds if not thousands of never left . He was a professor of for nonprofi ts including “One to Hank is survived by his wife alumni while a professor for over fi lm production at UNO until his One” for United Cerebral Palsy Lista Christopher Hank; brother 30 years,” said professor Hamp retirement in 2011. of Louisiana, “Kumbuka” for the John L. Hank (Jean); sister Vickie Overton, director of the fi lm Hank was instrumental in Kumbuka African Drum and Kreider (Nick); sister-in-law program at UNO. building the nationally recognized Dance Collective (selected for Donna Christopher; brothers- Born in Columbus, Ohio, program in fi lmmaking at UNO “Louisiana: A Filmmaker’s Para- in-law Irvin Christopher (Yuan Hank graduated with a degree in that has produced countless dise” by the Louisiana Division of Tian) and Keith Christopher history from Miami University fi lm industry professionals and the Arts in 1995) and “Touch the (Christine Sauer); nieces Zoe of Ohio; then joined the United independent fi lmmakers. He also Earth” for the Dayton Museum of Christopher, Ariel Christopher States Peace Corps. He served for inspired many of his students to Natural History. He also created and Rachael Kreider; nephews two years in Swaziland in south- become accomplished teach- “Th e Hold-Up”, an educational Jason Kreider, Alex Kreider and ern Africa, building schools and ers themselves. A screenwriter, fi lm and editing exercise that is Jessie Kreider; and his beagle, water supply systems. He made cinematographer, director, editor used by fi lm schools around the Charlie.

50 SILVER & BLUE SPRING 2019 Homer L. Hitt Society

Since its beginning, the University of New Orleans’ mission has been to provide excellent and accessible education to a diverse student body. Our success has been due to those who guided the University from its humble origin in 1958 to the dynamic institution it is today.

The first chancellor of the University of New Orleans, Homer L. Hitt, was a true visionary. His impact on the institution is unequaled and his name is now reserved to recognize those individuals who annually give to the University at the $10K+ level. As members of the Homer L. Hitt Society, donors demonstrate their exceptional vision and significant investment in the University of New Orleans as they continue to honor Dr. Hitt’s legacy. Visit unoalumni.com/thank-you to see a current list of Homer L. Hitt Society donors.

Make your gift today at give.uno.edu or contact us at (504) 280-3991 to discuss your vision for leaving a legacy. Trunk Show IN THE LATE 1970S MAZIAR PARTO was studying civil engineering at the University of New Orleans and, as students are wont to do, he posed for a picture, casually leaning on a tree with the University Center as a backdrop. In October 2018, Parto, now living in Toronto, Canada, returned for a campus visit. And as alumni are wont to do, he posed for a picture. Th e two photos, taken in the same spot four decades apart, provide a snapshot in time from which we can see the University’s growth refl ected in the circumference of that one tree.

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5 crawfishmambo.com 0 p + or in person at the UNO Federal Credit Union u e b n o i i L l i n Presented by the ic g s u te University of New Orleans Alumni Association a M m r s ta Sponsorship opportunities S * l- F are available. l re A e * co at nv n-E en Ca ient ou- parking * All-Y NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHAMPAIGN, IL PERMIT NO. 453