FALL/WINTER 2020 THE FOOD WITH ROOTS Chef Edouardo Jordan shares NEXT his recipe for success (which has nothing to do with his "Sexiest FRONTIER Chef Alive" nomination) Page 32 See how artificial intelligence — a UF focus — will influence HELLO, ADVENTURE! the future of every Sherry McCampbell found her industry. Page 18 destiny when she took to the open seas for her retirement. Page 44 30 YEARS LATER Do you remember the Gainesville student murders? These Gators will never forget. Page 38 UF’s CHAMPIONS ALUMNUS’ BIG DREAMS MEAN BIG ADVANCES FOR MANKIND FALL/WINTER 2020 FEATURES While some people describe Chris Malachowsky (BSEE The Next Frontier 30 Years Later ’80) as “incredibly intellectually curious,” “a genius” or 18 38 UF sets out to explore and tame the world of The student murders of 1990 were UF’s darkest a “true innovator,” the humble Silicon Valley visionary artificial intelligence hours. But Gators and the Gainesville community prefers simpler terms, such as “tinkerer” and “builder.” came together in a powerful bond that persists to 24 Cyber Power Rangers this day. Meet UF’s rising stars whose work is making you, your identity and your money safer 44 Star Seeker Sherry McCampbell (BSIE ’79) took to the open All adjectives aside, those who know 26 The Accidental Nat Geo Star seas for her retirement. What resulted is no less of Malachowsky’s vast contributions A reservation doctor — and photography contest than the world’s biggest adventure. to computer technology can agree the finalist — finds joy and healing in nature. world is a better place to live because he 48 Pandemic Life decided to become an electrical engineer Food With Roots See how UF students are managing on campus this at UF, rather than fulfilling his father’s 32 expectation to become a doctor. After His Seattle eatery JuneBaby was named fall through the eyes of photographer Aaron Daye all, his computer advances led to the America’s Best New Restaurant. James Beard expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) winner Edouardo Jordan got there by staying true capabilities that are helping solve the to family and heritage. world’s biggest challenges. Now, Malachowsky and the company he co-founded, NVIDIA, have invested $50 million at UF to integrate AI into every discipline by introducing all DEPARTMENTS ON THE COVER students to its potential, no matter their majors. Malachowsky gave an additional 5 CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT KENT FUCHS Take a peek inside UF’s plan $20 million to create a multidisciplinary 6 UNIVERSITY AVENUE: News about UF FALL/WINTER 2020 to make your students into THE FOOD WITH ROOTS Chef Edouardo Jordan shares data science and information technology NEXT his recipe for success (which has nothing to do with his "Sexiest artificial intelligence experts, FRONTIER Chef Alive" nomination) Page 30 See how artificial 52 GATOR NATION: News about alumni intelligence — a UF focus — will influence HELLO, ADVENTURE! facility intended to be the home for AI, the future of every Sherry McCampbell found her industry. (Yes, your kids destiny when she took to the will be AI trained, too.) open seas for her retirement. Page 42 no matter which field they Page 18 30 YEARS LATER Data Science and related technologies at Do you remember the Gainesville student murders? 72 3 MINUTES WITH: Attorney Yolanda Cash Jackson These Gators will never forget. Page 36 choose. UF. Ultimately through Malachowsky’s (JD 90) whose inspiration is already influencing investment, AI research, education and generations of Black law students equitable access to these tools will ensure the very best AI-prepared workforce for 74 FINISH LINE: Gator sports stars and coaches share Florida and beyond. their insights into racism and inequality The Gator Nation is deeply grateful for his leadership, investments and big thinking that will drive innovations in every field. Learn more about Malachowsky, NVIDIA and UF’s plan to become our nation’s premiere AI university starting on page 18. 2 | FALL-WINTER 2020 FLORIDA GATOR | 3 UF’s CHAMPIONS Conversation with UF President Kent Fuchs UF SHOWS RESILIENCE DISNEY, UF JOIN FORCES TO SLOW, STOP EXTINCTION EVENTS AFTER CHALLENGES HISTORIANS WILL LOOK BACK AT 2020 AS ONE OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGES Walt Disney said in 1950 that conservation “concerns all of us.” All these years later, the entertainment empire he created is saving The Disney Conservation Fund endangered wildlife through and its continued collaboration with UF. e began a historic academic in 2020 — despite many activities being I am grateful to our extraordinary To date, the fund has contributed more than $5 million to UF’s conservation programs. Two animals high year this fall amid the COVID paused during COVID. faculty for providing exceptional on the organization’s priority list are sea turtles and butterflies. Enter UF’s renowned Archie Carr Center for pandemic, one comparable to For the second year in a row, you and education in the midst of COVID Sea Turtle Research and UF’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity. The Carr Center is reducing onlyW a handful of years in our past. your fellow Gators raised $500 million for — and to our staff for continuing threats to sea turtles that are caused by commercial fishing, poaching, pollution, the loss of nesting beaches The first was 1906, when UF opened UF programs and people, again despite university operations amid such difficult and warming seas. The McGuire Center is restoring habitats, and breeding and releasing captive butterflies to its doors in Gainesville. The second COVID. This makes over $2.7 billion circumstances. Equally, I am thankful replenish their dwindling numbers. was 1918, when the historic influenza raised toward UF’s $3 billion campaign to our many students who are faithfully In addition, UF is contributing its expertise in water conservation and multiple other tag-team projects in pandemic struck UF. Another historic goal; and with your help, we will achieve following all the needed precautions to departments across campus. academic year, and a historic leap our goal. prevent the spread of the virus. UF celebrates Walt Disney and The Disney Conservation Fund, and offers a hearty thank you for the fund’s forward, was when women joined men Finally, we began the academic year Based on all I have seen our longtime support and partnership. as UF students in 1947. Eleven years with our entire university community university community achieve since later George H. Starke Jr., the first Black following COVID precautions; a mix of I arrived as president nearly six years student, enrolled at UF, another leap. In online and in-person classes; a conference- ago, I believe we will not only endure THE KUHNSES HELP THE BAND PLAY ON 1985 UF was admitted into the Association only football schedule and many other this year, or get through it, but we will of American Universities (AAU) joining new developments — part of our efforts make it a great year. There is no place I Gator Band alumni Rolf (BSPT ’72) and Anne Kuhns (BMUS ’70, MEd ’75) of the nation’s best universities. Only time to live and learn with COVID as safely would rather be than at UF as we make Winter Garden say their time playing the clarinet and trumpet, respectively, for UF will tell how this year compares to those as possible. We continue to reckon with history together. prepared them for life. historic years. However, our faculty, staff the very significant COVID challenge as “The experiences we had in the band were instrumental in shaping major moments in and students are already making history in I write this column in mid-September. our lives. It taught us about teamwork, humility, work ethic and so much more, truly many ways this year: I am thankful to UF Health and its forming us into the people we are today,” they said. UF moved up to 6th among the world-class epidemiologist, clinicians In recognition and gratitude of those lessons, the Kuhnses have made a major estate nation’s top public universities in the and staff for guiding gift to the School of Music’s Gator Marching Band, expanding their named scholarship 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best our response. to support more students and creating UF’s first endowed marching band directorship. College rankings released in September, “We wanted to give back to students and the program so that our fourth year of climbing the Top 10 generations of musicians may have the transformational experience and opportunities afforded to them by the and only one step away from our goal of Gator Band,” the Kuhnses said. After all, “the Gator Marching Band is like family.” Top 5. (See page 6.) Please join UF and Gator Nation in celebrating the Kuhnses and thanking them for their We had the largest enrollment in our generosity, thoughtfulness and encouragement of UF’s many band members. history this fall, with 57,662 students — Brandon McKinley (BMUS, BSPR ’17) attending UF amid the pandemic. (This followed record applications nearing 50,000 for the fall term.) Our faculty set a new record in research awards, rising from $776 million in the 2019 fiscal year to a record $901 million FLORIDA GATOR UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PAY IT FORWARD FLORIDA GATOR The University of Florida’s EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTACT INFO Make UF and its programs is published quarterly by the University of Florida Alumni alumni magazine Matthew Hodge [email protected] better for future Association Inc. for its members. Address changes may be sent VOLUME 8 ISSUE 2 352-392-1905 generations of Gators to [email protected] or Alumni Records/UF Alumni UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION P.O.