VOLUME 16 NO. FALL 1 2007 This is how college C OLLEGE OF AR TS AND SCIENCES is meant to be... Issue Highlights Dean’s Message 2 Science and Engineering Complex Construction 3 New Perspectives on German Culture 4 Take and Give 5 Computing the Future 6 If You Can Make It There… 7 Peopling the Past 10 Faculty News 11 175th Birthday Party 14 New Advisory Board 15 Science and Engineering Alumni News and Notes 16 Complex Construction Begins Supporters 18 UA’s Science and Engineering Complex will house the Department Pre-Civil War of Biological Sciences and other UA science programs and is Dorms Revealed 36 slated for completion by the summer of 2009. FULL STORY ON PAGE 3 Carl and Ann Jones Make Second Gift for Jones Regions Scholarships In the same semester that students began receiving scholarships made possible by their first $1 million scholarship endowment gift, UA alumni Carl E. and Ann Karpinski Jones made a second $1 million gift to the Carl E. and Ann K. Jones Regions Endowed Scholarship. FULL STORY ON PAGE 6 This is how college is meant to be... The buzz on campus at the start of fall se- For example, there are what I call the “Our Students. Our Future.” capital cam- mester was about our new pedestrian central great “4.0 stories.” Our B. B. Comer Math- paign. campus, a topic of conversation second only ematics Medal was awarded to Adam Sneed Each year, the College of Arts and Sci- to the ensuing football season. The streets of Memphis, Tennessee. A senior in math and ences awards approximately 500 scholarships. around the Quadrangle are now dedicated English and a member of the Blount Under- They are made possible thanks to the vision solely to pedestrians and bicyclists while The graduate Initiative, Adam sports a 4.0 grade of those who established them. But as the University of Alabama’s new Crimson Ride point average. number of highly qualified students grows, System provides transport from outlying Jimmy R. Simmons of Columbus, MS, a so does the need for scholarship support. parking areas to classes and offices. senior in math and electrical engineering, also Consider this: In the “4.0” department, UA What a pleasant adjustment in atmosphere. has a 4.0 GPA. He has earned an A+ in every has admitted in the last two years alone more The parked cars and roundabout traffic for- math course he has taken and has received than 1,349 students with high school grades merly characteristic of the areas around the the Dr. Fred A. and Frances Pickens Lewis of 4.0 or higher. Accomplished students right- Quad and Gorgas Library have given way to Endowed Scholarship. fully look to their university for support of the quieter rhythm of walkers. their hard work and future promise through The pedestrian campus as well as the con- scholarships. We have work to complete to struction of our new $69 million Science and meet their expectations and our own. Engineering Complex (see front page story) As part of “Our Students. Our Future.” are two of the most visible manifestations of The University of Alabama is seeking $250 a rapidly changing and improving University million specifically for scholarships; the Col- of Alabama. Less evident at first glance is the lege’s portion of that goal is $20 million. I’m growth in our student body, one of the most pleased to report that we have received $7 mil- important events on this campus in decades, lion in scholarships; we need $13 million to not to mention a key factor in the former meet our goal. We have reached approximately central campus traffic jams. 62 percent of our overall “Our Students. Our In 2003, President Witt set a goal to Future.” campaign objective, raising $16.7 increase our student population by 8,000 to million of our targeted $27 million. bring the University to the critical mass neces- I’m particularly delighted that we suc- sary to continue to thrive as a high quality, cessfully met an anonymous foundation’s flagship institution. The University now has generous offer to match $500,000 in endow- some 4,000 more students than in 2003. I have ments for art scholarships. Elsewhere in the no doubt that we will be successful in reaching Dean Robert Olin Collegian, you will read the names of our the target of 28,000 students at UA. friends who were instrumental in making this As President Witt has reported, we are Joshua Tyson of Dothan, the son of a possible, bringing an impressive $1 million growing in quality as well. In the last two math teacher and an electrician, is a junior in additional scholarship endowments in the years, UA has admitted 155 National Merit majoring in math and engineering. He also Department of Art and doubling the lasting Scholars, ranking us 13th or better in the has a 4.0, is taking graduate classes in his impact of their gift in the process. country among public universities in Nation- senior year, and has received the Thomas We will continue to work very hard in the al Merit Scholar enrollments. Waverly Palmer Mathematics Award. next 20 months of the Capital Campaign to This increase in new faces and bright As a mathematician, I can be accused of increase our scholarship endowments as well young minds is certainly evident throughout showing partiality to math majors here but, as faculty support. the College of Arts and Sciences, the Univer- rest assured, there are similar “4.0 stories” in To all our friends who have made capital sity’s largest academic division and the divi- all of our majors. campaign gifts (and many of your gifts are sion where all UA students take their liberal Such stories of personal growth and ac- detailed in this Collegian), I extend my sin- arts core courses. I hope you’ll enjoy reading complishment continually inspire us. And cerest thanks. To our friends who have been about many of our student accomplishments they point to the critical importance of an- thinking about sharing in this time of growth in this issue of the Collegian. I’m proud to say other major event under way at the Capstone, and bold new plans at the Capstone but have there are many more that we simply didn’t one that will also have a lasting and decisive not yet placed their names on our roster of have space for in this issue. effect on the character of our institution, the donors, I’d like to talk to you. Aaron Vold, Director Aaron Vold Named Director of Development of Development for the College Tuscaloosa native Aaron Vold has been appointed director of develop- Big Communications and Lewis Communi- ment for the College. Vold will lead the College’s fund-raising efforts cations. for the “Our Students. Our Future.” campaign and cultivate, solicit, and “The College of Arts and Sciences is steward gifts to the College. He held a similar position at UA’s Cap- proud to have the steadfast support of our stone College of Nursing, where he served as director of advancement. alumni and friends—always a hallmark of the “As the largest college at The University of Alabama, the College of best educational institutions. This support Arts and Sciences will play a significant role in the success of the ‘Our sustains the characteristic that makes an edu- Students. Our Future.’ campaign,” said UA president Robert E. Witt. “I cation from the University so distinctive, its quality. We look forward am confident that Aaron will be as successful in the College of Arts and to working with Aaron to expand opportunities to share the College’s Sciences as he was in the College of Nursing.” story with our supporters and to build partnerships with them that help Vold was instrumental in helping the College of Nursing raise more our students reach their academic goals and realize their dreams,” said than $5 million toward its campaign goal. He is a graduate of The Robert Olin, dean of the College. University of Alabama where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public The “Our Students. Our Future.” campaign’s $500 million goal relations and a master’s degree in business administration. Vold has pre- includes $250 million for student scholarships. The remaining funds are viously held positions with two public relations firms in Birmingham, allocated to faculty support, facilities, and priority needs. 2 Science and Engineering Complex Construction Begins NELDA SANKER We have an outstanding number of faculty members in the biological sciences. Mov- ing them to this new facility will provide them with the tools and space they need to continue producing high quality work,” said Olin. In keeping with a growing national trend in university architectural designs, the science-engineering complex includes areas that encourage faculty and student interaction. “The building will have a coffee shop as well as numerous benches and couches in strategic locations. One of the innovative building features will be interaction areas. These are rooms with a table, chairs, and whiteboard in which students can engage in study groups. Research has shown that such areas can increase student learning and com- prehension, which is obviously something we want to promote” said Olin. Olin has said that the response across the colleges has been very positive. “The biological sciences faculty espe- cially are very excited about this move. I see this as a way not only to improve our facilities but also to recruit more faculty and students. I think everyone will be impressed by the complex’s usefulness and its struc- tural magnificence,” said Olin.