THE BIG PIVOT the University Reimagines Instruction and Student Support During a Fall Semester Unlike Any Other in Its History

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

FALL 2020 THE BIG PIVOT The University reimagines instruction and student support during a fall semester unlike any other in its history.

Autumn brings a welcome respite from summer’s humidity and a walk, or bike ride, across campus typically happens at a more leisurely pace. 2 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 TABLE OF

FEATURES 24 DEAR 2020 Student voices on the epoch-making year 2020 30 ALUMNUS JERICHO BROWN, PULITZER POET Jericho Brown earns a Pulitzer Prize for “The Tradition” 34 TREASURER OF THE ARTS Alumna Deleen Davidson turns a forced move into a career makeover 36 FIVE DAYS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED A personal narrative by Tim Duncan, vice president of athletics and recreation 40 DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION A Q&A with UNO’s chief diversity officer Newtona “Tina” Johnson and Desirée Anderson, associate dean of student and diversity affairs

DEPARTMENTS 5 CAMPUS SCENE 10 NEWS AND EVENTS 16 FACULTY FOCUS 42 ATHLETICS 46 DONOR SPOTLIGHT University of New Orleans student Josie Oliva lends her voice about the year 2020 48 ALUM NOTES and deciphering its lessons. 52 THEN AND NOW

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 3 DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS: FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE THAT YOU ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY. RECENT EVENTS HAVE continually reinforced the fragility of life. As an institution of higher learning, we take seriously VOLUME 44 s ISSUE 2 our responsibility to cultivate knowledge, to serve as agents of positive change and to lead in response to the challenges our world faces. The last six months have presented us with many opportunities to realize and even test that responsibility. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Littice Bacon-Blood The global pandemic has disrupted nearly every facet of our lives. Universities are no EDITOR exception. I am proud of our institution’s response—implementing safety protocols, increasing Adam Norris technology in classrooms to allow for more hybrid instruction, and modifying our behaviors, all DESIGN AND LAYOUT the while treating the safety of our students and employees as our highest priority. Our faculty and Eric Gernhauser staff have continued to educate and support our students in new and innovative ways. I’m thrilled CONTRIBUTING WRITERS to see how our faculty members have engaged in COVID-19-related research, offered healthcare Matthew Schaefer expertise to government leaders and helped small businesses pursue loans. Our alumni and PHOTOGRAPHY friends have stepped forward to support our current students through the UNO First Fund, which Shane Banegas Avery Gray assists students in their times of greatest need. What had the potential to splinter our university Tracie Morris Schaefer community has actually had the opposite effect—it has galvanized it. The outlook surrounding the pandemic remains uncertain. But there are lessons we have already learned that will endure. The University needs to be flexible in how we deliver instruction Send Correspondence to: to our students. That will ensure that we are accessible to the greatest number of students. We will Silver and Blue Editor University of New Orleans continue to offer a traditional campus experience, even if it’s a reimagined version of Administration Building 103 it, but we can serve more students by accommodating their varied learning needs. 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148 On a separate, but equally important topic, the killings of George Floyd, Phone: (504) 280-6832 Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others awakened us to the systemic Email: [email protected] racism that pervades our country. Once again, I was proud of our institution’s response—particularly that of our students. We have undertaken a number of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including a campus climate survey, professional development opportunities, a “Courageous Conversations” series, a new multicultural student lounge, and programming around social justice and racial equality. It’s important that all members of our community not just have a seat at the table, but a voice as well. These Silver & Blue Magazine is published by the University of New Orleans. Articles high-profile crimes have highlighted the urgent need for equality and represent the opinions of the authors and inclusivity in our communities. We need to be leaders of change, for do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone but the authors. our generation and for those that follow. This is not easy work but it is To inquire about alumni events or to join unquestionably worthwhile. the UNO Alumni Association, contact: The challenges of 2020 have spawned anxiety and exhaustion. They Office of Alumni Affairs, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148 have also given us opportunities to demonstrate strength and resolve Phone: (504) 280-2586 Fax: (504) 280-1080 as we carry out our responsibilities as the city’s only public research Email: [email protected] university. I am grateful for the teamwork, compassion and humanity © 2020 The University of New Orleans exhibited by members of our campus community, including our This public document was published at a total cost of $21,475. Forty-five thousand (45,000) copies of alumni and partners. It is because we are a determined UNO family this public document were published in this first and only printing at a cost of $21,475. There will be that we will emerge stronger, closer and more dynamic than ever. no reprints, so the total cost of all printings of this document is $21,475. This document was published UNO Proud, by the University of New Orleans, 200 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, LA.70148, to promote the purpose John Nicklow of the University under authority of 17:3351(A)(12). PRESIDENT This material was printed in accordance with the standards for printing by state agencies established @UNOPresidentJN @unopresident pursuant to R.S. 43:31. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

4 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 THE

BIG PIVOT HEADLINES AND HAPPENINGS The University reimagines instruction and student support during a fall semester unlike any other in its history.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 5 THE BIG PIVOT SPRING COMMENCEMENT The University of New Orleans hosted a virtual commencement ceremony for its spring 2020 graduates that was streamed live on YouTube. President John In March 2020, with the Nicklow kicked off the virtual commencement in full number of positive COVID-19 regalia while students submitted their own gradua- cases surging across the tion photos and had use of custom UNO Class of 2020 country, the University of social media filters. Orleans—like so many other universities—ended face-to- face instruction, canceled all events, directed employees to work from home and moved all classes online for the rest of the spring semester. The University spent the summer transforming campus by reconﬁguring classrooms; adding new technology to allow for distance learning; and installing acrylic barriers, hand sanitizer dispensers and signage on the importance of wearing masks and social distancing. Faculty members studied how to best design and deliver online and hybrid courses. Staff members revised in- person support services so they could virtually engage with students. The start of the fall 2020 semester unquestionably looked and felt different. New Student Convocation was online. New Student Move-in Day was stretched out over several weeks to prevent the customary crowds from massing at the residence halls. Although it took longer, students did move in. Faculty and staff returned to campus. Classes resumed, even if many had a virtual component. The University of New Orleans had discovered new and imaginative ways to persevere, just as it has throughout its more than six- decade history.

6 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 MOVING IN Move-In Day at Pontchartrain Hall was transformed into a staggered check-in held over several weeks to ensure it was a socially distanced event in keeping with CDC guidelines. That did not mean the amount of personal belongings hauled in by students, parents and volunteers was any less!

FACE-TO-FACE While some events, such as New Student Convocation, were moved online this fall, in-person help is still available on campus. The Privateer Enrollment Center – the one-stop shop for academic advis- ing, financial aid and admissions—is on the first floor of the Earl K. Long Library.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 7 THE BIG PIVOT

CARRYING ON Masked up and physically distanced, Privateers go about the business of teaching and learning. Floors are marked, desks are separated and parti- tions have been erected where needed to maintain safe distances. It looks a bit different, but the UNO community is rising to the challenge and carrying on.

8 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 9 The Estate of Former UNO History Professor Jerah Johnson Will Fund Two Endowed Professorships

THE ESTATE OF FORMER “We feel these University of New Orleans two endowed profes- history professor Jerah Johnson sorships bearing has donated $240,000 to the his name will be a UNO Foundation. The gift will fitting tribute to such be used to fund two endowed a unique man,” says professorships in history, a de- Anthony Gregorio, Johnson earned its history. He wrote pioneering partment Johnson helped shape executive director of his undergraduate articles on African American over his 44-year career at UNO. the UNO Foundation. degree at Emory culture in Congo Square and History has been an integral The names of the proposed University and his doctorate at the French influence in early part of the undergraduate and professorships are: The Jerah W. the University of North Caro- New Orleans. graduate curriculum since Johnson, Ph.D Endowed Profes- lina, Chapel Hill. He majored A Driftwood article at the University’s founding and sorship in Maritime Studies and in history at UNC with minors the time of his retirement Johnson was there at its begin- World History and The Jerah W. in both linguistics and com- quoted Johnson’s opinion of his ning. He joined the faculty of Johnson Endowed Professorship parative literature. In 1956-58 adopted city. “Why on earth what was then Louisiana State in Louisiana History. he spent time in France on a live anywhere else, unless it University at New Orleans Johnson served as depart- Fulbright Fellowship at the is smack dab in the middle of (LSUNO) in 1959, a year after ment chairman from 1968 University of Paris. He later lower Manhattan or the Left the University opened. to 1980. In that role and as a confessed that most of his time Bank of Paris, and both would Johnson’s field was Re- faculty member, he contributed there was spent in cafes drink- require far too much money.” naissance Europe, but he also to numerous university coming coffee and cognac. UNO history professor taught Louisiana history, world mittees, advised students and Taking a job at a new emeritus Gerry Bodet was a history, and the introductory helped to build a vibrant history branch of LSU might have longtime colleague of Johnson’s graduate course in research and program. Additionally, he ap- seemed an odd choice for some and recalls, writing. Even after retirement, proved the study abroad pro- at the time. Johnson recalled “A department meeting Johnson’s home in the Marigny gram in Munich—the forerun- telling his grandmother “I’m where Jerah held forth was an was open to UNO students ner of the immensely successful going to risk it” when he ac- event to be looked forward to. seeking research advice on UNO-Innsbruck International cepted a UNO position. In fact, True, the mundane matters of some aspect of New Orleans Summer School. the decision came easily. Teach- policy were on the agenda, but history. Johnson was born in south ing posts were scarce in 1959, inevitably these would morph Because of his widespread Georgia in 1931. His parents and his other offers were from into questions of philosophical interests, his extraordinary relocated the family to Venezu- Northwestern State in Natchi- truth, or the lack thereof, with erudition, and his aesthetic ap- ela and then to France during toches and a small Maryland a wry humor peppering the preciation of the arts, architecture the late 1930s. He spent much college. discussion.” and design, colleagues fittingly of World War II in London and New Orleans seemed a far Johnson retired from UNO referred to Johnson as the depart- returned to Georgia to finish more enticing place to live, and in 2003. He died in 2017 at ment’s “Renaissance Man.” high school at the age of 16. Johnson embraced the city and age 85.

10 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Images from the online archive Journal of the Plague Year, a partnership of the University of New Orleans Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies, and the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Midlo Center Collaborating to Create Historical Record of the COVID-19 Pandemic

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW COVID-19 in New Orleans. community, in particular, and be forgotten in the future.” Orleans Midlo Center for New “We are particularly inter- the challenges musicians, artists Types of information to Orleans Studies, in partnership ested in the experience of those and hospitality workers are fac- share include: with the New Orleans Jazz Mu- involved in our city’s cultural ing right now. t*NBHFTQIPUPHSBQIT seum, is joining Arizona State community—musicians, artists, “Perhaps more than any screen captures (including from University to build an archival hospitality workers, family busi- other group, they feed the life of your phone or laptop) of social website that chronicles the nesses, as history is being made this city and make it a destina- media, media, communications, global impact of the coronavirus daily,” Atkinson says. tion for tourists from around the memes, and other expressions of pandemic. The project is modeled, world.” the moment. The online archive is called in part, on pioneering digital People are asked to share t"VEJPIJTUPSJFT Journal of the Plague Year. The archives produced by the late experiences and impressions t7JEFPDMJQTUBLFOPGUIF goal is to create a historical UNO history professor Michael of how COVID-19 has affected world, including yourself speak- record of the pandemic as it un- Mizell-Nelson after Hurricane their lives, from the mundane to ing, or of social media memes folds so that future generations Katrina. Mizell-Nelson had been the extraordinary. t-JOLT will have a record of what people inspired by the 9/11 Archive, “With a public digital ar- t5FYU are experiencing in this unprec- says UNO history professor chive like Journal of the Plague t'JMFTFNBJMT BOOPVODF- edented time, Midlo co-director Mary Niall Mitchell, who is co- Year, we can document their ments, text messages, scientific Connie Atkinson says. director of the Midlo Center. experiences,” Mitchell says. “And documents, and flyers To that end, the UNO “Today our digital capacity as with 9/11 and Katrina, we Mitchell and Atkinson are historians are collecting mate- is even greater,” Mitchell says. hope that by preserving blog site curators, with UNO alumna rial—including personal stories, “In partnership with ASU, we posts and other digital ephem- Kathryn O’Dwyer serving cancellation notices and photo- are eager to preserve what we era the economic and cultural as project lead for the Midlo graphs—that reflect the effect of can from New Orleans’s cultural effects of this pandemic will not Center.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 11 Former Saints Standout Marques Colston Joins UNO Faculty MARQUES COLSTON— the former New Orleans Saints star receiver turned entrepreneur, speaker and business strategist—has joined the faculty at the University of New Orleans where he is teaching a course in the honors program called “Leadership and Entrepre- neurship.” “I’m excited to welcome Marques to our faculty in the honors program,” says Chris Surprenant, philosophy professor, honors program director and director of UNO’s Urban Entrepreneurship and Policy Institute. “Everyone knows that he was a superstar on the field for the Saints, but not everyone knows the success he has had off the field the past five years as an entrepreneur.” The live online course covers with the Saints, is the founder enhance the lives of fatherless Former New Orleans Saints star a variety of topics including of Marques Colston Enter- boys. In his role, he facilitates receiver Marques Colston, who learning to redefine personal prises (MCE). He started MCE monthly sessions with a group has developed several businesses, skills and transfer them to to empower growth-minded of mentees on topics ranging is teaching an entrepreneurial new projects, seeing market athletes, entrepreneurs and from leadership, personal devel- leadership course this fall at UNO. opportunities and developing a executives to discover, evolve opment, life skills and personal vision for how to address those and implement essential tools finance. that problem and successfully opportunities, and foundational to better position themselves for “College students are facing put that plan into action. skills such as career readiness sustained success. some of the most uncertain According to Surprenant, and financial management. In 2018, he partnered with times of any generation as they the students can start a business, As part of the course, Columbia Business School to graduate and transition into launch a community campaign students will also complete a create an executive education the next phase of their lives,” or otherwise try to make the number of activities to help program for current and former Colston says. “I designed this world a better place. Each them better identify their own professional athletes seeking the course to facilitate a process student will have access to skills, develop and grow their tools to launch ideas into action to help students embrace the funding from UNO’s Urban own brand, and prepare for their as entrepreneurs and skills to change and adversity that Entrepreneurship & Policy lives after college. evaluate venture investment accompanies this transition. My Institute in order to help put “In my first session, I wasn’t opportunities. Last year, he hope is that students will leave their plan into action. sure how the students would collaborated with his alma mater, with tools and insights they “Our students will have an receive being taught by a former Hofstra University, to create the can activate as they pursue and incredible opportunity, not just NFL player,” Colston says. “To Marques Colston Fellowship. develop their careers.” to learn from Marques how break the ice when I introduced The fellowship program supports Another highlight of the to transfer the skills they’ve myself, I thanked them for students who are pursuing health course is that all students will developed as athletes to the world welcoming the rookie into the careers, providing experiential participate in an entrepre- outside of sports and outside classroom.” learning opportunities each year. neurial, experiential learning of the university, but to apply No stranger to transfor- Colston also serves as an project. The aim of the project what they’ve learned in practice,” mational education, Colston, ambassador for Son of a Saint, is for the students to identify a Surprenant says. “I’m excited just who retired from professional the New Orleans-based chari- problem in the world around to sit in on this course myself and football in 2015 after 10 years table organization that works to them, devise a plan to address learn from Marques as well.”

12 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 news in brief

$250,000 Gift to Fund College of Sciences A $250,000 gift to the University of New Orleans College of Sciences from Michael and Judith Russell will fund two professorships and improvements to classrooms and labs, as well as bolster an existing scholarship already created in their names. Michael Russell is the former CEO of Eurofins Scientific, an international bioanalytical testing company with laboratory operations in the UNO Research and Technology Park. Judith Russell earned her bachelor’s degree in English from UNO. “I am thankful for the incredible generosity of Mike and Judi Russell and their long-term support of faculty and students in the College of Sciences,” says Steve Johnson, dean of the College of Sciences. “They have provided valuable scholarships to students in New Bachelor’s Degree Program in the college. The support of two major professorships will be critical in retaining our outstanding faculty and the donation for teaching Urban Construction Management lab upgrades will enhance our recent renovation of the introductory chemistry labs.” BEGINNING IN THE FALL signature workforce initiative to 2020 semester, the University connect employers with higher of New Orleans began enrolling education institutions,” says Mi- UNO and Nunez CC Sign ‘Link to Success’ Agreement students in the state’s first bach- chael Hecht, president and CEO Students who are not yet admitted to the University of New Orleans elor’s degree program in urban of GNO, Inc. “Utilizing GNOu, can take Nunez Community College courses taught on UNO’s campus construction management. The nearly 20 construction compa- before transferring to UNO under a new partnership. The student program is focused on urban nies across the region worked transfer agreement, called Link to Success, will expand higher educa- residential and commercial with UNO to design a program tion access and encourage degree completion of both associate and development, coupled with reflecting their hiring needs and bachelor’s degrees, according to administrators from both institutions. rehabilitation and restoration industry trends.” The program targets incoming freshmen and transfer students who of existing infrastructure and “As a result of this collab- may not yet meet UNO’s admissions requirements and are ultimately historic preservation. orative effort, UNO students will interested in transferring from Nunez into a bachelor’s degree pro- “This program was devel- have a pipeline to high-paying gram at UNO. oped in direct response to the jobs with some of the region’s demand from the local con- largest employers; employers Counseling Student Awarded $10,000 Fellowship struction industry,” says Taskin will have a pipeline of talent Ash M. Bayer, a student in the University of New Orleans master’s Kocak, dean of the College of from a local university; and the counseling program, has been awarded a $10,000 fellowship by the Engineering. “As such, the cur- region will have a stronger labor NBCC Foundation. The foundation is an affiliate of the National Board riculum includes an experiential base,” Hecht says. “This type of for Certified Counselors. component through internships, ‘triple-win’ is the goal of GNOu, Bayer was among 30 people selected for the NBCC Minority Fel- increased soft skills-building and we congratulate UNO on lowship Program-Mental Health Counseling-Master’s. The foundation courses and modern construc- their lead role.” received more than 200 applications for the fellowship opportunity. tion technology embedded into Urban construction the courses and labs.” management becomes the fifth Research & Technology Foundation Graduates of the program bachelor’s degree program will be able to understand differ- offered by UNO’s College of Announces New President/CEO ent urban residential and com- Engineering. The University The University of New Orleans Research and Technology Founda- mercial construction techniques; has the only civil and environ- tion has selected Rebecca Conwell as its new president and CEO. evaluate sustainability principles mental engineering, mechani- Conwell assumed the role on May 1. in planning, design and con- cal engineering, and electrical Conwell most recently served as the executive director of the New struction of an urban construc- engineering programs in metro Orleans Recreation Development Foundation. She previously led eco- tion project; manage an urban New Orleans, and one of a nomic development for the City of New Orleans the last three years of construction project effectively; handful of naval architecture Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration. and formulate restoration plans and marine engineering pro- “Rebecca is a recognized leader in government and community and manage the rehabilitation of grams in the country. relations with extensive experience in higher education and public- historic structures. “We are grateful for the col- private partnerships,” says Arnold Kirschman, chairman of the UNO “GNO, Inc. is thrilled to laboration and support of GNO, Research and Technology Foundation Board. “The focus of the continue supporting the UNO Inc. and our industry partners Research and Technology Park is to create collaborations between urban construction management who helped us build this in- UNO and tenants and to serve both as an incubator for up-and- degree program with our region- demand degree program, which coming businesses and a favorable environment for established businesses. We look forward to supporting Rebecca as she pursues al industry partners. The new will benefit our students and our these objectives.” offering was created through our region,” UNO President John GNOu program—GNO, Inc.’s Nicklow says. To read more about these stories, visit news.uno.edu. FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 13 Freedom on the Move Receives Mellon Foundation Grant FREEDOM ON THE MOVE, sources, such as census infor- in concert with an online database that seeks to mation, into a main database programmers document the lives of fugitives they call “Freedom’s Loom,” at the Cornell from North American slavery which could off er a deeper look Institute for Social using newspaper ads placed into the lives of those who were and Economic by enslavers, has received enslaved, says Mitchell. Research a $150,000 grant from Th e “Our team is very excited (CISER). Andrew W. Mellon Foundation about receiving support from the Since its to expand on that work. Mellon Foundation to develop inception in University of New Orleans this new tool,” Mitchell says. 2014, FOTM history professor Mary Niall “With Freedom’s Loom, we can has sought to Mitchell is a lead historian for build pathways to connect the bring stories the online project that is devoted stories of individual enslaved of resistance to creating the searchable people who ran away to other against slavery to the public database. historical sources, such as the through hands-on engagement. complete. “Th e goal, with the help census, pension fi les, or legal Th e database includes ads from “UNO students working of this generous funding, is to records.” the time of the fi rst newspapers with me conducting research allow students and researchers Freedom on the Move, in the 13 colonies until the fall in local sources will help us to piece together more detailed housed at Cornell University, of Richmond, Virginia, in April build this innovative tool,” narratives about enslaved people is the largest digital collection 1865, which brought about the Mitchell says. “Especially in whose stories have heretofore of newspaper advertisements end of the Civil War. today’s context, the work our been fragmented and scattered for people escaping from North Th e database, which has students do for FOTM under- across the archive,” says Mitchell, American slavery, and is led by a 27,000 archival ads available, scores the historical and political co-director of Midlo Center for team of historians from Cornell, allows users to interact with signifi cance of documenting New Orleans Studies at UNO. Ohio State University, University the ads through crowdsourced the lives—and sharing the Th e Mellon Foundation of Alabama, University of transcription. Th e database is stories—of Africans and African grant will enable researchers Kentucky, and the University anticipated to have more than Americans who suff ered and to connect separate historical of New Orleans. Th ey work 100,000 ads by the time it is resisted slavery in the U.S.”

Gift Helps Create the New Orleans Scholars Program at UNO A GIFT FROM A NEW their fi nal two years, grants says UNO President John successful transition to college. Orleans nonprofi t foundation and scholarships will cover Nicklow. Th ey will live in dedicated will create the New Orleans those same expenses for To be eligible, students living-learning community in Scholars program at the TOPS-eligible students. For must be a graduate of an an on-campus residence hall. University of New Orleans. those students without TOPS, Orleans Parish public high Additionally they will receive Th e program, which launched a gap of up to $5,500 may school; have an expected supplemental instruction in in the summer, provides 15 be fi lled with Federal Direct family contribution of $1,000 math and English courses Orleans Parish public high Staff ord Loans. or less, as determined by as well as mentoring and school graduates with the “Th anks to the gener- fi ling a Free Application for coaching during their fi rst two resources and support to osity and partnership of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); years at UNO. thrive at UNO while incurring this foundation, more UNO and meet UNO admissions Th e scholars will be little to no student debt. students will be relieved criteria with a high school placed in on-campus work- Grants and scholarships of the fi nancial pressures grade point average of 2.5 or study positions to gain will cover all of the students’ that so many endure, so greater. experience and earn spending tuition, fees, room and board, that they may focus on New Orleans Scholars will money. Th ey will also have and books in their fi rst two having a successful and complete a summer bridge access to special events and years at the University. In fulfi lling college experience,” program to support their programming.

14 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Gold, a pianist and composer, said he enrolled in UNO’s music program with a goal of developing a deeper understanding of jazz music. “It feels really uplifting and humbling to have my compositional work recognized, particularly by the incredible jazz studies faculty here at UNO, and by such relevant groups as the ASCAP Association, and by the Louis Armstrong Foundation,” Gold says. “Plus, the monetary aid that this scholarship provides has allowed me to fi nish my studies at UNO while at the same time fi nishing my album, which has been in the works for almost two years and features many of my musical compatriots from New Orleans and the Northeast, and has been a real labor of love, time, and money.” Gold plans to graduate next spring and release an album of original music around the same time. “The music for which was partially written and recorded during my studies here at UNO,” Gold says. Gold, originally from Queens, New York, has called New Orleans home Pianist Jake Gold since 2012. His musical life, he said, began at age 5 with a classical piano education, and by age 13, he had started writing and performing with his Receives ASCAP Foundation fi rst rock band. Louis Armstrong Jazz Award As an undergraduate student at Wesleyan University, he studied ethno- musicology, performance, and composition while writing and arranging an original musical theater production for a small orchestra. The University of New Orleans music faculty has selected Jake Gold Over the next decade, Gold wrote for and performed with countless for the 2020 ASCAP Louis Armstrong Foundation Jazz Composition jazz, funk and reggae bands in Boston and Vermont, leading original proj- Award. Gold will be recognized during an online Foundation Honors event ects Jupitang, SunDyL and Gold Standard, which were largely infl uenced on Dec. 8 hosted by the American Society of Composers, Authors and by jazz, fi lm soundtracks, pop and ambient music. Publishers Foundation. Gold has recorded on over 40 releases, several of which have featured The annual award, which carries a $3,000 scholarship, is presented to his compositions and production. His songs have been featured in a a UNO graduate student in jazz studies who demonstrates excellence number of short fi lms and radio pieces. in composition, and is supported by the Louis Armstrong Educational Since moving to New Orleans Gold has become a regular fi xture in the Foundation. local music scene, performing regularly on Frenchmen Street and at the The foundation, founded and funded by jazz musician Louis Armstrong city’s festivals with numerous bands in a wide variety of genres. in 1969, was reportedly his way of giving back to the world some of the The ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Fund provides scholarships to goodness he received throughout his lifetime. jazz composers studying in New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Alumni Abound on Gambit’s Annual ‘Overachiever’ List

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW Erica Chomsky-Adelson – is the director of transit Orleans is well represented on 2017, B.S. Urban Studies planning for the RTA. Gambit’s 2020 “40 Under Forty” & Planning. Founder and He is currently working list. Th e list is composed of 40 executive director of on a network redesign of people under the age of 40 who Culture Aid NOLA. Th e the New Orleans transit are “making a diff erence in the nonprofi t distributes meals system. New Orleans area.” and groceries twice a week, Paul Thibodeaux – 2010, Th e public was invited delivers food to homes and B.A. Music. Coordinator, to nominate their favorite helps connect people with Feed the Second Line. “overachiever, do-gooder or other needed services. Th ibodeaux, a musician, mover and shaker” for the award. Michael Gulotta – 1999, B.A. helps support elderly Of the 40 people selected, Studio Art. Executive chef “cultural bearers,” with eight of them, or 20% of the and co-owner, Mopho and food deliveries and entire list, are UNO graduates. Maypop restaurants in New other services during the Th ey are: Orleans. pandemic. Renard Bridgewater – 2010, Kristin Malone Johnson – Kyley Pulphus – 2003, B.A. Todd Wackerman – 2014, B.A. Studio Art. Bridgewater is 2009, B.S. Management. Owner Communications. Director of Master’s in secondary education the musician and community and creative director, Home 826 New Orleans, a national general science. Director and engagement coordinator Malone. Th e Mid-City retail writing program. Pulphus co-founder, STEM Library Lab. for the Music and Culture shop specializes in selling work works with young children Th e lab provides school access Coalition of New Orleans. He from local artists, including writers to publish books. to special equipment, lesson develops partnerships for the artwork, clothing and home Vivek Shah – 2012. M.S. Urban plans and training via annual organization. décor. & Regional Planning. Shah memberships.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 15 CWW Director M.O. Walsh Publishes Second Novel

M.O. WALSH, DIRECTOR OF that it can tell a person what the University of New Orleans their utmost potential would Creative Writing Workshop, be by analyzing their DNA. has published his highly antici- “So, people who have been pated second novel, “The Big construction workers for the Door Prize.” He struck literary last 20 years might get a read- gold in 2015 with his debut out from this machine saying novel, “My Sunshine Away,” they would actually be a really which made The New York great chef or tennis player or Times bestseller list. accountant, if they pursued it,” His second novel has Walsh says. garnered early praise with “The more people try the starred reviews from Publish- machine, the more the town er’s Weekly and Booklist. The gets engrossed with it as people Atlanta Journal Constitution start trying out some strange also named it one of the most new paths.” anticipated Southern books of Among those trying out the fall. the machine is the novel’s main Readers might also see the couple, Douglas and Cherilyn, want to?’” “The Big Door Prize,” set in a characters and storyline play who get very different read- Walsh takes the title of his fictional south Louisiana town, is out on television. outs that makes them question book from a line in the John M.O. Walsh’s second novel. “The book has also been if they are truly as happy as Prine song, “In Spite of Our- optioned for television by Sky- they’d thought, Walsh says. selves” that goes: dance Media, with David West “This is not a sci fi novel. “In spite of ourselves/ Read (Schitt’s Creek) as the It’s a more humorous and we’ll end up sitting on writer,” Walsh says. “So, fingers heartfelt look at people and a rainbow/Against all crossed that works out!” how they square themselves odds, honey/We’re the The book is set in the small with their dreams,” Walsh says. big door prize.” fictional town of Deerfield, “I think a lot of us are doing “It’s a great and La., the type of town where this now, in fact, since we’ve funny love song about “everybody knows everybody,” been quarantined or lost our a couple realizing that, Walsh says. jobs this year. although they are both The novel starts with the “It’s like we’re all looking flawed and strange, they arrival of a strange new ma- around, thinking: ‘Is this who have each other, and chine at the local grocery story I want to be? How did it get that’s the best thing they that looks like a photo booth. this way? Is this a chance for could ask for in life,” However, the machine claims me to change? And, if so, do I Walsh says.

16 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 UNO Professor Steve Mumford Leads GNOF Study on the State of Nonprofits in SE Louisiana During COVID-19

A TEAM OF UNIVERSITY OF New Orleans researchers, led by political science professor Steve Mumford, produced a study on the state of nonprofits in southeastern Louisiana that shows many organizations have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, while struggling to continue to provide services to the public. “We as a society need to better recognize the essential role nonprofits play in many spheres of life. The pandemic has highlighted that fact like so many other disparities,” Mumford says. “At this time, nonprofits—especially those continuing to provide direct services to our communities— are hit twice: once by the surge vice programming,” says Andy “The sector is also in- A study led by UNO political in demand for their services as Kopplin, President and CEO credibly diverse: it includes science professor Steve Mumford people are struggling across the of the Greater New Orleans human service agencies of all found nonprofits were hard hit by board; and secondly, in terms Foundation. “As we work our kinds, but also arts and culture COVID-19, while struggling to of finances, as operational costs way through this crisis, GNOF organizations, community- continue to provide services. went up for them at the same believes that maintaining a led advocacy groups, and time that revenues and dona- strong and robust nonprofit so on,” Mumford says. “Just tions quickly decrease.” sector is critical to our region’s think of all the festivals and ment and foundation funders, The “Study on the State of future. events canceled in our region and more people to lend voices Nonprofits in Southeast Loui- “Our region depends on this spring—that was critical to their causes,” Mumford says. siana Amidst COVID-19” was nonprofits for over 55,000 revenue for our nonprofits to “Hopefully this report helps released June 8. It was commis- jobs, as well as for their work survive.” spark some of that interest and sioned by the Greater New Or- addressing urgent needs from Nonprofits employ 12% awareness.” leans Foundation as a part of its health care to homelessness to of the workforce in the New Mumford applauded his comprehensive response effort food security, for educating out- Orleans metro area, Mum- research team—graduate assis- to help nonprofits, philanthropy of-school young people, taking ford says. Despite the crucial tant DeVante Starks and three and civic organizations better care of seniors and providing role the organizations play in undergraduate Tolmas Scholars understand the impact the pan- cultural opportunities that give providing a social safety net, funded through UNO’s Office demic has had on the critical us inspiration and joy.” advocating for the region’s of Research—Kielee Clement, nonprofit sector. Mumford currently works most vulnerable residents and Ariane Dent and Mckenzie “This study shows that 43% with the Greater New Orleans enriching our culture, their Howell—for helping produce of nonprofits in our region are Foundation to provide training employees are at risk of losing the study. working on the front lines of and coaching in program evalu- their jobs and are losing pay, “This was a collective effort the COVID-19 pandemic and ation to nonprofits throughout Mumford says. that really showcases the depth nearly three-quarters of them the region. He says many of the “Nonprofits need donations of our talent at UNO, and our have been impacted financially nonprofits provide essential for sure and consistently over ability to contribute to our from canceled fundraisers to in- services, “basically as an arm, time. But, they also need more community through expertise,” terruptions in their fee-for-ser- or in place, of government.” support and trust from govern- Mumford says.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GNOF FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 17 UNO Professors’ Research Targets Viral Proteins to Stop COVID-19

UNIVERSITY OF NEW because of the helicase’s flexibility of helicase.” Orleans chemistry professor highly flexible nature, designing The UNO researchers Steve Rick and computer sci- a drug to fit is difficult since have been granted use of a ence professor Chris Summa you may not really know the super computer—aptly named are part of a global research structure to target. Comet—at the San Diego consortium studying ways to Rick and Summa’s research Supercomputing Center. inhibit the virus that causes seeks to understand how the “We are running dynamics COVID-19. helicase protein moves and of the helicase, a fairly large The COVID-19 High changes structure. protein, so we can follow how it Performance Computing “From the three-dimen- moves,” Rick says. “The simula- Consortium is a private-public sional structure of a protein, tions allow us to see how all the funding initiative, spearheaded inhibitors can be designed to atoms move. We can do that Steve Rick by the White House Office of hinder replication of a virus, with and without a potential Science and Technology Policy, but the flexibility of helicase drug bound to it.” the U.S. Department of Energy makes it a challenge for Those computer simula- and IBM to bring together structural-based drug design,” tions will be aided by an federal government, industry, Rick says. “We will use high enhanced sampling and academic leaders, to accel- performance computing, method developed erate research for fighting the on some of the fastest at the University of novel coronavirus. computers in the New Orleans that Rick and Summa’s research world, to gain a allows researchers is on the viral protein helicase, better under- to determine struc- a promising target against standing of the tural changes more Severe Acute Respiratory quickly. The struc- Chris Summa Syndrome Coronavirus 2 tures that result will (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that be clustered into causes COVID-19. different structural The virus needs the helicase groups and shared protein in order to replicate with the scientific and grow inside the body. If community, so that researchers can design a drug they can be used for to attach to that protein, it drug design. could inhibit the virus’ “By studying how it growth. However, moves, we can figure out what shapes or conforma- tions it’s most likely to be in, which we will share with other scientists who are experts in drug design,” Summa says.

This is a representation of the three dimensional structure of SARS-CoC-2 helicase with a potential inhibitor in dark grey near the bottom of the structure.

18 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 UNO Professor Randy Kearns Works To Improve Pediatric Emergency Care

LOUISIANA HAD THE highest child fatality rate in the United States from 2014 to 2016, the three most recent years that complete federal data is available. While numerous factors contributed to that rate, University of New Orleans professor Randy Kearns’ focus is on pediatric emergency care. With the help of a federal grant, Kearns is leading a consortium of medical personnel and first responders in creating a model for improving pre-hospital emergency care for the state’s youngest residents. “It is imperative that gaps in pediatric care are identified and closed,” Kearns says. “The focus is helping paramedics and EMTs build their skills to better care for pediatric patients.” Kearns, a healthcare management professor with an extensive background in encounters in Louisiana. Of the Coordinators (PECCs) to Healthcare management professor healthcare administration, 44,884 pediatric encounters, ensure consistency in care Randy Kearns is leading a public health, disaster and 11,650 were 911 calls to a scene. and response, said Kearns, consortium of medical personnel emergency management, is the Approximately 73% of EMS who is a former paramedic. A and first responders to create a project director on a four-year, agencies in Louisiana self‐ PECC would be stationed in statewide model for improving $251,000 grant from the Health disclose a lack of training with all emergency management emergency care for children.. Resources and Services Admin- pediatric‐specific equipment. agencies and would help istration (HRSA), “Whenever an accident emergency responders build an agency of the occurs, the tip of the and maintain those specialized U.S. Department spear is that someone pediatric skills. project include the program’s of Health and dials 911 and the first “It’s putting people in medical director, Dr. Toni Gross, Human Services. person to be at the a position so that they can who is chief of the emergency The University side of the patient do a better job of accurately department at Children’s of New Orleans is the paramedic,” providing the care and trans- Hospital New Orleans; Amanda is one of only five Kearns says. “So, we porting the patient to the most Perry, who is the EMS for recipients of a want to be sure that appropriate destination for their Children coordinator for the HRSA targeted paramedics have injury,” Kearns says. state of Louisiana and Gail initiative grant been provided with Kearns is collaborating Gibson, a nurse representing that will provide the training and the with children hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Randy Kearns resources, support equipment to put the EMS agencies in the state’s Health. networks, education, training patient in the position for the three largest metro areas of “The purpose of the grant and personnel development that best outcome.” New Orleans, Baton Rouge is to create a way that we can save children’s lives, Kearns The project seeks to improve and Shreveport to compile data can capture data, put in an says. EMS readiness in part by that will be used to design a improvement plan, monitor the In 2018, there were 44,884 creating a statewide consortium statewide model. process and then hopefully show EMS records of pediatric of Pediatric Emergency Care Key collaborators on the improvement,” Kearns says.

GETTY IMAGE, TOP FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 19 Transportation Studies Professor Seeks to Reduce State Rail Crossings

THERE ARE MORE THAN According to the Bureau University of New Orleans trans- 3,000 at-grade crossings of of Transportation Statistics, an portation studies professor Guang public and private roads with arm of the U.S. Department of Tian is researching ways to reduce railroads in Louisiana, which Transportation, in 2018 there the number of railroad crossings researchers say contribute to were 91 grade crossing collisions in Louisiana, which has one of the the state being among the top recorded in Louisiana, including highest number of grade crossing 10 in the nation with the most six fatalities. Nationwide there collisions in the nation. grade crossings collisions each were 2,220 collisions and 273 year. fatalities that year. transportation departments and University of New Orleans In addition to presenting agencies, railroad companies transportation studies professor safety concerns, at-grade and rail users to understand Guang Tian is studying ways crossings also hamper railroad better the concerns and to reduce the number of operations and efficiency, Tian potential barriers to closure. railroad crossings, which could says. The 2015 Louisiana help decrease accidents. A “This research will provide Statewide Transportation Plan nearly $50,000 grant from the recommendations to help includes an element that calls Guang Tian Louisiana Research Center is efficiently and strategically for research into incentive funding his yearlong research. reduce the number of public and programs, Tian says. His At-grade crossings of public private crossings in Louisiana,” research will attempt to identify and private roads with railroads Tian says. incentive programs that could be create a unique intersection Tian says the research would used to entice voluntary closure where trains, vehicles and other include statewide surveys and of public and private crossings, users meet, Tian says. interviews with local and state Tian says.

20 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Cycling, Walking Increased During Covid-19

YOU MIGHT HAVE facilities where infrastructure Trail in mid-April noticed the evidence is being upgraded, as well as compared to anecdotally: the empty bike to measure overall changes pre-pandemic. racks at stores or seemingly throughout the bikeway t"DUJWJUZPOBMM more of your neighbors cycling network. other trails measured or walking around the block. A key component of both also increased University of New Orleans projects involved the instal- notably, including Transportation Institute lation of several new permanent, the Jeff Davis Trail, researcher Tara Tolford has continuous automated count Lafitte Greenway, data that shows bike riding and devices on key trails and Algiers Point Levee walking have increased dramati- bikeways in New Orleans, Trail, as did use of cally during the COVID-19 Tolford says. the bike lanes on pandemic, particularly during The counters were installed Esplanade Avenue. the stay-at-home order. during the first week of March, tćFĕSTUGFX “Count data collected at shortly before Gov. John Bel weeks showed the a bunch of different locations Edwards issued a stay-home most rapid growth, continuously since early March order in an attempt to slow the but the highest days show huge increases in biking spread of the novel coronavirus. of use were during and walking during COVID, Several of the counters what would normally which aligns with what basically were placed at locations where have been festival everybody has been finding and previous counts had been weekends. In many seeing,” Tolford says. collected, allowing cases, researchers saw The data is part researchers to record high counts of UNO Transpor- compare current comparable to what tation Institute’s patterns to past they would expect work on two linked observations, if festivals were still projects that focuses Tolford says. The happening. on the collection sensors use infrared “In sum, we have and application technology to count observed an extraor- of pedestrian and pedestrians, paired dinary increase in bicycle count data. with inductive loops trail and bikeway use One of the embedded in the during the pandemic as people A cyclist rides over a counter project is sponsored trail or road surface sought opportunities to get out on Esplanade Avenue in New by the Louisiana Tara Tolford or pneumatic tubes of the house, safely,” Tolford Orleans. UNO Transpor- Transportation Research Center to count bicycles. says. “This also aligns with what tation Institute researcher Tara and is aimed at initiating coordi- “What we found is that at has been reported locally and Tolford has data that shows nated volume data collection for all of the facilities monitored, nationwide about increased use bike riding and walking have people walking and bicycling marked increases in usage of trails, parks, and bikeways, increased dramatically during the around the state, in order to were observed during the as well as widespread reports of COVID-19 pandemic. more accurately assess long- stay-at-home order compared bike shops selling out of bikes.” range trends and develop to pre-pandemic, except at Tolford says it is also demand models and safety one count location in the CBD important to note that not evaluation tools, Tolford says. (Baronne Street) where the everyone has equal access to says. “We know we have major The second project is impact of a sharp drop off in great facilities. health disparities in this city, sponsored by People for Bikes, commuters is evident in reduced “There are a lot of people and inequitable access to active which has partnered with the volumes,” Tolford says. who live in neighborhoods who transportation infrastructure is a City of New Orleans to support Looking at the data through don’t have trails, and may not be part of that. implementation of the city’s mid-May, when statewide able to safely go out with their “We hope that this data “Moving New Orleans Bikes” restrictions began to ease, families on foot or on bike to get will help show that it’s more plan. UNOTI’s role is to support researchers found: exercise and all of the benefits important than ever that we evaluation by collecting data t8BMLJOHBOECJDZDMJOH to health and sanity that come create space on our public streets about changes in use of specific went up 263% on the Wisner along with being active,” she for people to walk and bike.”

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 21 Professor Phoebe Zito Awarded Early-Career Research Fellowship University of New Orleans universities and research insti- chemistry professor Phoebe Zito tutions. Each fellow receives has been awarded a 2020 Early- a $76,000 fi nancial award, Career Research Fellowship by mentoring support, and a built-in the National Academies’ Gulf community of colleagues who technical skills, and the ability to University of New Orleans Research Program. share an interest in the well-being work across disciplines.” chemistry professor Phoebe Zito Zito is one of only 20 of Gulf Coast communities and Zito is currently collabo- (center) has been awarded an early scientists to earn the two-year ecosystems. rating research eff orts with Malay career research fellowship. fellowship, which is awarded to Since the award is not Ghose Hajra, associate professor emerging scientifi c leaders who attached to a specifi c project, and chair of UNO’s Department homes due to coastal erosion. are prepared to work in environ- fellows are able to use the support of Civil and Environmental One approach to mitigating mental health, community health to pursue bold, nontraditional Engineering, to combine against the risks of coastal zone and resilience, and off shore research that they otherwise knowledge and tools from each habitation has been to alter energy system safety in the Gulf might not be able to conduct, of their disciplines to tackle coastal environments through of Mexico and other U.S. coastal program administrators say. coastal erosion problems around placement of dredged material regions. “Th e early years of a Southeast Louisiana. and the modifi cation of natural “It’s an honor and a privilege researcher’s career are a critical “Th e collaboration with waterways to provide a larger to be selected for this award,” Zito time. Th is program gives fellows civil and environmental barrier against inland fl ooding says. “I’ve faced a lot of adversity the independence and fl exibility engineering is an exciting and to increase the likelihood of to get to where I am today, which to explore untested ideas and opportunity to study contami- fl oodwater runoff respectively, is living my dream as a professor develop lasting collabora- nants in our own backyard which Zito says. studying environmental tions,” says Lauren Alexander will give undergraduate and “Our interdisciplinary chemistry. I hope to inspire other Augustine, executive director of graduate students perspective collaboration focuses on devel- female scientists to fi ght through the Gulf Research Program. regarding how a chemists oping a much needed, better adversity and pursue a career in “Th e 2020 class of fellows approaches contaminants versus understanding of the chemical STEM.” are a distinguished group of an engineer,” Zito says. and physical interaction between Th e fellowship, which individuals who have demon- Nearly half of the population dredged materials, altered began Sept. 1, is awarded to strated superior scholarship, of Louisiana live on the coast waterways and natural environ- tenure-track faculty at colleges, exceptional scientifi c and and are in danger of losing their ments,” Zito says.

Chemistry Professors Work With New Orleans Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizers ONE OF THE MAJOR specifi cations. Control recommends using a weapons in the fi ght to curb the Th e Chemical Analysis hand sanitizer with at least 60% spread of the coronavirus is the and Mass Spectrometry alcohol to avoid getting sick use of hand sanitizers. However, Facility at UNO, under the and spreading germs. when the demand for the hand co-direction of Zito and “Th e CAMS facility cleanser outpaced supply, some Podgorski, has partnered provides certifi cates of analysis New Orleans distilleries fi lled the with two distilleries that have for the active ingredients in void by using their alcohol stock switched operations from their hand sanitizers so the to produce the sanitizer. making alcohol to making Phoebe Zito David Podgorski distilleries can prove that University of New Orleans hand sanitizer for clinics and their products meet specifi ca- chemistry professors Phoebe Zito hospitals in the region. guidelines regulated by the tions,” Zito says. “It’s such a great and David Podgorski are helping “David and I are working World Health Organization,” opportunity, and we are very to ensure that the distillery-made with PorchJam and distillery Zito says. glad we are able to contribute sanitizers meet with FDA and to test their hand sanitizer for When soap and water are not and help our community World Health Organization ethanol content to meet the available, the Center for Disease through these crazy times.”

22 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 When Privateers stick together, we can do great things.

At the University of New Orleans, support from our alumni pushes the University forward. Together, we can build and Put UNO First today. strengthen many of the University of New Orleans’ critical initiatives, connect people give.uno.edu with opportunity, transform lives and uplift communities. Last year, the University of New Orleans experienced record support from the Privateer Nation. Imagine how many more opportunities we could offer by increasing alumni participation in giving. Show your Privateer Pride and consider a gift today. Thank you. Go Privateers! You are the epic start to the third decade of the 21st

Century. You, no doubt, will be described in superlatives by historians, sociologists and others who one day will study in depth your monumental season. They will have much to ruminate on: COVID-19 and the global pandemic; stay-home mandates and protective masks;

Black Lives Matter demonstrations; racial reckoning and systemic racism; cultural, gender and ethnic diversity; virtual graduation; presidential politics; a national election; hurricanes with names from the Sarah Johnson: Greek alphabet and raging wildﬁres on the West

Coast, among other topics. For the present, we asked Revolutionary My word is revolutionary. Historically, several University of New Orleans students to lend great change has only come through con- ﬂict and pain. This year has been a continu- their perspective—using just a word or phrase—that ous line of tragedies, but people have taken the opportunity to step up against injustice and to show support for their communities. offers a personal glimpse into the epoch-making year. I’m hoping that this year can be the start of a revolution that creates a more just and PHOTOGRAPHS BY TRACIE MORRIS SCHAEFER compassionate world.

24 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Michael A Connick: Crucible We currently reside in a crucible, a time of intense anxiety, tension, pressure, and suffer- ing caused by many factors such as a global pandemic, political clashes, racial injustice and ravaging ﬂames. However, just as a scientist uses a crucible to purify chemical compounds, this period of stress and anguish will serve as a watershed, steering us in the direction of acceptance, dialogue, and peace.

Amaya Felix: Strength My word is strength. It took strength to survive the year 2020 so if you made it this far you have the strength to make it further!

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 25 Josie Oliva: Change Over the course of this pandemic, it has become shockingly clear to me that we are charging into a new era. The way of the world is shifting day by day, and it oftentimes feels as if we will never reach the point of equilibrium, never regain a sense of security. Yet, in the face of all that has been lost, it’s imperative that we recognize all the good that these trying times have brought about—the newfound appreciation of friendship, the strengthening of family, the rise of community leaders, and the realization that each day of our lives is precious. For our sake, I hope we never regress to what we once called “normal,” but rather progress forward to new possibil- ities and embrace the winds of change.

Rashad L. Richardson: Enouement Enouement is the feeling of arriving at the future and not being able to tell your past self about it. I’m only upset because I would’ve told my younger self that everything would’ve been OK.

26 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Julianne Marie Romero: Fortitude The deﬁnition of fortitude is ”courage in pain and adversity.” We have been through so much during 2020 from the pandemic to racial injustices. The fact that we are here working hard through these trying times is all you need to know about us Privateers. #UNOPROUD

Alexandra Louis: Blessing I have been given time to rest, reset and recuperate. There was a lot of self-growth and ﬁnancial blessings that oc- curred. Family time became a priority, and I became grateful of what I had even when it was counted as a loss. Blessings on blessings.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 27 Azizah Hinnawi: Transformative I’d say 2020 has been a transformative year because as people we’re always faced with so many tasks and responsibilities that we begin to forget to actually live our lives. With quarantine, we’ve been given the rare opportunity to take a pause and take some time to just focus on ourselves in the moment. It’s personally allowed me to take a long, hard look at myself and allowed me to be able to work on bettering myself in ways that I didn’t even know I needed.

28 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Gabriella Guzman: Unpredictable 2020 has thrown many unexpected curve balls but we have learned to adapt to the new world. I think that 2020 has been a rough year all around for everyone, but on the bright side it has brought new knowledge, new ways to adapt and a new way to view the world. 2020 may have brought many people to their breaking point, but after every storm there is a rainbow!

Keith Baker: Hope In these trying times all we can do is hope. Hope is the driving force to keep spirits high and elevate belief in a better tomorrow.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 29 Pulitzer Prize Poet and alumnus Jericho Brown

30 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 ‘What I’m doing now still bears upon what I learned at UNO’

JERICHO BROWN RECALLS HIS Brown to learn more about poetry days of leaving his downtown New and keep his job, he says. It was Orleans offi ce to navigate the I-10 at UNO that he found a love and East traffi c toward the University of appreciation for poetic form under New Orleans. Brown spent much the direction of poetry professors of his time navigating the political Kay Murphy and John Gery, Brown landscape as a speechwriter for says. then-Mayor Marc Morial before One of the features included heading to UNO’s Creative Writing in his Pulitzer Prize winning Workshop. book, “Th e Tradition,” is a form he “By the time I got there and sat invented called the duplex, he says. down, it would be 5:59,” Brown says “When I was inventing that with a laugh. “I would be just in time form, I was doing it having taken for my 6 o’clock class and so I was those classes with Kay Murphy always glad that they off ered those with learning how form can work classes!” in poems,” says Brown, who earned Th e evening classes allowed an MFA in creative writing BY LITTICE BACON-BLOOD

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 31 from UNO in 2002. “So what I’m doing now still bears upon what I once in a while just yelps. Intermittent hollers!” learned at UNO.” The 2020 Pulitzer in Poetry is awarded for a distinguished The courses at UNO also sparked another interest in Brown: volume of original verse by an American author and carries a teaching. $15,000 prize. “Taking the classes at UNO is what really got me thinking more The Pulitzer Prize Board described Brown’s work as a seriously about pedagogy and thinking about “collection of masterful lyrics that combine how I would run a class,” Brown says. delicacy with historical urgency in their loving “John (Gery) had workshops with poems evocation of bodies vulnerable to hostility and where he had us looking at our own work. But, “It’s not just that violence.” he always had us doing that in the context of the Brown has authored three books. His first history of poetry in the United States. So, it’s not book, “Please” (New Issues 2008), won the just that we were looking at our poems, we were I’m looking at this American Book Award. Brown’s second book, also looking at poems that were possible influ- “The New Testament” (Copper Canyon 2014), ences for revisions.” won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third Brown, who holds a bachelor’s degree from collection, “The Tradition,” was a finalist for the Dillard University in New Orleans, later earned a dark underside National Book Award and the National Book doctorate in literature and creative writing from Critics Circle Award. the University of Houston. He lives in Atlanta and In his classes at Emory, Brown encourages is an associate professor and the director of the of life, I’m also his students to “feel free to fail.” Creative Writing Program at Emory University. “My classroom is one, I hope it is one, where Now, Brown has earned a writer’s pinnacle students make all kinds of mistakes and from of recognition—a Pulitzer Prize. Brown received looking at how we those mistakes, learn what they want things to the prestigious honor in May for “The Tradition,” actually look like,” Brown says. “I’m trying to get his most recent poetry collection that was them to tell the truth. All good writing has to tell published in 2019 by Copper Canyon Press. the truth.” “I cried. I think I screamed,” Brown says survive in spite of laughing. “It’s funny, the screams were inter- THE TRADITION mittent. Like I would scream; then I would make Brown takes the title of his book from a a sandwich and I would scream again. Every the dark underside.” poem in the collection with the same name,

32 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 “The Tradition.” Published in 2019 and heralded with the Pulitzer Prize on May 4, prior to the world knowing the name “George Floyd,” the poem is both eerily prescient and sadly historical in its content. Like much of the book, the poem “The Tradition,” is a pastoral poem on its surface. It is about the environment, about the concerns about the natural world, Brown says. “While that’s at the base of the book, the book doesn’t ignore social justices, social issues that are also going on in that world,” Brown says. The poem is at first about Black men tending to a garden of flowers. In the end, the last line is: John Crawford. Eric Garner. Mike Brown. “In that moment, we find that this isn’t just a world of flowers,” Brown says. “It’s also a world where unarmed Black people get murdered by police for doing absolutely nothing wrong. “That’s part of why I called the whole book ‘The Tradition.’ That poem is a sonnet. We always think of the sonnet as probably the most traditional of forms.” The title also alludes to the “normalization” of injustice, Brown says. It underlines how we live through cultural and societal assaults as if they are normal. “It’s a book about the fact that when someone defiles someone else’s body we say in common parlance, ‘She got raped.’ And in that sentence nobody did the raping; somebody went out and got ‘a to see if his name would be called. Atlanta residents, like many rape,’ as if you can buy one at Kroger,” Brown says. others in May, were under a stay-home order because of COVID-19. “Part of what the book is about is how, even at the level of “I was by myself in my room, sitting on my bed trying to make sentences as simple as that, we buy into a kind of normalization of sure my computer worked; making sure I hadn’t missed it,” Brown evil. I didn’t want to buy into that anymore.” says with a laugh. “When that lady said my name, woo! I was The book also is about love and joy, Brown says. He hopes happy!” readers come away with both perspectives. Brown could not keep pace with the text, calls and social media “It’s not just that I’m looking at this dark underside of life, I’m congratulatory shout outs, so he just took time to bask in the also looking at how we survive in spite of the dark underside,” accomplishment. Brown says. “I think I’ve talked to – or maybe texted or emailed – everyone I’ve ever known,” said Brown. ‘A DERIVATIVE OF A DERIVATIVE’ At one point, his phone indicated he had more than 650 texts, When he was 28 and publishing poems professionally, Brown he said. decided to change his name from Nelson Demery III. “I gave up because I couldn’t keep up!” “I was the third and when I started having poems published it His church family from Shreveport reached out as well, Brown would say Nelson Demery III and it drove me crazy,” says Brown, says. He still remembers when he left home for college, how who grew up in Shreveport, La. “I wanted my poems to have a members of the Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church supported name on them that was only mine. I didn’t want to share it with my and encouraged him. dad or granddad. I wanted to reinvent myself.” “When I went off to college there were all these women who’d Brown laughs now at what he described as his “romantic” hand me $5, and those many $5 is how I ate my first year in college reasoning for the name change. … how I had money to do laundry,” Brown says. “Some of those “Everybody in my family, everybody in my church and growing women were calling me on the phone and it just feels really good up always called me Trey, which literally means three, you know that their $5 investment seems to have paid off.” what I mean? I was the third one of myself,” Brown says. “I was like Asked what the Pulitzer Prize means to him—beyond the a derivative of a derivative for heaven’s sakes! At least that’s how I obvious universal prestige associated with its bestowal—Brown saw it. gets a bit emotional as he talks about the late poet Gwendolyn “If I had become a poet later, maybe I would have been old Brooks. enough to not think so romantically about it.” This year marks the 70th anniversary of Brooks being awarded Despite his professional name change, Brown is proud of his a Pulitzer Prize in poetry for her book, “Annie Allen,” and family name and the strong bonds it represents. He credits his becoming the first Black person to win a Pulitzer. parents’ hardline stance on education excellence for his success. “So what it means for me is that I’m becoming a part of the “I have a sense of discipline and a sense of belief in getting my Gwendolyn Brooks tradition of poetry writing, which is to say work done,” Brown says. “I get that from my daddy and mama.” that I’m trying to make well-crafted and subversive work,” Brown says. “Brooks has always been an idol for me; so having my name THE PULITZER AND GWENDOLYN BROOKS on any list near her name is very exciting for me and it makes me Brown watched the Pulitzer ceremony as it streamed live, waiting emotional.”

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 33 Treasurer of theArts Alumna Deleen Davidson turns a forced move into a career makeover BY LITTICE BACON-BLOOD

FORCED TO EVACUATE SLIDELL AHEAD OF HURRICANE “I realized that there were no year-round music or arts Katrina in 2005, University of New Orleans alumna Deleen programs in the area, and that if I were going to perform I would Davidson has turned her tale of woe into a creative enterprise have to create that platform myself,” Davidson says. “They had art garnering rave reviews in Hot Springs, Arkansas. galleries, and there was interest in classical music, but very little Davidson, a classically trained soprano whose bachelor’s degree access to live performance and limited education and exposure in history is accompanied by minor studies in music, fine art and across all age groups and economic levels.” German, founded The Muses Creative Artistry Project in 2007, two Davidson began researching the how-to of building a years after her emergency move. nonprofit organization, networking and accepting singing engage- Davidson’s parents had built a house in Hot Springs with plans ments wherever she was invited. She taught art appreciation at to retire there. After Davidson’s father died, her mother was going a community college and joined the summer faculty of the Hot to sell the house, but never got around to it. Springs Music Festival. “It became the place we evacuated to and ended up staying,” With the help of a local women’s group, she raised enough Davidson says. “It was a God-thing. We were protected and had a money from a $50-a-plate luncheon to buy a piano. Her old one place to come and start over.” perished in the 20-foot storm surge that swamped her Slidell home. The nonprofit arts organization is dedicated to “excellence, “I began performing small chamber concerts in my home, and inspiration and wellness, preserving classical art and music in area churches, inviting other talented musicians to join me, and through performance and education,” Davidson says. growing a group of supporters who had a desire for high-quality It has become the area’s only year-round touring performing artistic performance,” Davidson says. arts organization, presenting premier productions throughout the She was invited to perform at the Arkansas governor’s mansion state and region. In 2016, the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce twice under then-Gov. Mike Beebe’s administration. The governor nominated Davidson for a “Woman of the Year” award and and his wife became major supporters of her push to establish nominated her company for a community service award for best performing arts programs, she says. organization. ‘TREASURER OF THE ARTS’ CREATING A PLATFORM In 2008, just three years after evacuating Louisiana with her Soon after arriving in Hot Springs, Davidson quickly ascer- mother, “four cats, one laptop computer and two changes of tained that what she had taken for granted in New Orleans—ample clothing,” Davidson’s was named Arkansas’ “Treasurer of the Arts,” and easy access to the myriad performance arts—did not exist in by the Beebe administration. her adopted city. “It wasn’t a functional title, but it indicated that they believed

34 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 the arts in the state was of value and that they needed someone to Many performing arts students were directed to the teaching advocate for them and treasure them,” Davidson says. “I would go profession instead of professional performances because there around as the ‘Treasurer of the Arts’ and talk about the connection were no local opportunities available to refine those skills, between economic vitality and artistic excellence.” Davidson says. She learned how community leaders used the arts to tout “Muses became that space between ‘I’ve got my education, quality of life during the recruitment of businesses, Davidson I understand it theoretically, but I don’t know how to put it into says, and it became her focus to champion the artists and financial practice,’” Davidson says. “So they started coming here.” support for the arts. “They will tell you they have a Friday night art walk and they ARTISTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP have music in the park on Sundays and they will play up all of the The program started with five students and now has regular artistic … they love to accentuate the arts,” Davidson says. “But rotations of 20 to 25 student performers who are paid for their how do you support them? I love that the communities want to use performances through sponsors. the arts as a selling point, but don’t exploit the artists. “I get banks and corporations and insurance companies to “If you’re going to use the arts, pay the artists. So we pay the realize that this is job training just like any other and these kids artists first, we do not exploit the product producer.” have a skill. They have a gift and we need to compensate them for their work,” says Davidson. “And (students) need to learn that their MUSES TAKES FLIGHT skill has value and is compensated when honed.” The Muses project began on a shoestring budget, Davidson Davidson also is a fierce advocate for the value of a liberal arts says, that allowed for only two to four performers with no degree. costumes, special lighting or sound equipment. “I love my UNO education, it changed my life,” says Davidson, It has blossomed into a regional production company that who says she still relies on choral techniques learned at UNO to is housed in its own downtown building, purchased in 2013, direct her church choir. “I was not a trained director, but I had the that includes a 150-seat performance hall, offices, kitchen and a best choral instructor in the country when I was at UNO. Dr. Ray reception hall. Sprague taught me everything good I know about choral music.” The organization regularly produces six to 12 new shows each Choosing to pursue a career in liberal arts does not “condemn season with casts of 30 paid performers or more. you or your loved one to a life of deprivation and despair,” says The shows range in genre and scope, everything from opera, Davidson, whose mother was an opera singer. Her father was an Broadway and jazz to sacred classical choral and chamber salon engineer. concerts, and Celtic and world music. They involve multiple artistic Both supported her eventual career path to the arts, and she disciplines, including vocal and instrumental music, dance, visual tries to lend that same support through The Muses project. art, poetry and drama, Davidson says. “Because I have dedicated my life to the arts, and sincerely Davidson said Muses, named for the creative and inspirational believe that artistic entrepreneurship can be taught, my favorite goddesses in Greek mythology and a nod to her New Orleans thing is working with students who love the arts, but have no idea roots, also provides on-the-job-training through its Young Artists how to connect the dots, build their program of study or design Program for area college students who previously lacked an outlet a potential career,” Davidson says. “Creativity is a commodity of for their creative endeavors. great value, and can be leveraged in many unexpected ways.” In Davidson’s case, her creativity yielded a thriving nonprofit University of New Orleans alumna Deleen Davidson founded the Hot arts program from a personal ground zero. Springs, Arkansas-based Muses Creative Artistry Project, which promotes “I’m so grateful,” Davidson says “I’m grateful that by my the performing arts. BELOW, FAR LEFT: with Gov. Mike Beebe. BELOW nature, I’m tenacious, I’m curious. I don’t like to quit … it just MIDDLE AND RIGHT: Casts of “Cabaret” and “The Merry Widow.” seemed logical that this should work here.”

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 35 FIVE DAYS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED BY TIM DUNCAN VICE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS AND RECREATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS

FIVE DAYS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED, I WAS STOPPED by six police officers, one with a gun drawn, because I fit a profile. It happened in May in Newton, Massachusetts, seven miles from downtown Boston. Newton is a city that is made up of 13 villages and it has some of the top public schools in the country. The racial make-up of Newton is approximately 80% white, 11% Asian, 4% Hispanic and less than 3% Black. Due to my profession, my family has moved five times in the past 11 years. Our time in Newton was among the best, both professionally

36 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 37 and personally. My family lived there for two years, and I cannot an incident that should not be a normal experience for anyone. think of any other day when my wife, Lisa, or our three children We had become so desensitized that Lisa and I continued to had an argument or a mean word directed their way. Our kids had the store, shopped and walked back home. I began to refl ect and lots of friends of many diff erent races with whom they enjoyed ask myself questions. Where was my outrage? Why wasn’t I more playing sports, walking to the local yogurt shop and hanging out upset? Is a generic description of a tall, black man enough to be with at the Boys and Girls Club. stopped with guns drawn? If the description was a tall, white man, would my neighbor have received the same treatment? ONE BLOCK FROM HOME Lisa and I were taking an aft ernoon walk up Washington PRIVATEERS 4 EQUALITY Road to Whole Foods to pick up a few items for dinner. It was a Aft er I arrived back in New Orleans with my family, I spoke beautiful, sunny Wednesday at around 4:30. Less than a block from to President Nicklow; Kelvin Queliz, assistant athletic director our house, four cars—driving aggressively—came from several for communications and marketing; and the other members of directions. Six offi cers jumped out of their cars and yelled at me to my executive team about the experience. Th ey encouraged me to put my hands in the air and don’t move. One offi cer, the uniform share my story and Kelvin thought a video message to our students immediately in front of me, had his gun drawn and pointed at me. would be a great way to make them aware of how incidents like He had my full attention. this can happen to Black men regardless of For most people, this once-in-a- educational or socioeconomic status. lifetime interaction should have scared the From the time I I held two Zoom sessions with student- crap out of them. Unfortunately, this was athletes and staff , and created a safe space not the fi rst time an overaggressive cop was a little kid, my for them to talk and share their thoughts had pulled a gun on me. I followed their about George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and instructions until they told me to reach in parents had given other recent deaths at the hands of police my pocket and grab my identifi cation. me “the talk”— offi cers. Th en I recorded a video about From the time I was a little kid, my what happened to me in Newton, and I parents had given me “the talk”—when when stopped by posted in on my social media accounts. stopped by police, be very still, be And it went viral. overly polite and don’t make any sudden police, be very still, To date, the video, which is now movements. I also remembered Philando be overly polite on YouTube, has over 24,000 views. I Castile, the Minnesota man who was shot have received over a 1,000 calls, texts, by an offi cer while reaching for his ID. and don’t make any comments, direct messages of support So when the offi cer asked me to and dozens of media requests. I have provide my ID, I politely declined and sudden movements. fi elded calls from the mayor of Newton, asked the offi cer on my right to reach in I also remembered the Massachusetts Attorney General and my pocket for me. One of them asked me multiple neighbors from Newton, friends where I lived and I told them the name Philando Castile, in Boston and from every other city where of my street, literally one block away. Th e I have lived and worked. Th e Newton offi cer who had my ID said that I wasn’t the Minnesota man police chief resigned and stated he thought the person they were looking for and told who was shot by a new leader was needed to move the the other offi cers to stand down. community forward. an officer while In the Department of Athletics, our A TALL BLACK MAN student-athletes have embraced a new Th e offi cer apologized and a person I reaching for his ID. vision called Privateers 4 Equality, which assumed was a detective, a plain clothed has four main pillars: education, civic African American woman with a badge on engagement, community service and her waist, told me they were looking for a murder suspect. I asked personnel. One of their initial goals is to educate themselves on if the suspect is 6-foot-8, which is how tall I am. All she said is the this year’s elections and ensure 100% of the domestic population description was for a tall black man. is registered to vote. I could not be more proud of them for Aft er the incident, Lisa and I continued walking to Whole embracing this moment in time and utilizing their collective Foods laughing and joking on the way. We shopped, returned platforms to make their voices heard. home and immediately told our three kids what had happened. Lisa and I feel fortunate that our incident ended peacefully, and We had “the talk” with them again, reminding them of how to we are hopeful that all future police interactions will end without handle police interactions. While families of many races and violence. Th ere are several lessons that I hope my children and our nationalities may have similar talks, we always remind them that, student-athletes take to heart: as Black people, the diff erence in their attitude and compliance Do not become numb to these types of situations. It’s OK to be is literally life or death. Lisa specifi cally told our kids that when I outraged, upset and scared every time they occur. was instructed to reach for my identifi cation, I asked the offi cer to Use your voice and your platforms to inspire awareness and do it for me. She hammered home the point for them to remain change. calm and think through situations, especially and inevitably when Register to vote, vote and encourage your friends, teammates stopped by the police. and family members to do the same. When George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis a few days later, And always remember “the talk”—be very still, be overly polite a friend whom I had mentioned the incident to said, “Tim, that and don’t make any sudden movements. Unfortunately, your life could have been you.” And that is when it hit me. I had normalized may depend on it.

PREVIOUS PAGE: SHANE BANEGAS PHOTOGRAPH 38 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Distinguished Alumni Gala to you. You’re Invited to join us virtually on

at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate UNO and honor this year’s awardees

presented by from the comfort of your own home.

2020 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Timothy J. Adams

Mayor of Bowie, Maryland President and CEO, SA-TECH

2020 Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year Sheba Turk

Co-Anchor, WWL-TV’s Eyewitness Morning News

VIRTUAL GALA FEATURING

For all Distinguished Alumni Gala information, visit uno.edu/gala A conversation on diversity, equity

Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values at How do you deﬁne Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)? What do these terms mean in practice versus on paper? the University of New Orleans that have been woven JOHNSON: Diversity is essentially about acknowledging differ- into its strategic plan. However, the work of empow- ences among people that significantly shape their lived experiences in society. In our society, these differences include race, ethnicity, ering all segments of the UNO community requires a ability status, socioeconomic class, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and age. Diversity is also about differ- collective effort to bring necessary change. ences in perspectives. Leading the campus efforts are Newtona “Tina” Inclusion is more about belonging. Being a part of and feeling comfortable within a community, whatever that community may Johnson, associate provost for faculty and diversity be. Often people from historically underrepresented groups join affairs, who serves as UNO’s chief diversity officer, a dominant social group but are alienated, marginalized and/or not treated as an equal member of that group because they are and Desirée Anderson, associate dean of student and different. They do not feel they belong—or truly included—in the group. diversity affairs. ANDERSON: The equity piece is not just that they are there, but Johnson and Anderson offer an overview of the that they’re able to adequately participate in the decision-making process in bringing in their lived experiences to influence how ongoing work aimed at creating a more diverse and we’re creating policies and procedures, so it’s not just like the same three voices dictating how and what we do. It’s not just that I get inclusive campus community. to sit at the table, but that I feel comfortable being at the table and

40 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Desirée Anderson

get that buy-in from people to want to change the system.

How do you create buy-in? JOHNSON: One way is through training. We need to move away from the blame game. We want to move it to an institutional level. Let’s look at policies, let’s look at structure, let’s look at ways in which we have inculcated certain practices. ANDERSON: Recognizing people who do the good work, rewarding them to showcase how that is part of our institutional value; that we value this type of work. JOHNSON: Any meaningful, sustainable progress in diversity, equity and inclusion requires changing institutional culture, and this change process requires collective and inclusion action. It’s a shared responsibility as it will be a shared success.

What “collectively” are you working on at UNO? JOHNSON: Here is a partial list of our collective action: The creation of the UNO Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board, made up of faculty, staff, students and community members The formulators of our new strategic plan, stakeholders from across the institution, included diversity, equity and inclusion, collectively, as one of four core values Annual training of officers of UNO’s Department of Public Safety and Security include topics such as civil rights, anti-bias, cultural awareness, hate crimes, genera- tional difference, and racial profiling. Additionally, the training covers de-escalation strategies and emphasis of minimum force Faculty and staff hiring practices have been modified to ensure diversity in candidate pools and search Newtona “Tina” Johnson committees Diversity, equity and inclusion modules have been integrated into our first-year student (UNIV) seminar and sharing my different experiences and opinion. new-student orientation JOHNSON: I think a lot of the work that we focus on has to do The Athletic Department and the Student Athlete Advisory with inclusion and equity because it’s easy to bring people who are Council have launched “Privateers 4 Equality,” their 2020-21 different to the big tent, but it’s another work for you to make them Action Plan for diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. feel that they are welcome, that they belong and that they are not marginalized or alienated. What does diversity, equity and inclusion look like at UNO and what And with equity, the end game is equality of access, equality of is the goal? resources and whatever it is we can do to provide opportunities to JOHNSON: Three goals that I can mention: Launching a presi- achieve social justice. It is removing barriers and providing oppor- dent’s award for diversity and inclusion—again recognizing those tunities so that all can be equal in a system. people who are doing the work; training and professional development for enhancing what we already have, and starting a series What makes DEI work difﬁcult? called “Courageous Conversations.” ANDERSON: The buy-in. How do you get the whole campus This series provides a forum for the exchange of perspectives community to buy-in because there will be people who see what we and ideas regarding diversity, equity and inclusion at UNO. Such can identify as very clear issues in our systems and our structures conversations are often difficult and uncomfortable, and for these and there will be people who look at that same thing and say, “I reasons avoided. But they can be very useful conversations when don’t see it.” done in a civil and respectful way as they can generate constructive And so, how do you get those people to understand how the feedback that could lead to meaningful change. system may disproportionately impact people … and that the Our long-term goal is to transform our institutional culture so collective “we” are all participating in the same system, but people we can become a truly inclusive and equitable campus community hear it as “I’m a bad person.” Therefore, they push back and we don’t in which all members feel they belong.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 41 New Orleans Ranked No. 1 in NCAA and Southland Conference for Community Service BY MATTHEW SCHAEFER

THROUGH VOLUNTEER There are over 350 collegiate Student-Athlete Advisory Com- ABOVE: The Privateers created efforts that include tutoring, programs using Helper Helper, mittee (SAAC) exhibited excep- #NOLAsTeam is Blessed to Be mentoring, reading, fundraising which tracks community service tional community service. a Blessing. Partnering with a for nonprofits and helping out hours. “What an honor for local nonprofit (Blessed to be a at camps and food banks, New The Privateers, who com- #NOLAsTeam to receive this Blessing), New Orleans packed Orleans Athletics led NCAA bined for more than 4,000 hours outstanding recognition from and donated 504 Blessing Bags to Division I programs in com- of community service, are also the Southland Conference,” says the homeless. The bags contained munity service, according to the winners of the Southland Strong Tim Duncan, vice president of water, snacks, toiletries, socks and 2019-20 Helper Helper report. Community Service Award for athletics and recreation. “I’m so a hand-written inspirational note. Additionally, nine University the 2019-20 year. proud of our Student-Athlete Administration, coaches and over of New Orleans teams finished The Southland Strong Advisory Committee, student- 150 student-athletes participated in the top-10 in the nation in Community Service Award athletes, coaches and staff who in the community service efforts. completed hours of community is presented to the Southland embody the true spirit of service service in their respective sport. Conference institution whose we preach. We will continue to

42 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 invest and give back and repre- and selected the contents of has a lasting impact on them at Southland Conference Com- sent for our university and the each bag, which included fresh this university.” munity Service award after the New Orleans community.” water, snacks, personal toilet- The UNO SAAC plans to athletic department submit- Among the Privateers vol- ries, a new pair of socks and a continue its relationship with ted a video documenting the unteer service was participation hand-written note. Blessed to be a Blessing and the student-athletes experience in an initiative called “#NO- The student-athletes coor- New Orleans Mission to con- during the campaign. LAsTeam is Blessed to be a dinated collection of the items, tinue to help the homeless. The video, created by Julie Blessing.” SAAC partnered with organized bag-packing parties “Our SAAC was rather Boudwin of Bayou Video Pro- the local nonprofit organization and two downtown delivery intentional in selecting and ductions, highlighted just one called Blessed to be a Bless- dates. coordinating a project for a of the ways in which Privateer ing and pledged to donate 504 “We came together to pack cause that was near and dear student-athletes gave back “Blessing Bags” to the homeless. and distribute 504 bags to those to the 504,” says Kirsten Elleby, to the community. During After Hurricane Katrina, in need,” says Damion Rosser, associate athletic director for 2019-20, New Orleans teams homelessness in the city sky- 2019-20 SAAC vice president. student-athlete enrichment. recorded a combined 4,139 rocketed from 2,000 people in “Why 504? It represents New “It was powerful for all of our hours of community service. 2005 to nearly 12,000 in 2007, Orleans.” student-athletes, coaches and “Witnessing the impact according to Unity of Greater The area code for New staff to collaborate with Blessed giving back to the community New Orleans, a nonprofit des- Orleans is 504. to Be a Blessing and give back had on our student-athletes ignated by the federal govern- All 178 members of SAAC, to our local community in such was humbling,” says Kelvin ment to lead the city’s efforts to along with various coaches and a meaningful and heartfelt way.” Queliz, assistant athletic provide housing and services to administrators, contributed to The Privateers won the director for communications the homeless. this initiative. and marketing. “Not every That number has decreased The student-athletes 18-22-year-old under- by almost 90% through efforts and staff loaded into stands the importance of by the city and community buses and headed out helping the less fortunate organizations, dropping the into the city, finding and it speaks to the type of number to fewer than 1,200 those in need and hand- students we have represent- in 2018, according to statistics ing out the bags and ing #NOLAsTeam.” provided by the Pew Charitable supplies to them. The Trusts. However, there is still student-athletes weren’t significant work to be done to just there to drop off ABOVE , LEFT: Members eradicate homelessness in New bags; they spoke with of the New Orleans women’s Orleans. the people they came basketball team set out to That is where the Univer- across, sharing stories deliver Blessing Bags to the sity of New Orleans Athletic along the way. homeless. ABOVE , RIGHT: program stepped in with the “You never know UNO’s student athletes lend creation of “#NOLAsTeam where people come a helping hand at a local is Blessed to Be a Blessing” from and their story,” food pantry, one of many campaign. New Orleans 2019-20 SAAC presi- community service projects. student-athletes packed and dent Nicole Broussard LEFT: Damion Rosser, 2020 donated 504 Blessing Bags to says. “It was humbling SAAC President, holds the the homeless. to see the appreciation Southland Strong community SAAC members discussed they had for us. I hope it service award.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 43 Award Winning Women’s basketball head coach Keeshawn Davenport honored with 2020 Eddie Robinson Award

NEW ORLEANS HEAD academics, sportsmanship, and dinary person/coach in Eddie New Orleans head women’s women’s basketball coach Kees- citizenship by maximizing the Robinson!” basketball coach Keeshawn hawn Davenport was selected use of limited resources. Davenport was the deserv- Davenport, center, wins 2020 as the 2020 winner of the Eddie “I was totally shocked!” ing selection aft er she wrapped Eddie Robinson Award. Robinson Award, made offi cial by Davenport says when refl ecting up her ninth season as the head the Greater New Orleans Sports on getting the call informing of her alma mater as her team Awards Committee and the All- her that she won the award. “I experienced a record-breaking ence Tournament as the group state Sugar Bowl on June 9. defi nitely didn’t think that is what year both on and off the court. was set to go on a run before the Th e award, named aft er the call was going to be about! On the hardwood, Daven- postseason was canceled minutes the Grambling State University My emotions quickly went from port led the Privateers to their before their opening-round football coaching legend, is pre- shock to this is unbelievable.” most wins since 1992-93 as the game due to the outbreak of sented annually by the Greater “I’ve said it several times and team recorded a 17-12 record. COVID-19. New Orleans Sports Committee I mean it from my heart,” she Included in that mark were 12 While the success on the to an individual in the state of adds. “To hear my name men- Southland victories, the most court is impressive, it was what Louisiana who has demonstrated tioned in the same sentence as conference wins for the squad in the Privateers accomplished off the qualities most associated Eddie Robinson is just humbling. school history. the court that really stood out. with Coach Robinson: outstand- I’m an ordinary person receiving New Orleans earned the No. Davenport, an all-academic ing achievement in athletics, an award name aft er an extraor- 5 seed in the Southland Confer- selection back in her playing

44 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 days, saw her team record a 3.168 says. “It’s important to not just limbo and without a conference we had.” GPA as a unit during the spring wear it across our chest but have to play in. “And I am not one to make semester. To go with the success the city in our hearts. I’m a firm Davenport took on the excuses,” she adds. “If I have lem- in the classroom, the Privateers believer that we are blessed to challenge head-on and started ons, my job is to make lemonade. really made their mark with their be a blessing to others. It’s not to transform the program. After So my first few years, I made work in the New Orleans com- about what our city can do for opening her tenure with just lemonade. It was a sugar-free munity. us but what we can do for our three scholarship players and lemonade, a little tangy, but we The program ranked third great city.” navigating the team through had something to drink. Now, the in the nation and tops in the The Privateers have turned winless seasons, Davenport has program is at a place where I now conference in the 2020 NCAA into a mainstay in the Southland established a winning culture have some lemons and sugar, Team Workers Helper Com- Conference Tournament but again with the UNO program. things are a little sweeter now. We munity Service Competition out their recent success is one that In short time, Davenport took are headed for a championship of all NCAA Division I Women’s Davenport has strived for since a team without a conference or and when that happens that will Basketball programs. Through turning around the program a full roster and transformed it be the ice in the lemonade that involvement with organizations from one of their darkest times in into one that has advanced to the once started off with no sugar!” such as Second Harvest Food school history. Southland Tournament in each Davenport was honored Bank, Einstein Charter Schools, When Davenport took the of the past four seasons. along with 11 other annual and Children’s Hospital, just to helm of the program in 2011, “When I took over the award winners during a Cox name a few, the Privateers re- the athletic department was on program we were going through Sports Television show. In corded 532 hours of community life support. After a decision to a transition,” Davenport reflects. addition, five people were also service during the year. drop from NCAA Division I to “Those years were tough but I inducted into the Greater New “We are the only school in Division III, followed by a change never looked at it as the end. We Orleans Sports Hall of Fame at the city that wears our city name in course to return to Division may not have had the budget the event, including Privateer across our chest,” Davenport I status, the Privateers were in but we did the best with what coaching great Tim Floyd.

Privateers’ Eric Orze selected by the New York Mets in 2020 MLB draft Eric Orze has become the 91st Privateer to hear his name called in the MLB Draft after he was selected by the New York Mets in the fifth round on June 11. Orze was the 150th overall pick. The selection also marks the fourth consecutive year a Privateer pitcher has been drafted. Though it was brief, Orze’s final season with the Privateers was dominant and memorable. His dom- inance is depicted in the numbers: a 3-0 record with a 2.75 ERA and a staff leading 29 strikeouts in 19.2 innings pitched. That included a 12-strikeout performance in his final start of the shortened 2020 season against Nicholls State University. For that start, Orze also won Louisiana Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week honors. He went seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits in a 5-2 Privateer win. Orze also picked up wins against Arkansas State and UConn. The memorable part is the resilience Orze showed in his return to be a Privateer.” the mound. A cancer survivor, Orze made his first appearance since his Orze becomes the second player ever drafted by the Mets. In 2008, diagnosis and recovery on Opening Night against Southern University. a class that featured six Privateers taken, New York drafted Mark “Eric is the real life story of overcoming adversity and now having McGonigle. the opportunity to live his childhood dream,” says Coach Blake Dean. He was also the second Southland student-athlete to be drafted this “He worked relentlessly towards a dream that at one point was almost year. Logan Hofmann of Northwestern State was taken with the 138th taken from him. I personally wish him the best and know he will always overall selection.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 45 Alumna Sabrina Farmer, Google VP: ‘I want (UNO) to be there for others’ BY LITTICE BACON-BLOOD

SABRINA FARMER ing high school that she NEVER planned or even would become a secretary. dreamed of attending col- Her mother had raised four lege, until happenstance girls on her salary as a legal brought her to the lakefront secretary, Farmer says. campus of the University of Success, as initially New Orleans. imagined by Farmer, was Her sole aim when being able to afford her she accompanied a friend, own apartment. Later, as who was registering for she neared college gradua- class, was to hang out, she tion, she added a number recalled laughing. to the equation: make “He was like, ‘Hey, I got double her mother’s salary. to go register for classes, do First, she needed to you want to hang out at the navigate the unfamiliar lakefront?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, landscape of higher educa- totally! Let’s go hang out at tion and her chosen major: the lakefront!’” computer science. However, as Farmer She didn’t grow up with walked into the Univer- computers in her home, sity Center, something Farmer says. She recalls fid- happened. Perhaps, more dling around with a castoff precisely something hap- computer that her mother pened to her. had brought home and “I was so awestruck at being able to create a pro- all of these young people, gram that made a little man there was an energy that walk across the screen. was on campus,” Farmer However, she had en- says. “It just felt like all of joyed her computer classes these people were working in high school. towards something and I “Computer science to wanted that for myself.” me seemed like there’s got “I walked away that day to be lots of different jobs,” thinking ‘How do I get into Farmer recalled thinking. UNO?’” said Farmer who earned a bach- Farmer says. “At the time you knew it was It was not a rhetorical elor’s degree in computer science She applied for financial aid going to be the future. I didn’t question. Farmer, now a vice in 1995. “I actually picked up a and held a job while attending know what that future was going president at Google (yes, the catalog from the bookstore that college. to be. I didn’t know anything tech giant), says she really had day.” “I had to take night classes, really.” no idea about the college admis- Farmer spent the next year go in the summer,” Farmer says. Her early college years sion process. taking entrance exams, applying “It was a good college experience were difficult and, at times, she She jokes that her high to UNO, considering a major for me; it made higher education thought of giving up, Farmer school classmates probably and thinking about how she accessible.” says. Often, she was the only would have voted her least likely would pay for a college educa- woman in her class and she felt to attend college. tion. SUCCESS REIMAGINED isolated and overwhelmed. “I hadn’t done anything. No “I didn’t have any money, my Growing up in Marrero, La., “The first day of class I was college prep, none of that stuff,” family didn’t have any money,” Farmer assumed after graduat- like, I’m really in over my head,”

46 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Farmer says. “They said the word ‘algorithm’ and that to me was like another language at the time.” Despite self-doubt, Farmer pressed on by encouraging herself to give it just “one more day.” “Don’t quit because of fear,” Farmer says. “What I’ve learned, 100% what you feel is your boundary, really isn’t, push through … learn from it and you are stronger.”

ON GIVING BACK Farmer earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1995 and moved to California. Just a year out of college, she set up a scholarship for women in computer science at the University of New Orleans after starting her first job in Silicon “I am forever grateful for answers to questions literally at a Sabrina Farmer delivers the Valley. them and I want it to be there click of a button. commencement address to spring The salary for that job was for others.” “That is what my team’s job graduates in the UNO Lakefront the career-high goal she’d set for is—to make sure that happens Arena on May 11, 2018. herself at the time of graduation, GOOGLE for you,” Farmer says. “If we are Farmer says. She was being of- A decade after graduating not diligent, you would have a fered that salary a year removed from UNO with her computer very different experience that using National Oceanic and from college. science degree, Farmer started at day and that’s exactly what my Atmospheric Administration “I cried when that hap- Google in 2005. She is now the team does.” data that allowed people to track pened,” she says. “That is when vice president of site reliability It is her team’s responsibility the wildfires in California and I created this scholarship … I for many of Google’s billion- to keep the site running. It is a get alerts about possible safety was like I’ve got to give back customer products including challenge Farmer doesn’t take hazards. because something magical just Gmail, Google Search, Google lightly. “We had all of these satellite happened for me.” Maps, Android and Chrome. “This is true for a lot of imageries and we could show Farmer visits the Univer- She also oversees reliability people who work at Google; you you where the smoke was blow- sity annually, mentors female of product infrastructure, in- really understand the responsi- ing and how it was flowing,” computer science students and cluding Google’s authentication, bility that you have and literally, Farmer says. “It’s just amazing sponsors travel grants for female identity and abuse systems. I make decisions that affect bil- technology.” technology students to attend “I really like solving prob- lions of people, and you get this Farmer’s family and friends technical conferences. lems and that’s my job every very strong sense of responsibil- think Farmer’s journey is equally Farmer also recently funded day. Like, I never log in and ity to take care of those people,” amazing. another endowed scholarship there’s not a problem on my Farmer says. “They don’t even know in computer science as well desk,” Farmer says. “If you study “You affect their lives, you what I do, but they are incred- as science classroom and lab computer science there’s a lot affect information that they ibly proud,” Farmer says with a enhancements. of people who go into it for get, and I really enjoy when we laugh. “Everyone is amazed.” “I regularly reflect on that problem solving, and that’s what solve problems that affect those Reflecting on how her girl who went into the Univer- my job is all day long. I like a people’s lives.” journey began and where it has sity Center that day with no real challenge.” Take Google Maps for in- taken her elicits a laugh and an aspirations and I want UNO to Farmer supervises a global stance. Sure, it’s a great tool that exclamation of wonder even do that for others,” Farmer says. team of 750 employees whose can help navigate drivers from from Farmer. “I want other people to have that jobs include making sure the Point A to Point B. However, “I’m just this girl from the opportunity and I thank UNO. popular search engine returns Farmer’s team created maps West Bank,” says Farmer.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 47 Gene Seroka (B.S., ‘86, M.B.A., ‘88) Gene Seroka is the executive director of the for COVID-19 patients. Port of Los Angeles, a job that entails oversight “We need someone of a $1.6 billion operating budget. In March, Los with a deep well of ex- Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti named him the perience to get the job city’s chief logistics officer to oversee supply done, which is why I’ve efforts for securing personal protection equip- appointed the port of ment (PPE) and other medical equipment. Los Angeles’ executive Seroka, who earned a bachelor’s degree in director Gene Seroka,” marketing and a master’s degree in business Garcetti says. “His job administration from the University of New is to use our purchasing power, our connections Orleans, is the head of the 20-member team at the port with logistics, transportation assets, of volunteers called Logistics Victory Los information technology and manufacturing Angeles. relationships to secure critical materials that we In that role Seroka helps provide and need in this fight. coordinate delivery of critical supplies to first “By putting Gene in this role, he will save lives,” responders and area hospitals that are caring Garcetti says. 1960s 1970s 1980s Miki Pfeffer (B.A., ‘69, M.A., ‘06, Terrence Verigan (B.A., ’71) Mart J. Black (M.S., ’78) Robert W. Rachal (B.S., ’81) Beth Arroyo Utterback (B.A., ’83) B.S., ‘11) Terrence F. Verigan, executive Mart J. Black has achieved Robert W. Rachal, of counsel Beth Arroyo Utterback is the Author Miki Pfeffer of vice president of Antares Tech- the planning profession’s highest in the New Orleans law office general manager of WWOZ Thibodaux, Louisiana, who has nology Solutions in Metairie, honor by being named to the of Jackson Lewis, is featured in radio in New Orleans and earned three degrees from has been presented with the prestigious American Institute of the Chambers USA 2020 Guide, a orchestrated a very success- the University of New Orleans, Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Certified Planners (AICP) College publication ranking the leading ful Jazz Festing in Place event recently had her second book Achievement Award by Marquis of Fellows for his outstanding lawyers and law firms across in 2020 that drew more than 2 featured on Literary Ladies, a Who’s Who. achievements in urban planning. the U.S. million listeners. The eight-day literary website dedicated to Verigan is also the president Black, of Houma, Louisiana is Rachal holds an accounting event was broadcast the same classic women’s literature. and co-owner of Enterprise the coastal restoration director degree from the University of days and hours as the originally Pfeffer’s book, published in Information Systems, a New for Terrebonne Parish and has New Orleans. scheduled Jazz Fest, which was 2019, is titled, “A New Orleans Orleans consulting company. more than 45 years of planning canceled because of COVID-19. Gerard Franz (B.S., ’82) Author in Mark Twain’s Court: He earned a bachelor’s degree experience. He earned a mas- Utterback earned a bachelor’s Gerard Franz has been pro- Letters from Grace King’s New in English from the University of ter’s in urban studies from the degree in drama and commu- moted to vice president, wealth England Sojourns” (LSU Press). New Orleans. University of New Orleans. nications from the University of advisor at Wilmington Trust in New Orleans. Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Franz has over 15 years of Nettie P. Bauman (B.A., ’84) experience in the wealth man- Nettie P. Bauman, an attorney agement industry. He holds an in West Hartford, Connecticut, MBA from Tulane University and has published her first novel a bachelor’s degree in business “Tiny Righteous Act.” The novel management from the University features the international ex- of New Orleans. ploits of a human rights attorney whose advocacy work on behalf

48 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Angelle Bourgeois (B.S.,’09, M.Ed.,’12) Angelle Bourgeois is the 2021 Louisiana Elementary Teacher of the Year. Bour- geois was selected Sept. 8 during the 14th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, which was held virtually Melonie Johnson (B.S., ’83) this year. Melonie Johnson has been appointed president and The Louisiana Department of Education annually chief operating officer of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most Atlantic City, New Jersey. exceptional educators through the Teacher and Johnson, who will oversee daily operations and stra- Principal of the Year programs in partnerships with tegic direction at the property, is the first Black woman Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of to be named president of an Atlantic City casino. Principals. “I am very excited to be joining Atlantic City’s market- Bourgeois earned a bachelor’s degree in interdis- leading resort and look forward to working with some of ciplinary studies in 2009 and her master’s in early the industry’s most knowledgeable and engaging team childhood education in 2012. She is an educator in members as we further position Borgata for continued growth and success,” the St. Charles Parish Public Schools District and Johnson says. was promoted recently to assistant principal at Johnson is an industry veteran with nearly 25 years of leadership experience in Allemands Elementary School in Des Allemands, hospitality and gaming. Louisiana. Her financial expertise, strategic thinking and experience at regional gaming Prior to her administrative appointment, Bourgeois properties has served her in a number of high-profile positions including, as- was a teacher at Norco Elementary School. sistant general manager at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West “I look forward to continuing to represent and el- Virginia and CFO/interim general manager at Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois. evate my outstanding alma mater and the educators Johnson earned a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of New Orleans. and students of Louisiana,” Bourgeois says. 1990s of abused women makes her a Eric Simonson (M.B.A.,’88) Vanessa Chatelain (B.A., ’96) ship since 2000. Richard Heausler (B.S., ’97, target. Eric Simonson has joined Vanessa Chatelain has Nosacka earned a bachelor’s M.B.A.,’04) Bauman earned a bachelor’s Hinshaw & Culbertson, a na- been elected the 2020-2021 degree in general studies from Richard Heausler has been degree in drama and commu- tional law firm, as a partner. He Toastmasters District 68 Club the University of New Orleans named general manager of nications from the University of is an experienced trial attorney growth director for Louisiana, and lives with his wife Cath- LabMar Ferry Services, LLC in New Orleans. representing companies in the Beaumont, Texas and Southwest erine and their three children in New Orleans. financial, technology, construc- Mississippi. the St. Louis metro area. Heausler, who has more than Katherine Nelson-Born (B.A.,’87) tion, and other industries. Chatelain will play a key role 25 years in the marine vessel Katherine Nelson-Born of Gary Dressler (B.S.,’96) He holds a bachelor’s degree in leading the marketing effort industry, holds a master’s in Pensacola, Florida has been se- Gary Dressler of Metairie is in finance from Louisiana State and building an effective team business administration and a lected as the Poet Laureate for the 2020-21 chair-elect of the So- University, a master’s in busi- for more than 1,000 members in bachelor’s in naval architecture Northwest Florida by the West ciety of Louisiana CPAs (LCPA). ness administration from the 70 Toastmasters clubs across and marine engineering from the Florida Literary Federation. He will automatically become University of New Orleans and a the three states. University of New Orleans. The literary federation chair in June 2021. J.D. from Loyola University New Chatelain holds a bachelor’s chooses a Poet Laureate every Dressler is an associate Michael Gulotta (B.A., ’99) Orleans School of Law. degree in drama and commu- director with Postlethwaite & Michael Gulotta is the three years nications from the University of Netterville’s Tax Services Group executive chef and co-owner of Nelson-Born holds a bach- New Orleans. elor’s degree in English from in Metairie. Mopho and Maypop restaurants the University of New Orleans, David G. Nosacka (BGS, ’96) He holds a bachelor’s degree in New Orleans. an MFA in Creative Writing and David G. Nosacka has been in accounting from the Univer- Gulotta, who earned a Poetry from Virginia Common- promoted to chief financial sity of New Orleans. bachelor’s degree in studio wealth University and a doctor- officer for Hospital Sisters art, was named to Gambit’s ate in English from Georgia State Health System’s Illinois Divi- “40 Under Forty” list of people University. sion. Nosacka, who began his under the age of 40 who are career as an accountant, has making a difference in the served in health care leader- New Orleans area.

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 49 Tram Bui (B.S., ’99) Tram Bui has been hired as the vice president of corporate communications and investor relations for Antares Pharma in Ewing, New Jersey. Bui, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UNO, joins Antares with over 15 years of equity research, communications and investor relations experience. Most recently, she served as senior vice president, investor relations at The Ruth Group, a boutique investor relations and communications firm specializing in life science and medical technology industries. “I am excited to welcome Tram to Antares to lead our corporate communications and investor relations strategy,” Fred M. Powell, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company says. “We look forward to leveraging her extensive industry experience and strong relationships with the investment community as the Company continues on its growth trajectory.” Prior to The Ruth Group, Bui served as a director at KCSA Strategic Com- munications, a public and investor relations agency, focused on developing successful investor communications platforms and capital raises for a broad base of public healthcare companies. 2000s 2010s Yasmeen Gumbs-Breakenridge Daniel Hereford (BGS, ‘02) of Louisiana Certified Public Greg Booth (M.S.,’09) Renard Bridgewater (B.A., ’10) (B.A., ’00) Daniel Hereford has been Accountants. He is an associate Greg Booth of Metairie, Renard Bridgewater is Yasmeen Gumbs-Breaken- named executive vice president, director with James, Lambert, Louisiana has been elected to a the musician and community ridge, an attorney and public chief information officer for Riggs and Associates, Inc., in two-year term as a member at- engagement coordinator for the speaker from Long Island City, SmartBank in Chattanooga, Ten- Hammond. large for the Society of Louisiana Music and Culture Coalition of New York has been named Mrs. nessee. He will drive the bank’s He holds a bachelor’s degree Certified Public Accountants. He New Orleans. He develops part- New York America 2020 and will IT strategy and provide oversight in accounting from Centenary is a director in the Postlethwaite nerships for the organization. compete in the Mrs. America for all the bank’s IT services. College and a master’s in tax & Netterville Tax Services Group Bridgewater holds a bach- pageant this fall in Las Vegas. Hereford has more than 20 accounting from the University in Metairie. elor’s degree in studio art from Gumbs-Breakenridge attend- years of experience in creating of New Orleans. Booth holds a master’s degree the University of New Orleans, ed the University of New Orleans IT infrastructures, business in tax accounting from the was named to Gambit ’s “40 Kevin A. Rodrigue (BGS, ’05) on a track and field scholarship solutions, and cybersecurity University of New Orleans and Under Forty” list of people under Kevin A. Rodrigue, a history and earned a bachelor’s degree frameworks. a bachelor’s in accounting from the age of 40 who are making a teacher in Assumption Parish, in political science. She then at- He earned a bachelor’s in Loyola University. difference in the New Orleans has published his first book, “If tended the Appalachian School general studies from the Univer- area. Only That Tree Could Talk,” a Kristin Malone Johnson (B.S., ’09) of Law in Virginia. sity of New Orleans. Hereford historical fiction based in As- Kristin Malone Johnson is the Paul Thibodeaux (B.A., ’10) Gumbs-Breakenridge is a also holds several technical sumption Parish. owner and creative director of Paul Thibodeaux is the coordi- commercial litigator and an certifications. Rodrigue holds a bachelor’s Home Malone, a Mid-City retail nator of the nonprofit organiza- advocate for academic and Kyley Pulphus (B.A., ’03) degree in general studies from shop that specializes in selling tion called Feed the Second professional programs for chil- Kyley Pulphus is the director the University of New Orleans. work from local artists, including Line. Thibodeaux, a musician, dren and young adults who are of 826 New Orleans, a national artwork, clothing and home helps support elderly “cultural experiencing economic hardship Patty Glaser (Ph.D., ‘08) writing program. Pulphus, who décor. bearers,” with food deliveries and homelessness through her Patty Glaser, CEO/Head of earned a bachelor’s degree in Johnson, who earned a and other services during the platform, #ConfidenceComes- School for Kenner Discovery communications from the Uni- bachelor’s degree in manage- ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. FromWithin. Health Sciences Academy and versity of New Orleans, works ment from UNO, was named to Thibodeaux was named to Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Ryan Mayer (B.A., ’01) with young children writers to Gambit ’s“40 Under Forty” list of Gambit ’s “40 Under Forty” list of Health Sciences Academy, is the Ryan Mayer’s general publish books. people under the age of 40 who people under the age of 40 who recipient of the 2020 Innova- contracting firm, Mayer Building She was named to Gambit ’s are making a difference in the are making a difference in the tion Award from the Bureau of Company of New Orleans, was “40 Under Forty” list of people New Orleans area. New Orleans area. Governmental Research’s an- named a 2019 City Business under the age of 40 who are He holds a bachelor’s degree nual Excellence in Government excellence in construction making a difference in the New in music from the University of Awards. honoree. Mayer, who earned Orleans area. New Orleans. Glaser, who earned a doctor- a bachelor’s degree in English John “Bryan” Ehricht (M.S., ’04) ate in curriculum and instruction Ben Matheny (B.A., ’11) from the University of New John “Bryan” Ehricht of from the University of New Ben Matheny is a producer Orleans, also welcomed a new Hammond, Louisiana has been Orleans, was recognized for her on a film titled, “Ma Belle, My baby in November 2019, son elected to a two-year term as a work to secure construction Beauty,” that was one of only Jonah Winters Mayer. member at-large for the Society financing for the two academies. 26 selected by the Independent

50 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 Gerald DeBose Brittany Picolo- (M.Ed., ‘00) Ramos (B.S., ‘07) Gerald DeBose is the new principal at St. Augustine Brittany Picolo-Ramos High School in New Orleans after serving as the interim. is the host of a new HGTV He previously served as principal for academics and as real estate series set in a math teacher. New Orleans that’s called “It gives me great pleasure to announce his appoint- “Selling the Big Easy.” ment,” St. Augustine president and CEO Kenneth St. Picolo-Ramos, a New Charles says. “I believe he is doing a tremendous job Orleans realtor, earned molding our young men into future leaders.” a bachelor’s degree in DeBose will be responsible for supporting and enhancing St. Augustine’s business administration from the University of New academic mission and vision, ensuring faculty development and support while Orleans, with a minor in business management. working with the president and board of directors. The series, which premiered in September, “I am committed to Catholic education and to making St. Augustine the best follows the house hunting experience of Picolo- possible educational experience for young men to develop in spirit, mind and Ramos’ clients as she guides them around the met- body,” Debose says. ro New Orleans area in search of their potential DeBose is an alumnus of St. Augustine class of 1976. He earned a bachelor’s new home. degree in mathematics from Xavier University of Louisiana, a master’s in Picolo-Ramos, along with her husband, is owner mathematics teaching from Loyola University New Orleans and a master’s in of the real estate ﬁrm, Godwyn & Stone. educational administration from the University of New Orleans.

Filmmaker Project for its 2020 Chris Dier (M.A.T., ’13, M.Ed., ’18) a doctoral degree in counseling management from the University California, was awarded the labs. Chris Dier, the 2020 Louisiana education and supervision from of New Orleans, has 20 years of 2020 Dr. Sheltreese D. McCoy Matheny earned a bachelor’s Teacher of the Year, has been the University. experience in the hotel business. Advocacy Award for significant degree in film from the Univer- awarded the Louisiana Public student or staff advocacy for Lizzie Guitreau (B.A., ’14) Erica Chomsky-Adelson (B.S., ’17) sity of New Orleans. Interest Fellowship for the 2020- QITPOC communities on behalf Lizzie Guitreau is a producer Erica Chomsky-Adelson is the 2021 school year from the Loui- of the American College Person- Vivek Shah (M.S., ’12) on a film titled, “Shapeless,” founder and executive direc- siana Department of Education. nel Association. Vivek Shah is the director that was one of only 26 selected tor of Culture Aid NOLA. The The program allows recipients Hoffshire holds a doctorate in of transit planning for the RTA. by the Independent Filmmaker nonprofit distributes meals and to spend a school year advocat- educational administration from He is currently working on a Project for its 2020 labs. groceries twice a week, delivers ing for an education initiative of the University of New Orleans. network redesign of the New She earned a bachelor’s de- food to homes and helps con- their choosing. Orleans transit system. gree in film from the University nect people with other needed Bryan Washington (M.F.A., ’17) Dier, who teaches AP U.S. Shah, who earned a of New Orleans. services. Bryan Washington has been History at Benjamin Franklin master’s degree in urban and Chomsky-Adelson earned a awarded the 2020 Swansea High in New Orleans, has Sarah Story (M.A., ’15) regional planning from UNO, bachelor’s degree in urban stud- University Dylan Thomas Prize chosen to work to build equi- Sarah Story has been named was named to Gambit ’s “40 ies and planning from UNO, and for his debut short story collec- table, inclusive and culturally the executive director of the Under Forty” list of people was recently named to Gambit ’s tion, “Lot.” responsive content under the Mississippi arts agency. The under the age of 40 who are “40 Under Forty” list of people The Dylan Thomas Prize, now direction of the state education Mississippi Arts Commis- making a difference in the New under the age of 40 who are in its 15th year, is one of the Unit- department. sion Board of Commissioners Orleans area. making a difference in the New ed Kingdom’s most prestigious Dier holds master’s degrees selected Story after a national Orleans area. literary awards, and the largest Meagan Williams (B.S., ’12) in teaching and educational search. She previously served for writers under age 39. Meagan Williams, stormwater leadership from the University of as executive director of the Mike Hoffshire (Ph.D.,’17) Washington is a graduate of program manager for the city of New Orleans. UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Mike Hoffshire, director of the University of New Orleans’ New Orleans, was named one Museum in Austin, Texas. student engagement and aca- Eleanor McAuliffe (M.Ed., ’14) Creative Writing Workshop. of CNN’s 2020 Champions for Story earned her master’s de- demic success at Saint Mary’s Eleanor McAuliffe is the Change, innovators, change- gree in arts administration from College of California in Moraga, first licensed professional makers and pioneers who are the University of New Orleans. counselor in Louisiana and the challenging the status quo to state’s second clinician to earn Jerry Reyes (M.S., ’16) improve the lives of others. the Certified Eating Disorder Jerry Reyes, general manager Williams, who graduated with Specialist designation from the of Westin Canal Place in New TELL US YOUR NEWS! a bachelor’s degree in civil and International Association of Orleans, has been selected environmental engineering, de- Eating Disorders Professionals by Louisiana Gov. John Bel signed a neighborhood project Foundation. Edwards to be president of the to help the city handle excess DID YOU: Get married? Get a new job? Receive McAuliffe, who earned a Ernest N. Morial Convention rain and reduce flooding. an award? Have a baby? Send your alum note to master’s degree in 2014 in Center’s oversight board. clinical mental health counseling Reyes, who earned a master’s [email protected] from UNO, is currently pursuing degree in hospitality and tourism

FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 51 Administrative Growth THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, as has much of the University’s campus, has weathered change well! Look at the full foliage in 2020 and the addition of the bench to enjoy the shade compared to decades ago. And, for posterity’s sake, we’ll add for the record that mask-wearing was not a fashion fad in 2020!

52 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 PLUG IN to the

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