STATE OF CHANGE Texas has one of the country’s REASONS TO SHINE A novel fluorescent polymer DEGREES OF SEPARATION Enticed by world-class most recognizable shapes. But you’ll be hard- could revolutionize cancer therapy and yield offerings and opportunities for professional ad- pressed to see that familiar form in the maps of breakthroughs in biosensing, immunology, vancement, thousands of students are choosing early cartographers. p. 26 drug delivery, and tissue engineering. p. 32 UT Arlington’s graduate programs. p. 36 UTATHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTONrlington MAGAZINE | FALL 2010 Whistling While They Work NBA REFEREE NFL OFFICIAL Monty McCutchen ’88 Undrey Wash ’86 ROUNDUP Future Mavericks learn what it takes to succeed at UT Arlington during a new student orientation session in the E.H. Hereford University Center. ii UTArlington Magazine FALL 2010 1 Contents Fall 2010 Message from the President Features TALK 7 A few words with White House UTArlington MARRIED TO THEIR intern and social work graduate Vol. XXXII • No. 3 • Fall 2010 RESEARCH (AND student Vivian Walker. EDITOR EACH OTHER) 18 Milestone After Milestone Mark Permenter Brazil natives Jorge Rodrigues and Maeli Melotto are one by James D. Spaniolo ASSISTANT EDITORS of three couples who Jim Patterson collaborate in the laboratory The University of Texas at Arlington is on a mission. garage. At the heart of College Park will be a beautiful Jessica Bridges and on the home front. Our goal is clear and focused—to transform our uni- welcome center for UT Arlington—a new front door ART DIRECTOR versity into one of the next great American research for prospective students and their families. Joel Quintans institutions, to become a Tier One university in every Our campus infrastructure isn’t the only thing respect. growing. True to our strategic initiative to dra- DESIGN CONSULTANTS CRASH COURSE 8 When you’ve set the bar as high as we have, prog- matically increase our enrollment without sacrific- DJ Stout and Daniella Floeter Bart Weiss’ Video for iPhone class ress is measured not in incremental or baby steps, ing quality, last fall we experienced unprecedented Pentagram Design teaches students to create short- but in major milestones. Each calculated stride must double-digit growth—reaching a total enrollment of form videos in a small format. EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS be bold, confident, and strategic. more than 28,000 students. Herb Booth A bellwether of our vision for the future is cap- We continued that trend with record enrollment O.K. Carter FACULTY 11 tured in our magnificent new Engineering Research for both this past spring and summer. And we’re an- John Dycus HIGHER CALLING 22 David Keller’s research aims Complex, which faculty members will begin moving ticipating enrollment of more than 30,000 students Sherry W. Neaves Undrey Wash and Monty to help astronauts better into in just a few months. this fall. Teresa Newton McCutchen have risen to the cope with the physical What better way to demonstrate our commit- While the numbers are remarkable, the academ- Traci Peterson highest levels of pro sports consequences of space travel. Kristin Sullivan ment to cutting-edge research than this state-of-the- ic quality of our incoming students is what’s most im- Danny Woodward officiating. Wash worked this art facility dedicated to engineering and science lab- pressive. We continue to attract and enroll a diverse year’s Super Bowl in Miami, and FUTURE 13 oratories and instruction. The students and faculty mix of students who are at the top of their high school UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHERS McCutchen refereed two Liping Tang of Taiwan forsees members who build their careers in this complex will class and who are attracted to an outstanding institu- Robert Crosby games in the 2010 NBA Finals. people using an adult stem cell generate new ideas and new knowledge that will de- tion like UT Arlington. Beth McHenry bank just like a blood bank. fine the next generation of research at UT Arlington. This fall’s entering class was welcomed as no oth- ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE LONE STAR SHAPE 26 As one construction project ends, another one er class before them—with the support and guidance COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING Over the centuries, the area (or two, or three) begins here at UT Arlington. Con- of our new University College. Appropriately housed P. David Johnson now known as Texas underwent struction is well under way on our spectacular $78 in Ransom Hall, our oldest building located right in some curious cartographic million special events center. It won’t be long before the center of campus, University College brings to- VICE PRESIDENT permutations before taking this hub of downtown activity will be hosting con- gether a wide range of services, including academic FOR COMMUNICATIONS today’s familiar shape. certs, commencements, lectures, volleyball, basket- advising, tutoring, and counseling, that are essential Jerry Lewis ball, and numerous other community events. The to student success. PRESIDENT GLOWING RESULTS 32 promise of this facility will soon be fulfilled, and our Finally, on a smaller yet no-less-meaningful James D. Spaniolo China native Jian Yang’s Mavericks will finally have the home court scale, the magazine you’re reading represents an- development of a fluorescent advantage they so richly deserve. other milestone for UT Arlington. For the UTArlington Magazine is published material that’s nontoxic and Right next door to the special first time in the history of the University, three times a year by University biodegradable could boost events center site, we’re breaking we’re mailing our flagship publication, Communications for all alumni, as well as for faculty, staff, and friends cancer treatment, tissue GALLERY 14 ground on one of our most ambi- UTArlington Magazine, to all of our of the University. Reproduction in engineering, and drug delivery. Student sculptures gave Lake tious projects yet—College Park. alumni, as well as to our growing list whole or in part without written Arlington Golf Course an This mixed-use development of friends and supporters—approxi- permission is prohibited. BACK TO SCHOOL 36 artistic ambience last summer. represents a growing partner- mately 145,000 of you to be exact. Doctoral candidate Sanchali ship between the University and We hope UTArlington Magazine The comments and opinions Deb of India is among a record SPORTS 17 the City of Arlington and is the helps you discover, or perhaps redis- expressed in this magazine do number of students who are The Oakland Athletics drafted not necessarily represent manifestation of our plan for cover, all that makes UT Arlington those of The University of Texas flocking to UT Arlington’s Michael Choice with the 10th downtown Arlington’s revital- such a special place. We look forward at Arlington or the staff of graduate degree programs. overall pick in the 2010 Major ization as a thriving college town to sharing our news with you three UTArlington Magazine. League Baseball draft. district. College Park will include times each year, and we look forward Copyright © 2010, The University of a residence hall, student apart- to hearing from you as well. Please Texas at Arlington. An equal oppor- Columns ments, retail shops and restaurants, keep in touch. We hope to see you on tunity/affirmative action employer. Alumni News and an impressive 1,800-car parking campus soon. ON THE COVER MESSAGE 3 Undrey Wash (’86) officiated the President James D. Spaniolo ALUMNI GALA 40 2010 Super Bowl, and Monty says UT Arlington is on track to Meet the 2010 Distinguished McCutchen (’88) refereed Games 2 and 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. become a Tier One university. Alumni Gala honorees. KAREN BY DAVISON ILLUSTRATION President Spaniolo has FACEBOOK 4 NEW DIRECTOR 41 put UT Arlington on Sophomore Alexzandria Siprian Lora Malone joins the course to become one displays her dancing skills Alumni Association of America's next great research universities. in a campus musical. as executive director. FALL 2010 3 CAMPUS CAMPUS Facebook E-mail Tweets @CristieKibler Just did an AT THE FOREFRONT OF terest in science, technology, taken by your staff photogra- been a great experience. And interview with UTARadio.com SCIENCE EDUCATION engineering, and mathemat- phers truly captured both the as always, when working this :) Big thanks to UTA for being I found your magazine quite ics (the STEM areas), the more importance of the ongoing very “fossiliferous” site, I can’t so supportive! by accident. As I was search- likely they will be to pursue dino dig and the essence of wait for what is yet to come! @utabusiness Dana Gibson ing online for information one of these fields as a career. the dig site and of the people (’93 Ph.D.) is sole finalist for about improving math per- I look forward to the day involved. They did a top- DARLENE SUMERFELT Sam Houston State University formance in schoolchildren, when, indeed, we will be able notch, bang-up job! Well done Allen, Texas president. I came across “Creating the to create the next generation and thank you. @mikecuta1102 Is getting anx- Next Einsteins” from your win- of Einsteins. MORE THAN A HOBBY ious about the draft! 6 o'clock! ter 2010 issue. As a longtime DEREK J. MAIN Thank you for the excel- MLB network! Direct TV! Be watchin’ for ya boi! educator, I have seen first- SARAH DAVIDSON Arlington, Texas lent, and faithfully accurate, hand the declining interest Phoenix, Ariz. coverage of my life’s work in @UTAMAVS UT Arlington draft in math and science among P.S. Send us some diggers. We “The Final Word on Stress.” I picks Rett Varner and Jason Mitchell have each signed elementary, junior high, and DIGGING THE COVERAGE always need help out there.