Alumni Weekend October 28–30, 2011

The Celebration of Black Alumni included speakers, an African cooking Thousands demonstration, and lots of opportunities to mingle with former classmates. Return to Campus for Alumni Weekend Events honor BU’s black community BY ART JAHNKE CYDNEY SCOTT CYDNEY Glenn Staub came to see Travis Roy. A professional fitness trainer in Tarrytown, N.Y., Staub (SMG’87) is a longtime admirer of Roy’s personal strength. WEB Roy was a freshman hockey EXTRA See player in 1995 when he a slideshow crashed into the boards of Alumni Weekend 2011 11 seconds into his first and watch college game, leaving him a video of paralyzed from the neck

Bob Herbert, down. Roy (COM’00), SCOTT CYDNEY former op-ed who now runs a nonprofit Bob Herbert, award-winning journalist and columnist dedicated to enhancing the former op-ed columnist for the New York for the New Times, delivers the third annual Howard Zinn York Times, lives of people with spinal Memorial Lecture. delivering the cord injuries, was one of four third annual alumni honored in October Howard Zinn at Alumni Weekend’s 65th Memorial Lecture at Annual Alumni Awards. bu.edu/ “I really just wanted to bostonia. see him,” said Staub. “He’s incredible.” Staub, who has

been to several alumni events, even brought VERNON DOUCETTE two of his clients, “huge hockey fans,” he said, SCOTT CYDNEY Alexis Redman (SMG’14), treasurer The men’s Terrier hockey team nipped of UMOJA, with Duane Jackson who were eager to see that weekend’s men’s UMass 5-4. (MET’76) at the jazz brunch. hockey contest against UMass. Staub was one of roughly 5,000 alumni who came back to the Charles River and At the Golden Terrier luncheon (from left), Estelle Levy (PAL’51), Irene Hershman (PAL’51), Marilyn Papazian (PAL’56), Marlene MacLeod (SED’61,’69), and Donald Medical Campuses for Alumni Weekend, MacLeod (CAS’58, SED’65). October 28–30. Steven Hall, vice presi dent for alumni relations, said the turnout was several times larger than similar events a few years ago. “There really is a palpable energy among VERNON DOUCETTE the BU alumni population, and it was on full display,” said Hall. “There was something for everyone, but the highlight of the weekend was BU’s first Celebration of Black Alumni, with special events focused on the amazing

62 BOSTONIA Winter–Spring 2012

52-74_BostoniaWinter12_03.indd 62 2/6/12 2:46 PM More Margaret Conte (SAR’09,’11) before the Terrier tailgate party. ➼

who is studying the foods of West Africa, also served an authentic Afri- can meal, with cassava, plantains, and lamb served with mafe, a ground peanut sauce. At the same time that McCann’s exotic foods were enjoyed in the test kitchen at 808 Comm Ave, a grander lunch was being served in the George Sherman Union’s Metcalf Hall, where several hundred alumni gathered for the 65th Annual Alumni Awards and Luncheon. Looking out at the crowd, President Robert A. Brown said the impressive attendance was evidence of “an increased sense of energy and CYDNEY SCOTT CYDNEY pride” that he felt at all alumni events. “Every time you come back to this legacy of African American alumni.” hero and praised him for “a mind that campus you see something new,” he The celebration began with a talk sliced right through the most conten- said. This time, for example, it was the by Walter Fluker (GRS’88), the Martin tious issues.” six-story Center for Student Services Luther King, Jr., Professor of Ethical “Things have to change in this soci- rising on East Campus. “We just Leadership at the School of Theology, ety,” Herbert warned. “My message topped off that building yesterday,” about the role of King (GRS’55, tonight is that conditions do not have said Brown. “The important thing Hon.’59) in the civil rights movement. to be this way. We have the power to about that building is that it shows Fluker spoke at the Howard Gotlieb change. But that will require a real lift.” our dedication to the success of our Archival Research Center, where the Herbert urged the audience to take students.” University’s extensive King collection a cue from Occupy Wall Street and The first to be honored was Young was on display. The theme, which other protest movements. He said the Alumni Award winner Travis Roy recognized BU’s more than century- mainstream press must listen more (COM’00), who was given a standing long education of African American carefully to progressive voices, and ovation even before he reached the leaders, carried through several he decried what he says is a nation in stage. Roy, a motivational speaker events, including an African cooking which the top one percent controls and activist, said the greatest moment demonstration; a class featuring Dan the majority of the nation’s wealth. In of his BU experience came when his Charnas (CAS’89), author of The Big one of the evening’s most electrifying hockey jersey was hung above the ice. Payback: The History of the Business of moments, Herbert told the audience: “To see it hanging there, I feel like it Hip-Hop; a jazz brunch; and a barbecue “Read my lips. Redistribute the was all of us who put it there,” he said. dinner on Saturday, at which Pulitzer wealth.” “The students, the hockey team, it was Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, a The audience broke into loud everyone who made BU the kind of College of Communication professor applause. place where I could find myself.” of journalism, talked about her award- Perhaps the most authentically Alumni Awards were presented winning book The Warmth of Other African of African American–themed to Elizabeth Cohen (SPH’92), senior Suns: The Epic Story of America’s events was a talk about African cooking medical correspondent at CNN; Gerard Great Migration. The book details the by James McCann and PhD candidate Cohen (LAW’62), founder and owner migration of African Americans from Natalie Mettler (GRS’13). McCann, a of Western Carriers; and humanitarian the South to the rest of the country College of Arts & Sciences professor and philanthropist Meera Gandhi from 1915 to 1970. of history and director ad interim of (GSM’89). Former New York Times op-ed the Pardee Center for the Study of the Elizabeth Cohen, who covers break- writer Bob Herbert delivered the Longer-Range Future, is the author of ing medical news and consumer health third annual Howard Zinn Memorial Stirring the Pot: A History of African issues for CNN and cnn.com, developed Lecture. Speaking before a crowd of Cuisine. He told the audience that the cnn.com column “Empowered several hundred alumni, students, making food was like making jazz: Patient” and in 2010 published the and faculty, Herbert, who is African “You begin with an idea; then you book The Empowered Patient: How to American, described Zinn as a personal improvise.” McCann and Mettler, Get the Right Diagnosis, Buy the

Winter–Spring 2012 BOSTONIA 63

52-74_BostoniaWinter12_03.indd 63 2/1/12 1:47 PM Alumni Weekend

Cheapest Drugs, Beat Your Insur- ance Com pany, and Get the Best Medical Care Every Time. Gerard Cohen has been active in the BU Alumni Council and the School of Law Alumni Association’s executive committee. In 1994, he and his family established the Awards Gerard H. Cohen Award, given to a member of the LAW administrative Schools and colleges honor staff who has shown unselfish and outstanding alums during distinguished service to the school. Alumni Weekend 2011 Meera Gandhi created the Giving Back Foundation, aimed at alleviating poverty, illness, and suffering and at helping to educate women and children. Gandhi’s documentary film Giving Back was screened after the awards College and Graduate School Aof Arts & Sciences ceremony. BU’s individual schools and David Branigan (CAS’02), international programs director, Bikes Not Bombs. Arts & colleges also presented alumni Sciences Distinguished Young Alumni Award. awards throughout the weekend. (See sidebar.) Lawrence C. Cancro (CAS’77), senior vice president, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Affairs. Later Saturday, Staub and his Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. hockey fan guests got the excite- Gary C. Dennis (CAS’72), chief of neurosurgery, ment they came for. Coming back Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Arts & from a 3-0 deficit at the end of the Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. first period, the Terriers took the Santiago Levy (CAS’76, grs’78,’80), vice contest with UMass into overtime, president for sectors and knowledge, Inter- where they clinched a 5-4 victory. American Development Bank. Arts & Sciences The final event of the weekend, Distinguished Alumni Award. a jazz brunch in Metcalf Hall, College of Communication Recipients of 2011 Alumni Awards attracted a full house. Desiree Shauna Dale Briggs Brook (’97), vice pres- James-Barber (CAS’81), a PhD were (from top) Gerard Cohen (LAW’62), Meera Gandhi (GSM’89), ident of global marketing and communica- candidate in urban systems at and Elizabeth Cohen (SPH’92). tions, David Yurman. Distinguished Alumni Rutgers University, said this was the Award. first time she had returned to BU Travis Matthew Roy (’00), motivational for Alumni Weekend, and she made speaker and founder, Travis Roy Foundation. Distinguished Alumni Award. the trip because the event was a Celebration of Black Alumni. Samantha Lea Swindler (’02), general “It was fantastic,” she said. “It manager, Tillamook Headlight-Herald. Distinguished Young Alumna Award. was amazing—the best part was meeting the students.” James- Erica Hill Yount (’98), coanchor, The Early Show. Distinguished Alumni Award. Barber said she particularly enjoyed the talk and book signing by Joseph College of Engineering Cronin, author of Reforming Bos- Mikhail Gurevich (’07), founder/director, ton Schools, 1930 to the Present: ZepInvest, Inc. Distinguished Young Alumni Overcoming Corruption and Racial Award. Segregation. “The whole weekend Joseph Healey (’88), senior managing director, PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANK CURRAN BY PHOTOGRAPHS was a great opportunity to meet HealthCor Group. Distinguished Alumni Award Young Alumni Award winner Travis for Service to Alma Mater. other black alums,” she said. “I was Roy (COM’00) with men’s hockey able to find out about networks head coach Jack Parker (SMG’68, Binoy Singh (’89), assistant professor of they started that I can link up Hon.’97) (right) and Shadi Daher clinical medicine, department of medicine, (SDM’90,’94), president of the BU division of cardiology, Columbia University with again.” Alumni Association. College of Physicians & Surgeons; director

64 BOSTONIA Winter–Spring 2012

52-74_BostoniaWinter12_03.indd 64 2/1/12 1:47 PM of clinical business development, Center Jonathan Levine (’81), aesthetic dentist and Robert A. Witzburg (’77), professor of for Interventional Vascular Therapy; chief founder, Jonathan B. Levine & Associates. medicine, associate dean and director of medical officer, Columbia Affiliate Physicians. Service to the School and Community Award. admissions, MED; professor of health policy Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to and management, Boston University School the Profession. Mark Nehring (’81), acting chief dental officer, of Public Health. Distinguished Alumnus Health Resources and Services Administration. Award. College of General Studies Service to the Community Award. School of Public Health David Buttolph (’77, CAS’79), managing Metropolitan College director, Brookside Mezzanine Partners. August Burns (’90), executive director, Distinguished Alumni Award. John Maalouf (’90, LAW’94), senior partner, Grounds for Health. Distinguished Alumni Maalouf Ashford & Talbot. Service to Award. College of Health & Rehabilitation Profession Distinguished Alumni Award. Sciences: Sargent College Alexander Ortega (’94), director, Temple Joseph Mercurio (’81), retired BU executive University Institute for Survey Research; Benjamin Barron (’01,’03), regional clinical vice president. Service to Alma Mater professor of public health and of psychiatry director, Mountain Center Physical Therapy. Distinguished Alumni Award. and behavioral sciences, Temple University. Professional Achievement Award. Luisa Paiewonsky (’96), commissioner, Mass- Distinguished Alumni Award. Andrea Capachietti (’77, CGS’75), human- achusetts Highway Department. Service to Julie Palmer (’85), professor of epidemiology, itarian aid consultant and university lecturer Community Distinguished Alumni Award. SPH; senior epidemiologist, Boston University on refugee resettlement issues focusing on School of Education Slone Epidem iology Center. Distinguished women’s rights and child protection. Special Alumni Award. Recognition Award. Roger Harris (’74), superintendent, Boston School of Social Work Lorraine “Lorri” Coppola (’61) Renaissance Charter Public School. Arthur (posthumously), retired middle school H. Wilde Society Award. Ginny Berkowitz (’80), media arts studio physical education teacher, San Rafael, Clifford Janey (’84), former superintendent manager, Cambridge, Mass., public schools. Calif. Twiness Award. of schools, Washington, D.C., public school Outstanding Career in Social Work. Jo-Ann Harper Finn (’71), former director district; former superintendent of schools, Matthew Boone (’00), assistant director of rehabilitation, current part-time physical Newark, N.J., public school district. Ida of multidisciplinary teams and integration, therapist, Tobey Hospital, Wareham, Mass. M. Johnston Award. Cornell University Counseling Center. Twiness Award. Vincent Murray (’75), principal, Henry Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Social Work. Fidelito Gabriel (’01, SDM’05), dentist and W. Grady High School, Atlanta, Ga. Arthur president of Fidelito Gabriel DMD, doing H. Wilde Society Award. Yi Chin Chen (’03, CAS’01), director of life- business as Forest Hills Dental. Emerging School of Law long learning and economic development, Leader Award. Hyde Square Task Force. Hubie Jones Urban Maura J. Kelly, assistant dean, career devel- Service Award. Nina L. Gluchowski (’06, MED’10), pediatrics opment and public service, LAW. Gerard H. resident, Massachusetts General Hospital. Cohen Award. ruth freedman, SSW associate dean for Emerging Leader Award. academic affairs. Outstanding Contributions Jennifer A. Serafyn (’01), assistant U.S. to the School of Social Work. Eleanor R. Lemaire (’51), former chair of phys- attorney, district of Massachusetts. Young ical education, Arnold College, University of Lawyer’s Chair. School of Theology Bridgeport; retired senior associate director of athletics, University of Rhode Island. Special Kenneth W. Simons, the Honorable Frank R. Sally J. Dyck (’78, CAS’76), bishop of Minne- Recognition Award. Kenison Distinguished Scholar in Law, LAW. sota Annual Conference, United Methodist Silver Shingle Award for Service to the School. Church; author of A Hopeful Earth: Faith, Michael Mulrenan (’93,’94), founder and Science, and the Message of Jesus. Distin- chief executive officer, ProEx Physical Therapy. Stephen D. Tom (’74), commander (major guished Alumni Award. Professional Achievement Award. general), Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. Silver Shingle Award for Service Janet Yarlott Horton (’76), retired chaplain Michael Severo (’98), chief operating officer, to the Community. (colonel), U.S. Army; Christian Science ProEx Physical Therapy; acting clinical man- Military Chaplain endorser, First Church of ager, Physical Therapy Center, Boston Univer- Allan van Gestel (’61), mediator and Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass. Distinguished sity’s Ryan Center for Sports Medicine & arbitrator, Judicial Arbitration and Media- Alumni Award. Rehabilitation. Professional Achievement tion Services, Inc.; retired associate justice, Award. Massachusetts Superior Court. Silver Shingle Barry W. Lynn (’73), ordained minister, Award for Service to the Profession. United Church of Christ; executive director, Marianne Patterson Taylor (’51) Americans United for the Separation of (posthumously), international folk dance Stephen M. Zide (’86), managing director, Church and State, Washington, D.C. teacher, cofounder, Folk Arts Center of Bain Capital, New York. Silver Shingle Award Distinguished Alumni Award. New England, Strathspey and Reel Society for Service to the School. of New Hampshire. Black and Gold Award. Jeremy Smith (’06), ordained United Method- School of Medicine ist clergyman, Oklahoma City, Okla.; author, Jagdeep Trivedi (’96), director of operations, www.hackingchristianity.net. Distinguished Upham’s Elder Service Plan. Professional Jean-Francois (Jeff) Geschwind (’91), Young Alumnus Award. Achievement Award. professor of radiology, surgery, and oncol- ogy and director, division of vascular and J. Philip Wogaman (’57, GRS’60), former Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine interventional radiology, Johns Hopkins senior minister, Foundry United Methodist University School of Medicine; director of Church, Washington, D.C.; professor emeritus Neil S. Hornung (’81), SDM assistant clinical the Interventional Radiology Center, Johns of Christian ethics, Wesley Theological professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Hopkins Hospital. Distinguished Alumnus Seminary. Distinguished Alumni Award. Service to the School Award. Award.

Winter–Spring 2012 BOSTONIA 65

552-74_BostoniaWinter12_03.indd2-74_BostoniaWinter12_03.indd 6565 22/7/12/7/12 111:261:26 AMAM Reconnect ALUMNI NOTES Update your email address. bu.edu/bostonia/address

Decade” issue. Kecia and her husband, West Hollywood lesbians whose lives col- Kevin, have two sons, Kendall and Kyle. lide in an earthquake of meddling, one-night TESTTE YOUR Learn more at www.gksweetfoods.com, or stands, obsession, potato chips, and folk mu- email [email protected]. sic. Since graduating from COM, I have had BUBU a madcap freelance career in television and AACRONYMC Susan Skier Sawyer (SON’86) of Natick, comedy. This play symbolizes the culmina- ACUMENAC Mass., published a textbook, Pediatric tion of the last 15 years.” Check out the web- Physical Examination & Health Assessment site: http://vassarstreet.com. (Jones & Bartlett, 2011). Susan is a pediatric There are lots of letters in BU other than nurse and an associate professor at Regis Ann-Marie (Coombs) Messbauer (CAS’88) “B” and “U.” Below is a quick guide to the College. of Springfield, Mass., sings in the traditional acronyms for all the schools and colleges. folk duo Three of Cups with Deborah Claar, Older colleges/earlier names are in Pamela Michele Sugg (SSW’86) of Branford, coordinator of undergraduate programs in parens. Closed colleges shown in gray. Conn., is president-elect of the American the Academic Services Center at BU’s Sar- Association of Sexuality Educators, Coun- gent College. “We formed our group back selors, and Therapists (AASECT), and sex in 1987 in Professor Emeritus Anthony CAS College of Arts & Sciences therapy advisor to the Alexander Founda- Barrand’s course Folk Song as Social His- (CLA—College of Liberal Arts) tion for Women’s Health. She and her hus- tory,” she writes. “This year marks our 25th CFA College of Fine Arts band, Robert Wierzel, created the Bill T. anniversary.” The duo will release a record- (SFA—School for the Arts) Jones Scholarship for People of Color at ing and perform a concert at the BU College (SFAA—School of Fine and AASECT. Robert is a lighting designer who of Fine Arts on March 25, 2012. Learn more Applied Arts) was nominated for a Tony Award for his at www.threeofcupsmusic.com, or email CGS College of General Studies lighting of the musical FELA! Pamela writes Ann-Marie at [email protected]. (CBS—College of Basic Studies) that their 20-year-old twins make them COM College of Communication proud parents and hopeful for the future. Richard Ruth (CAS’88) of Annapolis, Md., (SPC—School of Public Email her at [email protected]. published his first book, In Buddha’s Com- Communication) pany: Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War (SPRC—School of Public 1987 (University of Hawai’i Press, 2010). A work Relations and Communications) of cultural history, the book examines the Ingrid Capozzoli Flinn (CFA’87) of New experiences of the Thai volunteer soldiers DGE Division of General Education York, N.Y., writes that her work was includ- who fought as allies of the United States in (CGE—College of General ed in the group exhibitions Shequality at South Vietnam. Richard teaches Southeast Education) the s.h.e. gallery in Boonton, N.J., and Small Asian history at the United States Naval (GC—General College) Works Invitational at the Painting Center Academy. Email him at [email protected]. ENG College of Engineering in New York City. Ingrid can be reached at (CIT—College of Industrial [email protected] or [email protected]. Lawrence Tena (ENG’88) of New York, N.Y., Technology) is a board-certified radiation oncologist. GRS Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Ray Shows (CFA’87) of St. Paul, Minn., who He recently opened two state-of-the-art GSM Graduate School of Management cofounded the Artaria String Quartet with radiation oncology centers in Manhattan. KHC Kilachand Honors College Nancy Oliveros at BU, writes that the group Email him at [email protected]. (UHC—University Honors is celebrating its 25th anniversary. “Since College) moving to St. Paul in 2001,” Ray writes, 1989 LAW School of Law “we have created the Artaria Chamber MED School of Medicine Music School, Stringwood Summer Cham- Shelly H. Carolan (CAS’89) of New Hope, MET Metropolitan College ber Music, and the St. Paul String Quartet Pa., was promoted to chief marketing Competition.” Find out more at the website officer at NMS Labs, a professional forensic PAL College of Practical Arts and Letters www.artariaquartet.com. and clinical laboratory services provider SAR College of Health & Rehabilita- in Willow Grove, Pa. tion Sciences: Sargent College Steve Wiggins (STH’87) of Somerville, N.J., SDM Henry M. Goldman School of is the religion editor at the publishing com- Martyn Green (SDM’89) of Redlands, Calif., Dental Medicine pany Routledge in its New York City office. is an associate professor of periodontics at (SGD—School of Graduate the Loma Linda School of Dentistry. He re- Dentistry) 1988 cently retired from his private practice in SED School of Education Beverly Hills. SHA School of Hospitality William Cooke (CAS’88) of Madison, Wis., Administration recently wrote the poem “Boston Universi- Laura Roffer (COM’89) of North Andover, SMG School of Management ty” for one of his BU teachers, Guido Sandri, Mass., is an account supervisor at Cole Cre- (CBA—College of Business a retired College of Engineering adjunct pro- ative, a Boston creative services agency and Administration) fessor of mechanical engineering. The poem marketing strategy consultant. Previously, SON School of Nursing is on William’s website, www.arunasplace. Laura was a vice president and project man- SPH School of Public Health com/galactic. ager at Citizens Bank. SRE School for Religious Education Ilene Fischer (COM’88) of Arlington, Mass., 1990 SSW School of Social Work writes that her play, Girl Hopping, debuted STH School of Theology in October at the OBERON in Cambridge, Rebecca Bates (ENG’90,’96) of Arlington, UNI University Professors Program Mass. “It’s an original comedy about six Va., was awarded an AAAS Science & Tech-

66 BOSTONIA Winter–Spring 2012

52-74_BostoniaWinter12_03.indd 66 2/1/12 1:48 PM