No 5, 2017 n $5

War on Bugs Can a professor’s invention turn the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

n CORNER CLASSROOMS n PEDAL POWER

Contents | Issue 5, 2017

20

28 36

20 28 36 The Protein in the Freezer Hold the Corner Ready to Ride A bioscience researcher tackles e new Health Education Lawrence Unchained saves old one of public health’s most Building is a grand addition to bikes from the scrap heap, and pressing problems: how to the Medical Center neighbor- gives riders—from kids to defeat drug-resistant bacteria hood, and a giant step forward commuters—the skills to keep and restore the healing power in KU’s training of students for them rolling. of antibiotics. the medical professions. By Heather Biele By Steven Hill By Chris Lazzarino

Cover photograph by Steve Puppe

Established in 1902 as e Graduate Magazine Volume 115, No. 5, 2017 ISSUE 5, 2017 | 1

September 2017

76

Publisher Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 5 First Word Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 e editor’s turn Steven Hill Photographers Steve Puppe, j’98 6 On the Boulevard Dan Storey KU & Alumni Association events Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 Sta Writer Heather Biele 8 Jayhawk Walk A horseshoe champ, a soda showdown, a buttery Advertising Sales Representative beautication and more Teri Harris Editorial and Advertising Oce KU Alumni Association 10 Hilltopics 1266 Oread Avenue News and notes: Juniper Gardens lands research Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 funding; TRIO supports retention mission. 785-864-4760 800-584-2957 14 Sports www.kualumni.org Loneker honors father with football grit; volleyball [email protected] plots balanced attack to extend recent success. KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- 42 Association News ship in the Alumni Association. O¡ce of Publication: 1266 Oread Kansas Honors Program evolves; Black Alumni Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, KS. Network names Leaders and Innovators.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 © 2017 by Kansas Alumni 48 Class Notes Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 Proles of a lm commissioner, a hockey histo- rian, an equity auditor and more

Letters to the Editor: 68 In Memory Deaths in the KU family Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Email responses may be sent to 72 Rock Chalk Review the Alumni Association, [email protected]. A new campus nook, a hotline for doctors, two Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space books for kids and more and clarity. For letters published, we’ll send a free gift of KU Campus Playing Cards, a $5 value. 76 Glorious to View Scene on campus

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 3

by Jennifer Jackson Sanner First Word

internship, thanks to the fact that she babysat for a Rutgers professor who knew of an

STEVE PUPPE STEVE opportunity in a lab door to his. “at I was able to start doing research when I was 16 allowed me to gure out so early what I wanted to do with my life,” she says. “It was such a gi. It takes so much energy and time to gure out what you want to do. My experience was a time-saver, and it was so much fun.” Slusky’s husband, David, is a KU assistant professor and Oswald Scholar in economics. ey count themselves lucky to work at KU. “We’re blessed to be at a public institution that aects so many Kansans’ lives by educating them or their children,” she says. “Almost every week I say to myself I’m so fortunate to be here and get to do the work I’m doing.” She underscores the fact that teaching and research go hand in hand, and starting her lab three years ago opened up new opportunities. Joanna Slusky with senior Virangika Wimalasena “Until then, I didn’t have the freedom to decide which questions I want to work on. … It’s the most exciting and scariest part about mong KU’s many extraordinary professors, being a professor, period. … ere’s a whole AJoanna Slusky is a young star. As Steve Hill, “They all do universe of questions and problems that need associate editor, explains in our cover story, Slusky tremendous work. solving, so on my path toward doing that last summer learned she had won one of the My lab would not eectively is guring out what is my unique nation’s most prestigious—though little-known— be doing any of this skill set … and trying to sail this ship to have prizes for scholars, as one of ve Moore Inventor the most impact as possible, to make the Fellows (moore.org). Slusky achieved the feat aer research if it weren’t world better as much as possible.” only her third year on the University faculty. KU’s for all the people. As Chancellor began his tenure Moore Inventor Fellow is an assistant professor of We’re a team. July 1, he armed that, like Chancellor computational biology and molecular biosciences. They think creatively, Bernadette Gray-Little and her predecessors, She has invented a protein that shows promise as they work hard, and he counts the retention of talented professors a potential foe of antibiotic-resistant infections. it’s great to work and enhancing KU’s research productivity In her lab, Slusky’s students can’t help but share among his chief goals. Both are essential to her exuberance. When the Kansas Alumni crew with them.” KU’s continued membership (since 1909) in arrived for our photo shoot, the professor —Joanna Slusky the prestigious Association of American proclaimed to the ve students at work, “You’re Universities, which includes the top 62 public all going to be in the alumni magazine!” (Yes, they all are included and private research universities in the United States and Canada. in our photo collage, page 25.) As a public university that relies on state funding and the But Slusky is quick to point out that those ve are only part of essential private gis through KU Endowment that have lied her 12-member team. “ey all do tremendous work. My lab KU to prominence, the University is constantly challenged to would not be doing any of this research if it weren’t for all the retain those professors who no doubt will be courted by other people,” she says. “We’re a team. ey think creatively, they work universities. hard, and it’s great to work with them.” e next time someone asks you about the value of a research Her students include undergraduates, graduate students, university, tell them about Joanna Slusky, and remember that she postdoctoral fellows—and a high school junior. Slusky herself and many other brilliant and passionate scholars must remain on was a high school student in New Jersey when she landed a lab Mount Oread to help students thrive for years to come.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 5 On the Boulevard

Students gathered Aug. 21 across campus to catch a DAN STOREY (3) STOREY DAN

SUSAN YOUNGER SUSAN glimpse of the first total solar eclipse to span the continental United States since 1918. The physics & astronomy department, School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Natural History Museum distributed 11,000 pairs of eclipse glasses to Lawrence public schools and 15,000 pairs to KU students and sta†. Although cloudy skies obscured the moon’s passage over the sun, Mount Oread embraced the midday darkness during the event.

Exhibitions Lied Center events 17 United States Air Force 10 ODC Dance with Concert Band and Singing University Dance Company “Separate and Not Equal: A SEPTEMBER Sergeants 27 University Band and History of Race and Education 22 Black Violin 18 Bales Organ Conference Symphonic Band in America,” Spencer Museum 20 “Dirty Dancing” 29 Cantus: ree Tales of of Art, through Oct. 1 24 Kenny Rogers’ Final World Tour: “ e Gambler’s 21 Béla Fleck and Abigail Christmas “Terra Anima,” Spencer Mu- Last Deal” with special guest Washburn seum of Art, through Oct. 15 Linda Davis 22 Chen Guang, piano University Theatre 25 KU Wind Ensemble “Civic Leader and Art Collec- 25 Crowder: American OCTOBER tor: Sallie Casey ayer and an 28 KU Symphony Orchestra Prodigal Tour Art Museum for KU,” Spen- with special guest Simone 6-8, 10-12 “Metamorpho- 29 Susan Werner, cer Museum of Art, Oct. 28 Porter, violin ses,” directed by Henry Bial, singer-songwriter William Inge Memorial through Jan. 28, 2018 29 Tango Buenos Aires: 30 Kansas Women’s Choral eatre “Power Clashing: Clothing, “Spirit of Argentina” Festival 20-22, 27-29 “... And Collage and Contemporary Moonwalks the Mississippi,” Identities,” Spencer Museum OCTOBER NOVEMBER directed by Kevin Vavasseur, of Art, Nov. 18 through April 5 Juilliard String Quartet 3 American Brass Quintet Craon-Preyer eatre 1, 2018 8 Underwater Bubble Show 5 Garrison Keillor: Just NOVEMBER “ e League of Wives: 12 KU Wind Ensemble and Passing rough Vietnam’s POW/MIA Allies Symphonic Band 11, 12, 14-16 8 KU Wind Ensemble with “Rhinoceros,” & Advocates,” Dole Institute, 14 All e Way Live! special guest Jim Walker, directed by Ric Averill, through December ute William Inge Memorial eatre

6 | KANSAS ALUMNI Murphy Hall Performances Academic Calendar and Science’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Adams SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Alumni Center 21 30 Non-Western Art Music 24 Trombone Quartet, 14-17 Fall break KU at TCU, football Concert Faculty Recital Series, First tailgate, Fort Worth, Texas United Methodist Church, Alumni Events 21 KU vs. TCU watch parties OCTOBER Lawrence 24 Hawktoberfest, Kansas 8 Borromeo String Quartet 24 Carillon Recital, SEPTEMBER City with Genaro Mendez, tenor, Campanile 20 Dallas: Jayhawks & Java 26-28 KU School of Visiting Artist Series Architecture & Design OCTOBER 20 Happy Hour, Tom’s Town 10 New Music Guild alumni symposium and Distilling Company, Kansas 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Carillon banquet, Lawrence 20 Douglas Humphreys, City piano, Visiting Artist Series Recital, Campanile 28 KU vs. Kansas State, 20 Houston: Jayhawks & 3 KU Jazz Ensembles I, II, II, member tailgate, Adams 22 KU Choirs: Concert Java Choir and Women’s Chorale Lawrence Arts Center Alumni Center 21 COOP Ale Works Tour, 28 KU vs. Kansas State 25 KU Jazz Combos NOVEMBER Oklahoma City, Oklahoma watch parties 26 Sun ower Baroque 5, 12, 19, 26 21 ArcD Reception, Carillon 29 KC Crew KU Kickball 27 Jazz Ensemble I with Recital, Campanile 21 Denver: Jayhawks & Java Tournament, Kansas City Deborah Brown 21 KU alumni online 28 International Alliance Lectures networking NOVEMBER for Women in Music 23 KU vs. West Virginia, 1-30 KU Cares Month of featuring Kansas Virtuosi SEPTEMBER member tailgate, Adams Service (for complete 26 “e Gene: An Intimate Alumni Center schedule, visit kualumni.org/ NOVEMBER History,” Siddhartha monthofservice) 23 KU vs. West Virginia 3 KU Brazilian Steel Drum Mukherjee, Humanities watch parties 4 KU vs. Baylor, member Band Lecture Series, Lied Center tailgate, Adams Alumni 3 New Music Guild Center OCTOBER OCTOBER 5 KU West African Drum- 4 KU vs. Baylor watch 4 1-7 Homecoming (for ming Ensemble “Fighting Hunger in a parties Changing World,” Catherine complete schedule, visit 9 Dan Goble, saxophone, Bertini, Dole Institute kualumni.org/homecoming) 11 KU at Texas, football and Russell Hirsheld, tailgate, Austin 5 6-8 KU Black Alumni piano, Visiting Artist Series “e Parthenon Enigma,” Joan Breton Connelly, Network Reunion, Adams 11 KU vs. Texas watch 15 Helianthus Contempo- Humanities Lecture Series, Alumni Center parties rary Ensemble Lied Center Pavilion 7 KU vs. Texas Tech, 12 KU Vets Day 5K, 16 KU Saxophone Quartets member tailgate, Adams Lawrence NOVEMBER Alumni Center 18, 19 Steven Spooner, 15 Houston: Jayhawks & Java 8 “e Future of the Middle 7 KU vs. Texas Tech watch piano, and David Dubal, 16 KU alumni online East,” Joseph Westphal, Dole parties curator, Faculty Recital networking Series Institute 14 KU vs. Iowa State watch 18 KU vs. Oklahoma, 19 14 “Evicted: Poverty & Prot parties New Morse Code with member tailgate, Adams in the American City,” Triplepoint 18 Houston: Jayhawks & Java Alumni Center Matthew Desmond, Human- 20 KU Horn and Trombone ities Lecture Series, Wood- 19 KU alumni online 18 KU vs. Oklahoma watch Choirs ru Auditorium networking parties 15 “Anchoring ‘Nightline’: 20 Lessons in Leadership 25 KU vs. Oklahoma State Juju Chang,” Juju Chang, with Delano Lewis, winner watch parties Dole Institute of the College of Liberal Arts

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 7 Jayhawk Walk Lifesaver

F   H , July 19 will always be the day Morgan Mathews She’s a Wynner The sport’s competitive became their hero. and social nature— Mathews, a Hays junior majoring in ynne Mihura retired from Hall- the Lawrence geology, was on duty as a lifeguard at Wmark 25 years ago, but she didn’t Horseshoe the local aquatic park when 3-year- slow down. League, which old Joanna Hodges nearly drowned. “I can’t sit still,” she says. “I just can’t. Mihura His quick response and CPR e orts I gotta do!” directs, revived her. One week later, Hays and Ellis County leaders honored A longtime pitcher on the company’s Mathews in City Hall. coed and women’s softball teams, meets “e recognition that I Mihura, ’75, took up horseshoes a year weekly for received from the community later. Wynne (rhymes with Penny) friendly match was really surprising,” he was a natural, winning a roomful play—is what she says. “I wasn’t expecting all of trophies at local, state and likes best. the attention.” national tournaments. In 2000, she took “I love people,” Mayor Shaun Musil the National Horseshoe Pitching Associa- she says, “and I love pitchin’.” presented Mathews an Award tion (NHPA) World Title in her age group. The game wasn’t always of Excellence and a key to the A broken wrist two years ago led to a ringers and roses: When she city, and Joanna’s parents, Daniel layo†, but the on-the-go nonagenarian is started, a few horseshoe veter- and Gwen Hodges, expressed back. She won gold in the 90-94 age ans—men, mostly—weren’t happy their gratitude. “We are just so appreciative,” Gwen said through group at the National Senior Games June losing to a brash newcomer. tears. “You will always be an 14 in Birmingham, Alabama. “I’d beat ’em and they’d get important part of and a very “Long as I can pitch a little and have upset,” Mihura confides. “But I important person to our family.” fun,” she says, “I decided to go ahead and won ’em over by being nice.” Police ocers, emergency respond- come back.” Us, too. ers and city commissioners attended

STEVE PUPPE STEVE the ceremony, which concluded when

From crimson to blue

S ,  outrageous commen-

C -C  became HILL STEVEN tary peppering the University’s campus social exclusive beverage media sites. provider, the agree- Yep, so-drink ment, renewed in battles bubbled anew, 2008, has generated with scarcely a about $33 million to mention of scholar- benet students, sta , ships. Despite the zz faculty and families. funded early recycling e orts on campus. and fuss, it seems likely that at least one Coca-Cola merit scholarships, funded When the agreement ended June 30, a Jayhawk is smiling wide: former Pepsi by interest on contract funds, provided switch was signaled not by an ocial pitchman Sen. Bob Dole, ’45, whose tuition aid to faculty and sta dependents announcement but by the sudden appear- namesake KU buildings no longer su er as well as National Merit, National ance of blue, inbound Pepsi trucks, the indignity of hosting the competitor’s Achievement and National Hispanic jockeying for space on Jayhawk Boulevard vending machine. scholars. e Coke contract also largely with the outbound red trucks—and New Look. Same Great Benets.

8 | KANSAS ALUMNI A man in full CHRIS LAZZARINO hen the conference room’s door Wswung open, ’s happy BECKY KISER/HAYSPOST.COM BECKY smile proved that, for once, a surprise birthday party was truly that: a surprise. “I was told Dr. Girod wanted to see me,” the chancellor emeritus said of his most recent successor. “So yes, I was surprised. Very surprised.” The Aug. 9 party in Chancellor Doug Girod’s suite (Shankel turned 90 Aug. 4) included a cake baked by KU Dining Services—featuring an early faculty photo Mathews and Hodges of the rising star of KU microbiology, unearthed at University Archives by senior Shankel Joanna gave Mathews an engraved administrative assistant Melissa Simpson Rhodes. lifeguard whistle. Many friends and colleagues came to Strong Hall to o“er sincere birthday wishes Before heading back to Lawrence for fall to the man Neeli Bendapudi, provost and executive vice chancellor of the Lawrence classes, Mathews checked in with the campus, calls “Mr. Jayhawk.” preschooler and her family. “She’s doing “Whenever I have lunch with him, I never feel like he is formally giving me advice, great now,” he happily reports. but I walk away with something I’ve learned,” Bendapudi, PhD’95, says of the chancellor emeritus, professor emeritus and former Alumni Association interim president. “There’s a great tact to the way he does it. I think the world of him.” Also celebrating was Reggie Robinson, c’80, l’87, interim vice chancellor of public a“airs, who first met Shankel in the late 1970s, when he was involved in student government and Shankel was—among the many leadership roles he’s held on Mount Oread—executive vice chancellor. “Here’s this University bigwig, I’m this second-year student from Salina, and he’s just this wonderfully warm and engaging guy who would listen. Just think about all the people who have felt the impact of his approach and his grace. If they’re Calling all pollinators anything like me, they tried to take that as a model for how they engage with other people. B ,     hummingbirds “There’s nobody who better embodies all that is good about KU.” have a new hot spot on the Hill, thanks to Three cheers to Chancellor Shankel, man of many missions and truly one of a kind. John McGrew, a longtime Lawrence real-estate developer who led the meta- morphosis of a section of Capitol Federal Hall’s lush grounds into a native-plant “Too many For the business habitat for our prairie’s pollinators. of us, especially school’s garden,

e McGrew Family Buttery Garden, our children, YOUNGER SUSAN McGrew enlisted which was planted May 10 by a group of are spending too the help of volunteers from the School of Business, much time on Monarch Watch KU Endowment, Facilities Planning & screens and not Director Chip Development, and the Douglas County enough time Taylor. “ese Extension Master Gardeners, has special outside,” says plants will all be meaning for McGrew. He hopes that the McGrew, b’60, native plants,” garden will not only welcome bees, who founded Taylor says of the butteries and other wildlife, but also Outside for a Better Inside, a Lawrence- nearly 1,200 ora used. “ey’ll all be very encourage students, faculty and sta to based nonpro t group that has built more attractive to butteries and other step away from their computers and enjoy than 15 buttery gardens at local elemen- pollinators.” the great outdoors. tary schools. And surely appealing to Jayhawks.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 9 Hilltopics by Steven Hill

Charles Greenwood, Alana Schnitz and Judith Carta are among the Life Span Institute

STEVE PUPPE STEVE researchers funded by four U.S. Department of Education grants.

wood, professor of applied behavioral sciences and senior scientist. “Literacy 3D helps teachers increase these interactions threefold or more.” Joining Greenwood on the project are postdoctoral fellow Alana Schnitz and Judith Carta, PhD’83, profes- sor of special education, senior scientist and interim director of Juniper Gardens. • A $1.4 million grant for the CIRCLE project will support researchers who are helping preschool teachers develop language and early literacy instruction for children who don’t respond well to Funding windfall traditional instruction. Investigators on the project are Carta, Greenwood and Longtime research center earns grants worth $7.5 million Dwight Irvin, assistant research professor. • A $1.4 million grant will aid develop- he Juniper Gardens Children’s chancellor of research at KU. “Field-initi- ment of a Web-based system that helps TProject, located on the Children’s ated” means that the grant competition is preschool teachers promote problem- Campus in Kansas City, Kansas, has won open to all scientists in the eld, Colombo solving skills in infants and toddlers. Irvin, four grants totaling $7.5 million from the explains, and a successful application along with Associate Research Professors Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the signies that a proposal has succeeded in Jay Buzhardt, g’99, PhD’02, and Dale research arm of the U.S. Department of the most open and competitive market- Walker, g’86, PhD’88, lead the project, Education. e grants support research place of ideas. “ e fact that these four which uses a data-based system to provide projects on literacy, problem-solving and groups of investigators have all been individualized guidance to help educators social-emotional development in pre- successful in the most recent competition identify children who need extra support school age children. means that they have all conceptualized and the type of support they need. Juniper Gardens Children’s Project was and executed independent ideas that were • A $1.4 million grant will fund a project founded in 1964 to link KU faculty identied through rigorous peer review as to develop, test and rene a professional members and northeast Kansas City being worthy of support,” Colombo says. development program for early education residents to address concerns about child “ e fact that all four of these investigators teachers who are using a three-tiered development in the low-income commu- were funded at the same time speaks to framework for addressing the social-emo- nity. e research center is part of KU’s the strength and rigor of the group of tional needs of children who are at risk for Life Span Institute, and its studies identify scientists at Juniper Gardens.” delays and challenging behavior. Kathryn practices and tools that promote children’s • A $3.3 million grant will allow Bigelow, g’97, PhD’06, assistant research social well-being and academic researchers to evaluate a preschool literacy professor; Carta; Irvin and Schnitz lead achievement. intervention called Literacy 3D that is the project, joined by colleagues at “ e IES holds competitions for designed to improve interactions between Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. eld-initiated grants every year, and preschool teachers and their students. Since its founding in the Juniper typically they fund about 100 grants per “One of the ways children learn literacy Gardens Housing Project in the mid- year,” says John Colombo, director of the skills in preschool is through interactions 1960s, the children’s project has focused Life Span Institute and interim vice with their teachers,” says Charles Green- on practical research that contributes to

10 | KANSAS ALUMNI the science of the eld while nding Dagoberto Heredia, c’11; Alexis Johnson, Milestones, money practical solutions to problems identied c’17; Jorge Salamanca, c’17, Andrew by local parents, teachers and community Williams, e’88, PhD’00, associate dean of and other matters leaders. In 2015, the Unied Government diversity and inclusion in the School of of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, Engineering; and by DeAngela Burns- issued a proclamation honoring Juniper Wallace, vice provost for undergraduate n KU Hospital was named the top Gardens’ half century of service to the studies. medical facility in Kansas for the sixth community. “ ese ve days you really have the consecutive year by U.S. News and “A center doesn’t last 50 years unless it’s opportunity to connect with a lot of good World Report. It was also designated constantly changing and adapting to resources and a lot of good people,” “Best Hospital in Kansas City” in respond to the challenges of the scientic Burns-Wallace told students. “When you rankings released in August. Eight care eld in which it operates,” Colombo says. need help, when you need someone to talk specialties ranked in the top 50 for their “ e fact that Juniper Gardens scientists to, when you need anything, please reach disciplines: urology (17th), geriatrics continue to be competitive like this means out to someone,” Burns-Wallace said. “It’s (18th), cancer (25th), neurology and that the research faculty who work there important that you feel comfortable, you neurosurgery (26th), pulmonology have continued to represent the top of have somewhere you can go, some oce (32nd), gastroenterology and GI surgery their eld.” or some professional sta member, if you (34th), cardiology and heart surgery have any problems, questions or chal- (36th), and nephrology (46th). lenges, especially during this rst Support system semester.” n Reggie Robinson, c’80, l’87, is interim TRIO is a set of federally funded vice chancellor for public a airs. TRIO programs assist opportunity programs that motivate and Director of the School of Public A airs University retention e orts support college students who are the rst and Administration since 2014, Robin- in their family to attend college, who come son also was chief of sta to chancellor here wasn’t an English major among from low-income backgrounds or who , CEO of the Kansas Tthe Jayhawks gathered for an alumni have disabilities. e initiative started as Board of Regents panel during OPTIONS, a ve-day student three programs (hence the name TRIO) in and a senior sta orientation program organized by KU’s the 1960s as part of President Lyndon member at the TRIO program as part of ’Hawk Week, but Johnson’s War on Poverty and has since U.S. Department their theme could have come straight from grown to eight. KU’s program, TRIO of Justice. He British novelist E.M. Forster: “Only Supportive Educational Services, which succeeds Tim connect! at was the whole of [their] currently serves 370 students, has been Caboni, who sermon.” continuously funded since 1973. became president Kaleb Higdon, e’16, recounted a “reality e weeklong OPTIONS (Opening of Western MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS KU check” delivered by his freshman calculus Paths To Individual Opportunity aNd Kentucky class. Aer sailing through high school Success) orientation helps TRIO-eligible University in July. without studying hard, he felt condent freshmen make the transition from high Robinson that he could do the same at KU. “I had a school to college. Organized by TRIO n KU Cancer Center’s application to 61 going into the nal,” Higdon told the 70 STEM (which targets science, technology, upgrade its National Cancer Institute or so incoming freshmen in attendance, engineering and math students) and TRIO status to “comprehensive” was denied “and I pulled out a B. How I did that was I SES (which is open to students in all other this summer, but the NCI designation started talking to people, I started making disciplines), the program connects students achieved in 2012 was renewed for friends and I started to take advantage of to campus resources that boost their another five years. The renewal, TRIO support.” chances for success at KU, supporting the achieved after the Cancer Center at advice, in one version or another, University’s goal of achieving a 90 percent improved its overall score from “excel- was echoed by fellow panel members retention rate for rst-year students. lent” to “outstanding,” comes with an 11 percent funding increase. The center can reapply for comprehensive status in five “Once I fit, I was able to contribute—and succeed. years. On average, NCI designated centers achieve comprehensive status Find your academic family at KU and keep doing after 15 years. that in your career.” {}—TRIO alumnus Dagoberto Heredia

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 11 Hilltopics

OPTIONS allows the Achievement

DAN STOREY (5) STOREY DAN and Assessment Institute, which manages KU’s TRIO programs, to intervene early— and oen. “Our goal is to Heredia Higdon Johnson Salamanca Williams meet with students before they have “Our federally mandated goal for TRIO University, despite the fact that these their rst class, and it doesn’t stop with the is that 55 percent of students will graduate students face longer-than-average odds of rst week,” Heasty says. OPTIONS within six years, which is signi cantly dropping out. students agree to stay in TRIO for their higher than the national graduation rate “Despite being highly motivated to entire rst year, and they are put in teams for rst-generation and low-income succeed in college, TRIO-eligible students led by upperclassmen who are TRIO students,” says Gretchen Heasty, s’94, c’95, are oen the least likely to be retained and alumni, with whom they meet regularly. s’98, TRIO SES and STEM director. “One graduate,” Heasty says, noting that “e idea is to create a peer network and thing we kept in mind when we started students who are the rst in their family a sense of belonging,” Heasty says. “What OPTIONS is the former chancellor’s and also low-income typically face we know from our experience and research mandate that 90 percent of rst-semester multiple barriers. “For instance, they may is early intervention and regular contact— freshmen persist into their second year, lack practical information about navigat- oen, frequent and very individualized—is and that we’d raise our six-year graduation ing a college campus, especially one as an eective strategy for retention and rate to 70 percent. So that’s our goal, large as KU. ey may also be students of graduation. moving that needle.” color on a predominately white campus, “We’ve already had OPTIONS students Currently, Heasty says, the six-year they may be students who are nontradi- from this year in our oce saying, ‘I want graduation rate for TRIO students tops tional, they may be parents, they may have to be a group leader next year.’ It’s inspir- 60 percent, which is in line with the stopped and started school, they may be ing: Students stepping up to help other general student population at the transferring in.” students.”

VISITOR

Africa’s summit raise funds for local charities, o˜cials to install rainwater including school construction, collection systems to aid ountain climber and student fees and clean-water climbers and local citizens.

Mglobal trekker Ian Taylor IAN TAYLOR COURTESY resources in East Africa. returned to campus to discuss QUOTE: “It really is dramatic, his adventures on Africa’s ANECDOTE: Taylor, whose the scale of the mountain as it Mount Kilimanjaro, which he Vail, Colorado, company guides pops up out of the landscape,” has climbed 23 times. clients on group treks Taylor said of the 19,341-foot worldwide, shared photos he Kilimanjaro. Emphasizing the WHEN: July 27 took in 2007 of Kilimanjaro dangers of oxygen deprivation glaciers. “All these glaciers are during exertion at altitude, WHERE: Robert J. Dole gone now,” he said, adding that Taylor said, “everyone Institute of Politics when he became the youngest the rest of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers acclimatizes di™erently. Irish climber to summit Mount are expected to disappear Understanding how you BACKGROUND: Taylor, who Everest, a feat he discussed on within 10 years and cause water perform with a lack of oxygen in is married to Lawrence native a 2014 visit to the Dole shortages. He and other your body is super important.” Laura Gravino, was 29 in 2008 Institute. He uses his climbs to climbers are urging Tanzanian —Chris Lazzarino

12 | KANSAS ALUMNI HUMANITIES Milestones, money Hall Center series brings and other matters eminent lecturers to campus T    running lecture series at KU kicks o its 70th year n Kansas Public Radio, based at KU, this fall with a talk by cancer specialist and earned seven awards from the Kansas acclaimed writer Siddhartha Mukherjee. Association of Broadcasters, including

Author of e Emperor of All Maladies and THE HUMANITIES HALL CENTER FOR COURTESY first place in the spot news category for e Gene, Mukherjee opens the Hall coverage of the 2017 Kansas legislative Center for the Humanities’ 2017-’18 session. The station also earned three Humanities Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m. second-place awards and three Sept. 26 at the Lied Center with “e honorable mentions. The awards will be Gene: An Intimate History.” e lecture presented during the association’s grapples with moral questions raised by annual convention in October. humans’ ability to read and write our own genetic information. n Spencer Museum of Art selected Mukherjee Other lectures in the series include: “Magenta Colored Girl” by Carrie Joan Breton Connelly, “e Parthenon range of topics in his poetry, including Weems as the KU Common Work of Art Enigma,” 7:30 p.m., Oct. 5, Lied Center genocide, war, terrorism, climate change, for the 2017-’18 academic year. The Pavilion. e classical archaeologist and the AIDS epidemic, historical trauma and photo-triptych accompanies Citizen by professor of classics and art history at New memory, and the personal domains of Claudia Rankine, which was selected as York University discusses her research, love, death, art and culture. the KU Common Book. The Spencer will which produced a book of the same title, Brian Donovan, “American Golddigger: display Weems’ work in the museum’s deepening our understanding of the Law, Culture and Marriage in the Early Jack and Lavon Brosseau Center for Parthenon, one of the most iconic Twentieth Century,” 7:30 p.m., March 26, Learning through the fall semester. buildings of antiquity, and the ancient Lied Center Pavilion. A cultural and Greeks who constructed it. historical sociologist and professor of n Alpha Gamma Delta sorority’s Matthew Desmond, “Evicted: Poverty American studies at KU, Donovan focuses international council announced in and Prot in the American City,” 7:30 on the role of law and culture in shaping August that it would shut down the p.m., Nov. 14, Woodru Auditorium, social inequality. His lecture traces the Delta Epsilon Beta chapter at KU, which Kansas Union. Desmond, the John J. Loeb history of the “gold digger” from 1910s was founded in 1922. A press release Associate Professor of the Social Sciences chorus girl slang to a powerful stereotype from the council cited declining at Harvard University and a MacArthur that shaped understandings of gender and enrollment for the decision, which came Fellow, discusses issues raised in his 2017 matrimony in culture and legal attitudes after the sorority added 15 new Pulitzer Prize-winning book that exam- toward alimony. members during fall recruitment. New ines income inequality and economic Andrea Wulf, “e Invention of Nature: members were released from AGD and exploitation as seen through the lives of Alexander von Humboldt’s New World,” allowed to join other sororities, while eight Milwaukee families struggling to 7:30 p.m., April 19, e Commons, current members will transition to keep a roof over their heads. Spooner Hall. Historian Wulf revisits the alumnae status, and those who live in Peter Balakian, “An Evening with Poet legacy of the Prussian naturalist, explorer the sorority house can stay for the Peter Balakian,” 7:30 p.m., Feb. 22, e and geographer, who was among the rst remainder of the academic year. Commons, Spooner Hall. Winner of the scientists to study and is Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his 2015 book, considered the rst person to identify and n Christian Hardy, Derby senior in Ozone Journal, Balakian engages a wide document human-based climate change. journalism, is one of five winners of the prestigious Jim Memorial Foundation scholarship. Hardy won the national award for excellence in college “I’ve had athletes who struggled because their bodies sports writing for his University Daily wouldn’t let them adapt. Other people walk up the Kansan column on John McLendon, d’36. McLendon studied under James side of the mountain and don’t understand what the Naismith at KU, and later became the first African-American coach of a big deal is about the lack of oxygen.” —guide Ian Taylor {} professional basketball team.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 13 Sports by Chris Lazzarino

games and won a Special Teams Player of the Week award as a junior. Approaching his senior season, Loneker shined in the spring game with newfound speed and con dence. What few outside of his family knew at the time, however, was that Loneker also spent the spring semester watching his father battle cancer. Keith Loneker Sr., ’94, was an All-Big Eight guard for coach Glen Mason’s victorious 1992 Aloha Bowl team, then, aer going undraed, played three seasons in the NFL, followed by rollicking careers as a music producer, actor and screen- writer, as well as a paraeducator at Lawrence High School and volunteer youth sports coach. Respect the hustle memories of the huge 2007 season, players Too ill to attend the spring game, “Big who meant the world to him and the grind Keith,” beloved in Lawrence for his Loneker Jr. honors his father’s of rebuilding a program. exuberant personality and zest for life, Mangino said he was reluctant to followed his son’s highlights via text legacy, in football and life discuss the current rebuilding project messages with a friend at the game. His because he doesn’t follow the Jayhawks condition deteriorated in June, and his son ess than 24 hours before KU football closely, but he was willing to oer one le the team for about two weeks to be at Lopened its pivotal season—the third suggestion: As players from 2007 assemble his side. year of coach David Beaty’s tenure, with in Memorial Stadium for their reunion, When “Little Keith” resumed workouts expectations high for signi cant improve- the current ’Hawks should pay attention. June 20, Beaty pulled him aside and said, ment over last year’s two-win eort—a “Look at those guys. ey have a “Dude, you don’t have to be here,” to most unlikely visitor appeared at the swagger to them, even 10 years later. See which Loneker replied, “No, I do need to Anderson Family Football Complex. how they carry themselves, how they’re be here. My dad wants me here.” Mark Mangino, who ran his eight-sea- sure of themselves. ey fear nothing. His father died June 21. son record to 50-48 aer taking over a at’s the lesson that these kids can learn.” “I remember when his dad passed about program that had suered through six Mangino built his consecutive losing seasons, was back in program with overlooked town for the 10-year reunion of his recruits who were tough, memorable 2007 squad, which went 12-1 strong, fast and focused. STEVE PUPPE (2) STEVE and beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Few current Jayhawks t Bowl. Aer years of tense relations with that mold better than then-athletics director , starting linebacker Keith Mangino agreed to a contract buyout in Loneker Jr., a Lawrence 2009 and, understandably, had not since native who had to play been seen anywhere near the state-of-the- one season at Baker art football center whose construction he University to nally pushed for and made possible with the fan capture the attention of enthusiasm generated by his program’s KU coaches. He trans- consistent success. ferred to his hometown Now Mangino was seated at a table in university as a sopho- the Chancellor’s Lounge, smiling, seem- more, and, aer a ingly genuinely pleased to share his redshirt year, started four Loneker Jr.

14 | KANSAS ALUMNI three years ago, the next day he went to work,” Loneker says. “And so that’s what I did. When he passed, the next day I was “He’s bigger, he’s faster, he’s stronger than he used up here at 6 a.m. with my guys. at’s just what he taught. It’s grind all the time.” to be, and I think he’s in for a huge year.” Loneker honored his father—a New —team captain Joe Dineen Jr., on fellow linebacker Keith Loneker Jr. Jersey native who “bled blue” and chose to raise his family in Lawrence despite a {} burgeoning lm career that regularly took him to —by switching his jersey number to 47, a reversal of his “at dude would lay anything out for father’s No. 74. Kansas, so it’s in my blood,” Loneker Jr. e more meaningful respect he showed says. “It’s not about me. It’s about the PUPPE STEVE for his father’s legacy, however, was on the Loneker name. It’s for him and it’s for eld Sept. 2 in the season opener against Kansas University. It’s not even close to Southeast Missouri State, a 38-16 KU being about me.” victory. He recorded two tackles as a starting inside linebacker—alongside his Free State High School teammate Joe Dineen Jr.—while also playing on punt The big hitter and kick coverage teams and the kick Volleyball’s Payne on the attack return team. “He’s bigger, he’s faster, he’s stronger for another All-American season than he used to be, and I think he’s in for a huge year,” Dineen says of Loneker, 6-2 ith senior All-American Kelsie and 225 pounds. “He’s smart, he’s in the WPayne, reigning Big 12 Player of the right spot at the right time, and he makes a Year, stationed at right-side hitter, across lot of plays for us.” the court from fellow senior Madison Little Keith was not the only Jayhawk Rigdon, volleyball coach Ray Bechard honoring Big Keith’s memory by playing a knows his team is loaded with dynamic brand of football he would respect. As oensive threats at outside hitter. with his son, the elder Loneker was also But if the Jayhawks are going to defend Dineen’s rst football and basketball their rst Big 12 championship—the coach; his passing was a deep wound for highlight of last year’s 27-3 season— Dineen, who smiled as he recalled the Bechard also knows his team can’t rely too Payne time a youth-football teammate cracked heavily on Payne and Rigdon. an unfunny joke during practice and “It’s important we have some oensive coach Loneker ordered his players to balance so people aren’t camping out in Payne holds KU career records for huddle up. front of Payne,” Bechard says. “We know hitting percentage and single-season kills, “He goes, ‘Listen, I say the jokes around Rigdon’s going to get kills, we know and could end up owning the career kills here, and if you don’t laugh then you don’t Payne’s going to get kills. But we need to mark. She spent the summer playing on play,’” Dineen recalls with a smile. “He distribute at least 30, 35 percent of our the USA Collegiate National Team on a taught me so much about football, but he oense to the middle, so when Payne does tour of Croatia and Slovenia, and returned also taught me a lot about life. I looked up get set it’s not like we have two or three for her nal KU campaign in midseason to him. He was a great dude.” blockers in front of her.” form, with two 20-kill performances in the When Dineen praises Loneker Jr. as a Payne played middle blocker as a rst three matches. motivator, a friend who is easy to be freshman. Once she switched to outside If her stats dip as KU goes deeper into around, loaded with charisma and a love hitter, her 6-foot-3 frame, jumping ability its grueling nonconference season—the for the game, he’s also praising Loneker Sr., and elite athleticism all blossomed during Sept. 4 home match with 13th-ranked who once wrote on Facebook, “ere are KU’s magical run to the 2015 NCAA Final Kentucky, a three-set KU sweep, was no guarantees in life. We make our own Four. Payne and senior Ainise Havili, a followed within the same week (as Kansas paths and we are responsible for our own four-year starter at setter, were named Alumni went to press) with matches futures. Time to grind. Respect e rst-team All-Americans aer that season, against Final Four contenders Purdue and Hu s t l e .” a feat Payne repeated last year. Creighton—that’s ne with Payne.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 15 Sports

“If there’s anything I can do to help my teammates be more successful, I’ll do that,” Payne says. “Maybe that means I’m not getting every single ball and sometimes giving it to someone else, and I’m totally ne with that, as long as it’s in the team’s best interest.” e NCAA Volleyball Championships CHRIS THEISEN COURTESY are Dec. 14 and 16 at Kansas City’s Sprint Center. It’s a tantalizing prospect that camaraderie,” said coach Bill Self, who Payne calls “a dream come true,” and La dolce vita was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Havili says she’s buying into Bechard’s Basketball Hall of Fame Sept. 8. “We game plan for getting through the Big 12, ‘Hawks live the sweet life with learned a lot about each other on the trip, and perhaps even all the way to the Final four-game sweep of Italy tour but the best thing for us basketball-wise Four, by forcing defenses to worry about was probably the 10 practices we had back more than Payne and Rigdon. ophomore guard Malik Newman in the states before we came here.” “Kelsey and Madison are so good I can Sscored 32 points in a 118-74 rout of the Late Night in the Phog is set for Sept. 30. give them every ball and they’ll kill most Italian All-Stars A2, the nal event in A “Phog Festival” begins at 10 a.m. on the of them,” Havili says. “Last year and the men’s basketball’s four-game tour of Italy, Allen Field House lawn. Doors open at season before that, I relied on that too July 31 to Aug. 8. 4:30 p.m. for students and 5 for the general much. It was easy. is year I want to e ’Hawks won their four games public. challenge myself and challenge the oense. against outmatched Italian opponents by e rst exhibition game is Nov. 7 I want them to hit balls from anywhere an average margin of 36 points. against Pittsburg State, and the season that I would be on the court, and that’s “I believe the best thing we got out of it opens Nov. 10 in Allen Field House against really my goal for this season.” was traveling, team chemistry and Tennessee State.

UPDATES 10.2 seconds, with sophomore failed to advance out of the Avery Hale close behind in qualification round. Michael Women’s soccer on Sept. 3 second. Junior Alaina Stigler, 2015 NCAA champion MIKE GUNNOE upset the seventh-ranked USC Schroeder vied for the lead in the 400-meter hurdles, was Trojans, the defending NCAA with a late kick, but finished disqualified for a technical error champions, 2-1 at Rock Chalk second in the women’s 5K in in his first qualifying run. He Park. Sophomore Katie 18:04.6. Cross-country’s next finished second in the heat, McClure scored her first goal of meet is the Sept. 30 Rim Rock only to later learn of the judges’ the season in the 12th minute, Classic. ... Former setter decision. ... Former KU guard and a Trojan own-goal gave KU Maggie Anderson, b’17, Frank Mason III, c’17, a 2-0 lead midway through the rejoined the volleyball program consensus National Player of second half. KU’s streak of 455 as director of volleyball the Year, was named co-Big 12’s minutes without allowing a goal McClure operations. ... Men’s Athlete of the Year. ... ended with 15 minutes left in Mason Finley, ’14, won Kansas Athletics is the game when USC converted 2-0 KU victories at Tulsa and bronze in the discus—the U.S. “celebrating 50 years of KU a penalty kick. “They worked Oregon State. KU’s first victory team’s first medal in the event women’s sports” with their tails o‹ today and of the season, Aug. 20 over since 1999—with a throw of 212 commemorative T-shirts to be deserved the victory,” said Central Michigan, was Francis’ feet, 5 inches at the IAAF World worn throughout the year by all coach Mark Francis. “It would 200th at KU. ... Championships in London. female athletes, along with have been a shame if we hadn’t Senior Ben Burchstead was Mitch Cooper, ’18, who reunions and other special won it.” Senior goalkeeper the top collegiate finisher at the qualified for the Australian events. Marlene Lawson Maddie Dobyns on Aug. 29 Sept. 2 Bob Timmons team with his Big-12 winning launched women’s varsity was named Big 12 Defensive Invitational at Rim Rock Farm throw at Rock Chalk Park, athletics with an initial annual Player of the Week, following with a 6K time of 19 minutes, posted a mark of 187-10, but budget of $2,000.

16 | KANSAS ALUMNI 2017 Homecoming Oct. 1-7 Go where other Jayhawks have been before. Join fellow Jayhawks in making this year’s Homecoming a stellar event.

Enjoy traditional Homecoming events all week— Glow KU, Chalk ‘n’ Rock and Jayhawk Jingles. CANstellation Jayhawk, Oct. 4, is a food drive for Just Food of Douglas County. Bring a canned item to donate!

Friday, Oct. 6 4 p.m. Meet & Greet with KU Athletics, South Park 6 p.m. Homecoming Parade, downtown Lawrence

Saturday, Oct. 7 KU vs. Texas Tech

Visit homecoming.ku.edu for a full schedule of events.

PRESENTING SPONSOR ORGANIZED BY SUPPORTING SPONSORS Tailgate with fellow Jayhawks at the Adams Alumni Center! Join us for family-friendly activities before all KU home football games.

$15 per person Free for kids 5 and younger

Enjoy: Home Games: • A delicious meal Sept. 23, West Virginia • Non-alcoholic beverages • Drink specials Oct. 7, Texas Tech (Homecoming) • Marching band, Spirit Squad Oct. 28, Kansas State and mascots Nov. 4, Baylor • Kids coloring and activity sheets • TV broadcasts of other college games Nov. 18, Oklahoma

Tailgates start 3 hours before kicko. Kick-o times have not been determined for all home games. Visit kuathletics.com for KU football updates.

Tailgating space at the Adams is limited; reserve your tickets early to guarantee your spot. To sign up, visit kualumni.org/gameday, or call 800-584-2957. ISSUE 4, 2011 | 1 Sports Photographs by Steve Puppe

Todd Reesing (above center), c’10, b’10, took a group selfie of former teammates who returned for a 10-year reunion and Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame induction of the Orange Bowl Jayhawks, including (far left, l-r) NFL veterans Aqib Talib, ’09, and Darrell Stuckey, c’09, and coach (left) Mark Mangino, with his granddaughter Gabriella. The KU victory over Southeast Missouri State featured a 364-yard, four-TD debut for quarterback Peyton Bender (7), left tackle Hakeem Adeniji (78) hoisting tight end Ben Johnson after Johnson’s 57-yard TD reception, and running back Dom Williams (25) cruising for a 10-yard score.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 19 20 | KANSAS ALUMNI The Protein in the Freezer A professor’s invention holds promise in the battle against antibiotic resistance

n July 2016, Joanna Slusky stood in a completing a two-year NIH postdoctoral fellowship conference room in Palo Alto, California, at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where and told a story. she studied the structure of proteins—the focus of e previous summer, she had been her graduate research—to better understand their nearing the end of her rst year as assistant potential in the ght against cancer. Bacterial professorI of computational biology and molecular infection is not her area of expertise, but as her biosciences at KU, her lab was up and running, and husband’s condition worsened she certainly knew her family—her husband, David Slusky, assistant of the frightening “superbugs” that have become professor of economics, and their young daughter, resistant to the antibiotics that once made their Eve—was settling into life in Lawrence. treatment routine. “en one day, out of nowhere, David’s leg swelled According to the Centers For Disease Control, up,” Slusky told her audience, “and the next day each year 2 million people in the United States the entire back of his calf was raw, with pus coming become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria; out of it.” at least 23,000 die from these infections. In countries A doctor diagnosed an infection and prescribed with poor sanitation, the problem is far worse. e antibiotics. “Review on Antimicrobial Resistance,” commis- “e antibiotics didn’t work,” Slusky said. “So we sioned in 2014 by the United Kingdom, found that, went back and the doctor prescribed more antibiot- worldwide, at least 700,000 people die annually from ics—and the antibiotics didn’t work. So we went back drug resistance in illnesses such as bacterial infec- again—more antibiotics—and they didn’t work tions, malaria, HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis. By 2050, either.” the study projects, 10 million people will die each Slusky, 38, who earned her doctorate in biochemis- year because of the increasing resistance to antibiot- try and molecular biophysics at the University of ics and other antimicrobial drugs, surpassing the Pennsylvania, joined the faculty in 2014 aer death rate from cancer.

by Steven Hill | Photographs by Steve Puppe

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 21 “We began to confront the idea that “If you or someone you love has ever had a diagnosis maybe this was a multi-drug-resistant infection,” Slusky continued. “And of something di cult or impossible to treat, then you know that was really scary. It was obviously extremely scary for my husband, but that kind of fear. You know that gulf of helplessness, it was also very frightening for me, as and then you have to wonder, ‘What if this is not only somebody who was living with and sharing a bed with someone who might incurable, but what if it’s contagious?’”—Joanna Slusky have a multi-drug-resistant infection.” Slusky’s Palo Alto audience was an advisory panel convened by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to award the had a diagnosis of something dicult or worthy. Except it’s looking less and less like rst ve of a proposed 50 Moore Inventor impossible to treat, then you know that science ction.” Fellowships, a three-year grant worth kind of fear,” Slusky said. “You know that more than $800,000 that seeks to acceler- gulf of helplessness, and then you have to ate progress in scienti c research, environ- wonder, ‘What if this is not only incurable, he method by which harmful mental conservation and patient care by but what if it’s contagious?’” Tmicrobes become resistant to funding the research of promising A worrying shortage of new antibiotics antibiotics is a natural process: It’s called “scientist/problem-solvers with a passion in the drug development pipeline is a key evolution. for inventing.” Its founder and namesake, factor in the growth of antimicrobial Antimicrobial drugs such as antibiotics, Gordon Moore, co-founded Intel and resistance. But making new antibiotics is antivirals and antifungals put pressure on originated Moore’s Law: Asked in 1965 by extremely dicult. populations of microbes: Individual Electronics Magazine to predict what “My goal, instead of making new microbes that can’t survive this pressure would happen with electronic components antibiotics,” Slusky said, “is to make the die o; those that can survive multiply, in the next decade, he looked at recent antibiotics that we already have work like passing on their resistant genes. Over trends in the manufacture of integrated n e w.” time, this process of natural selection circuitry and saw that the number of Four days later, she learned that she’d allows these populations to adapt and transistors in microprocessors was won the grant. She was a member of the proliferate, and the subtle but steady doubling every two years. Moore extrapo- rst class of Moore Inventor Fellows, a genetic changes eventually produce a lated—accurately, it turned out—that this research award with the funding he (but microbe that’s no longer vulnerable to a trend would continue, unleashing huge not, as of yet, the hype) of a MacArthur drug’s old tactics. e antibiotic is like a gains in computing technology. “Rather “genius” grant, and a new enlistee in military commander who knows only one than becoming something that chronicled mankind’s global war on superbugs. strategy, while the bacteria are like an the progress of the industry,” he noted in a In her Haworth Hall lab, where the insurgent force that constantly morphs. 2014 interview, “Moore’s Law became Moore-funded experiments are now well e antibiotic stays the same, but the bugs something that drove it.” underway, Slusky says, “Our ultimate change, rendering the drug less eective or e new Inventor Fellowship aims to indication of success will be living in a even useless. trigger a similar creative tsunami for world with less fear of the scourge of Science can—and does—call in new science, the environment and patients: e antibiotic-resistant infection.” commanders capable of bringing dierent program’s tag line is “50 inventors to shape And if her work and the work of other strategies to bear on these insurgents; it the next 50 years.” scientists fail to nd a solution to antibi- does this by developing new drugs. But Slusky applied in May and learned in otic resistance? introduction of new antibiotics has June that she was one of 10 nalists invited “is is how bad it’s gonna be,” she says: slowed. Lord Jim O’Neill, the British to pitch her idea. She proposed to tackle “Hospitals will become the source of our economist who chaired the “Review on one of the three main mechanisms that scariest infections.” Antimicrobial Resistance,” noted that a bacteria use to overcome antibiotic drugs, We will revert to a pre-antibiotic age. truly new class of antibiotics has not been and her approach draws on a passion for How people view surgery, how medicine is seen for decades. “Essentially, the demand protein design that she traces all the way administered—even our faith that Western for new drugs has increased due to back to her rst laboratory internship, medical science is a progressive discipline, increasing resistance but the supply has while still in high school. e target of her always advancing—would be fundamen- dried up,” the review concluded, “leaving research proposal, Slusky told the panel, is tally altered. us in a precarious position.” nothing less than the fear of incurable “e idea of something that is incurable Rather than recruit new commanders illness. and possibly contagious, it’s totally scary,” with new tactics (by designing new “If you or someone you love has ever Slusky says. “It’s totally science ction- antibiotics), Slusky wants to attack the

22 | KANSAS ALUMNI process by which bacteria defeat antibiot- ics, essentially disabling the microbial insurgents and robbing them of their most broadly e ective tactic. ere are basically three mechanisms by which bacteria resist antibiotic drugs. One Three ways bacteria resist antibiotics is target modication: Antibiotics typically target a specic part of the bacterial cell, and when they bind to this target in a KEY: Antibiotic Target Eux Pump particular way, the cell dies. Bacteria modify that target, usually via mutation; the antibiotic can’t bind and is no longer a threat. Because each antibiotic drug has a di erent target, doctors can usually 1. Target overcome this defense by switching drugs. modification A second mechanism is antibiotic Bacterial cells mutate modication: e bacteria comes up with to stop the antibiotic some way of modifying the antibiotic before it can bind to its target. Again, this from binding to target can oen be overcome by simply switching areas of the cell drugs. e third mechanism, more common and much tougher to defeat, is called eux. Essentially, the bacterial cell defends itself by pumping the antibiotic out before it can bind to its target. Dis- abling the bacteria’s eux pump is the 2. Antibiotic mission of Slusky’s Moore project. modification To do this, she’s relying on the protein Bacterial cells attack in her freezer. (5) YOUNGER SUSAN the antibiotic with enzymes, rendering lusky grew up in New Jersey. Her it ineective Smother, Susan, now retired, was a physicist at Bell Labs. Her father, Ronald, is a patent attorney. In an interview with the Jewish Tele- graphic Agency, Slusky related how her parents’ work shaped her early concept of career. During one family car ride, 3. E ux conversation turned to the topic of what do you want to do when you grow up? Bacterial cells pump the “My mother was describing how, as a antibiotic out of the cell scientist, she shoots lasers at crystals. My before it can bind to father . . . told us how he talks to people targets. Disabling the and he writes things. And I said, ‘OK, I’m going to be a scientist.’ And my brother pump—the focus of said, ‘Can boys be scientists, too?’” Slusky’s research— Between her mother and father, Slusky allows antibiotics to says, “my house was lled with science attack the cell. concepts all the time. I was lucky there.” She also considers herself lucky to have lived near New Brunswick, home to Rutgers University. She babysat for Jerome

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 23 Langer, a professor in Rutgers’ department He y, associate professor in molecular of pharmacology. A high school teacher biosciences, asked Slusky if she had any had recommended that she look into a lab ideas for the eort. She pitched a dierent internship, and Langer helped her land project—a diagnostic test for bacterial one. e summer a er her junior year, infection—but He y countered that they Slusky got her rst taste of lab research. were more interested in dealing with “at became my hobby, practically, as a antibiotic resistance. Did she have kid,” she says. “I started doing science “Proteins are the molecules that nature anything on that topic? really early and that was really fortunate.” uses to do biological chemistry, to do the “I thought about it a while, and I said, e experience introduced her to chemistry of life,” Slusky explains. “ey ‘You know, I have this protein in my working with proteins and the machinery are molecules that are extremely good at freezer.’” that cells use to make them. Protein design changing things and moving things. In the Carl Lejuez, dean of the College of became her passion. She was always good human body we have all of these biological Liberal Arts & Sciences, has counseled at spatial reasoning, geometry, puzzles. chemical processes, and a very large Slusky on how to build and expand a “at’s a fundamental thing one needs portion of them are mediated by proteins.” research program. “at’s exactly the kind when trying to design a protein that ts But to do their jobs, proteins need to of thing that other folks who may be just together with another protein,” she says, physically interact—sometimes with other as smart, just as talented—they get this “some sort of intuition about how a molecules and sometimes with each other sense of, ‘Uh-oh, I’m putting myself up for molecular puzzle ts together.” in protein-protein interactions. To better another potential rejection’—and it doesn’t At Princeton (where she graduated understand this process, Slusky designed a go in,” he says of Slusky’s persistence. “In cum laude with a degree in protein that had never existed before. She the sciences, no one goes around failure; chemistry), Slusky’s undergraduate named it S1245. they go through it. And a lot of people research led to co-author credit on ve She thought the protein might have stop, because it’s painful. She doesn’t have papers published in the journal Nature. At some long-term therapeutic uses, in that gene. She has what we call grit.” Penn she delved further into protein vaccine development, environmental She asked her lab technician, Cyril design; as a National Science Foundation remediation and cancer treatment, but Cook, ’13, to test S1245 to see if it would graduate research fellow she designed the mostly she was interested in learning how make bacteria more susceptible to rst peptides to bind to the transmem- these protein-protein interactions work, to antibiotics. e results were promising: brane region of proteins, published a paper ll in gaps in science’s understanding of Slusky’s invented protein was able to bind in Science, and received a patent. Two life. “I was trying, perhaps foolishly, to with the pump, disabling it and stopping postdoctoral fellowships—four years on a understand the general question of, How the cell from pushing out the antibiotic. Human Frontier Science Program do we make things that bind to the eux Turns out the protein she designed to fellowship at Stockholm University and pump, how does the binding work in the answer an academic question was also a two at Fox Chase—preceded her arrival on pump, and could we generalize that to all natural target of interest for scientists who Mount Oread. kinds of proteins?” It was pure science, a study antibiotic resistance. Her forays into At KU, she began researching the quest to ll in a missing piece of a huge pure science had proved to have surprising principles of membrane protein folding: informational puzzle. But this particular real-world applications. Specically, she was interested in one type protein-protein interaction, Slusky says, And then came the email from the KU of protein-protein interaction that, Slusky “is really not so sexy. It doesn’t really Center for Research announcing a call for says, “people didn’t necessarily believe was captivate other people’s attention quite proposals for the new Moore Inventors important.” as much as it did mine.” She applied for Fellowship. All science investigators at the Proteins are made of long chains of grants, but no one was interested. So she University got the notice, but only two amino acids that can fold into three- put her designed protein—literally— would be picked to apply. dimensional shapes. ere are 20 types of on ice. amino acids, and arranging these 20 Until some KU colleagues asked if building blocks into dierent sequences she would be interested in joining a Slusky involves students from the creates an assortment of proteins with grant proposal they were making to the undergraduate to the postdoctoral level in her dierent shapes and functions. Some National Institutes of Health. at research lab: (clockwise from top left) senior proteins work as antibodies, protecting us proposal eventually resulted in the $11 from viruses and bacteria; others work as million, ve-year NIH grant that in 2016 Virangika Wimalasena; graduate student enzymes, carrying out the chemical established the KU Center of Biomedical Meghan Franklin and summer graduate Ryan reactions that happen in cells; still others Research Excellence (COBRE): Chemical Feehan, e’18; graduate student Jaden function as transporters, messengers or Biology of Infectious Disease led by Anderson; and postdoctoral fellow Pinakin creators of hormones. omas Prisinzano and Scott He y. Sukthankar.

24 | KANSAS ALUMNI ISSUE 5, 2017 | 25 Protein design, a fairly young discipline “In the sciences, no one goes around failure; they go through it. that dates back only to the 1970s, “is really And a lot of people stop, because it’s painful. She doesn’t have at the interface of science and invention,” Slusky says. “It’s very easy to frame the that gene. She has what we call grit.” —Dean Carl Lejuez design of proteins as an engineering discipline. But I think more and more there’s a real respect and interest and “I deleted it,” Slusky says, laughing. tion to society has allowed me to look enthusiasm for creating things that help Moore Foundation. Gordon Moore, back at the types of research I have the world, that x problems, and it’s author of Moore’s Law. ey’d be looking gravitated towards . . . and see that they moving outside of engineering for engineers, computer scientists. I’m a have something in common.” departments.” chemist, she thought. A scientist, not an As an undergraduate, Slusky did a type ere is also her faith. Slusky grew up inventor. of solid state physics that focuses on attending Jewish day schools, both “And then about an hour later, I’m like, making new materials that exhibit exciting Orthodox and Conservative, and aer ‘You know what? Maybe that is me.’” electronic properties—basically designing earning her bachelor’s degree she took a new superconductors—and she worked in year before graduate school to study at the the protein design lab of Michael Hecht, Drisha Institute for Jewish Education in cience answers a question: It adds to a where she discovered “this idea of, ‘Wow, I . Sbody of knowledge, and in that sense can really marry my love of making new “It’s something I think about a lot,” she it’s all about accretion. Slowly, surely, things with my enthusiasm over actually told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I building on the progress others have solving scienti c problems.’” In graduate believe science is fundamentally answering made, it brings our picture of the world a school the patent she earned was for a the question of ‘how,’ and Judaism is little more into focus, broadens our frame protein she designed to make blood answering the question of ‘why.’ ey’re of perspective a little wider. Its nal platelets clot. “I have always been trying to very much two sides coming together.” product is an idea, something that you can make things, and that is really at the core Religion in general and, for her, Slusky hold in your mind. of scienti cally what I’m trying to do. I’m says, Judaism in particular, are answering Invention makes a thing: It adds to the trying to make things and at the same time the question, What’s our purpose? world’s toolbox, and in that sense it’s all do it in a way that really pushes science “If my purpose is to alleviate the about creation. Like science, it supplies forward.” suering of others, if that’s everybody’s something that’s missing: It tries to ll a She is also deeply and broadly curious purpose, fundamentally, then we’re born need, solve a problem. Its nal product is about the world. “I’m reading the New with a deep sense of gratitude, with a deep oen something that you can hold in your Yorker, I’m reading the Atlantic, and their sense of owing somebody else something, hand. job is to report the big problems that the because nobody causes themselves to be Slusky says she has been trained to be an country, the world, humanity is facing. born. We are deeply indebted, rst to our academic scientist her whole life. She And when I see that, I think to myself, parents and to society as a whole, and that never really saw herself as an inventor ‘What we really need is to be able to leads us very naturally to want to make until the Moore fellowship came along. diagnose this, heal this, whatever it is.’ people’s lives better, to lessen people’s “What I’m mostly being, who I’m at sends me down a rabbit hole of suering. at’s a deeply held belief that I employed to be, or at least my perspective wondering how that works on a molecular think really gets at the root of invention— of who I’m trying to develop myself into, level, and is there anything I could use and the scienti c question of how do has always been a pure scientist,” she says. from my molecular toolbox to deal with things work—that can be made to act in “And I think that perspective was probably this problem or at least start to move in service of creating better inventions.” wrongheaded because of who I am and that direction.” Lejuez says it’s important for researchers what I want to do.” Pure scientists, academic scientists, work their way up academe’s ranks by $825,000 Moore Inventor Fellowship publishing. “And publishing is about what new piece of information do we have,” she Funding sources: No. of fellows in Program goal: says, “what questions did we answer that we couldn’t answer before. Gordon and Betty inaugural class: Invest $34 million in “I’m very motivated by that, so that’s no Moore Foundation: next 10 years to problem. But reframing myself to myself $675,000 support 50 Moore as an inventor and seeing that as worth- 5 Inventor Fellows while and important and a real contribu- KU: $150,000

26 | KANSAS ALUMNI to be true to themselves, rather than nd a vehicle for moving the A computer-generated model of putting up a wall between their personal protein into the cells from Slusky’s S1245 protein. and professional lives. “I think we’re outside, some molecule that successful when they do reach that place,” can ferry S1245 across a cell he says. “What we don’t want is for membrane that is particularly someone to do only the narrow thing that impervious to drugs, forming a they’re aware of. Something like the Moore kind of protective armor for diagnostic test for bacterial prize allows her to ask that question: Am I the bacteria. infections that allows health an inventor, and is this the thing I want to ird, they need to make professionals worldwide to do?” S1245 smaller. “e idea is that administer the right antibiotics Researchers who enjoy early career if it’s smaller,” she says, “it’ll be at the right time, ideally slowing success risk losing focus because their easier to produce, it’ll be more their overuse, which is another attention gets pulled in so many direc- druglike.” important cause of antibiotic tions, the dean says. He doesn’t see that as Producing a drug is the resistance. Organizers of the a problem for Slusky. ultimate goal. It may take prize compiled a list of the 10 “is is perfect,” he says of the Moore someone else to see the most dangerous antibiotic- Inventor Fellowship. “I would argue challenge through. resistant bacteria. “Six of those,” almost all basic scientists are inventors, “It may not be me who works Slusky says, “should theoreti- but where she is on the continuum you on the public health aspect,” Slusky says. cally be made susceptible to a protein can really see it. So I think embracing this “Once we gure out the chemistry well like S1245.” maker piece will also make her a stronger enough to make a really good lead Slusky’s husband, David, turned out to basic scientist. And that’s who we want compound, I hope we can nd great be ne. (Doctors determined that his doing this work.” collaborators who can shepherd it to the condition was caused by an allergic next level.” reaction, not a drug-resistant superbug.) Slusky believes her discovery is already a Many won’t be so fortunate. According to aving proven that S1245 can disable breakthrough for science. Whether it also the World Health Organization, antibiotics Hthe eux pump and make cells more becomes a breakthrough for public health add, on average, about 20 years to the susceptible to antibiotics, Slusky hopes to remains to be seen. human lifespan. But averages can be move from proof of concept to a working “Is this going to change the face of misleading. Consider a world where prototype—a chemical compound drug public health?” she says. “It’s not a infections that were routine in our developers can use to make a drug for breakthrough for public health yet; it’s a childhood are suddenly debilitating or human use—ready for preclinical testing science breakthrough right now, but it’s a potentially life-threatening for our by fall 2019. science breakthrough with the potential to children or grandchildren. “We have this idea, it seems to work, but be a public health breakthrough.” “My grandmother had a rheumatic we’re nowhere near being able to do even If her invention does pan out, it won’t heart all her life because of a bacterial preclinical testing,” she says. “So what is single-handedly conquer the scourge of infection,” Slusky recalls. “at’s part of le to do?” antibiotic resistance, but it could poten- my memory. But my students, do they First, she and her team hope to improve tially counter a majority of the most have a sense of it? I’m not so sure.” S1245’s ability to bind to its target, a dangerous bacteria. On the other hand, it’s not necessary to protein called TolC, one of the three In 1714 the British parliament estab- have personal experience with antibiotic proteins that make up the eux pump that lished the Longitude Prize, oering a large resistance to immediately understand, at a is speci c to the E. coli bacteria. is cash award to anyone who could solve the gut level, the kind of dire future it foretells. acradine eux pump, as it’s called, is “the greatest scienti c challenge of the day: e dread of the incurable and the baddest of the bad,” Slusky says, because it how to pinpoint a ship’s position at sea by contagious is wired into our DNA and writ expels an extraordinarily broad spectrum calculating its longitude. large in our history. of antibiotics. In the spirit of that challenge, the “If we could get six out of 10 reliably, Second, they need to gure out a way to Longitude Prize 2014, a contest sponsored how fantastic would that be?” Slusky asks. get their protein into the bacterial cell. Her by the English charity Nesta, identi ed six “at’s a lot of people, and we’re talking experiments so far have focused on major concerns of the 21st century and about lives.” genetically modifying the bacteria to prod asked the public to vote on the issue most And if it turns out that the key to them to manufacture S1245 themselves. important to them. Stopping antibiotic beating back the unconquerable foe— While that approach works ne in the lab, resistance received the most votes. either for a time or for all time—is an it’s an impractical strategy for battling e challenge, still underway, will award invented protein in a laboratory freezer in infections in the body: Slusky needs to £10 million to the team that develops a Haworth Hall? Pretty fantastic indeed.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 27 Hold the Corner

KU Medical Center’s uilding dedications, while its July 20 dedication more memorable important in the life of the than most, but regardless of its sassy sparkling new University, are oen, truth be pedigree, the opening of another new told, formulaic and dull. Rarely building in a campuswide system rippling Health Education Building Bare the openings grand; more commonly, with construction projects could hardly be in the estimation of former KU architec- expected to generate buzz. transforms health care ture dean John Gaunt, a veteran attendee Right? of many such a airs, they’re “pretty Well, no. Not right. Not even close, education while enlivening perfunctory.” because more than a few odd things e striking physical beauty of KU happened that scorching-hot summer the neighborhood Medical Center’s 170,000-square-foot, $82 morning at the corner of 39th Street and at 39th and Rainbow million Health Education Building—and Rainbow Boulevard. the structure’s centerpiece role in the For one, the usual parade of dignitaries redenition of medical, nursing and health o ered no boilerplate speeches or lifeless professions education—promised to make platitudes. Instead, their remarks were

28 | KANSAS ALUMNI by Chris Lazzarino Photographs by Steve Puppe

heartfelt and moving, stirring a crowd of neighbors, and the Uni ed Government of which the mayor replied, “If you’re going more than 500 that lled the spacious Wyandotte County and Kansas City, to invest almost a billion dollars of ground-oor assembly hall—actually a Kansas. As he introduced Mark Holland, economic development in our city, we’re pair of large, airy classrooms with a mayor and CEO of the Uni ed Govern- going to make it work. It’s just a little rule removable dividing wall—with excitement ment of Wyandotte County and Kansas of thumb.” for a new day in health education at KU City, Kansas, Chancellor Doug Girod Such warm feelings were not always the and health care delivery for Kansans. confessed, “39th and Rainbow is a mess,” case in the vicinity of 39th and Rainbow, “is building was needed,” said Bill due to its three concurrent construction Holland conceded, but rapid expansion, Hall, president of the Hall Family Founda- projects: the Health Education Building, a economic growth and, 20 years ago, tion, which gave a lead gi of $25 million much-needed parking garage, and the uni cation of city and county govern- to launch the project. “It is functional, $320 million Cambridge North Tower, ments spurred sorely needed improve- transforms the teaching of health educa- nearing completion directly east of the ments in relationships. tion, and, at the same time, is elegant.” HEB. “We didn’t do a great job, historically, of e program also celebrated a renewed “ank you for tolerating us through working well together,” Holland said. partnership among the University, its this process,” Girod said to Holland, to “Now we’ve kind of grown up together.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 29 Dignitaries at the HEB’s July 20 dedication included (l-r) Mayor Mark Holland; deans Sally Maliski, Robert Simari and Abiodun Akinwuntan; Regents chair Dave Murfin; Lt. Gov. Je‰ Colyer, m’86; Regent Daniel Thomas; Regents president and CEO Blake Flanders; and Chancellor Doug Girod.

Now we have an opportunity that we’ve executive dean of the School of Medicine, never had before and we have partners “but it’s wonderful that they’re here.” we’ve never had before.” Second-year medical students Joe Yet even with well-considered speeches Fritzlen, c’14, and Levi Craghead, c’15, from seven speakers, awe and appreciation were the rst of many to greet Simari and for the light-infused building and the other faculty members, sharing their delightful glass skywalk spanning 39th enthusiasm for the new learning environ- Street to link the HEB with Orr Major and ment that will be the focal point of the Wahl West, the day’s most unexpected and training that will guide their careers. welcome surprise was still yet to come: As “I’m excited about my education here University leaders, state and local ocials, next year,” Craghead told Simari, “but I’m faculty, sta, philanthropists and friends of also really excited about the potential this Girod, “recognized something that we KU milled about the lobby, the crowd can have in attracting new talent and already knew”: the school lacked adequate slowly began to grow as medical, nursing keeping quality talent here at KU.” space and technology. About the same and health professions students ltered Smiling, Simari replied, “I believe that’s time, a study commissioned by the State of into their new academic home, even true. I think it will help in recruiting, Kansas revealed health care workforce though classes would not begin for nearly there’s no doubt about it. You guys go get a shortages across the state. a week. look around. Enjoy.” With more health care providers A building dedication luring students desperately needed but physical limita- back to campus on the cusp of their nal tions hampering growth at the medical free weekend before the arduous grind here was little to enjoy around the center, the University in 2011 upgraded its begins anew? TSchool of Medicine in 2005, aer two-year clinical program at the KU “I didn’t expect them,” said Robert accreditors from the Liaison Committee School of Medicine-Wichita to the Simari, m’86, interim executive vice on Medical Education issued a critical complete four-year medical school chancellor of KU Medical Center and report that, in the words of Chancellor experience and launched a four-year

30 | KANSAS ALUMNI program in Salina, both designed to graduate new physicians planning to remain in Kansas. (Also supplementing future health care delivery to rural Kansas, the School of Nursing this fall opened a 12-student Salina campus, with a goal of 20-student classes by 2020.) Within two years of expansions in Wichita and Salina, rst-year medical classes grew from 175 to 211; total KU School of Medicine enrollment blossomed from 700 before 2011 to 844 in 2016. “Two very big things to try and address those issues,” Girod said of the expansions, “but tackling the aging educational infrastructure here in Kansas City was a little bit more of a challenge.” e critical 2005 report from accreditors spurred medical center and University leaders to launch a needs assessment, followed by meetings with business leaders, elected ocials and others, Girod said, “to try and gure out how we can accomplish that.” Shortly aer taking oce in 2011, Gov. Sam Brownback, l’82, convened a meeting at KU Medical Center, and, as Girod recalled, “really threw a challenge out there. Not surprisingly, the ever-visionary Hall Family Foundation stepped up and said, ‘You know what? at makes sense to us. We’re going to put up $25 million if the state will match that.’ “at took a few years. Took some blood, sweat and tears, of the Regents, our legislators, the lieutenant governor, the governor, but a few years later we did get $26 million from the state and we were o and running.” Along with the $26 million from the state and $25 million from the Hall Family Foundation, KU Medical Center contrib- uted $21 million, and private support for the public-private partnership totaled nearly $42 million, including funds for advanced technology and future needs. “We approached this project with a vision to create an environment for a new way to provide health care education, one that’s very interprofessional, based on active-learning processes and experiential in nature,” Girod said. “I believe that this is the only building in the United States that has the educational facilities for a school

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 31 Medical students (l-r) Lauren Biggs, c’17, and Elizabeth Wolfe test drive the stress-relieving “spun chairs,” popular features on the glass skywalk that connects HEB with medical center buildings south of 39th Street. Also popular are attractive study carrels—here used by medical student Sonny Tallavajhala, c’15—dispersed throughout the new building.

of medicine, school of nursing, and school need to train more doctors, nurses and of health professions under one roof.” allied health professionals, and this Dave Murn, e’75, b’75, current chair of campus was already at 100-percent the Kansas Board of Regents, recalled at capacity when it came to accepting and the building’s dedication that when KU educating students.” ocials rst presented their ideas for a Not only were learning spaces at KU new, interprofessional education building, Medical Center undersized, Murn noted, Regents were concerned that “it might be a they were aging rapidly, far behind the tough sell.” But, behind the leadership of times in educational and health care then-chair Fred Logan, ’74, the board put technology, and ill-suited to house its back into pushing the project through modern methods of health care education the statehouse. that encourage small-group collaborative “ e State of Kansas was in the midst of learning rather than rote lectures. a budget crisis, and [Regents] were well “Even though the state’s economy was aware that getting the much-needed state slow and budgets for higher education support for this building would be were being cut, the Board of Regents made improve health care for Kansans for the challenging,” Murn said. “But they construction of this facility a top priority,” next 50 years, she replied, “Beyond.” realized how crucial the construction of Murn said. “Fortunately, the legislators “It’s a 180 change,” Maliski explained. this building was to our state and its recognized the importance of this facility “In the past, we existed in silos, physically people. Eighty-nine percent of Kansas in building health care communities as well as professionally. is breaks down counties have been designated by the across Kansas.” those silos so that we learn together in Kansas Department of Health and e shi in health education allowed by order to practice together.” Environment as primary-care health care construction of the new jewel at 39th and Said School of Health Professions dean provider shortage areas, and 30 percent of Rainbow is generational, Girod has been Abiodun Akinwuntan, “I say specically to the practicing physicians are expected to quick to note; when School of Nursing the people of this state, this building retire in the next 10 years. dean Sally Maliski was asked whether represents a promise and a hope for the “ ey knew that to meet the state’s modern learning opportunities created by best health care that we can aspire to have, growing need for health care providers, we the Health Education Building might for a long time to come.”

32 | KANSAS ALUMNI avid Zamierowski graduated from ence in the error-rate numbers that were To help spur the culture change, DJohns Hopkins University’s medical tracked.” Zamierowski devoted what he calls his school in 1968, and twice won Bronze In recent years, though, a new philoso- “second career” to creating new philoso- Stars as a battalion surgeon during two phy has taken hold: a team approach that phies and systems for medical education. years of service in Vietnam as a U.S. Army states, in Zamierowski’s words, “I’m A er rst launching a simulation center at captain. Following his surgical residency at human. I will inevitably make mistakes Johnson County Community College’s Vanderbilt University, Zamierowski and errors. e only way I can deliver school of nursing and developing new completed his medical training as a plastic error-free care is if I’m part of a team in courses and national seminars, Zami- surgery resident at KU. He and his wife, which others watch out for, and pick up, erowski found another partner in the Mary, who earned a doctorate at Vander- my errors, and help correct them before KU School of Nursing, where like-minded bilt and continued her studies as post- they harm the patient, and in which I researchers for years had been reimagining doctoral researcher at KU, chose to remain watch out for their errors in the same way.” the educational process. at led to a in Kansas City, where Zamierowski built Other signicant problems remain, formal collaboration with KU Medical his career in plastic surgery. including incorrect diagnoses, health care Center and the With a particular interest in treating provider stress, burnout, addiction, Health Systems, and the Zamierowski burns and wounds, Zamierowski in the depression, compassion fatigue and even Institute for Experiential Learning— late 1980s founded Wound Care Centers suicide. e American Medical Associa- ZIEL—was born. of Kansas City, and there developed and tion recently found that 400 U.S. physi- Until the Health Education Building patented wound dressings, proceeds from cians take their own lives each year. opened, ZIEL’s location in Sudler Hall which allowed Zamierowski to retire in “at’s the equivalent to the output of 2003 and focus on his true professional three medical schools in this country,” passion: simulation as a centerpiece of Zamierowski said, shaking his head in medical education. despair. “Every year.” Veteran nurses who worked alongside Other studies, Zamierowski noted, show Zamierowski for years say he always that well-intentioned eorts at managing encouraged teamwork and respect among stress by sending health care providers health care professionals, but the issue was through mandatory debriengs a er brought home for Zamierowski by a 1999 signicant stress events, such as the loss of report by the National Academy of a patient during a code blue, can generate Medicine, detailing the actual number of even more post-traumatic stress. medical errors committed by U.S. health “is sounds akin to where we were care providers. with mistakes and errors 20 years ago,” “You may remember the headlines: Zamierowski said. “It does no good to say, Deaths from medical errors are equivalent ‘Just sit down and talk and everything will to crashing two 747s a day,” Zamierowski be OK.’ When you simply mandate, told his rapt audience in the Health without training, the talking degenerates Education Building. “at got a lot of into nger pointing, blaming and accusa- attention, and got us, all of us, working on tions, instead of real team building. this problem. But, for the next 10 years, Culture change is what we need, and that nothing we did seemed to make a dier- is very dicult to do.”

Plastic surgeon David Zamierowski (right) is pioneering new educational systems based on the concept that teamwork learned in school will result in fewer mistakes throughout providers’ careers. “If it is human to inevitably make a mistake or error,” Zamierowski says, “then, in health care delivered by humans, it doesn’t change things to simply keep telling people over and over to just stop making mistakes.”

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 33 provided 234 square feet of simulation professions students meet with fellow Amid its dazzling flourishes, a subtle feature space; across the top three oors of the students and faculty facilitators a er not to be overlooked is HEB’s visually pleasing ve-story HEB, KU educators now train simulated patient treatments, Zamierowski relationship with its neighbor, the less flashy their students in nearly 30,000 square feet said, “every gap we can identify that is Robert E. Hemenway Life Sciences and of simulated exam suites, hospital oors short of optimal performance by that Innovation Center (above). That was achieved, and even operating rooms. (HEB includes group is eagerly sought by everyone in that says adviser John Gaunt, in part with sloping only ve sta oces, Dean Simari notes, group. Solutions are proposed. Mental and rooftop plant beds that feel connected one of which is reserved for the coordina- frames and mindsets are identied, with the small pool at Hemenway’s main tor who hires local citizens to serve as reected on, and, hopefully over time, “patients” in the ZIEL simulations.) changed and improved. And this includes entrance. “That was a big concern,” Gaunt “Gone are the days of sitting bored the mindset of true team building and says. “It could outshine Hemenway—which is in the back of a classroom while a profes- sharing, rather than the past culture of not a dramatic building—but it doesn’t.” sor drones on, slide a er slide,” Simari shame and blame.” said. “is facility will be a home for active and engaged students interacting with each other and with involved faculty. long with National Cancer Institute and Leesa Fanning, PhD’98, curator of Students from all disciplines will interact Adesignation for the KU Cancer contemporary art at Kansas City’s Nelson- as learners and colleagues.” Center, construction of the Health Atkins Museum of Art. Although simulation rooms are loaded Education Building had for years been one Commissioned from regional artists, the with the latest medical technology and of the primary goals for KU Medical artwork in HEB is inspired by items in the video and audio recording equipment, Center, and it was a focus of the four-plus medical center’s Clendening Library Zamierowski—whom Chancellor Girod years Girod served as executive vice collections, including centuries-old described as an “activist donor” whose chancellor. Girod, Simari and others felt anatomy and surgical textbooks and “expertise in international simulation” was certain they had considered every aspect handwritten letters from Florence brought to fruition in HEB—asked visitors of the building’s layout and design, until Nightingale. to look past the bells and whistles and also they one day realized: “What do you put “We intended the work to prompt “pay attention to the rooms with the least on the walls in a new building?” deeper exploration,” Hardy says. “We in them. Look at the atmosphere created An art committee was promptly formed, never intended it to be decorative. We by just a table and chairs. ese are the featuring Gaunt, professor emeritus of wanted it to be about the work that was debrieng rooms. is is where culture architecture & design; Saralyn Reece going on in the building and also the change must happen.” Hardy, c’76, g’94, Marilyn Stokstad heritage of health education.” When medical, nursing and health Director of the Spencer Museum of Art; While intended to inspire future

34 | KANSAS ALUMNI generations of students and faculty in As Gaunt stated at the outset, 39th and sorely lacking in the complex’s imposing moments of “reection and discovery,” the Rainbow, the keystone corner of the entire brick structures, none of which encourage building’s original artwork also serves as a medical center and hospital complex, had neighborhood interaction. tangible expression, in Hardy’s estimation, been badly served by previous design “It’s like a little village to me,” says of “the level of care and commitment from decisions. It was time for that to change. co-owner Ruben Zaragoza. “We’re a KU for creating a facility that is so “John’s rst statement was, ‘ is is an family-owned business built here in thoughtful and so extraordinary. In some important corner. is building has to Kansas City, so just because of our ways, the art is symbolic of that care.” hold the corner,’” Girod recalled of Gaunt’s particular existence in Kansas City, we’re e care that went into the structure earliest advice. “It does.” going to bring people in who don’t know itself is immediately evident, and Gaunt, e prospect of enlivening 39th and much about KU. ey’ve never been to KU who was involved from the beginning, Rainbow and opening the medical center before, so I think we’re going to be a draw says it’s thanks in large part to talented and to its neighbors was a factor in attracting to the medical center and this campus.” thoughtful designers at Kansas City’s Helix the Hall Family Foundation’s support. Says Gaunt, “So many buildings, Architecture + Design and CO Architects “I know that they were concerned, in an especially medical buildings, it seems to of Los Angeles, as well as general contrac- urbanistic sort of way,” Gaunt says. “It me, will come down to the sidewalk and tor McCownGordon, which Gaunt says provided the opportunity to do what the people walk by and that’s it. is opens up advanced the project on time and under medical center needed and, at the same at the street level. You’re invited in. Just budget while being “very accommodating time, create an urban asset. A double gi.” looking at it from the outside as a pass- and very good. I was impressed.” e building’s openness to its neighbors erby, and especially as an architect, it just With a glass exterior surrounding the is evident at the southwest ground-oor makes that corner. inner structure, the Health Education corner, where a wraparound apron with “It’s very exciting.” Building is suused with daylight and picnic tables fronts the glass exterior of A grand opening for a grand building: glows invitingly at night: “We have worked Tropicana, a charming cafe and juice and Nothing perfunctory about it. in some dour facilities over the years,” ice cream emporium. Open from 6:30 a.m. Simari says. “ e thing that appeals to me to 8 p.m. seven days a week, the restau- is the light.” rant—a popular chain with three other “It makes a beautiful building,” Gaunt outlets in Kansas City and one in Wich- More online says, “and that’s a very key thing. And then ita—caters not only to students, faculty the circulation moves around within that and sta, but also to folks from the ideographer Dan Storey’s coverage of space, and it feels so good. It feels good to neighborhood. Come on in. Savor a treat. Vthe Health Education Building’s grand walk around in it, which isn’t always what Relax. Meet. Greet. opening can be seen at kualumni.org/ you get with a medical facility.” at sort of welcoming spirit has been magazine.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 35 STEVE PUPPE STEVE

36 | KANSAS ALUMNI rin Penner is determined to get back “For us, the challenge was space, for on two wheels again. e Prairie sure,” says Hallberg, ’99, a database Village senior, who’s majoring in engineer at KU’s Life Span Institute. global and international studies at “ e challenge was not getting bicycles.” KU, has had two bicycles stolen in the Short on storage for their growing pastE six months—the most recent one, inventory, the women contacted fellow which she aectionately named Dakota, Ready cyclist Bill Anderson, a local businessman was taken just outside her apartment who owns Anderson Rentals, an equip- complex in Lawrence. ment rental agency with a large store on “ ey cut the chain,” she says. “I was Sixth Street. With regular business hours really upset about that.” and ample space, the location seemed the In April, one of Penner’s co-workers told perfect spot to collect donations. “Within her about Lawrence Unchained, a non- to Ride a couple months we had 50 to 75 bicy- prot, volunteer-run bike shop that cles—all dierent shapes and sizes,” says provides bicycles to community members Through education Hallberg. “Some were just dusty and old; in exchange for their time. For two hours some just needed air in the tires. Some of every Monday night, volunteers meet at and outreach, them had been run over by a car and Art Emergency in East Lawrence, an Lawrence Unchained needed to go back in the scrap heap.” unassuming art gallery and creative space But as more donations poured in, in the trendy Warehouse Arts District, to revives secondhand Anderson’s facility became overwhelmed, return secondhand—and oen damaged bikes and primes and the women had to nd a new home or broken—bikes to good health. It’s here, for the bicycles. “ ey ended up on a surrounded by local artists’ studios and cyclists for the road volunteer’s back deck under a tarp and in supplies, that Penner hopes to secure her my basement,” Hallberg recalls with a next set of wheels. laugh. “I moved all the furniture o to the Cycling enthusiasts Michele Berendsen, side and made room for about 50 bicycles.” Lisa Hallberg and Jessica Mortinger, who by Heather Biele Hallberg invited friends and volunteers had grown close aer years of biking to her house, where she had a bike stand recreationally together, conceived the idea and some basic tools. ere, to the best of for Lawrence Unchained in spring 2014, e women reached out to the their abilities, they repaired bicycles on aer visiting the Topeka Community Lawrence Central Rotary Club, a group her driveway. Cycle Project, a neighboring organization that coordinates community bike rides, to “I didn’t have any professional experi- that also promotes hands-on education as help establish Lawrence Unchained as a ence,” Hallberg, a longtime bike com- a means to earn a bike. not-for-prot cooperative. Word quickly muter, admits. “I knew how to x my own “We went up there and we were spread of the new endeavor and before bike, because I hated paying somebody amazed,” says Berendsen, j’01, who long bicycle donations were rolling in. else to do something I ought to be able to manages communications at Community However, unlike their counterparts in gure out. When you’re biking to work Healthcare System in Onaga. “One day Topeka, who at the time were renting a and you have a at tire, you have to gure Jessica, Lisa and I were talking, and we spacious, 5,000-square-foot building in it out. I’d been trial-by-re for some of realized we had all the skills that are the downtown area, they had no place those basic things.” necessary to start something like this.” to put them. Equipped with a handful of revitalized,

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 37 STEVE PUPPE (2) STEVE

road-ready bikes, the three friends focused rst year, Hallberg attended a weeklong Every Monday evening, cyclists gather at Art on community outreach, a critical bicycle maintenance class in Portland, Emergency in the Warehouse Arts District to component in the creation of Lawrence Oregon, and Berendsen and Mortinger learn new skills and repair secondhand bikes. Unchained. became certi ed League of American Volunteers Erin Penner (below right) and “A bike can provide opportunities for Bicyclists instructors, thanks to funding Shelby Kim prepare to work on a bicycle mobility,” says Mortinger, c’08, g’10, a provided by the Lawrence-Douglas Penner hopes to ride in a few weeks. senior planner for the City of Lawrence. County Health Department. “Pair it with transit and you get even further. It can make a lot of dierence for people trying to access resources.” In fall 2014, the women conducted a bicycle education and road safety work- shop at the Lawrence Community Shelter, where they taught a small group of residents a few simple skills, including how to properly wear a helmet and how to change a tire, and led them on a short bike ride. In exchange for attending the class, the residents earned bikes. Fueled by the success of their rst community event, Berendsen, Hallberg and Mortinger stepped up their eorts, moving the operation to an old middle- school building in Eudora, recruiting a few more board members and holding regular shop hours every Monday. Within that

38 | KANSAS ALUMNI It was around this time that a clearer “I came in not knowing anything about objective for Lawrence Unchained took bikes at all. e rst day I just carted bikes shape: Individuals could earn bicycles by that were completely done for out to the volunteering at least 10 hours in a calendar dumpster and then worked on stripping year or by participating in a safety and down bikes. at’s how I got to learn little maintenance class. is process, Hallberg things and started xing things.” says, ultimately creates more informed For other volunteers, like Kevin Liu, bicycle owners through hands-on study— who’s been repairing bicycles for years and and ideally improves the chances of even brings his own tools to Art Emer- road-weary bicycles being repaired, rather gency, these weekly shop sessions provide than discarded. an opportunity to ne-tune his skills and “People are throwing away bicycles that interact with fellow cyclists. “I’ve been are minutes away from being ridable,” she doing maintenance on bikes since about says. “Bicycles are actually pretty easy. Not 2000,” he says. “Before it’s been mostly my always, but the basic things that fall apart own personal bike or my wife’s bike. When are quite simple to x, don’t require very [Lawrence Unchained] opened up and complicated tools and the parts to x them they started getting more bikes coming in, are very inexpensive. Most people just it was a good opportunity.” don’t have a clue how to x them.” Last year, aer contributing nearly 15 hours of volunteer work, he earned a bike. “My daughter had outgrown hers,” says n a sweltering Monday evening in Liu, d’96, g’05, a research specialist at the August, half a dozen volunteers spill KU Center for Assessment and Account- Ointo Art Emergency, Lawrence ability Research and Design, “so I got one Unchained’s home for the past year. Board members and shop managers Luke Beck and Justin Eddings clear a portion of the

spacious warehouse to make room for bike PUPPE (3) STEVE stands and repair stations, as volunteers grab bikes and get to work. At one station, middle-schooler Katie Eckert listens intently as Beck, ’04, guides her through the ABCs—Air, Brakes, Chain, Crank and Cassette—of a bike evaluation while Katie’s father, Mark, looks on. e young girl has her own bicycle at home, but she’s here to pick up skills to properly maintain it. As Beck gives the front wheel a gentle spin, he advises Katie to look for cracks, wear or bald spots in the tires. “Spin it around and check if you see anything,” he tells her. “We’ll air them up and see if the tubes work later.” Nearby, Eddings, f’04, helps Penner release a broken cassette and replace it with a new one. It’s Penner’s third week working on this bike, a replacement for Shop managers Luke Beck and Justin that needed work, took it home, worked her two stolen ones. “ is was my dad’s Eddings show volunteers how to properly on it over the winter and rebuilt it for her.” bike in college,” she says. “I wanted to evaluate and maintain bicycles. Second- Benets abound for the shop managers, gure out what was wrong and x it.” year volunteer Kevin Liu (above) too. Eddings, who has been working with With Eddings’ help, she identied that the fine-tunes his repair skills at the weekly Lawrence Unchained since its inception, cassette, a set of sprockets on the bike’s sessions. says the experience allows him to satisfy rear wheel, had several broken teeth. two of his favorite pastimes: xing things “It’s just so freaking cool,” Penner says. and teaching people about bicycles. “It’s

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 39 really rewarding to get people some transportation, get them happy and moving,” he says. “Bicycles are a great way to do that.”

In addition to lending his services at the ODELL HEATHER COURTESY shop, Beck, a certi ed League of American Bicyclists instructor, also provides bicycle maintenance and safety training to local low-income families, thanks to a partner- ship between Lawrence Unchained and the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority. “Lawrence is such a bike-friendly community,” says Heather Odell, director of resident services for the housing authority. “We really want to make sure our tenants feel like they can participate in the dierent community bike rides, In 2015, the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority partnered with Lawrence Unchained participate on the bike trails, and have the to create a program that allows children to earn bikes after participating in a cycling safety class. skills and con dence to do it.” “They have really helped us out,” says Heather Odell, director of resident services for the Inspired by Lawrence Unchained and its housing authority. model of distributing bicycles to volun- teers, the housing authority developed a similar program for youths called Full Circle Wrecking Crew, with funds skills to use. “I’ve actually seen them Lawrence Unchained is manpower. provided by the Douglas County Commu- riding around town quite a bit, going to “Everybody works full time and has other nity Foundation. Children, typically aged the grocery store, going to the pool,” he jobs,” Berendsen says. “You can only do so 7 and older, not only earn bicycles aer says. “ese were people who were really much, even if you want to do more.” participating in a class, but they also timid getting on a bike when we rst Hallberg, who typically dedicates become “wrenches” who can teach their started. It’s cool to see them ride around approximately 10 hours a week to Law- peers the same valuable skills they learned. with their kids.” rence Unchained, says she’d like to recruit “I think it’s empowering for them,” says more shop managers like Beck and Odell, c’11, g’17. “It became a mentoring Eddings, individuals who can volunteer opportunity for some of the older kids to t’s been three years since Lawrence their time and talent at Art Emergency, some of the younger kids.” Unchained distributed its rst four and provide additional hours for bicycle In 2016, 38 bikes were distributed to Irefurbished bicycles to residents at the repairs during the week. youths in the program, which was Lawrence Community Shelter. Since then, “ere’s a lot of people who just need to honored with the Award of Excellence nearly 125 bikes have been earned by a work on their own bikes and don’t have from the National Association of Housing growing corps of volunteers and commu- tools. We have all these tools,” Hallberg and Redevelopment Ocials. is year, nity members. says. “It would be really nice to have a the housing authority created a similar Although Berendsen and Mortinger are work day or timeslot that wasn’t about program for adults called SPOKES, which no longer as involved because of career volunteering to x the bikes we have, but stands for Service, Physical Activity, changes and family responsibilities, they rather bring your bike and get some help Outside, Kinship, Employment and Safety. continue to support Hallberg’s eorts to xing things. We’ll show you. It might not With the help of instructors from expand Lawrence Unchained as a resource be volunteer hours toward earning a bike, Lawrence Unchained, the organization in the community. but if you want to get your bike xed and has hosted three events and has distrib- “I still feel very passionate about it,” says donate a couple bucks to us for the parts uted 25 bikes to low-income adults. Mortinger. “I like to hear what they’re or whatever, that would be a really nice “It was all possible through this doing. Just providing people with an service to provide. at would be my partnership with Lawrence Unchained,” opportunity to learn as a way to earn vision.” Odell says. something provides a lot of incentive to If the last three years are any indication, Beck has taught several of those care for it.” Lawrence Unchained is on track to share classes, and he’s thrilled when he sees Hallberg and Berendsen agree that at its vision—and the road—for years to participants putting their newfound this point, the only thing stopping come.

40 | KANSAS ALUMNI Campus cycling DAN STOREY DAN n summer 2012, the University created a Bicycle Advisory ICommittee (BAC) to advance some of the bicycle-related strategies set forth in the Campus Sustainability Plan, Building Sustainable Traditions, which was commissioned by Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little in 2011. The committee includes faculty, sta† and students, as well as a few individuals from the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization, including Jessica Mortinger, who brings a broader, community- focused perspective to the group. In addition to promoting bicycle use, safety and etiquette on campus, the BAC is charged with making recommendations to improve bicycle infrastructure and make campus a more bike-friendly environment. “One of the things we’re trying to do with that group is just encouraging people that you can get around our community by colleges and universities with this designation nationwide. The bike and get to campus by bike,” says Je† Severin, c’01, g’11, University also plans to launch the website, bike.ku.edu, this director of KU’s Center for Sustainability and chair of the BAC. fall, which will feature ridability maps, bike safety and Last year, the committee, with assistance from graduate maintenance guides, information on recreational rides and students in the department of urban planning’s transportation other resources for cyclists. implementation class, developed the KU Bike Plan, a 93-page, Another recommendation nearing completion is the comprehensive report that includes short- and long-term implementation of a bike-share program on campus, which recommendations to improve bicycling conditions on campus. would allow students, faculty and sta† to access a network of Priorities for KU include: bikes that can be checked out and used for a small fee. Last year, the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Short term Organization conducted a study to gauge interest and • Identify funding for and hire a campus bicycle coordinator determine the feasibility of this kind of program. Nearly 700 • Establish a review process for all construction projects to KU students responded to the short-form survey, with 81 incorporate BAC feedback on bike infrastructure percent supporting the bike-share venture. Seventy percent • Adopt short-term and long-term bicycle parking guidelines of students were in favor of using student fees to fund the proposed by BAC into design and construction program if the fees guaranteed a specified amount of daily management standards ride time. • Identify locations for bicycle signage Donna Connolly Hultine, c’80, director of parking and transit • Consolidate bike-related resources to a single website at KU, has been researching options for the program, which she • Pursue Bicycle Friendly University designation says could be on campus as early as October. “Cars don’t have to be the only way to get here,” she says. “If I can o†er buses Long term and bikes as reasonable alternatives, that helps everybody.” • Add bicycle infrastructure during construction or Severin says bike sharing would provide a way for students reconstruction of streets, buildings and parking lots on to test the waters as cyclists on campus. “Part of the challenge campus is that students come to campus and maybe they’re not ready • Develop a connection to the existing shared-use path north to buy a bike or they can’t a†ord a nice bike or they’re of Clinton Parkway and Atchison Avenue concerned about bike theft, but they’re interested in riding from • Add climbing lanes and signage to routes identified in the point A to point B on campus,” he says. “This would really Campus Master Plan and Countywide Bikeway System Plan provide a great option for those students.” • Develop standards for end-of-trip facilities in campus Ian Pepin, a Lawrence junior majoring in secondary special- buildings education and president of the KU Cycling Club, says some students don’t want to bring a bike to campus because of the Work to accomplish these goals is underway. In 2016, KU lack of covered parking options. A bike-share program would was recognized as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University by alleviate that concern, he says. “I think it would be the League of American Bicyclists, joining more than 150 awesome.” —H.B.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 41 Association

Based on survey feedback, the task force outlined a plan that will ultimately provide greater flexibility for students and their families, reduce program expenses, and allow the University and the Alumni Association to create more scholarship opportunities.

time and e ort evaluating the program,” says Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09, president of the Alumni Association. “Our primary two goals were to preserve the recognition of academic excellence in multiple ways and evolve the program to better position its long-term sustainability.” Based on survey feedback, the task force outlined a plan that will ultimately provide greater exibility for students and their families, reduce program expenses, and A new era allow the University and the Alumni Kansas Honors Program evolves Association to create more scholarship opportunities. e changes, which will be to better serve students, families implemented this fall, include: • Kansas Honor Scholar ceremonies will or the past 46 years, the Kansas dictionaries traditionally given to be reduced from 36 to 12. Invitations to all FHonors Program, a longstanding scholars with medallions or honor scholars will encourage them to attend the Alumni Association and University cords for scholars to wear at their regional ceremony that is most convenient tradition that honors the top 10 percent of local graduation or recognition in terms of date and location. Ceremonies graduating high school seniors statewide, ceremonies. will occur in Colby, Emporia, Garden City, has remained largely unchanged. But in “We knew and understood that Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, Lawrence, February, prompted by recent funding cuts with the internet and the media the Manhattan, Pittsburg, Salina, Topeka and to higher education and decreased student way it is today, the dictionaries were Wichita. participation at KHP events, the Associa- probably not appropriate,” says Al • Ceremonies will include speakers and tion’s national Board of Directors con- Shank, b’77, task force chairman a video presentation, recognition of the vened a task force to conduct a compre- and a 33-year KHP volunteer in scholars, and a reception for scholars, hensive review of the program and Liberal. “is was just a really good families, school administrators and determine whether changes were needed. time to look at the program and say, alumni. e task force surveyed past Kansas ‘How do we keep it viable moving • Students who attend one of the 12 Honor Scholars, alumni volunteers, high forward?’” ceremonies will receive distinctive Kansas school administrators, keynote speakers e task force considered the Honor Scholar medallions to wear at their and other stakeholders. irty-six percent entire range of options for the local graduations and/or recognition of those surveyed responded, and the most program, from continuing its events. frequent recommendations for improving current format to eliminating it • e Association will mail certicates the existing program included creating entirely. “Our national Board of to all high schools for distribution to all additional scholarship opportunities for Directors, sta and campus 3,500 Kansas Honor Scholars. School Kansas Honor Scholars and replacing the partners spent a great deal of administrators can determine the best

42 | KANSAS ALUMNI venue to recognize their scholars at school changes, particularly the creation of the age of 31, he became president of events during the academic year. e scholarship opportunities for students. Seattle Community College in Washing- Association encourages alumni volunteers “College is expensive,” she says, “and it’s ton. He also served as president of to represent the Association and KU at great that we will be able to help mitigate Cuyahoga Community College in Cleve- these school events. those costs for some of our honorees. land, Ohio, where a building is named in • e Association will promote the 12 “We are moving forward with a format his honor. Most recently, he was an regional ceremonies to local and regional that honors the best of the traditions from endowed professor of urban leadership, media by issuing press releases, which will the old program and creates new opportu- management and economic community include the names of all area Kansas nities for the Alumni Association to better development for the University of Mis- Honor Scholars. e Association also will recognize and support student souri-Kansas City. work with local alumni volunteers to success.” He was a member of the Alumni promote the ceremonies in their areas Association’s national Board of Directors through personal follow-up with local from 1981 to ’86 and has served on several media, schools, students and families. other University committees. In 1983, he • KU Admissions and the Association Leaders honored received the Distinguished Service will invite all Kansas Honor Scholars to Citation from the Association and KU for visit KU on Crimson & Blue Day on Biennial Black Alumni Network his service to humanity. Friday, Oct. 13, in Lawrence. e Law- reunion recognizes Jayhawks Fleming, of rence Kansas Honor Scholar ceremony Houston, has served will occur that aernoon. Scholars are ine alumni will receive the KU Black as a leader in the welcome to attend the Visit Day and NAlumni Network Mike and Joyce medical community Lawrence ceremony in addition to another Shinn Leaders and Innovators Award for for more than four ceremony in their area if they choose. their contributions to the University, their decades. A physician Michelle Lang, b’01, the Association’s profession and their communities. e and neurologist, he director of alumni programs, has managed award is named for the late Mike Shinn, became the rst and KHP for nearly a decade and welcomes the e’66, who helped found the KU Black only African-Ameri- Alumni Network and the Leaders and Fleming can president of the Innovators Project, and his wife, Joyce. Texas Medical Association, the Harris e nine recipients will be honored Oct. County Medical Society and the Texas 6 during the Black Alumni Network’s Neurological Society. He also holds the DAN STOREY DAN biennial reunion. ey are: distinction of being the rst African- • Nolen Ellison, d’63 American president of the Federation of • William Fleming III, c’67 State Medical Boards of the United States. • Zelema Harris, g’72, EdD’76 He is a Texas delegate for the American • Dwayne James, e’94 Medical Association. • Curtis McClinton, d’62 In addition to practicing at Memorial • Reggie Robinson, c’80, l’87 Neurological Association for the past 36 • Walt Wesley, c’79 years, he also travels more than 100 miles • Andrew Williams, e’88, PhD’00 twice a month to provide much-needed • Valdenia Winn, d’72, PhD’94 medical care to patients in rural, under- Ellison, of Kansas served areas of the state. City, has had a long Harris, of Tucson, Camenzind and distinguished Arizona, is a veteran New staff member career in education. educator with more Aer graduating from than 30 years of yan Camenzind, j’17, joined the KU, where he was an leadership in commu- RAssociation in July as digital All-American point nity colleges nation- media coordinator. A proud Wichita guard on the men’s wide. She began her native, Ryan enjoys spending time basketball team, he career in higher with his family (two Cornhusker Ellison taught in the Kansas education in 1980, parents and three Jayhawk brothers), City, Kansas, school district before earning Harris serving a seven-year cheering on the Jayhawks and his doctoral degree in leadership and term as president of Pioneer Community exploring the outdoors. management from Michigan State College in Kansas City. She later became University in 1971. e following year, at president of Penn Valley Community

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 43 Association

College in Kansas City and Parkland He later earned a its public postsecondary institutions. In College in Champaign, Illinois, where she master’s degree from 2014, he became director of the KU School was recognized as president emerita in Michigan State of Public A airs and Administration. He 2006. She served as chancellor of St. Louis University and an was named interim vice chancellor for Community College, and in 2013 she honorary doctorate of public a airs in August. became acting provost and interim Humane Letters from Wesley, of Fort Myers, Florida, set the chancellor of Pima Community College Miles College in stage for his career in District in Tucson. At each learning Faireld, Alabama. the NBA at KU, where institution, she advanced campus growth, He served as deputy he played basketball McClinton program development and educational mayor for economic from 1962 to ’66 opportunities for underrepresented development in Washington, D.C., before under coaches Dick students. founding Swope Parkway National Bank Harp and Ted Owens, Her educational impact is also evident at in Kansas City. He launched McClinton who recruited him KU, where she designed, implemented and Development Company, a construction from Dunbar High directed a supportive educational services rm that built a ordable housing in School in Fort Myers program that inspired the development of several municipalities in Kansas, and he is Wesley during a time when the University’s TRIO SES program, a currently chairman and CEO of Central many talented African-American athletes federally funded initiative that provides Contracting Company. He also served as were not recruited to play at major support to rst-generation, low-income an adjunct professor at the University of universities. He led the Jayhawks in and disabled students. She was inducted in Missouri-Kansas City. His papers are scoring and rebounding as a junior in the KU Women’s Hall of Fame in 1988. housed in the Spencer Research Library at 1965 and was named to All-Big 8 and James, of Ferguson, Missouri, developed KU. He served two terms on the Alumni All-America teams. He is currently ranked a passion for local Association’s national Board of Directors, 29th on the University’s all-time scoring politics early in his from 1969 to ’72 and 2006 to ’11. list with 1,315 points. career as an engineer. Robinson, of Lawrence, laid the ground- He was selected in the rst round of the In 2007, he was work for an eminent 1966 NBA dra by the Cincinnati Royals, elected to Ferguson’s career in leadership as and for the next 10 years he played city council, and for a student at KU, professionally for several NBA teams. He the next nine years, where he served as retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in which included the student body vice 1976 and began a 25-year career as a tumultuous time president and Division I basketball coach at KU, Western James following the shooting president of the Michigan University and the United States of Michael Brown in 2014, he was the only Memorial Unions Military Academy at West Point. He also African-American city council member board of directors. In served as executive director of the Police for Ward 2. He also served as mayor pro Robinson law school, he was Athletic League. He was inducted into the tem from 2010 to ’14. He spearheaded the editor-in-chief of the Kansas Law Review, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Kansas Ferguson Youth Initiative, a program that and he graduated in the top 10 percent of Athletics Hall of Fame and the National encourages the city’s teenagers to become his class. Negro High School Basketball Hall of more engaged in their community, and he He was an associate professor of law at Fame, and in 2010 he received the Jessie currently serves on its board of directors. KU, where he was twice awarded the Owens Award of Excellence from Alpha He also is a board member of Live Well, a Frederick Moreau Award for Student Phi Alpha fraternity. His jersey has been local initiative that promotes healthy living Counseling and Advising. He also served retired by KU and Dunbar High School. in Ferguson. as chief of sta to Chancellor Robert E. Williams, of Lawrence, is recognized as He is the St. Louis County program Hemenway. From 1993 to ’98 he worked at a leader in the eld of director for the Missouri University Exten- the U.S. Department of Justice in Wash- robotics. He has sion and an adjunct professor of math- ington, D.C., where he was deputy received awards from ematics at St. Louis Community College. associate attorney general and acting the National Academy McClinton, of Kansas City, has pursued director of the Oce for Victims of Crime. of Engineering, careers in athletics, public service and In 1999, he was appointed by President Google, Microso entrepreneurship. He distinguished Clinton to the President’s Commission on Research and GEM, himself as an All-American football player White House Fellowships. Robinson also and he has been at KU, winning honors in the Big Eight, served as president and chief executive named among the Top and he played professionally in the NFL as ocer of the Kansas Board of Regents, Williams 50 African-Americans a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. overseeing the state’s six universities and in technology. He has a distinguished

44 | KANSAS ALUMNI record of funding and has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and NASA, as well as several corporations, including Apple, Google, General Electric, Boeing and General Motors. He is a former professor of electrical and computer engineering at Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he also directed the Humanoid Engineering & Intelligent Robotics Lab, and he is known for his work on programs for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at universi- n order to better serve KU ties nationwide, including the formation of Istudents, the Alumni the Spelbots, a competitive, all-female Association has rebranded its DAN STOREY (2) STOREY DAN robotics team at Spelman College in student program from the Atlanta. In July, he became associate dean Student Alumni Association to for diversity, equity and inclusion at the the Student Alumni Network. KU School of Engineering. New sta members Ally Winn, of Kansas City, has devoted her Stanton, j’10, g’12, and Keon career to education and public service. She Stowers, c’15, joined the has served more than four decades as a Alumni Association in August professor of U.S. to lead the program as director history and political and assistant director, respectively. science at Kansas City Stanton Kansas Community Replacing the term College. She has “association” with “network” worked internation- highlights a renewed focus on ally with the Ful- connecting students with the bright-Hays Group vast group of nearly 300,000 Projects Abroad KU alumni worldwide, which Winn Program and has will help students develop traveled to in , where their own professional she developed curriculum units, created connections for career advice guides and a website, and coordinated and opportunities long before workshops on African studies. She also has they leave the Hill. served as project director of the U.S. “The Student Alumni Department of Education’s Strengthening Network is the largest student Institutions Planning Grant, which focuses group and the premier Stowers on multicultural education, student networking organization on retention and student advising. the KU campus, and the rebrand is a precursor to a much more robust plan to launch She has served in the Kansas House of new programs to foster high-level career connections across industries,” says Heath Representatives since 2001 and is a Peterson, d’04, g’09, president of the Alumni Association. “The e ort will include a ranking member of the Kansas House dynamic KU alumni mentoring platform, programs featuring industry leaders across Education and Education Budget Com- the country, new internship pipelines and job connections, enhanced career data and mittee. She also serves on several other new partnerships across the KU enterprise.” legislative committees and commissions, In addition to these new initiatives, traditional events such as Home Football and she is a member of Jayhawks for Fridays and Finals Dinners will be o ered to all students, and the Student Alumni Higher Education. In 2015, she was elected Leadership Board will continue to serve as the student representatives of the KU to the USD 500 Board of Education in Alumni Association. Membership in the Student Alumni Network is free for all Kansas City, Kansas. undergraduate and graduate students, thanks to funding provided by the Alumni Association and KU Endowment. Photographs courtesy of recipients.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 45 Association

KU Kicko photographs by Dan Storey Wichita Kansas City

Coach David Beaty (below, l-r), Chancellor Doug Girod and the Spirit Squad boosted preseason football spirits at the festive Wichita Kicko„ Aug. 17 at picturesque Beech Lake Park.

Before they signed autographs for their young fans, All-Big 12 Jayhawks Daniel Wise (above, l-r) and Mike Lee were among the many speakers who rallied the usual packed crowd at the annual KU Kicko„ Aug. 25 in Prairie Village’s Corinth Square.

46 | KANSAS ALUMNI Board of Directors Michael C. Flowers, c’77, Apollo Beach, Florida Life Members n CHAIR Michael J. Happe, j’94, Eden Prairie, Kevin E. Carroll, assoc., Atlanta, Georgia Minnesota e Association thanks these Jayhawks, who began their Life Rosa Aguirre Mitchell, s’85, Elkhart memberships July 1 through Aug. 31. For information, visit n CHAIR-ELECT John W. Ballard III, b’73, Overland Park Keturah Harding Pohl, f’04, g’08, kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957. Findlay, Ohio n EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Adam J. Wray, c’93, Medina, John W. Ballard III, b’73, Overland Park Washington Jerome L. R. Arockiam William F. Mason Kevin E. Carroll, assoc., Atlanta, Georgia Dillon M. Baird Byron H. & Jennifer Zerbe Carrie W. Coulson, b’02, l’05, New York, Senior Sta Members Elizabeth M. Beck Matthews New York n PRESIDENT Michael R. Beesley Scott M. McBride Cory L. Lagerstrom, c’94, g’98, l’98, Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 Anthony S. & Kimberly LaDell K. McCabe Mission Hills Cummins Bell William B. & Katherine L. Jill Simpson Miller, d’01, Webb City, n ADMINISTRATION Clarence Bender McGillivray Missouri Heather Hawkins, j’06, Executive Bryan M. Bond J. R. Mendoza Dave B. Roland, e’80, Excelsior, Assistant & Coordinator, Donor Minnesota Johanna K. Brady D. Michael Meyer Relations Scott R. Seyfarth, b’83, Hinsdale, Martin R. Brown Kimberly K. Moore n ALUMNI & STUDENT Illinois Sean M. & Kristine Blakley Raymond G. Mueller MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS Butler Edward S. & Diane K. n DIRECTORS TO 2018 Brad Eland, b’09, g’11, Vice Mark D. Carlson Nemnich John W. Ballard III, b’73, Overland Park President, Alumni & Student Dominique Call Christenson Janice Nicklaus Aaron R. Brinkman, j’98, Dallas, Texas Programs Debi Dennis Duckworth, d’79, Houston, Michael R. Cooper Norma J. Norman n COMMUNICATIONS Texas Shelley Covington Cooper Jennifer R. Ohler Jennifer Sanner, j’81, Senior Vice Jill Simpson Miller, d’01, Webb City, Russell E. Daniels Jr. Robert L. Perkins President, Strategic Communica- Missouri James M. & Kim Casper Mark E. Peterson tions & Advocacy; Secretary Jerry D. Skillett, b’81, New York, Downard Diane M. Plunkett-Drake New York n DEVELOPMENT Eric S. & Rosemary Edell Cyndy K. Price Calvin McConnell, j’11, n Brent A. & Sandra Foster Joseph C. Raper DIRECTORS TO 2019 Associate Development Director Timothy L. Frey Jarret D. & Julie Goin Rea Carrie W. Coulson, b’02, l’05, New York, n DONOR RELATIONS Andrea N. Geubelle Robert E. Reece New York Cory L. Lagerstrom, c’94, g’98, l’98, Angela Storey, b’04, g’07, Brigid D. Hall Wade Reed Prairie Village Vice President Lisa Venters Haugen Virginia E. Rein Cindy Emig Penzler, c’81, m’85, n FINANCE David W. Hill Charles J. & Cara Stingley Lawrence Edward A. & Elizabeth Meigs Rumage Dwight Parman, Senior Vice Albert I. Shank Jr., b’77, Liberal President, Finance and Human Hockenberg Jenny Byrd Skillman Timothy T. Trump, b’80, l’83, Tulsa, Resources; Treasurer Joan L. Howard Jennifer Fredrickson Smith Oklahoma Stephen S. Hunter Steven A. Soper n HOSPITALITY SERVICES Timothy M. Ireland Benjamin L. Sourial n DIRECTORS TO 2020 Bryan Greve, Senior Vice President, Missy Hodge McCarthy, c’86, s’88, Tait R. & Lynzee Benedict David A. & Susan Tierney- Hospitality Rancho Mirage, California Jeter Kanning n Ellen O. Remsing, c’00, Manhattan, MARKETING & DIGITAL Kenneth Jones Brandon R. Tomas Kansas MEDIA Kristy K. Jones Anna M. Unruh Dave B. Roland, e’80, Excelsior, David Johnston, j’94, g’06, Vice Michael W. Lambert Tisha D. Van Winkle Minnesota President, Marketing & Digital Jodde Olsen Lanning Jeannine Masek Varenhorst Media Sean M. Leach Meg Buckley Viezbicke n DIRECTORS TO 2021 Ryan Colaianni, c’07, j’07, Arlington, n MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS Stephen M. Letts Dan A. Waxman Virginia Teri Harris, Vice President, Jeˆ O. Lindenbaum & Joan F. Richard W. Wiedeman Jay Kerutis, c’82, Mesa, Arizona Membership & Business Sorenson Bruce W. Willett Janet Lusk Murfin, d’75, Wichita Development Nathan A. & Staci Harvatin Shelby M. Williamson Portia Kibble Smith, c’78, n RECORDS Lindsay Joni Stoker Yates Overland Park Bill Green, Senior Vice President, Garfield K. & Karen Sue Liu Paula Brinkman Yates Information Services n DIRECTORS TO 2022 Steve M. Dillard, c’75, Wichita Stefanie Shackelford, Vice President, Alumni Records

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 47 Class Notes by Heather Biele in Aberdeen, Maryland. Bob Wallace, g’68, in July presented “Spying: What Dierence Did It Make?” at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Margaret Lewis Shirk, c’39, cel- Terry Tracy, c’57, is a retired Abilene. e former director of technical 39 ebrated her 100th birthday in 57 obstetrician and gynecologist in services for the Central Intelligence August. A dedicated volunteer, she Lawrence. Agency is an author and intelligence received the Alumni Association’s Mildred historian in Reston, Virginia. Clodfelter Award in 1989 and the Fred Allan Wicker, c’63, g’65, PhD’67, Ellsworth Medallion in 2014 for her 63 was named 2017 Outstanding David Mourning, a’69, lives in San longtime service to the University. Alumnus by Independence Community 69 Anselmo, California, where he is Margaret lives in Lawrence. College, where he earned an associate’s founder and former CEO of IA Interior degree before coming to KU. He resides in Architects. He now serves on the rm’s Sidney Teaford, b’51, is a retired U.S. Claremont, California. board of directors. 51 Navy commander and a former Roseann O’Reilly Runte, g’69, g’71, defense contractor. He lives in Annandale, Nancy Lane, d’64, is a retired PhD’74, is president and vice chancellor of Virginia, and has ve children. 64 teacher in Russell. She recently was Carleton University in Ontario, Canada. Gerald Waugh, d’51, g’59, who played inducted in the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of basketball for KU and was a member of Fame. the 1950 Big Seven championship team, will be inducted in the Kansas Sports Hall Bryan Shewmake, c’65, e’70, g’71, is School Codes Letters that follow names of Fame in October. He was assistant 65 retired and lives in Blairsden indicate the school from which alumni earned basketball coach at KU from 1957 to ’60 Graeagle, California, with his wife, Cheryl. degrees. Numbers show their class years. and also coached KU men’s and women’s ey recently traveled to South Africa. a School of Architecture, Gregs Thomopulos, golf. Jerry was inducted in the Kansas Golf e’65, lives in Iowa Design and Planning Hall of Fame in 1998. City, Iowa, where he’s retired chairman of b School of Business Stanley Consultants Inc. c College of Liberal Arts Mary Gilles Johnson, c’52, lives in and Sciences 52 Olathe and was recently featured in Terry Fouts, c’66, m’70, is chief d School of Education an Aberbeen Village newsletter story that 66 clinical ocer at Empactful Capital e School of Engineering highlighted her Jayhawk loyalty and KU in San Francisco. f School of Fine Arts memorabilia. Her three sons, a daughter- Homer “Bud” Yazel III, d’66, a longtime g Master’s Degree in-law and four granddaughters are high school track and eld and cross- h School of Health Professions Jayhawks. country coach, in June was inducted in the j School of Journalism School of Law Heather Woodson Coaches Hall of Honor. l m School of Medicine Mark Gilman, d’54, was named 2017 Now at Lutheran High School in Kansas n School of Nursing 54 Johnson Countian of the Year by the City, he began his 52nd year of coaching in p School of Pharmacy Johnson County Community College August. PharmD School of Pharmacy Foundation. He chairs the board of Gill s School of Social Welfare Studios, which he formerly led as presi- Gregg Lacy, g’67, g’71, PhD’72, is u School of Music dent, in Lenexa. 67 registrar at Long and Foster Institute AUD Doctor of Audiology of Real Estate in Chantilly, Virginia. DE Doctor of Engineering Warner Eisenbise, c’55, l’58, is an DMA Doctor of Musical Arts 55 attorney in Wichita. In May, he R. Dan Boulware, b’68, l’72, lives in DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice received the Wichita Bar Association 68 St. Joseph, Missouri, where he’s DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy Doctor of Education Lifetime Achievement Award. managing partner and shareholder at EdD OTD Doctor of Occupational Polsinelli. Therapy Allen Frame, c’56, l’62, in October Ruth Murdock McRoy, c’68, s’70, is PhD Doctor of Philosophy 56 will be inducted in the Kansas Donahue and DiFelice Professor of Social SJD Doctor of Juridical Science Sports Hall of Fame. He was a three-time Work at Boston College in Massachusetts. (no letter) Former student All-American in track and cross-country Judith Mills-Hinch, d’68, wrote Cracks assoc Associate member of the at KU and won several conference titles. In in My Heart: Forty Years as a Volunteer in Alumni Association 1954, Al was the NCAA national cham- Aberdeen, which was published in May by pion in cross-country. Archway Publishing. She makes her home

48 | KANSAS ALUMNI

Class Notes

C. Peter Goplerud III, c’71, l’74, is of at KU and several universities in Michi- Bill Noonan, g’76, senior vice 71 counsel at Spencer Fane in St. Louis. gan. She and Stephen, g’76, make their 76 president of industry and govern- Tony Gottlob, j’71, is a singer- home in Interlochen, Michigan. mental aairs for Boyd Gaming Corpora- songwriter. He wrote “Morning Comes Ivan Thomas, d’74, is an organist and tion, is the 2017-’18 chairman of the Las Breaking,” for which he also directed music director at Siloam Presbyterian Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. a music video. Church in Brooklyn, New York. He and Melodie Boswell Woerman, c’76, g’83, his wife, Midge, live in Kearny, New Jersey. directs communications for the Episcopal Charles Hay, j’72, l’75, was inducted Diocese of Kansas in Topeka. She’s serving 72 this year in the Clay Center Com- Sheila Bair, c’75, l’78, is past a three-year term as president of the munity High School Hall of Fame. He’s 75 president of Washington College in Episcopal Communicators. special counsel at Foulston Siein in Chestertown, Maryland. She resides in Topeka, where he lives. Kennedyville. Laura Cook, d’77, is a retired special Donald Loncasty, j’72, manages the Lawrence Grewach, j’75, lives in St. Paul, 77 agent in the Oce of Criminal Kansas City Chorale, which recently Minnesota, where he retired from the Investigations at the U.S. Food and Drug received its third Grammy Award in Minnesota Department of Human Administration. chorale performance. Don and his Services. Daryl Jones, d’77, lives in Austin, Texas, husband, Charles Bruy, make their Joseph Waxse, c’75, e’80, is retired a er where he retired as music teacher and home in Kansas City. 33 years as a geotechnical engineer and choir director at Berniece Kiker Elemen- Maureen Poulin, d’72, is associate senior principal at Terracon. He makes his tary School. director of the Diocese of Bualo in home in Olathe. Patrick Sullivan, s’77, s’84, PhD’89, a Bualo, New York. Don Weiss, c’75, is executive director longtime auto-racing announcer and of the Center for Business at Southeastern columnist for Sprint Car & Midget Pamela Troup Horne, c’74, g’82, Community College in West Burlington, Magazine, in June was inducted in the 74 retired in June as vice provost for Iowa. He also is a professional photogra- National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. He’s also enrollment management at Purdue pher and recently displayed his work at professor of social work at Indiana University. Her 43-year career in higher an exhibition at Fort Madison Area University-Purdue University education administration included service Arts Association. Indianapolis.

50 | KANSAS ALUMNI Let your Jayhawk pride bloom year-round!

As a member, you can show your KU pride no matter what the season!

Jayhawks have returned to the Hill to begin another school year as KU begins a new era of leadership under Chancellor Douglas Girod. We hope you’ll celebrate the back-to-school excitement by displaying your Jayhawk pride with this exclusive garden flag. As a member of the Association, you can purchase this flag (with stand) for $20.

The colorful flag features our beloved bird on a two-sided 14-by-22-inch flag made of weather-resistant 420D polyester and includes a 15-by-36-inch flagpole made of low-carbon steel for easy assembly and display.

To order, use or download your KU Alumni Association app, visit kualumni.org/garden or call 800-584-2957.

Membership dues help your Alumni Association continue to advocate for KU, communicate with Jayhawks in all media, recruit students and volunteers, serve current students and alumni, and unite Jayhawks worldwide. It’s almost this easy. !

Jayhawk License Plate purchases and renewals are now easier with one payment to your county treasurer. A $50 annual tax-deductible contribution to the KU Alumni Association is still part of the cost, but now you can pay it along with your normal state tag fees and vehicle taxes. By mail, online or in person, it’s as easy as Rock Chalk!

For additional information, and answers to some often asked questions, visit kualumni.org/license or call 800-584-2957. Steve Lauer, c’78, is associate David Seely, c’79, l’82, is an attorney School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She 78 chairman of the department of and member at Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson was recognized as 2017 NCPTA Teaching pediatrics at KU Medical Center. He & Kitch and president of the Wichita Bar Chair for Excellence in Teaching Cultural makes his home in Leawood. Association. Arts. Gerald Seib, j’78, executive Washington Douglas Trent, c’79, lives in Minas Kelly Mirt, c’80, is publisher and vice editor at e Wall Street Journal, in June Gerais, , where he’s president of president of advertising at the Wichita was recognized by the Society of Profes- Focus Tours. Eagle. sional Journalists as a Fellow of the Tom Palen, ’80, is a senior vice president Society. Greg Anderson, PhD’80, retired as at Wells Fargo Bank, where he has worked 80 senior adviser at Aon Chemical for the past 25 years. He and his wife, David Conrad, e’79, in May retired Corporation. He makes his home in Carole, have two children, Drew and Kelli, 79 as project manager aer 31 years at Hernando Beach, Florida. and live in Scottsdale, Arizona. ExxonMobil. He makes his home in Elizabeth Denton Daaleman, d’80, ’00, Reggie Robinson, c’80, l’87, is interim Houston. directs the orchestra at Phillips Middle vice chancellor for public a airs at KU. He

PROFILE by Heather Biele

Business exec tackles At 35, Daniels, b’97, decided to make a COURTESY JYARLAND DANIELS JYARLAND COURTESY racial inequity in new role change. She le Bentley Motors and enrolled at Wayne State University Law en years ago, Jyarland Daniels was School in Detroit. Shortly aer graduating, Tsteadily climbing the corporate she directed marketing and communica- ladder. e business-savvy executive, tions at Race Forward, a social justice whose résumé includes posts at Hallmark, organization based out of Oakland, Johnson & Johnson and Ford Motor California, and New York City, before Company, had just accepted a public- striking out on her own. relations position with the British Last year, Daniels founded Harriet luxury-car company Bentley Motors, Speaks, a consulting rm that provides and she traveled the globe, promoting the racial equity training, crisis communica- “It’s a challenge,” Jyarland Daniels says of her lavish lifestyle the brand symbolized. But tions, conict resolution and customized new role as CEO and founder of Harriet Speaks. back home in Detroit, Daniels faced a strategies for corporations, government “But I’ve never, ever been afraid of a challenge.” di erent reality. agencies and educational institutions “I had this amazing education, I worked nationwide. e company’s moniker for Bentley, we lived in a really auent honors the American Civil War abolition- sta to connect with African-American suburb of metro Detroit, but I would still ist and civil rights activist Harriet Tubman. and Hispanic customers. “Oen when we go to malls and be questioned about “She was fearless and she was female,” talk about diversity, we get it at a corporate whether I could a ord a certain item,” she Daniels says of her inspiration. level,” she says. “Ford Motor Company in recalls. “It was surprising to me.” In her new role, Daniels employs Dearborn, Michigan, they get it. But the Daniels’ young son experienced similar elements from her entire educational face of the company for most people is the instances of racial injustice in his learning portfolio—a degree in business and East dealership.” environment. “When you have a kid in Asian studies from KU, an MBA from the In addition to expanding her client base, elementary school and he’s dealing with University of Michigan and the Wayne Daniels also has started an online advice some of these things … I was not prepared State law degree—to perform “equity column at harrietspeaks.com to answer for it,” she says. “I realized that we still audits” and recommend changes in public queries about race and equity. e have a problem with equity and racism in policies and procedures for her clients, response, she says, has been this country, and all the money I have which include Ford Motor Company, City overwhelming. doesn’t necessarily shield me from it, the University of New York and a Detroit- “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” wonderful education I have doesn’t based nonprot group. Daniels says. “ere is something about a necessarily shield me from it—and it Her work with Ford includes training at calling; when you hear it, you can’t help doesn’t shield my son.” the dealership level, where she coaches but answer.”

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 53 Class Notes

Barbara Pikell Leonard, n’85, is a charge audit nurse specialist at Saint Luke’s Health System. She and her husband, Christopher, live in Mission. Martha Ridder McCabe, d’85, g’87, is executive director of the Kansas City STEM Alliance. She commutes from Lawrence. C. Michele Pinet, f’85, is a harpist in Arlington, Massachusetts, whose solo harp transcription was recently published by Lyon & Healy. She also wrote an article that appeared in e American Harp Journal. Richard Sheridan, c’85, g’88, is a journalist in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also was professor of communications at Wilberforce University in Ohio. Stanley “Glynn” Sheridan, c’85, is market president regional director at Sunower Bank. Denise Wernimont Young, b’85, lives in Overland Park, where she’s a pricing manager at Sprint.

Steve Blackburn, a’86, retired aer 86 18 years as principal and chief of business development at Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture in Denver. previously directed the School of Public Barry Zipp, c’83, g’86, is senior Robert Peters, c’86, is general counsel Aairs & Administration. 83 director of solution management and chief legal ocer at Check-6 Interna- and marketing at NCR Corporation. He tional Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. John Burke, c’82, s’84, is a licensed resides in Cumming, Georgia. Robert Simari, m’86, is interim execu- 82 social worker at Burke Counseling tive vice chancellor at KU Medical Center. & Consulting Inc. in Kansas City. He and Sarah Alderks Brown, l’84, in April He has served as the executive dean of the his wife, Gwendolyn, s’99, who also is a 84 received the Courageous Attorney School of Medicine since 2014. licensed therapist, make their home in Award from the Kansas Bar Association. Paul Winslow, f’86, lives in Arlington, Grandview, Missouri. She’s a partner at Brown & Curry in Virginia, where he’s a solutions consultant Kristian Hedine, l’82, is a presiding Kansas City. at Dell EMC. judge at the District Court in Walla Walla, Steve Nicklin, g’84, lives in Washington, William Woolley, g’86, l’86, is a judge on Washington. D.C., where he’s vice president of market- the 18th District Court in Wichita. In May, John Kerstetter, a’82, a’83, is a mission- ing at the Outdoor Advertising Associa- he received the President’s Award from the ary with Ethnos360. He resides in Cam- tion of America. Wichita Bar Association. denton, Missouri. Christopher Southwick, m’84, is a David Magley, c’82, in June concluded physician at Kansas Pain and Wellness in Jim Holt, l’87, in May retired as his two-year term as commissioner of the Topeka. He lives in Overland Park with his 87 CEO of Mid American Credit National Basketball League of Canada. He wife, Lee. Union in Wichita. He and his wife, Karen, now serves as president and CEO of the Pamela White, g’84, g’86, PhD’92, make their home in Valley Center. North American Premier Basketball directs the museum studies program at Bob Kealing, j’87, is senior public aairs League. Western Illinois University in Moline. administrator for the Seminole County Michael Teeter, sheri in Sanford, Florida. c’82, is principal of Robert Catloth, f’85, retired in June Shawn Stockman, c’87, directs business K-12 schools in 85 aer 22 years as head coach of KU solutions at OnePak Inc. He lives in Hope. rowing. Camden, Maine.

54 | KANSAS ALUMNI

Class Notes

George Frazier, c’88, g’90, PhD’93, 88 wrote e Last Wild Places of Kansas: Journeys into Hidden Landscapes, which was published in February by University Press of Kansas and won the Ferguson Kansas History Book Award. George is a writer and so ware developer in Lawrence. Tina Armbruster Kinney, n’88, was promoted to provider engagement clinical leader at Humana Inc. She lives in Spring Hill. Derek Rogers, c’88, lives in Lawrence, where he directs the city’s parks and recreation department.

J. Christopher Brown, c’89, g’92, is 89 vice provost for faculty develop- ment at KU. He also holds joint appoint- ments as professor in the department of geography and atmospheric science and the environmental studies program, which he has directed since 2008. Konni Kelly Flynn, j’89, is a development ocer at the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka, where she lives with her husband, Mike. Annie Gowen, c’89, j’89, works at e Washington Post, where she’s the India at St. Philip Neri School in Omaha, University. She makes her home in bureau chief. . Shrewsbury, Missouri. Mark Putman, f’89, g’94, resides in Eric Swedlund, c’91, g’93, is principal Basehor, where he owns SYZYGY1 Media at Carpi & Clay Inc., a government Kimberly Benson, c’93, directs Group. relations rm in Washington, D.C. 93 special gi s at Guiding Eyes for the Drew Sidener, j’89, directs creative He makes his home in Alexandria, Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York. services for KCNC-TV in Denver. Virginia. McVey, c’93, works at Verizon John Valasek, g’91, PhD’95, professor of Communications, where he’s a manager Thomas Clark, c’90, j’90, is a judge aerospace engineering and director of the solution architect. He and his wife, Donna, 90 on the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Center for Autonomous Vehicles and live in Appleton, Wisconsin, and have four in St. Louis. Sensor Systems at Texas A&M University, children. Rick Knubley, c’90, manages accounts at was selected by the American Institute of Stephen Six, l’93, is a partner at Stueve CNX Distribution in Hurst, Texas. Aeronautics and Astronautics as a 2017 Siegel Hanson in Kansas City and former Scott Mastenbrook, c’90, works in AIAA Fellow. president of the Kansas Bar Association. sales at Alexander Open Systems in Rex Walters, d’93, a former KU Overland Park, where he lives with his Gianna Gariglietti, j’92, lives in basketball guard who played seven years in wife, Deborah, and their children, 92 Overland Park, where she’s presi- the NBA, in June was named assistant Olivia, Trevor and Mitch, who’s a senior dent and CEO of Lakemary Center in coach of the Detroit Pistons. at KU this fall. Miami and Johnson counties. John Huy, c’92, is a nancial adviser at Ken Dorn, g’94, wrote Our Time at Margaret Townsend Gra„, j’91, AXA Advisors in Wichita. 94 Kansas, which was published in 91 resides in Barrington, Illinois, where Jadi Dlugosh Miller, d’92, directs June. He lives in Chestereld, Missouri. she’s an account director at Time Inc. assessment at Elkhorn Public Schools in Scott Feldhausen, g’94, DMA’99, resides Mark Schuler, c’91, is CEO of 4M Elkhorn, Nebraska. in Beaumont, Texas, where he directs Restaurants in Platte City, Missouri. Susan Steiger Tebb, PhD’92, is a music at St. Anne Catholic Church. Mary Bergman Simerly, ’91, is principal professor of social work at Saint Louis Kelli Ferguson Gargasz, c’94, is a

56 | KANSAS ALUMNI nancial adviser at Stratos Wealth Partners Robert Reynolds, j’94, directs information technology at KU Medical in Powell, Ohio, where she makes her operations at Stanley Restoration in Center. home with her husband, Timothy, and Cedar Hill, Texas. Steven Simpson, b’95, is a managing their three children. partner at CoastEdge Partners in La Jolla, Jill Vessely Greenwood, g’94, PhD’10, Christine Barb, c’95, is a speech California. lives in Oberlin, Ohio, where she’s the Eric 95 coach and owns Adastra Speech in Amos Smith, g’95, is chief nancial and Jane Nord Family Curator of Educa- Cambridge, Massachusetts. She lives in ocer at Layers3 TV in Denver. He lives tion at Allen Memorial Art Museum. Jamaica Plain. in Lone Tree, Colorado. Jamar Pickreign, g’94, PhD’97, is Mark Campbell, a’95, works at WSP in associate dean for assessment and accredi- St. Louis, where he’s a senior supervising Kristi Kloster-Burritt, c’96, in tation at the State University of New York architect. 96 October will be inducted in the in Plattsburgh, where he lives with his Michelle Bradley Melland, g’95, a book Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. She was a wife, Kelley, g’00, who directs certi cation reviewer and blogger, lives in Kansas two-time All-American in track and eld at the university. City with Paul, c’88, g’95, who works in at KU and became the University’s rst

PROFILE by Chris Lazzarino

Hockey history gets Berglund grew up academic treatment playing hockey in Duluth, Minnesota,

ruce Berglund, professor of history at and watching his father COLLEGE PREFONTAINE/CALVIN NOAH BCalvin College in Grand Rapids, referee games. He Michigan, was a KU graduate student played football and when he won a Fulbright Student Grant to baseball, and ociated conduct dissertation research in the Czech high school football in Republic. A Fulbright-Hays Faculty Lawrence while Research Grant allowed him to return immersed in his eight years later for research that resulted doctoral studies in the in the 2016 publication of Castle and 1990s. Cathedral in Modern Prague: Longing for “You have to step Bruce Berglund was on an extended research trip to Prague when the the Sacred in a Skeptical Age. back and take a more Czechs won Olympic hockey gold in 1998, creating “a moment of Next year, Berglund—whose published dispassionate view of euphoria.” He returns to Prague in 2018. research has focused on the nationalism, what’s happening on religion and architecture in 20th-century the eld or on the rink,” Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia—again he says. “at connects returns to the Czech Republic, this time as with my interest, going back to when I was “It’s a dream source for a historian,” a Fulbright Global Scholar, but his a kid, in history.” Berglund says, “because he writes in such research will have a decidedly dierent A notable jewel uncovered in his hockey wonderful detail in these journals.” avor: the history of world hockey. research is a detailed diary kept by a His 2018 Fulbright research will also “It’s only been the last 15 years or so that Canadian Rhodes Scholar who played take Berglund to the Winter Olympics in history departments and academic hockey while studying at England’s Oxford Korea, where he will follow the develop- historians have recognized the value of University in the early 1920s, which ment of the Korean men’s hockey team, research into sports as a way of under- Berglund found in the archives at the and, next summer, back to Canada. e standing cultural change, economics and University of Manitoba. Featuring rosters result will be a book in the “Sports in politics,” says Berglund, PhD’00. “Even lled with talented Canadians, teams from World History” project at the University better, it draws a lot of attention. I get a lot Oxford and Cambridge were popular of California Press. more attention for my research on hockey attractions at European club tournaments “Why study hockey history? It’s goes history than I do for my research on staged at the time on Swiss mountain back to my old professor saying, ‘Well, it’s religion and culture in Prague in the lakes, and Berglund’s diarist made careful history.’ All sports are such an important 1920s and ’30s.” notes about the experience. part of our lives.”

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 57 Class Notes

female NCAA national champion in track Lawrence. John is a technology coordina- Robert Bishop, b’00, is director of aer winning the 800 meters in 1996. tor at KU, and Melia is a program evalua- 00 revenue cycle model experience at Amanda Warren Martin, f’96, is a tor at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Cerner Corporation in Kansas City. He freelance graphic designer and illustrator. lives in Prairie Village. She makes her home in Fort Collins, Grant Moise, j’98, lives in Dallas, Colorado, with David, b’97, and their two 98 where he was recently promoted to Aaron Breitenbach, l’01, received children. executive vice president of A.H. Belo 01 the Champion of Victims Award Kelly McDonald, g’96, ’98, lives in Corporation and general manager of the from the Kansas DUI Impact Center. Honolulu, where he manages communica- Dallas Morning News. He’s chief attorney at the Sedgwick tions and planning at AlohaCare. Natalie Demster Nelson, c’98, is a County District Attorney’s o ce product manager at Sprint in Overland in Wichita. Janet Haskin Zarndt, PharmD’97, is Park. She makes her home in De Soto. Audrey McKanna Coleman, c’01, g’05, 97 division director of pharmacy at is assistant director and senior archivist HCA Healthcare. She and her husband, Andrew Cashman, l’99, is a compre- at the Dole Institute of Politics in Don, live in Layton, Utah. 99 hensive wealth adviser at Invest- Lawrence. ment Planners. He lives in Quincy, Illinois, Chad Motter, c’01, is a special-education BORN TO: with Michelle Brown Cashman, c’96, l’99, teacher for the Gardner-Edgerton School Christopher, e’97, and Christina Gering and their three sons. District. He lives in Gardner with Danielle Hurst, c’12, son, Finnegan, June 21 in Joseph “Mick” Sha­er, j’99, is sports Reaka Motter, ’01, and their two children. Andover, where he joins a brother, Declan, director at KSHB-TV in Kansas City. Eric Rush, c’01, m’05, is a physician at 3. Christopher is an engineer specialist at Alexis Radil Woodall, g’99, works at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Textron Aviation, and Christina is a Maha e Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic compliance specialist at Emprise Bank. Site in Olathe, where she manages special Jamel Cruze Wright, g’02, PhD’04, John, c’97, and Melia Johnson Stock- events and develops and promotes 02 is president of Eureka College in ham, d’04, g’06, son, James, April 17 in interpretive programs. Eureka, Illinois.

58 | KANSAS ALUMNI Take a closer look at these Flying Jayhawks adventures!

Israel: Timeless Wonders April 19 – 30, 2018 Ireland: Wild Atlantic Way May 8 – 16, 2018 Encounter a land of extraordinary beauty and belief, of Join us as we delight in a quintessentially Irish experience spirit and story, history and hospitality. From modern Tel based in charming, laid-back Westport along Ireland’s Aviv to scenic Upper Galilee, ancient Tiberias and storied western coast! For seven nights, you’ll make your home Nazareth to Jerusalem, we engage all our senses in a in this friendly, flower-filled town of colorful shopfronts, small-group encounter in this holy land. Includes a five- lively cafes, wonderful restaurants and cheery local pubs night stay in Jerusalem at the legendary King David hotel. humming with the stirring beat of classic Irish melodies.

Romance of the Douro River July 12 – 23, 2018 Jewels of Europe July 15 – 30, 2018 Discover Portugal’s stunning beauty, rich tradition and Embark on an all-inclusive, credit-card free luxury river warm people. Spend three nights in Lisbon and walk in cruise aboard the Scenic Ruby. With a meticulously the footsteps of the world’s greatest explorers before planned itinerary, unforgettable shore excursions, and all launching a five-night cruise of the Douro River aboard onboard food and beverages included, there is no better the exclusively chartered MS Gil Eanes. way to experience the Danube and Rhine River regions.

To see the complete 2018 schedule of Flying Jayhawk destinations, visit kualumni.org/travel or call 800-584-2957. Thank You to our restaurant partners

These restaurant partners support the Association by providing food for student programs and alumni events. We appreciate and thank them for their support.

kualumni.org/restaurant BORN TO: manager at MSC Industrial Supply. Brock & Kennedy in Wichita. She was Matthew, c’02, m’07, and Elizabeth Justin Unger, c’03, g’05, is deputy named to the 2017 40 under 40 list by the Riscoe Hastings, m’07, son, Luke, May 30 superintendent for Everglades and Dry Wichita Business Journal. in Fairway, where he joins two brothers, Tortugas National Parks in Homestead, Patrick McCarty, f’04, g’14, is assistant Alexander, 7, and Benjamin, 5, and a sister, Florida. director of bands at Olathe North High Abigail, 2. School. He lives in Shawnee. BORN TO: Michael Tarwater, e’04, is senior project Anthony Daly III, c’03, directs Laura Rupe Bevier, j’03, and her manager at e Christman Company in 03 business development at Makar husband, Jared, daughter, Elliot Ann, May Lansing, Michigan. Properties in Beverly Hills, California. He 2 in Novi, Michigan. Laura is a senior and his wife, Carrie, live in Los Angeles talent manager. BORN TO: with their son. Joshua Wunderlich, c’04, and his wife, Bryan Franklin, c’03, resides in Olathe, Shannon Lacey Braun, l’04, is an Sarah, daughter, Louisa, March 19 in where he’s a customer solutions project 04 attorney at Morris Laing Evans Kansas City, where she joins a sister,

PROFILE by Steven Hill STEVE PUPPE STEVE Alumna directs KC’s promotion eorts were second act as film hot spot directed by volunteers. e hiatus followed a s Kansas City’s lm commissioner, boom when major lms AStephane Suetos Scupham travels to such at “Kansas City,” New York City and Los Angeles to attend “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge” lm festivals and promote the city as a and “Ride with the Devil” destination for lming and screening lmed in the city. movies. Attracting a production or festival Scupham responds to that brings high-prole directors, actors or queries from lmmakers, cinematographers to town, she says, are lines up local crews for “the two things that get people really visiting productions and excited. serves as host while “The most satisfying thing is going to a screening or watching “ ose are the glossy, glamorous things, shooting is under way. but as industry people know, it is not a She also works to TV and seeing the work unfold as a piece of art before your eyes,” glamorous business. It’s a lot of blue collar promote the industry in says Scupham. “When I look at that, I see all of us.” work, a lot of problem-solving and the city and throughout puzzle-guring and fundraising.” Kansas and Missouri. In During the 2015 lming of “American just under three years, Scupham has and bring productions here; once they’re Honey,” for example, Scupham salvaged a assisted more than 600 lm, television, here she does such an excellent job hosting Mission Hills shoot by taking on—in commercial and corporate productions and making sure everything goes right quick succession—a jackhammering and successfully lobbied for a city-funded that the lmmakers want to come back.” construction crew and a rowdy h-grade lm incentive, the country’s rst munici- Scupham would love to see a return of graduation party. She persuaded each to pal incentive in a state without one. big lms and made-for-TV movies, but the quiet down, and the crew got their shot. “ e growth of the lm scene here is industry has changed. Commercial and “It was one of my most memorable days largely due to her energy and oversight,” corporate projects may lack Hollywood as lm commissioner,” Scupham recalls. says Laura Kirk, c’89, a lecturer in lm & ash, but they provide steady employment “But it also proved very revealing about media studies and theatre at KU and an that can better sustain a lm community— how we come together as a community to actor who appeared in “American Honey.” an essential part of Scupham’s mission. support these projects.” “Since she reestablished the oce and put “Universities in our area like KU are Scupham, c’99, relaunched the Kansas the incentive program in place, some producing really talented lm graduates,” City Film Oce in 2014, aer a 12-year larger-scale lms have shot here. She she says, “and we want to make sure they hiatus in which the city’s minimal lm works really hard to go to places like LA have options to stay here and work.”

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 61 Class Notes

Beatrice, 4, and a brother, Simon, who’s programs for the Oshore Technology Melissa Horen Kaplan, c’08, manages nearly 3. Conference. major gi s at Piedmont Healthcare Foundation in Atlanta, where she makes Kathy McVey Meitl, d’05, g’09, Christine Walters VanBlarcum, her home with her husband, Jake, and 05 teaches eighth-grade science at 07 c’07, l’12, is the St. Louis County their son. Woodside Middle School in Des Moines, attorney for the juvenile ocer. She lives Anne Kretsinger-Harries, c’08, lives in Iowa. with Charles, c’05, who teaches at St. Louis Ames, Iowa, where she’s an assistant Todd Panula, j’05, is lead columnist at Public Schools. professor in the department of English at Bleedin’ Blue, a website dedicated to the St. Iowa State University. Louis Blues professional hockey team. BORN TO: Mark Petersen, g’08, is an engineering Brandi Wills, c’05, is editor-in-chief of Gary Woodland, c’07, and his wife, manager at Black & Veatch. He resides Culture Magazine in Boston. Gabby, son, Jaxon, June 23 in Kansas City. in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gary is a professional golfer. Stephanie Whitcher, g’08, is chief Heidi Karn Barker, c’06, ’16, is a nancial ocer at the National 06 nancial aid systems analyst at KU. Christopher Brower, c’08, ’11, Association of Basketball Coaches in She and Bradley, c’06, live in Lawrence. 08 published his rst novel, Kansas City. She lives in Lenexa with Kimberly Shears Rocco, g’06, makes her I Look Like You, in June. He lives in Darren, assoc., an analyst at DST home in Weston, Massachusetts, with her Kansas City. Systems Inc. husband, omas, and their son, Kevin, Christopher Clark, g’08, resides in who just turned 1. Quincy, Illinois, where he’s an architect at MARRIED Jamie Zarda, j’06, lives Architechnics. Daniel Ryckert, c’08, to Bianca Mondo, in Houston, where Mallory Hammersmith Hannah, j’08, June 25 at the Taco Bell Cantina in Las she manages is a strategic marketing consultant in Vegas. Dan is a video-game expert and Leawood, where she lives with Jack, podcast host for Giant Bomb. ey live in b’08, and their two daughters. New York City.

62 | KANSAS ALUMNI

Class Notes

The KU Alumni Association app puts KU in the palm of your hand!

All Jayhawks can use the app to: • Join, renew or upgrade your membership • Receive breaking news notifi cations and watch live-stream broadcasts • Refer a prospective student The KU Alumni Association app is for all alumni, friends and fans of KU. Plus these members-only features: Rock Chalk! Find an alumni mentor Network with Jayhawks Receive special discounts Read Kansas Alumni magazine Use your digital membership card

Visit the App Store or Google Play to download, or go to kualumni.org/app

BORN TO: director at the Strawhecker Group in Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Bryan, c’08, m’12, and Krystal Richard Omaha, Nebraska. Foundation. Hay, c’09, DPT’12, son, Marshall, April 13 Parag Mehta, l’10, lives in Atlanta, in Gahanna, Ohio. Bryan is a chief fellow where he’s an attorney and supply-chain BORN TO: in pulmonology and critical care at Ohio counsel for the Coca-Cola Company. Megan Zumbrunn Landrith, PharmD’11, State University, and Krystal is a pediatric and her husband, Aaron, daughter, physical therapist and research assistant at MARRIED Camryn, Jan. 9 in Junction City, where she Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Chad Gerber, d’10, to Jessica McCloy, joins a brother, Caleb, 3. May 27 in Cincinnati. ey make their Natasha Parman, d’09, DPT’12, home in Columbus, Ohio. Natalie Sellers DeBoer, d’12, works 09 is a physical therapist at University 12 at Kansas City Bone & Joint Clinic in of Washington Medicine Eastside Specialty Adam Baratz, e’11, is an engineer at Overland Park, where she’s a clinical Center in Bellevue, Washington. 11 Dentsply Sirona. He lives in Jenks, assistant. She commutes from Lawrence. T. Paul Rohrer, g’09, directs ambulatory Oklahoma. Nathaniel Jones, e’12, lives in Dallas, patient access at the University of Kansas Carolyn Battle Cohen, c’11, j’11, where he’s a pipeline integrity engineer at Health System in Kansas City. manages global social media content at Atmos Energy. Joseph Schremmer, c’09, j’09, Garmin in Olathe. She and her husband, Michael Lavieri, j’12, coordinates public g’13, l’13, is a partner at Depew Gillen David, b’11, g’12, reside in Prairie Village. relations at Proventus Consulting in Rathbun & McInteer in Wichita, Allison Frenkel, b’11, makes her home Overland Park. where he resides. in Arlington, Virginia, where she works in Kameron Mack, j’12, is a senior pro- communications and public ducer at Complex Media Inc. in New York Brent Blazek, d’10, g’12, directs relations for the City. He recently produced and directed 10 alumni and parent relations at his rst documentary, “Hip Hop DNA.” Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Stephanie Surgeon Nye, n’12, is an He lives in Leawood. integrated nurse case manager at Joshua Istas, c’10, was promoted to the University of Kansas Health

64 | KANSAS ALUMNI System. She makes her home in Kansas International. ey make their home in Brent Whitten, j’13, is deputy director of City with Taylor, j’10, and their two Prairie Village. operations at the Kansas Department for daughters. Children and Families. Timothy Quevillon, c’12, lives in BORN TO: Sandy Zook, g’13, lives in Denver, where Houston, where he’s a doctoral candidate Paige Nowlan Stegman, u’12, and her she’s an assistant professor in the School of in Jewish-American history at the Univer- husband, Vance, son, Everett, April 23 in Public Aairs at the University of Colo- sity of Houston. He recently was named Great Bend. rado Denver. 2017 Adrienne Asch Memorial Fellow by the Society of Jewish Ethics. Daniel Brinker, b’13, resides in Rebecca Berger, j’14, coordinates 13 Roeland Park, where he’s a business 14 marketing for the Dallas Stars, a MARRIED analyst at Ryan Transportation. professional hockey team. Thomas Kennedy, b’12, g’13, to Kyle Nicole Denney, c’13, AUD’17, is an Ashley Sosebee Chasm, c’14, is an Ellen Waggoner, May 27 in Kansas City. audiologist at Livingston Audiology and administrative assistant at Lindan Auto Tommy is an associate broker at Colliers Hearing Aids in Durango, Colorado. Mechanical & Body Shop in Merriam.

PROFILE by John Watson STEVE PUPPE STEVE Kansas City banker urges “When you give to deserving investors to share nest eggs causes, it is twice as reward- ing,” Goble says. “You are truly er 35 years in the nance industry, making a dierence in Aduring which he supplemented his someone’s life.” own observations by collecting pearls of Along with business leaders wisdom from clients and colleagues, and philanthropists, Goble also veteran Kansas City banking executive Je found sage wisdom among Goble oers succinct advice for investors. friends and family, most Most important, Goble, c’79, g’81, writes notably his wife, Sharon Rake in his second book, Nest Egg: Start as early Goble, b’80, g’81, whose 10 as possible. rules for nancial and life at’s the rst of the four most impor- success have proven to be tant elements of long-term portfolio among the book’s most Goble will donate book royalties to seven local charities building that Goble oers in Nest Egg, an popular features. serving children, animals and families in need: “I’d rather easy-reading compilation of investment Goble’s rst book, More have what I do with the money be true to the book itself.” strategies that his pastor describes in the Yield, Less Risk … Better Sleep!, foreword as “a conversation with a friend published seven years ago, was about your life over a cup of coee.” a seminar lecture from a Before joining Country Club Bank, professional investor. For his where he is chief market strategist for second eort, Goble aimed Nest Egg at a music to cope with stress; his family can capital markets, Goble was executive vice wider audience. “It’s a gentle balance,” he judge the market performance by how president and managing director in the says. “I put things that are highly technical loudly he plays. If the market takes a dive, investment banking division of UMB in this book and things that are highly he forsakes classical repertoire for songs Bank, Kansas City. simple, so you can bite o what you want.” by Carole King. His decades of close association with Regardless of an investor’s resources, “ at’s an outlet for me. Everybody prominent Kansas Citians such as R. Goble highlights the importance of how needs something that takes your brain o Crosby Kemper Jr. and Christine E. much and where to invest and how to duty. While I’m doing that, I don’t think Lynn—both of whom are among the react when markets turn volatile: “Stay about anything, I just relax.” philanthropist proles he includes in Nest with high-quality investments, do not try Ultimately, Goble says, philanthropy Egg—helped teach Goble that once a nest to time the markets, and think long term.” provides a more lasting sense of peace: egg is built, the greatest joy can come from When the market turns volatile, Goble, “Generosity frees the heart.” its generous distribution. a classically trained pianist, retreats to —Watson is a Lawrence freelance writer.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 65 Celebrate at the Center

he Adams Alumni Center oers an elegant atmosphere on one of the most Tbeautiful campuses just minutes from KU’s historic Danforth Chapel. Our professional sta and all-inclusive wedding packages will make your day on the Hill a memorable one. Visit our website to view rooms, rates and amenities.

Photography by Jerry Wang

kualumni.org 800-584-2957 ISSUE 4, 2011 | 1 She and her husband, Kevin, make their tions quality assurance assistant with the General Motors Corporation in home in Overland Park. San Antonio Spurs. Kansas City. Amy Gairns, a’14, ’16, is a marketing Jessica Milano-Foster, g’17, works at the cloud specialist at DEG Digital in Kirsten Belt, g’17, manages national University of Missouri, where she’s a Overland Park. She commutes from 17 sales at OwnerIQ in Chicago, where research specialist. She and her husband, Lawrence. she lives with Franklin Lasley, b’11. Dawson, live in Kirksville, Missouri. Allen Schaidle, d’14, directs student Amalia Bruce, g’17, is an accountant at James Moore, c’17, works at Veolia services at the American University of Moss Adams in Overland Park. She Water in Junction City, where he’s an Iraq in Sulaimani. commutes from Lawrence. operations and maintenance technician. Micah Zeisset Waddle, g’14, is a Mitchell Budihas, c’17, lives in Middle- Mohammad Amin Dehghani Najvani, nutrition coordinator at Pettis County burg, Florida, where he’s an infantry ocer g’17, is a civil engineer at Structural Health Center in Sedalia, Missouri, where in the U.S. Army. Components in Denver. she lives with her husband, Joseph, and Daniel Caine, g’17, who owns the Raven Shannon Parks, b’17, lives in Lenexa, their two sons. Bookstore in downtown Lawrence, wrote a where she’s a loan support analyst at book of poetry, Uncle Harold’s Maxwell Midland Loan Services. James Borner, a’15, in May won the House Haggadah, which was published in Alexandra Petitjean, c’17, is a human 15 Louis Schwitzer Award for excellence May by Etchings Press. resources specialist at Hallmark in Kansas in innovation and engineering in racing Christina Churu, g’17, is a registered City. technology. He’s an engineer at PFC nurse at Dallas County Health and Human Timothy Richards, c’17, is an opera- Brakes in Clover, South Carolina. Services in Richardson, Texas. She resides tional meterologist at Weather or Not Inc. Eric Groves, e’15, is a so ware engineer in Garland with her husband, Johnsen. in Shawnee. at Merso in Overland Park. Alex Durfee, b’17, coordinates opera- Daniel Ronning, g’17, works at Garmin Victoria Kirk, j’15, coordinates tions at KGP Logistics. He lives in St. in Olathe, where he’s a so ware engineer. regional marketing at Moss Adams in Charles, Missouri. Rhiannon Rosas, a’17, is a graphic Los Angeles. Husain Ebrahim, PhD’17, is an assistant designer and blogger at Century Market- Alexander Montgomery, b’15, lives in professor of mass communications at ing in Lenexa. She commutes from Chicago, where he’s a solution consultant Kuwait University. Lawrence. at Strata Decision Technology. Ashley Elliott, n’17, is a registered nurse Kristina King Sparks, c’17, is a learning Natalie Scott, h’15, g’17, is an occupa- at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas and development specialist at Deloitte in tional therapist at Aegis erapies in City. Kansas City. She lives in Tonganoxie with Kansas City. She resides in Mission. Landon Fruhauf, b’17, lives in Wichita, her husband, Chad, and their son. Laurie Winkel, c’15, is an actress and where he’s a marketing ocer at Fruhauf Culin Thompson, g’17, is an architec- voice-over professional in Atlanta. Uniforms Inc. tural designer at BRR Architecture in Marie Eickho‡ Geist, g’17, is assistant Merriam. MARRIED director of student integrity at Creighton Brandon Tomas, c’17, e’17, lives in Jamie Wilt, b’15, to Kyle Swanson, May University in Omaha, Nebraska. Manhattan, where he’s a process engineer 20 in Kansas City. ey live in Lenexa, Bryce Grimm, b’17, manages operations at Ventria Bioscience. where Jamie is an accountant at Ryan at GSM Sales in Overland Park. Wayne Vornholt, g’17, is a U.S. Army Transportation. Austin Kurtti, e’17, is a so ware command and general sta college engineer at LockPath in Overland Park. instructor at Fort Leavenworth. He and his Christopher Garate, b’16, is an Gregory Leimkuehler, g’17, makes his wife, Amanda, live in Lansing with their 16 assistant controller at APAC-Kansas. home in Springeld, Missouri, where he’s a daughter. He lives in Olathe with his wife, Katie, and product design engineer at Digital Matthew Williamson, g’17, is an their two sons. Monitoring Products. electronic warfare ocer in the U.S. Army. Nathaniel Lohmann, c’16, teaches Clay Malloy, c’17, directs regional sales science in the Colorado Springs School for InTouch Health. He lives in Laurel, UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY District. Maryland, with his wife, Susie, and their Diana Robertson, director of Student Allison Mayer, c’16, is a solution daughter. Housing, retired in June a er designer at Cerner Corporation. She Megan Manning, b’17, lives in Olathe, serving the University for 17 resides in Ozawkie. where she’s a delivery analyst at Netsmart. years. Jerusha McFarland Pitney, c’16, lives in Frank Mason, c’17, in July signed a Lawrence, where she’s a vitamin clerk at contract with the Sacramento Kings Sprouts Farmers Market. professional basketball team. Tyler Self, d’16, is a basketball opera- William Mentzer, b’17, is group lead at

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 67 In Memory ve grandchildren; and two great- granddaughters. Jean Born Young, c’46, s’51, 92, April 30 in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was a James Janney, c’39, m’41, 99, d’73, Peggy Hodson Griswold, d’75, and social worker and hospice counselor. 30s May 22 in Town and Country, Janet Hodson Macek, b’83; a son, Chuck, Surviving are a daughter, Julia Young Bell, Missouri. He was a cardiologist and ’80; ve grandchildren; and a great- c’74; a son, Brett, ’97; and four grand- professor of medicine at Saint Louis grandchild. children. University School of Medicine. His wife, Edwin Maier, c’40, m’43, 98, May 23 in Nancy, three sons, a daughter, nine Oklahoma City, where he was an orthope- P.J. “Jim” Adam, e’56, 82, Aug. 14 grandchildren and three great-grand- dic surgeon. He is survived by two 50s in Overland Park. He had a children survive. daughters, Judy Maier Corry, n’66, and 43-year career at Black & Veatch, includ- Marion Seamans Thornton, c’39, d’40, Janet, n’74; a brother, John, c’52; seven ing four years as CEO and chairman. He 101, April 7 in Lawrence, where she was a grandchildren; and 18 great- served on the KU School of Engineering teacher and homemaker. She is survived grandchildren. advisory board for more than 30 years, by a son, Howard Jr., c’67; and a daughter, Harriet Gault Monsees, n’43, 97, May 8 and in 1995 he received the Distinguished Barbara, c’69. in Greeley, Colorado, where she was a Engineering Service Award. He led the retired nurse. Survivors include two sons, Alumni Association as national president Elias Burstein, g’41, 99, June 17 in two grandchildren, three great-grandchil- from 1998 to ’99 and received the Fred 40s Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where dren and a great-great-grandchild. Ellsworth Medallion in 2013. In 2005, he he was a researcher and professor emeritus Eleanor Brown Nelson, c’46, 92, June 3 received the Distinguished Service of physics at the University of Pennsylva- in Overland Park, where she was a teacher Citation from the Association and KU for nia. Surviving are his wife, Rena, three and volunteer. A memorial has been his service to humanity. He is survived by daughters and two grandchildren. established with KU Endowment. She is his wife, Barbara Mills Adam, ’57; three Harry Fitzgerald Jr., ’45, 94, May 9 in El survived by a daughter, Martha Nelson sons, Jim, ’87, Matthew, assoc., and Blair, Dorado, where he had a 50-year career as a Sparks, f’77; a son, Mark, b’82; two assoc.; a sister, Mary Sue Adam Zercher, dentist. He is survived by a daughter, grandsons; and a great-grandson. s’73; nine grandchildren; and a Pamela Fitzgerald Fouts, n’66; a son, Harry Marilyn Sweet Newton, c’49, 88, June great-grandson. III, c’72; four grandchildren; and four 12 in Washington, D.C., where she Clarence Adamson, b’59, 85, Nov. 3, great-grandchildren. directed public relations for the Studio 2016, in McKinney, Texas. He was a Elizabeth “Betty” Ireton Hayes, c’48, eatre. Survivors include four sons, regional manager at Bristol-Myers Squibb. 90, May 12 in Prairie Village, where she Robert Kiene, b’75, l’78, William Kiene, He is survived by his wife, Doris; two volunteered in her community. She is c’80, John Kiene, ’82, and David Kiene, daughters; a son; two sisters, Catherine survived by a daughter, Chandler Hayes ’88; and ve grandchildren. Adamson Farney, ’56, and Linda Adamson Moenius, c’76; a son; and ve grand- Roberta Taylor Oberholtzer, n’49, 89, Heim, d’68; a brother, Frederick, ’65; and children. April 17 in North Syracuse, New York. She six grandchildren. Ralph Lindsay Hein, a’49, 93, Dec. 25 was a registered nurse. Surviving are two Nancy Fujisaki Allen, d’58, 80, Dec. 31 in Roeland Park, where he was a retired daughters; a son; a brother, James Taylor, in Prairie Village, where she was a teacher architect. Survivors include his wife, e’52; eight grandchildren; and ve great- and coach at Wyandotte High School and Carol; a daughter, Louanne, ’88; two sons; grandchildren. Kansas City Kansas Community College. three granddaughters; and a great- Frances Abts Robinson, c’44, 94, May A son, David, ’98, survives. granddaughter. 26 in Prairie Village, where she was a E.J. Allison, e’52, 88, June 8 in Olathe. Herman Hiesterman, c’48, m’51, 94, graphic artist. A memorial has been He was a Lawrence city engineer and later July 20 in Quinter, where he was a retired established with KU Endowment. She is worked in construction and real-estate physician. He helped instruct KU medical survived by four sons, three of whom development. Survivors include his wife, students as a preceptor for several years, are Marc, c’70, Craig, ’73, and Je, ’78; a Marjorie, assoc.; three daughters, one of and in 1984 he received the Alumnus of daughter, Cynthia, l’75; ve grandchildren; whom is Cheryl Allison Morton, c’77; a the Year Award from the School of Medi- and four great-grandchildren. sister; eight grandchildren; and six cine. A son, a daughter, four grandchildren Bonnie Brown Smith, c’49, 89, March 22 great-grandchildren. and two great-grandchildren survive. in San Antonio. She owned Treasure David Baker, c’55, 83, May 17 in Margaret Brown Hodson, c’43, 95, Chest Books. Surviving are two daughters, Lawrence, where he retired as vice May 26 in Lawrence. She taught home Mary Smith Zielinski, d’74, and Denise president of the Bank of Eureka Springs in economics for nearly 30 years. Surviving Smith Smerchek, ’92; a son, William, c’98, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife, Jane are three daughters, Sheryl Hodson Weber, ’12; a sister, Peggy, c’58, c’59, g’78, PhD’82; Underwood Baker, d’55; a son, Mark, ’85;

68 | KANSAS ALUMNI a daughter; a sister, Marjorie Baker Steil, and six great-grandchildren survive. ’85; a daughter, Kirsten Penny Allen, ’90; a d’58; and three grandchildren. Fred Faas, c’59, m’63, 78, April 27 in stepson; two brothers, Charles, e’50, and Jeanne Shafer Blessing, c’51, 88, May 9 Little Rock, Arkansas. He was an endocri- Paul, f’52; two sisters, Margaret Penny in Lenexa. She was a physical therapist. nologist at Central Arkansas Veterans Bruce, b’43, and Lois Penny Cowan, f’54; Surviving are her husband, Roger; two Healthcare System and a professor of and four grandchildren. sons, Bill, b’77, and Craig, c’79, b’79; and medicine at the University of Arkansas Richard Raney, b’50, p’52, 88, May 16 four grandsons. for Medical Sciences. His wife, Earlann, in Lawrence, where he and his father Monta Jean Langrell Bower, ’59, 79, two daughters and six grandchildren owned several Raney Drug Stores and May 24 in Columbus, Ohio, where she was survive. developed Hillcrest Shopping Center. He a homemaker and volunteered in her Charles Fisk, b’52, 86, May 16 in also was a city commissioner and served community. She is survived by her Glendale, Arizona, where he was a as mayor in 1967. Surviving are three husband, Ray, b’55; a son; a daughter; and business broker. He is survived by his wife, grandchildren and five great-grand- four grandchildren. Cynthia Krehbiel Fisk, d’55, g’77; a son; children. Robert Bunten Jr., b’50, 89, June 2 in two daughters; a stepson, Jed Schroeder Perry Rashleigh, p’56, m’60, 82, May 9 Topeka, where he was president of R.M. III, g’90; a brother, James, ’59; six grand- in Tiverton, Rhode Island. He had a Bunten & Associates. He is survived by his children; two step-grandsons; and five 40-year career as a dermatologist in wife, Barbara Banta Bunten, ’52; two great-grandchildren. Colorado. Survivors include two daugh- daughters, one of whom is Catherine Robert Guthrie, e’58, 81, June 7 in ters; two sons; three sisters, one of whom Bunten Mosimann, c’76; a son, Robert III, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he was is Phyllis Rashleigh Denison, ’60; and c’79; three brothers, William, b’52, John, president and CEO of an insurance seven grandchildren. b’54, and Stephen, b’60; three grandchil- brokerage firm. Survivors include his wife, Joseph Reardon, b’56, 82, Feb. 21 in dren; and two great-grandchildren. Pickett, two daughters and two grand- Kansas City, where he retired from the Paul “Bud” Burke, b’56, 83, Aug. 17 in daughters. U.S. General Services Administration. His Lawrence, where he owned Issues Man- Marshall Havenhill, c’57, m’61, 81, May wife, Beverly, survives. agement Group Inc. He served as Kansas 2 in Emporia, where he directed student Robert Rowe, e’59, 85, May 29 in Senate president from 1989 to 1997 and as health at Emporia State University and was Topeka, where he worked at Goodyear Senate majority leader from 1985 to ’88. an emergency room physician at Newman Tire & Rubber Company. He is survived He was a member of the Alumni Associa- Regional Health. He also served as deputy by a daughter, a son, four grandchildren tion’s national board of directors from coroner in Lyon County for several years. and two great-grandchildren. 2007 to ’12. A memorial has been estab- Surviving are his wife, Ann Johnson William Schuette, b’51, 95, June 29 in lished with KU Endowment. Surviving are Havenhill, d’58; two daughters, Amy Topeka, where he retired from a long his wife, Debbie Weihe Burke, assoc.; four Havenhill Schulte, d’83, and Annette career with the federal government. daughters, three of whom are Anne, c’78, Havenhill Dix, b’90; a son, Asher, c’88, Surviving are three children, three l’81, Kelly Burke Barnett, c’80, and Cathy PhD’97; a brother, Jerry, e’60, g’66; and grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Burke Rhodes, c’84, h’86; a sister, Elizabeth seven grandchildren. Clifton Smith, b’50, 88, May 14 in Burke Kane, c’59; 15 grandchildren; and Charles “Chuck” Lundquist, PhD’54, 89, Joplin, Missouri, where he retired after a three great-granddaughters. June 3 in Huntsville, Alabama, where he 37-year career at IBM. Survivors include Antonia Ernst Creamer, c’59, 79, May directed the National Space Science his wife, Ann, and two sons. 11 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She was a Technology Center at the University of Harry Solter Jr., d’57, 81, May 1 in New physical therapist. Survivors include her Alabama in Huntsville. He later became Bern, North Carolina. He was a retired husband, Gary, ’59; three daughters, one of associate vice president for research and colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. Two whom is Jennifer Creamer Myers, b’88; a director of the Interactive Projects Office sons and six grandchildren survive. son; six grandchildren; and four great- at the university. Two sons, three daugh- Gerald Thomas, j’57, c’59, 83, April 12 grandchildren. ters, a sister, two grandchildren and two in Independence, where he was a sub- Martha Nienstedt Cruse, b’55, 83, May great-grandchildren survive. stance-abuse counselor. Surviving are a 7 in The Woodlands, Texas, where she Paul Oppliger, e’52, 89, Jan. 27 in daughter, and a sister, Mary Thomas managed human resources. Surviving are Traverse City, Michigan, where he retired Babcock, g’72, l’76. her husband, Max, c’54, e’60; a son; and a after a long career with Dow Corning. He Eugene Tinberg, b’50, 88, May 5 in daughter. is survived by a daughter, a son, a sister, Overland Park. He had a long career in Bill Delap, e’53, 85, April 4 in Hudson, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. real estate and sales. Surviving are his wife, Colorado. He had a long career withPan- Stanley Penny, e’50, 89, May 13 in Darlene, ’81; a daughter, Lori Tinberg handle Eastern Pipeline Company before Baldwin City. He owned Penny Construc- Roberts, c’86; a brother; three grandchil- launching 4-D Triangle Company inretire- tion Company and Penny Ready Mix in dren; two step-grandchildren; and a ment. A son, a daughter, six grandchildren Lawrence. Survivors include a son, Dean, step-great-granddaughter.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 69 In Memory

Donald Tinker Jr., c’50, l’56, 89, Jan. 29 Jordan, c’92, and Rhonda Chezek-Peters, business management. His partner, Dale, in Wichita, where he was an attorney and f’93; and seven grandchildren. survives. partner at Robbins, Tinker, Smith & Thomas Duckett II, m’67, 75, May 21 in Michael Stevens, b’65, 73, May 31 in St. Tinker. He is survived by his wife, Judith Broom eld, Colorado, where he was a Augustine, Florida. He owned a construc- Cozart Tinker; a son, Robert, ’81; four retired ophthalmologist. His wife, Ann; a tion company in Hutchinson. Survivors daughters, one of whom is Sally Tinker son, omas, g’07; a sister; and two include his wife, Karolyn; a son, Michael, Murphy, l’88; a sister, Virginia Tinker grandsons survive. c’98; a daughter; a sister, Dorothy Stevens Frame, c’52, d’55, g’56; 13 grandchildren; Albert Hicks, l’68, 81, Dec. 2 in Dussel- Connor, d’63, g’81; and ve grandchildren. and nine great-grandchildren. dorf, Germany. He was senior vice Evan Tonsing, f’62, g’67, 77, June 6 in Gunther Vogt, e’51, 95, May 2 in president at Flying Tiger Line. Survivors Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was professor Knoxville, Tennessee. He had a long career include his wife, Karina; two daughters, of cello and music theory and composition in business management in Charlottesville, one of whom is Traci Hicks Hartenstein, at Oklahoma State University. A memorial Virginia, where he also served as a city b’83, l’86; a son; two stepdaughters; a has been established with KU Endowment. councilman and mayor. A son, Terry, ’68; a stepson; and 11 grandchildren. A brother survives. daughter; four grandchildren; and six Jimmy James, c’63, l’66, 76, May 2 in Dallas Wicke, e’62, 76, April 16 in Long great-grandchildren survive. Lawrence, where he was a retired FBI Beach, California, where he retired aer Nancy Lamme Wellington, n’51, 86, agent. He is survived by his wife, Linda; a nearly 40 years with McDonnell Douglas April 2 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She was son, Mark, b’01; a daughter, Lauren, ’14; a and Boeing. A memorial has been a retired registered nurse and member of sister, Sherri James Ontjes, d’60; a brother; established with KU Endowment. Two P.E.O. Sisterhood. Survivors include a son; and two grandchildren. sisters and a brother survive. two daughters; a sister, Janice Lamme Chauncey Jones Jr., p’60, 79, Dec. 30 in Richard Wood, e’62, 77, May 6 in San Lewis, ’78; and seven grandchildren. Costa Rica. He was a pharmacist and later Marino, California. He had a long career worked in sales and marketing at General in optics and engineering. Survivors George “Butch” Basler, ’68, 70, Electric. A daughter, a son and two include his wife, Patra, two sons, two 60s May 22 in Kansas City, where he grandchildren survive. stepchildren, ve grandchildren and two was a medical transcriber. Surviving are Betty Ann Rayner Kelly-Towner, g’65, step-grandchildren. his wife, Margaret Spalsbury Basler, c’68; 85, June 1 in Lawrence, where she retired William Wright, d’66, 73, June 16 in two sons; a daughter; a sister; and nine aer a 40-year career as a high school Platte City, Missouri, where he was a grandchildren. teacher and counselor. Survivors include teacher. Surviving are his wife, Kathleen Russell Boley, c’60, 78, March 28 in her husband, John Towner, d’54, g’61; a Holt Wright, n’68; two daughters, one of Evergreen, Colorado. He was a consulting daughter, Tandy Towner Reichmeier, b’78; whom is Jane, ’01; two sons; a sister; and actuary. Survivors include his wife, Polly two sons, one of whom is Michael Kelly, 12 grandchildren. Smith Boley, c’60; two daughters; two c’88, ’96; a sister; two brothers; and three brothers, Robert, b’64, and Richard, b’67, grandchildren. John Arbuckle, c’75, 63, April 15 g’68; and a grandson. Thomas Mason, c’61, 77, July 3 in 70s in Hutchinson, where he retired as William Calderwood, c’63, m’68, 76, Tallahassee, Florida. He was retired an Amtrak station agent. He is survived by June 14 in Peoria, Arizona, where he professor of computer science and two brothers, omas III, b’69, and Jerey, was a retired family practitioner and mathematics at Florida A&M University. b’70, l’73. professor of medicine at Midwestern His wife, Yolande, and a son survive. Jean Attebury, g’76, PhD’01, 68, May 20 University in Glendale. He is survived by Jeannette Opperman Mellinger, c’68, in Topeka, where she taught sixth grade at his wife, Nancy, three sons, a daughter, 70, May 11 in Durham, North Carolina, Landon Middle School. She also was an six grandchildren and a great- where she directed communications for adjunct instructor of English at Washburn grandchild. the North Carolina Symphony. She is University. A memorial has been estab- Patrick Casey, d’67, 72, June 8 in survived by her husband, Alan Schueler, lished with KU Endowment. Frederick, Maryland. He was a nancial c’68; a son, Samuel Mellinger, j’01; a Rebecca Trowbridge Blocher, d’71, g’96, analyst at IBM for 30 years. His wife, daughter; and a stepson. ’03, 68, March 25 in Kansas City. She was Linda, two sons and two grandsons Eric Morgenthaler, j’67, 72, May 12 in a teacher and directed gied education in survive. Kansas City, where he was a freelance public schools in Denver and Oregon. A Edward Chezek, e’60, 83, April 21 in reporter aer working for e Wall Street memorial has been established with KU Prairie Village, where he retired as an Journal for several years. A memorial has Endowment. Surviving are a daughter, electrical engineer at Allied Signal been established with KU Endowment. A Erin, c’03, g’07; a sister, Caroline, j’79; and Aerospace Company. He is survived by his sister, Susan, d’74, survives. a brother. wife, Marsha; four daughters, three of Michael Starkweather, c’67, 72, Jan. 29 Tom Docking, c’76, l’80, g’80, 63, Aug. whom are Brenda, c’91, Christine Chezek in Hagerstown, Maryland. He worked in 24 in Wichita, where he was partner at

70 | KANSAS ALUMNI Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy. Joseph Jarsulic, b’80, 60, May 17 in Paul Mathews Jr., ’83, 72, May 25 in He also served as lieutenant governor of Kansas City, where he was a CPA and Overland Park, where he was retired Kansas from 1983 to ’87. He recently retired from the Kansas City Board of associate professor of respiratory care and co-chaired KU Endowment’s Far Above Public Utilities. Survivors include his wife, adjunct associate professor in the Center campaign, and in April he was awarded Becky; three daughters, one of whom is on Aging at KU Medical Center. He is the Distinguished Alumnus Citation by Julianne, ’06; three brothers, one of whom survived by his wife, Loretta; three KU School of Law. He is survived by his is Jack, ’72; a sister, Judy Jarsulic Orth, j’77; daughters, one of whom is Heather, ’91; a wife, Jill Sadowsky Docking, c’78, g’84; a and seven grandchildren. son, Timothy, c’96; and two grand- son, Brian, c’02, l’05; a daughter, Margery, Reba Keys Larson, g’81, 82, May 8 in daughters. c’09; a brother, William, c’73, l’77, g’77; Overland Park. She taught at Olathe South Karl Rozman, 71, June 4 in Venice, and two granddaughters. High School. Surviving are her husband, Florida, where he was professor emeritus Steven Elliott, c’71, 67, May 23 in Philip; a daughter, Kari Larson Lipscomb, in the department of pharmacology, Kansas City. He managed an insurance c’86; a son, Erik, f’87, g’89; two brothers; toxicology and therapeutics at KU Medical agency in Albuquerque, New . His and seven grandchildren. Center. He is survived by his wife, Maria; wife, Barbara, and a sister, Linda Elliott Thomas Zarda Jr., b’80, 60, March 18 in four daughters, Marissa Rozman Men- Fegley, c’75, survive. Kansas City. He was a territory manager at doza, c’04, PharmD’10, Gabriella, c’04, Donna Strohwitz Fowler, c’70, 69, May US Foods. A memorial has been estab- Catarina Rozman Rziha, PharmD’06, and 24 in Lawrence, where she was a physical lished with KU Endowment. Survivors Alexandra Rozman O’Neill, PharmD’08; therapist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. include his wife, Shari; two daughters, one two brothers; and seven grandchildren. She is survived by two daughters, Melissa, of whom is Anna, b’15; two sons; his ’03, and Mary, n’05, ’09; and a grandson. parents; four sisters, one of whom is Linda ASSOCIATES Connie Moritz, ’76, 82, June 24 in Zarda Cook, e’80; and two grandchildren. Carolee Dreier Atha, assoc., 93, April 20 Overland Park, where she was a retired in Mission Hills, where she volunteered teacher and a principal at Sumner Acad- Robert Campbell, g’98, 72, June 2 with several organizations. She is survived emy of Arts & Science in Kansas City. A 90s in Prairie Village. He was an by two sons, one of whom is Russell III, memorial has been established with KU adjunct professor of business at Baker c’71; two daughters, Karen Atha Dunn, Endowment. Her husband, Donald, University. His wife, Linda Hinsch ’73, and Diane Atha Harriman, d’76; nine EdD’77, and three sisters survive. Campbell, c’70, c’71, m’84, survives. grandchildren; and 10 great-grand- Janet Murphy, d’73, 67, March 12 in Keith Loneker Sr., ’94, 46, June 22 in children. Overland Park. She was a music therapist Lawrence, where he had been an o ensive Tom Eblen, assoc., 80, June 10 in Prairie for the Oce for People with Develop- lineman on KU’s football team. He played Village. He had a long career as a reporter mental Disabilities in New York. A sister, professionally in the NFL in the mid-90s and editor before retiring as general Marilyn Murphy Slezak, c’69, l’77, and later became an actor, screenwriter manager and adviser at the University survives. and producer. Survivors include a son, Daily Kansan. Surviving are his wife, Jean Pamela Puntenney, g’71, 71, June 10 in Keith Loneker Jr., a junior at KU; a Kygar Eblen, ’00; a daughter, Courtney Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was an daughter; three brothers; and a sister. Eblen McCain, j’91; and a son, Matthew, environmental policy consultant. Surviv- e’95, g’00. ing are two brothers, Patrick, d’76, and UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY Elizabeth “Bette” Quigley Heck, assoc., Peter, c’81, c’82; and two sisters, one of Robert Cobb, assoc., 91, June 7 in 90, July 27 in Lawrence, where she was a whom is Andrea Puntenney Austin, Kansas City. He was professor of English homemaker and volunteered in her c’89, g’93. and dean of the College of Liberal Arts & community. She is survived by two sons, Sciences. From 1980 to ’87 he served as Michael, j’77, and Mark, b’79, d’81, Linda Heidbrink Bigby, EdD’84, the University’s executive vice chancellor. EdD’00; two daughters, Susan Heck 80s 67, June 30 in Columbia, Mis- A memorial has been established with KU Holcomb, d’85, and Linda Heck Bennett, souri. She was professor of education at Endowment. Surviving are his wife, Janice ’88; a sister; 10 grandchildren; and ve the University of Central Missouri and Rogers Cobb, d’75; a son, Christopher, great-grandchildren. retired as director of special services for c’85; a daughter; and three grandchildren. Emil Heck, assoc., 96, May 27 in Lee’s Summit School District. A daughter Margaret Foote Fisher, c’44, 95, Feb. 8 Lawrence. He was a longtime farmer and and a son survive. in Ottawa. She was a medical technologist stockman. Survivors include two sons, Joseph Bukaty Jr., e’80, 61, April 23 in at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Michael, j’77, and Mark, b’79, d’81, Allen, Texas, where he was a chemical Survivors include three sons, two of whom EdD’00; two daughters, Susan Heck engineer. He is survived by his wife, are Albert, d’74, and David, c’76, m’79; six Holcomb, d’85, and Linda Heck Bennett, Christina, and a sister, Roseanne Bukaty grandchildren; and eight great-grand- ’88; 10 grandchildren; and ve Becker, c’79. children. great-grandchildren.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 71 Rock Chalk Review

more introspective, quiet space. e other is a space with a table that is much more interactive and sharing.” Known as Project RITA—Relaxing, Interactive and erapeutic Atmosphere— the space was created by third-year students in Sanguinetti’s design-build studio. Sanguinetti last fall identied the location she wanted her students to develop and secured permission for the project from KU’s Oce of Design and Construction Management. Her students then spent the rst half of the spring semester discussing ideas and visualizing and testing their designs on computers. Student designers worked closely with DCM to conrm that potential designs met building codes as well as KU guide- lines for construction, safety and sustain- ability. Matt O’Reilly, g’08, PhD’10, assistant professor of civil, environmental Hidden haven in the shape of a piano—though the and architectural engineering in the similarity was not intended, designers School of Engineering, helped students Architecture students design, say—fronted by concrete chairs and low design a mixture for thin concrete, build meditative enclave enough to be easily accessible in reinforced with berglass instead of wheelchairs. aggregates, which was used to make the “ e idea was to create two spaces,” says chairs, and ber-reinforced concrete for ro tip for your next trek across Mount Associate Professor Paola Sanguinetti, the tiles. POread: Wander behind Marvin a’92. “One is where a student can sit, relax, Students designed three molds of Studios—the former home of KANU, look at the horizon and sort of be in a undulating tiles, employed robots to south of Marvin Hall—and lose yourself for a few minutes in a lovely new space designed and built last spring by students in the School of Architecture & Design. Unless you’ve used the little-known PUPPE (3 STEVE stairs that lead from Hoch Auditoria Drive to the back of Chalmers Hall (formerly the Art and Design Building), it’s likely you’ve never encountered the spot—no loss, until recently, as it had been nothing more than a concrete pad on which a behemoth old satellite dish once perched. Now the nook is a serene space featur- ing chairs made with “high-performance concrete,” custom-designed tiles and a towering art piece fashioned from colored nylon string and cedar posts charred in the traditional Japanese technique known as “shou sugi ban.” ere’s also a handcraed wooden table

72 | KANSAS ALUMNI fabricate them, and, as with all work at day, and also later in the evening, because the site, laid the tiles themselves. they usually stay late into the night.” e project was funded with $4,560— Hayes concedes that he’s still coming to “We used every cent of it,” Sanguinetti grips with the loss of the canopy, but he’s says—raised via KU Endowment’s ultimately pleased with the outcome.

LaunchKU online crowdfunding initiative, “I’m very, very content with the result, MICHAEL MERSCHEL COURTESY and forced students to deal with real- and it feels good having a completed world challenges of their future profession. product,” he says. “And it feels even better Months of design and planning were knowing that people outside of our studio dashed, for instance, when, with two are really responding to this site. at’s weeks le in the semester, engineers what means the most to me. at means vetoed a parabolic canopy for safety more than omitting a canopy. concerns in the event of snow and ice “As long as people respond to it and accumulation. e canopy was replaced by enjoy it, that’s all I care about.” the nylon-and-cedar art piece, designed by —Chris Lazzarino Sekou Hayes, which creates the feeling of an enclave while retaining the magnicent view across the Wakarusa Valley. “For me, personally, that was the biggest New kid in town takeaway, learning how to let things go,” Merschel Hayes says. “It’s tough, but that’s our Debut novel oers fresh take obligation as designers. We’re problem- on common junior-high traumas creative resourcefulness: He narrates his solvers, so it was just another problem that life as episodes of his favorite sci- show, we had to solve.” ichael Merschel knows life as the “Star Survivors,” and steels himself, as did e site’s proximity to Marvin Studios Mnew kid in school. He was in the the author, to gure it out on his own and Chalmers Hall, where students spend middle of seventh grade when his family without crying on his mother’s shoulder. endless hours laboring over their projects, moved from Louisiana to Colorado, and it He innocently explains away the bruises, has already made it a favored lunch and wasn’t long before woodshop bullies were and his mother, frazzled by caring for an relaxation spot, which is particularly smashing his projects. infant while also setting up their new rewarding for Sanguinetti. “I thought I had the worst life that house, is too distracted to probe further. “Students are always inside, working on anybody could possibly have,” says From the kitchen, the commander kept stu, and sometimes they just need a Merschel, j’89, a veteran Dallas newspaper trying to question me. But it was becoming break,” she says. “So we wanted to create a editor and rst-time novelist. “I look back clear to me—she was busy. She didn’t have place where they could come during the on it now and think, ‘OK, that was a time to worry about things like cupcakes, or relatively short window,’ and not long aer how klutzy I was, or my mission in general. that I made friends who have been friends I needed to nd a way to take care of of mine for life. At the time, I didn’t know myself. that. At the time, when you’re that age, it’s I had a duty to take care of myself. so intense and you’re so determined to Clark’s heroic missions come to include gure it out. a band of freshly drawn accomplices who “I’m hoping that for kids in that use their wits, and a shared refusal to bow situation, this can be a little bit of a guide.” to peer pressures, to prevail over, and e guide is his novel, Revenge of the eventually empathize with, their enemies. Star Survivors, which tells the story of e novel, ocially marketed as intrepid junior-high explorer Clark middle-grade ction but entirely readable Sherman, who nds himself dropped into for adults, was in part sparked by an a new school in the middle of eighth grade interview Merschel conducted in his day Charred cedar posts Sekou Hayes used in his and is promptly set upon by toughies who job as books editor of the Dallas Morning colorful, airy sculpture were inspired by a Study delight in taunting his nerdiness. News, where he has worked for 23 years. Abroad trip to Japan. “That was an idea that e bullying is forecast in the rst pages, When a new author who had hit the was kind of daintily thrown out into the pool when Clark arrives at his new school on a jackpot of an Oprah Winfrey recommen- of ideas,” he says. “But then we thought it cold winter morning wearing moon boots dation explained that he’d written his book actually might have a really nice touch to it, and a Shackleton parka purchased from a in part to gure out how a novel works, so we went with it.” PBS catalog. What’s not foreseen is Clark’s the words resonated.

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 73 Rock Chalk Review colleague advised, “Mike, that’s all good Hotline help and important, but here’s the thing: You’re Revenge of the Star not that important.” Leukemia specialists on call 24/7 Survivors “And he was right,” Merschel says. “As to assist doctors statewide by Michael Merschel much as I love my job, and I like to think we make the world a little better, when a $17.95, Holiday publisher is weighing whether or not to hysicians and other health care House invest all the time, money and eort that Pproviders across Kansas and the goes into making even a simple book like region who either suspect a case of acute mine, they don’t really care what my day leukemia or need to arrange advanced job is. ey just want to know that the treatment for patients with the fast-pro- “I thought, even if this ends up in a box book is going to be good. gressing disease can now consult leukemia under my bed, which is fully where I “So I kept that in mind a lot. And my specialists at the University of Kansas expected it to be, I can learn from this. I wife and kids would agree, I’m not that Cancer Center on a dedicated hotline can learn what it takes to build a novel.” important.” staed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also revelatory for Merschel was his Clark Sherman, and those who cheer Launched in March, the hot- chore of unpacking and shelving the 400 him on, would very much disagree. line—888-588-1167—is designed as an books that lumber into his o ce each —Chris Lazzarino easy-access point for primary care and week. Struck by the insight that “some of them are not very good” yet were still published and promoted, Merschel told Library lends inspiration himself, “I can write a book that’s not very good. I am capable of that. And that’s what I did. at’s what I set out to do, actually.” Merschel’s charming humor aside, he explains that the mindset liberated him PUPPE (4) STEVE from the trauma of creating a masterpiece. “It freed me from thinking that the thing that came out of my head had to be any good,” he says. “It gave me the freedom to explore and see what I could do, and at the end of it I said, ‘OK, I accept that I’m going to have a lousy piece of writing.’ And if you look at that rst dra, it’s a lousy piece of writing. “But I’m experienced as an editor. I mong the original art pieces commissioned for know how to take bad writing and make it Athe Health Education Building (see pp. 28-35) better, and so I applied it to myself.” are “Des Emplastres et Des Compresses,” by Marcie He rst made Revenge of the Star Miller Gross (above), f’82, and “for FN … words Survivors good enough to show a friend, without fear,” by Miki Baird (left), g’97, g’00. Gross then, with her encouragement, polished it found inspiration in “elegant forms” of compresses, to a point where it was ready to send out plasters and bandages illustrated in an 18th-century to agents and, eventually, publishers. Eight French book held in KU Medical Center’s Clendening “step-by-step” years from his rst idea for History of Medicine Library. Baird, too, discovered the book, Merschel held the beautifully her topic in the Clendening collection: progressive published hardback in his hands. thinking evidenced in handwritten letters by nursing Another liberating piece of advice came pioneer and social reformer Florence Nightingale. from a former book review editor who had found notable success as an author. Merschel was determined to avoid any appearance of impropriety while simulta- neously editing a nationally prominent book review section and also seeking a publisher for his own manuscript, yet his

74 | KANSAS ALUMNI are always available to “and that’s why we’re trying to get the word read and interpret out about the hotline, to make sure that bone-marrow biopsies, people know they can save at least one step with results available in the process and get to us a little bit more within one to two hours. quickly.” Patients in large medical —Chris Lazzarino centers also can access medicines available only in clinical trials, which is

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS COURTESY the standard of care in the Tome of the brave most acute forms of the disease. ith Seussian rhythms in the verse Other advantages for Wand bold, bright colors in the Acknowledging that “it’s a hardship for people to come from far prompt access to large illustrations, Elizabeth and Betony Coons’ away,” oncologist Tara Lin hopes the KU Cancer Center’s new medical centers include children’s book, e Bravest Adventure, leukemia hotline eases logistical burdens for Kansas patients and treatment of acute tackles a serious issue with whimsy and promyelocytic leukemia, charm: encouraging young kids (especially their worried families. or APL, a highly curable young girls) to look beyond their doubts subtype that can quickly and embrace opportunities all around emergency physicians, nurse practitio- deteriorate without access to an oral them for adventures large and small. ners, physician assistants and others to medication that treats certain complica- Elizabeth Green Coons, c’94, majored in reach out for treatment advice and tions. at medicine, unfortunately, is early childhood education at KU and has logistical aid in a patient’s urgent time rarely kept in smaller hospitals, where APL worked as a teacher, mentor and advocate of need. might be seen only once every two years. for children. She collaborated with her “ ose of us who take care of leukemia “ ere should not be disparities in the sister-in-law, artist Betony Coons, to every day know that it’s serious and quality of care just because of where you produce a book that lls a gap she sees in urgent, and we wanted to streamline the happen to live,” Lin says. “So if that person children’s literature. process so that doctors and other refer- on the front line is suspicious for an acute “I think our whole society is gearing in ring providers have an easier way to get leukemia, there is now an easy way to get the direction of stronger female inu- right to us,” says medical oncologist Tara in touch with an expert.” ences,” Coons says. “Older kids, younger Lin, director of the University of Kansas e rst patient whose physician used women, tweens, teens are all getting that Cancer Center’s acute leukemia program. the hotline was immediately transferred message, but the little littles weren’t. I was “What we didn’t want was for someone to from Great Bend by air ambulance on a inspired to write for 2- to 6-year-olds, be unsure of whether to call or who the Friday night, when it might otherwise have because having that message early in life is right person was to reach out to, so we been dicult for the physician to reach so important.” thought that a dedicated line would make distant specialists. KU’s early childhood program taught access that much simpler.” “It was the perfect scenario,” Lin says, Coons to see children as individuals. Even though the standard of care for “I really believe kids are people, that if some types of leukemia has changed little you can just get on their level and be over the past 40 years, and tends to call present with where they are, it’s amazing for treatment with a pair of widely what you can do in their lives.” available drugs, recent studies have Rhyming verses portray a young girl in conrmed the experts’ observational braids adventuring near (ying a kite, evidence, Lin says, that leukemia patients stargazing, jumping rope) and far (“cross treated in academic or other large-volume the Sahara to Timbuktu; ride horseback to medical centers usually have better Kalamazoo”), while the drawings repeat a outcomes than those treated at smaller subtle visual motif of keys, a recurring hospitals. symbol that drives home the book’s Along with expert physicians, patients The Bravest Adventure message of empowerment. are treated by teams that include experi- by Elizabeth Coons; with “ roughout her adventures, the enced pharmacists, nurses who know protagonist always holds the key to every illustrations by Betony Coons which potential side eects should be door,” Coons says. “ at’s the message: closely monitored, infectious-disease $24.95, Archway Publishing You had it all along.” consultants, and hematopathologists who —Steven Hill

ISSUE 5, 2017 | 75 Glorious to View photograph by Steve Puppe

He’s ridden it to Yellowstone Park and followed the Santa Fe Trail all the way to the end in northern New Mexico, and on Aug. 7 Chancellor Doug Girod finally brought his 2004 Harley-Davidson V-Rod cruiser out for its first spin down Jayhawk Boulevard— with a special passenger (Biker Baby Jay?) along for the ride.

76 | KANSAS ALUMNI