It's a Dog's Life

Q3.’18 MAGAZINE.GSU.EDU IT’S A DOG’S LIFE For millennia, dogs have been by our sides. How have all these years of selective breeding affected their behavior and abilities? A Georgia State researcher is investigating our best friends’ brains to find out. KEEP GEORGIA STATE BURNING BRIGHT AS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR STUDENT SUCCESS With financial support of the ◆ Increased scholarship awards by 50 percent Burning Bright campaign, ◆ Awarded 11,000+ micro grants averaging $900 since 2012 the university has: ◆ Received $14.5 million from State Farm to create 50 scholarships annually for underserved high school students GIVING.GSU.EDU CONTENTS MOVIE MAGIC 6 16 NEW TRICKS Georgia State is home to one of the A Georgia State researcher is using neuroimaging techniques most advanced virtual production and behavior tests to find out how the differences in dogs’ tools in the world. brains contribute to the differences in their behavior. DISEASE DETECTIVE 8 22 CLOSING THE DISTANCE Jennifer Lind (M.P.H. ’12) An English professor and an alum are helping young addresses health crises at the refugees navigate one of the most daunting parts of life national and community levels. in a new country — getting into college. 28 THE BLACK NEW SOUTH Associate professor, author and political historian Maurice Hobson studies the complexity of black life in Atlanta and its broader lessons for the rest of the nation and globe. GEARING UP 12 Nate Simon (B.I.S. ’16) is in charge of the athletic equipment, from the players’ helmets to end-zone pylons, that keeps the Panthers on the field. COVER PHOTO BY CLAY R. MILLER MAGAZINE.GSU.EDU 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT A REMARKABLE REBIRTH Vibrancy and economic development return to neighborhoods around Georgia State Stadium. “As residents of each of the stadium-adjacent boroughs become more familiar with the university, our employment and enrollment rates in those communities are on the rise.” IT’S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR since for a larger vision: a mixed-use redevelopment Amid the dust and construction in the we kicked off construction to transform of Summerhill that serves residents and area, the positive impact of these projects is Turner Field into our new football stadium. visitors alike. already palpable. And while the difference within the gates is Many of these businesses should open According to the Atlanta Police Depart- dramatic, beyond it, more revitalization is in later this year and by spring 2019, including ment, Summerhill’s crime rates have declined, the works. a barbecue joint, an “own-premise” brewery and the implications are significant. A Alongside our development partner, Carter, (one that crafts and serves its suds on-site) reputation for safety will be a critical part we are now engaged in a multiphase move- and an ice cream shop, among others. of drawing crowds to the new businesses in ment to revitalize the area around the stadium. A sister site for East Atlanta Village java Summerhill and to Georgia State events, such We just built a new digital billboard adja- haunt Hodgepodge Coffeehouse is also slated as football games and concerts. cent to the stadium alongside the Downtown to start service in the near future. Opening At the same time, as residents of each of Connector where more than a million eyes a new shop at the corner of Georgia Avenue the stadium-adjacent boroughs become more see it every day. Construction on a 676-bed and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard was a familiar with the university, our employment student housing complex is underway just no-brainer for owner Krystle Rodriguez (B.A. and enrollment rates in those communities north of the stadium. The privately owned ’06), who says the location made her feel an are on the rise. building is the first of several planned student instant connection with the university. After winning the AutoNation Cure Bowl and family residences in the area, and it’s The later phases of Summerhill’s makeover at the end of the 2017–18 season, we’re breaking up the vast asphalt parking lots once plan will bring additional housing and retail gearing up for our second football season at used by Braves fans. hubs, business offices and more. Georgia State Stadium and are optimistic These are just two of the more visible proj- The latest addition to our growing about another victorious year. That optimism ects that promise to transform Georgia State footprint, our new 8,000-seat Convocation fills the air beyond the stadium gates, too, Stadium’s surrounding area. The land includes Center will host commencements, concerts, because our neighbors are racking up wins sections of Summerhill, a neighborhood conferences and other large events. The right next to us. beginning the next stage of its next evolution. Convocation Center will also become the Work is underway to convert vacant, home court for Panthers’ basketball, replacing Sincerely, historic structures along Georgia Avenue into the Sports Arena with a modern facility a thriving retail and restaurant corridor. Once worthy of our winning program. reenergized by eateries, shops and community Gov. Nathan Deal signed off on a $5 staples, that strip — a stadium cross street and million bond to fund the building’s design, Mark P. Becker a main drag in the area — will be an anchor and it’s expected to be complete by 2022. President 4 GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Q3.’18 ILLUSTRATION BY ANDY FRIEDMAN LETTERS BEHIND THE CAMERA ALLIE’S COMEBACK I can’t recall when I’ve been more touched by an article. Benjamin Hodges did a masterful job encapsulating the remarkable story of Allie Armbruster. The piece was mesmerizing and inspiring ... beautifully crafted to elicit the responses I and every other reader surely had. It was a long article, and I was compelled to read every word. Thank you for your outstanding magazine! BABU’S BIG MOMENT Barbara Johnston (B.A. ’69, M.Ed. ’71, Babu the Chihuahua strikes a pose for photographer Clay R. Miller during S.Ed. ’74, Ph.D. ’87) a photoshoot for this issue’s cover story. Read more about Babu and her contributions to a National Science Foundation–funded study on dog I loved Mr. Hodges’ story, “A Life Worth behavior on p. 16. Fighting For.” I couldn’t stop reading it. I felt so absorbed by her life and struggle. It was very well written, and I couldn’t put it down. What she’s doing is amazing, and I hope she stays clean DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE for life because she’ll be doing some MAGAZINE TO YOUR PHONE incredible things. OR TABLET BY VISITING MAGAZINE.GSU.EDU Analy Navarro (B.B.A. ’16) OR ISSUU.COM/GSUMAG. I really enjoyed Mr. Hodges’ article about Allie Armbruster. I was recently at a Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Collaborative meeting, and a bunch of us Panthers were talking about it. There are so many sides to this dilemma, and your article addressed Follow us on Facebook at several of them in such a fine way. facebook.com/GSUMagazine William Trivelpiece (M.S. ’07) Follow us on Twitter at Drug Intelligence Officer, Office of twitter.com/gsumagazine National Drug Control Policy and Atlanta-Carolinas High-Intensity Connect with us on LinkedIn at Drug Trafficking Area linkedin.com/school/georgiastateuniversity Fall 2018 • Vol. 9 • No. 3 Publishers Don Hale, Andrea Jones Executive Editor William Inman (M.H.P. ’16) Assistant Editor Benjamin Hodges (B.A. ’08) Contributors Austin Birchell (B.A. ’20), Monica Elliott, Jac Kuntz, Jennifer Rainey Marquez, Torie Robinette, Errin Haines Whack Creative Director Renata Irving Art Director Matt McCullin Contributing Illustrators Joel Mack (B.I.S. ’20), Reid Schulz (B.F.A. ’18), Steve Wacksman Contributing Photographers Meg Buscema, Clay R. Miller, Artem Nazarov, Carolyn Richardson, Steven Thackston Send address changes to: Georgia State University Gifts and Records P.O. Box 3963 Atlanta, GA 30302-3963 Fax: 404-413-3441 email: [email protected] Send story ideas and letters to the editor to: William Inman, editor, Georgia State University Magazine P.O. Box 3983 Atlanta, GA 30302-3983 Fax: 404-413-1381 email: [email protected] Georgia State University Magazine is published four times each year by Georgia State University. The magazine is dedicated to communicating and promoting the high level of academic achievement, research, scholarship, teaching and service at Georgia State University, as well as the outstanding accomplishments of its alumni and the intellectual, cultural, social and athletic endeavors of its vibrant and diverse student body. © 2018 Georgia State University MAGAZINE.GSU.EDU 5 ON CAMPUS / CREATIVITY FROM VIRTUAL TO REALITY With one of the rarest and most advanced virtual production tools in the world, the Creative Media Industries Institute is at the forefront of computer-generated visual effects. BY BENJAMIN HODGES (B.A. ’08) | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOEL MACK (B.I.S. ’20) IN SHOW BUSINESS, virtual produc- to deliver increasingly immersive and lighting, effects and other atmospheric tion is what filmmakers use to blend the novel experiences for viewers. Among the factors of any given world. The 3-D holo- physical world with digital elements. It’s latest tools for virtual producers, three- grams are the latest advance in cross- what makes the characters in movies dimensional (3-D) volumetric capture is reality (XR) technology appearing in film, such as “Avatar” and the recent “Star emerging as one of the most powerful. gaming, marketing, education and more. Wars” installments possible. It’s also how Using a host of video cameras in a The French technology company video games such as “Call of Duty” and controlled space, the technology captures 4DViews makes one such volumetric “Halo” manage to look so realistic.

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