USF Magazine Winter 2008 Vol50 No1

International Study Could Eradicate Juvenile Diabetes SCENE ON CAMPUS USF students used canned goods to create unique sculptures during the sixth annual Charit-a-Bull, held just before Homecoming kickoff on Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. Students, faculty and staff donat- ed about 12,000 pounds of food to Metropolitan Ministries to help the area’s hungry and homeless. JOSEPH GAMBLE Joint Military Leadership Center opens. Story page 8. Features GIVING VOICE 20 USF Psychologist Emanuel Donchin and his colleagues are harnessing a brain wave response to give voice to individuals with a rare medical condition known as locked-in syndrome. DECODING DIABETES 24 A data center, led by USF Health’s Jeffrey Krischer, is at the heart of a $169 million international study to understand the triggers of juvenile diabetes. Researchers at the center and around the globe hope to explain why some children get the disease that is one of the most common and serious long-term diseases in children. OCEANS OF EVIDENCE 28 Scientists in USF’s College of Marine Science weigh in on global warming. Their research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on this hotly debated topic. A SEASON TO REMEMBER 32 USF’s Bulls celebrate an historic season that takes the team to an early number two spot in the BCS rankings. Sold-out games and a trip to the Sun Bowl are among the season’s highlights. Departments 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 UPDATE 10 COMMUNITY 14 DISCOVERY 36 ATHLETICS 38 COMMITMENT 40 LAST WORD COVER: PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOSEPH GAMBLE SCENE ON CAMPUS: JOSEPH GAMBLE PETE TURNER/GETTY IMAGES USF ocean scientists discuss global climate change. Story page 28. USF MAGAZINE | WINTER 2008 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT FTER AN EXCITING USF Magazine is published by University Relations at the University of South Florida. and accomplishment- Editor Ann Carney filled 2007, the new Associate Editor Anne Scott year is off to a busy Contributing Writers Anne DeLotto Baier, Philip Booth, Lorie Briggs, Randolph Fillmore, and productive start at Sean Ledig, Barbara Perkins, Crystal S. Rothhaar, David Steele, Amy Woodruff AUSF. Bold new initiatives and life- Contributing Photographers changing research are under way, Joseph Gamble, Aimee Blodgett, Ryan Morris, moving us closer to our goal of Eric Younghans becoming a member of the prestigious University Administration Judy Genshaft, President Association of American Universities Ralph Wilcox, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (AAU). Carl Carlucci, Executive Vice President Leading the charge is Ralph Karen Holbrook, Vice President for Research and Innovation Wilcox, a remarkably gifted educator Stephen Klasko, Vice President for USF Health J. Jeffrey Robison, Vice President for and researcher who stepped into the University Advancement Jennifer Capeheart-Meningall, Vice President provost position in January. Dr. Wilcox JOSEPH GAMBLE for Student Affairs fills the vacancy left by Renu Khator, From sellout crowds and a Sun Bowl Karen White, Regional Chancellor for USF St. Petersburg who leaves the university after 22 years appearance, USF took charge, gaining Arthur Guilford, Vice President and CEO for USF Sarasota-Manatee to assume the presidency at the national attention for the most dramatic Marshall Goodman, Vice President and University of Houston. rise in college football history. CEO for USF Lakeland In this issue you will read about a As one of only 38 universities in USF Board of Trustees Lee E. Arnold, Jr. major international research study led the country to offer ROTC training in all Michael J. Barber, PhD Margarita R. Cancio, MD by USF Health’s Dr. Jeffrey Krischer. four military branches, it was with a Gene Engle Funded by a $169 million grant from tremendous sense of pride that we cut Sonja W. Garcia Garin Flowers the National Institutes of Health, the the ribbon on C. W. Bill Young Hall in Rhea F. Law, Esq., Chair Kiran C. Patel, MD study could lead to the eradication of November. The new building, named in John B. Ramil, Vice Chair type I diabetes for the next generation. Debbie N. Sembler honor of the congressman who helped Jan E. Smith You also will read about research secure its funding, will be a training site Robert L. Soran Sherrill M. Tomasino under way in the College of Marine for our nation's future military leaders. Contact USF Magazine Science to study the effects and reality Fascinating people who have University Relations of climate change. And you will learn 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ADM271 helped shape the university are featured Tampa, Florida 33620-6300 about the work of Dr. Emanuel in this issue as well. Our profile on USF (813) 974-4014 [email protected] Donchin and his colleagues to provide Foundation Trustee Richard Gonzmart Contact the USF Alumni Association a voice to individuals who cannot gives just a glimpse into the life of a Gibbons Alumni Center speak or move. remarkable man who has made tremen- 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100 Tampa, Florida 33620-5455 USF’s research efforts will be the dous contributions to the university, the (813) 974-2100 • (800) 299-BULL (2855) [email protected] focus of Karen Holbrook, our new vice state and the Tampa Bay community. president of Research and Innovation. Update your contact information I hope you will enjoy reading the www.giving.usf.edu We are so fortunate to have someone of pages that follow. Contained within Reprint Policy: USF encourages reprinting articles in Dr. Holbrook’s caliber to oversee the them is the story of a university on a their entirety. Permission may be obtained by contact- ing [email protected]. continued growth of this critical facet of remarkable path of success. our university. This issue would not be complete The University of South Florida is accredited by the Commission on without a look back on the most excit- Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral levels, ing football season in Bulls history. JUDY GENSHAFT, PRESIDENT including the Doctor of Medicine. USF is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action Institution. 2 USF MAGAZINE | WINTER 2008 A Legacy of Leadership Ralph Wicox steps into the provost position, as Renu Khator takes the helm at the University of Houston. porary teaching S RENU KHATOR CLOSED THE CHAPTER position. Over time on a remarkable career in academia and JOSEPH GAMBLE she climbed the aca- administration at USF, Ralph Wilcox was demic ranks, eventually becoming director of the A appointed to step into the provost position. Environmental Science and Policy Program and dean Khator, who had served as provost and senior vice of the College of Arts and Sciences. She has pub- president of the university since 2003, was unanimous- lished five books, numerous book chapters and arti- ly appointed president of the University of Houston cles in leading national and international journals. and chancellor of the UH System late last year. “It has been my honor to work with Dr. Khator,” Wilcox, who served as professor and vice provost said Genshaft. “She is a talented educational admin- since 2003, has been the university’s principal liaison istrator and a respected scholar who has brought to the Florida Board of Governors. He has provided this university to new heights.” oversight for institution-wide strategic planning, enroll- Wilcox, who officially stepped into his new post ment planning and legislative budget matters. as provost and senior vice president for Academic “We are fortunate to have someone of Dr. Affairs in January, holds a PhD from the University of Wilcox’s caliber at USF who can step into the provost Alberta, Canada; an MSc degree from Washington position,” said USF President Judy Genshaft. “He is an State University; and a baccalaureate degree from the exceptionally talented academic leader, researcher and University of Exeter, United Kingdom. Wilcox’s schol- educator. The office will be in very capable hands.” arly expertise is in cultural studies and globalization. Since joining the provost’s office in 2003, He has presented his work extensively and published Wilcox worked closely with Khator to position USF two books, together with numerous articles in lead- as one of the nation’s premier research universities. ing national and international journals. He has Now, as chief academic officer, Wilcox will oversee received upward of $10 million in research contracts the university's ambitious plan to join the ranks of and grants. the Association of American Universities, an invita- “I thank President Genshaft—and others—for the tion-only group of research-intensive universities. confidence they have shown in my ability to provide His predecessor, the highest level of academic leadership at USF,” Khator, leaves USF after says Wilcox. “While faced with significant budget 22 years. One of the first challenges, we have a bold vision and an excellent Indian Americans to faculty with whom I look forward to working as, become provost at a together, we set priorities and continue USF’s emer- comprehensive research gence as one of this nation’s top public research university, she began her universities.” career at USF with a tem- – Ann Carney UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON USF MAGAZINE | WINTER 2008 3 UPDATE | [QUICK TAKES] Best in Business Scholarly Ranking USF Entrepreneurship Program named Department of Criminology 7th in the nation among the best in the U.S. THE NOVEMBER 16th ISSUE of the Chronicle of Higher Education includes the 2007 list of criminology pro- SF HAS EARNED ANOTHER national ranking, grams ranked by the Faculty-Productivity Index. USF’s this time being named the nation’s ninth best Department of Criminololgy ranked seventh in the U.S. graduate entrepreneurship program by the The index is calculated by a formulaic inclusion of schol- Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.

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