SOLDIER SUPPORT Exploration targeting EDUCATION MEETS ENTERTAINMENT Six Flags SAVINGS PLANS Financial challenges have military veterans who have lost limbs or who Over Texas and UT Arlington wouldn’t seem Texas cities clamoring for assistance. The suffer from post-traumatic stress thrives in the to have much in common, but a closer look Institute of Urban Studies is the go-to new Engineering Research Building. p. 24 reveals copious connections. p. 30 program for smart solutions. p. 34

UTATHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTONrlington MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2011

Degrees of Distance Accessible from anywhere in the world, UT Arlington’s nationally recognized online learning programs are setting enrollment records LEGEND HAS IT After delivering the keynote address at the annual Graduation Celebration in May, John Legend assumed his more familiar role of Grammy-winning recording artist. He performed three songs for the 3,800 people who packed the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Arlington. Watch a video at uta.edu/classof2011. Contents Summer 2011 Message from the Vice President for Research

Features CRASH COURSE 9 Chris Ray’s Exercise and Weight UTArlington WORLD CLAss 20 Management course improves Vol. XXXIII • No. 3 • Summer 2011 Quality, convenience, and the body as it feeds the mind. Why Innovation Matters EDITOR breadth are hallmarks of Mark Permenter UT Arlington’s growing online by Ron Elsenbaumer learning programs, which are ASSISTANT EDITORS attracting record numbers of One of the biggest understatements in scientific Founded using intellectual property licensed Jessica Bridges students from as far away history appeared in a 1953 paper by James Watson and through UT Arlington, Resonant Sensors is a classic Jim Patterson as Bolivia and Japan. Francis Crick. In presenting their research on the DNA example of the innovation process. Researchers use Amber Scott double helix, they wrote, “This structure has novel fundamental knowledge to develop applied technology that leads to products for the marketplace. UT Arlington ART DIRECTOR WIRED FOR RECOVERY 24 features which are of considerable biological interest.” Joel Quintans Military veterans stand Their “considerable” finding was actually an provides all the tools for scholars to complete this cycle to benefit from the FACULTY 11 incredible revelation that led to a better understanding of vertical integration. EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS collaborative environment Ya’Ke Smith’s award-winning of how organisms pass on their genes and of genome Each year we average 65-70 invention disclosures Herb Booth of the new Engineering short film follows a Hurricane sequencing, as well as other scientific milestones. More (the first step in protecting an invention with a patent). John Dycus Bridget Lewis Research Building. Katrina evacuee who searches than half a century later, discoveries are still emerging We typically file 20 patents a year and receive about eight. Once a patent is issued, the technology can be Teresa Newton for his mother in San Antonio. from this seminal biological breakthrough. Traci Peterson Such innovation improves our quality of life and licensed for commercialization. We recently announced Kristin Sullivan FUTURE 13 fuels economic development, and we need more of a licensing agreement with a Fort Worth company for Researchers are using focused it. As marketplaces for ideas, universities provide a portable converter that turns natural gas into jet fuel UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHERS laser beams that enable drug- fertile ground for the creative process that produces and diesel. Several other agreements are in the works. Jim Butler carrying nanoparticles to new knowledge. The polio vaccine, rocket fuel, MRI As we progress through the cycle of how to Robert Crosby Beth McHenry deliver medicine to cancer cells. technology, seat belts, and numerous other world- creatively use fundamental knowledge, we also must changing inventions stemmed from university research. focus on teaching and training the next generation ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR GALLERY 14 At UT Arlington, we relish our role as a beacon of of thinkers and innovators. If we teach only from a COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING Sedrick Huckaby has garnered innovation. We promote academic freedom and foster textbook, the book will never change. What we teach P. David Johnson national acclaim for his an environment that rewards curiosity and challenges must evolve as we create, and we must keep feeding the business of fun 30 paintings that depict African- conventional thought. We understand that the next the cycle of knowledge to produce a better-educated VICE PRESIDENT society. FOR COMMUNICATIONS A growing research university American quilting traditions. major discoveries will come only when people are Jerry Lewis and an iconic amusement encouraged to dream big and think differently. Several decades ago, the Dick Tracy comic strip park have more in common Remember The Six Million Dollar Man TV introduced a two-way wrist radio that Tracy and other PRESIDENT than you might think. show where a crippled test pilot is rebuilt with bionic police officers wore like a watch. This make-believe James D. Spaniolo limbs and implants? It’s not far from reality today. A communications device became a widely recognized planning makes team of UT Arlington bioengineering researchers is icon and is often considered a precursor to today’s UTArlington Magazine is published smartphones. For this invention to morph from fantasy three times a year by University perfect 34 developing technology that will enable soldiers who’ve Communications for all alumni, as From the Panhandle to the Rio lost arms or legs to feel and control their prosthetic to reality, somebody had to make the technology small, well as for faculty, staff, and friends Grande Valley, Texas cities call limbs as if they’re real. lightweight, and power efficient. Somebody had to of the University. Reproduction in on UT Arlington’s Institute of Another University breakthrough could think creatively and without limits. whole or in part without written Urban Studies for solutions revolutionize the medical diagnostics field. The It’s that type of thinking that will lead to the next permission is prohibited. to thorny challenges. technology will allow you to walk into a doctor’s generation of inventions, to life-changing technologies that seem like science fiction The comments and opinions community 17 office and, with a simple finger prick, get a expressed in this magazine do The annual Big Event com- reading in 10 minutes on what ails you or today. We’re learning more and more about not necessarily represent Columns munity service day drew more what might soon ail you. Optical sensors nerve and tissue regeneration and can those of The University of Texas than 1,000 volunteers. will accurately monitor biochemical now regrow tissue in a dish and implant at Arlington or the staff of FACEBOOK 4 reactions in real time with no need for it in the body. Why not regrow a heart, a UTArlington Magazine. Russia native Alina SPORTS 19 chemical tags. lung, or an eye? It’s possible, but it takes Copyright © 2011, The University of dedication, creativity, discovery, and Texas at Arlington. An equal oppor- Cherepanova, who came to Romain Martin of Le Mans, The company developing this tunity/affirmative action employer. UT Arlington as part of the France, is rewriting the process, Resonant Sensors Inc., receives learning—all tied together. highly competitive Edmund S. decathlon record books. assistance from the Center for Innovation, At UT Arlington, we believe it’s ON THE COVER Muskie Graduate Fellowship a partnership between UT Arlington our obligation to create new knowledge Flourishing online learning Program, says the University and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce through research and shape minds to programs have helped boost helped her discover herself. Alumni News that furthers technology-led economic develop tomorrow’s innovations. We do it University enrollment to an all-time to change lives, enhance lives, and save high and contributed to a record development. The center moves ideas from number of graduates. Illustration Talk 7 TREASURE HUNT 39 concept to market across an eight-state region. lives now and for generations to come. by Brian Stauffer. France native and recent Alumna Nada Shabout traces architecture graduate Benoit modern art lost in Iraq. Lecomte talks about how he As UT Arlington’s vice president swam the Atlantic Ocean and LIFE IN CHINA 41 for research and federal his plans to swim the Pacific in A popular TV show chronicled relations, Dr. Ron Elsenbaumer spring 2012. He also offers the Norwood family’s move oversees the University’s tips on how to avoid sharks. from Arlington to Shanghai. burgeoning research enterprise. CAMPUS CAMPUS Facebook Email Tweets STUDENT NEWSPAPER A wonderful and very profes- and Religion at Colgate Uni- would have been 19 years @johnlegend Speaking at U. of TRIBUTE TO FREE SPEECH sional work that the UTArling- versity. That’s how I first knew old in February 1919. After Texas at Arlington graduation tonight. I wonder if I get to I write to commend UTArling- ton Magazine team does! The him, although I never had a wondering about the choice wear another professor/bishop ton Magazine for focusing on magazine is of the highest class from him as an under- of Grubonian for a name, I robe. The Shorthorn—a UTA jewel quality and has informative graduate there in the 1960s. concluded it was the editors’ @_tiffanyle I hear @johnlegend that upholds a long tradition articles that capture the Later as a member of the fac- sly wit that meant they were is at UT Arlington’s graduation of serving the University as reader. The spring 2011 issue ulty here, I learned more from doing the equivalent of hard tonight. Someone pick me up a vital source of news and exhibited a photograph of Mrs. A.B. Collins. Brautigam so manual farm labor—but now and let’s go. information. Mr. Woodward’s my sister and me showing loved Grubbs Vocational Col- in a more refined and cultur- @bigdaddychilds About to see article (spring 2011) highlight- the University’s multicultural lege (now UT Arlington) that ally acceptable way—with Bill Nye the Science Guy @ UTA ed some of the paper’s high atmosphere. As an interna- he funded a family member words. Speaker Series! Hope he blows points—and low ones. But tional student, being part to get educated here. The something up! The Shorthorn’s real triumph of UTA has been one of the University honored him with Nancy Howell McRae ’46 @sydjaymac OMG. I knew I is what those who toiled on most important experiences a 1969 Distinguished Alumnus Dallas, Texas should have gone to UTA! Bill it took from the experience of my life. It has helped me Award. Now you tell me he Nye is there! and what they, in turn, have develop both professionally was the first two-term editor GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION @Astrosradio 2 UT Arlington given to society because of and personally by having the of The Shorthorn—wonderful I just received my very first products going head-to-head what they learned. That the opportunity to learn from the story about a great campus UTArlington Magazine and, tonight. Mets starter Dillon Gee + Hunter Pence. Pence just Alina Cherepanova paper continues to be one diversity that its community paper. The end of the story wow, it is amazing! It’s packed walked vs. fellow Mav to load Completing a ropes of the best in the nation is embodies. is that Brautigam committed full of information, and I am bases B3. challenge course at nearly a tribute to the University’s his last years after Colgate to amazed at all the things go- @michael_nixon It’s official, 30 feet in the air was no commitment to education, Diana Martinez Cepeda ’08 teaching students at Lincoln ing on at UTA, especially all I’m a Maverick, not in the Sarah sweat for international free speech, and independent Arlington, Texas University in Pennsylvania. the research. I realize now Palin sense, but that I will be student Alina Cherepanova. thought. how much you miss know- attending UT Arlington in the “It wasn’t difficult,” the TRACKING A FORMER PROF James Campbell Quick ing what is going on, on the fall! Russia native says. “I go THEO CARRACINO ’85 You added another piece to Arlington, Texas very campus you are studying @RegWright Will be tenor to the Maverick Activities Bethesda, Md. my knowledge of Herman from, when you work online section leader at UT Arlington Center’s group classes every Brautigam ’20 in the spring WHAT’S IN A NAME? and from a distance. It just All-State Camp this summer! week and am prepared INTERNATIONAL FLAIR 2011 issue. Dr. Brautigam was Your article on The Shorthorn helps me realize how much @chriscogmta Shout out to for physical activities.” I want to extend my admira- the first Harry Emerson Fos- (spring 2011) caught my eye you need your students to see UT Arlington. Great online Cherepanova participated tion and to congratulate the dick Professor of Philosophy when it mentioned Nathaniel this and not wait until they Q&A about the realities of leadership. in the challenge at the 2011 Killough as the first editor become alumni! International Students Inc. of the February 1919 issue, @KeepTxBeautiful A great Tejas Spring Break Retreat in originally called The Grubon- leslie “tinkie” williams ’10 Earth Day event at UT Arlington! East Texas. The MBA student YouTube ian. I’m wondering if that Tyler, Texas came to UT Arlington in OUTSHINING THE COMPETITION early editor might have been @ajserna Registering for fall 2010 as part of the Learn how bioengineering researcher Jian Yang uses the grandson of Nathaniel classes in the fall at The University of Texas at State Department’s highly a material that‘s fluorescent, biodegradable, and safe Killough, one of the few sur- YOUR THOUGHTS? Arlington. A lot of classes competitive Edmund S. to implant in the body to boost cancer treatment and vivors of the Indian massacre Send letters to the editor to sure do sound fancy. Muskie Graduate Fellowship tissue engineering. Watch the “Biomaterials Science northwest of Jacksonville, [email protected], or @mayy_beee I'm officially Program, which helps Revolution” video at youtube.com/utarlington. Texas, Oct. 5, 1838. If true, comment on magazine con- accepted to UT Arlington!!! :). Eurasian countries transition the young Grubonian editor tent at uta.edu/utamagazine. to market economies by providing citizens with LET’S SOCIALIZE intensive academic study Check us out online and on and professional training. Flickr your favorite social media After a summer internship, sites. We welcome your she plans to return home to NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS comments, posts, tweets, work as a project manager Under the direction of art and photographs for possible in the sales department of Professor Kenda North, 18 inclusion in the next issue of Russia’s largest bank. “UTA UT Arlington students docu- UTArlington Magazine. has helped me discover mented the architecture and uta.edu/utamagazine myself,” Cherepanova people along Bishop Avenue Enjoy an interactive experience says. “It has given me a and Davis Street in Oak Cliff. and view Web-only content. deeper understanding of Their photography exhibit, facebook.com/utamagazine the role of a leader and the davis/bishop2011.doc, was "Like" us and get updates in responsibility that comes featured at the historic Kes- your newsfeed. with it.” sler Theater and in a book twitter.com/utarlington published by the Oak Cliff Follow our tweets for the Chamber of Commerce, which latest Maverick news. co-sponsored the exhibit. View flickr.com/groups/utamagazine a selection of images at flickr. Post your best photos so we com/groups/utamagazine. can see what you're up to.

4 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 5 CAMPUS Benoit Lecomte, ’11 Master of Architecture Talk When did you think you Were you worried about could do something as epic sharks? as swim the Atlantic Ocean? We had an electrode on our CampusBuzz I was following the progress boat that creates a magnetic of a French rower who was field to keep sharks away. At UT Arlington and the world rowing across the Atlantic. I one point I was outside the realized that I was swimming field and the shark circled me. faster than he was rowing and He followed us for about five thought it was something I days. could do. I was already swim- ming so much, and I felt like it What were the high points? was a natural progression. Waking up to the sound of dolphins clicking and whis- What motivated you to take tling. I dashed to get into the on such a task? water with them, but they My father taught me to swim swam away before I got there. in the ocean when I was a boy. Another time I was in the wa- While I was doing the research ter and a pod of dolphins was for the swim, he was diag- following me. If I moved closer nosed with colon cancer and to them, they moved to main- died about a year and a half tain the same distance. They later. This added purpose to paced me for quite a while. “Anyone who my swim—to raise awareness for cancer. How did you stay motivated? drives south Many days I was exhausted, How did you prepare for the wondering, “What exactly am on Center 3,716-mile swim? I doing? Why am I doing it?” Street through It was five hours per day of But every day that I got back training. Once I could swim on the boat I could read emails the heart five hours, I knew I could add from cancer patients who gave another three. It’s just a mat- me insight into their treat- of our city ter of keeping your pace, be- ments and said I gave them ing consistent. After that, it’s motivation to keep going. And can see that mental preparation. You can I thought, “I can stop any time, something big never imagine the difficulties but they can’t.” That was a big of the stress that comes from thing that kept me going. Blurring the Boundaries is happening. being isolated, swimming in a hostile environment, with What’s next? Rising college town development underscores strong ties between University, city Together, we only basic necessities on the Swimming the Pacific in spring are shaping support boat and little sleep. 2012. It’s the same training, The first of three major components of the College Park Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) but the logistics are different. District opened in April, and the other two are rising Silver specifications. Arlington into What did you think about It’s going to be a longer swim, rapidly in the 20-acre urban renewal development on North of College Park Center, the College Park resi- while swimming? and I’ll have a more stable the UT Arlington campus. dential and retail development comprises residence halls a true college You want to do anything but boat and better communica- The Green at College Park provides a southern gate- and apartments wrapped around two parking structures, focus—you disassociate. I tion. I’m developing a website, way into the emerging college town environment and has one of which will open this summer. The remainder of the town.” made my own movies in my thelongestswim.com, and quickly become a popular gathering spot. The 2.5 acres project, which features housing for about 600 students, head. At the time I had never you’ll be able to follow the feature a large lawn, a curved stone wall with seating, a welcome center, street-level retail, office suites, and the been to New York, so I tried swim with videos and pictures. native plants, recycled materials, and a dry creek bed second parking structure, is scheduled to be finished in to imagine what that would for storm water drainage. Designed by Schrickel, Rollins summer 2012. be like in great detail: what What’s your advice for any- and Associates, the park is among 150 sites worldwide The $80 million development includes a commitment the streets would look like, one toying with the idea of that will test the first-ever international rating system for of up to $18 million from Arlington to help fund the cost the people, what they would swimming across an ocean? green landscape design, construction, and maintenance. of the parking structures and 1.5 acres of land donated by be wearing, what they were Don’t look at what you are Taking shape just north of The Green is College Park First Baptist Church Arlington. Jacobs Engineering Group doing, the smell, where I was trying to accomplish because Center, a $78 million, 6,600-seat special events venue designed the project to meet LEED Silver standards. going. The goal is to get your that can be overwhelming. that will provide a striking centerpiece for the College The College Park District represents the shared goal mind somewhere else so you Break it into smaller parts; Park District. The center is expected to be fully enclosed of UT Arlington and the city to stimulate and complement The recently opened Green fall into almost a meditative come up with a daily plan. by late July and is on pace for a December completion. downtown development. at College Park provides state. Focus only on that part of the a southern gateway into College Park Center will offer the Mavericks basket- “This is a model for town-gown partnerships,” the emerging College Park plan each day. Before long, ball and volleyball teams a new home court and give the UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo says. “Anyone District, which includes you’ll be on the other side of University and downtown Arlington a signature landmark who drives south on Center Street through the heart of our College Park Center and the it—task completed. for world-class concerts, speakers, commencements, city can see that something big is happening. Together, College Park residential and and other events. HKS Inc. designed the facility to meet we are shaping Arlington into a true college town.” retail development.

6 UTArlington Magazine CAMPUS CAMPUS Awards Exercise and Weight Management Crash Course FRANK LU Mechanical and aerospace uncovering OF RULER’S engineering Professor Frank Lu has been elected a fellow of TOMB DATES TO 350 B.C. the Royal Aeronautical Soci- A UT Arlington archaeologist is gaining international recognition ety, recognizing his innovative for his role in research that revealed the oldest known tomb of research and international an ancient Maya ruler. Michael Callaghan, an adjunct assistant eminence within the aero- professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, space community. Dr. Lu is the worked on a team led by University of Kansas research director of the Aerodynamics associate John Tomasic, who found the burial site in 2008 at Research Center. K’o, Guatemala. Archaeologists unearthed the body of a man believed to be in his 50s and in seemingly good health at the time of his death. They also found an incense burner with the image of a jester god headdress, along with vessels, jars, and plates. EXSA 1247 “One pot had a little crown with a three-pronged headdress on It’s a course that improves it, and that’s known to be only associated with kingship,” says Dr. the body even as it feeds Callaghan, who analyzed the ceramics. “The work was supported the mind. Kinesiology by radiocarbon analysis, which gave us a date of 350 B.C.” Until Assistant Professor Chris now, the earliest known royal burial of a Maya ruler was from Ray’s popular online San Bartolo, Guatemala. It was discovered in 2005 and dated to offering Exercise and 100 B.C. Both burial sites were found beneath homes. Callaghan Weight Management presented the team’s research for the first time publicly at the helps students develop 76th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology Playing Nurse weight management JUDY LEFLORE in April. Since then, news of the findings has appeared in USA strategies in a flexible, A College of Nursing profes- Today, the London Daily Mail, and Tehran’s Cultural Heritage Grant-funded video game could transform accessible platform. sor’s use of 3-D gaming tech- News Agency, among other media outlets. Callaghan says the health care training using lifelike simulations Students are outfitted nology to teach in-hospital Maya are fascinating. “Growing up, we learn about Mesopotamia with an accelerometer pediatric care has won a and Egypt, but the Maya are so different in the way they looked Increasing patient safety by improving physician-nurse and instructed to use competition sponsored by at ideology, their religious focus, and art.” He plans to research communication is the goal of a nearly $1 million grant online dietary intake logs the Society for Simulation in more about the Maya civilization, with a focus on how social awarded to UT Arlington’s College of Nursing, the Baylor that track their daily and Healthcare. Judy LeFlore’s hierarchies started and why people created social divisions. Health Care System, and UT Dallas. semester-long calorie study explored whether a The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and intake. Simultaneously, specially designed 3-D video Quality award will be used to develop video game-like they are exposed to 15 game worked as well as a simulations that provide a safe, virtual environment lessons that require them to lecture in teaching how to where doctors and nurses can learn to communicate make activity or nutrition respond in a clinical setting. through role-playing. Health care providers will changes and evaluate the experience real-world situations and react in the virtual impact on their weight. The PURNENDU DASGUPTA setting, similar to advanced computer games. students sample a variety of Chemistry and biochemistry “Technologies like the high-fidelity manikins at ways to accomplish caloric Professor Purnendu Dasgupta UT Arlington’s Smart Hospital have made it possible balance and adopt healthy has received the 2011 Award for students to acquire and test their skills in a realistic lifestyles. Alumna Jennifer for Chromatography from the environment where it’s safe to make a mistake and Holderead lost 25 pounds American Chemical Society, learn from it,” says Beth Mancini, associate dean of the when she took the course the world’s largest scien- College of Nursing and principal investigator for the but says the lessons go well tific society for pioneering study. “The development of serious gaming systems beyond diet and weight advances in chromatography. takes that capability to a new level and has the potential loss. “To this day, I continue Winners are chosen based on to transform health care training.” to apply the knowledge I nominations from peers and Communication problems in health care can lead learned in this class to stay expert reviewers. to serious, even fatal, mistakes. The Joint Commission, healthy and fit,” she says. NOW OPEN FOR DISCOVERY the national organization that accredits and certifies “It teaches you how your JOY DON BAKER A new era of innovation began in March when the Engineering health care organizations, has identified communication body works and how much The Association of Operating Research Building officially opened its doors. Joining President among caregivers as a key National Patient Safety Goal. energy it needs to function. Room Nurses has honored Joy James D. Spaniolo at the ceremonial ribbon cutting were Provost Dr. Mancini will provide health care expertise along It gives you the ability to Don Baker for Outstanding Donald Bobbitt, College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma, state with Yan Xiao, director of patient safety research at maintain a healthy lifestyle Achievement in Perioperative Sen. Chris Harris, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, UT System Regent Brenda Baylor Health Care System. Marjorie Zielke, a UT Dallas for the rest of your life.” Academic Nursing Education. Pejovich, and College of Engineering Dean Bill Carroll. Shared assistant professor of arts and technology, will construct Dr. Baker, a clinical associate by College of Engineering and College of Science researchers, the prototype game. Initially, it will focus on surgeons professor in the College of the landmark center is UT Arlington’s largest academic facility. and nurses caring for postoperative patients. Nursing, was recognized The 234,000-square-foot building houses the Department of The researchers plan to recruit 120 nurses and for her use of technology in Bioengineering and the Department of Computer Science and 25 physicians on the Baylor medical staff to take part. nursing education to improve Engineering, and it integrates research teams from biology, Mancini, Xiao and Zielke hope to collaborate on future patient safety in surgical biochemistry, genomics, math, neuroscience, and physics to foster projects that explore how interactive, lifelike virtual settings. collaborative research. Watch a video at uta.edu/engineering/erb. environments can improve health care delivery.

8 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 9 CAMPUS CAMPUS Grants Department of Art and Art History Faculty ANAND PUPPALA Civil engineering Distin- B OOK ARgueS GREEN guished Professor Anand Puppala has secured grants ENERGY falls short totaling $1.75 million this year A cleaner environment. Plentiful jobs. Improved quality of life. to assess and prevent damage Green energy promises all of this, but can it deliver? Roger Meiners to highways and underground says there’s a lack of evidence that it can. Dr. Meiners, the Goolsby pipes. The awards will aid Distinguished Professor of Economics in the College of Business, Dr. Puppala’s development of explains his theory in The False Promise of Green Energy, co-written a field sensor to more quickly with Andrew Morriss of the University of Alabama; economist and accurately detect buck- William Bogart, president of Maryville College; and Andrew ling in soil. Dorchak, head of reference at the Case Western University School of Law. The book evaluates claims that emphasizing green energy YA'KE SMITH and green jobs can improve the economy and the environment, The world is full of stories although they would require spending billions of dollars. It also waiting to be told, and contrasts energy production realities and energy use in the United Ya’Ke Smith has a passion States and the rest of the world with proposals from green jobs for putting those stories advocates. “We looked at the issue with the critical eye of economic on film. “Film is so much analysis,” says Meiners, chair of the Economics Department. more than just beautiful “There are too many unanswered questions, too many aspects of pictures,” says the assistant green energy that have not been checked.” The False Promise of professor of film/video in Green Energy explains that nearly half of the energy consumed the Art and Art History in the United States goes indirectly to produce food, medicines, Mutation Finder Department. “It’s the most and consumer goods. If energy costs rise because of forced use of powerful medium we have, GEORGe ALEXANDRAKIS more expensive renewable energy, the book asserts, these other Researchers create more mobile, efficient system and when used effectively Bioengineering Assistant costs rise as well. The book also describes what it calls the high to detect genes associated with cancers it has the power to change Professor George Alexandrakis costs of green energy programs advocated by special interest the world.” Smith’s latest has received a three-year, groups. “Our book shows the recklessness of trying to transform A gene linked to certain cancers just got a little easier work, Katrina’s Son, is on $1.16 million grant from the society with borrowed money instead of allowing free-market to find, thanks to researchers in the College of Engi- track to do just that, telling National Institutes of Health economies to will out,” Meiners says. “Those competitive forces neering and College of Science. the story of an 11-year-old to help guide the treatment of allow for greater environmental quality and energy efficiencies, Electrical engineering Assistant Professor Hurricane Katrina evacuee children with cerebral palsy. not government programs and grants.” Samir Iqbal and biology Assistant Professor Shawn searching for his mother, The research uses functional Christensen devised a system to electronically detect a who is living in San Antonio. near-infrared brain imaging to gene mutation implicated in 90 percent of pancreatic The story sheds light on measure how brain patterns cancers and frequently linked to lung cancer. Their the ongoing aftermath of change over months while method involves running tiny amounts of blood over Katrina and its lingering patients undergo a treatment nanomaterials. social issues. Released in process called constraint- “There are many versions, or alleles, of a given 2010, Katrina’s Son has won induced movement therapy. gene within a population,” Dr. Christensen explains. several awards and been “People can have slightly different variations of a gene shown at numerous film ANDREW HUNT due to mutation and genetic recombination. Some festivals, including the A College of Science mutations can predispose an individual to a given prestigious Cannes Film professor will soon begin disease, while others may lead to protection from the Festival. It is eligible for an testing a unique method for same or different disease.” Oscar nomination in the cleaning up dangerous lead The research could help physicians prescribe ther- short film category. “I want contamination in soil. With apy and healthy behaviors that may delay or eliminate my work to be a mirror, so help from a Department the risk for patients predisposed to these diseases. we can examine ourselves,” of Housing and Urban “Our work could be used to detect any genetic Smith says. “I want us to see Development grant, earth FLEA CONTROL A tiny, yet surprisingly complex marker,” Dr. Iqbal says. “If a disease has a known our beauty and our many and environmental sciences source is helping Ellen Pritham break genetic ground. The genetic component, we can tell you whether you have flaws so that healing can Assistant Professor Andrew biology assistant professor was part of an international the gene that might lead to the disease.” take place.” Hunt will treat plots of vacant team that mapped the DNA code of the water flea, Other processes accomplish similar results, but land in New Orleans. Daphnia pulex, making it the first crustacean genome to they require the detection of fluorescent dyes or radio- be sequenced. The researchers found that the Daphnia activity, more labor, or bulky, expensive machinery. In DAVID WETZ pulex genome held more genes—about 31,000—than any contrast, Iqbal and Christensen’s screening process uses Electrical engineering animal ever sequenced; by comparison, humans have about only a quarter of a milliliter of blood. It also improves Assistant Professor David 20,000 genes. The team believes that many of the new detection speed, sensitivity, and portability. Wetz has received the 2011 genes may enable the organism to respond to its changing “We can incorporate into a small handheld device Young Investigator Research environment. The Daphnia will thus serve as a model for the electrical detection process we have demonstrated,” Award from the Office of a new field, environmental genomics, in which scientists Iqbal says. “The mobile technology can then be used Naval Research. The three- aim to better understand how genes and the environment outside the laboratory to ascertain if someone carries year grant focuses on electro- interact. The work of Dr. Pritham’s team has been featured specific genes or not, just like a glucometer currently chemical storage devices. in Science and Nature magazines. does.”

10 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 11 CAMPUS CAMPUS Press Optical Tweezers, 2050 Future RICHARD COLE ABCNews.com interviewed Computer Games AID School of Urban and Public Cerebral Palsy CARE Affairs Professor Richard Cole for a story about states that UT Arlington computer scientists are creating games to help rely heavily on funds from make life more fun for children with cerebral palsy. Professor federal programs despite calls Fillia Makedon, chair of the Computer Science and Engineering for the federal government to Department, and her research team received two National Science stop spending. Foundation grants to develop an adaptive, “cyber-physical” system called CPLAY to improve physical and mental assessments of MARIO ROMERO-ORTEGA children with the condition. Cerebral palsy can affect movement, Telemundo, the international muscle tone, or posture, as well as cognitive and other functions. Spanish-language television It usually is caused by injury or abnormal development in the network, aired a lengthy immature brain before, during, or right after birth. The Centers piece on Mario Romero- for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 10,000 Ortega. The bioengineering babies are born in the United States each year with the disorder. associate professor is Dr. Makedon’s team is creating different types of game therapy that building a better neural monitor how the affected child responds. As the child plays, the interface for prosthetics that system collects different performance parameters, such as how fast could benefit veterans. the child responds, how long he or she plays, and how focused he or she is. Each game can be adjusted for speed, complexity, color, and other features to match a child’s capabilities or preferences. Searching for Signs Families of children with cerebral palsy would be able to download the games from the Internet and play them with any mobile device. National Science Foundation grant helps develop After playing, the collected data would be summarized and shared a visual dictionary of sign language gestures remotely with the child’s therapist. Makedon hopes the research results will spur a transformation in rehabilitation practices. Computer science and engineering Assistant Professor “The feedback we receive from the children playing the games Vassilis Athitsos is helping create a Google for sign would better enable caregivers to use the correct rehabilitation language. regimen,” she says. Dr. Athitsos received a five-year Early Career Development grant from the National Science Foundation to further develop a computer recognition ELISABETH CAWTHON system that will become a visual dictionary for American Stories about the wedding Sign Language (ASL). of Prince William and Kate The project aims to automatically annotate, Middleton in The Wall Street recognize, and index large vocabularies of gestures. To Journal and The Christian find the meaning of a particular sign, the user would Science Monitor and on form the sign in front of a camera atop a computer. The CNN.com featured history recognition system would compare the gesture with Associate Professor Elisabeth thousands of images stored in the computer’s database, Cawthon. She is an expert on display a selection of similar images, and have the user British royalty. select the most appropriate meaning. Athitsos hopes to one day team with producers of ASL J. PING LIU dictionaries to make a recognition system downloadable Physics Professor J. Ping Liu’s from the Internet. Future iterations of the online sign research was featured in a language dictionary could reflect regional “dialects,” he Nature magazine story about says, because signs can vary throughout the country. creating super-powerful “Our technology could also be applied to other sign magnets that could boost the languages around the world, as different countries use performance of electric cars. different signs.” When discussing ways to fight deadly forms of cancer, tweezers how much that cell can stretch,” Dr. Mohanty explains. “A cancer cell Dr. Liu leads UT Arlington’s Athitsos became interested in decoding American POPULAR SCIENCE Bill Nye’s appearance in the rarely enter the conversation. But two UT Arlington researchers are is normally more brittle, so those can be identified. A nanoparticle nanostructured magnetic Sign Language while taking a college course in the Maverick Speakers Series in March not only enthralled the changing that. By manipulating cells with focused laser beams, or carrying a drug is then introduced with the optical tweezers.” How materials group. subject. nearly 2,700 attending the free event, it also roused the optical tweezers, they’re enabling drug-carrying nanoparticles to these nanoparticles interact with the cell yields valuable information “I was a horrible student; I had to page through a Twitter universe. After his speech at a packed Texas Hall, deliver medicine to cancer cells. Bioengineering Associate Professor about the cell. “We can coat them with an antibody or targeting motif ROGER MEINERS book and look at the signs until I recognized something,” tweets like “one of the best days of my life” and “amazing Kytai Nguyen and physics Assistant Professor Samarendra Mohanty that is bound to diseased cells and deliver drugs to only these cells to Economics Department he says. “My professor at the time told me no one had performance” saturated the popular social networking site. are part of the interdisciplinary effort in the Biophysics and Physiology treat illnesses,” Dr. Nguyen says. Mohanty also works in optogenetics, Chair Roger Meiners was tried to make a computer-based sign lookup system.” Nye, whose Bill Nye the Science Guy TV show won numerous Lab in the new Engineering Research Building. The work could help an emerging field using low-power light to stimulate neuronal cells. quoted in a Bloomberg College of Engineering Dean Bill Carroll believes Emmy awards, told audience members that they have the investigators design nanoparticles that have more therapeutic A micro LED (light emitting diode) stimulates the specific genetically Businessweek story about Athitsos’ work will have an immediate and positive power to shape the future. “This is the only world we have,” he benefits while reducing the severe side effects often associated with targeted neurons. Mohanty says using optogenetics to treat retinitis retirement incentives for impact. said. “We can’t mess this up.” The 2011-12 Maverick Speakers chemotherapy. “A focused laser holds the cell. We then use a force pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes vision loss due to degeneration tenured professors at public “It’s the kind of practical, real-world research that Series lineup will be announced in August. Visit uta.edu/ against the cell to measure the single cell’s elasticity, which measures of photoreceptors in the retina, has been successful.

universities. we land here at UT Arlington,” Dr. Carroll says. maverickspeakers for videos of Nye and other past speakers. STEPHEN DURKE BY ILLUSTRATION

12 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 13 CAMPUS CAMPUS Gallery African-American Quilting Traditions Numbers MBA PROGRAM CONTINUES 5,227,681 TO EXPAND ITS INFLUENCE In the past 10 years, the total square footage in all campus UT Arlington’s nationally recognized MBA program is heading buildings has increased more north. Classes begin Aug. 25 in Frisco, north of Dallas, for a than 30 percent to 5,227,681. fully accredited two-year Master of Business Administration The number of buildings has degree. The evening MBA Professional Cohort is designed for increased from 101 to 128 working professionals and will welcome students with and during the same period. without prior business education. It will cover key elements of SEDRICK HUCKABY the traditional MBA, with a focus on business development and The tapestry of art is woven entrepreneurship. Additional courses will address global business, with history, a fact that leadership and management, and the implementation of new Sedrick Huckaby celebrates technologies. The program is accredited by the Association to in his own art, which is Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, the highest 150 inspired by his family, faith, standard for business schools worldwide. All classes will be at the The Green at College Park is and heritage. Huckaby’s North Texas Enterprise Center for Technology. “The community one of 150 sites worldwide canvases and works on of Frisco is thrilled to host a world-class MBA program that caters that will test the first- paper depicting African- to professionals who live or work in Frisco and its surrounding ever international rating American quilting traditions communities,” Frisco Mayor Maher Maso says. The University system for green landscape recently were part of a has offered the cohort program at its Fort Worth Center since design, construction, and two-person show at The 2000. Traditional semesters are divided into five- or eight-week maintenance. Gallery at UT Arlington. sessions with Monday and Thursday evening courses delivered in Sketch Show “Sometimes I see the quilts a sequenced format, allowing the class to emphasize one subject at as the African-American a time. “As an alumnus, I know firsthand the exceptional quality Art historian hopes to bring Renaissance 623,451 woman’s jazz—a circle of UT Arlington’s business faculty and its degree programs,” Maso drawings exhibition to North Texas museum Students, faculty, staff, and of women conversing, says. “The University’s investment will help meet an important alumni continue to flock to improvising, and making educational need in our community.” College of Business Dean North Texas may soon be visited by an impressive group the Maverick Activities Center rhythmic beauty together,” Dan Himarios says Frisco is an excellent market for advanced of Old Masters. in record numbers. From says the visiting assistant business education. “The MBA Professional Cohort at Frisco can Art history Professor Mary Vaccaro recently received March 2010 to March 2011, the professor of art. “There is provide the means to an important competitive edge for future a grant from the Texas Fund for Curatorial Research to MAC recorded 623,451 visits a great joy in doing these business leaders in the area,” he says. The College of Business also conduct on-site research of drawings from 14th- to 16th- from 22,371 people. works because I am one of offers an MBA program in China. century Italian artists like Parmigianino, whose portrayal the few people in the world of Venus disarming Cupid, above, is in a museum in who could say he is doing a Rennes, France. Dr. Vaccaro begins her month-long 1,700,000 jam session with Grandma.” fellowship in France in July. Recently completed energy- Huckaby, who has won the Her research will focus on collections housed with performance measures Joan Mitchell Foundation members of the French Regional and American Museum guarantee UT Arlington Award, the Lewis Comfort Exchange. She hopes the works she uncovers eventually $1.7 million in annual savings Tiffany Award, and a will fill a local museum exhibit. over nine years. For electricity, Guggenheim Fellowship “There are no public collections of Old Master the University partners with Award, achieves with his drawings in North Texas, only private collections,” she eight other institutions for art what most every artist says. “My trip is about going to see if there are enough a group rate. Natural gas seeks: to connect individual drawings to build a show.” is bought directly from a experience to a greater Painters, sculptors, and architects such as Raphael, wholesale distributor, resulting collective truth. “I’m always Michelangelo, and Leonardo all made preliminary in a much lower cost. trying to relate personal drawings before beginning their projects. These pieces concerns with larger, provide a rare glimpse into the creative processes of universal ones. So many of some of the Renaissance’s most famous artists. these pieces have personal, “You can have a much more intimate relationship social, and spiritual command performance with a drawing than a painting,” Vaccaro says. “Each implications.” Harpist Alison Read and the UT Arlington Symphony Orches- artist has a kind of handwriting for his or her work. tra performed at the Music Department’s Scholarship Gala You can hold the drawing in your hands and get so close 116The 2,689 international Concert in April at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House to the artists. You get a sense of direct contact with an students enrolled in fall 2010 in Dallas. UT Arlington was the first university to host a con- artist who was working 500 years ago.” represented 116 countries. cert at the architecturally striking facility, which opened in Beth Wright, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, More students hailed from 2009 as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas calls Vaccaro one of the world’s top scholars in Italian India (970) than any other Arts District. The concert also included performances by the Renaissance art. nation. According to the 2010 Wind Symphony, Jazz Orchestra, and A Cappella Choir. “It is a Open Doors report from From top: A Love Supreme-Fall, A Love Supreme-Spring, and A Quilt for Christ #2 “This fellowship demonstrates not only Dr. Vaccaro’s rare opportunity to be able to perform in a world-class venue, international standing,” Dr. Wright says, “but also the the Institute of International hear great music, and support endowments for student schol- contribution she is making to educational excellence in Education, UT Arlington ranks arships,” Music Department Chair John Burton says. “This was her training of students who are being prepared to take 34th nationally in number of truly a win-win-win event.” their place in leading universities and museums.” international students.

14 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 15 CAMPUS CAMPUS Service The Big Event Community CARNEGIE RECOGNITION UT Arlington was one of 115 GRANT ENCOURAGES PURSUIT U.S. colleges and universi- OF ENVIRONMENTal DEGREES ties selected by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advance- Budding scientists at UT Arlington will soon have a new, ment of Teaching for its 2010 powerful incentive to continue their studies. The University Community Engagement recently received a five-year National Science Foundation grant Classification. A critical ele- to encourage undergraduate students to pursue a postgraduate ment of that engagement is degree in environmental science or geology. The grant will the College Park District, provide 22 scholarships to academically talented but economically which includes the 6,600- disadvantaged undergraduates seeking a master’s degree in either seat College Park Center field. The scholarships will help cover tuition and fees for the senior events venue, the College year of study and for two years of graduate school. “Our goal is to HElping hands Park residential and retail encourage more students to pursue graduate study and a career More than a thousand development, and The Green in the geoenvironmental sciences,” says Andrew Hunt, assistant students, faculty, staff, and at College Park. professor in earth and environmental sciences and principal community members traded investigator for the grant. “We expect some of these students an April Saturday morning will then go on to earn a Ph.D. in our earth and environmental of sleeping in for a day of science doctoral program.” Graduate School Dean Phil Cohen service benefiting local notes that the scholarships will be both need- and merit-based. communities. Volunteers “Many of these students will be the first members of their families for The Big Event spent time to attend college,” says Dr. Cohen, a co-principal investigator. “We’ll at 37 worksites, including use the grant to prepare them in their undergraduate years and the Arlington Boys and Girls provide them with the resources to succeed in graduate school.” Veggie Tales Club, where they erected UT Arlington expects to draw participants from its undergraduate an outfield fence for the ranks as well as from UT Brownsville and UT Pan American. The New town-gown Community Garden baseball diamond. Other URBAN DESIGN CENTER College of Science’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Department encourages sustainable food options projects included building The Arlington Urban Design and the Office of Graduate Studies jointly proposed the project wheelchair ramps, cleaning Center has won a 2011 and will manage the grant together. When the first seeds sprouted in her plot in the parks and animal shelters, Outstanding Achievement Community Garden at UT Arlington, alumna Julie assisting with Earth Day in Innovation Award from Sullivan, above, brought her granddaughter to help festivities, stuffing Easter the international Alliance tend them. eggs for area children, and for Innovation organization. “She’s only 3, but she loves to help me water plants,” even digging for fossils. This The center tackles redevel- the 1989 accounting graduate says. year’s effort was the biggest opment challenges and is a The two are enjoying a bountiful harvest. Sullivan yet—the first Big Event collaboration among the city planted many things—squash, okra, lettuce, tomatoes, was in 2000—surpassing of Arlington, the School of strawberries, cantaloupe. “It’s surprising how much you the volunteer goal of 1,000. Architecture, and the School can plant in each plot,” she says. “UT Arlington provides not of Urban and Public Affairs. Located in the northwest corner of the campus, the only an academic plan for Community Garden opened in March and is a first-of- success in the classroom but TMAC its-kind collaboration between UT Arlington and the also real-world, hands-on Over the past 15 years, TMAC city. With nearly 80 plots, a tool shed, picnic areas, education through service (formerly the Texas Manufac- a rainwater harvesting system, and plans to donate learning opportunities turing Assistance Center) has 50 percent of the produce, the garden brings people with with programs like The helped more than 5,000 Texas a green thumb together while benefiting the community. Big Event,” says Tiffany companies gain more than “While the garden’s ultimate job is to produce Kaminski ’11, who has $2.5 billion in sales, achieve healthy food, it also will surely instill a sense of ownership directed the program $682 million in cost savings, and philanthropy in those who care for it,” says Bill for two years. “It helps and create or save 25,000 Gilmore, assistant director of the Arlington Parks and volunteers realize who their jobs. TMAC is an extension of Recreation Department. “Its construction is another community is, the profound UT Arlington’s Automation example of the city and UT Arlington’s commitment impact their actions can and Robotics Research Insti- SPOKES PEOPLE With gasoline prices near all-time to building a vibrant downtown community in central have, and how they can tute and six regional partners. highs, cycling is becoming an increasingly popular mode of Arlington.” continue to give back in transportation. Not only do bicycles save money, they also For the gardeners it represents a chance to connect service even after The Big Metropolitan Density help protect the environment. The Office of Sustainability with others while doing something wholesome. Event is over.” Addressing the challenges of recently launched the Maverick Bike Program to encourage “It’s a good way to get out in the sunshine and meet sustainable development is bicycle use to, from, and on campus by providing the new people,” Sullivan says, “and it’s interesting to talk the focus of the new Center University community with a safe and efficient cycling to the other gardeners and see their gardening styles.” for Metropolitan Density in the environment. Each semester students, faculty, and staff Apart from the sense of community, there’s also School of Architecture. The can enter a raffle to win the use of a bike, along with a the pure pleasure of growing food from scratch. “It’s center engages in research, helmet, lights, locks, and bells. The program also features a great opportunity to grow some healthy fruits and education, and consulting to various repair packages and a campus bike shop that offers vegetables—or at least try to,” she says. “There’s nothing combat urban sprawl. bicycle maintenance. like eating fresh vegetables from your own garden.”

16 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 17 CAMPUS CAMPUS Champs Track and Field Sports CORDERO GRAY Senior Wes Worster led the way with a third-place Senior sprinter Cordero Gray individual finish. His 2-under 214 equaled the fifth best was named the men’s South- in a conference tournament in school history. Senior land Conference Outdoor Zack Fischer tied for fifth at 215. Other team members Track and Field Athlete of the were sophomore Paul McConnell and freshmen Hunter Year. At the SLC Champion- Brown and Carson Kallis. ships in May, he won the 100- Worster and Fischer were named first-team all- ROMAIN MARTIN and 200-meter events and conference. Fischer paced the Mavericks with a stroke He’s a freshman at tied for high-point scorer. average of 72.58, and Worster was second with a 73.12. UT Arlington, a sophomore McConnell, a transfer from Colorado, was named the athlete according to the conference’s Newcomer of the Year and was a second- NCAA, and a newcomer to team all-SLC selection. this country. Yet already Rees earned his third conference Coach of the Year he has claimed third in the award. He also received the honor in 2005 and 2009. heptathlon at the NCAA UT Arlington won three tournaments during the season, Indoor Track and Field the most in Rees’ tenure. The 10-stroke margin of victory Championships and 11th in is the ninth largest in school history in any tournament the decathlon at the NCAA and third best in a conference championship. Outdoor Championships. It’s The title earned the Mavericks a berth in the been quite a year for Romain NCAA Southwest Regional in Tucson, Ariz., where Martin, a 6-foot-7 native of they finished 12th. France who helped the men’s track team reach a No. 24 REBECCA COLLOM national ranking. “I’m just Senior first baseman Rebecca trying to do my best,” he Collom earned first-team WOMEN WIN TENNIS CROWN says. So far, Martin’s best all-Southland Conference Led by senior Daiana Negreanu, below, the women’s tennis team has been historically good. honors in softball. She led the dominated the Southland Conference in 2011, going undefeated He captured Southland Mavericks in batting average during the regular season and winning the tournament title. The Conference men’s indoor (.329), home runs (12), and Mavericks beat Northwestern State in the championship match to track Athlete of the Year runs batted in (35). Collom’s capture their sixth SLC crown and advance to the NCAA Regional. honors after a breakthrough 36 career homers rank first in “I have no words to describe how proud I feel for our girls,” head rookie season in which he set school history. coach Diego Benitez says. “They kept fighting and never looked the UT Arlington heptathlon back.” Negreanu was named Player of the Year and first-team all- record. Early in the outdoor CALLIE COLLINS conference at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with teammate Linda season, he shattered the Freshman Callie Collins was Aqvist, the SLC Freshman of the Year. Aqvist was second-team school’s decathlon mark named Southland Conference all-conference at No. 2 singles. Junior Natalia Mayuk was named with 7,867 points. He Pitcher of the Year and first- Newcomer of the Year and received first-team all-conference honors won the decathlon at the team all-conference. She Smooth Swing at No. 4 singles. Joining Negreanu and Mayuk on the first team conference meet and was posted an 18-10 record with were junior Maria Martinez-Romero and freshman Giada D’ortona. named Newcomer of the a 1.72 earned-run average Senior Wes Worster leads the Mavericks to their Martinez-Romero went 11-0 at No. 3 singles, and D’ortona was 9-0 Year. Though in his first and 200 strikeouts in 36 first conference golf championship since 2005 at No. 6 singles. Benitez was named the SLC Coach of the Year for year of college in the United appearances. Collins helped the second time after leading UT Arlington to its second undefeated States, NCAA regulations tab the softball team (33-25) finish All year, coach Jay Rees implored his golfers to finish season (11-0) in the last three years. He won the award in 2009 Martin a sophomore because second in regular-season strong. And so they did at the Southland Conference after an 11-0 campaign and leads the conference with a 32-1 mark of his age (he attended two SLC play. Championship in April. over the past three seasons. For the second time in school history, years of college in France). Four birdies on the final hole propelled UT Arlington UT Arlington swept the individual awards for player, freshman, Assistant coach Brandon LINDSEY PUTMAN to its fourth SLC title and first since 2005. The team newcomer, and coach. The Mavericks lost in the first round of the Berger calls Martin’s Junior transfer Lindsey finished with a three-day, 2-under 862—10 strokes 64-team NCAA Championships to finish 20-5 overall. improvement “amazing.” Putman was named women’s better than second-place Lamar—at Waterchase Golf During the NCAA Indoor Southland Conference Course in Fort Worth. Championships, he equaled Outdoor Track and Field “Everybody contributed,” says Rees, who won his or bettered each of his Newcomer of the Year. She second SLC title in 12 years as coach. “It’s not easy. The personal records. That gives won the 1,500 meters at the conference gets better every year. Five or six teams are the track program hope that conference meet. in the top 100 in the nation, so to come out on top is the best is yet to come. really an accomplishment.” Brian Nephew The Mavericks held an early seven-shot lead before Senior third baseman Brian defending champion Southeastern Louisiana mounted Nephew earned second-team a charge to pull ahead. With the tournament hanging all-Southland Conference in the balance, Rees and assistant coach Stuart Powell honors in baseball. He batted urged the golfers to finish like champions. .358, which ranked among “The plan came to fruition,” Rees says. “The greatest the top 10 averages in the plan in the world doesn’t matter if you don’t execute. conference. But they did execute the plan.”

18 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 19 20

UTA rlington Magazine

ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN STAUFFER then a political science assistant professor.then apolitical scienceassistant Politicalclass, Michaelby taught Moore,2311, Science first its Arlington’slaunched Education Distance limited—UT for Center new were options delivery and young was Internet the 1997—when the In carrier. of mail instead technology on rely programs Today’s dence Institute in New York opened for classes Correspon- in 1883. Chautauqua The 1728. as early as started Correspondence courses offered by individual teachers From about amillionmorethanfall2008. 2009, fall in course online one U.S. least at took million students 5.6 almost Learning, Online of Survey enrollments in fall 2009. According to the 2010 Sloan 5,072 the from boom a 2010, fall in 22,443 record a had fullyonlineschedules. across the street. In spring 2011 nearly possibly 6,000 students quite or world the around halfway live may who students programs—to certification and degree - instruc Arlington todifferent courses 700 core teach classes—from tors UT 300 About space. parking finding a of hassle the or conflicts work or family out with- convenience, their at degree a finish or course offerings. education distance University’s the of advantage ing tak- laptop, her at degree her earned Tylernurse the students, of number growing a Like commencement. UTArlingtonTexas the across atwalked Hallstage she day the was to visit first Williams’ “Tinkie” Leslie and asnearby ascampus residencehalls. BY TERESANEWTON numbers ofstudents—from asfar away asJapan andKenya award-winning onlinelearningprograms areattracting record With theirquality, convenience, andbreadth, UTArlington’s W UT Arling These R adical to nie rgas e idvdas opee a complete individuals let programs online ton distance educationton distance offerings enrolled R anked o Class rld SUMMER 2011 us o tahr a ih col eir ekn dual seeking senior school high a busy teacher, a or executive, nurse business traveling a dad, or mom at-home the for great are courses Online times. three or two lecture a to listen to want may who students al vance their careers, soldiers overseas, and internation- ad- to wanting professionals work, of because class a attend can’t who students include learners Distance N on Distance Education.on Distance Commission National Universities/Sloan Land-grant Dr. and Smith have he served on the and Association of Public and Learning, Online and Blended on Force James Task System’snew UT President the to named was year Spaniolo D. This education. distance ing refin- and defining continues University the nation, sohonored. institution only quality,the for awards (USDLA) Association ing Learn- Distance U.S. consecutive four receiving sors Nationin from front, with programs garnering accolades such as Best o eie euain hr pol lv ad work,” and live people Spaniolo says. where education deliver to designed courses online of array an through and tings academic programs, both in traditional classroom set- cation. “In 1997that wasradical.” Pete Smith, who oversees the Center for Distance Edu- President Vice Assistant affairs academic Web,” says ear andFar “W As then, Since “W

21 e are committed to improving the quality of our of quality the improving to committed are e havethatwould on we early said e the via classes lae i te T ytm te tt, n the and state, the System, UT the in leader a UT Arlington has remained at the fore- the at remained has Arlington UT U.S.News World& profes- and Report credit, or one of the estimated 3.5 million Texans who “It was one thing after another, then I started a busi- Germany, as well as military spouses and people in REMOTE CONTROL “Flexibility didn’t finish college as a young adult. ness,” she says. “I turned around and 10 more years American schools overseas and the United States. Graduate student Stacey is definitely The courses were ideal for Scott Cunningham had passed. So finally I said, ‘I have to do this.’ ” Classes feature very rich give-and-take discussions.” McKendry ’07, left, takes and Karen Elliott, who put the distance in distance Her sister, Liz Goodman, also a registered nurse, Enrollment in the College of Nursing and the Col- online courses as a resident a positive, education. told Williams about the online RN-to-BSN program lege of Education and Health Professions has increased assistant in Arlington Hall. probably the Cunningham lived in Dallas in 2005 when he offered by UT Arlington’s College of Nursing and chal- dramatically in recent years due, in part, to agreements Leslie “Tinkie” Williams ’10, started taking graduate education courses. The lenged her to enroll. The sisters signed up but were in with Academic Partnerships, a Dallas-based company below left, and her sister, biggest one Nigerian native had a bachelor’s degree in English different cohorts, or student groups. that provides marketing support and other e-learning Liz Goodman ’11, earned from Texas A&M and chose UT Arlington’s program “My daughter was in eighth grade when I started, services for select UT Arlington programs. nursing degrees online in my mind. for its affordability and accessibility. Personal business and I graduated in the middle of her ninth-grade year. About 5,000 students have taken Moore’s political while living in East Texas. took him to Bolivia, where he completed a secondary I helped her with biology, and she helped me with science class in the past 15 years, and he enjoys when You aren’t certification program through the College of Education algebra,” Williams recalls. “Many nights I was working a former online student recognizes him and says hello. and Health Professions. all night long in my pajamas. I do better when working On the technology front, he says online teaching is tied down by “I chose the distance ed program because I wanted independently.” much better than that first class in 1997 when time- geography or a to be overseas and teaching as soon as possible,” the The hard work paid off, with Williams graduating consuming, edited videos of classroom lectures were 29-year-old says. “Flexibility is definitely a positive, summa cum laude in December 2010. Goodman grad- the norm. class schedule.” probably the biggest one in my mind. You aren’t tied uated in May. Now instructors can choose from various formats students. Williams ordered books online through the down by geography or a class schedule.” On-campus students like public relations sopho- that meet their needs and those of their students. UT Arlington Bookstore and used interlibrary loans. Cunningham says he loves teaching English at more Zack Minter also benefit from online classes. He Blackboard is a learning management system that Students who take the 74 online English classes— Highlands International School in La Paz, Bolivia, and took microeconomics from Professor Ryan Amacher allows faculty to teach and students to learn online, mostly freshman and sophomore level—each year plans to finish a master’s degree in educational leader- in spring 2011. incorporating such features as online presentations, have access to the Writing Center’s services and can ship online in the future. “I had four regular classes and didn’t want to be in a discussion areas, and communications tools. Blogs, call, email, or participate in Skype sessions with classroom more than that,” says Minter, who is a resi- discussion boards, and Skype sessions are other com- center personnel. dent assistant at Pecan Place Apartments and works mon avenues. at the New Student Welcome Center. “With work, I A class can be taught using only text, or with live Virtual Graduation would be busy from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This way I could video of the professor, or through a virtual hands-on Williams arrived for her graduation last December not study at my leisure and during the weekends.” world. The College of Nursing uses Second Life—an sure if she’d meet her online cohorts. He praised Dr. Amacher for sending frequent emails online 3-D virtual world—to re-create medical scenes “We were all there at 6 p.m. and we went in at 7, try- to students, often suggesting a schedule for complet- and scenarios. ing to get in order,” she recalls. “They put us in alpha- ing assignments. Minter plans to take more online With these new classrooms come changes in teach- betical order and you could start telling who was who. classes to reach his goal of graduating in May 2013. ing styles, but the basic components of a political sci- I saw a few walk across the stage. ence, freshman English, or graduate business course “The camaraderie and pride from all the work, the Personal Touch remain the same. cap and gown, the calling of your name. These are “Student support Technology plays a role, but it’s the instructors who “Even though it’s not a physical class that meets, the moments when the hard work pays off. It was so define distance programs. you have to make time for it. Class will go on whether intense for so long. It was kind of surreal.” specialists and “One thing that sets UT Arlington apart is that we you’re there or not,” says Stacey McKendry, a graduate Her diploma looks the same as those for students have invested very heavily in our Center for Distance student in educational leadership and policy studies who attend classes in brick and mortar buildings. instructional Education,” says Dr. Moore, now senior vice provost and a resident assistant in Arlington Hall. A UT Arlington degree represents quality, whether designers and dean of undergraduate studies and the recipient University services are an integral part of learning, earned online or in person. of a 2010 USDLA Gold Best Practices Award of Excel- Smith says. The library, advising, and Career “It won’t be long,” Smith says, “before we have a vir- work with the lence. “Student support specialists and instructional Center are among the programs available to online tual graduation for those who can’t attend.” ✪ designers work with the faculty to create high-quality faculty to create courses that are innovative and make the best use of technology. high-quality “The faculty who are engaged in this are some of courses that WORLDWIDE REACH Elliott wanted formal instruction in teaching after our best instructors. We’ve really relied on some of our Karen Elliott ’11 reads 10 years with the Florida-based Rafiki Foundation, a best tenured and tenure-track faculty.” are innovative to children at the Rafiki nonprofit ministry with orphanages and vocational One of those is Nancy Hadaway, director of the liter- Village in Zambia. She training centers in 10 African countries, including acy and secondary education programs for the College and make the worked on her Master of Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania. As director of Africa of Education and Health Professions and a member best use of Education degree during operations, she oversees schools and residential centers. of UT Arlington’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers. frequent trips to Africa. “I wanted something more than an administrative She taught her first online class in 1999. technology.” degree in education,” says Elliott, who completed a “When I went into it, it didn’t register with me that I Master of Education degree in curriculum and literacy wouldn’t be face to face. It took some getting used to,” studies in May. “I really wanted to learn how students says Dr. Hadaway, who now teaches only online cours- at elementary and secondary levels learn. I wanted to es. “When you reach out to students, you can have a focus on literacy, so this program fit the bill. voice so they can see you as a person.” “I travel a lot—three times a year to Africa for two Elliott took several of Hadaway’s courses. to three weeks at a time—so I needed a program that “She was great to work with,” Elliott says. “She was would let me work on the degree from a distance.” very accessible and responsive to any question I had. I Closer to campus, in Tyler, Texas, Tinkie Williams wish I could come for graduation; I’d love to meet her put her plans for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on face to face.” hold in the mid-1990s when she had a daughter and Hadaway learns from her students as well. her mother was sick. “I have students in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and

22 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 23 Projects to help military veterans who have lost limbs and those suffering from post-traumatic stress thrive in the collaborative environment of UT Arlington’s new Engineering Research Building. But ex-soldiers aren’t the only ones who’ll benefit from the partnerships forged in the state-of-the-art facility. By Herb Booth

Wiredfor Recovery

Dung Mai wants to know why he struggles taking tests. The UT Arlington exercise science junior thinks the research of Alexa Smith-Osborne and Hanli Liu can help him find the answers. “When I came back to school, I had some test anxiety,” says Mai, a Navy petty officer who served stints overseas in Bahrain and Jordan. “I thought it might be more than just anxiety, so this research helps me find out what my brain is doing, where I am in learning.” OPTICAL ASSESSMENT A portable, non-invasive Dr. Smith-Osborne from the School of Social Work and Dr. Liu from the brain-imaging device uses Bioengineering Department are exploring better treatment for veterans suffering light to “see” what the surface of the brain is doing from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other issues that while a person is taking a hamper cognition. They believe that using a hybrid of testing and diagnostics will test or performing a task. lead to better therapy and care. Liu says the key is joining the psychosocial assess- Even though the research could greatly enhance ments with physiological testing. “That will provide veterans’ lives, broader populations—like those better information for where people are in their involved in accidents—also could benefit. Romero- ability to learn.” Ortega became involved in nerve regeneration They aren’t the only UT Arlington researchers because a childhood friend from Mexico lost the use delving into veterans’ issues. of her legs in a car wreck. Bioengineer Mario Romero-Ortega received a “I wanted to do something about it,” he says. “This $2.2 million grant from DARPA, the research and work could eventually lead to solutions for people so development office for negatively affected in car accidents.” the Department of De- The research of Smith-Osborne and Liu also could fense, to further de- extend beyond helping veterans. velop technology that “The much broader use would be for any head will enable amputees to trauma victims to use this hybrid system of brain control and feel bionic scanning and testing to show what is happening so limbs. The goal is to help they can make more informed decisions to support the thousands of U.S. quality of life, and to show doctors what treatment is soldiers who have been best for specific patients,” Smith-Osborne says. wounded and lost one Other projects using the technology are taking or more limbs by under- shape. Bioengineering Assistant Professor George standing why current Alexandrakis has received a $1.16 million National peripheral nerve inter- Institutes of Health grant to use the brain-scanning faces fail. Dr. Romero- device in research on children with cerebral palsy. Ortega hopes his neural “It will be broadly explored through different interface will lead to a departments targeting other important applications,” better prosthetic arm Liu says. with more movement and even sensation. SCANNING FOR SOLUTIONS VETERANS BENEFITS Like Liu, Romero-Ortega works with researchers UT Arlington is the only university in the world with Hanli Liu and Alexa Smith- outside his department. One is mathematics Assis- three cutting-edge optical brain-imaging devices Osborne, above, assist tant Professor Yan Li, who specializes in biostatis- to explore applications in cognitive sciences. The veterans with cognitive tics and biometrics. emerging technology uses light to scan the brain and problems. Yan Li and Young- Such interdisciplinary partnerships permeate the lets researchers “see” brain functions without inva- tae Kim, below right, are part new Engineering Research Building. Other research sive procedures. A veteran’s forehead can be scanned of an interdisciplinary team in the 234,000-square-foot structure matches while he or she sits in a chair and takes cognitive developing technology to biologists with electrical engineering professors tests. help amputees control to detect viruses and fight pancreatic cancer, and “To see what the surface of the brain is doing while bioengineers with physics professors to improve a person is taking a test or performing some task can and feel bionic limbs. drug delivery systems for cardiovascular disease. give us new insight for treatment and therapy,” Liu “To address today’s key medical problems, col- says. “Plus, this machine is portable and easier to use laboration is essential,” says Ron Elsenbaumer, vice than functional MRIs. Our method does not require president for research and federal relations. “Not whole body confinement, making the subject more only does it foster complementary research, but, comfortable during the measurements.” more importantly, the results are often better.” Smith-Osborne and Liu met through discussion groups at UT Arlington’s Southwest Center for Mind, BROAD IMPACT Brain and Education, which explores connections Thousands of military veterans are taking advantage between brain anatomy and physiology, cognitive of legislation that helps pay for their college educa- tion. At UT Arlington, veteran enrollment reached “I think many 1,128 in spring 2011, more than double the number two years ago. of these “Our researchers look at challenges and problems people face every day. Helping military veterans projects will through University research is just part of who we GROWING HOPE help countless are and what we strive to provide,” Dr. Elsenbaumer Bioengineers are exploring says. “I think many of these projects will help count- how to regenerate nerves veterans less veterans live more normal lives.” like this one colored in green Research like Romero-Ortega’s offers hope for and red to create a more live more recent social work graduate Anthony Pone. “It’s like reliable and stable prosthetic. a bright light and gives us another option,” says the normal lives.” Army veteran and wheelchair basketball player, who uses a prosthetic and a wheelchair.

26 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 27 neuroscience, educational philosophy, learning pro- A MOVING EXPERIENCE “Rapid cesses, and learning issues like dyslexia and atten- Romero-Ortega’s work has national appeal, too. His advances in tion deficits. $2.2 million grant is part of the RENET (reliable “I was looking for physiological testing, and Hanli neural interfacing) program led by Jack Judy, pro- engineering said she had a portable, non-invasive brain-imaging gram director of DARPA’s Microsystems Technology INNOVATION INSIDE machine,” Smith-Osborne says. “We started talking Office in Arlington, Va. Researchers in the College and cognitive and decided to team up.” Robotic prosthetics have advanced from simple of Engineering and College In 2007 Smith-Osborne founded the Student Vet- hooks in the 1850s to multi-finger, electronically con- of Science collaborate in science eran Project, a clinical intervention that offers free trolled hands with 22 degrees of freedom. Modern the 234,000-square-foot need to be services to help veterans returning to college. Some devices closely resemble a human hand. Engineering Research were experiencing learning difficulties associated But neural interfaces are required to give amputees Building, which opened translated with the interactive effects of post-traumatic stress the most natural control and sensory perception. The in January. Their projects disorder and traumatic brain injury, as well as prior process involves connecting the robotic prosthetic to include exploring cancer to practical learning disabilities and co-occurring conditions the user’s nervous system, and current technology is treatments, detecting applications such as pain. unreliable. deadly viruses, and “They were also having delays and difficulty in Human arms are controlled through thousands of improving the quality of that people obtaining prior educational records and updated nerve channels that allow the limb, hand, and fingers life for older adults. comprehensive cognitive and educational assess- to operate independently and precisely. The channels can use to ments,” Smith-Osborne says. “Scarcity of health enable motion and sensory control. resources may limit the availability of such assess- By contrast, the most advanced neural interface in reach their ments to the most severely injured veterans served peripheral nerves for prosthetic arms uses six to eight life goals.” in polytrauma centers.” channels and allows only simple movement without A private donation fund has been established to sensation. Neural interfaces implanted directly in the help pay for the assessments, which typically aren’t brain can provide hundreds more channels, but this covered by insurance. requires surgery. “We hope that the research testing leads to “What makes our research different is that we’re policy changes that will expand these types of putting the neural interface in the limb itself,” says resources for veterans,” Smith-Osborne says. “Rapid Romero-Ortega, who explains that the tiny interfaces STRONG CONNECTIONS advances in engineering and cognitive science need allow the arm to interpret what the brain is telling it Mario Romero-Ortega, to be translated to practical applications that people to do and the brain to interpret what the arm is doing. right, and his team received can use to reach their life goals.” About 90 percent of existing research in robotics a $2.2 million grant to The program is open to all veterans. and prosthetics focuses on the head, an approach develop a neural interface “Of course, we love to have UT Arlington veterans known as brain-machine interface. Yet there is still that better connects a and other North Texas veterans in the program, but no long-term, neural-electronic interface. robotic prosthetic to a we’re also available to serve all veterans all over the “Our research moves away from the head and into user’s nervous system. country who are considering going to college.” the appendage itself, looking for neural reliability and stability,” Romero-Ortega says. “It integrates the nerve into electrodes through nerve regeneration.” In addition to Yan Li, Romero-Ortega’s team fea- tures Young-tae Kim, a UT Arlington bioengineer- ing assistant professor who works with markers of inflammation, neurointerfaces, and histology. The project also includes Harvey Wiggins, president and founder of Dallas-based Plexon, and research sci- entist Edward Keefer; both bring expertise in neu- rophysiology, multi-electrode electrophysiology, and biochemistry. The group is working to open up more of those channels to the arm through electrical and molecular engineering. The aim is to find clear signals and results that lead to clinically viable engineered systems with sufficient reliability and stability to last 50-70 years. Romero-Ortega says initial testing shows the potential to open up hundreds of nerve channels to a prosthetic. These open channels would enable the body to control the prosthetic as if it were real, giving new functionality to amputees. That’s exactly what Army veteran Pone, who lost his right leg in a car accident, hopes will happen. “I think the research could give you more feeling, make you more independent. That’s what we’re all after.” ✪ Web extra: Watch a video at uta.edu/utamagazine.

28 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 29

A growing research university and an iconic amusement park wouldn’t seem to have much in common. But a closer look at T UT Arlington and Six Flags Over Texas reveals strong connections between the storied h Arlington institutions. BY Sherry W. Neaves e Bu sin ess of U Poised atop the Texas Giant’sF 153-foot big hill, prepar- Brothers estimates thatN the University has sup- ing to hurtle down its 79-degree drop, roller coaster plied hundreds, if not thousands, of student work- enthusiasts exult in the sheer adrenaline rush. This ers. He and Martindale met as Six Flags employees is exactly what they wish the world could be. And it’s in the 1970s. As ride operators, ride foremen, and what the world is at Six Flags Over Texas, the Arling- operations supervisors, they learned the nuances of ton tourist icon now celebrating 50 years of fun. Of the 212-acre park. Once they had their UT Arlington course, at Six Flags, that top-of-the-hill moment is diplomas, their careers took off like the coasters they COASTING TO SUCCESS followed by the thrill of a screaming downhill plunge still love to ride. Six Flags Over Texas President into a record-breaking 95-degree banked curve. Steve Martindale ’81, right, The day the park opened in 1961, Arlington changed ‘TEXAS WAS NEVER UNDER ANYTHING’ and marketing director Jim forever. And the city’s university has played an ongo- In honor of Six Flags’ half a century, UT Arlington Brothers ’82 enjoy their ing role. In fact, it seems UT Arlington alumni run the Library Special Collections is hosting an exhibit, front-row perspective on the place these days. What You Wish the World Could Be: The Early Years renovated Texas Giant. Six Flags Over Texas President Steve Martindale of Six Flags Over Texas, featuring photographs, earned his B.B.A. in management in 1981. Marketing artifacts, and memorabilia. It recounts how Great director Jim Brothers received a marketing degree Southwest President Angus G. Wynne Jr. saw the in 1982. Half a dozen other UT Arlington graduates, amusement park as a way to pay for the enormous including the vice president for corporate sales and industrial district then under development near state marketing and the vice president for corporate alli- Highway 360 and the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike ances, hold high-ranking positions at the park or its (now Interstate 30). According to Wynne’s son, Angus headquarters in Grand Prairie. G. Wynne III, “The real project was Great Southwest. “Six Flags has probably benefited more from UTA The park was really an afterthought.” than UTA has from Six Flags,” Martindale says. The elder Wynne’s first name for that afterthought

30 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 31 NOSTALGIC THRILLS was Great Southwestland, which UT Arlington infor- on display in the Special Collections exhibit through ter when the park shut down, the dog needed a home, Theater arts major and current Six Flags employee The photographs above mation literacy librarian Evelyn Barker, one of the Aug. 13 on the Central Library sixth floor. so he lived with the Martindales. Eventually the Wild Kayla Foster is creating similar memories. “Not a sin- are part of a UT Arlington exhibit’s co-curators, notes did not “fall trippingly off “There’s a whole subculture revolving around the West show closed and the dog, a Jack Russell terrier gle day goes by when the park is open that I don’t have Library exhibition celebrating the tongue.” An operation that welcomed more than Spee-Lunkers,” Barker says. And while Martindale named Moose, became a permanent family member. a guest make me laugh or we watch something funny Six Flags’ 50th anniversary. half a million visitors from all 50 states in its first hints at a comeback for the popular cave dwellers, Brothers has worked continually at the park since happen.” She was especially taken by the employee last Former park employee season could do better. Besides, Great Southwestland nothing is in the works. 1972, though he never intended to stay so long. “I season who made it his mission to safeguard the Bat- Alan Cochrum ’83, below, wasn’t painted on the entry signs, so a name change “We actually get requests for three main things to thought I was just coming over for a summer job.” mobile during evening parades. provided items for the exhibit. would require minimum undoing. return,” he says. “The Cave, LaSalle’s Boat Ride (now He sees himself as “one of the fortunate ones” to have “He was really protective,” says Foster, a technician Wynne’s next idea was Texas Under Six Flags, but replaced by the Roaring Rapids), and Casa Magnet- made a career out of helping people have fun. for the entertainment department. “It was kind of P LAYGRound FOR WORK park lore has it that his wife insisted, “Texas was nev- ica.” The tilted house with the uphill-rolling oranges He has witnessed hundreds of thousands of visitors comical to watch him obsess over it every day and not Since opening in 1961, er under anything.” With a third try, he settled on Six returns this year as part of the park’s anniversary come through the gates, and he particularly remem- let anyone touch it or put handprints on it. It definitely Six Flags Over Texas has Flags Over Texas. celebration. bers two ladies from Oklahoma. “They paid to park, made being outside in the summer heat a little better.” provided jobs for hundreds That singular decision led to numerous firsts. For After an innovation-filled opening, Six Flags Over paid their entrance fee, went inside and looked around Martindale tries to make the park a little better, of UT Arlington students “We used to one thing, the Six Flags moniker gave the park a Texas continued leading the industry with the nation’s but were quite puzzled and disappointed because they too. Instead of just walking around and supervising, like theater arts major Kayla theme—Texas history. Each section—Spain, France, first log flume ride (El Aserradero), the first themed couldn’t find the stores. Apparently they thought they he carries a broom and bucket to tidy up. He says set- Foster, a technician for the give new people Mexico, Texas, the Confederacy, and the USA—offered tubular steel roller coaster (Runaway Mine Train), and, were at Six Flags Mall.” ting an example is just one more way to keep Six Flags entertainment department. rides and attractions based on the culture of that locale. for a brief time, the world’s tallest roller coaster (Shock On another occasion, Brothers accompanied chicken moving forward. a hard time. The second big game changer was one price for Wave). This year Six Flags reopened a completely magnate Bo Pilgrim—complete with giant Pilgrim hat “What started out as a vehicle for cash flow has gone We'd send all attractions. Six Flags Over Texas, with the only renovated Texas Giant roller coaster with a state-of- and pet chicken—around the park. from a modest little attraction to a booming business one-ticket policy in the business, welcomed first-year the-art, one-of-a-kind track and smoother ride. that has entertained more than 100 million guests them looking visitors to a park full of rides and shows for $2.75 per Banks on the Giant are more severe than before, ‘A REAL MILESTONE’ taking more than a billion rides. Fifty years—it’s a real person. and the ride now boasts the sharpest drop in the Alumnus Alan Cochrum ’83 worked in ride operations milestone!” for a squeegee Those early rides built quite a fan base. The only world for a wooden roller coaster. for three seasons and remembers cutting up fish for One that UT Arlington helped achieve. ✪ Web extra: sharpener and a original ride still going is the steam railroad that cir- “American Coaster Enthusiasts has been hounding the petting zoo in 1979. Baskets of fish were sold to Watch a video at uta.edu/utamagazine. cles the park. Its authentic steam engines, built in the us for information on it,” says Martindale, who touts guests so they could feed the sea lions. vapor lock key. late 19th and early 20th centuries, continue to fasci- the Giant as a worthy addition. “The smell was something else,” Cochrum recalls, nate children and adults alike. adding that “we washed our hands with little packets Neither thing Another early favorite, the Fiesta Train in the Mex- ‘ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES’ of mustard because soap would not cut the odor.” ico section, featured three giant, dancing tamales and Based on items featured in the Special Collections Like everyone else, employees want to know just how existed.” was labeled “the most hilarious train ride of all” by exhibit, it’s obvious that a sense of camaraderie crowded the park will be on any given day. Cochrum, The Dallas Morning News. Other rides, while gone, enhanced the Six Flags experience for those early now a Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant are certainly not forgotten, chief among them The workers. The park featured a swimming pool for them in UT Arlington’s English Department, used the log Cave ride with its eerie Spee-Lunkers, one of which is (now replaced by the Titan roller coaster), interde- ride line as a gauge. partmental softball leagues, and regular employee The path to the ride ran through a small tunnel cookouts and parties. under the railroad track. If the line stretched to the Those who sweated through the record-breaking track, “it was going to be a bad day.” If the line doubled summer of 1980 received matching “We Beat the back to what was then the Kandy Kitchen, “it was Heat” hats and T-shirts. In the early years, Six Flags going to be a very bad day.” employees also produced yearbooks filled with photo- Donna Whittington ’82, another UT Arlington graphs and memories. and Six Flags alum, had some great days working the But work wasn’t the only thing on their minds. Mar- Happy Motoring racetrack. “We used to give new peo- tindale met his wife while they were ride operators in ple a hard time. We’d send them looking for a squeegee the 1970s. “It’s a very social place,” he says. “We worked sharpener and a vapor lock key. Neither thing existed.” really hard, and we played really hard, too.” Such high jinks created lifelong friendships. Every member of the Martindale family has worked “There was always someone to talk to and joke with,” at Six Flags, including the dog. Back when the park Whittington recalls. “We bonded over working in the had live Wild West shows in the Texas section, a dog extreme heat and sometimes cold. We’d gather after was part of the cast and lived on the property. In win- work; there was always a group going to eat.”

32 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 33 Planning MakesPerfect

Budget deficits have many Texas cities clamoring for assistance. UT Arlington’s Institute of Urban Studies is the go-to university program for smart solutions. By O.K. Carter

Vidor needed help. Population in the small studies graduate student Moses Pologne and Southeast Texas town near Beaumont had dwindled Professor Ard Anjomani. Under Dr. Anjomani’s after a one-two punch from Hurricanes Rita in 2005 direction, Pologne and fellow students solicited and Ike in 2008 caused extensive damage, with input from government officials and the public, Ike forcing a two-week evacuation. Upon closer gathered and analyzed information, and visited the inspection, the storms revealed critical flaws in city for a firsthand understanding. Vidor’s urban layout. “The floodplains and lack of zoning ordinances City officials turned to UT Arlington’s Institute of were among the main things that presented a Urban Studies for solutions. The applied research need for a comprehensive land-use plan,” Pologne arm of the School of Urban and Public Affairs is says. “The plan will help the city develop those the state’s principal university-based program ordinances.” for mobilizing intellectual resources to meet the Vidor’s reception was enthusiastic. And quick. challenges facing Texas communities. “It didn’t take long for the City Council to discuss In Vidor’s case, these resources included urban and fully approve the plan,” Anjomani says.

34 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 35 Last year the Institute of Urban Studies completed communities across Texas,” says Stephen Pope, who similar services, like the Oak Cliff Urban Design Store- COMMUNITY TIES more than 45 projects throughout Texas, from the graduated in 2010 with a master’s degree in city and front. The idea originated with the Oak Cliff Tran- Graduate students Sharmila Panhandle northlands, south to the Gulf Coast, east to regional planning. “This range of diversity wouldn’t sit Authority and has been endorsed by the Oak Cliff Shrestha and Malcolm Oliver the Piney Woods, and west to Big Bend. Many were in have been available in a traditional internship.” Chamber of Commerce and Dallas city planners. work with the Oak Cliff urban and rural North Texas. One of the storefront’s first projects targets Jefferson Urban Design Storefront, “These communities have gained direct benefits as HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE Boulevard, the area’s main corridor, which has boomed a design and development a result of working with the school,” Dr. Becker says. Student participation is a thread running through all with popular restaurants. Though a welcome develop- partnership benefiting “More projects are already under way for this year.” Institute of Urban Studies work. ment, the growth also has created challenges. southwest Dallas. “Student involvement brings an enrichment to every “The project involves an in-depth parking analysis of AT YOUR SERVICE process and its own kind of strength,” Becker says. “The the historic downtown section of Jefferson,” Oak Cliff The Legislature established the Institute of Urban bottom line is what kind of experience we’re providing chamber President Bob Stimson says. “Students are Studies in 1967. After significant program and staff to students. Public service enriches the academic expe- not only documenting the need for additional parking expansion, it grew into the School of Urban and Public rience many times over. Students can go to the work- but working on solutions that we hope to implement in Affairs in 1990. The institute, however, continues to place when they graduate with a sense of both accom- the near future.” operate as an integral part of the school. plishment and experience.” The beat goes on, with SUPA students and faculty The institute’s legislatively mandated mission is to The Vidor project, which won a Student Planning continuing to provide critical consulting on projects conduct research and provide technical assistance to Award from the American Planning Association, large and small: a community attitudes survey in Hal- Texas city and county governments and public agen- brought that sense of achievement. tom City; a town center development strategy for Ken- cies, and to offer education and teaching opportuni- “We at the Institute of Urban Studies take pride in nedale; a first-ever comprehensive land development ties for individuals either already in or contemplating knowing that we produce quality work,” Pologne says. plan for Shenandoah on Interstate 45 north of Houston. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS public-service careers. “Having the comprehensive land-use plan adopted the “When students go into a community, they have a Wander far and wide in Texas and you’ll find hundreds The philosophy—as an institute and a school—has same day it was presented to city officials brings satis- different perspective,” Becker says. “The residents of of cities benefiting from the Institute of Urban Studies’ always blended theory and practice. faction knowing that it was a job well done.” those communities see them as having no agenda, no expertise. With more and more municipalities strug- “What makes the program unique is its combination Vidor City Manager Ricky Jorgensen praised the profit motive. They’re welcomed, and their presence gling, expect that number to rise. of research and practical application,” Becker says. “My team’s work. “We’re now able to start our zoning plan actually excites and energizes residents.” “This kind of service has been going on for 40 years, degree at UT Austin was very theoretical. So I always commitment to our citizens. All involved were pro- That excitement was evident when students visited although it has recently picked up new energy and promised myself that our students at UT Arlington fessional, readily available, and knowledgeable. Most Bruceville-Eddy recently to begin work on develop- vigor with so many more communities looking for a would get a chance to also participate in applied work. importantly, this was not just an assignment to those ment planning. They were met with a giant “Welcome “Public service way to plan and spend As the University evolves, we’re evolving with it.” involved. This project had meaning and a defined pur- UTA” banner at the city limits. smart in a down econo- The evolution includes strengthening local econo- pose. For that, the city of Vidor is very appreciative.” “That kind of experience and appreciation is very enriches the my,” SUPA Dean Barbara mies through feasibility and corridor studies, economic The success of projects like Vidor and the Arlington enriching for students,” Becker says. “But it’s also about Becker says. “This works development ideas, updates of parks and land-use Urban Design Center (itself a recent planning associa- doing something for Texas and its communities.” ✪ Web academic for us because we like for plans, and citizen/business surveys. Costs for the work tion award winner) has fostered a spate of requests for extra: Watch a video at uta.edu/utamagazine. experience as many of our classes as often are modest payments to participating students, possible to have a con- sometimes with a travel stipend. many times nection with communi- Local, state, and federal entities ask SUPA profes- ties. The word seems to sors and students to perform multi-year studies. A over.” have gotten out.” five-year impact study for Fort Worth addressed the Take a trip to the rural forced relocation of Ripley Arnold residents from pub- 130-year-old Bruceville- lic housing into mixed-income housing. The Texas Eddy near Waco and hear the buzz about the institute’s Department of Transportation sought help for the assistance with planning new water and sewage growing disconnect between demand for transporta- systems and a strategy to maximize an impending tion services and the state’s ability to respond. A recent expansion of Interstate 35. analysis reviewed the impact of public transportation Closer to home, consider the Arlington Urban provided by Dallas Area Rapid Transit on future state Design Center, a collaboration among SUPA, the highway construction. School of Architecture, and the city offering a litany of Other projects include a downtown study for Cedar conceptual design services for neighborhood groups, Hill to reflect the city’s historic background, and iden- nonprofits, and local businesses. In its first year, the tification of property to be acquired for low- to moder- center completed more than 40 projects that saved ate-income housing in Grand Prairie. In Fort Worth, the city and private developers more than $600,000 students provided revitalization plans for the Greater in design costs. It also received a 2011 Innovation Northside area and worked with the city on a commer- DESIGNED TO IMPROVE Award from the international Alliance for Innovation cial rebirth of Belknap Street. Students working in the organization. A feasibility study focused on building a performing Arlington Urban Design Communities with a well-designed public realm arts complex in downtown Dallas, as well as on land- Center, above, tackle perform better economically over time, says Gincy use planning for the Trinity River Project. In Houston, redevelopment challenges. Thoppil, a planning manager with Arlington’s Com- an analysis examined the viability of creating a work School of Urban and Public munity Development and Planning Department. center near the ship channel. For the U.S. Department Affairs Dean Barbara Becker, “Arlington businesses and neighborhoods that were of Justice, a project helped coordinate multiple Dallas right, says such outreach hesitant to initiate physical improvements due to the agencies to reduce neighborhood gun violence. efforts offer the perfect mix cost are now taking the center’s help in realizing their The breadth of services creates well-prepared of theory and practice. dreams,” she says. “The Arlington Urban Design Cen- graduates. ter has proved to be a time-saving and cost-effective “Working at the Institute of Urban Studies provided solution to various design obstacles.” me with a variety of work experiences and contacts with

36 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 37 ALUMNI NEWS Snapshot ALUMNUS PRODUCES AlumniNews LAUDED ‘BROTHERHOOD’ the world AND UT Arlington A meager $19.10 is the amount Adam must steal from a convenience store because the fraternity he’s pledging was founded in 1910. It’s the final FOOTBALL REUNION step of his initiation into Sigma Ken Barr ’83, left, and Cliff Zeta Chi. He plunges into Odom ’83 were among the the store, and minutes later a hundreds of former football fellow pledge is shot and gravely players and coaches who injured. Frank, the fraternity brother in charge of the ritual attended the Ultimate Huddle gone awry, gets the injured pledge out of the store alive. As the Football Reunion in June evening spirals out of control, Adam, a freshman, must find the honoring the late Charlie Key, courage to go against Frank, a senior, and his new brothers to a former player and coach. save his friend’s life. It’s all part of the 2010 film Brotherhood, which alumnus Jason Croft, above, helped produce and several UT Arlington alumni worked on. Much of the movie was filmed at UT Arlington. In fact, the former Delta Upsilon house on Abram Street served as the home of the fictional Sigma Zeta “In major Chi fraternity. Croft, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree Treasure Hunt in 1999, began his film career with a strong interest in being a corporations, photography director. Then out of necessity he produced as well Alumna Nada Shabout traces modern Iraqi art as shot on several features and shorts. “It’s a strange combination, austin ALUMNI mixer that’s what but I really enjoy both aspects of the business,” he says. “I’m The 2003 war in Iraq left more than human casualties. Attending an alumni mixer ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES BY YANG ILLUSTRATION concentrating almost completely now on producing, and I’m Also lost were thousands of pieces of modern Iraqi art. in Austin in March were, it’s all about. having a ball doing it.” It’s serving him well. Brotherhood has “With the loss of the works themselves and chaos in from left, Bill Fleming ’74, garnered widespread acclaim, receiving the audience award from the Iraqi Museum of Modern Art and Baghdad in general, Roger Goodwin ’94, Hoang You must be both the 2010 SXSW Film Festival and the Dallas International there was a direct and real fear of losing the history of Ainsworth-MacDonald ’01, Corporate Takeover Film Festival. The New York Times named Brotherhood a critic’s the art since it was neither written nor documented,” Robert Johnson ’68, and able to think pick in 2011. Want to watch it? The DVD is now widely available. says Nada Shabout, who earned four degrees at Charles Feuerbacher ’61. Alumni excel in leadership roles at area Fortune 500 companies To see the trailer and for more information on the film, visit UT Arlington, including a humanities Ph.D. in 1999. analytically brotherhoodthemovie.com. So she embarked on a mission to collect information Some of the world’s largest corporations call North Texas dedicated, and highly engaging,” says Campbell, a 2007 on the lost works through intensive research and home. ExxonMobil, AT&T, AMR, Texas Instruments, MBA graduate. “UTA provides real-world applications to solve interviews with artists, museum personnel, and art Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and Energy Future of business processes, which is one of the most powerful gallery owners. The result is the recently launched Holdings are among the two dozen Fortune 500 tools the University has in its belt. This allows a job issues and Modern Art Iraq Archive. The website, artiraq.org/maia, companies headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth candidate or leader in the workplace to be successful.” makes the works available as an open access database metropolitan area. One such success story is alumna JoAnn Lee. problems.” to raise public awareness and encourage interested Ask executives at any of these firms and they’ll As assistant general counsel for ExxonMobil, which individuals to help document the museum’s original tell you that hiring talented, dedicated employees is ranks second on the Fortune 500 list, she oversees and lost holdings. Alumni Picnic the key to success. Dig deeper and you’ll discover global litigation for the world’s largest publicly traded Dr. Shabout, an art history professor at the Ann and Mark Dvorak ’83, ’98 UT Arlington’s reputation for preparing its graduates to international oil and gas company. University of North Texas, received two fellowships wore their Maverick pride help the business giants thrive. It’s a reputation based Lee, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political from the American Academic Research Institute in Iraq for all to see at the Alumni on fact. UT Arlington alumni hold leadership positions science in 1976, and her team work to protect the to conduct the first phase of data collection. In 2009 Association’s Annual Picnic in at all 24 of the area’s Fortune 500 companies. company’s interests while maximizing its value for she teamed with colleagues at the Alexandria Archive the Park in April. As vice president for safety, security, and shareholders. She says she wouldn’t be where she is Institute in California to win a Digital Humanities Start- environmental at American Airlines, alumnus David today without her UT Arlington education. Up Grant from the U.S. National Endowment for the Campbell is responsible for protecting the carrier’s “UTA taught me how to think critically and INCREASE YOUR HORSEPOWER Add a splash Humanities to create the Modern Art Iraq Archive. passengers, employees, and guests. He oversees analytically,” she says. “In major corporations, that’s of blue and orange to your vehicle with UT Arlington’s “The goal of the archive is first and foremost to regulatory relationships with the Federal Aviation what it’s all about. You must be able to think analytically new Texas license plate. Offered through the Texas provide a record of Iraq’s modern art for the Iraqi Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, to solve issues and problems.” Department of Motor Vehicles, the colorful tags are people specifically and for humanity in general,” she and other agencies and manages the company’s broad- A record 6,165 Mavericks earned degrees in the an ideal way for alumni, students and their families, says. “Secondly, it is to provide access to modern Iraqi based sustainability initiatives. 2009-10 academic year, infusing Texas businesses, large staff, faculty, and fans to show their UT Arlington works of art and related text for researchers and art Before taking the job in 2009, Campbell was and small, with the educated employees they demand. pride. They’re also a great way to support deserving historians.” senior vice president of technical operations for “UT Arlington produces lifelong learners and critical Mavericks. The cost of the plates varies—starting The daughter of an Iraqi father and Palestinian houston alumni MIXER American Eagle Airlines. He has held numerous other thinkers who become vital members of the workforce, at less than $30 per year—and a percentage of the mother, Shabout credits UT Arlington College of Liberal Among those attending an management positions since joining American as an whether at area Fortune 500 companies or smaller sale from each plate benefits student scholarships. Arts Dean Beth Wright with nurturing her passion. alumni mixer in Houston in aircraft maintenance technician in 1988. organizations throughout the state, nation, and world,” Be among the first to sport UT Arlington’s new Texas “Many at other institutions had discouraged my pursuit,” March were Melisa Baker ’00 His UT Arlington instructors were “knowledgeable, Provost Donald Bobbitt says. license plate by ordering yours at myplates.com/go/uta. she says, “but not Dean Wright.” and Jason Baker ’01, ’03.

38 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 39 ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS Events Guilin, China Alumni finance. He recently received an honorary membership for lifetime career achievements from the University’s Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. Jim Herckt, vice president of constituent groups and scholarships, graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He is a project architect with Bob Watson Robert Rivera James Billingsley the architecture firm of HKS Inc. and is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. He currently serves as past president of the Architecture Alumni Chapter and as a chair of the Topping Out Awards Program. Secretary Lisa Kruczynski is an independent mavsmeet consultant specializing in social media strategies and Alumni, faculty, staff, stu- internet marketing. She also works as an adjunct dents, and parents are invited Robert Strong Jim Herckt Lisa Kruczynski instructor for the UT Arlington Fort Worth Center. to the annual convocation She recently joined the planning team for the Rotary that welcomes new Mavericks Global Peace Forum. and kicks off the 2011-12 aca- Treasurer Julie Pence works at Novation, the supply demic year. Wednesday, Aug. company for VHA, a nationwide network of community- 24, Texas Hall. More informa- owned health care organizations and physicians. She tion: uta.edu/mavsmeet directs the supplier audit team and chaired the com- munications action team for VHA’s diversity council. SCHOLARSHIP DINNER Julie Pence Emily Hoad Neer Patel She received her B.B.A. in accounting in 1998. The annual event recognizes Emily Hoad, immediate past president, earned her outstanding students who bachelor’s degree in advertising and communication in have received Alumni Associa- 1999. She works for Sabre Holdings, the parent company tion scholarships. Monday, Leading the Way of Travelocity, managing and marketing programs to Aug. 29, E.H. Hereford Univer- Executive Committee advances alumni programs strengthen the company’s leadership globally. sity Center. More information: President-elect Neer Patel graduated in 2006 with uta.edu/alumni/scholarships The UT Arlington Alumni Association Board of a bachelor’s degree in information systems. He is an Directors comprises 36 graduates who represent information technology director and system developer the diversity of more than 150,000 Maverick alumni for PetroData Business Systems in Arlington. He serves worldwide. on the board of directors for the Epilepsy Foundation Dedicated to helping the Alumni Association of Texas and volunteers at the organization’s summer connect alumni to their alma mater, the group meets camps for children with epilepsy. four times a year to interface with students, University stakeholders, community leaders, legislators, and alumni. The board serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee, nine alumni who promote, support, and advance Alumni Association programs and services. OOZEBALL TOURNAMENT Executive Committee President Bob Watson earned The Student Alumni Associa- his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at UT Arlington tion and Campus Recreation in 2003 and is now pursuing a Master of Public host the 22nd annual mud Administration degree at the University. A licensed volleyball tournament, with professional engineer, he works for the city of Arlington’s proceeds benefiting scholar- Public Works and Transportation Department. ships. Noon Friday, Sept. 16, Robert Rivera, vice president of awards and Summit Street between Greek recognition, is an Arlington City Council member. He Row and 4th Street. More co-founded “Touchdown Arlington!” and has served on information: 817-272-2594 or the Arlington Park Bond Committee, Arlington 2025 [email protected] Futures Committee, Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, and Arlington Library ALUMNI GALA Board. He received a bachelor’s degree in political INSTANT ACCESS Hiking the picturesque rice terraces in Guilin, China, offers the Norwood familiar. They appeared on an episode of House Hunters International The Alumni Association hosts science in 2007. A new iPhone application puts the latest UT Arlington informa- family a welcome reprieve from the frenetic pace of Shanghai. “The that aired in February and chronicled their relocation from Arlington to the Distinguished Alumni James Billingsley, vice president for facilities tion at your fingertips. Called UTA Mobile, the app makes it easy tiered terraces are gorgeous and give you a chance to interact with China’s largest city. They settled on a lakeside house in a U.S. South- Gala recognizing gradu- stewardship, earned a B.B.A. in 1987. He is a partner in to check the University calendar and browse news releases. You the people who live there,” says Sharon Norwood, who earned a social west-style neighborhood with a large and social international popula- ates for their professional the law firm of K&L Gates, LLP, where he specializes in can also access news, schedules, and up-to-the-minute scores work master’s degree from UT Arlington in 1999. Sharon and husband tion. They’re learning to speak Chinese and adjusting to relying on a achievements, service to the complex business restructurings, distressed acquisitions, from Maverick athletic events. A map lets you search campus Curtis, who completed his master’s in engineering management in 2008, driver for transportation. And they continue to be amazed at the community, and loyalty to UT international insolvencies, and insolvency litigation. buildings by name, pinpoint them to see your location, and zoom and their children, Madison and Ellion, moved to Shanghai in Novem- region’s vitality. “Shanghai is a vibrant, growing city,” says Curtis, Arlington. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Robert Strong, vice president for membership and or pan using a multi-touch interface. Other features connect to ber 2010 when Curtis became the group managing director for Martin whose assignment in China is for 3-5 years. “If you can dream it Oct. 15, E.H. Hereford Univer- marketing, is the Texas state president for Mutual of UT Arlington’s YouTube channel and to an extensive gallery of Sprocket & Gear in China. If you’re an HGTV fan, the Norwoods may look here—business opportunities, new hobbies, etc.—you can do it.” sity Center. More information: Omaha Bank. He earned a B.B.A. in 1978 and is a former campus photographs. To download the free app, go to the iTunes uta.edu/alumni/distinguished UT Arlington adjunct faculty member in economics and Store and search for UTA Mobile.

40 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 41 ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS Spotlight Engineering Endowment Giving 1895 society membership surges to all-time high Membership in the 1895 Society is on Mike and Janet Greene pace to reach 450 this year—a jump Mike Greene had heard of more than 84 percent in five years. about a new engineering The unprecedented growth is due, in program at UT Arlington part, to the work of Linda Dipert and as a student at Saginaw’s 1895y Societ Reception Mike Farhat, left, and other members Boswell High School in the Maxwell ’66 and Vivian Scarlett of the 1895 Society Committee. In early 1960s. He’d always at the 1895 Society All-Star September 2009 the UT Arlington dreamed of becoming an Reception in June in the Development Board created the committee and charged it with engineer, and Arlington Diamond Club at Rangers increasing the number of leadership donors. Under the direction was close to home. “It Ballpark in Arlington. of Farhat ’72, members have communicated to alumni and Nursing Dean Elizabeth Poster, second from left, recently gave Bloxom turned out to be a great community leaders the importance of UT Arlington’s mission Foundation directors, from left, Darrell Lester, Bonnie Dowdy, and Lynn experience,” he says. and encouraged them to invest in the University through 1895 Ross a tour of UT Arlington’s Smart Hospital. Greene, who earned his Society membership. “UT Arlington contributed greatly to my mechanical engineering success in business,” says Farhat, who chairs the committee. “I degree from UT Arlington want others to recognize that UT Arlington impacted them and in 1969, eventually became to pay it forward by joining the 1895 Society.” Named for the year Solid Foundation vice chairman of Energy UT Arlington was founded, the society recognizes donors who Gift establishes nursing, engineering scholarships Future Holdings, formerly make an annual contribution of $1,000 or more to any University TXU. After serving in program during the fiscal year (Sept. 1-Aug. 31). Gifts support A pioneer in construction concrete is helping support various leadership positions winspear gala CONCERT cutting-edge research, outstanding teaching, state-of-the-art the next generation of innovators at UT Arlington. with the company, including Ellen and Ramon Lopez facilities, and student scholarships, and propel UT Arlington When David E. Bloxom was developing a CEO of Luminant and at a reception before the toward its goal of being a major national research university. lightweight concrete in the 1950s, he asked researchers president of Oncor, he Music Department’s Spring “As the largest contributor to economic development in our at UT Arlington (then Arlington State College) to help retired in June 2010 after Scholarship Gala in April at community, UT Arlington improves the quality of our lives,” him test the material and get his idea patented. With 46 years. Greene and his the Margot and Bill Winspear Dipert ’01 says. “It gives me great satisfaction to be a part of the assistance from faculty members in the College of wife, Janet, have created Opera House in Dallas. UT Arlington mission of giving back to the community.” Composed Engineering, Bloxom provided studies proving that this a College of Engineering of UT Arlington Development Board members, the 1895 Society new concrete would greatly benefit the construction endowment with a $500,000 Committee hosts several events each year. For information about industry. gift that over time will joining the 1895 Society, contact Meg Weber, director of University He went on to become one of the first men in equal $1 million through the Development, at 817-272-0850 or [email protected]. America to use precast concrete in building construc- Maverick Match program, tion and later started his own company, Speed Fab- which pairs the University’s Crete, which constructs buildings using prefabricated natural gas royalties lightweight concrete panels. But he never forgot the with new endowment people who helped him along the way. commitments for maximum Bloxom helped establish the College of Engineer- impact. “We want to give BILL NYE RECEPTION ing’s Construction Research Center, served on the back to the university that Jack and Carolyn Davis with College of Engineering Advisory Committee, and was helped me, and we hope Bill Nye, center, at a reception a member of the Nursing Advisory Council. (He was it serves as an example to before the popular scientist’s friends with the husband of the college’s founding dean, others,” Greene says. “I Maverick Speakers Series Myrna Pickard, and once told Dr. Pickard, “Nurses are was fortunate to attend a lecture in March. the greatest thing in the world.”) great engineering school When he died in 2000 at age 77, Bloxom in his will and get an education that created a charitable foundation to benefit UT Arling- helped me throughout my ton and other nonprofit organizations. The Bloxom career.” In recognition of Foundation has established the David E. Bloxom Sr. the gift, UT Arlington will Engineering Scholarship and Research Endowment name the courtyard of the and the David E. Bloxom Sr. Nursing Scholarship and new 234,000-square-foot Award Fund. Engineering Research BRUSH WITH GREATNESS Bonnie Dowdy, one of the foundation directors, says Building the Janet and Legendary baseball player Cal Ripken Jr., center, with Tom the endowments will help students who are dedicated Michael Greene Research BILL LIVELY DINNER Cravens, left, and Carl Cravens ’01 at a reception before Ripken’s to a goal and are seeking a UT Arlington education to Quadrangle. Bill Lively, left, and Mojy “Keys to Perseverance” presentation in February at Texas Hall. achieve it. Haddad ’81 at a Development The former Baltimore Orioles infielder holds baseball’s all-time “David had seen so many people with good ideas Board dinner in March. Lively, record for consecutive games played (2,632) and was inducted who wanted to succeed but didn’t have the money to president and CEO of the into the Hall of Fame in 2007 by 98.53 percent of voters—the make it happen,” Dowdy says. “Scholarships made sense North Texas Super Bowl XLV highest percentage ever for a position player and the third because he always said that without the backing of his Host Committee, spoke at highest overall. Ripken spoke as part of the Maverick Speakers friends, he would never have made it. He met most of the dinner. Series. Watch a video excerpt at uta.edu/maverickspeakers. those friends in college.”

42 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 43 ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS Class Notes Notable 1961 time through the Maverick County College District as icles the author’s fascination for the past 33 years, includ- ary Studies) celebrated her Finance) is executive vice He also co-hosts a sports partner in its white-collar de- Bob Copeland (BA, History) Match program. Greene re- director of public relations with little-known incidents ing 30 at Shackelford Junior 20th year as head girls bas- president of lending for First talk show on 105.3 The Fan in fense, internal investigations, is executive secretary of the cently retired after a 46-year and marketing. in history. He practices law in High. Burl Washington (BFA, ketball coach at Bowie High Financial Bankshares in Fort Dallas. and regulatory enforcement University Interscholastic career that culminated with Austin. Art) exhibited his artwork at School in Arlington. Her 2005 Worth. Yerigan has more than practice. He is a former first League Region V music his service as vice chairman of 1972 Navarro College in Corsicana, team won the Class 5A state 25 years experience working 1987 assistant U.S. attorney in the contests. He served as band Energy Future Holdings, the David E. Pace (BA, Political 1974 Texas, and in Graham, Texas, championship. Lynn Zander in Texas, including positions as Charles Liang (MS, Electri- southern district of Texas, director for 20 years and as former TXU Corp. Science) was elected senior Frederick D. Gibson (BS, Civil during Black History Month in Womble (MA, Linguistics) a concurrence officer, credit cal Engineering) is founder based in Houston. director of fine arts in the grand warden of the Grand Engineering) received his M.D. February. A watercolorist, he is public affairs director at administration manager, and chief executive officer of Arlington Independent School 1970 Lodge of Masons in Mas- from the University of Health paints history and nostalgic Austin College in Sherman. corporate compliance officer, Super Micro Computer, which 1991 District for 20 years. He is a Cindy Baw (BA, English) is sachusetts, making him the Sciences Antigua in 2011 after Americana. His paintings She oversees communications branch credit manager, and manufactures and sells servers Tom Fox (BFA, Photography) member of the Texas Band- a 2011 community columnist third-highest-ranking mason retiring from 30 years of dental hang in prestigious galleries, and reports directly to the commercial and consumer from its home base in San was selected Photographer of Ana Cano Nennig masters Hall of Fame. panel member for the Star- in the third-highest-ranking practice and oral surgery museums, and the homes of president. loan officer. Jose, Calif. Darryl Lutz (BS, the Year by The Dallas Morn- Nennig (’97 BA, Journalism) Telegram. She teaches English grand lodge in the world. in Fort Worth. He plans to celebrities and presidents. He Civil Engineering) received ing News for 2010. Trey Hill- is an executive vice president 1969 at Tarrant County College teach, conduct research, and has been awarded many best- 1982 1985 the 2010 Engineer of the Year man (BA, Exercise and Sport and director of global brands Mike Greene (BS, Mechani- Northeast Campus. 1973 serve undeveloped areas. of-show and first-place awards Randy Perry (BA, Political Bradley Bolen (BM, Music) award from the Kansas County Studies) is the bench coach for Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, cal Engineering) and his wife, Monte Akers (BA, History) Cooper Renner (BA, English) from regional, national, and Science) was named super- toured Iraq, Syria, and Leba- Highway Association. He is for the Los Angeles Dodgers a public relations firm in based Janet, have created a College 1971 published The Accidental published Dr Jesus & Mr Dead, international competitions. intendent of schools of the non as part of the YES (Youth director of public works for after previously managing the in New York with offices in of Engineering endowment Donna Darovich (BA, English) Historian: Tales of Trash and a suspense novel about the Malakoff Independent School Excellence on Stage) Acad- Butler County in Andover, Kansas City Royals. Karen Lee Chicago. that will total $1 million over retired from the Tarrant Treasure, a book that chron- bubonic plague, as an ebook 1978 District in May. He had served emy in summer 2010. He is a Kan. Kristine Powell (BSN) (BBA, Marketing) is principal available from Barnes & Noble Fran White Shurtleff (BFA, as principal at Malakoff High lecturer of piano in the School is director of the Emergency at St. Mary’s School in Gaines- Sarwenaj Ashraf and Amazon. Randall Weldon Art) displayed her artwork in School since 2006. of Music at Baylor University. Department at Baylor Univer- ville, Texas. Christina Rudiger Ashraf (’07 BS, ’08 MS, (’74 BBA, ’81 MBA) is a mort- the exhibit Of Influence at the Jon DeLuca (BBA, Account- sity Medical Center in Dallas. (BA, Exercise and Sport Civil Engineering) has been gage loan officer for Affiliated Warehouse Gallery in Corsi- 1983 ing) is president and chief She had served as director of Studies) coached the Keller recognized as one of the top Bank Mortgage in Waco. cana, Texas. Bruce Vasbinder (BBA, executive officer of Senior emergency services at Baylor Central High School volleyball new faces in engineering for Marketing) is marketing and Lifestyle Corp., a Chicago- Regional Medical Center at team to a 35-8 record, a dis- 2011 by the U.S. Army Corps 1976 1979 outreach coordinator at Cen- based housing development Grapevine since 2004. In 2009 trict championship, and vic- of Engineers. She is a civil Allen Bogard (BA, Political Bill Miller (BA, Psychology) is tral Texas College in Killeen. for seniors. Renee Hopkins she added the responsibility tories in the first two rounds engineer in the geotechni- Science) celebrated 15 years of assistant head football coach Stephen Yetts (BS, Civil Engi- (BA, Journalism) is assistant of director of medical/surgical of the 2010 Class 5A playoffs cal engineering section of service in Sugar Land, Texas. and linebacker coach at the neering) is senior vice presi- director of communications services for Baylor Grapevine. before losing to eventual state the Fort Worth District Army He was hired as deputy city University of Minnesota. He dent at Crescent Resources, at the UT Austin McCombs champion Hebron. Corps of Engineers. manager in 1995 and has been spent the last two years as co- LLC, a real estate develop- School of Business and editor 1988 city manager since 2001. In defensive coordinator at the ment and land management of Texas Enterprise, an online Jeff Kovarsky (BA, Com- 1992 2005 he received the Admin- University of Kansas. company in Charlotte, N.C. publication geared to busi- munication) is music director Mary Cliborn (BM, Music) istrator of the Year award from ness and academic audiences. at Dallas Stars home games. is an adjudicator/consultant the Texas City Management 1980 1984 Becky Johnson (BS, Geology) Gary R. Maharaj (MS, Bio- for the Texas Music Adjudi- Join the Alumni Association today! Association in recognition Donna Bertram (BSN) has Barbara White Bryson (BS, was one of three members medical Engineering) is presi- cators Association. She has of his contributions to local retired as vice president and Architecture) co-wrote The appointed to the Texas Board dent and chief executive of- completed 15 years teach- government. chief nursing officer at Texas Owner’s Dilemma: Driving of Professional Geoscientists ficer for SurModics, a provider ing music in the Arlington STAY CONNECTED ENJOY THE EXTRAS Health Arlington Memorial Success and Innovation in in April. Her appointment of drug delivery and surface Independent School District. • Alumni e-newsletter • Studio Movie Grill – movie discounts 1977 Hospital, ending a 45-year the Design and Construction expires Feb. 1, 2017. She is a modification technologies to Angela Hagerty (’92 BSN, • UT Arlington MasterCard VISIT US Charles Gumbert (BBA, Busi- nursing career. Kathleen Industry. She is the associate board-certified professional the health care industry. Matt ’06 MSN) is nurse manager • Liberty Mutual auto, home, and personal • University Club admittance ness Administration) is CEO Holley (’80 BS, Biochemistry; vice president for facilities, geoscientist and geologist, Sims (’88 BGS, General Stud- of general surgery at Texas Scott Scarborough insurance • Library privileges – Show your Alumni and founder of The Tomcat ’86 teaching certificate, Biol- engineering, and planning at an environmental science ies; ’92 MA, English) works for Health Presbyterian Hospi- Scarborough (’03 PhD, • Kaplan test prep and admissions discount Association membership card to receive a Group, which is partnering ogy) is a chemistry instructor Rice University. Charles Rea- the Department of Homeland tal in Dallas. Previously, she Business Administration) • Dentalplans.com discounted dental plans professor at Texas Christian free library card • Marsh Affinity short-term medical with Growth Management and laboratory coordinator sons (BA, Political Science) University, and owner of Security in Fort Worth. was with medical/surgical has been named executive • Parking hangtag (for members not insurance and Constructive Changes to at Texas Wesleyan University. is a 2011 community colum- Environmental Trainers Inc. nursing services at Methodist director of the University of currently enrolled in classes) – Good for • Career development services provide consulting services She also is a chemistry adjunct nist panel member for the Norry Niven (BA, Radio-TV) 1990 Dallas Medical Center. Scott Toledo Medical Center after one year; may be continued with • Hertz Rental Car discount program to the global aerospace and professor at Tarrant County Star-Telegram. He is retired is director of Stone Core Films Mike Fielder (BA, Exercise Jameson (MBA, Business serving as interim director membership • Alumni merchandise • Bookstore – Merchandise discounts, defense industries. The Tom- College South Campus. She and lives in Burleson. Nada in Dallas. and Sport Studies) is athletics Administration) is president since May 2010. He also is • Just Stick It! address decals excluding online purchases, textbooks, cat Group, based in Wichita, completed her Ph.D. in chem- Shabout (’84 BS, Architecture; director in the Hurst-Euless- of Zephyr Computer Corp., a senior vice president for and computer software RECEIVE DISCOUNTS Kan., provides senior-level istry at the University of North ’88 BFA, Arts; ’91 MA, Humani- 1986 Bedford Independent School computer and network secu- finance and administration. • Maverick Activities Center – $375 per • UT Arlington Planetarium shows interim management services Texas in August 2010. ties; ’99 PhD, Humanities) is Don McCormack (BBA, Ac- District. Russell Massey rity company in Plano. Tiffany year, $190 for six months, or $95 for • Most Continuing Education offerings to the aerospace manufac- an associate professor of art counting) is vice president (BBA, Accounting) is chief Ryan (BA, Exercise and Sport jim pape three months • UT Arlington special events – Sign up at turing and maintenance, 1981 education and art history and and chief accounting officer financial officer for Beryl, a Studies/Exercise Science) is Pape (’83 BS, Mechanical utatickets.com to receive special prices repairs, and overhaul market Debra L. Nelson (’81 MBA, director of the Contemporary for Concho Resources, a technology-focused patient an occupational therapist at Engineering), president of • University Center room rental segments with a focus on Business Administration; ’85 Arab and Muslim Cultural company engaged in the experiences company based the Advanced Arm Dynamics SunPower Corp., is opening an PhD, Mathematical Science) is All this for only $45 per year, which is tax deductible. Make UT Arlington stronger by underperforming assets. Jane Studies Institute at the Uni- acquisition, development, and in Dallas. O.T. Thomas (’90 Southwest Center of Excel- operations center in Austin. joining the Alumni Association online now at utaalumni.org or by calling 817-272-2594. Pavelko (’77 BA, English; the CBA Associates Professor versity of North Texas. Her exploration of oil and natural BSN, ’10 Principal Certifica- lence in Dallas. His San Jose, Calif.-based so- ’84 MA, Interdisciplinary of Business Administration research to track Iraqi art lost gas properties primarily in tion) is an assistant principal lar panel technology company Studies) is a 2011 community and Professor of Management during the 2003 war led to the southeast New Mexico and at MacArthur High School in 1993 plans to employ 450 people at columnist panel member for at Oklahoma State University. recent launch of the Modern West Texas. Richie Whitt (BA, Irving. Jeff Vaden (BBA, Man- Marjorie Asturias (BA, the center over the next four the Star-Telegram. She has Wanda Talton (’81 BA, Mathe- Art Iraq Archive at artiraq.org/ Journalism) is a sports blog- agement) joined Bracewell & Political Science) is a freelance years in marketing, finance, taught eighth-grade history matics; ’84 MS, Interdisciplin- maia. Marna Yerigan (BBA, ger for the Dallas Observer. Giuliani, LLP, in Houston as a writer based in Dallas. Her sales, and other areas.

44 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 45 ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS Briefly columns on politics, feminism, Hays, Kan. Vanetta Chapman (PhD, English) won the 2011 to the company’s board of ter. Her work uses preexisting through Rotary International’s Fort Worth Transportation and dining appear in USA (’97 BA, ’99 MA, English) au- Western Heritage Award for directors. He also serves as images to create specific jux- Group Study Exchange. Shaun Authority as part of a public Today, Running Times, and thored A Simple Amish Christ- Poetry from the National executive director for Moly tapositions, giving the viewer Hamill (BA, English) received affairs campaign for a south- DiningOut Dallas, among oth- mas, published by Abingdon Cowboy & Western Heritage Mines, an Australian-based new ways to contemplate art second place for “Unpracticed east Fort Worth passenger rail ers. Jodie Villemaire (’94 BA, Press. Bret Jimerson (’97 BS, Museum in Oklahoma City for resources company. objects. She received an M.F.A. Altitudes” in the Raymond feasibility study. English/Elementary Educa- Interdisciplinary Studies; ’05 his book Spare Parts. in photography and an M.A. in Carver Short Story contest in tion; ’04 MEd) is principal Superintendent Certificate) is 2005 art history from the University the winter 2010 issue of Carve 2010 at Eanes Elementary School superintendent for the Willis 2001 Wendell Joubert (MEd) is of North Texas in May 2011. Magazine (carvezine.com), Bradley D. Anderson (BS, in the Eanes Independent Independent School District Kyna Eastlick (MEd) is interim principal at Worley an online literary quarterly Economics) is a mate- School District in Austin. in Willis, Texas. Previously, he interim principal at Brown El- Middle School in Mansfield. 2007 featuring short stories. Sam rial requirements planning was deputy superintendent ementary School in Mansfield. Jae G. Kim (PhD, Biomedical Brianna Hinojosa-Flores Hinojosa (MEngr, Civil controller with Lockheed SHOW YOUR COLORS 1994 in Grand Prairie. Ben Renner Kevin Gee (MS, Computer Engineering) has been hired (MBA) is the first Hispanic Engineering) received the Martin. Katharine Brandon Looking for ways to express Jason Patak (’94 BS, Architec- (’97 BA, English; ’02 MEd) is Science) is a senior consultant as an assistant professor at the woman to serve on the Cop- 2011 Edmund Friedman Young (BSN) is a registered nurse your Maverick pride? Check ture; ’97 MArch) is a program an assistant principal at Jobe in the IBM Services Practice at Gwangju Institute of Science pell City Council. She is a Engineer of the Year award for Texas Health Resources at out UT Arlington’s one-stop manager in the facilities Middle School in Mansfield. Forsythe Technology. Caro- and Technology in South patent attorney at Research from the American Society of Harris Methodist Southwest online shopping mall for hun- planning, design, and con- Kimberly Trahan (BA, Broad- line Harrison (BA, Political Korea. He starts in September. In Motion, maker of the Civil Engineers. He is a project in Fort Worth. Alyse Corbett dreds of shirts, hats, accesso- struction department for the cast Communication) owns Science) is a partner in the Nathan Piller (BBA, Manage- Blackberry smartphone. Amy engineer at Halff Associates, (BA, English) served as an ries, and other merchandise. Parkland Health & Hospital Unleashed L.A. Pet Sitting Cantey Hanger LLP law firm ment) was named 2010 Rookie Knoll (MPA, Urban and Public a full-service engineering firm intern for Fort Worth, Texas The website includes links to system. Services. in Fort Worth. Dana Lenhart of the Year at Merritt Hawkins Affairs) graduated from the based in Richardson. Collette magazine and has had several the Alumni Association store, (BS, Biology) is a pediatrician & Associates, a health care Leadership Command College Jacquot (’08 MS, Psychol- articles published. Lynn De- UT Arlington Bookstore, ath- 1995 1999 and has established Sunshine Put a Ring on It! corporation in Irving. Chris of the Law Enforcement Man- ogy; ’09 PhD, Experimental hart (PhD, Public Administra- letics store, Planetarium gift Marc Puig (’95 BS, Biol- Sheri Campbell-Husband Pediatrics in West Jefferson, The Official Maverick Ring Sias (’05 BS, Architecture; agement Institute of Texas. Psychology) is dean of Strayer tion and Policy) is superinten- shop, and more. Go to uta. ogy; ’07 MEd) is assistant (MPA) is city administrator Ohio. ’07 MArch) is a registered An administrative sergeant for University in Baltimore. After dent for the Mount Pleasant edu/shoponline. superintendent of curriculum in Hudson Oaks, Texas. She Wear your UT Arlington pride for everyone to see. architect at Parkhill, Smith & the Cleburne Police Depart- her initial year of training, she Independent School District. and instruction for the Luling previously served in adminis- 2002 Get your Official Maverick Ring today. Available Cooper, an architectural and ment, she has been with the will be assigned to a campus in Previously, he was superin- alumni directory in a variety of women’s and men’s styles in yellow (Texas) Independent School tration positions for the city of Kristin Ditto (BA, Exercise and white gold as well as in silver. To purchase yours engineering design firm in CPD for 16 years. Susham the Arlington-Fort Worth-Dal- tendent at Maypearl. Julie Publishing Concepts Inc. is District. Robert Sullivan (BM, Burleson. Chris Cunningham and Sport Studies) is Ice Girls and see samples, visit the Alumni Association at Lubbock. Modi (BA, Criminal Justice las area. Andrew Knaus (BA, Gould (BFA, Art) co-directed contacting alumni via mail, Music Education) is director (BFA, Art) operates Chris Cun- coordinator for the American 841 W. Mitchell St. and Criminology; BA, Political Broadcast Communication; the short film 8, which was phone, and email to request of bands at Crockett High ningham Studios and works Hockey League’s Texas Stars 2006 Science) was selected as an BA, Economics) is a reporter screened at the South by updated information for the For more information, call the Alumni Association at School in Austin. His bands in glass, ceramics, sculpture, organization in Cedar Park, 817-272-2594 or go to uta.edu/alumni/maverickring. Bradley Bolick (MM, Music Immigration and Refugee at KTTC-TV in Rochester, Southwest festival in Austin in 2012 UT Arlington Alumni have consistently earned UIL jewelry, and other art. Sharon Texas. She spent two years Education) is completing his Advocacy Fellow at Harvard Minn., after previously work- March. The film’s name comes Directory. Please take a few Sweepstakes awards. He has (’99 MS, Social Work) and as a member of the Dallas residency in the education Law School’s Immigration and ing as a television reporter in from the jersey number of her minutes to reply. For ques- received the Texas Music Curtis Norwood (’08 MS, Cowboys Cheerleaders. Diane doctoral program at the Uni- Refugee Clinic. He pursues Helena, Mont. Harold Magee late husband, Clay Gould, who tions, contact the Alumni Educators Association Honor Engineering Management) Gatzke (BA, Political Science) versity of Mary Hardin-Baylor. changes to the U.S. immigra- (BSN), nurse manager at Texas played and coached baseball Association at 817-272-2594 or Director Award, Leadership relocated to Shanghai, China, is a 2011 community columnist Lori Donovan (MSN, Nursing tion system and helps immi- Health Harris Methodist Hos- at UT Arlington. Darren Groth [email protected]. and Achievement Award, and and were featured on an panel member for the Star- Administration) is interim chief grants learn about their rights. pital in Fort Worth, earned the (MCIRP, City and Regional the National Band Association HGTV episode of House Telegram. Matthew Orwat at Boston University. She is the Valley Regional Medical nursing officer at Texas Health Frank Mosley (BA, English) Student Excellence in Clinical Planning) is gas well manager Citation of Excellence. Hunters International. (BS, Biology) is the horticul- founding artistic director of Center in Brownsville and as Arlington Memorial Hospital. directed the film Hold, which Nursing Award from the for the city of Denton. He pre- ture agent for the Washington the New Texas Symphony vice president of patient care She will continue to serve as di- won awards at festivals in UT Arlington College of Nurs- viously was gas well coordina- 1996 2000 County Extension Office in Orchestra in Dallas. Danny services with Baylor Medical rector of surgical services. She Texas and Colorado. He also ing for the fourth straight tor for the city of Arlington. Blair Chan (BA, Psychology) Casey Donahew (BBA, Chipley, Fla. Lisa Van Gemert McKonnen (BM, Music) is in Center in Waxahachie. Ronen is also neurosurgery coordina- co-starred in The Other Side year. Lara Moffat (MLA) is Zoheb Hassanali (BA, has joined the family law de- Finance) is the driving force (’02 BA, English; ’05 MEdT) the music doctoral program Cuperman (’04 BS, Psychol- tor at Texas Health Arlington of Paradise. Brandon Spurgin director of marketing and Broadcast Communication) is partment of Williams Schifino behind the Casey Donahew is gifted youth specialist for at Harvard. His group, Debo ogy; ’08 MS, Psychology; ’10 Memorial and surgery manager (BA, English) teaches English recruitment for Lambert a news reporter at KTVO-TV PICK A BRICK Mangione & Steady P.A. in Band, whose latest release, American Mensa in Arlington. Band, has recorded CDs and PhD, Experimental Psychol- at Texas Health Harris Meth- at Taylor High School in Tay- Landscape Co. in Dallas. She in Kirksville, Mo. Ann Holland Need a gift for those special Tampa, Fla. Richard Single- Movin’ On, debuted at No. 28 She develops programs and performs regularly in the Bos- ogy) is a data analyst for Co- odist Hurst-Euless-Bedford. lor, Texas. is publishing a guidebook (MEd) is an assistant principal Mavericks in your life? Buy ton (BA, History) has been on the Billboard top country resources for Young Mensa ton area. The band incorpo- gent Research, a marketing Michael A. Hill (MEd) is prin- developed from her master’s at Rayburn Elementary School them a personalized brick named executive director of albums chart. Matt Fajkus members and gifted youth rates the sounds of traditional research/consulting firm in cipal at Seguin High School in 2008 thesis, Art and the Built Land- in Grand Prairie. Rebecca and customize it with the the State of Texas At-Risk and (BA, Architecture) is an ar- nationwide. Meghna Virick Ethiopian music with the style Cambridge, Mass. His duties Arlington. Heather A. White Michael Shaun Culwell (’08 scape in the Central Business Strong (BA, Public Relations) UT Arlington logo. Bricks Runaway Youth program, a chitecture assistant professor (PhD, Business Administra- of the present generation. include data collection, sur- (BA, English) is communica- MS, Psychology; ’10 PhD, District of Dallas: Influences works at Open Channels will be placed in the Central Round Rock-based counsel- at UT Austin specializing in tion) was co-principal inves- Mark Ramirez (MA, Interdis- vey programming, and data tions director for the Corpus Experimental Psychology) is a from an Identifiable Era in Group, LLC, one of the larg- Library mall brick walk or may ing, foster care, emergency incorporating energy ef- tigator for a published report ciplinary Science) is principal management/manipulation. Christi Chamber of Commerce, postdoctoral fellow in the De- the Late Twentieth Century. est minority-owned public be purchased for personal shelter, and homeless/run- ficiency into building design. that examined factors that at Molina High School in Justin Hilliard (BFA, Art) had responsible for public relations, partment of Psychiatry at UT Christopher R. Watkins (BA, relations firms in Texas. She use. For prices, an order form, away youth initiative. He had He is working on a thermal help and hinder employees’ Dallas. his feature film, The Other marketing, and community Southwestern Medical Center Interdisciplinary Studies) is conducts surveys for the Fort and more information, visit been director of counseling lab that measures the energy telecommuting possibilities. Side of Paradise, released on outreach. She wrote for The at Dallas. Jordan “JD” Dixon intramural sports coordinator Worth Transportation Author- uta.edu/alumni/brickprogram. services for STARRY since May efficiency of building skins She is a research associate for 2004 DVD. Saket Karajgikar (’04 Shorthorn at UT Arlington and (’08 BS, Architecture; ’10 at Rice University. ity as part of a public affairs 2008. and on the Smart Building Ini- the San Jose, Calif.-based Mi- Matthew T. Caldwell (MS, MS, ’10 PhD, Mechanical En- is a former reporter for the MArch), an architectural in- campaign for a southeast Fort START A CHAPTER tiative, a project that marries neta Transportation Institute. Health Care Administration) gineering) is an applications Corpus Christi Caller-Times tern at Secord & Lebow Archi- 2009 Worth passenger rail feasibility For information on starting 1997 technology with an integrated is chief executive officer for engineer at Future Facilities and Star-Telegram. Betsy Wil- tects, LLP, in Wichita Falls, was Breanna Standifer (BA, Pub- study. Madhavi Wagh (MFA, an alumni chapter, contact Lexey Bartlett (’97 MA, Hu- building monitoring system 2003 the Dallas Regional Medi- Inc. in San Jose, Calif. Steven liamson (BFA, Photography) one of four members of Ro- lic Relations) works at Open Visual Communication) is lead the Alumni Association at manities; ’05 PhD, Literature) to track and analyze how hu- Kathryn D. Brown (MM, cal Center in Mesquite. He Xiao (EMBA), managing presented a solo exhibit, Re- tary District 5790 selected to Channels Group, LLC, one of graphic designer at Direct 817-272-2594 or uta_alumni@ received tenure and was pro- man behavior plays a role in Music with an artist certificate has served as chief operat- director of Hanlong Min- considering Art History, in April experience the customs and the largest minority-owned Capital Corp., a business loan uta.edu. To see a list of chap- moted to associate professor optimizing energy efficiency in orchestral conducting) is ing officer with the Sierra ing Investment Pty. Ltd. in and May at Gallery 76102 at the vocational practices of New public relations firms in Texas. consulting firm in Ports- ters, visit uta.edu/alumni/ at Fort Hays State University in in a single building. Ken Hada working on her dissertation Medical Center in El Paso and Lakewood, Colo., was named UT Arlington Fort Worth Cen- Zealand and Tahiti in March She conducts surveys for the mouth, N.H. chapter_listing.

46 UTArlington Magazine SUMMER 2011 47 ALUMNI NEWS In Memoriam 1940s 62, Nov. 13 in Missouri City, artist, and photographer. She 2000s Cecil Pitts Dotson (’42 AS, Texas. Mr. Gilmore was a worked for Barber’s Bookstore Pamela Turrentine Stites Liberal Arts), 86, June 22, 2010, vice president for Packaging and served as a critic, reviewer, (’02 MSSW), 59, Dec. 11 in in Dallas. In 1958 Mr. Dotson Specialists in Mission Viejo, and editor for many publica- Austin. Ms. Stites was an was named chair of the British Calif., and a regional sales tions. Margie Ruth Parish entrepreneur who owned subsidiary for Texas Instru- manager for many years. (’77 BA, Speech), 72, Jan. 6 in and operated a personnel ments. He helped locate TI Weldon E. Lawley (’72 BBA, Irving. Ms. Parish taught at UT agency. She also had a career Create A Ripple production plants around Business Administration), Arlington, Mountain View Col- in social work as a case- the world and managed TI’s 71, Dec. 29 in Lubbock. Mr. lege, Navarro College, Tarrant worker with Child Protective One GIFT CA N TRANSFORM THE LIFE semiconductor plant in France Lawley worked in merchan- County College, and in Malay- Services. Vijayakrishnan before returning to Dallas. He dising for Fleming Foods. sia. Richard Warren Stevens Ambravaneswaran (’08 MS, OF A UT ARLI NGTON STUDENT THOMAS L. SHIELDS was vice president and man- Terry Randal Cobb (’73 BS; (’77 MA, Economics), 73, Feb. Electrical Engineering), 27, Distinguished Alumnus, ager of corporate resources ’75 MS, Electrical Engineer- 9 in Arlington. Mr. Stevens was Aug. 30 in Malden, Mass. Mr. noted physician, and long- and services when he retired in ing), 64, Dec. 10 in Fort Worth. president and owner of Intelog Ambravaneswaran worked time UT Arlington supporter 1973. Rudolph J. Marcuse Jr. Mr. Cobb was president of Inc. and also served as director at the BioMEMS Resource Thomas L. Shields died Jan. 11 (’44 AS, General Studies), 85, Datacom. He was a software of the technical services divi- Center, part of the Center for in Fort Worth. He was 95. Dr. Dec. 28 in North Richland Hills. engineer for Hewlett-Packard sion of Kentron International, Engineering in Medicine at Shields was class president Mr. Marcuse was retired from and a systems engineer for an LTV subsidiary. the Massachusetts General and lettered in track at North Marcuse & Son of Fort Worth. Richardson-based Systimax and Harvard University teach- Texas Agricultural College He worked with Worth Ranch Solutions. Roy B. McDonald 1980s ing hospitals. Jillian Michelle (now UT Arlington), where he Scout Camp and held numer- (’73 BBA, Business Administra- Linda Louise Fredrichsen Smith (’09 BA, Criminal earned an associate degree ous leadership positions. tion), 71, Feb. 16 in Arlington. Griffith(’81 MA, French), 63, Justice and Criminology), in 1935. After graduating from Mr. McDonald worked for Feb. 9 in North Richland Hills. 24, Dec. 28 in Arlington. Ms. Baylor Medical School, he 1960s Texstar Plastics before starting Ms. Griffith taught at Everman Smith was an officer in the served as an Army doctor Jerrie Hughes (’65 BBA, his own recycling company, High School, Southlake Carroll Arlington Police Department. during World War II. He Business Administration), R&D Plastics, in 1984. Douglas High School, and St. John the AD received a Bronze Star and 79, Dec. 1 in Arlington. Ms. W. White (’73 BA, History), 62, Apostle Catholic School. Billy Faculty and Staff held the rank of lieuten- Hughes worked for the Nov. 10 in Richland, Ore. Mr. Donald Ross Jr. (’81 BS, Me- Leonard M. Diana, 87, Jan. ant colonel. He joined the Internal Revenue Service White was executive director chanical Engineering), 52, Dec. 23 in Arlington. Dr. Diana tudents are UT Arlington’s most treasured resource, Southwestern Medical School and, after retirement, started of Step Forward Activities in 7 in Springtown, Texas. Mr. was a professor emeritus of and the need to support them is greater than ever. faculty in 1948, serving as her own business preparing Baker City, Ore. He was an Ross was a pilot for American physics and a member of the S an associate professor of personal income tax returns. avid hunter and fisherman. Airlines and previously flew UT Arlington faculty for 30 Your generous contributions help our students become tomorrow’s leaders and prepare them to dermatology until leaving to Barry Dale Jenkins (’66 BBA, Thomas James Altus (’74 BS, for Atlantic Southeast Airlines. years until his retirement in establish a private dermatol- Business Administration), 66, Biology), 67, Nov. 25 in Arling- Dean Arthur Dillhoff (’82 1995. He was a fellow of the make a lasting impact on society. With your financial assistance, UT Arlington provides abundant ogy practice in Fort Worth March 10 in Fort Worth. Mr. ton. Mr. Altus worked at Zepco BBA, Systems Analysis), 52, American Physical Society and in 1949. He was honored as a Jenkins was an attorney with Sales & Service in Richardson. March 14 in Bloomingdale, Ill. of the American Association opportunities for students to work alongside world-class faculty to explore creative solutions to UT Arlington Distinguished the Jenkins & Parron law firm After retirement, he worked at Mr. Dillhoff was a consultant for the Advancement of Sci- Alumnus in 1972 and also in Arlington for years and most Arlington Municipal Airport. in the medical profession and ence. Marion Moore, 76, Dec. real-world problems and transform ideas into viable products that fuel economic development. chaired the University’s recently was a contract at- Robert “Randy” Goss (’74 enjoyed mission work with 10 in Arlington. Dr. Moore Development Board. As a torney with Ross & Matthews, BBA, Business Administration), Missionary Ventures Interna- was a professor emeritus of Your gifts enable students to contribute more than 600,000 community service hours annually member of the Tarrant Coun- P.C. in Fort Worth. Charles A. 63, Dec. 21 in Grapevine. Mr. tional. Marsha Carroll (’83 mathematics and a member of and develop leadership skills beyond the classroom and laboratory. UT Arlington is committed ty Medical Society, Dr. Shields Blackwell (’67 BS, Mathemat- Goss retired from Verizon as BA, Architecture), 67, Feb. 15 in the UT Arlington faculty for 44 was chairman of its Board ics), 69, Dec. 12 in Burnet, a supervisor and had 25 years Arlington. Ms. Carroll was an years before retiring in 2001. to providing a first-rate, affordable education for as many students as possible. By investing in the of Censors and served on Texas. Mr. Blackwell started his experience in the insurance accomplished gourmet cook He was an expert in commu- the Committee on Physician own computer business and industry. He served as a city and enjoyed reading, travel- tative ring theory and module Excellence Now annual giving program, you create a ripple that gives deserving Mavericks a brighter Health and Rehabilitation. He later operated an RV business. councilman and mayor pro ing, gardening, and collecting theory. Frank Moreland, 73, was president of the Texas William Henry Denson (’69 tem of Glenn Heights, Texas. art. Mark Benson DeLoach Dec. 14 in Fort Worth. Mr. future and propels UT Arlington toward its goal of becoming a major national research university. Dermatological Association BBA, Accounting), 69, Feb. Marolyn Lenial Mumford (’85 BA, Political Science), 46, Moreland was an associate and the Dallas/Fort Worth 24 in Arlington. Mr. Denson Meltzer (’75 BSN), 57, March 4 July 24 in Vashon, Wash. Dr. professor of architecture at Make a gift online at www.uta.edu/giving or call the Office of Development at 817-272-2584. Dermatological Society, and worked for American Biomedi- in Hurst. Ms. Meltzer worked DeLoach was a professor of UT Arlington, 1973-1981. He was a former chief of derma- cal and Colonial Country Club. at H.E.B. Hospital in Bedford communication and debate also taught at Penn State tology at Harris Hospital and He owned The Eyeglass Shop before retiring to raise her coach at the University of before starting his own firm to John Peter Smith Hospital, for 10 years before going to sons. Susan Carol Roaten (’75 North Texas, the University build sustainable and earth- where he held a skin clinic for work for American Airlines. BA, Spanish), 58, Dec. 29 in of Southern California, and covered structures. He wrote 20 years. In 1990 he received Fort Worth. Ms. Roaten taught Northern Arizona University. four books on structure and the prestigious Gold-Headed 1970s at the Iverson Institute of Jerry Andrew Waldrup (’87 design. Virgil Leroy Poulter, Cane for Tarrant County, an Robert W. Case (’70 BS, Court Reporting in Fort Worth BBA, Marketing), 46, Jan. 15 in 83, June 26 in Granite Shoals, annual award for a physician Mechanical Engineering), 63, and taught special education Euless. Mr. Waldrup worked Texas. Dr. Poulter taught who symbolizes the high- Sept. 15 in Bowie, Texas. Mr. in the Arlington Independent in the trucking industry as an Spanish and linguistics at est standards of scientific Case owned and operated School District. Melissa Mia account representative for 18 UT Arlington, 1961-1992. He excellence and integrity. Dr. M&C Camera in Grapevine Hall (’76 BA, Journalism), 57, years. He was a member of Phi was chair of the Department Shields retired from private for 25 years. Comer Gilmore Jan. 28 in Fort Worth. Ms. Delta Theta fraternity at of Foreign Languages and practice in 1994 at age 79. Jr. (’70 BS, Mathematics), Hall was a freelance writer, UT Arlington. Linguistics from 1968 to 1977. ANNUAL GIVING AT UT ARLINGTON

48 UTArlington Magazine DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Non-profit Org. Box 19116 U.S. Postage Arlington, TX 76019-0116 PAID Burlington, VT 05401 Permit No. 19

Past Bob Feller interview, circa 1948

The Maverick Speakers Series appearance by Cal Ripken Jr. in February still recorded 266 wins and entered the Hall of Fame in 1962. He died last wasn’t the first time a baseball Hall of Famer has visited the campus. year at age 92. Observing the interview were Feller’s uncle, Harry Ford, Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller, center, answered questions and English Professor Duncan Robinson, The Shorthorn faculty sponsor. from Shorthorn editor Vivian Walker during a late-1940s sojourn to Robinson taught at UT Arlington for 50 years and is a member of the Arlington. Known for his 100-mph fastball, Feller was only 17 when he University’s Walk of Fame. Photograph courtesy of The University of struck out eight St. Louis Cardinals in three innings of an exhibition Texas at Arlington Photographic Collection, Special Collections, game. He spent four years in the Navy during the peak of his career but UT Arlington Library.