UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE MAGAZINE • VOLUME 28 • NUMBER 1 • APRIL 2020 Aiming for the stars “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” —William Shakespeare

Time-lapse photo by Evan Krape, AS09. Learn more on the following page. Volume 28 Number 1 2020 1 VOL. 28 CONTENTSNo. 1 FEATURES A NOURISHING PURSUIT 18 UD’s efforts to address student hunger and food insecurity have inspired action on campus and beyond.

FINISHING HER FATHER’S 28 BUCKET LIST In 1979, Mick Carney, AS71, wrote a list of the things he hoped to do in his lifetime. Now, 17 years after his death, his daughter, Laura, AS03, is nearly finished completing it on her father’s behalf.

GAME ON! The distinctly 21st century 34 phenomenon of scholastic competition has officially arrived at UD.

ALAN FOX WANTS TO BLOW YOUR EVAN KRAPE EVAN 40 MIND We’re living through the WINTER SESSION AT MOUNT CUBA Golden Age of Information, As a child in Maine, Judi Provencal would drag her telescope through the snow, past her where knowledge literally bewildered parents, and get lost in the stars. Today, the universe still holds her wonder. As an exists at our fingertips. So associate professor of physics and astronomy, she studies dead stars known as white dwarfs why is Alan Fox so worried? (which is what our sun will become in about 4 billion years). Each semester, she brings students from her PHYS469/669 Observational Astronomy class to the Mount Cuba Observatory in IN EVERY ISSUE Greenville, Delaware, where many get their first glimpse of planets and galaxies millions of light years away. “When you’re looking at another galaxy, you’re looking at hundreds and hundreds 6 ON THE GREEN of billions of stars,” says Provencal. “I want them to see how cool that is.” 46 ALUMNI NEWS Pictured above: Students in Provencal’s class observe the night through the 4.5" Francis DuPont refractor telescope, built in 1887. 55 CLASS NOTES On the previous page: A time-lapse photo of about 20 minutes reveals the movement of the stars. The dotted lines and orange streaks are likely planes in the sky.

2 Magazine TO OUR UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE MAGAZINE CONTENTS Volume 28, Number 1 Managing Editor Artika Rangan Casini, AS05 Associate Editor Eric Ruth, AS93 Executive Editor John Brennan Vice President for READERS Communications & Marketing Glenn Carter Creative Director Dave Keen We went to print on this issue just days after the confirmed Art Director Molly Chappell COVID-19 cases appeared on our campus. In this period of Contributing Design .Jeffrey Chase, AS91, Christian Derr, Don Shenkle, AS80, BE17M immense caution and uncertainty, we still don’t know how this Class Notes & Production Daniel Wright pandemic will unfold at our University, in our country and across Senior Photographer Kathy F. Atkinson the globe. But we do know that complex problems require Photographer Evan Krape, AS09 innovation (p. 14) and critical thinking (p. 40). That we are a Advertising Sales Nick Biasotto, AS69 Advertising Coordinator Kamesha Medley community that comes together in our toughest times (p. 18). And The University of Delaware community values both personal and academic freedom. All members of the campus community have the personal responsibility to promote an that despite our best efforts and intentions, tomorrow is never atmosphere of civility in which the free exchange of ideas and opinions can flourish. We do so by learning from individual and collective differences and respecting every human being. promised (p. 28). And so, we must heed the lesson of the The University of Delaware Magazine (USPS 01-0743) is published quarterly by the University of Delaware Office of Communications & Marketing, 105 East Main St., Newark, horseshoe (p. 32)—a worldwide symbol of luck, whose ends signify Del. 19716-7201. To remove your name from the mailing list, please email bio-updates@udel. edu. Inquiries should be addressed to Artika Rangan Casini, Managing Editor, Office of the things we can do for ourselves (when pointing up) and the Communications & Marketing, 105 East Main St., Newark, Del. 19716-7201, telephone (302) 831-2792, email to [email protected]. For information on advertising, please call (302) things we must do for others (when pointing down). Whichever 831-2792. Periodical postage paid at Newark, Del. 19711 and at additional mailing offices. The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis direction your horseshoe faces today, we wish you health and of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other safety always. characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and —The Magazine Team other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence. For March 2020 inquiries or complaints related to non-discrimination policies, please contact: Danica A. Myers, Interim Title IX Coordinator, 305 Hullihen Hall, Newark, DE 19716, 302-831-8063, [email protected]. For complaints related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact: Elizabeth Reed, Interim Director, Office of Disability Support Services, Alison Hall, Suite 130, Newark, DE 19716, 302-831-4643, [email protected] OR contact the U.S. Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/know.html).

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Volume 28 Number 1 2020 3 Blue hens Stay connected udel.edu/alumni-friends

INTRODUCING THE NEW ALUMNI & FRIENDS WEBSITE • Find ways to connect with Blue Hens who live in your region, share your interests or work in your industry • See how gifts from the UD community fuel the success of our students • Learn about benefits offered exclusively to UD alumni • And so much more!

4 University of Delaware Magazine FROM OUR PRESIDENT UNLEASHING THE POWER OF CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

At the University of Delaware, we are to bring their ideas to —as we driven by an abiding belief in the power have done around our main campus of creative partnerships to advance a with collaborative, student-centric better world. Collaboration, cooperation environments such as The Scrounge and and teamwork—essential components our Morris Library Commons, The Nest; of our long-term success—are always in and our new MakerGym in Pearson great abundance here at UD. Hall, with its laser cutters, water-jet In recent days and weeks, I have cutters, 3D printers and other fabrication witnessed how this indomitable Blue machines! To see a new kind of Blue Hen Hen spirit inspired so many people in teamwork in action, visit the new the UD community to support and care Arena in Perkins Student Center, where for one another as we navigated the our top video game competitors play— unprecedented challenges posed by and win—against some of the nation’s the outbreak of novel coronavirus, or biggest universities. The possibilities are COVID-19. As I write this letter, the full endless, indeed. school system, as well as preparing impact of this evolving situation remains A growing nexus of collaboration is teachers to succeed in the classroom to be seen. But nothing will ever diminish UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced and throughout their careers. my extraordinary pride in the resilience Research (STAR) Campus. By the end And thanks to the partnership of our and character exhibited by our students, of 2020, the STAR Campus will have 1 generous alumni and friends around the faculty, staff and friends. million square feet of space for hands- world, the University’s Delaware First Indeed, every day throughout the on learning, cutting-edge discovery and campaign surpassed our $750 million University, we work together to meet bold innovation in biopharmaceuticals, fundraising goal … six months early! seemingly insurmountable challenges health sciences, financial technology, This achievement is truly inspiring, and in our ongoing quest to advance materials science and other exciting our momentum will propel us to reach knowledge, explore new terrain and fields. It is emerging as a 21st century even greater levels of engagement innovate our way to a better future. As a community—one of students, researchers, and impact. 21st century research institution, we are entrepreneurs, thinkers and doers. All of The future of the University of attracting smart, talented and ambitious these partners and projects comprise Delaware has always been—and will people to solve the most complex the fundamental ingredients to develop always be—a shared one, and I am problems facing our world, giving them the ideas and the investments necessary proud of the strong partnerships that the time and resources to do their best for a more vibrant economy and more are integral to our success. Eleni and I work. That is why we are investing connected community. hope that you and the people you care heavily in collaborative spaces around Partnerships also extend our reach far for are staying healthy and upbeat. The Green, enabling student teams and beyond campus. UD works with hundreds As a community, we will always research groups to accomplish far more of schools and nonprofits throughout emerge stronger from any adversity, than they could on their own. That’s the Delaware and the region to make and great days are on the horizon for kind of work UD has always done, and it’s communities safer and more resilient years to come! the vision that energizes us every day. and improve the health and wellbeing of Teamwork drives our progress in everyone from infants to senior citizens. exciting directions. We are giving We are deeply committed to helping our students and faculty the tools educators strengthen Delaware’s K-12 Dennis Assanis, President

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 5 News from campus THE ONand beyond GREEN future of fintech grows on star campus UD’s newest six-story structure, expected to be completed in 2021, will bring together the academic, business and governmental sectors of the financial world.

the financial health of communities has also partnered with Discover Bank to work with UD, DTP, entrepreneurs and the community on ways to improve consumer financial health. The building, which is scheduled On UD’s Science, Technology and The $38 million project will be funded for a 2021 opening, will mark the first Advanced Research (STAR) Campus, a via a favorable below-market interest sizable presence of the Lerner College new University partnership with Delaware rate loan by Discover Bank to DTP, the on the STAR Campus. Potential plans Technology Park (DTP) and Discover owner of the building. UD will lease space and programs include a cybersecurity Bank aims to revolutionize the world of in the building. leadership center that would link financial services technology. Discover Bank is currently exploring Lerner’s cybersecurity management with The soon-to-be constructed six-story, ways to partner with UD on research the College of Engineering’s cybersecurity 100,000-square-foot building brings related to the financial technology needs engineering and technology, as well as a together the academic, business and of the bank that may include cyber- space for human-machine learning, social governmental facets of this field, adding related technologies, and consumer data media data analysis and a multi media immense value to Delaware’s prowess in analytics, applications and behaviors. A studio. financial technology—and to the state’s national nonprofit focused on improving — Peter Bothum, AS97 economy. Global investment in FinTech-related THE FINTECH BUILDING WILL HOUSE: companies has more than quintupled in • Spaces for startups to develop, managed by Delaware Technology Park. Tenants recent years, growing from $18.9 billion will have onsite access to business development resources and technical assistance. in 2013 to $111.8 billion in 2018, according • Labs and centers associated within UD’s College of Engineering and Alfred to a recent report by the Delaware Lerner College of Business and Economics. These spaces will link strengths and Prosperity Partnership. By constructing a resources from both colleges on topics such as financial analytics, cybersecurity, hub where the financial services industry human-machine learning and data analysis. and academia intersect, UD, Discover • UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP). and DTP seek to nurture a highly capable • Delaware’s Small Business Development Center, which will be synergistically workforce in Delaware, including the located to offer assistance to OEIP’s Spin In program, which connects UD start-up businesses that will hatch, grow undergraduates to community entrepreneurs and early-stage startups. and spin out of the new facility.

6 University of Delaware Magazine ON THE GREEN connecting veterans and student-athletes A new health and wellness program as well,” says Prof. Susan Sheehy, who developed by a former Army nurse and designed the program after leaving the current UD professor pairs veterans military. “They gain unique insight into with student-athletes in an effort to the military and the many sacrifices our improve health and reintegrate soldiers veterans and their families make for into civilian life. our freedom and our country while they Veterans and College Athletes increase their own health and wellness Together (VCAT) provides post-Sept. 11 knowledge, improve their mental veterans a free, 12-week program in wellbeing and performance and gain a which they are paired with student- mentor for life.” athletes to attend two 75-minute Each VCAT workout session is workouts and two wellness classes accompanied by a one-hour wellness per week. class that includes a healthy meal. “VCAT is a unique community service Wellness topics include sleep, exercise,

ASHLEY BARNAS ASHLEY opportunity for our student athletes, meditation, nutrition and more. Warner hall becomes new home for wellness With rising student enrollments and an increased focus on health and wellness, UD is opening the Wellbeing Center at Warner Hall, which brings together counseling services, health care, wellness programs and other support services in one central location on the South Green. The Center is expected to open in Spring 2021. For more than 100 years, UD’s Warner Hall has stood as an inclusive home for students. Named in honor of Emalea Pusey Warner, an ardent suffragist who was unable to attend college herself, Warner Hall served as KRAPE EVAN a women’s residence hall from 1914 to individual and group counseling, sexual says Nicole Lovitch, HS20, a member 2019. Now, the Wellbeing Center builds assault victim advocacy, substance of the Promoters of Wellness student upon her indelible legacy. misuse counseling and a plethora of group. “UD offers some really awesome University leaders envision the education and prevention programs. health and wellness resources so that center as a central space for students “I’m a lot healthier and happier all students can find what they need to to access resources that are currently when I’m able to manage my wellness better themselves.” spread across campus, including and be aware of my own resources,” —Dara McBride

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 7 8 University of Delaware Magazine ON THE GREEN

climate change on the hook

New England has a proud tradition “New England waters are among multiple fisheries and the resulting of commercial fishing. But will it the fastest-warming in the world,” impacts on sales revenue, wages and survive as the planet warms? says Oremus. fishermen’s jobs. For decades, the biggest threat And warmer temperatures The results were significant: A to the industry has been overfishing, have been shown to impact the 1-unit increase in the North Atlantic but it is no longer the only danger. productivity of lobsters, sea scallops, Oscillation index—New England’s New research by UD Prof. Kimberly groundfish and other fisheries dominant climate signal—reduces Oremus shows that New England’s important to the region, she adds, fishing employment by 13% and coastal counties have, on average, especially when they are most wages by 35%, with effects that lost 16% of their fishing jobs due to vulnerable, from spawning through persist for several years. climate variation from 1996 to 2017. their first year of life. “As we see more warm winters This specific effect of climate That effect shows up in catch and off the New England coast, historic is distinct from the overall job labor data a few years later, once fisheries decline and fewer fishermen losses and gains caused by other the affected fish reach the size at stay in business,” Oremus says. factors, such as changes in market which they’re allowed to be caught. “This has important implications demand, regulatory changes to curb In order to understand this, Oremus for fisheries management in New overfishing, and broader economic gathered catch-size restrictions for 56 England, which employs 20% of U.S. trends. Currently, 34,000 commercial commercial fisheries and connected commercial harvesters.” marine fishermen are employed in the pathways between climate, its —Tracey Bryant the region’s industry. effects on aggregated catch from fruit for thought You probably already know the especially for older adults. Two-thirds bad news: Added sugar is a prime of Americans 65 and older have suspect in diabetes, obesity and other hypertension, which increases the risk health ailments. of heart disease and kidney disease. In There’s also a strong link between 2014, 653 million hypertension-related added sugar and high blood pressure prescriptions were written at a cost of in post-menopausal females, according more than $28 billion. to a study by UD nutrition Prof. Sheau The data are preliminary, but the Ching Cha. emerging equation is quite compelling: Now, the good news. The same study Skip the added sugar, eat whole fruit shows that eating whole fruit is linked and you could come away with a lower with a reduction in blood pressure for risk for blood-sugar spikes and potential both men and women. reductions in blood pressure levels. All of this could be a big deal, —Beth Miller

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 9 10 University of Delaware Magazine ON THE GREEN blue hens in the Superbowl

Kansas City Chiefs Brett Veach, HS02, EHD04M, (far right) stands with other team members on the awards platform after the Chiefs beat the to win the AFC championship and earn a trip to the , where they defeated the , 31-20. Pictured below: Kansas City coach Joey Bleymaier, AS05, stands watch before the AFC championship game.

2002) and Joe Flacco, BE08, (, Super Bowl MVP 2012), defensive back Mike Adams, EHD04, (, 2013) and linebacker Paul Worrilow, AS13, (, 2016).

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY KANSAS THE OF COURTESY PHOTOS While Veach and Bleymaier might It sure feels good to see Fightin’ be years past their playing days, those Blue Hens contribute to a football were quite the days: As a , championship, especially at the highest Veach earned third team All-Atlantic of the game. 10 Conference honors in 2000 as a The sense of pride was real on Super junior and is one of only seven football Bowl Sunday, as two former Blue Hens student-athletes in UD history to earn solidified their rising-star status in the CoSIDA Academic All-American honors NFL by helping guide the Kansas City (a feat he achieved three times). Chiefs to global gridiron dominance. In his four-year UD career, Veach Brett Veach, HS02, EHD04M, has caught 99 passes for 1,470 yards and 12 served as general manager for the touchdowns, averaging 22.2 yards on Chiefs for the past three years. And Joe 70 career kick returns. He ranks No. 12 Bleymaier, AS05, has spent the past all-time at Delaware with 3,382 career four seasons as an offensive quality all-purpose yards. control coach and passing game potential way back in his days leading Bleymaier was a four-year wide analyst for one of the most explosive the . Bleymaier’s receiver for the Blue Hens, playing for offensive squads in the NFL. Veach has rise was also given an indirect boost the 2003 national championship team also been publicly acknowledged by by another former Blue Hen, Chicago and becoming a three-time CoSIDA Coach for convincing the Bears coach , HS01, whose Academic All-American nominee and Chiefs to grab Patrick ascension created the vacancy that a 2003 District 2 All-Academic First Mahomes in the draft, a decision that Bleymaier would fill. Team honoree. He was a three-time has now paid off in glittering gold rings. According to veteran sports reporter member of the Atlantic 10 Academic Both Veach and Bleymaier were Kevin Tresolini, AS80, nine Blue Hens All-Conference team and would play standout Blue Hen players in their have actually played in the Big Game in 48 games, catching 74 passes for day, and both came to the Chiefs over the years, including 854 yards and 10 touchdowns. via Coach Reid, who spotted their Rich Gannon, AS87, (Oakland Raiders, —Eric Ruth, AS93

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 11

ON THE GREEN BAD WORDS Defaulting borrowers are more likely to include words TRUTHTRUTH related to family, religion, short-term timeframes, personal hardship and pleas for help. References to ININ BORROWINGBORROWING others (e.g. “God,” “daughter,” “husband”) are associated with deceptive language. Defaulters avoid mentioning The words we use matter, sometimes more than we themselves, perhaps to distance themselves from untruths. realize and in ways we may have never imagined. Like on “I am a hard-working person, married for 25 years, and have loan applications. two wonderful boys. Please let me explain why I need help. That’s the conclusion of UD Prof. Michal Herzenstein and I would use the $2,000 loan to fix our roof. Thank you, God colleagues, who found in a text-mining, machine-learning bless you, and I promise to pay you back.” study of 18,000 loan requests that word choice can predict a person’s financial behavior well into the future. And that the words we use—even ones we may consider positive, GOOD WORDS like references to God or family—could actually harm the Borrowers who paid in full were more likely to include chances for a successful loan application. words that may be a sign of anticipated improvement “We find that people who pay back their loans use a lot in finances: “promotion,” “graduating” and “wedding”; of relative words such as: than, side, rather, below,” she says. relative words such as “than the,” “rather” and “more “Defaulting borrowers talk a lot about other than;” and time-related words. people, and those who pay back talk a “While the past year in our new place has been more lot about themselves.” than great, the roof is now leaking, and I need to For now, the age-old adage borrow $2,000 to cover the cost of the repair. I holds true: Watch what you say, pay all bills (e.g., car loans, cable, utilities) and how you say it. on time.”

12 University of Delaware Magazine ON THE GREEN investing in delaware’s high schoolers

High school students in Delaware can introductory college-level material such topics as astronomy, philosophy, now earn up to a full semester of college to Delaware’s motivated high school art history and more. credits at no charge thanks to a new students,” says UD President Dennis High school students will be able University initiative launching this fall. Assanis. “These students will have an to enroll in the Early College Credit The UD Early College Credit Program unparalleled opportunity to experience Program classes at no charge, and enables qualified high school juniors college-level academics, interact the courses are being designed with and seniors to take up to five University virtually with undergraduates on minimal costs for textbooks and other courses, simultaneously earning both our Newark campus and earn free class materials. high school and college credits. academic credit that will help lower the To participate, academically No other program in the nation cost of their education. This program is qualified juniors and seniors will need offers such an opportunity that is both a substantive addition to the University’s recommendations from a high school statewide and free. All public, charter and private high schools in Delaware are eligible to participate, and 30 “I am excited that this dual enrollment program will schools from throughout the state have make college courses more accessible and affordable expressed interest in participating this fall. to Delaware high school students. This is the kind of Through the program, college courses will be transmitted live from innovative partnership between higher education and the Newark campus via interactive K-12 schools that our students need.” online streaming, allowing high school students and UD undergraduates to — Delaware Secretary of Education Susan Bunting, EHD96EdD learn the same material simultaneously. Students enrolling in the UD Early College Credit Program who also ongoing efforts to increase affordability official, who will coordinate registration take advantage of the University’s and access to higher education for with UD’s Division of Professional and Associate in Arts Program and the state residents of the First State.” Continuing Studies. of Delaware’s SEED Scholarship will be Through the new Early College For the program’s first year, a small able to dramatically reduce the overall Credit Program, UD will offer a total of number of Delaware high schools will cost of their higher education, while five courses each year. Students will be participating to ensure a successful also getting an early taste of college be free to enroll in just one class or launch and to allow the University to academics. All these features are all five over the course of their junior scale the program to meet the full important components in the University’s and senior years; by taking all five, demand in the state. efforts to attract more underrepresented students can complete a full semester The Early College Credit Program students to enroll at UD. of college study while still in high joins other UD dual enrollment “This innovative program will put school. All courses will satisfy UD’s programs that are already underway our great faculty into high school general education requirements, and at 10 high schools, reaching about 240 classrooms across the state, teaching introductory courses will be offered on students each year.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 13 ON THE GREEN PHOTOS BY EVAN KRAPE tinker, tailor, maker, try

The gymnasium where middle state-of-the-art 3D printers, laser cutters, astrophysics, graphic design, education school students once took phys ed a water jet, a computer numerical and physical mobility. is now providing UD students with a control router and mill, and industrial different kind of work-out: an exercise sewing machines, not to mention a 21st- A boost for research in creativity and an opportunity to flex century woodshop and an advanced their mental muscles. manufacturing research center. What sets UD’s MakerGym apart, A one-of-a-kind makerspace—the “There’s something absolutely besides its history, is its focus on UD MakerGym—is now located at the thrilling about having an idea and empowerment and collaboration. It back of Pearson Hall, a former public then putting pieces together to make is committed to open access for all school building that the University it a reality,” says UD President Dennis campus makers—from all disciplines purchased in 1981. There, you can find Assanis. “The process of making and experience levels—and will the latest tools for developing projects, something is an education in itself. You support academics, research and from integrating circuits into artwork to learn what works, and what doesn’t. entrepreneurship, according to Mohsen prototyping a wearable medical device, And seeing your creation come to life Badiey, professor of electrical and or from creating hands-on lessons for just never gets old.” computer engineering and newly elementary students to constructing The 6,700-square-foot MakerGym appointed faculty director of the sustainable housing. complements more than a dozen University’s Maker Initiative. If you can think it, chances are you can makerspaces across UD developing in Badiey conceived the idea of a build it here. At the ready are an array of such areas as wearable technology, Maker Initiative while he was serving

14 University of Delaware Magazine ON THE GREEN

Open to all UD students, faculty and staff, the new 6,700-square-foot MakerGym in UD’s Pearson Hall features an array of 3D printers and other state-of-the-art tools to bring their ideas to life. as acting dean of the College of Earth, undergraduate courses, some new and Ocean and Environment a few years some reimagined. ago, envisioning a University-wide “A gym is a place where you work hub for creative collaboration, design, a shared facility for cross-college out, you sweat, you improve your prototyping and entrepreneurship. collaborations, with plenty of synergy mind and body,” says Trembanis, who “Education is at a crossroads, with between research and education. recently printed a scaled-down, 3D classrooms changing with digital Art Trembanis, associate professor version of a shipwreck his underwater integration,” Badiey says. “We want of marine science and policy, has robot located and mapped on the students to have experiences here that been working with faculty fellows Pacific Ocean floor. “Our message to not just prepare them for future jobs across UD to integrate more maker makers across campus is that we want but inspire them to create the jobs of courses into the UD curriculum. The you to grow with us and sweat with us. the future.” fellows, representing fields ranging It’s good for your mental and physical Badiey partnered with Dan Freeman, from fashion and apparel studies to well-being. It’s good for your soul.” director of UD’s Horn Entrepreneurship plant and soil science, are developing — Tracy Bryant program—recently ranked one of the best in the nation (see box at right)—to develop a funding proposal to the Unidel Foundation, which awarded the team a UD named a top school for budding entrepreneurs $1.5 million grant to support the project.

Pioneering research will also be University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program is one of the done in the MakerGym’s Advanced best in the nation, according to The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Manufacturing Technology Center. magazine. The joint ranking placed UD at #38 in its 2020 list of the top 50 Behind the center’s walls, researchers undergraduate schools for entrepreneurial studies. will explore “additive” manufacturing— This marks the University’s first appearance on the list. UD’s inclusion the process in which products are built celebrates its standing among the top 10% of such programs. Nationwide, by depositing, or “adding,” layer upon more than 500 colleges and universities offer entrepreneurship layer of material, such as plastic, metal, programs, but few empower budding entrepreneurs the way Horn concrete or even living cells. According does. Horn Entrepreneurship began just seven years ago and has grown to center leader Mark Mirotznik, additive exponentially every year since, impacting thousands annually. manufacturing is less costly, allows faster Horn combines a personalized approach with lessons learned from customization of products and produces successful entrepreneurs and evidence-based best practices. The less waste than traditional methods. resulting curricula go far beyond traditional classroom experiences. “UD is at the forefront in using this Blue Hens bent on changing the world learn by doing, building their technology, which has the potential own businesses from scratch with support from faculty, staff and to revolutionize how products are business leaders. Participating students receive mentoring, professional created,” says Mirotznik, professor of development, valuable connections and funding opportunities. Last year, electrical and computer engineering. startups supported by Horn received more than $7.4 million in funding. As work in advanced manufacturing technology develops, he envisions

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 15 Person of Interest by dena hillison Bonnie Meszaros wants students to understand the importance of conscientious spending, saving and investing.

n the summer of 1974, Bonnie T. Meszaros I found herself in Purnell Hall, taking her first-ever economics course. A social studies teacher who had recently relocated to Delaware, she was there only to satisfy the state’s certification requirement. Once the course was finished, she figured, there would be no further need to pursue economics. But Prof. Jim O’Neill, then-head of UD’s new Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE), opened her eyes to this overlooked and essential component of education—one that prepares kids for the real world. And so, Meszaros stayed at the center, which supplements K-12 education with tailored educational programs around economics and personal finance, helping

“We want students to know how markets work and how informed decisions can lead to financial security” —Bonnie Meszaros

16 University of Delaware Magazine PHOTOS BY KATHY F. ATKINSON F. KATHY BY PHOTOS students understand the importance or 300 students, her presentation skills of conscientious spending, saving and are impeccable and her patience with investing. For the past 45 years, she participants is commendable. Simply has dedicated her career to improving put, she is one of the best, if not the best, economic education in Delaware. in our profession.” “I think the strength of this center, Last fall, the CEEE honored Meszaros’ from the very beginning, is the focus legacy by creating the annual Bonnie EXPERT ADVICE: HOW on the power of the teacher,” Meszaros T. Meszaros Economics Teacher of TO INSTILL HEALTHY says. “Helping those teachers to know the Year Award, given to a Delaware MONEY HABITS IN the content is not enough. Teachers K-12 teacher of economics, personal CHILDREN have to know how to teach economics finance or entrepreneurship who has in appropriate ways for their grade demonstrated a sustained history MAKING CHOICES Something as simple as a levels. The thing I’m most passionate of commitment and contribution to trip to get frozen yogurt can about in this work is that we listen to economic education. teach kids important lessons teachers and then tailor programs that After a career spanning almost five in economics and opportunity meet their needs.” decades, Meszaros, now associate costs. Only let them select Back in 1974, CEEE’s programming director of the CEEE, says she hasn’t one topping, explaining that was composed of three, week- retired because she loves to empower if they choose the chocolate long summer institutes and half a educators to deliver the healthy habits candy, they will have to give up the whipped cream.

MAKING MISTAKES Kids often have little interaction with money, but an allowance or cash gift can help empower them. Let them choose what to do with it, then help them reflect on what they could have done differently. This will teach dozen visits to school social studies and practical skills students need them the value of money. departments. By the mid-1990s, the to graduate as economically literate center had grown to 33 programs for and flourishing citizens. 675 teachers. Last year, CEEE hosted 167 “We want students to know how ESTABLISHING A BANK programs reaching over 3,075 teachers markets work and how informed ACCOUNT Help them open a savings in Delaware. The center has also decisions can lead to financial account; in fact many banks worked with Delaware politicians to security,” she says. “Ultimately, we have programs just for create and institute new standards for want students leaving high school kids. Talk them through the personal finance. prepared for the challenges of the purpose of a bank and what “Bonnie’s mentoring and feedback real world, whether that’s taking happens to their money there. have been invaluable not only to me out loans for college, planning for This will help them to develop but also to thousands of teachers,” says retirement or recognizing how the habit of saving early. Carlos Asarta, director of the CEEE. national and global events can “Whether she is dealing with 20 teachers impact their day-to-day lives.”

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 17 A NOURISHING PURSUIT

18 University of Delaware Magazine 41% of four-year collegE students nationally reported being “food Insecure.”

At UD, that number is cut by almost half. we’re making a difference.

by Eric Ruth, AS93 | Illustrations by James Olstein Volume 28 Number 1 2020 19 A NOURISHING PURSUIT

FOOD INSECURITY: LACK OF RELIABLE ACCESS From the outside, college can TO ENOUGH FOOD problem of campus “food insecurity”— look so comfy: Stylish students defined as a lack of reliable access stroll the manicured Green with FOR A HEALTHY, to enough food for an active, healthy studied coolness, their eyes glued ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. life. The facts disturbed her: A 2018 to thousand-dollar cellphones, their Temple University study found that bellies filled with diet-appropriate 23% of UD students reported being dining hall meals—their bills paid by AT UD, 23% OF STUDENTS “food insecure” in the last 30 days mom and dad. REPORTED BEING (the national average for four-year Now erase that image from your colleges is 41%). The problem is even “FOOD INSECURE” mind, and see the reality that more greater for UD students who are gay/ and more students face today: For IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. lesbian (37%), African-American (42%), them, college is a time of dilemma or transgender (40%). and distress, of wondering whether to “Our rates of food insecurity are buy groceries or pay rent, of toiling to below the national average, but we’re make ends meet with outside work— students”—single parents, working not all that dissimilar from what other yet still making the grade in class. adults and applicants from meager four-year institutions report,” Wiens For these young adults, all it takes circumstances—UD is working to says. is one life crisis to bring their college ensure their efforts aren’t undone That was a compelling revelation. career to a screeching stop. All it takes by a lack of food. It’s a cause that “I was surprised by my own is a few unexpected bills to make has inspired action on the inside ignorance—that I didn’t even know nutritious food an elusive option. and outside of campus, generating about it,” says Zimmerman, AS20, And happily, all it takes is some Blue eager alumni support, prompting who spent much of the past year and Hen compassion to ease their hunger. acts of selfless student endeavor, and a half bringing a national program As the promise of a degree attracts delivering a growing array of student called “Swipe Out Hunger” to UD. increasing numbers of “non-traditional resources, ranging from emergency funding to meal-ticket sharing programs. “People tend to look at campus, and only see affluence,” says Prof. Kristin Wiens, coordinator of UD’s Food and Nutrition Education Lab. “The tough part with hunger is that it’s EVEN HIGHER RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY WERE UD STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED invisible. It’s a problem that doesn’t need to be in the dark. It needs to be REPORTED FOR in the light.” STUDENTS WHO ARE Student Katie Zimmerman saw that GAY/LESBIAN % 1,144 stark reality in her junior year when 37 MEALS AND $348 THROUGH she first learned about the national TRANSGENDER % SWIPE OUT HUNGER 40 IN JUST 2 DAYS % AFRICAN-AMERICAN 42

20 University of Delaware Magazine A NOURISHING PURSUIT

The concept is simple: Students with busted laptops. “It’s meant for the unneeded “swipes” on their meal cards student who doesn’t have that safety can donate them to a centralized pool, net, either through their family or LAST YEAR BLUE HEN allowing the meals to be electronically through their network of friends,” says ALUMNI GAVE dispersed to needy students’ own Meaghan Davidson, assistant dean of University cards. $ students. Since the program’s launch last 18,000 After launching a focused year, students have contributed 1,144 TO THE STUDENT CRISIS FUND fundraising campaign last year with meals and $348 through a two-day the Alumni Relations Department, the TO HELP NEEDY STUDENTS dining hall donation drive, with more Dean’s Office discovered that Blue Hen to come after this spring’s campaign is grads were eager to help strengthen tallied. By the end of 2019, 10 students the fund, giving $18,000—more than all had sought out food assistance the previous years combined. In 2019, through the program, and there’s a friends through this program, which the fund helped a record number of strong sense that others just haven’t was super important for me,” says students—61% of them minorities, and heard about it, or refrain from seeking Zimmerman. “There’s still so much 20% first-generation students. help out of shame. stigma people feel.” Nationally, the need for such That stigma frequently undermines Students are connected to the assistance is growing, even as the even the most committed outreach program through the Dean of Students circumstances are becoming less tied efforts, experts say. By electronically Office, but many others at UD helped to specific incidents, and increasingly transferring meals to needy students, accommodate the effort, giving related to broader difficulties in Swipe Out Hunger keeps their Zimmerman a valuable life lesson in students’ lives. At UD and across predicament out of public view. being a behind-the-scenes catalyst. the nation, the dynamics of college “You can still go to dinner with your “I’ve been incredibly lucky,” says affordability seemed to be aligning in Zimmerman, a neuroscience major who needed to become an impromptu expert in marketing, outreach and administrative politics. “There were pieces of it that as a student, I didn’t know how to deal with. But I didn’t have a huge amount of pushback.” And neither did the people at the STUDENTS WITH A GPA OF Dean’s Office when they embarked $ 3.1 OR HIGHER ARE 2,000 on a plan to reinvigorate UD’s 8-year- old “Student Crisis Fund,” which RAISED DURING I HEART UD DAY has traditionally been used to help % IN 2019 FOR UD’S BLUE HEN students facing urgent mishaps, from 60 BOUNTY FOOD PANTRY apartment fires to slashed tires to LESS LIKELY TO BE “FOOD INSECURE.”

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 21 A NOURISHING PURSUIT

bleak ways: With tuition rates hitting student off campus can be 100% was raised for Blue Hen Bounty all-time highs, the gap between connected to their college success,” through the philanthropic-focused I financial aid and college costs is adds Adam Cantley, UD’s dean of Heart UD Day, and the local Food Lion widening, creating a greater need for students. gave 6,200 meals. One father-and- student loans or outside work—just as Other research has found that son duo, Arin Nakirikanti and Kiran wages have begun to stagnate. hunger also triggers anxiety and Nukiranti, coordinated a food drive Other factors only intensify the depression, amplifying students’ pain during the Hindu festival of Diwali, predicament: Universities have been and hopelessness. “The research ultimately donating 1,250 pounds of trying to accommodate more students suggests it impacts graduation rates canned goods. from low-income families, but and attention span,” says Weins, who To the students who benefit, such federal food assistance is available has found that student veterans and generosity can be the difference to college students only under rare graduate students are especially between a degree and disaster. And circumstances, and even then it is prone to food insecurity issues. there’s no doubt they sense that frequently underutilized. Students Yet despite the deeper awareness, salvation, Davidson says. can get a job to alleviate financial the problem remains difficult to tackle, “It almost makes me cry,” she says, struggles, but experts say working even as mounds of donated food “the emails we get, the gratitude they more than 10 hours a week puts grow. The Temple study found that show.” academic performance at risk—and stigma stands as a major barrier at working 10 or fewer hours doesn’t many universities, making students begin to cover today’s costs. reluctant to use resources such as A study by the Education Trust UD’s Blue Hen Bounty food pantry found that many students have to (founded in 2016 by then-junior Carson RESOURCES FOR HUNGER work more than 40 hours a week Hanna, EHD18, at Newark’s St. Thomas ON CAMPUS to pay bills—essentially a full-time Episcopal Church), and the Food • Students interested in volunteer job—and Temple scholars say that the Recovery Network (a student group or leadership opportunities average UD student needs to clock that donates leftover dining hall food with Swipe Out Hunger can 26.4 hours a week at a minimum- to pantries for use by both students contact Katie Zimmerman wage job to cover their tuition and and residents). at [email protected]. living expenses. Relatively high rent “They don’t get a lot of traffic • Students in need of food in the Newark area exacerbates the through the door at Blue Hen Bounty,” assistance can reach out to problem, according to Wiens. says Weins, who is working to create the Dean of Students Office As they agonize over unpaid bills, a University-wide task force on at [email protected]. hungry students are also at more risk campus hunger and homelessness. • More information on UD of academic failure, studies have “The students who need the support assistance programs is shown. A 2016 report in the Journal of are the hardest to get hold of. And available at udel.edu/ Nutrition Education and Behavior found they don’t see themselves as food studentlife/hunger. a correlation between food insecurity insecure because it’s supposedly • For more on UD’s Blue Hen and grades: Students with a GPA of ‘normal’ to subsist on ramen and mac- Bounty food pantry, visit 3.1 or higher were 60% less likely to be and-cheese in college.” bluehenbounty.weebly.com “food insecure.” But the impulse to help remains “We know what happens to a strong at UD. Last year, nearly $2,000

22 University of Delaware Magazine SECTION OR STORY TITLE

Office Hours with Jaipreet Virdi Jaipreet Virdi was just 4 years old many research, writing, teaching and I ask: How do you when a bout of meningitis left her public outreach activities. “ almost totally deaf and struggling Her first book, Hearing Happiness: personalize technology? to adjust to her new reality and to Deafness Cures in History, will be society’s perceptions. published in May by the University of Over the years, her experience Chicago Press, and she’s already at ” fueled a personal and a professional work on two other books, one about passion to examine how hearing loss what it means to be deaf and the has been viewed throughout history, other a biography of an early scholar both medically and in popular culture. of disability. She also is continuing her Now an assistant professor of history work on “Objects of Disability,” an at UD with a doctorate in the history online resource database of historical of science, technology and medicine, artifacts used or made by Canadians Virdi has developed a scholarly with disabilities. specialization in disability studies. Virdi’s work has been recognized “Technology is still my favorite topic,” by the Forum for History of Human she says. “I ask: How do you personalize Science, which presented her its 2019 technology? From eyeglasses to hearing Early Career Award. aids to your iPhone? The answer is that Turn the page for a look inside people tinker with the technology they her office. wear on their bodies to make it theirs.” — Ann Manser, AS73 Her students like to tinker, too. They drop by her office with academic questions and often hang out for a while, testing out the audiometer, examining the prosthetic leg and— everyone’s favorite—assembling the “Visible Woman” clear plastic model with removable body parts and organs. Looking over these collections may be entertaining, but all the items serve a serious purpose as Virdi pursues her

Virdi is holding a book from her office bookshelf, Rethinking Modern Prostheses in Anglo-American Commodity Cultures, 1820–1939. She is the author of a chapter on

artificial ear drums once promoted as a cure for deafness. “Total fakes.” Volume 28 Number 1 2020 23 1

2

3

4

24 University of Delaware Magazine OFFICE HOURS

Assortments of hearing aids over the years “Some of these were works of art, but they were also meant to be hidden, which seems very strange,” Virdi says. One was built into the earpieces of a pair of glasses. Another could be worn as a tie clip by men or as a hair clip by women. There’s a theory, Virdi adds, that a lot of computer 3 technology developed from hearing aid technology, which reduced the size of electronics for patient comfort and discretion.

2 The Vibrosage During the early 20th century, electrotherapy 1 became a popular avenue for domestic medicine. People purchased hand- held massagers like this one for treating a wide range of conditions, such as arthritis, acne, Wizard Oil A bottle of Hamlin’s deafness, psoriasis Dolls for All Dolls that showed children Wizard Oil, an American patent with disabilities predated the Cabbage and more. medicine cure-all. Like many Patch Kids fad of the early 1980s. There late 19th-/early 20th-century cure- were versions with leg braces and alls, Hamlin’s was composed of wheelchairs, for example, and this one mostly alcohol; in this case, 55%. wearing hearing aids. The dolls weren’t sold to consumers but were made for children’s hospitals and other healthcare providers to use.

The “Visible A model used Woman” plastic in phrenology, a model kit was pseudoscience a very popular popular in the educational toy, first 1800s that analized sold in 1960. “I have the shape of a students who stop person’s skull and into my office just to play with this,”

PHOTOS BY EVAN KRAPE the bumps on it to ostensibly determine she says. She found intellectual abilities it in an antique 4 and character traits. store when she was looking for a gift for her nephew. Citizen of the World by Ann Manser, AS73 hen Jullion Cooper arrived as a freshman at UD’s WNewark campus from his home in Millsboro, Delaware, in 2001, nothing could have been further from his mind than a career representing the United States overseas. “The idea of foreign service wasn’t even on my radar,” says Cooper, AS05, who was the first in his family to attend college. “I didn’t know what a Foreign Service officer was—or even, really, what diplomacy was.” His initial plan to prepare for a career in forensic medicine took an early turn when he found a passion for law and public policy that far outweighed his interest in what he was learning in biology class. Exploring questions about the philosophy of the justice system motivated him to change his major to criminal justice with the idea of attending law school after graduation. Then, in fall 2003, came another detour. And this was a big one. “I was enjoying my classes and thriving, when I had the chance to study in Spain for the semester,” says

Cooper. “That study abroad program PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULLION COOPER completely changed my life.” “Being launched into a different culture, having to create and forge your own personal narrative and your own identity in a new place can be scary, but for me, it was very liberating.” As a person of color in the United A Foreign Service officer stationed in Haiti since last July, States, he says, he often felt he was Jullion Cooper, AS05, provides on-the-ground analysis and being viewed as representative of insight to Washington, D.C. diplomats and policymakers.

26 University of Delaware Magazine all African Americans. In Spain, he left Since July, he’s been stationed in Haiti as that pressure behind and instead became a political reporting officer, providing the a kind of ambassador for all American big-picture diplomats and policymakers in culture, explaining life in the U.S. to new Washington with on-the-ground analysis Patricia Scruggs, AS83 acquaintances, he says. and insights into any situations or incidents Cooper loved the experience so much that arise and affect everyday Haitian life Foreign Affairs that, after graduation, he returned to Spain, and U.S. foreign policy. Fellows where he took graduate courses and later Cooper married recently, and his taught English. Back in the U.S. after a husband, Alan Yarborough, once lived in Jullion Cooper, AS05, was the few years, he worked for a Boston-area Haiti and speaks Haitian Creole, so the first UD student or alumnus to program that helped former prison inmates current assignment has been perfect for receive a Thomas R. Pickering transition back to society until he got “itchy both of them, he says. With a spouse to Foreign Affairs Fellowship, a feet” and the desire to travel again. consider now, he’ll have more factors to State Department program that “I decided on graduate school, so a weigh in his choice of future assignments, prepares exceptional young master’s in international relations was but the idea of moving every two years people, particularly those from an opportunity to reinvent myself again,” remains exciting. underrepresented groups, for he says. The graduate program at Johns “Every assignment in the Foreign Service the Foreign Service. Hopkins School of Advanced International comes with an expiration date,” he says, In 2019, UD’s second Pickering Studies included study in Italy, and he was so he and Yarborough know they’ll be Fellow was selected. Nasir awarded a highly competitive Thomas R. leaving Haiti in July 2021. Where to? That’s Wilson, currently a senior with a Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship from still unknown. double major in political science the U.S. State Department. “I’m open to everything, but the reality and criminal justice, will pursue The fellowship supports graduate is that we have to go to a place where graduate studies supported by studies, in exchange for the recipient’s we’re both respected as gay men,” he says, the fellowship and then have commitment to three years of work in adding with a laugh: “I speak six languages, the opportunity to work as a the Foreign Service. In Cooper’s case, he and I’d very much like to not have to learn Foreign Service officer. didn’t need three years to know that the another one.” The University has another job was right for him. He was hooked Cooper can also joke about the life of key connection to the program immediately and is making the Foreign a Foreign Service officer—“Picking up your as well. Patricia Scroggs, Service his long-term career. life and your family and moving to a new AS83, served as a Foreign His first overseas assignment was in country every few years is not something Service officer in the U.S. and China, where he worked in a U.S. consulate, most normal people want to do!”—but he abroad and now is director handling visas and providing assistance to says he couldn’t imagine any other life that of diplomatic fellowships at American citizens there. would suit him so well. Howard University, where she He then had two one-year stints with “With my love of public service, language leads the Pickering and the State Department agencies in Washington, and traveling overseas, no other career Charles Rangel foreign affairs D.C., first with the Bureau of International in the world could offer all this,” he says. fellowship programs. In 2018, Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs “And then to be representing the United Scroggs returned to UD to meet and later with the Bureau of Intelligence States wherever you go is a tremendous with students in a series of and Research. responsibility and privilege.” career workshops.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 27 following in her father’s footsteps…

28 University of Delaware Magazine In an increasingly distracted and impatient world—where inattention reigns on the road and in our lives—Laura Carney sees hope. It’s in her father’s bucket list, written decades before his death as the ultimate love letter to life.

by Eric Ruth, AS93

In her heart she’s still connected to him, full of his 38 years old and well into her career as a magazine copy funny jokes and big dreams. She senses his spirit, one editor. The first 10 years after her father’s death, she’d she’s come to understand is so much like her own. shelved her grief by pursuing her profession. But her pain Although Mick Carney, AS71, died 17 years ago—killed by resurfaced when she realized her father couldn’t walk a distracted driver—Laura Carney, AS03, has found a way her down the aisle. “When Steven proposed, he said, PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURA CARNEY AND HER HUSBAND, STEVEN SEIGHMAN to connect joyfully with her father every day, to process ‘You can’t carry this anger into our marriage.’ And he was her grief, and to help others cope with sudden loss. right,” Laura remembers. “I knew I had to do something.” Laura’s transformation—and her father’s legacy—lies For three years, she educated others about distracted on a few timeworn scraps of white notepaper. It is driving, hoping to prevent further tragedies, but it wasn’t Mick’s “bucket list,” written the year she was born and enough. Car fatalities kept going up. found by her brother, Dave, BE02, years after his death. When her dad’s list emerged in 2016, it was the In casual, looping script, it still tells of the things he perfect time to find a new way. It was six months after hoped to do: Speak with a U.S. president. Go skydiving her wedding, and as she held the list, she remembered at least once. Correspond with the pope. who her dad really was—a man whose life was hopeful, When Laura first saw the list of 60 dreams, she was not one that could be defined by tragedy.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 29 BUCKET LIST

# OWN A 38 BLACK TUX

…with a daring spirit bold “So when I found the list, it was like my dad was the media requests seemed to be coming from every providing me a framework, a way of telling his story direction: Her first big interview on Inside Edition was through the things he cared about. I knew immediately followed by an appearance on CBS News and a slew —I had a gut instinct I should finish it. And I had this of local stations. image in the back of my mind of my dad smiling, “It kind of went viral,” she says. and nodding, ‘Yes.’” As she prepped for high-pressure interviews and Scanning his ambitious and sometimes whimsical learned how to keep pace with the requirements of an list—“Teach a class about wine.” “Grow a watermelon” increasingly busy schedule, Laura found herself sometimes —she found he had checked off five, and failed at overwhelmed and a bit bewildered. another, leaving her with 54 to “I didn’t aspire to help myself,” she complete for him. says now. “I just wanted to save lives Almost immediately, she launched and honor my dad. I had no idea it a blog and website focused on her would draw the interest it did or happen mission, and zeroed in on her first so fast.” challenge: “Run 10 miles straight.” Her days became a whirl of Laura decided to take on the Los advocacy and adventure. There she Angeles Marathon (she ran half, while was, fulfilling Mick’s dreams by skydiving her college roommate Kelly Solis, on TV—and throwing up on herself EHD02, ran the other), finishing just onscreen. There she was, tackling the before a Good Housekeeping article tennis challenge—“Beat a number-one she authored on her bucket-list quest seeded tennis player in a tournament”— began to stir national attention. Soon, then badly injuring herself on the court PHOTO OF CARNEY IN A TUX BY ADRIAN BACOLO. ALL OTHER IMAGES BY STEVEN SEIGHMAN OR COURTESY OF LAURA CARNEY. LAURA OF COURTESY OR SEIGHMAN STEVEN BY IMAGES OTHER ALL BACOLO. ADRIAN BY TUX A IN CARNEY OF PHOTO

30 University of Delaware Magazine BUCKET LIST

the first day she tried. Hoping to achieve her dad’s dream of meeting a U.S. president, she was foiled at every turn— until destiny kindly arranged a chance encounter with President Jimmy Carter’s biographer. “People I’ve never met before, I end up staying friends # with. What I think happens is while I’m thinking I was fated 36 to meet them, they think they were fated to meet me,” she LOSE 4” FROM muses. “Even up until the very last minute I thought I wasn’t MY WAIST going to check the presidential meeting off.” I did this cycling and Through it all, she seems to have sensed her dad’s # GROW A via vegan presence—sometimes smiling supportively, sometimes 48 WATERMELON diet chuckling at her foibles. Eerie alignments between her dad’s life and hers have emerged: Just as she started to write her own book on the quest (“write and have a few novels published” is a list ), she discovered the old outlines Mick had written for a book of his own. Just as she had reached the lowest point of her surgery recovery from the tennis injury—”Why am I doing this! It’s too hard,” she cried at one point—a letter from Mick’s college roommate appeared, bearing an old sports newsletter her dad had created. Still, she wonders again and again # whether she can do it all—and again 44 and again, some invisible force steps ATTEND A in to help, to push her on. By the end of SUPERBOWL January 2020, she had managed to finish 31 of the items—and vows to complete the # list by the end of the year. 47 “One in particular is my Moby Dick SURF IN THE right now: ‘Be invited to a political PACIFIC # OCEAN convention.’ But then I reached out to the director of the 51 Delaware Democratic Party and he said, ‘I don’t see why SKYDIVE you can’t come.’” To someone who was quickly becoming a student of the improbable, those words were encouragement enough. “That sounded like an invitation to me!” she jokes. Yet there have been times of self-doubt—moments when she worried that enjoying this effort was revealing her to be the same impossible dreamer her dad often was.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 31 BUCKET LIST

But then she To Life realized, those May it be lived with a daring spirit bold. dreamer parts Inspired by the Carney’s story, UD Magazine wants to give our readers a chance to write down their own dreams. just might be the Make them big, make them small, make them your own. best parts. And We believe in you. that while she feared pursuing something so all- consuming might separate her May luck be on your side from loved ones, Laura Carney found herself drawn to the symbolism of it’s proven to do horseshoes, sometimes facing up and other times pointing the opposite. down. Either option is a gift, she says. ”In much of the Western world, people hang it in the U shape over doorways Because so many so their luck won’t fall out. Everywhere else in the world, they of them have hang it in the arch shape to ‘let luck rain down upon you.’” helped. It resembles the karmic energy Carney has experienced— kindness and compassion for others. “My feeling is, you get So she pushes to decide which luck you want. One type prefers keeping ahead these things under control, while the other is willing to let go of everything, with the faith that you will be OK.” days mindful that the mission itself has made her better—a person who’s found her purpose, and is keenly aware of the magical karmic energy Still, she wonders again and again buzzing through it all. “What I’m starting to learn is whenever whether she can do it all—and again and I’m doing something that’s compassionate and kind, the list works out,” she says. “But again, some invisible force steps in to whenever I’m doing something arrogant or ego-based, it falls apart.” help, to push her on. The karmic alignments have been good of late: She has gotten a literary agent interested in her story, and has written half of her book. “In many ways, I think it has made me a better family member, more open, more compassionate,” she says, thinking of her dad, who valued family so highly. She sees him more clearly now—a man who was not unlike many men, full of imperfections and flaws, but also rich with dreams and purpose. In many ways, she now knows, he was a person much like herself. “So often people are afraid of becoming the bad parts of their parents,” she says. “But if you lean into it instead, choose to honor their lives, you just might find there’s nothing to be # afraid of, that the good outweighs the bad—in them, and in 22 GO TO you, too.” ST. THOMAS

32 University of Delaware Magazine Things I want to do for myself List for a lifetime

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______Volume 28 Number 1 2020 33 by Eric Ruth, AS93

UD’s new Esports Arena gives students a chance to get in on the glory of competitive gaming while preparing graduates for a rich assortment of real-world jobs.

34 University of Delaware Magazine GAME ON!

ack in the days when John Kim was a tack-sharp middle schooler Bbrimming with college potential, his mom would plead for him to PLEASE PUT DOWN the video game controller and focus more on his future. As it turns out, that’s exactly what he was doing. by Eric Ruth, AS93 Just a few years after studiously ignoring all parental pleas, Kim and his fellow student gamers are finding that their seemingly idle pursuits have become the stuff of collegiate innovation and next- gen sporting prowess: The distinctly 21st century phenomenon of scholastic video game competition has officially arrived at UD—and UD is already pushing the power-boost button. Just last fall, Kim and a contingent of other fast-fingered prodigies made the cut for the first four Fightin’ Blue Hen varsity squads in “esports,” a global sensation that now boasts more viewers than the NHL or the NBA, and offers the promise of rich payouts, lucrative sponsorships and even scholarships. And over winter, a slick new UD Esports Arena was unveiled at Perkins Student Center, complete with -speed gaming computers, ergonomically enhanced gamer chairs, and even air-conditioned headphones suited to long bouts laced with jargon-packed team banter. “It’s going to be huge, right out of the box,” predicts Steve Kramarck, who oversees UD’s teams as associate director of University Student Centers. “But there’s also a lot of room for growth here.” The University hopes these early PHOTOS BY EVAN KRAPE moves will help it stay on the leading

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 35 edge of a wave that could boost it will be like, ‘Wow! I can be on the baseball and other NCAA sports reside enrollment, bolster reputation and team. I want to be part of that culture.’” within the UD Athletics department. ultimately prepare graduates for a But for the 34 current players, it But as with basketball and other rich assortment of real-world jobs, has already been the stuff of their more physically focused NCAA sports, from marketing to . unapologetically nerdy dreams. Kim has found that egaming instills UD already had some academic “Playing for a team that’s associated teamwork, discipline and a thirst for offerings in gaming, but administrators with the school is so cool,” says Kim, self-improvement. Strategies can be wondrously complex, and gaming’s goal-driven, glory-seeking mindset helps foster a skill crucial for later success—a will to prevail despite the odds. “You have to be physically fit. You need hand-eye coordination. You need to be adept at working together,

“You have to be physically fit. You need hand-eye coordination. You need to be adept at working together, creating strategies, solving challenges through collaboration.”

PHOTO BY KATHY F. ATKINSON - MATT ROBINSON are tweaking sports management A high-tech broadcast booth in the UD Esports Arena integrates multiple camera courses and talking about a new creating strategies, solving challenges views and microphones for student interdisciplinary major centered “shoutcasters” to provide live play-by-play through collaboration,” says Prof. Matt entertainment during matches. around egaming—hoping that an early Robinson, who is helping to develop entry into intercollegiate electronic BE20, who goes by the in-game name academic components incorporating battlegrounds will lift UD ahead of “kaMba” as squad captain in League egaming. “I think for a lot of people, East Coast rivals in an increasingly of Legends, a fantasy-fueled virtual the stereotype of gamers is someone competitive market. battlefield featuring superpowered in their room by themselves. But “It will definitely drive recruitment,” characters waging pitiless-but- it actually promotes cooperation, says Tony Doody, who helped bloodless combat. “When I came here communication and competitiveness.” spearhead the new program as from South Korea at age 6, I didn’t have “There’s also a camaraderie director of University Student Centers. many friends. One thing I could always between players that gets developed,” “We have lots of stories of top-notch turn to was basketball and gaming.” says Theo Fessaras, AS20, a computer students not coming here because At UD, intercollegiate egaming is engineering and physics double major of no esports program. If I’m a high operated under the auspices of the who plays for the Overwatch team schooler thinking about coming to UD, Division of Student Life, while football, under the nom de jeu “Cobalt.” “You

36 University of Delaware Magazine GAME ON!

have to think, you have to problem- stroboscopic chaos that greets the solve, you have to handle pressure.” Globally, esports unacquainted spectator’s eye. To “I get to challenge myself has become a $22 insiders, many of them players since against some of the best players billion industry, before they entered elementary in the country, something I with more viewers school, it all makes perfect sense: couldn’t do in high school,” adds than the Games seethe with dramatic Kim. “It really forces you to pay NHL or NBA. charges, clever feints, improbable attention, to have that drive to reverses—all accompanied by fevered constantly be learning, or you’ll fall commentary from “shoutcasters” who behind.” will add the in-game color from one The growth of esports at UD has corner of the Perkins arena. been fueled for years by such youthful On the field of play itself, players in passion. Even before the varsity team Hearthstone—are also off and winning. headsets engage in a running dialogue was born, players who were part of League of Legends recently “pwned” of exhortations, agonized cries, verbal UD’s two gaming-centric clubs could Duke University (“defeated,” to us mere high-fives. Tapped into the action claim high-ranked success in online mortals), and earlier this year was one telephonically, coaches based overseas tournament play. Many have even of just six teams nationwide to stand fine-tune players’ skills during two-hour- supplemented their semester finances unbeaten against teams from Penn per-day, thrice-weekly practice sessions. with tournament winnings, including State, Army and Seton Hall. “My goal During competitions, team leaders Thomas Mulligan, BE16 (better known as is to go 24-0,” team captain Kim says oversee tactics, admonish laggards, “72hrs” online), who has won $320,700 without a trace of doubt. caution against excessive zeal. in just 24 tournaments. Yet to outsiders of a certain “Watch echo here,” one Blue Hen And the four fledgling Blue Hen vintage, the athletic bonafides (and captain could be heard warning varsity teams—League of Legends, academic potential) of esports can teammates in a recent online Overwatch, Rocket League and seem as murky as the maelstrom of scrimmage.

Opponents are out of PUNISH THEM: ULT: Short for “ultimate,” usually in position, so respond and destroy. To push back an opponent, BOOP: reference to possessing a character’s BMING: Shorthand for badmouthing, particularly toward and over a ultimate “power,” i.e., “I have my ult.” bad manners. : Opponent is precipice (Overwatch). “[THAT PLAYER] IS ONE.” GANKING: The act of surprising an LAMP: Invulnerability shield one hit away from destruction. opponent, typically from behind. (Overwatch). PEEL: Go and defend teammate in CHOKE: A confined area ideal for trouble. destroying opponents (Overwatch). SALTY: Bitter/upset. DPS: “Damage per second,” often used to describe the role of a character with a lot of damage-dealing power.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 37 GAME ON!

“I have no clue what happened,” (“Butter”), predicts she won’t be alone for this is another way we are working to another replied after running afoul of an long. “The culture has always been male promote those friendships,’’ Stevens says. opponent’s treachery. dominated,” says Emma Lewis, ANR23, And as the team reaches toward “Just run, just run,” he’s told, and run manager of the Overwatch team. “It can greater inclusivity and inevitable Blue Hen he did, as fast as his armor-fortified, be hard as a woman to break glory, there’s a feeling that UD is again on keyboard-coordinated, bird-of-prey in on that, but it never bothered me. the leading edge of the Next Big Thing, legs could move. I know how to work with them and a sentiment that’s shared by a UD grad UD administrators are taking steps not be intimidated.” now overseeing the Electronic Gaming to ensure the new e-athletes aren’t The egaming wave is even reaching Federation’s push into collegiate esports. getting too much screen time, and have UD’s English Language Institute, where “It’s growing—growing every year,” says been careful to address concerns over there are now 10 new gaming stations former UD gaming club standout David ergonomics, academic balance and accommodating two five-member teams. Chen, EG17, who is now head of events team diversity. The Esports Arena will be “As fast-growing as it is in the U.S., it’s even and league operations at the EGF, which open to all students, and players must bigger in Asia,” says Scott Stevens, ELI coordinates collegiate play for UD and meet GPA minimum. director. “It’s exciting that UD will be one of other schools. “It’s a $22 billion industry, Yet so far, the Blue Hen roster is mainly the few institutions that’s catching up.” and that’s just in the past decade.” male, typical of today’s game-culture Stevens says 40% of Asian students at “If we don’t do this,” Robinson adds, gender paradigm, though UD is working U.S. universities go through all four years “we’re not doing our job of preparing to find ways to recruit more. without making any American friends. “At students for these new opportunities.” The squad’s lone woman, quietly UD, we have bucked that trend, and intense and improbably nicknamed

Gaming is the most likely entertainmentof the under-35 set. during free time for 42% (Source: Hub Entertainment)

PHOTO BY EVAN KRAPE EVAN BY PHOTO

38 University of Delaware Magazine “As soon as I

In the fast-paced, fast-growing world of esports, heard about few have faster fingers than Thomas Mulligan, BE16. Just four years after graduating from UD, Mulligan— UD’s team, I was better known to fans as “72hrs”—has blasted his way into the upper echelons of competitive play in the like, ‘Get me on game Fortnite, amassing $320,000 in prize money and earning a place on one of the top pro squads, board. I want to TeamLiquid. On the gaming website Twitch, he stands as the 29th most popular Fortnite player, drawing an be involved.’ This average of 4,900 viewers per match. Over on YouTube, more than 360,000 people have signed up to watch his gives students banter-fueled game videos, occasionally peppering him with fanboy questions: “When are you going to shave an opportunity the beard?” (He’s not). “Do any TeamLiquid players smoke cigarettes?” (No). for bonding, for belonging. Getting as many students involved as I can is one of my goals.”

Operations executive with the Electronic Gaming Federation, which includes UD’s new esports teams

The New Jersey resident’s popularity seems driven in part by his sassy, snarky personality, but a softer side frequently emerges: He often gives young gamers a chance to play against the champ, gently coaching as they nervously keep pace with the master—and occasionally crush him. “That was smart, you closed the wall,” he told one young rival who had blasted him to electronic smithereens. Then, with a touch of pedagogical pride, he added: “You’re evil!”

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 39

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 39 Alan Fox wants to

Blow Your by ArtikaMind Rangan Casini, AS05 Illustrations by Kailey Whitman

40 University of Delaware Magazine et there be light,” says the philosophy professor, smirking Lslightly as he flips on the switch of the shadowed classroom. The students shift in their chairs, watching the man in jeans and sneakers, short-sleeved shirt and tie, briefcase in one hand and Styrofoam coffee cup in the other.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 41 SECTION OR STORY TITLE an’t be answ at c ered I th than d. t ions answe uestione is est learning,” the process of showing rs that can’t be q be qu young adults, “Yes, you’re right. But tter to have there are all these other ways of looking at things, too. Whatever you Fox quite enjoys using world religion see, try and see something more.” to subvert this point. It is better to have Take, for instance, the New questions that can’t be answered than Testament tale of Barabbas, who was answers that can’t be questioned, he freed from jail as another prisoner was t’s the first day of World argues. And so, in the humble confines nailed to the cross. “Pilate said unto IReligion, PHIL204, and Alan Fox is of the classroom, he wages an earnest them, Whom will ye that I release unto worried. Not about any one thing in crusade against one-mindednesses— you? Barabbas or Jesus which is called particular, but rather, the intellectual not by forcing students to think Christ?” (Matthew 27:17). laziness he’s been noticing. The differently, but by enticing them to As Fox explains to his students, growing inability to follow logical see more. Barabbas’ first name was also Jesus, arguments or vet sources of To do so, they look to the philosophies and his surname translates to “Son of information. The fake news. The online of the past: the Old and New Testament, the Father.” groupthink. (Which is not to say that the Koran, even Native American “So how do we know they got the Fox is anti-Internet. Books he had ruminations on Earth, soul and spirit. In right guy?” he asks. “Christianity says to literally travel to China to read he the Bhagavad Gita, man wrestles with they did, while Islam insists Jesus did can now access on his phone.) “But duty, discipline and the immortal soul, not die on the cross.” [“That they said there’s all kinds of crackpot garbage while the Daodejing of Laozi, written (in boast), ‘We killed Messiah…but they out there,” he warns the class. during the turbulent political times of killed him not, nor crucified him. But “Misinformation intentionally designed 200 BC, offers spiritual guidance while so it was made to appear to them….” to manipulate the masses.” It’s pretty denouncing unbounded greed. (Qur’an, sura 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158).] scary when you stop to think about it. “These are books people have been It’s all mind-blowing stuff, from And therein lies the problem. arguing about for 5,000, 6,000 years,” the parallels between Hinduism and Because who’s stopping to think? he tells the students. “Understanding is quantum mechanics to the Buddhist And why would anyone need to? not our goal. I’m asking what you think. notion that there is no “self,” and that This is 2020, for heaven’s sake, where That takes courage on your part.” we are simply too distracted by our answers are obvious, opinions are thoughts to reach a higher level of amplified, and information flows like A MIND-BLOWING EDUCATION consciousness. (For his part, Fox—who the air. To think, then, is to question, A professor of Asian and began his career “studying religion and to question is to challenge the very comparative philosophy and religion, as a psychological experience” while foundation of our assumptions, our Fox makes a conscious effort in every working with paranoid schizophrenics— beliefs and, ultimately, ourselves. class to “blow minds.” In one of his refers to Buddhism as “the most favorite course evaluations, a student sophisticated psychological system on said she could feel the neurons forming the planet—as far as I can tell.”) in her brain. Fox thinks of it as “meta-

42 University of Delaware Magazine SECTION OR STORY TITLE an’t be answ at c ered I th than d. t ions answe uestione is est “Prof. Fox is like a performer, always rs that can’t be q be qu holding something back,” says Deepthi t e Cherian, AS09, a pediatric emergency ter to hav When Fox reflects on the first truly room doctor in Denver. “He never mind-blowing thing he ever read, he answers a question for you. I think he Hindu guru and mystic intrigued by the cites The Illuminatus! Trilogy, a 1975 doesn’t necessarily think there is a right hallucinatory drugs. “Do you have any?” science fiction series with a radical one. He makes you want to ask them the yogi asked of the pills, and indeed, premise: That every conspiracy theory for yourself.” Alpert did. But after handing over 900 you’ve ever heard is correct. In some “I always pity someone who hasn’t micrograms of the world’s purest LSD, ways, the book, with its wild notion that taken class with Dr. Fox,” adds Jay he watched in astonishment as the the only limits we have are the ones we Valentine, AS02. “His class taught me mystic swallowed the massive dose impose on ourselves, would dictate the not to put one religion on a pedestal and simply laughed in Alpert’s face. rest of his career. and kick the others to the curb. “So either he’s tripping all the time,” “I’m an open-minded skeptic,” Fox Instead, you learn something deep and Fox says, while relating the story his says. “I’m not a big believer in belief.” interesting in every one.” students, “or his body was able to It all goes back to the arrogance Now an assistant philosophy render the drugs inert.” of ignorance Fox so disdains. “There’s professor at Troy University in Alabama, As it turns out, Harry Houdini was also a plague of stupidity,” he laments. Valentine teaches world religions and a yogi, and advanced yogis claim to slow “Nobody is thinking for themselves other classes in ethics and philosophy, their heart rate down to a near-stop, anymore. Everything has become too always working to impart in his Fox explains. The philosophy professor easy.” In defiance, he and his students students the same wisdom he gained is giving a lesson on meditation, on how turn to texts like the Daodejing, forcing from Fox. “Perhaps the most important “breathing can get you pretty high,” and them to wrestle with seemingly lesson of ethics is that these are not it’s here that he explores breathing’s contradictory concepts: simple questions,” Valentine says. “If unique property: something that is both you can’t find nuance on both sides of voluntary and not; a bridge between the argument, you’re probably missing the things we have control a lot of what’s going on.” over and the things we don’t. Perhaps then, it is not unlike THE LIMITS WE IMPOSE the human brain. But who really knows what’s going on? In 1967, Richard Alpert, one of the early investigators of LSD, carted his psychedelic pills halfway around the world hoping to find someone who better understood their properties. In India, he met Neem Karoli Baba, a

so met and see hing m try ore.” e, nding is no e sta t o s er ur u nd g o U o y “ a ak l

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constant name. accolades. Former admissions director The absence of designation Louis Hirsh often referred to him as initiates the world as a whole; “one of the best recruiting tools” for because he believes everyone has a The presence of designation the Honors Program, which Fox briefly mind, some sharper than others.”

engenders the ten thousand things.1 directed, and retired political science Getting students to use theirs is

“These texts are so obscure, they professor James Magee still marvels at the very essence of Fox’s religion, his

force students to think for themselves,” his colleague’s reputation. “sense of connection to something Fox says. “To think philosophically is to A multiple recipient of the deeper and greater than the self.” make arguments. The best questions University’s Excellence in Teaching and The ability to reason, to think; are the ones that lead to more Advising Awards himself, Magee recalls to ask, seek, question, observe; to questions, not the ones with answers.” the day he ran into a student from his approach the greatest complexities of American government course, who life with curiosity, humility and an open THE DAO OF ALAN FOX hadn’t been attending class. When mind—those are the qualities Fox hopes Fox grew up “conventionally Magee asked the student if everything to instill. religious” in the suburbs of South was alright, the young man simply “My job is to show students sides Jersey, but it could be said that his shrugged and said, “Yeah, I just get your they haven’t seen before,” he says. religion really began with his father, an slides online. But have you heard of “I’m here to drag them kicking and engineer who “never just answered my Alan Fox? You should really sit in on one screaming to the light.” question. He always made me figure it of his classes.” out for myself.” Magee could only laugh. “Alan is It’s a strategy the younger Fox has a teacher you don’t forget,” he says. employed since arriving at UD in 1990. “Students leave his course saying, ‘He challenged me. He made me feel like I had something to contribute. He opened my mind.’ I suppose that’s

[1] Partially translated by Fox, who speaks Mandarin Chinese, reads Classical Chinese, speaks and reads French, and has some facility in Sanskrit, Japanese, Hebrew and Greek.

44 University of Delaware Magazine d see something ry an more.” e, t se ou “Whatever y

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 45 ALUMNI NEWS eyewitness to recent delaware history The CEO from Sweden A man of humble origins, Riley grew NEW ALUMNI & FRIENDS didn’t waste time. It up with eight brothers and sisters in WEBSITE – NOW LIVE! was 1999, his pharma an 800-square-foot home, where his company had already hot-tempered father struggled with It’s here—a new Alumni & Friends merged with one of addiction, and his mother maintained “a website that makes it easy to John Riley, AS68 Delaware’s largest troubled but constant loyalty to the man explore all of your alumni benefits, employers, and relocation threats who made her life so difficult.” events, career advancement and loomed large for the 2,400 employees Riley never expected to attend mentoring tools, ways to give of Wilmington-based Zeneca. college, much less work alongside back to the University and more! As the final headquarters decision Delaware’s corporate and political www.udel.edu/alumni-friends grew near, Astra CEO C.G. Johansson elite, but he credits his education and held meetings with the governors of upbringing for laying the foundation for Pennsylvania and Delaware, intent on his success. “UD’s impact on my life was securing a big incentive offer. never-ending,” he says. “It’s where I met “In Sweden, we have an expression my wife Sharon [HS69], and it opened called ‘spice the pudding,’” Johansson my eyes to the rest of the world.” is said to have told then-Delaware Gov. His post-college journey would take Tom Carper. “And we would like you him to the Army during the height of to spice [it] with an extra $15 million” the Vietnam War, and then return him in relocation assistance. “C.G.,” the to the heart of corporate America. In governor replied, “that’s a lot of spice!” Delaware, he worked as a salesman for An eyewitness to the full exchange, Xerox, as a county politician, lobbyist, John Riley, AS68, recalls the ensuing professional sports manager and as laughter and the ultimate success of the head of government and public relations AstraZeneca merger, which Delaware for Hercules during the chemical giant’s secured with $8 (not $15) million. It’s a dramatic decline and ultimate sale. typical behind-the-scenes tale from The experiences all shaped the Blue Riley’s recent autobiography, Delaware Hen’s outlook, offering him a unique but Eyewitness, which traces five decades of universal lesson on leadership. state history through such anecdotes. “To be successful in negotiations— “The events of my life…have in business and in life—you have to overlapped with one of the most see things through another person’s dynamic periods of social upheaval, perspective,” he says. “You need economic growth and transformation,” empathy for another’s position. If you he writes. “This book has been my have that, you’re always capable of attempt to make sense of it.” finding a solution.”

46 University of Delaware Magazine Volume 28 Number 1 2020 47 Greek Life celebrations ALPHA KAPPA PSI, OMEGA accomplishments higher than ALPHA CHAPTER, 10 YEARS The Greek life memories, traditions, they might have imagined.” Alpha Kappa Psi was friendships and legacies continue long Over its three decades at founded with the vision to UD, the Nu Xi chapter has after graduation for thousands of be the premier developer of contributed to the enrichment, principled business leaders. Blue Hens across the country. development and education of The chapter’s 10-year Here’s a look at some milestone students and the surrounding celebration, held last spring, anniversaries over the past year. community through an included plenty of food, fun, endowed scholarship, as and even a briefcase-shaped to “realize their potential” and nearly 30-year absence, and well as numerous community “brief cake” for dessert! celebrate the individuality of has since recruited 120 new service efforts. each sister, along with their brothers. ALPHA XI DELTA, THETA PHI SIGMA PI, ALPHA ETA GAMMA CHAPTER, talents and interests. DELTA GAMMA, ZETA CHI CHAPTER, 30 YEARS 30 YEARS DELTA CHI, DELTA UPSILON CHAPTER, 25 YEARS Phi Sigma Pi takes Alpha Xi Delta established CHAPTER, NEWLY Established in 1873 as a attributes from an honor its Theta Gamma chapter CHARTERED club of “mutual helpfulness,” society, a service fraternity at UD in October 1989. The Last November, the Delta the founding sisters chose and a social fraternity, sorority encourages women Chi colony became the Delta the Greek letters Delta blending them into a unique, Chi chapter, with a gala and Gamma because of gender-inclusive organization. chartering event in Newark their desire to “Do Good.” To commemorate the attended by more than 150 It remains Delta Gamma’s chapter’s 30-year anniversary, brothers and their families. motto today and a driving members put together a time The fraternity had returned to force in all they do. capsule for future generations the University in 2016, after a DELTA GAMMA of Blue Hens. KAPPA ALPHA PSI, NU XI CHAPTER, 30 YEARS SIGMA ALPHA, ALPHA Formed in the early KAPPA CHAPTER, 20 YEARS 1900s to encourage college A professional agricultural attendance and achievement sorority, Sigma Alpha marked among African American men, its 20-year anniversary the Nu Xi chapter at UD “raises with a special Founder’s the sights of black collegians Day celebration, including a and stimulates them to panel discussion for current DELTA CHI students to interact with alumni in the field.

Is your fraternity or sorority celebrating a milestone anniversary? If so, please share

the photos and updates KAPPA ALPHA PSI with us at [email protected]. 48 University of Delaware Magazine ALUMNI NEWS

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 49 Time Machine REUNION CLASSES LOOK BACK

2020 marks a reunion year for alumni in classes ending in “0” or “5.” With upcoming celebrations planned for Alumni Weekend and Homecoming, several reunion ambassadors took a figurative walk down memory lane, recalling their favorite campus memories. Read on for some that are sure to ring a bell.

1980s Academics by day, Main Street by night—UD students in the 1980s enjoyed the large renovation of the Morris Library and the 1970s Scrounge. Off campus, the Stone Balloon established Mug Night, In the 1970s, female students no where a $5 glass mug bought 50-cent drafts all year. And let’s longer had strict dorm curfews, not forget athletics—in 1981, the Blue Hens became a Division I the long-lasting Vietnam War football team. caused campus protests and “In 1980, our Commencement speaker’s address annual in-state tuition was $450 seemed to go on and on—I’m embarrassed to say at the start of the decade. we were happy that it started to rain, ending the “In August of my senior ceremony. But as a native Delawarean and second- year, I remember finding generation graduate, I am very proud to be a UD out in class that President alumna and have stayed connected in many ways. I Nixon had resigned. I also remember having to have gone back to speak to freshmen interested in step over close friends who were protesting the hearing about life after college, and I still root on Vietnam War and not going to classes. I was Delaware Football.” paying my own way through college and didn’t —Terry T. Shelton Farley, AS80 want to miss class! Other standout memories include walking with the student body to the “There are so many memorable football games, communicating via the vents moments—Move-In Day between our floors in Christiana Towers and freshman year, Homecoming the card catalog in the library.” formals, football games/ —Wayne C. Smith, HS75, who just celebrated 44 years of tailgating and costume parties.” marriage with fellow Blue Hen Linda Godley Smith, EG75 —Meg Daley Rogers, AS85

50 University of Delaware Magazine 2000s Ah, the decade that brought us Facebook, once only open to college students (circa 2004 at UD). On campus, the Fightin’ Blue Hens played their first 2010s So many accolades in the 10s! (or home night game in 2000, after the Teens?) Emeritus Professor Richard installation of lighting in Delaware F. Heck received the Nobel Prize in Stadium, and in 2009, UD purchased Chemistry in 2010; Joe Flacco, BE08, 1990s the old Chrysler plant, which would earned Super Bowl MVP honors in The birth of our technological revolution become the Science, Technology and 2013 for leading the Baltimore Ravens began in the 1990s, as the decade Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. to victory; Elena Delle Donne, ED13, brought cable TV to the dorms, the became UD’s first Olympic Gold plus/minus grading system, Vita Nova, “One of the things I miss the Medalist; David Townsend, ANR19, FLEX accounts and the first UD-issued most is the grilled cheese from became the first UD student elected as email addresses. Kent Dining ... and how all of the walking around campus President of Future Farmers of America; “It’s crazy to think our Social allowed me to eat lots! My most and our graduates continued to make Security number was on our ID their alma mater proud. memorable moments were with cards and used by professors my Sigma Kappa sorority sisters, “My most memorable moment when they posted our grades. and I’m lucky to still be in touch that I shared with others on I remember using my Brother with so many of them. I bleed Blue campus as a UD student was word processor for papers and and Gold, and it’s a home football game versus it always seemed like the ink evident by the Wagner. It was pouring but a cartridge ran out when printing time, talent and handful of us decided to stay and something important!” treasure I’ve given embrace the rain. We cheered, —Lauren Murray Simione, BE95 back over the last danced and jumped in puddles in 20 years.” the student section for the entire —Shante Stargel game. We won, too!” Hastings, EG00 —Kayla Krenitsky, ANR15

Relive19… your glory days! If your class ends in “0” or “5” from the past 50 years, connect with fellow Blue Hens in dedicated Facebook groups and during your milestone celebrations:

Alumni Weekend Reunion Homecoming Reunion Graduated earlier than 1970? Celebrations Celebrations | Oct. 24, 2020 Join us for an on-campus Classes of 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, Classes of 1970, 1975 and 1980 or regional event. Contact 2005, 2010 and 2015 www.udel.edu/homecoming/ [email protected] or 302- www.udel.edu/AWreunions reunions 831-2341 for more information.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 51 ALUMNI NEWS BLUE HENS IN THE BAY AREA…

Learn more about the Bay Area Alumni Club at udel.edu/alumni- friends/bayarea ISTOCK PHOTO ISTOCK

From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the heart of the historic, artsy Oakland—the list goes on. tech industry in Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area While the Bay Area has countless attractions for in Northern California has no shortage of sought-after tourists, it also attracts some of the best and brightest destinations. You can hop on a cable car in hilly San Francisco, to its many thriving and innovative companies, including tour the prison on Alcatraz Island, wine and dine your way Blue Hen Lisa Novak, AS98, director of sports marketing at through Napa Valley, check out the exploding food scene in Clif Bar & Company.

MEET BAY AREA BLUE HEN LISA NOVAK, AS98 What do you love most about your job? Lisa Novak always felt are still some of the most I am grateful for my role the lure of the West Coast. important relationships in at a company that walks After graduating from UD, the my life today. My deep love the walk. Clif Bar is a five- Wilmington, Delaware native of running also sparked in bottom-line business, which lived in Washington, D.C. college. After finishing four annually measures financial and New York City until her years on the UD Women’s results along with how it treats then-fiancé landed a job in Cross Country and Track its people, our planet, the San Francisco. They jumped teams under the leadership of community and our brands. at the chance to relocate. Sue McGrath-Powell, I moved leader and communicator at I learned about the Fifteen years later, the mom on to marathons and trail Clif Bar & Company, where I company back in my cross of 6-year-old twins Milo ultra-marathons. That belief manage a team of 10 athlete country days when I fell in love and Nola now works at her in my endurance and ability employees, oversee the global with Chocolate Chip CLIF Bars, dream job. to take on such an extreme sports marketing strategy but my job is so much more How has your UD athletic challenge was born and cultivate meaningful than just product marketing. education and experience at UD. relationships that drive My team played a central role influenced your personal Professionally, I lean on the awareness and impact. in our LUNA Bar “Someday and professional life? communication skills I gleaned is Now” campaign, working Many of the friendships from my UD education every with U.S. Women’s National I formed (in Dickinson C!) single day to be an effective

52 University of Delaware Magazine ALUMNI NEWS …AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY Team soccer players Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan ATLANTA June 20 – Blue Hen RALEIGH-DURHAM to bring attention to pay May 5 - I Heart UD Day at Dorney Park June 13 – Durham inequality in sports leading Giving Day Happy Hour Aug. 2 – Lehigh Valley Bulls vs. Buffalo Bisons up to the 2019 Women’s Aug. 1 – Atlanta United IronPigs vs. Durham baseball game World Cup in France. On vs. NYCFC soccer game Bulls baseball game Sept. 26 – UD vs. NC Equal Pay Day, we gave each State game and tailgate BALTIMORE LOS ANGELES of the 23 women who made May 5 – I Heart UD June 5 - Dela-Bration RICHMOND the national team the $31,250 Giving Day Happy Hour event at Saint Marc’s May 17 – Flying Squirrels in Century City difference to make their Aug. 22 – Boston Red vs. Hartford Yard Goats roster bonus equal to the Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Aug. 6 – Dodgers vs. baseball game Mets baseball game men’s, no strings attached. baseball game Sept. 20 – LAFC vs. DC SAN DIEGO That was a major career BAY AREA United MLS soccer game May 9 – Cooking class highlight that truly reflects our June 20 – Kayaking on the with Cucina Migrante company values. Bay – Marin departure NEW CASTLE COUNTY June 6 – Dela- Aug. 15 – San Francisco May 5 – I Heart UD bration event Giving Day Happy Hour How do you stay connected Giants vs. Colorado Aug. 1 – San Diego Rockies baseball game July 18 – Carolina Mudcats Padres vs. Philadelphia with UD while living on the vs. Wilmington Blue Phillies baseball game West Coast? BOSTON Rocks baseball game My parents, three siblings May 5 – I Heart UD SOUTH CENTRAL PA Giving Day Happy Hour NEW YORK CITY and many of my cousins May 5 - I Heart UD June 17 – Boston Red May 5 – I Heart UD Giving Day Happy Hour attended UD, so I’ve been to Sox vs. Atlanta Braves Giving Day Happy Hour numerous graduations and baseball Game June TBD – Coney SOUTH FLORIDA Homecomings as a result. Island Day June 27 – Sunset CHICAGO Cruise in Jupiter I’ve been fortunate to attend August TBD – Welcome May 5 - I Heart UD a number of UD regional to the Neighborhood Aug. 19 – Philadelphia Giving Day Happy Hour Phillies vs. Miami Marlins alumni events since moving, July 21 – Cubs vs. White NORTHERN NEW baseball game including San Francisco Sox baseball game JERSEY Giants games. June TBD – Cycle boats WASHINGTON, DC DENVER It’s incredibly fun for me to on the Hudson River May 5 – I Heart UD Aug. 1 – Colorado Giving Day Happy Hour spread the Blue Hen love out Rockies vs. San Francisco PHILADELPHIA July 10 – Philadelphia in the Bay Area as relatively Giants baseball game May 5 – I Heart UD Phillies vs. Washington few Delawareans live out Giving Day Happy Hour HOUSTON Nationals Baseball Game here. The fact I’m from July 18 – Philadelphia May TBD – Houston Phillies vs. Los Angeles Delaware and have a Blue Aquarium Tour Angels of Anaheim Hen as a mascot is a novelty baseball game For event updates, to most people. It gives me KENT AND SUSSEX COUNTY details and registration, an opportunity to share my PHOENIX May 5 – I Heart UD please visit - Dela-Bration passion for the great First Giving Day Happy Hour June 6 Cooking event at Fry’s udel.edu/alumni- State. July 17 – Cape Water – Science with friends/events Taxi Sunset Cruise Oct. 2 a Twist night at the Remember to join Arizona Science Center LEHIGH VALLEY your regional alumni May 5 - I Heart UD club group on Giving Day Happy Hour Facebook!

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 53 FROM THE FILES OF THE BEST UD STORY YOU NEVER KNEW.

3 The story: “The Harter Affair” 3 The year: 1951 PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES UNIVERSITY OF COURTESY PHOTOS

It’s fair to say that Blue Hens are campsites on The Mall/Green after an more susceptible than most to feeling understandably frazzled administration a flutter of pride whenever UD’s unceremoniously evicted all 104 exploits get national attention—even residents. Allegedly the handiwork of when those exploits prove less than a student known only by the nom de praiseworthy. So imagine the buzz that guerre “Louie the Blast,” the explosions must have ensued in the spring of 1951 had been ruffling decorum (and when Life magazine, then the weekly Newarkers’ sleep) since the previous must-read of the middle-American year, until one particularly jolting May 3 masses, did a full-page spread on salvo prompted the punitive axe to fall. the lads of Harter Hall, accused en “Old seniors never die; they just masse of terrorizing co-eds and the get kicked out,” ousted occupant campus at large with firecrackers. BIG Fred Hartmann, AS51, lamented in firecrackers. The Review. Three days after being “Who flung a torpedo,” the booted, though, the boys were back, magazine’s old-fangled headline asked the campus was quiet, and another UD the nation. An accompanying photo legend was born. gallery showed the so-far-unrepentant —Eric Ruth, AS93 dormmates setting up impromptu

54 University of Delaware Magazine CLASSCynthia Rhoades Ryan, AS76 , of Fairfax,NOTES Colleen D. Shields, AS89, of Wilmington, 1940s Va., retired after 32 years of federal Del., has been appointed to lead the Robert L. Hilliard, AS48, of Sanibel, Fla., government service and was awarded Wilmington law office of Eckert Seamans. has written 40 books, including his most the Intelligence Community Lifetime recent book of poetry, No Shackles. Achievement Award. 1990s 1950s Jeffrey A. Behrer, BE77, and Phyllis Alan Bishop, AS91, of Oxford, Md., received Avolio Behrer, AS80, of Smith Mountain the 2019 Melvin Waxman Award from the Lee Brown, EG55, 63PhD, of Lake, Va., retired in 2019 after respective Maryland Optometric Association. Albuquerque, N.M., earned second place careers at ExxonMobil and in speech Tracy Boyd, AS85 Kristin McGlothlin, AS92, of Jupiter, Fla., in a Southwest Writers’ contest for his language pathology. They continue to received the Moonbeam Award for Pre- essay, “Neal Cochran, his SPPs and the see friends and classmates on the golf Teen Fiction for her debut novel Drawing Nation’s Nerve-Agent Deterrence,” based course and at various get-togethers. with Whitman, which focuses on children on Brown’s Army experience in the 1950s. 1980s whose parents struggle with depression. 1970s John Schneider, AS92, of Newburgh, Catherine Porcaro Sifre, AS80, of N.Y., has written and published his first Michael Connors, AS73, of Jupiter, Bridgewater, N.J., has been elected board romantic suspense novel, Love at Point Fla., has been elected board president chair for the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Blank Range. of the HERD Foundation, a nonprofit Hudson Valley chapter. organization that uses horses to help Mary O’Brien Sowers, AS92, of Severn, Thomas Forrest, BE82, of Wilmington, Barbara Snapp veterans and families struggling with Md., has been named executive director of Del., received the 2019 Distinguished Danberg, AS87 addiction. the National Association of State Directors Estate Planner Award from the of Developmental Disabilities Services. James W. Elliott, BA73, of Yorktown, Va., Philadelphia Estate Planning Council. has been elected national president of Forrest is president and CEO of U.S. Trust Jennifer Boes, AS93, of Wilmington, the Antique Automobile Club of America, Company of Delaware. Del., has joined the Greater Wilmington an organization dedicated to preserving Convention and Visitors Bureau as James Bentley, BE85, of Springfield, Ill., automotive history, with headquarters in director of marketing communications has retired after 34 years as a lieutenant Hershey, Pa. and media relations. colonel from the Air National Guard. He is Dan Farrand, ANR74, of Long Valley, N.J., now a division manager with the Office Alexis Foreman, EHD98, of Wernersville, has been elected vice president of the of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. Pa., has been named director of New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. employment relations and assistant Tracy Boyd, AS85, of Frederick, Md., Alan Bishop, AS91 Farrand operates Harbe Dan Farms, where vice president of human resources for was awarded 2019 Designer of the Year he helped his father grow hay and grain Redner’s Markets, Inc. by Experient, A Maritz Global Events production from 200 to more than 1,000 Company, where she works as creative acres. Recent health problems, including a marketing manager. COLLEGE DEGREE LEGEND heart transplant in 2018, have caused him to cut back, but he is still actively farming. Barbara Snapp Danberg, AS87, of ANR • Agriculture and Natural Newark, Del., has been named partner at Resources Rodman W. Gregg, ANR75, of Los Baird Mandalas Brockstedt, LLC, where AS • Arts and Sciences Angeles, has been named president and she specializes in real estate planning BE Lerner College of Business head of content for Roxbury Pictures, LLC • and trust administration. and Economics in Beverly Hills. EG • Engineering Kristin McGlothlin, AS92 EOE • Earth, Ocean and Environment Share your news EHD • Education and Human Development The Magazine encourages alumni to send us news to share with your fellow Blue Hens. A new job, a promotion, a personal or professional HS • Health Sciences award … they’re all accomplishments we want to announce. M • master’s degree Email a note or a press release to PhD EdD • doctoral degrees [email protected] DPT Please include your hometown, graduation year and college or major. H • honorary degree

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 55 CLASS NOTES 5 things I’ve learned entrepreneurial spotlight Steven Davey, EG81, is the CEO of Fiberight, a firm with a breakthrough recycling process that enables Updates from Blue Hen creators, innovators and entrepreneurs the recovery/reuse of up to 70% of the materials found in ordinary trash. Davey was recognized Melissa McDermott Joseph, AS84, of Rehoboth Beach, Del., celebrates the 30-year anniversary of the company she founded, as a 2020 Blue Hen 17&43 award winner. He also Delmarva Temporary Staffing Inc. moonlights at the University of Maryland’s Harbor Business partners Lee Mikles, EG90, BE01M, of Newark, Del., and Launch incubator as an Entrepreneur in Residence. Jim O’Donoghue, AS91, of Newark, Del., have expanded Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, which opened on Main Street in 2014, to 1 ENJOY THE JOURNEY. include a fourth location in Lewes, Del. Jennifer Dumnich, BE99, 00M, of Avondale, Pa., has expanded Life is more like a marathon than a sprint. Don’t focus too much on her company Craig & Jenny D to include the Fusion Performance the short term because the long-term accomplishments are more Institute, which aims to bridge the gap between personal and meaningful and fulfilling. It took me awhile to figure this out, but I’m professional development. glad that I eventually did. Andy Panko, BE00, of Edison, N.J., formed Tenon Financial, an independent financial planning and investment management 2 STOP CHASING THE MONEY AND START CHASING firm that helps people achieve their retirement goals. THE PASSION. Sisters Ashley Williams Roberts, After staying with my first job out of college a bit longer than I AS08, of Ijamsville, should have, I took the entrepreneurial leap and went out on my Md., and Brittany own. At the time the decision was crazy because of my family and Williams, EG11, financial obligations, but I just knew I had to give it a go. It was the of Baltimore, Md., have received best career decision I ever made. the Delaware Department 3 GRIT AND DETERMINATION. of Agriculture’s Ashley Williams Roberts (front left) and Century Farm Brittany Williams (front right) and their family My father’s only path to college and a better life was by enlisting receive their Century Farm designation from designation for Sussex County legislators. in the Air Force. When he finished four years of service in Korea, he their farm, Webb attended college on the GI Bill, worked two jobs, and helped raise Family Farms, which has been in the family since 1884 and was three kids. He eventually became a successful entrepreneur. I was formerly run by Ruth Webb Williams, EHD44, who bequeathed fortunate to inherit his work ethic, though I have had it significantly it to her four granddaughters. easier than he did. Lizzie DeLacy, HS15, of Houston, Texas, has launched Bodypeace, a functional fitness app to help people feel better through 4 ADAPT AND LEVERAGE. movement and wellness. Jesse Fastenberg, AS16, of New York, N.Y., has co-founded BC When I was studying chemical engineering at UD, I didn’t realize Energy, a Blockchain-based electronic arbitrage company. that we were really being taught how to solve complex problems. As my career progressed, I found myself in different industries with Have you launched a new product, company or new challenges to overcome. Each time I was able to count on the social venture? Reached a business milestone? If so, email us at [email protected]. mental tool kit we developed at UD to adapt to change and to leverage prior experiences.

5 MAKE MEMORIES. Celebrating Blue Hen Businesses The Blue Hen 17&43 Award builds on UD’s long tradition of leadership, My recollection of UD was that I spent most of my time at Colburn innovation and entrepreneurship that began with the University’s Lab where we were taught by some of the leaders in the field. founding in 1743. It honors the most promising new ventures and Frankly speaking, it was a lot of work! When I wasn’t at Colburn, fastest growing companies founded or led by UD students and alumni. my favorite place to decompress was the Stone Balloon. I don’t Learn more at www.udel.edu/17and43 think we missed a Saturday night.

56 University of Delaware Magazine CLASS NOTES

Kimetra Jiménez-Leacock, BE99, and Sense in America. He formerly held the Viviana Jiménez-Leacock, of New York, same role with the Charlottesville group. N.Y., welcomed Kimanni Jenae on Nov. 23, Lauren Territola, BE05, of Berkley 2018. She joins big sister Annaís Senai. Heights, N.J., and husband, Anthony, welcomed baby Vienna on Aug. 5, 2019. 2000s She joins big brother Dominic. Frank Donnelly, AS00, of New York, N.Y., Mary Akhimien, AS06, of Bear, Del., has published his first book, Exploring the Kimanni Jenae was awarded the 2019 Delaware Young U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data, Jiménez-Leacock, with Lawyer Distinguished Service Award. Classmates Kerri Titone, AS06, Lani Star a researcher’s guide to working with big sister Annaís Senai Schweiger, AS06, Katie Pytlik, AS06, and Janine Mooney, EHD06, of New Hanover, census data. Elizabeth Urbanski, AS06, reunited for a N.J., and husband, Bill, welcomed Lilliana trip to Seattle Peter LaVenia, AS01, of Albany, N.Y., Juliette on Oct. 8, 2019. published an editorial in the New York Wilmington, Del., Katie Pytlik, AS06, of Daily News on “The weaponization Stephen A. Seattle, Wash., and Elizabeth Urbanski, of New York’s campaign finance Spence, AS06, AS06, of Oceanside, N.Y., reunited for a commission.” of Lewes, Del., trip to Seattle. has been named Lauren Sharpless-Robinson, BE04, partner for , of Newark, Del., has Scott Klatzkin, AS07 Lilliana Juliette Mooney of Upper Marlboro, Md., was elected Baird Mandalas been named 2019 Delaware Sportscaster president of the Board of Directors Brockstedt, of the Year by the National Sports Media for Bright Beginnings Inc., a nonprofit LLC, where he Association. organization that operates early Stephen A. Spence, specializes in trial Double Dels Teresa Mikulan Carlisle, childhood and family learning centers AS06 and appellate AS08M, and David Carlisle, AS08M, of for children and families experiencing litigation. Little Rock, Ark., have opened The New homelessness in Washington, D.C. Fifteen years after meeting on a study Gallery, which features exhibits by emerging Mike Fox, AS05, of Crozet, Va., was abroad trip to Siena, Italy, classmates and mid-career artists, including Mike named legislative lead of the Crozet Kerri Titone, AS06, of East Northport, Marks, AS13M, of Minneapolis, and Michael The New Gallery, in group of Moms Demand Action for Gun N.Y., Lani Star Schweiger, AS06, of Kalmbach, AS08M, of Newark, Del. Little Rock, Ark.

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 57 CLASS NOTES

Carrie Weidman, EHD15, and Paul Andy Burian, BE15, of Philadelphia, were married on Sept. 7, 2019, surrounded by many Blue Hens, including the bride’s parents, Margaret Weidman, AS83, and Robert Weidman, ANR82.

Rebecca Weinschenk, EG16, and Mark Bamundo, EG16, of Columbia, Md., married on May 18, 2019, six years after meeting in a computer science class at UD.

Bryce Gates, AS16, and Lauren Camp, AS17, of Wilmington, Del., were married on Oct. 18, 2019.

Campbell McKay, HS17, and Austin Virdin, ANR17, of Washington, D.C., were married on Oct. 5, 2019. A number of Blue Hens attended the wedding of Amanda Jett, EG11, and Jeffrey LeBlanc, EG11 Sarah Vible, AS18, of Milton, Del., was Amanda Bryden, HS08, and Matthew Olivia Cosides featured in a Wall Street Journal article Tran, AS09, of Wilmington, Del., were Posey, AS13, on medical-alert dogs like her yellow married on Sept. 15, 2019. and Greg Labrador Rosebud, who can detect Posey, BE14, of Joanna Lenck, AS08, of Belmar, N.J., Vible’s epileptic seizures 15 minutes Philadelphia, married Eric Reitz on Oct. 12, 2019, in before they occur. welcomed Hilton Head, S.C. Thomas Kyle on Courtney Porter, AS19M, of Hempstead, David DiVirgilio, ANR09, and Emily Nov. 19, 2019. N.Y., received first place in the Mary E. Amanda Bryden, HS08, Ross, AS09, of St. Petersburg, Fla., were Singletary Vocal Arts Competition for Alyssa Kennedy LaKeisha Price, BE10 and Matthew Tran, married on Oct. 12, 2019. Emerging Artists, which recognizes young Dever, ANR14, and AS09 African American classical vocalists. Lauren Lavorerio Picarro, BE09, and Samuel Dever, EG16, of Reading, James Picarro, BE08, of Philadelphia, Pa., were married on Sept. 28, welcomed James Anthony Picarro Jr. on 2019, continuing the Double Del Dec. 3, 2019. tradition that began with the bride’s parents, Dennis Dever, 2010s EG80, and Joyce Dever, EG80.

LaKeisha Price, BE10, of Philadelphia, has Meghan Noury, HS14, and been named managing associate for the Alexander Goyette, AS14, of Drucker and Scaccetti tax firm, where Arlington, Va., were married on Joanna Lenck, AS08, she specializes in estates, partnerships Sept. 7, 2019. and Eric Reitz Alyssa Kennedy Dever, Rebecca Weinschenk, and nonprofits. ANR14, and Samuel EG16, and Mark Caitlin Tennar, EG15, and Andrew Dever, EG16 Bamundo, EG16 Laura Higgins, AS11, and Tom Foltyn, Skocypec, EG15, of Hamilton, N.J., BE11, of Boston, Mass., were married on were married on Nov. 17, 2018. May 26, 2019, with numerous Blue Hens in attendance, including Tom’s parents, Ted Foltyn, BE81, and Kathi Foltyn, HS81. Congratulations to our five paper doll winners, Kate Amanda Jett, EG11, and Jeffrey LeBlanc, Bailey, AS15, of Newark, EG11, of Melrose, Mass., were married on Del., Alicia Milinis, James Anthony Sept. 7, 2019. AS00, of Huntington Picarro Jr. Station, N.Y., Allison Courtney Simmons, ANR11, of Boston, Yourechko, of Mass., was named a Rising Star by the Conyngham, Pa., 2019 Massachusetts Super Lawyers. Lee Bernstein, HS85, of Dallas, Elizabeth Glinka, AS12, and Patrick Texas, and Lucy , of Wilmington, Del., were Delaney, EG12 O’Donnell, AS77, married on Oct. 5, 2019. of Wilmington, Del. Each received a Andrea Birch Naughton, AS13, and new UD T-shirt. Sean Naughton, EG13, of Philadelphia, Riley Elaine Naughton welcomed Riley Elaine on June 9, 2019.

58 University of Delaware Magazine CLASS NOTES

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 59 60 University of Delaware Magazine CLASS NOTES

Marilyn E. Miller, AS56 A. Stewart Holveck Jr., AS58 Earl N. Powers, EG56 William S. Patterson Jr., EG58 In Memoriam Constance Hamilton Brown, EHD57 Harold E. Read, EG58, 61M, 64PhD William H. Clement, AS57M, 60PhD Judith Shauger Weinstein, EHD58 Max Gluck, AS27 James T. McClelland Jr., ANR51 Marie Thielman Godfrey, BE57 Beverley R. Garrett, AS59PhD Amye Knotts Scrivener, EHD32 Janet Ralph Scheidt, EHD51 Clarence P. Morris, EG57 Carl L. Hoover, BE59 Phyllis R. Kraft, AS42 Nicholas Testa, HS51 James L. Thompson, AS57 John N. Pearce, AS59M Margaret Work Smith, AS42 Robert C. Burns, ANR52 Roger R. Dittmann, AS58M Frank J. Schmidt, AS59M Willard F. Smith, AS43 Roberta Taylor Kretchmar, EHD52 Joe Harvanik, ANR58 Harry W. Sherman, EG59 Melvin H. Koster, EG44 C. Victor Tebbutt, EG52 Frank W. Wilkins, EG44 Charles M. Allmond III, ANR53, 57M Audrey Garey Thomson, AS45 Arthur F. Arnell, ANR53 Faculty and Staff Elizabeth Kerr Povey, AS46 Heinz W. Blessing, AS53, 56M Rodney L. Brown, retired manager of University Printing Audrey Thuet DelCimmuto, EHD48 Leonard W. Feddema, ANR54M John H. Povey, BE48 John C. Miller, AS54 Maxine R. Colm, former vice president of employee relations and the Margaret Gerwe Arfman, AS49 Deirdre Schnabel O’Connor, AS54 first woman to serve as a vice president at UD Francis J. Karpinski, BE49 Richard W. Thomas Jr., BE54 John W. Crum, AS80, adjunct history professor in the Associates in Janet Hucks Meisenhelder, AS49M Patricia Walters, AS54 Arts Program (formerly Parallel Program), where he taught since 1976 Judson E. Newburg, AS49 John V. Wiberg, AS54 William Scott Duncan, campus painter Homer H. Stayton, EG49 Richard M. Zielinski, EG54M John C. “Chris” Kraft, H. Fletcher Brown Professor Emeritus of Geology Robert M. Stewart, BE49 Barbara Nast Dare, EHD55 Ralph P. Chesluk, AS50M, 52PhD Richard T. Dare, EG55 Ben Martin, retired controller and director of taxation and compliance, Earle E. Ewing Jr., HS50 Gail Conway Keeney, AS55 Donald C. Mell Jr., longtime English professor and head of UD press Ernest J. Henley, EG50 William J. Smith, EG55 Deborah Ann See, academic support coordinator Jean Hillman Jessup, EHD50 Richard A. Chilcutt, EG56 Edward A. Wielicki, AS50M Bernard J. Dillon, EG56M Christopher Sommerfield, professor of oceanography Rodman C. Bergstrom, BE51 Maurice E. LePera, AS56 Lucille I. Wilson, longtime engineering staff member Diane Kipp Huston, EHD51 Lawrence B. McManus, EG56

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 61 CLASS NOTES

Katharine Carson Bennett, HS60 Paul O. Massicot Jr., AS65 Janet Walker Archer, EHD72 Valerie Tompkins-Oviatt, AS76 R. William Body, AS60M, 63PhD Paula Rickards Peckham, EHD65 Lois Hinkle Bellamy, AS72M Catherine Dolan Adelizzi, AS77 Carroll E. Ditzler, AS60M James J. Stokesberry, AS65M John W. Crum, AS72M, 80PhD Stephen M. DePaulo, AS77 Charles L. Hatch, ANR60 Duane C. Taylor, EG65, 75M Betty Jane Little Goode, EHD72 Mary Sandra Lough Limbers, EHD77 Ardis Rasmus Guy, EHD61 Dorothy Smith Browning, EHD66M Gregory H. Lamoreaux, BE72 Joseph G. Mauro, AS77 Muriel Faulkner Miller, EHD61 Linda Lee, AS66 Sandra Rouse Adamkiewicz, EHD73 Lois White Wildman, AS77 Michael P. Rewa, AS61M Patricia Givens Moore, AS66 Marjorie Fine Mead, HS73M Philip Feliceangeli Jr., AS78 Jerome A. Bischoff, AS62 Ann Taylor Tansey, BE66 Louis S. Munson, EG73 Stephen N. Foster, AS78 Ann E. Coleman, EHD62, 69M Heinrich Brandt, ANR67M Lucinda Burleson Novotny, AS73, Gail Fishback Hayaux, EHD78 Allison Ford Diamond, AS62 Stephen Dzuranin Sr., AS67M EHD77M Susan M. Weinstein, ANR78 Arthur H. Mason, ANR62M Jozef E. Podgorski, HS67 John J. Adams, AS74 Carol Butler Hallman, AS79 William A. Piper, AS62 Arthur F. Todd, BE67 Phyllis Scrivner Conner, EHD74 Robert W. Jones, AS79 John R. Shaw, EHD62M Robert A. Behl, EHD68M Gladys Endrizal Gallo, EHD74 Floreese Lucas Moore, EHD79M Helen McKee Thompson, AS62M Ronald L. Cramer, AS68PhD Susan Waltz Hartman, EHD74 James E. Valle, AS79PhD Lucille Ingram Wilson, AS62, EHD68M Norman W. Stouffer, EG68 Janet A. Headley, AS74 Patricia Post Williams, EHD79M James C. Ashby, ANR63, 65M Donald H. Wolfe, EHD68M Carol A. Olson-Ellyson, AS74M, Joanne Phillips Carr, AS80 EHD78M Benjamin R. Bundens, EG63 Mary Ann Santak Brown, HS69 Alexandra M. Jaffe, AS80 John A. Cambridge II, AS75 Ralph L. Groves, AS63 Linda Nertney Dudderar, AS69 Julie Stuber Oliver, BE80 Laura M. Cox, HS75 Arlene Clarke Kutz, EHD63 Shaun D. Mullen, AS69 Kenneth S. Garver, AS81 Peter D. Eggink, EHD75 Jacqueline Harding Van Grofski, Nancy Vernon Stout, EHD69 Elise J. Hellinger, AS81 AS63 Christine Edwards Altizer, EHD70 James A. Mulholland, AS75PhD Leslie Bennett Jones, AS81 Mary E. Harrison, EHD64 Glenn A. Bailey Jr., AS70 Ernest S. Ward, EHD75 Robert B. Paterson, EG81M James L. Keenan III, AS64 Bruce A. Khoury, EG70M Alice Baxter Watts, HS75M Dianne Dzedzy Roberts, HS81 Jane McQueen McGrew, AS64 David M. Knauss, EG70 Robert M. Zalkind, ANR75 Brian R. Schofield, AS81 Frederick J. Wiebel, ANR64, 66M Felicia Tobolski Lincoln, EHD70M Paul H. Baldwin Jr., BE76 Joseph T. Szajewski, EHD81M John M. Berry Jr., AS65M Antonio O. Mabesa, AS70M Thelma Desiderio Davis, EHD76 Albert J. Frankel, AS82 Leslie Davis Brown, AS65 Leroy F. Murray, BE70 Joseph G. Dawson, BE76 Deborah Smith Roberts, ANR82M George A. Hart Jr., EHD65M Jonathan L. Minner, EG71 William E. Shainline Jr., ANR76 Theodore R. Caddell, AS83

62 University of Delaware Magazine CLASS NOTES

Douglas M. Hershman, AS83 Frederick A. Lander, BE83 Nancy Kapp Brown, EHD84, AS85 thomas william fraser russell Maxine R. Colm, EHD84EdD Thomas William Fraser Russell, EG64, 10H, the Allan P. Colburn Professor Emeritus of Chemical and David L. Minnich, AS84, BE86M Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware, died on Nov. 29, 2019. He was 85. Ronald N. Brown, EHD85M Dr. Russell was born on Aug. 5, 1934, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. A chemical engineer by Kenneth R. Pickren Jr., AS85 education and trade, he arrived at the University of Delaware in 1961 and joined the faculty after earning Karen A. Sellers, AS88 his Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1964, becoming the only UD chemical engineering professor to do so Colleen Murin Mene, EHD89M immediately after graduating from the doctoral program. In 2009, Dr. Russell retired from teaching. Annalisa Myers Woltersdorf, AS90 Erinn Rich Pizzo-Michael, AS92 Over Dr. Russell’s 45 years as a chemical engineering faculty member, he held several administrative George A. Boswell Jr., AS93 appointments, including vice provost for research, director of the Institute of Energy Conversion, Matthew Stehl, AS95 department chair, acting dean and associate dean of the college. Randi Hauer Dreifuss, EHD97 An author of three textbooks, eight book chapters, seven patents, 90 technical papers and 11 engineering Jennifer Paysse Rosen, EHD98M education research papers, he was lauded in the engineering community for his work in reaction Jennifer E. Henton, AS01PhD engineering, solar cell manufacturing and his impressive technical prowess. Among friends, colleagues and Carrie Bratton Kalinski, AS01 students, he was regarded for his compassion, wit and love of hiking. Marcella Morea Willson, AS02M In 2010, the University recognized Dr. Russell with an honorary doctoral degree. He was named to UD’s Monica R. Shine, AS07 Alumni Wall of Fame in 2006 and honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award in 1968. Upon Dr. Russell’s Jennifer M. Salome Werner, AS08 retirement in 2009, UD created an academic enrichment fund, the T.W. Fraser Russell Undergraduate Michael A. Rice, AS09 Enrichment Endowment, to help selected undergraduate chemical engineering students access research Anthony J. Butterhof, ANR12 and internship experiences. Please share news Also named in honor of Dr. Russell is the Unidel Fraser Russell Chair for the Environment, a five-year career of a loved one’s passing development chair. In 1999, Dr. Russell established the Shirley and Fraser Russell Teaching Fellowship to support one graduate student per year at the University of Delaware and one at the University of Alberta. with us at A memorial was held earlier this year in his honor. inmemoriam.udel.edu

Volume 28 Number 1 2020 63 A CONVERSATION with… The circle of life begins with the smallest of creatures. Yet despite being maligned and misunderstood by many, insects are a source of fascination and exploration for Prof. DOUG TALLAMY, entomologist and environmental optimist. Here, he talks about how to repair declining wildlife populations—and why you (yes, you!) are nature’s best and possibly only hope.

What makes insects interesting? biomass in your yard. [Editor’s note: Visit They’re a major lifeform running our ecosystem. We’d Tallamy’s website, BringingNatureHome. be dead without them. Ninety percent of flowering net, to find the right plants for your plants would disappear. Nutrients would not be backyard.] recycled. Birds wouldn’t have a source of food. The What are common backyard culprits? global insect decline [40%—with a rate of extinction Get rid of invasive ornamentals— that is eight times faster for insects than for mammals, burning bush, Bradford pear, birds and reptiles] would lead to ecosystem collapse. autumn olive, privet. All of those Our perception is that insects eat our crops and make things escape into our natural us sick, but the ones running the world aren’t doing areas. They don’t stay where those things. you plant them. How can planting more native plants help? Is the cultural shift and Roughly 90% of all plant-eating insects eat and increase in native plants reproduce only on certain native plant species, happening fast enough? specifically those with whom they share an evolutionary We’re not there, but we’re history. Plants are vital to the ecosystem in your yard, heading in the right direction. but we’ve been excluding the life we need around us. What’s the CliffsNotes version And yet, you’re hopeful. of your newest bestseller, My message is: You can help save the Earth. You can Nature’s Best Hope? do something and see the results. You can plant an What is nature’s best hope? You. oak tree in your yard and see the life it brings. You can There’s an Earth stewardship start counting the birds rearing their young there. It’s responsibility that we have as an approach that empowers people to feel like they’re citizens of the planet. We can making a difference, because they are. And it’s easy! no longer leave conservation to You put the plants in, and it happens. You just have to the conservationists. There aren’t choose the right ones. enough—by far. We’re also the How do we know which plants to choose? only species that consistently All native plants are not equal. It’s a matter of fouls our own nest, and we productivity—of plants that, if removed, would collapse think we can do it forever with the food web. That includes oaks, no consequence. PHOTO BY EVAN KARPE cherries, birches, hickories, willows. “MY MESSAGE IS: YOU CAN That’s the hunter- The top herbaceous plant that feeds HELP SAVE THE EARTH. YOU gatherer caterpillars is goldenrod, which feeds CAN DO SOMETHING AND mentality of 110 species. Oaks feed 557 species. Big wrecking a SEE THE RESULTS.” difference. But also, there’s room for habitat and Doug Tallamy compromise. Plant choice matters. You can have your moving on. But there’s no crape myrtle—as long as it’s less than 30% of the plant place to move anymore.

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UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE MAGAZINE • VOLUME 28 • NUMBER 1 • APRIL 2020 www.udel.edu University of Delaware of University Building Academy The DE 19716-7201 Newark,