Out of the Red After the NFL, Brandon Williams ’16 faced a new opponent: bankruptcy. Page 22 Vision Can we have class outside today? Environmen- tal science students enjoy the environment on a spring day in 2017. Science Hall houses the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies — when it’s not outdoors. Photo by Jeff Miller On Wisconsin 3 AWAY HOME? The choice is yours. For those who left Wisconsin, you took with you the high standards of excellence instilled by UW. But you left behind even more—a state with unmatched educational outcomes, superior healthcare, abundant career opportunities that improve the world, a low cost of living and the very same state spirit that inspired you to begin with. Isn’t it time to come home again to all that? Wisconsin. It’s more you.

THINK MAKE HAPPEN IN WISCONSIN

InWisconsin.com Contents Volume 119, Number 1

Steve Miller conducts Fifth Quarter in 2017. See page 26. BRYCE RICHTER DEPARTMENTS

2 Vision 6 Communications 9 First Person

OnCampus

11 News 13 Bygone Eloise Gerry 14 Calculati on End of DARE 17 Conversation Erik Iverson 18 Exhibition Hoopes Sisters Illustrations 20 Contender Jo Ann Heckroth Jansen

FEATURES OnAlumni 22 A Big Bounce Back An NFL career left Brandon Williams ’16 bankrupt. But he’s 48 News reinvented himself and found success in multiple fields.

49 Conversation Ladee Hubbard By Doug Moe ’79 ERIK JEPSEN 50 Tradition Becoming Bucky 51 Class Notes 26 Keep on a-Rock’n Us, Baby 58 Diversions Steve Miller x’67 reflects on how his time on campus, being 59 Honor Roll Alice Evans an English major, and growing up with a famous godfather 66 Destinati on Chazen Museum affected his music career. By Joshua M. Miller of Art

UW–MADISON LIBRARIES, DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 30 Bridging Mountains Tara Linhardt ’94 found that Himalayan and Appalachian tunes have a lot in common — and she promotes traditional music in both worlds. By Joan Fischer MA’95

36 A Judge on Trial See page 20. John Becker LLB1890 spoke out against the government during World War I and lost his career in public service when his words were deemed a crime. By Adam Schrager 38 Arctic Watch In Alaska, where glaciers are melting, Fran Ulmer ’69, JD’72 leads a commission tasked with helping U.S. officials decide what to do about climate change. By Andrew Faught Cover Brandon Williams ’16 has found success as 44 Michael Finley: The Sequel a broadcast sports After his NBA career ended in 2010, Michael Finley ’14 took analyst, speaker, From sketchbooks to bookshelves. roles behind the scenes with the Dallas Mavericks and in and author. Photo by See page 18. Hollywood. By Jenny Price ’96 Bryce Richter.

On Wisconsin 5 Communications

List Love Five Great Sports from a number of decades and Thanks for the List Issue [Winter Plays musical genres, in this case), 2017 On Wisconsin]. I’m keeping As a former UW athletics board and visuals available to us. We this one! member and three-sport high remain amazed by all of the Dave Carlson MS’59, PhD’63 school athlete, I was surprised THE LIST ISSUE exceptional artists who have Carlsbad, California that no women’s sports and no IN REVIEW performed at the UW over the sports other than football or bas- years — the list could truly fill I always read On Wisconsin, but ketball were featured among the a magazine. the Winter 2017 issue was spe- “5 Great Plays in Badger Sports 95total letters, cial. Your lists of notable events, History.” Keep the Koenig/ The REM concert at the Stock activities, and places around Showalter play and showcase Pavilion on May 10, 1985, may campus brought back many more of the UW’s proud and not have made On Wisconsin’s compliments,20 memories for a graduate from diverse athletics history. list of legendary concerts, but it yesteryear. Can I re-enroll? Angela Wellsmith ’98, JD’07 tops ours. It was our first date. DuWayne Herning MS’68 Brookfield, Wisconsin We’ve been happily married for Wausau, Wisconsin corrections6 almost 30 years! Six Things I Learned Catherine Allen Dadlez ’86 [I’m] a long-time resident of Mad- from the List Issue and Paul Dadlez ’88 ison and an enthusiastic partici- 1. Sergei Rachmaninoff, Ella Fitz- Saint Paul pant on a couple of UW advisory gerald, Duke Ellington, Harry committees, but [I’m] not a UW Belafonte, and Itzhak Perlman graduate. For the first time, the all played at Madison? List Issue made me really wish 2. Groucho Marx’s letter is 6 Mistakes We’d Like to Correct Publishing an issue with lists I were. hilarious. 3. Alumni Park is full of hidden of facts increases the poten- Jane Coleman FOR UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON ALUMNI AND FRIENDS tial for error, so thanks to all Madison secrets, and I can’t wait to WINTER 2017 see it. who wrote in to inform us of what we got wrong. We offer Enjoyed the last issue of On Wis- 4. Wow! The UW–Madison no excuses for our inability consin so much that I now have firsts are stunning — I’m so to count (see first item). 349 reasons to love the UW. proud of my university. Kenneth Becker ’49 5. I love that our university has 1. “12 Custom Confec- Lodi, Wisconsin a sense of humor — what tions” should have funny pranks. been 13. 6. Babcock ice cream flavors — 2. In “10 Things Aldo Leo- pold Used in the Field,” OnWisconsin_Cover_WINTER_2017.indd 1 More Frozen yum! 10/13/17 8:55 AM Landmarks Ben Raznick Johnson ’08 an eagle-eyed reader 4. “8 Lions of the When we published a map of 58 Denver pointed out that the cover Lecture Hall” mentioned features in Antarctica named for for Handbook of Birds of Professor Juda Shohet, UW–Madison faculty, staff, and Legendary Concerts Eastern North America who actually goes by his students, we knew it couldn’t In reading your list “11 Legend- appeared alongside the middle name, Leon. possibly be complete. Given the ary Concerts,” I was curious to interior pages for A Field 5. Also in “Lions,” Grace long history of Badgers doing learn what criteria you used to Guide to the Birds and vice Wahba has actually research and exploration on the make your selection and why the versa. The UW Archives taught for 50 years, continent, it seemed there had November 7, 1952, Homecoming has since clarified the not 47. to be more. We hoped readers concert featuring Sarah Vaughan, label on the photo that led 6. “11 Legendary Con- could help fill in the gaps, and sure Stan Kenton, and Nat King Cole to this error, proving that certs” reported that enough, we heard from scientists, was not included. That event was we take your corrections the Marian Anderson along with the friends and family certainly a memorable one for seriously. concert in the Wisconsin members of those who also made those of us who were students at 3. The author of The Union Theater occurred their marks. Here are some land- the UW in the early 1950s. Wisconsin Capitol, fea- on April 23, 1940, two marks we missed: Evert Wallenfeldt ’54 tured in Diversions, is weeks after she was • Brandwein Nunataks West Melbourne, Florida not Madison resident denied use of Constitu- • Frostman Glacier Michael J. Edmonds tion Hall in Washington, • Gruendler Glacier Editor’s Note: JD’85, but Michael DC. That denial actually • Lazzara Ledge As you might guess, the danger Edmonds, director of occurred in April 1939 • Sponholz Peak of making a list issue is that we programs and outreach and led to her famous • Sternberg Peak would unavoidably leave some at the Wisconsin State concert on the steps of • Whiting Peak things out due to space, seeking Historical Society. the Lincoln Memorial. a variety of content (concerts

6 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 LOST AND FOUND The List Issue featured four University Archives images in search Two Who Got Away of captions. Readers answered the call and helped identify three In “Two Who Got Away,” John of them, with the first image (below) generating the most replies. Allen states that Milton Fried- man was one of two Nobel Prize winners who slipped through the university’s fingers. All we need to do is examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics graph of family income for the last 40 years to see what Fried- man’s trickle-down theories have done for the bulk of us. [The United States is] third in the world for income inequality. Three cheers for Dean Sellery’s having saved the university from a big black eye. Calvin Smith MA’60 Orland Park, Illinois

Snow Days  The dueling knights were part of an event sponsored by the I enjoyed reading “4 Snowiest Society for Creative Anachronism, according to alumni. Memories Snow Days” in your Winter 2017 varied as to what year the image was captured, but responses edition, but I was sad that one of narrowed the time frame to the late 1970s or early 1980s. the snowiest days wasn’t men- tioned. On December 3, 1990,  This photo was likely taken out- Madison hunkered down under side Sellery Hall in fall 1973, wrote a massive storm that dumped 17 Larry Classen ’77, JD’80, noting, inches of snow over a 12- to 13- “Streaking was a rather popular hour period, resulting in Chan- cultural phenomenon at that time, cellor Donna Shalala canceling as was anti-Nixon sentiment. I classes mid-morning. I remember have no recollection of whether a great number of us taking caf- eteria trays and jubilantly traying this was organized in any way or down the Liz Waters hill through how we learned about it. But at the huge piles of snow — it was a some point, word spread that blizzard I’ll never forget! there were streakers outside.” Jenny Mathison-Ohly ’93, MS’99 Middleton, Wisconsin  Friends and former class- mates of Ben Jeffrey Madoff Editor’s Note: One of the most hotly contested ’71 identified him as the mys- stories from our list issue was tery man in this image. Madoff on one of the coldest topics: UW launched his own clothing line in snow days. A dozen of you wrote Madison and now leads a video- in with recollections of days that production company in New weren’t included in our list, and … York City serving clients such as you’re all correct! Our list included Gucci and Ralph Lauren. “That only the days when the university is me in the picture,” Madoff shut down completely — when confirms. “I’m real; the parrot no classes were held whatsoever. isn’t.” He says Jeffrey Jayson The university has closed early on ’72 captured the image inside a several other occasions, including campus library in 1968 or 1969. December 3, 1990, when classes “I don’t remember where I found were canceled around 10:30 a.m. the parrot, but I had it for a few on what turned out to be one of Madison’s snowiest days on record. years,” Madoff says. “It was low maintenance. Never ate.”

On Wisconsin 7 WHEN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CIVIL SERVICE WORK TOGETHER, WE ARE BOUNDLESS.

WISC.EDU | #ONWISCONSIN 8 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018

WISC_141-40d_Currents_MECH_v2.indd 1 1/24/18 1:43 PM First Person

Spring 2018 COURTESY OF MICHAEL RIPPEY

CO-EDITORS Niki Denison, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) Jenny Price ’96, University Communications

PUBLISHER Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association 1848 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726-4090 608-263-4545 Email: [email protected] Web: onwisconsin.uwalumni.com Class Notes: uwalumni.com/go/alumninotes

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John Allen, WFAA

ART DIRECTOR Nancy Rinehart, University Marketing

PRODUCTION EDITOR Eileen Fitzgerald ’79, University Marketing

DESIGN, LAYOUT, AND PRODUCTION Toni Good ’76, MA’89; Kent Hamele ’78; Danielle Lawry; Preston Schmitt ’14, University Marketing “They just couldn’t be without each other,” Michael Rippey PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Miller and Bryce Richter, University told New York Times reporter Julie Bosman ’01 about his Communications parents, Charles ’41 and Sara x’43 Rippey. The couple — pic- CLASS NOTES/DIVERSIONS EDITOR tured above in 1946 — fell in love long before they became Stephanie Awe ’15, WFAA Badgers, having met in grade school in Hartford, Wisconsin. EDITORIAL INTERN Madeline Heim x’18 They stayed together at the UW, after his Army service in World War II, and during his years as an engineer for Fire- ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Madison Magazine: 608-270-3600 stone Tire. Charles affectionately referred to his wife as “the

ADDRESS CHANGES AND queen” and exhorted Michael, one of their five children, to DEATH NOTICES bring a bottle of champagne on his frequent visits to their 888-947-2586 or 608-308-5420 Email: [email protected] Napa Valley home. The Rippeys died there in October, just

Quarterly production of On Wisconsin is months after celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary, in supported by financial gifts from alumni the deadliest wildfires in California’s history. But in the end, and friends. To make a gift to UW–Madison, please visit supportuw.org. Michael said, “The fact that they went together is probably

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association what they would have wanted.” (WFAA) is open to all alumni, students, and friends of the university. WFAA encourages diversity, inclusivity, and participation by all of these groups in its activities and does not discriminate on any basis.

Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle this magazine. Please read it first.

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10 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 *Subject to restrictions. Please call for more information. OnCampusNews from UW–Madison

MOSQUITO TRAPPERS After Hurricane Harvey, mil- Taking Safety lions of mosquitoes blanketed southeastern Texas, hampering Seriously recovery efforts and raising public health concerns about Recent incidents spur interest the diseases they can carry. in campus security services. Melissa Farquhar DVMx’21 and Erin McGlynn ’13, MPHx’19, JEFF MILLER students from UW–Madison’s Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease, traveled to Texas last fall to participate in a public–private partnership to trap and identify mosquitoes and determine the effectiveness of control efforts. MICHAEL CIAGLO, CIAGLO, MICHAEL HOUSTON CHRONICLE The campus community was shaken following an assault and attempted Demand is up abduction near Observatory Drive in October. A UW student who was for services from walking home from College Library around 1 a.m. was placed in a head- SAFEwalk, which lock by an unknown assailant with an edged weapon, forcefully moved dispatches teams to an area parking lot, and struck multiple times. to accompany students on The victim was able to escape and get help, and the suspect has campus. since been arrested. The incident — a rare, but extreme, case — gained significant attention and correlated with an increased use of campus Opioid Epidemic safety resources, says Marc Lovicott, director of communications Todd Molfenter PhD’04 isn’t a for the UW Police Department (UWPD). doctor. He’s not a psychologist or In the fall, UWPD launched a free app, WiscGuardian, that trans- an addiction counselor or a phar- forms smartphones into personal safety devices. Created with input macist. But he’s helping to lead the from the Associated Students of Madison, the app allows students, effort to fight the opioid epidemic. faculty, and staff to ask trusted “guardians” to virtually monitor their A scientist in the College of walks to their destinations. It also has other safety features, such as Engineering, Molfenter directs the ability to text tips to the police and dial 911 at the touch of a button. the Great Lakes Addiction Tech- “Is this app the only answer to keeping people safe? Absolutely not,” nology Transfer Center, which Lovicott says. “But we think this is just another tool that individuals can received a federal grant to support use to better protect themselves and have that peace of mind.” those who help people suffering Lovicott adds that the app has garnered positive feedback so far and from drug problems. has helped UWPD to obtain tips it might not have received otherwise. Opioid deaths have tripled in As of early January, it had nearly 700 registered users. the U.S. since 2000, leading the A similar campus safety resource, SAFEwalk — a “walking compan- government to declare the situa- ion service” started in 1993 that dispatches teams of UWPD-trained stu- tion a health emergency. The UW’s dents in response to requests — saw its number of walks nearly triple in center works with medical provid- October compared with earlier in the semester. Although SAFEwalk was ers to improve treatment, not by able to accommodate the increased demand, more staff members have recommending medical plans, but been hired to help relieve pressure on student workers, says Carolyn rather by evaluating processes. Wolff, a communications specialist with UW Transportation Services. “Health care is a system,” Mol- “We want to keep extra staff available at night as long as there is a fenter says. “At the center, we may demand and need for it,” she says. not have subject experience, but STEPHANIE AWE ’15 we have systems experience.”

On Wisconsin 11 OnCampus

AUTISM’S Get Happy

SPECTRUM ISTOCK IMAGES; ILLUSTRATION: N.B.RINEHART Children living in low-income neighborhoods are less likely to be diagnosed with autism spec- trum disorder (ASD) compared to kids from more affluent neighborhoods, according to a new study led by Maureen Durkin ’77, MA’79, PhD’82, a researcher with the UW’s Wais- man Center. The disparity is especially troubling considering that As sleepy students filter in for an 8:50 which means you’ll savor that morn- the overall prevalence of the a.m. class, UW consumer science ing latte much more if you buy one a diagnosis is on the rise, more clinical professor Christine Whelan week rather than one every morning. than doubling from 2002 to 2010 scans a playlist on her laptop in search Research also suggests the benefits — to 14.7 cases per thousand of a song. She settles on the soul classic of delayed gratification: paying for children. In 2006, the American “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, and lets something, such as a trip, upfront to Academy of Pediatrics recom- it play before beginning her morning separate the pain of its cost from the mended that all children be lecture in the School of Human Ecol- pleasure of enjoying it. screened for ASD. ogy building. Finding purpose is another key Durkin’s team wanted to “It’s not even 9 a.m., and we’re course theme. “If you achieve a goal learn whether advances in going to talk about obituaries,” she without having a purpose, it is empty,” screening techniques and med- says, before eventually challenging Whelan says. Happiness — and a ical training mean more children students to write their own. meaningful life — come from using from disadvantaged back- It might feel like a stark shift in our natural gifts to live out our values grounds are gaining access to mood, but the task is typical of the and help others. To explore that idea, autism diagnoses and services. self-examination required in Con- she touches on philosophies rooted in “It doesn’t seem that’s the suming Happiness — more informally sources ranging from Christianity to case,” she says. known as “the happy class” — which Confucianism (the class is cross-listed The study merged autism focuses on the relationship between with religious studies) and digs into surveillance data with U.S. cen- well-being and money. scientific research. Studies have shown sus measures of socioeconomic “The argument we are making in that people who live with purpose are status, such as median house- this course is, yes, you can buy happi- healthier and make $10,000 to $15,000 hold incomes and the number ness — if you spend your money right,” more a year, Whelan says. of adults who have bachelor’s Whelan says. “Consuming happiness is a path to degrees. While not the first How we spend our money is a figuring out what you care about, what study to highlight socioeco- window into our values, but the two matters,” Whelan says. nomic differences in rates of don’t always match up. To illustrate, The course also examines the autism diagnosis, the findings Whelan proposes students play what $12 billion self-improvement indus- suggest that children living in she calls an “evil” game: paper clip a try, with a reading list that includes lower-income areas are being note listing their values to their credit self-help titles such as The Power of diagnosed at lower rates due to or debit cards, which they must con- Positive Thinking and The Secret, limited early access to qualified front every time they pull them out to as well as academic critiques of the health care providers. buy something. theories they espouse. Students even “We need to find cost-effec- The course also draws on social follow some of the books’ advice to tive interventions and supports, science research on spending that determine whether it can work in and make sure they are distrib- reveals some key principles for how their own lives. One observation a uted equitably and in a way that to spend your way to happiness. A student shared during the final day of reaches everybody who needs big one is buying experiences, such as the class: “The Secret is a joke.” them,” Durkin says. travel or concerts, which brings more But there are more fruitful take- ADITYARUP satisfaction than buying stuff. “When aways, too, such as this one: “Happi- CHAKRAVORTY PHD’15 we tell our story, who we are, we talk ness won’t just come to you; you have about our experiences,” Whelan says. to work for it.” Another strategy is to “make it a treat,” JENNY PRICE ’96

12 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Bygone Eloise Gerry PHOTO COURTESY OF USDA FOREST SERVICE, FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY, MADISON

I always knew my children would tree population of the American Researcher Eloise tional organization that has since be smarter than me — I just didn’t South. Gerry blazed a given hundreds of thousands of expect it to start when my oldest She traveled on horseback, trail for female dollars in fellowships to female daughter, Harper, was nine. For in Ford Model Ts, and on foot scientists during scientists for research support. a fourth-grade living history through the woods of Alabama, her four decades Gerry is a personal hero to with the U.S. unit, she chose to portray Eloise Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Forest Products Michelle Booze, president of Gerry PhD’21 to a roomful of Mississippi to collect samples. Laboratory in Graduate Women in Science and classmates and parents, including She studied them under her Madison. an embryologist at the Sanford me, who had never heard of her. microscope and helped to restore Health Advanced Reproductive Gerry, a Boston native, was businesses that were dependent Laboratory. “Those who gave so the only female staff member of on resin and turpentine by prov- much to the scientific community, the U.S. Forest Products Labo- ing that lumberjacks were cutting and then gave above and beyond ratory when it opened in Madi- too many of the area’s pine trees. so that other women could follow son in June 1910. The lab hired She insisted on signing her in their footsteps just a little bit her because, as Gerry later full first name to correspondence easier — it’s an amazing legacy remembered, “there wasn’t any — breaking with the era’s tradi- to leave behind,” Booze says. man willing to come and do the tion of using only a first initial When Gerry retired, she work.” after Dr. — so everyone would told her colleagues, who by then She was a microscopist, and know she was a woman. included dozens of women, “Our initially her job was to catalog Gerry retired after 44 years work here opens a way to one of the anatomical features of wood with the laboratory, and years life’s great adventures as we con- species that were sent to the lab. later, when she died, she left the stantly press on toward new and But in 1916, she initiated her own majority of her estate to Graduate greater understanding.” research into saving the pine Women in Science, an interna- ADAM SCHRAGER

On Wisconsin 13 Calculation End of DARE ILLUSTRATION BY DANIELLE LAWRY

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M e x i c o

tion from the tapes, they launched Final Words the collection for web listeners in Half a century ago, a thousand of the dictionary, who retired in July 2017. language lovers fanned out across 2015 but stayed on as an active Although it’s unlikely the proj- the country to chat with as many volunteer. “There’s a tremendous ect could be replicated exactly, people in as many places as pos- amount of work still to be done.” Hall remains optimistic about the sible with a single goal in mind: Lack of funding was what Listen to Joan dictionary’s future. creating an all-encompassing dic- eventually brought the project to Hall’s favorite All of the recordings collected tionary of how Americans talk. an end, as support from two of its recording, the over the years were carefully cat- After decades of playing back largest benefactors, the National old New Mexico aloged before being sent off to the tape recordings, demystifying Endowment for the Humanities cowboy: go.wisc. UW Archives. Hall suspects that edu/ya6de1 phrases like “dog my cats” and and the National Science Foun- at some point, the country’s prior- “eat the greaser,” and chronicling dation, dwindled in recent years. ities will realign with those of the five volumes’ worth of our coun- In an effort to share their dictionary, and people will once try’s language, staff members at findings more broadly, dictionary again value these comprehensive UW–Madison closed the book staff members completed what snapshots of our changing lan- on the Dictionary of American would be their final sizable task guage through time. Regional English (DARE) this — putting the recordings online. “I trust that the pendulum will past January. After enlisting volunteers from swing,” she says. “But how soon? “I would prefer to see it go on,” the university and the community I don’t know.” says Joan Hall, a former editor to censor any identifying informa- MADELINE HEIM X’18

14 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 OnCampus

A Muffled Voice LIBRARY PUBLIC YORK NEW Enslaved for nearly 70 years, George Moses Horton was perhaps the unlikeliest man of letters. After teaching himself to read, he took to poetry, composing and memorizing verses in his mind. For a price, he’d recite them to students at the nearby University of North Carolina (UNC) who were eager to use his love poems as their own. Later, Horton regularly traveled to the university to write poetry and serve as a handyman, using any income to purchase part of his own time from his owner. Part of Horton’s repertoire, however, was lost in time. Although Horton released three collections of poetry — becoming the first slave and African American to publish a book in the South (The Hope of Liberty, 1829) — there was no record of other types of works until recently, when Jonathan Senchyne, an assistant professor of book history in the UW’s Information School, took a seren dipitous trip to the New York Public Library. Senchyne was poring through the papers of Henry Harrisse, a French-born lawyer who taught at UNC in the 1850s, when he came across a two-page document with handwriting distinct from the rest. The signature read, “George M Horton, of colour … belonging to Hall Horton.” Senchyne was holding Horton’s first known essay, “Individual Influence.” “There’s always a certain moment of fascination — the very literal meaning of fascination, which is to have your eyes frozen,” Senchyne says of his find. “It’s a special moment between you and the person who’s writing. You [run] your hand over it, and you FAITH COMMUNITY have this moment where you’re present to each other across time.” A new campus program offers students of Senchyne transcribed and published the essay in the October issue different beliefs a home for tough conversa- of the Modern Language Association’s journal, PMLA. Horton ponders tions about religion. The Center for Religion the limitations of “popular” human power compared to “absolute” and Global Citizenry has selected 12 stu- divine power. dents to participate and receive a stipend Humans have control over how (and whose) history is preserved for their work promoting inter-religious and told, Senchyne notes, and those everyday decisions can lead to dialogue on campus. Ulrich Rosenhagen, the century-long burial of an important document and the relative the center’s director and a faculty associate obscurity of an extraordinary poet. in the religious studies program, says reli- “Why wasn’t [Horton] in all of our history books and literature gion is pushed to “the fringes” of campus, classes?” he asks. “That’s the question I’d leave people with. Think and UW students rarely talk about religious about your own education and the choices that were made [by people differences and commonalities. “Religion along the way] when history [was] told to you.” is part of our identity, part of who we are,” he says. PRESTON SCHMITT ’14

news feed

The Badger football team went The Wisconsin Alumni The SERF (Southeast Rec- undefeated in the regular sea- Research Foundation’s annual reational Facility, at left) is son before falling to Ohio State gift to campus totaled more making way for “the Nick,” in the Big Ten championship than $80 million. The funds thanks to a $20 million lead game in December, were awarded directly to UW– gift made in honor of the narrowly missing Madison, earmarked for spe- late Albert “Ab” Nicholas ’52, the College Foot- cifics such as faculty recruit- MBA’55, by his wife, Nancy ball Playoff. The ment and graduate student ’55, and their family. The Badgers beat Miami in support, and to the Morgridge Nicholas Recreation Center

BRYCE RICHTER; JEFF MILLER JEFF RICHTER; BRYCE the Orange Bowl. Institute for Research. is expected to open in 2019.

On Wisconsin 15 OnCampus HYUNSOO LÉO KIM CELL SURVIVORS

Cancerous cells produce energy differently from normal cells. And that, hypothesizes UW oncol- ogy professor Wei Xu, may be their undoing. Normal cells, Xu notes, rely on mitochon- dria to produce energy. But cancer cells grow and divide faster than normal cells, requiring up to 200 times as much energy. To create new cells, they rely on an enzyme called pyruvate kinase (PKM2). Though present in all cells, the form of PKM2 in cancer cells is highly enriched, enabling them to build more cell mass. WALK ON Fifty years ago, Luciano Barraza MS’66, PhD’68 missed his chance to par- Xu’s lab focuses on a ticipate in commencement after completing his doctorate in agricultural economics. He protein that shows up in couldn’t attend due to work obligations in his native Mexico and a lack of money. Earlier this more aggressive forms of year, his grandson Raul Correa reached out to the university to remedy what Barraza called cancer. “We accidentally his one regret in life, and Jeremy Foltz, chair of the Department of Agricultural and Applied found that [the protein] Economics, invited Barraza to walk across the stage at December’s commencement to interacts with and chem- receive his diploma. ically modifies PKM2” from its healthy to its cancer-promoting variant, Buckys on Parade she says. She believes that by inhibiting the pro- Badger fans thrill at the sight of their iconic mascot, and tein, doctors can program a new public art event coming to Madison this spring cells to starve tumors. offers dozens of ways to catch a unique glimpse of him. “When we inhibited PKM2 modification in can- Artists will decorate life-sized Bucky Badger statues, cer cells,” Xu says, “the which will be displayed around the city from May through cells lost the aggressive the summer. Afterward, they will be auctioned off, with the features, indicating [they] are vulnerable to attack of proceeds benefiting charitable organizations. Learn their energy pipelines.” more at buckyonparade.com. JOHN ALLEN news feed

The Odyssey Project celebrated The Wisconsin men’s A UW-led team of scientists its 15th anniversary in October, soccer team clinched conducted an extensive recognizing the successes of hun- the Big Ten championship study of blood samples from dreds of graduates who earned in November, putting Ebola patients in Sierra UW course credits despite facing up a strong defensive Leone, identifying several tough barriers to higher educa- performance against molecular clues that virology UW ATHLETICS tion. The project has expanded number-two seed Indiana. professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka since its inception and now offers The group’s seniors led says could ultimately help curricula for families and for the way to the program’s develop drugs to treat the those currently in prison. first title in 23 years. outbreak.

16 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Conversation Erik Iverson

Erik Iverson calls himself the And again, that falls within but nobody has really done it. consummate outsider: he is the university’s leadership and It’s very complicated; it’s very not a UW–Madison alumnus their discussions with federal political. And there are a lot and he’s not from Wisconsin. leadership, state leadership, of legal aspects that make it But in 2016, he became the alumni donors, WARF, the complicated. You have this very managing director for the [UW] Foundation. robust system all within the Wisconsin Alumni Research same state — why don’t we just Foundation (WARF), which You’ve talked about part- start at home, first, and look helps UW researchers take nering with other Wisconsin at how we could do this within their discoveries to the market- schools, such as Marquette our own system and try and place. Since then, Iverson has and UW–Milwaukee, to build technologies, businesses. poured resources into startups, develop technologies across and jobs within our own state? connected with powerful inves- the state. Why? And is there a possibility to tors, and capitalized on the One could ask the question, make this work and lead the entrepreneurial spirit that he why doesn’t [UW–Madison] way, nationally, looking at a sees in Madison and through- talk with the folks at Stanford, new model of technology trans- out the state. or MIT, or Harvard, or the fer across multiple schools University of Washington, versus just one? What does WARF’s partner- or UT–Austin and say, ship with the university look “We have some amaz- You were in Seattle previ- like on a day-to-day basis? ing computer science ously. What drew you to WARF doesn’t exist without technologies. What do Wisconsin and to WARF? the university. It’s walking the you have? Together, do [My wife and I] were walking halls of the labs, and talking we have something that around the Square in Madi- with a scientist to find out what we could really create a son before I had started here, exciting new inventions are massive new company and [she] felt the energy of the going to happen. One of my with?” And over time, university. She saw entre- roles is to talk with the chan- there has been an preneurism, she saw cellor, vice chancellors and interest in that, the arts community, deans of the schools about what she saw the athlet- their needs, pressures, and icism, the younger strategies are, and explore how population. … She could WARF best help them. turned to me and said, “This is what Last year the UW fell out of Seattle was when the nation’s top five univer- we moved there.” sities for research expendi- We have so much of tures, dropping from fourth an opportunity here. to sixth. What is your take? It’s really an exciting We can’t allow UW to fall place to be. from five, to six, to seven, to eight. It is a collective effort to Interview conducted, edited, figure out how the entire set and condensed by Madeline of ingredients comes together Heim x’18 in a recipe that continues to Photo by Bryce Richter make this university top five.

On Wisconsin 17 Exhibition Hoopes Sisters Illustrations UW–MADISON LIBRARIES, DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Susan Barribeau ’77, MA’91 had no time to waste UW Special Col- In 2012, Barribeau received an email from the when she came across a listing for 25 sketchbooks lections is home owner of the Hoopes’ former house, saying that a that had belonged to Margaret and Florence Hoopes. to sketchbooks box owned by the sisters was still sitting in the attic. She recognized their names immediately. and other materi- Barribeau visited the home and retrieved the box — It was 2008, and Barribeau — then the new als that highlight which held the sisters’ correspondence with publish- the careers of English-language humanities librarian and liter- illustrators ers such as Row, Peterson & Company and Houghton ary-collections curator for UW–Madison Libraries Margaret and Mifflin Company — for the UW’s collection. While — had struck gold. She knew the sisters as one of Florence Hoopes. there, she also met a neighbor who knew one of the her favorite illustrating teams through her per- sisters. sonal interest in collecting readers from the early “It was a series of odd things, which then con- 20th century. Some of their work appeared in the tinued with people contacting me through the years Alice and Jerry children’s books, similar to the well- about this collection,” Barribeau says. known Dick and Jane series. She has since met relatives — some of whom Barribeau acquired the set before anyone else live in Madison — who have come to Special Col- could claim it, thinking the sketches would be a fit- lections to see the work. During one of their visits, ting addition to the William B. Cairns Collection of they revealed a UW connection: although the sis- American Women Writers 1650–1940, housed in ters never married, their brother did, and one of his Special Collections in Memorial Library. daughters married the late Saul Epstein, who was The sketchbooks contain a range of the sisters’ a physics professor at the university. work starting around the 1920s. The artists, who The Hoopes collection continues to expand lived together in Philadelphia, often practiced draw- beyond Barribeau’s expectations. Just when she ing using neighborhood children for models, and they thinks, “Okay, now I have them all,” she says, “I keep included thorough notes with their sketches. finding new series or new publications.” But this acquisition was just the beginning. STEPHANIE AWE ’15

18 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 OnCampus WILDANDFREE/ISTOCK

Asked and Answered For years, UW–Madison has been committed to making sure all students feel welcome. Findings from a first-ever campuswide student climate survey suggest much is going well with the univer- sity’s social climate — but more can be done. Most students from nearly all backgrounds said they find UW–Madison to be a safe, welcoming, and respectful place, one where they feel they belong. of80% UW students Most respondents indicated they value diversity feel welcome, A PERFECT STORM and that it’s important to them that the university safe, and re- UW professor Harold Tobin planned to teach does, too. spected “very or extremely often.” Geoscience 140 — a new course examining However, challenges remain. Students from natural hazards and disasters — assuming he historically underrepresented and disadvantaged could draw from current events to teach the groups, while reporting generally positive experi- science behind the news. But Tobin couldn’t ences on campus, consistently rated the climate less 11% of students have predicted that hurricanes and wildfires favorably than students from majority groups. reported person- would own the news cycle at the start of the “As a person of color, I wasn’t necessarily sur- ally experiencing fall semester, and Mexico would see its larg- prised by any of the findings,” saysTiffany Ike hostile, harassing, est earthquake in a century before Septem- x’18, who served on a campus task force that or intimidating ber was over. reviewed the findings. “It’s a predominantly white behavior while at In a session blending physics and earth campus, so it makes sense that majority students UW–Madison. science, Tobin explained the source of Hur- would feel safe and welcome here, and others per- ricane Irma’s energy, the role of atmospheric haps a little less so.” pressure, and how its path affected the inten- University officials say the survey confirmed 72% sity of a deadly storm surge. He touched on what they’ve long known anecdotally — that stu- of students stat- why tropical cyclones — commonly referred dents often experience the campus differently based ed that a strong to as hurricanes and typhoons — occur in on their backgrounds. The survey task force, led by commitment to diversity by the bands north and south of the equator, but not Vice Provost Patrick Sims and Dean of Students university was within five degrees of the equator itself. Lori Berquam, has recommended several steps, “very or extremely The course also explores how government including continuing to invest in climate initiatives important” to policies and human choices affect risk, and that have shown promise and increasing the ability them. how those risks can be reduced. Even though of students, faculty, and staff to intervene in response we call them “natural” disasters, “it’s not to hostile and harassing behavior. just chemistry, physics, and earth science The survey was offered to students in fall 2016, that are at play,” Tobin says. “It’s also a mat- and 21 percent responded. Findings were released ter of the social decisions that we make every in November 2017. The full results are available at day, sometimes without understanding the diversity.wisc.edu/climate/survey. ramifications.” DAVID TENENBAUM MA’86 DOUG ERICKSON

news feed

Neuroscientist Richard David- Young girls looking for a healthy UW–Madison topped the list son has been elected to the snack and a confidence boost of U.S. public universities for National Academy of Medicine. can take a bite out of the Jouzge the number of students who The founder of the UW’s Center bar, a dairy-based creation from participate in semester-long for Healthy Minds, Davidson alumna Dana Wendt ’97 and the study-abroad programs. More has earned international rec- UW’s Center for Dairy Research. than 2,200 students left the ognition for his research on the Wendt says the health bar U.S. for classes during the brain and emotion, including pushes back on competitors’ 2015–16 academic year, a the effects of Buddhist potentially harmful messages 4 percent increase from the

JEFF MILLER; CENTER FOR DAIRY RESEARCH DAIRY FOR CENTER MILLER; JEFF practices for mindfulness. about body image. previous year.

On Wisconsin 19 Contender Jo Ann Heckroth Jansen

“I’m a scorer. And a rebounder. But I should be — I’m the youngest,” says Jansen of her 80-and-over team.

The video of the San Diego Splash has surpassed 20 million views on ESPN’s Face- book page and has hundreds of thousands more on ESPN. com. There’s talk of a full- length documentary. But for Jo Ann Heckroth Jansen ’57, the impressions she and her octogenarian basketball team- mates are making on young girls mean more than celebrity status. “I’m the oldest person they ever saw, probably,” the 82-year-old Jansen says with a chuckle. Invariably, a Girl Scout troop and other young girls are in the stands at the suburban San Diego YMCA when Jansen and the Splash are on the court — and Jansen can see how inspired they are. “They bring signs, and they cheer, and they stay for the whole game,” she says. “I think they look up to us.” A lifelong teacher, Jansen taught physical education and special education in Wiscon- sin, Iowa, Texas, and California before retiring at age 77. But her basketball-playing options were limited growing up as an Iowa farm girl. Pick-up games with her brothers and their friends were far more intense than the 6-on-6, half-court, high school games sanctioned for girls of her era. And when she arrived on campus at Wis- consin, her only hooping option was on a women’s rec-league team at Lathrop Hall.

20 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 “There were no leagues for girls to play in then,” she says. “People just didn’t think it was good for you. And it wasn’t lady- like.” These days, knowing that CJ Moloney. her youngest fans can play the “I just felt this incredible game in a post–Title IX era fills awe and respect for what her with joy, not jealousy. they’re doing. I’m 46 now, and Jansen arrived in Califor- I make excuses to not get out nia in 2000, but she didn’t find there. Who am I to stay on the this season. out about the women’s league couch?” Foudy says. “These “I’m a scorer. And a for several years. So just as women are rad. They’ve been rebounder. But I should be — she always had, she fearlessly breaking barriers their whole I’m the youngest,” she says. played against men. “The ball lives, so to them, they’re just “The speed of the game slows would go up for a shot and I’d playing basketball. People are down a little every year.” block out,” she says proudly. going crazy for this.” Meanwhile, the Splash’s “And guys would say, ‘Did you This isn’t Jansen’s first popularity has grown quickly. see that? That little old lady, brush with athletic fame — The players put earnings from she blocked me out!’ ” “Alan Ameche '56 was in our their newfound notoriety She joined the San Diego folk- and-square-dancing toward sending young girls to Senior Women’s Basketball class,” she recalls of the UW basketball camps. Association for women age 50 football legend — and she’s “The crazy thing is, JoAnn and over and last year, ESPN’s enjoyed being the Splash’s and these amazing women, they Julie Foudy — a former U.S. go-to player in most games. don’t even realize how inspira- women’s soccer star who won Although she missed the tional they really are,” Foudy two World Cups and an Olym- national tournament one year says. “I think that’s the coolest pic gold medal — happened following hip and wrist inju- thing.” upon the 80-and-over team in a ries suffered in a game, she’s JASON WILDE ’94 chance meeting with its coach, returned to her pre-injury form PHOTO BY ERIK JEPSEN

On Wisconsin 21 22 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 A Big Bounce BACK Former Badger wide receiver Brandon Williams reached his NFL dream, but then he lost everything.

BY DOUG MOE ’79 PHOTOS BY BRYCE RICHTER

BRANDON WILLIAMS ’16 always knew that his younger brother, Walt Powell, wanted to be like him. Growing up in Saint Louis, the kid — there are seven and a half years between them — fol- lowed Williams everywhere, and as the years went by, they stayed close. When ESPN’s live broadcast revealed that Williams, who had starred as a wide receiver at UW–Madison, had been picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft, 14-year-old Powell ran into the street and shouted the news to the neighborhood. The story took a fairy-tale turn eight years later, when Powell was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2014. Williams, who had been out of the league for several years by then, was thrilled that his brother would follow him to the NFL. But he was deter- mined that there was one place Powell would never follow him: bankruptcy. A 2009 Sports Illustrated article noted that “by the time they have been retired for two years, 78 percent of former NFL play- ers have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce.” Williams was part of the majority. His bankruptcy, in January 2010, while personally devastating, was hardly unique among former professional football players. Williams In Williams’s case, there was nothing left of a signing bonus demonstrates that was in the middle six figures after taxes. The houses and cars his broadcast- were gone, too, along with a fiancée and daughter, who moved to ing chops in the the West Coast. Williams hadn’t been truly reckless — but he Big Ten Network studio at hadn’t saved, either, and hadn’t foreseen his playing career ending Camp Randall after just three seasons. In the end, he’d had no financial guidance. Stadium. He needed the NFL’s help to qualify for an apartment lease in Saint Louis in August 2010, but Williams didn’t draw the curtains and hide. Instead, after a brief moment of soul-searching, he went

On Wisconsin 23 into a frenzy of activity. He lined up some paid speak- Williams (cen- Williams left BMO — on good terms — in ing engagements, coached at camps, and reached out ter) and BTN summer 2017, and he now works as a consultant for to the sports information director at the UW for an reporter Michelle InitiativeOne, a leadership-training company based introduction to the Big Ten Network. And there was McMahon (right) in Green Bay. The new role takes Williams beyond mingle with Bad- something else. ger football fans finance into all aspects of leadership development “After I went through my whole financial ruin,” at a BTN Tailgate and executive coaching. It also allows more flexi- Williams says, “I got an epiphany. God put something taping. bility for his broadcasting duties and the increasing in my heart to say, ‘Look. This should not happen. It’s demand for his services as a speaker and event host. an epidemic. What are you going to do about it?’ ” In October, Williams proved a personable and witty His brother — by then a promising college foot- master of ceremonies for the Wisconsin Innovation ball player — was on his mind, too. Awards at the Memorial Union. “I was thinking, ‘I can’t let him down. I can’t let Of course, anything Williams does will be but- him go through what I went through.’ ” tressed by his hard-earned financial education. Williams made a deep dive into the tenets of He’s given advice to younger brother Powell, who financial literacy, reading books, scouring the inter- played for the Buffalo Bills after being drafted by net, talking to savvy investors, and networking. the Cardinals and was most recently signed by the “He taught himself about financial literacy,” says Jacksonville Jaguars to their practice squad. Stephen Johnson, a regional president with BMO “He was a sixth-round pick [for the Cardinals],” Private Bank, where Williams was employed as a Williams says. “He didn’t get a lot of money. He’s private wealth adviser in 2016–17, having previously got money now. He’s got real estate, multiunit worked for Northwestern Mutual. properties.” His desire to help his brother — and other athletes “We talk at least four times a week,” Powell says. — navigate the choppy circumstance of being handed “We’ve been doing that since I was in college. He a lot of money in a hurry was a powerful motivator. tries to steer me in the right direction.” “I learned a great deal,” Williams says, “about Powell continues, “He’s my brother; he’s my best the markets, about how you interact with wealthy friend; he’s my psychiatrist. He’s a great big brother people, and how you present things.” to have.” In 2015, Williams self-published a financial guide The extended family is big but close, and football for athletes called Millionaire Mindset, and since has been there at the center, always. 2010, he has worked as a studio analyst for football on the Big Ten Network. He has lived with his wife, illiams had an uncle and a close family b. Marcell Williams ’08, in Madison since 2015, when friend who were both high school football he moved back to finish his UW–Madison degree. W coaches in the Saint Louis area, and he They have four children between them. started playing youth football when he was seven.

24 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Once he started high school, he worked tirelessly, in a company that went nowhere. lifting weights and running passing routes for his “I invested in some people as well,” Williams uncle, Terrell Davis, now a high school coach in says, “who didn’t pan out.” Florida. “[Brandon] had great hands,” Davis says. The bankruptcy filing in January 2010 was a And by the time Williams was a junior at Hazelwood low moment, but by June of that year, Williams had East in Saint Louis County, people were noticing. picked himself up and was headed out to New Jersey It didn’t hurt that his best friend was Hazelwood and something called NFL Broadcasting Boot Camp. senior Scott Starks ’11, who was also a gifted ath- lete who later played in the NFL. They lived near hen Williams reached out to Justin Doherty one another and worked out together, sticking to a MA’03, who led communications for UW punishing routine even on hot summer days when W Athletics, Doherty provided an introduc- their teammates sought air conditioning. tion to Quentin Carter, a producer with the Big Ten Williams came to the UW on scholarship — as Network. As a player, Williams did well in inter- Starks had a year earlier — arriving in Madison on views, and he hoped to leverage that into a future May 26, 2002, the day after he graduated from high in broadcasting. school. 78 He auditioned in May 2010. “You’re good on “From the moment Brandon Williams arrived on percent camera, but you’re just not ready,” Carter told him. of former NFL campus,” wrote UW athletics director — and then players experience “I can’t put you on TV yet.” head football coach — Barry Alvarez in the fore- bankruptcy or oth- Williams then applied for the four-day immer- word to Millionaire Mindset, “he showed he was a er financial stress sion broadcasting boot camp course sponsored by tough, talented, and confident young man and foot- within two years the NFL’s Player Engagement office. ball player.” of retirement Carter, also at the camp, noted Williams’s progress Williams played a lot as a freshman — star (Sports Illustrated, and offered him a Big Ten Network spot. Williams Badger receiver Lee Evans III ’14 was hurt in an “How [and Why] made seven appearances in 2010, and he’s still with intrasquad game the previous spring — and never Athletes Go Broke” the network. He did 27 shows in one year alone and March 23, 2009) looked back. He ended his career at Wisconsin as the interviewed Alvarez at the Rose Bowl. Williams also all-time leader in pass receptions with 202 (a record did five seasons of pre-game shows for the Rams in that was subsequently tied by Jared Abbrederis ’13), Saint Louis. and he was a standout kick returner as well. “He’s knowledgeable, he’s personable, and I think His relatively small size — five-foot-nine inches, that resonates on TV,” says Carter, who today is 177 pounds — kept Williams from being a first-round vice president for studio production for the Big Ten NFL pick. But he was confident he would be drafted Network. “People like him. He has a bright future.” somewhere, and he hosted a large party for family In 2015, Williams moved his family to Madison, and friends at his mom’s house in Saint Louis on enrolled at the UW, and completed his degree in draft day in April 2006. communications. That same year he published Early that day, an aunt called. “When are you Millionaire Mindset. going to be drafted?” The chief lesson Williams learned was to sur- “I don’t know,” Williams said. round himself with the right people. “Build your “What year were you born?” his aunt asked. team,” he says. “That’s the first chapter in the book. “Nineteen eighty-four,” Williams said. … If [your main adviser is] your mama, what can she “You will be the 84th player picked,” his aunt do? Has she run a business or put together a budget said. or a marketing campaign?” She nailed it — Williams went in the third round. Williams is now at work on a second book, tenta- “They say you speak it into existence,” he says now, tively titled The IIT Factor of Leadership. IIT stands laughing. “She did.” for intelligence, intangibles, and toughness. He was happy to be going to the 49ers — “I loved He wants to see people reach their full potential. [49ers legend] Jerry Rice,” Williams says — but in In his postfootball life, Williams has seen how it can hindsight, he feels the team never gave him a real happen, and not happen, and he feels well-positioned shot as a receiver. He returned punts. A stomach now to share those lessons. virus in the off-season made for a slow start the next As for his own potential, Williams says that a year, and the 49ers released him after three games. decade from now, he’d love to be “running a firm that He ended up back home with the Rams in Saint is dedicated to executive coaching and leadership Louis, even living in his mom’s new house. transformation.” He grins. “I’d bought the house,” Williams says. “I figured “And also on [ESPN’s] College GameDay.” • there was a room in there for me somewhere.” His time with the Rams was unremarkable, Doug Moe’s latest book, Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime, and after a failed tryout with the Steelers in 2009, a collaboration with Tommy Thompson on the former Williams was out of football. He was also out of Wisconsin governor’s autobiography, will be published in money. Among his mistakes: a $75,000 investment September by UW Press.

On Wisconsin 25 Keep on a- Rock’n Us, Baby

Steve Miller reflects on his 50-year career and campus in the ’60s.

BY JOSHUA M. MILLER

ong before Steve Miller x’67 sang about being a space cowboy and flying like an eagle, he was a UW English major with a passion for civil rights. After growing up in Texas, Wisconsin was a homecoming of sorts for Miller since he was born in Milwaukee and spent his first five years in the state. More recently, he returned to campus during actual Homecoming in October, when he guest-lectured for a music class, performed a concert at the Memorial Union’s Shannon Hall, and directed the Fifth Quarter after the football game. One of Miller’s early influences was his godfather, acclaimed musician and inventor Les Paul, who became a friend of his parents when they lived in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

26 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Steve Miller and his band played a concert at the Memorial Union’s Shan- non Hall this past October. Miller, who be- gan his career in the early 1960s, helped to create rock music’s modern stage design and lighting. PETE OLSEN

On Wisconsin 27 What are your favorite memories of Les Paul What was it like playing with the Ardells? growing up? We were really a shuffle blues band. At the time, Well, Les was one of the best guitar players ever. And there really weren’t any rock ’n’ roll bands. There he was always so generous. He taught me my first was maybe one other band on campus at the time. chords. He would always invite people to come and So we played all the parties — all the sorority par- play with him — all kinds of people across all differ- ties, all the dorm parties, just everything. We backed ent generations. I think that was one of his greatest up artists that came through town to do shows at attributes — his openness to all kinds of music. You’d the Coliseum. Those guys were all terrific, and see Tony Bennett come up and sing a song with Les, Boz and I did the vocals. It was two guitars, bass, and the next artist might be Jimmy Page or Keith and drums. We were pretty funny, too, and really Richards or Johnny Rotten or somebody you never enjoyed playing. heard of. He was very generous with the spotlight on his stage. That was my favorite thing. What are some of your favorite memories of playing with them? Why did you decide to go to the UW? We usually played five times a weekend. In the after- I had a cousin there in graduate school. I had friends noon, we’d play a beer supper, we’d play a fraternity there. It had a wonderful reputation and great his- party, before the football game, after the football tory and English departments, and I was very inter- game. Our last gig as the Ardells, I think we played ested in creative writing and comparative literature. “Louie Louie” 24 times in a row because we knew And also, it was really far away from home, and I that was our last gig. wanted to get the hell out of town. Why did you decide to go into music full time? Did being an English major influence how you STEVE MILLER’S My mom and dad came to Madison and had a meet- thought as a songwriter? GREATEST HITS ing with me. I had entered school when I was very Yes, because it was basically comparative litera- young — I was 16 when I started my freshman year. “The Joker” ture. The more writers you read, the broader your No. 1 So I was 20 years old, and my parents came to see thinking becomes. That was part of it. But while that (1973) me and said, “Steve, what are you going to do? Like broadened my vision and ability to write, I was prob- what’s going on?” And I said, “Well, I want to go to ably more influenced by blues artists and rhythm- “Rock’n Me” Chicago and play blues.” It’s the last thing a parent and-blues artists and country artists — you know, No. 1 wants to hear from their child. My dad gave me a the actual songwriting. (1976) look that said, “Nuh-uh.” “Abracadabra” But my mother said, “You know, it’s a great idea. What UW lessons have informed your career? No. 1 You’re young. You don’t have any responsibilities right The things I really learned there were when I (1982) now. So why don’t you go to Chicago and see if you can joined SNCC [the Student Nonviolent Coordinating “Fly Like an Eagle” make something of your music. Just try.” Committee] and became a Freedom Rider. I was in No. 2 And honestly, the next 10 years were really rough. the civil rights movement. And I was involved with (1976) But for some reason, I believed in my ability and in the antiwar movement. That was probably the great- myself. So I went to California and started a band, est thing I was exposed to, that there were activists “Jet Airliner” and we started managing ourselves and designing our No. 8 on the campus, and it wasn’t something you [just] stages and creating things. I was part of a group of (1977) read about. You could go to a political gathering and people that changed the way people listened to music. get a different view than the standard view in the “Swingtown” When you come out to Summerfest and see that big newspaper. If you felt as I did — very disturbed by No. 17 stage and PA and those groovy lights, and things the condition of blacks in America — and you wanted (1977) sound really great, that stuff all had to be invented to fight for civil rights … that was the important part “Jungle Love” in the late ’60s and early ’70s. It didn’t exist. It was a for me. It was more the political atmosphere on the No. 23 really exciting time because it was a real leap of faith. campus than it was actually the classes I was taking. (1977) There was no set path. The path before that was to be on the Dick Clark show and get in a bus and ride You first met Boz Scaggs x’66 when you were around with seven other bands and play three songs in Texas, right? on a show Dick Clark presented. And they owned all Boz and I went to the same school, and when I was your publishing and work and everything. But we in the seventh grade, I started a band called the changed all that and turned it into a whole new world. Marksmen Combo. And in the eighth grade, I asked Boz to join it. Boz and I played together all through You’ve lived in and played places all over junior high school and high school. Boz was a year the world. Has that nomadic style of living behind me in school. He came up to the University affected you? of Wisconsin, and we played together there as well I go to about 70 cities a year and have for about 50 [in the Ardells]. We grew up together playing in the years, so I’ve been all over the United States and same band. Europe and Australia. My wife and I really enjoy it.

28 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 GETTY IMAGES/GIJSBERT HANEKROOT

We like traveling and have friends all over the world By the early those environments. … It allows me to use my experi- that we visit and see. 1970s, Miller and ence that I’ve gained over my lifetime and apply it to his band were educational systems. When I’m [not touring], I work You currently serve on the welcoming commit- touring around at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Met. I’m thank- the world. Here, tee of the Department of Musical Instruments he plays Amster- ful that somehow fate has washed me up on those of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art dam in 1972. shores. I’m giving them all I have, and will continue and as a board member of Jazz at Lincoln to do so until I leave the planet. Center. What have you enjoyed most about those experiences? You were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall The musical instruments department is one of the of Fame in 2016. You were critical of it at the most fun places in the whole museum. They have time. What do you think now? the first piano and things like that. We’ve done two The people who run the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibits on guitars at the Met, and they’ve been very are well meaning. In my year, my induction, there successful — 500,000 people came to each one. So were actually no ceremonies for anybody. We were that was a big deal. just told to show up and do a television show. That I was asked by Wynton Marsalis to design the was it. They’ve changed that. blues program at Lincoln Center. They wanted [Now] they’re trying to do a lot of good programs. to start teaching blues like they do jazz. My wife, The music-education programs should actually make Janice, and I curate shows on jazz at Lincoln Center. a difference and should have a goal. [The Hall of Fame] We work on 12 music-education programs. The most should be in Cleveland, not New York. They should important one is for children from the ages of eight keep track of the metrics. I think it’s going to be more months to three years. We’ve had metrics on those inclusive and, in the end, will become a beacon of light kids for 25 years. And it’s a very serious educational for music education. That’s what it really should be. program as well as one of the great music venues. It’s drifting that way. • For me, it’s a wonderful opportunity to work with really brilliant musicians and very smart people. At Interview conducted, edited, and condensed by Joshua this point in my life, instead of retiring and playing M. Miller (no relation to Steve). Joshua has written about golf, I’m being challenged, and I’m very enthused music and entertainment for the Chicago Sun-Times, about the creativity that’s required of me to work in Paste, and a variety of other publications.

On Wisconsin 29 Bridging Mountains

30 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Bridging Mountains BY JOAN FISCHER MA’95

GEORGE CROWLEY The Appalachians and the Himalayas are on opposite sides of the globe, but an alumna’s exploration of folk music reveals surprising and meaningful connections.

n 2006, musician and music teacher Tara Tara Linhardt, Linhardt ’94 was traveling around Nepal with far left, collab- her partner, Danny Knicely, hoping to renew orates with mu- old ties from a UW study-abroad program some sicians Ranjan Budhathoki and 14 years earlier. While the pair were ambling Roshan Palpali Ialong a street in Kathmandu, their instruments at a Nepali New strapped on their backs, they encountered a young Year’s celebra- man playing a sarangi, a wooden, bowed string tion in Washing- instrument similar to a fiddle. ton, DC. Linhardt They stopped to listen, enchanted. In sound and cofounded the Mountain Music feeling, the tunes reminded them of the “high lone- Project to help some” music — songs of love and longing, joy and preserve hardship, begging to be belted from a mountaintop traditional — that they’d grown up with in the Appalachians, Nepali music. half a world away from the Himalayas. Linhardt, still fluent in Nepali, fell into conver- sation with the musician and quickly agreed to a jam session with his friends. Like him, they were members of a caste called Gandharba (gan-DAR- bah), “singing messengers” of sorts, who over the centuries, long before mass media, brought stories and news from one village to another in exchange for food or money. Nowadays Gandharbas make their living mostly by playing and teaching music. In recent decades, declining appreciation of folk music among Nepalis — accompanied by an influx of con- temporary music from the West — has endangered both preservation of the music and the Gandharbas’ livelihood. Linhardt and Knicely recorded the food-and- laughter-infused gathering, where the musicians swapped songs and stories. Only later, back at their hotel, did Knicely identify a melody that gave them goosebumps. “It was ‘Sally Anne’! We both heard it!” says Linhardt, referring to an old-time music standard that they knew from Virginia. And indeed, parts of a Nepali folk tune, “Resham

On Wisconsin 31 TARALINHARDT (2)

Nepali musician Firiri,” sound a lot like “Sally Anne,” to the point interviews with Gandharbas about their way of Mohan Gand- where, when she and Knicely played “Sally Anne” at life. The award-winning film debuted in 2012 and harba plays an the next jam session, their Nepalese friends praised has drawn audiences at film festivals, universities, almost-extinct them for so quickly learning their music. museums, and other screenings around the United instrument called the arboj “No, that’s our music,” Linhardt told them with a States and Asia. on his front laugh — and a “Whoa!” of recognition lit the room. Nepali and American musicians have performed porch. It was their music — something they shared — together at dozens of folk festivals in the United and it was clear they had to make more of it. States and abroad — including such major venues From that feeling of kinship, a program of musical as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival — and have and cultural exchange was born. Linhardt, Knicely, offered workshops centered on the music and tradi- and their friend Jacob Penchansky soon founded the tions from both mountain cultures. nonprofit Mountain Music Project to help preserve Perhaps most important, the project has estab- traditional songs in Nepal and around the world. lished programs around Nepal in which Gandharbas They recorded a CD of Nepali and Appalachian teach children about folk music and how to play the folk tunes performed by leading Gandharba musi- sarangi. More than 100 youngsters have participated cians, Linhardt, Knicely, and — as a testimonial in these lessons, which are held at orphanages and to the project’s compelling mission — some of in other settings where children typically don’t have American bluegrass music’s most prominent art- the opportunity to learn music. ists, including Grammy winners Tim O’Brien and Abigail Washburn, Tony Trischka, and banjo player rowing up in tiny Taylorstown, Virginia, (and former NPR newscaster) Paul Brown. Linhardt had always longed for a The project also spawned a one-hour documen- bigger world. tary about connections between Himalayan and “It was really small. No one saw Appalachian mountain music and culture, including Ganybody,” Linhardt recalls. “We had 32 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 20 acres of woods along the side of the mountain. Everything was slanted. It wasn’t the kind of town Rebuilding a Village that people walk through on sidewalks.” On April 25, 2015, Natasha Wozniak ’97 woke up to a text Her first big move was to UW–Madison, where with horrible news: a 7.8-magnitude earthquake had she was hungry to learn about “anything and every- shaken Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and leaving thing” and eventually majored in international hundreds of thousands homeless. Entire villages were relations. Her second big move was signing up for destroyed. the College Year in Nepal program, directed by Wozniak, a jewelry designer based in Brooklyn, New renowned sociology professor emeritus and Asian- York, had maintained close ties to Nepal since partic- cultures expert Joe Elder. ipating in UW–Madison’s study-abroad program there For Linhardt, that year was to prove “life-chang- some 20 years earlier. ing and magical,” she says. She fell in love with Nepal, “I felt utter despair,” she says. “I immediately tried to both with the stunning beauty of the mountains and reach out to people. I had to do something.” villages and with the people, whose self-reliant spirit She got ahold of her friend Bibek Pandit, who had felt surprisingly familiar. been a child when she’d lived with his family during her “Coming from rural Virginia, where people often year abroad. Pandit was in India when the quake struck, rig things up when they don’t work — they’re like, and as a social worker and community organizer, he was ‘Let’s put a little duct tape on the radiator, a little ready to help back home. Wozniak wired him $100 to buy WD-40’ — we joke about that, but the Nepalis have relief supplies, and she set up a fundraising page so that a lot of that same thing,” Linhardt says. “I was telling others could contribute. Within a week, she had raised my friends, ‘This place is so much like rural Virginia. $2,000. These people are so much like some of the people I Residents of the hard-hit Lamjung district asked know at home.’ ” Pandit if he could coordinate an effort to build new, Living with host families fostered close ties and more earthquake-resilient homes there. He and Wozniak allowed students to take part in village life. “You pivoted their mission from providing relief to safe- could explore and study whatever your interests guarding the future. Within two years, the nonprofit were,” Linhardt says. “Whatever your passion was, they founded — now called Sangsangai (“Together for you could learn it with people who were actually Nepal,” sang-sangai.org) — had funded and led recon- doing it.” struction of the entire village of Rainaskot, with 14 Her love of music was long-standing; she’d dab- homes for 100 residents as well as a community center. bled in guitar, banjo, mandolin, and tabla, an Indian It was the first permanent rebuilding project in Nepal, drum. But in Nepal, she began exploring Tibetan Wozniak says. Buddhism. These two interests came together when Pandit coordinated workers and engineers — all she discovered that playing music was, to her, a labor was provided and paid for locally — while Wozniak form of meditation. That recognition inspired her raised money for building materials. The group has to commit to becoming a serious musician, with the raised $200,000 thus far, she says. During the next mandolin as her instrument of choice. She went on five years, they plan to build 125 houses in three more to make a living as a performer and teacher (teaching villages. guitar and ukulele as well as mandolin), and along Wozniak’s efforts have brought study-abroad alumni the way she earned a master’s degree in education together, including many who had never met. Musician from Shenandoah University. Tara Linhardt ’93, who studied in Nepal a few years All of these experiences, Linhardt says, ulti- before Wozniak, held a number of fundraisers to support mately found expression in the Mountain Music Wozniak’s work through the Mountain Music Project. Project, an effort that Elder believes serves as a reflection of the study-abroad program. “Tara is identifying similarities and differences in the field of mountain folk music,” he says. “Identifying cross-cultural similarities and differences is part of what a liberal education is all about.” Jim Leary, a UW professor emeritus of folklore and Scandinavian studies, says that the Mountain Music Project exemplifies a phenomenon he has long observed: folk musicians from vastly differ- ent regions and cultures finding unlikely common ground. “I’ve seen many instances of musicians who couldn’t even speak one another’s language jam- ming together,” Leary says. “When you find people who are artists in some kind of roots tradition, they

On Wisconsin 33 Educational recognize a kinship with other artists,” even from project. He is tremendously heartened, he says, by programs are across the globe. The Mountain Music Project takes the enthusiasm for Nepali folk music from audiences an important that kinship and runs with it, going beyond jamming of all backgrounds, many of whom are hearing it for component of the to performance, recording, and education. the first time. Mountain Music Project. Many of This leads to another phenomenon the Mountain Nepali points to more performance and teaching the children and Music Project illuminates, Leary says: the power of opportunities stemming from the project. “The music adults at right music to spark cultural revitalization. has inspired a new generation in Nepal,” he says. are honing their “It’s been profoundly important in many parts That new generation includes the very youngest skills on a tra- of the world where folk music may be endangered players. Beverly Bronson runs House with Heart, a ditional instru- or seen as low,” Leary says. “If there are steadfast residence for abandoned children in the Kathmandu ment called the sarangi. practitioners and people with sufficient vision to Valley. For some 10 years, she has participated in rally around the music as a vital force and culture, the Mountain Music Project’s education program, it can elevate things that go beyond music.” in which Gandharbas give music lessons to orphans and other disadvantaged children. ppalachians have long felt the stigma “The sarangi is a difficult instrument, but the associated with “hillbilly” music and children enjoy it,” Bronson says. “Some have learned culture. Gandharbas have had to cope that if they stick with it, they will learn how to play.” with a caste system, fading but still The Mountain Music Project has established influential, that classifies them as seven such programs in various parts of the country, “untouchables,”A the lowest of the low. with the goal of having them become self-sustaining. Efforts to further erode that designation are Bronson, for example, values the program highly and increasingly successful, and music is part of the has found continued funding at House with Heart. charge. The Mountain Music Project’s documentary The project has also received support from the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, along with private donations. “I’ve seen many instances of Meanwhile, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York — the place she has called home for the past three musicians who couldn’t even years — Linhardt pursues a life that includes teach- ing and playing at music camps and conventions all speak one another’s language over the country, as well as giving private lessons both in person and online. She’s received awards jamming together. When you for her songwriting and performances and won first place for mandolin playing in a number of festival contests. In 2012, she led a successful effort to set find people who are artists in a Guinness World Record for the largest mandolin ensemble in history when she fronted a band of 389 some kind of roots tradition, mandolinists in a one-time performance at a national music convention in Galax, Virginia. Three years they recognize a kinship with later, in an attempt to win back the title from a Greek band, she led a group of 491 players. That attempt did other artists,” even from not receive approval from Guinness, Linhardt says, but she describes it as a “beautiful and momentous across the globe. event” nevertheless. But the Mountain Music Project remains very features an interview with the late Hum Bahadur much on her front burner. She’s making plans with Gandharba, a revered musician whom Linhardt her partners in Nepal for more performances, work- calls “the Woody Guthrie of Nepal.” Hum Bahadur shops, talks, and screenings, both there and in the Gandharba traveled all over Nepal, singing about the United States. And she continues to pursue the injustice of the caste system and sharing his vision project’s mission to preserve traditional music and for cultural change. strengthen cultural ties. “People used to hate me in the villages. I was con- “It’s something I can do to try to make the world stantly harassed. Caste discrimination was every- a better place — bring that peace and happiness where,” he says in the film. “Over the last 12 years and understanding of cultures,” Linhardt says. “It’s or so, the situation has changed. People don’t hate us; amazing how much of that can really be accom- in fact, they respect us now. That’s good for us.” plished through things like art and music.” • The Mountain Music Project is part of that push for respect, participants say. Noted sarangi player Joan Fischer MA’95 is a folk-music fan and the former Shyam Nepali has performed at numerous festivals editor of Grow, the alumni magazine of the UW’s College of around Nepal and the United States as part of the Agricultural and Life Sciences.

34 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 PHOTOS COURTESY OF TARA LINHARDT; SECOND ROW, RIGHT PHOTO BY KMESTUDIO12; BOTTOM ROW, MIDDLE PHOTO BY JACOB PENCHANSKY A Judge on Trial With the U.S. embroiled in war, John Becker stood up for his beliefs and paid the price with his career.

BY ADAM SCHRAGER

This editorial cartoon oppos- ing the Espio- nage Act was published before Congress passed the law in June 1917. Federal prosecutors used the act to charge Becker less than

WINSOR MCCAY, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS; GREEN COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS OF CLERK COUNTY GREEN CONGRESS; OF LIBRARY MCCAY, WINSOR a year later.

36 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Before Twitter and cable news, But once U.S. soldiers headed to Europe, Becker political fights were up close and personal. For encouraged his son to sign up for the military and John Becker LLB1890, the battle that would change stated publicly it was the responsibility of all citizens the course of his life took place 100 years ago on a to support the war effort. At the same time, he poked February night in Monroe, Wisconsin, at the height and prodded at elected officials, as did his political of World War I. mentor, Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette 1879, It was 17 degrees below zero outside when the to ensure a more representative policy. shouting started inside the courthouse. Becker, “Judge Becker practiced a complex patriotism, not a local judge, was among 50 or so residents who unlike that of Senator La Follette,” says Richard Pifer trudged through two feet of snow in the howling MA’76, PhD’83, who recently authored The Great wind to attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the War Comes to Wisconsin: Sacrifice, Patriotism, and Green County Board. Not enough board members Free Speech in a Time of Crisis. “He approached the made the journey, so without a quorum, the group war effort with similar integrity and nuance, advo- left county business aside. An informal and increas- cating policies he thought best for the nation during ingly agitated conversation about the war erupted. the war, even when his position flew in the face of Becker did not back down. government policy, and even though the result would “There is no shortage of food. The idea of a short- lead to hostile attacks by super-patriots with little age of food is being preached by agents employed understanding of the war or Judge Becker.” by corporations for their own gains and going about Those “super-patriots” took Judge Becker to trial the country on high-paid salaries,” said Becker, an in August 1918. A jury took less than six hours to ardent pacifist and Progressive Republican guber- “This is a rich convict him and he was sentenced to three years at natorial candidate. “This is a rich man’s war. There man’s war,” said the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. Wolfe, is no labor shortage. There is no seed shortage. Becker, a Wis- the U.S. attorney, told reporters afterward that he Farmers, beware of taxes, war taxes, which must consin judge who hoped Becker’s situation would “deter” lesser citi- questioned U.S. be paid in July.” involvement in zens who might be disloyal. Becker was forced to “I have listened to a speech which is seditious,” World War I. resign the seat on the bench he’d been elected to five responded Monroe school superintendent Paul times and held for 21 years in his community. Neverman with indignation. “If the boys over in “It seemed to me, the response to what he said France could have heard his speech, they would was over the top,” says Leslie Bellais MA’09, cura- make short work of him.” tor of social history at the Wisconsin Historical “I doubt you can define the wordseditious, ” Museum. “It was an ongoing struggle in America, Becker replied. balancing civil liberties with national security. We “You’re a traitor,” the superintendent sneered. saw it all over the United States and especially in Roughly three and a half months later, Albert Wisconsin — this overwhelming desire to shut down Wolfe LLB1900, the U.S. Attorney for Western civil rights — a reaction, as we would see it today, Wisconsin, made the accusation official. that seemed un-American.” In a 12-page indictment, he accused Becker of vio- The museum displays a sign donated by Becker’s lating the Espionage Act of 1917. He charged him with family members that someone affixed to their home seven counts of making false statements “willfully during his 1918 trial. Below his name is a crudely and feloniously … with the intent to interfere with drawn figure in yellow with a speech balloon that the operation and success of the military and naval says, “Berlin for Me.” forces of the United States.” “It’s a powerful statement that during World Becker was no stranger to challenging the gov- War I, people would attack others this way,” Bellais ernment: he believed it was the definition of what said. “It’s not an abstract concept. This impacted real citizens should do. He was the chair of Wisconsin’s people.” Commission on Peace and lobbied for a citywide ref- Becker never served a day in jail, and the U.S. erendum in Monroe on whether the United States Court of Appeals overturned his conviction two should get involved in World War I. In April 1917, years later, but the court of public opinion had ren- three days before the U.S. entered the war, Becker dered its verdict. He was defeated in his subsequent and his fellow Monroe neighbors voted 954 to 50 attempts to run for district attorney and for his against American intervention in the conflict. former county judge seat. The Milwaukee Journal called the referendum, When he died in 1926 at age 57, the local newspa- “The Monroe Folly,” and wrote that the “stupidity per in Monroe described him as “a fighter, but fair. If and disloyalty” of the city injured the whole state. he felt he was right, he battled to the end, staunchly And the Los Angeles Times editorialized that there supporting his friend, client, or cause upon which he was “more disloyalty per square foot in Wisconsin was engaged and if defeated … winning admiration than anywhere else in the country.” even of those opposed to him at the time.” •

On Wisconsin 37 Arctic Watch Fran Ulmer’s career took her from UW–Madison to Alaska, where she fell in love with a state that is sounding the alarm on the effects of climate change.

BY ANDREW FAUGHT

38 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Ulmer (in Anchorage with the Chugach Mountains in the background) has chaired the U.S. Arctic Research Commission since 2011. CHRIS MILLER

On Wisconsin 39 hey arrive every summer — pods of massive Ulmer was working as an aide to Governor Jay humpback whales that voyage thousands of Hammond when motherhood intervened. For a few miles from wintering waters in Hawaii and years, she was a stay-at-home mom to her young Mexico. Having fasted the entire season, daughter and son, volunteering at church and for Tthey come to the top of the world with one abiding organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of objective: to pig out. America and the March of Dimes. Her volunteer- At Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, ism stretched to the Juneau Planning Commission, the knobby-headed mammals feast on small school- which served as an unexpected springboard into ing fish for as long as 23 hours a day, gulping down higher office. When the mayor resigned in 1983 to as much as half a ton of food in that span. It’s a made- take a job in Japan, friends nudged Ulmer to run for for-tourists binge, punctuated by explosive full- his seat. body breaching, followed by the equally explosive Her win marked the beginning of 18 years in splashdown. elective office, including a stint in the state House But there is more to the scene than meets the eye. of Representatives as minority leader. In 1994, she The park’s namesakes — 1,045 tidewater and ter- was the first woman to be elected to statewide office restrial glaciers that span 3.3 million acres (an area in Alaska, as lieutenant governor to Governor Tony slightly smaller than Connecticut) — are showing Knowles. The pair, both Democrats, met when each signs of thinning and receding, as are 95 percent of was a mayor, with Knowles in Anchorage. Knowles the state’s glaciers. For the first time in centuries, and Ulmer won their race by a mere 584 votes. sunlight bathes limestone and argillite forged in the “A lot of people say that I gave her the really tough Paleozoic Era. jobs, while I took the easy ones. That may well be These warning signs from nature weigh on Fran true,” Knowles says. Ulmer ’69, JD’72, who since 2011 has chaired the The tough jobs included expanding internet U.S. Arctic Research Commission. Congress cre- access to rural communities, replacing the state’s old ated the seven-member body in 1984 — when the punch-card ballots with the first ever optical scan- effects of greenhouse gases on global temperatures ning technology, and an unsuccessful ballot initiative were not common knowledge — to “observe, under- that would give priority hunting and fishing rights to stand, and predict Arctic environmental change.” native Alaskans who lead subsistence lifestyles. (At The commission develops and recommends national least nine indigenous groups, most of them living in Arctic research policy, strategies that could aid in rural areas, rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering the country’s understanding of and response to cli- for survival.) Ulmer won the Democratic nomination mate change. for governor in 2002, but lost the race to Republican “It’s alarming and disturbing … when I think Frank Murkowski. about how these changes are going to magnify, mul- tiply, and dramatically impact the lives of not only my grandchildren, but future generations all over this planet,” Ulmer says. Nearly 500 miles to the northwest of Glacier Bay, Ulmer arrived in Alaska in 1973, after serving Ulmer lives in the shadow of the Chugach Mountains, a “boring” stint doing antitrust litigation for the which provide a dramatic backdrop to her home in Federal Trade Commission in Washington, DC. Anchorage. Snow falls on the peaks later in the fall When a UW Law School classmate working in the than is typical, and it’s disappearing earlier than state beckoned her to the Last Frontier, she bit. normal in the spring. In 2017, lack of snow forced the famed Iditarod sled dog race to move its starting line from Willow, just north of Anchorage, to colder northerly climes in Fairbanks. Ulmer took a job in the state capitol with the While the United States is among eight countries Legislative Affairs Agency, where she was the only that make up the Arctic bloc of nations, Ulmer con- woman lawyer. She helped to develop the oil-and- cedes this is sometimes a surprise to those in the gas-taxation system as the state prepared for con- Lower 48. struction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, an “Most people know that Alaska is in the north and engineering and political feat. For Ulmer, it was an in the Arctic, but I think it’s kind of a remote idea for exhilarating learning experience. many Americans that we’re an Arctic nation,” says “I went from not knowing what I wanted to do Ulmer, who was appointed to her post by President with the rest of my life,” she says, “to feeling certain Barack Obama and finishes her term on the research that Alaska was the right place for me. I was in the commission in spring 2019. “Unquestionably, over middle of a very exciting place and time.” the last seven to eight years, there’s more press

40 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 coverage about the rapid changes in the Arctic.” At age five, Ulmer fished for bullheads and perch Her adoptive state may provide an early warn- (“what you eat on Friday nights”) using a cane pole. ing of what could lie ahead for the rest of the world. Her parents were undertakers whose business dou- According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its glaciers bled as a furniture store. Ulmer, a mezzo soprano, are losing 75 billion tons of ice each year, a major did her part for the family business, singing at memo- contribution to the rise in sea level. rial services. Ulmer helped plan Obama’s 2015 visit to Alaska, “The first time I actually got paid for singing at a during which he surveyed firsthand the effects of cli- funeral, I thought, ‘Wow, maybe this is my career,’ ” mate change. Lynn Scarlett, former deputy secretary she says. “I quickly decided that was not my career. of the interior under President George W. Bush, calls But it taught me about being able to do something in Ulmer a strong voice for public lands, science, and spite of whatever emotional situation you’re in, and the environment. to be able to power through it.” “Fran is viewed as a problem-solver, someone who understands scientific complexities and who tries to recognize and balance the needs of advanc- “The importance of moving forward ing environmental protections while sustaining eco- nomic community,” Scarlett says. “She’s a person continues one way or another, with who tries to bring it all together while keeping envi- ronmental concerns up front and center stage.” or without us, but I can’t help but Having a convivial exchange on climate change is no sure thing in 21st-century America. One of the think the world would make more earliest actions of President Donald Trump’s admin- istration was to remove climate data and scientific progress if the U.S. was serious information from the Environmental Protection Agency’s website. There has been no indication about its commitments.” that the president intends to defund or disman- tle the Arctic commission, but Trump announced plans in 2017 to withdraw from the Paris climate Childhood friend Nina Macheel connected with accord, in which 195 countries agreed to limit carbon Ulmer in grade school over their mutual love of the emissions. outdoors. “We can make progress whether we are in the “Her parents really got us outside, appreciating agreement or not in the agreement,” Ulmer says. nature in a way that parents didn’t in those days,” “The importance of moving forward continues one says Macheel, a retired software developer who way or another, with or without us, but I can’t help splits her time between Utah and Wisconsin. “They but think the world would make more progress if the actively schooled us on how to appreciate the water, U.S. was serious about its commitments.” the plant life on the lake, or the waterfall. Or what Many questions remain unanswered. Scientists was happening in the backyard.” aren’t sure about how quickly or how much per- When it was time to choose a college, Ulmer mafrost is thawing in the Northern Hemisphere. enrolled at the UW because of its academic repu- Permafrost, found beneath 85 percent of Alaska, is tation. She majored in economics and political sci- a frozen layer of soil below the surface that doesn’t ence and nurtured her love for singing, spending her thaw, even in summer. It contains vast amounts of senior year as a member of a USO musical group carbon from Ice Age plants that never decomposed. called On Stage Tonight, which performed in Iceland, When it does thaw, permafrost releases methane, a Greenland, Labrador, and Newfoundland. She went pernicious greenhouse gas that promotes warming on to the UW’s law school, propelled by President even more dramatically than carbon dioxide. Kennedy’s 1961 call to public service. “Getting a law degree was less about practicing law and more about being able to use lawyering skills to help make the world a slightly better place,” she says. “But running Ulmer’s interest in the natural world dates back to for public office and being in politics was not ever her days growing up in Horicon, Wisconsin, a small part of my plan. It just happened.” city situated on the Rock River, a nearly 300-mile One of her greatest influences during law school tributary of the Mississippi. Her grandfather, Louis was Professor Walter Raushenbush LLB’53, whose “Curly” Radke, led the campaign for the public acqui- moot court sessions were by turns intimidating sition and restoration of Horicon Marsh, the largest and invigorating. “By the end of that semester, I had cattail marsh in the United States. developed self-confidence and the ability to think,

On Wisconsin 41 LT. TIM SMITH, NOAA SMITH, TIM LT.

A melting ice- berg illuminat- ed by the Arctic sun in the Bering Strait, west of Barrow, Alaska, in 2012.

42 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 and speak, under pressure,” Ulmer says. “Those kinds of skills have been useful in many different situations.” Ulmer hasn’t strayed far from higher education. After eight years as lieutenant governor, she was a fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and also served as chancellor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she also taught in the master’s program in public policy. This spring, she’s a visiting professor in Stanford’s School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. And then she will return to her beloved state, which long ago got into her soul. “Alaska is something of a spiritual experience,” Ulmer says. “Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but it’s always a surprising place. It’s an increasingly rare thing to live in a place and literally walk for- ever on a trail and not run into another human being. Some people find that scary or lonely or too far from the comforts of a place like New York City, but I can’t imagine living anyplace else.” Ulmer, whose husband of 36 years, Bill, died in 2013, keeps a cabin on remote Lemesurier Island near Glacier Bay National Park. She’s been known to scud off in her Klepper folding kayak to fish, be it on the Agulowak River or the Icy Strait. Her love of the outdoors extends beyond Alaska. She serves on the global board of The Nature Conservancy, and, as a board member and former chair of the board for the National Parks Conservation Association, she worked on the centennial celebration of the National Park Service. “She really gets the big picture,” says the asso- ciation’s CEO, Theresa Pierno. “She has a passion for these wild places. Being the visionary that she is, Fran recognizes that our future could be in peril if we don’t make the right decisions.” For now, Ulmer’s work on the commission is not done. The group continues to collate its “daily update,” an electronic newsletter that provides a snapshot of ongoing Arctic research, public policy announcements, and a listing of important meetings. The commission also oversees three working groups: one on fostering renewable energy in the region; a second on water and infrastructure issues; and another that studies mental health and suicide in the Arctic. “I’ve always tried to make whatever place I worked or whatever situation I was in a little better,” she says. “And I’ve always tried to identify things that are within the realm of the possible. I have never claimed to be a person who can make miracles happen. Those happen usually when a whole lot of people come together to make them happen.” •

Andrew Faught is a regular contributor to On Wisconsin.

On Wisconsin 43 Michael FINLEY The Sequel

BY JENNY PRICE ’96

With one foot in basketball and another in Hollywood, the former Badger star writes his next chapter.

44 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 DANNY BOLLINGER

Finley (in blue tie) sits courtside with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cu- ban (long-sleeved blue shirt) at most home games.

On Wisconsin 45 n the hit show Shark Tank, billionaire Mark Cuban urges would-be entrepreneurs to “It Keeps the Competitive Fire Going “follow the green, not the dreamv.” Former in Me.” OBadger basketball star Michael Finley ’14 With the Mavericks, Finley evolved into a team is doing both. leader who could bring calm to a locker room. “He’s After nine seasons with Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks the one guy on the team, when he opens his mouth, and 16 total in the NBA, Finley has learned the busi- everybody shuts up and listens,” a team insider ness of the sport and now serves as the team’s assis- revealed to Sports Illustrated in 2002. Finley says he tant vice president of basketball operations. He’s also brings that strength to his front-office position with launched a career as a film producer, making movies the Mavericks. “When I’m talking to either Mark that tell stories Hollywood has ignored, yet still have [Cuban] or scouts … they respect what I have to say, the potential to turn a profit. because they know I’m not just saying some stuff just In February, The First to Do It was released in to hear myself speak. There’s substance to it.” But theaters nationwide. A documentary Finley produced Finley’s confidence also comes from what he learned about Earl Lloyd, the first African American to play in 2,147 about the business of professional basketball while The number of the NBA, it premiered last year during the NBA All- points Michael spending two years essentially interning for Cuban Star Weekend in New Orleans. “There’s a lot of guys in Finley scored as before being named to his current role. “As a player, the NBA of African American descent who have never a Badger you think you know everything, and once you get heard of Earl Lloyd or don’t know the significance of on this side, you realize that you really don’t know him in NBA history,” Finley says. “They’re playing the anything,” Finley says. “It’s like going back to school game that they love because of guys like Earl Lloyd and learning, and it’s been a great journey for me.” who broke those boundaries down.” One lesson: the complexities of player contracts. “I The documentary follows the critical and com- always thought that if Player A made $1 and Player B mercial success of the Finley-produced American made $1, you can trade them for Player C who makes Made, which starred Tom Cruise. The movie, made $2 — but it’s not that easy. There’s a lot of rules and for $50 million, grossed more than $130 million at regulations that go into trading for a guy.” the box office after its October 2017 release. A two-time NBA All-Star, Finley is also an active philanthropist who has endowed an athletic schol- “You Have to Dive Deeper.” arship at the UW and is building up a charitable Finley has run the draft for the Mavericks the past foundation that works to help kids in the Dallas– two years. As more players enter the draft at a Fort Worth community avoid the “summer slide” younger age, teams have to do more than study game and make strides in school. film or scout in person to make smart choices. The job requires Finley to do in-depth research to “try to find out as much as you can about that person “What Would You Do with Life after as a basketball player and as a young man. … We’re Basketball?” investing a lot of money into these individuals, and That’s the question Finley’s business manager posed you just don’t want to go in blind.” Finley’s efforts to him as his NBA career was winding down in 2009. have impressed his boss. “He’s been one of the smart- Finley had harbored an interest in both real estate est moves I’ve made in a long time,” Cuban told the and the entertainment industry, so his lawyer set Fort Worth Star-Telegram after the 2016 draft. up a meeting with a successful film producer. The “We’re becoming more and more dependent on him.” conversation left Finley amazed and intrigued by what went into making a movie. “The rest is his- tory,” he says. That same year, Finley started Follow “This Is Home.” Through Productions. He has 10 credits to his name Even though Finley left the Mavericks for the San as a producer, including Lee Daniels’ The Butler and Antonio Spurs in 2005 after Cuban waived his The Birth of a Nation, and he’s clear about his deci- contract for salary-cap relief, he has long consid- sion-making process for getting involved in a produc- ered Dallas home. (His wife, Rebekah, is from Fort tion. “First of all, for me it’s a business, and it has to Worth.) “When I played [in Dallas], the community make financial sense for me,” he says. “But even more embraced me with open arms. I did a lot of com- important than that, the story has to resonate with munity service in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, so me.” Finley reads every script he receives and says it always had a special place in my heart,” he says. he has to be “in awe” of it and able to imagine what After his family returned to Dallas, Finley rein- it would look like on the big screen. “If the script has vented his approach to giving back to the commu- that kind of effect on me, then I go to the next stage nity that embraced him as a player. Last summer, his and try to see if it makes financial sense. And if those foundation, which he established in 2003, provided two things go hand in hand, nine times out of 10, I’ll instruction in core academics, computer program- usually do the movie.” ming, fine arts, and life skills to 19 students in third

46 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 UW ATHLETICS

“When I’m talking to either Mark [Cuban] or scouts … they respect what I have to say, because they know I’m not just saying some stuff just to hear myself speak. There’s substance to it.”

Badgers’ all-time leading scorer and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns. “I talk to kids all the time about the importance of education, and I felt kind of like a hypocrite when I was telling these kids to ‘get your education, get your college degree,’ but I didn’t have mine,” he says. Between online classes and taking courses at a local college, Finley reached his goal. In 2014, he received his degree from the UW in agri- cultural and applied economics. His mom, sisters, wife, and children were on hand. “It was a great time — not only for me, but for my family and for all the kids who look up to me as well,” he says.

“The Four Years That I Had at Madison … Were the Best Four Consecutive Years of My Life.” and sixth grade, and offered tutoring and parent Finley (during a Finley lives out of a suitcase for periods of time, trav- education throughout the school year. “Statistics home game at the eling with the Mavericks for about 85 percent of the show that during the summer, kids either stay the Field House in team’s road games. But he found time to return to same or forget what they learned the previous year the mid-1990s) is Madison last fall with his wife and three children the only player in … so we’re trying to limit that,” he says. “The goal is Badger basket- for a visit, which included a stop at Mickies Dairy to follow those kids, not only through the summer, ball history to Bar. “People who haven’t been on campus or who but throughout the school year and then bring those score 500 points don’t know much about Wisconsin always ask me, same kids back … then enroll a new flock.” in three different ‘Why did [you] go to Wisconsin?’ I say if you go to seasons. Wisconsin and spend a week there, getting to know the people at the university and in the community, “It Was Something I Promised My Mom, you’ll realize why: because it’s a loving place, a place Something I Promised Myself.” that truly loves not only the athletes, but also their When Finley first arrived at the UW as a fresh- students. To this day, I can travel around the world man, his plan was to pick up enough extra credits and always see someone from Wisconsin, and it’s a during summer school to graduate in four years, great family to be a part of.” • “but because of basketball, my summers were booked,” he recalls. He left campus in 1995 as the Jenny Price ’96 is co-editor of On Wisconsin.

On Wisconsin 47 OnAlumniAlumni News at Home and Abroad

Groovin’ … on Reunion Afternoons Bringing the ’60s Back Home will celebrate an iconic decade. UW ARCHIVES 2018S00007 ARCHIVES UW UW alumni who were in Mad- ison during an era known for its protests and flamboyant pop culture will return to campus this summer for a once-in-a- lifetime event. Jazz musician Ben Sidran Saluting Young Alumni ’67 says the idea for the June The Forward under 40 Award 14–16 reunion — called A Party honors alumni under the age with a Purpose: Bringing the of 40 for early-career success. ’60s Back Home — originated The 2018 honorees are: while he was on tour. After he and his wife, Judy Lutrin Face paint and Sarah Coglianese ’00, writer, street theater met UW alumni Speed4Sarah.com; founder, Sidran ’69, were hallmarks who had never returned to of the counter- #whatwouldyougive campaign campus, they joined forces with culture during the Jerilyn Goodman ’71 to plan antiwar years. Zainab Ghadiyali MS’12, MS’12, the gathering. cofounder, Wogrammer; product Madison is “more a state of mind, rather than a time or a place,” manager, Airbnb Ben Sidran says. Festivities will include concerts with Boz Scaggs x’66 (see page 26), Tracy Nelson x’67, Sidran, and other musical Raul Leon MIPA’07, PhD’10, asso- grads from the era, as well as Motown Night with the Temptations and ciate professor of higher education a dance party with legendary WORT deejay Rockin’ John McDonald. and student affairs, Eastern Michi- The Wisconsin Alumni Association will sponsor a Babcock Hall ice gan University cream social on the Memorial Union Terrace on June 16, which will 122 young alumni include a ’60s sing-along and a special ice cream flavor inspired by the Manu Raju ’02, senior congressio- have been hon- decade. The Union also plans to feature live music from the era on the ored with Forward nal reporter, CNN Terrace throughout the reunion. under 40 Awards Madison mayor Paul Soglin ’66, JD’72 and John Karl Scholz, since the program Roberto Rivera ’04, chief empow- dean of the College of Letters & Science, will provide a welcome in the began in 2008. erment officer, 7 Mindsets new Alumni Park; UW Cinematheque will show period classics such as Easy Rider and The Graduate; and trolley runs will include a food Paulina Stowhas MS’15, veterinar- tour, a Mifflin Street historical tour, and a trip to Monona Terrace. 158 ian and project facilitator, Island All-star panels featuring UW alumni and professors will cover degrees have been Conservation topics including the Vietnam War, civil rights, the legacy of George earned by the Mosse, and the women’s movement. Among the nearly three dozen Forward under 40 Kevin Thao ’06, MD’10, MPH’11, discussions will be sessions titled The State of the Fourth Estate, with honorees, includ- primary-care physician, Aspirus ing 94 undergrad- David Maraniss x’71, Lowell Bergman ’66, Walt Bogdanich uate, 34 master’s, Wausau Family Medicine; faculty ’75, and Jeff Greenfield ’64; Earth Day with Tia Nelson ’86 and 15 doctoral, and associate, Family Medicine and Kathleen Falk JD’76; The Politics of Resentment with Katherine 15 professional Community Health, UW School of Cramer ’94; and What’s So Funny about Madison? with Jim Abra- degrees. Medicine and Public Health hams x’66, Ben Karlin ’93, and Andy Bergman MA’66, PhD’70. “Obviously, these are dramatic times — these are times of social Rupa Valdez ’03, MS’07, PhD’12, change, and I think there are parallels with the ’60s,” Sidran says. assistant professor, Depart- “Issues of race, of gender, of America at war — journalists fighting to ment of Public Health Sciences, get the truth out — these are things we all went through [then]. It’s University of Virginia School of odd, but the ’60s are very relevant today.” Medicine; founder, Blue Trunk To register, visit madisonreunion.com. Foundation

48 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Conversation Ladee Hubbard

At home in New Orleans, some changes if you want it to OnAlumni Ladee Hubbard MFA’14 was actually happen. I just really booked. She had a full-time wanted to have a chance to job as an adjunct lecturer in immerse myself in writing. Africana Studies at Tulane University, a growing family, What are you hearing from and a super-powerful calling: readers of The Talented to write a novel. Sight unseen, Ribkins ? Hubbard moved to Wisconsin It’s been really gratifying with her three children — the that so many people seem to youngest then just four months connect with what I was trying old — for UW–Madison’s to accomplish with it, because creative writing program, there is a lot going on in the where the award-winning book. It talks about the family author transformed one of her dynamic a lot, which I think short stories into her debut you can certainly extend to novel, The Talented Ribkins. how people interact with each Inspired in part by a 1903 other when they do have a essay by W.E.B. DuBois, “The connection. We are one people, Talented Tenth,” Hubbard’s in a sense. book tells the story of an Afri- can American family with a What do you hope readers catalog of superpowers (think will take away from the fire-breathing, super strength, novel’s themes of politics, telekinesis) and a genera- history, freedom, and move- tions-long fight for social ment? justice. I talk about self-love a lot and learning to love yourself — Tell us about the moment also, in the face of all these [last fall] when you were obstacles, the value of just a guest on Late Night with trying to do the best that you Seth Meyers, and the crowd can with what you’ve been applauded your mention of given. What I personally find W.E.B. DuBois, the sociolo- so heroic about [Johnny the gist who wrote “The Tal- Great, a central character in ented Tenth.” the book who has a gift for A lot of times I have to explain making maps of places he’s the reference to people. I think never seen] is that he keeps he’s not as well-known as I feel trying. I think that’s really he needs to be. I was happy important, trying to find new that people were acknowledg- paths — not getting stuck ing his role. He’s a towering on one way of seeing things, figure in American history. He either, but not being afraid to was not just an African Ameri- keep trying to make things can figure, but really, he’s such better. an important thinker. Interview conducted, edited, and con- How did your University densed by Kate Kail Dixon ’01, MA’07 of Wisconsin experience Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano influence this novel? I knew I needed to go some- where and focus, because I have a lot of other responsi- bilities here in New Orleans. I didn’t have much of [the book] written until I got there, beyond the first draft. If you really want to write a book, you’re going to have to make

On Wisconsin 49 Tradition Becoming Bucky JEFFMILLER (4)

Each spring, a small group of WHAT’S YOUR dates are presented with a pile of course on the ice and taking shots students vies for the chance to FAVORITE UW props and must employ them in on goal while wearing the top become the most visible member TRADITION? novel ways. (Don’t use the broom half of the suit, including Bucky’s of the UW Spirit Squad: Bucky Tell On Wisconsin to sweep — make it a guitar or heavy head. Last April, nine out Badger. A three-night audition at onwisconsin@ an oar to paddle a laundry basket of 14 students made it to the final — filled with equal parts fun and uwalumni.com, across the floor.) night, when they performed a and we’ll find out intensity — puts their creativity, if it’s just a fond During a dance tryout, with- two-minute original skit, com- humor, and strength to the test. memory or still out the costume, subtle moves plete with homemade costumes. First there are push-ups, a part of campus won’t cut it. “It’s awkward. It’s Keegan Gallup x’20, who made skill required when Bucky counts life today. weird,” Spirit Squad director the team, presented an homage to up points after the football team Josette Jaucian ’97 tells the every Big Ten mascot, including scores at Camp Randall. The candidates. “Have fun with it.” Michigan State’s Sparty. would-be mascots line up on a mat Simply putting on the outfit The final squad of seven Bucky on the UW Field House floor, and doesn’t make someone Bucky. Badgers includes three returning a former Bucky counts: “Down, How students handle themselves veterans — two had to try out one, Down, two, Down, three … while wearing the suit during a again as is customary after their ” The first person gives up at 27. one-minute comedic scene, with first year on the squad. They will Others make it into the 50s. directions from a member of a collectively appear at more than After that comes another panel of judges, helps determine 700 events in a year, ranging from physical feat. An aspiring Bucky whether they have what it takes. wedding receptions to game days must be able to balance at the Each candidate emerges from the before a capacity crowd at Camp top of an “elevator,” a maneuver costume hot, sweaty, and smiling. Randall. in which two squad members “How’s it smell in there?” one stu- Seth Van Krey x’19, a return- wedge their hands under his feet dent is asked when he is done. His ing Bucky, doesn’t hesitate when and help him rise to the top of a answer isn’t printable. asked about the time commitment human pyramid. The second night of tryouts required: “It’s worth it.” Improvisation is key. Candi- includes navigating an obstacle JENNY PRICE ’96

50 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 OnAlumni Class Notes

40s–50s Concorde supersonic airliner, from the Wisconsin Alumni The friendship between Marial in which he spent 74 minutes in Association in 1986 and was Pliss Poll MS’44 of Hazel totality), he and his wife, Norma named a Distinguished Business Crest, Illinois, and Anna Malmanger Liebenberg ’55, Alumnus by the UW’s business Lou Riesch Owen MPh’42, watched the August eclipse from school in 1995. PhD’52 of Boulder, Colorado, their home. Steve Cony ’69, president knows no boundaries. The two BOOK NEWS? The 14th annual Barbara A. of Communications Counsel- friends met during their time See page 58. Rider Colloquium at Western ors in Croton-on-Hudson, New at the UW and have each led Michigan University (WMU) York, is a marketing–com- storied and accomplished lives, has honored Barbara Burn- munications professional and keeping in touch with letters, CLASS NOTES ham Rider ’54, chair of the storytelling coach who has told SUBMISSIONS phone calls, and cards through uwalumni.com/ WMU occupational therapy his own story in his recently it all. Though they have not go/alumninotes department from 1976 to 1985. published novel, He’s All I Have, seen each other since 1944, She also served two terms on coauthored by Rabbi Jenni- their 73-year friendship contin- Class Notes, the Kalamazoo County Board fer Jaech. The book, which ues as strong as ever. Wisconsin of Commissioners and other addresses nurturing young Foundation Lew (Lewis) Harned ’47 and Alumni boards and organizations children through the loss of of Madison was honored as Association, related to health care and edu- loved ones, shares memories of a Wisconsin Football Season 1848 University cation in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Cony’s childhood, the death of Ticket Holder of the Game in Avenue, Madison, She continues to be active in her his father when he was three, fall. His son-in-law (J.) Todd WI 53726-4090 community and in her profession. and a childhood doll — now Ondell ’71 of La Crosse, more than 65 years old — that Wisconsin; grandson Jason 60s helped him through it. Vandehaar ’04 of Madison; DEATH NOTICES As an elected national president Russ Nelson ’69 of Saint and great-grandson (and likely AND NAME, of Hadassah Associates — an Paul — a founder of Nelson, future Badger) Henry Vandehaar ADDRESS, organization comprising more Tietz, and Hoye (now NTH) also share his Badger pride. TELEPHONE, than 33,000 men — James — retired at the end of 2017. AND EMAIL Perhaps by fate more than UPDATES Rotenberg ’66 of Lawrence, During his tenure, Nelson happenstance, navy veteran alumnichanges@ New York, has been pursuing managed many real-estate Mike Chapman ’53 of Wauke- uwalumni.com its mission to advance medical transactions, including deals sha, Wisconsin, was traveling research, healing, and educa- that involved new headquarters for business when he saw the Alumni Changes, tion in the United States, Israel, for U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis Wisconsin grave of General Harry Collins, Foundation and worldwide. Under his lead- and Ecolab in Saint Paul. a World War II major general and Alumni ership, the group’s 2017 Men’s who commanded the U.S. 42nd Association, Health Initiative has worked to 70s Infantry Division (the Rain- 1848 University raise funds for Alzheimer’s dis- Edward Van Gemert ’72, bow Division), which helped Avenue, Madison, ease research at the Hadassah MA’78, the vice provost for to weaken the German assault WI 53726-4090 Medical Organization in Israel. libraries and university librar- in the Battle of the Bulge and 608-308-5420 In addition to recently ian, has announced that he will the liberation of Dachau. Since or 800-443-6162 publishing his book, The Art retire in May. He has more than the encounter, Chapman has of Selling the Family Business, 45 years of work with libraries, interviewed Collins’s widow Jonathan Pellegrin ’67 of starting as a student assistant and other officers, publishing Monterey, California, spent 26 in Memorial Library in 1971 and his first book, General Harry years in publishing and devel- eventually becoming the first J. Collins: The General of the oped more than 30 business person at the UW to hold his Children, at the age of 90. magazines in the agricultural, current title. Under his leader- Twenty-seven: that’s the manufacturing, and distri- ship, the libraries have enjoyed number of total solar eclipses bution fields. He was chair of campus support for increased that Donald Liebenberg ’54, the American Business Press acquisition funding, spear- MS’56, PhD’71, an adjunct trade organization, held mul- headed well-attended programs, professor of astronomy at tiple top posts with the Young and more. Thank you, Ed — it’s Clemson [South Carolina] Presidents’ Organization, and been a great run! University, has seen, according traveled on behalf of the U.S. George Hesselberg ’73 of to Clemson University’s The Department of Commerce. A Fitchburg, Wisconsin, retired Newsstand. Altogether, he has retired professor of entrepre- last year following 42 years spent nearly three hours in neurship and strategy at the as a reporter at the Wisconsin totality! Although Liebenberg UW’s Wisconsin School of State Journal in Madison. He has traveled the world to view Business, Pellegrin earned a wrote about a range of events, eclipses (including one from a Distinguished Alumni Award people, and happenings at the

On Wisconsin 51 OnAlumni Class Notes

UW, from interviewing Tunnel of Baltimore has made the of Peruvian Music at the Uni- Bob — “one of those campus best out of a tragedy. Follow- versity of Arkansas in collabo- apparitions” whom few see — ing the loss of his 22-year-old ration with some of its faculty to uncovering the burial spot of son from a heroin overdose in members. As part of Hispanic diseased cows at Picnic Point. 2011, DeDakis wrote his latest Heritage Month festivities, the In retirement, Hesselberg plans mystery-thriller, Bullet in the concert featured music written to freelance, finish a children’s Chamber — a book that earned or arranged by Peruvian com- book, and compose a series of three national awards, includ- posers as well as numbers that murder mysteries. ing a first-place Reader Views included Peruvian motifs. David Marcou ’73 of Reviewers Choice Award, a La Crosse, Wisconsin, has pub- silver Foreword INDIES Book 80s lished more than 50 volumes Award, and a bronze 2017 Known as “Dr. Z” to his stu- of his Spirit of America series, Feathered Quill Book Award. “I feel like it’s dents and local community contributing to the more than Kudos to Michael Lenard a legacy that members, Richard Zielinski 135 books he has authored so ’77, who has been named the ’82, a professor and director of far — many of which contain Olympic Torch Award hon- I’m living choral activities at the Univer- photos he has taken. Marcou’s oree for his positive impact on out when it sity of Oklahoma, has cele- work has received praise from the U.S. Olympic Movement comes to brated his 10th year as artistic David McCullough, Jon Tarrant, through promoting Olympic my family … director and conductor of the and the September 12 Guild. He ideals and serving as an advo- Classical Music Festival Eisen- has lived in London and Seoul, cate for athletes. Lenard, vice doing some- stadt Summer Academy. Last and he has also earned degrees president of the International thing that is summer, he led the orchestra, from the Universities of Iowa Council of Arbitration for Sport trailblazing.” chorus, and soloists — com- and Missouri. and senior adviser for interna- Vanessa posed of global musicians — as It’s been a busy time for tional private equity firm McDowell ’03 they performed in the Ester- Gerald Popelka PhD’74 7 Bridges Capital Partners, is a házy Palace, Saint Stephen’s of Redwood City, California, former VP of the United States Cathedral, and the Bergkirche whose faculty appointment Olympic Committee and a 1984 in Austria. He also accepted has been transferred to neu- handball Olympian. He lives in the Business Person in the Arts rosurgery at Stanford Univer- Pacific Palisades, California. Award from the Norman [Okla- sity after he served as chief of Michelle Vaughan homa] Arts Council last year. audiology in the otolaryngology Buchanan PhD’78 has been Michelle Hart Behnke department. Now he researches appointed the deputy for ’83, JD’88, principal of tinnitus, or “ringing in the science and technology at the Michelle Behnke & Associates ears,” which Popelka asserts is Department of Energy’s Oak in Madison, has become the a neurological condition — not Ridge [Tennessee] National treasurer of the American Bar a hearing problem. He was also Laboratory. Buchanan had Association (ABA), for which one of several editors on a book, been the lab’s associate direc- she will serve a three-year term Hearing Aids, that provides tor for physical sciences since as one of five officers on the insight on hearing-aid research. 2004. “It is a great privilege to ABA’s board of governors. In A distinguished professor be entrusted with shaping our 2015, Behnke was named Real in agriculture and life sciences future as a laboratory,” she says. Estate Lawyer of the Year by at Iowa State University, Max Congratulations to Madison Best Lawyers in Wisconsin. She Rothschild MS’75 has earned family physician John Frey was also recognized by the Wis- important recognition recently. ’79, who has earned the John G. consin Association of African He was named a fellow by the Walsh Award for his dedication American Lawyers for Out- National Academy of Inventors and leadership to help further standing Leadership in 2004 for discoveries in swine genet- develop family medicine. Frey and was named one of the Best ics, and he received an Award of served as professor and chair at Lawyers in America each year Distinction from the College of the UW’s Department of Family between 2005 and 2015. Agricultural and Environmen- Medicine and Community Following the unexpected tal Sciences at the University of Health until 2006 and is now a death of his stepfather, Bill California, Davis, for his work professor emeritus. Moore ’84 left his posi- as an animal geneticist who William Wielgus ’79 tion at Procter & Gamble to has improved swine and other of Alexandria, Virginia — become president and CEO livestock species. recently retired after a 30-year of his stepfather’s company, A former editor for CNN’s career as an oboist in the the George Meyer Company The Situation Room with Wolf National Symphony Orchestra (now PacMoore), in Hammond, Blitzer, John DeDakis ’77 — has presented A Celebration Indiana. The company provides

52 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Recognition Emma Straub MFA’08 ANDREA MOHIN/THE NEW YORKMOHIN/THE ANDREA TIMES/REDUX food contract-manufacturing services, employs about 300 people, and processes some 250 million pounds of ingredients each year. Moore has helped the company to expand by develop- ing a functional ability to pro- cess recycled starch products and spurring employee trans- formation, including spiritual development. Melinda Myers MS’86, a gardening expert in Muk- wonago, Wisconsin, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of GWA: the National Associa- tion for Garden Communicators. Myers joined GWA in 1981 and has served as a national board member and regional director. A STORE GROWS IN BROOKLYN Her eponymous company works The planning took months. For a brief moment, when emotions ran high, to inspire and educate garden- they almost called it off. But when the big day arrived, it was glorious. ers. Among her many accom- Some might even say magical. plishments, Myers hosts TV “The opening itself felt very much like a wedding,” says best-selling and radio program Melinda’s novelist Emma Straub MFA’08, owner of Books Are Magic, a New York Garden Moment, has authored City bookstore. “All of a sudden, the doors were open, and people could more than 20 books, and has come in, and we just hugged everyone.” written for Backyard Living, Straub and her husband, artist Michael Fusco-Straub, opened Better Homes and Gardens, and Books Are Magic this summer, near their home in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill Fine Gardening magazines. neighborhood. The store is designed to welcome everyone from families to the literary community — and the stock is pointedly curated. 90s “My goal when we opened was to be a feminist, female-author- Here’s some news that gets us centric bookstore,” Straub says. “I want to be a loudspeaker for women mooovin’ — cofounder Michael writers and other marginalized writers, writers who are often not taken Hull ’91 of Oconomowoc, Wis- seriously or not given space on a bookstore shelf.” consin, helped launch start-up The store carries Straub’s own New York Times best sellers — 2016’s Yodelay Yogurt, which began Modern Lovers and 2014’s The Vacationers — as well as her 2012 production in Wisconsin last Wisconsin-influenced debut novel,Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures. spring. Its Swiss-style yogurt Alumni will recognize a Madison flavor in her 2011 collection, Other line comes in seven reduced-fat People We Married; she wrote many of the short stories while in the UW’s flavors, and its availability is creative writing program. spreading across south-central At UW–Madison, Straub was delighted to study with author Lorrie Wisconsin and into Milwaukee Moore, whom she describes as “one of my favorites of all time.” As a and Chicago. graduate, she’s the latest in a line of distinguished alumni that includes Jill Koski ’91 has taken on her parents, Susan Bitker Straub ’66, a literary advocate, and Peter the role of president and CEO Straub ’65, a best-selling horror novelist. of Holden Forests & Gardens, The bookstore is younger than Straub’s two preschool-aged sons, which includes the Holden but no less demanding of attention. Her husband serves as the store’s Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, first responder (think leaky roofs or shoplifters); Straub hosts dozens of and the Cleveland Botanical fellow authors for events, and she’s hiring booksellers so she can devote Garden. She was previously at time to writing her next novel. the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Straub says they had just started planning for Books Are Magic Illinois, where she served as the during the November 2016 election season. Amid the national mood of vice president of development political strife, the couple wondered if their timing was right. for 10 years. Prior to that, she “When the election happened, we thought, ‘Oh, God, no, the world was with Shedd Aquarium in is falling apart. We can’t open a bookstore; it’s too risky,’ ” she recalls. Chicago. “Public gardens and “That was for, like, three hours, and then we realized, ‘No, this is exactly arboreta are more important why we need a bookstore.’ It’s even more important now.” than ever to help connect people KATE KAIL DIXON ’01, MA’07

On Wisconsin 53 Recognition Gordon Hempton MAx’82

to the world around them and positively impact the economy, health and wellness, and of course, the environment,” SHAWN PARKIN SHAWN Koski says. A hearty congrats and best wishes to Brian LeClair ’91, who has accepted an offer from President Donald Trump and the leadership of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be principal deputy administrator within the Health Resources and Ser- vices Administration. Mark McIntyre ’91 is now the senior director and chief security adviser within the Enterprise and Cybersecurity ONE SQUARE INCH OF SILENCE Group at Microsoft Corpo- In 2005, Gordon Hempton MAx’82 was hiking an unmarked trail through ration. In this role, McIntyre a wild, wet corner of Washington state when he finally found what he works primarily with national was looking for: silence. governments across the globe, Hempton, an Emmy Award–winning sound recorder and engineer, supporting their informa- placed a red rock on the spot and declared it the quietest place in tion-assurance and risk-man- America. The act was more symbolic than scientific, but it drove home agement efforts. He also advises the point that few places are truly free of human noise. public- and private-sector “Natural quiet is the antidote to the toxic noise that’s all around us leadership teams at Microsoft’s now,” he says. “There is not one place on Planet Earth that’s set aside Executive Briefing Center at the for protection from noise pollution.” company’s Redmond, Washing- Hempton’s One Square Inch of Silence site in Olympic National Park’s ton, campus. Hoh Rain Forest has become a monument to silence. Hundreds of peo- Wenyuan Shi PhD’92 has ple make pilgrimages to the rock-marked grove every year. A Russian TV been named the chief execu- crew, a German magazine reporter, CBS Sunday Morning, and a team of tive officer and chief scientific New York Times journalists have come calling. officer of the Forsyth Institute, Hempton has circled the globe three times, capturing the rarest an independent research orga- nature sounds — “sounds that can only be fully appreciated in the nization based in Cambridge, absence of manmade noise,” he says. His recordings have been used by Massachusetts, that seeks to the National Geographic Society, Microsoft, and the Smithsonian Insti- understand the connections tute. In 1992, he won an Emmy for a PBS documentary about natural between oral health and overall soundscapes on six continents. wellness. Prior to this role, he At UW–Madison, Hempton studied the quietest of living things — was the chair of the Section of plants. He was aiming for a master’s in plant pathology when he made Oral Biology at the University of a fateful pit stop in a cornfield. “I pulled over, and I just listened to the California, Los Angeles, School crickets and then an amazing thunderstorm that came over me,” he of Dentistry and the doctoral says. “I thought, ‘How can I be 27 years old and never [have] truly adviser for its oral-biology PhD listened?’” program. In addition, Shi is the Hempton’s hero is naturalist John Muir x1864. From Muir, Hempton cofounder of a biotechnology learned to listen deeply to nature. company, has coauthored more “In his writing, he takes you on a sonic journey,” Hempton says. “With than 200 scientific articles, and a river, he describes all the various voices — in the mountains where it is credited as a coinventor on starts, the river’s young and ‘babbling’ and ‘boisterous.’ Lower down, 45 patents. it’s quiet and meandering in old age.” Jeffrey Tangney ’93, A few years ago, Hempton suffered an unexpected and career- the founder and CEO of Dox- crippling bout of hearing loss. He recovered, but not fully. His hearing imity, based in San Francisco, comes and goes, but his work as a recorder and advocate of natural California, has announced sounds remains constant. an integration with Epic, a “I’m still on a search for that next beautiful concert,” he says. health-software firm. The TRISTAN BAURICK Doximity Dialer, integrated

54 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 with Epic Haiku, will give doc- organization Zambian Carnivore sites in 400 cities across the tors access to patient records Programme in Zambia. In addi- United States and Canada. Chap- and allow them to contact tion to working in research and man-Hughes is also a senior vice patients from their cell phones conservation, the organization president at American Express without exposing doctors’ mentors the next generation of Company and a director at Pot- personal phone numbers. “By wildlife conservationists, such belly Sandwich Works. working with an industry leader as 2016 National Geographic in electronic health records, we Emerging Explorer Thandiwe 00s can help them save time while “It’s as big Mweetwa. Amy Kerwin ’00 works with improving patient care,” Tang- of an honor Nancy Hoffman ’96, her nonprofit group, Primates, ney says. as you can MS’03 has been named the Inc., to operate a primate sanc- Last summer, Erik Clark permanent director of the UW’s tuary in Wisconsin’s Marquette ’94 of Parker, Colorado, was have — a Campus and Visitor Rela- County to improve the quality part of an eight-man cycling chance to tions office after serving as its of life for monkeys after they team that placed first in the represent interim director. Hoffman has retire from research facilities, Race Across America. Start- worked in the unit — which private ownerships, and the ing in Oceanside, California, your manages campus tours and entertainment industry. She the team arrived at the finish country as visits, the Parent and Family previously worked at the UW’s in Annapolis, Maryland, after part of an Program, and Bucky’s Class- Harlow Center for Biological bicycling more than 3,140 miles Olympic room — since 1996. Psychology. in five days, 17 hours, and 22 team.” In addition to sports stadi- Katherine Himes minutes. Congratulations, Erik, ums and airport terminals, the MBA’01, a 2017 Wisconsin on your well-earned win! Tony Granato ’17 furniture and interior design Alumni Association Forward James Hamilton PhD’94, work of Eric Villency ’97, under 40 award recipient, has a professor of chemistry at CEO of the Villency Design been appointed director of the UW–Platteville, has caught the Group in New York, includes the University of Idaho’s James A. eye of NASA with his First Con- SoulCycle and Peloton indoor & Louise McClure Center for tact Polymer, a “peel-able coat- bikes. Villency, a recipient of Public Policy Research, which ing” with the ability to clean several design awards, is also conducts and oversees non- and protect certain surfaces on the board of Operation partisan, science-based, pub- that are typically difficult to Renewed Hope, which is dedi- lic-policy research that seeks clean, such as optical surfaces cated to decreasing homeless- to engage students and inform on telescopes and satellites. ness among veterans. He is dialogue. Previously, Himes was Hamilton has received a grant working on a new collection, a special adviser and adjunct to develop a similar polymer and proceeds will benefit that faculty member at Evergreen system designed for the needs organization. State College in Olympia, of a NASA telescope project. Brian Zimmerman ’97 Washington. In 2013, Carrie (Caro- of Strongsville, Ohio, is on a Tony Lamanna MS’01, line) Holan Spanuello ’94 of roll! The CEO of Cleveland PhD’02 has joined Arizona Brookfield, Wisconsin, gathered Metroparks, he has been hon- State University, taking the the help of friends to begin ored with Smart Business mag- reins of the Del E. Webb School Broads for a Cause, a nonprofit azine’s Smart 50 Award, which of Construction as its program volunteer group that fundraises recognizes the top 50 execu- chair and the Sundt Professor of and donates to other nonprofits. tives in the region who have Alternative Delivery Methods The group has grown to more effectively built and led innova- and Sustainable Development. than 30 women strong, all of tive organizations. Zimmerman He was also elected a fellow of whom donate monthly to orga- was also named the 2016 Ohio the American Concrete Insti- nizations such as humane soci- Parks and Recreation Associa- tute and the American Society eties and homeless shelters. The tion Professional of the Year. of Civil Engineers, and he is a “Broads” hold large fundraisers Did you know that Susan certified beer judge. several times a year and recently Chapman-Hughes MBA’98 Christian Schauf ’03 raised more than $24,000 for the of Brooklyn, New York, has founded Uncharted Supply Fisher House of Wisconsin, served as the treasurer on the Company, located in Park City, a veterans organization. Girls, Inc. board of directors? Utah, and — with the help of Matthew Becker ’96 From its national office, Girls, Eric Janowak ’02, who is of Harrison, Montana, has Inc. runs a network of local now cofounder and CFO — been doing good for the globe, nonprofit organizations that created an emergency survival serving as the CEO and pro- serves girls between the ages kit called The Seventy2. The gram manager for conservation of six and 18 at more than 1,400 product made an appearance on

On Wisconsin 55 OnAlumni Class Notes a recent episode of ABC’s Shark joined the curatorial team at the Miles4Migrants — that helps to Tank, where Schauf accepted a Whitney Museum of Amer- relocate refugees and war vic- deal from Robert Herjavec. ican Art to be help organize tims into new homes by using Jeff Mack Jr. ’03, a former exhibitions with a view toward donated frequent-flier miles to UW football team captain and accessibility. Previously, she cover the cost of travel. Academic All-American, has worked as a curatorial fellow joined Park Bank in Madison as X-PLANATION at the Hammer Museum in Los first vice president for private 10s An x preceding Angeles. Lynsey Spaeth ’10 is up to banking. He brings 15 years of a degree year Sean Moore ’06, MS’16, impressive work. She was one experience in the financial- indicates that LJ (Lawrence) Neumann of 16 new students accepted services industry. Mack is also the person did ’12, and Sarah Timmler this academic year into the a board member of the Overture not complete, ’14, MS’16 were among 37 American Museum of Natu- Center for the Arts, a program or has not yet completed, that high school mathematics and ral History’s Master of Arts committee member for the Boys science teachers starting their in Teaching program. Spaeth and Girls Club of Dane County, degree at UW– Madison. careers that were selected by joined her peers at the Richard and an adviser for the Nehe- the Knowles Teacher Initiative Gilder Graduate School campus, miah Center for Urban Leader- as members of its 2017 Cohort located at the museum in New ship Development. of Teaching Fellows. Moore, York City. Madison native Vanessa who teaches chemistry, is in A big Badger high-five goes McDowell ’03 has become the his second year at Rhinelander to prose writer and cartoon- CEO of the YWCA in Madison [Wisconsin] High School; ist Ebony Flowers MS’12, — the first woman of color to Neumann, who teaches biology, PhD’17 of Denver, who has lead the organization in its 109 is in his first year at Monona earned a 2017 Rona Jaffe Foun- years. She had been serving as [Wisconsin] Grove High School; dation Writers’ Award. The the interim CEO since Jan- and Timmler, who teaches $30,000 annual award is given uary 2017 and brings more biology, is in her second year at to six women who demonstrate than a decade of experience to Wauwatosa [Wisconsin] West excellence and promise in the her new post. “I feel like it’s a High School. early stages of their careers. legacy that I’m living out when Former Badger hockey, Catherine Harris ’13 is it comes to my family … doing American Hockey League, and excited and proud to serve as something that is trailblazing,” National Hockey League player the executive director of the she told Madison365 in July. OBITUARIES Andrew Joudrey ’07 has Richard Davis Foundation for Her mother, Candace Stone Brief death taken on the role of president Young Bassists, which will McDowell ’73, is the founding notices for of the Madison Capitols, a team celebrate its 25th annual bass director of the UW–Madison Wisconsin Alumni of a Tier 1 junior hockey league conference this year. The group, Multicultural Student Cen- Association called the United States Hockey founded by professor emeritus ter; and her father, (WAA) members Charles League. “It’s a great opportu- Richard Davis and Peter McDowell ’77, served as the and friends appear in Badger nity,” he says. “There will be a Dominguez ’80, MM’82, Wisconsin Alumni Associa- lot of work in front of us, but I’m hosts this annual conference in tion’s president in 2003–04. Insider, WAA’s magazine for its looking forward to being a part Madison, inviting alumni who Newlyweds Andrew Finn members. You of the process of building on have gone on to become well- ’05 and Jamie Farnsworth may also submit the foundation that’s been set in known performers, educators, Finn ’06 are Badgers, but the full-length obit- place, and bringing the Madison and professionals to mentor, couple met not on campus but at uaries (with one Capitols forward.” inspire, and teach younger photo each) for a Memorial Day weekend party Badgers help Badgers do generations. in Manhattan, according to the online posting at great things. Just ask Lexi Samantha Johnson ’13, New York Times. Although they uwalumni.com/ go/alumninotes. (Alexis) Shereshewsky ’09 MSW’14 has started her new reside in New York — Andrew of Redding, Connecticut, who role as the violence-prevention works at law firm Sullivan & established The Syria Fund, a manager for the UW’s Univer- Cromwell, and Jamie works at nonprofit organization dedi- sity Health Services (UHS) NBC News — they returned to cated to helping people during Violence Prevention and their college town to be married the Syrian refugee crisis, in Survivor Services. A UHS at the Edgewater hotel on 2015. Her father and Syria Fund employee for three years, July 29. Wishing them a happily board member, Jerry Shere- Johnson recently accepted the ever after! shewsky ’68, introduced her Student Personnel Association Born and raised in Puerto to Andy Freedman MBA’06 Campus Impact Award for her Rico, Marcela Guerrero of Needham, Massachusetts, work expanding violence- MA’05, PhD’15 has moved to who was recently part of prevention education require- New York City, where she has starting an organization — ments for incoming students.

56 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Contribution Jeremy Hemberger ’12 BRYCE RICHTER In her new role, Johnson over- sees UHS violence-prevention efforts and serves as an on-cam- pus expert for issues relating to harassment, stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault. Siblings Allison Cunniff ’14 and (Thomas) Drew Cunniff ’16 stirred up some Wisconsin pride with their family in August on Fox’s The F Word, hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Tweaking one of Ramsay’s recipes to make a large batch (enough for 50 guests!) of ricotta gnocchi, the cheese lovers won the episode. The Morgridge Center for Public Service in Madison, which connects UW students, faculty, and staff to communi- ties to build partnerships and WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT? solve issues through service “Busy as a bee” seems like just another cliché — until you spend time and learning, has introduced tracking each tiny insect’s flight pattern. UW graduate student Jeremy three new staff members: Hemberger ’12 is doing just that, and his work as a member of ento- Reuben Sanon ’15 is the mology professor Claudio Gratton’s lab will help farmers sustainably center’s new Badger Volunteers optimize crop production. coordinator; Xai Xiong ’15 Seventy percent of crops worldwide benefit from insect pollination, serves as its communications and bees are the best pollinators in the insect kingdom. Many farm- specialist; and Amy Wilson ers rent honeybees for their crops, but they are a non-native species ’17 is the AmeriCorps Achieve- in Madison and many other parts of the world — which makes them ment Connections campus expensive to procure, unlike the indigenous bumblebee. By tagging coordinator. bumblebees with minuscule radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, Badger men’s hockey and Hemberger focused on how much time colonies spent foraging for food 2016–17 Big Ten Coach of the in various habitats in and around the Madison area. Year Tony Granato ’17 served He and his team are now collecting data to identify where bumble- as the head coach of the 2018 bees live in cranberry-growing areas. Their goal is to help develop tools U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team for growers to assess their properties for bumblebee habitat, helping at the Winter Olympic Games them to make decisions such as whether to rent additional honeybees in South Korea. “It’s as big of an or to plant flowers to attract the buzzing creatures. “The RFID work has honor as you can have — helped inform how bumblebees interact with cranberries as a crop, a chance to represent your and confirmed that bumblebees are extremely active pollinators within country as part of an Olympic cranberry,” he says. team,” Granato told the Sun Hemberger’s investigations into the intersection of ecology, conser- Prairie Star in September. He vation, and entomology are helping him to develop models and tools for was an assistant coach for the a wide range of farmers. Even slight adjustments create more bee- 2014 U.S. Olympic team in friendly environments, significantly improving the pollination potential Sochi, Russia; and competed at — and the yield — of crops across Wisconsin and arable land every- the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. where. As the world struggles to meet the dietary demands of a growing Chris Chelios x’83, a former population, the best solution might be to start very, very small. UW defenseman, was one of For information about supporting UW–Madison’s research tradition, Granato’s assistants. visit allwaysforward.org.

Stephanie Awe ’15 feels honored to be the new Class Notes and Diversions editor. She thanks Paula Wagner Apfelbach ’83 for her guidance as she passes the baton after 21 years.

On Wisconsin 57 Diversions

Submit your book news at uwalumni.com/go/bookshelf, and see more about works by Badger alumni and faculty at goodreads.com/wisalumni, our UW–Madison section of the book website Goodreads.

Former Badger and Quackery: A Brief professional hockey History of the Worst players pay tribute to Ways to Cure Every- legendary NCAA and thing, coauthored by Stanley Cup–champion librarian, historian, coach Bob Johnson and writer Nate Ped- in It’s a Great Day ersen ’04, MA’05 for Hockey. The book of Bend, Oregon, uses is edited by former humor, science, and Badger players Mike storytelling to offer Cowan ’69 of Fond du readers a look back at Lac, Wisconsin; and “medical misfires and Pete Johnson ’83 of malpractices” through- Faribault, Minnesota, out history. who is Bob Johnson’s A CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER son. To purchase the Timed with the recent The influence ofLloyd Barbee LLB’56, a civil rights book, visit wisconsin 20th anniversary leader and lawyer in the 1960s and ’70s, lives hockeyhistory.com. of James Cameron’s on through Titanic, three UW Justice for All: In At Peace: Choosing alumni — Joe Duell- Selected Writ- a Good Death After a man ’05 of Milwau- ings of Lloyd A. Long Life, Samuel kee, Rob Lumley ’05 Barbee, which Harrington MD’77 of Madison, and Dan KATHY BORKOWSKI KATHY was edited of Stonington, Maine, “Duff” Marfield ’05 by Barbee’s draws from his 30 of Minneapolis — have daughter years of medical launched the Titanic and civil practice and his Minute, a podcast rights lawyer father’s death to offer series during which the Daphne Barbee-Wooten ’75, pictured above. The a discussion of end-of- three longtime friends book includes a foreword by Wisconsin congress- life challenges that the break down each woman Gwen Moore of Milwaukee, who describes elderly face. His advice minute of the movie Barbee’s lasting impact on the state and the nation. includes how people into its own 20-minute Barbee, who died in 2002, frequently signed his can make decisions episode. It is available correspondence with “Justice for All,” a principle that influence how and for free on iTunes and he carried out day to day. An attorney who is most where they will die. Google Play. remembered for the case that desegregated Mil- waukee Public Schools in the 1970s, he defended Ali (Alice) Gartzke The newest addition to prisoners, protestors, the poor, and Wisconsin Berlow ’86 of Vine- the Wisconsin His- college students who were expelled after push- yard Haven, Massa- torical Society Press’s ing the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh to offer chusetts, provides People of Wisconsin black-history courses. strategies for improv- series is Mexicans in Barbee was the only African American in the ing community food Wisconsin by Sergio Wisconsin legislature from 1965 to 1977, and he quality in The Food González ’10, MA’14, advocated for fair housing, criminal-justice reform, Activist Handbook: a doctoral candidate in equal employment opportunities, women’s rights, Big & Small Things the UW’s Department gay rights, and equal access to quality education. You Can Do to Help of History. It traces the The selected writings detail Barbee’s experi- Provide Fresh, Healthy journeys of generations ences during the civil rights movement and the Food for Your Com- of Mexicans who immi- challenges he faced while legislating. In the book’s munity. Berlow shares grated to and settled introduction, Barbee-Wooten says that growing up ideas such as starting in the Upper Midwest, as his child was like “riding a wave of history.” She neighborhood kitchens becoming an integral writes, “By introducing and compiling this book, I and connecting food and diverse part of am proudly fulfilling his goal and dream to share pantries with local Wisconsin’s cultural his thoughts and philosophy with all.” family farms. and economic history.

58 On Wisconsin SPRING 2018 Honor Roll Alice Evans NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Alice Catherine Evans MS1910 Alice Evans is one discovered vitamins A, B, and D, gist would have noted it.” knew that she was right. She of many impres- she moved on to the U.S. Depart- But she held firm. In the late stayed the course, her doubters sive Badgers ment of Agriculture. When news 1920s, male scientists confirmed eventually came around, and, featured in the broke that a woman was joining her findings, and in the 1930s, in time, she was credited with Wisconsin Alumni their ranks to research the bac- milk pasteurization became Association’s making one of the most important Alumni Park. To teriology of milk and cheese, mandatory. contributions to public health in discover their Evans said, her coworkers “almost In a cruel twist, Evans herself the 20th century. stories, visit fell off their chairs.” was infected with undulant fever Evans identified a bacterial alumnipark.com. Evans published a paper with in 1922, and the illness, which infection in cows — and passed on her brucellosis findings in 1918, she experienced periodically for to humans through drinking raw and the naysayers came out in years, kept her from attending milk — that caused brucellosis, force. Her fellow scientists dis- the meeting where she was or undulant fever, an infectious missed the notion that a woman elected the first female presi- disease characterized by high — and one without a PhD, no dent of the Society of American temperature and painful joints. less — could make such a dis- Bacteriologists. Her findings led to pasteuriza- covery. They scoffed at the idea For one who had faced so much tion, ensuring that the milk that that similar bacteria could cause professional and personal adver- we drink today is safe. disease in both animals and sity, Evans remained remarkably She cut a rare figure in 1909, humans. And despite threats optimistic. “The course that was when she became the first-ever to the nation’s food supply, the open for my ship to sail was on female recipient of a graduate dairy industry lobbied against the whole gratifying,” she wrote scholarship in bacteriology at the her ideas. The skeptics shared in her memoirs. “The going was University of Wisconsin. After the view, Evans said, “that if rough at times, [but] there were studying under UW professors these organisms were closely stretches of clear sailing, too.” including Elmer McCollum, who related, some other bacteriolo- CINDY FOSS

On Wisconsin 59 Welcome to The Edgewater. An award-winning, waterfront location with stunning views of the city, University of Wisconsin and beautiful Lake Mendota. A place where couples start their life together and businesses choose to hold a memorable meeting. A place to take a fitness class and enjoy a best-in-class spa treatment. And on The Grand Plaza, a place to watch movies in the summer, tailgate in the fall or ice-skate in the winter. For family traditions, solitary sunsets, boat outings, terrace dining FRONT& and more...this is the place. Visit TheEdgewater.com to learn more about special CENTER programming and overnight offers for UW Alumni.

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Morgridge_March18_OnWisc-Ad.indd 1 1/22/18 9:39 AM Reserve yours before they’re all checked out

For generations UW-Madison students relied on the card catalog, the “original Google,” to find what they needed. Now a wall of the card catalog drawers is being saved for posterity.

A limited number of drawers are available for you to add your name, personal message, or name of a loved one.

Your gift of $1,000 will help renovate Library spaces for the next generation of Badgers. As a thank you, we will add a name or message of your choosing to a drawer in the card catalog room. Reserve yours today, before they’re all checked out!

TO RESERVE YOUR CARD CATALOG DRAWER TODAY, GO TO library.wisc.edu/giving/campaign

Reputation is everything. Badger Advocates is a non-profi t organization committed to preserving UW-Madison's status as a world-class and preeminent research facility. We engage elected offi cials on the issues that matter most to a strong UW-Madison.

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On Wisconsin 63 Lew could live anywhere, but he chose THE ONLY Capitol Lakes, winner of the 2016 Best of Madison Gold Award for Retirement ONE Living. A die-hard Badgers fan and honored veteran, Lew enjoys the active social calendar and vibrant city living Capitol Lakes offers. Throw in great food and stellar company, and you’ve got a retirement that’s hard to beat.

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On Wisconsin 65 Destination Chazen Museum of Art JEFF MILLER (3), PRINT, CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART

The Chazen presents 10 to 12 temporary exhi- bitions each year, featuring works from its perma- nent collection and pieces on loan from muse- ums around the world. About 20,000 works of art Free tours are offered for school A bridge over East Campus Mall that represent a range of histor- groups and other visitors, touch- connects the Chazen Museum of ical periods, cultures, and coun- ing on highlights of the museum’s Art expansion — opened in 2011 tries — including this 1967 exhibitions and collection such as — to the former Elvehjem Art screen print of Marilyn Monroe Our Good Earth, a 1942 piece by Center building. It offers both a by Andy Warhol — make up the American painter John Steuart gallery space and a view of Lake museum’s permanent collection. Curry. Mendota to the north.

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Backyard barbeques. Time spent with family and friends. Even spontaneous jam sessions. You will make a lot of memories in your new home. Let us help you finance it. Choose from a variety of loan solutions combined with helpful guidance from one of Wisconsin’s top lenders.*

To learn more, visit uwcu.org/homeloans or call us at 608-232-5000.

*UW Credit Union is ranked among the top ten home loan lenders in the state based on information from county Register of Deeds Offices; CoreLogic.

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THANKSTUDENT SUPPORT | FACULTY EXCELLENCE | WISCONSIN EXPERIENCEYOU | EUREKA MOMENTS

With the close of the Annual Campaign, we want to thank all of the Badgers who contributed to the UW in 2017. Strengthening the Wisconsin Experience: this is what Badgers do.

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