RESEARCH TEACHING CREATIVITY OUTREACH OVATIONS COLFA | THE collEGE of LIBERAL AND FINE ARTS WINTER 2008 UTSA HOW PRESIDENTS USE THE MEDIA CONNECTIONS CONTENTS 2 CONNECTIONS Welcome to another edition of Ovations! This issue features 4 FACULTY METAMORphOSIS more exciting news about the faculty, staff and students of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, and their contributions as 6 ThE LOVE OF LANGUAGE UTSA transforms rapidly into a truly premier institution. 10 ThE MUSIC MAKERS But while we are busy helping to propel and steer the UTSA “rocket ride,” it is worthwhile to reflect on some constants. 14 RUSSIA REVISITED 18 CONTROLLING THE MESSAGE 22 RETIRING SOUTH OF THE BORDER 24 INTELLECTUAL NOURISHMENT 28 ALUMNI PROFILE: MICHAEL BERNARD 30 AWARDS AND ACCOLADES 32 YOUR GIFTS MAKE A DIffERENCE he liberal arts disciplines continue to be perceived as COLFA also produces inquisitive global travelers, OVATIONS providing the moral and intellectual bedrock for civic as if in answer to the Carnegie charge. In this issue we life. A new major study by the Carnegie and Teagle learn about Russia through the eyes of UTSA historian Tfoundations seeks to better integrate the liberal arts into Bruce Daniels and Russian language expert Marita business and professional education. “We teach students in Nummikoski and 11 of her students. The timeless and most business programs a great deal about the bottom line,” fundamental value of the arts in our lives is evinced said Teagle Foundation president Robert Connor. “But to in the articles about Santiago Daydi-Tolson’s biennial really prepare them to become leaders in our increasingly Conference on Food Representation in Literature, Film competitive global marketplace, we also need to provide them and the Other Arts, and the four nationally distinguished Exploring the new Russia 14 Presidents and the media 18 Food in art and literature 24 with the capacity for analytical thinking, the intellectual composers who reside in the UTSA music department. depth, ethical understanding and creativity that come from And to further emphasize constancy, “Politics as Usual” a liberal arts education.”† While appreciated, there is nothing could be the title of our feature on the consistencies of really new in this view, for it goes back to classical times, and presidential electoral rhetoric since the times of Thomas the valuation goes beyond better business to a more perfect Jefferson. citizenry. The artes liberales made and still make, in the Finally, Steven Kellman reassures all those students words of Quintilian, “The good person, speaking well.” still undecided on their majors, and comforts their par- The first century Roman rhetorician would be pleased ents, by profiling COLFA professors who changed their to know that this issue heralds the opening of the UTSA majors back in the day, often from something outside the Department of Philosophy and Classics in our college, build- arts, humanities or social sciences. Change, it appears, ing on strong program excellence to serve the growing needs can be good after all. of the university and wider community, especially in the area All of our accomplishments are possible only with the of ethics. Political science is another discipline where “the gifts and guidance of liberal and fine arts alumni and good person” is developed, as exemplified in our profile of San friends, many of whom are recognized with gratitude in Antonio city attorney and COLFA alum Michael Bernard. the following pages. DEAN †www.carnegiefoundation.org Cover illustration by David Vogin 2 3 “ If you do not change direction, you FACULTY may end up where you are heading.” Metamorphosis money and wasn’t able to get into my transmutations. Eight years ago, she started writing poetry, engineering classes,” she recalls. She personal essays, short stories and scripts. She also went back ended up enrolling in an anthropol- he returned to the university in his 50s to school to learn digital filmmaking and has since added it ogy course to fulfill general education to pursue a Ph.D. in English and teach By Steven G. Kellman to her teaching repertoire. She has completed production requirements. “Within the semester, I what he loves. “I am spending long and on her first digital feature film, Portrait in Sepia Tone, which changed my major from civil engineer- happy nights writing chapters for my won awards for Best Feature Film and Best Soundtrack at the ing to anthropology—I just absolutely dissertation, with as much enthusiasm “ Il faut changer la vie,” proclaimed Arthur International Filmmaker Festival in Kent, England, this past loved that class [taught by Richard for inquiry and examination and synthe- Rimbaud. You must change your life. And he did. At 19, June. Membrez voices no regrets about being an academic Adams]. A little while after that, I sis as I had 30 years ago. My father told Rimbaud ceased to write the poetry that had secured him a chameleon. “Nothing I have ever studied has been lost,” she changed it to a dual major in anthro and me when I was young to find work that I place in literary history and headed off to Africa to become insists. “Everything is connected. It’s just a matter of finding psych.” Back at her alma mater, Keller liked, because all work was going to get an explorer. As many as 70 percent of college students switch those connections and drawing conclusions and inspiration.” now is a lecturer in psychology. old after a time, and enjoyment of the majors at least once before settling on a specialization. Even Bridget Drinka found her inspiration during After graduating from the University task at hand would be the only pallia- if more familiar with Rambo than Rimbaud, some students a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. She was of Texas at Austin with a degree in tive. It took me a while to fully follow his seem to change majors as often as underwear, on average majoring in art history but, while studying Italian, French and English, Debbie Menger advice, but I guess I’ve found my niche. about three times before graduation. became intrigued by the teaching of language. worked for the San Antonio Express- So there is hope for those who don’t Professors, who once were students, are also changeable After graduation, Drinka returned to Italy to teach News, the San Antonio Art Institute, and quite fit.” creatures. If you dedicate yourself to the life of the mind, English and work as a governess. Back in the United the San Antonio branch of the American A teaching assistant in English, why not be of two—or three or four—minds? Whereas some States, she worked at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Institute of Architects. She also started Turpin, too, has got the bug. Unlike scholars remain faithful to their first love throughout their while studying applied linguistics at Georgetown University. her own public relations firm, which she Kafka’s Gregor Samsa, many in COLFA career­­—be it painting, politics or paleontology—others are Now an eminent linguist and chair of the Department of still runs, while teaching public rela- awake each morning to find themselves more fickle. After receiving a Nobel Prize for chemistry, Linus English, Drinka observes “People often express surprise that tions as a lecturer in the Department of transformed into professors of some- Pauling made important contributions to molecular biol- I went from art history to historical linguistics, but the leap Communication. thing they have learned to love. You ogy while also earning an additional Nobel Peace Prize. isn’t as great as it seems—I still want to figure out why peo- As administrative secretary to the don’t know where you’re going Condeleeza Rice trained as a concert pianist before receiving ple adopt changes and what they reveal about themselves superintendent of schools in Tombstone, till you get there, and the mean- a doctorate in political science. As undergraduates, anthropol- through the minute details of their language.” Ariz., Wendy Barker found herself in dering paths of UTSA instruc- ogist Clifford Geertz majored in philosophy, historian Hugh A stint in the Peace Corps took Sara DeTurk far afield. effect running the school district during tors offer a lesson not only in Trevor-Roper in classics, psychologist B.F. Skinner in English Though she had received her B.A. in psychology, the expe- her boss’ prolonged absences. Later, she the operations of serendipity, and economist John Maynard Keynes in math and classics. rience inspired her to pursue a master’s in international taught English at Berkeley High School but also in how stumbling can My own college roommate was an English major until education. Her thesis research led to intercultural communi- in California. “As I approached 30,” she play as large a role as planning I persuaded him to continue with the second semester of cation and appointment as an assistant professor in UTSA’s recalls, “I began to realize that I wanted in academic life. The university, Introduction to Psychology. Today, he is “ Since it is impossible Department of Communication. Ann Hardgrove also made to teach literary works that weren’t where an accountant can come back a professor of psychology. “If you do not a global leap. Though she describes herself as “a small-town appropriate for 14-year-olds.” She went as an anthropologist, is a monument to change direction,” warned Lao Tzu, “you to predict the results of girl” from Northfield, Minn., Hardgrove, an associate professor on to earn a Ph.D. in English. Now a pro- reincarnation. Since it is impossible to may end up where you are heading.” following what at the of history, became a specialist in the history and anthropol- fessor of English, she is also UTSA’s poet predict the results of following what at Several faculty in UTSA’s College of moment seems sensible ogy of India.