No 1, 2017 n $5 Natural Leader Shegufta Huma is KU’s 27th Rhodes Scholar n EXTRAORDINARY MARINES n A SON’S TRIBUTE Contents | Issue 1, 2017 26 32 20 20 26 32 Champion for Change The Few, The Proud Honor the Father For KU’s newest Rhodes e U.S. Marine Corps has no For his rst project as both Scholar, growing up Muslim in higher honor than the Lewich writer and director, a budding Kansas has been a source of Trophy. In the past ve years lmmaker turns to a personal strength and struggle. Both this select group of leaders has story of faith and family. have fueled her ght for welcomed two Jayhawks to marginalized communities its ranks. By Steven Hill around the world. By Chris Lazzarino By Heather Biele Cover photograph by Steve Puppe Established in 1902 as e Graduate Magazine Volume 115, No. 1, 2017 ISSUE 1, 2017 | 1 Lift the Chorus color—has seen KU through Mclendon’s “Literature of the the storm. Holocaust.” I think of it oen, I loved the picture of BGL on and reference the impact the eight years of leadership. We page 10 of Kansas Alumni. I course had on me to my own should all be proud of the will miss seeing her gracious students and advisees. many achievements as we look smile as KU’s ship steers into It was an amazing, thought- back on her years at the helm. the waters of 2017-2018. But I provoking and inuential class, While Hilltopics cites many am immensely proud to say taught by a gied instructor. I of those accomplishments— that my University—our am saddened that future KU in dollars and cents raised, in University—had a black students will not benet from new programs begun or in woman at the helm in very Dr. Mclendon’s instruction. construction undertaken— troubled times. My condolences to her certainly, I believe, Gray-Little Timothy Rake, c’73 family and University will leave a far more enduring Forest Grove, Oregon colleagues. legacy to KU. Jennifer Dennis, PhD’09 In an era that began with Associate professor of biology America’s deepest economic Teaching legacy Missouri Southern State Jayhawk pride University crisis since the Great Depres- Joplin, Missouri I both a deep sion, that saw the governor A I through sense of admiration and literally implode the state’s my Kansas Alumni magazine Editor’s Note: Maryjane bittersweet feelings of loss that budget for higher education this evening, I happened to Mclendon, PhD’91, was an I discovered in Hilltopics that with short-sighted tax policies, look at the In Memory section assistant professor of American Bernadette Gray-Little would and that gave voice to a new and noted the passing of Dr. literature and a literature of the leave the University of Kansas age of politics in the form of Maryjane “MJ” Mclendon. Holocaust scholar at KU. She died next June [“Eight fateful years,” bigots, misogynists and racists, e most inuential course I Aug. 12 in Lawrence. issue No. 6]. I couldn’t be more the serene face and calming completed as an undergrad proud of my University for her hand of a woman—a woman of was, without question, Dr. 2 | KANSAS ALUMNI January 2017 8 Publisher Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 2 Lift the Chorus Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Letters from our readers Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 5 First Word Steven Hill e editor’s turn Photographers Steve Puppe, j’98 Dan Storey 6 On the Boulevard Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 KU & Alumni Association events Sta Writer Heather Biele 8 Jayhawk Walk Advertising Sales Representative LPD LOL, noodle nosh, Pluto goes postal Teri Harris and more Editorial and Advertising Oce KU Alumni Association 1266 Oread Avenue 10 Hilltopics Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 News and notes: Stable funding tops higher-ed’s 785-864-4760 state agenda; gi creates Melville professorship. 800-584-2957 www.kualumni.org [email protected] 16 Sports Josh Jackson leads men’s defense of Big 12 crown; KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the volleyball clinches rst conference title. KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- ship in the Alumni Association. O¡ce of Publication: 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Periodicals postage paid at 38 Association News Lawrence, KS. Jayhawks to tee o with golf-themed Rock Chalk Ball in April. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 © 2017 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 44 Class Notes Proles of an inspirational artist, a children’s advo- cate, an education-conscious coach and more 60 In Memory Letters to the Editor: Deaths in the KU family Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our 64 Rock Chalk Review address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Freshmen team with faculty mentors; books on Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Email responses may be sent to Radiohead, college, corporate slackers and more. the Alumni Association, [email protected]. Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space and clarity. For letters published, we’ll send a free gift of KU 68 Glorious to View Campus Playing Cards, a $5 value. Scene on campus ISSUE 1, 2017 | 3 by Jennifer Jackson Sanner First Word roles of KU’s Rhodes Scholars are among military academies, earned the trophy makes Pour favorite cover stories. Since 1993, Kansas “No matter what their stories even more remarkable. Alumni has featured six Jayhawks whose intellec- Another Jayhawk is just beginning his tual repower, passion and commitment earned our life’s work, we journey in the military as an Army ROTC them one of academe’s most coveted accolades: draw nourishment cadet. Wilfredo Figueroa-Rivera, a Leaven- Pam McElwee, c’93; Munro Richardson, c’93; worth sophomore, was among the students Robert Chamberlain, c’02; Ruth Anne French- from the examples who took the Oath of Enlistment Nov. 12 in Hodson, c’05; Kelsey Murrell, c’12; and this year, of Jayhawks who Memorial Stadium. Lazzarino was there to Shegua Huma, who will graduate in May with cover the football game, but he also came her political science degree, then begin her clearly see a away with the story of Figueroa-Rivera, who master’s studies at Oxford University in England. purpose and work so impressed Lazzarino in their conversation Sta writer Heather Biele shares the story of following the game that he found it dicult to Huma, whose scholarly talent and bravery as an ceaselessly to share only a portion in our Jayhawk Walk advocate and mediator earned her distinction as fulfill it.” section. We expect to chronicle the young one of 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars. Jayhawk’s achievements in years to come. Courage and conviction—and the will to One of Mount Oread’s most treasured and pursue a calling—add luster to several stories throughout this honored professors, Elizabeth Schultz, taught English for 34 years issue. In our second feature, Associate Editor Steven Hill and for several years chaired the humanities and comparative describes the determination of lmmaker Paul Shoulberg, c’04, to literature programs. Schultz devoted her scholarly life to Herman bring his parents’ poignant story of love and faith to the screen. Melville’s Moby-Dick. For generations of students, she illuminated Don, PhD’75, and Gini Shoulberg, g’72, met when he was a priest the ways in which the classic novel explores the essence of and she was a nun.“e Good Catholic” follows the couple as they humanity and the questions we all struggle to answer. In our make the dicult choice to follow their hearts and heed the call Hilltopics section, Steve Hill reports on Schultz’s gi to fund a KU to marry and start a family while remaining faithful Catholics. professorship and ensure that the study of Melville and other e lm is their son’s memorial to Don, who died in 2013. guiding lights of literature will continue to ourish at the Honor and valor gleam in the stories of two Marine Corps University. ocers, Ryan Sparks, c’97, and omas Morrow, c’06, whose No matter what our life’s work, we draw nourishment from the leadership of their infantry companies proved worthy of the examples of Jayhawks who clearly see a purpose and work Marines’ most revered award, the Lewich Trophy. As Associate ceaselessly to fulll it. eir stories feed our hearts, our souls and Editor Chris Lazzarino, j’86, explains in our third feature, the fact our minds. As Kansas Alumni begins Volume 115 of its long KU that two alumni from a public university, rather than one of the chronicle, we feel privileged to share them. ISSUE 1, 2017 | 5 On the Boulevard CHRIS LAZZARINO Exhibitions 4 KU Wind Ensemble and MARCH Students, faculty and Jazz I 2-4 Rock Chalk Revue sta got a sneak peek of “Temporal Turn: Art and 5 Prairie Winds and 5 An Evening with Julia winter in early December, Speculation in Contemporary Sunower Strings Concert Alvarez Asia,” Spencer Museum of Art, when a light snowfall 9 SUA Tunes at Night 6 An Evening with Kristin through March 12 brought a quiet serenity 10 Rebirth Brass Band Chenoweth Celebrating the Art of Elegance to the University’s Lied Center events 12 Jon Nakamatsu, piano 7 SUA Tunes at Night bustling campus. 15 e Acting Company: JANUARY “Julius Caesar” 8 KU Wind Ensemble 22 Ovation! USD 497 Talent 16 e Acting Company: 14 KU Symphony Orchestra Show Marcus Gardley’s “X” 15 Imani Winds 27 e Paludan Sisters 18 Scholarship concert 28 KU Jazz Ensemble I with present “e Music of the featuring Carmina Burana Mind” special guest Kneebody 20 KU Symphonic Band and 28 29 SUA Tunes at Night Chinese New Year Gala University Band 29 31 American Brass Quintet SPICHER VALERIE Russian National Ballet 23 Adam Devine eatre: “Swan Lake” 25 Erik Kaiel/Arch 8 FEBRUARY 26 Mr.