ROCKET MAN Alumnus Living the Dream of Becoming an Astronaut A Bold New Era New Athletic Director, New Coaches, and a Whole New Attitude The Campaign for Colorado surpasses State $500 Million Super Bowl CEO and CSU’s Top Chef

CONTENTS CAMPUS VIEW CSU a Best Value; University Contacts; New Species Discovered; 3 CSU’s Top Chef; Colorado Review, CSU’s Own Literary Legion; University Calendar.

FEATURES Economic Impact 12 Regional economist Martin Shields provides a snapshot 18 of CSU’s financial contribution to the State.

A Bold New Era 14 New athletics director, new coaches, and a whole new attitude.

Campaign Surpasses $500 Million 18 The experts called it folly to launch a major fund raising campaign during the Great American Recession. How CSU’s donor community proved the experts wrong. 24 Sweetwater Saltwater 24 Unraveling the mystery behind rising salinity threatening agriculture in farm-rich Arkansas River Valley.

ALUMNI MATTERS Super Success 27 Think your Super Bowl party was big? Alumna Allison Melangton (’83) hosted more than 1.1 million fans! 30 A Spaceman’s Odyssey 30 Alumnus Kjell Lindgren (M.S. ’96) takes a giant step in his dream career by completing his NASA astronaut training. 34 Class Notes 40 Rams Write

COLORADO STATE 1 We fit CSU MBAs into our lives. You can, too.

Mohamad Zaki completed his Online Professional MBA in the midst of the 2011 revolution in Eqypt. Online Professional MBA – Anywhere – Anytime

Melissa Temple is completing her Executive MBA in Denver while working as Controller for Earthstone Energy, Inc. Executive MBA – Downtown Denver – Evenings

AACSB internationally accredited since 1970 www.CSUmba.com

2 SPRING 2012 CAMPUS VIEW

A Magazine for Alumni and Friends SPRING 2012 • NUMBER 60 Editorial Committee CSU A Best Value Chair – Tom Milligan, Vice President for External Relations Brett Anderson (’87), Vice President for Advancement Cara Neth (’87), Director of Administrative Communications Colorado State University has been named to Kiplinger’s Per- Colleen Meyer (’94), Executive Director of Alumni Relations sonal Finance magazine’s list of “Top 100 Best Values” in public Managing Editor – Mark Minor (’92) colleges for 2011-12. The ranking cites four-year schools that Production Editor – Mark Hanson (’87) Senior Copy Editor – Paul Miller (B.A. ’82, M.A. ’97) combine outstanding education with economic value. “As states cut funding for higher education and tuition con- Contributing Editors Office of the President – Nik Olsen (’01), Peg Kowalczyk tinues to climb, the word ‘value’ is more significant than ever,” Alumni Relations – Beth Etter (M.A. ’03) says Jane Bennett Clark, senior editor at Kiplinger’s Personal University Advancement – Maggie Walsh Finance. “This year’s top 100 public schools External Relations – Tony Phifer, Melinda Swenson (M.A. ’93), Emily Wilmsen deliver strong academics at rea- sonable prices. We applaud these Design and Production Art Director – Doug Garcia institutions for tightening their Design – Terry Nash, Brad Thomas (’02), Cathay Zipp (’94) belts without compromising Photography – Bill Cotton (’03), John Eisele, Joe Mendoza quality.” University Contacts This year, Kiplinger’s revamped Admissions – (970) 491-6909 or admissions.colostate.edu the rankings to give more weight to Alumni Relations – (970) 491-6533, academic value, such as the percent- (800) 286-2586, or www.alumni.colostate.edu age of students who return for Athletics – (970) 491-5300 or www.csurams.com Colorado State Forest Service – (970) 491-6303 sophomore year and the four-year or www.csfs.colostate.edu graduation rate. Cost Continuing Education – (970) 491-5288 or www.learn.colostate.edu criteria include low Extension – (970) 491-6281 or www.ext.colostate.edu overall cost, abundant Financial Aid – (970) 491-6321 or sfs.colostate.edu financial aid, and low 4-H – (970) 491-1152 or www.colo4H.org Donations/Giving to CSU – 866-CSU-GIVE average debt at or advancing.colostate.edu/ASI graduation. Public Relations – (970) 491-6621 or www.news.colostate.edu Directory Assistance – (970) 491-1101 or search.colostate.edu/search-directory.aspx Colorado State Magazine Sales – (970) 491-4179 or ccs.colostate.edu/magazine.aspx Send Colorado State Magazine correspondence to: Colorado State Magazine c/o Mark Minor Colorado State University 6025 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, CO 80523

Advertising Inquiries: (970) 491-2359 www.socialmedia.colostate.edu An equal access/equal opportunity university

COLORADO STATE 3 CAMPUS VIEW

CSU’s Own ‘Top Chef’ Our interviewer catches up with Chef Garrett Overlee for some quick Q&A about his new job, what makes a great chef, and yes, grilled cheese sandwiches.

Cooking is a pop culture trend du jour, with audi- You are at home in your pajamas. What do you make for ences across the nation devouring a buffet of shows dinner? like “Top Chef” and “Iron Chef” America. An A grilled cheese sandwich. I actually had that the other entirely new industry has sprouted up around food with day. I think right now fancy grilled cheese sandwiches are magazines, television networks, and even feature-length kind of the trend. Sometimes when I’m at home I try to films focusing on gastronomic personalities and pursuits. create one that I could charge customers $8 for. Colorado State University’s own “top chef,” Garrett Over- lee, was recently named the new instructional chef at the Aspen Grille, the University’s award-winning, student-run restaurant located in the Lory Student Center. Overlee is a 2005 graduate of CSU’s Restau- rant and Resort Management Program who has returned to the University to help the next generation of chefs and restau- rateurs get their start in the industry.

Why did you become a chef? As a kid, I was a restaurant brat. Both of my grandfathers owned and worked in res- When you create a dish, what elements do you keep in taurants. And my first jobs with my aunt were in mind? restaurants. I came to CSU as an open option student with Always keep the guests’ perception in mind so that we no plan. When I found out CSU had a restaurant degree meet and then exceed their expectations whenever pos- program, I immediately signed up. sible. It can be tricky because if you sell something like a grilled cheese sandwich and you make it too fancy, some- What do you want CSU students to get out of working one can say, “Well, this isn’t a grilled cheese as I know it.” and learning from you at the Aspen Grille? But being able to make a grilled cheese, charge $8-$10 dol- I want them to understand the bare minimum of what lars for it and have them say, “That was phenomenal. I they need to know how to do – if the dishwasher doesn’t can’t make that at home, but I want to see if I can make show up and they have to wash dishes or how to fix the that at home because I want it again.” grill if it catches on fire. In short, I hope they learn how to run a kitchen and a restaurant. I’m noticing a theme of grilled cheese sandwiches…. Obsessed.

4 SPRING 2012 CAMPUS VIEW

amazon frog discovered

The diversity of frogs in the Amazon is much greater than previously recorded. CSU ecologist Chris Funk sampled specimens in six countries in the Amazon Basin and found an estimated 12 new species, including this tiny tree frog. To learn more, visit www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=6496.

RAM CHAMPIONS Rams Sport Club Teams National Championships: Baseball 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 Men’s Lacrosse 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006 Men’s Ice Hockey 1995 Men’s Polo 1990, 1991, 1999 Women’s Lacrosse 2008, 2010, 2011 kings of the disc Women’s Soccer The Rams Disc Golf sport club team captured the title at the National Collegiate Disc Golf 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Championships held in North Augusta, S.C. From left, CSU Rams Ezequiel Delatorre, Ryan Knuth, Austin Montgomery, and Jarrod Roan hoist the champions’ trophy at the Disc Golf 2012 conclusion of the final round April 17. Roan also won the individual National Championship as the best finishing player in the singles division and was named first team All-American. Montgomery was also named first team All-American.

colorado state 5

What is your passion?

hether it’s to preserve the memory “I am always a fan of the ‘underdog,’ and I want to support the Wof a loved one, to recognize a job well done, to demonstrate deep ‘we try harder’ philosophy. So, I am very pleased to be able to humanitarian concerns, or support excellence in education, your charitable make a legacy gift that provides scholarship aid in the areas I am gift is a precious gem that needs to be most passionate about – athletics, natural sciences, veterinary protected and preserved. The best plans balance what you strive to accomplish cancer research, and libraries – and, at the same time, honors my for yourself, your family, and your charitable interests through your overall parents and family. I hope that my gift will inspire the recipients estate and fi nancial plans, allowing you to pass on your philanthropic cause of these scholarships to continue the tradition of giving by from generation to generation. The donating to Colorado State in their lifetimes as well.” Offi ce of Gift Planning at Colorado State University is here to help. We – Kirk Hulbert can provide you with the information you need to begin formulating a plan that will meet your fi nancial Please visit us at needs, so that you may perpetuate www.plannedgiving.colostate.edu. your values beyond your lifetime.

We are available to consult confi dentially with you and your fi nancial planners and advisers. Contact Marianne Blackwell at (970) 491-7862 or [email protected] or Bill Sheets at (970) 491-4679 or [email protected]. CAMPUS VIEW LITERARYLEGION

olorado State University’s renowned literary Writers around the world submit pieces for consideration, and journal, Colorado Review, doesn’t offer just great everything from manuscript selection to copyediting and design is Cfiction, nonfiction, poetry, and book reviews. done on campus, says G’Schwind (B.A. ‘89, M.A. ‘01), who has “Publication in the journal often leads to bigger things been with the magazine since 1998 and editor since 2003. “The in writers’ professional lives – book publications, teaching only thing we don’t do is put ink on paper,” she says. positions, and tenure, for example,” says Stephanie In 2010, the Review received a National Endowment for the G’Schwind, editor of the Review and director of the Arts grant that provided two-year subscriptions to 150 rural English departments’ Center for Literary Publishing. Colorado public libraries, many of which face funding cuts. Stories, essays, and poems from the Review have recently “Additionally, many of these rural communities don’t have been reprinted in Best Travel Writing and Best Food Writing independent or big franchise bookstores,” G’Schwind says. “So and listed among the Notable Essays and Distinguished some writers in these communities may be unaware there are Stories lineup in the Best American Essays and Best literary journals like ours. And journals like Colorado Review are American Short Stories series. where writers often start their writing careers.” In 2011, the Center for Literary Publishing also received a two- year NEA grant to begin the Mountain West Poetry Series. The grant supports the publication of four poetry books by poets living in the Mountain West region. The Review not only furthers writers’ careers but teaches interns how to run a publication. Former intern Angie Hodapp (’10), contracts and royalties manager at the Nelson Literary Agency in

8 SPRING 2012 CAMPUS VIEW LITERARYLEGION

Denver, says her internship with the Review has helped her throughout her entire career – and not in the most expected ways. “The internship prepared me to attend the Publishing Institute, an intensive program at the University of Denver,” she says. “My experience at the Review not only helped me get accepted to DPI, but it also helped me dazzle everyone during a very challenging copyediting course.” After graduating from DPI, Hodapp worked at a company that published teaching resources. “Besides all that tough copyediting stuff, I had to know how to turn a manuscript into a book,” she says. “I constantly called up the skills I learned at the Review.” Author Robin Black had two stories first published in the Review before they were included in her story collection, If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This. “Short story writers are more dependent on literary reviews than I can express, and Colorado Review is one of the very best ones anywhere,” she says. Discounted yearly subscriptions of Colorado Review are available to CSU alumni, faculty, and staff. See coloradoreview. colostate.edu for details.

Stephanie G’Schwind, editor of the Colorado Review and director of the Center for Literary publishing, which has been featuring contemporary creative writing since 1956

colorado state 9 CAMPUS VIEW

UniversityCalendar

Please join us at these events throughout the nation. Details can be found on these calendars: Alumni: www.alumni.colostate.edu Athletics: www.csurams.com University Events: events.colostate.edu June 2012 9 Closing of the European Portrait Miniatures, 1 Morgan County Alumni and Friends Golf University Art Museum, CSU Campus Tournament, Brush, CO. 12 All Colorado Career Fair, Denver 1 Ram Club Appreciation Golf Tournament, 14 CSU Kickoff to Summer Picnic at Fort Collins Washington Park, Denver 3 Alumni Association Member Benefit Event 14 young Alumni Brewery Tour, Fort Collins at the Museum of Nature and Science, 16 CSU Family Hike at Waterton Canyon, Denver Denver 5 Colorado Springs Professional Mixer 16 CSU Day at Spring Canyon Park, Fort 7-8 33rd Annual Lillian Fountain Smith Collins Nutrition Conference, CSU Campus 16 Wildland Restoration Community Service Project at Hewlett Gulch, Poudre River Canyon 20 Musical Mame (concert version), University Center for the Arts, CSU Campus 21 Logan County Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament, Sterling, CO.

DRIVE WITH RAM PRIDE. Your $100 license plate donation supports the Legacy Scholarship and Alumni Association programming.

Order online at www.alumni.colostate.edu, or call (800) 286-2586. CAMPUS VIEW

26 Department of Art Faculty Exhibition 1 Alumni Night Out at the Trial Gardens, (through Sept. 15), University Art Museum, CSU Campus CSU Campus 1 Lagoon Concert, CSU Campus 26 Selections from the Casebeer Collection 2 Closing of Hawaiian Quilts, Avenir (through Dec. 14), University Art Museum, Museum, CSU Campus CSU Campus 4 CSU Day at the Larimer County Fair, 26 Hawaiian Quilts: God in Expression Loveland, CO. (through Aug. 2), Avenir Museum, 4 Student Send-Off (Denver, Colorado CSU Campus Springs, Albuquerque) 5 CAM Jam Family Fest, Denver July 2012 8 Lagoon Concert, CSU Campus 3 Lagoon Concert, CSU Campus 11 CSU 14er Climb 6 - 8 CSU at Steamboat’s Art in the Park, 16 Ram Welcome, CSU Campus Steamboat Springs, CO. 16-18 Shakespeare at Sunset The Comedy of 10 Schmooze at Snooze Breakfast Networking, Errors, University Center for the Arts, Fort Collins CSU Campus 11 Alumni Night Out at the Lagoon Concert, 18 Rams at the Rockies, Denver “When I meet with alumni, I am CSU Campus 20 Fall Classes begin always inspired by their passion 14 CSU Hike, Denver 20 CSU Fall Sports Kick-Off Luncheon, 16 5th Annual CSU Livestock Judging Golf Fort Collins for making a difference.” Tournament, Windsor, CO. 22 Decade Dinner: 1960s, Denver - Colleen Meyer (’94), Life Member 18 Lagoon Concert, CSU Campus 23-25 Shakespeare at Sunset The Comedy of Executive Director, CSU Alumni Association 25 Lagoon Concert, CSU Campus Errors, University Center for the Arts, 28 Rams on Tour: Denver History and CSU Campus Architecture, Denver 25 CSU Day at the State Fair, Pueblo, CO. 28 CSU Day at the Weld County Fair, 29-3 CSU Evening at the Arts: Greeley, CO. Book of Mormon, Denver YOUR ALUMNI 30-31 Shakespeare at Sunset The Comedy of August 2012 Errors, University Center for the Arts, ASSOCIATION 1 CSU Day at the Boulder County Fair, CSU Campus Longmont, CO. 31 Rocky Mountain Showdown Ram Rally, MEMBERSHIP Denver • helps us grow our student and Save the date: Homecoming and Family Weekend, Oct. 4 – 7, 2012 alumni programming efforts, • supports the outreach efforts of the Association, and • enhances communication to keep alumni connected to Colorado State.

Become an Alumni Association member today.

For a complete list of benefi ts and to join, visit www.alumni.colostate.edu, or call (800) 286-2586. ECONOMIC IMPACT

Martin Shields’ 2012 Snapshot of CSU’s Economic Impact

Generating Jobs, Boosting $5.2 billion Income, and Fighting Household income created annually in Colorado by CSU alumni, equivalent to 3.7 percent of the state’s Unemployment in Colorado household income. 13,140 Number of jobs CSU supports through direct employ- $365 million ment and related spending. Personal income taxes and state sales taxes generated by CSU alumni in Colorado. $403 million Yearly household income generated in Colorado by $202 million CSU’s direct and indirect employment impacts. Local sales and property taxes generated annually by CSU alumni in Colorado. $61 million State and local sales taxes generated by people whose Driving an Engine of Innovation livings depend on CSU. $330 million 5.1 percent CSU’s expenditures on research in 2010-11, fueling innovation in important and diverse sectors including Unemployment rate in Colorado for those with a four- agriculture, engineering, biophysics, veterinary medi- year college degree. By comparison, the unemployment cine, chemistry, atmospheric science, and business. rate for those with only a high-school diploma or equivalent is 11.6 percent. 20 Number of start-up companies CSU has created in the Graduating Tomorrow’s High- past five years, creating hundreds of private sector jobs. Wage Earners and Taxpayers 277 80 percent Number of patents, patent filings, and patent disclo- Portion of CSU students who are Colorado residents. sures that resulted from CSU research in 2011, driving Bottom line – more Colorado high-school students innovation that is creating jobs and expansion in the choose to enroll at CSU than any other college or uni- private sector. versity in Colorado. 136 99,000+ Number of technologies CSU has licensed to private Number of CSU alumni who live and work in enterprise since 2007. Colorado.

12 SPRING 2012 CSU Economist uses math doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. and statistics to address “I was much more inter- human problems ested in problems with human dimensions and the role of math Martin Shields is going in 50 different directions. and statistics in helping us In-between his full-time job as a professor of eco- address those problems,” nomics at CSU, his role as director of the Shields says. “Basically, I Regional Economics Institute within the Office of wanted to explore what Vice President for Engagement and his numer- role, if any, policy can ous speaking engagements, he’s trying to sell have in improving peo- Girl Scout cookies for daughters Maya, 9, and ple’s well-being. I believe Serena, 7. that economic theory The cookie boxes on the floor are a perfect and statistics play an introduction to Shields, who prefers to go beyond important role in shap- the spreadsheets and statistics to the people. ing good policies.” Since 2006, he has provided research, analy- While at CSU, sis, and strategies on employment, salaries, Shields had the growing and declining sectors, and overall eco- opportunity to take nomic health of Northern Colorado and the state. his family to Vietnam His reports are carefully read by hundreds of as part of an decision-makers, as well as business and com- exchange program. munity groups. His 2011 report on signs of He was impressed economic health in south-central and western with their infrastruc- Colorado despite two recent recessions was the ture and their subject of statewide media attention. entrepreneurial spirit Shields, who is 46, said it was his dad who – things that are helping taught him to love sports and the numbers that their economy grow rap- went with them. “I loved looking at baseball box idly – but he was also scores, and trying to recreate games from the keenly aware of their love statistics. I also had a pretty sizable collection of of family. baseball cards, and I was fascinated by the infor- “What amazed me the mation of performance they contained,” he says. most was the absolute joy “Basically, my love of sports lent itself well to sta- they find in children. We had tistical analysis. And then I learned there are all our three daughters with us, sorts of cool stories in the numbers. I see my job and they were such a hit! Per- today as using numbers and theory to tell stories fect strangers smiling wide about the economy.” when we came into a room. As a youngster growing up outside of Detroit, The genuine appreciation for he was good at math and planned for a career in a child that’s not their automotive engineering. He started his under- own was fascinating graduate degree at a small engineering school in to see. It made me Flint, Mich., now known as Kettering University. realize how important He transferred to Michigan State University half- the notion family is to the cul- way through his sophomore year and double tural fabric of other countries – not just taking majored in international relations and economics care of your own family but that families are an before obtaining a master’s from Penn State and important part of a larger society.”

COLORADO STATE 13 A Bold New Era The University’s Drive to Put Ram Athletics Programs on Top

By Tony Phifer

ince arriving on campus in 1991 as a wide-eyed freshman, Joel Cantalamessa has been a passion- ate follower of CSU athletics. He has season tickets for football and basket- ball, and makes the trek from his home in south Denver for every home football game. He has attendedS several bowl games and travels to road games whenever possible. He’s a long-time Ram Club volunteer who actively recruits alumni throughout the Denver-metro area to sup- port his alma mater. Heck, he’s even gone WAY beyond the call of duty as a loyal fan, creating and running the popular CSU fan web site, RamNation, for the past 13 years. In other words, he’s as Green and Gold as it gets. As devoted as he has been, however, Cantalamessa still shakes his head when thinking about the past few months of unprecedented change in the CSU athletics department. “I’m not the least bit interested in us competing for third or fourth place in the Starting in December, CSU has added a new director of Mountain West…I want us competing for championships,” says Jack Graham, who was hired Dec. 1 to take over as the Rams athletics director.

14 SPRING 2012 Volleyball has been one of the consistent bright spots in CSU athletics with 17 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

athletics, a new football coach, and a new men’s basket- ‘they do everything ball coach. really well at CSU,’ ” Some might call the flurry of activity a period of says Graham, 59. “I’m upheaval. Cantalamessa takes a different tack. not in the least bit “I’ve never been more excited about the future of interested in competing CSU athletics than I am right now,” he says. for third or fourth place The changes started at the top of the athletic depart- in the Mountain West ment when CSU President Tony Frank hired Jack or whatever conference Graham to be director of athletics, replacing Paul Kow- we’re in. I want us alczyk. Two days later, Graham fired football coach competing for cham- Steve Fairchild and began a search that ended with the pionships, graduating hiring of Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. our student-athletes The changes continued in the spring when men’s at a very high rate, basketball coach Tim Miles, days after leading the Rams and producing high- to the first NCAA Tournament berth in nine years, caliber young men and departed for Nebraska. Graham moved quickly to find women.” a successor, hiring Southern Mississippi coach Larry Graham’s vision and Eustachy. passion for CSU are This flurry of activity has been dubbed the dawn of a what caught the eye of Frank, who long has believed that a “Bold New Era” for CSU athletics. Frank, frustrated by successful athletics program can help raise awareness recent struggles in the football program, said there’s no about the University. reason CSU’s athletic success can’t parallel the Univer- “I believe we can have clean programs that graduate stu- sity’s status as a premier educational and research dent-athletes and win without breaking our funding institution. models,” he says. “I believe attaining this will cause us to “We pride ourselves at CSU on the quality of our have to dream big, work hard, and settle for nothing less programs – and our research and education than excellence. In turn, that will bring more attention to metrics place us among the very top universities our University as a whole and expose potential students, our in the nation when we account for size and alumni, and donors to the great work being done at CSU.” funding,” Frank says. “Why can’t we follow this Graham, who credits his CSU education with providing same model in athletics? Should we be willing to the foundation that led to a successful career in the insur- accept something less than excellence in one ance industry, says he was dismayed when he re-connected area when we never settle in others?” with the University in 2005. Volleyball, which has reached That vision attracted him to Graham, who 17 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, was the only consis- played quarterback for the Rams in 1974-75. tently successful program at CSU, while some others were Even though Graham had no experience work- barely competitive in the Mountain West. ing in collegiate athletics, he was a highly Most disturbing, he says, was the football program. successful businessman who has great passion CSU failed to capitalize, he noted, on a long run of success for CSU. from 1994-2005 when the Rams produced six conference Like Frank, Graham is unwilling to settle for championships, played in nine bowl games, and made anything less than success, and he has a long list occasional appearances in the Top 25. Since that time, CSU of projects he believes will transform CSU’s ath- has a combined record of 23-50, including three consecu- letic department. tive 3-9 seasons. “I’m not the least bit interested in us competing for third or fourth place in the “In five years I would like to see us become “I don’t want to be affiliated with a program that goes Mountain West…I want us competing for championships,” says Jack Graham, an athletics department that makes people say, 3-9, 3-9, 3-9,” Graham says. “Nobody does.” who was hired Dec. 1 to take over as the Rams athletics director.

COLORADO STATE 15 Graham’s primary focus has been the foot- Graham has made it clear that he intends to be success- ball program. Two days after being hired, he ful in all sports. He says football, however, has to be the fired fourth-year coach Steve Fairchild and engine that drives that success. began searching for someone who could “After watching another 3-9 season, I realized there was return CSU football to relevance. nothing going on that made me want to stand up and say, He found his man in Jim McElwain, the ‘I’m proud to be a CSU Ram,’ ” he says. “You could see offensive coordinator at Alabama. He con- some bright spots, like volleyball, men’s basketball, and vinced McElwain that leaving a program that men’s golf, but at the end of the day, if you’re not winning has produced two national championships in football games it’s a problem.” Graham’s first bold move three seasons for a program that had one win- Graham, despite his lack of experience in athletic was to hire new head football coach Jim McElwain ning record in the past eight years was a good administration, did not go into this job wearing blinders. (above), the former career move. He’s aware that CSU trails its Mountain West peers in offensive coordinator of the NCAA National Champion McElwain, who turned down opportuni- funding, ticket sales, and booster support, and that state Alabama Crimson Tide. ties to coach at Memphis and Fresno State funding is unlikely to increase. He recognizes that facilities before accepting the CSU job, says he was for women’s aquatic sports, tennis, softball, and track and immediately impressed with Graham’s commitment to field need to be upgraded, and he has embraced the project success. He did not hesitate to sign on with a boss who had that will enhance Moby Arena. spent less than two weeks as an athletic director. The centerpiece of his vision, however, is an on-campus “Having been through a few interviews with different football stadium, which he believes will be a game-changer schools and different committees, you get a real feel for for CSU – athletically and academically. He grew up going commitment and expectation – and I got a feeling that we to games at Stanford’s on-campus stadium while his wife, had a chance to be successful here,” says McElwain, who Ginger, reveled in games at Arkansas, her alma mater. was hired Dec. 13. “The thing that stood out was his orga- “The game-day experience we get with Hughes Stadium nization and the business model Jack had put together. is not even a shadow of what other universities experi- That, combined with the commitment of Dr. Frank, was ence,” he says. “I take my family to games at Hughes and something I really wanted to be a part of.” they say, ‘This is not the experience we have when we go to games at Stanford or Arkansas.’ I asked myself on a num- ber of occasions what was missing, and it became clear to me that our stadium is in the wrong place. When you go to

16 SPRING 2012 A Bold New Era

a game at Hughes, you’re not having a University experi- The good news for Eustachy is that the core of the ence – people drive past our campus and never stop.” 2011-12 team returns intact and will be bolstered by a Graham’s vision took an expected detour in late March pair of talented transfers. The Rams already are being when Tim Miles opted to leave to become men’s basket- projected as Mountain West title contenders with a great ball coach at Nebraska. Miles had just taken the Rams to opportunity to return to the NCAA Tournament. their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years Eustachy, though, has far loftier goals for his new and had helped turn Moby Arena into a house of horrors program. for visiting teams. “My plans are to take this program to the Final Four,” Graham immediately began the process of finding a he says, without flinching. “I really believe that can replacement for Miles, a fan favorite and District VII happen.” coach of the year after leading the Rams to a 20-12 record Even though hiring a new basketball coach just four in his fifth season. Aiming to end the perception of CSU months after taking the job was not on his agenda, Gra- as a “stepping-stone school” for coaches, Graham inter- ham believes CSU now has the pieces in place to achieve viewed numerous candidates before settling on Southern greatness and unite alumni and fans across the country. Mississippi coach Larry Eustachy. “I firmly believe that athletics can be the vehicle that In Eustachy, Graham found a highly regarded coach brings more money and more notoriety to this Univer- who has won conference championships at Idaho, Utah sity. If we can do that, State, and Iowa State, and led Southern Mississippi to just all of the University its third NCAA Tournament appearance in school history can better engage with in 2011-12. CSU, in contrast, has won two conference its alumni and sup- titles in the past 50 years. porters, and get them The Rams lost men’s to donate to CSU,” he basketball coach Tim Miles, says. “We are the cog who left shortly after leading the team to the NCAA tournament in that wheel, and I’m this season. Graham hired Larry Eustachy, (left) who has thrilled to have the orchestrated three trips to the opportunity to make NCAA Tournament, including one run to the Elite Eight. that wheel run faster and more efficiently for the betterment of this University I love.”

COLORADO STATE 17 The Students, Faculty, and Staff of CSU Say, Tha n k You !

July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2012

Your Gifts Make a Difference, See How!

18 SPRING 2012 You Helped Us Reach Our $500 Million Goal ... Early! Together, We Can Do Anything.

It’s Not Too Late to Give to the Campaign. Donate before June 30 at www.campaign.colostate.edu/GIVE

July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2012 Watch the Celebration: www.campaign.colostate.edu/Celebrate

COLORADO STATE 19

Sweetwater SALTWATER Researchers unravel the mystery behind the rise of salinity threatening agriculture in the farm-rich Arkansas River Valley.

By Emily Wilmsen

rom his vantage point as a lifelong In Colorado’s largest river basin, there are resident of the lower Arkansas Val- places where lush, irrigated ground sits by ley, Wesley Eck has noticed it neighborinig ground that is fallow. Since gettingF worse – the white stuff that covers irrigation began back in the 1860s, increased some of the farms in his region. salinity on the land and in irrigation water Only this isn’t snow in the wintertime. has moved some bean and vegetable crops It’s salt and it’s a byproduct of genera- upstream. Fertilizers that have been used for tions of farming in one of Colorado’s decades are contributing to the release of bread baskets.

The Fort Lyon Canal north of La Junta distributes the Arkansas River’s water to farmland on the north side of the Arkansas River Valley.

24 SPRING 2012 SALINITY

selenium into the river – a possible future future,” he says. “Maybe in the future we interacting with rocks. Water carrying threat to aquatic life and water quality. won’t even be able to irrigate with the water nitrate and oxygen dissolves more salt The lower Arkansas River Basin is in anymore. It’s going to be a hungry time out of the subsurface marine shale and need of a little care and understanding, CSU when we get to that point, I guess.” also drives minerals such as selenium – a civil engineers are discovering. mineral regulated by the Environmental Led by professors Tim Gates and Luis A Vicious Cycle Protection Agency – out of the rock. Garcia, of some 40 scientists from CSU and In intensely irrigated areas such as the “Those minerals make their way to the partner organizations have spent the past 13 Arkansas River Valley, water from the river. You take the water out of the river years studying the lower Arkansas River river is applied to crops but often too again, and you can imagine this cycle Basin, where more than 1,000 miles of large much water is applied. Excess water then where the concentration is getting worse irrigation canals feed 270,000 acres of pro- percolates down below crop roots into and worse as you go down river, since the ductive agricultural land. Research began in the groundwater and the groundwater water is reused a number of times as it 1999 after Jim Valiant, a CSU Extension table begins to rise, ultimately hurting moves downstream,” Gates says. “You’re agent who lives in the valley, approached crop productivity. Additionally, as evapo- moving salts and minerals into the river, CSU’s civil and environmental engineering transpiration occurs (meaning the water which diminishes the quality of the river department about production issues, water evaporates through the soil and crop), sol- water used for irrigation. It’s not good for transfer, salinity, and the overall health of ids – minerals and salts – are left behind. the economy that is supported by the agri- the valley, which extends from the moun- Also, high groundwater tables that spread cultural production of the valley, and tains into Kansas. out under adjacent naturally vegetated and fallow land lead to nonbenefi- The lower Arkansas cial evaporative loss of water. River Basin is in need Salt begins to of a little care and build up in the soil, affecting crops but understanding. also leaching into groundwater and The valley is a significant contributor to Colorado’s food supply and is known for its production of vegetables, hay, corn, and melons. The conditions in the valley are changing, and therefore, there is a need to re-evaluate existing water management and farming techniques to avoid hurting its future, scientists say. And Eck, who is director of the Fort Lyon Canal Company, agrees water quality may suffer in the future. “Water quality hasn’t become an issue yet with the state or any- body else, but I can see in the

Civil engineering professors Tim Gates and Luis Garcia have led a team of researchers concentrating on the Arkansas River Valley for more than a decade.

colorado state 25 SALINITY

Civil engineering graduate student Keith Morse collects a water sample from one of hundreds of wells the researchers monitor.

“We understand there are constraints, but the current system might need to be re-evaluated,” Garcia says. “We realize there’s a lot of history behind it, so for now, we need to work within the system, study ways to improve it within the existing framework, and examine if possible changes to the framework should be considered.” CSU is in a unique position to make a difference, Hemphill says. “The nice thing about CSU research and why groups like the Division of Water Resources use Colorado State University is you’re causing conditions in the river that ing. The family farms about 1,000 acres because we’re unbiased,” Hemphill says. threaten aquatic life.” of irrigated alfalfa, corn, and wheat with “We’re putting out there the data that we “There are all these interconnected about 250 cows. have collected and model results based on issues,” says Garcia, who is department The research isn’t life-changing – yet. that data, and it’s a lot more easily defen- chair. “How do you manage the water sys- “Farmers have an idea of where their sible in water court.” tem to preserve the bioenvironmental inefficiencies lie,” Hemphill says. “What I conditions that you want in the stream would envision in the future is the state of aquifer system and still maintain this Colorado using the data to suggest more Undergraduate student Justin Kattnig highly productive agricultural area and the accurate numbers in models.” evaluates the turbidity of a Fort Lyon Canal rural life that it sustains? He adds that he learned farming from water sample. “That’s why a land-grant university is a his family, but the engineering degree from perfect vehicle to help,” he says. “We deal CSU has helped him understand water pol- with so many aspects – economics, agro- icy and water law. economics, engineering, and sociology. In the long-term, the court-enforced These changes to the irrigation, river, and water compact between Colorado and groundwater system have a social impact Kansas could hamper some efforts to to the fabric of these communities.” address the most press- More than 10 years of research has ing water issues in the allowed CSU to monitor the valley under valley. The compact different conditions and to assemble com- controls water so puter models that can help predict future tightly that conserva- behavior of the river and the valley. tion techniques could One of the students assisting that interfere with the amount research is a native of the valley. Ryan of water that flows to Kan- Hemphill (‘06) moved back to his fam- sas – or even to the next farmer ily’s farm in Hasty near John Martin downstream. Reservoir when he started doing research for his master’s degree in civil engineer-

26 SPRING 2012 ALUMNI MATTERS

Photo courtesy of Jason Lavengood www.lavengoodcommercial.com Super Success Super CEO Allison Melangton (’83) hosted the party of the century, welcoming more than a million people at the nation’s biggest athletic event.

tanding at the top of a tower in downtown president and CEO of the 2012 Indianapo- Indianapolis, strapped into a harness and lis Super Bowl Host Committee, and pretty staring at 800 feet of zipline, it took all the much everything – except the game itself courage Allison Melangton could muster – that took place leading up to this year’s by Tony Phifer to take the plunge. game was a result of more than four years “I was a little scared making that first of preparation by Melangton and an army step, and I almost backed out,” Melangton of 8,000 volunteers that included 60 com- says. “But I’m glad I did it. I had a blast.” mittees working with a $28 million budget. That zipline run was just one exhilarat- “I feel elated with how everything was ing moment in an incredible four-year executed,” Melangton says. “Everybody in journey for Melangton that was capped our community put their best foot forward, Feb. 5 by the hugely successful Super Bowl and it really showed. I knew we were 100 XLVI between the New York Giants and percent prepared – that was really impor- New England Patriots. Melangton was tant to me – and it came off beautifully.”

COLORADO STATE 27 ALUMNI MATTERS

Prepared? That’s an understatement. 1.1 million fans had Melangton, a 1983 CSU graduate who has been through the spent the better part of 30 years in sports village, and 265,000 management, made sure that every little had toured the NFL detail was addressed. Experience. The Things like snow removal. She had previous record assembled an army of student volunteers attendance for that exhibit, in sunny locales New York Giants quarterback and prepared them to shovel snow at the like Miami, New Orleans, and Tampa, was Eli Manning raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Giants many venues. Their payment? Pizza. 200,000. beat the New England Patriots As it turns out, Indianapolis – just the “At 3 p.m. on Jan. 27, I was standing 21-17. Photo by Getty Images third “cold weather” city to host the with the mayor (Gregory Ballard) and nation’s largest sporting event – was blessed Indiana Congressman Andre Carson at the with unseasonably balmy weather that ribbon cutting for the village,” she says. hovered in the upper 50s throughout game “The weather was stunning, and we had week. The three binders she had filled with thousands of people crowding the down- weather contingency plans never left the town area. I will never forget that moment. shelf in her office. Everything that I had dreamed about for The unexpected warmth lured thou- four years, that’s the way it was. It was mag- sands of fans each day to peruse the many ical, really.” facets – including the first zipline in Super As a young student at CSU, Melangton Bowl history – to the downtown Super never would have imagined herself run- Bowl Village. By game time, more than ning a Super Bowl. When she arrived in 1979 as a young gymnastics hopeful, she

Indianapolis Super Bowl Village. Photo courtesy of Jason Lavengood, www.lavengoodcommercial.com ALUMNI MATTERS

had never before seen Colorado, let alone a city that lacked glitz and the CSU campus. glamour. After the game, But when CSU dropped its women’s however, the reviews were gymnastics program following her fresh- unanimous in their enthusi- man year, Melangton turned asm for the city’s effort, and disappointment into opportunity. Sheila many of the leading names in Walker, her coach at CSU, convinced her to national sports media help when the campus hosted the World implored NFL Commissioner Team Trials gymnastics meet, which Roger Goodell to include brought many of the world’s top gymnasts Indianapolis in the regular to Fort Collins. Super Bowl rotation. That, says Melangton, was Melangton Was Hooked. the ultimate compliment. It’s Melangton with husband Tom Her experience earned her an internship one thing to be asked to host one Super Melangton at Super Bowl XLVI. with the U.S. Olympic Committee, and she Bowl. Getting a second, when there’s no later moved to Indianapolis when the beach in sight, is rare indeed. Olympic Committee shifted its headquar- “One of my favorite moments came ters there from Colorado Springs. She when I was stopped by (veteran Sports quickly became a fixture in Indianapolis, Illustrated columnist) Peter King while which has transformed itself from a sleepy walking to the game,” she says. “He gave Midwestern city known for the Indianapo- me a big hug and said, ‘This has been great. lis 500 to a U.S. sports mecca that has Congratulations on everything.’ That made hosted Final Fours and numerous national me feel really good, like we had done our and international championships. jobs and done them well. “I was part of a group of people that “We learned so much that, if we do a changed the city’s history,” she says. “It has second Super Bowl, it would be easier, so I been incredibly exciting.” would definitely say that at some point we Nothing, though, compared to hosting will bid on another one.” the Super Bowl. Melangton was chosen to In the meantime, Melangton and her help put together the bid to host America’s 35-member staff have closed up shop and biggest sporting event, then was selected in returned to their pre-Super Bowl lives. For 2008 to oversee the entire operation after Melangton, that means working with NBC the NFL tabbed Indianapolis for the 2012 Sports as a producer for its gymnastics cov- game. erage. This summer, she’ll be in London “As a city, we could not have been more working at her fifth Olympics. proud,” says Scott Miller, president of the Looking back, she says her time at CSU Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. “Alli- perfectly prepared her. son and her team did an unbelievable job “I could not have had a better experi- of pulling it all off. She didn’t just hit a ence at CSU,” she says. “I embraced every home run, she hit a game-winning grand single minute of my four years there, and slam. We are incredibly fortunate to have the people I met have been incredibly her in our city.” influential in my life.” Prior to the game, the NFL had been criticized for playing its signature event in

colorado state 29 A SPACEMAN’S ODYSSEY

30 SPRING 2012 Alumnus Kjell Lindgren’s journey to serve on the International Space Station continues the Colorado State tradition of contributing to the space program.

by Melinda Swenson

hortly after astronaut candidate Kjell Lindgren “I’d be a fool to see this as a personal achievement,” S(M.S. ’96) submerged in the massive pool that is Lindgren says. “I’ve been blessed with amazing teachers, NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, divers swam instructors, friends, and mentors, and I’m confident that toward him. Using weights and foam, the divers made the team will sustain me on the path ahead.” Lindgren’s spacesuit neutrally buoyant to simulate a In November 2011, Lindgren and his fellow astronaut weightless work environment. candidates – members of NASA’s 20th class since the origi- A short distance away through the watery atmosphere, nal Mercury crew in 1959 – successfully completed their Lindgren saw the International Space Station – not the one initial requirements and became active astronauts. ODYSSEY orbiting earth with about 1.5 billion miles on its odometer, “I love our class nickname,” Lindgren says. “We’re alter- but a replica. nately known as the ‘Chimps’ or the ‘Chumps.’ The first “In the first few minutes in the pool, I marveled at how nickname is a nod to the central role chimpanzees have blessed I was to get to do this, what an amazing experience played in spaceflight.” it was. A few minutes later, once we started our tasks, I You can sense the smile behind his next comment. “The marveled to myself how hard it was!” name fits because we’ll work for food and we figure we’ll Lindgren says that working in the pressurized spacesuit be ‘hanging around’ for a while before we get to fly.” was a demanding task. With every move, grip, and tool The alternate name was proposed to take the newest activation, his hands and forearms soon became fatigued. members of the astronaut corps down a notch. “Chimps He and his fellow astronaut candidates quickly learned to may have been a little too cool,” Lindgren says, “But we work as efficiently as possible. wear both names with pride!” Although Lindgren’s spacewalk training in NASA’s NBL The Chimps will wait four to eight years for missions with its abundance of technology and scientists might aboard the International Space Station. At that time, their sound like a scene from a James Bond movie, it’s business two- to three-day journeys will be made aboard Russian as usual for Lindgren. Soyuz spacecraft that will pursue, rendezvous, and dock “It’s funny,” he says. “As an engineering organization, with the space station. NASA is very hardware-centric – spacecraft, rockets, satel- “I look forward to being able to look back at our amaz- lites, etc. But my favorite thing about working in the space ing planet,” says Lindgren. “I’m told it’s difficult to put the program is the people. view into words. The earth is always changing – day, night, “I get to work with some of the best and brightest folks lights, smoke... weather.” that the U.S. and its international partners have to offer – A popular pastime of crewmembers is to take in the brilliant men and women who are passionate about what breathtaking views of Earth from the Cupola, a module they do. with a 360-degree bay window. Since the station completes nearly 16 orbits of Earth a day, astronauts can theoretically Top left: One of nearly 16 sunrises that can be seen from the International Space Station in a 24 hour period. Bottom left: see 15 sunrises and sunsets in 24 hours. Lindgren in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Photo by NASA

colorado state 31 Kjell Lindgren conducts a simulated spacewalk or EVA (Extra-vehicular Activity), and collects a geological sample as a part of Desert Rats 2011 – a project evaluating equipment and procedures for a proposed asteroid mission. Photo by NASA/Geeseman.

The orbital sun- Although Lindgren’s academic career has been prodi- rises are spectacular. gious, including his master’s at CSU, two additional Chronicled by astro- master’s, an M.D., a postdoctoral fellowship, and residen- nauts using cies in both emergency and aerospace medicine, Lindgren high-definition cameras, says his background was almost immaterial during astro- images show the Earth first naut candidate training. appearing as a deep-blue “We’re each hired first and foremost to become a flight- sphere beneath a starburst of light – qualified astronaut,” he says. then circled in lopsided fashion by a Now that he is mission-qualified, Lindgren is assigned ring of molten orange that separates the to technical jobs in the astronaut office. He lends his medi- planet from the black of space. cal expertise to the Extravehicular Branch, tracking crew At night, the darkened Earth – with its pinpoints of health and injury prevention, works shifts in Mission Con- light emanating from densely populated areas – is reminis- trol as Capsule Communicator (or CapCom), and serves cent of the mythical city of Atlantis suspended in a in the Medical Branch. fathomless ocean. “Once assigned to a mission, I’ll start mission-specific Even though he’s excited to board the space station, training, which will include travel to Star City, Russia, Lindgren talks about his journey (from his days as an where we learn how to operate systems in the Russian undergrad at the U.S. Air Force Academy to graduate Soyuz rocket and the Russian segment of the space station. school at CSU and beyond) with appreciation. “I’ve interacted and worked with several Russian cos- “Colorado State’s Dr. Alan Tucker – who sadly passed monauts, and the folks we work with are incredibly away in 2004 – and the rest of the physiology department friendly, supportive, professional, dedicated, and great to faculty provided me with the fundamental research skills hang out with.” that I still use today. In the International Space Station, Lindgren will work “Through contacts that we had in the department, I as a crew medical officer dealing with any medical issues was able to go out to the NASA Ames arising during the mission. He’ll also be able to Research Center in Sunnyvale, Calif., to participate in all the various research proj- do my thesis research into cardiovas- ects taking place onboard. cular countermeasures for “It’s something I’ve “It’s something I’ve dreamt of spaceflight.” dreamt of doing for as doing for as long as I can remem- Professor Robert Gotshall, long as I can remem- ber,” he says. “I’m intrigued by the director of the graduate pro- ber. I’m intrigued by idea of going where few have gram when Lindgren attended the idea of going gone before. CSU, remembers him as a “Space represents a new fron- young graduate student. where few have gone tier, uncharted territory, new “I’m not surprised that Kjell before.” possibilities. The mission of has achieved his goal of being part ~Kjell Lindgren research and discovery on the ISS is of the astronaut corps,” Gotshall important to continue so we can begin says. “He was a dedicated student who to follow the example set by the Apollo made our jobs easier by performing high- explorers and once again venture beyond low quality research for his thesis. It was a pleasure earth orbit to explore Earth’s planetary neighbors.” serving on his committee.”

32 SPRING 2012 FROM MERCURY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

Kjell Lindgren’s induction into NASA’s 20th astronaut class From 1994- brings CSU’s involvement in the space community full 1995, he was circle. The late Walter (Wally) Schirra from the original NASA director of Mercury crew worked at CSU between 1977 and 1982, operations in Star serving as an adviser to the College of Engineering. In City, Russia, which 1959, Schirra was chosen by NASA for Project Mercury, involved building an America’s first effort to put humans in space. He was the organization and infra- only person to fly in all of America’s first three space pro- structure to support astronaut grams (Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo). Succeeding Schirra and cosmonaut mission and sci- Wally Schirra, one of the original seven U.S astronauts, was a in the lineage of those at CSU who’ve contributed to the ence training for flight on the Russian faculty advisor for the College space program includes: Space Station, Mir. Sega flew on the Shut- of Engineering from 1977-1982. ASTRONAUT JAMES van HOFTEN (M.S. ’68, Ph.D. tle Discovery, the first joint U.S./Russian Shown here in his Mercury – era space suit, Schirra is ‘76) was a pilot with the U.S. Navy, flying F-4 Phantoms. In Space Shuttle mission, and on the Shuttle the only person to fly in all of 1978 he was selected as an astronaut. After completing Atlantis, which docked with Mir in 1996. America’s first three space programs (Mercury, Gemini, his training in 1979, he took a lead role in supporting the ASTRONAUT KENT ROMINGER (B.S. and Apollo). NASA Photo. Space Shuttle entry and on-orbit guidance, navigation, ’78,) served as chief of the Astronaut Office flight control testing, and flight preparations. He was a Shuttle Operations Branch, Deputy Director, Flight Crew mission specialist on two Space Shuttle missions. Operations, and Chief of the Astronaut Corps. A veteran of ASTRONAUT MARY CLEAVE (B.S. ’69) was a mission five space flights, Rominger logged more than 1,600 specialist on two Shuttle missions working on an ocean hours in space. He flew as pilot on three Shuttle missions color sensor monitoring vegetation globally. On her sec- and was the crew commander on two. The missions ond mission, Cleave and the rest of the crew deployed encompassed scientific experiments, deployment and Magellan, the first planetary probe, mapping over 95 per- retrieval of satellites, delivering logistics and supplies to cent of the surface of Venus. the ISS, and the installation of a robotic arm. ASTRONAUT ROBERT W. PHILLIPS (B.S. ’59 D.V.M. TARA RUTTLEY (B.S. ’98 M.S. ’00), is the lead hard- ’61) Served on the CSU faculty from 1964-1984. He was ware engineer for the Health Maintenance System on the trained for a Space Shuttle mission then spent three years International Space Station. She leads a team of engi- at NASA HQ as Space Station chief scientist during the neers whose job is to provide reliable medical equipment planning and development phases of the International that will keep the astronauts healthy in orbit. Space Station. From 1994-2005, Phillips supported the CASEY FARNELL (Ph.D. ‘07), a postdoctoral NASA Life Science education and outreach program researcher working with Professor John Williams in CSU’s through speaking engagements. In November 2011, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and other person- Springer published, Grappling with Gravity: How Will Life nel at the Electric Propulsion and Plasma Engineering lab Adapt to Living in Space? at CSU have delivered a specialized ion source to NASA ASTRONAUT MARTIN J. FETTMAN (Ph.D. ’82) held a that allows for ground testing and calibration of energetic faculty appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine particle detectors. at Colorado State (1982-2006). He was the prime payload CODY FARNELL (Ph.D. ‘07), Casey Farnell’s twin specialist for Spacelab Life Sciences-2 in 1992 and flew brother, also works as a postdoctoral researcher working on the Space Shuttle Columbia in October, 1993, becom- with Professor John Williams in the Department of ing the first veterinarian in space. Mechanical Engineering. He’s created a computer simula- ASTRONAUT RON SEGA (Ph.D.) currently serves as tion that improves the performance of ion thruster’s grids, vice president for energy and the environment at CSU. He which are used to accelerate ions to high speed to give a became an astronaut in 1991 and qualified for assignment spacecraft its thrust. as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews.

COLORADO STATE 33 CLASS NOTES

1940s F. Gordon Comer, Jr. (B.S. ’48, M.F. support efforts in space and missile ’49) celebrated his 90th birthday on defense. Brower served in excess Jan. 27, 2012. Comer directed the of 30 years in federal government woodlands management division civil service. at the Kimberly Clark Corporation. He was inducted into the Alabama Fred H. Wisely (’63) has recently Forestry Hall of Fame. retired as executive chairman of the board for World Technical Services Elwin L. Petersen (’42) worked for Inc. Wisely was formerly the CEO General Elector for 37 years and has and President of WTSI, which oper- been retired for 33 years. He has ates tactical aircraft ranges, satellite been married 70 years and has four control stations, and ballistic missile children and eight grandchildren. detection radars throughout the He enjoyed his time at CSU and world. He now resides in Colorado Alumni Profile wants to say, “thank you for the Springs, Colo. with his wife, Linda. David Freed education.” 1970s From the Collegian to a Pulitzer 1950s Claude D. Salomon* (’51) is look- David Freed (’76) has been a repository of experience ing forward to retiring after a long since graduating from CSU in technical journalism. He career with Proctor and Gamble, started out as a reporter for the Collegian and went on to with which he worked assignments have a colorful journalism career, principally at the Los in Canada, Europe, and Mexico. He Angeles Times, where he was an individual finalist for a will retire eventually from work in Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Mexico. Freed later shared a Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s spot news coverage of the Rodney King riots, and he covered the O.J. Simpson trial for 1960s Peggy A. Brown (’77), deputy com- CBS News. He also knows about David M. Armstrong* (’66) retired missioner of consumer affairs for the military, having reported from recently from CU-Boulder, where the Colorado Division of Insurance, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq dur- he taught biology and environ- is the first person in the nation to ing Operation Desert Storm. mental studies for 38 years. He is successfully complete all three What else does David Freed resident naturalist at Sylvan Dale levels of a national training program know? How about secrets? He Guest Ranch west of Loveland and for insurance regulators. holds an active security clearance continues research and writing on from the Department of Defense. mammals of the Western U.S. Martha A. Denney (M.Ed. ’78) And flying his own plane – he’s an recently retired after more than instrument-rated pilot. James D. Brower* (’60) was added 34 years with Colorado State All this experience has kept to the Space and Missile Defense University, having spent the last Freed’s writing chops firing. He’s sold scripts to Holly- Distinguished Civilians Wall of Fame, 29 years serving as the director of wood and now writes for national publications including which honors past members of gov- international education in the Office The Atlantic and the Smithsonian’s Air & Space maga- ernment organizations dedicated to of International Programs. zine. He’s author of a humor book, and now he has a debut novel, the mystery-thriller, Flat Spin (Permanent Press). Freed’s exuberant novel, which mixes hard-edged sensibility with flashes of sardonic humor, is available through pre-orders at Amazon.com. Visit david-freed. com for more details on the author. *indicates member of the Alumni Association

34 SPRING 2012 CLASS NOTES

executive administrator for Diversity, Laboratory. David was principal Alliances & International Relations at investigator of the launch analysis the association. required by the Executive Office prior to launch of Curiosity.

Sharon Rushton (B.A. ’72, M.S. ’74) was elected for enshrinement into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2011. Rushton also released a new book this year. No James G. Kennedy, M.D., M.B.A. Paved Road To Freedom humanizes (’72) was recently elected to the the impact of communist occupa- American Board of Family Medicine tion in Romania after World War II. for a five-year term. He currently Based on a true story, it documents practices family medicine with his Sheila Palm (’73) received the Child the courage of a young man who daughter in Winter Park, Colo. Life Council Distinguished Service pays a high price for trying to Award for 2011. She is currently escape the oppression. Karen A. Lechowich (M.S.’72) the child life manager at Children’s was recognized for her support and Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Donald W. Viney (’77) recently guidance in the establishment and edited a book published by SUNY growth of the Chinese Americans David Robinson (‘77) and his Press: Creative Experiencing: A Phi- in Dietetics and Nutrition Member wife, Joyce (‘76), were invited by losophy of Freedom. Dr. Viney is a Interest Group within the American NASA as VIP guests to the recent professor of philosophy at Pittsburg Circa 1941, at Student Union Fountain Room. Dietetic Association. She is the launch of the new Mars Science State University.

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colorado state 35 CLASS NOTES

David Wolf* (B.S. ’72, B.S. ’74) Mesonet, a statewide network of recently retired from the Bureau of automated weather stations. Land Management after 36 years. During his career, he conducted James L. Jackson (’84) was some of the BLM’s first wilder- recently promoted by the National ness studies in Idaho, authored the Park Service to chief ranger at the Statewide Wilderness Study Report Jefferson National Expansion Me- for Nevada BLM, and was the morial. His wife, Arlene J. Jackson BLM’s associate district manager (’83) is the chief of interpretation at in Boise at the time of retirement. nearby Ulysses S. Grant National His wife, Karen (deceased), also Historic Site. attended CSU.

Alumni Profile Kenneth Hester 1980s Venerable Vet

Dr. Kenneth Jack Hester, born Aug. 26, 1913, and now 98 years old, graduated with his degree in veterinary medicine from Colorado A&M in 1936. Because of the Great Depression, jobs were scarce and he applied for Robert McHargue (B.S. ‘85, D.V.M. government work following graduation. His first assign- ‘88) was promoted to full Colonel in ment was in Albuquerque, N.M., where he performed the United States Army Veterinary tuberculosis and Bang’s disease testing on cattle, and Jeff Blea (B.S. ’89, D.V.M. ’93) has Corps on Jan. 1, 2012. Still on ac- then it was on to New Mexico and Minnesota. In 1938, recently appointed to the position tive duty, McHargue will next report he returned to Colorado to open his veterinary practice of vice president of The American to the Public Health Command-West in Greeley with his wife, Lora May Viefhaus, working as Association of Equine Practitioners. at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in his assistant. One of the highlights of his early career Blea will serve as the association’s Washington state as the director of was the delivery of triplet calves, a very rare occurrence, president in 2014. technical services. born in June 1941. In 1942, after several years in private practice, Susan Richardson (’81) has written Joseph D. Mudd (’87) has Hester was ordered to report for duty in the U.S. Army. Vision of the World Cashmere: joined the firm Reznick Group, a He was stationed in El Paso, Texas, before being sent to Emily Dickinson’s Colors (Winter- top-20 national CPA firm based California, and then on to Washington. He was dis- hawk Press). This study of Emily in Bethesda, Md. as the national charged from the Army and returned to Greeley in 1945 Dickinson’s color poems not only director of tax. where he resumed his practice, providing large animal covers all of the poet’s themes but veterinary services to the Northern Colorado region for also emphasizes her disjunction David Peters (’83) was recently the next 31 years. with Victorian society. promoted from a wildland urban in- In 1950, he was the first to recognize infectious terface/fire prevention specialist for bovine rhinotracheitis as a distinct entity, and an article Ronald Elliott (Ph.D. ’81), PE, is the Bureau of Indian Affairs to their crediting him appeared in the American Journal of Vet- serving on the board of trustees of National Interagency Fire Center in erinary Science. Hester practiced until 1976 and enjoyed the American Society of Agricultural Boise, Idaho, as a natural resources woodworking in his retirement, eventually becoming a and Biological Engineers. Professor specialist – budget team leader. well-known craftsman in the region. He and Lora May Emeritus at Oklahoma State Univer- were together for 73 years until she passed away in sity, Elliott served as department Greg W. Romberg (’80) was wel- 2007 at the age of 94. head for nearly a decade in OSU’s comed to the Denver office of the Department of Biosystems and Hursh Blackwell law firm as a senior Agricultural Engineering. Elliott is advisor in the firm’s governmental also co-founder of the Oklahoma affairs group.

36 SPRING 2012 ALUMNI MATTERS

John Schmitt (M.Ed. ’83) has 1990s Chris L. Felton (’93) and his wife, created a yearly event in Wisconsin Robin W. Allison (D.V.M. ’96, Ph.D. Marlow, co-authored the book called Walk for Water, which raises ’02) has been awarded the 2011 Couples Money, which discusses funds to pay for fresh water wells. Regents Distinguished Teaching the financial dynamic of a partner- Schmitt leads teams that travel to Award at Oklahoma State University. ship from the perspective of a Central American countries to drill Allison joined the OSU faculty in married couple who work in the these fresh water wells. 2004 and is currently an associate financial services industry. professor in the Center for Veteri- nary Health Sciences. Kristin Kuiken (‘99) was elected to a four-year term for the Farmington, Jill Baron (Ph.D. ’91) has been Mich. City Council in Nov. 2011. named president-elect of the Ecological Society of America. As Canaan Manley (’99) was recently a U.S. Geological Survey research promoted to manager in the Trim/ ecologist, Baron has led national Chassis Engineering Department at efforts to understand the conse- the Nissan North America factory in quences of nitrogen deposition Canton, Miss. and climate change on mountain Heidi J. Sheahan (B.S. ’87, D.V.M. ecosystems. Maj. Kristofer F. Padilla (’98) has ‘90) is a recipient of the 2011-2012 been awarded a prestigious Mike Don Low-CVMA Practitioner Fellow- Sundar Christopher (Ph. D. ’95) Mansfield Fellowship. Padilla cur- ship. Sheahan’s area of interest is has written a book, Navigating Grad- rently serves in the U.S. Air Force, small animal internal medicine. uate School and Beyond: A Career serving most recently as an instruc- Guide for Graduate Students and A tor pilot and chief of academics and Must Read for Every Advisor. simulators at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.

CSU alumni in Los Angeles hike to the Hollywood sign. L to R: Nick Weber (‘03), Kevin Kuhnen (‘06), Karen Blust (‘02), Jim Depsky, Sue Depsky (‘80), and Matthew Hoppal (‘11). CLASS NOTES

Alumni Profile Jennifer Ritter (’94) was recently Claude Oakley (Ph.D. ’11) was named director of music for the appointed faculty chair and assistant Paul First Presbyterian Church in Pueblo, professor in the College of Business Colo. She is still actively involved in and Management at DeVry Univer- Skinner Pueblo’s theater scene and played sity in Georgia. In addition, he was “Mama” Cass Eliot in a production recently appointed as accounting Vines, Viticulture, by the Damon Runyan Repertory champion for the Atlanta Metro (of and Vino Theatre in November. DeVry University).

Paul Skinner’s (’83) influ- Sonja Macys (‘01) was elected to ence in the world of wine city council in Steamboat Springs, comes from the deep Colo. perspective of someone who is a soil scientist, Paul Stock published a new edited agronomist, researcher, volume of Food Systems Failure, and innovator. After earning a B.S. in water resource which includes a chapter contribu- management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens tion from CSU associate professor Point, an M.S. in agronomy from CSU, and a Ph.D. in in sociology, Michael Carolan. soil science from U.C. Davis, he began to investigate and develop new and improved technologies for data Shaunda Wenger’s (M.S. ’96) Allan E. Young (Ph.D. ’04) was collection, analysis, and interpretation that removed a lot book, Little Red Riding Hood, Into recently promoted to dean of of the guesswork from vineyard management. the Forest Again, received the 2011 Academic Affairs at the Univer- In 1994, he founded Terra Spase, a consulting ser- KART Kids Book List Award. She sity College of the Cayman Islands vice for vineyard owners and wineries based on the idea teaches high school science by (UCCI) George Town, after five that deciding what vines to plant – and where to plant day at Logan River Academy (in years as chair of Teacher Education them – should be based on data, not just a feeling. northern Utah). By night, she writes. and Public Administration. Terra Spase offers a variety of services related to www.shaundawenger.blogspot.com. soil and weather, including soil analysis and mapping, Dan Zitting (’04) recently sold his which allows viticulturists to farm in a precise way to software business to a large firm optimize both fruit production and quality of grapes. 2000s based in Vancouver. He was named Skinner applies his wealth of education, profession- Kate Creel (’06) was crowned Miss a “top 40 under 40” by CPA Practice al scientific background, and his own intuitive sense of Collegiate Colorado. She will com- Advisor in 2011 and has been winemaking to create his own wine under the label, Se- pete in the Miss Collegiate America honored by various organizations quum, (pronounced SEE-kwam), which is a soil science national competition in San Antonio, over the last two years. term describing the sequence of layers in a soil profile. Texas in March. Several of his varietals are grown on his two acre Kidd Ranch vineyard in St. Helena, Napa Valley, California. Sherry L. Hunt (Ph.D. ’08) has Faculty and Staff As viticultural consultant to the Pride Mountain been named the winner of the Marie Campoli Stone was inducted Vineyard in St. Helena, Skinner’s expertise inspires how 2011 Gale A. Holloway Profes- into the 2011 Tappan Zee High grapes are cultivated there. “Nobody knows Pride Moun- sional Development award by the School (Piermont, NY) Athletic tain Vineyards as well as Paul,” the owners say. American Society of Agricultural and Hall of Fame on Nov. 6, 2011. She “There is no question that the fruit quality at Pride Biological Engineers. is retired from teaching and is a Mountain is special,” Robert Parker, the leading U.S. freelance photographer in Barnegat wine critic, says. James Kuiken (’00) joined the Light, N.J. Stone coached women’s Skinner enjoys fine tuning the production of his Science Applications International gymnastics and taught health and Sequum wines and continues to provide consultation to Corporation in Novi, Mich. as a proj- physical education at CSU from vineyards throughout the California wine country. He is ect manager working on SmartGrid 1969 to 1974. also the lead consultant working on the development of and SCADA systems. a new high end vineyard project in northern China.

38 SPRING 2012 CLASS NOTES

INMEMORIAM

1930s Wayne W. Sandfort (B.S. Marion H. Shaw-hunt (B.A. Faculty & Staff E. Margaret Thompson (’39) ’48, M.S. ’52) ’70, M.A. ’72) Juan Barraza John M. Toliver (’34) *Lowell E. Sonnenberg (’53) S. Taylor (’77) Maxine M. Benjamin (D.V.M. *Caroline W. Winn (’38) *Ivan I Wescoatt, Sr. (’52) Steven L. Wild (’77) ’48, M.S. ’53) Maurice A. Williams (’50) Gerald P. Benson 1940s *William Woolford (’52) 1980s Norman D. Brammer *Robert E. Bement (B.S. Brek D. Brost (’81) Roy M. Buchan (’67) ’40, Ph.D. ’68) 1960s Marguerite A. Broyles (’80) Dorothy W. Dolan Robert K. Butz (’48) Vern H. Anderson, Jr., Ruth E. Byrne (’85) Richard L. Giessel *Albert Chotvacs (’48) (B.S. ’60, D.V.M. ’68) Paul B. Gleditsch (M.S. ’87) Dean Jaros Ronald J. Fenolia (’49) Michael F. Barron (’68) Barbara A. Hartung (’80) Alex R. Jarrett *Ada B. Finkner (’43) Ivory J. Beloney (M.Ed. ’60) Maj. Patrick McHargue, Katherine McLeod William S. Green (D.V.M. ’43) Ernest D. Cobb (M.S. ’67) USAF (Ret) (’86) Lois I. Meyer Ellen Harding (’41) Carolyn O. Dungan (M.Hec. ’68) Richard T. McKeon, Jr. (’80) Jerry E. Oxford *Robert H. Hillen (B.S. Ernest P. Erxleben (’64) Sharon J. Robinson (’84) Grace A. Roetker ’42, B.S. ’49) William A. Foster, Jr. (’61) David L. Vice (’84) J. Edward Schamberger (’54) Lloyd R. McCorkle (’48) Eldon L. Gilmore (MAT ’63) Dwight R. Smith Beverly J. Miller (’45) *Robert Konishi (B.S. 1990s Jerry D. Vedvick John M. Thielen (’49) ’62, D.V.M. ’64) John E. Brunmeier (’96) *Glenn Underwood (’41) *Kay S. McDowell (’65) Gary H. Clark (M.B.A. ’91) Attended Charlotte J. Wermuth (’49) *Ulysses McElyea, Jr., Seyhan T. Dwelis (M.A. ’96) Floyd T. Baker *Catherine R. Wilson (’48) (D.V.M. ’67, M.S. ’68) Jeffrey W. Jarrett (’91) Robert E. Dobbins *Oliver H. Woods II (’49) Lorraine I. Miles (’62) Christopher J. Sciortino Sharon Fritz Lois M. Wright (’48) *H. Lee Mitchell (’67) (M.B.A. ’92, M.S. ’96) Ronald A. Gerencher Norris V. Owen (D.V.M. Vicki L. Sweet (M.S. ’96) Jerrold D. Kohler 1950s ’62, M.S. ’64) Charles A. Tocko (M.Ed. ’93) Scott D. Perriman Bhupendra N. Patel (M.S. ’69) Robert C. Schiller, Jr. Alan E. Amen (’55) George W. Platt, D.V.M. (D.V.M. ’62) N. A. Baer, Jr. (’52) 2000s John E. Tromer Walter A. Pleiman (’61) Karen J. Wolf *Thelma F. Bement (’57) Kirk W. Reimers (’60) Sheryl L. Costello (M.S. ’05) Michael Blaser (’59, ’60) James W. Stockover (’63) *Kenneth D. Brown (’50) John A. Wallize, Jr. (M.S. ’68) John F. Brozovich (’53) *Lawrence G. White (B.S. *Alonzo E. Cady (B.S. ’61, M.S. ’63) Send Us Your Class Notes! ’56, D.V.M. ’58) Pamela J. Zimdahl (B.A. Did you get a new job or promotion? Move to a new city? Take a vacation in Paris? Tell *Gerald B. Conger (B.S. ’68, M.Ed. ’89) your fellow classmates about these and all your news with a class note in Colorado ’55, D.V.M. ’57) Maj. Wayne E. Downing (’57) State Magazine. Theodore A. Farmer, D.V.M. (’50) 1970s We do not publish pregnancies or engagements. Please notify us once the wedding or Donald L. Figurski (B.S. Forrest S. Anderson (’72) ’52, M.Agr. ’59) Stephen T. Bard (Ph.D. ’77) birth has occurred, and we will gladly publish the happy news. Photos are welcomed William B. Finley (’50) Robert T. Boddy (’73) and will be run alongside the note if the quality is adequate for print. Colorado State Harry C. Goodell, Jr. (D.V.M. ’51) James B. Carr, M.D. (’76) Magazine will also publish notice of death for alumni, faculty, and friends. Colorado State M. LeRoy Davis (Ph.D. ’73) James E. Havens (’59) Magazine will not publish notices for those who passed away more than one year prior *Raymond F. Hoff (’50) Jack P. Kuntz (’76) to the month of the publication. At the discretion of the editor, Colorado State Magazine Harold F. Holdych (’51) Shaun M. McEllin (Ph.D. ’78) Robert L. Means (’53) Nancy L. Michie (’76) may choose to highlight and lengthen notes for prominent alumni, faculty, or friends, Kenneth L. Melendy (’51) Farris S. Moss (’72) depending on available space and estimated reader interest. George G. Morris (’53) Shrinivas K. Nayak (Ph.D. ’73) Norman T. Oppelt (’54) Jack Nichols (’71) Please submit your class notes to Mary A. Potts (’58) William E. Partridge (’72) [email protected] • (800) 286-2586 Gordon E. Praefke (’56) Sayyid A. Rahman (’71) 7114 Campus Delivery • Fort Collins, CO 80523-7114 *Patricia J. Rupert (’53)

*indicates member of the Alumni Association

colorado state 39 RAMSWRITE Books written by alumni and CSU faculty and staff

David Gross (B.S. ’58, D.V.M. ’60) Pamela Sachs-Kapp (M.Ed. ’81) Evan P. Schneider (’01) wrote A describes his life after moving to a recently published a new book, Simple Machine, Like the Lever town near the confluence of the Yel- Wings of Love, a non-denomination- (Propellerbooks). lowstone and Missouri Rivers in his al spiritual allegory. Wings of Love new book, Animals Don’t Blush. tells the story of a soul coming into John Matsushima, (B.S. ’43, M.S. human form. ’45) has written Broad Horizon I David A. Sigafoos (B.S. ’65, ’66) Fear No Boundaries. The autobi- wrote My Friend’s Footprints in the Amanda Adams (M.S. ’10) will ography details Dr. Matsushima’s Snow, an inspirational true story published her book, Heart Warriors: Japanese heritage, his teaching and about his snowmobile accident in A Family Faces Congenital Heart research done at Colorado State the Colorado high country. Disease in April. University, and his international work with the cattle industry. Leslie Goodwin (‘77) has recently Samantha Prust (M.F.A. ’99) published a how-to book for ev- recently published her short story Matt Shoup (’03) wrote Become eryone interested in buying, selling collection, Romance and Other an Award Winning Company. He is or appraising their heirlooms and Stories. A portion of the proceeds owner of M&E Painting in Loveland, collectibles. It is titled ANTIQUE or from the sale of the book will go to Colo. Shabby Chic? Appraise and Sell the Dakota Language Preservation Like a Pro! Project.

Nick Arnette (Maestas) (’80), In The Face of the Earth, English keynote speaker and comedian, professor Sue Ellen Campbell has written Me, We and Glee: How brings together insights from several to Have a Great Attitude, Work as sciences (specifically geology, biol- a Team and Keep Your Sense of ogy, and climate science) and arts Humor. and humanities in an engaging and thoughtful series of essays.

40 SPRING 2012 s in an effort to ... tudent ool s sch Col high orado S ng with tate University students partneri

Keenan Bender Brian Gurrola CSU rangeland ecology senior, marketing Fort Collins High School senior director for Determined Nation, a positive and and aspiring health care professional progressive magazine for the CSU community

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