Nevada Silver & Blue • Summer 2013
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The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno • Summer 2013 BREAKING GROUND Research at Nevada Great Faculty LEADING THE WAY TO A STRONGER NEVADA WHAT I’VE LEARNED BARBARA C. THORNTON ALUMNI PROFILE: Scott Allen Frost From the President The transformational power of faculty and discovery in action Whenever I speak with members of our The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno faculty and ask them about their jobs and what excites them most about it, there is www.unr.edu/silverandblue usually strong consensus. Nothing, they Copyright ©2013, by the University of Nevada, Reno. All rights tell me, is more exciting than standing reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written on the edge of discovery and knowing Copyright ©2013, by the University of Nevada, Reno. All rights permission is prohibited. Nevada Silver & Blue (USPS# 024- they’ve helped advance understanding of a 722),reserved. Spring Reproduction 2013, Volume in 30,whole Number or in 3, partis published without quarterly written (fall,permission winter, is prohibited.spring, summer) Nevada bySilver the & UniversityBlue (USPS# of 024-722), Nevada, particular field of knowledge. They pursue Reno,Summer Development 2013, Volume and 30,Alumni Number Relations, 4, is publishedMorrill Hall quarterly Alumni this knowledge with uncommon focus Center,(fall, winter, Reno, NVspring, 89557-0007. summer) Periodicals by the University postage paid of atNevada, Reno, because they wish to share their wonder- NVReno, and Development at additional and mailing Alumni offices.Relations,POSTMASTER: Morrill Hall, 1664 Send N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89503-2007. Periodicals postage paid at ful sense of discovery with their students. address changes to Nevada Silver & Blue, University of Nevada, The potential for innovation or RenoReno, Foundation/MSNV and at additional 0162, mailing Reno, offices.NV 89557-0162.POSTMASTER: Contact Send us byaddress telephone: changes address to Nevada changes Silver (775) & Blue 682-6541,, University editor of Nevada, (775) transformational change is great, they Theresa by Photo Danna-Douglas 682-6022;Reno Foundation/MS fax: (775) 0162,784-1394; Reno, or NV email: 89557-0162. [email protected]. Contact us by say, when they wear both the hats of University President Marc Johnson and University telephone: address changes (775) 682-6541, editor fax: (775) “researcher” and “teacher.” 784-1394; or email:Contact [email protected]. us by mail, phone or fax: of Nevada, Reno Foundation Board Chair Felicia Morrill Hall Alumni Center One of the definitions of a great na- O’Carroll ’76 present English professor Eric Rasmussen ContactUniversity us by ofmail, Nevada, phone Reno or fax: tional university is that teaching and dis- Morrill Hall Alumni Center (center) with the 2013 Foundation Professor award. Reno, Nevada 89557-0007 covery are not mutually exclusive realms; address changes/obituaries:University of Nevada, (775) Reno 682-6541 Reno,fax: Nevada (775) 784-1394 89557-0007 indeed, at the best national universities, address changes/obituaries: (775) 682-6541 teaching and discovery are often one and the same, and are often done by the same people. Our Class Notes submissions:fax: (775) 784-1394 [email protected] Address changes/obituaries: [email protected] University is very blessed in this respect. We have countless faculty members who further our FindClass us Notes on Facebook: submissions: “Nevada [email protected] Silver & Blue” University research and teaching missions. These faculty members ignite passion in their students FollowAddress us on changes/obituaries:Twitter: http://twitter.com/silverandblue [email protected] for their various subjects because they are on the forefront of solving real problems and providing Find us on Facebook: “Nevada Silver & Blue” FollowExecutive us on Editor Twitter: John http://twitter.com/silverandblue K. Carothers tech and intellectual transfer through world-improving research and creativity. Our University’s newest Foundation Professors are clear examples of this important intercon- nection between teaching and research. All three—Iain Buxton, chair of the Department of Pharmacology; Dhanesh Chandra, metallurgical and materials professor; and Eric Rasmussen, Executive Editor John K. Carothers English professor and world-renowned Shakespeare and modern drama scholar—are recognized leaders in their respective areas of research and scholarly endeavor. Art Director Patrick McFarland ’97 They’ve contributed in profound ways to the world’s understanding of pre-term labor, X-ray Associate Editors Amy Carothers ‘01M.A., Juliane Di Meo, Christy Jerz ’97, Roseann diffraction and hydrogen storage, and the compilation, scholarly editing and interpretation of the Keegan, Rhonda Lundin Bennett, world’s most influential writer. Anne McMillin, Kellie Paul ’98, ’00, Perhaps even more importantly, these distinguished faculty members have inspired and Jane Tors ‘82, Claudene Wharton ’86, ’99M.A., Keiko Weil ’87 prepared many of their students to follow a similar path. In their own way, all three of these professors, by virtue of their own cutting-edge research and investigation, have introduced their Staff Photographer Theresa Danna-Douglas students to new worlds of knowledge and understanding. Photographers John Byrne, Jeff Dow, Jamie I’ll leave this to the Shakespearean scholar in residence on our campus to help me fortify my Kingham ’93, Edgar Antonio Núñez, Lee Pfalmer ’07, David message. As Eric Rasmussen has so aptly put it, “You have to achieve that balance, of being very Smith, M.D. Welch ’00, Mike intellectually vested in the material, but at the same time making it accessible and available to Wolterbeek ’02 your students.” Website Patrick McFarland ’97 This is why so many professors, like Eric, perform research at our University, achieving a dual- ity of purpose and achievement that can mean everything for an institution. And this is why we are building a remarkable national Tier I research university—through the work of talented fac- ulty who excel in the classroom, who are at the forefront of impactful work done in the research Summer 2013 laboratory, and who give all those around them the rare opportunity to see the transformational • Marc Johnson • President power of discovery in action. Kevin Carman • Executive Vice President and Provost Sincerely, MarcJohn K.Johnson Carothers • President • VP, Development and Alumni Relations Bruce Mack • Assoc. VP, Development and Alumni Relations Kevin Carman • Executive Vice President and Provost Marc A. Johnson John K. Carothers • VP, Development and Alumni Relations President NEVADA SILVER & BLUE Bruce Mack • Assoc. VP, Development and Alumni Relations www.unr.edu/president 2 Table of Contents Summer 2013. Vol. 30. No. 4 Features 2 18 56 Breaking Ground: Research at Nevada What I’ve Learned: Barbara C. Thornton ’57, Alumni Profile: Scott Allen Frost ’88 ’67M.A. Departments 8 Great faculty: Leading the way to a stronger Nevada 12 Faculty Awards and Accomplishments 14 Gatherings – 2013 Honor Court Celebration, Chris Ault: Tribute to a Legacy 16 Gatherings – Milt Glick Ballroom Reception, USAC Benefit About the cover Dinner, Friends of the Libraries/Legacy Society, UNSOM Hooding 2013 Foundation Professor Ceremony, Shake Table Event, Jazz Festival Reception Dhanesh Chandra and research Good Medicine – UNSOM Program reduces assistant Anasuya Adibhatla, 20 ’09 (chemical engineering), mother-to-child HIV transmission rate ’13Ph.D. (chemical engineering) 22 University for You – Cooperative Extension’s Herds and are pictured with laboratory Harvest helps thousands with outreach program equipment he built piece-by- piece as part of a U.S. Department 24 On Philanthropy – Emeritus faculty Lenz, of Energy Metal Hydride Center Larsen, Eadington and Hsu honored of Excellence project to test the University News – Bravo! The best college actors in America effects of impurities in hydrogen 26 gas on performance of hydrides. 32 Pack Tracks – Doug Knuth joins Wolf Pack family Photo by Jamie Kingham ’93. 33 Pack Tracks – Brian Polian gears up for first season at helm 37 HOME MEANS NEVADA Only Online 38 – Message from the President / Nevada Alumni Council Visit our website for photo galleries, full versions of the printed stories, 38 – Class Chat plus video and audio clips. You can also access Nevada Silver & Blue archives. 42 – Spring 2013 Senior Scholars Visit www.unr.edu/silverandblue. In this issue: 43 – Kickin’ it with K-von | Outta the Car NEVADA SILVER & BLUE Gatherings – For more photos from all of our events. 46 – Chapter Updates What I’ve Learned – For the full interview with Barbara C. Thornton ’57, ’67M.A. 48 – Gatherings: Spring Commencement, Alumni Graduation Celebration, Golden Reunion Remembering Friends – For the full obituaries. 50 – Gatherings: Student recruitment events, Pack Tracks Travel Program, Young Alumni Chapter Beerfest, Las Vegas alumni event 52 – Family Tree Challenge - Sala Family • LOOK ONLINE: When you see this LOOK ONLINE notice in the print Summer 2013 54 – Remembering Friends magazine, it means there’s related bonus material at the website, so check it 57 Fostering Nevada’s Future – Noted biomedical researcher out: www.unr.edu/silverandblue Mick Hitchcock steps forward to fund research at Nevada 1 Breaking Ground: Research at Nevada By Roseann Keegan. Photos by Jeff Dow. Department of Anthropology assistant professor Sarah Cowie, assisted by archeology field school student Patrick Burtt (far left) and project heritage specialist Chris LeBlanc, oversees an