COVID Survivors Get New Lungs p. 13 … Northwestern’s Miracle “ I’m a person of faith, and the Bible Maker p. 26 … Teaching All of America’s Past p. 40 … Robot gives me a glimpse into what is Quarterback Hits the Field p. 46 … A New Podcast Standard p. 64 beyond my science.” p. 9

WINTER 2021

KATHRYN HAHN Gets Messy Screen star finds creative freedom in complexity. p. 34 MOMENT

Skyline Swim Chemistry professor William Dichtel planned to swim the English Channel in June 2020, but the pandemic interrupted those plans. Instead, he completed the Chicago Skyline Swim, which runs the length of the city in Lake Michigan. Finishing the overnight swim in a record 12 hours, 27 minutes and 50 seconds, he swam 26.2 miles from Juneway Beach in Rogers Park to Calumet Beach in Calumet Park. Dichtel, the Robert L. Letsinger Professor of Chemistry, is co-founder of Cyclopure, a company that uses innovative technologies to remove micropollutants from water.

PHOTO: SHANE COLLINS NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN MOMENT

Firefly Procession With in-person theater shut down due to the pandemic, members of the Northwestern arts community brought safe, outdoor performances to Chicago-area communities last summer and fall. The Art of Spontaneous Spectacle, organized in part by associate professor of theater Jessica Thebus ’91 MA, ’97 PhD, produced socially distanced participatory processions along Chicago’s lakefront with props, life-size puppets and music. A crowd of roughly 75 people of all ages participated in the “Firefly Procession” at Loyola Beach on Chicago’s North Side in September.

PHOTO: JUSTIN BARBIN ’11 NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 4 5

WINTER 2021 Contents Vol. 23 Issue 2 FRONT 1 Moment 34 6 Talk Back Free to Play After a number of parts VOICES in “big-swing comedies,” Kathryn Hahn ’95 moved 9 Gerald Gabrielse Balancing science to more substantial roles and faith in uncertain that cemented her place as times a sought-after star. It’s clear 11 Olivia Pura now that she’s in love with Bioscientist finds her work: the deep dives into silver linings in a character, the exploration and pandemic graduation messiness each role brings, the dedication to her fellow NEWS actors — and the creative 16 Student Life magic that results. The show must go on By Clare Milliken for theater groups 21 Innovation COVID-era bus design wins international 13 competition

Hope After COVID “WE WILL” UPDATE Northwestern Medicine 22 Social Justice surgeons perform double- Donor gifts advance lung transplants, giving diversity, equity and new life to seven COVID-19 26Stretching the inclusion survivors. Imagination John Rogers founded ALUMNI a whole new field 46 Five Questions of bioelectronics to Sports tech innovators improve human health. create a smart quarterback 50 Class Notes 67 In Memoriam 72 The Other Cover John Rogers tests his latest technology 40 — on himself ← “We have a responsibility to situate all of our work in a historical context so we can realize that history isn’t this thing of the past, but it’s something that we 47 18 experience now.” Star Baker Big Cities Still Matter —Evanston Township High School history teacher Corey Alex Willis ’17 MS earned Innovation depends on the rate of human interaction. Kellogg Winchester ’10, ’20 MA, left, with his brother, Jason Deas, fourth place on The Great professor Hyejin Youn identifies a key population threshold that

who graduated from high school in 2020 WINCHESTER ANYA HAHN: BRIAN HIGBEE; WINCHESTER: JIM PRISCHING ROGERS: American Baking Show. allows large metro areas to become innovation hubs.

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 Cover: Photograph by Michael Friberg WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 6 FROM THE EDITOR/TALK BACK TALK BACK 7

are featured on page 10 Glad to see that ever moved on campus. He “Shep Shanley magazine and to add diverse [“Profs Discuss Racial Northwestern is at the greeted us when we arrived perspectives from across the Talk Back Justice,” Voices, fall 2020]; and forefront of innovation in the and welcomed us as adults, is indeed a University community while Attica Locke gets a glowing midst of the global pandemic. free to declare ourselves on legend who continuing to tell stories article [“The Write Path,” Josh Zulli our own terms. At Willard, that endear and enlighten. DOCTOR BECOMES way it works for me, and fall 2020]. So it is possible Santa Clara, Calif. he maintained a custom of has made an In short, we want to PATIENT now I work at a higher for talented Black people to inviting groups of newly enormous bring you the best stories education institution where get excellent jobs and speak arrived freshmen to his about the University and Ryan, from what I remember, anti-Blackness prevails openly about American life. If home for Sunday brunch, impact on the its people. And we want to you always had a positive throughout campus. It’s anti-Blackness is still a policy an experience many alumni bring those stories to you outlook in our college days. frightening to think that anywhere, it is under strong recall vividly to this day. Shep minds and lives in the format that works So while I am thankful you we’re clinging to white attack. would often join us for lunch of thousands of best for you. In addition to are still alive and with us, I’m supremacist structures. Ross’ suggestion to in the Willard cafeteria and A NEW CHAPTER producing three print issues not completely surprised you Caitlin Klask ’13 MS abolish schools may be only regularly led the French- Northwestern FOR NORTHWESTERN per year, we will continue to were one of the fortunate Seattle a provocative idea, but she speaking table. He was the students.” MAGAZINE make our digital magazine ones to beat COVID-19. presents no alternative. She undisputed guest of honor — Kenneth J. a place to see and hear more All the best to you in your Several ideas in kihana has every right to be enraged and guiding presence at all ello and Happy from the people who make adventures ahead. Cheers! miraya ross’ faculty about discrimination and our events and parties — Schaefle H New Year! Have Northwestern great. [In response to the profile opinion strike me as highly the murder of Black people. entirely with, but not of, those words ever And while we’re talking of Ryan Padgett, “Doctor problematic. She charges However, as hard as it may the flock. sounded so sweet? about people who make Becomes Patient,” “The that “students may learn that be for African Americans, we At Willard, Shep created I must be Shep’s mistake. Welcome to 2021. It’s Northwestern great, I would Stories of Our Lives,” brutally enslaved Africans all need to speak calmly, refer and curated a culture of Or maybe he was on time for a fresh start! like to recognize former fall 2020.] (enslaved in the first place by to major studies of slavery A NORTHWESTERN respect, consideration and vacation the day my I want to take this executive editor Stephanie Jim Miller ’93 other Africans, it should be and injustice, and recognize LEGEND curiosity. Supporting an application was reviewed. opportunity to introduce Russell for her three Wilmington, Del. mentioned) were ‘workers’ current remedial efforts as agenda that centered around Whatever, Northwestern myself. My name is Sean decades of outstanding who came to the U.S. in the we work to fix our society. As duly noted in the title “A a joyous embrace of life, admitted me. And it has Hargadon, and I am the service to the University Ryan Padgett was a star context of immigration.” Robert W. Thurston ’71 Legend Retires” [Close-up, he led by example with been a privilege to know new editor in chief of and her leadership of, first, student in my neurobiology Maybe some moron said Oxford, Ohio fall 2020], Shep Shanley graciousness, warmth and Shep and a singular Northwestern Magazine. Northwestern Perspective and behavior class. I moved or wrote that, but such is indeed a legend who wisdom. Through Willard, pleasure to have enjoyed his Though I am new to and, for the last 20 years, the final exam so he could nonsense is certainly not in has made an enormous he provided a context that wonderful personality over the position, I am certainly Northwestern Magazine. attend an NFL tryout, but he significant works on slavery INVENTION: AN IMPROVED impact on the minds and informed us of who we the subsequent decades. An not new to the magazine Stephanie loved sharing did not reciprocate with Rose published since Kenneth SWAB lives of thousands of had become as adults and added bonus, I also got to or the University. Since stories about the University Bowl tickets. So I waited in Stampp’s Peculiar Institution Northwestern students. showed a wonderful example know his delightful father, 2003 I have been part of and its people and bringing line at 6 a.m. in Evanston’s (1956). I majored in history The creation of a new nasal To congratulate Shep and of what adulthood could be. Lyn. The apple, as my mother the team that has brought humanity to this institution. cold December, got tickets at Northwestern and never swab [“An Improved Swab,” recognize his extraordinary And to a very large number often said, doesn’t fall far you Northwestern as a It’s been an honor to work for myself and my son and heard such an idea there. Innovation, fall 2020] is 50 years at Northwestern, of us, Shep has become a from the tree. And Shep and print publication and, with her, and we wish her followed Ryan and the team Her idea of anti- great news. I recently had 70 Northwestern and Willard lifelong friend. his father have been and had increasingly, via our digital all the best in retirement. to Pasadena, where we saw a Blackness, I take it, relates to take a COVID-19 test and Residential College alumni There will come a time been metaphorical trees on magazine and email In closing, I hope that great game! to anti-Semitism. There are was astounded at how far worked in secret to organize — soon, we all hope — the Northwestern campus newsletter. you and your loved ones Ryan, glad you recovered. certainly parallels between back the swab had to go. So a surprise tribute in the when students will again for generations: welcoming, At its heart, an alumni are safe and healthy. I look J.P. Rosenfeld the two. But Professor unpleasant. form of video messages, be allowed to fully join graceful and stately. magazine should continue forward to connecting Professor of psychology ross must know that Nazi photographs and written one another in the thriving Holy God, I’ll bet I wrote your relationship with with you via email at Glencoe, Ill. anti-Semitism meant the messages that express river that is university something really awful and the university, while also [email protected], destruction of the Jews. A what their time at Willard life. Those tasked with totally sappy like that on my educating, entertaining across social media handful of lunatics, no more, and Northwestern means relighting the fires in the application essay! And they and building community. @NorthwesternU and, IT’S TIME TO ABOLISH proposes that end for the to them. This inspired 36 temples of society and still let me in! Like I said, I Our team strives to bring yes, via good, old-fashioned SCHOOLS American Black population. video testimonials (featuring leading the social reopening must be Shep’s mistake. I’m you outstanding content letters mailed to 1603 Meanwhile, Northwestern individuals and groups), would do well to consider happy that he made one. in a sophisticated design, Orrington Ave., Suite 200, Thank you for publishing and every other major hundreds of photographs Shep’s contributions to Kevin Leonard ’77, ’82 MA addressing key national Evanston IL 60201. kihana miraya ross’ opinion university and many other and a huge volume of Northwestern and Willard University archivist and global topics across all I hope that you enjoy piece “It’s Time to Abolish groups and organizations written messages, all filled Residential College and the Evanston disciplines. Our goal is to this issue of Northwestern Schools” [Voices, fall 2020] are now deeply engaged in with joyous reflection and remarkable community that create a magazine anyone Magazine. — and thank you to kihana anti-anti-Blackness. Anti- an outpouring of respect, stands united as his legacy. It brings tears to my eyes to would enjoy reading. for writing it! I’ve witnessed Blackness does exist in this gratitude and appreciation. Kenneth J. Schaefle ’90 think that Shep is retiring. My vision is to welcome Sincerely, firsthand that our education country; yet Ross teaches at The alumni testimonials New York City As an Alumni Admission new voices into the Sean Hargadon system does not work for Northwestern; four other, are highly consistent on Council member for more Black students the same apparently Black, professors many points: Shep knew Editor’s note: More than 70 than 25 years and a director us from our applications alumni co-signed this letter. for most of that time, I know We want to hear from you:  [email protected]  @NorthwesternU  /NorthwesternU @NorthwesternU and interviews, before we the AAC would not have been

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 8 TALK BACK VOICES 9

Northwestern the same without Shep. He that is infinitely larger than we are and Magazine was and will always be family acknowledge our small place as temporary VICE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF to all of his AAC directors. I caretakers of planet Earth. Verification of GLOBAL MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS know I am a better person for what is true is intrinsic to the scientific Jeri Ward ’01 MEM, MBA having had him as a mentor. process. My Christian faith also requires ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, Shep, I wish you a truthfulness. I must honestly acknowledge CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER wonderful retirement my place in God’s universe, that I am Andy Madorsky ’86 MS and thank you for making FACULTY OPINION suspending a single electron for months unable to live up to God’s standards, that EDITOR IN CHIEF Sean Hargadon Northwestern such a warm using batteries and magnets — to test I need forgiveness, and that I must accept and special place. the most stringent prediction of the the redemption offered by Jesus Christ. ART DIRECTOR Christina Senese Michelle Frankenstein Science Standard Model. We also use lasers to A troubling feature of our strange ASSISTANT ALUMNI Hoffman ’83 produce molecules within which we times is that oft-repeated false statements NEWS EDITOR Leawood, Kan. and Faith probe for lumpiness in the electron are increasingly accepted as alternatives Lena Elmeligy ’18 charge that would indicate new physics to reality-based findings. False statements DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE I worked with Shep at in Strange beyond the standard description. about the COVID-19 threat, the number PRODUCTION Martin Wilson ’10 MS Northwestern for a relatively Times I’m a person of faith, and the Bible of deaths, the efficacy of face masks, the PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR brief time. I did not smoke, gives me a glimpse into what is beyond need and role for testing, bogus therapies, Anne Egger but he always invited me my science, introducing me to a God who and the timeline for creating and injecting EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS outside while he got his is intensely proud of the reality he wills safe vaccines continue to result in much Mohamed Abdelfattah, nicotine fix. I always said yes. By Gerald Gabrielse into being. I believe that there is delight in needless death. False claims that our Lindsay Beller, Deborah Cassell ’00 MS, Nancy Liskar, We had many lovely, heaven as my students and I peel back the greenhouse gases are not substantial Roseann Mark, Clare Milliken, thoughtful, endearing great mystery of modern layers of God’s “onion.” This motivates me contributions to climate change keep us Jeff Strayer conversations, and I learned physics is that the and frees me to do curiosity-driven science from preserving the fragile atmosphere DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS so much. fundamental mathematical well before I perceive how the insights to and minimizing weather extremes of the Sarina Benoit, Heather That first May, this description of physical be gained will profit a modern society. planet in our temporary care. The clear Cosgrove, Henry McGill, Mark Meyer Southern girl was standing reality (the Standard Model My God — a God worth having — correlation between gun availability and there, freezing in her coat in of particle physics) accurately predicts the is far beyond description using the homicides, both of which are enormously EDITORIAL INTERNS Lainey Dow ’23, Sophia Lo ’22, the wind. The poor daffodils resultsA of all laboratory measurements language of human experience and the higher in the U.S. than in other developed Jacob Munoz ’21, Fred Tippett were barely up and looked as and yet is unable to explain basic methods of science. There can be no countries, is denied. Reality-based truth ’22, Emma Yarger ’23 though they wanted to dive Emergency and Essential has done some great work, features of our universe — for example, contradiction between what science is ignored as new “rights” to infect or to EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD back under the bits of snow Needs funds have provided but I think many of these how a universe made of matter survived reveals about the physical reality that carry battlefield weapons are promoted. Krishnan Anantharaman ’91, chair; David Beard ’81; Emily still scattered on the ground. such resources. ideas assume an outsized annihilation after the Big Bang. such a God sustains, and the peek beyond I feel special pain that evangelical Chow ’12; Alex Freund ’17, I looked at Shep and said, I don’t think it had view of the tech capability on It has been my privilege to work with that reality that God provides in the Bible. Christians quoted by the news media often ’20 JD; Alex Garcia ’89; “This is a poor excuse for a special name at the the staffs of local news sites. 50 Harvard and Northwestern doctoral Physicists and Christians seem like espouse “alternative facts.” Identifying with Adrienne ­Samuels Gibbs ’99; May.” Shep looked at me with time, but in the late We’ve been successful at students investigating this mystery. We natural allies to me. Awed by the vast and this group is now hard for me. How can Ryan Haggerty ’07, ’16 MS; Jerry Lai ’04; Robert Leighton his memorable, wry look and 1970s Northwestern also Mission Local in publishing measure an electron’s magnetism — by intricate universe, both celebrate a reality those who proclaim the value of life be in ’82; Mike McGee ’10; Cate said, “Well, no one moves to maintained such a fund. As first-rate content. But if I denial about COVID-19 deaths or campaign Plys ’84; Gita Pullapilly Paris for the weather.” Now I remember it, I applied for knew what I know now, I for open access to assault weapons? How ’00 MS; Christina Rosales ’11; Joshua Rosenblat ’17; William that I live in the Northwest, and received an immediate would never have started a can those who realize that we live on God’s Weinbaum ’82, ’83 MS; Steph I use that line all the time. $25 “loan” to help make it local site without a strong Earth deny what the greenhouse gases we Yiu ’08; Cat Zakrzewski ’15 And smile thinking of Shep. through the weekend at a tech person on board as could limit are doing to the atmosphere Every time. time when I was literally an equal partner. All of provided for our protection? Is it right or © 2021 Northwestern University. Northwestern Magazine is published Dear friend, stay well and broke. More broadly, thanks the experimenting around effective to obtain short-term political in fall, winter and spring. All enjoy your next adventure. to financial assistance from engagement really requires power to enforce moral standards if the Rights Reserved. Produced by the Office of Global Marketing and Kimberly Crouch Northwestern, I graduated that — even much of the cost is empowering those who egregiously Communications, 1603 Orrington Portland, Ore. from Medill in 1979, innovative storytelling deceive and violate these standards? Ave., Suite 200, ­Evanston, IL 60201. Telephone: 847-491-5000 embarking on a 32-year needs some tech expertise. To this scientist and person of faith, it Website: alummag.nu foreign service career that My first piece of advice to seems urgent to reverse the acceptance Views expressed in Northwestern GRATITUDE FOR included service as U.S. anyone interested in starting of “alternative facts” that propagate so Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the FINANCIAL SUPPORT ambassador to Mongolia. a local site would be: Don’t rapidly in our strange times. Scientists, University. Jonathan Addleton ’79 do it without a full-time tech people of faith and Northwestern alumni

ADDRESS CHANGES For personal reasons, I Macon, Ga. person. need to speak up. Silence is complicity. Mail to: appreciated the short article Lydia Chavez Alumni News Editor Northwestern Magazine in the fall 2020 issue on a San Francisco Gerald Gabrielse, a member of the 1603 Orrington Ave., Suite 200 special fund set aside to help LOCAL NEWS INITIATIVE National Academy of Sciences and the Evanston, IL 60201 meet emergency financial Read more letters from our American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Email: address-change needs [“Showing Support,” The Local News Initiative readers on our website at is a Board of Trustees Professor in Physics @northwestern.edu “We Will” Update]. It noted [“Fighting for Local News — magazine.northwestern.edu and director of Northwestern’s Center for

Web: magazine.northwestern.edu that since 2017, Student and Democracy,” fall 2020] /talk-back. DOUG CHAYKA SHANE COLLINS ↑ Gerald Gabrielse Fundamental Physics. /change-your-address

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SOUND OFF systemic racism. It’s like telling a SOCIAL FEEDS By Olivia Pura ’20 Bioscientist Program provided a friend that they’ve hurt you, only to be perfect outlet for my curiosity. The The Northwestern dismissed and told to get over it. From Miss Illinois program prepares a select group community remembered the Understanding that relational perspective, it would be USA 2020 and a of first-year undergraduates — life of Supreme Court Justice first-year doctoral really hard to be civil if two parties can’t primarily first-generation, low- Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’98 H, student at the Incivility come together and acknowledge the basic University of income and underrepresented who died Sept. 18. Ginsburg What has led to the current record of hurt and pain. That’s what’s Chicago students — for research and grant delivered the Northwestern happening among Americans.” writing through mentor-mentee divisiveness within the United Commencement address matching and seminar courses. in June 1998 and visited States, and how has that My first research project Northwestern Pritzker School impacted civility and the Laurel Harbridge-Yong, entailed swabbing sinks and toilets of Law in 2009. ability to compromise? associate professor of in hospitals and analyzing any political science and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria a faculty fellow at the that were present. These are the Institute for Policy bacteria responsible for many Research hospital-borne infections. Believe Jamie Druckman ’93, Payson S. it or not, I fell in love — with the Wild Professor of Political “Even from members research process! The swabbing Science and associate director of of Congress we see that if part? Not so much. the Institute for Policy Research you’re not on my team, you’re Junior year I began more anti-American. The same is true among advanced research with Professor “Starting in the 1970s and the public. A person’s political party has Tom Meade. My project investigated ’80s and increasingly into become increasingly aligned with their cobalt complexes as inhibitors of the 21st century, we’ve other social identities. This helps make “Rest in power cellular pathways. In particular, I seen an ideological party allegiance an increasingly salient RBG. Thank you for looked at pathways that cause basal sorting. We’ve also social identity, leading to in-group everything you have cell carcinoma (skin cancer) and seen demographic favoritism and the desire to maintain medulloblastoma (brain cancer). sorting, so racial psychological distance from the out- done and for being I credit Professor Meade with MY NORTHWESTERN DIRECTION minorities, lower- group. This focus on partisanship as a a true inspiration to shaping much of my academic income individuals social identity makes it easy to demonize us all.” journey; his enthusiasm for his and less religious the other side and live in a bubble among Silver Linings from a work and dedication to his students people have sorted into people who think like you do.” @shreyarajappa  inspired me to pursue a career in the Democratic Party, whereas more academia. Earning my PhD will be religious people, rural people and Pandemic Graduation one more milestone on my journey. “RBG was the Commencement wealthier people have sorted into the Tabitha Bonilla, assistant professor of I reached another type of speaker at my PhD graduation Republican Party. On top of that, we’ve human development and social policy o lecture, seminar or from the effects of caffeine on the milestone on Nov. 9, when I from @NorthwesternU. I I credit seen the return of partisan media and of political science and a faculty was fortunate to get to shake Norris Mini Course body to the relationship between placed in the top 10 at Miss USA. accentuating these partisan differences fellow at the Institute for hands with her onstage. I could have prepared sleep and chronic disease — in a Professor I’ve dreamed of competing in the and creating distinct information Policy Research still remember her wonderful me for the upheaval way that’s understandable, practical Meade with pageant since I was a young girl. worlds. So people are generating these speech about feminism.” of graduating in the and fun. I’m never at a loss for shaping I’m often asked how anyone can perceptions of the other side — actually “As presidential Class of 2020. In a matter of weeks, words. And now to have a purpose balance the vastly different spheres @AmeetRKini  much of my in a fairly inaccurate fashion — as being candidates take Nmy future — a meticulously and for those words — and have fun of pageantry and academics. Rather so different from themselves because positions with beautifully arranged house of while I’m at it — is so rewarding. academic than try to balance them, I find the what they’re seeing is not the modal more explicit “RIP #notoriousrbg. cards — was blown apart. I’m a I’ve also found time for journey; overlap between them. Pageantry member of the other side but rather the promises, voters planner who loves organization reflection. I’m focusing on the his enthu- gives women an incredible extreme, so the other side looks totally react much more You’ve taught me and consistency, so this change was present and looking forward platform to advocate for causes. incomprehensible.” strongly to those so much, most incredibly disheartening at first. to the future. This fall, I began siasm for Mine is gender equality in STEM policy positions. I importantly, how Over time, however, I’ve begun to a biochemistry and molecular his work fields. As Miss Illinois USA, I’ve can’t say that the promises to use my voice to appreciate the chaos as I learn to biophysics doctoral program at and dedi­ worked with the Illinois House of Mikala Stokes, third- themselves are what’s causing the play the new hand I’ve been dealt. the University of Chicago, and cation Representatives, Girl Scouts and year doctoral student incivility, but I do think promises fight for others, One silver lining: I’ve found my ultimate goal is to become a other organizations to make “my” in history reinforce it. Voter responses to candidates even when I am space for creativity. After months professor. As a first-generation to his mission “ours.” who promise are polarized. My research afraid of being of brainstorming, trading emails Polish American and first- students So, while my house of cards may “I think the current demonstrates that elected officials are silenced or viewed and watching YouTube tutorials, generation college student, I have i­nspired have been left a mess, the pandemic age of incivility is making more promises than they used to, my classmate Drew Zbihley ’20 and immense gratitude for receiving an me to afforded me much-needed time to a reflection of the meaning their policy positions are more as too emotional I launched our podcast, Science education that may one day allow re-evaluate the deck. Now I’m ready country’s persistent committed. There is a lack of room for for being a woman.” in Society, in August. It features me to provide education for others. pursue a to rebuild the house even stronger inability to acknowledge these candidates to compromise because interviews with experts who break My love for research has its career in — with microphone, lab coat and  the legacy of white supremacy and they’re trying to mobilize voter bases.” @erin.elizabeth25 ANZALDI STEVE ’10 MS GINSBURG: BONILLA: DREY; JIM ZIV; STEVE HARBRIDGE-YONG: REESE; PATRICIA DRUCKMAN: down the science in everyday life — roots at Northwestern. The NU academia.” pageant sash in hand.

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 Illustration by Bruce Morser WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 12 VOICES CAMPUS NEWS / STUDENT LIFE / SPORTS 13

WHAT INSPIRES ME The Dance of History A former journalist digs deep into her Latin Theater Designing a groups adjust bus for the American roots to understand the past and to virtual COVID era reframe the present. stage p 16 p 21

Medellín during the rise and consolidation Lina Britto, associate professor of history of the Medellín cartel. That is always in the back of my mind, prompting me to ask “I worked as a journalist for many years questions and to understand that very in my 20s, because I wanted to tell stories complex society that I witnessed as a child. about the social life around me. When I “I’m always in a dialectical conversation migrated to the U.S., I continued doing print between past and present, seeing how the and online journalism in Spanish. I had just past is reflected in the present, but also lived through the rise of the ‘pink tide’ in how the present reframes and rewrites the ↑ Lina Britto Bolivia and was writing stories about what past. That dance between past and present was happening in Latin America, where is a source of fascination, curiosity and social movements were producing deep and inspiration for me.” nation building, and Cold War terror. radical structural changes. I realized that Her latest book, Marijuana Boom: The journalism was not enough for the kind of Lina Britto teaches courses that examine Rise and Fall of Colombia’s First Drug stories that I wanted to write. Latin American and Caribbean history Paradise (2020), explores how and why MEDICINE “Obviously, my own country, Colombia, with a focus on the drug trade and the the country became one of the world’s is a huge source of inspiration. I grew up in war on drugs, the impact of music on premier sources of illegal drugs. Hope After IN THE NEWS “The decision by a lives with no “Encephalopathy, the Margaret Walker Kentucky grand jury consequences.” Inger which is characterized Alexander Professor of COVID not to charge any of Burnett-Zeigler, by altered mental Human Development History the officers in the associate professor function ranging and Social Policy, in Northwestern death of 26-year-old of psychology, in the from mild confusion USA Today surgeons perform the in the Breonna Taylor has left Chicago Tribune to coma, is the most first known double- many Black women, severe neurologic “We dodged a lung transplants on Making including myself, manifestation of meltdown of our traumatized. We are COVID-19.” Igor systems in this election COVID-19 survivors. From racial justice worried about our Koralnik, professor because the pandemic to the effects of own safety and of neurology, in created an early Last summer, Northwestern the coronavirus, well-being. We USA Today sense of urgency and Medicine surgeons performed Northwestern faculty are outraged motivated enormous lifesaving double-lung members shared their we live in “We were making efforts to make the transplants on two patients opinions on the issues a society slow and steady election a success, whose lungs were severely of the moment. where we progress until [the despite profound damagedF by COVID-19, can be pandemic]. It’s likely challenges. But unless offering a potential path to robbed we will have wiped out we think affirmatively recovery from the devastating of our a lot of the progress about what we need effects of the virus. that we’ve made over to do next time, we’re “We are one of the first the last decade in unlikely to be so health systems to successfully childhood obesity.” lucky again.” perform a lung transplant Diane Whitmore Michael Kang, on a patient recovering from Schanzenbach, the William G. and COVID-19,” says Ankit Bharat, left, director of Virginia K. Karnes chief of thoracic surgery the Institute Research Professor at and surgical director of the for Policy Northwestern Pritzker Northwestern Medicine Lung → Diane Whitmore Research School of Law, in RALPH ALSWANG PHOTOGRAPHY RALPH ALSWANG Schanzenbach and NBC News MEDICINE NORTHWESTERN © 2020, LAURA BROWN

WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 14 NEWS NEWS 15

later, she became the first GLOBAL REACH known COVID-19 patient in the United States to receive a double-lung transplant. Staying Safe, Wildcats The second patient, Brian Kuhns, an Illinois man in his Make a Difference Worldwide 60s, spent 100 days on ECMO. He received the majority MAKE A MASK of his treatment at another Pakistan health system before being transferred to Northwestern. In April, Northwestern University “Prior to his arrival at in Qatar junior Adan Ali helped launch the student-led Mask Northwestern Memorial, the Banao campaign, which shares patient developed an invasive information about making infection that required a major masks at home and promotes chest surgery. This was going FOCUS ON mask usage and awareness. Ankit Bharat to make the double-lung CHILDREN’S Ali and his colleagues also RIGHTS work with factories to produce transplant substantially more and distribute cloth masks to Argentina difficult,” says Northwestern Pakistani communities, including Medicine thoracic surgeon Last fall Weinberg people living in poverty. The Transplant Program and and lungs. While her body and Feinberg associate College of Arts and multinational team has seen associate professor of surgery cleared the virus, her lungs professor of surgery and Sciences sophomore REPORTING FROM BAGHDAD Pakistani attitudes toward Kelly Bates interned Iraq masks grow more positive. and medicine at the Feinberg were damaged beyond repair. medicine Samuel Kim, who with Fundación School of Medicine. “We want “For many days, she was assisted in the double-lung por Nuestros Amina Ismail ’05 MS was named other transplant centers to the sickest person in the transplant alongside Bharat. Niños through Reuters’ Reporter of the Year in know that while the transplant COVID ICU — and possibly the “His lung damage was among the virtual Global March 2020, along with Angus SUSTAINABLE ART Vietnam procedure in these patients is entire hospital,” explains Beth the worst I’ve ever seen. When Engagement Studies Berwick, a correspondent in Institute. The Salta, Venezuela. She won the award Through the virtual Global quite technically challenging, Malsin ’19 GME, a pulmonary we opened the chest cavity Argentina–based for her reporting on Egyptian Engagement Studies Institute, it can be done safely, and and critical care specialist there was a lot of evidence program advocates president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s sophomore journalism major it offers the terminally ill at Northwestern Memorial of infection; everything we for children’s authoritarian rule. Ismail joined Quan Pham has worked with rights, with a Reuters in 2016 and is currently COVID-19 patients another Hospital and an instructor of touched or dissected started Vun Art, a Hanoi-based social focus on violence a senior correspondent based option for survival.” medicine at Feinberg. “There bleeding, and one misstep enterprise that trains people with prevention, health in Baghdad, where her coverage disabilities to make sustainable The first patient, 28-year- were so many times our team could have led to catastrophic and education. centers on human rights and clothing and accessories, old Mayra Ramirez, spent six had to react quickly to help consequences.” Bates, whose family politics. Prior to joining Reuters, featuring traditional Vietnamese weeks in the COVID ICU on a her oxygenation and support Typically, a double-lung is from Argentina, Ismail worked at the New York motifs and recycled materials. appreciates the Times as a reporter. ventilator and extracorporeal her other organs to make sure transplant takes six to seven Pham has worked on projects to opportunity to membrane oxygenation they were healthy enough to hours, but this surgery expand Vun Art’s market into the immerse herself in U.S. and develop a tour of Vun (ECMO), a life support machine support a transplant if and took about 10 hours due to Argentine culture Art’s facilities. Pham, a Hanoi that does the work of the heart when the opportunity came. lung necrosis and severe while making a native, plans to work in Asia in One of the most exciting inflammation. positive impact in a the future. “His lung times was when the first Bharat’s team is optimistic “country that gave so HALTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING coronavirus test came back that both patients will make much to me and my Ghana family.” damage was negative and we had the first a full recovery. The surgeons Sophomore Bengi Rwabuhemba is among the sign she may have cleared the are now offering guidance to passionate about advocacy for children’s and virus to become eligible for a other transplant centers. By women’s rights. Through the virtual Global lifesaving transplant.” mid-November, Northwestern Engagement Studies Institute, Rwabuhemba worst I’ve is working with the Center for Initiatives ever seen.” The lung transplant surgeons had performed Against Human Trafficking in Tamale, Ghana. team listed Ramirez for the double-lung transplants on The organization aims to empower women

— Samuel Kim transplant, and 48 hours seven COVID-19 survivors. GHANA: DRAZEN/GETTY IMAGES; JEFFREY DAVIS/GETTY ARGENTINA: IMAGES PHOTO; CRAWFORD TERESA BHARAT: and children while educating the public about child labor and child marriages.

● Northwestern ● The Department of Energy’s Fermi National � Ibusci odis eturit ● Northwestern has again been ranked among ● Northwestern researchers have been awarded The research funding Accelerator Laboratory in Chicago’s western fuga. Ga. Fugiasit the nation’s top 10 universities. The University 12 Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grants reached $886 million suburbs will lead one of five national centers as es enteniendi ranked No. 9 in U.S. News & World Report’s by the National Science Foundation — more Ticker for fiscal year 2020. aimed at advancements in quantum information voluptae ever et spit “2021 Best Colleges” report. Northwestern also than any other top-10 university. The grants will This marks an 11% science, and Northwestern is a major player in velt plab 00% nonseq ranked in the top 20 in each of the five graduate be used to further COVID-19 pandemic research increase over last the initiative. Seventeen Northwestern faculty uam si dolo volupta education categories. It is one of only four top-10 efforts and projects, which include a wearable year’s total. members are affiliated with the new center. tiania et serchic tet. U.S. universities to achieve that feat. symptom sensor and a self-sanitizing face mask.

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 Illustrations by Alexander Mostov WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 16 NEWS NEWS 17

’CAT TALES Bringing Stories to Life For three decades, the student-run Griffin’s Tale theater group has performed original plays, raps, songs and poetry written by students in 20 Chicago-area elementary schools. Due to the pandemic, Griffin’s Tale canceled its performances — and 30th anniversary Bienen School of Music faculty members Hans Thomalla and Alan Pierson worked on the September premiere of the opera Dark Spring. Composed celebration plans — by Thomalla and conducted by Pierson, the production in Mannheim, Germany, featured socially distanced performers and smaller audiences. last spring. But now the group is ready to go virtual. Junior ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT production of The Trojan designers sent actors Kandace Mack, one Women using StreamYard, a costumes and props. While of the directors, live streaming service. the actors had to adjust to envisions “Sesame The Show Must Go On “One of the hardest parts singing by themselves, being Street meets SNL.” about switching to a virtual their own crew and managing The group will adapt hen student members record themselves format is that you don’t have microphones and lighting, stories written by W performance groups performing dance moves the audience with you,” says their efforts were a success. children into skits and returned to campus at home, then compiled the sophomore Arella Flur, the “There’s this whole create a video that in the fall, social distancing videos to create coordinated show’s producer. “StreamYard mentality right now that schools can stream. and crowd safety guidelines online performances. allows comments to feed into theater is dying,” says Flur. Griffin’s Tale had Students line up for COVID-19 testing at the Jacobs Center on the Evanston campus. forced them to adjust their art Lovers & Madmen, a the actors’ streams, so they “But theater has always been been interested in to a new, virtual reality. For Northwestern Student Theatre can all see the audience giving a form that has adapted. We’re expanding its program example, Refresh Dance Crew, Coalition organization them love during the show.” still doing what theater has and now can involve which performs to hip-hop centered around classical Flur’s 25-person team always done by telling stories more schools in STUDENT LIFE and pop songs, had its performances, put on its rehearsed remotely, and and building communities.” Chicago and beyond. Virtual or not, Mack says, the mission remains the Welcome to the Class of 2024 same. “The focus Incoming students hail from 60 countries around the world. PHOTOGRAPHY is on highlighting creativity.” Northwestern’s Block Museum of Art acquired 41 silver gelatin his past September, students bring extraordinary perspectives to our T more than 1,900 first- qualities, talents and accolades community,” says Liz and platinum prints by American artist Edward Steichen from year students began to Northwestern. They come Kinsley ’15 PhD, director of collectors Richard and Jackie Hollander. Expanding the Block’s their journeys as members of from 60 countries and speak undergraduate admission. “But holdings of vintage Steichen prints, the gift is the third to the Northwestern’s Class of 2024, more than 60 languages. as diverse as they are, they museum from the Hollander family, who donated 49 Steichen prints together with more than 190 Thirteen percent are the also bring a shared spirit of transfer students. On the final first in their families to go collaboration and compassion in 2013 and 44 in 2017. The latest donation includes portraits of day of a fully remote Wildcat to college. More than 20% of that drives their ideas and historical figures such as Carl Sandburg, Amelia Earhart (shown Welcome, the class was incoming students received actions. They approach the at left) and Thomas Mann; examples of Steichen’s commercial cheered by President Morton federal Pell Grants. And nearly world around them with advertising images; fashion studies for Vogue and Vanity Fair; and Schapiro, who delivered his 95% ranked among the top equal parts critical thought traditional convocation in an 10% in their high school class. and deep optimism, and I’m early photographic experiments. Steichen (1879–1973) is regarded entirely online format. “This class contributes excited to see where they go DARK SPRING: HANS JÖRG MICHEL; CAMPUS: SHANE COLLINS MICHEL; CAMPUS: SPRING: HANS JÖRG DARK as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. MUSEUM OF ART AND LEIGH BLOCK MARY PRINT, SILVER 1931. GELATIN FAIR, VANITY AMELIA EARHART, STEICHEN, EDWARD YORK. NEW SOCIETY RIGHTS (ARS) / ARTISTS STEICHEN OF EDWARD ESTATE By any standard, these new a remarkable range of and what they do together.”

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 18 DISCOVERY 19

WELLNESS Make Time for Mental Health

Amid a global pandemic and socially distanced holidays, winter will be even more challenging this SOCIAL SCIENCE year, say Northwestern Medicine psychiatrists. Aderonke Pederson, Big Cities Still Matter Feinberg School of Medicine instructor of Kellogg professor identifies key population psychiatry and behavioral threshold that allows large metro areas to sciences, and Inger become innovation hubs. Burnett-Zeigler, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, offer f you’re currently innovative, cognitive tips to protect your mental I living in a big city, labor economies when the health this winter. please stick around. population reaches a certain The alluring trend of sweet spot — around Get outside and moving to a more affordable 1.2 million people. Along with 1 stay active. Even if locale to work remotely as population size, she found it’s cold, take advantage COVID-19 upends our lives those cities are also capable of the sunlight, Burnett- will likely not hold up in the of attracting and retaining Zeigler says. Find ways long run. And that’s because certain industries that tend to be active and connect places like Chicago, Los to grow much faster than the with others. Angeles, New York and other rate of population growth. large metropolitan areas have Some of these “superlinear Enlist your social the traits that make them industries” include the arts, 2 circle. “Ask your hubs for a strong, innovative entertainment, professional family and friends to form economy. services, science and accountability groups, Hyejin Youn, assistant information technology. where you have a clear professor of management and “What we observed is sense of how you will organizations at the Kellogg not a blip in history,” Youn check in on each other,” School of Management, and says. “These two factors says Pederson. A buddy her collaborators analyzed [population size and the system could be helpful industrial employment and ability to attract cognitive as well. population changes in 350 industries] go hand in hand pushed forward by increases might slow down as we and are home to 86% of the Areas in the United U.S. cities between 1998 and and depend on one another.” in population size. continue to work from home. population, according to States that have typically 3 Be patient with 2013. The survey included According to Youn, human Youn thinks the largest “Remote work is efficient 90% recent data from the Bureau relied on manufacturing yourself and more than 100 million interactions are known to cities will likely survive after only if communication Cities’ share of of Economic Analysis and the but now face challenges others. “Everyone is workers. drive the creation of ideas. COVID-19 despite fleeting processes are well established U.S. economic output Census Bureau. due to outsourcing and under a great deal of She observed a transition In other words, innovation trends of workers flocking and most tasks are well Youn’s study may have globalization may consider a stress,” Pederson says, from economies based depends on the rate of away from major urban defined with little room implications for policymakers, policy of “upskilling,” where adding that changes in on manual labor to more human interaction, which is centers. But she warns that for ambiguity,” says Youn. especially mayors who they make their workforce sleep, appetite, anxiety innovation may take a hit. “If you’re presenting a new 86% are trying to transform employable in more and energy levels are Cities’ share of the Since innovation, in idea to your company, you their cities’ economies. For advanced industries. expected. U.S. population many ways, is driven by will need multiple ways of example, cities losing more “The caveat here is this The largest cities will likely strong communication, communicating it, and it will people than they gain must transformation may be more Take time to 4 survive after COVID-19 despite serendipitous interactions probably not be understood look at population size as a dependent on national rather recharge. and people being largely the first time. This is very hard 1.2M strategic priority, according than city policy,” Youn said. “Identify what feeds you trends of workers flocking away together in the same physical to do online compared with The population threshold to Youn. “They wouldn’t be “The federal government emotionally,” Pederson from major urban centers. But space for quick decision- face-to-face interactions.” that signals a city’s losing only economically needs to think about the says. “Make a list of making, Youn warns that Cities account for 90% potential to develop a but also squandering a lot of industrial composition of activities you enjoy and innovation may take a hit. new ideas and breakthroughs of the U.S. economic output more innovative economy possible innovative power.” the country as a whole.” add them to your routine.”

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 Illustration by Dante Terzigni WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 20 INNOVATION 21

OPEN AND SHUT

The bus door opens upward, altering the way passengers hop on and off the bus. The design, inspired by vertical cabinet hinge mechanisms, combines all ingresses and egresses into a single large door that runs the length of the bus. This allows riders to flow in and out freely without crossing paths. ENTREPRENEURSHIP DNA Testing at Home Student-run Acorn Genetics creates a genetic analysis tool that maintains a user’s privacy.

na Cornell wanted genetic data without the user’s A to learn about her DNA ever leaving the home. genetic background Here’s how it works: First, but shied away from trying a users take a cheek swab, Acorn Genetics team members, from left, Jakub Wolsza, Ana commercially available DNA which they run through Cornell and Mark Ogarek. test kit because of privacy the kit’s DNA extractor and concerns. She couldn’t find then place in GenomeLock’s a test that could be taken polymerase chain reaction and analyzed at home. So machine — a thermal cycler for a certain disease and sciences professor Michael the McCormick School of that uses enzymes to amplify recommendations for action Marasco. The company Engineering junior set out to the segment of DNA being moving forward. currently consists of four SAFELY SEATED build one. analyzed. “We’re finding out core members: Cornell, Every seat has a see-through DNA testing services allow The sample is then inserted that people have genetic sophomores Jakub Wolsza barrier. The team also adjusted more people to learn about into a handheld genetic predispositions to certain and Mark Ogarek and junior the floor plan and alternated their genealogy, genetic sequencer, which analyzes the diseases,” Cornell says, “but Kate Conner. seating direction to provide a makeup and associated health data and produces results. if they adjust their lifestyle in Acorn Genetics serves cocoon of private space. “If I’m HANDLE WITH CARE risks, and other information. Users can order enzymes a certain way, they can cause as an early steppingstone facing forward, the person next to me would be facing the other Much like the automatic plastic However, privacy concerns from Cornell’s startup, epigenetic changes that could to Cornell’s goal of making way,” Ryan Teo says. “We would FABRIC UPGRADES toilet seat covers at O’Hare loom large, as genetic testing GenomeLock-maker Acorn strongly decrease the chance health care more accessible be next to each other, so we’re The seats are covered in an International Airport, the bus companies often make money Genetics. They can use those of getting that disease.” and transparent. For her work, all close, but we would not be in affordable, copper-infused handles have a stainless steel contact with each other.” by sharing their user’s genetic enzymes to test for certain GenomeLock is the she earned a Propel Program fabric that is known to reduce tube covered by a disposable information with third parties. diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. first product from Acorn grant, awarded to female pathogens. plastic wrap. Each time the bus To address this issue, After the DNA sequencer Genetics, which was entrepreneurs at The Garage, stops, the handle will make Cornell led the creation of finishes, the analytics can be formed in the Principles Northwestern’s student a slow, 360-degree rotation, allowing the entire surface of GenomeLock, a DNA testing viewed on a computer. Users of Entrepreneurship entrepreneurship incubator. INVENTION the tube to be sterilized by a kit that turns a simple cheek learn about any abnormalities course taught by industrial She was also was named to 254-nanometer UV light strip. swab into usable, private found, if they are at risk engineering and management Chicago Inno’s “25 Under 25.” Futurebus A new public transportation design concept who studies product design, engineering LEADERSHIP aims to once again give passengers the and anthropology as part of the McCormick confidence to ride the bus. The Futurebus, Integrated Engineering Studies program. “The X-Factor, The Garage’s revolutionary new student program designed for the COVID-19 era by an dandelion opens its petals widely, allowing its developed in partnership with psychology professor Jennifer international team that includes Northwestern seeds to be dispersed freely. We wanted to give Tackett, helps Northwestern student founders enhance senior Ryan Teo, reduces contact between passengers that same freedom of movement to their capacity for transformational leadership. Students get passengers and uses antimicrobial fabric minimize contact.” The design won the top prize personalized feedback on their leadership strengths and and self-sanitizing handles. “We got our in the FourC Challenge, a 24-hour international weaknesses and learn strategies to promote leadership growth inspiration from the dandelion flower,” says competition sponsored by the Shanghai Jiao through clinically proven assessments and check-in meetings. Teo, an international student from Singapore Tong University School of Design.

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 Illustration by Brown Bird Design WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 22 “We Will” Update 23

← Campus Inclusion and Community programs like Summer Academic Workshop help students of all backgrounds to thrive.

environment by addressing scholarships that also support barrier for young, deserving for Excellence in Computer issues surrounding personal diversity, equity and inclusion students of color, which Science Education to awareness of social identities, at Northwestern. is why we created these recruit a diverse group of power, privilege, oppression The Karr Scholars Program opportunities,” Adam Karr says. high school students for a and social justice. The program provides endowed support for An anonymous gift to two-week summer program hosts workshops for residential undergraduates who have an Northwestern Engineering emphasizing the creative communities, athletic teams, interest in teaching in schools supports diversity, equity and and career possibilities of student organizations and located in marginalized inclusion in its computer computer science. It also funds others. Pretlow’s gift helped communities. science department. The a laptop loaner program for increase student engagement The Karr Achievement gift has enabled the school students in the department through the training of Scholarship provides endowed to partner with Chicago who may not have the 20 facilitators, who ran support for undergraduate community organizations resources to replace their 40 workshops in 2019–20. students, with a preference and the University’s Center machine if it breaks down. Pretlow also supported for those who have The program has purchased the third annual Justice and demonstrated leadership in two new computers that allow Allyship Retreat, during the Black community. for the custom installation of which students met in small The Karrs also were lead “My personal software and non-standard groups to discuss the types donors toward a Promise priorities and operating systems these of oppression individuals of Scholarship, which provides vision for impact students require — and different identities face, what endowed support for inspired students and faculty they envision for a socially undergraduates — with a at Northwestern to donate four used laptops just world and other topics. preference for those who have are firmly for refurbishment. One attendee described the shown a commitment to the centered in retreat as giving them a Black community. diversity, equity “newfound energy and sense “Speaking from experience, ↓ Architectural rendering of the says Sutton, who graduated of action and urgency toward knowledge of and access to and inclusion.” SOCIAL JUSTICE back of the Black House, which from the McCormick School spreading compassion and resources can be a critical — Paula Pretlow is currently under reconstruction of Engineering. “The understanding.” camaraderie and meetings at “My personal priorities Donor Gifts Advance Diversity, the Black House with other and vision for impact at Black students provided Northwestern are firmly Equity and Inclusion meaningful social interaction centered in diversity, equity and intellectual stimulation.” and inclusion,” Pretlow says. Initiatives seek to diversify the Northwestern community, propel One of those students was “My investment in Social research and education, and enrich the student experience. Cates, who worked at the Justice Education was a Black House while earning perfect match. The program her degree from the School continues to grow — now he national conversation led by Multicultural Student will enhance and care for of Communication. serving more than 3,400 surrounding diversity, Affairs and Campus Inclusion the space. The Black House Another area of Campus students per year — and has T equity and inclusion is and Community, which strive has received support from Inclusion and Community, become a national model.” ongoing. Northwestern has to make Northwestern a place Alma Cates ’78 and Michael Social Justice Education, Financial aid for students responded by committing where students are safe and Sutton ’75, alumni who felt its creates co-curricular is a priority at Northwestern. to advancing racial and feel a sense of belonging. impact firsthand. The couple opportunities that foster It is further supported by social justice and making the Structural, technological also made a gift toward self-exploration, facilitate alumni and friends, whose University a more equitable and aesthetic improvements programming related to the conversations and support generosity makes it possible and inclusive place for all — include dedicated areas for Black student experience. actions that create social for students with financial and generous donors are large gatherings, quiet spaces “The support and counsel change. A gift from University need to attend the University bolstering these efforts. for studying and updated I received from the Black Trustee Paula Pretlow ’77, and helps ensure that the The renovation of the Black offices on the upper floors. House administration ’78 MBA is supporting social undergraduate community House — a space dedicated to Construction began in inspired me to work hard justice initiatives that advance more accurately reflects the serving Black students within summer 2019 and is expected and strengthened my equity at Northwestern. world at large. the Northwestern community to be completed this spring. resolve to complete my The Peer Inclusion University Trustee Adam as a result of the 1968 Bursar’s While the University funded degree under sometimes Educators program helps Karr ’93 and Tonia Karr have Office Takeover — is being the renovation, donor gifts very trying circumstances,” foster an inclusive learning made gifts to endow three

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 24 “We Will” Update 25

← Jeanne Sparrow ’91, ’15 MS “Given the urgency of the HEALTH addresses students at the 2019 pandemic, philanthropic Weinberg College Career Summit. grants offer the fastest way to empower our researchers of the Weinberg College Board Philanthropy Fuels the Fight so we can develop strategies of Visitors. and policies to mitigate the “Particularly now, against COVID-19 impact of this health crisis,” organizations are looking for Drew Senyei says. individuals with balanced As of early November, Northwestern had received more than $4.1 million Benefactors also have made backgrounds and the ability to in gifts and commitments for pandemic-related initiatives. in-kind gifts of personal adapt — and that’s what the protective equipment (PPE) to arts and sciences curriculum help reduce the transmission provides,” he says. oming together to Trustee Andrew “Drew” Senyei testing their blood samples of COVID-19 at Northwestern. The Waldron Connections solve the most critical ’79 MD and his wife, Noni, when they enroll and Andrea and Anthony Program typically offers a Cproblems is a defining made a substantial gift to again six months later to Melchiorre ’89 donated the variety of opportunities each Northwestern characteristic. help launch Northwestern’s determine if the antibodies contents for 15,000 PPE kits quarter, including panel Since the COVID-19 pandemic Screening for Coronavirus offer any immunity. for students returning to discussions and industry- began in spring 2020, the Antibodies in Neighborhoods The study began in campus this academic year. specific conversations, University’s philanthropic (SCAN) study, which identifies summer 2020. Early results, Each kit contains five reusable professional skill–development community has responded by individuals in Chicago who made available last fall, cloth masks, two bottles of workshops and on-site career funding high-impact research have been infected with suggest infection rates hand sanitizer, one packet of treks to Chicago and Evanston as well as providing resources COVID-19 and provides were higher than previously disinfectant wipes and a digital businesses. to help students learn them with at-home antibody thought. Nearly one in thermometer. The couple also In September more than remotely and return to campus. tests — a simple finger- five participants tested donated 11,000 KN95 masks 200 students heard from Donor support has been prick generates a single drop positive for antibodies. for use by research personnel CAREERS 45 alumni in diverse industries crucial to the continuation of of blood that is dried on a If COVID-19 antibodies are and students and others in and roles at the program’s Northwestern’s research special filter paper and mailed found to provide some need of this type of PPE. annual Weinberg College and teaching missions. to a lab for analysis. level of defense, this “For us, this gift is a way Connecting Students with Career Summit, which went Feinberg School of Medicine In total, the study will information will be essential to help safeguard the health virtual in 2020. Students alumnus and University evaluate 5,000 participants, to assuaging the virus. of those who are on campus,” Alumni Professionals attended panels on subjects Andrea Melchiorre says. ranging from big data and Driven by the same goal, The Waldron Connections Program supports Weinberg College entrepreneurship to media Upside Health donated students as they embark on their career journeys. and health care, and connected 60,000 three-ply medical with alumni in small-group face masks — 50,000 for use breakouts. in Norris University Center areer exploration is an their arts and sciences degrees. major, laying out a life plan “What’s really great about and 10,000 for Chicago Field essential part of defining Moreover, the opportunity and thinking it can’t change,” the Waldron Connections Studies, a Weinberg College C a student’s path forward to engage with already- Waldron says. “My journey, Program is that it has of Arts and Sciences program after graduation, and established alumni helps and that of many other different programming for that pairs an internship with Northwestern alumni are students envision their own alumni, is proof that pivoting wherever you are on your academic coursework. uniquely positioned to provide professional futures, to a new path can lead to career journey,” says Madelyn “This pandemic requires insight and guidance. That alleviating concerns about much more satisfaction.” Moy ’22, a Weinberg College everyone to take initiative and is why alumnus Austin J. life after graduation. A lifelong Chicagoan, junior majoring in biology, do their part,” says Jonathan Waldron ’78 partnered with “So many students get Waldron is a veteran health anthropology and integrated Hanitio ’20, who facilitated the the Weinberg College of Arts wrapped up in choosing a care operations executive who science. “Whether you’re gift along with fellow Upside and Sciences to create and spent his 37-year career at still deciding on a major or Health volunteers Ryan Teo ’21 endow the Austin J. Waldron Health Care Service Corp., an know what industry you want and Stella Lin ’21. Student-Alumni Connections “The Waldron independent licensee of the to work in but not exactly Donors also have supported Program, which connects Connections Blue Cross and Blue Shield what job, there is something the technology needs — undergraduates with alumni Program has Association. Prior to retiring for everyone.” laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and in various fields and across in 2016, he oversaw claims Since the program got internet — of students who different stages of their careers. different and account service for its start as a pilot, it has started the academic year in a The Waldron Connections programming 15 million members as senior experienced tremendous remote learning environment. Program helps students for wherever vice president and chief growth — from 87 student explore career possibilities, customer service officer. participants during the you are on your ← Northwestern community hone their networking Waldron earned a bachelor’s 2013–14 academic year to members must wear masks in all abilities and learn how to career journey.” degree in psychology from 708 student participants in public and shared environments communicate the value of — Madelyn Moy ’22 Northwestern and is a member 2019–20. on campus.

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 26 27

STRETCHING THE iMAGINATION

Pioneering professor John Rogers founded a new field of bioelectronics to improve human health, making devices that bend, twist, stretch, or melt away. by amanda morris

John A. Rogers has invented a mind-boggling ← John Rogers developed the fundamental geometry number of electronic devices. Do you want that is the foundation of his stretchable electronic to measure your sweat’s chemistry to check devices. By making the electrical components hydration? There’s a device for that. wavy, Rogers ensures that Monitor exposure to harmful levels of his devices can withstand stretch and strain, ultraviolet radiation from the sun with a sensor enabling otherwise rigid electronics to move and smaller than an M&M? There’s a device for that. flex with the human body. Jump-start your heart with an ultrathin, stretchable “sock” that Watch an interview acts as a pacemaker? There’s a device for that. with John Rogers at Or map your brain’s electrical signals with a sensor that softly alummag.nu/john-rogers. laminates onto the organ’s wrinkled, folded surface and then harmlessly dissolves, making a second surgery to remove the sensor unnecessary? There’s a device for that, too. How about “artificial skin” that creates the sensation of touch in virtual reality environments? Or an implant that senses when the user has ingested a fatal level of opioids, delivers a lifesaving antidote and calls emergency responders? Yes. Believe it or not, Rogers has developed bioelectronics for all

JIM PRISCHING these applications and more.

NORTHWESTERN WINTER 2021 Photograph by First Lastname WINTER 2021 NORTHWESTERN 28 29

caring colleague,” says collaborator Amy Paller ’83 GME, the Walter J. Hamlin Professor of Dermatology. Rogers caught the research bug while an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin. He grew up outside Houston, where his mother wrote science-inspired poetry and his father was a physicist. A double-major in physics W and chemistry, Rogers pursued an undergraduate research hen talking to Rogers, it’s clear that research is not just position in the laboratory of Professor Richard “Dick” an exercise of the mind. It’s a highly competitive, full- Lagow, who was famous for “extreme chemistry,” or contact sport. It’s an arena where boundaries are pushed research into highly reactive compounds, with a focus on to extreme limits and electronics become impossibly thin, the most reactive element of them all, fluorine. flexible, stretchy and smart — blurring the distinction “He was energized not only by the research but also by between body and device. the competitive landscape of academic science,” Rogers says “I’m not competitive against other people, necessarily, of Lagow. “I thought that being an academic meant that you but competitive with myself,” says Rogers, who directs sat in an ivory tower and thought big, profound thoughts. Northwestern’s Querrey Simpson Institute for I didn’t fully appreciate that it was also so competitive. Bioelectronics. “In my lab, we want to go as high as we Dick enjoyed competing against other labs, trying to do can go in terms of rigor and impact. We want to do more something better or something different. I found that whole and get to the endpoint faster.” environment exciting.” With more than 750 published journal papers, more From there, Rogers pursued a doctorate at the than 100 patents and more than 130,000 citations, Rogers Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he met Lisa is playing his best game. He is the Michael Jordan of Dhar, who he married in 1996. (She is now director of New technology — unstoppable, unflinching and agile enough to Business Ventures for Engineering at Northwestern.) Then pivot his research when a medical need unexpectedly arises. Rogers became a Harvard Junior Fellow, studying with “John is truly motivated by his desire to help people,” materials science great and renowned chemist George says longtime collaborator Yonggang Huang, the Jan and Whitesides ’20 H. Rogers quickly built a reputation for Marcia Achenbach Professor of Mechanical Engineering himself. Fellow postdoc Joanna Aizenberg remembers at Northwestern. “The faster he can move from idea review meetings in which group members presented their to invention, the faster he can get his devices onto the research results. patients who need them. John’s vision is to create a new “Nobody wanted to present after John,” says Aizenberg, field that benefits society.” who is now a materials science professor at Harvard. “We constantly fought about it. His presentations were awe-inspiring. It was embarrassing to follow that. It was Inspiring the Next Generation DISCOVERING RESEARCH Rogers, who is the obvious, even back then, that he would do great things.” During his five years at Bell Labs, John Rogers relished Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor After their postdoctoral fellowships ended at Harvard, working at the interface between science and engineering, of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Rogers and Aizenberg reconnected at the storied Bell in a highly collaborative mode with an eye toward broader Engineering and Neurological Surgery, doesn’t just lead Labs, where they shared an office. By this time, Rogers — impact. Now that he runs his own lab, he aspires to emulate the field of stretchable bioelectronics ­— he founded it. who grew up playing with Legos and Erector Sets — had that model. Rogers has one of the biggest labs on campus in But with his mild demeanor and subtle Texas lilt, Rogers realized that he enjoyed building things and designing terms of the number of students, consisting of approximately is so unassuming that people might not expect such gadgets, so he expanded his research focus from chemistry 100 postdocs, graduate students and undergraduates — extraordinary achievements. He is a highly decorated and physics to various aspects of engineering. At Bell Labs, equally split between men and women. researcher, with a MacArthur “genius grant” to his name. he worked on the backplane circuits for electronic paper “We give students freedom to choose their own projects He also is just one of approximately two dozen people displays, which became the basis for e-readers such as and develop a sense of ownership,” Rogers says. “Then they in history to be elected to all three national academies: the Kindle, and on advanced fiber-optic devices for data bring their own creativity and come up with new ideas, and The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and communications, which became cornerstones for the they work on interdisciplinary research, interacting with Medicine. fastest networks at that time. experts in multiple fields of study — the Bell Labs way. “You might expect someone with as many awards and Aizenberg describes Rogers as someone who loved his That’s an important part of the education process.” honors to have a big ego. But he is a humble, pleasant, work so thoroughly that he spent days and nights in his Rogers’ lab model is clearly working. Throughout his career, all but two graduate student mentees have pursued ↑ Top, Rogers works with students in his lab in the Technological Institute. Above, Rogers and postdoctoral careers in science or engineering. And 117 have become researcher Roy Cho examine a component of the “virtual skin” faculty members at universities around the world, including device, which incorporates a sense of touch into virtual and Princeton, Cornell, Duke, Stanford, MIT — and Northwestern. augmented reality systems. Rogers believes it’s important to “The faster he can move from idea to invention, the “He’s trained some wonderful progeny who carry his allow students in his lab to select their own research projects. work forward in many different ways,” says University of “When students enjoy what they do, they are more productive,” faster he can get his devices onto the patients who he says. Pennsylvania researcher Brian Litt. “There’s a piece of John need them. John’s vision is to create a new field that in all these people, and they will go on to inspire the next

benefits society.”— Yonggang Huang JIM PRISCHING generation.” — A.M.

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office, listening to heavy metal on his headphones and “We immediately realized that if silicon was in that fueling himself with iced tea. “I don’t think he ever slept,” configuration, we could stretch it back and forth like HEAD TO TOE says Aizenberg. “It was clear that he truly enjoyed his work an accordion,” Rogers says. “We could twist it, bend it, Throughout his 25-year career, John Rogers has Brain mapping and being in the office. And for me, it was like being next to crumple it up. It was almost indestructible.” developed 20 categories of ultrathin, stretchable Brain Electrode arrays hug the greatness. He’s absolutely unmatched.” Rogers leveraged the discovery to build the first-ever devices that push the boundaries of engineering brain’s curves to record stretchable transistor as a key building block for integrated and medical technology. Here are a select few. neural activity without circuits. When the research was published in the journal damaging delicate BENDING MATERIAL TO MEET NEEDS After the Science in 2006, the paper hit MIT Technology Review’s tissue. dot-com bubble collapsed, taking Bell Labs with it, Rogers top-10 list of best discoveries that year and was came home to academia, joining the University of Illinois downloaded tens of thousands of times. at Urbana-Champaign and the Beckman Institute for “John was the first person to change the geometry Electroencephalogram Stroke recovery Advanced Science & Technology in 2003. In 2005 a single of electronics,” says Northwestern colleague Yonggang Ear Throat thread of silicon changed the direction of his research — Huang, who has published more than 300 papers over Wearable electrodes Device helps physicians and his life. 15 years with Rogers. “He made the silicon wavy, and he read brain signals for remotely monitor and Rogers sought to develop a hybrid material that could coiled the wires like a spring. He’s very clever.” potential application evaluate speech and as a brain-computer swallowing disorders transform brittle, rigid silicon into a flexible and stretchy interface. in stroke patients. rubber band. The U.S. military funded Rogers’ lab to create large-format electronic wireless communication systems THE EYE-OPENING BRAIN Like many researchers that could be unfurled in a battlefield situation and then around the globe, Brian Litt, a professor of neurology and rolled up and tossed into a backpack for urgent, easy bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, took Shunt monitor COVID-19 sensor transport. note of Rogers’ discovery. Neck Throat “Prior to that, our work focused on plastic-based Litt has devoted his life to better understanding the Device measures By tracking cough, body flow through a shunt, temperature and blood materials as the basis for such types of flexible electronic brain in order to treat epilepsy patients. To further this which drains fluid oxygen levels, device systems,” Rogers says. “That approach can work pretty well work, he envisioned implantable devices to map epileptic from hydrocephalus helps physicians for simple devices like displays, but the performance tends networks. He saw the potential for Rogers’ electronics patient’s brain. diagnose and monitor to fall short for more demanding applications.” to perhaps achieve the impossible — to monitor select, progression of COVID-19. Rogers knew that thinner materials, by nature, become localized areas of the brain without causing damage. Litt increasingly flexible. It’s like the thickness of a sheet of and his team approached Rogers after a presentation. Virtual skin Blood pressure paper versus that of a two-by-four. Both are the same “They asked if I ever thought about putting my flexible Shoulder Heart material — wood fiber — but their geometries dictate electronic systems onto the brain to monitor electrical System adds a sense Sensor tracks blood their mechanics. Rogers’ team was exploring silicon activity or stimulate it for treatment,” Rogers says. of touch to virtual pressure in the aorta ribbons, each just one-thousandth the thickness of a “That was an eye-opener for me. It represented a new and augmented after heart surgery, reality platforms. and then harmlessly strand of hair. After a serendipitous accident, a postdoc direction, much different than our work on displays and dissolves after patient noticed that under certain conditions these silicon ribbons communication systems. A bio-interface sounded really recovers. spontaneously adopted rippled or wavy shapes when interesting, with clear potential for tremendous societal bonded to a rubber substrate in the right way. value in human health.” Sweat patch NICU sensor Forearm Chest, foot Skinlike patch A wireless, skinlike analyzes sweat loss monitoring system and sweat chemistry replaces the wires that to track dehydration, restrain premature babies body temperature and and inhibit parent-infant markers for disease. bonding in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Ultraviolet sensor Naloxone implant Finger Abdomen World’s smallest Sitting just beneath wearable device the skin, device detects gauges ultraviolet a fatal level of ingested radiation to help opioids and releases decrease the wearer’s naloxone antidote skin cancer risk. automatically.

Muscle sensors Transplant monitor Full body Kidney Band-Aid–like sensors Diagnostic device can be worn on the legs, tracks temperature arms and chest to detect and blood flow ↑ The copper circuit board that underlays John Rogers’ COVID-19 motion, muscle activity, associated with

monitoring device is flexible and sheetlike. JIM PRISCHING sleep and vital signs. transplant rejection.

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← John Rogers’ sensors monitor a implanting a brain shunt, a straw-like catheter that drains essential status (exemption from the Illinois’ stay-at-home newborn’s vital signs. One of the fluid from the brain. Shunts have a nearly 100% failure order), and his team manufactured each device in the lab. sensors wraps around a baby’s rate over 10 years, and a malfunctioning shunt can cause “John didn’t miss one day of work,” says Banks. “Before foot, while the other is placed on headaches, fatigue and even death, if left untreated. students and postdocs returned, John and I were in the lab the chest. The wireless, battery- free sensors are thin and gentle Rogers repurposed his blood-flow sensor to instead making COVID sensors. We personally went down to the on a baby’s delicate skin. The gauge the flow of fluid through a shunt. The Band-Aid– hospital to put them on patients and work with the doctors.” elimination of wires promotes like sensor could revolutionize the way patients manage This is no surprise to Shuai “Steve” Xu, medical director bonding between newborns and hydrocephalus and potentially save the U.S. health care of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics. their parents. system millions of dollars. Beth Meyer, whose son Willie “I don’t think John gets enough credit for his empathy,” was diagnosed with hydrocephalus as an infant, is keenly says Xu ’18 GME. “Beyond his technical brilliance, he puts aware of how life-changing the device might be. Over himself in others’ shoes to genuinely understand their the past 28 years, Willie has undergone more than 190 problems. And then he will do anything in his power to surgeries to diagnose or repair a malfunctioning shunt. solve those problems.” “Shunts work fine for a lot people, but when they don’t, you’re in big trouble,” says Beth, who lives in Arlington Amanda Morris ’14 MA is senior editor of science and Heights, Ill. “Dr. Rogers’ device is a game changer. It’s engineering in Northwestern’s Office of Global Marketing painless, it’s noninvasive, and you can quickly determine and Communications. whether the shunt is working properly or not. It could potentially save lives and money — and anxiety.” Similarly, Rogers re-engineered his epidermal The challenge of engineering a device for the brain, electronics to monitor premature babies, following a however, is enormous and daunting. The human brain discussion with Amy Paller after a presentation at the is a jiggly maze of wrinkled peaks, shallow grooves and annual meeting of the Society of Investigative Dermatology. deep fissures. With the consistency of gelatin, it can be His team’s resulting wireless device — designed with depressed by the most delicate touch. Finding new tools to preemies’ fragile skin in mind — carries the promise of map and stimulate the brain could unlock the potential to removing the tangle of wires that restrict movement and restore lost brain function or cure debilitating disease. But prevent parent-baby bonding. A father himself, Rogers failure carries the risk of hemorrhage or even permanent need animal models to test the devices or collaborators to profoundly understood the project’s potential impact. damage to the organ that houses intellect, creativity, perform surgeries,” Rogers says. “With skin, we could build After launching the devices in Chicago-area hospitals, the emotions and memories. devices in our own lab and test them on ourselves.” wireless monitoring systems for premature babies have been “This presented a whole new set of challenges from a Before the Fitbit or smart watches, Rogers’ team deployed to families in 26 countries, including resource- fundamental materials-science standpoint,” Rogers says. invented the first wearable device to monitor health poor settings in Zambia, Kenya and Ghana. Now the devices “To integrate an electronic device onto a very complex in 2007. Called epidermal electronics, the platform exceed the capabilities of existing, wired monitoring topographical surface like the brain, and to do so in a showcased a wireless, tattoo-like device that easily technologies to provide information beyond traditional vital Celebrity Sensors manner that doesn’t damage the fragile tissues or the adhered to the skin to measure simple vital signs, such signs, including a baby’s crying, movement, body orientation It’s one thing to see your device on a patient in technology, you have to build devices that can contort in as cardiac activity and body temperature. The research and heart sounds. With support from the Bill & Melinda a laboratory. It’s another thing entirely to see it very complex ways to follow the irregular geometry — in marked a conceptual breakthrough and presented a road Gates Foundation and Save the Children, Rogers’ team on Serena Williams. materials that both are biocompatible and enable high- map for developing thin, high-performance electronic will complete a program of testing the sensors on 15,000 Gatorade is one of the many companies performance operation.” systems integrated with the body. pregnant women and 500 babies by the middle of 2021. that has licensed inventions from Rogers’ “John always has a keen sense of what will happen next laboratory. The sports-drink giant is currently in science — before it starts to happen,” says Banks, one commercializing a skinlike, wearable device THE SKIN IS IN Rogers joined Litt and his team to of Rogers’ closest friends. “He has the ability to predict the PANDEMIC PIVOT In March 2020 the accelerating that measures electrolyte levels in sweat in tiny develop wireless, skinlike, biocompatible monitors for next big thing.” momentum of Rogers’ research slammed into the same fluidic channels. Gatorade teased the product, the brain that could last many decades without degrading wall that hit the rest of the world. The coronavirus which will be widely available in 2021, in a string — or that would, after a set number of days, harmlessly pandemic shut down Northwestern, and the University’s of television commercials that began airing in dissolve. After this initial project, Rogers was hooked on UNPREDICTABLE APPLICATIONS Oftentimes, research operation ground to a halt. 2019, showing world-class athletes such as designing devices for other organ systems of the body. Rogers develops new devices without knowing what future As the Technological Institute’s hallways grew quiet, Williams and NBA stars Jayson Tatum and Paul Next, his team tackled the heart, developing devices that problems the technology might solve. His team developed Rogers continued to visit his office and lab every day. Then George wearing the device while training. softly adhere to the surface to monitor activity or even a sensor to measure blood flow, for example, and then his collaborators from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab called, “It’s super cool, obviously,” Rogers says. jump-start it like a pacemaker. learned it could be used for hydrocephalus patients. Much wondering if it might be possible to re-engineer a Band- “Some of the athletes are publicly sharing their “John recognized that medical devices were the right like the serendipitous interaction with Litt some years Aid–sized device that he developed to track swallowing thoughts about the importance of quantitative direction for the group,” says Tony Banks, who has worked before, this opportunity developed from a discussion with and speech sounds in recovering stroke patients to instead approaches to hydration management enabled in Rogers’ labs at both the University of Illinois and Matthew Potts, assistant professor of neurological surgery monitor cough, shortness of breath and vital signs in by our device. That’s more exciting than seeing Northwestern. “It very quickly became apparent that our at the Feinberg School of Medicine, and Amit Ayer ’19 MBA, COVID-19 patients and front-line health care workers. the commercials.” group’s research on medical devices could help someone’s a recent neurosurgery resident at Feinberg, following a Two weeks after the phone call, Rogers’ team had More than 70 of Rogers’ patents have been life. That became a huge driving motivation not only for Rogers neurosurgery seminar. already produced a working device. A month later, they licensed through both large companies — such John but for everyone in our group.” Hydrocephalus, a potentially life-threatening condition launched a pilot program to test the device on health as L’Oreal and E Ink — and lean startups, some After innovating for the heart and brain, Rogers decided in which excess fluid builds up in the brain, affects nearly care workers and patients at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and of which he co-founded. — A.M.

to tackle the body’s biggest organ: the skin. “We didn’t 1 million Americans. Treatment includes surgically SCHUKAR ALYSSA Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Rogers applied for

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Free To Play

Kathryn Hahn finds roles that challenge and excite her, rediscovering the relentless curiosity she first fostered at Northwestern. by clare milliken

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celebrity but the craft of acting: the deep Hahn began getting smaller parts For Kathryn Hahn, Afternoon Delight dives into character, the exploration and in movies — including the “big-swing Woman was a game changer. messiness each role brings, the dedication comedies” How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Without In the 2013 film, Hahn ’95 played Rachel, a wife to her fellow actors — and the creative (2003) and Anchorman: The Legend of and mother who looks to enliven her marriage by magic that results. Ron Burgundy (2004). She also had roles Apology arranging a visit to a strip club with her husband. in the drama The Last Mimzy (2007) and Rachel forms a bond with one of the dancers, whom From Stage to Screen the rom-com How Do You Know (2010), It’s not always the case that women she invites to become her young son’s live-in nanny. The summer after graduation in 1995, among others. actors get more roles, or become The film, which exposes painful, even cringe-worthy Hahn and her boyfriend, radio/TV/film Despite notable successes, “I never more famous, as they age. For realities of modern marriage, was described by major Ethan Sandler ’95, rented a U-Haul could figure out the rules of that space,” Kathryn Hahn, who’s been able to reviewers as groundbreaking and “meticulously truck and drove east to New York City, Hahn says of working on camera. “I work across genres and alongside acted.” Hahn’s performance was “disarmingly frank,” eager to immerse themselves in the big- just couldn’t find the total freedom. On people who inspire her, two things one review noted. city theater scene. the stage, once that curtain goes up, it are at play: Filmed in just 21 days, the indie hit was intensive Their first apartment was a tiny walk- belongs to you and your fellow actors, “In my experience, the combination of being a mom and and immersive for the cast. A single scene could take up studio that had only one sink. “You and it’s all just about breathing together being older has stripped down the all day to shoot, as the actors improvised and fed off would open the door and hit the shower,” and the relationship with the audience. idea of performance toward the of one another’s performances. Rehearsals, run- Hahn says. “I was always saying to Ethan, And I just never could find that on world,” she says. “I don’t feel like throughs and power naps took place in what Hahn ‘Dude, when you shave, please rinse the camera.” I need to be something different calls a “creative womb,” a rented Southern California hair before I do the dishes.’ ” Contrary to what some might for everybody. Exerting that bungalow where images and quotes from John Hahn and Sandler waited in long lines expect, herself included, Hahn says that performative energy out to the Cassavetes — the pioneering independent filmmaker to audition for “off-off-off-off-off-off-off- becoming a mother opened the door to world does not feel as necessary, who brought an improvisational, actor-first aesthetic off-Broadway shows.” They ate “like crap” the creative freedom she craved. so I can save all that energy for my particular job. And I think for me, in to American cinema — covered the walls. and slept on a futon. Hahn worked as a “Once I had kids, I just … I just got a my little life, it’s benefited my work.” Hahn drove her own car in the film, and she’d receptionist at a salon, and the staff once huge case of — pardon my French — the Her experience of being a find energy bar wrappers and crushed water bottles gave her a hairbrush for Christmas. “I ‘f--- its,’ ” Hahn says. mother and being older has also in the minivan’s crevices after filming wrapped — was not a ringing endorsement for a hair “I felt less like I wanted to please guided Hahn through her most reminders of her “work family.” salon,” she recalls with a chuckle, drawing everybody and more like I didn’t want to critically acclaimed roles as women “I would be driving home so juiced that I just could a circle around her unruly brown hair. waste any time anymore,” she continues, with complex desires who live full not wait to get back to work the next day, because I “It was the best time,” Hahn says, her relaxing. “I wanted to get back to those lives — and apologize for none of it. was riding those feelings of discovery,” Hahn says of eyes sparkling with happy memories. “I feelings I had when I was in college in a “This [over-40] chapter in a woman’s life has been cloaked making Afternoon Delight. “It was that feeling that I’d loved it. Everything about it. It was pretty dark little studio theater with the people in this kind of invisibility shield been looking for since college, the same feeling of heinous, but we were so young that we I love and just digging those trenches. I of shame. Once she passes this play that I had when I was at Northwestern.” just didn’t know.” just happened at that moment to meet threshold, she’s put on a shelf or After Hahn’s supporting roles in a series of mid- Hahn’s first big break came in 2001, these incredible creators who were something,” Hahn says. “That’s 2000s comedies, Afternoon Delight signaled a shift when she was cast as a grief counselor in looking for that same feeling.” what I always thought when I was in her career, leading to edgier, more sensual, more the crime drama series Crossing Jordan, in my 20s and looking at what substantial roles and cementing Hahn’s place as which aired for six seasons Coming Home in Hollywood becomes of a woman in middle an awards circuit mainstay and a sought-after star on NBC. The transition One of those creators age. Now as I’m going through it, there’s so much more mystery to working across genres and mediums. from New York to Los was writer-director Joey it. It’s so complicated in a fabulous Her IMDb page reads like a review of the past two Angeles and from theater Soloway, who cast Hahn way. And I’m surrounded by decades of pop culture: Spider-Man: Into the Spider- to television was not an in Afternoon Delight amazing collaborators who want Verse. Free Agents. Bad Moms. Transparent. Parks and easy one. and with whom Hahn to dig deep into that mystery and Recreation. Hahn’s most recent work includes roles “I did come out to has continued to show how fabulously messy, sexy, in the HBO shows Mrs. Fletcher and I Know This Much Los Angeles a little collaborate. Hahn contradictory, human and funny it Is True, as well as parts in the Disney+ miniseries bit kicking and played Rabbi Raquel all is. I’m just so turned on by the WandaVision and two Apple TV+ shows: The Shrink screaming,” she in the Soloway- ripping off of that cloak.” The freedom that comes from Next Door, an upcoming series based on a podcast of recalls. “I was created Amazon realizing you can be yourself and the same name, and the animated Central Park. so incredibly Studios series accepting that you won’t please While under California’s stay-at-home order in grateful for the Transparent (2014– everyone is not exclusive to women response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hahn recorded opportunity, but I 19), a role for which in entertainment, Hahn says. voice-over for Paige Hunter, her Central Park definitely was still Hahn received an “I can see it in other women my character, from inside a closet in her house. “I’m so mourning [losing] Emmy nomination. age who don’t have my job, that technically not savvy, but the crew was very patient New York City Hahn also starred embrace of saying, ‘Oh, I don’t with me and walked me through every step,” Hahn and the theater as Chris Kraus in have to give myself away all the time,’ ” she says. “You just can say says of her work-from-home setup. opportunities. It ↑ From top, Kathryn Hahn’s credits include Bad Moms with, no. You don’t have to mince words. Hahn is regarded by her former professors and took me a while from left, Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell; Mrs. Fletcher; Private ← Hahn and You don’t have to apologize all the professional colleagues alike as a dedicated artist Life with Paul Giamatti; and I Know This Much Is True with to find the same Sandler at the time. That’s been a really beautiful and a captivating performer. And it’s clear that she’s Mark Ruffalo ownership over 69th Primetime surprise about this chapter in my deeply in love with her work, not the trappings of NISHIJIMA/HBO ATSUSHI PHOTO; STOCK PICTURES/ALMAY LIFESTYLE SARAH SHATZ/HBO; PHOTO; STOCK ALMAY LTD./ COLLECTION MOVIESTORE TOP: FROM INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK my work.” Emmy Awards life — and a huge relief.” — C.M.

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Brody. “She had the kind of performer’s co-directed the Hamlet production with magnetism that you couldn’t miss. You senior lecturer Dawn Mora, says Hahn wanted to find out more about her was a dream collaborator. 3 Things You characters — to explore, investigate “Kathryn was willing to try and understand them.” anything, to explore and experiment,” Didn’t Know About Hahn, who worked in the campus prop says Woodworth of Hahn’s turn as Kathryn Hahn shop and as a manager at downtown Ophelia. “We turned the play that Evanston’s Unicorn Cafe (which closed Hamlet requests into a musical, and • She saved Kevin Bacon in September after 29 years), also met Kathryn was willing to go along with from a potentially deadly Sandler during her first year on campus. all of it. I’ve shown clips of that show scorpion on the set of Hahn and Sandler began dating in their since, when I’m trying to get classes to sophomore year, and they eloped on their expand their imaginations of what we I Love Dick. 10-year anniversary. They now have two might do with a production.” • She has two rescue dogs, children, Leonard, 14, and Mae, 11. “What I remember most about “It was like you took two of the Kathryn at Northwestern was her and her family fostered most creative and talented minds at radiance,” recalls professor emeritus three kittens during the Northwestern at the time, put them Frank Galati ’65, ’67 MA/MS, pandemic. together and shook them around every ’71 PhD, who taught Hahn in several day,” Brody says of Hahn and Sandler’s performance studies classes. “Kathryn • She’s involved with groups relationship. “It was astonishing to be is unpretentious and self-deprecating. that are promoting fair near.” She’s beautiful, charming and elections and expanding Hahn and Sandler performed together hilariously funny. She’s comfortable in several plays at Northwestern from in her body and never posing. She access to education and 1991 to 1995, including David Mamet’s doesn’t display character; she inhabits reproductive health care. two-hander The Woods. character.” Hahn also performed on campus When reflecting back on her in Christopher Hampton’s Les Liaisons Northwestern experience, Hahn is Dangereuses, María Irene Fornés’ Fefu nothing short of ebullient. “It was such to make. And I still hold on to that feeling and Her Friends, Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya a rich, rich experience,” Hahn says, her — of rehearsing at 2 in the morning, Amazon’s I Love Dick (2016–17), a short- Carla in the comedy Bad Moms (2016), ↑ From left, Sarah Gubbins, Bobbi and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. enthusiasm at a rolling boil. “I think not wanting to coast and just wanting Salvör Menuez, Griffin Dunne, Roberta lived series created by Soloway and Sarah a smash hit that was followed by A Bad Colindrez, Kevin Bacon, Joey Soloway, Ann Woodworth ’75, ’79 MA, an about that space — the theater building to dig into the heart of it. That’s what I Gubbins ’97, ’08 MFA and based on a Moms Christmas the next year. In 2018 Kathryn Hahn and Lily Mojekwu of I Love associate professor of theater in — as holding so much vibrating, definitely have taken away from it — the book of the same name. Hahn plays a she co-starred alongside Paul Giamatti Dick at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival the School of Communication who creative energy and people just wanting relentless curiosity.” woman who becomes infatuated with in Private Life, whose New York Film In 2018 Hahn took the stage at Dick (played by Kevin Bacon), the head of Festival premiere Hahn counts as one Northwestern’s A Starry Night, a her writer husband’s residency program of her proudest moments. “It all felt so role — on Hickory Hideout, a children’s celebratory performance that brought in Marfa, Texas. legit,” she remembers of the event at program featuring puppet animals together some of the University’s most “That role was difficult because of the New York City’s Lincoln Center for the living in a treehouse — but she had her When Kathryn Hahn’s daughter, Mae, was 6 years old, Hahn wrote famous alumni in entertainment. The mind space. It was a very hungry, tense Performing Arts. sights firmly set on theater. When it an article for Lena Dunham’s email newsletter. (Hahn also appeared event capped off CommFest, a weekend experience, because [Chris] was always Yet Hahn is still eager to return to came time for Hahn to apply to college, on the HBO series Girls, in which Dunham starred.) The article, reunion hosted by the School of unsatisfied,” Hahn says. theater when the time is right. (Her Northwestern was a perfect fit. “What I Learned from My 6-Year-Old Daughter About Being a Communication. Backstage, Hahn talked But as for the show’s creators, cast last stage show was Boeing-Boeing on “I knew that I wanted a liberal Woman,” would eventually lead to a 2018 children’s book called to students, fellow stars and others, and crew, she says, “What an amazing Broadway in 2008.) Gubbins thinks Hahn arts education,” she says. “It was My Wish for You. including Galati, who was thrilled to tell group of humans!” The feeling is mutual would be great as the strong-willed and important to me as an actor to have Illustrated by Brigette Barrager and written by Hahn, the book her how much he loved her performance for Gubbins, who hadn’t met Hahn sharp-tongued Masha in Chekhov’s Three that foundation.” encourages young girls to be silly, get messy and follow their hearts: in Transparent. before I Love Dick and now says she’d “do Sisters. “That would be amazing,” Hahn Hahn quickly found her Northwestern “Wherever you go, I hope you will The afternoon before the show, Hahn anything” with Hahn. says with a grin that quickly becomes a sly family, which included Sandler, now her always remember the you that you are and Sandler returned to their old campus “Kathryn never shies away from the smirk. “It says a lot about my personality.” husband, and Jeb Brody ’95, a lifelong right now. The you that knows to… haunts. messiness [of a role],” Gubbins says. “She friend who is president of production at Sing all the time. “Walking through the theater building locks in emotionally to a character and Eager to Act Amblin Partners, the film and television Nap whenever. with my hubby, I had a lump in my then puts it through this Kathryn Hahn Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s in production company headed by Steven Be afraid. Be fearless. Have BIG, BIG throat the whole time,” Hahn recalls. funnel. She’s able to take a very static Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Hahn always Spielberg. Brody and Hahn now live feelings. “I miss those days so much. I will never scene and just ignite it with so much knew she wanted to be an actor. “There down the street from each other in My wish is that you remember to take that experience for granted. I know energy and purpose.” was no other choice,” she says. “I didn’t Southern California. Even when they dream, my sweet. You are all you need to how lucky I was to spend four years at While Hahn says she and I Love Dick’s have stars in my eyes. I just had no other were students, Brody knew Hahn had make your wishes come true. Because you Northwestern.” creators “definitely have unfinished option in my mind.” As a child, Hahn something special. are the only you.” business,” she hasn’t exactly been performed in local theater productions “There was something about Although the book was inspired by Clare Milliken is senior writer and producer hard up for new roles — and critically at the Cleveland Play House. That Kathryn’s presence as a performer that Hahn’s daughter, its message is universal. in the Office of Global Marketing and

acclaimed ones at that. She starred as experience led to her first television was recognizable right away,” says GETTY BY IMAGES TIMES/CONTOUR ANGELES L. CLENDENIN/LOS JAY “It’s for everybody,” Hahn says. — C.M. Communications.

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THE RECKONING IS HERE

Educators, legislators and families are reigniting a decades-old debate about teaching the full context of American history. by adrienne samuels gibbs

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erhaps you read about a junior As an undergraduate at Northwestern, Winchester says are what’s going to impact the future,” Winchester told the history from consideration for curriculum standardization as high school’s overnight nature his eyes were opened to the full breadth and depth of Black Evanston Patch after being named the top history teacher in one example. camp in Wisconsin that included history when he took classes taught by, among others, the late Illinois for 2020 by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American In the 1990s UCLA historian Gary Nash worked to create a an Underground Railroad Richard Iton (Race, Ethnicity and the American Constitution), History. “Everything is connected, and I just wish that folks national history standard, partnering with teachers to weave simulation where, according to Lane Fenrich ’92 PhD (U.S. History) and D’Weston Haywood understood the magnitude of that.” various multiracial histories into one American narrative. When one student, the Black students ’08 MA, ’13 PhD (Black Manhood in the 20th Century). these national standards for U.S. and world history came up for had to pretend they were runaway Those classes added historical context and sparked a shift in n remarks at the National Archives Museum a Senate vote, Cheney and others went on an all-out assault. slaves while the white students Winchester’s perspective. last September, President Donald Trump called In “The End of History,” a 1994 op-ed in the Wall Street acted as slave catchers or helpful abolitionists. “Racism,” he explains, “is like states of matter, in that it has for the creation of the 1776 Commission to Journal, Cheney — former chair of the National Endowment Or maybe you read about the Chicago elementary school lots of forms — solid, liquid and gas — and I had understood promote “patrioticI education.” According to the New York Times, for the Humanities — wrote that the proposed standards were that celebrated Black History Month with an assignment for racism as one thing prior to college. It was the ice. I could see it. “Trump vowed to counter what he called an emerging classroom too “politically correct.” They mentioned the Ku Klux Klan kindergartnersP to draw and write about African animals. I knew it was there. narrative that ‘America is a wicked and racist nation.’ ” 17 times, she said, but didn’t mention Gen. Robert E. Lee. And then there is the geography textbook used in Texas “The deeper investigation I had in college made me realize It’s not the first time that a person in power has sought “The idea is that by including these histories we’re doing high schools until 2015 that described enslaved Africans as that racism is not just solid. It morphs into gas — something to influence or remove difficult race histories from K-12 damage to the nation,” says Harris, a history professor “immigrants” to the United States. you can’t see — and is a part of the things you literally need for curricula. Northwestern professor Leslie M. Harris points to whose research focuses on U.S. slavery and pre–Civil War Examples like these are just part of the problem. Educators existence, like the air you breathe. I didn’t understand that until Lynne Cheney’s crusade to remove Black and Native American African American labor. “Academic historians really did an agree that most schools are ill-prepared to teach difficult I was presented with these texts and had professors articulate it incredible job in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s aspects of American history. Studies by the National Museum for me in ways I hadn’t processed.” in diversifying our understanding of African American History and And then Winchester asked of history, but it’s been difficult to Culture and the Southern Poverty himself, “Why didn’t I get this impossible to get those histories into Law Center (SPLC) reveal that “The price of ignoring the context before?” That learning our K-12 curricula.” the nation’s teachers are largely experience would later inform But now, says Harris, “the reckoning uncomfortable teaching Black totality of American history his teaching style. is here.” history and find their textbooks In elementary, middle and “U.S. history was held hostage by the inadequate. As a result, only 8% of is very high because such high school, Winchester says, idea that the nation was created by white high school seniors surveyed by disciplines are often taught intellect, white energy, white labor. Yet the SPLC could identify slavery as erasures promote profound absent of context. That applies slavery was key to economic survival. We the central cause of the Civil War. to history but also science, art should study that.” As America grapples with a and crippling ignorance.” and music too. Aldon Morris asks, “Who benefits history of injustice and in light of — Aldon Morris He offers an example: “I when you only teach that America is the recent attention given to the can situate history within exceptional in its greatness and its Black Lives Matter movement, a a sociocultural context that virtue? Why shouldn’t students learn, historical and educational reckoning is occurring that has been often goes beyond the presidential politics in which we are for example, that during World War II decades in the making. Northwestern alumni and faculty are typically taught U.S. history,” says Winchester, who received Japanese Americans were rounded up part of a growing chorus of teachers, students and lawmakers last year’s Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. “So, and caged in concentration camps? This reminding us that Black history — and the histories of other when I teach about Manifest Destiny as this concept rooted shameful treatment of a segment of marginalized communities — are as American as apple pie and in white supremacy, one based on the Doctrine of Discovery, Americans is, in fact, part of American should be accurately and contextually taught to all. anti-Blackness and settler colonialism, I can also position history. “It’s important for children, from the very earliest ages gentrification as a present-day concept to explore within this “I’m not saying providing a in the school system, to be taught real American history — context. comprehensive history is going to not a fantasized or sanitized version,” says Aldon Morris, “Students are learning about both past and present be easy. What I am saying is that Northwestern’s Leon Forrest Professor of Sociology and phenomena and in many respects are able to see these the price of ignoring the totality of African American Studies and the recently elected president manifestations of white supremacy, anti-Blackness, settler American history is very high because of the American Sociological Association. colonialism and gentrification on micro and macro levels, such erasures promote profound and within and aside from their own lived experiences. From there, crippling ignorance.” orey Winchester ’10, ’20 MA teaches U.S. students develop various levels of consciousness regarding their history at Evanston Township High School. understanding of self, as an individual and within the context of n late September, Kate And though he’s not required to incorporate their peers, as well as an understanding of larger sociopolitical Masur and history every aspectC of America’s diverse and sometimes difficult histories and how to engage with them, especially as we move doctoral students Hope history into his lesson plans, he does it anyway. toward a more just and humanizing reality.” McCaffrey andI Heather Menefee ’15 This gives some students pride, he says, while prompting Teachers, he says, have to “start interrogating themselves and spent part of a Saturday afternoon at others to state their discomfort. In fact, a few years back, a their own identities” in order to overcome their shortcomings Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery. Holding white student called Winchester a communist. Another student and fears of teaching a more sophisticated view of history. signs that read, “This is a monument to sent a humbled mea culpa for his behavior in Winchester’s “We have a responsibility to really interrogate histories and white supremacy,” and bore the hashtag class. “I got a letter saying, ‘I want to apologize for my 2013 self. situate all of our work in a historical context so we can realize #wewantmorehistory, they sought All those times you took me to the side to explain why you talk that history isn’t this thing of the past, but it’s something that to provide a more complete story of about race so much — it hit. It finally hit.’” we experience now, and the implications of our actions now Confederate Mound, a monument to

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the thousands of Confederate prisoners “If people better understood that history, of war who died at the Union’s Camp they would be better able to historicize our Douglas on Chicago’s South Side. Black-History experiences and connect the past to the The Confederate Mound protest Courses Gain present in a way that would meaningfully was part of “Civil War History: A Call to address some of the obvious racial Action,” an event organized by the Journal Popularity injustices we continue to see.” of the Civil War Era, which Masur co-edits. Recent social movements are Scheduled to coincide with the making Black-history classes more tudents need to know anniversary of the issuance of the popular than ever at Northwestern. more than political preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, Students want to understand the folktales, says Aldon the group demonstration took place facts behind what’s happening Morris. EvenS elementary school students in the streets, says Mary Pattillo, for two hours at about a dozen sites can learn age-appropriate lessons that also the Harold Washington Professor across the country, including Gettysburg of Sociology and African discuss the painful narratives of history. National Military Park, with historians American Studies and chair of the If students don’t get this crucial and community members holding Department of African American education early on, Morris cautions, they signs and chatting with visitors to offer Studies. In the fall quarter, several “will grow up with a very limited view Lorem additional history not represented in classes in the department had about how America works and how the Ipsumets markers and monuments. waiting lists. world works.” 2018: “We had two goals,” says Masur, “We definitely experienced Winchester, who is pursuing a doctorate an uptick in enrollment,” says an associate professor of history at in learning sciences at Northwestern Month TK Pattillo. “My class [Introduction to Northwestern. “One was disrupting what’s Black Social and Political Life] was and taught the social studies practicum called the ‘Lost Cause’ narrative, the idea capped at 30. I have 34 students at the School of Education and Social that the Confederacy was this great, noble and had to turn others away.” Policy this past fall, suggests replacing the cause and that they weren’t really fighting She surveyed the class, and march-through-time approach to teaching for slavery but rather for states’ rights. We just under half said that one of the history with a focus on understanding wanted to poke holes in that and tell a reasons they enrolled was because the implications of historical events. He fuller story. We also emphasized aspects of the current conversation about also suggests that K-12 teachers move anti-Black violence. “There are of African American history that are beyond textbooks and focus instead on also a good number of seniors invisible on the landscape. who said they finally have room in supplemental texts that provide the context “We want to be a resource for people their schedules to take a race class routinely taught to college students. in trying to move this conversation and were especially interested “What can you do at your school level?” forward and set the record straight. We’re in doing so given the current ross asks of teachers. “How can you engage trying to add more history. Who could moment.” in subversive practices that will benefit all object to that, right?” Fall 2020 African American students, who need to know the truth so Masur says that to understand racial studies courses included: they grow up to be better people and have injustice, people have to know U.S. history, • Survey of African American a better understanding of the world they but this history has not adequately been Literature — An introduction to live in?” taught on the K-12 level. In part, that’s critical snapshots of expressive But teachers can’t do it alone. Parents due to a decadelong focus on science, writings by and about African have to push their individual schools and Americans, from the era of technology, engineering and math — school boards or councils for historical U.S. slavery in the 18th century a worthy focus that has diverted some through the contemporary accountability. resources from history and social studies. moment Winchester says myths — Santa Claus, “There’s been a systemic de-emphasis the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy — are • Introduction to Black Social and on the teaching of history and part of American culture. But when it Political Life — A study of the humanities in this country for a very social relations, political agency comes to teaching history, it’s time to “Musc dilet long time,” says Masur. “And now? We’re and economic practices of African come clean. reaping what we sow.” Americans and other Black folk in “We’ve been lying to our kids for a long Unfortunately, it’s often not until the diaspora time,” says Winchester. “In the U.S., this earitibus students get to college that they get the • The Black Diaspora and idea that we’re going to censor things until full context of historical lessons. And “it’s Transnationality — An we think kids are ready — that’s a part of dole nis es not just Black students who benefit from introduction to critical theories of the problem, because eventually you have this history,” says kihana miraya ross, race, gender and sexuality across to unlearn all the things that were partial assistant professor of African American the African diaspora truths or full-out lies.” que nusti studies. “Everybody benefits. Everybody • Major Authors: James Baldwin FROM THE ARCHIVES needs to understand that Black folks — A study and meditation with Adrienne Samuels Gibbs ’99 is the editor of bu itatecu were the only race to be ‘freed’ with zero and within Baldwin’s language Momentum, a publication that documents Name Teekay num voloren ihilles porro lorep eratio. capital — nothing, no housing, no job — —A.S.G. the dismantling of anti-Black racism, and Mus earitibus dolenis es que. nothing except being racialized in a way the features editor of ZORA, a magazine for imum!” that made the act of existing a challenge. women of color. She lives in Chicago. ↑ Residents of Chapin Hall, the Humanities Residential College. Keep an eye on our social media to help identify these folks.

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is one thing, but having a platform that learns from you and then modifies the output — that’s the paradigm 4 we’re most excited about. How did you launch Monarc in the midst of a pandemic? Karlicic: We have several universities on board right now. We had planned a road show to hit a lot of Big Ten 2 schools. And then that came What sets the Seeker apart to a screeching halt with from other football-passing COVID-19. But the players machines, including the themselves were reaching out popular JUGS machine? to us. The idea of being able Maganti: The patent for to train alone was extremely JUGS machines was created compelling. over 40 years ago, and there Maganti: We’ve done several hasn’t been much innovation workouts with NFL players. on that front since. We We had [San Francisco asked, “How can we optimize 49ers tight end] George POINTED COMEDY this technology?” Kittle using the Seeker in his Ziwe Fumudoh’s Instagram Live show has become must-see social media TV. In the sharply funny, The first thing we backyard. He posted videos confrontational and often wildly uncomfortable show, Fumudoh ’14 interviews celebrity guests to focused on was positional on social media. In addition explore their implicit biases and start conversations about race and racism. She is also a writer tracking. There have been to exposure, the outcome of on Showtime’s Desus & Mero. She released a musical album, Generation Ziwe, in 2020 and is also the voice of Kamala Harris on Showtime’s Our Cartoon President. Fumudoh is currently writing a tremendous advances in the our campaign was having NFL humorous essay collection called The Book of Ziwe and will star in and executive-produce a new tracking space, specifically players like T.J. Hockenson Showtime variety series. “I just want to push the boundaries of my art at all times,” she says, “and positional tracking in soccer, and Eric Ebron purchase to do that successfully, I have to dabble in as many things as possible.” Read more about Fumudoh, over the past decade. We Seekers for themselves. We pictured above at a 2018 Movement Voter Project comedy benefit, at alummag.nu/ziwe-fumudoh. came into the industry at a also had Kittle, Mohamed moment when this tracking Sanu, Hunter Henry and technology became more N’Keal Harry come on board widely available and applied as investors. which aired on ABC last winter. Willis, it to the Seeker. who earned Star Baker honors twice — during Cake Week and Spice Week — and finished the season in fourth place, called ↑ Bhargav Maganti, left, and Igor Karlicic, founders of the sports tech company Monarc it the time of his life. “The best thing about being on the 5 show,” he says, “was meeting all of the How has your work at people: my fellow bakers, who I text all COMPETITIVE EDGE 3 What makes the Seeker so Monarc been informed by the time, and the production crew and important to football? your time at Northwestern? the celebrities.” Five Questions with Karlicic: We had a Maganti: The Engineering In August, Willis hosted a live, relationship with the Design and Communication virtual baking demonstration with the 1 FOOD Igor Karlicic ’12 and How did you become University of Iowa to test our courses and the capstone Northwestern Alumni Association and involved in sports tech? prototype. And with the very design course that Igor and I the Graduate School in celebration Bhargav Maganti ’12 Karlicic: We really liked first concept, it was evident took together our senior year Taste Maker of National Potato Day. During the the concept of allowing that we had something were certainly influential in presentation he turned purple sweet The Dallas-based a receiver to train alone. special. A lot of the receivers terms of our interest in and Last spring, as millions of Americans potatoes into purple milk bread. The only way you can commented that they could passion for design. What quarantined at home, Alex Willis ’17 MS Willis, who lives in West Hollywood, sports tech innovators execute that is if you take never get the practice reps also makes Northwestern used his lifelong hobby of baking to Calif., says his long-term goal is to start or the player’s data in real they needed. As a third- unique is the amazing Ford keep him busy. operate a bakery. “It’s important to realize from Monarc created time, track his position and string receiver, you don’t get Design Center. Igor and I used Willis, who earned a master’s degree that you should be a multifaceted person velocity using wearable priority. Everybody wants to go there quite often, just in chemistry at Northwestern, pursued a and pursue your interests, even if it’s just the Seeker, a smart technology, and then layer reps. The Seeker offers that. tinkering around and learning career in business analytics and strategy as a hobby,” he says. “That doesn’t make it algorithms to predict where It became clear that the how to make things. after graduation and also rekindled his any less important or less valuable.” quarterback that uses he’s going to be. Being idea and the platform had passion for food creation. This spark able to train alone while immense potential. Interview by Jacob Muñoz, a led to an appearance on the fifth season Get Willis’ purple milk bread recipe at tracking technology. interacting with a robot PROJECT VOTER MOVEMENT FOR IMAGES FUMUDOH: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY senior from Ingleside, Ill. of The Great American Baking Show, alummag.nu/alex-willis.

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BIOGRAPHY Ashley O’Shay attended The project picked up her first Black Lives Matter momentum after the killing MBS protest in 2012 following the of Laquan McDonald caused by Ben Hubbard killing of Trayvon Martin. the movement to gain even After graduating with a more attention. O’Shay says it radio/TV/film degree, was important to capture this New York Times Beirut O’Shay ’15 decided to focus moment in Chicago’s history bureau chief Ben Hubbard her documentarian lens on by featuring women “who ’99 conducted hundreds the nascent movement. reminded me of the Black of interviews over seven What began as a short women in my life. I wanted years for MBS: The Rise to film for her internship with to give them the respect that Power of Mohammed bin Kartemquin Films turned into they’ve always deserved Salman. The book tracks Unapologetic, a feature-length within movements around the trajectory of the crown documentary that premiered Blackness.” prince of Saudi Arabia, a in August at the BlackStar O’Shay became more largely mysterious figure Film Festival in Philadelphia. outspoken on issues of who has rapidly asserted his O’Shay follows the work of racial justice thanks to control over the kingdom’s two young Black women, Janaé Northwestern. “I was always oil, finances, military, and Bonsu and Bella BAHHS, who very much a rule follower domestic and foreign policy. organize for Black political, and didn’t want to stir the Hubbard, who speaks Arabic economic and social liberation. pot,” she says. “But because and has covered coups, civil (Morgan Elise Johnson ’11 is of the strength of the Black wars, protests and more in the film’s producer.) community, Northwestern the Middle East and North O’Shay knew she had was a space where I could ↑ Molly Beucher, right, and her friend Georgia Maguire motorbiked across Morocco. Africa, sought to provide a to make the film when she explore my politics and multifaceted picture of the ↑ Ashley O’Shay, right, and activist Janaé Bonsu witnessed the “electric activism.” prince and the kingdom itself. atmosphere” at a Chicago While O’Shay is also INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE “It is true that [bin Salman] Police Board accountability interested in pursuing DOCUMENTARY is a social reformer and hearing in response to the commercial and branded that he is changing things killing of Rekia Boyd by an off- content, documentaries flow Monkey Bike Mafia in Saudi Arabia,” Hubbard duty officer. “I was taken aback most naturally for her. says. “It’s also true that he’s a Unapologetic About that the voices at the center In September she was Molly Beucher ’08 and her friend Georgia day depended on these bikes, which broke very authoritarian character. Racial Justice of this space ... were those of named to Newcity’s “Film 50 Maguire pulled into one of the last stops down more often than the women had Those things can be true at young Black women who I 2020: Chicago’s Screen Gems,” of their 500-mile motorbike trip across anticipated. the same time, and I think Ashley O’Shay’s documentary follows could identify with in a lot of telling the magazine that Morocco feeling like small-town heroes. “We found ourselves in these small you have to understand that the work of two Chicago women at the ways,” says O’Shay, who grew “being a Black woman with They had just traversed a mountain pass towns that aren’t even on a map, asking they fit together to really get up in Indianapolis and now the talent to wield a camera is in a snowstorm, and locals were waving for a mechanic, who often ended up a picture of who he is and fore of the Movement for Black Lives. lives in Chicago. a superpower.” and shouting. being the cousin of the guy who just where he might take Saudi “It was a real Rudy moment,” Beucher happened to see us do an accidental Arabia in the future.” says. “Then some guy yelled, ‘Fire! Fire!’ wheelie off our bikes,” Beucher says. “We and I looked down to see that, sure were overwhelmed by the generosity of POLITICS ON SCREEN enough, my bike was probably 30 seconds everyone we met.” from erupting in flames.” Beucher and Maguire — the so-called Beucher and her bike were both OK Monkey Bike Mafia — filmed their journey Surging Forward — someone rushed over to pour water and posted excerpts on YouTube in seven on the spreading flame. The incident installments that are equal parts comedy was emblematic of the duo’s seven-day and travel diary. The episodes show To capture the barrier-breaking 2018 election, first-time director Wendy Levine Sachs journey: exhilarating, dangerous — and breathtaking terrain, interactions with ’93 co-directed and produced Surge, a feature documentary film that follows three helped tremendously by the kindness of local residents, hilarious status updates female candidates who fought to flip their districts from red to blue in the last midterm strangers. and, of course, many monkey bike election. “We followed a diverse group of candidates who reflected the surge that was In partnership with Education for All breakdowns. happening in 2018 and the record numbers of women who were running for the very Morocco (EFA), an organization focused “It was so transformative just to be first time,” says Sachs, a former Capitol Hill press secretary, Emmy Award–winning on educating Moroccan girls in remote with my friend in a foreign country and TV news producer, author and media strategist. Surge was released on Showtime and areas, Beucher and Maguire set off on figure it all out,” says Beucher, who would Amazon just before the presidential election. Sachs hopes the film will inspire young their 2018 adventure through the North love to do a Monkey Bike Mafia Ride 2.0. women to embrace the power of grassroots activism. “The film is not just about women African country. And they did it all on Now, though, she’s focused on a different running for office but about the women who got behind the women running for office. “monkey bikes” — essentially, miniature adventure: motherhood. She gave birth to Surge shows us what representative democracy looks like and how it’s up to us to make motorcycles. The distance traveled each her first child, William, last September. SIMPSON BOB O’SHAY: sure that 2018 was not a moment but a true movement,” Sachs says.

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500 Miles driven on monkey bikes by Molly Beucher ’08 and her friend Georgia Maguire during a seven-day journey across Morocco to raise funds for girls’ education. See page 48.