SENIOR MOMENTS COMMENCEMENT 2018 DOCUMENTING DEMOCRACY Students put a capstone The Class of 2018 Political scientists monitor the on their studies. takes center stage. state of the political system.
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER /May–June 2018
Show Us Your Town! Christine Branche ’83 and other leaders of the Washington, D.C., regional network offer a guide to an iconic city.
RochRev_May2018.indb 1 6/8/18 2:02 PM A Legacy of Support When norma andzer and her Inspired Stories. late husband, Arnold, updated their estate plan, they asked themselves three key questions: What do we value? Where can we have an impact philanthropically? How do we ensure we will have enough income in retirement? Supporting the Golisano Children’s Hospital was an answer to all their questions. It was important for the Andzers Watch and learn more about what our alumni and to give back to the community they love and to help the youngest and most friends are doing to make the world ever better. vulnerable patients and their families. The Andzers made this happen through everbetter.rochester.edu/exceptionalpeople a provision in their will, naming the University as beneficiary of retirement assets, and funding charitable gift annuities which pay six percent income for life. Through the combination of these gifts, they will provide generous support including the establishment of the Norma and Arnold Andzer Endowed Fellowship in Pediatrics. “We want all children to have healthy and productive lives,” said Norma. Norma Andzer in the Ganatra Family Atrium of the new Golisano Children’s Hospital. Exceptional People. She and Arnold are members of The Wilson Society. They also provide for the Memorial Art Gallery and the Eastman School of Music in their estate.
ImagIne your legacy. Plan today to make It haPPen.
To learn more about charitable gift annuities and other planned giving methods, contact the Office of Trusts, Estates & Gift Planning (800) 635-4672 [email protected] • www.rochester.giftplans.org/income
Sample Charitable Age 60 65 70 75 80 Gift Annuity Rates Rate 4.4% 4.7% 5.1% 5.8% 6.8%
RochRev_May2018.indb 2 6/8/18 2:02 PM Features May–June 2018
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Senior 30 Show Us Studies Your Town: Washington, D.C. To cap off their senior year More than just the seat of at Rochester, graduating government, the nation’s capital students—such as Danier is a city rich in art and culture, Cooper ’18, whose work foodie havens, and outdoor (above) was exhibited in getaways. Just ask some of the a senior art show on the 4,600 alumni who make it their River Campus this spring— home. By Matthew Dewald undertake projects that showcase their abilities as researchers, scholars, artists, 44 Drawing and community members. a Bright Line Political science professor Gretchen Helmke monitors the state of U.S. democracy. By Sandra Knispel ON THE COVER: Christine Branche ’83, photographed by Stephen Voss for Rochester Review
COURTESY OF DANIER COOPER ’18 (PORTRAIT); J. ADAM FENSTER (HELMKE) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 1
RochRev_May2018.indb 1 6/10/18 11:09 PM Departments May–June 2018
3 President’s Page | 4 Letters | 62 Books & Recordings
In Review 18 48 Class Notes 6 Thestrals Take Their 54 College Arts, Sciences First Cup . . . Rochester & Engineering scores a national 56 Working on the Webb quidditch victory. 56 Graduate Arts, Sciences 8 . . . Kylee Bartlett & Engineering ’19 Wins Third Title Yellowjacket prevails for 57 Eastman School second championship in a of Music row. 58 Dinner with the Coach 10 Look of Laptops 59 School of Medicine Students flaunt some flair and Dentistry with computer graphics. 59 School of Nursing 12 Commencement 2018 A total of 2,500 degrees 59 Simon Business School were awarded this spring. 59 Warner School of 15 A Degree for Frederick Education Douglass University 59 In Memoriam honors abolitionist leader’s legacy. 60 Andrew Kende: A Professor “I Wanted 15 Singer Awards Honor to Learn From” High School Teachers 23 How’s That Again? 50 The World’s a Stage Ho w A graduating senior offers does your experience in 64 Talking Science So 16 Board Elects Two New a primer on campus lingo. the performing arts affect the Public Will Listen Members Alumni named your work in other fields? Madeline Sofia ’16M trustees. 24 Discover Gene exchange, (PhD) helps scientists— flu protection, and other 51 Asking Questions 16 Search for the Next whom the public trusts research news. Robert Khuzami ’79 leads President more than the media an investigation. 26 In Brief New student or elected officials—to 17 Vision and Values leaders and other campus 51 Significant Scholars broaden their reach. Articulating Rochester’s news. Alumni win coveted Gates core principles. Cambridge Scholarship. 28 Sensational Seasons 18 Set Your Calendar All-American athletes and 52 Musical Accolades for Meliora Weekend quarterfinal finishes mark A composer and a flutist Headliners include strong campaigns. win prestigious journalists, authors, awards. analysts, and musicians. 29 Baseball Claims Regular Season Title 53 Leading Light 20 Who’s Telling the Yellowjackets take in- Quantum Truth? Can a new season championship. physicist approach identify those named provost with something to hide? Alumni Gazette at Imperial 21 Ask the Archivist College Was the University a 48 The Staggering Cost London. player in the invention of of Being Black in baseball? America Engineer and businessman Shawn 22 Beyond Medieval Rochester ’97 offers an New initiative highlights accounting. interdisciplinary scholarship. 64
2 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 FRAN ROBERTS (O’BRIEN); JESSICA HILL/AP IMAGES FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW (ROCHESTER); DAVID COWLES FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW (SOFIA)
RochRev_May2018.indb 2 6/10/18 11:09 PM President’s Page
Celebrating Raffaella Borasi Dean has transformed the Warner School of Education during her remarkable two decades of leadership. By Richard Feldman initial mandate was conducting research on urban school reform to develop a na- The remarkable 18-year deanship of the tional model for lifting youths out of pov- Warner School of Education’s leader will erty. Since inception two years ago, CUES conclude this year, providing an opportu- has begun the process of engagement with nity to celebrate a pioneer in the field of other urban schools and community mem- mathematics education and school reform bers to build on the East EPO project and who has served the University for more create a best practices template for urban than three decades. educational reform more broadly. Dean and Frederica Warner Professor Raffaella has overseen Warner’s trans- Raffaella Borasi led the Warner School formation in the last five years into a leader through a period of transformational for Learning in the Digital Age. Warner’s growth and progress. External funding online course offerings, which did not ex- is now almost 10 times today what it was ist before 2013, today number 40, with a in 2001 when she came into her role. In recently expanded initiative to recognize the same period, enrollments have dou- the impact of the “digital revolution” on bled and the number of graduates has tri- the future of education. Changes in the pled. An outstanding faculty has doubled way people access information, create in size. Raymond F. LeChase Hall, the and disseminate knowledge, and commu- 65,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility nicate more generally necessitate changes that houses the Warner School, is a lasting in how we teach, design programs, and as- EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Raffaella testament to Raffaella’s inspiring commit- Borasi is “an innovative leader who leaves a sess learning in more traditional face-to- ment, dedication, and passion for education. significant legacy of accomplishment” as she face classes. Warner is poised to become a Warner has seen numerous instructional returns to the faculty following an 18-year leader in this area. I am delighted that after innovations during Raffaella’s deanship. tenure as dean of the Warner School. she steps down as dean, Raffaella will serve Recognizing untapped opportunities for as founding director of the new Learning in intersections between health care and ed- East High was not easy. A lot of careful the Digital Age Center, with the mission to ucation, she sought out partnerships with thought and deliberation went into fram- harness the power of digital technologies to the School of Nursing and School of Med- ing the substantial curricular as well as be- enhance learning and development for all. icine and Dentistry to create master’s and havioral work we would have to invest in I have worked with Raffaella for 12 years, certificate programs for emerging careers to be able to see measurable progress even and I have always been impressed with her in health profession education. She has after several years. extraordinary commitment to improving overseen a number of collaborative proj- When the University became the Edu- the lives of her students and those of the ects to do health-based research in the cational Partnership Organization (EPO) students throughout the Rochester region. community. To help students excel in de- in 2015, East High School was facing the She is a leader in every sense of the word, gree programs and professionally, she de- threat of closure from the state because of with a clear humanistic vision and dedica- veloped specialized services to support its inadequate performance across numer- tion to developing educators of the future. academic writing and quantitative research ous measures of assessment. This year has Everyone who meets with her comes away methods and provided support services for been our third as EPO, and we are seeing energized by her tenacity and spirit. international students. many indications of demonstrable prog- By so many measures—enrollments, Raffaella’s visionary leadership and de- ress. Attendance has increased and annu- faculty recruitment and retention, fund- sire to find solutions to the challenges in al suspensions are only one-10th what they raising, facilities, financial sustainability, urban education were instrumental in the were the year before we began our work. instructional innovations, community en- University’s decision to partner with East Interventions such as “restorative prac- gagement, and diversity—Warner is a vastly High School to turn the school around. tices” and “family groups” have been in- transformed institution with a strength Those same traits led to the decision to strumental to achieving early results. The and purpose that have blossomed over the create the Center for Urban Education graduation rate for 2018 is projected to course of the last two decades. Warner’s Success. Urban education—and support- reach 65 percent—about twice the 33 per- growth during this time is a great credit ing K–12 schools in crisis—was highlighted cent graduation rate reported in the year to an innovative leader who leaves a sig- in the school’s 2013 strategic plan as one prior to the start of the EPO. nificant legacy of accomplishment. I am of the major challenges (and priorities) of The Center for Urban Education Success optimistic that Warner will see even more our time. But the choice to undertake the (CUES), which Raffaella helped to launch success in the future because of the solid monumental challenge of transforming in 2016, grew out of our project at East. The foundation that Raffaella has built.r
MATT WITTMEYER May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 3
RochRev_May2018.indb 3 6/10/18 11:09 PM Letters
Bernard Weiss: Giver of Wings Dean Harper: Lifetime of Teaching I read with shock and dismay that Bernard It was with great sadness that I read the ar- Weiss had passed away (March-April). He ticle about Professor Dean Harper’s pass- was not only a “Force of Nature,” as the ing (January-February). May–June 2018 VOLUME 80, NO. 5 article described him, but, for me, a Giv- I had already been accepted to the er of Wings. R-Plan, the University early acceptance to Editor As a young engineer-to-be living in Balti- the Medical Center, when I took Professor Scott Hauser more, I answered an ad from him (and Vic Harper’s class, SOC262: Medical Sociolo- Associate Editors Laties) in 1964 looking for someone to help gy, in 1990. It had so many useful lessons Karen McCally ’02 (PhD) program for behavioral experiments the that I took with me to the medical school. Kathleen McGarvey LINC computer he had just received from He really helped to initiate me into the UR- Contributors MIT as a professor at the Johns Hopkins MC’s biopsychosocial model of doctoring Emily Boynton, Jeanette Colby, Adam Fenster, Peter Iglinski, Joyce Farrell, School of Medicine. that was ingrained by Drs. George Engel Sandra Knispel, Jim Mandelaro, Phyllis I knew nothing of computers, but in and John Romano, and that makes med- Mangefrida, Bob Marcotte, Melissa Mead, what was to be the most fortuitous event ical students graduating from Rochester Mark Michaud, Sara Miller, Sarah Mossey, of my life, he hired me; six months later, outstanding in their care, compassion, and Dennis O’Donnell, Susanne Pallo, Scott YOUR REUNION we wound up at the School of Medicine empathy for their patients. Sabocheck, Kristine Thompson, Laura Torchia, Lindsey Valich, Jim Ver Steeg, and It put a huge smile on my face to hear Brandon Vick Reconnect. Reminisce. Rediscover. a few years back from a then student and Business Manager now fellow crew alumna, Katie Lantuh ’12, Maureen Baisch that he was still teaching and influencing Editorial Office students with his course. And I was also 147 Wallis Hall pleasantly surprised to learn a few years University of Rochester later that Harold (Hal) Paz ’77, ’82M (MD), Box 270033, Rochester, NY 14627-0033 was one of his students as well. Hal was the (585) 275-4118 Fax: (585) 275-0359 dean of Penn State College of Medicine, [email protected] where I currently work. Rochester.edu/pr/Review Edward Fox ’91, ’95M (MD) Address Changes Bernard Weiss ’53 (PhD) 300 East River Road The writer is a professor of orthopae- Box 270032 and Dentistry. Seven years later, with lit- dics and medicine at Penn State’s Hershey Rochester, NY 14627-0032 tle more than his implied permission to Medical Center. (585) 275-8602; toll free: (866) 673-0181 [email protected] sprout wings and grow, and his faith in me, Rochester.edu/alumni/stay-connected/ I completed my BS in engineering from Finding a Translator alumni-update-form Hopkins, received a joint appointment In your review of literary translators (“Tak- Design in Rochester’s Department of Psycholo- ing on the ‘Culture at Large,’ ” March-April), Steve Boerner Typography & Design Inc. gy, taught electronics to medical students, you did not mention the work of one of took the medical school’s gross anatomy your own Phi Beta Kappa and master’s de- Published six times a year for alumni, course, published in biomedical engineer- gree graduates, the late Jessie Butts Bright students, their parents, and other friends of the University, Rochester Review is ing, programmed the LINC for behavioral ’52, ’54 (MA), whose translations from the produced by University Communications. experiments, spent a month at the Karo- Italian were published by the Italica Press, linska Institute in Stockholm, setting up now probably defunct, in the years just be- Opinions expressed are those of the authors, the editors, or their subjects their LINC, and so much more. fore the turn of the 21st century. and do not necessarily represent official When Rochester said I could not remain There were four novels, I believe, by positions of the University of Rochester. on the faculty with just a bachelor’s degree, prize-winning Italian author Carlo Sgor- ISSN: 0035-7421 Bernie allowed me to take needed prereq- lon. I think she also published in French. uisites that, with his recommendation, al- I, too, took my master’s at Rochester, in Credits RECONNECT AND REMINISCE WITH YOUR CLASSMATES. lowed me to enter the School of Medicine literature, and she earned hers in history. Alumni photographs, courtesy of the and Dentistry’s Class of 1972. I did my in- L. J. Bright ’53 (MA) subjects. Unless otherwise credited, all Attend an event near you, plan your own mini-Reunion, support your class giving campaign, URAlumniRelations ternship and residency in Rochester. State College, Pennsylvania others are Rochester Review photos. or reach out to your classmates through a personal note or your class Facebook group. With a classmate I founded a practice of UofR internal medicine in Perinton, New York, Review welcomes letters and will print REDISCOVER WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER. and practiced there until I retired in 2005. them as space permits. Letters may be uofralumni Bernie Weiss, you were a nurturer of me edited for brevity and clarity. Unsigned Come back to campus for Meliora Weekend, October 4-7! Enjoy world-class entertainment, beyond all reason and a giver of the wings letters cannot be used. Send letters lectures, music, celebrity guests, and special Reunion events. Registration opens July 25 at #URMW18 that allowed me not only to fly, but to soar. to Rochester Review, 22 Wallis Hall, rochester.edu/melioraweekend. #URreunion Thank you. Box 270044, University of Rochester, Louis Siegel ’76M (MD), ’79M (Res) Rochester, NY 14627-0044; rochrev@ Rockville, Maryland rochester.edu.
4 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 J. ADAM FENSTER LEARN MORE AT ROCHESTER.EDU/REUNION
RochRev_May2018.indb 4 6/10/18 11:09 PM YOUR REUNION Reconnect. Reminisce. Rediscover.
RECONNECT AND REMINISCE WITH YOUR CLASSMATES. Attend an event near you, plan your own mini-Reunion, support your class giving campaign, URAlumniRelations or reach out to your classmates through a personal note or your class Facebook group. UofR REDISCOVER WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER. uofralumni Come back to campus for Meliora Weekend, October 4-7! Enjoy world-class entertainment, lectures, music, celebrity guests, and special Reunion events. Registration opens July 25 at #URMW18 rochester.edu/melioraweekend. #URreunion
LEARN MORE AT ROCHESTER.EDU/REUNION
RochRev_May2018.indb 5 6/8/18 2:02 PM In Review
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Thestrals Take Their First Cup . . . POWER OF POTTER: Members of the Rochester quidditch team—Tim Kwan ’17, ’18 (T5), Dane Johnson ’21, Lucy Franzen ’19, Morris Shayo ’18, Alex McKinley ’19, David Rowcroft ’21—rush the pitch after the team won the national championship in the sport of the wizarding world described in the Harry Potter books of J. K. Rowling. Named for the books’ magical flying beasts, the Rochester Thestrals defeated the University of Texas at Austin to win the national Quidditch Cup, a competition that featured 87 teams from across the country. PHOTOGRAPH BY MIGUEL ESPARZA/THE EIGHTH MAN PHOTO
6 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
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RochRev_May2018.indb 7 6/8/18 2:02 PM THREE-PEAT . . . Kylee Bartlett ’19 Wins Third Title SHE IS THE CHAMPION: Kylee Bartlett ’19 added a new entry in her chapter of the Rochester record books when she won her third national title this spring. The rising senior from Williamstown, New York, won her second straight heptathlon championship at the NCAA Division III national meet, adding to the national indoor pentathlon title she won in 2017. She’s the fifth woman to win more than one title in the heptathlon, and only the second Yellowjacket to capture three national titles. Josefa Benzoni ’89 won three indoor track and field titles—two in the 1,500 meters and one in the 3,000 meters. PHOTOGRAPH BY CALEB WILLIAMS
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RochRev_May2018.indb 9 6/8/18 2:02 PM ART OF TECHNOLOGY Look of Laptops STUCK ON YOU: Bringing a personal flair to a ubiquitous piece of technology, students have long decorated their laptops and other pieces of personal technology as a way to convey their personalities and perspectives. In addition to livening up sometimes nondescript surfaces, the popular stickers also make particular machines—and people—easier to identify in a crowded library. We asked one of our student employees, Nick Foti ’19, an economics major from West Seneca, New York, to spend some time in River Campus Libraries this spring to document a few examples of the latest in computer graphics. PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICK FOTI ’19
Deiji Emiabata ’20 Kristen Lodato ’21 A mechanical engineering major from Lagos, Nigeria An environmental sciences major from Greenwich, Connecticut
Maria Majid ’19 Anna Shors ’20 A biology major from Rochester A mathematics and data science double major from Baltimore
Lydia Currie ’20 A neuroscience and dance double major from Stamford, Connecticut
10 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
rr_May2018_InReview.indd 10 6/11/18 9:42 AM Madison Saliba ’18 Emma Briggs ’18 A chemical engineering major from Smithfield, Rhode Island An international relations major from West Hartford, Connecticut
Lillian Henderson ’19 Erin Sumfleth ’20 An environmental sciences major from Rockledge, Florida An optical engineering major from Callicoon, New York
Owen Goettler ’21 Samantha Mauser ’21 A computer science major from Pittsford, New York A computational biology major from Ithaca, New York
May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 11
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RochRev_May2018.indb 12 6/8/18 2:02 PM IN REVIEW COMMENCEMENT 2018 Connect . . . with People While today’s college students are connected in ways earlier generations could only imagine, Ancestry CEO Margaret (Margo) Georgiadis says they risk losing touch with what matters most— their close connections with individual people. “Technological advancements are enabling us to reimagine everything in our lives—how we communicate, commute, shop, learn, entertain ourselves, and more,” Georgiadis told the graduating Class of 2018 during the Arts, Sciences & Engineering ceremony on the Eastman Quad- rangle. “And we are only getting started. I’ve spent 30 years helping companies prepare for and reimagine the future. So my message today may surprise you. While we are more connected and have more opportunity than ever before, our biggest risk is that we forget about people. . . It is these human connections that are essential to enabling the change we all need to see in the world.” Georgiadis, who received the University’s Eastman Medal, was one of several honorees and guests who were recognized as part of Rochester’s 168th com- mencement season. Altogether, during this spring’s ceremonies, the University bestowed more than 2,500 undergraduate, mas- ter’s, and doctoral degrees. Among this year’s honorees was Frederick Douglass, who was awarded a posthumous honor- ary degree in recognition of his historic role as an abolitionist, human rights leader, orator, and author. (See page 15.) This spring also marked the first time Richard Feldman
CLASS GRASP: Class of 2018 graduates Anne Cheng, Venice Magunga, and Anmol Almast celebrate after receiving their degrees at the commencement ceremony for Arts, Sciences & Engineering on the Eastman Quadrangle in May.
KEITH WALTERS FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 13
RochRev_May2018.indb 13 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN REVIEW presided over the ceremonies as president. “You have learned the value of the most important gifts we can provide: critical thinking, per- severance, the value of working with others, the value of serving the community, a personal commitment to Meliora,” he said in his address to the College Class of 2018. “You will succeed because of your talents, your education, and your work ethic.” Margaret Georgiadis Kenneth Morris Jr. David Primo For more about commencement, visit Rochester.edu/ commencement/2018. Honorees Among the recipients of University honors during this spring’s commencement ceremo- nies were: Margo Georgiadis, the CEO of Ancestry, who gave the com- mencement address and received the Eastman Medal Kenneth Morris Jr., who accepted an honorary degree on Chigusa Kurumada Wyatt Tenhaeff Jane Chu behalf of his great-great-great- grandfather, Frederick Douglass David Primo, the Ani and Mark Gabrellian Professor and associate professor of political science and business administra- tion, who received the Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Chigusa Kurumada, assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences and Wyatt Tenhaeff, assistant professor of chemical engineering, who each received the G. Graydon Curtis ’58 and Jane W. Curtis Award for Nonten- Joanne Larson Deborah Cory-Slechta Seymour Schwartz ured Faculty Teaching Jane Chu, chair of the National Seymour Schwartz ’57M Endowment for the Arts, who (Res), Distinguished Alumni Pro- received the Luminary Award fessor of Surgery, who received Joanne Larson, the Michael W. the Eastman Medal Scandling Professor of Education Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (Mas), at the Warner School of Educa- senior vice president of consumer tion, who received the William H. affairs for Wegmans Food Mar- Riker University Award for Excel- kets, who received the Charles lence in Graduate Teaching Force Hutchison and Marjorie Deborah Cory-Slechta, Smith Hutchison Medal professor of environmental Ronald Fielding ’73, ’76S medicine, pediatrics, and public (MBA), retired chief strategist and health sciences, who received the senior vice president of Oppen- Lifetime Achievement Award in heimer Funds Inc., who received Mary Ellen Burris Ron Fielding Graduate Education an honorary degree.
14 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
rr_May2018_InReview.indd 14 6/12/18 9:53 AM IN REVIEW A HISTORIC HONOR A Degree for Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass, widely considered to avoid recapture—and spoke the most important abolitionist leader in widely, to growing crowds. In American history, was honored by the Uni- Rochester, Douglass became versity during this spring’s commencement friends with Susan B. Anthony ceremonies. and took up the cause of wom- Douglass, who made his home in Roch- en’s rights, attending the 1848 ester from 1847 to 1872, was recognized Women’s Rights Convention at with an honorary degree, the first time the Seneca Falls, New York. Doug- honor has been presented posthumous- lass and Anthony were at the ly. The degree was accepted by his great- center of a prominent group great-great grandson, Kenneth Morris Jr. of western New York activists After the ceremony, Morris said the who agitated for abolition and family appreciated the recognition, par- women’s suffrage under the ticularly as a way to mark the 200th an- common umbrella of human niversary of Douglass’s birth into slavery. rights. “Frederick Douglass said it’s easier to Douglass delivered many build strong children than to repair broken of his most famous speeches men,” Morris said. “We’re living in a time while in Rochester, including right now where we need the glorious light his 1852 Independence Day of truth and people who will speak when address, “What to the Slave is others say be quiet, and stand when others the 4th of July?” He published say sit down. To hear that all these years three memoirs: Narrative of later, he’s inspiring the next generation of the Life of Frederick Douglass FIRST DEGREE: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who made leaders is very humbling. He still has that Rochester his home for more than two decades, is the first (1845), My Bondage and My impact, all these years later.” recipient of an honorary degree recognized posthumously. Freedom (1855), and Life and Born into slavery on a Maryland planta- Times of Frederick Douglass tion in 1818, Douglass escaped to the North the paper—renamed Frederick Douglass’ (1881). at age 20 with the help of Anna Murray, a Paper in 1851—from a second story office in After moving to Washington, D.C., in free black woman in Baltimore. The two the Talman Building at 25 East Main Street. 1872, he would eventually serve in several eventually married and settled togeth- An accomplished writer and speaker, roles under five presidents. er in Rochester, where Douglass found- Douglass taught himself to read and write. Douglass died at his home in Washing- ed the abolitionist newspaper the North Before settling in Rochester, he traveled ton in 1895. He is buried in Rochester’s Star. From 1847 until 1863, he published to Great Britain and Ireland—in large part Mount Hope Cemetery.r
TOP TEACHERS Singer Awards Honor High School Teachers High school teachers who made a difference in the education of four graduating seniors were recognized for their dedication as men- tors during commencement this spring. Sup- ported by Paul Singer ’66 through the Paul Singer Family Foundation, the annual Singer Family Prizes for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching are drawn from nominations submitted by members of the graduating class in the College. This year’s recipients and their nominating students were (seated) Cris- tina Duarte, an English teacher at Manhattan Comprehensive Night & Day High School in New York City, who was nominated by Joseph Gray (standing); Teresa Haskiell, a mathe- matics teacher at James Wood High School in partnership with the Rochester Institute of of the Future in New York City, who was nom- Winchester, Virginia, who was nominated by Technology; Allison Cain, a French teacher at inated by Hannah Parker. The students and Brian Baker, who was also commissioned as Kent Denver School in Englewood, Colorado, teachers were joined by Jeffrey Runner, dean a lieutenant in the Army through the Army who was nominated by Perry DeMarche; and of the College (standing, center). ROTC program offered by the University in Michael Zitolo, a physics teacher at the School —Joe Hagen ’19E
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND PRESERVATION (DOUGLASS); J. ADAM FENSTER (SINGER) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 15
RochRev_May2018.indb 15 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN REVIEW UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP Board Elects Two New Members By Sara Miller
Two alumni were elected to the Universi- ty’s Board of Trustees this spring while two long-time members were also recognized.
New Trustees Joseph Abrams ’74S (MBA) is an entre- preneur, investor, and advisor. An expert in emerging growth companies, he is an early stage investor and advisor with Recruiter. com, an online global recruiting service. Abrams has advised or acted as principal in dozens of mergers and acquisitions and has been involved with several eco-friendly and socially responsible businesses. A co- founder of the Software Toolworks, he also cofounded eUniverse. Later renamed In- termix Media, the company became the Joseph Abrams ’74S (MBA) Elizabeth Pungello Bruno ’89 parent of the social network site MySpace. NewsCorp bought Intermix in 2005. program at the University of North Carolina Life Trustees Abrams and his wife, Patricia, are lead at Chapel Hill, where her research has fo- Also at the May meeting, the board rec- supporters of the Simon Venture Capital cused on early care and education environ- ognized Alan Hilfiker ’60 and Richard Fund, a seed fund run by MBA and master’s ments and school readiness skills. Sands as they moved to life trustee status. students at the Simon Business School. He She serves on the board of Brady Cor- A trustee since 1988, Hilfiker has served is also a member of Simon’s National Coun- poration, a public company that manu- on several board committees. His sup- cil and Advisory Council, and the Univer- factures and markets high-performance port established both the Alan F. Hilfiker sity’s San Francisco Network Leadership labels, signs, safety devices, printing sys- Endowed Graduate Scholarship Fund Cabinet. In 2017, he received Simon’s Dis- tems, and software. She also serves on the and the Alan F. Hilfiker Distinguished tinguished Alumnus Award. editorial boards of the Journal of Marriage Professorship in English, and helps sup- The Abramses also established, with and Family and Early Childhood Research port the Hyam Plutzik Memorial Poetry their son, Matthew ’02, and his wife, Lind- Quarterly, and other nonprofit boards. Series. say, the Abrams Family Fund for Myotonic In 2011, she established the Brady Schol- Elected to the board in 2008, Sands has Dystrophy Research. ars Program at the University to support served on Simon’s Executive Advisory Elizabeth Pungello Bruno ’89 is presi- first-generation minority students. In 2016, Committee and been active with the dent of the Brady Education Foundation, an she renewed her support of the program, University at many levels. His support organization focused on closing the achieve- which now focuses solely on undergradu- includes the annual Sands Leadership ment and opportunity gap for children at ates. She is a member of the Arts, Sciences Lecture Series, the establishment of the Dr. risk for poor school outcomes due to en- & Engineering National Council and the Laurie Sands Distinguished Professorship vironmental factors associated with living Parents Council. in Family and Health, and support for in poverty. She is also a research associate Her daughter, Hope, graduated this other programs at Simon, the Medical professor in the developmental psychology spring as a member of the Class of 2018. Center, and the Memorial Art Gallery.r Committee Leads Search for Next President The Board of Trustees has established a would then begin in July 2019 at the start The committee has engaged Spencer committee to select the University’s next of the 2019–20 academic year. Stuart, an international executive search president. The committee has established a web- and leadership consulting firm with signif- Cochaired by University Trustee Cathy site, Rochester.edu/presidential-search, icant successful experience in conducting Minehan ’68 and Board Chair Danny We- where information is posted about the po- senior searches in higher education. gman, the Presidential Search Committee sition, the search process, names of com- A former president and CEO of the Fed- is working with three campus advisory mittee members, timelines, and other eral Reserve Bank of Boston and former committees—a University Advisory Com- activities. The site will be updated regu- dean of the Simmons College School of mittee, consisting largely of faculty; a Staff larly over the course of the search. Management, Minehan has served on the Advisory Committee; and a Student Advi- Members of the University communi- board since 1995. Wegman, the chairman of sory Committee—with the goal of select- ty can submit suggestions, questions, and Wegmans Food Markets Inc., has chaired ing a president by 2019. The new president nominations in confidence at the site. the board since 2016.r
16 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
RochRev_May2018.indb 16 6/10/18 11:09 PM Culture of Respect Mission Learn, Discover, Heal, Create— and Make the World Ever Better Vision EVER BETTER The University of Rochester will con- tinue to frame and solve the greatest challenges of the future. Meliora Guides New Steeped in Rochester’s rich history of social justice and entrepreneurial Vision and Values Statement spirit, we will always be an inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and responsive The principles of Meliora are expected to be even more prominent in the organization at every level. We are a community in which all life and culture of the University, serving as the grounding idea for a new who work, teach, create, and provide University statement of Vision and Values. care are welcome and respected, and where all can pursue and achieve their highest objectives for themselves, Approved by the University’s Board of Trustees in May, the new statement their communities, and the world. is designed to better clarify and communicate the University community’s shared goals and principles. Values Meliora: We strive to be ever better, Building from the letters of the motto, the statement articulates and defines for everyone. core principles that are important to the institution and its community. Equity: We commit to diversity, inclusion, and access. They include equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and Leadership: We take initiative and accountability. share responsibility for exemplifying excellence. The statement will become part of a set of defining ideas, including the Integrity: We conduct ourselves with mission statement, that represent how the University envisions itself and honesty, dedication, and fairness. its aspirations. Openness: We embrace freedom of ideas, inquiry, and expression.
Drafted by a committee of faculty, students, and staff this spring, the new Respect: We value our differences, our environment, and our individual statement is modeled on similar efforts undertaken by the Medical Center and collective contributions. and the College to better articulate the values of those units. Accountability: We are each respon- sible for making our community ever The Medical Center has established “ICARE” as its guiding statement. better, through our actions, our words, and our dealings with others. The word is an acronym for the core principles of integrity, compassion, The Vision and Values Committee accountability, respect, and excellence. The College has adopted a program began work in March. The initiative was based on six key principles. Called the Communal Principles, they include endorsed by President Richard Feld- man, who has emphasized efforts to fairness, freedom, honesty, inclusion, respect, and responsibility. Each year, better articulate the University’s values the College highlights one of the six principles, focusing activities and other and to find ways to demonstrate that those values are being put into action. programming around the ideas embodied in that principle. Find More Online The University’s new statement will be used to guide ongoing work to Rochester’s Culture of Respect review and revise University policies and procedures. Rochester.edu/respect Vision and Values Statement Rochester.edu/president/ The statements will also anchor education and training around diversity, vision-and-values/ equity, and inclusion by tying them to commonly held values, with a goal of Commission on Women and Gender Equity in Academia helping strengthen a culture of respect. Rochester.edu/commission- women-gender-academia/
May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 17
RochRev_May2018.indb 17 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN REVIEW MELIORA WEEKEND 2018 Set Your Calendar for Meliora Weekend Award-winning journalists, authors, analysts, and musicians headline the lineup for Meliora Weekend 2018. By Kristine Thompson company, O’Brien is known for telling stories about pressing social and global issues. She also anchors and Soledad O’Brien, award-winning journalist, speaker, and author, produces the Hearst Television political magazine pro- will be the keynote speaker for Meliora Weekend, one of several gram Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien and reports acclaimed guests scheduled for the 18th edition of the four-day regularly for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel celebration in October. and PBS NewsHour. O’Brien headlines a lineup that includes Pulitzer Prize– In addition to appearing as an anchor or contribu- winning author Ron Chernow, former Republican National Com- tor on major networks, she is philanthropy editor of mittee Chair Michael Steele, comedian Nasim Pedrad, and the Worth magazine, and is a frequent author of op-eds for genre-hopping musical ensemble Pink Martini. the New York Daily News and the Huffington Post. She The weekend kicks off Thursday, October 4, and continues is also the author of two books: her memoir, The Next through Sunday, October 7. Big Story, and Latino in America. In 2011, O’Brien and “Over the last three years, we have redesigned Meliora Weekend her husband, Brad Raymond, created the PowHERful to make it more fun and social while keeping true to the academic Foundation, an organization to help young women get and intellectual traditions that in many ways define the Universi- to and through college. ty of Rochester,” says Thomas Farrell ’88, ’90W (MS), senior vice Conversations president for University Advancement. Michael Steele University Symposium Saturday, October 6 Ron Chernow When he was elected lieutenant governor of Mary- Friday, October 5 land in 2003, Steele made history as the first African Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Alexander Hamilton, Chernow American elected to statewide office. He made history will talk about Grant, his New York Times best-selling biography again in 2009 with his chairmanship of the Republi- of President Ulysses S. Grant. The book is the latest of his biog- can National Committee. Currently, Steele is president raphies of pivotal people and families in American history. and CEO of The Steele Group, cohost of the Steele & His life of founding statesman Alexander Hamilton in- Ungar radio show, and a political commentator spired the Tony Award–winning musical Hamilton. for MSNBC. He has been a frequent contrib- A frequent contributor to the New York Times and utor on the Fox News Channel and a guest the Wall Street Journal, he received a Pulitzer on Meet the Press and Face the Nation, among other Prize for Washington: A Life, his biography of news programs. His writing on law, business, and George Washington. politics has appeared in such major media outlets as the Wall Street Journal, Politico.com, and BET.com. Eastman Presents Pink Martini Comedy Friday, October 5 Nasim Pedrad Drawing inspiration from music from all Saturday, October 6 over the world and crossing genres of Nasim Pedrad, best known for her work classical, jazz, and old-fashioned on Saturday Night Live, will provide the pop, Pink Martini features a doz- laughs during an interactive comedy en musicians who perform a mul- show. Joining SNL in 2009, Pedrad was tilingual repertoire. a cast member for five years. Her recent television credits include appearances Keynote on the FOX series New Girl, TBS’s Peo- Soledad O’Brien ple of Earth, and the 2017 return of HBO’s Saturday, October 6 comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm. She is now As CEO of Starfish Media Group, filming Disney’s live action remake of Alad- a multiplatform media production din, set to hit theaters in 2019.r Get Ready to Register KEYNOTE CAREER: Television anchor, Registration will begin at noon on Wednesday, July producer, and writer Soledad O’Brien, who is also the CEO of 25. For more, visit Rochester.edu/melioraweekend. her own multiplatform media Email [email protected] or call 877.MELIORA company, will deliver the (877.635.4672). The website will be updated as more keynote address at this year’s information about guests and other programming Meliora Weekend in October. becomes available.
18 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 FRAN ROBERTS (O’BRIEN)
RochRev_May2018.indb 18 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN REVIEW
HISTORIC FIGURES: Author MUSIC & LAUGHTER: The genre-hopping Ron Chernow, whose work musical ensemble Pink Martini (above), has included biographies whose repertoire crosses jazz, classical, and of Ulysses S. Grant, George pop music, will headline the annual Eastman Washington, Alexander Presents concert, and Saturday Night Live Hamilton, and other pivotal alumna Nasim Pedrad (below) will present an American figures and interactive comedy show during the weekend. families, will be the guest for this fall’s University Symposium.
MEDIA MOVERS: Michael Steele, the firstA frican American to chair the Republican National Committee and now a nationally syndicated political commentator, will be a featured speaker as part of the weekend’s events.
COURTESY OF SUBJECTS (PINK MARTINI AND PEDRAD); BEOWULF SHEEHAN (CHERNOW); WILLIAM B. PLOWMAN/NBC/NBC NEWSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES (STEELE) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 19
RochRev_May2018.indb 19 6/8/18 2:02 PM IN REVIEW a b
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Liar, Liar? DATA SCIENCE Can you tell who’s being deceptive? Who’s Telling the Truth? A Rochester research group is Can a data-informed system help identify those with something to hide? using data science to By Bob Marcotte and an online crowdsourcing game to put together a improve screening database of more than 1.3 million frames of facial ex- systems so that Imagine someone is fidgeting in a long line at an airport pressions. Further crunching the data, they identified security officers and security gate. Is that person simply nervous about the five smile-related faces. The one most frequently asso- others can better wait? Or does the passenger have something to hide? ciated with lying was a high-intensity version of the so- identify people who Even highly trained TSA (Transportation Security called Duchenne smile, a facial expression that involves may be trying to hide Administration) airport security officers have a diffi- involuntary movement of muscles along the cheekbone. important, or even cult time telling whether someone is lying or telling The team plans to further refine the system, but sinister, information. the truth—despite the billions of dollars and years of they think they’ve only scratched the surface of po- One of these study that have been devoted to the subject. tential findings from the data they’ve collected, work student models is In a project led by Tay Sen and Kamrul Hasam, PhD that could have implications for how TSA officers are deliberately not students in the lab of Ehsan Hoque, the Asaro-Biggar ’92 trained. telling the truth. Family Fellow in Data Science and an assistant professor “In the end, we still want humans to make the final Can you spot the of computer science, researchers are exploring a screen- decision,” Hoque says. “But as they are interrogating, liar? ing system that they say may be able to more accurately it is important to provide them with some objective The answer is C. detect deception based on facial and verbal cues. metrics that they could use to further inform their In a report this spring, the team used data science decisions.”r
20 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 J. ADAM FENSTER
RochRev_May2018.indb 20 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN REVIEW Ask the Archivist: Was the University a Player in the Invention of Baseball? A question for Melissa Mead, the John M. and Barbara Keil University Archivist and Rochester Collections Librarian.
For a number of years I have been interested in the history Although the Palestra has seen its share of music legends, Zappa of baseball, culminating with the recent commemoration of was not among them. He and various configurations of his band did Cartwright Field in Honolulu—named for the true “Father of perform in Rochester, first appearing at the War Memorial on October Modern Baseball,” Alexander J. Cartwright Jr. Can you shed any 28, 1967, then alternating between the War Memorial and the Dome light on when baseball started at the University, and whether Arena on May 5, 1973, November 17, 1973, November 14, 1974, Novem- Cartwright played any role?—Capt. Brian Bennett ’79 (U.S. Navy, ber 5, 1975, and March 11, 1988. Retired), Honolulu There are a number of online sources which list dates, venues, and even setlists for performers, but the Campus Times concert reviewers A comprehensive study of baseball and Rochester by Priscilla Astifan provide a richer picture of the experience of being there. G. Joshua appeared in Rochester History (published by the Rochester Public Matusewitch had this to say in the May 9, 1973, issue: “The new Moth- Library) between 1990 and 2002. Rochester—either as city or uni- ers seem to be a return to the Motherness of about three years ago, versity—played no special role in the early development of the game. Possibly the first team in Rochester was the Flour City Club, formed on April 28, 1858, and the University was on deck in fielding a team, despite President Anderson’s notable discouragement of athletics. According to a box score in the Union & Advertiser, Flour City beat “University Club” on June 19, 1858, 25–8. The Interpres yearbook issued that same month confirms a University Base-Ball Club with 29 members: a comparison of the rosters shows that these two University teams were one and the same. The Civil War caused a hiatus in club baseball on campus and in the United States: no club is listed in the Interpres for 1864 and 1865, but soldiers did play the game in camp. Samuel Porter, Class of 1864, describes a match in a January 1863 letter to his brother Farley, Class of 1866: “I played 2nd base and think if you had been here you would have been proud of your brother. Although our adversaries were from New York City they admitted that our 2nd base was played up to B ATTERS UP: While no image of the 1858 team is known to exist, a photo donated by team mana- the handle.” ger Charles Bostwick, Class of 1891, shows the 1891 lineup in (likely) gray uniforms with blue trim. Sadly, there are apparently no letters from Cartwright in our collections. Astifan credits Rochester astronomer while retaining some of the jazz of the Hot Rats and Grand Wazoo. The Lewis Swift with determining in 1877 that the curve ball was not an opti- important thing here is the music, with little silliness. . . . That’s not to cal illusion; the University granted Swift an honorary degree in 1879, say that Zappa has lost his weirdness. Untrue, it will be said.” although probably not for his contribution to the American pastime. The November 7, 1975, post-concert review by “K. C.” concludes with an affirmation. “Like Dr. Demento said on the advertisements last week, I am a massive fan of Frank Zappa—borderline obsessed. One ‘If you miss this concert, you will forever be an incomplete person.’ ” time I saw a list of student activities at the U of R from the ’70s, To quote Frank Zappa, “Information is not and I thought I saw a Frank Zappa or Mothers of Invention knowledge.” It would be untrue if I were to concert. I know that he toured through Rochester a few times, say that I am well acquainted with the man or Need History? but did he ever play a show on the River Campus or the Eastman his music: my thanks to music historian Ron Do you have a ques- school?—Steven Torrisi ’16, Cambridge, Massachusetts Fritts for his assistance in verifying the perfor- tion about University mance dates. history? Email it to A 1970 article in the Campus Times bemoans the high cost of bringing For extra innings on baseball at the rochrev@rochester. in outside speakers and performers: “. . . Walter Cronkite demands University, and reviews of Frank Zappa in edu. Please put “Ask $5,500 for an appearance, Senator Muskie and Mike Wallace each ask the Campus-Times, visit https://rbscp.lib. the Archivist” in the $2,000, and even Frank Zappa wants $1,000.” rochester.edu/blog/ATA-May2018. subject line.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND PRESERVATION May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 21
RochRev_May2018.indb 21 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN REVIEW
WORLD VIEW: A new initiative aims to expand the understanding of the medieval world, depicted here in Robbins Library’s facsimile of a 1457 map. NEW KNOWLEDGE, NEW FORMS Beyond Medieval Early Worlds Initiative highlights interdisciplinary scholarship.
By Jordan Mangefrida ’20 government, certainly race—all these the University’s reputation and create new things existed in this previous age,” says knowledge in new forms,” she says. A new interdisciplinary research project is Tom Hahn, a professor of English and a “It’s a really dynamic opportunity,” taking a deep dive into a complex era that key contributor to the project. “Looking says Anna Siebach-Larsen, the director stretches from before traditional concep- at those very different models of how they of the Rossell Hope Robbins Library and tions of the medieval period up to early existed, not just in Europe but all over the Koller-Collins Center. “This is both where modern times. world, helps us understand our own lives medieval studies is tending to go, and needs Encompassing social and cultural devel- a bit more clearly.” to go. There’s so much going on, and one opments from the 5th to the 18th centu- The project originated last fall with Joan person can’t learn all of it. We really have ries, the Early Worlds Initiative is designed Rubin, the Ani and Mark Gabrellian Direc- to work together.” to take an interdisciplinary look at the in- tor of the Humanities Center and the Dex- She says students and the general pub- fluence of an intriguing era. Participants ter Perkins Professor in History. lic will find value in the project’s collabo- hope to answer one of the biggest ques- “Rochester’s long-standing strength in rations and resources while contributing tions among some outside the field: why, in the study of medieval and early modern their own perspectives and insights. the 21st century, should people care about cultures seemed to me to be the best foun- “There’s this whole world out there that what happened so many centuries ago? dation on which to build an innovative set we’re just starting to uncover. And there’s “Issues like nationalism, representative of scholarly projects that would enhance a place for everyone in it.”r
22 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 J. ADAM FENSTER
RochRev_May2018.indb 22 6/8/18 2:03 PM IN REVIEW SEEN & HEARD How’s That Again? A graduating senior offers a primer on some River Campus lingo. Have you Tapingo-ed Dfo? By Joshua Hill ’18 of students’ class year, club involvement, or major. And I think they deserve to be Rochester students acquire a specific lingo shared with the larger University family. that becomes ingrained in their everyday I’m not a dictionary writer, but as an En- conversations, and, eventually, the vocab- glish major, I offer a whimsical guide to ulary becomes part of their identity. some of the phrases I can’t seem to escape, While a student here, I found it hard even if I wanted to.r to escape the nicknames and abbrevia- tions, as words and phrases were tossed Hill, an English and political science around in the library or over a Facebook double major from Penfield, New York, conversation. graduated this spring. He was a student The terms are in common use, regardless employee in University Communications. LINGO-IST: Hill chooses his words carefully.
The GAC \ıthə-ıgak\ n 1 : abbreviation for seniors; named after a planned three- the Goergen Athletic Center 2 : short- phase housing project that only saw the hand term to refer to the Goergen Athlet- completion of Phase 1
MICHAEL OSADCIW May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 23
rr_May2018_InReview.indd 23 6/11/18 11:19 AM Discover
Mom’s Your gamete: gamete with deleted transposon recombinant
You you
Mom’s Your normal gamete gamete
You Transposons you line up resulting in abnormal crossover Dad’s Your gamete: gamete with duplicated Normal transposon recombinant crossover Unequal Exchange
Dad’s Your normal gamete gamete
MEANS OF EXCHANGE: During sexual reproduction, chromosomes line up and cross over (left). Unequal crossover (right) occurs when “selfish Equal Exchange DNA” sequences known as transposons (represented here as triangles) interfere in the process. When abnormal crossovers occur, important genes may be duplicated or deleted.
The Genes of Genetic Recombination Scientists have long recognized accomplished a milestone in between transposons in different evolution of MEI-218 is similar to that the exchange of genetic learning about such evolutionary locations on the chromosomes, genes involved in immunity, Pres- material in a process known as dynamics. By studying two spe- the chromosomes do not line up graves says. “That should make genetic recombination is vital to cies of fruit flies, they discovered properly and important genes some intuitive sense because natural selection. During recom- a gene, MEI-218, that controls the may be duplicated or deleted. genes involved in immunity are bination, chromosomes from rate of recombination. In a paper Brand and Presgraves constantly adapting to the chang- each parent “cross over,” mostly published in Current Biology, they hypothesize that the change in ing community pathogens that lining up properly, but occa- explain how MEI-218 controls recombination rates between two are challenging us all the time.” sionally so-called “selfish DNA” differences in the rate of crossing species of fruit flies may reflect The gene has so far only been intervenes to cause deletions over between species and the an adaptation to their different investigated in fruit flies, but the or insertions of chromosomes evolutionary forces at play. amounts of transposons. One research into recombination has that manifest as birth defects. Selfish DNA sequences known species, D. melanogaster, has applications for humans. “During Some species display far more as transposons—repetitive more transposons in its genome meiosis at least one crossover crossover than others, leading genetic elements that do not than D. mauritiana, so D. melano- per chromosome, in general, scientists to hypothesize that seem to have benefits to their gaster may have evolved a lower is required to make sure the crossover rates have evolved to hosts—are distributed through- rate of crossing over in order to chromosomes separate proper- balance the benefits of crossing out the genome. Transposons avoid the higher risk of harmful ly,” Brand says. “Either a lack of over with its risks. are akin to viruses, but instead crossovers between transposons. crossing over or crossing over in Dean’s Professor of Biology of injecting themselves in cells, If that’s the case, MEI-218 the wrong regions of the genome Daven Presgraves and PhD they invade genetic material. is constantly evolving to an is what leads to many birth candidate Cara Brand have If abnormal crossovers occur ever-changing optimum. The defects.” —Lindsey Valich
24 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 MICHAEL OSADCIW
RochRev_May2018.indb 24 6/10/18 11:09 PM DISCOVER Fracking Chemicals Linked to Immune Imbalance Bugs in the Gut A study led by Paige Lawrence, regions. Of the chemicals found fracking chemicals in the womb Could Make You chair of environmental medicine, in groundwater, several have had abnormal immune responses Mom’s Your gamete: links chemicals associated with been classified as endocrine dis- to several types of diseases later Weak in the Knees gamete with deleted fracking to damage to the devel- rupters, meaning they can inter- on, including an allergic disease Bacteria in the gut, known as the transposon recombinant oping immune system in mice. fere with hormones and derail and a type of flu. gut microbiome, could be the “This discovery opens up new hormone-controlled systems. Moreover, the mice were espe- culprit behind arthritis and joint avenues of research to identify, For the study, published in cially susceptible to a disease pain that plagues people who are and someday prevent, possible Toxicological Sciences, Lawrence that mimics multiple sclerosis. obese, according to a study by You adverse health effects in people and her team tested the impact Lawrence and her colleagues Rochester researchers published you living near fracking sites,” she of fracking chemicals on the believe the chemicals derail in JCI Insight. says. immune system because it’s cellular pathways that control Osteoarthritis is the greatest Fracking (shorthand for greatly influenced by hormones. which immune cells are spurred cause of disability in the United hydraulic fracturing) involves The team added the chem- to action. The group plans to States, affecting 31 million people. pumping millions of gallons icals to the drinking water of continue to investigate how Sometimes called “wear-and- of chemical-laden water deep pregnant mice at levels similar fracking chemicals interact with tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis in underground to fracture rock and to those found in groundwater the developing immune system in people who are obese was long Transposons release oil and gas. About 200 near fracking sites. She and her ways that will inform biomedical assumed to be a consequence of line up resulting chemicals have been measured in colleagues found that mouse scientists, health care profession- stress on joints. But a team led in abnormal wastewater and in surface water pups—particularly females—who als, policy makers, and the public. by Michael Zuscik, an associate crossover or groundwater in fracking-dense were exposed to a mixture of 23 —Susanne Pallo professor of orthopaedics, Robert Mooney, a professor of pathology Dad’s Your gamete: and laboratory medicine, and gamete with duplicated Protecting Horses—and Humans—from Deadly Flu Steven Gill, an associate professor transposon recombinant of microbiology and immunology, Flu vaccines for horses haven’t provides the first evidence that Unequal Exchange been updated in more than 25 bacteria in the gut—governed by years, but Rochester researchers diet—could be the driving force have developed a new live equine behind the condition. influenza vaccine that is safe and The researchers fed mice more protective than existing a high-fat “cheeseburger and vaccines. That’s important not milkshake” diet. Just 12 weeks only to horses and their owners, of the diet made mice obese and but also to humans, since animals diabetic, nearly doubling their such as horses, pigs, and dogs body-fat percentage compared to are the most likely source of mice fed a low-fat, healthy diet. future human pandemics. They had more harmful bacteria Although it hasn’t happened in their guts compared to lean yet, it’s possible that animals mice, which caused inflammation could be infected with multiple throughout their bodies, leading influenza viruses and have the to rapid joint deterioration. potential to act as “mixing ves- Surprisingly, the harmful gut sels,” generating new flu strains bacteria, inflammation, and that could infect people. The osteoarthritis were completely strains would be particularly dan- prevented when the high-fat gerous because people wouldn’t diet of obese mice was supple- have pre-existing immunity. mented with a prebiotic. While In the journal Virology, Luis their weight was unaffected, the HORSE SENSE: Rochester work to develop a new vaccine to protect Martinez-Sobrido, an associate knee cartilage of obese mice horses from multiple strains of flu virus may have important professor of microbiology and implications for protecting humans from viruses as well. who consumed an oligofructose immunology at the Medical supplement was indistinguishable Center, and lead author Laura generate an immune response now: the vaccine can be updated from that of the lean mice. Rodriguez, a research assistant in the nose, where the flu first quickly and easily to protect “Cartilage is both a cushion professor in Martinez- enters a horse’s body, but not in against newly emerging equine and lubricant, supporting fric- Sobrido’s lab, describe a new the lungs, where replication of influenza strains. tion-free joint movements,” says “live-attenuated” vaccine that’s the virus can cause disease. Traditional equine vaccines, Zuscik. “When you lose that, you given as a spray through the The use of reverse genetic which are made in eggs, take have to replace the whole joint. nose. Created using a genetic approaches to create the months to produce and do not Preventing that from happening engineering technique called live-attenuated equine vaccine allow the flexibility to update is what we, as osteoarthritis reserve genetics, the new vaccine confers an additional major against newly emerging viruses. researchers, strive to do.” is designed to replicate and advantage not available until —Emily Boynton —Susanne Pallo
ADOBE STOCK May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 25
rr_May2018_InReview.indd 25 6/11/18 11:20 AM In Brief
Student Leader Teams Mark Milestones An international student will will serve as president and vice serve as president of the Stu- president of student government. dents’ Association for the 2018–19 Henry Carpender ’20, an year, in what’s believed to be a applied music and jazz and first for student representation in contemporary media major from the College. Mundelein, Illinois, and Ben Beatriz Gil ’19, an economics Dettelback ’19, an applied music and political science double major major from Martinsville, New from Barcelona, Spain, was elect- Jersey, were elected to lead East- ed this spring on a ticket with man’s Students’ Association. Jamal Holtz ’20, a political science In June, Gil and Holtz, who have major from Washington, D.C., who been involved in SA government will serve as vice president. since their first years on campus, Gil and Holtz campaigned on will take part in a conference a platform that emphasized their with student presidents and vice goal of working to ensure that presidents from universities and international and underrepre- colleges across the country. sented minority students feel as “We’ve already hit the ground engaged in campus life as domes- running,” Holtz says. “Our goal is tic students of any background. to meet with all of the (200-plus) Meanwhile, at the Eastman student organizations this fall. We LEADING TEAM: Jamal Holtz ’20 (left) and Beatriz Gil ’19 will lead the School of Music, two trombonists can’t wait.” Students’ Association in the College for the 2018–19 year.
Library Has Vision for Augmented and Virtual Reality Lab University’s Career Students and faculty will have Sciences & Engineering. expert help. Links in China a space on campus to explore A steering committee has con- Identified as a research augmented and virtual reali- ducted initial research to outline priority for the University, the Recognized ty, according to a proposal to plans for the space, with the goal new technologies are expected The University has been transform an area in the Carlson of developing a functional pro- to have an important influence recognized for work to help Science and Engineering Library gram by this fall. The group rec- not only in entertainment, but students find jobs with Chinese into a hands-on lab devoted to ommended a hands-on learning also in health care, education, the enterprises. the new technologies. lab designed to support a range performing arts, and other fields. At the 2018 Global University Envisioned as a place where of research, teaching, and learn- The committee plans to hold a Career Development Conference, advanced students and faculty ing activities, including spaces series of design charrettes—“fa- Rochester was selected as the could work on projects and where where faculty and students could cilitated brainstorming ses- “Most Proactive University Career beginners could explore the pos- meet to foster discussion and sions”—in which faculty and Services Team” from a consortium sibilities for the technology, the collaboration, experience AR/VR students will be invited to help of university career centers that new lab is a joint project of the projects, learn and work with new provide ideas for what they would work with Chinese employers. River Campus Libraries and Arts, tools, and have easy access to like to see in the space. Administered by Global Uni- versity China Career Union and the recruitment platform Lockin Partnership Aims to Advance Drug Discovery China, the award is presented to The University is joining the the Empire Discovery Institute, identified through their work. the university that actively seeks University at Buffalo and Roswell an independent, nonprofit During an announcement in cooperation with Chinese enter- Park Comprehensive Cancer entity that will identify promis- May for the new initiative, New prises by effectively assisting Center to form a new drug ing drug candidates and move York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said students with future employment discovery partnership that aims them toward clinical trials. The the new partnership will receive through strong job-seeking to convert the institutions’ sci- institute will help the institutions’ $35.4 million in funding over initiatives. entific breakthroughs into viable researchers conduct preclinical five years from Empire State While the award was present- pharmaceuticals for commercial- testing of promising com- Development, a state economic ed to the University, the honor ization and strengthen the region pounds discovered in their labs. development agency, in addition highlights collaboration between as a hub for life sciences research Researchers will also receive to $12 million worth of in-kind the Gwen M. Greene Center for and development. assistance in designing new support from the partner Career Education and Connec- The partners are establishing drugs for drug targets they have institutions. tions and Simon Business School.
26 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 J. ADAM FENSTER
RochRev_May2018.indb 26 6/10/18 11:09 PM IN BRIEF Simon and Eastman Deans Reappointed The deans of the Simon Business transparency to prospective the Beal Institute for Film Music prominent conservatories around School and the Eastman School applicants and realign Simon and Contemporary Media, a pro- the world. of Music have been reappointed among its peers, the move result- gram designed to train the next Rossi joined Eastman in 2005 to new five-year terms. ed in an increase in global and generation of musicians to score as senior associate dean and Simon’s Andrew Ainslie and domestic applications. This is the music for film and new media, served as executive associate Jamal Rossi ’87E (DMA), who is third year that Ainslie has frozen and a new master of arts degree dean from 2007 until 2013. the Joan and Martin Messinger the MBA tuition rate. program in music leadership for As executive associate dean, Dean of the Eastman School of Ainslie came to Rochester from musicians who also wish to devel- Rossi was responsible for Music, have both led their schools since 2014. Provost Rob Clark made the new appointments, which were approved by the University’s Board of Trustees. The new terms are effective July 1, 2019.
Andrew Ainslie Since being named Simon’s seventh dean, Ainslie has led strategic curriculum and recruit- ment changes, including reducing program offerings to sharpen the focus of the admissions, faculty, career placement, and adminis- trative staffs. He has also expanded the SCHOOL LEADERS: Rossi (left), the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music, and undergraduate business program Ainslie (right), dean of the Simon Business School, have been reappointed to new five-year terms. and has worked with faculty to move Simon’s academic UCLA’s Anderson School of Man- op managerial, entrepreneurial, Eastman’s academic programs programs from quarters to agement, where he was senior and leadership skills. and personnel, including faculty semesters to better meet student associate dean of the full-time Rossi has established new hiring and promotions, and for needs. MBA program. partnerships with numerous academic and student affairs In 2018 the Financial Times organizations, including the Gate- and enrollment management, listed Simon as No. 44 among Jamal Rossi ’87E (DMA) ways Music Festival, to support among other duties. He also business schools worldwide, as Rossi succeeded the late Douglas and promote greater diversity founded RocMusic, a partnership well as No. 13 for “Top U.S. MBA Lowry, becoming the second in classical music; ArtistShare, to establish a free after-school Programs for Women”—and No. Messinger Dean of the Eastman to support and promote student music program for Rochester City 21 worldwide. School of Music. and young alumni careers; the School District students. In 2015, Ainslie cut the total Recognized for his efforts Yamaha Corporation, to create Before joining Eastman, Rossi tuition of the full-time, two-year in faculty recruitment and his the “Yamaha Fellows Program” was the dean of the School of MBA program by 13.6 percent. commitment to innovation, Rossi as part of a new Eastman Lead- Music at the University of South Designed to provide greater has overseen the introduction of ership Academy; and several Carolina in Columbia.
University’s First Chief Data Officer Appointed A former assistant vice president University provost and senior vice Cannon holds a bachelor’s and economist at the Federal president for research. degree in economics from the Reserve Bank of Kansas City has Cannon joined the Federal University of California, Irvine, been named chief data officer, Reserve Bank of Kansas City in and a master’s degree in eco- becoming the first person to hold July 2014 after 20 years at the nomics from the London School the new University-wide position. Federal Reserve Board in Wash- of Economics. As associate vice provost for ington, D.C. She received a PhD in eco- data governance and chief data She is active in the interna- nomics from the University of officer, Sandra (San) Cannon will tional data community and has Wisconsin–Madison. be responsible for the University’s presented and published on Cannon was selected following data and information strategy, topics such as metadata stan- a national search. Tom Barnett, governance, control, and policy dards, copyright and licensing chief information officer at the development, effective July 1. issues, and data management Medical Center, led the search DATA CHIEF: Cannon is Rochester’s She will report to Rob Clark, and dissemination. committee. first chief data officer.
BRANDON VICK (ROSSI); JOHN SMILLIE (AINSLIE) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 27
RochRev_May2018.indb 27 6/8/18 2:03 PM IN REVIEW YELLOWJACKET SPORTS Sensational Seasons All-American athletes and quarterfinal finishes mark strong 2017–18 campaigns for the Yellowjackets. By Scott Sabocheck
Powered by the success of three teams that reached the NCAA quarterfinals and the All-American performance of track-and- field athletes, the Yellowjackets finished among the top 25 percent in a national measure of athletic competitiveness. Rochester was 67th in the Learfield Di- rector’s Cup Standings for the 2017–18 sea- son. That’s down slightly from last year, but marks the third year in a row that the Yel- lowjackets have been in the top 25 percent. Developed jointly by the National Asso- ciation of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today, the Learfield Director’s Cup competition awards points based on each institution’s NCAA finishes in up to 18 sports—nine women’s and nine men’s. Rochester finished 67th of 329 teams in MILESTONE MOMENTS: Claire Dickerson ’18 (right), Maya Haigis ’20, and the field hockey team the Division III standings, accumulating marked milestones: the program’s first Liberty League title and third straight NCAA appearance. 292.5 points. A total of five Yellowjacket teams participated in NCAA team postsea- son competition. Field hockey, men’s soccer, and wom- en’s basketball all reached the national quarterfinals (Elite 8), scoring the most points for Rochester. The other two key teams scoring points were women’s in- door track and field and women’s outdoor track and field.In addition, Rochester sent an individual participant to the women’s cross country nationals and the Yellow- jacket squash team qualified for the top division at the College Squash Association championships. As of early June, Rochester had a total of seven All-Americans for the 2017–18 year QUARTERFINALS: Men’s soccer defender Zach Lawlor ’20 (left) and women’s basketball point guard They are Courtney Dunham ’19 in field Brynn Lauer ’18 (T5) (right) helped lead their teams to the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournaments. hockey; Geoffrey Rouin ’18 in men’s soccer; Alexandra Leslie ’18 in women’s basketball; Tomotaka Endo ’18 and Ashley Davies ’21 in squash; Kylee Bartlett ’19 in track and field; and Jason Paek ’18 in golf. In another season highlight, men’s soc- cer defender Nik Angyal ’19 was name an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Overall, the Yellowjackets have finished in the top 75 of the Director’s Cup stand- ings for three straight seasons and six of the last nine years.r
Scott Sabocheck is assistant director of STRONG FINISHES: Multi-event athlete Eileen Bequette ’21 (left) and Michaela Burrell ’20 (right) athletic communications. joined All-American Kylee Bartlett ’19 for a strong showing at the NCAA national meet this spring.
28 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 ATHLETICS AND RECREATION
rr_May2018_InReview.indd 28 6/11/18 9:43 AM IN REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS Baseball Claims Regular Season Title For the first time since 2010, the Yellow- 15 months. First-year teammate jackets baseball team won the regular sea- Eileen Bequette ’21 finished son title. With a 16–5 record, Rochester 14th overall at the national hosted the league tournament, where the meet, while Michaela Burrell Yellowjackets were the No. 1 seed. ’20 just missed the finals in the The team was one win away from ad- 100 meters in her first NCAA vancing to the NCAA tournament, falling national meet appearance. in the championship game to Union. Men’s outdoor track and Also this spring, three-time NCAA field: Hunter Phinney ’19 won champion Kylee Bartlett ’19 was named a gold medal at the all-Atlantic the 2018 Liberty League Field Athlete of regional championships in the the Year for women’s outdoor track and 5,000 meters. The men finished field. Jason Paek ’18 was the Liberty League fifth at the Liberty League Golfer of the Year. And in women’s rowing, championships. the Varsity 4 took the state title. Rowing: The Varsity 4 won Here’s a look at other highlights: the state title while the 8s Baseball: The team won a nail-biting captured a four-team meet in 13-inning game to advance to a winner- Worcester, Massachusetts. Eliz- take-all final in the Liberty League cham- abeth Sadrakula ’20 earned all– pionship, only to see visiting Union College Liberty League honors. take the league title. The Yellowjackets fin- Lacrosse: Rochester as- TOP TEAMMATES: Outfielder Steve Pickering ’21 (above) ished at 19–17. First baseman Aiden Finch and first basemanA iden Finch ’19 earned all-region honors sembled a four-game winning ’19 and outfielder Steve Pickering ’21 as the baseball team captured the in-season league title. streak in mid-season to get into earned all-region honors. A total of 10 play- the Liberty League playoff pic- ers were named all-league and the coach- of America. Jack Mulligan ’20 earned all- ture. A 10–5 win at Union was a milestone: ing staff was honored as well. region honors as well. Rochester finished it was the 200th all-time victory for wom- Softball: A rugged schedule at the start third at the Liberty League championships. en’s lacrosse over 38 years. (11 of the first 12 came against Top 25 Women’s outdoor track and field: Men’s tennis: Sahaj Somani ’20 came teams) helped Rochester post an 8–4 Lib- Three-time NCAA champion and All- from 4–1 down in the third set to win, erty League record and make the confer- American Kylee Bartlett ’19 was named 7–5, 5–7, 7–5 and give Rochester a 5–4 win ence playoffs. Eight of nine starters will Liberty League Field Athlete of the Year. in the seventh place match of the UAA return plus both pitchers. She won the Division III individual nation- championships. Golf: Jason Paek ’18 was the Liber- al championship in the heptathlon in May, Women’s tennis: Rochester went on a ty League Golfer of the Year, all–UAA, her second consecutive NCAA national ti- 6–2 roll after returning from the Florida all-region, and was named an All-America tle in the heptathlon and the third time she part of the schedule.r Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association won a multi-event championship in the last —Dennis O’Donnell
HONORS & AWARDS Celebrating Success VARSITY TEAM: Seven Yellowjackets were hon- ored at the 2018 Varsity Awards Banquet this spring. They are (from left) Olivia Denny ’18, a four-year letter winner as an attacker on the field hockey team (Terrence L. Gurnett ’77 Award); Brynn Lauer ’18 (T5), a point guard for the women’s basketball team (Sylvia Fabricant Award); Jacob Wittig ’19, a point guard for the men’s basketball team (John A. Vitone Award); Alexandra Leslie ’18, a four-year All-American in women’s basketball (Merle Spurrier Award); Daniel Bronson ’18, a multipurpose back for the football team (Louis Alexander Award); and Luke Meyerson ’18, a starter on the baseball team (Peter DiPasquale ’52 Award); Not pictured: Haberly Kahn ’18, an outfielder on the softball team (Terrence L. Gurnett ’77 Award).—Dennis O’Donnell
ATHLETICS AND RECREATION May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 29
RochRev_May2018.indb 29 6/10/18 11:09 PM CAPITAL PLACE: The Kennedy Center is the performing arts capital of the nation’s capital, says Christine Branche ’83, but the third- generation Washingtonian says the District has long been home to a thriving arts and cultural community.
30 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
RochRev_May2018.indb 30 6/8/18 2:03 PM MONUMENTAL CITY: Often seen through the prism of politics and iconic monuments, Washington, D.C., is that and more, say alumni who have made it their home. It’s a vibrant city that comes alive when you know where to look.
Show Us Your Town
More than just the seat of government, the nation’s capital is a city rich in art and culture, foodie havens, and outdoor getaways. Just ask some of the 4,600 alumni who make it their home.
By Matthew Dewald
In the hills that rise in the Northwest section of Leadership Cabinet, an organization designed to Washington, D.C., you can ride an elevator to the better focus activities, programs, and opportunities towers of the National Cathedral, the world’s sixth for alumni and others in Washington. largest Gothic cathedral. It’s one of 10 regional networks initially identi- Walking from window to window, Adam fied as part of a strategic effort to build a stronger Konowe ’90 admires the miles-long views that sense of connection among Rochester’s key con- extend to Virginia and Maryland and the planes stituent groups. coming in and out of Reagan National Airport. During a weekend visit last fall, Konowe and “I’d rather have this view than the one from the other members of the Rochester community were Washington Monument,” says Konowe, who has more than happy to act as inside tour guides, shar- lived in Washington since he graduated from Roch- ing their appreciation for a place that’s normally ester in 1990. “This is the highest point in the Dis- portrayed only through the prism of politics and trict. You get a view of more than just the Mall. It national monuments. puts the city and its neighborhoods in perspective.” They all agree that there is much more to their Konowe, a marketing communications executive, city. has combined a transplant’s curiosity with three As third-generation Washingtonian Christine decades of living experience to put the city into Branche ’83 puts it: “All Americans should come perspective. to their capital and enjoy it.”r One of about 4,600 Rochester alumni who call the metropolitan D.C. area home, Konowe is Matthew Dewald is a freelance writer based in also a cochair of the Washington, D.C., Network Richmond, Virginia.
STEPHEN VOSS FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW (BRANCHE); SEAN PAVONE/ADOBE STOCK (WASHINGTON, D.C.) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 31
RochRev_May2018.indb 31 6/10/18 11:09 PM Fessenden St NW
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c N Capitol St NE h Brandywine St NW R d Brandywine St NW N W 29
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16th St NW 16th Georgia Ave NW South Dakota Ave NE Nebraska Ave NW R en o C R d NW
13th St NE E N
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13th St NW a n W d an Upshur St NW Upshur St NW t N h R hig W Cir c Mic Illinois Ave NW r Tilden St NW N hu Fort Dr NE e N C Taylor St NE Taylor St NE N Av k C e e e C a r r a p C hi p it s i o p k t Wisconsin Ave NW c o l o l St NW
am R S t American B H e Dr N ach NW Kansas Ave NW ew E
N NW St 7th University Porter St NW P ar S k prin R g R E d d N W N N e Connecticut Ave NW W v A n Catholic University a
16th St NW g hi New Mexico Ave NW Macomb St NW P of America ic a M K W Warder St NW r ling N 29 k le Rd Georgia Ave NW P TREASURES: Works by Renoir are among the Phillips Collection’s treasures. l
Massachusetts Ave NW NW St 13th N Monroe St NE W g S National Cathedral Par Irving St NW Irvin t NE k Rd NW E 20th St NE N 34th St NW e W v N A E Visual Arts Irving St NW t n S a l ig 13th St NE Ave N d NW o d mbia R t h n Colu i ic sla Garfield St NW Columbia Rd NW p I a M Trinity College de C o C h Although the Smithsonian is a must, alumni guides say some of F l R N o ev M x e i h la ch 1 Washington’s best art museums are in private hands and are well a n iga Franklin St NE l T d Harvard St NW n A l ve NW u A R n ve d la N
worth seeking out. N w W W R Massachusetts Ave NW B d Calvert St NW
NW Sherman Ave NW
G Montana Ave NE a e Howard Phillips Collection o
r g University i Co a
1600 21st Street NW A n n v e e 1
16th St NW c N t Tucked away in a renovated mansion on a side street in the Dupont W St NW icu W t
Av Circle neighborhood is America’s first museum of modern art, the R e Columbia Rd NW
George Washington o N
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Phillips Collection. “For me this is just a neighborhood treasure,” says University– C r NW Montana Ave NE e e W W Av Mount Vernon i e d Debbie Dorfman Drumheller ’74, who lives nearby. Drumheller’s in- s k N n la NE St 9th c a e Is o n U n d 29 hode J s R i P re Av i 15th St NW sider tip: score a ticket for “Phillips After 5,” which happens the first n o 37th St NW St 37th t A o Fl v m or New York Ave NE e ac mpsh ida NE St Capitol N Reservoir Rd NW N a
Thursday of every month. Admission prices are the same as always, P H R St NW Av E
R St NW StN NWCapitol W k e y N N w NW e W O N 50 y but the museum offers hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and live music from k Vermont Ave NW M Q St NW E Q St NW P F 1 d o Q St NW o x S o chamber music to jazz. ha ntw M l Bre ac l Mt Olivet Rd NE Ar R A thu d r B N C lvd W an NW St 7th New York Ave NE N Co Fl b Kreeger Museum al R W ori Georgetown 6th St NW d d N n a W NW St 29th A n NW v e ve e N University c 29 A E 2401 Foxhall Road NW t ork ic Y 23rd St 23rd NW u ew G NW St 22nd t M St NW N E M St NW Ave Massachusetts Ave NW Gallaudet N Far from the crowds of the Mall and not easily accessible by public 50 d
N W R University g N r H W L St NW u transit, the Kreeger Museum, located in the Foxhall neighborhood, b St s
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comes recommended by Nancie Kennedy ’79E (MM). Five acres of 29 la
a G NE St 6th eo 29 B rg C e W as NE St Capitol N hing N woods and sculpture gardens surround the museum, which focuses ton Me V F mo 27th St NW W rial Pky ve N H St NW ork A 1 H St NW H St NE H St NE Benning Rd NE
on 19th- and 20th-century European painting. The Kreeger home NW St 7th New Y H St NW E
is itself a work of art, having landed in the pages of Vogue when the 395 t N N 66 George Washington 1st St 2 th S
University 5
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building was under construction in 1964. 29 4th St NE
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17th St NW17th
ir 9th St NW E Key Blvd g l N 29 ini Pennsylvania Ave NW u ve a A White House m d A Hwy v E St NW St NW3rd b lan e e E y NE St 13th e 7th St NW u N c L N s Cir r 21st St NE Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens Wilson Blvd W Ma N Tennessee Ave NE
6th St NW V C St NE 4155 Linnean Avenue NW e i t d lv St NW 23rd c on B K L M h d
2nd St NE N aren NW St 19th Louisiana Ave NW as Cl s S A a NE Dusty Riddle ’09S (MBA) and Kennedy both recommend a visit to R rli 50 50 Constitution Ave NW ch e t n h 50 gt 110 50 50 us o on 66 ett d B Constitution Ave NW s A rolina Av the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heir to the Post ce- 15th St N e l vd ve N Ca s E h 6th St NE Washington NE St 4th rt N Courthouse Rd 1 No
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real fortune and a lifelong art collector. She amassed a stunning col-
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SE 9th St SE Performing Arts N Pershing Dr a 8th St SE Arlington Blvd G St SW c 1 M 11th St SE Ge a 695 or R in D 295 “You get your credentials at the Kennedy Center,” says Kennedy of 27 ge e I St SE W i 395 Av a e Washington Blvd sh v SW U the capital’s most famous performing arts venue. But she adds that in e Arlington National Cemetery g Pennsylvania Ave SE to r n SE St 5th 695
the District’s offerings extend well beyond it. Memori M St SW M St SE 7th St SE B
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W y i C tol W ap St S in the city’s Southwest quadrant. a 395 ito E Minnesota Ave SE sh l S in 110 t SW S Fillmore St Fillmore S gt 27 on B 295 lv 32 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 WORLD HISTORY ARCHIVE/ALAMY (RENOIR) d Columbia Pike395
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295 1 RochRev_May2018.indb 32 6/10/18 11:09 PM Fessenden St NW
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am R S t American B H ea h Dr N N c W put together a short listKansas of Ave NW ew E N NW St 7th University Porter St NW P Front Royal Centreville Washington, D.C. ar S 66 Q k prin R favorites—sites thatg R are off the E d d N W N N e Connecticut Ave NW W 522 v A standard itinerary as well as n CatholicArlington University a
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295 1 rr_May2018_Town.indd 33 6/11/18 9:41 AM e Studio Theater 1501 14th Street NW Located just off Logan Circle, Studio Theater produces contemporary works that hit head and heart, says Riddle, who described a recent show there about a father’s descent into dementia as something that “made you think. It was very raw and emotional.” Its shows are inti- mate, with none of its four theaters seating more than 225.
f UrbanArias UrbanArias is a contemporary company giving opera a makeover. Meet Your Guides “If I were taking somebody into Washington and they’ve done the tourist things, the traditional things—this would take you in differ- Members of the Washington, D.C., ent directions,” says Kennedy. The company produces short contem- Network Leadership Cabinet served as porary operas with titles like Craigslist Cabaret and Photo-Op at the guides to the nation’s capital. Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street in Northeast Washington Cochaired by Christine Branche and at Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia. ’83, Debbie Dorfman Drumheller ’74, and Adam Konowe ’90, the group organizes activities, programs, and opportunities for alumni and other members of the University community in the region to volunteer, network, and stay connected. Christine Branche ’83 Bowie, Maryland A third-generation Washingtonian, Branche is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control. Debbie Dorfman Drumheller ’74 Washington, D.C. Drumheller retired from a career as a HIDDEN HIGHLIGHT: The C&O Canal trail is an accessible, outdoor asset. financial executive and treasurer for a major oil company. Outdoors in the District Adam Konowe ’90 Reston, Virginia Rochester alumni are in consensus: D.C. is a town that rewards am- Konowe began his career as a bling outdoors, and it has abundant options. television producer before moving to public relations. g C&O Canal Trail A walking and biking path built on a converted railroad bed, the C&O Dusty Riddle ’09S (MBA) Canal Trail is a mainstay of Drumheller’s outdoor routine. “It’s a D.C. Washington, D.C. asset that not a lot of people know about,” she said during a walk Riddle works in credit card finance for along it, the Potomac River just beyond the tree line. She often spots a national company. geese, turtles, and other wildlife on her regular bike rides. “If you live Nancie Kennedy ’79E (MM) in Washington and haven’t been here, it’s a shame. It’s so accessible. Annapolis, Maryland Here we are just a few miles from the Capitol, and it’s beautiful.” A retired opera singer, Kennedy frequently visits the District for h Georgetown Waterfront Park performances. Overlooking the Kennedy Center and Roosevelt Island, the George- town Waterfront Park is the place to kayak or paddleboat, says Drum- Mia Alqadi Comrie ’08 heller. The Georgetown University crew team practices there, too. Silver Spring, Maryland Comrie is a senior program specialist i Tidal Basin for the Department of Justice, working Branche treasures walks along the Tidal Basin, which is ringed by me- on police-community relations. morials for Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Mar- tin Luther King Jr. “MLK is looking right at Jefferson; someone had a very interesting sense of humor,” she says. “I’ve been there at sunset, and it’s refreshing. I’ve noticed that people speak more quietly there.”
D.C. MARVELS: Nancie Kennedy ’79E (MM), Debbie Dorfman Drumheller ’74, and Adam Konowe ’90 (opposite, top to bottom) say that the nation’s capital has cultural gems, outdoor opportunities, and out-of- the-way places that offer a richer view of D.C. and its attractions for those willing to explore beyond the well-known sites.
34 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 STEPHEN VOSS FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW (KENNEDY, DRUMHELLER, KONOWE); NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE/ALAMY (C&O CANAL)
RochRev_May2018.indb 34 6/8/18 2:03 PM j National Arboretum Don’t miss the National Arboretum, says Branche. “They have trees from all over the country there,” she says. “Your tax dollars at work.” The Mall You have not fully walked the Mall until you’ve done it at night, says Mia Alqadi Comrie ’08. Once darkness falls, footlights and spotlights illuminate the monuments and museums, lending drama to famil- iar views. “My favorites at night are the African-American Museum and the Jefferson Memorial—if you can have a favorite memorial.”
k Vietnam War Memorial “It’s one thing to see it on television,” says Branche of the Vietnam War Memorial. “It’s another to go see people interacting with it.” The massive black granite memorial displays the engraved names of each of the more than 58,000 Americans killed in the war. “It gives it a kind of majesty. You don’t think of Vietnam and majesty, but the memorial brings that word to mind.”
l National Museum of African-American History and Culture Part of the Smithsonian, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture opened in September 2016. “What a beautiful place, in the broadest sense,” says Branche. Tickets, she notes, are released months in advance and are snatched up quickly. Right Place, Right Time “D.C. is a town of traditions, things you can go to every year,” says Rid- dle during a walk down the hill from the Capitol. Sometimes the se- cret to seeing a familiar city anew is to come at a different time of year.
m High Heel Drag Queen Race A fall favorite for both Riddle and Drumheller, Dupont Circle’s an- nual High Heel Drag Queen Race attracts thousands every October to watch elaborately costumed drag queens race down 17th Street. Drumheller also recommended a walk along Q Street during the Hal- loween season for a look at the residents’ over-the-top decorations.
n Cherry Blossom Festival If you can time it right, both Comrie and Branche say the Cherry Blos- som Festival is worth the hype. “When the blossoms are at their peak, it’s an amazing time to walk around the Tidal Basin,” Comrie says. “The event draws tourists and locals. It’s quintessentially D.C. to see people walking around in their suits enjoying the cherry blossoms.”
o Around the World Embassy Tour A long-standing tradition happens every May, when dozens of embas- sies coordinate to offer open houses one Saturday. “When I was a Girl Scout, we were at an embassy greeting people,” says Branche, who grew up in D.C. “My best friend and I were stationed at the embassy of Iran.” Farther Afield For visitors, “the challenge is to get off the beaten path,” says Konowe ’90, whose daughter is a member of the Class of 2021. “More than most cities, the natural tendency is to do stuff on the Mall because it’s so central. The Mall is no more emblematic of D.C. than Times Square is of New York City.”
p The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Chantilly, Virginia Part of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the Ud- var-Hazy is much larger than its counterpart on the Mall. “Unlike a
May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 35
RochRev_May2018.indb 35 6/10/18 11:09 PM lot of museums where it’s really about the exhibits and secondarily Boston New York about the artifacts, Udvar-Hazy is all about the artifacts.” Rochester Philadelphia q Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts San Francisco Vienna, Virginia Chicago Baltimore A favorite of Konowe’s, Wolf Trap is the country’s only national park Los Angeles devoted to the performing arts. Featuring the architecturally re- Washington, D.C. nowned Filene Center, it’s also home to a smaller venue that hosts Houston year-round performances and serves as the home to Wolf Trap Opera. r Great Falls National Park McLean, Virginia Across the Potomac from Maryland, Great Falls National Park is a Regional Networks and You favorite dog-walking spot for Comrie and her pup, Jake. “Once you The University of Rochester’s regional networks get away from the falls, it’s so peaceful and quiet even though you’re offer alumni, parents, and friends a variety of so close to the city.” social events, networking opportunities, and community service initiatives in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Rochester, San Francisco, and Wash- ington, D.C., with new cities added regularly. Many volunteer opportunities also exist, and include organizing events, interviewing and mentoring students, welcoming new alumni to an area, and serving as social media ambassadors. “Regional networks are central to keeping alumni, parents, and friends connected to each other and to the University of Rochester,” says Paul Lanzone ’03, assistant vice president of alumni and constituent engagement. “As an alumnus myself, I know firsthand the professional and personal benefits of staying involved, be it as a program participant or a volunteer who is helping to shape MARKETPLACE: Eastern Market is one of D.C.’s original public markets. our community.” Let’s Eat How to connect “Twenty years ago, D.C. was a food desert. Not today,” Drumheller For more about the Washington, D.C., regional net- says. Branche described it as a proudly foodie town these days, with work, including upcoming and ongoing activities, celebrity chefs and excellent cuisines from all over the world. social media connections, volunteer opportunities, and other information, visit the network’s website s Union Market at Rochester.edu/alumni/dc 1309 5th Street NE For Comrie and Riddle, the D.C. food scene starts with its public D.C. Deep Dive markets. “Union Market embodies D.C.,” Comrie says. All around, construction cranes in every direction speak to a neighborhood in 4,600 alumni transition. “You can walk around and create a meal with so many 940 young alumni (10 or fewer years out) different styles and flavors. It’s been really fun to watch it expand.” 0 18 volunteers t Eastern Market 325 current parents 225 7th Street SE Eastern Market is one of Washington’s original public markets and Alumni by School reminiscent of Rochester’s, with rambling tables of produce outside 2,800 School of Arts & Sciences and delis, butchers, and fishmongers within. “Here you see the vi- tality of the city,” Riddle says. 525 School of Medicine 500 Hajim School u Bethesda Bagel of Engineering 1718 Connecticut Avenue NW and 120 M Street SE & Applied Sciences If you’re looking for breakfast, it’s “the best bagel in the city,” says 400 Simon Business School Drumheller. “I say that as a native New Yorker who grew up not far from H&H and Zabar’s.” 350 Eastman School of Music 125 School of Nursing v Founding Farmers 125 Warner School of Education 1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 50 Eastman Institute for Oral Health For brunch, Comrie recommends Founding Farmers, a restaurant
36 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 PHILIP SCALIA/ALAMY (EASTERN MARKET)
RochRev_May2018.indb 36 6/10/18 11:09 PM MARKET TO MARKET: “Union Market embodies D.C.,” says Mia Alqadi Comrie ’08 (above) of the District’s nationally recognized food hall; the nation’s capital offers much more than politics, says Dusty Riddle ’09S (MBA) (left). “People really live here. It’s not just the seat of government.”
born from an alliance of farmers in North Dakota. “Everything is fresh,” she says. “I love going on Sundays. They have amazing biscuits and great décor. It’s a warm environment, and the food is outstanding.”
w All in the Neighborhood To sample D.C.’s food scene, Branche says, you need a strategy. One of her favorites is to pick one of the many spots close to the National Portrait Gallery in Penn Quarter. “I could go to a different restaurant there every night,” she says. Her favorites include Zaytinya, Rosa Mexicano, Clyde’s, and Rasika. Zaytinya offers a Greek/Mediterranean tapas menu developed by celebrity chef José Andrés. Rosa Mexicano offers a fine-dining, white-tablecloth take on Mexican cuisine. Clyde’s is a D.C. institu- tion, with wood-paneled booths and an attentive staff serving a menu of upscale pub food. On game nights at the Verizon Center nearby, don’t be surprised to see a healthy collection of Wizards and Caps jerseys at the bar. Rasika, just a couple of blocks away, features mod- ern Indian cuisine.
Such vibrancy—exemplified in the people who make the District their home—is what makes the capital special. Says Riddle: “People really live here. It’s not just the seat of government.”r
STEPHEN VOSS FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 37
RochRev_May2018.indb 37 6/10/18 11:09 PM Senior Studies To cap off their senior year at Rochester, graduating students showcase their abilities as researchers, scholars, artists, and community members.
s a computer science major with a minor in philosophy, Josh Pachter ’18 was looking for a way to combine his interdisciplinary interests. A The Lexington, Massachusetts, native found the per- fect avenue when he was selected for the Senior Scholars Program, a Rochester initiative designed to support select students as they focus on a yearlong intellectual project. Pachter set out to address some timely, practical—and philo- sophical—questions involving self-driving cars: can machines be trained to act ethically? And if so, how? SENIOR SHOW: For her senior POWER OF DANCE: Combining “It’s not a conventional research project done in a lab,” says thesis exhibition, titled toxins, her interests in dance with her Pachter. “It’s a combination of philosophy and computer science— Brianne Landwersiek ’18 studies in biology, Erin Dong ’18 lots of literature review and philosophizing.” displayed a selection of work (above) explored the physical and The project is one example of the kind of intellectual endeavor (above, left) at the Rochester emotional manifestations of grief. that many Rochester students undertake during their senior year. Public Market. The studio art She brought together science, For some students, senior projects are part of the curriculum and public health double major emotion, and creative movement requirements for their departments, and for others, the motivation was one of several seniors in a performance called “The is grounded in the chance to engage in a scholarly, creative, or sci- who capped their year with an Beautiful Awful: Experiencing entific endeavor. For all of them, the projects help bring their inter- exhibition featuring their work Grief Through Movement,” which at galleries on campus and in she presented at the end of the ests into focus and deepen their experience as Rochester students. spaces in the Rochester area. academic year. Here’s a look at some of this year’s projects.
38 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 COURTESY OF BRIANNE LANDWERSIEK ’18 (ARTWORK)
RochRev_May2018.indb 38 6/10/18 11:09 PM The Biology of Grief—through Dance Erin Dong ’18 knew from a young age that she wanted to study combines aspects of both her majors. Along the way, she learned biology. While at Rochester, she supplemented her coursework lessons about the creative process, taking risks, and the wisdom with stints as a volunteer in rehabilitation physical therapy at that can come from failure. the Medical Center and as a research assistant in the School of “I only started dancing when I came to college,” Dong says. “But Nursing. I love how it’s this universal way of expression. I wanted to help But what surprised her was that she also developed a love of people remember the loss they felt and experienced, connect to dance, leading to a double major in both biology and dance. others who also shared that, and allow them to feel the emotions in For her senior project, Dong created a dance called “The their entire bodies, not just in their heads.” Beautiful Awful: Experiencing Grief Through Movement” that Dong started her project by examining other performances,
AARON RAYMOND (DANCE) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 39
RochRev_May2018.indb 39 6/8/18 2:03 PM specifically work by Bill T. Jones and the dance compa- WALKING TALLER: Rosemary Buckley, the daughter of Mark Buckley, an assistant ny MBDance, which visited Rochester in January. professor of biomedical engineering, tests a walker designed by a team of senior At about the same time, her beloved grandmother, engineering students, including Jennifer Choi, Devan Foggio, and Jo Cappotelli. Peggy, passed away. While at a conference in Boston, (Team member Daniel Myers is not pictured.) she saw a dance by students at Bates College in which choreographers had asked people how they would spend their last days on Earth. The dancers’ move- Building a Better Walker ments mirrored the answers, which ranged from “sit- For young children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other devel- ting and watching the sun rise” to “eating a gallon of opmental disabilities, learning to walk can be a long-term process. In the ice cream with my childhood sweetheart.” meantime, the children find it hard to keep up with their peers, which can “Seeing this dance is when I finally cried about my increase their social isolation. grandmother, because I was able to connect to the joy, A team of biomedical engineering majors, working with Leah Talbot, but also the pain and the sadness, evident onstage,” a Rochester-area physical therapist, hopes to address both issues with an Dong says. “The piece really coaxed out my emotion inexpensive, “hybrid” walker that will be portable enough to accompany and gave me a safe space to feel.” the children wherever they go. She wanted to create a similar kind of space in her “This is right up our alley,” says Joe Cappotelli ’18, whose senior design own dance, one in which people would have an outlet project teammates Hyun Jennifer Choi ’18, Devon Foggio ’18, and Daniel to grieve freely. She turned to her knowledge of anato- Myers ’18 developed a prototype for a less expensive, more therapeutically my and physiology to create a piece that incorporated sound walker. The design consists of a frame of relatively light-weight both the emotional aspects and the physical symptoms plastic tubing, an adjustable harness to support a child, a steering column, of the grieving process. and an axle assembly to propel everything. Her faculty mentor, Anne Harris Wilcox, a senior As the students surveyed commercially available walkers, they found lecturer in the Program of Dance and Movement, says two main options. One kind enabled 3- to 5-year-olds to keep up with their building on such a broad understanding of the body’s peers, but weren’t very helpful from a therapeutic standpoint because they anatomy and mechanics, and the functions involved in didn’t require children to propel themselves. Walkers used in clinical set- movement, are important in dance. tings, on the other hand, were often bulky and expensive—great for therapy, Dong’s final product was a meditation on grief that but not for keeping up with more mobile playmates, or for taking home. brings together science, emotion, and creative move- The team “has definitely come up with a very unique idea to help children ment. But it’s the lessons she learned from the process with motor delays learn to walk in a fun and active way,” Talbot says. “Ide- that Dong will carry with her. This summer she starts a ally this motorized walker will allow these children to access their environ- three-year doctoral program for physical therapy at the ment to play with their peers while improving their cognitive, motor, and University of Pittsburgh. —Lindsey Valich social skills.” —Bob Marcotte
40 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 J. ADAM FENSTER
RochRev_May2018.indb 40 6/10/18 11:09 PM Making Diabetes Screening Portable The diabetes that’s endemic in Micronesia is a legacy of modern store-bought foods and a less strenuous lifestyle than South Pacific islanders enjoyed before the encroachment of Western culture. But detecting and treating the disease in Micronesia is complicated by the fact that electrical power and cell phone coverage is errat- ic or nonexistent in many of the remote villages and outer islands. Moreover, many of the inhabitants are distrustful of Western medi- cine, and reluctant to travel to clinics or hospitals for help. To address such challenges, four biomedical engineering stu- dents worked with Timothy Dye, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical Center, on a portable diabetes screening device that could be carried by health workers into remote areas. The device could make it easier to identify people at high risk of the disease. Dye’s research team is eager to test such a device on Pohnpei Island. “This would help start the educational process with people who are kind of scared of Western medicine and who think hospitals are where you go to die,” says Matt Boulanger ’18, who was part of a senior design team that also included Jack Hayden ’18, Fredella Lee ’18, and Sue Zhang ’18. The students took their cue from a Dutch technology that uses skin tissue as a biomarker of diabetes and other age-related disor- ders. The team came up with a device that looks like a small black box with an opening where a patient’s arm is placed for screening. A form of ultraviolet light bounces off the skin to detect biomarkers for diabetes. While there’s more research and testing to do, faculty members in biomedical engineering and optics were impressed. “This is exactly what we want—something that’s portable, easy TEST TAKERS: Seniors Sue Zhang and Matt Boulanger (top) work on a to use, and can help us provide some actual clinical information in device that uses ultraviolet light (above) to help identify biomarkers for the field and is not just estimating risk based on weight and symp- diabetes. The team developed the portable screening device for use in toms,” says Dye. —Bob Marcotte testing people living in remote areas of Micronesia.
Engaging the Community As a senior selected for a new initiative, Leslie Kaze ’18 set out to share her academic interests as a public policy major with the Office of Mental Health Promotion in Rochester. Among the first students at Rochester to receive a citation in community-engaged scholarship, Kaze and a handful of other seniors completed capstone projects in which they worked with nonprofits and other organizations as a way to help address local, national, and global challenges while weaving their connections to the community into the curriculum. Administered by the Rochester Center for Community Leadership, the program pairs students with a faculty mentor to work with a community organization. For her project, Kaze worked with Anne Marie White, director of the Office of Mental Health Promotion, to explore how social stigma might keep church-going African-American millennials from using mental COMMUNITY NEWS: During a poster session this spring, Leslie Kaze ’18 health care services. Others in the first group were Emma (left) shares her project in community-engaged scholarship with associate Baker ’18, a studio art major who worked with Taproot Collective professor Nancy Chin (center) and President Richard Feldman (right). in Rochester with Heather Layton, a senior lecturer in the Department of Art and Art History; Katherine Bakrania ’18, a polit- behavior, and society major who worked with Common Ground ical science major who worked with the Monroe County Division Health in Rochester with Ted Brown, the Charles E. and Dale L. of Child and Family Services in Rochester with Stu Jordan, an Phelps Professor of Public Health and Policy; and Samantha Stoma associate professor of political science; Katheryn Lapusnak ’18, ’18, a health, behavior, and society major who worked with Bethany a political science major who worked with LifeMoves in Menlo House in Rochester with Nancy Chin, an associate professor at the Park, California, also with Jordan; Shoshana Preuss ’18, a health, Center for Community Health and Prevention. —Jim Ver Steeg
J. ADAM FENSTER (DIABETES SCREENING); JIM VER STEEG (KAZE) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 41
RochRev_May2018.indb 41 6/10/18 11:09 PM Engineering a Better Guitar Juan Estrella ’18 is a classical guitarist who chafes at the constraints traditional instruments place on artistic expression. “We can still create great art, but not as great as it would be with better tools,” he says. Estrella, who was in the audio and music engineering program, is attempting to create a “new electronic musical interface” that would free musicians from those constraints—and set a new standard for instrument design. This is not just a senior design project, Estrella says. “I regard it as my life’s work.” A traditional six-string guitar has a range of only three octaves. Two hands are required to produce a single note: One to fret, the other to pluck. “That’s really inefficient,” Estrella says. What does he have in mind? “Basically, think of an elliptical guitar neck, two feet long, with 48 SOUNDER SYSTEM: Juan Estrella works on an electronic musical interface frets and 14 strings that go all the way around,” Estrella says. “Re- that he hopes will give musicians a much greater range of possibilities for tractable legs on both ends lift it off the table.” making music than that offered by traditional instruments. The instrument will produce tones over 12 octaves—using just the three strings on top of the neck. Tones are generated by simply the strings. The next challenge is creating a touch screen and com- pressing the strings against a touch screen wrapped around the un- ing up with the electronics needed to process as many as 672 inputs. derlying surface. “That’s a tough engineering problem,” says David Anderson, an In other words, no more plucking. Both hands are free to fret assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, who su- chords and scales, while simultaneously adjusting pitch, volume, vi- pervises the audio and music engineering senior design projects. brato, speed, loop, distortion, or any other user defined effect, thus “But it’s a neat path that Juan’s going down.” making guitar foot pedals obsolete as well. In September, Estrella will enter the University’s technical entre- The idea is to create tones that merge together in a continuous preneurship and management (TEAM) master’s program—the next sequence, like a singer’s voice—not in discrete notes, or “chunks,” step on his path to eventually starting his own company. which is still the case even with many of the new musical interfaces “I’ve never felt any ambiguity about my purpose in life, or what on the market, Estrella says. I’m supposed to be doing,” Estrella says. “There is nowhere else I’d Estrella has completed the neck and the stands and has attached rather be.” —Bob Marcotte
42 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 J. ADAM FENSTER
RochRev_May2018.indb 42 6/10/18 11:09 PM The Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles When it comes to self-driving automobiles, Josh Pachter ’18 hopes to create ethical machines through a process similar to how humans raise children. A computer sci- ence major with a philosophy minor, Pachter spent the year studying whether autonomous vehicles could learn to be more ethical. He found that machine learning is plagued by forms of bias when programmed by humans, who bring their own moral frameworks to their work. Examples of bias include hugging the side of the road too closely or choos- ing to run over one group of humans rather than another based on arbitrary factors. “If we expect autonomous cars to drive better and safer FOOD FOLLOWERS: Seniors Teron Russell, Chris Smith, Stephen Cohen, and Vivian Li than we do, we should provide the groundwork,” he says. developed an app to manage and inventory items in a fridge, freezer, or pantry. “We can provide some fundamental moral truths, and through a training process, the machine will ultimately learn to make good higher-level decisions without the Using an App to Reduce Waste need for bad input from its parents—humans—who are Vivian Li ’18 lives off campus and cooks all of her own food in order to save actually bad drivers.” money. There’s one drawback. “I sometimes leave food in the fridge, and oh, Pachter’s advisor, Hayley Clatterbuck, an assistant pro- two weeks later, it’s fuzzy,” she says. fessor of philosophy, says Pachter’s synthesis of complex She may soon have an app for that. One she helped create. theories in both fields generated “fascinating” results. Li was the project lead on a student team that worked to design Pip, a “His project truly embodied the promise and necessity voice-enabled mobile application for smart home assistants like Google Home of interdisciplinary work. If we use machine learning and Amazon’s Alexa to help users manage their food inventory and balance to train autonomous vehicles, which machine-learning their grocery budget. The project was a senior capstone for the Digital Media approaches should we use and on which data should Studies Program, where eight senior projects emerged from a seminar course we train them? Josh examined various cutting-edge taught by Michael Jarvis, an associate professor of history and the director of machine-learning processes to determine which prob- Digital Media Studies, and Stephanie Ashenfelder, the program manager for lems they are most apt to solve. Then, he considered what studio art in the Department of Art and Art History. kind of problem morality is, a surprisingly complicated Rounding out the team were Teron Russell ’18, Christopher Smith ’18, Mat- topic that raises many important questions.” thew Burg ’18, and Stephen Cohen ’18. Last summer, Pachter landed an internship at Ama- Jarvis says that while students use their experience in the class to find suc- zon’s Seattle headquarters. He was hired before return- cess in many ways. “We have about a 95 percent job or career placement rate ing to school and will begin work this September as a right now,” he says. “They either wind up working for the IBMs, Googles, and software development engineer. —Jim Mandelaro Spotifys out there or marketing firms.” —Jeanette Colby
An Art Exhibition of Their Own Studio arts majors in the Depart- ment of Art and Art History capped off their senior year with an art thesis exhibition. During the spring, their work was on view in galleries on the River Campus and in the Rochester area. The 10 students graduating this year explored several themes in their shows, including the intersection of the food and pharmaceutical indus- tries, social interaction and anxiety, and the role of the professional artist in society. The installations featured a variety of media, includ- ing acrylic on canvas, video, and SHOWCASES: Senior art shows included work by Ruoxue (Astra) Chang ’18 (left) and Alexandra Cunningham ’18. audio materials. —Jeanette Colby
J. ADAM FENSTER (PIP TEAM); COURTESY OF RUOXUE (ASTRA) CHANG ’18 AND ALEXANDRA CUNNINGHAM ’18 (ARTWORK) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 43
RochRev_May2018.indb 43 6/10/18 11:09 PM DOCUMENTING DEMOCRACY: “Our goal is to take what we’ve learned from our scholarly work on other parts of the world and bring that perspective to public debates about the quality of democracy in the United States—its vulnerabilities as well as its sources of resilience,” says political scientist Gretchen Helmke. With colleagues at Yale and Dartmouth, she has launched an initiative to survey opinions about democracy, both among the public and political scientists.
44 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
RochRev_May2018.indb 44 6/8/18 2:03 PM Political science professor Gretchen Helmke monitors the state of U.S. democracy. By Sandra Knispel
retchen Helmke lives and breathes democratic Carey, then a junior faculty member, remembers. “When you become principles. She and her grade-school daughter once aware of a scholar like that, you look for opportunities to collaborate.” drafted an outerwear constitution, signed and rat- The project found its raison d’être in the widespread concern over ified by both. the possible erosion of democratic institutions in this country, says Not unlike the constitutions of the nations she Helmke. The quartet writes that “at a time of potential danger to studies, the precise meaning of the language of the American democratic norms and institutions, it is more urgent than family outerwear law proved less clear-cut than its ever for scholars to highlight the risks to our system of government.” framers intended. Helmke sighs at the sight of the Supported by grants from the Democracy Fund and the Hewlett constitution that remains pinned to the family’s Foundation, the group set out in the aftermath of the 2016 presiden- kitchen bulletin board. tial election to monitor democratic practices in the United States, the “It’s a law that remains on the books, but is dead in spirit,” she system’s resilience, and potential threats. admits. Robert Blair, the Joukowsky Family Assistant Professor of Political It’s a familiar scenario for the Rochester political science professor Science and International and Public Affairs at Brown University, is who studies constitutional crises—albeit usually ones in Latin Amer- the coordinator of a multi-university collaborative course on dem- ica, where the consequences of failed democracies have been dire. ocratic erosion—taught simultaneously at nearly two dozen univer- These days the Latin Americanist spends a good chunk of her time sities across the United States and one in the Philippines. Blair says monitoring democratic institutions in the United States. The health Bright Line Watch has been “extremely valuable” to the consortium. of such institutions relies, in part, on their perceived legitimacy. She “Students at several participating universities, including Brown, have worries that, for many Americans, that legitimacy is in question. gotten their hands dirty working with the BLW data. Their survey “Growing polarization is what I am most concerned about,” says instrument has given students a lot to think about in terms of what Helmke. With public trust at historic lows and partisanship riding democracy means and how to measure it,” says Blair. high, she’s not alone in her worries. For many Americans, democ- He’s noticed that, generally, students become more optimistic racy seems more imperiled now than at any time in living memory. about the United States after taking the course, attributing that Simply put, one of the greatest threats to democracy is the idea change, in part, to the students’ becoming more “expert” in their un- that it is unassailable. That’s the tagline of Bright Line Watch, a non- derstanding of democracy and democratic erosion worldwide. “This partisan initiative founded by Helmke and three other political sci- is quite similar to what Bright Line Watch finds—that experts tend entists—Brendan Nyhan and John Carey of Dartmouth College and to be more optimistic than the public.” Susan Stokes of Yale University. Blair says the democratic erosion consortium is planning more Two of the three other scholars Helmke already knew well: Stokes ways to integrate the two initiatives in the future. was her dissertation advisor at the University of Chicago; Carey, who Helmke underscores that Bright Line Watch is not concerned with taught at Rochester before Helmke arrived, recalls being aware of policy disagreements. Instead, the group focuses on the institutions Helmke’s research when she was still a graduate student. “Her work of democracy, such as free and fair elections, the effectiveness of was great—like the kind of scholarship I hoped to produce myself,” checks and balances, and the freedom of the press.
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RochRev_May2018.indb 45 6/8/18 2:03 PM Gretchen Helmke “Our goal is to take what we’ve learned from our scholarly work on other parts of the world, and bring that perspective to public debates about the quality of democracy in Professor of Political Science the United States—its vulnerabilities as well as its sources of resilience,” says Helmke. Chair, Department of Political Science, To that end, Helmke and her three collaborators compile quarterly reports, based on 2011–2013 and 2014–2017 careful scientific polling of about 1,000 political experts (all of them political science pro- Major Publications fessors at U.S. universities) and a nationally representative sample of 2,000 members of the public. Aiding the group in the design of its surveys is Mitch Sanders ’97 (PhD)—a fel- Institutions on the Edge: The low political scientist, and Helmke’s husband, who sometimes jokingly refers to himself Origins and Consequences of as “the fifth Beatle.” The results of their survey are “sobering,” the group says. Institutional Instability in According to Helmke, on the one hand, the chances of a complete breakdown of de- Latin America (Cambridge mocracy in the United States—the kind that occurred in the 20th century in parts of Lat- University Press, 2017) in America—are slim. A military-coup-style breakdown, for example, is highly unlikely. considers interbranch conflict Scholars have studied the statistical likelihood of such an event by looking at the relation- and how a crisis in one branch ship between levels of wealth in a given nation and the likelihood of a democratic break- of government can spill over down. They would put the chances of something like that happening in the United States to another. Helmke concludes that concentrat- near zero, she argues—based not only on the overall wealth in the United States, but also ing power in the presidency triggers political on the longevity of American democracy. Research shows that the age of a democracy crises across all three branches of government. serves to protect it. The longer, the stronger. Surprisingly, often the most constitutionally But on the other hand, a gradual erosion of democracy may be at work. “That process— powerful presidents prove the most fragile, she where it’s a slow, kind of piecemeal challenge to different institutions that support de- finds. mocracy—is something that we see in several parts of the world, and something that we Courts in Latin America, are now seeing in the United States,” Helmke says. coedited with Julio Rios- The group released its fifth survey in May. The participants were given a battery of 27 Figueroa (Cambridge questions, on topics ranging from free speech and an unimpeded press, to constitutional University Press, 2011) limits on executive powers, vote representation, and the independence of the judiciary. examines to what extent Helmke and her colleagues detected a significant decrease in confidence on all but four courts in Latin America questions, especially in the areas of press freedom, judicial independence, and the integ- protect individual rights and rity of government agencies, among the public sample in the past six months. While those limit governments. Drawing who approve of President Donald Trump rated U.S. democratic performance more highly on examples from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, than those who disapprove, both groups’ assessment of U.S. democracy’s health declined. Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Bolivia, the authors demonstrate widespread variation in crutinizing the U.S. political system on a regular basis was originally not on the performance of Latin America’s constitu- Helmke’s radar. A California native, she began her graduate studies at the Uni- tional courts. versity of California at Berkeley, and completed them at the University of Chi- cago, where she earned her PhD in 2000 under Stokes, who was then a faculty Informal Institutions and member there. Her dissertation was a study of Argentine courts. Democracy: Lessons from “When she started this work, very few Latin Americanists or comparative Latin America (Johns Hopkins politics scholars were studying them,” remembers Stokes, who is now the John University Press 2006), S. Saden Professor of Political Science and the director of the Yale Program on Democ- coedited with Steven Levitsky, racy. “Gretchen developed a simple but highly sophisticated model to explain her inter- analyzes the function of esting and, in some ways, surprising findings.” Among those findings was the realization informal institutions in Latin that courts sometimes look independent of the current government when in fact they are America and how they already currying favor with the next. support or weaken democratic governance. When Helmke first started conducting her field research in Buenos Aires some 20 years Drawing from a wide range of examples, the ago, it turned out to be an adventure, of sorts. It dawned on her pretty quickly that despite contributors examine how informal rules shape her nearly fluent Spanish, she wasn’t getting anywhere fast. In 1997, for a graduate stu- the performance of state and democratic dent with no established reputation in the field and little experience, doors didn’t exact- institutions, including contemporary problems ly fly open. Studying one of the most politicized institutions in Argentina—the Argentine of governability, the “unrule of law,” and the Supreme Court—she often didn’t even know on which ones to knock. absence of effective representation, participa- “It’s very unusual for a young American woman to go to the Supreme Court and ask tion, and accountability in Latin America. them what they’re doing,” says Helmke. Courts Under Constraints: Helmke would soon learn that in a country like Argentina, she first needed to gain ac- Judges, Generals, and cess to the right political networks in order for its key members to help open doors for Presidents in Argentina her and to point her in the right directions. Even looking the part became important. Her (Cambridge University Press student outfit—jeans, a backpack, and tennis shoes—just didn’t cut it. 2005) grew out of Helmke’s “To be taken seriously by local elites you needed to wear heels and a suit, and carry a dissertation about Argentine bag,” Helmke says. “And you needed business cards.” courts and why some Fast forward to today. She’s long ditched the heels. On most days, a simple white can- deferred to the president vas bag, bearing the logo of a public radio station, holds her iPad and necessary papers. while others were independent. Helmke The sneakers have returned. Now the author of multiple scholarly works, she has re- concluded that courts sometimes look ceived prestigious fellowships from the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the independent of the current government when in University of Notre Dame, the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard fact they are already currying favor with the University, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, next government. D.C. In 2016 Helmke became a full professor.
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RochRev_May2018.indb 46 6/8/18 2:03 PM As a PhD advisor, Helmke has influenced a new gener- Keeping an Eye on Democracy ation of scholars. One is Rabia Malik ’16 (PhD), currently Bright Line Watch periodically surveys an expert sample of about 1,000 political a postdoctoral associate in political science at New York science faculty at American universities and a nationally representative sample of University Abu Dhabi. Helmke’s advice and mentorship 2,000 adults. Each group is asked to rate the importance of 27 democratic stan- “were invaluable to me as a grad student and that hasn’t dards and to assess how they are currently upheld in the United States. Here is a changed since I left,” says Malik, who recalls that the road comparison of the public sample’s responses from September 2017 and April 2018. to finding her dissertation topic was anything but linear. “Through the endless months of chasing different ideas Public Belief That Democratic Standards Are Mostly or Fully Met that all resulted in dead ends, Gretchen was the one who didn’t let me lose hope, despite my fears that I was falling Standards ranked by importance April 2018 September 2017 behind. Without her supporting me that way, there’s no 1 way I could’ve completed my PhD, to be blunt.” 2 3 4 ast fall, Helmke embarked on a new project, 5 tentatively titled “To My Enemies, the Law”— 6 an utterance attributed to Brazilian President 7 (who at some point turned into a dictator) 8 9 Getúlio Vargas. In it, Helmke looks at the fre- 10 quency with which Latin American leaders are 11 put on trial within 10 years after leaving office. 12 13 With the research assistance of political science honors 14 student Adriana Tobar ’18—who has been gathering data 15 on all Latin American leaders since 1980—Helmke can 16 17 say with confidence that more than a quarter of all dem- 18 ocratically elected leaders in the region were, indeed, 19 tried after losing office. 20 She’s now working on a theoretical model to try to 21 22 understand under what circumstances corruption trials 23 are used as political weapons, and when they actually 24 serve as legitimately working mechanisms of democrat- 25 26 ic accountability. 27 The approach illustrates how Helmke’s expertise in 0 percent 20 40 60 80 100 democratic political institutions and the rule of law— regardless of geographic location—lends itself to Bright Democratic Standards Line Watch. Scrutinized in a wider, international context 1 Elections are conducted, ballots counted, due to their political beliefs and of democratic erosion, certain domestic patterns might and winners determined without ideologies pervasive fraud or manipulation become apparent and be recognized more easily. 16 Government protects individuals’ right 2 All adult citizens have equal opportunity to engage in unpopular speech or As the group mulls over the results of its latest sur- to vote expression vey—and a growing number of media outlets, including 3 All adult citizens enjoy the same legal and 17 The legislature is able to effectively limit the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street political rights executive power Journal take notice—they’ve begun to ponder import- 4 Citizens have access to information about 18 The judiciary is able to effectively limit ant hypotheticals. Would violating a democratic prin- candidates that is relevant to how they executive power would govern ciple that most citizens agree on as being vital trigger a 19 Even when there are disagreements 5 Law enforcement investigations of public about ideology or policy, political leaders defense of American democracy? Would political lead- officials or their associates are free from generally share a common understanding ers act against their own immediate partisan interests to political influence or interference of relevant facts protect a higher ideal? And what would be the violation 6 Government officials are legally 20 Voter participation in elections is threshold for such a response to occur? sanctioned for misconduct generally high Helmke says her Bright Line work reminds her of 7 Elections are free from foreign influence 21 The geographic boundaries of electoral a sentence uttered by a then little-known, 28-year-old 8 Executive authority cannot be expanded districts do not systematically advantage beyond constitutional limits any particular political party lawyer. A gifted orator, he would later go on to become 9 Citizens can make their opinions heard 22 Government does not interfere with one of the most influential presidents of the United in open debate about policies that are journalists or news organizations States. In one of his first published speeches—the so- under consideration 23 Information about the sources of called Lyceum Address—given 23 years before the Civil 10 All votes have equal impact on election campaign funding is available to the War, Abraham Lincoln talked about threats to the rule of outcomes public law and political institutions in the United States. 11 The elected branches respect judicial 24 Public policy is not determined by large independence “We hope all dangers may be overcome, but to con- campaign contributions 12 Government protects individuals’ right to 25 Government effectively prevents private clude that no danger may ever arise would itself be ex- engage in peaceful protest actors from engaging in politically tremely dangerous,” Lincoln cautioned his audience. 13 Government officials do not use public motivated violence or intimidation. And these days, being aware of such dangers, Helmke office for private gain 26 Elected officials seek compromise with says, is more important than ever.r 14 Government agencies are not used political opponents to monitor, attack, or punish political 27 Political competition occurs without opponents Listen to a Quadcast conversation with Gretchen criticism of opponents’ loyalty or 15 Parties and candidates are not barred patriotism Helmke and Mitch Sanders: http://urochester.libsyn. com/website/2018/04. SOURCE: BRIGHTLINEWATCH.ORG
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RochRev_May2018.indb 47 6/10/18 11:09 PM Alumni Gazette
IDEAS The Staggering Cost of Being Black in America Armed with the tools of modern finance, engineer and businessman Shawn Rochester ’97 offers an accounting. Interview by Karen McCally ’02 (PhD) “There’s a cost there. At some point, I’ll go back and I’ll look at that, and I’ll see if I The premise isn’t new: engineer and business executive Shawn can quantify it.” Rochester ’97, in a recent book, The Black Tax: The Cost of Being But the trigger for actually doing it Black in America (Good Steward Publishing), shows myriad ways was when I was developing a course to in which African Americans have borne and continue to bear fi- help people with personal financial man- nancial costs rooted in racial discrimination. agement. I realized that there are three But while there’s been a steady outpouring of studies detailing things that prevent us as African Amer- racial discrimination in housing, consumer lending, e-commerce, icans from accumulating wealth. One is the job search, social programs, and other aspects of American that we are lacking the knowledge to put economic life, Rochester has found a way to organize and share our limited resources to their best use. that information to increase its impact. He surveys much of the The next is that we do very little com- research in the form of a slender paperback. And while many stud- merce with black businesses and service ies focus on the discriminatory nature of policies, and the mor- providers. The last is the massive cost of al wrongs associated with them, Rochester notes that his book discrimination. If we had better access to is among very few, if any, that examine the costs of being black information, we could actually accumulate through the lens of personal finance. significant resources, and if we did busi- Relying on research in journals of economics, law, and pub- ness with black enterprise, we could cre- lic policy, Rochester tallies the lost income of blacks, relative to ate millions of jobs. But the problem is, we whites, as a result of racial discrimination in the private market- also have biases against ourselves, and of- place as well as in government-sponsored economic develop- ten view doing business with black enter- ment initiatives. The costs to black individuals and families are prises as a cost or a form of charity. So I sobering. Take the example of a car purchase. Rochester looks at started looking at what the research says the research and adds it up: $1,100 more in purchase price; $500 about the costs that we actually bear, and more interest per year on an auto loan; an additional $500 more the idea really just started to evolve. It’s per year in insurance premiums, all of which could cost a black kind of like when you start pulling on that family more than $70,000 over a lifetime. string on your sweater. Some really inter- When it comes to the aggregate costs associated with public esting things start to happen. programs and discriminatory laws, the figures are staggering. The list of programs from which African Americans were excluded, Why do you think there have been so few either explicitly or in practical terms, is long, including the land efforts to quantify the costs of racial grants provided under the Homestead Act of 1862 (a $1.6 trillion discrimination to African Americans? loss), the Social Security Act (a $143 billion loss), and the GI Bill I think there are two things going on. We have a tradition of fo- of Rights (up to a $45 billion loss). By the time he adds in an esti- cusing on the injustice and the immorality of things. We have a mated value of uncompensated labor through nearly 250 years of tradition of focusing on civil rights and notions of coming togeth- slavery and the economic deprivation from 75 years of Jim Crow, er, which are important outcomes. It seems like there was an as- he arrives at a grand total of more than $70 trillion. sumption that economic advancement would just flow naturally Rochester worked in industry after earning his bachelor of sci- from civil rights. So economics took a back seat. ence degree in chemical engineering. He went on to earn an MBA There’s also just such little information out there about from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and this story of continuous economic deprivation. I think we have a worked for more than a decade in executive roles in global sales qualitative sense that things were bad. I think we have a qualita- and distribution, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning tive sense that it was a long time ago. But as for how bad it was, it’s before starting his own financial education and advisory service, very difficult to come across this information. Good Steward. The Black Tax is the first book in his Good Steward But my training fits into providing this information. So I thought, Financial Empowerment Series. “Let’s try to quantify it.” And what I’ve found is a lot of people working on small portions of a large puzzle, creating the important When did you start thinking about what you call the black tax? elements of the calculation, but in many disparate places. I was well into my corporate career, but post business school. Periodically, I would read articles about some research about You’ve spoken about the book to a range of audiences—a discrimination in a particular marketplace. And I would think, multiracial audience at Google, an elite group of black business
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executives, undergraduates at Rochester, United Nations ADDING IT UP: In a recent book, businessman and engineer Rochester ambassadors. What kinds of reactions have you received? examines the financial impact of racial discrimination onA frican The reactions are, “Wow. I had no idea.” That’s what I hear contin- Americans. Just how much can it cost black families over a lifetime? ually. I think there’s also a sense of, “I felt this way. But I couldn’t What’s been the cost to African Americans over centuries? put the words to it.” The question I get inundated with is, “What can we do?” an Inheritance for Your Children’s Children. It offers financial -ad vice targeted to African Americans, in the context of the circum- How do you respond to that question? stances outlined in The Black Tax. SOuL stands for practicing I urge people to do what I call getting your PHD: Purchase, Hire, Stewardship, Ownership, and Legacy. and Deposit black. The majority of impact happens through pay- And then my other project is to help people who are looking for rolls and supply chains. And then, if you put deposits in a black those black enterprises to find them. People want to act on what financial institution, you’re directly investing in black enterprise, they now want to do. I’m working on putting something together. which is starved of capital. That’s hugely powerful. And anybody This is a grassroots movement. I think people are coming from can do that. the right place. I think it’s wonderful when people cut a check My next projects continue to address this question. I’ve com- to the Boys and Girl Club, or some other nonprofit organization pleted a second book in my Good Steward Financial Empower- in the black community. But don’t do just that when you control ment Series, which will be out soon. It’s called CPR for the SOuL: a business that has a $15 billion supply chain. You could create How to Give Yourself a 20% Raise, Eliminate Your Debt, and Leave 10,000 jobs.r
JESSICA HILL/AP IMAGES FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 49
RochRev_May2018.indb 49 6/10/18 11:09 PM ALUMNI GAZETTE ALUMNI FORUM The World’s a Stage How does your experience in the performing arts affect your work in other fields?
Professions for some and hobbies for oth- brunch with my friend feeling ener- to bring the two worlds of dance ers, the performing arts can assert them- gized and hopeful. I connected on and technology together. Then selves in anyone’s daily life, often in a visceral level with the musical il- I attended a conference called unexpected ways. lustration and began to execute it. DevOpsDays Madison. One In the inaugural Rochester Review In a chamber orchestra, the of the speakers urged me to alumni forum, three alumni with careers conductor has the big picture start thinking about my ex- in business and technology—all with vision. It’s the conductor’s job perience straddling the two, long-term involvement in the performing to hear every intricate detail as it’s such a unique perspec- arts—describe how they draw on their arts and determine whether it is tive in the tech industry. At an- experiences in the rest of their work lives. contributing or not to the other event last March, success of the whole. the NYC Service De- Angela Kim ’95E The concert- sign Jam, I met Tim master conveys Gilligan, a design- A former concert pianist, Angela Kim is the conductor’s er who also has a the founder and CEO of Savor Beauty + vision to the prin- background in the- Spa, transforming some of the Korean cipals, who connect ater, and who also skin-care rituals she grew up with to pro- their sections to the entire urged me to dig into duce organic and easy-to-apply products. ensemble. The principal’s goal this perspective. The company has three New York City is for their section not to sound like Tim and I recently launched a locations and ships worldwide through individual voices with different bowings blog called “Performing Design: In- partners including Nordstrom, Neiman and character, but to blend to become forming Design Practices with Lessons Marcus, and QVC. one with the section and, ultimate- from Performing Arts” (http://performing. ly, with the orchestra. design). It turns out there’s a lot more ma- I started making lotions and In business, one can replace terial there than I ever really thought about. potions as a hobby in my the conductor with the CEO, For example, I write about embodied cog- Manhattan kitchen in be- the concertmaster with a COO, nition, which is a fairly recent concept in tween practicing Beethoven the principals with managers, cognitive science that explores how we use and Mozart. My chamber and each section with the dif- our bodies—beyond just the brain—to help music colleagues be- ferent departments operating us perceive, interpret, and understand the gan asking if they in a business. world. Embodied cognition is imperative could buy the creams A year after I began for dancers, who use the physical sensa- from me, and I be- executing this new tion of moving their bodies through space came an “accidental vision, we are more to both understand and remember chore- entrepreneur.” harmonious and co- ography. But it helps designers as well by I was recently hesive, and I feel teaching them to try to physically interact asked what the most supported by the “en- with something they’ve sketched out. challenging aspect of semble” who works I started dancing at Rochester. I nev- transitioning from con- together for the overall er imagined that a ballroom dancing cert pianist to businesswoman vision that I have set forth as class would have catapulted my interest has been, and my response was leading a the “conductor.” in all things dance and would inform my cohesive company comprised of a growing Is our work done? Not by a long shot, approach to technology and problem- team, now with 25 employees. but that’s another thing music taught me. solving, nor would I have thought I would I had frequently performed with a cel- The work will never be done, and that’s the have been able to live a life in both worlds. list, a dear friend who is now the principal beauty of it all. But, I have. My dual degree in computer cellist of one of the nation’s finest cham- science and psychology, combined with a ber orchestras. I told her of my scaling Brad Orego ’10, ’11 (T5) minor in dance (I was the first dance minor challenges, and she said something that granted by the University), has given me a changed my life: “You should run your Brad Orego is a user-experience researcher, perspective that no one else has. company like a chamber orchestra,” she product designer, entrepreneur, and dancer. told me. “Not like a top-tier orchestra that He designs and builds products with Mark Perlberg ’78 is run like a major corporation, but like a Prolific Interactive and dances profes- chamber orchestra that attracts equally tal- sionally with Kanopy Dance Company in Mark Perlberg is president and CEO of the ented musicians who are more interested Madison, Wisconsin, and Sokolow Theater human resources firm Oasis Outsourcing, in a collaborative ensemble where their Dance Ensemble in New York City. a leading business in the industry with creative and artistic input matters.” more than 1,000 employees. He also serves We talked through the idea. I left the Historically, I never really made an effort on the boards of the Minneapolis-based
50 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 JULIA JOSHPE
RochRev_May2018.indb 50 6/10/18 11:09 PM ALUMNI GAZETTE Playwrights’ Center, which is focused on developing new work, and the non- U.S. Attorney Robert Khuzami ’79 Leads profit theater company Palm Beach Investigation of Trump Lawyer Dramaworks, where he is cocreator The United States Attorney’s investigation and executive producer of the Master of Michael Cohen, a lawyer for President Playwright Series. Donald Trump, is being led by Robert Khuzami ’79. Named deputy United States I was consumed by theater when I was a attorney for the Southern District of New student at Rochester. I did some acting and York last January, Khuzami took on the then, as a sophomore, I directed a Drama role after interim U.S. Attorney Geoffrey House production of Steinbeck’s Of Mice Berman, a Trump appointee, recused and Men. I didn’t have any experience himself from the case. with directing at the time, but it showed Khuzami began his legal career in the me I had an aptitude and an appetite for same office. As a prosecutor there from it. I went on to direct two musicals along 1991 to 2002, he won the conviction of with many other productions in college, Omar Ahmed Ali Abdel Rahman in the 1993 and have continued my involvement in the- bombing of the World Trade Center. He also ater to this day. won several high-profile convictions as head My experience in theater has benefited of the office’s Securities and Commodities my professional work in that, above all else, Fraud Task Force. From 2009 to 2013, he it has taught me about people. It has given ASKING QUESTIONS: Khuzami leads the led the enforcement division of the Securi- investigation as deputy U.S. attorney for ties and Exchange Commission. the Southern District of New York.
Alumni Head to UK for Select International Scholarship Program Two alumni are among 92 people world- wide to be awarded the 2018 Gates Cam- bridge Scholarship—considered the most prestigious international postgraduate scholarship offered by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Levan Bokeria ’14 and Garrett Rubin ’12E, ’13 (T5) were selected from a pool of 5,798 applicants on the basis of their intel- lectual ability, commitment to improving Levan Bokeria Garrett Rubin me the “soft” skills that are so important in the lives of others, leadership potential, business. From the stage, I’ve learned that and academic fit with Cambridge. the Roseville, California, native complet- everyone is different and that getting ev- Bokeria will pursue a PhD in biological ed a master of philosophy in education, eryone to perform at their best requires the science at the MRC Cognition and Brain globalization, and international devel- ability to ascertain what makes each one Sciences Unit at Cambridge. He was born opment at Cambridge, through support “tick.” Ultimately, a director is in charge and raised in Tbilisi, the capital of the from Rotary International’s Global Grant of making a performance happen and pro- Republic of Georgia, and transferred from Scholarship program. ducing a cohesive event that makes an im- George Mason University to Rochester, While studying voice at Eastman, Rubin pact on people. where he majored in philosophy and brain completed a Take Five Scholar program It’s what a CEO does, too. I love direct- and cognitive sciences. A Phi Beta Kappa entitled US–Middle Eastern Cultural Diplo- ing and I always have—whether it’s for a member, he earned highest distinction macy and was honored with the Presiden- stage production or within the parameters honors in both of his majors. tial Award for Community Service. In 2013, of doing business. You have to get people After Rochester, Bokeria continued his he also won a Fulbright mtv-U Award to to cooperate with one another to achieve scientific training at Georgetown Univer- Jordan. Given to just four applicants each results. You have to build an environment sity in Washington, D.C., where he was a year, the mvt-U grant supports projects where people can communicate openly research assistant and laboratory manager. that promote music as a global force for and where there’s a high degree of trust. He is now at the Donders Institute for mutual understanding. You also have to be comfortable experi- Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, in the Neth- Three other alumni—David Liebers ’09, menting, building consensus, testing ideas, erlands, and will graduate in August with a Anjalene Whittier ’14, and Pedro and responding to audience or customer master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience. Vallejo-Ramirez ’16—have won the schol- feedback. Rubin will pursue a PhD in education at arship in previous years. Vallejo-Ramirez I find I use my directing skills every Cambridge, with a focus on the sociology was selected while still a student at Roch- day.r of education in armed conflict. Last year, ester. —Jim Mandelaro
JULIA JOSHPE (PERLBERG); MATTHEW HINTON/AP IMAGES (KHUZAMI) May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 51
RochRev_May2018.indb 51 6/10/18 11:09 PM ALUMNI GAZETTE Noted Optical Scientist Eyed for Leadership Role at Imperial College London Ian Walmsley ’86 (PhD), a pioneer in ultra- funders and has worked to engage wider Cornell, Harvard, Rutgers, and Stanford. He fast and quantum optics and a former faculty audiences with scientific research. led the Institute during a period of transition member of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, Elected a fellow of the American Physical in 2000. has been named provost at Imperial College Society in 2001, Walmsley has helped advance A dedicated teacher, Walmsley won the London, effective September 1, 2018. the fields of spectroscopy, cryptography, Goergen Award for Distinguished Achieve- He is currently pro-vice-chancellor for quantum computing, and precision measure- ment and Artistry in Undergraduate Edu- research and innovation and Hooke Professor ment. He joined the Institute of Optics faculty cation from Arts, Sciences & Engineering in of Experimental Physics at the University of in 1988 and became director of the Center for 1999. Oxford. Quantum Information Systems, established He is an undergraduate alumnus of Impe- At Oxford, Walmsley has overseen the in 1999 with a Department of Defense grant rial College, having earned a BSc degree with university’s relationships with its research and drawing together faculty from Rochester, first-class honors in physics. —Karen McCally NETWORK with fellow alumni Flutist Named MENTOR Yamaha Young students (or anyone) Performing Artist Flutist Abby Easterling ’18E is one of 11 win- ners of the 2018 Yamaha Young Performing CONNECT Artists Competition. The competition, in its within the platform 30th year, recognizes young artists ages 18 to 22 with exceptional promise in jazz, classical, and via video chat and contemporary music. As an award winner, Easterling will travel to a celebration weekend at Ball State University in June, during which she’ll deliver a live per- formance that will be professionally recorded and photographed and attend workshops on launching a professional career. Previously, Easterling was the winner of the National Flute Association Masterclass Com- petition. In summer 2014, just prior to begin- ning her studies at Eastman, the Dallas-area native was selected as part of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. —Karen McCally MEDIA MAESTRO: Composer Ko combines aural, visual, and tactile elements. ACCOLADES Multimedia Composer of ‘Tactile Performance’ Recognized with Guggenheim Fellowship Join The Meliora Collective, the University of Rochester’s Composer Tonia Ko ’10E has continued sculpture serves as both visual art and a sound new online community devoted to creating meaningful to rack up honors ever since winning the installation. She writes, “I have developed Eastman composition department’s award for a mode of tactile performance—techniques connections, opportunities, and growth for you. excellence, the Louis Lane Prize, three out of that reveal a material’s potential as both art her four years as a student. and sound object. For example, bubble wrap’s Her latest accolade is a 2018 Guggenheim buoyancy, transparency, and inherent rhythm fellowship, a testament to her past achieve- determine its sonic identity and the perform- ments and continued creative promise. er’s physical movements. I investigate the THECOLLECTIVE.ROCHESTER.EDU Ko, who was born in Hong Kong and raised space where pressure meets friction.” in Honolulu, incorporates a variety of media Ko’s works have been performed at such into her compositions, bringing aural, visual, venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy and tactile elements together. In her ongoing Center, and at the Tanglewood, Aspen, and URAlumniRelations project “Breath, Contained,” for example, Ko Santa Fe chamber music festivals. From 2015 uofralumni transforms stretches of bubble wrap into a ver- to 2017, she was composer-in-residence for FIRST-RATE FLUTIST: Easterling wins an elite satile musical instrument. In “Whistling Tree,” Young Concert Artists. —Karen McCally early-career award. UofR
52 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 MATT DINE (KO); COURTESY OF YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA (EASTERLING)
RochRev_May2018.indb 52 6/10/18 11:09 PM NETWORK with fellow alumni MENTOR students (or anyone) CONNECT within the platform and via video chat
Join The Meliora Collective, the University of Rochester’s new online community devoted to creating meaningful connections, opportunities, and growth for you.
THECOLLECTIVE.ROCHESTER.EDU
URAlumniRelations uofralumni UofR
RochRev_May2018.indb 53 6/8/18 2:03 PM Class Notes
GRADUATING GRADUATES: Master’s and doctoral candidates line up during commencement ceremonies in 1988, when the robes for postbaccalaureate candidates were Dandelion yellow. Recognize anyone? Write to us at [email protected].
al degree at Rutgers while working proud Rochester alumnus,” writes minority member of what was College full time and raising a family, which his daughter, Lori. He grew up in then called the Committee on ARTS, SCIENCES & ENGINEERING grew to include five children and New Baltimore, New York, and after Labor and Public Welfare) marked eight grandchildren. Paul spent most graduating from Rochester, served the beginning of my Washington 1950 Dave Morrow died in of his career in R&D at Polaroid, in the U.S. Navy and started a family. career.” The award announcement, January in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he was instrumental in for- “Chuck had a successful career mentioning her Rochester BA in at age 92, writes a friend, Wayne mulating the highly popular SX-70 with the State of New York . . . The political science and history, can be Drew. Dave was a U.S. Army veteran instant film. story of Chuck’s life would include found at Adfl.mla.org. and later worked in education and his talents in many areas, including education administration, including 1960 Michael Blumenfield sends photography, public speaking, 1971 David Skonieczki, as a school principal in Le Roy, New an update: he coedited Depression historical research, writing, and recently retired from Fidelity York, and as director of admissions As a Systemic Illness (Oxford papermaking,” adds Lori. Investments, published Selling and dean of students at Roberts University Press), released in March. Options . . . Simply Called and Simply Wesleyan College in Rochester, Michael is the Sidney E. Frank 1970 Miriam Kazanjian, a Put (TheBookPatch) earlier this year. where a residence hall is named Distinguished Professor Emeritus of founder of and independent David presents the primer for new- in honor of Dave and his late wife, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences consultant for the Coalition for comers to equity options trading in Beryl (Jean). at New York Medical College. He and International Education, received an autobiographical format. his wife, Susan, live in Woodland the Award for Distinguished Service 1951 Mario Sparagana ’55M (MD) Hills, California, where he has a to the Profession from the Modern published Musings (Peppertree part-time psychiatry practice and Language Association/Association of Abbreviations Press), a book of poetry, in January. where, he says, they can frequent- Departments of Foreign Languages E Eastman School of Music ly see their three children and four for her longtime national advocacy M School of Medicine 1953 Paul MacGregor died grandchildren, who live in the area. and policy work on international and Dentistry at home in South Hadley, . . . George Hole ’68 (PhD), SUNY and foreign language education. N School of Nursing Massachusetts, in February. His son, Distinguished Teaching Professor at “This is the first time in the history S Simon Business School Bob, sends Paul’s obituary, which Buffalo State College, published a of this award that it was given to W Warner School of Education appeared in the Daily Hampshire book of poems, Buffalo Dust (Buffalo a nonacademic,” Miriam writes, Mas Master’s degree Gazette. Paul was a native of Arts Publishing), in June 2017. adding that, “My 1970 participation RC River Campus Rochester and, after graduating in [the University’s] Washington Res Medical Center residency and then serving in the Military 1966 Chuck Friday died in Semester Program as an intern Flw Postdoctoral fellowship Intelligence Corps, pursued a doctor- December 2017. “He was a very for Senator Jacob Javits (ranking Pdc Postdoctoral certificate
54 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND PRESERVATION
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1974 Paul Strauchler died in Jan- Rudzinsky, Dan Hertzel, Joe uary. Maralyn Goldsmith Solarz, Sherman, and yours truly.” Nancy Spector Rosenwasser, and Marc Rosenwasser write: “Paul 1984 Scott Rummler sends lived with his characteristic exuber- an update: “I am the founder of ance for one year after being diag- BooleanGrid, a fintech start-up. It nosed with a rare cancer. A partner is the only product that screens in the New Jersey law firm Post stocks using concepts drawn from Polak, Goodsell & Strauchler, he con- quantum mechanics. Initial testing tinued to work as an attorney, make indicates it may have the ability to crazy road trips to major- and minor- predict and beat the market. I’ll be league baseball stadiums, and, liter- giving a fintech presentation hosted ally, put his foot down in previously by Saddlerock Advisors in New York unvisited U.S. states. He and a dear City, and BooleanGrid was covered in childhood buddy regularly visited AlleyWatch. More information is at favorite New Jersey and New York 1980 Goldstein BooleanGrid.com.” City karaoke bars to belt out tunes from long, exhaustively researched 1985 Mike Livingston sends an song lists Paul prepared. This past update: “On March 6, I received my November, Paul traveled to Argen- second U.S. patent for my work at tina with his daughters, Andrea CA Technologies, patent 9,910,854, and Robin. Paul also remained an ‘Managing Embedded Digital active and optimistic online dating Signature Locations in a Stream of aficionado, as well as a rabid, life- Data Files.’ In June, I’ll be celebrat- long Mets fan. A political junkie, ing my 16th wedding anniversary Paul expressed regret that he would and my 15th anniversary with CA not live to see the completion of Technologies. Where does the time the Mueller investigation. Paul was go? And if anyone’s curious, yes, I’m loved and supported by his daugh- still going to Washington Capitals ters; stepson; sister, Meg Novorro, games, having had my season tickets and brother-in-law, Richard Nov- since 1986.” . . . Kim Mehalick (see orro; nieces; and best friends. He 1987 Jensen “Working on the Webb,” page 56). always kept up with his many and varied Rochester friends. His stead- 1986 Joel Salomon published fast presence, intelligence, conversa- Mindful Money Management: tion, sense of humor, and wacky zest Memoirs of a Hedge Fund Manager for life will be truly missed.” (SaLaurMor) in January. Joel is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, 1975 Mark Waldman ’78 (MS) a chartered financial analyst, an (see “Working on the Webb,” page Infinite Possibilities certified trainer, 56). and a prosperity coach.
1976 Joseph Long is continu- 1987 Lee Feinberg (see “Working ing to build an international busi- on the Webb,” page 56). . . . Maria ness advisory group, Oaklawn Budihas Jensen writes, “During Partners, in Washington, D.C. He Meliora Weekend 2017, former was recently made a member of Rochester women soccer players the Worshipful Company of Master 1990 McLean gathered to celebrate the opening of Mariners in London. An NROTC par- the Boehning Varsity House, named ticipant at Rochester, Joe is also part Gurnett (see ’87). . . . Dan Kimmel Rubino Behrman, and son, Matthew for Julie and Chris Boehning ’88 of a new company in microsatellite (Daniel M. Kimmel as author and film Behrman. Matthew is a family physi- (MS), and the Big R Atrium, named communications. critic) writes that, to his “complete cian and Lindsey is a dentist. for Stephen Biggar ’92 and Liz surprise,” he received the Skylark Asaro-Biggar ’92. Most important- 1977 Brett Gold writes that his Award from the New England 1980 Hal Goldstein writes: “To ly, we joined together for the dedi- CD, Dreaming Big, consisting of Science Fiction Association at the celebrate 40 years of friendship that cation of the Women’s Soccer Locker 11 original big band compositions annual convention in February. started in Gilbert Hall, this group got Room, named for our much-loved recorded by the Brett Gold New Previous recipients of the award together over Father’s Day weekend coach Terry Gurnett ’77. Terry made York Jazz Orchestra, has been rec- include Terry Pratchett, George R. R. last summer on Cape Cod (where we an incredible difference in all of ognized by several jazz blogs on Martin, Orson Scott Card, and Isaac re-created a Smitty’s/Sal’s feast), in our lives. He believed in us, and we their “best of 2017” lists. It was Asimov. “I’m utterly amazed to be in Boston Harbor, and at Fenway Park believed in him. This was a special named best debut recording of their company,” he adds. to see Dead & Company. The week- way to let Terry know how deeply we 2017 by W. Royal Stokes and fifth- end was dubbed ‘G3/40’—the ‘G3’ appreciated him. We have so many best big band recording of the year 1979 Joseph Behrman ’84D stands for ‘Grateful Gilbert Getaway.’ fond memories we will cherish for- and a top 25 instrumental album by writes to announce the birth of his Hoping to have more G3s in the ever!” Pictured from left to right Arnaldo deSouteiro’s Jazz Station. grandson, Theo Behrman. Theo future! Pictured from left to right outside the door to the new locker Jazz Station also recognized Brett was born at Washington Hospital, are Steve Jensen, Arthur Brown, room are Laura Gelina ’90, ’94W as sixth-best composer and third- near Pittsburgh, in August 2017 to Rich Hodin, Glen Mattioli, Bruce (MS), Liz, Maria, Terry, and Dave and best arranger of 2017. . . . Terry Joseph’s daughter-in-law, Lindsey Forman, Chuck Weinstein, Howard Molly O’Donovan Dix ’89.
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1989 Molly O’Donovan Dix (see ’87).
1990 Patria Frias-Colon was sworn in as Brooklyn’s first elected Dominican-born judge, a milestone that was highlighted by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyneagle.com). . . . Laura Gelina ’94W (MS) (see ’87). . . . Renee Saunders Gracey (see “Working on the Webb,” right). . . . Mary Ann Cook McLean sends a photo (see page 55) and writes, “The ladies of Fairchild 410, Class of 1990, Alexandra Bodnar, Sumilu Cue, Julie Chang Poist, Sarah Wood Sandler, and I, got together in Fenwick Island, Delaware, in October 2017 to celebrate 27 years (gasp!) since graduation. It was like no time had passed, although we really TESTING: Several Rochester alumni took part in a series of tests of the James Webb Space Telescope at missed Maria Dario Nizza.” NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston last summer and fall. From left to right are Renee Saunders Gracey ’90, Matthew Bergkoetter ’17 (PhD), Tom Zielinski ’11, Scott Paine (PhD candidate), Alden Jurling ’15 (PhD), 1992 Stephen Biggar and Liz Kim Mehalick ’85, Lee Feinberg ’87, Mark Waldman ’75, ’78 (MS), Joe Howard ’00 (PhD), and Garrett West Asaro-Biggar (see ’87). . . . Amy ’12, ’14 (MS). According to Waldman, participating in the project, but not pictured, are David Aronstein ’02 Frishberg Siegal writes that she has (PhD), Joe Cosentino ’14, ’15 (MS), John Johnston ’93, Conrad Wells ’89, ’91 (MS), Tony Whitman ’88 (MS), and joined Valerie Wilson Travel in New Michael Zarella ’13. York City as a travel advisor, and, after several years living in Italy, TELESCOPE TEAM Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo, she’s collaborating with the agency to Working on the Webb help her clients discover and enjoy The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Integrated Science Instrument Module (OTIS) was the world as she has. She welcomes James Webb Space Telescope, under way since 1996, placed in the space center’s Chamber A, where it mail at her new email address, [email protected]. is scheduled to launch in May 2020. When it does, it was subjected to a simulated space environment, promises to yield knowledge about the universe that including high vacuum and cryogenic temperatures 1993 George Molnar has relocat- surpasses even what the awe-inspiring images of its to 40 Kelvin, for 100 days. The system underwent ed to Washington, D.C., to lead the predecessor, the Hubble telescope, have shown. optical, thermal, and functional testing, which had PBS WARN Project, providing public Last summer and fall, several Rochester alumni been planned for over 10 years.” alert and warning and emergency played roles in a series of tests of some of the key Several Rochester faculty are also prominent communications support through elements of the telescope. The tests took place among scientists working on the telescope. They Public Television. from July through October at NASA’s Johnson Space include Duncan Moore, the Rudolf and Hilda King- Center in Houston. slake Professor in Optical Engineering Science, who 1995 James (Josh) Link died in Writes optical consultant Mark Waldman ’75, ’78 chairs the product integrity board advising NASA January, his father, Troland Link, writes. After graduation, Josh went (MS): “U of R graduates supported the cryo-vacuum on the project; James Fienup, the Robert E. Hopkins to the French Culinary Institute and testing of the James Webb Space Telescope. . . . In Professor of Optics; and professors of physics and was a chef at the Stagecoach Tavern this test, the Webb’s Optical Telescope Element and astronomy William Forrest and Judith Pipher. in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
1997 Atif Sheikh has been elect- 2005 Adam Bink writes: “I’d love 2007 Beth Devine and Marc Brody ’05, Mark Salama ’06, ed to the Pennsylvania Humanities to share the news that I bought my Perez ’06 were married last October Alexander Gustafik ’05, ’08W (MS), Council board of directors. Atif is first home, a condo in the Pacific near their home in Napa Valley. Beth and Francis Liu ’05. cofounder and resident curator of Cannery Lofts, a converted build- writes, “We first met in spring 2004 the Philadelphia gallery 12Gates ing with an award-winning design, on the River Campus, during a party 2011 Tom Zielinski (see “Working Arts, where he curates an annual in the rapidly growing area of West between Sigma Delta Tau sorority on the Webb,” above). experimental video arts festival, in Oakland.” . . . Neil Spitkovsky sends and Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.” addition to several other exhibits, a photo from his wedding. He married Pictured are: (front row, from left) 2012 Garrett West ’14 (MS) (see including an ongoing project con- Rachel John in October 2017 at the Michael Mastromonaco ’05, Bijan “Working on the Webb,” above). cerning “alternative narratives of Coney Island Museum in Brooklyn. Pajoohi ’05, Dulip Ratnasoma ’05, history and exploration of memory Pictured from left to right are Lauren Jamie Svenson, Alec Immerman through art.” After studying com- Kaskey ’06, Andrew Newman ’06, ’06; (middle row, from left) Leonard Graduate puter science and economics at Jason Thall ’06, Neil, Nick Sciretta, Zheleznyak ’05, ’14 (PhD), Aedan ARTS, SCIENCES & ENGINEERING Rochester, Atif earned a mas- Rachel, Nels Youngborg, and Carol Coffey, Michelle Potash Brody ter’s degree from the University of Faden Berkow with her baby daugh- ’06, Maura McCourt Burton ’11N, 1949 Milton Rock (PhD) died in Pennsylvania in liberal arts with a ter, Helen. Brienne Dixon Anderson ’06, Keil January in Philadelphia, writes Rick focus on nonprofit administration Anderson ’05; (back row, from left) Shorin ’77, ’78S (MBA). The Hay and art history. 2006 Marc Perez (see ’07). Paul Sonneborn ’06, Alexander Group, the human resources con-
56 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 COURTESY OF MARK WALDMAN ’75, ’78 (MS)
rr_May2018_Notes.indd 56 6/11/18 9:57 AM CLASS NOTES sulting firm that Milton helped build many different places. This morn- after he completed his PhD in psy- ing I found one in a curious place— chology—and eventually served as the Trader Joe’s in Pittsford Plaza!” managing partner—is “an incredibly Mariana sends a photo of Rocky, successful organization, well known who was clad in a scarf and hat and in the Philadelphia area,” Rick writes. perched among the cut flowers on When Milton began working for the that February morning. company, it was a three-man orga- nization. When he retired in 1984, it 1993 Ian Gordon (PhD), an associ- had grown to include 94 offices in 27 ate professor of history at the Nation- countries. During his decades with al University of Singapore, has edited the company, he promoted its “Hay a collection of work by cartoonist System,” which became a foundation Ben Katchor, Ben Katchor: Conversa- for salary administration and exec- tions (University Press of Mississip- utive compensation throughout the pi). In 2017, Ian authored Superman: industry. Milton was also a dedicated The Persistence of an American Icon patron of the Philadelphia arts com- (Rutgers University Press) and coedit- 2005 Spitkovsky munity, serving for many years as an ed The Comics of Charles Schultz: The active board member of the Curtis Good Grief of Modern Life (University Institute of Music, the Pennsylvania Press of Mississippi). Ballet (which he chaired in the 1990s), and at Temple University, 1996 Margaret (Maggie) where he helped strengthen its McCarthy (PhD) writes that she’s music facilities. published Mad Mädchen: Feminism and Generational Conflict (Berghahn). 1958 Israel Charny (PhD) writes She’s the chair of the German studies that he “has now at age 86 published department and coordinator of the three books in just about one year.” film and media studies concentration A retired professor of psychology and at Davidson College. family therapy at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, 2000 Joe Howard (PhD) (see Charny is the author of Psychothera- “Working on the Webb,” page 56). py for a Democratic Mind: Treatment of Intimacy, Tragedy, Violence, and 2001 Nicholas (Nick) Waddy 2007 Devine and Perez Evil (Lexington Books, 2018); A Dem- (PhD) writes that he’s authored a ocratic Mind: Psychology and Psychi- textbook, The Essential Guide to atry with Fewer Meds and More Soul Western Civilization (Routledge). (Lexington Books, 2017); and The He’s an associate professor in the Genocide Contagion: How We Commit Department of Social and Behavioral and Confront Holocaust and Geno- Sciences at Alfred State College. cide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016). 2014 Garrett West (MS) (see 1968 George Hole (PhD) “Working on the Webb,” page 56). (see ’60 College). 2015 Arden Jurling (PhD) (see 1978 Mark Waldman (MS) (see “Working on the Webb,” page 56). “Working on the Webb,” page 56). 2017 Matthew Bergkoetter (PhD) 1988 Chris Boehning (MS) (see “Working on the Webb,” page (see ’87 College). 56). 1992G Rhoades 1992 Andreas Arvanitoyeorgos (PhD), an associate professor of Eastman School mathematics at the University of Music of Patras, won a research grant from the Empirikion Foundation of 1950 John (Billy) Tamblyn Athens, Greece. An expert on dif- (MA), ’61 (PhD) died in January, ferential geometry and topology, his wife, Carolyn, writes. A pianist Andreas writes that he received and composer, Billy was a native of the grant at a ceremony in the Old Auburn, Alabama, and served on Parliament building—an architectural the Auburn University faculty for landmark in Athens that, construct- four decades. A veteran of World ed in 1858, was the first permanent War II who served in the Pacific home of the Greek parliament. . . . theater, “Dr. T,” as he was later Mariana Rhoades (MS) writes: “As known to his students, founded the a UR graduate and a receiver of the Auburn Chamber Music Association Rochester Review, I have noticed and the Auburn chapter of Phi Mu the Yellowjacket icon appearing in Alpha. Although his music was per- 1969E Stern
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FOOTBALL ALUMNI Dinner with the Coach GRIDIRON GROUP: Former Yellowjacket football players gathered for their 13th annual spring “Dinner with the Coach” celebration to honor their iconic head coach, Pat Stark, and to reconnect with one another at Perlo’s restaurant in East Rochester in April. A Rochester and a Syracuse Hall of Famer, Coach Stark is credited with elevating the stature of the Yellowjacket football program during his coaching tenure at Rochester from 1969 to 1983, including a No. 1 Division III ranking in the East. This year’s dinner was an additionally special event as it marked 35 years since Coach Stark retired from the Rochester football sidelines, and he was presented with some special mementos of that occasion. A member of each of his Yellowjacket teams, and one from his coaching staff, traveled from throughout New York State, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Delaware, and Virginia to join in this celebration of enduring camaraderie. —Phil Chrys ’75 Kneeling: Brian Pasley ’76, Brian Heagney ’77, Mike Roulan ’71, Dave Don Barber ’79, John Cogar ’71, Mike Flanigan ’72, Herm Neid ’76, Cidale ’71, Rick Stark ’79, Tony Cipolla ’81, Mike Garritano ’76. Ray Kampff ’74. First row: Dave Skonieczki ’71, Phil Chrys ’75, Coach Pat Stark (head Fourth row: Roger Watts ’72, Jim Vazzana ’87, Leo Fusilli ’80, Rick coach, 1969–83), Bill Falandays ’74. Basehore ’72, Jim Juraska ’73, Ralph Gebhardt ’76, Paul Caputo ’73. Second row: Erick Bond ’77, Rick Magere ’72, Jim Mazur ’78, Fifth row: John Loiacono ’84, Kevin Callahan ’77, Dave McNelis ’74, Paul Macielak ’72, Kevin Maier ’78, Andy Fornarola ’79, Sam John Badowski ’77, Joe Novek ’73. Guerrieri ’87, Steve Sloan ’78, Lou Spiotti (assistant coach 1971–73), Sixth row: Quentin Call ’76, Bob Quirk ’72, Ron Haines ’72, Bob Erv Chambliss ’76. Kulpinski ’71, ’73 (MS), ’86 (MS), Tony Hanley ’82, Ed Heffernan ’76. Third row: Jim Wesp ’74, ’76M (MS), ’78S (MBA), Bill Hammond ’73, Not pictured: Rene Piccarreto ’71, Tony Serratore ’74.
formed widely, Carolyn shares that the soundtrack of a documentary 1969 Bob Becker (see ’68). . . . of Inspiration for Artists at the Turn “his family took particular plea- released by the National Film Board Max Stern, a professor emer- of the 21st Century. I was invited as sure in the music he composed for of Canada. The film, La part du itus at Israel’s Ariel University, opening speaker and special guest the weddings of his daughters and diable (The Devil’s Share), explores has published a book on music composer for a concert devoted the improvisational pieces he wove Québec’s “Quiet Revolution” of the theory, Speech of the Angels (KTAV entirely of my works. It was really into his organ music.” Carolyn and 1970s. Nexus has also released a Publications). He adds: “I wanted something.” Max sends a photo from Billy were married for 68 years, and new CD, Quantum Fields (William L. to let friends at the U of R know the conference (see page 57). their family includes three daugh- Cahn), which includes performances about a conference inspired by ters and several grandchildren and by the Eastman Marimba Ensemble my books Bible and Music (KTAV, 1975 Pianist and composer John great-grandchildren. and the Eastman Percussion 2011) and Psalms and Music (KTAV, Serry ’91 (MM) has released a new Ensemble. Bill adds that in June, he’ll 2013) that took place in Poland last album, Disquisition (SPCo Records). 1968 Bill Cahn, cofounder be on the faculty of Tócolo Tucson, October under the auspices of the He notes that the title track was with Bob Becker ’69 of the per- a new weeklong chamber percus- faculty of fine arts and music at the included on Jazziz on Disc, the CD cussion ensemble Nexus, writes sion seminar at the University of University of Silesia in Katrowice, sampler that accompanies Jazziz that the group created music for Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music. entitled Biblical Motifs as a Source magazine.
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1977 Composer Clement Reid has 1984 Saxophonist Tom managing partner of the manage- received several honors in the past Christensen ’86 (MM) writes that School of Medicine ment consulting firm Vire. year. They include a Silver Medal the quartet Spin Cycle, which and Dentistry (Outstanding Achievement) from he coleads with drummer Scott 1998 Shannon Masten Silsby Global Music Awards in the contem- Neumann, has released its second 1955 Mario Sparagana (MD) (MBA) has been promoted to partner porary classical category for his CD, Assorted Colors (Sound Footing (see ’51 College). at the professional recruitment and Adventure for String Orchestra, and Records). Tom and other members of talent advisory firm the Pi Group the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime the group marked the April release 1974 John Vanek (MD) writes: (Perpetual Insights). She’s been with Achievement Award. In addition, his with a performance at Smalls in New “I’ve retired from medicine and the company since 2014. Realizations for Horn and Piano was York City, followed by a tour of the begun a second career writing premiered at the Seattle Composers Midwest. mysteries and poetry. My debut Salon last November, and his music novel, DEROS (Coffeetown Press), Warner School was featured on several programs 1985 Mallory Thompson (DMA) was recently released worldwide (in of Education by the Pacific Northwest Chamber is conductor of the Northwestern both paperback and e-book). I hope Ensemble in 2017. University Symphonic Wind you’ll pick up a copy and support 1994 Laura Gelina (MS) Ensemble, which released a CD, me in this crazy new journey that (see ’87 College). 1981 Last February, Rodney Reflections (Summit Records), last I’m on.” The first in the Father Jake Winther was invited by the U.S. Coast December. Austin mystery series, the book— 1995 Joseph Morgan (MS), Guard Band as guest conductor for whose title is the acronym for Date ’07 (EdD) has been named its concert “Music from Around the 1986 Tom Christensen (MM) of Expected Return from Overseas— superintendent of the Rondout World.” The performance, including (see ’84). concerns a priest returning home Valley Central School District in music from British, Chinese, Czech, after a war only to face a series Ulster County, New York. One of and American-born composers, took 1988 Rob Barrett is an assis- of murders which “force him to seven finalists, he was approved place in the band’s Leamy Concert tant professor of recording arts and confront his own violent past, unanimously by the district’s Hall in New London, Connecticut. music business at North Central regrets over lost love, and his doubts board of education. Joseph began Rodney has served as director of University in Minneapolis. He and about the priesthood.” John adds: his teaching career in Webster, wind studies at the University of his students have recorded a CD, “It took me nine years to write outside Rochester, where he taught Cincinnati’s College–Conservatory The Classroom Sessions (Third the three books in the Father Jake Advanced Placement economics and of Music and as director of bands Street Music). Rob writes: “I try to Austin mystery series. The second later became principal of Willink at Ithaca College. Several Eastman use hands-on projects as much as book in the series (Miracles) should Middle School. He was most recently alumni are members of the U.S. possible to engage students in my be available in early 2019.” You can the superintendent of the Spencer– Coast Guard Band, including chief classroom. So, for the last couple visit his website at JohnVanekAuthor. Van Etten Central School District in musician and tubist Stephen Lamb of years, we have recorded songs in com. Tioga County, New York. ’00 (tuba), principal percussionist the classroom using students as the Robert McEwan ’90, and chief musi- musicians and learning audio engi- 1984 Joseph Behrman D (’79 2013 Marybeth Yerdon (MS), a cian and harpist Megan Sesma ’02, neering and mixing techniques. This College). social studies content specialist and ’02RC. Chief Warrant OfficerRichard project is a compilation of those curriculum writer, accepted a posi- Wyman ’92, ’93, who has served as classroom sessions.” tion as educational product devel- assistant director of the band since School of Nursing oper at the Smithsonian’s National 2004, delivered his final performance 1991 John Serry (MM) Museum of the American Indian in in the role in April. (see ’75). 1986 y Nina ’90 (MS) Gab won a April 2017. This spring, she wrote Monthly Musepaper Award for her a blog post for the Smithsonian 1992 Richard Wyman ’93 essay, “The Sum of Its Parts,” from Magazine blog, Smithsonian Send Your News! (see ’81). the literary journal New Millennium Voices, about the museum’s Native If you have an announcement Wings in January. Nina is an essayist, Knowledge 360° initiative. Marybeth you’d like to share with your fellow 2002 Mirna Lekic won third artist, and psychiatric nurse practi- is helping to develop the collec- alumni, please send or e-mail your place in the professional solo divi- tioner in Vermont. This is her first lit- tion of digital resources, aiming personal and professional news to sion of the 2017–18 American Prize in erary award. Her blog is at Ninagaby. to provide “new perspectives Rochester Review. Piano contest. Founded in 2009, the wordpress.com. on Native American history, cul- E-mail your news and digital American Prize is awarded in a vari- tures, and contemporary lives.” photos to [email protected]. ety of performing arts to recognize The post, called “Teachers, Do You Mail news and photos to Rochester excellence among artists, ensem- Simon Business Need Better Resources? You’re Review, 22 Wallis Hall, University of bles, and composers in the United School Not Alone: Native Knowledge 360° Rochester, Box 270044, Rochester, States. Mirna is an assistant pro- Is Here to Help,” can be found NY 14627-0044. fessor of music at Queensborough 1990 Nick Lantuh (MBA) has been at Smithsonianmag.com/blogs/ Please do not edit, crop, or Community College, City University named president and CEO of Fidelis national-museum-american-indian/. resize your digital images; send of New York. Cybersecurity. He’s the founder and the original, full-size file down- former president of NetWitness and loaded from your camera or 2007 Hao-An (Henry) Cheng executive chairman of eSentire. In Memoriam smartphone. won first prize at the 2018 European ALUMNI To ensure timely publication of Union Competition for Orchestra 1994 Art Smith (MBA) has been Susan Griswold Cotton ’4 3 , your information, keep in mind the Conductors. Based in Berlin since named managing director of distri- November 2017 following deadlines: 2015, Henry is music director of the bution and marketing for Crossmark Shirley Schell Hayden ’43E, Klangkraft Orchestra. As winner of Global Investments. Art has held February 2018 Issue Deadline the prize, he’ll conduct throughout a variety of senior sales, market- Helen Forrestel Spink ’44E, Fall 2018 July 1, 2018 Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech ing, and branding roles with global February 2018 Winter 2019 September 1, 2018 Republic, and Poland during the financial institutions prior to joining Irving R. Abel ’45, Spring 2019 December 1, 2018 2018–19 season. Crossmark. He was most recently October 2017
May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 59
RochRev_May2018.indb 59 6/10/18 11:09 PM CLASS NOTES Patricia Ryan Leo Grande ’45N, APPRECIATION February 2018 John W. Colgan ’46M (MD), Andrew Kende: A Professor March 2018 Doris Brill McNulty ’46N, ‘I Wanted to Learn From’ January 2018 Billie Clow Howes ’4 7, Lanny Liebeskind ’77 (PhD) remembers walk- “He was a hard taskmaster,” Boeckman says. February 2018 ing into Andrew Kende’s lab for the first time as “But the vast majority of the more than 50 PhD Lora Gahimer Koomanoff ’47E a new PhD student. students and postdocs that Andy mentored went (MM), March 2018 “I remember asking Andy when I should start on to perform at the highest levels. That’s a tes- Marjorie Whitehouse Raysor ’47N, my research. His succinct answer, in effect, was tament to how he taught them about the impor- March 2018 ‘Now!’ ” says Liebeskind, the vice provost for tance of excellence in whatever they do.” Virginia Deisher Alexander ’48N, strategic research initiatives and Samuel Dobbs Born in Budapest, Hungary, Kende emigrated February 2018 Professor of Chemistry at Emory University. to the United States with his family in 1939, and James W. Blumer ’48, “I got the message loud and clear. It was a bit grew up in Evanston, Illinois. After earning de- January 2018 like being dropped into a professional sports grees at the University of Chicago and Harvard Benjamin B. Dayton ’48 (Mas), February 2018 team, where the coach is constantly challenging University, he worked in industry before joining Doris Woolfe Farwell ’48, you to push yourself beyond the comfort level. Rochester’s faculty in 1968. February 2018 In doing so, you grew in ways as a scholar and As department chair from 1979 to 1983, he Muriel Warren Halstead ’48E, person that you never would have on your own.” worked with the University’s chief science li- February 2018 Yuh-geng Tsay ’77 (PhD) had a similar brarian to introduce chemistry undergraduates Andrew Stalder ’48, experience. to the wonders of a computer as a new way to February 2018 “When I toured Professor Kende’s labs, I no- search for articles and information “buried in the Carolyn Cartwright Tenney ’48N, ticed there was a memo from him posted in each huge and growing body of scientific literature.” October 2017 cubicle of his graduate students Velma Cavagnaro Durland ’4 9, and postdocs. Two key phrases ’50N, February 2018 Elizabeth Larson Fox ’49N, stood out that got my attention. November 2017 ‘When you are here, you should Martha Ballew Morey ’49 (MS), roll up your sleeves and work. If February 2018 you cannot manage at least two Mary Weir Tanenbaum ’49E, experiments at the same time, February 2018 you don’t belong to this group.’ Barbara Knuth Jameson ’50, “At that moment, I knew he February 2018 would be the professor I want- William R. Jenkinson ’50, ’83S ed to learn from,” says Tsay, a (MBA), February 2018 venture partner at Vivo Cap- Raymond C. King ’50, January 2018 ital, former senior vice presi- Irene Schafer Manitsas ’50, dent and group president at March 2018 Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Martha White Schreiner ’50N, ’74, a recipient of the Universi- February 2018 ty’s Rochester Distinguished INVENTIVE CHEMIST: Specializing in the synthesis of complex molecules, Fredric D. Kirshman ’51, Scholar Medal. Kende was an internationally known organic chemist and inventor. October 2017 Kende, the Charles F. Hough- Vanza Rudy ’51N (Dpl), ton Professor of Chemistry Emeritus and former The research consisted of using an “ordinary March 2018 chair of chemistry, was a world renowned or- phone” to dial a database, attaching the receiver Edwin A. Welch ’51, ganic chemist and inventor who specialized in to a portable computer terminal, typing in a re- January 2018 Arthur T. Hall ’52M (MD), the synthesis of complex molecules, including quest, and “within seconds” getting a printout. February 2018 ones used for anticancer treatments. He died Kende “enjoyed teaching,” Boeckman says, Mary Kay Clark Jackson ’52E, in February. “but his real thrill was in mentoring and train- March 2018 In a University profile, Kende once noted: “I ing his graduate students and participating in the Alexander D. Mallace ’52, am happiest when faced with a result that is truly research they did.” March 2018 counter to the best theories. That is when new Tsay remembers that when Kende returned Marie Kratochvil May ’52N, ’58, insights into the nature of the physical world can from a business trip, “he would stop by the lab March 2018 be discovered.” first to see how everyone was doing. This type of Henry H. Beckler ’53, Robert Boeckman, the Marshall D. Gates Jr. work ethic has inspired us not only to work hard, May 2017 Professor of Chemistry and recent chair of the but to have a sense of urgency in everything you James W. Brennan ’53, September 2017 department, was recruited to join the faculty by do. His teaching style empowered us to solve Frank J. Colgan ’53M (MD), Kende. “He was a very astute scientist; he had a any technical challenge and to be independent February 2018 really good nose for important problems,” he says. problem solvers.” C. Eileen Early ’53, Kende also had a knack for identifying stu- “Armed with the skills that I learned from him February 2018 dents, such as Liebeskind and Tsay, who had the as a graduate student, I was able to excel in ev- Paul T. MacGregor ’53, potential to rise to the tops of their fields—and ery venture that I chose to tackle,” Tsay says.r February 2018 for pushing them to excel. —Bob Marcotte
60 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
RochRev_May2018.indb 60 6/10/18 11:09 PM Joan Salerno Acitelli ’54N, Ethel Thirtle ’65, March 2018 February 2018 Samuel M. Baker ’54, Sydney Sutherland ’66W (MA), February 2018 March 2018 John S. Eppolito ’54, Lynne Osman Elkin ’67, February 2018 February 2018 Find the Frank Ingenito ’54, Marian Diehl Griswold ’67 (MA), February 2018 March 2018 Joseph T. Mullhaupt ’54, Mary Hueller ’67E (DMA), science news February 2018 November 2017 Leona Hart Lee ’55N, Don J. Cushing ’67S (MS), January 2018 February 2018 Gail Hodgins Lucker ’55, Edward W. Markowski ’67, ’69 (MS), you’ve been March 2018 December 2017 Robert B. Segal ’55, Iris Mitgang ’67 (MA), January 2018 May 2017 missing. William D. Yule ’55, David S. Ross ’68, February 2018 December 2016 Florence Colwell Coomber ’56, Mark R. Eckman ’69M (Res), February 2018 February 2018 Marenes R. Tripp ’56M (MS), Mary Lu Brown Keep ’69W (MA), January 2017 ’78W (EdD), January 2018 Nathan Cohen ’57M (MD), George T. Partis ’70, February 2018 February 2018 John O. Helling ’57, Hester Hellebush Cramer ’71W February 2018 (MA), February 2018 Munroe K. Aaron ’58, Steven S. Davis ’72, February 2018 June 2016 Robert T. Jacobsen ’58, Thomas J. Lanseer ’73W (MA), March 2018 February 2018 Leonard E. Poryles ’58, Ronald A. Mazeau ’74S (MBA), February 2018 February 2018 Shirley McGaugh Zielinski ’58E, Paul D. Strauchler ’74, February 2018 January 2018 Linda Thorburn Gorin ’59, Walter J. Kusak ’75, February 2018 February 2018 Ivan M. Grotenhuis ’59M (MS), Susan Stack ’75, March 2018 February 2018 Leon H. McGurk ’59, John E. Benitez ’76W (Mas), February 2018 March 2018 Seward Smith ’59 (PhD), Frank D. Lewis ’77 (PhD), February 2018 March 2018 Barbara Anderson Weider ’59N, Robert C. Dale ’78M (Flw), December 2017 March 2018 Quenten D. Doolittle ’60E (DMA), Georges G. Grinstein ’78 (PhD), March 2018 February 2018 Gretchen Diez Evans ’60E (MM), Donald D. Schaper ’80 (MS), January 2018 February 2018 Joyce Hansen Colotti ’61E (MM), Gary Wahl ’82M (Res), ’85M (Flw), January 2018 March 2018 John R. Karp ’62W (MA), Wanda Holsten Gardner ’84 (MS), March 2018 January 2018 Arthur J. Moss ’62M (Res), Saul G. Rudman ’85, ’87W (MS), February 2018 February 2018 Elizabeth Frashure Norod ’62N, Natalie Epps Stewart ’85 (MS), ’71W (EdD), February 2018 March 2018 Anthony F. Stranges ’62, Nicole Bernard ’93, ’95 (MS), February 2018 December 2017 Phyllis Sternberg Perrakis ’63, James J. Link ’95, March 2018 January 2018 Elizabeth Rousseau ’63E, Carlton E. Quallo ’97S (MBA), December 2017 February 2018 Paul H. Snell ’64, Matthew L. Palermo ’09D, February 2018 March 2018 Roger C. Breslau ’65M (Res), Kayla Jenkins ’11S (MBA), August 2016 February 2018 Research news from top universities Donna Taylor Mobley ’65M (MS), January 2018 Sci/Tech | Health | Environment | Society www.futurity.org/subscribe/ Books & Recordings
Patriotic Education in a Global Age belief. Michael is a professor of English Books By Randall Curren and Charles Dorn and of visual and cultural studies at Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds University of Chicago Press, 2018 Rochester. and the Fate of the Earth Curren and Dorn join By Adam Frank forces to examine funda- The Presidents and the Pastime: W. W. Norton & Co., 2018 mental assumptions The History of Baseball and the Frank traces the history about patriotic educa- White House of human musings and tion—including whether By Curt Smith exploration of alien life, and how schools should University of Nebraska Press, 2018 from the time of the an- attempt to cultivate pa- Smith—a former White cient Greeks to the triotism; what concepts House speechwriter for present, when astronom- of patriotism would be meaningful; and President George H. W. ical research shows “that whether patriotism is essential to nation- Bush and a senior lectur- we are just one of 10 bil- al unity or sustained commitment to just er in English at Roches- lion trillion planets in the universe.” institutions. Curren is a professor of phi- ter—traces the historic Drawing on evidence of human-driven losophy and of education at Rochester, relationship between the climate change, Frank also poses the and Dorn is associate dean for academic presidency and question, “What can the likely presence affairs and a professor of education at “America’s pastime.” of life on other worlds tell us about our Bowdoin College. own fate?” Frank is a professor of physics Introduction to Applied Ethics and astronomy at Rochester and a com- Psychotherapy for a Democratic By Robert Holmes mentator for National Public Radio’s All Mind: Treatment of Intimacy, Bloomsbury, 2018 Things Considered. Tragedy, Violence, and Evil Holmes, a professor By Israel Charny ’58 (PhD) emeritus of philosophy at Mindful Money Management: Lexington Books, 2018 Rochester, presents an Memoirs of a Hedge Fund Manager Charny—the executive “all-in-one” textbook that By Joel Salomon ’86 director of the Institute integrates the introduc- SaLaurMor, 2018 on the Holocaust & tion of practical moral Salomon, founder of Sa- Genocide in Jerusalem problems with relevant LaurMor Capital, offers and a retired professor of theories and readings. tips to investors for elim- psychology and family inating stress and fear therapy at Hebrew Uni- Alone and Content and incorporating mind- versity of Jerusalem and By Gwenn Voelckers fulness into financial de- Tel Aviv University—examines relational Gwenn Voelckers, 2018 cision making. (couple and family) and individual psy- Voelckers presents “in- chiatric conditions through the lens of spiring, empowering es- social and political forces and institu- says to help divorced and Social Studies in the New Education tions. Charny is also the author of A Dem- widowed women feel Policy Era: Conversations ocratic Mind: Psychology and Psychiatry whole and complete on on Purposes, Perspectives, with Fewer Meds and More Soul (Lexing- their own.” She’s the for- and Practices ton Books, 2017) and The Genocide Conta- mer director of health Edited by Kevin Meuwissen gion: How We Commit and Confront communications for the and Paul Fitchett Holocaust and Genocide (Rowman & Lit- Medical Center’s Center for Community Routledge, 2018 tlefield, 2016). Health and Prevention. Meuwissen and Fitchett bring together a collec- Secular Lyric: The Modernization Buffalo Dust tion of essays as a facili- of the Poem in Poe, Whitman, By George Hole ’60, ’68 (PhD) tated conversation on and Dickinson Buffalo Arts Publishing, 2017 issues ranging from cur- By John Michael Hole’s collection of 23 riculum standards and Fordham University Press, 2018 poems, steeped in the testing mandates to the Michael explores the imagery of Red Jacket, appropriate roles of social unique ways in which the Buffalo skyway, and studies teachers as policy advocates. Meu- Poe, Whitman, and Dick- the author’s own life ex- wissen is an associate professor and inson adapted ancient periences, “reflect his director of the social studies teacher pre- and Renaissance conven- love of a blue-collar city, paration program at the Warner School of tions of lyric expression rooted in an industrial Education and Fitchett is an associate pro- into a modern context past.” Hole holds the title of Distin- fessor of social studies education at the characterized by secular- guished Teaching Professor in the philos- University of North Carolina Charlotte. ization and heterogeneous systems of ophy department at Buffalo State College.
62 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018
RochRev_May2018.indb 62 6/10/18 11:09 PM BOOKS & RECORDINGS Ben Katchor: Conversations in 2016 for her work with the newspaper The Essential Guide Edited by Ian Gordon ’93 (PhD) Radikal, explores the themes of exile, ill- to Western Civilization University Press of Mississippi, 2018 ness, and imprisonment in the collection By Nicholas Waddy ’01 (PhD) Gordon, an associate pro- of stories. Routledge, 2017 fessor of history at the Na- Waddy, an associate pro- tional University of Urban Slavery in Colonial Mexico: fessor in the Department Singapore, edits a collec- Puebla de los Àngeles, of Social and Behavioral tion of work by cartoonist 1531–1706 Sciences at Alfred State Ben Katchor. In 2017, By Pablo Sierra Silva College, presents an Gordon authored Super- Cambridge University Press, 2018 overview of European man: The Persistence of an Sierra Silva, an assistant history designed for un- American Icon (Rutgers University Press) professor of history at dergraduate courses in and coedited The Comics of Charles Rochester, explores the Western civilization. Schultz: The Good Grief of Modern Life ways in which enslaved (University Press of Mississippi). Mexicans in the 16th and 17th centuries formed Recordings Selling Options . . . Simply Called family and social net- One Lives But Once: and Simply Put works to contest A 90th Birthday Celebration By David Skonieczki ’71 their bondage. By Samuel Adler TheBookPatch, 2018 Linn Records, 2018 Skonieczki, retired from Musings Eastman students and a 30-year career as a bro- By Mario Sparagana ’51, ’55M (MD) faculty members per- ker at Fidelity Invest- Pepper Tree Press, 2018 form on the three-disc ments, offers an Sparagana offers 50 po- recording of composi- autobiographical primer ems on the subjects of tions by Adler on the oc- for investors on the often love, nature, and death. casion of Adler’s 90th intimidating world of op- birthday. Adler taught at Eastman from tions trading. Presented 1966 to 1995 and chaired the composition from the seller’s perspective rather than department from 1974 to his retirement. the buyer’s, Skonieczki shares his own stories of learning to master arcane Quantum Fields strategy. By Nexus Mad Mädchen: Feminism and William L. Cahn, 2018 Deros Generational Conflict in Recent Nexus, which includes By John Vanek ’74M (MD) German Literature and Film Bill Cahn ’68E and Bob Coffeetown Press, 2018 By Margaret McCarthy ’96 (PhD) Becker ’69, performs Vanek’s debut novel, and Berghahn, 2017 three selections. The the first in a three-part McCarthy explores Eastman Marimba En- Father Jake Austin mys- trans-generational de- semble and the Eastman tery series, tells the story bates in modern German Percussion Ensemble also perform on the of a priest returning feminism, as a rising recording. home after a war only to group of activists have face a series of murders come to challenge many Disquisition which “force him to con- of the movement’s By John Serry ’75E, ’91E (MM) front his own violent past, regrets over strategic and philosophi- SPCo Records, 2017 lost love, and his doubts about the cal orthodoxies. McCarthy is the chair of Jazz pianist and com- priesthood.” the German studies department and co- poser Serry performs ordinator of the film and media studies original numbers ac- The Stone Building and Other Places concentration at Davidson College. companied by bass and By Asli Erdogan, translated from percussion. the Turkish by Sevinç Türkkan Speech of the Angels: City Lights Press, 2018 Thoughts on the Theory of Music Türkkan, an instructor of By Max Stern ’69E Books & Recordings is a compilation of Turkish studies at Roch- KTAV Publications, 2018 recent work by University alumni, faculty, ester, offers the first -En Stern, a professor emeri- and staff. For inclusion in an upcoming glish translation of the tus at Israel’s Ariel Uni- issue, send the work’s title, publisher, best-selling 2009 work versity, presents a global author or performer, a brief description, by noted Turkish jour- overview of the physics and a high-resolution cover image, to nalist, author, and human and metaphysics of Books & Recordings, Rochester Review, rights activist Asli Erdo- sound and music. 22 Wallis Hall, Box 270044, University of gan. Erdogan, a physicist-turned-writer Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627-0044; or who was imprisoned for several months by e-mail to [email protected].
May–June 2018 ROCHESTER REVIEW 63
RochRev_May2018.indb 63 6/10/18 11:09 PM Master Class
Talking Science So the Public Will Listen Madeline Sofia ’16M (PhD) helps scientists—whom the public trusts more than the media or elected officials—to broaden their reach. Interview by Lindsey Valich Right now I work in video storytelling, which allows you to actu- ally see the people behind the science as well as their labs and I was a curious, outdoorsy kid who loved frogs and salamanders. what they’re working on. When I was growing up, I didn’t see I thought I was going to be a veterinarian. Even at a young age, I or know about a lot of women or people of color working in sci- was fascinated with how living things worked and how the little ence, but video gives us the ability to show the diversity within critters I loved so much were able to fight off diseases. the field. It also allows people to see scientists as relatable human beings, rather than as stuffy, which is how I think they have been I interned at NPR while I was getting my PhD in microbiology portrayed in the past. and immunology at the Medical Center. I realized that what I really enjoyed was communicating the awesome, unbelievable One of the most important things for scientists in communicat- things that scientists were doing. I love sharing that excitement, ing research is knowing their audience. Not everybody has the joy, and nerdiness with other people in a way that’s attainable same understanding or skill sets. But this doesn’t mean you have and entertaining. to dumb down the science. It means using the appropriate lan- guage to connect with them. It’s also really important to tell a sto- One of my main projects at NPR is working on the storytelling ry, and to put yourself into that story. Scientists tend to say “It’s series Joe’s Big Idea. We try to highlight stories that feature not about me, it’s about the science.” But really, if you’re telling the people and processes behind scientific discovery and, at the people about science, it’s about you, too. Communicating what same time, get more involved in helping researchers become bet- you’re passionate about makes people even more interested be- ter science communicators. Recent Pew Research studies show cause enthusiasm is infectious. that the nonscientific public actually trusts scientists more than they trust the media and elected officials. Scientists are in the Science communication doesn’t have to involve starting a pod- right place at the right time to communicate because they have cast or a blog. Science communication can be talking about your- the public’s trust, plus they are the experts; they know whether self and your research to your friends and family members. Or things are scientifically sound. talking to people you meet in places where people aren’t necessarily there because they’re ex- cited about science. This is actually a great way to practice because it’s easy to talk to a captive audience, but it’s harder to talk to an audience when you need to Madeline Sofia keep their interest. Teaching kids ’16M (PhD) is also a good way to be a bet- ter science communicator, be- Assistant producer, National Public cause kids are brutal—if you Radio’s Science Desk and Joe’s Big Idea ask kids if they understand Home: Washington, D.C. something, they are not going Favorite story I’ve worked on: to lie to you and say that they One of my favorites is called “To do. Catch Prey, Frogs Turn to Sticky Spit.” It’s about how frog saliva is I think one of the hardest a non-Newtonian fluid, which things for science communi- means it actually changes its cators is leaving out the jar- properties based on how much gon. The way we’re taught to force is applied to it. These communicate as academics is scientists were trying to figure not the way people outside ac- out how frogs are so good at catching ademia talk. We have training in crickets—because their tongues move how to design an experiment and so fast that there’s no way that little how to present the background, cricket should stick on their tongue. The methods, and results to other sci- process is really weird and cool. And the scientist entists. We don’t have a lot of I was talking with was hilarious. training in how to write snap- py, interesting, fun stories about our research. This takes practice.r
64 ROCHESTER REVIEW May–June 2018 DAVID COWLES FOR ROCHESTER REVIEW
rr_May2018_Books.indd 64 6/10/18 11:22 PM A Legacy of Support When norma andzer and her Inspired Stories. late husband, Arnold, updated their estate plan, they asked themselves three key questions: What do we value? Where can we have an impact philanthropically? How do we ensure we will have enough income in retirement? Supporting the Golisano Children’s Hospital was an answer to all their questions. It was important for the Andzers Watch and learn more about what our alumni and to give back to the community they love and to help the youngest and most friends are doing to make the world ever better. vulnerable patients and their families. The Andzers made this happen through everbetter.rochester.edu/exceptionalpeople a provision in their will, naming the University as beneficiary of retirement assets, and funding charitable gift annuities which pay six percent income for life. Through the combination of these gifts, they will provide generous support including the establishment of the Norma and Arnold Andzer Endowed Fellowship in Pediatrics. “We want all children to have healthy and productive lives,” said Norma. Norma Andzer in the Ganatra Family Atrium of the new Golisano Children’s Hospital. Exceptional People. She and Arnold are members of The Wilson Society. They also provide for the Memorial Art Gallery and the Eastman School of Music in their estate.
ImagIne your legacy. Plan today to make It haPPen.
To learn more about charitable gift annuities and other planned giving methods, contact the Office of Trusts, Estates & Gift Planning (800) 635-4672 [email protected] • www.rochester.giftplans.org/income
Sample Charitable Age 60 65 70 75 80 Gift Annuity Rates Rate 4.4% 4.7% 5.1% 5.8% 6.8%
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SCREEN TIME Pixel Perfect SPRING SELFIE: Lingling Li ’21, an economics major from Shanghai, and Lucy Song ’21, an economics major from Hangzhou, China, take a selfie in the last days of the spring semester. PHOTOGRAPH BY J. ADAM FENSTER
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