Shaping Political Discourse Online Political Science Professors Take Research Into the Blogosphere

SPRING 2012

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

CLOSE UP 12 UM RESEARCHERS UNRAVEL PATTERNS AND INFLUENCES OF MIGRATION. DEAN’SMESSAGE

The College of Arts and Sciences is a thriving, diverse community bound by scholarship and bolstered by our alumni. We are honored that so many celebrated physicians, lawyers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and academics began their professional journeys in our classrooms. No matter their professions, our College instills each new generation of University of Miami graduates with the enduring liberal arts principles of inquiry, engagement, and creativity.

LEONIDAS G. BACHAS Alumni, family and friends of the I am pleased to commend the more Dean of the UM College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences have long than 7,000 donors who have already served as faithful stewards of these answered this call to action. Because values locally, nationally, and globally. of their generosity, the College of Arts You have used the knowledge and and Sciences has already met half of its understanding gained here at UM to fundraising target for Momentum II. We build a better world and a brighter future are grateful to these outstanding men beyond our beautiful campus. Now, I and women for their commitment to the call upon this community to extend your success of their fellow Hurricanes, and support for the next phase of growth and we invite each of you to join their efforts. development for our College. As we anticipate the College’s impact Through the University-wide upon future leaders, we turn toward each Momentum II campaign, we are given alumnus to help advance the ambitious a new imperative to propel the College goals and diverse interests of our toward academic breakthroughs. Gifts students. to the Momentum I campaign expanded With the help of our passionate and Learn about the campaign opportunities for undergraduate involved community, we will ensure that Visit miami.edu/momentum2 research, provided cutting-edge facilities the College of Arts and Sciences remains or scan this QR code with your and equipment, and brought some of a vital institution for generations to come. smartphone to find out more. the most impressive faculty in the world Together, we can guarantee that our to teach and research here at UM. College never loses its momentum. Momentum II promises to strengthen those initiatives while fostering further scholastic innovation within the College. SPRING 2012 VOLUMETWELVE | ISSUETWO

COLLEGE OF ARTS EDITORIAL AND SCIENCES Editor Dean Rebekah Monson Leonidas G. Bachas Contributing Editor Senior Steven J. Marcus Associate Deans Traci Arden Design and Illustration Angel Kaifer Christina Ullman & Daniel L. Pals Alix Northrup, Ullman Design Associate Deans Rita L. Deutsch Photographers Charles Mallery Rebekah Monson Kuan Photography ADVANCEMENT Romina Pastorelli Assistant Dean for Development Holly Davis

Director of Development Jeanne Luis

Assistant Director Jacky Donate

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Arts & Sciences is produced in the fall and spring by the FEATURES DEPARTMENTS College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami. Through the magazine, we seek to increase awareness 12 | UM researchers unravel 2 | News Briefs of the College’s activities by telling the stories of faculty, patterns and influences of migration. staff, students, and alumni. Send comments, requests for permission to reprint material, requests for extra copies, 5 | Class Spotlight and change of address notification to: Arts & Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, P.O. Box 248004, Coral A new play from Broadway legend Tommy Tune 20 | Tracking Hurricanes Gables, FL 33124-4620. Telephone: (305) 284-3874. All 16 | contents © 2012, University of Miami. Reproduction in and a partnership with the Arsht Center provide whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

professional experience for Theatre Arts students. Visit the College of Art and Sciences on the web: http://www.as.miami.edu/.

Past issues of the magazine are available at 18 | Miami’s oldest art museum continues http://www.as.miami.edu/magazine/archive. expanding its educational mission.

ARTS | SCIENCES 1 NEWSBRIEFS

For decades, University of Miami art students, whether of sculpture, glass, STUDIO ARTS ceramics, or painting, have had to trek from one corner of campus to the other to attend courses in different art disciplines. This spring, a new studio arts complex COMES TOGETHER at 1535 Levante Avenue is finally bringing those students together under one roof. “When the former art building fell into disrepair several years ago, we were NEW FACILITY INTEGRATES spread across campus and started looking at options to try to bring the art ART DEPARTMENT DISCIPLINES. department closer geographically,” said chair Lise Drost. “We still have a special campus map for the art department’s different locations, but thankfully it’s getting more compact.” Students and faculty alike say sharing the new building makes the department feel more integrated. “The new facilities are promoting an esprit de corps among art students that, in turn, is providing them with an increased sense of identity on campus,” said Brian Curtis, an associate professor of painting. Students say the new proximity will facilitate an exchange of ideas and help Senior Lecturer Kyle Trowbridge leads a them find diverse ways to consider their art. “It helps that we, as sculpture student critique in ART 301, Intermediate students, can easily go sit in on a painting critique, and vice versa,” said Painting, in the Conni Gordon Painting graduate student Colin Sherrell. “When you’re only working within your area, you Studio in the new studio arts building. hear everyone speaking the same language and tending to have similar ideas. It’s great to get different perspectives.”

2 SPRING 2012 GIFT FROM NEWFACULTY ENTERTAINING ART EDUCATOR A NEW LEADER FOR CONNI GORDON PROVIDES ART STUDIO DIGITAL INNOVATION Throughout her nearly COMPUTER SCIENTIST UNITES THE RICHTER LIBRARY AND 70-year career, artist and COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES HUMANITIES SCHOLARSHIP instructor Conni Gordon has USING BIG DATA. helped millions learn painting. Now, Gordon’s benevolence will As digital resources become understanding both of the humanities continue to inspire generations of art students as they hone increasingly important to academic and of the latest computing technologies. their skills in a studio, named in her honor, in the new studio research and publishing, the College Ogihara’s latest book, Music Data arts complex. of Arts & Sciences and the Richter Mining, explores how scholars across Born into a show-business family and educated at Columbia Library have partnered through the many disciplines can access and use University and Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Gordon skillfully combined appointment of Mitsunori Ogihara as the data stored within large digital music her passion for painting with her talent for performance—which the associate dean for digital library collections. He focuses on computational prominently included teaching. As an entertainer during World innovation. methods inspired by humanistic aspects War II, she taught Marines to paint and then went on to patent “This unique partnership should of music, which include factors such a 4-step Painting Method that teaches art by exploiting both the benefit both the college and the library,” as instrument recognition, emotional logical and creative centers of the brain. said William Walker, dean of the Richter perception, and musical aesthetics. Gordon became a television mainstay, giving lessons on the Library. “Our hope is that it will result in Innovative digital scholarship already late-night shows of Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and the development both of new research has a foothold within both the college David Letterman. After pioneering television art education, as and new research tools for humanists and the library—perhaps most notably well as selling millions of art-instruction books and teaching her here at the University of Miami and at in the Cuban Theater Digital Archive, method to thousands of corporate clients, The Guinness Book of institutions around the world.” He noted a bilingual collection of research and Records named her the “World’s Most Prolific Art Teacher.” in particular that Ogihara, a professor of information on Cuban theater. Ogihara’s Gordon maintains that everyone can express creativity, computer science, “is a big thinker who leadership should expand such efforts improve self-esteem, and learn to value art. “No one came to is interested in big projects. He is going to and produce new ones, Walker said, by me for lessons hoping to become Van Gogh,” she told the Miami help our scholars unlock new concepts facilitating computational investigation Herald. “People came to me to learn to paint, so they could make and take their work in new directions.” and publication among the university’s art and better appreciate the art form.” Ogihara, who serves as director of data celebrated humanities faculty. The Conni Gordon Painting Studio will stand as a living legacy mining at UM’s Center for Computational Ultimately, successful projects to Gordon’s accomplishments both as an artist and art educator. Science, points to a wide range of stemming from this imaginative “I am hopeful that art students in this new facility will benefit computational applications that can partnership could help propel the from this method for creativity that marries both the left and aid humanities scholarship, particularly library and college alike into new right brain,” she said. in mining large data sets. “Using data academic frontiers. “Professor Ogihara’s analysis, we can process and compare appointment creates a stronger alliance texts, for example, extremely efficiently,” between Arts and Sciences and the he said. “So we may be able to analyze Library, and I am excited about the The new building has been thoughtfully configured the literature in a new way that may have new opportunities for scholarship that with larger workspaces, better light, and durable taken years to uncover in the past.” this program will provide to our UM construction to accommodate large or heavy pieces Ogihara reflects innovative approaches community,” said College of Arts and and equipment, Drost said. Students also have more in his own research, combining a deep Sciences Dean Leonidas Bachas. room to store work and materials as well as areas to meet between classes. Donations from art department alumni and supporters, together with funding from the university, have enabled the purchase of critical new equipment. For example, gas kilns and cooling ovens allow students to finish their ceramics and glass projects more efficiently, and a machine that cuts materials using computerized input gives artists a more precise tool for sculpture and mixed-media work. “This facility is at least 10 years in the making, so the faculty and the students are overjoyed that it has finally happened,” Drost said. “I think having this unified, modern space is going to help the department move Richter Library Dean William Walker, Associate Dean for Digital Library Innovation Mitsunori forward in some exciting ways.” Ogihara, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Leonidas Bachas

PSYCHOLOGY SENIOR SELECTED FOR WHITE HOUSE ROUNDTABLE

Psychology senior Becky Espinosa a better and brighter future,” she said. was selected as a White House “We have created a great network and Agente de Cambio (agent of change) to keep in touch frequently.” participate in a roundtable discussion With the criteria for selection being with senior Obama Administration outstanding leadership and service, officials this past fall. Espinosa was a fitting choice. She The White House partnered with has organized tutoring programs, MTV Tr3s (a channel specializing in raised funds for victims of Haiti’s bilingual Latino programming) and earthquake, promoted various charities, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to and served as a medical volunteer in select Espinosa and 11 other promising Honduras. She also has worked as a young Latino leaders from around the research assistant for the Department “Each Agente de Cambio has his or her own story country to discuss issues facing their of Psychology and the Miller School and interests, but we are all working together communities. of Medicine and has been an active toward one goal—educating and preparing “Each Agente de Cambio has his or member of numerous UM clubs and her own story and interests, but we are committees. students for a better and brighter future.” all working together toward one goal— BECKY ESPINOSA (Above, third from right) educating and preparing students for

IRONARROW

Three Arts and Sciences seniors—Aly Jaffer, Emily Packard, and Ashley Taggart—were inducted during the fall semester into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, which proudly describes itself as “the highest honor attained at the University of Miami.” Drawing its symbolism from the traditions of the region’s native Seminole tribe, Iron Arrow recognizes students, faculty, staff, and alumni who exemplify leadership, scholarship, character, humility, and love of alma mater. Jaffer, an international studies major, was an officer in Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and served as chair of the Homecoming Executive Committee. Packard, a neuroscience major, worked on orientation and helped organize Funday, which partners students with people with disabilities to share a day of games and activities on campus. Taggart, a microbiology and immunology major, served as Student Government vice president, worked to help commuter students better assimilate into campus life, and helped improve orientation activities. True to character, these honorees do not plan to Meet the college’s (Above) Seniors Emily Packard, rest on their laurels. “It’s ‘the highest honor attained at Iron Arrow inductees. Aly Jaffer, and Ashley Taggart. the University of Miami,’ but more than that it’s telling Scan this QR code with your smartphone me I also have to keep striving to attain that kind of or visit bit.ly/xjXvVE accomplishment in life,” Packard said.

4 SPRING 2012 CLASSSPOTLIGHT THIS FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS COURSES THAT ARE CREATING SOME CAMPUS BUZZ.

COOKING WITH CHEMISTRY STUDENTS TAKE TO THE LAB TO DISCOVER THE SCIENCE BEHIND GREAT FOOD Jordan Balke used to be a purist when it came to steak. Until this fall, she wanted her meat grilled, seared, and cooked medium-rare. Then “I learned how to make a better steak,” said the senior majoring in biochemistry. “It’s called sous-vide [French for “under vacuum”], and it’s basically just a giant water bath where the food is held at a specific temperature for a very long time. The result is a more tender steak than any other you can find.”

Balke learned this lesson in Chemistry in cooking, said professor Barbara Colonna, 317: Chemistry of Food and Taste, which she a senior lecturer in organic chemistry, who says made her and her classmates look both created the course. “Cooks may not know at cooking and chemistry in a new light. why a particular method works, or how a food Precisely measuring and slowly raising is fundamentally changed as it is processed,” the temperature of the steak using the she said. “And while scientists understand sous-vide process, which tenderizes the how and why the changes occur, they don’t meat, was just one item on the course’s necessarily know what makes good food. (Above) Joshua Bitran prepares caviar on a white chocolate menu. Students investigated using the There’s a real need to close that gap.” cracker for his final project in Chemistry of Food and Taste. acidity of citrus juices to prepare ceviche. Thus, after a semester in Chemistry of They calculated the physics of heat Food and Taste, junior Joshua Bitran has transfer during baking molten chocolate begun to appreciate the science behind cake. They flash-froze ice cream with liquid what’s on his plate. “Now whenever I has immediate practical use, because I’m nitrogen to create a smoother dessert with look at food, I really look at it differently,” cooking more,” he said. smaller crystalline structures and fewer the biology major said. “I have more of a Sampling the experiments after studying fats than traditional methods. And they respect for it, because it’s so complex.” the science reinforced the physical experimented with suspensions, colloids, At the end of the term, the students manifestations of technical concepts, and emulsions, like the gels and foams presented their final research projects on students agreed. And, more simply put, such popularized at trendy restaurants. different foods. For example, the chemists- sampling was a taste treat. “We showed up Despite the rise in “foodie” culture, there turned-cooks analyzed the molecular traits of hungry, because on most days we would have remains a steadfast need for better science flavor compounds in peanut-butter-and-pickle some demo that involved eating,” Balke joked. sandwiches, described the sequence of Demonstrations also sparked a community physical-state changes in the various cooking partnership with the Whole Foods Market in methods for making matzo-ball soup, outlined Coral Gables, which supported the course reactions that change flavor and texture with donations of food and lab materials. “It during bread fermentation, diagrammed was definitely a unique topic that piqued our the structures and compared the efficacy interest,“ said Melissa Jacobs, a marketing of vitamin supplements, and explained the coordinator for the store. “With the University processes and biological reactions that of Miami being one of our neighbors, we create specific antioxidants in teas. were excited to assist by offering fresh high- Bitran, whose final project involved quality ingredients for the students to learn comparing the chemical structures of flavor more about food and science.” compounds in order to create a novel amuse- At present, Chemistry of Food and Taste bouche of caviar on a white chocolate is limited to 30 science majors who have cracker, also appreciates the new culinary taken advanced chemistry. But Colonna skills he has picked up in the course. “It’s hopes to expand the course and offer it as Students prepare their final projects for Chemistry really the first class I’ve taken here that a general science course in the future. of Food and Taste.

TEAMING UP FOR For example, the interactive Heart Smart exhibition teaches about cardiovascular SCIENCE EDUCATION health and offers strategies for a heart smart A&S FACULTY PARTNER WITH MIAMI SCIENCE lifestyle. while providing researchers with MUSEUM FOR RESEARCH AND OUTREACH. important data for tracking heart health in the community. Exhibition visitors move through a series of activities—including a As the Miami Science Museum plans an blood pressure station, body mass index impressive new facility—a cultural landmark station, waist circumference station, lifestyle that is rising in downtown Miami’s Museum quiz, relaxation area, and hula-hoop activity. Head Start pupils learn from the ECHOS curricula. Park, overlooking Biscayne Bay—College They receive personalized feedback and of Arts and Sciences faculty are working learn how physical activity, nutrition, and the community at large,” Saab said. Heart with the museum to help improve science stress management could affect their heart Smart has a wide reach. During its first 2 education in South Florida. health. Visitors themselves may contribute years, the exhibition has had approximately “With UM’s wide range of new develop- to furthering knowledge on cardiovascular 79,000 visitors with about 80% consenting to ments and innovative research,” said Gillian health by anonymously opting to share their contribute their personal data. Thomas, president and CEO of the museum, information with researchers. Psychology professor Daryl Greenfield also “we have a rich terrain of material and With Heart Smart “we wanted to create a is enhancing science education through the quality advice to make our exhibits relevant personalized and engaging experience where museum’s CIL partnership, but for a younger both locally and internationally, scientifically the key takeaway message is that making audience. Through the Early Childhood Hands- valid, and also inspiring—so creating the small changes can add up to big results,” On Science (ECHOS) project, the museum next generation of scientists.” said psychology professor Patrice Saab, is developing interactive, integrated, and The Miami Science Museum and UM Principal Investigator of the project. Saab and science-centered curricula for preschoolers have teamed up since 2005 through the psychology professor Judith McCalla together in Miami-Dade’s Head Start program. museum’s Center for Interactive Learning with the Miami Science Museum’s Brown ECHOS links museum-created early (CIL), which links informal (museum-based) also use the Heart Smart exhibition as the science education with early math, language, science education with formal (university- central component of a randomized controlled and literacy instruction as well as with based) science education and research, trial of local high school students designed to social and motor development, thereby said Judy Brown, the museum’s senior vice determine how health education strategies demonstrating the potential of integrated president for education. This partnership has affect heart health knowledge, attitudes, and curricula to improve teacher practice and involved psychology faculty in meaningful behavioral choices. student achievement for children from low research on informal science education and Moreover, “I’ve viewed the exhibition as income families who are at higher risk for has helped researchers collect data from a way to translate what we have learned school failure. “When we first started this museum visitors as well. in our laboratory-based investigations to project, preschool science education was not even on the radar,” Greenfield said. “Now, there is a growing realization that science in the early years can not only improve multiple areas of school readiness, but can also provide young minds with critical thinking and problem solving skills that will prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. Such collaborative projects can produce outreach that we hope other communities and institutions will embrace.” As the new facility takes shape, UM faculty, including Saab and physics professor Kevin Huffenberger, also are assisting the museum’s leaders with planning its other content needs. For example, Huffenberger has helped develop ideas for the museum’s new time and space area. “I look forward to continuing to work with the museum,” he said, “because it’s important to us as scientists to get research out to the public in a meaningful way—and Learning about blood pressure in the Heart Smart exhibit. the museum serves as a conduit.” PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MIAMI SCIENCE MUSEUM

6 SPRING 2012 WELCOMING WRITERS OF COLOR UM HOSTS FIRST REGIONAL WORKSHOP OF THE VOICES OF OUR NATIONS ARTS FOUNDATION.

In recognition of the need for writers of color to secure feedback of the United States Artists Foundation, helped students to bring from peers, and citing the University of Miami’s distinctive position their cultural narratives to life in fiction and nonfiction. Abinader, a at the center of a diverse community, professor M. Evelina Galang, memoirist, playwright, and professor of English at Mills College, led director of UM’s creative writing program, invited Voices of Our Nations sessions on bringing the minority cultural perspective to blogging Arts Foundation (VONA) to hold its first Voices regional workshop at UM and other forms of Web presence. this winter. VONA was founded by acclaimed authors Elmaz Abinader, Beyond the technical work on participants’ manuscripts, the Junot Díaz, Victor Díaz, and Diem Jones in 1999 as the nation’s only workshop also gave students an opportunity to share regarding the multi-genre workshop for writers of color. realities of being a writer of color in publishing and academic life, “This is VONA’s first event outside the Bay Area, and it has great Abinader said. “We discussed where we fit in the literary world, what potential to benefit our campus and our MFA program by drawing in conversations we need to have and how to have them, and what living talented writers from across the country,” Galang said. “The goal of and working as writers means to us and to our communities.” these workshops is to get writers at every stage to come together as Gail Dottin, who has attended previous VONA Voices workshops, a community and [for young writers of color to] gain mentorship from came to the Miami event to reconnect with a group of writers other writers of color who are already successful.” she respects and to help invigorate her work on a memoir about Getting published is an arduous journey for any writer, but writers of her family’s experiences in the segregated Panama Canal Zone. color may face additional barriers, said Galang. “At VONA, we are able “Everything I write about has something to do with race politics to focus on craft, and we put aside expectations about identity, race, or race relations,” said Dottin, who holds an MFA from Columbia ethnicity and gender to support the participants’ writing,” she said. University. “I keep coming to VONA because we write the stories no Thus at the event, held this past January, 24 promising writers, one else can write.” including UM graduate students and alumni, underwent a long Returning to UM for the VONA Voices workshop was a “full-circle weekend of intensive writing and critique with Galang and three moment,” said Danielle Gilyot, B.A. ’03, who was thrilled to return to other distinguished writers. her alma mater to gain new insights into her work. Having minored in Poet Willie Perdomo, a lecturer at Fordham University and a English at UM and recently completed an MFA at the University of New former Woolrich Fellow in Creative Writing at Columbia University, Orleans, she is working on a book tentatively titled In Katrina’s Wake. worked with attendees to heighten their awareness of the unique “Being one of the very few people of color in my MFA program, I lyrical and rhythmic traditions that they manifest in their poems. often had to explain my work, but this workshop gave me a different Novelist Mat Johnson, a professor in the University of Houston’s kind of critiquing experience,” Gilyot said. “My work will be stronger, Creative Writing Program and a former James Baldwin Fellow and I had to do a lot less explaining to improve it.”

ARTS | SCIENCES 7 NEWSBRIEFS POLITICAL SCIENCE | HISTORY | SOCIOLOGY | MODERN LANGUAGES & LITERATURES SHAPING POLITICAL DISCOURSE ONLINE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS TAKE RESEARCH INTO THE BLOGOSPHERE.

As the 2012 presidential race heats up, the media are eager for insights from the University of Miami’s political scientists. Some faculty have already begun cultivating a public audience directly by sharing their expertise through blogs. Associate professors Gregory Koger and Casey Klofstad are blogging on national politics, as well as state and local politics, for The Huffington Post and the Monkey Cage, a leading political science blog. “The idea is to take leading political science research, apply it to current events, and share it with a general audience,” said Koger. Since its launch in 2007, the Monkey Cage has become a hub for discussions among political scientists, the media, and politics junkies from around the globe. As an occasional contributor, Koger weighs in alongside other top academic analysts from NYU, Columbia, Georgetown, and Yale. Political science professors Gregory Koger, left, and Casey Klofstad take their research online via blogs. Koger started contributing to the Monkey Cage in the summer of 2009 on the rules of filibustering in the U.S. Senate. A year who blogs at the Huffington Post. “Our work highlighting relevant issues that the media later, he testified before the Senate’s Rules becomes more relevant to the wider society might miss can help inject certain research Committee on that very topic. “That opportunity every four years—when there is a presidential into the national discussion. “We can now was at least indirectly tied to the visibility of my election—but in the 24-hour online news cycle directly communicate with the public,” work for the Monkey Cage,” he said. “My posts there is more demand for our research.” He Klofstad said. were well timed to help people understand this and his colleagues typically pinpoint the key His and Kroger’s perspectives, given their issue as it was unfolding in the news.” issues in political races and break down likely vantage point at the University of Miami, are of Both Koger and Klofstad view their blogging voting behaviors according to demographic particular interest to the American public this as a public-service extension of their teaching factors such as age, ethnicity, and gender. year. “Florida is still a swing state, and we will and research. “I think the public often feels Blogging also allows academics to play a very important role in choosing our next distanced from the academy, but blogging disseminate research quickly, without having president. Everyone is looking for insights helps bridge that schism,” said Klofstad, to wait for interest from the media; and on what might tip a close election.”

BOOKMARKS UNITING STATES DIGNIFYING ARGENTINA: PERONISM, CITIZENSHIP, AND MASS CONSUMPTION In his first book,Uniting States (Oxford University Press), assistant professor of political science In Dignifying Argentina: Peronism, Citizenship, Joseph M. Parent argues that unions between and Mass Consumption (Pitt Latin American sovereign states are the balancing coalitions Studies), assistant professor of history Eduardo of last resort. Elites can weld separate states Elena’s first book explores the relationship into a durable union, he maintains, only when between populist politics and mass consumption these entities would otherwise face particularly in mid-twentieth-century Argentina. He describes serious threats. Drawing on five major historical how the aspirations of ordinary Argentineans cases of union—the United States, Switzerland, meshed, albeit imperfectly, with Peronist para- Sweden-Norway, Gran Colombia, and the digms of state-led progress; and he offers new European Union—Uniting States sheds new insights on Peronism’s enduring significance as a light on political polarization, state dissolu- popular movement. tion, federalism, and the possibility of uniting without going to war.

8 SPRING 2012 MAJOR INTEREST IN NEW MINORS COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ADDS MINORS IN ARABIC STUDIES AND LGBTQ STUDIES.

Responding to growing demand for more offerings in languages and cultures that play increasingly important roles on the world stage, the College of Arts and Sciences has introduced two new minors, and is planning a third. Undergraduates throughout the university can now minor in Arabic studies and starting next fall will be able to minor in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) studies. Faculty are also working to add a minor in Chinese Studies. Students began enrolling in the interdisciplinary Arabic studies minor this fall. “UM has been teaching the basic Arabic language for years, but it is now an especially interesting time to study the Arabic world itself,” said Christina Civantos, an assistant professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, who spearheaded the effort to expand course courses. Students also will have the option to complete a senior research offerings. “Certainly the Middle East is frequently in the news for many project within the minor. “The committee spent over a year working on course different reasons, and it is virtually impossible to accomplish strategic content and a syllabus that includes instruction from across the college initiatives without cultural understanding.” and the university,” said Robert Johnson, a professor in the Department of Students minoring in Arabic studies complete nine credits of Arabic Sociology, who served on the committee. “I think one of the true strengths language courses and six credits of courses focusing on Islamic studies of the program will be that so many departments are invested in it.” or Arabic culture. “UM has long been a leader in Latin American and Interest in the Chinese courses offered by the Department of Modern Caribbean studies,” Civantos said. “With this and other new programs we Languages and Literatures also has expanded with China’s growing are working toward becoming a truly global institution.” position as an international political, social, and economic power. Some Students are also seeking more courses in gender and sexuality 90 students are currently enrolled in Chinese language classes, and a studies. An Introduction to LGBTQ Studies course was offered for the minor, which faculty hope to create next academic year, will add upper- first time this spring, and the class limit was raised from 25 to 35 to level Chinese language courses and incorporate humanities and social accommodate interested students, said Steve Butterman, an associate sciences classes as well. professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, who “Many students plan to pursue careers in government and business chaired the committee to create an LGBTQ studies minor. “We started with specific relevance to China,” said June Teufel Dreyer, a professor in offering queer studies in 2006, and student demand has been growing the Department of Political Science, who led efforts to found the program. steadily since,” he said. “This interdisciplinary minor will provide them with the language skills—and The diversity of students interested in LGBTQ Studies also led the grounding in the Chinese culture, history, and political system—they will committee to build the minor across a broad swath of disciplines both within need to be competitive in today’s demanding job market.” and outside the college, Butterman said. “A rich intellectual experience The College of Arts and Sciences expects to continue innovating in in this type of academic inquiry means creating a solid, well-structured this spirit. Dean Leonidas Bachas says that the college, as the largest curriculum as well as a sense of community among the students.” academic unit in the university, will remain responsive to students’ Students can enroll next fall in the LGBTQ Studies minor, which will interests and emergent workplace demands when evaluating course and consist of the introductory course and at least six credits of advanced curriculum offerings.

THE ITALIAN IN MODERNITY SUPRAMOLECULAR PHOTOCHEMISTRY: CONTROLLING PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES In The Italian in Modernity (Toronto Italian Studies), English professor Robert Casillo Professor V. Ramamurthy, chair of the chemistry and classics professor John Paul Russo look department, coedited Supramolecular Photo- both at Italy and Italian America to explore chemistry: Controlling Photochemical Processes the paradoxical representation of Italy as the (John Wiley), a reference work on the past two originator of modernity that has nevertheless decades’ advances in the interdisciplinary resisted many modern tendencies. In cover- and rapidly growing field of supramolecular ing diverse topics such as travel writing, photochemistry. As the most comprehensive gender, national character and stereotypes, update on all aspects of photochemistry and immigration, and film, Casillo and Russo photophysics—embracing natural, synthetic, discuss writers and artists as wide-ranging inorganic, organic, and biological supramolecular as Stendhal, Stäel, Burckhardt, Puccini, systems alike—the book covers supramolecular D’Annunzio, Santayana, Hemingway, and photochemistry’s past, present, and also projects Coppola. the field’s future.

LECTURES DELIVER BIG SCIENTIFIC IDEAS GENEROUS DONOR SUPPORT BRINGS LEADING SCIENTISTS AND MATHEMATICIAN TO CAMPUS.

Famed evolutionary biologist, humanist, we can understand how it works,” Yau’s work in algebraic and differential and author Richard Dawkins, who until his Dawkins said. geometry has had a profound influence recent retirement was Oxford University’s The Appignani Foundation, founded on important topics in physics including Charles Simonyi Professor for the by Louis Appignani, partnered with UM’s string theory. He described his Understanding of Science, delivered in Department of Philosophy and Center for groundbreaking mathematical work on the September one of best-attended lectures the Humanities to bring Dawkins to Coral curving of space within a closed vacuum, in the College of Arts and Science’s history. Gables. “It was excellent to have someone which offers a solution to the mystery of About 1,300 people attended the event, of Dawkins’ caliber at UM because he has extra dimensions posited in string theory. filling the Storer Auditorium as well as a broad vision on a number of important The McKnight-Zame lectures are made seven overflow classrooms where the issues,” said philosophy department chair possible through support from alumnus lecture was simulcast. Otávio Bueno. Jeffrey Fuqua, A.B. ’67, M.S. ’70, Ph.D. ’72, Dawkins’ popular books on science as The McKnight-Zame Distinguished who received his Ph.D. in mathematics well as the propagation of the word meme, Lecture Series brought another eminent under the direction of professor James which he coined to extend the Darwinist academic to campus in January, and he McKnight. The series is named in honor of idea of “replicators” into the cultural spoke to a standing-room crowd at the professor McKnight and also of professor sphere, have made him one of the world’s CAS Gallery. Professor Shing-Tung Yau, Alan Zame, who was a mentor of Fuqua’s most prominent scholars. His latest book, a Fields Medalist who currently serves while he was a student at UM. The Magic of Reality, aims to interest as William Caspar Graustein Professor In February, the Dr. Jimmie R. Nelson, ’59 children in science by comparing mythical of Mathematics at Harvard University, Lecture offered a probing look at a different stories to scientific explanations of natural delivered a lecture based on his recent kind of scientific puzzle. Department of phenomena. book, The Shape of Inner Space. Energy official Ines Triay, B.S. ’80 Ph.D. ’86, “The real world, as understood In the book and lecture alike, “I wanted to tackled nuclear cleanup in her lecture, “The scientifically, has magic of its own—a give people a sense of how mathematicians Environmental Legacy of the Cold War.” spellbinding beauty which is all the more think and approach the world,” Yau Triay has dedicated her career to the magical because it is real and because said. “I also wanted them to realize that safe, timely, and cost-effective cleanup mathematics does not have to be a wholly of radioactive waste from our nation’s abstract discipline, disconnected from nuclear-weapons production and everyday phenomena, but is instead crucial research. As the Assistant Secretary for to our understanding of the physical world.” Environmental Management under` the -Zame Lect ght ure Obama administration, Triay led what is ni generally considered the largest, most cK M diverse, and most complex environmental cleanup in the world. The Nelson Lecture was established in 2009 through a bequest of alumnus Dr. Jimmie R. Nelson, B.S. ‘59, a radiologist Yau’s lecture addressed how who earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UM. Dr. Nelson hoped his mathematicians think and love of learning and chemistry would live approach the physical world. on through these annual lectures, which are accessible to students and the public.

SHING-TUNG YAU William Caspar Graustein Professor of Mathematics at Harvard University

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INES TRIAY, ’80 Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management

ARTS | SCIENCES 11 UM researchers unravel patterns and influences of migration COMMON

MIAMI PLAYS A LEADING ROLE IN UNDERSTANDING MODERN HUMAN MIGRATION

12 SPRING 2012 > Alejandro Portes’ work has profoundly influenced academic understanding of immigrant communties. His arrival on campus marks the emergence of the college as a major hub for migration studies.

The history of civilization is a narrative of migration. In 100,000 years of our history, human beings have populated every continent. People explore and settle. They flee strife, persecution, disease, and danger, and they are drawn to opportunity, peace, wealth, and freedom. Simply moving from place to place is a fundamental human experience. The United States famously has been described as a nation of immigrants. Within this quintessentially American narrative, Miami has been playing a leading role since the mid-20th century.

At the forefront of the study of migration is professor Alejandro Portes, whose work has profoundly influenced understanding of immigrant communities. Portes first captured the attention of academic and general audiences 20 years ago with his seminal book on Miami, City on the Edge, which reshaped sociological research on immigration and redefined the city itself. After 16 years at Princeton and 12 years at the helm of its prestigious Center for Migration Studies, Portes has returned to Miami for part of the year to teach in the College of Arts and Sciences and continue his research on the city and its immigrant communities. Professor Portes’ arrival on campus also marks the emergence of the college as a major hub for migration studies, which underlie many faculty members’ research in linguistics, sociology, politics, epidemiology, and other fields. The study of migration reveals common threads among these areas and suggests interdisciplinary approaches that enhance understanding across the academic spectrum.

ARTS | SCIENCES 13 “Clearly [Miami] is a prime gateway city for immigration from South America and the Caribbean, and it has really been an experiment in multicultural living and the resilience of American institutions. alejandro portes UM PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY

THE MOST FOREIGN U.S. CITY n his years of study, Portes, who first came to Miami as an adolescent Cuban exile and as a result enjoys close personal ties to the Cuban enclave here, has come to see Miami as a unique vantage point for monitoring migration. “Clearly this is a prime gateway city for immigration from South America and the Caribbean, and it has really been an experiment in multicultural living and the resilience of American institutions,” Portes said. “Miami is unique. It’s the most foreign city in the United States.” Portes is not alone in looking to Miami for insight. The breakneck pace of Miami’s transformation from tourist enclave to multicultural metropolis offers a glimpse at what other American cities may face as immigration intensifies, said geography professor Thomas Boswell, who has studied ethnic geography in South Florida for several decades. “What has happened here in Miami should inform us on some of the most important issues on the horizon, such as immigration, education, health care, and the economy,” he said. Another researcher of migration is assistant professor of sociology Frank Samson, who joined the college in 2009 and is studying how immigrants fit into and influence political institutions. “Demographically, we have reached the point where about half of the newborns in the United States are nonwhite,” he said. “So I am looking at how the country may change in terms of race, ethnicity, and politics.”

LEARNING FROM LANGUAGE The influx of Cubans into Miami during the 1960s, since followed by waves of immigrants from elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean, have made Miami a multilingual city whose government recognizes English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole as official languages. According to the 2010 U.S. Census data, more than 70 percent of Miami-Dade County residents speak a language other than English at home. And the city of Miami is one of the only municipalities in America in which Spanish is a predominant language. “In Miami, if you

14 SPRING 2012 speak to people in Spanish, they’ll most often respond in Spanish and are now seeing steep declines in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, continue the conversation that way,” professor of Spanish Andrew although the Jewish population of Palm Beach County continues to Lynch recently told The Huffington Post. increase,” Sheskin said. Miami’s influx of wealthy, educated Spanish-speakers has made Sheskin has conducted demographic surveys of Jewish communities Spanish a language of commerce, Lynch said. Yet second- and third- across the country for more than 30 years, and his research has clearly generation immigrants are not acquiring necessary formal Spanish shown the effects of such movement. “When migration changes the skills for professional communication, according to Lynch’s research. ethnic mix somewhere,” he said, “it changes the politics, the economy, “The city is by far the most bilingual in the nation and a major hub for and so many other things within the community.” Latin American commerce and mass media,” he said. “If Miami wants Migration can even alter the health status of a region, according to maintain and grow those vital aspects of the economy, the city to sociology professor Robert Johnson, who researches medical needs to foster bilingualism, particularly in the educational realm.” sociology. “If you look at history, people have long been concerned Miami’s Spanish-speaking populations also encompass diverse with how migration might spread disease,” Johnson said. “In medical cultural experiences, said Christina Civantos, an associate professor sociology, we have recently been studying the effect of migration on of Spanish who studies the influences of Arab immigrants on Latin our immigrant populations’ health to better understand them.” America. Arab immigrants have impacted language and culture of In the past, Johnson studied the health of Eastern European Jews South America, particularly in Argentina, she said. in Israel, and he recently completed the collection of health data on Civantos and Lynch agree that working in Miami is a boon to Miami residents that will enable comparisons of immigrants’ health their research, because their studies are relevant to their students. with that of nonimmigrants. His data will also be used to compare the “In my own classes, many Hispanic students have grandparents health of Miami residents to that of U.S. residents in general. or great-grandparents who moved to Latin America from the Arab world,” she said. AN INTEGRATED APPROACH Many faculty members welcome an interdisciplinary model for CHANGING POPULATIONS exploring emerging trends in migration. “By working among diverse While immigrants from Latin American and the Caribbean are the disciplines we integrate different approaches, improve the research, most prominent ethnic group in Miami today, South Florida has a and ultimately reach a much larger audience,” Johnson said. history of attracting other migrant populations, many of whom initially With so many researchers on the forefront of migration issues, saw the area as a winter haven. Among these groups are Jewish the College of Arts and Sciences is poised to become a major hub Americans from the north, especially retirees, whom geography for migration studies, said Portes. “There are enough faculty here professor Ira Sheskin has long studied. “To a large extent, the interested in these issues, and enough rich research to facilitate a migration of the elderly Jews once drove the economy here, but we [UM] center,” he said.

ARTS | SCIENCES 15 A new play from Broadway legend Tommy Tune and a partnership with the Arsht Center give Theatre Arts students professional experience.

hen professor Henry Fonte lead character. “Working with Tommy was an incredible opportunity, and became chair of the Department he treated us as professionals throughout the process.” of Theatre Arts last year he wasted Fonte hopes that the success of Fifty Four Forever will encourage no time getting UM students on the other playwrights to workshop original productions at UM. “With the demise of the old apprentice system in theatre,” he said, “exposure in national stage, providing them with shows of this caliber is invaluable for young theatre professionals.” unique training through partnerships Significant contributions from donors, including real estate executive with theatre professionals. “We are Edward Easton and Michael S. Gordon (director of the UM Center ensuring that our students have broad, meaningful for Research in Medical Education), provided financial support for professional experiences,” Fonte said. “When the Fifty Four Forever project. Fonte noted that continued backing they go out looking for work, we want theatres and from the UM community could make Theatre Arts a new hub for the development of original plays. casting agents to know they are exceptional.” Theatre Arts also partnered with the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in October to stage The House of Bernarda Alba, Frederico García In November, more than 30 Theatre Arts students staged Fifty Four Lorca’s final play. The play was cotranslated by Pulitzer Prize-winning Forever—a musical tribute to Studio 54 (a renowned 1970s New York playwright Nilo Cruz, who served last fall as a Center for the Humanities’ nightclub) and the first show in almost 20 years from Broadway legend Henry King Stanford Distinguished Professor. Tommy Tune. The production drew producers, artists, and national press, Critics hailed the UM/Arsht Center collaboration for reviving classical including The New York Times, to the Ring Theatre and enabled students theatre in Miami, and the successful staging prompted an enthusiastic to learn firsthand what it takes to build a major musical. commitment from Arsht executive vice president Scott Shiller: “It was by far the best experience I’ve had in my life,” said Kyle “What has started as a pilot program will soon grow into an ongoing Axman, a junior who played nightclub manager Steve Rubell, the show’s partnership,” he told The Miami Herald. “This is essentially the core of

16 SPRING 2012 Theatre alumni reunite at The Ring

Laughter and song rang through campus this January when alumni from 1970 to 1983 gathered to celebrate their years performing together at UM’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. More than 50 former Theatre Arts students toured their old stomping grounds at The Ring and gathered at the Newman Alumni Center to reminisce and revel together again. Alumnus Neil Einleger spent several months organizing the event after he and several classmates planned to meet in Miami. “It was really amazing how it mushroomed exponentially into a big event,” he said. “Everyone was just so eager to see each other and get back to UM.” Theatre alumni from across the country attended, including Olympian Greg Louganis and actress Dawnn Lewis. Lewis and alumnae Janet Aldrich and Valerie Perri Lipson reprised performances from their UM years, and the cast of Oklahoma! sang the classic title song as Einleger accompanied. “I marvel at the accomplishments of this group, in and out of the theatre,” said Aldrich. “We’ve been through a lot, and emerged in our 50s as wonderful individuals.” Einleger hopes the event will inspire alumni to maintain strong ties to UM and increase support for Theatre Arts. “Everyone realizes what a special time and place it was for us, and I think they will be more supportive of the University,” he said. “Ultimately, we would PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE RING THEATRE all love to see the department get a new theatre because we have simply outgrown The Ring.” Theatre alumni are planning more the Arsht’s mission: Developing great talent (Top) Sean Zajac, B.S. ’09, events across the country to keep the reunion spirit going and to and keeping it here in Miami.” Tommy Tune continue rallying support for Theatre Arts, Einleger said. While Fonte clearly has his eye on (Above) The Full Company national prominence for Theatre Arts, he of Fifty Four Forever also shares Shiller’s vision of community involvement and cultivating homegrown talent. The department is building partnerships with other local theatres, and its students are teaching Citrus Grove Middle School pupils dance and theatre. Theatre Arts is also collaborating with the School of Communication’s Motion See what you Picture Program to provide acting students missed at with more film experience and to give the reunion Motion Picture students the opportunity to Scan this QR code with direct actors. your smartphone or visit “We are all firmly committed to continuing bit.ly/Adb6xS this caliber of work and collaboration,” Fonte said. “We’ve bitten off a lot in the past year, and everyone—students, faculty, the college, and professionals— has really gotten behind it.”

ARTS | SCIENCES 17 Miami’s oldest art museum continues expanding its educational mission.

(above) Africa, Bassa people (Liberia) Divination Head, 20th century wood and stain, 7 7/8 x 4 3/4 x 6” Gift of Alan Potamkin, 2007.48.94 rt lovers are often surprised to learn that South Florida’s (below) Washington Allston, United States, 1779-1843 oldest and most diverse art museum is housed at the Mother and Child University of Miami. “The Lowe is the most comprehensive oil on canvas, 49 1/2 x 40 1/4” museum in South Florida in terms of chronology and Gift of The Washington Allston Trust, 56.141.000 expansiveness, and having it on campus is an invaluable resource,” said art history professor Perri Lee Roberts. The Lowe Art Museum celebrates its 60th anniversary this spring with an exhibition of 137 works from its permanent collection, which draws on art from around the world and through many eras of art history. Miami is an established center for contemporary art, but the Lowe’s diverse collection offers an important complement and historical context, Roberts said. The Lowe became South Florida’s first art museum when it moved from three classrooms into its own building in 1952, through a gift from philanthropists Joe and Emily Lowe. With continued support by the local arts community, the museum’s collection has grown to nearly 18,000 pieces, spanning more than 5,000 years of art history and embracing contributions from five continents. The breadth and depth of the museum’s collections has been influenced by its educational mission, said Brian Dursum, director and chief curator of the museum. “For a university museum, what drives us forward are the students and faculty and then the community at large,” he said. “We’re doing more exhibitions from the permanent collections that engage faculty and students.” Students in classics, cultural studies, theatre arts, and the humanities have investigated works related to their studies, and studio artists use the collection for reference and inspiration. “In line with its mission, the Lowe is a cultural asset that also enriches the curriculum for the entire IMAGES: COURTESY OF THE LOWE ART MUSEUM 18 SPRING 2012 Christo, United States (born Bulgaria), b. 1935 Wrapped Monument to Cristobal Colon Project for Barcelona - Plaza Porta de la Pau, 1976 John Ferren, United States, 1905-1970 fabric, string, crayon and graphite on paperboard, 28 1/2 x 22 1/4 x 1 5/8” Untitled, 1958 Museum purchase through the 2003 Director’s Circle, the Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial pastel on paper, 25 1/8 x 19” Endowment Fund and the Lowe Art Museum Acquisitions Fund, 2003.7 © Christo Gift of Theodore Racoosin, 70.031.001; © 1958 John Ferren

university by allowing students and faculty to experience art and history firsthand,” said Dean Leonidas Bachas. At present the museum faces some limitations in furthering its educational mission. “Right now, if someone wants to do a seminar or a class in the museum, we cannot accommodate that very easily,” said Dursum. Thus the Lowe is planning to build a new art study center to accommodate small groups and lectures. While on-campus education remains a top priority for the Lowe, it also educates the community. Many of the museum’s 35,000 off-campus guests last year were drawn in through its small-scale events, free- admission days, monthly happy hours, or the annual Beaux Arts festival. Hundreds of schoolchildren get their first exposure to art through tours at the Lowe. A magnet program partnership with two Miami-Dade county schools, Southside Elementary and Shenandoah Middle School, helps students use museum resources to learn lessons in the humanities and acquire critical thinking skills. To help support future exhibitions and educational programming, this past January Beaux Arts pledged $1.7 million to the museum. “The Lowe’s Korea, Chosôn Dynasty, 1392-1910 multicultural collections mirror the diverse population of residents living in Jar, 1700-1800 Miami-Dade County,” said Beaux Arts president Jennifer M. Pfleger. “This porcelain and underglaze cobalt blue, 15 3/4 h. x 12 7/8” dia. makes the museum a unique resource not only for the University of Miami Gift of Dr. Young Seek Choue, 60.157.000 but for the entire community.”

ARTS | SCIENCES 19 TRACKINGHURRICANES CLASS NOTES | ALUMNI PROFILES

YOURNEWS Let your classmates know what is going on in your life. Share news about yourself in a future issue of Arts & Sciences magazine. Send your information—including the year you graduated, degree, and major—to Jacky Donate, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248004, Coral Gables, Florida 33124-4620 or via email to [email protected].

JERRY V. WILKEY, AB ’55, JD ’57, received JOHN D. ATLAS, AB ’65, Sociology, received the Florida Bar 50 year Membership “with funding from the IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary ______50s distinction” certificate in ’07 and was listed in Fund to begin production of a new documentary Best’s Recommended Insurance Attorneys. about democracy, the new journalism and JAMES F. POLLACK, AB ’53, JD ’55, was Wilkey has been retired for 20 years and lives in poverty through the work of Association of nominated by the 11th district for the Tobias Palm Beach with his wife, Sari, B.S. ’57. Community Organizations for Reform Now Simon Award for his pro bono work during the (ACORN), America’s controversial anti-poverty past 3 years. Pollack volunteers at Legal Aid DEBORAH A. HOFFMAN, AB ‘56, J.D. ‘83, community group. The documentary is based on twice a week. He also volunteers at the Coral received the Positive Living Award, Arts and his book Seeds of Change. He hopes to get the Gables senior program, leading a weekly class Music category, from the Alliance for Aging. film completed for the New York Tribecca Film in current events and a monthly jazz class. He With Catalyst Miami, she recently launched Festival and released before the 2012 elections. was awarded the 2011 Positive Living Award by ReServe Miami, an innovative form of volunteer the Alliance for Aging in the legal category. civic engagement that provides talented and CHARLES W. PRATT, BS ’67, Geology, welcomed experienced adults 55 and older opportunities the arrival of his second grandchild, Henry VICTOR A. RATNER, BS ’54, Chemistry, to give back to their community through George, little brother to Charlie, on December 31, was president and CEO of Video Research part-time service positions at Miami-Dade 2010. He hopes both of his grandsons will be UM Corporation, an engineering and production nonprofits and public agencies. graduates. Pratt lives in semi-retirement in central company that developed and manufactured Florida. He enjoys working on his golf game. magnetic recording devices for government GORDON R. MILLER, BS ’56, Chemistry, has and industrial applications. Ratner is now practiced opthamology in Miami for 52 years retired in Roanoke, Virginia, where he and was recently appointed voluntary professor continues to be an active trombonist in local of ophthalmology at the University of Miami’s 70s music organizations. Miller School of Medicine. ______LOUIS J. TRIPOLI, AB ’70, Politics & Public Affairs, joined the Albany-based civil litigation and general practice firm Maguire Cardona ______60s where he will serve as managing attorney. During the past 25 years, Tripoli, a Syracuse LEON J. HOFFMAN, AB ‘61, Psychology, native, has tried medical malpractice cases in practices psychology in Chicago, specializing various specialty areas, including obstetrics, in individual and group psychotherapy and cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, supervision, consultation and coaching with infectious disease, emergency medicine, nursing individuals and organizations. He maintains his- home, and medical professional disciplinary life-long passion for music as a chamber music matters. Tripoli is admitted to practice in New cellist and invites classmates to make contact. York, Arizona and the District of Columbia and before the United States District Courts for the RUBYE D. JEWELL, AB ’62, Languages, ED ’70, Northern District of New York, as well as the will retire in July of 2012 after half a century of United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. teaching in Florida and Maine. She is currently He is a member of both the New York State and a teacher at C.W. Ruckel Middle School and Onondaga County Bar Associations. resides in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. JOSEPH MASCOLO, AB ’56, Theatre Arts, HEATHER FREELAND, AB ’70, Biology, passed ALLAN ROSENBAUM, AB ’62, History, is away on July 10, 2011. She is survived by her has been in the entertainment industry professor of public administration and director husband of 37 years, Jerry Freeland, and her since he graduated from the University of the Institute for Public Management and sons Jerry, James and Kenneth. of Miami in 1956. He has performed on Community Service at Florida International Broadway, primetime television, daytime University. He was elected vice president of GEORGINA A. ANGONES, AB ’72, English, was television and feature films, including the American Society for Public Administration. appointed by Senator Bill Nelson to serve for starring as Stefano DiMera since 1982 His term will begin in March 2012 and he will two years on the United States District Court, accede to the presidency in 2014. on the popular television show “Days of Southern District of Florida Judicial Nominating Commission. She is also the Assistant Dean Our Lives”. for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Miami School of Law.

20 SPRING 2012 John Santell found learning, love, and life’s work at UM

He took a circuitous route to his degree, but John Santell has spent a lifetime building on his University of Miami experiences. In two stints at UM, Santell honed the leadership skills that led to his success as a businessman, he made connections that shaped other aspects of his accomplished career, and he met his wife of MARCELA C. AUERBACH, AB ’73, Sociology, 60 years. managing partner at Nolan & Auerbach, P.A., Santell first enrolled at UM in 1948, when he received the Lawyer of the Year award from and many other World War II veterans worked Taxpayers Against Fraud (TAF) in Washington on the construction of campus facilities, includ- D.C. on September 13, 2011. She is a prominent ing the Merrick Building. He formed friendships speaker who has led numerous panel with university administrators, including Vice discussions and training conferences for President Eugene Cohen and Treasurer John attorneys, federal and state prosecutors, and federal agents on topics such as healthcare O’Day, who saw his leadership potential and fraud, investigative techniques, and federal put him to work for the university. court and trial advocacy. She was a lecturer at Santell was hired by the admissions of- the Department of Justice Advocacy Institute fice to help veterans enroll in classes. “If it and spoke on panels at the Taxpayers Against wasn’t for them, there would probably be Fraud Conference and the Southern Health Care no University of Miami,” he said. “So many Fraud Institute. veterans came here, and at that time, the university needed us.” JONATHAN T. LORD, BS ’73, Chemistry, MD Administrators soon asked him to help ’78, Pathology, joined the University of Miami revamp the student worker program in the in September as chief innovation officer and cafeteria. Santell recruited new staff, set professor of pathology at the Miller School of schedules, and helped speed up the lines. Medicine. He is currently chair of the board Cafeteria manager Olga Grob told The of directors of Dexcom, which develops new Hurricane in 1950, “Faculty members and “I love the University of Miami. I loved technologies and improvements in the field of customers agree that the service is much everyone there. It was a wonderful diabetes and glucose control. A fellow of the better since John has been here.” College of American Pathologists (FCAP), he Sorting out student workers in the cafeteria place for me.” is also a member of the advisory board to the gave Santell valuable management experience, JOHN SANTELL (Above, with wife Carol) director of the Centers for Disease Control in but it also served as backdrop for a great love Atlanta. story. Santell met his future wife, Carol, when RETHA BOONE-FYE, AB ’73, English, was recently she stepped in to cover a friend’s shift. “This honored by Identify, Connect, Activate, The Black little rich girl from Indiana had never worked a couple of years at the law school, which he Accomplished (ICABA) at a reception held in and didn’t know the routine of the cafeteria. then left to pursue politics. October. The organization focuses on recognizing But Santell was smitten. He took her out to Working on political campaigns led to a job black professionals and entrepreneurs who his favorite off-campus spot, The Nook, where at the Federal Housing Administration, and excel in their fields. Boon-Fye is currently the he treated her to a 35-cent burger and beer eventually to his long career as a consultant. director of Miami-Dade county’s Black Affairs and asked her to marry him that very night. “I represent about 20 of the biggest insurance Advisory Board. “Carol, an art major, thought I was crazy, but I companies in the world,” he said, “and when knew I was going to marry her,” he said. “And they have a problem with a government, I help RAYMOND ANGELO BELLIOTTI, MA ‘76, here we are.” them get it resolved.” Philosophy, PhD ’77, Philosophy, was appointed After the couple married in 1951, they spent In the ‘80s, the couple decided to spend a Distinguished Teaching professor of philosophy almost a decade away from Miami, while Santell year in Paris so Carol could further explore at SUNY at Fredonia. He analyzes our moral built a career in real estate and insurance. But her art. Carol was selected to exhibit her work obligations to the dead in his latest book, John, Carol, and their two children came back at the prestigious Grand Palais in Paris, and Posthumous Harm: Why the Dead are Still to UM so that he could finish his degree. Upon one year became seven as her reputation as Vulnerable. his return, administrators had another job for an artist grew. As Carol’s dreams came true, John followed his own passion for culinary DAVID O. HARTMAN, BS ’76, Chemistry, Santell—as a campus police officer. He worked MBA ’79, was appointed visiting professor nights patrolling the university and studying exploration. of management at Quinnipiac University during quiet times to complete a bachelor’s John credits the university not only for the School of Business. degree in sociology and psychology. skills it taught him, but also for the impact “I wanted to be an anthropologist, but one UM has had throughout their lives. “I love DOUGLAS B. BULLOCK, AB ’77, Geography, of the professors told me, ‘You’ve got too the University of Miami,” Santell said. ”I retired full-time in Walterboro, South Carolina much chutzpah. You should be a lawyer or a loved everyone there. It was a wonderful effective January 18, 2012. businessman,’” Santell recalled. He did spend place for me.”

ARTS | SCIENCES 21 TRACKINGHURRICANES CLASS NOTES | ALUMNI PROFILES

A civil litigator’s Dave Bell, B.A. ’98, has built an impressive record in MARTA ORTIZ- BUONAFINA, PhD ’79, civil litigation. As counsel at the Washington, D.C., law International Studies, passed away on Sunday, competitive edge firm of Crowell & Moring, he has represented clients November 29, 2009. in commercial, governmental, and international litiga- RIGOROUS UNDERGRAD tion and has become a leading expert on electronic EXPERIENCE AT UM HELPED evidence. Bell’s defense of a federal prison official in Brooklyn, who had been sued by Pakistani detainees MOLD A TOP LAWYER. 80s after the September 11th terrorist attacks, even led ______him to our nation’s highest court in 2009. Bell’s client was a party to Ashcroft vs. Iqbal, in BARRY P. GOLOB, BS ’83, Chemistry, was named which the Supreme Court ruled that top officials were recruiting partner of Duane Morris’ Intellectual Property Practice Group. He practices in the not liable for the potentially discriminatory actions area of intellectual property law and litigation of subordinates, unless the officials directly ordered with an emphasis on patent, trademark, those actions. “It’s been rewarding to represent a copyright, trade secret and unfair competition government official who was trying his best to do a litigation. He has represented clients in various very difficult job in the immediate aftermath of 9-11,” fields of technology including computer he said. software, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, The seeds of Bell’s success, he believes, were office furniture, the Internet, insurance, sown in his liberal-arts education at the University manufacturing, LEDs and telecommunications. of Miami, which he attended on a partial swimming scholarship, triple-majoring in political science, NINA MARINO, AB ’85, English, is a partner English, and criminology. at Kaplan Marino in Los Angeles, California. “At UM, I began to learn how to construct argu- Marino, an expert in complex white-collar ments and how to be an effective advocate,” said crime matters, spoke on the issue of Bell. “In the liberal arts, there’s never one definitive representing the individual at the 26th Annual answer. Instead, there’s a lot of open discussion and National Institute on White Collar Crime in defending of your position.” Miami on March 1, 2012. Bell’s competitive nature helped him to excel at UM MARIANELA NOGUERA, BFA ’85, Art, a both as a swimmer and a scholar. His name remains Venezuelan artist, started her artistic career on the record wall at the University Center Swimming “At UM, I began to learn more than 40 years ago. She is currently an Pool for the men’s 200-yard medley relay. He also was how to construct arguments art teacher for Miami-Dade County Public elected to Phi Beta Kappa, though he’s still a little Schools. Besides commission artworks, she and how to be an effective embarrassed by one of his grades. has dedicated her artistic talent to serve the advocate. In the liberal arts, “It’s ironic that I only got a B+ as an undergraduate community. She has painted murals for Frank C. in Constitutional Law, since that’s been an important Martin K-8 Center, Hands of Miami, children’s there’s never one definitive part of my practice,” he joked. Bell later rectified that psychiatrist center in Hialeah, Florida, and answer. Instead, there’s a errant B—with a higher mark in constitutional law at South Dade Middle School among others. the University of Virginia School of Law, from which lot of open discussion and he graduated in 2001. TIMOTHY S. HUEBNER, AB ’88, History, was defending of your position.” Bell’s performance on the job has been as exem- recently featured on C-SPAN 3’s American History plary as his academic record. His strong work ethic TV where he lectured on President Abraham DAVE BELL ’98 and determination, colleagues note, have made Lincoln and Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. To him a rising star on the forefront of important topics watch the lecture, visit http://www.c-span.org/ in the law, even bringing him to the ultimate legal Events/AHTV-Preview/10737425225-1/ venue. “Being sworn into the Supreme Court bar was ANITA CHENG, AB ’89, English, passed away an amazing experience,” he said. “Sitting 10 feet in September 2011. After graduating from from the justices and hearing them discuss a case I the University of Miami, she went on to had worked on for two years was a highlight of my Georgetown where she earned her law degree. career.” She worked for the FCC and lived with her husband, Michael, and their two children.

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September 30, 2011 Church Foreclosure Prevention Seminar and published an article GLORIA M. ESTEFAN, AB ’78, Psychology, entitled “Seven Tricky Contract Terms and recently released a new album—Little What They Really Mean” in the Winter 2011 Miss Havana. Known as the “Queen edition of Seminole Magazine. His business, of Latin Pop,” Estefan is in the top 100 Young DeLoach PLLC, was named the 2011 bestselling music artists with over 100 New Emerging Business of the Year by the million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 African American Chamber of Commerce of million of those in the United States. Central Florida. Estefan has won seven Grammy Awards, JESSICA I. DAMIAN, AB ’96, English, PhD ’07, and is the most successful crossover English, was promoted to associate professor performer in Latin music to date. of English at Georgia Gwinnett College, earned GGC’s Outstanding Teaching Award, and received the University System of Georgia’s Teaching Excellence Award — the state’s highest honor. She also was invited by Georgia Gwinnett College to give the keynote address at JENNIFER V. RUIZ, AB ’89, Sociology, JD ’92, LEYZA F. BLANCO, AB ’93, Psychology, JD this year’s Convocation. moved to Washington D.C. after graduation ’96, was recently re-elected to the board where she worked as in-house counsel of directors for the International Women’s EZEQUIEL MORSELLA, BA ‘96, Psychology, was attaining the position of Assistant General Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation named a faculty member at San Francisco Counsel at the United Mine Workers of America (IWIRC) as an at-large director for a two- State University as well as the Department of Health and Retirement Funds. She then took year term. Blanco works at Gray Robinson’s Neurology at the University of California, San a few years off to become a full time stay-at- Miami office, concentrating her practice Francisco. His neuroscience research on the home mom to 2 beautiful girls she adopted from area on litigation matters including banking brain’s conscious and unconscious processes Guatemala. She returned to the workforce to and finance, complex business bankruptcy, involved in action production has led to more pursue a career in Immigration Law. Ruiz is creditor’s rights and commercial litigation. She than forty scientific publications and two books, licensed to practice in Florida, Washington D.C. has been selected as one of Florida Trend’s including Oxford Handbook of Human Action. and Wisconsin and is fluent in Spanish. “Legal Elite” since 2008 and was recognized In 2010, Morsella was nominated along with by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on its list of six other neuroscientists/psychologists for the “Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County Virtual Nobel Prize in Psychology (organized by 40 Under 40” in 2010. In addition, she serves the University of Klagenfurt, Austria). as lead adjunct professor for the bankruptcy 90s CHARONG CHOW, AB ’97, Philosophy, BFA ______clinical program she launched at Florida International University College of Law. ’97, Sculpture, is an internationally exhibited MICHAEL HETTICH, PhD ’91, English, published artist and author. Her debut novel, Random, a book of poems entitled The Animals Beyond ROBERT C. HARDING, MA ’95, Inter American was inspired by her best friend’s death. She Us, which suggests that by growing more Studies, PhD ’98, International Studies, director also writes a recipe and lifestyle blog with her attentive to the beauty, mystery, and cruelty of of international studies and chair and associate children, www.EatingWithHudson.com. She nature, we can make peace with loss and with professor of political science, has been lives with her husband, two children, and a the inner world. His work is published widely in awarded tenure and promoted to associate menagerie of animals in Sonora, California. journals and anthologies, and he has published professor and chair of political science six books of poetry including Flock and Shadow at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. ANTONIO PALMER, BS ‘97, Biology, MSED (New River Press, 2005). He teaches English Previously, he was assistant professor at ‘99, Sports Medicines, is the chief radiation and creative writing at Miami Dade College. Lynchburg College. His newest book, Space therapist at the University of Miami Hospital Policy in Developing Countries, will be and Clinics/Sylvester Cancer Center at BLAND ENG, BS ’92, Mathematics and English, published by Routledge in 2012. Deerfield Beach. He is married to Aileen Reyes was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Palmer, AB ‘97, Economics, MSED ’99. They Brandon Regional Hospital. Eng, 41, has EARNEST DELOACH, BA ’96, Political Science live in Vero Beach, Florida, with their three worked for HCA for 17 years, most recently for and International Studies, served as panelist future Canes. five years as CEO of Palms West Hospital in on U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s Loxahatchee.

ARTS | SCIENCES 23 TRACKINGHURRICANES CLASS NOTES | ALUMNI PROFILES

ARIELLE D. CHIKOVSKY, AB ’03, English, is an attorney in her father’s Hollywood, Florida firm. She has skydived in New Zealand and SCUBA dived in Australia, despite a diagnosis of hereditary ______10s Usher Syndrome. In May, Chikovsky won $25,000 in the American Eagle Outfitter’s Live Your Life contest, which she donated to SCOTT MCNEIL, AB, ’11, Psychology, has Hope for Vision, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding written a memoir about about his 15-year battle with brain cancer. McNeil shares treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases like his story with others to help motivate and Usher Syndrome. Hope for Vision created Chikovsky’s dream fund inspire them to never give up. He was able to through which she hopes to raise $1 million to promote research graduate from UM despite his constant fight and awareness for blinding conditions. with cancer. Learn more about Scott at www.scottsmcneil.com

ANTHONY ROSA, AB ’97, Sociology, is the SEAN M. KILPATRICK, A.B. ’06 Psychology, CEO and Founder of GSEA Fashion Group, MSED ’09 and SUSAN L. LEARY, AB ’06 www.gseafg.com, a manufacturing company English, MA ’08, celebrated their one-year he created after graduation, with offices in wedding anniversary on January 22, 2012. Peru and New York. Both work for their alma mater. Leary is a lecturer in English composition and Kilpatrick ELIZABETH PRATT DAGGETT, BS ’98, Chemistry, is the associate director of advising in the works for the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Psychology. lives in Washington, D.C. with her family. She has two children. EVAN FELDSTEIN, BS ‘07, Psychobiology, is currently a second-year law student at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona s State University in Tempe, Arizona. ______00 JENNA L. BLATSTEIN, AB ’08, Criminology, launched her eponymous lingerie and ELIZABETH MCDANIEL-GARCIA, B.A. ’04, intimates brand in 2009. Her designs feature Political Science, MBA ’11, was accepted to ultra-chic style and stunning technical details, the Teachers College, Columbia University to fused with the contemporary need for receive her second Master’s Degree in the comfort and practicality. They are sold at field of Early Learning. She opened the third www.jennaleighlingerie.com campus of the Discovery Day Academy, her school of early learning in August 2011. The MARK L. SHYMAN, MALS ’08, Liberal Studies, program focuses on mathematics, science donated a Torah scroll to Mann’s Chabad in and critical thinking for children from birth to South Beach. Its arrival now allows the shul ALISON M. BRESCIA GRAY, BS ’08, 5 years old. to have two Torahs, the number required for Psychology, BHS ’08, Pre-Physical proper Judaic worship. Therapy, DPT ’11, Physical Therapy and MIGUEL ENDARA, BFA ‘06, Graphic Design, JASON GRAY, BBA ’09, Accounting, a Miami-based web developer and stipple MARGARET CARDILLO, MFA ’09, English, won were married on September 10, 2011 enthusiast, recreated a Xeroxed picture of the gold medal for the Florida Book Award his father using 3.2 million dots. The video in the Children’s Literature category for her in Summerfield, North Carolina, in the showing the process of this picture quickly book, Just Being Audrey. company of many fellow Canes. went viral. He found art as a perfect medium to pay tribute to his father. See the video at http://miguelendara.com/video/

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Theatre reimagined Scan this QR code with your smartphone or visit http://bit.ly/x6gS4o to learn about the new adaptation of The Bacchae.

RETHINKING CLASSIC THEATRE In 1965, theatre students collaborated with professionals to perform updated adaptations of Hamlet, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and Julius Caesar at a Shakespeare festival. This February, theatre students performed an outdoor, modern version of The Bacchae, an ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides.

THEN & NOW “I believe that in order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you came from,” said Nicholas Ley, who played Dionysis in The Bacchae. “Adaptations filter the history in a way that’s very relevant and approachable to audiences today.”