Annual Alumni Magazine from the College of Arts and Sciences
FALL 2013
Anatomy of a College: Celebrating 25 Years | p. 11
Interview with Lowell W. Beineke | p. 15
Expanding Research Frontiers | p. 18
A Matter of Words | p. 25
The Ripple Effect of COAS Alumni: Making Waves at Home and Abroad | p. 30 Collegium is a publication for the alumni of the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. It is produced by the College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with University Relations and Communications.
Editor and Writer Cathleen M. Carosella Contributing Writer Kendra Morris Copy Editor Tamara Sorg Designer Ruth Petitti
We’d love to hear from you! Collegium College of Arts and Sciences IPFW 2101 East Coliseum Boulevard Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499 A portion of the Student Services Complex, which joins Gates Sports Center, Cover Photo: 260-481-0686 Helmke Library, Walb Student Union, and a parking garage. This area includes expanded mailto:[email protected] research and study areas, a renovated technology center, a state-of-the-art new indoor IPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University. track and multi-use courts, improved fitness facilities, enhanced dining facilities, and an 07-13-038 international student center.
Features Stay connected, make a difference by visiting Anatomy of a College: Celebrating 25 Years | p. 11 Web: Interview with Lowell W. Beineke | p. 15 http://ipfw.edu/coas
Expanding Research Frontiers | p. 18 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ipfw.coas A Matter of Words | p. 25 The Ripple Effect of COAS Alumni: News & Events: Making Waves at Home and Abroad | p. 30 http://bit.ly/14OxVMn COAS Endowed Scholarship Fund: In Every Issue http://www.ipfw.edu/coas-scholarship
Department Spotlights | p. 2 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ COASIPFW Alumni Updates | p. 36 Email: [email protected] Letter from the Dean Dear College of Arts and for public universities such as IPFW have Sciences alumni, resulted in rising tuition rates. The shifting of costs from the general public to the The College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) like individual learner has resulted in mounting the rest of IPFW has been forced to adjust levels of student debt. While we are proud to the reality of reduced resources. COAS’s of IPFW’s affordability, it is increasingly clear annual budget is composed primarily of that our students need help in achieving their faculty and staff salaries, and during the educational goals without drowning in debt. 2012–13 academic year, it became necessary to leave unfilled a number of faculty positions For that reason, I have collaborated with that were vacated due to retirement or IPFW’s Office of Development to establish resignation. a College of Arts and Sciences General Scholarship Endowment Fund. This fund will As we start the 2013–14 academic year, support students pursuing bachelor’s degrees we are dedicated to continuing to provide in COAS departments and programs. Once outstanding educational experiences for the endowment reaches a sustainable level, our students. While we learn to adjust to it will provide scholarships to students based the required budgetary belt tightening, on need and merit. As the endowment grows, we will continue conversations regarding so will the number of scholarships offered. the reallocation of resources. Budgetary Our students are struggling to pay for their reductions and reallocations are neither education and many will be paying for it for simple nor pleasant topics, our conversations many years after they graduate. Your help will be open, candid, informed by data, and would go a long way toward making college guided by our mission and vision. more affordable. Please consider making a contribution to the endowment fund at http:// I encourage you to review the programs ipfw.edu/coas-scholarship by clicking on “Give and experiences featured on the COAS Now,” then “College of Arts and Sciences,” webpage and invite you to attend a University and selecting “College of Arts and Sciences Community Conversion (UC2) or other series Endowed Scholarship Fund.” program, examine our Student Performance Metrics, check out the COAS News and Events I wish you all the best for an exciting and listing, and engage in a discussion of higher successful year. education in my blog Sapere Aude—A Liberal Arts and Higher Education Blog. Specifically for students, but open and available to the public, we also have the First Mondays lecture series, as well as the Faculty in Focus and Major Factor video series.
Finally, as you probably know all too well, Carl N. Drummond our students are faced with many challenges Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences throughout their educational career—one of the most daunting being the cost of higher education. Declining levels of state support
| 1 Department Spotlights Livschiz (history) received teams. Associate Professors the Downs-Hollander Service Ahmed Mustafa (biology) Award, Damian Fleming and Jeff Nowak (education) (English and linguistics) received were this year’s co-directors, the Enhancement of Learning and biology faculty Bruce Award, and L. Michael Spath Kingsbury, Jordan Marshall, (philosophy) received the Punya Nachappa, and Parveen Regional Engagement Award. Quarrar also participated as event coordinators. Van Coufoudakis, right, Faculty News: George Below clockwise, Carl Drummond, BIOLOGY Mourad and Ahmed Mustafa Dean of the College of Arts COAS received IPFW Pippert Scholar and Sciences presents the Environmental Resources awards in fall 2013. William Enhancement of Learning Award Center: In July 2012, the Former Dean’s New DeMott received the Faculty award to Damian Fleming (English Center for Reptile and Amphibian Appointment: Van of the Year Award 2013 from and linguistics), the Regional Conservation and Management Engagement Award to L. Michael Coufoudakis, dean emeritus of Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta), the (the HERP Center), directed by Spath (philosophy), the Downs- the College of Arts and Sciences biological honor society. Hollander Service Award to Ann (COAS), accepted an offer in Professor Bruce Kingsbury, Livschiz (history). October 2012 from the Greek expanded its mission and In fall 2012, the department minister of education to head became the Environmental welcomed new faculty member an independent agency called Resources Center (ERC). An Punya Nachappa and, in fall the Council of the Hellenic IPFW Center of Excellence, the 2013, the department welcomed Quality Assessment Agency. ERC’s broader mission—“to Jaiyanath Daniel. Winfried The agency oversees the promote the understanding Peters was promoted from evaluation of all universities and conservation of the assistant to associate professor. and technical colleges and natural resources of the region provides recommendations to through scientific research, Mustafa is the certified trainer at the minister of education about educational opportunities, and IPFW for Training for Intervention revamping the Greek higher outreach”—also expands the Procedures (TIPS). He provides education system. The latter opportunities for a more local this training as part of a biology– responsibility is a “controversial focus. The ERC is made up psychology course, Addiction: and highly politicized issue,” said of faculty from various COAS Biology, Psychology, and Society. Coufoudakis. His confirmation departments, including biology, TIPS helps students make hearing with the Committee and undergraduate and graduate sound choices when faced with on Cultural Affairs of the Greek students who are interested in difficult decisions about alcohol Parliament was a tumultuous participating in issues related use, and the program helps affair that lasted more than to the environment. For more develop intervention techniques three hours. The main opposition information, see the ERC’s appropriate to IPFW’s campus. website at http://erc.ipfw.edu . party opposed the nomination, Student Awards and but Coufoudakis was appointed Science Olympiad 2013: Achievements: Molly Miller by more than a 2/3 vote. With Seven teams of high school and Natasha Perrine received the help of ministry officials students from six different schools the Outstanding Senior Biology and the mayor of Athens, converged on the IPFW campus Award and the Honors Degree in Coufoudakis reestablished his Saturday, February 2, to take part Biology Award, respectively. Lori Greek citizenship to take on the in the 2013 Science Olympiad. Morgan received the Leo and position. Twenty-three varied events, each Jack Jehl Memorial Scholarship. Faculty Awards: At the of which contained one or more Ryan Smith, Jacob Torkeo, faculty convocation in May elements of science, technology, and Jodie Karn received the 2013, several COAS faculty engineering, and math, were Henebry Scholarship. Amanda members were honored. Ann undertaken by the student Stoffer, Sameha Albayyari, and
2 | | Fall 2013 Amber McDevitt received the Emil Richard Seidel Scholarship.
At the 2013 Sigma Xi Research Symposium, Alexandra Okihiro received the Best Graduate Student Presentation and Micah Rapp received the Best Undergraduate Student Presentation awards. Graduate Left to right, Chemistry students Mieke Peels, Christopher Felton, Alyssa Nott, student Jessica Schein placed Kali Fridholm, and Shori Gerardot, are awarded scholarships. second at the 16th Annual IPFW Research and Creative Endeavor in a field such as orthopedic COMMUNICATION Student Accomplishments Symposium. surgery. He is part of the IPFW SCIENCES AND and Awards: A record men’s tennis team; a member of DISORDERS number of CSD students, 24, Student Clubs: This year 23 the Chemistry, Big Heart, graduated with Bachelor of outstanding biology students and Pre-Med Clubs as well as New Faculty: In fall 2013, Science degrees in 2013, from IPFW were honored with the Honors Program; and a the department welcomed Pam and six of them planned to lifetime membership in Tri-Beta recipient of both Dean’s and Reese as assistant professor pursue graduate degrees. Honor Society at the induction Semester Honors. of communication sciences and Danae Westgerdes received ceremony on March 25, 2013. disorders (CSD). She is currently the Outstanding CSD Major Christopher McKay received Award and the Gerontology The Biology Club participated finishing her dissertation, a Faculty/Alumni Scholarship Award for Excellence; Mallory in several activities during which discusses methods for and is completing his third Buffenbarger and Kathryn the 2012–13 academic year, improving the literacy skills of semester at IPFW, earning Mossburg were co-recipients including a partnership with young readers. Dean’s and Semester Honors of the Anne M. Balentine Trees Indiana, an organization each semester. Faculty/Alumni Faculty Spotlights: Clinic Scholarship; Teresa Barcenas dedicated to increasing Scholarships also were awarded Director and Continuing Lecturer and Stephanie Shamo were the Hoosier tree canopy by to Shori Gerardot, Nathan Oren, Sharon Egly received notice co-recipients of the Downtown educating Indiana’s youth about Alyssa Nott, Mieke Peels, Sarah that one of her works has been Sertoma William Doctor/Charles the importance of maintaining Fischer, Cameron Griffith, accepted for publication. She M. Henry Jr. Scholarship; a healthy urban forest in every Jun-Kyu Byun, and Kali developed an instructional and Erika Lutz received the community, and a partnership Fridholm. Byun also received set of five DVDs titled Oral After Sorority, All Philanthropic with the Little River Wetlands the William F. Erbelding Award Facial Mechanism Evaluation Scholarship. Project to plant native species at in Analytical Chemistry, and (Insight Media), which is used the Eagle Marsh preserve. Fridholm the Outstanding Student for the purpose of teaching Events and Student-Led Affiliate Award. beginning clinicians of speech Clubs: The fourth annual Poss- and language pathology how Abilities ACC Theatre Camp was CHEMISTRY Finally, Christopher Felton to perform an oral facial held over fall break in October received the American Chemical mechanism evaluation. 2012. This camp is an option Student Awards: Jacquelyn Society Division of Inorganic Kelty received the Arthur W. for students in the Computer Chemistry Award, which Visiting Professor Joy Musser Friedel Endowed Chemistry Applications in Speech recognizes achievement in received a course development Scholarship. Kelty, a pre- Language Pathology course. The inorganic chemistry. grant through the Department medicine major, is on the Dean’s young students who participated of Continuing Studies to List, in the Honors Program, and in the camp put on Sharon develop the Introduction to hopes to become a pediatric Egly’s adaptation of Stone Soup. Communication Disorders oncologist. A new production is planned for course for online use. The the 2013 Poss-Abilities camp. Derek Romer received the course was offered in fall 2013. Leepoxy Plastic Inc. Scholarship. The American Sign Language Romer hopes to combine his ‘PAH’ Club hosted the annual interests in sports and medicine Deaf, Deaf World event in March.
| 3 The Speech and Hearing Club’s Award, and Meghann Bassett Sunderman was a leading activities included one yoga and received the Farnsworth Award. authority on reef rocks in Indiana, two Zumba fundraisers, Make- and the installation will be It-Take-It, Sensitive Santa, a TENL Summer China appropriately constructed from materials drive for the American Practicum: In summer 2012, a variety of Indiana limestone. Speech-Language-Hearing three Teaching English as a The artwork is being designed Association (ASHA), t-shirt and New Language (TENL) students and installed by noted American fleece jacket sales, and volunteer did their practicum in China. sculptor Cary Shafer, whose ushering at commencement. This was the second time this many accomplishments include Organizations that benefited from practicum was offered, providing serving as artist-in-residence at the club’s fundraising activities students with the opportunity to Crazy Horse Mountain in South include the AAC Possibilities complete practical classroom Dakota and carving the final Camp, AAC World, Turnstone, teaching requirements in a five- gargoyle at Washington National HearCare Connection, IPFW week summer session while also Cathedral in Washington, D.C. English and Linguistics Communication Disorders Clinic, obtaining instructional experience Department award winners with Red Cedars, Dusty Dreams, and in an international setting. This Students, alumni, and the public graduate director, Associate practicum broadens students’ were invited to the dedication Professor Lewis Roberts Buddy Walk for the Alzheimer’s Association. perspectives, strengthens their ceremony for the Jack A. Pictured below, IPFW students abroad professional experience, enriches Sunderman Geogarden Friday, educational opportunities Oct. 4, 2013, with a BBQ dinner through living in a new culture, to follow. For more details, please ENGLISH AND and enhances awareness of contact the IPFW Department of LINGUISTICS cross-cultural communication. Geosciences. For more details on TENL alumni, Student Awards: In 2013, see the Alumni Updates section John Cantey received the on page 36. Outstanding English Major HISTORY Award, Jack Kruse received Book Drive for Washington Student Accomplishments the Sylvia E. Bowman Award, Elementary School: The and Awards: Joseph Tim Leonard received the department participated in a Wuest took second place and Arline R. Standley Scholarship book-drive service project in Mallory Leatherman third in and the Crismore Award, April 2013, collecting new and the annual Indiana University Sherri Cecil received the gently used children’s books Bloomington European Union Krzyminski Scholarship, Rachael for students in grades Pre-K–5. Center-sponsored essay contest. Kydy received the Psi Iota Xi They far exceeded their goal of Wuest also received the Sharon Scholarship, Leslie Mackey and 100 books, which were donated Alt Piepenbrink Award, the Jack Schroeder received the to students at Washington Outstanding History Senior Henry Kozicki Graduate Writing Elementary School in Fort Wayne. Award, the Sally A. Merrill Outstanding Political Science Senior Award, the Service Award GEOSCIENCES for Supplemental Instruction, and the Carol Roberts Writing Center Geogarden Rededication: Consulting Award. This fall, the Department of Geosciences will commemorate Stephanie Boissy received the its 50th anniversary by renaming Judie and Ralph Violette History the Geogarden outside of Kettler Scholarship. Patrick Casey and Hall as the Jack A. Sunderman Rebecca Jacobs received a Geogarden. A new art installation Withers Scholarship. In 2012, to honor Sunderman, the founding Casey received the Excellence in member of the department, will Foreign Language Study Award also be dedicated. for German, and Jacobs received an Excellence in International Studies Award.
4 | | Fall 2013 Anthony Ternet presented his paper “Sex Roles in Soviet Professor Anne Argast Propaganda Posters of the works with student April Khrushchev Era” at the 2013 Knox in the Argast Family Indiana University Women’s and Imaging and Analysis Gender Studies Undergraduate Lab. Student Conference in Bloomington. want folks to bring their find the SEM and the lab Undergraduate History Argast Family students in here,” Argast valuable. Ryan says it is Department Conference: Imaging and explained. “We’ve gone out a technical assistance The fifth annual Undergraduate of our way to try to keep the resource for companies that History Department Conference Analysis Lab: prices for operating it very wish to do this kind of work was held Saturday, April 20, low; we don’t charge for themselves but do not have 2013, at the Learning Commons Professor Anne Argast people for coming in with a their own machine. in Helmke Library. Ten history (geology) was a major class, and we try and make it easy and inexpensive to When community partners majors—Katherine Lautzenhiser, catalyst in acquiring a Scanning Electron get access. We need to come in, Argast will help Sarah McGee, Joseph Wuest, Microscope (SEM) for the establish a mindset of using train their employees how Kent Richardson, Sara Jackson, Argast Family Imaging these kinds of facilities in a to work the SEM. According Rebecca Jacobs, Christopher and Analysis Lab, thereby routine way. A lab like this to Ryan, this allows these Rozman, Stephanie Boissy, furthering her goal to should be getting used a companies to “develop the Tanner Billingsley, and Anthony develop interdisciplinary majority of every day” either skillset within their own company to do that type of Ternet—presented their research, collaboration and by students, faculty, or community partnerships. community partners. analysis and do that skill and CATV recorded the conference. in-house. It’s a benefit to Information about this year’s and The SEM’s purchase was a Inviting community partners the company because IPFW previous conferences is available collaborative project: funded like Fort Wayne Metals to is close and accessible,” through Helmke Library’s Opus: in large part by Argast’s use the SEM for their own adding that companies can Research and Creativity at father, James Argast, the research and work is useful get a fast turnaround for http://opus.ipfw.edu . SEM also received financial in more ways than one. It their work as well. support from IPFW, Vice provides funding for the lab Faculty Spotlights: In 2012, Chancellors J. Albayyari and directly from community Argast and Ryan will continue to search for more Bernd Fischer published two Walt Branson, COAS Dean partners or from research grants. “One of the ways companies to partner with books, King Zog and the Struggle Carl Drummond, and Fort Wayne community you face a funding problem and learn from Argast and for Stability in Albania and partners such as Fort is with fundable research the SEM. Also IPFW faculty Albania, 1943–1945: A View Wayne Metals, who support in the sciences and and students will continue through Western Documents. the lab by using it for their technology. And fundable to benefit from easy access company’s work. research takes place in labs to this useful piece of In 2012, Jeffrey Malanson like this.” It also provides equipment. published “Foreign Policy in the The SEM uses an electron community partners with Presidential Era” in Edward G. beam to scan and magnify technical Lengel’s A Companion to George an object. Electrons bounce assistance not Washington and chapters on back from the surface as readily available an image or an X-ray, which George Washington and James from other local allows users to evaluate sources. Sean Knox Polk in volume 1 of Mathew the chemical composition Ryan, director Manweller’s Chronology of the of the object. The SEM of engagement U.S. Presidency. Malanson also is used by geosciences in IPFW’s Office received a Purdue Research faculty members and of Engagement, Foundation Research Grant to undergraduates at IPFW, but works closely begin work on his next book it also is open for use by all with Argast IPFW faculty or community project, “What Would George to find local partners like Fort Wayne businesses Washington Do?: The Use and Metals for a small fee. “We that would Abuse of the Founding Fathers and Image captured by the new Scanning Their Legacies, 1787–1921.” Electron Microscope
| 5 One of the many events held in ILCS’s Language Lab International within the department. I Limited term lecturers offer my help where needed. particularly enjoy walking Rosemarie Logomasini Students seem to enjoy the Language and through the lab witnessing (German) and Maria Conforti independent and collaborative— students speak in different (Spanish) use the lab for courses and in their own words, ‘more Culture Studies languages. It is undeniably a as well. According to Conforti, engaging’—work. They feel Language Lab: very valuable space for our “The students feel different empowered that they can find students and faculty.” when they learn in a different relevant information in German The ILCS language lab was atmosphere; they relax and feel on their own, based on the renovated several years ago, Spanish and English major part of something bigger. Our skills that they currently have.” and both faculty and students Braxxton Martin agreed: “I like language lab plays an essential She added that “I can’t imagine use the lab on a regular basis the lab because there I have role in their learning process.” not teaching some of my class for courses, club meetings, made connections with students sessions in the lab.” watching videos, international who study the other five Assistant Professor of German events, learning languages, languages” offered through ILCS, Suin Roberts builds lab French and political science and many other engaging which he considers “extremely sessions into most classes that major Jonathan Gatke enjoys ways to learn about other beneficial.” she teaches because the lab the multicultural environment of languages and cultures. provides a space where students the lab. “The conversations that Continuing Lecturer in can “encounter information go on are not only interesting, Continuing Lecturer in Spanish Japanese Yuriko Ujike uses in the German language in a but they also allow you to open Laura Rodríguez-Durán the lab for Japanese culture- different way from what they are your mind to a variety of other explained how the language related lectures and hands-on used to in a regular classroom languages that you might not lab provides the “perfect workshops like origami, summer setting.” She also shared, get the chance to study here at environment” for students desserts, summer festivals, “During these lab sessions, IPFW,” he said, “The language to work and study together, Japanese Club meetings, and they work in pairs or small lab is like its own country and “creating a sense of community Japanese culture sessions. groups and I walk around and culture inside the university.”
In 2012, Richard Weiner co-editor with Covarrubias of a INTERNATIONAL Undergraduate Conference at published “La riqueza legendaria forthcoming book titled La idea LANGUAGE AND Indiana University Bloomington de México: lectura selectiva del de una gran riqueza natural de CULTURE STUDIES April 12, 2013. legado del Ensayo de Humboldt” México. Proyectos y debates Tyler Davis, a double major in in José Enrique Covarrubias económicos, siglos XVIII y XIX. In Featured Students: Morgane German and Spanish, received and Matilde Souto Mantecón’s June 2013, Weiner participated Haesen, a French major, a fellowship to study Burmese Economía, ciencia y política. in a National Endowment for the presented a paper on Moliere’s at the University of Wisconsin- Estudios sobre Alexander von Humanities summer institute at Le Tartuffe at the Indiana Madison at the Southeast Asian Humboldt a 200 años del Duke University on the history of University Women’s Studies Summer Institute 2013. Ensayo político sobre el reino political economy. and Gender Studies de la Nueva España. Also, he is This institute is an eight-week
6 | | Fall 2013 intensive language training Lowell W. Beineke received PHILOSOPHY performance, and Joshua program. Davis competed against the inaugural Lowell W. Bertsch, who received the Wise applicants from around the world Beineke Award for Outstanding Department Spotlight: Scholarship and a Chancellor’s for this fellowship. Contributions to the Liberal The department sponsored Scholarship. Arts and Sciences, an award two Philosophy of Science, Brittany Byerley, a 2013 named in his honor. (For more Technology, Engineering, and Four recent graduates will Spanish and biology graduate, information, see the interview Mathematics (PhiloSTEM) continue their education in has been accepted to Indiana with Beineke on page 15.) Peter workshops in fall 2012 and graduate school. Brian Kelly University Medical School. She Dragnev was a 2013 Featured spring 2013. The spring (’10), after spending a year as served the university and Fort Faculty, and Sandra E. Berry PhiloSTEM was paired with a an English instructor in South Wayne community by presiding was the 2013 Sigma Xi Teacher conference on early analytic Korea, (see photo below) will over the Global Health Initiative of the Year. philosophy. Ioan Muntean study ethics. Daniel Todorovic and volunteering at Matthew 25 and Bernd Buldt organized (psychology, ’13) will attend the Health and Dental Clinic. In 2013, Beineke co-edited these events, which are gaining University of Waterloo in Canada Topics in Structural Graph Theory national recognition. to earn a Ph.D. in psychology Featured faculty: Associate with Robin J. Wilson (University and an M.A. in philosophy. Professor Lee M. Roberts of Oxford). It is their third book as Faculty Spotlights: Bill Adam Betts will pursue an M.A. received a New Frontiers part of the series Encyclopedia of Bruening retired after 40 years in philosophy at Arizona State Exploratory Travel Fellowship to Mathematics and Its Applications. of service and, as emeritus University. Andrew Towers do research in summer 2013 faculty, he will teach classes (’11) will pursue an M.A. in in Vienna, Austria, on German- Student Accomplishments: occasionally. Abraham Schwab philosophy at Gonzaga University speaking Jewish-Austrian Amanda Hyde, a junior math was granted promotion to in Spokane, Wash. refugees in Shanghai under major with a 4.0 GPA, was associate professor with Japanese occupation during named the women’s basketball tenure. L. Michael Spath was Faculty Research: Buldt World War II. Roberts plans MVP of the Summit League and recognized for his outstanding presented a paper on the to use the research in a book Scholar Athlete of the Year by the community service and emergence of probabilistic covering East-West tensions Division I-AAA Athletics Directors received the 2012 Punjabi reasoning at an international and the concepts of racism and Association. Altun Shukurlu Cultural Association Community workshop in Bonn, Germany. nationalism in what came to be completed the Putnam Exam Partnership Award and the COAS Clark Butler published two known as the “Shanghai Ghetto.” for the second time and scored 2013 Regional Engagement books: one a collection of essays in the top 20 percent of math Award. he edited, Child Rights: The In 2012, Assistant Professor students across the country. Movement, International Law, Suin Roberts published Student Spotlights: This and Opposition; the other is a Language of Migration: Self- and Department Celebrates 50 year the department recognized book he authored, The Dialectical Other-Representation of Korean Years: In 2014, the Department Caleb M. Jehl, who received the Method: A Treatise Hegel Never Migrants in Germany. This book of Mathematics will celebrate Jean and Bill Bruening Award Wrote. elicited praise and interest from 50 years. To commemorate for outstanding overall academic the scholars invited to review her this event the department will promotion and tenure case. host the state-wide Indiana Philosophy graduate Brian Kelly with a few of his students in Korea. Mathematical Association of America conference April 4–5, MATHEMATICAL 2014. The conference will include a student competition SCIENCES and dinner. The event will start at Faculty Accomplishments: 3 p.m. on Friday with the student math competition, followed by a Yuan Zhang received a dinner, and then the conference three-year National Science will convene on Saturday Foundation Research grant of morning. For more information $75,000, and Peter Dragnev on the conference, competition, received a five-year Simons or other details, please contact Foundation Collaborative Grant in Professor Adam Coffman through Mathematics of $35,000. the department.
| 7 PHYSICS for his research on genetically modified mice and how the brain News and Updates: The controls their sense of direction. Department of Physics has Undergraduate research increased in the number assistants work alongside Yoder, of physics majors by 250 and this grant will fund ongoing percent in the last four years. research and compensate his Additionally, optoelectronics assistants. and biomedical physics are new major concentrations offered. IPFW’s Project COMmunity The department introduced the Partners Against Student first astronomy minor at IPFW Suicide (COMPASS) received and hired Steve Gillam, an a $285,000 grant from astronomer who studies globular Department of Health and clusters and who organizes star Human Services, thanks in large watching “parties” throughout part to Project COMPASS’s Physics students participated in a new “Frankenstein” event the year. principal investigator, Jeannie presented to increase awareness of their field of study. DiClementi. The department also runs a Quinton Dixie published two published a short piece on the math and science camp and a Psychology Professional books: Visions of a Better World: non-science of medicine. physics camp every summer Goals Seminars: The Howard Thurman’s Pilgrimage to that focus on topics such as Department of Psychology India and the Origins of African Jeffrey Strayer had two exhibits lasers, Legos, and light. One and IPFW’s Career Services American Nonviolence, co- of his artwork last fall, one on new event was a Frankenstein sponsored three professional authored with Peter Eisenstadt, campus and the other at the demonstration in October 2012 goals seminars in spring 2013. and The Papers of Howard W. Fort Wayne Museum of Art. designed to show community The seminars focused on writing Thurman, Volume 2: Christian, See his website at http://www. members what current physics a personal statement and cover Who Calls Me a Christian? April jeffreystrayer.com for how it students produced. This was a letter, preparing a résumé, 1936–1943. relates to his philosophical work. fun and scientific retelling of the strengthening interview skills, Duston Moore presented a Exciting Curriculum Frankenstein story. and finding a job with a B.A. in paper on Alfred Whitehead and Development: Jennifer psychology. Professor David critical theory at an international Caseldine-Bracht did a service- Young and Karen Campbell, conference in Rome, Italy. learning project with her “Ethics assistant director of career and Animals” class in which she PSYCHOLOGY development, were the featured Muntean presented papers organized an Animal Visibility speakers, and both are hoping Faculty News: Ryan Yoder in the philosophy of science Day in IPFW’s Walb Student to offer the series again in received a $400,000 grant from at workshops in New Orleans, Union. It included representatives spring 2014. National Institutes of Health Columbus, Ohio, and Bristol, from diverse local organizations. England. Joyce Lazier continues to Erik S. Ohlander was invited speak about the benefits of to lecture on medieval Sufi using mobile technologies in fraternities at an international the classroom at eight national conference in Paris, France, and conferences and three on- he recently published an article campus workshops. titled, “Inner-Worldly Religiosity, Social Structuring, and Fraternal Erik S. Ohlander was asked by Incorporation in a Time of Oxford University Press to share Uncertainty: The Futuwwat-nama his experience and to contribute of Najm al-Din Zarkub of Tabriz.” teaching materials for courses on Islam. Schwab gave a lecture titled “Empirical Ethicists” at Sophomore psychology major Rae-lynn Foley partipates in a mock job interview with David Young during professional goals seminars Northwestern University and sponsored by the psychology department and Career Services.
8 | | Fall 2013 WOMEN’S STUDIES Feminist Leadership Conference, conference was a weekend sponsored by the Feminist of activist training, with topics Exciting Updates and Majority Foundation, in March focused on both women’s Changes: There has been 2013. Discover more about reproductive health rights and a 55 percent increase of the conference at http://www. how students can advocate in enrollment in women’s studies feministcampus.org/leadership . their own state’s capitol. (WOST) courses over the past three years, and new and Women’s studies major Layli Women’s Studies Honor diverse courses helped the Magers presented a paper at Society: A new women’s program’s growth. Some of Southern Connecticut State studies honor society, Iota Iota these courses include Feminism University’s 19th Annual Iota (Triota), started in 2012. This and Food, taught by Elizabeth Women’s Studies Conference, student organization hopes to Mannir; Gender, Sexuality, and “Women and Girls of Color: provide support for academically Violence, taught by Sara Webb- History, Heritage, Heterogeneity,” oriented feminist programming Sunderhaus; and Feminist in April 2013. Magers’s on campus. Perspectives on the Body, taught presentation, “Reclaiming the Service Learning: Elizabeth by Emily Schusterbauer, Sacred Sisterhood in Feminine Mannir’s spring 2012 Feminism women’s studies’ first Indiana Movement: The Dance of Birth,” and Food class took on an University Future Faculty Fellow. explored the art of the belly ambitious service learning The program welcomes Jenna dance as a tool for reinforcing project on campus that raised Basiliere as the 2013–14 communication between women, money for the Fort Wayne Future Faculty Fellow, and for strengthening kinship, and for Community Harvest Food Bank she will teach courses on the empowering childbirth. through the sale of delicious feminist sex wars and the ethics Women’s studies students and healthy fruit smoothies for of international development. Sara Beining, Amity Pauley, a week in April 2012. In April Take Back the Night: Layli Magers, and Melody 2013, Mannir’s class continued Campus Feminists in Solidarity Monday traveled to the National to raise money on campus for (CFS) organized the annual Women’s Studies Association the Community Harvest Food Take Back the Night event in (NWSA) academic conference, Bank by selling herb kits in April 2013. Elka Jackson, who held November 8–11, 2012, handmade gift bags. coordinates the men’s program in Oakland, Calif. They were given the opportunity to travel to at the Fort Wayne Center for Women’s studies students Amity Non-Violence, was the guest this NWSA conference thanks Pauly (left) and Melody Monday (right) speaker for this event. After to funding from IPSGA, the attended the NWSA conference in Jackson’s lecture, a candlelight WOST department, and Vice November 2012. vigil and speak out were held Chancellor for Student Affairs outside of the IPFW Helmke and Enrollment Management Library. This was followed by a George McClellan. The students march across the IPFW campus, who attended came back with as everyone shouted chants in campus activism ideas. an effort to reclaim the night March 23–25, 2013, marked for women. The event received the 9th annual Feminist Majority media attention in Fort Wayne Foundation’s (FMF) National and was publicized on INC News Young Feminist Leadership and WFFT TV, as well as featured Conference in Washington, D.C., in the Journal Gazette. and WOST students Cailynn Undergraduate Research Smith, Kaitlin VanEmon, Lynn and Travel: A group of Kies, Pauley, and Monday women’s studies students were in attendance with received IPSGA funding to more than 500 students from attend the National Young across the United States. The
| 9 Advertisment THE NUMBER ONE BARRIER TO THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS ...is their ability to pay for college without being burdened by excessive debt. Research shows that students who work more than 20 hours per week are less likely to graduate— but IPFW students are working 20, 30, 40, or more hours per week to avoid student loan debt.
With this in mind, the College of Arts and Sciences established a COAS General Scholarship Endowment Fund to support students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in COAS departments and programs. Once the endowment reaches a sustainable level, it will provide scholarships to COAS students. As the endowment grows, so will the number of scholarships offered.**
As alumni, you understand the benefits of a well-rounded education in the liberal arts. So we look to you to help keep the aspirations of current students within reach. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated, but please consider the following costs when making your decision: $100 Program fee for incoming freshmen $779.25 Cost of one on-campus three-credit hour course $259.75 Cost of one on-campus credit hour $2,337.75 Cost for nine on-campus credit hours $320.25 Cost of one online credit hour $3,896.25 Cost for fifteen on-campus credit hours
How to contribute to the COAS General Scholarship Fund Endowment Online gifts to the endowment can be made at ipfw.edu/coas-scholarships (click on “Give Now” and select “College of Arts and Sciences Endowed Scholarship Fund”) By phone Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted (260-481-6962) By check made payable to IPFW COAS Endowment and sent to IPFW Development Office, RE: COAS Scholarship Endowment, 2101 East Coliseum Boulevard, KT 140, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
If you have questions about this program or other ways you can help the COAS students, please contact Dean Carl Drummond at 260-481-6750 or [email protected]
** The IPFW Financial Aid Office will administer scholarships in line with IPFW merit scholarships policies. The Financial Aid Office will select recipients upon nomination by COAS according to the goals and needs of the College and its students. A minimum scholarship endowment is currently $25,000. Gifts received for the COAS General Scholarship Fund will be pooled into a single endowment with revenue reinvesting until the minimum balance is met. Should the endowment level fail to reach $25,000 within two years of the date of this solicitation, gifts will be used for the purpose described above.
10 | | Fall 2013 Anatomy of a College: Celebrating 25 Years ...is their ability to pay for college without By Cathleen M. Carosella being burdened by excessive debt. If you received a notice about this magazine, you are a graduate Research shows that students of what is now IPFW’s College of Arts and Sciences (COAS)—15 varied departments and 6 programs that teach the majority of who work more than 20 hours per classes and award the most of the degrees and certificates week are less likely to graduate— completed by IPFW students. Our alumni are a varied lot as but IPFW students are working well—archaeologists, doctors, lawyers, press officers, politicians, and even a soap opera star. And COAS faculty are equally diverse. 20, 30, 40, or more hours Former COAS Dean David Cox, a biochemist, was also very per week to avoid student involved in the theatre. Henry Kozicki was an English professor and loan debt. editor who, in a previous career, worked for Ford Motor company as an engineer and was the holder of multiple patents related to his work in that field.
Professor Emeritus Art Friedel (chemistry) began working at IPFW the year after the missions were divided between the two schools
that comprise IPFW: Indiana University and Purdue University. Cary Nelson presents the keynote address “Can Academic Freedom Be Saved?” Before then, there were two versions of most departments on at the COAS 25th Anniversary Celebration. campus. In 1966–67, with the exception of English and education, departments on the Fort Wayne campus were divided between for Balthaser, they placed partitions at the end of the hall to make an the two schools to reduce redundancy. Friedel was Purdue faculty, office for her. Until more space was found for the new division, every part of the cluster of departments known as the School of Sciences night she placed valuable items such as the typewriter in Bowman’s and Humanities. office for safekeeping.
Not long after Friedel Soon, however, this division of departments created a complicated started at IPFW, Linda administrative system that frustrated students trying to complete Balthaser moved from a degrees. Many, including Balthaser realized that combining the position at the library to Purdue and IU units made academic, organizational, and fiscal sense. help establish on the IU They knew that “everything and everyone would work more efficiently side what would become and effectively as a single unit rather than two competing units.” the Division of Arts and What was the process like? Both Friedel and Balthaser mentioned Letters (even though one the struggles to move beyond the “us and them” mentality to look science, geology, was part at the two schools as a single entity, but once people started doing of the mix). Back then that much came into focus. First, they needed to establish common Kettler Hall was the only degree requirements for the same degrees in some majors. building, and Balthaser’s boss, Sylvia Bowman The Curriculum Committee was established with a broad (English), shared her representation of IU and Purdue faculty. They set all of the degree office with the department requirements on the table (literally) and numbered what they had Professor Emeritus Art Friedel (chemistry) secretary. To create space to do, eventually hammering out common degree requirements.
| 11 As assistant to the Part of the impetus for the combination in the 1980s that led to the dean, Balthaser was establishment of the School of Arts and Sciences was a general a non-departmental dissatisfaction on the part of the IPFW departments with the oversight representative on the from the home campuses. At the time both IU and Purdue deans committee: “Now the were “acting” deans, so it was a good time to consider consolidation process is a lot like of the two schools into one. However, because both schools had making sausage—it’s different world views as well, it was like blending a family. not too pretty as you Barb Blauvelt has been the secretary for the history and political make it, but eventually science departments since 1970. She watched the growth and you have something changes from that perspective. “The merger of the two schools, I good. And while not all think, set the foundation for basic restructuring of academic units that programs participated, happened all across campus. With the merger of the two schools enough people were at came the development of COAS core requirements, and I think those the table that everyone same basic requirements helped to define the general education felt that they were requirements several years later.” Linda Balthaser (COAS) represented.” Friedel agrees.“The creation of the School of Arts and Sciences “I think the single voice was very important. The arts and sciences provided many opportunities for me to have direct interaction with people were always engaged in campus governance structure and colleagues from the other disciplines. The specific changes that what was going on. They had interactions with such a wide section of occurred in the dean’s office reduced duplication of effort and the campus constituency that there were so many things that were the need to learn multiple sets of procedures and policies. At the alike about the two of them,” according to Balthaser. The single voice campus level and through its dean, the School of Arts and wasn’t necessarily better, but it was bigger and able take advantage Sciences had a combined voice, a broader perspective, and across disciplines. curricular cohesion.” Another issue was (and still is) the “size of the pie”—in terms of Much of the COAS and related amalgamations across campus were the allocations that IPFW gets from the state, why are our students spearheaded by COAS faculty. Blauvelt named Julius Smulkstys, near the bottom of the stack? “We’re not saying other campuses David Cox, Van Coufoudakis, Michael Downs, Steve Hollander, and need to give us part of their pie,” said Balthaser, “We’re saying the Balthaser as playing significant roles in the development of COAS. pie just needs to be “Smulkstys, Cox, and Coufoudakis were very good deans who bigger. Back when we represented Arts and Sciences well to the campus community and established the single the Academic Officers Committee. Also, Linda Balthaser was one of school, by combining the most important people in the COAS office. She worked tirelessly the strengths of the and was a model of efficiency and intellect,” Blauvelt shared. Mike departments, the Downs, chair of the political science department, was often consulted result was positive. by the deans about policies and problems that came up in arts and In the deans’ office sciences. He, along with Steve Hollander (English and linguistics), itself, it meant some helped to develop the IPFW faculty governance structure upon which restructuring in the the COAS governance structure was modeled. administration, but the main change was a new A more recent change is the change from “School” to “College of Arts dean who, by design, and Sciences.” While colloquially “school,” “college,” and “university” was someone from are often used interchangeably, according to COAS Dean Carl outside of IPFW.” Drummond, “It is important to recognize that they have more specific and limited meanings within the organizational structure of American Barb Blauvelt (history)
12 | | Fall 2013 higher education. A ‘school’ is an academic unit dedicated to a particular field of study, most often a technical or professional domain of knowledge. A ‘college’ is an academic unit composed of a wider range of academic disciplines. As such, the term ‘college’ is much more appropriate than the more restrictive term ‘school’ for the 15 departments and many programs that span the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.”
What are some of the most positive changes on campus over the years? For Freidel there were many. “When I first came here, we were ‘The Extension’ or ‘ByPass High,’ and I think that we’ve come a long way. And I think a lot of it has to do with athletics, the work of IPFW’s administration, and increased participation of community members. So a whole lot of things came together including getting our legislators to think of us first instead of just thinking of the main campuses. I mean, West Lafayette and Bloomington are strange more students from this region can places to have major universities because they are not population interact with these international young centers. So a lot of things have come together.” men and women, the better. Student housing also has affected “I believe the most important change in COAS is not historical the types of students we have. Having places on campus gives but rather ongoing,” shared Dean Drummond. “This involves both parents peace of mind and gives students from overseas or outside changes in our self-perception as well as a real transition in our of Fort Wayne a place to live on campus.” core mission from one of providing general education courses to To celebrate the College’s 25th anniversary, the COAS redirecting our attention, energy, and enthusiasm to the students Executive Committee established an award “in recognition of majoring in our academic programs. The outcome of this ongoing outstanding contributions of scholarship, teaching, and service transition can be seen in the significant growth in the number of to the liberal arts and sciences.” The award’s first recipient is students graduating from our college over the last several years, and its namesake—the Lowell W. Beineke Award for Outstanding I have every confidence that trend will continue into the future.” Contributions to the Liberal Arts and Sciences. How have these changes affected COAS students? Everyone “Beineke’s outstanding contributions in the classroom, in service to interviewed noted that now students think of themselves as IPFW the university, and in the field of mathematical graph theory establish students more so than IU or Purdue. They also noted that many him as an exemplar of professionalism,” said Dean Drummond, “By of our students are still from less traditional backgrounds, which naming the award after him we not only will always remind ourselves makes the number who are able to do exceptional work under of his long and distinguished career at IPFW but also hold up his trying circumstances much more impressive. That said, even during accomplishments to future generations of IPFW faculty.” Balthaser’s tenure, “students were surprised by the academic rigor expected of them.” For Friedel, the students are great; “the only Friedel’s connections with Beineke started the year he came to IPFW. thing that is frightening is that some of my former students have In those days, everything was in Kettler Hall, so they all knew each already retired!” other and had many opportunities to interact. When Friedel went home for Christmas his first year, relatives from England who came Friedel believes that along with academics, athletics and student over for Beineke’s wedding stayed in his apartment. And the two housing helped expand IPFW students’ worldview by pulling in professors also share birthday weeks, so they often have celebrated students from wider national and international areas. Student their birthdays together. athletes and others have come to IPFW from Spain, Norway, Brazil, Kenya, and more. “I want the very best for all of my students, but Balthaser praised Beineke in that “his approach is one of genuine I also want them to be open to new ideas,” he explained. “And the interest in the students’ learning and he is certainly not one of
| 13 the ‘I’m reading this to you from my notes’ professors. He’s a The results of a recently completed survey of employers conducted very engaging person and the students appreciate him and his by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (http://bit. commitment. Many student-athletes have been math majors—the ly/16VM2BP ) clearly indicates the value employers place on the reason for the connections is not entirely clear. However, Lowell and ability of college graduates to “think critically, communicate clearly, his wife often attended the games of his student-athletes to support and solve complex problems.” These are all skills and abilities that them. He also regularly opened their home to students.” are honed through the acquisition of a liberal education. Additionally, the ever increasing interconnectivity of U.S. society within a global Beineke grew up near Decatur, Ind., so his local roots run deep. economic and political framework makes the attainment of a high His connection to his former students is equally deep. In fact, he level of cultural literacy of primary importance. was recently invited by a former graduate student to be a keynote speaker at a conference in India, so he and his wife went over for What will the next 25 years hold for current and future COAS staff, this opportunity. Beineke faculty, and students? Blauvelt is sure of also edited a number of one thing: “I don’t really have any advice professional journals. He is other than to enjoy your job. I have “I believe the most important change respected as an academic in thoroughly enjoyed working at IPFW his field of specialization but in COAS is not historical but rather and feel very fortunate to have spent also by his students for his ongoing,” shared Dean Drummond. many, many years here.” Friedel, who commitment to their success “This involves both changes in our is technically retired, continues to work in his classes at all levels. each fall term. He says it is the students self-perception as well as a real who keep him here, especially the first Those interviewed for this transition in our core mission from one generation college students: “When I piece shared how Beineke of providing general education courses graduated from high school, I was not exemplifies the best of the to redirecting our attention, energy, the outstanding science student—I liberal arts. The liberal arts was the outstanding foreign languages and sciences are increasingly and enthusiasm to the students student. My father had a 4th grade fundamental to the overall majoring in our academic programs.” education and my mother did not finish learning experience in terms high school, but I went on for my Ph.D., of their contribution to the so I can relate to many of our first-gen distinction between training and education. students.” And he continues to work with them, including some who To Balthaser, the liberal arts represent the “broad general foundation now are COAS faculty like John LaMaster (math) and Andrew Downs that is necessary to be a good citizen.” Many times from employers (political science). she heard, “I can teach someone how to do this job. But they need to The road to COAS was not without a few sharp turns and potholes. bring to me the ability to think, read, write,” and these fundamental However, as Beineke explained, the process whereby separate IU abilities are part of a broad liberal arts education. and Purdue units became IPFW “was a vital step in the progression Nationally, higher education is experiencing a wide range of to maturity as an institution of higher learning in IPFW’s own right. structural stresses and is undergoing a variety of systemic changes. I think that it advanced the perception in the community, especially In Dean Drummond’s opinion, “some of these changes have the among the leaders of the community, that IPFW was a vital force, not potential to create negative impacts on academic freedom. While I just in the areas of business and engineering, but in the full spectrum do see a societal devaluation of the professorate and a number of of the arts and sciences.” Luckily for our alumni past and present, trends that are working to undermine the professionalism of higher COAS continues to strive for excellence across the spectrum covered education, I do not see a widespread attack on the core values of by the liberal arts.t academic freedom. I am more concerned, however, that the concept of academic freedom will be made increasingly irrelevant by the ongoing trend of commoditization of higher education.”
14 | | Fall 2013 Pictured above left to right, Peter Dragnev, Chair, mathematics; Lowell W. Beineke, first recipient of the Lowell W. Beineke Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Carl Drummond, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Memorial Union. And he was the first recipient of an Interview with award that is his namesake: The Lowell W. Beineke Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Liberal Arts Lowell W. Beineke and Sciences. As if this was not enough, an endowed math scholarship also bears his name. So who is Lowell In 1965, Lowell W. Beineke became an assistant Beineke? We asked him a few questions to help you get professor at Purdue University at Fort Wayne (part of to know more about him. the future IPFW), but his connections to IPFW actually First, what is your area of expertise? began in 1964 when he taught a summer course for I work in graph theory, but network theory would Indiana University in Fort Wayne. “Some of my reasons probably be a better name. The basic structure that we for choosing to come to Purdue University at Fort study can be thought of as a collection of locations (such Wayne were my strong feelings for the education that I as cities) with some pairs of them connected by links had received at Purdue and that the Fort Wayne campus (such as direct flights). Other examples of things that was in its infancy and hence was a place where I felt I are represented by these graphs are electric networks could make a difference.” and family trees. Speaking of trees, the math problem Beineke’s career is a series of firsts. He chose to specialize featured in the movie Good Will Hunting was a problem in what was then a new area of mathematics—graph on trees that my thesis advisor had solved. theory. He became the first endowed chair at IPFW Graph theory emerged in the 1950s as an area of when, in 1986, he became the Schrey Professor of mathematics in its own right. Since then, it has exploded Mathematics. He was the first faculty member not from in importance, due largely to its intimate connections the West Lafayette campus to have his name included in with computer science. For instance, arguably the most Purdue’s Book of Great Teachers, a display in Purdue’s important open problem in the field is “The Traveling
| 15 Salesman Problem,” which has important ramifications for The idea of being a teacher was planted, or at least computer science. In essence, it asks whether there is an nourished, by the person who taught me through fifth efficient method for computing the cheapest way to fly to grade. (This was in a small one-teacher school with just a very large number of cities. one classroom for grades 1 to 6.) He told me that while people cannot have careers in all their areas of interest, How did you land in this new field? teachers can enable others to have successful careers in It was fortuitous that during my first semester at many fields. University of Michigan I happened to take a course on the foundations of higher mathematics that was being taught After that, it was my high school English teacher who by Frank Harary, a pioneer in graph theory. One thing led pointed me to Purdue, and it was during my first year to another, and he invited me to be his research assistant there that I became convinced that I wanted to go to at University College London, where he was spending a graduate school in math, solidifying an idea that had been sabbatical year. My decision to accept his offer set me on in my thoughts. the course that my life has since taken. It sounds as though you have been able to work Can you say more about that? with mathematicians from around the world. Have you During that year in London, I did much of the research for made strong connections elsewhere? my doctoral dissertation. I still had to take some courses In January 2013, I had the honor of being the keynote and pass qualifying exams, so I returned to Michigan speaker at an international conference, held at St. Xavier’s for two years. Then, during my first year in Fort Wayne, Catholic College of Engineering in the southern Indian Harary invited me to spend another year in London. state of Tamil Nadu, and it was a wonderful experience, Fortunately, I was granted a leave of absence, and for the one of the most rewarding of my life second time, a year in London changed my life. This time the change was more personal, since that was when I met I have been extremely fortunate in being able to accept my wife, Judith. invitations to a wide variety of countries. In addition to India (and England of course), I think that the most Is she also a mathematician? memorable experiences were in South Africa, Zimbabwe, No, she was a social worker, actually a probation officer, Egypt, and Thailand. when we met. However, I like to say that, if not a producer of mathematics, she is a producer of mathematicians, since Do you find it difficult to balance teaching and research? both of our children were math majors in college. Our That is a perennial problem for university faculty. There daughter is now a math professor in Massachusetts and is a tension between the two areas of endeavor, but they our son a statistician in California. also reinforce one another. I think (and hope that it is not just wishful thinking) that my research contributes to my Are there other people you would single out as continuing excitement about mathematics and that this especially important to your career? excitement shows in the classroom. One is the British mathematician Robin Wilson; he and Teaching and research have also come together in my I have collaborated on a number of books over the years. serving as the supervisor of four Ph.D. theses, even though Wilson is himself a prolific author, but our joint work we don’t have doctoral programs at IPFW. Three of these has been primarily editing books. Our current project degrees were granted by Purdue, the fourth by Western is the fourth (and final) book in a series published by Michigan University. Activities such as this show the Cambridge University Press on topics in different areas of support that department chairs and deans have provided graph theory.
16 | | Fall 2013 here at IPFW; much of my good fortune has been through And last but certainly not least, the encouragement that these people have provided. what about your former students? I’ll start with one on the lighter side, Julie Buchheit, a Coming back to IPFW, and the COAS in particular, theatre major who, as Julia Barr, had a role on the TV have you seen much change in the emphasis show All My Children for many years. She told me once on research over the years? that I was her favorite math teacher—but since math My perception is that scholarly endeavor has always been wasn’t one of her strengths, I’m not sure how significant encouraged, at least in the sciences, but I believe also in that is. other fields, especially the humanities. In the early days, teaching loads were generally higher than they are now, and In answering a question such as this, I guess that I think most promotions had excellence in teaching as the primary first of those math majors who have gone on to excel basis (or both teaching and research); now excellence in in post-baccalaureate education, not just university research is most common. That, I think, is representative of professors and actuarial practice, but in other professions, the evolution of IPFW into a mature university. There is a including business, law, and medicine. lot of great research going on in the College. One student, Alex James, went on to earn a law degree at Notre Dame, after which he was employed in the office Service is, of course, a third area of university activity; of the Indiana Attorney General (see page 14 in the 2010 what have you done that you most enjoyed? issue of Collegium in which James was profiled). He’s now What is traditionally called service has two components, working on a doctorate in computer science at Indiana internal to the university and external. Although I’ve University. By the way, here’s a quotation from James that served on a variety of committees, the area that I think I like: “Having argued a case in court in the morning that I take the most satisfaction in is working with and taught a calculus class at night, the two activities are students. I’ve been one of the advisors of our math club surprisingly similar in having to make formal arguments for most of my years here, and have also played a role in to support a conclusion.” getting national honor societies on campus. By the way, our math club is called PI, both for the initials of our two The group where I like to think I’ve had a positive impact universities as well as the transcendental number. Two are the math teachers in our schools—passing math on to of the honor societies that we now have here are Pi Mu future generations. One of our current seniors was taught Epsilon, for outstanding math majors and, most recently, by an IPFW math graduate, who was taught by an IPFW Phi Eta Sigma, for students who earn outstanding grades math graduate. One of the side benefits of teaching at a in their first year. campus like ours is that we see many of our alumni later in life, and, in particular, those in the teaching profession. t Do you have any observations about life as a university professor? Reflecting back, I think that my childhood growing up on a farm gave me the model that I’ve adopted. Just as the farm was a way of life for many of my ancestors, so the university is a way of life for me. It’s not just a job; it’s an ever-present part of my life—just as on a farm, there’s always more work to be done. Furthermore, teaching, like farming, has the rhythm of the seasons, only we call them semesters.
| 17 Expanding Research Frontiers By Cathleen M. Carosella wanted a total immersion in education. student. The Thuentes’ “influence was So I saved up by working two jobs to reinforce the importance of the in the summer and spent 18 months pursuit of knowledge which opened at Purdue.” How did the two schools up the world to show there is more.” compare? Academically they were the Tippman is a first generation college same. For Tippman the difference was student, so college was a foreign world the “intangibles” of living on his own to his family members. and being far away from home. After he received a B.S. from IPFW, While an undergraduate, Tippman Tippman went to Ohio State University worked on research projects with (OSU) for his graduate work in many faculty—Friedman, Michael physical organic chemistry. “We were Columbia, Vince Maloney, and Donald investigating something called reactive Linn at IPFW, and David Thompson intermediates using lasers.” Why? at Purdue. “I knew I wanted to go to “Intellectual curiosity, but also when graduate school, which meant that I you take A and put it in your body and needed to specialize. I didn’t know what it makes B, often we don’t know how specialization I wanted within the field, the transformation happens.” So his so I dabbled in all of them. I still think research studied the steps between to it’s amazing that IPFW let me do all of parse out what happens, when, how, Eric Tippman that and prepared me so well for and why. grad school.” Fort Wayne’s residents often note its Real world applications? This allows so-called “boomerang effect”—how a Although firmly ensconced in researchers to label proteins within significant number of people leave for chemistry, Tippman also had mentors the body. “If you mix one of the a while and then return. Chemistry outside of his department. According compounds that we developed with Assistant Professor Eric Tippman, a to Tippman, Peter Hamburger (math) the protein, it labels it permanently, 1998 graduate of COAS’s Department “had this way of elevating you so and lets you follow that protein through of Chemistry, is a case in point. that you felt that you weren’t just an the body.” average student at a regional campus.” “I started as an engineer,” Tippman Another IPFW mentoring connection After OSU, Tippman began a post- explained, “then after about a year was through his friend and soccer doctoral appointment at the prestigious and a half I realized that engineering teammate, Dan Thuente. Dan’s mother, Scripps Institute in San Diego in wasn’t for me. So I stepped back and Mary Helen, was professor and chair molecular biology and biochemistry. took my interest in physiology and set of English and linguistics at IPFW Here Tippman was able to combine an extremely high goal—to become a and from her “I’d get all these amazing his interests in physical organic surgeon.” While pursuing that major, books that just opened my world.” Dan’s chemistry and molecular biology, Tippman took organic chemistry at father, Dave, was a computer science eventually finding a research niche in Purdue in West Lafayette with Merrit and math professor. “He’d take Dan to the somewhat new and growing field of Andrews and a chemistry major was IPFW for events and down to Purdue chemical biology. born. But why was this IPFW student to things like the aeronautical research While in San Diego, Tippman was at Purdue? days, and I would get to go with them headhunted for a position at Cardiff to see these amazing things.” Current chemistry department Chair University in Wales. Because he had Ron Friedman encouraged Tippman So Tippman benefitted from being on broken his leg playing soccer, he knew to attend Purdue for a few terms. “I campus before he was even an IPFW he would be unable to run the interview
18 | | Fall 2013 circuit that year. He had a choice then is very nice.” Are IPFW students at OSU—“so you make an amino acid between another year in San Diego different now? “When I see and talk with it, then combine that with some waiting for the next interview cycle and to my students, it is like seeing myself molecular biology for genetically the new position at Cardiff. After listing 10 or 15 years ago. Same struggles, encoding it.” This can be attached the pros and cons of the move with his same issues preventing them from to proteins to make it easier for family, they decided to “go for it.” succeeding, and they are really just the researchers to track and study them. same. It is like looking in the mirror.” An article about this research was Tippman and his family lived in accepted in March 2013 for publication Cardiff for six years. Did he enjoy it? Does it surprise students that you in Angewandte Chemie, the German Yes, “it was like being on holiday for are an IPFW alumnus? “I don’t think version of the American Chemical six years.” At Cardiff he taught both that it necessarily surprises them, but Society. undergraduate and graduate students. it breaks down barriers. I tell them How do U.K. students compare to U.S. my short biography: I went to school So what’s next? Tippman’s next students? The biggest difference is here; I took this course that you are research project is to know how the that the U.K. does not have a general in; this is what I did afterwards; and enzymes used to recognize the non- education tradition at the college then I came back.” Tippman thinks his natural amino acids attach. To do this, level—students focus their studies on background gives him empathy with he needs to crystallize the enzymes their intended majors. “At Cardiff, I their situations, and he is better able and “catch them in the act” of holding only ever taught chemistry majors. to help when they are struggling. He onto the non-natural amino acids. At IPFW, I deal with engineers and can say, “This is what I did when I was Finding one of these proteins can be a anyone taking chemistry for their presented with a similar situation” and “fishing expedition,” but “once you can general education credits.” Many of maybe that resonates more with them. get a snapshot of a protein in the act of the other differences “are actually hanging on, you can rationally design cultural, not academic or educational, Tippman works on what is called the protein so that you don’t have to differences.” genetically encoding non-natural amino acids. Every being on this go on these fishing expeditions. Also But what brought Tippman and his planet uses the same 20 amino acids if you know more about the molecular family back to Fort Wayne? “I had to build the different proteins used by nature of how a protein interacts with worked Saturdays for basically 10 living entities. And Tippman’s work is a specific amino acid, you can sculpt years—at least half of the day. I had significant because “if you can increase that protein for another amino acid.” achieved much—papers in good the number of amino acid building Interestingly, Tippman’s specialization journals, large grants, and big research blocks, you can build a wider range of also allows him to do freelance work groups. I came home and saw my new proteins.” for local legal professionals who need neighbor with his six-year-old riding information on the chemical nature of a bike around the neighborhood. My Tippman’s current research combines illicit drugs and drug-like compounds. daughter did not have a bike and did what he was doing as a Ph.D. student With new man-made drugs such as not know how to ride one. I bought with what he learned about molecular Spice increasing the need for new her a bike and pretty much from that biology at Scripps. “I just saw a legislation, specialists like Tippman day forward, I searched for a way to connection there that no one else help lawyers and legislators. To cover reestablish a work/life balance.” This had seen because no one else had new drugs, “they have written laws desire led him to the opening he had my unique academic experience. in such a general way that they have eventually filled at IPFW. And I just combined them and this is research we are publishing right now.” outlawed entire classes or structures How has IPFW changed since you of substances, which means common left? “I was actually the first class that “What we are working on is to turn substances that people need to live moved over to the Science Building, the protein on and off using light to would be outlawed.” Tippman enjoys which was a huge advance for the control when to start and when to this freelance work “because it is really sciences at IPFW. But to see what stop. And that is combining the non- fascinating to see how science interacts they’ve done with Walb and all of natural amino acid”—the chemistry with other systems like the law or the other buildings on campus since of which is based on research he did society in general.”
| 19 What does this professor who returned that personal experience drives you to clinical practice of psychotherapy. to Fort Wayne do in his spare time? want to study that topic.” In Jody Ross’s I was surprised to find how much I Last year he came in third at the case, that is not true, but that does not enjoyed research and toward the end Fort4Fitness run and he plans to win lessen her passion for what she studies. of graduate school I began to look for it this year. He plays tennis and soccer academic positions that would allow me As a freshman at Indiana University regularly. Also, because he finds Sudoku to continue my research career.” Bloomington, she remembers being or crosswords boring, to keep his mind told to pick a major that involved At the University of Houston, Ross’s elastic and alert Tippman is learning something she enjoyed, but also that piano and bass, something he finds Ph.D. focus was child and family students often change their majors. “I much more interesting than doing clinical psychology. She was interested was interested in biology (genetics in puzzles. in relationship and marital therapy and particular), teaching, and psychological started her graduate research working On campus, Tippman began setting up disorders. I declared a major in in a lab in Houston with one of the top his lab recently, and the first students psychology, thinking that I very well couples violence researchers. Her work started working in the lab in spring may change this later.” What she found in this area continues in her research at 2013. Besides teaching in the classroom, as a psychology major was a field in IPFW into intimate partner violence. he is committed to giving students which she could integrate her interests “real, active research experiences” like in science, teaching, and mental health. Before coming to IPFW, Ross interned he received when he was at IPFW. Graduate school was a given, but she at a community mental health center Now it is his turn to motivate the assumed that she would become a in Cleveland, Ohio, that provided next generation of IPFW graduates, practicing psychologist, spending most outpatient mental health counseling including those who might boomerang of her time providing mental health to children and their families. She also back to campus. services to clients. conducted psychological testing at that agency and spent two days each week Various psychology classes at IU providing mental health services to cemented Ross’s choice of major, so children and teens and psychological she did not change it like she thought consultation services to teachers in the she would. An abnormal psychology Cleveland public school system. class reinforced her interest in clinical psychology, the subfield of psychology Ross began working at IPFW in that deals with the assessment and 2008. Ross, a South Side High School treatment of psychological disorders. graduate, and her husband are both But hands-on undergraduate research from the Fort Wayne area, so they were assistantships “were probably the glad to return since both have family in most formative courses I took.” These the area. experiences, similar to the IPFW Ross credits her opportunity to pursue psychology department’s PSY496000 research as an undergraduate— research assistantship classes, helped specifically her work in two psychology Ross “appreciate the scientific nature labs, helping professors collect data of psychology and to understand and even conducting her own for an how we study psychological disorders undergraduate honor thesis—as the most empirically.” influential part of her early academic When Ross applied to graduate school, experience. At IPFW, she is able to offer she looked for programs in what is similar experiences to COAS students. “I Jodi Ross known as the “scientist-practitioner” rely a great deal on my research assistants model of psychology. “These programs to help me collect data. I typically have “In psychology, people will sometimes train students to conduct research five to ten undergraduate research assume that you must have personal related to mental health issues and to assistants (RAs) each semester. They are experience with the topic you study and apply research findings to their own upper-level psychology majors and many
20 | | Fall 2013 of them plan to continue their education relationship violence is bidirectional, the local courts indicate that men and after their B.A.” but some view the study of women’s women may have very similar motives violence as a type of “victim-blaming.” for their relationship violence. The work these students do depends In one of her first publications, Ross upon the projects running each term, was surprised to find that women Ross has been at IPFW for five years but the research focuses on Ross’s work self-reported higher rates of physical and notes that in that time the bridge with intimate partner violence. Some partner violence for themselves than across the river was built and there RAs might conduct interviews with for their male partners, and this was have been big changes to Walb and participants about their experiences in the context of couples who were Gates. “However, I think the biggest with relationship violence, transcribe recruited due to the presence of male- change has been the students, or these interviews, or do behavioral to-female violence. rather, my perspective on students. coding. They have regular lab When I arrived at IPFW, I was just meetings during which they discuss The research for her first publication, finishing the required internship for ongoing studies and general research according to Ross, “is where my my doctorate. I was so recently out of on partner violence. A handful of interest in women’s violence, in school myself that, when interacting highly motivated RAs might help Ross addition to men’s violence, began. with students, I tried to think of how generate new research hypotheses There is much research into why men and/or present research findings at hit women and what must be wrong I would like to be treated as a student. professional conferences. “In 2012, I with these men, with the goal of Now, I have two siblings approaching had two students who traveled with me designing treatments for these men. college age and two very young to a family violence conference in New Unfortunately, we know relatively Hampshire. Each presented a poster little about women who are physically with me as a co-author and both of violent toward a male partner.” these students are now in graduate Ross’s research has also shown that programs in psychology. In spring most violence in relationships is non- 2013, four of my RAs co-authored severe and infrequent, the result of a poster with me about sexism and an argument “getting out of hand” partner violence that was presented and not reflective of some serious in Chicago at the Midwestern psychological problem on the part of Psychological Association’s annual the aggressor(s). Still, like men, some conference.” women do get into legal trouble for Violence, including couples violence, domestic violence.“Unfortunately, is unfortunately common. In data because researchers have shied away that Ross has collected from IPFW from studying women’s violence for students, about one third of them— many years, we really do not know men and women—report being in a how best to intervene to help these current relationship in which there women or to address their violent has been at least one act of physical behavior. I hope my research helps to aggression. And the majority of change that.” them also report some history of She considers her research into psychological or verbal aggression in women’s violence to be among the that ongoing relationship. most interesting things that she One of Ross’s specific research interests studies. In addition to finding that is in violence committed by women rates of violence are similar for men in romantic relationships, something and women, some of the data that she that has been taboo to study for quite has collected from men and women some time. Opinions are shifting, as in the community who have been research increasingly shows that most referred to batterers’ intervention by
| 21 children who I hope will attend college switched to math. But I was having so someday. So when I interact with much fun in my literature courses that students, I find myself thinking about I eventually double majored in math how I would like a professor to treat my and English.” Interestingly, unlike most siblings or my own children.” English literature majors, Basset has a Bachelor of Science (not Arts) Those two children explain why, in in English. spite of interests outside of her teaching and research, Ross has very little time Bassett applied to both math and for actual hobbies. “I am currently English graduate programs and chose working toward tenure and I have a to pursue English at the University three-year-old and five-month-old. of Kansas. “Math is still my fallback When I do have free time, I usually try career, if this doesn’t work out.” His to find fun things to do as a family.” dissertation research “looked at the changes in the literary marketplace In her future research project, Ross in the 1880s and 1890s as the mass- plans to continue studying men’s and market for fiction began. This affected women’s relationship violence, building everyone connected with literary upon the research she performed as a Troy Bassett production: authors, publishers, graduate student in which she was part and readers.” of a team examining “physiological “Here’s what I often tell students: His largest on-going project is At reactivity among partner-violent men. All research is questions. If you ask the Circulating Library: A Database We would connect men to physiological a question and find it’s already been of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901 recording devices to detect their answered, then you move on to the (http://www.victorianresearch.org/ physiological reactivity—changes next one. But sometimes the simplest atcl). “When I began, I had assumed in their heart rate and sweating for questions are the ones no one wants to someone else must have already done example—during different laboratory touch.” Associate Professor Troy Bassett (English and linguistics) started with it. But no one did and it needed to tasks with their partners.” what he thought was a simple question be done. It is time consuming and a The psychology department at that someone must have already huge organizational challenge.” In this IPFW is preparing to purchase some answered: How many three-volume database, Bassett compiles how many psychophysiology equipment that Ross novels were produced in the Victorian Victorian novels were published or plans to use to start these new research era? He could not believe no one had catalogued, what they were about, who studies with couples, specifically answered this, but now he knows wrote them, and other basic details. because he counted, compiled, and looking at the physiological reactivity Initially Bassett was just counting three- shared the information with the world. of partner-violent women. She is also volume novels for his own research use interested in psychological relationship Bassett began his academic career at with no intention to do a database. “I abuse via electronic media (such California Institute of Technology didn’t want to double count, so an Excel as texting and social media) and in (Caltech) and did graduate work at the spreadsheet seemed the best option.” partner aggression in the context of University of Kansas. One of his first But once he had over 200 entries, the same-sex relationships. teaching jobs was at Haskell Indian spreadsheet became unwieldy. Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., Between outings with her family and At a conference he mentioned that he a federally funded university for Native compiling her tenure dossier, the was counting three-volume novels and Americans established in the 1880s that coming years will see Ross adding to the person he was speaking to said, transitioned from boarding school to current research on intimate partner “You should put that on the Web, trade school to university. violence and, most likely, breaking people might find that interesting.” And new ground with research that will He originally went to Caltech to study it seemed like a good idea, but it quickly help practitioners better understand quantum mechanics. “I became less became apparent that a static list on women’s violence. enamored of physics after two years and the Web would not be very useful to
22 | | Fall 2013 scholars and others interested in it. At produced per author or publisher per don’t you list all of Dickens’ works? So that point it also became clear that a year, the rates of serialization, and the with the NEH grant, Bassett funded his database would be the best format, but speed of reprinting. Answers to such two-volume novel search, which ended Bassett had no experience building questions broaden the context for the up being just over 2,000 books. databases or using such programs. understanding of individual authors and texts and their relationship to the Once those were in the database with At the time, Bassett was underemployed larger cultural sphere. the three-volume and handful of four- and did not have access to funding. volume novels he’d found, he again So he had to teach himself how to Bassett used an early version of the thought he was done. So the database, build this database. That’s where the database to analyze the production of while still an active research archive, computer programming experience three-volume novels in the latter half has become an on-going side project— acquired through his math background of the 19th century (which appeared and he’s adding one-volume novels in helped. He bought a book to learn how in Papers of the Bibliographical Society of a more ad hoc schedule. To date, he to compile databases, downloaded America), and later he used it to study estimates he’s added about 1,000 freeware, and worked his way through the economics of the three-volume of those. the book to build the website and make novel format (under consideration at Compiling the database has created a database for the findings. When Book History). he was ready to publish the work to other projects, like an investigation into the Web, the first hurdle was finding “I guess I didn’t expect there to be whether the obscure Victorian novelist, someone to host the database. so many novels—I am closing in on Helen Dickens, who Basset stumbled 9,000 titles with no end in sight. What across when gathering titles, is related At a conference, Bassett met Patrick began as just a short-term project has to Charles Dickens. “The database is Leary, a pioneer in Web-based morphed into its own creature. The opening a new map of Victorian fiction Victorian studies. Leary created the most surprising find, for me, has been because what we see as Victorian VICTORIA listserv and was a founding the number of authors: so far, 2,600 fiction is very narrow, basically about member of the Society for the History Victorians wrote at least one novel.” 200 authors—under 1,000 titles that get of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing taught, written about, and studied. This (SHARP), an international organization Bassett has also received a prestigious is a very small amount in comparison of history of the book. Leary asked National Endowment for the to the vast amount of writing Victorian Bassett about his work and took an Humanities (NEH) summer stipend, an writers produced. So when you see all interest in the database and who was award from the Bibliographic Society of this data, you see how much is out hosting it. When he heard about the of the United Kingdom, and summer there that. And Helen Dickens is an frustrations he’d encountered trying to research stipends from IPFW and example that jumped out at me.” find a host, Leary gave Bassett the user Purdue Research Foundation to work name and password for the VICTORIA on the database. So far he’s received Another “unintended consequence of listserv so that the database could be more than $25,000 to pursue this compiling a database” is the ability to housed in their servers. research. “It’s very gratifying to receive find previously unseen connections. these awards,” but Bassett quickly “The computer can organize the data At the Circulating Library offers an shares, “It’s gone beyond anything I in any way possible—date, author, online biographical and bibliographical could ever have imagined. Initially it publisher, setting, books published in database of 19th-century fiction—not was going to be ‘I’ll put this database up 1868 with the word ‘love’ in the title, all, but an ever-growing proportion. and then I’ll be done. People can use it, and more. You can sort, organize, and The database is hosted by the Victorian but I’ll move on in my research.’” play with the data in ways that are all Research Web (http://victorianresearch. but impossible with a print source,” org/atcl), a major and free research He found twice as many three-volume explained Bassett. resource for Victorian scholars. novels than he thought there would At the Circulating Library is more be—more than 5,200. And that was A project Bassett hopes to receive than an enumerative bibliography: supposed to be it. But as people started funding for is to create a more robust it enables larger statistical analyses; using the database, the questions database for the information he has for example, annual trends of novel started coming in—why isn’t this two- compiled. Right now some of the more production, the number of titles or single-volume novel in there? Why interesting search features are only
| 23 available behind the scenes. He wants Bassett also explained that “technology Internet through Google Books, Project to find a way to make those capabilities has made research much more Gutenberg, and other organizations. available on the open Web. daunting. The scale of material that The accessibility of Victorian books potentially needs to be examined, online is amazing.” This allows Bassett’s database is a wonderful sifted, sorted, analyzed, organized, professors to show more of the breadth example of what the digital humanities and mastered grows every day on the of texts available to Victorians. has to offer. Not many years ago, this Internet. Gone are the days when the data would have been published in scope of the Victorian field was limited Currently Bassett is shifting his focus book form, statically organized by to a few hundred canonical texts—if to other research projects, but At the author, title, year of publication, or that time ever existed.” Circulating Library does have some some other set paper form. However, perpetual motion. When people ask “in a digital project you can make What about your free time? “I read him if he’s found books on certain additions, fix errors, or remove items. Victorian novels. And I like reading topics or with certain words in the title, But the drawback of a digital project the ones with weird titles or by obscure he can now direct them to the database like this is that it is never done. It authors.” Many of these titles are to search. And people email him with always can be added to, improved via available via Google books “and a lot corrections, information to add to new software, and so on. There’s always that I find have been forgotten for good entries, and more. While most of the something to be added, something to be reasons, but there are many ‘good’ bad emails are from academics who want fixed, something new. That’s just part books. For example, F.W. Robinson, a to share information with him, he also of research.” highly regarded author and editor in his receives emails from family historians day, often wrote religious themed books and genealogist who discover that their Bassett started graduate school before with titles like High Church, No Church, great-great-great grandmother wrote the digitization of records for items or Church to Chapel. And his other novels and want to share information. like online catalogues or aggregated publications databases took hold. He The oddest piece of information remembers a research project that To learn more about sent was from a person who collects required him to use an index to find At the Circulating Library, see: Victorian military memorabilia and articles in the London Times newspaper. bought a cavalry uniform that was worn http://www.victorianresearch. This involved consulting the index by the husband of one of the authors org/atcl on microfilm to find the date, page, listed in the database. He wanted more and column for a relevant article, then http://www.facebook.com/ information on the author, so he sent he’d return that microfilm and get the atthecirculatinglibrary Bassett photos of the uniform. Another London Times microfilm to find the family historian sent Bassett a picture of article to see if it was indeed relevant—a a church window that was dedicated to laborious process. her author-ancestor. He posts thing like this to a Facebook page he’s established Today, the pace at which complex sideline was writing books about prison for the database. research can be accomplished is life under pseudonyms like “by a Prison mind-boggling. “You don’t even have Matron.” Bassett recently read High “It is mind-boggling now when I look to leave your house to do this kind Church, which had never been reprinted back over the past five or six years and of research anymore.” Of course, as since its original run. “It was a very think about how much information Bassett pointed out, the drawback is charming book that probably has only I’ve put into this database.” And stay that “we can find so much information been read by 10 people alive today.” tuned, because there’s more waiting in it can be overwhelming. So now we the queue to be uploaded and the full have to teach and learn less about Still, Bassett’s ability to download and significance of Bassett’s work on the read books like High Church is one of the how to find information and more study of the Victorian novel is, like the most exciting technological advances about how to sort, assess, and decide Internet, in its infancy. Interesting what in terms of classroom applications. “We what information is useful. Now even can happen when the right person asks are no longer limited to books currently the most basic of searches will return a simple question. t thousands of hits, not all of which are in print, but have all of the texts appropriate.” scanned and posted to the
24 | | Fall 2013 ABy Cathleen Matter M. Carosella of Words Technology, e-books, budgets, dual credit, general the advent of different electronic environments. Personally, education—varying external forces that have been keeping I think one of the biggest effects of the prevalence of online programs at IPFW in constant states of flux lately. Add a texts and things like Twitter and text messaging has been that paradigm shift on a scale not seen since Gutenberg set his students tend not to think—or compose their thoughts—in a first page of text and you have the environment in which linear and fully developed way.” COAS’s Writing Program exists. The writing program’s faculty are encouraged to find new Luckily a cadre of faculty, staff, students, and other leaders are textual sources for students to use in the classroom and meeting the challenges head-on. Professor Stevens Amidon, to use texts students might actually seek out or encounter. the director of writing, said of the program’s approach, “I Instructors are also think that when you’re facing this type of pressure ultimately encouraged to have students the antidote is a focus on quality.” submit work electronically, usually using programs like “Many people do not fully realize how important writing Microsoft Word or Adobe is to communication skills and how this often translates Acrobat. As Huffman into management jobs for many of our graduates,” Amidon explained, “I find this much added. The ability to manage projects, schedules, and better for working with budgets in many professional milieus is directly related to the student texts, not only for communication skills that are involved in effective written ease of writing and reading communication in many genres. comments but also for using What also makes the writing program unique is the amount Track Changes or document comparison features to help of writing taught directly by its faculty across the campus. Stevens Amidon writers improve their work.” Through this program, instructors teach courses for other departments and programs—engineering, education, Faculty are also investigating how technology can be used communication sciences, and other majors. About 80 percent to improve their curricula. Many composition instructors of the student body has to take one sophomore-level writing are using iPads, presentation apps like Prezi, and more course and the majority of them take courses offered through to enhance their curricula. Huffman and two colleagues the writing program. are currently conducting a study of faculty and student perceptions and use of e-textbooks. “We have been good about identifying our stakeholders, their needs, and accounting for that when we redesign or Amidon credits the work of the program’s previous directors, revise parts of the program,” explained Associate Professor especially Stuart Blythe, his immediate predecessor, for Sara Webb-Sunderhaus. “We think as a program about how setting a robust framework. He also lauds the associate we can best meet those needs and, in terms of proving our writing directors for their work in supporting the program, effectiveness, what are the types of evidence that we need especially the foundation course they have developed for new to present.” graduate assistants (GAs) and limited term lecturers (LTLs) who have not taught college writing. But challenges exist, especially how technology is affecting what and how people read and write. According to Associate IPFW’s writing program provides its GAs and other new Professor Debrah Huffman, “The way students encounter, college instructors with more assistance than most schools process, and compose texts has changed considerably with provide. Often, GAs have too few training days before they
| 25 enter the college classroom, but at IPFW new instructors take page paper due tomorrow.’ Then they can see that ‘Oh, she English C505, Teaching Composition. In this semester-long understands,’ and it helps me seem more real to them.” course, students are taught both the theory and pedagogy English C505 is also used to help develop new teachers for behind what is taught in classes like English W131. Graduate IPFW’s school-based English composition programs. As the students take this class alongside undergraduates who are state pushes universities to move more general education preparing to teach composition in secondary schools. classes into high schools, having C505 in place helps the For post baccalaureate students, English C505 is followed by program develop stronger teachers in the schools. Many of a new one-hour per week course designed to provide peer these teachers have not been in a classroom for 10, 20, or support and faculty mentorship. English C506, Teaching even 30 years, so C505 enables them to catch up on existing English Practicum, provides the new instructors with writing pedagogy and practices to ensure they are teaching opportunities to discuss what is going on in their classrooms introductory writing classes to current college-level standards when they apply what they learned in C505. These classes using current methods, assignments, and such. The course and the support groups they generate as well as the faculty also means that the program has something in place when mentorship provided help new instructors immensely. teachers who do not have graduate degrees teach these courses in the high schools. According to Amidon, these classes are helping COAS graduates and others: “Graduate students who continue on While many parents, educators, and legislators support this in Ph.D. programs often report back that they are so much move to offer college-level instruction in local high schools, further ahead of their peers because of C505 and C506.” the trend concerns Amidon because “you are taking away Current graduate student and GA, Melissa Hirsch (B.A., a year of post-secondary writing development from these English and linguistics; M.A., 2013) said that C505 and C506 students.” Although the high school teachers teach the “made a great impact on my teaching. I had a cohort of five same course as on-campus IPFW faculty, often the course from my 505 class who went on to become GAs and take 506 is combined with that district’s high school curriculum or together.” The mix of college graduate students and high school taught over the course of a teachers was at times odd, “but there were great conversations. longer term or year instead of The ability to talk through issues, learn more about pedagogy, the 15 weeks in which IPFW hear different ways to approach assignments, problems, courses are taught. Even those hurdles, and such was a definite benefit to my teaching.” who are ready for college-level Huffman echoed Amidon’s thoughts on the importance classes are affected by this loss of supporting GAs in the classroom. The students “get of college-level writing class more than work experience. They get a strong training and experience and development. mentoring program while they teach. They get support, Karol Dehr, assistant director encouragement, advice, and a value for their own professional and continuing lecturer, is development as well as for what unique things they bring to the English department’s their classrooms. The undergraduates they teach benefit from representative to dual credit Karol Dehr those unique abilities and an enthusiasm for teaching writing .” programs that certify high So what is it like being a GA and a student? Hirsch found it school teachers to teach IPFW classes at their schools. In challenging, but she wouldn’t do it differently. “I don’t think 2012–13, she coordinated 12 teachers at 11 schools who I’d be as successful if I was just a student and then decided taught 38 sections of English W131 throughout northeast to become an LTL.” Starting to teach while she was a student Indiana and as far south as Anderson, Ind. In 2013–14, “forced me to be organized, plan ahead, and such. And one besides her other duties and teaching responsibilities, she will of the best things I’ve found with my students is that they have at least 18 teachers across a similar area with a larger actually talk to me and I think that they know I can relate number of schools. More than 3,000 high school students because when they say ‘I have this paper and another project took dual credit classes facilitated by IPFW during this and a biology test…’ I can say, ‘Yeah, I know, I have a 15- academic year.
26 | | Fall 2013 Dehr is often able to identify potential dual credit instructors Much of the early work was conducted under the direction of through the Appleseed Writing Project (AWP), a project she former Writing Program Director Blythe, but both Amidon co-directs with Assistant Professor Il-Hee Kim of IPFW’s and Associate Professor Sara Webb-Sunderhaus were also College of Education and Public Policy. AWP provides actively involved, with Webb- programs and workshops designed to help K–16 educators Sunderhaus responsible for improve writing instruction across all curricula as well as creating the new course’s writing camps and workshops for school-aged children. curriculum. Details on the myriad of outreach programs AWP has offered The need for a credit-bearing can be found at http://www.ipfw.edu/appleseed. course coincided with the need Since 2003 AWP has generated more than $375,000 in grant to replace a flawed placement money from outside sources; when combined with matching test with a new, research-based funds from IPFW the project has brought in about $500,000 self-placement program. When to the university. AWP is funded through National Writing Blythe researched the best Project, and although in late 2012 funding was reduced due to parameters for use in assessing budget cuts at the federal level, Dehr and Kim are trying to keep student writing ability, one Sarah Webb-Sunderhaus the program alive with funding from other areas. How much of the suggestions surprised funding will be available is now a year-to-year consideration, everyone involved. Analysis by IPFW’s Office of Institutional and the directors are looking for creative ways to raise funds and Research showed that the only statistically significant provide services in this tough financial time. Dehr and many correlation to success in English W131 was the math SAT score others hope that this vital project will continue. (not the verbal). Accordingly, all incoming IPFW students put this score and some other relevant information into a Assessment is another area in which the writing program Web-based program that tells them which initial English works to remain ahead of the curve. Much about placement composition class they should take (usually W129 or W131). and assessment is currently uncertain due to decisions made about the Common Core and testing at the state level. As Another reason the course was redesigned was because the number of IPFW writing classes offered in area high English W130 had an extremely high DFW rate (too many schools grows, the faculty knows the needs could increase students received D or F grades or withdrew). The intention exponentially, especially at some high schools where more was that a redesigned, credit-bearing course and the new than half of the students will test as “college ready” and need self-placement system would work together to help students to take college courses in their senior year. succeed. Webb-Sunderhaus and others wanted to “put students in a situation where they are making choices and The program is also ahead of the curve on the outcomes- taking more responsibility for their education. We felt that based assessment that is currently being pushed at the the increase in self efficacy would create better performance state level. The IPFW writing program set the groundwork and reduce the DWF rate.” to gather assessment data six years ago and now the data generating process is beginning to bear fruit just as the And it has. The DWF rate went down dramatically and state is asking universities to track and provide such data. semester-to-semester retention went up. “Students being able Measuring student learning, group evaluation of essays via a to place themselves into classes through a process that guides set rubric to ensure programmatic consistency, and annual them through a series of questions and a new credit-bearing faculty portfolio reviews help the program assess student class open to all who need it helped improve both assessment learning and program quality. rates and student persistence.” Webb-Sunderhaus tracked students two years ago and her summer 2013 research plan Due to recent state mandates about remedial courses not involved tracking students again. being offered at four-year institutions, a non-credit remedial course, English W130, was replaced by a credit-bearing class, The writing program is not one that risks stagnation or English W129, Introduction to Elementary Composition. contraction. In fall 2013, the program absorbed a class
| 27 formerly taught through IPFW’s Center for Academic theme.” While that is a very sound way of analyzing the content Support and Advancement (CASA). COAS W111, Critical of a text, it is also important to understand what the writer is Inquiry, is designed to help learners who are not quite ready trying to do with/in a text “because in a world in which media for college-level reading expectations. It will be coordinated is full of propaganda, the ability to see what a writer is trying to by Huffman, whose research interest includes rhetorical do with a text is a fundamentally important skillset.” (critical or analytical) reading. “When people ask me what I like most about my job,” Webb- “This new class gives us the opportunity to craft something Sunderhaus shared, “I always tell them that I get to work with that looks at reading and its connection to writing in a writers from basic writers to grad students. That is something theoretically sound way,” said Huffman. One idea is to that I really appreciate about my position here at IPFW. I develop this course so that it pairs with a writing course enjoy seeing students at different points in their scholarly to become a new, standard two-course sequence for all path. For example, with M.A. students, particularly early in incoming students. “Because there are a lot of skills, skills their degrees, they tend to suffer from writing anxiety just that we tend to classify under this magical term ‘critical like many of the basic writers in W129. They have a lot of the thinking,’ a term everyone bandies about; but who sits down same fears they have to work through. The difference is that with students to show them how to analyze something?” the W129 students are writing 4–5 page papers while the grad students are writing 20–25 page papers. So the scale of the Huffman developed a new COAS W111 curriculum that problem is different but the root of the problem is essentially will be taught in fall 2013. The course intends to address current students’ inability to effectively use the kinds of texts the same. They are both transitioning into new genres of their professors and their future employers expect them to writing that they haven’t done before.” understand. Amidon explained how “students are coming Often instruction goes beyond writing. Webb-Sunderhaus to us with less experience reading complex texts, partially ensures that all of her classes meet in a computer lab once because we are reading fewer long texts, using instruments a week—although this fall will be different because she is that make certain types of reading less likely, and doing much teaching an iPad section of English W129. She uses computer more reading in a non-linear fashion.” COAS W111 will help labs because she wants to ensure that students understand the those who need to strengthen the rhetorical reading skills technology. “There’s an assumption, and quite frankly I think they will need in college and beyond. it is a mistaken assumption, that students are ‘tech savvy.’ No, Hirsch, having taught COAS W111 while it was still they are not. They are very good at consuming multimedia coordinated in CASA, places heavy emphasis on reading material; they are not good at producing it.” in her classes—it is the foundation or an integral part of all In many writing classes, multimedia assignments are writing assignments. The evolution of COAS W111 excited replacing traditional “papers.” In W129, students complete a her greatly. self-designed research project, which can take any form except “An emphasis on rhetorical reading is also one of the most a traditional academic research essay. In all classes, Webb- significant changes to composition curricula since I have been Sunderhaus encourages students to pursue a multimedia here,” said Huffman. “It has been challenging for instructors project. To help model this approach, she often uses Prezi, a and students alike, because they have had very little exposure multimedia presentation app, during her lectures. And while to it previously, but it has proven to be an exciting and effective some students still create PowerPoints, others have made teaching method for both groups.” Having COAS W111 as videos, one wrote a talk show script, and others write letters an option for students will benefit many who need help with to the editor or blogs. Many different types of presentations rhetorical reading and analysis. are used to complete this research project.
Amidon expanded upon Huffman’s views, “rhetorical reading There are many questions about how the state’s legislative and analysis, for many students is a new way of looking at a mandates will change college-level instruction. How can text.” Generally students are asked to look at a text to decide classes offered over high school semesters reflect the pace “what is this about, who are the main characters, or what’s the and rigor of a 15–16 week college course? Are high school
28 | | Fall 2013 students ready to tackle the issues addressed or do the depth writing, such as the documentation of software, but both are and amount of work required? What will happen when they now doing more project management. Other recent graduates start college as sophomores? And the pay model established are using their written communication skills in jobs at Vera by the state does not cover the expenses incurred. Yet, ever Bradley and a local company that works on radio frequency the innovator, the writing program might have a model in technologies. There are many opportunities in technology which IPFW content is delivered to schools remotely while and other fields for local writing graduates. the high school students work with a teacher at the school. Hopefully this model will be tested in the fall with a school in Hirsch will graduate in December 2013 after having been northern Indiana. a student at IPFW for almost a decade. She came back to school part time and then full time to complete a bachelor’s How does this state of flux affect faculty and students on degree, and then moved directly into the graduate program. campus? That is still playing itself out. Last fall there was a She knew early on that IPFW was where she wanted to stay, significant drop in the number of W131 sections—probably so that has been what she worked toward. Now she wants to for multiple reasons: new admission standards pushed work with students who are transitioning from high school remedial students across the street to Ivy Tech to begin their to college. degrees; more students took freshman composition in high school; the lingering effects of the economic downturn; and The work of the writing program is not just about words on a more students starting their degrees at Ivy Tech. page anymore, and its graduates are moving into exciting new professional arenas. As usual, the breadth of what students There is also pressure to reduce the number of credits needed need is ever-changing and expanding. As Webb-Sunderhaus to achieve an undergraduate degree. State-level mandates put it, “I think that one of our challenges is that there needs have capped degree requirements at 120 credit hours. to be more writing across the curriculum. The reality is that Interestingly, in this push to reduce degree programs to 120 if what is taught in these classes is not reinforced throughout credits, Amidon has found that writing is not being cut. student’s curriculum, it will be forgotten. But that is a campus For example, when IPFW’s Department of Engineering was challenge, not a writing program challenge.” It will be reworking its programming to meet the new state credit hour interesting to watch the program’s next evolution. t limits, there was no interest at all in changing their writing requirements.
English W131 is the only class all IPFW students must take, but more than 80 percent of all IPFW students are required to take at least one additional advanced writing course to complete their degree programs. Many students in advanced courses are taking writing classes beyond those that their programs require. It seems the word is getting out to IPFW students about how important effective written communication is to employers.
One thing Amidon notes about the area is the need to increase the number of graduates in northeast Indiana—not necessarily for their degrees, “but for the entrepreneurial spirit that graduates often bring to a region. We need to be developing a high tech loop for research and other tech companies.”
What do writing program graduates say about what is out there? Recent graduates have found a variety of jobs. Two have been hired by local tech startups: Aptera Software and Extension Inc. Initially both were hired to do technical
| 29 The Ripple Effect of COAS Alumni: Making Waves at Home and Abroad
By Kendra A. Morris he was really invested in my success the openness and creativeness” her as a student.” Link also shared that introductory communication course olly Link (M.A. ’11, professional Associate Professors Steven Carr, Irwin offered. After transferring to IU, Mcommunication; B.A. ’09, Mallin, and Marcia Dixon influenced she realized she wanted to major in media and public communication) her decision to pursue a master’s at communication and transferred back to and Emily Hayes (B.A. ’08, media IPFW. A returning adult student, Link IPFW for the more personal academic and public communication) worked declared communication as a major environment she missed. Hayes together at the United Way of Allen after working with the communication found that in COAS’s communication County until Hayes accepted a position director at the Fort Wayne Chamber of department the faculty “were really with the American Heart Association Commerce. supportive and I fell in love with it. in Fort Wayne. For these COAS All the professors knew who I was in Link kept her career goal in mind communication majors, factors that the hall at IPFW, and I still know that as she balanced her home life with led them to degrees in communication there are a number of professors who, academic studies, internships, and jobs. range from a if I needed a reference, they would She earned a master’s in two years and desire to work definitely provide one because they then landed her current position as within the know exactly who I am.” community and communications director at the United the “supportive, Way of Allen County. In this position, In her job as corporate events director family feel” of she handles media relations and writes at the American Heart Association, the department. copy for newsletters and press releases. Hayes organizes the Northeast Indiana “One thing I like about my job is that Heart Walk and the Fort Wayne Heart For Link, how there are so many different aspects Ball. In the fund and contribution- her advisor, to it. Sometimes I work on a press oriented Adam Dircksen, release, so that goes out to the public, position, she went out of Molly Link (M.A. but also I work on annual reports and works to bring his way to ’11, professional communication; B.A. other public and media-related jobs. in donations make her feel ’09, media and public A lot of my job is writing for different for this not- comfortable communication) audiences, internal or external. for-profit. helped To do this, “I immensely: “I felt like I could really Hayes started out as a business have to really ask him anything, even what parking major at IPFW, but transferred to Emily Hayes (B.A. know how to ’08, media and public was like at a certain time on campus! I Indiana University Bloomington as a communicate communication) probably drove him crazy, but I felt like sophomore. She remembers “enjoying
30 | | Fall 2013 with people, whether it’s a stay-at-home them with the skills to affect positive in Costa Rica. This is where he met and mom who is raising money by asking change in northeast Indiana, and they collaborated with Professor of Biology her friends and family to support her encourage everyone they meet to make Frank Paladino. Backof calls his work in walk or a CEO who wants to know a difference in their own community Costa Rica “essentially a six month job the benefits to their organization of any way that they can. interview. [Paladino] liked my work, so providing sponsorship dollars. I have I started developing ideas for a master’s to be able to tailor my ‘ask’ and my thesis,” and he applied to COAS’s conversation to the right audience.” s a senior finishing an master’s program in biology. undergraduate degree in While their coursework was vital to A Backof’s graduate research was rooted environmental biology at Philadephia’s their success, Link and Hayes credit in his initial sea turtle field experience, Drexel University, Tom Backof (M.S. internships for providing many but he shifted focus to a different beach ’13, biology) spent a summer in Greece. skills that have helped them succeed in Greece where nesting numbers were Of the experience, he said “It didn’t professionally. Both did internships in increasing. “If current trends continue, really matter what I was doing; I was Fort Wayne’s not-for-profit community, the beach I did my master’s research at going to Greece! This was my first field and this helped them find jobs after will become the number one nesting experience, working with sea turtles’ graduating because they established a beach in the Mediterranean. So I professional network. Hayes said that nesting beaches in the Mediterranean, went out and did all the preliminary her “internships really helped build my tracking their nesting patterns.” This work so that, if a local government or writing and editing skills, and I learned experience is how he “fell into” what organization creates a marine park, that I really need to be social when would become his graduate research they can use my research to find out working with people. I learned what I topic at IPFW. where the turtles are and protect those important areas.” liked and what I didn’t like.” Link said As an undergraduate Backof did not her internships were “key to networking have a research focus, but he impressed Though he doesn’t do direct advocacy and building relationships, and that is his Drexel professors so much that after work for sea turtles in local Greek really important to me.” the summer in Greece, he was invited communities, his research provides Both women encourage students to do to spend another six months in the field information that can protect this internships, especially if they want to Tom Backof (M.S. ’13, biology) stay in the area. “In a community like Fort Wayne, your network of people can make you or break you,” said Hayes. Link added that students and graduates should “make those connections and talk to people. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help! I have found that people genuinely want to help other people succeed.”
Both graduates demonstrate how professional success is linked to building relationships with faculty, networking in the community, and applying communication skills effectively. In large part, they credit their time in COAS’s Department of Communication for providing
| 31 Adults, and though he only had a few Backof is cancer-free now, but he will months to get back into shape, he continue to return for scans. He said started biking every day to help his of the experience, “It’s kind of bizarre, lungs and diaphragm adjust. In Backof’s but I feel like I’m better on this side of words, “it was my return to the ‘real cancer. Yes, it was terrible, but partly world.’ On chemo, I felt like I was on because of the biking experience and defense. I was just doing whatever the some of the people you meet along the doctors and nurses told me to do, and way, it changes your perspective. I’m I didn’t really have choices. But when I happy that it happened. I know that’s a did this bike ride to raise money to fight strange statement, but it’s true.” cancer, I could get on offense, and I was able to inspire hope and raise funds for Backof received a Master of Science in a lot of people out there.”
The bike ride from Baltimore to San Francisco took 70 days, going an endangered species. So he knows that average of 85 miles a day (with some he “helped save some animals’ lives and stops at cancer centers and hospitals). hopefully made an impact on the world. Even though Backof had surgery a And it really doesn’t hurt to live on a month prior to leaving, he completed beach in Greece in the summer,” he said the entire 4200-mile distance thanks with a smile. to “sheer willpower” and knowing when to take breaks. For his efforts, On his way to earning a degree Backof at the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young had one major setback: a cancer Adults Blue Jean Ball in January 2013, diagnosis. In 2010, while teaching a he received the Young Adult “Fight” class, he “almost passed out; not from Award, which is given to individuals nerves, but from exhaustion.” He went who, “regardless of prognosis or to the hospital, and the doctors wanted outcome have confronted the disease biology in July 2013, and he’s currently to operate immediately. Preferring with purpose, grace, and fight” (http:// on the job market, hoping to find work to be with his family and friends to www.ulmanfund.org ). doing more research in the field. With meet this challenge, Backof returned this collection of incredible experiences to Maryland, where doctors at Johns Backof said, “When we would stop at behind him, Backof has an interesting Hopkins University Hospital removed cancer centers and meet people who were going through chemo, we would a four-and-a-half-pound malignant perspective from which to choose what tell them, ‘While you’re going through tumor that had collapsed his lung. he wants to do with a master’s degree. chemo, the least I can do is bike up this After it was removed, Backof started mountain. You help motivate me to chemotherapy. bike because you don’t have a choice.’ im Slack (B.S. ’01, physics) After chemotherapy and other For me, chemo was more difficult than received a bachelor’s in English treatments, Backof needed a way to get K biking that long a distance because you from Boston University but “wasn’t back in shape and remain motivated. always have the option when biking finding the work I was qualified for He heard about an opportunity to bike to say ‘No, I’m getting in the van’ or ‘I very fulfilling.” A job in a pediatric across the United States in support of need a break.’ With chemotherapy, you surgeon’s office showed her that she the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young don’t have that.”
32 | | Fall 2013 enjoyed working in the medical field awarded the Physics Student of the just a tool, not an inherent personality and with children. Year award and the Wise Scholarship. trait, and that if I tried I, too, could do She also worked at ITT Exelis in differential equations,” adding that “his So she re-enrolled in college courses Fort Wayne as a co-op student. “For encouragement was the fuel that ignited to pursue a medical degree. For that someone who majored in English and my passion for physics and my desire to degree, she took a physics course only took one math class in high school, explore and understand the universe.” that she enjoyed. Mark Masters, I am pretty proud and amazed at these COAS physics professor, told Slack The connections she made in COAS gifts I received.” that “‘physics majors have a higher and from her co-op experience at acceptance rate to medical school,’ but Although she considered transferring ITT Excelis paid off for Slack. She I think he had another agenda. He is to Purdue at one point, “once I had was offered a job at ITT Excelis when very convincing, so I decided to give it been at IPFW a year, I knew I would she received her physics degree, but a go.” It was a modern physics course stay,” Slack explained. She credited the the job offer wasn’t enough to keep with Professor David Maloney that breadth of opportunities available to her from going to the University of convinced Slack, to switch her major “an undergraduate in the sciences,” Arizona to study optical science. to physics. especially that, unlike in many Undeterred, a year later ITT Excelis programs, she was able to do research contacted her about another job, While at IPFW, Slack completed as an undergraduate. “I had access to working with Advanced Baseline four years of research in Masters’ my professors constantly. The quality Imagers, “a geostationary imager (or laser laboratory, studying concepts of professors is outstanding, and the camera) whose data produces many of like molecular spectroscopy and math and physics departments are the weather products we use on a daily mapping out energy boundaries of world class. I am very fortunate to have basis.” She had direct experience with Na-K (a sodium-potassium alloy) graduated from IPFW.” one of the imager’s components, and molecules. “The most interesting she jumped on the rare opportunity part of that experience was building Maloney and Masters both made to be part of a major project from its the test equipment and designing the lasting impressions on her, but all “the beginning. tests,” Slack shared. “I assisted him faculty was concerned with teaching with building a tunable optical dye the beautiful intricacies of nature and Having worked as a senior systems laser, an IR monochromator, Fabry- its laws. They truly want their students engineer at ITT Excelis for 11 years, Pérot interferometers, and other to understand the mechanisms of the Slack still enjoys her job. Though most great measurement apparatus.” She beauty around us, and not just push of her job responsibilities and duties also helped revamp the Society of students through to matriculation. are specialized, she constantly draws Physics Students, and they “conducted They are involved with the students like on the concepts and skills she gained community outreach programs and no other educational experience I have at IPFW. “The physics department was investigated different professions ever had.” the genesis of everything I do at ITT involved with physics.” Excelis.” Masters, Maloney, and Associate Slack was chosen for a National Professors Timothy Grove, John Slack continues to use her experiences Science Foundation Research for Robinson (deceased 2011), and Vince to give back to other students as well. Undergraduates position at the Indiana Maloney (chemistry) “played a huge “I enjoy working with students and University Cyclotron the summer part in my success.” She does single helping them realize their goals. I before her junior year and won the out Masters, who will “always be a enjoy sharing my experience with Physics Student of the Year award, the very strong influence in my life. He them and letting them know that Organic Chemistry Student of the Year saw the potential in me to be a good no dream is impossible. I also work award, and the Wise Scholarship her scientist, which I had never seen. He with a lot of young women who have junior year. As a senior, she was again helped me understand that math was faced challenges in their lives and are
| 33 starting over. I want them to know that were black Latinos (who were Puerto they have worth and can accomplish Ricans and Dominicans), white Latinos, their goals with a little hard work and black Africans, and black Americans.” persistence. If they want it, they can Considering all the diversity in have it.” language and culture she encountered, She hopes to have the same effect on Wanjema wondered “how are we others that the physics department deciding who gets a certain language had on her, saying that they taught her before I hear anybody speak?” She “above all else, that I can accomplish did a year’s worth of field work at the anything I put my mind to. It taught market and even got involved in the me to face irrational fears and conquer flea market, making and selling piñatas. them with hard work and persistence. She presented her work at Stanford And most of all, it taught me about Shontael Wanjema University and is currently preparing it neutrino oscillations.” (BS’10, Spanish education) for publication in an academic journal.
One of her Ph.D. research projects Though she is well rooted in the world was done at a culturally diverse flea of field research now, the road to fter graduating in 2010 with a market on the west side of Columbus, pursuing a Ph.D. was not necessarily ABachelor of Science in secondary Ohio. The market’s vendors identify a brief one. Wanjema graduated from education with a Spanish education as East Asian, North African, black high school in 1996 and started her concentration, linguistics minor, and white American, and Latino—in undergraduate degree at IPFW that and international studies certificate, Wanjema’s words, a “hodgepodge of same year. Then she took some time Shontael Wanjema used her minor in languages and cultures, both shoppers off to start a family, returning to IPFW linguistics to pursue a Ph.D. at Ohio and vendors.” By simply attending the a few years later. Though her major State University (OSU). From this market regularly, she began to notice didn’t change, her focus had shifted. prestigious program, she received a interesting things about the languages Wanjema always had a personal interest fully funded fellowship that includes actually being spoken. “People were in cultural and ethnic diversity, and a stipend, research funding, and even speaking languages you wouldn’t expect as an undergraduate she worked and health insurance. them to speak with people you wouldn’t volunteered with the Fort Wayne expect them to use them with,” she said. immigrant community (with Spanish, Her research mixes multiple Burmese, and North African groups) methodologies and allows Wanjema So she began an ethnographic study and at IPFW’s Office of Diversity and to classify herself as a linguistic of the market and the languages its Multicultural Affairs. Her professors anthropologist, socio-linguist, or socio- vendors chose to use. According saw her interest in diversity and phonetician. Her work in linguistics to Wanjema, this was “a mix of an research, in addition to being a strong studies Spanish language use in the ethnography and quantitative linguistics student academically, and it was clear United States, specifically focusing looking at the first three interactions she was an undergraduate who would on a few regional dialects of Mexican (conversations) that vendors had with be willing and able to hone her skills in Spanish. Wanjema studies code shoppers, focusing on the vendors, and both areas. switching and speech perception, from I wanted to see how they were deciding both a linguistic and social perspective. who got what language. So I’d make “I feel so fortunate to have people see She plans to produce information predictions, I could be right or wrong something in me, tell me what it is they that she and other scholars can use to about what language they speak and saw, and give me a place to channel that advocate for minority groups. choose to speak with each other. There energy,” Wanjema says, adding that “at
34 | | Fall 2013 IPFW I had an enormous amount of meets this “interface between social mentorship and resources that were at service and things that matter. I study my disposal, and my professors were real issues that affect society, such as enthusiastic about offering both.” Beth how people have come together in a Simon, professor of linguistics, helped marketplace and figure out their shared her put together an undergraduate values and ideologies.” research grant to conduct an Another of her research projects has ethnographic study looking at code taken her to Mexico to study speech switching amongst female Sudanese perception, specifically how people in refugees in Fort Wayne. Assistant different regions make assumptions Professor Jonathan Hilpert (now at and judgments about who a person is Georgia Southern University) “noticed after hearing them speak. She has also that I seemed to like research and asked partnered with Associate Professor me about it,” which opened up more of Spanish Talia Bugel to do a similar opportunities for Wanjema. project on IPFW’s campus. One reason “In my final years at IPFW, I realized Wanjema is passionate about this that research was a ‘thing.’ I wasn’t just project is because the language and reading through a class assignment or “sounds that we use carry lots of social article to get a grade, but I realized that information. In my research, I take someone actually did this, and I could my passion about linguistics and code look at it critically to decide what I switching and focus on marginalized groups.” liked or didn’t like about what they did or what would be the next question I In addition to her research, Wanjema want to ask. And that developed in me a wants to return to Fort Wayne. Ideally, hunger for research.” once she completes a Ph.D. at OSU, she hopes that she can come to IPFW to After receiving an undergraduate teach and “give back to this community degree, Wanjema was nervous about of leaders.” graduate school and unsure about whether to pursue education or We wish all our distinguished alumni linguistics. She says “linguistics is my the best of luck as they continue their absolute passion,” but “education felt journey to changing the world, one a lot more practical and applicable to person, turtle, satellite, or conversation changing the world.” When she was at a time. t interviewing for graduate schools, she communicated this to the OSU faculty. At OSU, she has found that her research
| 35 Alumni Updates BIOLOGY Sara Miller (M.S. ’12; B.A. COMMUNICATION ’09, anthropology; ’09, research Brittany Byerley (B.S. ’13; certificate in anthropology) Jeanette Dillon (M.A. ’01) B.A. ’13, Spanish) has been entered the genetics Ph.D. will pursue a Ph.D. in health accepted into Indiana University program at University of communication at Bowling School of Medicine. She also Oklahoma, with a research Green State University. She presided over the Global Health assistantship, in fall 2012. previously worked at Northeast Initiative, a campus group that Indiana Public Radio, first as advocates on the unequal Kristen Musick (B.S. ’13) has the local Morning Edition host distribution of health resources been accepted into the physician and producer and then as news locally and around the world, and assistant program at Butler director, working in that capacity volunteered at Matthew 25 Health University. for eight years. In 2009, she took and Dental Clinic. a position as the chief external Jaclyn Nguyen (M.S., ’12; officer of the Women’s Bureau in Yvonne Gicheru B.S. ’11; A.S. ’11, chemical (M.S. Fort Wayne. ’12) works at the Department methods; A.A. ’11, Spanish) started medical school in fall of Molecular Pathology in the Samm Johnson (M.A. ’12, 2012. Institute of Medicine at the professional communication) Cleveland Clinic. accepted a position with Purdue Natasha Perrine (B.S. ’13; Extension as extension educator, Loy Hochstetler has A.S. ’13, chemical methods; ’13, (B.S. ’13) has been 4-H youth development in been accepted into the physical research certificate) accepted into Indiana University August 2012. In this position, he therapy Ph.D. program at Ohio School of Medicine, Fort Wayne facilitates programming for youth State University. campus. from age 3 through grade 12. M. Rumman Hossain (M.S. Christopher Perry Mariah Yager (M.A. ’08; has been accepted into the (B.S. ’13) ’13) has been accepted into the dual B.A. ’06, communication integrated biosciences Ph.D. public affairs and environmental and anthropology) has been a program at the University of Akron science master’s program research scientist for NSI since with full funding. at the School of Public and May 2010. NSI provides social science research services and Kevin Ann Hunt Environmental Affairs at Indiana (M.S. ’13; technologies to government and has been accepted University. B.S. ’11) business sectors. into the genetics, genomics, and Shea Rolf has systems biology Ph.D. program at (B.S. ’13) been accepted into the Purdue the University of Chicago with full University College of Veterinary funding. Medicine. COMMUNICATION Theresa McHugh SCIENCES AND (B.S. ’13) Jessica Schein has been accepted into the (M.S. ’13) has been accepted into the DISORDERS Indiana University elementary biomolecular sciences Ph.D. certification master’s program. Tanya (Gamble) August (B.S. program at Michigan State ’11) graduated with a master’s Molly Miller (B.S. ’13; University with full funding. degree from Bowling Green State research certificate in biology) Noelle Snyder has University in May 2013. She has been accepted into Indiana (B.S. ’13) been accepted into the biomedical received the Outstanding Master’s University School of Medicine, informatics master’s program at Student Award. Fort Wayne campus. Arizona State University. Rachel Baker (B.S. ’10) graduated from Indiana State University with a speech pathology master’s degree in May 2013. She
36 | | Fall 2013 Hunt decided to pursue a master’s Alumni of science at IPFW because she also Spotlights completed her undergraduate biology Focus degree in three years. She was a Chancellor’s Distinguished Scholar. Hunt “never looked back” after accepting IPFW’s offer, adding that Mourad “saw my enthusiasm on day one as a freshman and amazingly let me work in his lab.”
While most students have about three publications when they complete a Ph.D. program, both Schein and Hunt have more research experience and published Pictured above, left, Kevin Ann Hunt and, right, Jessica Schein papers than most master’s-level students. According to Mourad, they worked “on Kevin Ann Hunt and Jessica Schein TA was a great experience, adding, “I at least one already published paper in a received a Masters of Science in biology think the most important thing that I high-quality, international peer-reviewed in 2013. According to their faculty mentor, learned from IPFW is how important it is journal, and they will both be co-authors Professor George Mourad, they “both did to teach others. The TA support through on more papers that are coming from high quality research.” Both spent nearly our master’s degrees encouraged us to my research lab in the near future. This 40 hours a week in the lab, contributed think about teaching in every aspect of our is a very high level of productivity for an to several research publications, and lives. Kevin taught me a lot of what I know M.S. degree. Each of them received a presented posters at IPFW’s 16th Annual because she had been in the lab longer Ph.D. admission offer with a research Student Research and Creative Endeavor and had more experience when I started. assistantship and a full ride at some of the Symposium. And then we both worked with numerous best genetics programs in the nation.” undergraduate students who are finishing In their research at IPFW, they worked with up projects.” Hunt will attend the University of Chicago, “nucleobase transporters” (nucleobases one of the top research universities in the are the building blocks of DNA and are Shein also said Mourad always encouraged world, and although she’s not sure what involved in other vital processes). “To learn them to enjoy their work because “it’s she will study, she will have time to their structure and what they transport not so much the hours you spend but the explore and decide as part of her Ph.D. is extremely important for medicine, quality of time you spend in the lab, and Schein accepted a position in the agriculture, and pharmacology,” Hunt if you enjoy it, that produces good, solid biomolecular science Ph.D. program at explained, “Once we know what certain results. If we can relay that feeling to the Michigan State University, where she plans transporters can move, we can compare next generation of students, it’s really to focus on either biochemistry or genetics their structure to each other, and then going to be something great.” Mourad (or maybe both). that can be used for the rational design emphasized that Hunt and Schein “were of drugs and different transporters for all good team players and set a good example “We’re going to really great programs, those purposes.” for new students starting in my lab.” working with top scientists in our field, or in any field really,” Schein explained, “and In addition to the time spent doing Schein and Hunt agreed that Mourad I think we’re able to just based on the research and working on their theses, helped them greatly in their academic and opportunities that Dr. Mourad gave us.”t Schein and Hunt also were teaching professional studies. “Dr. Mourad finds a assistants (TAs) in the Department of way to give us every opportunity possible,” Biology teaching biology, microbiology, Schein added. and other courses. Schein said being a
| 37 completed her school practicum Sharon Egly (B.S. ’90) Kayleigh Krouse (B.S. ’12) at Arlington Elementary and presented at the International works at Pine Hills Learning Place will be completing her hospital Society of AAC (ISAAC) as a lead toddler teacher. She practicum at Lutheran Hospital. International Conference in is looking into online programs August 2012. or speech-language pathology graduated Emily Bell (B.S. ’11) assistant positions. from Indiana University in May Diana (Snell) Farage (B.S. 2013 with a Master of Arts in ’11) is currently in graduate Chanda Lichtsinn (B.S. speech-pathology. school at the University of ’96) has worked as a pediatric Akron, with clinical experience therapy manager at Turnstone Shala Bradley (B.S. ’12) in a variety of populations for 15 years. She recently went works as a developmental and disabilities. She enjoys to Pittsburgh for an intensive therapist with speech background working with early literacy in augmentative and alternative for Indiana First Steps and also young children. She spoke at communication course. She as an assistant in the special the Ohio Speech-Language continues to teach courses like needs preschool in Whitko School Hearing Association Convention language development and Corporation. She enjoys both of on using iDevices to support language disorders at IPFW. these jobs, and she plans to apply communication with neurogenic to an online graduate school disorders. She began her clinical Kara (McCrory) Lowenstein program next year. fellowship year in summer 2013. (B.S. ’07) works at Indiana Physical Therapy. Julie (Flora) Carrico (B.S. Holly Gayheart (B.S. ’12; is co-owner of Reaching Out ’93) ’12, gerontology certificate) Stefanie Masters (B.S. ’12) Loud Inc., a pediatric outpatient started a Master of Science in works for Hand in Hand doing clinic at Parkview North. the interdisciplinary gerontology First Steps so that she can live and work close to home. She is Heather (Englert) Cochran program at Bowling Green State University in August 2013. considering applying to graduate (B.S. ’10; ’10, gerontology school. works at the certificate) Rose Gilani (B.S. ’09; ’09, Children’s Autism Center as a gerontology certificate) received Sandra McKinnis (B.S. ’72) senior applied behavior analysis a Au.D. in May 2013 from Ball published the second edition of therapist. She began a master’s State University, and she plans to her Processing Program (levels 1, degree in speech therapy in publish her research. 2, and 3) in October 2012. March 2013. Carley (McCullough) Hower Cynthia (Igney) Noward Justin Cole received (B.S. ’10) (B.S. ’07) received a master’s (B.S. ’97) has worked for a master’s degree in May 2012 degree from Miami University in Westview School Corporation and earned a CCC-SLP in January 2009 and is employed at Adams for 12 years. She recently 2013. He currently works full Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Ind. took a course for professional time at Bethlehem Woods Nursing She works primarily with geriatric preparation for cochlear implants Home. patients in long-term care. and will use the auditory verbal strategies and techniques in her Nancy Willig DeNise (B.S. Ashley (Couch) Hudson work. continues to work two days ’79) (B.S. ’09) received a master’s per week as a speech language in behavior and autism spectrum Marina Poggiali (B.S. ’12) pathologist and tutor four hours disorders. She works in applied is currently working toward a per week in spelling and reading. behavior analysis for Hopebridge master’s in speech-language pathology at Bowling Green State Chelsea Dougal Pediatrics in Fort Wayne. (B.S. ’11) University, and she is busy with is currently earning a master’s Rachel Kline (B.S. ’08) the responsibilities that come with in social work, she has chosen works at Canterbury Nursing and being a teaching assistant as part a health concentration, and she Rehabilitation Center in Fort of her graduate assistantship. hopes to work in a hospital setting Wayne and also works as a PRN. someday. She recently became VitalStim certified.
38 | | Fall 2013 Jenna (Gerig) Rode (B.S. Pam Wilke (B.S. ’10) Louisville, Ky. The academy is a M. Sidury Christiansen ’11; ’11, gerontology certificate) is completing a master’s at St. unique school for newly arrived (M.A. ’07; ’07, teaching received a master’s degree from Louis University. refugee and immigrant students English as a new language Western Michigan University in who have never studied English. certificate) earned a Ph.D. in April and is looking forward to Anna Winterhalter (B.S. She recently taught 80 high 2013 from Ohio State University. a clinical fellowship year in a ’12) works at Parkview Hospital school students from 18 different Her dissertation was entitled, healthcare setting. with a medical geneticist. She is countries with 9 languages “Facebook as Transnational considering pursuing a graduate represented. She completed an Space: Language and Identity Jenni (Schuldt) Csenar degree. educational technology license among 1.5 and Second (B.S. ’08) works at Cornerstone from Indiana University Southeast Generation Mexicans in Chicago.” Jen Womack ( Pediatric Rehabilitation in B.S. ’12; ’12, and is working on a master’s finished Indianapolis. She is interested gerontology certificate) degree. Kathryn Golm (’12, teaching in genetic and developmental her first year of graduate school English as a new language disorders. at Bowling Green State University. Deanne Brenneman (M.A. certificate) is in charge of the She is interested in working with ’10; ’10, teaching English as English Language Learners Averi Smith (B.S. ’10) adults in a hospital or nursing a new language certificate) (ELL) program in the East Noble received a master’s from Indiana home setting. moved to Lafayette, Ind., in School Corporation. There are University and is completing her August 2011 and began a 170 ELL students in the school works externships. Stacey Zelt (B.S. ’93) position as a continuing lecturer system. Her responsibilities for Northwest Allen County in the ESL Writing Program at include setting up the program, Schools and also as a PRN at the Karrie Steenport (B.S. ’08) Purdue University. She teaches choosing curriculum, and doing is employed by Provida Staff, Rehabilitation Hospital of a freshman composition professional development working with students in private Fort Wayne. course specifically designed for presentations for staff. schools in the Fort Wayne area. international students. She enjoys Camille Zimmerman (B.S. the one-on-one attention she is Eric Spreng (B.A. ’07; ’07, Elizabeth (King) Strong ’12) is pursuing a master’s able to give her students and the international studies certificate (B.S. ’09) works with inpatient degree in speech language unique perspectives her students and teaching English as a new adults at St. Vincent Hospital in pathology and a bilingual is currently bring from all over the world. language certificate) Indianapolis. extension in Spanish at Teachers pursuing a teaching master’s She celebrated her 10th wedding College Columbia University. degree at Brown University, Candie (Bieberich) Takacs anniversary in June 2012 and the where his wife is also a student. works as a speech birth of her third child in (B.S. ’80) After earning a master’s, they language pathologist for an early June 2013. plan on moving to Burkina Faso intervention program called ENGLISH AND to teach at the International Parent and Child Enrichment. She Gloria Chen (M.A.T. ’10; LINGUISTICS School of Ouagadougou, where writes body awareness and ’08, teaching English as a new taught English as a Spreng will teach high school oral-motor wake-up songs that Kevin Bathke (B.A. ’11, language) new language classes at North advanced placement English. are used prior to eating and Spanish; ’11, teaching English Side High School and Chinese He has previously taught English snack-time with toddlers to build as a new language certificate) conversation courses for the in language immersion camps awareness, coordination, and is working toward an English IPFW Division of Continuing in Switzerland and France, as control. She also facilitated the language learners’ master’s Studies until 2012. She was well as at a middle school in purchase and use of infrared degree at the University of Puerto then invited to Indiana Institute Beijing, China, where he devoted sound systems for use in the Rico Mayagüez, a bilingual of Technology to help develop considerable effort to attaining center-based classrooms and Spanish–English university in and teach the Intensive English language proficiency in Chinese. on home instructions. the Caribbean. He also received a fellowship and a teaching Program for international Sean Rollins (B.M. ’06, Kelsey (Fleming) Tiernon assistantship. students and teach introduction works the front desk to college reading and writing instrumental performance; (B.S. ’10) ’10, teaching English as a at Pine Ridge Racquet and Rosalyn A. Bertles (B.S. courses. She also helped new language certificate) develop a Chinese program at Fitness Club. ’05, education; ’06, teaching taught overseas for the last English as a new language Ivy Tech Community College, three years and is currently Brandy (Manuel) Weaver certificate) lives in Jeffersonville, teaching a class there as well. teaching conversational English (B.S. ’08) received an Au.D. in May Ind., and teaches at the ESL She enjoys teaching both and advanced writing at Dalian 2013 and works with Dr. Suzanne Newcomer Academy in Jefferson English and Chinese. University of Foreign Languages Ginter in North Manchester, Ind. County Public Schools, in
| 39 in Dalian, China. Previous courses Joseph Wuest (B.A. ’13; Jamelle Godlewski (B.S. ’95) he has taught include American B.A. ’13, political science; ’13, left teaching in public schools in History and History of Western international studies certificate) 2007 and started working part Music, and he stays active with has been accepted into a Ph.D. time running an after-school the university’s drama and chess program in political science at the program for a not-for-profit. clubs. Rollins is married and University of Pennsylvania, where She then taught at Crossing has recently welcomed a son, he will study the role of the courts Educational Center, a faith-based Sebastian, into the world. and church-state relations in alternative school, until December the context of American political 2010. In 2011, she and a friend
Corinne Toth (M.L.S. ’03; development. started Reason 4 Hope (http:// B.S. ’97, general studies; ’12, www.thereason4hope.com), teaching English as a new which has kept her busy doing returned to language certificate) outreach projects for those in Fort Wayne after teaching English MATHEMATICAL need. in a prison in Beja, Portugal. She SCIENCES continues to volunteer for English Dennis Haneline (M.S. ’04; language teaching programs that Greg Bierbaum (M.A.T. ’10) ’03, graduate certificate in work with immigrants. teaches at Heritage High, was applied statistics) has worked at named the East Allen County Medical Informatics Engineering Schools’ Teacher of the Year (MIE) as a software developer in 2011, and represented East since July 2005. MIE develops HISTORY Allen County School at the state medical records management Teacher of the Year competition. Olivia Emry (M.A. ’13, systems for small and large clients, such as Eli Lilly, Dow liberal studies; B.A. ’10; B.A. Kevin Chlebik (M.S. ’05; Chemical, and Disney Cruise ’10, political science; ’10, earned a B.S. ’03; A.A. ’02) Lines. He recently began studying international studies certificate) master’s degree in public policy presented her master’s thesis, Tae Kwon Do and looks forward to at Pepperdine University, and “War, Gender, and Memory: improving his flexibility and skill. is enrolled in a public policy Recovering Soviet and German Ph.D. program at Pardee RAND Women’s Experiences of World Ryan Heniser (B.S. ’02; B.S. Graduate School in Santa Monica, works War II” on April 25, 2013. ’02, computer science) Calif. at Double Negative in London, James R. Hansen England, working on visual effects (B.A. Rodney Cole has is professor of history and (B.S. ’87) for films, including the recent film ’74) taught mathematics at Southwest director of The University Honors Captain America. He was also High School in Wabash, Ind., College at Auburn University. featured in the fall 2011 issue of since graduating in 1987, and Among other publications and Collegium. he is an IPFW adjunct faculty accomplishments, he wrote and member through IPFW Collegiate lives published an authorized biography Kyle Hickle (B.S. ’99) ConnectionTM. in Aurora, Ill. and has worked about Neil Armstrong, First Man: at Caterpillar Inc. since 2008. The Life of Neil A. Armstrong John Filutze (M.S. ’12, He is currently working on in 2005. teaches education; M.S. ’09) the introduction of a medium- math at East Allen County Schools James Rinehart wheel loader tractor as a (B.A. ’12) and was the corporation’s math has been accepted to the urban manufacturing engineer with a curriculum facilitator and math planning master’s program at Ball focus on improving design for curriculum writer in 2010–11. State University, and he received manufacturability. an assistantship position. Klint Gerber teaches (B.S. ’09) David Kimmey (B.S. ’12) is high school math at Peoria Christopher Rozman ( applying to the computer science B.A. Christian School in Peoria, Ill. was commissioned into master’s program at IPFW. ’13) In summer 2011, he went on a the U.S. Army in the rank of 2nd two-week mission trip to a camp Lieutenant as an army officer. John LaMaster (M.A.T. outside of St. Petersburg, Russia. ’92; B.S. ’80) has been a
40 | | Fall 2013 valuable member of the IPFW Michael Menser (M.S. Joni Smith (M.S. ’05; ’03, POLITICAL mathematics department ’10; B.S. ’08; ’10, graduate graduate certificate in applied since 1992. certificate in applied statistics) statistics) teaches at Northrop SCIENCE teaches mathematics classes at High School. She and her Sharon (Coldren- Lisa Fishering (B.A. ’12) Brown Mackie College. husband live in Columbia City, attends the University of Rhodehamel) Lewis (M.S. Ind., and they have a daughter at Wisconsin School of Law. ’72; B.S. ’68) recently retired Nancy Moore (M.S.Ed. ’10; Colombia City High School and after working in engineering at B.S. ’99, mathematics teaching; a son at Indian Springs Middle Brandon Gearhart (B.A. GTE/Verizon for 22 years; prior to and B.S. ’99, general studies) School. ’08; A.A. ’08, history; ’08, Glenna Raber that she taught for a few years. (M.B.A. ’97; international studies certificate; She took classes when IPFW first M.S. ’78; B.S. ’75) recently Mike Sonksen (B.S. ’05) ’08, civic education and public opened in Kettler Hall in 1964 completed terms on the IPFW earned a Ph.D. in statistics from policy certificate) graduated and is impressed with how much Alumni Board. They represented Ohio State University. He recently from the University of Michigan the campus has changed since math alumni well, and the Alumni accepted a position as a faculty Law School in 2012. He is an then. She enjoys spending time Board will miss them greatly. member at the University of New associate at Frost Brown Todd with her two granddaughters. Mexico. in Louisville, Ky., working in Brad Moss (M.S. ’11, ’11, their labor and employment law Brad McAlexander graduate certificate in applied Drew Swartz is in (B.S. ’01) (B.S. ’09) department. teaches math in East Allen County statistics) has been accepted a math Ph.D. program at Purdue into the mathematical sciences School Corporation, teaching University. He recently began Eldin Hasic (B.A. ’10; ’10, the last five years at Woodland Ph.D. program at Northern working on his thesis, which international studies certificate; Sr./Jr. School. He is involved Illinois University. He recently got will probably focus on partial ’10, civic education and public in a number of extracurricular married. differential equations. policy certificate) has been activities, including co-sponsoring accepted to the Indiana University Paul Richeson Woodland’s chapter of the (B.S. ’11; B.A. Todd Thomas (M.S. ’01) Maurer School of Law with full completed National Honor Society and ’06, communication) is an associate professor of funding. the actuarial science option and serving as head coach for both mathematics at Lone Star College recently took a job as an actuary the track and cross-country in Cypress, Texas. Joseph Menze (B.A. ’12) in Chicago at Humana, a medical programs. attends the William and Mary insurance company. Law School and is a fellow of the Beth McConn works election law program. (B.S. ’04) Lisa Ferguson Sells at the YMCA, where she has been (B.S. PHILOSOPHY taught math for two years employed for more than 16 years. ’96) Stephen Sims (B.A. ’69) at Richmond High School in Hernando Estevez (M.L.S. Her daughter, Becca, turned two retired in 2013 from his nearly Richmond, Ind. She then left ’98, philosophy concentration; in February 2013. The family three-decade-long position as teaching and went to work at B.A. ’93) is currently an keeps busy with a two-year-old a judge for the Allen County Eli Lilly and Company using assistant professor of philosophy and two teenagers! Juvenile Center, where he worked data analysis and mathematical at John Jay College of Criminal with delinquent juveniles and Justice at City University of New Samantha McGlennen modeling to search for molecular paternity cases. Sims has two York. He teaches and researches (M.A.T. ’10; B.S. ’03) teaches indicators of conditions such daughters who are also lawyers, 20th century continental math at Summit Middle School, as Alzheimer’s disease, one for the U.S. Department of philosophy and social political and she was named a Raytheon osteoporosis, depression, Justice and one in Texas, and philosophy. Math Hero. McGlennen and and diabetes. She also has a four grandchildren. Summit will both receive a “weekend job” as founder of monetary award for the purchase the pop/rock cover band Lemon Amanda Marks Sperry of technology to assist in Wheel, which features her (B.A. ’11; ’11, honors program with her husband teaching. While she enjoys work, husband as the drummer. certificate), Cole Sperry family is still the center of her (B.A. ’12, Jeff Shriner is , lives in Suwon, world. She has four children: a (M.S. ’10) anthropology) married and moved with his South Korea. They both teach son at Ball State University, a wife to Madison, Wis., where he English at a private school, daughter at Horizon Christian works as a technical services Lev Showmea, to students Academy, a daughter who is four, representative at Epic, a company ages 7–15. and a son who is one. that makes software for the healthcare industry.
| 41 PSYCHOLOGY Kayla Crance (B.A. ’11; Julie Stills (B.A. ’12) began B.F.A. ’11, theatre) moved to her graduate studies in the school Amanda Austin (B.A. ’07) Los Angeles and is focusing on counseling program at IPFW in completed a Ph.D. in behavior utilizing her theatre degree to summer 2013. analysis with specializations in pursue film and television acting. behavioral pharmacology and Her most noteworthy appearance Jenna Wilder (B.A. ’10) behavioral neuroscience from so far is as a featured flight graduated in 2013 with a Master Western Michigan University in attendant in the season nine of Science in clinical mental November 2012. Her dissertation premiere of the television show health counseling from University was “Effects of D-Galactose Grey’s Anatomy. She recently of Saint Francis. While attending Treatment and Moderate Exercise earned her Screen Actors Guild – graduate school, she also on Spatial Memory in Rats.” American Federation of Television worked full time as a probation and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) coordinator at the Bowen Center. Tyler Borsa (B.A. ’12) began union eligibility and is working on his graduate studies in the getting her SAG-AFTRA card. marriage and family counselor education program at IPFW in Jennifer Green (B.A. ’06) fall 2012, and he also holds a completed a physician assistant graduate assistantship in the master’s of science program in Department of Psychology. December 2012 at Shenandoah Additionally, he is co-coordinator University. She is currently of the student task force for working as a physician assistant Project COMPASS: COMmunity at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Partners Against Student Suicide. Mich.
Ryan Boyd (B.A. ’10) is Jenna Harmon (B.A. ’09) in a psycholinguistic Ph.D. earned a degree in school program and uses his computer psychology and works in an Ohio programming skills to write elementary school as a school linguistic analysis programs psychologist. In the past, she has used by IPFW’s Department of done research with individuals Psychology for research. with traumatic brain injury and advocated for early interventions. Kasi Browning (B.A. ’13) works as a wilderness therapist and enjoys kayaking.
42 | | Fall 2013 IPFW College of Arts and Sciences Programs
Carl N. Drummond, Dean Ethnic and Cultural Studies Quinton Dixie
Elaine Blakemore, Assistant Dean Film Studies Steve Carr Gerontology Lesa Vartanian
Departments Chairs International Studies Lachlan Whalen
Anthropology Richard Sutter LGBT Craig Hill
Biology Frank Paladino Liberal Studies Rachel Hile
Chemistry Ron Friedman Native American Studies Lawrence A. Kuznar
Communication Marcia Dixson Peace and Conflict Studies Patrick J. Ashton
Communication Sciences Jonathan Dalby Religious Studies Erik Ohlander and Disorders Women’s Studies Janet Badia English and Linguistics Hardin Aasand Geosciences Ann Argast Centers of Excellence
History Richard Weiner Center for Applied Ethics (formerly IPFW Human Rights Institute)
International Language Laurie L. Corbin Center for Social Research and Culture Studies Decision Sciences and Theory Institute Mathematical Sciences Peter Dragnev Environmental Resources Center Philosophy Bernd Buldt Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Physics Mark Masters Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics Political Science James M. Lutz Three Rivers Language Center Psychology Carol Lawton
Sociology Peter Iadicola Keep in touch! College of Arts and Sciences Personal and Professional News (please print):
Alumni Contact Details ______Name:______Previous Name (if used at IPFW): ______Department: ______Degree: ______Year: ______Mailing Address: ______Return to Cathleen M. Carosella ______Director, COAS Publications College of Arts and Sciences, IPFW Email: ______2101 East Coliseum Boulevard Preferred Contact: q Email q Mail q Either Fort Wayne, IN, 46805-1499 Or email these details and an update to [email protected]
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