MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2017 MORE PROFILES A Vision INSIDE ERIK for Success QUALMAN MANOJ How entrepreneurial SAXENA Spartans turn their ALEXA ideas into reality JONES THE #1 CARD FOR SPARTAN FANS cash 1% back MSUFCU'sMSUFCU's PlatinumPlatinum PlusPlus VisaVisa offersoffers yyou:ou: Cash Back — Earn unlimited 1% cash back on allall purchasespurchases Redeem your way — The freedom to redeem instantly,instantly, forfor aanyny aamountmount No annual, application, or balance transfer fees — "No""No" hashas nevernever soundedsounded soso nniceice APPLYAPPLY TODAY! mmsufcu.org/cashbacksufcu.org/cashback • 8800-678-496800-678-4968 MembersMembers willwill earnearn 1%1% cashcash backback onon allall purchases.purchases. 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Celebrate the 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MSU Black Alumni Association’s Scholarship 9 BENEATH THE PINES endowment, peruse photos from Spartans 52 DONOR SOCIETIES around the world, and more. 61 CLASS NOTES 67 IN MEMORIAM 80 FROM THESE SCENES ON THE COVER Erik Qualman, also known as Equalman, poses in his green Clark-Kent-style glasses, a signature look for his personal brand. Photo by Michael Thad Carter. Read, share Spartan online: go.msu.edu/kjzk Spartan is distributed to alumni, donors, and friends who make annual gifts of $100 or more to MSU. 13 SPARTAN MAGAZINE 1 Michigan State University Alumni Association partners exclusively with Liberty Mutual to help you save $782 or more a year on auto and home insurance.1 Join thousands of satisfied customers with Liberty Mutual Insurance.2 Discounted Rates—You could save up to $782 a year on auto insurance and receive additional discounts on home insurance. 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Not available in CA and may vary by state. 4 With the purchase of optional Towing & Labor coverage. Applies to mechanical breakdowns and disablements only. Towing related to accidents would be covered under your Collision or Other Than Collision coverage. 5 Optional coverage in some states. Availability varies by state. Eligibility rules apply. ©2017 Liberty Mutual Insurance Valid through February 9, 2018. FROM THE PRESIDENT Building a Culture of Innovation ichigan State Uni- problem solvers. Take a walk across versity’s thriving campus and you’ll practically be able culture of innova- to hear the energy buzzing in the tion and entrepre- Hive, an “idea laboratory” in Wilson neurship has deep Hall, and crackling in the Hatch, an Mroots in our land-grant mission. Our incubator located across from MSU commitment to the entrepreneurial on Grand River Avenue. At MSU, we want mindset can be seen in the courses Each space provides around-the- students to learn we off er, the creative spaces we build, clock access to resources for launching how to scale up and our engagement in communities projects and growing startup compa- Ò in Michigan and around the world. nies. These spaces foster collabora- ideas quickly We are building a dynamic eco- tion and team building, allowing for and effi ciently, system of entrepreneurship and experimentation, success, and, yes, equipping them innovation that engages with a robust failure. At MSU, we want students to and enthusiastic network of support, learn how to scale up ideas quickly and to solve today’s including faculty members, com- effi ciently, equipping them to solve problems while munity partners, funders, investors, today’s problems while anticipating accelerators, and incubators. It’s an the challenges of tomorrow. anticipating the environment that supports students You’ll also fi nd students represent- challenges of in any discipline who want to inno- ing their ideas—and MSU—at some of tomorrow. vate, think, and do. the top entrepreneurial competitions Across our colleges, MSU’s minor and conferences across the country, in entrepreneurship and innovation from South by Southwest Interactive combines rigorous classroom learning in Austin, Texas, to Techweek in Chi- with experiential, hands-on approach- cago, and Detroit Startup Week. es that prepare students for success The spirit of innovation is part of in a rapidly changing professional our MSU heritage. Today it remains a landscape. Most recently, we intro- defi ning part of our culture, preparing duced even greater fl exibility with the students for the opportunities and Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ex- challenges of tomorrow. periences Program, which empowers students to forge their own paths with the guidance of seasoned faculty. Because innovation and entrepre- neurship learning are not confi ned to the classroom, we have created spac- LouLou AnnaAnna K.K. Simon,Simon, PhDPhD es dedicated to student thinkers and PRESIDENT, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTAN MAGAZINE 3 MORE THAN AN AD Gifts in Action SPARTAN LOYAL 11 . 28 . 2017 | #GiveGreenDay | givingday.msu.edu JOIN more than 2,000 alumni and friends Last year Give Green Day funded student scholarships, emergency aid fund for November 28 is international students, a resource fund for student “Michigan State a global day of organizations, a fund to help pay has changed philanthropy. for student field experiences, along with funds for student- the game for At MSU, we are calling it athletes, library resources, and me.” Give Green Day and are many other priorities. Zoe Zappitell, ’17 working to raise support College of Arts and Letters for students. #GiveGreenDay more than “As Spartans, we’re taught to reach higher.” ways to support Lazarius Miller, ’17 College of Natural Science what you love at MSU LETTERS Dear Readers, Welcome to your newly MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2017 EXECUTIVE EDITOR reimagined MSU alumni Stephanie Motschenbacher, ’85, ’92 magazine, Spartan. We EDITOR know you’ll love its new Paula M. Davenport name, contemporary [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITOR design, and fresh Nancy Nilles content. In addition to PUBLICATION DESIGN COORDINATOR new Shadows-inspired Dave Giordan MORE PROFILES section names, you’ll fi nd COPY EDITOR A Vision INSIDE ERIK Linda Dunn, ’13 for Success QUALMAN expanded alumni news MANOJ How entreprenurial SAXENA PHOTOGRAPHERS Spartans turn their and letters to the editor ALEXA Kurt Stepnitz, ‘85 ideas into reality JONES pages. But don’t fret. You Michael Thad Carter can still fi nd Class Notes ADVERTISING MANAGER and the In Memoriam listings in the Green & White Peter DeLong, ’85 section. So settle down in a cozy chair and take a look Advertising (517) 355-8314 around. We hope you like what we’ve done with the [email protected] ASSISTANT place. Send us your letters, story tips, and opinions at Catherine Ferland, ’17 the address below. SPARTAN MAGAZINE EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Go Green! Caroline Brooks, ’07 Desiree Melfi , ’06, ’16 Erin Peterson PaulaPaula M.M. DavenportDavenport Aaryn Richard EDITOR, SPARTAN Christopher Sell, ’10 Amber Shinn, ’03, ’17 Sarah Wardell COPYRIGHT 2017 INSPIRING VOLUNTEERS UNSETTLED BY THE COVER MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Bravo on your last issue that featured As faculty at Michigan State Uni- University Advancement the Peace Corps and to the current versity, we have been unsettled by MSU Alumni Association Spartan Way and former MSU Peace Corps volun- the cover image of the recent MSU 535 Chestnut Rd., Room 300 teers. I gave the issue to my son who Alumni Magazine, Summer 2017. East Lansing, MI 48824 was also in the corps (in Tanzania) to The MSU Peace Corps volunteers (517) 355-8314 alumni.msu.edu help inspire him on his next career are deserving of a cover and their MSU is an affi rmative-action, steps. I was lucky enough to visit him inspirational personal stories should equal-opportunity employer. in his village and meet the wonderful be told proudly, but the unfortunate folks with whom he worked. Thanks! imagery showcased by the magazine Abby Adams, ‘70 in this issue does a disservice to their MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA honorable service. SPARTAN MAGAZINE 5 LETTERS This cover image and its ac- wonderful magazine and looking of Kentucky Volunteers, published companying caption read at best as forward to the next issue. in 2011. It is based on oral history tone deaf and at worst as colonialist, Mary A. (Loomis) Medendorp interviews with 100 RPCVs and is cultural appropriation and white- HOLLAND available to listen to and read online washing—where even the unfor- at University of Kentucky’s Nunn tunate background color reflects NOT JUST FOR 20-SOMETHINGS Center of Oral History.