College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 240 Schaeffer Hall November- The University of Iowa DANCE GALA: 25 IN 2005 Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1409 With the UI Chamber Orchestra , Department of Dance and School of Music, Division of E-mail: [email protected] Performing Arts Visit the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences December at www.clas.uiowa.edu WINTER COMMENCEMENT March-& - Arts&Sciences THE PUZZLE LOCKER FALL 2005 By W. David Hancock Arts & Sciences is published for alumni and friends of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Theatre Arts, Division of at The University of Iowa. It is produced by the Offi ce of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and by the Offi ce of University Relations Publications. Performing Arts Address changes: Readers who wish to change their mailing address for April & Arts & Sciences may call Alumni Records at 319-335-3297 or 800-469-2586; SPRING OPERA: THE CRUCIBLE or send an e-mail to [email protected]. By Arthur Miller (story) and Robert Ward (music) With the UI Chamber Orchestra, School of DEAN Linda Maxson Music, and Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theater, E XECUTIVE EDITOR Carla Carr Division of Performing Arts M ANAGING EDITOR Linda Ferry May CONSULTING EDITOR Barbara Yerkes SPRING COMMENCEMENT DESIGNER Anne Kent June - P HOTOGRAPHER Tom Jorgensen A LUMNI REUNION WEEKEND CONTRIBUTING FEATURE WRITERS Peter Alexander, Nic Arp, Winston Barclay, Honor classes: 1946, 1956, 1961, 1966 Russell Ciochon, Lori Erickson, Jean C. Florman, UI Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Gary W. Galluzzo, Lin Larson, Sara Epstein Moninger, David Pedersen, Stephen Pradarelli Award ceremony COVER PHOTO: James Sanborn’s cylindrical October - sculpture “Iacto” stands at the main entrance to the Philip D. Adler Journalism and Mass HOMECOMING REUNION WEEKEND Communication Building. (Photo by Tom Jorgensen) Honor classes: 1976, 1981, 1986, 1996 Editor’s note: Arts & Sciences 2004 incorrectly listed For a current list of CLAS events, visit William J. Paff’s date of death as Dec. 16, 2004 (“In www.clas.uiowa.edu Memoriam,” page 34). Paff died on Dec. 16, 2003. For a list of all University of Iowa arts events, visit www.uiowa.edu/artsiowa For a list of reunion dates, visit www.clas.uiowa.edu/alumni/index.shtml The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference. The University also affi rms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information contact the Offi ce of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 319-335-0705. 15240_SPcov 2 1/12/06 9:03:45 PM Arts&Sciences Contents 3 22 Brilliant Careers Caps and Gowns Three grads make their mark Pomp suits the circumstance 6 24 Above the Fold Fond Farewell Enduring skills for a dynamic industry Frank Conroy remembered 14 28 Finely Wrought World-Wise Scholars New techniques for classic art forms New major offers global focus 16 37 Models of Behavior International Flair Social interactions under the microscope Alumna takes business abroad 18 Ancient Human Ancestors A journey to prehistoric Java 20 Commitment and Partnership Volunteers serve University and state 2 26 32 Message from the Dean On Stage and Off C S Notes 13 30 38 Discoveries Department News Honor Roll 15240_SP 1 1/12/06 8:22:38 PM Last spring, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, along with the literary world beyond Iowa, said good-bye to the longtime director of the Iowa Writers’ Work- shop, Frank Conroy. A wonderful writer, formidable critic, and much-loved teacher and mentor, Frank died in April. Part of his legacy to American letters is the distin- guished reputation of the workshop, where many of the greatest stars of contempo- rary literature developed their craft with his guidance. We remember him in this issue of Arts & Sciences (see page 24). Lan Samantha Chang, a Writers’ Workshop alumna and currently the Briggs- Copeland Lecturer in Creative Writing at Harvard University, will assume the directorship in January 2006. I look forward to welcoming her back to campus (see page 35). Iowa’s reputation as a place that nurtures great writers and communicators extends beyond the Writers’ Workshop. Our School of Journalism and Mass Com- munication also enjoys a tradition of excellence, which applies to the high-tech world of web design and digital broadcasting as much as to traditional media. One of the few accredited journalism schools that reside in a liberal arts and sci- ences college, our school prides itself on offering a broad educational foundation A message from that prepares students for adaptability and success in a rapidly changing fi eld. In the dean this issue of Arts & Sciences, we put our journalism and mass communication pro- grams in the spotlight as the school settles into its new state-of-the-art home, the Philip D. Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building (see page 6). College of Liberal As technological advances affect all areas of life, some of the most innovative Arts and Sciences and exciting work in our college entails the merging of technology with other fi elds. For example, Associate Professor Kee-ho Yuen, a metalsmith in our School of Art and Art History, depends on both art and technology for inspiration and produc- tion (see page 14). And Associate Professor Lisa Troyer in our Department of Soci- ology studies human-technology interactions along with social relationships in technological environments (see page 16). The ability to apply and adapt established concepts to new situations is the hall- mark of a liberally educated person, and our faculty, students, and graduates con- tinually demonstrate this ability with great success. In Arts & Sciences, we strive to show as many facets of this phenomenon as time and space allow, from a new fea- ture on the results of faculty research to our alumni profi les. Let us know what you think of our magazine as well as our programs and goals. It’s important to us that you, our alumni and friends, stay connected to our mission and our future. 2 Arts & Sciences 15240_SP 2 1/12/06 8:23:02 PM Their BrilliantThree CLAS alumni combine Careers experience, interests, and hard work to become leaders in their industries. By Sara Epstein Moninger Get the story,pass it on eing hijacked and held hostage for three days in Central America on a Bwork-related trip might cause many to reconsider their professions. Not Brian Ross. In fact, being waylaid in Hon- duras while pursuing a story in 1982 only spurred the television reporter on. “I like a good story,” explains Ross, chief inves- tigative correspondent for ABC News. “I want to be the fi rst to know something, then the fi rst to pass it on.” Ross, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The Chicago native, who spent 18 years as an NBC News the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1971, has covered correspondent before joining ABC in 1994, says he knew in many high-profi le stories since beginning his career in 1970 high school that he wanted to be a television reporter—an as the Iowa City stringer for KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa. ambition nurtured by a perceptive journalism teacher and He has exposed fake charities and chain-store factories full of fueled by the competition he witnessed among Chicago media child laborers, probed a Colombian drug cartel, and covered outlets. He enrolled at Northwestern University but left when the Unabomber investigation, the September 2001 terrorist his radio station job interfered with his studies. He moved to attacks, and the Enron scandal. Iowa to work on David Stanley’s U.S. senatorial campaign, His reporting has earned myriad industry honors, includ- then began course work at Iowa. ing eight Emmy Awards. “I was on campus during the height of the Vietnam era. “I really like stories with a hard edge,” says Ross, whose There was a student protest or march every night,” says Ross, reports air on 20/20, Nightline, World News Tonight, and Good recipient of a University of Iowa 2005 Distinguished Alumni Morning America. “They’re easy to write, and they’re also fun Award for Achievement. “Being in the midst of that as a jour- to write.” nalism student was like getting extra credit.” His favorite story, Ross insists, is always the one he just fi n- Newspaper journalism was never an option for Ross. ished. He and his team of seven producers usually have 10 to “I feel that television has more impact. Not only can we tell 12 stories in the works. Ross also takes assignments from the you a story, we can show it to you,” Ross says. network. Ross deplores unethical behavior in the news industry. When he’s not brainstorming ideas with his staff, Ross is on “Journalists need to be aggressive, but it’s more important to the road pursuing leads. get the story right,” he says. “Remember whom you are work- “One of the biggest challenges we face is overcoming the ing for—the readers, the viewers.” resistance of people to tell their stories,” he says. “It’s also dif- “I think you can do a lot of good by telling stories,” he says. fi cult to pierce the veil of secrecy at various companies and “I’ve always had a low tolerance for corruption and lying, and organizations.” you can conquer those injustices by exposing them.” The University of Iowa 3 15240_SP 3 1/12/06 8:23:33 PM CLEAR the AIR: Executive works for environment, safety usic practically fl ows in Carolyn Green’s blood.