SPRING 2017 Game Changer For Athletics Mr. Customer Engagement Helping Dallas Families RESEARCH WIT H A REAL PURPOSE 0608-Cover_BC-FC_R1.indd 2 1/24/17 2:24 PM WHERE’S PERUNA? Homecoming 2016: Road Trip Home to SMU attracted thousands of alumni, students and others from the community to campus November 3-6. SMU honored distinguished alumni (see article on page 31), held reunions, staged its annual parade led by grand marshals and Olympic medalists Michael Carter '83 and his daughter, Michelle Carter, and threw a come-one, come-all party on the Boulevard before the football game against Memphis. Homecoming royalty was crowned at halftime: King Alec Bucshon, Kappa Alpha Order, and Queen Madison McKay, Chi Omega. Student Foundation, which produces Homecoming, provided the graphics. 0608_IFC-TOC_R2.indd 1 1/25/17 9:39 AM spring Volume Sixty-Seven 01 2017 Features Departments To Our Readers 02 News 03 Features 14 Alumni 30 Etc. 48 4 Pg. 20 New Heights For Customer Engagement Hal Brierley has come a long way from starting a database-marketing firm in 1969 in the basement of Dillon Hall at Harvard Business School. Since then, he has become GAME-CHANGING widely known as a leader in the design and management of customer loyalty programs ATHLETICS FACILITIES SMU HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CONSTRUCT for companies like American Airlines, Blockbuster and Pan Am. Now he’s sharing his A NEW INDOOR PERFORMANCE CENTER, insights with SMU students and investing in a cutting-edge institute to ensure the next AN OUTDOOR NATURAL GRASS FOOTBALL generation of customer engagement marketers are properly trained. PRACTICE FIELD AND A NEW SOCCER STADIUM. LEAD AND CORNERSTONE GIFT PLEDGES ARE BEING PURSUED TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. ON THE COVER 2017 SPRING NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Game Changer For Athletics PAID Senior Patricia SOUTHERN METHODIST Mr. Customer Engagement UNIVERSITY Helping Dallas Families Nance, a chemistry and math major, has RESEARCH been developing a new polymer for WIT H A breast implants to Somber Reflections Helping Families reduce infections for women who A photographic book commemorates the In Dedman School of Law, students put get reconstructive surgery after breast RE AL 20th anniversary of SMU’s human rights their law education to work by providing Acknowledging Heroes SMU’s December Commencement included an address by the much-lauded retired Dallas Police Chief David Brown, praised for his leadership in guiding his department and the city through the events of July 17, when five officers were killed and 12 were wounded during an ambush in downtown cancer. For Nance, Dallas. Brown, a third-generation Dallasite, told the more than 530 graduates that as a young man in 1983, “I wanted so much to join modern-day heroes of our society that I rushed to sign up for the Dallas Police Department. You all may be the next greatest generation of heroes in this country. trips to the Holocaust camps in Poland, legal services for low-income NorthYou all are global citizens much more than my generation.” Photo by Clayton Smith PURPOSE and access video of Brown’s speech, visit smu.edu/mag17brown. To read more this research is and the 10th anniversary of the Embrey Texas residents through the VanSickle personal and has a purpose: to benefit Human Rights program. Family Law Clinic. women like her grandmother. See story on page 14. Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson. page 18 page 26 0608_IFC-TOC_R1.indd 2 1/24/17 11:46 AM One Secret To Our Success Diane Hamilton Buford ’71. The program invested $10 million in Cox School of READERS has enabled dozens of undergraduates Business to create the nation’s first in Dedman College of Humanities and institute devoted to the study of customer Sciences to work with faculty members engagement – the science and art of on significant research. attracting customers’ attention and ulti- One of the Hamilton Scholars, Patricia mately earning their loyalty. You can Nance ’17, is on the cover of this magazine read more about the journey that led to and you can read her inspiring story this gift on page 20. on page 14. Patricia exemplifies how SMU Every single one of these initiatives is students seize the opportunities our made possible by donors – not only the donors create for them – and create lead donors who create new centers and changes in the world that will make a programs on the Hilltop, but also the lasting difference in people’s lives. thousands of donors every year who give Similarly, the faculty and students to the SMU Fund and support all the involved in the VanSickle Family Law ongoing activities of the University. Clinic in Dedman School of Law are Together, our donors power the Univer- President R. Gerald Turner profoundly impacting the lives of their sity’s growing excellence. clients in North Texas. You can read As you turn the following pages and n this space nine months ago, I sug- about them on page 26. Thanks to an see the real difference SMU students, I gested to you that completing a wildly anonymous gift in 2014, the clinic gives faculty, alumni and friends make in their successful $1.15 billion campaign wasn’t students real-world experience in every professions and communities, I expect you an ending as much as it was a beginning. facet of family law and enables people will feel, as I do, incredible pride in your Our success provides a foundation on who could not afford representation to University. We also feel deep gratitude for which the University can do even greater give their families a fresh start. the donors who make it possible – things for our faculty, students, commu- In addition to benefitting from gifts including, I hope, you! nity and world. made during the campaign, the Univer- The investments that our generous sity is also expanding its strengths donors made during the campaign and thanks to new investments made in 2016. R. GERALD TURNER their continuing support make a clear In September, Hal and Diane Brierley President impact on campus every day. One example is the Hamilton Under- graduate Research Scholars program, In the weeks before this issue was printed, we learned about the deaths of professor created early in the campaign by the late emeritus and alumnus Marsh Terry ’53, ’54 and vice president for Jack and Jane Hamilton – and continued student affairs Pamela Anthony. You can read more on pages 45 and 9, respectively. by their children Dan Hamilton ’79 and SMU offers condolences and prayers to their families and loved ones. VOL. 67, NO. 1 SPRING 2017 Designers The Matchbox Studio, Becky Wade Copyright © Southern Methodist University 2017 SMU MAGAZINE is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Photography Hillsman Jackson, Laura Graham, Development and External Affairs, in fall/winter and spring/ Vice President for Development and Guy Rogers III, Clayton Smith, Kevin Gaddis, summer for alumni and other friends of SMU. The Office of External Affairs Brad E. Cheves Kim Leeson Public Affairs retains the right to determine editorial and advertising content and manner of presentation. The Executive Director of Integrated Marketing Printer ColorDynamics opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect Neil Robinson official University policy. Letters to the editor and contributions to the Class Notes section are welcomed. Send correspondence Editor Susan White, M.L.A. ’05 to: Editor, SMU Magazine, Office of Public Affairs, PO Box 750174, Dallas TX 75275-0174; email: [email protected]. Senior Editor Patricia Ward Southern Methodist University (SMU) will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, education activity, or Contributors Margaret Allen, Kim Cobb, admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU’s commitment Nancy George ’79, Sarah Hanan to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX1 Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, including [ PAGE ] the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title IX. The Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, [email protected]. Inquiries regarding the 2 application of Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. 1 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688. 0608-Readers_2_R1.indd 2 1/24/17 11:49 AM OPENING A NEW CHAPTER FONDREN LIBRARY DEBUTS NEW FACILITIES FOR COLLABORATION NEWS When students returned to campus for the 2016-17 academic year, awaiting them was a transformed Fondren Library. The latest renovations include the Caren H. Prothro Learning Commons, Starbucks and Collaborative Commons (bottom left and right), and Office of Information Technology and help desk hub, all located on the first floor. The Learning Commons was named in honor of Caren H. Prothro, SMU trustee and SMU Libraries Executive Board vice chair, by a gift from The Hoblitzelle Foundation. On the fourth floor (top), café-height tables and seating create a study zone designed to take advantage of the nearly panoramic skyline view. At an open house celebrating the new spaces September 8, Dean and Director of Central University Libraries Gillian McCombs praised the contributions of the donors and everyone involved. Read more at smu.edu/mag17browsing. [ PAG E ] 3 0608-News_3.indd 3 1/20/17 12:25 PM SMU and its donors and fans have made huge investments in athletics in recent years, and these NEWS projects are yet another step forward for our department.