SPRING 2020 GATOR INVENTORS TO THE RESCUE Plastics that decompose in landfills? Seriously, these new UF ideas are game changers. Page 26 AND THE AWARD GOES TO ... Find out who won this year's Academy of Golden Gators. Page 44 THIS GATOR'S A IT'S EASY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT ANIMALS WITH THIS NAT GEO WILD STAR. Page 20 CORONAVIRUS In early March, due to the spread of COVID-19, all state individuals who embrace new challenges with optimism universities including UF moved all classes online and and demonstrate grace under pressure each day. FLORIDA GATOR asked students to return to their homes. The University of Florida’s This issue, which was going to press as the crisis unfolded, alumni magazine Around the world, this pandemic has created uncertainty includes a revised letter from President Fuchs (pg. 5), as VOLUME 7 ISSUE 4 SPRING 2020 and will surely be remembered as an inflection point that well as photos from campus as staff and students headed VICE PRESIDENT, UF ADVANCEMENT challenged all members of our community to rethink home (pg. 74). Your summer issue will include complete Thomas J. Mitchell the way we approach our daily lives and work. I thank coverage. Until then, remember: “In all kinds of weather, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, everyone for their efforts, patience and flexibility as we we all stick together.” UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FEATURES navigate this complex situation together. Matthew Hodge — Matthew Hodge, Executive Director UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 20 The Untamable Filipe DeAndrade The strength of our university and Gator Nation is built UF Alumni Association EXECUTIVE BOARD on its people, and I am grateful to be surrounded by President Katrina Rolle This Nat Geo Wild filmmaker’s images are getting humans psyched President-elect Mark Criser Vice President James Gadsby about protecting the many wild creatures in their own backyards. Past President Brian Burgoon MAGAZINE STAFF [email protected] 26 Gator Inventors to the Rescue 352-392-5491 From plastics that decompose in landfills to smarter energy solutions, P.O. Box 14425 UF CHAMPIONS Gainesville, FL 32604-2425 check out these new UF technologies to improve our environment. This magazine can be delivered in an alternative format for the THE PROGRAM THAT GENE BUILT blind/visually impaired. 32 Smiles as Big as Their Hearts Retired UF finance professor helps secure his department’s prowess well into the future UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Southwest Florida children suffering from severe dental problem have [email protected] 352-392-1905 hope, thanks to a UF partnership with a generous Naples charity. UF’s finance program in the Warrington College of Business than 1,000 universities worldwide today. In his 30-plus P.O. Box 14425 has been ranked in the top 10 among public universities years with UF — and since — he also advised numerous Gainesville, FL 32604-2425 www.ufalumni.ufl.edu nationwide for some time. This is due, in part, to the efforts of companies and government agencies, including the Federal 40 In Search of Amelia PAY IT FORWARD finance professor Eugene Brigham (UF faculty 1971-2009), Reserve Board. Make UF and its programs better Allison Fundis (MS ’10) is paying tribute to one of her role models, Amelia for future generations of Gators Earhart, by setting out to solve the 82-year mystery of her disappearance. pictured below, who literally wrote the textbook in his field. Since 2015, Brigham has invested in the college: creating through your gifts at www.uff.ufl. In addition to launching UF’s Public Utility Research a research endowment for PURC, an endowed faculty edu/OnlineGiving or by contacting UF Advancement at 352-392-1691. 44 And the Academy Award Goes to ... Center (PURC) in 1972 and serving as its founding director, chair in finance and a transformational endowment that FLORIDA GATOR is published Brigham was a pillar of UF’s Department of Finance, will enhance the finance program well into the future. This quarterly by the University of Find out who won this year’s Academy of Golden Gators. Florida Alumni Association Inc. Insurance and Real Estate, writing more than 10 textbooks spring, Brigham announced that he intends to give even for its members. Address changes may be sent to ufalum@ufalumni. on various aspects of finance that are used at more more funds to ensure the department can offer the best ufl.edu or Alumni Records/UF DEPARTMENTS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 14425, undergraduate finance experience to students. Gainesville, FL 32604-2425. Standard postage paid in West Allis, Wis., 5 CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT KENT FUCHS UF and the Gator Nation are humbled by his generosity and at additional mailing offices. and honored to rename the department he helped make Membership and advertising queries 6 UNIVERSITY AVENUE: News about UF may be sent to the above address. famous after him. Because of his passionate advocacy and 46 GATOR NATION: News about alumni expertise, UF has become a destination for students who 56 GATOR100: See which Gator-owned or -led companies won this year’s contest want to learn about this critical business field that influences every community around the globe. THANK YOU. 70 3 MINUTES WITH: Ed Barber, former Independent Florida Alligator publisher 72 FINISH LINE: How Cory McGee (BA ’14) turned her passion into a profession SPRING 2020 ON THE COVER Inspired by the late animal expert Steve Irwin and backed by Nat Geo Wild, UF’s own Filipe DeAndrade AGG HEADER (pronounced FilEEP DEE-on-DRAH- The teaser for something her ehe rhe rhe rhere. XX POP UF OR TECH The teaser for something dee) is using his telecommunications her ehe rhe rhe rhere. 48 THIS GATOR'S A degree to encourage the conservation of animal species in your back yard UF GRAD FILIPE DEANDRADE HERE HE RHE REHR EHR EHR EHRE HR. 48 and around the world. 2 | SPRING 2020 FLORIDA GATOR | 3 When physicians reference Conversation with UF President Kent Fuchs TRYING TIMES Florida’s #1 research hospital, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF FACE NEW REALITIES AS FLORIDA LEADERS AND OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD RESPOND TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC they’re talking about us. President Fuchs received hundreds of emails from students after UF announced it was shifting to all online classes in March. Below is his response to one student. ear Meghan, thank you for doctors, nurses or drugs to give everyone You write of the difficulty of switching your thoughtful email and kind adequate care. to online classes while living in a new words. I regret that you’re not Several students and at least one city where you don’t have any friends. Dable to play women’s club soccer or to be faculty member died. Yet “classes It’s hard to focus on school when you Home to the state’s #1 research hospital, UF Health is consistently ranked among the best in a part of your academic clubs, and that continued through the crisis even if are figuring out “how to do a 180 of the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Our discoveries advance care for millions of patients you’ve been separated from your best there was only a single student present,” everything in my life,” as you write. each year. So, it’s not surprising that physicians send patients to UF Health from every county friends. Nothing I can say right now can according to Gator History, by the late Meghan, it’s clear to me that you replace those joys or those friends, or and your fellow students in the state and every state in the nation, and from dozens of countries around the world. bring you back to our campus and the are being tested. Indeed We conduct landmark translational research that changes lives and moves medicine forward classrooms you love. “Your generation — which your generation — which with innovative treatments. I know from other emails that you came into the world with are among many students doing your came into the world with 9/11 9-11 and goes out into the best to cope with many unexpected world as adults in a global hardships. Like you, most students are and goes out into the world as pandemic — seems to be struggling to make a rapid switch to being tested in a way that Best in Florida for pediatric Trauma and emergency patients transported online classes, keep up with their studies adults in a global pandemic — no generation globally has cardiology and heart surgery to UF Health from all 67 Florida counties and move back home, all at once. been tested in my lifetime. Thousands have learned that the spring is being tested in a way that no No doubt, this pandemic More than 8,600 patients from 33 countries More lung transplants than graduation they’d looked forward to for will change you. I believe treated at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute any other Florida hospital years has been postponed and they may it will make you more not be able to attend. generation globally has been resilient just as happened We have students who have already with those who survived More than 1,300 patients with movement lost jobs and others whose family tested in my lifetime.” and flourished at UF after disorders treated with deep brain stimulation members have been laid off due to the the 1918 pandemic. closures aimed at slowing the spread of — PRESIDENT FUCHS TO A UF STUDENT Meghan, again, I am COVID-19. Every student has reason to deeply saddened that you worry about their health and the health and our other students are Milestones such as these are made possible by unmatched research advances at UF Health of their loved ones since the virus is UF history professor Samuel Proctor and seeing your studies and lives upended.