MILITARY INTELLIGENCE The number of RETHINKING HOW WE LIVE A study by Richard DESIGNING THE METROPLEX The words military veterans pursuing college degrees Florida and his Creative Class Group suggests and vision of the late architecture critic and is soaring, and UT Arlington provides an that knowledge, creativity, and innovation will UT Arlington benefactor David Dillon helped environment where they can flourish. p. 20 dominate the local future economy. p. 24 North Texas define its aesthetic identity. p. 28 UTATHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTONrlington MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2012 Conquering the Bully UT Arlington researchers take off the gloves in the battle against bullying A LASTING LEGACY A few weeks after speaking at the first commencement ceremonies in College Park Center in May, James D. Spaniolo announced his retirement as president of UT Arlington. Since he became chief executive in 2004, the University’s enrollment has increased 32 percent, total research expenditures have more than doubled, and private philanthropic support has reached an all-time high. President Spaniolo launched efforts to make UT Arlington a nationally recognized research university and boosted student success with the opening of University College. Other milestones of his administration include the development of the College Park District, anchored by College Park Center, and construction of the Engineering Research Building. “Our next president will join a university on track to become a major research institution,” he says. Spaniolo plans to stay on as president until his successor is selected. ii UTArlington Magazine Contents Summer 2012 Message from the President Features FACULTY 11 Priscila Caçola has been UTArlington DUTY, HONOR, COLLEGE 20 helping children improve Vol. XXXIV • No. 3 • Summer 2012 After life-changing their motor skills since she deployments to the was a teenager in Brazil. Passing the Baton EDITOR Middle East, young military Mark Permenter veterans are turning to FUTURE 13 by James D. Spaniolo UT Arlington to help them With funding from the ASSISTANT EDITORS Jessica Bridges fulfill their career goals. National Science Foundation, I recently announced my decision to retire from The University of Texas Jim Patterson Qilian Liang examines how Amber Scott BUILDING AN smart grids can increase URBAN UTOPIA 24 our energy capacity. at Arlington. After serving as president for eight-and-a-half years, it EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS UT Arlington anchors a study Herb Booth by Richard Florida and his seems like the appropriate time to pass the baton and let others continue John Dycus Bridget Lewis Creative Class Group that the stewardship of our remarkable institution. I am so proud of where Teresa Newton aims to foster collaboration Traci Peterson among major cities in the Kristin Sullivan Dallas-Fort Worth region. the University is today. UT Arlington’s record-setting achievements ART DIRECTION demonstrate what we have accomplished together. No matter the mea- Brody Price Joel Quintans sure, our institution has made great progress during the past decade. UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHERS GALLERY 14 Robert Crosby We enrolled thousands of new students—on campus motivated students, passionate alumni, and dedicated Self-reflection is a common Beth McHenry and online. We invited thousands of students to live friends and supporters. theme in Nancy Palmeri’s on campus and experience a traditional residential Our leadership team—deans, vice presidents, and ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR printmaking artwork. environment. We opened new recreational spaces for others—is superb, the best I’ve worked with anywhere. If COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING students and developed robust, 24/7 activities and I have been successful, it is because of our collaborative P. David Johnson COMMUNITY 17 events to keep them engaged. efforts. It has been a joy to work with such a talented Two dozen UT Arlington VICE PRESIDENT We reinvigorated our athletics program and moved team and to bring attention to their accomplishments. students spent their spring FOR COMMUNICATIONS SHAPING A METROPOLIS 28 it to the next stage, literally, opening up new vistas For all the challenges we face, we are fortunate to be break helping people in need. Jerry Lewis Take a look at some of for competition and achievement. We created new part of the finest university system in the country. North Texas’ most significant traditions and honored long-established ones. We helped UT Arlington is thriving and is well positioned for the PRESIDENT SPORTS 18 architecture, as described elicit the enormous pride our alumni have always felt future. The transformation we have ignited will guide James D. Spaniolo Spain native Maria Martinez- by late Dallas Morning News for their alma mater. the way for years to come, and our next president will Romero was named Southland UTArlington Magazine is published critic and UT Arlington We built amazing buildings that grace our campus join a university on track to become a major research Conference Women’s Tennis three times a year by University benefactor David Dillon. at every turn. We added research laboratories and institution. Player of the Year. Communications for all alumni, as classrooms. We increased our external research funding With the concurrence of Chancellor Francisco well as for faculty, staff, and friends FIGHTING BACK 34 by tens of millions of dollars and continue to build a Cigarroa and The UT System Board of Regents, I will of the University. Reproduction in As bullying becomes more thriving research enterprise that addresses some of continue as president of UT Arlington until a successor whole or in part without written widespread and vicious, Alumni News society’s most serious issues. is selected. permission is prohibited. UT Arlington professors are We built a college town from the ground up and Meanwhile, we will stay focused on our mission. There BEACON OF HOPE 39 The comments and opinions engaged in sweeping helped reinvigorate downtown Arlington. We is much work to be done, and our continued progress as Dr. Robert Lynch ’78 plays expressed in this magazine do research to curb the problem. reached out to the city, our neighbors, and a university requires our best efforts. In the words not necessarily represent a leading role in healing the community—and they embraced us. of Robert Frost, whom I quoted eight years ago those of The University of Texas post-Katrina New Orleans. Most importantly, we helped tens in my investiture address, we “have promises to at Arlington or the staff of of thousands of students pursue their keep, and miles to go before we sleep.” UTArlington Magazine. Columns Copyright © 2012, The University of dreams. We helped put a college degree It has been the highest honor of my career Texas at Arlington. An equal oppor- TALK 7 not only within their reach but into their to have served as your president, and I will tunity/affirmative action employer. Aerospace engineering and hands. devote myself in the months ahead to assuring physics major Erica Castillo is UT Arlington is what it is today a smooth transition in leadership. ON THE COVER UT Arlington’s first Goldwater because of talented faculty and staff, Go Mavericks! From psychology and education Scholar. The prestigious to criminal justice and social honor goes to only 300 work, UT Arlington professors are giving hope to bullying victims. college students nationwide. caring heart 40 Illustration by Noma Bar. Myanmar is among the places CRASH COURSE 8 where nurse Kaci Hickox ’02 Susanna Khavul’s popular has battled disease outbreaks. As president of UT Arlington Entrepreneurship course since 2004, James D. Spaniolo has overseen unprecedented growth takes a customer-focused DEBO BAND 41 in enrollment, research activity, approach to teach students Led by Danny Mekonnen ’03, and the physical campus. how to start and manage Boston-based Debo Band is their own businesses. gaining national attention. CAMPUS CAMPUS Facebook Email Tweets LOOKING BACK Woolf becoming president spring 2012 issue. It reminded College Park Center. Keep up @Mr_Verde09 After 8.5 years I appreciate being able to re- after the sudden death of me of a very long time ago the great work. Go Mavs! at UTA, President Spaniolo decided to retire. He was the ceive UTArlington Magazine. E.H. Hereford. Woolf placed when Brazos House was called MARK SLITER-HAYS ’90, ’96 definition of a MAVERICK. You My time at what is now UTA no bureaucratic barriers Davis Hall. I went to North Wheeling, W.Va. will be missed! #MavsNation occurred between 1956 and between himself and the new Texas Agricultural College @ItsClassy_Jazzy UT Arlington 1961. I graduated with the student leadership group. (now UT Arlington) in 1942 is my choice! first degree-granting class I still have many vivid memo- and later joined the U.S. Navy. MEDIA COVERAGE in 1961. I noticed a photo of ries of my time at Arlington After three semesters wearing Thanks for making me look @The_Sun_Belt Welcome @UTAMAVS to the #SunBelt! the current class ring in the State College, helping to the A&M military uniform, way more important than I am UT Arlington will join the spring 2012 issue. During the establish the first all-student I was called in to the Navy. in the article “Day Trippers” league in 2013. 1959-60 academic year, government and the special They sent me to NTAC (where (spring 2012). My mother saw I was primarily responsible effort President Woolf pro- I already was), and we lived in the article before I did from a @DallasDogLife Happy to support the students at for helping design the first vided to ensure ASC would Davis Hall. So for two or three copy that a family friend and UT Arlington who started student ring associated with be as independent as one years, the “Love Shack” was fellow UTA alum showed her. this group - Maverick Animal graduating from Arlington could be in the Texas A&M used by the U.S.