SPRING 2016 UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI into the centennial A LOOK AT OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE P. 10 DEAN’SMESSAGE The enthusiasm and excitement emanating from the College’s faculty, students, and staff here at the Coral Gables campus is motivated by the profound energy and clear, invigorating vision of our new president, Dr. Julio Frenk. On January 29th, the University the generous and transformative of Miami – founded 90 years ago $100 million gift from Dr. Philip – welcomed President Frenk as its and Patricia Frost, a gift we are sixth president. The theme at the genuinely grateful for; this gift is momentous inauguration ceremony, set to enhance the basic and applied ‘Charting The Course To Our New sciences in Arts & Sciences and Century,’ tells us how, together, the in Engineering. LEONIDAS G. BACHAS UM community is on its way to a This issue of the magazine Dean of the UM College of Arts & Sciences bigger and brighter future. It is clear reminds us all that A&S students, that the College of Arts & Sciences faculty, and alumni – like you – is central to achieving our mission continue to be at the core of our of excellence and innovation. great University. From student In his speech, President Frenk entrepreneurs to urbanization noted many overarching goals he experts bringing big-city issues aims to accomplish by our centennial to light, you will be proud of the year. One of them is to develop a A&S ’Canes who are reaching University-wide initiative addressing high academic standards and truly climate change and sea-level rise – making a difference in their fields. a timely topic that already attracts As we look forward to the the scholarly and creative attention next ten years leading up to our of several College researchers. centennial, the College stands President Frenk also announced alongside President Frenk and plans to establish 100 new his proposals “to become a truly MAKE A DIFFERENCE endowed faculty chairs – a move hemispheric, excellent, relevant, Your gift to the College of Arts & Sciences helps that will strengthen the core of and exemplary university.” us support student scholarships and retain leading our gifted faculty. He also unveiled faculty. Visit www.as.miami.edu/donate/ or scan this QR code with your smartphone to find out how your contribution can make a difference. SPRING 2016 VOLUMESEVENTEEN | ISSUETWO COLLEGE OF ARTS EDITORIAL AND SCIENCES Director of Dean Communications Leonidas G. Bachas Papsy Mileti [email protected] Senior Associate Deans Editor/Writer Douglas Fuller Deseraé E. del Campo Angel Kaifer [email protected] Maria Galli Stampino Editorial Contributors Associate Dean Marie Guma-Diaz Charles Mallery Jessica Castillo Robert C. Jones ADVANCEMENT Design and Illustration Assistant Dean Christina Ullman of Advancement and Alix Northrup, Jeanne Luis Ullman Design [email protected] Copyeditor Carlos Harrison Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/UMCAS for photos, news, and events from the College Arts & Sciences is produced in the fall and spring by the College of Arts & Sciences Office of Communications. Through the magazine, we seek to increase awareness of the College’s activities by telling the stories of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Send comments, requests for permission to reprint material, requests for extra copies, and change-of-address notification to: Arts & Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, P.O. Box 248004, Coral Gables, FL 33124-4620. Telephone: (305) 284-2485. All CONTENTS contents © 2016, University of Miami. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Visit the College of Art & Sciences on the web: as.miami.edu 7 | Political Science Experts Chime 2 | News Briefs in on the 2016 Presidential Election Past issues of the magazine are available at: 6 | Bookmarks as.miami.edu/news/magazine 8 | Research Roundup 19 | A&S Student Achievement 10 | Into the Centennial: A Look at the College of Arts & Sciences’ Past, Present, and Future 20 | Class Spotlight 16 | Big City, Big Challenges 21 | Philanthropy 18 | A&S Takes on Climate Change 22 | Tracking Hurricanes 24 | A&S Event Calendar ARTS | SCIENCES 1 NEWSBRIEFS IN MEMORIAM: A&S REMEMBERS EDWARD T. FOOTE II UM’s Fourth President Passes Away at Age 78 ormer University of Miami President Edward Thaddeus “Tad” Foote II passed away on February 15, at the age of 78. In a statement to the UM community, President Julio Frenk said, “Our community has lost a great civic and academic leader who not only led the positive Ftransformation of our University, but also served as a voice of enlightened engagement for South Florida during especially challenging times. President Foote's tenure as president from 1981 to 2001 was marked by a far-reaching and rigorous pursuit of academic excellence that helped to distinguish our students and faculty among the finest in the nation. Together with his late wife, Roberta ‘Bosey’ Fulbright Foote, they made Miami their home, and we are a far better and stronger institution and community thanks to them.” Before joining the U, Foote was the former dean of the law school at Washington University in St. Louis. During his time at the University of Miami, the schools of Architecture, Communication, and what was known as the Graduate School of International Studies were created, and endowment increased from $47.4 million in 1981 to $465.2 million in 2000; research funding also increased, from $58.1 million to $193.9 million in 2000. Foote, born on December 15, 1937, was the school’s fourth president, succeeding Henry The University of Miami’s Fourth President King Stanford in 1981 and stepping down in 2001 when Donna E. Shalala took office. He is Edward T. Foote II survived by his children Julia, William, and Thaddeus, and his eight grandchildren. RITA DEUTSCH Associate Dean of Students Passes Away at Age 83 ita Deutsch, longtime associate dean of student academic services in the College of Arts & Sciences, left behind a legacy of service, excellence, and women’s rights at the University of Miami. Deutsch was 83 when she passed away August 4. Deutsch’s association with the U began in 1969 when she enrolled to complete an REnglish major and pursue graduate work in the College’s English Department. In 1980, she began teaching courses for the English Department, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Judaic Studies, and the American Studies Program. In 1985, Deutsch joined the Dean’s Office as director of freshman advising in the Office of Student Academic Services, where she served tirelessly as associate dean of students – a vital administrative role in which she helped countless students navigate successful academic careers at the University. Among her career accomplishments was her role on the steering committee of the Foote Rita Deutsch at her retirement get-together with Fellows program at its inception in 2002. Deutsch also earned numerous prestigious awards for UM’s mascot Sebastian the Ibis. her distinguished service and commitment to education, including the inaugural award named in her honor: the Rita Deutsch Spirit of Excellence Award. She also joined the National Organization for Women in the 1970s and was a three-time past president of the UM Women’s Commission. Deutsch is remembered with love by her husband Leonard of 61 years; her children, Phyllis, Jo (Teresa Williams), and Steven; three grandchildren; and countless colleagues, students, and friends whose lives were enriched by her wit, intelligence, and compassion. 2 SPRING 2016 Dr. Massimiliano Galeazzi (far right) and team stand by THE CONFIDENCE TO what remains of the rocket when it landed on Earth. ENJOY AIR TRAVEL A Partnership With Miami International Airport Allows Passengers With Disabilities to Experience the Magic of Flight A new partnership between Miami International Airport and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) at the College of Arts & Sciences is helping individuals with autism-related disorders and hearing loss gain the confidence to enjoy the adventure of air travel. The MIAair (Airport Instruction and Readiness) program is the first U.S. airport program to partner with a major university and medical institution to offer guided travel rehearsals and materials for individuals with special needs. The Ear Institute at UHealth, the University of Miami Health System, also assisted in the partnership. “CARD decided to partner with Miami International Airport for MIAair because this project provides families of individuals with autism and related disabilities with tools to prepare their loved ones for air travel,” said Dr. Diane Adreon, associate director of the CARD program at the Physics Professor Dr. Massimiliano Galeazzi and his team before the rocket launch in December. College of Arts & Sciences. “CARD provides free services to more than 9,000 families in South Florida. This project will expand our reach and touch the lives of many more individuals with autism around the world.” X-RAY GLOW REVEALS MIAair’s materials, which include travel checklists and tips in both English and Spanish, illustrate the entire MYSTERIES IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM travel experience for the participant. The booklets provide families with step-by-step photos and instructions about Physics Professor Seeks Answers About a airport procedures, from getting a boarding pass to passing 10-million-year-old Supernova Explosion through security and boarding a plane. “We want to ensure that anyone can experience the A group led by Dr. Massimiliano Galeazzi, associate chair and professor of physics, magic and wonder of flight, regardless of their disability,” launched a rocket with an X-ray detector into outer space to study X-ray glow from our said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “Air solar system and its surroundings. travel allows us to discover new places and cultures, and the MIAair program helps to make this possible for all “When we get light from outer space, it comes in different kinds of wavelengths,” said South Florida residents with special needs.” Dr.