WINTER 2015 VOL. 10 NO. 1 THE MAGAZINE OF UC RIVERSIDE UCR’s research is improving the way the world eats — and it all starts with food on campus Page 10 UCR Winter 2015 | 1 CHANCELLOR Kim A. Wilcox VICE CHANCELLOR, ADVANCEMENT Peter Hayashida PUBLISHER James Grant EDITOR Lilledeshan Bose CREATIVE DIRECTOR Luis Sanz WRITERS Vickie Chang Litty Mathew Sean Nealon Michelle Woo Koren Wetmore DESIGNERS Brad Rowe Denise Wolf Eric Yang EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Bethanie Le Konrad Nagy CONTRIBUTORS Ross French Maydeli Magana Bettye Miller Konrad Nagy Sean Nealon Iqbal Pittalwala Kristin Seiler ILLUSTRATORS Loris Lora Mike Tofanelli PHOTOGRAPHERS Lonnie Duka John Gilhooley Carlos Puma Carrie Rosema PROGRAMMERS Bob Bottomley Cameron Booth UCR Magazine is published by the Office of Strategic Communications, University of California, Riverside, and it is distributed free to the University community. Editorial offices: 900 University Ave., 1156 Hinderaker Hall, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, telephone (951) 827-6397. Unless otherwise indicated, text may be reprinted without permission. Please credit University of California, Riverside. USPS 006-433 is published four times a year: winter, spring, summer and fall by the University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521-0155. Periodicals postage rates paid at Riverside, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UCR, Subscription Services (0063), 900 University Ave., 1156 Hinderaker Hall, Riverside, CA 92521. In accordance with applicable federal laws and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its poli- cies, procedures or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or handicap. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal opportunity policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Office, (951) 827-5604. Questions? Concerns? Comments? Change of address? Contact Editor Lilledeshan Bose at [email protected] THE MAGAZINE OF UC RIVERSIDE WINTER 2015 VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1 COVER STORY 8 Feeding the World from Riverside From rice to citrus to cowpeas, UCR’s research has changed the way people eat FEATURES 18 22 24 26 28 Eat, Drink, Play On a Mission to From Mind to No Sophomore A Night to Highlanders talk Help Students Market Slump Remember about how their years Learn Carlos Cortés’ The School of The Chancellor’s at UCR inspired Teaching kids with “Multicultural Medicine’s first class Dinner honored the careers in food learning disabilities America” reveals a is tackling its second achievements of has been Professor new, evolving year with aplomb Highlanders who’ve H. Lee Swanson’s diversity made a difference lifelong goal 03 | R View 27 | Page Turners 31 | Class Acts A message from Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox 36 | C Scape 29 | From the Web Poetry and jazz: National Book 04 | R Space Around the world with #MiniScotty DEPARTMENTS Catch up on the latest news Award nominee Fred Moten says at UC Riverside 30 | Alumni Connection they’re one and the same What’s New? MAGAZINE.UCR.EDU Watch Videos of the Listen Fred Moten reads Watch Julia Bailey- inspiring lives of from “The Feel Trio.” Serres, Howard Judelson distinguished and more explain their graduates Shah Selbe Make Highlander foodies research. ’04, Bill Kroonen ’60, share special recipes ON THE WEB Michael Devirian ’66 online. and Pamela and Mark Rubin. UCR Winter 2015 | 1 EVENTS Flutist Meerenai Shim performs as part of the Culver Center of the Artsblock.ucr.edu Arts’ Outpost Concert Series. Founder of the flute and percussion Meerenai Shim Concert group A/B Duo, Shim has performed all over the United States as a 2.18 soloist and chamber musician. Theatre.ucr.edu “Measure for Measure” This play by William Shakespeare defies the traditional rules of comedy with complex themes of justice versus mercy and sex versus love. 2.19-2.21 Artsblock.ucr.edu Free and open to the public, the colloquium will discuss the Archaeological Institute of America Colloquium archaeology of Asian diasporic settlements in California. 2.28 Music.ucr.edu The UCR Taiko Ensemble, directed by the Rev. Shuichi Thomas Kurai, Japanese Taiko Drumming Demo puts on a spirited, 30-minute outdoor demonstration of Japanese 3.3; 5.26 drumming. Artsblock.ucr.edu Brooklyn-based pianist Karl Larson performs as part of the Culver Center of the Arts’ Outpost Concert Series. A sought-after collaborator, Karl Larson Concert Larson has worked with notable musicians around the country such as 4.8 Tristan Perich, Mantra, Eve Beglarian and the Eco Ensemble. This play follows Elizabeth Packard, who is committed by her husband Theatre.ucr.edu to an asylum without proof of insanity. Based on historical events, “MRS. PACKARD,” a play by Emily Mann Emily Mann’s play tells of one woman’s struggle to right a system gone 4.30-5.2; 5.7-5.9 wrong. “MRS. PACKARD” is the recipient of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award. Theatre.ucr.edu This festival is full of original short films produced by UCR students, UCR TFDP Film Festival 2015 faculty and alumni. “Control Your State,” a new film by M.F.A. student 5.14-5.15 Lisa Umhoefer, will also be screened. Staffassembly.ucr.edu Open to all staff, faculty and students, the sixth annual UC Walks UC Walks event encourages the community to take a 20-minute walk around the 5.20 UCR track as a way to promote physical fitness and better health. Nasp.ucr.edu The 34th annual UCR Pow Wow will celebrate Native American UCR Pow Wow culture and traditions. This intertribal social gathering will include bird singers, handmade Native American jewelry, drum groups, arts and 5.22-5.23 crafts and more. For more on UCR events, visit www.ucr.edu/happenings Theatre.ucr.edu Students in the UCR M.F.A. playwriting program offer this exciting New Play Festival 2015 selection of full-length plays. A different work will be presented at each 5.22-5.23; 5.29-5.30 performance. 2 | UCR Winter 2015 For more information, go to happenings.ucr.edu R VIEW R VIEW Nourishing the Mind and In December, I helped release a batch of Pakistani wasps (natural enemies of the Asian citrus psyllid) at UCR’s Body at UCR citrus groves with Jodie Holt, a divisional dean at CNAS. At UC Riverside, the citrus trees that beautify our interdisciplinary approach like UC’s essential. campus and perfume the air each spring are tangible As detailed in this issue’s cover story, UC Riverside reminders of our roots as an agricultural research station. faculty, staff and students are involved in an array of These trees link us to the Citrus Experiment Station, food-related research and activities. UCR scientists are which was our campus’ direct forebear, and also serve as studying ways to develop new and better crops, including symbols of the innovative agricultural research that is rice plants that can survive catastrophic floods and wheat part of the continuing mission of a public land-grant that can tolerate drought. institution like ours. Other UCR experts are examining ways to help break UC Riverside and our sister University of California the cycle of poverty that affects generations of rural campuses have played a key role in helping California farmers, while still others focus on innovative approaches to controlling the pests and pathogens that can devastate citrus and other crops. UCR aims to tackle These are just a few examples of UCR research making a difference in communities in California and around the a critically important world. But the campus itself is also redoubling its efforts issue: how to feed a related to food education and outreach. As part of the new initiative, UCR faculty and staff are world population that working to create a lecture series that will help inform us all about ways to eat more healthily and sustainably. UCR is expected to reach 8 is also launching the California Agriculture and Food billion by 2025. Enterprise (CAFÉ), a new institute that will serve as an umbrella for interdisciplinary research related to food and agriculture. become the nation’s leading agricultural state. UC’s UCR students are also engaged in projects connected to agricultural experts are at work in communities across the initiative, including investigating why nearly a quarter of California, using research-based knowledge to help our students report skipping meals often or very often. farmers and ranchers cope with such challenges as At UCR, we’re working to nourish our community invasive pests and the drought. and the world, intellectually and physically, too. Now, UCR is joining other UC campuses in a system- wide Global Food Initiative, which aims to harness the university’s research prowess and other resources to Fiat lux, tackle a critically important issue: how to feed a world population that is expected to reach 8 billion by 2025. Of course, the question of food is not just about what we eat, as UC President Janet Napolitano noted last summer in announcing the initiative. It includes such complex, related topics as food availability, climate change, population Kim A. Wilcox growth and sustainability, making a comprehensive, Chancellor UCR Winter 2015 3 Photo: Michael Lewis, Center for Invasive Species Research, UCR | R SPACE Studying the Link Between Autism and Sound Hypersensitivity Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder in New Education School Dean humans. It causes social impairments, Thomas Smith started his tenure research capacity, and the opportunity repetitive behaviors as dean of UCR’s Graduate School of to enhance the Graduate School of and other Education in September 2014. Education locally and nationally. behaviors on the Smith was previously a faculty “It is an exciting challenge to go to a autistic spectrum, member at Vanderbilt University’s school that has strong roots and to take as well as Peabody College of Education the good work that is already occurring cognitive deficits.