1 President’s Perspective Dear Florida Tech Alumni and Friends, Welcome to the winter 2007 issue of Florida Tech TODAY. In this issue, we return to our roots by focusing on two alumnae who have reached the stars. Two Florida Tech alumnae, Sunita Williams and Joan Higginbotham, flew into space during the December launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Williams is still in space as you TODAY read this, soaring around the globe inside the International Space Station. Our cover story focuses on how Florida Tech Florida Institute of Technology PRESIDENT Anthony James Catanese, Ph.D., FAICP helped them in their own personal races to space. SR. VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADvaNCEMENT Thomas G. Fox, Ph.D. Another Florida Tech astronaut, space sciences professor Sam Florida Tech TODAY is published three times a year Durrance, is focusing his mission closer to home these days. His work in the by Florida Tech’s Office for Advancement and is life sciences laboratory at the Kennedy Space Center is featured in distributed to over 50,000 readers. this issue. MANAGING EDITOR/DESIGNER Judi Tintera, [email protected] EDITOR Jay Wilson, [email protected] As you know, your university was founded by rocket scientists nearly ASSISTANT EDITOR Karen Rhine, [email protected] 50 years ago. Today, we’re welcoming a new generation of scientists and COPY EDITOR Christena Callahan, [email protected] CLASS NOTES REPORTER Verna Layman, [email protected] engineers, as children of our alumni are joining a wonderful family tradition. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joan Bixby, Christena Callahan, In this issue you’ll meet Pamela Nabors, her daughter Maggie Walsh and the Diane Deaton, Ken Droscher, Christa Parulis-Kaye, Irene Klotz, Melinda Millsap, Karen Rhine, Jay Deffenbaugh family, and learn their stories of Panther pride. Wilson On campus, we’ll say goodbye in this issue to Gary Wells, who after PRODUCTION Rob Gribbroek 34 years in the biological sciences department, 23 of those years as depart- WEB DESIGN Josh Culver ment head, has decided to retire. I think we all agree with his colleague, CIRCULATION Mike Dotson PHOTOGRAPHY Tiara Brewster, Ken Droscher, Peter Julia Grimwade, when she says that people can’t imagine the department Finger, Florida Today, Christa Parulis-Kaye, NASA, without him. Dave Potter, Karen Rhine To ensure that this magazine is a true page-turner, we feature alumna ALUMNI OFFICE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADvaNCEMENT author Sylvie Kurtz, a Panther who has been serving up pages of intrigue AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION and romance for more than a decade. Ken Droscher (321) 674-7191, [email protected] ASSOCIATE ALUMNI DIRECTOR Diane Deaton Finally, this issue showcases the fun of last fall’s homecoming festivities, (321) 674-7198, [email protected] and the honor roll section allows us to thank all of you who gave to Florida ASSISTANT ALUMNI DIRECTOR Marjorie Beckett ’98 (321) 674-7642, [email protected] Tech last year. Thanks to you, Jerome Keuper’s dream continues today in ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK Hazel Rosskamp Melbourne, and the future is bright indeed. (321) 674-7190, [email protected] HOW TO KEEP IN TOUCH Sincerely yours, Florida Tech, Office of University Communications, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901-6975 (321) 674-6218, Fax (321) 674-6399, [email protected] CHANGING ADDRESSES? Don’t leave copies of your alumni magazine behind. A.J. Catanese, Ph.D., FAICP Send your new address to Florida Tech, Office of President Alumni Affairs, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901-6975, [email protected] ADVERTISING SALES Ken Droscher, Office of Alumni Affairs, (321) 674-7191, [email protected] www.fit.edu © Copyright 2007 by Florida Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means whole or in part without permission is prohibited. For reprint information, contact Florida Tech TODAY at (321) 674-6218, Fax (321) 674-6399, or [email protected]. 2 In This Issue WINTER 2007 • VolumE 15, IssuE 3 Cover Story: Alumnae in Orbit Feature Story: A Living Legacy Everyone loves a parade—especially those who attended Fall Homecoming 2006. cover story 32 Alumnae in Orbit alumni news Advanced degrees help two Florida Tech grads make the trip of a lifetime—working From the FTAA President 13 aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery. San Diego Reunion 13 On the Road 14 features Skurla Award Winner 15 Homecoming Fall ’06 16 24 Forensic Psychology Attracts Students Class of ’67 Alumnus Donates Ring 18 Florida Tech is among the few U.S. universities offering an undergraduate degree in Fraternities and Sororities Return 18 this exciting and emerging field. Pi Kappa Alpha Award Winner 18 26 A Living Legacy University Honors its Own 19 Children of alumni enroll as the next generation of Panthers and signal a new honor for the university—family tradition. Roger Manley: COB faculty member 18 28 Sciences Merge to Sustain Life in Space In Memorium: Elizabeth Wolf Corman 21 Faculty and students examine the future of sustained space exploration through L.A. Chapter Social 21 research and education supported by a $1.2 million NASA grant. Class Notes 60 36 2005–’06 Honor Roll of Donors Florida Tech gratefully acknowledges trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, corporations, foundations and other friends who contributed to the university. Alumni Association departments Jim Downey ’74, President, Colorado Springs, President’s Perspective . .2 Alumni Profile: Sylvie Kurtz ’81 . .23 CO (520) 452-0030; [email protected] Mailbag.........................4 Faculty Profile: Gary Wells . .30 Russ Ballagh ’74, Vice President, Venice, FL (941) 497-1307; [email protected] On Campus . .5 Faculty Briefs . .56 Jim Thomas ’72, Treasurer, Melbourne, FL In the news......................9 Athletics .......................58 (321) 779-0223; [email protected] Advancement . .10 Calendar .......................62 Alan Prestwood ’73, ’80, Secretary, West Melbourne, FL (321) 953-1541; [email protected] This issue’s cover: Astronauts Joan E. Higginbotham (left), STS-116 mission specialist, and Sunita L. Williams, Expedition 14 flight engineer, attired in training versions of the shuttle launch and entry suit, pose for a photo as they await the start of an emergency egress training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the Johnson Space Center. Photo credit: NASA Florida Tech TODAY | 3 Mailbag Hi, more data are both ongoing processes, Just wanted to thank you for enough data exist now and have been putting my picture in the recent assessed to make a conclusion. Florida Tech TODAY magazine fall There is no debate, except in 2006 on page 19 under Alumni nonscientific, partisan media. Our News “Southwest Rowers.” However, my climate is changing and human activ- name is Al Shawcross, Class of ‘83 not ity is responsible for at least part of “Showcases” as listed. that change. To imply that there is One other point of interest … any wiggle room on this topic makes both Bruce Schwab and myself are Florida Tech look like the ignorant not only Southwest pilots, but also both monkeys who preach Creationism to retired Lt. Colonels in USAF. Both of us the Kansas school board (and speaking flew F-16s throughout our careers. of Kansas and monkeys, are we next to Al Shawcross ’83 see a “debate” on evolution?). Further, P.S. My shirt does still fit! it devalues the marketability of the degrees you award. Do you really want Could you put in a correction to to be known to employers as the institu- page 11 of the fall 2006 issue? The tion that embraces such Neanderthal names under the Boeing Company views on climate change? Scholars picture should read: Get a grip, get with the program Boeing Company representa- and accept the reality of human- tive Ken Smith (third from left) not influenced climate change. Tim LaMunyon. The second from Your disappointed graduates, the left is Valerie Ann Bastein not Jennifer D. Kalmanson ’98 M.S. and Elizabeth Diaz. The third from the right Phillip C. Kalmanson ’98 B.S. is Elizabeth Ann Diaz not Valerie Bastien. Editor’s Response: As I read the article, it Thank you, seems to me that both George Maul and Stephanie T. Hopper, Mark Bush would agree with your belief Director of Laboratories, that “Our climate is changing and human College of Engineering activity is responsible for at least part of that change.” Their debate, as I read it, is Ed: Florida Tech TODAY regrets the error. much more about how humans are causing this change and how much of the change is For the first time ever, we are attributable to human activity. embarrassed to have our names associ- As you know, debates do happen ated with Florida Tech. The article in with any number of topics at any strong your fall 2006 issue “debating” climate university. Excellent universities must, by change gives the impression that Florida their very nature, be a marketplace of ideas. Tech—an institution we previously And, only the best ideas survive the rigors respected for its scientific rigor—thinks of debate. Universities that don’t promote there is something to debate about. debate are far more worthy of scorn. The While detailed analysis of existing data idea behind the Point-Counterpoint feature and creative experiments to bring in is to provide our alumni a window into this culture. Jay Wilson, APR Tell us what you'd like to see and give us your responses to the articles that you've read in the magazine. We'd love to hear from you. Send your comments to the editor, Jay Wilson, [email protected]. A Look Back in History Missilemen and BEC faculty member Sebastian D’Alli teaches a class in rocket propulsion in the Quad. D’Alli is using the first stage of a Vanguard rocket engine fueled by liquid oxygen and kerosene to illustrate his remarks.