’Southern A Publication for Alumni and Friends Spring 2009 Volume 35, Number 1 Ouresearch The BSC undergraduate research experience BSC Birmingham-Southern College Editor’s Note Rebuilding and restoring A story of amazing people doing amazing things USPS 087-600 BY BILL WAGNON Dr. G. David Pollick, President C. Dowd Ritter, Chair, Board of Trustees The third anniversary came and went much like the fi rst two, with little or no fanfare. It has been over three years now since the foolish actions of three young men ’Southern magazine is published three times a year in impacted the lives of so many others, and permanently scarred their own. spring, summer, and fall by the Offi ce of Alumni Affairs On two separate days in February 2006, nine rural Alabama churches were and the Offi ce of Communications at Birmingham-Southern purposely set on fi re. The damage ranged from minor to destroyed. A month later, College, Birmingham, Alabama 35254. Non-profi t postage on March 8, two Birmingham-Southern students and one UAB student were arrested paid at Birmingham, AL Permit No. 2575. Postmaster: for conspiracy and arson. Send address changes to: Alumni Affairs, Birmingham- As I drove to work at 2 a.m. that March 8 morning, I could think of no good that Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, could come from such a situation, still reeling from the shock of the phone call Birmingham, AL 35254; telephone 205/226-4909; or access at www.bsc.edu/alumni. from a colleague to alert me to the impending arrests. It was a tragic situation—for the churches and their congregations; for the three young men, and especially their Editorial Offi ces: unknowing families; for the college. 15 Stockham Building But out of something oh so very bad, came something oh so very good, if 900 Arkadelphia Road not amazing. Box 549004 Before that long day was over, media outlets from around the country converged Birmingham, AL 35254 on the Birmingham-Southern campus to see from where this evil had come. The Phone: 205/226-4921 college’s response was swift, and simple. It was not contrived, but from the Fax: 205/226-4931 institution’s heart and soul. At a late afternoon press conference carried live by several E-mail: [email protected] national TV outlets, President Pollick told the world that “Birmingham-Southern will Editor: Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications rebuild those churches.” This was exactly what the college was all about, and now the world was seeing that fi rsthand—Birmingham-Southern is a special place that does Managing Editor: Pat Cole, Communications Specialist amazing things with amazing people. Over the next three months, gifts of money and supplies and offers to volunteer Art Director: Tracy Thomas ’92, Associate Director for came in from all over the country—from alumni, from friends, from people who Communications—Publications previously had never heard of Birmingham-Southern. By July 2006, the Alabama Churches Rebuilding and Restoration Fund had topped $370,000, and faculty, staff, Contributing Writers: and alumni began hand-delivering checks to the nine churches spread over four Martha Boshers, Director of Gift Planning Pat Cole, Communications Specialist rural counties. Sarah Erreca, Director of Sports Information In January earlier this year, almost three years after it was literally burned to the Brandon Gresham, Communications Specialist ground, construction began on a new Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfi eld in Bibb Carol Cook Hagood ’70, Communications Specialist County, Alabama. It will be the fi nal church to either be rebuilt or restored. The eight Linda Hallmark, Communications Specialist other congregations are now worshipping in either new or rebuilt churches. Lisa Harrison, ’85 MPPM, Director of Alumni Affairs It is a truly amazing story. Michael Nienaber, Assistant Director of Sports Information So, too, is the story of the forward momentum of Birmingham-Southern that began Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications with the college’s Plan for Growth in 2006 and continues today with another near record fi rst-year student enrollment expected this fall, an Urban Environmental Park Photography: Mark Burnham Matthew Mielke scheduled to open in early August, a record-setting Alumni Reunion/Homecoming John Consoli Brandon Robbins celebration last November, the establishment of 23 new alumni chapters since Dean Elmore Donna Thomas December for a total of 33 nationwide, Phase I of a comprehensive campaign that Johnny Goodwin Peter Van Zandt may very well have surpassed its $50 million goal by the time you read this (and well Brandon Gresham Submitted Photos ahead of schedule) while we experience the worst economy of our times, and more. Adrian Holliman We continue to bring you news of this momentum in the pages of ’Southern Randy Lee magazine, and we hope you enjoy our feature in this issue on the research efforts— often collaborative—of students and faculty, and of alumni researchers who are www.bsc.edu changing our world for the better. Send news of alumni weddings, births, deaths, and other These are, after all, amazing people doing amazing things, and we enjoy bringing ClassNotes material to Carol Cook Hagood at chagood@ you their stories. bsc.edu or 205/226-4913. Bill Wagnon Vice President for Communications ‘southern Inside’Southern ’Southern magazine / Spring 2009 / Volume 35, Number 1 A Publication for Alumni and Friends Features BSC 32 Research at Birmingham-Southern College Departments 2 Destiny:Delivered 11 Community News 16 Faculty News 23 Student News 44 Alumni Affairs 51 Philanthropy 54 Athletics 62 ClassNotes 85 ’Southern Voices research On the Cover This collage illustrates the many different ways that Birmingham-Southern students and faculty are actively engaged in research and creative scholarship. We invite you to turn the pages and step into this exciting realm at BSC. Not only are students and faculty making signifi cant contributions through their pursuit of knowledge, but alumni have continued this quest for knowledge and its application in a variety of interesting ways. See main story on page 32. spring 2009 deliveringour destiny in transforming ways Destiny: Delivered campaign launch. Just 15 months ago, Birmingham-Southern raised the curtain on the most important fundraising effort in the institution’s 153-year history. Destiny: Delivered, The Campaign for Birmingham-Southern seeks to raise well in excess of $100 million, in two phases, over the next several years. With a goal of $50 million, Phase I is focused on growing Birmingham-Southern in size and national stature, while securing its fi nancial stability. In the worst economic climate in decades, Birmingham-Southern alumni and friends are giving back to their college in transforming ways: 2 / ’southern Dr. Peter Bunting ‘66 and his wife, Derry Brice Bunting ‘69 Dr. Donald Harrison ‘54 • 120 students—19 of whom are fi rst-generation college students—attended Birmingham- Southern this academic year thanks to contributions to Phase I for scholarships, seedling grants, and other need- and merit-based support. • Several new named programs and chairs have been established through endowed funds, including the McDorman Chair in Poetry and Poetry Studies (highlighted on page 5 of this issue), the Bunting Center for Engaged Study and Community Action, the Donald C. Harrison Honors Program, and the Ellie and Herb Sklenar Center for International Programs, among others. • An anonymous donation has provided BSC with one of the only endowed chaplaincies on a United Methodist Church-related college or university campus in the nation. spring 2009 / 3 MAJOR DONORS: An updated list of commitments of $10,000 or more to Phase I of the Destiny: Delivered comprehensive Admission Welcome Center fundraising campaign can • The college’s international studies initiative is stronger thanks to a major be found on the endowed gift to provide scholarships for students who wish to go on semester- long, year-long, or Interim term foreign study experiences. campaign Web site at www.bsc.edu/ • The new donor-funded Admission Welcome Center opened in fall 2007 and has been the focal point for the three largest classes of fi rst-year students in college history. destinydelivered. • One of the nation’s only Urban Environmental Studies programs is now teaming with majors thanks to campaign contributions, and a new Urban Environmental Park will open in August as an outdoor classroom, as well as a place of leisure. • More BSC students are active partners with faculty in collaborative research thanks to Phase I gifts (see Features on page 32 of this issue). • Unrestricted and current-use gifts, which includes support of the Annual Fund, have topped the $12 million mark since the campaign began, allowing BSC to focus these resources on its greatest areas of need to ensure that it continues to deliver the Birmingham-Southern experience. Each of these campaign accomplishments is directly related to priorities established at the beginning of Phase I that, combined with Phase II, will ensure that Birmingham-Southern secures its rightful place among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. destiny The curtain has been raised, but the show is far from over. delivered Stay tuned for a fi nale you will not want to miss. The Campaign for Birmingham-Southern 4 / ’southern For the love of poetry The McDormans’ love of poetry to live on at BSC through major campaign bequest for the future establishment of the “Daddy was a Birmingham- McDorman Chair. Southern graduate; mother was “Barbara and I believe the a BSC person of heart,” notes Dr. liberal arts both teach us and heal Kathryne S. McDorman. “Mother us,” Dr. McDorman says. “It’s didn’t attend BSC, but she felt important to teach all of these a far greater identifi cation with things that BSC does so well, and ’Southern than her own college.