The University of Texas at Arlington Magazine WINTER 2020 Water Works UTA researchers work to help manage the world’s water. page 32 DEPARTMENTS SUPPORTING THE PLAN Use the key below to see how stories correspond to UTA’s Strategic Plan. 4 uta.edu/strategicplan Mav Roundup Themes 6 Chat 9 Postcard Guiding Aspirations 10 Scene 13 Collected Operational 15 Faculty Focus Priorities 16 Gallery 19 Campus Buzz 20 Talk WINTER 2020 VOL. XLIV 22 Look Back Contents 25 Well Read 26 Crash Course FEATURES 28 Sporting Mavs 54 Giving 56 Class Notes HAVING A BLAST UTA’s marching band welcomes 62 Managing the The Illustrious Illuminating A Path Forward students World’s Water Allan Saxe Knowledge In Memoriam College students na- returning to A multidisciplinary team One of UTA’s most beloved Get to know more about campus for tionwide are reporting of UTA researchers is and longstanding faculty UTA’s six faculty members the 2019-20 growing struggles with academic year. working to ensure access members, Allan Saxe, re- who belong to National mental health. Through to clean water and safe, tired this year. The Academies. our support services, UTA 64 effcient delivery of the Maverick community is focused on removing The Explainer dwindling resource. pays tribute. every barrier to student ON THE COVER: URS BUHLMAN/GALLERY STOCK BUHLMAN/GALLERY URS COVER: THE ON success. ii The University of Texas at Arlington Magazine Wınter 2020 1 From the President EXCELLENCE at a glance UTA continues to garner accolades at a record pace. Here are just a few of the latest. To catch up with all of the University’s recent accomplishments, visit uta.edu/rankings. The University of Texas at Arlington Magazine riven by an unwavering in DFW, #34 VOL. XLIV commitment to excellence, WINTER 2020 among national in U.S. for The University of Texas at EDITOR Arlington continues to set Amber Scott universities in return on standards for others to follow ART DIRECTOR while advancing rapidly along Brody Price # # Dallas-Fort Worth investment a path of profound transforma- EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Herb Booth —Washington Monthly, 2019 —College Consensus, 2019 Dtion. This year has brought unparalleled Jessica Bridges achievements to our University. In addi- Devynn Case tion to the tremendous rankings attained Elizabeth Couch Jason MacBain by our programs across all colleges and Teresa Newton the wonderful accolades gained by our Mark Permenter among national outstanding faculty, staff, and students, researchers and scholars in their felds. President Tommy White 1 1 we are ranked as the third fastest-grow- You will also read about our pioneering Karbhari PHOTOGRAPHER universities for with recent Randy Gentry ing institution, as well as No. 1 in the initiatives to provide a truly supportive graduates ART CONTRIBUTORS undergraduate nation for veterans, No. 1 in Texas for the environment under the Community Lee Coburn success of frst-generation students, that Cares umbrella to address student Melissa George # ethnic diversity No. 4 in the nation in world global impact needs as related to issues such as mental DIGITAL COORDINATORS —U.S. News & World Report, 2020 rankings, in the top 20 in the nation for wellness and health. In addition, you will Hollis Harris Hanny Lee best four-year adult education, sixth be able to share in the celebration of the among national universities for under- distinguished career of Professor Allan EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF graduate diversity, and frst in Texas for Saxe, who recently retired after 54 years COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS the number of bachelor’s and master’s de- on the political science faculty, through Jeff Carlton Fellows of grees awarded to African-American stu- tributes from former students. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 6 dents and for master’s degrees awarded to Our College of Engineering celebrates DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS 17 in the U.S. minority students. the 60th anniversary of its founding, and Jason Fink the National This issue of UTA Magazine spotlights we are pleased to bring you key high- SENIOR ASSOCIATE VICE for veterans PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY Academy of some of the alumni, donors, friends, stu- lights and achievements of a college that ADVANCEMENT —Military Times, 2020 dents, faculty, and staff who are enabling is now internationally renowned. Much Joe Carpenter Inventors, # our unprecedented rise in reputation of the college’s success can be attributed VICE PRESIDENT AD INTERIM across the globe. to its founding dean, Wendell Nedder- FOR UNIVERSITY the most in ADVANCEMENT Our cover story examines efforts by man, who passed away earlier this year at Salma Adem Texas and a multidisciplinary team of research- age 97. A legendary and visionary leader, PRESIDENT ers to address the critical issue of the Dr. Nedderman served as president at Vistasp M. Karbhari #4 in the U.S. world’s water resources and ensure that UTA from 1972 to 1992, laying foundation UTA Magazine is published two this dwindling resource is clean, safe, for our emergence as a higher education times a year by University Advance- 1 and accessible for all. Other highlights powerhouse. ment for all alumni, faculty, staff, rdfastest- and friends of the University. Repro- include profles of UTA’s six members of Your Maverick spirit ensures that UTA duction in whole or in part without the National Academies—distinguished defnes excellence, transforming lives written permission is prohibited. in the U.S. in the growing leaders who represent the top echelon of and enabling bold solutions with global The comments and opinions expressed in this magazine do not Global University doctoral impact. I ask you to join us in celebrat- necessarily represent those of The ing our achievements and helping build University of Texas at Arlington Impact Rankings even further momentum for ever higher or the staff of UTA Magazine. public Copyright © 2020, The University of # —Times Higher Education, 2019 3 levels of excellence in 2020. Texas at Arlington. An equal oppor- tunity/affirmative action employer. institution –Vistasp M. Karbhari —Chronicle of Higher President Education Almanac, 2019 2 The University of Texas at Arlington Magazine uta.edu/mag4 Wınter 2020 3 EXPLORE Learn more about the origins of Brazos Park on page 21. Stories about the Mavericks who shape the UTA community near and far affleopolis: a time of fun, friendship, Maverick spirit, and delicious breakfast food. Our 22nd Waffeopolis, a hallmark of the start of another new Wyear in Maverick Country, was extra sweet because it was held at the grand opening of Brazos Park, the newest development on UTA’s campus. Nearly 3,000 students packed the green space the night before classes started. 4 The University of Texas at Arlington Magazine uta.edu/mag Wınter 2020 5 MAV ROUNDUP Chat with Waded As an undergraduate, did ever met. The only differ- Cruzado (’84 MA, you ever think you’d be ence between me and my Spanish; ’90 PhD, president of a university— parents is that someone Humanities) or was that always the gave me an opportunity to President, Montana goal? go to college. That experi- State University If someone would have told ence was so transforma- PRESIDENT-ELECT me back then that I would tional that I have devoted end up serving as a college my life to ensuring that no president—in Montana!—I other young man or woman Chat would have looked at them is ever deprived of the KINESIOLOGY with very puzzled eyes. opportunity because I know In fact, back then I do not that education will change even know whether the their lives, the lives of their CLOUT geographical distance or families, and improve the the professional aspira- communities they choose Professor leads sports tion would have appeared to live in. medicine organization more farfetched for me. Matthew Brothers will soon be leading Nowadays I encourage How did UTA help you get more than a thousand sports medicine students—particularly to where you are today? physicians, students, and faculty as pres- female students who At UTA I learned the im- ident of the Texas chapter of the Ameri- tend to be more prone to portance of adopting and can College of Sports Medicine (TACSM). doubting their talents—to embracing a student-first Dr. Brothers, an associate professor of look up and aim high to mentality. The respon- kinesiology, has been a TACSM mem- horizons that they cannot siveness of faculty and ber since 2003. He says the organization even dream. administrators to student gives students opportunities to present needs brought into focus for ACCESS AGREEMENT research, fndings, and network with You mentioned geograph- me how essential these re- others. ical distance—how far are lationships are for instilling Indeed, at TACSM’s recent Fort Worth we talking here? confidence in students, par- A PATH TO conference, UTA’s kinesiology students I was born and raised in ticularly in first-generation won numerous awards, including the Puerto Rico, the first of students like me, who have OPPORTUNITY President’s Cup, won by Sara Peper, an four children. I was the first very high hopes but also undergraduate. UTA provides DCCCD students a smooth transfer experience person in my family to go to tons of questions about “It’s a great confdence builder for our college, but not because how to navigate the college Andres Lesmes has been on a journey— thanks to UTA’s longstanding agreement students—these are things they can put I was brighter or more years and a subsequent one that started in Bogota, Colombia. His with Dallas County Community College on their CVs,” Brothers says. “I’m going to hardworking than my career. was a voyage of ambition as he sought District (DCCCD) to ensure the trans- continue to emphasize student involve- parents.