Founder’s SunCircle Belt pageChamps 34 A UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS VOL.61, NO.1 | Spring 2011 LOVE STORIES [page 24] World of Fashion [page 14] Marian Brock [page 32] northtexan.unt.edu 2 The North Texan | northtexan.unt.edu | Spring 2011 Inside SPRING 2011 FEATURES 14 World of Fashion Rigorous fashion design program creates leaders in couture. By Ellen Rossetti 32 Marian Brock Alumna’s acting talents shine in Oscar- winning short film God of Love. By Ellen Rossetti Travis Williams (’06) Williams Travis 34 Founder’s Circle UNT supporters change lives and leave lasting impacts on the campus. DEPARTMENTS FROM OUR PRESIDENT • 3 Angilee Wilkerson Angilee Momentum in growth and excellence DEAR NORTH TEXAN • 4 The Gross House … Music beginnings 24 UNT TODAY • 6 Expanding research … Equity and Diversity Love Stories Conference … Mean Green … Chile Field Station UNT MUSE • 19 FOR GENERATIONS, UNT HAS BEEN THE BACKDROP Grammy honors … Ray Moseley … Upcoming FOR LOVE. FROM FIRST DATES TO MARRIAGE Events … Pink Floyd ... Design Research Center PROPOSALS, ALUMNI COUPLES FIND LASTING LOVE AS CLASSMATES. EAGLES’ NEST • 36 Advocate for diversity … Connecting With By Randena Hulstrand Friends … Upcoming Alumni Gatherings … Solar Punch … Photo Essay ... Chemistry centennial ... In the News … Friends We’ll Miss LAST WORD • 48 Cover photography by Angilee Wilkerson Tommie Phillips Harris (’37) recalls campus highlights during the Depression. Spring 2011 | northtexan.unt.edu | The North Texan 1 Online EXCLUSIVES northtexan.unt.edu/online ONLINE FEATURES UNT LOVE STORIES ON VIDEO Three alumni couples tell their Angilee Wilkerson Angilee stories of how they met at UNT, fell in love and eventu- ally married. FASHION ON FILM UNT fashion design faculty members talk Vanessa Mendoza Vanessa about how they prepare students for the competitive fashion industry. MORE ONLINE FEATURES • CAROL WEST, DIVERSITY ADVOCATE • mEAn gREEn 3-D STADIUM TOUR • mARIAn BROCk q&A • VIDEO: RESEARCh On hOW PLANTS ADAPT • VIDEO: DEnTOn artS & jAzz FESTIVAL UNT Rolls Out Mobile Site Visit The North Texan online to: KEEP UP WITH UNT WHILE YOU’re ON THE GO. USE YOUR • Keep up with what’s happening between SMART PHONE OR OTHER MOBILE DEVICES TO BROWSE issues of The North Texan. TO M.UNT.EDU TO CHECK OUT UNT’S NEW MOBILE SITE. • Tell us what you think about our stories • Learn more about your fellow alumni YOU’LL FIND A SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORY, INTERACTIVE • Write memorials about friends we’ll miss MAPS, A PEOPLE SEARCH, AND UNT NEWS AND EVENTS. • Enjoy an array of additional stories, photos, videos and recordings When you see this arrow, join our North Texan community online Don’t forget to follow us at at northtexan.unt.edu. twitter.com/northtexan. 2 The North Texan | northtexan.unt.edu | Spring 2011 FROM OUR President Maintaining excellence The North Texan University relations, photo editor PROmISE AnD POSSIBILITIES mARk CommUniCations and angilee wilkerson marketing leadership viCe president photographers THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE deborah leliaert (’96 m.ed.) Jana birChUm miChael Clements assoCiate viCe president brad holt (’09) It’s an honor to lead this great marty newman (’02 m.J.) gary payne (’99) Jonathan reynolds university and to collaborate with assistant viCe president mike woodrUFF those in our UNT family. Part of my kelley reese (’95) writers decision to stay on at UNT was direCtors ernestine boUsqUet Jimmy Friend nanCy kolsti to ensure stability and maintain kenn moFFitt adrienne nettles dena moore bUddy priCe momentum. rolando n. rivas ellen rossetti (’00, ’08 m.J.) We are at an exciting time in our mellina stUCky magazine staFF alyssa yanCey managing editor history, when the road ahead is paved Woodruff Mike JUlie elliott payne (’97) online CommUniCations with promise and possibilities and the eriC vandergriFF editors destination is even greater excellence. randena hUlstrand (’88, ’07 m.J.) integrated branding And yet, it’s a challenging time to Jill king (’93 m.s., ’00 m.a.) Joy hoUser be involved in public higher education President V. Lane Rawlins talks with online editor proJeCt traFFiC students on campus. miChelle hale amy kioUs (’08) because the road has many potholes that laUra robinson art direCtor we can’t properly fix in light of dwindling sean zeigler (’00) stUdent ContribUtors state funding. megan beCk (’10) designer thomas saldana But we will not lose sight of our mission to focus on: kit yoUng (’06) elizabeth smith leslie wimmer (’07) • Educating our students and providing them with the best opportunities and experiences for learning and growth; • Protecting the quality of instruction and the integrity of UNT degrees; and • Growing our areas of excellence — the jewels in our crown. The North Texan (ISSN 0468-6659) is published four times a As the nation’s 33rd largest public university, we provide many opportunities for year (in March, June, September and December) by the University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #311070, Denton, students from all walks of life to succeed. We’ve become a leader in helping underrep- Texas 76203-5017, for distribution to alumni and friends of resented and first-generation students earn a college education. And each year, nearly the university. Periodicals postage paid at Denton, Texas, and at additional mailing offices. The diverse views on matters 8,000 UNT graduates turn their knowledge into action. of public interest that are presented in The North Texan do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the university. We also are a nationally recognized university with programs that are among the Publications staff can be reached at [email protected] or 940-565-2108. very best. We are building on this foundation to become a stronger research univer- It is the policy of the University of North Texas not to sity, one that is equally focused on educating students and generating knowledge, discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability (where reasonable accommodations ideas and innovation, because we exist to serve the public and our students. can be made), disabled veteran status or veteran of the Vietnam era status in its educational programs, activities, In this tough fiscal climate, the support of our alumni and friends is more admission or employment policies. In addition to complying with federal and state equal opportunity laws and regulations, important than ever. And it makes a difference. It helps us ensure that our students the university through its diversity policy declares harassment now and in the future continue to have the opportunity to change their lives through based on individual differences (including sexual orientation) inconsistent with its mission and educational goals. Direct higher education. questions or concerns to the equal opportunity office, 940- 565-2737, or the dean of students, 940-565-2648. TTY access is available at 940-369-8652. Postmaster: Please send requests for changes of address, Sincerely, accompanied if possible by old address labels, to the University of North Texas, University Relations, Communications and Marketing, 1155 Union Circle #311070, Denton, Texas 76203- 5017. “University of North Texas,” “UNT” and “Discover the power V. Lane Rawlins of ideas” and their associated identity marks are official trademarks of the University of North Texas; their use by others President is legally restricted. [email protected] URCM 3/11 (11-153) Spring 2011 | northtexan.unt.edu | The North Texan 3 DEAR North Texan deposit. I am asking you to do Let us know what you think about news the same! and topics covered in The North Texan. Letters may be edited for length and Phil Lee (’88) publication style. North Richland Hills Dr. Gionet Read more letters and share your comments at northtexan.unt.edu. Fouts Field The Gross House now a retired United Meth- I noticed in the winter I just read in The North odist pastor. issue that you were collecting Texan (“Dear North Texan,” memories of Fouts Field. The winter 2010) about the Gross Matty Barrett Renfro (’53) field was named after my House. In 1943, my mother, Austin Arthur J. Gionet, retired grandfather, Theron Judson Gladys Renfro (’43), and I professor of French who died Fouts, and my dad was lived in the house on the Our own scene Jan. 16 (see page 45), was my Theron Judson Fouts Jr. lower floor and ate all our My only regret from my high school teacher and then (Tom). He died Aug. 30 (see meals there. time at UNT is the fact that my mentor at the university. page 45). My mother had come back although we had a large I achieved a B.A. in French Dad loved North Texas to the college to finish her student body and a beautiful because of his excellence as an and worked to improve and degree in history and get a campus, we never had a educator, and our friendship help achieve development of teacher’s certificate so she football program and facilities continued through the years. the campus and surrounding could work while my father that were on par with many of His belief in the cultural areas. As Fouts Field ends its served our country in the U.S. our competitors in Texas. and practical benefit of hands- reign as UNT’s field, with Marine Corps. I will be the first to confess on learning and direct access Dad’s death ends the name of While my mother was in my own apathetic lack of to modern language profi- Fouts in a line of great men. class, Sonny Blondell, who support and interest in the ciency resulted in a state-of- After the funeral of my lived on Hickory Street, and I UNT football program over the art language center in the mother, we were driving past had the run of the campus.