THE MAGAZINE OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Honors college grows smarter Sun Devils rise to the challenges DECEMBER 2009 | VOL. 13 NO. 2 Wedding bells ring at Old Main Going above and BEYOND ASU researchers ask basic questions, discover useful answers Show Your Pride. ASU Alumni Association Banking from Bank of America. Personal checking with exclusive benefits. A credit card with rewards. Open a personal checking account from Bank of America today and display your Devil pride everyday with checks( and a debit card that feature the ASU logo. Best of all, get automatic savings when you enroll in Keep the Change®—where each debit card purchase is rounded up to the next dollar and the difference is transferred from your checking to your savings account. Plus, Bank of America will match 5% of the transfers, up to $250 every year. And to help you get started, we’ll match 100% for the first 3 months.+ Apply for an ASU credit card and support the Alumni Association. Earn points on everyday purchases you make and redeem for cash, travel, merchandise, unique adventures and more. Plus, enroll your ASU credit card in optional overdraft protection and enjoy added protection for your ASU checking account.S Earn rewards, enjoy special account features and show your pride in being an ASU Alum with every purchase. All with no annual fee.U Get $50‡ when you open a qualifying new checking account by December 31, 2009. A minimum opening balance of $250 and a debit card transaction within the first 30 days are required. Use Offer Code CUP50.‡ Visit your neighborhood To apply for your ASU credit card, call 1.866.438.6262 or visit newcardonline.com and use Priority Code UAAQTG. Bank of America or bankofamerica.com/asu. To find a banking center near you, visit bankofamerica.com/locator. ( Standard check order fees apply. ‡ To take advantage of this offer, you must use the Offer Code provided to open your qualifying new Bank of America personal checking account by 12/31/2009. Bank of America may terminate the offer before this date. This offer is available only to new customers who open a new primary personal checking account. To qualify for this offer, an opening deposit of $250 must be made. The new checking account must be open for at least 30 days, during which the customer must make a minimum of one transaction with the newly assigned debit card. The new customer will receive the incentive upon verification of qualification in the incentive programs. We will deposit the $50 incentive directly into your new checking account within 90 days of its opening; if unable to do so, a check will be issued. The new customer is not eligible for this offer if they were a signer on a Bank of America checking account that was closed within the last three months. All accounts are subject to our normal approval process. The minimum deposit required to open a new personal checking account and receive this offer is subject to the normal opening deposit requirements of the specific account being opened that appear in our Personal Schedule of Fees. For example, the opening deposit for a Bank of America MyAccess Checking® account is $25. Limit one offer per household. Offer does not apply to Bank of America associates, current checking customers or student checking accounts. To the extent required by law, Bank of America will report the value of the offer to the IRS. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the account holder. Reproduction, purchase, sale, transfer or trade of this offer is prohibited. For Tiered Interest personal checking accounts, the APY is as follows: less than $10,000, 0.05%; $10,000-$99,999, 0.25%; $100,000 and over, 0.40%. APYs are accurate as of 7/29/2009. The APY may change after the account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Bon.5.09 + Keep the Change® requires a checking account, debit card and savings account. Upon enrollment in Keep the Change, we will round your MasterCard® or Visa® debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference from your checking account to your Bank of America savings account. We will match your Keep the Change savings at 100% for the first three months and, for ASU customers, 5% thereafter. The maximum total match is $250 per year. Matching funds are paid annually after the anniversary of enrollment on accounts that remain open and enrolled. We will only match Keep the Change transfers on up to five checking accounts per depositor (including joint depositors) or up to five checking accounts per household, whichever is less. Eligible savings accounts include, but are not limited to, Regular Savings (or Market Rate Savings in WA and ID) that requires a minimum opening balance of $25 ($1 in WA and ID) and pays a variable Annual Percentage Yield (APY) that was 0.10% as of 7/29/2009. Money Market savings accounts are also eligible. Fees may reduce earnings. The promotional matching funds will be reported to the IRS on form 1099. Patent Pending. KTC.5.09 S Your credit card account must have sufficient funds and be in good standing. Fees may apply. For details, please refer to the Credit Card Agreement. U For information about the rates, fees and other costs and benefits associated with the use of this Rewards card, or to apply, go to the Web site listed above, visit a Bank of America banking center or write to P.O. Box 15020, Wilmington, DE 19850. This credit card program is issued and administered by FIA Card Services, N.A. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association, and is used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. MasterCard and the MasterCard Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license. WorldPoints, the WorldPoints design and Platinum Plus are registered trademarks of FIA Card Services, N.A. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. All other company and product names and logos are the property of others and their use does not imply endorsement of, or an association with, the WorldPoints program. Terms apply to program features and credit card account benefits. For more information about the program, visit bankofamerica.com/worldpoints. Details accompany new account materials. By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to the Alumni Association. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. ©2009 Bank of America Corporation AD-07-09-0587 The official publication of Arizona State University Volume 13, No. 2 PUBLISHER Christine K. Wilkinson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tracy Scott MANAGING EDITOR Liz Massey ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR Robert Cao-Ba SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karen Windsor-Worrel GRAPHIC DESIGNER ASSISTANT Alyssa Yatabe Karin Lindstrom ADVERTISING SALES, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS RELATIONS Rhonda McClintock (480) 965-5051 WEBMASTER Benita Iafrat PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Trumble Tom Story ASU Magazine is printed on paper that is certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Standards. ASU MAGAZINE PO Box 873702 Tempe, AZ 85287-3702 (480) 965-2586 alumni@asu.edu ASU Magazine (USPS 024-438; ISSN 1940-2929) is published quarterly by the Arizona State University Alumni Association, PO Box 873702, Tempe, AZ 852873702, (480) 965-2586, FAX (480) 965-0225. Subscriptions are sent to all ASU alumni. You may become a friend of the Alumni Association regardless of university affiliation. Annual dues to become an active member or friend are $45 for individuals and $60 for couples. Life member dues are $500 for individuals and $650 for couples. Periodicals Postage is paid at Tempe, AZ and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to ASU Magazine, Attention: Circulation, PO Box 873702, Tempe, AZ 85287-3702. Permissions: Portions of this publication may be reprinted with the written permission and proper attribution. Contact editor. T H E M A G A Z I N E O F A R I Z O N A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y Vol. 13, No. 2, December 2009 HIGHLIGHTS D E PA R T M E N T S 18 2 ASU View Growing smarter The secret weapon in ASU’s academic arsenal isn’t so secret any more. Barrett, the Honors College at ASU, has opened a new residential campus within the university’s Tempe campus and continues to grow its reputation, the strength of its faculty and the achievement of its students. 30 Going above and BEYOND How do ASU’s investments in research that asks basic questions about the origins of the universe square with the university’s commitment to produce use-inspired research and practice social embeddedness? Discover the relationship ASU scholars see between asking fundamental questions and unearthing practical applications for the answers. Alums have a conversation with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at recent event. 4 University News Nobel winner Lee Hartwell to co-direct new Center for Sustainable Health; fall enrollment tops 68,000; first-ever cohort of Innovation Fellows announced. 14 Sports Updates on top Sun Devil teams and players. 40 Arts & Culture University’s printmaking program leaves a lasting impression; new books by alums and faculty in Shelf Improvement; Sun Devils share the love with “My ASU Wedding” scrapbook. 48 Alumni News Alumni Association packs fall semester with events for all ages; Bill Kavan blends tradition and technology to lead Alumni Association’s board into the future. 52 Sun Devil Network Reports from around the Sun Devil nation. 56 Class Notes Alumni news, notes and milestones. VIEW A Supreme Breakfast More than 600 persons attended the Conversation with Justice O’Connor breakfast event hosted by the ASU Alumni Association and AZ Magazine Oct. 9 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. The Hon. Sandra Day O’Connor (seated at right on the platform), the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court (1981-2006) and the namesake of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU, answered questions about leadership, thriving in difficult times and how to make a difference in one’s community. O’Connor was interviewed during the event by ASU alums Nicole Carroll, executive editor of the Arizona Republic, and former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice The Hon. Ruth McGregor (left and center on the platform, respectively). Photo: Michael McNamara, AZ Magazine a year of sun devil fun EE GIFT a perfect gift! FR This holiday season, give the children in your life a special gift where the enjoyment lasts beyond the holidays. Membership in Sun Devil Generations gives a child an entire year filled with fun and educational activities with an ASU connection. Members can look forward to activities such as a movie-watching party, arts and crafts day, Storytime with Sparky, the annual Sun Devil Generations Carnival and more. Children in the program receive a Sun Devil Generations T-shirt, a card on their birthday and a special membership certificate. asu.edu/a lumni/sdg To give this gift of Sun Devil fun, visit asu.edu/alumni/sdg or call 1-800-ALUMNUS. asu.edu/alumni/sdg celebrate honor the present the past invent the future Founders’ Day Dinner & Awards February 24, 2010, 6 p.m. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa asu.edu/alumni/foundersday The Founders’ Day Dinner & Awards honors ASU faculty members and alumni involved in solving the world’s biggest challenges. It is ASU’s most prestigious event, and you will want to be part of this significant university tradition. You are invited to join hundreds of alumni, university and community leaders as ASU honors individuals who have contributed to our founders’ vision. Reserve your Founders’ Day tickets at asu.edu/alumni/foundersday. 4 NEWS Strenghting the Tribe Giving medicine the personal touch Strenghting the Tribe University news briefs Strenghting the Tribe Rapid rise Strenghting the Tribe Heads up Solution focused Strenghting the Tribe Educating outside the box Keeping it green Paper chase Giving medicine the personal touch Nobel Prize winner Hartwell to lead major ASU health initiative Arizona State University has appointed Nobel Prize winner Dr. Leland “Lee” H. Hartwell to lead an expansive effort addressing two top medicalrelated concerns: improving the effectiveness of health care while reducing its costs, and advancing science education. Hartwell becomes the first Nobel Prize recipient in medicine to serve a faculty appointment at an Arizona university. He will establish and co-direct the Center for Sustainable Health at ASU’s Biodesign Institute as ASU’s second Virginia G. Piper Chair of Personalized Medicine. Hartwell will be assisted in this effort by Michael Birt, a health policy expert who has been recruited to co-direct the new center. The new center is the latest step in the evolution of the Arizona-based Partnership for Personalized Medicine, launched by Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust with $35 million in 2007. Piper Trust has provided an additional $2.5 million for the new center. Hartwell’s new center in the Biodesign Institute will identify biomarkers – early indicators of disease – to enable personalized, pre-symptomatic diagnoses, and it will develop tools for providing the intelligence needed for better patient outcomes. It will interface with other Biodesign centers working on complementary aspects of these goals. A key aspect of his efforts will involve redefining health outcomes metrics to encompass expanded considerations such as the environmental, educational and socio-political impacts on health. Hartwell is no stranger to Arizona, having served as executive chairman of the Partnership for Personalized Medicine since its creation. The partnership includes the Biodesign Institute, Translational Genomics Research Institute and Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Hartwell currently is president and director of the Hutchinson Center. Hartwell has announced he will retire from his post at the Hutchinson Center in June 2010. He will then assume his ASU tenured faculty appointment. ASU’S OSTROM WINS NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMIC SCIENCES Arizona State University Research Professor Elinor Ostrom has won the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, a prize she shares with Oliver E. Williamson of the University of California at Berkeley. Ostrom, who holds research positions at Arizona State University and Indiana University, is one of three faculty members at ASU to be a Nobel Prize recipient and the second in economics. Edward C. Prescott won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences and Leland “Lee” Hartwell won the 2001 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine before joining the ASU faculty this fall. Ostrom was awarded the Nobel Prize “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm,” according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.“Elinor Ostrom has demonstrated how common property can be successfully managed by user associations,” the announcement read.“Elinor Ostrom has challenged the conventional wisdom that common property is poorly managed and should be either regulated by central authorities or privatized.” At ASU, Ostrom is the founding director of the university’s Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity. The center, established in 2008, is nestled in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, focuses on empirical and theoretical analyses of institutions – or sets of rules – melds laboratory research, field work, archival activities and mathematical and agentbased modeling in ways that are meant to guide policy-making and decision-making toward sustainable development. Ostrom is widely known for her study of institutions – conceptualized as sets of rules – and how they affect the incentives of individuals interacting in repetitive and structured situations. At Indiana University, Ostrom and her colleagues at the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis developed the institutional analysis and development framework that provided a common structure for research on both urban and environmental policy issues over many decades. “This is a wonderful honor for Elinor, for ASU and for the State of Arizona,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow.“It is another example of how ASU faculty are working to solve real world problems, and how that work is receiving national and international recognition.” Ostrom, a California native, received doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in political science from UCLA. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. UNIVERSITY NEWS BRIEFS Randy CerVeny PROFESSOR’S NEW BOOK FOCUSES ON WEATHER’S ROLE IN HISTORY Everybody watches the weather. Whether it’s to track a major storm or to learn if record heat will continue into the weekend, we make following the weather a part of our daily routine. But once the weather passes, it’s usually forgotten. We look, instead, to what tomorrow will bring. Now, Randy Cerveny, a professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, is bringing past weather to light in a new book that shows how weather played a major role in key turning points in history. Cerveny, a President’s Professor in geographical sciences at ASU, plays the role of history’s detective in piecing together clues to reconstruct major turning points of our past and to project the weather into the future. In “Weather’s Greatest Mysteries Solved!” Cerveny outlines several major events in history and details how weather played a role in them. The book explains such mysteries as why T-Rex became extinct, how human life was nearly wiped out 73,000 years ago and details the factors that contributed to the great American dust bowl of the 1930s. Each chapter begins with a first-person account of a major event, as Cerveny provides an insider’s perspective into the event and then lays out the forensic evidence of what happened. “It has been said that ‘those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it,’” Cerveny says.“Perhaps now we can add that those who forget the past weather and climate are doomed to experience them again. Hopefully, this book sheds light on some of the major climate and weather changes that people have – and are – experiencing.” “Weather’s Greatest Mysteries Solved!” is published by Prometheus Books. ASU MAGAZINE UNIVERSITY NEWS 6 7 to gain real-world experience, for faculty members to leverage their expertise, and for ASU to participate in the forward motion of the development and economy of the region.” WEST RETROFIT GOES “GREEN” ASU, CITY OF MESA WORK TOWARD BUILDING ‘BUSINESS ACCELERATOR’ The concept of business incubators has been around since the late 1950s and really took off in the United States in the 1980s. They are generally places entrepreneurs can go for support and services with developing their business plans and ideas. But many ideas don’t make it past the incubator stage for various reasons. The next step after planning a business can be daunting, so the city of Mesa and Arizona State University are working together to craft a“business accelerator” environment at ASU’s Polytechnic campus where businesses can grow and succeed. The city and the university also are working with several other groups to create the business accelerator, including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. ASU is seeking funding to conduct planning such as completing a feasibility study, convening focus groups and stakeholder meetings to address community needs, and developing a financial plan for funding the accelerator. In addition to being advantageous to the Gateway area, developing a comprehensive business accelerator will amplify the Polytechnic campus’s focus on engineering, business and technology programs, notes Keith Hjelmstad, vice president at ASU and dean of the College of Technology and Innovation. “At the Polytechnic campus, we are preparing students to meet the needs and demands of high technology business and industry,”Hjelmstad said.“I see the accelerator as a great vehicle for students ASU’s West campus, working in conjunction with APS Energy Services, recently enhanced its ecological profile with a major interior and exterior lighting retrofit. The six-month project, scheduled to be completed in December, will improve the quality of lighting in offices, classrooms and public areas while reducing the overall energy demand and consumption of the campus. The project comes on the heels of ASU’s recent selection as one of the country’s“greenest”universities by The Princeton Review for the second consecutive year. More than 10,000 fixtures will be retrofitted throughout 13 buildings on the 300-acre campus. Interior fixtures are being upgraded from older, less-efficient technologies to energy-efficient 25-watt fluorescent T8 lamps and electronic ballasts; exterior fixtures will be upgraded to compact fluorescent and fluorescent T5 lamps. The project began in July when workers focused on the lighting inside the three-floor Faculty and Administration Building that is home to ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, the College of Teacher Education and Leadership, and offices for the W. P. Carey School of Business. Annually, the greener face will result in a savings of more than 1 million kilowatt hours. Utility savings will top $100,000 each year. The project will reduce ASU’s carbon footprint by the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 172 vehicles, or CO2 emissions from the electricity use of 130 homes for a year, or greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling 325 tons of waste instead of sending it to a landfill. UNIVERSITY TOPS AFFORDABILITY, INNOVATION LISTS Arizona State University recently placed well on two lists extolling the university’s affordability and innovative approach to higher education. ASU ranked 28th on a list of 100 colleges and universities deemed America's Best College Buys by Forbes magazine in its 2009 edition of“America's Best Colleges.” The magazine asserted that the universities on the list provided“the most quality for each tuition dollar spent.” The Center for College Affordability and Productivity, a think tank in Washington, D.C., helped determine the rankings. Quality scores were based on students' satisfaction with their course instruction (25 percent) and indicators of their post-graduate employment success (25 percent), with almost as much weight given to the four-year debt load for typical student borrowers (20 percent). Other factors were four-year graduation rates and student and faculty success in competitive academic and research awards. Also, for the third year in a row, ASU ranked 121st out of more than 1,500 institutions surveyed in U.S. News & World Report’s list of“Best National Universities.”Perhaps just as significant, the university ranked fifth among 77 colleges and universities on the magazine’s“schools everyone should be watching”list. U.S. News & World Report said the schools on the shorter list are “leading the pack in improvements and innovative changes”in academics, faculty, students, campus life and facilities. “The U.S. News rankings affirm that Arizona State University is moving in a positive direction all fronts,”ASU President Michael Crow says.“The university has welcomed more qualified Arizona students and continued to be one of the best universities in the nation, proving that accessibility and excellence can go hand-in-hand.” For more information on the U.S. News & World Report rankings, visit http://www.usnews.com/colleges. For additional information on the Forbes ranking, visit http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/02/bestbuys-colleges-opinions-value.html. Rapid rise ASU sets fall enrollment record In spite of the nation’s economic crisis, Arizona State University continues to increase both student access and quality, with fall enrollment for the 2009-10 school year reaching 68,064 students. Fall enrollment in 2008 was just over 67,000; the number for this fall represents almost a 24-percent increase in just seven years, from 55,000 in 2002. ASU has grown its enrollment over this time period in order to keep up with rapid growth in the number of eligible high school graduates in Arizona. In that same seven years ASU has ramped up its recruitment of top scholars, the ethnic diversity of its student body and the financial assistance it provides to students. Here are some key statistics for appreciating the strengths of the university’s student body, including its class of incoming freshmen: • The freshman class of 9,344 includes 118 National Hispanic Scholars, bringing the total to around 335. ASU has perhaps the highest number of National Hispanic Scholars in the country, up from only 75 in 2002. • The class is more than 34 percent ethnic minority, reflecting the demographics of the state. This represents a significant increase from 2002, when the freshman class was 22 percent ethnic minority. • More than 600 National Merit Scholars are enrolled at ASU, and 167 of them are new freshmen. The number of National Merit Scholars attending ASU has skyrocketed 61 percent since 2002. • More than 1,600 Arizona freshmen are attending ASU this fall under the Barack Obama Scholars program, an initiative launched by the university last May to increase access to a college degree. Two-thirds are first-generation college students. They bring an average high school grade-point average of 3.3 to ASU. “The reputation of ASU and the strength of our academic programs continues to increase, enabling us to enroll not only the top students in the state, but also a very strong representation of talented students from around the country,” said Elizabeth D. Capaldi, executive vice president and provost of the university.“We want to increase the number of college-educated individuals who can meet the needs of Arizona’s future.” Heads up B.R.A.I.N.S. Clinic helps teachers address the needs of brain-injured children Brain injuries are a leading cause of disability and death in children, but brain-injured kids in the Valley of the Sun have a new chance to reintegrate into their classrooms through the new Barrow Resource for Acquired Injury to the Nervous System (B.R.A.I.N.S) clinic at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. The new clinic is the first of its kind to bring an educational component into a multidisciplinary treatment approach through the participation of the ASU College of Teacher Education and Leadership and neurosurgeons, neurologists, rehabilitation physicians and neuropsychologists from Barrow Neurological Institute. The Brain Injury Association of Arizona is also a partner in the project. “Programs around the country measure their success by the ability to get adult patients back into the workforce and become productive members of society. There is no such model for children, which is where the value of this clinic lies,” says Javier Cardenas, who received his bachelor’s degree in special education at ASU and is now a children’s neurologist at Barrow Neurological Institute. Gina Warren, coordinator of professional field experience at the Downtown Phoenix campus for the College of Teacher Education and Leadership, will serve as project lead for the educational component of the program. Warren and her team will explain to parents and teachers common characteristics of students with traumatic brain injuries and how these may affect educational needs. Children with brain injuries can suffer from epilepsy, physical disability, headaches, memory impairment, sleeping problems, learning disabilities, endocrine abnormalities and personality disorders. Such children often struggle with attention and memory problems. Warren said employing targeted teaching strategies often can increase student attention, engagement and retention of academic content. Warren’s team also will provide pertinent information to teachers about medical findings that may have implications for student’s educational options. “This is an exciting opportunity to bridge the gap between the medical and education perspectives of the child’s experience to better support the individualized needs of each child and family,”Warren says. ASU MAGAZINE UNIVERSITY NEWS 8 9 Solution focused Goals of Challenges Project at ASU unveiled at Homecoming Visitors to the “Challenges Experience,” a web of interactive displays ensconced within a forest of LED screens playing a stream of riveting videos on Cady Mall during Homecoming weekend, were showered with examples of how ASU, as an exemplar of the New American University concept, is helping to solve some of the world’s most urgent issues. “I literally had no idea that ASU was tackling these kinds of issues,” said journalism student Michelle Gutierrez. “It made me realize how ASU is redefining the purpose of my college education.” The Challenges Experience was part of the next stage of development for the Challenges Project at ASU. The display helped Homecoming attendees see what ASU does and why it’s so important in a new way, explained Quentin Wheeler, university vice president and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Arizona State University faculty and students and staff are expected to engage in research, exploration, and scholarship that have far-reaching impact,”Wheeler said.“We want people to see more clearly the connection between issues they care about deeply and the exciting, often complex work that ASU students and faculty and staff are doing.” The university dedicated almost two years to excavating the wealth of university research and teaching being conducted by ASU faculty, students and staff. In the end, eight broad categories of shared concerns and ambitions emerged. The categories are expressed as major questions faced by society today – both locally and globally: • How do we educate in a rapidly changing world? • How do we focus information and technology to produce meaningful change? • How do we build strong, vibrant communities? • How do we create a sustainable way of life? • How do we promote economic opportunity and security? • How do we lead healthier, more fulfilling lives? • How do we defend and extend human rights? • How do we understand the past and present for the sake of our future? ASU President Michael Crow said that, because of their complexity and size, these issues require alumni and community members to join with ASU employees and students to work toward solutions. “ASU demonstrates a depth of expertise and breadth of knowledge that virtually no other institution can match. We have built academic units, centers, institutes, and transdisciplinary teams to confront problems of previously unimagined complexity and scale,” Crow said.“The scope and difficulty of these global challenges calls for a university-wide commitment, an optimistic attitude and a willingness to assume measured risk in pursuit of progress. “The success of our efforts to build on ASU’s tradition of excellence, to find solutions to society’s biggest challenges … will rely heavily on the partnership between our university community and those who share its vision and dedication – our alumni and friends.” For more information and to become involved with the Challenges Project at ASU, visit http://asuchallenges.com. ASU’S 2009-10 INNOVATION FELLOWS Educating outside of the box University announces first set of Innovation Fellows ASU’s Office of University Initiatives announced its 2009-10 recipients of the Fellowship in University Innovation, a fellowship program designed to engage future policy-makers, analysts, communicators, writers and leaders in the processes involved with transforming higher education. Five fellows have been selected to work closely with university and community members in exploring, documenting and contributing to various efforts, such as program-building, community partnerships, faculty and student engagement, among others. The overall focus of the fellowship is to foster and develop the skills needed to engage and enact institutional and societal change. The fellows will pursue individual projects contributing to the advancement of the Office of University Initiatives and work collaboratively on team endeavors as well. Audrey Iffert holds a master’s in human communication from ASU and has a background in community college instruction and public service. She will be helping to communicate the vision of the New American University in a way that is accessible and applicable to a wide audience. She is currently creating a website for entrepreneurship at ASU. the institutional interactions at ASU and mapping various strategies toward success. Samantha Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from ASU. She has a writing and research background and an interest in community planning. Miller will be articulating the stories of the New American University in an effort to document the ways in which the university contributes to societal transformation. Maggie McGannon earned a master’s degree in education from ASU and has taught 8th grade science with Teach for America for the last two years. During her fellowship McGannon is focusing on the best ways to connect people, ideas and resources for maximum impact. Currently, she is engaged in innovation efforts that will help connect the many diverse endeavors at ASU with local and regional interests. Jacqueline Smith holds bachelor’s degrees in both Mathematics and Economics and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University, as well as a background in education law/policy, community service and experiential methods of instruction. During her fellowship, Smith will be focusing on social embeddedness, with an emphasis in enhancing partnerships between nonprofit organizations, the private sector, community members and the university. Chris Meierling holds a master’s in science and design from ASU and has experience with design research as it relates to developing new organizational structures. During his fellowship, Meierling will be working on modeling business card marketplace LAW OFFICES OF FA M I LY L AW 1425 West Elliot Road, Suite 201, Gilbert, AZ 85233 480-656-9765 Email: denise.tomaiko@azbar.org Divorce • Paternity • Custody • Adoptions • Probate • Wills • Estate Planning d e s i g n + + f u n c t i o n eight four four one east cortez street scottsdale, arizona 85260-5707 cell 480 297-8881 line 480 951-3689 + snap identity and branding + business systems + trade advertising + consumer advertising + direct mail p a m a + collateral + promotional brochures + copywriting p e c k h a m + posters + magazines + point-of-purchase displays c r e a t i v e + packaging + concept, storyboard, casting and d i r e c t o r directionofcommercials+websitedesign+designand production of cd’s and dvd’s + exhibition design +signage+photography/illustration + t-shirt Late Precambrian carbonate outcropping visible at the south end of Death Valley, California. Carbon isotopes in these layers bear evidence of the first extensive greening of the Earth. Keeping it green Researchers pinpoint “trigger” for early flourishing of life in Earth’s history Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history is filled with several turning points when temperatures changed dramatically, asteroids bombarded the planet and life forms came and disappeared. But one of the biggest moments in Earth’s lifetime is the Cambrian explosion of life, roughly 540 million years ago, when complex, multi-cellular life burst out all over the planet. While scientists can pinpoint this pivotal period as leading to life as we know it today, it is not completely understood what caused the Cambrian explosion of life. Now, researchers led by Arizona State University geologist L. Paul Knauth believe they have found the trigger for the Cambrian explosion. It was a massive greening of the planet by nonvascular plants, or primitive ground huggers, as Knauth calls them. This period, roughly 700 million years ago virtually set the table for the later explosion of life through the development of early soil that sequestered carbon, led to the build up of oxygen and allowed higher life forms to evolve. Knauth, a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration in ASU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and co-author Martin Kennedy, of the University of California, Riverside, reported their findings in the July 8 online version of Nature (www.nature.com). Their paper,“The Precambrian Greening of Earth,” presents an alternative view of published data on thousands of analyses of carbon isotopes found in limestone that formed in the Neoproterozoic period, the time interval just prior to the Cambrian explosion. “During this period, Earth became extensively occupied by photosynthesizing organisms,” he added. “The greening was a key element in transforming the Precambrian world – which featured low oxygen levels and simple, bacteria dominant life forms – into the kind of world we have today with abundant oxygen and higher forms of plant and animal life.” Paper chase ASU Bookstore “greens” its operations It’s become popular in today’s eco-aware culture to look down on purveyors of books, magazines and other paper-based products as hopelessly archaic and possibly damaging to the future of the planet. However, the ASU Bookstore, far from being a standardbearer for holding on to the past, has embraced the university’s initiatives related to sustainability. According to Val Ross, director of the bookstore, which has locations at each of ASU’s four campuses, the organization has made sustainability a priority in every facet of its operations. “In support of President Crow’s initiatives, we have looked at what we do and examined how we can reduce, reuse, and recycle,” Ross said.“From new merchandise bags to our aggressive encouragement of the appropriate re-use of textbooks, we’re doing all we can to reduce our impact on the environment.” As Ross noted, one of the largest facets of the bookstore’s commitment to sustainability relates to the recycling of used textbooks. During fiscal year 2009, which ended July 1, more than 87,500 copies of used textbooks were purchased at ASU Bookstore locations. For books that have become obsolete or have other obstacles to their re-sale, the store has found organizations that will buy the volumes by the carton, rather than sending them to the landfill. Approximately 3,000 of the old textbooks were donated for use at the University of Pristina in Kosovo. Another book-related advance made by the store has been in encouraging the growth in the number of e-books and non-print format materials selected for use by faculty. More than 450 titles are now available in one sort of electronic format or another. But a college bookstore doesn’t just sell books, and Ross noted that his organization also had made progress in “greening” other merchandise areas: • The store has implemented use of a sustainability symbol throughout the store to highlight recycled/recyclable or sustainably made products. • It sells several lines of organically produced ASU-themed clothing. • The bookstore uses merchandise bags made of 25 percent post-consumer material, made with additives that encourage the bags to break down within 9 months, even in landfills. • “Green” options are offered in a variety of paper supply categories, including filler paper, wirebound notebooks, greeting cards and legal pads. For more information on the ASU Bookstores, visit http://bookstore.asu.edu. meet sun devils go places Join Arizona State Young Alumni and connect to the world of Sun Devils under 35! Check out cool places while attending events to network with young alumni, travel the world and participate in community service while having fun with other Sun Devils who want to be involved just like you. For more information visit asu.edu/alumni/asya A bequest to the ASU Foundation enables you to create a meaningful legacy while maintaining control of your assets during your lifetime. For more information about how you can help ASU, and create a family legacy that embraces your values, please contact Tim Gartland in the Office of Estate and Gift Planning at 480-965-5338 or 800-979-5225. asufoundation.org/ GiftPlanning i n m u l A Friends for life ASU MAGAZINE 14 The ASU Alumni Association welcomes the following new life members, who joined between June 10 and September 10, 2009. Katherine Ann Adams ‘08 B.A. Frances Louise Charnicki ‘06 B.A. Gilbert Jimenez ‘67 B.S. Brian C. Orzechowski ‘99 B.S.E. Michael J. Ahearn ‘79 B.S., ‘82 J.D. Travis Wainwright Cloyd ‘04 B.I.S. Howard Taylor Coates ‘94 B.A. Peter Nils Jorgenson ‘81 B.S., ‘85 M.S. Ryan J. Patten ‘06 B.S. Brett R. Alldredge ‘76 B.A., ‘79 J.D. Kristin Sorensen Alldredge ‘76 B.S., ‘79 M.C. Mary Elizabeth Crowell ‘01 B.S. Frances Jean Kaspar ‘04 M.M. John Raymond Pribula ‘09 B.S. Robin Jan David ‘93 M.B.A. Drake Conrad Kennedy Surya Prakash Rao ‘01 M.B.A. Kimberly Dawn Allvin ‘07 B.A. Robert Stanley Davies ‘58 B.A. Lauren Clementine Kennedy Jane Elizabeth Reddin ‘88 J.D. Tarun Amla ‘08 M.S.E. James Reed Davis ‘08 B.S. Erik Allan Kieckhafer ‘08 B.A. ◆Gregory P. Rindenello ‘82 B.S. Christian M. Anderson ‘04 B.S. Christopher A. Desanto ‘07 B.S. Ellen Rose Knight ‘70 B.A.E. Heather Margaret Roach ‘08 B.S. Jaclynn Elizabeth Anderson ‘00 B.S., ‘05 M.B.A. Allen Lance Dougherty ‘04 B.A. Ted Andrew Kolasa ‘86 B.S.E., ‘94 M.S.E. Joan Brendan Saunders ‘84 B.S. James Stanley Duncan ‘96 B.A. Robert Michael Konski ‘08 B.S., ‘08 B.A. Ronald James Scott ‘04 Ph.D. Andrea Delilah Atuahene ‘87 B.S., ‘08 M.Ed. Deanna Jean Durkee ‘71 B.S. Kimberlie Lang ‘02 B.S. Nicolas Faralli ‘09 Ph.D. Gregory Leff ‘95 B.S.E., ‘09 M.B.A. Kolar S. Balasubramanyam ‘98 M.S.E. George Flores ‘71 B.A., ‘77 M.P.A. Courtney Suzanne Lesiak ‘09 B.S. Vivian Flores Yingying Li ‘04 M.S.E. Jamie Brooke Forseth ‘08 M.A. Johanna E. Liperote ‘08 B.A.E. Michelle Tiffany Freeman ‘07 B.I.S. Jeffrey Michael Lofton ‘08 B.S.E. Paul Gibbons Frost ‘99 B.A. Linda Lundquist ‘03 M.B.A. Elizabeth Sanchez Furukawa ‘03 Ph.D. Rodger Bennett Lustig ‘85 B.S. Mark Christopher Appleton ‘09 B.A. Linda Ballinger ‘90 B.A., ‘95 M.A. James Edward Barfoot ‘08 B.S.E. Alison Kyle Bawor ‘07 B.I.S. Miriam Francis Beach ‘03 B.S. Andrea L. Beachkofsky-Dille ‘04 B.A. Patricia Celesta Beck ‘02 B.A. Denise Elizabeth Belt ‘83 B.S.E. Susan Larkin Duckworth ‘75 B.S. Douglas Bryan Gervais ‘00 B.S. Dawn Marie Golsarry ‘07 M.B.A. ◆Michael Grunert Charles Everett Mackey ‘72 B.S.E. Patricia Lynn Markiw ‘90 B.S. Keith Peterson McDade William S. Pilawski ‘84 B.S. Adam Paul Scheufler ‘07 B.I.S. ◆Tom W. Shaffer ‘59 B.A.E., ‘63 M.A.E. Michael Ray Shoemake ‘98 B.A. Tamara V. Shoemake ‘00 B.S. Amy E. Simons ‘07 M.S.W. Lincoln J. Slade ‘08 B.S. Andrew David Smith ‘89 B.S. David Ross Stoeve ‘90 Ed.D. Phillip Michael Swanson Delbert H. Tanner ‘06 B.S. Chenell Evonne Tull Stephen Daniel Tzineff ‘07 B.S. ◆Deborah J. Medlock Lynn Eleanor McQueen ‘68 B.A.E., ‘92 M.A.E. Brian Sejin Hahn ‘09 B.S. Carrie Michelle Medders ‘90 B.S. Matthew Pogue Vincent ‘08 B.S.E. Grant Matthew Boland ‘07 B.I.S. Todd W. Harris ‘07 B.S. Joseph Fulton Ware ‘04 B.I.S. Jared Andrew Boosamra ‘01 B.S. Tricia Ann Harvey ‘07 B.A. ◆Jeffery N. Mills ‘94 M.Ed., ‘97 Ph.D. William Anthony Bowman ‘08 B.S. Debra Hawkins Margraf ‘86 B.S. Sachit J. Mistry ‘07 B.I.S. Christopher M. Wells ‘04 B.S. Jeannette Soraya Breden ‘05 B.S. Jerry Lee Henson ‘84 B.S. Courtney A. Monteiro ‘06 J.D. Timothy John Wiebe ‘85 B.S. Ronald P. Buckley ‘81 B.S. David Penn Hightower ‘00 B.S., ‘04 M.B.A. Carla Marie Moore Denyse Shireen Moore ‘99 M.A. Jennifer Wojtulewicz ‘05 B.A.E., ‘08 M.Ed. April Chantel Hollar ‘01 B.A. Robert Hal Moore ‘85 B.S.E. ◆Sean X. Xie ‘92 B.S.E. Ines Honne ‘84 B.A.E. Jonathan David Ng ‘82 B.S. Morgan Yu ‘07 B.S. Trevor Alan Huish ‘07 M.B.A. Shaun P. Campbell Philip Brendan Nieri ‘92 B.A., ‘94 M.P.A. Alma Alexandra Zavala ‘02 B.A. Julie Christine Ilgen ‘99 B.A. ◆Andrew William Cassera ‘97 B.S.E. Omar Dennehy Isham ‘06 M.B.A. Sharon L. Nolan ‘85 B.S. Brian Dean Jackson ‘86 B.F.A. Patricia Mary O’Callaghan ‘81 B.S. Tariq Hasaan Chaney ‘04 B.S. Kristen Alice Jaynes ‘07 B.A. David L. Chapin ‘93 B.S.E. Brandon John Jenkins ‘96 B.S., ‘04 B.S. Dennis Michael O’Connor ‘70 B.S.E. Randy Wayne Beyer ‘06 B.S.E. Russell Allen Biehl ‘85 B.S., ‘00 M.B.A. Susan Gertrude Buckley ‘82 B.S. Janet C. Bunchman ‘08 M.U.E.P. Alan Jeffrey Cadkin ‘70 B.S., ‘73 M.B.A. Jayme Chapin Bradie Sullivan Orton ‘08 B.S. Gregory M. Vanderplaats ‘07 B.S. Steven John Weber ‘79 B.S. Tyler Jared Zeman ‘08 B.I.S. ◆ = indicates a member who has joined at the Gold Devil Life level. A Gold Devil Life membership, costs $650/individual, $800/couple or $150 to upgrade from an existing life membership. Show your Sun Devil pride for life. Become a life member or upgrade to the Gold Devil life level at www.asu.edu/alumni or by calling 1-800-ALUMNUS. 14 Strenghting the Tribe Strenghting the Tribe NEWS Strenghting the Tribe Head Spini Strenghting the Hittin’ ‘em hard Tribe Sports briefs Strenghting the No holds barred Tribe John Spini congratulates a Sun Devil gymnast. Head Spini Successful gymnastics coach preps for 30th year at ASU The year that John Spini ‘77 B.A.E. began his career as ASU’s head gymnastics coach, 1980, was a pivotal year for Americans—the miracle gold-medal win for the United States hockey team against the Soviets at the Winter Olympics; the U.S.-led boycott of the Summer Olympics; the release of “The Empire Strikes Back” and Pac-Man; the election of Ronald Reagan and the fatal shooting of Beatles recording star John Lennon. Flash-forward three decades and the cultural landscape has shifted in some significant ways, but for sports fans one thing is certain: Spini has cemented himself as one of the most influential and successful coaches in NCAA history. Going into his 30th season as head coach of the ASU gymnastics program, Spini has sent his Sun Devil teams to 20 NCAA Championships. He has coached 26 AllAmericans for a total of 80 All-American accolades. Six women have won individual NCAA titles under Spini. Additionally, nine of Spini’s Sun Devil squads have finished in the top five at the NCAA Championships, including four teams (1983, 1985, 1986, 1997) who vaulted to the runner-up position. The Sun Devils have qualified for an NCAA regional every season Spini has been gymnastics skipper. Spini’s athletes have achieved a total of 27 perfect 10.0 ratings during his career. Spini’s win-loss-tie record at ASU stands at 327-147-2. This season he also inches closer to former tennis coach Anne Pittman’s ASU record of 31 seasons as a head coach. As impressive as the ASU women’s gymnastics team has been athletically, the argument can be made that Spini’s athletes have reached even greater heights academically. Since the Pacific-10 Conference began handing out All-Academic team awards in 1992, ASU’s gymnasts have received 58 academic honors, with 22 of those being first-team accolades. Luckily for Spini’s sake, his efforts have not gone unnoticed by his supervisors. “Coach Spini provides great context and history for the department. He is a true Sun Devil through and through and wants all programs at ASU to thrive. He truly cares about his student-athletes and keeps their success in the classroom and in the gym as the driving force of his efforts,” Senior Associate Athletic Director Dawn Rogers said. Mike Nixon Above: Karin Volpe. Right: Carly Kallas. Hittin’ ‘em hard SOCCER Sun Devils rely on “big D” for early season gains There’s an old saying that the best defense is a good offense, and ASU’s football team demonstrated the wisdom of that saying in early season play. As the magazine went to press, the team’s defensive squad had played a crucial role in each victory and had helped hold the line on the extent of the damage in the games that the Sun Devils lost. In the season opener, a dominant defensive performance led the Sun Devils to a 50-3 win over Idaho State. ASU held the Bengals to 37 yards of total offense, the fourth best mark in school history. Senior linebacker Mike Nixon had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and blocked a punt in the win, earning him Pacific-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week honors. The Sun Devil winning streak extended to two when ASU defeated Louisiana-Monroe 38-14 on Sept. 19. Junior cornerback Omar Bolden set the tone, returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, and he also had an interception in the game. Senior linebacker Travis Goethel collected an interception and a fumble recovery. ASU suffered its first loss Sept. 26 at No. 21 Georgia, as the Bulldogs won 20-17 on a last-second field goal. Senior safety Jarrell Holman had two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, and recovered a fumble, while linebacker Vontaze Burfict led the Sun Devils with 11 tackles. The Sun Devils Pac-10 opener on Oct. 3 versus Oregon State was also disappointing, with ASU losing to the Beavers 28-17. Still, despite the loss, senior wide receiver Chris McGaha had a record night, setting career highs with 15 catches for 165 yards. Down but not out, the Sun Devils came roaring back with their strong defense to beat Washington State 27-14 on Oct. 10. They had 12 sacks, with sophomore defensive linemen Lawrence Guy and James Brooks leading the way. Gaining momentum, ASU pulled off a dramatic 24-17 victory over Washington on Oct. 17. With 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the game tied, Danny Sullivan connected with Chris McGaha for a 50-yard touchdown. Wide receiver Kyle Williams threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to fellow receiver T.J. Simpson on a reverse in the second quarter, and safety Ryan McFoy had two interceptions in the victory. The ASU football team’s record stood at 4-2 after six games. Although their bowl bid chances weren’t clear at press time, one thing was very clear—the “D” in “defense” for the Sun Devils also stands for “dominating.” When is a game you don’t win still a gain for your team? When you’re the ASU women’s soccer team, and the game ends in a tie. During September, the team extended its unbeaten streak to five (3-0-2) and its overall record to 5-1-2 by racking up ties at Nebraska on Sept. 20 and at home on Sept. 6 versus eighth-ranked Virginia in the final game of the Sun Devil Classic. At the Nebraska game, the lone goal for ASU was scored in the game’s 77th minute when freshman midfielder Taylor McCarter found herself all alone and drilled a shot from 15 yards out for the first goal of her career. Despite the lack of scoring, senior midfielder Carly Kallas and junior forward Karin Volpe kept the pressure on the Husker defense, combining for 11 of ASU’s 20 shots. In the contest against Virginia, freshman defender/forward Kiara Williams and Volpe helped to jump-start ASU’s attack when Williams took a pass from Volpe and fired a shot into the far post to tie the game at 1-1. Sun Devil goalkeeper Briana Silvestri (six saves) was aided in holding back the tide by senior defender Liz Harkin and sophomore defender Katie Shepard, who along with Williams, were named to the Sun Devil Desert Classic All-Tournament Team, with Harkin earning Defensive MVP honors. Of course, wins are always preferable to ties, and ASU already has racked up plenty of those this season. One early-season victory that was particularly sweet came against Creighton on Sept. 18. ASU faced an uphill battle early after Creighton junior Claire Zach scored the first goal of the game on a header in the eighth minute. The Sun Devils would tie the game less than five minutes later when sophomore defender Katie Shepard scored from point-blank range, the first of her collegiate career. Shepard’s goal was set up by teammate Alexandra Elston, a junior midfielder, who headed freshman forward Courtney Tinnin’s corner kick into a crowd. The ball came Shepard’s way and she quickly put it away. Shepard’s second career goal would come less than four minutes later when she leaped and headed in another corner kick by Tinnin to give the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead. ASU MAGAZINE SPORTS 16 17 Sarah Reaves (above); Anna Sperry (right) VOLLEYBALL Talk about a spike in victories: before the end of September, the ASU volleyball team had come roaring onto the court, with a 10-2 record and a win at the Holly Young Tournament at the University of New Hampshire on Sept. 19. Sarah Reaves and Sofie Schlagintweit joined forces on the team’s defense, freezing out opponents such as the University of Wyoming and the home team New Hampshire. The rapture in New Hampshire came on the heels of a successful tournament in Missoula, Mont., at the University of Montana Invitational. Reaves was a key player in this tournament, too, joined by Cat Highmark, who made 48 assists, Sonja Markanovich, who made eight blocks and Paige Mittelstaedt, who along with Reaves made the AllTournament Team. Despite a good early showing, Head Coach Jason Watson, who in his first year at the helm of the team in 2008 helped the squad return to Pac-10 and national competitiveness, was optimistic, not over-confident, in his assessment of where his players were at in terms of their learning curve. “I thought we played really well today and showed immense progress in the right direction of the team and program,” Watson said after the New Hampshire tournament.“These matches have been a great opportunity for us to see where our strengths lie and what still needs to be worked on.” CROSS COUNTRY There are times when getting things right the first time is a very good thing. Such was the case for junior crosscountry runner Anna Sperry, a transfer from Brigham Young University, who won the first race of her Sun Devil career on Sept. 18, when she won the women’s individual title at the Dave Murray Invitational in Tucson. Moving into second place with just 600 yards to go, Sperry closed the gap on the then-leader and passed her with just yards to go to claim the title in 17:03 over the threemile course. Sperry’s heroics won her the ASU Female Athlete of the Week honors, and the entire Sun Devil squad—male as well as female—had lots to look forward to as the season got underway. The U.S. Track & Field’s Cross Country Coaches Association released its initial set of national rankings for the 2009 season and both squads made the list’s Top 30, with the women ranked No. 11 and the men No. 29. The women’s team has 19 returning runners including six seniors. The seniors have been a part of two NCAA four-place finishes in their careers (2005, 2007) and also helped the women’s track & field program to a trio of NCAA titles. The 2009 senior class includes: Chelsea Caloia, Krystal Duke, Rebecca Greenwald, Kari Hardt, Ali Kielty and Angela Spadafino. The men’s team has 12 returning harriers, including lone senior Brandon Bethke, who competed in outdoor track for the Sun Devils after sitting out last fall’s cross-country season following his transfer from Wisconsin. Bethke will be joined by fellow All-Americans Mason McHenry, who picked up indoor AllAmerica honors earlier in 2009 while competing in the 800 meter run and Nectaly Barbosa, who received the earning All-America accolades during the 2008 outdoor track season in the 800 meter event. No holds barred Shawn Charles returns to ASU to coach wrestling team Shawn Charles ‘93 B.S., a four-time All-American wrestler and a two-time national runner-up for Arizona State University, was named head coach of the Sun Devil wrestling program in May. Charles, an Arizona native, will become only the sixth head coach in the program’s 47-year history. “We … feel that (Charles’) drive to succeed and his determination to bring Arizona State wrestling back to the top of the standings is exactly what we are looking for,” Senior Associate Athletic Director Don Bocchi said when the announcement of the hiring was made. “His passion for this great sport is very evident, and we believe he is going to put everything he has into helping our program return to the success he and his teammates enjoyed when they competed.” Charles will have a wealth of knowledge at his disposal as he works to bring the program back to the top of the national and conference standings. In his years in Tempe, Charles helped the Sun Devils to three Pac-10 Championships (1990, 1991 and 1993) while also helping the team place among the Top 6 nationally in each of those three seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 1990 and a fourth-place showing in 1993. He earned All-America honors in all four of his years on the mat at 126 pounds, placing fifth as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore before taking national runner-up honors in his final two campaigns. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from ASU, Charles began his coaching career at Iowa State, then returned to the Valley for two years (1995-96) to serve as the head assistant coach at Phoenix College. Since that time he has held various coaching positions with the University of Oklahoma, Central Michigan University, Nebraska University, Brown University, Fresno State and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Charles’s enthusiasm for pinning the challenges set before him and the ASU program is palpable. “I am excited to be back at my alma mater and to be the guy to put it all together and make Arizona State successful once again,” Charles said. “One of my goals is to get the community involved with our program. I really believe that wrestling is a viable form of entertainment, and I would really like to see the communities around Arizona get involved in supporting (it).” In addition to building a winning team, Charles is also committed to helping his wrestlers follow his example and become outstanding students and graduates. “I also think it is important for our student-athletes to be recognized not only for their achievements on the mats, but in the classrooms as well,” Charles said. Growing New residential honors campus expands ASU’s reputation for nurturing academic excellence By Sarah Auffret Barrett Dean Mark Jacobs & Vice Dean Margaret C. Nelson smarter The secret weapon in ASU’s academic arsenal isn’t so secret any more. Intelligent remarks Barrett alumni reflect on the honors college experience Crystal Barajas Esther Ellsworth Bowers Diana Chu Michael Chu Sarah Laidlaw now in ASU master’s program for teaching English to speakers of other languages: I didn't have the financial means to afford the trip I applied for and received a scholarship provided by the honors college. Studying abroad in France, completing my honors thesis, and undertaking extra projects and research papers, all built my self-confidence and gave me the courage and desire to pursue my education further. I’m now sharing my experiences with middle school students in the Barrett Summer Scholars program, encouraging them to come to ASU and take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities and resources the Barrett Honors College has to offer.” Crystal Barajas ’07 B.A., “I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents are working laborers, and Spanish was my first language. My first year at ASU was foreign, and the thought of continuing my education through graduate school didn’t even cross my mind—I was concentrating on surviving my undergraduate education. But Dr. Susser, my Human Event professor, encouraged us to sign up for the France study abroad program, and since B arrett, the Honors College, has been quietly recruiting more than 150 freshman National Merit Scholars a year and nabbing the lion’s share of Arizona’s top high school graduates. In the past decade the program has, in concert with other initiatives sponsored by the university, such as those developed and implemented by University Student Initiatives, steadily boosted the academic quality of the student body. It’s a stealth campaign that has raised the level of expectations for every ASU student, and the reputation of the university. The college’s development has been both evolutionary and revolutionary. The ASU Honors College was created in 1988 by an act of the Arizona Board of Regents to provide exceptional educational opportunities for outstanding students. In 2000, Craig Barrett, then CEO/President of Intel, and his wife, the Honorable Barbara Barrett, an ASU alumna and former U.S. ambassador to Finland, endowed the college with a $10 million gift. Reader’s Digest named Barrett to its “Best in America” list in 2005, for offering “an Ivy League-style education minus the sticker shock.” This fall Barrett opened its own spectacular campus, the first comprehensive four-year residential honors college in the nation. And now the secret is out. Barrett applications shot up 30 percent this year. Students and parents on move-in day gazed in wonder at the 20,000 square-foot dining hall with its 12 serving stations, which include a pizza oven and a salad bar. The seven-building campus on nine acres has 12 classrooms, computer lounge, fitness center, sand volleyball court and social lounges. Faculty and deans have offices right off the entrance to the campus. The living accommodations—from singles and two-bedroom doubles to suites with three or four bedrooms—are more than comfy. The central courtyard with its fireplace is tinged with crimson bougainvillea instead of ivy. But for the 1,700 students who now live at Barrett, it’s as close to Harvard Yard as one can get in the middle of the desert. “This is really impressive,” said Justin Topliff, a Scottsdale junior in marketing and supply chain management as he moved his things into one of the college’s four-bedroom units in mid-August. “Being so close to the faculty, students and all the resources ASU has to offer . . . I considered moving off campus this year, but having all these things at my fingertips kept me here.” e r i c s u sser Justin Topliff Esther Ellsworth Bowers ’02 B.S., ’03 M.S., community college biology teacher: “Honors students … tend to have multiple interests, and having mentors who could respect and respond to my questions had a significant impact on my overall development. Receiving mentoring from (Regents’ Professor) Jane Maienschein was a most valuable part of my ASU education. It was very important to me to have a professor-student relationship where I could explore a range of ideas and questions. I’m also thankful for the courses that helped bridge my personal passions with my intellectual interests. My time at ASU and Barrett greatly shaped the person I am today – a wife, mother, teacher and citizen.” Topliff said he looked at Ivy League schools but was put off by the high cost. He’s impressed by fact that he can make a same-day appointment with his academic adviser, eat lunch with faculty, have a cool group of friends and still have access to internships and research opportunities through ASU. “I learn cutting edge material from leading and experienced professors,” he said. “In my eyes, I’m receiving the same caliber of education and opportunities that I would have elsewhere, an Ivy League education at a non-Ivy League price. It’s more bang for the buck.” That’s exactly the point Dean Mark Jacobs makes when he’s talking to high school students and their parents. He’s convinced that Barrett provides the best education for bright students in the country, offering a high quality education comparable to a private college at a low cost, with all the benefits of ASU. “Barrett combines the caring and advocacy of a small, residential four-year college with the vast resources of a large Pac-10 research university,” said Jacobs, who began planning the campus shortly after he was hired six years ago, at the invitation of President Michael Crow. “Barrett is changing into something that really isn’t like any other form of education in the country. It stands alone in its size and the comprehensiveness of services arranged in one place for honors students. And unlike a small private college, our students have access to 200 majors, research opportunities, internships, study abroad, even Division 1 sports.” The new residential campus was the result of a successful collaboration between a number of units both within and beyond the university, according to Barrett Vice Dean Margaret “Peggy” Nelson, who played a key role in orchestrating the principals involved. “My role in bringing about the new campus was to work with students, faculty, administrators, architects, developers, and residential life at ASU to bring about a shared vision of the kind of physical and social community that supports the best education for academically engaged students in the nation,” she said. “The new campus provides a springboard, as well as a context, for Barrett to become even more fully integrated into all colleges at ASU.” Three floors of the new Sage Hall are a student-designed Sustainability House community, where 250 of them study and live in an environmentally and economically sensitive way. The community includes low-consumption plumbing fixtures, energy monitoring for individual rooms, recycled gray water, a green roof and organic garden. ASU chipped in $3.8 million, much of it for Sustainability House, but most of the $130 million cost of the campus was borne by American Campus Communities, in a public-private partnership. Addie Hill, a Tucson sophomore in global studies and sustainability, helped plan the Sustainability House with the architects and faculty last year. She also was on the student committee that chose artwork for the honors campus, all of which was produced by ASU students. j oh n l y n ch Addie Hill Diana Chu ’07 B.A., now at Yale pursuing a master’s degree in international relations: “The honors college changed my life, because it connected me with professors who were incredible mentors to me from my first day as a freshman to even now. I had an amazing professor that first year who encouraged me to consider studying abroad, and another professor who helped me discover my interest in Asia. By the time I graduated I had spent a summer studying British history, traveled throughout China for a year, attended a global education conference in Singapore, and spent a semester in South Korea, all travels funded through Barrett or the National Scholarship Office. “I’m currently at Yale on a Pickering fellowship. I’m positive I would not be at Yale or pursuing a career as a diplomat if I hadn’t had such a great learning environment during my years at Barrett.” Editor’s Note: Michael Chu and Diana Chu are not related to each other. Hill turned down Wellesley to attend Barrett, after hearing older friends rave about the honors freshman Human Event class and the Barrett community. Last year she was involved each week in helping a refugee family from Nepal, through a student outreach and advocacy group. “Barrett has everything I wanted,” said Hill. “I’m part of a community, a small college where I know a lot of people. The mindset of students is that they’re here to learn and to make a difference. There’s a passion here, and that has made the experience priceless.” It’s the people and the unique experiences that make Barrett a great place for personal growth, according to students. Small classes, special seminars and lectures, and interaction with faculty are key. The two-semester Human Event class, for instance, introduces freshmen to the world’s greatest literature and most profound ideas—in small seminar-style classes taught by honors faculty who are chosen for their ability to fire up students’ imaginations. It’s an intense, difficult class, heavy on writing, but students usually say it’s the best course they’ve ever taken. “It’s exciting to introduce students to works and ideas that I care about and to watch their consciousness develop,” said Eric Susser, an Honors Faculty Fellow who is a student favorite though he’s known as one of the hardest teachers. He assigns Plato, Nietche, Beowulf, Dante’s Inferno, sometimes Hindu works—and always, the Odyssey. “The students struggle, but they become more mature, more thoughtful, more critical thinkers,” he said. “They are magnificent, really exceptional as a group. It’s fun to come to class.” John Parker, an Honors Faculty Fellow and sociologist, focuses on the social and political aspects of texts by Plato, Confucius and Lao Tsu, relating them to the modern age. He delivers a mind-bending version of the Human Event class, but students love it. “Students start to see that many of the ideas from ancient texts are very modern and very contemporary,” said Parker. “They find the class fun, particularly the assignments to design the perfect society and to design the perfect military campaign.” At least half of the 23 Barrett faculty have received teaching excellence awards. In 2007 Susser won the prestigious Founder’s Day Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching from the ASU Alumni Association, the first non-tenure track faculty to receive the honor. John Lynch, an Honors Faculty Fellow who is an evolutionary biologist, planned to concentrate on research after getting his doctorate. But he was surprised at the thrill he got from teaching a combined science and humanities course, and when Barrett offered him a position in 2000 he jumped at the chance. Lynch won the coveted Arizona Professor of the Year honor in 2007 from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. j an e t burke John Parker Malvika Sinha Michael Chu ‘96 B.S.E., ‘96 B.A., graduated Stanford Law School, now clerking for Judge Thelton E. Henderson on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California: “I never felt like just a number, and I attribute a lot of that to the individualized attention I received from all the honors college staff. I also enjoyed not having the program tied to my major. I was able to take honors classes in a lot of different areas and, although I was a math and industrial engineering major, I wrote my honors thesis on a preschool program I developed in Guadalupe.” Lynch’s teaching helped seal the deal for Malvika Sinha, a Phoenix global studies junior who transferred to Barrett from Vassar midway through her freshman year after realizing Vassar wasn’t a good fit. “The Human Event is one of the best classes I have taken so far in college,” said Sinha. “Dr. Lynch was a wonderful professor, and the class was smaller than even some of my Vassar classes. I got everything I could possibly want out of that class: engaged students, a writing-intensive seminar, and a professor who went out of his way to help his students.” Sinha was an undergraduate research fellow at the ASU Center for Religion and Conflict last year. She’s already begun to explore ideas for her honors thesis. Each student must write a senior honors thesis, working one-on-one with an ASU faculty member from his or her field for about a year. The projects vary in length, often 150 pages or so, but they are so detailed and scholarly that many are published. Like graduate students, Barrett seniors have to defend their theses in front of faculty, some of whom hail from outside ASU. About a quarter of Barrett students participate in summer study-abroad, traveling for several weeks in small groups with a faculty member, studying and writing as they go. Parker took a group of students to Russia for six weeks in the summer of 2008, teaching them the history of Russian science and exploration; and Susser is renowned for his Paris-based study abroad courses. Gitzel Puente, Yuma sophomore in journalism, took two of Barrett’s Greatest American City trips, four-day trips with faculty to New York City and Chicago. “What I like best about being at ASU are all the opportunities we have,” said Puente. “This is one of those cliched sayings about college, but it really holds true at ASU. I’ve had journalism internships, met with so many media professionals and gotten a job at PBS. I taped Obama’s speech when he first came on campus, and I got to attend former President Bill Clinton’s speech when he came. It’s been amazing.” Barrett’s Office of National Scholarship Advisement serves the entire university, recruiting honors and non-honors students to apply for large awards such as the Goldwater Scholarship and Fulbright Awards. Non-honors students also can take advantage of Barrett programming, attending lectures by such well-known authors as David Halberstam, Edward Albee, Ann Quindlen, Jules Feiffer and Jonathan Weiner. Janet Burke, associate dean for national scholarship advisement, notes that students are sometimes surprised to learn that her office is open to anyone interested in applying for the awards. “I have very extensive contact with non-honors students, as most of our scholarships are open to the whole university,” she said. “I send email invitations to ASU students who qualify, attend faculty meetings and write personal notes to department chairs, to let them know. We really try hard to make sure everyone is included.” l au r a pe ck Gitzel P uente Sarah Laidlaw ’03 B.A., third-year student at ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law: “Writing a thesis and taking the Human Event classes gave me perspectives on education and life that have helped me succeed. I believe living in a community (the honors residence halls) and attending classes with a select group of people helped me through school. It gave me the smallschool environment while still being able to take advantage of the opportunities ASU provides. I graduated with a degree in journalism and went on to be the managing editor of a business news magazine for four years, before I decided to return to law school.” Jacobs encourages ASU students who haven’t been admitted before their freshman year to apply for admission at Barrett. The freshman admission rate is 80 percent; 90 percent of upperclassmen who apply for admission are admitted. The dean also is nurturing Barrett programs at the other campuses, and the Downtown Phoenix Campus program is booming, with 226 students. West has about 120 and Polytechnic 70. Downtown programming has a distinct urban flavor, with students visiting the city manager’s office, a homeless shelter, and the Phoenix Urban Research Lab. “We want to introduce them to the wonderful city, the people and places they will meet in their journalism and social work classes, and try to get them involved,” said Laura Peck, Barrett associate dean at the Downtown Phoenix campus. “Our intent is to help them learn about the community in ways that will enrich their academic experience.” Poly honors students in nutrition and agribusiness last year hosted an organic, sustainably farmed buffet during a visit by Eric Schlosser, author of “Fast Food Nation.” “All of our programming focuses on engaging the students in activities that will enhance their college living and learning experience, often reflecting the unique character of the Polytechnic campus,” said Lenore Brady, director of the Barrett program at Polytechnic. “Students like having the ability and power to shape programming to fit their needs.” As Barrett looks ahead, Nelson, who oversees much of the curriculum planning at the honors college, says it will focus on improving teaching/learning environments at all four of the university’s campuses and nurturing the integration of Barrett programs and students across all the academic programs at ASU. “Barrett is successful in great part because we are part of ASU,” Nelson said. “There are more than 1,000 faculty who teach honors courses, work with honors students, and mentor them toward their future successes … We want to encourage faculty to spend time in Barrett with the students, and we want to encourage students not in Barrett to come to our new facility and see if they, too, want to be part of the college.” Jaclyn Osborne, a Las Vegas junior in psychology and family and human development, said Barrett gives her access to the best of both worlds. “My favorite thing about Barrett is being surrounded by like-minded students in classes and in the residence halls. But I still have access to all the things that ASU offers. There’s almost a perfect balance of the fun and exciting ‘college experience’ and the freedom to learn, take time to study and focus on our main goal. “I really feel like I’m growing as a student here.” Sarah Auffret is assistant director of media relations for ASU. JaclynO l e n or e br ady sborne Going above and BEYOND New initiatives ask deep questions about By Christopher Vaughan how the Francis Bacon, a British philosopher recognized as one of the creators of the modern scientific method, once noted, “If a man will begin with certainties, he will end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he will end in certainties.” universe works Much of the research that is labeled “basic” science begins with doubt—we don’t know why a particular phenomenon exists, or what it means. ASU is supporting bold new initiatives that seek to answer fundamental questions about the universe, and humanity’s place within it. These endeavors not only complement the institution’s emphasis on use-inspired research, they also nurture the basic human needs to explore, understand and be inspired. ROGELLO BERNAL ANDREO rick shangraw T his spring, Arizona State University sponsored an ambitious, multi-day symposium on mankind’s best ideas about life, the universe and everything. Called the Origins Symposium, it boasted some of the world’s biggest names in science and explored to the farthest reaches of the scientific universe. Under discussion were such topics as string theory (an emerging branch of physics that combines quantum mechanics and general relativity into a quantum theory of gravity), the possibility of alien life in the universe, the nature of consciousness and the notion that our universe is only one of many, each of which may have different physical laws. Speakers included celebrity string theorist Brain Greene, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker, gene research gurus Richard Dawkins and Craig Venter, and physicist Sheldon Glashow, a 1979 Nobel laureate. Stephen Hawking was waylaid by health problems but gave a recorded talk. Sky and Telescope magazine called the gathering “the Woodstock of science.” Such a wide ranging, intellectual powerhouse of a conference would be impressive at any university in the world; the fact that it was put together at ASU is a testament to its very strong research programs probing such fundamental questions. The symposium was simply the brightest and most public jewel in a scientific crown that rings the whole of the university. Interestingly enough, the very strength of such program prompts fundamental questions about ASU itself. For many years, President Michael Crow and his administration have set forth strong guidelines for the creation of a New American University that acts as a catalyst for societal change, one which “favors a research enterprise dedicated to societal relevance and socially beneficial outcomes.” Of the eight design imperatives set forth by Crow, the second is Societal Transformation and the fourth is Use-Inspired Research. When asked to provide examples of use-inspired research, university officials frequently cite marquee facilities such as its Decision Theater, the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing and MacroTechnology Works, a program to promote the rapid translation of science into technology and business applications. In an era of limited resources, how do projects like the inquiry into the first microseconds of the universe’s existence fit into ASU’s stated emphasis on use-inspired research? Will such investigations lead to practical solutions for earthly problems—or do they even need to? Answering those questions provides revealing answers, not only about the relationship between basic and applied science, but also about the nature of science and the human spirit. The view from the administration and the scientists themselves is that basic and applied research are mutually dependent. “You can’t cut out basic research and do only applied research, because some elements of basic research are critical for the applied portion,” says Rick Shangraw, the university’s vice president for Research and Economic Affairs. “Some universities and research centers have moved too far away from basic research and that is to the detriment of applied research, because there are fundamental pieces about chemistry and physics, for instance, that you have to know” to succeed in the effort to do applied science. Kip Hodges, founding director of ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration, an academic unit located within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, sees a continuum between basic and applied research. “I don’t see a sharp distinction between the two,” Hodges says. “It’s sometimes hard for the general public to get their heads around the idea that what appears to be basic science with no practical value actually goes forward into things we use every day.” Hodges describes his school’s purview as nothing less than the entirety of the Universe, from its very first milliseconds to its ultimate demise, and everything in between. “But much of our research emphasis is on the planet we call home,” Hodges says. “Much of what we do at our school has immediate societal relevance, it’s not blue-sky.” For example, seemingly esoteric studies of the dynamics of the Earth system affect the quality of life of tens of millions of people who live in regions susceptible to natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and severe weather events. “By studying what causes earthquakes, where new fault systems develop, the frequency of earthquake activity, and the likely magnitude of the ground motion that will occur, geophysicists lay the groundwork for earthquake hazard mitigation,” Hodges says. Closer to home for Arizonans will be research by a new faculty member in the school – hydrologist Enrique Vivoni, who also has a joint appointment in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, which is located within the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. Many of Vivoni’s kip hodges studies focus on evolution and vulnerabilities of the desert landscapes of the American Southwest, which – in turn – ultimately determine the sustainability of human societies in such arid regions. The side of the school that deals with space exploration might seem to be focused on issues far away from our terrestrial concerns on Earth, but Hodges begs to differ. “When we look at other worlds, we learn more about the history of our own. Most people don’t know that scientists’ concern about the possibility of a run-away greenhouse effect in the Earth’s atmosphere actually comes from observations of Venus, a terrestrial planet much like our own which likely experienced a run-away greenhouse in its distant past, which made it an extremely inhospitable place,” Hodges says. In terms of daily life on earth, it may be things that are happening out in space that have the biggest impact—literally. Hodges points out that in 1908, a meteorite exploded in the air over the Tunguska region in Siberia, releasing an amount of energy roughly equivalent to that of a large hydrogen bomb. Although the region was very lightly populated, the explosion flattened the forest over an area larger than greater metropolitan London. If even a “small” extraterrestrial object like this (estimated to have been no more than a few tens of meters across) were to strike a populated area, it would be devastating. If a substantially larger object struck Earth, the outcome could be catastrophic for humankind. “One way to ensure our survivability,” Hodges says, “is to extend our range by settling other planets. So even planetary exploration is use-inspired research.” On a less ominous note, Meenakshi Wadhwa, professor of geological sciences in the School of Earth and meenakshi wadhwa enrique vivoni Space Exploration and the director of the university’s Center for Meteorite Studies, adds that developing the tools to study the building blocks of the planets and the solar system can have many medical or environmental applications. “For example, the development of analysis techniques for measuring certain isotopes to trace processes in the early Solar System, as I do in my research, could have other applications such as tracing environmental toxins.” Wadhwa says. The many examples of crossfertilization between basic and applied research at ASU make Paul Davies, director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, feel that the old boundaries between the two are increasingly irrelevant. “If you want to shoehorn my work into the old categories, I do astronomy, astrobiology or physics,” Davies says. “I helped establish the Australian Centre for Astrobiology, but I missed physics, which is at the core of my being. Now I’m at a university that allows cross-over.” Davies is very cognizant of the importance of use-inspired research. “At the end of the day, it’s quite clear that the driver of all economic growth is science, not increased efficiency or working harder,” he says. “Without science and innovation we would be a static society. If you look at a newspaper a hundred years ago, 90 percent of the stories are the same as now. Only the technology has changed.” Davies, who has written a number of popular books on science such as “How to Build a Time Machine” and “The Mind of God,” notes that the way that innovation occurs is often misunderstood. People usually see a direct line between electrical research and radio, for instance. But scientists don’t work in such a linear fashion, with the practical application being the ultimate end product. “That’s not the way we work,” he says. “When you want to know lawrence krauss paul davies how life begins, you want to know the answer, you want to unlock the secrets of the universe.” When the end goal is finding the answers to universal mysteries, there are bound to be practical and impractical spinoffs. “When Copernicus discovered that the Earth revolved around the sun, what was the practical spinoff?” Davies asks. There are quite a few instances in Davies career in which an arcane part of his research has resulted in a surprisingly practical spinoff. For instance, Davies’ research in astrobiology has become very interesting to cancer researchers. “Astrobiologists study how microorganisms survive in very extreme circumstances such as very high temperatures or extreme radiation,” Davies says. One organism they study, for instance, are bacteria that live in the pools in which highly radioactive fuel rods are stored in nuclear reactors. Oncologists observed that there are pediatric brain tumors that are curable with radiation, and those that are resistant to radiation treatment. “They began to wonder about the source of this radiation resistance” and are now very interested in astrobiology research, he says. What Davies brings to the table is not only knowledge about radiation resistance among microorganisms, but also a different way of viewing the problem that can lead to breakthroughs. “When you look at astrobiology you are interested in questions like what is life, how does it work—you are interested in the network of genes that makes cell function,” he says. Where oncologists see cancer as an invader, a disease to be cured, an astrobiologist might look at it from the viewpoint of evolutionary biology, or look at the network of genes and cells that have been allowing the development of cancer for millions of years. “Cancer research is very information rich, but very poorly understood. It may be that the only way to really understand it is to stand back and look at it from an evolutionary viewpoint.” Since some experiments on the space station revealed that gravity can change how genes are turned on or off in the cell, Davies also has become interested in the fact that cancer cells behave differently depending on the mechanical forces that act on them. Curing cancer is a noble goal, and one that is easily recognized as a potential benefit of supporting so-called “basic” research. However, Lawrence Krauss, the leader of the Origins Initiative at ASU and the prime organizer of the Origins Symposium, asserts that at a great university, specific, goal-oriented research aimed at solving societal problems has to be supplemented by research into the fundamental truths of the universe. “One never knows where curiosity-driven research will lead, but if history is any guide, the developments that will be most transformative in our society in the long run will come from such research,” he says. Krauss, who is an internationally renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist as well as a popular author (he wrote “The Physics of Star Trek,” among other books), believes that there is an even deeper reason for doing both kinds of research. “The reason for asking deep and sometimes esoteric questions goes way beyond the possible practical applications that may result in the long term. Rather, it is a key part of what ennobles our civilization and our culture,” he said. Krauss notes that physicist Robert Wilson, the first director of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, was once asked by members of the U.S. Congress if building the particle accelerator lab would aid in the defense of the nation. Wilson answered, “No, but it will help keep the nation worth defending!” Merely by investigating those questions, Krauss asserts, the university is making sure that its research encompasses the cutting edge of knowledge and will make the public more engaged and scientifically literate, “which is essential for the continued health and well-being of our nation.” “How can asking deep questions about the universe change the way we view ourselves, our origins and our future?” asks Krauss. “That is the question that is at the heart of the challenge that will be met by the Origins Initiative, which will encompass all existing programs and interdisciplinary centers” at ASU, he says. “It is a fundamental part of being human to be interested in who we are, where we came from, what will happen to us,” says Kip Hodges. “Asking and attempting to answer those fundamental questions has a direct societal value because people inspired by this process will become the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.” Hodges points to the Apollo program as an example. The moon landing itself had little practical value, but it had a profound impact on many who ended up pursuing careers in science and engineering. The ultimate use-inspired spinoff, then, might be inspiration itself, and in feeding the deep human need to understand. “The BEYOND motto is ‘Ask the Big Questions,’” Davies says. “If you are not interested in any of these questions and just want to build a bridge, there is something lacking.” Christopher Vaughan is a freelance science writer based in Menlo Park, Calif. 40 &CULTURE All the art that’s fit to print Shelf Improvement My ASU wedding Professor Daniel Britton and M.F.A. graduate student Emily Stokes All the art that’s fit to print Printmaking program uses technology to catalyze historical techniques By Oriana Parker It’s possible the first printmaker was a cave dweller, slapping his or her hand on a rock and blowing dust and dirt around it, creating a stencil, the backbone of the screen-printing process. Tens of thousands of years later, iconic 20th Century art world figures such as Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol experimented with screen-printing and used it to print on canvas. Both artists (as well as the cave dweller, presumably) would no doubt be amazed by how Mary Hood, an assistant professor in ASU’s printmaking program, has updated this technique with modern technology. In her recent artwork entitled “Ten Thousand Tears,” she utilizes both computer and photo-generated images to create inkjet prints on silk. “Inkjet printing on silk, especially in a large format, is challenging,” points out Hood. “To ensure that the ink was permanent, we had to use specialized dyes.” ASU is home to one of the nation’s top printmaking programs; in 2008, the unit’s graduate program was ranked seventh overall by U.S. News & World Report. What’s truly amazing about the program is the way in which it has carved out a niche of excellence for itself, in a field that is famously small and whose methods are not commonly understood. The program, which is located within the School of Art, which is itself part of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, boasts five faculty members and a staff member. “In addition to special studies and a comprehensive array of courses, the department is also unique in the size of its faculty,” stresses Professor Daniel Britton. “Most colleges and universities offer printmaking departments with only one person (on faculty).” Assistant Professor Mary Hood (left) and graduate student Olivia Timmons review a print. 2010 ASU printmaking exhibitions “A-Buncha-Book-Artists,” Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Museum, Terminal 3, through March 21, 2010. A-BunchaBook-Artists is an ASU organization of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, guest artists and writers who create, exhibit and promote artists’ books. Information on the exhibit can be found at http://www.phoenix.gov/skyharborairport/maps-food-shops/t3museum-exhibitions.html. For more information regarding printmaking department exhibits, check http://herbergerinstitute.asu.ed/events or call (480) 965-6447. Faculty printmaking artworks include “10 Thousand Tears” by Mary Hood (far left), “Wary Dog” by Dan Britton (near left) and John Risseeuw’s “Road Kill” (below). Leading the way with new approaches ASU’s printmaking program exposes students to all the traditional forms of printmaking, including lithography, intaglio, relief and screen-printing, as well as unique study options such as photogravure, papermaking, digital processes and book arts. Pyracantha Press, a production and research imprint for the program’s book arts program, became an integral part of its makeup in 1982. Many traditional ways of making prints have been enhanced by the advent of digital technology. Relief printing, which originated in 5th Century China, is a technique where the ink remains on a plate’s surface. Woodcut illustrations are one relatively well-know form of relief printing. Still widely used in the Far East, the technique was eventually adapted for text and images on paper. Dan Mayer, instructor and studio manager of the Pyracantha Press, brings modern technology to relief printing via the polymer (also known as solar) plate. Employing this safe, non-toxic method, he creates prints using UV light (or sunlight) and warm water as the etch. “Computer-generated text and/or images are transferred to a film negative,” he explained. “When light passes over the negative’s positive area on the plate, that part is hardened into relief. Other areas are then scrubbed away with water. The plate is now ready for printing limited-edition prints and books.” The program has been developing polymer plate printmaking techniques, mostly utilizing the relief method since 1991, says Professor John Risseeuw, who is also the press director for Pyracantha Press. Another age-old category of printmaking that’s undergone a recent digital upgrade is intaglio, which involves images where the ink goes beneath the plate’s original surface. Engraving and etching are both considered intaglio techniques. Aquatint is another intaglio technique, one that involves the use of an Professor John Risseeuw (left) and Dan Mayer, printmaking instructor and manager of Pyracantha Press Associate Professor Joseph Segura acid-resistant powdered rosin to achieve a tonal effect. Eigheenth-Century artist Francisco Goya was reputedly quite fond of it. “Image Stone: Moonside,” a collaborative project involving Associate Professor Joseph Segura and Flagstaff artist James Turrell, highlights this interfacing of old and new technology with a new twist on the Spanish master’s favorite medium. “This suite of images utilizes photogravure (a 19th Century photo mechanical process) where we use a stochastic screen, which is a 20th Century alternative to the 18th Century technique of aquatint,” notes Segura, who team-teaches 19th Century photo-print techniques in the printmaking program. Working together across disciplines Interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged and students often work with other disciplines inside and outside the School of Art, including photography, painting and drawing, film and creative writing. Risseeuw proudly notes that program graduates are teaching in schools, directing presses, and administering programs from Florida to Canada. Earlier this year, Hood oversaw a collaboration between printmaking students and five Native American artists to create Map(ing), a collective community-based project for the sharing of culture, language and identity. The artists were invited to create a limited edition of ten original prints with the assistance of the printmaking students; the week-long event was highlighted by a public forum and a reception and exhibition at the Tempe Marketplace Night Gallery, an exhibition space for Herberger Institute faculty, students and alumni developed in partnership with Vestar Development Co. Students say they appreciate the printmaking program’s comprehensive, inclusive nature. “I entered the program with a pretty limited print background,” says School of Art M.F.A. candidate Emily Stokes. “However, with the support of faculty and other grad students, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of technical experience as well as diverse perspectives of my work.” Oriana Parker is a Scottsdale-based freelance arts writer. SHELF IMPROVEMENT BOOKS AND MEDIA PRODUCED BY ALUMNI, STAFF AND FACULTY Look Closely Along the Shore By Frank Serafini ’92 M.Ed., ’01 Ph.D., Kids Can Press A former elementary school teacher, Associate Professor of Literacy Education and Children’s Literature Frank Serafini has created a lovely volume of photography and mystery for parents to share with their young ones. The simple text and close-up photography show various things that might be found on a beachfront and the explanations for each set of images provide interesting age-appropriate facts about the item being shown. If you haven’t taken your little Sun Devil to see the sea yet, this book might be the perfect preparation for that journey. The Environmental Justice: William O. Douglas and American Conservation The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use By Adam M. Sowards ‘01 Ph.D., Oregon State University Press By Karen Burns ‘84 B.A., Running Press One of the greatest catalysts of the modern environmental movement was not a U.S. president, a Congressman or a leader of an advocacy organization—it was William O. Douglas, a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1939 to 1975. Douglas didn’t just produce legal opinions that supported the preservation of America’s wild places; he led public hikes to call attention to threatened areas and wrote magazine articles championing preservation of vulnerable natural areas. Sowards, a professor of history at the University of Idaho, has produced an interesting volume about one of the country’s most influential, and controversial, jurists. Karen Burns has had 59 jobs in 40 years and she has a thing or two to say about each one. Luckily, the life lessons she learned from her jobs, which range from kitchenware clerk to bustier model (in France!) to newsletter editor, are applicable to just about anyone who’s had to deal with evil co-workers, rude customers, a lack of recognition or any number of other vocationally inspired indignities. Each tip is illustrated with an adorable drawing of Working Girl in action (drawn by Burns) and many chapters include “survival tips” from other savvy Working Girls. Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions That Win—and Last By Kyrsten Sinema ‘99 M.S.W, ‘04 J.D., BerrettKoehler Publishers, Inc. Ideological purity can be a lonely and often ineffective place from which to advocate, says Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic Party’s assistant caucus leader in the Arizona House of Representatives. Her book posits a better way to achieve one’s public policy goals. Sprinkled with self-deprecating humor and stories from successful campaigns across the country, the volume discusses the value of shedding identity politics and a focus on specific outcomes in favor of creating trust-based relationships with others across the political spectrum and working together for the benefit of the larger community. Gen Y Now: How Generation Y Changes Your Workplace and Why It Requires a New Leadership Style By Buddy Hobart and Herb Sendek, Select Press Move over, Baby Boomers: members of the newest demographic to hit the workplace, “Gen Yers” born between 1977 and 1995, is now 79.5 million strong and comprises the largest population group in the United States. Hobart, an HR consultant and Sendek, head coach of ASU’s men’s basketball team, have created an easy-to-read guide to leading Gen Y workers and leveraging their strengths to benefit any organization. Sendek’s recruiting and coaching stories form a nice counterpoint to Hobart’s business-focused commentary, and each chapter contains a profile of an individual Gen Yer that showcases this generation’s unique characteristics. My Wedding ASU There have been Sun Devil love stories at ASU for as long as there have been Sun Devils. Arizona State University students, alums and even local community members often choose ASU locations for their wedding or reception, adding a historical twist to their special day. These couples recently chose Old Main on ASU’s Tempe campus as their wedding backdrop, and they graciously agreed to share their thoughts and wedding photos with us. Julie McLaughlin & Ben Hester ‘08 B.A. ‘07 M.A. “Old Main appealed to us as a reception location since it held significant meaning for us being both ASU alumni and current graduate students. We met as students through the ASU All Saints Catholic Newman Center and since our wedding ceremony took place in their old chapel, it was great that our guests could walk across the street onto campus to Old Main’s Carson Ballroom for our reception. “It meant a lot to us that our guests were able to be on the ASU campus since it holds such significance to our relationship and our lives. We really believe having our wedding at ASU enhanced the meaning of the day.” Jessica (Ripplinger) Stuart & Adam Stuart Married June 27, 2009 ‘06 B.S., ‘06 B.S. “Adam and I first met at ASU in 2002 and have many wonderful experiences associated with ASU and the campus while dating. “We loved the classic look of Old Main—the building is classic, elegant, Married June 20, 2009 ‘05 B.S. and romantic, all things synonymous with a wedding. The character of Old Main speaks for itself, not needing much decoration; we just had to fill the space with our family and friends.” Robert Deal & Nina Deal Photo by Ben Quillinan ‘02 B.A., ‘02 B.S. Married November 17, 2007 “Both of us are ASU alumni, and met through the Alumni Association’s chapter in Washington, D.C. Since our families are still in Arizona, we knew that we would be having an Arizona wedding. Since we met in D.C., after college, we did not have any memorable places in Arizona where we spent time together, but ASU was a place where we both had great memories. ‘95 B.A. “Old Main was a great fit—we were able to customize our wedding to what we wanted it to be. We held the ceremony outside in front of the fountain and the reception in the ballroom inside ... the bridal party was able to get ready in the upstairs conference rooms, (and) have the hair and makeup vendors come to us. Having access to the whole premises for our day made it so much more relaxing.” Sarah Deutsch & Philip Orstrom ‘04 B.S. ‘04 B.S. “Phil and I met when we were both students at ASU and we used to meet at the fountain in front of Old Main in between classes. We felt like ASU was a big part of our story as a couple, having met and fallen in love there, and Old Main was the perfect, familiar backdrop for our wedding. Old Main is an affordable and beautiful blank canvas that you can use to make all of your wedding dreams come true.” Evan Sheneman & Jessica (Wooden) Sheneman Married March 28, 2009 “Although neither of us attended ASU, we have always lived close to campus during our courtship, and we felt a part of ASU. “Evan had passed by Old Main on his way home from work one day and told me he found our spot. I was skeptical at first, until I laid my eyes on it. It spoke to both of us … The elegant staircase along with the history of the building combined with the spirit of ASU made Old Main our top choice.” Danielle (Williams) Schager & Michael O'Connor Schager Married March 14, 2009 ’94 B.A. “I'm an Arizona native and my husband and I both enjoy supporting local venues. We wanted something unique; the architecture of Old Main is simple, yet substantial and beautiful. Many people attending the wedding were ASU graduates from ASU and they loved the idea of returning to the campus. “We had an afternoon wedding, so the natural lighting in Carson Ballroom was amazing and really added to our summer, citrus theme. It was large enough to hold our guests comfortably, yet still be cozy.” “We are both first-generation college students and have had to work very hard in the world of academia. ASU is where our paths joined. It was fitting to begin this next chapter in our lives in a place that became the epicenter of our love story. “We really could not think of any other place we wanted to have our reception than Old Main. The ballroom was beautiful and our guests were amazed at the beautiful woodwork inside the building. Old Main, like our families, has always served to inspire us.” Victor Silva & Alexandria (Estrella) Silva Married June 13, 2009 ’02 B.A., ’04 M.Ed. Hillary Snyder & Logan Koehler Married December 20, 2008 current ASU students “We went to a wedding at Old Main a year prior to our ceremony and fell in love with how it was done. We are both huge ASU fans … we incorporated little things into our wedding that gave it a small touch of ASU without really overpowering our snowflake theme. The bridesmaids dresses were maroon, my garter was an ASU football garter, my reception shoes were ASU ballet flats, and our toasting glasses were even ASU. Every time I pass Old Main, I get a wonderful feeling, and it feels like my wedding day all over again.” Married January 3, 2009 For more information on holding your wedding or another special event at Old Main, call Mike Tomah at (480) 965-2586, and visit the Old Main event planning section on the Alumni Association Web site at www.asu.edu/alumni/oldmain. 48 Strenghting the Tribe Strenghting the Tribe NEWS Strenghting the Tribe Strenghting the Building on success Tribe Presidents letter Strenghting the Event Round-up Tribe Building on success Board chair Bill Kavan boosts mix of ASU traditions, Web 2.0 outreach By Bill Goodykoontz You would expect Bill Kavan ’92 B.A. to say “The state of affairs at the Alumni Association is great.” But the new chair of the board of directors for the ASU Alumni Association quickly added that his goal is to make the Association greater, and to shoot for it to be the greatest. Times are tough all over, and ASU grads, like everyone, are looking for ways to save a buck. But according to Kavan, the personal spending reductions of ASU alumni haven’t included dues for membership in the Alumni Association. He surmises that ASU alumni must see it as an investment. “Individual membership is $45 a year. How many people spend $45 on coffee in just one week?” Kavan asked. “We make membership valuable so people prioritize it ahead of buying specialty coffee drinks.” Kavan said that compared to alumni associations around the country, the ASU Alumni Association is in good shape.“The Association adds value to the life of the school and to the lives of ASU alumni and students,” he said.“We are proud that the Association reached its paid-membership goal despite the downturn in the economy; but honestly, we expected that from ASU alumni because it’s not just the benefits you’re going to receive as an Alumni Association member. By joining the association you’re also supporting the students and the traditions of ASU, including imparting our traditions to current students.” Kavan works as an advancement product owner for SunGard Higher Education, which develops software for higher-education institutions. His experience there broadens the perspective of his role with the Alumni Association.“I’m meeting with clients all around the country,” he said.“I might hear a success story or operational best practice at Harvard, Princeton, UCLA, Stanford, or other clients and relate it back to ASU. It’s a good way to get information about other successful alumni associations and what they’re doing.” ASU also enjoys success in identifying opportunities.“We’ve been both creative and strategic in our approach to attracting new members and keeping members,” Kavan said.“Even in these times, we know our alumni want to continue to support our efforts and their alma mater, and we continue to develop new programming to encourage that. Just this year, we launched the Young Alumni program to keep recent grads connected to the university while at the same time offering social events, networking and community service projects relevant to them.” Another success of the ASU Alumni Association has been its positioning. “We promote the Alumni Association as your lifelong connection to ASU,” Kavan said. “We continue to do that because it continues to be true.” And while you might think alumni life begins with a fresh diploma, the Association’s position is that it starts much earlier – with an acceptance letter from the admissions office.“We’re now getting the Alumni Association in front of students, even before they get on campus, so they know they are already a valuable member of the Sun Devil family,” Kavan said. In addition to in-person outreach programs, the Association has embarked on the use of social media, including Twitter and Facebook, to stay current in the minds of students both present and past. Kavan describes himself as “a big promoter of historical awareness.” Traditions are as important to Kavan now, as chair, as they were when he was a student majoring in political science. “Some of the traditions such as Oozeball and Lantern Walk that I partook in played a role in me even staying in Arizona,” he said.“I came from a small town in New York, got a scholarship, came to Arizona and never left. A major part of why I stayed here is ASU and my Sun Devil family.” Bill Goodykoontz is a Chandler-based freelance writer. ASU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD AND NATIONAL COUNCIL 2009–2010 President’s Letter OFFICERS CHAIR Bill Kavan ‘92 B.A. CHAIR-ELECT Chris Spinella ‘83 B.S. TREASURER Gilbert Jimenez ‘67 B.S. PAST CHAIR Maria Hesse ‘77 B.S., ‘84 M.B.A. PRESIDENT Christine Wilkinson ‘66, ‘76 Ph.D. BOARD OF DIRECTORS* Robert Boschee ‘83, ‘85 M.B.A. Barbara Clark ’84 M.Ed. George Diaz Jr. ’96, ’99 M.P.A. Andy Hanshaw ‘87 Tara McCullom Plese ‘78 B.A., ‘84 M.P.A. Kathleene Paul ‘72 Dan Mullen ‘66 B.S. Martin Quintana ‘87 B.S., ‘04 M.B.A. Todd Siffren ‘91 B.S. NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL* Steven Balthazor ‘91 B.S.E. Dave Benner ‘02 B.S. Charlie Broucek ‘93 B.S. Dave Covert ‘78 B.S. Eddie DeVall ‘93 B.S. Christine Devine ‘87 B.A. Kathy Duffy Ybarra ‘81 B.A. Mark Duplissis ‘92 B.A., ‘97 M.Ed., ‘06 Ed.D. Theresa Esparza ‘94 M.Tax. Dick Foreman ‘76 B.A., ‘79 M.P.A. Curtis Frasier ‘77 B.A. Matt Gervin ‘01 B.S. Bret Giles ‘87 B.S. Jonell Lucca ‘95 B.A. Vada O’Hara Manager ‘83 B.S. Phillip Moore ‘66 B.S., ‘67 M.S.E. Jeff Olen ‘96 B.S. Anne Sawkiw ‘99 B.A. James Shaughnessy ‘72 B.A.E. Darren Skarecky ‘94 B.S. John Sparks ‘57 B.S. Joseph Udall ‘92 J.D. *Members of the Board of Directors are also members of the National Alumni Council. As the calendar year comes to a close, it’s common for people to stop to ponder their blessings and reflect on how the last year has gone. At ASU, we’re thankful to have a large base of loyal, engaged and supportive alumni. The university continues to set bold and audacious goals; we believe this is the best way to be of service to our community, from the local to the global level. One of our most audacious goals has been a renewed focus on foundational research. Our feature story describing ASU’s exploration of the most fundamental notions in science explains the way that so-called “basic” research underlies all use-inspired scientific discoveries, be they incremental or paradigm shattering. The university also seeks to blaze bold trails in academics—we strive to provide broad academic access to qualified students without sacrificing excellence. Our feature story on the most recent developments at Barrett, the Honors College at ASU demonstrates how this goal is being vigorously pursued—and achieved. Of course, the end of the year also correlates with holiday time! The ASU Alumni Association is a great place to shop for your favorite Sun Devil; we’ve placed a link on our home page to provide you with a number of helpful gift suggestions. Consider loading your virtual shopping cart with these presents: • An ASU license plate allows recipients to show their pride everywhere they drive. • Our coffee-table book,“Arizona State University: Visions of a New American University,” showcases dozens of images from all four campuses. • The ASU Wine Club offers top-quality wines at affordable prices, and each bottle comes “dressed” in customized labels featuring photographs of ASU landmarks and historic events. • Memberships in the Alumni Association start at only $45 for a year. If your favorite ASU grad already has a life membership with us, you can upgrade them to our premium Gold Devil Life level for a one-time payment of $150. We hope that you have a happy holiday season and a safe and prosperous 2010. Christine K. Wilkinson, ’66, ’76 Ph. D. President, ASU Alumni Association Senior Vice President and Secretary of the University ASU MAGAZINE 50 ALUMNI NEWS 51 Sun Devils in action Alumni Association packs fall with programming, special events Since’s school has started, the Alumni Association has been everywhere! The fall semester has been packed with events and new programs for alumni, current students and friends of ASU in the community. Here’s a sampler of all the action. ASU Action Network The Alumni Associated inaugurated its electronic action network this fall— a program that is believed to be the first of its kind in higher education. Network members receive biweekly e-mail “alerts” about ASU-sponsored programs and initiatives. Action alerts have included an opportunity to sign a sustainability pledge and a chance to contribute advice to graduating ASU seniors. To learn more about the ASU Action Network, visit http://www.asu.edu/alumni/action_ network/index.html. Whitewashing the A A tidal wave of nearly 1,500 students surged up “A” Mountain (Hayden Butte) north of the Tempe campus on Aug. 21 and participated in the annual tradition of painting the enormous letter “A” white, a color it remained until the first home football game of the season. Arizona State Young Alumni ASU grads under the age of 35 congregated at the swank aloft Tempe hotel for the launch of the Arizona State Young Alumni program on Aug. 24. The crowd of over 75 was treated to happy hour prices on drinks and free food. SAA Kick-off Over 150 ASU students gathered on Aug. 26 for the Student Alumni Association’s welcome event. SAA, which recently experienced a surge in membership for the 2009-10 school year, provided students with an overview of the group, its role as the university’s tradition-keeper, and outlined the many fun activities it has in store during the year. This fall, the Alumni Association hosted the annual whitewashing of the “A” by SAA students (top), a Women in Business mixer at La Bocca (left) and several Young Alumni tailgates at Rula Bula in Tempe. Women in Business: An Evening of Wine and Networking Nearly 60 Sun Devil professionals attended the quarterly gathering of the association’s Women in Business group on Sept. 1. Attendees enjoyed delicious appetizers, luscious libations and the inspiration of each other’s company. Senior Year Experience Kick-off Nearly 200 ASU seniors attended the opening event of the Senior Year Experience program for the 2009-10 school year. Participants munched on pizza and sub sandwiches, tested their skills in the Wii video game lounge, and entered drawings for prizes, including IKEA furniture. Sun Devil Generations Carnival More than 400 alumni and their children attended the Sept. 12 Sun Devil Generations Carnival, an event now marking its third year. Children enjoyed the talents of balloon artists, face painters, characters from their favorite PBS educational shows, mask-making and lots of hands-on activities from ASU colleges and schools. Go Green/Live Green A dedicated group of 30 alums and other individuals attended the Sept. 15 presentation for the Alumni Association’s groundbreaking series on sustainability issues, Go Green/Live Green. The September session featured tips on “greening” one’s home, while the October and November sessions focused on sustainability in the workplace and the crossroads of sustainability and community development, respectively. Young Alumni Pool Party More than two dozen Sun Devil grads made a splash at the Sept. 19 Arizona State Young Alumni pool party, held at The Buttes, A Marriott Resort in Tempe. Live music, sparkling blue water and conviviality were enjoyed by all. A Conversation with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Hundreds of Sun Devils and friends gathered at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on Oct. 9 to hear Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice and the namesake for the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU, discuss leadership styles, strategies for thriving in difficult times and advice for making a difference in one’s community. Home Game Tailgate @ Rula Bula Recent grads participating in the Arizona State Young Alumni program gathered before each home game for a tailgate party at Rula Bula, an Irish restaurant and pub on Mill Avenue. Over 50 alums attended each tailgate and enjoyed authentic Celtic grub and a short walk to Sun Devil Stadium afterwards. 52 NETWORK Reports from around the Sun Devil nation Students, alumni, and supporters of the Native American chapter enjoyed the recent Josiah N. Moore Benefit Dinner. Native American Our chapter is excited to introduce Wenona Benally, Courtney Monteiro, and Verrin Kewenvoyouma as its newest board members. We’re also pleased to welcome back Annabell Bowen as a key board member and Eric Descheenie as president. Our signature event, the 15th Annual Josiah N. Moore Memorial Scholarship Benefit Dinner, was Oct. 24 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa on the Gila River Indian Community. We enjoyed an evening of elegant dining and cultural entertainment as we remembered the influence and legacy of Moore, a former chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation and a professor at Arizona State University, and raised funds for scholarships benefiting Native American students. In addition to our annual dinner, we also had a strong presence at Homecoming, presenting a variety of cultural activities and foods to capture attendees’ delight and wonder. Our chapter also participated in the ASU West Pow-Wow on Nov. 7. We’re hoping to bring the year to a successful close this month with our annual holiday social. For more information our chapter’s events, please visit www.asu.edu/alumni/chapters/special /native_american_news. Contact: Eric Descheenie, (480) 323-9146, descheenie@hotmail.com. Austin In late July, our chapter held one of its most successful Send-Offs ever, which connected incoming Sun Devil students and their families with alumni eager to share their ASU experiences. Thanks to all who made this event successful. During football season this fall, chapter members congregated to watch Sun Devil football, adding the Pennies for Points Program to this year’s gamewatching activities. It’s been fun, and a great way to raise funds for our chapter-level scholarship. If you live near Austin and want to get involved, you can e-mail us at austin.sundevils@gmail.com, find us on Facebook by searching “Austin Sun Devils,” or become a follower of our account on Twitter (@austinsundevils). Contact: Brianne Baird, (254) 231-6538, sundevilbri@hotmail.com. Black Alumni Our chapter welcomed the new Black ASU freshmen students to the university when we participated in the African American Student Welcome event on Aug. 29. We enjoyed meeting the next generation of ASU students, as well as networking with other Black organizations. We also launched our first bimonthly social gathering series earlier this year. Our first gathering took place at Su Vino in Scottsdale, where guests could participate in a wine tasting; a portion of the income from the tastings went to fund scholarships for Black students at ASU. The gathering attracted 45 people, ranging in age from recent graduates to Sun Devils who have been alumni for more than three decades! Contact: Kimberlee Elliott, (480) 337-5606, Kimberlee.elliott@edwardjones.com. Chicago Our chapter has been busy this fall with football game-watching parties, events held in conjunction with the Pac-10 Chicago chapter and a benefit organized to help a local Chicago charity. The winter months will be packed with wine tasting, networking events and more! Our chapter Web site always has up-to-date information on our activities; visit us at www.asuchicago.org. Contact: Roxanna Catlett, asuchicagoalumni@gmail.com. Crow and Christine Wilkinson, president of the Alumni Association, congratulated our group on the success of our annual Tamale Festival, which raises funds to support our scholarship program. This year’s Tamale Festival will be held on Dec. 19. Contact: Carlos Anaya, carlosanaya14@hotmail.com. Georgia After several years of planning, our chapter had a successful and FUN tailgate before the Sept. 26 ASU-Georgia game in Colorado Athens! Sun Devil visitors started the weekend During 2009, we’ve had amazing response to our chapter events, including with a fun and festive gathering hosted by the Georgia chapter at Lola, a local restaua Sun Devil Send-Off this summer and rant located near the host hotel in Atlanta. participation in a Sparky’s Membership Hundreds of alumni and fans packed the Mania party and the ASU CARES day establishment, filling it with ASU pride. of service earlier in the year. On Saturday, nearly 900 Sun Devils This fall, we have enjoyed watching gathered in what’s believed to be the ASU football all season long at the Blake biggest ASU tailgate east of the Street Tavern in Denver. Currently, Mississippi before the big game. The we’re planning our chapter’s signature Classic Center was a great host site for event, Ski Day 2010, in the mountains Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgate. The event of Colorado. It promises to be a was emceed by Dr. Christine Wilkinson, snow-inspired blast! president of the Alumni Association, and Contact: Dave Kem, (303) 332-7226, featured guest speakers such as Senior cambodave@asualumni.org. Associate Athletic Director Don Bocchi El Diablito (Yuma) and legendary former Head Football Coach Frank Kush, as well as former On Sept. 2, ASU President Michael football players Newton Williams and Crow met with members of our club for Jerry Bell. Our chapter president, Seth a lunch to discuss the current status of Deitchman, welcomed visitors to the the university and outreach efforts to state, and Philadelphia Chapter President students across the state of Arizona. Fernando Torres led the crowd in a rousing “A-S-U” cheer. At the tailgate, we ate fabulous Southern-style cooking, listened to great music, and practiced our game cheers with the Sun More than 900 Sun Devil fans attended the Sept. 26 tailgate in Athens, Ga., held before the football game pitting ASU against Devil spirit squad the University of Georgia Bulldogs. and Sparky. We were fortunate to be in an indoor facility because it poured from the start of the tailgate all the way through the first half of the football game. Even though the Sun Devils didn’t win, they provided us with a thrilling game, and everyone had a wonderful time. Photos of the tailgate are posted at www.asu.edu/alumni/stt. Chapter contact: Seth Deitchman, sethsundevil@yahoo.com. Greater Philadelphia The Greater Philadelphia Chapter hosted its first “Southwest Style” Sun Devil Picnic at Mondauk Park in Ambler, Penn., on Aug. 15. ASU friends and families enjoyed carne asada and grilled chicken tacos, as well as all the Southwestern sides we miss so much! A mean game of Bolo toss (to remind us of our tailgating days) resulted in one alum having to climb a tree to retrieve a wayward game piece. Everyone appeared to enjoy the picnic; we look forward to repeating this new Philly Sun Devil tradition! Contact: Fernando Torres, (267) 229-3139, fernando.j.torres@gmail.com. Leadership Scholarship Program Our chapter had a busy fall connecting alumni and students. In August, chapter leaders greeted 25 new students into the Leadership Scholarship Program establishing the importance of alumni contact and reinvestment. The Annual LSP Alumni Career Night in October allowed current students to meet business leaders, lawyers, doctors, non-profit leaders, and university officials and build their resource network. During Homecoming, the chapter celebrated the 25th year of its connection with Key Club International. Special guests included James Rund, senior vice president of University Student Initiatives, and former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano. Events included a reception at Tempe Mission Palms, a great tent at the block party and group tickets to the ASU President Michael Crow (back row, center) met in September with members of the ASU Alumni El Diablito Club in Yuma for a lunch that provided an update related to recent university accomplishments, as well as important student outreach efforts. Crow also met with Yuma’s business and education leaders and elected officials during his visit to discuss university activities. Crow and ASU Alumni Association President Christine Wilkinson (front row, farthest right) congratulated El Diablito on the success of their annual Tamale Festival scholarship fundraiser; this year’s Tamale Festival will be held on Dec. 19. ASU MAGAZINE SUN DEVIL NETWORK 54 55 football game. Our chapter was also able to raise more than $6,000 in one night for our Christine K. Wilkinson award, which provides vital scholarship support. Contact: Patrick Maurer (pm@pmaurer.com) or David Wahls (david.wahls@asu.edu, (480) 727-0827). Los Angeles We’ve had a fantastic fall, hosting chapter events that are always popular with Sun Devils in the area. We had a mighty Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgate and pep rally prior to the ASU-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl in Pasedena on Nov. 14. We celebrated the 10th anniversary of our annual “Duel in the Desert” bowling tournament on Nov. 22, as we battled to recapture the tournament title from the University of Arizona’s local alumni group. As the magazine goes to press, our chapter is gearing up to cheer at ASU men’s basketball games against UCLA on Dec. 31 and against USC on Jan. 2. We’ll be selling tickets and hosting pre-games before the USC men’s game— come out and show your Sun Devil spirit with us! We’re also looking forward to attending the women’s basketball contests that will pit ASU against those same two universities in early March. Contact: Eddie DeVall, (323) 653-4578, devall@aol.com. Northern California The NorCal Chapter hosted two great events this fall – the annual Sparky’s Wine and Dine event on Oct. 17, followed by the Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgate party on Oct. 24 prior to the ASU-Stanford game. These events were the two most anticipated activities on our chapter’s calendar, and we thank alum Judd Finkelstein from Judd’s Hill winery and the staff of the Alumni Associaiton for helping make each event possible. Contact: Sean Pate, (650) 207-6587, spate@norcalsundevils.com. Orange County Our chapter’s been buzzing with activity lately, with a successful football viewing party kick-off on Sept. 5 at Sharkeez in Newport Beach and our participation in the Nov. 21 Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgate before the ASU- UCLA game in Pasadena. Join us this month for the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade; we always have a great time at what’s considered one of the premiere holiday events in the nation! Contact: Chris Bissonnette, (949) 225-9398, chrisbissonnette@aol.com. Western Pennsylvania/ Northern Appalachia Our chapter has two upcoming events we’d like to invite all Sun Devil alums to enjoy with us. On Dec. 4, we have organized an ASU night with the Radio City Rockettes, the internationally famous New York dance troupe, at the Pittsburgh Benedum Theatre. We also are looking forward to our third annual evening at the Pittsburgh Cabaret on Feb. 12, 2010. We plan to gather for cocktails and dinner before each event; join us and meet other loyal ASU alumni and make new ASU friends. To RSVP for either of these events, contact Charles Tichy. Contact: Charles Tichy, (412) 487-2870, charles.tichy@sru.edu. gifts with sun devil spirit This holiday season, give gifts with an ASU-connection. The Sun Devils on your list will thank you for these unique and personalized gifts. Order today before the holiday rush! asu alumni association wine Choose your bottle from a wide selection of award-winning wines then customize it with an ASU label and a personal message. The result is a truly unique bottle of wine that could only come from you! personalwine.com/asu visions of a new american university Every Sun Devil should have one. It’s your pictorial reminder of your alma mater; its famous landmarks and the people that make this place special. Filled with more than 180 full color photographs of ASU, it retails for $39.95. bookstore.asu.edu/asu/MerchList.aspx?ID=2443 asu alumni association membership If you or someone you know is not yet a member of the ASU Alumni Association, it’s time to plug into the dynamic community of Sun Devils making a difference in the world. There are also many benefits of membership including free tickets to selected ASU sporting events, free career counseling, member appreciation events and discounts. An annual membership may be tax-deductible. Membership starts at $45 a year. asu.edu/alumni/membership. asu.edu/alumni Shop for your holiday cards ...and more! Other personalized gift items address labels notecards children's book notepads birth announcements journals magnet pads . . . and more! bookstore.asu.edu cclick lick o onn PPersonalized ersonaliized A ASU SU PProduct roduct 56 NOTES Law Man She got game Sun Devil Marriages Sun Devil Births Investigating Options Law man Henry (Hank) Fradella ‘97 Ph.D. Hank Fradella didn’t embark on his teaching career with visions of scholarly glory. Quite the contrary. “When I was a doctoral student, I had no interest in doing research,” mused Fradella, now professor and chair of the Criminal Justice Department at California State University, Long Beach. “I was just getting the Ph.D., the initials after my name, to open up doors so that I could teach. I never thought that I would produce research.” How is it, then, that Fradella has since cranked out more than 60 published articles and books? Whatever the reason, his productivity has not gone unnoticed. Before even reaching his 40th birthday, he was honored with the 2008-2009 Fellows Award by the Western Society of Criminology for significant contributions to the field of criminology. Fradella’s undergraduate education inspired him to become a professor. His graduate education in law and forensic science further nurtured his desire to teach. But it wasn’t until he landed at ASU’s doorstep to pursue a doctorate in interdisciplinary justice studies that Fradella would begin to appreciate how his research endeavors could shape not only his teaching career but also his influence on criminal justice education and the system at large. He credits then-ASU professor John Hepburn (now ASU’s vice provost) with opening his eyes to the power – and empowerment – of research. “I owe my career to him,” Fradella said.“He taught me how to do research in a way that was pleasing to me. He showed me that research can be fun and interesting and can have an influence on public policy.” Fradella’s specialization within criminal justice is called law and social control – how governmental institutions try to control human behavior through the exercise of law. “The overwhelming majority of criminologists study the police or corrections,” noted Fradella. “Very few study law and social control. I wanted to marry my background of having a law degree, a master’s in forensic science and a Ph.D. in justice studies, to bring all three of those together in my studies and teaching.” He writes on topics such as insanity and diminished capacity defenses; legal regulation of sexual conduct; and how the criminal justice system uses forensic science to solve crimes. “Those are the three main areas and they kind of intersect and overlap with each other,” he explained. By Jessica McCann, a Scottsdale-based freelance writer. 2000s Aleksandra Chojnacka ‘09 M.B.A. and Adam Klawonn ‘01 B.A. recently received $95,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to advance their mobile technology project, The Daily Phoenix, which brings news and information to the communities around the light rail system in the Valley of the Sun. Jeremy Kelstrom ‘09 M.B.A. is currently the chief executive officer of Arizona Security Inc., a company that plans to launch signature verification technology perfected by Rolls-Royce in metro Phoenix in 200 day care centers in order to help protect children’s safety. Billy Cundiff ‘09 M.B.A. recently received his M.B.A. degree from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. While earning his degree, Cundiff was participating in NFL training camps, practicing with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns. ◆Ashley J. George ‘06 B.S. recently had a video entered into the Cannes Young Lions Film Competition. Barrett Taylor ‘06 B.S. recently created a company, ECO Watercraft, and has engineered the first electric jet-ski. Joshua Summers ‘04 Ph.D., an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Clemson University, received the Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award at the SAE World Congress in April. The Teetor Award recognizes and honors younger engineering educators who are successfully preparing engineering students for their future careers through contact with practicing engineers in industry and government. ◆Nicole Almond Tucker ‘04 B.A., ‘09 M.Np.S. received her Master of Nonprofit Studies with an emphasis in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation in May. Sasha Pasulka ‘03 B.S. is the founder of EvilBeetGossip.com, an entertainment-driven Web site and ZeldaLily.com, which focuses on women’s issues and interests. Henry N. Pearson ‘06 B.A. and former ASU student Nick Adenhart were honored with a special memorial Sept. 4 on the Danforth Chapel Lawn of ASU's Tempe campus. Pearson and Adenhart, along with another passenger, were killed April 9 when their car was struck by a drunk driver as they traveled to a celebration of Adenhart's debut as a Dane Platt Major League Baseball pitcher. Large photographs of Henry and Nick were displayed and garnished with gold and maroon flowers, while warm and upbeat stories about Henry and Nick, written by their ASU friends, were handed out to students as they walked through the courtyard. Rory C. Hansen ‘06 B.S. recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at the recruit training command in Great Lakes, Ill. Charla R. Davis ‘06 B.A. recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Bill Konigsberg ‘05 M.F.A. was recently awarded the 21st Annual Lambda Literary Award for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) literature in the children/young adult fiction category. Dane Platt ‘05 B.S.E. is currently the CEO of Dixon Golf, a Mesa-based company that manufactures the first-ever 100 percent eco-friendly golf balls. Katherine Barth ‘04 B.A. recently accepted a position at Holland and Knight located in Tampa, Fla., as a public relations coordinator. Natashia M. Madrid ‘04 B.S. recently graduated from the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. She has been accepted in the residency program at Maimonides Medical Center in New York, where she will spend the next year training. She plans to pursue a specialty in OB/GYN as her career choice. Henry N. Pearson ◆William B. Carter ‘02 Ph.D. had his dissertation “Indian Alliances and the Spanish in the Southwest, 750-1750” published in a book on Southwest history. William Elza ‘02 B.A. received a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree from Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in May. ◆= Active, dues-paying member of the ASU Alumni Association Nick Adenhart Jennifer Paige Boonlorn ‘01 B.A. has started her own company designing and selling headbands, Headwear & Accessories For The Posh Prepster. Boonlorn also started a business scholarship in memory of her parents, the Paisan and Joyce Boonlorn Memorial Scholarship. Kevin J. Herbst ‘00 M.B.A. has had several books published over the past few years by Author House: “The End of Heroes” in 2006 and “Stone of Zoral” in 2009. ASU MAGAZINE CLASS NOTES Brian T. Wallace 58 59 Sandra Festa Ryan 1990s ◆Geoffrey Gephart ‘99 B.I.S. recently accepted a term as chairman of the board for the Streamwood (Ill.) Park District Foundation, which raises funds for improvements and scholarships in conjunction with Streamwood Park Districts programs and facilities. He also recently accepted a position at the Boy Scouts of America office in located in St. Charles, Ill. as the campaign director for Cub Scout Adventure Camp. Christian Wells ’98 M.A., ’03 Ph.D., associate professor of Anthropology at the University of South Florida, has been appointed founding director of the USF Office of Sustainability. His primary responsibility is to coordinate university-wide initiatives in support of the university’s strategic goal of building a sustainable campus environment and reducing its carbon footprint. ◆Cary Lackey ‘95 J.D. is a registered agent/contract advisor with the Canadian Football League Players Association. Lenny McGill ‘94 B.S. was hired in early July as assistant director of college scouting for the Denver Broncos. ◆Victor Mendez ‘94 M.B.A. was nominated by President Obama to lead the Federal Highway Administration, and was confirmed in that position in July. He also was recently given the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Texas-El Paso, his undergraduate alma mater. Brian T. Wallace ‘94 B.S. has been promoted to partner at WithumSmith+Brown, a public accounting and consulting firm. ◆Paul Berumen ‘93 B.A. recently accepted a position with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as senior advisor to the TSA’s chief of staff. Michael J. Sheehan ◆Sandra Festa Ryan ‘93 M.S., chief nurse practitioner officer at the Take Care Health Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens, was honored as a 2009 fellow at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners’ national conference held in Nashville, Tenn. Michael J. Sheehan ‘92 B.A. is now a shareholder in the law firm Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC. Paul Faith 1980s ◆Dallas Eubanks ‘88 B.S. recently accepted a civilian position at U.S. Army Command & General Staff College located in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., as assistant professor. Michael A. Thompson ‘88 B.S. has been elected president of the Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Chris Benguhe ‘92 B.A. recently launched http://OneMoreDayAlive.com, a Web site dedicated to highlighting individuals who have overcome life’s great tragedies, one day at a time. He also recently published a book, “Overcoming Life’s 7 Common Tragedies: Opportunities for Discovering God.” Edward Opstein ‘87 M.P.A. was recently promoted to senior vice president of Universal Field Services, Inc., one of the largest land and right of way acquisition firms in the nation. James Mejia ‘92 M.B.A. was named the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation and 9News leader of the year. Mejia is the CEO of the Denver Preschool program and is a longtime advocate of education in Denver. Dean Scott ‘87 B.S. is the creator of FunnyVet.com, the only veterinary cartoon/humor Web site, which contains not only cartoons, but song parodies and helpful hints for pre-vet and vet students. J. David Markham ‘91 M.A.E. was recently awarded the Médaille d’or du Rayonnement Culturel (Gold Medal for Cultural Radiance), by La Renaissance Francaise. Markham is the president of the International Napoleonic Society, a scholarly organization dedicated to Napoleonic history. Jonathan Sands ‘86 B.S. addressed the Patient Congress in Washington, D.C. in June discussing the topic, “Late-stage cancer diagnosis and the power of positive thinking during the treatment process.” Christopher L. Dyer ‘90 Ph.D. was named the new dean of the college of arts and sciences at Our Lady of the Lake University in North Carolina. Benjamin C. Flores ‘90 Ph.D., a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Texas-El Paso, was recently honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Presented each year to individuals or organizations, the award recognizes the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering and who belong to minorities that are underrepresented in those fields. ◆= Active, dues-paying member of the ASU Alumni Association ◆Abbie S. Fink ‘86 B.A. is currently vice president and general manager of HMA Public Relations, one of the Southwest’s leading full-service public relations and marketing communications agencies. Bridgette M. de Gyarfas ‘84 B.S. is currently a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. She teaches classes in legal analysis and writing, as well as classes on legal defenses and selected topics in American law. Stella Pope Duarte ‘82 B.A.E. participated in a book signing of her novel, “If I Die in Juarez,” during the YWCA Maricopa County’s Women’s Empowerment Lecture & Lunch in September. She also spoke at the event. visions of a new american university A photo-filled book featuring the photography of Tim Trumble with a foreward by ASU President Michael M. Crow. The perfect gift for every Sun Devil, this keepsake book includes more than 180 photos that capture the spirit and character of ASU. Take a walk down memory lane and rediscover Sun Devil pride. Here’s how to get a copy of this beautiful keepsake: Visit this Web site http://bookstore.asu.edu/asu/MerchList.aspx?ID= 2443 or purchase a copy at the ASU Bookstore on any of ASU’s four campuses for just $39.95 Show your ASU pride with maroon and gold clothing and alumni gear from the official store of ASU, the ASU Bookstores. http://bookstore.asu.edu The ASU Bookstore is an official partner of the ASU Alumni Association. ASU MAGAZINE CLASS NOTES 60 61 Members of the 1969 ASU baseball team, which won the College World Series, gathered at the 2009 College World Series in Omaha, Neb., for a 40th anniversary celebration. (Photo: Charles Cairns, Charles Cairns Photography) David Paige William H. McAnally Rick Williams ‘75 B.S., a senior research statistician at RTI International, has been named an American Statistical Association Fellow for his outstanding contributions to the statistical science in development and application of analysis methods. Mark Flatten ‘81 B.A. was recently hired by the Goldwater Institute, an Arizona based public-policy “think tank” that exposes government corruption and abuse. Carol Nelson Shepherd ‘75 B.A. was recently honored by The Women’s Resource Center in Wayne, Pa., for her notable contributions in the legal profession. 1970s Tom Hecker ‘74 B.S. swam the Catalina Channel off the coast of southern California on July 10 and became the 27th person in the world to complete the “Triple Crown” of open-water swimming. Cheryl Lynn Ney ‘77 B.S. was recently appointed associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies at California State University-Los Angeles. ◆Daniel R. Ortega Jr. ‘74 B.A., ‘77 J.D., a partner at the law firm of Roush, McCracken, Guerrero, Miller and Ortega, has been elected chair of the National Council of La Raza’s board of directors. Paul J. Faith ‘75 B.S. a managing member and founder at the law firm Faith, Ledyard, Nickel & Shelsky, PLC, was named to the 2009 list of “Southwest Super Lawyers.” Steven Gregory ‘74 B.S. recently returned from a CNFA Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer assignment in Kenya, where he improved safety and productivity at a local sunflower seed and oil company. ◆= Active, dues-paying member of the ASU Alumni Association ◆Walter Lemon ‘74 B.S.E. was elected chair of the National Certification Committee at the July national convention of the American Society of Professional Estimators. ◆T. J. DeSoto ‘74 B.S. is a client director for Dimension Data, and lives in Danville, Calif. He has spent the last 30 years in the information technology sector. Jon E. Pettibone ‘73 B.S. was named the managing partner for the law firm Quarles & Brady LLP. He also was named in the 2009 issue of “Southwest Super Lawyers” magazine as being among the top 5 percent of attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico. David A. Paige ‘70 B.A. a commercial litigation attorney for the firm Quarles & Brady LLP, was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2010 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” 1960s William H. McAnally ‘69 B.S.E. is the 2009 recipient of the Hans Albert Einstein Award, an honor given annually to a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers who has made significant contributions to the engineering profession in the areas of erosion control, sedimentation and or waterway development. She got game Eileen Thournir ‘76 B.A.E. Eileen Thournir pursued her Bachelor of Arts in Education at Arizona State University because of its emphasis on innovative teaching methods. While student teaching a history class for Scottsdale High School juniors, she encouraged her students to interpret and illustrate historical themes using multimedia and music. “It was a way of getting the student into the role of historian,”Thournir says, which she believed was much more engaging and enlightening than rote memorization.“I think that [experience] really helped me fine-tune my skills relating to children.” Thournir returned to her native California after graduating in 1976, but found no job openings for teachers. For the next four years, she worked as an electronics assembler and apprentice technician in the Bay Area. She moved to Colorado in 1980, and spent the next 27 years pursuing careers as diverse as journeyman electrician, public utility dispatcher, technical writer, and software designer. Over the years, she struggled to determine her life’s purpose. It took the Virginia Tech massacre and witnessing her young nephew playing violent video games to point her in a new direction. “I wanted to create games that were nonviolent, non-gender specific, that had good social values, that families could play together, and that teachers could bring into classrooms,” she says. Thournir founded her company, Enlightened Play!, in April 2007. Her first game, EcoRanch, is set on a ranch that rehabilitates neglected animals. Players adopt an animal, and trade tokens for its basic needs. To move about the board, players make choices based on their answers to “awareness” questions. These questions don’t have right or wrong answers; instead, they encourage players to discuss their thoughts and feelings, and explore ideas on global-community issues. Made in the U.S.A., EcoRanch was first sold in April 2008. It’s available from toy retailers selling “green” products, Thournir’s Web site, Barnes & Noble bookstores and other specialty toy stores. Thournir already has developed her next environmentally themed board game, but she’s waiting for the economy to recover before seeking capital for its manufacture. Thournir believes her games embody lessons she learned at ASU, especially how choices made and actions taken can impact both local and global communities.“The things that I worked for and believed in then are still true for me today,” she says.“I’ve tried to make choices that are positive and help others, especially children.” By Kristy Lantz Astry, a Denver-based freelance writer. ASU MAGAZINE CLASS NOTES 62 63 SUN DEVIL MARRIAGES & ANNIVERSARIES James and Harriet Newman Edward Ableser and Hilary (Heller) Ableser Kristine Kasel and Jon Dolgaard ◆Edward Ableser ’00 B.A., ’00 B.A., ’03 M.C. and Hilary (Heller) Ableser ’07 B.A. were married July 11, 2009 at the Whittell Mansion in Lake Tahoe, Nev. David Kimball Gouldthorpe ‘98 B.S. and Heather Gouldthorpe were married on November 27, 2008. ◆Lindsey (Gosma) Donhauser ‘07 M.F.A. and Timothy Donhauser ‘06 B.S.D. were married on May 23, 2009, on the rooftop of the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale. ◆Kristine Kassel ‘91 B.S. and Jon Dolgaard were married on November 17, 2007, in Scottsdale. ◆Jimmie B. Kerr ‘58 B.S. and Donna (Kemper) Kerr recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family at their home in Casa Grande. The two were married on November 21, 1958. ◆James O. Newman ’59 B.A.E. and Harriet Newman recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 11, 2009. SUN DEVIL BIRTHS Jianna Alexa Macaluso Andrew Lawrence Kelling Maya Rose Farr Jianna Alexa Macaluso was born to ◆Marc Macaluso '09 B.A. and Shekinah Carrasquillo on July 29, 2009, in Scottsdale. Cambria Skye was born to Carrie (Cameron) Nyland ‘03 B.A.E. and Chris Nyland ‘03 B.S. on May 14, 2009 in Fort Myers, Fla. Charlotte Lauren Faltis was born to Whitney (Jensen) Faltis ‘03 B.A. and Antonin (Jon) Faltis ‘05 B.A. on January 7, 2009 in Scottsdale. Andrew Lawrence Kelling was born to ◆Danelle G. Kelling, '00 B.A., '04 J.D. and Damon Kelling on July 28, 2009. Henry Benjamin Goldman was born to ◆Aaron Goldman ‘94 M.A. and Susan Goldman on May 5, 2009. Maya Rose Farr was born to ◆Nathan Farr ‘03 M.B.A. and Laure Rakvic-Farr on December 3, 2008 in Madison, Wisc. Julian Marshall Boan was born to Amelia (Davison) Boan ‘02 B.A. and Chris Boan ‘07 B.S. on June 2, 2009 in Phoenix. ◆= Active, dues-paying member of the ASU Alumni Association be the ultimate sun devil Be a Gold Devil As a Gold Devil Life Member, you receive: A Gold Devil Life Membership pin Recognition in ASU Magazine Knowledge that your contribution helps advance ASU by enabling scholarships, alumni awards and other programs All the benefits of life membership in the ASU Alumni Association A Gold Devil Life Membership in the ASU Alumni Association is among the greatest ways to demonstrate your ASU pride. Being a Gold Devil is a distinction you carry for life. Gold Devils exemplify the proud spirit of ASU alumni of today and yesterday; men and women of action who helped raise funds to build the Memorial Union, participated in the name-change ballot initiative in 1958 and spearheaded the drive to renovate Old Main in the late 1990s. Gold Devil membership costs $650 for new members or current ASU Alumni Association Annual Members; $800 for couples. Current Life Members can upgrade for only $150. Please visit asu.edu/alumni/membership and become a Gold Devil today or call us at (800) ALUMNUS or (480) 965-2586. statement of ownership 2009 ASU MAGAZINE 64 Investigating options Ryan Krostue ‘99 B.S. As he trained to become a journalist during his time at Arizona State University, Ryan Krostue ’99 B.S. didn’t plan on becoming the CEO of a backgroundscreening company. Things just sort of worked out that way. A happy accident, you might say. But it’s one that his education – both in the classroom and out – helped prepare him for. “As a journalism/public-relations graduate from the Cronkite School, this is not an obvious choice,” he said. Krostue is the CEO of Universal Background Screening, based in Phoenix. He credits his array of extracurricular experiences at ASU – working with the student alumni association and the homecoming committee – with helping him prepare for the demands of his current executive position. “ASU’s Leadership Scholarship Program provided a solid foundation of leadership skills,” he said.“The program included classroom instruction, as well as exposure to community, government and business leaders. Exposure and access to University leaders and administrators, in particular Christine Wilkinson, Neil Giuliano, Jeff Lowe and Arlene Chin, were instrumental in encouraging me to always strive for the next level of success and excellence in all aspects of my life.” So how did he go from being a journalism student to running a company that provides both background checks and drug screening for clients across the country? “After the software company I worked for went under during the dot-com bust, I was looking for another marketing position in the technology industry,” Krostue said.“In the meantime, I was hired to do some marketing consulting for the company that would later become Universal Background Screening. At the time, it was a 10-person operation focused on the Arizona market. “A few months later, our current owner purchased the company. … In 2007 I was promoted to CEO, having previously led the company’s sales, marketing and product development efforts.” It was an unexpected move, but one he was getting ready for even before he realized it. “The skills I learned in the journalism program – research, writing, fact-checking, etc. – certainly prepared me well for my career,” he said. By Bill Goodykoontz with urban temperatures 11 degrees higher than in surrounding areas... how do we design cities that stay naturally cool? Arizona State University is rising to the challenge, taking on the big issues of our time. Challenges of the environment, social justice, quality education, the economy, health and cultural diversity. ASU is applying its strengths in education and research to create local solutions with global impact. 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