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JU Welcomes Kerry & Judy Romesburg Plus: New College of Business & JU’s 70thth Anniversary
Message from the Publisher Dear JU Magazine Reader,
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hat an exciting time to be joining the Jacksonville University community. After our first few months at JU, Judy and I are still very much in the learning mode, but we are already ardent converts to Jacksonville and Jacksonville University. We have learned what a President wonderful university we share with Kerry Romesburg our talented and dedicated faculty and staff, what an absolutely first rate educational experience we offer our students and what amazingly supportive and successful alumni we have. We also have one of the best Boards of Trustees I have worked with in the last 30 years. All of this creates a strong sense of optimism and promise for the university we love, share and support. I must thank the entire campus community for making me and Judy feel so welcome and so much an immediate part of the University. Our introduction to Florida, to Jacksonville and to Jacksonville University could not have been more welcoming, open and friendly. I also need to give special thanks to Dr. Catherine Morgan, the Board of Trustees, and all those who worked so diligently to guide JU through what was one of the most challenging times in our history. Last year will represent a defining moment for Jacksonville University. That was the year we had to regroup and retrench in order to ensure the University’s financial future. Thanks to the efforts of the entire campus, our university is moving positively forward. I am honored to have the opportunity of building upon the work of all of those who have preceded me in defining and creating this excellent institution of higher learning. Jacksonville University has a rich, interesting history which has involved a number of pivotal stages and events. Last year’s financial difficulty was not the first critical challenge faced by JU in its 70 years. And, as you will read in this issue of JU Magazine, each time the University community has rallied to preserve and strengthen our institution.
Kerry D. Romesburg President
contents Fall 2004, Volume 8, Number 1
magazine For Alumni and Friends of Jacksonville University
Publisher Kerry D. Romesburg
Editor
On the Cover:
Kerry and Judy Romesburg have marveled at JU’s campus beauty since their first visit. Cover Photography:
John Daigle Jr.
Assistant Editor Sara F. Coleman
Design Christopher D. Layton
laird
features
Publication Coordinator
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Robin Bangert-Lenard
Romesburg Takes Charge
Alumni Section Editor
Kerry Romesburg brings to JU years of presidential experience and a passion for building great universities.
Olga Bayer
Web Version Ryan Hart
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Class Notes
JU Celebrates 70 Years
Patricia Reeves
JU’s campus and alumni prepare to celebrate seven decades of academic excellence. Plus, get ready for Homecoming 2004 MargaRATaville style!
Contributing Photography laird
Contributing Writers Olga Bayer Kathy Ellis
Devan Stuart
Contributing Design Lynette Fransen Principle Design Group _________________________________
Jacksonville University Contacts:
Main Number . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-8000 Admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7000 admissions@ju.edu Alumni/Class Notes . . . . . (904) 256-7201 alumni@ju.edu Public Affairs. . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7033 jdaigle@ju.edu Registrar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7091 cbarret@ju.edu Institutional Advancement (904) 256-7095 jframpt@ju.edu Website . . . . . http://www.jacksonville.edu Jacksonville University Magazine is published Jacksonville University Magazine is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Jacksonville by the Office of Public Affairs, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N., University, 2800 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394, (904) 745-7033. Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394, (904) 256-7033. Please send send changes changes of of address address to: to: Please Development Jacksonville University, InstitutionalServices, Advancement, Jacksonville 2800 University Blvd., N., Jacksonville, University, 2800 University Blvd. N., FL 32211-3394. Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394. © © 2004 2002 Jacksonville Jacksonville University University
Business is Booming at New Davis College
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With an updated curriculum and a hightech home, JU’s Davis College of Business enters a new era of management and leadership education.
Athletic Association Arrives Again
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Dedicated Dolphin fans are reviving the group that supports JU Athletics.
Advancing Healthcare
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One JU alum is helping find new ways of detecting and treating breast cancer.
In 2000, Kaplan’s College Guide called Jacksonville University one of the “hidden treasures” in American higher education. Now the treasure is a little less hidden. This year, U.S.News & World Report’s annual ranking of colleges and universities in America listed Jacksonville University among the best in the South at number 52. Dear Reader: Last spring, amidst the university’s budget reductions, we published a modified version of JU Magazine with most of its content exclusively online. Like the rest of the University, this fall JU Magazine is returning to normal. And, as we do, we want to thank the thousands of readers who took the opportunity to log on and read last spring’s issue on our website. For those of you who didn’t get that chance, we have republished some of the articles and classnotes from the spring in this issue. Thank you for sticking with us and continuing to show your Dolphin spirit. The Editor
features News Briefs
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Faculty News
A new capital campaign kicks off seeking to reopen Swisher Theatre.
Student News
31
Sports Shorts
Renovating Swisher
Serving Up Smiles
JU’s orthodontic residents are improving smiles in Jacksonville’s underserved communities.
Alumni News Class Notes JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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Romesburg Takes the Reins by Sara F. Coleman • photo by laird
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r. Kerry D. Romesburg is the kind of “My gosh, I’m learning like crazy,” he said. person who does not shy away from “And, if there’s anything I love, it’s learning. It’s challenges and opportunities. In 2002, like trying something new. So I’m learning when he was the longest serving university about the school. And, I’m learning about the president in the state of Utah, he walked away people. And I will soon be learning about the from a comfortable job and a long list of students,” he said in late summer, before institutional achievements to start a brand new students returned for classes. state college in Nevada. This summer, when Romesburg was quick to point out that Jacksonville University approached him for the while he has definite priorities for the coming presidency, he again seized the opportunity. year, he needs more input before forming a As a small, private institution, JU was vastly vision for the university’s future. “I do not have different than the publicly funded institutions the audacity to have a vision yet,” he stated he had worked for. It would be a great emphatically. “unknown” to him. “Nothing,” he said, “attracts me more than the unknown.” Romesburg has indeed built a reputation for blazing new trails from his time as a young higher education administrator to his tenure at blossoming institutions in the West. He brings with him to Jacksonville a record of achievement in the Romesburg enjoyed the great outdoors during his stays in the Western public university systems states. Here, he rides through the picturesque Heber Valley in the of Arizona, Alaska, Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Utah and Nevada. On July 1, he became the seventh president of JU. As the “This institution has 70 years of history in University approaches its 70-year anniversary, providing excellence in education to the First Romesburg is prepared to rebuild the Coast region of Florida. And we’ve got an institution’s finances and continue JU’s tradition incredible heritage. I’m not going to mess that of excellence. up. We’re going to expand it. We’re going to First on his agenda is listening to JU’s make sure people understand it. That is going constituents – students, parents, faculty, staff, to be our message: we have a heritage of alumni and friends – to hear their thoughts on excellence at this institution and we’re the University. continuing that forward.”
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The fire safety program at Utah Valley State College brought Romesburg on a flashover (controlled burn) exercise in their training facility. Programs such as fire safety were part of Utah Valley’s technical school heritage.
“The number one priority is really making certain that we have our budget in shape and our fiscal controls where they should be,” he said. “There is a plan – a three-year plan – that I’m charged with implementing. It will get this school back in good financial shape.” The core elements of the financial plan Romesburg referenced involve increasing enrollment, raising private funds more successfully, watching institutional expenditures at the institution and monitoring investments more closely. Beyond that, Romesburg is fired up about raising money to renovate the 48-year-old Swisher Theatre so that JU’s well-regarded theatre program has a home for hands-on teaching and learning. (See related story on page 26.) More general fund raising to support student scholarships, academic programs and other initiatives will also be on his agenda for the first year. Dr. John Balog, vice president for student life at JU, said the presidential search committee sought an experienced president and proven fund-raiser, but also a leader who had dealt with challenging financial situations. “I felt personally that Kerry was the total package,” Balog said. During his interviews, Romesburg asked tough questions about recruitment and retention of students, and reviewed the financial recovery plan developed in the spring. The University needed a leader and a manager, Balog said, and has succeeded on both fronts.
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Early on, Romesburg signaled his commitment to bringing Jacksonville University through its financial rebuilding and into a phase where it can strengthen existing programs and develop new ones. On his first day on the job, he told a Florida Times-Union reporter that Jacksonville would be his last professional stop. “This school needs a long-term commitment,” he explained.
AN EARLY INTEREST IN ADMINISTRATION ___________________________________ Romesburg’s academic career began at Arizona State University, where he studied math after graduating from a tough, inner-city high school in Phoenix. He had a scholarship when he started, but lost it after having “an awful good time that first semester,” he recalled. He started working nights for the pressman’s union and catching some sleep in his truck before classes. He married Judy Land, whom he had known in high school, at the age of 20 and immediately improved his academic performance. After graduating, he taught math in the Phoenix public schools and earned a master’s degree part-time before considering a doctoral program. In 1970, Romesburg received a generous fellowship to study higher education administration at ASU. By 1975, Romesburg was executive director of the Arizona Commission for Higher Education, which handled statewide
budgeting and planning for all the state institutions and distributed federal funds among the universities, among other tasks. Then Alaska called, and the Romesburgs moved to Juneau by way of a two-and-a-half day ferry from Seattle with their two young children. When they arrived, Juneau was in the midst of its worst winter in 13 years, said Judy Romesburg, and she had never seen a snowfall growing up in Arizona. But they fell in love with what Judy called the “most majestic beauty in the world.” Kerry Romesburg guided Alaska in establishing its statewide commission for higher education during the next 13 years. The whole family enjoyed living in the relatively small city of Juneau, where they hiked, skied and fished. It was a wonderful place to raise children, Judy said.
THE PRESIDENCY BECKONS ___________________________________ In 1988, Romesburg accepted the presidency at Utah Valley Community College, which had just expanded beyond its 40-year legacy as a technical school. He led the college through a period of significant change, including expansion into a four-year state college and enrollment growth of 19,000 students in 14 years. It was one of the fastest-growing colleges in the country, Romesburg said. He helped raise $80 million, much of which was used to build the 1 million square feet of facility space added to the campus. He also team-taught an ethics course as part of Utah Valley’s nationally known ethics center. Romesburg was unofficially rated the number one adjunct faculty member by students on teaching evaluations, though he declined the honor several years so that other faculty could be recognized. He and Judy lived in a home in the center of the rapidly expanding campus and became very involved in college and community activities. Brad Cook, vice president of academic affairs at Utah
During his lengthy stay in Utah, Romesburg developed a reputation for participating in student stunts, such as bungeejumping.
Romesburg on a hike through Pariah Canyon in southern Utah. Valley, said, “[Romesburg] truly led this institution to heights never anticipated or imagined by anyone in this valley. His tenure here will always be characterized as a veritable golden age of growth and progress.” In 2002, Nevada officials asked Romesburg to be president of a brand new state college that was opening. His first inclination, he said, was to not leave Utah, where he had become devoted to the campus and had developed strong working relationships with legislators, the governor and other important constituents. “One of the challenges of leadership,” said former Utah Regent Charles Johnson, “lies in bringing together divergent groups and getting them to move in the same direction. [Kerry Romesburg] does that extremely well.” But Romesburg viewed the Nevada job as another exceptional opportunity to start something from scratch. “I can remember talking with Judy and I said, ‘You know, the job I had in Utah is a once in a lifetime opportunity – to come into a place and build, essentially create a new institution. Hardly anybody in the country gets that kind of chance. And I’m being offered it again.’ ” Romesburg was drawn to the challenge. He became the president of Nevada State College, which had bare ground and zero students at the time. “I will tell you, all my colleagues thought I was crazy,” he recalled. “They just couldn’t understand why I would ever give up what we had and go to work that hard again.” Romesburg effectively served as president, chief budget officer and chief academic officer, and played a hands-on role in developing the college from the ground up. Under his two years of leadership, Nevada State earned accreditation, grew its student body and planned its first new building.
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level government officials on higher education issues. But the unknown – a small, private liberal-arts university on the opposite side of the country – intrigued him. For her part, Judy Romesburg encouraged him to consider the post. She felt Kerry excelled at speaking to large groups and connecting with individuals, and there had been fewer opportunities to pursue that at Nevada State’s one-building campus. “And I thought: My gosh, if he got back on a real campus, he would have all of those chances and opportunities to do that again.” The vision of JU’s tree-lined, riverfront locale impressed them. The Romesburgs toured campus alone before Kerry’s interview with the search committee. “And I was blown away On his first day on the job, Romesburg toured the Davis College of Business because it just was so beautiful,” Judy said. construction site with Superintendent William Duke. As the first residents of the newly built University House, the Romesburgs have a unique JU OFFERS NEXT CHALLENGE opportunity to live on the JU campus and become an integral ___________________________________ part of campus life. They both said that attending campus The decision to leave Nevada State College and accept events, especially with and for students, will be their major the presidency at JU was likely the hardest professional social priority for the coming year. decision Romesburg ever made, he said. He was happy in “The students are a huge focus for us,” Judy remarked. Nevada, and relished the role he played in working with top-
New University House Designed to be Home for All Perched among the palms and oaks along the St. Johns River on the northern end of campus sits the new University House – a home for the president’s family and for the entire Jacksonville University community. The 5,000-square-foot residence is designed to be a campus home for the president’s family as well as an entertainment and gathering venue for JU’s larger family of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. In July, Dr. Kerry and Judy Romesburg became the first occupants of the home and immediately welcomed JU faculty and staff at an evening reception. “This is your house,” Kerry Romesburg announced to the crowd of 200. Downstairs, the University House includes a wide foyer, a formal dining room, a catering-friendly kitchen, a large living room, a library and a sunny Florida room. A wide, covered veranda wraps around the sides and back of the house. A small amount of art from JU’s collection complements the lower spaces. The Romesburgs have furnished the upstairs living space with art they collected from places they have lived and traveled in the American West. Judy Romesburg said former President David Harlow and his wife Peggy deserve all the credit for designing a beautiful space that is well suited for entertaining and hosting groups. The house can hold 200 for a standing reception and 100 for a seated dinner. The wide archways connecting the downstairs rooms are crowd-friendly. And the garage off the kitchen provides space for catering staffs to utilize portable appliances.
With this new and adaptable space located on campus, President Romesburg and University staff are excited about new opportunities for on-campus gatherings. Susan Mattox, assistant vice president of institutional advancement, said the University needed a comfortable venue for small dinners, receptions and alumni reunions. University administrators, faculty and trustees will now have better opportunities to invite guests to JU’s beautiful campus, instead of relying on offcampus clubs, restaurants and other venues. The University House was commissioned in 2002 by the Board of Trustees, which envisioned a new campus home for the president and for the University community to gather on special occasions. Gifts from trustees partially funded the $1 million project.
RUNNING THE CAMPUS, LITERALLY ___________________________________ After just a few weeks on the job, Kerry Romesburg had already settled into his routine – waking early, running a threemile loop around the campus, and consuming his 30-year Breakfast of Champions: a glass of skim milk and an assortment of vitamins and herbs. Always an active person, Romesburg has played racquetball and golf and enjoyed the outdoors on all of his university stops. He coached every sport under the sun when their two boys were growing up. He said he’s a ham, particularly in front of students, and doesn’t take life too seriously. Romesburg claimed he’s done a variety of fun and silly stunts with students, including bungeejumping in his suit and tie, riding a mechanical bull and kissing a pig.
Campus Community Welcomes Kerry and Judy Romesburg to Jacksonville
“For me, this is full-time, all the time. Our focus is going to be Jacksonville University.” — Kerry Romesburg He used to grow inpatient watching television, but has discovered TiVo and now digitally records his favorite programs – The Late Show with Dave Letterman, golf and other sports events, and televised poker tournaments. (He used to play poker and bridge in Alaska with several high-ranking state officials.) Members of the presidential search committee found Romesburg to be energetic and charismatic during the interview process. “We wanted a president who was willing to work 24/7, and Romesburg appears to be willing to give his all to this position,” said Dr. Sherri Jackson, chair of the faculty and professor of psychology. After 39 years of marriage, Kerry Romesburg said, Judy remains his closest confidant and one of the biggest influences in his life. “She is the only person with whom I can actually just talk about everything – in total, open honesty. And she is that way with me,” he said. The Romesburgs are happy to be in Jacksonville, close to where one of their grown sons teaches at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. The University House’s waterfront location and Florida-friendly design (covered back porch, sunroom, large windows) provide new material for Judy’s watercolor paintings. Kerry Romesburg said his view, and their view, of a university presidency is that it becomes your number one priority in life. “For me, this is full-time, all the time. Our focus is going to be Jacksonville University,” he said. And with the Romesburgs comfortably settled on JU’s campus, the University has welcomed a new, yet seasoned, first couple.
Top: At a presidential welcome reception at the University House in July, Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Cascone presented Kerry Romesburg with a basket of Jacksonville University goods: books, apparel, accessories and Dolphin spirit supplies. The Romesburgs have since cleaned out their clothing from previous university stops in favor of their new JU style. Above: Cascone welcomes Judy Romesburg to the campus and the University House. Judy has enjoyed the lush JU landscape, taking long campus walks early in the morning. The Romesburgs say they plan to become very involved in campus life, attending arts and athletic events and meeting with JU alumni and University donors in the coming months.
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Years of Dolphin History Celebrated WITH 70 years ago this fall, on Oct. 1, 1934, Jacksonville University’s predecessor – Wm. J. Porter University – ambitiously welcomed its first students at a convocation in rented space downtown. Now, entering its eighth decade, and on the heels of a turbulent year, Jacksonville University takes a moment to look back with pride on its history of highs and lows. With much help from and tributes paid to JU historian Dr. George Hallam’s research, JU Magazine offers this brief reflection on our unique past.
Pride by Devan Stuart
t all started with an ambitious young attorney-turned-judgeturned-businessman and a plan that nearly went belly up in its first two years. In 1934, William J. Porter and a small group of partners set out to open a university that offered four degree programs. Bitter infighting and financial woes ensued. By the end of the second year, fewer than half the original faculty remained and the rest often were asked to go without paychecks. The Carnegies, Judge William J. Porter, the Rockefellers, even the founder and first president. Federal Emergency Relief Council turned down the school’s pleas for help. With dwindling cash reserves, no permanent home, the threat of a rival university and little community support, the institution that had been renamed Jacksonville Junior College, and later would become Jacksonville University, nearly shut down.
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Jacksonville Junior College's first cheerleading squad, 1949.
Seventy years later, Jacksonville University is in the midst of great growth, with a record freshman class this fall and several building projects either recently opened or in various stages of completion. From an original 60 students in its first year, JU today boasts a growing enrollment of more than 2,600 students from 46 states and 61 countries with one of the South’s most diverse student populations. Emerging now from a string of recent financial challenges, and with new leadership in President Kerry Romesburg, the University is entering its 70th anniversary year with renewed optimism and energy. “Brighter days are definitely ahead,” said Julia Samms, interim dean of enrollment and a two-time JU graduate. “It will take time, but there are many alumni, faculty, staff and friends who continue to support the University and keep it moving in a progressive manner.” The Jacksonville University story reads like a multiple-part dramatic series with far too many plot twists and colorful characters to recall in a single article. Highlights – and lowlights – include the long but ultimately triumphant struggle for a permanent home, accreditation, integration and reputation.
Appropriations from the city allowed for hiring more teachers and another $30,000 fund-raising campaign covered books and laboratory facilities. The grand home featured 15 rooms, eight fireplaces, a ballroom (which would house the school’s library), front piazza and second-story deck (prime evening gathering spots) and a separate carriage house. Speech classes were held in the carriage house and, by the summer of 1946, two temporary frame buildings from Camp Blanding housed biology, chemistry and physics labs. In two years, however, the college already was outgrowing the Kay Mansion. An influx of students enrolling under the G.I. Bill more than doubled enrollment. By 1947, several classes were being taught in faculty offices and at the
No Place Like Home A major underpinning of JU’s early problems was its lack of a permanent home. Instead of establishing a campus, the school operated in a series of rented spaces scattered throughout Jacksonville. Jacksonville Junior College (officials dropped Porter’s name in Chemistry instructor F.S. Wetzel at the blackboard in a classroom at the Masonic Temple, the second year) flailed about town in its first early 1940s. few years, holding classes in venues such as Riverside Presbyterian Church nearby. Officials were turning the Florida Theatre, the Masonic Temple and the First away applicants by the dozens. Even the second-level floor Baptist Church’s educational building. was beginning to sag under the weight of the growing library, In December 1943, the Jacksonville chapter of Civitan now 7,000 volumes strong. International, a network of community service clubs, The next major move came via the efforts of Carl launched a $20,000 fund-raising campaign that would give Swisher, whose company, Jno. H. Swisher & Sons, included Jacksonville Junior College its first permanent home. In a Jacksonville plant that produced one-tenth of the cigars in 1944, classes began meeting in the Riverside Avenue Kay the United States. A board member since 1943, Swisher was Mansion, named for previous owner Col. William Kay. anxious to make the college a four-year institution. Even before the growth spurt, he had proposed a $100,000 building campaign and launched a search for a suitable site. One option was the Cecil Field Naval Air Station, a 2,700-acre ready-made campus – with dormitories, a cafeteria, swimming pool and field house – that was about to be decommissioned. But in 1946, the Navy changed its mind. Last minute wrangling also shuttered a deal for a 185acre wooded tract on Cedar Creek near the Ortega River.
Crew has been an integral part of JU's history and heritage. (Photo 1968)
Then came the opportunity for a 137-acre tract of undeveloped land along the St. Johns River in Arlington. The land, owned at times by such notables as shipbuilder James Merrill and former slave Anna Kingsley, featured a washed out ravine called McGully’s Gulch. The swampy gorge was reputed to be a popular hideout for gypsies, pirates and bootleggers. But it would also make a great spot for an athletic field – a priority for Swisher. The deal was done and construction soon began on the campus that remains home to JU. Despite more financial setbacks and construction delays, students began reporting to the Arlington campus for classes in 1950.
A Turning Point Another major hurdle for the college was accreditation, both as a junior college and, eventually, a four-year senior college. The school’s first full accreditation wouldn’t come until 1950, after two denials. Endowment funds and enrollment figures typically were to blame. But when it came to the school’s transformation to a senior college, the quest proved particularly volatile, costing several school officials their jobs. One of those losses led to the hiring of Frank Johnson, a decorated World War II veteran who served as university president from 1956 to 1963. At 34, Johnson was the nation’s youngest university president and boasted impressive credentials. He was a top graduate of Rutgers and Harvard, where he had graduated first in his class. As JU president, Johnson would boost the college’s fundraising abilities, attract top-quality faculty members and speakers, as well as see the institution through a merge with the Jacksonville College of Music, accreditation as a four-year university and racial integration. Jacksonville Junior College officially became known as Jacksonville University in September 1956. Third- and fourth-year curricula were added the following two Septembers and the first degree candidates graduated in June of 1959. Accreditation, however, remained a tough challenge. “Things were very tight,” said Johnson, now retired and living in Naples, Fla. “We really had to operate on a shoestring, and everything went into trying to fund the accreditation.” One tactic for improving JU’s finances proved to be a sticking point. Most of the college’s trustees, including Swisher, were opposed to the idea of building student dormitories on campus. Swisher wanted to retain a community college feel and to avoid the need for federal loans. Johnson argued that income from dormitory rentals would help offset a drop in enrollment, in part the result of a huge tuition hike. By January 1961, Johnson had all but won over the trustees – and in good timing. Just months following the announcement that JU would begin construction on student dorms later that year, news broke that a state-run junior
Artis Gilmore led the Dolphins to a national title game that drew unprecedented attention to Jacksonville University in the early 1970s.
college would set up shop in Jacksonville within five years. The same year, JU met another minimal standard for accreditation when it hit volume No. 50,000 in its library. Finally, in December of 1961, the five-year wait was over. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted JU its full accreditation as a senior college. When the first student dorms opened in time for the 1962 fall term, all but nine were filled and enrollment was up 5 percent.
Breaking the Color Barrier “The other big goal with which we had to struggle was integration,” Johnson said. Rumblings of a racially integrated JU began as far back as 1945, when the Jacksonville City Council considered appropriating funds to expand Jacksonville Junior College. Expansion would allow for the expected influx of students enrolling under the G.I. Bill of Rights. In response, Theodoro Redding, president of Jacksonville’s NAACP chapter, wrote the council, asking whether AfricanAmericans would benefit from the public funds spent. When the Swisher Gymnasium opened in 1953, official policy allowed for black performers, but white patrons only. Not for three more years would “colored” patrons be admitted, and then only in the northwest section of the gym. Even in 1958, when all state universities became integrated at the graduate level, JU’s board of trustees remained defiantly segregated.
By 1963, JU and the University of Tampa remained Florida’s only segregated universities. That year, AfricanAmerican attorney Earl Johnson threatened to sue JU unless it changed its stance on racial discrimination. The final push over the racial line came at the threat of being taken over by the state. Board Chairman Guy Botts proposed adoption of a non-discriminatory policy. At a May 9 meeting, the board agreed. In September 1963, plainclothed police officers patrolled the campus as five AfricanAmerican students attended their first classes at JU. “Some people expected violence and mayhem and all sorts of trouble,” Frank Johnson said. “We had a few dark and contemptible looks on the part of some of the white students, but no trouble of any kind.” JU escaped the embarrassment of being Florida’s final holdout for segregation, as the University of Tampa was integrated by court order the next year.
“Days of Concern” With the birth of the Free Speech Movement in 1964, so too was borne a decade of student unrest at JU. It began with a few scathing articles in The Navigator and soon escalated to student walkouts when attendance-required convocations ran uncomfortably long. The attendance requirement came to an end after someone hurled a brick marked “Convocation Liberation Front” through a glass door window of the Wolfson Student Center in 1971. For the most part, however, student activists would make some headway peacefully. A dorm council managed to land changes in the student dress code, minor violations fines, and restrictions on visitors in women’s dorms. Students also organized sit-outs during convocations and lobbied for a louder voice in university policy. And, The Navigator called school officials on the carpet for failing to promote a 1969 visit by civil rights activist Dick Gregory. In response, thenpresident Bob Spiro created a “Days of Concern” committee that included student, as well as faculty, input.
In 1971, the Black American Student Cultural Organization demanded a meeting with JU administrators, pressing them on the lack of African-American teachers, staff members and courses. By the fall term, changes in the school’s charter dropped racially discriminatory wording and two African Americans, Janet Johnson and Joseph Haygood, landed faculty appointments. The next year, Afro-American Insurance Co. President I.H. Burney would become JU’s first black board member, and Marvin Wells became the Student Government Association’s first black president.
The 1970s marked a period of good times and growth at JU, beginning with the JU Dolphins basketball team making a run at the national title. Perhaps JU’s most memorable byproduct of the free speech movement came in the pages of the 1970 issue of Riparian, JU’s yearbook. Edited by Robyn Moses, the book began with a petition to have the draft repealed and featured a nude centerfold of two coeds. JU’s administration, teachers and many students were not amused. A book burning followed and, soon after Moses graduated, a 23-page replacement titled Focus ’70 was issued.
The Great Adventure Most of the 1970s marked a period of good times and growth at JU. The decade began, of course, with the upstart Dolphins basketball team led by Artis Gilmore making school history with its run at the national title. School spirit and enrollment were at an all-time high the year following the Dolphins’ appearance in the national title game against UCLA. The decade also brought a 24-hour open lobby policy for the women’s dorms, and the Rathskeller, an on-campus bar in the basement of the Wolfson Student Center. “Because it was a campus bar, the students weren’t getting split among the different decisions of where to go on a weekend night,” said Robert Leverock, marketing director for the Gator Bowl Association and a 1986 grad. “The Rathskeller helped build camaraderie among the students at the university.” And, of course, the ’70s was the decade of streaking.
Outdoor commencement ceremonies on the Science Green have become a tradition at JU. (Photo 1975)
A show of school spirit as the Jacksonville Junior College Green Dolphin Band heads off to Atlanta, 1956.
“One of our school’s capstone achievements was seeing a 6-foot-9-inch scholarship basketball player running around centerfield of a JU baseball game, clad only in a T-shirt wrapped around his head,” said Ted Simendinger, a 1976 JU grad who went on to become an author and publisher. “Unfortunately, the T-shirt blocked his eyes and he couldn’t find the exit gate – one of the truly great memories that trademarks an entire era of Americana.” By 1972, unrest brewed among the faculty and administration, particularly in the aftermath of the firing of 13 popular faculty members when enrollment figures fell short of expectations. The next year, an attempt to unionize the university led by Professor Asa Gardiner narrowly failed and left a permanent rift between many teachers and administrators. Tempers flared with a 1977 news article listing President Bob Spiro’s salary and perks for the 1974-75 year among the state’s top three university presidents. A study of faculty morale listed salaries among the top priorities. The next year, salaries jumped 5 percent and work began on establishing an equal pay scale for women. Still, relationships between faculty and administrators grew increasingly strained and rumors began to circulate that several key trustees aimed to boot Spiro as president. In 1979, the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of two private consultants, asked Spiro to resign. Dr. Fran Kinne – a former professor who became dean of the College of Fine Arts, helped establish the School of Nursing and created what is now the Davis College of Business – was named interim president. Kinne began her presidency with an acceptance speech titled “The Great Adventure,” an apt subject for not only JU’s but also Florida’s first woman to serve as university president. Kinne, who later would win a place in the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, became known as JU’s best public relations machine, as exemplified by her idea to award syndicated columnist Ann Landers an honorary degree. Landers subsequently named JU one of four recommended institutions in her column, which reached nearly 85 million readers. Kinne originally agreed to serve just one year, but remained in the president’s post a full decade, boosting faculty morale and landing funds for five new buildings. Kinne dealt with the challenge of adjusting to the new competition from the University of North Florida. “We had to make people realize the importance of both public and private education,” Kinne said. “I’m a strong believer in the dual system of education – private and public. Having lived in so many other countries where the government controls all of the education, I think that in America, we have the ideal system, public and private. They feed on each other. Competition never hurt anybody.”
The Next Great Era Kinne led the University through two decades, and would be the last president to enjoy that kind of longevity. Presidents Dr. James Brady, Paul Tipton and David Harlow all served less than five years, each leaving their own marks on the University’s history. Fast forward to 2004, as JU celebrates its 70th anniversary and a new leader whom 1973 grad John Petrakis and others call “the right president for JU, at the right time.” Hired on the heels of recent financial strains, Dr. Kerry Romesburg was chosen during a national search that concluded last spring. With more than three decades of success in public higher education, Romesburg brings a strong background of accomplishments. Under Romesburg’s direction, “I see no reason why JU should not be perceived as one of the most attractive opportunities available for students nationally,” said JU Alumni Association Board of Governors President Michael Howland. “We need to refocus our marketing to the national marketplace, and overcome our fiscal challenges and strengthen our resources. I’m confident that, in Kerry Romesburg, we now have the right leader to move us forward...and I believe we’ll get there.” JU’s story – both past and present – perhaps was best described long ago in a prophetic 1937 letter from acting president J. Richard Grether in which he wrote about JU: “At times our little craft has been becalmed in motionless seas and it has seemed that she would never move again. At times, she has floundered through heavy seas with every wave threatening to engulf her. At times she has been forced to put into port for repairs or to change the members of her crew. At times she has had most of her cabins filled with passengers and at other times she has been almost empty. Always, however, she has been able to come into the home port under her own power in June.”
HOMECOMING 2004
MargaRATaville OCTOBER 15-16, 2004 70 Years and Counting… In our 70th anniversary year, JU is proud to announce its inaugural Silver Dolphin alumni celebration. The Class of 1964 and all preceding University and Jacksonville Junior College classes will be welcomed into these esteemed ranks. In their honor, the first-ever Silver Dolphin Reunion will be held at Homecoming 2004. In addition to the events open to all alumni, Silver Dolphins can participate in numerous special events, including the Alumni Reunion Processional prior to the game on Saturday and recognition during halftime. To top off this historic reunion, the University will honor Silver Dolphins at a banquet and dance on Saturday night featuring displays, photos and presentations in their honor. All alumni will start the weekend off with the official Opening Reception at the new University House. Meet Dr. Kerry Romesburg, our dynamic new president, as he introduces this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner. Kick off Saturday with the Alumni Tailgate Zone – park, relax and let the kids work off energy before the game at the Family Fun Zone. Bring your grill for cooking or belly up to barbecue at the Annual Homecoming BBQ before catching the big game against Austin Peay.
For more information contact us at: (904) 256-7201 alumni@ju.edu www.jacksonville.edu
Continuing our newest homecoming tradition, the Rathskeller opens for business on Saturday night at the River House! The Conch Republic returns Rathskeller-style when the Alumni Association hosts its own version of MargaRATaville for class years 1965 through 2004. Feast on Caribbean fare, enjoy your favorite brew, and groove to the tunes you remember most from the Rat, all under the stars of our beautiful JU campus. Challenge your buddies to pool, Pacman and foosball and enjoy special presentations and memorabilia honoring all our reunion classes. If you never knew the original Rat, we welcome you to make it your new tradition!
Building the Future of Business by Sara F. Coleman • photos by laird
thical leadership. Entrepreneurship. Venture Development. Corporate Responsibility. Customer Relationship Management. Supply Chain Management. These are the business buzzwords now floating freely through the halls at the Davis College of Business. Revisions to every curriculum are complete, and the result is a college more closely aligned with contemporary business practice. Students returned to the classroom this fall to find several traditional courses updated with new materials and a more practical focus. New faculty have also been recruited for two new outreach centers that will link the college’s resources and expertise to companies in Jacksonville and beyond. A search to replace departed dean Dr. William Rhey is underway, and a new leader for the school should be in place during the academic year. And it’s only the beginning of the ride for students, faculty and staff at the Davis College. By early 2005, they plan to move into a new $10 million, two-story business school building that will be the most technologically advanced facility on the
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Jacksonville University campus. All of these changes, faculty said, are positioning the college to become a stronger academic unit at JU and a stronger force in the business community.
Bringing Technology and Business Together The new Davis College of Business building is more than just a collection of classrooms and offices. With its teaching technology and large spaces, it will be a gathering and learning space for the business community and the entire JU campus as well. In many ways, the new structure represents progress and a sense of community at JU. “The building symbolizes a change for the business school and the opportunity to create a new experience, a new environment,” explained Dan Davis, the JU trustee whose family is the namesake of the business college and the benefactor of the new facility. “Hopefully that environment will be conducive to challenging the students and the faculty to new levels,” Davis said. Davis hopes the building will enable
an improved learning experience for business students and all JU students. The new 55,000-square-foot Davis College of Business will be a vision of clean lines, dramatic glass features and brick exteriors that complement the surrounding JU landmarks. The building will stand at one end of the picturesque walkway that connects the northern and southern parts of campus. The project also includes a new campus entryway, landscaped traffic circle and loop road. The Davis College of Business will be an anchor for the northeastern corner of campus. Outside the front entrance, a tall glass column will feature a musical clock that plays 200 tunes and a signature mast that rises toward the sky. Sunshades crown the windows and entryways. Inside, the two-story lobby is an ovalshaped area with a dramatic skylight overhead, a patterned tile floor, and a reception desk. A large, plasma television screen featuring business news will give students and visitors a preview of the technology-rich spaces throughout. Associate Dean Ellen Lockamy said the lobby will convey to all the school’s
The sleek lobby, as designed by JSA architects, features a patterned tile floor, a central elevator column and a plasmascreen television.
Internet material into their classes with ease. Vince Narkiewicz, associate professor of marketing and chair of the DCOB building committee, said he and his colleagues are ready to utilize the new classroom features and will receive extensive training. A variety of classroom sizes and layouts were designed, Narkiewicz said, to fit the needs of different class types. Two 50seat “case study” classrooms on the first floor have tiered, semicircular seating to promote interaction among students and teachers in courses that rely on the case study method and group discussion. Traditional classrooms and seminar rooms will house 20, 30 and 40 students. A second-floor trading room will feature video monitors with stock quotes and business news so that finance and investment students can practice real-time decision-making. A “behavior lab” with a glass-walled observation area is well suited for focus groups and other behavioral study exercises. Students will have access to breakout and study rooms, two computer labs, lounges, offices for student organizations and a café. The aeronautics program’s first floor suite will include a flight simulator room and classroom space dedicated to the aviation program. A network of wireless zones will enable highspeed access to the Internet throughout the building. Faculty and administrators are particularly excited about custom-built executive education and meeting space that will allow the college to bring the business community to campus. “We want our companies on campus, using our facilities and being part of our campus,” Lockamy said. Three flexible meeting spaces on the first floor can be partitioned off for executive seminars or joined together for a 200capacity gathering space for lectures, receptions and other campus community events. Kitchen space down the hall provides the facilities necessary for catered events. One of two 50-seat executive training rooms will have a boardroom feel and teleconferencing capabilities that will be particularly attractive to companies and executives working with the business college. He and other professors hope that students and faculty alike will have more opportunities to interact with business professionals through new curriculum initiatives. The college’s new outreach centers are expected to play a major role in linking JU to the greater Jacksonville business community.
Encouraging Business Interaction With 55,000 square feet on two floors, the new building offers plenty of space for classrooms, meeting rooms, offices and customized facilities such as the aviation simulator.
vibrant atmosphere and a new sense of professionalism. In designing the new facility, faculty visited other new business school buildings and researched the best features available to enhance teaching and learning. The classroom technology includes ceiling-mounted projectors and teacher stations with a built-in computer, VCR, DVD player and touch-panel control screen. Faculty will be able to incorporate video, sound, and 18
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For more than two years, business faculty have been studying the curriculum intensely and defining the college’s niche in business education. At the end of this introspection, the faculty committed to creating a more applied curriculum and encouraging more structured and frequent involvement with executives and local businesses. “One thing that was key in identifying ourselves is we wanted to be an applied school of business, not a theoretical school of business,” Lockamy said. “We want to take what we learn and put it to work.” The two centers are directly related to that goal, she said. Dr. Gordon McClung, a marketing consultant and author,
has joined the JU faculty as the new director of the marketing center. Companies such as Winn-Dixie, Procter & Gamble and TNT Logistics have already signed on to work with the center. “We want the local and regional business communities to come here for answers,” Narkiewicz said. Faculty expect the Leadership Center to have a broader mission. It has been created to infuse leadership principles throughout the business curriculum and extend its reach The facility was designed and to the entire JU constructed to complement other major buildings on the JU campus while campus. incorporating contemporary elements. Dr. William Locander, who directed a leadership center at the University of South Florida, arrived over the summer to fill the endowed leadership chair. The center will work with students and faculty to help them develop their leadership skills and apply their business knowledge.
Refocusing Business Education All JU business students are seeing curriculum changes that reflect the new focus on practical business concepts. The updates reflect not only a greater focus on practical business concepts, but also on emerging and re-emerging trends in business. For example, the updated Executive MBA Program includes more coaching on executive leadership skills, management simulations and “360 evaluations” for students. “I think this sends a statement to the Jacksonville community that we are very a progressive university – and the Davis family has shown their faith in us by building this building,” Lockamy said. Dan Davis is pleased with the new programmatic focus and activities planned for the business college, and pleased that the new facility will provide adequate space and technological enhancements for these goals. He said he hopes the changes will encourage students and faculty to push the envelope, to develop new opportunities, and to create a better learning environment for everyone at JU.
Old Davis Building to Become
Student Hub Excitement is building around campus for a new plan that will turn the old Davis College of Business facility into a student commons – the long-sought center of campus life for Jacksonville University’s growing student body. Officials have started planning now, and expect to begin construction after the business college moves to its new facility in early 2005. Faculty and staff are discussing several ideas for how to utilize the space when it becomes available, and many see a need for a flexible, student-focused building. As part of its 1998 $20 million challenge gift, the Davis family took the lead by donating $1 million for renovations of the existing structure. The family specified that they wanted the former Davis College of Business building converted into a facility for students. “We couldn’t ask for a better location for a new student commons,” said President Kerry Romesburg, who has been a proponent of student unions and student facilities at his previous institutions. “It will be in the heart of campus, right between the Kinne University Center and the Swisher Library and overlooking the baseball field and the riverfront. Students will love it.” Bryan Coker, dean of students at JU, has formed a committee of students, faculty and staff to solicit input from the campus community, formulate a list of needs, and advise the administration about the renovations. Initial reaction and input has started flowing already. “I’ve been amazed by the amount of student interest and investment in this project so far,” Coker said. And beyond students, faculty and staff have been providing ideas and volunteering to help. Preliminary suggestions for the facility include multipurpose and meeting rooms; a satellite dining facility; offices for student media, government and other student organizations; recreational and fitness amenities; the Career Services Center and Student Counseling Center; and office space for staff in several Student Affairs departments. This initiative holds great promise for a positive and substantial impact on student life, Coker explained. “What we lack is a central gathering space for students, a real hub of student activity on this campus. That’s what this facility will give us.”
Fan Support
by Kathy Ellis photo by laird
JU’s Athletic Association is Reformed by Alumni
“We need a core of people We’ll be developing a plan to grow
Fred Pruitt and his wife Debbie are passionate about Dolphin Athletics. They’ve enjoyed floor seats at JU basketball games since the 1980s. They’ve gotten so addicted to the excitement of watching Dolphin games that they now have a hard time enjoying their season tickets in the stands at Florida Gator games. “Basically, I love JU and I love athletics,” said Fred Pruitt, who married his sweetheart Debbie as a JU freshman and earned an undergraduate degree in 1968. During his
career in retail banking, Pruitt earned a master’s as a JUAA would provide support for Dolphins football and other athletic member of JU’s first Executive MBA class. teams at JU. Pruitt’s heart has been at JU for more than 35 years. He still wears his JU ring. So when John Harrison, a 1967 grad, approached him about serving as chairman of the JU Athletic Association, he accepted enthusiastically. Everyone knows that Pruitt’s passion for Dolphin athletics will serve him and the University well in his role as chairman. Harrison had been asked to head a steering committee to reestablish the Athletic Association to support JU’s athletic programs. He then contacted 11 potential members, all of
whom said yes and felt it was long overdue. “They understood the need of having an organization in place to gather the support necessary to enable our athletic teams to be competitive, ” he said. “Athletics is very important to the health of an institution,” Pruitt said. “It acts as a window to the community, and does a lot for the vibrancy of JU. We want the JUAA to be a fun group that brings fans back, and provides support to the coaches, players and students.” Pruitt and the fledgling Athletic Association have gotten full support from JU’s new president, Dr. Kerry Romesburg. “I’ve been very impressed with the
Fred Pruitt, BA ’68/MBA ’85, and John Harrison, BA ’67, are among those working to restart the JU Athletic Association.
who are willing to get this started. sports and be more competitive.” president,” Pruitt said. “I met with him on his second day on the job. He told me that he and his wife love sports and want to see it thrive here. It was everything a Dolphins supporter would want to hear.” Harrison agrees. “In my dealings with President Romesburg, I have been encouraged by his understanding of the value athletics brings to the campus community and the community at large.” While raising money to support athletics is a key function, it is only one of the board’s goals. The 21 members of the umbrella organization will work together with the JU athletic director to establish needs. They are expected to make or be willing to solicit donations and serve on a marketing or events committee. Terms are set at three years, with a limit of two consecutive terms to promote a flow of people. Harrison said they wanted diversity on the board consisting of age, gender, race and for all sports to have representation. Pruitt is confident that the reformed JUAA will receive wide support. “I think that there are a lot of people out there just like me who want to see JU sports boom,” he said. “Timing is everything. The new president is giving us an opportunity to put the spotlight on athletics and therefore the rest of the school. Hopefully we’ll get the same enthusiastic response from those who want to be involved as we have with those asked to lead the effort.” Grady Jones, vice president for institutional advancement, is proud of the group’s progress. “We started by asking the coaches for supporters and broadened our search from there,”
he said. There was no arm-twisting.” Board Chairman-Elect Jim Dalton cited a different reason for stepping up to the plate. Dalton, a 1984 graduate, acknowledged that he hasn’t been involved at JU since he was a student. In the meantime, he has built a successful advertising business that resulted in The Dalton Agency being named the official advertising and public relations agency for Jacksonville’s Super Bowl. “My business has matured which gives me the time, and being involved in fund-raising for the Super Bowl has gotten me to take a look at what is good for Jacksonville,” Dalton said. “Education is so important. It’s a big part of what makes a city great.” With this new perspective, Dalton said, he recognized that JU needed a bigger presence. “We have a real chance to make JU a premier university, but we need more awareness in the community,” Dalton said. “After hearing the plans for reviving JU, I saw how important athletics is for building the life of the university.” Dalton sees the role of the JUAA as a means to an end. “I think it’s a natural to expand athletics,” he said. “Our initial goal is to build the athletic fund. Sports have a lot of needs in their facilities. In the past, athletics was paid for out of the operating budget, but that’s not how most universities do it. We need to support athletics through separate fundraising efforts.” Thanks to great volunteers, the JUAA is the vehicle to do that. JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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ADVANCING
Healthcare at Home by John Daigle Jr. • photos by laird
Dr. Elizabeth DePeri can
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Dr. Elizabeth DePeri
he Terry Parker High School graduate who enrolled at Jacksonville University at the age of 16 is now one of a few specialized high-risk cancer researchers in the nation using the latest technology to detect dangerous malignancies that current methods often miss. As a staff member at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, DePeri says there’s something special about practicing some of the world’s most advanced breast cancer detection techniques right here in her hometown. Since April 2003, DePeri and a fellow radiologist at Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic, discovered numerous cancers that would have otherwise been missed, using a state-of-the-art MRguided breast biopsy system initially implemented at just three other cancer care facilities nationwide. At a staff installation dinner last fall, DePeri received an unexpected handwritten congratulations note sent over to her by Dr. Fran Kinne, the person she says inspired her most during her undergraduate studies at Jacksonville University. Before the evening ended, DePeri went over to speak with Kinne, who served as president during DePeri’s years of study at JU in the mid-1980s. “It gave me a lot of satisfaction seeing her that night at the staff dinner,” Kinne said. “Being brought on as a regular staff member is very prestigious. But it doesn’t surprise me because she’s always been a very brilliant woman.” Friendly faces and support of old friends are just some of the perks of returning to her hometown to practice. After attending medical school at University of Florida, DePeri traveled north for her residency at Bayside Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts and fellowship at Faulkner-Sagoff Breast Center in Boston, before returning to the First Coast to work at Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic. Aside from a desire to be close to her family, the renowned research hospital offered DePeri a wonderful career opportunity. “There are not many facilities where I could put into practice what I learned in my fellowship,” DePeri said. DePeri has gone far beyond implementing the skills she acquired in Massachusetts. Specializing in high-risk and familial
find cancers most can’t. breast cancer patients, she has lead Mayo Clinic in exciting new directions with cutting-edge equipment and innovative research studies. Under the direction of DePeri and her radiology associate, Dr. Michelle McDonough, Mayo Clinic was the fourth cancer center in the country to perform magnetic resonance (MR)guided breast biopsies using the ATEC breast biopsy and excision system. The unique system can operate in the presence of the magnetic field created by MR because it’s powered with pneumatics, rather than electricity. As with similar imaging-guided breast biopsy procedures – such as ultrasound – MR-guided breast biopsies use a needle to JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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DePeri is involved in a study that will determine the feasibility of fully digitizing radiology departments, making them essentially filmless.
draw out sample tissue to test it for malignancies, helping patients avoid surgical biopsy. Yet these new MR-guided biopsies are also set apart from ultrasound techniques. MRI is widely considered the most sensitive imaging modality available and the vacuum-powered core needle allows radiologists to handle the procedure as soon as the suspect lesion is visible on the screen, without moving the patient to another area.
“Things that get biopsied through MR, are things we could only see through MR,” she said. “So, although only 30 percent are positive, they are cancers that otherwise would not have been diagnosed.” In addition to her groundbreaking work with MR-guided beast biopsies, DePeri is also involved with several ongoing studies. One study investigates the feasibility of fully digitizing radiology departments, making them essentially filmless. Other
"Things that get biopsied through MR, are things we could only see through MR. So, although only 30 percent are positive, they are cancers that otherwise would not have been diagnosed." – Dr. Elizabeth DePeri “This is a much needed, long awaited technology,” DePeri said. “It’s really a shortcut to diagnosis and it streamlines care quite a bit. For patients, that means quicker answers and less worry.” DePeri and Dr. Connie Lehman, a radiologist at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, collaborated their research on the new system in order to present a paper at one of the leading radiology society conferences in Miami last May. Their findings are consistent with those found at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the first to adopt this new technology. More than 30 percent of the lesions tested through MR-guided imaging are indeed malignant, their research shows. 24
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research unites DePeri with Mayo’s breast oncologist, Dr. Edith Perez and internist/geneticist, Dr. Betty Anne Mincey on multi-disciplinary approaches to cancer — evaluating hormone therapies, chemotherapies and genetic markers of patients. DePeri’s forward-thinking work has its roots in a past marked by self-motivation and a strong education. As an intelligent and hard-working student, DePeri graduated from Arlington’s Terry Parker High School at 16 years of age. Because of her daughter’s youth, DePeri’s mother was hesitant to send her to a college far away. Jacksonville University, with a strong pre-med program and a campus just three miles from
their home, seemed the natural choice. DePeri lived at home until her senior year, enjoying the smallclass environment and the benefits of going to school in Northeast Florida. “There’s a certain pleasure to having classes outside with a chalkboard in the springtime,” DePeri said. DePeri was also impressed by the access to and quality of the faculty and advisors at JU. She has fond memories of Dr. Quinton White, JU’s current dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and DePeri’s advisor at that time. “He was the kind of guy who would tell you that you could do whatever you wanted to,” DePeri said. “That’s what you need in an advisor. He really believed that about people.” White remembers DePeri as bright and personable. He said he’s not surprised a bit by her success. “She came to the University very young, as the kind of student who needed a little extra attention. That’s why I think JU was a very good choice for her.” DePeri also credited Kinne's influence on her and DePeri performs a MR-guided breast biospy using the new ATEC breast the example she set biopsy and excision system. for women in business. DePeri still remembers Kinne’s uncanny ability to know something about each of the University’s students. “She knew every student’s name,” said DePeri, who incidentally now is responsible for reading Kinne's annual mammograms. “I went to pick up my diploma on the day of graduation and she said ‘have a great time in Gainesville and come back and see us.’ ” After taking a year off to work, DePeri continued her education at University of Florida’s medical school, feeling confident in her undergraduate preparation and quickly absorbing the mild culture shock of the large student body. Kinne said she anticipated DePeri’s success. Speaking of JU’s role in that success, Kinne commented, “JU gave her an opportunity to pursue her goals,” noting that the undergraduate school has one of the best admission rates to medical school in the country. And while JU had an impact, DePeri’s “intellect, enthusiasm and motivation set her apart,” Kinne said. “I think she would have been successful in anything she tried.”
RENOVATING SWISHER THEATRE by Olga Bayer
Performing outside the box – the black box – is the dream of every theatre student at Jacksonville University. That dream is about to become a reality as the University embarks on an ambitious new $4 million campaign to renovate Swisher Theatre. Built in 1956, JU’s main teaching and performing venue for theatre and dance students was closed in 2001 due to structural damage, code violations and other conditions. Since the closure, theatre classes and performances have been held in a small studio theatre known as the black box in the Phillips Fine Arts Building. As JU kicked off its campaign for Swisher Theatre in September, with half the needed funds already raised and some important supporters on board, optimism was building.
Thinking Outside the Box The black box should be a part of every well-rounded theatre program, but 26
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it can’t replace a main stage. Actors and “You want to give students an even technicians must experience both. experience in both design and acting. They “Theatre involves the psychology of need to work in all the styles and periods.” space,” said Deborah Jordan, assistant Wilson, who’s been actively involved professor of theatre. “You must learn to in the concept and design for renovating fill a space both physically and vocally. Swisher, said the theatre is his It’s the difference between a small chapel department’s primary teaching tool. and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.” The lack of a theater has limited the number of performances the theatre “It’s not just about having a department can offer. Only certain types of plays lend stage. Without a theatre, our themselves to black box students don’t learn the systems – production. That has limited the lighting, rigging, staging, acoustics.” experiences of JU theatre students, said Ben Wilson, theatre –Ben Wilson, chair of theatre and dance and dance department chair.
Proscenium Stage and Continental Seating
Costume Production Shop
“It’s not just about having a stage,” Wilson said. “Without a theatre, our students don’t learn the systems – lighting, rigging, staging, acoustics.” Darrel Fall, a theatre production senior, is concerned about what he has been missing, but also sees a bright side to his extra black box experiences. “You’re not always going to get the greatest space in theatre,” he said. “It’s taught me to adapt.” Compensating for not having a theatre, JU faculty encourage and provide opportunities for students to gain the experiences they need. All theatre majors participate in a study abroad program or an internship in distinguished places like New York’s
Berkshire Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Theatre and London’s Royal Academy.
Central Makeup Room
Dancing Around the Issue Brian Palmer, director of dance studies, said JU dance majors are also missing an important component of their training – to be able to perform in a space on a regular basis and have a theatre “to call home.” Palmer said dancers must have access to a facility they can get accustomed to, work night after night, build their stamina and measure their development. Currently, the college rents space downtown for various dance concerts. With rental costs, performances that used to run several days now run for one.
Theatre and Dance Faculty Offices
Artist renderings by Hetal Patel, BFA ’04 JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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(Pictured from left to right) Students working with lighting batten on counterweight system; Dancers are eager to showcase their talent on a home stage; Artist-in-Residence Devlin Mann, along with Deborah Jordan and Ben Wilson directing a rehearsal; A scene from Tennessee Williams’ Picnic, the last performance in Swisher Theatre.
With limited space and performance opportunities, attendance at theatre and dance productions suffered. Taking the shows off campus has had a negative impact on student attendance as well. Regaining a campus theatre is also key to maintaining the dance program’s National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) accreditation, a prestigious mark of distinction that helps JU compete nationwide. JU is one of only two colleges in Florida offering a B.A. degree in dance education. The program provides an equal emphasis on modern dance and ballet, which is very attractive to students and their parents.
Campaign Kickoff Recognizing Swisher as one of the University’s most immediate needs, the JU Board of Trustees initiated a capital fund-raising campaign to renovate the building. The $4 million renovation, which will maintain the historical integrity and value of the original building, is expected to cost substantially less than building a new theatre. “If we built from scratch, we’d spend between $10 million and $17 million,” said Wilson, who has also served as a theatre consultant for the design of three other theatres. “We’re going on a very tight budget, there’s nothing to sacrifice.” The Swisher Theatre Campaign, under the leadership of trustee Tim Mann, president of Swisher International Group, Inc., was launched in midSeptember. Grady Jones, JU’s vice president for institutional advancement, is optimistic about reaching the goal quickly.
drawing on those who have an affinity for JU, people in the community who have a direct interest in the arts, and those who see the theatre as another needed cultural venue for Jacksonville. JU President Kerry Romesburg said the Swisher campaign will be one of his top priorities. “Over this next year, one of my goals is to get this theatre back online so our students get what they deserve,” he said. “Students deserve a theatre on campus for their performances.”
Designs on Swisher
Renovating a theatre to bring it up to state-of-the-art functionality won’t be A Solid Case for Swisher easy. Terry Netter, dean of the College In 2002, JU’s College of Fine Arts of Fine Arts, and Wilson have spent turned 40 years old. It is one of the few countless hours conferring on plans with comprehensive schools of the arts in The Haskell Company, the design-build Florida, offering majors and preteam chosen for the project. Building a professional programs in music, art, art theatre is a complex process that requires history, theatre and dance. a constant “give and take” said Wilson. The college attracts gifted students After reviewing prior plans, doing an with diverse talents and backgrounds. in-depth analysis with a consultant and Working with highly-qualified studying the budget, Wilson met “. . . Something happens when teachers, students learn, grow and with Preston Haskell, founder and you walk into a theatre lobby, the progress – largely through chairman of the Haskell engaged-learning experiences Company. Before architectural anticipation of something magical.” that take place in the theatre. drawings were done, Wilson and Swisher has served not only as Haskell discussed the main purpose –Debbie Jordan, assistant professor of theatre the main stage for performances and of the building – curriculum delivery. hands-on learning, it’s also been the venue “That’s all we talked about. If the for many campus events and activities. space doesn’t deliver the curriculum, then The fine arts continue to be one of we don’t need to be doing it,” Wilson “Theatre and the arts have a said. “This is a tight space, a no-frills JU’s most visible links to the community. connection to people’s hearts and the Swisher Theatre has played an important opportunity to make this kind of gift will space. If something isn’t supporting the curriculum, we’re not putting it in.” role to this end, opening its doors to the be very appealing,” Jones said. community so it can embrace the arts The University has already received A New Look, Inside and Out through performances, exhibits, youth approximately $2 million for Swisher, programs, art camps and more. The most dramatic and noticeable thanks in large part to generous pledges With no campus venue, the theatre change made to the theatre will be the and donations from Swisher department had to suspend or limit new fly house. With the 15-foot International, a local arts patron and an community outreach programs like the extension of the stage house roof, you endowment gift. Theatre for Young People Program. will be able to fly in sky drops, flags and Jones sees a broad base for donors, 28
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large pieces of Presenting the New scenery. “It will allow us to teach rigging,” Wilson said. “It’s 400 Seat Performance Theatre rather costly, but if New Grand Lobby you don’t do that, you might as well New Stage Rigging not do the rest.” New Sound System & Control Booth Even in a limited space with a New Theatrical Lighting & Controls shallow stage, New Dressing Rooms Wilson was New Central Makeup Room determined to have a real orchestra pit. New Costume Production Shop A Look at Increased Area: The new orchestra New Costume Storage Room Basement – 6,169 square feet pit, designed to hold a 19-piece First floor – 13,694 square feet New Green Room orchestra, will be Mezzanine – 2, 050 square feet New Faculty Offices partially covered, Total: 21,913 square feet common in New Prop Construction German theatre & Storage Area houses built in the 1920s and 30s. The proscenium stage will provide ample room to manipulate will feature a permanent extension – a lighting. forestage – that enlarges the stage area, Some other new features include a with the orchestra pit beneath. A laundry room, costume production shop, removable non-skid marley floor will be central makeup room, and a new green included, a necessity for the dancers. room – the area where actors generally sit The audience will be more and wait before going on stage. comfortable with the added legroom of “The green room is also where the the new continental seating. The theatre theatre students can hang,” Wilson said. will seat close to 400. “Right now, they have no place to go. The main level will house a new This will be their own space.” entry lobby with a concessions and The Bottom Line ticketing area. Wilson, who’s been at JU since “Going to the theatre is more than watching the show,” Jordan said. “It’s the 1995, said, “Theatre is all about being able to adjust. It’s something you have whole ambience. Something happens to be willing to do. But the fact is, when you walk into a theatre lobby, the eventually, students simply must have a anticipation of something magical.” theatre.” The south expansion will include a Projections indicate that the new new two-story addition, making room teaching/performing Swisher Theatre will for much needed office space. A new attract 100 more students to the college, mezzanine will be devoted to costume yielding an annual income of $1 million. storage, a new mechanical room and a Netter, confident about the “spot-booth.” increased enrollment, said “Build it and There will be new rigging, new lighting, new sound, and a new intercom. they will come.” Jordan, looking ahead, already has an All rooms will be wired so the stage idea for the gala opening – she’d like to manager can talk to anyone in any room produce the stage musical Fiddler on the in the theatre. The audio system will Roof. feature a new, modern sound control “Everything we do is trying to make booth to house all the theatrical lighting this a reality,” Jordan said. and audio controls. A new steel catwalk with guardrails
Swisher Theatre
Get to Know the Annual Fund by Peter Trakas, Director of Annual Giving he annual fund (also known as the JU Fund) is the backbone of Jacksonville University’s fundraising efforts. Annual giving is simply defined as a program that consistently, or annually, solicits gifts from all constituents. The University’s yearly campaign starts at the beginning of the University’s fiscal year, July 1, and ends on June 30, the end of the University’s fiscal year. Throughout the course of the campaign, alumni, parents and friends will have many opportunities to donate to the annual fund. These opportunities will occur through a direct mail solicitation, a phone call from one of our students callers during the annual Phonathon, or even JU Magazine. The important elements of annual giving are dollars raised and participation. Both elements are extremely critical to the University and its mission. Dollars raised are important because all the monies benefit students in the form of student scholarships and enhanced student life programs. Our goal this year is $760,000. The approximate cost of tuition for a year at JU is $18,590. However, that is only about 60 percent of what it actually costs the University for a student to attend. The dollars raised during the annual fund (or JU Fund) campaign go to help offset the cost of the student’s attendance, for both the University and the student. The second element of the annual fund is participation. A gift at any level counts toward participation! Annual fund participation is important because it allows us to pursue grants from outside sources, and it impacts our college’s ranking in publications such as U.S.News & World Report, which leads to increasing the value of your JU degree, and helps with recruitment and retention too. So, a gift to the annual fund, at any level, not only affects the student and alumni of today, but also affects the students and alumni of tomorrow. Simply put, your annual gift at any level makes a difference in education at Jacksonville University. Making a gift is easy. Just mail back the postage-paid return envelope that accompanies this issue of JU Magazine with your donation; or if you wish, tell one of our student callers who will contact you during the Phonathon that you wish to support JU students, and he or she will be happy to assist you.
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If you have any questions, or wish to make a gift, please do not hesitate to contact me at (904) 256-7014 or at ptrakas@ju.edu.
To enhance our program and recognize our donors, we have established new giving clubs that allow you, our donors, to easily support your university. These clubs are as follows:
$1- $99 $100 - $249 $250 - $499 $500 - $999 $1,000 and up
GREEN LEAF SOCIETY BRONZE LEAF SOCIETY SILVER LEAF SOCIETY GOLD LEAF SOCIETY ORDER OF THE DOLPHIN
Every member of each club will receive a gift of appreciation specifically designed for that club. In addition, each new donor will receive a special token of appreciation at the end of the fiscal year. Benefits of each club will be explained in the next issue of JU Magazine.
Thank you for your support!
Community Benefiting from New
by Sara F. Coleman photo by Betsy Favorite
ORTHODONTIC PROGRAM
ast summer, when Lynn Pinner was shopping for braces for her 13-year-old daughter, she called Jacksonville University after her husband heard about the school’s new orthodontic services, offered by the Dental School of Orthodontics. What she found, Pinner said, was an affordable option, a friendly and informative clinical team, and a very professional experience. Her daughter Kelli, now 14, has seen remarkable improvements in her teeth in just one year of treatment. Each time she visits, Kelli picks a new color for her braces, Lynn Pinner said. “Kelli is very artsy, and she likes to do everything out of the ordinary.” The Pinners were initially drawn to JU’s lower-priced orthodontic services, which were partially covered by the insurance they received as a military family. They also enjoyed the personal attention they received from Dr. Jean-Pierre Pontier, a faculty member, and Dr. Randall Snyder, a student resident in the orthodontics program. “It’s been a truly wonderful experience,” Pinner said. “I’m so happy that my husband heard about it and that we made the initial call and came over. We couldn’t have picked a better place.” And the Pinner family isn’t alone. The one-year-old orthodontics program has already placed more than 15,000 braces on about 600 patients. Many of them are from communities that have access or financial barriers to getting treatment. That’s where the JU orthodontics clinic has found its mission. “We are responding to both of these [barriers] by opening our door to the community at a tremendous savings,” said Dr. Laurance Jerrold, professor and interim dean of the program. A study of patients seen in the first year showed that roughly two-thirds were minority patients. Most come from lower to middle-income families, who often have trouble finding orthodontic services they can afford. The average patient at the JU clinic pays about $2,500 for services, which would likely cost $4,000 at a private practice, Jerrold said. The clinic’s financial counselor and insurance coordinator work with each family to develop a customized payment plan.
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Dr. Laurance Jerrold (left) supervises orthodontic resident Dr. Boris Arbitman (right) while he sees a young patient in the clinic.
At JU, patients also get the benefit of being seen by residents who are supervised closely by faculty. In the teaching environment, each case is reviewed by the residents and faculty in weekly diagnostic seminars, drawing a lot of opinions and expertise to each case. “There is … a lot of oversight that goes into an individual patient’s treatment,” Jerrold said, describing it as a system of checks and balances. In August, the school welcomed its second class of 14 students, for a total enrollment of 28. As one of the largest and newest orthodontics program in the country, the JU program is helping to fulfill a nationwide shortage of orthodontists. “The latest statistics from the American Association of Orthodontists [say] that the number of orthodontic students graduating is not keeping pace with the number of orthodontists retiring from practice,” Jerrold said. The average orthodontics residency program takes about 5 students per year, and there are about 280 slots nationwide. The intense competition to become an orthodontic resident ensures that JU’s residents are exceptional new dental school graduates and practicing dentists, Jerrold explained. Second-year resident Darrin Storms said his 13 classmates and those in the next class after him brought a wealth of experience to the program. Some, like Storms, have just completed dental school, but others have between two and 14 years of experience in dental practice. Their knowledge benefits students and patients alike when they review cases as a group, Storms said. Now in his second and final year, Storms is paired with a first-year student for mentoring, and he is spending more time on clinical work. After he finishes next summer, he plans to move back to his roots in Northwest Arkansas and open an orthodontic practice. There, he will continue JU’s mission of providing orthodontic services to underserved communities. JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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Huge Graduating Class Marked by Record Noble Honorees acksonville University celebrated one of its largest graduating classes in 20 years at commencement ceremonies on May 1. In addition, a record number of graduates received the Fred B. Noble Medal for scholarship for achieving perfect 4.0 grade-point averages. In her message to the 633 new graduates, former Acting President Dr. Catherine Morgan said their education reached far beyond classroom material. “The education that you received at Jacksonville University is what will remain with you long after you have forgotten what you learned,” Morgan said. “Whether as a Navy Seal, an entrepreneur, physician, educator or artist, when you decide how you are going to make a living, we expect that you will choose work that matters. That is the enlightened difference between a job and a vocation, and it is an essential part of living a good life.” Morgan conferred an honorary doctorate of laws degree on Former U.S. Representative Tillie K. Fowler, a former Jacksonville city leader and great friend to the University. Fowler also delivered the keynote address and gave some very practical advice to graduates. She told them they should never be afraid to make a mistake, should never hesitate to ask a question and should remember that one of the most important elements of success is perspective. “Perspective allows us to see that success doesn’t mean just achieving professional standing or gaining wealth,” Fowler said. “It means being a person of value – a loyal friend, a loving spouse, a great parent, a man or woman of integrity. And no matter what chapters of difficulty may lie behind you or in the path Sonya Bennett ahead, each of you has the capacity to become a success in the ways that truly matter most.” Dr. Mary Kathleen “Kay” Johnson, professor of education, founder and director of JU’s Wilma’s Little People’s School, and a child development expert, was presented with the University’s Integritas Vitae award, the highest honor JU bestows. Johnson is retiring after 30 years at Jacksonville University. A record eight students were awarded the Fred B. Noble Medal for scholarship by earning perfect grades in every class in their collegiate career. Those students are: Kenneth M. Athans, the Outstanding Senior in Computing Sciences and a Division of Science and Mathematics Student of the Year;
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Acting President Catherine Morgan presided over commencement after leading JU through a spring semester filled with challenges.
Tim Benjamin Birkman, the Outstanding Finance Student of the Year and a member of the Davis College of Business Circle of Excellence; Inga Chira, the Outstanding International Business Student of the Year and Outstanding Davis College of Business Student of the Year; Gary Allen Harrington, U.S. Navy lieutenant and Outstanding Business Administration Student of the Year; Amanda Gail Jackson, a psychology major and member of the national honor society Psi Chi; James Arthur Quaresimo, a summa cum laude graduate of the Davis College of Business; Courtney Christine Schulker, the Outstanding Aviation Student in the Davis College of Business; and Tamara Ann Simpson, editor of the student newspaper The Navigator, and the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Student of the Year. John Balog, vice president for student life, also presented the University’s two major leadership awards to students at the commencement ceremonies. Alejandro Savransky, SGA president, tutor, Orientation leader and vice president of the Green Key Honorary Leadership Society, was Alejandro Savransky honored with the University Council President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership. Sonya Bennett, leader of the Orientation team, president of Green Key and an officer in SGA and Dolphin Productions, earned the University Award for Service and Extracurricular Activities.
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he Davis College of Business funded the construction of the new honored six alumni and one Davis College of Business building benefactor at its inaugural that will be completed in early 2005. Blue Chip Awards banquet on March Randy Amos ’70, president and 4. Faculty, staff and top students came CEO of the Lake Shore Radiator & out to the Adam’s Mark Hotel to Specialty Auto Parts Warehouse, salute the college’s most successful earned the business partner award for alumni. his continued service to the The awards were designed to University. recognize Mark alumni who Stiehl ’89 was demonstrate honored in business the aviation excellence category. The and first student achievement to complete in their the aviation respective management fields, said and flight former operations business degree at JU, Dean Stiehl is a Dan Davis, whose family has provided tremendous William captain for support for the college, spoke to the crowd after receiving a Rhey. Federal lifetime achievement award. “The Express. Blue Chip Awards engage our Angela Auchey Kohler ’90 was the business school with the business traditional business graduate winner. community,” Rhey explained. “It She is an assistant vice president and showcases the quality of our students, portfolio manager for Federated the accomplishments of our graduates Investors inc., one of the nation’s and our commitment to scholarship.” largest investment management The Blue Chip Awards were companies. presented in the categories of aviation, JU Trustee David Graham ’86, traditional business, executive MBA, chairman and CEO of InTuition evening MBA, and adult degree Development Holdings, was the programs; and for the business partner honoree in the executive MBA of the year and lifetime service. category. His company provides Several alumni were nominated in payment processing services along each category, Rhey said, and the with operational services to college winners were chosen by judges who savings programs. represented a cross-section of the H. Joseph O’Shields ’02 was the Jacksonville business community. evening MBA honoree. He is a real Each winner received a customestate and corporate attorney with the designed, cobalt blue glass bowl, Rogers Towers firm in Jacksonville. created in JU’s glassblowing studio by Miller Electric Company young artist Jeremy Wintrebert. President and CEO Ronald Autrey The following winners were ’86 received the Blue Chip Award in recognized at the March celebration: the adult degree category. A 32-year Dan Davis, chairman of the board veteran with Miller, Autrey handles of Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and JU prime accounts, corporate alliances Trustee, received the lifetime service and design-build projects. award for his generous contributions At the dinner, former Acting to JU, including his time and business President Dr. Catherine Morgan expertise. A gift from the Davis family remembered three of the honorees
Ronald Autrey ’86
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Blue Chip Awards Honor Alumni Business Accomplishments
David Graham ’86
H. Joseph O’Sheilds ’02
Mark Stiehl ’89
from her days as a professor of management. “What I personally know about those students, and what I believe about all the others, is that they always had it in them to be successful,” Morgan said. “What we did for them was give them knowledge, an ability to learn, and confidence in themselves. This is why we are here.” JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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JU Team Brings Geography Lessons to Local School Kids JU geography professor, an alumnus and a recent The map study was followed by a field trip to downtown graduate have launched a local geography program Jacksonville, which many students had never seen. The for elementary schoolchildren with the help of a children were given disposable cameras to record their trip. $15,000 grant from the National Geographic Society and Back at school, they used the photographs, along with maps, matching to create “virtual field trips” of downtown, and did the donations totaling same thing with the neighborhood around North $25,000. Shore Elementary. A project With funding from the NGS grant, the team proposal by Dr. later expanded the program to Justina and Arlington Ray Oldakowski Elementary schools and designed additional field and research trips. They took students to the beach and on a drive partner Jason along the St. Johns River through several Jacksonville Geiger ’98 was one neighborhoods. of just 19 that the Oldakowski said society funded this geography is important year. The grant allowed them to expand their for elementary pilot geography program to additional schools. schoolchildren because it Oldakowski and Geiger traveled to allows them to see more Washington, D.C., to accept the grant at the of the world around National Geographic Society’s Annual Grantee them, and more Meeting in January. possibilities in their lives. The idea for the program was developed by “If they don’t know graduating senior Melissa Holmes, who was an anything but the three art teacher at North Shore Elementary blocks around their School’s after school program, TeamUp. The After trips to the beach and to downtown Jacksonville homes and school, their geographers asked 40 fourth and fifth graders with JU leaders, elementary school students mapped view of the world to draw a map of their school’s neighborhood. broader views of their local communities. becomes very small,” Then they showed the students aerial photographs of their Oldakowski said. “When we asked kids what they can do for school, and took them on walking trips around the area, a living, they can only imagine what they’ve seen. Getting about a mile in diameter. them out and around the city opens their world up and “On their first maps, some of the kids just drew the shows them that there are opportunities beyond their school building. They couldn’t draw anything else,” said neighborhood.” Oldakowski. “They didn’t know there was a fire station Donations from Geiger’s employer Iluka Resources and around the corner, or a huge cemetery nearby. Maps we from JU increased the total value of the project to $40,000 in asked them to draw later in the program started including cash and in-kind contributions. In addition, Holmes won the streets around the school, and street signs and major the undergraduate award for best student presentation at the landmarks.” Florida Society of Geographers annual meeting.
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U.S.News Places JU in Good Company in the South acksonville University made its first showing in decades in the national rankings of colleges and universities, landing at no. 52 among master’s universities in the South according to U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2005 list. “Generations of students have known that Jacksonville University provides high-quality education in a small, intimate learning environment,” said President Kerry Romesburg. “This recognition helps us explain the value of a JU degree to our neighbors in Jacksonville, Northeast Florida, and the rest of the world.” This is the first time that U.S. News numerically ranked
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all the schools in the top two tiers of master’s-level universities. JU placed number 52 among 131 Southern colleges and universities. The magazine computes its rankings using objective measures of academic quality provided by the schools and assessments made by leaders at peer institutions. Data categories include student/faculty ratio; class size; graduation rate; percentage of full-time faculty; student selectivity; average SAT/ACT scores; percentage of highly ranked freshmen; alumni giving rate; and others. JU’s small classes, outstanding faculty, high academic standards and competitive admissions policies contributed to its success.
xpressing hope that JU graduates will emulate the officers into the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in principles of a dedicated public servant, Board 2003 – a fact not lost on Morgan. Chair Michael Cascone helped lead the March 1 “Whether it is flying aircraft, piloting ships, dedication of Jacksonville University’s new NROTC interpreting intelligence, leading marines, supplying the headquarters in honor of former U.S. Representative Tillie fleet, or whatever is needed, JU NROTC graduates are K. Fowler. Cascone was joined at the dedication ceremony involved today, as we stand here, in every aspect of our by former Acting President Dr. Catherine L. Morgan, nation’s current struggles,” Morgan said. “They are Commander of the Navy keeping the watch over Region Southeast Rear our way of life, and it is Admiral Annette Brown, fitting that we remember and Fowler herself. their service and sacrifice “During an era of on a day like today.” defense budget cuts, Tillie The new facility was Fowler became an named in Fowler’s honor effective and tireless to recognize her advocate for a strong leadership, effectiveness national defense,” and dedication to Cascone, a 1965 JU national security and to graduate and a former the First Coast region as Naval officer, told the the U.S. Representative large group that gathered from the Jacksonville area for the ceremony. “Her from 1993 to 2001. She Tillie Fowler, the namesake of JU’s new NROTC building, has been an values are similar to what was a senior member of our NROTC faculty teach advocate for military affairs throughout her political career in Florida and the House Armed Washington, D.C. just inside those doors. Services Committee and We hope that by naming served six years as a Jacksonville University’s member of the U.S. NROTC Building in her Naval Academy Board of honor, our students will Visitors. emulate Fowler’s Speaker of the House unparalleled principles.” Dennis Hastert also JU’s NROTC unit appointed her to his moved into the new North Korea Advisory 10,000-square-foot facility Group in November last fall. It includes 1999. She received the classrooms, offices, study Navy’s Distinguished space, simulation Public Service Award and equipment, multimedia the Department of equipment, and fitness Defense Medal for and training facilities. Distinguished Public “This is a very special JU faculty, staff, students and alumni and friends were joined by Navy Service. Fowler is day for me and my currently a partner in the officials at the building dedication. family,” Fowler said. “I Washington, D.C., law cannot think of a greater honor than for this building to firm Holland & Knight. bear my name, a building in which future leaders in the Admiral Brown called Fowler an exceptional friend to Navy and Marine Corps for many years to come will the U.S. military. receive their training and go on to serve honorably in our “How fitting it is that this building be named for military service.” Congresswoman Tillie Fowler, one of our military’s The NROTC program opened in the spring of 1971 strongest advocates on the First Coast and in the nation,” with 43 midshipmen. Today, it has grown to a battalion of Brown said. “I am proud to say that our NROTC more than 300 students from JU, the University of North graduates from JU who wear the uniform, who serve their Florida and Florida Community College at Jacksonville – country and who do their duty make it possible for their making it the largest NROTC battalion of its kind in the fellow classmates to pursue their dreams. It all started at United States. The company commissioned more than 40 JU in 1971 and continues today in this new building.”
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JU Names New NROTC Building for Stateswoman Fowler
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Nursing Earns Maximum Professional Accreditation he School of Nursing earned accreditation in May prepares you for beyond the BSN.’ One hospital from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing representative stated that graduates ‘had what they needed Education (CCNE), the to be independent,’ and that ‘new major accreditation body for BSN JU new graduates required less and higher degree nursing hospital orientation.’ programs in the United States. Alumni stated that they felt The bachelor’s program was comfortable and competent when accredited for 10 years and the they were first employed. Alumni master’s program earned a fivealso stated that they felt very well year accreditation, the maximum prepared for graduate school.” term for which the programs were The School of Nursing, which eligible. is also accredited by the National The four-person CCNE League of Nursing, has carefully evaluation team spent four days increased its new student last November assessing and enrollment while remaining reviewing the quality of education competitive. The school admits provided by the School of fewer than one in five applicants. Nursing. Evaluations included Among other recent private interviews with students, accomplishments, the school JU’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing, instituted a master’s program, a graduates and representatives of local hospitals who hire JU grads. now accredited by the CCNE, meet in the new satellite program at Flagler Lazzara Health Sciences Building. In the final report, the Hospital in St. Augustine, a evaluation team noted, “In a meeting with graduates, one bachelor’s program for professionals who want a second individual stated that he was ‘given the right tools’ to career in nursing, and an online degree program. practice. Another student acknowledged that ‘the program
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Student Invitation Draws Wal-Mart Executive to Campus Duke delivered his address, “The Future of Retail, the top executive of the biggest retailer on the planet espoused a corporate philosophy of “one” during an Future of Wal-Mart,” to a standing-room-only crowd in Terry Concert Hall. He predicted strong growth in the retail appearance at Jacksonville University in March. Michael T. Duke, executive vice president of Wal-Mart and industry and encouraged business students to consider that field as they begin their careers. president and CEO of the Duke said the future of the Wal-Mart Stores division, retail industry would be marked visited JU after receiving an by several factors including e-mail invitation from an technology and innovation, ambitious student. Senior global competency and a Wayne Standiford was a JU renewed focus on the customer. business major and assistant Duke is responsible for the manager at a Wal-Mart store retail and merchandising near campus who graduated in operations of all Wal-Mart May. Discount Stores, Supercenters, During his speech, Duke and Neighborhood Markets in said the retail giant built its the United States. empire by paying attention to Former business Dean William Rhey (left) and graduating senior Standiford was pleasantly one customer at a time. “The surprised by the turnout for number ‘one’ is really our most Wayne Standiford (right) welcomed Wal-Mart Stores executive Michael Duke (center) to campus. Duke’s appearance. “This is important number,” he said. awesome,” he said. “I really didn’t expect this many people to “What’s really important internally within Wal-Mart is one show up.” customer at a time, one store at a time, one associate at a Standiford has been a Wal-Mart employee since he was time. That’s why, when I got an e-mail from Wayne, it was a high school student in Philadelphia. my responsibility to respond.”
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ast spring, JU’s Department of Theatre and as well as community performers under the direction of Dance and Florida Community College at FCCJ theatre professor Ken McCulough. The production Jacksonville’s DramaWorks collaborated on the team also included more than 20 stage technicians and two city’s first-ever stage managers from both schools. intercollegiate theatre production The Winter’s and staged one of Tale was one of Shakespeare’s hidden the last plays gems. Shakespeare wrote The Winter’s Tale and is often is one of the most categorized as one rarely produced of of his romances. It Shakespeare’s plays, is an epic story and one of the most encompassing beautiful. The play’s many of producers said this Shakespeare’s was the first favorite subjects production of The beginning with Winter’s Tale in betrayal, jealousy, Jacksonville – a local death, revenge, premiere almost 400 loss, and in the years after it was first second half performed in 1611 at moving toward the Globe Theatre. romantic love, This student divine providence, production was forgiveness, hope, presented at the reconciliation and Clockwise: Graduating senior Jeff Wells played Antigonus, who defends Hermoine (played by Wilson Center for resurrection. Amber Davis), the queen of Sicilia, after she is accused of infidelity in The Winter's Tale. the Arts on FCCJ’s The play is also South Campus. For JU students who don’t have access to noteworthy for its lengthy script, strong roles for women, a full-scale theatre on their home campus, the play was an several subplots and journey through the seasons of the opportunity to work with technical equipment in an upyear. One subplot calls for a bear attack on stage – a to-date theatre environment. challenging element that may make it one of Shakespeare’s The cast of 25 included JU and FCCJ theatre students, least-staged works. Photo Gary Wilcox for FCCJ
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JU, FCCJ Collaborate on Rare Shakespeare Production
Education Restarts Principal Training Program lasses began in January for JU’s newly re-instituted master’s program in Educational Leadership. The program was brought back to address a projected need for principals in the Duval County School System over the next five years. “When Duval school leaders told us they wanted to identify and prepare their best teachers for positions as principals, we had just the solution,” said Dr. Harry Teitelbaum, former dean of the School of Education who led the partnership effort for JU. “Our Educational Leadership program is designed to help administrators meet the challenges school principals face, from the routine to the exceptional.” Last fall, Duval school officials asked 159 current principals and administrators to nominate teachers who they
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thought showed the best potential for academic leadership. Those leaders nominated 42 of the best and brightest teachers in the Jacksonville system. All 42 of the teachers applied to JU’s new program, and the 15 top candidates were accepted into the program’s first cohort. “JU has been helpful by making sure our needs are met,” said Peggy Williams, general director of the leadership program for Duval County Schools. “The School of Education is making sure its course content includes elements the state requires of us such as school law and budgeting.” Though any educator can apply for admission to the program, the first group of students is composed exclusively of Duval public school teachers who have been recommended for leadership positions. JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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Faculty Faculty faculty news faculty Army Taps JU Professor for New Health Program r. Lynette Kennison did not expect move sick and injured personnel closer to their her first semester as a faculty member homes and families and use case management to end so abruptly. As the highestin order to provide care.” ranking female officer in the Florida Army Kennison supervised nurses, physician National Guard, however, she is always ready assistants and support staff in the new unit. to heed the call to service. When that call With a background in psychiatric nursing and came early in 2004, Kennison packed her bag community health nursing, she is the head of for Fort Gordon and the Southeast Regional the critical stress management team for the Medical Command, where she was sent to state and coordinates the crisis intervention develop the Army’s first community-based measures that are necessary for personnel and health care organization. families adjusting to the difficulties of war. Call-ups due to the war in Iraq have A few months after she was called up, caused a dramatic increase in the number of Kennison was sent to Puerto Rico, where she reservists and National Guard members on operated as part of a mental health clinic for medical hold – those with medical conditions soldiers and provided individual therapy at that prevent them from deploying, and those Rodriguez Army Health Clinic at Fort who become injured and wounded while on Buchanan, near San Juan. There, she led duty. The Army developed the concept of group therapy on smoking cessation and postDr. Lynette Kennison community-based health care organizations to traumatic stress disorder, and taught care for the additional personnel who need medical attention. chaplains, rescuers and medical personnel to be trained crisis Those centers are planned for Arkansas, California, responders. Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Florida. Kennison said Florida Kennison began her military career at the tail end of the volunteered to set up the pilot program. Vietnam War as an active duty nurse in the Navy. She “My unit is the Florida Medical Detachment out of St. transferred to the Army National Guard in 1983. She served as Augustine that normally provides all the medical care to the a psychiatric nurse practitioner at the Mayo Clinic for more 10,000 troops in the Florida Guard,” Kennison said. “The than six years before joining the JU faculty last fall. Kennison Army has decided that it would be in their best interests to said she plans to return to JU as soon as the Army releases her.
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Dr. Sherri Jackson Named JU Professor of the Year r. Sherri Jackson, the professor of psychology who has served as Chair of the Faculty during a critical time of transition for Jacksonville University, was named 20042005 JU Professor of the Year at the annual Faculty Recognition Dinner last spring. Other faculty members who received nominations were economics professor Dr. Rody Borg, biology professor Dr. Ken Hoover and
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mathematics professor Dr. Sanjay Rai. Provost Dr. Gary Moore also presented the Award for Excellence in Community Service to Dr. Pam Rillstone, assistant professor of nursing; and the Award for Excellence in Teaching to Dr. Barry Thornton, assistant professor of economics. Jackson received the Award for Excellence in University Service, and Dr. John Garrigus, professor of history, received the Award for
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Excellence in Scholarship and Professional Activities. Jackson, who joined the University in 1988, was the 49th JU faculty member honored as Professor of the Year. She is a frequent presenter at professional conferences and workshops and is a supervisor for students presenting research on a regional and national level. Jackson published her second textbook in as many years this summer.
Provost Gary Moore presented Dr. Sherri Jackson with Professor of the Year honors.
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r. Nancy Thomas wants which has reopened the entire to know who made question. Agamemnon’s daggers, “My ultimate hope,” the Bronze Age artifacts that are Thomas said, “is that this work the subject of her research. The will encourage museum officials, questions raised by her research who are understandably earned Thomas an invitation to reluctant to allow their precious present at the prestigious 10th objects to be cleaned and drilled International Aegean Conference for samples, to be more in Athens, Greece, in April. amenable to further tests.” The specific type of inlaid The highly regarded Aegean decoration on the daggers has conferences, held biennially, are been seen as the quintessential international meetings of invention of the Bronze Age archaeologists, art historians, Dr. Nancy Thomas previewed her Aegean Conference Greeks themselves. Twelve years presentation at a JU Phi Kappa Phi gathering. and other scholars who work in ago, a respected scholar suggested the Bronze Age culture of that the daggers were not made by Greek artisans but by Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. They share craftsmen from the Levant (modern Lebanon) who had information on the latest excavations, finds, new scientific traveled to Greece. Subsequent testing seemed to favor the studies and scholarly revisions. The most recent conference, original theory of Greek origin, but Thomas’ research two years ago, met in the United States when Yale revealed testing equipment may have been inadequate, University served as the host.
Morgan Wins Times-Union EVE Award ust before completing her tenure as JU’s acting president, Dr. Catherine Morgan was honored for her service with the prestigious 2004 EVE Award for Education from The Florida Times-Union. Morgan, a 20-year veteran of Jacksonville University, was chosen in June from a field of four outstanding finalists. The annual EVE Awards recognize the exceptional contributions of women in education, volunteer service and employment. Morgan was selected for her extraordinary efforts in leading the University in a positive direction, restoring confidence in JU’s leadership, helping rebuild Dr. Catherine Morgan campus morale and laying the groundwork for the incoming president, Dr. Kerry Romesburg. In choosing Morgan for the honor, judges wrote of her, “assuming a difficult position at a difficult time in the life of the University, Dr. Morgan inspired and engaged faculty and students to carry JU forward in its mission to provide quality education.” After serving as a professor of management in the Davis College of Business, Morgan coordinated a major boost in enrollment as vice president of enrollment services. She became special assistant to the president, then served as acting president until Romesburg assumed the presidency on July 1. Past JU leaders honored with an EVE Award include Dr. Fran Kinne, 1973; Dr. Elizabeth Buie, 1976; Dr. Martha McGee, 1979; Dr. Joan Carver, 1982; Dr. Kay Johnson, 1983; Prof. Janet Johnson, 1984; and Dr. June Main, 2001. In 1979, Kinne was awarded EVE of the Decade, the same year former JU Trustee Flo Davis was named the EVE winner for volunteer service.
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Thomas Stabs at Dagger’s Ancient Origins in Greece
Moore Wins Nurse Education of the Year Award r. Patricia Moore, assistant professor of nursing, won this year’s Florida Nurses Association (FNA) District II Nurse Educator of the Year Award. She was nominated by her students in the master’s program at the Flagler Hospital satellite nursing program in St. Augustine. Moore received 15 student nominations as well as nominations from several peers. The FNA represents all Florida nurses, regardless of specialty. In 2003, Moore was one of six JU nursing faculty named to the list of Great 100 Nurses of Northeast Florida.`
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Student Student student news student Student Reservist Serves as Reagan Honor Guard
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osh Mundy, a sophomore majoring in Aviation “Your feet hurt,” Mundy said. “Your knees hurt. You’re Management and Flight Operations at JU, never dehydrated. You can’t lean to one side and you can’t lock your thought he’d be part of history so early in his young knees or you’ll block your circulation.” career. Not even out of boot camp at the time, Mundy, a To stay completely focused, Mundy said he fixed his gaze member of the Coast Guard Reserves in Jacksonville, served directly on the person in front of him. But from the corner of as an Honor Guard at former President Ronald Reagan’s his eyes, he glimpsed around at the flag-waving crowds, funeral procession in June. amazed by all the cheering and clapping. A seaman recruit, Mundy was in his “The streets were packed,” he recalled. seventh week of basic training at Cape May, “The crowds were overwhelming and so N.J., when his company – Recruit Company supportive. When they saw us coming they H-168 – was chosen as part of the marching yelled ‘Coast Guard, Coast Guard.’” platoon to represent the U.S. Coast Guard at When the platoon reached the Capitol the service. building, Mundy’s group broke off to present Mundy’s first reaction to the news was arms – saluting with rifles – as the casket was “I’m only a reserve; I can’t be an Honor being brought up the steps to lie in state in the Guard.” He said the entire company of young Capitol Rotunda. recruits needed a minute for the idea sink in, Mundy believed this may be one of the then started practicing immediately. highest honors in his still-young career, and Mundy was part of a nine-by-nine said he would not trade the experience for marching platoon comprised of 81 Coast anything. Guard men and women. After arriving at the “This was such a great honor,” Mundy Mall in Washington, D.C., to practice with said. “It’s a rare occurrence to get to participate Josh Mundy the other branches of the armed services, they in something of such historic importance. It’s lined up and marched into the staging area for the beginning really a big deal.” of the procession. The honor guards stood in formation, Mundy, a native of Rocky Mount, Va., graduated with alternating between “attention” and “parade rest” every 15 honors from the Coast Guard Reserves in Cape May, N.J., in minutes, for more than an hour before beginning the twoJune. He resumed his studies at JU this fall, spending one mile march down Constitution Avenue. weekend each month with the Coast Guard. “When you join Mundy said the long, hot march was really intense and he the reserves, you know you can be called up anytime,” Mundy saw several men fall out from the heat. said.
Undergraduate Business Students Among Best in the Country tudents in the Davis College of Business have placed Jacksonville University in the top 10 percent of all college and university business programs in the United States. The ranking is the result of the performance by JU business majors who took the ETS Major Field Test in Business II. The exam is an end-of-program test that objectively measures achievement. Business programs from colleges and universities across the nation administer the exam to their graduating Senior business majors scored seniors to assess the level of student achievement well on the assessment test.
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and competency and to assess the overall quality of their business programs. During the spring semester, 40 Davis College of Business students enrolled in Dr. Mohammad Sepehri’s Business Policy and Strategy Management capstone course took the assessment test. The mean score for JU business majors was better than 90 percent of all other institutions taking the test. The JU students demonstrated significant achievement, especially in the areas of accounting, economics, management, finance and international business.
aura Chester, a freshman at JU, Washington, D.C., in July. has been painting and drawing Chester, impressed by the high as long as she can remember. caliber artwork at the reception, said, “I Encouraged by her father, Allen, who felt a little out of my league.” drew with her daily, she was just five However humble, Chester has won years old when she created one of her many awards throughout her young art first masterpieces – a watercolor of a career and was offered several sailboat. scholarships, including one to a Later, at age 18, Chester would prestigious art college. Ultimately, she create another masterpiece titled Love chose Jacksonville University, where she That Hair that would be chosen to hang believes she’ll get more “one on one” in the Capitol Building in Washington, with the teachers. D.C., through summer 2005. JU wasn’t new to Chester, either. As a high school senior at Douglas She had attended summer high school Anderson School of the Arts in classes in glassblowing and ceramics at Jacksonville, Chester was encouraged by JU and knew the quality of the arts her art teacher to enter the national program. Her sister, Dabney, a Congressional Art Competition. photographer, also went to JU and her Her pastel portrait of a determined mom, Virginia, is a JU librarian. Freshman Laura Chester’s portrait of a young African-American model in Chester has been featured in several young model (top right) was chosen to dreadlocks won first place, representing hang in the U.S. Capitol Building. newspapers and will have her art on the the 3rd Congressional District. Chester cover of Southwest Airlines magazine. and her family were flown, compliments of Southwest To get a look at her portfolio, visit her website at www.chesterart.com. Airlines, to a reception of national winners in
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From Capitol to College, Laura Chester’s Art Comes First
Students Work and Play During Spring Trip to the Tropics uring their weeklong break in March, 25 Jacksonville University students spent some time on the beach, playing in the sand and water. It wasn’t all fun in the sun however. They also cleaned up the beach, planted trees at a local school, and laid mountain trails – all in tropical hotspot Costa Rica. Their trip was part of Alternative Spring Break, a national trend that encourages college students to spend their time off volunteering domestically and around the world. The students spent most of their time in the small town of Guayabo, the hometown of Jacksonville banker Federico Ledezma of Wachovia. Ledezma helped organize the trip and find volunteer projects, then accompanied the group to Costa Rica. Geography professor Dr. Ray Oldakowski, Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Quint White, and Community
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Service Director Chris Tyler also chaperoned the group. Throughout the week, students spruced up a local high school, visited an orphanage, and laid trails at the mountain resort of Monteverde. They also squeezed in some sightseeing in San Jose, the capital city. At night, students and In Guayabo, Costa Rica, the JU contingent poses professors bunked with local host with their host families – practically the entire families (swelling the population of village. the tiny town) and practiced their Spanish language skills. The service the students performed was part of the 50 hours they are required to complete before graduation. They also received some course credit for their academic studies of Costa Rica, led by Oldakowski. Faculty leaders have already begun organizing next year’s JU students Eric Meichtry and Joni Petry, and geography Professor Ray Oldakowski were guided Alternative Spring Break trip. by a Costa Rican parks worker (right) during Ecuador has been selected as the next their service at the mountain resort of Monteverde. destination . JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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Sports SPORTS sports shorts sports Basketball Looks for Good Year with Returners
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hat a difference a year makes. Last year, JU entered the basketball season as the most inexperienced team in all of Division I, yet managed to win 13 games and qualify for the Atlantic Sun Championship. This year, head coach Hugh Durham, who is already the Dolphins’ all-time Florida Gators Coach Billie Donovan and JU winningest Coach Hugh Durham. The Dolphins begin their Division I coach as 2004-05 season playing UF at Veterans he enters his Memorial Arena. eighth season at JU, has high expectations as the Dolphins return four of five starters, including sophomore forward Haminn Quaintance and senior shooting guard David Lee. Quaintance earned A-Sun Freshman-of-theYear honors and was voted SecondTeam Atlantic Sun All-Conference after averaging a team-best 14.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3 blocks per game as a rookie. He established himself as the Dolphins’ best The Dolphins’ best freshman player in 20 years, freshman in 20 years dating back forward Haminn Quaintance, returns as a sophomore starter. to when Ronnie 42
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Murphy earned First-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 1984. Lee, meanwhile, enjoyed a breakout junior season in which he averaged 14 points and emerged as one of the Atlantic Sun’s top shooters. For the first time in five years, JU will play both Florida and Florida State in non-conference action. The powerhouse Gators will face the Dolphins in Jacksonville at the new Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday, Nov. 19, while the JU Dolphins will travel to Tallahassee to play the upstart Seminoles on Dec. 21.
2004-05 Men’s Basketball Schedule November 19 23 27
vs. Florida^ NORTH FLORIDA at Savannah State
7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
December 2 4 11 19 21
GEORGIA STATE* MERCER* SAVANNAH STATE at Tennessee Tech at Florida State
7:00 2:00 2:00 4:30
January 3 5 9 11 14 16 20 22 26 29 31
STETSON* TROY STATE* at UCF* at Florida Atlantic* LIPSCOMB* BELMONT* at Campbell* at Gardner-Webb* at Stetson* CAMPBELL* GARDNER-WEBB*
7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. TBA 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
at Lipscomb* at Belmont* FLORIDA ATLANTIC* UCF* at Troy State* at Georgia State* at Mercer*
5:15 7:30 4:00 7:30 6:00 2:00
February 3 5 10 12 18 25 27 March 3-5
at Atlantic Sun Championship (Nashville, Tenn.)
p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. TBA
TBA p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. TBA
*Atlantic Sun Conference Game ^at Veterans Memorial Arena Home games in BOLD CAPS played at Swisher Gymnasium. All times Eastern and subject to change.
he Dolphins didn’t have to look far to find a new women’s basketball coach. JU turned to the Atlantic Sun Conference’s top program – Georgia State – and selected the Panthers’ top assistant, Jill Dunn, as the Dolphins’ new head coach. Dunn, a former NCAA Division I head coach and player, becomes the second coach of the five-year-old Dolphin women’s basketball program. She has been part Jill Dunn is JU’s new women’s basketball coach. of three Atlantic Sun Championship teams at Georgia State, including two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2002, 2003). “Jill is an excellent fit for our basketball program,” said Dr. John Balog, vice president for student life and acting athletic director. “She has proven success as a Division I head coach, and as an assistant coach, has proven to be one of the country’s top recruiters. Jill also understands what it takes to be successful in the Atlantic Sun Conference, as evidenced by Georgia State’s recent success, both on the court and in the classroom.” “I’m excited about the opportunity to build JU into one of the top women’s basketball programs in the Atlantic Sun Conference,” said Dunn, who emerged from more than 100 candidates. “There is so much potential to be successful at Jacksonville University and I am looking forward to the challenge of making that potential become a reality. JU is a place where student-athletes can excel on the court and in the classroom. In addition, Jacksonville is one of the most vibrant and growing cities in the country.”
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Dunn has been part of three Atlantic Sun Championship teams at Georgia State, including two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Dunn spent the last three seasons as the recruiting coordinator and top assistant coach at Georgia State, where the Panthers captured three straight A-Sun regular-season titles and played in the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Tournaments. The Panthers won 59 games the past three seasons, including a 40-16 mark in A-Sun play. In 2003-04, Dunn’s recruiting class was rated in the Top 100 nationally by All-Star Girls Report. The 32-year-old Dalton, Ga., native was head coach at Western Carolina from 1998-2000. Dunn led the Catamounts to 23 wins in two seasons as head coach, including 12 wins in 1998-99, the most in 15 years at WCU and the most ever by a first-year head coach. Before being
elevated to head coach, Dunn was the top assistant coach in 1997-98. She spent the 2000-01 season as the top assistant coach at Miami University in Ohio, where the RedHawks finished 18-11. Dunn began her coaching career as an assistant at South Carolina from 1994-97. As a player, Dunn was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Georgia Southern (1990-93). The former team captain was chosen to the SoCon All-Tournament Team as a senior in 1993, after leading the Lady Eagles to the Southern Conference Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Dunn graduated as the school’s all-time leader in assists and three-point field goals made. She was named Georgia Southern’s Woman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s basketball. Dunn earned her B.S. in education from Georgia Southern in 1994.
2004-05 Women’s Basketball Schedule November 13 19 21 27
ROLLINS COLLEGE (EXH.) at Stanford at Birmingham Southern at South Carolina
2:00 8:00 3:00 7:00
p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.
December 2 4 11 18 20 31
at Gardner-Webb at Campbell at Bethune-Cookman NAVY at Eastern Illinois CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
6:00 2:00 2:00 2:00 8:00 2:00
p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.
January 6 8 15 20 22 27 29
MERCER* GEORGIA STATE* at Troy State* at Lipscomb* at Belmont* FAU* UCF* (DH)
7:00 2:00 8:00 8:00 3:00 7:00 5:00
p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.
February 2 5 7 10 12 15 17 24 26
at Stetson* at FAU* at UCF* BELMONT* (DH) LIPSCOMB* (DH) STETSON* TROY STATE* at Georgia State* at Mercer*
7:00 7:00 7:00 5:00 1:00 7:00 7:00 6:00 2:00
p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.
GARDNER-WEBB* CAMPBELL* at Atlantic Sun Championship (Dothan, Ala.)
7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. TBA
March 3 5 10-12
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Jill Dunn Set To Refresh JU Women’s Basketball Program
*Atlantic Sun Conference Game (DH) Doubleheader with JU Men Home games in BOLD CAPS played at Swisher Gymnasium. All times Eastern and subject to change.
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Dolphin Student-Athletes Earn Academic Honors U athletics capped a banner academic year by placing a record third out of 11 teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Champion rankings for the 2003-04 season. More than 59 percent of the Dolphin student-athletes earned A-Sun Academic AllConference honors. In addition, 33 Dolphins were named to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll in the fall. And a school-record four JU student-athletes earned national Academic All-America honors in 2003-04. Senior Inge Heiremans from the women’s soccer team became the first female athlete in school history to earn First-Team Academic AllAmerica honors in the fall. Dianna Korcak (softball), Kristina Puck (women’s tennis) and Ben Birkmann (men’s tennis) earned Second-Team Academic All-America honors in the spring. All four also joined Martin Hehensteiger (men’s tennis) as District III Academic All-Americans.
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More than 59 percent of Dophin student-athletes earned A-Sun Academic All-Conference honors. In addition, 33 Dolphins were named to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll in the fall. JU made remarkable improvement from the previous year, when the Dolphins placed fifth among league schools with 50 percent of its student-athletes participating in A-Sun sports earning academic allconference honors. A record 154 Dolphins earned Dean’s List honors for Inge Heiremans became the first female athlete in JU 2003-04, which is a 10 percent increase from a year ago. And 364 JU history to earn First-Team Academic All-America student-athletes earned a 3.0 or higher GPA during the fall and/or spring honors. semester, a 28 percent increase from last year.
Korcak Sets the Standard On and Off the Diamond ot only did senior shortstop Dianna Korcak set the standard for the future of JU softball on and off the field, but she also set the standard for the entire country on the diamond. Korcak set an NCAA singleseason record by hitting 17 triples during the 2004 season while also batting .361 with 36 RBI en route to Second-Team Academic AllAmerica honors and First-Team Atlantic Sun All-Conference accolades. Korcak, who played every inning of the Dolphins’ 120 games during their first two seasons of fast-pitch softball, eclipsed the previous NCAA record of 16 triples. That record had Diana Korcak earned Second-Team Academic stood since it was first set by Barb All-America and First-Team Atlantic Sun AllMarean of Massachusetts in 1992 Conference honors. and later by Jennifer Egan of
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Monmouth in 1995. She also had a Jacksonville University school-record 20-game hitting streak during the 2003-04 season and posted 20 multi-hit games, while ranking among the Atlantic Sun leaders in 11 different categories. The Clearwater, Fla., native graduated from JU with a 3.67 GPA in elementary education and was a candidate for NCAA Woman of the Year as well as Atlantic Sun Female Athlete of the Year. At JU’s annual All-Sports Award Banquet on April 20, Korcak received the Douglas B. Milne Sportsmanship Award for being the Dolphins’ top female student-athlete who has demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics, leadership and sportsmanship.
U senior heptathlete Andrea Pressley nearly made second place after throwing a Mike Myers’ Stadium history last June when she came within 800 heptathlon record 46’-02” in the shot put to finish first, meters of becoming JU’s second national while running a career-best 13.76 in the 100-meter champion. Pressley earned hurdles and a season-best All-America honors in one 24.61 in the 200-meter dash of sports’ toughest events to record 3,424 points after after finishing fourth at the day one. She started day two NCAA Outdoor Track & by throwing a career-best Field Championships in 141’-02” in the javelin and Austin, Texas. then jumped a career-best Entering the final event, 19’-06” in the long jump. the 800-meter dash, Pressley Pressley entered the was in second place and had championships ranked ninth the entire track and field nationally in the heptathlon world on the edge of their after winning the Florida seats. She finished the Relays earlier in the spring. grueling two-day event with She competed in the 2003 a school-record 5,586 NCAA Outdoor Track & points, which was just one Field Championships as the With a career best in javelin throw, Andrea Pressley finished fourth point shy of third place. The and earned All-America honors in NCAA championships. 21st seed in the heptathlon, only schools to finish ahead finishing the meet ranked of JU’s Pressley were Arizona State, Georgia and 13th overall. She also finished 16th in the 2001 NCAA Nebraska. Outdoor Championships after earning a No. 22 national Heading into the final three events, Pressley was in ranking at the end of the season.
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Pressley Shines at NCAA Track & Field Championships
“The Winner” AM 970 Becomes JU’s Flagship Station acksonville University has signed a contract with Jacksonville’s newest Sports Superstation, “The Winner” AM 970 (WNNR), to air more than 85 live broadcasts of JU athletic events during the 2004-05 academic year. “The Winner” AM 970 will broadcast all 11 football games, all 30 men’s basketball games and 26 baseball games, as well as 10 football coach’s shows and 15 basketball coach’s shows. The Voice of the Dolphins, Cole Pepper, will also return for his fourth year calling play-by-play for JU football, basketball and baseball. The Steve Gilbert Show, will air live from Fast Boys Wings on University Blvd., Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. during football season, while The Hugh Durham Show will air Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. throughout the basketball season. Jamie Zeitz, JU’s assistant athletic director for media relations, will serve as the host for the third consecutive year. All JU games can also be heard live on the Dolphins’ official athletic web site – judolphins.com. “We’re excited to once again be part of a new and growing station,” said Zeitz.
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Alumni Alumni alumni news alumni A Good Dose of Reality Leads to Top Rated Show by Olga Bayer fter winning $1 million by racing 52,000 miles Boylan met many of his closest lifelong friends at JU and around the world in 28 days, what do you do for an keeps in touch with most of them today. His freshman encore? roommate, Daniel Villareal, rents the top floor of his house at “You get your own television show,” says Alex Boylan, BA Neptune Beach. Besides the great friendships and the ’99, and current host of the top-rated PBS show, At The Chef’s excellent location, Boylan remembers JU for the professors Table. who had an impact on him, such as Barry Thornton, assistant Boylan is a Boston native who, along with his best friend professor of business, who taught Boylan quantitative analysis Chris Luca, competed against 10 other teams to win the and business statistics. He gets a big thumbs-up as Boylan’s popular reality show The best teacher. Amazing Race in 2002. “Quantitative analysis – Starting in the desert of Las what does that really mean?” Vegas, he hiked, jetted and asked Boylan. “You’re boated through five learning crazy theories. But continents and eight you don’t leave Thornton’s countries including Brazil, class until you understand Africa, Thailand, Australia them. He goes above and and Japan to finish first in beyond to make sure of that.” the footrace finale in San Boylan remembers the Francisco. personal interest Thornton Boylan found himself took in his students – doing things he never showing up at soccer games, dreamed of – bungee football games and other jumping in New Zealand, campus activities. hang gliding off San Pedro “He was one of those Mountain in Brazil and teachers involved in every making history as one of the way,” said Boylan. “You first to rappel off Sugar Loaf Alex Boylan filming At the Chef's Table in San Jose, California. develop a different kind of Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. relationship with a professor when that happens.” Jerry Smith, president and CEO of PineRidge Film & Looking back, Boylan is struck by what a wise decision he Television in Jacksonville, Fla., watched Boylan on The made in coming to JU. Even though he didn’t know it at the Amazing Race. Smith knew Boylan’s upbeat personality and time – he was only 18 and looking for a sunny spot with sense of adventure would be perfect for his new travelsoccer and his major – he realizes now how the small class size adventure food show, At the Chef’s Table. and personal relationships with professors and advisors can keep you grounded. “At JU, you’re held accountable for your actions whether “The whole town of Jacksonville was like a its soccer or studying. You can’t get away with what you hidden little treasure.” – Alex Boylan might at a bigger school where you’re anonymous.” Boylan used to think it was easy to be on television. The job meant moving to Jacksonville, an area where “In reality shows like The Amazing Race, the cameras just Boylan already had strong ties since he had spent four years at rolled, you didn’t pay attention to them, and what you saw was Jacksonville University, earning a degree in international what you got,” said Boylan. “At The Chef’s Table is completely business while playing for JU’s soccer team. different. I’m looking into the camera lens, trying to make it “JU had Division I soccer, my major, warm weather, and look like I’m talking to my good friend. I ad-lib a little, but beaches,” said Boylan. “The whole town of Jacksonville was everything is scripted, planned out ahead. The memorization is like a hidden little treasure – the smaller town atmosphere was a challenge and keeping it on cue with where to turn at the so different and fun.” exact point in time – that’s a whole other ball game.”
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chowder he was served at a restaurant called Norman’s in Coral Gables, Fla., and the most unusual item he’s eaten was, surprisingly, gourmet beets. After taping 21 programs and working alongside such passionate chefs, Boylan says he’s picked up a few tips about cooking. He’s amazed at how simple and healthy the recipes are, pointing out that the chefs use only the freshest or organic products with just a few key ingredients. When he’s not shooting, Boylan’s traveling with friends, surfing, and playing basketball or soccer. Last spring, Boylan returned to Jacksonville University to participate in a soccer fundraising event called Five-a-Side which Head Men’s Soccer Coach Mike Johnson plans to turn into an annual event. Johnson, who’s trying to recoup alumni participation in the soccer program, said Boylan has volunteered to help – as much as his schedule allows – during the preseason. “Boylan was a high contributing, competitive player when he was at JU. He had a great “At JU, you’re held attitude,” said Johnson. “I’d love to accountable for your have him. This is a positive step.” For Boylan, faith, family and actions whether its friends are important. He also soccer or studying.” believes in supporting the – Alex Boylan community and giving back to Jacksonville University. Amazing Race teammates Boylan and Luca plan “College helps establish who you their strategy from the top of Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janerio, under the statue of Cristo The chef’s table originated in are,” said Boylan. “What happens if Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). England when lords and kings you turn around and that place refused to eat with the common wasn’t there anymore? That would people. As time went on, famous people and dignitaries – be sad. I want to support JU and I can afford it. I’ve been not wanting to be recognized – were ushered to a separate blessed.” table, set up in or near the kitchen. Today, the chef’s table Also blessed with an enthusiastic personality, big blue is the most prestigious place to sit in a restaurant, where eyes and an even bigger smile, Boylan seems to be a world-class chefs entertain and try new recipes on honored natural at hosting At The Chef’s Table. However, he said guests. there were some growing pains to get where he is today. According to Boylan, the cost to dine at a chef’s table “In those first episodes, the editors had to work a little can range anywhere from $100 a person to $10,000 per harder,” said Boylan. “They make you look better than you table, depending on the restaurant. are.” Noting that chef’s tables are popping up more and The show is a major success – airing in about 70 more across the nation and not just in five-star restaurants, percent of the PBS markets with solid ratings in New Boylan commented, “If restaurants aren’t doing it now, York, Dallas, Miami and San Francisco. they probably will, because it’s the number one grossing What makes this show different from other food table at these high-end restaurants.” shows? Boylan’s travels have taken him to some memorable “This isn’t just another stare and smile show,” said dining spots including the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, Boylan. “They wanted this food show to be exciting – to Emile’s in San Jose, Calif., and the Inn at Little be an adventure.” Washington in Virginia. A favorite dish was the conch Amazingly, that’s what Boylan brings to the table. JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
alumni news
Another challenge for Boylan is keeping up his stamina day after day. Even though he thrives on the travel, the 1516 hour days of shooting can be tiring. The show requires him to spend about 90 percent of his time away from home, on the road for 12 days at a stretch, usually shooting three different shows. The premise of At The Chef’s Table is straightforward, entertaining and delicious to watch. Each show is based around a theme and opens with Boylan in a picturesque location. After capturing the flavor of the area with beauty shots and a few interesting facts, the host invites the viewer to join him on a behind-the-scenes adventure to an upscale five-star restaurant. Boylan interacts with the chef, sharing recipes and cooking tips, and even following him to docks, gardens and markets to find the freshest ingredients. The show closes with Boylan and celebrity guests seated at the chef’s table, sampling gourmet meals – from appetizers to fine wines and desserts – all specially selected, prepared and served by the chef.
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alumni news
JU Alum Supports Operation Iraqi Freedom JU and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. In March 2003, he earned his master’s of science degree in information technology from the Naval Postgraduate L ASAD, Iraq – Deploying here for the first time School in Monterey, Calif. in February, in support of Operation Iraqi When Kornacki isn’t performing his extensive Freedom, provided 1991 JU graduate and Marine computer-based duties, he engages in activities that Maj. Timothy Kornacki with an stimulate both his body and up-close look at the harsh mind to relieve stress. atmosphere he anticipated. “I work out at the gym and “Being in a war zone pretty go for morning runs, when it’s much measures up to what I cooler,” he laughed. “I also do thought it would be,” offered a lot of reading. the 36-year-old information Of all the comforts management officer who now Kornacki misses, his spouse is calls Jacksonville, Fla., home. “I at the top of the list. knew there would be austere “I miss my wife Catherine conditions over here and hostile the most,” he reflected. “I also forces, but actually being here miss those basic facilities we puts things into perspective.” take for granted like air Maj. Timothy D. Kornacki, BS ’91, manages information During his formative years conditioning, privacy, my own at Lake Mary High School, the resources within his unit for Operation Iraqi Freedom. home and vehicle.” former enlisted Marine joined the Junior Reserve Officers Proud to have the opportunity to lead such a fine Training Corps, which fueled his desire to become one of young group of Marines in Iraq, Kornacki said he the “The Few and the Proud.” appreciates the support and recognition for their mission. Kornacki, who works with the Operations Section of “I really believe that we are contributing to the war on Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, 3rd Marine terrorism,” Kornacki emphasized. “I see American forces Aircraft Wing, remembered the retired sergeant major over here as taking the fight away from our borders, with and lieutenant colonel who served as Marine instructors the goal of not having another Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist there. attack happen. “They ran the ROTC unit and instilled Marine “Americans should remember that freedom is Corps principles in me. I pretty much knew what I something that should never be taken for granted,” said wanted to do with my life after that,” said Kornacki. Kornacki. “There are people who die for freedom and it’s Kornacki received a four-year NROTC scholarship to not to be taken lightly.”
Photo and story by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White, Jr. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent
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Kinne Honored Twice hancellor Emeritus Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne has been named to the tenth edition of the American Biographical Institute’s 2,000 Notable American Women.The Arthritis Foundation Northeast Florida will honor Dr. Kinne with the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 7th Annual Community Leader of the Year Award Dedication (CLYAD) on Nov 12.
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Apply to JU for Free!
Help us identify JU’s future alumni, and we’ll waive the application fee! If you know a prospective student who would benefit from the JU experience, fill out this coupon and ask that student to send it in with their completed undergraduate application. That’s it – we’ll waive their application fee! And remember – under JU’s Legacy Scholarship program, children and siblings of JU alumni receive a $500 scholarship upon admission to the University. Name of Alumnus: _______________________________ Graduation Year: _________________________________ Signature: _______________________________________ For additional waiver coupons or an undergraduate application, contact the the Office of Admissions at 904-256-7000 or 800-225-2747. For more information, log on to www.ju.edu/admissions/.
by Olga Bayer ust Cause. Desert Storm. Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Chuck Briant, BS ’75, is no stranger to putting himself in harm’s way to serve his country. In most cases, he has emerged relatively unscathed. But on Sept. 9, 2003, Briant was seriously injured in a terrorist bomb blast in Iraq, earning him the Purple Heart. Briant, a naval reservist, was selected to go to Irbil, Iraq, as chief of the coalition operating base. “Around 9 p.m. I was sitting in the house, facing the street, behind my desk with my laptop,” said Briant. “I remember seeing a yellow flash, and then I was blown back into the room.” The building he was in was all but demolished, the result of a suicide bomber who blew up a car with 440 pounds of Navy Capt. Chuck Briant, right, receives Purple explosives. Heart citation from Air Force Gen. Richard B. Amid all Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Oct. the chaos, a 29, 2003. Kurd whose job was to protect Briant kissed him, relieved to find him alive. Next he heard the sounds of ambulances and helicopters that would transport him to the 21st Combat Support Hospital in Mosul to be treated for severe injuries to his abdomen and internal bleeding. “I can’t say enough about the medical people there, God bless them,” Briant said. When he was stabilized, he was transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Briant considers himself fortunate – this wasn’t the first time he’d escaped death. On Sept. 11, 2001, he left a meeting at the Navy Command Center in the Pentagon early. A short time later, those who had sat next to him were killed when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. Have these close calls changed his outlook on life? “I don’t get concerned about the little things,” Briant said. “I make more of an effort, and try to help others appreciate what they’ve got because it might not be here today or this afternoon.” Back in the 70s, Briant was accepted to Notre Dame but chose JU where he received a full four-year NROTC scholarship. He said NROTC at JU was a tremendous experience. “We got out to Mayport and NAS. We touched the
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From the Association President: by Michael R. Howland, CAE ’76 Greetings! Do not miss Homecoming 2004: MargaRATaville, October 15-16 on the Jacksonville University campus. A football game, tailgate, barbecue, soccer match, reception with our new President, Kerry Romesburg, our firstever Silver Dolphin Reunion and a blockbuster Saturday night MargaRATaville-themed Rathskeller Party event at the River House offer plenty of opportunities to reconnect with JU friends and see a remarkable, redesigned campus. We expect a great turnout of faculty members and administrators, so you’ll have the opportunity to catch up with them as well. President Romesburg and his wife, Judy, plan to attend virtually all of the events in an effort to meet everyone who turns out for the festivities. The Romesburgs bring promise and hope to JU at a critical juncture for our alma mater. Alumni were involved actively in every step of the search process, and universally embraced the leadership, experience, fiscal prowess, vision and affability Kerry offered to move JU forward. I hope you will join our VISA (Volunteers In Student Admissions) ambassadors, our Board of Governors and other alums that have re-engaged with JU to help Kerry do just that. Please come to our next Alumni Board of Governors Meeting Friday morning (8:30am, Howard Bldg., 3rd Floor) of Homecoming Weekend and check us out…or e-mail the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Margaret Dees (mdees@ju.edu) or me (mhowland@nobleofindiana.org) to initiate a dialogue on how you might get involved on behalf of your alma mater.
alumni news
US Naval Reservist Awarded Purple Heart
radar, touched the planes, talked to the people working on them. Other people were reading about it; we were actually doing it.” Briant lives in Virginia with his wife, Joanne, a management assistant for Naval Intelligence. Currently, he’s the senior Naval Criminal Investigative Service representative to the Navy staff and serves as deputy director for Intelligence on a Pentagon crisis management team. JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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alumni news
Two JU Pitchers Called Up to Majors in Same Week Every baseball player who has put on a glove and laced up his cleats has aspirations to make it to the major leagues and play in the World Series. For former Jacksonville University pitchers Juan Padilla and Nick Regilio, a pair of dreams came true when the duo had their contracts purchased by the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, respectively, and found themselves in the heart of the American League pennant race during the summer of 2004. Padilla, a relief pitcher from Levittown, Puerto Rico, was called up on July 16. A member of the Dolphins program from 1997-98, Padilla has become a versatile member of the Yankees pitching staff Former Dolphins pitcher out of the bullpen. On July 19, Padilla has provided versatility an entourage of Dolphins’ fan out of the bullpen for the storied drove to Tropicana Field in St. Yankees pennant race. Petersburg to see Padilla hurl a little more than one inning of scoreless relief against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. After the game, Yankees manager Joe Torre said he was impressed with Padilla’s “unflappability.” Padilla, BS ‘00, was recruited to JU by Dolphins Head Baseball Coach Terry Alexander. “Juan was a great player, he was so versatile,” said
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Alexander. “He hit third in the lineup, was a good fielder, played third base, closed and started, and had a great pickoff move. We looked to him to kind of carry the team.” Regilio, a starting pitcher from Deltona, Fla., originally made his debut at Fenway Park against the Red Sox with an inning out of the bullpen before being recalled on July 22 after the all-star break. With the Rangers, Regilio has become a regular fixture in the starting rotation. A member of the Dolphins from 1998-99, Regilio was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 1999 MLB Amateur Draft before advancing through the minors. Despite tendonitis and shoulder surgery, Regilio landed with the Triple-A Oklahoma Red Hawks before getting his first call to the majors. “It can all be a blur,” Regilio told The Florida TimesUnion about his minor league career. “You just try to stay focused through all the ups and downs because one day your Regilio has proven to be a chance will come.” mainstay in the Rangers' Alexander said Regilio’s starting rotation, as the team chased the 2004 pennant. success is as much about work ethic as it is about talent. “Despite sickness, injury and all that can go wrong, Nick perservered. He overcame adversity,” said Alexander.
DOLPHIN PRIDE Want to show your Dolphin Pride and help Jacksonville University in a whole new way? The official State of Florida Jacksonville University license plate is available at local tax collectors’ offices. And the best part is – $25 of the annual fee will support JU. Jacksonville University is one of 21 ICUF (Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida) schools whose tags were approved by the Legislature in 2003. Show your support for Jacksonville University and help us outpace sales at other ICUF schools!
For more information call your local tax collector’s office or log on to www.hsmv.state.fl.us/specialtytags/specialindex.html. 50
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by Olga Bayer rom a little girl who started playing piano at age five to becoming the first female music director of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, Dr. Jennifer Pascual ’92 still abides by one principle – you have to play nice. “It’s not how well you play, but how well you connect with other people,” says Pascual, discussing how one rises to the top in such Dr. Jennifer Pascual, director of a competitive profession. music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. That may sound easy, but when you’re putting in six hours of practice a day, Pascual says, it’s hard to get out and get to know other people. Learning how to network and interact with others can make or break any professional – especially in a high profile position such as Pascaul’s, where her biggest challenge is “trying to please everyone.” Pascual, appointed to her St. Patrick’s position by Edward Cardinal Egan in September 2003, received her Master of Music in piano performance from Mannes College of Music in Manhattan and her Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
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“took to the organ like a fish to water.” “Jenny was very virtuosic at piano but she got a late start on the organ,” Krosnick said. “It was amazing how she developed the pedal virtuosity. It was natural for her.” Carlson agrees, saying, “It’s very unusual to have a student who excelled in both organ and piano. She was exceptional.” Her principal organ instructor, Dr. William Saunders, recalls Pascual as very diligent and said, ”her junior and senior recitals were well learned, well rehearsed and well performed.” Carlson describes Pascual as very personable, a top musician who’s excelled professionally but who still keeps in contact with her former teachers. About her current position, Carlson said, “It’s such an honor, probably the highest you can go in the Catholic Church. We’re very proud of her.” And how does Pascual feel about being at St. Patrick’s? “I always thought this would be the greatest thing,” says Pascual, “I’m extremely honored to be here.” St. Patrick’s is a huge cathedral - it seats more than 2,000, and serves as the Archdiocese of New York. The cathedral has three organs, with two full-time organists in addition to Pascual. She plans out the entire music program for all the Masses each week, organizes special concerts, fills in whenever an organist is needed and conducts the High
alumni news
Maestro Hits High Note at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
“If it weren’t for JU, I wouldn’t be in this position today. JU was the foundation for everything else.” – Dr. Jennifer Pascual But it was at JU, where she earned her undergraduate degrees – bachelor of music in piano and organ performance and music education – that she decided to pursue music as a career. In addition to a full-time class schedule and many hours of practice, Pascual served as the accompanist for the JU Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Jon Carlson, professor of music and director of choral activities. She says that experience was instrumental in helping her become the accompanist for the Boys Choir of Harlem in 1994. Pascual remembers her JU music professors as being “very demanding, but in a good way.” Carlson remembers the time Pascual presented him with an award that had “Slave Driver” on it. Mary Lou Krosnick, distinguished performer-inresidence, taught Pascual piano and said her former student
Pascual ’92 conducts High Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City.
Mass on Sunday. She also serves as the conductor for the New York Archdiocesan Festival Chorale. Pascual says some of the highlights of her career besides St. Patrick’s - include traveling and playing for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. She’s looking forward to an upcoming trip to her mother’s original hometown in Manila, Philippines, to play the only bamboo pipe organ in the world at the Las Pinas International Bamboo Organ Festival. When asked what she expects to be doing in 10 years, she answers, “I hope I’m still here, making great music.” JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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‘5O 1993 88 1 9 7 1 class notes
Class notes is compiled by your friends at the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations. If you’ve got news, let us know! We want to stay connected with you so e-mail your information and photos (we’ll return them!) to us at alumni@ju.edu or send snail mail to: Office of Alumni and Parent Relations Jacksonville University 2800 University Boulevard North Jacksonville, Florida 32211
1954
1967
1972
Charles Edward “Eddie” Bohannon, AA ’54, bachelor’s degree at FSU, lives in Millis, Mass. His wife of 38 years, Carolyn Perkins, died in 2003. Bohannon has been a tutor, mentor and teacher for 24 years.
Michael E. Fraser, BS ’67, owns Fraser Insurance and Jacksonville Car Washes in Jacksonville Beach where he lives with his wife Elaine. He spends most of his time at his oceanfront condo and hunting at his cabin in Montana.
Warren Grymes, BA ’72, was named CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Jacksonville, one of the nation’s premier charitable organizations. Grymes was formerly co-owner of Akra Travel.
1973 1969 Barbara Sieger, BA ’69, is a secretary at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. She has two grandchildren.
1964 Dr. Jim Langen, BA ’64, has retired from teaching in San Diego, Calif. He received his M.Ed. and Ed.D from UNF and previously taught at Fletcher Middle School in Jacksonville Beach.
1965 Chauncey Johnstone, ’65, is vice president of business development for Western Medical Ltd. in New Jersey.
1966 Sherrill A. Casey, BS ’66, recently retired from Seminole County (Fla.) Public Schools as an elementary principal after a 36-year career in education.
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Paul Ferreira, Sr., BS ’69, recently retired after 35 years in the Duval County school system as an athletic director and P.E. instructor. He now lives in Blaine, Tenn. on a cattle and tobacco farm.
1971 Mike Blevins, BS ’71, recently opened a commercial real estate loan production office for BankAtlantic as the senior vice president and Jacksonville market manager. Michael Boyd, BA ’71, is an adjunct professor of business and marketing for six universities, teaching in class and online. He lives with his family and wife of 34 years in Knoxville, Tenn. Jon R. Levinson, BS ’71, was recently re-elected to the Delray Beach city commission for a second two-year term. He was also elected by his fellow commissioners to the vice mayor post.
Dr. Gary Buffone, BA ’73, is a psychologist and diplomat of the American Board of Professional Psychology and director of Jacksonville’s Family Business Center. Buffone spoke at JU as a guest of the Friends of the Library. His book, Choking on the Silver Spoon, was reviewed on CBS’ MarketWatch as excellent information. James B. Kinchen, Jr., BME ’73, conducted Gabriel Faure Requiem in Carnegie Hall in March. He led a choir of 190 from Alaska, Arkansas, California, and Wisconsin, along with soloists and an orchestra. Sponsored by MidAmerica Productions, his second performance at Carnegie had 2,000 in attendance. Kinchen was one of 18 to participate in the Chorus America/Chicago Symphony Orchestra and last year received the “Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award” at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside where he delivered the 2003 winter commencement address.
1981
Kenny Jones, BS ’76, retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994 as a lieutenant commander. He has since worked at MSC in force protection and antiterrorism. Jones lives in Virginia with his wife Susan, daughters Stephanie and Kelly and son Sean.
Thomas R. Barker, BA ’81, was recently appointed deputy general counsel to the United States secretary of Health and Human Services. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on health insurance and legislation.
Sally Jo Mischley, BS ’73, and Patti Walkup, BS ’75, are pictured 1979 reminiscing 25 years later about the fun Shirin Firouzabadian Brenick, BS they had at JU in the ’70s. They send a California “hello” to all their old school ’79, is a new member of the Jacksonville University Alumni Board pals. of Governors. Shirin is also the J. Stewart president of JU’s Friends of the Library Pikula, BS ’73, for 2004-05. made a trip back Mary Calhoun King, BS ’79, to campus in recently released her third book Level May 2003 when Ground, the final novel of a trilogy. For his son Keith A. Pikula, BS ’03, more information, go to followed in his www.maryf452001.com. footsteps graduating from 1980 JU. They are pictured with their cousin, newly retired Dr. Kay Johnson, William C. Aksamit, BS ’80, was professor of education, known to Keith appointed head baseball coach at the as “Aunt Kay!” University of Hartford on Oct. 31, 2003.
1974 Charles Hugh Brown, BA ’74, published his first novel, Master Jones Goes to Washington, a fictionalized account of his 1968 trip to the nation’s capital. Brown is an administrator for Genex Services in Winter Park, Fla. He and his wife Kathy live in Orlando.
1975 Michael D. Jackson, BS ’75, received his Doctorate in Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill. in June 2003.
Surf’s up! JU grads met in October 2003 at Cape Hatteras and enjoyed surfing, windsurfing and card games. Pictured from first row, left to right, Wayne Sheppard, BA ’78, Thornton White, BS ’79, Kevin McAuley, BS ’77, Robbie Brendel, BS ’80, Ray Halle, BS ’76, “Chef Le Bo” Dave Abbott, BS ’80, John Hungerford, BS ’78, and Pat McGuiness, BA ’79.
Michael Kennedy, BS ’81, has been promoted to assistant vice president for BB&T in Wilson, N.C. BB&T was named this year to the Forbes Platinum 400 list of America’s “Best Big Companies” for the fourth year in a row. Michael and his wife, Susan, reside in Rocky Mount, N.C., with their three children.
class notes
1976
Captain Tim Tibbits, BS ’81, recently assumed command of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 in Whidbey Island, Wash. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Strike/Flight Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars and other awards. Tibbits is married to his wife Merriellen and they have one son and two daughters.
1983 Betsy Sargent Conklin, BA ’83/MBA ’85, manages a call center at Computer Sciences Corporation in Sarasota, Fla., where she lives with her 11-year-old daughter Samantha. Dr. John Luciano, BS ’83/MAT ’85, has earned the 2003-04 National Grand Idea Award from Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine in recognition of his work as the principal of Holy Spirit School in Jacksonville.
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class notes
1985 Lt. Col. Adam Copp, USMC, BA ’85, is currently commanding the 1st Force Reconnaissance in Iraq on his second deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
1987 Michael T. Leary, EMBA ’87, joined the Greensboro agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company as a sales associate. The Greensboro agency was established in 1890 and serves approximately 35,000 clients.
1989 Teresa Varner Arellano, BA ’89, and husband Sergio, who attended JU as part of a joint engineering program with UF, recently returned to Clay County after living in the Bahamas for 10 years. Arellano is a stay-at-home mom with son Sergio Miguel and daughter Angela Cristina. Sergio Arellano is employed by Bacardi & Company Ltd. Jay Huling, BFA ’89, recently had his play Elvis of Nazareth produced by the Source Theatre at the Washington Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C. His other plays include Twelve Bar Blues, Insert Laugh Here, Hard Luck Sings the Blues and Plumber’s Butt. Brenda Jackson, BS ’89, lives in Jacksonville with her husband Gerald and two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon. Brenda was the first African-American author to publish a book under the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line. The book, Delaney’s Desert Sheikh, was on the Walden Books best-seller list for two weeks. Another book, One Special Moment, was chosen for a made-fortelevision movie by BET.
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Lt. Walter E. Merz, Jr., USN (Ret.), BS ’89, and Amare L. Shipley Merz, BA ’92, live in Huntingtown, Maryland with their sons Walter and baby, Alexander Lee. David Wayne Opdycke, BA ’89, works for Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. He married Emily Katherine Roberts on Nov. 15, 2003; she works for Flagler Hospital.
1990
Cheryl Meide, BS ’91, lives in Jacksonville and in April 2003 started her own law firm, Meide Law Firm, P.A., specializing in trademark and technology law. Dr. Diana S. Perdue, MAT ’91, recently moved from Texas to Virginia to accept an associate professor of mathematics education position at Virginia State University. Derek White, BA ’91, is a consultant with the Strategy Team in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
William (Bill) Morlan, BA ’90, has Thomas White, BA ’91, is editor joined the law firm of King & of Reuters Asia in Singapore. Spalding, LLP, in Atlanta, Ga. Bill, a member of the Alumni Board of 1992 Governors, moved with his family from Jacksonville to Atlanta. Charles Brown, BS ’92, lives in Monterey, Calif. with his wife Kathy Paulk Woolner, BS ’90, Shannon and daughter Hannah-Grace. moved from San Jose, Calif., to Cary, He is attending the U.S. Naval N.C., where her husband, Keith, Postgraduate School in Monterey. accepted a product marketing position at SAS in Feb. 2003. Brian Davis, BS ’92, received his MBA from Marywood University. He Catherine lives in Clarks Summit, Pa., and is the Yudow, daughter of director of store operations for Family Jennifer Corbin Dollar, Inc. Yudow, BA ’90/MBA ’92, and David Lee Emmons, BS ’92, Robert Yudow, is formerly the vice president and pictured greeting publisher for MediaNews in New her friend Duncan England, has recently joined the the Dolphin at investment banking firm of W.B. Homecoming 2003. Grimes & Company, handling mergers and acquisitions for National Media Accounts in the U.S. 1991 Andrew T. Hart, BS ’91, is a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy, currently assigned as the Commanding Officer for the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nikki Taylor, BS ’93, is vice president, portfolio manager and team leader for Bank of America in Atlanta, Ga. She is engaged to David Tanner of New York City. Jodie Brandon Underwood, BS ’95, recently moved to Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband Barry to attend seminary and pursue a calling to foreign missions. They have two sons, Wesley Brandon born on July 30, 2003, and Luke Brice born on April 4, 2002.
Elyse Silver, BA ’94, is a physical education teacher in Tampa, Fla. She loves spending every minute with her students who are mostly from lowerincome families. Silver also enjoys running into fellow Jacksonville University alumni in her school district. Julian C. Chambliss, BS ’94, an Upward Bound graduate, recently received his doctorate from the University of Florida. He was offered a tenure-track position at Rollins College.
class notes
Charity Nicole James, BFA ’92, resides in San Francisco with husband Pete. She recently appeared on the television show Quintuplets and has appeared on Sunset Beach, Friends, Suddenly Susan, Boy Meets World, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Beverly Hills 90210, TVLand and Chestnut Hill. James is also a Systems Project Manager for STERIS Corp., a major medical equipment company worldwide.
V N O S K JAC I V N O S K JAC C A J Y T I S R E V I N U I V E N O S VILL K C JA K C A J Y T I S R E V I N U V E N L O S IL K JAC K C A J Y T I S R E V I N U V E N L O L S K C 1993
LuAnn Corrado, BS ’93, was recently promoted to Navy lieutenant commander while serving with the Atlantic Fleet Career Information Team in Norfolk, Va. She was promoted based on sustained superior job performance and proficiency in her designated specialty.
Steve Vozzola, BS ’93, and his wife Allison live in Hollywood, Fla. with their three children, Nolan, Francesca and Collier Joseph, born on March 1, 2004. Vozzola is scheduled to move back to Jacksonville in fall 2004 to become the Assistant Intelligence Officer for Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Twelve in Mayport.
1994
Edward “Ted” Holstein, BS ’93, is a lead flight coordinator of crew services with Netjets in Columbus, Ohio. He recently accepted a promotional transfer as a flight dispatcher within the Gulfstream Operations Center in Hilton Head, S.C.
Kimberly Elkins Lawler, BA ’94, with daughter Lindsey Kay; Stefanie Smith Bulinski, BS ’92, with son Blake Gregory, and daughters Brianna Nicole and Ashlyn Elizabeth; and Mona Talastas Mateo, BS ’91, with daughter Cecilia Marie. These JU and Alpha Kathryn Beyerle Lively, BA ’93, Delta Pi alums recently met for a recently won the 2003 Royal Palm minireunion to introduce their newest Award for Best Published Mystery. She family members. was awarded the Florida Writers Association award for her novel Saints Preserve Us, the first in a series of mysteries set in Jacksonville and North Florida.
1995
Michael K. Gulla, BS ’95, a Naval Reserve hospital corpsman 2nd class, recently returned from Iraqi Freedom II where he earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor in combat operations.
Tim Munderloh, BS ’95, and Stacey Smith Munderloh, BS ’99, are living in Plano, Texas. Tim is currently vice president of sales and marketing for FACServices, Inc. and Stacey is a managing partner for American Financial Retirement Services, LLC. Ethan Andrew Way, BS ’95, has been recognized by the Florida Bar as a specialist in the field of criminal trial law. He became board certified in criminal trail law effective Aug. 1, 2004. Ethan is a partner in the law firm of Gentry & Way, P.A. in Tallahassee, Fla. He represents clients in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
1996
Jeff Scudder, BS ’93, is based in San Diego, Calif., and assigned as the operations officer for Commander, Destroyer Squadron 23. He recently returned from an extended eight-month deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of the Nimitz Strike Group supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Karen Marie Gemski, BA ’94, is currently vice president and relationship manager at CIGNA Retirement & Investment Services. Her husband Paul teaches history at Queens Vocational and Technical High School. The couple resides in New York City.
Victor Diaz, BSN ’96, received a master of science degree in nurse anesthesia from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He will soon report to the Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va., for his first tour as a Navy certified registered nurse anesthetist. JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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class notes
Cathy Freeman, BS ’96, recently opened a dance studio in Neptune Beach, Fla. The name is Studio 1014. The business is family operated by Freeman and her husband Michael Finne.
1999
Michale Gonzales Dudley, BS ’99, Karen Kelczewski Hike, BA’76/MAT ’81, Tralyn Reeves Hodson, BS ’00, and Renee Vaughn, who works in JU’s Office of Institutional Advancement, caught up when they assisted with the 1st Lt. Joseph T. Ludick, USMC, 2003 Alumni Tailgate Zone. These JU BS ’96, was assigned to the 11th groupies helped with kids’ games and Marine Expeditionary Unit that parked cars. The Tailgate Zone is open recently deployed to the western Pacific before each home football game and – the central command area of has become quite popular with JU responsibility in support of the global alumni. war on terrorism. His unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment.
Eric Macanga, BS ’00, will graduate from the National University of Health Sciences with a doctorate in chiropractic in April 2004. He was also a semi-finalist in the “Illinois Mr. Fitness” competition in October 2003. Henry Schmitges, BS ’00, lives in Jacksonville. He is a teacher at the DePaul School and also works in administration and technology.
2001 Navy Lt. Daniel B. Rasado, BA ’96, recently returned from an eightmonth deployment to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville, homeported in Norfolk, Va. Regina Viscogliosi Villanueva, BS ’96, is president of the board of directors for Desert Son-Shine Pre-School/Pre-K/Kindergarten in Palm Springs, Calif. She lives in Cathedral City, Calif., with her husband Andy Villanueva, BS ’95, and daughter Marnie, age 5.
1997 Pat F. Brooks, BSN ’97, is a certified registered nurse anesthetist in Hickory, N.C., where he lives with his wife Jennifer. He completed his master of science degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte/Carolinas Healthcare System in Dec. 2002.
Laura Gunn, BA ’99, a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, is among four authors whose article, “Bayesian Modeling of the Multiple Lesion Onset and Growth from Interval Censored Data,” has been accepted for publication in the bio-statistics journal Biometrics. Gunn is the daughter of Tom Gunn, director of the JU library. Sarah Koepke, BS ’99, earned her M.V.P. from the University of Kansas in 2002. Sarah currently works as a transportation planner with the Federal Highway Administration in Lansing, Mich. Timothy Lucey, BS ’99, recently earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Lucey is doing his internship at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa. and plans to return to Florida as a resident in neurology, through the state university medical system.
2000 1998 Laura Hanna Cruse, BME ’98, earned a master’s degree in missions from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 12, 2003. 56
Elizabeth Lindstrom LaBarbera, BS’ 00, and her husband Toby have moved back to Jacksonville. She is the marketing manager for Taylor Market Media Group.
JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
Roi Dagan, BS ’00, has recently completed his master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Florida. He is currently in medical school.
Scott Amos, BS ’01/MBA’02, is the chief assistant to the tax collector for the City of Jacksonville. He is involved with departmental budget preparation, coordinating the data system implementation and modification, and the analysis and interpretation of applicable Florida statues and City of Jacksonville charter ordinances. Madeleine Combs, BA ’01, is a sports announcer for WZNZ-AM, Jacksonville’s ESPN radio affiliate.
2002 Devon M. Hockaday, BS ’02, an ensign in the naval reserve, recently received an Outstanding Academic Achievement Medal while assigned to Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Fla. Diana Peaks, BA ’02, is a new member of Jacksonville University’s Alumni Board of Governors.
Babies!
Leah Dow, BA ’03, lives in Twin Falls, Idaho, with her husband Joel and their son Jalen, who is a big JU fan! She has opened her own business, Three of Hearts, catering to those who don’t have the time or desire to plan events, such as weddings, birthday parties, or business meetings.
Monique McLuskey Baker, ’90, and husband Dr. Jeff Baker, ’90, became parents of Ethan Edward on March 6, 2003.
Arrivederci! Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, a nearby favorite of JU alum, faculty and staff, closed after 33 years.
2004 Tamara Simpson, BA ‘04, has received a Rotary scholarship to study for her master’s degree at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she will visit high schools and colleges as an ambassador of goodwill for the U.S. She plans to start a book club and help with literacy and education in Europe.
Congrats to JU grads! Dr. Karen Jackson, chair of the Department of Biology and Marine Science at JU, attended the springtime graduation of several JU alumni who earned medical degrees from the University of South Florida medical school. Pictured left to right are: Chris McCarthy, BS ’00; Nathan Charlton, BS ’00; Dr. Karen Jackson; Gretchen Shaughnessy, BS ’00; and Amber Degryse, BS ’00.
Brad Brown, BA ’94, and wife Michelle Campbell Brown, BS ’95, became parents of daughter Hailey Grace on June 12, 2003. Rachel Scharf DeSilva, BA ’94, and Vinny DeSilva, BS ’95, became parents of son Jake Peter on Feb. 27, 2003. Jake is welcomed by big brother Joey. DeLisa Danahoo Fellows, BS ’00, and husband Curtis Lee Fellows became parents of daughter Anniston Lee on June 19, 2003. Cherie Pierce Hitchens, BS ’96, and husband Thomas Hitchens, BS ’95, became parents of son Jack Pierce Hitchens on July 3, 2003. “Big sisters” are Molly and Sophie. David Loveday, BS’99, and his wife became parents of Takara Makenzie Loveday, on March 5, 2004. Dwayne Rogers BS ’94, and Casey Corrigan Rogers BA’96/MBA’99 became parents of Riley Michael on May 11, 2004.
Laura Curcuru Schless, BA ’93, and husband Gary became parents of son Tyler Julius, “TJ,” on Feb. 9, 2003. Carolyn MacBlain Schmoyer, BS ’91, and husband became parents of daughter Stefanie Nicole on Aug. 30, 2003. She joins big brother Andrew James who is four years old. Shawn Starr, BS ’93/MBA ’96, and wife Meredith became parents of twin daughters Emma and Alexandra on Aug. 27, 2003. Shawn is the son of Dolores Starr in the President’s Office.
class notes
2003
Rod Van Dyke, BS ’91, and wife Barbara became parents of daughter Allison Claire on June 13, 2003. She is welcomed by big sister Heather, age 6, and big brother Erik, age 3. Joelle Stonbraker Volpe, BA ’93, and Frank Volpe, BS ’93, became parents of daughter Valerie Anne on June 16, 2003. The “big brothers” are Gabriel and James. Kathy Paulk Woolner, BS ’90, and husband Keith became parents of son Sagan Daniel on Dec. 30, 2002.
JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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class notes
Weddings William C. Aksamit, BS ’80, and Emily Held, BA ’80, married on June 3, 2003. Rebecca Bandy, BA ’98, married Michael Bonfanti of New Hampshire on June 19, 2004 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Both the bride and the groom are in their last year of law school at FSU. Susan Cody, BA ’92, married Steven Rydzewski on Dec. 13, 2003, at St. Joseph’s Church in Jacksonville. They live in Newnan, Ga., where she is a professor at LaGrange College and he works for Emery Worldwide. Susan Cody is the daughter of Claudelle Cody who works in the Controller’s Office at JU. Mark Cross, BA ’94, married Jill Balota on Dec. 14, 2002.
Duchesne Tolaram-Crawford, MAT ’98, married Lt. Richard Crawford on May 30, 2003. They honeymooned in the western Caribbean.
Laura Hanna Cruse, BME ’98, married Dr. Brad Cruse on Aug. 2, 2003. JU alumni in attendance were Dr. Jimmy Scroggins ’93, officiant, attendants Allison Taylor Johns ’98, Betsy Foote Smith ’98 and Christy Tebow Allen ’98; Shirley Elliott ’98 was the pianist and Vickie Floyd ’98 was the soloist. Jim Hanna ’62 is the father of the bride. Other JU attendees were Mark Hanna ’85, the bride’s brother, and Sheri McQuiston Anderson ’98. Karen Marie Gemski BA ’94 married Paul Adam Nadler on Nov. 8, 2003 in Cresskill, New Jersey.
Cynthia Petrie Monroe, ’86, married Dave Monroe in October 2000. Many JU and Alpha Delta Pi friends came to celebrate. After honeymooning in the Greek Isles, they moved to their home in Alpharetta, Ga., where she is a technical writer for a software company. Amanda Shayne Mortimer BA ’98, married Jason Geer on April 24, 2004. The couple lives in Atlanta, GA. Lisa Moser, BS ’03, married Gordon Belyea on April 24, 2004. Fumnanya Okolie, BS ’00, MBA ’02, married Lorenzo Johnson on July 10, 2004
In Memoriam Susan Lynn Gross, MBA ’02, and Anthony Powell, BS ’00/ MBA ’02, married on Aug. 30, 2003. They honeymooned in England. Susan works for St. John & Partners as an advertising executive and he is a manager at the Federal Reserve Bank in Jacksonville. She is the daughter of Marcia Gross who works in JU’s Division of Continuing Studies.
Mary Natalie Comer, a longtime employee in the Registrar’s Office, died on June 17, 2003. Charles Dorfman, BA ’69, died on Sept. 22, 2003. Gary F. Izzo, MAT ’92, died on Oct. 9, 2003. Roy Russell, BS ’99, died on May 10, 2003. Eloise Truett, former JU faculty member, died in Oct. 2003.
What’s New with You? New job? Marriage? Something to brag about? Please e-mail your news and photos to us at alumni@ju.edu. Or mail the form below to the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. North, Jacksonville, FL 32211. Name________________________________________________________ Maiden Name_____________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________ New Address? q Yes q No City____________________________________________________ State_________________ Zip_____________________ Daytime Phone ( )_______________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________ JU Degree (BA, BS, etc.)_______________________ Class/Year graduated_________________________________________ If no degree from JU, last year attended_______________________________________________________________________ News and Updates________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 58
JU MAGAZINE/FALL 2004
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