Wave Magazine - Fall 2008

J A C K S O N V I L L E

U N I V E R S I T Y

A Preventable Disease CONTINUES TO SPREAD Students Help Local Organization Fight AIDS Epidemic

FALL 2008

VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 www.ju.edu

Publisher Kerry D. Romesburg

Editor Traci Mysliwiec

Greetings JU Alumni & Friends,

Our students not only impact the University but the community-at-large.

Four remarkable former and current students recently helped a local HIV/ AIDS support organization, while learning more about the epidemic’s effect in Northeast Florida (page 4).

I’m excited to announce that athletics will be introducing men’s and women’s lacrosse to the campus beginning in 2009-10 (page 14). This will be the first such men’s program in Florida and the second women’s team.

Reality-TV fans won’t want to miss The Wave’s interview with Alex Boylan ’99 (Q&A page 12). Boylan is truly a courageous and talented young man who has become an inspiration to many students.

Jacksonville University has been named one of “America’s Best Colleges” for the fifth consecutive year in U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges of 2009 list for master’s universities in the south. The category includes colleges and universities that offer a full-range

On a sad note, Timothy Mann, a longtime member of the Board of Trustees, passed away in July. I’d like to again extend my condolences to his family and thank them for their support over the years. Tim was an excellent trustee as well as a friend and we will miss him greatly.

During my years as President, I have never felt better about where JU currently stands and where it is headed.

Not only do we have a growing student body, but a strong team of University leaders who are focused on continuing to build the University for the good of our students and our community.

Thanks to all who continue to make JU a great place to live, learn and work!

ART DIRECTOR Taryn Hannah ASSISTANT EDITOR Kristi Mace

Publications Manager Robin Bangert-Lenard

Jacksonville University is growing fast, faster than other private schools, and we couldn’t be more excited about our future. With enrollment increasing each year, JU continually seeks ways to improve the living-learning experience for students.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Hall

Contributing Writer Joel Lamp Class Notes Patricia Reeves

Main Number (904) 256-8000

Admissions (904) 256-7000 admissions@ju.edu

Alumni (904) 256-7201 alumni@ju.edu University Marketing (904) 256-7042

& Communications media@ju.edu

Registrar (904) 256-7091 cbarret@ju.edu Institutional (904) 256-7021

Advancement dyazbec@ju.edu

published University Marketing &

semi-annually by Communications Office Change of Address to

Institutional Advancement Jacksonville University 2800 University Blvd. N. Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Kerry D. Romesburg President

of undergraduate programs and provide graduate education.

JU continues to be recognized in the rankings for small classes, a small student-to-faculty ratio, distinguished faculty, competitive admission policies and rising alumni giving rates.

Ron A. Autrey ’01 Margaret Black-Scott ‘85 Walter P. Bussells Adrienne Conrad Kevin F. Delaney Buck Fowler Wayne A. Galloway J. Phillip Garcia ’90 John M. Godfrey Y. E. Hall, Jr. John G. Harrison ’67 David C. Hodges, Jr. ’03 Michael Howland ’76 Cyrus M. Jollivette Matthew Kane ’01 Jack Keigwin Bruce Kern Raymond K. Mason, Jr. ’78

Michael J. McKenny F. Andrew Moran ’78 Victoria M. Mussallem ’98 Elizabeth Anne P. Nimnicht Frank Pace ’73 Timothy D. Payne Gilbert J. Pomar, Jr. Fred G. Pruitt ’69, ’85 Kerry D. Romesburg John A. “Sandy” Semanik ’72 H.W. Shad (Mike) ’85 Linda Berry Stein ’69 Mary Virginia Terry Nina M. Waters ’80 Gordon Keith Watson ’71 Lisa Strange Weatherby Terry L. Wilcox Carolyn Munro Wilson ’69, ’77, ’89

All contents © COPYRIGHT 2008 Jacksonville University.

All rights reserved.

CONTENTS Cover

4 A Preventable Disease

Continues to Spread

It’s been nearly three decades since the first recognized case of AIDS and nearly 25 million people have lost their lives – more than the current population of Florida. Four JU students took up the fight and made an impact by helping a local HIV/AIDS support organization research key risk factors that play a role in HIV transmission.

FEATURES

8 BEST OF THE BEST

15 NEWS

Athletics Hall of Fame Revived

22 SPORTS 26 ALUMNI NEWS

12 Q&A: ALEX BOYLAN ‘99

No Stranger to Adventure

14 JU LACROSSE

DEPARTMENTS

The Fastest Game on Two Feet Comes to JU

28 ALUMNI EVENTS 32 CLASS NOTES

A Preventable Disease

Students Help It’s been nearly three decades since the first recognized case of AIDS and nearly 25 million people have lost their lives – more than the current population of Florida. The discovery of the disease has sparked a surge of local and national HIV/AIDS specials on television and educational campaigns; however, it’s becoming a forgotten killer, according to Ashleigh Heath ’06.

“There has been a significant decrease in media attention for HIV awareness/prevention due to events such as Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq,” said Heath. “Even celebrities seem to get more attention.”

The lack of coverage is one of several factors that fueled Heath, along with three other former and current students, to begin researching HIV/ AIDS locally and nationally.

Heath spoke with individuals at Northeast Florida AIDS Network 4 The Wave

Continues to S p r e a d Local Organization Fight AIDS Epidemic

by Kristi Mace (NFAN), along with several other organizations and began to discover key risk factors that play a role in HIV transmission, especially in the African-American community.

“Being African-American myself, I was interested in learning more about why the black community’s rate of infection was on the rise,” said Heath. “I also wanted to create a model to help other HIV/AIDS support organizations.”

Everywhere Heath went, the Men who sleep with Men (MSM) syndrome, or men who sleep with men regardless of orientation, was the most noted of the risk behaviors.

“African-American MSM are way more reluctant to get tested or seek help,” said Dr. Curtis Small, assistant professor of biology, marine science and chemistry, who served as Heath’s

faculty adviser. “Although society as a whole is more understanding of the behavior, the same is not true in the black community.”

Northeast Florida,” said Diana Lindsey ’06. “There is no reason why a preventable disease should take away so many lives in our own backyard.”

Heath also knew the issue wasn’t just affecting black men, but men from every race and ethnicity. Between 2001 and 2006, male-to-male sex was the largest HIV transmission category in the U.S., and the only one associated with an increasing number of HIV/ AIDS diagnoses, according to a report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Small put Lindsey in touch with NFAN’s Executive Director Donna Fuchs, who was eager to put her to work on one of the organization’s largest untouched projects.

Heath presented her findings at an undergraduate research symposium, where one member of the audience also decided to take a stand against the fight.

“I was really moved by what Ashleigh found and wanted to help after hearing the statistics for HIV/AIDS in

“We have been serving the community since 1989 and have saved every client file,” said Fuchs. “These are all paper files that have sat on shelves in storage. We have a small staff that spends every minute serving clients.

We’ve never had the resources to analyze these files on our own.”

Lindsey soon found herself spending hours at NFAN, creating the organization’s first demographic database from an overflowing closet of patient records. She looked through 461 Fall 2008 5

active and inactive patient records pulling each clients address, socioeconomic status, gender and age.

“Overall, it took months and a lot of page turning,” said Lindsey. “It was quite interesting though because with each record I felt like I was meeting that person and hearing their story.”

Small analyzed Lindsey’s database and wanted to explore the cases of 18 to 29 year-old males and 30 to 39 year-old females further. According to the Florida Department of Health, the male cohort made up 20% of the total infection pool within Duval County.

While attending a Silence is Death seminar for HIV/ AIDS awareness in the community, Lindsey realized how difficult it is for a good cause to reach open ears and minds.

“The information about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment has been around for years, yet getting the word out and convincing people to live in a healthy way remains a challenge,” said Lindsey. “One of the biggest challenges is keeping the public and media caring about the disease.”

Small and Fuchs look through case files at NFAN.

6 The Wave

The female cohort was the fastest growing group becoming infected, according to national statistics.

To compare the statistics among NFANs files, Small called upon senior Matt Fults, who was eager to help after finding out about Heath and Lindsey’s projects in class.

Fults examined 762 case files at NFAN, which included both white and black males, to determine what role age played in those willing to seek HIV support services. He found only 5% of NFANs clients within the target group with MSM behavior listed as their probable cause of infection.

“I learned that more education is necessary for the 18 to 29 year-old generation,” said Fults. “This generation has grown up in a world that has always known about HIV/AIDS and no longer see it as a big deal,” said Fults.

“This mind set is very scary.

The individuals within my cohort were finally seeking services when they were so sick that they had no choice.”

The project also gave Fults an appreciation for the case workers at NFAN, who devote their time and energy helping clients.

Fults learns more about MSM behavior in On the Down Low by J.L. King.

“These individuals deal with very challenging and often depressing tasks,” said Fults. “Many of their clients have more problems other than being HIV positive, and they help address those issues so they may really begin to fight the progression of the disease.”

a time frame as long as 14 years between seeking services than those in the cohort who recently tested positive and almost immediately sought services. She also found that 77% of the clients were African Americans, with 22% Caucasians and 1% Asian.

Kelly Long’s ’08, passion for research led her to investigate the female cohort. Long, another one of Small’s students, was working on two other projects at the time she volunteered.

In addition, most of the AfricanAmerican clients were single and living in lower income households.

“I knew this was going to greatly benefit the community, as well excite me,” said Long. “The work was tedious but I believe in giving what you can.”

Long examined the number of new female clients testing HIV positive from 2004 to 2007, along with their race, income and marital status.

Surprisingly, she found decreases in the number of new clients, which she found could be contributed to the lag time between testing positive and seeking services. Clients who had tested positive in earlier years had

“It made me think about the difficulties faced by women, especially women with children trying to make ends meet,” said Long. “All while trying to afford medication to fight this disease.”

Even though the works of Heath, Lindsey, Fults and Long – which took each a semester to complete – are finished, Small continues to look for students who have the motivation and passion to continue their work.

“These were meaty research projects,” said Small. “Each student had to be nonjudgmental, respectful of privacy and learn to keep their

emotions in check. Hopefully, their research and the research of future students will help the community better understand the risk factors so we can deal with these problems in a constructive way instead of pointing fingers.”

Also hoping to get more support is Fuchs and the staff at NFAN, who have relied upon the data to help the organization accomplish its mission.

“We started with shelves of paperwork,” said Fuchs. “Now, after two years and four willing and compassionate students, we have data we can use to write grants for additional funding. This will dramatically help us in education and prevention efforts.”

NFAN provides services to those living in Duval, Clay, Baker, St. John’s and Nassau counties in northeast Florida.

For more information, visit

www.nfan.org

According to Until There’s A Cure, an estimated 1 MILLION PEOPLE are currently living with HIV in the United States.

World AIDS Day is DECEMBER 1 of each year.

A list of testing sites is available at www.hivtest.org.

Heath reviews case files.

AIDS.org is Google’s #1 resource for AIDS information.

Fall 2008 7

HALL FAME of

HONORING THE BEST OF THE BEST WHO WORE THE GREEN & GOLD Athletics Hall of Fame Revived With First Class Since 1998

by Traci Mysliwiec

On the evening of April 3, a crowd of almost 300 gathered in the heart of campus at the Kinne Center as the Jacksonville University Athletics Hall of Fame inducted its first class since 1998. Six former Dolphins were honored as they joined the pantheon of greats who have earned a place in history wearing the green and gold.

This year’s honorees were basketball players Jim Kirkland (1958-61), Rod McIntyre (1967-70) and Dee Brown (1987-90), baseball’s Chad Oliva (1998-2001) and volleyball’s Gisela Anderson (1986-89). The class was rounded out by the first football honoree, Micah Ross, who also lettered in basketball (1995-1998).

“All six of these former student-athletes are deserving of this honor, and we’re proud to induct them into the Hall of Fame along with all of the other greats in JU history,” said JU Director of Athletics Alan Verlander. “Each 8 The Wave

one excelled on the field while at JU and has represented the University well, while being successful in their lives after graduation.”

Several previous honorees were in attendance, including Rick Shannon ’73 (baseball and soccer) and Brad Negaard ’76 (rowing) along with benefactors Tom Donahoo and Pat Williams, as well as the proud families and friends of those honored that night.

Addressing the crowd, Dee Brown recalled being slighted as a recruit early in his high

es Ray, rd, Jam a a g e N illiams d rton, Bra er, Joe W ht, o h is M w n S n S l ic ,A ar ER ill Nimn ihailovic organ, C MEMB rgens, B Aleks M nie Carr, Rex M E u o, , J n l h M il la a B il n A F Do o cM Er zell, F z M r, m E o le O T m y d o u n T 7 L G e , 9 r , y 19 nd AL Chuck B Hammo m Bradle Joanna Zayac an TICS H n 1994 E 996 To o Donnie , 1 s L , t s e r a r H m y Solom e o a a W T in li m J T h il il , A it h G lz e W e lp t K t is U a t s , a r P J Ka nd rest, A annon, R Strickla im Tyler, W.W. Gay, Bill xander B , Rick Sh 1997 T , Roger le s h r, p A n it a li u 3 b il a m 9 n h Y S 9 u P d 1 D tis gy , Radfor N Walt ourke, O oug Milne, Peg edeking GNITIO Rollie R O W D C n , E z h t R g a u ich K PECIAL nder, Va 1995 R endes S sh Verla M A , e t n e e u r G Dick P Kane, ane, Jim David K

school career by JU and how that fueled his determination to improve. He went on to play for 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“When I was here, I never thought I would be included in a group that reads off as the who’s who of JU basketball,” Brown said. “It is such an honor for me to be selected to join the Hall of Fame that I can’t begin to put into words what it means to me.”

Micah Ross ‘99, entertained the audience with the tale of one of his first games in the National Football League (NFL), fumbling a punt for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I kept saying I was down and didn’t fumble, so Coach Tom Coughlin (head coach of the Jaguars at the time) challenged the call,” Ross explained. “When they showed the play in slow motion on the Jumbotron, I saw along with everyone else that I had indeed fumbled the ball. After finding a nice quiet spot – basically hiding out with the kicker and punter – I knew I was being hunted by Coach Coughlin who promptly found me and chewed me out while the game went on behind him.”

Echoing the gratitude expressed by many of the inductees, Ross thanked his family.

“I would most like to thank my family for their support through the years,” said Ross. “They were usually a large percentage of the crowd at the basketball games in the mid-90s, and I want them to know how much I appreciated their encouragement.”

Established in 1993, the Hall of Fame provides recognition for outstanding alumni who excelled in sports during their time at

JU and later proved to be successful in their lives. In addition, the Hall cites members of the administrative and athletics staff or benefactors who have significantly contributed to the total development of successful alumni-athletes.

“It is important for us to remember our past and honor the best of the best that have worn the green and gold for JU,” said Roger Strickland ’64, basketball and baseball star, member of the inaugural JU Hall of Fame class in 1993 and current chairman of the Hall of Fame committee. “The committee did a wonderful job of helping revive the Athletics Hall of Fame and bringing back a tradition that will make a lasting impact in the coming years.”

Housed on the second floor of the Negaard Rowing Center with a balcony overlooking the St. Johns river, the walls of the JU Athletics Hall of Fame tell the stories of the talented athletes and their achievements. Plaques touting the members’ accomplishments are on permanent display, along with the retired jerseys of players who excelled.

A 12-member committee, comprised of former JU student-athletes, boosters and faculty, is responsible for electing the class.

Membership on the committee is based on members’ standing in various support organizations to the athletic department and includes three faculty members, with one always being the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative. There were several former JU athletes, with at least three JU Hall of Fame inductees, on the committee. Going forward, the inductions will occur annually with a class of no more than four honored each spring.

Fall 2008 9

A LOOK AT EACH OF THE

2008 HONOREES

DEE BROWN

BASKETBALL 1987-90

∙ 11th in all-time points 1,503 ∙ Third in steals with 201 ∙ Seventh in 3-point field goals with 87 ∙ Seventh in assists at 336 ∙ Owns single-season steals record with 88 ∙ Recorded six steals in a game four times ∙ Ranked 10th in the country in steals as a senior with a 3.0 mark per-game ∙ Scored a Sun Belt Conference (SBC) tournament record 41 points in a game ∙ Earned 1988-89 All-Sun Belt Selection Brown was selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics in 1990 and played 12 seasons. He scored 6,758 total points in his NBA Career and was the Slam Dunk Champion in 1991. He served as head coach of the WNBA's Orlando Miracle in 2005 and as Community Ambassador for the Orlando Magic organization. Brown won a one-year contract as a studio analyst as the winner of the ESPN reality show Dream Job and hosted basketball specials on the network. He also served as the Champions Sports Complex Executive Vice President and currently owns The Edge, a workout facility in Orlando, among other business ventures.

ROD MCINTYRE

BASKETBALL 1967-70

∙ Led team in scoring average in ’68 with 21.2 points per game ∙ Top rebounder and field goal percentage in ’68 (10.8, .564) and ’69 (11.5, .591) ∙ Dolphins all-time season record holder with 293 free throws ∙ Second all-time with 17 free throws in a game (vs. Stetson 12/12/67) ∙ Currently ranks fifth all-time with 10.3 rebounds per-game average McIntyre has been an attorney since 2000 after graduating from Florida Coastal School of Law. He practices family, real estate and business law.

GISELA ANDERSON

VOLLEYBALL 1986-89

∙ Holds five Dolphin career records and six season records her career recorded 1,724 kills, a .389 hitting percentage, 149 block solos (70 more than next closest ∙ ForDolphin), 537 total blocks (207 more than next closest Dolphin) recorded JU season-highs with 154 games played, 717 kills, 1,290 attempts, 93 block solos, ∙ In1381987, block assists and 231 total blocks ∙ Sun Belt Conference Most Valuable Player and “Player of the Year” in 1987 ∙ 1987 and ’89 SBC first team selection ∙ SBC All-Tournament Team 1986-87 10 The Wave

BASKETBALL 1995-98 FOOTBALL 1998

MICAH ROSS

∙ 19th all-time with 1,093 career points ∙ Ranks ninth all-time with a .581 field goal percentage in a season ∙ Tied for sixth all-time with 212 free throws attempted in a season `97-`98 season, he lead the team in scoring (341), field goals made (.587), rebounding (202), ∙ Inandtheblocked shots (25)

As a football player, he played only one season (1998) at JU, but he was the first Dolphin to play in the NFL, with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2001. He also played for the San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers until he left the league in 2004. Ross teaches Biology in Fleming Island, Fla., as he did before the Jaguars called him to the field.

JIM KIRKLAND

BASKETBALL 1958-61

∙ Played the first four years of the JU program ∙ Led the team in scoring his first three years and finished with 1,574 points ∙ Averaged 19.4 points per-game ∙ Led the team in rebounding for three of his four seasons and finished with 747 for his career ∙ Hit 378 career free throws These statistics are remarkable, but what makes Kirkland's accomplishments even more amazing is that he did all of that with a blind right eye.

CHAD OLIVA

BASEBALL 1998-2001

∙ All-time leader in career games played with 240 ∙ Second all-time with 274 career hits ∙ Third all-time with 192 career runs ∙ Tied for second all-time with 53 career doubles ∙ All-time leader in career homeruns and RBI, with 43 and 231 respectively career walks, which is first all-time ∙ 145Second all-time with 474 total bases ∙ Oliva has been in pharmaceutical sales for the past four years.

Fall 2008 11

No Stranger to Adventure Travel anywhere around the world and you just might run into Alex Boylan ’99, who has accomplished more than most dream of at such a young age. The winner of CBS’s “The Amazing Race II,” and executive producer and host of “Around the World for Free” (ATWFF), Boylan is truly living life to the fullest.

From his travels abroad and hosting gigs to his business pursuits and experiences at JU, Boylan shared his thoughts with The Wave about his extraordinary life and his upcoming return to campus during Homecoming on October 9.

What was your fondest memory at JU and how does it feel knowing that you’re coming back?

It’s great to come back. Even though I grew up in Boston, Jacksonville is up there when I consider home. I spent six years on and off living out at the beaches. It’s a secret treasure that I’m sure everyone will sooner or later find out about. My fondest memory at JU was making the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Soccer Tournament my senior year. It was an honor to be part of that epic team. Also, living in Brest Hall my freshman and sophomore years. It’s where I met many of my best friends who I’m still very much connected with to this day.

After traveling the world in a race and for free, where do you travel for leisure?

My love for surfing always takes me to Central America. Beautiful rain forests that come crashing down to warm crystal clear ocean waters... you just can’t beat it. Panama, Costa

Rica, El Salvador...I love them all and try to get down there as much as I can!

Where do you think is the most beautiful place in the world?

I think the United States has some of the most beautiful places on the planet. The white mountains of New Hampshire, sunsets in Santa Fe, N.M. the California coastline...we truly have it all right here. But if I had to pick an international destination I’d say New Zealand. The south island is untouched and absolutely breathtaking.

In ATWFF, you were deported from India, stuck in a dessert in Chile and, many times, did not know the language of the country you were in. How did you keep your sanity?

Great question! Because this was an interactive show, I felt very connected with the audience despite my current situation. When things got rough, as they did many times, I’d think of all the people who had put me up in their home, drove me from one location to

Boylan volunteering at a Red Cross clinic in Cambodia.

another, or simply gave me food to eat.

The audience was my inspiration to grind it out no matter how hard things got.

What culture have you found most interesting of your trips abroad?

When is comes to culture I would say “Island Life” is the most interesting.

These people are disconnected from many of the worries we have back on land. It forces community in many ways. It keeps people a bit more honest when there is no place to run or hide.

What countries were the most open or helpful?

To pick one country would be impossible. We set off to see the world in the purest way and in turn got the chance to experience hospitality that shocked the world. Everywhere we went people offered help. But the most amazing aspect was when we experienced this in very poor countries such as Kenya, Thailand and Cambodia. When we crossed the border from Thailand to Cambodia on foot, my cameraman Zsolt and I found ourselves in this poor border town called Poipet. We had nothing and just started walking the streets when a Monk waved his hand for us to come over to his hut. With his broken English we tried to communicate the best we could. Within two minutes he asked us to stay with him in his one room

hut. He had nothing...but offered us what he could.

What have you done with your $1 million prize from winning “The Amazing Race II”?

I actually bought a couple properties right here in Neptune Beach, Fla. That’s about it when it came to splurging on anything...the rest I invested in developing my career in entertainment.

As host of “At The Chefs Table”, you spent many hours in the kitchens of famous five-star chefs. How did the experience help shape your culinary knowledge?

Quality and freshness of food is 99% of a great meal. Everything was as fresh as possible at those restaurants and many chefs had gardens on the premises where they would cut produce/herbs on the spot to maximize flavor. And don’t take food too seriously when fine dining. All these big name chefs I hosted shows with would say this over and over.

How did you get involved with Touch Twice United (TTU)?

My sister and brother-in-law founded TTU about 10 years ago. Throughout the years, I’d volunteer at the clinics.

Time after time I was amazed at the impact they were having on communities across the country. About four

years ago, I took a position on the board of directors to help and give exposure to this great nonprofit. To learn more, visit www.touchtwiceunited.org.

Besides “The Amazing Race” or ATWFF, what is your favorite reality-TV show?

I think Survivor is one of the greatest concepts of television in my lifetime.

This show gives us an inside peek into the sociology of human behavior and survival of the fittest. This was especially true in the beginning seasons when networks weren’t type casting as much.

Unfortunately, many of these shows, including the Amazing Race, are now looking for shock value over everyday people.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

Life: “Go for it...don’t ever be scared to fail.” – My Mom Career: “Learn how to be a producer, there is only so long you can stay young and be on camera.” – Frank Pace ’73, producer of the “George Lopez Show” What are your plans for 2009?

To produce and host a show for Rachael Ray, produce the second season of ATWFF, get my surf series off the ground, and come up with new travel show ideas so I can continue to do what I love!

Fall 2008 13

One of the fastest growing sports in the United States, lacrosse has come to Jacksonville University. At a press conference on April 25, JU announced the addition of both

spring of 2010 for their first regular season games.

JU will be the only Division I school to sponsor men’s lacrosse and will join the University of Florida as the only schools to offer women’s lacrosse at the Division I level in Florida. The Dolphins will seek an affiliate membership in a league based on the east coast since the Atlantic Sun Conference does not offer a men’s or women’s lacrosse championship.

An exhilarating sport, lacrosse is fast-paced and full of action. Imagine a combination of basketball, ice hockey and soccer.

“Lacrosse is unlike any sport you’ve seen at JU. They call it the ‘fastest game on two feet’,” said Mindy McCord, who will serve as the women’s head coach and the director of lacrosse until a men’s coach is hired.

“It’s as fast as lightning and the scoring takes place constantly.”

men’s and women’s lacrosse, increasing the number of varsity sports at the school to 20. The first lacrosse teams to don the green and gold will take the field in the 14 The Wave

Along with an impressive career as a player, McCord brings 19 years of coaching experience to JU’s new lacrosse program. JU will be her third head coaching stop, but the first at the Division I level. She started her college coaching career at Oberlin College, earning North Coast Athletic Conference “Coach of the

Year” twice while leading the school to two conference championships in four seasons. She then took over as the head coach at McDaniel College, transforming a stagnant program into a contending, 10-win team in just three seasons.

Starting two programs from infancy will be a fun challenge, but I believe we have the right leadership in place.

Alan Verlander, Director of Athletics McCord brings a wealth of experience in building lacrosse programs from the ground up. She was the head women’s lacrosse coach at Nease High School in St. Augustine, Fla., having built the program from an informal club team to a perennial powerhouse. She is also the co-founder of Lax Maniax Premier Girl’s Lacrosse Organization, which has helped educate, encourage and promote the growth of women’s lacrosse in Florida.

“Mindy’s passion for lacrosse and the experience she has in building start-up programs in Florida were quite important in our screening process,” said JU Director of Athletics Alan Verlander. “Starting two programs from infancy will be a fun challenge, but I believe we have the right leadership in place.”

NEWS McCann Named Dean for Davis College of Business Dr. Joseph E. McCann, III (left), assumed the role of Dean of the Davis College of Business (DCOB) at Jacksonville University July 1.

“The very best days of JU and the DCOB are still ahead, and it is with great pleasure and anticipation that I join the team of exceptionally talented faculty, staff and academic leaders already in place,” said McCann. “There is a critical partnership role for JU and the DCOB in realizing this community’s global future.”

McCann is the former director of the TECO Energy Center for Leadership at The University of Tampa’s (UT) John H. Sykes College of Business. From 2000 to 2007, he served as dean and from 2000-2006 also as UT’s co-chief academic officer and dean

of graduate studies. Prior to UT, he served as the director of executive education at the University of Florida.

McCann earned a master’s and doctorate degree in business and applied economics at The Wharton School and a bachelor’s in finance and Master of Business Administration degree in international business at the University of Washington.

In addition, McCann is the author of many internationally recognized and award-winning books and articles, a member of multiple editorial and association boards and community organizations, and taught the very first entrepreneurship/new venture management courses at the University of Florida, Emory University and Pacific Lutheran University.

School of Nursing Finds New Dean in Forker Dr. Judith Forker (right), associate professor of nursing, took over as dean of the School of Nursing at Jacksonville University July 1.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Dr. Forker’s broad administrative and health care experience leading our program,” said President Kerry D. Romesburg. “Judith is passionate and energetic, and has a proven track record of developing quality programs.”

Forker received her master’s and doctorate in nursing at New York University. Before joining JU, she served as associate dean for academic affairs at Adelphi University in New York.

I look forward to continuing ” and building upon the tradition of excellent nursing education that the

JU School of Nursing is known for in the community,” said Forker.

Forker has held administrative positions in academia and in the field of health care. She served as vice president of the National League for Nursing, where she led the Division of Assessment and Evaluation and is currently a site evaluator for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, which accredits baccalaureate and higher degree programs in nursing.

In addition, Forker has been active in clinical practice throughout her career. She is a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist and has maintained a part-time private practice in psychotherapy.

Fall 2008 15

NEWS Baker Honored as JU Professor of the Year Faculty Celebrated for Excellence and in Retirement

1998 to 2004, he taught and served as the faculty and staff technology trainer at The University of Tampa.

Dr. Russell Baker, associate professor of management information systems, was named Jacksonville University’s Professor of the Year at the 50th annual Faculty Recognition Dinner on March 31. Baker has been a part of the JU faculty since 2004 and was recognized as Scholar of the Year for 2007.

Professor of the Year is chosen by a faculty vote, and Baker will hold the position through the 2008-09 academic year. “The award is the highest peer recognition given to a JU faculty member,” said Dr. Lois Becker, senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “It recognizes a professor who best embodies as a teacher the ideals of the University.”

Baker attended University of Miami in Florida and earned Bachelor of Science degrees in human relations from the State University of New York and in management from Troy State University. Baker went on to earn a Master of Science in management from Troy State as well. His doctorate of business administration

Becker, Baker and President Romesburg at the Faculty Recognition Dinner.

was earned at the University of Sarasota; a dual cognate in information systems management and management.

Before teaching, Baker had a career in the aerospace industry for nearly 20 years. Once he left in 1994, Baker served as the director of graduate studies and taught at Florida Metropolitan University in Tampa from 1994 to 1999. From

Four other faculty members were recognized with Awards for Excellence.

Dr. S. Walker Blanton, professor of history, won in Teaching. Dr. S. Douglas Lewis, professor of psychology, received the Award for University Service. Dr. Daniel A. McCarthy, assistant professor of biology and marine science, was recognized in Scholarship and Professional Activities. Dr. Carole Barnett, associate professor of humanities, won for Community Service.

The four retiring JU faculty members honored were: Dr. Ted Allen, professor of biology since 1961; Dr. Neil Boehnke, professor of chemistry since 1976; Dr. Jay Clarke, professor of history since 1990; and Dr. Kenneth Hoover professor of biology since 1981.

Dr. Margaret Janz was also honored as Professor Emerita of Education.

New Masters in Leadership and Learning to Start in January 2009 Program Includes First Sports Management Concentration in Area Jacksonville University will offer a new Master of Education (M.Ed) program in Leadership and Learning.

Concentrations will be offered in three areas: Sports Management and Leadership, Instructional Leadership and Educational Leadership. The Sports Management concentration is the first of its kind in the First Coast area.

Classes will begin in January of 2009.

“Leaders who understand change management and the importance of ethical conduct position themselves 16 The Wave

to thrive in today’s complex business environment,” said President Kerry D. Romesburg. “ We’ve designed a program to develop effective future leaders for all types of organizations.”

This graduate program offers in-depth study of leading theories and best practices that successful leaders employ to manage change and achieve organizational objectives.

“In designing the M.Ed in Leadership and Learning, we specifically applied

community and adult theories and principles to professional development in graduate education,” said Dr. Cristina Ramirez-Smith, dean of the school of education. “We wanted a conceptually driven and intentionally designed “working community” together to develop their leadership skills.”

The program is set in an 18-month, 34 credit-hour cohort format. Hybrid, as well as online class formats, will be available in a combination of modular and stand-alone courses.

Shelly Returns to JU’s Institutional Advancement Team at JU. My family and I are thrilled to rejoin the University community, and I am excited to be a part of making a positive difference in the future of Jacksonville University.”

Madison B. Shelly (above) has rejoined the advancement team as director of donor relations. Shelly served as JU’s corporate relations director from 1999 to 2001. In his new role, he will help secure major gifts during the upcoming capital campaign and beyond.

I came to realize that I had ‘unfin“ ished business’ from my last stay

Shelly received his bachelor’s in sociology from Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. For 21 years, he was a manufacturer’s representative of consumer goods to the United States military and was promoted from sales representative to Southeast/ Caribbean Regional Manager.

In 2001, Shelly became vice president of development for the Daniel Foundation, which serves Daniel Memorial Inc., Florida’s oldest child-serving agency. During his seven years at the agency, he led the creation of a comprehensive

development plan, including an annual fund with major events, the agency’s first endowment fund and a planned giving program. He also led all marketing initiatives, including advertising and public relations.

Shelly is a member of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the 200 Club of Jacksonville, the Safari Club International, The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and a member and past president of the Professional and Businessmen’s Association of Jacksonville. He also serves on the Board of Governors of The Florida Yacht Club.

Shelly and his wife Robin have three children, Angela, Madison and Davis.

School of Nursing First to Host EMLRC Van on Campus Jacksonville University’s School of Nursing hosted the mobile Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC) van on campus in April and June.

“This was the first time a school of nursing has ever used the EMLRC van to test and practice clinical emergency department competencies,” said former Dean Leigh Hart.

“It gave our Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner students a great opportunity to enhance their hands-on training and critical thinking skills.”

During the training, an Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic set up different hospital emergency code situations. Students had the chance to practice techniques such

as chest tube insertions, central line placements and intubations.

EMLRC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing emergency medicine, disaster management, prehospital emergency care and public health through the provision of educational and research programs. For more information, visit emlrc.org.

L to R: Erin Hoxsey Schillo, ARNP, Miranda Gatlin, ARNP, Ivan A. Mustafa, EMT-P, MSN, ARNP-C (instructor) and Alexis Chapas, ARNP complete a physical assessment and prepare to practice intubation.

Fall 2008 17

NEWS Board Welcomes Two New Trustees Jack Keigwin (left) and Adrienne L. Conrad (below) have joined the University’s Board of Trustees to replace Michael Cascone and Chuck Wodehouse, whose terms expired.

“We are thrilled to have Jack and Adrienne join our Board,” said President Kerry D. Romesburg.

“Both are motivated to advance higher education, and come from diverse backgrounds that

will greatly enhance our efforts to grow JU.”

16 different companies, including five with former students.

Keigwin is an award-winning entrepreneur with more than 15 years of teaching experience in business schools in the Northeast.

As executive-in-residence at the Davis College of Business since 2005, he has brought senior-level executive experience and vision to the curriculum and enrichment programs, and worked on integrating the business community into the college’s activities.

Conrad is an attorney at McGuireWoods LP in Jacksonville.

Chosen as a member of the Jacksonville Business Journal “Up & Comer” Class of 2004 and a 2006 “Women of Influence,” Conrad was invited by Mayor John Peyton to participate in the CEO Leadership Study Circles (Winter 2006). The Mayor also appointed her to serve on the Better Jacksonville Plan Citizen Oversight Committee (2005-09) and the Mayor’s Commission of the Status of Women (2006-09).

Keigwin has a bachelor’s degree from Bates College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

For 18 years, he was executive-inresidence and distinguished profes sor at Bryant College (Smithfield, R.I.), where he taught classes in entrepreneurship and leadership.

As a seasoned entrepreneur, Keigwin has started more than

Conrad graduated magna cum laude from University of California at Los Angeles with a bachelor’s in history in 1996. She went on to earn her J.D. from Cornell University Law School in 1999. In 2003, she taught as an adjunct professor at the Florida Coastal School of Law.

Science and Mathematics Alums Return for Reunion For John Aris ‘79, attending JU’s Science and Mathematics Reunion in April was an opportunity to rekindle friendships that began almost 30 years ago.

“Dr. Ken Relyea, Dr. Ed Lewis and Dr. Neal Boehnke spent a considerable amount of time with me in and out of the classroom during my years at JU,” said Aris, who graduated with a dual degree in chemistry and biology. “I can still clearly recall lectures, discussions and learning experiences from their classrooms and offices.”

More than 50 alumni, current and former faculty and University administrators came to honor those retiring for their years of service and to say 18 The Wave

farewell: Dr. Ted Allen, 47 years, Dr. Kenneth Hoover, 27 and Boehnke, 39.

Dr. Bill Robertson ‘60, served as a professor of biology and marine science for 22 years before becoming vice president of academic affairs. Like Aris, Robertson and his wife Shirley ‘59 also had the chance to reminisce with old friends and colleagues.

“I really enjoyed the many years I worked with Ted and Kenneth in the science department,” said Robertson. “It was so great to see all of us together again.”

The event was also a celebration of the Nelms and Swisher Science Building’s 50th anniversary.

Dr. Rathbun “Bernie” Rhodes ‘74, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, donated $25,000 to endow a science scholarship in honor of Lewis and Boehnke. “ These two gentlemen served as wonderful teachers and mentors during my time at JU and unquestionably have extended their reach over many generations of students,” said Rhodes.

“I always hoped that somewhere down the line I would be able to help future generations of JU students.”

Donations to the fund can be sent to Dona Yazbec, Institutional Advancement, 2800 University Blvd.

North, Jacksonville, FL 32211.

Students’ Video Essay Honored By Associated Press Jacksonville University students Jeff Brawler and Crystal Bentley won first place for Best Photo Essay in the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters’ (FAPB) annual college competition. They were honored with other winners at a banquet in Orlando in April for their video essay “Big Brother/Big Sister of the Year 2007. ” The video features two “littles” describing and then introducing their “bigs.” The students produced their

material for the local Jacksonville chapter and it was played at the group’s annual event, revealing the 2007 Big Brother Big Sister of the year.

We’re very proud of the students “ work and are glad they have been recognized on such a prestigious level,” said Annemarie Willette, assistant professor of communications.

“This honor makes five awards in the past four years for JU students.”

The FAPB awards have been held annually for Florida’s professional broadcasters for nearly 40 years.

The broadcasters group, which represents Florida broadcasters who are members of the AP, introduced the college competition to encourage and honor students who are planning careers in TV or radio journalism. Students rom colleges throughout the state competed.

Sister Hazel Rocks Swisher Gym at Annual Fin Fest Sister Hazel entertained a crowd of more than 300 in Swisher Gym during Jacksonville University’s 4th annual Spring Fin Fest in March.

Sponsored by Dolphin Productions and the JU student programming board, the concert was one of the biggest shows JU has hosted in more than a decade.

“The show was great,” said Sandro Negron, director of Dolphin Productions. “The band seemed to feed off the energy from the audience. Many students remembered their hit song ‘All for You’ from when

they were growing up. When they performed it, the audience filled with nostalgic excitement.”

Dolphin Production students worked for months putting together the details of the concert from artist contracts and event security to sound and lighting. In addition, JU’s Inter-Fraternity Council assisted with show logistics and members of the JU Student Alliance helped promote the event to students.

Everyone who came had a good “ time and there was a lot of talk around

campus as to who would be the band next year,” said Negron. “I think that we are well positioned to build upon this concert for next year.”

Sister Hazel, a five member alternative rock, folk and southern rock band, released their self-titled debut album through their independent record label, Croakin’ Poets. The group is known for devoting much of their time to fans and charity events in the spirit of the band’s namesake, “Sister Hazel,” the elderly coordinator of a homeless shelter in Gainesville, Fla.

Fall 2008 19

NEWS Commencement Speaker Advises Graduates to Take Risks Jacksonville University bestowed degrees on more than 500 students at the annual commencement ceremony in May. Keynote speaker Armando Codina, president and CEO of Flagler Development Group, told graduates to go out and seek opportunities in life, balance their careers with their families and take risks.

“We are living in a tough job market,” Codina said. “However, if you try hard, think nontraditionally and don’t lose sight of everything this country has to offer you, you will succeed.”

Codina was chairman, CEO and founder of Codina Group, which merged with Florida East Coast Industries in 2006. Flagler Development Group owns, leases and manages millions of square feet of office and industrial space in Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami.

During the past 15 years, Codina has received numerous honors, including being named the Florida Council on Economic Education’s Free Enterpriser of the Year; and Entrepreneur of the Year by Florida International University.

An honorary doctor of business and commerce degree was conferred on Codina. “Armando is a great example to our graduates of just how far you can go if you’re determined and not 20 The Wave

afraid to challenge yourself,” said President Kerry D. Romesburg.

two as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

The graduates included 505 undergraduates receiving bachelor’s degrees, and 158 of those were nursing students. Master’s degrees were bestowed on 98 graduate students, including 49 in business administration, 11 in nursing and 38 in education.

For achieving 4.0 grade point averages, Dustin Crawford and Teresa Ganzelli were honored with the prestigious Fred B. Noble Medal for Scholarship.

The University’s Navy ROTC Program commissioned 18 graduating seniors –16 as Navy ensigns and

The University also presented two prominent service awards – the Presidential Award for Leadership to Matt Dobbins and the University Award for Outstanding Service and Co-curricular Involvement to Johnnie Bovain, Jr.

Flight Team Brings Home Top Honor in National Competition Jacksonville University Flight Team competed at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference held in Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 6-10, and brought home the most prestigious award of the competition –The Loening Trophy.

ground events, ahead of the Florida Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois and Middle Tennessee State University. Jason Schappert was named the Top Flight Instructor and Michael Beattie won the Outstanding Team Member Award.

The team was led by The trophy is presented advisers Jeff Harrison annually to the college and Dr. Rhett Yates, program that displays the (Front Row) L to R: Jamil Jeffers, Kevin Sawyer, Jesse Elliott, Kevin Burmaster, Michael Eisenhardt, Brian Rendini Knoblauch and Michael most outstanding and Joseph Collura (Back row) L to R: Adviser Rhett Yates, Brent Knoblauch, Jason Schappert, Michael Todd, John Eisenhardt (co-captain). competition performance, Greenwood, Stefan Hertel, Adviser Jeff Harrison, Sarah Morris, Jonathan Seletyn and Michael Beattie The 15 members who academics, aviation safety participated in the and active participation in a national level,” said President Kerry national competition are: Beattie, aviation in its local community. As D. Romesburg. “This is truly an honor part of the qualifying procedures, Burmaster, Joseph Collura, and great reward to those students Brent Knoblauch (captain) and Eisenhardt, Jesse Elliott, Jon and faculty who have spent countKevin Burmaster (member) made Greenwood, Stefan Hertel, Jamil less hours building the program.” the winning presentation to a Jeffers, Knoblauch, Sarah Morris, panel of judges.

Brian Rendini, Kevin Sawyer, In addition to the Loening Trophy, Schappert, Jonathan Seletyn the team ranked 12th overall in “JU is proud to have such an and Michael Todd. competition events and ninth in outstanding aeronautics program on

Campus Continually Upgrading Living and Learning Environment Jacksonville University is committed to continually developing the ultimate living and learning environment for its students. The Board of Trustees has created a $4 million fund to steadily provide campus upgrades.

Due to the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, there is now wireless access in all facilities across campus.

A variety of improvements were completed by the start of the new school year. While some of the improvements are maintenance

oriented, some were very extensive, such as the remodeling of Williams, Brest and McGeHee halls.

• Swisher Gym facelift (new lighting, paint and sound system) • 10,000 sq. ft. of new and repaired sidewalks • Curbs repaired • New roofs on McGeHee and Gooding • Resurfaced roads and parking lots • Mulch lots paved • New intramural fence • Upgraded utilities (water, sewer, electrical)

Fall 2008 21

SPORTS Dolphin Track Duo First to Compete in Olympic Trials Juniors Natasha Harvey and Shaquania Lundy were among 24 elite jumpers who competed for the three long jump spots on the United States Track and Field team at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. on June 30. The duo became the first JU track and field athletes to participate in the Olympic trials and the second pair to qualify since Andrea Pressley and Monique Tubbs in 2004.

“This has been the experience of a lifetime for them,” said JU head coach Ron Grigg. “Natasha and Shaq worked hard toward achieving the goal of competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. It’s the best track meet in the United States, and tougher than the Olympics in many events.”

Harvey, a New Haven, Conn. native, has been the cornerstone of the Dolphins’ last three consecutive Atlantic Sun Indoor and Outdoor track and field championships.

In 2007, she earned her second consecutive All-America honor at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a leap of 21’8” (6.60m). Harvey also picked up her first All-America honor at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing second with a jump of 21’10” (6.65m), less than two feet away from winning the national championship.

“I always train to be at my best, but the Olympic trials were different.

I wanted to exceed my best and make the Olympic team,” said Harvey. “I knew I’d have to jump at least six inches further, but this was definitely within my reach.

Unfortunately, I didn’t achieve my goal, but this year has been a year of success.”

Harvey is no stranger to competing at the national level. As a freshman, she earned a spot on the U.S. Junior Track team after winning the long jump at the U.S. Junior Track Championships. She recorded jumps of 21’ (6.40m) and 20’8.5” (6.31m) to win a tiebreaker in the event. She also placed seventh at the AT&T U.S. Championships in the long jump with a mark of 21’4.75” (6.52m).

She represented the U.S. at the North American, Central American and Caribbean under-23 championships on July 20 in Toluca, Mexico.

She placed second in the long jump with 21’6.25” (6.56m).

Lundy also helped the Dolphins win two of their three A-Sun Indoor and Outdoor Track Championships.

She earned three silver medals in the 2008 A-Sun Indoor Championships, taking second in the long jump, triple jump and the 60-meter dash, while claiming gold in the triple jump and a silver in the long jump in the Outdoor Championships.

Lundy also competed with Harvey at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the long jump.

22 The Wave

Golf to Host the Nation’s Best Bringing some of the best golf teams in the country to the First Coast, the JU men’s and women’s golf teams will be hosting tournaments in February 2009.

The Men’s Invitational is set for Feb. 15-17 on the Dye’s Valley Course at the prestigious TPC at Sawgrass. The Women’s Classic will tee up a week later, Feb. 22-24, at Hidden Hills Country Club.

including such powers as Lamar, Kentucky and St. John’s. The women will host teams from across the country, with Creighton and North Dakota coming in to compete with Southeastern powers Troy and Stetson joining the event as well.

Christian Martin

“We’re excited about each team having a home tournament this season and look forward to having one of the top tournaments in the country,” said JU head golf coach Mike Blackburn. “This is an important first step as we build each of these programs.”

The men’s tournament features four teams that were each ranked in the top 100 nationally last season, Heather Fudge

Two Sweet: Women’s Tennis Repeats as Conference Champions After winning the Atlantic Sun Conference title in 2007, the JU women’s tennis team had some lofty expectations entering 2008.

A-Sun Tournament title, the Dolphins exceeded those expectations and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Winning a school-record 20 matches en route to a second straight

“I’m really proud of what our team

accomplished this season,” said JU head coach Shane Wood. “They played all season with a target on their backs and were able to raise their game to a new level.”

Leading the way for JU was freshman Lina Xu, senior Lena Willi and sophomore Tatiana Soldatova. Xu was named A-Sun “Freshman of the Year” and earned first team all-conference honors after rolling up an impressive record at the No. 1 position for JU. Willi wrapped up her collegiate career with a fourth straight A-Sun allconference selection to the first team. Soldatova was picked to the second team for the second straight year.

Fall 2008 23

SPORTS Ready to Tackle Tough Competition The road in front of the JU football team in 2008 is a long and daunting one, but gilded with the potential for greatness.

In their second game of the regular season, the Dolphins will face three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State, which will be the highest ranked team that JU has faced in school history.

“The Appalachian State trip is going to be great for our program,” said JU head coach Kerwin Bell. “They are the gold-standard in the FCS and it will show our kids the type of program I want us to become in the next few years.”

While the schedule calls for the Dolphins to play five home games this season, JU will hit the road early and often - playing four of the first six games on the road.

Picked sixth in the preseason Pioneer Football League poll, JU will host league favorites San Diego and Dayton.

“The league schedule is going to be difficult, but we’re fortunate to have some of the top teams at home this year,” Bell said. “This league is getting better each year.

You have to come ready to play each week because these teams are so well-coached.”

Season tickets are available for $60 via the JU ticket office at (904) 256-7400.

Coach Bell

2008 Football Schedule 8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27 10/9 10/18 10/25 11/1 11/8 11/15 11/22

at Savannah State at #1 Appalachian State * CAMPBELL at UNC-Pembroke * at Davidson W EBBER INTERNATIONAL (Homecoming) * at Morehead State * SAN DIEGO (Parent’s Weekend) * at Butler * at Valparaiso * DRAKE * DAYTON

7:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

* Pioneer Football League

McDougal Named 2007 “Athletic Trainer of the Year” Director of Sports Medicine Bo McDougal (right) was named the 2007 College/University “Athletic Trainer of the Year” by the Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida.

Completing his 25th year at JU, McDougal oversees a staff of five athletic trainers and 20 students from North Florida and is responsible for the daily care of student-athletes, for JU’s 20 Division I teams.

A crew member with The National Center for Drug Free Sports, McDougal has also worked on events such as the W.T.A. Sunkist Championships (1986), and NCAA men’s basketball regionals in Orlando (2004), Nashville (2005) and Jacksonville (2006). He has also 24 The Wave

assisted with U.S. national teams including Synchronized Swimming in 1991, the 1984 Olympics Gymnastics Trials and the Gymnastics Federation McDonalds National Championships in 1985. He has also worked with Athletes in Action on trips to Europe in 1990 and the former Soviet Union in 1994, along with the Olympic Training Center in 1996.

Before coming to JU, McDougal served as a graduate assistant at both Arizona State and Murray State, his alma mater. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Murray State in 1981 before completing his master’s in health, physical education, recreation and dance in 1988. He is a licensed trainer

in Florida and a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Southeastern Athletic Trainers’ Association and Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida.

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams Have Unfinished Business Both Look to Build on Last Season’s Achievements After advancing to the Atlantic Sun Conference championship game last season, both of Jacksonville University’s basketball teams lost their last games with a chance at advancing to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

The men’s team returns all five starters from last year’s squad, headlined by junior point guard Ben Smith and senior forward Marcus Allen. Smith was a first team allconference selection as a sophomore and Allen enters his final season just four points away from joining the elite 1,000-point club.

“We have a lot of talent returning this season, but we know we have a lot of work to do to reach our goals,” said JU men’s head coach Cliff Warren. “The experience of last season is going to help us as we prepare for this year.”

but they have to fill the hole left by the school’s all-time leading scorer – Ashley Williams.

That scoring load will be shared by a trio of senior guards – Regina Omoite, DaVina Hamilton and Virginia Gregoire.

of play to lead us this season,” said JU women’s head coach Jill Dunn.

“We’ve got a young group from an experience point of view, and we will need them to produce to reach our goal of winning the A-Sun Tournament.”

“Losing Ashley hurts, but we have three players who have made the commitment to raise their levels DaVina Hamilton

Marcus Allen

After the most successful campaign in the program’s short history, the women’s team looks to be one of the favorites to win the A-Sun

Coach Warren

Coach Dunn

ALUMNINEWS Navy Admiral to Serve as Next Command Surgeon Rear Adm. Michael H. Mittelman ’75 (left), a one-star admiral currently serving as the United States Navy’s director of medical resources, plans and policy will serve as the next medical officer for U.S. Joint Forces Command.

As command surgeon, Mittelman will oversee the mission of leading the medical transformation of the armed forces of the United States.

His directorate, JO2M, provides advice on force health protection

in the command’s joint force provider role, as well as overseeing medical plans and policies that support the commander’s initiatives.

A native of Long Beach, N.Y., Mittelman was commissioned in the Navy Medical Service Corps in 1980. His many assignments around the world include serving as the first Navy optometrist designated as an aerospace optometrist in 1989.

Pascual Conducts Ultimate Bishop’s Mass in Yankee Stadium When Jennifer Pascual, ‘92 was a teenager, she fondly remembers participating in her high school’s annual Bishop’s Mass in the gymnasium at Bishop Kenny. Never had she imagined, however, that one day she would participate in what she refers to as the ultimate Bishop’s Mass and the highlight of her career.

Pascual, the director of music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, was asked to help provide the soundtrack for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York April 18-20, 2008, broadcast around the world.

“It was the most difficult undertaking I have encountered,” said Pascual. “I sat down with Cardinal Edward Egan in his living room for hours selecting music.

I had to secure copyright licenses and deal with the logistics of broadcasting on TV and moving a choir around.”

After six months of preparation, Pascual watched as Yankee Stadium 26 The Wave

turned into a house of worship from home plate, where she stood and conducted a choir of 200 and an orchestra of 58 for the pope who listened from second base.

“Doing the music itself was not nerve-wracking,” said Pascual. “What made me nervous was that there were so few days to pull everything together.”

But pull everything together she did, not only at Yankee Stadium but at several other locations throughout the city. And all this on top of her full-time job at St. Patrick’s, where she plans the music for the Masses each week and conducts the High Mass on Sunday.

Since the Pope is a native of Germany, Pascual and Egan chose music by German composers such

as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Rheinberger. They also included a Gregorian Chant – the most revered form of music in the Church – and Renaissance Polyphony-style music by composers Tomas Luis de Victoria and Giovanni Pieiluigi da Palestrina.

“We also included regular congregational hymns that everyone could sing and some bilingual Spanish hymns as the Hispanic population in the United States is increasing rapidly,” said Pascual.

Spring Break Spent Helping Others Leads to Love Some people say love happens when you least expect it. And for Chad and Sofya Brown, that rang true. In 2006, the two made plans to go to New Orleans on an alternative spring break trip with other JU students to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

A pre-trip meeting, however, led to something more.

“I remember the first time I heard Sofya speak,” said Chad. “When I heard her accent I was very struck by her and knew I wanted to get to know her better.”

Originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan, Sofya came to the United States in 2005, after applying to go to school through the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program. “The program administrators chose a university for me based on my background and major in environmental engineering,” said Sofya. “Luckily, it was Jacksonville University.”

After the pre-trip meeting, the two met again the next day for a car wash to raise money for the trip.

“Chad and I created posters for the event,” said Sofya. “I told him that he had bad handwriting, but he didn’t get angry and even volunteered to help me practice for an upcoming intramural volleyball game.”

Even though Chad didn’t get her number that day, his interest in her only grew stronger and soon he found himself driving 30 miles just to see her.

“Our friend Vale told me she spent a lot of time at the library, so at night I would drive back to JU after work from Orange Park in hopes of talking to her.”

And talk they did, which led to their first date at Mickler Beach in Ponte Vedra the night before the trip. It was also the night of their first kiss.

(Above) Chad and Sofya on their wedding day at Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville.

(Right) Chad displays his affection for Sofya at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.

In New Orleans, Sofya and Chad spent a week cleaning houses together. “Hearing the individual stories of the home owners was very touching,” said Chad.

“We were both very happy to be there.”

Eventually, Sofya left the U.S. to finish school in Almaty. While she was away, Chad wanted to let her know how much everyone missed her and started the “Sofya Project.”

“I went around to her friends and favorite professor Dr. Lucinda Sonnenburg and took photos with a sign that read I Love Sofya,” said Chad. He also placed the photos on a

blog at www.thesofyaproject. blogspot.com.

“After I had left the U.S., the Sofya posters and the site Chad created for me really made me believe in our love story,” said Sofya. Chad and Sofya were married on March 21, 2008 in Jacksonville.

Fall 2008 27

ALUMNINEWS Old JU Connection Brings New Opportunity

Howland Named President and CEO of Major Grant Association Volunteering since he was a teen, Howland’s interest in fundraising started while creating a student/ faculty basketball game at JU to raise funds for the Boys Home nearby. It’s an interest that has spanned more than 30 years.

Michael Howland ’76 (above right), became president and CEO of the Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF), one of the nation’s largest regional associations of grantmakers, in August. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, Howland found his alma mater still presented opportunities more than 30 years after he graduated.

“Giving and, ultimately, asking others to give is a natural extension of involvement in causes I’ve embraced” said Howland. “My interest in the grantmaking side has come via my teaching fundraising at Indiana University (IU) and applying for grants for Noble of Indiana. It takes a lot of cultivation and asks of $1,000 to match the impact of a $1 million grant.”

“You never know when your JU connections will change your life,” Howland explained. “Nina Zuccaro Waters ‘80, a fellow Governor and now fellow Trustee, is on the Board of SECF and gave my name to the Search Committee.”

Since 2002, Howland served as CEO of Noble of Indiana, an Indianapolis-based community organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. Prior to that, he was CEO of four associations in Springfield, Va., that raise funds

on behalf of more than 150 diverse national charities.

Howland holds advanced degrees from St. Louis University in both law and public administration. Elected Student Government Association president at both JU and St. Louis, Howland also served as editor of the newspaper at JU and was a member of Green Key and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

A member of the JU Board of Trustees, Howland has also been a member of the JU Alumni Board of Governors since 2002, serving as president 2003-2005.

“Serving JU via both the Alumni Board and the Board of Trustees has been fun and rewarding,” said Howland. “How can you beat reconnecting with old friends and making new ones in the name of JU? Being part of the JU renaissance that has emerged with President Romesburg and a committed, proactive Board of Trustees has been invigorating. It’s an honor to serve!”

An avid baseball fan and coach, Howland and his wife Catherine have three children: Jim, an IU graduate, Christopher and Madeline.

A Final Four Reunion Sparks Old Memories Ron Anderson ’72, took a trip with his son, Ron Jr., a senior at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., to the Final Four in San Antonio this past spring.

While they were waiting on a shuttle bus, he started talking with another sports fan who asked Ron if he had ever been to a Final Four before.

28 The Wave

“Yes, actually when I was in college my school, Jacksonville University, made it to the finals,” Ron answered.

The man, familiar with the storied team of that era, said, “Oh yeah, Artis Gilmore!”

The man continued, “Well, you know who is sitting over there on the shuttle bus, don’t you? Tom

Wasdin (JU’s assistant coach during the Artis era).”

Of course, Ron took the opportunity to chat with the former assistant coach.

They spoke about that championship season, their road trip to College Park, the excitement around campus during that time, and how Ron had told the story more than 1,000 times.

Fountain Gets a Facelift from Class of 2008 The Graduating Class Gift is a way for graduates to say thank you and to help make Jacksonville University a better place for current and future students by supporting a gift of their class’ choice. With the highest participation ever, this year students decided to update the fountain outside of Davis Student Commons.

Green Key is the sponsoring organization. Dr. Karen Jackson ‘89, the faculty adviser, said the idea evolved from a brainstorming session about gift possibilities.

“The fountain is beautiful, high profile and generated a lot of excitement, both among the seniors and the underclassmen,” said Jackson. “It was comparable in cost to previous gifts because we got labor donated from the Art in Public Spaces class and Renaissance Pool and Spa.” Past graduating classes have given a gazebo near the dorms, couches for the library entrance and picnic tables.

The gifting has only been resurrected in the past five years. The University

has been supportive of the efforts, matching funds in years past. This year is the first that all the necessary funds were raised by the group.

“This year’s class raised the most money so far, more than $2,000,” said Jackson. “We also had the most graduate participation ever at more than 15%.”

Jackson is a Green Key alumna and spent the summer of 1998 at Dartmouth University at a workshop.

While on campus, she saw how the gifts there had such an impact.

“Everywhere I went, you would see plaques recognizing the class gifts,” said Jackson. The students were proud to be a part of that institution.

I wanted to bring that to JU.” The oldest continuously active organization on campus, Green Key’s alum founded the alumni association.

Active membership is limited to 1% of the student body (currently 20 students).

Fall 2008 29

ALUMNIEVENTS February

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1 Happy Hour at the Melting Pot for Recent Alumni

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3 Men’s Basketball vs. UNF reception at Veterans Memorial Arena

March Happy Hour at Bonefish Grill Mandarin EMBA Networking Social at The River Club

4 Men’s Baseball vs. UF reception at

The Swamp Restaurant in Gainesville

April

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5 Men’s Baseball vs. FSU BBQ Happy Hour at Ocean 60 for Recent Alumni

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6 Science and Mathematics Reunion 8 Family Outing and Picnic at the Jacksonville Zoo

9 Wine & Cheese Reception and Oklahoma! Performance

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11 School of Education Gathering at

the home of Carolyn Munro Wilson New York Luncheon and Happy Hour

12 Boston Luncheon and Red Sox Baseball Happy Hour

May Happy Hour at Square One for Recent Alumni Board of Governors Annual Dinner Jacksonville University Commencement and Senior Toast

13 14 Philadelphia Happy Hour and Dad Vail Regatta Hospitality Tent

June 15 16 Happy Hour and Suns Baseball Game

30 The Wave

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For the most up-to-date alumni events schedule, visit www.ju.edu/alumni

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Pictured: 1) Rebecca Barry ‘05 & Pamela Shelley ‘05 2) Kristen & Everette ’02 Seay with future Dolphins 3) Mike ’85 & Jennie Shad, Frances & Buck Fowler 4) JoAnn & James ’63 Winn 5) Eva Manley ’83 & Audrey Fitzpatrick Campbell ‘88 6) Jeanette ’07 & Daren Hoffman & Dr. Robert Aris ‘80 7) Tralyn Reeves Hodson ‘00 & daughter 8) Ed ’04 &

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Sally ’06 Washburn 9) Fred ’69, ’85 & Debbie Pruitt, Judy & President Kerry Romesburg 10) Clay Yarborough & Carolyn Munro Wilson ‘69, ‘77, ‘89 11) Laura VanSickle ‘08 & Anna Lunsford ‘06 12) Elizabeth Healy ‘05 & Nicole Keiser ‘05 13) Maureen Sharon ‘91 & Annette Negaard ‘80 14) Bill Breed ’82 & daughter 15) Michael Steele ‘78, Melissa Holland ‘05 & Pamela Shelley ‘05 16) Patrick Kennedy ‘00 & Matt Dallmeyer ‘02 Fall 2008 31

CLASSNOTES 1960s

1980s

1990s

Dan Thomas ’65, and his wife Edie have retired and moved to Fernandina Beach. Dan was a dentist and Edie was a nurse.

William (Bill) Breed ’82, has been recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for contributing to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007.

He has directly contributed to the efforts of the IPCC as a lead chapter author for the Working Group II Second Assessment Report. Breed is currently the agency global climate change coordinator for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., where he lives with his wife and twin daughters.

Mai Keisling ’90, won the 2008 Memphis Wood award for excellence in teaching from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville.

She was also a finalist in the Eve Awards in the field of education from the Florida Times-Union.

On Memorial Day, a gathering of biology alums treated Dr. Ted Allen to lunch at Cap’s restaurant in Vilano Beach to celebrate his retirement and to thank him for all he did for them while they were students. Prior to the lunch, some gathered to birdwatch, one of Allen’s favorite activities.

Left to right: Patty Parrish ’67, Stephanie Pough ’04, Dan Thomas ’65, David Cameron ’66, David Carter ’66, Chris Carter ’70, Charles Hosey ’65, Linda Howell Hosey ’66. Seated on bench: Edie Thomas, Lynne Carter, Dr. Ted Allen and Anita Carter.

1970s Rich Curley ’70, recently relocated to Jacksonville. He retired as a principal in Maine and is now teaching at Bayview Elementary School.

Bob Nylin ’73, retired as principal of Logan County High School in Kentucky. He has been in education for 33 years. Nylin and his wife Shirley continue to live in Russellville, Ky. 32 The Wave

Several alums and faculty took a recent fishing trip to celebrate Jeff Bomber’s 50th birthday.

Left to right: Dr. Walker Blanton, Phil Taggart ’83, Greg LaFave ’84, Jomay Bomber ’83, Dr. Jeff Bomber ’82, Jim O’Keefe ’83, Kevin McCarthy ’83, Al Fenedick ’83, Dr. Quint White, Bill Breed ’82 and Ed Nelson ’82.

C. Mark Fowler ’86, lives in Montana and accepted an invitation to participate in the 2009 National Association of Attorneys General Supreme Court Fellowship Program.

He has served as an assistant attorney general in the Montana Department of Justice since 1994.

Randy Jones ’91, works as a Certified Public Accountant in in St. Augustine where he lives with his wife Denise and their two children, Belle and Mason.

Michael E. Feret ’91, is currently serving with CJTF-101 in Bagram, Afghanistan.

He is working with the commanding generals of the task force to prepare them to meet key leaders from Afghanistan. When he is not serving overseas, he lives in Fort Campbell, Ky. with his wife Kathy ’92 and their daughters, Megan, Annalise and Natalie. Photo was taken in Bamyan Province.

James H. Scroggins, IV, ’93, lives in West Palm Beach and is the pastor of First Baptist Church.

He earned his M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He and his wife, Kristin, have seven children.

Weddings Susan Fletcher Thistleton ’95, and her husband Matthew live in Parker, Colo., where she teaches 4th grade at Prairie Crossing Elementary School. They welcomed their first child, Cameron Taft, on October 26, 2007.

Art Silver ’96, is president and co-owner of CAB Logistics, Inc., which is one of America’s fastest growing freight brokerages based in southern Indiana.

Sarah Hazzard Fernald ‘97, was promoted to research coordinator at the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve. She lives with her husband, Chaz, in New Paltz, N.Y.

2000s Sara Beth Keough ’00, is an assistant professor of history and geography at Saginaw Valley State University.

Keough received her doctorate in 2007 from the University of Tennessee.

Corinna Samillano Hoffman ’03, lives in Jacksonville with her husband Robert.

Corinna works for Harte-Hanks as a marketing account coordinator. They were married at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, not by Elvis, but he was there to serenade them at their reception.

Tom Alford ’04, lives in Jacksonville and has been hired by Burdette Ketchum as an account coordinator.

Prior to this, Tom worked on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Brian ‘96, ‘05 and Michale Gonzalez Dudley ’99 became the proud parents of Brendan Liam on June 24, 2008.

Lynn Ellen Scarbrough ’96, married Chris Ryals on February 18, 2006.

Lyndsay Hyatt ’04, married Anderson Almeida on March 15, 2008.

In Memoriam Robert Fuchs ’60, February 28, 2008.

Anthony Todd Allen ‘67, November 22, 2007.

New Arrivals Chris Baker ’00, and wife Brandy became the proud parents of Tristan William on January 28, 2008.

Melody Cambier Coarsey ’01 and her husband Clay became the proud parents of Cayden Grace on December 20, 2007.

James R. Brannen ’73, June 14, 2008.

William H. Wood ’73, June 11, 2008.

June Gardner Witt ’73, June 16, 2008.

Dr. Patrick Penland ’76, March 26, 2008.

Carol Mayer DeGraaf ’76, February 10, 2008.

Carol B. Roberts ’02, February 6, 2008.

Class Notes is compiled by your friends in the Alumni Relations Office. If you’ve got news to share, let us know! We want to stay connected with you so e-mail your information and photos to alumni@ ju.edu. Please do not send hard copy photos.

Scholarship Created to Honor Legacy of Dr. Kelley The Dr. George Kelley Endowed Scholarship has been created to honor his memory. Kelley taught microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry and aquaculture and served as the chair of the division of science and mathematics for 25 years until he retired in 1988. Kelley passed away in November, 2007.

“George was an entrepreneur before folks even knew what that was,” said Dr. Quinton White. “He thought aquaculture was the key to making fish and shrimp easily available for commercial consumption. He was always pleasant with a ready smile and some tidbit of information.”

The fund will provide scholarships to talented students majoring in science. Donations to the fund may be sent to Dona Yazbec, Institutional Advancement, 2800 University Blvd. North, Jacksonville, FL 32211.

Fall 2008 33

Take care of your family create a legacy at JU.

&

A Planned Gift can do BOTH!

To start the conversation, please contact: Donna Morrow, Director of Planned Giving Ph: 904.256.7928 • Email: dmorrow1@ju.edu

Every gift matters. Make yours today & support JU tomorrow.

www.ju.edu

CAREER ADVANCE YOUR without putting your life on hold!

MBA TODAY. CEO TOMORROW. Jacksonville University offers working professionals the opportunity to earn master’s degrees part-time. The Davis College of Business provides a challenging curriculum, intimate class sizes and accommodating schedules.

Professionally and academically accomplished faculty • Relevant projects with practical applications • Curriculum integrates theory and practice • Evening and executive programs available •

Visit us on the web at

www.ju.edu/mba

JU’s ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM is the fast-track to earning your bachelor’s degree without putting your career on hold!

• Fully-accredited • Award-winning faculty • Small-class sizes

• Offered in 8-week sessions all year • Evening or weekend classes available • Affordably priced

Designed specifically for the non-traditional student, this opportunity is offered at a pace that recognizes the need for flexibility and an accelerated format.

For more info, call us at

904.256.7000

To learn more, visit

www.ju.edu/adp

Homecoming 2008

Pirates of the St. Johns October 9–11

Unlock there Treasu FOR A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND RESERVATION INFORMATION, VISIT www.ju.edu/alumni CALL (904) 256-7201 EMAIL alumni@ju.edu

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