Bell Tower Summer 2012

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THE MAGAZINE OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY

SUMMER 2012

“Rosa”

REMEMBERING Dr. Rose G. Deal, AFSC 1923-2012

LIVING LEARNING CENTER

HAITI NURSING MISSION

HEALTHCARE PACKAGING


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THE MAGAZINE OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY s SUMMER 2012

news

CBU Selects Five Seniors to the 2012 Class Of Lasallian Fellows............................... 2 University Board of Trustees Welcomes Six New Members to its Ranks ..................... 4 Graduate Engineering Program is Going Global as Part of Consortium .................... 6 Engineering Management Honor Society Inducts Nine New Members ..................... 7 Engineering Students Team Up with City of Memphis to Study Flooding ................. 7 CBU Engineering Receives EPA Grant, Competes in P3 Design Competition .......... 8 CBU Engineering Students Take Top International Prize for Website ........................ 9 New Bachelor’s Degrees Offered in Creative Writing and Cybersecurity .................. 10 Distinguished Alumnus Announces Endowed Scholarship in Memory of Son......... 12 and more…

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profiles

Professor Has High Hopes of Reaching Higher Summits ................................... 17 Self-Professed “Business Nerds” Become Entrepreneurs ...................................... 18 Making Sustainability a Priority at CBU ............................................................ 20 Physician Assistant Program Will Help Fill Need in Community ....................... 22 Golden Grad Assists Sacred Heart Monastery ..................................................... 24 Engineering Alum Takes Volunteering to the Next Level .................................... 26

features

Amazing Grace: Students from CBU’s First Nursing Cohort Learn a Few Lessons in Grace During a Mission Trip to Haiti ................................................................... 28 Thinking Inside the Box: CBU’s Healthcare Packaging Consortium Provides Benefits to Companies, Consumers, and Students................................................................ 32 Live & Learn: The Newest Residence Hall on Campus Integrates Education and Community ......................................................................................................... 38 Remembering “Rosa”: CBU’s First Female Faculty Member Leaves Behind a Lasting Legacy at the University and in the Hearts of her Students ...................................... 42

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classnotes

Welcome, New Alumni from the Class of 2012! ................................................. 46 Notes and announcements from your former classmates..................................... 48 Passings: Death notices of alumni and friends of CBU ....................................... 62

backpage

Unveiled ............................................................................................................. 68 THERE’S EVEN MORE OUT THERE IN CYBERSPACE! If you see a QR code like this on a page, you can scan it with your smartphone to find more information, more photos, or maybe a video or two to further enhance your Bell Tower experience. You can download a QR reader directly to your phone by visiting www.i-nigma.mobi/ which will automatically detect if your mobile device is compatible.

SEND NEWS FOR CLASS NOTES to Christian Brothers University Alumni Office, 650 East Parkway South, Memphis TN 38104. Or send email to alumni@cbu.edu. SEND YOUR PHOTOS TOO! Digital photos should be a minimum of 1200 x 1800 pixels. SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Bell Tower, Christian Brothers University Office of Advancement, 650 East Parkway South, Memphis TN 38104.

COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF BROTHER I. LEO O’DONNELL ARCHIVES; BACK COVER PHOTO BY CORY DUGAN


BELL TOWER is published by the CBU Office of Advancement, 650 East Parkway South, Memphis, TN 38104. Non-profit postage is paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: Bell Tower, 650 E. Parkway S., Memphis TN 38104 —————————————————————— BELL TOWER STAFF Editor/Director of Creative Services Cory Dugan Director of Alumni & Annual Giving Karen S. Viotti (’02) Director of Advancement Services Linda Dunlap Assistant Director of Creative Services Jacob Edwards Communications & Marketing Coordinator Petya K. Grady New York Times Scholarship Interns Veronica Love (’12), Kristian DeRidder (’14) Editorial Contributors Bob Arnold, Dexter Dyson (’13), Emily Keplinger, Aimee Lewis (’92), Sr. Elisabeth Meadows, Chris Przybyszewski, Dr. Mark Scott, Dr. Sue Trzynka, Brother Robert Werle (’70) —————————————————————— UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION President John Smarrelli Jr., Ph.D. Vice President for Advancement Andrew Prislovsky Vice President for Communications & Marketing Elisa C. Marus Board of Trustees Robert G. McEniry, Chairman Charles B. Dudley III, Vice Chair Joseph F. Birch Jr. (’78), Vice Chair Joyce A. Mollerup, Secretary Richard T. Gadomski (’62), Treasurer Dr. James W. Adams II (’80) Leo P. Arnoult (’70) H. Wayne Brafford Albert T. Cantu Bena Cates Brother Konrad Diebold Gregory M. Duckett Stephen T. Dunavant (’83) Brother Chris Englert (’77) H. Lance Forsdick Sr. (’61) Mark R. Giannini (’87) John Mitchell Graves William W. Graves Emily Sawyer Greer (’84) Monsignor Valentine Handwerker Matthew Johnson (’09) Brother Bernard LoCoco Douglas J. Marchant David E. Nelson Lori M. Patton (’91) Brother Michael F. Quirk James L. Reber (’82) Brother Larry Schatz Dr. Stephany S. Schlachter Joshua Shipley (’01) John Smarrelli Jr., Ph.D. Pravin Thakkar (’67) H. McCall Wilson Jr. (’89) Dr. Margaret H. West Laurel C. Williams (’82)

p r e s i d e n t ’s m e s s a g e THE 2011-12 ACADEMIC YEAR at Christian Brothers University has been filled with celebrations of the 140th Anniversary of our founding in 1871, but please rest assured that we’re not resting on our laurels. With the addition of exciting new programs to our curriculum and vital new buildings to our campus, we are refining our mission to be more responsive to the needs of the Memphis community and beyond. We are crafting a new strategic plan that includes even more new programs and capital and endowment improvements. While we celebrate our past, we are boldly charting a future that will propel CBU into new territories and to new heights. During the past year, we welcomed the first nursing students to our RN-to-BSN completion program. In addition, we welcomed our first cohort of students who are studying to complete a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. These two new programs position CBU in the forefront of producing qualified healthcare professionals so desperately needed in this community. In the near future, I anticipate an increased focus at CBU on the meeting the demand for healthcare workers to care for the medical needs of aging baby boomers and our underserved communities. The creation of these programs was made possible by the Cooper-Wilson Center for Life Sciences, which — thanks to the generous contribution of our benefactors — allows these students to learn from our gifted faculty in state-of-the-art facilities. Also in the healthcare arena, the School of Engineering’s packaging consortium is contributing expertise to the burgeoning medical device industry so important to this community. New learning and service opportunities have been developed for our students, as our new Living Learning Center was filled to capacity after its completion and grand opening last August. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, students can learn firsthand about areas as diverse as Sustainability, Engineering, and the Hospitality and Tourism industry while living in community in a spectacular new residence facility. CBU has also entered into the President’s Service Challenge, and our students are volunteering at unprecedented levels to make our community a better place to live. As a proud member of the Lasallian network that spans the globe, CBU’s graduates continue to be leaders in creating a positive impact upon the communities and world in which they live. This is a powerful tradition, one that is built on a proud history and on a strong foundation — a foundation anchored by the Christian Brothers and bolstered by the invaluable contributions of generations of faculty members such as Dr. Marguerite Cooper (whose name and new portrait grace our new science center) and Dr. Rose G. Deal, AFSC, whose devotion to the Brothers and to this university continued up to the moment of her death. As always, I invite you to visit us and to see for yourself all of the wonderful activities and programs that have made CBU so meaningful and significant for the past 140 years and into the future.

John Smarrelli Jr., Ph.D., President

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CBU Selects Five Seniors to the 2012 Class Of Lasallian Fellows

(l-r): Fellowship benefactors Joyce A. Mollerup and Bob Buckman; Fellows Samantha Noland, Steven Menezes, Andrew Greenop, Samantha Bownes, Paige Campbell; and Dr. John Smarrelli Jr., CBU president.

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THE 2012 CLASS OF LASALLIAN FELLOWS was inducted at a banquet in Alfonso Dining Hall on September 13, 2011. Samantha Bownes (Biology ’12), Paige Campbell (Psychology ’12), Andrew Greenop (Mechanical Engineering/Mathematics ’12), Steven Menezes (Electrical Engineering/Computer Science ’12), and Samantha Noland (Mechanical Engineering and Philosophy ’12) were selected to the third annual Fellowship class of seniors. The Lasallian Fellowships were made possible by a generous donation from CBU trustee Joyce A. Mollerup and her husband, Bob Buckman. The awards are presented to five members of the senior class based upon the reflection of Lasallian values in their scholarship, leadership and service. Each student is nominated by a member of the CBU faculty and staff because of their commitment to the underserved, sensitivity to social and community needs, active nature of their faith, and creation of a difference in the world and lives of others. Each Lasallian Fellow is awarded $5,000 as a means of perpetuating their work in the community. Samantha Bownes came to CBU with the hope of becoming a veterinarian, but in her sophomore year she applied to the prestigious Minority Health

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International Research Training (MHIRT) program and trained at the Heifer International’s Global Village in Arkansas. Upon her return, she was inspired to pursue a medical career and provide humanitarian aid to the poorest of the poor. She is the founder of Visible Campus, a student organization with the mission of spreading awareness of global poverty. Proceeds from a campus book drive and the sale of jewelry made by Ugandan refugees raises money to fund Ugandan schools and pay children’s medical fees. Bownes spent two weeks in Uganda as a MHIRT participant last summer, assessing health needs such as water supplies and the availability of refrigeration for medicines. In addition to her rigorous load of science courses, she volunteers at the Regional Medical Center two days a week. Bownes was also the recipient of the Vanderhaar Student Peace Award at the annual Vanderhaar Symposium in March 2012. (Bownes was the subject of the cover article in the Spring 2011 edition of Bell Tower.) Paige Campbell single-handedly started a youth group for the elementary children at her church at the age of 13. She planned weekly lessons, organized games, and taught them songs and skits to perform on Sundays. Campbell came to CBU in 2008 to PHOTO BY CORY DUGAN


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major in psychology and brought her change-making skills with her. Her interest in working with and on behalf of children has continued through her service as a tutor for children at the Memphis Family Shelter and a local elementary school. Campbell has also served each year with Up ’til Dawn, most recently as a Morale Captain. Campbell’s service goals are not limited to children, however. Each spring since 2010, she helped host a “Senior Prom” for residents at Trezevant Manor retirement community. Andrew Greenop is an outstanding member of the CBU Honors Program and Honors Council. He has managed to achieve that elusive balance of being an excellent student as well as a very active member of the CBU community, where he is known for his generous gift of time and talent. Greenop joined the Math Center as a tutor in his freshman year and he continues to be much in demand both there and as a tutor for the Living Learning Community. He has held leadership roles in Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; the Search Retreat program; as a Peer Counselor; and as a team captain for Up ’til Dawn. In addition to those responsibilities, he is currently sacristan for the CBU Student Mass. Steven Menezes serves as president of the CBU chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), treasurer of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, vice-president of the CBU chapter of the Mathematical Association of America, chair of the 2011 Student-Professional Awareness Conference (S-PAC), member of the Faculty/Student Judicial Board, and also works as a

resident assistant. He provides a regular helping hand to those needing tutoring and computer assistance, and has expanded these activities to the “Month of Zen” (a free program for repairing and upgrading the computers of faculty) and the “Week of Sensei” (a tutoring service offered by seniors to students prior to exams). In addition, he provides technical support for Pirate Radio, the Science Olympiad competitions, Up ’til Dawn, and MATHCOUNTS, a math competition for middle school students. Samantha Noland, a Plough Scholarship recipient, is a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Philosophy. She has worked as a President’s Ambassador since her freshman year, where she provides campus tours to prospective students. She was the training chair for the ambassador program, was named Ambassador of the Month twice, and Ambassador of the Year for the 2009/2010 school year. Noland is a founder and first president of CBU’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and a driving force in the re-organization of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. She is member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Mathematical Association of America, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She volunteers with the Memphis and Shelby County Humane Society and participated in a community-wide adoption fair last April. In addition, she assists in the annual Science Olympiad. The 2012 Class of Lasallian Fellows exemplifies the spirit of the award and the Lasallian values. This new generation of community-minded individuals perpetuates the tradition of CBU graduates who act on their beliefs and make a difference in the world.

Past Lasallian Fellows Jenessa Gebers (’11) Rachel Haag (’11) Wesley Hall (’11) Leigh Hill (’10) Ashley Jones (’11) Kenny Latta (’10) Caroline Mitchell (’10) Kathleen Nelson (’11) Ryan Nicolini (’10) Chris Peterson (’10)

CBU Joins President’s Community Service Challenge CBU was one of 250 colleges and universities that convened at the nation’s capital for the first meeting of the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge last August. As part of the Challenge, CBU has integrated a year-long Freshmen Immersion Service initiative, wherein incoming students volunteer 20 hours throughout the school year to learn about and help those less fortunate. CBU is incorporating ways for students to be exposed to different religions and cultures so that they can become well rounded citizens. Focusing on combating domestic poverty and educational opportunity, CBU students volunteer

tutoring hours with De La Salle Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and the Refugee Empowerment Program throughout the year. “The crux of the matter is for college students to have interfaith relations and to engage with those outside of their normal actions,” explains Dr. Evelyn McDonald, CBU vice president for mission and identity. “Through their varying experiences, students are better able to discover more about themselves and the world around them. CBU is taking the President’s Challenge and integrating it with our own Lasallian mission of Faith, Service and Community. This initiative is an exciting venture for the whole community.”

Learn more about the President’s Interfaith and Community Campus Challenge bitly.com/PICSCC

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University Board of Trustees Welcomes Six New Members to its Ranks

Emily Sawyer Greer

Bena Cates

Laurel C. Williams

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Brother Michael F. Quirk

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT CBU HAS named six new members, two at its October meeting — Bena Cates and Brother Larry Schatz; three at its February meeting — Brother Michael F. Quirk, Dr. Margaret H. West, and Laurel C. Williams (’82); and one at its May meeting — Emily Sawyer Greer (’84). Bena Cates, who previously served on the CBU board and returns with this appointment, is a career fulfillment collaborator, mainly by connecting clients with prospective situations for mutual advantage. She was the first director of corporate fundraising at MIFA, followed by several years at the Memphis Business Journal as promotions director. Cates has also served as assistant to the executive directors at the Church Health Center and the Mid-South Minority Business Council. She is active in the community and has also served on boards of the MED Foundation, the Methodist Healthcare Foundation, and Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal School. Cates graduated from the Westminster Schools and Emory University. Emily Sawyer Greer is chief of staff for ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She oversees the organization’s strategic planning, executive communications strategy, business continuity, human resources, and donor services divisions. Greer is a Senior Professional in Human Resources, a designation earned through the Society of Human Resources Management. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House, LeMoyne-Owen College; and the Memphis Medical Center. Greer holds a B.S.B.A. with a concentration in marketing/management from CBU and an Executive MBA from the University of Memphis. Brother Michael Quirk is the president/CEO for

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Brother Larry Schatz

Dr. Margaret H. West

Christian Brothers Services, a non-profit managerial services company which administers ten distinct trusts that provide health, retirement, and risk management programs to Catholic institutions that serve 2,500 distinct customers in North America. His responsibilities include working with ownership appointed boards of directors, strategic planning, and representing all trusts and programs which constitute membership. Previously, Brother Michael served for eight years as CEO following five years as chief financial officer for the De La Salle Institute. Brother Michael is serves on the board of directors for many Catholic institutions and has received numerous awards for his dedicated work in education. Brother Michael holds both a B.A and M.A in business administration from Lewis University and a doctorate in educational leadership from DePaul University. Brother Larry Schatz was appointed provincial of the Christian Brothers Midwest District effective July 1, 2011. Previously, Brother Larry served as the auxiliary visitor of the Midwest District. In 2000, Brother Larry was one of the founders of San Miguel School of Minneapolis, and he served as president of that institution until December 2007. After joining the Christian Brothers, Brother Larry taught at Pacelli High School in Stevens Point, WI, from 1979 to 1982, and returned there after completing his novitiate year, from 1983 to 1985. He then served for five years as campus minister at Holy Angels Academy in Richfield, MN, and from 1990 to 1991 he attended the SIEL (Lasallian Studies) program in Rome. Upon his return, Brother Larry taught for one year at De La Salle High School in Minneapolis, and from 1992 to 1999, he was a campus minister and adjunct professor at St. Mary’s


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University of Minnesota. Brother Larry holds a B.A. degree from St. John’s University and an M.P.S. degree from Loyola University. Dr. Margaret West is currently a pediatric resident at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and the University of Tennessee. She is a volunteer at Memphis Athletic Ministries and also serves on the board of directors for the Pink Palace Family of Museums. West earned a B.S. in marine biology from Auburn University and her M.D. from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Laurel C. Williams, J.D. presently represents several investment management firms in connection with SEC and state securities compliance matters, and has also has represented broker-dealers in connection with SEC and NASD compliance matters at Burch, Porter & Johnson PLLC. Her practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, securities

and general corporate matters. She has extensive experience in representing both buyers and sellers in merger, acquisition and restructuring transactions. In connection with her securities law practice, Williams has advised public companies in connection with SEC reporting requirements and blue sky laws. She has also represented both public and private companies in connection with issuances of debt and equity securities, as well as formation of hedge and other private investment funds, and venture capital investments. Williams is a frequent speaker on corporate and securities topics for the National Business Institute. Prior to joining the firm, Williams was an associate in the Corporate and Securities Section of Hunton & Williams in Richmond, VA. She began her practice at Burch, Porter & Johnson in 1989 and has been a member since 1992. Williams earned a B.S. from CBU in 1982 and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University.

UNIVERSITY SERVICE DAY: A horde of about 120 green-capped CBU volunteers

descended on the Binghampton neighborhood of Memphis on St. Patrick’s Day to participate in University Service Day. Volunteers pictured above were among the workers at the Urban Farms, a previously empty 3-acre lot in the neighborhood that seeks to sustainably establish access to healthy food, create market and employment opportunities, and serve as a resource for neighborhood gardeners. Volunteers also worked at De La Salle Elementary School and other locations in the community. PHOTO BY RAY KARASEK

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Graduate Engineering Program is Going Global as Part of Consortium

Pictured above: (l-r) Evando Neiva (Chief of Staff of the Agricultural Secretariat); Paulo Romano (Agricultural Assistant Secretary of Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais); co-chair Dr. Rita Engler (Professor of Innovation and Sustainability Graduate Design Program at Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais); co-chair Dr. Sedrick, P.E.; Elmiro Alves do Nascimento (Agricultural Secretary of Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais); Alysson Paulinelli (Brazilian Agricultural Minister); and José César (Assistant of Agricultural Secretariat).

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DR. GREG SEDRICK, DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE Engineering at CBU, is serving as the project manager for an international educational consortium co-funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Joint Activity Training Council, BrightBridge Inc., and the New Economy Institute. The objective of the consortium is to address the worldwide shortage of college graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Initially, this means joint classroom instruction among 23 European, 22 South American, and 12 North American universities (including CBU) utilizing distance education technologies. The goal is to create a borderless learning environment where students can interact among themselves on assignments and projects while receiving instruction from international faculty experts. Sedrick and co-chair Dr. Rita Engler, professor of Innovation and Sustainability in the Graduate Design Program at Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais in Brazil, completed a tour in February of Brazilian state, federal, and private universities as a follow-up to visits to European Union consortium members last summer. The consortium’s work launched at CBU this

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semester with students from Cologne, Germany attending CBU engineering management classes. Students from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, the Imperial College in London (England), Paris University of Mines and Technology (France) and several Brazilian universities are anticipated to enroll into CBU classes in Fall 2012. Next steps are active recruitment of university consortium members from China and India. “A second objective of the project is to create an international training and apprenticeship standard for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,” Sedrick says. “Many parts of the world suffer from a shortage of electricians—in some cases, a greater shortage than that of engineers. Current educational materials are being translated and converted for self-paced, online training and certification of future electrical workers.” He adds that a recently developed hybrid model for apprenticeship training, which blends online instruction with on-the-job training to shorten the certification time for electricians, is being tailored for use in Europe and South America. His team recently tested a database for internally tracked certification that travels with the individual, implementation of which is currently underway in the U.S.


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Engineering Management Honor Society Inducts Nine New Members THE ALPHA DELTA CHAPTER OF EPSILON Mu Eta, the Engineering Management Honor Society, inducted nine new members in March. These students were elected to membership due to their exceptional academic achievement and excellent character. Epsilon Mu Eta is open to students enrolled in the Master of Engineering Management Program at CBU and those members of Epsilon Mu Eta affiliated with CBU. To be elected to membership, students must show superior character which is defined by a student’s leadership, professionalism, integrity, and other demonstrated principles that define the core values of the program and CBU. The Department of Graduate Engineering offers two graduate degree programs: Master of Engineering Management (MEM) and Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM). Also offered are courses that lead to a Master’s Certificate in Information Technology, a Certificate in Quality, and a Certificate in Packaging. In addition to regular classroom instruction, all courses for the MSEM degree are available online via the Distance Education Network for students beyond commuting distance to the CBU campus.

Pictured above (l-r) are Dr. Neal Jackson (Professor Emeritus of Engineering Management and outgoing Director), Chaya Subramanyan, Samuel Elisha Caviness II, Sergio Vergara Reyes, Tajuana M. Taylor, Sengkham Vongphrachanh, and Dr. Eric Welch (Dean of Engineering). Not pictured are Andrew Harrell, Colin Iglinsky, Andrew R. Reiter and Frederick A. Schott.

Engineering Students Team Up with City of Memphis to Study Flooding CBU HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF Memphis to further alleviate the flooding conditions in the Midtown area surrounding its campus. The City previously requested use of CBU’s soccer field as a stormwater drainage basin and installed a flood control system under the field, which was completed in 2010. With the current three-year project, CBU students will monitor the stormwater drainage system in the detention basin that was installed on the soccer field. “This critical civic project gives CBU students an opportunity to supplement classroom learning with observation and experience in the field,” says Dr. L. Yu Lin (Civil & Environmental Engineering), who is facilitating this project and will be directly supervising the students and their work. As part of the project, students in the Civil Engineering department will participate in setting up a real-time monitoring system and will study water quantity in the runoff. Data collected from this

study will assist the City with future drainage system improvement in the Lenox Drainage District. “This project is a win/win,” says Jack Stevenson, administrator of land development with the City of Memphis. “By partnering with CBU, the City provides an opportunity for these engineering students to work on a ‘real world’ project that directly impacts their community and in return we are able to use the knowledge gained from the project to further alleviate flooding in the Lenox Drainage District.” The specific objectives of this project include developing and implementing a stormwater monitor system for the detention basins located on CBU’s soccer field; monitoring stormwater water quantity for 20 selected storms per year; determining stormwater quality for those storms; and analyzing data and providing information to the City for future improvements. The project will be incorporated into coursework for the CBU Civil Engineering department. BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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CBU Engineering Receives EPA Grant, Competes in P3 Design Competition

Above: CBU’s P3 team, recipients of a $15,000 EPA grant (l-r): Dederick Blair (Civil Engineering ’13), Kenderick Norris (Civil Engineering ’14), Dr. L. Yu Lin, Ivan Tamayo (Civil Engineering ’13), LeAndreaonia Dunning (Mechanical Engineering ’12), and Martin Tribo (Electrical Engineering ’13). Right: Dederick Blair demonstrates attic design to EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson at the P3 competition in Washington, DC in April.

More on “P3: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet” at www.epa.gov/p3 8

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DR. L. YU LIN, CBU PROFESSOR OF CIVIL and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Paul Indeglia with Peak Development Consulting, Inc. received a $15,000 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the EPA’s “P3: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet” program. CBU was the only local university to receive the grant and was one of seven southern universities and one of 45 universities in the nation receiving it. A team of six CBU engineering students — Ivan Tamayo, Dederick Blair Martin Tribo Kenderick Norris LeAndreaonia Dunning, and Aaron Lewis — developed, and implemented technologies to improve energy efficiency in the building envelope for low-income residents in Memphis, focusing on the thermal properties of materials, fire safety, material stability, and cost. After completing the project, the team took their designs to the 8th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, DC in April, where they competed for another $90,000 to further the project design, implement it in the field, and move it to the marketplace. There were more than 300 college innovators showcasing their sustainable projects designed to protect the environment, encourage economic growth, and use natural resources more efficiently. Among the 45 finalists, 15 teams received awards and 11 teams received Honorable Mentions. Award winners from the Southeast were Appalachian State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Vanderbilt University. Honorable Mentions from the Southeast went to CBU and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This year’s winners were selected after two days of judging by a panel of national experts convened to provide recommendations to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. EPA selected the award-winning projects from the most competitive pool of teams ever, basing their decisions on the potential to provide innovative, cutting-edge sustainable solutions to worldwide environmental problems. EPA developed the P3 Awards program to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of three pillars of sustainability — people, prosperity, and the planet.


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CBU Engineering Students Take Top International Prize for Website

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS Shilpa Appurubugatha (’13), Steven Menezes (’12), and Martin Tribo (’13), members of the CBU student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), placed first in the International IEEE Student Branch Website Contest and will receive a $1,000 prize and a customized certificate in recognition of their efforts. While this marks the first time that CBU IEEE has claimed first place in the international competition, CBU students placed runner-up in the international competition in 2008 and 2009. On the regional level, they have participated in the IEEE SoutheastCon conference since the 1960s, and their website won this regional competition for the past four years. Team member Steven Menezes, sums it up: “I am really proud of my team and the IEEE Student Branch at CBU for achieving this award. The development of our website has been a team effort by all of our members in the student branch. I’d especially like to thank some of our graduates—Yuri de Souza (’08), Boris de Souza (’10), Russ Saliendra (’10), and Binh Nguyen (’10)—who started working on the website back in 2007 and paved the way for these awards.” PHOTO BY CORY DUGAN

Last year, the CBU Student Branch attended the IEEE SoutheastCon 2011 conference in Nashville, where more than more than 50 electrical engineering schools were in attendance for the conferobotics, web design, and t-shirt competitions. At the regional conference, the website team of Menezes, Appurubugatha, and Tribo won first place for their web page. The winners of the 10 regional conference competitions advanced to the international competition, which consisted of IEEE student branches worldwide and included both graduate and undergraduate programs. Each website was evaluated by the Student Activities Committee judges, and prizes were awarded based on the criteria of content, presentation, navigability, originality, portability, and load time. Dr. John Ventura, chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department and faculty advisor for the student branch, stated, “While the credit can be given to the institutions that afforded these students the opportunity to compete in this competition, it was the hard work, dedication to excellence, leadership, teamwork and persistence of the students that won this award.”

Dr. John Ventura with the award-winning student team of Shilpa Appurubugatha (’13), Steven Menezes (’12), and Martin Tribo (’13). Behind them is the CBU IEEE website that captured an international first prize.

Check out the awardwinning website at www.ieeecbu.org

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New Bachelor’s Degrees Offered in Creative Writing and Cybersecurity CBU WILL OFFER TWO NEW BACHELOR’S degree programs beginning this fall — a new Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics. “The CBU department of Literature and Languages is very excited about this opportunity. We look forward to teaching some of the best and brightest college-bound writers that the South has to offer,” Dr. Karen Golightly says about the Creative Writing degree. The Creative Writing major at CBU will provide students an opportunity to learn and explore the fine craft of writing in a wide variety of methods and styles. With a skilled and widely published faculty, the major offers beginning and advanced courses in fiction and poetry, along with courses in a range of other writing disciplines, such as creative non-fiction, screenwriting and dramatic writing. “We’ve already received great interest and positive feedback from area high schools,” Golightly says. “We expect to build this unique program to reflect local, regional, and national interest.” Along with the new program, CBU will be incorporating several new initiatives including the CBU Readers’ Series and Creative Writing Club. The club will provide a social outlet and community forum for students to share their work with their peers. The Readers Series gives students a chance to see nationally-known writers present their work and to receive feedback from them on your own work in small workshop settings. Poet Mark Jarman and novelist Tony Earley, both professors at Vanderbilt University, visited CBU as part of the series in Fall 2011 and Spring 2012, respectively. Students will also be able to collaborate with CBU’s Visual and Performing Arts department on projects — such as dramatic writing and screenwriting with the theatre program, or poetry and fiction writing with the Visual Arts program for multimedia art projects and CBU’s own Castings literary journal. A minor will also be offered. Most of the course requirements for new degree are the same as those for a traditional English major. Core courses for the Creative Writing major are Introduction to Dramatic Writing, Introduction to Literary Nonfiction, Introduction to Screenwriting, Writing Poetry Workshop, Writing Fiction Workshop, Applications and Development of Creative Writing, 10

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and a Senior Project course in which students will produce a portfolio of original works or one longer piece that will reflect their studies in creative writing. All courses are offered at the junior and senior level. “Besides the arts, you can use Creative Writing in numerous career options,” Golightly says. “Good examples would be technical writing, public relations, advertising copywriting, library science, teaching, and even the legal profession.” The Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree is an interdisciplinary program that will provide an integrated curriculum preparing students to pursue employment or graduate school in the ever-growing field of cybersecurity and digital forensics. This degree is the first and only undergraduate degree of its kind in the Memphis metropolitan area. The degree integrates courses in computer science, electrical engineering, and management information systems. Students will learn how to protect confidential data stored within computer networks, thereby protecting the private information of individuals, industry, and government agencies. They will also learn how to engage in computer crime investigations – an emerging field known as digital forensics. In addition, they will participate in an internship with one of CBU’s corporate partners. “For a university that seeks to provide its students with a high-quality education relevant to today’s economy, both regionally and nationally, the new Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree makes sense,” says Dr. Frank Buscher, CBU vice president for academics. “With a history of our graduates being employed at large tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, this degree fits and will ultimately benefit businesses, consumers, government, law enforcement and anyone else who uses the Internet.” Graduates of the program can expect to find employment as chief security officers, cybersecurity analysts, digital forensics experts and many more positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in cybersecurity is expected to grow at least 30 percent by 2018. For more information on the Creative Writing degree, contact Dr. Golightly at (901) 321- 4483 or kgolight@cbu.edu. For more information on the new Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics program, visit www.cbu.edu/cyber or contact Dr. Dan Brandon at dbrandon@cbu.edu.


Do You Have an MBA from CBU? Network It! CBU’S TKE Named Top Chapter for Third Year

Dr. Scott Lawyer (MBA Director), Julie Hagar (MBA ’13), Hayley Isaac (MBA ’11), Andrea Watt (MBA ’12), Nick Benson (MBA ’11), Michelle Nixon (MBA ’12), and Father Paul Watkins. The Pi-Epsilon Chapter at Christian Brothers University raised the most funds in the TKE Nation, $10,176, for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. David Vaughn (’12), above, accepted the award at the Biennial Conclave.

THE PI-EPSILON CHAPTER OF TAU KAPPA Epsilon (TKE) at CBU was recognized at the fraternity’s 56th Biennial Conclave in September as one of six “Top TKE Chapters” in the country. The Award recognizes the chapter’s work during the academic year on key result areas, including recruiting, academics, philanthropy, campus involvement, and conference attendance. Along with being named one of six Top TKE Chapters out of more than 250 chapters, Pi-Epsilon was also named the “Top Fundraising Chapter” in the nation for its work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Pi Epsilon Rush Chairman Jonathan Fili (’13) notes, “I love being a Teke at CBU, because the programming that we have and our close relationship with St. Jude has allowed me to excel in both curricular and extracurricular activities. It has allowed me to work towards becoming the best possible version of myself.” Felix Bishop (’82), a founding member of Pi Epsilon, says, “I take great pride as a Teke alumnus in the Chapter’s award partly because we never received such recognition when I was in school, but also because I believe in the mission of TKE, specifically, and fraternities in general, to further the social and academic accomplishments of our members. Fraternity membership has had a profound impact on my life and I hope that my participation has an impact on the lives of our undergraduates.” PHOTO FROM THE TEKE MAGAZINE

For those who have been through the MBA program at CBU, you know that the education you have gained is invaluable in the development of your professional career. But, did you know that the networks you have made while at school may be the most valuable asset of all? After spending two years diligently working toward your future and putting in countless hours in group work, you may have noticed that these individuals have become more than just classmates. They have become sounding boards for big decisions, opportunity for new employment and friends who have a common understanding with you, although not always a common background. Alumni status from CBU puts you in direct contact with a diverse network of professionals who, like you, have made sacrifices in their personal lives for the future opportunity of open doors. Many of the top business in Memphis as well as major Fortune 500 companies are represented among your classmates, and for good reason. As a graduate of the MBA program, you are part of a network of professionals who are among the brightest and most ambitious in their field. The MBA Alumni Association was established in order to keep those networks intact. Once you have completed more than half of the program, you are automatically allowed access to annual Alumni social events, professional development opportunities, and a new website allowing members to keep in touch through blogs and insider job postings from fellow alumni.

A S S O C I AT I O N www.cbumbaalumni.wordpress.com cbumbaalumni@gmail.com

facebook.com/CBUMBA

linkd.in/CBUMBA

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Distinguished Alumnus Announces Endowed Scholarship in Memory of Son

Harold McNeil Jr. (’79) and his wife, Leann, established a scholarship in memory of their late son, Tyler McNeil. Harold announced the scholarship during Alumni Weekend in October, where he was chosen as CBU’s 2011 Distinguished Alumnus and was honored at the Alumni Dinner & Celebration. Pictured above at the announcement in the Nelson Boardroom are (l-r) Andrew Prislovsky (Vice President for Advancement), Harold McNeil Sr., Shirley McNeil, Harold McNeil Jr., Leann McNeil, Taylor McNeil, Ruthann Pratt, Harold McNeil III, Emily Johnson, Vernon Pratt, and Dr. John Smarrelli.

CBU IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE founding of the Tyler McNeil Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded annually to an outstanding student enrolled in business, engineering, or music. Recipients who maintain a 3.2 GPA will be eligible to renew the scholarship throughout their four years at CBU. The scholarship was established by Harold (’79) and Leann McNeil in memory of their son Tyler. Tyler was attending Auburn University in 2010 when he passed away at the age of 23. He was a member of Hillside Methodist Church in Woodstock, GA, where the family lives. Tyler had a love for playing the piano, as well as camping and the outdoors, computer science, and cooking. The Tyler McNeil Endowed Scholarship will honor Tyler in perpetuity by supporting outstanding CBU students who share his interests. Harold McNeil is a proud alumnus of CBU. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1979, and he cites Brother Vincent Malham’s music class as particularly influential in his life. He went on to earn an MBA in finance 12

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and accounting from James Madison University in 1986 and is now senior vice president of operations for Tarkett Sports, a sports surfacing company headquartered in France. His division is primarily responsible for the selling, installation, and maintenance of the field turf that is used at many college and professional venues, such as Michigan Stadium at the University of Michigan and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where Super Bowl XLVI was played. Harold was honored as the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus at the Alumni Dinner & Celebration during Alumni Weekend in October. The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves and simultaneously brought honor to the University and the Alumni Association. He was joined at the event by numerous family members—including Leann, their daughter Taylor, and their son Trey—as well as members of the Mechanical Engineering class of 1979. Maria Teresa Blanco Lensing (’01, MEM ’07) was honored as the 2011 Distinguished Young Alumnus. — Bob Arnold PHOTO BY PETYA K. GRADY


news@cbu ADMINISTRATION Dr. John Smarrelli Jr. (CBU President) was appointed by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell to serve on the commission that will create a transition plan for merging Shelby County’s two school systems. Smarrelli was also elected Secretary for the Catholic Charities of West Tennessee’s Board of Trustees. Bob McEniry (Chairman, CBU Board of Trustees) and Chip Dudley (Board of Trustees) were selected by the Memphis-based Society of Entrepreneurs to be inducted this spring. McEniry is the chairman of NexAir, and Dudley is cofounder and cochairman of Independent Bank.

SCHOOL OF ARTS Dr. Samantha Alperin and Dr. Ric Potts (Education) made presentations at the Tennessee Reading Association Conference in Nashville in December. Dr. Alperin’s presentation is entitled “The Value of Author Studies in the K-12 Classroom — Lessons From the Field,” and Dr. Potts is presenting “Adolescent Literacy: A Time to Act.” Dr. Kristin A. Pruitt (Professor Emerita, School of Arts) served as codirector of the 11th biennial Conference on John Milton at Middle Tennessee State University in October. Dr. Tracie Burke (Behavioral Sciences/Honors Program) was honored with the 2011 Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award at the CBU Community Convocation in August. The award — the highest presented by the University to faculty or staff — annually honors a CBU educator, nominated by his/ her peers, who exemplifies the ideals of St. John Baptist de La Salle in the 21st century. Burke also spoke at the September meeting of the Memphis Industrial Organizational Psychologists (MIOP) about the Behavioral Sciences internship program. Dr. Marius Carriere (History) chaired and commented on two panels at the Tennessee Conference of Historians at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in September. Dr. David Dault (Religion & Philosophy) traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark in July to present a paper on “The Bible as ‘Remembering Machine’: Encoding Protestant Identity through Printed Scripture” at the International Association for Media and History conference. Dault also lectured at the University of Cincinnati in early January, where he presented some aspects of his research of ancient and contemporary Bibles in a paper called “Coded Polemics, Covert

kudos@cbu

Theologies: How Indulgences Become Endpapers and Bibles Become Magazines.” Dr. Scott Geis (Religion & Philosophy) and Dr. Kelli Hefner (Academic Services) presented “The QEP: Enhancing a University through Academic Advising” at the NACADA Annual Conference in Denver in October. Dr. Paul Haught (Dean, School of Arts) delivered a presentation entitled “Narratives and Environmental Virtue Ethics: Prioritizing Places” at the Living With Consequences 2011 Environmental Ethics and Society conference in Koper, Slovenia, in October. An article on “Environmental Virtues and Environmental Justice” by Dr. Haught appeared as a feature article in the Winter 2011 issue of the peerreviewed philosophy journal, Environmental Ethics. Dr. Emily A. Holmes (Religion & Philosophy) gave a presentation to the University of Memphis Communication Graduate Students Association on “Mothering in the Academy: Work/Life Balance?” in September. In October, Dr. Holmes presented “Ecofeminist Christology, Incarnation, and the Spirituality and Ethics of Eating” at the Living With Consequences 2011 Environmental Ethics and Society conference in Koper, Slovenia. Holmes also gave a public lecture in November at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, AR, entitled “What is the Significance of My Neighbor’s Religion for My Own? Deepening Faith and Learning from Others in a Context of Religious Diversity,” followed by a Theology Table small group discussion of her work in progress, “’You who will never be me nor mine’: Toward a Feminist Apophatic Theology of Religious Difference.” Dr. Ben Jordan (History) was recognized as Outstanding New Advisor of the Year at the CBU Community Convocation in August. The award is presented by Academic Services to faculty members who go above and beyond to serve as academic advisors to CBU students.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Dr. Dan Brandon (Information Technology Management) is continuing his position as editor for the Mid-South Consortium for the Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC) for 2012. He also presented a tutorial session on “Building Smartphone Apps using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript” at the CCSC annual conference in March at Union University.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Dr. Pong Malasri (Civil Engineering & Packaging) visited the Center for Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech in October to collect information for a Healthcare Packaging Consortium project. He also presented a paper entitled “Undergraduate Research in Healthcare Packaging” at the American Society for Engineering Education Mid-Atlantic Conference at Temple University in October. The paper was published in the conference proceedings. An article entitled “Plastic Tote Drop Impact Study” appeared in the IoPP Journal of Packaging published online by the Institute of Packaging Professionals. It was authored by Dr. Siripong Malasri (Civil Engineering & Packaging), Mr. Robert Moats (Engineering Technician), John Archer (Engineering Management/Packaging ’12), Dr. Paul Shiue (Mechanical Engineering), Dr. Ray Brown (Mechanical Engineering) and Mr. Larry Rutledge (CBU Certified Packaging Lab Manager). The work is part of a Healthcare Packaging Consortium project on plastic tote study, sponsored by Merck.

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES Dr. Stan Eisen (Biology) had an article accepted for publication in the science humor publication, Journal of Irreproducible Results. The title is “Sleeping in Class is a Risk Factor for Low Grades.” Eisen also gave a presentation on “What a Freshman-level University Biology Class Looks Like,” with an emphasis on evolution, on January 17 at Evangelical Christian School as part of their Worldview course. He was also named the first “Professor of the Month” by the women of the Iota Xi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha in February for his support of ZTA and the philanthropy of breast cancer awareness and education. Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald (Biology) coauthored “Platelets, glycoprotein Ib-IX, and von Willebrand factor are required for FeCl3 induced occlusive thrombus formation in the inferior vena cava of mice” with Dr. Kent Gartner for publication in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Fitzgerald also attended the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, DC in November. She presented two posters in a special session on teaching neuroscience: “The advantage of collaborations in the development of a neuroscience international summer research program in Brasil” and “The Edinger-Westphal nucleus: A Historical, structural and functional perspective on a dichotomous 14

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news@cbu terminology” (coauthored with T. L. Kozic, J. C. Bittencourt, P. J. May, A. Reiner, P. D. R. Gamlin, M. Palkovits, A. K. E. Horn, A. E. Ryabinin and C. A. B. Toledo). Both were in memory of Claudio A.B. Toledo, who died in May 2011. Dr. Dennis Merat (Chemistry) was recognized as Outstanding Advisor of the Year at the CBU Community Convocation in August 2011. The award is presented by Academic Services to faculty members who go above and beyond to serve as academic advisors to CBU students. Merat was also recognized as Tennessee’s Outstanding Faculty Advisor by the National Academic Advising Association in April 2012. Dr. James Moore (Biology) published a paper on “Short term assessment of Morphological Change on Five Lower Mississippi River Islands” in Southeastern Naturalist. The paper was coauthored by S. B. Franklin, D. Larsen and J. W. Grubaugh. Dr. Anna Ross (Biology) was recognized by the School of Sciences with the Dr. Marguerite Cooper Distinguished Professor Award for 2011. The award was presented at the CBU Community Convocation in August. The award is given annually in tribute to a School of Sciences professor who exemplifies excellence in teaching effectiveness; service to the department, university, and students; professional growth; and administration.

ATHLETICS: VOLLEYBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME in CBU history, the Lady Buc volleyball team advanced to the NCAA Division II South Regional Volleyball Tournament, which was held in Tampa, FL in November. The Lady Bucs’ last championship tournament appearance was in 1995, when the Lady Bucs went to the NAIA District 24 Tournament. The season was the most successful since CBU joined NCAA DII in 1997, closing with an overall record of 24-11, 10-4 in the Gulf South Tournament. The Lady Bucs finished the 2011 regular season on a high note as they ended the season in third place in the Gulf South Conference and ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II South Regional Rankings. Despite a surprise loss to Alabama-Huntsville in the GSC Tournament, the Lady Bucs were still granted a seventh-seed bid in the NCAA Regional. Gulf South Conference volleyball coaches voted three Lady Bucs to the All-GSC Team. Setter Kelsey Miles (Natural Science ‘13) and outside hitter Hailey Gillis (Early Childhood ‘13) were named to the All-


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GSC First Team, and libero Corinne Doder (Business Administration ‘12) earned a spot on the All-GSC Second Team. Miles became the first player in CBU history to earn a spot on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-South Region Team and then was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the AVCA. Doder was the lone Gulf South Conference player selected to the Daktronics All-South Region First Team. During the regular season, Doder was named GSC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week twice, for the periods ending September 13 and October 4. Miles was named Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending October 4, and outside hitter Hannah Kurtz (Biology ‘15) was named Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week for the period ending November 2. The Lady Bucs also led the GSC in the classroom, with 10 players named to the Academic Honor Roll (requiring a 3.0 GPA), with Doder and Miles being named to the Academic All-GSC Team (requiring a 3.2 GPA).

ATHLETICS: SOCCER THE BUCCANEER SOCCER TEAM also finished its most successful season since joining the NCAA. The Bucs’ 15-4-1 overall record was the best in school history, and the Bucs’ 5-0 Gulf South Conference record was both the school’s first-ever perfect conference record and the first outright regularseason GSC crown. The Bucs finished the season ranked No. 19 after climbing as high as No. 7 during the season. The team was ranked first in the NCAA Division II South Regional Rankings all three times the rankings were released during the season. The Bucs won the GSC Men’s Soccer Tournament over West Florida in a nailbiter overtime match on penalty kicks in November. The Bucs previously won the GSC title in 2000, and they won TCAC championships in 1992, 1993, and 1994. The season ended at the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament, where the Bucs went in seeded second but lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Lynn University. Clint Browne was named the South Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Browne was also the GSC Coach of the Year for the second time, an honor he also earned in 2005. Four players earned Daktronics All-South Region honors. Forward Jose Ferraz (General Studies ’15)

was the lone GSC player on the First Team after ranking 25th in the nation in goals and 39th in points. Ferraz was also named Daktronics Honorable Mention All-American. Goalkeeper Jaime Garcia (Business Administration ’14), midfielder Michael Hollier (Business Administration ’14), and midfielder Yannick Skull (Business Administration ’13) all earned spots on the Daktronics Second Team. In the GSC, defender David Skull (Applied Psychology ’13), Yannick Skull (Business Administration ’13) and Hollier joined Ferraz on the All-GSC First Team. Ferraz was also named Freshman of the Year by the league. Defender Sean Rutter (Business ’15), defender Nicolas AlvarezGarcia (Physics ’15) and goalkeeper Garcia earned spots on the All-GSC Second Team. During the regular season, Garcia was twice named Defender of the Week, for the periods ending September 20 and October 19. David Skull was Defender of the Week for the period ending September 27, the same week that Hollier was named Player of the Week. Ferraz was named Player of the Week twice during the season for the periods that ending October 12 and October 19. The Bucs placed a school-best 11 players on the GSC Academic Honor Roll (requiring a 3.0 GPA), with David Skull and Yannick Skull both placing on the Academic All-GSC Team (requiring a 3.2 GPA). FOR THE LADY BUCS, goalkeeper Robyn Wade (Natural Science ’14) was named GSC Defender of the Week three times during the season, for the periods ending September 13 and 20, and November 1. Sarah Catherine Ryan (Biochemistry ’12) earned a spot on the GSC Second Team at midfielder, and Jennifer Hale (Natural Science ’13) joined her on the Second Team at defender. Hale was also named to the Academic All-GSC Team. The Lady Bucs ended the season with a record of 8-8-2 (3-4-0 in conference). The Lady Bucs placed eight members on the GSC Academic Honor Roll (requiring a 3.0 GPA).

ATHLETICS: BASKETBALL THE BUCCANEERS FINISHED 2011-12 tied for the best record in school history at 25-7, equaling the record of the 2008-09 team, the highest national ranking in CBU history (No. 8), and taking the season all the way to the NCAA South Region championship game. If there was a thorn in the team’s side, it was definitely the University of Alabama-Hunstville. The

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Scott Dennis (’12) was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Division II Bulletin All-America teams, making him the second Buc All-America selection since CBU joined Division II.

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Chargers stopped the Bucs from being undefeated in the GSC regular season by handing them defeats at home and away, then carried the curse into the GSC Tournament where the two teams — the Bucs nationally ranked No. 8 and the UAH ranked No. 3 — faced off for the championship. The Chargers won, 58-43. But the Bucs still sailed through the NCAA tournament selection process and continued on to the South Region tournament as the second seed. They defeated Florida Southern University and Eckerd College to advance to the regional championship game — against the No. 1 seed, the UAH Chargers. The game’s first 31 minutes were riveting, featuring five ties, eight lead changes, and no lead of more than six points for either team. The Bucs used a 12-3 run bridging the halfime break to take their biggest lead of the night, 36-32, The Chargers steadily worked their way back to a narrow lead before Buc guard Scott Dennis (Business Administration ’12) knocked down his fourth threepointer of the game to tie the game at 47 with 9:33 remaining. The Chargers answered with an 11-2 run, taking their biggest lead of the night. The

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Bucs never came closer than five points in the final minutes, and a historic season ended with a 68-59 loss. Dennis (Business Administration ’12) was named Gulf South Conference Co-Player of the Year and was named All-GSC for the third straight year. In addition, Sports Information Directors from the NCAA South Region voted Dennis to the Daktronics All-South Region men’s basketball team. He was also named GSC Player of the Week twice during the regular season, for the periods ending December 7 and February 9. Dennis averaged 16.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. Forward Zack Warner (Business Administration ’12) was named to the All-GSC First Team and was selected by the Sports Information Directors from the NCAA South Region to the Daktronics All-South Region men’s basketball team. Warner scored 17.9 points per game to go with 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Warner was also named Academic All-GSC. (Eight Bucs and seven Lady Bucs earned spots on the GSC Winter Academic Honor Roll.) Both players were also selected to to the East roster for the 2012 Reese’s Division II College AllStar Game. Dennis was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Division II Bulletin All-America teams, making him the second Buc All-America selection since joining Division II, joining Nick Kohs, who earned NABC and Daktronics All-America honors in 2008-09.

ATHLETICS: SPRING SPORTS TAYLOR STINSON BECAME CBU’s first Academic All-Gulf South Conference golfer since 2009, and 38 more CBU student-athletes joined him on the GSC Spring Academic Honor Roll. Stinson graduated with a 3.62 GPA in Civil Engineering, and he played in 19 of the Bucs’ 21 rounds this season, peaking with a fifth-place finish in the CBU Spring Tri-Match in March. He averaged an 81.3 for the season. He is CBU’s first Academic All-GSC golfer since 2009, when Alan Killen earned a spot on the team. CBU’s total of 39 athletes on the Spring Academic Honor Roll ranked second in the GSC, and the Bucs’ full-year tally of 93 was the most in the conference. CBU placed 15 baseball players, seven softball players, seven women’s tennis players, five men’s golfers, three women’s tennis players, and two women’s golfers on the Honor Roll.

PHOTO BY JOE MURPHY


profile:faculty

Teaching to the Top

Professor has high hopes of reaching higher summits… B Y DURING THE REGULAR ACADEMIC YEAR, Dr. Asit Ray is a professor of chemical engineering and coordinator of the Packaging Engineering lab at CBU. Once school is out for summer, Dr. Ray heads for the mountains. As an avid mountain hiker (trekker), he has hiked to the highest points of practically all the states east of the Mississippi River, as well as the Grand Canyon, Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, and Mt. Whitney—the highest peak in the lower 48 states. A trek, as opposed to a “climb,” usually involves hiking an established trail. Ray was born in Darjeeling, India, which is located at the foot of the Himalayas. A few years ago, he decided to take his passion for mountain trekking back home. He started at the top, so to speak, by hiking to the base camp of Mt. Everest in Nepal, the highest mountain on earth. The trek involved five days of mountain hiking and two days of acclimatization, with food and shelter provided at primitive Sherpa lodges on the way. He and his guide faced severe weather with high velocity wind as they approached the base camp. When the weather cleared the next day, they climbed to Kala Patthar at 19,000 feet to get the full, breathtaking view of the entire Everest range. (Editor’s note: An article on this trek appeared in the Fall 2006 edition of Bell Tower.) Since then, Ray has completed the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal, a three-week hike around the Annapurna range, climbing to the high point of 18,000 ft. and crossing a pass that involved a mile-long steep climb on snow-covered terrain followed by another mile-long steep descent. Ray also made a 12-day trek to the base camp of K3 (Kangchenjungha), the mountain he grew up with in Darjeeling — the third highest in the world and often considered a more dangerous climb than Everest. “Trekking to the base of K3 is more difficult because the last portion is very long, uneven, and rugged,” Ray says. “We started at 2:30 a.m. on the seventh day so we could reach the base of K3 before sunrise. Sipping hot coffee made with a mini-stove, we sat mesmerized by the view of the mountain range.” Last summer, Ray trekked the famous K2Concordia area in northwest Pakistan. “The trek PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. ASIT RAY

CORY DUGAN

started at Islamabad with a daring flight over the Himalayas,” he says. “It was followed by an even more daring Jeep ride through narrow roads in the mountains to the starting point.” The seven-day hike led to the base of K2, the second highest and toughest mountain to climb on earth. “The trek was more difficult than the Everest treks because the trails were on dry glaciers with patches of ice, usually full of stones or boulders, making the footings harder,” he says. Just a friendly piece of advice to his students: Dr. Ray says he likes to test his limits, no matter how far or how high he has to go.

Dr. Asit Ray in Nepal, with Mt. Everest in the background

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profile:students

Charging Ahead

Self-professed “business nerds” become entrepreneurs… B Y V E R O N I C A L O V E ( ’ 1 2 )

Abe Villareal and Demarcus Love with a Choomogo charging station at Newby’s in Memphis.

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FOR FINANCE MAJORS DEMARCUS LOVE (’13) and Abe Villarreal (’12), turning their business expertise into a company was just a matter of time. Both students are go-getters — or “business nerds,” as they like to call themselves because of their habit of creating business plans in their free time without the prompting of teachers. The duo first met through CBU’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, the co-educational professional business fraternity, and realized that they had a lot in common. Villarreal describes their relationship as “likeminded in a lot of the ways, especially how we see business and view the world, and what we want to see in our careers moving forward.” After winning a business plan competition last year, Love and Villareal realized that many people are willing to help young business entrepreneurs. With that in mind, they decided that they could go even further and turned one of their business plans into a company. The original concept came while browsing magazines about initiatives in New York. Knowing that it sometimes takes years for new ideas

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to head south, they decided to take charge and create something useful in their hometown of Memphis. Capitalizing on the increasing demand for smartphones and the current lull in technology to keep up with phone battery life, Love and Villarreal came up with their newest plan. The business employs phone-charging kiosks that would be available in highly-frequented areas such as restaurants, airports, universities, and sports arenas — where people might not bring a charger. To keep the consumer entertained while waiting for the free recharge, the kiosks also integrate a touch screen that lets consumers play games while they wait. And, more importantly, it allows other businesses to advertise to those captive consumers. Love and Villarreal named their company Choomogo. Their catchy and puzzling name was actually abbreviated from the phrase “Charging Mobiles on the Go” but also borrows from the technology trend of giving companies names that had no prior meaning in plain English — think Google or Facebook, for instance. PHOTO BY CORY DUGAN


While Choomogo was formed in part by the creativity and persistence of Love and Villarreal, the counsel of CBU alumni, Memphis business professionals, and local seed investment programs like Seed Hatchery and Emerge Memphis also aided them. Their business initiative was one of six to be selected from a group of 200 by Seed Hatchery, which focuses on nurturing creative ideas while providing intellectual and financial resources for fledgling entrepreneurs in a structured environment. Participants receive $15,000 to develop their business concepts and commit to a rigorous 90-day crash course in entrepreneurship and regular coaching from volunteer mentors. In 2008, Villarreal was part of the CBU mentoring program that was sponsored by the Honors Program and Alumni Association. The program paired undergraduates with alumni who were working in the same career that the students were studying to enter. The mentors gave them tips on what to expect after going out into the real world. Villareal was paired with Ramon Marus (’81), chief financial officer at Bryce Corporation in Memphis. After the program finished, the two kept in touch, and Villarreal made sure to keep Marus abreast of what was happening in his life, what classes he was taking, and his fledgling business ventures. Marus is now serving on Choomogo’s board of directors. Marus added that he remembers the help and advice that he was given by Brother Alfred Moroni, who was instrumental in helping him obtain an internship which led to a full-time job following graduation. “It excites me to help a student such as Abe, and show him the power of the great informal network of contacts that are available to him as a CBU student and graduate. It is one of the true strengths of the CBU experience.” Love also has learned the importance of networking. Following the advice of self-help books to “put yourself out there and talk to everyone” he sent an email inquiry to the Lipscomb and Pitts Breakfast Club after seeing a commercial on television. In his email, he explained his situation and within the hour received a reply inviting him to the next event and to speak with some established business owners. “My impression was that I would talk to someone who owns a barbershop or something,” Love says. Instead, he was escorted to meet Johnny Pitts, the co-chief manager of Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance.

“We’re taking what’s fresh in our minds, business theory, from the classroom and applying it into our business now.”

“Here I was thinking I would meet a barbershop owner, and I met this bigwig of Memphis.” Since then, Pitts has also been very supportive and has also joined the Choomogo board of directors. In December, Love was honored with an “Agents of Change” award by the Memphis Urban League of Young Professionals for his work with Choomogo and was named the organization’s “Innovator of the Year.” In January, he was further recognized as one of The Memphis Flyer’s “20<30: Twenty Young Memphians Who are Shaping the City’s Future,” a cover story that spotlighted young entrepreneurs in the city. Although the duo often finds that they are the youngest movers in the local entrepreneur scene, they aren’t intimidated by it. Both believe that starting young is the best thing they could do for their careers and for their growth. “We’re taking what’s fresh in our minds, business theory, from the classroom and applying it into our business now,” Villarreal says. “There’s a lot more opportunity for us to succeed now — or to fail — but either way it’s a win for us.” Starting their business while in college without the pressures of “real life” was an easy choice for Love, too. “As college students, we’re used to eating ramen and living on a budget. So whether we fail or succeed, either way, we’ve learned so much and are better off than our colleagues because of our experience.”

Watch a video of Demarcus Love presenting Choomogo to the Seed Hatchery on Investor’s Day 2011. bit.ly/choomogo

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Under the Green Umbrella

Making Sustainability a Priority at CBU… B Y E M I LY A D A M S K E P L I N G E R

Students in the “Intro to Sustainability” class on a field trip to the Old Forest in Overton Park

Watch a video by Dr. Jordan and some of the Sustainability students at CBU. bit.ly/CBUgreen

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THERE’S A NEW GREEN PATHWAY IN academia at Christian Brothers University — one that hopes to prepare students for what is becoming a priority for many cultures across the globe — sustainability. In response to an increase in students’ interest in environmental issues, Dr. Ben Jordan, assistant professor of history and political science, is helping to carve out a new green curriculum at CBU. Jordan is a member of the President’s Sustainability Committee, which is comprised of faculty from the four schools on campus, staff, and several students. The group has set its sights on having a “green umbrella” under which to gather the many “green things” that were happening independently on the CBU campus. Jordan explains, “Last year we started with a broad, institutional approach to get the university to join the sustainability movement. We made a commitment to make CBU more sustainable, both on campus as well as through the school’s outreach efforts, taking this emphasis into the Memphis community. The effort easily follows the Lasallian core values of ‘Faith, Service, Community.’ “This year we’re incorporating those same values into our curriculum whenever possible, making

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sustainability an academic program that supports our broader institutional efforts.” Under Jordan’s direction as the director of sustainability studies, an academic and residential life program, a new humanities course titled “Introduction to Sustainability” has come to the classroom at CBU. The course integrates text, discussion, collaborative activities, and field trips to places such as Old Forest in Overton Park, a recycling center, and the Harbor Town and Uptown “new urbanism developments” to explore the meaning of environmental and community sustainability. Guest speakers including CBU professors and community professionals representing a range of vocations, who give students their personal insights into how they interpret and apply sustainability in their professional and civic activities. And larger still is the development of a new minor field called Sustainability Studies. The minor takes an interdisciplinary approach making use of courses already on campus, like environmental biology and environmental ethics. Echoing the broad application of sustainability, the minor can be applied to any department and is open to all students, regardless of academic background or major. PHOTO BY DR. BEN JORDAN


Jordan says, “This approach comes down to not seeing education as strictly a classroom and degree matter, but as a broader life integration and application.” CBU became a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education in 2010 to further its campus efforts. With this membership, CBU receives informational support in advancing its sustainability initiatives at the university and in the community. For example, CBU gets support for its Sustainability Living Learning Community — a two-year program designed for students who want to have an enriched live/study experience. Jordan concludes, “The goal of our new curriculum is to help students see what’s going on, right here in Memphis, that is sustainable. If we teach those important elements that help students see they can make a difference, they are more likely to incorporate sustainability practices into their future jobs. It is one of the most sustainable things we can do — make sustainability, well, sustainable.” Reprinted with permission. © The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN (www.commercialappeal.com).

Going for the Green at CBU s Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education s Sustainability Studies academic minor s Sustainability Living Learning Community s Green Internships for second-year Sustainability LLC members s Electric car charging station s Rain barrels s Community garden s Alternative lighting s Occupational sensors s Low-flow toilets s White roofing s Bioregional materials used in new construction s Partnership with International Paper for campus recycling of newspaper, office paper, magazines, pasteboard, cardboard, plastics (grade 1-7), and aluminum

PHOTO BY CORY DUGAN

My Green Job: Dr. Ben Jordan What led you to incorporating “green” into your career? Incorporating green into my career allows me to combine my lifelong interests in how people relate to each other and how society relates to the environment. My previous jobs counseling youth at a traditional summer camp and an outdoors-based behavioral and drug rehabilitation center inspired me to study and teach the history of why modern American society came to socialize children in these natural settings. Between grading papers and preparing class lectures as a college professor, I find myself picking up all the Memphis newspapers to read about urban and environmental issues. Creating the Sustainability Studies academic and residential life program at CBU was a response to our existing faculty strengths, growing student and campus interest in the topic, and the administration’s request for ideas for developing new Living Learning Communities. What education/ experience did you need for your job? Learning to share and care about others while growing up in a large family, living in different countries and regions of the United States, counseling youth in outdoor communities, earning a Ph.D. in history, publishing my own research, having taught at different colleges with strong environmental and urban studies programs, and being a father have all been essential preparation. What’s the hardest thing about finding work in your field (in the Greater Memphis area)? Fortunately, American colleges and universities are increasingly recognizing the importance of environmental and urban sustainability for higher education and effective interaction with the community. The recession, however, has made it difficult for universities to add permanent faculty and staff to keep up with demand in these growth areas. What one green practice would you recommend to others? Become aware of what is going on in your particular neighborhood as well as in broader Memphis by talking to people with whom you wouldn’t normally interact. I think that only when we relate on a personal level and care about each other can we move away from self-oriented, short-term thinking and toward pursuing a green, sustainable society. What green trends would you like to see in the future? Growing support for the many Memphis organizations and agencies that combine traditional environmentalism with urban sustainability such as Livable Memphis, Shelby Farms Conservancy, the joint Memphis/Shelby County government Office of Sustainability, and community gardens.

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Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve

Physician Assistant program will help fill need in community… B Y D R . M A R K S C O T T CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY JUST celebrated its 140th anniversary. While many memorable dates have been added to CBU history over those years, one of the most recent occurred in January as CBU welcomed the first class of students in Memphis to a 27-month program that will prepare them to serve as a relatively new group of healthcare providers known as physician assistants or PAs. Memphis has long been home to a thriving healthcare community and been enriched by the educational facilities housed within the city. Yet one important element that has been absent has been that of an educational program for PAs, the second fastest growing profession in the United States (as noted by Newsweek). Statistics show a strong demand for physician assistants—the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC ) has

John J. Davis, PA-C, assistant professor of Physician Assistant Studies (right), assists students Evan Swift (’14) and Tripp Washburn (’14) in learning physical examination and patient interview skills. PA students spend four semesters in classroom and laboratory instruction and three semesters in clinical rotation.

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In July 2011, Christian Brothers University announced that it was accepting applications for a cohort-based Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program consisting of 110 credit hours and offered over 27 months or seven consecutive semesters. In the weeks following the announcement, 100 applications were received, 60 applicants were reviewed, and only the 32 students currently enrolled in the program were accepted. Constant reviews and program self-evaluations are scheduled for continued compliance until the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant evaluates the first graduating class. At that time, full accreditation will be granted if all program standards are met. In a medical field where there are numerous professions seemingly only different in namesake, Dr. Mark Scott offers the analogy of a team. “On this team, like on any other team, the end goal is the same but the roles are different. Nurses offer primary care, whereas nurse practitioners and doctors practice medicine. Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor. They conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, and even counsel patients. To put it simply, the physician assistant is an extension of the physician.” — Dexter Dyson (’13)

PHOTOS BY CORY DUGAN


challenged the profession to contribute 240,000 practicing PAs by the year 2020 to meet increasing demands for primary care providers in our country. In response, the profession has seen an increase in the number of educational institutions seeking to develop accredited programs. The process at CBU began approximately two years ago when an analysis found an obvious unmet need in our community for primary care services. The AAMC had promoted the use of PAs as a means to meet primary care needs, and the administration and board of trustees recognized the similarities in the ideals of the PA profession to those that had been established by the Christian Brothers many years ago: a commitment to community, recognition of the needs of an individual, and a commitment to life-long learning. The inaugural class of 32 students has been challenged by the faculty to “Enter to Learn” and carry the torch of the profession forward in the footsteps of the first four PAs who graduated from Duke University less than 50 years ago. Those original PAs have been joined by more than 120,000 individuals worldwide who now practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians, providing a wide range of services in all facets of medical practice. Their studies will include courses in Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, Medical Ethics, Research Methodology, Clinical Medicine, History and Physical Examinations, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Emergency and Behavioral Medicine—all in a period of 15 months, to be followed by an additional year of clinical rotations to further enhance their skills and abilities. Competition for admission to PA educational programs is intense. Applications arrive daily for the next class that will enter in January of 2013. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants when they “Leave to Serve.” ———————————————————————

Dr. Mark John Scott, PA-C, is the director of the Physician Assistant Studies Program. Scott has 29 years of experience as a Physician Assistant; his areas of practice include oncology/hematology, acute care, and neurosurgery.

CBU Partners with Baptist, Methodist for PAs Baptist Memorial Health Care and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare have forged a partnership with CBU to address the critical and growing demand for quality healthcare services within the Metropolitan Memphis area. Both have donated $125,000 to the new Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. Memphis has long been home to a thriving healthcare community yet, one important element has been absent — an educational program for Physician Assistants. As the first university within 100 miles of Memphis to offer this degree, CBU is providing students with a unique opportunity to serve the community and address the increasing demand for healthcare services due to a shortage of doctors in practice. “As the population ages with more health needs and a looming physician shortage, the need for providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners grows. Christian Brothers University has a great reputation of producing well-prepared students, so it was a natural for MLH and BMHCC to partner to support the program,” says Mitch Graves, president of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s Affiliated Services Division. “Over the last two years, Methodist has acquired and partnered with a number of physician practices and quickly identified the need for additional PAs and NPs.” “Educating the next generation of healthcare workers is very important to us,” agrees Greg Duckett, senior vice president and corporate counsel for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “We are proud to partner with Methodist and Christian Brothers University to expand the educational opportunities available for future physician assistants.”

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Faith in Action

Golden grad assists Sacred Heart Monastery… B Y S R . E L I S A B E T H M E A D O W S , O S B

Art Schmidt (’62) tours the renovation site at Sacred Heart Monastery as Sister Tonette Sperando points out details of recent progress.

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AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, ART Schmidt Jr. (’62) can recognize a quality investment. And as a man of faith, he can recognize the qualities of faith, hope, and charity. Schmidt recognized all of these when he encountered the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, AL in 2002. Looking for a closer alternative to his usual place of spiritual retreat in Louisiana, Schmidt contacted the Sisters to register for an Advent Retreat offered by their Retreat Center. During the weekend conference, he observed the Sisters and their lives, and noted qualities that he admired.

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“I liked the atmosphere and the Sisters, and the Benedictine way of doing things appealed to me,” he recalls. A friendship sparked between Schmidt, his wife Brenda, and the monastic community that has continued to grow over the years. Schmidt’s business career was spent guiding the growth of a successful institutional food brokerage firm based in Jackson, MS and Memphis. After selling the company in 2000 in order to enjoy an early retirement, the Schmidts began seeking ways to channel their financial success into their philanthropic vision. PHOTO COURTESY OF SACRED HEART MONASTERY


“Once we became acquainted with the Benedictine Sisters, we knew immediately that we wanted to assist them in a significant way,” he says. In 1902, the Benedictine Community bought land in Cullman and began Sacred Heart Monastery. Since that time the Monastery and Retreat Center have grown to what they are today — a group of aging buildings with equally aging plumbing, electrical wiring, and mechanical systems. The facilities no longer adequately serve the needs of the Sisters or the thousands of people who benefit from the Sisters’ ministries. Their objective is to make their home and Retreat Center safe, comfortable structures that maintain their historical significance and sacred tradition. The Schmidts’ first gift to the Sisters was a set of four stained glass windows in the chapel of a new infirmary addition at the monastery. The Schmidts are now the lead donors for the Sisters’ campaign. Their significant early contribution helped power the campaign to a strong start, and a subsequent major gift contributed substantially to sustaining the campaign’s strong momentum. Schmidt has also provided leadership to the capital campaign, serving as chair of the Donor Recognition Task Force. “We looked long and hard at the state of the economy three or four years ago and decided to proceed with the campaign anyway,” he says. “And I’m glad to say we’ve managed to raise more than half of what’s needed.” The Schmidts divide their time between a home in Orange Beach, AL and their farm in Mississippi — with regular visits to their daughter’s family in Murfreesboro, TN, where they can dote on their two grandchildren. “Our granddaughter has already decided that she’s going to veterinary school,” Art

says with pride. From a business standpoint, Schmidt notes that “the Sisters are good business people, with foresight and a vision for the future,” adding that he and Brenda feel that their contributions are wellmanaged, put to good use, and that the Sisters have a disposition of listening. The couple is also attracted by the history of the monastic community and the Benedictine Order. Schmidt, who says he strongly values the education and sense of mission he received from the Christian Brothers, regularly mentions the faith, hope, and charity that he has seen in the Sisters. “They are very loving people, reaching out and really helping others,” he says. The Retreat Center, which was his first contact with the Sisters, is of particular interest. He sees it as an asset to the broader community and is convinced that updating its facilities is essential to the ongoing vibrancy of the ministry. In speaking of their philanthropic goals, Schmidt says, “We have been very blessed, and we want to give back from what we have been given. The historic and unique charism of the Benedictines attracts us, and we are grateful to be able to contribute to their legacy of faithful witness to the Gospel.” The couple has also chosen to remember the community in their trust, creating a lasting legacy of faith and service. “Art and Brenda have become cherished friends of the community,” says Sister Tonette Sperando, director of the capital campaign. While their financial support has provided a crucial boost to the campaign, their friendship, wise counsel, and steady support have been indispensable and are gracious gifts to us. We are so grateful for their friendship, their generosity, and especially the deep faith from which their generosity flows.”

ALUMNIWEEKEND OCTOBER 5-6, 2012 More Info Coming Soon to Your Mailbox & Inbox

Learn more about the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery at www.shmon.org.

Classes ending in 2 or 7 are celebrating a Reunion Year!

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Designing a Difference

Engineering Alum Takes Volunteering to the Next Level… B Y V E R O N I C A L O V E ( ’ 1 2 ) Andrew Parks (’00) overlooking a refugee camp in Haiti that houses 10,000 persons.

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AFTER GRADUATING FROM CBU WITH A degree in civil and environmental engineering and going on to earn two different graduate degrees, Andrew Parks (’00) was working as a project engineer and specializing in municipal infrastructure for an international company in Atlanta. But he found himself searching for a way to use his knowledge for a greater good. “I was looking for a way to get into international development type work where I could use my engineering abilities on a more broad impact,” he says. A co-worker lead him to Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities across the world in order to improve their quality of life through the implementation of sustainable engineering projects. After attending a meeting of the Atlanta chapter, Parks quickly realized that he had something to contribute to the organization and decided to volunteer his time and talents. The first project Parks undertook for EWB was in 2008 in the village of Los Palis, Haiti — a rural

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community of approximately 3,000 residents that was in great need of a consistent and steady supply of safe drinking water. During their dry season, the people of Los Palis had to walk up to 20 miles to the nearest river for their water—a river that was contaminated with animal waste and used for bathing and laundry. As a result, water-borne disease was rampant and adversely impacting the health of the community, especially the child mortality rate—one out of 10 children under the age of five was dying from waterborne illness. As the project manager, Parks and his team completed an on-site water quality and quantity assessment and discovered that the two hand-pumped water wells in the village were contaminated with coliform bacteria. A spring-fed cistern that fed water to eight public fountains did not have the capacity to supply the entire community with safe water. EWB was able to clean and repair the old wells and to install a new well with a solar-powered pump to get disinfected water into the existing cistern and thus to the fountains. Since the initial solution, EWB has returned twice to check water quality, train local PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW PARKS


villagers, perform maintenance, and install self-closing taps to the system. A second spring is being evaluated as a possible supplementation to the existing water supply. While working on the Haiti project, Parks was elected president of Atlanta chapter of Engineers Without Borders. As the face of the organization from 2009 through 2011, Parks says he definitely used some of the skills that he honed as vice-president of CBU’s chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). As president of EWB, Parks also established a multi-university student case competition in partnership with Peacebuilding Solutions to provide the United Nations with an improved alternative for refugee camp design, construction, and management. Working more with the social and PR aspects of the organization, he appeared on CNN several times to discuss Haiti, the student competition, and ideas for refugee camp design. Before he left EWB in December, Parks oversaw the initial stages of a new project to supply power for a school and orphanage in Cambodia. Parks received the Human Values Award in 2011 from the International Association for Human Values and the Art of Living Foundation, which honors

leaders who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the lives of others through their dedication and service to humanity. The Art of Living Foundation is an international nonprofit that works in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Currently working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in regulatory permitting, Parks is also director of logistics for Peacebuilding Solutions, the NGO that he previously partnered with at EWB. He is directing all logistics pertaining to refugee camp design, construction, and management and has conducted in-country research in Haitian internally displaced person (IDP) camps on numerous occasions and met with high-ranking officials in the United Nations’ Haiti stabilization mission to determine the most pressing logistical needs that must be met. Recalling his time at CBU, Parks says he benefitted from the quality of education and from faculty who were full of energy and willing to help. “Although you certainly have to know certain things, most of the things you learn in school are not going to help you in the job day to day. What CBU teaches you to do is to think in a different way, logically and creatively. And that’s something I do use every single day.”

Parks (left) and Greg Hodgin of Peacebuilding Solutions (center), consulting with United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti.

Watch a video of Andrew Parks’ interview on CNN Espanol. bit.ly/ParksCNN

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Amazing Grace Students from CBU’s First Nursing Cohort Learn a Few Lessons in Grace During a Mission Trip to Haiti.................... BY DR. SUE TRZYNKA 28

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A

mazing. This is the word Dr. Susan Nelson used to describe St. Vincent’s School and Orphanage, a facility in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that she has been serving since 2008 through the West Tennessee Haiti Partnership. Along with seven students in CBU’s new RN to BSN program, I traveled to St. Vincent’s during Spring Break on a clinical mission trip. Dr. Nelson’s description is correct. Yes, the school is amazing, especially given the lack of resources available to it. True, the children are amazing given their unique situations. From the onset, after the first ten minutes I spent at the school, I would have described the environment, children, and staff as not simply “amazing” but as “Amazing Grace.” The blind, deaf, mentally and physically impaired children are the

Sue Trzynka, Ph.D., RN is an associate professor and assistant director of the RN to BSN Program at CBU. PHOTOS BY DR. SUE TRZYNKA

epitome of amazing grace. The blind children lock arms and walk throughout the small compound, keeping one another safe. They smile, laugh, play, and sing or play the violin without the aide of their eyes. The deaf children guide the blind, push those confined to wheelchairs to class or the clinic, and express the desires of a child via sign language and smiles. The dance of joy when a fiveyear-old deaf child tries on a pair of pink Crocs. The smiles as the children color, paint, make jewelry, or play ball with others. The little boy who had shoes but wanted shoes for his two friends who did not. These two boys, his friends, lived with their families—he did not have a traditional family but rather the family at St. Vincent’s. An orphan concerned for his shoeless friends. Amazing Grace. Marie Carmel is the cook and unofficial matriarch of St. Vincent’s. She is also wheelchair-bound and a lifelong resident. Marie was dropped off at St. Vincent’s when she was a baby, 47 years ago. She has no knowledge of her family, yet she smiles and enjoys the children and her place of honor at St. Vincent’s. Each day she sits in her wheelchair in a breezy place, watching the children, overse eing their activities. continued on next page

Pictured above (l-r) in Haiti are Bob Schroeder, Clark Gwaltney, Christen Mabry, Dr. Sue Trzynka, Brianna Barnett, Ramelle Wheeler, Aleisha Curry, and Erica Williams. Opposite page: Two young residents of St. Vincent’s School and Orphanage in Port-au-Prince.

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Marie Carmel (in wheelchair) and another cook at St. Vincent’s School and Orphanage. Marie is a lifelong resident of St. Vincent’s and its unofficial matriarch.

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THE RN TO BSN PROGRAM AT CBU welcomed its first cohort in August 2011. The program provides registered nurses (RN) with a path to obtain a full bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) within 18 months. The BSN program at CBU provides a unique alternative to the traditional method of pursuing a bachelor’s degree. It is designed as a transformational learning experience leading to personal and professional skill development to meet the needs of Registered Nurses previously prepared at the ADN or diploma level. Based on a cohort learning module, students share the academic experience as a cohesive group participating in active learning to enhance nursing knowledge and cognitive skills. The BSN curriculum focuses on current healthcare issues and delivery, and prepares the student to assume a leadership role in a variety of settings. Cohort classes begin twice a year, in August and January. Dr. Peggy Ingram Veeser is the director of program. With more than 30 years of teaching and professional experience in the healthcare field, Veeser came to CBU from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, where she served on faculty as a tenured professor for 30 years in addition to being the director of University Health Services for more than 24 years.

continued from previous page Amazing Grace. There is Joe Joe, the artist-in-residence, who is limbless yet creates masterpieces with the use of a bandage on his right “nub” or with his mouth. He signs with his nubs, eyebrows, lips, and face—he communicates with the deaf children, he translates English to Creole or Creole to English. He is the unofficial patriarch of St. Vincent’s, a 50-year resident. He does not know his birth family, yet he knows the story of each child at St. Vincent’s. He smiles, laughs, jokes, and makes light of his lack of extremities. He never complains. Amazing Grace. There is Margaret, who was abandoned in November of 2010 as a hydrocephalic toddler. She is fed, always dressed appropriately, with even a ribbon occasionally in her hair. She does not speak. She does not walk. And yet she responds to the touch of her caregivers. She responds to the physical therapy provided to prevent her arms and legs from contracting. This innocent, helpless child is loved by her caregivers, given to St. Vincent’s by a caring family member who could not provide for her. Amazing Grace. There is Para (Father) Sadoni, the priest and administrator of St. Vincent’s, a quiet young man in his early 30s. He manages not only the orphanage and school but a church. He is guarded, almost shy, but so tender when you see him touch a child. He is devoted to the children, both residents and day-students. He uses the resources made available to make a difference in the lives of all the children. He allows a teenage


boy to stay at St. Vincent’s and attend high school because he has nowhere else to go. This boy lost his mother and younger brother in the earthquake. He could see them, he could hear them, he gave them water and food for three days but could not get them out of the rubble, and they died. He plays his guitar and sings. He is not bitter or angry or troubled at the world but has moved forward. He provides comfort to the blind and deaf children and adults at the orphanage. He assures Para Sadoni that he will work hard to be a good student. Amazing Grace. Seven nurses enrolled in the RN to BSN program and myself, their teacher, were witnesses to the amazing grace of St. Vincent’s School and Orphanage. For five, short incredible days, we left our comfortable homes and families to traveled to St. Vincent’s. The students assessed and documented the height, weight, arm circumference, and heart and lung sounds of 208 children in four six-hour days. They played with these children. They colored with the blind and deaf. They painted the nails, combed the hair, and made beaded necklaces. They held them. They cradled them in their arms and loved them. These seven nurses immersed themselves with the children and staff of St. Vincent’s. Amazing Grace. This was designed as a student clinical experience, a mission trip to provide healthcare to Haitians in need. In reality, however, it was a human experience where the children and adults of St. Vincent gave far more to us and to the CBU community than we could ever give to them. All through their Amazing Grace. PHOTOS BY DR. SUE TRZYNKA

THE PARTICIPANTS Brianna Barnett, RN is a nurse at Methodist University in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit. She began her nursing career in the Burn Unit at The MED. Aleisha Luellen-Curry, RN is a nurse at The MED in Trauma Step-down, ICU. and CCA. Aleisha is proficient in American Sign Language. Clark Gwaltney, RN is a seasoned mission team member but this was his first time as a Registered Nurse. He loves working with children, and joined the staff of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital after six months at Methodist South ICU. Christen Mabry, RN is an Emergency Room nurse, currently in Trauma training for North Oak Regional Medical Center. Robert Schroder, RN is a seasoned nurse. He has been at St. Jude’s Bone Marrow Transplant unit for the last 11 years and is a clinical supervisor. He also worked at Methodist University in adult health for eight years. Ramelle Wheeler, RN was named St. Jude’s Nurse of the Year for 2010 and is a seasoned nurse with 14 years of experience. Her nursing career has focused on children in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit at St. Jude. Erica Williams, RN is a Labor and Delivery nurse at Methodist South. She has been a nurse for 10 years in Maternal Health.

Children and volunteers relaxing in the orphanage courtyard on a Sunday afternoon. Dr. Susan Nelson, team leader of the mission, is pictured at lower left; CBU volunteer Aleisha Curry is at lower right. The young man playing the guitar lost his family in the earthquake and has been allowed to live at the orphanage.

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Thinking ‘Inside the Box’ by Chris Przybyszewski

CBU students Mallory Harvey (Civil Engineering ’12), Evan Edwards (Engineering Management ’13), and Alvin Siow (Chemical Engineering ’13) with a package in the compression table in the solid mechanics lab used by the CBU Healthcare Packaging Consortium. The students are concentrating or minoring in packaging.

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CBU’s Healthcare Packaging Consortium provides benefits to companies, consumers, and students. MOST OF US HAVE MAILED SOMETHING. Boxes, containers, letters, all move across our world every day by the hundreds of thousands. However, while we’re concerned that our packages arrive on time and to the correct destination, we sometimes don’t think so much about the package itself, the container that protects the many times precious cargo. However, entire lines of research work to improve just that. Better boxes. Better liners. Better plastics and bindings. Much of this research, of course, happens at the companies that then ship the containers. Some of that research happens in independent institutions. And now, some of that research happens here in Memphis at CBU. Created in the summer of 2010, the Healthcare Packaging Consortium was created on the campus of Christian Brothers University. Encouraging participants to ‘think inside the box,’ the Consortium advances the knowledge related to healthcare packaging through education and research. Leading efforts is the Consortium’s coordinator, Dr. Siripong Malasri, CBU professor of civil engineering. The Consortium results from ten years’ work in the School of Engineering, beginning when the leadership was approached by Medtronic and FedEx. “They wanted to talk about a packaging program,” says Malasri. “They were willing to help us.” The leadership group would soon include several other major partners, including other Memphis-based medical device giants Smith & Nephew and Wright Medical Technology, Inc., pharmaceutical leader Merck Consumer Care, and logistic players Evergreen Packaging and Plastic Ingenuity. Help has come in many forms, including necessary but expensive equipment to fill the now over 20,000 square feet of laboratory space. Malasri proudly exhibits machines that create new types of packaging by cutting materials or creating plastic molds, that test the packaging in a variety of climate and altitude controlled environments, and that simulate light and heavy packages dropping small to large distances. Other assistance to build the laboratory came from generous grants from the Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc., along with several other local foundations. According to Malasri, the Consortium provides a function unique in Memphis, but in industry and PHOTOS BY CORY DUGAN

academia in general. “We’re actually a commercial lab,” he says. “Most industry and school labs are internal only. They don’t service customers.” In contrast, the Consortium provides research that directly affects the customer experience. Example: regulations applying to moving products from factories to distributors are numerous and rigid. However, moving products from loading palettes to store shelves includes less oversight. One result is that products, such as cough syrup, can be damaged. “When packages are opened at the continued on page 36

Rhett Jordan (Chemical Engineering ’12) testing a plastic tote bin with a drop tester in the Consortium’s lab.

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bell tower Gala

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/07&.#&3 t )*-50/ .&.1)*4 )05&- t 1 . BELLTOWERSUMMER2012


the Event

The CBU Bell Tower Gala will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. The event will take place in the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Memphis. Guests will be greeted with cocktails and live music. After mingling and bidding, guests will sit down to a sumptuous four-course dinner. During the meal, CBU will honor all the presidents from the University’s rich history. Six past presidents will be in attendance and will be spotlighted. They are:

Brother Terence McLaughlin CBU President 1962-1964

Brother Malcom O’Sullivan CBU President 1970-1973

Brother Bernard LoCoco CBU President 1973-1980

Brother Michael McGinniss CBU President 1994-1999

Brother Stanislaus Sobczyk CBU President 1993-1994; 1999-2005

H. Lance Forsdick Sr., AFSC CBU President 2005; 2008-2009

This unforgettable evening will be a festive charitable event, a tribute to the history of Lasallian education in Memphis, and a great way to reconnect with old friends. And since all proceeds support CBU’s academic programs, it’s a great way to invest in the future of our students and our community. We hope you can join us!

BELL TOWER GALA TICKET ORDER FORM Name _______________________________________________________________________ Class year (if applicable) ____________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone _____________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________ Individual Tickets: _______ reservation(s) at $150 per person Alumni Discount: _______ reservation(s) at $100 per person through September 28, 2012 I/We are unable to attend, but please accept my/our contribution to Christian Brothers University.

PAYMENT OPTIONS or

Enclosed is a check for $____________. Please make checks payable to Christian Brothers University. Please charge my credit card (check one):

Visa

Mastercard

Discover

American Express

Name on card _____________________________________________ Date _________________ Credit card # ____________________________________________________________________ Expiration date ______________ Amount ($) ___________________________

RETURN TO: Office of Advancement Christian Brothers University 650 E. Parkway S. Memphis, TN 38104 INTERESTED IN GALA SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? For a list of sponsorship opportunities and benefits, please call (901) 321-3270 or email Karen Viotti at kviotti@cbu.edu.

Signature (required) _______________________________________________________________ Reservations are requested by November 2. However, due to our limited space, we suggest that you RSVP as soon as possible. Your check is your reservation. The tax-deductible portion of each ticket is $75. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent permittedBELLTOWERSUMMER2012 by law.

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In the Consortium labs, researchers can simulate what happens to products, recreating scenarios that can literally destroy boxes, containers, or bottles.

(l-r) Evan Edwards, Mallory Harvey, Phyo Aung (Civil Engineering ’14), Dr. Siripong Malasri, Alvin Siow, and Rhett Jordan in St. Benilde Hall’s solid mechanics lab, which is one of the labs used by the Healthcare Packaging Consortium at CBU. Malasri is a professor of Civil Engineering coordinator of the Consortium.

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continued from page 33 retail locations, there is sometimes breakage, leakage,” Malasri explains. “The customer doesn’t want that and won’t buy the product.” In the Consortium laboratories, researchers can simulate what happens to products, recreating scenarios that can literally destroy boxes, containers, or bottles. The data offers insight that can lead to possible solutions. Sometimes, solutions are not complicated. “Bubble wrap,” Malasri reports, smiling. “We tried a number of solutions, including types of foam. They didn’t work well. Bubble wrap, though, works well.” According to Malasri, the use of bubble wrap can reduce up to 25% of distribution-related damage. It’s a cheap solution that saves companies money, makes for safer products, and makes customers happier. At this time, Consortium researchers are extending their research to other forms of container design, including those with protective materials on the outside of the container as well. According to Malasri, the Consortium is only beginning. “We are just now one year into operations,” he says. “Now, we want to get our name out there, publish papers, and get more recognition.” Some of that recognition has already happened in one big

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way: the Consortium is one of a very few packaging laboratories that has achieved the prestigious status of an International Safe Transit Association certification. Along with recognition, part of the Consortium’s growth includes building academic programs around the research and laboratory. In a short time, CBU has created courses focused on packaging and is working to develop an entire Bachelor of Sciences program, with two seniors currently taking courses toward the degree. Also, Malasri says the Consortium has developed a certification both for students and industry professionals, estimating that over thirty such certifications already have been awarded. “We are an academic institution, and we want to give our undergraduates opportunities.” The industry ties can help the undergraduates after leaving CBU as well. “Because they get real-world experience, Consortium members can hire the students when they graduate.” It’s a matter of sometimes looking inside the box to find the best solutions. © Reprinted with permission from Memphis Crossroads (Fall 2011), a publication of the Greater Memphis Chamber.


CBU’s Healthcare Packaging Consortium:

FACT SHEET Memphis is a major distribution center with several healthcare related companies. Meanwhile, CBU is the only university in the Mid-South that offers packaging programs. In addition, its packaging lab is certified by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA). Considering these factors, it is natural for an industry-university consortium in healthcare packaging to be established at CBU. After almost a year of discussion, the Healthcare Packaging Consortium was founded at CBU on June 1, 2010, with seven founding member companies: s Evergreen Packaging (evergreenpackaging.com) s FedEx (fedex.com) s Medtronic (medtronic.com) s Merck Consumer Care (merck.com) s Plastic Ingenuity (plasticingenuity.com) s Smith & Nephew (smith-nephew.com) s Wright Medical Technology (wright.com) The consortium provides R&D opportunities to CBU faculty, students, and staff, while being supported by CBU’s ISTA-certified lab and student projects. The mission of the consortium is to advance knowledge related to healthcare packaging through education and research. Its vision is to be a unique world-class healthcare packaging consortium with member companies from various segments of the packaging industry. CURRENT R&D PROJECTS INCLUDE: s Peel Testing Analysis (Smith & Nephew) s Seal Width Integrity (Merck Consumer Care) s Correlation Between Burst Testing & Peel Testing (Smith & Nephew) s Distribution Tote Testing (Merck Consumer Care) s Impact of 100% Recycled Packaging Content to Performance (FedEx) s Performance of Different Pallet Materials and Styles Under Diverse Handling and Environmental Conditions (FedEx) STUDENT PARTICIPATION These consortium projects provide excellent research opportunities to undergraduate students. Since the consortium was founded, the following students have been involved in these projects: s s s s

John Archer (Engineering Management) 2 Phyo Aung (Civil Engineering ’14) 3 Evan Edwards (Engineering Management ’13) 2 Mallory Harvey (Civil Engineering ’12) 3

s s s s s s s

Rhett Jordan (Chemical Engineering ’12) 3 Anthony Lawrence (Engineering Management) 2 Katy Moser (Engineering Management) 2 Kalli Powers (Mechanical Engineering ’12) 1 Alvin Siow (Chemical Engineering ’13) 3 Samual Tsai (Chemical Engineering) 1 Matt Warren (Mechanical Engineering) 1

_______________________________________________________________________________ 1 2

Packaging Engineering Certificate Packaging Concentration 3 Packaging Minor

PUBLICATIONS s Larry Rutledge, Siripong Malasri, and Anthony Lawrence, “Distribution Tote Testing,” Proceedings of the 2011 International Transport Packaging Forum, International Safe Transit Association. s Siripong Malasri, Paul Shiue, Anthony Lawrence, Larry Rutledge, and Robert Moats, “Preliminary Study of Plastic Tote Drop Impact,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2011 Conference. s Siripong Malasri, Robert Moats, John Archer, Paul Shiue, Ray Brown, and Larry Rutledge, “Plastic Tote Drop Impact Study,” Journal of Packaging, Institute of Packaging Professionals, January 2012. s Siripong Malasri, Phyo Aung, Evan Edwards, John Archer, Katy Moser, and Paul Shiue, “Distribution Tote Testing: A Weight Study,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2012 Conference. s Kalli Powers, Matthew Warren, and Ray W. Brown, “Packaging Analysis,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2012 Conference. s Siripong Malasri, Phyo Aung, Katy Moser, Matt Warren, Rhett Jordan, Mallory Harvey, and Alvin Siow, “Subsequent Impact Acceleration Analysis of Air Pillow Study,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2012 Conference. s Ray Brown, Asit Ray, and Samuel Tsai, “Correlating Peel & Burst Test Data for Unrestricted Pouches with Fin Seal Edges,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2012 Conference. s Siripong Malasri, Alvin Siow, Katy Moser, Mallory Harvey, Phyo Aung, Matt Warren, Rhett Jordan, Evan Edwards, and Paul Shiue, “Estimating Drop Height from Saver’s Impact Acceleration,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2012 Conference. s Siripong Malasri, Ali Pourhashemi, Robert Moats, Mallory Havey, and Phyo Aung, “Water Absorption of Wooden Pallets: A Preliminary Study,” Proceedings of the MAESC 2012 Conference. _______________________________________________________________________________

For more information, please visit www.cbu.edu/hpc.

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&Learn

Live 38

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by Aimee Lewis (’92)


THE NEWEST RESIDENCE HALL ON CAMPUS

integrates the high-quality learning and close-knit community experiences synonymous with a CBU education. While traditional campus buildings have a single purpose, the Living Learning Center accommodates student living spaces, classrooms, and less-formal community gathering areas, enhancing students’ academic and social lives. The four-story hall contains 21 private units (eight of them ADA-accessible), 70 semi-private units, and a resident director’s unit. Living units have private or semi-private bedrooms and a small kitchenette. The Wilson Family Foundation Commons, located on the main floor, features exposed wood trusses, comfortable seating, natural light, and game and video areas. A fully-equipped serving kitchen and a large meeting room/classroom are adjacent to the Commons. An adjoining exterior patio has a fire pit, planters, and seating areas. Each upper floor also includes its own Commons with comfortable seating, natural light, and quiet study space. Each floor is also equipped with laundry facilities and a trash room with space for recycling. After being open for a full year, Dr. Ben Jordan, director of Learning Communities, says it’s definitely working. “The steady flow of students using the Wilson Family Foundation Commons for playing piano, socializing, and group studying sets a warm and engaging context for living in the residence hall as well as for teaching and taking a class there,” he notes. And students agree. “It’s nice to be able to sit together in lounge areas and discuss things we learned in class and also about what is going on around campus,” Kenzie Bergloff (’15) says. “Living here allows us all to engage in a community of learning that doesn’t PHOTOS BY BILL PARISH, opposite; CORY DUGAN, above

Opposite page: The Wilson Family Foundation Commons on the main floor of the Living Learning Center. Above: The new Center is located northeast of the Canale Pool, between Lambert and Pender Halls.

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The Living Learning Center, which opened last August, houses a fully-equipped classroom (above, in use by Dr. Ben Jordan’s Sustainability LLC). Suites in the Center feature spacious and furnished living rooms (below), kitchenettes, and either private or semi-private bedrooms (bottom).

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compare to any other residence hall on campus,” adds J.D. Wolfe (’15). There are currently four active Living Learning Communities (LLCs): the Freshman Experience, Honors Program, Sciences & Engineering, and Sustainability. Programming for the individual LLCs, and for the Center as a whole, is an evolving and important process. Based on the interest and number of applications received, the Living Learning Communities available to CBU students may vary from year to year. Other Learning Communities that may be offered in the future include a Biomedical LLC and a Hospitality, Tourism & Sport Management LLC. “This year we hope to increase the amount of opportunities specific to the Honors LLC and give our students an even better experience,” says Dr. Tracie Burke, director of the Honors Program. Brother Michael Schmelzer, director of the Freshman Experience LLC, notes, “It is the challenge to make the Center a place where living with and valuing others, learning about oneself, and honing academic interests and skills generate a spirit of solidarity and care that will make the difference for good at CBU, in greater Memphis, and in the world for which we all share responsibility.” “The Living Learning Center has enabled me to combine my experiences and interests in teaching, residence life, and student activities into a more holistic teaching and learning experience for CBU and its students,” Jordan says. “The Center is uniquely able to integrate CBU’s pillars in quality teaching, close-knit community, and service learning.” PHOTOS BY CORY DUGAN


And that’s not all that’s new at CBU… New landscaping, walkways, drainage and (most obviously) a new gazebo have been added to the lawn area between the Thomas Center and Rozier Hall. The area’s new landscape design ties it together with the Living Learning Center, Canale Pool, the Bridge, and Signaigo Field. Rozier Hall has undergone an extensive renovation. In suites that formerly consisted of four bedrooms connected by a central bathroom, the wall between two of the bedrooms has been knocked out to form an enhanced living area with a newly created lounge. Each lounge has been furnished with a couch, a cocktail table, and stools. The Avery Apartments have likewise been renovated. Walls between the kitchen and living area have been removed, and islands have been installed to create a more open living space. All kitchen countertops were replaced, new laminate flooring and carpet has been installed, central heating and air was added throughout, and all bedroom furnishings have been updated. Starting this fall, the Avery Apartments have been designated as graduate student housing.

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Dr. Rose Deal in the classrooom, circa 1975.

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Remembering “Rosa� DR. ROSE G. DEAL, AFSC

CBU’s first female faculty member leaves behind a lasting legacy at the University and in the hearts of her students... by Brother Robert Werle, FSC (’70)

The following is excerpted from the eulogy delivered by Brother Robert Werle at the funeral of Dr. Rose Deal, AFSC on May 30 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

W

hile her driver’s license says she was only five feet two inches tall, I think she enhanced that by about six inches. She loved, she laughed, and she cried, and she did it all in dress and high heels and with a charming Italian accent. Although short in stature, she cast an immensely long shadow in which we all stand. I would like to tell you I was her first choice for this task today. Actually, I would like to tell you I was her second choice. But God intervened, and her first and second choices — her friend, Brother Patrick O’Brien, and her beloved colleague, Brother Vincent Malham — welcomed her last Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., when her soul arrived in heaven. I first met her 46 years ago as a lay student before I entered the Christian Brothers. She taught me both French and Western European History at Christian Brothers College, and she has been my teacher ever since. She often reminded me that I had done so much better in French than I had done in Western European History. I told her that I explained that to my mother by saying that my French teacher was much better than my history teacher—and Rose would laugh. As per her instructions for this reflection today—that it should be short—as her life-long student, I do not intend to disobey my teacher now. As you may know, she wanted to be a teacher from early childhood and completed the education necessary to be a university professor when she received her doctorate in ancient Greek and Latin. I would venture a guess that you have never before nor will ever again in your entire life meet another person with that degree. Her many years of studies enabled her to communicate in six languages—including English, French (which she called the language of the arts), and Portuguese—as well as her native Italian, along with Greek and Latin. As brilliant as she was, she never put on airs about her education or abilities. PHOTO COURTESY OF BROTHER I. LEO O’DONNELL ARCHIVES

She simply believed that everyone could learn, and it was her task to make it easy for them. Her distinct Italian accent and her beautiful handwriting made her class a challenge and a delight and one that none of her students ever forgot. While much of her life’s work is well known, there are a few things about Dr. Rose Deal that you probably didn’t know: t 4IF OFWFS ‰ never, ever — in her 88 years wore a pair of blue jeans, slacks, pants, or tennis shoes. It was simply not her style; she was always the impeccably dressed lady, even when she went to the grocery store for a single loaf of bread. t *O IFS XBMMFU TIF D BSSJFE POMZ UISFF QJDUVSFT POF PG her husband, George; one of her beloved son, Tony; and one of Jimmy Stewart, the actor. She loved the Turner Classic TV station and often stayed up until the early hours of the morning watching old movies. She called them her “addiction.� t 4IF DSPTTFE UIF PDFBO UP &VSPQF BOE CBDL TJY UJNFT on ocean liners, wearing beautiful ball gowns and dancing to the sounds of Glenn Miller and big band music, which she dearly loved. t "U IFS GBUIFS T LOFF TIF CFHBO TUVEZJOH BOE listening to opera at age six. She learned and knew every opera by heart. For over 50 years, she was a proud member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, and if you called her on a Saturday afternoon she would not answer the phone — she was listening to the opera on the radio and was not to be disturbed. t )FS GBUIFS XIP XBT B NVTJD QSPGFTTPS BMTP JOTJTUFE she learn to play the piano, and she became quite accomplished at it. As a teenager when her father left the house to give a music lesson she and her girlfriends would gather around the piano and rather than play the classics she should be practicing, she would play “boogie-woogie.� I don’t know what your image of Dr. Deal was, but my guess is that boogiewoogie was not part of that image. SHE RECEIVED EVERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Christian Brothers University could confer on her. The Alumni Association honored her, her School BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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CBC faculty, 1964-65: Surrounded by collars and neckties, Dr. Deal made history as the first woman faculty member at the University.

of Arts honored her, and she was named professor emerita at the time of her retirement. All of which she deeply treasured. But in 2002, when she was recognized as an affiliated member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers whom she loved so deeply, she was overwhelmed. From the day of her affiliation, she never again signed her name as “Dr. Rose Deal” but rather as “Rose G. Deal, AFSC.” From that day on, she embraced the Christian Brothers as her family and was delighted when she was called “Brother Rose.” Over the years since her son Tony’s death, Dr. Vincent O’Neill, Bozena Dent, and I would drive her to her doctor’s appointments, hair appointments, church on Saturday or Sunday, and to the grocery store. She would always say to me, “Brother, I hate taking you away from the office just to drive me somewhere.” I would reply, “Rosa, don’t apologize, you are my excuse for not working this afternoon.” Which would always bring a smile to her face. “Good,” she would say. “Then, let’s go to lunch.” LAST TUESDAY, WHEN I FOUND HER ON the kitchen floor, she immediately reached for me with both hands. I called 911 and then sat holding her hand and assured her she was safe as we waited the few minutes it took for the rescue squad to arrive. By the time we reached the St. Francis emergency room, she was beginning to slip into shock and began continually saying something over and over again. As I stood outside of the hospital door while the doctors and nurses did their work, I could hear Rose’s voice and doctors or nurses occasionally saying to her, “Dr. Deal, can you look at me? Dr. Deal, can you

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squeeze my hand?” But she did not. The nurse came out to me and said, “She keeps saying something we cannot understand, do you know what she is trying to tell us?” I told her, “You cannot understand her because she is not talking to you. She is talking to God. She is saying the Hail Mary over and over again in her native Italian language.” She did that late into the evening hours Tuesday, until the coma came upon her. The next day, tests confirmed Rose had suffered a stroke and that she would not be able to survive. Her prognosis was 24 to 48 hours. I took out the Magnificat, a prayer book she often used, and prayed with her. “God is true,” the prayer says. “He has a long memory for His promises to us and a short memory of our failures to keep ours. Though the mountains leave their place, and the hills be shaken, my love shall never leave you, nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you. I commend you to God who has the power to build you up and give you an inheritance.” “Rosa,” I said to her, “you have been knocking on God’s door for a long time. Soon, God will answer that door and take you home. It is OK to go, we will be all right, you have been a good steward of your talents and gifts. You have a right to rest now and go home to be with George and Tony and your mother and father.” Within that very moment, she stopped breathing and her soul left her frail body and returned to God from whence it came on November 1, 1923. I believe that when her soul arrived at that door, she heard the voice she so longed to hear say to her, “Rosa, welcome home!” PHOTO COURTESY OF BROTHER I. LEO O’DONNELL ARCHIVES


Rose Grace Deal, AFSC

 ,  -  ,  BORN TO ANDREA CANNONE AND MARIA Antonietta Selvaggi, Rose Grace Deal was immersed in music, art, literature, and languages at an early age. Her father was a professor of music and an accomplished musician who played piano and mandolin. On weekends, her uncle would take the family to the theatre or opera. As they strolled the piazza on these weekend outings, Deal recalled the beauty around them: “Everywhere you looked or walked, there was such wonderful architecture and magnificent churches, some of the world’s finest museums, and you would hear glorious music.” Deal loved opera, and it became a game between father and daughter to test her musical knowledge. Andrea would play a few selections, and Rose would quickly identify the composer and the opera. Like her father, she became an accomplished pianist who played by ear. She was so gifted that her father dreamed of her becoming a concert pianist. Wanting to follow in her father’s steps as a college professor, Deal entered the University of Naples. She completed her master’s degree in four years and transferred to the University of Bari for her PhD, majoring in Latin and Ancient Greek. While studying there, she made extra money by giving Italian lessons to a handsome soldier, George W. Deal, who was an attaché with the U.S. Embassy in Rome and a consultant with the Corps of Engineers. Knowing Rose’s passion for Glenn Miller tunes, George would often bring the bandleader’s latest album when he arrived for his lessons. The student-teacher relationship blossomed into love. Married in December 1945, the couple remained in Italy three more years, while George completed his assignment. During that time, their son Tony was born in an American hospital in Foggia, Italy. When they arrived in America in 1948, the Deals lived in Ohio, then briefly in Norfolk, VA, before selecting Memphis as the site for George’s next Corps assignment. Deal spent the next few years raising Tony. In 1955, she joined Sacred Heart High School where she taught Latin and French. In 1961, when Tony enrolled at Christian Brothers High School, Deal met with CBHS principal Brother Stephen O’Malley to discuss her son’s education. Impressed with Deal’s classical background and knowledge of languages, Brother Stephen called Brother Lambert Thomas, president of Christian Brothers College, and told him about her. Brother Lambert invited her for an interview and asked her to serve as registrar in

addition to teaching a few Latin classes. Not knowing exactly what a registrar did, Deal agreed to the job and became the first female faculty member hired by the college. She served as registrar for two years, gradually teaching more classes. “I never really enjoyed being the registrar,” she admitted. “I always loved teaching, being in the classroom with the students, and working with the Brothers.” Deal became an associate professor of Latin, French, Italian, and European history. In 1979, she retired from her full-time position to help care for her mother and was named professor emerita of CBU’s School of Arts. She continued to teach French and Italian part time until her final retirement in 1994. Deal received the CBU Maurelian Medal for outstanding service as well as several other service awards. In November of 2002, she was named as an affiliated member of the Christian Brothers and gained the title of “Brother Rose.” When her son, Tony, was told his mother was to be affiliated, he joked, “What do I call her now, mother or Brother?” Tony died suddenly of a heart attack a few months before her affiliation ceremony. “The University was from the very beginning like a big family to me,” Deal often told friends. “I have always appreciated the religious spirit and Lasallian tradition on the campus. I enjoyed working with the Brothers, my colleagues, and I loved teaching my students each day.” BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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classnotes

Welcome, New Alumni from the Class of 2012! The Class of 2012, led by Scott Miller (2nd Lt. USMC, History ’12), enters Signaigo Field across the Bridge of Honor after processing through the Arches.

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CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY held its 2012 commencement on May 12 at Signaigo Field on the CBU campus — the second year in the new tradition of on-campus, outdoor graduation ceremonies. The University conferred 244 undergraduate degrees at the ceremony: 70 were awarded from the School of Arts (63 BA degrees and seven BFAs), 69 from the School of Business (12 in Accounting, 48 in Business Administration, and nine BA in Business degrees), 38 from the School of Engineering, and 67 from the School of Sciences. In addition, 128 master’s degrees were conferred; 37 received the MA in Teaching, 18 received the MEd, two were granted the MS in Educational Leadership, 56 received the MBA, 10 were granted the Master of Engineering Management, and five received the MS in Engineering Management degree. The Most Reverend J. Terry Steib, Bishop of Memphis, presented the commencement address and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

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Although the outdoor ceremony got off to a rainy start, the weather cleared and the sun came out just in time to shine on the Class of 2012 as they were awarded their degrees. Continuing another commencement tradition, the majority of graduates elected to stand and recite the Lasallian Graduation Pledge: “I pledge to explore and take into account the social justice and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work. I will further the Lasallian tradition by continuing to learn and by serving others to build better communities and a better society.” UNIVERSITY AWARDS

t Kara Jones and Steven Menezes were awarded the Brother I. Leo Outstanding Student Leadership Award by Student Affairs in recognition of distinguished student leadership. t Nick Watkins was awarded the Thomas Lipsmeyer


classnotes

Award, as selected by fellow classmates to recognize the student who has most actively contributed to the senior class and to the University. t Paige Campbell and Andrew Greenop were awarded the Christian Brothers University Alumni Award, presented for the highest GPA. Both graduated with a perfect 4.0.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AWARDS

The following awards were presented by the individual academic schools:

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AWARDS

SCHOOL OF ARTS AWARDS

t Donna Carol Wilding, Kenneth W. Mathis Award for Outstanding Education Graduate t D. J. Shauger, Literature and Languages Faculty Award for English Major t Courtney Barlow, Outstanding History Student Award t Paige Campbell, Behavioral Sciences Faculty Award and Psi Chi Outstanding Leadership Award t Emily Oppenheimer, Margarette J. Sather Outstanding School of Arts Graduate Award t Armika Jessica Berkely, Christine Ladd Franklin Award for Outstanding Non-traditional Psychology Major t Bridget Fowler, Outstanding Visual Arts Student Award PHOTOS BY CORY DUGAN

t Haley McNair, Memphis Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants Award and Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key t Cari Gold, Wall Street Journal Award t Terri Alford and Amy Hope Williams, Faculty Achievement Award

More photos from Commencement Week 2012 events: bit.ly/Classof12

t Andrew Greenop, T. Herbert Darnell Award and Outstanding Engineering Graduate Award t Ethan Clapp, Phillip M. Becker Award in Chemical Engineering t Taylor Stinson, Tommy G. Morrison Award t Katie Godwin, Outstanding Civil Engineering Graduate Award t Steven Denton, Brother Philip Morgan Electrical Engineering Design Award SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AWARDS

t Larry Anderson, Outstanding Chemistry Graduate Award and Biology Faculty Award t Catherine Gluszek and Andrew Greenop, Brother Dominic Dunn Award

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classnotes Alumni Weekend...10/07-08/11 1962 Richard “Dick” Gadomski was inducted into the 2010 Class of the Society of Entrepreneurs in Memphis. ———————————————————————

1965

Geeks Never Grow Up (and We’re Glad About That)! Alums of the CBU Honors Program held a reunion on Friday night in the luxurious and exclusive Honors Lounge in Kenrick Hall and proved that some traditions (like posing goofy photos) are timeless at CBU.

Laney Dixon “Dick” Childers has been appointed to the Board of Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which is a state authority that is responsible for Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park. Howard Williamson married Emilie (Penny) Boyce on April 30, 2011. They celebrated their honeymoon at Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada. After combining households, they now plan to spend a lot of time travelling around the USA. ———————————————————————

1966 Brother Stan Sobczyk, former president of CBU, was a 2011 honoree for the Ave Maria Home’s Fall Dinner in Memphis, which is part of its annual Gala Week. ———————————————————————

1967 T. Robin Cole III is president of The Rite Group. He left a Wall Street career to return to his home in Cape Girardeau, MO and take over the family business. He is an advocate for small businesses and has been actively involved in Habitat for Humanity. ———————————————————————

1968 Jack Kenney is the proud stepfather of Yuli Zhu, B.S. (honors) Neuroscience ’12 from Brown University, and father of David Kenney, accepted for a BFA program (’16) at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Jules Wade now leads Prudential Collins-Maury Realtors office in Memphis as principal broker, after many years at the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS®. ———————————————————————

Josh (’01) & Sharon (’03) Shipley with their son, Sam, at the Saturday afternoon Tailgate Party in Nolan Field.

1969 Thomas S. Lott Sr., past president of the DaphneSpanish Fort Kiwanis and past lieutenant governor of Division 13, was presented an outstanding service award for this division, which includes the six clubs in Baldwin County, AL. The recognition honored him for his “exceptional participation in changing the lives of children and communities in District 13.” ———————————————————————

1970 Fellow engineering alums Dick Gadomski (’62) and Kalli Powers (’12) at the Saturday afternoon Tailgate Party in Nolan Field. 48

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Fisher & Arnold, a company founded by Bobby Fisher and Jeff Arnold (’78), was recognized by

PHOTOS BY JACOB EDWARDS, top; CONNOR ROBINSON (’12), middle & bottom


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Alumni Weekend...10/07-08/11 the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (Memphis) chapter as outstanding Employer of the year last spring. This past September, the recognition was echoed on a statewide level by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers. CBU is certainly proud of these awards, since quite a few alums also work for Fisher & Arnold! Bill Whitten has been named successor to the current CEO at HealthNet Federal Credit Union in Cordova, TN. Bill has been a vice president at HealthNet FCU for the past 15 years and has been in credit union leadership positions for the past 38 years, including with the Tennessee Credit Union League and Volunteer Corporate Credit Union. Rev. Michael John Witt served temporarily as Interim president-rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, where he is an associate professor of Church history. ———————————————————————

Andrea Neal, Kim Neal (’07), and Kären Brandon (’09) at the Alumni Dinner Reception in Boshwit Courtyard on Saturday evening.

1971 J. W. (Willie) Owens retired in January 2008 after 30 years with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. ———————————————————————

1973 Michael L. O’Shaughnessy has joined Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. in Chicago as a law partner. ———————————————————————

1975 Charlie Leonard, former CBU Men’s Basketball coach, has been named an assistant coach at LSU. ———————————————————————

Andrea Lum (’01) and her husband, Matthew, at the Alumni Dinner Reception in Boshwit Courtyard on Saturday evening.

1976 Portia Fisher is a proud new grandmother. Franklin Reid was a finalist for the second annual Memphis Business Journal’s “CFO of the Year Awards.” He works at Duncan-Williams Inc. ———————————————————————

1978 Fisher & Arnold, a company founded by Jeff Arnold and Bobby Fisher (’70), was recognized by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (Memphis) chapter as “Outstanding Employer of the Year” last spring. This past September, the recognition was echoed on a statewide level by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers. CBU is certainly proud of these awards, since quite a few alums also work for Fisher & Arnold! ———————————————————————

1979 Mike Pohlman, PE, CEO and president of Pickering Firm of Memphis, has been elected president of

PHOTOS BY PETYA K. GRADY

Distinguished Young Alumna Maria Teresa Blanco Lensing (’01, ’07) with husband Brad, son Ethan, brother Lucio Blanco, and nephew Lucio Alejandro Blanco Rosa at the Alumni Dinner Reception in Boshwit Courtyard on Saturday evening.

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49 49


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The Write Stuff the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee (ACEC of Tennessee), an organization that represents more than 100 engineering firms statewide. Dale Swift has recently taken a job with HSBC Bank in New York. He is the VP and senior manager of Specialized Compliance. ———————————————————————

1981 Ramon Marus Jr. won the Memphis Business Journal’s “CFO of the Year” award in the categories Private Company (More than $50 million annual revenue). Ramon works at Bryce Corporation. ———————————————————————

1982 Author Dennis Foley (’82), Beth Moix Haag (’81), Felix Bishop (’82), and Skeet Haag (’81).

Skeet and Beth Haag (’81) joined forces with Felix Bishop (’82) to host an author’s reading at the Haag’s residence to celebrate the release of The Drunkard’s Son, a new book by Dennis Foley (’82). “This was a fun event,” Skeet says. “We had a lot of CBU people here and they all enjoyed the reading. Dennis did a great job with this book. It’s a wonderful, touching book.” The book, part memoir-part fiction, has garnered strong reviews from the Chicago media and details Foley’s days growing up on Chicago’s South side in the 1960s and ’70s, a time of strife that also found his family running head on into an endless series of roadblocks.Writing from the perspective of a young boy, Dennis intertwines humorous stories about his misadventures with his drunken father alongside journal entries about the strange solitude Foley seemed to enjoy during his 10-day hospital stay, after he was nearly stabbed to death in an alley fight as a high school sophomore. Dennis looks back fondly on his days at CBU. “I was a bit rough around the edges when I showed up at CBU,” he says. “The professors I had took an interest in me. They helped me find my way. Guys like Brother Tony Pisano, Dr. Jim McKee, and Dr. Vince “The Prince” O’Neill helped me discover a whole new world. Evelyn McDonald also had a definite impact on me. CBU was the perfect place and perfect size for me. And the friendships I made in Buc-land are friendships that I treasure to this day. I always look forward to my visits to Memphis.” Foley’s first book, The Streets and San Man’s Guide to Chicago Eats, won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Award for humor. Dennis currently resides in Chicago where he works as a freelance writer and lawyer, and he started the Beverly Youth Lacrosse program in his South Side neighborhood. The Drunkard’s Son is available at independent bookstores in the Chicago area as well as through the publisher at sidestreetpressinc.com, and in print and electronic form from Amazon.com. 50

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Laurel Williams, JD, has been appointed to the CBU Board of Trustees. (See page 4 for full article.) Dr. Mortaza Zainaleain’s new book entitled What Happened To Us: Simple Truths Behind Leadership Crises was published in April. The book, which is available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, deals with strengthening leadership capabilities and developing strategies tailored to unique business needs. Mort is president and CEO of Prevail Services in Memphis. ———————————————————————

1983 Steve Dunavant became the managing shareholder of CBIZ MHM Thompson Dunavant after the merger of the two companies. Chris Singer was appointed director of the Engineering Directorate at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. ———————————————————————

1984 Eddie Belk was recently selected by the Secretary of the Army as the newest member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service. The Senior Executive Service is the civilian equivalent to the military rank of General Officer. As a result of his SES appointment, Eddie will serve as Programs Director for the Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Mississippi River Commission. Emily Sawyer Greer has been appointed as one the newest members the CBU Board of Trustees. (See page 4 for full article.) Keith Pigues, a business executive, author and teacher, has been named dean of the School of Business at North Carolina Central University. ———————————————————————


classnotes

babybuc 1985 Gene Bailey was recently named managing engineer at Brown and Caldwell in Memphis. Mike Barber has been named president of Wonderware West, the exclusive authorized distributor for Wonderware products in the greater part of the Western US. Mike has worked at Wonderware for the past 20 years. ———————————————————————

1986 Rick Fili has been named director of site engineering at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Perry, OH by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. ———————————————————————

1987 Jim Vinoski has been named plant manager at MGPI of Indiana, LLC. ———————————————————————

1989 Courtney Fee, who is the assistant principal at Munford High School and Tipton County Commissioner, District 7 was awarded the Sterling Award which is given annually to 20 West Tennessee women considered the most influential in their careers. Lee House has been named general manager of GarrettCom, Inc. In his new role, Lee is the senior executive in charge of all aspects of GarrettCom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Belden. Lee Nickloy has been named to the Phoenix Symphony Association board of directors. Lee is vice president and treasurer for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company. Terri Strickland Wells is currently the vice president of global marketing for the Stapling Franchise of Covidien in New Haven, CT. She has also recently written and published a book titled Medical Device Marketing: Strategies, Gameplans & Resources for Successful Product Management that is available on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble locations. ———————————————————————

1990 Dan Goodspeed recently joined the Verified Person executive team as controller in Memphis. Dan has 21 years of professional accounting experience in public accounting and for-profit corporations. Pete A. Stark was named chief financial officer of Accredo Health Group, Inc. in June 2010. ———————————————————————

Jeff Sparks and Robin Anderton Sparks (both ’90) welcomed STEPHEN BLAISE SPARKS on November 21, 2010. Blaise was joyfully welcomed by his five siblings — Abby, Judd, Meredith, Jennings, and John Kolbe.

1991 Scott Booker was recently promoted to president of Hotels.com Worldwide. Hotels.com has its global headquarters in London and operates in over 75 countries and is a multi-billion dollar business. Scott and his wife, Sara Maturi Booker (’90), live just outside London with their two boys, Jacob and Matthew. Ray W. (Trey) Brown and Angela Laughlin were married on June 18, 2011 in Memphis. Trey, son of CBU Mechanical Engineering professor Ray Brown, taught at CBU and is now at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Hetesh Ranchod has been practicing general and family dentistry near Atlanta since 1995. At Dr. Rashod’s practice, Marietta Family Dental Solutions, they have announced the launch of a patient-focused website which educates the community on the importance of oral health. The website includes a links page with informative dental resources as well as a frequently asked questions page to address common concerns on topics ranging from proper oral hygiene tips to Marietta, GA dental implants. Analisa Scrimger Sondergaard was sworn in as a Magisterial District Judge in Chester County, PA on December 29, 2011. The ceremony in West Chester, PA was attended by elected officials, judges

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and dignitaries. Judge Sondergaard’s court is in Tredyffrin Township, District 15-4-01. She was elected to a six-year term. ———————————————————————

1992 Stephanie Anderson was named the principal at Resurrection Catholic School in Memphis. Paulo Aur (MBA) was named a finalist for the Memphis Business Journal’s second annual “CFO of the Year” awards in the category private company under $50M in annual revenue. He works for American Paper Optics. Rhonda Carnell was named “Manager of the Quarter” for her work at the Henry County Medical Center Women’s Center in Paris, TN. Brian A. Ward, managing director-investment officer and senior institutional consultant of Ward Financial Advisory Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Brentwood, TN, was ranked among Barron’s “Top 1,000 Financial Advisors for 2012,” as announced in the weekly magazine’s February issue. Brian was ranked number five in the state of Tennessee. ———————————————————————

1993 Ross Harris was elected president of the Memphis CFA Society Board of Trustees. Ross and Craig Cameron (’96), along with two other former AIMS Logistics executives, have formed a new freight payment service in Memphis called A3 Freight Payment. A3 Freight Payment recently opened its headquarters in Southwind. Check out their website at www.a3freightpayment.com. Melissa Henson and her husband are founders of Mid Delta Insurance Company in Indianola, MS. Dr. Toya Kimble was featured in the June/July 2011 edition of Diversity/Careers in Engineering and Technology. Dr. Kimble is a senior R&D scientist in biologics and pharma at Medtronic. Shane Soefker, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, will transition from his current role as the firm’s South Florida market leader to focus on strengthening the company’s commitment to its investor clients in the state of Florida. ———————————————————————

1995 Robert Philyaw was named City Court Judge for the City of Graysville, TN. Robert has practiced in Chattanooga and the surrounding Tennessee counties for approximately 10 years. ———————————————————————

1996 52

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Mary Anthony (MEM) works for Smith & Nephew and is responsible for research programs in the U.S. and Europe that focus on developing and evaluating technologies for orthopedic medical devices. Craig Cameron and Ross Harris (’93), along with two other former AIMS Logistics executives, have formed a new freight payment service in Memphis called A3 Freight Payment. A3 Freight Payment recently opened its headquarters in Southwind. Check out their website at www.a3freightpayment.com. Dr. Fauzi Khan was selected as one of The Memphis Flyer’s “Hotties” for 2012. Fauzi is not only a practicing dentist, she’s also a reserve deputy sheriff for Shelby County and an instructor for the Sheriff’s Training Academy. Jimmy Sawyers is a principal in the Sawyers-Jacobs firm specializing in IT and Security for the financial industry. Jimmy is also on the faculty of the Barret School of Banking and the Southeastern School of Banking at Vanderbilt University. Active in the industry as a speaker, author and teacher, Jimmy is a frequent contributor to BankersOnline, a leading Web portal for bankers, and he is the author of the book, IT Auditing for Financial Institutions. Nationally recognized for his entertaining presentations that engage, inform, and educate, Jimmy delivers practical advice and a fresh perspective to complex issues. Jimmy, his wife Cindy, and their three children, live in Collierville, TN. ———————————————————————

1997 Mauricio Calvo was featured in the Summer 2011 edition of Memphis Crossroads, a publication of the Greater Memphis Chamber, among its “Young Memphis” list of ten exceptional young professionals under 40 doing great things in Memphis. Elise Boczek Ibendahl is the 2011-2012 president of the St. Louis Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Elise is a senior project watershed services technologist and the global lead for floodplain management at CH2M HILL, an engineering consulting, design, design-build, operations, and program management company with nearly 30,000 employees worldwide. Elise lives in St. Louis and is married to Stephen Ibendahl and has three children: Keaton (age 9), Chapin (age 7) and Regan Rose (age 5). Dr. Minoli Perera, and her husband, Eric Gengler, welcomed their second child, Wolfgang Augustus Gengler, on January 3 at 6 lbs., 9.5 oz. Minoli is still at her faculty position at the University of Chicago in


classnotes

genetic medicine. Becky Schultz has been hired as the new director of human resources at the City of Germantown. David Scott Thrasher has been chosen to serve as a board/committee member of The Arc Mid-South, a nonprofit United Way agency whose purpose is empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential. Dr. Theresa Tran was married to James Fairbanks on November 18, 2011. Theresa works with a private practice group in Boulder, CO. ———————————————————————

the birth of a baby girl, Sonia, on July 14, 2011. Deepesh also accepted a position with Dean Foods in Dallas. Bryan Koch has been promoted to a managing director with CBIZ MHM Thompson Dunavant in Memphis. Nicole R. Walker completed her first medical mission trip to Haiti in February 2011. As one of two pharmacists, she saw more than 2,500 patients over six days of clinic. ———————————————————————

1998

Julia Hanebrink was awarded the 2012 UT Knoxville Chancellor’s Honor for “Extraordinary Professional Promise” (awarded to graduate students who demonstrate professional promise in teaching, research or other contributions). Maria Teresa Blanco Lensing (also MEM ’07) was chosen as CBU’s 2011 Distinguished Young Alumna and was honored at the Alumni Dinner & Celebration on October 8. The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves and simultaneously brought honor to the University and the Alumni Association. Laura Williamson, D.M.V., graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies. ———————————————————————

Matthew Dowdell recently joined the Oklahoma City law firm of Hornbeek Vitali & Braun. Thomas Ishmael (’98) is also an attorney at the firm, practicing within the firm’s complex litigation section. Kara Jones was recognized as one of four finalists for the 2012 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Award. Sibonie Jones-Swatzyna serves as the executive director of the Home Builders Association of North Mississippi. Dr. Felix Vazquez-Chona and his wife, Sara, joyfully welcomed Diego Tomas Vazquez into their family by adoption on April 9, weighing in at 8 lbs., 10 oz. Michael Yates has been appointed CFO of Cancer Care Associates, a physician-owned oncology practice in Tulsa, OK. ———————————————————————

1999 Cynthia Borrum Matthews (MEM) received the 2011 R. Craig Blackman Outstanding Graduate Engineering Alumni Award at the annual Graduate Engineering Dinner on April 1, 2011. As manager of the Facility and Sort Conceptual Design Group at FedEx Express, Cynthia leads an 11-person team responsible for developing state-of-the-art concepts for material handling systems worldwide. She credits her Master of Engineering Management degree from CBU as the turning point in her career. Dr. Elizabeth Graham Mitchell and her husband, Charles Mitchell, had a baby boy, Graham Scott Mitchell, on November 5, 2011. He weighed in at 8 lbs., 4 oz. Larkin M. Gieringer married James Peter Myers (’06) on August 6, 2011. Larkin has also been named vice president of engineering services at Tioga Environmental Consultants in Memphis. ———————————————————————

2000 Deepesh Bhandari and his wife, Sejal, welcomed

2001

2002 Mark Baricos has been promoted to a managing director with CBIZ MHM Thompson Dunavant in Memphis. Leslie C. Fouche received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in May 2011. Lawrence LeBlond, M.D., graduated from St. George’s University and has a residency in Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Melissa Potosky married Garrett Surles on June 9 in a beautiful ceremony at the Memphis Botanic Garden. The couple resides in Southaven, MS. Keith Sanders is the co-founder of the Miller-McCoy Academy for Mathematics and Business in New Orleans, which is the first public all-boys school in the city. Robert Scott, M.D., Ph.D. will start his first year of post graduate training in psychiatry at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. There he hopes to expand his knowledge and skills in research and medicine to impact psychiatry as a whole. BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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babybucs

Analice Hosey Sowell (’02, M.Ed. ’05) and her husband, Michael, welcomed a baby boy, PATRICK SOWELL, on July 23, 2011.

Jeffery Hall (’07) and his wife, Mary, welcomed a new daughter named ELIZA GRACE HALL on January 14, 2012.

2003 Dr. Dino Basic and his wife, Meena, welcomed a new little bundle, Ena, in 2011. Dino completed his nephrology fellowship at Inghamin, and they live in Detroit. Wendy K. Brown has been accepted to University of Tennessee at Knoxville Social Work program. Grishma Desai graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy in May 2011 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy. Grishma has a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Grady Health Systems Hospital in Atlanta. Sean Egger has worked in information technology for Humana in Louisville, KY since 2006, where he is currently an IT business consultant and ScrumMaster. In November, Sean received the Mitzi Silliman Memorial Award, which is offered to all 3,000 Humana IT associates. This award is presented to the person who “brings their best, personally and professionally, to work every day” and exemplifies the traits of doing the right thing, the right way; making a difference; and serving with humility. Rebecca Glatt received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in May 2011. She lives in Knoxville and has been hired to teach Anatomy and Physiology full time at Pellissippi State Community College. Ray Karasek completed Lasallian Leadership Institute Cohort V with a culminating session at Our Lady of Snows Shrine in Belleville, IL along with Lasallian educators from the Midwest District in March. Colin Whittington and Katie Clements had a destination wedding on September 21, 2011. Colin is currently working for Morgan Keegan. Monica Wilson is now a marketing communications specialist at Acxiom Corporation in Memphis. ———————————————————————

2004 Ashley Wise Jett and her husband, Bryan Paul Jett, welcomed their baby girl, Bryley, on July 31, 2011 — just two weeks prior to Ashley’s birthday. Bryley was 7 lbs., 5 oz. and measured 20.5 in. at birth. Ashley is currently working at Walmart Pharmacy in Oakland, TN. Harnish Patel moved back to Mumbai, India, got married to a beautiful girl, and is heading his father’s construction company with projects related to irrigation infrastructure like mini-dams and canals. 54

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Trevor Stedke (MSEM) has been named vice president of technical services for Southwest Airlines. In this position, Trevor will provide leadership for engineering services and standards, quality, maintenance safety, powerplant, and aircraft programs. ———————————————————————

2005 Cynthia Caceres and Lawson Baker (’07) were married on June 4, 2011. Cynthia is currently a dentist and Lawson is a lawyer. They are living in Little Rock. Drew Bringhurst is a cofounder of Newjobfever.com in Memphis, which specializes in making video resumes. Meredith Crum received a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences with an emphasis in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the Medical University of South Carolina in May 2010. With a cumulative GPA of 3.9, she was inducted into the Alpha Eta National Honor Society for the Health Professions. She is presently employed at Lakeside Regional Hospital in Mandeville, LA as a speech pathologist. Christen Gregory, M.D. graduated from East Tennessee State University and has a residency in ER at Orlando Health in Orlando, FL. Angela Michelle Griffith received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in May 2011. Jonathan Henderson married Doneisha Peoples (’06, MBA ’09) on September 3, 2011. Jonathan is currently a Physical Therapist at Health South and Baptist Memorial Healthcare. Joshua Jacobs is a principal in the Sawyers-Jacobs firm specializing in IT and security for the financial industry. Joshua is also a FAA-certified private pilot and is the co-author of the SSCP Study Guide and DVD Training System. His specializations are in network design and support as well as security testing and assurance services. Joshua, his wife Mary, and their four children, live in Collierville, TN. Dana O’Hoyt received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology in October 2010. She is currently a licensed pediatric/health psychologist at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas. Katina Phillips was married to Travis Phillips on September 25, 2010. Tamika N. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Psychology (Crisis & Response Management) from Walden University. Tamika also self-published a book


Does your class give back? There are three key reasons why alumni giving percentages matter and why you, as an alum, should consider an annual gift to CBU. Giving back to CBU is a “vote of support” for your alma mater. U.S. News & World Report tracks alumni giving percentages and considers them when compiling its list of the “Best Colleges and Universities.” CBU currently ranks 24th among Southern colleges and universities, in part because of our alumni giving percentage.

Alumni support matters to many foundations and major donors. If alumni support CBU, then donors see it as a place worthy of further investment.

Giving back expresses your gratitude to CBU and the Christian Brothers. Your gift will help us enrich the next generation of CBU students.

Make your gift today, and show your fellow alumni that you support CBU.

www.cbu.edu/giving (800) 283-2925 BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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of poetry entitled Pieces of Me. Garrett Smithson graduated from CBU with a M.A.T in May 2011. Adriane Wilkinson Vitale and Sam Vitale are the proud parents of Ariana Claire Vitale, born on September 10, 2011. They are currently living in St Louis. ———————————————————————

2006 Paula Cerrito and John Paul Adams were married in Gulf Shores, AL. Paula is currently a pharmacist at Target. Alex Balog (M.Ed.) has been named assistant men’s soccer coach at Montana State University. Christina Brown and David Tran (’07) were married on July 23, 2011. Christina is in her second year of med school and David is teaching at St. Agnes Academy in Memphis. Oscar Herrera graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy in May 2011 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy. JT Malasri has been named to the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council (MYPC). The MYPC is composed of 15-17 young professionals from throughout Shelby County who serve as a liaison between Shelby County government and the local community of young professionals. Shawn Morgan and Natalie Newton (’07) celebrated the birth of their son, Theodore (Teddy) Charles Morgan, on June 1, 2011. Shawn teaches math at Christian Brothers High School, and Natalie teaches Spanish at Tipton-Rosemark Academy. James Peter Myers married Larkin M. Gieringer (’99) on August 6, 2011. Priya Patel graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy in May 2011 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy. Dr. Reena Patel graduated from medical school at the American University of Antigua. Doneisha Peoples (also MBA ’09) married Jonathan Henderson (’05) on September 3, 2011. Douglas Porterfield married Christy Koch on October 29, 2011 in her hometown of Mt. Sterling, IL. Daniel Salvaggio (also MAT ’10) and Ashley Prevost (‘07) were married on June 4, 2011. Jennifer Marie Paxson Saputra had a paper accepted for publication on “Effects of sensory or motor nerve deafferentation on oromotor function in mice” (coauthored by Shires CB, Saputra JM, Stocks RM, Sebelik ME, Boughter JD Jr.), 2011 Jun; 144(6): 915-20. Epub 2011 Mar 1. Jennifer is working

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on her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Patrick Shirley and his wife, Ashley, have a two-yearold little girl, Isabelle, and just welcomed a little boy in 2011. Patrick keeps busy farming 4,500 acres! Dan Springer has been named to the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council (MYPC). The MYPC is composed of 15-17 young professionals from throughout Shelby County who serve as a liaison between Shelby County government and the local community of young professionals. ———————————————————————

2007 Laura Anglin graduated with a master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Memphis and is working for Americorps, writing service learning modules for the Memphis City Schools. Lawson Baker and Cynthia Caceres (’05) were married on June 4, 2011. Cynthia is a practicing dentist, and Lawson is a lawyer. They are living in Little Rock. Lawson was recently hired by Crews & Associates, Inc., an Arkansas-based full-service investment-banking firm with national operations, to serve as the firm’s newest associate in its Capital Markets Group Associate. As such, Lawson will serve as a financial analyst, transactional attorney, and eventually a licensed investment banker. Stephanie Bennett just started a new job as development director at Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services in Memphis. Beth Corl has been named vice president of human resources at Marietta Corporation in its Olive Branch, MS facility. Emily Daniel joined Medtronic Spinal and Biologics in January 2012. Emily is now working in core spine marketing as a senior global marketing development specialist. Emily has also taken on the role of ritual advisor for the Iota Xi Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha. Jeffery Hall started a new role as director of extension with his employer, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, in July. In this role, he will set and oversee the organization’s growth initiatives while overseeing the two coordinators of e xtension. Included with this position, he will maintain the duties of a Regional Director, servicing colleges and universities across the states of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and southern Illinois. Bobby Lawrence has been elected president of the SGA at Lincoln Memorial University Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine for the 2012/2013 year. Mitchell Lingerfelt graduated with a Doctor of


classnotes

Pharmacy in May 2011 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy. Alan Newton graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy in May 2011 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy. Natalie Newton and Shawn Morgan (’06) celebrated the birth of their son, Theodore (Teddy) Charles Morgan, on June 1, 2011. Natalie teaches Spanish at Tipton-Rosemark Academy, and Shawn teaches math at Christian Brothers High School. Brett Prentiss is now in Physical Therapy School at Tennessee State University. Ashley Prevost and Daniel Salvaggio (’06, MAT ’10) were married on June 4, 2011. Makita Reed enrolled in the Pharmacy School at Union University in Jackson, TN. Hannah Shackelford completed her master’s degree in biology at the University of Memphis this May (with Dr. Kent Gartner), and is starting veterinary school at Mississippi State this fall. Teri Shepherd, O.D. graduated from the Southern College of Optometry. Kevin Smith and Mary Buchas were married October 1, 2011 at Second Presbyterian in Memphis. The couple resides in Memphis, and Kevin is employed as an investment strategies analyst at Vining Sparks IBG. Denise Thomas received her Project Management certificate from CBU in May 2011 and is pursuing a doctorate. David Tran and Christina Brown (’06) were married on July 23, 2011. David is teaching at St. Agnes Academy in Memphis, and Christina is in her second year of med school. Anastasia Domashova Wiseman is the current Mrs. Europe International and competed for the Mrs. International title in July. ———————————————————————

2008 Jeremy Armstrong is pursuing his J.D. at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Indre Augustinaite married Gene Gerlach on September 10, 2011. Indre is a nurse in the ICU at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Rebecca Scott Crow and Vincent Crow were married in December 2010. Rebecca graduated from medical school and is an interning physician at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa to begin her training in internal medicine.

Candice Dixon graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in May with a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling. Cedric Flowers was hired as a midstream engineer by Range Resources in Canonsburg, PA. Kim Williams married Andre Guy on May 14, 2011. She received her M.S. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in December 2011 and is working at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a research technician in the Department of Surgery. John Raymond Hensley received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in May 2011. Hayley Gil Isaac has been named to the Mayor’s Young Professionals Council (MYPC). The MYPC is composed of 15-17 young professionals from throughout Shelby County who serve as a liaison between Shelby County government and the local community of young professionals. Lindsay Leslie married Tyler Wright on September 3, 2010. Jordan Reed and Mandi Pitt (‘09) were married on October 15, 2011 at Saint Ann Catholic Church in Nashville. The two currently reside in Memphis. Jordan received an M.A.R. from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2010 and is employed as a Spanish teacher with Shelby County Schools. Mandi is finishing her M.A. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. Agam Saigal is a Regional Marketing Specialist at Subaru of America, assisting dealers with their digital marketing, coordinating marketing events, and analyzing Web data. Agam told us recently that, “I’ve been a car enthusiast since I was a kid and always wanted to work for Subaru, and here I am.” Congratulations, Agam! Brian Walter graduated with a M.S. in Biology from the University of Memphis. ———————————————————————

2009 Russell Brandon transferred from the Ph.D. program in Experimental Psychology at the University of Memphis to the Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at Arizona State University. Bridget Buckley entered the Master of Science in Educational psychology program at the University of Colorado at Denver. Brad Grissom was recently promoted to human resources business partner/director for Kuehne + Nagel, Inc.’s Midwest Region of the Sea & Air BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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Logistics division and the hi-tech contract logistics accounts in the U.S. Heather Gossnell Hill is teaching at St. Benedict High School in Memphis. Matthew Johnson and Chelsea Pesce (’10) were married on May 12 in Bartlett, TN. Matt is an analyst in the Real Estate Lending Group for Independent Bank. He assists in managing the bank’s diverse real estate portfolio along with assessing the risk involved in alternative real estate investments. Matt is also the new president of the CBU National Alumni Board, which gives him a seat on the CBU Board of Trustees. Mandi Pitt and Jordan Reed (’08) were married on October 15, 2011 at Saint Ann Catholic Church in Nashville. The two currently reside in Memphis. Mandi is finishing her M.A. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. Jordan received an M.A.R. from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2010 and is employed as a Spanish teacher with Shelby County Schools. Trakela Weaver is a 7th-grade language arts teacher at the Soulsville Charter School in Memphis. ———————————————————————

2010 Jessica Hines Beard has been accepted into the neuroscience Ph.D. tract of the Integrated Biomedical Science program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Anthony Bownes and Danielle Wright were married on November 19, 2011 at Club Windward in Memphis. Greg Carrico and Caroline Mitchell were married on August 13, 2011. Greg is a project manager at Carlson Consulting Engineers in Memphis. Caroline received her M.A. in History from the University of Memphis. Caitlin Clay and Rodney Riding were married on October 7, 2011. Caitlin is working as a dental assistant at Sexton-Sharp Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Memphis. Jenna David has been teaching Art at Harding Academy since graduation and is now enrolled in the MFA program at Memphis College of Art. Rachel Escue has been accepted into the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Natalie Hart married Patrick Guley on June 3, 2011. Natalie is in medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Jennifer Hiltonsmith has been accepted into

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the M.S. program in biology at the University of Southern Maine. Stacie Hoover has been accepted into the Master’s Program in Behavioral Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Maegan Lytle has been accepted into the accelerated 2nd-degree nursing program at East Tenneessee State University. Chelsea Pesce and Matthew Johnson (’09) were married on May 12 in Bartlett, TN. Chelsea is assistant manager at Cotton Tails in Laurelwood Shopping Center. Jennifer Johnson was accepted into a Master’s Program in Biomedical Science at Midwestern University College of Health Sciences in Downers Grove, IL. Anmol Khan graduated with a M.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Xiong Bin Lin has been accepted to the Ph.D. program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; initially he was in the M.S. program. Wallace Coy Lock has been accepted to medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Caroline Mitchell and Greg Carrico were married on August 13, 2011. Caroline is in graduate school in history at the University of Memphis. Dylan Perry is enrolled at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. Chris Peterson is executive director of GrowMemphis, a nonprofit organization launched in 2007 by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. The mission of GrowMemphis is to create productive and educational urban community gardens that provide the resources for members of the community to grow fresh and nutritious food that will give people tools and skills to develop and enhance their own communities. Paige Pirkey has been accepted into the Master of Science in General Psychology program at the University of Memphis. Mallory Poff finished Baptist Nursing School in 2011 and passed her boards. She is working in ICU at LeBonheur in Memphis. Sania Sayani was accepted to St. James Medical School in Netherlands-Antilles in the West Indies. Brandy Sims is now project coordinator at Caissa Public Strategy, a small up-and-coming public strategies firm in Memphis. The firm is working on some exciting campaigns and community projects


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You can help make sure that this life-changing experience is available to future generations of Buccaneers. Your gift to CBU supports our students and faculty, and provides them with state-of-the-art facilities and athletic equipment. Go Bucs! And thanks for your generosity!

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this year. Brandy previously worked in development at The Leadership Academy. Jessie Wortham was selected as the Outstanding First-Year Student in the HESA (Higher Education Student Affairs) Program at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. This was voted on by both the faculty and her peers. Danielle Wright and Anthony Bownes were married on November 19, 2011 at Club Windward in Memphis. ———————————————————————

2011 Ashley Bailey entered the Master of Science program in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Memphis. Nathali Blackwell was accepted into the Master of Social Work program at the University of Memphis. Christina Brown has joined the CBU School of Business in the position of administrative assistant. Christina was previously administrative assistant for the School of Arts. Ben Chism won the local competition for the Texaco Country Showdown at the Hard Rock Cafe in September 2011. Radio station 95.3 Rebel put the competition on. He also competed in the regionals in Little Rock in November. He wrote the song he sang, called “College.” Jennifer Cobb is in the Master’s Program In Environmental Science at Arkansas State University. Mary Jane Dickey and Blake Gibbs were married on June 11, 2011. Mary Jane is working as an intern at the Church Health Center. Leila Dolfo has been appointed assistant coach at Lincoln Memorial University. Cody Dunn recently received a promotion within the parent company of the Redbirds, Global Spectrum. He is now the assistant manager of the box office for the Chaifetz Arena at Saint Louis University. Lorna Field has been accepted into New York University’s M.S. in Publishing: Digital and Print Media program. Amanda Fitzgerald presented a paper on “Effects of hippocampal injections of zolpidem on conditioned fear retrieval” at a special undergraduate session of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, DC in November. Amanda has accepted a position at the University of Texas, Austin. She will be working on her Ph.D. in Biology with Dr. Peter Thomas at the Marine Science Laboratory in Port Aransas after the initial year of coursework in Austin. Dominique Garcia-Robles worked in the MHIRT program in Sao Paulo, Brazil last summer.

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She presented the results of her research at a special undergraduate session of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, DC in November, entitled “Adrenergic Receptor Expression in Medulla Oblongata Cell Culture of Newborn Rats” (coauthored by Sergio M. deSilva, Maisa Costa, Marina Almeida and Debora R. Fior-Chadi). Amanda Garland is pursuing her J.D. at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. D. J. Hobbs has enrolled in the Master of Philosophy program at the University of Memphis. Natalie Hurt and Joe Birch III were married on December 30, 2011. Mony Hy is a graduate student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Brandon Johnson entered the Ph.D. program in Industrial Organizational Psychology at Auburn University. Ashley Jones entered the Master of Science in Public Health program at the University of Memphis. Max Karimnia has joined Signature Advertising in Memphis as digital media quality assurance manager. Rance Killen is working as a design engineer at THY Inc. in Memphis. Carrie Le is continuing her studies at the Southern College of Optometry. Anthony Maranise has released his new book entitled Faith-Filled Fragments with Amazon.com publishing affiliates. In the book, he navigates his experiences with cancer at a young age in order to explore the depth and value of human life lived “for Christ.” Kathleen Nelson married Michael Goldberg on October 8, 2011 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Bartlett. Kathleen is currently in physical therapy school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Kevin Rooney has been promoted to operations coordinator for the Memphis Redbirds. Gabriella Salinas spoke at the Greater Memphis Chamber’s annual Chairman Luncheon about her experiences as a patient and employee at St. Jude. Erik Scott was elected president of the first-year pharmacy class at Union University. Jennifer Sneed was chosen as the Lasallian Volunteer of the Month in October 2011. She is working at Serviam Gardens, an apartment complex for middleand low-income senior citizens in Bronx, NY. ———————————————————————

2012 Larry Anderson won first place for his presentation


classnotes

Power Players We are proud of our CBU alumni who were selected for inclusion in the Memphis Business Quarterly’s “Power Players 2012” issue. They include: Toney Armstrong (’05) Jeff Arnold (’78) Robert Cremerius (’83) Michael Deutsch (’90, MBA ’95) Chris Fay (’98, MSEL ’04) Joel Johnson (MEM ’05), Chris McLean (’80) Mark Merrill (’81) Mike Pohlman (’79) Brian Thompson (’97) Russ Williams (’83) CBU president, Dr. John Smarrelli Jr., was also selected as a “Power Player” for his involvement in higher education in Memphis. in the Chemistry division at the 2012 Star-Spangled Super-Regional Convention of Alpha Chi Honor Society in Baltimore in March. His presentation was entitled “Synthesis of (Z)-4,4’-bis(iodoacetimide) stilbene as a Cross-linker in a Peptide Drug Delivery System.” Adam Blair received a $7,600 internship at the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program last summer at the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bethesda, MD. This is the Navy’s center of excellence for ships and submarines and their systems. Kasey Bramlitt has been accepted to Master of Social Work program at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Chelsea Chandler was the second runner-up in the 2011 Miss Tennessee Pageant, held in June 2011. Raquel Edwards married Joshua Stevens on June 2. Joe Fong presented in the Health and Medical Science session of the 121st meeting of Tennessee Academy of Science at Union University in Jackson, TN in October. The title of his talk was “Clinical and Molecular Characterization of CFTR Mutants Delta F508 and R347P.” His coauthors were Sunitha Yarlagadda, Dennis C. Stokes and Anjaparavanda P. Naren.

Austin Gooch attended the Taipei International Cycling Show in Taipei, Taiwan in March. It is one of the largest international trade shows in the cycling industry. The show consisted of over 1,000 exhibitors and 3,000 booths. He was sent by his current employer, Aerobic Cruiser (a start-up electric bicycle company founded by Memphian Charlie McVean), with whom he has accepted an offer to remain as quality manager following graduation. Kara Jones has been accepted into the Master of Communication Disorders in Speech-Language Pathology program at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Scott Parker presented in the Cell and Molecular Biology session of the 121st meeting of Tennessee Academy of Science at Union University in Jackson, TN in October. The title of his talk was “Therapeutic Intraocular Erythropoietin Gene Therapy in a Mouse Model of Retinal Degeneration.” His coauthors were Cody Richardson, Rachel Haag (’11), Siddharth N. Desai, Jessica Hines-Beard (’11), and Tonia S. Rex. Caristy Polischeck won second place in the student paper competition for her presentation of “Power and Temperature Monitoring” at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) SoutheastCon 2012 in Orlando, FL in March. Minna Zhao has been accepted to Master of Social Work program at both the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the University of Memphis. ———————————————————————

2013 Johnnie Huddleston received a Memphis Mensa Academic Award for a painting she executed for her Studio Art thesis project, which also won her a top place in the CBU’s annual Student Research Poster competition in April. Alex Park was appointed to the Tennessee Intercollegiate Supreme Court. He will serve as one of five justices for the 2012-13 term. ———————————————————————

2014 Kaitlin Howle received a $6,500 grant for the 2012 Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at University of Central Arkansas. The program is part of the Computer Science REU project funded by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the program is to encourage talented undergraduate students to pursue graduate study and research careers in computer science by providing them a competitive research experience.

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passings May all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. JAMES P. LOSTROSCIO (‘74) died on March 28, 2011. Jim is survived by his wife, Denise; children Tracy, Jonathan, Michael and Matthew; and grandchildren Abigail, Sean and Riley. ——————————————————————— PAUL POPE JR. (’49) died on April 29, 2011. He was a retired senior vice president of the former United American Bank. He is survived by his loving wife, Audrey Pope; brother, Dr. Herbert L. Pope; four daughters, Paula Hansard, Susan Kynerd, Lainie Rogers and Bitsy Walker; and stepsons Phil Carter and Derrick Carter. He leaves ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. ——————————————————————— JOHN SHEA BUCHIGNANI III (‘94) passed away May 23, 2011. In recent years, Shea worked with Mid South Realty and other businesses as a real estate agent and consultant specializing in special asset and loan restructuring. He was previously employed as a vice president at Regions Bank. ——————————————————————— EUGENE ARTHUR HARDESTY (’66) died on June 17, 2011, in Richardson, TX. Eugene, known as “Gene,” received an academic scholarship from CBC, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering. During his engineering career in Memphis, Gene worked on the structural designs of the new Tennessee/Arkansas bridge spanning the Mississippi river, the first rotunda building in Memphis at the library on the campus of what was then Memphis State University, and the Terminal 7 addition of Memphis International Airport. Gene is survived by his brother, Joseph Donner Hardesty Jr., daughters Andrea Lynn Mitchell, Karen Elaine Spurr. He is also survived by grandson Daniel Lewis, granddaughter Lisa Anne Schmaltz, and great-grandchild Laudon Lewis Mitchell. ——————————————————————— EARL FRAY (’59) passed away on July 7, 2011 in Sun City West, AZ. Earl came to CBU at age 21 and graduated four years later with a degree in electrical engineering. After a long and successful career in engineering and business, the Frays spent their retirement years actively, life filling 62

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their days biking across the U.S. or cruising the world on cargo ships. The Frays established the Earl and Faye Fray Endowed Scholarship at CBU in 2009. (An article on the Frays appeared in the Fall 2009 edition of Bell Tower.) ——————————————————————— FRANCES HORTON MCKINNEY (’90) died July 9, 2011 at her residence in Iron Station, NC. She was a member of ABWA in Charlotte and retired from International Paper Company. She leaves her sisters, Mae Clemmer, Shirley Smith and Carolyn Phillips; brothers Larry Horton and Jack Horton; and dear friend, Vickie Smith. ——————————————————————— JAMES STEVEN ADAIR (’72) passed away on July 25, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Betty Claire Adair; his three daughters, Whitney Elizabeth Adair, Courtney Alison Adair, Ashley Ann Adair; his mother, Dorothy Mae Adair; sister, Sheila Ogburn; niece, Nichole Ogburn. He was an Eligibility Counselor with the State of Tennessee. ——————————————————————— FRANCIS LEE BENDALL (’63) died August 5, 2011 in Stockbridge, GA. Francis retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as an electronics engineer. Francis is survived by his wife of more than 51 years, Katie Nunn Bendall; sons Dean, Phillip, and Lyn; and two brothers, William Lynn and Ray Allen. ——————————————————————— GREGORY DANE CLIFTON (’89) died August 5, 2011, at his home in Baton Rouge, LA. He began his career with Coopers and Lybrand in Memphis. They merged with Pricewaterhouse and his career continued as a CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Clifton Jr.; two brothers,Otto Clifton III and Garrett Clifton; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Garland Garrett; his wife, Laura Lucket Clifton; and son Zachary Dane Clifton. ——————————————————————— GEORGE LOUIS KRUPICKA, retired associate professor in the School of Engineering at CBU, died August 19, 2011 after a long illness. Mr. Krupicka leaves his wife, Betty Krupicka; daughter Lisa Krupicka; and granddaughter Samantha Krupicka. A true “Renaissance Man,” he was a loving and kind family man, an inspiring teacher, and remained curious about and interested in every aspect of life. ——————————————————————— DEMPSIE “BARNEY” MORRISON III (’74) died at his home in Jackson, TN on September 16, 2011


passings

after a long illness. Barney, an employee of H&M Architects/Engineers, was registered to practice electrical engineering in 43 states. He leaves his wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Morrison; daughter Emilie Morrison Ward; two sons, Dempsie “Buddy” Morrison IV and Frank Morrison; grandson, Hunter Ward; mother-in-law, Emma Argol; three sisters, Mary Livaudais, Anne Morrison and Martha Matthews; three brothers, Mark Morrison, Sam Morrison and Michael Morrison. ——————————————————————— TAVY L. CAIN (’63) passed away peacefully on September 17, 2011 in Camarillo, CA. He worked as senior management in the Nemesis engineering station at the Naval Base in Port Hueneme, CA from 1963 until his retirement. Tavy is survived by his wife, Joan; children Linda Cain, Tavy Cain Jr., Keith Cain Sr.; ten grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. ——————————————————————— LOUIS RODNEY “ROD” GOKE (’68) died at his home in Austin, TX on October 5, 2011. Rod was employed by Texas Instruments, Colorado State University, and AT& T Lab before accepting employment with Motorola at Austin. He received a Distinguished Innovator Award, recognizing his many patent and engineering contributions to the Semiconductor Products Sector of Motorola, and a Scientific and Technical Society award for superior technical accomplishment and outstanding contributions to total technology. ——————————————————————— MICHAEL JOSEPH “MIKE” WITEK (’72) died at Mid-South Health and Rehabilitation Center on October 16, 2011 after a long illness. Mike came to Memphis to attend CBC where he graduated in 1972, and worked for CBC for two years following graduation as the first student activities director. He also worked at Bryce Corporation. Most recently, Mike was the textbook coordinator at Rhodes College Bookstore. Mike is survived by his wife of 40 years, Paula (Galbraith) Witek, daughter Kathleen Witek, and brother Richard Witek. ——————————————————————— FRANCIS RICHARD IRELAND (’63) passed away on October 23, 2011 in Memphis. He was influential in the Memphis music scene in the 1970s and studio manager for Ardent Recording Studios. From 1981 to 1985, Rick was founder and president of Propsopht, Inc., and he served as senior vicepresident of Paine Webber in New York from 1985

to 1988. He was founder and president of MAPS, Inc. until his retirement in 2006. An accomplished guitarist, Rick played with the Veterans Administration Band, The Shriner’s Band, and the Memphis Doctor’s Band. He leaves behind his loving companion and best friend of many years, Mary Heffernan; his brother, Pat Ireland; his four children, Bobby Ireland, Leslie Searcy, Linda Wray and Leigh Saylors; and nine grandchildren. ——————————————————————— JAMES E. GREENE JR. (’73) passed away on October 26, 2011 from a short, courageous battle with advanced lung cancer. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Karen Greene; son Jason; daughters Kimberly and Erin; mother, Mina Greene; brothers, Paul and Kevin; sisters, Barbara Broadhacker and Cecilia Verbinnen; and three grandchildren. ——————————————————————— SONJIA LYNN REDMON BLANCO (’96) died October 31, 2011 at Methodist LeBonheur Germantown Hospital. Ms. Blanco was an IT Manager for FedEx for over 30 years. She leaves her daughter, Lyndsay Davis; sister Julie A. Wood; brothers Mickey A. Redmon and Robert T. Redmon. ——————————————————————— DOLORES LOUISE GRISANTI, a longtime friend of CBU, passed away on November 3, 2011. She was predeceased by her husband, “Big John” Grisanti. She is survived by her three children, John Grisanti Jr., Dolores Katsotis, and David Grisanti; sisters Carolyn Mensi and Mary Agnes Marable; and eight grandchildren. ——————————————————————— GREGORY “GREG” ANTHONY GLASER (’82) passed away in Brownsville, TN on November 12, 2011. Greg is survived by his wife, Deborah Davis Glaser; two daughters, Gabrielle and Grace Glaser; his parents, Jan and Don Glaser (’59, Professor Emeritus, School of Engineering); and one brother, Don Glaser II. He was in automotive equipment sales for 35 years and was awarded two Golden Eagles for his accomplishments. ——————————————————————— PEGGY WEBSTER CANALE, a longtime friend of CBU, passed away on November 22, 2011. She was active in many civic organizations, primarily in conjunction with the Memphis Garden Club where she served as president. Under her leadership, the first flower show was held at the Dixon Gallery and Garden. As President of the Canale Foundation, she was involved in many philanthropic activities. She

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was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, John D. Canale Jr. She is survived by her sons, John D. Canale III and Chris W. Canale, four grandchildren and four great- grandchildren, and her brother William A. Webster Jr. ——————————————————————— JOSEPH RUSSELL BROWN SR. (’61) died on December 9, 2011. The owner of Communication Systems, Inc., he is survived by his wife of 57 years, Artie G. Brown; daughters Mary Catherine “Cathy” Brown, Paula Ann Brown Jones, and Theresa Brown Williams; sons Joseph Russell “Russ” Brown Jr. and Raymond Anthony “Tony” Brown; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. ———————————————————————

JAMES E. HARWOOD III, CBU trustee and longtime friend of the University, lost a long and courageous battle with leukemia on November 16, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Dorotha (Dot) Bickerstaff Harwood and four children, Alicia Harwood Baker, Katharine Harwood Carruthers, Jean Harwood Sikes and James E. Harwood IV. He also leaves his sister, Katharine Harwood Gooch, and eleven grandchildren. Jim was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School and Georgia Tech. He served in the business world for 55 years, holding positions as vice president of Conwood Corporation, president of Dr. Scholl and DAP, Inc., both divisions of Schering-Plough, and president of Sterling Equities, Inc. He was a board member of Regions Bank, Morgan Keegan, Union Planters Bank, Leader Federal S&L and SCB Computer Technology Corporation. He also served on the Board of the Church Health Center, Mid-South Coliseum, Board of Visitors of the University of Memphis and the Chickasaw Council of Boy Scouts of America. Above: Mr. and Mrs. Harwood were the first friends of CBU to be recognized on the “Bridge of Honor,” the new walkway that links the center of campus with the Brothers’ residence. They are pictured on the Bridge with daughter-in-law Grace and son James. 64

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ELIZABETH ANN GARRISON (’02) passed away on December 13, 2011 after a long and valiant fight with lung cancer. She will be missed by her husband of 28 years, Dennis King, and son Westley, as well as brother Anthony and sister Susan. She spent the last ten years as a 1st grade teacher in the Memphis City Schools and St. George’s Memphis campus. She also found time to serve multiple years on the board of the Memphis Youth Symphony and more recently as a member of the Foster Care Review Board. ——————————————————————— PAUL MICHAEL “BIG PUN” JONES (’07) died on January 19, 2012. A lifelong resident of Memphis, he graduated from Christian Brothers High School and attended CBU where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. He is survived by his mother, Nancy M. Jones; father Allen C. Jones; and brother Ben Jones. ——————————————————————— JOHN CHARLES GALLAGHER CAMPBELL (’51) died on January 26, 2012. He was a registered engineer in Tennessee and other states, returning to CBC as a lay teacher for three years. He began his career at Allen and Hoshell Engineering Firm, leaving to establish the engineering firm of Campbell & Campbell with his brother, Tom. He then organized the firm of John C. Campbell & Associates, providing specialized services and expertise in construction project conception, master planning, financing, development and cost control on major projects throughout the U.S. The firm planned, developed, and managed landmark medical projects in Memphis, including the Ambulatory Care Center for the Regional Medical Center, the Firefighters Regional Burn Center, and the Memphis Eye and Cataract Surgery Center. He leaves his wife of 32 years, Priscilla Chapman Campbell; one stepson, Dan Warlick; step-grandson, Carson Warlick; a daughter, Lindsey Nolen; two granddaughters, Emily and Kaylie; and three sisters, Patsy Knight, Peggy Winston (Chuck) and Penny Dancer. ——————————————————————— BRIDGET BYRNE MOORE (’85) passed away after a long battle with cancer on January 26, 2012, in Sacramento, CA with her children by her side. Bridget was born in London, England and joined the British Foreign Office and worked for MI6, stationed in Germany for two years just after World War II in the coding/decoding section. After moving to America, she married Donald Clark Moore in 1967. After careers in Colorado and adventures in Malawi, they returned to the U.S. and moved to Memphis,


passings

where Don taught engineering at CBU and where Bridget completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology. She then became a math teacher at Bishop Byrne High School. They moved to South Dakota to teach at South Dakota State University. While there, Bridget began the journey that would eventually take her to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church in 1996. She served as an assistant priest and worked in many ministries, most recently with the Little Sisters of St. Clare. Don passed away in 2002. She is survived by her two children, William and Sarah; three stepchildren, Ann, Beth and James; and seven grandchildren. ——————————————————————— JO ANN ENOCHS BROWN (’98) passed away on February 8, 2012 at her home in Radford, VA. She was an associate professor at Radford University. Jo Ann and her late husband, Cecil J. Brown, went back to school and completed undergraduate degrees at CBU, then Jo Ann went to the University of Florida at to complete her MBA and to the University of Mississippi to complete her Ph.D. in Management. Survivors include son Joseph Scott; daughter Laura Ann Brown; four grandchildren; and sisters Mary Elizabeth Sayer and Helen Clair Enochs. ——————————————————————— CLIFTON GIBBS (’11) passed away at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis on February 3, 2012 from injuries suffered in a car accident. He leaves his mother, Carol Gibbs and father, Dorsey Patterson. ——————————————————————— RODGER LYLE ARMSTRONG (’82) passed away February 25, 2012, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice House in Winston-Salem, NC. Rodger served in the U.S. Marines and was retired from the WG “Bill” Hefner Veterans Hospital working in the Accounting Department. Those left to cherish his memories are his former wife Sandra Lovejoy Armstrong; and sisters, Carole Phillips and Beverly Jane Norman. ——————————————————————— CLAIRE ROCHELLE NEVELS (’90) passed away on March 4, 2012. Claire was a school teacher for Memphis City Schools and on the board of directors of Tennessee Science Teachers, who named her the “Science Educator of the Year” in 2002. She was also honored as “Air Force Science Teacher of the Year” in 2003 by the Air Force Association. Claire leaves her parents, Gordon Nevels and Cissi Loftis (former CBU Admissions); her grandmother, Audi Nevels; and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Audie Leslie (’91) and Jimmy Roy Leslie (’89), Cindy

Ogden (’93) and Mike Ogden, and Maggie Robinson and John Robinson. (Claire was the subject of a article in the Summer 2003 edition of Bell Tower.) ——————————————————————— JAMES EDWARD HITCHCOCK (’63) passed away at his home in Knoxville, TN on February 25, 2012 with his loving family surrounding him. Jim was a prominent engineer in the global television industry and held several innovative patents to his name. During his career he worked for Chrysler Aerospace, RCA Television, Magnavox Electronics, and retired from Philips Electronics. Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years, Betty B. Hitchcock; and sons Alan B. Hitchcock and Scott E. Hitchcock. ——————————————————————— DR. BERNARD B. BEARD, former faculty member and chair of Mechanical Engineering, passed away March 9, 2012, in Madison, AL. He was employed as a senior consultant at Ares Corporation in Huntsville, AL. He was a graduate of Keystone School in San Antonio (1975) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S. ’82, and Ph.D. ’94). Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Natalie C. Kerr; his sons, Bradford and Griffen Beard; and his sister, Edith Beard Brady. ——————————————————————— CLIFTON GHOSTON III (’01, MBA ’11) passed away on March 23, 2012. Clifton was a 5th-grade teacher with Memphis City Schools. He leaves his mother, Loretta Ghoston of Aramark Food Services at CBU; sister Keasha Ghoston; stepsister Evelyn Shaw; and stepbrother Jeffrey Brady. ——————————————————————— DONALD E. SMITH (’74) died April 5, 2012 at Methodist University Hospital. Don was a computer software specialist for DCAA/Memphis. He leaves one sister, Janet Phillips, and two nephews. ——————————————————————— MORGAN JESSE GREER passed away April 16, 2012 at his home. He is survived by his parents, Paul and Carolyn Greer; sister Alexandra Greer; and grandmothers, Lorene Cross and Margaret Greer. Morgan was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School (’07) and attended CBU prior to his passing. ——————————————————————— JAMES HUNTER LANE JR., longtime friend of CBU and husband of former trustee Susan W. Bowen Lane, died April 22, 2012 at Methodist Le Bonheur Hospice after a long illness. Hunter graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1951 Magna Cum Laude and continued at the W & L Law School where BELLTOWERSUMMER2012

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he was awarded a law degree in 1953 (Law Review). He began practicing law in Memphis in 1955 and was elected Commissioner of Public Service in 1963. He worked with the Waring, Cox Law Firm for a time before forming his own firm in the 1970s. He was very active with the Civil Rights Movement in Memphis and acted diligently in many behind the scenes activities. He served on the boards of numerous civic organizations including the Wolf River Society, Liberty Bowl Festival Association, National Conference of Christians and Jews, and Memphis Housing Authority. He served as a volunteer for the Community Legal Center after his retirement, helping people who could not afford an attorney and was awarded the Elmer Roane Award for his service to the people of Memphis. Besides his wife Susan, he leaves three children, Dorothy Lane McClure, James Hunter Lane III, and William Martin Lane; two stepsons, Charles Michael Bowen and Robert Kenneth Bowen; four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. ——————————————————————— WILLIAM LANE HARRIS, PH.D., a friend and benefactor of CBU, passed away on May 3, 2012 in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He was a history professor and dean of undergraduate studies at The Citadel. He is survived by his wife, Doris Jewell Justus Harris; daughter Barbara Harris June; and three grandchildren. ——————————————————————— RICHARD FRANCIS KRIZ SR., AFSC (’67) passed away May 13, 2012 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. Richard was a U.S. Navy Veteran, an affiliate of the Christian Brothers, and retired treasurer of CBU, where he served more than 25 years. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Lynette Kriz, daughter Catherine Kriz Barrom, son Richard F. Kriz Jr., eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. ——————————————————————— JOHN M. BARRETT (’61) passed away peacefully on May 22, 2012 in the presence of his family at his home in Huntington Beach, CA. John spent 30 years working as an electrical engineer for several California aerospace corporations. John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Valerie; his sons, Thomas, Robert, and David; and his granddaughter, Celeste. ——————————————————————— EUGENE THOMAS GIBSON (’67) passed away June 7, 2012 after a nearly 20-year dance with cancer. Born in Quincy, IL, Gene spent his career serving

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our country, retiring as a United States Air Force Colonel. Gene was an ardent volunteer and had many passionate interests. He is survived by his loving wife of 15 years, Brenda; son Michael; grandchildren Abigail and Madison; brothers Robert and Joseph; sisters Barbara Emerson and Christine Jessee; and dear friend Sr. Florence Seifert, CPPS. ——————————————————————— CLAUDE BRAGANZA, longtime friend of CBU, passed away on June 20, 2012. at home. Claude received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1959 at the University of Liverpool. After a short stint in Nashville, he moved to Memphis in 1960 and worked with the office of Walk C Jones and Gassner Nathan & Browne, where he collaborated on many projects including the First Tennessee Bank building and Temple Israel. His largest project was the Harrah’s Marina Casino in Atlantic City and was published in Architectural Record. In 1988, he formed Braganza Associates and designed projects for Clorox, Papa John’s, Delta Faucet, and Sacred Heart School in Mississippi. He is survived by his wife, Astrid, and his two children, Miriam and Brian. ——————————————————————— PHILLIP PATTON ERVIN (’98) passed away on June 24, 2012 at Baptist Hospital in Collierville, TN. He was a corporate accountant for International Paper. He is survived by his daughter, Jaime Nichole Maskill; fiancé Denise Walls; grandchildren, Peyton and Parker Reese Maskill; mother Minnie Lee Ervin; sister Barbara Jackman; and brothers, Thomas H. Ervin and Don Ervin. ——————————————————————— JOHN J. “JACK” MARCHINO (’63) passed away on June 29, 2012. Jack served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and worked for the Georgia Department of Revenue for 15 years. He is survived by wife Ann Marchino, son Allen Marchino, daughter Leigh Ann Pesterfield, and five grandchildren. ——————————————————————— JOSEPH PETER CAVALLO (’53) passed away on July 2, 2012. Joseph was an educator in the Memphis City Schools and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He retired from the Industrial Supply Business in Jacksonville, FL. ——————————————————————— JOHN EDWARD ELDER (’85) died July 5, 2012 at his home in San Diego. John is survived by his wife, Helen Elder; and three siblings, Bill Elder, Thomas Elder, and Elizabeth Carrico. John was an electrical engineer for Qualcomm.


passings

——————————————————————— RAYMOND FRANCIS KAMLER, CPA (’60) died on July 8, 2012 in Lee’s Summit, MO. Ray is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cheri Rogers Kamler; his daughter, Melissa Kamler Burnett (’89) and her husband Timothy Burnett (’89); sons Michael Kamler, Marc Kamler, and Matthew Kamler; and eight grandchildren. Ray worked as an auditor for Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck, PLC for 25 years. He was a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Tennessee Society of CPAs, past president of the state and Memphis CPA Chapters, and was on the Tennessee state board of accountancy and the AICPA Legislative committee. ———————————————————————

AN HUU PHAM (’84) of Lakeland, TN passed away on July 16, 2012. He was a member of the Vietnamese Catholic Charities, and founder of the local Memphis Chapter of Human Operation. Mr. Pham is survived by his loving wife, KimDung Pham; daughter, Katherine Pham Federico; and two grandchildren. ——————————————————————— JOYCELYN JARÍ JOHNSON PERRY (’80) passed away on July 26, 2012. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Arthur Perry III; mother and father, Rita Lawscha and Curtis Kendrick; sisters Jannifer Jané Johnson and Verna Jo Morton; stepbrother Cedric Killebrew; and stepsister Cheryl Beckles.

8

Eight Ways to Make a Bequest and a Difference 1. Specific bequest. This is a gift of a specific item to a specific beneficiary. For example, “I give my golf clubs to my nephew, John.” If that specific property has been disposed of before death, the bequest fails and no claim can be made to any other property.

2. General bequest. This is usually a gift of a stated sum of money. It will not fail, even if there is not sufficient cash to meet the bequest—even if other estate assets need to be sold. For example, “I give $50,000 to my daughter, Mary.”

3. Contingent bequest. This is a bequest made on condition that a certain event must occur before distribution to the beneficiary. For example, “I give $50,000 to my son, Joe, provided he enrolls in college before age 21.”

4. Residuary bequest. This is a gift of all the “rest, residue and remainder” of your estate after all other bequests, debts and taxes have been paid. For example, say your estate is worth $500,000, and you intend to give a child $50,000 by specific bequest and the residuary estate to your spouse. If the debts, taxes and expenses are $100,000, there would only be $350,000 left for the surviving spouse. Most people prefer to divide their estates according to percentages of the residue (rather than specifying dollar amounts), to ensure that your beneficiaries receive the proportions you desire. The previous items can apply in the case of bequests to individual heirs or bequests to charitable organizations, such as Christian Brothers University. The above types of bequests generally define the amount of the bequest. The additional

terms below are optional considerations (added to the above bequests) when the bequest is made to charity.

5. Unrestricted bequest. This is a gift for our general

purposes, to be used at the discretion of our Board of Trustees. A gift like this—without conditions attached—is frequently the most useful, as it allows CBU to determine the wisest and most pressing need for the funds at the time of receipt.

6. Restricted bequest. This type of gift allows you to specify

how the funds are to be used. It’s best, however, to consult CBU when you make your will to be certain your intent can be fulfilled.

7. Honorary or memorial bequest. This is a gift given “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone.

8. Endowed bequest. This bequest allows you to restrict

the principal of your gift, requiring us to hold the funds permanently and use only a small percentage or the income they generate. Creating an endowment in this manner means that your gift can continue giving indefinitely.

Call (901) 321-3270 for more information. Copyright © The Stelter Company, All rights reserved.

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backpage

Unveiled

Dr. Marguerite Cooper (Professor Emerita, Chemistry), pictured above with her daughter Susan Wilson, seemed pleasantly surprised by the new portrait of “Dr. Mom� that was unveiled in the lobby of the Cooper-Wilson Center for Life Sciences at a special ceremony in March. The portrait (right) was painted by local artist Jamie McMahan.

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PHOTOS BY CORY DUGAN


OCTOBER 5-6, 2012

ALUMNI WEEKEND

REUNIONS FOR CLASSES ENDING IN 2 AND 7 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HOPS CAMPUS TOURS TAILGATE PARTY ALUMNI CO-ED SOCCER GAME ALUMNI MASS ALUMNI DINNER & CELEBRATION AND MORE... MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND WATCH YOUR MAILBOX (AND INBOX) FOR MORE DETAILS!

www.cbu.edu/alumni


NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT 650 EAST PARKWAY SOUTH MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38104

CBU Golden Jubilarians (Class of 1962) at 2012 Commencement (back row, l-r) Paul Hanson, Dr. Tom Ellis, Lenny Winslow, Ernie Heeb, Ron Mills, Dr. Ray Brown, Kurt Knuth, Dick Gadomski; (front row, l-r) Dr. John Smarrelli (CBU President), Denis Ledgerwood, Jerry Olds, Richard Ptacin, Woodie Herrin, Bob Weiler, James Hendrick

PAID

MEMPHIS, TN PERMIT NO. 397


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