Chemistry Drives Greyhound Alumna By Todd Fuqua and Desiree Cooper
Jayamini Mudugamuwa Hewage (MS 18) is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Mississippi State University, teaching chemistry to undergraduate students along the way. Arriving in Portales, New Mexico, from Sri Lanka, Jayamini pursued chemistry with a passion, having fallen in love with the subject in high school. She knew then that any advanced degrees she earned would be in pursuit of chemistry. “Color changes, observable chemical and physical changes in matter made me love it even more,” Jayamini said. She also was in love with fellow chemistry graduate Dhanush Amarasekara (MS 19). The two are married and have a child, Adithya. Dhanush is a graduate chemistry research assistant at Mississippi State. Teaching her favorite subject to students in Mississippi while continuing her research is rewarding, and she looks forward to continuing both after she earns a Ph.D. She recently gave a graduate seminar at Mississippi State on Oct. 26, 2021, titled “Detection of cancer cells using electrochemical sensors.” “Chemistry is a wonderful subject; it gets updated every second,” Jayamini said. “The limit of learning is endless. You don’t have to be the smartest to study chemistry, just be consistent and keep in touch with the subject. I love what I do.”
Jayamini Mudugmuwa Hewage, left, husband Dhanush Amarasekara, with their child, Adithya.
ENMU Grad Loved and Provided for His Alma Mater Richard Griffith (MBA 67) died July 15, 2021. He dearly loved
ENMU and was an ardent supporter of the University, donating $400,000 to help build Greyhound Stadium. During the Korean War, Richard served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force as an atomic weapons officer assigned to the Strategic Air Command in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He later served on various committees supporting Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, New Mexico. He founded, invested in and managed several retailing and agricultural-related businesses, expanding his father’s grocery business into Portales, New Mexico, when he and Walter “Cotton” Clark opened the Food Town store in the Sands Center. He served on the Affiliated Foods and Affiliated Finance boards in Amarillo, Texas, was a founder of North Plains Compress in Tulia, Texas, and AVC Veterinary Supplies, with locations in Texas and New Mexico. On September 10, 2016, Richard was joined by ENMU President’s Ambassadors Andrew Anaya (AA 15) and Ryan Pecotte (attended) at the dedication of the Griffith and Field Scoreboard at Greyhound Stadium. The scoreboard is named for Griffith and longtime colleague Dan Field of Lovington, New Mexico.
