The Word Online - Summer 2014

WORD the

Summer 2014

Texas State Representatives live the Mission of service

A special letter from Dr. Denise Doyle, chancellor of UIW. President Dr. Louis Agnese has just returned from a sabbatical.

“There is a feeling

Dear Friends:

admiration and

There is a feeling you get at UIW when commencement is upon us. It is a sense of anticipation! The campus is abuzz with grounds men blowing leaves and trimming hedges. Everything is being spruced-up for family and friends attending ceremonies on the campus. There are students taking pictures, posing in caps and gowns. There are groups of friends mugging together, perhaps for the last time. There is a gathering of fond memories as students look back on their years on campus. There is the hint of farewell in the air.

There is a feeling you get at UIW when graduating students march between their faculty on the way to commencement! It is a sense of mutual admiration and mutual success. Each student has accomplished a dream and perhaps a series of challenges along the way and has prevailed. Each faculty member has contributed his or her knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to the ultimate goal of these students reaching graduation. It is a wonderful feeling of success, and congratulatory greetings abound! For retiring faculty (see p. 22) these are some of the memories they will cherish.

There is a feeling you get at UIW as the semester is ending. It is the move from a rush of activities that mark the end of another semester, to the slower pace of summer. It is the gradual thinning out of crowds of students, as dorm rooms are emptied and exams are finished. Suddenly there are more parking places open and fewer students waiting for shuttles. The tension of a crowded calendar of year-end events is gradually released.

So when the summer starts, those of us who work over the summer take a deep collective breath and enjoy the rest. We wander across campus and see the space left by graduating students, retiring faculty friends, and the inevitable changes that summer brings. We enjoy a less hectic pace and more parking. But it doesn’t take too long before the fatigue of the spring semester is replaced with anticipation of the fall semester, the new Fine Arts Building, new students and faculty, and the return of familiar faces. These are the cycles of the university by which we set our semester clocks. Enjoy the summer, Cardinals, and come back soon!

mutual success.�

Sincerely,

you get at UIW when graduating students march between their faculty on the way to commencement!

It is a sense of mutual

Dr. Denise Doyle Chancellor

contents 16

2

Campus News

8

Texas State Representatives live the Mission of service

12

Wild about silk

14

First of their kind

16 UIW’s Lion Dance connects a community 28 22

32

14

18

Man on a mission

20

Revolutionizing medical science

22

UIW bids farewell to retiring faculty

24

University Collective

26

Class Notes

31

Moment for Reflection

32

Alumni Events

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6 Contributing Writers Rudy Arispe ’97 BA Brance Arnold ’10 MA Jeff Berry Coordinator Brance Arnold ’10 MA Rudy Dominguez Ashley Festa Art Director Margaret Garcia Michael Hood Steve Hemphill ’13 MAA Brian Hudgins Graphic Designer Crystale Lopez Marisol Martinez Shane Meling Photography Valerie Bustamante Todd Drexler Adela Gott Steve Holloway

credits

Managing Editor Debra Del Toro

Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. President

Dr. Lisa McNary ’91 BA,’95 MA Director of Alumni & Parent Relations

Sr. Kathleen Coughlin ’67 Debra Del Toro BSN Vice President for Institutional Director of Public Relations Advancement

The Word is published by the Vincent Rodriguez Chief of Staff to the President Public Relations Office of the University of the Incarnate Word for the alumni, parents, benefactors and friends of the Incarnate Word community.

Board of Trustees Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. Ernesto Ancira Charlie Amato Tracy Avery Scott Beckendorf Michael Belz Doyle Beneby Gayle Benson Mike Beucler Sr. Brigid Marie Clarke Sr. Martha Estela Perez Curiel

Catherine Dulle Veronica Edwards John Feik Gary Henry Sr. Mary C. Henry Winell Herron Gary Joeris Betty Kelso Nancy Kudla Jack Lewis Stephen Lucke Charles Lutz Sr. Teresa Yolanda Maya

Sr. Rose Ann McDonald John Miller William Moll Carmen Nava Ramona Parker John Peveto Bobby Rosenthal Richard Schlosberg Sr. Yolanda Tarango Sr. Gloria Ortiz Villalon

campus news

2014 Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show A crowd of nearly 800 guests were on hand at San Antonio’s Marriott Rivercenter Hotel on April 16 for UIW’s 34th Annual Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show. The show is dedicated to Kathleen Watson in recognition of her work and support of the UIW Mission. Watson was instrumental in transforming a small, annual student fashion show into today’s successful event showcasing student talent and creativity while raising funds for scholarships in the UIW fashion department.

The annual event, produced entirely by students, featured garments illustrated, designed and constructed by seniors in the university’s fashion design program. The 2014 student designers were Alexandra Peña, Tessa Moss, Allison Speakmon, Loren Cruz, Liana Beth Hinojosa, Vanessa Angelica Lopez and Carla Gonzalez. These collections are judged by industry professionals and put on public display in the annual show, a high-energy New York style runway show produced by students in UIW’s fashion show production class.

UIW student designer Loren Cruz took home the top prize, the 2014 Kathleen Watson Award for Best of Show. This award is determined by the garment scored highest by a panel of judges and includes a $1,500 scholarship from the Watson Foundation. Cruz’s collection, inspired by urban street art, was also the third place winner for construction and first place winner in design. Vanessa Angelica Lopez took second place in design and first place in construction and Liana Beth Hinojosa came in third place in design and second place in construction.

The Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show is an official Fiesta® event. Proceeds provide scholarships for UIW fashion management students. Since 2006, the fashion show, its sponsors and supporters have awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships to fashion management students. The 2014 scholarships were awarded to Patrick J. Martinez and Esperanza Silguero.

A model dons student designer Loren Cruz’s garment at the Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show. Cruz won the 2014 Kathleen Watson Award for Best of Show.

New Music Building Construction on the University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) new music building commenced last summer and is scheduled for completion in July.

The facilities will be ready for use in the Fall 2014 semester. The building is part of the new Fine Arts Complex at UIW that will contain over 55,000 square feet of space devoted to arts education.

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campus news Graduates earning their bachelor’s and master’s degrees attend the commencement ceremony at the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum on May 11.

UIW celebrates the Class of 2014

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) conferred degrees to 982 graduates at two spring commencement ceremonies on May 9 and 11.

The first ceremony was held in the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center on campus. The evening’s commencement honored graduates of the university’s Ph.D. and professional doctoral programs. The keynote speaker was Sam Witkin, who recently retired as executive director of Project Interchange based in Washington D.C. Founded in 1982, Project Interchange is an educational institute of the American Jewish Committee that brings influential opinion leaders and policy makers to Israel for a week of intensive travel and learning.

The second commencement ceremony was held in the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum and honored students earning their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The 2014 Alumna of Distinction for Service in Mission, Jennifer Staubach Gates ’88 BSN, served as commencement speaker. Dr. Lopita Nath, associate professor of history, was awarded the Moody Professorship for 2014-2015. The Spring 2014 undergraduate class, as enlightened and concerned citizens, together have given back nearly 28,000 hours in service to the San Antonio community.

2014 Alumna of Distinction for Service in Mission The 2014 Alumna of Distinction for Service in Mission was Jennifer Staubach Gates ’88 BSN. A lifelong Dallasite, Gates was elected to her first term as a Dallas City Council Member in 2013. She currently serves as the vice chair of the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee and sits on the Public Safety Committee as well as the Arts, Culture and Libraries Committee. Gates has extensive nonprofit experience managing the $125 million annual 2014 Alumna of Distinction budget for the Catholic Foundation, and serving on the Diocesan EducaJennifer Staubach Gates. tion Endowment that awards more than $600,000 per year in education scholarships. She also serves as the chair for the Domestic Violence Taskforce, and holds regular meetings that help to bridge communication between the Dallas Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, judges, and community partners; this collaboration aims to strengthen the forces fighting to end domestic violence in Dallas.

In 1988, Gates earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Incarnate Word College, where she received the Dr. Amy

Freeman Lee Scholastic and Service Recognition Award. Upon graduation, Gates worked as a school nurse and is still a licensed Registered Nurse today.

From serving as a Girl Scout troop leader to serving on boards for leading education and religious institutions, Gates has been an active leader in the Dallas community for decades. She continues to serve the UIW community as an alumna by hosting Dallas Alumni Network events in her home and speaking on behalf of UIW at Dallas area events. She assists with Incarnate Word recruitment efforts in the Dallas area and continues to be a strong supporter of the UIW nursing program.

Gates has been married to John Gates for more than 30 years.

Their youngest daughter, Jordan, attends the University of Texas at Austin, and their oldest daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Will, live in Dallas. The Gates family attends St. Rita Catholic Church, where Jennifer also serves as a Eucharistic minister. In her spare time, Gates enjoys running, reading, traveling and spending time with her grandson, Gambill.

To view video of Gates speaking during the commencement ceremony, please visit the Campus News page of The Word Online at www.thewordonline.org THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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campus news

UIW presents first annual CLARION Case Competition

Pictured L-R: Amber Ferrand, physical therapy student; Dr. Blair Sarbacker, assistant professor of pharmacy instruction; Kimberly Smith, master of health administration student; Dr. Amy Crocker, assistant professor of physical therapy; Dr. Chris Garcia, associate professor of health administration; and Jan Ramos, pharmacy student. Ferrand and Ramos competed at the national CLARION Case Competition held at the University of Minnesota.

The University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) first annual CLARION Case Competition was held Feb. 28 in the Mabee Library Auditorium.

Three inter-professional student teams consisting of UIW students from the H-E-B School of Business and Administration’s Masters of Health Administration program, Feik School of Pharmacy, Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions and the UIW School of Physical Therapy presented case study analysis findings and recommendations on how to deliver quality care to Harlan, a married, retired mechanic, suffering from congestive heart failure.

A panel of San Antonio healthcare practitioners and community leaders judged the competition. The winning team members included Jan Ramos from the Feik School of Pharmacy and Amber Ferrand from the School of Physical Therapy. Though they did not place, the winning team competed at the national CLARION Case Competition in April at the University of Minnesota for the chance of winning one of the top three awards.

Students interested in participating in the next cohort for CLARION, contact Dr. Chris Garcia at dcgarcia@uiwtx.edu.

UIW Cardinals for Kids host Dodge for a Cure event UIW’s Cardinals for Kids (CFK), a student run philanthropy organization sponsored by University Mission and Ministry, hosted its first Dodge for a Cure dodge ball tournament on March 28 in the Richard and Jane Cervera Wellness Center. Proceeds benefited the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio with more than $900 raised. Over 110 players participated including students from St. Mary’s University.

The event included a special presentation to Josh Bratton, a Children’s Miracle Network child. Bratton has been receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio since he was four months old. Holden Labradors, a local breeder, donated a 7-week-old black lab for Bratton who battles spina bifida and requires the use of a wheelchair. The dog will be trained by BarkSA at no cost to Bratton.

The winning team comprised of students with the UIW Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) displays their trophy at the Dodge for a Cure tournament in the Wellness Center on March 28.

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Members of the Asian Culture Club perform during the International Festival of Colors.

UIW celebrates spring with the International Festival of Colors In vivid fashion, students hailed the beginning of spring by coloring each other with multicolored powder in recognition of Holi. A spring festival, also known as the festival of colors, Holi is an ancient Hindu religious tradition representing the start of spring in India.

This year’s International Festival of Colors was held March 20 on Dubuis Lawn and was collaboratively sponsored by Campus Life, International Affairs, the Institute of World Cultures, University Mission and Ministry, and ELS Language Centers. Approximately 400 attendees enjoyed a live DJ, food truck, henna tattoos, art, a zip line, and a dance performance by members of the Asian Culture Club.

Students participated in four rounds of throwing the dyed powder at one another and were encouraged to share “before and after” photos on social media.

In its third year, the event also celebrates the many cultures represented at UIW and provides an opportunity for students, domestic and international, to share their diverse traditions and heritage.

View more photos of UIW’s International Festival of Colors on the Institute of World Culture’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uiw.iwc

campus news

UIW students, faculty and staff give back during Spring Break 2014 From March 10-14, University Mission and Ministry (UMM) held its fifth annual Alternative Spring Break. The initiative was directed by Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI, vice president for UMM, and organized by Dr. Chris Edelman, assistant professor of philosophy, and Dr. Craig McCarron, assistant professor of mathematics.

UIW student, faculty, and staff volunteers served the San Antonio community each day during the break by painting and making minor exterior repairs to houses inhabited by individuals and families that lacked the resources to accomplish the work themselves.

The houses were identified by Sonny Saenz, assistant director of the Frank Garrett Community Center. Between 30 and 40 volunteers participated each day with many serving for multiple days. Collectively, the volunteers painted five houses and made a number of repairs to shutters, building steps, doors, trim and siding. Material donations from DeWalt Power Tools, Southwest Exteriors, and Home Depot made the repairs possible.

Jon Johnston, religious studies student, led one team of painters and Mike Forrest, associate professor of business law, led the other.

McCarron led the carpentry team.

Breakfast was provided by the School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering and the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions and lunches were provided by the Rosenberg School of Optometry; the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social

Dr. Michael Forrest (fourth from left), associate professor of business law, joins students during the Alternative Spring Break project offering painting and carpentry services to homes in need.

Sciences; and the H-E-B School of Business and Administration.

Florio’s Pizza and Firehouse Subs also supported the week’s efforts by providing in-kind donations.

Following lunch, Fr. Tom Dymowski, UIW chaplain, led volunteers in a guided reflection designed to help them gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of their service.

The event received media coverage by the San Antonio Express News and was featured on local news broadcasts by KSAT 12 and KABB. Planning for next year’s Alternative Spring will begin in January 2015.

Incarnate Word Day at UIW

Administrative Assistant to the Provost and CCVI Award Recipient Itza Casanova (left) showcases her CCVI Award during the Parade of Values with Greek Life Coordinator Mercedes Moreno.

On March 25, the UIW community celebrated Incarnate Word Day with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, its founding congregation. The annual celebration was held in observance of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Incarnation of the Eternal Word, God. An evening prayer and presentation by Dr. Tim Milinovich, assistant professor of religious studies, was held in Our Lady’s Chapel on March 24 to kick-off Incarnate Word Day events. Festivities the following day included the presentation of the CCVI Spirit Awards during a Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel; the Parade of Values: Golf Cart Parade; a BBQ hosted by Campus Life; student presentations demonstrating preparation of prayer beads, rosaries, and information on their significance in varying traditions on Dubuis Lawn; a presentation by Dr. Adrienne Ambrose, assistant professor of religious studies, in Mabee Library’s Special Collections Suite as well as a discussion on the Annunciation of Mary and the women in the Quran and Bible.

The 2014 recipient of the CCVI Spirit Award was Itza Casanova, administrative assistant to the provost. The award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration or staff who has demonstrated in service to the university and/or to the broader civic community, the spirit of the Sisters.

The 2014 Student CCVI Spirit Award, presented to a student who is recognized by peers, faculty and staff as living the Mission of the Sisters, was awarded to Amira Alsareinye, junior biology student; it is the highest award a student can earn at UIW. THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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campus news

UIW welcomes new vice president for information resources Dan Duffy has joined the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as the new vice president for information resources. Duffy leads the Information Resources Division (IRD) comprised of the staff in the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Library, Instructional Technology, Institutional Research, Information Technology, and Web Development.

Duffy earned both his BS and MBA in computer information systems from Suffolk University Dan Duffy in Boston, Mass., and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Seattle University. His experience in higher education began in undergraduate admissions and enrollment management, and eventually parlayed into administration and faculty roles at private and public institutions including Suffolk University, Bentley University, Dean College, University of Washington, Seattle University and Bellevue College. He has worked in the insurance, corporate and state government sectors as well as run his own information technology consulting company.

“I had a sense of the type of institution I was looking for and it really was a Mission focused one such as UIW,” said Duffy.

He seeks to continue enhancing the existing positive IRD partnerships with administration, faculty and staff across UIW’s multiple campuses, both physical and virtual, to better serve students. Duffy plans for the division to continue to develop opportunities for the library to thrive as the university’s academic core by defining a service catalog with a focus on educating the campus about library services and by efficiently integrating and supporting the libraries of all UIW campuses with main campus. He aims to continue Institutional Research’s acceleration of turning data into information that meets the expanding needs of UIW decision makers, especially in regard to the values of a Catholic education, and to establish a “data warehouse” in order

to gain a 360 degree view of the student through all university data systems, thus enabling UIW to provide the appropriate services to support the student in their academic journey. He is overseeing the Web Development team’s redesign of UIW’s main website; implementation of a new Content Management System (CMS) to more easily and quickly communicate through university websites while continuing to mobile-enable university processes; and enhancement of the campus portal, My Word, to better meet the personalized needs of students, faculty, administration and staff. Duffy will also be involved in helping to finalize Information Technology’s movement of the university’s network and systems technology to a new Data Center to optimize governance frameworks and maintain protection of the university’s technology systems.

In terms of Duffy’s overall vision for IRD, he explained, “Internally, we will rely more and more on partnerships between our teams and extend those partnerships outward with the community to enhance the resources we provide students. IRD needs to partner with academic and administrative areas to serve our customer, the student.”

“And because I have run the gamut of higher education, I have an appreciation for the administrative, faculty, non-traditional and traditional student perspectives,” Duffy added. “And I strive to keep all of those in mind in moving forward A Hot Aisle Containment system in UIW’s new with IRD.” Data Center that will house the university’s network and systems technology. The new Data Center will be operational by the close of summer.

UIW ranked #3 on Military Times Best for Vets: Business Schools 2014 rankings On March 10, Military Times announced its Best for Vets: Business Schools 2014 rankings. The Extended Academic Programs (EAP) - School of Extended Studies was ranked number three on the list of 64 schools.

The organization, comprising Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times, focused on culture and curriculum that caters to military veterans when conducting and scoring the second annual Best for Vets: Business Schools survey, a highly respected, nearly 80-question analysis of a school’s complete offerings for veterans.

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“As with all of the Best for Vets rankings, Best for Vets: Business Schools is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that make an institution a good fit for military veterans,” said Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times EDGE magazine.

“What a huge honor! With only 64 schools in the rankings, it is gratifying to have made the top of the list. UIW has always done everything we can for our active duty and veteran population, so to have scored at the top of this group is reflective of all of the hard work and commitment shown by staff and faculty alike,” said Dr.

Cyndi Wilson Porter, vice president for EAP. Best for Vets provides service men and women a gauge by which to judge whether a school or program will truly benefit them.

The rankings factor in academic quality, outcomes and policies, school culture, student support, and cost.

For the full Best for Vets: Business Schools 2014 rankings, go to: militarytimes.com/bestforvetsbizschools2014.

campus news

UIW hosts annual 2014 Tech Fair Sponsored by UIW’s Instructional Technology department, more than 500 students, faculty and staff as well as representatives from other local universities attended this year’s 2014 Tech Fair held April 9. The fair featured 24 presentations at three venues: • The Vendor Spotlight - Vendors such as McGraw/Hill, Cengage, Blackboard, Lumens, and Tableau as well as other technology companies, gave presentations on how they are using technology in the classroom.

• UIW Focus – UIW faculty showcased how they are integrating technology such as smartphones, iPads, and Blackboard to engage students.

• The Digital Stage - Students and faculty shared digital poster sessions on such diverse topics as iPads, video game development, and financial aid.

There were 17 vendors in attendance, along with representatives from UIW schools, organizations, and services; the participants were spread throughout Marian Hall Ballroom and the Student Center Lounge.

In addition, the fair featured a ghost keynote speaker from Apple who presented on the topic of “Mobility in Higher Education.” Due to Apple policy, the speaker’s name could not be promoted publicly.

See more from this year’s Tech Fair as well as photos and video highlights by visiting sites.uiw.edu/techfair/

Ben Rosebrock (right), senior director of digital infrastructure and user services, greets students as they take the UIW 2014 Tech Fair survey on tablets.

(Pictured L-R) Dr. Robyn Madson and Dr. Norman Gevitz share a photo following his presentation in Mabee Library’s Special Collections Suite.

Founding dean of UIW’s School of Osteopathic Medicine welcomes Dr. Norman Gevitz to UIW Dr. Robyn Madson, founding dean of the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine, welcomed Dr. Norman Gevitz, professor of history and sociology of medicine and vice president of academic affairs at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Mo., to UIW on March 18. Gevitz gave a presentation on the history and relevance of osteopathic medicine in Mabee Library’s Special Collections Suite.

Author of “The D.O.s: Osteopathic Medicine in America,” Gevitz is a medical historian who has written numerous books and papers on the history of medicine in the U.S. and England. He has served as an educator, researcher and leader for more than 30 years in both private and public institutions, including the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.

“Osteopathic practice is consummate with Catholic social justice,” said Gevitz, “producing physicians with a full scope of practice developed over many years who work with the underserved. Osteopathic medicine is about treating the whole person.”

UIW’s School of Osteopathic Medicine is set to open in 2016.

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Texas State Representatives live the Mission of service

By Rudy Arispe ’97 BA

T

hey are two rising stars in a state-wide political arena; one Democrat, the other Republican. Yet, each shares the same vision of greater good for their respective constituents.

Texas House of Representatives Justin Rodriguez ’97 BBA (D-San Antonio) and Jose M. Lozano ’05 MAA (R-Kingsville) are University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) alumni.

They have taken to heart the Mission of service to others that they have carried with them since leaving the university, and which they exemplify in their roles as trusted leaders.

As a “voice” for all Texans, the state representatives have a duty to share, discuss and debate citizens’ concerns over taxes, transportation, affordable housing and the environment among their bi-partisan colleagues in the Texas Legislature, in order to help and improve the lives of the more than 26 million residents of the Lone Star State.

Both credit UIW for preparing them for their chosen career paths. Their time at the university instilled in them the knowledge, thought and confidence they have come to rely on in their respective roles as Texas legislators.

State Rep. Justin Rodriguez (D-San Antonio) remembers riding his bike as a kid with his two brothers to a local university a half-mile or so from his West Side neighborhood, and treading their tires on the campus’ sidewalks and curved walkways that made perfect biking trails.

“We would see these young adults going to college, so it became an expectation to do the same, or the type of goals we should have,” Rodriguez said.

As he grew older, Rodriguez came to realize that education was his ticket to bigger and brighter things outside of his West Side bubble, especially since his mother, a single parent, wished for her three sons prosperous and promising futures.

“She worked nights and weekends for a janitorial service,” he said, “and worked to put

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State Rep. Justin Rodriguez

us through Catholic school.”

After graduation from high school, Rodriguez enrolled at UIW, where he earned his BBA. Since then, his education has carried the 39-year-old Alamo City native from his humble West Side roots – an area considered one of the poorest school districts in Texas – all the way to Austin, where as a state representative he oversees District 125, and, in fact, has made education for Texas and his constituents a priority.

“Texas has tremendous challenges regarding education,” he said. “We have a problem with equity and funding. We need to make sure a kid from the poorest school district has the same opportunities as a kid in the wealthier districts.”

Indeed, education has been a driving force for Rodriguez.

While still an undergrad, he always knew he wanted to go to graduate school, but wasn’t certain about what major to pursue.

It was through a professor’s nudging that he chose law.

“I was never drawn to the legal field, but I enjoyed writing,” he said. “I remember we had a writing assignment in a business law class. I came back and professor (Dr. Bob) Lamb, (UIW associate professor of business law), passed out what a model answer was. It was my answer. He told me I should look into law school. He said I had a good writing style, and a lawyer not only has to be vocal and assertive, but also has to have good writing skills.”

Not long after, Rodriguez earned an academic fellowship to the University of Wisconsin Law School. Although he was ecstatic, he wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of moving so far away to a place he imagined so vastly different from the warmth and

familiarity of South Texas.

And as for law school?

“It was rigorous,” he said. “What made it even more challenging was after going to a small, Catholic university with 20 students in class, I was at a bigger university with 250 students in my classes from all over the country: NYU, Columbia, University of Michigan and UC Berkeley.”

After graduating in 2000 with his JD in law, he returned home and was hired by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office as a juvenile prosecutor. The experience proved to be “eye-opening and emotionally draining,” he said, from dealing with offenders as young as 12.

Still, Rodriguez enjoyed his work and focused on helping juveniles, who found themselves in the court system, understand that they still had an opportunity to turn their life around.

His time in the DA’s office encouraged Rodriguez to do more for others, especially at-risk, underprivileged youth, which is why he ran and was elected to the San Antonio Independent School District Board of Education. But it was through his election in May 2007 to the San Antonio City Council that Rodriguez found that he could have a greater impact on the community.

Dr. Timothy Henrich, UIW professor of human performance, said it has been wonderful to see his former student excel in both his personal and political life.

“I have been so excited to watch Justin’s success, earn his law degree, become a City Council advocate for parks and now a state representative,” Henrich said. “Justin was quiet and

(Pictured L-R) Assistant Professor at the School of Physical Therapy Dr. Jennifer Kish, Founding Dean of the School of Physical Therapy Dr. Caroline Goulet, Physical Therapy (PT-3) student Jenny Chavez, Rep. Justin Rodriguez, PT-3 student Melissa Alanis, PT-3 student Jacklyn Aguilar and PT-3 student Sergio Martinez pose for a photograph at a Coffee with Congress event. Students with UIW’s School of Physical Therapy invited Rodriguez to share a dialogue with representatives of the Alzheimer’s Association and the community in March 2014.

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thoughtful in class, and he is a lesson to us all that you will never know how successful your students are going to be once they graduate.”

Rodriguez experienced a banner year in 2012. He had recently come off his second and final term at City Hall. Voters catapulted him to an even bigger stage by placing him in the House of Representatives. His decision to run for state office required a lot of soul searching, he said, because he and his wife, Victoria, were raising their three young children. He also was coming off four years with City Council. He questioned whether or not he wanted to continue as an elected official.

He’s glad he did.

“The legislative work we do is wonderful, but it’s very different working on statewide issues, and it can be challenging to build a consensus,” said Rodriguez.

Democratic colleague and fellow State Rep. Trey MartinezFischer of San Antonio said he has been impressed with Rodriguez’s ability to present himself in a strong and confident manner as he did when he first began working in the House chamber.

“People say he has big shoes to fill since he replaced (U.S. Rep.) Joaquin Castro, but his skill set in political making and political maturity sets him apart. He’s not afraid to push back and go out on a limb if it means fighting for his constituents.

He can walk into a situation and assess it, and know when to keep quiet and just listen. He understands what role to play and when, and that’s hard to do.”

Today, Rodriguez makes the frequent trips down the I-35 corridor to Austin and back home to the West Side of San Antonio to a home right next door to the one he grew up in.

“I always knew I wanted to move back to my neighborhood,” he said. “Now my three kids are growing up here. Inner-city neighborhoods are the heart of a city.”

Fellow alumnus State Rep. Jose M. Lozano (R-Kingsville) is also committed to serving Texas as a state legislator.

Lozano was 12 years old, when he accompanied his father, Dr. Jose Lozano, Sr., on a hunting trip with 10 other individuals. One of those guests was a state senator with whom the young boy was intrigued and engaged in conversation.

“I listened to them speak about policy and how to better the community by providState Rep. Jose M. Lozano ing medical care for the

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indigent,” Lozano recalled. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a legislator. I remember my dad telling me if you’re a good public servant, you can help just as many people as a doctor.”

Fast forward to 2009, when Lozano launched his first political campaign and was elected to state office in March 2010. Now in his second term, he oversees Texas House District 43, which encompasses Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg and San Patricio counties, and includes some 165,000 residents.

“My first campaign involved a lot of door-to-door,” he said.

“I used to go on house calls with my dad, so decades later I was going door-to-door to a lot of the same homes. I also did events for those who didn’t know me. I had to combat a lot of voter apathy because they think every politician is the same.”

Just as he watched his father treat the sick and elderly in Premont, Texas, Lozano now gives back on a local and state level as a public servant committed to creating jobs, ending lawsuit abuse, and protecting the South Texas oil and gas industry, among other issues.

For instance, he is a staunch advocate of small business and quite familiar with the challenges that small business owners can encounter, considering he is one too. In 2005, while Lozano was finishing up graduate school at UIW, he acquired franchise rights to a trio of Wingstop Restaurants in Kingsville, Corpus Christi and Alice.

“I’ve seen lives changed with a stable job,” the restaurateurturned-representative said. “I’ve helped employees put down a deposit on apartments because they didn’t have a good credit score. UIW helped me help society. It was instilled in me all the time (while I was there).”

Being a small business owner has also helped him to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.

“When you’re a legislator, you’re dealing with people’s taxes,” Lozano said. “It’s not your money. We can’t spend more money than (what the state) brings in. It takes a lot of fiscal discipline, and you learn that from owning a business.”

His commitment to the conservation of energy resources is evident with his re-appointment to the Energy Resources Committee, which oversees the natural resources of Texas. He was also appointed vice chair of the International Trade Committee and serves on the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee and as vice chair of the House Energy Caucus.

Patty Johnson, Republican county chair for Bee County, said Lozano is passionate about his constituents and his district’s needs.

“He’s very approachable and makes sure he understands their problems,” she said. “Otherwise, he or his staff will go above and beyond to make sure someone can help them. As an up-andcoming Hispanic Republican, he has a strong future with the party and the state.”

Lozano has also never forgotten his graduate years at UIW, which, he said, helped shape him to become the man, business owner and politician that he is today.

“When I got to UIW and learned about service to others, I started to understand what service meant,” he said, “so I want to give back as much as I can, especially with kids because that’s when you can affect someone’s life. UIW allowed me to focus on

who I was as a person and my faith.”

Dr. Gary Keith, associate professor and pre-law advisor of the Department of Government and International Affairs, said Lozano is always happy to promote the university whenever he can.

“When UIW students traveled to the state Capitol to talk with legislators about financial aid, Rep. Lozano went out of his way to praise UIW and affirm his willingness to help UIW on any matter that we need him to,” Keith said. “He is an enthusiastic alum.”

Operating three busy restaurants while fulfilling his full-time duties as state representative combined with keeping abreast of the latest in Texas politics and never-ending issues of the day require Lozano to multi-task, at which he has become quite adept.

“When I’m not in a meeting or on the phone, I’m listening to the news or reading,” he said. “I also have a good team in place. They help keep me in touch with my districts.”

And then there’s family time, which is just as important for Lo-

zano, 33, his wife, Abby, and their three children. That sense of family was most likely nurtured from the close-knit relationship he had with his parents and five sisters, and friendly familiarity with the humble people in the rural community where he grew up.

“One time my father treated a patient, and the next day that patient came to our house with a goat. He couldn’t afford to pay,” Lozano said. “I remember the genuine gratitude that man had, and that’s one of the things that put me on the pathway of wanting to help people. That’s what I love the most about being a legislator.”

Both Rodriguez and Lozano embody the very Mission instilled by the university’s founding congregation the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and continue living this Mission through service to Texas as proud alumni of UIW.

Dr. Renee Moore (third from left), dean of campus life; Dr. Gary Keith (third from right), associate professor of government and international affairs; and UIW students share a photo with Lozano (center) at the Texas State Capitol in February 2013. Students traveled to the capitol to meet with representatives and senators to lobby for Texas Equalization Grant (TEG) funding, which provides financial aid to students to enable them to attend private, non-profit colleges or universities in Texas.

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

11

Wild D

about

silk

By Crystale Lopez

Handwoven shawl from Assam composed of eri and muga silks.

Property of Dr. Lopita Nath.

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r. Richard Peigler, professor of biology at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), has been an entomologist since he was three years old and collected insects in jars. A passion for science, nature, and insects – particularly moths – led Peigler to a world of ethnographic treasures he has shared across the globe through articles, various textile pieces, and books. Most recently in 2013, he co-authored the book, “Eri Silk: Cocoon to Cloth,” published by Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.

“I have been gathering information for 15 years for an encyclopedia type book on wild silks of the world [produced from wild silkmoths and silkworms],” he said. “I also collect wild silk textiles from places such as India, Nigeria, China, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, to contribute to institutional collections.”

It was during a quest of purchasing eri silk scarves for a collection when Peigler met Kiran Badola, a textile designer and fellow co-author of the book. The two discovered they had knowledge of eri silk that complimented each other.

“It was not difficult for me to contribute text and images for the book,” Peigler said. “I took the chapter on eri silk from my larger encyclopedia book project and selected what I wanted to share.”

Peigler said his agenda is to gather and distribute as

much information as possible on the silks and textiles, and to get them preserved in institutional collections, not only at UIW, but at universities and museums across the country. He explained that a lot of the wild silk textiles he has been collecting are being lost through globalization, cultural change, and habitat destruction.

“I feel very passionate about preserving these textiles so it is very gratifying work,” he said. “These pieces of material culture from Indigenous Peoples are truly ethnographic treasures. Not all students have access to see these types of things so I send them all over for teaching purposes, exhibits, or even just to be safe and stored away.”

Peigler has shared textile pieces with universities near and far, from his alma mater at Clemson University in South Carolina, to Montana State University, the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Texas A&M, and he once assembled an exhibit in UIW’s own Mabee Library. A few years ago, he also installed a textile display at the UIW AT&T Science Center in the showcase in the hallway focused on fair trade and poverty alleviation, with help from Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, professor of religious studies.

Peigler said Incarnate Word has supported his research through many avenues. In 2003, UIW published his book, “A Revision of the Silkmoth Genus Samia.” He has also found it beneficial to include his colleagues and students in his work when the opportunity presents itself.

“Dr. Lopita Nath grew up with these wild silks in her home state of Assam, India,” Peigler shared. “She has pieces in her family, and has modeled pieces for my book such as the Mekhela Chaddar created from muga silk, one of the traditional dresses in her culture.”

Nath, associate professor of history at UIW, explained the muga is found naturally only in Assam, which has an exclusive patent for the silk. “I have grown up wearing muga,” she said. “As such, it was fascinating for me that a professor at UIW was doing research on that and knew so much about a fabric that is indigenous to a remote state in India so far away from San Antonio.”

Nath said being from Assam, she wanted to take the opportunity to model the textiles in the forms they are worn in her home state. “It made me feel close to home in a foreign country,” she said. “I also think it is beneficial for our students to see the different textiles and the cultures that are associated with them.”

Caterpillars of cecropia and promethea moths, two wild silkmoths found in Texas.

To learn more about Peigler’s wild silk textiles in the Mississippi Entomological Museum, visit mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu//AnthroEnt/Textiles/SilksList.html

A Japanese wild silkmoth hanging on its cocoon from which it has just emerged.

Arthur Barrera, biology major at UIW, took Peigler’s entomology course and modeled a scarf and vest for his recent book on eri silk. “Dr. Peigler showed me some textiles during an office visit and when he told me what they were made of I was immediately interested,” Barrera said. “Many of the silks were hand woven with their own intricate designs. It made me reflect on how much hard work and creativity each silk must have taken.”

Peigler said his collections and sharing of textiles is a project that truly took on a life of its own from a unique angle. “I am most interested in the ecology and taxonomy of moths, and the silks are a spin off to this topic,” he said. “Most researchers who study silks and textiles focus on one particular country, but no one seems to have the big picture of the silks from all over the world as I have captured.”

Peigler said he hopes to continue leaving a legacy to preserve these important cultural textiles for future generations.

Pictured L-R: Ricardo Mata, biology student; Dr. Richard Peigler; Dr. Lopita Nath; Arthur Barrera; and Dr. Neeta Singh, professor of nutrition. Mata wears a shirt from India of tasar silk; Peigler a suit of tussah silk from China and a shirt and tie of eri silk from India; Nath a mekhela chaddar of muga silk from Assam, India; Barrera a fagara silk jacket from Java, Indonesia; and Singh a sari made of eri silk from India.

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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UIW’s Men’s Swimming and Diving Team gather at a championship celebration on March 19.

The first of their kind

By Raul Dominguez, Jr.

U

niversity of the Incarnate Word (UIW) senior Thiago Parravicini has competed internationally for the Brazilian national swimming team. So, when he says the Cardinals can have success on a larger stage, he speaks from experience.

It’s not just a hunch.

The Rio de Janeiro native has put the theory into practice with UIW’s fledgling NCAA Division I program.

The Cardinals men became the university’s first team to win an NCAA Division I conference title when they won the 2014 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 22.

While there are obvious differences between football, baseball, basketball and volleyball, Parravicini says the swim team’s conference title should serve as an inspiration of what is possible.

“The conference title that we won is not just a title for the swim team, it’s a title for the entire school,” Parravicini said. “Even if you’re not swimming, you’re going to feel proud. The campus is happy. Who doesn’t want to be a champion?”

Becoming a champion takes a lot of hard work and a lot of help, both of which the swimming and diving team have gotten plenty of.

“We worked harder than everybody else,” UIW head swimming coach Phillip Davis said. “We set goals and worked hard to reach them. And we got great support from the academic advisors.”

The Cardinals’ swimming and diving team was successful in Division II, regularly competing and succeeding against Division I programs. Still, the leap into the NCAA’s premier division wasn’t an easy one.

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The competition is deeper and greater in Division I, but Incarnate Word wasn’t UIW head swimming coach Phillip intimidated. In fact, even the Cardinals freshman class Davis speaks during the championship celebration. proved unshakeable.

“Since the first day of practice (the freshmen) were like, ‘Ok, we are here to win,’ ” Parravicini said. “Who are we going to swim against? Texas A&M? Ok, we want to beat them. Are we going to swim against UT-Austin? Ok, we want to beat them.”

“I think that’s the right mentality. We know we are not on the same level as them, because they are traditional programs at huge schools. They have a lot of tradition in swimming, multiple NCAA titles, but every program started with a first step. That’s the step we were taking. It’s good to inspire, recruit better swimmers and make people believe it’s possible,” Parravicini added.

The recruitment and the tone are set by Davis, and the Cardinals are a chlorine clear reflection of him. His faith, competitiveness and belief in family flow over the team like a warm body of water.

“None of this is possible without the man upstairs pulling some triggers,” Davis said.

Davis has built a family with his team, albeit a team from around the world.

In addition to keeping swimmers and divers from talent-rich Texas in the state, Davis has brought athletes from Ukraine, Morroco, Brazil and Mexico to San Antonio.

It’s not an easy transition.

Parravicini said he could not speak any English when he arrived at the school’s campus to compete in the breaststroke and individual medley.

He was a junior and senior Brazilian and South American champion, so becoming a valuable member of the team came naturally.

Becoming part of the family proved easy, too.

“I think one of the best things for me was coming here to the United States and joining the team,” Parravicini said. “All the years I was here, I was in an environment with 50 to 60 friends. They were more than friends, it was a like a big family. They are always there to help you. All the time they want you to have success. They treat us well because they know we are so really far from home. We don’t have family here. Sometimes we have problems with language (and) problems with the culture. So they try to make us feel comfortable here.”

Davis, diving coach Tommy Law and assistant coaches Scott Trompeter, Chris O’Linger and Anders Storvik have proven to be dynamic recruiters. UIW is losing 12 highly decorated seniors this year between the men’s and women’s teams, but the Cardinals’ staff has signed 30 athletes, including some from Ukraine, Hungary and Brazil.

While the team’s coaching staff is looking for great swimmers and divers, they are also looking for quality individuals. It’s a tough journey, but one Davis said is often a guided one.

“God sends us the people that we are supposed to have and it’s up to us to use 100 percent of their genetic potential,” Davis said.

While Davis is extremely proud of the men winning the university’s first Division I conference title, he is even prouder of the teams’ academic success.

The women’s team has a 3.4 GPA and the men’s is 3.3.

Like a proud papa, he is quick to mention Cody Armstrong was accepted to UIW’s Rosenberg School of Optometry and Megan Murata was accepted to veterinarian school at Texas A&M. Parravicini graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration and is going to be a graduate assistant with the team.

If anyone expects the Cardinals to have a letdown after winning their first title, they obviously have not spent any time around Davis.

2013-14 MEN’S BASKETBALL REVIEW

• 21-6 record in first year of NCAA Division I • 14-1 home record with only loss coming on a last second shot • 9-5 in Southland Conference action with three losses by four points or less • Team finished eighth in the nation in scoring (82.1 ppg), 14th in field goal percentage (48.8%), 28th in three point percentage (38.9%), 11th in rebounds per game (39.5), and third in defensive rebounds per game (28.5).

• The team played twice on television at the McDermott Center and defeated Sam Houston State, 85-74 and Abilene Christian, 80-68.

• Junior guard Denzel Livingston had a fantastic season earning Southland Conference Second Team and All Defensive Team honors. He was the conference player of the week on Jan. 27 and Feb. 10 and was also recognized as the College Sports Madness Mid-Major Player of the Week on Jan. 27. He finished the season ranked 20th in the nation in scoring (20.3 ppg) and seventh in steals per game (2.52). He became the 14th player in school history to score 1,000 points in a career when he scored 36 in a win over Houston Baptist on Feb. 8.

• Ian Markolf and Kyle Hittle were each named Southland Conference All-Academic Second Team.

UIW’s Men’s Swimming and Diving Team at the 2014 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 22.

Photo courtesy of Todd Drexler.

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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UIW’s Lion Dance connects a community

By Brance Arnold ’10 MA

Pictured L-R: Qihao Feng (Anson); Jianhong Zhang (Kevin); Mingzhi Chen (Eddie); Misty Chen, director of the Institute of World Cultures; Ao Li (Leo); and Chenlian Li (Kyle).

I

t is the Year of the Horse! Jianhong Zhang and Mingzhi Chen, also known as Kevin and Eddie, were filled with nervous energy and palpable excitement before performing the lion dance for the first time publicly at the Institute of World Cultures’ (IWC) Asian New Year celebration, held annually at UIW. The IWC Lion Dance Team’s newest members, Kevin and Eddie, along with their more experienced teammates, practiced fervently for two months in preparation for the most important celebration in Asian tradition.

In November, Kevin, a business administration graduate student, and Eddie, a marketing sophomore, joined seasoned teammates Ao Li (Leo), international business senior; Qihao Feng (Anson), philosophy senior; and Chenlian Li (Kyle), international business senior; to round out the team’s lineup.

Origins of Lion Dance at UIW UIW’s Lion Dance Team was established by Misty Chen, director of the IWC, and Dr. Patricia Watkins, vice president emeritus and consultant to the president. Originally, Chen would invite the San Antonio Lion Dance Association (SALDA) to perform at the annual UIW Asian New Year celebration, presented by the IWC. “When we would plan the Asian New Year celebration, we wanted to incorporate Asian activities and here in San Antonio there wasn’t a large Chinese community. So we asked them to come perform for us,” recalled Chen.

To best benefit students and faculty, the event had to be scheduled for a weekday. However, the members of the SALDA had professional obligations during the week and were unable to perform.

“We struggled. We reached out to Austin and Houston, but that was more complicated. It got to the point where we decided we should start our own team,” Chen said.

In 2007, Chen traveled to Guangzhou, China to purchase the lion costumes without yet having team members in place.

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“I personally picked them out,” said Chen. “I chose red, white and black to represent the school colors and the other costume I wanted to have bright, festival colors.”

History and Performance Alive and well at UIW, the colorful, vibrant tradition is deeply rooted in Asian culture with the art form recorded as early as the third century AD in China. Though the lion is not native to China and the dance may have originated in India or Persia, the lion was introduced via traders from the West who used the Silk Road to China for trade and brought lions as gifts during the Han Dynasty. Various forms of the lion dance are found throughout Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Taiwan, among others.

Each lion costume is typically operated by two dancers. Performers mimic the movements of the lion to represent moods and emotions, usually those of an uplifting nature.

“With the control of body movements, you are expressing emotion,” said Chen. “Asian culture is very into the idea of luck.

It’s all about happiness. It’s all about hope.”

Lion dance movements are fundamentally inspired by martial arts, particularly Kung Fu and Wushu. There are two primary forms of Chinese lion dance, the Northern Lion and the Southern Lion. The Northern is acrobatic and performed mainly as entertainment, where the Southern is ceremonial and symbiotic, summoning good fortune and luck while guarding against evil spirits.

The dance is also about connecting with family and community.

“It’s not only about celebrating the coming of the New Year but also about family. You can see at one point in the performance one lion crouches while the other performs. After the lion performs, he comes over to the sitting lion and the two communicate and then dance together,” explained Kevin.

UIW’s Lion Dance Team, which embodies more of the

Southern form, performs as two lions, with Leo and Kyle performing in one costume, and Eddie and Kevin in another, accompanied by drummer Anson. The accents played on the drum and voice commands from the drummer guide the lions’ movements.

“The drummer is the key feel among the team,” said Chen, “like a team captain who directs the dancers through changes in tempo and intensity.”

“The two lions follow the beat of the drums during the performance which continues for about 10 minutes,” said Kevin.

“We have one person who acts as the lion’s head and the other as the lion’s tail. The tail follows the head during the whole performance.”

The lion dance remains a staple at the Asian New Year celebration and continues to grow in popularity. During the performance, the main duty of the lion is to “catch the green” or “cai qing” which literally translates to “plucking the green.” This custom entails the “green” being tied together with a red envelope containing money or fruit and placed on a pole for the lion to catch, thus bringing good fortune.

as part of their tradition and culture,” said Marcos Fragoso, vice president for international affairs. “At UIW we welcome diversity and want to celebrate it every time we can, one of the ways to do so is by allowing students from different countries to perform and dance according to their traditions.”

“The New Year celebration is one of the most important festivals in Asian countries where they celebrate the Lunar New Year,” said Chen. “Most of our Asian students would never be able to go home and be with their family for this most important time.” Chen said the IWC’s Asian New Year celebration including the lion dance bring a “home feel” to international students so far from their homeland.

A member of the team for two years, Anson said he feels more connected to his home and culture through the tradition: “Lion dance makes me feel I love my country and becomes a very important part of my spiritual practice.”

The Team Though the team currently numbers five, Kevin said it generally is made up of eight to 10 members, with five to perform and three to five serving as substitute members.

In order to prepare for the Asian New Year celebration, one of a number of events at which the team performs, the members train at the SALDA every Sunday for two hours under the guidance of one of the association’s members. Additionally, they train in the ICC Auditorium on their own. None of the team members had previous experience performing the lion dance before joining the team.

“We work hard and improve together through learning the lion dance,” said Kyle, a team member for two years. “Every member tries his best.”

Though the current roster is composed entirely of students from China, the team welcomes those of all cultures and has, in fact, had members from various backgrounds.

“Anyone can join,” added Chen. “We are hoping to spread the word and make the call to the community welcoming everyone whether girl or boy; domestic or international; faculty, students, or friends. Come experience the culture, learn an entry level of martial arts, make connections, and feel proud when you perform.”

Chen remains committed to preserving the Lion Dance Team at UIW for years to come, but confessed she will need to recruit new members to carry on the tradition.

“Kevin and Eddie plan to continue next year, but the other members are set to graduate and return to their home country.

The reality is, students graduate,” Chen said.

Chen also stressed that support from the UIW community is integral to the preservation of the team. The team is not a university funded organization and team members are devoted to the practice of lion dance purely for love of the art form and to celebrate UIW as an international community.

To view video and additional photos of UIW’s Lion Dance Team, visit The Word Online at www.thewordonline.org To learn more about the Lion Dance Team and how to participate, visit IWC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/uiw.iwc or by calling (210) 805-5820.

Cultural Significance At UIW, the team plays a key role in celebrating the Asian New Year and the wide range of cultures visible on campus.

“The lion dance represents not only a Chinese tradition and culture, but other Asian countries that also have the lion dance

2014 Asian New Year Celebration Approximately 500 students, faculty, administrators, and San Antonio community members attended this year’s Asian New Year celebration, sponsored by UIW’s Institute of World Cultures, on Feb. 15 in Marian Hall Ballroom. In addition to UIW’s Lion Dance Team, performers included Mary Martha McNeel and Michael Graves (Tai Chi instructors at UIW); Chinese student, Crystal Yi (Belly dancing); Jones Korean Dance Group (Korean Folk Dance); among others. The event also included booths featuring Japanese calligraphy, Japanese origami, a Chinese tea ceremony, and much more.

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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F

Student Staff Sgt. Jen Lee won the gold medal at the 2014 Paralympics held in Sochi, Russia.

Man on a Mission

ive years ago, Jen Lee’s goal was to walk again.

Five months ago, he was racing toward a vastly different goal – he wanted to see the U.S. flag raised high as the national anthem was heard loud and clear by thousands of Russian citizens.

Lee and his teammates on the U.S. sled hockey squad carried out that mission by defeating host Russia 1-0 in the gold-medal game of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Lee, the backup goaltender, cherished the moment that he and his peers had worked for so ardently.

“Having our flag raised on top and hearing the anthem played was emotional,” Lee said. “I serve in the military and then I am representing the country in a different way. To hear the anthem on foreign soil, you are doing it for your country.”

Staff Sgt. Lee is an active duty student who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in athletic training at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW). Lee was born in Taiwan and moved with his family to San Francisco, Calif., when he was 8 years old. Track, tennis and basketball were all part of Lee’s teen years on the West Coast. He enlisted in the Army and went through basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. His individual training included learning the ins and outs of becoming a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic.

Lee was stationed in Savannah, Ga., in Spring 2009 when he went for an off-duty motorcycle ride in Jacksonville, Fla. with a group in his platoon. The group was heading home when a collision with another driver left Lee’s cycle totaled as he fought for survival on the ground.

The result: Lee lost a leg above the knee.

“You are going through a roller coaster,” he said. “You don’t know what is next or what is going to happen. I was 22 when the accident happened. I had been able-bodied for 22 years. First … I had to accept being disabled.”

When Lee transferred to the Center for the Intrepid, he found out the center works alongside Operation Comfort to give patients a chance to play sports.

“I had never tried ice hockey and I wanted to see what this sport is about,” Lee said. “Your main goal is to walk or run again. It would not be right if I didn’t take advantage of opportunities.” That included the opportunity to become a member of the San Antonio Rampage sled hockey team. Sled hockey is a sport designed to allow participants who have a physical disability to play the game of ice hockey by utilizing a sled with two skate blades on a metal frame.

By Brian Hudgins

Lee and two of his teammates rented bicycles to visit Sochi venues outside of the Olympic Village.

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The Sochi Experience

Lee poses with teammates during the Opening Ceremony in Sochi.

The initial opportunity further developed after Lee gained several months of experience at sled hockey. The environment made Lee feel like he was part of a team again. He quickly realized the other players were not just there for fun or therapeutic benefits. They want to beat you. Lee’s coach, Lonnie Hannah, suggested that he consider taking on the challenge of the national team trials. Lee went on to make the 2011 national team. “Every year, you have to try out,” Lee said. “It’s not like you are set for the next four years. You have to work hard on and off the ice.”

That training process included Lee working with Ali Barrera, a certified CrossFit trainer, at Alamo CrossFit. Several sled hockey athletes have worked out there with the goals of improving stamina and upper body strength – two necessities in sled hockey.

“We do a lot of lifting and squats,” Barrera said. “It’s hard for people with both legs. But your center of balance is thrown off when you are using a prosthetic (leg). So you have to work to get athletes to squat to the proper depth depending on the point of amputation.” Barrera noted that Lee’s ability to progress to a full-depth squat was a strong illustration of the strength and agility that served him well in Sochi.

Lee characterized the U.S. team defeating Russia as a surreal experience. Sochi was a 45-minute train ride from the Olympic Village. As the train traveled past the Black Sea, the Americans had a mass of Russian fans waiting for them. The home crowd produced a sound that drowned out the family members who were there supporting the U.S. “When we won, it was like, ‘are you kidding me?’ It was something you don’t expect. You just reflect on the training, sweat and time you put in on the ice.”

Lee is appreciative that his professors at UIW have helped him fulfill his military and Paralympic commitments while providing academic guidance in the classroom. “The professors are willing to work with me one-on-one on catching up on missed lessons,” Lee said. “Granted, I had to show them that my traveling was also part of my military assignment, but everyone was very supportive when I told them I was (also) training for the Paralympics.”

Lee was thrilled to go home after the Paralympics…once he was actually able to get home. He had to make a stop in Colorado at the team training facility before driving back home to San Antonio. Lee returned home with a new goal – becoming a motivational speaker. “I just want to educate people and be a motivation to kids who think they can’t do things because of a disability.”

An inspirational moment for Lee came when he and his fellow Paralympic and Olympic athletes met President Barack Obama at a ceremony in April at the White House “The military veterans, including me, received a personal coin from him,” Lee said. “That meant a lot, especially because I’m still currently serving my country. Meeting the President is one of those moments you cherish forever.”

Sam Sanders ’07 BA, National Public Radio (NPR) producer, spent three weeks in Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics held from Feb. 7-23. Sanders was among five NPR journalists covering the games.

“It was a blast,” said Sanders. “I covered mainly freestyle events such as snowboarding and skiing.” Though access to the (Olympic) Village was restricted, he had the opportunity to interview many of the athletes including some from the Ukraine, ostensibly an important topic at the moment.

Located on the coast of the Black Sea and near the Caucus Mountains, Sanders said he found the two very diverse climates and terrain to be unique.

“Because of its location, the Sochi games had a mountain cluster and a coastal cluster,” Sanders explained. “The games would take place at venues on the coast and then of course at locations in the mountains. I enjoy running and would run in 60 degree weather on the coast and then travel by bus or train to cover events in the mountains.”

Due to the nine hour time difference between the U.S. and Sochi, most of his coverage was pre-produced and aired later. He did, however, conduct a number of live broadcasts with a typical workday starting at 11 a.m. and lasting until midnight.

While covering the games, he had the opportunity to attend some of both the opening and closing ceremonies.

“I kept thinking how amazing this must look on television because it was so spectacular and I could only see things from my particular viewpoint,” said Sanders.

Despite some of the negative press surrounding the games, Sanders said he was very impressed with Russia and its people while in Sochi.

“I was very surprised at how well the Russians hosted the games,” said Sanders. “It was well managed. The venues looked great. And the people were very hospitable.”

Sanders said his experience in Sochi was inspiring, so much so that he has placed himself on the list to potentially cover the summer games in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 2016, but with one caveat.

“My goal would be to work the games, but then take an extra week to really soak up the culture of the country,” shared Sanders. “I spent 36 hours in Istanbul during my coverage of the winter Olympics, but definitely needed more time to truly take it in.”

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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Revolutionizing medical science

By Ashley Festa

Student researchers Joanna Ortega and Pompeyo Quesada prepare to run a protein gel in order to evaluate protein levels during regeneration.

W

hat began as a love for catching bugs in the great outdoors turned into a career path that has the potential to revolutionize medical science.

Dr. Robert Miranda ’04 BS ’06 MS admits he never wanted to be a medical doctor. But after earning his Ph.D. in biology and now working as the University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) first postdoctoral fellow, his research may provide clues toward great advances in human health.

He’s studying the Lumbriculus variegatus, sometimes known as the California blackworm, an aquatic invertebrate with the

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ability to regenerate a lost head, tail or midsection from only a few remaining segments. The research project is funded through a three-year, $617,000 grant Dr. Veronica Acosta, assistant professor of biology, earned from the U.S. Department of Defense, which hopes to one day change the prognosis for millions of wounded veterans.

“The overall goal is to understand how this worm has this ability to regenerate itself,” Miranda said. “Most animals have the ability to regenerate to some extent. Humans regenerate tissue, but it’s usually scar tissue, so it’s not useful.”

(Pictured clockwise) Alumnus Dr. Robert Miranda, postdoctoral fellow; student researchers Travis Parker, Javier Arjona-Soberón, Pompeyo Quesada, Joanna Ortega, and Janaye Dews; and Dr. Veronica Acosta (center), assistant professor of biology; share a photo in the team’s research lab.

When she received the grant, Acosta knew she would need help with the research. Though the stipulations didn’t require a post-doctoral assistant, Acosta wanted someone who could “be a good mentor for undergrads and who had good research skills to get the work done that the U.S. government expected us to get done.” After reviewing several strong applicants, she hired Miranda as UIW’s Postdoctoral Fellow in Cell and Molecular Biology.

Miranda and Acosta, along with three teams of student researchers, have set out to investigate the worm’s regenerative ability and, hopefully, harness it to advance human medical procedures. Though other scientists have researched regenerative abilities, this project is rare because the model uses a species with a more complex central nervous system.

“The military is taking a big interest because they want to use it for veterans who suffered some traumatic injury,” Miranda said. “That’s a research goal: to help regrow limbs or restore function.”

Acosta, of course, has the same research objectives, but she also set other goals for her collaboration with Miranda. She views the post-doctoral fellowship as an opportunity to mentor a young professor on what it’s like to work at a small undergraduate institution.

“We’re expected to be good teachers and good researchers,” Acosta said. “I wanted to help someone transition and balance teaching, research and service.”

Being a former postdoctoral fellow herself, Acosta values the opportunity the experience can provide. “The idea is to mentor someone in the life of a professor so you can be productive and also enjoy what you’re doing.”

Not only does Miranda get to work alongside UIW faculty, he also takes on a mentorship role himself with the undergraduates who assist with the research.

“My favorite part is working with the students in the classroom and also working in the lab, teaching them to be good scientists,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see their growth and enthusiasm. I still get to dabble around the lab, but I get to help these students the most.”

Miranda started the position in August, but already he’s been successful at rousing students’ excitement.

“Dr. Miranda is an outstanding researcher, professor and mentor. The quality of work that he performs has inspired me to perform at a higher level,” said Pompeyo Quesada, a senior who will graduate in December. “The fact that he was once in my situation here at UIW allows him to better reach the students, since we are able to directly connect with him. His dedication to his work, to his students, and to the field of science inspires me to reach excellence.”

With plans to become an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, Quesada foresees that this research may transform his future career. “Maybe one day I can help patients recover from a spinal cord injury,” he said, acknowledging that current medicine offers few options to such patients.

When his fellowship is complete in July 2016, Miranda plans to pursue his own research projects, possibly in the realm of environmental preservation. He’s open to allowing his research take a new direction, but hasn’t ruled out remaining in the field of human health.

He will also consider teaching and credits Acosta for preparing him for the classroom, fulfilling one of her personal goals for the project: “the improvement of STEM opportunities for underrepresented minorities so we can mentor these students to survive in academia,” she said. “Whether they become professors or medical doctors, they’re being productive members to this field of biology.”

“She has been a great mentor,” Miranda said. “She’s trained me to have my own lab and my own students at a small institution like UIW. I’ve come full circle.”

Acosta conducts a California blackworm dissection under a microscope.

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(Pictured L-R) George Burnett, Dr. Sara Kolb, Dr. Chris Paris, Dr. Jessica Kimmel, Dr. Bernadette O’Connor and Dr. Mary Elaine Jones take a moment for a photo at the 2014 Faculty Awards on April 25. Each of the faculty members were awarded emeriti status.

UIW bids farewell to retirees As another academic year comes to a close, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) would like to extend a warm farewell and thank you to several long-time members of the UIW community who collectively hold over 200 years of service to the university.

George Burnette, emeritus director of technical theatre, joined the university in 1979 as an actor with then Incarnate Word College’s resident theatre company. Performances were produced in the Fine Arts Building’s basement during that time and no one was overseeing the technical direction of productions. Burnette decided to assume responsibility of technical direction among his many other duties. As the program moved into the Coates, Downstage II, and Halligan-Ronald Ibbs theatre facilities, the demands of technical support grew. Throughout his career, Burnette has run the box office, designed scenery and lights, directed shows, built props and, of course, acted. He retired on May 31, 2014 as the technical director of UIW’s theatre department.

He hopes to continue acting and occasionally serve as a scenic designer.

Debbie Bussineau-King, emerita professor of music, came to UIW in 1980. She studied voice with Leona Witter, earned a BM from Michigan State University, studied voice, opera performance and staging at the University of Texas at Austin, and earned an MM from Southwest Texas State University.

Bussineau-King has sung major oratorio and operatic roles with the Lansing Debbie Bussineau-King Symphony, The Austin Symphony, The Chatauqua, New York Opera Association, and the San Antonio Symphony, among others. She represented UIW in Taiwan in 22 T H E W O R D | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

1996 and 1998 where she sang in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Tainan.

In 2008, Bussineau-King was elected president of the South Texas Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, which she was a founding member. She served as chair of the music department from 1993-1999.

Dr. Jessica Kimmel, emerita professor of education, has served as a faculty member since 1990. Kimmel first came to Incarnate Word College in 1980 to study for Texas Teacher Certification.

She earned a BA in English and history and MA in English from Trinity University. Kimmel received her doctorate from Texas A&M in education specializing in adult education. She has taught composition and rhetoric at Trinity, San Antonio College (SAC) and Texas A&M. While at UIW, she has taught all manner of courses in education, served as director of teacher education, revitalized the adult education program with innovative courses and schedules, and taught in the doctoral program. Specializing in women’s studies, Kimmel served as a delegate to the United Nations’ Executive Board of the World Congress in 2013 and 2014.

Dr. Sara Kolb, emerita professor of nursing, joined the university in 1986 in a joint appointment with Santa Rosa Medical Center and assumed a full-time faculty position in the Incarnate Word School of Nursing in 1987. She holds a BS in nursing from the University of Arizona, an MS from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. At UIW, Kolb has served as BSN curriculum chair and the MSN program

chair. She developed the MSN nursing concentration curricula for education and administrations and coordinated the National League of Nursing Self-Studies. She has served several roles in the Ministerio de Salud project, providing primary and secondary care health services to the underserved elderly using a Parish Nurse Model. Kolb was selected as Moody Professor in 2006-2007 and has received many accolades throughout her career. She plans to remain in San Antonio after retiring this spring and hopes to still teach special topics courses at UIW. Dr. Mary Elaine Jones, emerita professor of nursing, graduated from Incarnate Word College in 1963. After retiring from the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing, she was appointed to the Brig. Gen. Lillian Dunlap Endowment Professorial Chair in Nursing at UIW in the fall of 2002. Soon after arriving at the university, Jones led a Nursing Research Team that established a program addressing cardiovascular risk. Her other areas of research included a qualitative investigation of management of stress among retired military nurses active duty during a war and managing interpersonal conflict in the workplace among nursing students and other disciplines. UIW’s annual Red Dress Fashion Show and Health Fair is an outgrowth of the Nursing Research Team as well as the Dunlap Chair, a campus-wide funded initiative through the National Institutes of Health to create an Office of Research Development at UIW and recently a three year demonstration project in interprofessional education and collaborative practice on San Antonio’s Eastside.

Sr. Sally Mitchell, OSF, religious studies faculty for UIW Online, entered her Franciscan community after high school where her three-year novitiate training afforded her two years of college, which allowed her to teach as she earned her degree. Mitchell taught high school history and education while working toward her master’s degree from the University of Iowa. She began teaching speech and Sr. Sally Mitchell, OSF theatre at the university level after earning her degree. After seven years of technical and direction work, Mitchell transitioned into administration. She moved to North Carolina where she continued her education toward earning an Ed.S. in developmental education. Mitchell then came to Texas where she worked for nine years in the area of enrollment development at what was then Incarnate Word College (IWC). This move also gave Mitchell the opportunity to earn an MA in religious studies from IWC. Mitchell then returned to Iowa for three years before returning to UIW as dean of preparatory programs, overseeing both St. Anthony Catholic High School and Incarnate Word High School. She served as dean for five years. During this time, Mitchell began teaching online. She is retiring as fulltime faculty but will continue to teach one course per term for UIW Online.

in English and history and certification to teach at the secondary level. O’Connor taught high school for five years in institutions sponsored or staffed by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. After earning her graduate degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., she taught philosophy at St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vt. and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. O’Connor was encouraged to apply for dean of the Division of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences while representing the Sisters on the IWC board of trustees in 1990. She served as dean for three years and has taught full-time since 1993.

Dr. Chris Paris, emeritus professor of English, joined Incarnate Word in 1986 as an instructor for three years and again returned to the university as an instructor in Fall 1991. Paris became an associate professor of English in 1994. He has taught many English, rhetoric, composition, and literature courses while at UIW. He served as assistant director of teaching services and chaired the JumpStart Program. Paris chaired the UIW First-Year Experience and the Academic Literary Rhetoric Program as well as served as assistant dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. He has published a book of poetry, short stories, several individual poems and numerous reviews. He has represented UIW on panels and as an individual presenter, delivering papers on his administrative experience at international conferences.

Robert Sosa, director of foundation, corporate, and government relations, has played an integral role in numerous capital campaigns that have secured more than $80 million since 1992. They include the Mabee Library, AT&T and Bonilla science centers, and the Feik School of Pharmacy. Sosa also successfully led a campaign to raise $8.3 million for the Bowden Eye Care and Health Center on Robert Sosa, director San Antonio’s Eastside. Recently, he had of foundation, corpo- taken the lead in raising the funds needed rate, and government for UIW to build a School of Osteopathic relations

Medicine. Sosa has taught as an adjunct instructor of marketing, advertising, and writing composition and literature at UIW, San Antonio College (SAC), UTSA, and St. Mary’s University, among others. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from St. Mary’s University.

UIW wishes these prestigious retirees well in the next phase of their life journeys and thanks them for their many years of invaluable service to the university.

Dr. Bernadette O’Connor, emerita professor of philosophy, graduated from the Brainpower Connection schools of St. Peter Prince of Apostles in 1957, Incarnate Word High School in 1961, and Incarnate Word College (IWC) in 1966 with a double major

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university collective Dr. Eric Akuta, assistant professor and program coordinator of criminal justice, Extended Academic Programs (EAP), had his paper, “Using the Cost Element Model to Explain Perpetrators’ Perceptions to Combat Cybercrime in Cameroon: A Structural Equation Model Approach,” published in “The Journal Research in Peace, Gender and Development,” March 2014, Vol. 4 (2).

The University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) Provost Dr. Kathi Light hosted the annual Faculty Appreciation Luncheon on April 23. Faculty awards and recognitions included: President’s Teaching Award: • Dr. Brian McBurnett, associate professor of chemistry Moody Professor of History: • Dr. Lopita Nath, associate professor of history Provost’s Legacy Teaching Awards: • Dr. Christopher Edelman, assistant professor of philosophy • Yvonne Davila, instructor of nursing • Dr. Matthew Gonzalez, EAP assistant professor of information systems • Dr. Yutaka Maki, assistant professor of optometry Retiring Faculty Awarded Emeritus status: • George Burnett, director emeritus of technical theatre • Debbie Bussineau-King, professor emerita of music • Dr. Mary Elaine Jones, Brig.

Gen. Lillian Dunlap endowed professor emerita of nursing • Dr. Jessica Kimmel, professor emerita of education • Dr. Sara Kolb, professor emerita of nursing • Dr. Bernadette O’Connor, professor emerita of philoso24 T H E W O R D | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

phy • Dr. Chris Paris, associate professor emeritus of English • Dr. Caroline Spana, assistant professor emerita of nursing Faculty Awarded Sabbaticals for 2014-15: • Dr. Christy MacKinnon, professor of biology, Fall 2014 • Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, professor of religious studies, Spring 2015 • Dr. Steve Liu, associate professor of communication arts, Fall ’14 –Spring ’15 Dr. Jessica M. Ibarra, assistant professor of biology, received the following honors and awards: fellow, 2014 Archive Vision and Change Scholar Program, The American Physiological Society; recipient of the UIW Faculty Development Award to attend the 2014 Experimental Biology Meeting in San Diego, Calif., April 2330, 2014; published in the 2014 “Quirk,” visual arts entitled “Bella 1”; and recipient of the 2013 Inspirational Leadership Award at the Women’s Leadership Awards from the San Antonio Business Journal.

Dr. Ryan Lunsford, associate professor of business administration, Extended Academic Programs (EAP), had his “Onshoring: An i-Opener for Apple, Inc.” paper published in the April 2014 issue of the “International Journal of Trends in Economics Management & Technology.”

Dr. Bernadette O’Connor, professor of philosophy, has a chapter

UIW bids farewell to Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, dean of the Rosenberg School of Optometry (RSO), as he leaves the university to assume the role of founding dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry at the University of Pikeville this July. Buzzelli joined the university in June 2011. He was presented with the Educator of the Year award by the Texas Optometric Association at the organization’s 112th Annual Convention in 2012. At UIW, he oversaw the opening of the Bowden Eye Care and Health Center, providing eye care to vulnerable populations on San Antonio’s Eastside. As founding dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry, he will continue his efforts in serving the underserved by providing access to full scope optometric care for rural Appalachia and Kentucky.

“It is the ability to deliver access to not only health care but also health care education to the rural population, a skill I learned at the University of the Incarnate Word. It is not a skill I brought here but a philosophy I leave with,” said Buzzelli.

UIW is proud to announce the appointment of Timothy A. Wingert, O.D., F.A.A.O. as dean of RSO. Wingert assumed the position of dean on July 1. Wingert is a tenured professor and served as associate dean for Academic Affairs at RSO. He came to the university in 2012 after 23 years at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he currently holds the position of professor emeritus. “The Rosenberg School of Optometry is a jewel at UIW and I expect that it will continue to grow in excellence under Dr. Wingert’s leadership,” said Dr. Kathi Light, provost. entitled, “Toward a Metaphysics of Human Amor Fou,” included in the book, “Love and Friendship: Maritain and the Tradition,” published by The Catholic University of America Press, Aug. 14, 2013, and a chapter entitled, “Maritain’s Dissymmetry Solution,” included in the book, “Aquinas & Maritain on Evil: Mystery and Metaphysics,” published

by The Catholic University of America Press, Nov. 1, 2013.

Margaret Mitchell, professor of theatre arts, received the Herbert G. Greggs Award from Broadway Press and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

for her article, “A Costume Correspondence, the Theatrical War Effort of Charles Ricketts,” published in 2013 in “Theatre Design and Technology.” She was given the award at the March annual USITT conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mitchell also received an award for volunteerism from the McNay Art Museum in April.

Dr. Gerald Mulvey’s, meteorological instructor, latest paper, “Resources and Guidance for Ethics and Personal Conduct in Meteorology,” was

university collective published in the “Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,” Hill, Jerry D., Gerald J. Mulvey, 95, 164–167, January 2014. He was accepted for the third annual AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project workshop in Washington D.C., May 18-23, 2014. This workshop is designed to bring climate studies introductory-level courses to minority-serving institutions and attract underserved students to the geosciences. View: www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/online/climateinfo/diversity.html Rosenberg School of Optometry (RSO) faculty member, Dr. Srihari Narayanan, associate professor and director of Cornea and Dry Eye Service, was granted tenure at the UIW board of trustees meeting on March 7.

Dr. Raul RodriguezBarocio, distinguished professor of finance, has been named chair of the board of directors of the U.S. Mexico Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the symbiotic relationship between the two countries by expanding opportunity for the people of Mexico.

Dr. Kara Tison will be joining the pediatric optometry staff at the Rosenberg School of Optometry (RSO). She will complete her residency in pediatrics at Southern College of Optometry in July and begin an academic career as a senior clinical instructor with RSO. Tison will enable RSO to keep up with the pediatric responsibilities inherent in the

Affordable Health Care Act at the Bowden Eye Care and Health Center. She will also be assigned to lecture and laboratory roles at RSO’s Datapoint location.

Dr. Lila LaGrange, associate professor of pharmacy practice, served on and attended the fall meeting of the American Physiological Society Education Committee to plan for 2014 activities to promote excellence in physiology education and the development of young scientists, Bethesda, Md., Nov. 24-26. She served as chair of the AACP Biological Sciences Section Strategic Plan Task Force with the task of providing recommendations on the current strategic plan, Nov. 2013-May 2014. LaGrange served as a member of the Council of Sections (COS) Strategic Plan Task Force with the task of writing a COS strategic plan, Nov. 2013Nov. 2014.

In March, students in Professor of Education Dr. Mary Ruth Moore’s Instruction and Assessment classes, visited Carroll Early Child Center in SAISD for a garden lesson and to visit with the 19 Head Start classrooms there. The school is a part of the SAISD Early Childhood Education Program. Students taught a lesson on “Peter Rabbit” in the garden where they read the book and learned about the parts of a plant. This garden is an outgrowth of the community garden located at UIW. During spring break, Dr. Jeffrey Crane, assistant dean for the College of Humanities,

Arts, and Social Sciences, and Stephen Lucke, UIW graduate student, along with one of Moore’s students, Kaimie Roe, planted the garden with the children. A former student of Moore’s, Alejandra Barraza ’05 MAT serves as director of the Carroll Early Child Center.

Wesley Harvey, instructor of art, has had a piece of his artwork accepted into the 20th San Angelo National Ceramic Exhibition held at the Museum of Fine Arts in San Angelo, Texas.

Harvey won Best of Show in the ceramics competition with a prize of $2,000 and an invitation to participate in an artist workshop in Montreal, Canada next year with juror Leopold Foulem. During Contemporary Art Month (CAM) in April, he served as curator of the 5th Annual Cookie Jar Exhibition at Lily’s Cookies in San Antonio’s Monte Vista neighborhood.

Sr. Eilish Ryan, CCVI, professor of religious studies and director of the Pastoral Institute, was in Rome April 27-May 3 participating in the Ecclesiology and Spiritual Renewal Program for Health Care Leaders, which is sponsored by the Catholic Health Association in the U.S. The program included presentations on theology, sponsorship, and Catholic health care, plus visits to various Vatican offices which oversee Catholic health care, education and consecrated life. Before returning to the U.S., the group visited the birthplace of the founding congregation, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, in Lyons, France.

Dr. Cheryl Horlen, associate professor of pharmacy practice and residency program director, Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP), was appointed as assistant dean and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at FSOP, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Horlen joined the FSOP faculty in June of 2007. She graduated from the University of Texas with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1999. She completed an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas, followed by a specialty residency in primary care at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, N.C. After completing her residency training, Horlen joined the faculty of Campbell University School of Pharmacy in Buies Creek, N.C. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at Campbell University, she also served as preceptor for students on the required ambulatory care rotation, as well as assistant director for the primary care specialty residency. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She is also a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist. Horlen’s areas of interest include anticoagulation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and women’s health.

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C lass

notes

Eileen Burke-Faught ’87 BA received the Irishman of the Year award from the Harp and Shamrock Society.

The window of UIW’s success stories!

Submissions: alumni@uiwtx.edu

Photos submitted for Class Notes may be included on the online alumni community site.

1990s

1970s Christine Condren ’72 BA recently retired as director of special education from the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas. She had worked as a teacher and administrator in special education for 40 years.

Mary Betty Callender ’76 BSN retired from Ohio Health home care in Columbus, Ohio after 18 years in home infusion therapy, the last 15 years as manager of clinical services. She recently moved to her dream home, a log cabin, in the mountains of Southern West Virginia. She and her husband plan to enjoy hiking, kayaking and golfing with friends as well as their golden retriever, Grady.

Abe Cortez ’78 BBA has been selling world famous cowboy hats at Paris Hatters off Broadway and Houston in San Antonio, Texas and has served as the number one Stetson dealer in the United States.

1980s Viola Benavente ’84 BSN is an assistant professor in the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College. She is also active in the National Association of Hispanic Nurses among other professional nursing organizations.

Aline Harbison ’86 BA has been named associate director for catechetical leadership in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and will work with administrators and teachers in 86 elementary and secondary Catholic schools.

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president. The largest professional nursing organization in Ohio, the ONA provides registered nurses a variety of services, including continuing education opportunities, information on nursing practice and standards of care, legislative advocacy and collective bargaining.

Carla Cristadoro Fresquez ’87 BM and Juan Fresquez ’87 BS share a photo with their son, 2014 UIW graduate Diego Fresquez after his senior recital.

Dan Kirkpatrick ’87 BSN, a clinical instructor at the Wright State University–Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health, was recently elected president of the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA). He received a two-year term. Kirkpatrick previously served on the association’s board of directors as first vice

Dr. Maria Falcon-Cantrill ’01 BS currently serves as a pediatric oncologist at Pediatric Specialists of Texas. She volunteers for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation where volunteers shave their heads to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Falcon-Cantrill also serves as a board member of Camp Discovery, a summer camp for children with cancer. Camp Discovery is referred to as the ‘greatest place on earth’ by the volunteers and planning committee members.

When the stress and pressure of her work builds, Falcon-Cantrill said she is reminded of her guiding principle: “Faith is the ability not to panic.”

Raúl R. Calvoz ’90 BA became a partner in the Central Texas law firm of Tuggey Calvoz LLP.

Rebecca Ford ’90 MS practiced as a certified clinical nutritionist while continuing to work as a registered nurse. She recently attended Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Ariz. and now lives in San Antonio and owns Integrative Medicine Consultants of Texas.

Linda Calvert Jacobson ’90 BA was accepted to exhibit her contemporary wildflower paintings at Artexpo 2014, held in New York City, N.Y. April 4-6. This summer, Jacobson has been invited to have a

solo show at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.

Jacobson is represented by several national galleries around the country, including galleries in Stowe, Vt.; Jackson, Wyo.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Carefree, Ariz. Her paintings have also been licensed for reproduction on products in the U.K., Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Pablo Pena ’06 BBA ’08 MAA is currently working as an account manager for Cardtronics in Houston, Texas and is working on his dissertation proposal completion in the fall.

Sgt. Maj. Jose M. Picon ’95 BBA ’98 MBA (second from left) is currently on his second tour of Afghanistan, and third deployment currently assigned as a contracting officer representative in Kabul. He works with the Intelligence and Security Command that oversees the interpreters’ contract.

Ronald Wojnar ’99 MA is an assistant professor and program coordinator of digital video and cinema production at Northwest Vista College.

Lorena Mello ’07 BA is currently the director of human resources at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Cesar Alvarado ’09 BA recently started working with the Better Business Bureau as their regional public relations director and is currently working with several publications to collaborate with weekly, bi-weekly or monthly columns.

2000s Adriana Rocha Garcia ’00 BA ’02 MA completed a Ph.D. in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin in May. Her dissertation, “Delivering Value Through Social Networking,” is an interactive qualitative analysis of the undergraduate experience and using social media experience.

Lisa (Hutzler) McNary ’86 IWHS ’91 BA ’95 MA earned her Ph.D. in strategic leadership with a concentration in strategic foresight from Regent University in May. Christine Mendez ’91 BA is the deputy for public relations and test control officer for the Fort Sam Houston Army Education Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. She is also a licensed professional counselor and counsels service members and veterans on college, career and transition options.

Marianne Rodriguez ’91 BA is celebrating her fifth year as a Pampered Chef consultant.

Mary Anne Schweers ’91 BBA ’93 MBA is now director at Gimmal LLC. Laura Vaccaro ’91 BBA has been promoted to the Valero Energy Foundation.

Francine B. Piña ’01 BBA and ’13 MAA along with her husband, W. Jonathan Piña, and their two children, Vivien (age 4) and William (age 1), returned to San Antonio, Texas. Piña is the new director of communications for the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.

Rose Smith ’01 BBA started work with Amega West Services, a subsidiary of Carpenter Technology Corporation.

Michael E. Dodd ’03 BSN ’13 MHA is now serving as the executive director of the 10th floor Sky Tower for University Health System.

Allen Wilson ’09 BA graduated magna cum laude from Baylor Law School with a specialization in administrative practice. Since that time he has worked as an associate attorney for the law firm Sanderford & Carroll, P.C., which specializes in construction litigation and federal procurement law.

2010s Christopher Coignet ’10 BS began his first full-time job in meteorology in February.

He now serves as environmental consultant for Source Environmental Sciences, Inc. in Houston, Texas. He previously worked at UIW as a laboratory technician for the meteorology department.

Ashley Enriquez ’10 BA is now working in private practice as a marriage and family therapist associate. She specializes in helping THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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couples to get back on track in their relationships by overcoming infidelities, managing conflict, strengthening friendship, and rebuilding trust and understanding. She also works with individuals who struggle with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, caregiver issues and other everyday stressors.

Kirsten Horne ’11 BS recently became the weekend meteorologist for the 7NEWS Weather Team in Denver, Colo.

Elizabeth M. Jauregui, MT-BC ’11 BM recently conducted a presentation on the benefits of music therapy to directors, nurses and specialists at the Texas Visiting Nurse Service, LTD; a CLASS (Community Living Assistance and Support Services) program.

The presentation resulted in a contract to acquire music therapy services for any client who is approved to receive specialized therapies in the Rio Grande Valley through TVNS. Jauregui is a board certified music therapist and will be among the first and few to offer music therapy to people with disabilities across the Rio Grande Valley.

Marc Harrison ’12 BA was appointed to the VIA Metropolitan Board of Trustees in December by the City of San Antonio.

Harrison is an operations supervisor for Greyhound Lines, Inc., where he manages staff members and handles training and hiring.

Mauricio Sanchez ’12 BBA is serving as the CEO and founder of a local nonprofit corporation, The Allocative Efficiency Fund (www.taef.org).

Kathryn Marie Laskowski ’13 BS has been accepted to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and will begin medical school Fall 2014.

Katie Rivera ’13 BA served as Miss Bexar County for Fiesta 2014.

Anna-Alizette Ruiz ’13 BA MA was recently promoted to assistant project manager at HeartFire Media.

Travis Patterson ’12 MAA is currently teaching as an adjunct faculty instructor at Brown Mackie College and as a visiting lecturer at Texas State University. He is currently working on several publications and research projects including a publication on “Medical Treatment disguises the Pseudoscience of the 21st Century” and research on “Assessing the Organizational Psychology of Non-Profit Blood Banking: Non-medical issues relating to lower volunteer blood donor return rates.”

Holly Rodriguez ’13 MAA was recently promoted to assistant vice president at Wells Fargo and is now leading an operational risk department in the bank’s Default Servicing organization.

Mariana Veraza ’13 BA MA currently serves as a video journalist at Univision.

Five UIW alumnae have been inducted into the 2014 San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame: Rebeca Maria Barrera ’69 BS, cultural visionary, Tres Rebecas Veronica Muzquiz Edwards ’92 MBA, founder and CEO of InGenesis, Inc. Christine Luna Gonzalez ’91 MA, regional director of volunteer services, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Systems Yolanda P. Torres ’57 BA, retired secondary school English teacher

Brittany Valadez ’11 BA works as entertainment correspondent for Latina Magazine and recently interviewed alumnus Ricardo Chavira ’96 BA at the American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Awards. Check out the clip here: http://m.latina.com/entertainment/ buzz/watch-2013-alma-awards-red-carpetinterviews

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Leticia M. Vacek ’09 BAAS ’12 MAA, San Antonio city clerk

A Career Conversation with Elisha Skorman: Marketing Graduate Turned LA Actress and Producer

By Jeff Berry For 2003 marketing graduate Elisha Skorman (her adopted screen name), the dream was clear: “I knew from a young age I wanted to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting.” But the path didn’t start where you would expect it.

“I was really introverted growing up, I was shy,” said Skorman. “I was always hiding behind my mother’s legs.”

So, how does a modest youth go from using a maternal barrier to being nominated for Best Actress at the Madrid International Film Festival? In a word: persistence.

As a teen, Skorman began attending acting school in Austin and made appearances in several marketing campaigns in San Antonio, including a spot in the ubiquitous 1990s Taco Bell commercial “Taco Bell Has Done It Again.” These experiences laid the groundwork for Skorman as she received

In Memoriam Chita Sue Thompson Gates Wilson ’39 BA Jane Long Clark ’40 BS Maxine Whitten Blount ’42 BA Marian Seng Tschoepe ’43 BA Margaret J. Garcia Saenz ’43 BSN Lucille T. Althoff Shultz ’45 BSN

her first break.

“I was asked to be in a music video and the director needed me to cry,” shared Skorman. “I couldn’t just cry on command, so it took several takes and some coaching, but finally, I just let go. I screamed as loud as I could and the tears started coming down. I knew in that moment this is what I wanted to do.”

As any artisan can tell you, your calling doesn’t always pay the bills. While moonlighting as an actress, she worked part-time at a beauty salon and attended the University of Incarnate Word’s (UIW) H-E-B School of Business and Administration full-time.

Long days and even longer nights finally paid off as Skorman crossed the stage with degree in hand, but the celebration was mixed; it was time to make decisions.

“My mom wanted me to stay in San Antonio, but I always knew I wanted to be in Los Angeles. As soon as I got my diploma, I packed my car and took off for the West Coast. I didn’t know anyone in the area, but I knew that’s where I belonged,” explained Skorman.

Although not a novice to the acting profession, Skorman struggled to find employment in her chosen career: “Everyday in LA was spent trying to find a job, any job. I had to make it happen though, so I took a job as a waitress with no experience whatsoever.”

As stated in many a career advice guide, Skorman “paid her dues” and in 2004 found herself attached to a talent agency, as she slowly crept into the industry. The same year, she landed a minor role in the comedy short “The Plight of Clownana,” subsequently leading to appearances on “The Young and the Restless,” “CSI: NY,” and “Dealership.” By 2012, Skorman had produced a lengthy portfolio as an actress, but her next project would also put her on the other side of the camera.

In her first visit back to UIW in over a decade, she reminisced about her experience as a Cardinal.

“I can’t believe how much the campus has changed since I was here. All these new buildings, but it still feels the same,” said Skorman, who came home to attend a screening of her new independent film, “Autumn Wanderer,” at the Blue Star Contemporary, which features Skorman alongside her husband Nathan Sutton.

Developed from a short story written by Sutton, “Autumn Wanderer” is a product of the couple’s independent production company, Mohawk Street Productions.

Now as an executive producer, Skorman has come full circle from delivering SWOT analyses in the classroom to employing her education in social media strategy, public relations and selecting venues to promote the film.

“I wanted to get that edgy, hometown feel. We needed to pick a location that was outside of the box, so we laid out the opportunities and the threats and decided on (Blue Star) an art gallery that would attract an audience that would be interested in our film. We’re branding ourselves in order to retain a certain audience,” Skorman explained.

Skorman has played many roles, but her new position as marketing coordinator has allowed her to reflect on her classroom encounters, particularly her capstone project.

“Capstone was a really important part of my academic experience. The teamwork involved, strategizing to reach a solution; I definitely gained a lot of practical experience from the project,” Skorman elaborated.

Although Skorman took the road less traveled, the skills and knowledge gained from studying marketing at UIW have assisted her in following her passion. When asked to give advice to current and future Cardinals, Skorman reiterated a path of persistence: “Study hard, (UIW) will get you all the help you need to be successful. There’s no reason you can’t live your dream.”

Marion Joyce Lane Tillotson ’46 BA Ellen Toren de Tournillon ’50 BA Jo Ann Johnson Mandriotta ’56 BSN Claudia Jean Lugo Messner ’57 IWHS ’61 BSN Sr. Mary Benedict Broderick ’57 BSN Dorothy A. Garten Wohlfeil ’59 BA Dr. Carole Edland ’59 BSN Viola Diana Irvin Cavallini ’60 BA

Frances Ann Gabelich Ramirez ’64 BSN Col. Jessie W. Bynum ’66 BSN Robert Foard Townsend ’68 MA Elaine Johnson Darden ’70 BA Sr. Carmen Roche, CCVI ’70 BS Linda Jo Work Perry ’72 BSN Sr. Eva Regina Martin, SSF ’73 MA Dr. Franklin J. Chinn, Sr., benefactor

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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Weddings and Engagements

Future Cardinals Marianne Rodriguez ’91 BA is blessed and happy to announce the arrival of Danielle Rose, born Sept. 16 at 7 pounds 11 ounces 21.5 inches.

Tony Ramos’ ’02 BS son Tiago Antonio was born on May 28, 2013 at 5:19 a.m. at 6 pounds 5 ounces.

Aline Harbison ’86 BA is engaged to Michael Frederick.

Sandy Hernandez ’02 BA became engaged to David Zamora, on Dec. 19, 2013.

Elizabeth M. Jauregui, MT-BC ’11 BM and Oscar C. Linares were engaged on Jan. 12, 2014. They met while attending music courses at UIW in 2011.

Roxanne Mayorga ’09 BA is engaged to Johnny “Rick” Silva, Jr. who is a sushi chef at Koi Kawa Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar. They will be getting married March 29, 2015 in the McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room. She has been working on her Ph.D. in general psychology through Capella University. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at San Antonio College as well as UIW’s ADCaP program.

Carmen Torres Leos ’05 BA ’13 MAA and Alex Leos, Jr. welcomed Dominic James and Jack Ryan to the world on Jan. 16, 2014.

What UIW faculty member made the biggest impact on you?

Linda Jewell ’10 BS and John Eric Gomez ’08 BS married on Dec. 21, 2013.

Rose Valenzuela ’13 BA will marry David Schroeder on Jan. 31, 2015.

Connect more with

UIW!

30 T H E W O R D | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Facebook.com/uiwcardinals Twitter.com/uiwcardinals @uiwcardinals Instagram.com/uiwcardinals @uiwcardinals

Are you pinning? Follow us on Pinterest at UIWpride.

Pinterest.com/uiwpride

If a UIW faculty member made a difference in your academic career, please let us know! Just email Alumni Relations at alumni@uiwtx.edu with the name of the faculty member and a brief description of how they had a positive influence on you as a UIW student.

The Word Online has a new home!

Visit us at www.thewordonline.org to view the magazine online as well as additional content. Don’t worry, if you visit the old location at www.uiw.edu/thewordonline/, you will be redirected automatically to our new site.

UIW’s Extended Academics Programs (EAP) offers new innovative programs BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CYBER SECURITY (BSCS)

DIGITAL FORENSICS CONCENTRATION

The Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security (BSCS) encourages students to gain knowledge of cyber terrorism based on a mixture of disciplines to include the management of information technology, psychology, security policy analysis and assurance, criminology, and business. The degree is aimed at candidates who are already in the field and require further development of comprehensive methods to plan, analyze, design, develop and implement cyber security strategies, policies and governance standards. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, graduates will engage in a Capstone project encompassing intelligence and practical security applications, which can further lead to post graduation certifications such as the CISSP. Input from the National Security Agency’s (NSA) was sought throughout the building of the BSCS curriculum.

The scope of Digital Forensics is a shared concentration of the Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and the Bachelor’s of Criminal Justice, jointly developed by the faculty of undergraduate business administration and criminal justice programs. Candidates studying digital forensics will pursue a hands-on approach to criminology and cyber terrorism threats by learning topics such as ethical hacking, investigations and forensics as they pertain to the legal issues faced by private and public organizations.

An eye on the National Security Agency’s (NSA) advancements and changes are integrated throughout the curriculum. Input from local government and technology experts was sought throughout the building of the Digital Forensics curriculum.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL SPORT COACHING The Master of Science in International Sport Coaching is designed to allow individuals with very specific job requirements to advance their career as a competitive sport coach, manager and leader. Coaches’ typical working hours are from 3 p.m. until well into the evening in most cases and therefore they cannot attend traditional evening classes. This degree is designed as a sport specific cohort curriculum for online delivery in order to meet the specific needs of coaches or program administrators, including general leadership, management and decision making skills both in the organization and in the physical training of athletes.

Specifically the course content areas are management, leadership, research and organizational behavior and planning. The scientific areas cover the lifespan and psychosocial aspects of children, preadolescences and adults. The physiological, mechanical and neuromotor control aspects of movement are covered in this case in very sport specific courses and require the use of cinematographic and other technologies. The Capstone course will require an entire audit of the organization in terms of organizational effectiveness, the application of science and technology and demonstration of an effective season planning process.

Visit http://adulted.uiw.edu/ to learn more or contact EAP at (800) 318-1876/(210) 757-0202 or eapadmission@uiwtx.edu

Moment for Reflection

By Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI Sr. Teresa Maya was officially installed as the new Congregational Coordinator of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word on July 13.

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word are called to make God’s love a real and tangible presence in the world. I often reflect on how “presence” can be an integral part of our busy hurried lives. Are we truly present even to our friends and family? This has been a soul searching issue for me, yet presence is a simple everyday thing. Here is how I found out.

About a year ago, I was ordering a cup of coffee at a Starbucks. The cashier, a strong woman clearly in charge, asked, “Room?” And I drew a blank, “Excuse me?” And again she just said, “R-o-o-m?” I tried to wake my brain up without the coffee and all the images in my mind were, of course, of bedrooms, so I said shyly, “You mean as in bedroom?” And she was exasperated, “I mean do you want r—o— o—m in your coffee cup for milk.” Relieved, and now educated in Starbucks lingo, I nod-

ded and then quickly got away from the long line of regulars.

The “room” in my coffee cup every morning is my simple reminder of all the cups of my life that need more room. There is my cup of prayer, always filled to the brim with worries, difficult situations, people who are suffering, but no room for God. And there is my cup of friendship, when I gather with friends and leave wondering if I left room to really listen to the struggles of their lives. The cup of family, do I have room for them or do I assume they will always be there as they have been in the past. The cup of citizenship, how often do I leave room to participate in local non-profits as a volunteer or to join my voice to advocacy efforts.

Presence requires “room” for the Divine to pour Grace gently into the cups of our daily life.

THE WORD | SUMMER 2014

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Alumni Events Alumni & Family Homecoming

UIW Alumni Theatre series

Save the date for Oct. 23-26! Mark your calendar and come visit UIW. Our Alumni & Family Homecoming has an event for everyone! Make sure to visit the alumni and parent website at www.uiwalumni.org for more information!

Join UIW alumni at the Majestic Theatre for our “Broadway Across America” series as we plan to watch: “Beauty and the Beast” - Sept. 30 “Dirty Dancing” - Nov. 4 Save the dates above and keep checking back at the Cardinal’s Nest to purchase tickets at www.uiwalumni.org

Additional Summer and Fall dates to keep in mind Friday, July 18 - Lion & Rose Double Decker Bus Friday, Aug. 15 - First Annual UIW Alumni & Parent Beer Tasting September (TBD) - Young Alumni Mixer

UIW Alumni Red Zone tailgates Saturday, Aug. 30 - UIW Red Zone Tailgate Saturday, Sept. 27 - UIW Red Zone Tailgate Saturday, Oct. 25 - UIW Homecoming Tailgate Saturday, Nov. 8 - UIW Red Zone Tailgate

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Update your email with the alumni office!

Have you missed a few alumni events recently and wish you had known about them? If so, please update your contact on the Cardinal’s Nest at www.uiwalumni.org. You can login for the first time by clicking on ‘first time login,’ finding your last name and then entering your old student ID number. If you don’t remember it, call us at (210) 829-6014 and we can help get you signed in.

A Passion for Education

By Brance Arnold ’10 MA

A

passionate belief in education and the mission of proFink said that when Sr. Kathleen Coughlin, CCVI, first viding youth an opportunity to achieve their academic assumed the role of vice president for institutional advanceaspirations is what inspires Rick Fink ’88 MA and his ment, she invited the development board members to her wife, Marion, to maintain a deep connection with the Univeroffice to meet with them. Upon learning Fink had a degree in sity of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and play an integral role in gerontology, she suggested he serve on the board of directors its advancement. for The Village at Incarnate Word, where he served two threeFink, who earned his master’s degree in social gerontology year terms. While on the board, Fink chaired the construcfrom what was then Incarnate Word College, said his journey tion committee for the expansion of the Dubuis House at the to the university was one of chance. retirement facility.

“I was a career Air Force Officer An Alamo Heights Rotarian, Fink and when I retired I received a job is instrumental in organizing Alamo offer at what was then USAA Towers,” Heights Night, a popular festival during said Fink. “Through the orientation Fiesta, which funds the rotary’s largest process they had an education office single, non-profit donation to local and I stopped in and found a brocharitable organizations. The event is chure for a gerontology program at now held on UIW’s main campus.

Incarnate Word, which they no longer Most recently, Fink and his wife offer.” contributed a major gift to UIW’s Fine Fink phoned the number on the Arts Campaign to help ensure the brochure and after speaking with Sr. building of the Fine Arts Complex, set Margaret Rose Palmer, CCVI, began to open in the fall. The couple said that the program. Establishing a top-rated their contribution to the campaign was retirement community as the director based on need. of USAA Towers, he said his educa“That’s what they needed at the tion at UIW helped to facilitate his time,” explained Marion. “They needed career success. to finish the building. We said, why not.

“I knew a lot about management If that’s where you need it, that’s where Rick Fink at his home in San Antonio, Texas. but not a lot about dealing with the the funds should go.” elderly population,” Fink said. “It was Fink and his wife said their conneca unique program.” tion to UIW is reinforced by their participation in the develTwo years after graduating he was asked to become a opment board’s many social activities. In particular, they look member of the UIW Development Board, on which he has forward to interacting with students who often attend these served for over 20 years. He and Marion contribute regularly events and sometimes give presentations to the board. to UIW’s annual fund at the Associate Level. Fink and his Fink, who is also a retired master gardener and taught wife, who are from upstate New York, both attended small vegetable gardening under a state supported program at the colleges and said they felt a strong connection to UIW beBotanical Gardens for almost 15 years, was even asked to visit cause of the kind of students who attend the university. the UIW Community Vegetable Garden and provide sugges“We both attended small colleges, we both lived at home, tions in growing the garden. we were scholarship students, and the first in our families to Overall, giving back to students who want to succeed acago to college,” said Fink. “The more we learned about Incardemically toward achieving a fulfilling career is what is most nate Word, the more we learned they had students similar to important to Fink and his wife. And now with a third generaus.” tion including eight grandchildren, who have either earned Fink became the first executive director of The Forum at degrees or are currently pursuing them, the Finks believe Lincoln Heights after leaving USAA Towers, a position he education to be critical. held for 10 years. Though he is now retired, he continues to “It’s a top priority,” said Fink. “Every year when the annual provide hiring and marketing consulting to fellow alumnus campaign comes up, we do not hesitate. It is just something J.B. Gouger ’97 MA, who owns five small assisted living comwe do. And we are grateful for the fact that we can make munities in South Texas. those decisions.”

University of the Incarnate Word 4301 Broadway San Antonio, Texas 78209

Guests donned their best hats and Southern attire at this year’s Kentucky Derby themed

Swing-In Auction Party and Golf Tournament!

Over 500 guests attended the auction party on May 1 in the McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room and more than 300 golfers participated in the golf tournament held at Republic Golf Club on May 2. More than $400,000 was raised for scholarships, the most in the event’s 37 year history.

Thank you to all who made this year’s Swing-In such a tremendous success!

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID San Antonio, Texas Permit # 1822