The Word Online - Spring 2012

the

WORD Spring 2012

Fencing and International Sports Center to be home to world class athletes

Dear Friends:

“With our continued growth – the enrollment has more than doubled in the last ten years and there are more employees now than there were full-time students in 1985.”

The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity at the University of the Incarnate Word, much of it centered on our efforts to increase the visibility of the UIW brand.

In January, a university delegation that included several members of the Board of Trustees met with officials from the Southland Conference regarding our interest in becoming a member.

Joining the Southland, which is a Division 1 conference, would be a significant step toward increasing our profile not just in Texas, but also nationally.

In early February, we announced the development of a Fencing and International Sports Center that will serve as the premier fencing facility in the region. The center will be utilized for many fencing-related activities and competitions. It’ll also allow us to develop an NCAA fencing program, which will provide new opportunities for local students who’d like to get involved in collegiate fencing but don’t want to leave San Antonio to do so.

The fencing center will be built using a $2 million grant we received from the Bexar County Community Venues Office, to which we’ll add another $1 million, and will be constructed on the grounds of St. Anthony Catholic High School, which is owned and operated by UIW. These efforts are critical to our long-range goal of growing into the largest private university in Texas by the end of this decade, something that will provide greater access to those individuals seeking an Incarnate Word education, particularly those from groups historically underrepresented in higher education.

Hispanics, for example, comprise about 16 percent of the population of the United States and 38 percent in Texas (Hispanics are the largest minority group in both). Yet only about 14 percent of the country’s Hispanics who are 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree. Let me put these figures in the context of what we’re doing at Incarnate Word: as was reported last year, we’re No. 1 nationally among faith-based universities in the conferring of bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics and No. 2 among all private universities in the country.

With our continued growth – the enrollment has more than doubled in the last ten years and there are more employees now than there were full-time students in 1985 - it’s important that the UIW brand be as recognizable in places like Dallas and Houston as it is in South Texas.

The enhanced name-recognition will make our graduates more attractive to potential employers, especially to those located outside of South Texas, a serious consideration in these tough economic times. This will also lead to an increase in the admission standards, making that process much more competitive. Over time, both of these factors will have the effect of building additional equity in UIW degrees.

I encourage you to read the rest of this issue to catch-up on what else has been happening at Incarnate Word, including a profile on long-time benefactor Gayle Benson (the football stadium is named after Gayle and her husband, Tom).

Remember, it’s because of your commitment to our community that we can continue fulfilling Incarnate Word’s goal of offering students the best possible educational opportunities within a context of faith. Please remember an investment in higher education is something that will yield returns for a lifetime for you, your family and our community.

Special blessings on you and your loved ones throughout 2012.

Best Wishes,

Louis J. Agnese Jr., Ph.D. President

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Campus News

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University Collective

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UIW announces development of fencing center and program

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Making a difference across the globe

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Master of child nutrition

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Raising the bar in synchronized swimming

18 UIW professor documents Albanian theater

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20 Anti-bullying app addresses growing problem

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contents

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Achieving global perspective

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Pharmacy students see their education at work while helping the community

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UIW begins transition to Division 1 status

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Class Notes

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Meet the Board

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Moment for Reflection

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credits

Managing Editor Debra Del Toro

Contributing Writers Brance Arnold ’10 MA Crystal CamposRosales ’07 BA Robert Crowe Diane Echavarria Margaret Garcia Rosie Garcia ’91 BA Steve Hemphill Ashley Lindstrom Crystale Lopez

Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. President

Lisa Schultz ’91 BA,’95 MA Director of Alumni Relations

Sr. Kathleen Coughlin ’67 Debra Del Toro BSN Director of Public Relations Vice President for Institutional Advancement Art Director The Word is published by the Michael Hood Public Relations Office of the Vincent Rodriguez University of the Incarnate Assistant to the President/ Graphic Designer Word for the alumni, parents, Communications Marisol Martinez benefactors and friends of the Incarnate Word community.

This publication is available in alternate format by request. To request an alternate format, please contact the UIW Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Coordinator Crystale Lopez

Board of Trustees Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. Charlie Amato Scott Beckendorf Michael Belz Doyle Beneby Gayle Benson Mike Beucler David Cibrian Fully Clingman Dr. Annette Craven Sr. Martha Estela Perez Curiel Alan Dreeban

John Feik Sr. Marinela Flores John Guajardo Gary Henry Sr. Mary C. Henry Winell Herron Betty Kelso Nancy Kudla Jack Lewis Charles Lutz Sr. Teresa Yolanda Maya John Miller

William Moll Carmen Nava Enzo Pellegrino John Peveto Sr. Annette Pezold Marky Pontius Joseph A. Reyes Richard Schlosberg Sr. Yolanda Tarango Sr. Gloria Ortiz Villalon

The Word Online www.uiw.edu/thewordonline

No Password Required Remember... You don’t need a login or password to view the magazine online! Just visit www.uiw.edu/thewordonline and click the stories that interest you.

Travel to Ireland with the UIW Alumni Association The UIW Alumni Association will be traveling to Ireland from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2, 2012. Highlights of the trip include traveling the Ring of Kerry, beholding the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, an overnight stay on the grounds of a castle and experiencing Old Ireland at its finest. For information, visit www.uiwalumni.org and click on “Shades of Ireland.”

Visit UIW by virtual tour UIW’s Rock’ N Red Birds trained together in preparation for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon and ½.

Rock’ N Red Birds Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon and ½ The UIW Rock’ N Red Birds team comprised of alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends, placed 2nd in the Corporate Large category of the Get Fit Challenge at the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon and ½ held Sunday, Nov. 13.

The Get Fit Challenge was created by the race organizers to encourage local businesses, schools and organizations to race “as a team.” Visit www.uiwalumni.org/rocknredbirds to find out more about the team and for details on how to register for the 2012 marathon.

Look for this icon throughout the magazine to find online bonus content.

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Take your friends, family and future Cardinals on a tour of UIW without leaving your home. The University of the Incarnate Word now offers a virtual tour with highlights of the campus online. Two tour guides will direct you to the buildings and landmarks of the UIW campus. Enjoy the tour at www.uiw.edu/virtual11/.

What is happening at UIW? The UIW app is available for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry, and features a directory, course search, events listing, map, images, videos and more. Visit www.uiw.edu/technology/2011/get-the-uiw-app/ for more information.

Give Green Help students while you help the environment. Give online at www.uiw.edu/giving.

Changing the world?

How are you enriching your world? We want to know how you are touching lives.

If you have a unique story to share, e-mail Crystale Lopez at cllopez2@uiwtx.edu.

Please recycle this magazine!

The University of the Incarnate Word is dedicated to helping the environment.

Please recycle this magazine when you’re finished, and if you’d prefer to read the magazine online only, e-mail alumni@uiwtx.edu and request to be removed from the hard-copy mailing list.

campus news

UIW Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Light the Way The University of the Incarnate Word hosted nearly 7,000 guests at the 25th anniversary celebration of Light the Way on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. An evening of surprises and special guests decorated the event.

A highlight of the evening included the surprise announcement of a $25,000 scholarship, by H-E-B Public Affairs Director Dya Campos, to be given to UIW students honoring the event’s 25th year. The Spurs Coyote, Santa Claus, and UIW alumnus Ricardo Chavira, of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, all made appearances. KSAT’s Ursula Pari and Steve Spriester emceed the event.

The audience also enjoyed special holiday performances by UIW’s Chorale and Cardinal Marching Band and choirs from Incarnate Word High School, St. Anthony Catholic School and St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic School. The St. Anthony Catholic High School Jazz Band also entertained the crowd. Tejano music legend Patsy Torres headlined the event with a performance featuring UIW students Jacob Smith and Italie Chavez.

UIW President Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. officially kicked off

UIW President Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr., along with the Spurs Coyote and UIW’s Red the Cardinal flip the switch at the 25th annual Light the Way event hosted by UIW and H-E-B. the holiday season by flipping the switch illuminating the campus with a million twinkling lights and sending snow flurries throughout Benson Stadium. After the official switch was flipped, mariachis led guests on a candlelight procession through campus to UIW’s Brackenridge Villa for a complimentary reception hosted by H-E-B. Light the Way began twenty-five years ago when Dr. Agnese shared his vision to unite the community in the spirit of the holiday season.

UIW Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Receives Accreditation and Begins Construction on New Building In November 2011, UIW received the approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, becoming the second Catholic university with a DPT program in the southern tier of the United States.

This accreditation includes the postprofessional program to be offered online to individuals who hold a bachelor or master’s degree in physical therapy and are licensed to practice in the U.S., as well as an entry-level program for students who hold a baccalaureate degree but are not physical therapists.

An Application for Candidacy - the formal application required in the preaccreditation stage - was submitted to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) on Dec. 1 and a site visit was completed at the end of January. Upon CAPTE’s determination to grant the UIW Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy program Candidate for Accreditation status, students will be enrolled, at the earliest in the Summer of 2012.

“The Physical Therapy program is

said. “It will feature excellent resources steadily growing,” said Dr. Caroline including a library, a gait and moveGoulet, director and professor. “As of ment analysis lab, two lecture halls with January 2012, we have extended offers to adjoining breakout rooms, four teach25 students who applied for the proing labs, a clinic, and more. It will also gram, and have hired two new faculty allow the students to get involved in the members as well as a full-time admiscommunity.” sions/recruitment staff member in JanuGoulet said when the new building ary. Four more faculty members will be is up and running that the program joining us in June.” intends to feature a pro bono clinic run Goulet explained that with the aging by the students. population more and more physical The new School of Physical Therapy is therapists will be needed. scheduled to open in August of 2012.

“By 2015, all physical therapy programs will be at the doctorate level,” she said.

Accompanying the new program will be a new state of the art facility located in Northwest San Antonio, at Tezel and Guilbeau. The new building will stretch across 75,000 square feet and will be specifically designed to meet the needs of the program.

“Plans for the buildA new facility is currently underway for the School of Physical ing are going to create a Therapy. It will be located in Northwest San Antonio at Tezel fantastic facility,” Goulet and Guilbeau.

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campus news

UIW Celebrates the Class of 2011 The University of the Incarnate Word celebrated the fall class of 2011 at two commencement ceremonies.

The first ceremony was held Friday, Dec. 9, and honored graduates of the university’s masters and Ph.D. programs. Tejano music star Patsy Torres graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy and became a UIW triple threat having also earned both her undergraduate and masters degrees at UIW. Former San Antonio Spurs star David “The Admiral” Robinson, a student of UIW’s Virtual University, graduated with a Master of Arts in Administration, with a concentration in Organizational Development. Robinson also graduated “With Distinction,” an honors designation.

The commencement ceremony held Saturday, Dec. 10 honored more than 600 students earning their bachelor’s degrees. The outdoor ceremony experienced inclement weather so a graduation reception was held on Sunday, Jan. 8 in the Convocation Center to allow graduates an opportunity to celebrate with their families, friends and UIW faculty.

At Saturday’s commencement ceremony, Louis “Papa” Agnese received an honorary bachelor’s degree. At nearly 97, Papa is the oldest recipient of a UIW degree. He received a Bachelor of Humane Letters.

The Insigne Verbum award was also presented to Dr. Fernando Guerra.

The Insigne Verbum Award recognizes individuals who have contributed meritorious service to the community and who represent and carry out the Mission of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

UIW graduates gathered with family, friends and Guerra is the forfaculty members to celebrate their accomplishmer director of the ment at the graduation reception held Sunday,

David “The Admiral” Robinson, UIW Board of Trustees member Nancy Kudla, and UIW President Dr. Louis Agnese at the graduation ceremony held Friday, Dec. 9. Robinson graduated “With Distinction” with a Master of Arts in Administration and a concentration in Organizational Development.

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) and a long-time practicing pediatrician. He serves his community as a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, an adjunct professor in public health at the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston.

The commencement speaker for both ceremonies was UIW Moody Professor William Gokelman, who is chair of the UIW Music Department. He directs the Chorale, the Cardinal Singers, teaches piano, is a vocal coach, and conducts. Gokelman is a national and regional presenter/performer for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM). The Moody Professor traditionally delivers the Commencement address to the December graduates and this address is often considered the students’ “last class.”

Jan. 8 in the Convocation Center.

Alumna of Distinction

Marina Garcia Marmolejo, BA ’92, 2011 Alumna of Distinction for Professional Achievement 4

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The 2011 Alumna of Distinction for Professional Achievement, Marina Garcia Marmolejo, BA ’92 was also recognized at the fall 2011 ceremony. Marmolejo is a United States district judge for the Southern District of Texas. She was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico.

Marmolejo lived in Nuevo Laredo for ten years prior to immigrating to the U.S. with her family. Upon graduating from the University of the Incarnate Word in 1992, she returned to Laredo and worked as a substitute teacher and volunteer with Literacy Volunteers of America. Marina became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1995.

UIW celebrates students at annual President’s Spaghetti Dinner

Army Staff Sgt. Eric Saadat shares his story of being a soldier and a student at UIW at the 9th Annual Veterans Day celebration.

University of the Incarnate Word President Dr. Louis Agnese treated 880 students to a free spaghetti dinner with the ambiance of a five-star dining experience at the annual President’s Spaghetti Dinner held Tuesday, Nov. 29 in the Rosenberg Sky Room.

The President’s Spaghetti Dinner is UIW’s way of saying “thank you” to students who make the university such a special place. Dr. Agnese served as head chef using his traditional family recipe. UIW faculty, staff and employees helped with the preparations and in hand rolling the meatballs for the meal. They also served as the staff extraordinaire the night of the event.

UIW holds 9th Annual Veterans Day celebration The University of the Incarnate Word honored all who have served our country at UIW’s 9th Annual Veterans Day ceremony Thursday, Nov. 10 on Dubuis Lawn. This year’s speakers included UIW students, both retired and active duty.

Ret. Air Force Lt. Col. Laurel Smyth presided as a guest speaker. Smyth has served all over the globe as a senior maintenance officer, with tours in Iraq, Germany and Korea. She has also served at the Pentagon. Smyth is scheduled to graduate from UIW in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication arts and a concentration in video production. Active duty Army Staff Sgt. Eric Saadat also addressed the crowd. Saadat is stationed at Ft. Sam Houston and recently returned to San Antonio from a combat assignment.

Saadat is a graduate student working towards a Master of Arts in administration with a concentration in sports management.

Guests at the event had the opportunity to view the “Living Wall,” a display honoring students and loved ones who have served in the military. For the first time, a formal presentation of the Flag Folding Ceremony was included in the day’s events to share the heritage and history of what the ceremony represents.

UIW is home to approximately 1,100 veteran students that are either active duty, veteran or dependents using VA benefits. The annual Veterans Day ceremony is an opportunity for UIW student veterans and their families to share insights on how their experience of military service blends with the UIW Mission of service.

Students gathered for the annual President’s Spaghetti Dinner. UIW Faculty, staff and employees helped serve students to say “thank you” for making the university such a special place.

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campus news

Dr. Agnese book now available When Dr. Lou Agnese was hired as the eighth president of Incarnate Word College in 1985, he was one of the youngest university presidents in the United States. At 33, the Brooklyn native faced the daunting challenge of reviving an institution with a shrinking enrollment and an uncertain future whose student demographics were out of step with San Antonio. Now in his twenty-sixth year as Incarnate Word president, Agnese, as a local business leader recently observed, has forever transformed the educational landscape of South Texas.

Author Dr. Patricia A. Watkins, retired vice president for international affairs at UIW, mixes humor with an insider’s keen eye for details in “Lou: From Brooklyn to Broadway.” She provides an insightful look into how Agnese, over a quarter century, transformed a small college best known for being across a popular eatery on Broadway in San Antonio into a financially robust international center of learning. Today, the University of the Incarnate Word, as it has been known since 1996, has sites in Texas, China, Mexico and Germany. It is the largest Catholic university in Texas and the state’s fourth largest private institution of higher learning.

“Lou: From Brooklyn to Broadway, The University of the Incarnate Word’s 25 Years with Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr.” is now available for purchase at locations including the UIW Bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and The Twig Book Shop. It was published by San Antonio-based Maverick Publishing Company.

The book is available for purchase at the UIW Bookstore or online at www.uiw.bkstr.com.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Well Underway The University of the Incarnate Word’s Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing is now offering a new program for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) interested in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

“The program began in Aug. 2011 and we currently have nine students enrolled,” said Dr. Laura Muñoz, director of the DNP program. “The DNP program is taking the university to a new level, as well as priming students to become leaders in healthcare.”

The new program offers either full or part-time enrollment options using an online platform of learning with individual-

Students in the UIW Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program attended spring orientation held Jan. 12-13. Pictured (L-R) Manuel Gonzalez, Geoffrey, Gonzales, Jose Villa, Lisa Zerda, Elizabeth Leal, Modesta Garcia-Atwater, Decy Devere, and Steve Jaubert.

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ized clinical placements. Students enrolled in the program full-time have the opportunity to complete requirements in one calendar year.

“I am taking courses from Onalaska, Texas, and the program is a lot of work, but everyone at UIW is so helpful and supportive that it makes working to obtain the degree feasible,” said Skyler Salmasi, student in the DNP program. “As a UIW alumna, I cannot imagine completing the DNP program anywhere else but here.”

Individuals interested in applying for the program must hold a Master of Science in nursing from an accredited college or university and have a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse and APRN Certification in one of AACN-recognized specialties (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA) with recognition to practice as an APRN by the Board of Nursing in the state of residence/practice.

“It is exciting that we are the first class and foundation of the DNP program,” said Lisa Zerda, DNP student. “For me, I feel that completing this degree will be opening a door to endless opportunities.”

For more information on the DNP program, visit www.uiw.edu/dnp.

campus news

President’s Interfaith Community Service Campus Challenge The University of the Incarnate Word is currently one of approximately 250 universities in the United States participating in President Obama’s Challenge for Interfaith Service and Community Development. UIW has committed to develop an ongoing program of interfaith and cultural dialogue through assisting the refugee population in San Antonio and on-campus through educational initiatives.

“Taking part in this challenge is part of the UIW Mission and puts an emphasis on student community service,” said Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, of the College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) and council member of the UIW Interfaith Council.

The Interfaith Community Service Campus Challenge is led

by Dr. Lopita Nath, CHASS assistant professor of history, as well as numerous faculty members, UIW Mission and Ministry, and student leaders Marty Battafarano and Sarah Hanson.

Throughout the fall, at least six UIW classes were engaged in service learning projects and were working with refugees along

with Catholic Charities as community partners. The initiative has focused on refugee resettlement and adjustment, and also involves the national service priorities of domestic poverty, educational opportunity, health services, and education.

Other interfaith activities have also taken place on campus, in classes, through public lectures and presentations that have impacted students and increased their understanding of and offer opportunities to dialogue with others of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds.

Panels including, “How Do You Teach Your Children About Your Faith? How Do You Teach Them About Other Faiths?” united students and faculty of various faiths. Representatives from five major world religions including Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism were present.

“Overall, I thought this panel was a huge success,” said Battafarano. “One of the main things that stuck out to me from this event was that loving God, loving our neighbors, respect, compassion and forgiveness are all foundational principles in the religions represented in the panel.”

Kirk said she feels taking part in the Interfaith Service Challenge prompts living with a sense of gratitude so that students can learn to enjoy providing service to others.

As part of the Interfaith Service Challenge, UIW Liturgical Outreach will host “Where in the World is Compassion? Creating Ongoing Relationships for the Common Good,” a Conference on Compassion March 23-25. The conference will feature Dr. John Esposito of Georgetown University and author of “Who Speaks for Islam, What a Billion Muslims Really Think.”

Students, faculty, staff and guests gather for “Charter for Compassion,” to hear of compassion in various traditions, to join others online around the world inaugurating the charter, and to pray to be people of compassion.

For more information, visit www.uiw.edu/interfaithservice.

First Interfaith Prayer Room at UIW Now Open UIW has opened the first Interfaith Prayer Room located at the Rosenberg School of Optometry (RSO). The room is a place that offers students, faculty, staff and administrators the opportunity to worship, enjoy mutual fellowship, seek spiritual guidance, and learn about religious traditions.

“The School of Optometry is the only faith-based optometry school in the country,” said Roya Attarhousseini, student and intern in the RSO. “Creation of this room falls in line with the Mission of the university which is committed to educational excellence in a context of faith and development of the whole person.”

Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI, introduced the idea of an Interfaith Prayer Room and the idea was supported by Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, dean of the RSO. Faculty, staff and interns representing diverse faiths at the School of Optometry had the opportunity to share what they would like in the room.

“Funding was a major concern, but with the help of UIW interns, the School of Optometry received a generous grant from HOYA, the second largest ophthalmic lens company in the industry, to complete the project,” Attarhousseini said.

Every detail of the room has been uniquely chosen so that it gives visitors a sense of peace, comfort and personal awareness upon entering. The room is available to the UIW family anytime during regular campus hours.

Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, dean of the RSO, Fr. Tom Dymowski, and Luis Macias, ophthalmic support tech at the RSO, at a Mass celebration in the new UIW Interfaith Prayer Room. Mass will continue to be held in the room on a monthly basis, as well as other spiritual and religious prayer services.

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university collective

Dr. Melinda Adams, associate professor of fashion management, received an invitation from Bexar County Economic Development to participate as a local subject matter expert on the U.S. fashion industry at a forum for delegates from the Hai Yang People’s Congress and Sweater Industry Association on Dec. 7.

Dr. Brian McBurnett, associate professor of chemistry, was recently awarded a Fulbright Fellowship. He will use the Fulbright on a sabbatical to teach and research in chemistry in Rio and Brazil at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, a UIW sister school.

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians honored William Gokelman, professor of music, for his “Mass of Renewal,” co-composed with David Kauffman. The “Mass of Renewal,” won first place in the new Mass settings competition out of 150 entries. It is also being used at UIW’s Our Lady’s Chapel and was selected for use by parishes all over the country when the Catholic Church introduced the new Mass language.

Dr. Kevin Salfen, assistant professor in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, was elected secretary of Theatre Nohgaku, an international troupe special-

Dr. Pat LeMay Burr, distinguished chair in international business, was invited to participate in the U.S. FBI Citizens’ Academy, a group of community leaders in various cities that convenes on an annual basis to educate about the many FBI departments and what they do at the local level. Burr’s Academy traveled to Quantico, Va., where FBI recruits receive their initial training. The group received briefings at the FBI Central Office in Washington, D.C. and visited the Special Operations Center. She also joined the Alumni Association of Former Academy Members and now serves on their board of directors.

“It was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Burr says. “I would never otherwise have had an opportunity to be inside the Quantico training facility, meet FBI leadership, or learn what the FBI does on a daily basis. I have a new and profound respect level for their integrity, work ethic, endurance, stamina, and commitment. They are an amazing group.”

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izing in Japanese- and Englishlanguage noh, an area of his research. He studied this form of theatre while living in Japan for two years and took lessons in dance and singing. Salfen also wrote program notes for the Nov. 14 Dallas concert of the Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet, and attended the National Conference of the American Musicological Society (AMS) from Nov. 10-13, where he represented the Southwest Chapter of the organization at the AMS Council meeting.

In Dec. 2011, Dr. Timothy Henrich, professor of sports management and kinesiology, was re-elected vice president and commissioner of physical education for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Council for Health Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance in Cairo.

He was also named founding co-editor-in-chief for Cairo of the Middle East Research Journal of Research, along with Dr. Farouk Abdel-Wahab of Minia University. Henrich also received the 2012 Presidential Award for Meritorious Service and Scholar from the Egyptian Sports Science Counsel and Olympic Committee.

Dr. David Foglesong, associate professor of biology, has received a grant for $18,275 from the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation to support his research entitled “Cytotoxicity of antitumor drugs for hu-

man HuT 78 cells activated by interleukin-2.” This represents a continuation of research currently funded by the foundation in Foglesong’s laboratory. Altogether, Foglesong has now received four extramural grants totaling $119,608 to support his research in the past four years. These grants have provided support for six graduate students who have done thesis research for their Master of Science in biology under his supervision.

Dr. Julian Davis, assistant professor of chemistry, reported that the UIW Department of Chemistry was awarded a Welch Department Grant from the Welch Foundation in the amount of $35,000 for 2012-2013. The support will go toward the department’s Summer Welch Research Program where students have the opportunity to work full-time on a research project under the direction of faculty members.

Chemistry, biology, nutrition or related science majors gain valuable experience doing such laboratory research.

“Thanks to Education, Reconciliation and Hope Arise,” on research in Iraq was completed

by Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, professor of religious studies, and Sr. Patricia Madigan, OP, and appears on page 13 of the Dec. 2011 edition of “Aurora Magazine” of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, Australia (www.mn.catholic. org.au) The magazine has a circulation of 70,000. From Jan. 13 through Feb. 10 they also had an exhibit of images and

university collective

stories, “Iraqi Women of Three Generations: Challenges, Education, and Hopes for Peace,” at the Incarnate Word High School Library.

As the newly elected president of the South West Association of PreLaw Advisors (SWAPLA), Dr. Gary Keith, assistant professor of political science, chaired the SWAPLA board meeting in Nov. 2011. Keith also accompanied government majors Leah Smith and Victor Reyes to compete in the National Undergraduate Moot Court Tournament Jan. 13-14 at Chapman University Law School in Orange, Calif.

Dr. Paul Messina, assistant professor of mathematics, competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in international air pistol.

Dr. Matthew Gonzalez, assistant professor of business in Extended Academic Programs, presented his research paper, “Emotional Intelligence within Project Management,” at the Harvard Faculty Club for the Association of Global Management Studies March 5-6.

Under the leadership of Dr. Amalia Mondriguez, professor in the College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences, Modern Languages sponsored the first annual “Fiesta de Reyes” for UIW. The celebration of “The Three Kings” is a major event in Spain and students in the Spanish culture and civilization class also took part in the event, along with the UIW

community, the Puerto Rican Society, and San Antonio community members.

Dr. Brian Kinnaird, professor of criminal justice in Extended Academic Programs, was invited to present as a keynote speaker in January at both the Guadalupe Valley Peace Officer Association’s quarterly meeting and the FBI Regional Command College Luncheon to discuss law enforcement issues.

In February, Dr. John Velasquez, assistant professor of psychology, hosted a 10-year reunion for Presa interns. For the past ten years, approximately 60 psychology majors have completed their internship at the Presa Community Center. The partnership between UIW and Presa was started with a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant in 2002, and psychology interns have conducted work at Presa for the past 30 consecutive semesters under the direction of Velasquez.

Dr. Lopita Nath, assistant professor of history, attended the International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Meanings, Cultures and Values from Jan. 4-7 in New Delhi. At the conference, she presented her paper on “Ethnic Identity, Forced Migration and the Creation of Diaspora: The Lhotshampa Exodus from Bhutan.”

Dr. John Perry, professor of communication arts and speech communication, published “Texas: An Illustrated History,” (New York: Hippocrene Books) after four years of work. The book is part of the publisher’s series on states and countries and each runs about 190 pages with photos. The San Antonio Express-News reviewed the book, stating, “Perry skillfully compresses latter events and timelines into a narrative that rollicks along the tracks he lays down throughout the book, filled with interesting anecdotes and insights into the economic and political conflicts that animated each of the historical periods he chronicles.”

James Borders, assistant professor of art, exhibited his work in the Annual Miniature Exhibition at River Oaks Square in Alexandria, La. from Nov. 29 through Jan. 14.

Timothy Milinovich, assistant professor of religious studies, attended the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion Conference in San Francisco from Nov. 19-22. At the conference, he was invited to become a senior fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. The group of senior fellows consists of 45 Catholic biblical scholars in the U.S. who emphasize theological and liturgical perspectives in interpreting scripture. Milinovich is the youngest senior fellow among their ranks.

In Nov. 2011, Dr. Harold Rodinsky, assistant professor of psychology, was invited to be a speaker at the Distinguished Lecture Series at John Jay Exemplary High School’s Academy of Science. He presented his current research project, “Theory of Levels of Processing: The Effect of Elaborative Rehearsal on the Production of Semantic Memories.”

Dr. Bernadette O’Connor, associate professor of philosophy, attended the American Maritain Association’s 35th Annual International Conference at Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College, on Oct. 13-15, and presented her paper, “Two False Theories of Human Equality Identified by Maritain Applied to Contemporary Feminists’ Concerns.”

THE WORD | SPRING 2012 9

cover story

UIW announces development of fencing center and program

By Crystale Lopez

T

he University of the Incarnate Word will be adding a new Fencing and International Sports Center. The facility is made possible by a $2 million grant from the Bexar County Community Venues Office through the voter approved Proposition 2 in 2008 that provided $80 million to amateur sports facilities in the city. In addition to the grant, UIW will fund $1 million toward the cost of the facility.

The new fencing center will be the premier fencing facility in the region and will be built on the St. Anthony Catholic High School campus to provide better access to the community and to attract Brainpower students from St. Anthony and Incarnate Word High Schools in addition to UIW students.

The goal of the facility is to attract and rebuild the local fencing and modern pentathlon community and to build an NCAA sanctioned collegiate varsity fencing team. Modern pentathlon is a sport that involves competing in five events including pistol shooting, epee fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping

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and cross-country running. The center will also be home to a 200-member fencing club which will provide sustaining funds for operations and programs.

Dr. Timothy Henrich, professor of sports management and kinesiology, said San Antonio has historically been home to many successful Olympic and international caliber fencers.

“The clubs are spread out and there has not been a lot of consistency with regard to availability of coaches,” he said. “We hope a central facility will bring fencers and coaches together for large scale competitive practices and major tournaments.”

The 18,000 square-foot fencing and international sports facility will include a minimum of 12 fencing strips, several practice strips, spectator and exercise areas, an armory, men’s and women’s lockers as well as office and storage areas.

With the development and completion of the new fencing center and the addition of a full-time fencing instructor and master, UIW will also offer a new fencing curriculum within the

Incarnate Word College students take part in fencing

degree in undergraduate coaching and graduate degree proThe new fencing center will be built on the St. Anthony Catholic High School campus. fencing, in addition to a grams at the Ph.D. in sports management,” Henrich said. beginner and advanced levels for each of three weapons includThe Fencing and International Sports Center will not only ing foil, epee, and sabre. Varsity team members will be recruited serve as a training facility for fencing and modern pentathlon regionally and nationally and also through classes. athletes but will also host community initiatives such as the Dr. Robert L. Beck, D.M.D., M.D., San Antonio dentist, and Dreams for Youth fencing and table tennis programs. UIW will one of only three pentathletes to win two Olympic medals, said also be able to teach a variety of year-round classes to students UIW’s center will be the best in this region and be a state-ofand community members. the-art facility to attract top fencers and host world championships and World Cup competitions.

The Fencing and International Sports Center is scheduled to UIW currently offers one course in fencing with Henrich, be completed by August 2012. For more information, contact who is also a former member of the U.S. National Modern PenDr. Timothy Henrich at henrich@uiwtx.edu. tathlon Team, as the instructor.

“UIW recently hired another faculty member, Dr. Randall Griffiths who has his ‘Matre de Armes’ from France, or an MS

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alumni

Making a difference across the globe

By Ashley Lindstrom

Longina Gallegos at the St. Joseph’s Clinic in Thomassique, Haiti. The first and only medical facility in the village, the Medical Missionaries organization opened the clinic in 2007.

L

ongina Gallegos’s life has become a Frederick Buechner quote in motion, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

A former Navy corpsman and 2011 graduate of the University of the Incarnate Word Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, Gallegos heard the call over two years ago.

When she graduated with her nursing degree, she knew there was a steady job waiting in her hometown of San Antonio, where her family also resides.

“I just wanted to go straight into volunteering,” she said. And so she did, with Medical Missionaries, a 501(c)(3) founded in 1997.

“I had two choices: It was Nicaragua or Haiti, and I prayed about it and knew that Haiti was the poorest country [in the

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Western Hemisphere] even if it was easier to go to Nicaragua because I can speak Spanish.”

In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Haitians, devastating the already struggling Caribbean country. Nevertheless, Gallegos found herself overwhelmed by the warmth that the people of Haiti showed her.

“The people there were very passionate, and caring, and loving toward me,” Gallegos said. “Even though they are very poor and don’t have much they are just happy to be a family and grateful for everything God’s given them.”

“So that was just great experience to see how people can live without anything and still be happy, she said.

For several months in 2011, Gallegos served in the maternity unit at Medical Missionaries’ clinic in Thomassique, Haiti, the

Top right: Cholera Treatment Center Medical Missionaries collaborated with Doctor’s Without Borders to set up a cholera treatment center in July 2011. The outbreak of cholera in Haiti after the earthquake had the clinic overflowing with patients. Now the cholera treatment center has several trained staff and all patients are treated promptly, reducing the complications.

Bottom right: UIW alumna Longina Gallegos attends church with the children of Thomassique. first and only medical facility in the village. There, she assisted in deliveries and prenatal care, educated patients, prescribed needed medication , and made sure the babies were growing.

“I wanted to do more patient care, focusing on ICU, but over there I just wanted to be wherever they needed me,” she said. “I wanted to learn how they utilize their instruments. They don’t have as much as we do, so they have to implement all these other tools.”

Laurie Singel, instructor in the School of Nursing, said she cried when Gallegos told her she was going to volunteer in Haiti.

“She sees her nursing as a true calling from God to help people,” said Singel. “I believe that, too.”

According to Singel, Gallegos stood out as a student, and her humility and unselfishness continue to set her apart.

Gallegos expects to go back to Haiti in 2012 to assist a church group with a children’s after-school program. In the meantime, she’s spending time with loved ones, gearing up for her return trip.

“My church really helped me with donations, and people have been supportive of me. My family and friends are helping me out so I can serve over there,” Gallegos said. “I am more than willing to serve. As long as I have their support, that’s all I need and with God I can do anything.”

Setting a challenge to help others A thousand miles away from Haiti Raymond “Ray” Vandermeer, a 1991 graduate of the School of Nursing, is living in Costa Rica with his granddaughter, independently translating English and Spanish texts into Braille. Nine years ago, he “stumbled upon” the opportunity while visiting the Central American country.

“It was a challenge, so why not?” he said.

Vandermeer was raised in Alaska among 11 siblings. “My parents were very religious and taught us faith and beliefs that have held Ray Vandermeer with the head of the police me through my life,” who, along with his men, kept the peace in said Vandermeer, who Goma and the refugee camp. joined the Navy after

completing high school. During his military service, he studied finance and accounting at Chaminade University, a Catholic Marianist college in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“I left the Navy as a lieutenant, moved to San Antonio to be with my daughter and her family and ended up at Incarnate Word,” he explained. After earning his nursing degree, he worked in several hospitals around San Antonio and Houston, as well as a nursing home.

Vandermeer then began teaching himself Braille as another challenge, first culling knowledge online and then with the National Federation of the Blind.

“Blind people do not, usually, consider themselves as being ‘disabled,’” he said. “They say that being blind is an everyday inconvenience and they are just as capable of doing what sighted people can do.”

Vandermeer had first-person experience with vision impairment.

UIW alumnus Ray Vandermeer along with the staff of “Food for the Hungry.” Vandermeer worked for the organization while in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“I was beginning to go blind until I had surgery on both my eyes,” he said. “Thanks to an unknown donor, my vision was restored and I actually see better now than I ever have in my life.”

Unlike Haiti, medical resources in Costa Rica are more plentiful and modern. In fact, the country draws medical tourists looking to undergo various procedures for a fraction of what they might cost elsewhere. Vandermeer himself had his visionsaving surgery performed at the noted Hospital La Católica in San José.

He credits his experience at an African refugee camp, time spent at a hospital in India, and his education at the University of the Incarnate Word for compelling him to commit his life to helping others.

“The idea of ethics was ingrained in a lot of the classes at UIW. That was just part of what was taught,” Vandermeer said.

“One was that you do the right thing towards your patients, your clients or whomever you are dealing with. Another was to have empathy for that person and totry to put yourself in their shoes.”

Vandermeer is now translating the New Testament into Spanish Braille; he has completed the book of John.

“We are looking at moving to Panama in February,” said Vandemeer. “I have an opportunity there to do Braille transcribing. It will be to take the church written material and transcribe it. This is a chance to help a lot of blind people... Other than that, my future is in God’s hands.”

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alumni

Master of child nutrition

By Crystale Lopez

S

haron Glosson, director of child nutrition for Judson Independent School District (JISD), is a 2006 UIW graduate with a Master of Science in nutrition. She recently used her experience and education to lead the school district’s quest for healthier children to national recognition and received a special opportunity to see the nation’s First Lady.

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“We were notified in June 2011 that our elementary schools had received the bronze level recognition for the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) program,” Glosson said.

The HUSSC is a voluntary initiative, established in 2004, to recognize schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments through nutrition and physical activity. First Lady Michelle Obama incorporated the HUSSC into her “Let’s Move!” campaign to raise a healthier generation of children. Since the program began in 2004, awards have been presented to schools in 45 states.

“We were invited by the First Lady to a reception on the South Lawn of the White House,” said Glosson. “I attended to accept the recognition, along with Christina Welch, assistant director of child nutrition, and Dr. Willis Mackey, superintendent of schools for JISD. There were several hundred people in attendance from districts across the country.”

The group had the opportunity to hear Michelle Obama speak and congratulate all the school districts on a job well done. Tom Vilsack, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), also addressed the group along with a student who shared their experience of making changes to healthier eating habits.

“It was a very motivating and exciting experience,” she said.

“We were very grateful that our hard work for a healthier district had paid off. The cafeteria staff played a great part in the award as well and they felt very proud for what they had done and helped accomplish.”

The award itself focused on the implementation of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and exercise into the students’ daily eating regimen and schedule.

Glosson worked with the school district and constructive changes were made in each of the schools and in the cafeteria kitchens. JISD took the initiative to limit food fundraisers that included candies, cookies or other snacks that would not be considered healthy or wholesome. The cafeteria also converted bread products to whole grain, a task that started out as a challenge but that the district overcame with flying colors.

“Buying whole grain products turned out to be an expensive effort,” said Glosson “Or the issue would come up that there were items that were not available. At that point the school district opted to bake their own breads from scratch for good quality.”

JISD trained their cafeteria employees on baking bread products from scratch and also began an educational effort, teaching students and employees why the changes were being made and the importance of making the changes for good health.

“The food we serve has to taste good and anything that is quality takes time, so we also try to give the students food items they are familiar with,” Glosson said. “At first the students wanted to know why the bread was brown but now they don’t even think about it.”

The school cafeterias now only serve lean meats. Food items are either baked or steamed and only 100 percent juice drinks are served. Another change that has made a difference is the district’s shift to buying fruits and vegetables from local growers.

At this time, JISD schools are serving Texas grown vegetables like romaine lettuce from Pleasanton, oranges from Mission, and tomatoes from Marfa.

Parents and administrators have also noticed changes and the positive difference it is making.

“We are the nutrition experts and are responsible for answering to the parents, as well as the children, and we want to be

proud of what we are serving,” she said. “Our leadership and staff make it a point to eat in the cafeteria, too, so they know what the kids are experiencing on a daily basis.”

“UIW was instrumental in continuing my education in nutrition,” Glosson said. “The professors in the nutrition department continue to be my mentors and are the ones I call on to this day with questions. Drs. Beth Senne-Duff, Neeta Singh and Joe Bonilla provided me guidance, support and a flexible learning environment that helped me earn my degree and have a full-time career.”

“When I started working for the district six years ago changes in the school lunch menus had already begun and I continued implementing those changes,” Glosson explained. “The country is focused on children’s health and at JISD we like to stay ahead of the curve for USDA regulations.”

Senne-Duff, associate professor of nutrition at UIW, said Glosson always had an inquisitive mind in class and was a motivated student.

“Nutrition is a broad field encompassing biological science, food science, psychology, sociology, and economics,” Senne-Duff said. “Good students like Sharon are curious and flexible and she was interested broadly in nutrition and the profession of dietetics.”

Senne-Duff said Glosson completed her master’s project analyzing a hospital based, family focused weight loss program for children, and it utilized an exercise and nutrition component.

“Sharon has a passion for this and she has continued to effectively implement programs to help students,” Senne-Duff said.

“She is committed to the health and well-being of students.”

Glosson said her career in the nutrition field has been amazing.

“The possibilities and variety of jobs you can do with a degree in nutrition are endless,” she said. “It is also a knowledge that can be used in your personal life every day. The nutrition field is ever changing, always exciting and in demand.”

Pictured (L-R) Christina Welch, assistant director of child nutrition, Dr. Willis Mackey, superintendent of schools, and Glosson, all of Judson Independent School District, attended a reception on the South Lawn of the White House to receive the bronze level recognition for all 17 of their elementary schools for the HealthierUS School Challenge program.

T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 15

athletics Senior Anna Nelson performs a solo routine during the 2011 UIW Water Show, the team’s annual fundraising event at the Anne Barshop Natatorium.

Raising the bar in synchronized swimming

1

By Brance Arnold ’10 MA

A

cademics and athletics stand as the core of every great university and the University of the Incarnate Word is an embodiment of these traditions. Synchronized Swimming is a unique sports program that is technically demanding and reflects these two disciplines, continually raising them to a level of excellence. UIW’s current Synchronized Swimming team is determined to capture a national championship in 2012.

The team’s coach is a former Olympian and team members are held to the highest of competitive standards. Head Coach Kimberly Wurzel-LoPorto competed in the Olympic Games held in Sidney, Australia, and she brings that very kind of dedication, focus, and prestige to UIW’s program.

“I competed in the 2000 Olympic Games and Head Coach Kimberly that is something that less than one percent of Wurzel-LoPorto the population achieves,” she said.

Among her many accolades, she is a six-time Senior National Team member, a five-time national champion, a two-time Junior National Team member, the Athlete of Year in U.S.A. Synchro in 2000, and an eight-time All-American.

From Santa Clara, Calif., Wurzel-LoPorto’s experience stretches back to early childhood. LoPorto’s father was a World Masters Swimmer and inspired her to take to the pool as a toddler. Her siblings were also swimmers. At the age of nine, her father suggested she try synchronized swimming and the rest is history.

“I loved it because it’s an art but you have to be focused because it is such a demanding sport,” she said.

She competed in synchronized swimming for 16 years before transitioning to the role of coach. However, the transition was not 16 T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

immediate. In 2001, she moved to San Antonio and performed as a synchronized swimmer for Sea World’s VIVA show, where she swam with Beluga whales and Pacific White-sided dolphins.

Soon after, UIW hired Wurzel-LoPorto, first in exchange for completing her degree in psychology, and then full-time after graduating.

“For the first three and a half years, I was a student here and I went to class during the day and coached either in the early morning or late in the evening,” she said.

Wurzel-LoPorto built the program from scratch, recruiting members by passing out fliers on campus. She began with only three swimmers who held minimal experience. “One swimmer was a UIW soccer player, one a ballerina, and the third an athlete who had tried synchronized swimming but hadn’t practiced for six or seven years,” she said.

In the program’s first season, UIW ranked 17th in the nation. However, the following year, the team achieved 6th place in the country with a roster of seven athletes. After the program’s fourth year, the team achieved 3rd place nationally, only behind Stanford University and Ohio State University, and has maintained that status to this day.

Since the program’s inception, not only has its prestige grown, so has the team’s roster. UIW’s 2011-12 team consists of sixteen members from the Ukraine, Japan, Canada, and the United States.

Freshman, Inga Gillyer, who was on the Ukrainian Olympic team and ranked 2nd in her country, heard about UIW’s program and came to the university in the fall. She hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympics. The roster also includes Suki Fujise, a UIW senior and a Junior National Team member, whose hometown is Nagoya, Japan.

“It is great to have an international influence, it helps the momentum of the team,” said Wurzel-LoPorto. “There is a pride that runs through and through, and it’s not just American pride, it is Incarnate

2

1 1. Members of the UIW Synchronized Swimming team put on a duet performance at the annual Water Show.

2. The UIW synchro duet team of Molly Knight and Saki Fujise features two senior students who have worked together for every season of their time at UIW. Fujise, from Nagoya, Japan, is a kinesiology major and Knight, of Walnut Creek, California, is an interior environmental design major.

3. UIW freshman Inga Gillyer, of Donestk, Ukraine, performs a solo routine in her debut as a member of the UIW Synchronized Swimming team at the 2011 Water Show.

Word pride. They are so proud to be members of this community and members of this school. A lot of them want to stay here in the community and live here after they graduate.”

With the team’s diversity there also exists a unified determination to be the best in the nation.

“Our team is the most cohesive we’ve ever had,” Wurzel-LoPorto said. “They amaze me when they get in the pool, and I have pretty high standards for them. Being an Olympian, I am very much a perfectionist and it has to be done a certain way, and they exceed my expectations.”

The discipline of the team is palpable considering they often practice as early as 5 a.m. during the week. Armed with this unwavering discipline and feverish preparation, this season UIW’s Synchro team faces a challenging schedule competing against high caliber teams.

The team performs solo, duet, trio, and team routines. Every routine consists of a theme that the team members choose themselves.

“I let the swimmers choose the theme and music because the more they enjoy the music they are swimming to, the better they’ll swim,” Wurzel-LoPorto said.

As one of only nine varsity synchronized swimming programs in the country and the only collegiate program in Texas, the team often travels by plane to compete. The team hosts fundraisers to help support the program. Wurzel-LoPorto said they have held a water show and silent auction, as well as, a South Zone Clinic to mentor aspiring swimmers of all ages and provide instruction for coaches with their respective programs.

Though synchronized swimming is not an NCAA-sponsored sport, Wurzel-LoPorto’s team is held to the same Division II standards as every other sport on campus and has the complete support of the university.

3

“We are extremely blessed because we have the support of everyone on campus,” says Wurzel-LoPorto. “They are backing us through this time so we can get back on that emerging sports list.”

Due to the fact that the NCAA requires 20 varsity teams or more and there are only nine in the entire nation, these programs have lost their emerging sports status. Wurzel-LoPorto’s team, however, remains undaunted and maintains their pursuit of excellence.

“We struggle with other universities recognizing what a great sport this is and to add it on a varsity level,” she said. “Nothing has changed for us and we continue forward.” The program’s recruiting also remains aligned with NCAA standards. Wurzel-LoPorto seeks the most elite athletes in the nation. She now finds the university’s reputation has reached athletes around the world and those swimmers are now contacting her about being on the program’s squad.

“They’re sending me videos and interviewing me to have a spot on our team,” she said. “We are a household name now.”

Team members are as passionate as their coach about being on the squad. Junior Brianna Andreychuk from Canada, who has been a member of the team for three years and has competed for 13 years, said she loves being on the team.

“We have great team chemistry and all work really well together,” Andreychuk said. “Our season is going to be very busy, but we have a very good chance at moving up in placement this year, and even winning Collegiate Nationals, which is very exciting.”

Read more about UIW’s Synchronized Swimming program at www.uiw.edu/thewordonline. View the 2012 team roster and current schedule at www.cardinalathletics.com.

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faculty

UIW professor documents Albanian theater

By Robert Crowe

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ong before Mark Stringham was an award-winning actor and professor, he lived in Albania as part of a three-year missionary trip. As a 21-year-old, Stringham witnessed the rocky transformation from communism to democracy, including a coup and the escalation of conflict in neighboring Kosovo.

After moving back to the United States, Stringham earned a theatre arts degree from UIW in 2004 and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Ohio University in 2007. He acted in a variety of productions across the country before becoming an instructor and advisor in UIW’s theatre program in 2009.

Above: The cast during the premiere performance of Stefan Capaliku’s play, “Saint John the Beheaded.” Stringham has translated Capaliku’s work and even helped the playwright produce his work in Washington, D.C. 18 T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

At UIW, Stringham directs plays and teaches, but has also begun to publish work about Albanian theatre earning him recognition in academic circles. This project enabled him to return to Albania in 2010 to document the country’s rich theatre arts history that blossomed in the 19th century and continued under more than 40 years of communism.

“The Albanians are great people who have experienced great adversity for centuries,” Stringham said. “To learn about their theatre is to learn how they are reacting to this adversity and to take in another perspective on the human experience.”

Upon his return to Albania, Stringham set out to rediscover the country he left more than a decade before. His original goal was to find and interview playwrights and actors from the golden age of Albanian theatre, but found many had passed away and others weren’t so eager to talk. He also discovered Stefan Capaliku, one of Albania’s best modern playwrights.

Stringham has translated several of Capaliku’s plays and helped the playwright produce his work in Washington, D.C. Stringham’s recent focus has been on Capaliku’s plays, considered among the most relevant of modern Albania. In fact, Capaliku’s play “Algretto Albania” was named the “Best Play in Europe” in 2010 by the International Playwriting Competition at the Theatre Biennale in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Albania is located in the rugged portion of Eastern Europe just across the strip of the Mediterranean where Italy points the heel of its boot into the sea. In spite of the many influences over the centuries, the region has managed to create its own unique culture and language.

“Historically, we crossed the roads between east and west. It is a miracle how we have (persisted) and how we have conserved our language, which is a single branch in the Indo-European language tree,” Capaliku said. “In this sense, there are very few foreign people who know Albanian and one of these people is Professor Stringham.”

UIW issued a challenge grant to motivate others to give

Stringham hopes to spend many more years documenting Albania’s rich theatre traditions which flourished despite Albania’s totalitarian regime. A regime so rigid in its interpretation of communism that its early leader, Enver Hoxha, broke ties with the Soviet Union in the 1950s.

In spite of this totalitarianism, the regime permitted the theatre traditions to continue as long as productions delivered government propaganda. However, some playwrights were executed when their work veered too far from the party line. This repression almost completely annihilated Albanian theatre.

Stringham believes Albanian theatre can be categorized into three main groups: the golden age of the 1880s to 1940s, the communist era from the 1980s to 1990s, and the current period, where Capaliku and other young writers are exploring new themes. Today, Stringham continues to study Capaliku’s groundbreaking work.

“It’s going to be my life’s pursuit,” he said. “I hope to have something translated, produced or published every year.”

Mark Stringham, assistant professor of theatre arts, researches the country of Albania where he documents Albanian theater.

In January, the Scanlan Foundation from Houston awarded the University of the Incarnate Word a $75,000 challenge grant for student scholarships. The university has until January 2013 to match this challenge grant. The grant was awarded on the important basis that UIW would use it to motivate others to give, and only those funds given in response to this matching grant should be used to meet the challenge. So, keep an eye out for a special appeal to our alumni and friends in the next few months targeted at raising the $75,000 required to meet the Scanlan Foundation’s challenge. As specified by the foundation the funds will be directed towards scholarships for students.

T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 19

faculty

Anti-bullying app addresses growing problem

By Crystale Lopez

B

ullying has become a widespread problem around the country and the world. It can happen anywhere, in K-12 school systems or universities. Being bullied has taken on many forms including name-calling, teasing, spreading rumors, cyber bullying, threats and physical assault.

Efforts are being made to enact anti-bullying laws and to educate people about the detrimental effects this behavior can have on students, however, it was not until the recent creation of a smartphone application (app) that a student victim or bystander could be empowered to report bullying confrontations in real-time.

Timothy Porter, instructor of management information systems in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration and CEO/founder of Appddiction Studio, has taken a step forward to aid in the fight against bullying. Porter has created StopBullies, a mobile app for the iPhone, and coming soon to Android smartphones, that enables students to report a bullying incident.

“In watching and reading the news, there have been so many reports of kids committing suicide and taking drastic measures because of bullying,” Porter said. “I knew there had to be a way to use technology for students to take a stand against bullies.”

The app configured for secondary schools is a reporting and prevention tool that allows students to write a message, or take a photo or video of the incident, and submit it directly to school administrators. It is anonymous reporting, and images and videos are not stored on the device or within the app. The application is configured specifically for schools and only becomes active when the school signs up for the service.

“After researching resources currently available for students, I found some school districts that have methods of reporting bullying incidents, but they appear cumbersome for students,

20 T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

Timothy Porter, instructor of management information systems in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration and CEO/founder of Appddiction studio, has taken action against bullying by creating StopBullies, a mobile app to report bullying incidents.

Porter explains how his new mobile app, StopBullies, functions to UIW students Gloria Park and Marlene Cantu. The app is available for secondary schools and universities, which caters to the college setting. with some methods requiring the student to answer up to 26 questions after the bullying incident has occurred,” Porter said.

“This application is very simple and allows for incidents to be reported instantly with the touch of a button.”

In addition to the incident reporting features, the application also provides helpful information and resources including the “ABC’s of bullying for students, parents, teachers and administrators,” “Warning signs of bullying,” “Cyberbullying,” and “Where can I find help?”

The app is not only beneficial to students, but also to school administrators.

When information is submitted to an administrator, it is logged, date and time stamped, and allows for immediate and anonymous reporting; it also provides the administrator with visual proof the incident has occurred. A Google map with the GPS location of the occurrence allows for faster response time, reduces the time spent investigating, helps the administrator understand what happened more clearly, and minimizes the “he said/she said” factor that can occur between students. Each school is also able to add their own resources to the app to help with anti-bullying.

“There have been instances where the student posts a video of a bullying incident on sites such as YouTube, but if and when a school administrator finds out it can be too late already,” Porter said. “If a student uses StopBullies then the administrator can do something right then and there.”

The app also tackles cyberbullying. Porter explained that if a student is being harassed online, they can take a screenshot of the messages or photos they have received to send to administrators.

“I feel that by empowering the student victim and the bystander to report a bullying incident in real-time right away, that will deter bullies and make them think twice about who is watching and can report their behavior,” he said. “We need to educate kids and remind them that bullying is not right and not okay on any level.”

The National Education Association estimates that 160,000

children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students.

“This app will help kids, especially those who have been bullied, feel like they have a tool to feel safe and come to school because they have the means to take action,” Porter said.

The app available for universities has different characteristics to cater to the college setting and would connect to campus security. The university edition also has a panic button that would signal campus police in the case of a bullying incident or emergency, and has a timer that can be used for situations when a student is walking to their car at night or walking from one building to another.

Porter explained the thought process behind the timer.

For example, the student could set the timer for the duration it takes to get to their car from a university building. Once they arrive safely at their destination they would turn the timer off. If, for any reason, they do not turn off the timer then a call is issued to campus police automatically.

“The application is fully developed and I The StopBullies app not only allows for am working with incident reporting, but also features helpful school administrainformation and resources for students and tors to implement this into schools and school administrators. universities,” Porter said. “We need to do something for our kids right now so we do not continue to lose them to bullying.”

The StopBullies app serves to A-Alert, P-Prevent, and P-Protect. For more information, visit www.appddictionstudio.com.

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international

Ashley Rivas experiences history in real life at the group’s visit to Stonehenge.

Achieving a global perspective

By Crystale Lopez

T

he University of the Incarnate Word encourages students to gain global awareness by participating in the study abroad program as part of their UIW educational experience. The opportunities available can range from long weekend outings to short-term trips lasting seven to 10 days or full semesters abroad. Faculty members are also actively involved in this endeavor by leading student trips.

Dr. Michael Guiry, associate professor in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration, explained that faculty members interested in leading trips receive the support of the university.

UIW’s International Affairs is also receptive to faculty-led trips

UIW students wait for their double-decker bus to arrive, pictured (L-R) Ester Cisneros, Idalia Garza, Vicki Browder, Ashley Rivas, Kathleen Rodriguez, Teresa Tristan-Chavez, and Valeria Arias.

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and provides support by encouraging students to travel. Ultimately, however, it is up to the faculty member to set up the course.

“A special topics class was set up in the management discipline for me and Dr. Guiry to travel to London with a group of students during spring break,” said. Dr. Angelina Kiser, associate professor and management and international business coordinator in the HE-B School of Business and Administration. “Part of the goal for the School of Business, and the university in general, is global and social awareness, so we try to take as many students as possible.”

Kiser said another goal of hers was to take students who had not traveled abroad before.

“We traveled with a group of 13 undergraduate and two graduate students for nine days and there were quite a few that had not traveled outside of Texas before, or even out of San Antonio for that matter,” she said.

Guiry said London is the perfect place for someone to go, especially if they have never traveled outside the United States before, because the primary language there is English, the culture is similar and it is easy to get around the city.

“It was such a neat experience to see those students who came on this trip and it was their first time outside of the U.S.,” Guiry said. “They had their brand new passports that had never been used and their eyes just got so big and lit up when they would experience things in London. It is opening a door to another part of life for them.”

On her first trip out of the country, UIW student Ashley Rivas did not know exactly what to expect.

“I had never done a study abroad or been out of the country before,” she said. The trip to London was long but it was worth it.

It’s exciting to know there is a whole world outside of Texas and that you are in a different country and there is going to be so much

to learn and experience.”

During their time in London, the students and professors had the opportunity to create their own itinerary and participate in various activities. They met with businesses in London to talk about their business practices; visited the U.S. Embassy; traveled to Bath, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site; visited Stonehenge; toured Windsor Castle and Arsenal Stadium; attended a soccer game and the theatre.

“Visiting the businesses in London was an eye-opening experience,” Kiser said. “Students have the understanding of how U.S. businesses work, but we wanted to give them a perspective of how it worked somewhere else and that was London.”

The first company the group visited was Beazley, a high-end insurance and underwriting company. The students had the opportunity to tour the business, listen to all the employee benefits and ask questions of their own.

“I had told the students they needed to ask a lot of questions and that they needed to be prepared for the trip, so they researched the companies we planned to tour before we left for London,” Kiser said.

“They were very well prepared and asked some really intelligent questions.”

“I learned a lot of valuable skills from some of the managers there,” Rivas said. “I can take those skills and apply them when I do become manager or director of a company.”

The professors also made sure the student travelers understood how to get around London, making it a point to only use the public transportation system.

“We did coordinate some things through CEPA (Cultural and Educational Programs Abroad), but I did not want them to take us everywhere,” Kiser said. “Each time we had plans to go somewhere I would ask the students ‘okay how are we getting to this destination’ and they would set up the route on the trains. There were a couple of miscues, but we were never late to any place and got around just fine.”

With only about a week in London, the group did their best to fit in as much as possible and immerse themselves into the culture. The students also had free time to explore on their own. One day trip included half of the group attending a soccer game while the other part of the group traveled to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath.

“A lot of the students had selected the trip to Stonehenge as one they really wanted to do,” Kiser said. “Just to be there and know the history was quite a cultural experience.”

Both professors were equally in awe of Stonehenge with the students.

“Going to Stonehenge helped the students absorb British history,” Guiry said. “I had never been to Stonehenge before either and just seeing a photo you do not realize just how large the rocks really are and their significance. Standing there makes you think ‘how did these rocks get there?’”

Guiry explained that learning takes place in many different ways and locations.

“Part of learning and education takes place in the classroom and part of it comes from reading a book,” Guiry said. “Traveling abroad is opening a door to a whole other type of learning where you are actually living what you have learned in the classroom or read in a book.”

Find bonus content and additional photos on “Achieving a Global Perspective,” at www.uiw.edu/thewordonline.

UIW student Kathleen Rodriguez takes the opportunity to visit Big Ben while in London.

UIW students cross Abbey Road in London recreating the legendary Beatles photo, pictured (L-R) Valeria Arias, Teresa Tristan-Chavez, Ester Cisneros, and Ashley Rivas.

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students

Feik School of Pharmacy student Sarah McKinney goes over a food log and healthy eating worksheet with Paul Aguilar, member at Haven for Hope.

Pharmacy students see their education at work while helping the community

By Crystale Lopez

U

IW’s Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP) has established a strong tradition of interacting with the San Antonio community through various initiatives that not only provide assistance to the community but also allow students hands-on learning opportunities to gain experience in their field.

Fourth-year students in the FSOP, along with their supervisor and professor Dr. Vanessa Phillips, are educating members at Haven for Hope about their medications, and are creating awareness about their well being through health information screenings.

Haven for Hope is a non-profit organization in San Antonio that helps transform the lives of homeless men, women and children through education, job training and behavioral health services.

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“One of the tenets of UIW is service and when the School of Pharmacy opened, the dean strived to meet all the values of the university,” Phillips said. “When Haven for Hope contacted the FSOP, the dean saw opportunity – the opportunity to help the community, for students to learn, and to share with everyone what pharmacists can do and how they can help.”

Phillips said Haven for Hope is very supportive and trusts the endeavors UIW takes on in helping its members.

Students help Haven of Hope members on a daily basis with their required medications. Each member is assigned a case manager that helps with their needs, and refers them to FSOP students if they are taking two or more medications. One-onone hour long appointments are scheduled through the case manager for students to review medications and discuss how to take them, when to take them, side effects that may occur and

answer questions the member may have.

“The first week the students go to Haven for Hope, they watch me to get an idea of how appointments go and questions they will likely be answering,” Phillips said. “After the first week, the students lead the appointments on their own, under my supervision.”

Phillips said she and the students all work as a team. “When they work directly with the members this also helps the students learn about effective communication,” she said.

“As a fourth year student about to graduate, one of my goals was to increase my communication skills and taking part in the efforts at Haven for Hope allows me to learn these skills that we are not otherwise exposed to in a classroom setting,” said Kathrine Bode, FSOP student. “We are meeting new people on a daily basis and talking with them to make sure they are educated about the medicines they are taking.”

Haven for Hope members find the appointments very helpful, as some have medications that change on a regular basis.

“The members need this assistance because a lot of times the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe medications, but will not have the time or opportunity to go into detail or explain the condition and new or changed medications,” Phillips explained.

A recent case Phillips recalled was a patient diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure and given various new medications.

“Diabetes was going to be the most difficult diagnosis to tackle so that is what we focused on first,” she said. “We try not to overwhelm the member, so we begin by going over the basics.”

They not only explained the new medications to the member, but also educated her about diabetes and the lifestyle changes that would need to be made including diet and exercise.

“We went over how often she would need to test her blood sugar,” she said. “The member was going to receive a new machine to test her blood sugar so she made an appointment to see us at a later time as well so we could show her how to use the new machine.”

UIW has been partnering with Haven for Hope for more than one year now, and strives to be present 20-30 hours per week. Phillips said the feedback she has received from the students is that their experience has been better than they ever could have expected.

“The students taking part want to try something different and take their education one step further,” she said. “Students learn that the Haven for Hope members are just like us and have medical issues and need questions answered or things clarified.”

“The members are so grateful and appreciative, not only because we are providing them information about their medications, but also because we take the time to talk to them and address any concerns they have,” said Erin Green, FSOP fourth year student. “Getting to experience this patient interaction and engaging with members helps me not only apply what I have learned in the classroom, but also learn how to modify it to meet each members needs.”

Every two to three weeks the students offer the members an all-day health information screening to focus on subjects such

as blood pressure, blood glucose levels and more.

“The students really enjoy the health screening days,” Phillips said. “They are given the opportunity to select the topic they want to share with members and then design the screening.”

During screenings the students see about 60-70 people per day and pass out information and answer questions about the selected topic.

“We try to use the health screenings to point members in the right direction,” Bode said. “Our first screening of the year focused on healthy weight and eating, so we took their weight and body mass index (BMI) and gave them food logs and handouts that talk about healthy eating habits and how it helps to be mindful of what you are eating.”

The students also created visuals to educate members and show them what portions look like and what things like fat look like.

“We like to use things they are familiar with, too, so we made sure to include health facts from fast food chains that we know they regularly eat at,” Bode said.

The students agreed that after taking the time to help at Haven for Hope they have taken away gratitude and a sense of service to others.

“It is a very eye opening experience as we are working with people from all different backgrounds so it is something different every day,” Green said. “It is very rewarding to see my education at work and how it can help people and make a difference.”

Erin Green, fourth year student in the Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP), shares information with Shari Snow, member at Haven for Hope, about serving size, fat and calories in every day products at the students’ health screening.

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athletics

UIW begins transition to

Division I status

By Brance Arnold ’10 MA

I

t’s the proverbial work in progress. In recent months, much discussion has emerged about the University of the Incarnate Word actively pursuing a transition to NCAA’s Division I status and, more specifically, seeking an invitation to join the Southland Conference. UIW currently holds membership in Division II’s Lone Star Conference.

On Jan. 19, 2012, the university met with Southland Conference representatives, including their board of directors.

“Athletics Director Mark Papich explored the infrastructure requirements needed to go Division I last fall,” said Stacy Nordquist, UIW associate athletic director. “Utilizing the information Mr. Papich garnered, a group put together a proposal package that was presented to the Southland Conference.”

UIW President Dr. Louis Agnese led the presentation, emphasizing the benefits of UIW’s addition to the conference and answered questions from conference representatives.

According to Nordquist, the representatives will “disseminate” all information to the presidents of each academic institution belonging to the conference. Each president of the member

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universities has one vote to determine whether UIW will be offered an invitation into the conference.

“It is not certain exactly when the Southland Conference would contact UIW with a determination,” Nordquist said.

“However, Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett has stated that he would like to ‘move quickly.’ ” If invited into the Southland Conference, the full transition to Division I will be a multi-year process. Nordquist explained that UIW will have to formally withdraw from the Lone Star Conference according to its bylaws and provide a notice of exit prior to Sept. 30 of this year if the university accepts an invitation into the Southland Conference.

The university would remain for the 2012-13 academic year in Division II’s Lone Star Conference and eligible for post-season play in Division II. Wayne Witt, UIW’s sports information director, said for the first year, UIW would continue as Lone Star Conference for scheduling purposes and the following school year, UIW would assume a provisional membership into the Southland Confer-

ence at the Division I level.

“The 2013-14 academic year would also start the reclassification process with the NCAA,” Nordquist said. “The reclassification process takes four years, which means Incarnate Word would most likely achieve full eligibility for Division I in the 2017-18 academic year.”

UIW has taken specific actions to determine whether the transition to Division I is feasible. During a press conference held last December, Agnese stated that the process began in August when he met with student athletes and the coaching staff to discuss the movement. The next and first formal step involved an online student survey via Blackboard, that took place prior to Thanksgiving, to assess support for the change.

“The real first step was seeking the opinion of the populace, namely the students, with an online poll,” Witt said.

After the survey results were determined, Agnese met with the University Planning Commission and the Executive Council voted in favor of the move. Finally, a recommendation was made to the UIW Board of Trustees. At the December press conference, Agnese announced the Board of Trustees had voted to move forward with the transition process into Division I.

Moving to Division I would create changes for the university and the athletics program.

“In athletics, there will be a need to provide Division I services and amenities including the addition of athletic staff members and changes to athletic facilities,” Nordquist said. “The move will expand the university’s brand and make the institution better known outside the region.”

Changes for the university will extend beyond athletics.

Several benefits listed in the proposal include an increase in admission standards; elevating the equity of student degrees; an increase in academic advising resources, and academic facilities, such as study areas and computer labs; improvements and renovations to other facilities; and an increase in state and federal funding for student financial assistance.

“I have heard nothing but positive comments about a proposed move to NCAA Division I,” said Nordquist. “UIW graduates will see the value of their degree enhanced with the move.”

To learn more about UIW’s transition to Division I, visit www.cardinalathletics.com.

Former executive director of NFL Coaches Association named UIW head coach In Dec. 2011, UIW named Larry Kennan as the new head coach of the Cardinal football program. An experienced coach, Kennan has worked with all-pro quarterbacks, coached at all levels, and has a Super Bowl ring.

For the last 13 years, Kennan has been executive director of the NFL Coaches Association based in Washington, D.C. During that time he also worked with and trained quarterbacks such as Drew Bledsoe and Jeff Hostetler. Other quarterbacks he has worked with include Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Drew Brees.

Kennan has coaching experience with seven professional teams, six in the National Football League (NFL) and one in the former World Football League (WFL). He was the quarterbacks coach for the Super Bowl winning Los Angeles Raiders and head coach of the London Monarchs of the WFL. At the college level, Kennan was the head coach at Lamar University for three years, and was the offensive coordinator at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Larry Kennan, new head coach of the Cardinal football program, at the press conference announcing his new appointment.

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C lass

notes

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.

1940s

Mary Helen “Pinkie” Pinner, ’46 BA celebrated the 60th annual Three Kings Celebration with classmates, friends and family on Friday, Jan. 6. The annual celebration began in 1951 in Kingsville and was moved to the UIW campus a few years ago. The event is to celebrate a tradition of collegiate friendship that spans years.

1950s Patricia J. Bartosh ’53 BM is currently serving as the traditional choir director of her parish, St. Mary’s Church in Taylor, Texas.

Bettye Nagy ’55 BSN was recently named “Member Volunteer of the Year for 2011” by the Heritage Association of San Marcos.

1960s

Stephanie Dahl, Liz Morales Jauer ’69 BA, Judy Trevino Rath ’69 BA, Ellen Kennedy Franckowiak ’69 BA, and Judy Patton Crane ’69 BA came together to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

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1970s Jimmy Castro ’78 BA recently retired after 31 years with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. He also completed 19 years with the Air Force Reserves 433rd Information Systems Squadron Kelly Air Force Base.

1980s Janie Barrera ’87 MBA has been appointed to the San Antonio branch board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Barrera is the founding president and CEO of ACCION Texas Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides small loans and management training to micro and small businesses in eight states, including Texas and Louisiana.

Jose Hernandez ’87 BBA was recognized for 15 years of service at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston at the 2012 STAR Award Event.

1990s Coach Pete Peterson ’90 MA was recently inducted into Southwestern College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Peterson has been the men’s head basketball coach at Texas A&M Kingsville since the 1997-98 season. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Southwestern in 197980. He has a 208-178 record along with two trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Peterson coached for 11 years at UIW. The Cardinals, then known as the Crusaders, had a 224-111 record during his tenure and reached the NAIA National Tournament

four times and won three Heart of Texas Conference championships.

Patricia Gonzales ’94 BBA and Edward Benavides ’98 BA were recognized in the 2011 40 under 40 awards presented by the San Antonio Business Journal. The annual awards are presented every year to 40 exceptional individuals under the age of 40 who are making great strides in their professional careers and are contributing positively to the San Antonio community.

2000s

Jennifer Ann Balleza-Gonzalez ’05 BA will be completing her 5th season at Sea World San Antonio in December. She is a show operator I for Shamu Theater. Her job consists of running video cameras, working digital FX and directing the Shamu shows.

Jennifer Naples ’00 MS Nutrition, RD, LD and CDE, was promoted from senior dietitian to clinical dietitian specialist at The Methodist Hospital Texas Medical Center – Houston, where she has been employed for 10 years. She co-leads the 12-Step Food Addiction support group and is primary investigator on three bariatric research studies.

Gina Montemayor ’03 BAAS recently completed her Masters Degree in Education and is now serving as head boy’s and girl’s golf coach at Warren High School.

Kevin Langan ’06 MAA is a former UIW men’s soccer player and was recently named head soccer coach at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Division I school in North Carolina. As a member of the coaching staff for the Charlotte 49ers for the past three years, he has played an essential role in the team winning 40 games, reaching the College Cup Finals, capturing an Atlantic 10 regular-season title and making two NCAA tournament appearances. At UIW, Langan led the team to a No. 1 national ranking and the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2004.

Brothers A.J. Moore ’04 BA and Antonio Moore ’10 BA were featured in the San Antonio Express-News for creating the colorful adventures of “Super Newts,” and “Dorse and Doose,” child friendly animal characters, through their comics and animation company “GudFit Entertainment. The duo also has a self-published children’s book and have created several web and print comics.

Rita Martinez ’06 MA was elected to a twoyear term as president for the Association of Catechesis and Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Sam Sanders ’07 BA recently served as a panelist at the Online News Association’s 2011 Conference.

At the 2011 meeting of the Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry, Suzy Krisak ’07 MA, Julie Krug ’08 MA, and Laura Yzaguirre ’09 MA, all parish ministry leaders, presented a panel on their experience regarding the way ongoing communication and support among their graduate studies classmates and current colleagues in ministry have sustained their vocation to lay ministry.

Erin Allison O’Brien ’08 BA has been promoted to editor of all three NSIDE San Antonio magazines.

She has also stayed active in the San Antonio community by serving as the youngest member of the board of directors for the Harp and Shamrock Society. She coordinates the society’s social committee, plans and oversees all of its events and fundraisers.

Patricia Moore ’09 BBA recently opened up N-V-Us Fashions and Boutique at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall.

Petrecia Falcon ’10 BA and Monique Galus ’10 BA were featured in the Emerging Designers Show, a gala scholarship fundraiser, during San Antonio’s third annual fashion week. The designing duo creates under their Salutations label.

Fr. Freeborn Kibombwe, OMI ’09 MA was elected delegation superior for Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate for a threeyear term.

Erika Haskins ’10 MA was accepted as a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

In Memoriam David Bollinger, husband of Susie Bollinger ’10 MA Carol Hatfield, mother of Rita H. Crawford ’87 BSN Maria H. Williams ’90 BSN Donald Winn, father-in-law of Mendell Morgan, former Dean of Library Services Susan Nuelle Crandell, former student Col. Ruth A. Kegler, USANC ’59 BSN Eileen Jones Saady ’49 BS Ila Frances Dowling Mahanay ’73 MA Bertha Gonzalez Keith ’63 BS Med Tech Sr. Mary Johnell Busch, RSM ’56 BA Lillian Ann Drake ’59 BA Glen Leroy Price ’62 MA Mary Lou Hagendorn Krenek ’49 BS HEC Anita L. Bailey Schmidt ’96 MA Park Edward Pearson, Advisory Board Lt. Col. Helen L. Jasik (USANC Ret), RN ’42 Santa Rosa School Frank P. Christian, benefactor Marjorie Brite Hohon ’40 BA Laverne Laurent George ’43 BA Patricia Tuttle Williams, former student class of ’62

Weddings and Engagements Charmaine Reininger Williams ’59 IWHS, ’80 BA and Allen Williams celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011.

John Bradley Ruebsahm ’02 BBA and Shana Allen ’04 BS were married on Dec. 3, 2011 at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word.

Karina Galindo ’97 BA married Michael Hillanbrand from Philadelphia, Pa. They met in Santiago, Chile in 2009 at a convention and now reside in San Antonio.

Future Cardinals

Loren Portillo Peterson ’98 BA and husband Tommy Peterson ’97 BBA welcomed Zeke Thomas (pictured above with his brothers), born on May 23, 2011. He weighed 8 lbs. and 1 oz.

Jon-Paul McGowan ’99, announce the birth of their daughter, Emma-Jane Rose, born Sept. 6, 2011.

Myra Alvarez-Garza ’02 BA and Gerardo Garza Jr., UIW HVAC Technician, welcomed twin girls in Feb. 2012. They also have a boy Jeremiah Valen, nine-years-old and a girl Mia Chevelle five-years-old.

Samuel L. Mendez, II ’09 BBA and Dr. Lisa A. Mendez ’11 Ph.D. welcomed their daughter Sayuri Rayne Mendez on Oct. 13, 2011.

Tai Ingram ’04 BA and Wesley Osborn were married on Oct 8, 2011 at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word.

T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 29

Alumni Join UIW for the Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt UIW alumni, bring your family to the second annual Easter Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31 on the UIW campus. Kid’s ages one through 10 will hunt Easter eggs and can participate in numerous activities including face painting, coloring, and arts and crafts. Guests will also have the opportunity to take photos with the Easter Bunny and Red Cardinal. RSVP now to join the fun at www.uiwalumni.org/easteregg.

UIW Graduate Support Center An office of the UIW School of Graduate Studies and Research, the Graduate Support Center (GSC) is supported by a Department of Education Title V Grant promoting post baccalaureate opportunities for Hispanic Americans. The GSC offers many services including: • New Graduate Student and Family Orientation • Academic and professional workshops • Mabee Library services • Promoting Success and Leadership for Master’s Students (PSALMS) Mentoring Program • Encouraging and facilitating graduate student involvement through activities such as welcome week, semester kick-off cook out, and social gatherings

Upcoming GSC workshops include: • Cross-Cultural Communication, presented by Dr. David Ortiz, director of the GSC, from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 24 in the Mabee Library Special Collections Suite • Critical Thinking and Analysis, presented by Dr. Héctor Pérez, UIW associate professor of English, from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 in in the Mabee Library Special Collections Suite 30 T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

Meet the team at the UIW GSC, pictured (L-R) Trinidad Macias; Dr. David Ortiz, director of the GSC; Rebecca Ohnemus, and Huynh Nga Ngyuen.

Contact information: Mabee Library, room 240 Phone: 210-832-5628 Email: gsc@uiwtx.edu Office hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Thurs and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays

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UIW Alumni Events 1. The UIW Class of 1961 celebrated their 50th reunion and gathered after the Homecoming Memorial Mass and visit to the CCVI cemetery.

2. The UIW Alumni Relations Association hosted a Homecoming family barbeque and tailgate on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Benson Stadium parking lot. UIW alumni gathered with family and friends to enjoy a tailgate, musical entertainment, and games for the kids.

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3. Mehrdad Bayegan ’86 BBA, ’87 MBA and Lisa Schultz, ’91 BA, ’95 MA, director of alumni relations at UIW, attended the Rock’ N Red Birds social.

4. Pictured (L-R) Maria Ibarra ’04 BBA, Allison Hicks ’88 BA, the UIW Red Cardinal, Gloria Gonzales ’11 BA, and Dawn Cunningham ’06 MAA, at the Summer Margarita and Luau alumni gathering.

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Coming up…

Broadway Across America

Spring wine tasting

Sign up to participate in our “Broadway Across America” series as we plan to watch:

Join the Alumni Association for the 1st Annual Alumni Wine Tasting. Attendees will gather at 9:30 a.m. on the UIW campus and the group will travel by shuttle to Winery on the Gruene in New Braunfels. Cost to attend is $20 and includes transportation to and from UIW, four wine samples of choice, two glasses of wine and a keepsake wine glass. Register for the event at www.uiwalumni.org/winetasting.

• Billy Elliot on Broadway on Wednesday, March 28 • La Cage Aux Folles on Tuesday, May 8 For each event Alumni Relations will sell tickets to the Broadway shows at the Majestic Theatre. The group meets for a pre-mixer with other alumni prior to the show. Contact the department of Alumni Relations at 210-829-6014 to sign up.

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Meet the Board

In this issue, meet Board of Trustees member Gayle Benson

By Crystale Lopez

Gayle Marie Benson, a New Orleanian for the past 30 years, has been a member of the UIW Board of Trustees since 2007.

“I was asked to join the board by our close friend, Stanley Rosenberg,” she said. “UIW President Lou Agnese also asked if I would be interested in joining and I quickly accepted.”

Benson believes the importance of serving as a board member is the impact the board can directly have on the future of the university.

“The university is experiencing tremendous growth and awareness and I cherish being a part of such wonderful growth,” she said. “The board has built momentum and I believe UIW offers students from all backgrounds a remarkable education. We must continue on this momentum.”

Benson is a director of the New Orleans Saints National Football League team; a director of Bensco of Texas, an automobile, real estate and banking firm; and a director of Bensco of Louisiana, an automotive and real estate firm.

An active member of the Catholic Church, Benson has also received a number of awards for her contributions and efforts, including the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of

Jerusalem and the Order of St. Louis Award for outstanding individual of the year.

“What I enjoy most about the University of the Incarnate Word is that the student body is so diverse and interesting,” she said. “The university prides itself on being ethnically diverse with students from all over the world. That diversity makes for an interesting and exciting campus experience.”

She has been married to Tom Benson since 2004. She and Tom supported the establishment of UIW football with two gifts to fund the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

“When my husband and I are in town, we very much enjoy the holiday season events surrounding the university,” Benson said. “We also certainly enjoy meeting and getting to know the other members of the board.”

Benson has conducted a successful design and construction business, developing condominium units, residential units, and numerous other improvements, including those performed for hotels including the New Orleans Hilton, Fairmont Hotel, Maison Dupuy, Royal Orleans, Hyatt Hotels and the Ritz-Carleton Hotel. She has also designed many restaurants including the Court of Two Sisters.

Best “Faith” Forward

By Crystal Campos-Rosales, BA ’07 Relocating to a new state along with adjusting to a new vocation in life can pose feelings of excitement and fear. In August, I left my comfort zone to embark on a new adventure as a wife in a state miles away from family and friends.

Prior to leaving Texas, I was excited about the opportunity to begin my marriage in a different part of the world that my husband and I could explore together.

Although I have always welcomed new challenges and contemplated residing in a different state, not long ago the huge relocation sparked feelings of fear. How well would I adapt to the area’s way of life?

How well would I adjust to my vocation as a wife? These are questions I am sure many have asked before.

Throughout my childhood and adolescence my family instilled great Christian values in my life that I have sought to uphold as an adult. The past several years I have challenged myself to put my faith and values into action by maintaining an active prayer life and attending daily 32 T H E W O R D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

mass, along with ministering to others while serving on several A.C.T.S. retreats.

The implementation of both commitments has increased my faith and trust in God, especially when facing difficult times.

Faith, as we know, is the belief in things unseen. I have never

wanted to be a “doubting Thomas,” but last summer I found myself to be so.

My paternal grandfather, whom I lost in 2009, served as a prime example of what it means to have faith. I often saw him praying the rosary or heard him offering prayers for his family. He always reminded me to have faith in God and pray.

Before slipping into a deeper abyss of fear, my grandfather’s advice resonated within me. I also recalled the unceasing faith of the first Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who left France to respond to God’s call to minister to the sick in Galveston. They did not know the challenges they would encounter during the journey. All they knew was that God would provide. Their faith helped me realize that God would do the same for me. It is a lesson we should all remember when our minds are filled with doubts. I am extremely happy in my new home and I know I will put my best “faith” forward to conquer any challenges life brings.

A

Giving Forward

lumna Gloria Villarreal Cortez ’63 BSN has continued to be a friend to her alma mater through the years and in December of 2011, she and her husband, Bill Cortez, continued that support through a $100,000 gift to fund scholarships for nursing students. The couple owns and operates CorTrans Logistics, a full service transportation and logistics firm. We talked with her to find out more about her experience at Incarnate Word and her choice to continue supporting of the university.

How did you choose Incarnate Word College (IWC) for your education?

My dad chose it for me. He wanted me to be a teacher but that is one thing I rebelled on. I wanted to be a dentist but my dad said I could not pull teeth with my skinny arms so nursing was the next closest field.

I graduated from Ursuline Academy in Laredo and the nuns were very supportive of us continuing our education. Sr. Gabriel who was the principal at Ursuline wrote a letter of recommendation for me to Incarnate Word College.

Can you tell me about your family?

I have two brothers and four sisters and we all went to college which was not the usual case in my day. My parents were not well off but somehow they paid for all of us to go to college. I do not know how they did it. I knew I had to finish my degree in four years so I worked at it.

My husband, Bill, and I met in Laredo. He was a student at St. Joseph’s in Laredo and our schools had social events which brought us together and then he attended St. Mary’s University. I think we were lucky to grow up in Laredo. The cohesive community there gave us confidence to be whoever we wanted to be and that has stayed with us over all those years.

Are there any special teachers that stand out from your time at IWC – any particular memories?

I remember Sr. Margaret Patrice and Sr. Charles Marie. Sr. Charles Marie was always wonderful, kind and bright. We were told at the beginning of the BSN program that only 25 of our original group of 100 would graduate and they were right – that is almost the exact number that received their degree.

A memory I recall was being president of the sophomore class and a member of Alpha Chi Lambda.

How did nursing shape your life and what impact do nurses have in health care today?

Nursing was a wonderful career for me. I married during Christmas break my senior year and moved to Houston for Bill to begin law school. I worked at Methodist Hospital in medical/ surgical and made rounds with Drs. DeBakey and Cooley. Since I was bilingual, the doctors wanted me to do rounds with them quite often. I met the Queen of Denmark and Elizabeth Taylor who were patients there. Nurses really spent more time face-toface with doctors and in patient care than they do now I think.

After my daughter was born, I was a school nurse in the Houston Independent School District working with many migrant families.

When we moved to St. Louis, I became certified to teach because they needed teachers to lead health science classes.

You currently reside in Georgia. How did a Texas girl land in Georgia?

Bill was transferred many times during his career in the transportation industry and we ended up in Georgia.

How did you and Bill come to found CorTrans Logistics?

Bill decided to move forward and form his own company building on his many years in the industry. I was working and could support us, so I told him to go for it. We have never borrowed and it has become more than self-sustaining. We have been truly blessed. It has been a lot of hard work but we are fortunate. I am now the vice president of human resources at CorTrans.

You seem to be gearing up when many at your stage in life are thinking about retirement. Do you and Bill have any plans to retire?

No, not yet. We have good health and now our daughter, Mariscela, is working with us. We employ about 30 people and they depend on us so we will continue to move forward.

What motivates you and Bill to make gifts?

We feel very blessed and want to give back. Education is one of the best investments anyone can make in their life and we want to help. Incarnate Word is special to me and scholarships are very important in helping students complete their education. Our parents truly fostered education and we want to do the same. We also support our church, the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Wounded Warriors, St. Vincent de Paul and the YMCA. When you think about encouraging others to give to UIW, what thoughts come to mind?

Education has helped me personally and I believe it’s a blessing to help others reach their dreams and academic goals.

I cannot believe the way Incarnate Word has grown over the years - from the new schools of pharmacy and optometry and more. Dr. Louis Agnese has done a great job. It has changed a lot in many wonderful ways. I am really impressed.

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Get your samba on!

Bring your cheerful spirit, grab your masks and samba into this year’s Carnival themed Swing-In Auction Party and Golf Tournament

Silent Auction Party 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 3 McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room

Golf Tournament

Friday, May 4 Tee times at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Republic Golf Club 4226 SE Military Dr. San Antonio For ticket information: Development Office 210-829-6013 development@uiwtx.edu www.uiw.edu/swingin