Trinity Magazine Winter 2023

THE MAGAZINE OF TRINITY UNIVERSITY WINTER 2023

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE TRINITY Winter 2023 Editor Molly Mohr Bruni

Trinity Community, If you take one thing from this issue, I hope it is a recognition of the critical importance of our mental and physical wellbeing, both on our campus and away from it.

Prioritizing mental wellness is key to living a healthy life.

We all have a role in creating environments that encourage open, courageous conversations about challenges we may face as well as the help we need to meet them. I am proud of the work happening on our campus right now to provide more access to information on these topics, including several new extracurricular efforts offering peer training and awareness for our students. We will always seek more avenues to educate our students about ways they can maintain and improve their own mental health, and yet I am encouraged by their eagerness to help and support each other.

Physical wellness is another key component of living well. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep have always been the building blocks of a sound mind and body. As a residential campus, Trinity remains dedicated to improving recreational facilities and other spaces for promoting healthy lifestyles. On a personal level, I’m often reminded of the difference it can make to simply take a break and go outside for a brief walk or make a conscious effort to unplug from all of my devices for a few hours. And especially when I walk past Trinity’s new pickleball courts or attend a performance by one of our many arts ensembles, I notice our students gathering to relax and have fun—activities that are also important parts of a healthy life.

As a university community, we often talk about our core value of enduring excellence; that quest drives everything we do. We must ensure that our academic experiences continue to challenge, support, and engage students, empowering them to live lives of meaning and purpose even during times of rapid change. In this issue, you will meet Trinity students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are doing just that in ways that also improve mental and physical health.

Trinity University should develop the whole student. At Trinity, we will continue learning and improving together, equipping our students with the tools and skills they need for success, defined in and on their own terms.

Be well,

Vanessa B. Beasley President, Trinity University

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Art Director Anh-Viet Dinh ’15 Magazine Staff Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08 Jeremy Gerlach Kennice Leisk ’22 Laura Rodriguez

Alfredo Valenzuela Josh Moczygemba ’05 Mason McLerran Ryan Sedillo

Copy Editor Ashley Festa Interns Caleb Aguiar ’25 Ella Charbonnet ’25 Samuel Damon ’24 Mackenzie Gasner ’23 Contributors Cade Bradshaw ’14 Kenneth Caruthers ’15 Ryan Finnelly Miriam Sitz Grebey ‘10 Coleen Grissom Justin Parker ’99

Rebecca Hughes ’23 Sofia Leobas ’24 Emma Utzinger ’24

Tom Payton Aimee Rowse Armando Saliba Burgin Streetman Ryan Thomas Betty Ullrich

Trinity is published by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing and is sent to alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the University who remain engaged with Trinity.

Editorial Office Trinity University Strategic Communications and Marketing 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 marketing@trinity.edu | 210-999-8406 trinity.edu/trinity-magazine

President Vanessa B. Beasley Board of Trustees Ruth K. Agather Shari Becker Albright ’83, M’86 April Ancira ‘02 Erin M. Baker ‘99 Annell R. Bay ‘77 Ted W. Beneski John Brozovich Stephen W. Butt ‘77 Miles C. Cortez ‘64 Sally Deitch M’03 Janet St. Clair Dicke ‘68 Cydney C. Donnell Thomas E. Evans ‘84 Marshall A. Hess ‘88 Gen. James T. Hill ‘68 Jelynne L. Jamison M’88 E. Carey Joullian IV ‘82 The Rev. Dr. Richard R. Kannwischer ‘95 Christopher M. Kinsey ‘79 Katherine Wood Klinger ‘72 John C. Korbell

Oliver T.W. Lee ‘93 Michael Lynd Jr. ’95 Steven P. Mach ‘92 Melody B. Meyer ‘79 Jeffrey Mueller ’00 William Scanlan Jr. Thomas Schluter ‘85 Pat Semmes Nicholas A. Severino ’88 Darsh Preet Singh ’08 L. Herbert Stumberg Jr. ‘81 Jessica W. Thorne ‘91 John Thornton ’87 Scott W. Tinker ’82 Nadia Islam ‘12 National Alumni Board, President The Rev. Dr. James D. Freeman ‘83 Synod of the Sun Rep.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

40

40 Nature Runs This Course 46 The Art of Healing 52 Celebrating the Journey and the Destination

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DEPARTMENTS 8 Trinity Today 18 Syllabus 28 Tiger Pride 34 Trinity University Press 36 Lit Picks 37 In Memoriam 56 Alumni News 60 Class Notes 66 Club Activities 68 Commentary

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MEET THE STAFF

Instagram “Hi everyone! We are the Street Team—Blake Bryan ’26, Gabi Salgado ’25, and Chris Medina ’24. The Street

Molly Bruni editor

Anh-Viet Dinh ’15 art director

Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08 graphic design + words

Jeremy Gerlach words

Kennice Leisk ’22 words

Mason McLerran multimedia

Josh Moczygemba ’05 multimedia

Laura Rodriguez graphic design

Ryan Sedillo multimedia

Alfredo Valenzuela graphic design

Team is part of Trinity’s Strategic Communications and Marketing (SCM) office, and we are the bridge between Trinity students and Trinity’s marketing campaigns. We are here to capture Trinity events in real life and share your stories!”

Trinity Online Web Extras Interact with videos, photo galleries, and other content through the magazine’s web extras. Type the URL as printed directly into your web browser, or scan the QR code using your mobile device’s camera.

Social Media Follow Trinity on social media and stay updated with stories from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. Show your Trinity spirit with #TigerPride! facebook.com/TrinityUniversity youtube.com/TrinityUniversitySA twitter.com/Trinity_U instagram.com/TrinityU gotu.us/linkedin

Instagram The Student Involvement Fair in August welcomed students to explore the more than 100 student organizations on campus, from social, academic, and professional groups to fraternities, sororities, and more!

EDITOR’S NOTE

Not many people know this, but Trinity’s football

CORRECTION:

THE MAGAZINE OF TRINITY SPRING 2023

UNIVERSITY

Trinity’s 20th President, Dr. Vanessa B. Beasley, shares her lifelong journey to promote student success

In our Spring 2023 issue, we incorrectly identified a photo in the story “Trinity University Press Launches Tinta Books” as a farmer carrying a basket through an agave field in Mexico. The farmer was actually carrying the piña of an agave plant. Great eye, Alex Skinner-Klee ’78, and thank you for the correction!

stadium has always felt like home to me. As the daughter of former Head Football Coach Steve Mohr, I was brought onto the field at three days old to meet the team. Since then, I’ve spent hundreds of Saturdays loudly cheering on the Tigers as well as dozens of practices and scrimmages quietly reading under the bleachers.

It’s safe to say that Tiger Pride was fervently instilled in me from the start, and it’s no surprise I wanted to work at this place that has held a special place in my heart. I finally got to explore campus above Cardiac Hill when I was hired by what was then University Marketing and Communications in 2016. Seven years later, I cannot put into words the gratitude I feel toward Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08 for her mentorship over the years as well as the trust she has placed in me to take over editorship of this magazine.

While not much has changed with this editorship transition, you will notice a new section, “Syllabus,” which is dedicated to our faculty and staff (page 18). We know that relationships with faculty and staff are often some of the most influential, life-changing, and cherished parts of the student experience at Trinity. I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard from alumni whose professors or coaches turned into lifelong mentors and friends. We’re excited to dedicate an entire section of this magazine to our faculty and staff and their pursuits.

This issue means a lot to me, and I hope that feeling resonates throughout. But if you read only one story in this issue, I urge you to flip to the back and savor the commentary by Kelly Grey Carlisle (page 68). An English professor at Trinity and absolute master at her craft, Kelly reflects on her recent breast cancer diagnosis. I am sure all of us can relate, whether personally or thinking of a loved one. For me, I am reminded of my mom’s decade-long battle against stage IV breast cancer (which, I am happy to say, she is winning). I hope the commentary gives you a chance to pause and consider the beauty in your own life.

In fact, in a world where our worth is often tied to productivity and busyness, I think we can all benefit from slowing down—you can read more about how a class at Trinity is teaching students to do just that on page 40. And though disease is never wished for by any means, it can help sharpen our clarity around what really matters to us in this fearsome, joyous, complicated, and breathtaking life of ours. I’m taking the time this holiday season to think about that, and I hope you will, too.

Until next year,

Molly Bruni

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The Big Picture On October 14, the Trinity community gathered on campus to view the annular solar eclipse, which capped off the University’s Space Week.

The Eclipse Festival featured arts and crafts, science demonstrations, a mock representation of the solar system, rooftop viewing of the eclipse by telescope, and the handout of eclipse glasses so viewers wouldn’t burn, burn, burn their eyes with the “ring of fire” eclipse.

Photos by Caleb Aguiar ’25 and Samuel Damon ’24

TRINITY TODAY

left SGA President Danny Nguyen ‘24 speaks at the SGA meeting where the vote for the student mental wellness initiative unanimously passed. right Students pet a therapy dog in Coates Library before final exam week.

SGA Invests $100,000 For Student Mental Wellness Initiative Trinity dedicates resources for its holistic approach to student well-being

by Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08 After a unanimous vote of support, Trinity University’s

Student Government Association (SGA) has committed $100,000 toward a new mental wellness initiative for Trinity students, the largest single-sum commitment ever made by the organization.

“On behalf of SGA, I am so excited to be a part of a historic initiative that truly impacts students for the better,” says Danny Nguyen ’24, SGA president. “In our 101-year history, SGA has served as the stewards of student interests and student success, and we are proud to support the livelihood of students at Trinity.”

Initiated through SGA by Trinity President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., this mental wellness initiative brings together the President’s Office, SGA, and Integrated Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services in an effort to truly demonstrate a campus-wide commitment to improving student mental wellness.

“Our goal is to reach students where they are, and in a variety of ways, to ensure each student has access to the kinds of support they need,” says Marlaina Widmann, coordinator of Student Wellness. “A stepped-care approach to mental wellness allows Trinity to dedicate more resources to the steps before counseling services or other professional care. These steps include self-care and selfhelp information; peer support; stress, sleep, and lifestyle management; and, of course, puppies!”

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The new mental wellness initiative will have eight primary components: 1. Expanded programming and outreach, including the growth of Mental Health Awareness Week 2. Increased workshop facilitation around topics such as holistic wellness, mindfulness, and setting boundaries 3. New dog-therapy program composed of Trinity faculty and staff dog teams to serve the campus community 4. Training for faculty and staff addressing mental health in the classroom and in on-campus student work environments 5. MANUAL, an evidence-based service to decrease the gender gap in seeking care 6. TigerConnect, a program to increase connections and reduce loneliness 7. Student Wellness Advisory Board composed of student representatives across campus 8. LGBTQIA+ Focus Group to seek student input and address health disparities Learn more about wellness at Trinity at gotu.us/wellness.

Ten Years of Trinity Tomorrow University celebrates Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan On April 3, the Trinity community gathered to celebrate the successes of the Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan with a poster-session-inspired showcase of memories and milestones.

“Trinity Tomorrow is now the Trinity of today,” said University President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D. “Now is the time to strengthen our community, learn from each other, and dream big. Once again, together we must pair knowledge with critical thinking, and we must be guided by Trinity’s values of enduring excellence, perpetual discovery, and intentional inclusion.”

The Future of Dining at Trinity Trinity announces the selection of a new dining services partner After a 50-year relationship with Aramark, Trinity announced that Chartwells Higher Education, a division of Compass Group, would be the University’s new dining services provider starting June 1, 2023. Chartwells was selected after an extensive search and review process that included students, faculty, and staff. This fall, the University worked with Chartwells to develop and serve a customized dining program that genuinely reflects Trinity’s unique campus culture and community values.

Tigers Bring Learning to Life in Summer 2023 Nearly 350 students participated in undergraduate research, internships, and study abroad programs At Trinity, students bring learning to life inside and outside the classroom, on campus, and around the world—even during the summer!

This summer, alongside their faculty or staff mentors, more than 200 Tigers

Trinity President Vanessa B. Beasley with students studying abroad in Madrid this past summer.

conducted research or participated in internships, gaining real-world experience in their fields or careers of interest. Additionally, nearly 150 Tigers traveled through Trinity’s faculty-led study abroad opportunities.

Trinity President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., accompanied students on the trip to Madrid, Spain, and Provost Megan Mustain, Ph.D., joined students on the trip to Japan. They showed their support for students as they did what Trinity students do best: learn through their experiences.

internal organizations to develop a voting engagement plan that aims to increase voter registration and participation, to collaborate with student groups and faculty to encourage voting, and to partner with local and national civic organizations.

A Well and Worthy Investment Trinity announces the winner of the 2023 Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition

Trinity Named a Voter Friendly Campus in 2023 University recognized for student voter initiatives Trinity has been named a Voter Friendly Campus in 2023. This designation comes after 18 months of working with local and

Although four student-led startups faced off in the final round of the Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition, Well and Worthy ultimately impressed the judges, winning both the fan favorite award and the $25,000 grand prize! Now, thanks to this funding, Ashleigh Reese ’26 and Sofia Ortiz ’24 can continue to expand Well and Worthy, an app designed to provide a personalized wellness and lifestyle plan for each individual woman via a menstrual cycle-based lifestyle approach.

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TRINITY TODAY

Trinity Designated an AAC&U Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center University is recognized nationally for its commitment to intentional inclusion

1869 Challenge Raises over a Million Dollars Trinity community bands together for record-setting day of giving

by Jeremy Gerlach Great things can start small.

Small decisions, like taking a moment out of our busy lives for philanthropy, or small acts, like making a gift that advances the causes we’re passionate about.

As part of Trinity’s 2023 1869 Challenge, our community of supporters strung these small successes together, again and again, until we built something truly impressive: a recordsetting day of giving that is directly providing life-changing experiences and opportunities for the Tigers following in our footsteps.

One by one, alum by alum, friend by friend, family by family, the Trinity community united to meet the goal of 3,000 donors over 1,869 minutes. And gift by gift, act of kindness by act of kindness, our supporters swelled into a powerful force in motion, raising $1,208,066 from 3,593 donors.

To our entire community of support, Trinity says thank you!

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Trinity was designated an American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center. As one of only three TRHT Campus Centers in Texas, Trinity joins AAC&U in implementing visionary action plans with the shared goal of erasing barriers to equal treatment and opportunity on college campuses and in the community.

Trinity Named 2023 DiversityFIRST Leadership Award Winner Texas Diversity Council recognizes University for contributions to DEIB in higher education The Texas Diversity Council presented Trinity the organizational DiversityFIRST Leadership Award in recognition of the University’s work to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and to develop leaders who champion this endeavor. The Texas Diversity Council awards this honor annually to institutions and individuals who demonstrate exceptional efforts and achievements in fostering diversity and inclusive environments.

The DiversityFIRST Leadership Award honored student-led initiatives in particular, as Trinity students continue to lead and advocate for DEIB efforts on campus.

Trinity community members continually demonstrate a willingness to both listen and take action.

Trinity Announces Three New Board Members Careers and perspectives span business, health care, and entrepreneurship Trinity proudly announces the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees: John Brozovich, Sally Deitch M’03, and John Thornton ’87.

Brozovich is president and chief executive officer of The Gambrinus Company, a leader in the craft beer industry.

Deitch M’03, MSN, Brozovich MHA, RN, FACHE, serves as executive vice president for Nursing and Operations Infrastructure at Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic nonprofit health system.

Deitch Thornton ’87 has spent the past 30 years helping entrepreneurs realize their vision in a career extending to venture capital, private equity, and nonprofit media.

Thornton

98%!

The graduating Class of 2022 has achieved a 98% positive outcomes rate. This means within six months of graduating, 98% of undergraduates in the Class of 2022 were either employed, accepted to graduate school, or engaged in volunteer-oriented service.

New Faces Tigers fill big roles across campus The University welcomed new and familiar faces into major

Andrew Wells

roles this year.

Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08 / Assistant Vice President

of Strategic Communications and Marketing

Kerstin Bryant / Interim Assistant Director for Residential Life Bernadette Buchanan / Interim Associate Dean of Students Mindy Tran Champion ’19, M’20 / Assistant Director

for Orientation and Transitions

Anh-Viet Dinh ‘15 / Director for Creative Strategy

Wells

Luisa Casso

Catherine Fragoso / Interim Director for Student Inclusion,

Engagement, and Belonging

Kateeka Harris / Interim Title IX Coordinator Celeste Mendoza / Assistant Vice President

for Alumni Relations and Development

Shawne Stewart-Zakaria / Senior Director

for University Events and Protocol

Jamie Thompson ’05 / Interim Dean of Students and

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

Vice President for Student Affairs Wells succeeds Sheryl Tynes, Ph.D., and leads all areas of the Student Life division.

He will also be involved in the upcoming strategic planning process regarding the programmatic vision for the division.

Previously, Wells served as the associate dean of students at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Casso

Chief of Staff Casso steps into the inaugural chief of staff position with an impressive two-decade work record that spans the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, she served as the manager of corporate communications for Toyota Motor North America.

Now, as a Trinity Executive Leadership Team member, she supervises staff in the Office of the President.

Rachel Boaz Toppel ’10 / Interim Director for Residential Life

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TRINITY TODAY

Trinity Transitions to Four-School Academic System Five inaugural deans selected to lead this change Starting June 1 , Trinity University transitioned to a four-

school academic system to further cultivate the University’s commitment to the liberal arts. These Schools facilitate administrative and intellectual connections to foster interdisciplinary work across various departments and programs. Each School is headed by a dean who is responsible for leading and coordinating the work of department chairs and program directors to support faculty and student success.

School of Arts and Humanities Trinity’s School of Arts and Humanities merges history, culture, and innovation. Combining research and experiential learning with an interdisciplinary perspective, the School creates curious critical thinkers and innovators who apply themselves beyond the classroom.

At the helm is religion professor Rubén Dupertuis, Ph.D. Since joining the University in 2006, he has served as co-director of Trinity’s Humanities Collective and as Humanities Division councilor for the Council on Undergraduate Research.

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School of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Trinity’s School of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics keeps science on display. This School offers nationally recognized, cutting-edge experiential learning and undergraduate research opportunities presented through a liberal arts lens that allows for interdisciplinary exploration, rigor, and growth.

Biology professor David Ribble ’82, Ph.D., leads the School as its inaugural dean. Throughout his time at Trinity, Ribble has served as associate vice president for Academic Affairs: Research and Budget, chair of the Department of Biology, and director of environmental studies.

School of Social Science and Civic Engagement The University’s School of Social Science and Civic Engagement emphasizes community and connections.

In this School, students and faculty investigate social organization and cultural knowledge through interdisciplinary courses. Departments within this School are

grounded in a balanced blend of liberal arts and applied professional programs, where faculty engage with and prepare students for meaningful lives of leadership and service around the world.

Economics associate professor Nels Christiansen, Ph.D., is the School’s inaugural dean. Since joining Trinity in 2009, Christiansen has served on the Faculty Senate as part of the Budget Advisory Committee and was part of the President’s Operating Budget Task Force in 2020.

Michael Neidorff School of Business The three new Schools round out a fourschool academic structure that includes the Michael Neidorff School of Business, which was named in 2021 and is led by Dean Robert Scherer, Ph.D.

Coates Library Trinity also named a dean for Coates Library: Benjamin Harris, MLIS. After arriving at Trinity as a librarian for the humanities in 2004, he has since served as information literacy coordinator, head of instruction services, and, most recently, as interim University librarian.

As dean of the library, Harris will be responsible for providing strategic management and executive administration of Coates Library’s staff, resources, budget, and building, while fostering an inclusive community of support and service across campus.

Learn more about each of the deans by watching Trinity’s Meet the Deans video series.

Trinity University Named a Top College in the Nation Niche, USNWR, and The Princeton Review recognize the University’s commitment to student success Trinity received its 2024 rankings, and it’s no surprise the University

continues to be recognized as a top college.

Niche, the go-to ranking resource for many high school students, counselors, and advisers, named Trinity the No. 19 liberal arts college in the nation in its 2024 rankings, up 12 positions from 2023.

In its second U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranking as a national liberal arts college, Trinity remains in the top third of liberal arts colleges and universities in the country, with an overall ranking of No. 59. The University tied with three other institutions for the No. 59 spot: St. Lawrence University in New York, Wabash College in Indiana, and Wofford College in South Carolina.

Trinity was also named in The Best 389 Colleges: 2024 Edition by The Princeton Review, ranking as one of the “Best Value Colleges,” “Best Southwest,” and “Colleges That Create Futures.”

Even as Trinity garners national attention through myriad ranking programs, the rankings themselves are not the goal.

“External rankings help us measure how well we are preparing our students for success on campus and for life beyond Trinity,” says Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., University president. “Our focus is on the total development of our students academically, physically, and mentally. And once they graduate, 98% of our students are securing a job or placement in a graduate program within six months of graduation.”

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TRINITY TODAY

The Chapman Center celebrated its reopening in Fall 2023 after an expansive series of upgrades.

Chapman’s New Chapter Chapman Center reopens with multimillion-dollar upgrade

by Jeremy Gerlach The Chapman Center is open and thriving again after a $33 million

The Chapman Center has long been a treasured space for its art, elegant features, and iconic accents and amenities.

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upgrade that has breathed new life into the space.

The jewel of Trinity’s historic district designation, the Chapman Center is where social sciences, business, and graduate programs have flourished for nearly 60 years.

This complex represents the University’s physical investment in the liberal arts: a student-centered vision for a collaborative, well-connected academic environment that fosters research, innovation, and success, all driven by Trinity’s forward-thinking Campus Master Plan.

The Chapman Center holds a special place within the context of this master plan. The structure serves about 60% of Trinity’s student body and represents the final piece in the academic spine of the campus, along with the rest of the now-completed Chapman-Halsell-Dicke Complex.

The recent renovation to this historic space has preserved the charm, amenities, and striking visual features of the center. Chapman was originally home to a 200,000-stack graduate library complete with rare books, an art gallery inside a majestic great hall, rich tapestries hanging

“The Chapman Center is still the same old storybook we know and love. Its spine, while creased and weathered, binds the interdisciplinary experience together. And now, this book, this building, is getting a new chapter.”

– Trinity President Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D.

The unique accents and charm of the historic building have been preserved.

from the walls, elegant hand-carved doors, and other features that made the space a prominent meeting place for all sorts of lectures, classes, and seminars.

The Chapman Center now houses the newly formed School of Social Sciences and the Michael Neidorff School of Business and is home to Trinity’s graduate programs in accounting and health care administration.

Chapman’s upgrades allow the building to meet the academic and environmental needs of modern students and faculty members while also strengthening the space’s ability to deliver opportunities for hands-on learning. Chapman’s renovation, along with the rest of the complex, is a statement of confidence in the future of the liberal arts.

Watch highlights from the grand opening of the Chapman Center.

top Warm light now floods into rooms and hallways. bottom The building is more energy-efficient, with modernized classrooms and collaborative spaces.

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TRINITY TODAY

First-year students get to know each other through a scavenger hunt

Class of 2027

11,425 applicants

28% 3.75 150

acceptance rate

average GPA

students enrolled through Early Decision program

49%

students of color

32 states and 27

countries represented *Data in this article and infographic is accurate as of August 4, 2023

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during Tiger Takeoff in Summer 2023.

MEET THE

CLASS OF 2027 Trinity lowers its acceptance rate for first-year students to record-breaking 28%

by Ella Charbonnet ’25 A diverse and academically competitive cohort, Trinity’s newest class of

664 students brought the University’s acceptance rate to an all-time low in admissions history. With 11,425 applications received, only 3,217 applications were accepted, lowering the acceptance rate to 28%.

The Class of 2027 boasts an average GPA of 3.75 out of an unweighted 4.0 scale. For those who submitted official test scores under the optional test policy, the average ACT score is 31, and the average SAT score is 1398. In the Class of 2027, 22% of students have been recruited as Tiger student-athletes to participate across Trinity’s varsity sports teams, and approximately a quarter of the new students will participate in the University’s fine arts.

This first-year class also marks the highest number of students who committed through Trinity’s binding Early Decision program, a total of 150 students, almost a quarter of the entering class.

Overall, the class is 49.9% students of color. Students in the incoming class represent 32 states and 27 countries. With diverse backgrounds, 13% of the incoming first-year students are considered to be first-generation students, and 21% of students receive Pell Grants, which are provided to families demonstrating the greatest financial need.

MEET THREE FIRST-YEAR TIGERS Malea Cesar Meet Malea Cesar ’27, a top soccer recruit for Trinity from Portland, Oregon. The summer before entering the University, Cesar played in the Women’s World Cup on the Philippines national women’s soccer team, where she scored her first goal in an international game. She earned herself a spot on the Philippines team after two weeks of tryouts in Southern California in August 2021. Since joining the Philippines team, she has played 32 games and traveled to 12 countries.

Cesar intends to major in mathematics with a minor in Spanish.

“I’m really excited about the challenging academics and academic curriculum available at Trinity,” she says. “I am also excited at the opportunity to be in a competitive atmosphere and develop as a soccer player at Trinity. I’m also a huge fan of the warm weather!” When she’s not playing soccer, Cesar likes to hike, read, and learn how to play the ukulele.

Eva Tatum Eva Tatum ’27 has always loved music, and her passion for it continues to grow as she watches the lasting effect music can have on people.

Since she was young, Tatum has been involved in choirs, bands, and musical theater. “Hearing the way the music touched each person and their favorite parts of a show is what makes everything worth it for me,” she says.

Tatum looked forward to coming to Trinity even though it meant leaving her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. However, Tatum recognized that Trinity would give her opportunities she couldn’t find elsewhere. She felt a pull toward the University’s music department, specifically music professor James Worman, Ph.D., and wants to continue her musical passions at Trinity. Tatum intends to double major in marketing and music and is interested in joining Greek Life and Outdoor Recreation (O-Rec).

Steele Herndon Steele Herndon ’27 comes to campus as a top football recruit from The Woodlands, Texas.

When Herndon’s younger brother was diagnosed with juvenile Batten disease, he decided to help found a nonprofit called the HOPE Youth Group to spread awareness and raise money in the fight against the disease. When he was 13, Herndon began writing a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel called The Final Plague. He just completed the novel and hopes to publish it within the coming year.

Herndon intends to major in psychology and minor in creative writing. “I chose Trinity because of its phenomenal academics paired with a nationally ranked football program, so I knew I was competing with the best both on and off the field,” he says. “I’m looking forward to bringing Trinity to a national championship and making lifelong friends with both my teammates and classmates.”

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SYLLABUS

Trinity Recognizes the 2023 Faculty and Staff Awardees In May, Trinity University honored members of its faculty and staff for their excellence in and dedication to student advocacy, inclusivity, teaching, advising, research, and mentorship.

Danny J. Anderson Faculty Prize

Named in honor of former Trinity President Danny J. Anderson, Ph.D., this inaugural award recognizes exceptional contributions by faculty members in the mentorship of research students.

Betsy Tontiplaphol Wins the 2023 Z.T. Scott Award Trinity English professor honored for her poetic teaching and advising

by Kennice Leisk ’22

Amy Stone Sociology and Anthropology

Since 2012, Stone has supervised 38 undergraduate research assistants and four postbaccalaureate research students. Stone has organized two team research projects: Strengthening Colors of Pride and Family Housing and Me.

Betsy Winakur Tontiplaphol, Ph.D., professor and chair

of Trinity’s Department of English, is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship, the University’s most prestigious faculty award, which recognizes excellence in teaching and advising.

Colleagues compare her teaching to poetry, the subject that happens to be the nearest and dearest to her.

“Like great poetry,” one colleague notes, her teaching is “meticulously planned, composed, condensed, artfully arranged, and charged to the utmost with meaning.”

Because Tontiplaphol knows contributing to class discussions and writing essays takes a lot of bravery and vulnerability, she provides in-text comments and a summary of her constructive criticism at the end of students’ assignments.

“I think of those spaces—the margins of the paper and the note [I leave for the students] at the end—as conversation spaces. You’ve just written this thing for me, and now I’m going to write back to you,” Tontiplaphol says. “I think of it as a continuation of the in-class dialogue or a substitution for office hours.

Sometimes students are more comfortable having those conversations there.”

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Dr. Deneese L. Jones Award for Inclusive Excellence

Named in honor of Deneese L. Jones, Ph.D., former vice president for Academic Affairs, this award is given to one tenured or tenure-track faculty member and one staff member for their outstanding support of inclusive excellence.

Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz Modern Languages and Literatures

Urquijo-Ruiz developed the global Latinx studies major at Trinity and helped to create the University’s Latinx Leadership Institute. She has served on Trinity’s committees for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture and for Diversity and Inclusion committees.

Elseke Membreño-Zenteno Center for International Engagement

Membreño-Zenteno has helped coordinate the Álvarez Seminar Series and the Mexico, the Americas, and Spain Álvarez Internship Grant Program. She helped create the De Colores Ceremony, various study abroad programs, and Latinx Heritage Month, among other initiatives.

Distinguished Achievement Awards

These awards recognize distinguished achievement in teaching, advising, and research.

Ed Schumacher Health Care Administration

Award for Distinguished Advising and Mentoring

Schumacher meets and talks with students as they progress through the health care administration program, gauging their growth, guiding their career progression, and identifying opportunities to enhance the academic program experience for current and future students.

Carolyn Becker Psychology

Award for Distinguished Scholarship, Research, or Creative Work or Activity

Since she has been at Trinity, Becker has authored 67 peer-reviewed papers (39 of which were co-authored with Trinity students) and four books. Over 250 universities in North America and numerous nonprofit partner organizations around the world have used her approach to delivering the Body Project, a body-acceptance program.

Claudia Stokes English

Award for Distinguished University, Community, and Professional Service

Stokes serves on the Faculty Senate and co-directs Trinity’s Humanities Collective. She has served on the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, on the Roots Commission, on the Women’s and Gender Studies faculty advisory committee, and as a student advocate for the Title IX Office.

Orrin Shindell Physics and Astronomy

Early Career Faculty Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research

Shindell is a leading participant in an interdisciplinary research group that has produced multiple peer-reviewed publications in top biophysics and biological mathematics journals. The success of this group, which includes undergraduate co-authors, was recently underscored by an $800,000 National Science Foundation grant.

Benjamin Sosnaud Sociology and Anthropology

Early Career Faculty Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research

Sosnaud has published articles in the most prestigious journal of population studies in the U.S., the leading journal of medical sociology in the U.S., and one of the top-five generalist sociology journals in the U.S.

President’s Award for Excellence in Student Advocacy This award recognizes support for student success in and out of the classroom

Alex Gallin-Parisi Coates Library

Gallin-Parisi relaunched and expanded the Women’s and Gender Studies resource center in the library. She is creating a sexual health resource guide with Counseling Services, Health Services, and Wellness Services, and she supports student-athletes as part of Trinity’s Academic Success Program.

Elseke Membreño-Zenteno Center for International Engagement

Membreño-Zenteno’s work is meaningfully inclusive, and students know her door is always open to listen to their concerns and inquiries. They view her as a mentor, a confidant, and a family member who offers them a sense of support and belonging.

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Three Named Murchison Term Professors Award honors exceptional achievement in teaching, scholarship, or creative activity

by Ella Charbonnet ’25 Three Trinity professors have been named to three-year appointments

as Murchison Professors. The recipients are biology professor Jonathan King, Ph.D., anthropology professor Jennifer Mathews, Ph.D., and Judith Norman, Ph.D., who all receive a reward of $20,000 annually in the form of a salary supplement, a research stipend, or a combination of the two.

The Murchison Term Professorships honor exceptional achievement in teaching, scholarship or creative activity, and service among Trinity faculty members. To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must have served as a full-time faculty member at Trinity for 10 years and as a tenured faculty member at the rank of professor for five years.

Jonathan King Biology

King has been an active participant in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant-funded project focusing on inclusion in STEM disciplines.

Through King’s mentorship, some 30 Trinity students have been the presenting author at national or international conferences, and 15 undergraduate students have co-authored peer-reviewed publications.

Jennifer Mathews Sociology and Anthropology

Mathews has traveled with nearly two dozen students who have had their research papers selected for student and professional conferences, and she has taken dozens of Trinity students abroad to train them in archaeological methods and archival research. Mathews was selected as a 2020 Piper Professor and 2019 Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship winner.

Judith Norman Philosophy

Norman developed the Trinity course “Philosophy for Children,” a course that does not simply teach philosophy to children but rather enables Trinity students to do philosophy with children. She directs the Prison Education Project of San Antonio, in which Trinity students join incarcerated people in studying, discussing, and writing about philosophical and literary texts.

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Meet the 2023-24 Public Humanities Faculty Fellows Two professors to explore French sport culture and literacy lessons through music, respectively

by Kennice Leisk ’22 Funded by Trinity University’s Humanities Collective, the Public Humanities Fellowship program supports faculty in their efforts

to communicate their scholarship to a broad audience and to engage local, national, and worldwide publics in the co-creation of humanistic knowledge. Meet this year’s fellows, and learn about their projects.

Maxence Leconte

Gillian Lopez

Visiting Assistant Professor of French Studies “Paris sports: retracing the culture of play and games in the City of Light (1854-2024)”

Oboe, Bassoon, and Chamber Music Instructor “Accompanied Instruction: Literacy Lessons through Music”

Leconte’s research investigates the rise of sport culture in France during the 19th and 21st centuries. Modernity offered writers and artists the perfect backdrop upon which to look deeply into human nature and rethink the role played by corporeality during the time period. He argues that cultural productions showcasing sport, whether literary or visual, not only captured how appealing this phenomenon was to mass society but also demonstrated a unique ability to produce powerful changes. The rise of sport as a spectacle, the body of the athlete, and the novelty of physical culture all transformed society by modernizing categories of race, class, and gender.

“Discovering the progressive or conservative opinions of writers, artists, or filmmakers from a century ago helps us understand that sport has always produced commentaries from society and that its participants have always been at the center of various trials and tribulations,” Leconte says.

In association with the Paris Archives and the City Hall, Leconte shared his research in a public lecture in December as part of a yearlong series organized by professional and public historians to celebrate the 2024 Summer Olympics to be held in Paris. In the spring, he will also present a summary of his project on Trinity’s campus.

Gillian Lopez has researched and scripted a multimedia presentation teaching elementary students the story of “The Blind Men and the Elephant.” Using the 2014 composition by Robbie McCarthy, Lopez’s flute, clarinet, and bassoon musicians will perform the setting of the John Godfrey Saxe poem followed by a discussion of the themes of the poem. This presentation is geared to students in second to fourth grade and will be performed at several elementary schools in the greater San Antonio area.

“In elementary schools around San Antonio, students participate in music and art classes about once every six days. The idea of introducing some music and art while teaching some of their benchmark lessons is really exciting,” Lopez says. “[In McCarthy’s setting,] there are six short movements of music between the stanzas of the poem, all of which are between a minute and 45 seconds and two minutes and 30 seconds—attractive little pieces of music that aren’t so long that younger audiences will get too wiggly.”

Lopez will perform first in the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall as a preview for local educators and the Trinity community. At the conclusion of all her performances throughout the city, she will summarize the experience and submit it to state music educator conferences as a presentation on arts integration.

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Researching, Beyond Trinity researchers bring in prestigious, competitive grants

by Jeremy Gerlach While Trinity University offers well-funded institutional research opportunities, our

acclaimed faculty don’t rest on their laurels.

With the consistency and competitiveness you’d expect to see from a larger research institution, Trinity faculty regularly bring in major sources of funding to give Tigers of all backgrounds the chance to conduct meaningful research in STEM fields, the social sciences, and the humanities.

These are just some of the faculty and recent funding driving our sense of discovery.

Amy Stone Sociology and Anthropology

National Science Foundation

Stone is studying the housing stability of LGBTQ+ youths, in particular the effect of non-parental family members on supporting LGBTQ+ youth who’ve been kicked out of their homes.

“Something important about San Antonio is understanding the incredibly high rates of homelessness that the LGBTQ+ community has here,” Stone says. “Trinity students just get naturally excited at the thought that they’re doing something that ends up really mattering in people’s lives.”

Jacob Tingle ’95 Business Administration

Angela Breidenstein ‘91, M’92 Education

Katsuo Nishikawa Political Science

U.S. Department of State via Project Harmony International

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This trio is leading Tigers into the world of sports diplomacy after receiving a girls’ volleyball coach delegation from North Macedonia, with a Trinity delegation set to travel to the southeastern European country in the spring. “Given the power of sport to bring communities together, to collapse barriers, or to reframe personal philosophies, these diplomatic exchanges can help internationalize Trinity’s campus in important ways,” Tingle says.

Laura Hunsicker-Wang Chemistry

San Antonio Area Foundation

Hunsicker-Wang and her students are researching the Rieske protein and its role in superoxide production. As of this summer, her lab has successfully made a new mutant and are working on quantifying the amount of superoxide it’s produced. The SAAF grant assists the lab through undergraduate research stipends and equipment purchase.

Judith Norman Humanities Texas

Summerlee Foundation

Through the Philosophy and Literature Circle, Norman brings Trinity faculty and students into a discussion about the humanities with incarcerated individuals in South Texas. The group completes readings and reflective writings and engages in dialogue to develop critical thinking and logical and ethical reasoning.

“The questions of the meaning of life belong to everybody. They don’t belong to an ivory tower,” Norman says.

“Knowledge is best served by extending our community and involving those with different perspectives.”

Nguyen

Healy

Kathryn Vomero Santos

Dania Abreu-Torres

English

Modern Languages and Literatures

Mellon Foundation

Summerlee Foundation

Orrin Shindell

Santos is part of a team working to create an anthology of Shakespeare plays that have been reimagined by playwrights from the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. These works merge Shakespeare’s plays with the cultures, languages, and histories of this region and use them to envision socially just futures in La Frontera. “We believe in the world-making power of Borderlands art to lay the foundation for more socially just futures in our scholarly fields and in our society,” Santos says.

Through the Summerlee grant, Abreu-Torres is part of a collaborative of faculty and staff that will support Trinity’s Digital Humanities project, “Untold Texas Histories of Trinity University, Latimore Public Humanities Initiative,” which will train and support students as they compile first-person histories. This project is a coordination across three centers: East Asian Studies at Trinity, the Trinity Roots Commission, and Trinity’s Mexico, the Americas, and Spain program.

Physics and Astronomy

Rebecca Rapf

Mark Lewis ’96

Chemistry

Computer Science

Kavli Foundation

National Science Foundation

In a project developed at the Scialog: Signatures of Life in the Universe meeting, Rapf and collaborators will examine the abiotic sulfur cycle on terrestrial planets, focusing on how the processing of sulfur can inform whether other worlds may be habitable. Trinity students in Rapf’s lab will conduct kinetic experiments on sulfur chemistry anoxic environments that will inform global atmospheric models of the early Earth, early Mars, and exoplanets.

Lewis’ lab is performing numerical simulations that mimic the way planetary rings react when they are disturbed by celestial objects. “These simulations involve millions of particles and can keep a cluster of machines with over 100 cores busy for months at a time,” Lewis says.

Hoa Nguyen Mathematics

Frank Healy Biology

National Science Foundation

Shindell, Nguyen, and Healy are leading an interdisciplinary team of Trinity students to study how bacteria move through their fluid environment using flagella, which consist of a helical appendage rotated by a molecular motor. This NSF-supported project studies the connection between energy efficiency and the structure of the bacterial molecular motor.

Their research employs methods from microbiology, biological physics, and computational fluid dynamics to create precisely calibrated computational tools that can extract the energy efficiency of molecular motor variants from experimental measurements of the medically important organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

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SYLLABUS

above David Ribble has been leading students on research trips to Costa Rica since 2017 left Ribble has spent more than three decades teaching and researching with Trinity students.

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Science and the Sense of Belonging David Ribble ’82 talks about the role of undergraduate research in STEM education

by Molly Bruni Naturally gifted at mathematics, David

Ribble ’82, Ph.D., wanted to be an engineer when he grew up. He planned to attend Trinity University, which had a strong engineering program within a small school environment, exactly the combination he was looking for. Ribble’s future was laid out for him—or so he thought.

The summer before his senior year of high school, Ribble toured different science labs at the University of Texas at Austin as part of a summer camp. And while the engineering lab’s work on concrete walls was less than thrilling, he found himself pausing in the biology lab, his curiosity piqued. Students blended fruit flies into a gooey mixture, which was, they explained to the campers as they scooped it out, essentially the flies’ DNA. Ribble stared slack-jawed at the slimy composition dripping off the spoon. He was hooked.

Ribble graduated from Trinity in 1982 with a biology degree, returning 10 years later as an assistant professor in the same department. He climbed the ranks, attaining full professorship, and then transitioned into an administrative role in Academic Affairs as associate vice president of budget and research.

This fall, 45 years after he first stepped foot on campus, Ribble began his tenure as dean of the newly formed School of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Throughout all of these positions, Ribble has been known for his advocacy of hands-on research as a critical component of Trinity’s liberal arts education. He’s led undergraduates on trips to New Mexico, Tanzania, South Africa, Mexico, and the San Antonio missions. Most recently, he has taken students to Costa Rica every summer since 2017 to study

the effects of climate change on the distribution of various mammal species across different elevations.

We talked with Ribble about his new position and the impact of undergraduate research on college education and beyond.

You bring a unique perspective in that you’ve been on the student, faculty, and administrative sides.

I really enjoy working in administration and continuing to teach and do research with students. I think it brings administrative work to light in ways that are really important. It keeps you grounded in terms of why we’re here, what we’re doing, how it benefits students, and how it benefits faculty. So while it sometimes seems like I don’t have time to teach the class, I like to say I don’t have time not to teach the class.

Why are you excited to be dean?

I’m looking forward to continuing to promote the opportunities that make Trinity such a great place to study science. I also want to help departments think about their curricula and classes and how we promote a sense of belonging for all students with those things.

What do you mean by “sense of belonging”?

We know that one of the reasons students may not do as well as they want to in science is because they don’t get a sense that they belong in the greater enterprise of science— that means in the classroom, that means in the labs, that means doing research. Students see science as exploration, and too often, professors just throw the book at ‘em without

giving them the opportunity to really get their hands wet and explore things. Students who are interested in science really want to do science, and they want to do science in the lab and the field.

What’s really great about research at Trinity is that, through undergraduate research, students get invested in science, and they start to learn about themselves, and they start to learn why they’re interested in science. It’s so much more effective than learning in the classroom. They’re using the techniques and the methods they’ve learned about, and that’s very empowering for their education. Ultimately then, the students feel like they belong to the enterprise of science. Once they feel like they belong, they become very invested in their education and really start to excel. And that’s why all of our research opportunities are so, so darn important.

How does that sense of belonging carry past the students’ time at Trinity?

The great thing about science is that when students get invested in it, they are really getting invested in how they’re learning.

They learn methods and problem-solving skills they can take on to their future endeavors in their life. Conducting research gives students the confidence to do any number of things as they move beyond Trinity.

David Ribble is one of five deans that lead four schools and Coates Library at Trinity. Meet the other deans through a video series.

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COMM 3325 “AI, Creativity and Communication”

by Emma Utzinger ’24

Class Days/Times: Tuesday/Thursday 8:30-9:45 a.m.

Professor: Althea Delwiche, Ph.D.

Course Summary

Assigned Readings

This course provides hands-on engagement with tools and concepts associated with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and multimedia production. Experimenting with a wide range of large language models, generative-art platforms, and third-party AI-fueled tools, we will consider ways that these new technologies can enhance our research and creative processes. We will examine the implications of artificial intelligence for all aspects of the communication landscape, from media studies and journalism to advertising/PR, graphic design, game development, and film production.

We will also explore ethical, cultural, and economic considerations surrounding artificial intelligence. By the end of the course, you will walk away with more confidence about how to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.

“What I’m really trying to do is make sure everybody who leaves this class is in the sort of middle ground of engaging with AI as a tool, understanding its weaknesses, and never just accepting it,” Delwiche says.

•

Pranshu Verma, “Professors have a summer assignment: Prevent ChatGPT chaos in the fall,” The Washington Post, August 13, 2023.

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Emily Bender and Alex Hanna, “AI Causes Real Harm. Let’s Focus on That over the End-of-Humanity Hype,” Scientific American, August 12, 2023.

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Kevin Kelly, “What AI-Generated Art Really Means for Human Creativity.” Wired, November 17, 2022.

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Leonardo Nicoletti and Dina Bass, “Humans are biased.

Generative AI is even worse,” Bloomberg, June 13, 2023.

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Tyna Eloundou, Sam Manning, Pamela Mishkin, and Daniel Rock, “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Implications of Large Language Models,” preprint of working paper on Arxiv.org, March 17, 2023.

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Justine Moore, Bryan Kim, Yoko Li, and Martin Casado, “It’s Not a Computer, It’s a Companion!” A16Z, June 22, 2023.

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Thom Waite, “Inside Smallville, the wholesome village populated solely by AIs,” Dazed, April 12, 2023

Required Subscription •

Midjourney, a text-to-AI art generator

Sample Homework Assignment Design Your Dream AI Companion: A Business Pitch Document

In this creative assignment, you will design and pitch an AI companion to venture capitalists.

Your pitch document will serve as a comprehensive blueprint, detailing everything from the AI’s personality to its technical architecture and ethical considerations. This is a chance to blend your academic insights with real-world application.

Course Review “We usually have a weekly assignment using Midjourney, ChatGPT, or another AI chat bot. These assignments are meant to coach us on how these AIs work and specific means of prompting them for results as close to our desired outcome as possible. The lessons on AI bias and how AI ‘sees’ in 500+ dimensions will stick with me for life,” says Mylo Mittman ’26, intended communication and English double major.

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Dedicated to Demystifying AI Althea Delwiche and undergraduate researchers explore artificial intelligence

by Emma Utzinger ’24

Communication professor Althea Delwiche’s interest in AI

has gone beyond the classroom as she investigates the implications of artificial intelligence in the real world with undergraduate researchers. Over the summer, Cutter “CC” Canada ’24 and Nadia Kern ’24 analyzed the workings and complexities of AI with Delwiche.

An English and communication double major, Canada looked into animal depictions and archetypes in AI-generated stories. His research combined his two academic passions, his studies of animal depictions in literature and his interest in AI, which he explored with Delwiche and other communications professors.

Using ChatGPT, Canada generated stories about non-human animals and analyzed these stories through the team’s predetermined parameters. This process helped him get more comfortable using and understanding multiple types of generative AI and how to handle large amounts of quantified data.

“This was my first time seeing a research project from start to finish on my own,” CC says. “There’s something so inspiring when looking at all the work I’ve done and seeing a project that I can feel proud of, where I can say ‘I did that.’ That feeling is why I fell in love with research. Doing research allows me to step away from the classroom and contribute to something larger than myself.”

Kern, an environmental studies and communication double major, worked with the image-based platform Midjourney to create images of climate change and then looked for patterns within these depictions.

This research team used various communications and programming research methods, including content analysis. Canada and Kern created a codebook with guidelines for analyzing media, while Delwiche trained and coded the AI platforms within these parameters.

Throughout the summer, the team had to adapt to the rapidly changing AI landscape. While this expanded capability has massive implications for what humans can do with technology, it made the research process difficult.

Canada

“AI technologies are transforming our communication landscape.”

“Generative AI has shown exponential growth in the last year, where models like ChatGPT increased their knowledge nearly a thousand times between November of 2022 to March of this year,” Canada says.

Besides being a great resource for the students involved, Delwiche’s summer research has fit into her larger goals of studying AI. “AI technologies are transforming our communication landscape,” says Delwiche, Ph.D. “Specifically what we’re trying to do is find entry points into this emerging world where liberal arts students can still be engaged in a substantive way with the decision-making that needs to be done regarding AI.” Funded by Trinity’s Murchison grant, Canada and Kern were able to challenge their curiosity while grappling with the real-world implications of technology. “It was really fun working with CC and Nadia,” Delwiche says. “They’re a great example of Trinity students diving into an emerging topic and just being willing to experiment with it.”

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TIGER PRIDE

above Trinity Basketball shined under the bright lights in China, driven by a sense of purpose to represent their school and their country.

Photo courtesy of FIBA

Stripes and Stars All-Tiger squad represents Team USA at international basketball tournament Photo courtesy of USA Basketball

by Jeremy Gerlach If you ask any Trinity University men’s basket-

ball player how they ended up at Trinity, it’s a good bet they’ll describe their school as a well-kept secret.

For players like Jacob Harvey ’25, Braxton Barry ’25, or Grayson Herr ’24, visiting Trinity felt like discovering a hidden gem: a university that merges a small-school atmosphere with big-school facilities and hands-on opportunities.

But that secret is going to be a bit harder to keep after Harvey, Herr, and Barry, along with three of their teammates, represented Team USA by competing in an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 tournament in China this summer.

“I got to go to China with my best friends—and play basketball with ‘Team USA’ across my chest,” Herr says. “That’s

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something not many people get to say they’ve done. To be able to represent the United States of America was really an honor. I don’t think I could have had this opportunity at any other school.”

The game plan:

Six players from Trinity were invited to represent Team USA at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Under-21 Nations League Asia-Pacific Conference. Barry, Harvey, and Herr, along with fellow Tigers Jacob Millhouse ’25, Abdullah Roberts ’24, and then-incoming first-year Christian Green ’26 (a San Antonio native who got to represent his country before he even put on a Trinity jersey!) made up the entire Team USA roster.

“We had the amazing opportunity to act as a scout team for the gold-medal-winning

U.S. Women’s 3x3 team a couple of years ago,” says Trinity Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jimmy Smith, who also had the honor of being selected to coach the group overseas.

“Our guys have done a great job representing themselves over the last couple of years, and I believe that is what ultimately led to us being asked to represent the USA in the Under-21 Nations League.”

After practicing together on campus for three days to get a head start on learning about the basics of 3x3 basketball (a faster, half-court version of the sport that was new to many of these players), Trinity’s players were flown into a special training camp in Miami Lakes, Florida, alongside the USA Women’s squad. They then departed for China, where Harvey experienced a bit of culture shock.

Christian Green ’26 drives to the basket against host nation China. Team USA came within a whisker of advancing to the tournament finals. Photo courtesy of FIBA

“I knew a few people that had been to China, and they warned me—I thought they were joking—but they were all warning me like, ‘You’re over six feet tall. People are going to just randomly take pictures of you,’” Harvey says, laughing. “I didn’t really understand what that meant until we were walking around, and literally everybody’s taking pictures of you. At the tournament venue, there are hundreds of kids waiting outside for our autographs, like we were celebrities, which is not something we’re used to at a smaller school.”

By the point in the trip where it was finally time to play basketball, the games were a timely break from the culture shock.

Trinity’s team played for six total days, with multiple games rotating through various opponents each day. The goal was to place as high in each day’s standings as possible in order to advance to the finals of the tournament, held in Mongolia.

Trinity placed fourth the first day, losing two close games by a point each. They got third on the second day and placed second on the third day before getting a much-needed rest day at the halfway point of the tournament. “So we knew we needed to win out two of our last three days,” Harvey says.

The team’s fortune started shifting. While Day Four saw the team finish third again, Day Five started with two huge wins in the morning and went on to a prime-time, highstakes night matchup with China, the host team. “That was probably the best game I’ve ever been part of,” Harvey says. “China’s fans were going crazy, waving their flags, and the atmosphere was insane.”

Thanks to a “crazy” shot from Roberts, Barry recalls that the team came back to win, putting Team USA in first place for the day and keeping their chances of advancing alive.

“That was definitely my favorite moment from the trip,” Herr says. “Playing in front of their home crowd was special. There’s nothing better than environments like that—hitting shots to silence the crowd when you’re in the opponent’s country, not just their school.”

While the team fell to Mongolia on the sixth and final day, ending hopes for advancing in the tournament, the student-athletes headed home with a rich experience that’s going to pay dividends far beyond the basketball court.

For the upcoming NCAA season, Harvey says his group of six is ready to carry on their success by sharing the lessons learned from their experience with the rest of their teammates.

“I think that this trip brought me and my teammates even closer together than we already were,” says Harvey. “This is going to be a huge stepping stone for each of us moving forward.”

“This was a really, really good opportunity for us to show people not only our basketball abilities but who we are as people and what Trinity represents,” Herr says.

“At Trinity, you’re going to have to put in the work on the court and off the court,” Barry says. “But it will set you up for success—and the work you put in here is worth it in the long run.”

Trinity Places in Top 20 of Division III Athletics University ranked No. 19 in LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Trinity Athletics placed in the top 20

of the 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup for NCAA Division III, earning the No. 19 spot out of 441 DIII programs. This placement is the 17th time the Tigers have earned a top 20 spot in the 28 years of the award’s existence.

The LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. This annual competition measures how well schools in each NCAA division can assemble athletics departments that are successful from top to bottom. Scoring is based on each school’s finish in the NCAA Championships, and institutions must submit their men’s and women’s soccer and basketball teams for scoring as well as their 14 top-scoring teams, regardless of gender. All 18 Trinity teams contribute to the Directors’ Cup score, while many other athletics programs can cherry-pick from well over 20 sports.

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TIGER PRIDE 2022-23 Winter Athletics Men’s Basketball

Harrison Durow Signed by Milwaukee Brewers Organization Trinity baseball player joins professional team Trinity Baseball sent another Tiger to professional baseball. Right-handed

pitcher Harrison Durow ’24 signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization on July 31.

The SCAC All-Conference pitcher finished his collegiate career with 50 appearances, 133.1 innings pitched, and 174 strikeouts. Durow made his final appearance in a Tiger uniform against East Texas Baptist during the NCAA Baseball Regionals on May 21. Durow had a stellar final year, putting up a 3.35 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched.

Durow is the 30th Tiger Baseball alum to sign a professional baseball contract under the direction of Head Coach Tim Scannell. Other Tiger alums in professional baseball include Jeremy Wolf ’16, who was drafted by the New York Mets organization in the 31st round in the 2016 MLB draft, Brendan Meyer ’17, who was signed by the formerly named Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) organization in 2018, and Mark Tindall ’21, who signed a contract with the Houston Apollos organization in 2021.

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Trinity finished the 2022-23 season with a 20-7 record, marking the second straight season under third-year Head Coach Jimmy Smith that the Tigers won 20 or more games. Trinity reached the SCAC Championship game before falling 69-67 to Schreiner University—narrowly missing out on making a return trip to the NCAA Playoffs. Grad student AJ Clark was named the SCAC Man of the Year after an outstanding finish to his career. Clark earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Year, while also pulling in Second Team All-Region honors from D3hoops.com. He won his third consecutive SCAC Elite 19 academic award, earned CSC Academic All-District honors, and was a member of the NABC Honors Court. Clark was also a National Strength & Conditioning Association All-American for the second straight year. Junior Abdullah Roberts joined Clark on the Academic All-District Team, and they were joined by four other Tigers as part of the Honors Court: fifth-year Ben Hanley, senior Griffin Levine, junior Grayson Herr, and junior Tanner Brown.

Milton

Women’s Basketball The Trinity women’s hoops team continued its streak of NCAA Playoff appearances, finishing with a 28-2 overall record and winning the SCAC Championship for the third straight time under Head Coach Cameron Hill. The Tigers have made the

NCAA Championship tournament for seven consecutive seasons and have advanced to the third round or better each of the past two years. Senior Ashlyn Milton earned Fifth Team All-American honors from D3hoops.com and was the organization’s pick as the Region 10 Most Outstanding Player in 2022-23. Milton broke Trinity’s career three-point record during the year, and the team broke the school record with a 140-point game in the season opener against Birmingham-Southern. The SCAC Player of the Year was joined on the AllRegion squad by fellow senior Maggie Shipley (Second Team). Shipley and senior Claire Hale were also honored on the CSC Academic All-District Team last year.

Men’s Swimming & Diving The Tiger men’s swimming & diving team also had an outstanding year with five AllAmerican performers in the pool and six Scholar All-Americans in the classroom under second-year Head Coach Cathleen Pruden. The team also finished 23rd at the NCAA Championships and won the SCAC title for the 11th time in the past 12 years. Konstantine Partalas was named the SCAC Diver of the Meet for the SCAC Championships and the SCAC Diver of the Year—both for the second straight time in the junior’s career. Junior Michael Kohl earned his third consecutive SCAC Swimmer of the Meet and Swimmer of the Year awards, and he will be seeking to sweep the award for his career next season. He earned Second Team All-America honors in three different relays as well as in the 100-meter butterfly. Kohl was joined on both the 200-meter and the 400-meter medley relays by senior Matteo Lanzara and junior Kendal Southwell. Sophomore Caleb Manifold completed the relay in the 200 medley, while junior Nathaniel Early raced in the 400-meter medley. The 400-meter freestyle relay consisted of Kohl, Early, Lanzara, and Manifold. Early, Lanzara, Southwell, Manifold, and senior Nolan Anthony were all First Team Scholar All-Americans, while Partalas earned Second Team Scholar All-American. Early, Lanzara, Partalas, and Southwell were also CSC Academic All-District honorees.

Spring 2023 Athletics Baseball

Burns

Women’s Swimming & Diving The Trinity women’s swimming & diving team enjoyed another banner year under second-year Head Coach Cathleen Pruden.

The team sent a record number of studentathletes to the NCAA Championships for the second straight season and finished 19th nationally at the meet. The Tigers also won the SCAC Championship for the 20th consecutive year and for the 23rd time in the history of the conference. First-year Neely Burns was the SCAC Swimmer of the Meet, while sophomore Alexis Radhakrishnan was named the SCAC Diver of the Meet.

Both Tigers were also the SCAC Swimmer and Diver of the Year for their postseason performances as well. Four women’s swimmers earned All-America honors at the NCAA meet, highlighted by Burns snagging the honor in four different events. She was a First Team All-American in the 400-meter IM (finished second), the 200-meter IM (seventh), and the 200-meter breaststroke (eighth). Burns also led the 800-meter freestyle relay team, which included junior Emma Hagan, first-year Audrey Jacobson, and first-year Erica Peterson, to Second Team All-America honors. The Trinity women excelled in the classroom as well as in the pool last season with seven individuals earning CSCAA Scholar All-America honors: Burns, Peterson, Radhakrishnan, Hagan, junior Caroline Myers, first-year Julie Schwam, and senior Gabi Fulk. Additionally, Fulk, Hagan, Myers, and Radhakrishnan were selected to the CSC Academic AllDistrict Team. Pruden has been joined by three new coaches in 2023-24: Diving Coach Tommy Law, former Kenyon College All-American Mark Lang, and former Trinity All-American Mabel Fowler ’21.

Trinity’s baseball team went 31-16 overall last season, winning the SCAC Championship for the 13th time and advancing to the NCAA Playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Tigers went 3-2 at the regional tournament and were eliminated by hosting East Texas Baptist University—a team that went on to play in the NCAA III College World Series.

SCAC Pitcher of the Year Jackson Teer was named a Fourth Team All-American by the ABCA, while Teer, Jack Martinez, and Cade McGahan were all selected to the All-Region teams released by both the ABCA and D3baseball.com. Ezra Gore earned the SCAC Elite 19 award for the second straight season, and he was also a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

trinity.edu/live Tiger Network is Trinity’s livestreaming network, covering athletics and special events for a worldwide audience.

Giorgio

Men’s Golf Head Coach Sean Etheredge led the Trinity men’s golf team back to the NCAA Championships for the second time in a three-year span. The Tigers finished 15th at the national tournament last year with senior Daniel Nunez (Third Team) and sophomore Jacob Mason (Honorable Mention) both earning All-America recognition. Mason was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, while Mason and Nunez were both GCAA All-American Scholars. Joining their teammates as All-American Scholars were juniors Giorgio Gianoulis and Jack McKay.

Tiger Network showcases #TigerPride in full HD with realtime replays, color commentary by professionals and student-athletes, and on-demand options.

Watch events ON DEMAND On-demand videos include: • Tiger Enrichment Series webinars • Concerts and performances • Archived speakers and lectures • Commencement exercises • And more!

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TIGER PRIDE Women’s Golf

Tiger Swimming and Diving

Trinity Wins 12th Straight SCAC Presidents’ Trophy Tigers dominated in conference championships Trinity won 10 conference championships in six of the league’s eight spon-

sored sports during the spring, running away with the 2022-23 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Presidents’ Trophy.

Of Trinity’s 18 teams, 14 made the postseason. The Tigers earned conference championships in women’s golf, men’s track and field, women’s track and field, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and baseball, coupled with earlier titles in women’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving, women’s swimming and diving, and women’s basketball.

Trinity Athletics kept its streak of 10 or more conference championships in an academic year alive, a streak that now extends 10 years (excluding the COVID-abbreviated 2019-20 season).

This year’s Presidents’ Trophy marks the 12th consecutive all-sports title for the program and 23rd overall, both all-time SCAC marks. This year, our Tigers received 21 Conference Players of the Year awards and eight SCAC/ Regional Coach of the Year awards.

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Head Coach Shelby DeVore ’18 finished her second season with a 12th-place (tied) finish at the NCAA Championships in the spring. The Tigers won their third consecutive SCAC Championship to earn their second straight trip to the NCAA postseason event—the only two trips to the NCAA Championships in Trinity women’s golf history. Sophomore Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino was the medalist at the SCAC Championship to lead the team to victory, earning the SCAC Golfer of the Year award. Junior Kiona Hsiu earned the SCAC Elite 19 award and was the runner-up to Sanchez at the conference tournament. Hsiu was joined by sophomore Kate Schulle and junior Lucy Hansen as WGCA All-American Scholars, and the trio was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team.

2022, and he was one of four Tigers to make the CSC Academic All-District Team and one of nine honored as ITA Scholar-Athletes.

Senior Hao Nguyen joined his teammate on both the Academic All-District Team and the ITA Scholar-Athlete list, while also being named the SCAC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year and the ITA West Region Senior Player of the Year. Nguyen qualified for the NCAA Singles Championships as well. Joining their teammates on the Academic AllDistrict Team were junior Dalton Locke and sophomore Connor Whittington. In addition to Azzalini, Nguyen, Locke, and Whittington, first-year Aashish Dhanani, sophomore Eric Liao, and seniors Cal Hunter, Austin Lee, and Allen Song were all ITA Scholar-Athletes.

Softball Trinity hosted the SCAC Tournament to close out the 2023 season and scored a win over nationally ranked Texas Lutheran before eventually getting eliminated in the semifinals. Senior Christina Garcia was named a Strength & Conditioning All-American and was one of the 12 Tiger players named NFCA All-American Scholar-Athletes, which also included seniors Emery Boettcher and Madison Horn; juniors Diamond Elizondo, Brooke Porter, and Jordyn Williams; sophomores Jayla Arenas, Peyton Bowser, Jessie Lloyd, Abigail Miller, and Sydney Watson; and first-year Carsyn Lee. The CSC Academic All-District Team featured Boettcher, Elizondo, Lloyd, Miller, and Porter. Assistant Coach Bailey Wittenauer has been promoted to head coach and will take over the Tiger program beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

Men’s Tennis The most successful overall program in SCAC history continued its dominance over the conference, winning its 13th consecutive—and SCAC record 27th overall—conference title in 2023. Head Coach Russell McMindes has led the Tigers to the SCAC Championship every year since he took over the program. The 2022-23 season had plenty of success stories both on and off the court. Senior Alessio Azzalini was the ITA Regional Singles Champion in Fall

Hill

Women’s Tennis Trinity swept the major SCAC awards for the 2023 season after clinching back-toback SCAC titles under third-year Head Coach Drew Cohn. Sophomore Ruth Hill was named the SCAC Player of the Year and qualified for the NCAA Doubles Championship with her doubles partner and fellow sophomore Olivia Kim. The Tiger doubles team of junior Cate Cushing and first-year Trinity Levy won the ITA Regional Doubles Championship in Fall 2022, and both doubles teams ended up earning ITA All-America honors for the season. Hill was an All-America selection in both singles and doubles, while Levy added the SCAC Newcomer of the Year award to her trophy case. Kim was one of six Trinity players to also earn ITA Scholar-Athlete distinction, joined by junior Ella Cummings, junior Constanza

Gomez, sophomore Trinity Hatchett, junior Ellie Hughes, and sophomore Sam Miller.

Cushing and Hughes were also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team.

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients Trinity student-athletes awarded $10,000 for graduate studies The prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awards $10,000 for

student-athletes to put toward an accredited graduate program. This award is bestowed to just 21 men and 21 women during a given season (fall, winter, spring) across all three NCAA divisions in the nation. The 2022-23 school year marks the fifth straight year the Tigers have had a student-athlete earn the award. Additionally, Trinity tied for the most NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners in Division III this year and was No. 5 across all divisions.

AJ Clark ’22, M’24

Hampton

Track & Field The Tiger men’s and women’s track & field teams swept the SCAC Championships for the third straight year in 2023 and had a pair of student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships under Head Coach Marcus Whitehead. Azariah Anderson was ninth in the 110-meter hurdles, and Casey Hampton was ninth in the long jump; both Trinity standouts missed All-America status by just one place. Trinity had 10 student-athletes named All-Region for Indoor Track & Field and 10 more for Outdoor Track & Field. The Tiger teams also had six people named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes, and 10 were named to the CSC Academic AllDistrict Team. The All-Region honorees were Anderson, Joy Areola, Kierra Francois, CC Gray, Hayley Huck, Justin Johnson, Taylor Kotfas, Will Salony, Sealan Ledat (indoor only), Maddie Wietstruck (indoor only), Bocar Diagana (outdoor only), and Aliya Jackson (outdoor only). Francois was also honored as the SCAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. The All-Academic Athletes included Diagana, Gray, Jackson, Kotfas, Nic Ladreyt, and Cooper Tyler. The Academic All-District honorees were Gray, Kotfas, Tyler, Wietstruck, Kyle Anderson, Ellie Catron, Jared Gallagher, Elaine Kaster, Ryan Tresaugue, and Ben Whittemore.

AJ Clark ’22, M’24 earned his bachelor’s degree in business analytics and technology with minors in communication management and sport management. He completed the 2022-23 basketball season while enrolled in Trinity’s Master of Science in Health Care Administration program. In November 2023, he received a Future Texas Business Legend Award. In January, he will begin his required one-year internship to complete his graduate degree, gaining experience with the Methodist Healthcare System in the San Antonio area.

Molly Sheridan ’23 Molly Sheridan ’23 earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and business while playing for Trinity Women’s Soccer. Sheridan is the third Trinity women’s soccer player to be named a scholarship recipient in the past five years. She is currently a fellow in the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, with plans to use her scholarship at a dual law and master’s degree public health program after her fellowship.

Ezra Gore ’23 Ezra Gore ’23 earned his bachelor’s degree in business analytics and technology with minors in global supply chain management and data science while playing for Trinity Baseball and Football. Gore is the first Tiger to win this scholarship for Trinity Baseball. He is using his scholarship to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he is pursuing both a Master of Science in Health Informatics and a Master of Science in Health Administration.

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TRINITY UNIVERSITY PRESS

1

Iceland Summer: Travels along the Ring Road

by Kurt Caswell illustrated by Julia Oldham Caswell recounts his journey through Iceland by foot and by bus with his lifelong friend Scott, as the pair set out from Reykjavík and traveled clockwise along Ring Road.

2

Worth Repeating: San Antonio Stories edited by Paul Flahive, Tori Pool, and Burgin Streetman From last chances to first tries, all 40 of these true personal San Antonio narratives have been collected from Texas Public Radio’s live storytelling series, Worth Repeating.

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1

2 3

Mossback: Ecology, Emancipation, and Foraging for Hope in Painful Places David Micheal Pritchett

4

Pritchett explores landscapes and mythologies at the intersection of environmental, indigenous, and social justice.

4

Life in the Tar Seeps: A Spiraling Ecology from a Dying Sea Gretchen Ernster Henderson

5 6

Finding an intricate web of life in the tar seeps of the Great Salt Lake, this book offers a meditation on environmental healing through an ecologically challenging place.

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At the End of the World: Notes on a 1941 Murder Rampage in the Arctic and the Threat of Religious Extremism, Loss of Indigenous Culture, and Danger of Digital Life Lawrence Millman

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This book explores indigenous trauma, climate change, and digital culture in the shadow of a series of Inuit murders in Canada in 1941.

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6

(Don’t) Stop Me if You’ve Heard This Before and Other Essays on Writing Fiction Peter Turchi University of Houston creative writing professor and author Turchi combines personal narratives and close readings to reveal the storytelling techniques writers use to create fiction that matters.

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Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Write Your Way Out Jennifer McGaha Part writing memoir, part nature memoir, and part meditation on a life well lived, this book is filled with essays that link forays into the wilderness to aspects of the creative process.

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Syntax of the River: The Pattern Which Connects Barry Lopez and Julia Martin This book shares a three-day conversation with writer Barry Lopez reflecting on writing as a craft, a way of living, and a youth spent watching the McKenzie River.

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From Here to the Horizon: Photographs in Honor of Barry Lopez edited by Toby Jurovics, contributions by Debra Gwartney and Robert Macfarlane Contemporary photographers pay tribute to the life and work of the late, renowned nature writer Barry Lopez.

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Mi Cultura: Bringing Shadow into Light Al Rendón Mi Cultura contains a stunning collection of photography of Tejano life, from Selena to Uvalde, spanning five decades.

11

Mexico City Alejandro Rosas This playfully illustrated history of Mexico City from 1521 to current day highlights the complex cultural and economic forces that shaped this international metropolis.

Trinity University Press is committed to civic engagement with ideas.

Published books, public programs, and related media focus on helping us all understand our place in a crowded world with a particular focus on the following areas: bilingual early childhood literacy; the human relationship to the physical environment ranging from wilderness to constructed, urban life; social equity and justice; the interdependence of animal and human life; and southwestern U.S. and Mexican regional studies. For more information, visit tupress.org.

Life Beyond the Book

by Tom Payton, Trinity University Press director Trinity University Press is committed to an evolving

agenda of work that engages, questions, and brings people together, locally and globally. While reading is naturally a personal experience, what we read explores shared experiences, common needs, universal questions, and timely debates. We are dedicated to our books having a life beyond their pages, especially when they are the reason we come together to celebrate, share ideas, and find solutions as a community.

A vital centerpiece of this endeavor for us is our publishing and event partnerships. We treasure these alliances, which amplify the community-focused work we all do—highlighted by our recent collaborations with Texas Public Radio to create a book version of their live storytelling series/podcast Worth Repeating and with the Witte Museum to distribute the book showcasing the internationally renowned photography of Al Rendón. We are proud to have partnered over the years with dozens of local organizations, including the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum, the Brackenridge Park Conservancy, the Westside Preservation Alliance, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the San Antonio Public Library Foundation.

When we come together because of these books, the result is substantive and also a bit magical! They spark intimate conversations, brainstorms that lead to new community projects, and ideas to address shared challenges. We are honored to help elevate the San Antonio and South Central Texas story to a world stage, and we appreciate our partners and the work they do with us to help make that happen: true cultural symbiosis.

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LIT PICKS

Downright Weird Coleen Grissom’s Lit Picks

Since I’ve retired from Trinity, I suppose those of you who remember me at all assume I regularly wear overalls, have traded in my toy poodles for hound dogs, and chew tobacco rather than leisurely sip a gin martini. I assure you—NOT SO! I remain much the same—just slower and dressed more, let’s call it, casually. Regularly, I even lead discussions of contemporary novels with groups of “mature” women. As evidenced by this list, my taste in reading recommendations is, upon even the most casual of examinations, downright weird. Come to think of it, those of you who know me might be muttering, “What else is new?”

Here goes: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Horse by Geraldine Brooks The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura The Gathering by Anne Enright Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann Absolution by Alice McDermott The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré The Drowning Girls by Veronica Lando Overboard by Sara Paretsky 12th of Never by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Taken to the Grave by M.M. Chouinard

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IN MEMORIAM

RUDOLPH GAEDKE

PATRICIA NORMAN

KEN TAGGART

Rudolph “Rudy” Meggs Gaedke, Ph.D., died on February 3 at Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas. He was 85.

In 1965, Gaedke joined the Trinity faculty as a physics professor. At the University, Gaedke served in various roles, including chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, dean of Academic Affairs, and dean of Admissions. He retired in 2000.

While at Trinity, Gaedke made long-lasting friendships with many colleagues. He treasured his opportunities to grow the institution, the physics program, and his students’ perspectives. He was well-loved and respected, leaving behind a legacy of support and guidance, which continued with his daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, who all graduated from Trinity.

Gaedke is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn, and he is survived by his three children and four grandchildren.

Patricia J. Norman, Ph.D., died on February 14 from metastatic breast cancer. She was 55.

In 2000, Norman joined Trinity’s education faculty as an assistant professor. She remained on the faculty for two decades, earning tenure and promotion to full professor. Norman served as coordinator for the Master of Arts in Teaching elementary program, teaching hundreds of Trinity students over their five years preparing to enter the profession.

Norman’s commitment to her students extended long after graduation. Recognizing the importance of supporting new teachers in their first few years in the classroom, she founded and co-facilitated the Beginning Teacher Study Group. She was also a member of the School Reform Initiative (SRI), a national nonprofit dedicated to creating transformational learning communities, and served as president of the SRI Board of Directors for many years.

Lt. Col. Kenneth Marvis Taggart, Ph.D., professor emeritus of modern languages and literatures at Trinity, died on March 2.

He was 85.

Taggart served the University for 40 years before retiring in 2006. For more than a decade, Taggart led Trinity student groups to Mexico for an intense immersion experience into the language, customs, and history of the Mexican people. Taggart was insistent that his students mix with the Mexican populace, using public transportation instead of isolating themselves in taxis, refraining from frequenting English-speaking establishments and posh shopping venues, and taking every opportunity to enhance their language fluency. Taggart encouraged his students to strive to acquire a deeper understanding of the people of Mexico, their philosophy, their joyful celebrations of life and death, and their challenges.

Taggart is survived by his wife, Doris, his two children, brother, and sisters as well as numerous grandchildren, stepsons, step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

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IN MEMORIAM

GENE ELLIS CLARK

MARY HANDY PARKER

THURMAN ADKINS M’69

Eugene “Gene” Ellis Clark, Ph.D., died on April 19. He had lived with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease for eight years. He was 79 years old.

In 1975, Clark joined Trinity as an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, where he retired as professor emeritus after 36 years. In 1976, Clark initiated the development of the Trinity University Solar Project and the graduate program in Applied Solar Energy. He received a $2 million contract from the U.S. Department of Energy for the installation of a solar array on top of the Trinity athletic center building. Although the contract was followed by other grants and federal contracts over the next decade, the graduate program ended at Trinity after the energy conservation funding dried up.

Clark is survived by his wife, Jeanette, his children and their spouses, his grandchildren, and many other family members.

Mary Olivia Handy Parker, Trinity trustee emerita, died on June 19. She was 96.

After the death of her husband, Harry J. Parker II, in 1978, she became involved in the Parker family oil business. Representing the Parker family, she joined the Trinity University Board of Trustees in 1991, serving the institution as a trustee until 1997. She was a steward of Margarite B. Parker Chapel, and she helped establish the Harry J. Parker II Scholarship, an award for rising sophomores who have displayed strong influence, character, and qualities of leadership in participating in the Trinity tradition of Christian education. For decades she met yearly with the recipients of this award to hear about their journeys and offer them encouragement in prayer. A consummate host, Parker held the inauguration luncheon for Trinity President Ron Calgaard in 1980.

Parker is survived by her son, two daughters, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Thurman Adkins M’69, J.D., former assistant vice president for Student Affairs, died on August 5. He was 88.

Adkins served in Trinity’s Student Affairs/ Student Life division from 1965 until his retirement in 1999. Though his job title varied over the years due to division reorganizations (his longest-lasting title being assistant dean of students), his work was always as an adviser to student organizations and activities and as an administrative liaison between student government and the University’s administration. Every spring, Trinity recognizes student leaders with the Thurman Adkins “Unsung Hero” Award, which recognizes students who have demonstrated loyalty and unselfish devotion to their communities through significant yet uncelebrated contributions.

Adkins is predeceased by his wife, Sue. He is survived by his daughter, son and daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and many other family and family-like members as well as friends and colleagues.

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KENNETH HUMMEL

JOHN ORANGE

Kenneth Earl Hummel, Ph.D., professor emeritus of mathematics at Trinity, died on September 9. He was 85.

Hummel served as a member of the Department of Mathematics at Trinity from 1969 until his retirement in 2001. He enjoyed classroom teaching and gave personal attention to his students, especially those who had difficulty mastering requisite mathematical skills. In 2022, Hummel established a scholarship for mathematics majors to help with their financial needs. In addition to classroom teaching, he served on several University committees, advising on topics including employee benefits and campus safety. Hummel was particularly committed to ensuring that employees with lower salaries could afford the cost of health insurance benefits similar to those attained by higher paid faculty and staff.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Julia; their two sons, Bryan and David; as well as his daughter-in-law and brother.

John Henry Orange Jr., Ph.D., former Trinity administrator and visiting assistant professor, died on September 11. He was 76.

Orange came to Trinity in 2009 and worked there as an assistant director in the Office of Institutional Research until 2014.

Then he worked as director of prospect research for Alumni Relations and Development until 2020, and that fall, he became a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Finance and Decision Sciences.

Although he had an aggressive cancer for about five years, he continued to work until May. Orange is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his children, Traci Lynn Orange Hodges, Timothy John Orange, Tisha Iceola Orange Davis, and Teresa Alma Orange; his grandchildren, Amoree Hodges, Trinity Hodges, Tevin Orange, Raphael Orange, and Simone Orange; his sister, Johanna Smith; and his cousins, in-laws, and friends.

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left Tigers like Aaliyah Jones ‘26 are part a unique Trinity course that studies nature’s impact on college students’ mental health and well-being. By journeying out into nature at sites such as the Guadalupe River State park, students get the chance to take deeper looks at themselves and their connection to nature.

Runs This Course Trinity faculty bring students to nature in unique class and ongoing research project words by Jeremy Gerlach photos by Ryan Sedillo

It’s no secret that taking time to unplug from the modern

world and get closer to nature can have a profound effect on your well-being.

But what effect can this practice have on stressed-out college students? And how can you convince them to make time for this in a world that makes incredible demands on their time and energy?

Well, according to a team of Trinity University professors researching this exact topic, you simply give them credit for it.

Class credit.

“At Trinity, you learn by doing,” says education professor Laura Allen, Ph.D. “So we wanted to start a class that takes students outside into natural spaces. You can’t just tell college students, ‘You need to go outside more.’ It stresses them out if you don’t also give them the time. This needed to be a course.”

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Welcome to “The Natural Environment and Well-Being” (ENVI/EDUC 3310), an award-winning course and research project all in one. This course is led by an interdisciplinary team of Allen; associate education professor Courtney Lambert-Crim ’93, M’94, Ed.D.; associate education professor Ellen Barnett, Ph.D.; associate sociology professor Benjamin Sosnaud, Ph.D.; and biology professor Jonathan King, Ph.D. The faculty members bring together the fields of education, biology, and sociology to examine nature’s effect on the well-being of college students.

Wondering why the course is so innovative? Or how its unique structure affects student well-being, and what the team’s interdisciplinary research is already showing? Like a shady tree on a hot summer day, we’ve got you covered.

A New Type of Lab

During all the chaos and social disconnect of 2020, Allen and Crim wanted to find a way to make an impact on student well-being and decided to become certified forest therapy guides.

Forest therapy aims to improve immune function, cardiovascular and respiratory health, and reduce stress and depression, among other health benefits, according to the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, an international education company from which Allen and Crim decided to pursue their certification. Think of it sort of like guided meditation, just out in the woods.

While the duo wanted to find a way to bring forest therapy and its benefits to Trinity undergrads—while also researching these effects—they realized they needed a course in place to complement the research. And, as Allen and Crim recall, they were shocked to realize that no one else in the nation had installed a course like this at the undergraduate level.

“I think this type of course could have existed at Trinity 10 or 15 years ago, but I think the need for it has also shifted during that time,“ Crim says. “Student [concerns] today have become much more focused on their emotional well-being.”

So, over the past three years, this faculty team has been hard at work building up “The Natural Environment and Well-Being,” along with the research project that accompanies it. The 30-person class is currently three credit hours (with no prerequisites) that satisfies environmental studies, education, and two general education requirements. Students attend a three-hour block on Wednesday afternoons, with at least 50% of class time dedicated to nature on and off campus. This includes one fullday field trip.

As students are immersed in nature, the faculty are studying biological and psychological data gathered from this group of undergrads. This data takes the form of biometric measures, educational performance, and sociological patterns and effects.

“Nature,” Allen says, “is our lab.”

Beyond the data, Allen and Crim say their students take home valuable lessons about one of the most complicated subjects a college student can study: themselves.

“In this course, you’re going to be able to really figure out how your connection with the outdoors and with nature can best benefit you,” Crim says. “Whether we’re talking about self-regulation, stress management, or overall well-being, this course gives you skills that you can choose to take forward with you, whether you end up working on Wall Street or somewhere less hectic.”

top Sierra Vargas ‘24 says she was skeptical of the course at first, but has found it a perfect way to address the stresses of college

A Fresh Mix

life. bottom For students like Aaliyah Jones ‘26, personal reflec-

For some students, simply embracing the value of nature is itself a challenge, Crim says. And that couldn’t be more

tions are a crucial part of the class experience.

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perfect for the team’s research: The group tries to admit students from as many different academic and personal backgrounds as possible.

“In fact, we typically have at least one student that leaves the class and still doesn’t believe any of it. And that’s fine. We want different disciplines—engineers, computer scientists, people that normally wouldn’t take this type of a class,” Crim explains.

Diverse beliefs, well-rounded experiences: Sounds like the draw of a university like Trinity, where converging viewpoints and perspectives are constantly creating new bridges between disciplines and academic interests.

Where else are you going to find a course that draws together students from political science, like Aaliyah Jones ’26; economics, like Jacob Munoz ’23; or finance, like Sierra Vargas ’24?

In fact, just about the only thing that initially linked these students was that they were each feeling the pressures of college life.

Munoz, a student-athlete from Cedar Park who balances school and football at Trinity, started out as a stressed-out engineering science major before switching to economics. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this course,” Munoz says.

“And what surprised me was that this class wasn’t just about hanging out outside. You’re actually learning about the benefits of being in nature.”

Munoz, Jones, and Vargas have had the chance to take advantage of Trinity’s lush, green campus as well as local San Antonio parks, like Brackenridge and Hardberger, while also taking longer day trips to settings like Guadalupe River State Park.

Jones, an aspiring corporate lawyer from Houston on Trinity’s pre-law track, says these day trips aren’t what people may expect.

“We’re not doing anything weird, which I feel like people may think, like going outside and hugging trees,” she laughs. “I think the best way to put it is we’re figuring out our own relationships with nature.”

Jones, Munoz, and Vargas have each especially enjoyed the course’s homework assignments: sit-spot reflections.

“Each week we spend at least 30 minutes outside of class by ourselves, not contacting anybody else, not on our phones, just in nature,” Munoz says. “You actually get to sit down and enjoy and take in your surroundings versus just being there in passing.”

However, it took some time for Munoz to notice the effects of spending more time outdoors. “I’ve struggled to get accustomed to it, but this week it really started feeling a bit more like, ‘Oh, this is beneficial.’ I went to do my sit spot, I came back home, knocked out a bunch of homework, and I felt nice and refreshed.”

For Vargas, a business school student from San Antonio who’s in the middle of a tough process of searching for internships, this course has had an impact that stretches beyond

top Helene Le Gall ‘24 navigates a rocky stretch over calm waters. bottom Anthony Sierra ‘24, a botany and sustainability enthusiast, takes a closer look at a find from the walk.

Experience the sights and sounds of the course yourself. Video by Mason McLerran

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A crucial step that concludes a guided forest therapy walk is a Tea Ceremony.

From the plants used to make the tea, each student and professor takes a symbolic bit of nature home with them. Each participant in the ceremony gets the chance to express themselves in turn.

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the curriculum. “I’m stressed about a lot of stuff going on with school,” Vargas says, “but I’ve also dealt with some [personal things] that have impacted my mental health over the years.

“I was skeptical of this course,” Vargas continues, “just because it seemed a little different compared to most courses here at Trinity, but I thought it would be perfect for me because I have a lot of stress.”

A Big Result

So, the big question: Does being out in nature have a demonstrable effect on the well-being of students in the class?

The short answer, according to the faculty research team, is yes. The long answer is also yes, just sprinkled with some complicated math.

The team’s primary metric of study is a term called “rumination”: a psychological process of negative or repetitive thinking that contributes to poor mental health, and one that is linked directly to anxiety and depression. Students in the class regularly submit reflections and questionnaires, rating various aspects of their emotional, psychological, and social well-being, with results ranging from languishing to flourishing. There is also biological data gathered, such as heart-rate variability.

The team has built up some “fairly large” sample sizes, says sociology’s Benjamin Sosnaud, which “actually show some amazing results.”

Students in the “Natural Environment and Well-Being” course display “significant reductions in rumination scores, and further analysis shows a small improvement in measures of psychological well-being,” Sosnaud says. “That’s pretty remarkable when you consider that a college semester typically gets more intense as it progresses. But rumination scores among students in the course actually went down throughout the semester.”

Sosnaud cautions, however: “This is not a magic bullet, where you just go outside and you’re suddenly happy. But at the same time, there’s a pretty robust set of biological pathways that show how being in a natural environment can be good for your brain and be good for your cognition.”

The Path Ahead

The faculty team, which has already presented their research internationally, has wide-reaching aspirations for this course model.

Allen, Crim, and Sosnaud all say they’d like to see the course expanded into multiple sections, as the class currently has a rapidly-growing waitlist ratio. The course could also possibly be implemented as a First-Year Experience course, which make a greater impact on younger students right off the bat.

And they want to see Trinity continue to be known as a thought leader around student well-being, helping other schools around the world replicate this course.

“We’ve had more than 70 downloads of our curriculum worldwide,” Allen says.

And the course has even started garnering media attention:

top Faculty members leading the class participate right alongside their students. bottom (left to right) professors Jonathan King, Laura Allen, Courtney Lambert-Crim, Ellen Barnett, and Benjamin Sosnaud turned this class into an interdisciplinary experience spanning STEM and the social sciences.

The group received a San Antonio Light award for their work with students, nature, and well-being this fall.

Beyond the data and the metrics, Crim says, the course’s popularity among students is perhaps its strongest indicator of success.

“Students have made some powerful statements,” she says.

“I’ve read, ‘This is the first class I’ve ever taken at Trinity that was about learning about me.’ Another said, ‘This is the class I’ve always needed, although I didn’t know I needed it.’”

Jones and Vargas are already echoing this sentiment.

“I think, so far, the course has helped a little bit. I still feel anxiety and things like that,” Vargas says. “But what’s actually surprising is how much I don’t think. I’ve always had my mind in a million different places all at once. But while I’m out there in nature, my mind is just very at peace. This is a time for my mind to settle down.”

Surrounded by the trees, green leaves, and sounding animals, Jones says the course has helped its students step forward towards healthier lives, as she reflects on her own personal development: “I feel like ‘Aaliyah today’ is way more focused on growing herself,” Jones says of her personal journey. “I feel like I’ve taken steps in self-growth that were courageous that I feel like ‘Aaliyah a few months ago’ would have been too afraid to take. That’s a big deal for me.”

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The

of Healing A mother-daughter artist duo from the Trinity community leaves a creative mark on a new hospital in San Antonio. words by Miriam Sitz Grebey ‘10 photos by Ryan Sedillo Space shapes experience. Our physical surroundings affect the

way we feel, the way we interact with one another, and the way we understand our lives. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in hospitals. Whether receiving care, visiting a loved one, or simply going to work, the design and aesthetic characteristics of medical facilities can play a huge role in improving people’s experience. Since 2010, a University Health program called SaludArte: Art of Healing has been integrating artwork into the health system’s facilities across San Antonio. At the new University Health Women’s & Children’s Hospital, which plans to open in late 2023, two members of the Trinity University community have left their artistic mark on the building, positively impacting the experience of all those who will spend time there.

Trish Simonite, a retired Trinity faculty member, and her daughter Francesca Simonite, a graduate of the Class of 2011, were commissioned in June 2021 to create works of art for permanent installation on four floors of the hospital. Responding to the theme “In Bloom,” Trish and Francesca each focused on two floors, designing large-scale pieces with floral, botanical, and nature-inspired elements.

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“Level 5 Corridor” by Francesca Simonite

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TRINITY Winter 2023

“My work is primarily about nature and the landscape,” says Trish, who moved to the Lone Star State in 1968 from the U.K. and was introduced to photography through a community class at the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in photography from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Trish was working as an adjunct professor at the Alamo Colleges when a friend, photographer and Trinity alumnus Ansen Seale ’83, encouraged her to apply for a part-time position teaching at Trinity. From there, she landed one of the University’s first Lennox Visiting Artist positions, followed by a tenure-track position. Ultimately, she spent nearly 20 years on the faculty of the Department of Art and Art History before retiring in 2018.

For the SaludArte project, Trish turned to her vast archive of work, selecting photographs of native plants, palm leaves, birds, and flowers, many from her own garden. (“My English roots came back to me,” she says of her flower garden. “I have really enjoyed trying to make things grow here in San Antonio.”) Using digital tools, she combined the photos, sometimes digitally “painting” parts of her canvas.

“Since my very first photography class, I’ve had a sort of experimental approach to making images, and I’ve tried to keep trying new things as much as I can,” Trish says. “This commission from the hospital has allowed me to create work on a much larger scale than I could otherwise, so it has really pushed me in that way.”

Francesca took a related but distinct approach to the project, reflecting her interest, as she puts it, in the “materiality of photographs.” For her pieces, she took existing photos from her own archive of work, cut them up, collaged them together, and rephotographed them, sometimes alongside real flowers.

Then, she digitally manipulated the images to achieve a final, harmonious composition. “I’ve always appreciated the mystery of rephotographing and manipulating old work, blurring the lines of what’s real and what’s not,” says Francesca.

This commission—Francesca’s first large-scale installation—represents the culmination of a lifetime of learning about art and photography, both from her family and in educational settings. “My mum did a series of work when I was little where she would tear up wet darkroom prints, then hand color and rephotograph them,” she recalls. “I think much of my work has been subconsciously influenced by that.”

Francesca went on to study photography as a studio art major at Trinity, where her mother instructed her in an official capacity, as her professor. “I stayed out of her way on campus,” says Trish, adding with a laugh that she had two additional classroom rules for Francesca as a student: “She could not roll her eyes at me, and she could not call me ‘mum.’” After graduating, Francesca completed Trinity’s Master of Arts in Teaching program and later earned her Master of Fine Arts in photography from Brooklyn College in New York. Today, she lives in Mil-

“Level 3, Quick Registration Room, Poppy and Daisy Collage with Blue Corn Background” by Trish Simonite

waukee, where she is a high school art teacher and an adjunct instructor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

Although Trish and Francesca created separate pieces for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital, they regularly consulted and collaborated, bouncing ideas off each other via FaceTime.

Both had completed smaller works for University Health before, and the executive curator of the SaludArte program, Allison Hays Lane, encouraged them to apply for this project.

The Simonites were actually one of two mother-daughter teams commissioned, Hays Lane notes—a fact that she calls “super special,” given that this facility provides care specifically to mothers and children.

A robust body of research has found that elements like sunlight, art, and access to nature can all have positive effects on patients’ health outcomes. A 2018 study, supported in part by the National Endowment of the Arts, found that art in hospitals “offset the medical aspects of the room, ‘transported’ patients from their suffering, humanized the healthcare environment, and gave people a degree of control.”

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top Trish Simonite talks about the process behind creating her artwork during a press tour of the hospital. bottom Allison Hays Lane (left), executive curator of the SaludArte program, encouraged the mother-daughter duo to apply for this project.

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TRINITY Winter 2023

“Hospitals are stress centers.

We use art to calm, welcome, and not retraumatize.”

“Hospitals are stress centers,” explains Hays Lane. “We use art to calm, welcome, and not retraumatize.” In her time with SaludArte, she’s seen the ways that art can improve the hospital experience, ranging from the practical to the profound.

Colorful and distinctive walls, for example, can serve as wayfinding tools, helping patients and visitors to orient themselves within the often labyrinthine hospital buildings and parking garages. Art in patient rooms or near the bedside can provide a positive distraction and a place to focus attention in times of physical discomfort. And there is even research showing that the presence of art can accelerate healing, which is good for both the patient and staff morale and allows the hospital to help more people by freeing up much-needed beds. Overall, art promotes “a feeling of stability in an anxiety-provoking setting,” Hays Lane says.

Making artwork for hospitals requires a high degree of consideration when it comes to colors, content, and cultural associations. Following the tenets of “trauma-informed care”— that is, practices that promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing—Hays Lane explains that SaludArte is very careful about the images and themes included in the work it selects. “Nothing is ever political, religious, or offensive,” she says. “We lean toward nature, abstraction, and pattern.” For artists, these constraints can actually spark creativity and provoke new ideas.

Pulling from her past experience and conversations with doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals, Trish explains that artists creating work for medical facilities typically avoid reds and pinks, which could evoke thoughts of blood or medication, as well as images of anything sharp, spiny, or dangerous-looking, like cacti or bees. Artists must also consider cultural associations. Owls, for instance, which may seem innocuous enough to some viewers, can symbolize darkness and death in Mexican and American-Indian cultures. “We had to think deeply about all these things when creating the work,” says Francesca.

The largest of the Simonites’ corridor-spanning pieces stretched more than 7 feet tall and 45 feet long, according to Broaddus & Associates project manager Mauricio Mar. Trish and Francesca worked closely with architects from the Houston-based firm Formation to ensure that their art accommodated medical equipment on the walls and structural elements of the building, which was designed by Marmon Mok Architecture and ZGF Architects. Ultimately, the Simonites’ art was printed on enormous swaths of a hard, acrylic-vinyl material that can withstand the advanced cleaning and sanitation procedures required in a hospital setting. “It was a huge project,” says Trish, “the biggest I’ve ever done. Seeing them installed on the walls, at their final scale, was fantastic.”

The Simonites’ work for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital contributes to the “playful, sensory, and welcoming” environment that University Health and the SaludArte program strive to cultivate, says Hays Lane. And on a personal level, the collaboration brought the mother-daughter artist duo even closer. “My mom and I have always gotten along,” Francesca says. “It was so special to be able to do this with her.” For the artists, and for future generations of mothers and children, their work will help to ensure that healing, love, and compassion are always “In Bloom.”

See the Simonite duo’s art for yourself.

Video by Caleb Aguiar ’25

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celebrating the

JOURNEY and the DESTINATION words by Jeremy Gerlach and Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08 photos by Ryan Sedillo and Mackenzie Gasner ’23

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TRINITY Winter 2023

Student success means everything to universities striving to reach positive outcomes. And Trinity University has a unique take on this goal: What if success means finding joy on the path instead of only focusing on the finish line?

Watch these students—and more Tigers— share their Trinity journeys by snapping the QR code or visiting trinity.edu/ outcomes.

Trinity’s joyful celebrations happen at big events such as the University’s newly established Major Declaration Day, where students choosing their academic paths are cheered on by their professors and peers. They happen through robust and flexible academic resources, where innovative curricular pathways prompt fearless exploration and collaboration. And they happen through a rich set of hands-on experiences on and off campus, driving students to make discoveries about themselves, their career fields, and their worlds.

Proof this is working? Trinity’s recent graduates have achieved a 98% positive outcomes rate. This means within six months of graduating, 98% of undergraduate alumni in the Classes of 2021 and 2022 were either employed, accepted to graduate school, enlisted in the military, or engaged in volunteer-oriented service.

“When people ask me how a positive outcomes rate like this is possible, I point them immediately to the resources we have for academic success, advising, and career placement,” says Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., Trinity University president. “Of course, part of the fabric of the education at Trinity is hands-on learning. When students are in interviews for jobs or for graduate schools, they can talk about the things they did themselves: the research

they discovered, the problems they engaged with, the solutions they developed.”

And this path of celebration starts before most students even reach campus, says Eric Maloof, Trinity’s vice president for Enrollment Management.

“As each new Trinity first-year class takes shape from a skyrocketing pool of talented and ambitious applicants, this University has—and will remain—committed to bringing a diversity of skills, backgrounds, and life experiences to our San Antonio campus,” Maloof says. “Every year, we are increasingly proud to see the potential that each of these first-years display—the potential beyond just being hired four years later. We see the passion to lead, discover, and create new paths to success, both for these students and for the ones following in their footsteps.”

Trinity believes this is why passion must show up at every moment in higher education. Passion must transcend disciplines, enrich groundbreaking hands-on opportunities, and flow through lifelong ties that bind students and their faculty mentors. Driven by this passion, Trinity students use their degrees to do more than succeed: They discover continually, they lead inclusively, and given the chance, they transform themselves and their world thoroughly.

At Trinity University, the path ahead for higher education is too exciting to do anything but celebrate. Meet four Trinity students who shared their major moments with us.

CAL’24 TAYLOR HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY PLANO, TEXAS

A donkey, an orange peel, and a Greek nun walk into a fortress. The rest is Cal Taylor’s Trinity experience, one in which he gained new perspectives and reconnected with his roots on campus and abroad.

“Through study abroad, I spent time in the Peloponnese, which is where my great-grand parents are from. I got to explore a lot of stuff that I wouldn’t have got to otherwise, to see what life was like outside of the U.S., which is different, you know—hugely different.”

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SENA ’23 SAYGILI NEUROSCIENCE AND SPANISH KATY, TEXAS

Even against tough odds, Trinity pre-med student Sena Saygili never gave up on her dream of becoming a doctor. A neuroscience major from Katy, Texas, with family in Turkey, she’s always kept her unique heartbeat necklace close to remind her of home. Ultimately, that heart led her to medical school.

“It wasn’t enough that COVID-19 took part of my college experience away. During the two pandemic years, we lost our family restaurant and I was diagnosed with a chronic illness,” she says. “But Trinity University supported me through it all. My classmates saw me. My professors saw me. And now, I’m seeing myself achieve a lifelong goal of attending medical school!”

Jalen White came to Trinity unsure of his future. Recruited as a basketball player, he reinvented himself as the founder of a startup that aims to make traffic stops safer, and has graduated with an international business major. Now, he’s starting his career as an analyst at Amazon.

“At Trinity, I learned how to work with people, and I learned how to think,” he says.

“To me, college is the most defining four years of your life. I’ve been defined in ways that I cannot have imagined here at Trinity. And I hope the next Tiger realizes that too.”

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TRINITY Winter 2023

JALEN ’23 WHITE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FERGUSON, MISSOURI

AYANNA ’25 BLAKE

TRINITY’S VALUES GUIDE OUR PASSION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

PSYCHOLOGY HOUSTON, TEXAS

Prioritizing mental health is one of the most important parts of college life, and Ayanna Blake, a psychology major from Houston, admits she had a tough time adjusting to college life before discovering the strong social, academic, and mental wellness support networks and services that Trinity brings to the table.

“Getting the help I needed motivates me to know that I can go above and beyond, because Trinity is a very rigorous school, but it has the help needed to excel,” she says. “With the help of my professors and on-campus therapists, I was able to excel academically, mentally, and physically.”

Enduring Excellence

We challenge students to thrive in a world of rapid change. It’s the versatility, flexibility, and scaleof-one vision of the liberal arts merged with the problem-solving power of programs in business, engineering science, education, and more.

Intentional Inclusion

Students, faculty, and staff connect across differences, act with radical empathy, and nurture enduring relationships. Trinity builds bridges between disciplines and supports handson learning through international experiences, career and service ventures, and a diverse set of research and internship opportunities.

Perpetual Discovery

True to a philosophy of embracing the whole journey, Trinity inspires a passion that drives lifelong curiosity—a passion that turns curiosity into new knowledge, and that new knowledge into deep and meaningful thought and action.

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ALUMNI NEWS

1

2

ALUMNI WEEKEND More than 1,100 alumni from 35 states returned home to Trinity

University to enjoy the largest alumni engagement event of the year. Total reunion classes giving was over $4.5 million! On top of the pre-registration record, alumni donated the most amount of money ever received through the Alumni Weekend registration website, and total class reunion giving was at the highest it’s ever been.

On Friday, attendees learned from panels of experts int the fields of health care administration, entrepreneurship, and the humanities, explored what’s new during a campus tour, reconnected with former professors, cheered on the soccer teams, and celebrated this year’s alumni award recipients.

Music was in the air on Saturday with concerts by the choir, handbell, symphony, and wind ensembles, the Tiger Tailgate and football game, and the Block Party on Oakmont.

11: The Trinity community enjoyed food, drinks, lawn games, and music at the Tiger Football Tailgate, sponsored by the Bengal 2 Alumni were excited to rediscovLancer Alumni Foundation. 2: er and reconnect on Trinity’s campus with their families. 3: 3 Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam ‘93, GCMG, was the guest of honor at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology’s 80th anniversary celebration.

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3

4: 4 Reunion classes of 1973 and earlier enjoyed 5 Jaskirat Singh Batra ‘12 brunch in Skyline. 5: and his sister pose for a photo at Fiesta with the Faculty. 6: 6 Alumni shared moments of reconnection throughout the weekend. 7: 7 Students

4

and alumni prepped for game day at the Tiger Football Tailgate.

5

6

7

8 The annual Block Party transformed 8: Oakmont Court into a rocking party that

9 Energized concluded the weekend. 9: and motivated by the abundant Tiger Pride in the stands, Trinity Football defeated

10 President the Millsaps Majors 63-0. 10: Vanessa B. Beasley congratulates Andre Storey M’12, the 2023 recipient of the Health Care Administration Alumni Association’s Momentum Award.

See more photos from Alumni Weekend ’23.

8

9

10

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ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS At the Alumni Awards Ceremony presented at Trinity’s 2023 Alumni Weekend, seven Tigers were

awarded for their work with the University and the broader community.

Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam ’93, GCMG Distinguished Alumni Award

Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam ’93, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, is a Mopan Maya leader dedicated to her work in culture, history, and indigenous rights. She was the executive director of the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management before becoming the governor-general of Belize.

Tower Award

Portia Lowe Hoeg ’01, former member of the Trinity women’s basketball team, used her Trinity education and college athletics experience to forge a path to become the first Black commissioner in Division III athletics. She has been a collegiate athletics director and served on numerous DIII boards and committees.

Rick Hill ’91

Jamie Thompson ’05

Spirit of Trinity Award

Tower Award

During his 25-year career with the Valero Alamo Bowl, currently as vice president of marketing and communications, Rick Hill ’91 has helped bring the event onto the national stage. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Trinity and is an active board member of its San Antonio Alumni Club.

Jamie Thompson ’05, Ed.D., is the interim associate vice president and dean of students at Trinity. She has become a leader in the Trinity community and provides support for individual students and organizations that goes above and beyond to enhance the Trinity experience.

Jaskirat Singh Batra ’12

Ellen Riojas Clark ’74

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Tower Award

Jaskirat Singh Batra ’12, Ph.D., has been recognized for his innovative virtual reality teaching and education research, and he is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, collaborating with UTHealth Houston to develop biosensors and biomedical devices.

Amy McGee ’92 Fraternity/Sorority Life Alumni Adviser of the Year Award

Amy McGee ’92 has served Sigma Theta Tau for over 20 years, guiding students personally and professionally and creating a lifelong connection cherished by all.

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Portia Lowe Hoeg ’01

TRINITY Winter 2023

Ellen Riojas Clark ’74, Ph.D., has had a storied 35-year career as a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio and was honored with an endowed chair position in her name. She has authored many publications and has been a cultural resource for several television series.

Houston

President Beasley’s National Alumni and Friends Tour

Washington, D.C.

Throughout the past 12 months, Vanessa B.

Beasley, Ph.D., president of Trinity University, has collaborated with the Alumni Relations and Development team to visit some of Trinity’s regional alumni clubs. During these visits, alumni and friends of the University engaged with Trinity through lunches hosted by members of the Board of Trustees, at Health Care Administration-focused breakfasts, and through regional alumni club receptions. These events, along with a series of individual and small-group meetings, have provided the University’s constituents across the country an opportunity to get to know both Beasley and her husband, Trey, and for the Beasleys to hear directly from them. Tour stops have included Austin, Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, New York City, Oakland, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Oakland

New York City

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CLASS NOTES

1969

1973

Susan Riley’s one-woman art

show ran from March 4 through April 8. The collection includes 33 black-and-white photos from 1890 to 1930 that have been restored/colored in Photoshop; printed on fine art paper; and embellished with hand painting, tiny pearls, crystals, and microfine glitter. The portraits include dancers, actors, movie stars, and other iconic figures from the time.

1970

The Rev. George Scruggs

enjoyed his career as a lawyer and pastor after graduation. During retirement, he wrote a novel under the pen name Alystair West.

His novel, titled Marshland, takes place in Houston in the 1980s and stars a young lawyer who becomes involved in a murder investigation.

1974 Brett Hall’s new book, called

Geary Reamey retired from St.

Mary’s University School of Law on May 31 after 41 years as a member of the faculty. Upon his retirement, he was named professor emeritus. His latest book, How Not to Be a Terrible Teacher (And Maybe Be a Good One), was published by Carolina Academic Press.

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TRINITY Winter 2023

1981

1986

Mark Maddox was elected

mayor of Dresden, Tennessee, in November 2022. He visited with the mayor of Dresden, Germany, in June and also retired in July after a 40-year career in public education.

The Rev. Patty Jenkins completed 12 years of service as a chaplain with the U.S. Army Reserve in September 2021. She now lives in Southern California with her husband and works as a hospital chaplain.

1983

1987

Joe Medrano semi-retired from

John Jones, Ph.D., married his

a more than 20-year career in nonprofit organizational communications and management, regional management, community capacity building, local-regional fundraising, and small-business ownership

Our Fathers, will be published in November 2023 by Dorrance Publishing. His book tells the story of the men in his family, especially his father, Ralph Hall. Their sacrifices for their country and leadership in their communities and family show how fathers, grandfathers, and uncles are a positive driving force in our society.

Robinson Kurth moved back to

1977 Daniel Rodriguez is a full-time

real estate agent. He also assists people age 65 and older with their Medicare enrollments and people under age 65 who qualify for disability.

sweetheart, Valentino Lopez, in 2019 and relocated to Tacoma, Washington, where he works as a school psychologist with a private practice in educational psychology. Val works remotely as lead designer for Madeval Design Studio based in Houston.

The two have loved exploring the gorgeous Pacific Northwest over the past two years.

Ansen Seale created a database

containing artwork by Trinity professor Bill Bristow, who passed away in 2022. Bristow’s career at the University spanned nearly four decades. Please send an email to ansen@sealestudios. com if you would like to view the database of nearly 3,000 works.

his childhood region of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Not only does he enjoy the company of his brothers and mother nearby, he gets to hear the coyotes and crickets more frequently. Every few years he meets with two Trinity roommates, Evan Ramstad and Steve Herlich. The three have great memories of their University days and continue to keep each other young as they age gracefully.

1988

1989

Scott Bateman is thrilled to

share the release of his first publication. Working with two co-authors, he published Geospatial Data Analytics on AWS through Packt Publishing.

The book compiles mapping and location-based concepts that can be implemented in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud.

Diqui LaPenta, Ph.D., retired

after 24 years from the College of the Redwoods in Northern California (though with nearly two years spent teaching remotely from San Antonio).

LaPenta accepted a position as an assistant professor of instruction in the Integrative Biology Department at UTSA and is glad to be back in her hometown near family and friends.

Lisa Petrovich is now the

website project manager at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

1994

1997

Dan Davis lives in New York City

Khrisslyn Goodman finished

and has a son named Ea Z. Davis.

Dan earned his MBA at Columbia Business School and works in mergers and acquisitions in the private equity field.

Aimee Wilson Sproles became Jill Jackson and Lisa Reitzes

celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on May 24. They have lived in Seattle, Washington, since 2001. Jill directs the archives and library collections for the Paul G. Allen Estate. Lisa is retired and an active volunteer with food insecurity and democracy organizations.

the new CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio in December 2022. She has relocated to the Dayton, Ohio, area.

her Ed.D. at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in June 2022. She will continue to train teachers and work in the PreK-12 public school system in research and evaluation as an adjunct professor.

2002 Carrie Ingoldsby worked 18

years in higher education, including 13 years at Mercer University, before accepting the role as dean of students at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, in December 2022.

1990 Hugh Coleman retired from

Denton County in 2021 after 24 years of service to Texas counties in the law field. Coleman is currently the city attorney for the City of Sanger, Texas.

Cathy Marston, Ph.D., co-au-

Show your #TigerPride Submit your updates online at gotu.us/ alumniupdates

thored a guest commentary titled “Texas Women Deserve Pardon, Not Daniel Perry.” This article was published in the San Antonio Express-News on April 26.

1992 Mike Mason has been promot-

ed to chief financial officer at Western Vista Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mason began his career at Western Vista in 2019. He oversees and directs the strategic and tactical activities of accounting, operations, facilities, compliance, and human resources.

left to right Ryan Bilbrey ’93, Andrew Green ’95, Blake Poole ’24, and Phillip Poole ’94 shared an epic day at The Masters Tournament in April!

They walked the entire course, met Sir Nick Faldo, ate pimento cheese sandwiches, and soaked up every moment of this once-in-a-lifetime day.

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CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM Margaret Abbas

Forrest Balser ’56

Susanne Milburn ’61

Carol Burgess

Gary Shaw ’69

Patricia Ellison

Dimaline ’44

May 22, 2023

March 3, 2023

Oakes ‘66

March 2, 2023

Fietsam ’74

July 10, 2023

August 3, 2023 Marilyn McBrine

Abraham Ribak ’61

Jacqueline Barnes

Culp ’56

April 16, 2022

Dixon ’45

March 4, 2023 Charles Bull ’57

Louis Hart ‘49

Rose Clark Beverly Howell

Ranson ’66

Fred Brockwell ’59

Burris ‘62

April 28, 2023

March 22, 2023

May 2, 2023

July 28, 2023

Bryan Mayo ’74 January 29, 2023

Terry Humphreys ’70

Alfred Moursund ’74

February 16, 2023

January 9, 2023

Peter Maddeaux ’70

J. Knight-Sheen ’74

December 8, 2022

June 2, 2022

Harry Welsh ’70

Johnny Springs ’74

December 21, 2022

March 5, 2023

Marjorie

Miriam Smith

Gernsbacher ’71

Snider ’74

December 3, 2022

June 2, 2022

Richard Kowalski ’71

Lucas Snipes ‘74

April 10, 2023

June 19, 2023

Charles Stevens ‘71

Penny Drayer ‘75

July 29, 2023

August 8, 2023

Susan Matthews

Thelma Hinojosa

Versteeg ’71

Duffey ’75

May 27, 2023

December 30, 2022

Molly Rowell ’66

April 23, 2023 Marjorie Henke

April 9, 2023

December 17, 2022

July 2, 2023

August 18, 2023 Welda Smith ’49

Margaret Pressler Lynch ’66

Robert Shambora ’61

July 16, 2023

January 25, 2023 Roy Smith ‘69

John Houtz ‘59

T. Meeks ’62

May 7, 2023

December 7, 2022

Nehring ‘50

April 30, 2022 Walter Walthall ’66

May 28, 2023

Paul Martin ‘59

Ned Newman ’62

August 14, 2023

March 30, 2023

David Lawrey ’51 March 3, 2023

April 19, 2023 Deloros Kucha ’67

Douglas McCall ‘59

Tom Ezell ’63

July 13, 2023

April 24, 2023

Lucy Kizer

January 17, 2023 Bill Ruhmann ’67

Arnold ’52

Frances Eiserloh ’60

Edgar Kleck ’63

February 12, 2023

December 28, 2022

May 6, 2023

June 21, 2023 Nona

D. Frank Clark ’52

Mary Hollan

Dorris Livingston

Debenport ’68

July 6, 2023

Inman ’60

Yarbrough ’63

July 5, 2020

March 16, 2023

January 5, 2023

Joan Sears

Spencer Knapp ’68

Miller ‘52

Pete Medina ’60

Amy Watts

July 20, 2023

May 27, 2023

Phillips ’64 May 1, 2023

Harold Arnold ’53

Charles Parish ’60

July 13, 2023

July 26, 2023

Mary Schmid

June 2, 2022 Margot Bayor

Joseph Miciotto ’75

Letitia Walker

Zuelzerl ‘72

December 3, 2022

Sellers ’68

July 8, 2023 Jane Bexten

February 3, 2023

Hollingshead-

Joan Robinson ’72

Niedorf ’75

June 16, 2023

January 31, 2023

Jane Harris

H. Pipes ’60

Summitt ’64

Dee Schofield ’68

Boswell ’53

May 2, 2023

June 20, 2023

August 11, 2022 Patricia Steiner

Janine Grapin

Michael Price ’60

Jerome Fuentes ’65

Bernale Wright ’68

Kearns ’73

Williams ’75

May 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

March 31, 2022

June 16, 2023

February 21, 2023

Carol Coggeshall

Kenneth Miller ’65

Gayle Manny

Gary Brown ’74

Marian Crowder ’76

Van Tuyl ’60

February 18, 2023

Elliott ’69

February 7, 2023

April 7, 2023

Hubert Buss ’74

Darryll Grubbs ’76

July 2, 2022

December 4, 2022

Copps ‘54

Miguel Castillo ’74

Lisa Stieren Cox ’76

August 13, 2023

March 20, 2023

July 12, 2023

May 1, 2023 Dena Dickey Scott ’53 April 22, 2023 Jimmie Work ’53

December 31, 2022 Gerald Swiggett ’65

April 2, 2023 Fredrick Finch ’61 Henry Jacobs

62

September 30, 2022

June 1, 2023

TRINITY Winter 2023

February 14, 2023

Beth Jarrett Ivy ’69 February 25, 2023

Maria Robledo

Glenn Satterfield ’86

Leslie ’77

May 22, 2023

2004

2005

Rachel Moczygemba studied

Christopher Mammen was

May 31, 2023 Laura Mowry Lawrence

Luke ‘88

Skelton ’77

August 5, 2023

December 10, 2022 Steven Rueb ’88 Denise

May 1, 2023

Abercrombie ’78 May 10, 2023

Bradley Williams ’88 January 4, 2023

Mark Walker ’79 February 5, 2023

Andrew Loxom ’89 June 2, 2022

Steven Pralle ’80 May 12, 2023

Carol Fairman ’94 June 4, 2023

Harriet Strauss Rosen ’80

Thomas KacKey ’00

March 27, 2023

March 2, 2023

Kurt Hendrix ‘81

Alessandra Di

August 10, 2023

Bagno Land ’03

penguins in New Zealand with her husband, Josh Moczygemba ’05, and her sons this summer as a grant recipient of the Saint Mary’s Hall Peggy Pitman Mays Fund for Teacher Excellence. Rachel is a Form 1 teacher at Saint Mary’s Hall.

promoted to vice president of Workforce Development at greater:SATX and named the 2023 San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Man of the Year.

June 10, 2022 Marsha Jackson ’81 March 8, 2023

Paul Buratto ‘07 August 3, 2023

Sallie Krusen Riester ’81 June 6, 2023 Douglas Martin ’81 Father and son duo Adam Lee ‘87

February 23, 2023

and Christian Lee ‘21 produced the Ted Mylenbusch ’83

2021 Five & Seven Sonoma County

March 25, 2023

pinot noir. Trinity University began classes on September 23, 1869, with

Leslie Jones

five faculty members and seven students, hence the name of the wine.

Stein ’84

Those dozen individuals formed the genesis of what we now know as

July 4, 2023

San Antonio’s Trinity University.

Frank Martin ’85

Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations. Coming from a

April 23, 2023

superb vintage for pinot noir, it showcases bright red fruits from the

Five & Seven is a blend of wine from premier vineyards in both the

cooler coastal vineyards as well as more lush, darker fruit tones from James Halpert ’86

the Russian River Valley. The wine gains weight on the mid-palate and

June 4, 2023

finishes with a long, slightly tannic finish.

Order Five & Seven at bit.ly/3PbopRM while supplies last. Twenty percent of the sales will go to Trinity.

trinity.edu/trinity-magazine TRINITY

63

CLASS NOTES

Alumni Join Team Trinity to Welcome New Tigers Many alumni volunteered at move-in day this past

August to make sure first-year and transfer students and their families didn’t have to lift a finger. Thank you for helping us welcome our newest Tigers!

Show your #TigerPride Submit your updates online at gotu.us/ alumniupdates

Whitney McCarthy, M.D., was

voted in as a shareholder pathologist within the Clinical Pathology Associates in San Antonio.

2009 Jacki Welsh published her

2008

first poetry collection in April.

Shifting and pulling the reader through history, myth, and the modern age, Chthonic Recollections showcases the complexity and magic of what it means to be a woman.

2015

After a hot and sweaty move-in morning, Patty Wolf ‘11, Adele Barnett ‘05, and Suzanne Watt ‘05 reconnected over lunch at a classic Trinity hangout, Chris Madrid’s.

They said it was a great day seeing familiar faces on campus, feeling the anticipation and excitement of the new students starting their journey at Trinity, and reminiscing on their own time as students.

Amy Gibbs was recognized as one

of the Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 and in Houston Woman Magazine as one of the city’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2022 for her work as managing director of ROCO, Houston’s chamber orchestra and service to Houston’s arts and culture community.

Blake Holman finished his

Amy Bryan P’26 and Jon Bryan ‘96, P’26 remember how easy Team Trinity made the whole process when their son, Blake, moved in last year. “It’s an exciting day all around, and there’s so much positive energy out here from the entire Trinity community. I can’t think of a better way to welcome the new students and their families to campus,” Amy said.

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TRINITY Winter 2023

Ph.D. in accounting in May at the University of Kentucky.

He is an assistant professor in accounting at the University of Central Florida’s Dixon School of Accounting. He has been awarded numerous grants for his research in accounting and was named Teacher of the Year in 2020. He is excited to follow the footsteps of Petrea Sandlin, Ph.D., who taught him while he was at Trinity.

Aaron Skinner gave a TEDx Talk

recounting his experience as a Fulbright student researcher working with birds, farmers, biologists, and sustainability in cattle ranching in Colombia. He asserts that conservationists must work with local communities to find and implement economically viable conservation solutions.

2017 Brooks Piper earned his master’s

degree in heritage conservation at the University of Montreal.

Speaking French, he has worked as a heritage consultant for the Quebec Religious Heritage Council since 2019. He got married in October 2022.

Alyssa Sailor-Tynes married

Grayam Sailor-Tynes at the San Antonio Botanical Garden in 2022. They celebrated alongside family and friends, many of whom were Trinity faculty, staff, and alumni. Alyssa is the digital marketing manager at the Witte Museum, and Grayam is in medical school, earning his M.D.

in the tutoring industry since he graduated from Trinity and is proud to have something to show for it almost two years later!

MARRIAGES

2023

2021

Alyssa Tayrien ’17 and Grayam Sailor-Tynes April 22, 2022 Zachary Neeley started his own

tutoring company, Atlas Tutoring, for middle and high school students in English and math-related subjects. The company offers help with homework, test preparation, and school admissions. Neely has been involved

Andrew Duong will begin

physician assistant school in January 2024.

NEW ADDITIONS

Stay Connected @TrinityUAlumni

@trinityu.alumni

“Trinity University Alumni Association” “Trinity University Alumni Group” “Trinity University Alumni” group Trinity University Alumni Association

Miller Harrington to Alexandra Bass ’08 and Davis Bass December 12, 2022 Miller tried to steal his big brother’s thunder by being born on his 3rd birthday!

Find an Alumni Club Network, volunteer, and attend events with Tigers in your area.

There are Alumni Clubs throughout the United States—visit gotu.us/ Stay connected

alumniclubs to find one near you!

with Trinity’s

Trinity encourages Alumni Clubs

latest alumni

to follow local best practices

news, events,

and guidelines regarding

and more!

COVID-19 protocols.

This issue of Class Notes includes notes submitted from November 2022 through August 2023.

For more recent Class Notes, visit gotu.us/classnotes.

trinity.edu/trinity-magazine TRINITY

65

CLUB ACTIVITIES

1

Members of the Albuquerque Alumni Club gathered for a fun night of baseball, watching the Isotopes from their suite seats.

2

This year, the Seattle Alumni Club has toured the Museum of Flight, hosted happy hours, welcomed new Tigers at a garden party (pictured), and enjoyed a unique forest bathing experience guided by Trinity education professor Courtney Crim ’93, M’94, Ed.D. 3

The New York Alumni Club brought the heat as they competed in the Texas Chili Cook-off this summer (pictured). They gathered at Citi Field to revel in America’s favorite pastime as the Texas Rangers defeated the New York Mets.

4

San Antonio Alumni Club members can keep their social calendars full with all of the local event offerings. From pickleball nights (pictured) to happy hours, taking in the Broadway musical SIX to an outing of miniature golf, this club does it all.

1

5

The Austin Alumni Club hosted an engaging Army Futures Command event, volunteered with Keep Austin Beautiful, and held their summer happy hour (pictured).

6

The Atlanta Alumni Club continued their annual tree-planting service outing at the John Lewis Flowering Forest (pictured). They also came together to support the nonprofit Concrete Jungle by volunteering at a local urban farm.

7

Members of the Denver Alumni Club have been busy recharging with a private yoga class, hosting an 1869 Challenge cocktail class event, and volunteering at the local food bank, making almost 19,000 meals (pictured).

2

8

The North Texas Alumni Club celebrated Noche Mexicana while cheering on the Dallas Stars hockey team (pictured). The club leadership also partnered with the Health Care Administration alumni to put on a Learning Leadership Together event with a truly top-notch panel of Trinity alumni.

9

Members of the Houston Alumni Club had a blast at Flight Club, where they reconnected and enjoyed a few rounds of darts (pictured). They kept the good times rolling with Trinity’s Presidential Tour and an accordion folk festival.

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TRINITY Winter 2023

3

4

7

8

5

not pictured

9

6

The St. Louis Alumni Club celebrated alumna film producer Aisha Sultan ’96 with a private screening of her documentary Education, Interrupted followed by a Q&A. Additionally, they hosted their annual poolside networking event this fall.

Washington, D.C. Alumni Club members excitedly welcomed Trinity President Vanessa B. Beasley to the nation’s capital as part of the Presidential Tour. This fall, they put on a family-friendly apple-picking event at a regional farm.

trinity.edu/trinity-magazine TRINITY

67

COMMENTARY

The Only Fact We Have A Professor Confronts the Uncertainty of Life

by Kelly Grey Carlisle

I pull out of the garage, past the baby lettuce growing in the planter,

the swiss chard and arugula. Their bright green arrests me, glowing against the drab morning of early spring. Also, the native grasses in my yard—sea oats, gamagrass, cedar sedge. It isn’t just the green, though, that makes me stop, set the brake. The lesser goldfinches at the feeder, crisp black against yellow. The wren darting to the mountain laurel, its blossoms about to unfurl. Another week and the air will be heavy with the smell of grape Kool-Aid and the buzz of bees ecstatic in purple worlds.

What if this is my last spring?

A week of adrenaline and fear. But also, things like this pause in the driveway.

A hundred times a day, something like Life calls out to me, Will you just look at that!?

My six-year-old’s soft cheek. My students bouncing into office hours. Dr. Dupertuis standing on the stairs of Dicke Hall, the warmth of his smile. A perfect sentence from Urrea, Didion, Kingston.

What if this is my last spring?

If it is, I will soak it all up. I will not miss a single blessed thing.

I release the brake.

The ultrasound technician and radiologist let me watch the biopsy needle enter my breast on the screen.

“I’m a writer,” I say. “I ask a lot of questions.”

They answer them, the gauge of the needle, the names of tools, their education, how it is to be a woman in their field.

I try to teach my creative writing students to observe details and to be curious and to ask questions. Today, those very habits help me find joy in a needle biopsy; in the weeks to come, surgery, radiation. I don’t yet know it, but cancer will show me that I’ve been teaching my students how to survive as well as how to write.

The night of my cancer diagnosis, I shiver uncontrollably, no matter how many layers I put on, no matter how closely I wrap myself

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TRINITY Winter 2023

around my husband’s sleeping form. Have you ever been in fear for your life? No, like, for reals. It sucks.

As my husband and I sit in the surgeon’s waiting room, I crack joke after bad joke. I keep him in stiches while we wait to find out if I am going to die sooner or later. I will be proud of this for weeks.

“The words I want you to take away from today’s consultation are very treatable,” my surgeon says. Easy cancer; I’ll probably be fine. But death feels closer than it ever has.

The day before surgery, I teach Baldwin: “Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time.

Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death—ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life.”

For me, perhaps, perhaps not, that last sunset will come sooner than I reckoned. But let us not sacrifice all the beauty of our lives; let us still observe, note it. For me, at this moment: My brilliant students gathered around a seminar table, grappling with these hard, gorgeous words.

Kelly Grey Carlisle, Ph.D., is an associate professor of English at Trinity University. Her first book is the memoir We Are All Shipwrecks, and she is currently working on a book about Durham Cathedral in England.

Last Look More cowbell! Fans cheered on Tiger Football as they pummeled Centre College 31-3 during Family Weekend on Saturday, October 7.

Photo by Samuel Damon ’24

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PA I D Permit No. 210 San Antonio, TX 78212

1 Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

On The Cover Christina Dunwoody ‘24 immerses herself in the environment at Guadalupe River State Park. She’s part of a groundbreaking Trinity initiative that studies nature’s effect on student well-being and health. Flip to page 40 to see how nature runs this course!

Photo by Ryan Sedillo