Coastlines Summer 2009

UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association | Summer 2009

View From Above Gaucho Astronaut Going to New Heights 6

UC REGENTS: UCSB Alum George Kieffer Brings Expertise to Board 4 50 YEARS: Arts & Lectures Delivers Culture to Campus 12

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Coastlines | Summer 2009

COASTLINES STAFF George Thurlow ’73, Publisher Andrea Huebner ’91, Editor Natalie Wong ’79, Art Director Elizabeth Best ’09, Editorial Intern Emily Einolander ’09, Editorial Intern Alexandria Cooper, Editorial Intern Taylor Haggerty, Editorial Intern

UC SANTA BARBARA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ron Rubenstein ’66, Moraga President Alexandra Sasha Meshkov ’79, M.A.’83, Palm Desert Vice-President Richard L. Breaux ’67, San Mateo Secretary-Treasurer Jodi L. Anderson ’94, Goleta Arcelia Arce ’98, Los Angeles Keith C. Bishop III ’69, Sacramento Richard L. Breaux ’67, San Mateo Philip J. Bugay ’81, Santa Barbara Jeffrey Flory ’91, Huntington Beach David C. Forman ’66, Chula Vista Preston Hensley ’67, M.A.’69, North Stonington, Connecticut Thomas J. Jevens ’87, San Jose Robert Jupille ’89, Los Angeles John Keever ’67, Camarillo Alfred F. Kenrick ’80, Palo Alto Jack Krouskop ’71, San Mateo Steve Mendell ’63, San Diego Jennifer Pharaoh ’82, Washington, D.C. Lisa Przekop ’85, M.A.’89, Goleta Wendy Purcell ’84, Manhattan Beach Kim Shizas, ’77, Santa Barbara Markell Steele ’93, Long Beach Catherine Tonne ’81, Livermore Linda Ulrich ’83, Vienna, Virginia Michael Williams ’86, Santa Barbara Ex Officio Charlie Arreola President, Associated Students Gary Greinke Executive Director, The UCSB Foundation Amber M. Gonzalez Graduate Student Association Hua Lee, Ph.D. Faculty Representative Fredric E. Steck ’67 UCSB Foundation Board of Trustees John Wiemann, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor, Institutional Advancement

CONTENTS

Summer 2009 Vol. 40, No. 1

FEATURES

Regent Profile: Q and A With George Kieffer By Rob Kuznia

New Heights: Alumni Astronauts Share Their Stories By Victor Cox ’64

12 Arts & Lectures: Celebrating 50 Years of Culture By Elizabeth Werhane ’00

16 All Gaucho Reunion 2009: Photos from the Vintners Tasting, Golf Classic, and More

DEPARTMENTS

MORE COASTLINES CONTENT ONLINE

Around Storke Tower: News & Notes From the Campus Research Roundup: Study Targets Alzheimer’s Disease

Sports Roundup: UCSB Athletics Gets NCAA Certification

Milestones: ’50s to the Present

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Go to www.ucsbalum.com/Coastlines Tiny Diamonds on Santa Rosa Island Suggest Cosmic Impact Sticky K: Recent Alum Launches Career as Music Producer Alumni Authors: Surfing, Self-Help, and Culture

STAFF Sharis Boghossian ’08, Membership Coordinator Maryanne Camitan ’07, Financial Accountant Mark French ’73, Director of Scholarships and Outreach Susan Goodale ’86, Program Director, Director of Alumni Travel Program Andrea Huebner ’91, Publications Director Hazra Abdool Kamal, Chief Financial Officer John Lofthus ’00, Assistant Director Mary MacRae ’94, Office Manager Patrick Merna, Director of Business Development Megan Souleles, Assistant Director, Family Vacation Center George Thurlow ’73, Executive Director Rocio Torres ’05, Director of Regional Programs/ Constituent Groups Sandi Worley ’03, Director, Family Vacation Center Terry Wimmer, Webmaster Natalie Wong ’79, Senior Artist

FPO for FSC logo

COVER: Astronaut Joseph Acaba ’90, STS-119 mission specialist, works with the robotic arm during the March 23, 2009, spacewalk, which was the mission’s third scheduled session of extravehicular activity as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

Coastlines is published three times a year by the UCSB Alumni Association, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-1120. Inclusion of advertising in Coastlines is not meant to imply endorsement by the UCSB Alumni Association of any company, product, or service being advertised. Information about graduates of the University of California, Santa Barbara and its predecessor institutions, Santa Barbara State College and Santa Barbara State Teachers College, may be addressed to Editor, Coastlines, UCSB Alumni Association, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-1120. To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the publisher provides this publication in alternative formats. Persons with special needs and who require an alternative format may contact the UCSB Alumni Association at the address given above for assistance. The telephone number is (805) 893-4077, FAX (805) 893-4918. Offices of the Alumni Association are in the Mosher Alumni House.

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TO THE POINT GEORGE KIEFFER

The Newest UC Regent UCSB Alum George Kieffer’s Days on Campus Gave Him an Early Taste of Politics and Education

In a sense, the esteemed legal career of newly appointed UC Regent George Kieffer ’69 began in the mid-1960s, when he was just a shy, dewy-faced freshman at UC Santa Barbara. Upon arriving, he was appalled to discover that the private developer had failed to finish construction of his off-campus dormitory; the stairs didn’t even reach the top floor. He and a group of other students sued. Thus began a year that Kieffer refers to as a “wild ride,” which grew even wilder during the course of his undergraduate career. It started with his joining the student government, carried him through the raucous Vietnam protests, racial tensions and all-around baby-boomer angst of the era, and concluded with his graduation in 1969, whereupon he was named UC Santa Barbara’s Outstanding Man of the Year. Law school at UCLA and a successful career followed. In May, Kieffer, 61, was beckoned back to the UC system that helped shape him, appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger to serve a 12-year term on the UC Board of Regents.

George Kieffer ’69, left, was appointed to the UC Schwarzenegger in May 2009. Kieffer has long b his time as Associated Students vice president at U president of the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Associa

As an attorney, Kieffer has chaired the commission that re-wrote the Los Angeles City Charter, which was adopted in 1999. The next year the San Francisco Daily Journal and the Los Angeles Daily Journal named him as one of the 100 most influential attorneys in California. A partner of the national law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Kieffer represented his friend Maria Shriver for a time, though he terminated the arrangement as soon as her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became governor. In a Q and A with Coastlines, Kieffer — one of just two UC Santa Barbara undergraduate alums on the 26-member board Bruce Varner ’58 being the other — speaks with fondness of his alma mater, his career, his friendship with Shriver, his love of piano and more. Question: Why did you choose UC Santa Barbara? Answer: I was just lucky. I did not know much about college and only thought about UC schools. Berkeley was too close to home; UCLA seemed too far away and in the Bay area we grew up suspicious of Los Angeles. So, with a friend, I took a ride to Santa Barbara and it just seemed the place to be. And it turned better than I could have ever imagined. Q. How did you come to serve as UC Santa Barbara’s student body vice president? What was the most interesting project you worked on in that capacity? A. Through a series of circumstances, and unlike high school, I became involved in student activities from the first year on, starting with a group of us suing the private developer who had failed to finish our off-campus dorm by the time we moved in. Showers didn’t work; stairs didn’t go to the top floor. It was quite a mess. I didn’t arrive with the intention of being involved. Circumstances just developed. By my senior year there were so many controversial issues it’s hard to pick one particular project as most interesting. There were continual protests and controversies surrounding race, free speech, teach-ins, the Vietnam War, curriculum, student fees, 4

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the national elections, assassinations. Black students occupied the Computer Center. The University Center was physically taken over (“occupied”) by a mix of different groups for the better part of a month. One of the leading Chicano (as selfidentified then) students took over my office. There is some irony there because today he’s a client and CEO of one of the largest nonprofit community health care clinics in the state. As student body officers, we were engaged in some way in all these issues — sometimes protesting ourselves, sometimes mediating. The whole year was “interesting” because the issues were the nation’s issues and very serious, because of the excitement and seeming precariousness of it all, and ultimately because of what all of it taught us. We began the year focusing on Isla Vista, drawing attention to our own community, planting trees, conducting what we called a “trash-in” — that is, cleaning up the streets and addressing issues with property owners; I created what then passed as a music video about Isla Vista. But soon events took over and the year became quite a wild ride. Q. In 2000 you were named by the San Francisco Daily Journal and the Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the 100

most influential attorneys in California. What projects or cases did they give you kudos for? A. I think it was largely for my involvement in writing a new city charter (like a constitution) for the city of Los Angeles. I chaired one of two commissions charged with drafting a new city charter. No one thought it could get done, and in fact efforts had failed some nine times over some 70 years. There were concurrent moves to break up the city. In the end we negotiated a “Unified Charter,” which was put on the ballot and approved by the voters.

Q. You used to be Maria Shriver’s attorney, and have long been friends. For how long did you serve as her attorney, and when did you stop working with her in Regents by Gov. Arnold this capacity? been involved with UC issues, from UC Santa Barbara to his term as A. I was introduced to Maria a ation from 1979-80, right. number of years ago. I stopped working as her attorney when the Arnold was elected governor. Since my law firm had clients who might be affected by what the governor did we thought it better from an appearance standpoint that I not continue in that role, even though there was no substantive connection. We just agreed it was the right thing to do. Q. How and when did you meet? A. I was recommended to interview with her by a mutual friend a number of years ago. We met at a restaurant in Santa Monica and, of course, I was immediately taken by her. I think she is perhaps the most extraordinary person I’ve ever had the opportunity to know. I was fortunate that she asked me to work with her. She and the governor are obviously an extraordinary couple. Q. It seems like your relationship with the Schwarzenegger family might be something people would notice, given how the regent seat is a governor-appointed position. Can you address this? A. Well I suppose it’s better if the governor knows a good deal about the person he or she considers for appointment — for better or worse. In this case I was probably helped by my previous involvement with the University and higher education and other civic activities, and I think others probably recommended me. But you do have to apply for any appointed position in the government, and there is a very healthy vetting process conducted by the appointments staff in the governor’s office. It does not get to the governor until you get through that vetting process. And then, once appointed, one has to be confirmed by the California Senate, including hearings before the Rules Committee of the Senate.

Q. As a prominent Democrat, were you surprised to be nominated by a Republican? A. No. The governor has appointed a number of Democrats as well as Republicans to various positions. He’s known for that, so that aspect was not a surprise. Q. You served as an UC alumni regent during 1978-80, after serving as president of the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association. This type of ex-officio regent is allowed to serve for two years, but can only vote during one year. Can you describe the most interesting or difficult issue you voted on in this capacity? A. It was in the late ’70s and I was fairly young. All the issues were interesting and many were difficult. I think the most interesting aspect was watching and learning from the conduct of other board members and developing an appreciation for the culture, the governance structure and the breadth of the University. Q. What difficult issues do you anticipate having to grapple with in the near future? A. Clearly funding is going to be a serious issue: maintaining quality and access under such financing pressure, retaining and attracting faculty. We’re going to have to do a good deal of thinking and re-thinking. This will bring into play a reexamination of the higher education Master Plan. I believe the next few years are going to be among the most difficult and critical in the University’s history. But the University remains the top public research university system in the country and I’m confident we can retain that reputation. Q. What are your thoughts on Prop 209, the ballot-initiative that banned affirmative action in 1996? Are you in favor or opposed? A. I think the question is both too broad and too narrow. The real question is how is the state going to meet its educational needs over the next 25 years and what role must the University play. Current projections suggest we will be substantially short of the college-educated Californians For more Questions and Answers with we will require for our work George Kieffer force. This is an issue that www.ucsbalum.com/Coastlines runs from K-12 through higher education. If we do not solve it, we will all suffer.

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Q. You have one son at Georgetown University and another son in high school. Is it true the younger son may attend UC Santa Barbara? A. Well, he will be beginning his senior year this fall, so he’s just beginning the process. He visited the campus a few months ago and thought it was great. Of course I’d be delighted if he were to go to UC Santa Barbara. But there is no question he will be making up his own mind.

www.ucsbalum.com

Coastlines | Summer 2009

’ A human-sized, white blur stands against the stark darkness of space at one end of the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits the Earth at a distance of more than 200 miles. The solitary spacewalker is dwarfed by eight nearby, 115-foot solar power arrays. Amateur astronomer Ralf Vandebergh captured the remarkable image with a video camera through a backyard telescope in the Netherlands as the space station flew overhead. The craft was visible for only a few seconds before it entered the planet’s shadow. But the astronaut has been identified as Joe Acaba, a 1990 graduate in geological sciences from UC Santa Barbara. Asked if he was the unknowing model for the dramatic shot, Acaba said he’d seen the blurry image and that, “I was out there and I know I worked in that general area.” But, he “cannot confirm” he was the white-suited astronaut in question since teams of two perform mission outings. However, the timing of the photograph and Earth’s orientation of the figure matched U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration logs of Acaba’s work outside the station on March 21, 2009, according to Vandebergh. “It’s a pretty spectacular photo” in any event, said Acaba, and it stirred a vivid memory of the rookie’s first space walk. “It was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done,” he recalled, “and the most fun I’ve ever had.” Such emotional swings are common among the few humans who have ever been on an Extravehicular Activity (EVA), as NASA calls the space walks. Leroy Chiao ’83, a former career astronaut whose nearly 230 days in space included 36 hours over six separate EVAs, has said that the unrestricted view of space generated “a rush of emotions,” dominated by amazement. “It’s a surreal experience to climb out of an airlock for the first time,” he recalled. For example, Chiao told Theme magazine, he was surprised and exhilarated to see sunlight glow as it penetrated the atmosphere. It created “an incredible fluorescent blue line that is hard to capture with photos because the reflection of the sun on clouds tends to wash it out.” After 15 years of helping to build, then run, the space station, Chiao retired from NASA in December 2005. He is now a space commercialization entrepreneur and consultant, and lives in a suburb of Houston with his wife and twin children. Recently, President Barack Obama appointed him to a national commission, widely known as the Augustine Committee, charged with defining options for the future of U.S. human space flight programs. Chiao, who is a mid-1980s UC Santa Barbara graduate with an M.S. and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, emphasized that the group’s sole purpose is independent advice.

Facing page: To the select few privileged enough to embark upon the awe-inspiring and downright terrifying experience of Extravehicular Activity (EVA), “space walks” are said to ignite the entire spectrum of human emotions. Required to travel in pairs during activity, these astronauts perceive the solar system from perspectives unfathomable to most. NASA photo.

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Another former UC Santa Barbara grad student from the mid-’80s, whose own future with NASA may hinge on which Augustine Committee options the president selects, is astronaut Jose M. Hernandez ’86. He is scheduled to rocket into space this summer (August 18) aboard the Discovery space shuttle. Hernandez’s path to becoming an astronaut was more circuitous than Chiao’s, but after 12 years of steadily improving qualifications on his annual application he won a place in the Class of 2004. Selectees must complete more than a year of rigorous training before becoming members of the elite Professional Astronaut Corps. Of the 10 other astronaut candidates in Hernandez’s class, one was Joe Acaba. “We’re the best of friends,” Hernandez recently said from Houston where he lives with his wife and five children. He does not mind that Acaba, who has three children and is a neighbor, made it into space before him with the complex mission of helping to deliver and install the last of the solar arrays needed to complete the power backbone of the ISS. Hernandez is simply happy to be flying to the space station with a load of supplies, replacement equipment, a newly designed exercise treadmill (named C.O.L.B.E.R.T.) and, most importantly, racks of electronic experiments. These will be contained in the Leonardo, an Italian-made, pressurized laboratory module carried in the payload bay. Trained as a flight engineer and robotic arm operator, Hernandez is not scheduled for an EVA on the approaching mission. He will sit behind Discovery’s pilot and commander in order to facilitate the cockpit’s smooth functioning during launch and landing, as well as to provide backup should a malfunction occur. Once at their destination, he will manipulate the shuttle’s 50-foot arm to help the ISS attach the school bus-sized lab to a port on the international science platform. Other Discovery crewmembers will make EVAs to repair and replace equipment. Mission Control will have the astronauts’ time planned in detail: Each will have a daily schedule of mission tasks, exercises to counter the effects of microgravity on the human body, food preparation, eating, and relaxation time. With access to the 357-foot-long ISS, visiting astronauts enjoy more amenities as well as room. Though the space station has recreational resources, such as DVDs and e-books, and personal communication links, like email, most astronauts spend their free time at the windows, marveling at the Earth’s ever-changing play of land, sea, and clouds. As Leroy Chiao has said, “The greatest show is right outside the window.” During his four space missions, the last of which placed him at the helm of the international station for six months as its first Chinese American commander and chief science officer, he 8

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spent his free time taking photographs of what he witnessed. (A selection is on his Web site <www. leroychiao.com>.) Opportunities for spacefarers to observe such special beauty come with a cloud of risk. Safety is a paramount concern during astronaut training, but some things are beyond the reach of training: The crews on two of the five original shuttles, for example, were lost in accidents in the course of a launch or a landing. During Chiao’s career he flew on the shuttles Columbia (in 1994), Endeavor (in 1996), and Discovery (in 2000). Twenty months after the destruction of Columbia in 2003, Chiao took his last flight to the space station aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-5. He knew all seven of the Columbia’s crew, including one “particularly good friend” who had helped him find the house in which his family currently lives. “It could’ve been me,” he acknowledged. “On the other hand, it’s part of what we (astronauts) do and we’re aware of the risks of flying in space. It’s not that it’s easier for us, but we understand.” Though no one has been reported injured, much less died, on an EVA, the hazards were on Joe Acaba’s mind as he worked around the support truss for the solar wings. “I think with anything we do in space, from a launch to a space walk to coming back home, there’s lots of risk,” he said matter-of-factly. Even with safety systems such as partners, tethers, and backpack rescue jets, problems occur. “We’re (outside) for 6 1/2 hours, and working on, probably, hundreds if not thousands of specific tasks,” Acaba noted. “We have to change out our safety tethers, so there’s a huge possibility to make a mistake — and it just takes one for you to have a really bad day. Once you’re done, I think you’re more tired mentally than physically.” Given the demands of the astronaut’s job, it is no surprise that striving persistently after the dream of personal spaceflight is a common, though not universal, thread among those chosen for the corps. The three astronauts with UC Santa Barbara ties demonstrate this trait in their own ways: Chiao had wanted to become an astronaut ever since he saw the 1969 Apollo moon landing televised when he was an 8-year-old in Danville, Calif. As a boy, he said he “was always fiddling with things, taking things apart to see how they worked.” His Chinese-born parents trained in Taiwan as engineers and encouraged their children to go to college. Chiao’s undergraduate years were at UC Berkeley, which he exited in 1983 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. “I had to work really hard to get through Berkeley, studying late into the night and on weekends,” he recalled. “That was the hardest single thing I’ve ever done in my life.” He graduated with a 3.2 GPA and declared himself “proud to get out with

Top: During a 12-day mission aboard the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory, Jose Hernandez ‘86 hones his emergency task skills while pulling in a sausage buoy. The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations project took place last ay off the coast of Key Largo, Fla. Bottom left: During a 2004 land survival training session in Maine, NASA educator astronaut Joseph Acaba ‘90 collects water from a clear running stream to be treated with iodine tablets before drinking. Bottom middle: Jose Hernandez ‘86 both astronaut and aquanaut, uses a still camera to photograph plant life in the underwater habitat for the 12th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations mission. Bottom right: NASA ISS science officer and astronaut photographer Leroy Chiao ‘83 experiments with camera angles in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS). All photos provided by NASA. www.ucsbalum.com

With Earth’s horizon at his back, astronaut and Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao installs work platforms and performs several robotic scientific experiments during a five-hour Extravehicular Activity atop the Zvezda Service Module. Donning a Russian Orlan spacesuit, Chiao and cosmonaut Salizhan S. Sharipov (out of frame) worked together on this six-month mission. Photo: NASA.

that. Persevere and work hard; it’s not all talent.” At UC Santa Barbara, Chiao continued to work hard, but he also got lucky: His first summer on campus he met Chemical Engineering Professor Robert Rinker and was hired as a lab assistant. Subsequently, Rinker became his mentor and doctorate adviser. Now retired, he remembers Chiao as a mature, creative student who “enjoyed developing solutions to unsolved problems.” Rinker, who delighted in speeding on the local freeway in his ’62 Chevy Impala, recalls that when Chiao rode with him, “I knew then that Leroy had nerves of steel.” Their friendship endured long after Chiao received his Ph.D. in 1987. During a 2005 Web cast from the space station to high school science and math students meeting at UC Santa Barbara, Chiao surprised Rinker by conducting an award presentation for his former mentor. Chiao, who has spoken on campus several times, including the 2008 Commencement, said “Bob played a big role in the person I became, and UCSB certainly did as well.” Jose Hernandez’s philosophy echoes the themes of hard work and perseverance but adds careful planning to the equation. As the youngest of four children in a migrant field worker’s family from Michoacan, Hernandez was born in French Camp, near Stockton on the family’s annual trip from Mexico to Northern California. Due to following the harvests, the children did not attend school for more than a few months at a time, though they always took loads of homework 10

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back to Mexico for the Christmas holidays. One consequence was that Hernandez was 12 before he felt comfortable with the English language. Fortunately, his parents decided to make Stockton their permanent home so that their children could gain an education and free themselves from the fields. Though he remembered the end of the Apollo era and was “infatuated with becoming an astronaut” as a boy, it was his senior year of high school in 1979 before Hernandez dedicated himself to that goal. “When I heard that Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected as the first Latino American astronaut, that sealed the deal for me,” he said. Vowing to pursue his dream by studying electrical engineering, he accepted a five-year program at Stockton’s University of the Pacific (UOP), which offered generous financial aid, and was able to live at home. “That was what life dealt me and I embraced it,” he said. “I decided to get the best (undergraduate) education I could and go to a better school to get a master’s degree. That’s what I ended up doing at UC Santa Barbara.” Coming to UC Santa Barbara on a full Graduate Engineering Minority Fellowship, Hernandez could for the first time devote himself full-time to his studies. He took his courses at warp speed and finished in 12 months. The only drawback was that Stockton is a long way from Santa Barbara and, like many, it was the first time he was away from his family. But UC Santa

Barbara had the Minority Engineering Program, which became “a refuge, a (surrogate) family” for him, he recalled. Hernandez worked full-time at the Livermore National Lab after securing his Master of Science degree in 1986. He would stay there 14 years, mostly as an electronics and materials engineer, but rising to manage a program to dismantle Russian nuclear bombs to reduce the threats of nuclear terrorism. Along the way he learned to speak Russian and to fly a private plane. As much as he enjoyed the challenges of the lab, he constantly honed his skills to enhance his chances of becoming an astronaut-candidate. In 2004, the effort bore fruit, which led, with the help of friends, to the creation of the Reaching for the Stars Foundation <www.astrojh.com> to help inspire young people to learn math and science. It was different for Joe Acaba, who entered the corps as an educator rather than an engineer and is its first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage. Born in Inglewood, Calif., and raised in Anaheim, Acaba read science fiction in his youth, and flirted with the idea of going into space. “I had that childhood dream, but becoming an astronaut is not an easy thing to do,” he said. “I know people who, from a very young age, knew they wanted to be an astronaut. I cannot honestly say that was me; it was not a career I had planned.” As a young man, Acaba enjoyed outdoor sports and became interested in the environment. But for his first two years at UC Santa Barbara he had no major. “I was on the five-year plan, unintentionally,” he laughed. “I knew I wanted to do something in math or science. Then I found a passion for earth sciences, which is why I studied geology.” He also found passionate faculty geologists, like Arthur Sylvester and Jim Boles, who fanned his professional interests. Boles, who once spent three weeks in the field with him, recalled Acaba as quiet and focused. “He was very independent and mature relative to the other geology students,” he said. “I suppose I attributed that, in part, to the fact he was in the (U.S.) Marine Corps reserves.” However, he said, “I never felt this guy would be

famous.” It was Sylvester, Acaba remembered, who set in motion the process for a master’s degree from the University of Arizona. The young Gaucho was already beginning interviews to go into the Peace Corps when his adviser told him that he might qualify for a UA scholarship in geology. Acaba jumped at the opening, figuring “it was an opportunity I wasn’t going to get every day.” The Peace Corps could wait. After securing his master’s and spending two years as a hydrogeologist working on Superfund sites, Acaba joined the Peace Corps. He served two years in the Dominican Republic as an environmental awareness volunteer where, he told Peace Corps Online, he set his sights on becoming a career teacher. He taught science and math to Florida high school and middle school students for five years before NASA’s new educator astronaut program caught his eye in 2003. Acaba was pleasantly surprised to find how well his background matched NASA’s requirements. “It was almost scary that a lot of the educational and professional decisions I’d made were perfectly suited for the job I have now,” he said. Educator astronauts, of which there are three in the class of 2004 and none in the class of 2009, are eventually expected to take their experiences back to the classroom and inspire the next generation of space explorers, according to NASA’s Web site. Acaba’s mission lasted 13 days, but he hopes to return to the space station for six months or so, for what NASA calls a long-duration mission. He and Hernandez expect they will fly into space sometime in the next few years, but many elements are currently in play. Construction of the ISS is virtually complete and the shuttle fleet is scheduled for its final countdown in 2010. A new U.S. vehicle, called the Orion, is not expected to be ready before 2015, if then. Russian spacecraft will become the main transporter of humans, equipment, and supplies. And what programs will the Obama Administration keep or kill? As many of the nine newest astronaut-candidates say, it’s an exciting time to be part of NASA.

Astronaut Joseph Acaba, STS-119 mission specialist, along with other astronauts and mission staff, examine the bay of space shuttle Discovery during mission training at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Photo: NASA www.ucsbalum.com

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: s e r u t c e L Arts &

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Photos by Alex Cooper

n i e v i l A e r u t l u C g n i of Keep y t i n u m m o C B S C U e th By Elizabeth Werhane ’00

When choreographer Christopher Pilafian left a professional dance career in New York City to teach at UC Santa Barbara, he traded one of the world’s cultural hubs for a quiet coastal city, but he hasn’t missed out on what’s new in dance. Pilafian credits Arts & Lectures for delivering culture to campus. “The Arts & Lectures program makes it possible to connect with the world’s leading performing artists and thinkers without having to travel thousands of miles to see and hear them,” he said. This year, Arts & Lectures celebrates 50 years of doing just that — bringing performing artists, films and lecturers to nearly 60,000 people on campus and in the community each year. The anniversary season’s diverse lineup, including big names like Yo-Yo Ma, Patti LuPone, Charlie Rose and Merle Haggard, is a testament to the program’s strength. But Director Celesta Billeci knows that she’s running a university program, so she focuses equally on education and entertainment.

Opposite:With its hand on the pulse of both local and worldwide cultural phenomena, UC Santa Barbara’s Arts & Lectures program celebrates 50 years of bringing enriching education and entertainment to campus. Above: A virtually tangible fervor for bringing both new-age and classic culture to the UCSB community fuels Director Celesta Billeci’s devotion to organizing and booking events that audiences will be sure to enjoy. www.ucsbalum.com

Alex Cooper

Located adjacent to Campbell Hall and the university’s Visitor Center, the Arts & Lectures ticket office is easily accessible to both students and non-students for event information.

Arts & Lectures is offering Alumni Association members a 20 percent discount for the following events: An Evening with John Leguizamo 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Campbell Hall $35 / $18 UCSB students Sarah Chang, violin Andrew von Oeyen, piano 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, at Campbell Hall $40 / $18 UCSB students Pat Metheny, guitarist and composer 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at Campbell Hall $45 / $19 UCSB students To receive the discount, you must present your Alumni Association card at ticket purchase. For more information, call (805) 893-3535.

The Mosher Alumni House will host wine and cheese receptions sponsored by C’est Cheese and Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards preceding three of the season’s events. For an additional $5, you can relax with other Gauchos before John Leguizamo (Oct. 7), Sarah Chang and Andrew von Oeyen (Feb. 26, 2010) or Pat Methany (April 21, 2010).

Coastlines | Summer 2009

With just a short walk from a dorm room or Isla Vista apartment, students have seen His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Grammy awardwinner Jack Johnson, and novelist Salman Rushdie. Billeci also schedules performers that most students have never heard of to balance what is popular with what is culturally important. “We’re really in touch with what’s happening in the larger cultural world,” Associate Director Roman Baratiak, said. “Santa Barbara isn’t that big of a community to have this much to choose from.” Billeci said the community trusts that Arts & Lectures will make good choices. “People will come even if they don’t know the name,” she said. Offstage and on campus, many performers interact with students in classrooms, leading lectures, demonstrations, technique classes or question-and-answer sessions. For example, Pilafian said Trey McIntyre taught a choreography workshop when Arts & Lectures brought his company to perform at UC Santa Barbara. Members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater taught classes in modern dance technique. Dance majors get “refreshed intention, stronger motivation and an expanded sense of possibility” when they work with professionals in their classes, Pilafian said. “Without living examples of the principles we teach, the work of the faculty would be handicapped,” he said. Arts & Lectures not only showcases art, but also commissions performers to develop something new. “That really mirrors what a college campus is supposed to be doing in terms of research,” Billeci said. “We’re giving money to artists to create new work and see where that work goes.” In the 2001-2002 season, Arts & Lectures commissioned a work by composer Laurie Anderson. It premiered at UC Santa Barbara before touring the world. The list of commissioned art also includes work by choreographer Stephen Petronio, fiddler Mark O’Connor, and experimental electronic musician DJ Spooky. When Billeci became director nine years ago, one of her goals was to take the show on the road, so to speak. Billeci started offering events at off-campus event venues — the Arlington Theatre, The Granada, Lobero Theatre, and Hahn Hall at the Music Academy of the West. Still, the 860-seat Campbell Hall remains Arts & Lectures’ main stage. The retractable wooden desks attached to the armrest of each seat and the expansive bicycle parking lot outside the domed hall remind attendees that the events are part of the university’s educational mission. For half a century, Art & Lectures has selectively drawn from an eclectic array of event material. With past lectures by the Dalai Lama and a future performance by Yo-Yo Ma, the program staff promises to deliver enjoyable memories for years to come.

Arts & Lectures costs more than $4 million annually. Ticket sales alone can’t fund the program. That’s partly because Arts & Lectures

keeps prices low, especially for students, to give the community access to the arts. “We don’t charge as much as we can; we charge as much as we have to,” Billeci said. Some events are free. To be financially sensible and adhere to Arts & Lectures’ educational mission, Billeci and Baratiak have to be savvy enough to book popular acts that bring in the bucks while also scheduling important lesserknown performers whose shows need to be subsidized by Arts & Lectures. “We’re entrusted as one of the cultural presenters in the community, and that’s a big responsibility,” Baratiak said. Less than 5 percent of the Arts & Lectures budget is funded by the University of California. “They’re doing the best they can,” Billeci said. “If they could do more,

The 2009 season kicks off Sept. 24 with NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” at the Arlington Theatre. For this season’s schedule and ticket sales

➚ visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Alex Cooper

Challenges and Opportunities

they would.” Fortunately, the community supports Arts & Lectures to the tune of approximately $2 million per year. It’s not only valued by people working in the arts, but also by the business community. Names including Sara Miller McCune, Michael Towbes, Daniel Burnham, the Orfalea Foundations, and Yardi Systems are listed among the Visionary Producers who gave more than $25,000 to Arts & Lectures last season. Unlike UC Los Angeles, which has more than 20 endowments supporting UCLA Live, Arts & Lectures solicits donations annually. Billeci hopes to establish an endowment at UC Santa Barbara, but the plan is on hold for now. “We need an endowment to know there’s enough money for perpetuity,” Billeci said. “I never want the program to be in jeopardy.” What would UC Santa Barbara be like without Arts & Lectures? Here’s how Pilafian described it: “The major artists we interact with would be reduced to names in journals or 2-D images on YouTube. The sparks of inspiration that issue from live performances would dim or disappear. “Our community would probably become more culturally provincial and selfreferential. “It would be horrible.”

Alex Cooper

Campbell Hall is an intimate venue, but the program also reaches the smallest of venues, such as school cafeterias, community centers, and clubs. Arts & Lectures offers free music, dance, theater, and folklore performances to Latino youth and families throughout the county. Viva El Arte de Santa Barbara! is a collaboration with the Marjorie Luke Theatre, Isla Vista Youth Projects, and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center. Last year more than 17,000 people attended Viva El Arte events. With permission, Arts & Lectures uses technology to share its programs with an even wider audience. When the Dalai Lama spoke on campus in April 2009, his voice was heard beyond the Events Center. Listeners could tune in to KCSB-FM on the radio in their residence halls or online in their offices to hear his message and laughter during a live broadcast of the event. KCSB also posted a recording of the talk on its Web site. Some events air on University of California Television, or UCTV. “We want to use new technology to reach more people,” Baratiak said. “The arts refresh us so we can face whatever our day-to-day lives are about,” he said. “They’re no different in many respects from taking your vitamins for the day.”

www.ucsbalum.com

ALUMNI/ All Gaucho Reunion

SAVE THE DATE

April 23-25, 2010

4th Annual All Gaucho Reunion BACK TO THE FUTURE 4) 0-195 4 9 1 es of t on Reuni Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Class n o h o i c n u u a tions ra Re Induc den G l e o m G *Rivie a ll of F of the rts Ha 65) return o 9 e p -1 h S T 5 l * 195 ationa nt es of Recre d artme (class n p a e e D t a s i TG Studie colleg ental lumni *Inter A m n k o e r i re e Env cial G for th g *Spe y r a s er Tastin eer tners Anniv n i h t V nts, b 0 i e t n *4 e m d u l Al ce , deca annua music efit ra n e e v i b *2nd l ( allop stival cho G ho Fe u c a u a G * ne) rG ids zo bigge k n e e v v i t *An e nterac and i n e d gar ore! uch m And m : miss

13 More than 3,000 people took part in the third annual All Gaucho Reunion, helping cement the event as an emerging UC Santa Barbara tradition. Alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends gathered on campus during April to celebrate Gauchos for Life! Photography by Alex Cooper, Taylor Haggerty, Franklin Horn, Shelley LaMon, Kevin Steele and Natalie Wong Events pictured: 1. Alumni Faculty and Staff Reception 2. Riviera Reunion 3. Gaucho Festival in Stoke Plaza 4. Gaucho Golf Classic 5. Ice Cream Social 6. Zach Gill Concert After-Party 7. Gaucho Festival 8. Alumni Association Awards Banquet 9. Alumni Vintners Wine Tasting 10. Zach Gill Concert After-Party 11. Gaucho Festival Kids Zone 12. Riviera Reunion 13. Gaucho Golf Classic Dinner 14. Riviera Reunion 15. Touch Tank at Gaucho Festival Kids Zone 16. Cheerleaders perform at Gaucho Festival 17. Engineering Department Reception 18. Zach Gill at his Concert After Party 19. Buddhist Monks creating a Mandela at the University Art Museum 20. Senior Breakfast at Mosher Alumni House 21. Gaucho Gallop

Coastlines | Summer 2009

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Coastlines | Summer 2009

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AROUND STORKE TOWER — Compiled from staff and Public Affairs reports

Regents Close Funding Gap with Fee Increases and Furloughs UC Regents approved a fiscal emergency plan to close the $813 million state funding gap. The plan includes student fees increases, faculty and staff furloughs/ salary reductions, and additional cuts of at least $300 million. Student fees were increased 9.3 percent, or $662, for the 2009-2010 academic year in May. In July, Regents approved UC faculty and staff furloughs of 7 to 26 days that will save about $184.1 million in payroll costs, amounting to about a quarter of the state funding gap. Each chancellor at UC’s 10 campuses will determine how additional program cuts will be made to close the remaining $300 million funding gap.

Wiemann Retiring as Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement John M. Wiemann will retire after 14 years as vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement. During his tenure, Wiemann led the Office of Institutional Advancement in providing services and leadership to all departments on campus, as well as coordinating fund-raising efforts such as the Campaign for UC Santa Barbara. Wiemann joined the faculty of the Department of Communication in 1977 and has been honored as a W.K. Kellogg Foundation National Fellow and a Fulbright-Hays Senior Research Scholar, among many other distinctions.

Mosher Wins Architecture/ Building Award The Mosher Alumni House recently received a Merit Award in the 2009 Gold Nugget Awards (GNA) under the category of Outstanding Special Use Facility. The GNA competition features a variety of categories open to 14 Western states as well as all international countries. Mosher was recognized for its contemporary form and the sustainable principles and materials used throughout the building. For example, roughly 75 percent of the interior spaces are designed to receive sufficient daylight in order to reduce dependency on artificial lighting. Barry Berkus ’55 was the architect, Seltek Pacific was the contractor and UC Santa Barbara Design and Construction Services was the developer.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks UCSB Graduate Schools in Top 20

UCSB Takes in Evacuees During Wildfire

With more than 30,000 residents under evacuation during May’s Jesusita Fire, UC Santa Barbara opened the MAC at the RecCen and the Events Center as American Red Cross emergency shelters. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the roughly 600 people at the MAC to express state support for victims of the wildfire. The Jesusita was Santa Barbara’s third major wildfire within several months, and destroyed nearly 80 homes, damaging many more. Investigators believe the fire originated from the spark of a power tool that was being used to clear brush in the area near the Jesusita Trail. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tours the Red Cross Shelter at UCSB’s Multi Activity Center with Chancellor Henry Yang during May’s Jesusita Fire. Photo: Paul Wellman

U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 rankings of America’s Best Graduate Schools, placed UC Santa Barbara as a whole from 19th in the country to 18th (tie), and the College of Engineering as the 12th-ranked public graduate engineering school. The Materials department moved up from fifth to fourth. Also in the top 10 for its specialty, the Chemical Engineering department was steady at ninth. Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is tied for 20th in the Electrical/Electronic/ Communications Engineering category, and Mechanical Engineering is tied for 27th. www.ucsbalum.com

AROUND STORKE TOWER/RESEARCH

BY THE NUMBERS UC Santa Barbara applications for Fall 2009

Number of UCSB Patents, Inventions Increases in 2008 From the atomic force microscope to light-emitting diodes, UC Santa Barbara has has seen the number of inventions and patents — and the income they generate — rise dramatically over the past three years. All told, UC Santa Barbara had 611 active inventions in its 2008 portfolio, which also includes 316 active U.S. patents. That compares to 480 inventions and 280 patents in 2006. The UC Santa Barbara portfolio also A chart shows UCSB’s active inventions, by included 38 new licensing agreements discipline. in 2008, entered into with companies interested in developing products based on UC Santa Barbara research.

44,673 applications from prospective first-year students

4,871 of admitted students plan to enroll for fall 2009 3.85 average GPA of all freshmen applicants

30 percent of entering first-year students are minorities

10,085 transfer applications 14 percent increase in transfer applications from last year

1,700 target enrollment of transfer students for fall 2009 31 percent of freshmen applicants had a high school GPA of 4.0 or higher

Skateboarders Have Own Lane on Campus Skateboarders on campus are now restricted to a 5-foot wide lane designed to reduce skate-related accidents and prevent collisions with pedestrians. The new bright yellow skateboard lane runs from the Humanities and Social Science Building to Davidson Library and cost $12,500 to install. An informal survey suggests UC Santa Barbara is the only campus with a lane specifically for skateboarders, although many schools have restrictions or bans on skating. The Associated Students and the “Be Smart About Safety” fund matched the $7,500 that two students from the Skateboard Committee raised in order to create the lane. Photo by Taylor Haggerty

Research Roundup — UC Santa Barbara Public Affairs Alzheimer’s Research Yields Potential Drug Target Scientists may have identified the toxic agent in Alzheimer’s disease, opening doors for new drugs for treatment. The research, from the laboratory of UC Santa Barbara professor Michael Bowers, suggests that a cluster of peptides known as AB42 may be responsible for the disease. By using ion mobility-based mass spectroscopy, Bowers and his research group were able to examine the structure, aggregation, and energetics of protein and peptide systems. Now, the group is searching for drug candidates that can prevent AB42 from aggregating to form the toxic cause of memory loss. Michael T. Bowers with data on the Italian familial mutant of AB42, a strain of Alzheimer’s disease originally found in certain families of Italian descent.

Coastlines | Summer 2009

New Study Ranks ‘Hotspots’ of Human Impact on Coastal Areas UC Santa Barbara scientists performed the first integrated analysis of all coastal areas of the world and identified the “hotspots” that are most affected by human impact. The study considered factors such as organic pollutants from pesticides and inorganic pollutants from urban runoff. According to the study, the hottest hotspot is at the mouth of the Mississippi River, where nutrient runoff has led to an overgrowth of algae that depletes the oxygen supply and creates a dead zone. The other top 10 hotspots are found in Asia and the Mediterranean. The rankings from this study can be used to help scientists decide where and how to allocate resources to tackle pollutionrelated problems.

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2009 – 2010 Island Life in Ancient Greece September 27 – October 5, 2009 Extensions Available Experience the rich history and culture of ancient Greece, Turkey and the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires while cruising aboard the deluxe MS Le Diamant. Visit Mykonos, known for its picturesque s e a s i d e villages and windmills; D e l o s , mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis; stunning Santorini, Rhodes and Patmos. Conclude with a tour of some of the world’s best-preserved Greco-Roman ruins at Ephesus and Troy on the Turkish coast. From $3,195 cruise only, per person based on double occupancy. Round-trip international air available through tour operator at additional charge.

Costa Rica January 28 - February 8, 2010

Serengeti & Zanzibar Explorer September 27 – October 6, 2009 Pre-Trip Extension Climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro

September 20 – September 27, 2009 The Serengeti and Zanzibar Explorer offers the best of Tanzania’s safari excursions combined with exploration of the white sand beaches of the exotic spice island of Zanzibar. Visit Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Olduvai Gorge and the largest unbroken caldera in the world at the Ngorongoro Crater. En route, visit a local Masai village. In Zanzibar, participate in options such as visits to the spice plantations. This trip is limited to 24 passengers. Tanzania from $4,995 per person based on double occupancy. Kilimanjaro post-trip extension from $4,300 depending on number of participants. International air additional and can be booked through tour operator.

Island Life in Tahiti and French Polnesia February 7-15, 2010 Papeete and Moorea Extensions

Cruise the Panama Canal January 23 - February 3, 2010 From the United States to Costa Rica, treat yourself aboard the Six-Star Crystal Symphony. After embarking in Miami, enjoying the tropical beaches of Tortola, St. Barths., St. Maarten and Aruba enroute to the Panama Canal. In transit, marvel at this feat of engineering and the idyllic landscapes along its banks. Be pampered in

luxury with the superlative services of a doting crew—a philosophy of hospitality that has earned Crystal Cruises a worldwide reputation for excellence!” Cruise From $2,995 per person based on double occupancy. Includes port taxes and ship gratuity. Roundtrip international air additional and can be booked through tour operator.

Australia and New Zealand February 7-20, 2010

Your journey begins in cosmopolitan San Jose. Embark on an excursion t h r o u g h the Central Valley to Irazu Volcanu continuing on to the archaeological site of Guayabo in a protected rainforest. Visit a local marketplace in Cuidad Quesada, enjoy magnificent vistas of Arenal Volcano, take guided walks through Monteverde’s biological reserve learning about the amazing bio-diversity in this relatively small area. Float along the Tempisque River where you will have to opportunity to see abundant wildlife. End your tropical journey at a secluded Pacific beach resort

Experience the sublime paradise of the South Seas aboard the incomparable S.Y. Star Flyer. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tahiti and French Polynesia, view ancient stone temples on Huahine; explore the cultural legacy of the Polynesians on the “Sacred Island” of Raiatea; savor the seductive charm of Bora Bora, and visit Moorea.

This spectacular journey captures the magnificent landscapes and dynamic cultures of Australia and New Zealand. One highlight of this experience is the exclusive three-night cruise along the Great Barrier Reef, one of nature’s greatest spectacles, aboard the intimate Coral Princess, who’s onboard marine biologist will share his passion for and knowledge of the unique natural treasure. This program also provides exclusive opportunities to gain insight into local cultures during dinner with a Christchurch family and a comprehensive introduction in Cairns to the Aborigines rich heritage.

$3,395 per person based on double occupancy includes roundtrip international from LAX. Other gateways and “land only” can be arranged.

Cruise from $2,995 per person based on double occupancy. Roundtrip international air additional and can be purchased through tour operator

From $4,495 cruise and land only per person based on double occupancy. Roundtrip international air from LAX and SFO approximately $1985.

To Coastlines request brochures for these trips or to be placed on the mailing list for these and future trips, such as Portugal 22 | Summer 2009 and Italy or other destinations, call the UCSB Alumni Association at (805) 893-4611 or email gaucho.getaways@ia.ucsb.edu.

2009 – 2010 Mysteries of the Mekong: Saigon to Angkor Wat February 16-27, 2010

This memorable 12-day exploration reveals the historic landmarks and French colonial architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, cruises the Mekong River for five nights and provides opportunities to experience centuries-old traditions and learn more about Vietnam’s and Cambodia’s people and culture. In Siem reap, walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat and admire the crowning achievement of Khmer art and architecture. From $3,195 per person based on double occupancy. Roundtrip international air additional and can be booked through tour operator.

The Blue Voyage: Turkey & The Turquoise Coast May 1-15, 2010 Cappadoicia & Ankara Extension Visit remote villages, explore fascinating archeological sites, and cruise the magnificent Tu r q u o i s e Coast in a privately chartered yacht. Our odyssey begins in Istanbul with its many treasures.Then travel south to explore the World War I battlefield of Gallipoli, the ruins of ancient Troy and Pergamum, and Ephesus, the world’s bestpreserved classical city. In Marmaris we’ll board our traditional private gulets, equipped with individual cabins and baths, to cruise the magnificent Turkish coastline. Conclude with two nights in the seaside resort of Antalya. Cost TBA per person.

Around Africa by Private Jet February 26 - March 10, 2010

Tulip Time Cruise: Netherland & Belgium April 10-18, 2010

Explore the African continent by private jet, including many wondrous landscapes including the towering sand dunes of the Namib Desert and Victoria Falls. Encounter Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, Madagascar’s leaping lemurs, and Tanzania’s thundering masses of migrating herds. Learn about Africa’s vibrant cultures: the bushmen of the Kalahari, t h e Dogon tribe of M a l i , and the Berber of the Atlas Mountains. Take advantage of a uniquely flexible itinerary that allows you to easily tailor the trip to your own interests. Limited to 68 participants.

Begin in Amsterdam where you’ll board your ship. See the sights in Arnhem, Dordrecht, Middelburg, Rotterdam, as well as Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium. Travel to fascinating Bruges, the windmills at Kinderdijk and learn about Holland’s complex flood controls at the Delta Works. Enjoy the spectacular Keukenhof G a r d e n s, as well as the fishing village of Volendam, and Edam. Return to Amsterdam to enjoy a canal cruise and a final night on your ship.

$62,950 per person based on double occupancy. Roundtrip international air to and from departure points additional and can be booked through tour operator.

Cruise from $2,257 per person based on double occupancy. Includes port taxes and ship gratuity. Roundtrip international air additional and can be booked through tour operator.

The Great Journey July 2-10, 2010 Enjoy this eleven-day journey of discovery along the Rhine and into the Swiss Alps through a unique combination of river and rail travel. Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel aboard a ship in the deluxe M.S. Amadeus fleet. The five night cruise includes ports of call at Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mannheim and Strasbourg before disembarking in Basel. From Basel, travel overland through western Switzerland to the resorts of Zermatt and Lucerne. On three rail journeys, ride a cog railway up Mount Pilatus for vistas of Lake Lucerne; cross the mountainous backbone of Switzerland aboard the celebrated Glacier Express; and view the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Bahn. From $3,195 per person based on double occupancy, land only. International air additional and can be arranged through the tour operator.

Journey of Peter the Great: Russia & the Volga River Cruise Ju5 -17, 2010 Explore Russia and the Volga waterways lined with medieval villages and w o o d e n dachas as well as Moscow, and St. Petersburg. In Star City, home to Russia’s space program, enjoy a talk with a cosmonaut and an exclusive tour at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Sail to Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsy and Kizhi Island. Trace the steps of Peter the Great as you experience St. Petersburg. Immerse yourself in Russian history at the Kremlin’s Armory Museum, Red Square and iconic St. Basil’s Cathedral. Cruise from $3,295 per person based on double occupancy. Roundtrip international air additional and can be booked through tour operator. www.ucsbalum.com www.ucsbalum.com 23 23

SPORTS

— UCSBGauchos.com

Katy Freeman Swims in Two Finals at World University Games

Michael Young was selected to go to the All-Star Game for the sixth straight season.

Alum Michael Young in Starting Lineup for All-Star Game Michael Young ’02 of the Rangers replaced injured Tampa Bay player Evan Longoria in the starting lineup of the All-Star Game. Young, who had been voted onto the American League squad by the players, went into the break hitting .308, with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs. This was Young’s sixth consecutive All-Star Game, but he started for the first time.

NCAA Awards 2010 Men’s College Cup to UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara was awarded the 2010 men’s soccer College Cup, signifying a historic breakthrough for not only the university, but also the West Coast. UC Santa Barbara will host a national championship event for the first time since the men’s volleyball championship of 1974. This is just the second Men’s College Cup to be awarded to a West Coast university since 1986. The College Cup will be played at UC Santa Barbara’s Meredith Field at Harder Stadium, which holds nearly 17,000. The Gauchos have led the nation in average home attendance each of the past two seasons, the only school to accomplish this feat. For more on the College Cup ➚ http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/051409aab.html

UCSB Receives Unconditional NCAA Certification In April of this year, UC Santa Barbara was granted unconditional certification by the National Collegiate Athletics Association. This distinction confirms the athletic department’s integrity and ensures the NCAA’s support in reinforcing and further improving the state of the program in future athletic endeavors. Todd Lee, Assistant Chancellor, served as the campus chair for NCAA Self-Study Review – a process that took more than a year to complete. 24

Coastlines | Summer 2009

Katy Freeman ’09 represented the United States at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, this July. Freeman was the only American to qualify for the finals in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events. She took fifth in the 200-meter breaststroke and sixth in the 100-meter competition.

Brian Alexander Plays in the FINA World Championships Former water polo player Brian Alexander ’05 participated in the 2009 FINA World Championships on team USA’s 14-man roster this July in Rome. Alexander was a two-time AllAmerican while playing for UC Santa Barbara, and was an alternate for the 2008 Olympic team. Team USA won against Italy, Macedonia, and Romania in preliminary play at the competition. Gaucho head water polo coach Wolf Wigo served as a commentator for the broadcast.

MILESTONES

1950s Norma and Arnold Funai, ’51, have retired in Oregon after Norma’s 20-year teaching profession and Arnold’s career as a research physicist with Lockheed Martin. Cliff Purcell, ’59, was recently inducted into the 2008 SBART Hall of Fame for his award-winning career of coaching and teaching in the greater Santa Barbara area.

1960s Dean Loy Lytle, ’66, announced his retirement this June, after 32 years of service to the university. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, he received a Ph.D. from Princeton and earned a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. In 1977 he returned to UC Santa Barbara and joined the Department of Psychology. His research focused on the effects of psychoactive drugs and nutrients on brain neurochemistry and behavior, as well as drugs for alleviating pain. He received a distinguished teacher award from the UC Santa Barbara Mortar Board Society and held a now-expired patent on the use of Prozac. Additionally, Lytle served as vice chair and chair of his department and served as dean of Summer Sessions and the dean of Extended Learning Services. Donald Galine, ’68, attorney at law, recently placed first in two events in the LongCourse national swimming championship. Galine is a member of the Gaucho Athletic Association Board of Directors and swam competitively for UC Santa Barbara in the 1960s.

1970s Kati Haycock, ’71, was awarded the 2009 Education Commission of the States (ECS) James Bryant Conant Award for her contribution to childhood advocacy and classroom achievement. The Conant Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the national education community, recognizing individuals of outstanding influence in the classroom. Haycock is the founder of The Education Trust, an organization dedicated to academic achievement in students of all levels. Additionally, she has worked with the Children’s Defense Fund and The Achievement Council. She currently serves on the boards of the Hunt Institute for Education Leadership and

During the 3rd Annual All Gaucho Reunion in April, the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association honored Gauchos giving to Gauchos. Honorees were Classics Professor Apostolos Athanassakis, left, Harvey Schechter ’47, Judy Henley, Chemical Engineering Professor Emeritus Duncan and Suzanne Mellichamp M.A. ’70, and Doug Otto ’73, far right, with Dilling and Chancellor Henry Yang.

Policy, the New Teacher Project, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. John Maghotta, ’73, has been appointed to the editorial board of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s publication, Strategies Journal. Victoria Harrison, ’75, will step down this July after serving 19 years as campus police chief for UC Berkeley. Harrison majored in sociology and anthropology at UC Santa To read more Barbara. Milestones and Class Notes, log into our online community at www.ucsbalum.com Elizabeth Lishner, ’75,

➚

was recently appointed as an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration. Nancy W. Vensko, ’75, recently joined the San Luis Obispo law firm Sinsheimer Juhnke Lebens & McIvor as an attorney in the intellectual property department. Vensko received a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara, teaching credentials from San Francisco State University, and a post-baccalaureate degree in zoology at UC Berkeley. She also earned a master’s degree in cancer biology from Stanford University’s School of Medicine, and was a research assistant before attending www.ucsbalum.com 25 www.ucsbalum.com 25

MILESTONES

California Western School of Law. Before joining the firm, Vensko was a managing partner in the office of Knobbe Martens Olson & Near in San Luis Obispo. Artist Shauna Peck, ’78, recently held two shows, Bandini Gallery, Culver City and “Silent Ties: New Work by Shauna Peck,” at the California Center for the Arts Museum displaying her paintings and sculpture. Peck relies on materials and simple, but symbolic, images to convey messages through her art. She also teaches at San Diego State University and Palomar College. Adolfo Murillo’s, ’79, company Tequila Alquimia received official notification of USDA Organic Certification. Although the agave fields have been organic for 16 years, the company just recently pursued certification.

1980s Christopher Hall, ’81, recently passed the USPTO Patent Bar, and is currently writing patents for the intellectual property law firm of Schneck & Schneck in San Jose, Calif.

Steve Mesmer, ’82, was recently appointed senior vice president of Business Development and Program Management for Questar Assessment, Inc. Mesmer will be in charge of the K-12 custom contract business while overseeing program management for the company’s state clients. J. Gregory Gaitan,’87, was elected 2009 president of the Santa Barbara County Medical Society. He is a board certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Gaitan practices at the Sansum Clinic and serves as chair of the Pediatrics Department at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Kenneth Julian, ’87, has joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips as a litigation partner. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Julian earned his law degree from the UC Hastings College of the Law. He served as a federal prosecutor for 11 years, as an assistant U.S. attorney, deputy chief, in the Central District of California, where he led high-profile criminal cases in business sectors, including health care, banking, and securities fraud. He tried 15 federal cases, all of which ended in convictions, including the public corruption case against former Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona. Julian will be based in the firm’s Orange County office.

1990s Elizabeth Laurie Garcia, ’91, currently lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and 7-year-old son. She obtained a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Santa Barbara in 1992 and, after teaching elementary school for a few years, returned to UC Santa Barbara to get a master’s degree and Pupil Personnel Services Credential with the Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology Program in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. She has been working as a bilingual school psychologist for the Santa Barbara County Education Office for the past 10 years and also teaches the School Psychology First Year Practicum course series for the College of Creative Studies psychology program as an adjunct faculty member.

UC President Mark Yudof, right, with Chancellor Henry Yang presented the plenary address at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education’s Policy Goes to School event. In his speech at Mosher Alumni House, he addressed accountability in higher education, saying, “I view accountability as here to stay. It is becoming a permanent feature of American life.” He emphasized the need to identify causal factors in accountability reports, learn more about what our students do after graduation, and balance desired outcomes with a variety of educational opportunities.

26 26 Coastlines Coastlines || Summer Summer 2009 2009

Hank Paben, ’91, joined First Commercial Bank as vice president of client development. Paben brings more than 17 years of experience in the banking industry to his new position, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in business economics. Gary Andrews, ’93, was one of the three semifinalists under consideration for a spot as the final contestant on HGTV’s show Design Star. The show’s selection committee was unable to choose between the three applicants — Gary Andrews, Torie Halbert and Alissa Sutton — and decided to add a twist to the show by having the other contestants decide. Andrews was born in Spain’s Canary Islands, and lived in Mexico, Japan, Germany, Hawaii, Texas, and Virginia. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara

MILESTONES

with a degree in Film Studies and Playwriting and now works as a freelance designer, working on sets for television shows and celebrity clients in Los Angeles. Richard Gallagher, ’95, was made a partner in the firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Gallagher is a member of the firm’s security litigation and regulatory enforcement group based in San Francisco, and practices commercial litigation with a concentration on securities litigation. Ori Katz, ’96, was made a partner in the firm Sheppard, Mullin Richter & Hampton, where he worked as an attorney. He is in the firm’s finance and bankruptcy practice group and specializes in business bankruptcies and creditors’ rights. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Jason Lezak, ’99, competed in multiple events in Israel’s Maccabiah Games in July. Lezak chose to skip the upcoming world swimming championships for a chance to participate in the Maccabiah Games, an international competition for Jewish athletes. Previously, Lezak overtook the world record-holding French swimmer Alain Bernard in the final stroke of the 400-meter freestyle relay in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, swimming the fastest 100-meter lap in history. He earned one other medal in Beijing, and another for the 400-meter medley relay in the 2004 games in Athens.

2000s Joe Gotelli, ’01, was appointed as a co-manager of American Century Investments new American Century New York Tax-Free Fund. The fund seeks to maximize total return through high current income that is exempt from New York state and local income taxes. After graduation from UC Santa Barbara, Gotelli earned his M.B.A. from Santa Clara University and began working in the financial industry in 2001. He joined American Century Investments in 2008 and worked as a portfolio manager before his promotion. Ann Moreno, ’02, was recently promoted to senior account executive at Morgan Marketing & Public Relations. In her new position, she is responsible for executing public relations campaigns for clients including Panda Restaurant Group and King’s Hawaiian Baker. She also serves as a day-to-day client contact, and works with media relations, copywriting, event planning, and social media coordination. Brian Reardon,’02, began a full service hauling company, Junk King, after graduating and is now in the process of franchising

Barry Berkus, ’55, and his design firm, B3 Architects, a Berkus Design Studio, received nine awards at the 2009 Gold Nugget Awards, a regional and international homebuilding competition. Along with eight other distinctions, the firm was awarded Project of the Year, the highest honor in the competition, for the Yanonali Court, pictured, in Santa Barbara. Four of B3 Architects’ awardwinning projects are located in Santa Barbara.

his business and going green. Reardon saw the possibility of the waste management industry and began with a single truck hauling away junk for friends. Since then he has expanded his services and prides himself on the cost-effective and environmentally friendly aspect of his business. Steven Colburn, ’06, returned home Feb. 9, 2009, after serving 20 weeks in the Persian Gulf. He was assigned to the Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS O’Kane, and is stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as a division officer. Tom Meier, ’06, was selected as the fall 2008 outstanding graduate student in the Metropolitan State University’s College of Management. Meier received his M.B.A from the school in December. He is also the founder of Pike Island Nonprofit Technology, a business that provides IT services to Twin-Cities area nonprofit agencies. Adam Brener, ’07, is working as the operations manager for Earthsource Organics, a start-up in raw, organic food manufacturing. The company is the only certified raw, organic, vegan, kosher and gluten-free kitchen in California. The first line of product, raw chocolate truffle bars, is available in more than 200 stores across the country. Brener is responsible for overseeing the manufacturing process including employees, finance, automation, marketing/branding, shipping and distribution. Daniella Elghanayan, ’07, was promoted to account executive at SurfMedia Communications. Previously, she worked as a public

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MILESTONES

relations associate for the company. At UC Santa Barbara, she helped implement an anti-DUI campaign while working for the Alcohol and Drug Program. Niki Sandoval, ’07, was named education director of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Sandoval will be responsible for overseeing the tribe’s education programs, and working with educators from the kindergarten to university level. Sandoval grew up on the Santa Ynez Reservation, and received a degree in public relations from Pepperdine and a master’s degree in museum studies from George Washington University before receiving a Ph.D. in education from UC Santa Barbara. Previously, Sandoval worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Sean Bignami, ’08, was recognized by the National Science Foundation for his graduate research on the carry-over effects of conditions such as high and low food availability between life stages of larvae, juveniles, and adult marine fishes. He is currently working on his Ph.D. at the University of Miami.

In Memoriam Virginia Jenkins, ’47, died on May 28, 2009, in Ventura. Hugh Marion, ’50, died on June 1, 2009, due to complications from heart surgery. He was born on June 25, 1923, and grew up in Santa Barbara, delivering papers for the Santa Barbara NewsPress. After receiving his degree in Industrial Arts, Marion taught his subject at schools in Ontario and Ventura until his retirement in 1983. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Laurie Lasswell; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Lou and Vincent Kanipe, and Jann and Jack Scott; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandsons.

The UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association presented 2009

Margaret (Peggy) Love, ’51, died on Jan. 1, 2009. She earned her bachelor of arts degree with a major in Kindergarten Primary Education from Santa Barbara College, and became the first kindergarten teacher in Goleta Valley. She is survived by her husband, George Love, and children, Peter and Kathy Flynn, Fames Flynn, and Cynthia Kuziej.

to four students, from top to bottom: Elizabeth Alexander, Kathleen Doherty, Scott Gaylord, and Oden Ofer. The Legacy Scholarship helps support relatives of alumni who are attending UC Santa Barbara. The scholarship recipients must demonstrate academic achievement, leadership and involvement in campus organizations.

Melvin Earl Cokeley, ’54, died May 8, 2009. Cokeley was born May 16, 1929, in Monrovia, Calif. And grew up in Rosemead. While at UC Santa Barbara, Cokeley majored in Industrial Arts, and served in the ROTC program while working several parttime jobs. After graduation, he began his military service and was stationed in New Jersey, where he trained new recruits, was

Alumni Legacy Scholarships

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ALUMNI Board Meeting

a rifle instructor and ran a successful Officers Club. In 1956, he earned an honorable discharge as a first lieutenant. Cokeley returned to Santa Barbara and taught high school classes in automotive technology and industrial arts. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Bean-Cokeley, his children, grandchildren, sister Elaine Shattuck, Mary Ellen Cokeley, and several nieces and nephews. Samm Omori Hawley, ’58, died on Oct. 5, 2008, of esophageal cancer. Hawley was born in Santa Barbara, but was evacuated with her family to a Japanese internment camp at Gila Bend, Ariz., during World War II. While attending UC Santa Barbara, Hawley worked in ceramics, jewelry, textiles, sculpture, and painting. After graduating, Hawley opened an art gallery in Santa Barbara, traveled extensively, studied pottery in Japan, and opened a Japanese restaurant in Montecito. Her paintings were showed at the Royal Academy of Art in London, as well as at the Holland Park and Leichester galleries. Hawley opened a hot glass facility and gallery and later built the glass-blowing facility at the Sausalito Arts Center. She is survived by her sister, Lynne Cantlay; her husband, Tim Eichenberg; her stepson, Ben Eichenberg; and her daughter, Jorin Hawley. Grace (Gay) Overdeer Zuehlke, ’58, died on April 13, 2009, of cancer. She was born Feb. 19, 1936, and spent most of her life in San Diego. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara and went on to work for San Diego City Schools as a teacher and librarian until she retired in 1991. She is survived by her daughter Wendy; son Darryn; granddaughter, Laure; and sister, Diana. Kathleen Elaine Shults Ball, ’74, died May 28, 2009, from brain cancer metastasized from lung cancer. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Ball received her master’s and doctoral degrees and teaching credentials. She went on to teach for 31 years for the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools at McBride School (Juvenile Hall), Colston Youth Center, Gateway Community School and Providence School where she helped turn young men around from drugs, alcohol, and crime. She is survived by her husband of 47 years; her daughter, Eileen; son, Stephen; and grandchildren, Chandler and Kelsey. Donald Leroy Combs, ’77, died April 23, 2009, from congestive heart failure and dementia with Lewy Body disease. Combs was born May 12, 1936, in Jamestown, N.D., and moved with his family to Santa Barbara in 1946. After high school, he went into the army, where he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, as a tank radio operator. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Law and Society, and worked as a Superior Court clerk, as well as for the Legal Defense Center on cases involving unemployment and housing. Combs was passionate about politics and was an avid sports fan. He is survived by his children Martin Leo Combs, and Kristin C. Parchim; and his nieces and nephews, Patty Curnow Schork, Chris Curnow,

UCSB Alumni Association Annual Minutes Saturday, June 6, 2009 Mosher Alumni House 1) Call Meeting to Order President Rob Jupille ’89 called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. 2) Minutes of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the meeting of June 7, 2008, as published in the Summer 2008 issue of Coastlines, were approved. 3) President’s Report President Jupille reported on three milestones of the 2008-2009 year: the launch of the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund Campaign, the 3rd annual All Gaucho Reunion and Student Engagement campaign. The Scholarship Fund campaign will be the beneficiary of the 2009 Senior Class Gift, which he hopes will become a tradition at UC Santa Barbara. The 3rd All Gaucho Reunion has seen attendance double from the year before, with the Association organizing more than 40 events over the weekend, including the Alumni Awards Banquet. 4) Treasurer’s Report Secretary-Treasurer Sacha Meshkov ’79, M.A. ’83 reported the alumni association was projected to end the 2008-2009 fiscal year with a deficit of $15,090, and projected to end the 2009-2010 year with a surplus of $12,518. Investments in the UC General Endowment Pool have a market value of $2,914,558. Corrective actions resulting from an internal audit are in place. 5) Executive Director’s Report Executive Director George Thurlow ’73 distributed a written report with details about the current fiscal situation, Membership Model, Mosher Alumni House, Student Engagement, the Alumni Scholarship Fund, and Technology and Communication. “The Association has launched an extension branding and events campaign aimed at instilling in current students a culture of “Gauchos for Life.” 6) Election of Directors The membership also re-elected eight board members to second three-year terms: Arcelia Arce, ’98 Jeff Flory, ’91 Preston Hensley, ’67, M.A. ’69 Sasha Meshkov, ’79, M.A. ’83 Lisa Przekop, ’85, M.A. ’89 Markell Steele, ’93 Catherine Tonne, ’81 Linda Ulrich, ’83 7) Presentation of Alumni Legacy Scholarships Lisa Przekop ’85, M.S. ’89, chairperson of the Alumni and Students Awards Committee, presented Alumni Legacy Scholarships to Oren Ofer, Scott Gaylord, Kathleen Doherty and Elizabeth Alexander. 8) Adjournment President Jupille adjourned the meeting at 2:15 p.m. Sacha Meshkov, Secretary-Treasurer Palm Desert, Calif.

Brandon Curnow, Donna Curnow, Brian and Sydney Combs. Julie Main, ’78, died May 4, 2009. She was 53. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with honors and a degree in Political Science, Main worked first as the bookkeeper of the Santa Barbara Athletic Club, and eventually became the general manager, where she worked to make SBAC a premier health and fitness club. Main was also the president of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 36, but maintained her active and healthy lifestyle throughout www.ucsbalum.com www.ucsbalum.com 29 29

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her treatment. She founded the Cancer Well-fit Program in hopes of helping other cancer patients benefit from exercise. In the last 15 years, the program has helped more than 1,000 people. Philip Dennis Cyr, ’81, died on June 27, 2009, in Escondido, Calif. Cyr was born in Bangor, Maine, on February 23, 1956, and grew up in Woodland Hills, Calif. After graduating college, Cyr began his career in the biotech industry, and often traveled around the county and abroad. He enjoyed spending time at his Big Bear, Calif., cabin, skiing, hiking and cooking. Cyr also managed his five-acre avocado ranch and grew king palm trees. Cyr is survived by his wife, Elaine Lutjens; his siblings Roxanne, Scott and Krista; two nieces; and eight nephews.

To read more Milestones and Class Notes, log into our online community at www.ucsbalum.com

➚

Fourth-year UC Santa Barbara student Noah Krom died on June 6, 2009, after falling from a cliff in Isla Vista. He was 22 years old and a week shy of graduating with a degree in business economics and sports management. Krom was the eldest son of congressional candidate and Irvine Councilwoman Beth Krom and her husband, Solly. He was remembered by his friends and family at a service held at Congregation B’nai in Tustin, Calif.

Your Name In Milestones Please submit career changes, awards, publications, volunteer activities and other milestones in your life for future columns. Your Name _____________________________________ UCSB Degree(s)____________________Year(s)_______ Milestone _______________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ If you have recently moved, please also submit your new address ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Mail to: Coastlines UCSB Alumni Association Santa Barbara, CA 93106-1120 FAX to: (805) 893-4918 Email: andrea.huebner@ia.ucsb.edu

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“

Hope and I are investing in the future of California!

”

Harvey Schechter ’47 and his wife Hope have been strong advocates of UC Santa Barbara for many years. Harvey attended the Riviera campus and has been closely involved with the campus, including serving as a board member of the Alumni Association and also as a trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation.

A GIFT OF GRATITUDE

As Harvey tells it, “There was no tuition in those days, and the registration fee was only $17 per semester. In short, the people of California gave me a free four-year college education!” Harvey and Hope sought to create a lasting legacy to show their appreciation for the education he received. Through discussions with the Development Office, Harvey and Hope decided upon one of the most common forms of planned giving – a bequest in their wills. Their generosity will provide UC Santa Barbara with a gift equaling half the value of their estate upon their deaths. Upon receipt of their gift, the money will be used to help needy students enjoy and benefit from a UC Santa Barbara education that they might not otherwise have been able to afford.

Harvey explains the motivation for their gift this way: “Because that [UCSB] diploma served me so well Harvey Schechter, BA ’47, and Hope Schechter since 1947, I vowed decades ago to pay back what I owe by doing for the young people of today and tomorrow what was done for me so long ago. If I lived to be 120, I would not be able to repay UC Santa Barbara and the people of California for what was done for me decades ago. Hope and I are investing in the future of California!” If you have similar ideas and are interested in a gift plan to meet your financial planning and charitable giving objectives, please call: Victoria Wing, Director of Major Gift Planning at (805) 893-5556, toll-free (800) 641-1204 or email victoria.wing@ia.ucsb.edu.

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