Miami Magazine | Spring 2012 by University of Miami

Did you know that the pioneer of a worldwide treatment for diabetes practices here? Today, 26 million Americans are suffering from this disease which, if not properly treated, can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, or stroke. But if diabetes is detected in the early stages, it can be managed much more effectively. At UHealth’s Diabetes Research Institute, world-renowned physicians are offering patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes the best options for prevention, early detection, treatment and, some day, a cure. When it’s diabetes…isn’t it good to know the most advanced care is right here? To schedule an evaluation, call 305.243.4000 or visit Uhealthsystem.com. We are UHealth – the University of Miami Health System.

South Florida’s most advanced diabetes care.

Camillo Ricordi, M.D., Director, Cell Transplant Center and Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Health System and the inventor of the procedure to obtain insulin producing cells now used worldwide for treatment of the most severe cases of diabetes.

VOLUME 18 NUMBER 2

For Alumni and Friends of the University of Miami

Spring 2012

F E AT U R ES

Digging Disco Again Theatre Arts students help Broadway legend Tommy Tune stage his new musical.

Peripheral Vision Photojournalist Michael Carlebach got the shots others overlooked. Now the retired professor’s work graces UM’s Special Collections and online archives.

DEPARTMENTS

The Diabetes Research Institute makes headway with renewed support and brilliant scientists from around the globe.

PostMarks

The Quest for the Cure

Comments and opinions from alumni and friends

Stories of U >> Mobile coupons for alumni >> Olympic high hopes >> Tennis great tells his tale

From Here to Democracy

University Journal

Alumni accounts of the Arab Spring, then and now.

Fast Forward Meet your alma mater’s new breakthrough campaign to become the next great American university.

Orange Bowl memorabilia >> Obama on energy >> Clinton in class >> Products in Paris >> World-class visitors >> A very UM Chinese New Year >> Peak Performance >> Honoring diversity >> Saving wetlands in India >> Progressive degree offerings >> Art studio celebration

Alumni Digest

Class Notes

News and profiles of alumni worldwide

DateBook

Alumni events and activities

Big Picture

Moo-ving from art to action Cover illustration by Brian Stauffer

P o s t

MARKS

Comments and Opinions from University of Miami Alumni and Friends

‘Best Issue Ever’

I owe all of this to the University of Miami for the start it gave me.

congratulate you on the Fall 2011 issue of Miami. It certainly was the best ever; your tribute to our armed forces is duly noted; the letter from Ed Hauck, A.B. ’48, referencing football brought back memories of the Orange Bowl and our team of the late ’40s. I started at the U of M in 1946 as an apprentice seaman with the United States Navy, then went to Pensacola for flight training, returning to Miami in 1949. Not only have I recently retired from

Richard H. Plager, A.B. ’51, B.B.A. ’52 Naples, Florida

Thankful for Changing Times

A two police departments, I retired with 24 years total military service as a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard. I also have a master’s in public administration from Florida Atlantic University.

s a University of Miami alumnus, I have avidly read every edition of the University of Miami magazine over the years to keep up with the happenings at the University and the changing trends on campus. Today the attitudes at the University, as in society in

general, are quite different from the days when I was a student in the 1960s. Back in the 1960s and the 1970s, if you wanted to enter the mainstream of society, there was no choice of being “in” or “out” of the closet. Homosexuality was illegal. Gays could be jailed, and if they persisted in their practice, they could be committed to a mental institution for treatment, since the medical profession officially considered homosexuality to be a mental illness. The latter is what was taught in medical school, including

FROM THE EDITOR

Rights of Spring

alking to Rasha Abdulla, Ph.D. ’03, and Omar Shoeb, M.A. ’07, changed my life. Just getting them on the phone was a learning experience. I’d never known any people in Egypt well enough to reach out and touch them. Hearing their personal accounts of freedom unfolding from a country in the throes of revolution connected me to their plight in a way all of the news broadcasts, articles, and even discussions hosted by this University about Arab Spring never had. After you read “Fighting for Freedom,” please visit www.miami.edu/miamimagazine for more on these UM alumni who are helping to realize national change after a lifetime devoid of democratic choice. Arab Spring echoes the efforts of people involved in the civil rights movement in the United States 50 years ago. Joining that historic movement, the University of Miami officially desegregated in 1961. In a Miami Herald editorial announcing UM’s initiative to honor that milestone (see page 10), Board of Trustees chair Leonard Abess points out that his grandfather, Arthur A. Ungar, was on the Board of Trustees that voted on January 31, 1961 “to admit qualified students without regard to race or color.” “I was 13 when UM desegregated,” Abess continues. “Buses in

2 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Miami-Dade County required ‘colored people’ to sit in the back except for buses that were ‘colored only,’ and there were separate bathrooms and water fountains as well … These disturbing memories helped to shape the person I have become. I am delighted that younger generations will never experience these overt and sanctioned acts of discrimination firsthand, making the public commemoration of the end of segregation in our community all the more poignant and appropriate.” Abess brings his deeply felt connection to the U and its continuing progress as co-chair, with his wife Jayne, of the newly launched Momentum2 campaign (see page 30). As our top-ranked institution enters an exciting, new era of growth and achievement, so does this publication, which represents your lifetime link to UM. When you see us next, in September, we’ll have a renewed and refreshed print and Web presence. So now is a great time to give it to us straight: What do you enjoy about the magazine? What could use some improvement? What kind of coverage do you prefer? What online or mobile features do you like? I can be reached at 305-284-1617 or rshear@miami.edu. (If you’re calling me from Egypt, the country code is 001.) — Robin Shear, Editor

our own University of Miami medical school, of which I am a graduate. That is why I was highly impressed and hopeful for the future of our University and community when I read your article “Family Outing” in the Spring 2011 edition of the magazine. It is a moving and redemptive story. Jonathan Frey is a commendable young man who had the courage to stand up for who he is and be proud of himself. His stance should not be surprising since he has a caring, enlightened, and supportive family. It is obvious Jonathan’s father, mother, and sister care for him and safeguard his well-being. He is indeed fortunate. Congratulations to the University of Miami, Neena Malik in the Miller School of Medicine, Kristin Lindahl in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology, and writer Meredith Camel for so caringly and openly portraying this family. An article on this subject would have been inconceivable in my student days. To Jonathan, I say: Stay the course. Times are changing. Homophobia is insidious in our society, as is racism, but I have a feeling you are a righteous young man with strong convictions. When everything is said and done, the public acknowledgment of who you are will

liberate you and lead to a fulfilling life. At your age, it is important to be proud of who you are; it won’t be easy, but it is worth the struggle. I deeply regret not being able to sign this letter. I was born at a time when life’s circumstances Bill Forsyth, B.S.E.E. ’62, John D. Caldwell, B.S.E.E. ’61, prevented and their robot, center someone in my social position provided motivation. Motion and with my professional control was by radio frequenaspirations from coming out. cy. Two-way voice was by CB I am now painfully paying band radio—receiving on one for that lack of opportunity. channel and transmitting on Jonathan and others like him another. Bill and I and the are fortunate to live in a difrobot were interviewed by ferent, liberating time. WTVJ television. Robotics Anonymous by request has been alive and well for a long time at UM.

Retro Robot Reboot

njoyed the article on robots (“Of Machines and Men,” Spring 2011). As an electrical engineering student at the University of Miami in the late 1950s, I built a robot with Bill Forsyth, B.S.E.E. ’62, for the UM open house. It wasn’t much, just an untethered vehicle that wandered around talking to people. The “head” was fashioned from the flasher on loan from the top of a UM police department car. Two DC motors powered by car batteries

John D. Caldwell, B.S.E.E. ’61 Chester, South Carolina

Editor’s Note: Caldwell retired in 1998 after nearly 37 years of federal service and awards for Outstanding Air Force Intelligence Civilian Contributor from the Air Force Logistics Command (1989) and Air Force Materiel Command (1993). Address letters to: Robin Shear Miami magazine P.O. Box 248105 Coral Gables, FL 33124 Email: rshear@miami.edu

The University of Miami Magazine

Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Todd Ellenberg Executive Director for Communications and Marketing

Barbara Pierce Editor

Robin Shear Art and Design Director

Scott Fricker Art Director

Lisa Kuehnle Senior Graphic Designer

Sau Ping Choi

Production Supervisor

Angie Villanueva Editorial Contributors

Tom Austin, B.F.A. ’78 Robert S. Benchley Gaspar González Robert C. Jones Jr. Sherri Miles Robert Strauss President

Donna E. Shalala Vice President for University Communications

Jacqueline R. Menendez, A.B. ’83 Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs

Sergio M. Gonzalez Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations

Donna A. Arbide, M.B.A. ’95 Miami magazine is published by the University of Miami Division of University Communications. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of the University. Postmaster and others, please send change of address notification to Miami magazine, Office of Alumni Relations, P.O. Box 248053, Coral Gables, Florida 33124-3410; telephone 305-284-2872. Contributions of articles, photographs, and artwork are welcome; however, Miami magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited items. The comments and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Miami or the staff of Miami magazine. Copyright ©2012, University of Miami. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

www.miami.edu/miami-magazine

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 3

U n i v e r s i t y

JOURNAL

Noteworthy News and Research at the University of Miami

Orange Bowl Collection Comes to UM Thousands of materials to be preserved for public access

special and exciting city,” says William Walker, dean and University librarian. The collection, expected to open to the public by 2013, offers an in-depth look at what went into “the Orange Bowl as an event, a business, and a phenomenon,” says Special Collections Department director Cristina Favretto. “It’s going to be of interest to historians of Miami and sports buffs, but also business majors, designers, musicians, and people interested in popular culture

BUZZ WORDS

“ They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs.” Jerry Ault, marine biology and fisheries professor, on the adaptability of tarpon. —The Times-Picayune

4 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Two-time Orange Bowl Queen Jackie Nespral, A.B. ’89, far left, admires Orange Bowl mascot Obie; below, Special Collections director Cristina Favretto and librarian Beatrice Skokan, M.A. ’99, M.A. ’01.

MICHAEL STRADER MARKO

fter 62 years of colorful floats and highstepping marching bands, Miami’s Orange Bowl Parade marched into history in 2002. But its legacy lives on at the University of Miami’s Richter Library, now home to the Orange Bowl Committee Archives. Photographs and drawings of themed floats, parade route maps, even an oversize head of mascot Obie are among the rich trove of documents, objects, and memorabilia. Archival professionals are sorting and classifying thousands of items related to the famous parade, which attracted half a million people to Biscayne Boulevard in its heyday, as well as to the college bowl game and other athletic events such as the Orange Bowl Marathon. “This collection records the people and events that have made Miami such a

and a discipline in academia now called ‘material culture,’ which is the study of everyday life.” UM trustee Arva Moore Parks McCabe, M.A. ’71, one of the first female Orange Bowl Committee members, helped the University acquire the materials. She says UM’s Orange Bowl connection dates back before its first national football championship in the 1984 Orange Bowl to the Palm Festival, created in 1933 to boost a South Florida economy hit hard by the Depression. Its bowl games were the precursor to the first Orange Bowl game in 1935. UM played both years,

beating Manhattan College 7-0 in 1933 and taking a 33-7 loss to Duquesne in 1934. McCabe, who took part in Orange Bowl parades while attending Edison High School, began saving items after joining the committee, some of which are now in the Smithsonian Institution. She is ecstatic that the bulk of what was saved from committee headquarters went to UM Libraries in December. “We’ve been trying to get this into the University of Miami for many, many years,” McCabe says, “and at last it’s happened.” See a video on the collection at www.miami.edu/miami-magazine.

Obama’s Energizing Visit

FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH

Dirty Birds?

A Miller School of Medicine

he first stop on President Barack Obama’s February visit to the Coral Gables campus was the College of Engineering, where he toured a government-supported President Barack Obama touts his administration’s plan for an center that helps energy-efficient America at the BankUnited Center in February. local companies become more energy efficient. facturing Extension Program and 13 more in South Florida “What this facility does annually. is teach these outstandObama’s next stop on ing young engineers to do energy assessments,” Obama campus to deliver his message of sound energy pracsaid as graduate student tices was the BankUnited Jason Grant showed him Center Fieldhouse. Speakaround the college’s Indusing before more than 1,400 trial Assessment Center, attendees—the majority stuwhich recently received a dents—he laid out his admin$1 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to help small istration’s multipronged plan and medium-size local man- for a more energy-efficient nation that’s less dependent ufacturers manage energy on foreign oil. “If we’re going requirements, reduce waste, to take control of our energy and increase productivity at future, if we’re going to avoid no cost to them. these gas price spikes down Obama said the assessthe line, then we need a ments save about 25 percent sustained, all-of-the-above in energy costs. “It’s a great strategy that develops every example of how people are available source of American being trained right now to make our businesses more ef- energy—oil, gas, wind, solar, ficient all across the country.” nuclear, biofuels, and more,” he said. “We need to keep UM’s was one of 24 such developing the technology university-based centers that allows us to use less oil funded by the DOE in Sepin our cars and trucks, in our tember. During the five-year buildings and plants. That’s grant, engineering students the strategy we’re pursuing, will conduct seven energy and that’s the only real soluassessments in conjunction tion to this challenge.” with the Puerto Rico Manu-

JENNY ABREU

The president sees engineering center, speaks to students

infectious disease research team led by associate professor of medicine Silvia Munoz-Price spent a month collecting stool samples from seagulls on Miami Beach. Their findings, published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, revealed that 14 percent of the sampled population carried a resistant strain of E. coli also seen in humans with urinary tract infections. It’s unclear if the gulls were infected by humans, or vice versa. What is clear, says Munoz-Price, is that the birds now represent a reservoir for resistant organisms. “That’s why it’s always a good idea to shower immediately after going to the beach,” she advises.

Earthquake Risk Factors

An eye-opening study presented at the American Geophysical Union shows that hurricanes and typhoons may trigger earthquakes. Data from magnitude 6 and above quakes in Taiwan and Haiti showed a strong temporal correlation, with large earthquakes occurring within four years after a very wet tropical cyclone season, says presenter Shimon Wdowinski, associate research professor of marine geology and geophysics at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. “Landslides and severe erosion from heavy rainfall remove ground material,” he explains, “releasing the stress load and encouraging movement along faults.”

Social Shopping Network

Facebook and Twitter icons affect buyer behavior, a study by the School of Business Administration, Empirica Research, and StyleCaster Media Group finds. “The mere presence of social media icons on a Web page where we shop appears to cause us to feel as if our purchases are being watched by our social network,” says assistant professor of marketing Claudia Townsend. An icon near a potentially embarrassing purchase reduces the likelihood of sealing the deal by 25 percent. If it’s an item we’d be proud to show off, the icon’s presence increases buying probability by 25 percent. The consumer need not even remember seeing the icon.

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 5

UniversityJournal

A Presidents’ Day to Remember Students get a surprise in their health care class

Covering a variety of health care-related issues, Clinton noted that in 1992, when his administration attempted health care reform, the country was spending 14 percent of its gross domestic product on health care. “Today, it’s 17 percent,” he said. “We’re the only country in the world with Students had no idea that President Clinton, wearing bright yellow golf shoes and a polo shirt after a day a for-profit health on the links, would be a guest lecturer in their class. They responded with a standing ovation. system with no cost controls.” no idea he would show up. admirer, said he wants to folThe nation’s 42nd president “My initial response was low in his footsteps. made his comments while a combination of, ‘I can’t feel After the lecture, students seated in a chair next to the right side of my body and were able to ask questions. Shalala, who served as my heart rate has never been One asked how Clinton Clinton’s secretary of health higher,’” said Blake Yagman, would respond to physicians and human services. He had describing the way he felt who take a financial loss when entered through a side-stage upon seeing Clinton. Yagman, they accept Medicare and door, receiving a standing ova- a political science and history Medicaid. The former comtion from students, who had major and longtime Clinton mander in chief said reducing paperwork, which has tripled in recent years for many Anti-Drug Legacy Honored health care providers, could he Community Tad Foote is honored for his improve their net income. Anti-Drug Coalidevotion to anti-drug Clinton left the students tions of America honored coalition work. with some advice. “Develop University of Miami your minds so that you’re acPresident Emeritus Edengaged on the board for tive and curious and soaring,” ward “Tad” Foote II with 19 years. In the ’80s he ralhe said. “You need to be able a Lifetime Distinguished lied Miami’s power elite to to look at a newspaper and Service Award last Sepcreate The Miami Coalition realize that a five-paragraph tember in Washington, for a Safe and Drugstory at the bottom of an D.C., for devoting “considFree Community, which inside page may be more erable time, energy, and passion to making Miami and became the national model for community anti-drug important to your well-being the nation safer, healthier, and drug-free.” One of its programs. In 1988 he was named founding chair of the than a story on the front page. original board members, Foote remained active and first U.S. President’s Drug Advisory Council. Become a sponge of curiosity.”

6 Miami magazine Spring 2012

JENNY ABREU

aptops, notebooks, and pens at the ready, 300 students took their seats in Storer Auditorium as they do each Monday, waiting for UM President Donna E. Shalala to begin her lecture for the class “U.S. Health Care Crisis: The Politics of Health Care Reform.” But today’s lesson— on the difference between Medicare and Medicaid and how rising health care costs cause many people to put off seeing a physician—wouldn’t be delivered by UM’s president, but her former boss. On a Presidents’ Day the students will never forget, former President Bill Clinton—whose administration was responsible for a number of health care achievements, from the Family and Medical Leave Act to dramatic improvements in public health— replaced Shalala as teacher for a day.

Students explore the Pompidou Center.

Needle News Hits a Nerve Study finds high rate of used syringes on Miami streets

TRINI CALLAVA

nformed by a 2008 San drug users in both cities, Francisco study, secondthey learned the Miami year medical student Hansel subjects were more than 34 E. Tookes led a comparative times as likely to report pubstudy that found Miamians lic disposal of syringes and are eight times as likely that 95 percent of syringes as San Franciscans to used by injection drug users encounter were disposed improperly of impropdiscarded erly in Miami, needles in versus 13 perpublic places. cent in San Miami, unlike Francisco. San Francisco, In Miami has no needle neighborand syringe hoods, that programs— translates to initiatives nearly 10,000 that allow needles and injection drug Medical student Hansel E. Tookes syringes users to dispose per month of contaminated syringes improperly disposed of in and receive sterile ones. trashcans, sewers, parks, and “It is clear that cities such other public places. as Miami may benefit from The study represented implementation of needle Tookes’s final project for his and syringe programs to pro- master’s in public health, vide a venue for safe syringe also at the Miller School of disposal, and to reduce the Medicine. Leading substance transmission of blood-borne use journal Drug and Alcohol diseases to injection drug Dependence published the users and other community study, believed to be the first members,” says Tookes. city-to-city comparison of this In 2009 Tookes led a kind, online in December. visual inspection of the top Tookes’s Miller School advisor quartile of Miami neighwas Lisa R. Metsch, professor borhoods with the highest of epidemiology and public concentration of drug use health. His San Francisco according to city data. More team included Alex H. Kral, than 400 dirty syringes were director of the Urban Health found—over eight times the Program in the Behavioral number his San Francisco Health and Criminal Justice team found. Interviewing Research Division of RTI more than 1,000 injection International.

Review of Paris Proves Productive

aris is known as the fashion capital of the world, and during a summer course called Globalization in Paris, 14 students in the School of Business Administration had an unforgettable chance to learn why. The four-week study abroad trip to the City of Light enabled the group to embrace French culture and lifestyle while earning three core business credits to study cosmetics giant L’Oréal. Their home base was the Citadines, a centrally located apartment-hotel within walking distance of local ON COURSE markets. Fieldtrips included Title: MKT360 Globalization in Paris the factory of Gérard Mulot Department: Marketing confections, where they made Semester: Summer 2011 macaroons, and the kitchen of famed chef Olivier Berte, where they took a cooking lesson. They also visited museums and saw architectural marvels such as the Palace of Versailles, Fontainebleau Chateau, and Pompidou Center. “Our program had three dimensions: academics, culture, and business,” says director Trini Callava, A.B. ’80, M.S. ’84, a marketing lecturer. “We aimed to create action-based learning experiences that would enrich the students’ resumes.” As part of the course’s global business component, the students learned about the major current factors and strategic issues affecting international marketing. They got an inside look at GE France, beverage producer Orangina, and L’Oréal’s French headquarters. After researching L’Oréal’s business model and marketing practices, they worked in teams to create a campaign aimed at the brand’s Brazilian market. “Studying business in the fashion capital of the world was a great experience because we were able to learn about L’Oréal’s products and marketing strategies firsthand,” says rising junior Torie O’Neil, who worked on a campaign for L’Oréal’s Garnier Fructis shampoo. Before developing their strategic proposals, the undergraduates dissected two Harvard Business case studies about L’Oréal. After returning from Paris, they presented their own proposals to executives from Brazil at L’Oréal’s Miami branch. Top-performing students were invited to interview for a summer internship with L’Oréal in Miami. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 7

UniversityJournal

Big Ideas Come to Campus

JENNY ABREU

rom Grammy winners to a celebrated mathematician, the world truly did come to UM during the past several months. Shing-Tung Yau, William Caspar Graustein Professor of Mathematics at Harvard, addressed a standing-roomonly crowd of students, faculty, and string-theory enthusiasts for the 2012 McKnight Zame Distinguished Lecture in the CAS gallery. Yau’s latest book, The Shape of Inner Space, discusses his groundbreaking work on the curving of space within a closed vacuum.

Raising political discourse were visits from former Secretary of State Condoleezza

Rice, former UN Ambassador John R. Bolton, and President Barack Obama, among many others. Academy Award winner Goldie Hawn explored the Cognitive Neuroscience Brainwave Recording Lab of Amishi Jha on the Gables campus. Jha, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, has served as a scientific advisor for the Hawn Foundation, dedicated to cultivating mindful attention and joy in children. Titanic producer Jon Landau and Chronicle screenwriter and Motion Pictures alumnus Max Landis, ’08, made appearances, sharing insider insights with aspiring industry professionals at the School of Communication. At the Frost School of Music, Grammy-winning jazz musicians Dave Holland and Terence Blanchard, artistic director of the school’s Henry Mancini Institute, worked with students. A new Real Estate Impact

Celebrating the New Year or the first time, the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and Asian American Student Association hosted a Chinese New Year celebration at the University of Miami. With the UC Patio awash in yellow and red, more than 700 students, employees, and visitors helped usher in the Year of the Dragon on January 30, enjoying dragon dance teams, music, cultural exhibitions, and tasty treats such as traditional dumplings. 8 Miami magazine Spring 2012

JENNY ABREU

ANDREW INNERARITY

Busy agenda keeps UM community active, engaged

Billy Joel, with Hurricane Productions staff, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, signing her book, were just a couple of the global thinkers and entertainers who have come to enlighten the UM community in recent months.

Conference, hosted by the schools of Business Administration and Architecture in February, featured keynote speaker Sam Zell, CEO and chair of Equity Group Investments, talking about global investment trends with Florida developer Jorge Perez, chair of The Related Group, who said, “After listening to Sam, I believe the old real estate maxim, ‘location, location, and location’ has been replaced by ‘timing,

timing, and timing.’” Piano Man Billy Joel, who has some of his own Miami real estate and named a song for the Magic City, spent two hours rocking the piano and talking with his student audience of more than 1,800 during “Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions & Answers … and a Little Music,” at the BankUnited Center in March. Hurricane Productions distributed free tickets for students to see the six-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who shared anecdotes about his life in music and played solo versions of many audience favorites such as “Vienna,” “New York State of Mind,” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” “I always wanted to be a teacher,” said Joel, “so this is my way of doing it.”

PEAK PERFORMANCE

Miami Ice to a birthday party at the local roller rink. “At 4 years old she was already doing gymnastics,” recalls her father, Joe Rodriguez, “but she demanded lessons in roller skating. She just was determined. She went to practice six days a week and didn’t want to be anything but the best.” As a teen, Rodriguez won national and world roller skating titles—in-line and figure. But in 1996, at age 19, she took a hairpin career turn into ice speedskating. The Miami native hit the foreign surface and never looked back. The first and only Latina world speedskating champ, she made four Olympic teams before retiring in 2010. Now off the world stage and back in her hometown, Rodriguez is studying athletic training in the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development and working as a trainer at the Herbert Wellness Center with the same humble determination she brought to her previous goals. “There is really no one like her,” says her former figure-skating coach, Cheryl Manning Hudson. “Artistic and speed on roller skates is like swimming and diving—they’re both in water but completely different. Then to move to the ice and become a world-class skater is amazing.” Rodriguez’s timing was good too. Ice speedskating had moved to skates that were more like inline roller skates—perfect for her technique. Within 18 months, the Palmetto Senior High graduate was at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. She placed fourth in the women’s 3,000 meter. Four years later in Salt Lake City Rodriguez made history as the first Cuban-American to medal in the Olympic Winter Games, capturing bronze in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter races. “We don’t

JOHN ZILLIOUX

It all started when little Jen Rodriguez went

get a lot of attention in speed skating, but since we were in America, we always had people cheering us,” she says of her favorite Olympic appearance. “We really felt patriotic, too, because it was so soon after 9/11.” For the next two years she racked up more championships and over 30 international medals, setting two new track records. She won the 1,000-meter world sprint championship in 2005 and made her third Olympic team in 2006. After Torino that year, Rodriguez retired. By late 2008, though, unable to stay off the ice, she was racing again. But as she blazed her way back to victory, her mother succumbed to the breast cancer she’d lived

with for 17 years. Still grieving her death, Rodriguez went on to compete in the 2010 Olympics in tribute to her mother’s strength. “No matter how hard I worked,” she says, “I knew it was nothing compared to what my mom went through.” Rodriguez took two sixth places in Vancouver and made her final exit from skating at age 34. “You don’t want to retire too early, but it was time,” she says. “I may coach one day, but I’m turning my focus to help athletes in training,” adds the 5-foot-4-inch phenom once known as “Miami Ice” and “J-Rod.” “I was always a UM fan as a kid and dreamed of going here. I just postponed it 20 years or so.” —Robert Strauss

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 9

UniversityJournal

50 Years After Desegregation UM honors legacy of diversity that started early

TOM STEPP

Clockwise from top, Ben Chavis Jr., Cornel West, and Johnnetta B. Cole at the University of Miami during Unity in Diversity

lowed. “By celebrating how far we have come since that historic decision, we have the opportunity not only to reflect on our progress but also to reinforce our commitment to a stronger, more diverse, and united University of Miami,” the organizing committee wrote online at www.as.miami. edu/desegregation.

JENNY ABREU

n January 31, 1961, the University of Miami Board of Trustees made national headlines by deciding to admit students “regardless of race, creed, or color.” In the first year of official integration, 75 African-American students joined a student population of 14,000. Benny O’Berry, B.Ed. ’62, became UM’s first black alumnus. In the late 1960s, UM again made headlines—this time for student protests over a lack of faculty diversity. This activism launched UM’s first United Black Students in 1967, its first Black Studies course in 1969, and the arrival in 1970 of its first black faculty member, history professor Whittington B. Johnson.

faculty of color, and discussed the academic importance of diversity in the 21st century. Speakers included civil rights leader Ben Chavis Jr., Princeton professor emeritus

“ At the center of any serious reflection is courage.” “Celebrating Unity in Diversity: Marking the 50th Anniversary of Desegregation at UM” paid tribute during the spring semester to pioneering individuals who broke the color barrier at UM and those who fol-

Unity in Diversity hosted Black Awareness Month and Martin Luther King Day events with the United Black Students, honored groundbreaking alumni and faculty, explored how to recruit and retain more students and

BUZZ WORDS

“ My dream finally came true.” Shenise Johnson, B.L.A. ’12, picked by the San Antonio Silver Stars. She and Riquna Williams, B.L.A. ’12, are the first-ever Hurricane duo selected in the WNBA Draft. —The Miami Herald

10 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Cornel West, and Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art director Johnnetta B. Cole. Ray Bellamy, UM’s first black football player, was inducted into the Hurricanes Hall of Fame. There was a gospel concert, a lecture on “Desegregation, Student Activism, and Black Power at UM,” a forum titled “Black Identity, Perpetually Under Production,” and an art exhibition featuring the work of five African diaspora artists titled “Slavery to Self Determination.”

UM President Donna E. Shalala called the initiative “a public gesture at speaking honestly and thus coming to terms with our own history.” Today, 50 years later, Hispanic, Asian-American, and African-American students comprise nearly half of the student body, and one in eight students hails from outside the United States. The U currently ranks No. 3 in The Princeton Review assessment of “Race/Class Interaction” on college campuses.  Where we are now “has so much to do with 1961, with Jim Crow and Jane Crow,” Spring Convocation speaker Cornel West reminded students. The author of the classic book Race Matters urged his already multicultural young audience to become “multicontextual” and to “wrestle with the question of what it means to be human.” “Will you muster the courage to examine yourselves?” West asked. “At the center of any serious reflection is courage.”

Fulbright Supports Wetlands Documentation Filmmaker leads global sustainability media project in India

he 30,000 acres of India’s East Kolkata Wetlands—sometimes called the “kidneys” of Kolkata— provide clean water through a natural wastewater treatment system, supply thousands of tons of fish and vegetables daily, and support the livelihoods of more than 50,000 people. Still, the designated Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance) has become endangered in recent years by encroaching urban development. School of Communication professor and award-winning filmmaker Sanjeev Chatterjee received a Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholar Award last

year and spent six months working with students at Jadavpur University in India to produce multimedia stories and videos about the plight of the East Kolkata Wetlands. They interviewed biologists, fish farmers, developers, and nearby residents, among others, and used social media such

Each day 13,000 tons of fish are harvested from the wetlands and sold to markets in the city. Student Souvik Lal Chakraborty and Professor Sanjeev Chatterjee film the endangered East Kolkata Wetlands, the largest multiuse wetland in the world that provides clean water, fish, and vegetables to the people of Kolkata, India.

as Facebook to bring their stories to young people around the world, ages 18 to

Masters in Multitasking

NICK MADIGAN

hree new degrees Christopher Pizzo, J.D. ’09, offer University of a “distinguished graduate,” Miami students innovative liked the law school and ways of efficiently broadenwanted to do something for ing their knowledge base. it; his cousin, Steven Mariano, The J.D./M.M. degree is a the CEO and chair of Patriot three-to-four-year program National Insurance Group combining a Juris Doctor Inc., showed his support for from the School of Law and his cousin’s alma mater by a Master of Music in Music Insurance industry CEO Steven Mariano, with Christopher making a $1.5 million pledge Business and Entertainment Callahan, the first recipient of the Mariano Scholarship. to launch the program. Industries from the Frost And there is now a sixSchool of Music. Business school graduates can earn year J.D./M.D. program for those seeking health sector a triple-degree—J.D., LL.M. in taxation, and M.B.A.— law, leadership, and policy careers; wanting to underin four years. The “unique in the country” program, stand the legal aspects of running a medical practice; says Miami Law Dean Patricia D. White, blends “an or planning to become high-level hospital executives extraordinarily powerful combination of skills.” Third- or administrators. Students spend two years in the year law student Christopher Callahan suggested the M.D. program, two focusing on the J.D. degree, and idea and is its first Mariano Scholarship recipient. the last two completing aspects of both.

25. Chatterjee is currently producing and directing a short documentary on imminent threats facing contemporary global cities. He was executive producer of Bangladesh: A Climate Trap, part of a larger project called One City at the Knight Center for International Media at the University of Miami, and co-director of the award-winning One Water documentary. To see a video from the East Kolkata Wetlands project, visit http://dotsub.com/view/c311974e6b1e-4bb0-ac44-1a85d9e74ac9. The website, launched for World Water Day on March 22, is http:// kolkatawetlands.org. The Facebook page is www.facebook. com/pages/East-Kolkata-Wetlands/189007324504890. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 11

UniversityJournal

Women in the White House Presidential program honors UM faculty member and student

he White House recently recognized two members of the UM community as “Champions of Change,” part of its Winning the Future initiative to highlight individuals who serve and strengthen their communities. During Hispanic Heritage Month, recent pre-med graduate Rebecca Espinosa, B.S. ’12, was invited to the White House and recognized with 12 other Hispanic young adults for her extraordinary community service. Her efforts include starting a tutoring program at a school for pregnant teens in Miami; helping to bring medical supplies to Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, and other

countries; taking part in rebuilding efforts in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina; and organizing a dance-a-thon that raised $4,000 to help build a school, medical center, and church in Bodawada,

Susan Amat, B.L.A. ’01, M.B.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’08, far left, speaks at the White House. Rebecca Espinosa, B.S. ’12, above, wearing red scrubs, helps patients during a medical brigade in Honduras.

India. She also runs a holiday toy drive, collecting and delivering hundreds of gifts each year to children in a Miami homeless shelter with the help of family and friends.

In March, Susan Amat, B.L.A. ’01, M.B.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’08, co-founder and executive director of the University’s The Launch Pad, was one of 11 Champi-

New Arts Complex Opens March celebration marking the grand opening of a new Studio Arts Complex included sweet treats, music, a glass-blowing demonstration, and the dedication of the Conni Gordon Painting Studio. Students, faculty, and University of Miami arts patrons enjoyed gourmet ice cream sandwiches, cotton candy, and popcorn as they toured the new facility, which houses painting, sculpture, and glass courses in a single facility for the first time in UM history. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Leonidas Bachas praised the Department of Art and Art History’s decade-long effort to establish a common facility for studio arts courses. A champagne toast marked the dedication of the painting studio, which is named in recognition of famed art educator and entertainer Conni Gordon’s gift to the department. “We are thrilled that students will now have this space to learn 12 Miami magazine Spring 2012

REBEKAH MONSON

Arts and Sciences Dean Leonidas Bachas looks on as art entertainer Conni Gordon unveils the plaque for the new painting studio named in recognition of her support of the Department of Art and Art History. and master their art,” said Gordon, whose nearly 70year career in television and publishing has earned her the title of “World’s Most Prolific Art Teacher” in The Guinness Book of World Records.

ons of Change honored for outstanding leadership in entrepreneurial mentoring, counseling, and training. At The Launch Pad, based in the Toppel Career Center, Amat recruits entrepreneurs across campus, offering resources and a network to support applied experiential educational opportunities. Within three years, more than 2,000 students and young alumni have become Launch Pad members and over 900 concepts have received mentoring, totaling 30,000-plus hours of mentoring and guidance. The model is being replicated nationally through the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. Amat is also a management and marketing lecturer at the School of Business Administration.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Lauren Book, B.S.Ed. ’08, M.S.Ed. ’12, earned her master’s degree in May.

Walking the Walk

auren Book, B.S.Ed. ’08, M.S.Ed. ’12, a Community and Social Change master’s degree graduate, laces up her sneakers, stretches her muscles, and begins the walk of 1,500 miles. From the Keys to Florida’s capitol, Book and supporters of her cause, trailed by the well-appointed RV she calls home during her agency’s month-long Walk in My Shoes trek, spread awareness and promote legislation to protect children from sexual assault. On the back of Book’s purple Nikes, customized for the occasion, bold letters stitched in hot pink read, “HEALIN JRNY.” But the 3 million steps she’s taking to call attention to the needs of this country’s 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse are like a walk around the block compared with how far she’s come already. Born in an upper-middle-class family and raised in a well-heeled South Florida suburb, Book suffered years of abuse, including threats, rape, and beatings, from the family’s female nanny. “It’s pretty naïve of me to think all this bad stuff will just go away,” she writes in her 2011 memoir, It’s OK to Tell: A Story of Hope and Recovery. “But that’s still the brainwashed girl I am at 16, after nearly four years of abuse.” The assaults ended when Book was 17, but the trauma remained, followed by anorexia, self-mutilation, and hospitalization. At one point she dropped to 70 pounds. “The worst horror and the thing that causes the longest-lasting trauma for child victims,” adds Book, whose nanny received a 25-year sentence, “is the violation of trust by a parent or caretaker.”

But with help from the Broward County Sexual Assault Treatment Center, Book began her journey out of shame and silence. She and her father, a prominent political lobbyist, testified and pushed for new laws on behalf of survivors. By the time Book earned her undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of Miami—a double major in elementary education and creative writing—she’d launched the nonprofit advocacy group Lauren’s Kids. Book continues telling her own painful story in the national media to stress the importance of prevention through education. “People are afraid of the topic of sexual abuse, and predators thrive in darkness and silence,” she explains. “We are shining light into dark places.” This year Florida public schools adopted her sex abuse prevention curriculum for kindergartners, Safer, Smarter Kids, which emphasizes “fun, not fear,” she notes. “Lauren has taken something most people would consider a horrible tragedy and empowered herself and others,” says associate professor Laura Kohn-Wood, director of the program from which Book graduated on May 10. “She is working so hard to create a different kind of world—to change the context, not just the child.” With an estimated one in three girls and one in six boys sexually abused before age 18, that mission is far from over. “We have to be the voice for those who don’t have voices,” says Book, a recent Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews Excellence in Community Leadership honoree. “It’s our job. It’s my job.” Spring 2012 Miami magazine 13

Tommy Tune’s newest show—a glittering trip back to Studio 54—debuts with help from an all-student cast and some memorable ghosts of disco past.

Digging Disco Again By

To m

Au sti n ,

B . F. A .

’7 8

In the weeks leading up to the launch of a new musical about legendary 1970s nightclub Studio 54, nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune is his usual unflappable self. “To create a show from scratch is not easy, but the kids in the UM theatre department are quick, hip, and great to work with. I’d love to do it again sometime,” the veteran of such Broadway smashes as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas says of the 26-member undergraduate troupe he’s been directing in preparation for the debut of Fifty*Four*Forever at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. “The history of Studio 54, to them, is like an archaeological dig, excavating the pyramids. These characters are new to many of them: Truman Capote, Liza Minnelli, Halston,” he says. “But they’re so plugged in to everything now, with their YouTube and Google, carrying around a whole library in their phones. They’re finding out what we all knew in the 1970s—the disco music of that era is totally irresistible.” Musical theatre major Elizabeth 14 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Nestlerode, B.F.A. ’12, cast as a “Jersey Girl” trying to penetrate Studio’s ultraselective velvet ropes, says being taught to do the hustle by Tune himself, whose Broadway dance career began in 1965, is, in a word, “amazing.” During a rehearsal break, Sammy Courtright, B.F.A. ’12, observes that being surrounded by daily doses of infectious songs like “Funkytown” has given her a sense of wistfulness, nostalgia for an era of dissipation she missed

by virtue of not being born yet. “It seems like nightlife was a little more coherent back then,” says the musical theatre major from Australia. Courtright plays Sir, a scheming government temptress who recruits a handsome character named Casanova to infiltrate the wildly successful Studio 54 and gather evidence for an investigation of owner Steve Rubell, who has a habit of depositing trash bags full of cash behind the walls of his office. The show’s writer, Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, among other projects), remembers Studio 54 firsthand, and Tune’s concept for a musical version of the story gave him a chance to re-create pop history. “Back then, Steve Rubell was portrayed as a spawn of evil in the media, a Lord of the Underworld,” Saltzman notes of the Studio 54 creator. (In 1979

PHOTOS: KENT LANTAFF

Fifty*Four*Forever’s opening night— Liza, Liz, and Truman get cameos in Fifty*Four*Forever, a like the opening of Studio 54 in 1977— musical about the Manhattan nightclub opened by Steve was pure spectacle, flash, and fun, Rubell (student Kyle Axman, far left). attracting The New York Times and other media, as well as producers invited cast. “These kids in the show are so by Tune. Cast members dressed in damn brave,” he says. “They’ll do anyidentical red satin jumpsuits helped thing, and they’re so open, available, patrons to their seats before the openand unjaded.” ing dance number, choreographed to Watching the students revel in the “The Hustle.” aftermath of their full-house debut, In just over an hour, the one-act show Tune, wearing white pants, sneakers, revived other standards such as “Stayin’ and a denim blazer, is in his usual good Alive” and “YMCA.” And Donna form, one big perky kid. Summer’s “Love to Love “When I was going You Baby” accompanied to Studio 54 a lot, I was a pushing-the-limits rouon Broadway and I’d tine—a mass of entangled drop by Studio after the bodies writhing orgy-like show. Back then, I also on the dance floor. lived across the hall from A post-premiere recepSteve Rubell, at 145 West tion in the Ring court55th Street. The scene yard included a giant was like a drug, to be cake topped with the Tommy Tune and David Warren dancing next to Rudolf show’s trademark image: a Gibson at the premiere of Nureyev and Liz Taylor, woman licking a mirrored Fifty*Four*Forever or just Disco Sally and disco-ball lollipop. Tommy Rollerina,” he muses. Tune and company bounded into the “Now I live on South Beach, in my party like an all-star team. The seniors, quiet getaway, but it’s a circus outside, about to face working life ahead of their a nightclub that never ends, just like cast mates, were asked to cut the cake Studio 54.” first, a nice theatrical touch. Fifty*Four*Forever, conceived and Longtime Tune collaborator David directed by Tommy Tune, appeared at the Warren Gibson, who served as associRing Theatre last November. For upcoming ate director and choreographer, was shows, visit www.as.miami.edu/theatrearts/ thoroughly pleased with the young ring.html. JENNY ABREU

Rubell and his business partner Ian Schrager pleaded guilty to tax evasion and served 13 months in prison.) “But Rubell was also a kind of Jay Gatsby character who made history in the short 33 months the club was open,” Saltzman adds. “Now, with autograph hounds, paparazzi, and camera phones, that kind of democracy among beautiful people would be very difficult to find.” The University of Miami was a good fit for Tune’s Studio 54 project, says Henry Fonte, the Ring Theatre’s producing artistic director and chair of the Department of Theatre Arts. “Tommy had been working on this for a while and wanted somewhere to develop the piece in workshop before going on to a try at New York,” explains Fonte, who joined UM in 2010 from The Hartt School, where he founded its New Works Development Program as well as a student training initiative with the prestigious Goodspeed Musicals. “Since he [Tune] has a place on Miami Beach, UM made a lot of sense. Fifty*Four*Forever is also a musical about youth and dancing, full of young characters and perfect for our students.” In 2011 Fonte’s students also had the chance to work with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. “Thankfully, President Shalala and Dean Bachas at the College of Arts and Sciences are big supporters of projects like this,” he adds.

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 15

The Richter Library’s Sharp Focus exhibition displayed work by photojournalist Michael Carlebach. Left, ladies dancing in Miami Beach (1971). Opposite: 1972 presidential candidate George McGovern.

PERIPHERAL Michael Carlebach’s photographic collection at UM Libraries offers a stunning array of fleeting moments in America, marked indelibly by memory and loss.

VISION B y To m A u s t i n , B . F. A . ’ 7 8 Photos by Mic h ael Carl ebac h

16 Miami magazine Spring 2012

On a perfectly photogenic winter afternoon, Michael Carlebach— on faculty at the University of Miami from 1978 to 2005—is lingering amid a tour of his life’s work at the Otto G. Richter Library: some 2,500 photographs he has taken over the course of 40 years for such publications as The New York Times. Now a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, Carlebach, age 67, returned to Miami last November for a day of celebrations surrounding Sharp Focus: Black and White Photographic Prints

from the Michael L. Carlebach Collection, an exhibition drawn from his remarkable archive of prints, slides, and printed materials. (Although the exhibition is no longer on view at the Richter Library, many of the images are available online, and all are available for viewing within the library’s Special Collections Department.)

Carlebach’s photos are redolent with memory and loss. The now-gone Orange Bowl stadium figures prominently in Carlebach’s world, from a demolition derby (“One driver offered to strap me on the hood of his car for better pictures”) to 1976 Hurricanes games (“I’d be sent to cover the team and, instead of shooting the players, I’d focus on the edges of the field, the mascots and cheerleaders”). For Cristina Favretto, head of Special Collections, the archive donated in 2008 by Carlebach—whose many titles include The Orgins of Photojournalism in America, Bain’s New York: The City in News Pictures, 1900-1925, and 2010’s Sunny Land: Pictures from Paradise—provides an “unusual glimpse into American life.” Much of Carlebach’s archive is set in Florida and devoted to its past—when, as Carlebach observes with a rueful chuckle, “life really mattered.” Spring 2012 Miami magazine 17

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI LIBRARIES

Highlights of the archive include a series on alcoholism, George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign, and Haitian refugees at the Krome Avenue Detention Center. Carlebach also spent a decade as an unpaid photographer for Miami Children’s Hospital’s Ventilation 18 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Assisted Children’s Center sleepaway camp, where he documented the summertime experiences of children with cystic fibrosis and other diseases. Carlebach taught his first class at UM in 1973 “as a very part-time adjunct instructor of photography,” he says. He was hired full time in 1978, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in American Civilization from Brown University in 1988. In the late ’90s Carlebach was named director of the Program in American Studies at UM. He joined the Department of Art and Art History at the beginning of this century, serving as department chair for a couple of years before retiring in 2005. One morning during his recent return to campus, Carlebach met with School of Communication students in an introductory photojournalism class taught by Jim Virga. Michelle Seelig, B.S. ’92, M.A. ’95, a former Carlebach student who is director of the school’s Visual Journalism Program, recalls him talking to the class

about “the importance of really communicating with people, connecting with them. He makes his subjects co-creators in his photographs. He’s always had so much enthusiasm and inspired me to study photography.” Carlebach’s classroom visit also inspired visual journalism major Ana Calderone. “He went after stories that weren’t so obvious,” she notes. “He is sensitive to his subjects and his subject matter, which spoke to me.” Later that day, as Carlebach’s former colleagues and students honored his career during a panel discussion and reception at the library, J. Tomás López, a professor in the Department of Art and Art History, pointed out that in photographs by masters, the “hand of the maker is so unobtrusive it eventually vanishes.” Carlebach is a master of Americana who is unafraid to document the lives of some who never achieved the American

Most of the 2,500 photographs donated were shot on 35mm black-and-white film Carlebach hand-developed. He says he didn’t shoot an activity but the people around it “where everything was really happening.” Clockwise from top of page 18: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, age 105 (1995); a club in Goulds, Miami-Dade (1990); John and Yoko’s Times Square billboard (1971); Tennessee Williams, Key West (1971); musician Fred Neil, Coconut Grove Playhouse.

dream. He screened slides of his work and talked about photography as “an agent for social change,” citing Walker Evans’s study of Depression-era sharecroppers in Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. Naturally, there was also a bit of UM nostalgia (“Our students did some great work in that old art department shack”) and some sound philosophy (“A camera is a passport to other worlds”). The worlds Carlebach examines are often so profoundly ordinary that they become extraordinary. In one 1992 photo taken in Cody Wyoming, he shot a cowboy, along with a bull standing in a tiny corral, a tableau set in front of a pedestrian commercial building. The sign on the pen reads “Rodeo Tonite.” To the right, an average Joe straddles a bicycle, blowing a gum bubble. “If you’re lucky, things happen—like this guy suddenly showing up on his bike—and you can’t beat that kind of moment,” Carlebach recounts. “It’s like Eudora Welty once said, ‘A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.’” The Michael L. Carlebach Photography Collection, 5,000-plus silver prints, color slides, and publications, is housed at the University of Miami Otto G. Richter Library. More than half of the works have already been digitized and made available online at http:// merrick.library.miami.edu/specialCollections/asm0530. To learn more about this collection or others, contact Special Collections at 305-284-3247 or asc.library@miami.edu. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 19

DRI physicians Camillo Ricordi and Xiao Jing Wang in the NIH-funded cGMP Human Cell Processing Facility. The first of its kind in an academic center, it provides insulin-producing cells for clinical trials and research around the world.

20 Miami magazine Spring 2012

With global partnerships, novel discoveries, and unprecedented support, the Diabetes Research Institute may reach its ultimate goal sooner than anyone imagined possible.

theforQuest the Cure By Ro bert S. Ben chley Ph oto s by John Zilli ou x

The morning Chris Fraker didn’t wake up was just days before his 16th birthday. It was his sophomore year in high school, and he was fitter than most students. No surprise there—he ran track. But Fraker’s body had begun behaving strangely. He went away for spring break and lost 35 pounds in three weeks. Well, he was running more to get ready for the spring track season. He kept falling asleep in class. Well, he wasn’t getting enough rest. He was constantly thirsty. Well, he was working out a lot. He was always using the bathroom. Well, he was drinking a lot of water. But when he didn’t wake up, it wasn’t because he was asleep. He was in a coma. A normal glucose level for a healthy person, before breakfast, is in the range of 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter of blood. After breakfast, that reading might spike to 135 or 140. When Fraker was rushed to the hospital and his blood was tested, his glucose reading was well above 400. Fraker had type 1 diabetes. Twenty-six years later, he still does. It doesn’t go away, and there is no cure—yet. But at 42, and married with three children, Fraker, M.S.B.E. ’06, Ph.D. ’11, has his disease under control—and he is devoting his professional life to finding a cure for it. A research assistant professor at the University of Miami’s worldrenowned, cure-focused Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), the UM alumnus is in good company, surrounded by dozens of the best and brightest minds in diabetes research from around the globe. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 21

Focus on a Cure The Miller School of Medicine has a distinguished history of patient-centered diabetes research dating back to the 1970s. The vision to create a multidisciplinary center focused on curing diabetes belonged to Daniel H. Mintz, DRI’s founding scientific director. Building on this vision, DRI has made extraordinary discoveries over the past two decades under the leadership of Camillo Ricordi, a cell transplantation pioneer who arrived in 1993. Ricordi holds 11 patents. He invented the machine that made it possible to isolate large numbers of islet cells from the human pancreas, and he’s advanced highly innovative strategies to transplant cells and organs without the ongoing need for anti-rejection drugs. A diabetes-reversing cell implantation procedure he developed now serves as the standard for clinical islet transplants worldwide. As the Diabetes Research Institute’s scientific director since 1996, Ricordi has accelerated the institute’s efforts in translational—or cure-based—research. If a line of research stops showing promise, it is abandoned. Research is focused primarily on finding ways to cure the more severe type 1 diabetes, the type that nearly killed bioengineer Fraker as a teen. “We want to arrive at a cure in the fastest, most efficient way possible,” says Ricordi, also chief of the Department of Surgery’s Division of Cellular Transplantation at the Miller School. “Research done in the traditional way was not responding to this need. Scientists worked in isolation, with little communication—often because they were competing with one another.” Opened in 1994, the 87,000-squarefoot DRI facility is no ivory tower for scientists seeking solely to build reputa22 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Bioengineers Alice Tomei and Chris Fraker, M.S.B.E. ’06, Ph.D. ’11, search for ways to combat a disease that affects roughly one in three people in the United States. Fraker has type 1 diabetes.

tions by publishing in leading research journals. DRI’s main goal is to solve the mystery of diabetes while providing clinical and outreach services that draw patients from around the world. “We developed our strategic plan after talking with leaders in industry,” Ricordi continues. “I asked them questions: What makes a company successful? What models do they use to be more efficient? In the case of DRI, we have replaced products with patients and the cure, and we took profit away. Beyond bringing all the best science minds together in one space, our current strategy is to link leading scientists worldwide through telescience tech-

nology. This allows us to assemble expertise and project teams independent of individual team members’ geographic locations.” DRI’s 200 researchers and support staff are working nonstop to eliminate an autoimmune disease that targets the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas. When sugar from the food we eat enters our bloodstream, it’s the job of islet cells to turn that sugar into energy. When islet cells detect increased sugar in the blood, they’re supposed to make insulin, a hormone that enables energizing sugar to be pumped from the bloodstream into cells. For reasons scientists don’t yet under-

stand, in people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system begins to perceive islet cells as invaders and snuffs them out. Without the ability to produce insulin, the body is denied energy and blood sugar levels spike. Type 1, or T1 as it’s known in research circles, was formerly called “juvenile diabetes” because it tends to strike children and adolescents. Only about 10 percent of those with diabetes have T1, which currently requires a lifetime regimen of blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections. The rest of the population has type 2, a condition linked to aging, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Their islets can produce insulin, but their bodies grow less responsive to it, so their blood sugar levels rise, often requiring insulin or other medications. T2 used to be called “adult-onset diabetes,” but with obesity rampant in the United States, it is appearing in teenagers and even younger children. Aggressive lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can have major benefits for all age groups affected by the disease and may even put it into remission. Still, the fact that millions of people with diabetes maintain fairly normal lives doesn’t offset its devastating toll: It can cause damage to the cardiovascular system, kidneys, nerves, and eyes, leading to heart attacks, strokes, dialysis, amputations, and blindness.

A Multidisciplinary Approach If the search for a cure can be depicted as a complex series of interconnected projects, much like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, then every piece of diabetes is bound to have someone working on it at DRI. Collaboration is a hallmark there. Multidisciplinary teams of scientists bridge their respective expertise and work together to overcome complex challenges. An excellent example of how these strategies can produce results is the interrelationship among some DRI projects in cell transplantation, one of four key research areas. Take DRI director of stem cell development for translational research Juan Dominguez-Bendala, who came to DRI from Scotland’s Roslin Institute (known for cloning Dolly the sheep). Dominguez-Bendala says stem cells are especially promising because of their ability to become other types of cells—such as pancreatic cells, the kind decimated in people with T1. “The most important development in this area is the advent of reprogramming techniques,” he explains. “It is how we instruct any given cell to become another type of cell.” DRI researchers have already used stem cells to cure diabetes—in mice. That’s a long step from a monkey, and

Diabetes by the Numbers 7 million estimated undiagnosed diabetics in the United States 18.8 million diagnosed diabetics in the United States 79 m illion people in the U.S. diagnosed as prediabetic, meaning their blood sugar levels are in the warning zone

346 million diagnosed diabetics worldwide Over 500 million people are expected to be living with diabetes worldwide by 2030 Sources: American Diabetes Association, World Health Organization

further still from a human being. Even with mice, scientists must overcome the immune system’s natural response to reject transplanted cells. “At DRI, we work with many complementary groups,” says DominguezBendala, one of 29 faculty members. “My research involves inducing stem cells to make insulin. I need to demonstrate that they can cure diabetes, not just produce insulin in a petri dish. I can go elsewhere in the building and have them tested on small animals. I can also consult with an immunologist about avoiding rejection. I can speak with a bioengineer to determine how we implant the cells. I wouldn’t be able to do every step myself. That’s why we have experts in everything here.” Fraker is one of the bioengineers on his team. “Transplanted cells are very metabolically active and need a lot of oxygen to sustain that metabolic activity,” he notes. “We’re experimenting with thinner and thinner cell coatings. These coatings will protect islet cells from immune response, potentially reducing the need for anti-rejection drugs while permitting oxygen and other nutrients to reach the cells more efficiently.” Research assistant professor Alice Tomei, who often works with Fraker, came to DRI from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Like many others at DRI—and many of the donors who support their efforts (see sidebar, page 25)—she has family members with the disease. Much of her research involves improving the viability of transplanted cells. The traditional technology of microencapsulation—creating a protective barrier around the cells—often leaves large spaces around the cell, which slows oxygen from reaching it and delays insulin response. Tomei has applied a process called conformal Spring 2012 Miami magazine 23

Islet physiologist Per-Olof Berggren, the Mary Lou Held Visiting Scientist at DRI, and DRI scientist Midhat Abdulreda, seated, examine in vivo images of islets transplanted in the eye.

coating to islets that clings to the transplanted cell like plastic wrap, permitting quicker oxygenation and insulin secretion. “A thin layer of polymer disguises the islet so the immune system doesn’t mount a response to kill the cell,” she says. That act of bio-trickery mirrors “how tumors are accepted into the body by fooling it.” Taking another idea from her previous cancer research, Tomei is testing a protein called CCL21 that she hopes will teach the immune system to be more hospitable to transplanted islet cells in the the way that tumors “expressing” that same protein make the system more inviting to cancer cells.

Collaborative Effort Ricordi recognized long ago that a cure for diabetes would be found more quickly if the cooperative, translational approach taking place in the DRI building could be expanded glob24 Miami magazine Spring 2012

ally. In 2006 he founded the DRI Federation, which today has more than 30 centers from China to Brazil sharing resources and research findings. Last year, to further eliminate barriers to sharing information for the good of humankind, he founded The Cure Focus Research Alliance, an association of scientists, physicians, surgeons, and others at the forefront of research in diabetes and other diseases as well as professionals in various fields who share the alliance’s mission. Renowned experimental endocrinologist Per-Olof Berggren, of DRI Federation member Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, also serves as the Mary Lou Held Visiting Scientist at DRI. He and DRI colleagues have pioneered the transplantation of human and mouse pancreatic islets into the eyes of mice to learn about the basic physiology of the endocrine portion of the pancreas and about the

immuno-biology of type 1 diabetes. They are collaborating with researchers at UM’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the Seoul National University in Korea to advance pancreatic islet transplantation into the eye of non-human primate models for potential clinical applications for treating T1. “If you want to treat diabetes, which is a disease of nonfunctioning or dying islet cells, then you need to have good knowledge in advance as to why they are not working,” says Berggren, whose latest findings have made the covers of three prestigious research journals. “We need to study the cells in a milieu as close as possible to the real thing, in which we can look at all the functions in the living organism and really begin to understand what is going wrong. You have the opportunity to pinpoint the mechanisms that are ceasing to work. If you can do that, then you can start to intervene and prevent those mechanisms.”

The “why” of diabetes is the big unknown—and represents the chasm between treatment and cure. “Type 1 diabetes occurs mostly in individuals who have the predisposition but not enough protection to keep the body’s immune system from going into self-destructive mode,” says Jay Skyler, a Miller School professor of medicine, pediatrics, and psychology who has been studying the disease for nearly four decades. “This immune attack is the result of a big imbalance in terms of cell regulation versus cell destruction. In the past, we thought it was only about destruction, but now we realize the development of diabetes is about losing that balance. We believe the imbalance may be triggered by something in the environment—an infection, a virus, perhaps

something in food or the way food is cooked.” Skyler is chairing Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, an international network of researchers who are exploring ways to prevent, delay, and reverse the progression of T1. TrialNet is being conducted with human subjects at risk for developing or recently diagnosed with T1, “people who are right on the threshold of developing diabetes, or who don’t have much imbalance yet,” says Skyler. “We are experimenting with a number of interventional treatments in an attempt to halt its progress.” Although a true cure is likely years away, the morale in DRI’s research labs is at a constant high. That’s because there is continuous progress. Recently, for example, a DRI team led by Ricordi

and Cherie Stabler, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and surgery, and director of the DRI’s Tissue Engineering Program, designed and developed a novel oxygen-generating biomaterial capable of improving islet survival. “This is like being a painter or an author,” notes Berggren. “It’s not work. If you get caught up in this interest, it’s like a hobby.” But even Ricordi—scientist, strategist, humanitarian—isn’t immune to personal motivations. “Back when I was in my residency, a cousin was diagnosed with diabetes. I wanted to cure him in a year or two,” he says with a smile, “but I’m a little behind schedule.” Online resources: www.diabetesresearch.org and www.TheCureAlliance.org

Partners in Progress The nonprofit Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF)— founded in 1971 by a group of parents of children with diabetes—is the driving force behind DRI’s commitment to curebased research and has been able to provide the major financial support that research of this caliber requires. Today, with commitments totaling $225 million, DRIF is the single largest donor in University of Miami history. The passion and energy of family members of people with diabetes are still driving the foundation toward a cure. Steven Sonberg, J.D. ’72, is a former chair of DRIF and a UM trustee. In 1978 his 18-month-old daughter Caryn was diagnosed with diabetes. Now in her 30s, Caryn manages her diabetes carefully and is doing well. “There are plenty of other places where funds get dissipated and spent in ways that don’t relate to the mission,” says Sonberg, who announced DRIF’s $100 million commitment to the institute at the February launch event for UM’s Momentum2 capital campaign (see story page 30). Kentucky banker Harold Doran, chair of DRIF’s national board, says this commitment will challenge DRIF to do its best and “help shorten the timeline for finding the cure.” He says he’s seen considerable progress since his son Will was diagnosed in 1994 at age

2. Now a college sophomore, Will is “a young man living with diabetes, not a diabetic young man,” notes Doran. Bonnie Inserra’s daugh- Camillo Ricordi and Bonnie Inserra at DRI ter, Lindsey, has an unusual form of type 1 diabetes. In 1996 Inserra was told her just-diagnosed 11-year-old had only three months to live. Because she can’t absorb insulin through common methods, Lindsey has had a more difficult time of it. But the doctors who predicted a very short life spent in an intensive care unit underestimated her mother’s determination. Because of Inserra’s tireless efforts—“my own research project,” says the New Jersey resident and DRIF national board member—Lindsey became the world’s first child to use the Mini Med intra-peritoneal implanted insulin pump. Today, at 27, Lindsey is a college graduate with a degree in social work who wants to help others. But the mechanical device keeping her alive is not the answer her family, and all the other families, wish for. “We’re watching the research and hoping for a cure,” says Bonnie Inserra. “We’re really all one family.” —Robert S. Benchley

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 25

Tahrir Square, 2011: “There was magic in the air,” Rasha Abdulla, Ph.D. ’03, middle, told School of Communication students via Skype. “It was the smell of freedom.”

26 Miami magazine Spring 2012

With elections coming to Egypt, three UM alumni discuss their place in the Arab Awakening.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RASHA ABDULLA, PH.D. ’03

Robin

Sh ear

The photos on Rasha Abdulla’s website, www.rashaabdulla.com, offer a vivid tour of her varied life. In one, Abdulla, Ph.D. ’03, stands smiling under a giant palm tree by Lake Osceola, hands in her jeans pockets and a sweater draped over her black turtleneck. In others she holds a microphone, her gaze distracted and dreamy, or sits bare-shouldered on a beach, strumming her guitar. In yet another, her brows are knitted in determination, her raven curls barely tamed by a lilac-colored headband as her tennis racket swings expertly toward its target. World traveler, singer, musician, national tennis champion. Abdulla, unlike some 40 percent of Egypt’s population of 83 million, did not grow up in poverty but in a typical middle class family. Starting college at 15, she attended the American University of Cairo on merit and sports scholarships, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with numerous academic honors. Arriving at the University of Miami in 2000, she received the School of Communication’s first doctoral degree, doing her dissertation on Internet use in the Arab world, before returning to her Cairo alma mater, where she’s now an award-winning associate professor of journalism and mass communication. Abdulla’s latest book, 2009’s Policing the Internet in the Arab World, introduced her to many of the region’s digital and social media activists. When their virtual connections erupted in an enormous demonstration in Cairo on January 25, 2011, her decade of scholarship transformed into action. “This was the first revolution ever in the world that was placed as an event on Facebook,” marvels Abdulla, who live-tweets the revolution at @RashaAbdulla. Walking for half an hour each morning from her home to Tahrir Square, she stood shoulder to shoulder with strangers, wrapped in her Egyptian flag—the same one she’d hung in her Miami apartment—shouting for the removal of Hosni Mubarak. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 27

CHRIS HONDROS/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

After his release from captivity in Libya, where he’d been covering the uprising in March 2011, Getty Images photographer Joe Raedle, B.S.C. ’87, hugs his mother in a New York airport as his wife, Nancy San Martin, watches.

“I was always a proponent for freedom of expression. I’ve spoken about that, written about that, and advocated that at international conferences and venues. But I never went on a demonstration before January 25. That’s the point of the revolution—stirring the Egyptian people. Most of us have turned into political activists, whether by going to demonstrations, advocating something, or avoiding buying army products, because most people now have been affected or know somebody who has been affected. You can’t go back to living life as if you’re not part of this; like it or not, you are. “It’s been a very emotionally loaded year,” she notes. “I’ve lost a few friends for ideological reasons. I’ve also lost friends to live bullets. One of our friends was hospitalized last week with 118 birdshot pellets in her body. All the while the minister of the interior goes on television and says, ‘We were not using birdshot; we were using only tear gas.’” Not only has the military been using tear gas to devastating effect at demonstrations, she says, she was shocked to read U.S. Senate hearing transcripts noting that Egypt has used U.S.-made gas paid for by U.S. military aid money. “Turns out we did not topple the regime; we toppled only Mubarak,” Abdulla 28 Miami magazine Spring 2012

says. “And then you have a life, a family, work to do, students to answer to. You have to maintain some kind of normalcy. “I’ve received indirect messages of pressure almost daily to not be as out-

the Kia they were in was stopped by AK47 fire from el-Qaddafi loyalists. Unable to run, the trio was forced to kneel on the side of the road with guns pointed at their heads. Secreted off to prison, they were blindfolded, abused, and interrogated for four days. Raedle recalls being told he’d go home in a box just 20 minutes before the three were unceremoniously dropped off at a luxury hotel in Tripoli with the casually sinister farewell: “Sorry for the inconvenience.” Raedle and his wife, Nancy San Martin, a Miami Herald editor, discussed their ordeal last year during a program hosted by the School of Communication. Raedle said he didn’t want to give too many details about his captors because it might endanger other journalists still being detained. Despite his close call,

“ As journalists we’re all passionate about telling stories. This is not a job, but a lifestyle.”

spoken,” she adds. “But I can’t go back. I would die if I stopped talking about it.” merican Joe Raedle, B.S.C. ’87, saw the Arab Spring from a radically different perspective. In March 2011, as rebellion spread across the region, the conflict photojournalist for Getty Images flew into Cairo, then made his way across the border into Libya, where rebels were fighting Muammar el-Qaddafi’s military. On Saturday morning, March 19, Raedle was with fellow UM alumnus Roberto Schmidt, B.S.C. ’89, who is a photojournalist for Agence France Presse, and AFP reporter Dave Clark, traveling east across the desert to Ajdabiya, when

Raedle has no plans of taking a desk job. “As journalists we’re all passionate about telling stories,” he said. “This is not a job, but a lifestyle.” But while some journalists have been banned, attacked, and even killed while trying to report on the Arab Awakening, Egyptian-American Omar Shoeb, M.A. ’07, says revolution has opened new vistas for Egypt’s Fourth Estate. Former producer of Baladna Bel-Masry (Our Country), an Egyptian news talk show on a private network, Shoeb says his goal is to help raise public awareness about life in the aftermath of the revolution. “I’ve produced over 400 segments since the start of the revolution, and let me tell you, every single one we couldn’t have done before,”

he says over a crackling connection. “Doing my master’s degree at UM was the best decision I’ve ever made, just an eye-opening experience. Professor Sam Roberts [UM’s former Frances L. Wolfson Chair in Broadcast Journalism] taught me about media ethics and being a good producer.” s life-altering events from Tunisia to Syria continued to unfold, the UM community engaged in discussions about their meaning and impact. This February, soon after deadly riots erupted at an Egyptian soccer match, Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States, spoke at UM on “Egypt’s Democracy and Arab Spring.” “It has been a tumultuous year, full of promise, full of apprehension, full of drama, and it continues to be,” Shoukry told the standing-room-only audience inside UM’s Cosford Cinema. “The main slogans of the revolution were justice, equality, and economic prosperity for Egyptian people, but how that should be achieved has been an ongoing debate.” The selection of a 100-member constitutional committee to rewrite Egypt’s constitution, a critical precursor to June’s anticipated presidential election, will high-

“People who wanted real change were ecstatic for the revolution, and they took to the streets—and we took to the media.” —Omar Shoeb, M.A. ’07

light, said Shoukry, “the competing ideas of how Egypt is to transform politically, socially, and economically; how it will be able to instill the type of government that was the objective of the revolution; and how the constitution will guarantee freedoms, human rights, and the separation of powers that will guarantee that no future autocrat will be able to wield excessive power and influence and restrict again the dignity of the Egyptian people.” A product of UM’s international studies program, Bradford McGuinn, Ph.D. ’07, senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, followed Shoukry’s lecture with an interview. A military and counter-terrorism expert who specializes in civil-military relations, McGuinn covered everything from nuclear concerns to Israel to U.S.-Egypt relations. He told Shoukry that the “impulse toward democracy” seen in the streets throughout the Arab world “mesmerized” his students who “saw themselves in very real ways in these young people and their social media and all those technologies that break down barriers.” UM Islam expert Amanullah De Sondy, an assistant professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, says his students—many from the Arab Muslim world and its diaspora—also saw “a real hope for Arab Spring. The students saw that the floodgates were being opened for a variety of voices.” But now, he says, the optimism and hope displayed in places such as Egypt’s Tahrir Square “has been brought back down to earth by state politics.” With uncertainty about where future elections will take Egypt, De Sondy shares at least one concern: “Egyptians need to take hold of their own narrative, but those who want to build bridges to progress are finding it very difficult because authoritarian and conservative establishments are not only stronger but better organized.”

De Sondy—whose courses range from introductions to Islam and religions of Asia to his particular interest and expertise, Islam and gender—was born and raised in Scotland to Pakistani parents of the Muslim faith. He studied Arabic and Islamic Studies in France, Jordan, and Syria and continues to work internationally, serving as a contributor for BBC Radio Scotland and promoting interfaith dialogue around the world. “If religion is not going to be a force of good,” he says, “it shouldn’t be a force at all.” Building bridges is vital to academic progress as well, adds De Sondy, who makes a point of delving into the crosscultural currents that surface in his classes at a university where the student body represents more than 110 nations. “They are learning and living side by side—and being challenged by diversity,” he says. “I have a lot of Arab students who are open to discussion and debate. Some Saudi students in my Islam and Gender class are very resistant to opening up, but at least I’ve sown the seed for them to think in a different way. It’s not about making everybody a bleeding-heart liberal; it’s about being able to manifest a variety of voices. “We’re at a stage in the 21st century where our approach to three critical issues—race and ethnicity, gender, and pluralism—is going to make or break the Arab Muslim world, and probably other societies and cultures as well. These three issues are the issues of today.” For Shoeb’s part, as he continues to push for freedom of the press, he’s glad to have a front-row seat to Egypt’s future. “It’s a constant adrenaline rush,” he admits. “You have this anticipation. You want to see how things are going to turn out.” Read more from Rasha Abdulla and Omar Shoeb at www.miami.edu/miami-magazine. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 29

Already transformed by the first successful billion-dollar college campaign in Florida’s history, the University of Miami has its sights on a new goal: raising $1.6 billion by 2016. With four years still to go, UM is more than halfway there.

Fast Forward KEY CAMPAIGN GOALS

Scholarships and Student Support: $210 million

In a five-story simulation hospital, nursing students in surgical scrubs

Faculty Support and Research: $580 million

counting contractions. On Virginia Key, scientists power up a one-of-a-kind wind-

Programs and General Support: $470 million

Robert

Jo nes

Jr.

tend to a lifelike pregnant robotic mannequin, monitoring her vital signs and wave-storm surge simulator to better understand the dynamics of high-force hurricanes. In a new experiential music building, aspiring performers, composers,

New Buildings and Facility Improvements: $340 million

and engineers learn, create, and collaborate with state-of-the-art multimedia

TOTAL $1.6 Billion

story landmark at the heart of campus, the kinetic buzz of student activities,

and interactive technology. And at the Student Activities Center, a new threesocializing, and special events fills the air. Such is a glimpse of what’s on the horizon at the University of Miami. Comprehensive, ambitious, and carefully crafted to advance the University’s strategic vision of its future, UM’s second major fundraising campaign within a decade is under way. Momentum2: The Breakthrough Campaign for the University

of Miami expects to raise a towering $1.6 billion by May 31, 2016 to transform this still-young institution yet again: new buildings and labs to prepare tomorrow’s medical and scientific masterminds, scholarships for those who otherwise might not be able to attend college, and a talented new group of determined researchers and scholars who don’t just study global problems, they find solutions to them. 30 Miami magazine Spring 2012

GAINING MOMENTUM Momentum2’s public launch earlier this year drew several hundred donors, trustees, and top UM administrators to the BankUnited Center on the University’s Coral Gables campus the evening of February 16. With Academy Awardsstyle flourish, Shalala opened an envelope and jubilantly revealed that the new campaign was at 56.6 percent of its goal,

JOHN ZILLIOUX

Asked why UM would launch the drive when the U.S. economy is still sagging and some philanthropists are keeping a tight hold on their wallets, UM President Donna E. Shalala replies, “We were ready to go, and it was time to go.” Shalala, who has been at UM’s helm since 2001, notes that Momentum2 is more than halfway to its goal as it emerges from its silent phase, which began in 2008. She adds that the timing of UM’s first billion-dollar fundraising effort— Momentum: The Campaign for the University of Miami—was hardly ideal either. “We launched the first campaign right after 9/11, when everyone was canceling campaigns, and it did just fine,” she says. In fact, the first Momentum campaign surpassed both its initial monetary goal and an augmented goal of $1.25 billion, reaching $1.4 billion by the end of 2007. The feat marked the first time a private university established in the 20th century had achieved a ten-digit fundraising goal. “There’s no good time or bad time to launch a campaign,” concludes Shalala. “You just keep moving.”

World of Difference: “The financial support I received is one of the main reasons I was able to attend the University of Miami,” says School of Business Administration scholarship student Dhrushti Desai, who plans to apply the expertise she’s gaining to marketing creative enterprises in New York City. “Scholarships can make a world of difference for a bright student who wants to build a strong future—one scholarship, one chance, one lifetime.”

with commitments totaling $906 million. (As of press time, the figure was up to $934.7 million.) That night, the campaign’s lead gift was announced too: $100 million from the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation to support the institute’s efforts

to cure a disease that afflicts more than 25 million children and adults in this country alone (see story page 20). “This speaks to the impact the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and the Miller School of Medicine have when it comes to improving and Spring 2012 Miami magazine 31

saving human lives,” says UM trustee Stuart Miller, J.D. ’82, chair of the Miller School’s Momentum2 campaign. “Momentum2 will enable us to make that difference.” A decade ago it was Miller’s family whose $100 million pledge to the medical school propelled the first Momentum campaign. By the time it was over, UM

Articulating that vision in impressive detail is the University’s Accelerating Ambition plan, created to serve as a blueprint for the key steps needed to ascend to the next level of excellence and recognition. Its objectives include enhancing the undergraduate experience, building nationally prominent graduate programs, developing and sustaining a

Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation; Bonefish & Tarpon Trust; The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis; Patricia McBride Herbert, B.B.A. ’57, and Allan Herbert, B.B.A. ’55, M.B.A. ’58; Norton Herrick; Hussman Foundation; the Estate of Enid Claire Ives; Christine E. Lynn; Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation; The Pap Corps, Champi-

was able to add 21 new centers and institutes, support 33 new and renovated facilities, endow 166 scholarships, and fund 35 new faculty chairs. Now, as UM returns to the campaign trail, it continues to ride high on a crest of achievement, including its rank of No. 38 (up nine slots from the previous year) in U.S.News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” issue, the dramatic rise of many of its graduate programs in prestigious rankings compiled by the National Research Council, and December’s recognition in Worth magazine as the nation’s most fiscally responsible nonprofit organization. Leonard Abess, UM Board of Trustees chair, and his wife, Jayne, are co-chairing Momentum2. The couple also has a son attending UM. “Few top-rated universities continuously move up,” says Leonard Abess. “Some universities stall, but we keep getting better. The success of this campaign so far is due to very focused leadership and relentless work by a huge team of people who share a common vision about this institution we love.”

world-class research faculty, and providing infrastructure to support programmatic ambitions. “Our goals for Momentum2 are to raise funds as best as we can for those key priorities that we have identified,” says Thomas J. LeBlanc, executive vice president and provost, one of the strategic plan’s chief architects. Several major gifts already in hand are going directly toward realizing those strategic goals. A 119,000-squarefoot Student Activities Center is rising on campus with the help of a $20 million lead commitment from UM trustee Tracey and Bruce Berkowitz’s Fairholme Foundation, and a top-notch facility for Hurricane student-athletes is under construction thanks to commitments of almost $12.5 million, including a $5 million naming gift from Theodore G. (Ted) and Todd Schwartz. Additional Momentum2 donations of $5 million or more have come from Jayne and Leonard Abess; UM trustee Adrienne Arsht; Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Charitable Trust; The

At the launch event, from left, the Wall of Recognition with more than 4,000 names from UM donor societies, performer Kenny Loggins, attendees at BankUnited Center, and President Donna E. Shalala, Honorary Alumna ’03.

32 Miami magazine Spring 2012

ons for Cancer Research; the Estate of Isabel Collier Read; The Starr Foundation; Elaine and Sydney Sussman and the Sussman family; and UM trustee Marta Weeks Wulf. This inspiring groundswell of generosity supports initiatives that range from an 18,000-square-foot expansion of UM’s on-campus wellness facility to the groundbreaking research of the University’s Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute to an innovative and highly collaborative approach to harnessing the promise of emerging bionanotechnologies. Campaign resources also will be directed toward UM’s network of communitybased partnerships to enhance regional well-being in the areas of education, health care, and economic stability. Sergio M. Gonzalez, senior vice president for university advancement

and external affairs, calls the campaign a “sky’s the limit” effort. And he doesn’t take for granted what appears to be a bright forecast. “Each and every dollar raised is vital and irreplaceable,” says Gonzalez. “Every gift, no matter the amount, makes a difference and moves us closer to our goal.”

Already more than 94,000 donors have gotten behind Momentum2, many representing new sources of support. “Our biggest lesson is that we have had to find a new generation of donors, parents, and alumni,” says President Shalala, underscoring what she and her administration have gleaned from their campaign efforts. “Our alumni group is now mature enough. We’re talking to people who graduated from here after World War II. We now have grandparents who attended UM sending their grandchildren here, and parents sending their children here.” So far alumni donations to Momentum2 are at $138 million. “Our longtime supporters are continuing to contribute enthusiastically,” explains Shalala. “But for this campaign, we now know we have to also identify new donors, and you can see the first ones coming through.” She cites the example of Tracey and Bruce Berkowitz, who have had three children attend UM and belong to a committed cadre of volunteer vice chairs helping to lead the campaign. The others are UM trustee Eddie, B.S.E.E. ’72, M.D. ’75, M.S.B.E. ’01, and Joanne Dauer; UM trustee Paul and Swanee DiMare; UM trustee Joe, B.B.A. ’78, and Ana Echevarria; Dwayne Johnson, B.G.S. ’95; UM trustee ex-officio Dany Garcia, B.B.A. ’92; UM trustee Christine and Ted Schwartz; and UM trustee Roe and Penny Stamps. In

DONNA VICTOR

BUILDING THE BASE

Juan Chattah, assistant professor of theory and composition at the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music, played a pivotal role in implementing the Frost School’s Experiential Music Curriculum, a novel, multidisciplinary approach to music education that is now integrated into every facet of the school. The Frost School was the first accredited school in the U.S. to significantly revise its undergraduate curriculum to make it more relevant for today’s world.

addition to their leadership roles at UM, almost all of these vice chairs are alumni and/or parents of ’Canes. “This is about more than raising money,” notes campaign co-chair Leonard Abess. “It is a vision for the future and for the prosperity of our community.”

For more information about Momentum2, visit www.miami.edu/momentum2 or call the Division of University Advancement at 305-2844443. Social media users can get involved by using “#Give2theU”. Earlier versions of this story appeared in UM faculty and staff publications. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 33

“Annual giving is just a slam dunk.

empowers so many students.” It

Kim Stone, M.B.A. ’03

Kim (center), executive vice president and general manager for the Miami Heat and American Airlines Arena, serves on UM’s President’s Council.

Did you know that an annual gift of $125 has the same annual impact as an endowment gift of $2,500*? Your Annual Fund gift allows more students to realize their dreams, which frequently exceed their means. Please do your part and make a gift to the University of Miami Annual Fund.

You can support the University by making a gift online at www.miami.edu/alumni/giving or by mailing your gift to: Annual Fund University of Miami

* Based on the University’s Endowment Spending Policy. Annual distributions equal the three-year moving average, typically 5% of the endowment corpus.

P.O. Box 248053 Coral Gables, FL 33124-9972

To learn about additional annual giving opportunities, visit www.miami.edu/alumni/giving.

Any gift to the University of Miami is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information about giving to the University of Miami, call 305-284-4443, email give@miami.edu, or visit www.miami.edu/givetoum. 34 Miami magazine Spring 2012

A l u m n i

DIGEST

News and Events of Interest to University of Miami Alumni

One from the Heart Stories of U reconnects the UM family across the miles

s the saying goes, everyone has a story. At the University of Miami, with nearly 160,000 living alumni, that’s a lot of stories. In fact, it’s so many that even if we managed to tell one a day, it would take 425 years to share them all—and of course by then there’d be so many more. Yet the University of Miami Alumni Association (UMAA) has embraced a venture on just such a monumental scale, inviting all UM alumni to tell their “Stories of U.” “We want to learn about the moments and people who have shaped our alumni community’s lives,” says Donna A. Arbide, M.B.A. ’95, UMAA executive director. “Our goal is to share and celebrate their individual

lated with stories that span the globe and multiple generations. Threetime Super Bowl champion Russell Maryland, A.B. ’90, discusses his first days at UM and how he went on to transform himself from a “guy nobody wanted” to the number-one draft pick of Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys’ then-coach and his first coach at UM. “That was just a phenomenal day for me,” recalls Maryland, a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Gerald Del Amo, B.B.A. ’03, and Giselle Ortiz Del Amo, B.B.A. ’04, J.D. ’07, recount how Greek life and

reporter who was covering a truck hijacking case when a police stakeout led to gunfire and a caught-on-camera capture. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is why I want to do this. This is so exciting!’” UMAA board member Winston Warrior, B.B.A. ’93, M.B.A. ’96, hopes the shared

“ Stories of U will help reignite that spirit in us as adults that all of us had when we were students at the U.” and collective experiences through pictures, essays, and audio and video recordings.” Alumni can submit materials to the interactive website storiesofu.com or ask the UMAA team to interview them. The site, which launched in January, is already popu-

Hurricane games brought them together and how their wedding entrance was set to the UM fight song. David Isaacs, A.B. ’71, whose writing credits range from M*A*S*H to Mad Men, talks about an “amazing” day he had as an intern at Channel 7. He was in the field with a

memories from Stories of U will help “reignite that spirit in us as adults that all of us ’Canes had when we were students here at the U.” Clearly that spirit burns brightly in former classmates Ainslee R. Ferdie, B.B.A. ’54, J.D. ’54, and Martin J. Rosen, B.B.A. ’54, who, in their

video, reminisce together about fraternity high jinks, football games, being allowed by the dean to kiss their dates goodnight outside the new women’s dorm, and their later military service. Arbide encourages more alumni to contribute recollections. “Whether it’s the birth of a child, the trip of a lifetime, or the person who inspired you to be who you are today,” she says, “stories that are honest and come from the heart have the power to uplift, ignite, touch, and transform.” For more information or to arrange your interview, call 305-284-2872 or 1-866-UMALUMS (8625867) or visit storiesofu.com. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 35

AlumniDigest

Deals on Wheels

hether you’re doublechecking directions, choosing a restaurant, or deciding to catch a movie on the fly, you probably find yourself turning more and more frequently to your smart phone for quick assistance. Meanwhile, these handy triumphs of miniaturized technology keep finding ever more sophisticated ways to meet our needs in real time. Now University of Miami alumni can get deals on a variety of services and purchases through a new program called My University Mobile. Participants receive e-coupons and discounts

for meals, shopping, events, and entertainment from UM Alumni Association retail partners, delivered as text messages straight to their mobile phone or PDA. “In today’s economy, we all appreciate the chance to get discounts and deals on the things we enjoy, so we’re delighted to be able to offer this free service to our members,” says Marlen Tejera, director of marketing and finance at the University’s Office of Alumni Relations. To get started, text UM to 78601, or enroll online at www.miami.edu/alumni/ mobile/um. Then, any time

you see an offer you like, simply select it and show your e-coupon or message to the vendor, and the deal is yours. For delivery items, use the offer code “UM” when ordering. Xxxxx x xxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxxx xxxx. You can opt out of this permission-based sage feature be enabled. For information delivery system customer support, email at any time. support@marlimar.com. For If you get a “failed short more information, contact code” message, call your the UM Alumni Association service provider and ask that at 305-284-2872 or alumni@ the short-code text mesmiami.edu.

Add Wings to Your Wheels

Sebastian takes your trip to new heights In the sea of standard Florida license plates, yours can be one that turns heads. The UM plate is available at any Florida tag agency for just $25 above the cost of a regular plate. Best of all, the extra $25 funds University of Miami Alumni Scholarships for UM students. The only requirement is that you must be a Florida resident with a vehicle registered in the state. So go ahead and let your tag tell the world you’re a ’Cane.

Get the University of Miami License Plate www.miami.edu/alumni

36 Miami magazine Spring 2012

ven before the sun set on the Beijing Olympics in 2008, an elite group of UM athletes had their eyes and hearts set on this summer in London. On July 27, when the 2012 Olympic Games open, a number of them could be there, giving it their all. Here’s a rundown of some Hurricane hopefuls.

MITCHELL HAASETH/NBC OLYMPICS

Diving Dreams UM’s tradition of Olympic divers, exemplified by famous gold medalist Greg Louganis, ’81, is in full force this year. Representing USA Diving’s women are nine-time national champion Kelci Bryant, ’08, and Brittany Viola, B.S.C. ’11, who won NCAA platform titles for UM in 2008 and 2011, earned All-American honors, and is an NCAA 2012 Top VIII award recipient. Canadian diver

Reuben Ross, B.S.C.E. ’10, who competed in the 10-meter platform and 3-meter springboard in Beijing, will get a second shot at fulfilling his Olympic dreams in London. Ross was a civil engineering major and the 2008 ACC Men’s Diver of the Year. Another engineering major hoping to dive his way into the Olympics on the 1-meter springboard is undergraduate Samuel Dorman, of Tempe, Arizona. And fighting for a spot in London from UM women’s swimming is student-athlete Kelsi Hall, whose event is the sprint freestyle. Run Run Revolution London 2012 may serve as a reunion for UM women’s track and field. Though a serious ankle injury last year sidelined Tabia Charles, A.B. ’06, contenders Ti’erra Brown, A.B. ’11, Takecia Jameson, B.L.A. ’11, 12-time AllAmerican

Diver Brittany Viola, B.S.C. ’11

ELTON ANDERSON

Giving Their All to Get to London This Summer

Olympic and World Championship medalist Lauryn Williams, B.B.A. ’05, aims to “inspire the next generation of athletic young women.”

Dominique Darden, B.B.A. ’06, and Miamibased Lauryn Williams, B.B.A. ’05, all hope to be Olympics-bound. Williams won a silver medal in the 100-meter at her first Olympic appearance in 2004. She won gold in 2005 and silver in 2007 at the World Championships. After competing in Beijing in 2008, Williams left the racing world for a couple of years. By 2010 she was back on the track, training at her alma mater, where she was a nine-time All-American and NCAA champion. Now placing in important national and international races, she hopes to go to her third Olympics. If these women make it, their coach will be none other than Amy Deem, Hurricanes director of track and field/

cross country for men and women. USA Track and Field selected Deem, a personal coach to Williams and others during the 2004 and 2008 games, to lead its women’s team to victory this summer. Working to join the U.S. men’s team is All-American UM hurdler Devon Hill, A.B. ’12. Siblings Who Sail Another medalist seeking to regain Olympic glory is sailor Zach Railey. B.S.Ed. ’06. The 27-yearold Floridian who started sailing at age 8, won silver in the Finn class as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Sailing team. This year he and his younger sister, Paige (an alternate in 2008), both scored U.S. team berths for the Olympic regatta in Weymouth. Spring 2012 Miami magazine 37

A l u m nLiODOi Kg IeNsGt

BACK

He Played His Way into Tennis History

HIVES, UNIVERSI

TY OF MIAMI

LIBRARIES

late teens, was no longer honing his game on the sly. “I hit some balls with him,” says Mulloy, now 98. “I told him, ‘You’re never going to get good, playing down here. You’ve got to come to the U.S.’” Not a recruiting pitch, exactly, but that’s how it turned out. A few years later, says Mulloy, he was at the U.S. Grass Court Championships in Rye, New York, when there was a knock on his door. It was Segura. “You said come to America,” he recalls Segura saying. “Here I am.” Mulloy got his protégé a tennis scholarship to UM in 1941. “I was one of the few students who spoke Spanish,” says Segura. IVERSITY ARC

here was little to suggest the short, skinny kid with bowed legs would amount to much of a tennis player. Born prematurely, he endured a double hernia and rickets as a child, taking up tennis only after a family friend suggested it would help build his strength. The friend, conveniently, got the boy’s father a job maintaining the courts at the country club in the family’s hometown of Guayaquil, Ecuador. “I was the ball boy and got towels for the members,” says 90-year-old Francisco “Pancho” Segura, ’45. When he wasn’t working—and nobody was looking—the young Segura would spend hours hitting tennis balls. His unusual two-handed technique was born of necessity. “As a kid, I was weak,” he explains, “so I gripped the racket with two

COURTESY UN

Pancho Segura, ‘45, and his coach at UM, Gardnar Mulloy, right

was no getting the better of Segura. “Other players were so scared of his forehand,” says his old coach, “they would break their ass to

“ As a kid, I was weak, so I gripped the racket with two hands, and it just became habit.” hands, and it just became habit.” Maybe that stroke is what first caught the attention of Gardnar Mulloy, at the time University of Miami’s tennis coach and a top international player. Mulloy says just before World War II, he was on a State Department tour of Latin America, playing exhibition matches against the local talent. Segura, in his 38 Miami magazine Spring 2012

Make that almost nothing but Spanish. “He stayed in the dorm with the football team,” recalls Mulloy. “Once a football player instructed him to approach a co-ed and make an indecent proposal—without telling him what he was saying. She slapped him so hard, and poor Pancho was, like, ‘What did I say?’” But on the court there

stay away from it.” It didn’t work. Against Segura, hardly anything did. Nicknamed “Segoo” by players and fans, he was crowned the intercollegiate men’s champion from 1943 to 1945, the only men’s player to accomplish the feat in the modern era. “I just kept improving,” says Segura. “That’s the great thing about tennis. It doesn’t matter who your dad is or

where you go to school. It’s just me and you. It’s democracy at its best.” That attitude served Segura well after UM. He more than held his own playing against some of tennis’s greatest, including Jack Kramer, Tony Trabert, and the other “Pancho”— Richard “Pancho” González. Segura ranked at or near the top of the professional men’s game for much of the 1950s. “He was [only 5’6” and], in a way, not as strong as the other players,” says Segura biographer Caroline Seebohm, “but he was a terrific strategist, and that’s how he beat people.” By 1968 Segura, too old for competitive play, began teaching at the Beverly Hills Country Club. He would, though, make one more lasting contribution to the professional game when he took a youngster named Jimmy Connors under his wing. “He had tremendous desire,” says Segura of the five-time U.S. Open champion. “I knew he’d surprise everybody.” Just like a skinny, bowlegged kid from Ecuador did. —Gaspar González

C l a s s

NOTES 1950s

Victor A. Ratner, B.S. ’54, lives in

Roanoke, Virginia, with his wife, Nancy, and plays trombone in local music groups. He retired as president and CEO of Video Research Corporation a few years ago. Jerry V. Wilkey, A.B. ’55, J.D. ’57, a retired attorney, lives with his wife, Sari Wilkey, B.S. ’57, in Palm Beach. He received the Florida Bar 50-year membership with distinction certificate in 2007, was in Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys, and won tennis trophies at Beach Club of Palm Beach from 1995-2005. Gordon R. Miller, B.S. ’56, was appointed voluntary professor of ophthalmology at the Miller School of Medicine. Norman Neiman, B.S.M.E. ’57, of Orlando, received a 2011 National Space Club Florida Committee Lifetime Achievement Award. Jack Fell, M.S. ’59, Ph.D. ’65, professor emeritus and co-editor of The Yeasts, A Taxonomic Study, presented a copy of the three-volume treatise to the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. He received the Johanna Westerdijk Award from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences for his studies of basidiomycetous yeasts.

1960s

Rubye Davis Dorfman Jewell, A.B.

’62, M.Ed. ’70, completed her halfcentury teaching career in Florida and Maine “thanks to UM’s excellent foreign language department and College of Arts and Sciences.” Arnold Pakula, B.Ed. ’65, has written his debut novel, The Lady and the Bullrider. Aida Levitan, A.B. ’69, was named 2011 Latina Pioneer of the Year at

South Florida’s Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity Luncheon. Stephen Nagin, B.B.A. ’69, J.D. ’74, has joined Peretz Chesal & Herrmann as counsel. Thomas P. Rebel, B.S. ’69, M.S. ’73, M.Ed. ’74, J.D. ’78, was appointed managing partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP’s Atlanta headquarters. Carl E. Westman, J.D. ’69, received the American Red Cross of Collier County’s 2011 Legacy Award.

1970s

Robert Grand, B.S. ’70, an opto-

metric physician, was awarded a fellowship with the Orthokeratology Academy of America. Ken A. Offenther, A.B. ’70, a member of the Southeast Coast District Hall of Fame for shuffleboard, represented the United States in the 2011 International Shuffleboard Association Singles World Championship, placing 10th in the men’s competition. Glenda H. Kaplan, B.Ed. ’71, shows Scottish terriers and has a breeding program, Sherloch Scottish Terriers, in New York. Georgina A. Angones, A.B. ’72, the UM School of Law assistant dean for law development and alumni relations, was appointed finance committee chair for the American Bar Association’s Council for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline. She is on the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews executive committee and the Nominating Committee for the District Court, Southern District of Florida. C. Robert Drake, B.B.A. ’72, runs a company that markets precious metals and estate and custom jewelry in Monterey, California. Arthur B. Barzilay, B.B.A. ’73, of Merrill Lynch, is in Barron’s America’s Top 1,000 Advisors:

ALUMNI OF NOTE

’Cane Sees World Series Win

hen Jon Jay, ’08, came to the University of Miami in 2003, his only dreams were to please his parents by getting a college degree and to please himself by playing baseball for his hometown ’Canes. Last year, reality far outran his dreams. In his first full year as a St. Louis Cardinal, the Miami native became the starting centerfielder on a team that would become Major League Baseball’s surprise World Series champions. The victory came with a trip to the White House. “Meeting the president, playing in and winning the World Series—I still can’t believe it,” Jay says from his Miami home before the start of spring training camp. “It has been so much fun. All I can think of is, let’s do it again.” Now 27, the Christopher Columbus High School graduate played in 159 games last season, more than any other Cardinal, hitting .295. His team snuck into the playoffs after the Atlanta Braves lost to the Phillies on the last day of the season, giving the Cardinals the National League wild card. “We all went crazy when the Phillies won,” recalls Jay. “We knew we had a chance.” They beat the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers before taking the series in seven games against the Texas Rangers. Jay proved integral to his team’s miraculous game-six comeback, scoring the 10th inning’s tying run. During the off-season, Jay sponsored a celebrity bowling tournament for his family’s favorite charity, the Chapman Partnership, which provides services to homeless men, women, and children. Former ’Cane teammate Gaby Sanchez, ’05, along with a dozen other major leaguers such as Gio Gonzalez, John Mayberry, and Drew Storen, as well as Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh attended the affair, which raised $25,000. “My family always taught me to give back to the community, and that was something we practiced in college too,” says Jay. Even though he’s returning to the diamond with another World Series win on his mind, Jay can’t give up his old Miami dream. “I owe so much to my family and the teammates and coaches I had at the University, so I know I will eventually come back and finish my degree,” he says, just a few courses shy of his business diploma. “But right now, we are excited about 2012.” —Robert Strauss

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 39

ClassNotes

State-by-State list.

William Samek, M.S ’75, Ph.D. ’77,

Steven D. Ginsburg, B.B.A. ’73, J.D.

was elected president of the Florida Psychological Association in 2011. Stephen Troy, B.B.A. ’75, president of AeroFund Financial, has published Business Biographies: Shaken, Not Stirred ... with a Twist. Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, A.B. ’76, J.D. ’79, was named president and CEO of Take Stock in Children, a nonprofit organization for lowincome and at-risk Florida youth. Elena Zuares, A.B. ’76, is an associate in Nelson Levine de Luca & Horst LLC’s Cherry Hill, New Jersey, office. Daniel A. Braga, A.B. ’77, was appointed global head of commercial operations for vaccine producer Sanofi Pasteur. He lives in Long Valley, New Jersey, with his wife, Kristina, and children, Elizabeth and Matthew. Jorge R. Exposito, A.B. ’77, a Miami Beach city commissioner, participated in the inaugural class of The

’76, is a partner in the Atlanta office of Duane Morris LLP. Jerry Soen, M.S. ’73, senior medical physicist at Advocate Christ Medical Center and president and owner of Medical Radiation Concepts Inc., was inducted as a fellow into the American College of Radiology. Gary D. Steinman, M.D. ’73, has published his third book, Medical School, Now What?: A Guide to Building a Rewarding Practice. Thomas R. Ungleich, M.A. ’74, J.D. ’81, retired as an administrative and international law attorney for the U.S. Army. Christine Hall, J.D. ’75, director of the Alexandria Law Library in Virginia, took part in the world’s largest paired kidney exchange at Georgetown University Hospital last year. She lost 40 pounds to participate and says it was the best experience of her life.

Good Government Initiative at the University of Miami. Martin D. “Doug” Kelly, A.B. ’77, president of Kelly Security International in Clearwater, Florida, is a contributing editor to Florida Sportsman magazine and has produced two TV series and a syndicated radio talk show about the outdoors. His latest book is Florida’s Fishing Legends and Pioneers (University Press of Florida, 2011). William A. Koenigsberg, B.B.A. ’77, was elected to the board of directors of The Partnership at Drugfree. org and chairs its media exposure committee. Karen Gievers, J.D. ’78, was elected circuit judge for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida. Samuel Ruttenberg, B.M. ’78, invented HingeStix practice drumsticks, which won best in show from the National Association of Music Merchants. Janet Bond Brill, B.S. ’79, M.S.Ed.

u Elegant spaces available to alumni and the community for meetings, intimate gatherings and celebrations. • More than 9,500 sq. ft. of indoor event space • More than 4,000 sq. ft. of outdoor event space • Room and furniture configurations can change for maximum flexibility

• High-end finishes throughout • State-of-the-art acoustic and audiovisual equipment • Conveniently located on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus • Available to the public

6200 San Amaro Drive Coral Gables, FL 33145

40 Miami magazine Spring 2012

305-284-1934 www6.miami.edu/alumnicenter

’86, Ph.D. ’01, is the author of two books, Cholesterol Down and Prevent a Second Heart Attack (Three Rivers Press/Random House). David R. Carlisle, B.M. ’79, J.D. ’84, a partner at Duane Morris LLP’s Miami office, co-chairs the alternative dispute resolution committee of the Florida Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.

1980s

Daniel Adams, M.M. ’81, a music

professor at Texas Southern University in Houston and president of the South Central Chapter of the College Music Society, is in the 2011 reference Composers in the Classroom. He gave a master class and received a performance of his work in South Korea at the 2011 College Music Society International Conference. John Harding, D.M.A. ’81, retired as

conductor of the Queen City Brass Band in Charlotte, North Carolina. He still teaches music at Central Piedmont Community College and plays trumpet with the Charlotte Jazz Orchestra. Alina Tejeda Hudak, B.B.A. ’82, M.P.A. ’84, county manager and deputy mayor of Miami-Dade County, received the American Society for Public Administration’s 2012 National Public Service Award. Raquel Rodriguez, A.B. ’82, J.D. ’85, former general counsel to Jeb Bush, is a managing member in McDonald Hopkins LLC’s Miami office. Michael Skinner, M.M. ’82, president of DANSR Inc., is on the board of directors for the National Association of Music Merchants. John J. Fumero, A.B. ’83, J.D. ’87, a managing partner at Rose, Sundstrom and Bentley, LLP, is on the board of directors for Florida Tax Watch and the South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals. Cindy J. Lau-Evans, A.B. ’83, M.S.Ed. ’85, was president of the Society for Human Resource Management, Greater Miami chapter, in 2011. Robert H. Yaffe, J.D. ’83, a partner with the Law Offices of Kramer & Yaffe P.A., is in his fifth term on the Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, town council. Hagai Gringarten, B.B.A. ’84, M.B.A. ’86, was elected editor of the Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he is a marketing professor. Adalberto Jose Jordan, A.B. ’84, J.D. ’87, an adjunct professor at the UM School of Law and a district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Julio Rojas, M.B.A. ’84, was appointed CEO of the Americas at Standard Chartered. Steve Schmidt, B.M. ’84, a trum-

pet player and band director in Mooseheart, Illinois, won a 2011 Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation award for his commitment to infusing his students’ lives with music. Shawn P. Marcotte, A.B. ’85, director of operations for Brightstar Corporation’s Latin America division, received his master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College and assumed a reserve command of the 5th Multi-Functional Brigade, 94th Division, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Gary S. Salzman, B.B.A. ’85, J.D. ’88, of Orlando, is president of the George C. Young First Central Florida American Inns of Court. Donna M. Ballman, J.D. ’86, won first place in the law category at the 2011 International Book Awards for The Writer’s Guide to the Courtroom: Let’s Quill All the Lawyers. Her blog, Screw You Guys, I’m Going Home, was selected by editors of the ABA Journal as one of the top 100 best law blogs by lawyers, for lawyers. Xavier I. Cortada, A.B. ’86, M.P.A. ’92, J.D. ’92, is the inaugural director of the Office of Engaged Teaching, Scholarship, and Creative Activities at Florida International University’s College of Architecture + The Arts. Alex E. Ferrer, J.D. ’86, star of the courtroom TV program Judge Alex, returned to campus recently to speak to UM’s Entertainment & Sports Law Society. Kevin Hennessy, J.D. ’86, is a managing shareholder and founding member of Lewis, Longman & Walker P.A. in Bradenton, Florida. Hugo D. Ribot, M.D. ’86, is an obgyn whose Georgia Advanced Surgery Center for Women received the Accreditation Council for Gynecologic Endoscopy Center’s Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology status. Laird A. Lile, LL.M.E. ’87, a member of the Florida Courts Technology Commission, serves on a Florida eFiling Authority Board subcommittee.   Jorge L. Lopez, J.D. ’87, was named to the board of directors for the

ALUMNI OF NOTE

Clutch Purveyor and Jewelry Creator

erhaps having the Dow take a major dive on your first day as a stockbroker is a bad omen. In hindsight, Glenn Camche, A.B. ’80, was clearly entering the wrong profession. “I’m a visual, creative person,” says the one-time political science major, “and the market is much more abstract.” Nonetheless, he gave it his best shot for a year. Fortunately for Camche, that was the same year his mother became an entrepreneur. In 1981, she launched Sondra Roberts, a New York City-based manufacturer of high-end handbags. “Fashion was different then,” says Camche. “Women weren’t as focused on status brands. You also didn’t have the competition from the international brands that you have today.” Success came rapidly for the new company, and Camche soon fled the stock market to work with his mother. “There were no computers or cell phones in those days,” he recalls. “I walked to all the department stores, showed samples to buyers, and left with orders. My brother, Robert, joined us four and a half years later.” Since their mother’s death in 2002, the brothers have split the responsibilities of running the company. Glenn, as president, oversees the creative end (advertising and marketing); Robert oversees the back end (warehousing and logistics, finance and accounting); they both handle sales. The duo has been busy expanding the company’s product lines. Manufacturing was moved overseas 12 years ago to increase volume while keeping costs down. A non-leather line, called SR Squared, has generated large sales at much lower price points, and an evening bag line has met with great success. The company recently introduced footwear because so many of its handbags were being sold in specialty shoe stores. Camche’s wife, Jamie, A.B. ’81, is also a fashion entrepreneur; her JL Rocks jewelry is sold at retail stores and online. “She talks with me about trends she sees. She has very good taste,” says Glenn, who was recently invited to join UM’s President’s Council. Together the Camches are also grooming a second generation of ’Canes: Son Jon, 18, is a freshman pursuing business, and daughter Elizabeth, 15, may be the next to follow. —Robert S. Benchley

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 41

ClassNotes

American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys. Lawrence P. McCaskill, B.S.E.E. ’87, won the 2011 Defense Enterprise Architecture Award in the Industry Individual category. Donna J. Turetsky, B.B.A. ’88, LL.M.T. ’93, made partner at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP in Nassau County, New York. Amy Share Brennan, B.B.A. ’89, of MetLife’s Cypress Financial Group, was inducted into the company’s 2010 Hall of Fame. Barrett E. Mincey, B.B.A. ’89, was a finalist for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2012 Teacher of the Year Award. He teaches in an allboys alternative program in Miami’s Liberty City, where he grew up. Kim K. Thompson, J.D. ’89, a 2011 Georgia Super Lawyer, was named chair of Fisher & Phillips LLP’s global immigration practice group. Donald R. Wagner, B.S. ’89, a shareholder at Stevens & Lee, gave a presentation on unconventional shale gas development at the American Gas Association Legal Forum. Roy L. Weinfeld, A.B. ’89, J.D. ’95, celebrated the tenth anniversary of his firm, Roy L. Weinfeld P.A.

1990s

Jacqueline M. Hooper, B.M. ’90, is

director of business development for the Pittsburgh-based marketing communications firm Third Planet Global Creative. Lourdes M. Planas-Rudd, A.B. ’90, M.S.Ed. ’94, a teacher in MiamiDade County for 22 years, founded Ready 2 Give Inc. to provide resources and aid to local schoolchildren. Patricia Cadena Vargas, B.B.A. ’90, of Weston, Florida, owns Patty Events and is the author of two Spanish-language cookbooks. Judith J. Chorlog, J.D. ’91, a certified civil circuit mediator, was appointed to the Miami-Dade Commission on Human Rights. Amy Levine Federman, B.S.C. ’91, is director of global corporate com42 Miami magazine Spring 2012

munications at Bacardi Limited. Michael Góngora, B.S.C. ’91, J.D. ’94, a Miami Beach city commissioner and attorney, chairs the city’s sustainability committee, is vice chair of its land use and development committee, and is on the board of a Miami Beach affordable housing complex. Dawn Lipori, M.S.P.T. ’91, founder of the Lipori Manual Physical Therapy Center in Orlando, Florida, published the book Body 4 Golf. Steven Alvarez, B.S.C. ’92, retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after 25 years. He earned Bronze Star, Joint Service Achievement, Iraq Campaign medals, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, and the Combat Action Badge. Alexander L. Palenzuela-Mauri, J.D. ’92, was named to the executive committee of SAVE Dade (Safeguarding American Values for Everyone). Marisol R. Basulto, A.B. ’93, is the managing partner at Mirza Basulto & Robbins LLP. Alex Cuthbert, A.B. ’93, received a master of science in the management of technology from Columbia University. David D. Libenson, M.B.A. ’93, is the CEO of a new private hospital slated to open in Costa Rica in November. Rachel Anderson, B.S.C. ’94, founded Minneapolis-based RMA Publicity. Carlos Arcelay, B.B.A. ’94, is a partner and lead manager at David Isaac, a women’s shoe, handbag, and apparel designer in New York. Brian H. Bieber, J.D. ’94, is a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. Benjamin Newman, J.D. ’94, was re-appointed to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Civil Service Board and appointed to the Florida Judicial Nomination Commission. Debra H. Rodman, A.B. ’94, M.A. ’98, is a tenured assistant professor of anthropology and women’s studies at Randolph-Macon College. Chris T. Jones, B.G.S. ’95, former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver,

ALUMNI OF NOTE

A Grand Havana Homecoming

n 29 years of running the illustrious M(Group) firm in New York City, Hermes Mallea, B.Arch. ’78, has seen and created his share of great homes. But even this worldly AIA professional wasn’t immune to the awe-inspiring residences he found on the research adventure of a lifetime. Although raised in Miami, Mallea was profoundly influenced by his first five years of life in Santiago de Cuba. The island etched in his mind, he explored its history through the decades, using the University of Miami’s Cuban Heritage Collection and amassing his own trove of vintage Cuba-related photographs. “When I returned to Cuba for the first time in 40 years, I brought with me several mental images of Havana,” Mallea explained during a recent presentation hosted by the Cuban Heritage Collection. “In one of them, everything in Havana had been frozen in 1959. In another, everything in Havana was bigger, better, and more beautiful than anywhere else in the world. I had to reconcile my preconceptions with the rich reality that is the city today.” The results of his long-anticipated homecoming were stunning and personal: an exhibition of family photographs, “Luz de Memoria,” which he curated last year at Havana’s Museum of Natural History, and his first coffee table book, the lush Great Houses of Havana: A Century of Cuban Style (The Monacelli Press). Mallea, who attended Columbia University’s graduate program in historic preservation, undertook what he calls “reverse detective work” in these exquisite spaces, ferreting out their secrets, how the homes came to be, how each room was used. He found his interviews with eyewitnesses of that period among the project’s most moving aspects. “I have the sense that those people were waiting decades just to talk to me to share their stories of Havana’s glamorous past before 1960,” he said at UM. Once known as the Paris of the Caribbean, Havana had true international cultivation: Christian Dior once made ensembles especially for the Havana market, and the French decorator Maison Jansen kept an office there. The city’s architectural sophistication followed suit, notes Mallea. “I was so impressed by the ambitious aspirations of Cuba’s homeowners, architects, and craftsmen,” he said. “I hope the book contributes to curiosity about Cuba.” —Tom Austin, B.F.A. ’78

was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. Tara (Kerley) Lanzerotti, B.M. ’95, earned a master’s degree in public health. She works in a hospital and lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with her husband, Bruce, and four daughters. Christopher M. Coleman, B.B.A. ’96, M.P.R.A. ’97, is an assistant controller at Railworks Corporation in New York City. David P. Green, B.S. ’96, a faculty member in Florida Gulf Coast University’s Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences, won FGCU’s 2010-11 Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. He and his wife, Tania, live in Naples. Ozzy Inguanzo, B.S.C. ’96, served as researcher and asset manager for the 2011 movie Green Lantern and was responsible for its conceptual artwork. His first book is Constructing Green Lantern: From Page to Screen. David Schropfer, M.B.A. ’96, is the author of The Smartphone Wallet: Understanding the Disruption Ahead. Liana G. Seldin, B.S. ’96, a partner at Southernmost Foot and Ankle Specialists, is president of Dade County Podiatric Medical Association. Jason H. Starkman, A.B. ’96, founded the Starkman Realty Group LLC in New Jersey. Damian E. Thomas, B.B.A. ’96, is serving his second three-year term on the board of The Florida Bar Foundation. Gisela M. Munoz, A.B. ’97, was promoted to counsel at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. J. Anthony Bradley, LL.M.T. ’98, is a partner at The Bradley Law Firm PLLC, in Memphis, Tennessee. Cybele Chamas, B.B.A. ’98, founded Corpo Yoga Studio in Miami. Timothy P. Morrison, B.M. ’98, is director of care coordination at Stanford Hospital & Clinics at Stanford University. Steven K. Brumer, J.D. ’99, is an associate with Fleischer & Associates, Attorneys at Law. Carol Soret Cope, J.D. ’99, is a practicing attorney whose third nonfiction crime book, Murder on the High Seas, about the Joe Cool

murders, was published in 2011 by Berkley Books. Richard A. Eisenstein, B.F.A. ’99, a feature film post-production technician, and his wife, Diane, welcomed their first child, Zoe Olivia, in June 2011. Alfredo Hernandez, M.B.A. ’99, spent 16 months in India setting up and staffing an office location for Agilent Technologies. Eric Jassin, B.Arch. ’99, an associate with Adache Group Architects, is licensed in Florida and New York and certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Kelly O’Riordan-Walker, A.B. ’99, M.S.Ed. ’07, is an associate professor of special education at Broward College’s Teacher Education Program.

2000s

David Anesta, B.S.C. ’00, relocated

from South Florida to Asbury Park, New Jersey, to join Gannett Corp. as a features design team leader. Evan D’Alessandro, B.S. ’00, M.S. ’05, Ph.D. ’11, is the Broad Key research station manager for the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Erica James, B.S. ’00, M.D. ’04, is an associate in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis & West LLP. Scott M. Newman, J.D. ’01, is a partner at the Newman Law Group in Boca Raton, Florida. Vijay G. Brijbasi, B.B.A. ’02, is an associate attorney at Roetzel & Andress in Fort Lauderdale. Jessica L. Brookhart-Knost, B.S.C.

’02, is an associate with Fulwider Patton LLP in Los Angeles. Vladimir Portnoy, J.D. ’02, runs the Law Offices of Vlad Portnoy P.C. in New York City. Kimberly Ann Shaffer, M.S.Ed. ’02, is pursuing a second master’s degree in early childhood special education and Pre-K disabilities at the University of Miami. Ramon G. Vega, B.B.A. ’02, LL.M.P. ’10, is corporate legal counsel for the Autos Vega Group in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Christina Gomez-Pina, M.B.A. ’03, is corporate manager of Hispanic marketing and social media for Baptist Health South Florida. James Jones, B.B.A. ’03, a Miami Heat forward, won the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend three-point shooting contest.

PRINTING PRESS

Coming of Rage in Mississippi

he Last Resort: Taking the Mississippi Cure (University Press of Mississippi, 2011), by Norma Watkins, M.A. ’69, is no genteel comingof-age story. In this debut memoir, truth burns as hot as the fire that takes down her family’s anachronistic hotel, where the vaunted curative waters, she recounts, “looked exactly like pee.” Starting the year her father leaves for World War II, Watkins travels deep into the hate-charred heart of a culture she’s both born of and alien to. We see Mississippi from the 1940s to the 1960s through the prism of her privilege as a white girl whose father joins the Citizens Council (“that high-brow KKK”) and through the prison of her life as a free-thinking woman at a time “when every girl’s destiny was marriage” and race divisions were razor-sharp. Riding a “tidal wave” of Southern racism, her narrative is rich with reckoning.

Write of Passage

or Glen Retief, M.F.A. ’99, growing up in South Africa meant struggling to find his identity in a nation desperately fighting to exorcise its own demons. He captures this battle lyrically in The Jack Bank (St. Martin’s Press, 2011). Peppered with local legends and dialects, the memoir documents Retief’s life from elementary school until his eventual immigration to the United States as an adult. It captures in acute detail his turmoil in coming to grips with his homosexuality and the upheaval caused by the slow destruction of the apartheid system. In his gripping work, Retief, an assistant professor of English and creative writing at Susquehanna University, explores the moral repercussions of man-made cruelty and the possibility of recovering from a troubled past.

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 43

ClassNotes

Melisa Tapanes Llahues, J.D. ’03,

Eric Stinnett, B.M. ’04, had his song

is a partner with Bercow Radell & Fernandez P.A. in Miami. Christian Macelaru, B.M. ’03, a conducting staff member at Rice University, was named assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Marveasha Morgan, B.B.A. ’03, a financial analyst, recently wrote the book The Ultimate Guide to British Pop Culture. Rebecca Quarles, B.S. ’03, earned her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Florida and is working at CVS/pharmacy. Carlos A. Reyes, B.B.A. ’03, and his wife welcomed their first child, Isabella Rose, in September 2010. Cassandra L. Elmore, B.B.A. ’04, a captain with the U.S. Army, took over command of Bravo Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division at Contigency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, in April 2011. Raju Parakkal, M.A. ’04, earned his Ph.D. in international relations from Florida International University and is now an assistant professor of international relations at Philadelphia University. Danielle Spradley, J.D. ’04, joined Ruden McClosky’s litigation practice group.

“Constantly” featured in the film Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. Melissa Kuipers, J.D. ’05, joined the Denver office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Nancy Luzko, D.M.A. ’05, a pianist, created music for the ballet Madame Lynch with her composer brother, which premiered during opening celebrations for Paraguay’s bicentennial of independence. Paul E. Matuszewski, B.S. ’05, graduated from the State University of New York College of Medicine and is doing his residency in orthopedic trauma at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dionne Renee Richards, B.B.A. ’05, a Miami Heat dancer and model, is a back-up dancer who tours with Shakira. Robert Clayton “Clay” Roesch, J.D. ’05, has joined Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson P.A. Michele Blackwell, B.S.C. ’06, travels the world as an assistant at NBA Entertainment. Stephen Danyew, B.M. ’06, a professor at Fitchburg State University, launched the Westminster Chamber Music Workshop and www.polyphonic.org/oncampus. His composition “Lauda” received honorable mention at the 2010

Uniquely yours UMAA Boutique

An exciting array of high-quality personal items and accessories that highlight your ’Cane pride, this limited-edition collection also features wonderful gifts for friends and family members.

www.miami.edu/alumni

For more information, call 1-866-UMALUMS (862-5867). Proceeds of your purchase will enhance the worldwide programs and activities of the University of Miami Alumni Association.

44 Miami magazine Spring 2012

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers/College Band Directors National Association Frederick Fennel Wind Ensemble Competition. Tim George, A.B. ’06, a stock car racer, won his first Automobile Racing Club of America Racing Series. Brandie Lane, B.S. ’06, former head audio engineer at Sono Luminus, won a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, classical music category, for Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works and a nomination for Indigo Road. She is now a U.S. Army staff sergeant and an audio engineer for the West Point Band. Scott R. Long, M.B.A. ’06, is a vice president of sales for Samsung Mobile. Leonel Oliva, B.S.N. ’06, a registered nurse, actor, writer, and producer, wrote a feature film called The Shift, based on his experiences caring for patients. Alexandra Papanicolaou, A.B. ’06, is a real estate sales associate with The Corcoran Group in New York City. Marshall H. Reiss, B.B.A. ’06, a member of the accounting firm Moss Adams LLP, earned an M.B.A. in sustainable business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute. Evan Sherer, A.B. ’06, is pursuing his master’s degree at the College of Charleston, studying the ecological consequences of ocean acidification. Shawn Wines, B.S.C. ’06, won a silver medal at the 38th Annual Student Academy Awards, narrative category, for his film High Maintenance. He is in Columbia University’s film directing M.F.A. program. Joshua Yelen, M.B.A. ’06, vice chair for administration in the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology, was one of The Miami Herald’s “20 under 40” emerging business leaders in South Florida for 2011. Evan L. Gumpert, M.S.Ed. ’08, is the head athletic trainer at Wylie East High School in Wylie, Texas.

Terry W. Simmons, Ph.D. ’08,

author of Glasnost, Perestroika and the New Thinking: Gorbachev’s Reforms (LAP, 2010), is studying the 2008 Russian-Georgian war and the “Phased, Adaptive Approach to American-NATO anti-ballistic missile cooperation with the Russian Federation.” Christopher Nelson, B.B.A. ’09, and Matthew Byrd, ’07, celebrated the fifth anniversary of their company, Select Foam Inc., and opened their first Miami store. Tamara Toussaint, J.D. ’09, diversity and inclusion coordinator at Ford & Harrison LLP in Illinois, was appointed to the Commission on Presidential Scholars by President Barack Obama. Patrick Cunnane, B.S.C. ’10, was hired as a media monitor in the White House communications department after his internship there. Angelica Fiorentino, J.D. ’10, joined the Miami law firm Bast Amron LLP. Jay Hirschfeld, B.S.C. ’10, and Trevor Cowan, B.S.Ed. ’11, won the UM School of Business Administration 2011 Business Plan Competition grand prize of $10,000 for their company Chiral, which uses photos of street art in its bathing suit designs. Ksenyia Rukavishnikova, M.F.A. ’10, screened her film Resolved at the Cannes Film Festival Shorts Corner. Natalie Spitale, M.B.A. ’10, and Justin Wobbekind, M.B.A. ’03, were married in Miami on January 22, 2011. Trevor Green, M.F.A. ’11, and Tommy Demos, M.F.A. ’11, won best film, Miami division, in the 24 Hour Film Race competition for their short Olvidandote (Forgetting You). It won 14 other categories, including best direction, best writing, and best acting ensemble. Brad Klipfel, B.S.C. ’11, screened his film Kaleidecorp at the Cannes Film Festival Shorts Corner. Christine L. Pao, B.S. ’11, a Miller School of Medicine student, received the national Mortar Board Zelma Patchin-Washington State Fellowship.

In Memoriam

Beryl R. Kalix, B.B.A. ’36 Beulah B. Cardinal, A.B. ’41 Ann L. Sorenson, B.B.A. ’41 Martha G. Melahn, A.B. ’42 Eugene E. Ketchen, B.S. ’43 Helene R. Lesansky, A.B. ’43 William L. Wood, B.B.A. ’43, J.D. ’48 Richard S. Hickey, B.B.A. ’43, J.D. ’48 Harry P. Day, A.B. ’47 Thomas R. Lamar, B.Ed. ’47, M.Ed. ’48 Walter T. Etzel, B.B.A. ’47, M.A. ’49 Alan S. Fogg, B.B.A. ’48 George N. Jahn, J.D. ’48 William W. Moseley, A.B. ’48 Donald M. Schrager, A.B. ’48 Jack Block, J.D. ’49 David S. Etter, B.S. ’49 Ernest E. Harris, B.B.A. ’49 Marvin S. Kelman, B.B.A. ’49 Louise H. Michael, B.S. ’49 Ralph F. Miles, J.D. ’49 Albert M. Schauseil, A.B. ’49 Alfred Whellan, B.B.A. ’49 Carl E. Wiegel, J.D. ’49 Arthur C. Massey, B.B.A. ’49, J.D. ’51 Jose Luis M. Lancis, B.S.M.E. ’50 H. E. Orban, B.S.E.E. ’50 William M. Becker, B.B.A. ’50 Jerome W. Bernstein, B.S. ’50 William R. Bowman, A.B. ’50 Donald R. Burgess, B.B.A. ’50 Ijourie S. Fisher, M.S. ’50, Ph.D. ’70 David P. Fraleigh, B.B.A. ’50 Edward N. Hallman, B.S. ’50 Arthur S. Levene, A.B. ’50 Manuel Lubel, J.D. ’50 Norman K. Rutkin, J.D. ’50 Henry R. Schuler, B.B.A. ’50, J.D. ’52 Laurel N. Swerdin, A.B. ’50 Merrill D. Williams, B.S.M.E. ’50 Donald C. McClosky, B.B.A. ’50, J.D. ’60 Stanley J. Adler, B.B.A. ’51 Elayne M. Antis, A.B. ’51 Richard C. Browne, B.Ed. ’51 Tiberio Catalano, B.S. ’51 Leonard J. Greenfield, M.S. ’51 Lester E. Hyde, B.B.A. ’51 Frank Kataiva, B.S.E.E. ’51 Arthur Kaufman, B.B.A. ’51 Thomas E. Lee, J.D. ’51 Edmond L. McMorrough, J.D. ’51 Ann A. Rosen, A.B. ’51

Joseph M. Scarcell, B.B.A. ’51 Russell E. Seay, J.D. ’51 J. B. Spence, J.D. ’51 John W. Turner, A.B. ’51 Roland C. Weintraub, A.B. ’51 James D. Craig, B.S.E.E. ’51, B.S.M.E. ’51 F. W. “Mort” Guilford, B.B.A. ’51, J.D. ’56 Israel Abrams, J.D. ’52 Charlotte J. Barkan, J.D. ’52 Geraldine E. Churchill, B.Ed. ’52 Marilyn Ellis Cohen, B.Ed. ’52 Murray J. Cohen, B.B.A. ’52 Thomas V. Fassinger, B.Ed. ’52 Francis X. Griffin, A.B. ’52 Barbara H. Hoffman, B.Ed. ’52 Bebe B. Holtz, B.B.A. ’52 Francis J. Honoski, A.B. ’52 Robert B. Huyvaert, B.B.A. ’52 Richard A. Kupfer, B.S.I.E. ’52 Thomas A. Mullin, J.D. ’52 Dudley A. Newbold, B.B.A. ’52 Margaret C. Orr, A.B. ’52 Robert P. Powers, B.B.A. ’52 George F. Schofield, A.B. ’52 Frank L. Landrove, B.B.A. ’53 Patricia P. Lanier, A.B. ’53 Martin T. O’Connor, B.Ed. ’53 Ray A. Schlichte, J.D. ’53 Ralph J. Temple, B.B.A. ’53 Lawrence O. Bennett, B.S. ’54 William T. Brown, B.S. ’54, M.D. ’58 Jacqueline J. Dick, A.B. ’54 Walter S. Jacobson, A.B. ’54 Elmer Marmorstein, B.S.A.E. ’54 Edmond C. Peterson, B.B.A. ’54 Jan Hochstim, B.S.A.E. ’54, M.A. ’77 Herbert F. Antine, A.B. ’55 Anthony Deltufo, B.S.M.E. ’55 Norman W. Freeman, B.B.A. ’55 Melvin L. Glass, J.D. ’55 Murray Levrant, B.B.A. ’55 James E. Nation, B.Ed. ’55 Frank Vicendese, B.Ed. ’55 Beverly R. Waltner, A.B. ’55 Donald H. Norman, J.D. ’55, LL.M.T. ’68 Seymour P. Blank, B.B.A. ’56 Edith S. Davis, A.B. ’56 Jim F. Davis, B.Ed. ’56 Seymour A. Levin, B.B.A. ’56 Keith C. Merritt, B.B.A. ’56 Frederick M. Mooke, A.B. ’56 Hale P. Saph, B.B.A. ’56, J.D. ’61

A Scientific Nature and a Gift for Nurturing University of Miami’s 1990 Senior of the Year, Daniel Barrett “Dan” Dalke, B.S. ’90, M.S.Ed. ’95, made such a lasting impression in his three years as a resident assistant at Stanford Residential College that when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 20 years later, six pre-med freshmen he’d taken under his wing then—now successful doctors—rallied around him from across the United States, says Pat Whitely, vice president for student affairs. A Chicago native, Dalke relocated to Miami for college and stayed at UM to serve as assistant director of admissions and dual admissions honor program coordinator in the Office of Admission. He then moved to Atlanta, where for 18 years he was a science teacher and, later, science department head at the Lovett School. Dalke passed away on June 27, 2011 at age 43, but not before attending the final Orange Bowl game in 2007 and visiting his alma mater one last time in 2010. His friends made a UM quilt to send to Dalke’s family after he died. “He was an absolute superb and loyal father and friend who was beloved by his Hurricane family,” says Whitely. “When you were around Dan, you were touched by his compassion and his kindness for others.”

Charlotte M. Weiser, B.S.N. ’56 Edmund M. Brelsford, A.B. ’57 Sidney J. Gillikin, B.B.A. ’57 Edward I. Gross, M.B.A. ’57 Harold C. Hearn, B.B.A. ’57 Emanuel Meyer, A.B. ’57 Aaron M. Perlman, M.D. ’57 Martin B. Weinberg, B.B.A. ’57 Donald R. Dolan, B.B.A. ’58 Doris E. Eldred, M.D. ’58 Kendall L. Johnson, J.D. ’58 Sheldon M. Torn, B.A.M. ’58, B.M. ’58 Melvin E. Baker, B.M. ’59 Gilbert L. Buckingham, B.Ed. ’59 William R. Cleary, B.B.A. ’59 Harold A. Jarvis, A.B. ’59 Elizabeth A. Juerling, B.Ed. ’59 James J. Kenny, A.B. ’59 Madeline B. Mays, M.Ed. ’59 Larry L. McFadden, B.B.A. ’59 Alan V. Moony, B.B.A. ’59 David L. Perlman, B.B.A. ’59 Jay M. Sedlik, A.B. ’59 John P. Varone, B.Ed. ’59 William A. Wynne, B.B.A. ’59

Paul V. Campbell, B.B.A. ’60 Joseph B. Garrett, B.B.A. ’60 Robert L. Miller, B.B.A. ’60 Edward S. Mitchell, B.S.E.E. ’60 Emmett C. Owens, B.S.C.E. ’60 Morton N. Schwartzman, M.D. ’60 William E. Shockett, B.B.A. ’60, J.D. ’64 Edwin N. Belcher, B.B.A. ’61 Ronald G. Blissett, B.Ed. ’61 Albert L. Carricarte, A.B. ’61, J.D. ’64 Clair I. Colvin, M.S. ’61, Ph.D. ’63 James J. Durkin, A.B. ’61 Richard L. Lapidus, J.D. ’61 Benito V. Mesiano, J.D. ’61 Shirley A. Reed, B.Ed. ’61 James L. Sanders, B.B.A. ’61 Salvatore J. Vecchione, A.B. ’61 Lillian K. Wagner, B.Ed. ’61 John F. Belshe, M.S. ’61, Ph.D. ’67 Miriam Beckerman, A.B. ’62, J.D. ’65 Nicholas W. Bringas, M.Ed. ’62 John W. Maguire, M.Ed. ’62 Ottavio R. Siclare, B.B.A. ’62 Seymour E. Simons, B.B.A. ’62 Joyce L. Vloedman, B.S. ’62 Spring 2012 Miami magazine 45

ClassNotes

Christiane Aguado, A.B. ’62 Thomas A. Zelenak, B.Ed. ’62 James D. Maxwell M.D. ’63 Richard A. Rice B.Ed. ’63 Thomas W. Stewart, B.Ed. ’63 Gary F. Trepke, B.B.A. ’63 Salomon Wainberg, B.B.A. ’63 Stanley M. Wieder, B.B.A. ’63 John J. Karabasz, B.B.A. ’63 Leonard S. Bethards, M.B.A. ’64 Beatrise Caruba, B.Ed. ’64 Priscilla M. Coulter, B.Ed. ’64 Joseph W. Gladis, B.B.A. ’64 Betty L. Parham, B.Ed. ’64 Marian H. Shannon, M.Ed. ’64 Lawrence E. Hannon, M.D. ’65 Peter C. Taub, B.B.A. ’65 Kenneth E. Walker, B.B.A. ’65 Michael J. Fraioli, B.S.C.E. ’65 Sonia S. Fajardo, A.B. ’66 John E. Inman, M.S. ’66 Curtiss F. Sibley, B.B.A. ’66 Cristobal E. Viera, B.S. ’66, M.D. ’70 Philip C. Wherry, B.S. ’66 Brenda L. Jones, A.B. ’66 Edythe P. Ropeik, B.Ed. ’66, M.Ed. ’67 Dana P. Blake, B.B.A. ’67 Edward L. Clark, B.B.A. ’67 Stephen A. Goldsworth, B.S. ’67 Alma C. Kemp, A.B. ’67 Robert N. Lerner, B.B.A. ’67

Page Talley, Ed.D. ’67 Allen J. Bernstein, B.B.A. ’68 Louise M. Bradtke, M.Ed. ’68 Mary M. Cottler, B.S.N. ’68 Sylvia L. Hickox, B.Ed. ’68 Michael C. Holsworth, M.D. ’68 Douglas H. Keefer, M.S. ’68 David R. Kniefel, M.Ed. ’68 James U. Steele, A.B. ’68 Suzanne French, B.Ed. ’68 Jeffrey S. Augenstein, B.S. ’69, M.D. ’74, Ph.D. ’74 Michael S. Baker, M.D. ’69 G. G. Brown, B.B.A. ’69 Barry C. Dacks, B.S.I.E. ’69 Ana M. de la Torre, A.B. ’69 Elaine R. Hansma, M.Ed. ’69 Myron M. Kline, M.A. ’69, Ph.D. ’92 Brenda K. Martin, A.B. ’69 Henry I. Smyler, B.B.A. ’69, J.D. ’73 Joseph B. Teichman, J.D. ’69, LL.M.P. ’85 Jose Capiro, C.T.P. ’70 K I. Jones, Ed.D. ’70 Robert V. Memmoli, B.B.A. ’70 Douglas L. Morency, B.B.A. ’70 Robert L. Schattner, B.B.A. ’70 John J. Matlock, B.B.A. ’70 Donald W. Ivins, B.S. ’71 Cy Abdelnour, B.Ed. ’71 Charles T. Desmond, B.B.A. ’71 Betty L. Hammell, B.Ed. ’71

Seeing Double Help us make the Orange and Green even “greener” by eliminating duplicate copies of Miami magazine. Simply send an email to alumni@miami.edu with “Seeing Double” in the subject line and include the full name and address of the person in your household to whom Miami magazine should be delivered. You can also submit this information online at www.miami.edu/alumni or by calling 1-866-UMALUMS.

Save some trees—on the double! 46 Miami magazine Spring 2012

University Loses Senior Trustee Sherwood M. “Woody” Weiser, distinguished hotelier and civic leader, died August 1, 2011 at age 80. Weiser, a Coral Gables resident since 1969, became a University of Miami trustee in 1988, a life trustee in 2003, and a senior trustee in 2009. His sons are alumnus Douglas, A.B. ’78, J.D. ’82, and Citizens Board members Bradley and Warren. UM President Donna E. Shalala called Weiser a man of “unmatched generosity.” The Sherwood M. Weiser Memorial Fund for Student Community Service, established to support student involvement in addressing social, health, and other community issues, was awarded to an inaugural group of four students this spring.

Henry E. Novell, A.B. ’71 Jack S. Stevens, B.B.A. ’71 Marilyn S. Duell, A.B. ’72 Rafael Figueras, C.T.P. ’72 Homer L. Marquit, M.D. ’72 Stephen N. Mortenson, B.B.A. ’72 Robert G. Robinson, A.B. ’72 Paul T. Shiber, Ph.D. ’72 Keith B. Vines, B.B.A. ’72 Jocelyn F. Shaw, M.S. ’72, Ph.D. ’74 Daniel J. Belmont, B.B.A. ’73 Judith H. Cafiero, M.M. ’73 Glenn A. Gertsen, A.B. ’73 John I. Hendricks, M.A. ’73 Robert C. Hutchison, B.Ed. ’73 James D. Kirk, B.F.A. ’73 John M. Wisdom, B.Ed. ’73 Bruce L. Alpert, A.B. ’74 Maxine E. Cohen Lando, J.D. ’74 Mark B. Kugler, M.B.A. ’74 Linda P. Beckerman, M.S. ’75 Joseph K. Abrell, J.D. ’76 Gary M. Popkin, B.B.A. ’77 James H. Keys, Ed.D. ’78 Robert J. Schmelzle, LL.M.E. ’78 Charles T. Stumberger, M.B.A. ’78 James C. Burnside, B.B.A. ’79 George W. Finney, J.D. ’79 Mary Kontz, B.S.N. ’79, M.S.N. ’85, Ph.D. ’92 Nancy Baker, M.M. ’80 Dennis R. Mann, B.B.A. ’80 William M. Wood, LL.M.E. ’80 Leonard S. Krupat, B.B.A. ’81 James E. Abraham, B.B.A. ’82 Michael M. Kearin, M.D. ’82

Margaret J. Nuber, B.S.Ed. ’82, M.S.Ed. ’89 John J. King B.B.A. ’83 Ernest W. King, LL.M.T. ’84 Harouzi Wainshal, M.B.A. ’84 Jack Werner, J.D. ’86 Norman Berry, B.S.C.E. ’88 James S. Moray, B.B.A. ’88 Anita Y. Cheng, A.B. ’89 Timothy M. Tiedemann, B.M. ’89 Margaret E. Healy, M.B.A. ’91 Akmal A. Younis, M.S.E.E. ’91, Ph.D. ’98 Brian K. McClure, B.B.A. ’92 Andrew J. Stankiewicz, J.D. ’93 Elizabeth D. Pindel, A.B. ’94 Robert R. Kemper, Ph.D. ’95 Beverly A. Tate, M.S.Ed. ’95 Michael J. Skowronski, M.S. ’96 Charles W. Basila, B.S.B.E. ’97 Justine K. Buisson, M.F.A. ’98 Odele R. Martin, J.D. ’98 Julia I. Zurek, M.A. ’98, M.B.A. ’82 Steve R. Chakis, M.B.A. ’99, M.S.I.E. ’00 Marin D. Condic, M.B.A. ’00 Hector M. Alvarez, B.B.A. ’01 Sally A. Henderson, B.S.N. ’04 Christopher W. Benchley, B.A.M.A. ’11 Jeremy H. Rabbani, LL.M.P. ’11 *As of March 6, 2012 We diligently research every name in our “In Memoriam” section but errors can occur. Please notify us of errors so we may correct our records.

D a t e

Alumni Event Information 305-284-2872 or 1-866-UMALUMS Sports Tickets 305-284-CANES or 1-800-GO-CANES www.miami.edu/alumni

BOOK

*For complete Hurricane sports schedules, visit www.hurricanesports.com 23- October 21 Lowe Art Museum Japanese Art of the Edo and Meiji Period, 1615-1912 Through September 23 Lowe Art Museum Saintly Blessings: A Gift of Mexican Retablos from Joseph and Janet Shein Through April 21, 2013 Lowe Art Museum ArtLab @ The Lowe

Utagawa Kunisada’s “Sawamura Tosho II as Enya Hangan Takasada” JUNE 5 An Evening with Head Football Coach Al Golden New York, New York

ALUMNI LEADERSHIP Board of Directors Executive Committee

Dany Garcia, B.B.A. ’92, President Patrick Barron, B.B.A. ’75, Immediate Past President John Calles, A.B. ’89, J.D. ’92, President-elect Carrie Anderson, A.B. ‘93, Vice President Joris Jabouin, B.B.A. ’90, M.B.A. ’92, Vice President Carlos Lowell, B.S.M.E. ’94, Vice President Karl Schulze, B.B.A. ’74, Vice President Brenda K. Yester, B.B.A. ’90, Vice President Donna A. Arbide, M.B.A.’95, Executive Director

Alumni Trustees William Koenigsberg, B.B.A. ’77 Hal F. Rosenbluth, B.G.S. ’74 Matt Rubel, M.B.A. ’80

Regional Directors Truly Burton, A.B. ’73 Jorge Duyos, B.S.I.E. ’85, M.S.I.E. ’88 David Panitch, B.B.A. ’80 Andrew F. Potter, M.B.A. ’04 Alex C. Rodriguez, B.B.A. ’86 Glenna Shen, A.B. ’93 Winston Warrior, B.B.A. ’93, M.B.A. ’96

Directors Juan Albelo, B.S.E.E. ’93, M.S.I.E. ’96, M.B.A. ’96 James J. Blosser, B.B.A. ’60, J.D. ’65 James Burt, Sr., ’80 Robert S. Cohen, B.B.A. ’84 Victoria Corrigan Fine, B.S. ’80, M.B.A. ’81 Devang B. Desai, A.B. ’97, J.D. ’03 Martin J. Ganderson, B.B.A. ’73 Cynthia Hudson, M.A. ’97

JULY 21- August 5 Summer SendOff Receptions Nationwide AUGUST 15 Seventh Annual Legacy Reception Newman Alumni Center, Coral Gables, Florida

Frank R. Jimenez, B.S. ’88 Camilo Lopez III, M.B.A. ’82 Noelia Moreno, B.B.A. ’86, J.D. ’89 John Pittaluga, B.S.M.E. ’83 Oti Roberts, B.B.A. ’03 Alan Serure, B.S. ’75, M.D. ’79 Linda G. Steckley, M.B.A. ’87

Faculty Representatives Richard K. Lee, M.D. ’98, Ph.D. ’98, Second Vice Chair, Faculty Senate Robert F. Moore, Associate Chair, Department of Teaching and Learning

Student Representatives Alex Locust Brandon Mitchell

Alumni Network Clubs

Atlanta Terry Olive, M.B.A. ’77, tlolive29@bellsouth.net Austin Mark Gordon, B.B.A.’81, mgordonmiami@gmail.com Boston Enrique “Rick” Negron, B.S.C. ’02, ricknn@hotmail.com Broward Marcie Voce, A.B. ’98, m.voce@umiami.edu Charlotte TBD Chicago Jose Armario, M.S. ’03, president@chicago-canes.org Cincinnati Mark McPheron, B.B.A. ’78, Mark_McPheron@CINFIN.com Cleveland Diana Le, B.M. ’09, dianale523@gmail.com Dallas Doris “Janet” Ruiz, A.B. ’95, janet.ruiz@umiami.edu Denver James Hoffman, A.B. ’80, james@greenco.biz; Alan Shrater, B.B.A. ’69, alans_solutions@msn.com Detroit Paul Koch, B.S. ’73, detroitcanes@yahoo.com Germany Sharon Petrik, B.B.A. ’04, M.B.A. ’07, sharonpetrik@gmail.com Greensboro Allyson Lugo, B.S.C. ’07, aklugo@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 1 Football UM vs. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts* 12-13 Accelerating Ambition Receptions Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 27-28 President’s Council Reception and Meeting Newman Alumni Center, Coral Gables, Florida 28-30 Family Weekend Coral Gables campus, Coral Gables, Florida 29 Football NC State vs. UM, Miami Gardens, Florida OCTOBER 6 Football and Official UMAA Pregame Celebration UM vs. Notre Dame, Chicago, Illinois

Houston Christy Marshall, B.S. ’02, clmarsha@bcm.edu Indianapolis TBD Jacksonville Jose Pena, M.B.A. ’09, j.penaiv@umiami.edu Las Vegas John E. Knuth, M.B.A. ’98, M.S.C.I.S. ’02, john.e.knuth@ us.hsbc.com London Caroline Larson, A.B. ’08, caroline.larson@gmail.com Los Angeles Joseph “Trey” Borzilleri, B.B.A. ’98, treynice@yahoo.com Louisville Carlos Mendia, B.S.I.E. ’86, M.B.A. ’88, carlos.mendia@gmail. com Nashville Joyce Friedman, B.F.A. ’79, joyceefriedman@gmail.com New Jersey Robert Morris, A.B. ’76, rgmorris2@gmail.com New York David Goldberg, B.B.A. ’03, umnyalumni@gmail.com Orlando Roger Jeffrey, B.S.C.E. ’76, rogerlynnjeffery@aol.com Palm Beach Stefany Allongo, B.A.M. ’06, stefanyallongo@gmail.com Philadelphia Mark Bolen, A.B. ’07, markjbolen@gmail.com Phoenix Stephen Good, B.S. ’00, stephen.good@yahoo.com Portland Erin Wright, B.S.C. ’06, portlandcanes@gmail.com Raleigh Amy Gretenstein, B.S.C. ’06, agretenstein@gmail.com Richmond Roger Reynolds, B.M. ’91, M.M. ’96, roger@cjstuf.org San Diego Elena Mulvaney, B.B.A. ’04, elenaquevedo24@yahoo.com San Francisco Melissa Glass, B.S.C. ’09, missglass1821@gmail.com Sarasota Chris Clayton, B.S.C. ’94, cclayton12@aol.com Savannah Tom Farnkoff, B.B.A. ’69, farneey1946@hargray.com Seattle Christian Hasenoehrl, M.S. ’95, M.B.A. ‘95, seattlecanes@gmail.com Southwest Florida John Clough, J.D. ’99, jchristianclough@yahoo.com

7 Chicago Marathon Chicago, Illinois 18 Alumni Board and Council Leadership Conference Newman Alumni Center, Coral Gables, Florida 19 Alumni Board and Council Meeting BankUnited Center, Coral Gables, Florida 19 Affiliate Group Leader Breakout Session Newman Alumni Center, Coral Gables, Florida 19-21 Alumni Weekend and Homecoming 2012 Coral Gables, Florida 20 Football FSU vs. UM, Miami Gardens, Florida

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS To nominate an alumnus for the UM Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, go to www.miami.edu/alumni/umaa/ board/nominationform.htm and complete the online form. For more information, contact Erica Arroyo, B.S.C. ’03, M.A.L.S. ’08, director, Alumni Board Operations, at 305-284-1724 or earroyo@miami.edu. St. Louis TBD Tallahassee Kelly Sciba, B.S.C. ’92, tksciba@msn.com Tampa Larry King, Jr., A.B. ’83, M.B.A. ’93, larrykingjr@tampabay.rr.com Washington, D.C. Michael Waldron, B.S.I.T. ’05, mwaldron@ definitivelogic.com

Special Interest Groups Black Alumni Society Phyllis Tyler, B.B.A. ’80, Phyllis.tyler@irs.gov Band of the Hour Randy Cash, B.S. ’81, irnarow@aol.com UM Sports Hall of Fame Walter “Wally” DiMarko, B.Ed. ’65, M.A. ’70, wdjkapp@aol.com, and K.C. Jones, ’97, jonesest@msn.com Schools and College Groups College of Engineering Rick De La Guardia, B.S.A.E. ’96, rick.dlge@ bellsouth.net, and Alfonso D. Dager, B.S.C.P.E. ’07, mralfy@gmail.com School of Law Elizabeth B. Honkonen, J.D. ’98, ebh@kennynachwalter.com, and Devang Desai, A.B. ’97, J.D. ’03, ddesai@gaebemullen.com

Miller School of Medicine Steven F. Falcone, B.S. ’83, M.D. ’87, M.B.A. ’04, sfalcone@med.miami.edu, and Jeffrey Block, M.D. ’82, docblock@ bellsouth.net School of Nursing & Health Studies Leila Adderton, A.B. ’79, B.S.N. ’05, M.S.N. ’10, leadderton@aol.com, and Joyce G. Rios, B.S.N. ’04, D.N.P. ’10, jrios@med.miami.edu Alumni records of the University of Miami are kept strictly confidential. Directory information is released only to other members of the alumni community unless an alumnus or alumna has requested complete privacy. On a very limited occasion and only at the approval of the UM Alumni Association Board of Directors, directory information is shared with outside vendors who are in a joint relationship with the University. Should you not wish to release your name to any outside vendor and/or other members of the UM alumni community, please notify the Office of Alumni Relations in writing at P.O. Box 248053, Coral Gables, Florida 33124-3410.

Spring 2012 Miami magazine 47

B i g

PICTURE

Faculty Shine in a Whole New Light

Taking Her Cow on the Road

DONNA VICTOR

n eight-foot-long sculpture merging a cow skeleton and electric bicycle frame traverses the Miami Beach boardwalk. Riding the bovine bones is Billie Grace Lynn, associate professor of sculpture and head of 3-D art in the Department of Art and Art History. Lynn, sporting a black leather jacket, cowhide chaps, and uddershaped helmet, calls out to pedestrians: “It’s a Mad Cow! Save as many as possible! Go vegetarian! Save the Earth!” Her display invites stares, questions, and conversations. The likeminded cheer her message. The curious admire her craftsmanship. “Cut down eating meat just a little,” she sings out, her smile as bright as the rib cage of her ride. “One day a week, that’s all I ask.” Lynn laughs and continues peddling down the Miami coastline. It is precisely this brand of aesthetic activism that caught the eye of the West Collection of Contemporary Art, which chose Lynn out of 2,100 international finalists as its 2011 Grand Prize Winner. With her hybrid bike now part of the West Collection in Pennsylvania, Lynn has used the $25,000 prize to transform another skeletal sculpture. “It took a year and required many redesigns and rebuilds,” says Lynn, who’s in the process of getting her 800-pound bone-caged chopper registered with the DMV. “I’ll need to really practice riding it before I head cross-country.” Lynn’s “Mad Cow Motorcycle” boasts a turbo-powered Kubota diesel engine designed to run on waste vegetable oil. The idea is to hit the highway to educate people about cruelty to animals and the greenhouse gases that commercial cattle farms generate. “I want people to think about their meat consumption,” she says. “Most people don’t go into an art gallery or think about stuff like this, so it’s good to get out into the world and have conversations.” Lynn is no stranger to provocative art. In addition to kinetic pieces made from skeletons, her playfully pointed oeuvre includes installations such as “Homeland Security Vehicle” (an aluminum wheelchair outfitted with video camera, microphone, satellite dish, and American flag umbrella), a room-sized inflatable white elephant, and a series of duct tape-wrapped canvases. “I strive to make pieces in which the viewer interface is both the form and function,” states Lynn, who came to UM in 2004. She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religious studies from Tulane University and an M.F.A. in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute. “Billie’s work is remarkable as a kinetic sculpture and message of environmentalism,” says West Collection curator Paige West. “She will undoubtedly inspire those she meets on her cross-country Mad Cow Motorcycle journey.” —Sherri Miles

University of Miami Division of University Communications Post Office Box 248073 Coral Gables, Florida 33124-1210

UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS 1 1-215

For other events happening during Alumni Weekend and Homecoming or for more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 1-866-UMALUMS (862-5867), 305-284-2872, via email at alumniweekend@miami.edu, or visit us online at www.miami.edu/alumniweekend.

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 438 Miami, FL