UofM Magazine Spring 2018

UNIVERSIT Y OF MEMPHIS MAGAZINE

Newly Minted

COACH PENNY HARDAWAY

A Tiger legend returns home to lead the Memphis basketball team to new heights.

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#StripeUp GoTigersGo.com

2018 2018

MEMPHIS MEMPHIS FOOTBALL FOOTBALL

contents 24

Building Hope

by Anita Houk

30

Newly Minted

by Greg Russell

34

C OAC H

Penny Hardaway

Charting a New Career Path

by Gabrielle Maxey

M A G A Z I N E

40

Taking it to the Banks

by Gabrielle Maxey

44

Way of the Warrior

by Greg Russell

50

Just Super

by Greg Russell

52

The ABCs of Entrepreneurships

by Mike O'Kelly

56

There is a Beast

by Marisa Manuel

D E PA R T M E N T S Campus Notebook

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16

Campus News

Lambuth Campus News

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60

Columns Main Event Class Notes

In Memoriam

66 68 72

On the cover: Penny Hardaway returns home to lead the Tiger basketball team into the future. Story on page 30. (photo by Trey Clark)

memphis.edu

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PIZZA PARTY University of Memphis President M. David Rudd delivers pizza to students during a Tiger basketball game against Houston earlier this season as a way to thank them for their support.

PHOTO BY TREY CLARK

PRESIDENT

Exciting things are happening at the University of Memphis D E A R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y,

The University of Memphis continues to experience tremendous growth. Since our last issue, we have broken ground on the Scheidt Family Music Center and completed construction of the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center. We also have received a generous commitment from the Rose Family Foundation to help upgrade our natatorium, which is used

by Memphis Tiger Swimming, Splash Mid-South and the UofM community.

As always, I am delighted to share the continuing stories of how our students, faculty and alumni are an M. David Rudd invaluable asset PRESIDENT to the campus and the wider Memphis community.

Two of our stories illustrate how the UofM is preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Our Career Services office has begun a redesign that allows it to deepen its reach by placing career specialists in colleges, helping students prepare for the real world from their first days on campus. Career Services has embedded a team of specialists within these “talent communities” so they are within easy access of students looking for career advice.

The Memphis Career Preparation Academy, aimed at first-generation

FOLLOW PRESIDENT RUDD ONLINE

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freshmen, assists freshmen with financial need and transfer students.

We also spotlight the Suit Yourself program, a partnership between the University and JCPenney which provided students experiencing financial hardship with professional attire for career fairs, interviews and jobs.

We also take a look at the inspiring Hope2Hire, a privately funded, three-year pilot program designed to build skill sets for in-demand, entry-level jobs for inmates after their release. The stories of the students and their instructors are truly remarkable.

Another story takes a behind-thescenes look at experiences gained

by UofM students who worked as interns on the set of Brian Banks, the first mainstream film in more than a decade from our filmmaker-inresidence, Tom Shadyac.

And, of course, you have heard about the hiring of Penny Hardaway as basketball coach. He is our cover story.

Exciting things are happening at the University of Memphis, and we look forward to more progress to come.

GO TIGERS!

EDITOR Greg Russell (MS ’93) grussll@memphis.edu ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gabrielle Maxey (BA ’80) gmaxey@memphis.edu DESIGN Archer Malmo PHOTOGRAPHY Trey Clark Joe Murphy WRITERS Anita Houk Mike O’Kelly (BA ‘03) Marisa Manuel PRESIDENT Dr. M. David Rudd VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS Tammy Hedges MISSION The University of Memphis is a learner-centered metropolitan research university providing high quality educational experiences while pursuing new knowledge through research, artistic expression, and interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship.

The University of Memphis is governed by a 10-member Board of Trustees.

The Board consists of eight members appointed by the governor of Tennessee, a faculty trustee elected by the faculty and a non-voting student trustee selected by students and appointed by the Board.

The University of Memphis’ name, seal, logos and Tigers are registered marks of the University of Memphis and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from the University of Memphis. The University of Memphis Magazine (USPS-662-550) is published three times a year by the Division of External Relations of the University of Memphis, 303 Administration Building, Memphis, TN 38152-3370. Periodical Postage paid at Memphis, TN 38152.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Alumni & Development Office, The University of Memphis, 120 Alumni Center, Memphis, TN 38152-3760.

Driven by Doing.

M. David Rudd President

U o f M e m p h i s P re s

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Notebook

FIRST OF ALL

With more than 30 years of experience as a police officer, Chief Mary Balée brings her reputation for strong leadership, work ethic, problem solving, team building and customer service to the UofM.

Mary Balée was named to the top job in September 2017, amid an unprecedented focus on sexual assault and harassment nationally and in Memphis.

To say the least it was a challenging time to become the University of Memphis’ new chief of police. But it’s all part of the job for Balée, who is the University’s first female police chief.

continually looking at best practices to address issues and concerns affecting the campus community, and continuously strive to maintain our ranking as the safest large campus in the state.”

“As President Rudd has stated, we are committed to ridding the University of Memphis of the abhorrent behavior of sexual assault and preventing future tragedies, and to providing a caring and supportive campus environment,” she says.

“We work closely with internal and external partners to ensure cases are thoroughly investigated and resources and services are readily available to survivors.”

Balée came to the UofM as a community liaison in 2016. Her career with the Memphis Police Department covered 34 years. She served as a patrol officer, police academy instructor, research and development officer and supervisor, shift commander, executive officer and precinct commander. These assignments led her to leadership roles at the Tillman, Mt. Moriah and Airways stations, three precincts in which the UofM main and Park Avenue campuses are located. Balée retired with the rank of colonel in 2015 as the commander

Safety—for UofM students, employees and visitors—is paramount. “We are

of the Airways Station, where she led a workforce of 150 officers.

At the UofM, she commands a complement of 41 officers at the main and UofM Lambuth campuses. “My favorite part of the job is campus life and interacting with students, faculty and staff,” says Balée.

Public service and the desire to make a difference in the Memphis community are what drew Balée to law enforcement. Her biggest takeaway from her long career?

“Compassion towards others is paramount; community service and helping others is very rewarding; and protecting the community is a tremendous responsibility.”

TO SAY THE LEAST IT WAS A CHALLENGING TIME TO BECOME THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS’ NEW CHIEF OF POLICE. SPRING 2018 |

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LOOK WHO’S TALKING

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CHRIS PATZANOVSKY

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A MASTER MAGICIAN who is also a member of the UofM’s men’s tennis team. On the side, the junior physics/mathematics major develops computer apps, including two for download on the App Store: “Color Tapper” and “2D Insanity.”

How did you get into magic tricks?

I got a magic set when I was a little kid. When I got older, I saw a YouTube video where a magician was getting girls’ phone numbers by doing magic.

It changed my outlook on what magic is—I could use it as more of a social thing to meet people (and to get girls’ phone numbers). It always has made me happy to make other people happy.

And seeing them be amazed by what I do with the magic tricks has inspired me to continue.

Where do you perform? Usually when I meet up with other athletes or friends at a party, I bring my cards with me to entertain everybody.

Do you ever reveal any of your secrets? A friend of my mother’s is actually a professional magician—he told me the first rule is to never reveal a secret. Even though I do magic for fun—and not really for money—I do take that to heart, that you shouldn’t reveal a secret. I think it is part of the fun.

What is the secret of being a good magician? A lot is how you sell the trick. Many of the tricks I do aren’t the hardest of tricks—they don’t require the biggest sleight of hand, but it is all about how the presentation flows.

There are some magicians who say that you really are doing magic, but to be honest, magic is just deception and

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PATZANOVSKY is not only a member of the No. 18 Memphis men’s tennis team, he is also a master magician.

sleight of hand—and really convincing the people that what you’re doing is real.

Favorite trick? It has a bit to do with gambling. It is a trick where I make a bet on anything. There is one card flipped upside down in the deck and I tell the spectator we’re going to make a bet and if his or her card is the card that is flipped upside down in the deck, they have to buy me a Coke; if not, I will buy them a Coke. Obviously there is a good chance their card is not the one flipped upside down—but it is every single time. I also do a trick with a Rubik’s Cube. I throw it up in the air, and it is all mixed up but when it comes back down it is completely solved.

Do tennis and magic go hand in hand at all? A lot does with the presentation part because with magic I have always been extroverted. Magic has helped me to get even deeper in how to interact with people especially when we play at home and have people watching. And when I do a trick shot on the court, the guys every once in a while call me Houdini.

Any career aspirations for magic?

I heard great advice from a magician once that as a magician you will never be a millionaire but you will always live like one. If tennis doesn’t work out, I may have a career path.

ASK THE EXPERT ON ICE How many 75-year-old hockey players are there in the Memphis area? Or in the entire world, for that matter? Chances are, not many.

Dr. Martin Lipinski, who began as a UofM associate professor of civil engineering in 1975 (chair from 2001-2007), plays for the Maroon Goons in the Bronze League at the Mid-South Ice House in Olive Branch, Miss, as the oldest player in the area. Lipinski, who served as director of the UofM’s Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute until 2014, still does research for the Institute as associate director and remains active with UofM students.

He reveals some secrets about how he has managed to stay on the ice for some 60 years when most players his age have retired.

Dr. Lipinski, when and where did you get your start in hockey?

“It was in the late 1950s in Chicago—I was a teenager at the time. It was so long ago, there were only two indoor rinks in all of Chicago then, so we played a lot on the rivers and ponds around the city. After high school, I played at the University of Illinois in the 1960s—we had a club program. We played a lot of Division III schools, and we also played Ohio State, Notre Dame and Air Force. It was very competitive.”

Martin Lipinski

Along the way, what has been your biggest moment during your hockey career?

“The biggest thrill for me came last year when I played in the over-70 USA Hockey Association’s National Tournament in Tampa. There were six teams—we made it to the semifinals. I played with a bunch of guys from all over the country, including one of the guys I played against in Illinois way back when.

We did fine until we ran up against the guys from Minnesota and Michigan who had played together all their lives. They were

great athletes when they were 20 and they’re still really good. I was pleased that I was able to hold my own.”

In the National Hockey League, it seems most players are missing a tooth or two. What about yourself?

“I haven’t lost any teeth, but I do have a few small scars and cuts here and there, and I have had a broken toe. But for the most part, I have been fortunate I have had nothing major happen.”

What does your wife think about you playing into your 70s?

“My wife comes out here every game—she is my biggest fan. We play a spring, summer and fall season, about 12 games each season, so she is out

here a lot. Interestingly enough, we met on a blind date when I was playing in Illinois. She was a little apprehensive at first, then saying, ‘I don’t know if this guy is going to be some kind of hockey goon.’ But as you see, it worked out!”

So what is your secret to playing so long?

Could it be something in your genes?

“We are a very active family. My wife is an avid runner. My son, who just turned 50, played hockey and now is a runner, biker and triathlete—he runs the Indianapolis Half Marathon every year. My other son in Fayetteville, Ark., also plays hockey.

I think it comes down to just remaining active my whole life.”

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What is on the horizon?

“I still love playing, and I love the competition.

This summer I hope to go out and play in California—there is the big Snoopy’s Senior Hockey Tournament started by Peanuts founder Charles M. Schulz, who loved hockey and built his own rink in Santa Rosa, Calif. I got my name in to play in the over 70 or the over 75 division. Hopefully I will get a slot.”

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TRACKING THESE TIGERS

Despite sweeping the medal stand in the shot put, the University of Memphis men’s indoor track and field team finished just a few points shy of champion Houston at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships in early March. Memphis’ Luke Vaughn led a group of 10 all-league performers (13 honors) with his men’s shot put title; senior miler Brock Ballard also provided an unexpected boost with a silver medal finish in the mile (4:12.06).

KEEPING UP WITH THE SMITHS: The University of Memphis softball team approached the final conference series of the season with several records already in the books as it continued its torrid pace toward the AAC Tournament.

A 3-0 victory over

Tulsa April 28 pushed Memphis to a 36-16 record, a win total that matches the all-time record set during the 2007 and 2011 seasons (with at least three more games to play). Pitcher Molly Smith became the all-time strikeout leader for the Tigers, breaking Ellen Roberts’ record of 488, and she also matched the single-season win record with 24, which she may break before the year is over. The Tigers also recorded a 22-6 home mark, which is a Tiger Softball Complex record.

Memphis had recorded 431 hits at press time, a new single-season team record. Freshmen Baylee Smith and Delaney Smith also made marks during the season, with Baylee ranking as high as seventh in the country in batting average at .520, and Delaney among the national stolen base leaders with 29.

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RYAN PENISTON RECEIVES BID TO NCAA TOURNAMENT INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

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TRUMAN FINALIST Kevyanna Rawls, a junior majoring in English and African and AfricanAmerican Studies, is a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. A member of the Helen Hardin Honors College, she is also president of the Student Government Association and a campus tour guide.

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The UofM men’s tennis team received an at-large bid to the NCAA National Tournament May 1, the team’s sixth NCAA appearance in the past seven years. Memphis was second-seeded in the Starkville regional and opened play against South Alabama May 11. The team won 14 of its last 15 matches for an 18-5 mark, including several wins over Top 25 squads. Stay tuned in our Fall issue for more coverage on how the team fared at the NCAA Tournament.

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MILITARY FRIENDLY

The University of Memphis was named to the Military Friendly Schools List for the fourth consecutive year by Victory Media.

The UofM is ranked No. 9 among Tier 2 research institutions.

The list honors colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace service members and veterans as students and ensure their success on campus.

5 SERVING UP

another ace UofM tennis star Ryan Peniston donated his winnings from a European tennis circuit he played on this past fall to London’s Bart Hospital, where as a child he had a cancerous tumor removed that nearly claimed his life as a toddler.

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HEALTHY COOKING

Campus Recreation Intramural Services offered the first in a series of free monthly healthy cooking demonstrations in February. Deidra Nelson, nutrition coordinator, leads the demonstrations, which are free and open to students, faculty, staff and community members.

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Room with a View: 12th Floor Wilder Tower Recruitment Center Will Offer Spectacular 360-Degree Views to Prospective Students The University of Memphis will soon begin renovation on the 12th floor of Wilder Tower, transforming it into a Recruitment Center for prospective students that offers spectacular views of the campus and the city beyond.

The center will offer an information area for students and their families who are touring the campus. There will be a presentation area for 100 people in a lecture-style space with smart classroom capabilities—including monitors and Surround Sound—where students can get an introduction to the campus and the academic programs offered. A workspace with computers will be available for campus tour guides.

Counselors and other staff members will have a small

LEARNING SCIENTIST

area where they can hold conversations in a quiet setting.

“The Enrollment Services Division and Office of Admissions are overjoyed by plans to renovate the 12th floor of Wilder Tower for our Recruitment Center,“ said Dr. William Akey, vice provost for Enrollment Services.

“The amazing 360-degree view of the campus will be the starting point for prospective students to begin their campus tour. The view from the 12th floor is the best on campus, and one of the best in our city. You can see the Clark Tower to the east, downtown, the Pyramid and Hernando de Soto Bridge to the west, and our entire campus.

“This beautiful space will also be utilized for recruitment receptions and Alumni events and will enable us to give prospective students a full overview of University academic offerings. We now have the 'wow‘ factor for our tour program that we have dreamed of for years,” Akey said.

The project is in the designer selection phase.

The overall project is expected to be completed in spring 2019.

Dr. Art Graesser, professor in the Department of Psychology and Institute for Intelligent Systems, received the 2018 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education inaugural Learning Science Research Prize. The $50,000 award honors outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education through innovative and successful approaches.

Wilder Tower is home to many UofM student services, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Scholarship, Orientation, Academic Advising and Registrar‘s and Bursar‘s offices.

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Dynamic Duos

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Bookshelf WHAT WE ARE WRITING

Libertyland

By John Stevenson

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop

By Alice Faye Duncan As a young girl, Alice Faye Duncan (BA ’89) listened to her school teacher parents recall stories of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the meaning of his life. They impressed upon her that King’s Memphis protest was not about water fountains or bus seats, but about money and a living wage for all Americans.

Her world was peopled with local personalities connected to King. Duncan authored Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, a historical picture book for children ages 9-12. It tells the story of 9-year-old Lorraine Jackson, who marched with her father and others in the sanitation workers strike of 1968— King’s final stand for justice before his assassination.

Duncan reveals the story of the Memphis sanitation strike from the perspective of a young girl “with a riveting combination of poetry and prose.” The author of multiple children’s books, Duncan has received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children. She has 19 years of experience as a school librarian.

Alumnus John Stevenson (BA ’13, MA ’16) rode his first roller coaster at at Libertyland and considers his childhood days there unforgettable. As both a tribute to the amusement park’s legacy and a history lesson for generations to come, he published Libertyland. The book chronicles the life of the Memphis theme park from blueprints to razing and beyond. Photographs were gathered from former park employees, guests, historians, Memphis-area libraries and the Shelby County Archives.

Opened on America’s bicentennial in 1976, the quaint park celebrated America’s history, heritage and culture. Not only was it home to Elvis Presley’s favorite roller coaster, Libertyland also offered rides on the historic Grand Carousel and exciting shows.

The park’s themed areas— Colonial Land, Frontier Land and Turn-of-theCentury Land—paid tribute to some of the country’s most historically significant eras. From its opening in 1976 until its closure in late 2005, Libertyland was a first roller coaster ride, a first date, a family reunion, a summer job or simply a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the real world. “I love roller coasters because they continue to push the envelope: taller, faster, longer, more loops,” Stevenson says.

“Roller coaster innovation is a constant just like the rush of adrenaline they provide.”

(Arcadia Publishing, 2017)

(Highlights, 2018)

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How did you two meet?

RL: We met during our graduate studies at UCLA 22 years ago. We were introduced by a mutual friend the first week I arrived at UCLA, but we did not start dating until the end of the academic year. We did not get to take any classes together, but we attended many of the same events due to our shared interest in African studies. The interesting thing is Dennis had visited Ghana several times before I met him, and he had resided at the same dormitory I had lived in at the University of Ghana.

DL: After we started dating in Los Angeles, we spent a year together in Ghana (me conducting research, Rebecca writing her thesis) before returning to UCLA. Do your jobs ever intersect?

RL: Dennis has led several programs for the Study Abroad office, which I direct.

I am also very interested in Dennis’ research, especially his work on Ghana, so I like to read his articles and books and give feedback.

DL: Over the years we have had opportunities to collaborate on some great projects at the UofM, such as founding the African Students Association and creating a study abroad program in Ghana. Yet, we generally do not work together even though we are both associated with international studies at the UofM.

Do you give each other advice? If so, is it generally accepted?

RL: Yes, we do give each other advice, and it is generally accepted, but we really try to avoid talking about work at home.

DL: I often ask Rebecca to review an article or chapter I have written and she always

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finds mistakes and suggests revisions. A spouse is the most honest reader!

What are the pros and cons of working at the same university?

RL: Our son, Max, attended the University’s Campus School, so for five years we all came to the University together every morning. We like to drive together when possible; it gives us time to catch up with each other while conserving energy. Dennis is not allowed to share stories about Max or me in class. He does not always adhere to this as I find out when I meet his students!

DL: It is nice that I can pick up the phone to ask Rebecca if she wants to go for a short walk during lunch. I also enjoy the sudden look of delight on a student’s face when he or she suddenly realizes I am the husband of Mrs. Laumann.

Outside of work, do you share many of the same interests or do you have varied pursuits?

RL: We both love to travel and watch soccer. I enjoy walking as well.

DL: We both love going out to eat—especially Thai or Ethiopian if it is a “date”—and traveling. We try to take a family trip at least once or twice a year to familiar places, like visiting family in the U.S. or abroad, and new destinations like India.

What are your proudest accomplishments?

RL: Becoming a kidney donor to my sister.

DL: At the UofM, taking hundreds of students on study abroad programs to Ghana, Brazil, Cuba and other destinations and winning five student-nominated teaching awards.

CAMPUS NOTEBOOK

In this issue, we continue with our profiles of married couples who work at the University of Memphis.

Rebecca Laumann is interim executive director of the Center for International Education Services.

A UofM Law School alumna, she has worked at the UofM for 18 years. Dennis Laumann is a professor of African history and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of History.

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#STRIKINGIMAGE

Senior Molly Smith delivers a strike against Ole Miss earlier this season in a 9-3 win over the Rebels at the Tigers Softball Complex on the Park Avenue Campus. With 24 wins at press time, Smith is tied for most victories in a season in program history. (photo by Joe Murphy)

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Notebook

Trendsetters UofM FOOTBALL SETS THE STANDARD OFF THE FIELD The situation could have been tense: Memphis head football sports information director Tammy DeGroff was having to haul Tiger quarterback Riley Ferguson on the back of a golf cart to a press conference through a maze of Central Florida fans after the Knights had beaten Memphis in the American Athletic Conference title game. Emotions were running high— anything could have happened.

“Luckily it didn’t—to Riley’s credit, nothing happened,” DeGroff says. And partly because DeGroff had also kept her cool during one of the biggest losses in Memphis history. “I try to be even keel because the players don’t need to see me upset coming off the field—that can transfer to them and make matters worse.”

Thirteen years ago, this scenario probably would never have played out with a female sports information director for football.

In 2004 the University of Memphis became a national trendsetter when then communications director Bob Winn named one of the first-ever female head football sports information directors of a Division I football team, Jennifer Rodrigues. When Rodrigues moved to another division on campus, DeGroff took over, making Memphis perhaps the first school in the country to have had two female D-I head football SIDs in an industry previously— and still—dominated by males.

“The fact that Tammy was also provided the opportunity to handle football further illustrates the UofM’s willingness to give you a chance if you work for it. She has proven herself, and she earned that role for her unwavering loyalty to that department,” says Rodrigues, now director of brand strategy at the University of Alabama.

“Memphis has been great,” says DeGroff, going into her second year as head football SID and who was first hired as a graduate assistant SID at the UofM in 1999. “I have never been shut out because I am a female. There are a lot of shops that have

no women on staff at all, or, if they have women, maybe one female, three males.

“Jenn was one of maybe seven or eight football SIDs when she was here,” she adds.

“She was getting the chance to move up. I had some conversations with her about any misgivings she might have: Was she going to be accepted? Were the coaches going to be OK with it? Were the student athletes going to be OK with it?

“Myself, I haven’t gotten strange looks. I’ve been at Memphis a long time and other people in the league have known me—that has helped.”

That in itself puts the UofM in groundbreaking territory, says Dr. Linda Jean Carpenter, who along with Dr. R. Vivian Acosta have spent the past 37 years studying the role of women in intercollegiate athletics. Both are professor emerita of Brooklyn College.

“You are talking about a field that has been dominated by males since the inception of collegiate sports,” says Carpenter.

“Memphis having had two female sports information directors for football is unique.

They deserve a gold star.”

The latest version of Carpenter’s and Acosta’s “Women in Intercollegiate Sport” national study reveals very few female SIDs for any sport at the Division I level. Only 12.1 percent of all SIDs for any sport are female, the report shows.

DeGroff says there are a few instances where sexism still exists—but just minor.

“Sometime someone is asking for information and they see Kevin Rodriguez (an assistant) and myself listed. Kevin gets the request and I don’t. Little random things. Another thing that makes me laugh—there is a Top 12 list of SID offices for handling college football and in the description it says something about, ‘The SID always allows access to his press box.’

You just roll with it.”

Tammy DeGroff (left) and Jenn Rodrigues both have served as head sports information directors at the NCAA Division I level, a rarity in a field dominated by males. (photo by Trey Clark)

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NEWS

LAMBUTH CAMPUS

In this issue, we spotlight

Cato Johnson of the UofM. We are in the best position to understand how it impacts not only the student body but the total community.”

CATO JOHNSON

In 2017, Johnson was named chief of staff at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, where he has served as senior vice president for Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs since 1985.

Active in public service for many years, Johnson (BSEd ’70, MEd ’71) is former chair of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Of serving on an independent Board of Trustees, Johnson says, “It has often been said government closest to the people is the best type of government.

I could say the same thing about governance closest to the people—it’s the best for the overall decision-making for the institution.

“We have local community leaders in the role of making decisions with the leadership

UofM Board of Trustees Meets on Campus

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In the short term, Johnson wants the UofM to continue to be seen as an institution that provides great service to the community. “At the end of the day, the University of Memphis is an urban research institution. That means many of its graduates will become involved in the community and working for major institutions, community institutions, in our public school systems, private school systems and with other employers. The UofM needs to continue to be seen as a tremendous asset to the community.”

Long-term, he would like the University to be seen as one of the top urban research institutions in the country.

He points to the Board’s approval of a PhD program in Urban Affairs as a step in that direction. “Think about what that means to this community,” says Johnson.

“We are a huge medical community with some of the largest medical institutions in the country.

A University of Memphis Board of Trustees committee anticipates holding tuition flat for the 2018-2019 academic year after discussion at its meeting on the main campus in March. The rates depend on Gov. Bill Haslam’s final budget.

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“Urban Affairs looks at issues we deal with in this community. Almost 30 percent of people live below the poverty level, 48 percent of kids live in homes below the poverty level. We are third from the bottom in per-capita income nationally, number one in the country with displaced youth 16-23 who don’t have a job and not in school. Eighty-two percent of students in Shelby County Schools qualify for free or reduced lunch.”

Johnson says it was rewarding for someone who grew up in south Memphis to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and interact with tremendous leaders in the field of education. Both of his brothers and his son are Memphis graduates.

One of his proudest moments? “Being the first African-American president of the Alumni Association.”

The University of Memphis Magazine continues its profiles of members of our Board of Trustees.

A committee also endorsed a study to explore the feasibility of adding a middle school to the successful Campus School, which could be a charter school or similar partnership with Shelby County Schools.

IN OTHER ACTION, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE S:

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Announced a $1 million investment from Sedgwick Claims Management Services supporting the College of Education’s River City Partnership;

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Approved a revised institutional mission statement;

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Approved two new academic programs: a PhD in Urban Affairs and a PhD in Nursing;

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Approved a rate decrease for UofM Global from $480 to $420 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and from $755 to $603 per credit hour for graduate courses;

➼

Approved a 5 percent increase for traditional residence hall rates as well as reductions for Park Avenue campus apartments and UofM Lambuth housing; and

➼

Agreed to accept funds from the Folds of Honor Foundation to provide scholarships for family of military service members killed or disabled in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Raises of 2.5 percent for faculty and staff, which were recommended by Haslam, were also discussed in committee.

FIRST TIME FOR UofM LAMBUTH:

Two Students Serving as Interns with Tennessee Legislature for Same Term Two students from the University of Memphis Lambuth have been awarded internships by the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program (TLIP).

Hayes O‘Donnell, a political science major, and Malick Gaye, a psychology major, are spending the 2018 legislative spring term in Nashville and will earn 12 hours of academic credit.

This is the second time a UofM Lambuth student has been awarded this internship, but the first time two students from UofM Lambuth have earned internships for the same term.

The program places students as interns in the Tennessee General Assembly. Interns are assigned to work for a representative or senator responsible for lawmaking in Tennessee. Duties generally include attending committee meetings, tracking bills through the calendar and constituent service.

“Both Hayes and Malick were part of the UofM Model United Nations program, and the TLIP is another step toward understanding how public policy and laws are developed at state, national and international levels, all of which influence all of our lives,“ said Dr. Paul Mego, senior lecture, in Political Science. “They are two of UofM Lambuth‘s best and brightest, and I‘m extremely proud of them both.“ O‘Donnell, of Bells, Tenn., is the daughter of Robert and Virginia O‘Donnell. Gaye, from Dakar, Senegal, and Jackson, Tenn., is the son of Dr. Matar Gaye and Rokhayatou Gaye.

LAMBUTH CAMPUS ENROLLMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS LAMBUTH FOR THE SPRING 2018 SEMESTER REACHED 1,038—A RECORD FOR THE CAMPUS, REPRESENTING A 322 PERCENT INCREASE.

THE UofM BEGAN OPERATIONS AT THE LAMBUTH CAMPUS WITH 246 STUDENTS IN FALL 2011.

“We are so pleased with the growth at the Uof M Lambuth campus and plan to continue this positive trajectory” said Dr. Niles Reddick, vice provost of the campus. “Nursing is our largest degree program with approximately 160 students, but we’re seeing growth in multiple programs, including Biology, Communication, Education, English, Journalism, Music, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work and interdisciplinary programs in the University College. We’re also seeing an uptick in our online courses. Our doctoral program in Educational Leadership has seen a great deal of growth.

“Uof M Lambuth works closely with employees who want to complete their education, with employers through internships, and in

322%

employment of our students after graduation.

The campus has been a ‘value-added’ to West Tennessee.”

In the spring 2017 semester, Uof M Lambuth had 848 students. The 2018 number shows a 22 percent growth over last year. It also represents a 10.6 percent increase over fall 2017, when the Lambuth campus enrollment was 938.

“The growth of the University of Memphis Lambuth continues to be a tremendous success,” said Uof M President M. David Rudd.

“Not only does it provide a quality education, but the Uof M Lambuth campus is an excellent resource for West Tennessee. I am proud of the tireless work of Dr. Niles Reddick and the Uof M Lambuth faculty, staff and students in helping the campus continue to reach the vision we imagined.”

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ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SPEECH DISPLAYED AT UofM ICONIC “WE SHALL OVERCOME” SPEECH BECAME RALLYING CRY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

UofM GETS $6.6 MILLION NETWORK UPGRADE

This spring, the University of Memphis displayed the original copy, complete with handwritten notes, of the historic speech Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered to the General Synod of the United Church of Christ in Chicago on July 6, 1965.

The University of Memphis is conducting a $6.6 million upgrade to its network to improve speed, reliability and security for students, faculty, staff and guests. The UofM has selected Aruba Networks to provide equipment for the network upgrade.

The iconic speech marked the first time Dr. King publicly declared, “We shall overcome”—a phrase that became a rallying cry for the civil rights movement. The speech went on display in the McWherter Library rotunda on the University of Memphis campus on March 26. It continued on display through April 13 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King.

“This investment in our technology infrastructure underscores the University‘s commitment to academic and research missions, and will enhance student success by providing an improved network experience as well as capacity for future growth,“ said Robert Jackson, UofM chief information officer.

“We were honored and humbled to share this extraordinary artifact with our students and the greater Memphis community as we came together to observe the 50th anniversary of Dr. King‘s assassination,” said UofM President M. David Rudd. “Dr. King left an indelible mark on American history, and his impact is especially profound here in Memphis.“ Prominent Memphis philanthropist Avron B. Fogelman purchased the 20-page speech at auction for $382,000 and generously granted the University of Memphis the exclusive opportunity to display the one-of-a-kind artifact on campus.

“Growing up in Memphis, I had a special feeling for what Dr. King accomplished, so I was especially pleased to have the opportunity to own this iconic speech in which Dr. King first wrote the phrase most closely associated with the civil rights movement,“ said Fogelman.

Uof M Students Fight Hunger

by Donating 332 Guest Meals

The upgrade will improve the network experience at all campus locations by increasing network performance; improving reliability and security; enhancing manageability for emerging technology needs and challenges; and building capacity for future growth.

The number of wireless access points at all campus locations will increase by 44 percent, and the network infrastructure will be upgraded to support a minimum speed of 10 gigabits.

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The University of Memphis Division of Student Affairs, including Student Leadership & Involvement, Tiger Dining and the Student Government Association, and the Campus Card Office, recently launched Tigers Fight Hunger, a new initiative to fight food insecurity on campus.

Providing multiple programs to assist students experiencing food insecurity is particularly important on a campus where as many as 68.8 percent of students have experienced some form of food insecurity over the last year, according to research conducted by the Department of Social Work.

Over a two-week period, students with meal plans were able to donate guest meals. The donation pool will be used to create cards with five meals each for use at the Tiger Den.

Students like the ease with which they can support their classmates in need.

Tigers Fight Hunger received 332 donated meals during the inaugural drive. Students can find more information at memphis. edu/tigersfighthunger.

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“I knew I wasn't going to use all of my guest meals, so I‘m happy they can go to Tigers who need them,” says Jacquelyn Joosse, a senior and Speaker of the Senate for the Student Government Association.

Students experiencing food insecurity can also access the Tiger Pantry for support at memphis.edu/ tigerpantry.

Anyone interested in fighting food insecurity on campus can visit memphis.edu/ tigersfighthunger for more information.

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art Music Facility

Attending the groundbreaking for the Scheidt Family Music Center were, from left: Dr. Richard R. Ranta, former dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts; John Chiego, director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music; Dr. Anne Hogan, dean of the CCFA; Honey Scheidt; Rudi Scheidt; music student Kashirim Nwobilor; and Dr. M. David Rudd, UofM president.

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he University of Memphis has broken ground on the new Scheidt Family Music Center, a 40,000-sq. ft. music center that will allow the UofM to immediately increase student recruitment and grow the pool of UofM music graduates.

“Demand for the University’s music program has increased exponentially, and the old Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music can no longer adequately serve students and faculty,” says President M. David Rudd. “No other school in the state comes close to matching the breadth

MHA PROGRAM RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT The University of Memphis Master of Health Administration program has received the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)-Ascension Award for Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Development.

“This high-profile national award is further evidence of our excellent approach to leadership development,“ said Dr. Erik Carlton, assistant professor in the Division of Health Systems, Management and

and depth of programs available through the Scheidt School of Music. Our faculty sets a high bar for creativity and excellence in music, and in engaging and preparing our students for careers in ways other programs simply cannot. We’re excited to welcome a new facility that provides an educational environment commensurate with the quality of our instructional program.”

The state-of-the-art facility will double the size of the current Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, and feature an expansive performance hall and

Policy and director of the MHA program.

“It comes on the heels of our receiving the CAHME-Aramark Innovation Grant earlier this year. We were one of only eight programs to receive the innovation grant and the only single program to receive the highest award amount.“ The new award from CAHME and Ascension was presented at a luncheon in Chicago March 25, just ahead of the ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership.

“It is a testament to the exceptional quality of our faculty, adjunct faculty, staff and students,“ said Carlton. “It is likewise a recognition of the unique and

significant enhancements in technology and acoustics. Dedicated tailored laboratories for innovation and artistic expression will allow faculty to structure the educational experience to best serve students.

With its prominent location on Central Avenue, the Scheidt Family Music Center will redefine the campus arts corridor and reflects the University’s commitment to a vibrant performing arts scene in Memphis.

innovative culture we have created here at Memphis. It is also a credit to our many local partners and alumni—especially but not limited to Baptist Memorial Health Care and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare—who generously support the program through funded administrative assistantships for our students, and to our local professional associations, MHCE and NAHSE, whose ongoing engagement with and support of our program was key to our winning this award.

“We are truly grateful for the support provided by the University and the School of Public Health Administration that is allowing us to flourish in this manner.“

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CAMPUS

NEWS THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THEM BUT IT DEPENDS

ON YOU

University of Memphis and Shelby County Schools Partner TO STRENGTHEN TEACHER TALENT PIPELINE

The University of Memphis and Shelby County Schools (SCS) have announced a new River City Partnership to help address the school district’s most critical challenges, including the lack of a pipeline of highly-skilled new teachers, poor teacher retention rates, and the need to equip teachers with greater cultural awareness.

Have YOU considered putting the University of Memphis in your estate plans?

It can be as simple as adding a codicil to your will or making the UofM a beneficiary of your retirement plan. If you are interested, we can help you find a way.

For more information, contact Dan H. Murrell, CFRE 901.678.2732 | plannedgiving@memphis.edu

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“The University of Memphis recognizes the challenges facing the Shelby County region can be addressed through a stronger education system—and that must be cultivated from the ground up,” said UofM President M. David Rudd. “By collaborating with the Shelby County public school system, we can work together to better train and prepare future educators who are eager to continue to invest in the Memphis community and teach the next generation of students. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to setting an example for other urban school districts across the country that are facing similar challenges.”

Supported in part by funding from the US Prep consortium, the River City Partnership will place unique emphasis on recruiting and training local teacher candidates, with a special focus on identifying educators from underrepresented groups, including AfricanAmerican males and Latinos.

“We want to increase the number of students who graduate from area high schools, attend the UofM and then return to Shelby County Schools to put their training to work in the classroom,” said Dr. Kandi Hill-Clarke, dean of the College of Education. “Our mission is to graduate more teachers who are culturally competent, confident in their content knowledge and effective teaching strategies, and who understand their students.

The River City Partnership also will encourage teacher candidates to intentionally select the urban education pathway, creating deep partnership with local schools and implementing high school teacher cadet programs to build an early interest in teaching as a career.

“This partnership is key to transforming the way classroom teachers recognize their own cultural individualities and build on the various cultural norms of our urban students,” says HillClarke.

“Classrooms in America are becoming progressively diverse,” said SCS Superintendent Dorsey Hopson. “The impact of having educators with the ability to stimulate and challenge various student populations can intensely improve student outcomes and close achievement gaps.”

Memphis and Shelby County are nationally recognized as ground zero in urban education reform.

Longtime Tiger basketball supporter Leonard Draper and former Memphis players Andre Turner, Trey Draper and Bill Laurie visit at the new state-of-the-art Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center on the Park Avenue campus.

MEMPHIS OPENS THE NEXT GENERATION OF ATHLETIC PRACTICE FACILITIES

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he Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center on the Park Avenue campus of the University of Memphis features the latest in amenities, technology, student-athlete involvement and even fan engagement. The facility becomes the primary home of the Tiger men‘s basketball program and sets the standard as the next generation of facilities.

“We are proud to partner with the Laurie-Walton family and all of our donors to make this dream a reality,” says UofM President M. David Rudd. “The University of Memphis is driven by doing, and this facility proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this University is moving forward and upward. With increased enrollment, several ongoing construction projects and an engaged and active faculty and staff, this project is yet another reminder that the very best days for the University of Memphis are ahead of us.”

“This magnificent facility clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to academic and athletic excellence,“ says Bill Laurie. “Nancy and I are proud to help create a new stateof-the-art home for Memphis basketball and to be a part of this effort to elevate the future of the men‘s basketball program, while also celebrating the rich tradition and history through the Hall of Traditions.”

The newly-built center includes the normal practice facility amenities, including practice gym, locker room, coaches‘

offices and training facilities. However, what sets the LaurieWalton Family Basketball Center apart from its predecessors is the commitment to donor and VIP cultivation, a public Hall of Traditions, academic support for multiple teams, state-of-the-art training facilities, enhanced technology and connectivity throughout the building, and a practice court that is significantly larger than the normal size.

“The Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center is truly the next generation of facilities as it bridges the rich history of the Memphis men‘s basketball program to our present and future success,” says Athletic Director Tom Bowen. “I am deeply humbled by the generosity of our donors, and especially the Laurie-Walton Family, who have made this 100 percent donorfinanced facility possible. It is a place that the University, the City of Memphis and all of Tiger nation can be immensely proud to call their own.”

The Hall of Traditions is a public access area that allows Tiger fans to reflect on the history of the program and includes artifacts and keepsakes from the various eras of Memphis basketball.

The commitment to student-athlete wellness is evident throughout the facility, but the athletic training and academic support areas stand out. The athletic training technology exemplifies a new standard in injury prevention and studentathlete recovery through the use of advanced hydrotherapy equipment, hot and cold tubs, sauna and expanded taping stations. Academic success is a driving principle for the entire University, and this is personified in the academic support area, which will serve as a hub for several sports on the Park Avenue campus. This enhances the efficiency of academic support, reduces time demands on the student-athletes, and significantly expands academic support space.

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UofM LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO

Upgrade Natatorium with Gift from Rose Family Foundation Renovated natatorium will serve community by expanding swimming instruction, recreation and training space.

The Rose Family Foundation has made a $1 million commitment to the University of Memphis Natatorium Renovation Project. The Foundation is partnering with the UofM to secure $10 million to renovate the natatorium, which is used

by Memphis Tiger Swimming, Splash Mid-South and the UofM community.

Drowning is a leading cause of death among children ages 1-4. AfricanAmerican children ages 5-19 drown in pools at a rate 5.5 times higher than that of white children. Since the closing of the YMCA on Walker Avenue in 2011, there have been few options available in the University area for swim lessons and drowning prevention training. In addition, Memphis does not have a swimming facility that can accommodate swimming and diving competitions.

“Prior to his passing, I spoke with Mike Rose about his desire to have a natatorium that truly meets the needs of our community,” said UofM President M. David Rudd. “I am committed to achieving this goal, and am excited that The Rose Family Foundation has 22

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made it their mission to work with key organizations in Memphis to make Mike‘s vision a reality.”

The pool will be named for the late Rose, a successful businessman and philanthropist.

“The renovated natatorium will prove a wonderful complement to the new Center for Wellness and Fitness, which will offer recreational swimming among other health and fitness that are integrated into the University‘s core academic mission,” added Rudd.

“Created to enrich the community through increased opportunity in education, health and the pursuits of happiness, The Rose Foundation is eager to see the natatorium serve as a center for children‘s water safety and enrich the lives of underserved youth in our community,” said Gabrielle Rose, executive director. “Mike Rose was also a longtime supporter of UofM athletics and Memphis Tiger Swimming because of his belief in sports‘ ability to shape character and develop leaders.“

➼ Among the project‘s goals are: providing free or low-cost swim lessons to 300 underprivileged children, led by Splash Mid-South; introducing swimming to low-income and minority youth to improve the diversity of Memphis Tiger Swimming; offering free CPR classes to UofM students so they can share their skills with the community; generating revenue for the local economy from visitors who attend swimming competitions; and enhancing community relationships through research on drowning prevention. ➼ Planned renovations include increasing the pool length, improved mechanical and water handling systems, handicap access, upgraded locker rooms and expanded seating. The increased seating will make the facility appropriate for training and for regional swimming competitions.

Renovations are expected to take about 18 months to complete.

MD2K’S MOBILE SENSOR

BIG DATA SOFTWARE

NOW OPERATIONAL IN 10 SCIENTIFIC FIELD STUDIES ACROSS THE U.S.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO MAKE A GIFT, PLEASE VISIT UOFMRIGHTTRACK.ORG. NAMING OPPORTUNITIES BEGIN AT $1,000.

Dr. Santosh Kumar, director of the UofM’s MD2K Center of Excellence, is an internationally recognized leader in the field of mHealth research.

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oftware platforms built by the UofM’s Center of Excellence for Mobile Sensor Datato-Knowledge (MD2K) are being used in scientific field studies in 11 states to develop and validate new biomarkers for monitoring and improving health, wellness and productivity. The mobile sensor data collected are expected to produce new markers for management of congestive heart failure, smoking cessation, regulation of overeating, oral health management, workplace performance monitoring, and behavior change. These studies are expected to enroll more than 2,000 participants, collect 100,000-plus person-days of high-frequency sensor data and produce over 4.7 trillion data points.

Smartphones, with their embedded and wirelessly connected sensors, are driving a new wave of health research. Mobile sensors (embedded in phones, vehicles, wearables and the environment) continuously capture data in great detail, and hold tremendous potential to advance science, and to directly impact health, wellness, mobility/ transportation, and energy. The open-source software developed by the NIH-funded MD2K led by UofM Professor Dr. Santosh Kumar allows any researcher to collect, analyze and interpret high-frequency sensor data from the natural environment.

“MD2K reflects our growing reputation as a hub for mobile sensor ‘big data’ and mHealth research, as well as Dr. Santosh Kumar’s national and international reputation as a leader in this field,” says UofM President M. David Rudd.

Pedestrian Cable Bridge The focal point of the Southern Avenue Gateway will be the long awaited Pedestrian Cable Bridge over the railroad tracks.

The bridge will span above Walker, Southern and the tracks to seamlessly connect the main campus. Each day, more than 6,000 crossings happen at the train tracks. No longer will students have to wait for the train to pass to make it to class on time.

At night, the bridge will shine with LED lighting to highlight the cables and create a beautiful addition to the campus skyline.

THE CAMPAIGN ALSO INCLUDES: C E N T E R FO R W E L L N E S S A N D F I T N E S S A M P H I T H E AT E R / A LU M N I M A L L EC H L E S ST R E E T P E D E ST R I A N WA L K WAY uofmrighttrack.org

Google has cited the MD2K Center of Excellence at the UofM as a reason why Memphis was named the “Digital e-Capital for Tennessee.”

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BUILD ING HOPE

A unique program begun by a UOFM alumnus is providing hands-on job training and life skills development for the prison population of Memphis.

B Y A N I TA H O U K

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PHOTOS BY TREY CLARK

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ON

a dreary morning whispering of spring, you step over the narrow threshold of a shabby block building, into a dimly lit anteroom, through a metal detector, past security—real prison guards—and emerge into the cavernous former cannery of The Old Penal Farm.

It’s Shelby County Division of Corrections now. Inmates don’t farm their food or work the cannery. But it’s bustling.

Most of the nearly 30 inmates here—in prison for theft, drugs, gang action, domestic violence, bank robbery—will prove eager to be chronicled as the first group in a new pre-release, life-readiness project called Hope2Hire.

“Good morning!” a stout inmate pushing a broom offers heartily as you squeeze through the wellworn doorway and survey the open, high-ceilinged work area. A thin fog of powdery dry mortar particles floats in the air.

The space vibrates with the polyrhythms of work—real work.

Spanning their 20s to 60s in age, men are spying and pointing, squatting and lifting, measuring lumber, toting tools, stacking brick, mixing mortar, hammering metal, discussing logistics, studying textbooks and generally building new foundations— for themselves.

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Underway is the first 13week class of Hope2Hire, a privately funded, three-year pilot program designed to build skill sets for indemand, entry-level jobs for Freedom, Day 1.

The carefully screened first 34 students who elected to participate are down to 29 after four weeks, because two inmates didn’t like the setup and three didn’t follow the rules.

Masonry instructor Willie J. Williams isn’t dismayed.

“I am seeing determination in these men,” Williams reports. “These guys are learning.”

Williams is connected to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), which provides technical training and certification, and a Hope2Hire partner.

Others are, of course, Shelby County Division of Corrections (SCDC), plus Workforce Investment Networks (WIN) and HopeWorks, running day-to-day Hope2Hire operations.

Hope2Hire is the brainchild of R. Brad Martin (BA ’76), former UofM interim president, local businessman, current Board of Trustees member, author and philanthropist.

Shouldering the cost of this Hope2Hire pilot program are the Martin Family Foundation, First Tennessee Foundation and two anonymous donors.

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Inmates receive hands-on training in various fields to ready them for post-release jobs.

“So much of the success in life,” Martin says, “can be attributed simply to showing up and trying your hardest. It is my sincere hope that our Hope2Hire graduates will set their lives on the right path now and, thus, be able to give back to others later.”

“I was in a street gang, selling dope. It took a lot to get that out of me. I have 'right' in me, and I want to do it in my life. My father always said, ‘When you have a passion for something, do it.’ That’s what I strive for each day I come to class. I have done this work before, but now I need to take it seriously. I see myself doing this kind of work in the future. I realize I CAN go back, I can TAKE BACK my goals and work toward a better life. I believe: When God opens a door, run through it!”

– Corel Borum, 38, Memphis

Masonry instructor Williams feels the hope taking shape.

“Some of this group,” Williams says, “didn’t know a trowel from a pencil when we started, and now they’re doing the work and working under the OSHA safety rules. They are ‘laying to the line’ (keeping level and plumb using a string line). They are building a block column. They are putting what they are learning to the test.

“They’ll be ready to hit the ground running when they finish here. They’ll have the basics of masonry, brick and cement block: the foundation blocks for masonry and for building that foundation for themselves.”

Only inmates within a year of release are admitted into Hope2Hire, and there’s more than one hoop to jump through on the assessment tests (temperament, education, drug screening). In the end, it’s the inmate’s decision to show up, to achieve, to aspire.

BUILD ING HOPE

UofM alumnus R. Brad Martin says graduates of the program will have “marketable skills and a job to show up to on Day 1 after release.”

"I wanted to create a program beneficial to both potential employers and ex-offenders. As a businessman and resident of Memphis, I see firsthand how crime and deterioration of the family unit due to incarceration negatively affect our community. I also know that the current economic climate is prosperous, and there is a huge need for skilled tradesmen in the construction industry. We also need trained logistics workers in the numerous distribution centers throughout the Mid-South.

“Yes, they made some bad decisions, but should they be penalized for life?”

Williams asks. “So often it’s, ‘Do a crime, get out and can’t get a job.’ To me that’s double punishment. That’s why I really appreciate Mr. Brad Martin and this project.

“The other day, Mr. Martin spoke here to us and shared his passion for this program. It was an all-outheart speech. He really inspired me, and I’m not incarcerated! But what I really want to know is: What was his inspiration to start Hope2Hire?”

The Hope2Hire program currently has 29 inmates who are receiving hands-on training for jobs after release.

"We are all committed to doing whatever it takes to make this program as successful as possible. We are scaled to train 145 students per year.

I believe that we are building a model that can be expanded across the state and even the country, at the appropriate time.

"On a personal note: I believe that we all make mistakes in life. Some people’s mistakes are bigger than others.' People should not be excluded from the opportunity to earn a good living and support their families after they have served a criminal sentence.

"We felt like the best way to achieve this goal was through very specific training and job placement prior to release. Our graduates will have marketable skills and, most importantly, a job to show up to on Day 1 after release."

– R. Brad Martin

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"This program, to me, is a game changer. I’m taking this instruction to better myself and, when I get out (in May), to stay out of trouble. Those four walls (of prison) make you feel trapped. I remember one day, I was just sitting, staring, and a guy came up and said, ‘You look like you’re going through something.’ He handed me a book, a James Patterson.

Now book-reading, that was not part of my world.

But now, I take a book and that frees me. I get more knowledge and see how that could take me in another direction. My plan is to get my forklift license, OSHA card, finish this masonry class through Hope2Hire and leave here with multiple skills to offer an employer. I may even cut my dreadlocks. I’ve been growing my hair almost 10 years. But, I’m thinking: 'Do I want a clean cut to go along with my clean start?'"

BUILD ING HOPE

– Michael Walker, 30, Memphis

“Brad Martin, he’s a visionary guy. Hope2Hire was his idea. I’m thankful to be part of it,” declares Ron Wade, executive director of HopeWorks.

bout a dozen inmates in a far corner of the cannery cavern are seated at folding tables arranged in a U-shape, quietly conferring, thick textbooks with plans, descriptions and diagrams open before them. They’re trying to take in a trove of information offered by Building Construction Technology instructor Delbert Metcalf of TCAT.

A

“Some of these men maybe never have been exposed to building, but they’re showing an interest, and that tickles me to death,” the silver-haired Metcalf says, smiling. “I want to believe it’s going to work.

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I really like to see the good and the potential in people.”

But he’s a realist. “Probably half of my students are genuinely interested. They do have an incentive to be here. They come through our program, they can get days off their sentence, get out early.”

That’s true, as the program’s capable tour guide, Patricia Melton, confirms. Onboard at Shelby County Division of Corrections for seven years, she’s manager of grants, vocational and education services, and she pulls no punches.

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“We talk about public safety. This program is doing something about it: ‘Let me show you something you can do and not end up back here,’” says Melton.

“These guys can make a good living, make sustainable wages.

Hope2Hire can truly do this, and (the inmates’) time here will not have been in vain.

“I tell them, ‘With this program, I will give you my best 49 percent. None of this 50-50. You need to step up with 51 percent. If not, if you don’t, then it’s not worth it to you.”

This Hope2Hire partner assists the chronically unemployed to identify interests, develop skills and take a holistic approach to bettering themselves through work, faith and education, including GED instruction.

Essentially, HopeWorks programs bookend the Hope2Hire initiative.

HopeWorks has a personal career development program at the prison alongside Hope2Hire’s emphasis on job readiness, both pre-release. Then after release, the HopeWorks/ Hope2Hire grads can get employment help through the Workforce Investment Networks and daily-life guidance from HopeWorks case managers.

“We’re finding,” Wade says, “it’s easier to get a job than to keep a job.

For the person who has

been locked up, there are two barriers after release: housing and finding a job.

You have got to be able to have transportation, make sure you show up on time and do a good job. Now life is going to happen, and we’re going to walk alongside those guys and try to remove barriers. Getting a driver’s license, for example; child care issues. If you don’t know how to navigate that system, you get discouraged and fall back into the recidivism pool.

“And it’s an incredible cost saving when someone does not go back to prison.”

But about one-third of Shelby County inmates do return. Shelby County Division of Corrections houses approximately 2,700 inmates daily (90 percent male; 84 percent felons). The overall crime rate in Memphis and Shelby County increased about 10 percent from January-June 2016 to the same period last year. And local per capita annual income ($26,000) still hovers barely above the poverty line.

Housing one Tennessee prison inmate costs about $24,000 a year, according to the Vera Institute of Justice, which reports state-by-state prison stats.

The Tennessee prison population from 2010 to 2015 increased 10 percent, to 30,837. The Tennessee Department of Corrections reported last spring that statewide recidivism was down, from 50.5 percent in 2010 to 47.1 percent in 2016, and attributed the decline to better rehabilitation programs and offender care.

Andrew Langley, 27, of Williston, Tenn., appreciates the Hope2Hire program, for sure. He knows electrical work—the family business—but little of carpentry, which he’s taking now. “I have new hope. I went to college, but I was on drugs and lost my way, just wanted to die.

Now I have hope.”

Inmates from the Shelby County Division of Corrections learn a variety of technical skills such as carpentry and masonry thanks to a pilot program introduced by UofM alumnus R. Brad Martin.

"The prisoner who had lost faith in the future—his future—was doomed. The sudden loss of hope and courage can have a deadly effect."

– Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, author and psychoanalyst

BUILD ING HOPE Hope2Hire is not soliciting donations, but Brad Martin suggests that interested contributors to the effort could contact HopeWorks, which provides life skills and post-release support to Hope2Hire graduates.

"Hope is not sentimental optimism. When we hope, we face reality … we live generously and gratefully in the present, because deep down, we know that all will be well—not perfect, but well. With every word or deed steeped in hope, the future opens up to reveal a present beyond our imagining."

– Rev. Kevin O’Brien, The Ignatian Adventure "I admire people who build things. I can work with my hands. I have a lot of creativity. I see this class as a stepping-stone for me—inspirational, really.

I’ve made some wrong decisions, and now I see this class as a blessing."

– Nicholas Washington, 37, Memphis

In ink on a page, “hope” might seem contrived coming from mouths of incarcerated men. But bright eyes, genuine smiles and thoughtful words leave one forgetting momentarily that you’re in a prison compound.

These inmates are getting close to release, and many exude eagerness to get

their ducks in a row and herd them to the “outside” forever.

Recovering drug addict Martin Hutcheson, 53, of Memphis, is such a man. He’s experienced in construction, because for decades he dropped in and out of it as dictated by his habit.

“Drugs took all my hope,” Hutcheson admits. It started with his being robbed in Memphis in the early 1980s, he says.

Shot in the stomach, he underwent surgery and succumbed to the prescribed morphine, Demerol and oxycodone.

“From then on … Well, I’ve been to the point where it was one day at a time, and every day was about drugs.”

During his nearly three years incarcerated, Hutcheson has gone through drug and veterans’ programs and substance abuse counseling.

“Now I’m clean and I feel great! I feel like I saw the light. Things are so much simpler,” he says.

In the Hope2Hire construction course, Hutcheson says he’s honing skills and “broadening my horizons.

This class has helped me see things I’d like to do that may have nothing to do with construction.

Maybe teaching. I get something out of teaching

these guys how to read a tape measure.

“Maybe I can expand that and help in drug rehabilitation, so these younger guys don’t have to get my age before they see the light.”

As project founder Brad Martin asserts, “It starts with the individual.

They are the ones who can make this program successful.”

"I got here for stealing and being in the streets.

Now in this class, I got the opportunity and I’m taking advantage. I’m having fun and learning.

For the first time in my life I have something to look forward to!"

– Terriance Holmes, 32, Memphis "I’ve been in the military service and I’ve been in other programs. This program, I’ve really been learning from it! I believe it will be really helpful on re-entry."

– Lewis Falkner, 32, Chicago "This is a fresh start for me. A year-and-a-half ago, I was addicted to heroin. I got clean before I came to Memphis. I came to visit my family, and I committed bank robbery.

Here, I’ve been given a new opportunity to start my life again and use a skilled trade. I’m strong.

I can still work 12 hours

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a day. I’m at a fresh point in my life, and I am just excited."

– Tony Barnes, 55, Seattle, Wash.

A common thread runs through the thoughts of Memphians Preston Williams, 34, Daniel Wax, 40, Freeman Ivory, 38, and Chicagoans Nathaniel Wilborn, 44, and Maurice Underwood, 37. They want to get licensed in the construction trade and start their own businesses, sometimes with an eye to buying low (and decrepit) and selling high (and renovated) in the housing market.

“Helping communities and making a living,” says Wax. Ivory reflects, then says, “Yes, I plan to start my own business with this. I see now that not only am I learning how to build a firm foundation for a building, but I’m also learning how to build a firm foundation in my life, so I can raise my three daughters. They are my motivation.”

When it’s noted that several folks here hail from Chicago, they smirk.

What’s the connection?

The in-unison response: “I-55!”

They laugh, but it’s no joke.

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A Tiger legend returns to lead the Memphis basketball team to new heights.

BY GREG RUSSELL

xtra risers had been brought in, media was swarming and a large crowd had gathered in an almost circus-like setting in Memphis to watch a four-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist take the stage. But it wasn’t quite the event you might be thinking of.

The year was 2003 and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway—still playing for the Phoenix Suns—walked across the stage at The Pyramid to accept a University of Memphis bachelor’s degree in professional studies. An injuryriddled season had allowed him to finish his degree.

“I promised my mom and my grandmother that before I finished my career in the NBA, I’d get my degree,” Hardaway says. “They both taught me education comes first, and sports come second.”

It had been 10 years since he had made the promise; he said his mother told him, “This was the best Mother’s Day present ever.”

“That will be a common theme for all my players, getting their degrees,” Hardaway says.

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“Education is the key to our society. If you don’t have an education, it is going to be hard for you to land a good job—not everybody is going to make it in the NBA.” Obtaining a degree a decade after he left the University was one thing, but it showed a much deeper side of Hardaway as well, one that may bode well for Memphis basketball. Flashforward 15 years. Hardaway is again making a promise, but this time to Tiger fans longing for the days of a packed FedExForum, conference titles and regular NCAA Tournament appearances.

“I am ready to get the team back to the glory days when the building was packed, when the student section was filled,” Hardaway told a standing-roomonly crowd in the sparkling new Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center. “My goal is an NCAA championship for this school, for this city. We want to know what seed we are going to be, not if we are going to make it at all.

“I am going to put all the chips on the table, put everything on my back and lead this city to what it really believes we can do.

I feel like I can go out and get the talent to come in here and play and win championships for the school.”

MA KING CE NTS Reality can hit at the most unexpected times, the most And as he did as a player, he unexpected places. For Hardaway, certainly doesn’t plan to back it hit about three miles from down from anybody. campus, squarely in the 901, just as he exited I-240 onto “I want to play the big boys. I don’t Getwell Road. want to hold anything back when it comes to scheduling. I will be “It became a sharp reality this calling Cal (John Calipari), I’ll morning as I was driving here be calling Michigan State, I’ll be that I have an opportunity to be calling Duke, all the big boys. the University of Memphis head I want to play all of them at some coach, that it has come full circle,” point, home and home. The city Hardaway said March 20 shortly wants that. I never run away from after he was introduced as the competition.

19th head coach in University of Memphis basketball history.

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS FAVORITE FOOD: Baked Chicken FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Nassau, Bahamas FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTIST: Jay-Z FAVORITE MOVIE: Blue Chips FAVORITE SPORT OUTSIDE BASKETBALL: Football. My favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys.

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“Tiger basketball is No. 1 in this city.

When the Tigers won back in the day, everyone was happy. When the Tigers lost, everyone was sad.

To see all the smiling faces again, it is like a great family reunion.”

Indeed, there was a grand mixture of the past and the present at Hardaway’s unveiling—even a bit of royalty.

“Penny has always been close to our family,” says Vickie Finch, wife of former Tiger All-American and coach Larry Finch, who passed away in 2011. “I think his grandmother would be so proud of him. She told Larry, ‘Whatever you do, you got to take care of my baby.’

“People in Memphis have to have people they can relate to,” Finch continues. “Penny is that relatable force. Everyone knows who Penny is, as a Memphis player, then the NBA, that he coached high school here, so he is relatable. Penny is a person that people in Memphis can say, ‘This is my coach, I can relate to him.’”

“Coach Finch would be proud,” Hardaway says. “He taught me a lot. His fingerprints, his imprint will be all over this team.”

UofM President M. David Rudd nailed the importance of the Memphis program—not just to the school, but to the city.

“The Memphis basketball program is special,” said Dr. Rudd in introducing Hardaway as head coach. “Its relationship to the City of Memphis is special.

Expectations are high and the dayto-day demands are unrelenting.

Building and nurturing relationships in our community and our fan base are essential for success in this community and at this University. Given the nature of our investment and unwavering commitment to excellence, the proud legacy of this program and the investment of our fan base, we will simply not lower our expectations of this program.

“Penny Hardaway not only embraces those high expectations, he has represented those consistently throughout his life.

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It is a pleasure to see Penny take this step and start to lead this program.”

Tiger fans, who turned out in droves to welcome a new chapter in the program, were wishing next November and the start of the season were already here.

“Penny will bring hope, enthusiasm right off the bat,” says Rudy Martin (BBA ’77), who played in the Tigers pep band in the mid-1970s. “I am not worried a lick that he hasn’t coached college before. He played under some great coaches.

I am sure his IQ is off the charts basketball-wise.“ Memphis alumnus Jamie Russell (BBA ’02) said of the moment, “It is one of those things as a Memphis Tiger fan, this is one of those events you can’t miss, like, ‘Where were you when Penny was announced as head coach?’

Obviously, he’ll bring a shot of energy in the arm. He is wellconnected and beloved around town. We are going to get folks buying tickets and get an uptick in recruiting. We live in a basketball city and everything around here is Grizz and Tigers and it has been strange the past several years the Tigers haven’t been part of that conversation. I don’t think we will have to worry about that much longer.”

Jack Tucker (BBA ’77, MBA ’83) said he first bought season tickets in 1991, Hardaway’s first year and the first year of The Pyramid. “That first game, they lost to DePaul, but from that moment you could tell he was a special player. We are glad to see this excitement come back to the program again.

Everyone is hoping he will make some great inroads with recruiting.

That will lead to a great product on the court. We are just looking forward to a new day.”

Fan Jay Assalol has great expectations. “I hope this isn’t overstating it, but I feel they’ll eventually win a national championship. I think he has a great relationship with the young people, the athletes of today. I think he can encourage and motivate them to go all out and win.”

Hardaway was a product of Treadwell High School, averaging 36.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game his senior year. He then played two seasons for the Tigers, from 1991-1993, leading Memphis to an Elite Eight appearance his final season. His No. 25 jersey was retired in 1994. Hardaway was the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and was a four-time NBA All-Star (1995-1998) for the Orlando Magic. During the summer of 1996, Hardaway played on the U.S. Olympic men’s Dream Team, which won a gold medal.

“I am not just coming here to be a face, I am coming here to make a difference,” he declares. “I feel like I can do so with the help of getting the fans back into the stands like it was in the old school days. I miss those days. I am dedicated to this team. I am looking forward

FORMER TIGER PLAYERS APPLAUDED THE MOVE, TOO. H E R E’S A LO O K AT W H AT T H E Y A R E SAY I N G : J O H N W I L FO N G (1 98 3 -1 987 ) :

“He’ll bring renewed interest from the community. He’ll bring good players to the program. I have watched Penny in the gym.

He loves coaching kids. He loves basketball, loves the game. I think what he found out when he came back to coach middle school, besides the kids, he loved finding out a way to have an influence on young men. And pushing them in the direction he was able go. His circumstances growing up were less than fortunate—he had a difficult family life. He overcame that through basketball, through involvement with people who took an interest in him. I think he wants to do that for the next generation.

It is exciting to me to see that we have a Memphis guy, somebody who cares about the community, who cares about kids and can put all that together as the head coach to help the community, to help the program.”

A N D R E T U R N E R (1 982 -1 986 ) :

“He’ll bring the excitement. As he said, losing is not an option to him. A key for him is having a staff that has his vision in mind that is ready to work, that has the same competitive spirit that he has.”

DW I G H T B OY D (1 98 4 -1 98 8 ) :

“People love a hometown guy doing well.

For him, he is going to provide that piece that we so vitally need.”

T R E Y D R A P E R ( 2 0 1 0 -2 0 1 4 ) :

"We have one of our own. He’s going to bring excitement. He is a hometown kid who wanted to come home and save the program. The excitement is back. He will be a great look for the program.”

to coaching these guys and bringing in some really good talent that the City of Memphis will see on a nightly basis.

“I want to see the Memphis flags waving on the cars. I want to see the T-shirts, the hats going again like the old school days.

“As a coach, my style is to get after it, to play hard-nosed basketball: running, jumping and pressing. And winning basketball games. Losing is not an option in my mind,” he concludes.

E L L I OT P E R RY (1 987-1 99 1 ) :

"I think he is going to bring stability. He’s going to bring excitement, obviously.

Ultimately, he is going to bring players. I think he is going to bring a resurgence of pride back. As a player, he had incredible instincts, a great understanding of the game and a great work ethic. You mesh that with talent and this guy was a first-team AllAmerican, first-team All-NBA. NBA All-Star, consistent all star. He was one of the top players in our game at that time.”

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CHARTING A NEW

Career Services deepens its reach by placing specialists in the colleges, helping students prepare for the real world early on in their college journeys.

BY GABRIELLE MAXEY

London-born Gabrielle Paul was unsure about her career path, but she knew she wanted to return to the United Kingdom. Enter Marta Lopez-Flohr, career specialist in the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management.

They worked closely to polish up Paul’s resume, and she was chosen to go on a three-day excursion to get a “First Look” at jobs at the Atlanta office of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

“My trip to the IHG office was an amazing networking and learning opportunity,” recalls Paul (BA ’17). “I worked out which areas I'd like to work in, and other areas I'd like to avoid. I left the trip with a book of contacts and coaching advice from people within the industry to start my career. I had actually applied for a position within IHG two days prior to the trip, and soon received an interview invitation. Marta coached me on my interviewing techniques, email etiquette, and helped shine me up for the interviewing process.”

The result? She landed a job at IHG international headquarters in London.

The career development coaching and trip to Atlanta are just a couple of examples of the resources offered by the University’s Career Services office, which began a significant redesign in 2017.

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CHARTING A NEW

CAREER PATH

Career specialists like Shawn Carter offer students advice in everything from resume writing, interviewing skills and professional etiquette to professional branding to prepare them for real-world opportunities.

Career Services has embedded a team of four (eventually the number will be six) career specialists within the colleges, or “talent communities.”

“The University has been more proactive in how it goes about preparing students for the workforce,” says Dr. Darrell C. Ray, vice president for Student Affairs. “The question is how do we make our students more competitive? So many of our students are going to remain within the Mid-South area. Many companies will be importing significant numbers of their talent to fill positions. We want to make sure that our students are at the top of that list and are competitively prepared for the interview process and being selected.”

The talent communities are: Fine Arts, Design and Architecture; Education, Child Development and PE Teacher Education; Nursing, Health Science and Health Services; Hospitality and Sport Management; Social Sciences, Organizational Leadership and Legal Studies; Engineering and Natural Sciences; and Communication and Humanities.

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“The Career Services specialists are physically there,” Ray says. “They’re able to work with faculty members, they’re able to work with students earlier so they can have those conversations and make sure the student is in the right major so they will perform better academically, and that they are aware of the resources and ways they can be supported in terms of finding careers in their major.

“Under the previous Career Services model, staffing was fairly compact.

They did outreach throughout the year but there weren’t enough people to do a deeper touch, and it just was not on students’ minds earlier.

Often times, especially with first-generation students, the focus can be on completion. We tell students that if they get a degree their life will change, but the reality is, if you get the right job your life will change.”

Many Memphis students work part-time or even full-time jobs while pursuing their degrees, says Lopez-Flohr. “Decentralizing has placed us in the same building where they take classes. They have a friendly face to go to, and it’s the same face the instructors introduce. That’s a key part

The goal is to keep students engaged through the program, help them with anything from their resume to LinkedIn, to interviewing, connecting them to other resources they need, just being that go-to person.

of the redesign, the collaboration with the faculty and staff, and them embracing the program.

Instructors introduce me in their classes, and now students know who to see for career advising.”

Gone are the days when a job candidate could get by with a good GPA and a decent interview.

Now the interview process may involve multiple interviews, projects and presentations.

The career specialists offer guidance in everything from resume writing, interviewing skills and etiquette to professional branding. Lopez-Flohr is able to customize workshops with the support of faculty and staff. KWS students now take the Welcome to Memphis (a subsidiary of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau) Insiders Pass training, which focuses on enhancing the Memphis guest experience.

“Our hospitality students can now share that they have this unique training, and they are more PHOTOS BY TREY CLARK

marketable to the local hospitality job market,” she says.

out of them what they can do. We work on interviewing techniques, teaching them how to talk about their experiences in a technical way versus using layman’s language, like being able to use the software tools that they have.”

“The best outcomes happen when I get to partner with an instructor.

I work with a professor, look at the syllabus, and we decide where I can tie in career development.

It’s great when a professor is able to surrender a bit of their instructional time so we can focus on career development.”

Meeks recalls one student who sent out more than 100 resumes without much response. As soon as they reviewed his resume and added his skill set, the interviews started to happen, and he soon found a job.

Career specialist Jada Meeks advises some 3,000 students in 12 STEM majors (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) across the Herff College of Engineering and College of Arts & Sciences. She offers programming specifically tailored to STEM majors, interacts with STEM employers and creates workshops for students.

“We work on resume techniques, how to do an effective STEM resume,” Meeks says. “STEM majors have particular skill sets that we need to highlight and articulate. One of my jobs is to pull

It’s important to reach students early, Meeks says.

Changes in Career Services will ensure that UofM students are competitively prepared for the interview process as well as for life in the real world, according to Dr. Darrell C. Ray, vice president for Student Affairs.

“We need them to start their freshman year. Companies are looking for them to have internships and experiences in their major before they graduate— two or three, not just one. They need to know companies will take sophomores to intern. They can do those experiences and still come back and do coursework.

Companies are looking for well-rounded students, not just

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academics. They want experiences, and they want rich experiences. They want them to care about their communities—community engagement, volunteering, caring about what happens to other people, being able to work on the team.”

Meeks visits STEM employers to gauge what they are looking for in potential hires. Drexel Co. hired a student as an intern. Executives from Valero, Wells Fargo, Medtronics, Nike IT Support, AEL Labs, Jacob Tubing and the Tennessee Department of Transportation have done mock interviews. “They want UofM students to be ready,” says Meeks.

Supporting the Career Services redesign efforts was the establishment of the Memphis Career Preparation Academy (MCPA) aimed at firstgeneration freshmen, freshmen with financial need and transfer students. The MCPA, created through a two-year Institutional Outcome Improvement Fund Grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, was launched last fall.

“The focus is to get students involved in career planning from the moment they step on campus,” says Laura Wichman, MCPA coordinator. “They’re freshmen, so it seems like a long way off. We want them to gain the skills and experiences they need right away. We connect them to resources on campus and then help them do a lot of self-exploration that first semester—thinking about their interests, their values, skills, abilities, personal goals. After evaluating that, we do actual career research in helping them choose a major they like.”

The MCPA is set up for 150 students but currently has 65. There are three parts of the program: monthly meet-ups to discuss topics like exploring interests, careers or majors; special activities or events, such as job shadowing for sustainability careers with Tiger Talent Goes Green; and leadership opportunities, maybe participating in Service on Saturday or attending a leader-to-leader lecture. The meet-ups and activities could bring in an employer to talk about what experiences they look for in interns or new hires, 38

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or an upperclassman who could help create a professional LinkedIn profile.

“We also give them Career Preparation Champions who are matched up with students and kind of act as mentors,” Wichman says.

“The goal is to keep students engaged through the program, help them with anything from their resume to LinkedIn, to interviewing, connecting them to other The focus is to get resources they need, just being that go-to person.” students involved The aim is to have them declare a major by the end of their freshman year, she says. “Our ultimate goal is to retain students to graduation and make them more marketable. Hopefully their time in the program will give them the skills and experiences they need to help them figure out what they want to do.”

in career planning from the moment they step on campus.

When career specialists hear their students land a dream job like Gabrielle Paul’s, they know their work makes a difference. “She had to write a blog and do a video, and that was all to make it to the second round,” says LopezFlohr. “It was definitely a case of preparation meeting opportunity. We couldn’t have planned this. I wish I had a success story like this for every student.”

KWS and the College of Arts & Sciences were the first areas to take advantage of the Career Services redesign.

“It’s been immensely successful for us,” says Dr. Radesh Palakurthi, KWS dean. “I have looked at the numbers in the graduating senior survey from last December, and the Kemmons Wilson School has the highest satisfaction rate with career development-type items—questions like did you have mock interviews, career services, internships.

Needless to say, we’re sold on it.”

CHARTING A NEW

CAREER PATH Carter and other career specialists seek to help students identify their career paths early on in college.

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TAKING IT TO THE BANKS Iconic director’s first film in a decade gives students an early intro to the craft of movie making.

by GABRIELLE MAXEY

“Even getting someone water, which I had to do a lot, made a difference,” says intern Jenalle Saulsberry.

“Set etiquette was by far the most important thing I learned.”

I

IT STARTED WITH AN EMAIL THAT ARRIVED OVER THE SUMMER. After a self-imposed 10-year hiatus from

mainstream moviemaking, Tom Shadyac was returning to directing, shooting a film in his adopted hometown of Memphis. He was looking for 30 students from the UofM and LeMoyne-Owen College to serve as interns, or “apprentices,” on the set 40

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of his latest project, Brian Banks. From

sign. Because I had zero experience before

pre-production to wrap, he was offering

this, I thought it would be a great way to

them hands-on experience with a major

test the waters before committing to the

filmmaker, to bolster a cast and crew of

profession. I gained so much from this.”

local and out-of-town professionals.

Shadyac, artist-in-residence at the UofM, is For Jenalle Saulsberry, a sophomore film

known for directing blockbuster comedies

major, it was perfect timing. “I thought it

that have earned nearly $2 billion at

was a weird coincidence because a few

the worldwide box office, including Ace

weeks prior I had just changed my major

Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor

to film, and this (the email) seemed like a

and Bruce Almighty. Brian Banks takes a more serious tone, telling a story of

racial injustice. Based on a true story, it follows the life of Brian Banks, a high school football star who spent five years in prison for rape, but achieved his dream of playing in the NFL after his conviction was overturned in 2012 when his accuser retracted her story. Banks is played by Aldis Hodge of Straight Outta Compton and Hidden Figures. Greg Kinnear, who earned an Oscar nomination for As Good as It Gets, plays a defense lawyer fighting for Banks’ innocence.

The interns were not given assigned jobs on the set.

“You would either ask to be involved or be recruited to help,” says Saulsberry. “I started off helping with the camera department, then started shadowing Mr. Shadyac, and eventually settled down into the sound department. I would help the audio department set up equipment and tools whenever they needed it.”

Saulsberry worked full days on the set, “from whatever time my class ended around noon until the movie wrapped, which would sometimes be after midnight,” she recalls. “I always tried to stay the entire time to get the full experience.”

Nathan Boston, a Communication major with a focus on film and production, had an assortment of different jobs throughout Brian Banks. When he first started the internship, he worked in the casting office, where he would look for actors to play, say, a teenager getting high or a 6-foot tall police officer.

“I was filling out and filing paperwork, recording auditions and hiring background actors. I worked with some good people and had a great experience,” says Boston. “I also went to set and acted in the movie as a background actor in a gym scene. After that, the editorial group moved into the office.

I immediately moved to that office and started working with them. By sitting in and watching the editors at work, I learned a lot about the software that they were using.”

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Intern Bailey Inman has also written blogs, screenplays, a short film and a book.

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BOSTON USUALLY PUT IN 20 TO 30 HOURS A WEEK ON THE FILM. “I saw it as a great

B

opportunity to network with people

in the industry. My experience on the film was incredible. I was able to find a solid direction for myself through this internship. I feel that the editing department is where I’m meant to be.

I gained a lot of valuable skills from working on the film. The one I’m most thankful for is a good knowledge of how to use Avid (the industry standard editing software). I purchased the software on my computer and followed along as best I could with the editors (editing one of my own videos), and they helped me with any questions I had.”

He did find time to get a little star struck.

“It was really cool. I was able to meet Aldis Hodge, the real Brian Banks and the real Justin (the lawyer),” Boston recalls. “But my favorite experience was meeting Melanie Liburd. She was a priest on Game of Thrones, which is my favorite TV show. She told me how it was working overseas and about all the extravagant buildings.”

Bailey Inman, a senior Communication major with a concentration in film and video, officially was an intern with Shadyac’s production company, Mountain Top Media. “Because Tom’s a cool guy, he called us ‘apprentices,’ but I was there to shadow the production and watch the cast and crew work and try to stay out of the way,” Inman says. “Occasionally, I was recruited as a production assistant.”

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During the 40 shooting days, she spent

to so many other opportunities I’m now

two to three days a week on the set for

thinking that will give me a head-start in the

five to six hours a day, not counting

industry after I graduate in May. I didn’t feel

weekly meetings.

like I contributed nearly as much as I could have, because I didn’t know what exactly I had to contribute. I firmly believe this project had more of an investment in me than I had in it, and for that I’m grateful.”

”I THINK IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO MY FUTURE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. ” BAILEY INMAN

The project solidifies Shadyac’s commitment to Memphis. He has taught the course “Storytelling and Life” at the UofM since 2013. He has bought a home in the city, invested in the Soulsville neighborhood near the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and is contributing millions of dollars to initiatives like youth centers and recreation centers.

Inman plans to move to Los Angeles in June. Boston may have found his niche in the editing room. “There are three different times the story can change in a movie: when it is written, when it is being shot and in the editing room,” Boston says. ”I like the fact that you have to be creative and try to pull a story out of the footage that is handed to you. I also like the fact that I’d be in an office 9 to 5.”

Nathan Boston may have found his niche in the editing room after serving as an intern on the movie.

“I loved it, and in hindsight, I wished I

Shadyac was pulled back into mainstream

would have appreciated it more at the

moviemaking by Banks’ moving story.

time. It was a very humbling experience to be invited into these meetings and

“Living and teaching in Memphis for the

production shoots, totally unmerited

past four years has given me an intimate

and undeserved, just there to watch and

look at the injustice people of color face

figure out what to expect in the future,”

every day,” he say. “Brian’s inspiring story is

says Inman, who has written blogs,

not only emblematic of that injustice, but

screenplays, a short film and published a

a clarion call against a judicial system in

book. “I think it was absolutely crucial to

urgent need of reform. It’s a story I had

my future in the film industry. It also led

to tell.”

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WAY OF THE

WARRIOR UofM alumna Carrie Bernans helps blockbuster movie take Hollywood by storm.

by Greg Russell

TO MANY INNER-CITY SCHOOL KIDS IN MEMPHIS, CARRIE BERNANS IS ALREADY A SUPERHERO. She’s been pushed backwards off a tall building by a bully, coming away unscathed. As part of the box-office crushing Black Panther, she’s protected an entire kingdom with moves that martial arts experts would score a Perfect 10. But most important of all, she’s taken time off from a busy schedule to spend quality time with them to act as both mentor and guide.

“I grew up on the East Coast, and my family was really poor,” says the University of Memphis graduate, fresh off of her performance in Black Panther. “I grew up in a singleparent home to a teenage mother. We didn’t have much, and I remember feeling like I couldn’t be anything big in life, just because of the circumstances.

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“When I was 12, we were so broke we didn’t have anything.

We didn’t have wearable shoes all the time. Churches would give us clothes and let us go to Goodwill and pick things out for free. One of the things that helped me was hearing adults speak about how they were able to get ahead in life and how they stay motivated.”

So given the chance, Bernans pounced at the chance to talk to area school kids, flying in from Los Angeles where she has become a self-made actress with a combination of stunt skills, martial arts, choreography and elegant dance moves.

IMDB.com calls the 2014 BBA recipient “one of the most versatile actors of her day and age in Hollywood.”

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i

“I wanted to come back and show kids in Memphis that if I can make it, you can make it, too,” she says on a phone interview from Hollywood. “When I did volunteerism in Memphis, the kids were so uninspired. I felt like a lot of them were dejected because of the neighborhoods they came from and the streets they grew up on and not knowing who their mom was or their dad was.

“If I can make it, you can make it too. That was my message.”

Bernans, known as Carrie Conner during her time at Memphis where she starred on the UofM cross country team, says growing up, she didn’t have role models, especially any from Hollywood.

“I remember being a young girl and remember watching TV and wondering, ‘Where are the black people, the black girls?’ We weren’t shown a lot on TV. We weren’t on every show or network, especially not doing something really good. I’d see them get arrested for having drugs or something like that.”

Black Panther has been praised for “nailing the black superhero.”

“With Black Panther, we have this new world that exists that little black boys and girls can look up to, and they can look up to someone who looks like them, and they don’t have to be a slave in the movie or be a drug dealer in the movie,” Bernans says. “They can be a king, a queen, a warrior. That was huge for me.”

A joint venture of Marvel and Disney World, Black Panther has brought in more than

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$1.28 billion as of early April, making it the third highest grossing movie of all time. The Memphis box office has been the largest grossing box office in the United States.

Acting has always been a passion of mine, she notes, but business was a passion, too.

The sci-fi action flick—based on Marvel’s first black superhero—tells the story of T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman), who returns home to the fictitious African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king.

When a powerful foe suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s role as king—and as Black Panther— gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of the Kingdom of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger at every turn, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.

Bernans plays one of 11 female warriors who are credited with ultimately helping save the Kingdom of Wakanda.

“We were the ones to protect Wakanda. We commit our loyalty to the king that rules that country. We’re the fiercer warriors that come along after someone else tried to defend. We don’t do anything unless it is the last resort.

We come and attack. We don’t play around.”

LA WOMAN Bernans is appropriately driving through the streets of Hollywood on her way to another movie audition when she describes her circuitous path to a role that she should reprise with Black Panther II. “Acting has always been a passion of mine,” she notes, “but business was a passion, too. Although I grew up most of my life wanting to do acting and dancing, I was exposed to business in a camp. After I graduated from Memphis, I was involved in a startup, but after my co-founder moved back to India, I went to work for Kimberly-Clark in Wisconsin over their Canadian region doing sales and marketing.”

She soon felt she had outgrown that role and landed in Cleveland, working for the NBA’s Cavaliers.

“During that time, working on the business side, I was still passionate about the arts. I was writing all the time, volunteering at the performing arts center. I just never let it go. I was putting in 60 hours a week with the Cavaliers— it was non-stop crazy, but fun. But I thought, ‘If I put in this same amount of time and energy into my dream of acting, then I would have a bigger chance at succeeding at it.’

“I saved up enough money to put down three months rent on a house out in California. I told my husband, who had to trust me and believe in me. He said, ‘What? We’ve already moved from Memphis to Wisconsin to Cleveland, now to LA?’ “But I believe you have to explore the limits of life. You have to be happy doing something you are passionate about, so we moved out here. I just started grinding, hustling. Some acting jobs paid me $50 the entire day. Some paid me $5,000 a day. One job for a show paid me $15,000 and it only ran three weeks online. And I was only on it for a few seconds.

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“I wasn’t a famous person but people were willing to believe in me. I began getting auditions.

Then all of a sudden, the second six months in LA, I started really training hard on the action side of it because I knew I wanted to do action movies.

“So I started to get more opportunities by doing stunt stuff. I got my first opportunity for a stunt role at $900—the opportunity to make money and sustain yourself in the industry is a lot faster when you take on a stunt role.”

Bernans says she trained hard— constantly in the gym perfecting her martial arts skills—and started getting noticed because of her hard training ethic.

“Chris Naylor, a stunt coordinator, gave me an opportunity to do a stunt on a show on Netflix called Luke Cage. Then I got a call about Black Panther a week or two later.

I heard they were auditioning

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girls. But they didn’t audition me, they just said, ‘You got it.’

The producer wanted someone who did acting and stunts so they brought me on, and whoever referred my name, unsure who, it was a big referral—that gave me a chance. They flew me out to Atlanta and put me in a hotel for the role.”

She did have one small roadblock along the way—was she willing to part with something that was so dear to her?

“The biggest thing was, was I willing to shave my head for the role? I did have a problem that perplexed me. I was so excited about Black Panther, but at the same time I was like, ‘Shave my head? Can you give me three hours to think about it?’ I had great mentors who said, ‘Your hair will grow back.’ Thankfully I called them back and said, ‘Yes, I wanna do it!’ and once I said yes, everything else was greenlit.”

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Bernans has always been athletic, even with a 5-6, 105-pound physique that might be more befitting a racehorse jockey.

“I liked James Bond movies—all things James Bond—growing up. I was already doing kickboxing and running throughout college for the Memphis track team. I had some sense of choreography, and I used to dance as well. Getting into the stunt world, the choreography, dancing and kickboxing is important. I took some stunt classes and trained with stunt people, and they got to know me.”

She says her size has actually been a perk among Hollywood directors.

“I am really smaller so I can double children, I can double adults. In addition to that, the industry is moving in a way they want stunt people to also be an actress so sometimes you can book a whole series off of that

because of the athletic ability, and the ability to be an action type of actor.”

But what about the danger—stunt actors tumble down mountains, fly off speeding cars and run out of burning buildings.

“Definitely dangerous, but they see safety as a priority. That is one thing we focus on: safety, no matter what. You have to train and prepare yourself for falls. If you are going to do a fall without a wire, you have to practice that a good 20 to 50 times before, because you don’t want to make a mistake because you could die.

Stunt coordinators, they know the people who train in this industry.

If they don’t see you training in the gym, they don’t want you on their set because they don’t want an accident.”

BLACK PANTHER—AND BERNANS—ROAR ONTO THE SCENE In Black Panther, Bernans is a member of the Dora Milaje, who are the personal bodyguards of the Black Panther. In addition to their protective roles, they are also from a pool of superior Wakandan women.

“Most of the Dora Milaje trained about four months, eight to 12 hours a day. I trained two to three weeks for about eight to 12 hours a day, then went straight to the set. I had to do a type of Warrior Book for Dummies-type thing to learn how to hold spears and how to work with the bow stock and other weapons that we used.

“We did film some lines, had a lot more scenes and roles but none of that made it to the final cut. The movie, they edited it down from 5.5 hours—they had to get it to two hours plus. Some of my stuff got cut. When we film the sequel, I can have a bigger role, they can make my character whatever they want.”

Bernans says her day during the production would begin about 5 a.m.

“They would have to shave our head first because overnight you have a few stubbles grow up on your bald head so they had to make sure there was no hair whatsoever— that took between 15-30 minutes. We’d then go into makeup where they would put the tattoo on our faces first. That took 15-20 minutes to dry. After they did that, we would do probably two hours in makeup and getting into costume. Then they would drive us about an hour outside of Atlanta where it was filmed.”

Bernans says she was on set for about a month and a half including rehearsal and actual filming.

ACT II

SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE ENERGETIC BERNANS?

As mentioned, she is on her way to see a casting director during this interview, something that has almost become a daily routine for her in Hollywood. She says staying in touch with directors and producers is the biggest thing in the industry.

“I am auditioning every day. In the past two weeks I have auditioned

for some new pilots. Something is going to break, something is going to happen. I feel like I am on the brink of major success.”

As far as her hair?

“It has grown back full force,” she says with a laugh.

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Just super!

Jake Elliott finished his Memphis kicking career as the all-time points leader for the Tigers. He’s already making a splash in his short NFL career.

BY GREG RUSSELL

When former University of Memphis kicker Jake Elliott nailed a 46-yard field goal with 1:05 left on the biggest stage in football, it was a kick that essentially cinched the game and the first Super Bowl in history for the Philadelphia Eagles, a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots.

Had it not been for Elliott’s “rule of 60 seconds,” it might not have ever happened.

Early on in what some consider the most exciting Super Bowl in NFL history, Elliott had missed an extra point after the Eagles had taken a 9-3 lead at the 2:41 mark of the first quarter. Not good, eh? for the nerves of a rookie kicker who wasn’t even supposed to be on the Eagles’ roster at the beginning of the season?

“Obviously it was disappointing, but I approach every kick the same way—whether I make it or miss it,” says Elliott, two months removed from the thriller. “I have this one-minute rule that I have developed. If I make a kick, I have exactly one minute to enjoy it but then move on and that kick doesn’t matter anymore. I think the same way after a miss—I have one minute to think about it, think about a correction and move on, and then that kick doesn’t matter anymore.

“That is why I have had a lot of success in college and my first year in the NFL—it is my ability to bounce back really quickly.”

Elliott had put the Eagles—extreme underdogs to the Patriots— ahead 3-0 midway through the first quarter with a 25-yard kick.

After another former UofM kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, had knotted the score at 3-3, the Eagles got the upper-hand on a 34-yard pass play from Nick Foles to Alshon Jeffery, but then came that unfortunate extra point miss by Elliott.

“There are no guarantees in this league—especially at the kicking position,” Elliott points out when discussing missed opportunities. “You can be the hero one day, and the goat the next. That is the life of a kicker. You have to earn your way every day you are out there.”

But Elliott would bounce back, and in a big way. He finished the game perfect on each of his subsequent tries: two extra

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points; a 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 32-26 Eagles’ cushion; and then that clincher, the 46-yarder late in the game for a 41-33 lead with little time on the scoreboard.

“When the clock hit zero there at the end, it was truly an unbelievable feeling,” Elliott declares. “I specifically remember there were nine seconds left on the clock right before the last play started. I was thinking to myself, ‘They have two plays until this thing is over, and that is going to be it.’ But it only took one long play, and I looked up at the clock and saw zero, and it was a total disbelief for me. My heart dropped—I didn’t know what to do. My head was going crazy.

I don’t think I could move for about a second or two. Then

Elliott is the all-time points leader for the UofM football team.

Elliott’s 46-yard field goal was the clincher for the Eagles in their Super Bowl win over New England.

Gostkowski, the all-time points leader for the Patriots, already has two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and is regarded as one of the NFL’s all-time great kickers. He is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history and holds the league’s record for most consecutive extra points (479 in the regular season). everyone started celebrating. It is a great moment to celebrate with all those guys you’ve worked so hard with all year long.”

Elliott says that the always classy Gostkowski, who finished with a couple of field goals of his own, “reached out to me after the game and congratulated me, and we talked briefly about getting together this off-season.

“There are no hurt feelings but obviously he wants that win and so do I. That is the ultimate goal.

I am sure he is not that happy for me,” Elliott says with a laugh. “It is a friendly relationship though, and he has been a great guy and mentor throughout my career.

“Chalk one up for the young guy,” says Elliott of the friendly competition.

Elliott’s route to the Super Bowl was rather fortuitous to begin with. He was drafted in the fifth round in 2017 by Cincinnati but landed on the practice squad after being beaten out for the job by veteran Randy Bullock. Down but not out, fortunes soon turned Elliott’s way.

“About a week later after Week 1 of the season, the Eagles’ kicker got hurt so they were looking for someone to fill the spot,” Elliott recalls. “They brought a couple of guys out, but ultimately they called me up and asked me to come take the job.”

Lucky call for the Eagles.

In a nip-and-tuck affair with the New York Giants in just Elliott’s second game, Philadelphia needed a franchise record 61-

yard field goal with the clock running out to swipe a win. A bit out of reach for a rookie kicker in only his second pro game, most experts would probably agree—unless you know Jake.

“He’ll become an instant hero in Philadelphia, Jake Elliott,” said Fox announcer Joe Buck just before the kick. And then Elliott did just that—nail it, just as he had done with so many clutch kicks while at Memphis (remember the 54-yarder in the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl against Brigham Young that sent the game into double overtime, the kick with so much steam that it still could be sailing into the Florida sunset?). The 61-yarder would also be the longest field goal in NFL history by a rookie kicker.

“It was unbelievable, a moment that you really can’t prepare for and you can’t really envision happening before it actually happens. When it does, it is all a blur. That sort of kick-started my career there,” Elliott says, no pun intended.

The kick solidified Elliott’s role as the Eagles’ kicker the rest of the season and he is on contract for next year as well. He finished the year making 26 of 31 field goals, an 83.9 percent success clip.

Why the great tradition of kickers at Memphis (Joe Allison was the first Lou Groza Award recipient in 1992)?

“It has always been a niche for us, always having good kickers, good specialists—I don’t know what the secret is,” Elliott says.

“Having guys around that have been through it and having successful guys to chase after to talk to and have mentors going through your college days is helpful.

“Memphis had a huge part in all of this—the last four years of my life before this year were really special and made me the competitor I am today, made me the person I am today,” Elliott says. “Memphis will always be like a second home to me.

I can’t wait to get back and celebrate with all those guys as well.”

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Young entrepreneur Stefen White has his sights set on improving educational technologies.

The abcs of

Entrepreneurships

Boosted by the UOFM's Crews Center for Entrepreneurship, graduate student Stefen White aims to improve educational technologies through an innovative platform designed to solve problems at the K-12 level.

S

tefen White enrolled in graduate school at the University of Memphis hoping to find a place where he could combine his passion for business, education and technology. Two years later, as he prepares to earn his master’s degree, White is channeling his trio of interests into innovative ideas that could transform educational technology and pave the way for budding student entrepreneurs.

A native of Knoxville, White came to the University after earning a business degree from Rust College in nearby Holly Springs, Miss.

White, whose grandfather was an educator, was a teacher’s assistant at Rust, where his plans began to take shape.

“I was in an investing club as an undergraduate, and I knew that I wanted to combine education and investing because I love both,” White says. “After you identify your passions, you can identify the skills and abilities you need to make those things happen.”

White, who is finishing up his master’s degree in instruction and curriculum leadership in the UofM’s College of Education, found an enhanced appreciation for his third passion—technology—through his studies and collaborations with the University’s Institute of Intelligence Systems in the FedEx Institute of Technology and the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship.

White has teamed with two other UofM post-graduate students to found Allinwon, a start-up company that is developing an adaptive-learning software for students in elementary through

By Mike O'Kelly

high school. The idea is to use artificial intelligence, a learning management system and other technologies to deliver curriculum tailored to each student so that they can learn at their own pace.

AN EDUCATIONAL NEED Allinwon seeks to address some of the issues the educational system faces today, such as large classroom sizes, student engagement, content retention and parental involvement.

“Many times there are too many students per teacher in classrooms, and they are often required to learn at the same pace as their classmates because of the traditional public school system, which has led to a global epidemic of lifetime failure,” White says.

“As a result, the idea is that we must provide personalized learning solutions. We want to provide software that is going to help students learn and make it easier for teachers to teach.”

The software would be available via desktop or mobile, and would incorporate technologies to ensure customized learning in all

subjects for all grade levels.

White’s team is conducting a variety of detailed research to layer into the software, which will be delivered in the form of a video game—a familiar format for today’s generations and potentially future learners.

“There is a strategy to the overall software development and then a strategy to how it all should work,” White says. “We’re focusing on the user experience as well as the user interface, and the research helps guide us as we bring both into the spectrum together.”

One key component of the software will be an assessment for parents, which will be structured to align with their child’s rate of learning.

“We are looking for ways to get parents involved,” White says.

“Parents can simultaneously engage in a very similar learning experience as their students.”

Teachers will also be able to incorporate the software into their lesson planning using content creation tools to create learning materials and strategies for students.

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TECH SAVVY White is chief executive officer of Allinwon.

His co-founders include chief technology officer Cadarrius McGlown—a master’s student in computer science—and chief information officer Keith Shubeck—a doctorate student in cognitive psychology. The team brings a knowledge of intelligent tutoring systems and learning in virtual worlds.

Using technology licensed through the University, the team builds levels of sophistication into the software—creating a unique experience for each user, one that White compares to a saved point in a video game. No matter how many times different users play the same video game, no two games will transpire in the same manner.

“We wanted to create as much of a real-world experience as possible so that the student in third grade who is interested in art or the eighth-grader interested in math can utilize the same game and then go to school and develop their passions and abilities in a structured way,” White says.

White hopes these real-world experiences don’t just apply to mandatory school subjects but also fuel the individual interests of students. In addition, Allinwon has developed a social responsibility initiative to help establish financial literacy as a mandatory subject for kindergarten through 12th-grade students.

“Financial literacy can be infused into subjects such as the social sciences or it can be introduced as its own subject,” White says.

“What we hope to do is increase the rate at which each student learns their mandatory curriculum, so they can better engage with a personal curriculum at a higher level.”

BUILDING THE BUSINESS Much of the thought and work put into Allinwon occurs at the UofM’s Crews Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center provides a collaborative environment for like-minded student and faculty entrepreneurs to turn their business ideas and products into actual companies. The Crews Center helped former UofM student Sankaet Pathak launch startup SynapseFI, which was recently valued at more than $75 million. White, who serves

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as president of the Center’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, hopes to follow in Pathak’s footsteps.

"What we hope to do is increase the rate at which each student learns their mandatory curriculum, so they can better engage with a personal curriculum at a higher level" “Every entrepreneur needs the same thing,” White says. “We might need a little help figuring out what we want to do, but identifying what we want to do is actually much easier than obtaining the resources to make it happen.”

Having the proper resources and funding for a start-up company is vital, and is one of White’s favorite topics to discuss. White is a huge fan of the ABC-TV show Shark Tank, a reality show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas in entertaining ways to a group of potential investors.

In March 2017, a crew from the show hosted auditions for minority entrepreneurs at Hattiloo Theatre in Overton Square. White heard about the auditions late and made it to the theatre with minutes to spare as the last presenter of the day.

“I got the opportunity to pitch,” White says. “At the end, one of the guys from the show said, ‘I really liked your pitch, and you really carry yourself well.’ I didn’t hear back, but I figure at some point it would be a good opportunity to be on the show.”

PHOTOS BY TREY CLARK

Next next steps Steps If Shark Tank doesn’t work out, White and Allinwon have a solid back-up plan. Allinwon has been accepted to take part in a summer business accelerator program with Memphis-based Start Co. beginning in May. The program is funding selected tech-driven business ideas and includes training sessions, ideas for developing businesses and reporting sessions.

White credits a long list of mentors and colleagues at the UofM for helping to guide his pursuits. He says he may pursue additional studies after earning his master’s degree, but his main priority is to continue to find ways to make a difference in the ways students learn. The company could potentially develop partnerships with state and government agencies, public and private school systems, home school organizations, tutoring programs and other child-based organizations.

“The problem is that for too many students, engagement and retention are off,” White says. “We remain focused on student comprehension and student engagement—and this educational technology can help identify where students are going wrong in their curriculum and provide effective teaching strategies.”

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Beast There is a

A short story by Marisa Manuel

Holly was missing, and that was bad, because the scouts would need to find her. The mountain seemed endless. Dark was nearing.

The worst girls roared, and maybe some real lions were roaring, too.

But Troop Leader promised the lions were fake—the Girl Scouts would never go somewhere so dangerous. They’d find Holly, and they’d get home safe, because the scouts were sisters, sister-strong.

Aster, Holly’s actual sibling, checked behind trees, in the bushes, the tents. She wasn’t nervous, only remorseful; Holly had said this would happen, and so it had. Her twin had warned her not to come on the trip, that it would be dangerous, a trip meant for real scouts. And now? Holly was the one in danger. All because Aster hadn’t stayed home.

Troop Leader blew her whistle, and Aster lined up with the remaining girls. There were 10 of them in total, 11 if you counted Troop Leader. Twelve if you counted Holly, who even in absence, would certainly have insisted on being counted.

“Listen guys,” Troop Leader said.

“Buddy system. I want everyone to pair up right now.” She scanned from left to right, as if trying to size up who might know Holly’s location. “Holly’s fine. I’m sure she’s peeing, looking at flowers.”

A violent shrug. “I don’t know what she does. But I don’t want anymore of you girls wandering off. I swear, if someone else—” Before she could finish her sentence, one of the scouts threw back her head and roared. It started as a whisper, then grew louder, tumbled with stones, U N I V E RS I T Y O F M E M P H I S M AGA Z I N E |

Aster jumped, and Troop Leader glared, and the rest of the scouts started laughing.

“Quit that noise,” Troop Leader said. “I already told you, there are no lions here.”

The girl who’d roared—Tori Williams—glared right back. “Yeah, no Holly, either.”

At that, the few girls who’d continued laughing suddenly stopped. Holly’s absence became a physical sensation, running down Aster’s back.

“We’re going to find her, right?”

Aster asked, but Troop Leader was scolding Tori, and none of the other girls were listening. Aster shivered, but she wasn’t just scared: she was cold. As night neared, the mountain’s temperature dropped; the chances of finding a 13-year-old on the mountain dropped, too.

Holly was all alone. Without her sisters. Without their warmth.

Troop Leader was tall and scarecrow-limbed. Gaunt-faced.

She had straw-dry hair and skin covered in foundation, giving her a powdery glaze. The powder rose up to her eyebrows, her toohigh hairline. She was a teenager pushing 30.

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increased to thunder.

Earlier that week, Holly had been packing her backpack for the trip, still trying to convince Aster not to do the same. “What if we have to run?” she’d asked, as she threw in her sunscreen. “Are you really down for that?”

“I’m faster than you are,” Aster said. She meant it as a joke, and Holly must have taken it that way.

She’d thrown her not-yet-packed hairbrush at Aster’s head—a little too hard, but that was forgivable. It left a mark, small and red.

“Well, yeah, but only because running’s gross. Guess that’s why it’s your thing.” Holly smiled, continued packing. “And what if you get hungry?” she said, as she tossed in a plastic baggy of jerky.

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Holly didn’t eat jerky. She didn't eat meat.

“I’ll wait to eat like everyone else.”

“Are you sure you can do that?”

Holly asked. She pressed a finger to her nose, raised the tip. Aster didn’t respond; she couldn’t, because Holly was blonde and thin.

Aster was fat, oily-haired, and stretch-marked.

For several minutes, Holly continued to pack; continued to ask what Aster would do; continued to doubt her responses. “I’m going,” Aster finally said. “I’m going and you can’t stop me.”

Holly laughed. She zipped up her backpack. “This is an awful idea.”

“No it isn’t, I’m—” “Not good at scouting. This trip is for real scouts, not people like you.”

Holly walked closer, poked Aster’s side. “If you really want to go, there’s no talking you out of it. But, if you’re going, I’m gone.”

“Gone?”

Holly’s smile deepened. “Gone,” she’d repeated, and the word had been filled with more words, all translatable: I’m not staying there if you’re there.

“You spoil everything. You know that, right?”

someone. “Must stink for your sister, can’t help who she’s related to.”

“Guys,” Yolanda said, trying to step between them. But the gesture was half-hearted, quarter-hearted.

“Sorry, sorry,” Tori said. Her smile grew even sharper. “Was related to.

She’s probably dead by now, some lion’s—” “Cut it out, Tori,” Yolanda said, and this time, her voice snapped harder.

“She’s off picking flowers,” Aster said. “We’re going to find her, you heard, she’s safe.” Seeking those words again, Aster looked for Troop Leader. But Troop Leader was busy talking to a different girl. That girl seemed to be crying, likely scared of the lions. The roaring had stopped, but the fear remained.

“Oh, I don’t doubt we’ll find her in pieces.”

“Quit it, Tori,” Yolanda said.

“All I’m saying is, too bad she’s the one who went missing. Whale here would feed a lion much better.”

Aster’s face turned red. It started hot, and tears slid down. She took a step back. And then, she ran. She pumped her legs, went as fast as she could, trying to ignore the guilt, Holly’s words: What if we have to run?

Are you really down for that?

Yolanda, a tall girl with frizzy hair, was assigned as Aster’s buddy.

Yolanda pouted, crossed her arms; she couldn’t have looked more disappointed.

From behind her, she could hear Yolanda, though she couldn’t make out what she said. Tori’s voice was louder, far too loud: “You ever seen blubber run?”

“Can I be with Samantha?

Aster kept running. She had to leave. She couldn’t be near Tori, not near those words—because Tori was right. Holly had always been the pretty one.

“Or Gale instead?”

Troop Leader said no, and Yolanda snarled. Troop Leader moved onto the other girls, and once she was gone, Tori walked closer, pinched Aster’s arm.

“Congrats, Yolanda,” she said, as Aster winced. “You caught yourself a whale.”

At that, Aster’s cheeks drained. She slapped Tori’s hand. “I’m no whale, I’m—” “Even Holly says it.”

“No she doesn’t.”

Tori smirked. “Course she does.”

She smiled, sharp enough to cut

But Holly had never called her a whale.

Aster stopped running, leaned beside a tree. Through ragged breaths, she took a look at her surroundings. A couple of trees, each losing leaves.

The remaining leaves brown, and dry, and crinkling.

Between these trees, the ground formed a long line leading forward.

It was worn, covered in footprints.

Some seemed newer, not that large.

Aster lifted her foot—the size was the same.

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Before she could step forward, something snagged Aster’s arm.

She jumped, ready for teeth, prepared to fight or flee or scream. But there was no lion, only Yolanda.

fell, and fell.

Aster’s fear of lions made sense.

Holly’s fascination with them didn’t.

Yolanda was red-faced, too. “You can’t rush off like that!” she said.

She released Aster’s arm, tried catching her breath. “I’m your buddy and it’s on me if you get lost.

Troop Leader will—” She stopped mid-sentence. Her face softened.

“Are you ok?”

“Watch this one,” she’d often say, as she shoved her laptop beneath Aster’s nose, playing yet another video of lions hunting antelope, chasing zebras, grooming their young.

“Stop it,” Aster always responded, but Holly never stopped.

“Do you—”

At first, Aster thought Holly was simply taking another joke too far.

The lions scared Aster, so Holly showed her lions. But that day at the zoo, things were different.

Holly hadn’t been trying to scare her.

Yolanda raised a hand. She shook her head. “There’s no lions, the others are just messing. They thought it was funny when Holly started.”

They’d been 10, walking through the exhibits alone, passing by bears and beavers and birds. Then, they’d passed Holly’s favorite.

Aster’s least favorite.

“…Started missing?”

“Lions!” Holly had cried, as she ran forward, legs kicking behind her.

Aster touched her chest. She was shaking. “Do you really think there are lions here?”

“Do I—what?”

Yolanda twitched her nose, like a rabbit. “Missing? No, when she started the roaring.” Aster tensed, and Yolanda took a step back. “She joked there might be some, said your reaction would…” Her voice trailed off. She looked away.

Aster stared at Yolanda. She stared hard. That was just like Holly, to take a joke too far. But it was forgivable, especially now.

The enclosure was partially underground, and Holly stared down at the lazing lions. The exhibit was open to the public, but cut off by a railing, one which Holly gripped tightly between her fingers.

“Aren’t they awesome?” Holly asked, and to Aster’s surprise, she wasn’t saying it meanly. She wasn’t joking.

“We should probably head back,” Yolanda said, still not looking at Aster. There was an obvious sense of guilt in her expression, but Aster couldn’t understand why. Yolanda had never roared. Yolanda barely even spoke to her.

“Do you think I could—” She continued to lean.

Aster looked at the path, at the tiny footprints. “Not yet,” she said.

“We could find her. We have to, it’s almost dark.”

“Be careful,” Aster started to say, but Holly leaned even farther.

Towards the lions, dozens of feet down below.

“Find her? But Troop Leader said—”

Forward.

Aster shook her head. “There are shoe prints. We have to go this way.” Aster continued forward.

Holly climbed up onto the railing, leaned forward.

Farther still. And then, began to fall.

At first, Yolanda didn’t move. But guilt was a great motivator; soon, Aster heard the sound of footsteps behind her.

Aster reached forward, hand tight on her twin’s shirt. She yanked her sister, so hard, both girls tumbled back. They hit the concrete, and Aster’s arm scraped, and Holly cried out, “I wasn’t really—”

From the campsite, a girl kept roaring. Aster shivered.

Later, it became, “I just wanted to see the cubs.”

The mountain’s temperature

And finally, when Aster told their

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parents what Holly had tried, and Holly was crying, locked up in her room, Aster heard her sister from the other side: “You spoil everything, you know that, right?”

Aster wasn’t sure how long they kept walking. Time moved differently in silence. As if thinking the same thing, Yolanda spoke: “If Tori went missing, would you look for her?”

Aster nearly tripped. She shook her head. “I’d thank the lion that ate her.”

“Then why are you looking for Holly?” Yolanda asked. She sounded sincerely unsure. No judgment or disgust in the question.

“Holly’s not like Tori. Holly’s my sister.”

“So’s Tori.”

“Not the same thing,” Aster replied.

“Ok, but if Tori actually was your sister, would you go looking?

What’s the difference?”

Aster turned around. She pointed her flashlight at Yolanda’s face.

“Why are you asking this? You know it’s weird, right?”

“Weird?” Yolanda waved at the light in her eyes; Aster lowered her flashlight. “What’s weird is us walking through the mountain alone. What’s weird is that your sister walks off and you somehow feel bad about that.” Yolanda scowled, looked to the side. “Sorry, but your sister’s a jerk.”

Aster opened her mouth, prepared to defend Holly, to tell Yolanda all the ways in which she was wrong.

But then, she truly saw Yolanda, face still turned away.

Yolanda’s frizzy hair earned her no friends.

Abruptly, the wind rustled. A shuffling noise. “What was that?”

Aster asked, waving her flashlight.

“I don’t know.”

“Was it—” In the distance, Aster saw something pink, something that didn’t look right on a mountain; cautiously, she walked forward, then reached down. It was a backpack—Holly’s color, Aster always got purple—covered in dirt,

scraped up. Like it had fallen off her, ripped by a tree. Or been torn from her. By claws. Teeth. The plastic bag of jerky peeked out.

Uneaten.

Their parents didn’t know about the first zoo trip. The time before Holly had leaned too far.

This first time, when it was almost Aster.

“You said there weren’t any lions,” Aster whispered.

“Can you see them?” Holly asked.

Yolanda’s face went white. “There aren’t.”

Aster stared at the backpack. She shined the flashlight forward. Not far away, the path seemed to grow thinner, darker. She took a few steps closer. Yolanda followed, and soon, both girls could see the ledge before them. It blended into the darkness, almost invisible.

Aster had been on the railing.

Unafraid. Having no reason yet to fear lions. Loving them, longing, one of them.

And then, she ran—faster, harder, wheezing. Eyes so red, trailing beneath the cold.

From behind her, she could still hear the lion crying out, roaring.

But she refused to stop, refused to look back. Because if she did, she would see the truth of it. If she did, she’d belong to the lioness.

She gripped the railing tightly, stared straight down. Holly

If there’s a lion, if it has my sister— “She wouldn’t go down there for you,” Yolanda said, and for a moment, Aster paused. She was about to argue, or at least attempt it, but that’s when she heard it: a creature, roaring.

The roar wasn’t really a roar, not how Aster remembered from those videos. It was quieter, somehow sadder, with anything scary chipped away. And yet, both girls froze. The goosebumps returned, and now, they spread.

“I’m going back.

I’m getting Troop Leader,” Yolanda said. She grabbed Aster’s arm, but Aster yanked free. Yolanda stepped backwards, then another step.

Another step, before she was gone.

Aster continued to stare over the ledge. The roaring grew louder. Her body was ice. She couldn’t move forward, couldn’t move back.

What if you have to run?

She tried to imagine Holly as the one standing here. Holly leaning down, crying out, Aster. But she could barely picture it, because Yolanda was right—Holly wouldn’t do this for her.

walked behind her, and she was joking, only joking—she pushed.

Aster fumbled, nearly fell forward.

Quickly, Aster righted herself, was completely fine.

But Holly had pushed her, and Holly had laughed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marisa Manuel is a student in the MFA creative writing program, planning to graduate in spring 2019. “My first clear memory of writing involves ‘The Giver,‘” she recalls. “A teacher tasked us with rewriting the ending, and I wound up working on a whole sequel. I

Aster saw lions, so close beneath.

started ‘There is a Beast’ after hearing

The roar grew softer. Hushed. So quiet, it was almost a moan. Aster took a step closer, and the moan grew louder, and now the lion was calling—Aster. Aster.

starring girls instead of boys, and

A lioness, the huntress, after her.

She thought of Holly—What if you have to run? Of Yolanda—She wouldn’t go down there for you.

about a Lord of the Flies adaptation I wanted to play with the ‘what if?’ factor. Needless to say, the characters took the story in a different direction, but I think elements of that inspiration are still there.” After graduation, Manuel hopes to make a career out of writing while working either as a professor or in publishing.

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COLUMNS DR. STEVE STONE (BSED ’74)

A Beautiful Friendship THEY SAW THE SIGN, AND IT OPENED UP THEIR MINDS.

A bit uneasy about how folks would react, Stone wondered what to do.

The first thing he did was to have a bright red, six-foot-wide vinyl banner made declaring “Heartsong Welcomes the Memphis Islamic Center to the Neighborhood.”

Dr. Bashar Shala, chair of the board of trustees of the Islamic Center, was wary as well. He hoped that more Americans could see beyond the stereotypes of Muslim Americans—especially given that Memphis is smack in the center of the Bible Belt and the property they were buying was home to so many Christian churches that it is many times called “church road.”

At it turns out, they needn’t have worried. A few church members left when they learned about the newcomers, but the majority remained. “We became friends, and it was pretty low-key,” Stone says. He admits that he didn’t know much about Islam before erecting the sign. His Christian faith, not a deep study of Islam, was the catalyst to welcome their new neighbors.

As construction began on the first building, which would house the mosque, the Islamic Center found itself up against the clock. The building might not be completed by the start of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during the day and hold special evening prayers. Shala approached Stone looking for a small space at Heartsong where they might pray at night. “He asked if they could stay a day or two,” Stone recalls. “They ended up staying the whole month of Ramadan.”

The surprising friendship soon garnered national and international attention, including TV coverage. “We got emails and phone calls asking about our friendship,” remembers Stone. “Eighty percent of it was positive.”

The Ramadan experience sealed an enduring relationship.

Since then, the two congregations have fed the homeless together and held interfaith discussions. Each year around the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, they hold a joint blood drive.

They celebrate with a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at Heartsong.

In the spring, the Islamic Center hosts a picnic where the neighbors can talk and share a meal.

“We hunger for inter-cultural friendship,” says Stone, “We are building friendships based on mutual respect and understanding of people of all races, cultures and faiths.”

T

hat’s the sign that Dr. Steve Stone, retired United Methodist minister, put up when he read that the Memphis Islamic Center was planning to build a mosque and community center near the intersection of Humphreys Blvd. and Houston Levee Road. They needed a large place not only for worship but to hold weddings and other celebrations, to house a day care center and activities for seniors. The parcel was directly across from Heartsong Church, where Stone was serving as pastor. Stone had founded Heartsong as a music-based church for those who don’t usually attend services.

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The result was the founding of the Memphis Friendship Foundation, of which Stone is executive director. The Foundation has provided a safe haven for American Muslims in which to flourish.

Recently Stone and Shala were awarded the Freedom of Worship Medal for their efforts in ending racial and religious tensions in the Memphis community. Presented by the Roosevelt Institute, the medal is awarded to individuals whose achievements have demonstrated a commitment to the principles President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed as essential to democracy during a speech to Congress on Jan. 6, 1941.

Making a Racket MARK THOMPSON (JD ’86)

MARK THOMPSON, COO OF USA TABLE TENNIS, HAS A MESSAGE FOR AMERICANS: IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF YOUR BASEMENTS AND GARAGES.

A

s part of his new job, Thompson hopes to introduce table tennis to young people who might be drawn to other sports. “Every household used to have a ping pong table in their basement or garage,” he says. “It’s very inexpensive, there are lots of table tennis clubs, you play in gym class. If we pushed our elite efforts into the sport, I’m confident that we could develop a sport that could be competitive internationally.”

Thompson oversees the USATT’s two big events, the U.S. Nationals and the U.S. Open. While running the U.S. Open in December, he was also working as broadcaster, or commentator, for the tournament. “It was an interesting several days,” he says.

The Pennsylvania native is a veteran of 20 years in the professional hockey

operations coordinator and broadcaster.

Thompson had moved to Los Angeles in 1991 where he “did talk radio, rediscovered a love of the sport of hockey, and embarked on a career as hockey broadcaster.”

He was looking for a new challenge, one which included a chance to use more of his legal training—and he’s using it every day at USATT. “There are some very heightened legal issues that I’ve been addressing,” he explains. “There is the same sport compliance effort to educate and improve all memberships with respect to inappropriate behavior, all on the forefront of U.S. Olympic Committee and National Governing Board systems.”

The U.S. is not at the level of table tennis powerhouses like China, Japan, India, Pakistan and Germany yet. “Our goal is to get a person on the podium at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo,” Thompson says.

“The Japanese program is spectacular.

It may be the premier event for people in Tokyo, it’s such a big sport there and they’re expected to do very well. If we can generate those types of resources for our players as well, create that type of program, we can compete on an international stage.”

“At the elite level, the athletes take it as seriously as any other sport I’ve been around. I see the same effort, energy and enthusiasm,” Thompson says. “These are extremely well-conditioned athletes, dedicated to a high-performance program.”

For Mark Thompson, with his dog Jupiter, table tennis was a popular pastime while he was in the professional hockey business.

business. He came to USATT after 12 years with the Reading Royals, an AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. There he served as media relations director, hockey

But the great thing about ping pong (a trademarked term, it’s OK to use it, the top level players aren’t insulted) is that you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to play. It’s fun to compete. “You can play at any level, any age, gender doesn’t matter, or physical disability. It’s open to everybody,” Thompson says. “Finding a fair, competitive balance makes it a very fun environment.”

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COLUMNS TREY MOORE (BA ’87)

Get on Your Bikes and Ride

MEMPHIANS MAY SOON START FINDING IT EASIER TO EXPERIENCE MEMPHIS FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE—THE SEAT OF A BICYCLE. TREY MOORE HAS RETURNED TO MEMPHIS TO LAUNCH EXPLORE BIKE SHARE, A BIKE SHARING SYSTEM WITH 600 BIKES AT 60 STATIONS AROUND THE CITY, THIS SPRING.

Service areas will connect South Memphis and Orange Mound to Midtown and Downtown, from the Medical District to Crosstown. “We’ll be near points of interest and major attractions in addition to business districts, shopping areas and services,” Moore says.

Explore Bike Share will provide a way to get around and connect individuals to the city, says Moore. “We might be the ‘last mile’ of transportation for those who use MATA. Bike Share will provide an easy commute option for Downtown workers and visitors. It may be a different way to visit the Zoo or your favorite restaurant. More bikes mean fewer car trips, helping to reduce traffic, parking and emissions. At the top of the list will be exercise, recreation and fun.”

The eight-speed BCycle Dash bikes will be making their debut in Memphis. “The solar powered, smart screen technology on the bikes is unlike anything on the market now,” Moore says. “Soon after we launch, the smart screens will offer safe routing options with turn-byturn directions. Bikes can be checked out with a swipe of a pass or membership card on the smart screen.” The bikes are adaptable for any rider with easy-to-adjust seats.

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Explore Bike Share worked with neighborhoods and community partners on where to locate bike stations and to tailor education and promotion plans for the residents. The company will offer test rides to improve riders’ confidence and increase awareness of drivers.

Now is absolutely the best time to introduce bike sharing, in Moore’s opinion. “The city has made great strides in developing its bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Bike sharing will enable more of Memphis to share in this progress and to enjoy a safe, affordable and convenient mode of transportation.”

Moore moved back from Atlanta, where he had served as executive director of the Georgia

chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “Memphis just feels good,” he says.

“After moving to Atlanta, it was obvious to me that bigger was not necessarily better. My wife and I missed the relationships we have here.

We missed the unique neighborhoods. And we missed Tiger basketball and football. Memphis is a great city, and I am excited to be a part of the progress we’re making.”

And if you ride, you might see Moore, who rediscovered cycling himself about seven years ago. “I enjoy riding in and around Memphis.

And I enjoy destination trips where I can bike in unique landscapes. Death Valley and Lake Tahoe are two of my favorites.”

BUSINESS LEADER

KEN MAY

RETIRES ON TOP Ken May’s remarkable career has been profiled in the New York Times, Fortune, Time and Forbes magazines. It has also taken him on two visits to the Oval Office. Last fall, May (BBA ’83) retired as CEO of Topgolf International Inc. after a four-year tenure with the company.

M

ay joined Topgolf in August 2013 as COO and was appointed CEO in July 2014. He spent 25 years of his career at FedEx, culminating with his promotion to CEO of FedEx Kinko’s (now FedEx Office). He also served as president of Krispy Kreme.

He describes Topgolf this way: “You’re playing a game in a three-story, technology-enabled driving range where every wall has a microchip in it. When you hit the ball you’re aiming at targets, and the closer you get to the center of the target the more points you get.”

When May came on board five years ago, Topgolf had seven locations. When he retired, there were 34 locations with 10 under construction, with plans to expand to Australia and Mexico.

He credits his success to “a strong work ethic, really good leadership skills instilled in me by my parents and many

mentors at FedEx, including Fred Smith, who taught me how to lead and inspire people.

“I’ve been very blessed to have worked for three great brands. It’s been amazing.”

A more personal role was serving as chair of the March of Dimes National Board of Trustees. May’s wife Tosha gave birth to their daughter Alexa 12 weeks prematurely in 2000; she weighed just two pounds.

“She spent nine weeks in neonatal intensive care,” May says. “She fought for her life. She’s an incredibly talented, healthy 17-year-old old now, thanks to the care the nurses at Methodist Germantown Hospital and the March of Dimes provided for her.” May was elected to the March of Dimes national board in 2004, and was elected the foundation’s chair in 2007.

by the UofM Alumni Association in 2006. Last year, he was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus by the Fogelman College of Business & Economics.

“The UofM helped lay the groundwork for my success,” says May. “I was a belowaverage student who worked several jobs to pay my way through college. The friends I had in college are still my dear friends to this day. Jim Null, a marketing professor, inspired me and gave me confidence in my career.”

These days he’s spending time with his 95-year-old mother, “exercising a ridiculous amount” and of course, planning to play lots of golf.

In recognition of his many achievements, May was named a Distinguished Alumnus

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COLUMNS

Dr. Darrell C. Ray (at left), vice president for Student Affairs, spoke at a Suit Yourself shopping event at JCPenney, which provided professional attire for students with financial need.

Y

d e t i Su PER

R

TL FEC

ecent University of Memphis graduate Hector Marquez grew up without much money in El Paso, Texas. Buying a suit was not a priority, so he never had a chance to own one. When he was able to get a suit through the Suit Yourself program, it made him proud to look in the mirror. “I only made it to college because I was good in rugby,” says Marquez. “As an athlete, I’m used to just being in shorts or sweats, so it was a proud day for me when I got my suit.”

The University of Memphis and JCPenney joined forces this semester to offer Suit Yourself—a program to provide students who have financial need with professional attire for career fairs, interviews and jobs. JCPenney hosted four special shopping events that served a total of 150 students. To be considered for the program, students had to complete career and professional development workshops, then submit an application, written statement of interest and resume.

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Those selected for the program received a $150 JCPenney gift card and 40 percent off coupons so they could shop for the right dress, suit, pants, skirt, blouse, tie or shoes to build a career wardrobe. Specially-trained JCPenney associates advised students on everything from career fashion trends to how a suit should fit, what size to buy and how to tie a tie.

“Everyone involved was so nice to me, and literally went over budget to get me extra shirts, socks, nice shoes and a nice belt,” says Marquez (BSEd ’17). “I graduated in December, and since I’ve been back in El Paso, I became an administrator for the El Paso Area Rugby Union. I wear my suit on a daily basis for meetings, and it just gives me that extra confidence. Being a young man in a position that’s normally for more experienced people, the suit has helped make me more respected around my counterparts.”

Dressing appropriately is vital for career success, says Alisha Rose Henderson, director of Career Services. “It is important for students to have professional attire to wear to interviews, career fairs, internships, professional conferences, networking and career-related events. Students have said they feel more confident when they wear professional attire. They have to make a positive impression and look their professional best when preparing to enter the work world.

“A number of students work to take care of themselves and their families,“ Henderson says. “Students often do not have funds to purchase professional attire after they fulfill other financial obligations. Those who participate in Suit Yourself have one less thing to worry about. They are able to focus on their academics and career preparation.”

This program was the result of conversations with UofM alumnus Marvin Ellison (BBA ’89), president and CEO of JCPenney.

“Growing up, I always understood the importance of dressing appropriately for every occasion and presenting yourself in a polished and refined way,” says Ellison, who also is a member of

Specially trained JCPenney associates helped the students with everything from advice on current fashion trends to the proper fit for a suit and the correct size to buy—even how to tie a tie.

the UofM Board of Trustees. “I remember when my girlfriend and future wife maxed out her credit card to buy me a suit and shoes for my first set of interviews. That’s why I feel the Suit Yourself program is so important to deserving students at the University of Memphis. Through our partnership with the University, we’re helping budget-conscious students gain access to the professional attire they need to make the best first impression for jumpstarting their careers.”

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SEPT. 22

Spirit squads added to the festivities at the Homecoming Pep Rally.

SEPT. 15

Student Josh Wylie channeled his inner Elvis at the Blue Lantern Tour, where visitors toured the campus and learned more about UofM history and traditions.

NOV.

15

Reginald Porter Jr. (MBA ’16) was honored as Outstanding Young Alumnus at the Fogelman College of Business & Economics Alumni Day luncheon.

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JAN. 27 Max Wilons, son of Laura and Larry Wilons, takes the lead in the Tiger Cub Crawl held at the Tiger-Cincinnati basketball game.

SEPT. 29

Head coach Mike Norvell addressed the crowd at the Tiger scrimmage at UofM Lambuth.

APR. 21

Pouncer's Pals joined in to help celebrate Pouncer's birthday during the Tiger baseball game against East Carolina.

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COLUMNS

70’s '70s Harold Byrd (BA ‘71, MS ’75), president of

the Bank of Bartlett, was named president of the Shelby County Chamber Alliance.

The alliance includes chambers of commerce from Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington.

Pauline Weaver (BA ‘71, JD ’79) was elected

to the Council of the Criminal Law Section of the American Bar Association and will be the section officers conference representative to the ABA Board of Governors. She is deputy public defender for Alameda County, Calif.

Ernest Lancaster (BA ‘73) signed a three-

book deal with Fiery Seas Publishing. The first book of the Memphis M.O. series, The Jinx, will be published in July.

Lancaster retired from the Memphis Police Department as a captain.

In the early ’70s, he spent two years walking a night beat downtown.

He also patrolled in ward cars, patrolled while thousands of worldwide pilgrims came to Elvis Presley’s funeral, edited the Memphis Police Association’s newspaper and acted as the association’s vice president. For 26 years, he held positions on the TACT Squad.

Steve Davidson (MEd ‘75), a licensed

psychologist, published the book An Introduction to Human Operations Psychotherapy.

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CLASS NOTES Lancelot L. Minor (JD ‘77) was selected

for inclusion in the 24th edition of The Best Lawyers in America and also was listed in MidSouth Super Lawyers for 2017. He is a partner with the law firm Bourland, Heflin, Alvarez, Minor & Matthews.

Ben Blanton (BA ‘79),

a partner with Faegre Baker Daniels law firm in Indianapolis, was named vice president and general counsel for Lilly Endowment. He has more than 30 years of experience as a legal counsel.

Dr. Larry Robinson (BS ‘79) was named the

12th president of Florida A&M University. The appointment caps a 20year tenure during which he served as interim president of Florida’s only public historically black university three times.

Phil Stukenborg (BA ‘79) was inducted into

the Tennessee Sports Writers Association 2018 Hall of Fame class.

He is a former sports writer for the Memphis Press-Scimitar and The Commercial Appeal.

Among the sports he covered were UofM football, professional tennis and golf.

Stukenborg is a sports information director for Tiger men’s basketball and men’s golf.

'80s Richard Alan Bunch (JD ‘80) has authored

the book Cheers: New and Selected Poems. He has now authored more than

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2,600 poems and over 80 books, including novels, plays, short stories and a book on philosophical topics.

Frank Anderson (BBA ‘81) is director of Union

University’s Center for Racial Reconciliation.

He plans events related to a Christ-centered understanding of racial reconciliation, works with university departments to promote racial reconciliation, and teaches courses related to urban ministry and African-American religious history.

Anderson joined Union University in 2010. He is former dean of the School of Bible & Theology and former dean of the Chapel at Crichton College.

Timothy J. Jones (BA ‘82) was set designer for

the Maryland premiere of Lolita Chakrabarti’s play Red Velvet at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore.

David Pickler (JD ‘85), independent financial adviser and president of Pickler Wealth Advisors, joined the Financial Advisor Council of the Financial Services Institute in Washington, D.C.

Janet Tucker (BSN ‘85, MSN ’10)

completed her PhD at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in April 2016 and joined the faculty at the Loewenberg College of Nursing as an assistant professor in January 2017.

Bob Rogalski (MBA ‘88) is chief financial

officer for the Wolf River Conservancy.

Alice Faye Duncan (BA ‘89) authored

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, the story of a young girl who marched with her father and others in the Sanitation Strike of 1968. The author of multiple children’s books, she has received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children. Duncan has 19 years of experience as a school librarian.

Ollie Rashid (MBA ‘89, MA ’16) was

selected for a 10-month U.S. Department of State English Language Fellow project. She is spending the year training English teachers at Kofi Annan University in Guinea.

Maura Black Sullivan (BA ‘89, MA ’97) is

chief operating officer for the city of Chattanooga.

She was a finalist for the position of city manager of Austin, Texas.

'90s Dr. Natalie Person (MS ‘90, PhD ’94),

professor of psychology and chair of educational studies at Rhodes College, received the Jameson M. Jones Award for Outstanding Faculty Service. The award honors a faculty member who has rendered exemplary service and provided leadership to the Rhodes community.

Steve Brommer (BBA ‘91) joined CBRE as vice

president for advisory and transaction services¬retail. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Kevin Kimery (BBA ‘91) launched Kimery Wealth Management.

Mary Katz (MAT ‘93) is executive director of

the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center in Paducah, Ky. She is a former Carson Center board member and 15-year volunteer and program leader for the facility.

Victoria Tillman (BBA ‘93, JD ’96) of Anne M.

McKinney PC in Knoxville was named a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. ACTEC is an organization of peerelected lawyers and law professors who are skilled in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning and probate procedure.

Kirk Caraway (BA ‘94, JD ’97), a partner in Allen, Summers, Simpson, Lillie & Gresham, was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of employment lawmanagement. Selection

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for the award is based on a peer review process.

He also was named a Superlawyer in the field of labor and employment by Law and Politics.

Joe Allison (BSEd ‘95)

will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in June at a banquet at the Omni-Nashville Hotel. A former Tiger kicker, Allison was the winner of the inaugural Lou Groza Award in 1992 when he totaled 101 points. He was the first Memphis player named first-team All-American.

Regina Burns (MA ‘95) is senior

communications specialist with the North Texas Tollway Authority’s Public Affairs Department.

Rob Scruggs (BA ‘95)

joined Dollar General Corp. as chief digital and customer engagement officer. He has more than 17 years of experience focused on customer and user engagement.

Michael Sisk (MBA ‘95) is publisher and

chief revenue officer for The Chronicle of Higher Education. He previously was a group sales vice president for Gannett Co. Inc.

Jamey Hatley (MA ‘97) was one of six

women to receive the Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award. Her work has appeared in Callaloo, The Account and the Oxford American. Hatley has attended the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference for the past five years and received a 2016 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. She is using the $30,000 award to cover living expenses as she completes her novel The Dream-Singers.

Mamie Joeveer (BA ‘98) is a partner

with ACS Law Group, a boutique law firm in Miami. She had been a litigation attorney at Hogan Lovells. Joeveer is a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, where she served as a public affairs officer and journalist.

Dr. John Ward (EdD ‘98) was named dean of

the College of Education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. He had served as interim dean since August 2017.

'00s Dr. Phillip Isaacman (BA ‘00) opened his own dental practice, Bluff City Dental, on South Main Street in downtown Memphis.

Kevin Dean (BA ‘02) was named CEO of the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence.

Talya Oded (MS ‘03) wrote the chapter

“My Generations of Women” for Aging Wisely ... Wisdom of Our Elders. The book is a compendium of essays by a group of 75 seniors and the professionals who care for them.

Heather Fox (EMBA ‘04) is Learning and

Development team manager with FedEx Services. She has been with FedEx for 17 years, previously working in sales/solutions and global marketing before moving to HR. Fox was the featured speaker at the 82nd Newport (Ark.) Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Sehrish Siddiqui (BA ‘04) was named

a member of the Bass,

Berry & Sims law firm.

She counsels a variety of public companies primarily in the areas of corporate finance, compliance and governance.

Dr. Jason M. Holland (MS ‘05, PhD ’08)

wrote three chapters for Aging Wisely ... Wisdom of Our Elders. The book is a compendium of essays by a group of 75 seniors and the professionals who care for them.

The chapters are “A Meditation on Death and Dying,” “Leaving Nothing Unfinished in Life and Death” and “Finding Meaning in the Face of Life Difficulties.”

the American Bar Association’s 2017 “On the Rise - Top 40 Lawyers” award. She was the only Tennessee attorney to receive the award.

Chris Harris Buerck (BA ‘06) was named

Sheena Freeman (BS ‘07), patient relations/

executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville, Tenn. She previously worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

Andrea Clark Hagan (JD ‘06), a licensed

attorney, had two books published: Blue Jay Blues and A Sassy Southern Journal. She also contributes to Wilson Living Magazine and writes the blog Mommy Moments.

Angela Price (BA ‘06) participated in

Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in Costa Rica last summer. She studied lowland rain forest and montane cloud forests while investigating the biotic, physical and cultural forces that affect tropical biodiversity in Costa Rica. Price, a librarian at Memphis Public Library and Information Center, took the graduate course in pursuit of her master’s degree from Miami’s Global Field Program.

Amber Floyd (BSEd ‘07, JD ’10), a senior

associate at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, received

CAPTION Students sport their Tiger best to support UofM football.

Students sport their Tiger best to support UofM football.

experience liaison for Regional One Health, was featured as an exceptional young professional in Memphis Crossroads magazine as one of the 2017 Young Memphians.

Dr. Eric Bailey (BPS ‘08) joined the

Loewenberg College of Nursing as assistant dean for Nursing Students. He has worked as coordinator of the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, a career adviser, Athletic Department mentor, academic counselor and adjunct professor.

O’meed Entezari (BA ‘08) is digital

marketing coordinator for Counterpart Communication Design.

Darnell Arnoult (MFA ‘09) won the Thomas

and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for Achievement in Appalachian Writing for her book Galaxie Wagon.

She has published two other books, the poetry collection What Travels With Us and the novel Sufficient Grace. Arnoult, who lives in Cumberland Gap, Tenn., is writer in residence at Lincoln Memorial University.

Dr. Theresa MagpuriLovell (EdD ‘09) is

director of the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College, the state’s first dedicated literacy center.

'10s Fabiola Cervantes (BA ‘11), public relations

and digital content manager for Latino Memphis, was featured as an exceptional young professional in Memphis Crossroads magazine as one of the 2017 Young Memphians.

Geoffrey Lewis (JD ‘11), an attorney with

Memphis Light, Gas & Water, was featured as an exceptional young professional in Memphis Crossroads magazine as one of the 2017 Young Memphians.

Isaac Wade (BSCE ‘11)

is a civil engineer with Allen & Hoshall. He works on numerous projects across the Mid-South, and served as civil engineer for the UofM’s Community Health Building.

Sam Flanagan (BBA ‘12) is chair of the

Knoxville Greenway Commission. He has passed his CPA exam and is a tax staff accountant

for the Novinger, Ball & Zivi firm.

Shea Kidd Houze (PhD ‘14) is assistant

vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

She previously served as director of new student and retention programs at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Taylor Oyass (BA ‘14, JD ’17) joined Shea Moskovitz & McGhee as an associate attorney.

Dustin Fulton (MS ‘15), senior equity

assurance administrator for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, was featured as an exceptional young professional in Memphis Crossroads magazine as one of the 2017 Young Memphians.

Jasmine Hirt (BM ‘16) was promoted to

marketing and event services coordinator for the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.

She is responsible for advancing, managing and coordinating marketing efforts for ticketed events at the venue.

Rohan Pareek (BS ‘16) received the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship valued at $30,000 per year for medical training at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.

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The scholarship aims to provide more primary care physicians in rural Mississippi. After medical school, MRPSP scholars enter a residency in one of five primary care specialties. They then serve for four years in a clinic-based practice in an approved Mississippi community with a population of 20,000 or less located more than 20 miles from a medically served area.

Jawed Safi (BS ‘16)

received the Alumni Heritage Scholarship to attend American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. The scholarship is awarded to incoming students who have a work or volunteer history with an AUC graduate.

Olivia Garber (JD ‘17) joined Shea Moskovitz & McGhee as an associate attorney.

David Golding (BSME ‘17) is an engineering

assistant with Turner Construction Company’s Memphis office.

David A. Rose II (BLS ‘17) joined the

UofM’s Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change as a program services specialist with the Hooks AfricanAmerican Male Initiative.

HAAMI focuses on increasing the retention and graduation rates of African-American males.

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FLASHBACK Faculty and students celebrated in 1957 when Memphis State College became Memphis State University. For nostalgic purposes, the Memphis State University sign was recently re-erected on the west side of the Administration Building.

UofM Senior Class Gift Campaign

CONTINUES TO GROW In 2015, philanthropists George and Betty Johnson created a new “class project” for graduating seniors at the University of Memphis. Seniors were encouraged to donate money to support a scholarship so a deserving student could attend the UofM.

The project began as a yearly senior class luncheon held each spring at both the main campus and UofM Lambuth campus to celebrate the accomplishments of seniors. Four years later, the Senior Class Gift Campaign is enjoying exceptional success and has grown to an entire week of events. This year the senior class luncheon partnered with the Graduate School for Career Day, which offered headshots, mentoring appointments and a Graduate School Information Fair. The event raised $1,368, up from $685 in 2017.

At the main campus luncheon, Nicholas Robinson was recognized for receiving a $16,000 scholarship ($4,000 per year). Celeste Canada was recognized at UofM Lambuth for receiving a $2,000 book scholarship. “The Senior Class Gift Scholarship has made quality education attainable for me and

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SPRING 2018

opens up a world of opportunity,” said Robinson. “My biggest concern was that I would not be able to attend the University, not because of my work ethic, but because of the substantial costs involved.” He plans to pursue a degree in finance or accounting with a minor in music.

The Senior Class Gift Campaign was established to get students started on the process of giving back to the University while they are still in school. “It has been extremely encouraging to see the increased participation by our senior classes from one year to the next,” George Johnson has said. “We feel that the students’ involvement is due to the fact that, as seniors, they are well aware of the economic benefit of scholarships. Giving back by future and current alumni is the lifeblood of the University.”

DA A Will Honor Best and Brightest June 15

Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The University of Memphis Alumni Association will honor five of their best and brightest at the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Awards Friday, June 15, in the University Center.

Distinguished Alumni Honorees Include: CHARLES BURKETT (BBA ’73) is chairman of the First Tennessee Foundation. He is a former president of banking for First Tennessee/First National Horizon Corp. Burkett has served as an adviser to UofM President M. David Rudd and interim President Brad Martin.

Along with his wife Judy, he chaired the successful Empowering the Dream Centennial Campaign. The campaign raised more than $256 million toward funding scholarships, new educational facilities, faculty and research, among other initiatives.

ROOSEVELT COUNCIL JR. (BBA ’87) was named general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in January 2017. As the leader of the world’s busiest airport, he oversees airport operations as well as a multibilliondollar capital improvement program that will pave the way for growth over the next 20 years. Previously, he was the airport deputy general manager and chief financial officer. In that role, he directed all accounting, budgeting, financial analysis and forecasting, procurement and treasury operations at the Airport.

Council has more than 25 years of experience as a financial professional in public accounting, communications, transportation logistics and the public sector. He joined the city of Atlanta in 2009 as budget and fiscal policy chief and later served as deputy chief financial officer.

EMILY GREER (EMBA ’06) is chief administrative officer for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she is responsible for leading the day-to-day administrative operations for ALSAC and serves as the No. 2 executive behind the chief executive officer. During her 25-year tenure with ALSAC, Greer has served in various management roles, including senior vice president of Human Resources and chief of staff prior to becoming CAO. She serves on a number of community

CHARLES BURKETT

boards, including the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. Greer was a board member for the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis and was on the transition team for Memphis Mayor-elect Jim Strickland in 2015. She is the wife of longtime WMC-TV sportscaster Jarvis Greer (BA ’79).

JAMIE MCMAHAN (BS ’65) studied mathematics and fine arts at the UofM. The celebrated portrait artist works from photographs and personal impressions to bring his subjects to life in colorful oil paintings. Last year he completed a portrait of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, commissioned by her alma mater, Yale Law School. Over the past 35 years he has painted many judges, politicians and university presidents, including UofM presidents Andrew A. Kincannon, Cecil C. Humphreys, Thomas Carpenter, Billy Mac Jones, V. Lane Rawlins and Shirley Raines. McMahan played on the Tiger basketball team from 1962-1965, participating in the National Invitational Tournament in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

KEVIN BROOKS (BA ’16) is an awardwinning filmmaker who received the Dean’s Creative Achievement Award in the UofM’s film program. In 2016, he was selected as one of the top five filmmakers from around the world to be a part of Sundance Film Festival’s Ignite Program, which is aimed at developing new voices in the next generation of filmmakers. He was accepted two years in a row by NFFTY (National Film Festival for The Youth), a festival for the top upcoming filmmakers ages 18-24. In 2017, Brooks was selected as a semifinalist for the Warner Bros. Emerging Film Director’s Workshop. He is the youngest member to ever hold a position on the Shelby County Film Commission board. He is currently a part of the Indie Memphis Youth Initiative Program, a program that is geared toward helping and mentoring youth about filmmaking.

ROOSEVELT COUNCIL JR.

EMILY GREER

JAMIE MCMAHAN

KEVIN BROOKS

For tickets or more information, visit alumni.memphis. edu/daa2018 or email alumniassociation@memphis.edu.

SPRING 2018 |

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In Memoriam

The University of Memphis expresses sympathy to the families and friends of these individuals: ALUMNI (Listed alphabetically by decades)

1940s-50s Arthur W. Akridge ’50, March ’17 James W. Anderson ’56, ’67, Dec. ’17 Elbert C. Bartliff ’56, Sept. ’17 Dr. Roger M. Bennett ’55, ’62, Nov. ’17 Edward L. Brantly ’58, Jan. ’18 C. Wayne Burrell ’59, Oct. ’17 James E. Clayton ’55, Sept. ’17 George E. Cramer ’56, Oct. ’17 Doy L. Daniels ’57, Jan. ’18 Renate V. Dauser ’59, Nov. ’17 Gordon L. Gilbert ’51, ’56, Jan. ’18 Kay H. Herrington ’58, Sept. ’17 Dorothy P. Hilton ’54, Dec. ’17 Clifton G. Hollis ’50, July ’15 Richard B. Holmes ’52, Sept ’17 Charles E. Jackson ’59, July ’17 Fred C. Kubler Jr. ’51, Nov. ’17 June F. Lefevre ’57, Aug. ’17 Franklin R. Lott ’50, Jan. ’18 Polly T. Lucas ’42, Dec. ’17 L.B. Martin ’49, Sept. ’17 Agnes A. Moore ’57, Dec. ’17 Col. John H. Morris Jr. ’56, Sept. ’17 Mary H. Nelson ’52, ’73, Dec. ’17 Jimmie C. Oates ’58, Sept. ’17 Nathaniel W. Parham ’55, Nov. ’17 James D. Pope ’55, Dec. ’17 Merrill L. Roe ’54, Sept. ’17 Lt. Col. Walter H. Sanders ’57, Aug. ’17 Winfred H. Sharp ’48, Nov. ’17 Mary Jay D. Snyder ’47, Nov. ’17 Maynard C. Stiles ’50, Nov. ’17 Betty M. Stimbert ’56, ’67, Dec. ’17 Samuel B. Thompson Jr. ’57, Dec. ’17 Ray L. Weaver ’57, Dec. ’17 Leslie B. Wigley Jr. ’52, Nov. ’17 Floyd E. Williams ’56, Jan. ’18

1960s-70s J. Michael Accardi ’72, Dec. ’17 Linda E. Adams ’62, July ’17 Aubra E. Anderson Jr. ’63, ’66, Jan. ’18 Barbara M. Ball ’68, Dec. ’17 Dr. Charles D. Barg ’72, Dec. ’17 James M. Beaty ’73, Dec. ’17

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Virginia W. Blanton ’71, Sept. ’17 Sue R. Blass ’73, Dec. ’17 Mary T. Bohannan ’71, Aug. ’17 Dr. Billy C. Boyd ’73, ’80, ’87, Aug. ’17 Willie L. Branim Jr. ’76, ’81, ’86, Dec. ’17 Albert L. Broadway ’61, ’65, Dec. ’17 Evelyn D. Brooks ’70, Oct. ’17 Michael B. Brooks ’77, ’84, Aug. ’17 Jimmy N. Brumley ’65, ’70, Jan. ’18 Janice K. Brummitt ’68, Nov. ’17 James E. Burgess ’68, Sept. ’17 Billie P. Burnett ’75, July ’17 Henry C. Cain ’67, ’68, Dec. ’17 Mary A. Caldwell ’73, July ’17 Jane M. Cheatham ’71, Sept. ’17 Billy K. Coats ’79, Nov. ’17 Donald W. Coleman ’62, Sept. ’17 Marshall M. Colvin ’76, Sept. ’17 M. Roger Courts ’63, Aug. ’17 Faye G. Crabb ’67, Aug. ’17 John H. Curtis Jr. ’77, Oct. ’17 Philip C. Devore ’63, Oct. ’17 Bobby E. Dickson ’60, Aug. ’17 Jerry Q. Dowdy ’68, Dec. ’17 Judith C. Ellis ’73, July ’17 Marcelle W. Farrow ’66, July ’17 Barbara R. Fockler ’79, Jan. ’18 Carolyn J. Foreman ’72, Jan. ’18 William G. Gaia ’67, Aug. ’17 Brit A. Goodroe ’70, ’72, Jan. ’18 Herbert W. Graby Jr. ’69, Sept. ’17 Nancy S. Gray ’64, ’70, July ’17 Lloyd G. Hansen ’63, Jan. ’18 Steven C. Harris ’74, Oct. ’17 Larue E. Hart ’72, July ’17 Rae J. Hay ’61, Jan. ’18 Martha W. Hemphill ’70, Jan. ’18 James K. Hindmon ’74, ’75, Dec. ’17 Valerie R. Houston ’76, Sept. ’17 Frank R. Huddleston Jr. ’61, Dec. ’17 Cleophus Hudson Jr. ’64, July ’17 Patrick E. Hydrick ’76, Jan. ’18 Danny M. Hryhorchuk ’73, Sept. ’17 Valerie T. Jones ’75, Sept. ’17 Dr. Donald W. Kaller ’68, ’74, Nov. ’17 Anita R. Kay ’74, ’76, July ’17 John C. Kelley Jr. ’75, Nov. ’17 Joe M. Kirsch ’70, ’73, Aug. ’17 Steven A. Lincoln ’79, Dec. ’17 Arnold V. Lindseth Jr. ’71, Nov. ’17 Angela V. Markwell ’75, Sept. ’17 Frank M. Mason ’76, Aug. ’17 Donnell J. McCormack Jr. ’79, Sept. ’17

SPRING 2018

John W. McCormack ’71, Sept. ’17 Charles Moore ’74, Jan. ’18 Bernard I. Mintz ’60, July ’17 Jerry D. Mitchell ’74, Jan. ’18 Cmdr. Mary J. Monroe ’61, Jan. ’18 Ruth A. Moore ’66, Nov. ’17 Dr. Henry T. Morris Jr. ’78, July ’17 Patricia W. Nabors ’60, Jan. ’18 Frederick W. Nash II ’64, Sept. ’17 Cynthia S. Neal ’70, ’79, Dec. ’17 Patricia C. Nelms ’79, July ’17 Kathleen D. Norfleet ’74, July ’17 Patti R. Ozier ’64, Sept. ’17 Dr. Richard C. Parker ’70, Nov. ’17 Morris Patterson ’72, Aug. ’17 W. Thomas Person Jr. ’67, ’74, Jan. ’18 Edward L. Peterman ’77, Oct. ’17 Dayton P. Phillips Jr. ’71, Nov. ’17 Sandra B. Phillips ’70, July ’17 Dorothy D. Piretti ’67, Sept. ’17 Joseph B. Pitt Jr. ’74, July ’17 Anne L. Place ’70, Nov. ’17 Emily F. Poe ’71, ’05, Jan. ’18 George J. Pratt Jr. ’70, Jan. ’18 Nancy L. Rahm ’74, Sept. ’17 Dennis W. Raines ’64, ’74, Sept. ’17 Jimmy E. Ramage ’71, Nov. ’17 Randi B. Rich ’76, July ’17 Betty M. Robinson ’67, ’70, Oct. ’17 Charles N. Royer Jr. ’77, Dec. ’17 N. Janell Rudolph ’72, Nov. ’17 Candace W. Rye ’69, Oct. ’17 Dr. Luther W. Sanders ’60, Aug. ’17 Molly G. Sashkin ’73, July ’17 Pamela R. Savage ’78, Aug. ’17 G. Duke Schaeffer ’68, July ’17 Daurie A. Schwartz ’71, July ’17 John Shanks ’64, Sept. ’17 Sidney L. Sherrill Jr. ’72, Sept. ’17 Dr. F. Morgan Simpson ’74, Dec. ’17 Fred H. Sitler Jr. ’76, Aug. ’17 Carol J. Smith ’68, July ’17 Kathryn P. Streeter ’68, Sept. ’17 Lewis T. Thompson ’65, Sept. ’17 Robert L. Tilton ’66, Aug. ’17 Col. Alfred D Tripp Jr. ’65, July ’17 Gloria H. Tuggle ’65, Oct. ’17 Janice Z. Vaughn ’74, Jan. ’18 Anthony L. Ventrini ’78, ’86, July ’17 Mary M. Wadsworth ’62, Nov. ’17 Douglas W. Wilkerson ’78, Dec. ’17 James B. Woolridge ’73, Dec. ’17 Elizabeth J. Young ’70, ’81, Dec. ’17

1980s-90s Dr. John R. Adams ’88, Nov. ’17 Frankie D. Albright ’82, Nov. ’17 Jimmie L. Alexander ’90, Sept. ’17 Dr. C. Steven Arendall ’80, Sept. ’17 Margaret K. Beard ’85, July ’17 Mary J. Boehms ’83, July ’17 Philip E. Brewer ’87, Aug. ’17 Dr. Jean B. Brown-Birkeland ’81, Nov. ’17 Betty O. Browning ’87, Nov. ’17 Kay F. Carlton ’83, Aug. ’17 Lavita F. Chandler ’92, Jan. ’18 Dorothy R. Cohen ’86, Sept. ’17

Melissa S. Cole ’98, Sept. ’17 Mai Estelle Collins ’89, Sept. ’17 Norma P. Donati ’82, Oct. ’17 Patricia A. Donnelly ’95, Oct. ’17 Andrew T. Forman ’83, Jan. ’18 Charles W. Fowler ’97, Aug. ’17 Dr. Lydia D. Gibson ’92, Jan. ’18 Barbara A. Gooden ’82, Oct. ’17 Jean M. Harris ’81, Jan. ’18 Shirley L. Hillman ’80, Oct. ’17 Charlotte L. Holder ’83, June ’17 Eric P. Janssen ’99, Oct. ’17 Betty W. Jewett ’80, Dec. ’17 Mary L. Lane ’82, ’84, July ’17 Cynthia M. Lanier ’89, Oct. ’17 Billy R. Little ’91, Aug. ’17 Dr. Richard O. Loyd ’81, Aug. ’17 Nancy J. Magill ’87, Oct. ’17 Timothy N. Martin ’91, Dec. ’17 Celeste T. Meredith ’99, Dec. ’17 Cynthia E. Montoya ’84, Oct. ’17 John A. Nickey ’89, Oct. ’17 Patricia A. Pafford ’87, Oct. ’17 Cynthia R. Parker ’83, July ’17 Jane Braddock Sipes ’80, ’96, Sept. ’17 Timothy N. Stanfill ’80, July ’17 Pearl S. Strovall ’82, Dec. ’17 William T. Vick ’81, July ’17 Daniel D. Warlick ’82, Nov. ’17 Thaddeus E. Watkins III ’81, Nov. ’17 Marta C. Weiss ’80, July ’17 Gerald K. Williams ’80, Aug. ’17 Jill B. Williams ’92, Aug. ’17 Richard J. Wong ’95, Oct. ’17 Don Y. Woody ’82, ’84, Sept. ’17

2000s-10s Jasmin M. Barnes ’02, ’04, Dec. ’17 Lakesha R. Bello ’13, Aug. ’17 Patricia G. Childers ’05, Dec. ’17 Andrew C. Crossett ’15, Oct. ’17 Keesha M. Furniss ’09, Nov. ’17 Anna K. Gray ’11, Sept. ’17 Janeine Z. Hall ’03, Sept. ’17 Kimberly J. Harris ’08, Aug. ’17 Kristen N. Little ’11, Jan. ’18 Phillip W. Patterson ’03, Nov. ’17 Sandra L. Rausch ’08, Sept. ’17 Laquita C. Woods ’05, Sept. ’17

Faculty/Staff Dr. Jerry Neal Boone, Dec. ’17 Mark Reavis, Sept. ’17 Dr. Harry H. Summer ’58, July ’17 Bob Willis, Jan. ’18

LUTHER C. McCLELLAN

BS ’62, Math

Uof M Alumni Association Life Member

• Retired Program Director, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) • Retired Major, USAF • Relocated to the Memphis area from New Jersey • Member of the “Memphis State Eight,” the first African-American students to integrate MSU • First African-American to earn an undergraduate degree at MSU • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award • Dr. Henry Logan Stokes Legacy Award • Authur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award • Served as an elected member of the New Jersey School Board • Scholarship Committee, LCM (Luther C McClellan) Alumni Chapter • Annual Contributor to the LCM Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund • Mentoring and tutoring in New Jersey and at his current church • Active member, NAACP

TOGETHER, WE MAKE MEMPHIS STRONGER University of Memphis Alumni Association Your connection to this campus does not have to end when you graduate. Join the University of Memphis Alumni Association and stay connected.

Visit memphis.edu/alumni or call 901.678.ALUM

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