Melanie E. Moses (‘05 PhD), Albuquerque, is a UNM associate professor of computer science who studies ants and uses that knowledge to program robots. Her formulas are now being used by NASA in space exploration.
Katrina and Peter Nardini take a break from their work with Green World Heath Net with a walk on Lagoon Beach in Akwadaa, Ghana.
their own solar panels for household use and charging mobile devices, as well as how to make LED lights. The Boko Bed Net Project, one of Green World’s first programs, provides solar-powered cooling systems to malaria nets that are otherwise too hot to use comfortably in tropical climates. This year has seen a significant expansion of the project and it has garnered a lot of attention with the release of a short film, “The Boko Bed Net Project.” (Clips from the documentary can be watched at GreenWorldHealthNet.org.) The film also discusses Nardini’s first trip to Ghana in 2006, when he was inspired to found Green World. He and Katrina volunteered there for three months at Nana Dikya Hospital in the coastal community of Dixcove. “The people of Ghana are wonderful,” Nardini said. “They make the best of what they have.” After designing and building a water system for the hospital, Nardini realized he wanted to do more development projects in the country; he had previous experience with such work while in the Peace Corps. After receiving a dual master’s degree in community and regional planning and Latin American studies from UNM, Nardini volunteered with the Peace Corps from 2001 to 2004. He served as a basic sanitations specialist in Bolivia, designing and building water systems among other side projects, such as introducing highly nutritious peanut butter to the local diet.
“I’d known that I wanted to join the Peace Corps ever since I was a kid,” Nardini recalled. “And I did it backwards. Most people join the Peace Corps before they get their master’s degrees, but I did it after.” It was during his service in the Peace Corps that Nardini met Katrina. The couple later moved to San Francisco, where Katrina studied to become a nursemidwife and he began work as managing director of Volunteers for Inter-American Development Assistance, an organization that sends medical supplies to hospitals in Latin America. Looking for a new volunteer opportunity around this time, the couple decided to make their first trip to Ghana, which they chose for its English-speaking populace. “In some ways Bolivia prepared me for Ghana,” Nardini said, “but the scale of poverty was much more extreme than I was expecting. It was an eye-opener.” Nardini believes it is important for people in developing countries like Ghana to gain their first exposure to technology through alternative technologies to build a connection between quality of life and environmental practices. “This is completely necessary work,” Nardini said. “It is our future, and we don’t have another choice.” ❂ A version of this article first appeared in the UNM Foundation’s Developments newsletter.
Sara A. Stratton (‘05 BSEE, ‘08 MBA), Albuquerque, is a PNM project manager and received the New Mexico Technology Council’s Women in Technology award. Claudia I. Torres (‘05 BSN) has been chosen by the International Nurses Association to represent Los Alamitos, Calif., in their latest publication of the “Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare.” Carmen L. Tsabetsaye (‘05 BA) received a Native Lab fellowship at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Aaron J. Clauset (‘06 PhD), Louisville, Colo., published in Science Advances a study that quantifies the percentage of faculty members who work at institutions deemed more prestigious than their PhD-granting alma mater. Trent Dimas (‘06 JD), Albuquerque, was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame for his 1992 Olympic gold medal performance on the high bar in Barcelona, Spain. Shane P. Flanagan (‘06 BUS), Lawrence, Kan., is head basketball coach for the women’s team at Haskell Indian Nations University and was recently named Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Lara Katz (‘06 JD) was named a “2014 Rising Star” in Super Lawyers. She has joined Montgomery & Andrews.
Lara Katz
Jason S. Lenzmeier (‘06 BUS), Albuquerque, is the offensive line coach for the Lobo football team.
Emily N. Luke (‘06 BA, ‘11 JD), Albuquerque, has joined the Harvey & Foote Law Firm. Kole D. McKamey (‘06 BA), Albuquerque, is director of major gifts for UNM’s Lobo Club. Kirsten R. (Muncy) Marino (‘06 BBA) has joined Coldwell Banker as a Realtor in San Pedro, Belize. Rachael A. Perea (‘06 PHARM), Rio Rancho, N.M., is Prime Therapeutics’ senior director of operations. Heather L. Bateman (‘07 PhD), Gilbert, Ariz., is a field ecologist, conservation biologist and associate professor at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus. She received the 2015 Award for Professional Service from The Wildlife Society.
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